Category Archives: Misc
Hot weather, painting, and a new houseguest
Posted by doggonedmysteries
The heat is back on. Darn it, the past few days were wonderful. The temperatures were perfect. We had mid to upper 70’s during the day and mid 60’s at night. With no humidity to speak of, what could be better.
The neighbor’s son came through and the painting of the shed has begun. It will be nice when it’s finished. We did have to exchange most of the spray paint for brush on and change the color of the roof. The hammered copper didn’t look nice. How disappointing. At least this will give the shed several more years of life.
The rising heat has already started up Gavin’s itching. He looks forward to his daily dose of Benadryl…of course that could be because he gets it with peanut butter.
Somehow, we’ve acquired a new houseguest of the rodent type. It probably got in one of the many times when DH left the back door opened while he had the dogs outside. Both DH and Gavin saw it run under the couch yesterday. The traps are set. I’m hoping we’ll rid ourselves of it in quick order.
Posted in Dog related, Misc, Weather related, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
I think I lost a few brain cells
Posted by doggonedmysteries
When a strange and strong wind went through here a few weeks back, it peeled all the vines off our shed. The removal of the vines revealed rust on the roof and the sides. That’s when I realized the shed needed a paint job.
One problem, I don’t like to climb ladders any higher than the third step. Another problem, I have a short reach so painting the shed roof won’t come easy. The third problem is the color I’d like for the roof only comes in spray paint form.
The decision, use rust resistant spray paint to paint the shed. I cleaned the surfaces. Then I sprayed Rusty Metal Primer on some of the rusted areas. Not my most brilliant idea, I think I lost a few brain cells.
Even with a mask, I can’t stand the fumes. I need someone who will paint for me. I am attempting to bribe the neighbor’s son to do it. (He likes climbing ladders it is part of his job.) If that doesn’t work, I may have to beg.
Posted in Misc, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Mittened kitten found a home
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I received some good news from G today. It seems that the kitten who has been living on her deck has found a home. That is if it stays around for a few more days. G says that with her luck he’ll disappear when the woman comes to get him and then reappear a few weeks later.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this doesn’t happen and he goes on to live happily ever after with his new owner.
While I was visiting G today he curled up on my lap and stayed put for quite a while purring all the time. He’s going to make a wonderful lap cat.
He’s gained some weight since he came to live at G’s. He certainly has enjoyed the food they’re giving him. You no longer see each rib, his hipbones don’t look like knife blades, and his spine isn’t sticking out.
The day his new owner comes to get him, he has a vet appointment for neutering before she takes him home. Poor baby is in for a big surprise. He’ll get over it soon enough. I’ve a feeling she’s going to enjoy spoiling him.
Posted in Misc, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, cats, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, homeless kitten, kittens, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pets, Writer, Writing
The old dog needs a new trick
Posted by doggonedmysteries
DH points a finger gun at the dogs. “Stick ‘em up.”
Patty’s paws shoot for the ceiling and she balances perfectly. She gets a cookie. Gavin raises one paw and gives a bit of hop with the other. That’s the best he’s going to give DH. He’s not fond of the trick since he can’t sit up and hold his balance. He gets a cookie anyway.
DH is bored. The dogs are bored. The hot weather is keeping DH in the house. TV sucks there’s nothing on worth watching during the day. DH wants to teach them a new trick.
I told DH to try teaching them to roll over because Gavin excels at lying down. He’s not getting any younger. Gavin will be nine in November. The poor dog is beginning to show his age a bit. His bully runs are not as frequent nor do they last as long. He not only takes naps but the dog goes to bed at seven in the evening.
This should be interesting. Patty is smart and quick on the uptake. Gavin figures if it isn’t give paw, down, or kennel up, it’s not worth learning but then again there is that promise of a cookie…
Posted in Dog related, hobbies, Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, dog tricks, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Koi are like potato chips
Posted by doggonedmysteries
You can’t have just one. A couple of weeks ago I found I couldn’t resist purchasing one more Koi. I’ve told myself we don’t need more many times. However, one of the Koi we lost in the tragic poisoning of our pond a few years back was yellow and black. I never found one to replace him. That and the fact that one of ours has a physical problem pushed me over the edge when I saw the little guy.
