Last Saturday...

Actually it was Friday come to think about it. I had just come from seeing The SHithead. and took the long way home, along the Keystone spit, and along the beach front and the ponds in Admirals Cove. I was on a mission, looking for baby ducks or geese, as n several bunches from the highway, and could not stop to take pictures. I knew the ponds would have some.

At the South end of the pond I finally found a pair of Mallards, but the geese were way up the pond yet. and no babies! :(



I drove up where I could pull out and honked at the geese and they came swimming up for a bite of anything. I waakwaakwaaked at them and they talked back. SO I walked down to the water to get their pictures and they came right up.

I heard off in the distance a faint peep peep peep getting louder and louder, and off in the middle of the lake was a dark spot coming towards the shore really fast, leaving a wake! I waaked again, and the Peep got louder and then I could make out the baby! only one baby in the big big pond, and no parents anywhere close.

I am assuming that since he is sooo little, that he just hatched and found his way to the water, and the rest of the brood was still in the process, and it had to bed Dad down at the South end.

This little baby swam right up to me and wanted me to take him home, I knew that I should not touch him, but Oh I so wanted to. He let me get his picture, and I let him get as close as he could with out getting out of the water. THe geese were not paying him any attention at all, but soon Mom and Dad Mallard swan up closer to see what all the fuss was about. He swam over to them, but they turned and swam away. Poor baby. I left him there peeping and swimming after the Mallards, assuming that soon he would be adopted or found one or the other.




It was so relaxing out there, the sun was warm, and the breeze was cool, just like I like it. Little did I know that 2 days later things would get really wet around my place. Little baby duck would have been able to swim in the living room!!!

Isn't he CUTE?

Flood part deaux...or maybe its tres...

yesterday all of the insurnce people, and service master people came and went. THey tore out all the flooring, all the vinyl, and all the carpets, and the underlayment in the kitchen and the utility room. THen they crawled under the house and shooed away all the critters, and ripped out all of the insulation in the crawl space. Tomorrow they will put fans UNDER the house to dry up the puddles under there. It appears that the subfloor will survive, even though it is wet, The particle board under the carpets and the laminate did not howevert. Swelled up like a pregnant cat!

Today they came and ripped out the hall bathroom, toilet and all, which is now sitting right smack in the middle of my drive way. Classy place eh?

The carpet lady was out and measured everything, and said that they should have the tests of my old flooring and carpet back by Monday, and they would then know which products I should choose. I had them go ahead and measure my bedroom too, as that is the only room in the house left! And you all have heard the horror stories of my renters while I was stationed in Fallon, Nv. So if it does not cost too awful much, I will have it replaced too, otherwise I will just paint the Underlayment and seal it really good. It will really be nice once the work is all complete around the middle of June. (you gotta realize folks, we are not a dry part of the country, and the dehumidifiers are working overtime right here.) Once everything is thoroughly dry, they will replace the insulation, and the flooring and carpet.

I have the MOTHER of all Head aches right now, all caused from lack of sleep and stress. I went in to see TIm this afternoon, and he said I looked like HELL> He did not know what the Heck had happened. He was rightfully shocked!

I asked the service corp to hook the washer and dryer back up so I can get the wet towels and carprt washed and dried, but they forgot, so now I have to squeeze my FAT ASS between the wall and the dryer and lay on my side with my arms over my head to try and tape down the dryer vent. The retard that built this house must never have had to hook up one of those suckers. He was probably like my husband was, and everytime there was a move to be made, he had to pull duty, so I had to hook up and disconnect everything. He was usless with household chores.

If I get a good nights sleep tonight, and the service guys dont come back and start banging again, I will tell you about the cute duck tale!!

HAve a great day you all!! and send good vibes my way please!!

FLOOD!!!! OH SHIT!!!!

So yesterday, DOnna came over and mowed my yard, and her husband helped, and Bob and I watched. I cooked a turkey for dinner, and I got to clean up the kitchen!!

I was so tired, I went to bed right after WEST WING FINALE (PHHFFTTT) and was laying there reading when I heard a cat scream out in the back. I jumped out of bed to see which one had escaped, and was 1/2 way down the hall when I went SPLASH!!! WHA....?


water

I ran into 2 " of water in my livingroom. I have a pergo laminate floor and it should not have been wet!! My washer had popped the drain hose off the washer, and water was running everywhere in the front of my house. THe Kitchen, DIning room, Living room and bedroom was flooded!! I went into the utility room and saw that water was running out the back door too. I turned off the washer, and grabbed all the towels I could find. I spread them over the floor in clumps to form a dam, so it would not fgo to the back of the house and flood the office and Master bedroom. THANK GOD it did not go down the garage steps, that would have been an AWFUL MESS!


water

I called Bob and woke him up, and he came over to help me sploosh out the water. I borrowed a wet-vac from Lea next door, and that really helped. I guess I will have to save up for one of those wonder toys!! Been meaning to, just never thought Id need one!

SO from 1130 until 300 I was sweeping and throwing wet towels and water out the back door! My floor is buckling! I called State Farm right away last night, and they said to keep track of everything, which I am going to do as soon as I get this done.


water

I will have to replace all the laminate flooring, as water is under the floor and squishing up through the seams. THe rugs in the bedroom are going to have to come out, the pads will have to go, the linoleum in the kitchen and utility room is ruined, and I fell! HARD on my knees, and Bob had the audacity to laugh!

I called Phyllis this morning to tell her and she, being the Pollyana that she is says WOW< YOU GET A NEW FLOOR> THe people in my life love to laugh at me.

Seriously, I really did not get upset, for some strange reason. Usually I would be POSTAL! I am so sore from falling, bruised, and my back and knees are so sore, but I have to work through this, and get as much of the wetness out of the house before it starts to mildew. State Farm should be giving me a call shortly.

So If I am not on the net for awhile, you know where to find me, sweeping water, drying towels and replacing floors and oriental rugs. Thank GOD it isnt raining!


water

Bigamist...

I was always a very shy, self conscious person. I spent my formative years overseas, in Hawaii and Guam, in the late 40’s and early 50’s. I was a very tall, blonde child, in a land of little brown skinned, black headed midgets. I would come home crying at times because I was so different. Being raised as a Navy Brat did not help matters any either, as Every 6 months to 2 years, we would change duty stations, which meant that I would have to change schools and make new friends AGAIN! It was a very hard life, always playing catch up from one school district to another. I never dated in school, and eventually gained weight, and hid behind my size, not knowing how to talk to members of the opposite sex. I graduated from High School, and stayed home for about a year, trying to lose weight and looking for a job that I could do, in a town with no business other than family owned ones.

A friend of mine from high school came over to the house and said we were going out to the dunes and meet sailors. I was aghast! I couldn’t put on a bathing suit, and go meet guys!! I was terrified! I went, and did not look all that bad after all. Linda was a bubbly never met a stranger type, and all she did was stand over our blanket in the sand and yell YOO HOO GUYS OVER HERE!! And the blanket was full of single sailors. I met a guy, and dated him for awhile, and he was the one who got me my first job at the Navy Exchange. Because of that job, I had to learn to talk to guys, as I was a line grill cook in the cafeteria. There was a club right through the folding curtain, and after 900 PM the club opened the curtains, and the two places became one. Dance and bar on one side and grill/cafeteria on the other. Guys would come over for a hamburger or a steak, and I had to learn to flirt and talk with them while I was fixing their order.

Linda would meet me after I closed the Grill, and we would change clothes and go over and dance and talk to the guys over on the bar side.

After a few months I met Chuck. He was 6’3” dark ruddy complexion, wide shoulders and narrow hips and just absolutely gorgeous. He was from Alabama and a year older than me. I fell head over heels in love with him, and fell for his Southern drawl and line hook line and sinker.



We dated for about 6 months, getting more and more serious as time went on, and then he got his orders to the USS Ranger stationed in Bremerton. I was so afraid he would go away and I would never see him again. During Thanksgiving that year, he asked me down to the ship for holiday dinner, and I was ecstatic! I was finally going to see and meet his friends. He had been on the ship since August and drove up every weekend to see me.

Needless to say I had fallen into the trap, and became pregnant. I told him that weekend that I was about 6 weeks along, and we set the date for our wedding.

We were married on December 30th 1966, and I was the happiest bride in the whole world. In March I quit my job on Whidbey and moved down to Bremerton, to start our life together.




I was sooo sick with the pregnancy, and unable to keep anything down. I slept all day, and worried that I was going to hurt the baby by not eating. The only thing I was able to keep down was cinnamon toast and tea. PERIOD! Chuck was not too happy about my illness, and kept telling me that I needed to get over it. I knew he was not happy, and felt trapped, but I blindly thought that all that would change once the baby was born. He seemed excited about the baby, and we went out and bought the crib and a few baby things.

In May, of 1967, the Ship was transferred back to it’s homeport of Alameda, Ca, and I was sent home to have the baby which was due on July 4th! I sent all the baby stuff in our household effects, and I only kept the few maternity outfits that I had.

