The poppies blow

In Flanders fields, the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row...

I give you the first two lines of the poem "In Flanders Fields" a poem by John McCrae. Thus inspiring another poem "We Shall Keep the Faith" by Moina Michael. Now, each time I see my poppies I will think of the fallen soldiers that created a life for us. For this I am eternally thankful.

Sweet!

I added fresh vidalia onions with green/red/orange and yellow peppers to the sweet Italian sausage in the crock pot.

On low for over 8 hours, they did cut like butter when you ate them. Not shown here is the spaghetti sauce that I added, nor the mozzarella cheese.

This was for my Saturday company - they loved it. Today I am taking salami pinwheels, cheese ball/tray with crackers and calico beans. Camera is ready!

All of them

I robbed both peony bushes and cut every bloom and stuck them in a huge vase with water and put them in my kitchen. On the stove. I had quite a few ants the first day and the daughter complained mightily but I stuck with it. Every hour or so I would go and smack the blooms. Some petals fell off now and again, but mostly about 5 ants would drop and I would squish, squish, squish.

My daughter says she hates flowers and the kitchen smells like beer. She always thinks fresh cut flowers smell like beer. What the heck? I put the flowers on the stove because the cats try to eat any live plants I bring into the house. Usually it is Jasper. I have not seen him even try this year. Wow. Maybe I can put them in the living room the next time? Eh - better not. I don't want them to knock the vase over in there.

They are mostly dead, now. The blooms I plucked and put in a vase. The poppies are really dropping off. Orange petals all over the lawn where they grow. I was able to finally lower the mower blades and get the grass to a shorter status. It took me all day Friday (in the heat I had to take many breaks). I ended up with five huge leaf bags full of grass clippings. I did not wear a hat, but I did take two wet wash cloths and folded them over my head and held them on with my headphones. I am not a fashion plate by any stretch of the imagination. And, I don't pretend to be.

I have my niece and nephew coming to stay Saturday for the week-end. I am fixing Italian sausage sandwiches in the crock pot. I brown sweet Italian sausages and move them to a crock pot full of spaghetti sauce with sliced sweet onions and green and red peppers. I'll make some macaroni salad, too. We will have our fill of hot dogs and hamburgers tomorrow at the family cook-out.

I love it when the sausages slow cook long enough to cut like soft butter when I serve them. I serve them on soft hoagie buns and top them off with mozzarella cheese. I might even bore you with pictures.

My daughter, her guy friend and I caught "Iron Man 2" at the theater the other night. Sometimes I make an exception and risk the noise and flashing lights. I had some earplugs but they hurt too much and I took them out. The flashing lights were awful. It was not as good as the first one. Not much "hero" story line in this at all. I do not like M Rourke but I have to admit - he played his part well. We went late on a week night and had the entire place to ourselves.

I thought that G Paltrow looked very good with a little color to her face. She was not so pale in this feature. I always enjoy S Rockwell, whether he is playing a bad guy or the funny sidekick. And I just gotta say this. Once. K Mara just creeps me out. And I did not mind Cheadle playing the role instead of Howard. I've let it go.

Hey there!

Here is sister 1956 holding the latest addition to our family.

Babies. A new life. A clean slate. Forming, adjusting. What a crazy world he is going to see, huh?

Come on!

Slade wants me to walk more, take pictures less

He is a patient dog, but he also gets quite irritated with me. Eventually he wanders off on his own, but he usually gets an attitude and won't come back when I call him. He gets so tired of me taking pictures of flowers. Even more so, he hates it when I take pictures of him.

I have this week off from work. My daughter and I drove a bit Friday evening checking out places that will install a chain-link fence. She is really pushing for one. I am pushing for pulling up the living room carpet and installing a wooden floor. My push will have to wait because we don't know what we are going to do with the huge, gargantuan organ in our living room. We can barely move it a foot or two. I don't know how anyone will get it out the door.

