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wendy2_gw

Idyll # 312 - The Plants on Wheels Idyll

wendy2
17 years ago

Spring has sprung, the sun is shining - let the games begin!

Comments (103)

  • chelone
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Just a quick good morning before I blast off for work. It's COLD outside and I'm glad the helpmeet used the snowblower yesterday. We were talking last night and it seems every single snow "event" we've had this year has been heavy, wet, and downright hard to deal with.

    I should finish up the dreadful interior I've been slaving over for the past week today. And none too soon... my wrists are sore and I'm getting crabbier with every passing day.

    There are many people in our community still without power. Many have been told not expect the power to be on before Saturday/Sunday. And I heard the barest hint of another possible storm next week? I'm hoping for cold rain... snow at this time of the year is a real drag when it comes to putting up restaurant canopies.

    OK, can't dawdle anymore. (even though I'd like to!). Have a brilliant day everyone.

  • deanneart
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Good Friday morning everyone,

    OK now Ive really, really had it! My patience is at its end with this lousy, nasty weather. So this morning it is 25 degrees out. Unlike Chelone, I took the attitude that the powers that be put the snow there and Id wait until the powers that be removed it. So now I have about four inches of hardened cement in the driveway and the Great Wall of China at the end of the driveway. Its a good thing I decided to flatten the snow bank in front of the mail box with the 4 wheel drive on my Suburban so I could get my mail delivered. Im sure the neighbors now really and truly think Im out of my mind. Not only do garden non-stop all season with hundreds of containers to water, I now have a camo tent (blind) set up in the back yard and instead of shoveling or snow blowing I flatten the snow banks with my SUV. Hmmm perhaps Im getting old and eccentric?

    Lovely tassels ladies! I love them too! Ive got some huge tassels as tie backs for my curtains in the upstairs master bedroom and on either end of a tapestry over the bed.

    Norma and Mary, we really love our little pond also but in the last couple years its turned into a leaking problem. I cant seem to find out where in the waterfall system the leaks are happening. Grrrrr.. I was hoping to get it cleaned out and fixed this weekend but that is not a happening event because they are covered in snow and ice again.

    So Sue, do you have a time in mind for road trip to Marys??? If there is something you really need and trust Mary to pick it out Doug can take it home for you as hes been going out that way every other week.

    Honey I remember that pic with all the buckets and stuff over your tender plants. LOL! You know, Id love to get back out your way to see your and Ruths gardens again as well as Edens and Davids. ~~ LOL about the statie giving you the hairy eyeball te he

    T. I dont know how on earth you deal with taking care of two babies! Id lose my mind LOL ~~~ And here I thought your windows were all done! Now I dont feel so bad.

    Mary, glad to hear Annie is feeling better, LOL about here sterilizing her toothbrush. I like the idea of a lotus pond Hmmmm. ~~ Sounds like you are going to have a busy Easter weekend. ~~ Hanging my head in shame here, I still havent picked up my guitar.

    Chelone, Oh my! Bummer about the plumbing woes! Id love to meet your Helpmeet. He sounds like a card. ~~ Yes, if you are looking for visuals for woody shrubs etc. you definitely would enjoy a visit to Sue and Monique and Les. They are masters at mixed borders that include the woody stuff.

    Eden, I forgot to tell you that your dream of coleus in the dresser drawers is way too funny. Wouldnt it be the best thing if we could store things that way?

    Okie dokie, time to get a move on here. Must get to the gym, water the three billion or so plants I have under lights then fill a couple orders. Have a great Friday everyone!

    Later all
    Deanne

  • Sue W (CT zone 6a)
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    TGIF!

    Good morning all! Just a quick post...I've got alot of things going on right now and some extra distractions to boot. My bum is dragging today though because I went to our annual trade show yesterday down at one of the famous CT Indian casinos and didn't get home til 3:30 AM. Man, it's been years since I've stayed out that late. Took a quick two and a half hour nap and came back to work. I've got an appointment with my surgeon today at 2:15 for pre-op debriefing then I'll probably go home and crash.

    Later,

    Sue

  • just_t
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Good morning!

    Another too busy morning here....from what I'm reading this seems to be a national trend. ;o)

    After the babies left, yesterday afternoon, I drove into town and took care of some bills, bought groceries and then came home and made up Easter baskets for everyone so I could deliver some of them this morning... James did get candy in his basket (he isn't allowed to eat much candy yet, thankfully---but I think I made some good choices so his parents won't be grumpy at me) and the twins' baskets have a soft rattle/teething toy along with one of those teething things you can freeze. Their little baskets look pretty blah compared to everyone else's (lack of candy, LOL) but at least they each have their own.

    I've got an appointment to have my teeth cleaned at 8 and after that nasty dental hygienist finishes with me, then I'll drive to her house and pick up her babies to bring home for the day. I'll drop off the Easter baskets then (and get some of that luscious smelling chocolate out of this house). Dang but I love the smell of chocolates and Reece's peanut butter cups.........not having any of it though!!

    DH worked until almost midnight so he is still snoozing. He will head back to work when he awakens.....poor man's bum is dragging (I noticed that Sue also had a very, very late night/early morning and she is also having a bum dragging morning). I stayed up until DH got home, but I value my quiet (and dark) mornings too much to stay in bed any longer this morning---so I'm enjoying a cup of coffee in the quiet.

    Deanne, there was just one time (and it was recent) when the babies both had a melt down at the same time. Screaming, upset (oh howdy were they upset), tired and just no end to the crying. I knew they were tired because they'd been rubbing their eyes for awhile. I laid them down and the screamfest began. I'd get one to stop crying and then go to the other one, the first one would start screaming again......got the second one quieted, went back to the first one to stop his screaming and the second one started up again. I was just right at the cusp of joining them. ;o) I finally walked away (they are rubbing their eyes while screaming so I know they are just overtired), sat in the family room and plugged my ears with my fingers. Yep, it was a pretty horrible time. Within about 3 or 4 minutes (seemed like two eternities to me), they settled down to the 'big cry snuffles' and went to sleep. I didn't have a thing in the house to drink (kidding---was too frazzled to consider taking a drink, LOL). When they awoke from their nap they were in the best spirits and played, jabbered and laughed for the rest of their time here. It was brutal while it happened though and I hope it doesn't happen again. It is just too hard to try to lay them down when I pick both up at the same time---so the option wasn't there to hold both of them and rock them to sleep. Plus, their parents have worked consistently to get them to realize that nap time and bed time are things they can do without being rocked to sleep. They watch for the tired clues and then, timing it right, lay them down and they usually go to sleep without the drama we had here. We're guessing that I didn't time it right, LOL, and laid them down before they were ready.

    Anyway, all that long story is for is to say "it isn't easy and some days it is downright awful". LOL But is it worth it? Oh yeah! Big time worth it.

    Well, I hope all of you have a great day. We hit 76 or so here yesterday and I drove home from town with the windows of the car down. Amazing change in weather (it was 28 a.m. and never got out of the 40's p.m a few days ago). The maple and alder trees are leafed out and the daffodils are pretty much finished. My lilac bush is getting more leaves, I don't see any blossoms yet...truly is spring in the northwest.

    T.

