War news

Thanks for the heads up. I knew about the series and watched one episode--the one about Guadacanal. I will try to catch the one I missed. I was really wanting to see the one about North Africa, because that is where my father landed. He went from there to Italy, then France, then Germany. He drove trucks of ammunitition black out through the Italian and French alps among other things. Harrowing.

The War on PBS

If you're not Tivoing or watching this new Ken Burn's documentary, run immediately and set it up to record. They've aired two episodes already with another five to go but they seem to be repeating them regularly throughout the week so you should be able to catch up on it pretty quickly. It's absolutely terrific! He documents WW II from the viewpoint of four small towns across the country. I can't recommend this enough.

Monday Musings

First of all thank you so much for the phone call. What a lovely way to start my week. I so treasure the time with you however it is done. I hope your busy life will allow for a weekend (at least) visit soon, as I would so love to see your pretty face and chat in person.

I really appreciate the sound advice that you gave me about Toni. I will take it and am grateful for the imput from your level head. You have a great way of looking at things to my way of thinking.

I know you are happy with the progress you have made in the yard. I have so much to do outside and keep getting distracted by other committments. I have penciled in the first week of October as "Shirley time" as I have many many errands to do inside and outside and they are beginning to drive me nuts being undone. Whine whine I am truly grateful for friends to share my time with, but I need to stop and get tasks done too. That is the way that I am wired and I get cranky if I have to go too long without "doing".

I hope your week will be a wonderful one.

Advice worth what you're paying for it...

I'm not sure how to advise you on Toni, Mom. Toni is talking about church and Walmart folks (non-family) sounds like and I don't know why you'd classify yourself in with them or think she would classify you in with them. No matter what else, you're her sister. Her eldest sister. Trust me, I'm not trying to sway you either way. I'm just suggesting that you listen to what your _heart_ says to do and follow that and not worry the other things.

I got an email today from Bluestone Perennnials saying my order has shipped. I have absolutely no memory of ordering anything from them so it must be something I did this spring. Isn't that going to be a surprise when it arrives? Heh! I'm deliberately not going to go look the order up just to maintain the surprise.

Kev has his next (and last, I hope!) epidural on Tuesday. He sees the chiropractor this weekend and we're hoping for good news. I know he's worried to death that he's going to need surgery on this but I think things are getting better. We'll cross our fingers. More later! Time to fold the clothes.

So Undecided---HELP

I am so undecided about what to do about Toni. I am the only sibling that has not been there and Rick has been twice. He and Alan cleaned out Toni's tool shed at her request last weekend. I talked to Toni and to Alan (he called me, I called her) yesterday. Alan and Genice are going every weekend to help in some way. Toni talked about how draining all the church and Walmart company was even though folks did not stay long. I expained to her (again) why I wasn't coming and her reply was "you'd come if I needed you?" and I said on the next flight out. As I was hanging up I told her again, if there is anyway or anything I can do to help you, you have only to ask. I know they have been house hunting, as Alan said they found a house they really liked that is a 3-bedroom on the west side of town, which would still be close to Amy and Robert. I would value your opinion--what do you think I should do? Both Alan and Toni said Kent is losing weight like crazy. Alan said all Kent wants to do is sit in a chair or lie on the couch. I remember so well, what it is like and what is going on with him. My experience does not stretch to the chemo part however. Alan said that Kent is really sick for a couple of days after every treatment.

What on earth is that machine you mentioned? Is that the one that makes holes in the ground so the thatch can breathe?

Lois brought me two bicolor iris and sent a picture of the iris blooming. It is gorgeous and I can hardly wait to see it blooming. I will share with you as soon as it is ready to divide. I am heading for Lowes after Bible study this morning and will blogg the goodies I find there.

I bought a couple of new fall blouses and a pair of deep purple brushed cotton pants on my shopping trip with Lois and Kay. I also got a Coldwater Creek fall handbag and a new perfume called Insolence by Guerlain. You must smell it, it is a fragrance you might want to wear yourself this fall.

Hope your week is going smoothly and that you will have a great week end.

Drabble

I hadn't thought of all the people who would want to help and how exhausting "help" can be. If you change your mind, though, let me know and I'll travel with you if you want.

It's not my chair railing I'm thinking about doing but the actual handrails (bannister) for the stairs. The one on the second set past the landing is a single piece of wood mounted on brass holders I want to replace anyway so I think I'll take that down and practice on that. If it turns out okay, then I can do the rest of it. I wouldn't think it'd be too tough as there's not a whole lot to do. Probably take longer to sand it than anything.

