Chat for Month of March 2015

Ummm, pretty sure those projects are edited to fit the time slot?  But I think perhaps you were just cracking wise.....

Another day, another zillion and a half boxes.......we're moving next Saturday so need to step up the packing a bit.

Happy Spring??  We got snowed on yesterday and this mornings forecast rain was...you guessed it....snow.

One of those times when the wife is better off just leaving the house for a while.

LOL,  renos never quite go the way they are planned or finished by due date.  Maybe that is why I love the TV shows cause everything is possible in 1/2 hour.  

I finally found the other page..... was wondering why you were living in boxes Glenda sorry you are having to move again.  

Doug the pics of the "pup" are so cute.

Kate I hate hearing that your Dad is not doing well.   Sending good vibes your way.

I just had a dish of the best sausage and cabbage I have ever made ,.......yummy

I am sure I have missed something  have a good day all

Sausage and cabbage--yummmmm!

Doug, Jr. looks great!

I visited with Dad yesterday morning--he had eaten a good breakfast (I think he likes that he gets to "order" from a menu every day!) I try to go see him everyday, but I wasn't able to get there today. Will go see him tomorrow. We meet on Tuesday to plan for the near future. Thank you all for your good thoughts--they do help!

Ronnie and Mozey are glad the snow is melting (we got a inch or so last night be it has already melted on the south side of the house). Did yard patrol today where the snow had melted--good thing I had my barn boots on! Doug, I agree--I do not know how two dogs create so much. There must be additional dogs jumping the fence and adding to the collection!

I've been doing some informal obedience work with Ronnie and he is doing well. Will have to get a bit more serious, because he seems to be really ready to learn and seems to have fun. Mozey isn't quite as interested, but she will do a nice sit and down (for treats--that's my girl!).

Groan.  There is NO escape from box world.  And as I run out of places to stash them, the main rooms of the house are being infiltrated.  Not a darned place to sit down with seeing the danged things!

I planned meals for the rest of the week so I know what I can pack and what needs to stay out.   This is NOT something I normally do,  so it feels pretty wierd, but, it's probably not a bad idea. This morning I made pasta for both the chicken picatta and the shrimp scampi....one more box can be filled now.  As soon as I clean my pasta cutter, that is!  It's a hand crank that I really like, but rather a PITA to clean.  Because I know exactly what we're going to eat this week, I was able to pack up several more kitchen boxes yesterday as well.  The cupboards are getting pretty bare, but can't wait to get the cupboards lined in the new house and start putting stuff away.  The kitchen is absolutely a cooks dream.  Even better, a professional crew has gone in to clean the house.  Granted there is clean and MY clean, but that will make the whole process so much less stressful.

Back to the boxes......

MN is an interesting state to live in.  Springs vary a bit.

Sunday

Tuesday

Little dog chasing 3 flying geese.  They flew around us trying to get to the corn field.  Jr got a good run.

He also put up the last few pheasants in the county today.  Very proud little dog.

We are expecting rain, followed by freezing rain, followed by snow.  5" of fresh heavy wet snow fell.

About 1 more month in the Possible Snow Season.  Our Easter egg hint for the grand kids may be interesting this year.

Gee Doug, at least you get some variety!  We've been below average temps for 50 of the last 56 days....getting old, that's for sure.

As always, I love your photos!

Thought I posted, but I guess I didn't! Doug, please don't send that snow this way. I am ready for spring! It's raining right now, but I think we have "snow showers" in the forecast for Saturday. After that, it looks like we're at or above freezing for a week (including the night temps--yeah!).

The pictures of Sky are great! Your first photo reminds me that I need to see if our willows are out yet. The snow drops are blooming--I think they grew while there was still snow on the ground!

We had Dad's planning meeting and were able to keep in at the same facility but have him move to a "unit" that specializes in memory loss. I went in today to visit--the staff are amazing, and it is well staffed. Sigh of relief with a bit of sadness--he's not who he was (then again, none of us are who we were); this is where we are now and he is getting great care. He knows all of us. I took in photos of Mozey and Ronnie, and he has those hanging up now.

Work is insane--Doug, I may have to follow your lead and retire. I simply can't keep up the pace  any more (and it's getting worse with budget cuts). But, before I retire, I need to go grade papers.

Sigh.  Yep, it's going to snow shower on us on moving day.  Yippeee!  Not.

My wife was a school teacher.  Always grading papers or planning something.  I would drive to the kids, she would sit a grade papers while we drove.  If you want to hear some laughter, ask her how much she misses the classroom.

I am getting to the point where I may either take some classes (free to audit at the Mankato U) or find something part time, intermittent, and sporadic.

