First Earrings

My Great Granddaughter has gotten her ears pierced and she is 4 months old. She fussed only about 5 seconds according to her mama. I really like this picture. It would be so nice if I lived closer to her. Just thought I would share a little of my joy with you.

Have a good weekend.

Mary

SERIOUSLY

I would like to share a little video with you. But, I would like to give you a little background. First off, the picture of the woman that you see - is MY DAUGHTER who is in her fifties! She left her well paying corporate job in Silicon Valley to pursue her dream of going back to school to work in the field of videography - digital filmmaking. And, she is having the "time of her life".

One of her recent assignments in one of her classes was for her along with her team to make a film in 48 hours from start to finish meaning from writing to delivery. Yes, they had only two days and were assigned the genre "Dark Comedy". Additionally, every team was required to include the elements of an hourglass, a science teacher character, and the line "Where did he go? She was part of the writing as well as acting.

There production of "Seriously" was screened at the San Jose 48 Hour Film Project a few nights ago. I am not sure what all of that means. But, I imagine it means "They Did Good".
Be sure to view in full screen.

Well, that's my baby girl - having fun!

Mary

This Better Do It

If this nicely rigged repair doesn't keep the water line from leaking I am going to be a very unhappy lady. This time a valve was added for future convenience if needed. Oh, I don't even want to think that. I like how extra protection from puncture was put in place with larger rigid sections of pipe over the dreadful archaic polybutylene piping. Now, I have to put a small rigid box over the valve and fill the hole AGAIN with the dirt (if you can call it that) and the rock.

    It seems like it has been one thing after another. I have been doing overdue housework and I have       been trying to get a lot done outside. And, the car needs to be washed. I'm getting to old for all of       this, seriously.

I saw the doctor this week about my troublesome back condition. Next time I'll tell you more.

Hope you had a good weekend.

Mary

OH, NO! Not Again

OH, YES, Again!

Two days ago at bedtime I thought I was hearing what sounded like maybe an outside faucet running. With the drought I am super careful with the water. So, I went outside and checked the faucet handles and everything was as it should be. In the morning I found the problem. YES AGAIN! Another break near the last repair. My plumber I used last time was working out of town this week and next week. So, I called another plumber who a friend recommended. He is outside working as I write this. Also, the water company has been out a few times in the last months because the valve at the meter is so old that they are afraid it will break. They maybe will replace it today.

The water was running down a slope and into another flower bed. A lot more water (larger leak) leaking from the water line this time. I hope the water bill won't be shocking!

On a more pleasant note. My succulents are doing well with my little birdies.

Now, I have to leave you with a picture that I really adore. These little cousins are so darn cute. That is Carter, my Great Grandson who found a way to open the door knob, And, I love the pose of his little cousin! The more I look at it, the more I smile!

OK, Now. As nice as it is to be buying a house, sometimes it seems like a sponge that soaks up more and more $$$.

I do hope you are having a happy day. The plumber has left and I now have running water in the house again.

Mary  

I Am Having So Much Fun

It's almost noon and I am still in my nightgown! But, who cares. I think I may be involved in an addiction! ! ! Look at these beautiful colors in these mandalas. It is so much fun selecting the color combinations. Some look better than others. It's "in the eye of the beholder". I think we all have favorite colors.

 What do you think? Aren't they grand? For the past few weeks crocheting has been consuming my time. I am loving making these mandalas. I have already given two mandalas as gifts. I enjoy giving "Just Because" little gifts, I guess it is like little "Random Acts Of Kindness". None of these mandalas are finished. Weaving in ends and blocking will make them look real nice.

Next time I will share the story behind mandalas, in case you haven't learned.

This post has been put together faster than any in the past. I picked up my camera and shot a photo of what I was crocheting while I was sitting in the middle of yummy colors,    Just had to share my current "pure enjoyment". Retirement is great. Less guilt!

Have fun today and take time for yourself.

Mary

The Girl That Said "With This Much Shit There Must Be A Pony Here Somewhere"

And, that girl was me! Sweet little Mary said those words while in a hospital sitting in a Psychiatrist office many years ago. A time when no unsavory words would ever pass through my lips! I perfected that word and added a few more! Every morning when the Psychiatrist visited me in my room the only words that promptly came out of my mouth were "Shit, I want to die". I was not in a very good space those days. I had experienced three very traumatic events very close together that pushed me over the hill. One of them being a divorce. Even though I had living relatives at that time I did not receive any help. Two brothers came one evening after I was home with their wives and went to dinner without even suggesting that they could bring some food back for us. I was too fragile and weak to go out. I weighed less than 100 pounds. Painful days! I was basically ignored by my mother. Her theory was founded on her spiritual belief that if I lived my life differently I would not have my serious troubles. I thought I was living a pretty honorable life raising two children and working night shift as a registered nurse! It was my employer and co-workers that stepped right up and helped me with meals on a regular basis and lots of loving encouragement.

