Ok Ok...I'll try to do better

I've gotten so wrapped up in Facebook over the past couple of months that I almost forgot how to blog!

The past couple of months have been eventful...Dad and Barb came to visit. The photos in the gadget to the right are pics he took at the Sandcastle Classic at the Neptune Festival this year. Great time - good weather - entirely too many people.

Oh, and this little thing called my 50th Birthday kinda of got in the way.

We took a trip while Dad was here to Hobbsville, North Carolina. I know - you wish you could have come along. Maybe next time. My older sibling moved to Hobbsville in the early fall with his wife and the 2 dogs. Lot of open fields and cotton down there.

Life at work has been trying with preparation of a two year budget that doesn't start until next July...and having to implement major cuts. The city is looking at a huge deficit this year and I think everyone will feel the pain somehow. And I'm busy with trying to implement a new inventory automation project. Very time consuming. But we'll get through.

The pond has survived. The final four are happy the net is finally over them. Not for protection to them, but to keep the leaves out for me! We got the net on just before that November Nor'easter hit...what a trip that was! It was right up there with TS Bonnie (1997) as far as winds and fear factor. I have since then gone out and bought golashes. Best $20 I've spent all year. I'm ready for the next one!

Zippy is fine and as entertaining as always. Some things just don't change. Like missing my little girl Schatze. We think of her often.

Tomorrow is a few errands then into the kitchen I go to prep for Thursday. The annual day of eating entirely too much food and wondering why we all feel so tired and sleepy. Like I said, some things never change.

Congratulations Ryan and Heather

My niece is getting married in just a few hours and I want to wish them much love and happiness for a long, long time. Happy Wedding!

I have just discovered Facebook....what a blast that has been. I'm finding "friends" from way back into high school days that I haven't talked to in years and years and years. It's fun catching up with everyone to see how we've all aged (sorry, but we have!), how we've grown and where our lives have taken us.

The fish continue to thrive...but they are still very skittish when it comes to anyone (or anything such as the cat - his new and personal water bowl!) getting near the pond. They run for cover when I go out to feed them. And they've been acting up lately (if you know what I mean) so I'm sure the baby fishes will arrive in due time. I still need a few plants and maybe a few snails then it will be complete for the season except for routine maintenance. I got lucky this year with the pollen. Last year, there was so much pollen in the pond that I couldn't even see the bottom. This year, I started treating the pond before pollen season with a bacteria (the good kind!) and it's pretty much stayed clear. Note to self - do that again next year!

Almost forgot - we had a peacock - yes peacock - in the neighborhood on Thursday. He was on our garage for a while then decided to move to my neighbor's roof (in the picture). He hung around all afternoon and into the night when he decided to get up into a tree (via their chimney) and roost for the night. We haven't seen him since so hopefully he's found his way back to Hunt Club where we think he came from.

Well, I had better go get dressed for the nuptials.

New Beginnings

Spring is in the air! You can almost smell the flowers blooming and the fresh cut grass. The warmer days remind me that I'm way behind in getting ready for Spring. All that prep work in the yard, cleaning out beds, getting fresh mulch, pruning and planning. I still haven't decided what to do in the front yard since we leveled it last year - so for now, good ol' green turf will do just fine. But I'd love a shade tree of some sort because our house faces west and the front of it just cooks in the summer afternoon sun.

The pond is doing well. However, I await pollen season with mixed emotions. Love that everything is coming back to life but hate the green coating on everything - and it always wreaks havoc with my pond. Last year it turned so dark and black that I couldn't see fish or anything. I have started the maintenance treatment a little early this year in hopes that we don't have the same problem. Fishes are doing fine - growing nicely. The two larger koi have about doubled in size since last July when I introduced them to the water. The comets and shubunkins are doing nicely too. I can't wait for the spring pond plants to come in at Animal Jungle....the pond looks so bare right now.

