What a funny week

I finally took some time off - and I mean really took time.  Using the first of my accrued vacation days for the year, and had every intention to drive to mom's for a visit, but due to restrictions being lifted, and the influx of selfish drivers on the highway, coupled with a weekend holiday...it made sense to remain home instead.  Sad but true.

The first day of my self-inflicted furlough boasted a scheduled doctor visit (which was harder than hen's teeth to get).  I found one of my freckles had gone rogue around two - maybe three - months ago, becoming red and itchy, tender and flaking.  But what really concerned me was the way it mounded where it used to be flat.  It took a failed attempt at a virtual call with a doctor, and for her to realize I was saying I have a reason to be seen and not just virtually heard, that culminated in an actual face-to-face meeting...thankfully.

I worked Monday through Thursday afternoon, then gleefully ran out the building for a long, five-day weekend.  Yes, that's right.  I had scheduled the equivalent to a work week of days off, and whether I lazed them away, or crammed every nook and cranny full of needful activities had yet to be seen.

Here we are now exactly halfway through my break, and I can honestly say it's looking like a solid mix of good intentions has become 70% 'laze' and 30% 'gave it a good shot at accomplishment.'  [insert laughter here]  Do I have high hopes of bettering the outcome on the 'getting-something-done' side?  Mmmmm...I dunno.

Anyhow, back to the doctor visit.
After looking at the bugger on my forearm, the doctor shared my concern and decided it was best not to leave it in place.  He quickly set up to perform a "punch biopsy," and we got down to business.  The photo shows one day after the event.  I was told to change the bandage, perhaps clean it up a bit; no scrubbing, but a sudsy rinse, air dry and application of antibiotic ointment before covering again.

Mission accomplished.

In between the biopsy and this morning I bought a new riding lawnmower and cut 5/6ths of the front jungle, washed one load of laundry, cleaned a small section of the garage, searched the internet for stuff, paid bills, chatted with both of my sons (and my mom), and baked a bit.  I still need to get to the grocery store for cat food, milk, more flour, fruit and salad items, orange juice, and one or two other items.  Let's see how well I do today.

The end of this coming week will find me at the doc's office to have the sutures removed and (hopefully) learn the down-low on the creature he carved out of my arm.  This particular morning began dark and wet, but the sun is currently shining and I see no reason not to try and free up more space on the garage floor - do you?  But first I believe I will look at the weather forecast to see if it's changed for the better or stayed the same.

What are you up to today?

For those of you paying attention

In January we had a drop-in guest during that
horrible cold wave (Polar Vortex #1 of 2019).

Do you remember the story?

Do you remember what we named her?

Can you even recall what type of
critter she is?

Well, Click is doing fine, thank you.
Our 'keeper' tells me she healthy
and content, and is on track for a
successful release this spring.

This is happiness.
[sigh]
<3 p="">

Ugh....humidity

Can't quilt. 
Can't write on paper. 
Can't handle sitting on damp-feeling furniture.  Ick!

We've finally crossed that weather line-in-the-sand from winter-to-spring, but it seems as though we crossed right over spring and landed smack dab in the throes of summer.  The temperatures never really settled on anything too seasonally springlike here in the northern mid-west, and it hasn't been any too normal in other weather-related ways, either.

But the whole weather powerstruggle of winter/summer/winter/spring/winter/winter/something/summer has finally erupted into (apparently) summer. [heavy sad sighing]

There's been an abundance of rain, which could be a good thing if it fell over a period of time instead of all at once.  But, our waterways are in desperate need of recouping what has been lost over time, so here in MI we'll take what we can get.

P.S. - if somebody reading this knows the person in charge of the heavenly earth thermostat, please pass on the word that I wouldn't be opposed to having the temperatures set on the low end of the summer spectrum for the remainder of June, July, August and September.  Too much heat with all this rain is just sticky, tacky, icky in a house with no AC.  Thanks!

Another bright, lovely spring day

Will there be a piper to pay in the near future for all of this delightful weather?

It could stay exactly like it has been for the remainder of the year for all I care.  Not hot (except for the upper 70s Tuesday or Wednesday of last week) and not too cool.  Perfectly pleasant!

I dislike hot temperatures, and I grew exceedingly weary this past winter of grey, doldrum-y frigidiness.  Something warmer than 55*F and cooler than 74*F is optimal; add sunshine, a drizzle here and there and you have the best weather pattern EVER!  Why can't that be the norm?  Where can a gal find such happiness?