Chuck drove me up to the Island, and left me with Mom and Dad, and drove his red thunderbird convertible away in a cloud of dust. I waited and waited for letters, and got nothing. The due date for the baby came and went, and the Dr was certain I should have delivered by then. I had pains off and one but they had stopped every time I thought it was time to go to the hospital.

Finally on August 12, I got a letter from Chuck. I was so relieved!! I had written him every single day, but only got the one letter. I walked across the field from the post office to the house, and read as I walked. My heart fell to my toes, as I read that he wanted a divorce. That he was never in love with me, and felt trapped. I cried for two days, and went into labor. I was in Labor for 3 days, and the Dr wanted to get hold of Chuck’s Commanding Officer and get his ass up her to be with me, but the ship was out on maneuvers.

They induced labor, and broke my water with bamboo skewers to get the baby to start down. With in 5 hours Donna Gayle was born.




She was the prettiest baby I had ever seen, and I could not wait to get her home and then call Chuck.

Chuck and I talked and we decided that we would give it a try, and once I was cleared for travel, he sent me an airline ticket and Donna and I left Whidbey for San Francisco. She was a darling little thing, all cute and doll like. And I was trying to present the best face too, I wore the suit I was married in, and had my hair all done up in a French twist. (when you flew in those days, you dressed UP!!)

I got to San Francisco, and walked off the plane into San Francisco International Airport, and there was NO ONE to meet me. I had the grand total of 20 dollars in my pocket, and a 6 week old baby and no husband! I was terrified!! I called my Mom, and she told me to call Red Cross, so I sat in the phone booth and bawled and bawled and bawled. A wonderful Big Security guard, found me and told me to find a hotel, and helped me find one close. And then he made sure I was ok, and then helped my call the red Cross.

They were absolutely no help at all, and told me to stay there in the hotel until they could find Chuck. Finally I called Mom again, and she called a friend of hers who came and picked me and Donna up, and took me home with them. We called the red cross again, to tell them where I was going to be. After a week, they called and told me that Chuck was out at sea and could not be reached. It turns out they were wrong, so When the Ranger pulled back into port, I was there to meet it, and We went aboard to talk to the CO. I finally found Chuck who had been in port the whole time, and he came back to Ruth’s house with us, and we talked. He got us an apartment and moved me in. He then left and never came back. SO I called the Household effects office to get our stuff delivered to my apartment, and was told that it had already been delivered several months ago to such and so address.

Ruth and I went to the address they gave me and the apartment was occupied by a woman who said she was Chuck’s wife too. WHAT? She and I both started crying, and she brought out her marriage license and showed me that she was legally married to him, but I had to tell her that No, Chuck and I had never gotten a divorce so I was married to him and she was not. I showed her my ID card, and she immediately called Chuck on the ship.

I tried to get him arrested, but the Alameda County Bunko squad said there was nothing they could do as the crime was committed in Nevada, and out of their jurisdiction. I went to the Chaplain on base who basically prayed us out of his office. SO I then went to the CO again who told me that the ship was getting ready to go take the Uss Forrestal’s place after her devastating fire, and all men were needed, so there was nothing he would do either.

Chuck called his mother who flew out from Alabama to see him and the baby, and she helped me get my stuff delivered to Whidbey and paid for my ticket back home. After a few weeks, I got my job back at the Navy Exchange, and filed for divorce. I was so hurt and angry at him that I swore I would never put myself in that position again. I worked three jobs in order to pay the bills, and Donna and I made it just fine for a few years until I met and married Jim. But that is another story for another time.

Chuck came up several times to see Donna, and then he disappeared again, no child support, no forwarding address, nothing. He stayed married, to the woman for a few years, and then last we heard he was on his 5th wife, and still had no children of his own other than Donna. She keeps in touch although not regularly, and he now lives in Guin, Alabama and is retired from the US Coast Guard. Nothing was done to punish him, and I learned a very valuable lesson. Depend on NO ONE but yourself! I worked long and hard, and made few friends, but I provided for my family, and raised two wonderful children.

Well, I did! What they did after I raised them, is not my fault!!

Friday Funnies

Should kids witness a birth? A true story:

It was late at night and Heidi, who was expecting her second child was home alone with her 3-year old daughter Katelyn. When Heidi started going into labor, she called "911." Due to a power outage at the time, only one paramedic responded to the call.
The house was very, very dark, so the paramedic asked Katelyn to hold a flashlight high over her mommy so he could see while he helped deliver the baby. Very diligently, Katelyn did as she was asked. Heidi pushed and pushed, and after a little while Connor was born.
The paramedic lifted him by his little feet and spanked him on his bottom. Connor began to cry. The paramedic then thanked Katelyn for her help and asked the wide-eyed 3-year old what she thought about what she had just witnessed.
Katelyn quickly responded, "He shouldn't have crawled in there in the first place. Smack him again!"


That is soooo cute!!! amazing what kids will come up with on their own!!
Still working on Bigamist story...but I was the REAL wife!! :)

It's your turn...

In doing my Blogwalk the past few days, I have noticed that either EVERYBODY is getting really tired of blogging, or they have not much to say. I on the otherhand, Have a LOT to say, and I am not tired of blogging. I have cut back a bit, because I can not get it all out on paper. I feel like it is blocked, right up there. I can think it, I can formulate it, I just can not get it typed!

My hands have been hurting really bad lately, so maybe my fingers are constipated. All the words that I want to type are all stuck in the joints of my hands, and can not make it out to the keyboard.

I was thinking that it maight be fun if you all told ME what you wanted to read about me or my life. Then I might be able to break the blockage and get it all out. I have plenty of white out, and I know how to use the delete key and the backspace key, so if I have an accident, I can clean it up.

So, if you would tell me what part of my life you want to know about, I will try to pick one and go with it, then the next one and so on until everyone has their requests answered.

I have:
Been overseas 3 times, all by Naval transport.
Been a minority in school
Been married to a bigamist. (yes, really)
Lived in the aleution islands
Lived on Islands most of my life

Been born into a Military family and have only been a civilian for about 7 years.
Worked for the US Government for 37 years
Always wanted to homestead in the wilderness.
Loved to sing…
Always been a big woman.
Been married twice.
Always loved animals.
Always been fiecrely independent
Always wanted to happily married and taken care of. (LOLOLOLOLOL)
Always loved science and nature

So you all now have plenty of subjects to pick. You can even pick my ancestors, politics,(although you may not agree) views on immigration, views on the war, views on drugs, (yeah RIGHT!!!)
Just about anything you want to know about. I do have censorship rights though. And I will not do anything illegal.

Whatcha wanna hear? Who’s gonna be FIRST??

I CANT HEAR YOU…….

Never bite the hand that feeds ya!

I have absolutely nothing to say about the picture, or the title, I just thought it was cute.

Tim talked with the COurt appointed lawyer today, and since he is pleading guilty to selling a controlled substance to an undercover agent, He is probably looking at 36 months in prison. His lawyer said that there are ways to get that sentence reduced, especially since Tim is well known and liked in the community. He is a hard worker, and he is a NICE man. Not really smart, but nice. ANd his lawyer said that he was the niceset drugie he had ever seen. Tim admited to me tonight that he has taken Meth, but not often. (I thought you could not take it recreationally, as it is so addicting) But what do I know, I am just a mom. I did raise him right though, and it was way after he left home that he got into drugs.

It still sits like a stone in my gut! My little baby boy that I worried over because he was so big and developmentally slow. and now he is 6'5" a grown man, and going to prison! SHIT!! It still hurts. It will really be bad when He leaves here and goes to where ever they are going to send him. Ah well, I will cross that bridge when We get to it.

OHMIGAWD!! There is a 100 year old man on Jay Leno that looks better than most 80 year olds do!! And he just read a poem he wrote, about false teeth and oral sex!!! LOLOLOLOLOLOL Men are all alike no matter what their age I guess. (and he just got married 5 years ago.) He is the world champion Table tennis player. 7 times!!!

I am cat sitting for tippy and Tyler again. DOttie will be gone for 5 weeks and I take care of her cats while she is gone. Talk about someone who looks good! She is 73, lives alone, still works at the Hallmark shop in the mall, drives, directed the Caine Mutiny COurt Martial, and smokes like a chimney! she is a wonder! I wish I was as limber and healthy as she is right now! ANyway, The cats are hiding in the garage, THey will be in there for about 3 days until Sadie quits barking at them when they head into the house. Then they will tkae over the place. Tippy likes to sit on the top of my tower and watch me blog. SHe is siamese and chirps like a bird! Normally siamese yowl really loud, but not tippy. Tyler is a black cat that Tippy adopted while they were in the shelter. He was just a kitten, and When DOttie went to adopt Tippy, she took Tyler too, and he is a hoot. RIght now he is too busy growling to be petted, but I will wake up with him in bed with me, purrring and drooling and making mudpies in my boob!

Sorry I have not got the frame of mind to write a good post, maybe tomorrow. maybe not. Too much on my mind to be creative. (worry worry worry worry)

THink I will go get lost in a book.

FUN!!

You Are Rain

You can be warm and sexy. Or cold and unwelcoming. Either way, you slowly bring out the beauty around you. You are best known for: your touch Your dominant state: changing

What Type of Weather Are You?

