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More snow and panic shoppers
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We’ve more snow. It started snowing in the evening, it’s three in the morning Friday as I post this, and still the snow is coming down. I’m glad I did my regular grocery shopping in the afternoon on Thursday. My list had grown over the past three weeks, each time I planned to go shopping it snowed.
We were out of vegetables, milk, eggs, sugar, almost out of bread, and I had no snacks left for DH to munch on. There was one box of tissues left and that wasn’t a full one. Yes, it was time to shop. I dodged the impending snowstorm panic shoppers as I filled my list.
I pushed my cart into my favorite clerk’s line and joked with her about panic shoppers while she rang up my order. Another customer told us about how a friend of hers had stopped for milk on the way home from work before the last storm. (She has three small kids and was out of milk.) There was no milk in the case so she went to have a couple of other items checked out and the woman in front of her had eight gallons of milk. She practically begged the woman to spare her one for her kids. The woman rudely told her no. Geez, some people are real idiots.
Posted in Weather related
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, Post A Day, Snow, Writer, Writing
Slip sliding away…
Posted by doggonedmysteries
What’s worse than having several inches of snow dumped on you? How about having freezing rain on top of it. Ah, yes freezing rain, this means a coating of ice over everything. The yard is a skating rink that neither the dogs nor DH and I appreciate.
Early yesterday morning, when DH took the dogs out as usual, he made the trip with Gavin safely but the trip outside with Patty was a real trip (or was that slip?) and fall. Patty, unencumbered by her daddy on the end of her leash managed to beat him inside. He, due to the ice coating everything, couldn’t get to his feet and had to crawl indoors.
He says that Patty thought that was great fun to watch and as he dragged himself in the door she thought it great fun to bounce around him and plaster his face with kisses. I don’t think he was amused but knowing Patty, she certainly was.
DH is a tad stiff and sore from his slip but none the worse for wear. He’s glad I wasn’t awake and nearby with a camera to catch the action. 😉
Posted in Dog related, Weather related
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Rescue Dogs, Snow, Writer, Writing
And then there was light…
Posted by doggonedmysteries
What difference a couple of working lights in the kitchen makes. Wow, I can actually see to work in there again. G and her husband were over Sunday; he climbed a ladder and replaced four fluorescent lights for me. DH couldn’t do it and my inner klutz came out when I attempted to get one end of the light in one side, then the other end in, the ladder wobbled badly, scaring the crap out of me, and I said to heck with it. For months, I’ve worked in dim lighting in there.
Would you believe the first words out of mouth when the lights went on were, “crap, now I need to clean.” Oh yeah, NOW I could see the dust and dirt I’d missed. Guess what I did yesterday? Uh huh, I cleaned. First thing I cleaned was the hutch we’d brought over from the MIL’s house since it was very dusty. Then I proceeded to scrub the rest of the kitchen except for the floor.
Why didn’t I do the floor? I didn’t do it because we’re having another snowstorm. The floor can wait until after the dogs and DH finish tracking more snow in.
I hope y’all have a sunny and warm day. I wish we were.
Posted in Misc, Weather related
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, Post A Day, Snow, Writer, Writing
Where have our little birds gone?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
G and I were talking the other day and during the conversation, I mentioned that I hadn’t had any birds at my suet feeders in a while. She remarked that they haven’t had to put out fresh suet for quite a while either.
In fact, the only birds I’ve seen lately are crows, grackles, and the occasional mourning dove. Where are my woodpeckers, juncos, titmice, cardinals, and sparrows? It dawned on us that we haven’t heard any birdsongs for a month.
We’ve never had such a bird empty winter before. I do hope spring brings them back and they aren’t gone due to some devastation. I miss my happy little birds.
Tags: Author, Bird, Bird feeder, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Snow, Writer, Writing
Snow, snow everywhere
Posted by doggonedmysteries
This is some winter. Forty-nine of the fifty states have snow right now. I wonder how often that has happened.