If I am going to apply for that job I was speaking of earlier, I am going to have to get my resume finished today because tomorrow is the deadline for turning them in. I am so nervous about it. A little bit worried about them not even considering me. That will be a sobering experience. More worried about them considering me, interviewing me, and offering me the position. Then I would have to make a decision. A life-altering decision. Isn't it so much easier to just sit back and let the deadline pass and take a big sigh and just roll with life? It would take a lot of energy to change positions. The new job would be a challenge. I don't know, I don't know.

Been seeing a lot of these

Seems like almost everybody has a purple or magenta rhododendron in their yard in my neighborhood. I can understand why. They are beautiful. I have always loved this flowering bush. I've considered trying to grow one myself but can never decide on the color.

The flowers that were here before I moved in were the orange poppies, the violet-red azaleas and the white moonflowers. Before I knew about them I purchased the two pink peonies, one on each side of my house. They are blooming great.

I added some red tulips (a huge favorite of mine) which really don't do very well. I added the blue hydrangea (but that is next to the patio, not the house). I wanted mostly orange flowers to contrast against the dark gray of the house, like the poppies - the color seems to "pop" out.

But my azaleas in the front of the house are a beautiful violet red. They would probably bloom in and around the same time and I figure that would look silly together. That is if I plant it in the front of the house. If I plant it on either side it would contrast with the pink peony. Sigh. Nobody would see it in the back of the house.

So, nothing gets planted. No rhododendrons, anyway. I'd better get out there and plant my moonflower seeds or I won't have any of them this year. Somehow I manged to delete them from the side of my house last year and only had them near the patio. I picked all the seeds off of them to save for this year.

First poppy of the year

And, of course, my shadow.

Peonies are coming along

With a little help from their ant friends.

I am so "sleepy" tired. Maybe it's the rain. I don't know. I think I slept all night. I remember a horrible dream, but that was early this morning. I was recovering from somebody cutting my right side with a saw. Hey, I just dream 'em, I don't try to figure them out. Well, yes I do, really. What does it mean? I have no idea with this one.

So, what did I accomplish this week-end? Before the rain? Not one page of a book! Not one sentence. Housework. Just clothes, kitchen and bathroom. So, what got done? Outside work! How could I forget I had a ton of outside work to do? And the weather was nice. My grass was so long, I had to use the grass catcher. That was a real hoot. The mulcher flap had not been lifted in years and I thought it needed a lever or something. Finally my daughter just gave it a good yank and it lifted up. Whew. I don't recall how many times I had to empty the bagger, but let's just say I waited too long on a couple of trips.

Then it hit me. While mowing I knew I was doing it. But, I kept going. Mowing is one of those things that if you stop you are afraid you won't get going again. It was hot out. It was sunny. Yep. I am sensitive to the sun. I am getting thin on top. (Not getting thin anywhere else, oh no!) But my hair is getting thin. This leaves my head exposed. I had my headphones on, but the wicked sun got me anyway.

The headache started Sunday night. I went to bed hoping I could sleep it off. Silly me! What a night that was. I made it to work on Monday (barely). The migraine meds helped a lot. After work I returned to the scene of the crime. Blankets were twisted up everywhere. There were wash cloths and towels strewn about.

During the night (Sunday) during a migraine, I get a wash cloth as cold as I can and put it against my forehead. To keep my pillow from getting soaked I lay a couple of towels on it. The wash cloth heats up faster than you can imagine. I had the fan blowing on me directly. I was at the foot of the bed, in the middle of the bed. Yep. It was a long night.

Anyway, I hope to have some pretty pictures of poppies and peonies here soon. The rain is coming down in buckets this morning. I have to take the dogs out in this, I don't feel like bringing a camera out, too.

Keeping score

Friday evening

Books 0
Housecleaning 0
Movies 1

Heh, heh. Watched Precious last evening. Mixed feelings. Myself, I would wonder why the girl didn't live with her grandmother, but I suppose that is the only way her Mother can get the welfare check (under the premise that Precious and Mongo live with her).

Not certain if I will read the book.

Bonding

Photo courtesy of sister 1944.

This tot above is my sister's second grandson. She is SO close to the first grandson that she felt (when the second was born) that she would not be able to bond with him. I think this latest photo she took of him will help.

