Is It Monday Again, Already?

I’m starting out the blogging week by joining Heather for her fun new meme.  (You can join, too, by clicking her button at the top of this post.)  Here are this week’s questions:

1. Finish this sentence – The last movie I saw in the theater was…Toy Story 3, and it was a long, long time ago!

2. Do you have any idiosyncrasies?  I hate to be late for anything, and I hate having any kind of appointments!

3. What is your favorite clothing store to shop at?  I don’t really have a favorite clothing store.  My favorite store is one that has what I’m looking for when I need it!

4. What fun things do you have planned for the week ahead?  I have a hair appointment scheduled for one day.  I love getting my hair cut!  Also, if all goes well, a friend and I are planning a day trip to the beach about mid-week !  (I hope all goes well!!!)  Last, but not least, my mother-in-law will be celebrating her 90th birthday at the end of the week.

My question for you today is:

When going places, do you arrive early or late?

The Weekend Wrap Up…

It was a very warm and sunny weekend here in our neck of the woods, therefore, Ed and I spent a great deal of time outside.  We worked in the garden, raked the yard, washed a few windows, and painted another one of the porches.  We also managed to spend some time with family on Friday night, and attend the dance recital of our granddaughter, Madison, on Saturday night.  In addition, Ed found time to rotate the tires on both of our cars, install our new Magic Jack Plus,  and spend some time jumping on the trampoline with Madison…Ed could probably have used a three-day weekend!

I’ve been away from the computer for over three days, and I’m a little behind on visiting blog friends.  It’s shaping up to be another busy week, but I’ll catch up with you soon!

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Thursday’s Thoughts ~ Tales From The Garden…

I believe I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again, “Gardening is hard work!”  It’s back-breaking, time-consuming, and sometimes frustrating–but at the same time, it’s relaxing, exciting, and sometimes it’s rewarding!

Ed and I really don’t have much of an idea of what we’re doing this year.  We weren’t successful in two previous gardening attempts, but this year we are reading and asking more advice–and having more success!  We are learning as we go, sometimes through trial and error!

For instance, I had no idea you could water a garden too much–until those rust spots appeared on the leaves of the beans!  We also had no idea that beans don’t require a lot of fertilizer–they make their own nitrogen!  For a while, I thought we were going to have all bush and no beans, but alas, one day blossoms finally began appearing!  Yay!  Perhaps we’ll have some green beans after all!

I had no idea how easy radishes are to grow, or that you can plant them among your carrots to help the carrots sprout and be easier to harvest.  I also had no idea that radishes grow so large!  We’ve pulled some radishes that could pass for turnips!  (Our chickens love the radish tops!)

Ed and I have been dealing with the heartbreak of a tomato disease known in our area as, “the wilt”.  I read that it’s a virus carried by an insect known as “a thrip”.  One day the tomato plants may look fine, then the next we’ll notice one with slight wilting–only the wilting never goes away, and the plant eventually dies.  We’ve lost about a dozen plants, so far.  It’s a good thing I planted about 70 plants!  The only thing we can do to combat “the wilt” is to keep the garden sprayed or dusted to control “the thrips”.

This week we suffered another gardening setback, when three of our squash bushes began dying–and they were all full of baby squash!  There will still be plenty of squash, but it’s so disheartening to have this happen, just as the squash are beginning to bear.  We’re not sure what happened, unless our record low temperature of 40 degrees (on Monday morning) had something to do with it.  If this is the case, I’m wondering why only three bushes were affected…

So far, we haven’t had to deal with any “predators” in our garden, although our son-in-law witnessed a herd of deer just down the road, early one morning.  Perhaps the scent of our dogs keep the deer and rabbits at bay–because our dogs are notorious for trampling all over the garden area, or perhaps the predators just haven’t found our garden yet…I hope our luck holds!

All in all, so far, gardening has been more fun than work.  It’s a nice way to begin the morning or a nice way to end the day.  My hubby, Ed,  and I have finally found another  hobby that we enjoy doing together!

My witty husband made a funny comment to me the other evening, while we were in the garden,  and the sun was going down behind the trees.  He said, “There’s nothing like being in the garden with your “hoe”!”  I’m not sure if he was referring to me or that gardening tool in his hand…

Have a great day!

