Def-y's Categorizing: May 2007 Archives

GASP!! What do you mean, I can't get to the Internet!!??

Sometime late on Thursday, our connection to the Internet was lost. I was too busy Friday to realize it was down, and groaned on Saturday morning when I realized we couldn't connect. I was sure that they wouldn't send a repairman until Tuesday at the earliest, because of the holiday weekend.

I resigned myself to a long wait, so I was very surprised when they offered an appointment on Monday. SURE, I'll be here! They called back to ask if someone could come on Saturday.....it was Saturday when they called. SURE! I'll be here. Unfortunately, the repairman didn't keep the Saturday appointment. I was rather ticked, because we had planned to go out to dinner, and the appointment was to have been by 6:15. We waited, thinking he was just running a little late.

I called the company after 8:00 p.m. and they said the appointment was still open. By then, I didn't want a repairman in my home. We rescheduled for Sunday afternoon. I tried all the common tips to get the modem to work. You turn the computer off, and unplug the modem, plug it back in, and it usually works. I knew it was getting power because the computer worked. Finally Second Son came down and looked around. He discovered a re-set button on the back of the modem, and tried it.

It worked.

I went without an Internet connection for close to three days because I didn't know there was a re-set button. (You can imagine me fuming here....)

I'm so very glad to be back. I think I'll spend a little time catching up with your lives.

....like the first morning. Can't you hear the Cat Stevens song running through your mind? I suppose that's a sign of my age, but it's a song I've always liked, and it's suited to my mood this morning.

I rose early. I'm pretty much on my own today. Dear Husband will be sailing until late afternoon. Elegante Mother has gone to visit my Second Sister for a few days. Second Son has plans to picnic with friends. I was touched when he sounded worried about my being alone. I reassured him that I'd be just fine, that his father should be home in time for dinner, and I planned to enjoy the day doing "just me" things.

I made a quick stop at the grocery store. I'd planned to get just a few things for dinner tonight and tomorrow, but I saw several "Buy One, Get One Free" sales. Yesterday, at church, I saw a display asking for donated items to defray the cost of Bible School. I chose three of the items for Elegante Mother to provide. *G* One of the three was "five boxes of Ritz Crackers." Today they were on sale, Buy One, Get One Free! Talk about serendipity!

I've started the laundry, and cooked some pasta for a cold pasta salad. I watered the indoor plants and the container garden. I'll get some time in on the sidewalk garden, and maybe even the garden along the front of the house. There's still stuff to plant.

It's been lovely to have such a laid-back weekend. I put up my quilting frame again. It was possible to have both a Christmas tree and the quilting frame in the living room, but it looked awkward, so I dismantled the frame and stored it for the holidays. It's taken me this long to get back to it. My quilting bee is bound to rib me about it.

I watched a little TV. I ate Denver scrambled eggs for dinner last night. I worked on a crossword puzzle, and answered some e-mail. I just simply vegged out! Sometimes it's good to be able to direct your own life, and work at your internal pace, rather than having to meet demands of your job or your family's needs. I hope you all have the chance to find a few days like this.

Last week I spent most of my time in the gardens, weeding, planting, and edging, getting ready for the annual pot luck brunch we host for our exercise class. I thought this year we might not have many attend, but when it was time to sit down, about thirty people had joined us.

We lucked out on seating. One of the men offered to bring chairs. I never thought to discuss with him just how many chairs he was bringing. He brought eight. My niece's four folding chairs were still here from Easter (Thank you, Sweetie!), and Elegante Mother has four folding chairs. I began to think we might have to use a bench, and the two vanity seats from my bathroom, and maybe the office chairs, to get everyone seated. It turned out just right. I'm sure there's an angel who sits on my shoulder. There just has to be someone watching over me.

The meal was wonderful, as usual. There were several exceptional fresh fruit salads, all sorts of deserts, and a yummy Mediterranean salad that I plan to make tonight! On Thursday, I made a huge pan of baked ziti, and cooked about four pounds of beef brisket. Friday morning, Elegante Mother made her homemade barbecue sauce, and I shredded the brisket and combined the sauce and beef in a Crockpot. I'd picked up small dinner rolls for those who wanted to try the barbecue, rather than the usual large buns. Everyone wants a "taste" of the food, so the smaller rolls were just right. When I went to clean up after our friends left, I told EM that we'd had a horde of locust come through. There was enough barbecue left for about one and a half servings! I guess it must have made a hit.

