Progress Report, Vision Problems, n one hot mama

Here are some more landscaping in progress pictures. All the sagos but one are transplanted to the back yard, the magnolia tree and azaleas are all moved and the pergola columns are in place. The foxtail palms are in. Today the guys ripped the ivy off the front of the house and removed the rest of the bushes. Monday the pergola will be finished and painted and some of the new plants will arrive. Then they have to grade and build the two walkways with pavers, widen the driveway, do the patio, install the fountain, add the lighting, and finish with the new ground cover, shrubs, and plant beds. I can't wait to see it done. Then, we're doing some clearing out and replanting in the back yard and around the pool area. Today, Danny and I bought two fantastic Kennedy Rocking Chairs for the back porch and ordered a roller thing for our pool cover. We looked at a small spa/hot tub for the back porch as well. Fun!!

Not so much fun: the central a/c broke again. As I write this, it is after ten at night and its 81 degrees outside and 82 inside. I'm hot, hot, hot. Earlier, we ordered a pizza and after eating sat outside on the porch in our rockers with the citronella candles lit and the fan blowing on us watching Chili dive in the pool for about an hour and a half. That was nice. I called the a/c people and told them we'd suffer through the weekend but on Monday I want someone to come out and give an estimate on a new air handler and compressor. We've reached the point where its throwing good money after bad trying to keep our ancient system working. If we're going to be without central a/c past the week end, we can install the two window units we have as hurricane back ups- one in the kitchen/family room area and one in our bedroom. We'll cope.

Also not fun: my right eye is acting up. Two years ago, my left eye malfunctioned. It wasn't a detatched retina as it turned out but some untreatable condition with light flashes and annoying long black feathery floaters that took about six months to heal on its own. The current symptoms are the same. The floaters either look like a false eyelash floating on my eye or an arrow with a feathered tip, or a snake. Very distracting. Especially when reading on a white page or screen. The allergy medications I have to take make it worse as they dry out my eyes. Dang annoying.

I'm going to sign off now. Its just too stuffy in this room to continue. Live long and prosper.

dog parkin' n landscape in progress

Hey Bloggers,
Here's some pix of our re landscaping in progress.the rest of the plants across the front are being removed as well as the Magnolia tree. Miss Magnolia will join the azaleas that have already been replanted on the side of the yard. The sagos are being repositioned as well. The new patio is being staked out tomorrow and the pergola is being built off site. Then, they demo our existing walkway and do the new walkways in pavers. Lastly, the foxtail palm trees and all the new plants are brought in. At least I think that's the way it will go! Anyway, it's fun to watch the job.

The other photos are from the dog park on Memorial Day. I didn't know when I took the shots that a weird color enhancer thing was engaged that only featured greens and yellows. Now, I know. New camera folks. Deese tings happen, as my daughter used to say when she was a widdle kid.

The weather is hot but splendid. Looks like summer is here, and at least so far, no bad storms or swirling windy things. Live long and prosper.

A memorable memorial week end

Hey Bloggers,
We had a banger-rang four day week end. That's my way of saying terrific. The pictures above are from our Sea World visit. We got yearly passes. I'd not been to the park for years and found it prettier, cleaner, and bigger than I remembered. Activating passes was quick and easy, staff was friendly and peppier than Disney folks. We went to all the animal stuff: the penguin encounter, shark encounter, Wild Arctic, dolphin feeding area and nursery, manatee rescue area, etc. Saw the whale and dolphin show, which was funny as one of the whales escaped from a holding tank about 2/3 through the show and wouldn't listen to the trainers and go back. They had to stop the show. Couldn't put the people in the water or the dolphins. The misbehaving whale was almost better than the rest of the show, which had acrobats and diving and some silly story about a princess in a pink wet suit. The best thing we saw was the Pets Ahoy show which was amazing and featured dozens of dogs and trained cats (!!), a rat, potbellied pig and a skunk. That one is a must see each time we visit the park!

Aside from Sea World, we saw the Indianna Jones movie (already talked bout that), had several good dinners out, napped, slept in, went to the mall and hung out, took the Mutley Crew to the dog park, and had tons of ice cream. Fun!!

I will post dog park pictures and in progress landscaping picture tomorrow.

Live long and prosper.

Memorial Day

Photos: William Harry Wayman, Master Sargent, USAAC, WWII, 1943-1946 and Dr. William Colvin Miller, Captain, US Army Medical Corps, WWI, served in France/Belgium.

