Something simply cool

Called HDR, these are real pictures that are overlaid with spectrum enhancing. It creates stunning pictures.

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/03/10/35-fantastic-hdr-pictures/

I used these for wallpapers a lot.

Memorial Weekend Recap

Mother Nature was really kind to us this weekend. We had a lot of rain but it call came in after 10pm each night and was gone by 10 or 11am the next day. The only downside is while Saturday was just 85 degrees tempwise, it was about 100% humidity. Of course that was the day we picked to do a lot of the mandatory yard work. Wheeeeee! It was SO muggy it took us both about 3 hours to get both lawns mowed.

I did get one project done that's been on the to do list for forever and got a coat of stain on the deck. That was a bit of a goat rope keeping the animals off it for it to dry a little bit. I also built a couple of new edged raised beds for a couple of shrubs -- a rose of sharon and one to be named that I bought and have no idea what it is. They weren't doing well in their old locations so we'll see how we do there. The beds are along the fence which means they get morning sun but are shaded from the afternoon sun and that should make them happier. The robins were also made very happy by the tilling of the soil. There's been loads of them hanging out on the fence. I think they've learned the sound of the tiller means "buffet!" in robinese.

I told you I gave up on my initial hyacinth bean planting and planted some new seeds in a little pot and potting soil. Whee! Apparently that's the way to do it. One week later, they're all up and on their third set of leaves. I figure I'll let them grow in the pot for one more week and then transplant them next to their permanent home.

We were pretty boring all weekend. Watched some movies, worked in the yard as described, did some laundry, grilled some steaks. Fairly quiet after starting off with the great Snake Incident of '08. /shudders

Memorial Day

Whew is it hot here. Summer has definitely arrived. I went to Wal-Mart and picked up two shrubs, a dwarf pittosporum and a variagated pittosporum and a Mexican bush sage and two blue plumbago and a Star Jasmine vine. All were on sale for MD, but looked wonderful. They also had some of the best looking Encore Azaleas that I have seen in 5 gallon containers for $20 each, but I did not think I could afford those.

I did lodge a protest at the site you sent. I do so hope that I get the letter from TRS this coming week, so that I can get the paperwork completed and taken to SS and get this behind me. I do not feel like I can move forward financially until I learn for sure that I will not have to pay the $3500.

Bridget has really grown since I got her and her coat has improved tremendously. She had dandruff when she arrived, which has totally gone. The vet told me it would as her nutrition improved. Housebreaking is still going on as her efforts are sporadic. She starts puppy class this Thursday and I hope that she will be a star and learn a lot. She is a sweetie and a funny girl. I will be happy to see the permanent teeth in place though as chewing is still a major occupation of Bridget's.

I have no set plans for the day and will just let things unfold. I hope that the two of you have a wonderfully relaxing day.

Call to Action

I've been doing a lot of research on this GPO and WEP thing for social security. What a crock!!! I'm steamed.

In the meantime, there is an action alert to repeal this unjust modification and I encourage you to contact your congressmen. Here's a place to send an automated letter but if you feel up to it, I'd call directly. You are their constituents. I've sent one to my representative already.

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/socialsecurity13

Thursday already

This week has flown by so fast and I cannot believe that it is almost the week end. I went to quilting yesterday for the first time since Bridget entered my life. She did great closed off in the garden room with Molly. I stayed for two and a half hours, which was shorter than usual for our get togethers, but was not sure how things would go at home. Who knows I might actually get to do some sewing again soon.

I have red and also white amaryllis blooming. I am going to try to grow some amaryllis from seed just to see what happens. The day Lillie's have started blooming too and I look forward to going out each morning to see what has opened. So far I have had yellow, wine, and pink ones. The spiderwort, gerbera and begonias are also adding color to the yard. The Easter Lillie's are just amazing this year. If you do not have those in your yard, I highly recommend getting some. I want to add more next next. I just bought the plants they sell around Easter time when they went on sale after Easter and plopped them in the ground. They all thrived and I have four plants now and can't wait to add more. My hycianth beans are taller than the arbor, but are just starting to branch out to the sides as all the growth has been upwards. The new clematis is not happy in that spot. I think it is the pitiful soil. If it perishes, I will make better dirt and replant. There are still some green leaves so it might adjust, who knows?

