Author: Rene

The hummingbird visited this weekend…in a small margin of dryness on Saturday. What a wet weekend.

The gnats in my nose have definitely dwindled…the pesticide is doing its magic.

Coyotes have returned, sighted twice in one day in the gray days of the weekend.

A successful birthday party has resulted in leftovers to last the week. No cooking!

Sunshine’s return for a spell has made the droopy petunias perk up, the ferns consider a resurgence from being wind-and-torrential-rain-whipped, and pollen’s havoc on the outdoor furniture and decks has abated with the deluges.

All in all, calm and quiet reside.

It was an interesting ad in this morning’s publication. I was discerning the appeal of this tog. The price? The fact it had so many reviews? It does come in 17 colors, maybe that was it? Or perhaps it looks like the pile of ironing I have currently sitting on the board, thus invoking nostalgic thoughts?

Perhaps the choice of this faded-shirt with a model as pasty white as I isn’t the best and most exciting photo to use on bland newsprint? Anyway, I’m just looking for a little more color and excitement in the day, and this was not it.

Sunshine, lollipops and rainbows!

If you squint your eyes when you look at the backyard, it can actually look charming. The weeds are so natural, the non-manicured trees and bushes seem to enjoy the extra foliage surrounding them. If you were searching for an appealing look in your professional photos, the wispy weeds on the berm could just do the trick. Wear your overalls and a nice straw hat.

Yes, I’m a little slow in getting this yard up to speed. Day three of groundskeeping is looming – but not today. The influx of estrogen is about to happen.

Perhaps today will be the day the hummingbirds make their appearance? The Indian Paintbrush is astounding.

One of my “habits” is that I spend an exorbitant amount to have my hair cut and colored, then proceed to come home, throw it on top of my head, and head out to mow, paint, rake, whatever task needs to be accomplished that day. Rarely in the past 30 years of seeing the same stylist have I returned to have a hot date or big event to sport my “do.”

Thus, today while the wind whips around I will probably do the same, just to keep the hair out of my eyes as I run errands, play bridge, and mow the front meadow. Oh, and get a shingles shot.

It’s good to have a low-stress day. (Except for that vaccination part. Ugh.)

Every year, without fail, I get to repaint the top railing on the front porch, the result of the previous year’s hail. Without fail, there’s hail on the rail.

And when I’m painting I am reminded of Tom and Huck whitewashing the fence for Aunt Polly, slapping on the paint which will inevitably need a new coat the following year. I guess it’s good I can relate to some literary characters in a tangible way?

The only thing missing from my adventure was a cute pair of overalls. Still too chilly and cloudy for that. Alas, I have more painting to do and another opportunity to emulate Mr. Twain’s twosome.

Where’s Becky Thatcher when you need her?

“I’ve got gnats in my nose and they won’t go…”

So the Strumbellas have a song about guns in my head and it comes to mind frequently as I have been waking up with a gnat in my nose many mornings. Talk about a brutal wake up! I’m surprised my nose isn’t bruised from batting them away.

My mother’s solution with Dawn dish soap is obviously not working on eliminating these pests from my beautiful palm plant. Even Vick’s Vapo-Rub is not deterring them. It’s time for some hard core pesticides. Thus, today’s outing will be to the garden center for a solution.

I’ll be looking forward to wakening “gnaturally.”

When did you last use a pencil eraser? They really do make a mess if you have quite a bit of lead to remove. I started thinking about how classrooms of yesteryear must have had a fine dusting of eraser rubbings.

Sometimes I had to erase entire sentences, math problems, doodling, and the paper would tear, too. Those floors must have been a mess. I probably had to sweep them? In a school with only ten kids in my class we each had housekeeping chores and duties. I don’t remember them or completing them, but I’m now supposing I did have to sweep. That could be why I don’t relish the task.

Instead of dumping my eraser remains on the classroom floor of my kitchen this morning, I made myself walk an entire eight steps to the trash can – because I had just swept the floors!

Yes, one game of golf with the virtual reality components and I am a pro! Sadly, my score was a 66 for nine holes. (About as good as I do on a true course.)

It was fun to play, and considerably enjoyable to wave golf clubs at the opponent, my son. I just think it’s fun to be in two separate places and enjoy talking and playing over a game. And the bonus feature is that you get to look incredibly attractive with the headgear.

Looking forward to a rematch!

That would be the name of my garden center. Nothing screams “hope” like a plant looking for a home in someone’s garden.

There are so many beautiful choices, all of them begging to be taken to your landscaping dream. Never mind that you might have to rework your entire irrigation system, or amend the soil with a boatload of new dirt, or purchase buckets and trash cans to cover the darlings when the inevitable hail appears. No…those considerations are not a part of the buying decision once you are surrounded by stunning blooms, blooms which will never appear as wonderful again once they are in my possession.

Yet….it’s possible!

Yard work on Mother’s Day is fraught with danger. Chainsaws, spades, shovels, rakes…all implements of disaster. I am enamored with the chainsaw.

Yeah, my son’s phone cracked digging out two defunct bushes and a tree. (totally weird accident) Then the shovel broke assisting in the endeavor. It was a rather expensive day, but one I relished as I cannot dig anything anymore due to previous plantar fasciitis. I’m happy to provide a new phone and put the difference of that and the physical labor and time required to remove the eyesores from the past ten years behind me, though my son is balking at a new phone purchase. 😊 Also, I want a new phone. There might be a BOGO?

As always, there are blessings in the broken things.