  • chloehoover
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    The "cold snap" for this area is resulting in temps that are predicted to be a 10-year low for Easter Sunday morning Honey, love that pic (I remember it now) but I have decided like you that the plants are on their own this year and I guess Ill be without peonies in bloom (the formed buds will be blasted), the clems that are 3 feet high hopefully will regrow for later bloom, etc., but dont really know I have used sheets in years past in late April for 1 nite frosts, but this is for so long and the winds are so bad that Im sure theyd be ghosted away to someone elses yard and I have no wish to chase sheets. . . . its very depressing though.

    Neat tassels everyone Honey, as usual you went the extra "creative" route I never would have thought of simply tieing them onto a towel bar but how creative and wonderful and movable!! I am always marveling how all you creative geniuses in the garden are equally creative and fantastic designers inside the home as well.

    Ive got those 3 roses sitting inside languishing to be planted which looks likes its going to be a couple weeks now; and o joy, I will probably find the first package of plants on my door step when I get home tonite (had email notice they were shipped earlier in the wee) I guess theyll become houseplants for a couple of weeks!

    Yum, on marinated grilled lamb one of my favorites!!

    Honey re your GN and her lovely pic w/ the muff I have a funny story re my own DD w/ a muff Yes, I had one when I was little (have a pic of it) & thought it would be fun to have an Easter pic w/ her w/ a white rabbit one I bought when she was about 6 got a special outfit to go with it, dressed her all up, and then -- it totally freaked her out when I told her it was rabbit fur and she refused to touch or put it on her hands my early veggie girl was so upset I had to take the muff away and hide it she never did put it on her hands and I never got the pic, LOL... kids can be very strange I dont recall it ever bothering me; but my tender DD was very upset by the whole concept.

    Chelone the things to learn from a plumber! What a hoot.

    T you are one good grandma!

    Deanne -- I dont think that's eccentric - I think it was creative and productive -- combat gardening again (Rambo style).

    Off to the salt mines now.

    -Cindy

  • gardeningmary
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Good morning

    Deanne - send Doug our way next time he is in town. We'd love to see him again and he might enjoy a homemade supper. So you guys spent a year apart too? We did, only 2 years after we were married. DH had close to a year of training in Rochester, NY. We were living in Chicago at the time and I had a fellowship at the Art Institute. There was no way I could give that up to move to what seemed like the middle of nowhere. Little did I know how much I'd love living here 2 decades later. I guess our marriage has been characterized by long separations - perhaps the secret to it's success.

    Sue - I love the idea of plant shopping for you - that would be so much fun. Not nearly as much so as having you visit but I'd enjoy selecting a few choice specimens. Hope your pre-op visit goes well.

    Chelone - great plumming story LOL! especially the note. I imagine plummers have to maintain a good (if not scatalogical) sense of humor to survive their work.

    Grandma T - enjoy Easter with all the little ones. David was a screamer when he was a baby - I thought at times I'd loose my mind. He would scream for hours on end for no apparent reason. My mother, who has raised 4 kids and has 9 grandchildren, agreed she had never encountered anything like it. Had he been the first I would NEVER have had another, but he's grown into the happiest, healthiest kid you could imagine.

    Hi Honey - could you say Hi to Ruth could you next time you see her. By the way - I'm very much looking forward to Tom's TP story again - and I KNOW Chelone will enjoy it.

    Well, sleepover guest has departed and I'm heading out with Annie and David to shop. And we'll be driving over the snow on teh driveway, not shovelling. David has been saving his money to buy an MP3 player. I'm clueless when it comes to such things - fortunately Annie is a little more savvy.

    have a Good Friday everyone

    Mary

  • wendy2
    Original Author
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Deanne, I'm with you - I am done with this cold weather. When it was snowing the other day I complained so much that DH had to tell me to stop looking out the window! Now the soil in the pansy pots I planted is frozen, waaahhhh! Hopefully they'll bounce back. On a positive note, it has been colder than normal so not much is breaking ground that shouldn't be. Good alternative use for the SUV, LOL! If I tried that with my wagon it would probably still be stuck there.

    In other news the credit union across the street got robbed again this AM - there are police speeding everywhere right now. I guess I may be getting jaded since this does not make me too nervous any more. I used to worry about it because our building used to be a bank, and the ATM is still outside. Every so often people come in mistaking our office for a bank. We joke that we should tell them "cash deposits only".

    Sue, hope you had a good time! I haven't seen that hour of the night since college, unless one of the kids was sick.

    Chelone, LOL on the Friday night thing. When DH and I were dating, he worked nights and I worked days, and we only saw each other on Friday nights and Saturdays. Friday used to be the much-anticipated date night, now we doze on the couch or one or the other of us is going to bed before the kids do! BTW, I agree that you should see Monique's and Sue's gardens for lovely examples of incorporating shrubs and trees.

    Honey, your story about your singing while driving cracked me up. I do the same thing, except for the conducting! I have seen people doing all kinds of things behind the wheel in stop-and-go traffic, but the strangest had to be a woman actually painting her nails. She held the wheel with her palms, and the bottle and brush in her fingers. Needless to say I gave her plenty of room!

    Well, have to go back to work I guess. Have a great day all!

    -Wendy

  • michelle_zone4
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I want Spring! Monday we are actually supposed to get up to 49! What happened to the 79 we had a couple of weeks ago? At least we dont have snow on the ground although it was snowing lightly on the way to work.

    Deanne, the tulip is China Town it has white and pink edges and is different looking in bloom than a lot of tulips.

    Cindy, what a cute story about your DD. Mine would have done the same thing. I vaguely remember having a muff with a matching fur hats that were like a bonnet and had a fur ball on the end of the strings. I believe it was fake fur and made by my mom as all our clothing was handmade.

    I dont cover for cold either except for containers in the fall. Theres just too much and it takes too much effort.

    T, I will put just a little candy in Kenzies basket. She loves candy. I can imagine how stressful it would be with 2 babies that are worked up.

    Suzy, we do have some of those U scans but I get a little frazzled when I use them.

    DH and I have only ever been separated for a few days at a time. Occasionally he thinks we should start some sort of business together I tell him no way. That would be too much togetherness.

    Martie, your bathroom looks great! I love the mirrors and the pretty wall color.

    Stay warm

    Michelle

  • honey_mi
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Well, it got down to 16 degrees here last night!!! We only had flurries the last few days, no accumulation, so the plants are really getting whacked without snow as insulation. Ive never seen tulips and daffodils lay down on the ground before. And my primulas and pansies are blackened and drooping. Just a big YUK. The forecast for tonite isnt much better. I uncovered my "Lady in Red" Hydrangea but left the mulch piled up around it. It had a few leaves starting to open up before it got hit by this cold. Im hoping it survives.

    Today, DH and I recovered the headboard for our bedroom in a dusty terracotta ultrasuede. I got the fabric at JoAnns yesterday on sale for $9/yd. Its the closest color match/coordinate I could find. Once the room is painted, Im sure it will be fine. So thats one more spring chore off the list.

    Deanne, Im so glad you have tassles. It just wouldnt do for the garden diva not to have some BLING inside the house, too. Sorry youre having this awful weather like so many of us.

    Sue, hope you get some zzzzzs after your nite on the town. Its a rare thing if we stay out beyond 11 pm.

    T, I did the same thing with my DGNs Easter Basket. Hers is filled with a white Lamb puppet, a mini bubble machine and bucket, Playdoh, some mini-packets of M&Ms and some green and purple peeps. Shes over the moon for "marsh" so she should love the peeps. Gosh, I cant imagine dealing with twins! Id be a basket case.

