I'm sitting on my back deck which is shaded now and so peaceful. Rocky is also taking it easy for the moment. I just can't get over how many birds of different species there are perched in the trees, and their beautiful songs. I don't know if I mentioned that Steve noticed a nest of baby birds in the big tree, so I'm trying to stay away from it.
Rocky found a loose board in the fence yesterday afternoon and since he could hear lots of children playing over there, he had to go join the fun. The fence is in really bad shape on that side and needs to be replaced.
Things are coming up in the garden that I'm not quite sure about yet - I planted carrots and red peppers but they must have a much longer germination period than the squash and I just gave up on them. Something is coming up now although the plants don't seem to be in even rows - I remember Rocky getting into the plant bed and disturbing the soil, so it's likely that I will be surprised about what comes up.
All my family are in Los Angeles for the wedding of my niece, so my day has been pretty quiet. I fell when I was walking Rocky this afternoon - still don't know what caused it as Rocky has never gotten the "Heel" command right, or at least he doesn't follow it when I'm the one giving the comman, and he may have gotten too close for me to keep out of his way. Luckily my hands hit the pavement first and broke my fall, saving my poor battered knees and legs.
Several years ago I would have described myself as a minimalist and got rid of a lot of things I didn't need or use. "Things" have slowly crept into my world to take their place, and I'm determined to start getting rid of things I rarely wear or use. I have WAY too many t-shirts, but over the past few years I picked up a lot of them from my trips across the country. I have a t-shirt I especially love that I bought at a state park in Minnesota, and when I wear it people will invariably ask me if I'm from Minnesota! It's going to be difficult to decide what clothes to let go of, although I've already divested myself of most of the dressier items since I always wear casual clothes these days - jeans, t-shirts, shorts, capris, etc. I also need to get rid of a lot of things from my kitchen since I rarely cook anything that requires a lot of preparation or utensils. I cleaned out one cabinet this afternoon - not much, but it's a start.
Rocky is chewing a frisbee to pieces - I don't know where it came from and hope he didn't make off with a kid's toy when he went visiting yesterday.
Today has been a beautiful day in the low 80's (and I didn't run the a/c); it's going back to hot Sacramento weather tomorrow though. I'm going to enjoy sleeping with the window open tonight.
I hope you are all enjoying your weekend.
Saturday, June 15, 2019
Friday, June 14, 2019
Back to the routine!
Everything has calmed down after the weekend, but this coming weekend everyone is headed for southern CA for my niece's wedding. I don't travel any more so I'll be the only one not there. I have plenty to do here, with the gardening, cleaning up the yard, etc.
I have an apple tree in the back yard that is laden with apples, plus they are all over the ground. Steve tasted one when he was here and he said they weren't very good, so I'm picking the ones from the ground and tossing them. I also have blackberry vines which are sprawling all over the back fence line, and I need to figure out a way to tie them up so they aren't in the grass. I've never seen vines with that many thorns on them! I like blackberry jelly, so if I get a good crop of them I might try making some, or else I can just have them with vanilla ice cream!
I am so happy with the way my garden is growing I'm already planning for what I can plant this fall as well as next year. I will do a much better job next year because I can get it all rototilled at one time and get certain plants into the ground a bit earlier. I had planted a row of carrots and a row of sweet peppers and figured Rocky messed up the dirt because they never came up. I think they are slow to germinate and may be sprouting up now. I can't believe how excited I am with gardening at this stage in my life. I failed every effort at it when my kids were little, or else I lived in a condo, an RV, and a mobile home and didn't have the space to grow much of anything. I still need to get some good fencing to keep Rocky from wandering across the plant beds.
The 100+ degree temperatures have abated for at least a few days. I love having all the windows and doors open, and am enjoying the fresh breeze. In CA the sun is hot when you are standing under it, no matter what the season, so I try to minimize the time I'm outdoors.
Rocky is behaving so much better, most of the time, and it is mostly due to Ara having the patience to work with him. Everyone is worried that I won't keep up with the discipline or not use the simple commands he now is familiar with. I want to tell them to remember that "you can't teach an old dog new tricks", and that I am definitely an "old dog". I was always too lenient with my kids when they were growing up so I don't know why they think I should all of the sudden be firm with Rocky! My kids have all grown up to be wonderful, loving, caring, adults. My dog will grow into a good dog as well. Actually, I'm trying to remember to be lovingly firm with him.