I had to chuckle when she told me her fear. The first is always very special, but I am sure in no time at all she will be just as wrapped up in this one's life. Oh, yes.

The last time I was with him (a month ago) he slept the entire time or ate.

I am enjoying good coffee and relishing in the fact that this is Friday and I have NO plans for the week-end! Shhhh! I can't say it too loud, 'cause I will jinx it. Of course I plan to mow the grass, clean the house a bit and wash a mountain of laundry - but I mean no plans as in getting together and traveling anywhere. Ahhh.

Oh, oh, oh! I also have more books from the library. Oh dear. Will the house get cleaned? Will the grass get mowed? Or will the books get read? Ha, ha! Tune in on Sunday or Monday to see what wins. Evil grin.

On a side note, I had my annual evaluation at work yesterday. Stellar marks. Stellar! And, I also got a nice comment about how I have managed to turn things around (my sarcastic and caustic wit from about 4 years ago). My managers who evaluated me all agree that working with the co-worker that I had in my office for 8 hours a day would drive anyone over the edge. They all believe that she was the bane of my attitude and who knows? Maybe they are correct. I'll take it. I am getting great reviews, I am getting more responsibility (as in GOOD things to challenge me) and I am hoping to put all the ugliness behind me.

And with that, I'll add this. I am going to apply for another job the end of this month. It takes weeks for them to interview so I may not hear anything for a long time, but I am putting my heart and soul into it.

Sound strange? Yes, possibly. But, I don't shrug things off so easily. By this time next year I can just as easily be back on their sh!t list. I have watched them for 15 years. I am going to strike while (my) iron is hot.

My progressing field

My lily of the valley patch. I had to cut a huge rose of sharon bush (tree) down - you can see the stump just right of the center, a very light color stump.

This is one side of my garage facing the alley. I cannot really get my mower up close to the side of the garage (without marking up the side with the mower handle) so I would like my lily of the valley to grow all along the side. The rose of sharon was inhibiting this growth.

I want a field of them (like my neighbor who lives up the alley). They smell so wonderful when I walk my dogs past their yard.

Sable rolls

Sable never passes up a chance to have her back scratched. Here she is rolling around in the grass letting the rough ground scratch her back for her.

She was "feeling her oats" when we were outside on Monday. I noticed while walking her this morning (yes, I took them out an hour ago at 4:30 a.m.) that she walked slower and dragged her feet. Of course it could have been too early for her. I know it was for me.

Blame the boxer. He was the one that woke me up and I couldn't get back to sleep. Blah!

Which does not set me in the best of moods for today. I have scheduled a troubleshooting segment today for what I hate the most about my job. Video. I don't do this part very often. You know how I love to solve a mystery. Not this one. I could care less about choppy video or video with no sound. I am not sure why. Probably because it deals with people interacting. I like machines.

This got dropped into my lap when nobody else could get anywhere with it. It will go like this. Peruby will check the physical cables/machine/equipment. The school will tell me that they have had problems since the beginning of time. I mean since the beginning of the school year. So-and -so, and so-and-so have been working on it. The video gets better, and then the next week it is choppy again. It is self-healing, it is never ending. It is a mystery and it is frustrating. Nothing is consistent.

They want me to test when they are not in a session. This means I call some test sites and stay connected for two minutes looking at a wall somewhere in a building in Columbus. This tells me nothing. The wall doesn't move or talk. How the heck can I tell if the video is choppy? How can I tell if the audio is cutting out? Walls don't talk. At least not in my world. Yet. You cannot troubleshoot when twenty-five students are sitting in a room watching a live autopsy. I know! Talk about "choppy". Sorry.

What I really hate is you troubleshoot something for hours and hours and come to find out - oh, wait a minute. I will hear "We called another school (outside of my organization's network) and they are all having the same issue. It is something at the state level." In other words I could have worked until the cows came home and there would never be a solution. I am telling you, this is how it is going to end up.

Bah!

Their favorite new treat

The pups have a favorite new treat. Ice cubes. This photo makes me kind of sad. As I walked closer to get a better shot, Cheech looks at me very nervously as if I am going to take the ice cube away from him.

