Category Archives: My blog
September is here already?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I can’t believe it summer is already ending. Wasn’t it just Spring?
I picked the last cantaloupe I don’t think we’ll get any more from the vines this season. I do think we may have some watermelons before the first frost though. The next wave of tomatoes is starting to ripen. Another day or two and I’ll be making BLTs again.
The ruby throated hummingbirds are becoming regulars at the feeder and the cannas. The cardinals, woodpeckers, and sparrows are now sharing the feeders with two parakeets and a cockatiel that occasionally comes in. It is startling to see them at first.
Our toad, Mr. Toadamus is growing larger and must be finding plenty of bugs to eat because he’s quite fat. I miss the frogs I will have to buy some tadpoles in the spring unless the neighbor’s son finds some on one of his landscaping jobs and brings them home.
The hawk family is still around. I could hear them up in the cemetery when I was outside today.
There are two new stray cats in the neighborhood. I chased one of them out of the yard when I discovered him napping on the bricks along the side garden. It’s a good thing I was out alone and the dogs didn’t discover him. All hell would’ve broken loose.
Posted in My blog, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bird, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Food, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Home & Garden, Hummingbird, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Tomato, Woodpecker, Writer, Writing
Death by Cuddles
Posted by doggonedmysteries
“Henry went to the garden to chop down that old grape vine. That was two hours ago.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Detective Hayes wrote in his notepad. “Then what happened?”
“I heard a commotion. I came outside. Cuddles had that bloody board in his mouth. He was knocking over the potted plants.”
“You mean that two-by-four the Bull Terrier is playing with? You say it has blood on it?”
“Yes. I couldn’t get Cuddles to drop it. He ran by and cracked me in the shins. I went down hard. He ran past again and hit my head.” Victoria showed him the purple bruises on her shins and the knot on her forehead.
“That must’ve been quite a shot.”
“Oh, it was.”
“Tell me about Henry.”
“I was getting to that. Once I could walk, I went to look for him. I’m sure he killed Henry.”
“The dog?”
“Yes, Cuddles killed Henry.”
“Where was the dog?”
“I found him with Henry. He was licking Henry’s face. I ran back to the house to call for the ambulance. When they got here they said Henry was dead and called you.”
“I’m placing you under arrest.”
“But Cuddles did it.”
“Sure, lady”
Posted in Dog related, My blog, Short Stories, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Breeds, Bull Terrier, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, comedy, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Dog, Dog humor, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Rescues and Shelters, Short stories, Terrier Group, Writer, Writing
Gavin doesn’t fit under a potted palm but you try to tell him that…
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Yesterday Gavin entertained me by trying to hide under the potted palm in the waiting room. The receptionists and I were in the giggles. He crawled under a chair in the exam room, closed his eyes, and ducked his head in the old ‘if I can’t see you, you can’t see me’ routine. Didn’t work, the vet tech cracked up and took his temperature anyway.
When Dr O came in, Gavin tried to ooze under the door. That didn’t work either. Dr. O laughed at him and did a complete examination. He even snuck in a quick peek down Gavin’s mouth as far as Gavin would open it.
Gavin didn’t get his shots. No, he managed to come down with a case of the squirts. All night long and for most of the day before his scheduled 2:30 appointment, I took him out every two hours…or less. He came home with two bottles of medications and he is back on the old hamburger and rice diet.
I didn’t want to take both dogs in together. I tried that last time and Chicken Dog had Patty all apprehensive. She usually enjoys her vet visits. That’s why I made two separate appointments. However, now Gavin is tagging along to Patty’s appointment on the second to get his shots. DH can come along and enjoy Chicken Dog’s entertaining antics and then he can take him to the car while Patty gets her check up.
This should be interesting…
Posted in Dog related, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
I don’t need to go far to enjoy nature’s beauty
Posted by doggonedmysteries
About and hour before cooking dinner was a perfect time to take a break from writing and chores. I went out to relax on the hammock. The temperature was perfect and there was a gentle breeze blowing. Pure heaven.
The yard hummed with activity. I watched several monarch and swallowtail butterflies visit the flowers. Wouldn’t you know that as soon as I thought ‘camera,’ they disappeared. The cardinal family fluttered about in the tree above me and then bravely came down to the feeders. House sparrows and purple finches hopped around under the feeders cleaning up what the cardinals dropped to them. Then Momma Downy woodpecker hung upside down on the suet feeder directly above me, I almost held my breath so as not to frighten her.
