Pudgeduck's World

The Good Life

2012-01-21T09:29:00.019-07:00

Clouds rolled in, but it turned out to be a beautiful day on the lake!

My veggies are doing just fine without any help from me! No weeds to pull and the sprinklers are working. I just wait for the right time to harvest. It's hard to leave the carrots alone--this baby stage is when they taste the best!!

Cabbage hasn't produced a head yet, but

the cauliflower can be picked now. However, I am waiting until I have all the ingredients for my famous eleven-vegetable organic soup. The two heads on this plant have purple streaks running throughout. Could the plant have picked up some DNA from the beet seeds that never came up last year? LOL.

Only one broccoli plant this year.

Three heads on this plant.

Ivy geranium plant has new flowers each day!

The wildflower bed is full! I planted lots of seeds--first pack didn't come out so I added another-that didn't come up fast enough for me so then one more and now it looks like they all came up! Should bloom in February, March, April, and a few in May. Can't wait to see all these!

Nasturtiums are looking good as usual. I have pots of these all over!

I'm so glad I planted a few sweet peas in a couple of pots. Something happened to the soil or who knows what, because only about 8 plants came up out of 6 packets of seeds. I always have two long beds full, hope whatever the problem is this time will resolve next season.

I added a few stocks in the sweet pea bed. I love the sweet smell mixed with the alyssum and petunias. Pretty nice life here!

Little Lolly Bee. My little girl. Kids say she has it much better than they ever did! My life sure changed after Hubby brought her home for Valentines Day. She is with me everwhere I go. She now weighs 4 lbs, 6oz.

Brox is now 4 months in this pic. She is the best little girl! Always has a smile-loves her big brother Ryder. Yes, life is good here!

Picture Perfect!

2011-11-17T19:03:00.016-07:00

A picture perfect day! This is on the top of my list of best day ever! Army grandson home on leave from Afghanistan, Grand daughter and family home for the celebration. We had a glorious 10 days together.

Sun-up till sundown we were busy celebrating...

Lots of food...

And tributes...

Ryder stopping to smell the flowers. He loves my garden and everything was watered over and over again!

Fall in Arizona

2011-10-28T21:50:00.010-07:00

I love this photo so much that I had it enlarged to 11" x 15" and framed. I have three of my favorite lake sunrise/sunset photos hanging on my family room wall.

TurrTull finally went in for the fall/winter season. He just missed his favorite habiscus in bloom.

Remember when I painted this set purple? Well, now it is going on the front patio and it had to match the mosaic wall in progress so it got the colbalt blue treatment. Nothing last around here very long as it is!!

I have so many beautiful sunrise photos I decided to make a photo book of the many I have taken over the past few years. I love my home and I'm so grateful that I wake to such a daily blessing.

A Typical Morning At The Lake

2011-10-17T07:00:00.006-07:00

Another beautiful Estrella lake sunrise.

Lolly Bee wants to play--at 5 a.m.!!!

My first cactus flower in over a year! I could have posted 20 more photos because I was so excited. Isn't she a beauty?

I'm hoping to post more- trying to get back into the blog scene. It's been a long time....

Another Baby Added

2011-10-10T17:46:00.010-07:00

My newest great grandchild, Broxton Tayte, born July 26th. We had just arrived home from Maui when we got the call to come to North Carolina to meet this sweet baby girl!

As per usual I had to buy a new swing for the fall/winter season. Swing # 5 blew over in haboobs that the top ripped and bent the frame. The cheap fabric on the cheap swings just won't last more than two seasons! I bought this one because it folds out into a bed.

Knoll Lake 2011

2011-07-28T19:03:00.015-07:00

Our annual Knoll lake vacation camping trip was so much fun. Just getting out of the desert heat for a few days can do wonders for the soul. There hasn't been much rainfall this year, just enough to raise the ban on camp fires.

We caught a few fish,

saw some beautiful sunsets,

went for walks--I can't find tiny dog clothes that fit Lolly Bee so hubby's sock kept the chill off during the morning stroll...

Camping dogs close to us. This is Rage.

And Chico.

Francis, Jimmy Tom and Midge.

LollyBee loving the campfire.

I spent a lot of time on this hammock.

Eddie has been the camp host at Knoll Lake for the past 8+ years. He always had a lot of great stories and a lot of information about the wildlife in the area. This is his last year this site. He will be missed!

Artichoke Flowers

2011-07-09T20:27:00.006-07:00

Beautiful artichoke flowers! I have about 6 dried and on display. I just love these flowers, probably more than the artichokes!

Sun rays over my roof line. So beautiful.

My Summer Vacation

2011-06-26T19:06:00.013-07:00

Another grand daughter, another Hawaii graduation trip! This is the last grandchild graduating from high school, so this is probably my last trip there.

Lolly Tales

2011-05-30T20:28:00.008-07:00

Enjoying another shopping trip. I can't go anywhere without being stopped by folks asking about Lolly. If you want to make friends, get a little dog!

Lolly eats with Turr Tull everyday. I have to hide the pellets from her--she eats every last one. Poor Turr Tull would starve if left to Lolly's devices. Lolly eats all the fruit, some lettuce and drinks his water. She hasn't yet followed him into his turtle house.

Sprinkle Review

2011-05-14T20:39:00.022-07:00

My granddaughter is due in August and flew in from NC for her baby shower and her sister's coming graduation. Since it is her second baby we kept the party small, and called it a "Sprinkle" instead of a Shower!

After the usual gift opening, guests were able to take advantage of the latest fad--having feathers added to their hair. Even though I'm an old lady, I got some bright pink ones--but kept them kind of hidden in an under layer of hair, with just a hint of color peeking out! At this age, I can do anything I want!

The younger bunch didn't feel the need to keep the feathers subtle, and of course they looked great in all their youthful splendor. The feathers are real, and can be washed, curled and will stay in the hair for about three months unless you want to remove them.

My dancer granddaughter with her turquoise feathers.

My Sprinkle-honoree granddaughter is on the right. She kept her feathers more subtle, while her friend went all out with her turquoise and white feathers.

Another granddaughter has some multicolor feathers, which match her personality.

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They say that making a decision, even a bad one, is better than making no decision at all. So, I had one of each!!

Catch Up Time!

2011-05-09T23:00:00.003-07:00

My little Lolly Bee loves her new hat! I've tried to get her to wear it for a cute picture, but she wouldn't have any part of it! Of course she is the boss in this family!

I finished cleaning the sweet pea bed and other flowers that were on the wane, and I harvested the last of my vegetables! This year I grew pole beans--the birds only left me a few to try--and they were good. I had quite a lot of broccoli this year. The bedding plants were mislabeled AGAIN as cauliflower--and the lone tomato plant is loaded with blooms and green fruit!

This year's cauliflower wasn't as good as last year's creamy yellow one. I'm planning on having at least 6 plants next year--if I can get something that's labeled right.

Left in the bed is Swiss chard, eggplant and artichoke. The sunflowers surrounding the bed are now over 5 feet tall.

All my annuals are still growing and looking good, although any day now they will wilt and will have to be pulled up. In their place I will plant Vinca plants that will last for all our long hot summer!

Turr Tull came out a few weeks ago and met Lolly Bee for the first time. He didn't stop eating while she sniffed around him, so I guess he likes her. I know they will become best buds!

I planted trailing rosemary on top of Turr Tull's house hoping the roots will help stabilize the dirt on top. The Gargoyle sits on the roof to keep away turtle monsters.

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I'm using this post to catch up for the time that I slacked off blogging: It's been hectic here so I'll explain what's been happening.

Hubby's still in remission--another test in June and we are expecting another good report!!

My grandson's wedding was flawless! The feathers used in place of some flowers were striking-- and everyone loved it! It was a good way to save money too! My deployed grandson acted as best man in absentia. His toast to the bride and groom was recorded on video and played, and there was not a dry eye in the crowd!

I broke my camera yet again--dropping it at the wedding reception. I got smarter this time and bought insurance on my new replacement camera!

My car was towed from downtown Phoenix after it broke down in major traffic--another expense not planned for--but thankfully, I have AAA, and they towed my car home. It's still not running. Hope it's fixable.

A daughter, granddaughter and I celebrated our birthdays in March and April, and there were wedding showers, the wedding and our granddaughter's tryouts and acceptance to the University of Arizona's Pom Line! She was chosen as one of the 22 who will be on the line. Well over 150 tried out, so getting on the line is quite an honor as in incoming freshman. She's a wonderful dancer and has been at it since she was two!

I had mini school pal reunion at my home, and then a sleep over! Just like half century ago!

This month there is my granddaughter's senior graduation, party, and my pregnant granddaughter will be visiting from NC. It will be her last trip home before the new baby arrives.

I'm planning my trip to Hawaii for next month--my graduating granddaughter is being gifted the trip by her parents and all of us go along--just like when our other granddaughter graduated years ago.

After all this, and then going on our annual camping trip means that I should plan on buying all my clothes from Lane Bryant. If I could just say no--but no, I can't! I did start the Sunday morning on a diet but guess who came over on Mother's day with a homemade lemon cake!! I couldn't refuse my granddaughter--she went to a lot of trouble making it and all....

Seven Years of Some Kind of Luck

2011-03-29T00:40:00.000-07:00

So, after 22 years of using an inherited mirror, it slipped off the bathroom counter and broke! It was a gift to my aunt from her mother when she was a child. My aunt Lucy passed away in 1986 at the age of 86. I used it every day, just as she did. It has a wood frame and up until this date, it was very sturdy as things from the past were normally made, but glass is glass, and it breaks.

I have had a lot of major expenses these past weeks! Bad luck I guess--over $1k in car repairs, then my computer froze and I got a new laptop, lots of house repairs--on and on--and all this happened BEFORE the mirror broke! If I were superstitious, I would think I should go into hiding! And just when things started to become overwhelming for me, I started a new project! I wonder if it's a form of self punishment or a way to relieve anxiety!

I'm dumping my unused hobby room (I had delusions of grandeur, planning to spend hours in there crafting and "arting", but it was never to be.) So, I'm making the room into a proper guest room...once again! We tore out the original white carpet, now 20 years old but still white, and replaced it with wood floors to match the rest of the house.

Me and my shadow--with me every step I take!!

We are having so much fun with little Lolly Bee! She weights 1lb 3oz! She can fetch and is potty trained! Only barks when she wants to play. Loves everyone--not shy--and she is so darn cute!

Turr tull came out of hibernation for the first time this year . I fed him a few hibiscus blossoms and introduced him to Lolly. He hissed at her and she just looked at him and went off to play. I am losing a few pounds going outside with Lolly--best thing ever--I have to get off my computer quite a few times a day. We are enjoying our beautiful spring!

