Sunny Sunday chat

Jewlieee

Lily needs a bath. Again.

Guess what? It's barely 50*, windy, gray and showery 

I don't think in the 9 yrs we've been here I've run the heat in May but I am very, very close

That's all I've got

Have a good Sunday!

I have to go grocery shopping and then later we're going to FIL's for a birthday party for DH's niece.

I hope everyone has a great day!

It's 62 and sunny here.  We had our heat on yesterday morning for a little while.

Julie, the situation with my friend is about her tendency to allow her life to get out of control and then turn to others to fix it for her.  Her health and money problems are of her own creation.  She blames everything and everyone except herself. She's pretty much been this way her whole life.  I lost touch with her for a long long time.  Then when we reconnected I let myself get sucked in and was doing way more for her than I should have.  It's my own fault as I tend to not recognize these types until I'm sucked into their lives too deep.  Yesterday after lunch she asked me if I would take her to a wig store because she's losing her hair.  I took her and she picked out a wig that seemed reasonably priced. This little store had a sign that they don't take checks.  Cash or credit cards only.  My friend has no credit card or cash, of course.  I paid with my credit card.  She gave me a check for the amount.  I probably won't cash it since she lives on SSI benefits and has no other income.  I didn't tell her that I won't cash it so maybe that's a small step in me being less of a wimp.  lol   She tried to give me a kitten when I took her home.  That was easy to say no to.  She's also a cat hoarder.  She only has four right now but I know that number will be increasing as she has excuse after excuse about why she can't get them spayed or neutered.  There are tons of places that do it for free if you're low income but with people like her it's not really about the money. Now I'm all mad about it all over again.  I told her yesterday that I'd take all the cats to a shelter for her but she gasped in horror at that idea. 

OK, enough of that crap. lol  I'm going outside to help DH with some yard project he's got going on.  I hope it doesn't involve any trips to the emergency room or the home improvement store.

Still having great weather here.  It's in the mid 80's, but very strong breezes.  I'm not ready to swap our normal weather with you yet, Karen!

Yesterday I abandoned all things productive and went to two craft/art shows with my friends, then to the Saturday market for a strolling lunch.  They were going to a movie, and I initially declined to join them so I could get home and tackle my To Do List.  But, I changed my mind and went with them.  We saw "The Sapphires," a small Australian film inspired by a true story about a four Aboriginal young women who sang soul music for the troops in Vietnam.  It was good -- and the guy who played the cop in "Bridesmaids" was in it (Chris O'Dowd).  He's a cutie.

Last night I went to a benefit for a wildlife rehab center here in town.  I won one of the raffle prizes, which was a GIANT basket of Kettle chips (gourmet potato chips made locally).  I think it had a dozen full-size bags in it.  I'll bring most of them to the staff break room at the humane society tomorrow.  I don't need to eat Cheddar Beer or Jalapeno Jack chips!  I'm keeping the sea salt and vinegar ones, though!

They had 4 birds of prey at the benefit, and the did a flying demonstration with the Harris hawk.  I was nervous since we were in this open garden area with lots of tall trees to attract the bird.  She made one flight from one volunteer to the other, but the second time, she went up to a tall fence, then the roofline of a building, then into a stand of huge fir trees, where about a dozen crows came flying out, making all kinds of racket at her.  We watched for 15 minutes, but then she flew further away to another stand of trees.  I told my friend I knew something like that was going to happen!  We left shortly after -- she still hadn't returned.  I hope she's not gone for good.  On the other hand, our understanding is she has no disability, so if she can fly/hunt on her own, even if she lives a shorter life, isn't that better than life in captivity?  Yes, she was an educational resource, but that's not her natural way to live.  I know a volunteer there, so I'll find out this week if they ever got her back.  If she's never been wild, she may not survive long. 

 Salt & Vinegar are my favorite chips!

Today was gorgeous out, but I spent most of it nursing a killer headache.  Not a migraine thankfully, but enough to keep me inside.  After a looong nap, I dragged myself out of the house and took Ari down to the river to go swimming.  It was the least I could do considering she let me sleep most of the afternoon away, not once bothering me (as much of a brat she is, she does know when I don't feel good!) 

 The ticks are out in full force here and I was flicking them off my pants ugh.  This is why I always wear pants with my socks over my pant legs around here!  I haven't found any on Ari at least.

Tracy, do you have any word on the bird yet? I worry, too!

My old Sinbad is having some trouble--lots of weakness in his back legs. He's willing to rest instead of follow me, which is not like him. He was very happy to help in the garden today and is eating and doing all of his business. We visit the vet on Thursday for acupuncture, so we'll visit his regular vet, too (same place) to find out what's really going on.

I did get a lot of garden work done (but no lawn work!). All the potatoes are in, along with some broccoli and Brussels sprouts (gifts--hadn't planned on them, but I can't say no to free plantsI) The garden plants inside need to go out but it was windy all weekend (and pretty cold overnight, so they'll have to wait a few more days).  I also planted one of those Knock Out roses--a double pink--someone here recommended the Knock Outs (maybe Tracy? I don't remember). The plant is big and looks great!

I need to go finish laundry and get ready for tomorrow. Hugs for all who need them.

Tracy - I too will be waiting to hear word on the bird. Good thoughts that it's safe wherever it is.

Nice birthday party at the inlaws. DH's niece is just the kind of girl every mom wants. I attribute much of it to her mom and dad. Her mom (parents live in New Jersey) mailed her a cake, a pinata and a picture of their GSD wearing her lacrosse jersey. We skyped in with mom and brother & sister for the birthday cake part and it pretty cool.

FrisbyPI

(gifts--hadn't planned on them, but I can't say no to free plantsI)

Or 25 cent plants, either. lol. I think it was two years ago that I passed by a rack of plants for a quarter each at Menards. I picked a watermelon plant and an eggplant... two plants that I'm 95% sure we don't have the proper growing season for, but I just couldn't resist. I think we had one watermelon that got about as big as a russet potato. lol The eggplant wasn't much bigger than a tennis ball. We did cut up the watermelon because Willa wanted to try it. I tossed the eggplant in the woods for the deer.

I'm anxious to hear on the bird as well. A Birds of Prey rehab friend was quite upset last year when another rehab person didn't have a small owl (can't remember the kind-probably screech owl) tethered at a grade school event. It was inside the gym and the little guy flew right into a window. Luckily he ended up okay. Wondering if it was known for sure if this hawk was raised from a young bird, which I can't understand why they would do that, or one that was maybe ready to be released. Here is hoping it was one ready to be released.

Best wishes for Sinbad.

Phew!  I found out that the hawk did finally return to the handlers last night not too long after my friend and I left.  Apparently, one of the handlers had a mouse (I assume a real one) that eventually tempted her back to solid ground.  If we had stuck around, we would've seen the happy ending, but we didn't know if/when that would happen.  Anyway, she had some fun last night -- glad she got to soar for a little while like she was meant to do without getting injured or worse.

I don't know a lot about her -- they said she came to the organization with their new Executive Director.  His background includes running birds of prey programs for other museums and wildlife organizations, so maybe that's why he didn't seem too upset when she flew off.  He must know that she sometimes does her own thing but eventually comes back to the food source.  I think he said she was 6 or 7, but I don't know how old she was when he got her.