Wednesday Hodgepodge…Volume 75

It’s time to join Joyce for another weekly Hodgepodge!  Wow, these weeks sure do fly by! If you’d like to join in this mid-week fun, just click Joyce’s button at the top of my post. Here are this week’s questions:

1. William Shakespeare’s birthday is celebrated on April 23rd…when did you last read Shakespeare? What’s your favorite Shakespeare play?
I don’t remember ever reading Shakespeare! (This doesn’t mean I didn’t read any, it just means I don’t remember reading it!) As for my favorite play, I’ll say, “Romeo and Juliet”. Let’s face it, it’s been a long time since my days of studying literature–like at least 40 years!

2. What food(s) would you recommend a foreign visitor try when they visit your home country?

Well, I’m from the south, so I’d recommend trying some of our southern fried chicken, some grits, and some boiled peanuts.

3. What’s a lie you often tell yourself?

“I’ll do that tomorrow…”

4. What’s something you’re good at that might surprise us? Remember this is a family friendly blog!

Party planning.  Everyone always seems to enjoy our family holiday parties, and I enjoy the planning, especially the activities.

5. Who is your favorite animal character from a book?

I love Winnie the Pooh!  These days,  person could go “hog-wild”  while decorating a baby nursery in “Winnie the Pooh”.  I know this from experience!

6. April showers bring May flowers…do you have a green thumb?

Not really.  I have terrible luck with houseplants!  However, my thumb may be getting a bit “greener” this year, since Ed and I are trying our hand at gardening!  I successfully grew tomato, cucumber, cabbage, and squash plants from seeds–then transplanted them in the garden!  I’ve picked 6 squash so far!  The tomatoes and cucumbers are blooming, while the cabbage plants are forming “heads”.  (Every time I look at those cabbage “heads” forming the song “Cabbage Patch Kids, Growing In the Garden” runs through my head…LOL)

7. Speaking of rainy days…which one of the following activities would you most want to spend time doing on a rainy day-

sort photos and create albums
bake cookies
read a good book
hold an all-day movie marathon
organize closets, cupboards, or bookshelves
try a new recipe
fix something that needs fixing

I think I’d prefer to read a good book, while listening to the rain on our tin roof–then take a nap afterwards!

Random:

Here’s a peek at granddaughter, Madison’s, former “Winnie the Pooh” nursery (she’s 5 now, and  has moved on past Winnie).  Most items shown were courtesy of eBay and me!

The Simple Woman’s Daybook – Spring Edition…

I feel like doing something a little different today, so I’m linking up with Peggy Hostetler at The Simple Woman’s Daybook.

FOR TODAY ~ April 24, 2012

Outside my window…the sun is shining on the chicken coop! (and I’ll bet “the girls” are glad because it’s 44 degrees outside!

I am thinking…it sure is cold for the last week of April!

I am thankful...for a wonderful husband, a loving family, plenty of food in the kitchen, a roof over my head, and enough money to pay all of the bills.

In the kitchen...I made a large pot of vegetable beef soup for supper last night.  (I thought the cooler weather was perfect for a pot of soup.)  I also made a fresh strawberry pie.  Ed asked if it was our anniversary or something…

I am wearing…my lounging socks and my nightgown because I just got out of bed!  It’s only 7:45 though.

I am creating...a better-looking porch/chicken coop.  I’m currently in the process of painting the front porch of our home and the chicken coop–as soon as the weather permits.  Between the rain and the cooler weather, I’ve been delayed…

I am going…to visit my friend, Diane, one day soon.  We are hoping to enjoy a day at the beach together–as soon as the weather permits.

I am wondering...if it will be cold at my grandson’s t-ball game this afternoon!  I  am planning to go and watch him play.

I am reading…only blogs at the moment.  I haven’t had the time to get interested in a good book.  In fact, at the moment,  I’m struggling to get around to all of my blog friends!

I am hoping…our garden has a bountiful harvest.  It’s our first “real attempt” at growing a garden, and we’re putting in a lot of time and money.  The green beans and english peas are finally blooming!  Yay!

I am looking forward to… Ed taking a few days off soon.  We may be just taking a “stay cation” and getting some things done around the house, but that’s okay.