I have an apple tree in the back yard that is laden with apples, plus they are all over the ground. Steve tasted one when he was here and he said they weren't very good, so I'm picking the ones from the ground and tossing them. I also have blackberry vines which are sprawling all over the back fence line, and I need to figure out a way to tie them up so they aren't in the grass. I've never seen vines with that many thorns on them! I like blackberry jelly, so if I get a good crop of them I might try making some, or else I can just have them with vanilla ice cream!
I am so happy with the way my garden is growing I'm already planning for what I can plant this fall as well as next year. I will do a much better job next year because I can get it all rototilled at one time and get certain plants into the ground a bit earlier. I had planted a row of carrots and a row of sweet peppers and figured Rocky messed up the dirt because they never came up. I think they are slow to germinate and may be sprouting up now. I can't believe how excited I am with gardening at this stage in my life. I failed every effort at it when my kids were little, or else I lived in a condo, an RV, and a mobile home and didn't have the space to grow much of anything. I still need to get some good fencing to keep Rocky from wandering across the plant beds.
The 100+ degree temperatures have abated for at least a few days. I love having all the windows and doors open, and am enjoying the fresh breeze. In CA the sun is hot when you are standing under it, no matter what the season, so I try to minimize the time I'm outdoors.
Rocky is behaving so much better, most of the time, and it is mostly due to Ara having the patience to work with him. Everyone is worried that I won't keep up with the discipline or not use the simple commands he now is familiar with. I want to tell them to remember that "you can't teach an old dog new tricks", and that I am definitely an "old dog". I was always too lenient with my kids when they were growing up so I don't know why they think I should all of the sudden be firm with Rocky! My kids have all grown up to be wonderful, loving, caring, adults. My dog will grow into a good dog as well. Actually, I'm trying to remember to be lovingly firm with him.
Tuesday, June 11, 2019
Back to Normal
We had a high school graduation in the family this past weekend and lots of folks have been around, as well as my sister & her husband from Nevada. Julie brouht her dog (a golden labradoodle named Tallulah) from Nevada. To say Rocky and Lulah have enjoyed playing together would be an understatement. They rested now and then but most of the time it was sheer pandemonium! (Click on a photo for a slight enlargement.)
They never stayed down for long!
Autumn (Jeannie's daughter) graduated from middle school and her class had a very fun and interesting program. The kids had their silhouettes around the walls of the gym, and here is Auti's. Typically, Auti is holding a book in one hand, and a basketball in the other.
My gardening is coming along pretty well and I have lots of plans for the coming months, and would like to make some improvements in the big back yard which has a lot of weeds as it is now. I would like to have some nice grass for a change. One of my tomato plants is especially growing well. I wish I could have done this when I was a few years younger!
Ara has been invaluable in helping me get my garden started. She will be leaving for Los Angeles along with other family members for my niece's wedding this coming weekend. She will come back to Sacramento to pack her car with things she is taking back home, and then will leave again. I have enjoyed having her around but nothing ever stays the same and goodbyes never get easier!
What I was calling a salamander was actually no doubt a gecko, and there has been no trace of him. I sure hope he somehow got back outdoors. I think Rocky would know if he was still in the house.
It is on its way up to 102 degrees today and I hate to even think of going outside for any reason. I detest living in a closed up house! Before Julie and Tallulah left, even the dogs didn't want to go out in the heat, and so they played pretty rough right here in my living room. So far I only have the bare minimum in the living room (and everywhere in the house for that matter), so we could let them wrestle with each other all they wanted.
I'm looking forward to relaxing for a few days, so I may or may not blog for a few. I'll be back soon enough though.
They never stayed down for long!
Autumn (Jeannie's daughter) graduated from middle school and her class had a very fun and interesting program. The kids had their silhouettes around the walls of the gym, and here is Auti's. Typically, Auti is holding a book in one hand, and a basketball in the other.
My gardening is coming along pretty well and I have lots of plans for the coming months, and would like to make some improvements in the big back yard which has a lot of weeds as it is now. I would like to have some nice grass for a change. One of my tomato plants is especially growing well. I wish I could have done this when I was a few years younger!
What I was calling a salamander was actually no doubt a gecko, and there has been no trace of him. I sure hope he somehow got back outdoors. I think Rocky would know if he was still in the house.
