This is the Perrine Bridge in the little town where I live. I did not take this magnificent photo so please do not copy it. If you would like a copy I can email a link to the site of the photographer.

rain

Wonderful the way rain slows things down, almost like snow. I love to watch the rain, the lightning, listen to the thunder. When the rain first starts I can hear a type of music made by my gutter pipes. This little twinkling music wakes me up from a deep sleep some times. I have not really investigated to see how it makes the various notes but I just love it. I can understand how babies will sleep well in a moving vehicle because of the constant pattern of sound. The rain does that for me. Even the wind is soothing, unless it threatens to take the house with it.
I look out into the front and back yard to see the progress of the bulbs and various plants coming to life. The dark daytime skies make the colors pop out almost as if they were iridescent. I wish I could get on my knees to take pictures on level with the garden beds but I'm afraid it would take two strong men to get me up again LOL.
I saw a set of garden furniture at K Mart yesterday. Two chairs of red metal which recline and a smaller bistro type table. They looked so light and airy I wanted to plan a BBQ right away. I think I will buy four chairs and two tables so I can have more company gather when the back yard is in it's full blooming glory. Red always makes me happy.
I think about all the things which have been in the news lately. The volcano, the earthquakes, the violence and I count my blessings which, in retrospect, now seem so large. My little struggles with work (or lack of it) and my budget in the scheme of things mean nothing.
This coming weekend I will plant some Lemon Queen sunflowers. I am participating in the great sunflower project. This is the link http://www.greatsunflower.org/ so anyone interested in counting bees on their sunflowers can join. In 2009 I had so many bees once my winter squash was blooming that I could not count them. HURRAH FOR THE BEES. Yesterday at a meeting with our local Master Gardeners Club I found out more about bees and bee hive collapse. It is not the all out dire circumstance I thought it was but it once again points out the fact that we can not use pesticides with abandon and think it will solve all our problems with pests and or weeds. We all need to be more responsible. Me included. Once a year at College of Southern Idaho we get to rent a plot of land, 50x100, to use for growing whatever we wish. The cost is forty dollars and includes water and some tools. This year the refugee center has one and I paid for a plot adjoining it so we could have a space which is now 100x100 for all intents and purposes. The master gardeners are installing a drip system for our convenience and are plowing up the area for us in a couple of weeks. They are a splendid and dedicated group. The community is also coming up with donations of everything from starter plants to equipment for our use. The deal is that every refugee who helps with the garden gets to have a share of whatever we grow. They have some input in what they would like also. Hot peppers are a very desirable item for them along with tomatoes and white eggplant. I can hardly wait to make my ratatouille!

spring

Yes indeed, spring has sprung and with a vengeance. My day of rest turned out to be a day of toil in the soil. I guess most of you are experiencing the same thing. The thing that really got to me is buying plants for three large pots in front of the house and spending darn near fifty dollars. I call that rude inflation especially considering the times.
I called my guy who sprays the dormant oil for the fruit trees and asked if he forgot about me because by now the blossoms are fighting to get out of bud. He said he did not forget ( oh yes he did ) that the wind was keeping him from doing his rounds as he should. I think he went fishing. I also have a valve cover which burst from the outside sprinkling system last fall and if he doesn't come soon to fix that my entire yard may turn belly up. Not really, I can hand water, but what a nuisance.
Sparky's name has been changed to Dudley. D. said she always wanted to name a male dog Dudley, so what could I do? Anyway, I would not have named this sweet boy Sparky to begin with. so it's fine.
Our local little bead store has offered a part time job and I think I will take it. I love beading and the inter action of the people who enjoy the same hobby. They have classes to so it should be a lot of fun. I need fun.
My diet has gone to hell this past two weeks. Have no idea why. I think I listened to the wrong people about it, always a mistake, I should just trust myself and keep my mouth shut so I don't get unwanted advice, although well meant.
I had lunch with some women from my office. One of them is a chronic complainer and gets on my nerves, what to do. I hate to distance myself from her as otherwise she is very nice and kind. Besides that she is a terrific cook!
More later, gotta take the Dudley for his little walk.

