Category Archives: Misc
Dog gone dog home
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Things were somewhat quiet at the MIL’s house today. We should’ve figured it was too quiet and was the hush before the next squall.
Five this afternoon I was out weeding the gardens when I saw DH hobbling to his truck. “Where are you going? It’s almost time for me to start dinner.”
“My mom’s again.” This would be trip number three for the day. “The dog got out.” His mother has an elderly Border terrier who, like most terriers, even at his old age is still fast on his feet. She should have some old roly-poly dog that can’t get out of its own way.
“Want me to come along? Drive you over?”
“No. Go ahead and finish what you’re doing.”
“I won’t start dinner until you get back.”
“Okay.”
Three hours later, he came dragging in the door. He hadn’t found the dog. His mother was in hysterics and we both knew she’d make his life hell if the dog never came home. The poor man was distressed and beyond tired. It was late, I made dinner, we ate, and soon afterwards, he went to bed.
Around ten p.m. the phone rang, it was the MIL, some woman showed up at her door with the dog. DH mustn’t have been sleeping well worrying about the dog, because as soon as I hung up the phone, he called downstairs and asked me what was up. He knew it was his mother, she has a special ring on our phone, and it sounds as frantic as her constant calls.
“The dog is home.”
“Thank God.” He went back to bed.
Posted in Dog related, Misc, My blog, 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, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Vined and died
Posted by doggonedmysteries
The heat wave finally broke today but not without some damage. We had thunder, lightning, and heavy rain. That didn’t do the damage, on top of all that; we had strong winds whip through after the rain.
In the back corner of our yard, we have a good-sized shed. Going up the side facing the alley we had four types of vines growing up and over the roof. Two types of ivy, bittersweet, and chocolate vine had all intertwined and created a lovely mantle over the boring aluminum shed. Ferns below covered any of the lower faults.
My first trip out into the yard with Gavin after the rain stopped the wind kicked up into high gear. When I took Patty out next, I was shocked to find that in a few minutes the wind had literally peeled all the vines off the shed. A huge mass of vines were now hanging by a few tendrils that had attached to the magnolia.
All I could do was put on my work gloves, haul out the trimmers, and get to work on clean up. I filled four forty gallon trashcans with vines by the time I finished. It took me three hours to clear away the mess. It was still hot and humid when I was working.
Now if I can find someone willing to paint the shed for me…
The winds continued through the evening but not as wild as in the afternoon. By 11 tonight, we’d cooled down to a very comfortable 61 degrees. The air conditioners are off and I opened the house to welcome fresh air.
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, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
One flew over the cuckoo’s nest and I’m sure it was my MIL
Posted by doggonedmysteries
One a.m. thunder and lightning along with pouring rain. DH’s cell phone rings, waking him out of a sound sleep, and the police are on the other end of the line. I found all this out when he came downstairs set to drive across town to his mother’s, for the fourth time in nineteen hours. It seems that my MIL’s power went out for a few minutes and she felt the need to report the fact to the police. They in turn called us. Thanks guys.
The woman is going to be the death of him. Either that or she’s going send him to the funny farm post haste. This, by the way, is where she should be.
I swear she is certifiable, has been for at least 40 years. In fact, for 37 years her lights were on, nobody was home but the cuckoo, and he’s been screaming CUCKOO! Where’s nurse Ratchet when you need her?
The woman is nucking futs. I’d reserve her rubber room for her but the way things are going poor DH would probably be next door to her and I don’t think that would work.
Posted in Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, comedy, Craft of writing, crazy, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
The klutz was out and about again
Posted by doggonedmysteries
So there I was running the trimmer around the edges of the yard and the garden when I ever so neatly landed on my butt. Yep, the klutz was out and about again today. This time I tripped over the two bricks and the hose that extend from the filters for use while back washing the pond filter. The hose spewed a bit of water so my pants were also wet. I looked lovely.
Yes, there are bruises. I have one on my butt, and another on my arm that I have no idea how I got one there. I’m betting by tomorrow there will be more. Not to mention the stiff muscles I’ll discover that I never knew I had. I narrowly missed spraining an ankle, again. I’m ever so glad no one saw me fall it couldn’t have been pretty.
Falling once was bad enough, but not five minutes later, I almost repeated the same pratfall on the same two bricks and hose. By now, I think I hold the klutz queen crown firmly within my grasp. Next time I’m moving the bricks and hose before I begin to trim.
However, with my luck I’ll find something else to fall over. I’m taking odds on that.
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, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Remembering those who have fallen and those who still serve.
Posted by doggonedmysteries
My nephew in Afghanistan
May you all come home safe and soon!
Posted in Holidays, In memory of..., 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, Home, Life, Love, Memorial day, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, service men and women, Writer, Writing
No more robbing Peter to pay Paul
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We went through years of where we thought we’d never see the light at the end of the tunnel. We’d get close but then someone would move the end. We had those calls from creditors where you want to scream at them, “How do you get blood from a stone?” You knew it was bad when you’d cringe at the ring of a phone. We lived in creditor hell for a while and it is the worst place to be. I’m not going back there.
I never thought this day would get here. One more check to write and we are debt free. We can pay our regular bills as they arrive.
No more loan payments! We cleared that last week. We’ve always had a loan payment. 20 years ago when we paid off the mortgage, we still had car payments, and there was a home equity loan we had to take out when most of our major appliances committed suicide on the same day. Like anyone else, we kept refinancing that loan to pay for things we needed.
We don’t owe the credit card companies a dime. I’ve worked hard to keep them clear by only charging what I knew I could pay when the bill came. Believe me that wasn’t easy.
We’ve paid our oil and cable bill for the year, the car insurance too. Holy crap, we won’t know how to act. We might even be able to build up a decent savings account. Wow.