I am learning…how hard mine and Ed’s parents used to work to grow all of those garden-fresh vegetables that they shared with us over the years!  You really have no idea, until you walk in someone’s shoes…

Around the house…the inside of my house is suffering because I’ve been spending so much time outside!  I suppose I can clean later,  when the temperatures are too warm to be outside 😦

I am pondering...how great modern technology is!  Our son, Brad, is out-of-town this week, due to his job.  He and  his wife, Jennifer, were able to spend some “face time” (seeing each other while talking) on their iPhones last night.  Oh how I would have loved to have had “face time” when Ed was stationed overseas for nearly two years (back in the 70’s)!

A favorite quote for today…“Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”

One of my favorite things…watching the chickens outside,  from my kitchen window.  They never fail to make me smile!  Such silly “girls”.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  doing a little more research, and probably getting a Magic Jack Plus and new phones, plus more painting, as soon as the weather permits.

A peek into my day...I’m going to pick up granddaughter, Madison, from pre-K at noon, then going to grandson, Caden’s t-ball game this afternoon.

Our first squash in the garden: 

Make Me Crazy Monday ~ Stumbling Through Modern Technology…

After wandering around Wal-mart yesterday looking in the electronics section, I realized how “technologically challenged” I really am!  I’m still living back in the age of cd’s, boom boxes, and old original cordless telephones!  My how things have changed!

With the soaring cost of everything, including phone service, we are considering kissing our “land-line” good-bye, and trying  Magic Jack (internet) phone service.  Doing this will require the purchase of one of the newer cordless phones,  with multiple hand sets, so I’ve been doing some browsing in electronics.

Any sort of change is sort of intimidating to me, especially as I get older!  (Just in case you happen to be wondering why Ed and I don’t just use our cell phones, it’s because we live in a home with a tin roof, surrounded by pine trees.  Cell phone reception is virtually non-existent in our home. )

Pondering this move forward, into”uncharted phone territory” (for us) doesn’t come lightly…  First of all, Ed and I have had the same phone number for 35 years!  The thought of giving it up that phone number (and learning a new one) almost unbearable, so I think I’ll be looking into porting it over…  I still haven’t gotten over the “trauma” of having to learn a new address five years ago, when we built our new home!

Next, I’m quite fond of the old phones that I’ve been using for so long, especially this Coke phone, that I found on eBay.

This phone hangs on the wall of my kitchen–with its short cord and all!  (It’s not adaptable for a longer cord–I tried!)  This phone has a fantastic volume control, which can be turned up,  so Ed can hear the person on the other end with ease.  I’m sad at the thought of never hearing that phone ring again–and I worry if Ed will be able to hear as well on some of these newer phones.

Then there is the problem concerning all of the “features” one these new phones!  I wonder if Ed and I will ever be able to figure them all out?!  Remember, our phones are old, and phone features were very limited back in the day.  Sometimes, I look at our son’s iPhone and it makes my head want to explode!

I can feel myself becoming more like my 89-year-old mother-in-law every day!  When she was still living at home, at least once a week, she would call someone to help “fix” her television.  She couldn’t keep the functions of  the remotes straight in her head, and would inevitably mess things up.  Brad even wrote directions down on paper for her, but she’d still get confused.  We finally solved her television problems when she went to live at The Griffin House.  We found a remote called “The Flipper”, which hides most of the function buttons, except for volume control, channel up or down, and on/off!

Do you suppose they have the equivalent of “The Flipper” for new phone technology?  I may be hollering for some help soon–I say “hollering” because I might not know how to dial for help on my new phones…

Have a great Monday!

Some Of My Rainy Day Thoughts…

For the second day in a row, today I woke up to a dark, cloudy sky.  I am thankful for the clouds, and hopeful for more rain.  So far we’ve received a little over an inch.  That one inch of rain will do more for our lawn and garden than an entire month of watering would ever do, but it’s dry and we can always use more rain.

Some of our children and their families have embarked on a journey to the Jacksonville Zoo today.  It will be the first trip for grandson, Caden, and the second for granddaughter, Madison.  I hope the rain holds off, in Jacksonville, long enough for the little ones to enjoy their zoo trip.  Ed and I were invited along on this trip, but we’re slowing down just a bit these days, and didn’t feel up to a weekend at the zoo! (besides, now I have these chickens to see about, too!)