I just LOVE these fun little tests...

I am in the middle of my blogwalk and found this over at RAINY DAY THOUGHTS. I'll be back!

Yikes where did it go?

I cant believe it is very Early on Sunday morning and I have not posted since Wednesday! This week has just flown by. Visiting Errant son, trying to call lawyer for him (no Im not paying!) trying to get the yard all mowed before it rains again...(too late, it is poring as I type and I still have about 100 SF left to do.) Getting everything wrapped up for the show, and keeping my kitchen clean and my laundry done, and there ya go...Sunday already!

My desktop PC is ready to crash I think. Or my modem is. anyway it is getting really really cranky and telling me I have no more disk space on c...well I have almost 1GB left. I have over 60 left on D. And on my last computer I didnt even HAVE 1 GB total and it worked. THis one is partitioned, and I have 15 GB on C and 65 GB on D drive. so I moved all my documents and work to D and took all my pictures off and put them on CD's and I STILL dont have any space. When I go to defrag it tells me there isnt enough room to do it right. So now I have to save up enough to have my guru John, come fix it. There are applications on there that I never use, and I thought I uninstalled and deleted them but they are still there. He can fix that. I hope. And I do need a new modem, so it wont keep kicking me off everytime I am downloading a file. (bastard Dial up) I had my fairy godmother put my spring summer banner up but I gave her the wrong one, so now I have to find what I did with the RIGHT one and then sweet talk her into switiching it again for me. I can be such a pain I know!

I was going to post a picture of the grey squirrel hanging upside down on the suet feeder, but I am on my tummy in bed, using my laptop, and dont have that capability here.

I am so mad at the network Television people. This year is the first year in a decade or so that I actually sat down to watch tv, and I have certain showsw that I look forward to, and now the networks have moved them all over the place, so if I do find them, they are on opposite something else I watch. Or in the case of COMMANDER IN CHIEF, they cancelled it!! left us hanging and cancelled it! I wish I still got CBC! at least they were pretty consistent.

It has been really nice weather here this week, cool but nice and sunny. and cold at night. done to freezing a few nights. TOnight it is raining, and tomorrow it is sposed to still be, but then 9 days of sunshine. I shouold be able to get my yard in some semblance of order in that amount of time. It has really been rough on my back and knees. I have a power drive mower, but when you use it it goes so fast that It jerks my back and hurts, so i just use it in push mode, At least it is short enough that I can see Sadie again...FOR AWHILE THERE SHE WAS LOST IN THE WEEDS! (pardon the typos, but I cant get used to this tiny keyboard. My fingers are usweed to reaching for the letters and here on this one I have to watch it, cause I will hit control or home and mean to hit caps or enter, makes for weird reading.

Tonight I was sposed to go in and strike the show, but last night we ate chineses, and it has me sticking very close to the bathroom today. So I did not go in. I am now through. I have no other shows on my docket...(SNIFF) maybe something will show up soon, but I think not. The directors that were picked have their own staff, so unless someone backs out, I am going to be staying home and saving gas. I am going to miss it like crazy, but maybe I can get my scrapbooks done. I have plans to make one for Donna and one for Tim, and then of course mine, but Who knows when that will get done. Michelle, You need to send me your list of stuff, or your website, so I can see what you are selling. ( as if I could afford anything anyway.)

Tim still has no idea what is going to happen to him, he still has not seen his lawyer. He goes to court May 22, but does not know if that is sentenciing or what. He thinks he will get at least a year maybe 3 in prison. But he plans to see if he can plead it down. (?) If it is too far away, like Walla Walla or Monroe, I will only go see him once a month or so. It costs too much to drive that far for a 1 hour visit. He'll just have to deal with it. I know I will probably have to store his stuff in the garage, but that isnt much any more. He actually said yesterday that Mom I am 34, it is time I got on with the rest of my life, and did something with it." YA THINK? He is slow...I just hope I dont get his cat...Sandy will have to deal with that. Hey, do they have computer access in prison? Maybe we can get him to start a blog... THERE AIN'T NO CURE FOR STUPID...by Tim Yeah. That sounds pretty good. :)

On to other things...

Today is Wednesday isn't it? OOPS!!!!! Guess who I forgot to go visit!! shucks!!!
I really meant to, just plain forgot!! Well now I guess he knows how it feels. I am surprised he hasnt called collect to find out where I am...

I have been really busy...finished SHerry's afghan. this is a variation on a ripple afghan, which makes it really lacy and feminine. It was fun to make. So now I am on to Bill's. I was making a Mile A Minute Afghan pattern, but It was gonna be way too small, so I am on to a GREAT GRANNY square. Which is sorta like a granny square, but different. It'll go quick too.


Sherry's

I was sitting there crocheting this afternoon and a big black streak right behind a little brown streak went by the door and THUNKED right into the side of the house. I went out to see what it was, and the big black dog was heading North very fast, I looked to see what he had been chasing and in behind the rose bush was a small brown tabby looking all scardey cat like. He would have been a great model for a halloween cat. BIG hump on his back and his tail looked just like a bottle brush. He was growling and hissing and would not let me touch him. He jumped again, and tried to get in my livingroom window which does not open. He saw Chitters in the window and figured that had to be safe. poor little kitty!! His name is Jupiter and he lives next door and is not allowed out. I went out just a few minutes ago and he was still there all hidey like in the weeds. I went next door when his mommie came home and she came and he right to her. I'll bet he does not go out again for awhile. I am surprised he was not hurt running into the side of the house, and falling into the old stickery rose bush.

He was out one other time, and was trying to eat off the Hors d'ourve tray in the back yard. Tonight on the local news they were showing the humane shelter in Tacoma that was going to have to Euthanize 350 cats and kittens because there were too many of them and they cant find homes for them. OH GOD! I am soooo glad I dont live close to Tacoma. I am afraid I would have to go down and get the mama and 6 8 day- old kittens they had. I am a SUCKER for kittens. You all know that. They are my favorite thing in the whole wide world. I love them when they are still wet from afterbirth. THe kittens I raise are SPOILED kitties too.

THis weekend is the last showing of THE CAINE MUTINY COURT MARTIAL, and then I have nothing on my plate at the Playhouse. I dont know what I am gonna do with my time. I have done at LEAST 2 shows a year for 6 years! WAHHHHH!!!!

Maybe I'll just finish the stuff around my house. I could always learn how to make Pysanky eggs, as I just found out that my friend Barbara has the whole shee-bang and does them too. Nancy over at Kaymusings made mine and they are gorgeous!!!

TOnight is Amazing Race!! Whoot! gotta keep routing for the hippies!! they are so funny!!!

Busy weekend...

As you all know I went to see Tim on Friday afternoon. So I dwelled on that all weekend. Im fine with my decision not to bail him out, but the Mom in me feels so guilty for not doing it. Ah well, I will get over it. I will think about Mothers Day and how he would not make over here to see me, He MIGHT call, but there would be no card and no flowers, even though he KNOWS how much they mean to me. DOesnt have to be a big bunch of roses, just a little nosegay or something. Hell If he picked them on the road and brought them over that would be just GRAND. But he doesn't, He only remembers he has a Mother when He needs something. Too Bad Mom's cant forget they have SOns. My Husband was the same way, and so was my Dad and so Is Bob. Mom? I sorta remember that word...I dont know why Men refuse to acknowledge their Mother's if they do not live in the same town with them. It is like they break their hands or something. So any of you guys out there that may be reading this, If your Mom is alive, CALL HER!! GO VISIT HER!!! SEND HER FLOWERS!!! WRITE TO YOUR MOTHER!!!! If she is dead, GO VIsit her grave, or send some flowers to her church in her name. Do SOMETHING to remember you had a WOman that gave you life.

THe rest of the weekend was spent cleaning, and putzing. TOday I got up started the laundry and took my coffee out to the deck. It was the first morning warm enough to do so. REALLY!! My grass out back is 2 feet tall, and starting to go to seed, so I knew I had to do something TODAY! SO I started mowing, and the part that I had mowed 2 weeks ago was not as hard, but the rest was brutal. TOok me three hours to get it have done. I ran out of gas, so as I went to get the can, I noticed that Bob had brought his weed whacker over and was going to town on the worse part. He got it all knocked down in about 45 minutes. So tomorrow in the rain, I get to rake it up and then hope it dries enough to Mow it shorter this time, and then I should be well On my way to keeping it looking good.

I came in to take a bath and get ready for bed before the movie came on, but I fiddled around too long and just now got out of the tub. Anybody besides me think that Jesse Stone is cool? Tom Selleck just gets better and better with age!! UM UM UM!! I love those rugged hotties!!! ANd he plays Jesse so WELL!! I guess I will have to read some robert Parker books, as Jesse is his main character in his books, at least that is what TOm said on Martha Stewart today. (I tape her and watch when I can) Sure would be nice to see it go into a series. This is the third movie so far. and he wrote 11 books, so maybe...

My laundry is done!! THe kitchen is still a wreck, but It will stay that way until tomorrow. I have the last load of dirty clothes, (what I used today) in and that is it. Bed room is clean, sheets changed, bird feeders filled, grass mowed, Short ribs cooked for Bob, and then reheated for tonight, So now it is off to bed and my book.
See you tomorrow...