It’s snowing. It’s snowing a lot. I have to say, that not having to shovel it makes it look prettier than usual. The dogs didn’t want to go out. I had to boot them out the door for their last trip outside tonight. Gavin went a bit more willingly than Patty did. However, neither one stayed out any longer than was necessary. I don’t blame them. I didn’t want to be out there either. A hot cup of coffee tasted good after that.
It looks as though G and I won’t be going over to the MIL’s house tomorrow. We will wait until the roads are clear again. Cleaning out the house isn’t worth risking our necks over. There’s always next week.
I hope we don’t have too many more snowstorms. I need my hose to thaw out so I can add water to the pond. Spring can’t get here too soon to suit me.
Y’all stay warm and have a good day.
Posted in Weather related
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, Post A Day, Snow, Writer, Writing
Snow, dogs, and a touch of insanity
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We had less snow than the weather reporter said we’d get. I woke to the sound of shoveling and then Gavin barking at AJ who had just finished clearing our driveway. He wanted her to pay attention to him. It’s nice not to have to worry about clearing the MIL’s walks and ours.
The pups don’t mind snow if it isn’t deep and they don’t have to be outside long. The sissies. They do tend to raise hell after they’ve been outside, chasing each other around the house. Watching them is like watching the balls bounce around in the lottery drawings. With one exception, the lottery balls don’t move the furniture and bounce off cupboard doors.
During their wrestling matches and mad dashes, I pray the furniture survives. We can’t help but giggle at them when Patty gets the upper hand, grabs Gavin’s collar, and drags him around. It’s a hoot.
Twice today, DH had to remove Gavin’s collar and readjust it to the right size. Patty can sure be a pistol when she wants to be one.
Posted in Dog related, Weather related
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, Pet humor, Post A Day, Rescue Dogs, Snow, Writer, Writing
Mother Nature gave us a big break
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We were lucky we only got a little over two inches of snow while the major portion of the storm hammered south and east of us. A couple of places in NJ had 28 inches of snow. I’m glad we don’t live there.
It won’t take long for the snow we have to go away. The forecast for the coming week claims rising temperature climbing to fifty degrees by next Monday. Can you say yippee? I sure can.
We did get wind and lots of it. I swear we’ve had more wind this year than I can remember having over the last thirty plus years. At least it’s cleaning the dead wood out of the trees, which is something I hadn’t done this fall.
Neither Gavin nor Patty like the wind or the snow and are quick to be about their business outside. My poor wussy pups. They will be happy when things warm up later this week.
The new heater for the pond is working well, we have very little ice, and that is only where our Pan fountain is running at a weak trickle.
Posted in my garden, Weather related
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, Snow, Writer, Writing
Isn’t it spring yet?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Okay, Christmas is over, can we stop with the TV specials and Christmas carols now? After all, they began back in October, and to be honest, I am completely, utterly, and thoroughly sick and tired of them.
We have snow and wind, and more snow. It’s cold. Cabin fever is already starting.
As of now, I am looking forward to Saint Patrick’s Day and spring. I have had enough winter weather in only two days to make me wish for March and the promise of spring.
I am ready to dig in the garden and plant things. I want warm sun and fresh air.
Posted in Holidays, Weather related
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, Snow, Writer, Writing
Are you a bad weather survivalist?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
As we on the East Coast batten down the hatches and prepare for our first blizzard of the season, some of us still hold out the hope that the storm turns seaward. Well, at least those of us who are sane do.
The idea of an oncoming blizzard sends some people into a strange frenzy of activity. They panic and become bad weather survivalists. They crowd into the grocery stores.
I know these people. Although they have an unopened gallon of milk in the fridge, they dash to the store to buy five more along with tons of other things they already have. Heaven forbid they don’t buy out the store on paper products.
We have these storms all the time and it may take a day or two for the streets to get plowed but plowed they get. Stores have their lots plowed privately; their doors open ASAP, they want to make a profit.
We’re more of the keep things on hand so we don’t have to make panic runs sort. I hate to shop and shopping in crowds of bad weather survivalists is almost as bad as shopping on black Fridays. I refuse to do it.
Posted in Weather related
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, Snow, 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
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