Speaking of chickens, my sister-in-law called this week.  She told me after she finished reading my blog adventures concerning the chickens, she said a prayer of thanks that they didn’t get chickens, too!  LOL  She was referring to those early days when I was getting up at all hours of the night to check the temperature in the baby chicks’ box–while keeping them in Ed’s pool room!  I simply told her, “Everybody doesn’t do things the hard way like I do!”

A clever person would have waited until late spring, bought older chicks, then put them outside–no light or special care necessary!  In fact, I saw a lady doing that just last week.  Of course, I’ll be eating fresh eggs at least a month before she will–and of course, my chickens now think I’m their mother, and will willingly fly up and sit on my lap!  I’ll bet the clever lady can’t say that!

Before I leave the subject of the chickens, I just have to share about my parakeet!  I’ve had “Tweety” for about seven years, and he sits high up in a corner of the living room.  While I was keeping the baby chicks inside (in Ed’s pool room, adjacent to the living room), “Tweety” became quite fond of listening to their lively chirping, and he would chatter along, too.  With the chicks no longer in the house, I’ve noticed “Tweety” has begun to imitate the sounds of the chirping chicks!  Isn’t he something?

I haven’t spent much time in the garden this week, due to being sick with a cold.  It’s been windy each day, and the wind just made my sore throat hurt worse.  I’m much better today, and it’s a good thing!  After this rain, the weeds will be coming out in full force!  We have lots of tiny squash on our plants, and should have some large enough to pick this weekend!  Yay!

I’ve been enjoying my new vacuum cleaner.  There’s just something about a new vacuum cleaner that makes cleaning more fun–sort of!  Unfortunately, the “new” will wear off, and the chore will become mundane once again…The bad part about getting a new vacuum is– trying to get Ed to get rid of the old one–he has two of my old vacuum cleaners in his storage house–and now he’ll add a third!

Brad and Jennifer will be involved in wedding activities all weekend.   Thank goodness it’s not their wedding, this time!   Jennifer’s oldest brother is getting married tomorrow, and both Brad and Jennifer are in the wedding.    Only two more months and Brad and Jennifer will be celebrating their one year anniversary!  I wonder if time has passed a fast for them as it has for me…

Speaking of time passing, it’s getting late, so I’m going to stop rambling now and get up and do a few chores.  I hope everyone has a long and enjoyable weekend!  See ya’ on Monday!

Thursday’s Thoughts ~ About Those Annual Frog Parties!

It’s that time again!  It’s time for “The Annual Frog Party” that’s held in our yard each year.  Every year, about this time, a bunch of frogs gather in and around our goldfish pond.  They sit on top of the lily pads, swim in the water, make a lot of noise, and have frog sex with each other!  (You’d think they are on “spring break” or something!)

I always know when the frogs are having their annual party because I can hear their noise from inside of my house!  Seriously, the noise is deafening.  I almost need to wear ear plugs when I’m standing beside the pond.

From observing the frogs, I’ve learned that they blow a large bubble under their throats whenever they are making this loud noise.  It looks almost as if they are having a “croaking contest” with each other!  Last year, the frogs were so loud, they scared our little granddaughter, who lives next-door.  She couldn’t  sleep at night because their noise!

I went out to watch the frogs on Monday night, and folks, there was some funny stuff going on out there!  Without giving many details, let me just say there was some kinky frog sex going on–involving as many as four frogs at the time!  I’ve never seen anything quite like it!  Fortunately for me, all of this kinky frog behavior results in lots of little tadpoles in our goldfish pond.  While the tadpoles are living in the pond, they eat some of the algae–and that’s a good thing!

On Monday night, things got so rowdy at the “Frog Party”, we discovered a dead (frog) body in the pond on Tuesday…I guess his poor heart just couldn’t take it!  He was left floating on top of the pond–with his tongue hanging out…What a way to go!

On Tuesday evening, the “Frog Party” was still going on!   I went back out to observe about 10:30 p.m.  I was dressed in my pajamas, armed with a camera in one hand, and a flashlight in the other!  Have you ever tried to shine a light on a frog with one hand, while taking a picture with the other?  It’s quite difficult to do–and probably would have been quite a funny sight to watch!

