Blog Archives
Adventures in DIY Land…EEKS!!!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Before his MS caught up to him, Dear Hubby had many home improvement projects in the works. Now he’s unable to do them so we’re stuck with a few unfinished DIY ventures. Then there’s all the stuff around the house that needs repair work done. It’s enough to send me screaming off into the wilderness.
Although I am capable of doing many things, lifting dry wall isn’t one of them, and we have two rooms that need it. The last time I tried to lift some dry wall panels, I managed to get one about a foot off the ground before my back chimed in, “Are you stupid? You sat in front of a computer for years and now you want me to help you lift that? I’ll show you!”
OUCH! I spent the next several days with a heating pad as my best friend. My second best friend was the muscle relaxant my doctor prescribed.
Soon I’ll be climbing a ladder to do all the painting I need to do. It’s not that easy when you have a fear of heights. I get halfway up the ladder and my brain hits me with, “You’re going to fall. Can’t you feel the ladder shaking? Tell you what. How about I hit your adrenals get them pumping and start your heart racing a little?” There’s nothing quite like some cardio work and an adrenalin rush to brighten your day.
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, DIY, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
I need to get out the camera and the rake
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I was out puttering in the garden by the pond today. The crocus are so gorgeous I should get some pictures of them. I might wait until the daffodils begin to bloom they are loaded with buds right now. However, with my luck the crocus will be finished blooming by then.
I need to drag out the rake and clear the leaves from all the gardens. The rhubarb is starting to peek out of the ground so I did clear the leaves away from the plants. I can’t wait until it is ready to pick, rhubarb custard pie here I come! All the blueberry bushes are loaded with buds. I’m relieved I was worried that the bitter cold we had this winter might have killed them. The yard is greening up and it looks nice.
Gavin and Patty have been kicking up their heels in this weather. The pups have been looking for the squirrels and rabbits to chase but I think the critters wised up and when they hear the back door open, they dash out of the yard. I had to re-home a small garter snake yesterday. The snake was heading for the pond, Gavin stepped on it and he didn’t even notice it. The snake no longer resides in our yard.
On another note Dear Hubby took the basket I made into his mother today. She was delighted with it.
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, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Flu shots, DH, and miscellaneous questions
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Dear Hubby hasn’t felt well for the last couple of days and tonight he thinks he’s figured out why. It seems that every time he’s with his Mother, when or right after she gets a flu shot, he gets ill. Could it be that she sheds just enough of the virus/antiviris that his contact with her gives him a mild case of the flu?
Why does my inner child play with matches when I’m already warm but refuses to when I’m cold?
If you’re the only person to show up for a meeting, is it a meeting?
Why is it that when you decide to have a quiet night reading, the phone that has been silent for weeks begins to ring every five minutes?
Why is it that if one dog is quiet, the other one decides to cut up?
If the damned squirrels can’t remember where the heck they’ve buried their nuts, why do they bury them in the first place. (You should see the holes in my yard and gardens.)
If you know someone is always late, do you tell him/her to come at an earlier time so he/she will arrives on time? (I do.)
Posted in Misc
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, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Of mourning doves and dogs
Posted by doggonedmysteries
My dogs aren’t supposed to be bird dogs. It’s not something that BTs were bred for but lately you’d think they were. For some odd reason I have two mourning doves who are hanging around the pond. After several days of them taking flight from under Gavin and Patty’s noses, the dogs are looking for the dumb birds, even pointing them. I say dumb birds because they don’t go far and return to the same place as soon as we walk away from the pond.
The dogs know I have a strict rule of no birds, no chasing them, no hunting them, and no killing them. But what’s a dog to do when they no longer fly away but run along in front of them? (If you recall from an earlier post, I won’t let the pups run loose in the yard until we can repair the fence this summer.) The doves are driving the pups crazy with this ground hugging nonsense. Although I think if the birds took flight, it’d really chafe under their collars.
Every time we go out now, they drag me to the pond where they will point out the doves. I keep telling them they aren’t bird dogs they’re BTs. I think they are suffering from delusions of Setter grandeur or Brittany fantasies.
Posted in Dog related, my garden, 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, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
MIL update, Gavin, and miscellaneous thoughts
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Dear Hubby’s mother has come down with a cold but she’s still working hard in her daily PT. The feisty old gal is quite resolute about getting out of the Rehab Hospital. It’s been a little over a month since her fall and she is showing no lack of determination. Dear Hubby is there every day while she does her PT, which I think is a great help in motivating her.
Gavin’s ear looks good and he’s been enjoying daily romps with Patty. Although, now when she gets a bit nippy around his ears she does get a scolding. You can practically see her roll her eyes at you. “Geez, I can’t grab his ears and you yell at me for dragging him around by his collar. What’s a girl to do?” The no collar rule stems from having to buy Gavin new ones too many times after she’d chewed through them (while they were still on his neck.)
We had a gray drizzly day today but it was warm. In between sprinkles, I did some clean up work on the pond. I won’t be able to do the major work until spring is in full blast.