The gardens were at their peak on Wednesday of last week. Thursday we had 40 mph winds all day long. I was surprised that the iris and peonies made it through the wind. I went out early Friday morning to deadhead, and there were enough blooms left to make a beautiful show. I have to apologize. I didn't get pictures. This was one year when I really SHOULD have taken pictures, too, because we had a number of new iris open that are spectacular.

I thought this weekend was supposed to be bright and sunny, good sailing weather. Instead, it's been a little on the cool side and overcast. They think we might get another shower or two today. I won't complain. We are desperate for precipitation, and anything that saves me having to pull hoses out to the extended gardens is just fine with me! But, the rain was VERY hard on the peonies. I'm afraid that our season will be beautiful and very short. Dear Husband told me that as he was mowing the lawns, he saw people walk up our drive to see the gardens. :-) I didn't realize that I'd had visitors. I'll have to get to work on the summer gardens now.

My friend, Adele, at Moment After Moment, has a cat named Nimrod. Now, Nimrod is known as a mighty hunter, but I believe that we have some competition for his crown, in our cat, Edward Scissorhands.

Ed has had a tough year. Fifteen months ago he underwent radiation treatment for a thyroid problem. It took him a while to get back to his usual cantankerous self. At one of his regular checkups following the radiation treatment, the vet said that she wanted him to go on the Science Diet or Iams products. She felt he would be healthier. So, we tried it.

Shortly after Christmas, I made an appointment for Ed to see the vet. I felt that he was doing so poorly that he might not make it through the winter. I mentioned that he hated the food we were pushing, and she said that at this point we should give him whatever he wanted. And we did.

Ed spent the entire month of January indoors. He is usually an indoor-outdoor cat, demanding that Elegante Mother rush to the door to let him out as he demands. I was VERY concerned at this change of behavior. But, our January was awful. We had vicious cold temperatures for three weeks running. We'd open the door for Ed and he'd stand there, shake his paw as if to say "It's too damned cold out there," and walk back into the living room.

In February he started going outside again. On the really warm days we had in early spring, he'd be away all day, leading Elegante Mother to start talking about his demise around four o'clock. He'd show up, looking satisfied at having worried her, covered with dust, and DEMAND his dinner.

Now we come to this last week. Ed has been in his element. While I was outside working on the gardens, I'd see him silently vulch over the opening to the chipmunks dens. He has all the openings around the house and in the herb garden and sidewalk garden mentally staked out.

I walked into the garage after planting all afternoon to find part of his prey left where I would be sure to see what a great hunter he is. It's dreadful to come across the back half of a bunny lying on your steps. I hollered at him, and said that he couldn't bring it inside! Dear Husband had to bury the remains for me.

Now, you know that DH is off sailing this weekend. Luckily his Second Son is home. I opened the door on Saturday night to let the cat in, and the back half of a chipmunk was displayed on the sidewalk, looking for all the world as though it was trying to run away.....

Sunday evening, he brought another bunny, not a baby, but not full grown. I opened the door to let Ed in, and realized he had prey again, and shut the door in his face. SS!!! YOU HAVE TO DO CLEAN-UP DUTY AGAIN!! SS has taken to calling Ed the "Zombie Cat." Apparently, Ed has a taste for brains. EWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!

I hope we get past this sharing of prey, soon! Do we win the hunting crown for this week, Adele, or is Nimrod still the mightiest hunter???

My first poison ivy for 2007.....Wednesday, May 23. Drat!

I may try the new Cortaid poison ivy control stuff. I've washed with Tecnu and that seems to have kept it from spreading, but it's not going away.

I am a member of a wonderful exercise class. We meet three mornings a week for a bit more than 45 minutes of exercise and 30 minutes or so of chatter. Occasionally, on Monday mornings, we go to McDonald's after class for the free coffee, and once a month we go to breakfast to celebrate all the birthdays that occurred that month.

For a number of years, four or more by now, the class has come to our house to have a pot luck brunch in May. We always hope that our gardens will be at their peak, and that they will provide eye-candy for our visitors as they drive up to the house. (Pictures WILL be forthcoming. Be patient. I'm a work in progress.)