My medical care, one month inpatient and after care was outstanding. They saved my life! Of course it was very hard work on my part. It took me about five years to feel like I had returned to what I thought was normal for me. I returned to work part time after six months and continued my recovery for many long years. It was a serious mental crash! And, I continually approach life with a new set of tools and knowledge on how to take care of myself when life sends me another thunderstorm!

The road to HERE has not been an easy one. There have been many difficult challenges. But, I continue to forge on and when I fall I try to quickly dust myself off and - "giddy up".

Shit, I feel good. And, it is Sunday.       HA HA. Did I really say that WORD?

Mary

One Fifth Of An Acre

My little piece of property is one fifth of an acre. Not big - Not small. Just enough for me. However, can you imagine that there only two water faucets, one on each side of the house against the side of the house. Long time ago I added two additional faucets on each side.

 This top photo shows where I have a short hose to fill my watering can. It is very handy!

OK now, the hoses have to be carried to all the places that need to be watered. Along a pathway beside the "creek" (when there are winter rains) I made some sprinklers with PVC pipe. Well, quite some time ago the PVC glue joint loosened and I wasn't able to use the sprinkler by turning the faucet on up by the house.  I finally have had time to make the repairs.

See, how nice that works.  There is another set of four sprinklers along the pathway further back on a different faucet so there is good water pressure. All of these hoses can be put on timers up by the house if I am away for any more than a couple days. Of course, with our terrible drought I don't use them every day and when I do I watch the clock carefully for only five minute watering.

It doesn't take much to get a gardener excited. This is the first year my White Crepe Myrtle has bloomed this nicely at the corner of the White Garden. I planted it in that location so it would hide the power pole.

Remember, everything is so dry because we are not allowed to water very much. I try to use less water in the house so I have it for the garden.

Here are a couple blooms from my plants this year in the White Garden.

It is really difficult to grow "anything" in this terrible clay rocky soil. And, especially with the drought.  I have two neighbors who have beautiful fantastic professional landscaping which may help with my property value. Besides that,  they are lovely people and neighbors. I am blessed. My little piece of property could be outstanding for anyone who could spend some money on having truckloads of topsoil brought in, some terracing down by the seasonal creek and also an irrigation system. Trenching in this soil (if you can call it soil) is a huge undertaking. Most all of my plantings started out as one gallon plants. One example is the pictured Crepe Myrtle!  It is difficult for me to dig holes that are deep and large enough. Amazing, to me is that many of my plantings are quite large after many years.

Thank you for joining me in my garden today. Next time I just might put you to work! ! ! I deeply appreciate that I am able to have my little house and this lovely piece of land in a great location. I worked hard for it, but some people work hard and still aren't able to prosper from their hard work, for numerous reasons.

Yes, it is a good day.

Mary

Lambs' Ear - No I Didn't Become A Rancher

This is an interesting looking plant with greyish white woolly leaves that could be ears with a little imagination. It makes a nice ground cover and it will spread. From early summer to early autumn it produces erect stems with spikes of white-wooly pink-purple flowers. The flowers are quite tiny.

This patch of Lambs' Ear is on the other side of my house and I want to have some of it in my white garden. So, I have taken shoots from the plant and placed them in some planters with hopes that they will root.

This is how they looked after planting the "starter plants". I planted three planters full.

In the past I had a very large spread of Lambs' Ear but lost it because of some BAD planting mix. Remember when Katrina flood hit. Well, Walmart was selling planter mix at a good price that (I guess unknowingly) had mold from the soil from that area. There was a public announcement of the issue. Unfortunately, I had already used about 10 bags of it. I had planted an "Old Rusty Iron Bed Planter" with it filled with yellow and red tulips. A few bloomed the first year and that was it. It is really nasty stuff. I still come across it once in a while in my garden. Now when I see some, it is a dry grey dirt that does not absorb water. Just another gardener's unexpected failed venture.

Well, my starter plants have done well. Of course, some wilt and don't catch on with the gang. You know there always are a few outsiders.

These photos are from today. I will soon get them planted. Have to get some planting soil. I am totally out. I buy it locally now at a hardware/garden store.