    Cindy, how awful DD didnt get to enjoy her muff. I dont think we ever asked what the fur was or would have connected it to a live wabbitt. Speaking of which, wish I had a beebee gun. Something is eating my iris and daylilies. Grrrrr. It shouds like your season is much farther along than ours. We usually have 1 nite frosts, too, but nothing like this. Where is global warming when you need it?

    Mary, I will say Hi to Ruth for you. Shes still her sweet self and I know will enjoy the fact that you thot of her. Am I lucky or what to have her for a neighbor?! Ill be sure to have DH brush up his TP story for you again.

    Wendy, I, too, have seen folks doing incredible things while driving. What are they thinking? One day coming home from work, I was behind a guy who would suddenly speed up then take his foot off the gas and slow down, all the while weaving in his lane while going 70 mph and talking on a cell, cradled on his shoulder. He really scared me so when the opportunity arose, I passed him. As I went by I saw why he was weaving. Not only was he talking on his cell, he was typing on his laptop and steering in traffic with his knees!!

    Michelle, I want spring, too. Please, please, pretty pleeeease. Im tired of this stuff already. I agree with you on being in business w/DH. It is a lot of togetherness. DH and I did it part-time and even that was too much. Besides, your own business is very stressful. Long hours and little pay for too long to get it going. Nope, let me work for someone else and let them have the headaches.

    Well it's time for me to see about dinner. Hi to anyone I missed. Stay warm everyone.

    Honey

  • dodgerdudette
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Hi everyone !

    So much to catch up on tonite- Ill try to catch up as best I can!

    I recd my order of gall mite resistant fuchsias yesterday. I will pot them up this weekend , but I bought an assortment so I need to look up al the cultivars I got and see what their eventual size is.

    Jeesh, I m pretty bummed about the nice bathroom pics-lol I have yet to finish mine .i guess Ill have to be sure and post a pic when I get it done. Mine is blus too, but more of a seafoam type shade so a bit greenish.

    Honey, love the frost protection pics. !

    Mary, Glad you enjoyed Lady Banks. She continues to open more and more flowers. One of my fellow Master Gardeners retired from Microsoft ( $$$$$ !) and bought an old estate about 15 miles north of me that has a 120 year old Lady Banks on the property. She is just huge-the trunk looks like an oak tree and it covers an entire outbuilding. Pretty cool.
    Pretty jealous here of your fellowship the Art Institute .. Ive traveled to Chicago many many times on business over the last 20 years and always make it a point to visit the Art Institute even if I only have an hour or two to spare I will never forget the first time I walked into the room with Sunday on La Grande Jatte. , I was totally blown away..

    T, the Left Coast is in a spring mode for sure ! Dont you think our NE friends need to do the CT cruise in the PNW ?

    So Cindy, we need the names of your languishing 3 roses

    Sue-impressive that you stayed up till 3. I can barely make it till 10 !

    kay all gotta go..

    Kathy in Napa

  • cynthia_gw
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Good morning, it's time to get up and watch the snow fall!

    If I wanted this kind of a spring I could have stayed in NH. The cherry and crab trees in my yard were just starting to bloom. Hauled in all the seedlings Thursday night because temps predicted in 20s at night well into next week. Cindy, I can't get over that you had buds on your peonies. Mine are only up a couple of inches.

    So that Chelone wouldn't be lonely, I had my sewer line cleaned out this week. The sign was slow draining water and gurgling noises throughout the house and the discovery of water coming out the sink in the cellar bathroom. Checked the first outdoor cleanout and that's where the problem was. I had to make a decision on whether to call my regular plumbers or Roto-Rooter and went with the regular one. When they came out, I asked whether I might need Roto-Rooter and they told me RR had bought them a year ago. How convenient!

    Honey, I do remember your 'frost defense' photos from a few years ago. The pics of your Amelanchiers that spring were responsible for me putting 3 in here in 2005 :-)

    I had to pick up some Monty meds at vet one night this week and since I was dog free I stopped at Home Goods on the way home. They had 'my' arch there for $99. I have two just like it already. Black iron, simple (Sue, you bought one shortly after I got the first I think), and sturdy. I don't know where I'll put it, maybe mod the side yard path so it can fit there where I have the two Cecile Brunners.

    I'm wondering if Dannie's obedience class will be canceled this morning. We are wimps here in Maryland. And not just the driving, it's an outdoor class. She is laying on the couch with her feet stuck straight up in the air. Way different than the dog who had her head under the night stand drooling and shaking a few nights ago for a thunder storm. Dannie was returned because her T-phobia had generalized to 24/7 fear of everything. She's doing better, but still freaks when it's going to rain and has flat out panic attacks for a T-storm. Snow and cold is much easier on her.

    I picked up the flexi straws for IU4 :-)

    Hi to all, just too much to catch up on here. Hope you are all well and grandbabies are sleeping. Deanne, great attitude. Keep driving over those snowbanks! Spring will prevail.

    Cynthia

  • cynthia_gw
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Oh yeah! The largest rose in the world is a Lady Banks in Arizona. Something like 8600 square feet. There used to be a photo of it on the web but I can't find it anymore. Be careful Kathy, it will eat your house.

  • babs_clare
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    OK so who else has a heap of snow upon them???? It's been snowing straight for two days now-the road out the window is white and cars are crawling....unbelievable in April-except this is Cleveland so I should know better. Deanne are you still buried? I wonder what GB has--when does she get back? She must have at least four more knit projects done lol.
    Mary I've missed somewhere that Annie was under the weather? I hope she's fine by now....sheesh I keep missing so much. Art intitute! Do you have an art degree? That must have been great to be there!

    Honey I have been hoping for two years now that I'll get to hear Tom's TP story...maybe this year? You think I'm funny-but having a mental image of you and the trooper watching you cracks me up--I hope you gave him one of those gorgeous smiles!

    Ok I can't keep it inside-there's a possibility that I could possibly get a part time teaching job for next year. Only two days a week but more pay and about the same number of hours I have now. Our art teacher who is leaving recommended me! My teaching has been centered around pre-K children so I'm not sure if they'd ask me to teach K-8..I do hope though. I won't say more....that jinx thing. Time to cross the appendages; )

    Lady Banks,eh? Maybe if I planted her I wouldn't have to reside my house! It was cute the other day, AJ asked when I was going to plant viney plants to cover the whole outside of the house(I guess he figured since I've planted so much at the ground level). Funny though when he said that I did stand there for a while imagining the possibilities.

    Cynthia I'm afraid to check but my peonies are almost 1-1/2 ft. tall-I hope there aren't buds yet! It took three almost record breaking warm days to get everything growing here. My star Mag burst into bloom only to get thwacked by snow-white blooms are now brown hanging gunk. My peas also sprouted-I guess I can replant.

    Honey-so you aren't getting Lake effect snow? I think that's why we are getting pummeled. I guess I need to be thankful that at least the plants are getting insulation...lots of it!

    Off to color eggs-then to MIL's to celebrate Easter. Tomorrow we go to my mom's. Then on Wed. we're off to Hocking Hills for a few days: ) : )!!!

    If I don't get back here have a warm happy rest of the weekend!

    ~Babs

  • veronicastrum
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Hi! The new home laptop has arrived and is working. At least one thing is going right. The issues at work continue, although they are sorting themselves out. Guess what? I just realized I'm getting a spell check function as I type in the little box. How cool!

    The weather still stinks. I'm really afraid to take a walk and see what all this cold has done to things. Work has been so stressful that I don't want to add to my frustrations.