And Thank you all for all your support for me this week! I love you all.

tough love...

So when do you NOT say no?  Tough Love is HARD….really HARD!  I told Both of my kids when they left home that they were now responsible for their own actions.  Any trouble they got into was their problem.  I would visit and give them support so that they would not feel all alone, but if they broke the law they were on their own.

Today I went to visit Tim.  He has been sitting in the Island County Jail for TWO WEEKS!!  7 miles away, and a phone available at all times and he did not think enough of me to CALL!  He says he knew I would get on him big time and he did not want to hear it.  TOUGH SHIT!!!  He got it anyway.  With both barrels.  I let a tear fall, and I think it shocked him to know how much it hurt me.

He was arrested for arranging a sale of Meth for a “friend”.  He did not sell it, he just was the go between.  But he used his car so guess what San Juan County now has to auction off?  He says he is sure he still has a job if he gets out soon, but with bail at 1500.00 out of pocket, he cant come up with bail.  He knows better than to ask me.  And I told him NO!  Donna said she thought she could come up with it, but I don’t want her doing it either.  He wont appreciate it 2 days after he is out.  And he would neglect to pay her back.  She says she just hates to see him lose his job.  Yeah I do too, and I could get it from Bob, but I just think that I need to let him figure this out on his own.  He SAYS he is done!  He wont touch it again.  He does not do Meth, only smokes Pot.  TIM…What part of ILLEGAL do you not understand?   I don’t CARE that you think Pot is not really a drug.  THE LAW SAYS IT IS!!  

This is so hard!  I want to get him the money, but I know that he wont pay it back.  He goes to trial on May 22, and the arresting officer says he will get 3-5, but his lawyer says NAH!!  We shall see.  I really hope he doesn’t get hard time, because he is so naïve, and I know that he will come out of there hardened and angry.

Mother Animals eat their defective young.  Maybe they know something we don’t!

A Mother's Fears...

I have been told by both of my children that I worry far too much. I keep telling them that that is my JOB! I am supposed to worry! And I do it well!!

When they were brand new babies, I would check on them often to make sure they were still asleep, and breathing fine. I would shake the crib to see them wiggle, and I got hardly any rest with Them.

Donna NEVER slept through the night, she was up every 4 hours for her bottle. And when she got older she would wake up find her empty bottle and bash me on the head with it, Until I got her another one. Thank GOD they came out with plastic ones when Tim was born.

Tim on the other hand slept through the night from the second day home. I worried about him constantly. He was born 7 weeks late, and was huge at 10 lbs. He was very slow in development, and was diagnosed with static borderline CP. He was only 3 when that was told to us. He was always a big clumsy kid. He did out grow it though. When he turned 14, He was on his way to 6 foot 5" and good looking!! He played in the band, and the jazz band. And was on the championship baseball team in his Jr year. They won State that year and Aaron Sele was the star pitcher at North Kitsap High.

I worried about him learning to drive, and never went to sleep until I heard the car come roaring down the high way and then speed shift down so I would not know he was speeding. I worried about him playing tag football with the guys, afraid he would get hurt. ( He never did, but I still worried. )

When he moved away from home up to Orcas Island, I worried about him making the right choices. I worried when I listened to the scanner and could hear him talking on the radio to the fire chief while he was in a burning building. He was a good volunteer fireman and a good EMT.

I still worry about him, and I worry about Donna too, but this isn't about her. Tim has made some very stupid choices in the past 4 years, and now that he is in trouble again, I worry that he will still make the wrong choices when he gets out. He just never seems to learn his lessons.

A mother never stops worrying. I wish I could. I wish I could forget that I ever had children, but I cant. I Love them too much. They are my heart and soul. I want the best for them, but that does not mean MONEY, it means happiness, and contentment. And a safe loving life style. I am terrified that Tim especially will get into some really serious trouble and get hurt badly.

I called the jail today and visiting hours are M-W-F from 1-430, for 10 minutes at a time. So tomorrow I will toddle myself into town and see just what all he is in for. I still am not certain what the charge is. I know it was selling a controlled substance to an undercover cop, but I DON'T know which substance.

I think I will make him his sign now....STUPID....Here ya go. And I worry still. Sure puts gray hairs on your head!!

And everything was going along just fine...

I have had the feeling all day that I needed to call my mother. Now that would be VERY difficult as Mom Died in 1993. I just have been having the feeling that I needed to talk to her, or her to me. In fact I almost did call her, but then I giggled and said OK Mary Lou, She is gone, give it up.

As I worked frantically to finish Sherry's afghan tonight, I got so hungry, so I got up and went by the phone to the kitchen, and I noticed that the message light was blinking. I told myself that I needed to check my voice mail, and went to get something to eat. I forgot about the messages until just a few minutes ago.

As I settled in for the night, and was ready to grab my book, I remembered, so I called my voice mail. A collect call from "momit'stimiminjailcomeseeme" and then the recording clicked in for me to accept the call. Which of course I did not, as it was 10 hours ago.

So I called TIm's cell phone, and some strange woman answers his phone. It was not Sandy, and would not tell me her name nor why she had his cell phone. Only that Tim was in bad trouble.

I was just telling someone that I was wso proud of him as He had been clean and sober for two years, and had held a job, and now had medical benefitws. His life was on an uphill swing finally.

WRONG!!! Since it is now midnight, and the Sherriffs office does not like to talk to Mothers at all, never mind that it is their job, I have no idea in the world why he is in the hoosegow, nor how long he will be there. So I will have to wait until 11:00 TOMORROW to find out by going down there, whether or not it is the 'c's turn for visitation. Good thing it is a small town.

Now for those of you that dont know how this works...Tim lives on Orcas Island in San Juan County which is right over there<<<<<<< but there are 7 or 8 big islands in the county, and only one tiny little jail, on San Juan Island which is even farther over there<<<<<<< are you still with me? (get out an atlas) so since San Juan County does not have the room for holding prisoners, they farm them out to Island COunty, which just built a big brand new jail and detention center. SO even though Tim lives in another county, and can rarely get home to see his MOther because it costs too much to catch the ferry, he is right here in COupeville now, because he did something bad that I still dont know about!

He is 35 almost, so he knows better than to ask me for bail or money at all. But since I only live 7 miles out of town, He will want me to come visit every day that I can. I hope he hasn't lost everything he has AGAIN. Good thing I have not had a chance to give him his afghan yet. That would REALLY piss me off.

Poor kid. He is sooooo sweet, and everybody likes him, (or did) but he caught the stupid virus and there aint no cure for STUPID!!! I hope he gets to keep his job.
Little shit head!!! :(

Drama in the forest...

owl

I woke up just as the sky was starting to get light. Since Sadie was out of her pen, I knew she would have to go outside to potty, so I walked her outside and stood on the deck while she waded her way through the tall grass. Suddenly a form lifted off the deck post and startled me. It was a barred owl. S/he looked like she was gonna head for Sadie, but at the same time, Sadie saw her and wanted her as bad as she wanted Sadie. The Owl used better sense and headed for the alders. Sadie did her thing and after sniffing over everything in the yard, came back in and we headed back to bed.

I looked out towards the deck just before I layed down and there was the Owl again, sitting on the railing and staring under the deck. You see, one of the by-products of feeding the birds and the squirrels, is I also feed the RATS! THey come out at night, and so does the Owl. I will hear a squeal in the night, followed by the flap of big wings, and I know that nature has taken it's course. I also know that The RAT population has gone down by one.

THis morning it just sat there waiting, and waiting, but no RATS. Soon it moved over into the plum tree, which is right against the fence that the squirrels use as their highway from the woods to the feeders. Suddenly I hear a loud squeal, and off the owl flew. I could not tell if it had Lola or a RAT, but I am going to assume since it did not cause a BIG ruckus, as Lola usually does, that it was a RAT!

I rolled over and was just about to head back into sleepy land, when I heard the ravens cawing loudly. They usually only yell like that when something disturbs them, so I looked over the window sill again. The Owl was trying to get the big grey squirrel (suzy), and was flying from tree to tree, and Suzy was jumping from branch to branch, and the Ravens were dive bombing the Owl and pecking at it's head. I saw Suzy scurry clear to the top of an alder tree about the time that the Ravens had the Owl ducking for cover, so I am pleased to report that the score was, Owl 0 Ravens 1.

Everything is back to normal in the Back yard again, Sadie is asleep on the recliner, Lint is out checking under the deck for slow rodents, and Loki is sitting in the window waiting for the critters to show their selves so he can chatter at them. THe other two cats chitters and Ethel are sleeping somewhere, and Bea Bunny is chomping on her Banana chips.

I am heading back into the kitchen for my second cup of coffee...

And how has YOUR morning gone so far?

Brain dead...

I have so much rattling around in my head and I cant get anything out on to the screen. SO much fragmented! I am just about through with THE CAINE MUTINY COURT MARTIAL and then I will have nothing to keep me from writing, but I just cant seem to spit it out. I have several themes started, just cant get them together.

