Say "Farewell" To April.

April 30, 2015

Good morning.  Well it's official.  I have pneumonia.  Once the pains in my upper back started late Tuesday, I kind of knew it, so I called the doctor yesterday morning and Deanne and Eddie took me in for an office visit. 

I came home with a diagnosis and a new bag of meds.  Gosh almighty, the prescription for the cough syrup is not covered by the insurance and it cost $135.  So, I bought about $35 worth of it just so I could get some relief from the constant coughing.  This in turn, would give me some relief from the pain.  So, last night, after a potent magic antibiotic pill and a spoon of cough syrup, I had me some blessed quiet sleep.

Needless to say, none of this made my attempts at crocheting come out any better.  I'm still at the "put on a couple of rows and rip out a couple of rows" stage.   Somehow though, the little orange lapghan is actually making specks of progress.  The color orange is much prettier and brighter than what is shown in this photo.

Last evening, Joe forgot to bring in the plants from the doorstep, so I went out and brought them in.  While I was outside, I noticed how pretty the moon was when it was able to peek out from behind the clouds.  So, I went back in and got my cell phone to see if I could get any photos of the moon with it. 

Folks, I love this little phone.  I actually got a couple of decent photos of the moon with it.  So, if you're wanting a new phone that takes good photos, get a Samsung.  Mine is the 5S, and here is my moon photo from last night.

As you know, Pogo loves it when company stops by, so when Dee and Eddie were here yesterday my little guy was in doggie heaven.  He just loves his "Auntie Dee".   After they left for home and all was quiet again, Pogo was all tuckered out and climbed up on his sofa for a well deserved nap.

I know I take a lot of photos of my little guy when he is sleeping, but I just can't seem to help myself.  Just looking at him like this makes my heart go all warm and fuzzy. 

Now I think I'll start making out my food shopping list.  Joe said he would pick up some groceries for me later today.    So, till tomorrow, Y'all be safe and have a beautiful day.

Hugs, Edna B.

I'm Not In A Chatty Mood This Morning

April 29, 2015

Good morning.  Today will be a short post because I'm feeling extra tired, and really tired of being sick.  When I finish this post, I think I'll call the doctor back to see what can be done to speed up this healing. 

Crocheting to relax is getting to be a joke.  I put on two rows, then I rip them out to fix the mistakes.  I put back on three rows and do the same all over again.  Last night I put the same three rows on several times, and finally went in the other room to find a different yarn.  Surely, this will help? 

This morning I'm getting cranky, but then I suppose that goes with the feeling yukky.  I have a load of scatter rugs in the washer, and a couple more loads waiting for their turn.  This is all taking a toll on Pogo too.  This morning he had an accident on a couple of the scatter rugs.  Thank goodness for those little scatter rugs!! 

I have a photo to share that really had me upset.  So many of the residents who live by and visit our local park have absolutely no respect for other living creatures.  There are places in the ponds where you can fish, but so many of the folks who are fishing choose to fish in the same spots where the ducks and geese swim and play. 

Note the fishing lines and bobbers in the tree.  When I took this photo, there was a large flock of water birds in the water below the tree.   Gosh, some folks are just plain ignorant.  There are even some parents who bring their kids to the park and let them throw rocks at the water birds.  Hmmm, I wonder who taught them this type of behavior?

See what I mean?  I'm getting crabby.  Time to drink my coffee and make that phone call.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all be safe and have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Edna B.

Shopping Is As Good As Chicken Soup

April 28, 2015

Good morning.  It's a bit cloudy, gray and wet this morning.  I've just set the plants outside on the step but I won't be needing to water them because it is sprinkling.   The weather man says that the sun will be making an appearance later today.  That will be great for lifting spirits. 

Spirits are getting pretty low around here.  This bug/cough is not in any hurry to leave and it is very wearing.  I've just had to call my DIL Janet and cancel yet another visit.  I miss my evenings with her, but I'm just not up to company. 

I'm not wasting away though.  Whenever I walk by my "stepper" I get on it and step a bit.  So I am getting exercise.  Plus Pogo wants to play once in a while, so we play and I get more exercise that way.  The kids call frequently to check on me and to see if I need anything.  I'm blessed and well taken care of. 

In between things, I crochet a bit.  The green lapghan is almost finished.  Sadly, it takes me longer to work up an item when I'm not feeling so good because I keep making mistakes that need to be ripped out and done over.  However, the plus side is that it keeps me busy. 

This morning I've been watching QVC's garden center.  Oh my, the plants are just so awesome!  I would love to buy them all, but of course, I can't.  It's hard to be picky though.  Yesterday's mail delivery brought one set of plants that I  had ordered a while ago.   This was a set of fragrant re-blooming daylilies.   There are five different colors, and I can't wait to get them planted and watch them grow. 

Last week I watched a showing of Joan River's fashions, and ordered myself a new trenchcoat.  I don't usually buy clothes from TV or catalogues because they never fit.  Yesterday, my coat arrived and it fits like it was made for me.  Gosh, I can't remember the last time I had a coat.  It's just one of the things that I never really thought to buy because I travel by car, and the car is heated.   I'm not planning on needing the coat anytime soon, but I've always wanted a trenchcoat and now I have one.

Next on my shopping list will be to look for a tiny recliner.  I had a chat with Santa and told him that Pogo might like to have his very own little recliner, and could he put this on his Christmas list.  Together I'm sure we'll find a nice one.  Santa and I make a very good team.

Today I have photos of a few of the gulls at our local park.  I love these birds.  They are so graceful and beautiful. 

Yesterday, I called to order that beautiful lounge chair that I found at Wayfair, but it only comes in brown and I want a black one.  So I will have to wait a bit longer to get a new chair.  No biggie.  When I'm back up and running, I'll take a trip to Jordan's furniture to see what they have. 

Well that's all my news for this morning.  I want to do a bit of blog reading before curling up in my comfy loungy chair.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all be safe and have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Edna B.

It's Time To Start Thinking About Home Improvements

April 27, 2015

Good morning.  Today is a bit cloudy, but that's okay.  I'm not planning on going anywhere.  I've been keeping busy trying to crochet in between dozing or cooking a meal for Pogo and me.  I finished one lapghan and am half way  through a second one.  These will be for wheel chair folks.  Well, at least that is my plan if I can get enough of them done up between now and Fall. 

Yesterday when I posted images of a few great bargains, I should have told you which stores I found them in.  One is Wayfair.com and the other is Choxi.com.  There is another that I have not tried yet, but you can look it up.  It is Wish.com.  There are a lot of nice bargains out there, but you have to spend a little time looking for them. 

It's coming on that time when I have to start thinking about which improvements I can do to the house this year.  I think maybe a few more new windows may be in order, and maybe a new toilet for the upstairs bathroom.  SIL Eddie tells me that I should go with the one piece, no touch flush type.  Sounds to me like a pretty good idea. 

At some point, I'd like to have my bathroom floor re-tiled too.  I already have the tiles bought and set aside.  You know I think back to a few years ago when I would just get down on the floor and do this myself.  Ah well, all things change I guess.

Today I have a few images to share (that I borrowed from the web).  I am very passionate about the topic of how humans treat their precious animals.   Plus April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month.  I did not even know they had a special ribbon for this or I would have one on my doors and on my car.

Folks, our animals are very precious and deserve to be treated with kindness and respect.  They give us so much and ask for nothing in return.  Please pass this along.  Pogo and I thank you.

I borrowed another cute image from the web because it reminded me of my Pogo.  This is exactly what he would do!!  My little guy loves the big  dogs and has absolutely no fear of them.

Well, it's time for me to put all the plants outside on the doorstep.  Then I really should get busy making a space for that new chair I'd like to order.  This should keep me busy for most of the day.  I don't move so quickly now, so small projects tend to take all day.  This is okay. 

On that note, I'll take my leave.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day.

Hugs, Edna B.

"Woozey" And "Dozey" Take The "Ouchy" Away

April 26, 2015

Good morning.  Gosh, I've been up since 4 a.m.  I found a way to keep the pain to a dull roar so that I can sleep, and I find myself nodding off easily now.  After talking with my daughter Audrey, I do believe that I've been experiencing Pleurisy.  That is a painful inflammation of the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the rib cage. 

This would explain the severe pain every time I cough.  And believe me, it is painful enough to bring tears to your eyes.  Just ask me and I'll tell you.  The treatment involves taking muscles relaxers.  So that's what I've been doing.  Much as I don't like to depend on pills, I'm happily taking these and relishing the decrease in the pain.

However, there is a slight downside to taking these pills.  They make it difficult to crochet.  What I mean is, I can crochet, but I can't guarantee that I won't have to rip out everything that I do and start over - repeatedly.  On the other hand, it does keep my mind and hands busy.  So I guess it is a win win.

I've been looking for another lounge chair for my living room, and I think I've found one that I like.  It is very similar to the one that I have, but it is a little smaller.  My chair was made for tall folks, (my hubby was very tall)  and this new chair is made for folks under five feet ten.  I haven't bought the chair yet, but at least now I know what I want. 

While searching around on line, I also found an ice maker that I think would be a great addition to our kitchen.  There's no room in the freezers for everyone to keep ice trays, so this item would come in handy especially during the warm weather.

I also came across a great buy for a pet stroller.  Lots of times, I get asked where these can be purchased, and I usually tell folks that I ordered ours on E-bay.   However, I found this one on Choxi.com for a much better price.  As you can see, it comes in several different colors.  This one retails for $135, but can be purchased from Choxi.com for just $53.

I did order a few things from Choxi.com, and when my order arrives I'll let you know how I feel about the service and products. 

As I mentioned earlier, I got up rather early this morning, so the first thing I did was to cook up a pot of macaroni and make a macaroni salad.  I've had a hankering for some macaroni salad lately, so once the salad is nice and cold, I'm going to enjoy a bowl of it.

I'm also trying to catch up on some laundry.  One load is already washed and in the dryer, while a second load is in the washer.  When I'm feeling better, my grandson Kevin will come over and give me a hand with the dusting and vacuuming.   Yup, I know, I'm a very lucky grandma.  (and grateful too!)

Yesterday, SIL Eddie came by to repair a portion of our kitchen floor.  Due to water pipe leaks (in the past)  water got under the floor and caused a bit of damage.  Joe was here to help him, so in a matter of a few hours everything was all fixed.  Great job, guys!

I'm starting to get "dozey" again, so I think I'll try to catch a few winks.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day.

Hugs, Edna B.

This Achy Breaky Cough Is Just Not Fun

April 24, 2015

Good morning.  I thought I was going to be up all last night too, but finally blessed sleep came to me.   Thank goodness because the cough has lingered on for so long that it now hurts when I cough.  When I sleep, I'm not coughing.

One good thing during this whole episode with this bug is that I was very well stocked in most all our supplies.  Of course, by now there is much more room in the freezer and on the pantry shelves.  I thought that I would be back to doing my food shopping by this week, but it was not to be.  Joe went to Walmart yesterday and picked up some things for me.  Food shopping isn't exactly the kind of outing that one could get excited about, but when you can't get out to do it, you definitely miss it.   

Last night, I spent some time on the internet doing a bit of shopping.  Oh yeah, I even did a bit of Christmas shopping too.  This time I used my brain and had the holiday package shipped directly to my daughter in Virginia.  She can put it away until it is time to set it under her Christmas tree, and I won't have to be paying double shipping charges.  (store to me, me to her)

You know how it is when you find a fabulous buy, and you know it won't be available later in the year when you're going to be needing it?   For some reason, all the good stuff is going to be much more expensive later in the year.  Actually, I've been shopping early my whole adult life.  It started from necessity and became a fun habit. 

Up to now, I usually shop, put everything away till late Fall, then pack it up and ship it off to the recipients.  The last few years though, the cost of mailing packages has gotten quite expensive, so sometimes I just ship direct and let my daughter have the fun of storing the package for the rest of the year.  (See?   I do have a naughty side!)

Today I have some photos that I took a couple of days ago.  The flowers in our little gardens by the house are blooming beautiful.   The yellow daffodils haven't blossomed yet, but they are getting quite tall.  Pretty soon they will be waving their pretty blooms too.

In a little while, I need to move all the plants outside to my door step and give them a drink of water.  It is still too cool at night to leave them out so Joe will bring them all back in after supper.   Dwarf Helen is going to be planting a bunch of herbs today, so these too will be placed outside during the day and brought inside at night for a while. 

Later today, I will take photos of the finished shawls.  Then I will have a look through my yarn supply to see which color I want for my next project.  In between projects, I add a few rows to the Claret afghan.  I think I want to try making another shrug.  The first one came out a bit small, so I will have to figure out how to increase the pattern size.  This should keep me busy for a while.

Well, that's about all my news for today.  So until Sunday, Y'all be safe and have a fantabulous weekend. 

Hugs, Edna B.

Getting There Ever So Slowly

April 23, 2015

Good afternoon.  Gosh, I meant to get up much earlier, but I didn't really get to sleep until after 6:30 this morning.  It was just one of those nights where sleep was not going to happen. 

I did try to sleep, but finally gave in and crocheted for a while.  At least I managed to finish the Jade shawl.  Of course I found that it contained several booboos.  They are probably only noticeable to me, but I did my best to fix them.  I guess the creative side of my brain does not function as well as I think it does when I am not feeling so good.  Ah well, it will be what it will be.

I was really hoping to feel well enough to go food shopping today, but it looks like that won't happen.  We'll see how I feel later this afternoon.  I'd be okay, but with this wicked coughing, I'm just not a pretty sight to behold.  Maybe tomorrow?  Hmmm.

Our newest dwarf has just offered to take Joe food shopping later this afternoon, so maybe I'll just give Joe a short list for Pogo and me.  I am so anxious to get outdoors.  It's been so long being cooped up indoors and watching all the beautiful weather through the door.  (I'm not complaining, just saying.) 

Today I have a couple photos that daughter Audrey sent to me.  These are fields of mustard plants.  In the second photo, there is a tiny dot in the middle of the sky, which in fact is a large bird.  I made a new layer of the bird and enlarged it, then placed it to the right of the bird so that you could see how large this bird is.  (I put a white glow around my larger bird layer.)   It's most likely a vulture.

These are beautiful shots Audrey, thank you so much for sharing them.  I also have a photo that I took of Pogo looking out the door at me while I was placing the plants out on the door step (a few days ago).  I think he was nervous I might take off without him.  (fat chance!)

Once Pogo has spent a few hours at the door making sure that all is well with the world outside, he climbs up onto his sofa that is layered with piles of fuzzy blankets and takes a well deserved nap.  He takes his job as protector very seriously, but it does leave him a bit tired at times.

Well, I really don't have any news for today, so I think I'll climb back on my comfy lounge chair and watch the news for a while.  (groan, groan, it's mostly about all the wicked bad weather across the country.)  I hope y'all are safe from these horrid storms.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all be safe and have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Edna B.

A Little Word Play Is Good For The Soul

April 22, 2015

Good morning.  The sun is shining and it's nice outside but I think by the end of the day the clouds and rain may be back.  That's okay.  I'll enjoy the sunshine while we have it.  I've just put the mail out, taken all the plants outside to my doorstep, and opened the front door so that Pogo can keep an eye on all that happens outside. 

Yesterday, the doctor did call back to say that he had phoned a prescription over to the pharmacy for me.  My daughter Deanne came by to go to the bank for me so that I could pay some bills, and later dwarf Mike took Joe to pick up my new prescription. 

Last evening, I picked up my crocheting and put a few more rows on the jade shawl.  I think four or five more rows will finish it off.  I had already taken one dose of medicine, and I really hope this does the trick.  I did not have to use the oxygen at all these past two nights.  That alone makes me feel better.

When I put the plants out this morning, I noticed a few more blooms in the little gardens by the house.  I'll have to take my phone out after I finish this post and take a few photos.   Seeing the flowers blooming raises my spirits and makes my eyes real happy.

Every day, a few of our little birdies come by for food, but they don't stay very long.  Yesterday, I made up the peanut butter rolls and Joe put them into the treat frames.  I'm hoping that this will lure more of the birds back.  I really miss having them outside my window all day long.

Today I have a few photos that I took through the kitchen window of one of our squirrels getting ready to feast on some bird food.  They may be pesky, but they need food too.  Maybe later I'll go out with another bowl of peanuts to scatter around.  The birds and critters just love these.

How about a little bit of "word play" before I end this post?  There are so many illuminating facts in my little "Ultimate Book of Useless Information.   Gosh, don't you just love these big words?  haha.

Did you know that the word "Gambrinous" means "being full of beer" or that Transurphobia" is the fear of haircuts?  Here's one you probably don't really want to know - "Pasta Vermicelli" means "little worms." 

The letter "w" is the only letter in the alphabet that does not have just one syllable.  It has three.  The highest scoring three letter word in Scrabble is "zax", which is a tool for cutting and trimming roof slates.

Did you know that left handed people cannot write Mandarin Chinese?    "Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt".  The shortest French word with all five vowels is "Oiseau", meaning bird.  Here's one you might not know - a "Vexillologist" studies flags.

Well, now that I've fortified our minds a bit, I think I'll make myself a fresh cup of coffee and get caught up on some blog reading.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day.

Hugs, Edna B.

Waiting For A Call Back From The Doctor

April 21, 2015

Good morning.  Well, at least for another ten minutes.  I got up early this morning to get some breakfast for Pogo, then went back to bed.   This wicked bug that I have is not in any hurry to leave.  I did call the doctor's office yesterday, but they were closed.  (holiday)  I just called again a few minutes ago, and am waiting for a call back.

I took a few minutes to get myself a cup of coffee.  Mmmmm, that tastes good.  (Gosh, I hope that's a good sign!)   We had quite a bit of rain yesterday and all during the night.  Today the sun keeps peeking out at us and it is warm. 66F degrees.   Most of the temps for the next week will be right around 60F with nights cooling down to the upper 30's and low 40's. 

I must say that the new storm door was one of my best investments.  It keeps Pogo occupied for several hours each day.   When it is sunny, he gets to nap in front of the door and soak up the sunshine.  My little man is quite happy these days.

My crochet projects are being badly neglected these days.  I start to crochet, but then I put it down to cough or doze off.   It's definitely not a fun situation.  I hope the doctor calls back soon.  Next I have to put in a call to DIL Janet and tell her not to come by this week either.  I don't want to pass my germs on to her.

On a brighter note, here are a couple photos of one of my house plants.  I'm not sure of it's name, but it really is quite pretty.

A few days ago, some rather large dark clouds were rolling by in the sky so I took a few photos through the storm door.  Considering how menacing this clouds looks, it passed by without causing any problems.  If you look in the lower left corner of the photo, you can see how pretty blue the sky is behind that big cloud.

Well, I don't have any more news and I'm wanting to settle back into my comfy lounge chair.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Edna B.

Ms Cranky Is Ranting Again

April 20, 2015

Good morning.  It's cloudy and damp this morning, and we're expecting rain on and off today.  Oh well, This will make our gardens happy.  And guess what?  All our snow has finally gone!!   Oops, sorry.  I take that back.  All our snow is finally ALMOST gone.  We still have one last strip of snow left.  I should think that another day or two should finish it off.  (I hope)

Oh joy, oh joy.  I looked out the kitchen window yesterday to see yellow and white blossoms peeking up at me.  You know I had to take my phone and go outside to get a few photos.   It looks like Spring has finally sprung around here!

I've been watching the news on the Weather Channel, and one of the stories really irked me a bit.  A female veteran (Michelle Manhart) was being arrested for trying to save our American Flag that protestors on a college campus were stomping on.   The news anchor was asking questions and wanting viewer responses about this situation.

First, I think it should be against the law to stomp on, burn or otherwise try to destroy our flag.  Constitutional rights should not even be a consideration here.  This is our flag.  If you cannot show it respect, then move on.  There are plenty of countries that might like to have you there stomping on their flag.   (Gosh, can't find any?  Gee whiz, I wonder why!!!)

I think that the protestors should have been the ones arrested for attempting to destroy our flag, and not the veteran who was trying to save the flag.   Folks, it is one thing to have the right to voice your opinion, but it is clearly another thing when you start to infringe on another person's rights or disrespect our country. 

As for the arrests and on-going trials for acts of treason or national security, I don't think these should be handled in our regular courts.  I believe that these types of crimes should be handled by military courts without all the media and TV fanfare that they seem to garner. 

Last evening, I got all comfy and settled in to watch the Country Music Awards show on TV.  It started off with a song being sung by Garth Brooks.  I tried my darndest to figure out what the words were that he was singing.  It was frustrating to watch his mouth moving, and not be able to understand one word that came out of it.  So, I shut the program off and watched re-runs of Family Feud instead.

My mother used to call this "cutting off my nose to spite my face."   Maybe she was right, but I find no enjoyment in watching someone sing when I can't figure out what they are saying.   I had no problem understanding the words on Family Feud.  (see how cranky I am?)

On a cheerier note, I was watching one of the shopping channels a few nights ago, as they were presenting a new product - an EV Rider Folding Mobility Scooter.  This really caught all of my attention because something like this would mean that I could take my time shopping, and I could thoroughly enjoy wandering around a flea market. 

My only problem would be in lifting it in and out of the trunk of my car.  It weighs 50-55 pounds.  If I could figure out how to get it in and out of the car trunk, I would seriously consider buying this.

Well I think it's time to take another dose of cough medicine.  Soon I'll have to call the doctor's office to see if he can prescribe something to knock this bug out of me.   Maybe once I'm feeling better, I won't be so crabby.  haha

That's all the news for this morning.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day.

Hugs, Edna B.

It's Another Pretty Spring Day

April 19, 2015

Good morning.  It looks really pretty outside my door.  The sun is shining, and it is a bit on the cool side.  Only 49F degrees, but working towards 57 degrees.  Tomorrow will also be in the 50's but with rain.  Hopefully, the warm temps will be back after that.  I have to tell you that yesterday was simply awesome!!!  Sunny and warm with a little breeze.  I could definitely handle that year round.  (just dreaming out loud)

Joe will be putting all the potted plants outdoors on my doorstep in a little while.  We put them out every day, and bring them in after supper.  Some nights are still a bit too cool to be leaving them outside all night.  Pretty soon though!

Yesterday was one of my worst days for feeling yucky.  I missed out on going to see Jazzy in "Shrek The Musical."  Hopefully, I will be back up and running in time to see her perform in the High School Drama production.   Tomorrow I will call my doctor to see if there is something I can take to get better quicker.

When some of the dwarfs went shopping yesterday, they picked up a few things for me too.  Friends and family call to check on me and to see if I need anything.  God blesses me.  I am indeed a very lucky lady.

Today I have a few photos from my last visit to the park.   I had mentioned before that I hadn't seen any swans, but I did see them on my last visit. 

This next picture shows a couple of birch trees that I think are just beautiful.  (I must because I have taken tons of photos of them)

Another photo that I thought was rather interesting is this next shot of a group of pigeons resting in a nearby tree.  There is so much beauty surrounding us.  We just have to stop for a moment and look around.

Well, I've been up for a while now so I think I'll climb back into my lounge chair and crochet a bit while I watch the Weather Channel.   So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a beautiful day.

Hugs, Edna B.

It's Not Nice To Be Mean To Old Ladies

April 17, 2015

Good afternoon.  Wow.  I don't what I did wrong, but this post was almost finished and all of a sudden it was gone!!  Just disappeared!!  Well, I'm not going to try to remember what I had written and re-write it all over again.  This is very discouraging. 

I was in a very nice mood, and now I feel as though I've shot my foot off!!  Well, not technically, but you know what I mean.  I really don't like it that my laptop and Blogger have minds of their own and care so little for what I want.  This was not a very nice thing to do to me!!!

What I wrote earlier - in a nutshell - I slept very late, Pogo won't eat doggie food for breakfast, new dwarf seems like a nice guy, I'll call the doctor if I'm not better by Monday, and it's wet and gray today.  I think that about sums up what I had written.

So before take my leave to go look for something tasty for our lunch, I have some cute photos to share that I had taken the last time Pogo and I went to the park.  There was one pair of pigeons that I found quite beautiful and interesting to watch.

Tonight, (and over the weekend) Jazzy will be performing in Shrek the Musical with one of the drama groups that she belongs to.  I'd love to go, but not while I'm coughing.  Good luck Jazzy girl.  I'm very proud of you.

Well, that's my news for this morning.  Now I'm off to the kitchen to see if there is anything in the refrigerator that might seem tasty to Pogo.  He needs to eat.  I don't want him getting sick too.  So, till Sunday, Y'all have a wonderful weekend.

Hugs, Edna B.

The Wobble Wag Giggle Dog Toy - Friend Or Foe?

April 16, 2015

Good morning.  I wish I could say I was all better but that's not the case.  However, I did wake up hungry for spaghetti this morning.  So maybe that's a good sign.  I headed for the kitchen to make up a pan of pasta, but just could not deal with having to wash up a batch of dishes and pots.  So instead, I made up some Ramen noodles.  It's not the same, but" noodles is noodles"!

I'm not the only one with strange tastes this morning.  Pogo even ate a bit of doggie food for his breakfast.  Heavens forbid!!   I noticed that he was coughing a bit during the night, so I hope he is not catching anything from me.  His appetite has been off a bit lately, so maybe he has caught a bit of my cold (or bug or whatever it is that I have). 

I'm not sure what it is that I've caught.  I had thought that it was a Spring cold, but it hasn't been acting like a cold.  After several days of just plain yuckiness, some of the congestion is beginning to break up a bit, but now the aches and pains are setting in. 

Yesterday, I felt as though I may have actually lost a few pounds because of all the exercise I was getting running back and forth to the bathroom.  However, I'm sure if I stepped on a scale, it would not support any loss of poundage.  Drats!

Yesterday's mail brought a couple of surprises.  One not so good, and one maybe good for a little fun every now and then.  The not so good item was the Comcast cable bill.  I opened it and found a $40 increase.  Wow!!  

Needless to say, I promptly called the cable company and rasped and coughed my way through a very unpleasant but necessary request.  "Lower my bill or I shall see what Verizon will offer me."    This call resulted in a one year deduction, bringing my bill back to where it was before, a six month subscription to HBO for free and a "hope you're feeling better soon, Ma'am."

The next surprise was a box containing a new toy for Pogo.  I had ordered him a "Wobble Wag Giggle Dog Toy" (as seen on TV).   I had also ordered one to send home to Sassy (Dee's little doggie).  Well, at first Pogo seemed interested in the new ball because it moved and made noises.  But when it stopped rolling, he would lose interest in it.  Hmmm.

Next I sat Pogo on my lap and had the ball by my side.  Every now and then I would give the ball a quick little nudge and it would make some noises.  However, this did not make Pogo very playful.  Instead he tried to kill the ball.  Man oh man, if you could have seen him attack that ball!!!!!  If Pogo had teeth, the ball would be totally destroyed!!

So for now, the ball sits ever so lonely on the living room floor.  According to Deanne, Sassy was thinking she might enjoy her new toy until it started making noises and rolling towards her.  Sassy ran for her life, and now that ball sits on their kitchen floor in hopes that maybe one of the cats will play with it.  Hmmm, where did I go wrong?

My crochet projects are not progressing very well.  Most of the time I'm just not in the mood to concentrate on crocheting and counting (rows).   I do a row, then put it down.  I've been wanting to bake some cookies, but I haven't been in the mood for that either.  So, last night, I gave the cookie dough to Joe and he baked up a batch of cookies.  They must have been good because most all of the cookies got eaten before everyone went to bed.

We had a new dwarf move into the house yesterday afternoon, and so far it looks like he might just fit in nicely.  Ours is a very different kind of rooming house.  You have your room, which is private, but then the rest of the house is "common area" which is shared by everyone.  All the dwarfs pitch in to keep the common areas clean, and everyone gets along like an extended family.  We watch out for each other, and it actually works out quite well. 

That's about all the news for now, and the lounge chair is calling out to me.  Before I go, I want to share a rather cute tee shirt that I found in one of my catalogues.  This one is for my friend, the Queen Jester.

I've taken something for my achy body and now my eyes are getting droopy.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a magnificent day.

Hugs, Edna B.

Last Day For Taxes

April 15, 2015

Good morning.  I'm just popping in to say that I'll be taking another day of lying low.   God bless my little Pogo.  He let me sleep in all morning, but I feel so guilty of neglecting him.  I just made him a nice plate of thinly slice steak (all cut up teeny tiny) for his breakfast, and I've made a hot cup of coffee for me. 

Now I'm going to curl up under a blanket on my lounge chair and hopefully take some of the wind out of this cold.  I'll leave you with a photo of a pair of the cute ducks that live at our park.

Don't forget to mail your taxes folks.  They need to be at the post office before midnight tonight.  I want to thank everyone for your caring thoughts.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all stay well and have a beautiful day.

Hugs, Edna B.

A Bit Under The Weather Today

April 14, 2015

Good morning.  It rained a bit a while ago, and now the sun is shining beautifully.  It was in the 50's all night and today should be in the low 60's.   However, we'll be watching the sunshine through the door.  I've had a chill since yesterday, and my throat is a bit scratchy.  I have a bit of a cough, and I think I'm coming down with (or my body is trying to fight off) either a cold or whatever is going around. 

Last evening, I edged around the armholes on the shrug.  Once I get the loose threads worked in, I'll take a photo to share.  Next, I started a new project.  It's a shawl from 1970, and I'm using "Light Raspberry" yarn.   I love this old pattern book, and I've been wanting to make another project from it.  Here's a photo of the of the shawl in the pattern book, and a photo of my new one.  I just love this light raspberry color.

Pogo and I went out yesterday for a while, and we stopped in the park before we headed back home.  It was a beautiful day, but I was feeling a bit chilled so we stayed in the car.  I'm hoping that whatever it is that I've caught doesn't last very long. 

I've put the plants out on the door step, and Pogo has had his breakfast.  Now I'm going to crawl back under my covers and try to warm up.  I'll try to be a bit more chatty tomorrow.  Till then, you stay well and have a super day.

Hugs, Edna B.

Another Gorgeous Spring Day

April 13, 2015

Good morning.  It's another glorious Spring day here in my little part of New England.  I actually got to shut the heat off yesterday.  But then I forgot to put it back on when I went to bed.  Around 3 a.m. I woke up feeling a bit of a nip in the air and turned the heat back on.  In a few hours, I'll shut it off again.

We have no errands to do today, but I think Pogo and I will go out for a while anyway, just to enjoy the warm sunshine.  Tomorrow will be a rainy, stay indoors day.  Maybe later today we can take a ride to a local Salvation Army store and unload some boxes from my car.  Sad to say, the thrift stores are disappearing from our area.  I stumbled upon this Salvation Army store quite by accident a few days ago.

Now that the good weather is finally on its way back, I want to try to clean out my computer room.  I stopped using it so much a while back when it had to become a temporary catch-all.  Unfortunately, these temporary catch-alls seem to become permanent after a while.  Now I want to empty the room out and redecorate it.  Maybe even re-furnish it.  Hmmm, we'll see.

I finished the shrug that I was making, all except for the fringe.  However, it will only fit a small framed person.  I will have to make some adjustments to the pattern if I make another one.  I did get out some new yarn, but then couldn't make up my mind which project to start.  So I picked up the Merlot afghan and put a few more rows on it. 

I still have to make another blue afghan (for Christmas), and I'm thinking that I might use a variegated red and white yarn as the offset color for it.  It's for a little guy (a great grandson) so I think these colors will be perfect.

Today I have some photos showing how some of the ponds at the park are still frozen.  One of the big ponds is mostly thawed, but there is still a lot of ice.  These two photos show the large areas that are still frozen.

In this next photo, you can see where the ice is beginning to thaw close to the shore. (In this one area)   Maybe after a week of warm temperatures all the ice will be gone.  It will be good to see all our water birds back again.

That's about all the news for this morning.  Now I think I'll make a hot cup of coffee and do a bit of blog reading.  Until tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day.

Hugs, Edna B.

A Whole Week Of Spring Temps Coming Our Way

April 12, 2015

Good morning.  Gosh, I tried really hard to sleep in late this morning, but it didn't work out that way.  First Pogo went potty, then wanted to be picked up and put on the sofa (the regular one).  So I did this and settled back down under my covers.  But my eyes were not closing.  Oh dear, I may as well get up. 

It's probably just as well though.  Today is going to be a gorgeous Spring day with temps almost to 70F degrees.  Oh my, I can dig it!!  Maybe today we can take a walk around the whole yard to see what's coming up on the other side of the house.  Most of the snow is gone, and after the warm temps this week, it should all be gone.

Last evening I worked on the shrug and finished it.  Well, at least the main portion of it is finished.  I still have to edge around the armholes and make the fringe.  Then I will have to try it on someone to see what size it is.  I may try making another one once I see who this one might fit.