    Time to go hunt up the lamb cake pan so I can get that rolling. I'm planning a quiet evening to catch up on reading. TTYL!

    V.

  • honey_mi
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    No time to read. Just a drive-by to tickle your funny bone:

    {{gwi:152136}}

    After starting a new diet I altered my drive to work to avoid passing my favorite bakery. I accidentally drove by the bakery this morning, and as I approached, there in the window were a host of goodies. I felt this was no accident, so I prayed ... "Lord, it ' s up to you, if you want me to have any of those delicious goodies, create a parking place for me directly in front of the bakery." And sure enough, on the eighth time around the block, there it was!

    Have a great day! Happy Easter everyone.

    Honey

  • chelone
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Honey, I laughed when I looked up Serviceberry... Amelanchier. Get this: we planted one last fall (duh), lol! (Amelanchier arborea, "Robin Hill", 2" caliper). It was a real pain to find a place with enough depth to accomodate the root ball (lots of ledge here), but we did and it seems to be alive... it will be fun to see what it looks like (if it ever warms up).

    I'm appalled at how large Lady Banks can get. Too much for this reactionary rosarian. 8600 sq. ft., Cynthia?! Yikes.

    Babs., not to jinx anything, but I sure hope that would work out for you. Sounds perfect.

    I smiled at the image of Deanne powering over the snowbanks. I can relate to the ice pack in the driveway... seems as though every single storm this season has left a legacy of packed ice. I'm thoroughly sick of it all, too. One of the nicer aspects of our location is that spring arrives later here than just a half mile inland. Only the peony nearest the foundation has broken the ground yet, and the bulbs are only up a little bit. The star magnolia is still sporting the fuzzy jackets and while they're swelling it's not ready to open yet. No sign of Forsythia, either.

    I would probably be in prison now had I ever pushed fruit forthe from my loins. I'd have likely followed the example of the native Americans... strap the kid to a cradle board and hang it out in the woods until it cried itself out... . Power to you, T., a screaming/pooping/puking machine was never much of a draw for me, although we did contemplate it in the mid-90s. We were too able to find reasons "why not" and realized that was the answer. You're a brick. :)

    I sometimes see 3 AM, too, Sue. But usually I'm thinking about getting up! There is every possibility that if you called here looking for me at 7:45-8PM, I'd be in bed and dozing off . You must have been dragging! Make sure you treat yourself well before your surgery. If you go in rested you'll recover more quickly. Nothing to look forward to, but it'll be over and done with soon enough. Hang tough.

    We met with the excavator/site work guy yesterday. Nice guy. He looked at the site, asked a few questions and had a plan in mind. It will take a lot of fill. Gulp. I met with a prospective framer this morning. Very chatty, asked some important questions I couldn't answer, so I wrote them down and with have the helpmeet call him tonight to discuss the particulars. We meet with another site guy and another framer on Monday, also the electrician. My feet are getting colder by the minute. :) We still have to call the mason and figure out some heat for the workrooms. I'm beginning to appreciate just how important it is to have a good rapport with contractors; we were "spoiled" by the guy who built our home. Today, the guy mentioned we "could get by with 2x10s", rather than the spec'd 2x12s for floor joists and the carrying stick. I told him I appreciated his desire to provide cost saving options but we wanted the beefier 2x12 stick and joists. He smiled and said, "my home is 'over-built', too.". I fear I will vomit explosively when I see the final estimate.

    I meant to comment on Michelle's pink-trimmed tulips. Beautiful foliage... does the varigation last or fade out? And I'm thinking about easter baskets and candy. Mum loved Easter and the basket was always an eagerly anticipated thing. I made a trip to the very posh candy store for the helpmeet's chocolate bunny and added a hand decorated milk chocolate egg filled with caramel, too.

    I was thinking about the "fur thing". We had a lot of that stuff in house (collars, cuffs, accessories) inherited from dead family members. I remember asking Mum about them and she was pretty blunt, "they kill the animal and skin it, dear". I never lost any sleep over it. From a purely professional standpoint, a furrier's work is technically very involved and very skilled (I found it fascinating, esp. the restyling aspect of it). But there is a very dark side to the industry, no doubt about that (just like horse and dog racing, and the meat industry)! I wouldn't buy a fur, but if I inherited one I'd probably use it. My favorite fur is beaver with mink in second place.

    Did Dannie go to school today? what are you learning? are you doing Basic with hand signals? (are you patting her on the head, ;) ). Obedience classes are a great way to boost a dog's confidence. Poor Dannie sounds as though she has many "issues", I understand, so does Rex. And while his issues are different from Dannie's, they're still rooted in confidence and it is something to work on every single day. None of our dogs were ever particularly bothered by thunderstorms (if they were really close and severe they'd get a bit tense), but my uncle's Golden was terrified of them (she behaved similarly to what you've described in Dannie). I wonder what it is that triggers that sort of fear/anxiety in one dog and not in another. I used to wonder the same thing about different horses, too, why is one "bomb-proof" but another turns inside out at the site of a bedsheet flapping on a clothesline or a chicken scratching around near the barn? Go figure.

    Here's a shot showing why we left the ladder up. Vera especially likes to hang out on the roof:

    {{gwi:152139}}

  • michelle_zone4
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Babs, for once I am without snow. I actually did spend a couple hours outdoors today. Its only got to about 35 and is windy. I mostly straightened up in the garden shed. Sorry you are buried. Good luck on the possible job.

    Honey, LOL your bakery story! I treated myself to a Panera cinnamon crunch bagel this a.m. When I get there I pick up the bakers dozen and freeze them.

    I did finally order a few plants yesterday. I went to a local nursery last weekend and realized that I need to order plants to get anything different. I have planted no seeds this year. I did pot up 2 grapevines that I bought the other day. Im thinking of a grape arbor in the potager. I really thought Id make an arbor out of copper like the tuteur that I made last year, but time is slipping away from me so badly this year.

    We are having my kids and parents over for Easter dinner so much of today was spent preparing food.

    Chelone, I have never experienced any kind of construction but I can appreciate the anxiety of the unknown. DH did major reconstruction of this house and built the majority of the buildings on this farm before we were married.

    I will leave you with a picture from last year of China Town It loses the pink to white edges. I must go and make my final food item strawberry pie.

    {{gwi:152142}}

    Michelle

  • honey_mi
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Everybody must be busy with holiday preparations.

    Chelone, we built 2 homes. The first we nearly got a divorce over and the second went smoothly. DH swears hell never build again and dreads some remodel jobs we have to do here. The only thing I can suggest is that you thoroughly research your builder and check references and insurance, think everything you want done through first and put every detail in writing. Even then there can be delays and problems and youll need lots and lots of patience. I wish you luck and cant wait to hear and see progress.

    Love Vera! Shes sooo cute. Its amazing that she likes to get on the roof!

    Re the fur thing, I have a DH story. First of all, I avoid taking him shopping w/me b/c he usually causes a scene. But one day in May, we were shopping for swimming trunks and boating shoes for him. On the way back to the car thru a big dept store, there was a "Clearance sale" sign with an arrow to the fur salon. So I detoured there. The sales person got a chair out for DH to wait comfortably for me. I spotted this exquisite full length crystal fox trimmed in mink and I just HAD to try it on. I was playing not buying. As I was preening in it, just enjoying the moment, the sales mgr. came over and complimented me on how nice the coat favored my coloring. Then she turned to DH (big mistake) and said, "Doesnt that coat look gorgeous on her?