Can you have a vacation when you are retired? sure feels like I need one though. I have not been anywhere since last Spring when Barb and I went to Astoria and the Long Beach Penninsula.

I think I need a shot of mountains. the weather is sposed to be fairly good for awhile, so maybe I will just head East and see what I can find. Maybe not...gas costs tons of money right now.

BIIIGGG SIGH!!! SUre would feel good though. WOnder if I can talk Bob into taking me? Nah. It isnt Friday. I only get Friday Night. :(

WELL HELL!!!!

Nope, the grass did not get mowed. I woke up late after staying up wide awake half the night. ANd when I looked outside it was drizzling so I said NOPE not today. I guess it only drizzled for the 5 minutes that I was checking, and did not get really wet. BIG SIGH!!! I did spend the day watching all those really neat movies on the Hallmark channel and crocheting about another 2 feet on SHerrys afghan.

I was sooo cold when I got up. At 430 AM it was 36 on my front porch. never made it to 70 on my property! I guess there is always tomorrow!

Meanwhile the grass still grows....and grows....

Im thinking of concrete!

Friday already?

My GOD where did this week go? I have been so damned busy getting the show opened and the lights set that it just flew by! I was thinking it was just Wednesday or something. I hate it when time flies faster as you get older!! Does not seem fair does it.

I woke up choking this morning about 830, and smelled smoke. I looked outside and the whole yard was thick with it. I thought the house was on fire so I ran outside, and some asshole contractor is burning trees stumps and windfall on the next street over and naturally the smoke goes uphill and right into my house. My eyes have been watering for two days. It was really bad this morning though.

the sun was out after the smoke cleared, and the grass is drying from the hard hard rain we had around dawn. SO tomorrow since it is expected to get into the mid 70's and sunshine (until TUESDAY!!) I plan on getting out and seeing how far I can get on the yard this time. I HAVE to get it done! Sadie has no place to poop, and Lint is not happy either. I guess waiting for BOB to help me do it aint gonna get it done, so I have warned my back, that it is just gonna have to hurt for a week or so until that grass is cut down TWICE, and ready for late spring!!

Off to bed, and early to rise tomorrow, I hope!! Wish me luck and a completed job!

Easter dinner...At last

BEFORE

Easter meant I cook! When I was growing up it was tradition to have ham, and Dad would make a potato salad and a fruit salad. We also had deviled eggs. The Ham was usually one of those Hormel canned hams, put into the casserole dish and covered with a brown sugar and mustard glaze. Sometimes Mom would get fancy and cut diamonds into the ham and place a cherry and a clove into each diamond. It was baked until hot clear through and then we ate. Sometimes, we would have hot cross buns. Those were usually only when we were in the states and close to a bakery that made them. Mom Did not bake from scratch. Most of the time we just had bake and serve rolls.

We would get up and run to Sunday School, and when we got home, the Easter bunny would have been by and left us Easter baskets and hid the eggs. We ran through the house looking for the eggs, unless we lived in Hawaii or California, then we got to go out side and hunt them.

When I took over the tradition of cooking the dinner, I changed it to Lamb. I have no idea why, I just did. This year I roasted a Leg of Lamb, and Phyllis brought roasted asparagus and deviled eggs. Sherry brought Mike, and Donna brought Bill and a sugar free Black berry pie.

Since I said to Mike to have Sherry bring a side dish, and I figured she would not get the word (she was in Florida until Friday night) so I also had Lima beans. I also decided that I would make this really yummy dessert that I saw on Paulas Home Cooking show on Wednesday. It was called Banana Split cake, and it was soooo easy.

Banana Split cake

1 box of graham cracker crumbs
1 stick of butter

blend these together with your fingers, and line a casserole dish with the mixture and bake for 15 minutes at 425. COOL

take
2 sticks butter
1 pound of powdered sugar
2 eggs

Mix thoroughly and pour into cooled crust

drain very well a can of crushed pineapple. Pour on top of mixture
slice 2 bananas and put on top of pineapple
take 1 large box of cool whip and put on top of bananas sprinkle with nuts.

refridgerate

Well I did it differently. I was almost out of butter so I used a pkg of cream cheese in place of 1 stick of butter and it made it sooooo good!!
I also had no canned pineapple so I drained a can of fruit cocktail really well, and used that. I also thought 2 bananas were not enough so I used a whole big hand of them. And two boxes of cool whip.

Oh GOD it was soooo good!!! And everybody ate Donna's sugar-free blackberry pie!
leaving ME to finish the dessert all by myself. I am so tired of it now. And It is gone. FINALLY! I will make it again though.


AFTER

My son in Law Bill came to dinner with Donna, and That is the first time in ten years he has been to my house for dinner. I was honored!! Wow!! I was blessed with his presence. It actually was a very nice day. No arguments, no fights, just good company.

Bill did come in and sit in MY chair. And turned off MY music, and grabbed MY remote and turned on the Mariners game. Donna and I just looked at each other and shook our heads. Whatever it takes to get him here.

Bob was the last to leave around 430, (early dinner, Mike had to work.) and I headed for a nap. I was so tired!! I had gotten up early and cleaned the house, and got the table set. Everything was actually done when everyone got here.

This week I have been getting the light cues set for the show which has it's first audience tomorrow night. Press Night was wonderful and we got a really great write up in the Whidbey News-Times. WHEW!

Now...On to scrapbooking....

I'm Here...Really I am.

I have just been extremely busy. Getting the show opened, and cleaning house for Easter. and Driving my Brother to the Dr out of town.

I PROMISE I will sit down and write a nice newsy post in the morning. Easter dinner was fun. I GOTTA tell you about the wonderful Dessert I made that nobody ate!

I will be by soon.

Happy Easter!

easter 1953

I barely remember when this picture was taken, and that is odd, because I can remember things both before and after it. This was when Dad was Stationed in San DIego, this was in National CIty, way up in the hills. We thought it was a long way from the base.

I went back there when I was on a business trip at headquarters, and I drove up here. It was only about 5 miles away if that, and all grown up around it now. Our little house and neighborhood was all Filipino retirees, and when we lived there it was on the edge of the desert and full of Veterans buying their first homes after the War. Amazing what a mere 52 years does to a place! The house was still there, but it had SHRUNK Drastically!! It used to be HUGE, and now I dont think it is any bigger than maybe 700 SF!! I wonder why!

Phyllis was just 4 and I was 7 when this was taken. I think Dad was fighting the Korean War on the USS Toledo, during this time.

Tomorrow, I am cooking a leg of Lamb, and the whole family except for the younger generational Men, are coming over. I went into town and got the last little bits for dinner, and now I have to clean house. I hate to vaccuum, so I end up putting it off until the bitter end. But now I need to vaccuum and pull up the area rugs for the Season. THen all I will have to do is run a dust mop over the floors and VOila! done! Oh SHit!! Better check the bathroom, only Bob uses it, and no telling what condition it is in.

OH DEAR LORD MARY LOU! DONT FORGET TO TAKE THE LAMB OUT OF THE FREEZER!!

*******************************************************************************

It is so cold today. Got down to 34 last night, and the wind was flat blowing in from the west. THe water in the Straight was so rough with white caps on it, and the Ferry was having a problem getting across. THe tulips and the daffodils, are out in force, and bent way over in the wind. I swear it is spring, but it really feels like winter. Yesterday it POURED all day long, so hard, that you could not see across hte water. Predicting Thunder storms tonight and tomorrow. Be my luck the power will go off tomorrow, and I will be stuck with a raw piece of lamb.

Cross your fingers.

You all have a safe and Happy Easter. Ellen, Careful on the chocolate, dont want to get yourself sick on it now! ;)

Bouncing planes...

Several of you referred back to a sentence in my last post about the bouncing planes. I realized then, that I have to stop and remember that not all of you have lived next to a Military airfield, nor do you have any idea how it impacts the area around it.

I looked up Coupeville OLF in google Images, and there was a really cool website about abandoned and forgotten airfields in Washington State. It has the complete history of these airfields. So below is an excerpt from that...


olf

The Navy reactivated the facility
to accommodate the increased training & operational demands of the Vietnam War
(when A-6 Intruder flight training at NAS Whidbey Island was ramping up).

Beginning at that time, the Navy used the landing strip for "field carrier landing practice",
a training exercise designed to simulate landing on an aircraft carrier at sea.
The exercise involves groups of up to five aircraft flying in patterns to practice touch-and-go landings.
Each aircraft in turn approaches the runway & touches down,
but then takes off again without coming to a stop.
The aircraft remains in the traffic pattern & returns for another landing.
Each aircraft makes multiple touch-and-go landings (bouncing) before stopping to refuel.

Since 1967, the Navy has continuously used OLF Coupeville for field carrier landing practice,
but the amount of that use has varied.
From 1967-71, the Navy used the landing strip extensively,
conducting as many as flight 39,246 operations in a single year.

After the Vietnam War ended, the Navy's use of OLF Coupeville declined, but did not cease.