Zippy is finally adjusting to being the only one in the house (at least of the four-legged variety). He's not quite as clingy as he was the first two weeks and seems to be settling down a bit. We are too for that matter.

POND ering Spring

OK - we got a real big tease today from Mother Nature. After we had howling winds and snow flurries last week, we got a dose of 75+ degrees today. Enough to open the windows, air the house out and get in the yard and pull some weeds. Ok, not my "ideal" day off, but at least I was outside! Tomorrow is supposed to be just as wonderful if not a tad warmer...I think the gang is meeting at the beach in the morning for a couple of rounds of Bocce Ball....I hope I remember how to play!

Schatze continues to amaze us and is hanging in there but we can tell she's not a happy camper anymore. She just looks uncomfortable all of the time. Our days together are numbered I am afraid. Zippy is well, just Zippy...some things never change. The groomer came last Thursday and he was not a happy camper at the time. But he quickly gets over it.

The new fish I put in the pond last summer have about tripled in size. Water temp is just at 50 but they aren't quite ready to eat yet. They're waiting on plants for places to hide. They feel very exposed right now. Songbirds galore today - you name it, we had it. Wrens, Chickadees, Cardinals, Robins, Sparrows, Titmice, Red Bellied Woodpeckers, Blue Jays and of course, our resident Grackles.

Ahhh...the joys of spring (well, almost spring).

Do I or don't I?

Hmmm.....my local newspaper is having a contest for DIY 2008 and one of the categories is "Best Landscaping/Water Garden Project" and I'm considering entering my feeble little pond project. I am certain it won't win because it's not a grand scale project - but I'm thinking, what the heck. I did it all myself (ok - and help from a girlfriend) from digging the hole with a shovel, laying the liner to picking out the plants. I have nothing to loose except for a postage stamp. We'll see - the deadline is Aug 22nd so I have a little time to "ponder" the situation (sorry - couldn't resist that one).

Today happens to our 20th wedding anniversary. We've actually been together 25 years but the elopement (is that a word?) was today, 20 years ago. We got married by the city's marriage commissioner at the foot of the Cape Henry Cross and had 2 witnesses with us (to take pictures to prove to my Mom that it really happened!). Has it been easy? Not all of the time - but no one said it would be. Has it been rewarding? Absolutely. Would I do it again? You bet. I love you honey....

TGIT

Thursday - which means tomorrow is Friday! Hurrah! Made it through another work week.

Boy oh boy the dog days of summer. We've had thunderstorms the past couple of afternoons which really just turns the entire area into a sauna. Can't we just have October weather year round? That would suit me just fine. It's our favorite time of the year. Something about having to put that first sweater on for the season and the smell of the crisp air.

Zippy gets his routine grooming tomorrow evening - trim, nails, and bath. I guess I should start having his teeth cleaned but I just can't put the lady through that. Sounds like something you'd come out of with a lot of new scratch/bite marks. At least my little angel doesn't weigh 44 pounds like that porker cat on the news tonight. I think they said someone just let him go and someone else picked him up as a stray. 44 pounds? Geesh - what are they feeding that poor thing?

Schatze is still hanging in there. Her hearing is almost non-existent as is her eyesight. But she still prances around the yard every now and then. But she has gotten to where she doesn't want to go in and out of the house via the garage. Only the front door. I think the steps are steeper in the garage and my truck is usually in the way too. The front steps are wider and she has a good landing at the top to get her footing. Whatever it takes to keep her happy in what I feel are her final, golden days.

The pond is doing well. Last weekend I dug up some old hostas that were beyond repair (they've been in the bed for 10 years or so and have repeatedly been divided, etc.) and on a whim, I grabbed a handful, hosed off the root ball and stuck it in a pot with some kitty litter and rocks and plunked it in the shallow end of the pond. Don't you know that thing is doing just fine? I was rather surprised as I didn't know if it would survive in the water or not. Makes me think I should have done that a long time ago. Maybe next spring I'll put some new, fresh ones in and see how they do. Fish are fine and growing. They're getting more used to me when I go to the edge to feed them. They're finally learning that I'm their food chain! They are just too quick right now to try and get pictures...maybe over the winter when they hibernate.