I have had the most wonderful week getting ready for their visit. I use this as an excuse to get my Spring cleaning done, and to get the gardens in shape. I've spent four to six hours a day in the gardens, and they were absolutely gorgeous on Wednesday. The colors blended together well, and the accent plants were in bloom. Unfortunately, today we have had exceptionally high winds, and high temperatures, so I'm not sure what the gardens will look like tomorrow. We're also supposed to have thunderstorms tonight.

I spent today running errands, and making baked ziti and cooking brisket for homemade barbecue. I've washed most of the glass ( hurricanes, candle holders, an antique footed cut-glass candy dish, vases, and the Waterford that Dear Husband gave me for Christmas.) Tonight, I'll iron napkins and tablecloths as I watch TV. Tomorrow, we'll do the final cleaning, set the tables and deadhead in the gardens, and it will be SHOWTIME!

I know that sounds odd to say that this was a great week, but I'm very proud of all the work I've done in the gardens. I really hope that they still look good tomorrow, but no matter what, I'll have a good time with my friends.

Don'tcha just love friends who like to go out to eat??? *G*

Just a little advertisement for my sis at Just My Opinion. Go visit and see what her family life is like right now. Communication is the by-word, no matter what the age!

I'm going out to water. We're supposed to have three days of HEAT and then finally a little rain. My iris are astonishing. I'll have to take pictures to share, just in case the storm gets them. I hope you're all enjoying this Spring. I am!

Our granddaughter is THREE! Gosh....where did the time go!? We're going to celebrate Sunday with cake and presents and lunch.

While I worked in the gardens, Dear Husband went off in search of the perfect birthday gift. He was disappointed in his shopping. There were several things that didn't seem to be available. Ultimately he came home with a full car, and we'll be wrapping gifts all night! *G*

This is the year of the princesses: Cinderella, Belle, Ariel, and Snow White. I think the trip to Disney is firmly lodged in her mind! *G* I'll keep score and let you know how many gifts featured one or more of them.

What's with bruises?? Why is it that when I bump something and think "Boy, is that gonna cause a bruise!" that it never happens? And where do these mystery bruises come from? I have several bad ones on my arms and legs, and I have NO idea what I did that caused them. I'm sure that it's something to do with gardening. I'm not the most graceful person, so I've probably bumped something and forgotten about it.

Do I need more vitamins? More potassium? Why does getting bruises seem cyclical?

I've lived with poison ivy so long that I've almost come to take it for granted. A new visitor to this blog, Andrea, asked for help identifying poison ivy, so I thought I might write a bit more on the subject. My apologies for not taking pictures of the dreaded visitor before I ripped it out.

This link from Cornell University shows low growing poison ivy that acts as a ground cover. You'll find the leaves grouped in threes, and the edges of the leaves are notched. We find this type of poison ivy in our gardens, or mixed in with the wild raspberries. It has a genius for lodging at the roots of plants you'd like to keep, and spreads by roots on the surface or just under the surface of the ground.

This link will take you to an on-line article on poison ivy with several excellent pictures. One type of poison ivy is a climbing vine. We find it climbing the trees with a tough stem covered with aerial roots that help it attach itself to the trees. Scroll down in the linked article for a a good picture of the stems. When we find this type of stem, we tend to cut it at the base of the tree.

The leaves of climbing poison ivy turn red in the fall. So do the leaves of Virginia Creeper. To be on the safe side, I don't touch anything turning red, unless I personally planted it, and can identify it.

You know....just writing about this is making me itch!!!

Speaking of itching...we use the Tecnu products once we've come in contact with poison ivy. Frequently, I can forestall a trip to the doc by washing very thoroughly with Tecnu, or I can at least lessen the effect of the urushiol on my skin. I tend to wear long pants and socks, long sleeved shirts and latex gloves just to be on the safe side.

Occasionally, in late fall or early winter, I'll find I have a tiny bit of a rash that is very reminiscent of poison ivy, when I shouldn't have had any contact with it. It finally occurred to me that I was picking it up from our pet's fur. As I stroked the dog or the cat, I'd pick up tiny bits of the oil and then distribute over my arms by accident. If you have pets and a small child, this might be something you really want to keep in mind.