I do mean LITTLE guy. Our Koi dwarf him. He is a game little thing though. He’ll brazen it out at night and swim rings around the big Koi. I’ve tried for days to get a picture of him in the pond. Tonight I managed to do so. He’s under the lily pads pictured in the top left of the first picture.
Posted in Misc, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Fish, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pond, Ponds, Writer, Writing
Monet skies
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I gave away more plants today. The perennials have flourished and are elbowing each other for space. M’s mother and father in law stopped by and took several plants. They barely put a dent in the crop.
I may have to resort to pulling some of them out like weeds to make some room. I hate to do that. Better to expand the garden edges and weather DH’s complaints. He shouldn’t complain since it would mean less for him to mow, but he is rather particular about the lawn.
After a hot and hard day’s work in the gardens, I sprawled out on the hammock to cool off and relax for a bit. The clouds drifted across the sky on the tip of an impressionist’s brush. The results were astonishingly gorgeous. I daydreamed under a Monet sky.
As the day moved into night, the back yard became nature’s light show. It began with a colorful sunset and ended with hundreds of fireflies doing their winged dance. The neighborhood was quiet. All I heard was the sound of the waterfall and fountains.
Posted in Misc, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pond, Ponds, Writer, Writing
G now holds the title of Queen Klutz
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Do you remember when I sprained both ankles after taking the tumble on the uneven sidewalk in our back yard? Then all the other Klutzy things I’ve done? I have been dethroned. I bow down to my dear friend G. She outdid me on Thursday night.
G and a friend went to a local college theater to see the Mikado. She was going to tell me all about it today, but when I didn’t hear from her, I thought I’d go over and visit. As I normally do, I walked through her back gate, up her deck steps, knocked on the screen door, and gave her a ‘yoo hoo!’ Imagine my surprise to see her limping to the door.
“What the heck did you do?” I stared at her.
“I tumbled down some steps.”
“What steps?”
“Over at the college by the theater entrance. I didn’t get to the play.”
“Holy crap, woman.”
“Yeah, I did a real good job falling.” She began to point out her injuries.
Her badly sprained, very swollen ankle, the cut on the outside edge of her eyebrow, the beginnings of a hell of a shiner, her left wrist—wrapped in an ACE bandage, and the shinbone on the other leg was looking quite colorful.
“Geez and I thought I held the record for klutziness.”
“I think I’ve got you beat. There’s more.” She showed me the bruise on her elbow and her chipped glasses.
“Egads! I do believe you’ve taken the title from me. Do you want me to get you a couple of fresh ice packs? Want to borrow my crutches?”
“No, I just iced everything.” She showed me a cane. “My hands are both so sore I have trouble using this so I don’t think crutches would help.”
“I don’t suppose they would. Can I get you anything?”
“No. I’m fine.”
“You let me know if you need anything.
“I will.”
“You know you’re my blog post tonight.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“Anything for you.”
“Yeah. Anyway, they were very nice to me at the college. They wanted to call an ambulance but I said no. They even exchanged our tickets for a later show. We’re going to try to see the play again, next Thursday.”
“Stay away from those stairs.”
Posted in Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, I lost my Klutz Queen title, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Surprise! A new look.
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I thought it was time for a change. I hope you like it. One thing I noticed was the print is larger, which I like. However, it is lighter, which I don’t like.
I may have to play a little.
The Blogrolls are now on the bottom of the page along with everything else that isn’t a post. Not sure if I like that, but we’ll see.
This is going to take some getting used to. I hope you all like the changes. If not, let me know. I do want your opinions.
