Category Archives: Weather related
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
How to bathe the dog
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Gorgeous weather today made the pups miserable. Actually it wasn’t the day itself it was what I did to them. Smelly Gavin and stinky Patty got baths. I am on their LIST. After they had their baths and were dry, their majesties did their utmost best to let me know that I’d gone to the top of their LIST. I rose higher on the LIST than squirrels, annoying kids, strange dogs who pee on their fence, and a late dinner.
I did not apologize to them. They reeked and were in dire need of baths. You’d think they’d want to be nice and clean sweet-smelling dogs. Nope, they’d rather smell horrible. It’s a dog thing.
How to bathe Patty: A) Keep her from hiding in either crate by closing the doors. B) Drag her upstairs to the bathroom. C) Lift her 65 lb limp, dead weight into the tub. D) Begin the torture of bathing. E) Spread a towel on the floor, drop a cookie, and back up. F) Dry her. G) Release her from the bathroom to have her karoom down the steps and around the downstairs. H) Crate her with a cookie reward until she’s dry.
How to bathe Gavin: A) Show him a cookie. B) Tell him “Let’s go bed bouncing.” C) Follow him upstairs. D) Throw the cookie into the tub and watch him hop into it. E) Close shower doors so he doesn’t jump back out. F) Begin his torture—you mean get me wet all over? G) Hose him down, get soaked when he shakes. H) Soap him, get soaked when shakes. I) Rinse him, get soaked when he shakes. J) Step back, get soaked when he shakes. K) Dry him, get soaked when shakes. L) Release him from the bathroom. M) Crate him with a cookie. N) Go dry all the walls and the floor of the bathroom. O) Change into dry clothes.
Posted in Dog related, My blog, Weather related, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, 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
Ark too Brutus?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Gavin and Patty requested the use of a raft to go out today. It might have worked except they have no thumbs and can’t hold paddles. We’ve had so much rain that I heard the stock prices on gopher wood jumped through the roof. I’ve seen pairs of animals strolling past all day. Ba dum dum.
The neighbor’s bulldogs Diamond and Brutus ordered snorkel gear although Brutus really wanted a boat. Cleo, the standard poodle across the street, rented herself out as a squirrel canoe. The two toy dogs next door stepped off their porch and almost drowned so Gavin lent them the raft.
The Koi are touring the neighborhood and the bullfrogs are using in the magnolia tree as a diving board. The daffodils want water wings. Did I mention that we’ve had a lot of rain?
Posted in Dog related, Misc, my garden, Weather related, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Fish, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Koi, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pond, Ponds, Writer, Writing
Two dogs on a rainy day
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Gavin rings the sleigh bells on the back porch door. “Wanna go out, NOW.”
“Hold on let me get a jacket.” I snag one off the hooks by the door. The bells are still ringing. “I’m right here. Stop with the bells already.”
We get outside and it’s raining.
Gavin runs for the door. “Wanna go in, NOW.”
We go in. Gavin doesn’t tell Patty it is raining. Patty wants out. I take her.
A raindrop hits her on the head she tucks her tail and reverses gears. “In. I wanna go in. Oh, please let’s go in.”
We go in.
Both dogs dance around in front of the cupboard. “Cookies! Don’t forget the cookies!” Gavin yells.
Patty sits and throws her front paws high in the air. “Stick ‘em up, I’m doing stick ‘em up! Give me a cookie.”
I give them their cookies, settle down in front of the computer and begin writing.
Five minutes later Gavin is ringing the bells to go out. “I’m bored. Wanna go out, NOW.”
Patty runs to join him. “If he’s going, I am too.”
“It’s still raining.” I tell them as I grab my jacket. Reread.
Posted in Dog related, My blog, Weather related, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, 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
Unpredictable March nights
Posted by doggonedmysteries
My poor magnolia tree had some frost damage to its almost open buds. I think some over the pond got hit the worst. We might have some bloomage but nothing near what it would’ve been had the temperature stayed above freezing. The last two years the tree escaped the frost so I guess it was about due to happen again.