If you choose to cut poison ivy down, or rip it out, do NOT burn it. You could inhale the urushiol. Also, if you have a compost pile, do not dispose of the poison ivy in the compost. I tend to be an organic gardener, with a very few exceptions. Where it's possible, I'll use a disposable paint brush to paint Round-up, or something similar, on the leaves of poison ivy. You'll still need to be careful removing the leaves and stems of the poison ivy, and sequestering them where you won't come into contact.

I've learned to live around it. If I'm going to be at the verge of the groves here, I tend to be very careful where I walk. There's no way you can completely eradicate this pest from your land.

If you need more pictures of poison ivy, Andrea, go to Google, Image, and type in poison ivy. They have all the pictures you'll need! Good luck!

In the entry below, you'll find that Dear Husband and I attended a recent concert by Itzhak Perlman, and were surprised by some of the audience behavior. I was talking about this experience with the Red Hat Ladies at lunch today, and discovered that behavior at a classical concert is not universally known.

When I described the faux pas of applause following the first movement, one of the ladies asked if the custom of waiting until the end of the piece was posted in the program. I don't know. Because of my background, I've just assumed that everyone knew that tradition. Posting the guidelines in the program is not a bad idea!

On WGN720 this morning, John Williams was talking with his audience about the same subject. A grade school band director called in to say that not only did they need to teach their students about proper concert behavior, they also needed to teach the audience. Society has become SO casual, that we all act as though we are at home in front of our own TV and can do whatever we please, when there are actually guidelines for concert goers.

I tried to think what I would tell a first-time concert goer. I suppose the most important thing is that you don't do anything which would either distract the performer, or bother the audience around you.

1. Specifically, NO TALKING (OR SINGING) during the performance.
2. Turn off your cell phone, or turn it to "vibrate" for the duration of the concert. (Personally, I'd make you turn it in at the door!).
3. Remain seated, unless you are deathly ill. DO NOT walk up the aisle during the performance.
4. Be in your seat BEFORE the performance begins, or be prepared to have to wait to be seated between the selections, or at intermission.
5. At a concert of "classical" music, wait to applaud until the entire piece is finished. The program will list how many movements there are to a piece. If you're not sure that the piece is over, let the rest of the audience or the actions of the performer(s) guide you.

Perhaps there are other suggestions that I could make, but these seem to be the most basic. Having courtesy and consideration for the performer and for the audience just about covers it all.

It was lovely. We need to do something like this more often..

Itzhak Perlman was as impressive as ever. I'm still astonished that our little theater was able to book a performer of his caliber. The room looked to be sold out.

There were three selections scheduled (no Mozart, alas), with an intermission between the second and third. We were rather surprised to see Mr. Perlman leave the stage after the first selection, but he was having difficulty with his bow. The tone quality of his violin was noticeably uneven, so I suspect he chose to leave the stage to select another bow.

When he resumed, he launched into Strauss' Sonata for violin and piano in E-flat Major, Opus 18. This piece has three sections. I'm sure he was surprised at the vigorous applause at the end of the Allegro (the first section). The audience quieted, and he went on. When they tried to applaud at the end of the Andante cantabile, he waived his hand in a little "no-no" gesture, and went on.

He'll probably remember my town as the "Hicks in the Sticks." It seems that a large part of the audience has not experienced a classical performance before. The rules of the road for this type of performance are that you applaud only at the end of the piece. Despite all this, I'm glad so many inexperienced concert goers attended. I hope they'll tell others what they learned.

Perlman was quite funny about the applause. He had to be coaxed onto the stage with extended applause after his third selection, Three American Pieces by L. Foss. At that point he had to announce the selections he was going to play for us. At one point, he said that he'd been talking to Mr. Strauss out in the back, and that Strauss said it wasn't necessary to applaud between movements. *G*

There must have been easily 1000 people in the audience, probably more. Of all of those people, just ten were poorly behaved. Just before Perlman started to play the Strauss, someone's cell phone rang, right at the front, near the stage! Someone else was rattling candy wrappers. Several other people felt it was okay to walk up the aisles as he played. This is another of those situations where I mourn the switch to more casual manners. Many of the members of the audience had no idea what was expected of them, but most rose to the occasion. It was delightful to see so many people enthralled with classical music!