Well, the sun is shining brightly and it isn't too hot. It's a Great Day for me and I hope it is for you too.

Mary

Snippets

I haven't had much time to put some "thoughts down on paper" (archaic phrase - how funny) but hope I can soon. In the meantime I thought I could share with you a mosaic of some recent photos.

Tried to have brunch with friends at Market 49 and this was on the door.

Only in a small country town would you see a sign on a door like this about being closed because of "feral cats". I love living in the country!

Do you see the photo of the figs? The tree is loaded with figs. I stopped counting after I got to sixty! Which is great because I love figs. Maybe there will be enough to make some jam or chutney. Yum-yum!

I have been crocheting Mandalas and it is a lot of fun. It's a great project to spark your creativity with color combinations and pattern stitches.

The healthy yummy salad was my dinner last night.

The kitchen picture is there because it is nice and clean right now and it isn't always like that.

And the rose is Granada a Hybrid Tea which I have been nurturing along. It has a few open blooms right now and that makes me happy. It's a lovely rose with swirls of gold, peach, pink, and red with a strong fragrance.

And, I have Basil growing but I do not think there is enough to make basil pesto.

Well, that post turned out pretty good. I had to hold my breath for awhile because in the middle of writing it the computer decided to shut down and I was fearful that I had lost my post. But, with great relief it was all there when I carefully retrieved my place on the post. I guess my guardian angel was present.

Unfortunately, it doesn't always work out that way. Last week I was preparing a long post that was difficult to write because it was about a different time in my life that was not as joyous as now. I lost the whole thing and it made me very frustrated. I have not yet tried to rewrite it. Someday!

I hope you enjoyed my snippets!

Mary

Please Help Me - I Can't Help Myself

Because they are just too cute. It's OK if this Great-Grandma wants to share current photos of her Great-Grandkids. Isn't it?

Thank you.

Mary

Chainsaw Progress Report

Well, Okey- Dokey. It looks like the other section where the motor is will have to be opened. It is probably packed with oily sawdust and maybe the motor is burned out. I wouldn't be surprised.

This is the end I need to remove and it is being held by THREE screws. No big deal - - - however, one of the screws is a TAMPER RESISTANT SCREW.   
                     TO KEEP PEOPLE LIKE ME OUT

This is what it looks like. 

Tamper-resistant TORX has a small post in the middle of the drive that prevents a regular TORX driver from working.

 So, now I guess I will have to go down to the hardware store and see what I can negotiate. Can you see that screw at the lower left? The other two screws are removed.

Well, that's my  post for today.

Our weather is lovely today and I hope yours is too.

Mary

From That To This

My African Violets are doing nicely. Better than ever! I do not have very good lighting for indoor plants but I made a great effort to find a place with good light exposure. And, this is what I got.

From That To ---

This!

Isn't this just gorgeous? I am thrilled. There are  three plants in the pot and after it blooms I guess I will have to re pot into three separate flower pots.

Oh, I also have some succulents to show you. I think it is kinda cute with the little birdies added.

Thanks for enjoying pretty flowers with me.

Mary

She Has That Hard Hat On Again

                        (Internet image)

Things have to be repaired. Who is going to do it? I'm looking around the room and I don't see anyone! So I found my "Pink Hard Hat" and got to work.

This is the first job that I have to do. By the way, I love this stuff!

Ultra Duster is an air duster of compressed air to clean and remove dust, dirt and microscopic debris from electronic devices without leaving residue.

And it really gets into every nook and cranny.

This Chain Saw had been sadly neglected for a long time. Someone borrowed it and did not take proper care and it was filled with oily sawdust. It was just jam packed! So I have taken it apart and cleaned it thoroughly. Look how good it looks.

I still have to put it back together. I'll let you know soon if it works. Sometimes I move just like a little tortoise.

OK, the computer has been running hot and I sure don't want to replace the CPU if it can be avoided.

It really wasn't very bad. I have seen pictures of some where you could hardly see the surfaces of the parts and they were still running. And, also pictures of CPUs burned up! Prevention is always my motto!

By the time I finished, it looked better and I am happy to tell you that after putting it back together it is running nicely and cooler. Score another one for Moi!

And, we went from this - - - - - - - - -

To this. MUCH BETTER, don't you think?

I just noticed that Lily photo-bombed my photo, second photo down from top. How cute is that.

Well, I think I will leave you with a flower or two from my garden.

Medallion Hybrid Tea Rose

 Hope you have a Fabulous Day.

Mary