DH was surprised that it was cold enough to need a jacket when he went over to the hospital to see his mother in the morning. I told him to be ready for a repeat of it today since as I write this at 2 a.m. the temperature has already dropped to 33 degrees.
However, by Thursday it is supposed to be in the seventies again. I’m glad because I do have some new flowers that need planting. I also need to bring my black elephant ears up from the basement to get them acclimated and ready to plant too. They will stay on the back porch until mid April.
I just took the pups for their last out of the night and it is chilly. I needed my jacket.
Posted in Misc, My blog, my garden, Weather related, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, 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, Writer, Writing
With heavy, duty gardening comes…
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Sore muscles like you wouldn’t believe. It probably wouldn’t be too bad if I hadn’t done twice the work today. Tonight I have sore muscles that I didn’t know I had, and in places, I haven’t thought about since the weather got cold.
That’s okay though, since it felt wonderful to get outside and do things again. I do hate winter because it turns me into a real couch potato.
Today I did a lot of over head work trimming vines back on the arbor. Tonight, all that work is making its presence known in my neck, my back, and my shoulders. Well, you get the idea. You know what? Growing older isn’t for sissies. Nope, it’s not for sissies one bit. Even five years ago, I probably wouldn’t have been as sore as I am tonight.
I’ll get over. I’ll be out working in the yard until the predicted cold front moves through by the end of the week. Of course, with cooler weather and rain I’ll be inside chomping at the bit to get out again.
I can’t help myself. I am dying to be able to sit outside at night and enjoy all the hard work.
Posted in hobbies, 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, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
“Toto, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore…”
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Actually, I haven’t been in Kansas for many years. In spite of this, since my sweatshirt happens to have that quote on it, I figured it was good place to start. After the howling winds and abundance of snow that we had last night, when I put the shirt on today, it brought to mind the adventures of Dorothy in the Land of Oz. I’ve thought of it off and on all day and it’s no wonder. I can day dream with the best of them.
My imagination was in high gear as I sat at my desk trying to write a troubling scene. Is it no wonder that I drifted off while staring out at my world? Not unlike Dorothy, leaving the dull confines of a land in sepia tones, I sought to escape my land. Although what I saw wasn’t sepia tones but far too much white. Tomorrow it will still all be white with gray clouds to go along with it.
Oh, how nice it would be to wake in a land of bright colors and perfect weather. However, with my luck, a house would land on me, my toes would curl up, and I’d disappear.
Posted in Misc, My blog, Weather related, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Not in Kansas, Novel writing, Snow, The Land of Oz, Writer, Writing
This is my 500th post!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Wow, it makes feel as if I should have a celebration or something. Grab your party hats, raise your glasses, and toss some confetti. (I said confetti, not your cookies Mr. B. Elena cleaned up after you once today.)
I’ve noticed I can never predict how many readers a post will get. I don’t even come close. There are some that, as I write them, I think will draw readers. Only to find out at the end of the day, I was completely wrong.
I find that I am statistics addicted when it comes to my posts. After I go to my dashboard to approve comments, I hit the statistics page. Some totals I find easy to understand and others make me wonder. 6 hits a day or more on my Bottomline Books posts—easy to understand, they fleece people daily.
What makes me wonder, you ask. I wonder what sort of posts my readers prefer to read. Would you be interested in some short stories? My struggles of working to change from one of the unpublished to the published? Dialogues with the little editor, my muse, and characters? More ‘life with the idiot dogs’ tales? Life as the wife of someone with MS? Gardening? More recipes? On the other hand, I could continue to wing it as I’ve done for the last 500 posts.
On the weather front …It’s still snowing here and along with it, we have wind, lots of wind. I’m glad that I added fresh water to the pond when the temperature hit 45 degrees the other day, at least I don’t have to worry about the Koi.
Posted in Misc, My blog, My books, Weather related, 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, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Snow, Writer, Writing
Dream a little dream of green for me
Posted by doggonedmysteries
A part of the yard peeps from under the last blanket of snow. It won’t last. Forecasters predict twelve to eighteen inches of white stuff will cover us by Friday. At least we got a peek of green. It may be weeks before we see it again.