I always allow my Echinacea to go to seed for the small flock of American goldfinches that we have around here. They came to nibble them and again I wished I’d brought my camera out with me. They made a colorful picture among the purple flowers.
The best of all was when I spied two ruby throated hummingbirds darting around the Cannas. I do wish they’d find the feeder.
Posted in Misc, My blog, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bird, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Downy Woodpecker, Echinacea, Family, Fiction, Flower, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Hummingbird, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Writer, Writing
We live in a funhouse
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Old houses have oddities like crooked walls and strangely sized doors. I’ve been sort of shopping around for four interior doors. Of course, all four are different widths and they are all taller by more than an inch or two than any I can find. We’re so blessed to have an old house…. Sometimes it’s like living in a carnival funhouse.
Most of our doorways are out of square, which makes for more interesting problems. Floors tilt and bow. The stairs are all narrow and steep. The attic stairs do a lovely eighty degree turn, twice.
The cellar steps are another test of balance and agility. Although they don’t have turns they aren’t level and the bottom step is only an inch high, just enough to sprain an ankle if you hit it right. Or rather, if I hit it right I’ll sprain an ankle, which I’ve done many times over the years.
The entire house, except the attic and back porch, is heated by radiators. This makes the placement of furniture a challenge. There are two radiators in the living room under the master bedroom and one in the master bedroom. The room is very hot in the winter. I have to sleep with the window opened even when it’s below freezing outside or I’ll die of heat stroke.
Posted in Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bedroom, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Funhouse, Home, Home and Garden, Humor, Life, Living room, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Stairway, Writer, Writing
On leaky pond
Posted by doggonedmysteries
How does one find a leak in a pond? I know we are losing water somewhere but I have no idea where. It could be around the hose connected to the waterfall, the waterfall itself, or maybe in the liner. Yikes!
We need to find it before winter. This is going to be one of those (not) fun projects. What I wouldn’t give to have a strong-backed weak-minded helper. Nope, don’t have one of those—DH doesn’t count. His back is weak, his balance sucks, and he’s sharp as a tack.
It wouldn’t be so bad if the pond were spring fed but mine is hose fed and I have to pay the water bill. Yikes! Therefore, while we sit beside our lovely pond and enjoy its serene atmosphere I wonder how much water I’ll have to add by the end of each week.
We have a month or two left to locate and fix the leak. This means muscling big rocks and lifting a heavy pond liner always mindful of the fish, moving a cement and fiberglass waterfall to look beneath it, checking hoses…any volunteers? I didn’t think so.
Posted in My blog, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Fish, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Home and Garden, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pond, Ponds, Water, Water garden, Waterfall, Writer, Writing
Dryers, the inter-dimensional sock gateway?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Sorting socks on laundry day is a dull, life-sucking task. I hate sorting socks and would love it if they did it all by themselves. However, there are some days where you feel as though you’ve stepped into the ‘inter-dimensional sock gateway zone’ when you find strange socks and miss some you swore you’d put in the wash.
Does anyone else have a dryer that is an inter-dimensional sock gateway? A few E-mails back and forth with Elena made me realize that I am not the only person who has one of these. She told me that she had a pair of socks come out of her dryer that she didn’t recognize. I often have that problem, as well as having socks periodically disappear into the IDSG void. Most of them are DH’s since during the warm weather I seldom wear socks.
Some people ask why it is that only socks do this. The easy answer is because a dryer is an inter-dimensional sock gateway not an inter-dimensional clothes gateway. Has anyone seen a super soft sage green sock? I can’t find one of mine. Check your dryer it might have beamed over there.
Once beamed into the IDSG do the socks turn into evil sock puppets that return here bent on taking over the earth?
Beware of strange sock puppets.
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, Footwear, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Socks and Hosiery, Writer, Writing
A simple summer meal
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I’m always looking for quick and tasty summer meals. (Especially things that I can make with leftovers.) One of my favorites is my curry chicken salad. It’s simple because I use left over store-bought rotisserie chicken to make it. I buy those once in while when I know I’ll be too tired to cook when I get home from grocery shopping. With only two of us, we have at least a half a chicken leftover when we’re done.