Results Are In!!

2011-03-04T12:41:00.007-07:00

GREAT~ Ultrasound clearly displayed that it's a GIRL!

~ My Granddaughter's Precious Moments collection~

For over 20 years I have displayed her Precious Moments collection in my Grandmother's cabinet. I started, and then added to, the various collections for each of the Grandchildren. It was agreed that I would watch over them until I deemed it was time that they could take proper care of them. Well, this collection's time has come! They are soon going to grace little Great-Granddaughter's nursery. She will be born in early August and Ryder will have a baby sister.

All this happiness has caused me to go off my diet! A box of chocolate to celebrate! I am now off the pre-wedding diet that I started yesterday in preparation for my Grandson's April wedding. He'll just have to put up with a fat grandmother in the family wedding photos!

Blooms

2011-03-04T03:01:00.003-07:00

It's springtime in the desert! See what's blooming in my garden

LARKSPUR

BLUE ELF ALOE

DESERT SENNA

BAJA FAIRY DUSTER

BRITTLE BUSH

PETUNIA

SOLAR MULTI PLASTIC

ALYSSUM

SNAPDRAGON

DAFFODIL

DESERT BLUEBELL

PANSY

NASTURTIUM

SWEET PEA

NASTURTIUM

IVY GERANIUM

TIDY TIPS

SCARLET FLAX

DAISY

WINTER JASMINE

LOLLY BEE VERSUS GARDEN ANT--SHE LOOKS LIKE THE WINNER! LOLLY weights 1.35 lbs. She loves the garden and swing as much as I do! We are in LOVE with our little girl!

RYDER ENJOYING THE INDOOR POOL

Granddaughter and Ryder (18 months now) will be here the end of March for the wedding of my oldest Grandson! Ryder will be fitted for his tux and Granddaughter will hopefully fit into her bridesmaid dress. I haven't even shopped for a dress as I hope to lose 40 lbs before the wedding. The wedding has been scheduled for quite a long time. But, true to form, I put off dieting until the last 4 weeks! Think I can do it? I only have to lose 10 pounds a week to reach my goal. Of course, I can't even lose two pounds in six months, but this time will be different. Yeah, that's the ticket. Positive thinking. Or is that called magical thinking?

2011-02-19T11:37:00.005-07:00

My favorite flower bloomed a few days before Valentine Day. I asked Hubby not to buy me flowers as nothing could top the first blooms of my sweet peas! SO instead.......He bought me a little chihuahua! He fell in love with the picture of her posted on the local store bulletin board.

She is 7 weeks old and fits into the palm of my hand. The seller cried when he paid and picked her up. Told him she would give his money back for up to a month if we didn't like her (Sounds like my daughter!) As soon as he brought her home we headed to Pet Mart to purchase food and necessary puppy paraphernalia. I'm not sure how anyone can afford a pet!!! Puppy pads--$7.99 for 10! Dry dog food--$16.99 for 6 lbs! I wanted a tiny dog carrier--$49 and up! She is so small she need a ferret collar and carrier! I think I need to visit Wal-Mart and compare prices. Her little bed was $15.99!! What about Vet bills? But wait... none of that matters as we are totally in LOVE with her and I'll just have to get over it! Little Lolly has already earned her keep--little hearts are floating out of her eyes when she looks up at me....ahhhhh!

Whirlwind....

2011-01-21T23:03:00.003-07:00

This past month has been a whirlwind of activities! I'm exhaling--finally!!! Christmas brought all my family together for what seems for just a brief moment. Army Grandson, along with NC Granddaughter and great grandson, were all here in Arizona to say our goodbye before his deployment.

My two daughters, granddaughter and I flew to Kentucky to see my grandson off to Afghanistan, and then drive his truck and belongings to NC for storage. Seems the Army charges the soldiers storage fees for their belongings, so we didn't see much sense in wasting money like that. After helping him pack at least 90 days of supplies in 4 small bags--we went to the base to see him off. It was very dramatic seeing mothers and fathers leaving their small children, families letting go....

Watching through old eyes,this poignant occasion gave me quite a jolt, as these young soldiers looked to be about 15 years old! Our well trained, courageous soldiers deserve, at the least, daily prayers from all Americans who believe in a higher power!

Goodbyes were hard and I will keep this moment in my heart forever.

Just that quick we were off into the cold, driving straight through to NC on icy roads.

I think this is somewhere in Tennessee--no way to know as there's not much difference in scenery, just snow, ice, cold!

We made it to NC in 8 hours--my daughter driving the whole way without a hitch!
NC wasn't as cold but with as much snow on the ground. I'm so blessed to live in this hot, dry desert wearing only shorts and sandals! I hate-, just hate, being constricted under piles of clothing, with scarves wrapped around my neck choking me, and gloves--I couldn't even dial a phone! But then, a welcome distraction!

a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v31QEdErDjg/TTddt-XQiJI/AAAAAAAADNc/9IWc2pzFxL0/s1600/108_0988.JPG">

Ryder!!!!!!!!!!! He welcomed us with a big smile! After a few days visit, grounded planes and layovers, we made it home!

Welcome back to the "simple" distractions of everyday life. All these big events in my twilight years have taught me that I can handle much more than I ever thought I could! I think I need a little dog to keep me distracted from life's worries. Bet my sister will say "You are just trading worries--better think about the implications and hourly responsibilities of having a pet. Pay attention, don't be impulsive." I'm going to the pound tomorrow....!

Minor Miracles

2010-12-17T13:35:00.002-07:00

A friend wrote and said she was tired of seeing "that darn turkey" on my last blog entry, so I decided I needed to update. I have a lot of excuses as to why I haven't blogged, so here goes. I can't sleep, so I can't focus during the day! However, I guess if I could sleep I wouldn't be able to enjoy the beautiful sunrises. This was photo was taken yesterday morning--then today, there was zero visibility--an unusual fog enveloped the Valley! It was so dense I couldn't even see my backyard.

My granddaughter has been visiting the past two weeks and I try to spend my days enjoying their company, because they will soon return home. Ryder is 15 months old now and at that stage of destroying everything in his path!

I am running after him every second. Might lose a few pounds in the process!

Out the door and onto the swing.....

back inside....

climbing on furniture.....up and down the stairs....

Then... just as quick--he becomes a little angel!!!

My Army grandson will be here today--if the Midwest ice storms allow the planes to fly. He will be home for 14 days then off to Afghanistan. We are trying to be positive and not wonder, WHY?

Hubby's truck was broken into--radio and tool box stolen--steering column has to be replaced along with the door locks. We were lucky in that it was not stolen! No theft insurance--the truck is just too old to justify the premiums. It is a 1994 Chevy, very popular in this region as it is a great landscaper truck! It was stolen and stripped four years ago and that cost us $3,000 to get it up and running then. This time it only cost $400.00. Again, lucky us.

Once again I lost my billfold! On my way to a friend's who had broken her ankle I stopped to get gas. It was still dark at 6 am, and I must have left my wallet on top of the car while pumping. I know, I should focus, but I'm not wired that way, dammit! But wait--there's more--A Christmas miracle! A Good Samaritan found it about 4 miles down the road, looked at the driver's license, got my address, left a note that everything was intact and they would bring it to me! It had been ran over and only two cards destroyed!! From planning my suicide to save my family from the grief of placing me in a home,or worse, my sister scolding me for another screw up. HALLELUJAH!! Saved, once again!

And then, another miracle--granddaughter is pregnant! Couldn't get any better than this, unless it would be twins or triplets! My father was a triplet and he also had twin sisters. Some one, some day should get lucky in this family that way--might as well be her! (She may disagree with that!)

All in all, we have been blessed many times this year. Hopefully the USA will be blessed again. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-24T14:28:00.003-07:00

Con, Chem or Kid's Toy? Our Own Sky Mystery

2010-11-10T22:00:00.002-07:00

Sunrise--11/5/10. Never heard a word about this strange sky. Guess it wasn't as dramatic as the one in the news of late. Could it be an airplane? Or a missle? Or a kid's toy?

Contrails...short for condensation trails. X marks the spot.

Or is it Chemtrails? Chemtrail conspiracy theory holds that some contrails are actually chemicals or biological agents deliberately sprayed at high altitudes for a purpose undisclosed to the general public. I guess we can all come to our own conclusions about these things. This plane made a couple fast turns. Glad I wasn't on that flight!

The "Wonderful" Season is Here

2010-11-05T22:30:00.000-07:00

I am spending most all my time in my garden. Everything is growing just fine without much help from me! Pots of flowers are watered daily and that is about it! All the flowerbeds are on drip irrigation and I don't have any weeds to pull so I have lots of time to just walk around, telling my plants how gorgeous they are and how much I love them. The weather has been perfect! I have even started my daily walks again!

The swing is ready with new cushions I found on closeout at Wal-mart. I am going to try to find a new hummingbird feeder again. I'm sure there must be a perfect one for my patio. I know I say that every year...even after all my previous hummingbird feeder disasters.

The rims of the Sacred Datura flowers have developed a light purple tinge. The leaves are looking raggedy and it has spread about five feet across the upper patio. I will cut it back to the ground after it stops blooming. The flowers are still very fragrant. I have seeds if anyone is interested....

Hubby didn't see any Elk on his hunting trip in Northern Arizona. But just being surrounded by the beautiful scenery, friends and family, definitely made up for his disappointment.

Great Grandson picked up Poppy's stethoscope to play with over all his toys. I would pick him for my Doctor! It is so hard not having him here to hold, hug and to pinch his little cheeks! He will be here in December and I'm trying hard to stay home instead of heading to North Carolina! My Army Grandson will be home for Thanksgiving--and hoping for a Christmas visit before deployment. Bittersweet for sure....

Spider + Webs

2010-10-31T01:37:00.001-07:00

Ryder the Spider - His Mom and Dad will be webs!

Pudgeduck's Contentment

2010-10-24T12:39:00.000-07:00

All is well in Pudgeduck's world!! Hubby caught the flower bug! What a nice surprise he left for me, hanging in a perfect spot.

The sweet peas are already 8"tall! I found a new variety (for me) that is highly scented with pale petals edged with violet. I filled in a few bare spots with them and planted a few near a trellis in another flower bed. Seems like I always find something new after all the beds are full.

I'm thinning out the nasturtium pots, and it's still hard to let go. I found another new plant for my garden, called Vitex Trifolia (Coastila Persian Lilac). The leaves will turn blue with a mauve underside and with lilac flowers during the winter. It doesn't lose the foliage and it will be a great addition to my garden!

Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts and Red Cabbage are loving their spot in the sun. Just a few radishes have come up. I know I said "never again" after the radish fiasco last year, but....The kale hasn't started sprouting yet. I'll sow more seeds in a few days and hope they will sprout! I have to have kale for my weekly soups that I'll soon start craving as the weather cools.

I cherish every moment I spend in my garden! What a wondrous life I lead to be able to spend most of my time contented, surrounded with the beauty of my garden. Something very important happens each day as each seed sprouts and the flowers bloom. As I said, all is well in Pudgeduck's World!

Store Opening Calls For Big Bang!

2010-10-22T19:22:00.001-07:00

This celebration wasn't for my homecoming after my recent trip to North Carolina--the fireworks were for the grand opening of the first grocery store in our community! A long time coming, but with mixed feelings about the growth and changes in our area. The impressive display was equal to the July 4th celebrations in the area. They must be anticipating large profits.

Already missing North Carolina and my 'lil guy. Beautiful flowers cover most of the mail boxes in the neighborhood. We were too early for the fall colors but we did see just a hint of the red and gold on the way.

Tea is served sweetened at all the restaurants we went to in North Carolina. It took a few requests before they understood we wanted unsweetened tea! It's always fun to run into these regional differences.

All around the shopping area were beautiful Angel Trumpet plants. The cutting I got from Dee last October didn't last through the summer at my house.

I'm trying out my new camera--and not sure I will keep it. I bought it for my trip after the old one stopped working. Of course, the old one broke the day of my flight! I bought the Kodak Easy Share M580-8X. I have a month to try it out. It even has a program for fireworks! Not that I had time to adjust it for the local fireworks. They were almost over by the time I even found the camera. What's new??

Rain, Parties, and ADHD Woes

2010-10-08T22:01:00.002-07:00

I come alive as soon as the clouds roll over the mountains. Ummm...early fall rain in the desert! Doesn't get any better!

The rain came just in time to water my newly planted bedding plants and seeds! Golf ball sized hail fell in areas close to us, and numerous autos and homes were damaged. Hail here is pretty rare. In my immediate neighborhood, we were blessed with just a great rainfall.

The new vegetables for my garden are: Pole beans, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, and China Rose Winter Radish. The radishes are nice and long so that even if a stray pest eats the tops like what happened to my last years' crop, there will be plenty under ground for me to try! At least that was my thinking in choosing the variety. I also planted kale and carrots.

And, of course, the old easy instant color: Snapdragon, Petunias, Lobelia and Alyssum bedding plants. Flower seeds planted were daisies, desert wild flowers, sweet peas and pots of nasturtiums!

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A September birthday party for my grandson's fiance-- who happens to be on the proverbial wedding day diet! She and I had one miniature cupcake.

Looks like a little wine to help forget the diet....

The biggie birthday party! Son-in-law made it to 60! Great celebration--with good food, great friends and a beautiful family!

And our favorite...Kathy's Rum cake. His fav--Strawberry Banana.

Only one more September birthday to celebrate. Ryder is one year old! Walking, saying about four words, eight teeth and the cutest smile in the whole wide world! I am so thankful to have spent the last week--and the next two weeks--with him!

One more celebration to mention--Hubby still in remission! Only blood checks and port flushing once a month until? We're hoping for a one-and-a-half to two years before more chemo. Praying for healing!

I found my glasses! They were in a strange place, put there by a strange entity to be sure. I just found them last week. I placed my order with Zinni but decided to check out a pair of reading glasses I have with a silver frame in order to compare with the new ones I had I picked out. On the floor, in a basket with another basket on top of it, and under some clothes--there they were, all folded up! I'm a "little" nuts, but not crazy! I didn't do it--I know Hubby didn't do it, so.........who????

I also found my wallet this week after losing it and cancelling my whole life, including check card and credit cards! That still doesn't make me crazy, does it? I take the Alzheimer's test often--I'm OK according to the test, and I've also had an ultrasound on my carotid artery and that's clear, but I did test positive on an ADHD test. I've always known I was a bit scatterbrained, but I don't think that progresses with age, so I don't know why I'm getting worse with these memory lapses. Just in case, I just anointed my house and I'm going to burn some sage just in case.

Mooning Glory

2010-09-30T18:30:00.002-07:00

Full moon 9-23-10. Photo taken at 6:44 pm. Love it!

Still having Birthday parties for the month on September. For the first time ever we are scheduling two September birthday parties in October. Seems like going to work is a priority for some people! Great grandson will be here from NC to celebrate his 1st birthday! October will be as busy as September. I will have to make time for my fall planting between celebrations, visiting, and my second trip to NC! And to top that off, it's been so dang hot here that anything planted this early would surely die!

Not sure how my daughter works full time and still manages all the beautiful parties! Another one is planned for this weekend for her Hub's 60th bash!

One of my daughter's recent parties...

Staying busy is the best way to cope when our Disneyland life is imploding. More on that later. In the meantime, good news! Sister said she read that women over age 65 need not diet unless they are grossly obese, as it is hard on the body and the benefits of dieting are countered with hazards. Can't get any better than that--I'm 66!!

Chaos Contained!

2010-09-15T01:07:00.002-07:00

I love the sunrise that greets me each morning! Every one is different. I don't ever tire of these magnificent blessings!

Good news--our remodel is finished!!! Well almost finished, but I'm not satisfied the way the draperies look. Still working on them. With all the light streaming through the windows I couldn't get a better photo.

I'm still working on them, but at least they are up!

I will have to have a painter come to change and finish the painting. The other walls are two stories high! Back to the store to find the perfect color, yet again. I will go as soon as I look into the garage cabinets for the rest of my books. I'm sure that will lead to another disaster!

The swivel rocker is not in a good place, and the color is now dated. Hard to believe white is outdated! The furniture is crowded still, although I thought that without the computer desk, I would have all the room I needed This room has always been hard for me to decorate. It opens to the kitchen, has a corner fireplace, and now, only one wall to work with. Even a professional decorator didn't offer any hope! All these insignificant decorating problems are just a way to occupy my mind, pushing away the what-ifs of Hubby's upcoming test results. Usually I just eat under stress but somehow I'm still watching carbs. His bone marrow biopsy is finished, and there's one more blood test to take before we get the news on Oct 1st.

Isn't this a pretty wreath? I found it at Target--on sale of course--Might take it back in a few days...depends on my mood at the time I guess.

By the way--still no glasses. I can't believe they haven't shown up yet. Still hoping they just appear from nowhere soon. I keep putting off getting new ones, because then they'll show up for sure.

Lost But Not Found

2010-09-09T18:34:00.004-07:00

If I didn't have the blessings of daily drop-dead gorgeous sunrises like this one--I would think I might be hexed! I've lost my glasses again! Walked out the front door, rolled up the soaker hose, walked back to the car, and my glasses were gone off my face! Poof. Just gone. Now, tell me how that could happen? I have been searching for three days now!

Update--it's been five days now--we started looking in all the obvious places, like the fridge, trash, and then Hubby started opening drawers in the closet that hadn't been opened in years! Nothing. This bad luck with my glasses (I lost a pair, then had the bike wreck and lost another pair) must have some underlying meaning. Like, maybe I should have purchased that damned insurance! I know it is just old age but it is getting more annoying all the time. The best is when everyone says, "pay more attention!" Well, how can you pay any more attention than putting them on your face! Next time, I will start looking for them before they are lost. Yes, that's the ticket! How can I ever get ahead financially when all my money is going for replacement glasses? Good thing the sun comes up in the morning. Left to me, we'd live in darkness!

Remodel Chaos

2010-09-05T21:21:00.005-07:00

Turr Tull coming in to check the progress of the remodel. He waits at the door, and then when he thinks it's safe, he crawls through each room.

I'm recovering from painting two walls in my family room remodeling project. We didn't plan on doing any more than break through the stairwell wall and expose the old bookcase that was there from a previous remodel. But...I went into a manic state and decided to paint the wall next to the bookcase. Then another wall, and then, why not another wall with a coordinating color? So, off to the paint store I went. As I started home after the paint store purchase I passed a fabric store. I stopped and found the perfect fabric to match the paint color. I couldn't resist! I didn't know how much fabric I needed (did I mention I don't know how to sew but I know how to use a staple gun and hemming tape, and I am good at guessing,) so I bought 10 yards of floral and one yard of stripe for the accents. I have plenty left for pillows and enough to upholster a chair! So much for good guessing!

The wall color is Dried Chamomile. The "Cinnamon Stick" color is now called "Sealing Wax"

Hubby is working hard building the area for my computer. I found some fabric baskets at Lowe's and I might use them instead of Hubby making drawers. I am trying to keep Hubby from over working and tiring too much.

We've found out doing this project that we just can't work like we used to! A terrible thing happened that drove home that point. We were in the half-size closet, trying to put the backing on the bookcase. It should have been a simple job--just nail a panel on the back shelf. We had to hold the light-weight paneling up two inches to get it in place for nailing, and we found out we couldn't do it. Had to get a crow bar to lift and hold it place. This was done by lying on the floor and using my foot to hold the crow bar, with Hubby lying on top of me trying to nail it all in place. Finally we we got it done. We were so proud! Then...we could not get up. I think it's called being "all stoved up!" After cursing our joints, old age, weak muscles, each other and wondering aloud how we got to this sad stage of life, Hubby finally managed to back out of the closet. I tried to straighten up but I was so twisted in the small space I just couldn't unbend and move! Hubby had to tie a sheet around my ankles, twist me around then pull me out! I felt like a beached whale! Once out, I straightened out and just stayed on the floor in the hallway floor for almost one-half hour. It took two days to recover!

Before the drapes were started and the walls painted, we decided to put brick on the wall above the built-ins. Back to the store to find a match to the existing fireplace bricks.

This is the confusion that I am working around in the middle of the room I'm working in. Boxes of dolls and other knick-knack collectibles are scattered everywhere. They came out of the closet we had to clear out to do the project. ADHD has kicked in full time, adding to the mess. My whole house looks like this now! While painting, I decided that the laundry room needed to be freshened up. While making the drapes I decided I needed somewhere to store the found items from the laundry room so I started to clean a shelf in my closet. On and on it goes until my whole house is in shambles. It's not a easy life!

I am so ashamed of spending so much money on all these dolls and stuff. I can't even sell them on EBay. They are a dime a dozen now. What a shame. Don't want to give them to Goodwill but don't want to store them any longer--what to do? I will try at the community yard sale next month. However, I see light at the end of the tunnel for this remodel. The surge of good feelings has started a bit as we get closer to the completed remodel Can't wait!

Summer Confusion

2010-08-19T06:22:00.002-07:00

I waited all night for the rain to come! Not a drop! Weatherman was wrong yet again. The beautiful sunrise almost makes up for the waterless clouds.