Sparky

I now have a new family member, Sparky, he is a one year old Shih Tzu. He came from a good home but there were many problems so it was thought best that he find a more inviting environment. Last weekend we went to Salt Lake City to attend the bead and jewelry show. Sparky and I went with friend Linda and stayed with Linda's friend Karen for two nights. It was my birthday besides and we celebrated in the time honored way of all females. We dined well and had a few drinks. We shopped here there and everywhere and one night we only had ice cream for dinner. Sparky was the only male presence and he turned out to be a real gentlemen who was welcomed back for future visits.
I bought far more beads than I should have (of course) and I used the excuse that if I sold something I really liked I would want one creation for myself so....best to have a backup of materials. My favorite bead this year is called White Buffalo Turquoise. It has no visible blue in it whatsoever, just the white with beige veins running through it. It is mined only in Battle Mountain, Nevada. I think those beads will make a stunning summer necklace. I will, of course, publish pictures when done.
I was hoping to make a dent in the garden and get it ready for the spring planting soon but the winds are howling out there so I have to wait. The bulbs are poking their heads out and very eager to show their colors. The squirrels have rearranged some of them, I can see that, so it will be an intersting show.
I am feeling better and now will have to take only 2,000 iu of the vitamin D daily from now on. I wish I could say that I am doing cartwheels and dancing the night away but alas..no. Sparky's need for walks has also benefitted me because we go to the college each afternoon (weather permitting) and take a little stroll around the frisbee golf course. He is such a good little lad I can hardly believe my luck. Booboo cat is sort of tolerating him although Sparky annoys her with his aggressive show of wanting to play. On the other hand, Kittyboy wants to kill him dead. Seriously. If I take Sparky in the back yard Kittyboy comes out fighting mad. I have to take a large walking stick with me to fend him off. Sparky is 12 pounds and I think Kittyboy must be pushing around 20 or so. I hope they all work things out soon.
Before signing off I have one more thing to comment on. I have had my job at the refugee center now since August of last year. The other staff members are so very nice. For my birthday they went all out and gave me an excess of gifts which was totally unexpected. I was so very touched. Life can be so unexpectedly good some times.

againwithemeds

I received a call from Walgreen's, you know, the automated call, that I had an RX. I thought I had picked all of them up so I called. It seems I had one for some vitamin D which I did not know was prescribed. I'm guessing, because no one told me, that I am severely deficient in this because the dosage is a whopping 50,000 IU. No, I did not put too many zeroes there it really is fifty thousand. Directions said to take one per week for eight weeks. It would have really been nice if someone had told me about this and why I'm taking it.
As always I look to the Internet for some sort of info. There are a lot of things which this dosage is for but I narrowed mine down to two things. I have been extremely tired lately and my bones have been hurting. I thought it was arthritis but maybe not. I intend to take these things as prescribed and make an appointment at the end of the eight week period, unless I have some adverse reaction or other to the vitamins, could happen.
A friend of mine made the comment that perhaps it was my not being out int he sun (she said I always looked pale)that was partially the cause. In my defence I read when I was 24, ages ago, that the sun caused cancer so of course I avoided it all I could unless I was in my garden in the spring and summer and even then I wore a hat and long sleeves. I have never been a sun bather. I consider sun bathing a real bore besides being dangerous for one's health. You just try your best in this life and somehow with the best intentions whatever you do there seems to be something wrong with it in the end. I laugh at that though. I think life is a giant stage of comedy and farce. At least that has been what has gotten me through it.
I'm enclosing this picture, taken today, of my pale self. This is the real me. It gives me a giggle to have Marlena as my photo though and therefore I don't want to change it. I feel my life is way to quiet and predictable so that is the only racy thing about me is the picture. My alter ego so to speak.
I know I look quite serious in this picture but really I'm not, just concentrating on holding the camera at arms length and such.

This is Caleb. I love to paint and especially love to do portrait's. This one is a non traditional rendering of a very nice young man who worked hard on a farm in the early mornings and then attended college. He was fairly exhausted by the time he sat for me and fell asleep.

fearasamotivator

Hello All,

I watched an episode of Oprah today, a rare treat. They had Dr. Oz on the show and the featured topic was diabetes. I was motivated before to not get full blown Diabetes 2 but after watching that show I am not truly fearful of not doing the right thing here regarding diet and even (dare I say it) exercise. Don't get me wrong I like exercise I just don't like getting started again. It's sort of like a cold shower experience. I do plant to go to the senior center in our area on Mondays because they have line dancing and it's only $3.00 to go. As long as I don't have to put up with some old fart drooling on me or smelling bad I'm all for it. Seems like line dancing is the perfect thing, no partner required.
Getting back to the show. They said that extra sugar in the system is like having broken glass shards going through your veins. How's that for a visual. Then they went to a hospital where a woman who used to be nurse, but had diabetes, had some of her leg amputated. If that doesn't put the fear in you I don't think anything will but I did me. I'm on my way to Barns and Noble to see if I can snag some books on diet without a lot of scary pictures in the book. I got the message already.
My friend in Las Vegas emailed me and said that my gift to her Mother, a jar of Idaho huckleberries, was made into a pie. The pie was so good it is now her favorite flavor running neck and neck with chocolate. I could just weep!