    Thoughtfully, he replied, "Well, it makes her look a whole lot older and heavier, but if she really wants it." After his comment registered and the sales mgr. recovered, she momentarily looked like she was going to strangle him. I just cant take him anywhere!

    Michelle, I love that China Town tulip. Have fun with Kenzie and your family tomorrow.

    Oh Cynthia, so Im responsible for your buying Amelanchier? I didnt know that. Youre so knowledgeable and have so many different varieties of trees and shrubs, I never guessed that me of all people could tempt you! So glad you got your plumbing problem fixed w/o a disaster. Do you have to do the RR thingy b/c of tree roots in the sewer lines? SILs Mom had an older home with that problem and they told her she should either remove the trees or have the lines snaked out every yr. Hope thats not the case with yours.

    Babs, were really hoping to make it to IU4 this yr. We have a couple loose ends to tie up here before we can commit for sure. Were so excited about seeing everyone again and Im so glad youll be there, too!

    Sorry I couldnt comment on everything. Time to make my contribution to tomorrow's dinner at DS's house. Hope everyone has a great Easter. Night all.

    Honey

  • gardenbug
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Been home only a short time so this will be a photo drive by mainly. In short, the move was a big success. The house is finer than I would have imagined for them. They've been very busy painting and fixing and getting organized. It was a happy time!
    Grandpa helps DGS learn to use a hammer and build a bird house:
    {{gwi:152144}}

    Gifts arrive. Here a baby backpack for hiking:
    {{gwi:152145}}

    New crib set up, new dresser too. Changing table arrives later and I'll make matching curtains.
    {{gwi:152147}}

    Couldn't live with the aqua living room so painting began after much analysis of paint chips.
    {{gwi:152149}}
    {{gwi:152151}}
    {{gwi:152153}}

    Many other rooms had instant make-overs. Two in particular were a deep raspberry red with a saran wrap textured effect and black trim. UGH! One is now an off white study, another a pale green bathroom.

    Here DD and DSIL clown about yet another trip to Home Depot. Truth be told, DD hates shopping and it is DSIL who loves to buy buy buy. Today he was going to buy a dining table. I think we looked at 3-4 possibilities while he debated their pros and cons. Since he's the one who loves to entertain and cook, he gets to make the decision.
    {{gwi:152154}}

    DH leaves for Vienna tomorrow, so I must go do laundry now. Later friends!
    'bug

  • gardenbug
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Been home only a short time so this will be a photo drive by mainly. In short, the move was a big success. The house is finer than I would have imagined for them. They've been very busy painting and fixing and getting organized. It was a happy time!
    Grandpa helps DGS learn to use a hammer and build a bird house:
    {{gwi:152144}}

    Gifts arrive. Here a baby backpack for hiking:
    {{gwi:152145}}

    New crib set up, new dresser too. Changing table arrives later and I'll make matching curtains.
    {{gwi:152147}}

    Couldn't live with the aqua living room so painting began after much analysis of paint chips.
    {{gwi:152149}}
    {{gwi:152151}}
    {{gwi:152153}}

    Many other rooms had instant make-overs. Two in particular were a deep raspberry red with a saran wrap textured effect and black trim. UGH! One is now an off white study, another a pale green bathroom.

    Here DD and DSIL clown about yet another trip to Home Depot. Truth be told, DD hates shopping and it is DSIL who loves to buy buy buy. Today he was going to buy a dining table. I think we looked at 3-4 possibilities while he debated their pros and cons. Since he's the one who loves to entertain and cook, he gets to make the decision.
    {{gwi:152154}}

    DH leaves for Vienna tomorrow, so I must go do laundry now. Later friends!
    'bug

  • gardenbug
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Sorry about the stuttering above...

    This is for Cynthia and other cat lovers.

  • cynthia_gw
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Happy Easter! Dogs have been out looking for the Easter bunny (I'm thawing a whole rabbit for their dinner). Off to open the piano and see if any of my cats are talented like Nora in GB's link.

    Love everyone's photos. Thanks for sharing the trip GB - you do great candid shots. The sky is so blue in Maine! And love Michelle's tulips... Honey it took me a minute to realize the cartoon caption was Maxine and not you!

  • Lara Noles
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Happy Easter! It sure doesn't look or feel like Easter here, more like New Years at 28F. I'm waiting for Bella to arrive for her Easter basket. I had such fun filling it, only a small amount of candy though. It's too cold and snowy out for the Easter egg hunt I had planned.

    Marie, great pictures! What a great house, love the crib too and dd looks great!

    I'm appreciating seeing any and all garden pictures. Michelle, pretty tulips! And Kathy, that rose is really something!

    Honey, dgn is just adorable. I had a white rabbit muff. We need Easter muffs here this year!

    Chelone, nice to see Vera and hear about the garage planning progress.

    Cynthia, I haven't found any good prizes at our Homegoods in ages. Did you decorate Easter hats for Monty, Dannie and Katie to wear on their walks today? Wouldn't that be the cutest? They would look like an Easter parade!

  • just_t
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Happy Easter everyone!

    Welcome home GB! I enjoyed your photos.

    Michelle, that is a very pretty tulip and Kathy's rose bush is impressive (and then impressive again).

    We've had steady rain for a couple days (so much for our projected nice weather and plans for working outside) but today, so far, looks nice (and dry). The cold spell hitting so many of you is amazing. I'm sorry that you are having to deal with these cold of temps at this time of year.

    Well, off to get ready for church....Blessings to all on this most special of all holidays!

    T.

  • gardenbug
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago


    An Old Italian man lived alone in the country.
    He wanted to dig his tomato garden, but it was very hard work as the ground was hard.
    His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison.

    The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:

    Dear Vincent,
    I am feeling pretty badly because it looks like I won't be
    Able to plant my tomato garden this year. I'm just getting
    Too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if you
    Were here my troubles would be over. I know you would be
    Happy to dig the plot for me.
    Love, Dad

    A few days later he received a letter from his son:

    Dear Dad,
    Don't dig up that garden. That is where I buried the bodies.
    Love, Vinnie

    At 4 a.m. The next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and
    Dug up the entire area without finding any
    Bodies. They apologized to the old man and left.

    That same day, the old man received another letter from his son:

    Dear Dad,
    Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now. That's the best I
    Could do under the circumstances.
    Love you, Vinnie

  • Lara Noles
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Well Easter dinner's over, Bella loved her basket. I think her favorite thing in it was the Hello Kitty pez dispenser. Brad and Dave are watching a movie now and I'm taking a break from painting my bedroom door. Six panel doors are such fun to paint! I just checked the weather and the forecast for April 22nd, two weeks from today is snow. When is it going to end???

    I wanted to tell Babs that I have my fingers crossed for the new job! It sounds just perfect for you!

    Cute joke, Marie. LOL!

    Hi T!

    Tomorrow's David's 21st birthday. We're all taking him out to lunch and I'll be baking a cake in the morning to take along.

    Back to painting...Eden

  • michelle_zone4
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    The temps were in the mid-40's but it was sunny and Kenzie wanted to go outside, so the egg hunt was outdoors. This is so much more fun than in the house.

    {{gwi:152156}}

    {{gwi:152157}}

    Eden, my DS birthday is this week too on Thurs. He will be 25. Rick has a Dr. appointment that day in Sioux Falls so we will see him.