Waiting for sun...this sight always takes away my anxious feelings...if only for a moment.

The hours when the mind is absorbed by beauty

are the only hours when we really live.

~ Richard Jefferies

Turr Tull was looking for his food this morning...

Oops! This is not food. He is a very slow learner, or he has poor eyesight. Maybe both.

I can't keep up with all the eggplants on this bush! It loves this 110 heat, and I will definitely plant this again next June.

Another project for Hubby! This will be the second remodel--maybe the third--I see two wall paper patterns under the existing mustard colored sheet rock wall. The stairwell closet was full of collector dolls. The hall and bedroom are the new storage places until we finish. I am skillful at stumbling over confusion--having practiced all my life! A few months ago I made the mistake of selling my large desk and two large bookcases. I replaced it with an unsuitable computer desk . I miss having my books close by, so down came the stairwell wall! Let the fights began! My Hubby and I don't work well together, but our love of doing projects usually overcome the battles that follow! We only stay mad until he understands that I am right. It doesn't take very long at all, and it does place a terrible burden on me to know everything and have to always be right. He doesn't understand that part yet for some reason. After 35 years, you would think....

Summer Fruit and Cactus Flowers

2010-08-12T11:55:00.001-07:00

Blooming late this year is this Mammillaria Grahamii,

and also an unnamed Mammillaria. I searched my old blog entries to find its name, but I was just confused so I stopped. What difference does it make in the whole scheme of things? As I look back on my life I have almost always been confused. But my frustration with the confusion always stops when my beloved cacti bloom, and then names don't matter! They are, and will always be, beautiful!

I found ONE cantaloupe on this massive vine. I'm so proud of my first vegetable and now my first garden fruit. The Eggplant is producing a record amount of blooms after two days of rain last week.

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Today has been a 10! Who needs money, fame or good looks--my happiness springs from my garden--and my new addiction, two daily root beer floats! It fits my diet plan as I use diet soda and I'm sure that cancels out the calories in the ice cream. I'm still on a diet, so I'm watching calories. I'll let you know how the two daily floats work to keep my weight down!

Summer Stuff

2010-08-08T09:20:00.000-07:00

The clouds gathered for over two inches of rain last week. It rained for two days and the accumulated rain water from the side and back yards almost flooded my patio! Turr Tull's new home located in the side yard stayed dry. He finally move in last month after shunning it at first.

The hibiscus that I bought from the clearance table at Lowe's bloomed for the first time after getting drenched with rain. I'm glad it is red as Turr Tull loves anything red, even my red toe nail polish! He nibbles at my toes if I stand still very long!

Let the parties begin!! All the weekends during August and September will be birthday parties. I started another diet today, and I am determined to stick with it for the next two months!

This pocket shrine is something I made at at a reclaimed art retreat that I attended a couple weeks ago up in northern Arizona. We had a fun weekend learning to make art from found treasures. We brought photos from home, and the instructor furnished the cigarette box. We purchased other ephemera from a local thrift store and a yard sale nearby.

The birthday table looks bare without the usual cakes. Instead, the birthday grandchildren prefer cookies, brownies and ice cream!! The table came from my Grandmother's porch and sits in my daughter's dining room. It was hand made by my Grandfather around 1917. It was mostly used as a working table--canning, grading eggs, cooling cakes etc., just a catch-all farmhouse table. My daughter has used it as her dining room table for the past 18 years. We love having our parties at her home, and look forward to seeing her decorated party table!

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Hubby had his last chemo today!!!! Further testing in September, but we are sure he will be free of treatments for two years!

Brief Pleasures

2010-07-28T20:09:00.004-07:00

Backyard Wonders!

Working Vacation

2010-07-19T19:21:00.018-07:00

Recently we left the hot, dry desert heading towards green, humid North Carolina. I took a photo of the Tempe, Arizona Town Lake on our way up and out. The next day, after this photo was taken, the 10 year old man made Town Lake disappeared! The lake went down the river! The rubber bladder (dam) that holds the one billion gallons of water back burst without warning. The lake drained quickly. The hot AZ sun is believed to have caused the bladder deterioration, as well as the plan that the water that was supposed to flow over the bladder to keep it cool just never worked! No one was hurt and hopefully a better idea will emerge from this.

The trip was somewhat stressful with two dogs and a baby on a full plane! We had to change planes with a layover and no plans for a potty break! But we made it without any accidents and zero plans to ever do this again! On the positive side the weather was nice and we were treated to daily afternoon thunder storms! We made it back to Arizona just in time to miss a heat wave that hit the area while we were gone. Although it has been over 110 here--it's a DRY heat and I think it is better than a WET heat!

We started unpacking as soon as we arrived. We worked well into the night and only finished the kitchen. Three bedrooms, office, bonus room, dining, living and family room to go. Then the unthinkable happened...vomiting, diarrhea, aches-pains for the next 2 days! This virus hit all 5 of us and we're not sure who took care of the baby while we were down and out. Somebody did though. We were well as fast as we became ill. We didn't finish unpacking, instead took the next two days checking out the beautiful area. I may have found a vacation home--I left some clothes there just in case !

I loved this hibiscus I saw there. I was surprised that there were not many flowers in yards or along the roadway. I offered to plant the empty flower bed and pots for my grand daughter. We found a Lowe's close by and most all of the flowers for sale are the same as what we grow in Arizona. I bought and planted whatever the clerk said would do well in the area--update--everything still alive and well! There are tons of butterflies in the area and I spent a lot of time taking photos. I'm trying to identify all of them, well maybe...

Cute road sign in the area. The magnolia tree in the front yard was in full bloom! Grandson had to install an invisible fence to keep the two dogs in the yard. The little Chinese Crested was zapped a few times before she learned her boundaries and now is happy chasing new critters! The little dachshund doesn't need a collar as she won't leave the patio! I noticed that none of the yards are fenced in NC, unlike home, where every house is surrounded by some type of fencing--mostly six foot block walls. I like the look of the wide open space but I feel more secure with our high walls.

We are planning a return trip in October--if we can wait that long! The Lil' Guy is growing fast! Came home just in time to unpack, and pack for a three-day art retreat in the cool little town of Pine, AZ. Always good to be home if only for a moment!

Changing Scenery and a Changing Life

2010-07-09T10:01:00.002-07:00

My first cactus bloom of the season. I almost missed the Submatucana species bloom while camping.

I added my own found rock to the cairn at our chosen camping spot at Knoll Lake. Cairns and similar rock stacks have recently been adopted by the Deep Ecology movement. I'm not sure if this is one is a part of that movement, or just campers who wanted to leave a lasting monument of their visit. The cairns are also something that offer places and moments for reflection at spiritual-environmental retreats. Maybe that's what's going on here.

We had to drive five miles every day to the Rim to get phone service to call home. Yes, we check in everyday! I'm not sure how I made it all the years without cell phones. I remember when pagers became popular and how much easier life became because of them! Kids just had to find a pay phone and have a dime--or was it a quarter?--in their pockets to call home.

We had two days of rain and the temperature dropped to 58 degrees. Most other days were 73 degrees!

The guys fished and hooked a few trout. We will have a fish fry later this month!

The Osprey is watching her babies in a dead tree close to the lake.

Hubby's binoculars allowed us to see two babies peeking out.

Agave plants were plentiful along the roadway and offered several colors of inflorescence.

I love this bright gold yellow! Some had red, pale yellow and even orange.

The saguaro cactus fruit is fading from the bright red that started at the beginning of the season. May is the month for saguaro blooms at home--but maybe they come later in the high country.

The summer is going by so fast. Hardly had time to hate the heat! I am now on my way to North Carolina. A wonderful business opportunity was offered to the grand kids that couldn't be passed up, so one grand daughter, her husband and baby (my only great grand baby!!) have moved to North Carolina!

I hope we will be able to handle the humidity when we get there! Granddaughter needs help with the baby, two small dogs on the plane, and help with unpacking--if the movers get there on time! The airline doesn't allow dogs to fly in the under-carriage during the hot summer months in Arizona. The dogs will fit into one dog carrier. I have a bottle of Rescue Remedy all ready and waiting in case the dogs have anxiety. We'll probably pop a few ourselves.

This past year has brought a lot of major life changes and just as I try to digest one, another comes up. Not sure how I will adapt to the separation from my great grandson. I have enjoyed him being close for the past nine months! I want to see him take his first steps, get his top teeth, etc. We are planning lots of trips to NC, and I sure hope the ticket prices stay affordable.

This change isn't good or bad. It's just the way of things. Everything changes, nothing stays the same. It's just life happening.

"If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies."

~Author Unknown

I couldn't wait to get home from camping to see my little guy!!! He was just as happy to see us!!!

In The Heat Of The Night

2010-06-30T00:20:00.001-07:00

Around midnight last night 14 Sacred Datura blooms were open. The sweet fragrance was intoxicating! I couldn't get a night photo, but believe me, they were spectacular!! They seem to glow in the dark.

Not sure when I should cut and dry the artichoke bloom. I was hoping it would be larger, but it is nice. Oh well, everything in my garden is just experimental.

Most of the bees were swarming around the artichoke, but some decided not to compete and stuck with the sunflowers.

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Grandson called to tell us we are so lucky to be in Arizona with our 110 degree weather with only 7 percent humidity! This is his first experience with 90 degrees and 100% humidity that he's experiencing in Kentucky! We are going up to the cool country for a few days--we don't feel so lucky in this heat!

I Can See Clearly Now...

2010-06-20T23:59:00.003-07:00

I can see clearly now! I ordered my new glasses from Zinni Optical on the 9th and they came in yesterday. Only eleven days and faster than the local vision center. I am pleased with the service and my glasses are perfect. I'm so glad I found this way of buying glasses. Normally I would never have have taken a chance with mail order glasses, but since my daughter and her coworkers use this service and love it, I figured it was a safe way to save some money. (PS--I am not a paid shill for this business, just a very pleased customer.) I have a pretty simple prescription as my problem is mostly needing the reading lens, so I'm not sure if more complicated eye problems can use this service.

Dinner tonight! I found the two eggplants hiding from me under the zucchini leaves, so I checked and quickly picked all of the ripe vegetables I could find. I sliced and battered the eggplant, fried it in olive oil, steamed zucchini, and also some broccoli that was not from my garden. There are five eggplants maturing now, so in a few days I will make eggplant parmigiana.

Life is good!

Bless The Day

2010-06-18T21:40:00.002-07:00

This is the latest sunflower to bloom from the mixed seed packet.. It is over 7 feet tall and the flower is five inches across!

These blooms are droopy from all the weight and they don't last long as cut flowers.