Tuesday night’s “Frog Party” was a lot more subdued than it had been on Monday night.  My cleaver husband suggested that perhaps the frogs were having a “wake” for their friend who passed away the evening before…

Last night, while watching television,  I heard those familiar loud noises coming from outside again!  Once more, I grabbed my camera and flashlight, and headed to “the party”. I have no shame, and don’t mind crashing a good “party” for the sake of my blog!   The frog crowd was thinner than the previous two nights, so I’m guessing the “Annual Frog Party” is nearing its end.  I’m gonna’ miss those partying toads, but it sure was fun while it lasted!

The 74th Wednesday Hodgepodge…

Can it really be possible that we’ve participated in 74 editions of Wednesday Hodgepodge?  Mercy, where does time go?!  I’d better hop right to the questions before any more time slips away…

1. Spring is in the air (at least in my neck of the woods) and the birds are singing…what’s your favorite bird?

It feels more like summer here (with temps in the 80’s), but since you asked, my favorite bird is the male cardinal, because of his bright red feathers!  I was devastated when I discovered that the male is the prettier of the species–that’s just not right!

2. Speaking of birds…do you tweet? If so tell us your screen name and we’ll come flocking to your Twitter site. Even if you don’t let’s all pretend here that we do-in 140 characters or less, sum up your week so far.

I used to tweet, right after Twitter first began–before it became so popular.   The world of Twitter is where I discovered the world of blogging!  Once I discovered blogging, I found that I really didn’t have enough time to devote to both things.  I haven’t tweeted in a long time, but I still have an account.  My twitter name is edshunnybunny.  Send me a tweet, and I’ll send you one back.

Here’s my tweet to sum up my week so far:  My cold is resulting in many unfinished tasks around the house!

3. Its been reported recently that employers are not only viewing the facebook pages of potential hires but they’re also requesting your facebook password to have a look at what you’ve kept from public view. What say you?

Even though I don’t have anything on my facebook pages that I’m ashamed of, I think this is an invasion of privacy by employers!   Private should be private, even though I realize nothing is private on the internet–or even on your home computer!

4. It’s April and you know what that means-Major League Baseball is back in action. What’s your favorite baseball movie? If that’s too hard, what’s your favorite sports themed movie?

That’s an easy one–I love the movie “Field of Dreams”!  I’ve always liked Kevin Costner.

5. Something else this season brings-asparagus. Yes please or no thanks? If it’s yes please what’s your favorite way to have it prepared?

No thanks!  No asparagus for me.

6. What drives you? (Don’t you love how I sandwiched that one in between asparagus and jugglers???)

My stubborn streak and the desire to achieve “perfection”–a disastrous combination sometimes!

7. April 18th is International Jugglers Day…can you juggle?

That would  be a big, fat NO!  I can only concentrate on one thing at a time.  (that’s why I chose blogging over twittering)

Random:

The arrival of spring always brings an exciting event to our neck of the woods–“The Annual Frog Party”!  It’s been going on for two consecutive nights.  I’ll be posting about it tomorrow, but I’ll give you a sneak peak today…

Trust me when I tell you–these guys have been having a lot of fun at night–and I’ve been slipping around late at night (in my pajamas) taking photographs!

P.S.  As always, thanks to Joyce for hosting this fun meme.  If you’d like to participate, or read the answers of others, simply click Joyce’s button at the top of this post!

Easter Revisited ~ A Few Photos Worth Sharing…

After a third night of not being able to sleep, due to a head cold,  my brain is dead.  Therefore, I declare today a good day to share a few photos.  These were taken during Easter, but I haven’t shared them.

Here’s a photo of two of my three favorite little people.  They are our grandchildren (and cousins to each other), Maddie and Cade.  The trampoline is one of their favorite outdoor activities!  Notice those nice, sturdy steps (complete with hand rails) that Maddie’s dad and Ed built to go along with the trampoline…Sure beats using a chair!

After the children got bored with the egg hunt, they jumped on the trampoline while the adults continued to search for lost eggs.  We still have five eggs unaccounted for, by the way!  Anyone feel like hunting eggs???

Those sturdy steps also make a nice place to rest and take a “Skittles Break”!   Cade’s Skittles were inside one of the eggs he found.  Cade loves to eat candy–just like his daddy!