I have had several friends get their tax incentive checks, but as my SS number ends in a high number guess I will be in the last bunch if I get one at all. They have already spent their money.

I am getting my haircut at noon today. Hooray, I am tired of it drooping in my eyes. I also need to go by the bank for some money and to the water store. I would love to see the new Indiana Jones movie, but as it just opens today, and with a holiday weekend it will probably be packed so I probably will wait until next week when the working crowd goes back to work and before the kids are out of school. Wish you were here to see it with me.

As you can see all I have to share is day-to-day stuff, but that is my life. I might add that I like it that way and am happy to leave the exciting (and stressful) to the more adventurous out there.

Monday Checkin Redux

Busy busy weekend in the old yard. I went and got 15 bags of Cotton Boll compost and I'm using that as a mulch in several of my beds. I got all but one bag spread. Phew! I build a small bed with some spare stone edging next to the fence and moved a shrub I had that wasn't doing well in its old spot and surrounded that with some spare hostas. Thrive or die! Almost all my irises are in bloom now. They're just gorgeous this year. My yellow ones are in amongst some blue salvia that's blooming. I love the yellow and blue/purple color combos.

I spotted a chinese lilac at the nursery that was absolutely _covered_ in butterflies. They're sure gorgeous. I'm pondering putting one in but don't have a lot of experience with them. Have you ever grown one?

I went by Walmart after the dentist today and was disgusted. I wanted some color annuals and some more salvia for the beds and some pots. Their plants are a great price but just awful. Half dead root-bound scraggly things. I refuse to pay the prices at Home Depot ($4.00 for a zonal geranium!?) so it's time to stop and check out all the little blacktop nurseries that spring up around here. Hopefully I can find some good plants at decent prices.

I'm sure sorry to hear that Bridget is feeling poorly. Any idea what's caused that? She get into something that didn't settle right with her little self?

The diet was a total disaster last week. I didn't even weigh on Friday because I knew it would be so terrible. I was a total idiot about it. So I'm back on it this week and determined to behave. I will be skinnier! I'm tired of carrying big bags of concrete on my hips, backside and stomach.

Monday Morning

Another Monday rolls around with a dirty house,bills to pay and laundry to do. We are supposed to get close to 100 degrees today, so guess it would not be to pleasant outdoors anyway, so I might as well work inside.

I went to VBS training last night. VBS isn't until the week of July 21, but a lot of folks are going to Germany on a choir trip and so will be gone in June. It is an island theme this year. I will be in 5th grade. I said anywhere you need me is fine and that is where they put me. I guess most folks want the younger kids even in bible school.

Bridget continues to get bouts of upset stomach/diarrhea. She did not feel well all weekend, so I had to keep the girls separated a lot and gave Bridget the lion's share of attention. As a result Molly is sulking and is pretty much ignoring me and staying outside or inside under my bed in her bed. Shesh! what's a mother to do.

Well this sure sounds like whining, and that was not my intent. Just not much going on of any interest around here.

Midweek Checkin

A hectic week will always throw a wrench into the best laid plans. You didn't gain any weight so no harm, no foul. It's tough to stay to a plan like that as eating well is more work than eating poorly. It's faster and cheaper to eat bad junk than good stuff. That's the challenge I face--how to do a decent meal without thought and effort. Some nights I just don't want to even consider it and throw a PB&J sandwich down. That's why I'm trying to find good alternatives for that kind of food with the wrap breads and fruit rather than jelly, etc.

I'm going at lunch to get a lot of bags of compost. Kev's working tonight so that gives me an evening to work in the beds. My irises are starting to bloom. It looks like all those that I bought last fall have done very very well. Of course it's been a very long cool wet spring. I hope that will give everything a good chance to get going. My jasmine vine you recommended seems to be coming up well too. I added a trellis to give it something to climb on. No sign so far of the hyacinth beans I planted. It's been 7-8 days. I go check every day for some sign of little leaves. Maybe it's been too cool for it---or I'm just impatient.