I live just over the trees in the picture...It gets really loud around here when they bounce. I can see the pilots when they come down the street. Yes, you read right. They line up down Dewey Dr, then get as low as they can, go over the trees and then touch down. I knew they were there when I bought the house, so I have no room to complain at all, but they do get irritating. Especially during the summer when it stays light so late. The airfield has two carrier decks simulated on the field, complete with lights and stripes. So to practice Night landings on a carrier, they wait until dark which in our case may be as late as 10:00 PM then they go until the Law says NOPE which is 1:00 AM. You get used to them and you can sleep through the normal rhythm of them, but when they stop, or the pattern breaks, you wake up.

So now, Leigh and Carla and all you others...You KNOW!

The Caine Mutiny Court Martial...

The Cast

My last show is The Caine Mutiny COurt Martial. ANd then I have NOTHING on the agenda for next year. I was not given a show to direct, and of the Directors that DID get shows, They have their own producers. SO....unless something I dont know about comes up, I will be a lot less busy!

This show is about the executive officer who relieves his Capt of command during a typhoon, and subsequently is tried for treason. It is going to be a really good show. THese men, all pulled together and have made you feel like you are right there in the court room with them. I will post candid pictures after Press night.

I stayed home from the playhouse tonight, with the Mother of all migraines. I was seeing double, my eyes were watering, and PAIN!!!! I laid down to take a nap, which is what I do when I have a bad headache, and buried my head under a pillow. I sleep on my tummy, and Sadie decided that she needed to see out the window, so she lay all stretched out on HER tummy, on MY back! Her chin resting on my head, and that gave her a perfect view of the feeders. She must have known I was not well as she did not move a muscle even though I heard the Lolas and the Suzies chipping away out there.

Yesterday Morning, ALvin and Simon came to the feeder, but they stayed UNDER it, and It was so interesting watching them nibble on the sunflower seeds. They would pick one up, nibble around the edge, pop it open and then stuff the seed into their pouches. I had forgotten that they had pouches in their cheeks. ALvins right cheek was HUGE, and just as he started to stuff the other side, a big bird flew over, and he went scurrying to the fence and that was it for him for the day. I suppose he ran home, and unstuffed his cheek and re-stocked his cupboards!

I stopped by the Red Apple grocery yesterday to get something for dinner, and they had Buffalo in the meat counter., Ground Buffalo, a cube steak and stew meat. So I bought one of each, as I have heard Blogeois talk about it, but never had it. It was really cheap too, only 3.00 or so a package, (yeah It may be expensive for hamburger, but for Buffalo, I thought it was a good deal. I made some tonight and it is GOOD!!! hardly any fat, and it is not as gamey as venison. Looks exactly like
beef! I have a friend who sells Buffalo on the hoof, but I cant afford a whole one, and then the expense of butchering and wrapping it. Liz says that she usually sells them for about 700.00, and the butcher usually finds someone who will buy the skin for 500.00 and the skull for 300.00, but I dont want to risk ending up with having to find them myself. I sure would like to have a freezer full of it though.
all natural Grass Fed Buffalo.

THe planes are really putting in time bouncing this week. After dark no less! They bounce from around 100 to 500 then come back after dark and bounce for around 4 hours. Must be getting ready to deploy!

That Pig wasn't meant to be eaten...

Since I live on a fixed income, I try to eat on the cheap when ever possible. Last week while at the local Red Apple Store, I noticed a smoked Ham in the cooler, for only 3.48! TOTAL! Not a pound. TOTAL! I looked at the others in the rack, and they were bigger but cheap too. So I bought the small one, thinking that I could eat off of it for several meals.

I LOVE HAM!!!! I like it cooked, smoked, baked, in sandwiches, by the slice, or in steaks. I just like Ham. It is my favorite meat. I stuck it in the oven, baked it for about 45 minutes, and then glazed it with brown sugar, mustard, and worchestershire sause. YUMMY!!! I stuck it back in the oven for about 15 minutes, and then sat down to eat it. It was all BONE!! I could get a few slices off it, but it was mostly bone and skin. I was PISSED!!!!

Ok, Not all is lost, I will make a pot of split pea soup. I just made a pot of navy beans, so I did not want that again. But I love split pea soup and corn meal muffins. I cooked the ham for several hours in water in the pot, along with a sweet onion, and a lot of garlic. I then added the peas, and let it simmer for about 20 minutes, for the peas to get soft but not mushy.

I came in here to check my email, and 30 minutes later, I smelled smoke! I forgot to turn the burner down, and the whole pot is ruined. So I will feed the critters tomorrow, and will try some scrambled egg sandwiches for dinner.

I sure was wanting that soup...damn pig!

busy times...

I spent all day yesterday hanging lights and setting cues for the Show, SO I left Sadie out back while I went. Usually I take her and she will be very good in the car while I am in the theater. I did not want to leave her in the car for 7 hours. As soon as I pulled in the driveway last night just before midnight, I heard her yipping at the door. SHe heard the car and was at the back door bouncing and jumping and yipping and flat giving me HELL! I let her in and she immediately peed on the floor! It was her "happy dance pee" but she still had not done that in a very very long time. Guess she told me, huh?

I was going to get out and try to finish the back yard before it is long enough to Bale up, but Bob came over at noon and said we were going to dinner tonight. Since mowing yard and going out do not go hand in hand with my body, I decided to let the lawn mower charge for a few more hours. Bob called at 5:00 and backed out, cause he was sick! So I shoulda mowed anyway, it's sposed to rain tomorrow. figures.

I did manage to get the dust mop run over the living room floor, and there was a TON of cat hair on it. I shook it off outside, for the birds to use in building their nests. I also threw out the little pieces of different colored yarn I found under my chair. Those are gonna be some technicolor nests, I tell you!

Tomorrow, I think if it rains, I will tear into the kitchen. It has not been cleaned out in 5 years, it's time! I need to through out all those tin foil cake pans I kept for fruit cakes. and all the cottage cheese bowls, etc. I dont know why I wont throw them out, but I never do. I hang on to them until I cant get the cupboard door shut anymore, then I sit down on the floor and crawl way under the counter, (you know the ones I mean, the L shaped ones that are not good for ANYTHING but hiding crap) pull out everything and have a PITCH party. I already did that in my bedroom, and donnas room, so now it is the Kitchen, and then (shudder) the OFFICE!

Of course I may be spared that chore as it may NOT rain, in that case it is the mower!

I also plan on getting the sweetpeas planted tomorrow. I would LOVE to live somewhere where I could have flowers year round. Not here.

Hey Leslie, when you are finished with your basement, whyntcha come down here and help me? ;)

Tim's Afghan...

I finished Tim's Afghan tonight, and none too soon, my right thumb and index finger are hurt city right now. My Arthritis is KILLING me. But the afghan is done, and it is so pretty that I almost want to keep it! I won't, but I sure like it!

My SIL's is next, then my son in Law's. But not for a little while, I need to rest the hand.

It was gorgeous when I woke up this morning. The sun was just peeking through the alders and it was 615! I LOVE DST!! The birds were out early, and the robins were chirping like crazy! I just layed there and watched out the window, as Lola ran up to the feeder, and then another Lola came and Squirrel wars were on! Sadie heard them and woke up and wanted a piece of that action NOW!! So I got her out of her pen and out she went chasing the squirrels all along the fence top. She does not know that she cant reach them, and they LOVE to torment her. They run back and forth and squeal. SO funny.

I did my blog walk early, and then some stuff for the Show, and then went out and started on the lawn. It was nice and warm out and sunny and a nice cool breeze blowing. I filled the feeders, and putzed and picked up all the dead fall in the front half of the back yard. The grass was thick and bright green and over 10 " high. I slowly walked and pushed it along then backed it up and went forward again until it cut a swath through the jungle.

I got about 1/3 of the yard done, before Bob came over and it was time for dinner. So I left the mower out back, ready to go again tomorrow. Guess what it is doing out there right now, RAINING!!! Typical Washington Spring. It was beautiful until the sun went down, and then a very small band of clouds came up the Sound from Oregon, and stalled right.over.my.house! GRRRRRRRR

I am hoping it clears up and dries up before morning, I really need to finish that YARD! Then I plan on sitting on my butt and trying to get the Iris beds in order, and even though it is late, the sweetpeas planted. It is still too early for the Petunias though, as It froze last night, and may still before it really warms up.

I was so sorry to see THE GEEKS lose tonight on The Amazing Race. I was really pulling for them, as they were such a nice couple. I am not sure who I want now, they are all pretty good except for Lake and his wife. He is such a Prick!! It is a much nicer group this time though.

Onward to bed. You all have a nice evening!

a Day with my Brother...

Oh MAN! I took my Brother to the Dr in Bellingham today, as he was gonna have a procedure done on his spine to try and isolate his sciatic nerve, to see why he is in such pain.

The ride up and back was a hoot! He is a far left Democrat and hates the government and all it has done to screw the people. (I however am NOT) SO I got yelled at twice for voting idiot. I just smiled and took it.

I asked him, that if he wanted the government to take care of its people, and pay them when they are out of work, in HIS world how would the government go about doing that, and how would they pay for it. It was just a simple question, and he took it as an affront to him. It was not. It was a question, and I told him that, and said, I just wondered how it could be done, that maybe he knew something that no one else had thought of. Other than raise taxes to pay for all of this, he could not come up with a good solution.