Yesterday was picture-perfect, and I spent it with friends in Grand Ledge for a community concert, then at lunch, then in a quilt shop, and on the road.  By the time I returned home there was dinner to make for 'boy junior' and jobs to look over for a bit.  Then I capped the day with a smidge of daydreaming over what is to come on the large new quilt project (which I had a small angsty guilting session over, not having touched at all yesterday).

This morning, I settled in to watch Joel Osteen's sermon.  Once done, I began cleaning up the latest mountains of 'decision' I had created since last weekend; all the materials pondered over, cut from, discarded, etc., etc., in the pursuit of finishing up row one. 

I found I had somehow succeeded in amassing three separate groupings of material in different areas around the sewing area (and in it, too).  I really needed to get it back under control...and locate everything I had formally had in some sort of order.  I found things I knew I had but couldn't locate when I wanted it, so I now know I must be even more diligent about maintaining order whilst laying out the blocks. 

There was a lot to put back in order, too.  Too much, in fact.

On the plus side, the color pool is expanding by leaps and bounds, and I have worked my way over into the upper right-hand corner which contains a vast amount of blues, and several muddy reddish bits.  So my little one-inch-square spectrum continues to grow!

I have decided my aim shall be to stay pro-actively ahead of the color curve requirements (if that's at all possible with this monster), and to scope out the next 100 pieces to see if I have cut and at the ready most of what will be needed.  If not, then I will get to work ironing, measuring and cutting dozens upon dozens of little squares of what looks right and stacking them into little towers in my 'color palette.'

It's all good intentions on my part, mind you, so we shall see if I can keep up with it for the next thousand pieces.  The cutting is tedious, and I most decidedly would rather be assembling the silly squares than cutting, cutting, cutting.  But it has to be done at some point, right?  16,000+ pieces don't make themselves.

Yeesh!

Enjoy your day, whatever you will be doing.  Revel in the wonderful weather!

Ha ha, very funny, nature.

Snow for April Fool's Day............



....how droll. [grumble]

Welcome, SPRING!

It's about time!  Where have you been?

Now, get to work!!.........PLEASE.

Spring has arrived!

Most folks around these parts believe the robin to be the harbinger of spring, but those portly little birds are around for much of the year to begin with (and have been in evidence since January this year) - so, phooey on that theory.

There's no spring in January.  I'm just sayin'.

Nope, for me it's the flocking return of Canada geese and our lovely little ducks.  Waddling lumps of feathers and noise; they spell the imminent return of spring and fairer weather.

But the actual telltale sign of spring has got to be the resounding drumming of a woodpecker in a nearby tree.  Unmistakable and convincing in its rat-a-tat-a-tat-a-dddrrrrrrrrt-a-dddrrrrrrt-a!

This morning I heard it loud and clear - the pushing of the "go button" for spring.  Thank you, Mr. Woodpecker. : )

Lazy Sundays

We had plans to go a-visiting' today, but as the world turns....plans change. You know how that goes, right.

S'ok, though, the boys used a little portion of their day to groom the front yard (the backyard has once again turned into a mini-jungle), and I managed to get a bit of sewing accomplished. So the day was a good one! (~we just won't think about how much I wanted - and needed - to get a load or two of laundry washed~)

Early in the afternoon, Bud was standing at the kitchen sink when I pointed out the song we could hear from a nearby bird; this warbling champion has been serenading me all week, and I hate to say it, but I was unfamiliar with the feathered crooner.

As it happened, Bud pinpointed the song coming from our apple tree - and then he spotted the culprit!

He called me over to the window and we both stood there, mesmerized by a very talkative Boston Oriole. I couldn't believe it, but there he was!

I am familiar with their look but I have never heard one vocalize - so seeing it in the tree a mere twenty feet from the kitchen window (bouncing from branch to branch and having it sing out the entire time) was a great experience!

Not only that, but we heard a second oriole somewhere in the distance answering our little chap! What a conversation!

Our little oriole has spent the remainder of the afternoon flitting from backyard to front yard, all the while calling out his 11-note song. The mourning doves appear to be nesting in the crab apple in the front, and our usual line-up of blue jays and joyful cardinals are joining in the chirp fest!

This has been a good weekend, but now I need to stop cavorting and get back to studying.

[heavy sigh]

April evaporates

I really should be studying at this very moment, but I wanted to slip in and bid April a fond farewell for another year, and welcome May to 2012.

As ever, the Beatles said it best:

"Hello, hello! I don't know why you say 'goodbye', I say 'hello.' "

More later; for now there is a plethora of free-range information I need to suck up in my spongey brain.

Thought I was seeing things

As I entered the bathroom this morning I half-registered the image I saw through the window.

To my mind's eye, I had just witnessed a Washington, D.C., cherry blossom petal drift past the window!