I'm afraid the heirloom runner bean plant is not going to make it in this hot weather! It's showing dryness and stress as the temperatures rise.

The bees sure like to gather pollen from this deformed flower! Later in the morning a swarm flew around, waiting their turn to get at this unusual bloom!

The Mexican Olive has continued to bloom and is now higher than the six foot block wall. I understand why the nurseryman said it was one of his favorite plants.

The Sacred Datura is forming spiked seed pods. It still blooms every night and has spread to over four feet across and is growing up into the Orange Jubilee. This is a highly toxic plant so I will remove the pods before they ripen. Turr Tull hasn't eaten any toxic Oleanders, and I told him not to try the beautiful Datura blooms, leaves or any part of it. The plant is dangerous if consumed! Luckily, Turr Tull is spoiled enough that he waits for his daily plate of goodies and grazes only on the Bermuda grass lawn.

Best news of all, Hubby is in remission!! Still have six more weeks of chemo--just to be sure--and also a bone marrow biopsy, but blood test show no cancer now. Even though everything sounds positive we still have to find out about a possible bone marrow transplant because the cancer will come back! Chemo and or a transplant is not a cure, it just buys time. The Doctor did give us a time-line, but we have decided not to focus on that. Life is uncertain even when someone is healthy, so we are not going to waste time thinking about this disease all of the time. I asked Hubby if he wanted travel or do something special, he thought for a moment and said, "I am happy with my life the way it is. I don't have a list of things I want to do. I'm satisfied with my boring life. Let's just go on with living and leave ourselves to the winds of fate". Good words to live by under the circumstances.

I'm waiting for a pair of glasses that I ordered off the Internet! My daughter and a lot of her co-workers have had positive results with their purchases and the price. I have been blessed with great eyesight and I didn't have to wear reading glasses until I was 54. After ten years of having my glasses hanging from a chain around my neck I decided to get a pair of transition + progressive lens glasses that would stay on my face! My first pair cost $560. I loved the freedom of not having my glasses hanging from my neck, but it did take awhile to adjust to them. Six months later on the day we found out about Hubby's cancer, my blood pressure shot up and I was unable to see clearly. I took off my glasses and never saw them again! They were my only pair and not insured so another pair was ordered. To lower the cost I took off the anti-glare and found a much cheaper frame. I saved $200! My recent bike accident destroyed that pair. On the Internet purchase, even with all the upgrades that I got on my very first pair, I paid only $194!! If I lose these, I will just go back to the chain!

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Fate laughs at probabilities.

~E.G. Bulwer-Lytton

Enjoying Blue Skies From The Inside

2010-06-06T15:34:00.000-07:00

Vincas are planted! Just in time for the 100+ degree days of summer. Today it is 110 degrees.

The air is crystal clear and the sky is beautiful but we are experiencing a high ozone-heat alert. Strong sunlight and hot weather cause ground-level ozone to form in harmful concentrations. We've been advised locally to stay inside! I'm enjoying the view from inside sitting on my swivel-rocker chair pushed close to the window.

Our summers here are only for dreaming of our fall gardens...and dreaming of getting to the cool country! Changing my garden plans a million times over in my mind keeps me in a smiley mood.

Getting lots of green peppers. One plant is plenty for us and I still have a few left to share.

I planted a cantaloupe in the bed before the sprinkler hoses were buried so that means we have another fall project added to my ever-growing list.The longer the list the more cheerful I am, as opposed to my hubby's "enough already!" attitude.

I haven't had a good juicy ripe watermelon for at least three years! I keep buying and tossing!! Have you noticed that most of our grocery-bought fruit --in fact most of our food is just not very good anymore. It's not because I am losing taste in my old age, it's just a fact! It's like everything else has become...just not good anymore!! Hopefully as I become a more experienced gardener I will produce the tasty foods of the past. Not sure what to do about everything else!

This bed will remain empty until fall. The heirloom runner bean is still alive and producing flowers. Just like the package said--the beans won't set until fall! A few random seedlings are sprouting but they won't last through this heat.

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"I am spending delightful afternoons in my garden, watching everything living around me. As I grow older, I feel everything departing, and I love everything with more passion."

- Emile Zola

Weight Going Up, Swelling Going Down

2010-05-28T22:44:00.002-07:00

I ordered some fade-resistant, water repellent, mildew resistant curtains for my outdoor living space! These will definitely help block out the HOT south sun this summer, as well as the balcony patio of the house next door.

I really love these sunflowers....

"Giant Sungold" is the full-size version of dwarf Sunflowers called "Teddy Bear", which gets about three feet tall. The Giant Sungold gets six to seven feet high, and mine kind of split the difference, so I don't know which they are.

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I am healing fast from by bike accident. I haven't experienced any soreness except for my sprained finger. It is NOT broken! I will have the stitches removed Saturday, just in time for a night out with the family. Army Grandson has a 4-day pass! He will be flying in from Kentucky, and he wants a steak dinner as soon as the plane lands! His menu is already planned for his four day leave. Indian Fry Bread--his Mom's specialty and a family favorite for Sunday, then spaghetti at his aunt's on Monday, and of course, Mexican food in between!! All this food plus Hubby's insatiable appetite after chemo, and a daughter-in-law who sabotaged me with (sorry you had an accident) cookies--how I'm I suppose to ever lose weight? My sis says the answer is "Just say NO! No one is making you eat it just because it's there." And tell myself that all the extra padding is what saved me from sustaining more serious injuries from my bike accident. Maybe I should get a job in Washington. Good spinmeister!

Face Meets Road

2010-05-25T19:51:00.009-07:00

I had a terrible accident yesterday while riding my bike. I started to change gears while going uphill, and in a moment's inattention, I lost my balance and my bike and I went down an embankment and I spilled out onto a main road. I hit face first onto the pavement and it felt like I shattered my skull. I assessed my injuries and it seemed I didn't have any broken bones, no dizziness, eyesight good and no pain, so I slowly sat up and then noticed I was covered in blood.

I didn't panic. I actually tried to calm all the people who stopped to help. I found out today I do have a broken finger, as well as 12 stitches over my eye, scraped up legs, arm and shoulder. Didn't have any broken teeth, or head injury. But, I feel blessed because it could have been a lot worse. I could have been run over, had brain damage or a major bone break, so these injuries seem slight compared to what could have happened. Eveyone tells me I'll feel the real pain, soreness and stiffness two days after the accident, so I'm not looking forward to tomorrow.

This was a life-changing event for me. It was my first fall--old age I guess. Until now, I thought I was immune to balance problems. I always had such good balance. Five years ago I would have been able to control that bike. Well, at least I think I could have. Depressing thoughts--but I know I'm through with bike riding! Eveyone tells me I'll feel the real pain, soreness and stiffness two days after the accident, so I'm not looking forward to Wednesday.

The Brugmansia bloomed today and it smells as good as it looks!

I'm not sure of its blooming habits but there aren't any more buds on either plant, Maybe it only produces flowers one time a season. I'll keep checking every hour. LOL!

My Veggies are Legal!

2010-05-22T16:15:00.001-07:00

I only bought one eggplant and the lone eggplant is about 3" long. The plant has had a lot of blooms but they aren't setting yet.

I love the blossoms on the zucchini. I found a receipt for squash blossom soup but I need more plants before I can try it-it sounds good! I don't know why I haven't grown veggies all my life! It's really fun watching them grow and develop.

The Candy Cane Zinnia is not very healthy looking. The package said the Zinnia flowers should be big and bold, but they are only an inch across.

This can't be a sunflower! But, maybe it is some form. The planting mix was various sunflowers, but this is so different than the sunflowers I'm used to. I like it, though.

The stalks are loaded with buds so I should have a good crop soon. These are the only two that have bloomed and I can't wait for the show!

This is planted in the wrong place, but I just had to have it and I will have to prune it to keep it in the space. It is a Mexican olive (Cordia Boissieri) and it will have lots of attractive blooms year round.

We are in the middle of another redo!! In fact, we are in the middle of about three--replacing the entire sprinkler system, doing my secret garden and tiling the pony wall in front.

Hubby had a small boat, not used, and traded the boat for the labor and materials for the sprinkler system. After a couple of mistakes it looks like it will be finished this weekend--just in time to plant the Vincas! I have been buying a few flowers vines and shrubs and planting them in pots. I don't have any room for them but that doesn't stop me--just have to have them! You would think at my age I would have more control. I hope I live long enough to correct all my bad habits!

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Glad you asked...the AZ SB1070 law is only 16 pages and mirrors the Federal law. Do you wonder as I do, what is going on in America? No one seems to think it's important to read the law, only listen to what others who haven't read the law say about it. Lest we forget--Illegal is not a race--it is a crime! My hope is for DIVINE INTERVENTION, as obviously nothing else will work.

Garden Tower Yard Art

2010-05-18T09:01:00.001-07:00

I saw a Garden Tower in a magazine and I just loved it. I quickly found items around the house and put it all together with epoxy. Pretty cute, don't you think? Next I will make a stand to hang gourd birdhouses that I spotted on another page of the magazine. The gourds hang en masse on the horizontal part of a cross setup.

Little Surprises Make My Day

2010-05-15T21:43:00.002-07:00

Turr Tull just finished his brunch and instead of going into his newly built house he has been sleeping on the patio. After all our hard work, he hates it! It is the same area he went to after his return home, and we decided that it was the best place to build his home.

We used building blocks and covered the top and sides with about 6-8 inches of dirt. Not sure what the problem could be. He lived at the neighbor's home under bushes and ate only what they had in their small back yard. I wonder if he enjoys being treated like a king, having food delivered once daily? Could it kill him to show a little gratitude and move into his new home that was built with love, and located in a secret garden? What more could he ask for? What an ingrate!

I am growing an artichoke plant for the flower rather than the artichoke, so the largest one will stay on the plant. I will harvest the others when ready. Ummmm!

This was on the clearance table at Lowe's. Can't find the tag but it is a hibiscus and the flowers should be orange. It will be a small plant and a good container plant.

In the side yard in a neat row, Silver Puffs (I think), grew without any supplemental watering, and they are now in full bloom. The seeds were planted three years ago in a flower bed and they never came up! I love that my garden is full of surprises each season, and I am still amazed that seeds can come alive without any help from me!!!

Gazania

For Flowers that bloom about our feet,Father, we thank Thee;
For tender grass so fresh and sweet,
Father we thank Thee.
For the song of bird and hum of bee,
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Lots Growing...

2010-05-12T20:02:00.000-07:00

Great Grand son is now seven months old. He is such a happy baby!

The Escobania Missourieusis, or it common name, Mansfield Cemetery Cactus offsets that Claude sent from Texas have not grown a bit since last year, but at least they are alive! The other cactus and plant he sent have passed on. Sorry, Claude, I did my best!