They love ice cubes. Poor Slade (the boxer). His mouth/teeth cannot pick up or handle ice cubes very well. He is usually left wondering what to do with it or gets his stolen by those crafty, sly, sneaky, thieving pups.

The party Saturday night was a huge hit. I managed to post 270 pictures and a great video of the birthday gal dancing a solo number. That takes guts but she can pull it off. (Nothing indecent!) I'll get some of the photos posted here in the next week or so.

I spent Mother's Day with a huge headache that got worse as the day went on. I ended up being physically sick by evening. My daughter was here and she did everything for me. Taking care of me here and there. Little did I know that she herself was getting very sick. She had a horrible night Sunday night and by Monday (since I was feeling much better) I was off to the store to get her the Popsicles, Italian ice, ginger ale, jell-o, Tylenol and applesauce. I spoke to her last night, she is still sick. My two questions are "Are you comfortable and out of pain?" She said she was and I told her to give me an update in the morning.

It has started to rain this morning. I did not get the grass mowed as I wanted to. I just did not have the energy last night. I felt wiped out. If I can trust the weather channel I may be able to get to the grass this week-end. Looks like we have rain predicted every day this week. Sigh.

I am enjoying my job right now. I have some wonderful activities that are keeping me occupied and happy. What does the future hold with the new arrangement? Time will tell.

I always feel like.....

...somebody's watching me.

LOL! Can you see him? The song "Somebody's Watching Me" was a hit for Rockwell in 1984. While taking the dogs on a walk this morning I grabbed my camera. This is the field where I used to let the dogs run. Now there is a "NO TRESPASSING" sign near the entry way into the field. They caught onto me and no more free range for us.

I've seen this critter perched here before. I was not aware he was there when I snapped this photo of him, but I have many more pics where I just focused on him once I saw that he was watching us.

I have a busy day today. I have to make 3 cheese trays and 3 cheese balls, wrap the gifts and take them to the party tonight. It starts at 4 and is an hour's drive away for me. I am the official picture taker tonight. I wanted to warm up a little with the camera. The dogs chewed my wrist strap. I am missing that.

I helped to decorate last evening at the hall. It is very nice and I'll have pics to show you. It was so humid and hot, though. Somebody finally turned the air on before we left. I am thinking even though it will be chilly tonight we are going to need that A/C.

Stalled

I wish this bush bloomed for three months and grew in my living room. Wait. Not three months, I'd probably get real tired of it. Regardless, it should definitely bloom for longer than it does. All the science and horticulture - can't they (whoever "they" are) create a lilac that will last longer?

I am tired of dogs. I am tired of poop. Hey, I am tired. Just plain tired. I was in a meeting yesterday and (of course) I didn't sleep well the night before. I believe I am having pre-menopause symptoms. Big time. It didn't help any that I get the AARP card membership in the mail this week. Thanks. Now I am really dragging and feeling tired.

Anyway, I ended the day with a slight headache. Not intense, just enough so that it was not responding to OTC medication. I chalked it up to being overly warm, dehydrated and lack of sleep. Any or all of the above. I turned my air conditioner on, drew a huge glass of ice water and sat down in my t.v. chair. I caught the movie "Strangers in Good Company".

Oh my, was it good. Since I knew they were not really stranded (because of the cameras) I could not get over how "real" their facial images and remarks were. I don't believe these ladies were real actors, either. Come to find that a lot of the lines were ad-libbed. I really enjoyed it. I did doze off now and again and I missed the beginning but I hope to catch it again sometime.

I had a gazillion things to do. I did nothing. A friend called and I agreed to help decorate for Saturday's party on Friday evening. (A big milestone birthday for a close friend). That leaves tonight. Tonight for me to get everything done that I need to get done. Oh, mea culpa!

Coming Up

We are starting to plan our second annual reunion. We don't feel the need to travel down to West Virginia this spring to scope out a spot. The spot is the same as last year. We are going to have an ice breaker the evening before the event, though.

The food, my God, the food! As you can see, we are big eaters. No alcohol. I'm not sure, but the night before may be drinks - I didn't think about it. Not sure if it is in a social hall that allows alcohol or not.