Friday Eve - I think we should celebrate.

Any excuse will do...

It's been a while since my last post. Been busy, been sick. I could just leave it at that.

Actually, I really don't know where the past few weeks have gone. "Zoom Zoom" as the commercial would say. We all seem to be "busy" all of the time - but what do I really have to show for it? I still have walls to be painted, a front yard to re-plant, a deck that needs to be stained, chairs that need to be recovered....but I'm too busy! I'll figure it out one of these days.

The sick part has been no fun. I'm not the type to lay around all Sunday with the newspaper and old movies, but this Sundas was an exception. I have caught someones summer cold and it knocked me out for two days. Went back to work today but was dragging my feet all day. And now I'm tired and ready to go back to bed. And it's not even dark out. Either I'm really sick or really getting old!

Pond, plants and fish are all well. The shy koi are actually starting to come up to eat with the comets when I give them food - glad to see them coming around. The plants are well - I guess. They aren't multiplying like I'd hoped like they have in years past but they aren't dying either. I must still have some kind of chemical imbalance for the plants not to go wild in this heat. I'll keep plugging along and hopefully things will get better.

OK - off to put my jammies on and get my pillow all fluffed up - will try to write more often.

The Pond Thrives

Well - so far anyway. Here is a pic of the pond and the new plants I put in this past weekend. I actually have blooms on the water zinnia - whoo hoo! The koi are still skittish and growing. At this rate, they'll out grow the pond by next year. I've also included a pic of the hydrangeas that are alive and well - I just love the deep blue and purple.

I had to water everything in the yard tonight as all of the plants and beds were screaming with thirst. And with the forecast of 99+ tomorrow - I didn't want to come home from work to find a bunch of shriveled up plants staring at me. Hopefully the wildfire smoke won't be so bad.

TGIF

We made it once again to those two treasured days called the weekend. And we went straight from spring into middle of August-type of heat - the heat index over the weekend is supposed to be 100+ so all I can say is thank god for air conditioning. And my neighbors' pool! And the ocean.

Mom had a set back this week and she's back with us for a while. She keeps having these short black outs and her doctor doesn't want her to be alone until they figure out why. She has a carotid ultrasound on Monday so maybe that will shed some light on the matter.

Still haven't seen the new critter. And honestly, I hope he has moved on - although I wish him no harm - he's just too cute. Just don't want 'em living under my shed.

After this latest heat spell subsides a tad, I have to spend some serious time in my yard weeding and planning. I still don't know what I want to do to the front since we graded it this year. I'm giving myself until September to develop a plan. Then at least I'll have a plan, right? Don't like to rush things!

New fishes are still with us. They are hiding under the pump box and haven't figured out that I'm the food wagon yet. But they will catch on. Having some issues now with plants - in that they aren't growing and spreading. It's always something, isn't it? Just get the water cleared up and new fishes, and now the plants don't want to grow. Maybe I need new plants.

Have a safe and air conditioned weekend....
Ciao.

Babies in the Yard

What a beautiful night to end the week - asbolutely great weather to sit outside on the deck, feed the Blue Jays peanuts and the Robins grapes. While sitting and enjoying the cool temps on the deck with Schatze and Zip, I look over and walking along the rocks is this baby possum. Actually, I guess they call them opposum. I took Schatze in so she wouldn't go after it - that is , if she could see the thing! I then approached it to see if it was sick or something and it looked fine - just scared to death with this huge human monster hovering over it. So I followed it into the corner where the ivy is and took this picture. Cute little thing, isn't it? Then I scared the poor thing even more and it "froze" in place. So I left it and came back later. When I finally caught up with it a tad later - it was making its way toward my shed. Lo' and behold - it disappeared under the shed. They had chewed a hole in the chicken wire we have around the bottom. We don't know if momma is around, if this little guy was left behind - or what. But this isn't the first time they've moved in under the shed so we'll have to make sure they're gone and re-do the wire fencing.

