Another Smith retirement home story. I've been trying to go with my brother and sister-in-law a few times each month. Mostly for exercise but some to put names on twigs, limbs and anything else I can cut, break or burn - and that would be names from work. Anyway, we had so much brush all piled up that needed to be burned so there would be room for more stacks of brush. They tried the weekend before but it was too wet. My nephew went with us, that was really nice because I don't see much of him and he's such a nice young man (yes I am prejudiced about my neice and both nephews!)

We got 1 pile finally started, and it was so nice and warm! I was so bundled up (I hate cold weather) and had to start removing coats and sweaters etc. I stayed close the fire and watched for flying embers while they went and dragged more stuff to throw on the fire. When the smallest and the next smallest piles were finished (well, they were still smoking but pretty much out), my sister-in-laws parents had come out so we went to lunch leaving my brother and nephew to watch things. Of course, when we got back, the next pile was done - they must have used most of the gasoline. They knew my sister-in-law wasn't there to supervise and you know boys/men! We were only gone 1 hour which is about 1/4 the time it took to burn the previous pile. I still think we should have brought marshmellows and hot dogs!

The last time I went, it was below freezing. The ground was hard (it had been muddy for the prior few weekends) so we took the trailer down to the someday-it-will-be-a-pond-and-already-dug-some-out area (aka burn area). About .5 way through, I started sinking and had huge mud packs around my shoes. So when we went to take the trailer back for more - yep - you guessed it - it had thawed enough from the sun that we got stuck. So we just unhooked the trailer, and oops, the truck got stuck. I've not seen a truck swing from side to side like that before - good thing I moved too. So we tried and tried and tried some more. Eventually, we took some brush, and put it in front & in back of the tires (sounds pretty easy doesn't it), and let the truck move back to put brush where the tires had been. Made a little brush road! And it finally worked! So the trailer stayed put and we cleared brush elsewhere and just piled it up by the road.

I really enjoy spending the time with my brother and sister-in-law that weekend. My nephew didn't go with us that time. I'm surprised at how much I can actually do for a desk-jockey and how I can manage to breathe in the cold. Usually, when it gets below 70, I have trouble breathing because it is too cold and my asthma sets in if I'm not really careful.

I can't believe I haven't written about the Smith Retirement Farm LOL. My brother and sister-in-law bought some acreage in East Texas. It's deep in the middle of dairy cow country. They took me out to see it right before they bought it. So when they told me that they were going on Friday to sign the final papers, I had to act quick, go flamingo hunting and prepare. I had to really hunt to find any flamingos too. So I leave the house around 5:30 as I wanted to be at the property at day break because I knew they'd want to get out really early for a first day at their property. Also, I have a big red XUV and didn't want them to see me. I had my escape route all picked out.

It was a nice drive and the sun came up about 10 minutes away from where I needed to be. It was beautiful and so calm. I forgot how a sunrise can be such a beautiful thing. It was also much colder out there. And no, I didn't think about that so I didn't think to bring a coat. This is October in Texas too so it can be freezing one minute and burning hot the next .... oh wait, that is all fall/winter/spring.

I get to their street and have to drive really really slow. It was paved many many many years ago and I didn't want any rock dings on my XUV. I finally reach my goal - there's the gate..... only there are 3 hugh (yes even by my Texas everything is larger here standards), and I mean huge dogs, wolves, or cayotes (all are in the area). So I sit in the XUV until they finally get bored and go away. So I can finally collect all the flamingos and other stuff. I struggle to crawl under the gate without losing any of the flamingo legs and was fairly successful. As I walk down the dirt road and hear some strange noices (to be truthful, any noise at this point to a city kid is frightning) it suddenly occurs to me, that I'm out in the middle of nowhere, by myself, the cellphone won't work, and this is East Texas where they shoot first and ask questions later. I start running further into the property... well I made it this far and might as well finish... and get to the cross roads. Now bear in mind that the term road is made loosely here. So I'm putting up the flamingos (there were 6), a wind chime (you try putting up a wind chime when you are short, the trees are tall and the dirt road isn't packed), and a woodpecker. I took pictures but didn't think about there being so many trees that it would be hard to get a good picture. I looked at the time and ran out of there. I really did not want to get caught. So giggling away, I hop in the XUV and take off. Again, the road is so rough the speedy trip was about 10 miles an hour. And of course, I run into 2 women walkers - but at least they just smile and wave - and I was thankful they didn't have a gun or rifle. So when I finally make it to a real road, man, do I take off. It's getting late and I am so afraid they will see me. I finally get past where they will see the XUV and slow down and giggle some more. I get on the highway - I was so glad to get back to civilization too. I stopped in the nearby city at my favorite store Wal*Mart, picked up some cd's and went on my merry way back home.

Well by then, Lowe's and Home Depot were open so I made some garden stops. And I'm so disappointed because I'm not getting any cell calls from my brother and sister-in-law. I finally make my way back home. When I go out later that day for dinner, I had a hard time getting the car to start. So I decided to go to a drive-through and when I came back home, I backed into the garage - just in case. My belief is that when you are prepared, nothing happens...right? Wrong. So the next morning I get up and mess around and finally decide to go get some breakfast..... only the car won't start. So I called up my brother and left a message. I should've known they were back out in the country. So he calls me back around 2pm as they are getting to Greenville to see what's going on. I asked him to come get me so we can go to Sam's and get a new battery. He never says a word about the flamingos. I really don't think he believed me until they got here and saw the car backed in the garage. So of course, he has to hassle me about what would've have happened if this had happened out in the country where CELL PHONES DON'T WORK (I forgot about that but would've used OnStar or waited until they got there). Anyway, they were impressed that I remembered how to get there. That was so much fun! and I have a new battery too.