The entire family and booze do not mix well. There are bound to be plenty of fights if alcohol is involved. Best we leave that out of it, but I can't control that many people. We do well enough choosing a park that does not permit the stuff. Now, for my patio party of 40 and less, I can serve alcohol and control the people. I have certain family members who do not drink that would be there to help me and though I may be the youngest in my immediate family I can whip their asses. Ha, ha! Right! Actually I have thrown men twice my size out of a house. They run from me. They were not related to me, though. I was a real peach when I drank whiskey, let me tell you. Most people had to tell me what I did and it was not pretty. I was a mean drunk.

So most of us - if we can't drink - we eat. Trade one addiction for another. I am so glad my drinking days are over. Or appear to be. We never know when that monster will rear it's ugly head again.

Just as my shoulder is healing, I decide to mow last evening. I had to take a break in the middle, but I finished it. My shoulder did not bother me one bit.

My boxer followed me into the bedroom when I got home from a hair appointment this evening and as I bent down to pat him on the head and give him a little lovin' he decides to jump up and onto the bed. He didn't make it. His hard head hit my jaw bone directly under my right eye. I thought he had busted it.

I cursed at him and fell onto the bed. He sulked away. I felt bad and of course it isn't broken, but that is the third time I have had a hard collision of some sort with him. Holy cow!

I certainly hope there is no mark on my face tomorrow. I have a big regional meeting and I have to be there. I can see me trying to explain a big bruise or red mark on my face to people. I am always getting cuts and bruises on my arms because of clearing the yard and brush and rough housing with my dogs. Sigh. Whatever.

Nope. No mark or bruise. It barely hurts now.

Now, to go make it up to the sorry, sad pooch. He is a lot like Eeyore. He is! He hangs his head down (droopy like) and sulks just like the donkey.

Giving them some sunlight

At the back of my garage are some little bluebell flowers. They don't have much of a chance because the rose of sharon is out of control. This is why I was trying to chop them down - so the less fortunate (weaker) plants could have more of a chance.

Like in life. The American way. Helping out the weaker ones so that they can have a better future.

My plant trimming is all on the back burner now that I hurt myself. Maybe by next week I can resume. Maybe I'll buy myself an electric hedge trimmer or something that will cut it easier. It's holding the device up that hurts. I try to run the weed trimmer, but gave up on that also. That upper arm strength. Bah!

Maybe I should start lifting weights.

Rain this week-end. I worked on indoor stuff.

My life is still an out of control circus.

I got a little further into "The Blind Side". I am skipping the football stuff. Boring!

I watched the derby yesterday, but just couldn't get into it. The show was too long. By the time the race ran, I was tired of it all. I think that they are entering horses in teams, three from one owner and set it up so that two of the team take out a contender so that the third member of the team can get ahead. That is what it looked like to me.

No movies to comment on except a television one - the 2005 version of "Little House on the Prairie". I caught this one the other day and watched most of it. Loved it. Did not get to see the beginning, caught it somewhere in the middle.

I slept more than 10 hours last night (I know!), so I am not very sleepy, yet. I have no idea when that kind of sleep is going to hit me. Like Thursday night I slept about 3 hours and could not get back to sleep, but when I saw the clock read 9:45 this morning I could not believe my eyes. It isn't medicine induced. I took nothing yesterday, such as muscle relaxer or Advil p.m. or anything. Who knows?

Some folks say "You must have needed it" - well, I just tried not to think of the migraine monkey today. It didn't happen. Usually after a long sleep I will get one.

So now we have May. Lily of the valley. Another batch of plants I am trying to get going in my yard. Not doing so well. Up the alley from where I walk the dogs, a house has some big pine trees in their back yard. Underneath the grass doesn't grow so well and they have a thousand lily of the valley plants blooming there. They have just started blooming but I can smell them when I walk past. It is the type of flower if you smell just one or two you think "big deal" but when you see a whole batch of them - the smell is quite heavenly.

All right. I guess I'll go to bed. 5:00 comes quickly and I know I won't want to get up. Ugh!