    It looks like 'bug's trip was lots of fun.

    Happy Easter
    Michelle

  • Lara Noles
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Michelle, I'm jealous. Kenzie looks like she's having so much fun hunting eggs. I love the hat on her too! I so wanted to do an egg hunt here. Bella and I even decorated a special bucket for her to use. But we had grey skies and snow on the ground and it was cold! Maybe next year. Thanks for sharing your hunt. I loved seeing it :) So we both have birthday boys this week. Happy Birthday to your ds!

  • veronicastrum
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I hope all had a Happy Easter. I rang bells at church this morning - missed all the rehearsals and they put me on different bells, so I quickly highlighted my music AND my wrists and did just fine. We had only eight for dinner and it was very nice. Still a lot of dirty dishes in the kitchen, but I will post this, take my contraband Cadbury egg into the kitchen and finish cleaning.

    The new laptop is a dream and the computer tech responded to my late Friday SOS, so hopefully we will come to an end of the computer woes.

    Did I mention that the weather still stinks? A lot of my daffs have given up the fight, the hyacinths are only half-bloomed, and my columbines have lots of dead foliage. I know most things will recover, but I did think a couple of weeks ago that things would look nice on Easter.

    It's the week for idyll-child birthdays - my DD has hers next Sunday.

    Mary, I can relate to the story of your DH and the coffee. Would you believe my DH bawled me out today because I didn't have the kids wait for him to open their Easter baskets? The "kids" who are 22 to 19? as Da used to say.

    Okay, change the laundry, empty the dishwasher and off to bed. Hello to all!

  • gardeningmary
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Hello Idylls

    A very nice Easter here despite the snow and grey skies YUK! We had a leasurely start to the morning, made all the more pleasant by the fact that Clousseau did not throw up in the night. He had raided my Easter basket shopping and ate eight (yes 8!) Cadburys Caramel eggs. The dog apparently has a cast iron stomach and no remorse.

    We had friends over at noon and the 5 children donned winter coats, boots and gloves for the egg hunt. I had earlier frozen my tushie off hiding 200 plastic eggs in teh yard but it was worth it to see how much fun they had finding them, even the two teenagers! We had hot chocolate and home-made bubka afterwards.

    SIL took Annie and David to the movies while DH and I enjoyed a quiet afternoon together, walked the delinquent pooch, lit a huge fire and grilled lamb for dinner. The kids went to see "Blades of Glory" (everything is funnier in spandex) which Annie described as being "very wrong but hilarious", David announced it his new favorite movie but SIL felt it was far too crude. Oh dear, perhaps not the best choice for family viewing. I'm afraid their descriptions of some of the funnier moments had me in stiches - I must have turned into a poor parent.

    We finished the evening with some wholesome game playing (Scattergories and Crazy Eights) and I'm about to turn in for the night.

    GB - what fun pictures from your trip - you can almost feel the joy and anticipation. I particularly love the frog crib!

    Michelle - Kenzie is so cute!

    Babs - that is fabulously exciting about the teaching possibility. Fingers crossed as I write this!

    best wishes to all those celebrating birthdays

    Nite-nite all

    Mary

    PS I was voted down on my entry for "a pair of something" beginning with the letter N in Scattegories. Apparently a pair of neighbors did not count LOL! Would you guys have allowed it?

  • ccsuzy
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. The little ones in the egg hunts - so cute! We used to plan an egg treasure hunt with clues and prizes and one large prize every year. Ours are a bit old for that now, but still get some Easter candy.

    Today was the coldest Easter here since 1975. That's before my boys were born! Had flurries most of the day. I must admit - yesterday I took a peek under the sheets out on the flower beds and it didn't look too promising. In a couple of days it will warm enough to remove them, and that's going to be pretty sad. I don't know if the plants with pots filled with pine needles fared any better - haven't had the heart to look. I, too, was thinking Easter this year would be pretty with flowers and such, but not to be.

    We had excitement before dinner - Mom had sweet potatoes cooking in the oven (they had been in for about an hour) and her casserole dish shattered. A big bang and a great whoosh of steam from the hot syrupy juices hitting the oven floor! Thankfully the door was closed and we were in the adjoining room. If she had been taking the potatoes out or had the door open when that happened - well, I just don't want to think about that. She turned off the oven and I rushed home to put on more sweet potatoes and cook rolls. The ham had already been removed from the oven so no harm there! By the time I returned with cooked sweet potatoes and hot rolls, she and dad had the oven pretty well cleaned up. She waited until it was cool, but wanted to get the syrup out of there before it hardened. The syrup also ran down into the drawer below the oven and everything had to be washed. The rest of the dinner was uneventful, LOL.

    Sounds like Clousseau and Cinders have something in common. Cinders stole a half dozen small peanut butter cups this morning, taking each one under the sofa in the living room to munch. I'd have never known if I hadn't found the one wrapper he left in the middle of the floor. There was a pile of them under the sofa, though. I asked him about it and he gave me the "guilty eyes" and hung his head. And licked his lips.

    Almost lost this post, so I'm gonna post it before that happens again!

    suzy

  • chelone
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Those pictures of Kenzie are great. I'm not sure quite what it is, but kids that age always have a look of such rapt concentration when they're on a "mission". Did Bella get to do any "hunting" indoors? And V., I laughed at the your husband's dismay at missing the Easter baskets. That's pretty funny.

    I was careful to stash the helpmeet's bunny in the "lab.". Rex is pretty good about not filching food, but he IS, after all, a dog and they do that sort of thing. We do our level best to "save him from himself"; cat food is the biggie with Biggie.

    I have been thinking of Babs. as I've watched the snowstorm in Cleveland... maybe the Indians could play baseball in snowshoes? And Suzy, your yard is still under bedsheets??? It's still cold here, but as previously mentioned there isn't vey much that's so far along I fear for its long range survival. The wind has been just brutal the past few day... really makes it feel colder than it is. (but it dries the laundry quickly!)

    Eden, my sympathies on the doors. There are 21 of them in this house and 5 are still unpainted. I used alkyd paint, high gloss... they DO take a long time.

    'bug, the pictures are great. Looks as though it was a very busy and productive visit. Can't wait to get some more details from you. Is Charlotte glad to have her Mummy and Daddy home?

    I have to get dressed, heat up the "lab." for some alteration work. Electrician at 8, a trip to meet a builder between 10-11, and another site work guy around lunch time.

    The helpmeet brought home and Easter lily yesterday. The whole living room/library smells great this morning. Talk atcha later.

  • martieinct
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    A day late but nonetheless heartfelt: CELEBRATE THE PROMISE OF THE SEASON!!!

    Semi-Recovered from what I now know was the official flu. Back to work today.

    No plant damage, yet, but everything has come to a screeching halt. Snow anticipated for Thursday and nothing near 50degF all week. Trying not to fret or complain but SHEEEEEEESH!!

    I'm so impressed that Kenzie walks on paths! The stories of baskets and finery made me wistful. Did get potted bulbs for every woman I saw yesterday and the car smelled wonderful. Hope!!!

    Cracked up with the jokes. Good belly laughs in the morning are never bad.

    Okay, Chelone. You know I need to chime in about contractors :-) One of DH's huge contract points is that he is responsible for everything. "Full Service, One Job at a Time." Sub-contracting your own project is frightening, and DH points out that since timing is everything, getting everyone in sinc can be a job in and of itself. Especially when there's no "future" relationship involved. All that said, he said (yes, I actually asked him) that if you need help, scream and give us a way to get in touch. He also said that 2x12's are not "over-built" but probably code :-) You're on the right track.