I potted the Angel's Trumpet (Brugmansia) cuttings that Dee from A Desert Observer sent to me last October. I rooted the cuttings in water and then planted them in potting mix. These photos was taken in March. These cuttings have really taken off, so I consider them a success!

Here they are now, and growing really fast. I can't wait till they bloom this summer! If I ever remember to look at my list when I shop, I will buy some Epsom salts to feed them once a month. Thanks, Dee!

My Ultra Dwarf Plum tree has also grown! This photo was taken in March. I Am looking for a good organic fertilizer for the tree and my vegetable garden, although it looks like it doesn't need it!

And here's the plum two month later--May!

My favorite tree--Desert Museum Palo Verde, is filling out and it grew fast this spring. The photo above was taken last May.

Here it is now. It isn't in full bloom in this photo but..... isn't it beautiful??

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Hubby continues doing well. Almost time for a review of his progress. It is hot enough here that we are already thinking about our annual family camping trip the last week of June, and we want to be free of chemo treatments so we can enjoy ourselves.

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Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes,

and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit.

A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with the world.

-- Ada Louise Huxtable

Birdbrains

2010-05-05T14:36:00.002-07:00

The Coots have left the building! Here comes the hot weather! After days of unseasonably cool weather, the heat is here. It's going to be a long, long, long hot summer.

Another dove nest built in the wrong place--on a patio chair at a friend's home. Now I know where the expression, 'birdbrain' originated!

And to top off birdbrained ideas, it's next to the sliding glass door! I really wonder why there isn't a shortage of doves....

See what fertilizer can do? My son-in-law uses lots of it and his weeds are humongous! Next to it is a normal size one. He won't listen to me about his over use of water and fertilizer! I have to admit that He does have a beautiful yard, as well as a profusion of flowers, and a garden full of vegetables and herbs. I suppose I should not give him advice, just think my thoughts in silence!

Birthday Bounty

2010-04-27T23:00:00.000-07:00

Another Birthday! I can't believe that I have become so ancient! AARP is the first to send a birthday greeting, followed by the insurance company. If they would just stop reminding me that I'm old, I can fool myself just by taking my glasses off when I look into the mirror. I look so young, without a wrinkle! That's the only good thing about Presbyopia. But, I am glad I've made it to age 66. Many others through the ages have not been so lucky. I just have a hard time watching my skin crinkle, hang and dangle. Oh well, good thing I only have two regrets at this stage of my life. They are not having a higher formal education, and always worrying about something. I believe it's called Generalized Anxiety Disorder. These thoughts all but disappear when I see my birthday table though!

My grand daughter baked a ginger/pear cake for my birthday-delicious -and the chocolate cake allowed for good thoughts only!

One of my gifts was a gated arbor that will go perfectly at the entrance of my secret garden. I can't put the planters on each side because the side yard is very narrow. No matter. This will enhance my idea of a miniature secret garden! We built Turr Tull's new house there and someday I will finish painting the block wall. I think I have been cheated on square footage on my lot--I have the smallest in of the lake lot houses on my side of the lake. Maybe they did that because I do have the best view of the lake and mountains.

My favorite gift was a hand painted flower pot filled with decorated hands. My granddaughter had everyone in the family trace their hand and then decorate it in whatever way they chose. This Easter the family was all together, including my two out-of-town brothers, and my grandson home on leave, so this is extra special gift!

Ryder has two bottom teeth now and he makes such funny faces! I hope this puts a smile on your face like it does mine!

Garden Catch Up

2010-04-18T20:57:00.002-07:00

A great find at our recent community yard sale. I bought the45-tile box for $40.00. I think they will look great with the existing tile I have on the pony wall.

Calendula--Pacific Beauty blend, I think. I planted a lot of seeds in the area that didn't come up. I was hoping that the green Zinnia would show or the Dianthus, Lupine or the Delphinium. Oh well, maybe next year I'll have a few surprises!

The pale yellow ones are Snap Dragons.

Finally, the Heirloom Runner Bean has blossoms. The packet stated in very hot climates the vine will flower but not set pods until the weather moderates in the fall. I'll be surprised if they last through June!

This pretty flower is at the entrance of our club house. I think it is a type of Geranium.

When the world wearies, and society ceases to satisfy,

there is always the garden.

~ Minnie Aumonier

We have a lot of strange looking skies here. Before the day was over it looked like a checkerboard, with lots of swirly looking clouds.

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Hubby had a port put in and it is much easier for the nurses to take blood and administer the chemo. He still feels the stick and it hurts him, but after it heals they promise it will be better!!

Tortoise Tales

2010-04-12T20:24:00.004-07:00

In September, 2008, Turr Tull went missing. We were afraid that his hibernation housing had collapsed or he dug his way out and took off. At the time, we were having our deck repaired and I had the hope that he simply walked out an open gate, or that maybe hubbie had left the gate open and he escaped. (The turtle, not my husband!) After a few nights of dreaming that he was trying to dig his way out of the possibly collapsed housing, we decided to tear it down to check. He had a large dark house under the planter, but each time he came out for food or sun he would be covered in mud. Since he was obviously digging, we could never be sure where he was digging and why he would be wet. The planter itself had been water sealed and should have been dry, so I was concerned that he had gone into hibernation and just drowned. Since we dug the whole thing up to check on Turr Tull, it led to the remodeling of a large part of my back yard that, in the end, turned out to be a very satisfying result. We didn't find him in his house, and after a year of waiting for him to emerge, we sealed the door and placed a headstone on the step, assuming he had passed on.

Turr Tull's Headstone

After two years of wondering what could have happened to Turr Tull and hoping that he didn't suffer regardless of his fate, I mentioned to a neighbor the tale of Turr Tull, and commented that I'd always wonder what had happened to him. She thought for a minute and said, "well, you know the people next door to me found a turtle crawling down the sidewalk and they took it in. It lives in their backyard. Maybe it's yours."

Hubby went to the house and told them that he thought they had our turtle, and sure enough, it was our Turr Tull, but hubby didn't bring him home. The people said they just decided to keep it in their back yard, assuming someone would come looking for it if it was someone's pet. After so much time passed, they figured it wondered in from the desert. Ironically, the deck people came back today to seal the deck. Then, the door bell rang, and I was handed a box with Turr Tull inside!

I quickly took him to the back yard and picked his favorite flower--hibiscus--and he scarfed up 6 flowers without stopping!!

Who would have thought....Turr Tull is alive and well!! This calls for another family party!

Previous Tortoise Posts

Wild Thing and Turr Tull
Turtle Surprise

Turtle Time

A Look Out Back

Summer's Coming On...

2010-04-09T21:54:00.007-07:00

I found this at a half price sale at Goodwill. I paid $2.50! I always look for yard art, and so far, I've had pretty good luck finding interesting things. They are cheap enough to keep until I tire of them, then off to Goodwill where I donate them back and look for something else.

Bacopa White...

I love having draping plants on stands. Too bad these won't look so hot in another month, if they make it through the heat. Just about the time they start hitting the ground, the heat comes.

This Sacred Datura is from a cutting a blog friend sent me last year. This is the third bloom of the season. This night blooming flower is so pretty!

Here's my Ultra-Dwarf Santa Rosa Plum from Lowe's. The tag said it is a perfect container plant. I have had it about a month and it is still living, so that's a good sign that it will last, at least a while.

This bell pepper plant is the one that lived through the planter remodel last year. This is the first time that the peppers have turned red! They taste pretty good--same as when they were green.

My sweet peas are higher than my six foot block wall! I'm still passing out bouquets, but noticed seed pods on a few. Oh well--I need to get used to it--everything will be gone before the end of May.

The Rock Rose Poppies just bloomed! These are very late this year. They are growing in my flower beds and side yards.

I love 'em!

While having lunch with the Grand kids, we spotted ...

A dove making her nest in the O of the restaurant sign. This nest looks pretty safe. At another restaurant nearby, a dove is trying to nest on a scupper right next to the restaurant's door. There's always debris there from the nest. I predict that nest won't last long--just like most dove nests. However, the fate of this next will be because of a man-made disaster, not nature. They are not the brightest birds when it comes to locating nests.

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We were blessed on Easter with a surprise visit from our grandson, who is stationed at Ft. Knox, Kentucky! It was quite a shock seeing him standing in the doorway at a local restaurant. Then, making it the perfect holiday, two brothers and sister-in-law arrived from out of state. I hadn't seen my one brother in six years, so it was a rare family reunion.

I haven't even tried to watch my diet over the past few weeks--I just ate everything in sight! I use the excuse that it was a holiday, visitors were here, etc. etc. Problem is I'm still eating and I'm not able to stop! We all had such a good visit!!

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Hubbie decided to have a port implanted after having 36 IV's. His arm veins started hiding from the nurse and it became very painful for him to go through each time he needed chemo, so having the port will make it easier for everyone. He is doing very well with the treatments.

Piggy Birthdays and Other Brevities

2010-04-01T21:16:00.002-07:00

Birthday parties again!! Great grandson is 6 months old already!! Of course that means a 1/2-year PARTY!!!

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For over 30 years my daughter has received some type of pig themed stuff for her birthday and Christmas. It started as a joke, and now she has quite an eclectic collection of piggy related items! She says that she really hates pigs and makes quite a scene of disgust when she gets one, but I know she secretly loves it! Of course, most of the cards are of pigs and this year my grand daughter made her a pig cake!!! It turned out really cute and tasted delicious.

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My hibiscus is loaded with blooms, but not many leaves. This shrub really is in the wrong place--it partially blocks a full view of the lake and looks out of place among the flower beds. One of these days, it's going to go--I'll probably try transplanting, but don't have much hope of it making it. I love the hibiscus, but the view is really important! Can't replace that, but can replace a hibiscus shrub.

My new project! When an old plant bench fell apart after having it around for 29 years, I decided to reuse the tile on the inside of the my front pony wall. I will have to buy many more tiles, and may add more color--just not sure what I'm going to do yet.

The red cabbage is doing well....

and the cauliflower looks good! Can't wait to make my soup with the two, and with the kale that is still growing.

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Hubby got an "excellent" report from the Dr. today! He needs to stay on the chemo for three more months and then they will do a bone marrow test to see what's happening.

Flowers Are Wide Awake Too!

2010-03-25T23:39:00.000-07:00

My desert landscaped front yard is in bloom! The Brittle Bush is in it's full glory and the Red Yucca stalks are opening up and will bloom throughout the summer. I have five, and this is the only one in bloom to date.

If you look close you can see the beautiful green Hummer hovering over a Blue Elf aloe flower near the bottom of the photo. I'm still waiting to capture the one great Hummer photo like Aiyana had on her blog in 2008.