You have to understand that I seldom measure things when I cook. I can give you the ingredients but you’ll have to make it to your own taste.
Leftover chicken cut up into bite-sized pieces, golden raisins (a handful), chopped celery one or two stalks, 1 small chopped onion, one sweet cherry pepper seeded and chopped, enough Miracle Whip to moisten everything, curry powder to taste (I use approximately 1 ½ to 2 teaspoons.) Mix thoroughly and chill for at least two hours.
Serve on a bed of lettuce with tomato wedges. DH loves this. It’s also good as a sandwich filling.
Posted in Food, hobbies, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Chicken, Chicken salad, Cook, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Food, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Poultry, Writer, Writing
Never cross your muse
Posted by doggonedmysteries
My muse avoids making eye contact. I dust off my keyboard, clean the monitor, and straighten my desk. Then I take some time to dust the living room and vacuum the rugs.
“You ready to help me yet?” I ask as I sit in front of the computer again.
Silence.
“Did I do something to upset you?”
No answer.
“This is about the ad I put in The Mystical Weekly isn’t it?”
“You were looking for applicants for a muse!” She began to sob and scrub her face with a lace handkerchief.
“Yeah, and a unicorn, a troll, and an elf applied. I turned them all down flat. I don’t write fantasy I write mysteries.”
“But, but why the ad? Are you firing me?” A huge tear dripped off her nose. Not attractive.
“I thought about it. You haven’t been around much lately.”
“I have too but you weren’t listening to me. You were too busy.”
“Okay, I admit it. I have been run ragged lately but when I sit down to write you aren’t here. Maybe we need to synchronize our watches.”
“I don’t own a watch. I’m a freaking muse.”
“I was being rhetorical. Would it help if I apologize?”
“It’s a start.”
“I’m sorry.”
Posted in My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Arts, Author, 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, Muse, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Ampyra week two
Posted by doggonedmysteries
DH is walking better but as a result is pushing himself harder. It must be a man thing. Is it? Can anyone explain to me why he pushes himself beyond his limits all the time?
Today he mowed the grass. He uses a riding mower or couldn’t do it. The mower decided to up the ante on his energy expenditure by getting a flat tire. I came outside to find him trying to tip the gigantic mower on its side and slide a couple of bricks under it so he could fill the tire. Whoa, whoa there sir just ask me and I’d be glad to help, which I did.
Stubborn man. Heaven knows I love him with all my heart. However, some days ya just wanna kill them don’t ya gals? Sorry guys but it is true. I’m sure you feel the same way about us.
At least he is walking better and so far, (knock on wood) he has no side effects. We hope that continues. I can’t wait to see what his neurologist has to say at his next appointment.
Posted in MS related, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: 4-Aminopyridine, Acorda Therapeutics, Author, Biogen Idec, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Consumer Information, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Energy, Family, Fiction, Home, Lawn and Garden, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Much needed rain
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We’ve had a few days of rain and we are happy. With all the hot weather, the ground was so dry the grass was beginning to die. Of course, I’ve kept the veggie garden well watered and I’ve watered the flower gardens enough to keep them from dying.
I’m certain that three of the cantaloupes are not going to ripen they seem to have stopped progressing. However, there’s a fourth that is growing like crazy it doubled in size over the last two days. We might even have more sugar baby watermelons by the fall since the vines have suddenly taken off again.
The squirrel has eluded capture but I’m not giving up hope yet. It may have been staying out of the rain. I wonder if I can find some peanuts this week to bait the trap. It’s been burying some in the yard so it might go for them.
We’re expecting scattered showers tomorrow. This has been nice not having to lug the watering can about for days. The only thing I’ve had to water is the planters on the front porch.
Posted in My blog, my garden, Weather related
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
Not as blind as I thought
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Nothing like finding out that the problem you’ve had with seeing, is because your eyes have improved. Here I was expecting to have stronger glasses and I’m getting weaker ones. This is a first for me.
I was also shocked to learn that it’s been four years since I’ve had my eyes checked. I don’t know why, because I normally would go every two years. It could be because I ignored a reminder from them but I don’t remember.
The sticker price of all this was also a surprise and a big ouch. At least I’ll have new glasses. Two pair in fact. I started buying two pair at a time after breaking a pair and the only ones I had to wear until they fixed mine were far too weak. The headaches aren’t worth it.
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, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
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