Thank you, Itzhak Perlman, for a wonderful concert!

The time has come that strikes every woman's heart with fear. My hairdresser has retired.

I feel so abandoned. She's gone without a farewell, or even a hint that she was thinking of this.

And what's worse, is that I have a perm scheduled in two weeks! One of the other stylists has done my hair occasionally, and she will step in to see that my hair continues to get the care it needs. But.....I used to be able to plop myself down in the chair and let K do whatever needed to be done. Now, I'll be asked, "What would you like?" And I don't have a CLUE!

Yes......I'm hair inept. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but my hair does what it damn well pleases. I'd SO like to have a fashionable hair do, but that implies that I might have to actually DO something to achieve that state. It's just not going to happen. When the fashion of the day is BALD....I'll be right there!

Until then, wish me luck settling in with a new stylist.

We have a rare treat in store for us tomorrow night. Dear Husband and I will be going to hear Itzhak Perlman perform. Last fall, when the list of performers for our local venue was published, I bought tickets to three different performances: Stomp, Garrison Keillor, and Perlman.

I love "classical" musicn and would go to any concert of this type, but I chose the tickets for Itzhak Perlman because Dear Husband goes around whistling arias by Mozart. I think they may have scheduled something by Mozart for this concert. It was DH's birthday gift last fall. He's had to wait a LONG TIME for it to come to fruition.

We'll go to dinner, and then head to the concert. We'll be up later than usual for a week night, but what a great reason to stay up! I won't have pictures on Friday morning, but I'm sure I'll have comments about what I expect to be a great performance!

Nan has posted! She's met the challenge of 50 head on and come through it just fine. Go visit to see what she had to say, at Just My Opinion.

So many of my blogging friends discuss weighty issues, or serious matters. I frequently feel like a butterfly flitting among you. But, one of my Red Hat Lady friends has said that my blog reminds her of Samuel Pepys.....a daily journal. I stopped fretting once she gave me my niche. *S*

So....today, it's windy and in the 60s, on the cool side for many of you, but heavenly to me. The apple trees have bloomed, and the wind is scattering white petals over the lawn. It looks a bit like snow in spring. Elegante Mother says that the flowering trees and shrubs seem to be blooming more densely this year. They look drenched in color.

I need to get out the book on shrubs and trees and do a little studying. I'm having trouble identifying some of the blooms that I see. There are four or five shades of pink, and white blooms, plus the lavender/purple of the redbud. Crab apples, apples, cherries...what else is blooming out there!?

Yesterday, we made our first trip to the nursery. I'm happy to say that Elegante Mother outspent me! She was buying plants for the containers at the front door. I was buying herbs, and a few things for the sidewalk gardens. I still have some cleanup to do in the herb garden. Dear Husband has two long areas of the outer arms that need understructure or support of some kind, but that won't keep me from planting.

I need lots more basil, salad burnet, two taller rosemaries. I probably bought enough thyme and lavender. I have two tiny lemon verbena plants, which we grow as an annual, but I'd like to find two bigger plants. I may check out several other nurseries, and stop by the big discount stores for some annuals. I was surprised that my favorite nursery didn't have Victoria Blue Salvia on their racks.

I think a chipmunk and his extended family have made a home under the thyme. The ground is mounded where it used to be flat, and some of the thyme plants have died off. I'm going to take the opportunity to dig up that stretch of the bed and add some compost to the dirt. That'll freak out the rodents! *G*

One of the chores each spring is to empty the containers and throw away spent plants. Most of the containers are planted with annuals, but I have sage, mint, iris and a rose in containers. I set up a garden sieve over the wheelbarrow last night, and ran the soil through the sieve. I'll mix in fresh potting soil, some of that stuff that holds moisture, and some compost, and refill the pots. Then, I can set the plants near the containers, and Elegante Mother can decide what goes where. I'd like to get that chore done before Friday, when the Quilting Bee meets here.

Our lilacs are in bloom. I brought a handful in for Elegante Mother's sitting room.

I pruned the shrubs back near the veggie beds. I have to turn the dirt in the veggie boxes, and add a lot of compost. I want to use the walk-behind mower back there, too. I'M RECLAIMING THE VEGGIE BEDS THIS YEAR! Wish me luck.

Now ends the writing of the gardening info for this week! *G*