    Marie - I'm so happy for your entire family.

    Everyone Else -- Stay warm, do what you need to do for your own personal comfort, and keep on painting :-)

    Martie

  • gardenbug
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    WHY at 9:30 in the morning is there a 1 second power outage that wipes out my lengthy post? Well, I'll see what I can do to recap.

    I've missed a lot in one week's absence. Babs, a NEW JOB?!!Best wishes on that! V is bell ringing without rehearsing! Kenzie is adorable, as usual. Lady Banks put in an impressive appearance and Honey is back in good form with HRH Bullet.

    Chelone, I'll try to reconstruct our visit. We arrived at Edmonton airport with lots of baggage, including DD's baby wicker rocking chair. Much honking and silliness as they drove up to collect us.
    That evening we packed and packed boxes. Indy dog has been practicing saying "HEWOOOO". Good grief! Next morning we were off to sign papers at the lawyer's, where I pointed out an error where it was written "eight" rather than "eighty" thousand dollars. I was not popular for that! It would have created problems down the road anyway I guess. Then DD was off to work again and DSIL continued packing and coordinating help for the next day.
    Moving day was tricky but well planned. In the morning the rental truck was collected, new furniture packed in it, then the old stuff loaded in front of that. Trip #1. Then DD went to collect DGS from the airport (He was visiting a grandfather for March break in B.C.) At noon the keys to the new place were delivered to me on site, and load #2 arrived. A sharp 16 year old nephew of DSIL's was there to build their new bed as well as the bunkbed for DGS.
    By 3:30 the gang was GONE! We puttered as much as we could stand, trying to organize boxes and the kitchen, put sheets on beds, etc. DD was wiped out, so she was sent to BED.
    The next week is a blur of shopping, boxes, cleaning, painting, trips to the dump and good food. DSIL bought himself tools with his birthday money and also a fancy Belgian waffle maker which we tested several times for breakfasts. DH and I bought them lots of "little" things which really added up! ;-) It is fun to do once in a while when possible: 4 stools for the kitchen island, the crib and dresser, paint and good brushes for edging, scissors, etc etc.
    DSIL is the energizer bunny and hardly sleeps, working on house projects most nights til 2am. DD gets discouraged because she can't keep up these days. So DH made a point of having her help him build the crib and kitchen stools. I helped her sort baby clothes and fill the dresser, and we chose crib bedding too.
    We visited in-laws and a Somalian friend came over with super food too. So, it was a busy joyous time! DGS met 5 year old Amanda across the street within 3 seconds of moving in, before he even saw his room. That is a good thing for both kids longterm as it turns out, and so made moving day easier.
    That's all she wrote for now!
    'bug
    Finding a place for everything.
    {{gwi:152158}}

    Bum shot: How does this fireplace work?
    {{gwi:152159}}

    Entertainment. DH learning a new song: Gunga Din (Rudyard Kipling set to music)
    {{gwi:152160}}

    DGS's room. The ceiling fan must go so he doesn't decapitate himself!
    {{gwi:152161}}

  • gardenbug
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    One evening DD sat with DGS and explained the entire poem to him. He adores figuring out poetry and song and knows words to more songs than I do. Normally I'd say this is not child material, but it works in this situation.

    Poem lyrics of Gunga Din by Rudyard Kipling.

    You may talk o' gin and beer
    When you're quartered safe out 'ere,
    An' you're sent to penny-fights an' Aldershot it;
    But when it comes to slaughter
    You will do your work on water,
    An' you'll lick the bloomin' boots of 'im that's got it.
    Now in Injia's sunny clime,
    Where I used to spend my time
    A-servin' of 'Er Majesty the Queen,
    Of all them blackfaced crew
    The finest man I knew
    Was our regimental bhisti, Gunga Din.
    He was "Din! Din! Din!
    You limpin' lump o' brick-dust, Gunga Din!
    Hi! slippery "hitherao"!
    Water, get it! "Panee lao"! [Bring water swiftly.]
    You squidgy-nosed old idol, Gunga Din."

    The uniform 'e wore
    Was nothin' much before,
    An' rather less than 'arf o' that be'ind,
    For a piece o' twisty rag
    An' a goatskin water-bag
    Was all the field-equipment 'e could find.
    When the sweatin' troop-train lay
    In a sidin' through the day,
    Where the 'eat would make your bloomin' eyebrows crawl,
    We shouted "Harry By!"
    Till our throats were bricky-dry,
    Then we wopped 'im 'cause 'e couldn't serve us all.
    It was "Din! Din! Din!
    You 'eathen, where the mischief 'ave you been?
    You put some "juldee" in it [Be quick.]
    Or I'll "marrow" you this minute [Hit you.]
    If you don't fill up my helmet, Gunga Din!"

    'E would dot an' carry one
    Till the longest day was done;
    An' 'e didn't seem to know the use o' fear.
    If we charged or broke or cut,
    You could bet your bloomin' nut,
    'E'd be waitin' fifty paces right flank rear.
    With 'is "mussick" on 'is back, [Water-skin.]
    'E would skip with our attack,
    An' watch us till the bugles made "Retire",
    An' for all 'is dirty 'ide
    'E was white, clear white, inside
    When 'e went to tend the wounded under fire!
    It was "Din! Din! Din!"
    With the bullets kickin' dust-spots on the green.
    When the cartridges ran out,
    You could hear the front-files shout,
    "Hi! ammunition-mules an' Gunga Din!"

    I shan't forgit the night
    When I dropped be'ind the fight
    With a bullet where my belt-plate should 'a' been.
    I was chokin' mad with thirst,
    An' the man that spied me first
    Was our good old grinnin', gruntin' Gunga Din.
    'E lifted up my 'ead,
    An' he plugged me where I bled,
    An' 'e guv me 'arf-a-pint o' water-green:
    It was crawlin' and it stunk,
    But of all the drinks I've drunk,
    I'm gratefullest to one from Gunga Din.
    It was "Din! Din! Din!
    'Ere's a beggar with a bullet through 'is spleen;
    'E's chawin' up the ground,
    An' 'e's kickin' all around:
    For Gawd's sake git the water, Gunga Din!"

    'E carried me away
    To where a dooli lay,
    An' a bullet come an' drilled the beggar clean.
    'E put me safe inside,
    An' just before 'e died,
    "I 'ope you liked your drink", sez Gunga Din.
    So I'll meet 'im later on
    At the place where 'e is gone --
    Where it's always double drill and no canteen;
    'E'll be squattin' on the coals
    Givin' drink to poor damned souls,
    An' I'll get a swig in hell from Gunga Din!
    Yes, Din! Din! Din!
    You Lazarushian-leather Gunga Din!
    Though I've belted you and flayed you,
    By the livin' Gawd that made you,
    You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!

  • babs_clare
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Hoppy Easter = :o] (does that look like a bunny?)
    April sure IS a big BIRTHDAY month...hiny,hint.
    Happy bday to all those idyll children with bdays. My sister's is Thurs. we celebrated ours together yesterday.

    Our Easter was snowy to say the least-we didn't get stuck anywhere but it just continually snowed! I think we have about a foot by now. It kind of changed our plans for an egg hunt....I suppose if we supplied shovels, hmm..