A week or so ago RAIN asked a similar question of her readers. It was put so nicely that it got me thinking. What she wondered, was What do each of us want our government to do for us and how would we suggest it be done, without bankrupting the government. THere was a lot more to her question, and I have been trying for almost two weeks to come up with an intelligent answer. It is HARD.

I know what I want.
I just dont know how it can be done.

I want quality health care for everyone, at a fair co-pay. I want insurance companies to allow drugs that the Dr. prescribes, without a penalty of a higher co-pay. Supplemental insurance at a small or pro-rated price.

I want housing to be guaranteed for the Elderly. I want quality long term care for the elderly. I want tax breaks on Real Estate for those over 65.

I want quality education up through a 4-year college for every child.

How I can get this to happen I have not a clue. I know that there is more that I want for my life and those I love to be better, and stress free, but HOW?

I am still thinking on this one, and may be for awhile, as I dont know if there IS an answer. EAch of us have our own wants and needs, and each of us has our own solution. My brother does not think that we will have a country in a year. I choose to think that he is way off base in his thinking, but they are HIS thoughts, and I will allow him those.

See if you can answer it. What do you want your government to do for you, and how do you think it could be funded? We all have an opinion...lets hear a few. (watch out, those of you who who may be new have not met WANDA yet....) ;)

Such FUN!!!!

home

Oh I found a new toy!! Google Earth. It is so cool!! This is a picture of our island. At least it is a picture of the middle part of our island. It is 70 miles long, and this is the middle 20 or so. COupeville is up towards the top on the water edge, and My home is down towards the lower right hand part. you can see the long brown strip which is the airfield, and I am just below that. The green is all forest. It was easy to download, and set up and I have been having a ball all day playing with it.

maybe I will go back and put the whole island on here.



Whidbey Island in Puget Sound

OK...The Base is up towards the top of the island, you can see the airstrips. THe field they bounce on is where I live. Phyllis lives in Coupeville, and the lines connecting the island to the mainland are not bridges they are ferries...each takes about 30 minutes to cross the sound. Seattle is down just below the right edge.

Now, where do YOU live?

What I did today...

Allergies=runny eyes
Runny eyes=Zyrtec

Allerlgies= Wheezing and coughing....
Wheezing and coughing= Zyrtec

Zyrtec= ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Wha...? Oh...ok, Sadie just a minute....ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Maybe I'll wake up tomorrow...if I don't take Zyrtec tonight. It sure helps me breathe though! ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

What a difference 4 days make...

sunday morning

Last Sunday morning I woke up in time to watch the morning come alive. It was spectacular, and the ALders were still bare of bud and leaf so I could see the sun pop over the horizon and into my window. It was our first really warm day, and it was glorious.

Yesterday morning, It was pretty again, so I went out and took a few pictures of the buds coming out, I dont have them on this post, but I happened to look up into the alders and noticed that in the few days since last Sunday, the Green has popped out!

I heard Suzie chattering in the tree tops, so I was looking for her. SHe was hiding very well. I could hear her but not see her.


friday morning

In a few weeks, you will not be able to see through the first layer of trees. THe green will have taken over. THen the sun will not be seen until it pops over the top of trees, which wont be until around 10-11 in the morning.

It rained all day today, until just about sun down, when it cleared up and was beautiful. Still is. The moon was a bright Crescent waxing, and was about to drop below the horizon. the sky had not gone black yet, and was a lovely shade of blue. There are stars out right now, and I can hear the fog horns trying to blow down on the strait! It is not unusual to have low evening fog on the water, and be crystal clear up here. I can see my breath out on the deck, and the night is dark. It is a great early spring evening. THink I will go to bed and enjoy it! All bundled up in my bed with the cool breeze blowing in and telling my lungs that HEY!! It is SPRING!!! Start Hacking!!! Im Full of POLLEN!! cough, cough, Wheeze!

Fields of flowers...

Today is the start of the Skagit Valley Tulip festival. It is located just west of I-5 and just South of Hiway 20. It is early this year, or maybe the tulips are late. I was over there last weekend, and only the Daffodils were out. And as I mentioned before, only a few fields.

When the tulips bloom, the valley is a riot of color. The fields are staggered with different colored flowers, and from a distance they look like a Patchwork quilt.

I wonder how much longer they will be there before the heirs sell out to the developers.

I actually got out and mowed the front yard yesterday. It is really small, but pushing and pulling the mower did a number on my poor back! I am going to try to get the back yard in pieces. Poor Sadie cant pee without tickling her butt on the tall grass.

As I was mowing yesterday, I noticed that my tulips are starting to bloom! I planted a few 13 years ago, and now there are quite a few more. I planted pink ones and I am getting Orange and red and yellow ones. They must have been hybrids, and when they multiplied they reverted back again to their parent color. Hummmmm!

The peach tree, or what is left of it after the wind storm last year, is sending out flowers, so maybe I will have some fruit after all this year.

I have to go in to the Playhouse tomorrow and set the lights for CAINE MUTINY COURT MARTIAL. It is going to be pretty good. The guys are really fighting to learn their lines, and the retired Capt that is playing Cdr Queeg is really good. I think I am going to stay with the Playhouse, but I will not be as active as I was. Just keep my hand in until I get really tired of it. If I don't I will have nothing else to do, and I know I would become very agorophobic. I feel myself getting that way more and more. Not wanting to go out, not wanting to get dressed, putting off doing things, just sitting and crocheting or watching old movies. I need to win the lotto, so I can buy a motor home and travel all over the western hemisphere. I would love to drive from BArrow, AK to Patagonia, Can you imagine the photo gallery I would have? MAN!! From Polar Bears, to Penquins!!

Saturday part DOS...

this is the South west side of the overlook, looking right down Whidbey Island's north west coast line. The Island is 70 miles long, so you can only see the top half, as the rest is lost in the haze. Coupeville is around the bend to the left, and you cant see that either. The Olympic Mountains are on the top right.
Off to the right is the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and it empties into the North Pacific, Vancouver Island is unseen but off to the right too.

I do have to say that I do live in God's country! I have always been in love with this part of the country.


Last night I went to bed early as I was all achy and cold. I fell right to sleep and woke up about an hour later with the most awful racket coming from the alders. It was those really cute little owlets that I kept seeing last fall...They have all grown up and now are looking for mates. Their normal call is a fairly loud "who-cooks-for-you?Who-cooks-for-you-AWE" But last night I got to hear their mating calls! whowhowhowhowhoWHAWHAWHAWHA!!!!! Getting louder as it went on. Almost sounded like monkeys in the zoo. Suddenly there were about 6-8 of them in all various stages of calling and hooting, and yelling, and waking up Sadie, and keeping me awake. I will say things are never dull living in the boonies!

I woke up at 630 this morning, and it was all gray and cold, and I was still achy so I just stayed curled up under the electric blanket and watched TV and the birds.

I anticipate an early night tonight too.

AHHH Spring at LAST...

Last Saturday, Barb and I got together and went sight seeing. It gave us a chance to talk, and it gave her a chance to see some places she had not been in quite a while.

I had never made it over to the Skagit Valley to see the Daffodils, so we drove over there, and found two fields in full flower. There used to be many more fields, but they are all being turned over to contractors and real estate developers. It is a real shame, as this is one of the prime fertile farm land in the Northwest, that continuously is farmed. THe younger generation is opting not to follow their fathers and grandfathers footsteps and are selling off the farm land. It is so sad to see.

THe daffodils that we did see are gorgeous. The Tulip fields are popping up green stzlks, and they should be ready along about Mid April. There used to be fields and fields of yellow daffodils, and red tulips and pink, and black, and orange and yellow tulips and then blue Iris's but there are just a few now.





After we toured the valley, Barb wanted to see Mt Erie, so up we drove. It is what they call an erratic. A giant rock/mountain left by glacial melt, right in the middle of the flat lands. this humongous hunk of rock and trees is about 1000 feet high, and the road up winds around trees and gulleys to get to the top. Once up on the top, the views are spectacular, a wide view from Canada to Seattle. This is looking down to the South, at Campbell Lake, and then on to Whidbey Island, and Camano Island, and across the sound to the Olympic mountains. THe day was the BEST we could have asked for. Just a slight breeze and the clouds wer staying over the mountains, so we had the full effect of the sun. Unfortunately the sun was right in my eyes, so the pictures may seem a bit hazy. The little island you see in the lake is according to Ripley, on of the only islands in a lake on an island. Hard to believe, but he surely would not lie...

From little seeds, mighty ELK grow...

Remember back last Spring when I went to the coast to see my friend Barb? I posted quite a few pictures of her place, and one of them was a picture of "Elk Seed". Several of you scoffed at me then, well here is a picture Barb sent to me, in the same spot, and as you can see the Elk seed grew into a herd of 12 Elk, of various sizes, right off her deck!

Barb is living in Seattle, working, and she and her Husband had JUST finished their home, and she was commuting on weekends while Butch stayed and got the land in order, and the orchard planted, and the greenhouse built. Then tragedy hit and Butch died of a sudden heart attack, leaving Barb all alone to keep the place up and work her job in Seattle.

