Sunday, August 28, 2011

The times thay are a changin'

I am of that age.  You know, when so many of your friends and relatives are the same age and having serious health problems.
We have friends and relatives  beyond count having "replacements", knees, hips, and not a week goes by that we don't hear "have you heard about..".
At supper, SSon says our prayer, asking God to "watchover", and lately the list is unfortunately long.
The father of my children, I guess he would be SX using my naming process (S for sweet, and then their relationship), who has been having health problems for thirty years has been giving the unfortunate words "nothing we can do for you" in regards to his heart health.  Devastating for all.  He has a very devoted wife, who makes sure that he gets the best health care possible, but not even that worked out for this man who is genetically programmed from both sides of his lineage to have heart disease and diabetes. And with these two diseases-one aggravates the other.
My SKids are taking it differently.  SS is so stoic, but bears careful watching for when the barrier comes down. And, while we have been editing our updates to him about his father's condition, we have had to give him more info lately. And his quick hugs to all go a long way.  What a gift he is.
SDaughter always wants to fix everything, so she is frustrated and tearful, and still she is offering to help in any way with driving SS or anything to pick up the slack from her father's former involvement-starting with last night, when she went with him using her fathers ticket to the Buffalo Bills Football game.  She is not a football fan, could have spent the time with her hunny, but she did what was needed-without being asked.  What a gift she is.
Some might wonder why this is such a hard time for me-the ex.  But, we were married for 24 years, and while we were lousy spouses to and for each other, we are very good friends now, along with our spouses. If we did not have shared  Skids and a SGrandson, this closeness might not have formed, but thankfully, it did. As I have mentioned here before, his spouse and I consider ourselves sisters.
If you are the praying type, please say a prayer for SX, thanks.
So there you have it, aging sucks.  And yet, it is still a gift.
And here is a song to remind us, we are there for each other:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DBl5gAs6WI&feature=related

Friday, August 12, 2011

Ungrateful wretches!

Chipmunks, who needs 'em?  Not me, that is for sure.  One is a little cute, but now we have way too many.  They are destructive little  brats.  I let them eat the dropped bird seeds that the selective birds pull out of the feeder while they are looking for the perfect sunflower seed,  and that is not enough!  They jump from pillar to post to get to the feeder and just sit there filling their cheek pouches.  They look like a 'munk with the mumps when they are finished.  Then they start on the bulbs.  I have planted many bulbs here over the years, and at first it was only the adorable bunnies that gnawed on the bulbs.  But then, the chipmunks realized that there were bulbs in "them thar" flower beds.  They dug them up, chewed on them, leaving a big mess and no soon-to-be-flowers for me.
But, they have made their final assault, this means war.
In a previous post: DuBois flowers I told you all about the special plants/bulbs that I found and planted in memory of Matka.  I watered them in the spring and summer drought times, a few times I had to "tuck" them back into the soil and under the mulch because they were "toyed" with, but they were still doing good.
BUT, last week my SHusband told me that I better look at Matka's tree and the plants.  Well, I'll be a (deleted).  Not only did the chipmunks dig up the bulbs, but they ate them, and then to celebrate, they dug a tunnel to China in the middle of the area where the tree is planted.  SH said I better do something about that to keep air from getting to the tree roots and killing it.  Are you kidding me? Those guys ate the bulbs and put the tree at risk!!
So, I went out with all my tools and went to war.  I filled in the hole, put a rock on top, redistributed the dirt and the mulch and made it look nice..........and I added a package of mouse poison.
I have not seen less chipmunks, but the area has not been messed up, except for the wee tunnel dug ........................
I hate Chipmunks.
And to push me just a little bit more, yesterday morning they left a half eaten bulb on the front step.  That was my "horse's head in the bed", I tell you.
Next step-put red Cayenne pepper in the bird seed-they say make the food source bad, and they will go away.  I tried this before with squirrels, and it worked, so lets hope that what is good for one rodent is good for another!
p.s. don't tell St. Francis of Assisi, the patron Saint of Animals on me.  I will have to ask St. Fiacre, the Patron Saint of Gardens to side with me.
Read all about him here:
St. Fiacre
He was a nice Irish boy who had a killer skill with a spade.  His Feast day is August 30th.  I better be out working in the gardens if I expect him to help me.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Purple for Matka

Rose of Sharon opened just in time in memory of Matka.
Purple was her favorite color.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

For you.

In the absence of a post, I am giving you this gift.  A wonderful song, a wonderful singer, and scenes from Rome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkWmm5zNhDY&feature=fvsr




I will write when I can...................