Hang in there with the doggies. You've sounded really harassed the last few times I've talked to you and I hope that's just tone and you're not feeling harassed and high strung in life. If so, I hope you're taking enough relax time for you.

Confession

I totally did not diet this week and I was surprised to find that while I did not lose any weight, I did not gain any either. The week was so hectic and confused and busy that diet was the last thing on my mind. I have strengthened my resolve and will do much better next week. I am so proud of you for adding the treadmill (also a goal next week) and for losing three more pounds. You go girl!!!!

I cannot tell you how much I treasure your phone calls on the way home. I look forward to hearing from you and being able to chat is the next best thing to having you live in town. I hope that things are more settled in your home and know that I keep you in my mind a lot and in my heart constantly.

Your weekend plans sound very ambitious and I hope you will pace yourself and not overdo. If I lived there, I would be right there giving you a hand. Since I do not, I hope that Kevin will give you the gift of his two hands.

I think the batteries are dead and gone, so will buy some more today and get the pictures of the yard changes and Bridget, the pup in the mail. She has grown a lot this week and it is very obvious by her behavior and appearance that she is feeling much better.

I must do some serious cleaning this week end as the house has reached my intolerance level. I have not sewn for a week and am feeling twingy. You know I need a garden and sew fix on a regular basis. Today is supposed to be pretty warm, so it is a good day to be indoors working.
I do need to do some yard work too, so maybe I can work them both in. I also need to study the lesson for tomorrow. Yipes, I better quit blogging and get busy!!!

TGIF!

Good and meh on the diet front this week. Was back to three pounds. I'd sure like to see a bit more but was not totally unhappy as I had a backslide Wednesday. I did get on the treadmill 3 times this week and plan to continue that. The treadmill seems to be a good choice when my energy level is low. How about you? How were things on the quest to "Go Get Slim!" ?

Great choice on the meal. It's very hard to go wrong with chicken fried steak and trimmings. That's a very sweet thing for you to do and you make the best chicken fried steak around.

I went and got a card for Paula and got it mailed off. She's having some surgery today and I need to call this evening and see how it went. She was diagnosed with a tumor on her lung 10 days ago and they're going in to take it out.

This weekend starts the Great Patio Project. Step one is to dig a trench around the base of my deck and place a border of fiber edging. This is to provide a place to store all the rock that will be removed from around the old patio and paths. That shouldn't be too tough. Step two will be to remove all the old brick out of the existing patio. I'm going to try to reuse most of it in some project or another. Bricks just too expensive to dump. Some of the brick is getting chipped and weathered around the edges but none of it looks broken. I may use it to make some small "four square" spots around the new patio for adding potted plants etc.

Off to make some dinner! Hope to talk to you soon.

Hump day

Things are in a temporary calm for a change Bridget is snoozing at my feet and Molly has her usual post on the kitchen rug so she can see the most directions doing the same. I have fed the entire household and have paid bills. That online banking you got me going with is just the very best and I do not know why I did not do it years ago. I am such a slow learner at times.

Today is another cool day that I would love to be spending in the garden , but cannot because of commitments. The graveside service is at 11 and Kitty asked Edwina, another quilt buddy, and I to come to the house afterward for lunch and to be with her. I could not refuse, and did not want to, so the garden will have to wait. We are supposed to climb into the 90's by the weekend, so I guess our lovely spring is gone and summer is knocking at the door. YUK. my least favorite season.

I decided to do chicken fried steak, gravy, parsley new potatoes, a tossed salad and apple pie for the meal. I know Kitty likes American cooking the best and that is easy to do and as cheap as anything to fix. Once the decision is made as to WHAT to cook, the rest is easy.

I am going to go check on the batteries as soon as I get up and I thank you for the reminder. I sure had forgotten that we did rechargeable ones.

I hope they are playing nice today and work and that you can get in some relax time tonight. You know I send hugs always.

Phew!

Long garden day yesterday with most of it having to do with weeding. With the high winds and heavy rains we've been having, the weeds are making their best push to take over the world. Tenacious things.