Today, I remember those of my family who served and salute our brave men and women in uniform who continue to serve. God Bless you.

He's baack!

Thank goodness, Indy's back. He's two decades older, and has a lot more mileage on him, but he still has that great rascal smile. He can still crack a bull whip, outsmart and out quip the baddies, take and give a punch or three...and he takes us on the sort of wild wonderful ride we've missed since Raiders, Temple of Doom, and Last Crusade. In his new adventure, it is the late nineteen fifties and the bad guys are the Reds instead of the Nazis but never fear: there are car chases and motorcycle chases, boat chases, creepy bugs, snakes, quicksand, jungle ruins, an impossible quest and this time an atomic explosion...and yes, the 'truth' about area 51 and the little gray men. Watch for a quick glimpse of the Ark of The Covenant early in the movie.

Indy's got some help this time from sidekicks John Hurt as a 'is he or is he not mad' professor pal with the key to the mystery and Shia LeBoeff as the cocky Mutt Williams who turns out to be...aw heck I'm not going to tell you. But be sure Mutt can throw a punch, wield a knife and fence, and swing through the trees Tarzan style, keeping up with the Jones all the way.

Cate Blanchett does a dandy turn as Indy's Russian nemesis but, best of all, we have Karen Allen back as Marion Ravenwood. Marion has a secret, too, but I'm not telling.

Good idea, George and Steven, to bring Marion back in the picture. S'bout time. I give the film 4 stars for rollicking fun. Don't miss it. Pointer though. Don't get one of those giant drinks at the concession stand. You won't want to miss a minute of the adventure racing to the restroom.

Agility in the rain, house changes n stuff

Ginny and Danny had their last agility class tonight before summer break. I took lots of action shots, but it was raining and I was balancing an umbrella as well as the camera and I guess my hand shook just enough to make them blurry. So here are a couple of non action moments. Also a picture of Ginny and Chili snoozing on the sofa together.

Chili got her stitches and hat off today. We're all happier for it.

I'm so excited. Since my house is definitely lacking in curb appeal, as you can see from the photo taken back in '07 when it was for sale, I'm going to have some significant landscaping work done in the front of the house. Gonna have all the overgrown bushes and plants that hide all the front windows removed as well as those from the area outside the living room bay window. Move the three big sago palms to the side of the yard by the street and the little magnolia tree from the middle of the yard. Move the azaleas to the side as well. Redesign the walkway to the driveway and add one to the street in front of the house. Build a patio between the front door and the garage. All walkways and patio will be done in brick pavers. Put in lots of lower profile plants, ground cover of jasmine, crotons, and several boxwood type ornamentals. Three or four fantail plam trees. And best of all, a pergola "porch" with bouganvilla in front of the front entryway that will also span the patio. We're also going to add 'a water feature' ( area tbd) and maybe a pull over area for a car next to the garage. The front door is blue now and we're going to get some big blue and white pots for the patio. I think its going to be a big improvement! If all goes well, the work will start next week.

And thus do the second round of updates and redos begin!

All for now. Live long and prosper.

Jury Duty and Jigs

No jury duty!! No jury duty!! I had to call from home on Friday last to see if I had to report Monday, then again on Monday regarding Tuesday, and again on Tuesday for Wednesday. Each day the message line said, do not report tomorrow but call again next day. I was on call for two weeks. Finally, the message said, do not report, do not call again, you are excused. I did a silly Irish jig complete with clapping all through the house and confused the dogs.

It was inconvenient not being able to make appointments in advance for things, but the new way of calling from home sure beats the old way of sitting around at the courthouse for days, wasting time and twiddling thumbs and being bored waiting for Godot. So, today I made two long overdue medical appointments, called a window treatment place, called a landscaper, and a tile man. Emailed the handyman. I'm so glad to be able to start the house renovation projects again. Enjoy Memorial Day. Maybe go to Sea World or see the new Indy movie. Work on my manuscript n stuff. I feel so free to get back to my own life, which I haven't felt since just after Christmas when I had to spend all my time dealing with Mom's estate and house thing.

I went to see Amy and Baby Alex this afternoon, then to an art festival board meeting. Chili gets her stitches out tomorrow and we have Ginny's last dog agility class before summer hiatus.

Life looks good again. I may even have time for a lunch or two with friends. I may do another jig.

Sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite.