April Showers Will Bring May Flowers - RIGHT?

Hi Dear Readers,

I know, it's been awhile again since I last posted.   Part of it was because I just couldn't get into the mood.   But after a dear friend kicked me in the butt to get me moving, here I am.  

We FINALLY are having some rain.   Had a nice shower last night that lasted about 3 hours of steady, soaking rain.   Now it's mostly drizzle, which is better than nothing.   I know some areas are sick of rain and have had way too much.  Wisconsin, on the other hand, is 2 inches behind so far this year because of not much snowfall this winter and no rain so far this spring, except for last night and mist/drizzle today.  There is a burning ban for the entire state - no camp fires, no smoking outside where there are leaves, etc.  

We had a nice week last week - lots of sunshine and temps hovering near 60 most days.   It's been a teaser, just enough to let us know summer will come to Wisconsin eventually. 

The picture above is our northern variety Magnolia tree.  It's not as pretty as other years, for some reason - maybe no moisture when it needed it.   

A week ago we had a circus in our yard - there were 4 men running around with various pieces of yard equipment.   The crew came into thatch the yard, do fall cleanup that never got done in the fall as it snowed too soon, trimmed some bushes, etc.   Now our yard looks nice except for the tree in this coming picture.

This tree has been slowly getting worse each year. This year most of the smaller branches under the big globe on top are almost dead.   Mr. D was going to have the cleanup crew cut it down, but I held him at bay until we can figure out and line up someone to clean up the mess, haul in some new dirt, move rocks, and plant something new.   Neither one of us should be doing that kind of thing anymore.   One thing always leads to another it  seems.  The joys of owning a home.   

Will close for today, and try hard to blog again soon without waiting a month or two before I do.   Thanks for putting up with me.   I know it makes it hard to follow my blog.  I really suggest getting posts via email so you won't waste time searching for a new post when there isn't one.  There is a link in the side bar and it's easy to do.  It should save you time in the long run.   

Now I'm to go around and visit.

Mary


  

Piece Of Cake

Hello Friends,

As you all predicted, the surgery was a piece of cake.   The only aftermath visible was a hand that was black and blue.   The poor nurse had trouble finding a vein, but with the help  of two other nurses, they managed.  The fun wasn't over.  When they went to discharge me and removed the IV, a blood vessel burst and my hand turned black and blue.    Standard instructions were to go home and put ice and pressure on it and keep the hand elevated.   By the next day, it was really spreading.  So, off to the emergency room to have it looked at.    Then I was sent home with a brace and told to wear it when up and moving around as I had fragile skin.    If that is the worse thing that ever happens to me, it's a "piece of cake."    ha ha

Well, the calendar says it's Spring.  If that is the case, then why are our friends out East getting another serious snowstorm?   We have lucked out and have had temperatures in the low 40's with lots of sunshine, so I'm not complaining.

Our Northern type of Magnolia tree has buds on it, and I suspect in another 2-3 weeks, maybe it will sprout blooms.    We'll hope that March doesn't go "out like a Lion" and bless us with a few inches of snow. Stay tuned for that one. 

Happy Spring everyone.

Mary

It Could Be Worse

Hi Friends,

It seems I'm becoming a once-a-month poster!     I had good intentions a month ago, but good intentions don't go far if you don't put forth the effort.   Maybe I'll be better between now and the next post.  (ha ha - we can hope anyway).

Have you ever had to give yourself a good "talking to" about something?   I had to do that today after sitting here feeling sorry for myself.

On Friday I have to have a small, recurring cyst removed.   It should be a simple, routine surgery and one that won't be very invasive.   But I'm a little apprehensive about the surgery as I have never had surgery before other than on a bone spur on my foot years ago.  

I had to remind myself that our daughter has had two hips and two knees replaced before the age of 40 due to Rheumetoid Arthritis, and Mr. D has had open heart surgery and half of his stomach removed due to ulcers.    What on earth am I complaining about or worried about!  Having a cyst removed should be a "piece of cake."   

I'm now feeling better about the situation and will stop thinking about it.   Why do we do these things to ourselves?

March came in like a lamb.  Does that mean it will go out like a lion?   Probably in Wisconsin anyway.   We got about 3 inches of snow today, making a total of maybe 15 inches for the winter.   So it will be interesting to see what the Ides of March brings.  

Mary

Time Flies - Stop The Clock

Hi Friends,

Sorry I've been missing for over a month - one whole month!   Wish I could say it was because we were on some fabulous trip or we've moved to a warmer climate.  Truth be told - it was none of those things.   I just wasn't in the mood to write anything and had nothing of interest to say!   A dear friend tells me I won't have any readers left or grow any if I don't write more frequently.   She is right---I know that--- but still didn't do anything about it.