    I'm very happy that I had enough forethought to bring forsythia branches and cuttings of purple hyacinth indoors before all the blusteriness. I keep wonderings how this will affect the hydrangeas that started leafing out...

    Gb nice to see your DD/family being so productive...so think she's begun nesting yet?; )

    Michelle I'm so glad you had bare ground for Kenzie to egg hunt on-she's a gal on a mission in those pics! So cute! That is such a beautiful tulip!! If I didn't have so many deer that would slurp those things up I'd definitely have to find China Town-I really do like the variegation of the leaves.

    Eden-any pics of Bella?

    I don't mean to run but we are leaving for our trip in a couple days so I need to do laundry and stuff...hopefully I can sneak by again before we go...

    Hi to the rest of the idyll gang!

    ~Babs

  • gardeningmary
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY BABS

  • gardeningmary
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Babs - I'm SOOOO sorry to have missed your birthday (the birthday oracle must have been distracted by the Easter bunny). Picturetrail is doing something wierd right now and I can't get into my photos but come back later if you can for a card!

    Hope you did something special to celebrate.

    Mary

  • Lara Noles
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Oh my gosh, we're bad, bad Idyllers. We didn't miss one but two birthdays!

    Happy Birthday Drema!

    {{gwi:152163}}

    and Happy Birthday Babs!

    {{gwi:150334}}

    Hope you both had great days!

    Eden

  • just_t
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    On the run this morning but just saw the birthday greetings by Mary.

    Happy Birthday to Drema and Babs!!!!!

    I'm such a louse.....can't remember the HTML code for making the cool fonts. Imagine the greetings in big scrolly Victoria font-----and you can choose the color-I chose blue, but it can be changed for whatever colors you prefer, ;o)

    My best to you both!
    T.

  • michelle_zone4
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Happy Birthday Drema!
    {{gwi:152164}}

    Happy Birthday Babs!
    {{gwi:152165}}

  • chloehoover
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Hoppy belated Birthday, Babs!!

    {{gwi:152166}}

    Happy Birthday, Drema!!

    {{gwi:152167}}

    From the Great Frozen New South...

    Cindy

  • gardenbug
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    All the best to Babs!

    {{gwi:152168}}

    Yo Drema! To you too!
    {{gwi:152170}}

  • gardeningmary
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    {{gwi:152173}}
    BELATED BIRTHDAY WISHES BABS!!

    {{gwi:152175}}
    BELATED BIRTHDAY WISHES DREMA

    Something tropical to warm us on this cold day.

    warmest regards
    Mary

  • gardeningmary
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    --(---@


    (a rose for the birthday gals)

    M

  • chelone
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Oh man! I don't who is the "keeper" of birthdays (it ain't me)... I so suck at that sort of thing. HOWEVER, in honor of the birthday girls I've actually patrolled the uncharted depths of the picture files for things I know you've never seen before!

    For our snowbound Babs., a pretty Geranium whose name has been lost to the vagaries of New England's winters:

    {{gwi:152178}}

    And for Drema, a close up of Kalmia... (who suffered mightily last winter and may well succumb utterly to mortal damage):

    {{gwi:152179}}

    And for both of you, just because I always like this combination:

    {{gwi:152180}}

    I've forgotten how pretty aspects of my garden can be... thanks for the reminder. :)

  • ccsuzy
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Happy Birthday Drema!
    {{gwi:152181}}
    Happy Birthday Babs!

    {{gwi:152182}}

    Of course nothing in my garden looks like this right now. We're due a bit of a warm up, low temps in the 30s and highs in the 50s. Tomorrow I will uncover the poor plants. I peeked under the pots today and it looks like the pine needle nests actually protected more than the sheets. A reason to keep those loose pots! I have a huge stack of them I was going to toss, I think I'll set them inside the garage for use another time.

    I'm looking out the window at a very yellow goldfinch, looking for food at my feeder. I"m going to have to get more finch food, it seems. I've also heard the hummers are back, but I can't imagine how they have taken the cold the last few nights.

    Chelone, that geranium might be Splish Splash. I have one that reseeded itself into the rose bed and gave me two more. I wonder how often I rip out seedlings, thinking they are a weed. I happened to notice these leaves looked familiar and left them to see what developed. A happy choice!

    Great pictures Bug. Looks like you had a busy and fun time with your DD and family.

    Off to consider dinner.

    suzy

  • deanneart
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    {{gwi:152183}}

    {{gwi:152184}}

  • veronicastrum
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago


    Happy Birthday Babs & Drema!

    After way too many tries, this is as close as I can get to flowing script! Hope you both enjoyed your days!

    V.

  • Full_Bloom
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Good Morning Idylls!

    Another early one, so I can make a quick post.

    I hear you V...I *live* for spring...it's my season. Oh well, I guess this year I'll live for June! :-)

    Now I'm wondering about when Sue's surgery is too Cynthia. I *thought* it was for Monday the 16th. I wrote it down in my calendar awhile back, so I wouldn't miss wishing Sue my best the night before, but from what I'm reading here now, I may have written down the wrong date...it wouldn't surprise me. You & Bug have Clivias?!? Oh I'm green! I am not a houseplant person, houseplants don't like me. But, if there was ever a houseplant I *wished* I could grow, *that* would be the one.

    Speaking of which...I just drooled over all your beautiful plant choices Bug. Your purple hellebore looks a lot like one I planted last spring. To my relief, it lived through the winter, looks to have maybe one bloom or two, but not open yet. I'm just thrilled that it made it. One of my "no-name" hellebores has made about 20 babies from my last count (that is if they didn't die from yesterday's snow). I'll check on them once the snow melts. I want to pot them up and bring them to the next place. LOL about my posting, Bug. You are probably right, but I have *so* much *fun* making them! :-)

    Eden - I *love* that bedroom you posted...that is sooo just the kind of style I *love*, the soft hint of colors, the lamps, the little chest (armoire?), the curtains, the vase of fresh flowers, well *everything* and that *headboard*! That is the sweetest thing! Hope you find just the right gate/trellis and will post your creation when it is all completed. I can see that being Cynthia's style too...in fact it reminds me a lot of some of the restful, beautiful home pics Cynthia has posted. BTW Eden...I *love* that pic of your GT and SS together...what a beautiful combo!

    Chelone So sorry about the headache with Lamee? Did I spell that right?...You know...that *sparkly* cloth! :-)
    Can't help it but hearing about *sparkly* things gets my blood going. Paul tells me I'm a lot like a crow...attracted to bright, shiny things...LOL!

    BTW Mary...what is that *gorgeous* flower in your BD pic to Kathy? YumMm!

    Oh before I forget...I wanted to share this with Deanne & Drema:

    {{gwi:152185}}
    Up on the top shelf to the left is Deanne's Fuchsia and next to it is a pot of about 6 of Drema's coleus. On the bottom shelf to the right is a glass of Drema's cuttings! :-)

    I know the pics are poor, but can you tell which Fuchsia this is Deanne? It's been a blooming wonder and a real joy.

    {{gwi:152186}}
    A close up of some of Drema's coleus cuttings.

    {{gwi:152187}}

    I don't want anyone to be misled. I'm *not* a houseplant person. The only reason these plants are still alive is because they only have to be in the house for the winter....LOL! Actually the poor begonias are crying to get out of my hands and into a container outside...hope spring comes soon!

    Okay...gotta run...mom has an appointment at 08:30 and I'm not even dressed yet.

    Hi to anyone I missed.

    Hope you all have a great day!

    Ei

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