Fish are doing well - as soon as they get big enough (and start coming to the surface) to take a pic of, I'll be sure to post. I found out tonight that they're hanging out underneath the box holding the pump. I guess there is just enough room for them to get under that box since they are still rather small. But the water is clearing and things are looking better. Keep your fingers crossed.

Happy Weekend to All!

Ciao.

Quick Post

What a wonderful holiday weekend it was....for once, I did nothing except absolutely relax. I did no housework, no chores, no laundry, nada - zilch - zero! And it felt good. I spent all 3 mornings at the beach with my bocce ball group at Sandbridge. The wind was a challenge for 2 days but other than that, very nice weather and an overall great weekend. We did put up flags around our "post" at the beach in honor of those who have served and sacrificed.

This weekend I will spend Saturday with Mom. We're going to MacArthur Center for lunch and a little retail therapy. With her being on oxygen, I don't know how long she'll last, but at least we'll give it the ol' college try.

New fish are fine - no floaters. But they aren't coming up to eat - they haven't quite caught on to the routine yet. When they get hungry enough, they'll surface. I can see them in the bottom. And my lily is sprouting - signs of improvement and progress. As soon as there is something to really photograph, I'll post a pic or two.

Well, I said I'd keep it short. Gonna call it a night and I'll try to post over the weekend.

Ciao.

TGIF

Made it to yet another weekend...how sweet! And we are finally supposed to have a nice weather weekend...sunny and in the 70s - perfect for all that yard work that still needs to be done. And I finally bought some flowers/plants for the deck and will get those re-potted. I feel so far behind the 8 ball with my yard/deck this year. Life just keeps getting in the way!

I took Mom back home tonight - I think she was ready to get back in her own bed. I'm still a tad concerned about her little dizzy spells but she promises me she won't drive for a while. I can live with that. And she promises to take her meds, use her oxygen, eat right, etc. Just to appease me? Actually, I think she wants to do the right thing and get better. She tried really hard while she was here to help out and go with the flow - and she did a great job of it too! She was able to keep the Zip in line with going outside, etc., during the day - so she gets a gold star.

It's been a long week and I'm looking forward to a relaxing (sorta) weekend yet getting some things done around the homestead. Little things like sweeping up the dust bunnies in every corner and getting my flowers re-potted! And my neighbor is going to help me get some of my fish back in the pond - that will be a relief. I need to get them back in to get the whole ecological system built back up. I have some plants in the pond but I need the fishes to really get it back on track.

Happy Weekend - Enjoy the Weather and Enjoy Your Loved Ones.

Ciao.

Hump Day

Well, we've made it to mid-week. And again, we're on that weather roller coaster ride. We had 75+ temps yesterday and today it barely reached 60. Will it ever end? I know, I know - I'll be belly aching in a few months that it's too hot, right?

One of my very dear friends at work who broke her wrist just got a new cast this week. She was in a full length arm cast up to her shoulder and now it's just below the elbow. She can actually bend her arm now. And I know she's hurting - maybe trying to do too much? But it's a pretty lime green cast - one that you wouldn't dare write on.

I have spent the last couple of nights looking for a B&B in either NC's Crystal Coast or the Eastern Shore around Cape Charles for a little weekend getaway here sometime soon. But with prices of just about everything out there climbing up and up, we might put that on hold. Maybe a quick flight to NYC - we can fly free and hubby has a cousin in Long Island City - so lodging is not a cost. We'll see. I'm just getting that itch to get away for a few days. It's been a long, tiring winter and I could use a change of scenery.