I'm currently on the hunt to rent us a verticutter. The upside to having a seed grass lawn is you can edge your beds with an english edger and mulch. The downside is about every 10-12 years you have to renovate it pretty heavily including verticutting it. Ah well...at least one gets to learn new skills!!

Worth the wait

It is so very nice to hear from you. I have missed your cheery "voice" and everyday news. I completely understand that you have been consumed by busy. It is nice to hear that things are slowing down a bit in the work place and I hope that they continue to stay that way.

I am uncertain what to do about going to see Toni and Kent. I know that with trying to sell the house, pack to move, care for the grandkids after school, deal with visits from church and friends, get Kent to chemo treatments and then care for him as he deals with the cancer and the aftereffects of the treatments, Toni is stretched pretty thin. Based on my own experiece I have decided not to go, but to keep in touch through cards and phone calls. I think a additonal person to have to deal with might be too much. Since Amy and Robert and Charles and Genice are on the spot, I think that there is enough family to deal with. Toni's telephone number is 806-359-0623. I think she would love to hear a word of support from you should you want to call.

Recently on a HGTV they redid a wooden door, floor and wood work in an older home. They just sanded it a bit, to make the stain take and then went with a bit darker stain than was originally there. They finished with a poly varnish and it looked great, at least on TV. If it were my chair railing that is the route I would take. Replacing would be expensive I would think.

The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated!

I'm here! I'm back! I won't leave again! I do apologize for abandoning this little project for a bit. I told you on the phone, and I meant it, that it's really important to me. It's just been a crazy 30 days with two new employees, a new boss and three major projects--not to mention some emotional silliness. I've been coming home every night just too wiped to do anything and feeling rather anti-people in general. Certainly no excuse but at least some explanation.

The light at the end of the tunnel appears. Projects are mostly finished and new people mostly broken in so things are better. I'm ready to get back to the old schedule of pondering new house projects and chatting with you about them. I have one for you though it may require a phone conversation. The stair railings in our house are wooden as far as I know but are stained and varnished with that generic sorta oak and the high gloss finish you always see in builder grade houses. It's starting to look fairly beat up and ratty and I'm wondering about refinishing it. Any thoughts about how well that type of pine stuff strips off? Am I explaining it well enough for you to tell or do you need pictures? You have any experience doing something like this? It almost seems it'd be like doing baseboards though a baseboard I'd simply replace. I have no idea how hard it is to replace railings with their posts. Thoughts?

Outside of that, life is looking pretty good. It's gotten rather hottish again here with Indian summer after a cool and rainy weekend. Tomorrow night I'm going to finish up some more garden tasks including the perennial divisions I need to do. Funny you mention asters as I picked some up today at lunch to plant. You read your Garden's Gate didn't you? I want to get some more but the selection was limited at the old Home Depot. I think I'll check Lowe's on the way home.

Thanks for the update on Kent. Are you considering going out there at all? If you want to/need to, let me know and I can make some arrangements to go with you. I'm sure sorry they're having to go through all this. You think I should call Amy? I don't have her number and it's not like we're close but you always feel like you should do something.

Oh! Here's something for you! It will make you cringe to watch it but it's amazing. Watch the pedestrian crossing. He survives apparently because the car rolls over him exactly where it got dented. It will certainly make you think three times about crossing against a red light!!

Sunday noonish

Just thought I would check in to keep the poor ole blog from getting lonely. It is warming up here again, but hopefully a full summer climate will not return.


I am checking out a new quilt shop and having lunch with a friend tomorrow and shopping and lunch with Lois and Kay on Tuesday, Bible Study on Thursday and an all day session with the gals on Saturday up in the McKinney area with a Sunday School party Saturday night. This week is going to be way busier than I like to be, but it seems that it is always a case of feast or famine, when it comes to social opportunities.

I hope that you are taking some time to rest and relax and are doing something fun for yourself every day.

Fall Flowers

Yea, there was a new post. I am always so tickled to open this site and find a new message from you. Okay, so I am easily entertained, but it is always nice to hear from you.

I am headed to the yard today. I need to be outside for a number of reasons today, and of course the yard always needs attention. Molly will be thrilled. She likes nothing better than a yard day and would be happy if I spent all day every day out there.

I have not planted any new flowers, but plan to shift some old ones around to new places---does that count? The mums sound nice and always scream fall to me. Do you have any asters? They are wonderful perrenials and pair so nicely with mums.

Sure do hope that you are right about Kevin not needing a third injection and that this last one will take care of the problem.