It is on its way up to 102 degrees today and I hate to even think of going outside for any reason. I detest living in a closed up house! Before Julie and Tallulah left, even the dogs didn't want to go out in the heat, and so they played pretty rough right here in my living room. So far I only have the bare minimum in the living room (and everywhere in the house for that matter), so we could let them wrestle with each other all they wanted.
I'm looking forward to relaxing for a few days, so I may or may not blog for a few. I'll be back soon enough though.
EEEEK!
I have a salamander in my house. The little guy just walked in from the back deck and disappeared under the couch before Rocky or I could react. I have moved the couch, looked in the bedrooms, and can't find him. Unfortunately there is enough space under all the doors for him to slither from one room to another.
I am not sure how I'm going to sleep tonight, so I fixed myself a tall scotch and water to calm myself down and not worry about it. I don't think they are dangerous to people or dogs, at least I hope not.
My garden is coming along nicely, and I have several good sized tomatos on my plants. Jeannie's plants are doing much better but since I didn't get them into the ground right away they will take a little longer to produce. A couple of the plants are cherry tomatos. The squash and zucchini plants are growing well also.
Today has been a really hot day, but tomorrow will be a few degrees over the 100 mark. I hate this hot weather and having to close up the house to run the a/c. I like my doors and windows open, but of course that is how the salamander got in. The temps usually reach their peak by 6pm or so, and that is when I turned the a/c off and opened the doors. I may have to rethink things a bit.
Please send me good vibes that I won't have an unwanted visitor in my bed tonight. I think Rocky would react quickly - at least I hope he would.
I am not sure how I'm going to sleep tonight, so I fixed myself a tall scotch and water to calm myself down and not worry about it. I don't think they are dangerous to people or dogs, at least I hope not.
My garden is coming along nicely, and I have several good sized tomatos on my plants. Jeannie's plants are doing much better but since I didn't get them into the ground right away they will take a little longer to produce. A couple of the plants are cherry tomatos. The squash and zucchini plants are growing well also.
Today has been a really hot day, but tomorrow will be a few degrees over the 100 mark. I hate this hot weather and having to close up the house to run the a/c. I like my doors and windows open, but of course that is how the salamander got in. The temps usually reach their peak by 6pm or so, and that is when I turned the a/c off and opened the doors. I may have to rethink things a bit.
Please send me good vibes that I won't have an unwanted visitor in my bed tonight. I think Rocky would react quickly - at least I hope he would.
Wednesday, June 5, 2019
I'm Melting!
If there is anything I dislike as much as hot weather, it's air-conditioning. It is undoubtedly much better in the workplace as well as in shopping environments, but truly preferred the swamp cooler in my former house. It is 94 degrees this afternoon and predicted to go up to 98 by the end of the day. I didn't turn the a/c on early enough and I'm certainly not going to do it now as it would probably not cool off anyway.
Sacramento is cool overnight and up to the middle of the following day, so I didn't use the ac early enough so I won't bother with it now. I really don't want to pay high electric bills but I will have to get used to it. Rocky has spent most of the day napping on the cool bathroom tile!
My sister and her husband are going to stay at my house the next two nights, and they are bringing their golden-doodle with them. It will be interesting to see the dogs play together. They are about the same size, and I'll try to get a photo. At least Tallulah doesn't shed, while Rocky sheds all over the place.
Jeannie asked me to bring Rocky over and have dinner at their house this evening. I would be happy to get away from here for a while - I only
took Rocky for one walk today because of the heat. I worry about his paws on the hot pavement.
I hope you are all more comfortable with the weather you're having than I am with mine! I have been completely miserable and listless all day, and sure hope tomorrow is a little better.
Sacramento is cool overnight and up to the middle of the following day, so I didn't use the ac early enough so I won't bother with it now. I really don't want to pay high electric bills but I will have to get used to it. Rocky has spent most of the day napping on the cool bathroom tile!
My sister and her husband are going to stay at my house the next two nights, and they are bringing their golden-doodle with them. It will be interesting to see the dogs play together. They are about the same size, and I'll try to get a photo. At least Tallulah doesn't shed, while Rocky sheds all over the place.
Jeannie asked me to bring Rocky over and have dinner at their house this evening. I would be happy to get away from here for a while - I only
took Rocky for one walk today because of the heat. I worry about his paws on the hot pavement.
I hope you are all more comfortable with the weather you're having than I am with mine! I have been completely miserable and listless all day, and sure hope tomorrow is a little better.