Ah, cherry blossom time. I have always heard people speak of the beauty of cherry blossom season, and how lovely it is to stand among the cloud-like lanes of fluffy pink, blossom-laden trees.

Upon sleepy introspection, I realized it most certainly couldn't have come from D.C., since the typical air currents wouldn't have blown the right direction for it to have covered that much ground so far to the west (and somewhat north).

Nope, I rationalized, this cherry blossom petal was from Traverse City! Still, a long way from home, but it made much more sense...yes it did!

Moments later I was standing in the kitchen when I looked out another window, only to be met with the sight of a light flurry of those petals! It was then my mind woke up fully, remembering the weather weenie's promise of snow early on today...."if it happens."

I think I much prefer to remain thinking these are cherry blossom petals, if you don't mind.

It's just another day

So, I had it figured this way: Why set an alarm to get up when I know it will be (technically) earlier than usual, and cheat myself out of that extra hour, plus the daylight savings hour?

**sshhhh. the math works in my head....shoo!**

There's nothing pressing or alarming to rise and shine for...so sleep. As an oldie-but-a-goodie you owe it to yourself (and your heart) to get that sleep!

Dadgummit if Flop doesn't know how to read a clock! She sat at the foot of the bed. mewing her sweet little persistent meow, making certain I would not sleep in past fooding time - whether it was artificially (and governmental-ly) manufactured and mandated or not!Rats. [grumble]

The weather weenies have predicted and promised us temps in the sixties or better for the entire week ahead, making it necessary to greedily divide my time between being outdoors - to get a few pre-growing season tasks accomplished - and indoors studying for the return to class next week! Ah, yes.

One book sale over the last five-six weeks - very dismal.

On the bright side...I had a book sale! ;)

There's a blue jay excitedly flitting and flying through the branches of the old maple out front. His mechanical two-note shout is distinctive and welcome, and I am looking forward to the more 'melodic' robotic song to come. There are three jay siblings we have known for the past four years, and their antics in our yard and trees is always entertaining.

I can also see the newest member of our neighborhood in the tree - the nutsy, manic, frantic red squirrel who has been lately dashing and charging around the yard. Presently, he is shaking his tail at my blue jay, and I think trying to intimidate by feathered blue friend. The diminutive critter arrived last year and made his presence known among our usual grey squirrels and chipmunk community, but he has become quite troublesome and aggressive. While he is fun to watch, he is also a nuisance and a bit of a bully.

Hmmm...wonder if I should prepare a departure box big enough for the resident chipmunk and the little red squirrel?

An update to the update

Lawn Alex finished at 4:30 and loaded up his trailer with 12+ bags of cuttings and his mower (although, he could have gotten quite a bit more in each bag - ah well, it's a guy thing), and I was still cutting through the kudzu-like viney crud from the neighbor's mess out back along the fence, and their creeping raspberry canes just to get to my Privets.

It's a very good thing that there is so much growing season ahead of us, because trimming the garbage plants and the hedge to get to what is viable has revealed a lot of issues where the neighbor's insidious trailing garbage has choked out the Privets and left much of the tall growth very sparse.

There's a lot left to accomplish, but at least the lawn is mowed and next steps can be taken. :)

Misc.

The heavy breezes have begun. That is to say the heavy breezes promised us by the weather weenies.

Apparently there is a heavy-duty storm system heading due east, wide enough to sweep through all of Illinois and on through the southern-most part of Michigan to Marquette! The worst of it will sweep MI from top to bottom throughout the overnight hours.

Some areas may get torrential downpours and damaging winds, while other spots across the UP and LP will see rain - lots to very little. Again, all depending upon how the mass develops and what goes where.

All I know is the large maple in my front yard is throwing those little 'helicopters' at the house in huge numbers. The ground is awash in paper-y tan seed pods - the porch, the flower bed, the gutters. Holy Moses, it's a crazy sight to be certain!

And another thing...

I was really hoping to get some stuff done on my time off, but due to the never-ending rain, I haven't been able to get into the gardens or touch the lawn.

So not fair.

Rats!

However, there is a riotous explosion of color happening just now between the virginal spring green of the trees and the flowering intense pink - almost fuscia - buds of the crab apple; the lovely innocence of the apple tree out back in it's pink-white veil, waving over the new growth of the clematis and hydrangeas below - it's all so tempting and deliriously eye-pleasing, ah...but so inaccessible.

It's a fair trade-off (I guess)...but I am antsy to get going, so enough of the rain already, please.

Big list today

Holy Moses, what a week!

I have some time to myself, but then have to get right back to it soon enough, so I will be squeezing in all I can in a very short amount of time.