I think, rather than dwell on the coming blizzard, I’ll dream of green grass and the garden in full bloom. I’ll think of the magnolia clad in pink blossoms. Maybe I’ll sip a cool drink under the tree. I’ll dream of spring flowers swaying in warm, gentle breezes, of lounging on the hammock while working on my books.
I’ll dream of fishing and walking in the parks, of playing with the dogs, rolling in the grass, and warmth. I won’t think of 60 mph wind driven snow. No, I won’t think of that. I’ll imagine sitting on the bench rock dangling my feet in the pond, and tickling the Koi as they feed from my hands. I’ll dream of bullfrog songs, warm sunny skies, outdoors, BBQs, sultry nights, and green things.
Posted in Misc, My blog, Weather related, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Snow, Writer, Writing
There’s snow crazy like snow crazy
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Standing at the kitchen window, I yelled and shook my fist at the sky. “Stop, stop, stop!”
The snowflakes fell paying me no heed.
DH walked into the kitchen and looked at me as if I’d lost my mind. I guess I have lost what little of it I had left. This has been a very long winter with far too much snow.
“Go away. Go visit Cousin Carol in Boston.” Sorry Carol, but you didn’t get the last storm. I have visions of her giving me a Gibbs slap for that one.
I railed at the sky, and yet, as I did, the snow continued to fall.
“Turn to rain, please turn to rain.”
“Have you finished ranting at the weather yet?” DH asked.
“No.”
“Did it stop it?”
“No.”
“Then why do it?”
“I do it because it makes me feel better.”
“You’re nuts.”
“I am.” I made a face and did a silly dance. “I always have been, but isn’t that part of why you married me?”
He chuckled and threw a pillow at me.
I caught the pillow and threw it back. “I love you too. I’d love you more if you could make it stop snowing.”
Posted in Misc, My blog, Weather related, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Where did my brain go?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
My brain went on a vacation. However, it did leave several voice mails for me.
Message 1: “Um, hello? Geez, I hate voicemail. Anyway, this is your brain. I’m going on vacation. I hear that Hawaii doesn’t have snow.”
Message 2: “It’s me again. You know. Your brain? I just wanted to let you know I forgot to put coffee on the grocery list, you might want to do that.”
Message 3: “Just arrived in Honolulu. It’s a balmy 71. I hear it’s supposed to hit 81 this afternoon. Enjoy the snow. Neener neener neener.”
I threw my cell phone against the wall. If my brain wants to be nasty about it, I won’t listen to my voicemail.
I received a strange E-mail. “This is your brain in Hawaii. It’s sunny and warm. Did the next snow storm hit yet?”
There were pictures too. My brain sitting on the beach sipping on a Mai Tai. (It had better make sure it showers off all that sand. There’s nothing worse than sand in the crevices.) My brain at a luau doing the hula. (Don’t ask it isn’t pretty.) Then there’s the picture of my brain at the pineapple farm. (Great, I’m allergic to pineapple so now I’ll be itchy.)
I hate my brain.
Posted in Misc, My blog, Weather related, 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, funny, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Snow, Writer, Writing
Happy Valentine’s Day
Posted by doggonedmysteries
For many years, Dear Hubby brought me flowers, a cute stuffed toy, and chocolate candy for Valentine’s Day. I always made him his favorite dinner. Romantic isn’t it?
Multiple Sclerosis sucks. It is no longer easy for DH to shop. My PajamaGram was going to be my gift from him this year. It was supposed to arrive on the 10th. However, it still hasn’t arrived ‘due to adverse weather conditions.’ . According to the tracking, it is still in the last place it stopped before delivery here, waiting for weather conditions to improve. Does UPS deliver on Sundays?
Monday the forecast is calling for MORE snow.
Hawaii anyone? I hear that is the only state that didn’t get snow this year….
Posted in Holidays, Weather related, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Snow, Writer, Writing
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