Tuesday, June 4, 2019
Marty, Marty, Quite Contrary
How Does Your Garden Grow? Sorry that it doesn't quite rhyme!
I love looking at the garden as I have beautiful squash plants growing well. I don't know if they are yellow squash or the green zuchinni, but more likely they are the yellow. No carrots or red peppers, but that may be because of Rocky disturbing the soil. He wanted to get into that plot of garden from the beginning - I guess there is something about the coolness of freshly turned dirt that is appealing.
I've been trying to weed the second plot completely and then add more seeds alongside Jeannie's tomato plants. I can't stay out there for more than about 10 minutes at a time because of the hot sun.
I'm wilting and it's too hot to even think. If anything happens later I'll add a postscript!
Here's the postscript that I wanted to write but nearly forgot about:
I recently bought a Ryobi grass & weed trimmer from Home Depot. Since I had it delivered I used my credit card to pay for it. Now my YouTube feed constantly has a video about a Ryobi product. This is the first such product I've bought since I lived in Asheville, NC from about 2004 to 2009. I certainly don't like the idea of YouTube being able to get information about my purchases. It is no coincidence as the youtube vid began appearing a day or so after I bought it, and it is for the exact model.
I love looking at the garden as I have beautiful squash plants growing well. I don't know if they are yellow squash or the green zuchinni, but more likely they are the yellow. No carrots or red peppers, but that may be because of Rocky disturbing the soil. He wanted to get into that plot of garden from the beginning - I guess there is something about the coolness of freshly turned dirt that is appealing.
I've been trying to weed the second plot completely and then add more seeds alongside Jeannie's tomato plants. I can't stay out there for more than about 10 minutes at a time because of the hot sun.
I'm wilting and it's too hot to even think. If anything happens later I'll add a postscript!
Here's the postscript that I wanted to write but nearly forgot about:
I recently bought a Ryobi grass & weed trimmer from Home Depot. Since I had it delivered I used my credit card to pay for it. Now my YouTube feed constantly has a video about a Ryobi product. This is the first such product I've bought since I lived in Asheville, NC from about 2004 to 2009. I certainly don't like the idea of YouTube being able to get information about my purchases. It is no coincidence as the youtube vid began appearing a day or so after I bought it, and it is for the exact model.
Sunday, June 2, 2019
Gardening
Every day I get a little more things accomplished, but I still have so far to go it could make me disheartened if I let it. I've been working on the garden and have one large square of it finished - my tomatos are planted as well as some vegetable seeds. I've since been working on the second square plot, which has Jeannie's 6 tomato plants as she doesn't really have room in her backyard which is almost all swimming pool and surround. My son, Joe, also planted a couple of tomatos that he'd like me to take care of. I said "Sure, bring them over!" It is ironic that I'm the least likely to be much of a gardener and I'll end up growing tomatos for the entire family!
I wish I could add a few photos I've taken but they are on my phone and I don't have a clue how to transfer them. To tell the truth, I don't even want to learn. I'd give anything to have my old Jitterbug by Samsung again. While I'm typing a message or something like that, I will all the sudden have the screen switch to an ad for a program or a game, and it upsets me to no end. What right does any company have to interrupt my business like that. The next time I see Donald I will ask him to see if there is a way to stop it; he has a Samsung phone also and is sure to know a solution.
Ara is going to stay with Rocky for an hour or so while I go to Costco with Jeannie. She will try to get him acclimated to his crate. She has been working with him on being a "good dog" and has done wonders. I think she gets irritated with me when I let him slide by on some things.
If anyone had told me a few years ago that I could get all excited about getting out of the house and going to Costco, I wouldn't have believed them. Times sure change!
I wish I could add a few photos I've taken but they are on my phone and I don't have a clue how to transfer them. To tell the truth, I don't even want to learn. I'd give anything to have my old Jitterbug by Samsung again. While I'm typing a message or something like that, I will all the sudden have the screen switch to an ad for a program or a game, and it upsets me to no end. What right does any company have to interrupt my business like that. The next time I see Donald I will ask him to see if there is a way to stop it; he has a Samsung phone also and is sure to know a solution.
Ara is going to stay with Rocky for an hour or so while I go to Costco with Jeannie. She will try to get him acclimated to his crate. She has been working with him on being a "good dog" and has done wonders. I think she gets irritated with me when I let him slide by on some things.
If anyone had told me a few years ago that I could get all excited about getting out of the house and going to Costco, I wouldn't have believed them. Times sure change!
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