Posted in Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Debt free, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Is it a bear or Sasquatch?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
There’s a man, who walks his dog past our house. Sometime in the future, he will be a character in one of my books. He wouldn’t be a main character or even a minor character. He’d be a walk on.
He’d be one for one reason only and that is for the way he dresses or…um…doesn’t dress. The only reason I dread hot weather is that this man wears teensy shorts and goes shirtless or he wears a tank top with his shorts. It hit 92 degrees here yesterday. Someone gimme some bleach because I need to scrub my eyeballs.
Gentlemen, if you have more hair on your back than your Pekingese has on his whole body, wear a shirt. If you are hairy enough all over to be mistaken for Sasquatch when you wear shorts and go shirtless in the summer, you need to put on long pants and a shirt in public. Please not a tank top because that only emphasizes your hairiness.
If in addition to the hirsuteness, you have a beer belly that extends so far out you haven’t seen your feet in at least ten years, cover yourself.
Posted in Misc, My blog, Weather related, 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, Writer, Writing
Too hot too soon
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Wow, did it get hot today. The temperature leapt to ninety-one. If you add to that a lot of humidity, you can be sure that DH was miserable. He turned on the AC.
The pups were happy since they like the AC and they squabbled for the best place on the floor in front of the unit. Share? Are you kidding? It’s like living with perpetual three-year olds.
I like the heat so it didn’t bother me. I did some work outside and then took advantage of the heavily shaded hammock. All was fine while there was a breeze, but when that stopped, I decided it was time to retire to the house where it was cooler.
I hadn’t realized how hot it was outside until I walked into the kitchen. The cool non-humid air hit me like a tall ocean wave and felt as refreshing. However, I do hate sitting in the house all the time so I was soon back outside.
I harvested the rhubarb and took some over to G. Then I baked a rhubarb custard pie for tonight’s dessert—pure heaven. DH was more than a little delighted.
Posted in Misc, My blog, my garden, 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, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
There’s still romance
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Thirty-seven years and there’s still romance in our marriage. Life has been hectic for both DH and me over the last several months…um, years even. We haven’t seemed to have much time to take a breath, relax, and simply enjoy each other. However, once in a while….
It had drizzled all day but around seven, the sky cleared. After weeding the gardens, I set the new hammock up since the weather reports have indicated several dry days heading our way. DH came out to see what I was doing.
The hammock is a huge rope one, almost as wide as I am tall and quite long. DH decided to try it out. He sprawled out in it and looked deliriously happy and comfortable.
“Move over,” I said and joined him.
“The pillow is too small to share.”
“That’s okay I’ll use you.” I rested my head on his shoulder.
He snuggled closer and we scanned the sky to catch the first star.
After a while I said, “I like this.”
“I’m glad you bought the hammock.” He kissed the top of my head. “I missed doing this.”
“Me too.”
We stayed there until all the stars looked down at us.
Posted in Misc, MS related, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Romance, Writer, Writing
Save a few trees
Posted by doggonedmysteries
‘No call’ lists are useless when it comes to politicians. It was bad enough during the presidential race but now we have another election coming. It’s time to elect a governor. I’m so tired of phone calls that begin at noon and continue until well after nine at night.
G was over this afternoon for about a half hour and during that time, the phone rang three times. No, I didn’t want to talk to the campaigners who wanted to convince me to vote for their choice for governor. I already know whom I’m voting for and their phone calls will not change my mind.
I am informed. I keep my eye on the politicians. I read. I research. I listen to their opinions and I make up my own mind. Do not call me. Do not load my mailbox with junk mail. Save a few trees and I might actually vote for you. All of those political flyers go from the mailbox to the recycle bin without a glance. Do not drive me crazy when I’m cooking dinner.
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
We don’t need rain right now…
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We sure did get a load of rain the night before last. From what I heard, it totaled over 3 inches worth. I’m glad I thought to tie up some of my plants that would’ve flattened under a heavy downpour. I didn’t tie up the crane’s bill and it was pretty well flattened by the time the sun came out today. It’s a good thing that once it dries out it tends to rise again.
I have some candleholders that stick in the ground. I hadn’t put any candles in the cups and they were full of water when I went outside today. The ground in the back garden was downright saturated by the runoff we get from the apartment building behind us.
When I came down in the morning, the sky still threatened more rain. However, some time around four the sun came out and drove the clouds away.
Unfortunately, with all that heavy rain Goliath and two other frogs went walkabout and none of them have returned. We are now down to one bullfrog. Maybe that’s a good thing since those bullfrogs were starting go for any bird that happened to land close to them.
Posted in Misc, My blog, my garden, Weather related, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pond, Ponds, Writer, Writing
The frogs let me down
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We had a lovely day here yesterday. We hit a new high temperature record for the date. DH didn’t do so well by afternoon when it hit 87 degrees, but we expect it to be so, and make adjustments. He dresses cooler, tries not to over do it, and stays inside where, with a brick home, it’s cooler until late at night.
DH takes a daily afternoon nap. It helps him function better. This unfortunately is where he was when I was outside and almost fell off my chair with excitement. I watched a great blue heron fly over, and although glad that he didn’t stop by for a snack of Koi, I was bursting at having no one around to share my exhilaration. Even G was away and she would’ve been as thrilled as I was.
Around 7 p.m., it had cooled down to a nice 76 and DH came outside to sit by the pond for a little while. We watched robins bathe in the waterfall, goldfinches serenaded us, and a gentle breeze kept us comfortable.
However, the frogs let me down. They made a liar out of me. No one sang.
Posted in Misc, My blog, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pond, Ponds, Writer, Writing
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