On a Happier Note

 Our young tree in the back yard is blooming now!

Stay safe!  God Bless America!

Yard Work

 

So.... We had a landscaping company here this past week working on our yard.  The  areas around the fence posts where the fence people left chunks of clay and "stuff" got some topsoil and seed.  Several dead Azalea stumps were dug out and the sweet shrub was reduced in size.  The sweet shrub was just out of control, they are fast spreaders.  New Azaleas were planted.  All the mulched areas were edged and new cedar mulch was put down.  They installed a French drain in a problem area in the side yard.

And here is the issue.  They installed a drain on the other side of our yard a few years ago.  It's fine and helped that area.  But on Thursday we had very hard rain.  The rain washed the dirt out from where they had dug this time.  This dirt ran all the way down to the front curb.  AND, the drain grate has popped up out of the ground!  It is a MESS.

I have already called and talked to the head man.  He and the guys will be returning, hopefully on Monday.  Sigh.

Take care of yourselves and stay safe.  And God Bless America!  Life is good!

A Note to Corporate Starbucks

Dear Starbucks,

I love your coffee.  I need your coffee. I want your bold, dark roast coffee.

For the love of all that is holy, please get some new brewing machines for the Kiln Creek, Virginia, store!!!

It's just a heck of a thing and a huge disappointment when you go for your coffee and they have none.  This has happened several times recently.  The Baristas are frustrated and working hard.  They can make the "frou-frou" coffees (my term) but can't brew hot coffee for the few of us who just want COFFEE.  I've gotten the pour-over that they have willingly made for me.  It tastes good, but isn't as hot, and there is a long wait.

It is true that I could just make the Starbucks at home.  That is the only kind of ground coffee that I buy.  But going to the shop is a treat I look forward to several times a week.

So, please, please!!  Get them new brewing machines!

Thank you!

A Special Place

I believe there is a special place in hell for people who hurt, mistreat, abuse, or neglect children or animals.    

We have a new "Grand-dog".  Jacquie went to get her from the same woman who bred Nikola.  When Jacquie got Nick, the woman was professional and taking care of the dogs.  Making sure they were right for the families, good to be companions, etc.  

When Jacquie went this time, the situation and the woman had deteriorated.  And while it is sad that the woman has developed such mental and physical issues, my sympathy and feelings are for the animals that are supposed to be in her care.  

The dogs were found to be neglected, infested, matted, and severely underweight.  It was impossible for Jacquie to rescue them all, but she got a sweet little female Labradoodle.  Her name is Winry.  She is sweet and tiny, and she is always hungry. We can tell she was never fed properly.  She has been to the doctor and is being treated for intestinal worms and ear infections.  She in on a high protein diet right now.  We were all relieved when she was tested and did NOT have heartworms.  When she has gained enough weight and is stronger, she will be spayed.  She has also been to Nick's groomer who was very careful with her.  The mats are gone, her hair has been trimmed, and her fur is soft and silky. 

The woman and the conditions have been reported and we are all hoping the rest of the animals are rescued.  We haven't heard yet.

Welcome, Winry!  Your life will be better now.

Time

There is a lot of talk now about time, specifically Daylight Saving Time.  I'm seeing reports and articles in the paper, online, in Facebook posts.  Honestly, I don't know what so many are so worked up about.  

As I learned in school, DST was started to help the farmers and others who worked outdoors.  It gave them more light at the end of the day to take care of crops, animals, and get their work done.  Of course that meant that they had to work in the dark in the mornings.

I don't really think it's that big a deal to change a clock.  We have to change the cuckoo clock ourselves, and for some reason our landline phone doesn't change.  Just about everything else changes on its own. 

Here are my thoughts on all this.  Since time began and someone invented clocks and started keeping track, there have been twenty-four hours in a day.  When you "Fall back" you gain an hour temporarily.  You lose that hour when you "Spring forward".  It is still twenty-four hours in a day. And I figure it always will be unless there is some sort of catastrophic event in the galaxy.

You know, there have always been discussions and some confusion about DST though.  When I was a little girl, Mom and I lived in Navarre, Ohio.  We observed DST.  My Grama and Granpa lived in Dover, Ohio.  There are roughly sixteen miles between the two towns.  Dover did not observe DST.  Grama was always having discussions and worries when a dinner or a visit was being planned.  It was always "Is that my time or your time?"  She especially worried when I got old enough to ride the Greyhound bus by myself to go stay with them (Mom did not own a car)  Granpa would always go to the Dover bus station to get me.  He also always stopped at his favorite bar, got a beer, and got me a grape soda and told me not to tell Grama.  You know, the buses often ran late. 😇

We have friends in Arizona.  Arizona does not observe DST.  Neither does Hawai'i. It gets confusing sometimes.

So, use your time wisely.  Take care of yourselves and stay safe. And God Bless America!

Hello!

Just saying hi and updating things.  

Les and I are doing okay.  Our new chairs were delivered last week and Jacquie posted the old ones on one of the market place sites that she uses.  The delivery men moved our old chairs out to the garage for us and a lady with two teenagers along came to pick them up the next day.

The new chairs are very comfortable and we like them; so do Angus and Finnigan!

Angus

Finnigan

We got all our clocks changed.  This morning our sprinkler system people came and did the season's turn-on.  We are now ready for the landscaping/yard work that should take place next week.

Les has a couple appointments this week.  

I got to the Commissary this morning and everything is put away.

Saturday's weather was wet, with a little snow in the afternoon.  Pretty coming down and it did not stick.  It did freeze overnight though, and the pansies looked a little wilty on the porch.  They are all perked up now and fine.  Today is sunny and close to 60.

I hope everyone is feeling well and taking care of themselves.  Life is good!  God Bless America!

Just a Reminder

 

I am posting this as I see snow coming down outside our office window!!

Don't forget to change all your clocks this evening.  Life is good. Stay safe.  

And God Bless America!

Mr. Gnome Is Ready for Spring, Too

 

Neighbors have flowers blooming - I've seen daffodils and hyacinths.  The pink bud trees that are in the road medians are blooming.  In our yard we have leaves and buds coming out on our hydrangeas.  Our smaller, young tree in the back yard has buds on it and should bloom soon with the pretty lavender flowers it gets.  And the pollen is starting!

It was around 80 yesterday and today started in the 40's and isn't getting out of the 50's.  The next couple days will be rainy.  Ah, Spring!

Take care of yourselves and stay safe.  Life is good.  And God Bless America!

Having Some Quiet Time

 

Finnigan

And wouldn't most of us just like to cover our heads sometimes and hide away from the state of the world?

There is no need for me to list all the many things that are worrying us and stressing us.  We need to deal with it all the best we can. Look for the good!  

But I have to comment on something I saw this morning at our doctor's office.  I mentioned in a previous post that I have had a UTI.  I finished the antibiotics and needed to go back for some additional tests and cultures to make sure the medicine had taken care of it.  As I was standing in the line to check-in, I was reading some of the new signs that have been posted.  It is just a really sad state of affairs when your doctors have to post signs saying the office is a safe place and certain things are  prohibited.  Things like pushing, hitting, swearing, putting your hands on someone else.  I'm sorry, if you aren't civilized enough to behave in public, stay home and stay away from everyone else!

I admit I have had more days of low patience than usual and I hate this.  But I am trying.

So take care of yourselves and stay safe.  Life is good.  And GOD BLESS AMERICA!