This morning, I 'slothed it out,' and slept in. Lazy and unproductive (I know), but I loved it almost as much as chocolate cake! When I awoke, I found Cleo still nestled in bed with me from last night - and that hasn't happened in some time. So I have a smile on my face from the get-go.

Next: went to the front room window and looked out upon the shaggy green lawn and the fairly well-weeded flower bed to find blossoms of hyacinth, tulips and daffodils scattered amongst the thriving peonies, hostas and treasured poppies. [sigh] Pretty, pretty, happy, happy.

I surveyed my handiwork from last weekend. I was afraid I may have too severely trimmed the Jackmanii clematis...but it is now sprouting a lot of new growth. I will have to transplant it to a new - sunnier - spot this year, and since I loosed it from the ground, we are both ready for that portion of the journey. I also transplanted two of the sprouting peonies to temporary places, and left the other three alone. I have no more room to temporarily move the remaining three peonies to...so we are all kind of stuck.

I read online that transplanting peonies before the bloom cycle squelches their season (meaning: they most likely will not bloom the year you disturb them). I was more concerned that I had done some serious damage to the tubers, but it seems they are a hardy lot, so I will proceed with the garden remodel when the space is prepared and ready for action.

Everything will move (eventually) as I try to create a four foot dry zone along the front wall of the house. The poppies will be spared until late summer/early fall just because I cannot do without seeing their colorful, gloriously bobbing heads each year (and I know that moving them now will not come without consequences for the show this year).

Watched a wren pull seeds from the maple tree pods that will soon be dropping and gunking up my eves. I urged the little bird to eat to its heart's content, and the cats simply sat and chittered at it in their comical way. My trio of blue jays ran riot through the branches of the stately old tree, and I was enthralled by their aerial acuity. None of them seemed to hit one branch while flying and fleeing and chasing and cavorting. Amazing!

See.....there was one list, but now I have a to-do list to conquer, and the clock is already ticking loud and strong. I'll return to regale you with tales of filmmaking silliness tonight or tomorrow night, and maybe post a photo or two, but for now - GET OUTSIDE AND ENJOY YOURSELVES. I am!

But most importantly...HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARIA!

Good day, sunshine

Today was especially sunny. Blue skies, chirpy birds, not a cloud.....sunny, sunny, sunny.

Colder than it should have been, but sunny.

The tulips and daffodils push on; they seem completely un-phased by the ping-pong effect of the weather. And I see my poppies are still their brilliant ever-green selves...amazing plants. Can't wait, can't wait!

I will be relocating the peonies as soon as the ground thaws enough to get them out and in again safely. Everything (except the poppies) will move away from the wall for some work on the foundation and drainage. I would dearly love to move the poppies as well, but as the tap roots could easily be damaged, I am afraid to take the chance with my beautiful darlings.

Our last crusty snow/rainfall has nearly melted into oblivion, and the photo above shows pretty much all that remains.

P.S. Happy birthday, Nathan Fillion! Mmmmmm-Canadian meat!

One sure way to tell that spring has arrived

Besides the fifty-degree temps, the lack of snow, the extra birds now singing in the trees daily, the proliferation of neighborhood joggers, the glee-filled shrieks of children on the playground heard from over half a mile away, and the existence of catastrophic potholes all up and down the street, there is one sure way to tell spring has arrived.

My mother takes advantage of her UP reprieve; a furlough from the moose and tundra.

She travels south of the bridge. Are you with me there, Sparky?

Mom is one of the contingent of relatives and hire-ees that stays with Gram - one relieving another in an endless stream of caretakers.

Gram is 99 - mere months away from turning 100 - and requires supervision with meals and medications, and trips to the doctor, etc. (as you would expect for anyone of such an advanced age). She's also fallen numerous times and requires help to get up (obviously), assistance with the housework....you know, the normal routines of life. Gram likes to think she can get around in the kitchen, making coffee and such, but I have been there too many times when she has turned on the wrong burner and leaned on the hot one, or let her robe rest on it without thinking (or knowing). Yikes!

At any rate, mom stopped by this morning just around half-past six, bringing us a freshly baked turkey breast. Yup....meat presents! It was like finding out the Easter Bunny is really your mom, and instead of colored eggs under your furniture, she's hiding roasted fowl in your fridge!

It was surreal, seeing mom standing just inside the door with her arms full of yummy smelling turkey carcass.

What's next? Santa slinking down my chimney with a pork loin slung under one arm and a pot roast in his sack?

We didn't talk very long, mom was anxious to get on the road - it's a long drive to the Superior side of the UP. Normally she takes a drink of our delicious water when she is here, but I could tell she was really eager to move along because she skipped that part of her routine.