Got some of the hyacinth beans you gave me planted as well as some of those ornamental peppers. I hope they'll come up okay. I feel like Jack the Giant Killer waiting for them to appear. My next task is to rework my round bed with some more materials to make it a much better draining bed so I can put herbs in it. I'm not sure if I'm going to add a layer of stone and make it a deeper raised bed or try to work with the soil as is. It's good soil but still fairly clay-ey when it comes to drainage.

It's so odd to be telling you about tasks that I know you did 6 weeks ago but that's how much later our season is than yours.

Best guess

It is hard to say from just a picture, but my best guess would be a crabapple tree. They come in many varieties and are shaped like that and have pink blooms in the spring ranging in color from light pink to deep pink and pinkish-purple depending on the variety. The leaves are oval in shape and are very attactive and often have redish color on the underside of the leaf.

To make sure, I would suggest asking your neighbor. I bet she will be flattered that you find her tree attractive. Let me know what you find out, as I am curious. It is a beautiful tree and I can see why you like it.

Uncreative Title Redux

Glad to hear you say that about the weight. I didn't do very well this week either. I lost 1 pound and I give credit for that to weighing first thing in the morning. I suspect I'm at zero myself. Next week though. I think we're both eating better but just haven't gotten the metabolism kicked up yet. That's the story I'm going with.

Here's the tree/shrub I was talking about. Can you name that tree in three notes or less? The color is actually much deeper on the tree. The sun was behind the tree when this was taken.

Friday news

I am too pooped to be creative with a title. Let's see where to start. That I can email at all is due to Bridget sleeping at my feet and Molly in the hall. Ever since she has entered my life, it has been whirlwind time around here. If I am not actually doing something with her, I am rushing to get some job done before it is time to do something with her.

We went for our first socialization trip today. To the post office and to the car wash. She did beautifully both in the car and during the "Scary car wash". She is a very calm girl. Yea for that. Home we came, she went into the crate for a nap after a potty break, then I took Molly for a nice long walk and up to the nursury on Centerville for a couple of flats each of red impatients and begonias and a purple and green wandering jew hanging basket. Home from that another potty break and check the email, which is where we are now. Did I mention that the day started at 4 AM? At five we got a real nice rain and a cooling of temperatures. Yea again. It is a nice 70 something outside and perfect for yard work.

I did not do so well on the diet this week. I did not gain any, but also did not lose any. I was afraid of that because I have not been drinking the water like I should and I know I was too generous with portions several times (I needed the energy)

Needless to say quilting has gone by the wayside and I am getting behind with some project due dates there. Oh well, c'est la guerre.

I hope you can get out into the garden. I have found tulips very tricky to grow as perrenials and so I treat them as annuals. I buy one bag of bright colored ones, plant them in front of the bed and enjoy the show, then dig them up. Have I mentioned in the last five seconds just how much I hate kudzu. A gardening friend told me that you never can get rid of it, just control it. How depressing is that!!

I am enjoying the book you sent on Agility Training so much. It is full of information and is an entertaining read. I want to pick up one of the books on border collies the next time I am close to a pet store.

My weekend looks like this: tomorrow get Diane and drive to Plano to pick up the last three blocks in a block of the month quilt project, dash home do the doggie routine and hope to beat the workmen that rescheduled the gutter cleaning. Sunday" church/SS dash home do the doggie routine and feed, go back to church for a 12:30 lunch and training session (till 3) for all Sunday School workers. Dash home do the doggie routine Monday: garden work as I can as the tree guys are due to trim the trees. So much for the idea that retirment is all rocking chairs and soap operas!!

My PC is back up and running so yay for that. The conspiracy plot of the Universe continues. I'm going to have to buy a tinfoil hat.

Outside of that, no real news except it's May and I didn't get *one* *single* *project* I'd wanted to do in April done in April. Sheesh. I'm pathetic. Off to Home Depot at lunch to buy myself a bunch of Black Cow and compost. I think we're supposed to actually have nice weather this weekend so it's outside time.

Very few of my tulips did well this year. Not sure exactly why but very few bloomed. The daffodils were all okay but not the tulips. I need to investigate if there's something I need to do year 3 on some of them. Does one have to dig up and divide tulips? The foliage doesn't indicate there's a bunch of plants.