The record rainfall we have had this year has the Bush Morning Glory blooming profusely.

I planted a variety of Penstemons, but only the pink Parry's Penstemon ever shows up in the garden.

The first Thistle flower of the season...don't you love the blue color? So rare here.

Still waiting for the Blue Flax to bloom. This Scarlet Flax is all over the front and back yard. This is one of my favorites in the garden!

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Hubby is half-way through his chemo treatments. We should get a report soon and we're hoping for a positive one! I still can't sleep, so I will finally ask the Doctor for a prescription, as much as I hate to do it. Not sure how long one can go on with two or three hours of sleep each night. It's really taking its toll.

Results Of My Garden Experiment

2010-03-20T15:36:00.002-07:00

Wide view of my back yard.

My experimental winter vegetable garden area has been successful. I'm hoping the artichoke will last the summer--I know now that I planted it too close to the wall. Oh well! Gardening is a series of trials and errors. Although it can't be seen, there is a purple cabbage growing very well behind the only nasturtium plant that was planted in the ground. Never has bloomed! I picked a few more carrots and the kale is still producing! The one on the left is a cauliflower. I planted a few squash and cantaloupe. I know there isn't any room to roam but maybe they find a way.

I found the sweet pea variety that has long, strong stems! They came in a mix of colors. I only dedicated one wall to sweet peas this year as the remodel last fall wasn't finished in time to plant more. But...I have lots more blooms even though it's one wall. Each day I cut a large vase full. All my small vases have gone back to Goodwill! Also mixed in with the long stemmed sweet peas were the early flowering, very fragrant variety.

Zinnias are mixed in with the daisies.

This little March angel promised another beautiful spring for Arizona!

A field of African daisies! I have so many flowers in this bed--I just over-seed everything! Peeking through pansies, you can see alyssum, and zinnias, and somewhere in the mix is the pineapple sage that was planted last fall. I will limit my sowing of seeds next season though, I can't even get into the bed to cut the flowers!

Love the potted nasturtiums! I have pots and pots of these.

Snap dragons going strong.

In Search Of Flowers

2010-03-15T16:39:00.016-07:00

Spring break, and enough time to repair our old truck. Hubby replaced the plugs, wires, cap and rotor and voila--runs like a champ . After record rainfall this spring we were hoping for lots and lots of wildflowers! The mountains are a beautiful green, the temperature in the 70's, and we can't wait to drive the back roads again!

A few miles out we came across this patch of flowers. Unfortunately, we couldn't get any closer.
We were heading west to the Saddleback Mountain.

I came across this lone poppy, and next to it hidden between two rocks this beautiful little Mammillaria engelmannii. I found the quarter earlier on my hike.

The poppies were sparse and there's not much chance of more blooming. The record amount of rain didn't start until January--about a month late for the seeds to get a good start.

I feel like this decrepit old cactus--and I'm beginning to look like it as well! This is what happens when you don't get enough sleep!! If you look again, you may see a cowboy riding his horse backward--see the tail raised high is a prancing pose?

This is the next step up from decrepidness when you add stress to the mix!
I am trying to be a better blogger and post more, but the lure of Farmville on Facebook has a hold on me. It's worse than drugs! I have five farms that I farm and I truly love them. I hope that soon it will lose its appeal. I wonder if I need an intervention.

Sock Puppet Cactus

2010-03-03T18:42:00.002-07:00

This Saguaro cactus is in the median on the drive to my home. I have waited for years for the top of it to break off. It must have been damaged in some way to even grow like this, but it just keeps getting stronger.

It recently developed eyes and a mouth. Now it looks like a sock puppet. Not sure if birds or man did this. Some sense of humor! Hopefully, it is natural. Bird holes in Saguaros are considered natural as woodpeckers drill the holes to nest, then the nests are later taken up by elf owls and/or cactus wrens. All part of the natural cycle of life in the desert.

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My hubby is still receiving chemo twice a week. Unbelievable as it may sound--he is feeling fantastic!

Luckily, he started working again a few weeks ago-we need the added income to cover the expense of his nonstop eating! This is a completely different reaction than expected!

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We spent the past week in Georgia for my grandson's graduation from boot camp.We had two days with him--he could not wait for the ceremony to end. He had been craving a hamburger and a Dr. Pepper! After finding a good place to eat we explored the area then crossed over to Alabama. We experienced "boiled peanuts". (Ugh!) and fried cornbread and grits. None of it to my liking! It was very cold and I wore gloves, layers of clothing, a large coat, boots and ear muffs! All borrowed of course-- I don't own this kind of clothing! I am so thankful that I live in sunny Arizona. We paid for non-stop on US Airways and ended up having a 6-hour delay--mechanical problems--so we chose to take a small commuter plane to North Carolina with 2-hour layover instead. We finally got home and it was glorious to see the sunshine and all my flowers in bloom! Can't get any better than that! Yes it can--I only gained 4 pounds!

Volunteering and Day Tripping

2010-02-07T20:56:00.002-07:00

This amazing sunrise photo was taken from my sister's front yard. The sunlight hitting the cloud swirls makes it odd and interesting.

We were leaving early to volunteer as Master Gardeners at the annual Citrus Clinic held a few miles away. This is our third year volunteering. Last year was supposed to be the last year for the University of Arizona citrus grove, which sits on leased land. However, with the downturn of the economy, plans were changed by developer and the land was leased back to the university. The citrus farm will be around for a while longer!

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Then, last weekend we took our favorite back road to Prescott. We stopped in Yarnell to look in this unique gift shop- full of unusual wood, cactus, gourds, etc...just looking.

Then on to Peeples Valley. The town is 4,800 feet high, and this year round climate is perfect for the cattle and horse ranches, giant cottonwood, pinion pines and black walnut trees that are scattered throughout the area. Population is around 400.

In 1952 my father wanted to move to this area to grow a new experimental grass that the University of Arizona Extension Service was trying out. But, my Mother refused to move, vowing her children were not going to be educated in a one room school house! Instead we stayed in a slightly bigger town (maybe 1000 residents at the time). Tragically, two years later my Mother, a brother and a sister perished in a house fire. I've always wondered, what if ..., but that's an exercise in futility.

I think I would have liked going to that little school!

2010-01-27T10:05:00.003-07:00

I enjoy the sunrise over the lake, and then the sunset reflections from my east-facing patio! I love this time of the year when the sunset turns the clouds pink in the eastern sky! Sometimes it's hard to tell a sunrise from a sunset.

We have been enjoying our mild winter weather and not wanting to miss a minute of it, so we drove to a friend's home about an hour away. Hubby needed a refresher course on leather working, and there's no better teacher than Bobbie, a multi-talented artist.

This is some of Bobby's beadwork. So intricate and colorful. Wish I had the patience to do this type of work.

It looks a lot like spring in my backyard! Everything is bloom.

This 'N That

2010-01-25T21:41:00.000-07:00

I'm still harvesting carrots every day! They will be gone next week and I finished the kale yesterday. I planted cauliflower, red cabbage and peas in their place. I'm loving my vegetable gardening.

This runaway sweet pea bloomed last week. The rest have a long way to catch up!

I picked one ripe tomato and have tons more!! A green pepper plant is also loaded!

The nasturtiums started blooming this week. I have two varieties in each planter.

I want out of this car seat!!!

It looks like spring has sprung in my back yard!!

Hubby has had it pretty rough the past few days. He has chemo treatments twice a week--blood tests twice a month at the lab--and at each treatment--another blood transfusion, and this will go on for 6 months, at least we hope only for 6 months. Our world changed overnight and we are so grateful that our insurance is paying for everything. And, the Dr. and labs are within 20 miles of our home, so no stress driving!

Life's Clouds Have Lifted A Bit

2010-01-08T22:16:00.002-07:00

Good news! The Dr. told hubby that he will be around for a very long time with the treatments he will be starting soon! Everyone has a big smile today!

Great grandson enjoys the swing as much as his great grandma does!

I'm addicted to playing Farmville on Facebook! In fact, I am managing five farms! Friends and family got bored with it all and I picked up their farms from "short sales"! I love all the plowing, planting, gathering eggs, milking the cows, etc., while the background animal sounds draw me back to my childhood memories of farm life. It allows me not dwell on the "what ifs" and other overwhelming thoughts of Hubby's cancer diagnosis. I can't help but stay in a positive attitude when the baby calves or lambs are born on Farmville. It also keeps me from a sugar binge! So I really don't think of it as a waste of time, just a distraction needed from the struggles of life. That, and our family's ability to view humor, are the necessary ingredients to help us to focus on the positive. I'm not hiding my head in the sand--just trying to stay just on the surface of the sand. It's comfortable there.

Great Gifts--26 Years Apart

2010-01-05T22:17:00.004-07:00

My sister gave me my most favorite gift for Christmas this year. It is a hardcover book of all my blog pages!

It captured all entries I've done, including all the photos, up to Thanksgiving day. I couldn't believe I had written more than 200 posts, and it was enough to make into a book!

My next favorite gift was....

On Christmas Eve in 1983, I received the latest in communication technology--a "small" Bell Atlantic Special Edition cell phone. It was the last gift I opened, and right when my husband handed me the gift bag, it started ringing! Although the range was limited, having a cell phone was still very unusual, so I felt really cool to be one of the first to get one. I still have the phone and I'm told it might be worth a couple hundred bucks. I would like to use it again in public just to see what response I would get! (That guy on the commercial for FreeCreditReport.com uses one like it after he goes broke because of ID theft, so maybe I could pass myself off as a D-list celebrity!)

We've come a long way, baby!

Huge! In five years, we will think today's cell phones are huge.

Dark Clouds in Pugdeduck's World

2009-12-31T21:31:00.002-07:00

Dark clouds are hanging over my world right now. My hubby has been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a cancer of plasma cells. We are in a stage of denial right now, and hope to stay there. Treatment includes chemo and blood transfusions. Transfusions have started, and chemo will start next week. We are taking one day at a time with this. Hubby has good days and bad days, and as unfortunate as this news is, at least we finally have a diagnosis that appears accurate instead of all the previous dismissals, misdiagnosis and simplistic, superficial treatments, and we can focus on getting him the right care.

And other bit of sad news; my daughter's family dog Blue, who was deathly afraid of thunder and lightening, became terrified during a recent storm, and trying to get into the house, actually jumped from the outside through a screened window. They were not at home at the time. My grandson, home on leave from basic training, was taking care of the pets during their absence. When he investigated, he found Blue badly injured from the jump and fall and in terrible pain. Pain pills were ordered, and the dog continued to deteriorate. When my grandson took him into the vet's, he determined the pain pills had caused the dog's kidneys to shut down and that death was imminent, so he was put to sleep. My daughter and family are now on the way home from their holiday vacation, and it will be a sad time for them after losing their long-time pet.

