Ouch! that hurts!

Ever been sewing and the wrong end of the needle goes into your thumb, thread and all. Ouch. I did it three times in the same place before I put the bandaid on. I forgot when sewing quilts and appliques I tape a small piece of hard plastic on my thumb to use to push the needle through several layers of fabric. Now I remember.

Today as usual picked up leaves, and also spread the mulch over the flower bed at the end of the pool. It really looks nice. When Vic gets here Thursday I'll get him to help me send more photos.

I finished two more quilt squares today. And have the next one planned.

I also worked on Mom's secret birthday present while she was at work. The lady who relieves her was late, very late, so I had lots of time.

Whoa! Can't keep up with the leaves. Mom got blisters raking. We have 10 bags so far. The laurel is dropping berries like crazy too. Harder to pick them up.

Got in the pool again so I could get the leaves and berries out. About 3 more days worth of avocado leaves still on the tree. I hope it doesn't do a "ha ha only 50 leaves a day for a month" and goes ahead and drops the rest at the same rate as now. Want to get it over.

Tried that shrimp taco. I can leave it. Mom said to spicy. I still like the crunchy tacos and the bean burritos best.

Tomorrow we plan to bag the rest of the leaves and spread the mulch over the flowers we planted. We are both getting plenty of exercise. Right now both our backs hurt. My fingernails are a mess. But today most of the time I had gloves on. Thanks Honey.

My shopping list:

doormats
corn
asparagus
half and half
bell peppers

Photos of some people I love.

First Swim

Finally, pool warm enough for a swim. I just couldn't resist after spending an hour or so planting flowers in the bed by the pool. The water was 77 degrees. Just warm enough to swim and skim leaves and kick berries from Spanish Laurel into piles. I even got some sun. Honey, did you say you were expecting snow to stick today?

My poor fingernails. Couldn't find gardening gloves, I am not a Lady Gardener. I am a po white folk gardener. If you know me, you probably know I have cracking, splitting, flaking nails. Hopeless really. But digging in dirt never helps.

Not cooking tonight. But thinking in terms of Mexican tomorrow. Also thinking snorkeling time can't be far off. Sand dollars washing up at Sandbar Beach. Also thinking of Mother's Day and Mother's Birthday. Have a crafty idea she might like.

What's on your grocery list? Mine is:

Bananas
Orange juice
Cucumber
Jalapenos

Nothing to say

Gee, depressed about the housing market. Feel like the Amhurst house is an anchor tied around my foot. I really loved that house and living in it. Good memories with Christina, the band, cold weather and falling leaves. But now I wish it just was a dream that never happened and I was here in Bradenton all along.
Posted on Dee's Diet today. Maybe I will crawl out of my shell, at least I felt that way earlier today, don't know about now. Maybe I have that bi-polar disease. Maybe I should go take my medication. Be right back...

Herb Day

Today I got the wheel barrow with the flat tire and mixed potting soil with compost to plant two boxes of Herbs. Italian parsley, chives, garlic chives, basil and I also got Blue Bedder Salvia for color. So far, I have mixed and filled the planting boxes which are long, narrow and plastic. I love terracotta pots, but in Florida they dry out too quickly sapping the moisture from the plants and the plastic ones hold it in better. Hopefully, after I plant the seeds and set them out the rodents will not bother them. I also hope to plant the fig afterwards.

Possibly I will try to get the wheel off the barrow and try to get it fixed. Other plans for the day are to ride bike, sew turtles, fry shrimp, make carrot raisin salad, read and watch House dvred from yesterday.
Just in case you wanted to know, my shopping list includes door mats, garlic and alcohol preps.
Whats on yours?

Turtle by turtle

Tonight I will work on my quilt, I have been reading alot, but I will make a patch tonight. If my photos will go to my pictures on the computer I will show the photo of it tomorrow. I will make a shrimp and fresh organic vegge dinner of the Asian style. Watch tv and read my book.

Today was swim class, then Mom and I went to the Extension Service in Palmetto to see what is going on with my avocado tree. Cold damage is what we hope, otherwise we may lose the tree to a new strain of disease.

She mentioned that she has never lived in a house that didn't have a fig tree, so I bought her a $10 one at K-Mart. I just happen to have compost to put in the hole. Tomorrow, I resolve to plant my herb seeds. Squirrels or no squirrels.

Have a good day.

Hoarding tendencies

Yes, listening to the psychologist on the show Hoarding: Buried Alive, I realize I have many qualities listed. So does Vic, which is difficult. I'm thinking about this because I am cleaning out my wardrobe and putting some winter clothes out of the bedroom. Have to keep some packed in suitcase for visiting "up-North". Honey, this is not a threat, but I am feeling weighted down with stuff here and hope that lightening the load may make me feel better, more energetic and perhaps be able to lose weight, body weight. We'll talk when you get here. I'll work on the bedroom only, for now.

The river was swift today

As I was walking with Mom at DeSoto Park. Then I had water class, picked up a chicken salad sandwich and got a haircut. Then it was nap time.
Mom says to say hi to everyone.
I will work on quilt as I watch who got knocked off American Idol.

Mom making Sheperds Pie for Vic

I'll be eating cereal I guess. Had salad and sandwich for lunch from Sweet Berries, a yogurt for dessert. Hummm. The best.

Back to working on quilt when Honey leaves. I have the guest bed all covered with material et al.

Christina Dogwalker

You go girl. Exercise, tan, and play with puppies. That's my kind of job except for the exercise part. Heh, heh.

Yeah, well our tenant is moving out at the end of the school year, lease not up til November. Kelly and Chris, take note. The joys of renting your house. I asked that they put it up for lease/sale. Vic asked to raise the rent and make the tenant pay the rent til it gets rented again, plus lose her deposit. Everyone has problems, she shouldn't be mine.

Starting diet again with Kelly. Love her.

Will have my Honey home tomorrow for the weekend. What more could I want?

Humm...Easter

The Easter Bunny hid eggs for Peggy to find. She hunts eggs from her chair, oddly finding all but one which is still hidden and may become stinky before she decides to actually hunt for it. She left for her Sunday volunteer job at DeSoto Park nearby, and I made Easter dinner of ham salad, potato salad, fresh green beans, and Banana Bread in my pajamas.

I finished the book that I was reading, Daughter of the Queen of Sheba, watched several tv programs from the tevo, napped, finally got out of my pajamas to have a shower and as it was already 6pm, just put on clean pajamas. Heh, heh. Never even went outside, though I did peek out at the pool, sunshine, flowers, and squirrels.

So I worked on my quilt in my jammies and watched tv with mom.

Today I actually have to at least put on a swimsuit. Possibly some clothes to go shopping for quilt supplies.

What can I say? I like my jammies and I am retired at the moment.

The Queen is Dead, long live the Queen

Susie is with us no more. We hoped for a miracle but no miracle for Susie. Breathing, heart. kidneys and nose problems too much for her. She was a very good dog. She will be missed. Rest in Peace.

Low Tide

Was going to go fishing this morning at DeSoto Park but was glad I didn't it's a long walk and Mom said it was low tide which means I can't cast far enough to get to a fish without wading and it is cold in that water. I found that out with the shark tooth adventure. So I will wait til high tide and maybe go the the causeway and give that a try this evening. Susie could go with.

Photo of an actor/dancer on the Chankanob beach. They portrayed hunting a deer. Lots of running and jumping. I really enjoyed that day at the beach. The others enjoyed their swims with the sea creatures, dolphins and manatees.