BArb has been going back to the homestead every other weekend to keep the yard in order and the wildlife out of the house. She finally put it on the market this spring and sold it right away for more than she asked.

Last weekend she was back there, packing up some things and getting ready for the big move, when she saw something out the window. There was a herd of 12 Elk, cows and yearlings, and they just stayed ther while she snapped away. In all the time she has been there, she has never seen the herd, Butch has often, but he has been dead now for over a year, and there they were on one of her very last weekends there.

I dont know what you believe, but I think it was Butch coming back to say goodbye.
His ashes are scatered there, just off the land in the national forest. Beautiful!!

Fibber McGee and Molly...

Tonight on the way to rehearsal for The Caine Mutiny court Martial, I tuned into our local radio station to see if I could hear the commercial that they are playing for the show. The usual old boring songs that they play were not on, and instead there was a mystery theater. You know, the ones where they made all those sound effects, coconut shells for horses, corn starch for walking on snow etc...I cant remember what the story line was as It was almost finished when I turned it on.

Soon on came Fibber McGee and Molly. I had not heard that show in over 1/2 a century! It brought back a lot of memories of when I was a child.

We did not have TV because Dad was in the Navy, and we moved too much. We were not allowed a lot of stuff, and all we had was a console radio. Mom was very proud of that AM radio, and played it all the time.

I remember listening to the Soaps on the radio, while Mom would have her ironing board out and be ironing the laundry from the sprinkling bag that she had the clothes in. (yes Phyllis, She actually DID ironing at one time!) Mom's favorite was THE EDGE of NIGHT, and then it was something with a storm in the title.

I would play with my little Ginny doll and my paper dolls, hidden behind the big overstuffed chair in the livingroom. The walls were paneled with Knotty pine wood, and had built in bookcases, and the chair was in front of them. I would crawl behind there, and move the books off the bottom two shelves and play along with the radio shows. There was Mr. Gildersleeve, and The Lone Ranger, and then there was The Shadow Knows and Mickey Spillane. I remember listening to Amos and Andy, and other such shows by the hour. I had to use my imagination to play with my dolls to those shows, but I loved it!

Driving in to Oak harbor tonight and listening to the radio and the long dead actors who made the stories come to life brought back that childhood. It isn't often that you are actually encouraged these days to use your imagination, but once in awhile it is tested, and it is so nice to know that it is still there, tucked into a dark corner, and playing paperdolls just like I used to when I was a little girl.

Stuff...

I wonder if the medical world knows the therapeudic effect of taking a good book, a can of frosting and a pack of graham crackers to bed with you?

Works wonders!!

Emotions running rampant...

I had my heart broken Saturday night. I got an email from someone who should have known better, and it broke my heart! I will not go into to the details here, but I was so hurt, and I spent the whole night crying my eyes out.

Sunday brought a new perspective to the whole situation and I am feeling lots better. The one who sent the email still has no clue what s/he did to me, but others do and others have made me feel very worthy.

As Reese Witherspoon said at the Academy Awards "June Carter Cash said she only wanted to matter. I just want to matter"

Well these few wonderful people did make me feel like what I did really mattered.

Isn't that what life is all about anyway. TO MATTER to someone!




I think Im better now. I spent the last 2 hours staring out the window and watching the birds and the squirrels and the two healthy does slip through Lea's fence and graze there all safe and content. THeir white tails flipping in the beautiful spring afternoon, as they kept their noses to the bright green grass. There was not a hint of a breeze, but it was so relaxing. just me and the deer and the birds, with Sadie beside me with her paws on the windowsill and her chin on her paws, relaxed just like her momma.

To hell with assholes!! There are other people that are worth crying over. Not this one.

Blech....

Still not feeling as perky as I want to be, but I am not as hurting as I was! it appears that the mass that was passing the sore spot, passed on out, and now I feel somewhat better.

I woke up yesterday with a headache that scared the HELL out of me. I woke up around 745 to let Sadie out, ANd I was hurting so bad, I was almost sick to my stomach. It started on the left side of my neck, ran up behind my left ear, and across the left side of my head and felt like there was an AXE in it. I was afraid I was having a stroke! I buried my head under my pillow and hung on tight, and felt much better, fell asleep and woke up 4 hours later with Sadie outside wanting IN!

I felt much better as the day wore on, so I was able to cook Bob the corned beef and cabbage he brought over for me to fix. Then we took inventory on the side of beef he put in my freezer last year. we had about 15 pkgs labeled OS and had no clue what it was. (Him and his friend butchered and wrapped it) SO I took a pkg and thawed it out and said that is what I am fixing for dinner Saturday night. It was a piece of meat 40 inches long, by 8 inches wide, and 1/2 inch thick! it was ROUND STEAK! So why would I ever question what OS was sposed to be? (sheesh) So I cut it into cubes and made stew tonight. GOOD STUFF!! I think next week I am sposed to make him chicken and dumplings. I mentioned that I liked them but had never made it.

My Mom would make dumplings, and Dad and I would run in and lift the lid off the pot and make the dumplings sink, 'cause we liked them chewey. Mom was always so upset that her dumplings were never light and fluffy like they should be. I dont think we ever told her we did it either. (TEE HEE)

As you have probably heard by now if you read Phyllis' blog, the Frogs are out! They started chirping tonight around 600! SHe had a neighbor calling her to tell her they were BAAACKK!! They are late this year. SHe says it is always March 8 that they start. TOday was our first truely Spring day, and I think we have turned the corner.

I saw the first female hummer yesterday, so It is time to KICK IT UP A NOTCH, and hang a few more feeders out for them.

I have a carrot cake in the oven right now, so must run and tend to the kitchen fires!! Ya'll take care! ;)

Fun Quiz...

What form of art are you?

You are Poetry.You are often the most emotional of the arts. You are introverted, in that you tend to let people come to you rather than trying to get their attention. You get along well with Music and Literature.
Take this quiz!








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I stole this from Wanda's site ;) It really fits!

More to come....Maybe!

Spring? Ya THink?

It did not freeze again last night. Came real close though. I woke up this morning to a cloudy sky, and just laid there watching all the birds come to the platform feeders. I hear a loud whistle like gargle and knew that the red wings were back! I looked out and sure enough, there was a flock of about 50 blackbirds, mostly females and yearlings, at the feeders, they would eat then as if on cue, they all took flight at once and went on to the next house. They would be gone about 15 minutes and then hit the feeders again. I love to listen to their call, it is so musical, almost like a meadowlark. Below the communitee, there is a huge shallow lake filled with cattails and reeds, and this is where the blackbirds nest and breed. THe reeds are not ready yet, so the birds are eating from feeders until they match up and get their nests built.

Along with the blackbirds, the flocks of siskins came back. I have had them year round before, but not this year, and last week there were a few, but this time there were about 30 and they were hitting the Niger feeder with a vengeance. Soon the finches will start pairing up and the black headed grosbeaks will come back. ALthough they were not in the numbers last year as they were the year before. But year before last was the dreaded YEAR OF THE CATERPILLARS...which they feasted on. So I may not see the grosbeaks this year. I will gladly trade them for no caterpillars! (shudder)

I looked out front and the front yard was covered with robins!! so as you can tell, the birds are all back, so Spring CAN'T be that far away. We are expecting another winter storm to hit his weekend, but if the temperatures stay above freezing, then we can relax!

I am sooo ready for spring.

The Tummy Bug...

Not really a bug, I don't think. What I have is diverticulosis that turns into huge PAIN every once in awhile. Right now I have the PAIN! It has turned into diverticulitis. Feels like apendicitis, but it isn't. AS my daughter says, "Ya mean they left something in there to take out?" (I have had just about everything expendable, removed. still have apendix (sp) and tonsils! go figure) Whatever, it HURTS!! I wont go into the details here, because I just know that Barf and Special K will jump right on that piece of information, unless John gets there first.

Just suffice it to say that every once in awhile the air inside, wants out, and when it goes by the sore part....OUCH!!!

I have no fever, so I am sure it is just a flare up. My appetite is fine, but I am watching what I eat. I have had peritonitis before, and it is nothing like that pain was, so I think I will be fine.

I have spent most of today sleeping, I can not stay awake! I try to crochet, and my eyes close. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ You should see some of the stitches I did in my sleep. I had to laugh.

I think that Spring is finally here. It did not freeze last night, and the sun was out nice and warm today. The Moon is out bright and full, So when I took the trash out to the curb, I could actually see. If I felt better I would sit out on the deck and look up at the stars. I love a clear bright night. (Yes JimBob I know, the moon out full makes for lousy starwatching, but it is over the strait, and I would be looking towards the Cascades.)Unfortunately I am also afraid of the dark. I do not like to be out there alone. Now if someone was with me, I would be fine. I guess I am still afraid of the boogey man crawling out from under the deck and grabbing my ankles. I can thnak my dear Father for that. He thought it was funny to scare us when we were little.

Hope you all made it through all the nasty weather down SOuth. I need to catch up on my blogwalking. See you in the morning.