Presently I'm thinking about our friends out East and West.   Horrible weather is and has been happening in both places.    I can't even imagine dealing with the amount of snow that the East Coast has had.   Then there is all the rain, flooding, mud slides, etc., on the West Coast.   Our hearts really go out to anyone living in those areas.   Since Mario has an active Twitter account and is friends with lots of dogs and cats all over the world actually, several are located in the parts of the US that are getting extreme weather.   We always worry about them and feel better when we'be had a tweet from someone indicating they are okay.

I did spend some of that time playing around with various programs on the internet that help you create pictures or fancy them up.   That has been fun and I've learned a lot.   The header at the top of the page was originally created by me and then run through one of those programs to give it a little character.    One can spend hours doing that type of thing.

Our winter has been mild this year.   Yes, we've had a few days where the temperatures were below 0, but on a whole they have been in the teens and 20's.   We are lacking in snow this year, which will not be a good thing for the farmers our gardeners.  I have loved having a winter without  much snow, but I know it is needed.   After last year's extreme weather, we are not complaining about what we have this year.

I hope all is well with you and your families.   I am going to try to post something more frequently now.   Yes, I have said that before and then not followed through.   But I'm going to try hard.

Now that I've bent your ear with a page full of nothing, I'll say "until next time."

Mary

Brain Freeze

Hi Friends,

Along with a good portion of the US, Wisconsin is in a deep freeze this  week. The start of the school day on Monday was delayed in our city by 2 hours.   With the wind chill dropping to -45 tonight, it wouldn't surprise me if there would be a delay tomorrow morning too.   It's only January 6th!

Monday morning Mr. D and I decided I would drive him to his water exercise class at the CP Center so he wouldn't have to walk out to a cold car.   Then I would go back and pick him up after the his class.  He, in turn, would drive a friend and myself to a local restaurant for lunch where my friend and I were meeting the remainder of our Group.  Easy peasy - right!

Mr. D and I got in the car, I backed up to let the car idle a couple of minutes outside of the garage.   Asked Mr. D to get my sunglasses out of the glove compartment, which he did.   I quickly put them on.   I was about ready to back up when it suddenly dawned on me that the right lens must have a big smudge on it because it was a little blurry.   I took the glasses off and grabbed a tissue to wipe the lens with - --------WHOOPS -  there was only a lens in one half of the glass.  The other was an empty circle!!!!    The lens had fallen out somewhere and I didn't even see that.   

We laughed so hard.   I was so positive that the lens had a big smudge on it!!!   Joke was on me.

Now I need to make a trip to get my glasses fixed, but it's  too darn cold to run anymore errands than those that are necessary.

Ha ha - I've told a couple of  friends about that incident, and we've had some good laughs over it.   It has to be brain freeze - wouldn't you agree?

Mary

New Year 2015

Happy New Year Friends,

How can it possibly be 2015 already when it  seems like yesterday that we rolled over to 2001.  Yikes, that also means I'm 15 years older.    I remember my dad saying that he would never live to see 2000, but he did.   He did pass away the next summer, but he made it to 2000 in pretty good health too.

The picture above is a house on the street behind us.    It doesn't show up that well in a picture, but it was beautiful seeing it for real.     With all the lights in the trees, it really lit up our back yards.  It was great.   I'm happy I don't have to pay their light bill!

We had a wonderful Christmas with our daughter and son-in-law, and the weather cooperated so they could spend Christmas Eve with us after leaving work at 3:00.    It is always a worry with the weather.   One never knows if we'll have snow, sleet and freezing rain, or blue skies!     We lucked out this year with no moisture in the air.  

Winter has set in with a roar.  We've had snow for the past two days - a total of about 5 inches, with a layer of sleet mixed in.   Now the wind is out of Canada (as it is with a good share of the US) and our wind chill is like -35 for most of this next week.   I am very thankful for a nice warm house and will try to stay in it for much of the week except for a couple of appointments and maybe our water exercise class at the CP Center.

We hope you have a most wonderful, healthy, and happy 2015.

Until next time,

Mary

Merry Christmas

Hi All,

Sorry I've been missing again, but hopefully after the holidays I can settle down and post on a more regular basis.   It's been a busy time of year, as you all well know.   

Weather permitting, our daughter and son-in-law will arrive after work tomorrow in time to have dinner with us.   They stay overnight here and leave for SIL's family after they cook us omelets for breakfast. Yes, that's right - they will cook the omelets.   How's that for service.   They surprised us with that last year, so I asked them if they would like to do it again this year and we'll have the ingredients.   It's a real treat for us.

The above photo was our Christmas card this year, so feel free to take a copy if you wish.

We hope you and your family have a most wonderful Christmas and a very happy, healthy 2015.