Posted in Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Fish, Food, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Koi, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pennwriters, Pets, Pond, Ponds, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Are we sanitizing ourselves into oblivion?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
When we were kids, we used to go outside and play…in the dirt. We’d come home so filthy you couldn’t tell us from the neighborhood boys, or the boy cousins, if we were visiting our grandfather’s farm.
Mom was lucky if we really washed our hands before dinner. We went swimming in lakes and stagnant ponds and went wading in drainage ditches and creeks.
There was no such thing as sanitizing wipes or antibacterial soaps. Do you remember the two-second rule for dropped food? Don’t forget to blow on it too.
We rolled in the grass, rode our bikes all day, played in the rain, and we seldom caught colds. Allergies? The closest I came to one as a child was a reaction to eating way too much fresh pineapple—I got a rash that went away the next day.
I have a novel idea…for the entire summer put away the kids’ computers, game boys, WIIs, X-boxes, cell phones, and other paraphernalia and take them outside to play. I mean really play and get filthy. They might get healthier.
In fact, moving around and doing something outside would do adults a lot of good too.
Posted in Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, comedy, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pond, Ponds, Writer, Writing
Consistency in writing or brain farts can happen to the best of us
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I sent Dave a chapter to read where I must’ve been channeling my Grandmother because I used her first name instead of a character’s name. I have no idea why or how she popped in there. I’m glad Dave caught it so I could change the name to the right one.
I am writing several books at once. It isn’t unusual for me to have an ‘oops’ now and then. (Okay, Dave I admit it isn’t infrequent for me to oops it.) That’s why I have people such as Dave read and comment on my work.
Name errors aren’t the worst of it. I’ve managed to screw up time lines, had an entire chapter go missing, and other things too. I know I’ve truly goofed up when a chapter comes back to me with a large question mark and the comment WTF on the top of the page.
Brain farts can happen at the best of times. Mine happen when I have too many trains of thought derail in one day. The choo-choo can only go off the track so many times before there’s nothing left but rubble.
Posted in Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Time management
Posted by doggonedmysteries
You have to be kidding. Me manage time? I wish. That’s as much a pipe dream as organizing the house. I’ve tried to do both and have yet to succeed.
It never fails to amaze me that no matter when I get up, the day doesn’t have enough hours in it for me to do the things I’d like to have done around here. Maybe if I could clone myself…
I’d need more than one clone. However, that would pose another problem. Where would I put my clones? This house is tiny. How would I feed them? If they eat like I do that would put a hurting on our food budget. Clones won’t work.
This, in turn, brings us back to time management. How does one manage time? I have no idea. I remain clueless. I’ve tried making schedules but between DH, his mother, and the dogs schedules don’t work. Something always comes up to scotch it.
I would try delegating chores and projects but when there’s no one else to delegate those things to, that doesn’t work either. I need more hours in the day, or in my case, the night.
How do you manage time?
Posted in Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, I need more hours in the day, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Time management, why can't I get things done?, Writer, Writing
Poor little kitten in mittens
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I wish I knew what possesses people to dump animals. G has a kitten that someone dumped in her yard. He’s about 4 to 6 months old. The little guy is staying on her deck and in her yard. He is a brown tabby with four white mittens and a white bib. He has beautiful green eyes and a wonderful personality—very loving and outgoing. G can’t take him in because she already has three cats and they have already protested his presence in her yard. She doesn’t want to take him to the shelter because it is a kill shelter. All the no kill shelters are full and they won’t take him.
I can’t take him because Patty and Gavin don’t like kitties. We are trying to find him a home. Visually, he’s healthy no ear mites or fleas. As far as other health problems such as feline leukemia, we have no idea.
At least the weather is warm and G has a gazebo over her deck so he can stay dry. He’s been eating as if it has been weeks since he’s seen food.
If you live in Eastern PA and want him, let me know. I’ll put you in contact with G. The word is out. All we can do is sit back and wait for someone who wants a young cat.
Posted in Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, homeless kitten, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pets, throw away pets, Writer, Writing
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