I have an update on Toni and Kent. Sue, Bill and a third cousin of Kent's came for a visit, but left after the Labor Day weekend. Tuesday they started re-roofing their house and pole barn which had suffered hail damage. They have put the house on the market as Kent wants to get Toni settled back in town possibly in a town house before he dies. The house and land they have is large for two people, and will not be possible for Toni to maintain on her own. Kent had another chemo treatment on Wednesday. They make him pretty sick Thursday and Friday and he has no appetite and is not eating very much. You remember that goes with this illness.
Toni is packing to move, still picking up and carring for the grandkids after school and Kent. Dealing with all of this I know that she is stretched to the breaking point. Keep her in your prayers for strength and courage if you will.

I need to go get dressed, eat breakfast, and start doing something productive. LOL

Jealousy is in the eye of the beholder

I'm jealous you got your house all clean and decorated for fall. I haven't done that yet. I want to go tomorrow and pick up some mums to plant over the weekend though we're supposed to get rain the next few days. That should make it an easier task to get everything all cleaned this weekend.

I took Kevin in this morning for his second epidural. It seems to have gone well and the doctor is hopeful we won't even have to do a third. Cross your fingers! My new boss starts Monday. I'm both a bit wary and relieved that I can hand off some of these worries. It'll be nice to be a mindless worker bee for a while.

No news outside of that. Everyone's healthy and happy. Just doing the life thing!

Timing is Everything

I got my Schribner's iris delivery, so naturally we have been getting showers everyday. Not enough to do a lot of good, but enough to make the beds muddy. I know from experience that they will do fine for a week or more, so when it clears up I will get them planted. I spent an hour or so, sweeping and picking up the leaves that have fallen in the back yard. Naturally that is very temporary, but it looks better for a bit.

I got the house cleaned and nearly completely decorated (still need to clean and decorate the baths) for fall. I just love fall and having the house look so festive.

Congratulations on getting your beds cleaned out. I so wish that I could say the same thing. I look forward to adding more day lilies. I just love those plants. What kinds of plants are you wanting to add...shrubs, flowers, trees???

I have just about all the plans in place for the guest room redo and hopefully will actually start work on it this month. Like anything the prep work is the yucky part and I am not looking forward to that. I hope to get over to Lowes this week and purchase the paint and look at shutters and window molding.

Well Molly and I need to get busy. Aren't I lucky in that she aways wants to "help"?

Heh!

A bout of insanity never hurt anyone. I'm a good example of that just recently. They are a neat dog but I'm rather a believer of dog karma. The accidental dogs seem to be the ones that are the best. Kismet!

Got all my beds cleaned out this weekend. Brown stuff trimmed off and a few plants removed that just didn't ring my bell. I'm hoping to get home early enough tomorrow night to start dividing daylilies. I want to split my stellas and spread them out some and then tackle the big guys. With any luck I'll be able to send some your way this week. Bunch of plant sales coming up this month and I want to have some idea of what I'm looking for when I go shop.

I plead temporary insanity

What was I thinking??? After two days in which I did little but search every website I could find on labradoodles and talk to everyone I knew that have ever had any contact at all with one, and mentally listing pros and cons of ownership, I have decided that I had a bout of temporary insanity. I adore the breed and think that they are close to the perfect pet, BUT they are very EXPENSIVE and I would need to drive 1600 miles (round trip) to get one. Then comes at least one year of extensive training followed by many years of bathing, vet trips, shot updates, Frontline and Heartworm purchases, toys, food, etc. $$$$$$

I have decided that Miss Molly is going to have to make it with my company alone unless some unforseen circumstance puts another dog into our life. They are the cutest, best tempered doggies though and I will continue to be a fan of the breed.

This morning when I stepped out it felt like FALL. When I got out of church summer had returned, but I have tasted fall and know it will soon arrive. YEA, the poor garden looks tired and messy as there are many leaves falling already. I can't wait to whip it back into shape.

Labradoodles!

Sounds like it should be a snack. I didn't see your links just yet so went and did some general reading on them. They're just adorable!

I found one explanation on the multi-generational versus "early generational" on Aussidog.

Some people want to avoid making the Labradoodle into a recognized breed, in order to maximize genetic diversity. By restricting breeding to early generation dogs (i.e., bred from a Poodle and Labrador rather than from two Labradoodles), they hope to maintain a wide gene pool, and avoid the inherited health problems that have plagued some dog breeds. Other people are breeding Labradoodle to Labradoodle over successive generations, and trying to establish a new breed. These dogs are usually referred to as Multigenerational (abr. Multigen) or Australian Labradoodles. Australian Labradoodles differ from Multigenerational Labradoodles, as they may also have other breeds in their ancestry. English and American Cocker Spaniel/Poodle crosses, Two Irish Water Spaniels, Wheaton Terriers and a Curly Coated Retriever have variously been used in some Australian Labradoodle lines.

That made sense to me. Looking forward to learn more about them!