Today I have photos of my new pansy that DIL Janet gave me.  The colors are just beautiful.  Aren't these pretty?

It's too early to plant these outside yet, but during the day, I do put them out on my steps to soak up the warm sunshine.  Then, of course, I bring them back in just before sundown. 

 

I found an interesting item in one of my catalogues that I thought I might share.  It's something to keep in the bathroom that will keep folks occupied while they are sitting on the throne.   It's called a musical potty piano bath mat.   You just tap out music with your toes.  It even comes with a mini music book guide.

 

 



On a more serious note, I borrowed this next image from one of my kid's web pages.  It's a sad reminder as to just how much we have lost or given up over the years.   Children stopped pledging allegiance to the flag in our schools because some folks said they were offended by it.  To that statement, I say:  "If you are offended by this, then find some other country to live in."

I've often wondered why some folks move to this great country of ours.  Most often I've heard it said that they came here to start a new life filled with hope and the promise of a better life.  If that's so, then why is it that so many of them are dong their best to destroy all of our traditions and beliefs?   If they are not happy with the "good life" here, then they should go somewhere else where they could be happier.

Ah well, I think it's time for a fresh cup of coffee and maybe get a load of laundry started.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a beautiful day.

Hugs, Edna B.

Get Our Your Tissues Before Reading This Post

April 10, 2015

Wait, wait, wait....okay, good afternoon.  I was watching the clock numbers turn over to read 12:00.  I'm a bit late posting today because first I had to write out a batch of checks.  Got to pay the bills, and let's not forget the taxes too!!  

Did you ever get an email that made you cry for the hate and pain that is inflicted on so many of our animals?  Today I got an email from the ASPCA with an article about a teeny tiny puppy named Charlotte.  At less than four months old, Charlotte's owner decided she did not want her anymore so she put the puppy in a trash bag and threw her out the car window by the train tracks (in Staten Island, NY).  This happened last September.

When Charlotte arrived at the ASPCA Animal Hospital, she was in critical condition, and received treatment for a fractured skull, a fractured femur and brain trauma resulting from the blunt-force impact.  Now if this does not make a decent human being cry, then there is definitely something wrong with me!!!

Today, Charlotte has been adopted by a loving family and has been re-named Pip.  She is healing, but slowly.  It will take some time and a lot of love for Pip to heal completely.   Here's a couple of photos of Pip taken by the ASPCA.  Is this tiny baby not precious???

I also have some photos that I took at the park a few days ago while Pogo and I were there in the rain.  This first photo shows the waterfall on one of the ponds.  The second photo shows some trees that are still wearing their yellow leaves.  I thought this was such a pretty contrast against the snow and ice in other parts of the park.  The last photo shows the old look-out tower.  The white splotches on the photo are raindrops on my car's windshield.

Yesterday, I got a good report from my orthopedic doctor.  I'm "holding my own" so that is good.  Sad to say, my doctor may be retiring soon.  He's 72 now, and it's about time for him to slow down his hectic pace a bit.  He's a great doctor and person, and I'll miss him when he finally does retire.

Later when Joe got home from work, we went food shopping.  While we were there I bought some new cookie baking pans.  Now I have no excuse for not baking up a few batches of cinnamon oatmeal cookies.  Oh yum!!  Actually, most of them will be eaten by the dwarfs. 

The news today has not been very good.  They've been showing a lot of videos (on TV) of the devastation from yesterdays tornadoes.  One whole town was pretty much destroyed, with at least one death. 

A few days ago, the newspaper ran an article about a minister who is taking his wife and three young children to a third world country (I forget which one) to help people build structures, etc.  I think it is wonderful that this minister and his church are so devoted to helping people in need. 

However, why travel so far away when there are so many people in towns and cities in this country in dire need because of floods and tornadoes.  So many of these people have absolutely nothing - no clothes, no home, no food, no personal belongings, nothing!!  Why not stay right here and help your fellow citizens?   Does God only count your good deeds if they are done in a foreign country?

Okay, I'll not go on a rant today.  I'm going to use my energy to take a trip to the Post Office to mail off those tax checks.  After all, Uncle Sam needs all the money he can get so that he can support the rest of the world.  Someone needs to put a bug in his ear that "we" could use some of that money to fix our own problems.  (oops, only a teeny weeny rant, my bad.)

Last night, I got out some variegated yarn that matches the green I'm using on the shrug project.  I've decided to finish the shrug using this yarn.   There was too much work already done to unravel the whole thing and start over.  I think it will look okay when it is finished.  Well, at least I hope it does. 

Now, as soon as Pogo decides whether or not he'll eat the hamburger I just made for his lunch, we'll get ready to go do our errands.  So, till Sunday, Y'all have a super weekend.

Hugs, Edna B.