The pond has been put on hold until it gets a scad warmer...it's rather chilly to be playing around in water that's been sitting outside all winter. Brrrr. Maybe this weekend if it doesn't rain too much. But I love rainy weekend days to just lie around and do nothing.

OK, time to make the coffee for the morning and get ready for bed...4am comes awful early!

Ciao.

E U R E K A !

We found the leak today! We started at noon. Drained the pond to just a couple of inches in the deep end. There was something slivering around in the muck and we found out it was a bullfrog who has made himself at home over the winter. We had decided that since the waterfalls were turned off and the pond was holding water that the leak had to be in the waterfalls themselves or the hoses running to it. So that was our first point of attack.

I found the beginning of the hose where it comes out of the pond and started digging it out of the berm we had buried it under. Hubby decided that using a hand trowel was too time consuming and got a shovel out. We came to find out that the small pine tree growing next to (and hanging over - it looks like a huge Bonsai tree!) the pond had grown so much that the trunk was pinching off the hose (which ran underneath the trunk) and caused a crack! WHOO HOO! We found it!

Now we had to dig the rest of it out so we could get the waterfall box out and replace the hose. What a chore. I forgot how heavy some of the rocks and slate pieces were - my back is really talking to me right now! We got the waterfall box out, cleaned all of the frog eggs from the sidewalls, cleaned the leaves and pine needles out the bottom, I ran to Animal Jungle and got new hose, we reconnected the waterfall box, rebuilt the waterfall (with the help of a neighbor who has a real knack for that kind of thing), refilled the pond, found the frog in the flower bed and put him back in the pond, turned the pump on, and WOW - everything worked. We just had no idea when we started at noon that it would take until 7pm to get it all done! Hot showers and pain medicine were definitely next on our list. Oh, and maybe some food!

We'll know more in the morning if we were successful - if so, I'll take some new pics and put upload them. It will be a couple of weeks (or longer) before I even attempt to put fish back in there. The whole ecological system has to rebuild itself. But my neighbor is willing to help by letting me have some of his pond water which is already steady. I'll keep you posted on our progress and when new fishes arrive.

Whew...what a Saturday. I'm ready to call it a day. I hope everyone has a wonderful, happy, safe Easter. I hear a pillow and a pain pill calling me.....Ciao!

February Already?

Wow - where does all this precious time go? Tomorrow is Ground Hog Day already. What's the little guy gonna do this year? Sunday is Super Bowl. We have Valentine's Day this month as well as President's Day - it's a happen' month!

It has been a hectic couple of weeks. I promised myself that when the Learning 2.0 thing was over with, that I'd spend more time investigating some of those wonderful tools that I learned about. NOT! I just don't know what happens to my time. I always thought I was pretty organized and detailed, but some days I have my doubts. But my "to do" list at works never really seems to shrink (just the opposite), and the ATP list at home hasn't gone anywhere in a couple of months and I still have pond issue to deal with.

Speaking of the pond. We've filled it once again (sans the milk) and turned the pump off to see how much water we loose. It's just been one week and so far, ok. It's a complete mystery to us. All good things come to those who wait. And wait, and wait...

Hmm...what else is going on? Now that I have my Mom's den painted, I think I'm going to tackle my bedroom next weekend. No time like the present, right? Why put it off. Like working on the backyard this weekend. Sunday is supposed to be "warm" for this time of year (mid-50's) so I think I can get out there and clean out the bird pit, clean up the lower deck, trim some perennials and clean up the potted plants. After all, it will be Easter before I know it and time to put new stuff out. Schatze will enjoy a day outdoors as well.

My poor little Schatz....we both feel like it won't be long for her. She seems like she's on her last legs which actually give out on her going up and down the 3 steps from the garage to the house. She's had a wonderful life (I always said that if I'm reincarnated, I want to come back as my dog!) so we can't get but too upset. Then there's Zippy - he's, just, well, he's a cat. What else can I say?

Be good - or be good at it! Ciao.