Here’s my other favorite little person, known as “baby Chase”.   He is Cade’s little brother, and the newest member of our family. These photos show what Chase was doing while everyone else was hunting eggs on Easter…E-pa was sitting close by keeping an eye on him!

The adults hunted eggs so long that baby Chase soon went to sleep!  I’ll bet he won’t sleep through next year’s egg hunt!

Last, but not least, here’s a photo of little Alex, the baby my daughter keeps each day.  I took this picture on the Friday before Easter.  I wish you could see his beautiful blue eyes, but I couldn’t get him to look at me!  The little stinker!

Although some days are still challenging, Alex is continuing to grow and do well–and, of course, we consider him one of the family, too.  We rejoice in every pound that he gains, and each milestone he achieves.  Have I mentioned how “busy” Alex is these days?

That’s it for me today, but I’ll be back tomorrow with the Hodgepodge.  Hopefully, by Thursday, this cold will be a fading memory, and my brain will be working again!  Have a great Tuesday.

The Weekend Recap And Monday Quiz…

It seems like the weekend was just beginning a few hours ago, and here it is Monday again–and I even took a long weekend off from blogging!  You know what they say…time flies when you’re having fun!

My fun weekend began on Friday by having to shop for a new vacuum cleaner after mine broke for the second time last week!  After super gluing the hose connector twice, and attempting to use masking tape to hold it together when the glue refused to hold, I’d had enough!

Now that spring is here, guess who woke up on Saturday morning with a sore throat and stopped up nose???  That would be me!  I’ve spent the entire weekend trying to ignore it and hoping it’ll go away…(it hasn’t)

Saturday brought more fun when Ed and I began painting the front porch!  Nothing like sliding around the porch on your behind for five or six hours!!!  Ed and I discovered we’re not as young and flexible as we once were–but we almost finished painting the porch!  Only a few more of those lovely white spindles left to paint, and I’ll be finished.  Porch spindles are pretty, but they sure are aggravating to paint–and it seems like we end up painting every spring!

Ed also had to do a couple of renovations on the “chicken palace” over the weekend.  He added one more window–because one can never have enough windows!  (Actually, I’m having difficulty getting “the girls” to go inside of their palace, and I thought maybe another window might help!)  He also had to change some of the slide bolt locks because I am having difficulty getting them to lock! (There’s nothing more frustrating than being eaten alive by mosquitoes while chasing six chickens around a pen at dusk, only to discover the locks won’t close once the chickens are tucked safely inside of their “palace”!  I plead guilty to uttering a few ugly words on several occasions!

The busy weekend ended on a somewhat sour note when Ed and I discovered that roots of  my palm trees have invaded our goldfish pond!  We knew we had a problem, we just didn’t know how severe our problem had become!   I had no idea they would become a problem when I planted those tiny palms several years ago, but somewhere along the way they became a big problem!  The tree roots have grown under the pond liner, and are actually pushing the bottom of the liner up on one end…Heed this advice–never plant a Sago Palm close to anything–especially a pond!  I’m not quite sure how this adventure is going to end, but I have a feeling it isn’t going to be good…

Let’s switch gears a bit now, and participate in Heather’s  “Monday About Me Quiz”.  I could  some cheering up after the pond discovery!  Here are Heather’s four questions, followed by my question for you!

1. Finish this sentence – I dream of….

taking a trip to the Florida Keys–or going on a cruise one day.

2. If you could choose your last meal, what would it be?

I’d love to have one of the Sunday dinners that Ed’s parents used to cook for us, many years ago!  It might consist of fried chicken, rice and gravy, some fresh peas or butter beans, and one of my father-in-law’s famous “hoe cakes”.  Of course, I’d want one of my mother-in-law’s chocolate cakes for dessert!

3. What was your favorite toy as a child?

I actually had two favorites–my Barbie and Skipper dolls.  I spent many fun hours with Barbie and Skipper, and I still have them both today (in their original swimsuits)!  It’s hard to believe those dolls will be 50 years old in just three more years.

4. What color looks best on you?

I think autumn colors suit me best.  Red is my favorite color, and I usually get compliments whenever I wear it.

My question for you is…

5.  Do you look forward to Mondays, and why or why not?