Within minutes she was hopping back into her car and making for the expressway.

The boys and I made it to the city to visit with the grandmas earlier in the week, and for dinner we had a delicious roast and lots of veggies. We were sent home with an array of baked sweet (and white) potatoes and carrots, and some of the leftover roast. Mmmmmm, yummy. I was hoping mom would stay long enough to have breakfast (so I could sort of return the favor), but it was apparent she was in her UP-hurry mode.

It's only been half an hour since she left, but I would liked to have visited a little while longer. Maybe next time.

I love you, mom. Thank you for everything....EVERY-thing.

Cravings II

Hmmm...

Seems odd that we have fallen into a weather pattern of snow storms on Saturdays, yet, if you review the tapes I think you will find we do have some sort of snowy-Saturday-weather-anomaly trending.

However, I think I can safely predict that it should be ending within the next two weekends.

That's right! You read it here first, and you can quote me if you would like.

If that prognosticating ground hog was correct, the six "more" weeks of winter he jinxed us with will have run their course by next Wednesday (March 16th) - but being the magnanimous human being that I am, I am allowing for inclusion of the weekend in that time span. I mean, let's face it, varmints (i.e.; ground-dwelling rodents) are not necessarily known for their time telling acumen (and I am fairly certain Punxsutawney Phil hasn't got a calendar or a Timex).

You are welcome, faithful ground hog lovers.

So, as of March 20/21, prepare yourselves for an end to these freakish, neverending, horrifying, tiring, snowy onslaughts. I am craving green grass, budding trees and pretty, pretty flowers poking their way up through the ground.

Craving! Do you hear me?!!?

And while I'm at it, I am also craving a GB & NF sandwich.....but I think I have a better chance of getting this whole winter's-over-in-a-short-two-weeks-thing right more so than my meatwich thing coming true.

So there.

I'm just sayin'.

Amen and pass the bisquits.

Dreary

The day began sunny and delightful. Low-forties for temps, climbing to maybe 51*F, if we deserved it. But, it was beautiful. Perfect for me.

By the time Karl and I walked out of his class and began the outdoor portion of the hike to the car, we were noticing raindrops on the ground. Very quickly we began to feel them, and by the time we hustled into the car it had begun to rain.

The clouds were light and high, so it wasn't a tremendous rain, really, and it lasted just a short while. In fact, we drove in and out of the giant lumbering rain cloud area a couple of times on the way home . We stopped at an art store on the way home so Karl could collect some items for class, necessary to complete his final project. By the time we exited the store, the clouds had thickened and were now hanging lower and more ominously in the sky. It was all too gloomy and winter-esque in appearance. What had happened to our beautiful, late fall day?

As I sit here typing I am amazed at just how grey and almost depressing it's become out there.

38 days to Christmas, and roughly 30 weeks until spring - and all its glorious shiny days and lingering daylight hours!

I am off to make dinner and concentrate on something less dreary.

May is heading out the way it came in

I do believe April and May were just a little confused this year. April was warmer and sunnier than in past decades, and May has been decidedly damp.

Currently (for the second time today), there is the most delicious rain falling. A gentle soaking rain, and it's been on the weather radar for several days - touted as "severe thunderstorms" - but we are getting the best (least damaging) part of the storms moving through MI today.

Earlier, a wind picked up and you could watch as the clouds moved in and things grew ominous.

The clouds opened up and it began raining fast, but it didn't last long. Before you could comment on it, or worry about whether to close windows, it was over.

It did rain long enough to wash the humidity level to 'comfortable' and create that lovely after-the-rain smell I live for, and we didn't get the worst of it.

Happily, it was just enough to begin washing the fertilizer into the ground (yea!) and lower the heat index. When it was over, even Karl commented on the change in the temperature. My wonderful poppies began 'popping', and two open blossoms are now bobbing in the slight breeze. There are at least a dozen more pods ready to burst over the next couple of days, and I am as happy as can be! Perhaps tomorrow I will be able to take a photo of the sea of poppies and peonies and post it!

In the distance you can hear the low rumble of occasional thunder - and I can 't tell if it is coming our way or past us already, moving further off. Sometimes the rumble is more like the sound of a distant firework discharging with a pow!, and when that happens the cats wake slightly from their napping positions to crane their necks and look sleepily towards the windows in fear and curiosity.

I am at the desk, with the library window open and the attic fan on, pulling a fantastic breeze through the house. My perch is the best one, as the peonies under the window are in full bloom and the scent fills the air with the loveliest fragrance.

Go ahead, May, rain your rain and and rumble your thunderous self on out of here for another year. We'll see you in eleven short months, and I - for one - will be ready for you.