Cabinet maker says we will finish on Monday.  He was waiting for hinges-I wonder if he forgot to order them.  Anyways, we have all the drawers, most of the shelves.  Now to get the doors and hardware on them...  We may have to eliminate some stuff.  Everybody has too much stuff, especially us.  Four sets of plates, 5 sets of glasses, about 30 assorted mugs.  We will either sell at the city wide garage sale of donate or recycle components.  I have a big hammer.

Sunny, dry with some rain forecast, up in the 70's next week.  Starting to see some green through the left over snow.  Time to get my mower ready.  I pruned the apples a couple of weeks ago, now to prune the hedge.  Honeysuckle.  It gets pruned with the chainsaw.  I've been cutting out the old heavy broken and decays undergrowth for years.  I would just dig it out, but we live on a highway and it gets loud.  The hedge and fruit trees help a lot.  But the highway is getting changed to four lanes and moved about a quarter mile out, so the hedge may disappear yet.

Now that is warming us, Sky likes to sit in the yard on his line and watch traffic go by.  Squirrels, tweety birds, other dogs, kids, big trucks all appeal to him.   He is really a friendly dog.  Walking him on leash,  we stopped at a corner and he sat.  Stranger standing at the corner, so Sky turned to stare at the strange.  Just curious.  I need to get him a puppy.  I suggested getting him a cat to play with, but got vetoed.  Also no puppy..

I finished another end table.  Actually happy with this one.  Put it in the basement bedroom, and it just looks good.  I was going to make another (3 is the charm) but wife said we don't need any more furniture.  Next project is a shed for the power lawn equipment.  I saw a plan using old doors for the walls.  I now need 10 doors, 2x4's, some plywood and roofing.  If I can convince my wife that the shed is not a play house for grandkids, it will go much easier.

The forum gets much quieter, I may just post to my documents file.

I'm sure I could help with doors, if you need any, Doug :-) Seems we have a collection of everything, just in case... I need to build a permanent structure around the blueberries, but I think this summer will be phase 2 of the fence. I'd like a garden shed (in the garden), but that will wait, too. And, I decided to grow a giant pumpkin--haven't done that for 6-7 year, so it's time! The first batch of pepper seeds have germinated and so far, the little plants look good. We planted 11 seeds and 9 have germinated (so far). I planted another kind of pepper about a week later, so I imagine they'll sprout soon.

We got some snow overnight (just over an inch, I think). It covered everything, but we have some gorgeous sun today so the snow on the south side of the house has all melted. The north side is still white. Glenda, did you get moved OK?

Hey guys, didn't know if I would ever find you :)  If you please, need some good vibes for Rocky.  He has been not feeling well this week.  Found a large lump in his belly , took him to an animal hospital near us but not our regular vet couldn't reach him.  We left him there so they could run some tests and xray his belly, they found a large mass in his stomach which they will surgically remove tomorrow and send in for test.  He has some infection white cell count is  high they have started him on antibiotics.  Ron and I are just hoping they can get the mass and it will be the last of it.

Good thoughts your way.  

Doug

I've been out of town for several days and just checking in now.  Ginger, I will keep my fingers and toes crossed that the removal of the mass is all that's required and that Rocky has a full and speedy recovery.  I know you and Ron must be very worried.  I'll keep all of you in my thoughts.

Kate, as difficult as it is to make the kinds of arrangements and plans like those you've made for your father, it can bring a peace of mind to know they are safe and in the best skilled hands when they need specialty care.  I hope your Dad's transition into the new unit goes as smoothly as possible.  The photos of the dogs and other favorite personal touches will help him to feel like he's in a familiar and comfortable space.  I can't remember if you've mentioned it before, but is the facility on the island or mainland?  If you're asking for votes on your retirement decision, my vote is to make it official!   You'll have more time for the upcoming gardening season, as well as visits with your Dad.

Great photos, Doug -- your sky color always amazes me.  Such a brilliant blue.

I've been doing a lot of over-eating in recent days.  My oldest friend and I spent a few days in NYC to celebrate our milestone birthdays.  We had a great time -- lots of tasty food and window shopping, a great Broadway play, and a visit to the Museum of Modern Art.  It was fantastic to see works by masters such as Picasso and Monet in person, instead of in books like I've always seen them.  

I know art is in the eye of the beholder, but I simply don't understand how works by truly gifted artists like those guys have to share museum space with other modern "artworks" that just don't require much talent, IMO.  For example, one piece was a large canvas painted solid red.  One was a black gym-type mat folded at an odd angle.  Another was a group of bricks stacked into a square.  I told my friend that DH and I have collectible modern art in our backyard just like that piece, only we put our hose reel on it!  :-)   It was no surprise to see a much smaller group of people in those gallery rooms, while the 2 floors with masterworks were packed with admirers!