2009 has been a year of wonderful highs--the birth of my first great grandchild--and now some very sad lows for us. I do hope 2010 will be better.

Organic Orgy!

2009-12-15T21:32:00.001-07:00

This week's find! Organic cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, spinach, onion, celery, sweet potato and celery. And, kale from my own garden.

Mmmmm..... As the temperatures go down , the family demand for my veggie soup goes up! Of course I always save enough for me!

In exchange for the soup my daughter brought over a few ripe figs! The tree is loaded but they are taking longer to ripen now that it's colder.

Runaway sweet pea! Wish the rest would catch up! They are still just kind of sitting there. Odd, indeed.

The carrots from my garden are small and pale but they taste so good! Sometimes I wonder if it's because I grew them or if they are really more favorable.

This little 2-1/2-month-old guy is growing like a weed! Good food, beautiful winter flowers, a healthy and happy great grandson, and Christmas in just eleven days--it's Heaven in Pudgeduck's World!

Winter Inflorescence

2009-12-08T20:47:00.001-07:00

I spotted this inflorescence in front of our local Subway. This is the first time I've seen a Twin Flowered Agave bloom! I'm going back in a few days to check and see what it will do next. It looks pretty cool. The shopping center's landscape crew will probably cut it off, so maybe it won't be there when I get back. They have a habit of cutting off blooms on Agaves (which are going to die anyway after blooming) so I imagine they'll cut off the bloom and then dig it out later. Since this type of Agave is solitary, it will need to be replaced.

Notice the squared off Texas Sage in the photo. I don't know why they plant bushes that will definitely be too big for the area, and then shear them like this. You never see any flowers because of the constant shearing. Then, they start getting bare and die. Such a waste.

Chilly for the West Valley, Arizona

2009-12-04T16:18:00.011-07:00

My winter garden is looking and smelling good!!! Stocks, petunia, and alyssum are filling in nicely.

The transplanted Rain Lilly likes the pot better than the spot it was in. It has more than doubled in size.

Sunny days and cold nights at the lake. I love being on the swing this time of the year even though I have a blanket just in case. Today it was about 63 degrees and a blanket was utilized!!

Last night I covered a few of my plants- it was down to 36 degrees. I will have to cover them again tonight.

The newly added area to the garden is filled with too many flowers and seeds. By February all seeds will be in bloom--if there is enough room!! I'm still picking the Dwarf Blue kale, and the carrots are so fragrant and tasty! They are still tiny but I keep checking to make sure they are growing without any interference from the bugs and grubs--so far so good!!! I planted beets in the same area and not one of those have come up.

Tomato plant is loaded with blooms and fruit. I covered it last night and hopefully they will mature!

We are already planning our Christmas activities, and this year we will do a round robin. We will start at my youngest daughter's home with appetizers and gifts--then going on to my oldest daughter's for the main course and gifts, and last, at my home for dessert and gifts. This Christmas will be extra special--my grandson will be home from boot camp! He will be here for two weeks before he will be deployed. We are all so excited to see him! I don't want to think of the days of worry that lie ahead.

PERFECTION

2009-11-28T18:40:00.002-07:00

Perfect ending to a perfect Thanksgiving day!

Thanksgiving Greetings

2009-11-25T01:59:00.001-07:00

~~~~HAPPY THANKSGIVING~~~~

Sis and I spotted this prickly pear species at the recent community yard sale. It wasn't for sale but we asked for a cutting and paid 50 cents each. I planted it next to my Santa Rita and Teddy Bear cactus. I like the varied greens together.

My daughter's fig tree is loaded once again. She has about three a day that are ripe enough to eat. I have at least one of those a day, sometimes I'm lucky and get two!

~ In bloom ~

Geranium

Hibiscus

MMMMMMMM, my Kale is going into my weekly soup. I pick a few leaves each day! I love gardening, my flowers, and Thanksgiving ! I am thankful for my shower of many blessings!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Trucks, Gnomes and Rocks, All In One Post!

2009-11-21T01:04:00.003-07:00

How much longer will this old truck last? We can't afford a payment, so we are hoping for a long, long time!

My grandson-in-law is a die-hard Bronco fan. The whole family, including the one-month old baby boy, all dress in bronco jerseys every game day. So...when he saw this NFL Bronco football/old granny garden gnome, he immediately thought of me and got me an early Christmas gift! I quickly found a perfect spot for her. She is so cute. My grand kids call me Minnie, and this little Minnie Me will be watching over my garden at night. I don't look this grannyfied but I still think of it as a Minnie Me. I keep the back gate locked so no one can come in, so I don't think she will be kidnapped. I know there are people out there that want to free the gnomes but Minnie Me will be well cared for, living among the flowers.

I painted a few rocks to fill in the empty spots in the flower garden. In just one month every empty space has been filled in and eventually all the rocks go into a bucket till next year.

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I'm having Thanksgiving dinner at my house this year and we will eat at a table outside with all the flowers in bloom around us. I will pick up my fresh organic turkey the day before Thanksgiving while the house is being cleaned, and while I get my hair done! Everyone will bring a dish, so I will have plenty of time! It should be a perfect 76 degrees outside. I can't wait!

Beautiful Arizona Fall

2009-11-17T23:35:00.003-07:00

What a beautiful time of the year! I love my garden and get so excited watching everything grow. It will only get better over the next few months, unless global warming is a hoax and everything freezes!

I couldn't resist these potted poppies I spotted at Lowe's last week. Hope they last for a while. I planted them next to the Orange Jubilee.

My friend made this beautiful stepping stone for my birthday a couple years ago. It fits my new garden area perfectly.

I transplanted the nasturtiums into this new planter that I bought from QVC. In fact, I bought two sets and they are filled! They should be stunning when mature.

This is all the radishes I could save from the one seed pack that I planted. They were tasty! I want more, but each day I would find so many eaten, as shown in the next photo.

CAUGHT!

A fellow Master Gardener gave me the answer as to what could be eating the radishes! He said that cut worms come out at night to feed. So...I waited till dark, and with flashlight in hand, I found three worms. I didn't see any of them eating, though. Still hard to believe that they eat just the radishes-not the roots or leaves. So far the carrots and kale have not been touched. I think I will turn this space into more flower beds!!!!! Less stress and disappointment for sure!

CAN'T WAIT FOR THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!

The Disappearing Cotton Field of Home and Other Stuff...

2009-11-14T17:46:00.001-07:00

One of the last fields of cotton in our area is ready to be picked. Our cotton crops have dwindled in Arizona over the past few decades. We used to be known by the Three Cs--Cotton, Copper, and Citrus. Sadly, those days are gone. Of course, we still have all three, but they are no longer the major deals they used to be. Texas grows the most cotton in the USA, with China being the largest grower in the world and USA is the third. We have 18,600 cotton farms in the USA.

We drove "the back way " to Prescott yesterday. I was hoping to see some changing of the leaves, but we were a week late for the area. The wind was the true culprit, not the climate. It's not a pretty time of the year for the desert this year with so little rain. Everything looks dried up and dead. After seeing such a barrenness, I wondered why we decided to go after all. But, I needed something new to post about as my blog entries have been suffering as of late. Seems everything I post is just repeats! Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I live a boring life. Not complaining, I'm just sayin'...so, this frivolous information is mostly to let fellow bloggers know that I am alive and well...and happy!!!

Heavenly bamboo is turning a heavenly shade of red. I have planted a few of these over the years--they only last one season in my garden. This photo was taken in the Prescott area.

My friend couldn't remember the flower name (noteworthy info--she is only 42!) Which makes me wonder, maybe my forgetfulness is not due to age after all! But then, I hear the voice of my sister saying "You just don't pay attention--face facts--you just want attention--stop whining--do crosswords--write it down--keep you mind busy--etc, etc. So, keeping my mind is another reason to keep on blogging!

I think I might know the culprit that's eating my radishes! A lizard? Hubby saw one running along the wall and it makes sense in my mind! I decided to leave them growing just to find out! (My sis told me two weeks ago it was probably a lizard and I dismissed her. Boy, I'll hear about that now!)

Forget the Hummers--I'm done!

2009-11-05T10:39:00.004-07:00

I found this cute little two pack humming bird feeders at Lowe's for $7.99. After the hummingbird feeder fiasco last year, I thought the small ones would keep away the large birds. After seeing all the hummingbirds around my yard this fall, I decided to try the new one next to my swing--hoping to get a close up photo.

It's there hanging on the left. I stay on my swing most of the winter and with this view you can see why I swing my winters away! I waited for hours--and nothing! I keep my camera on, focused, and ready to go. Nothing...but then, history repeats itself...

In just a few hours this is what I get once again! Bees and ants, and even a wasp stopped by, but I was right about the woodpecker, he never showed up! I'm through with this! No more hummingbird feeders. The hummers will have to settle for flower nectar, just as nature intended!!

I check the radishes numerous times throughout the day and I still can't see what is eating up my radish crop! Whatever it is, they work fast. I pick them at various stages and they already have signs of chewing! I even used a magnifying glass to see if any "no-see-ums" were there, but nothing. Oh well, I guess I will pull them all up and wait for the carrots and kale to mature.

Happy Fall At Pudgeduck's World

2009-10-31T10:35:00.019-07:00

This is a Happy Fall! Weather is perfect- plants are growing and all is well in Pudgeduck's World!

On Friday, about 18 Arizona bloggers got together for lunch. The event was hosted by Marty, who did a great job dealing with all the details. I was surprised to find that so many lived so close . We had fun putting faces to blogs, had a great lunch, dessert and a gift exchange. I'm looking forward to the next get-together! Wouldn't you know, I forgot my camera!!

The tomato and pepper plants have quite a few blooms now. Can't wait for for the first pickings!

Claude from Random Rants and Prickly Plants sent a very well packed rock rose plant from his garden. I soaked the hardened mud ball from the roots and planted it facing the lake hoping the water view would keep it happy! It certainly looks good!

Something is in the garden eating my radishes! They start eating them as soon as they peek through the soil!

I put my frog brigade on guard, hoping they would scare "it" away! It worked last year when they stood guard around the lone rain lilly. My sweet peas were being eaten with no-see ums again this year and I used Claude's tip with the garlic powder. It is working again !! Thanks Claude!! I'm afraid to use it on the radishes for fear that they would absorb of the taste of garlic. This is so much fun--watching all my plants growing! I'm Loving Life on the Lake.....................

I threw in few back-up miniature turtles to help guard the radishes! That will scare them for sure!!!!! (I hope.)