Posted in Dog related, Misc, my garden, 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, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Koi, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
March, an amazing month
Posted by doggonedmysteries
A few days ago, we had snow on the ground and today the mercury hit seventy degrees. I love the capriciousness of March. It’s the Yin and Yang month of the year. Winter and spring battle for four weeks. We root for spring to win since by March we’ve had enough of winter.
Tomorrow spring will rule for most of the day but winter will make a raid on our evening. We will wonder if spring will rally in the next few days. My budding gardens say yes. Grass is slowly showing signs of life. Faster would nice so I don’t have dogs tracking in mud.
The Koi are hungry they beg for food now, and our frogs are beginning to creep out of the pond to hunt, more signs that spring will soon win the battle.
It won’t be long and I’ll be digging in sun warmed soil planting flowers and vegetables. By my back door, my chives are starting to peek through the mulch in their pot. The mint and lavender will soon follow suit.
Posted in hobbies, Misc, My blog, my garden, 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, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Koi, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Spring fever
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I do wish that spring would stop teasing us and stay for more than a day or two. It was almost balmy here for a day and now there’s snow predicted for the next two. It’s just wrong.
My daffodils, crocus, and hyacinths are beginning to poke their little green heads up through the mulch. It makes me oh so ready for the weather to warm, the flowers bloom, to open the windows and let the fresh air in. I yearn for my magnolia tree to bloom and for the scent to drift into the house.
I look forward to days warm enough for me to clean up the yard and gardens and to nights where I can sit by the pond and relax in the moonlight. I want to listen to the waterfall and fountains, the bullfrogs and crickets, the horn of a passing train in the distance.
I’m tired of hearing the furnace running, the radiator pipes cracking and popping, breathing stale air, and feeling shut in. I’m sick of ice, snow, sleet, and cold.
Posted in My blog, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Koi, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
New look
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Anyone who knows me knows that I have a habit of changing things. I do hope you all enjoy the blog’s new look.
Posted in My blog
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, Gardening, Gardens, gifts, Home, Humor, Koi, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Rescue Dogs, Scams, Snow, Writer, Writing
Happy pups and a Red Tailed visitor
Posted by doggonedmysteries
It’s been nice to have a couple of days where I didn’t have to shuffle dogs. I could tell Gavin and Patty were happy with it too. They sure did miss being in direct contact with each other the last two weeks. How could I tell? They spent a great deal of time snuggled together on the couch today.
During one trip outside Gavin and I were visited by the neighborhood Red Tailed hawk. The hawk chased a small bird into the next door neighbor’s maple tree and missed catching it. Then he looked over, spotted us, ruffled his feathers, and settled down on the branch as if to say, “I meant to do that.” It’s something I’ve seen cats do, but never a bird. We watched him and he watched us. I was wishing I had my camera.
The hawk looks well fed. I hope that means he’s taken advantage of our huge population of rabbits and squirrels. We won’t miss them around here since our gardens are often overrun with the critters . Mr. Red Tail wasn’t in any hurry to leave. When I took Gavin in and brought Patty out, he was still on his perch.
Posted in Dog related, My blog, my garden
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, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
In Loving memory
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Mom with birthday roses 2005
Beloved Mother and friend.
There aren’t enough words or ways to say I love you and miss you.
W. R. W.
7/30/1915 –1/1/2007
Posted in In memory of..., My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Snow, Writer, Writing
Happy New Year Everyone!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
My wishes for the New Year are:
- Dear Hubby’s health stabilizes.
- We all find our bliss.
- You and yours have a healthy year.
- We all stay out of the poorhouse.
- I finish my books and my agent sells them in short order.
- We hit the lottery.
- Karma catches up with those who deserve it.
- The new administration actually does something to make this country great again and it wasn’t only election rhetoric.
- An end to world hunger.
- World peace.
Love and hugs to my dear Aunties, Cousins, and friends.
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, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Snow, Writer, Writing
Always check for uninvited guests
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Many years ago, when we still put up a Christmas tree, we’d go to a local tree farm and cut down our own. Getting a tree at a Christmas tree farm guarantees that you get a fresh one. However, every now and then, you might bring home some uninvited guests.
Almost everyone remembers National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. One of my favorite scenes is when Chevy Chase tangles with the squirrel that had stowed away in the Christmas tree. We didn’t have a crazed squirrel but we did find some uninvited guests in our tree one year.
While hanging the lights on the tree I came across two odd looking things stuck to two of the branches. I showed them to Dear Hubby and he knew what they were. He clipped the twigs off, took them outside, and tied them onto a couple of hedge branches. “People pay for those egg casings,” he told me when he came in.
“They what?”
“Those were Praying Mantis eggs.”
“Oh, neat!”
Had those objects stayed in the warm house, several thousand, tiny Praying Mantis would have hatched out of them. It’s definitely not as dramatic as a wild and crazy squirrel stowed away in your tree.
I’m glad we didn’t have thousands of teensy bugs running around the house for Christmas.
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, gifts, Home, Humor, Life, Love, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Snow, Writer, Writing
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