Feb 3 2003 Can't believe it has been so long since I've written. Christmas was lots of fun though. My niece from Atlanta and her boyfriend were here for a few days. My niece and nephews always get together (usually on boxing day) and eat and go to a movie. It is nice that I can get a few moments with them by myself. They are all so grown up now. Yes, I know I am biased but they are all nice, polite, fun, and happy. My niece is getting her doctorate this spring, her brother is working installing big screen tvs and the youngest nephew is finishing up his junior year.

This year we had to get together on Christmas Eve. So we went to the movie (A Night at the Museum) and found a place to eat. Then all but the middle nephew and his girlfriend, came over and we finished getting ready for Christmas dinner. I think we kept my niece up after her bedtime though. One of my cats, Sam, had a wonderful time. My niece's boyfriend was dragging around some twine and Sam wore himself out chasing it. It was so funny.

We had dinner at my house and that was fun as usual. We don't dress up, but gather for food and a good time.

It is still hot. We had a little cool spell - enough to make me forget to water my hanging baskets that I've been nursing all summer - they are toast! My water bill keeps going up as I try to keep the foundation watered and our idiots at the city claim we aren't conserving enough- I used to be able to run the sprinkler 5 minutes around the house every day and it was fine - now it takes about an hour every day and of course I'm using more water overall. Gooberheads.

I just got in from chasing Sam (the cat) outside. He is an indoor cat and he escaped when I went outside to get something. Of course it was dark outside and he is dark too. Ever tried to get a cat in the dark with treats and a flashlight especially when he wants to run, run run? I only caught him because he got tired so quickly. He really should be outdoors where he can run some. My other cat, Millie (the white one of course) was mad at him for getting out and she kept hollering for him to get his butt in the house. I hope the neighbors were not home for this bit of excitement that I didn't need.

I may or may not have mentioned before, but I like to leave the ugly plastic flamingoes in my brothers' yards. Now that the youngest brother is in Arkansas, it is a little more difficult to get his yard decorated but it gets done. My other brother, on the other hand, lives nearby and has 2 acres so the front yard is nice and big.

One time when my niece came home from college, I put a whole bunch in their front yard - her room is on the second floor where she could see them. At Christmas one year, I got up early, lined their driveway with flamingos that had woolen scarves around their necks so they wouldn't get cold. One of her boyfriends came home with her for Christmas that time. that was funny. I can't always get good pictures because it is dark when I do it.

Sometimes I leave things around April Fool's day and sometimes not. I don't want my brother to expect anything at anytime. And of course, there is Halloween. I try to leave some things there too.

Payback is soooo sweet for all the trouble they gave me through the years. Well, mostly the brother that lives nearby since the youngest brother is 15 years younger than I am.

But that is another story. For some reason, my siblings keep aging and have passed me by. I was born first but I am much younger then they all are now.

I can't believe it is so dry. I haven't had rain in quite a while now and the temperature is steady at 98-101. We can use our sprinkler systems 1 day a week. I can use a soaker hose every day for an hour. It is very frustrating because the soaker hose doesn't keep the area 4 feet around the house consistent as did using the sprinkler around the house for 5 minutes a day when the temperature gets over 95. And more frustrating - I am using twice as much water with the soaker hoses and it just isn't working. I don't know what the city is thinking about, they assume because the water bills are higher that we water the lawn more on our 1 day - no way- I'm using all the extra water on the foundation - and it is cracking anyway. The grass is pretty much dead - that's another story. Yes there are people that over water on watering day, but I am one of those that uses water wisely and carefully and am tired of being punished because other people can't do the same.

Scott's Lawn service doesn't check to see when watering day is so they come out, put out chemicals that have to be watered within the next 24-48 hours and they do it on the day AFTER my watering day. They told my neighbor across the street that you have to call them or they will come out whenever they want. So they do my yard the day after watering day and hers the day before watering day. Great Service - so now my grass has burned because I couldn't water for 6 days. I think they should take the word Service out of their name. I am so ready for organics.

But wait - now there is the matter of the grass mowers. I need my grass to be higher so they skip a week as I asked but when they come back the following week, instead of raising the blades, they scalp the front yard. So what was the point of skipping a week? So now I will call and have them skip the front yard until October. It isn't growing anyway thanks to the chemical burns. The sides and back look much better.

June 21 2006 Well the saga at work continues. Discovery today is that the off-shore staff won't work more than 40 hours a week, won't be on-call and won't work at night or weekends. All the stuff our folks did all the time. Very frustrating.

The garden is looking nice and I am dividing some plants to move and finally planting all the ones I saved from the area that is now a patio. Some of the daylilies are blooming and they have been in pots since March - and when I say pots I mean I dug them up and threw them in pots and behind plants without planting them. I can't believe they are still alive. While working in a new bed next to the new patio, I managed to dig up my cable modem AGAIN (well it has been about 3-4 years since I did it last). So I taped it up, marked it with rocks and it seems to be working.

I wish it was cool enough so I could finish my motorcycle class. I'm drooling over a new one that I think I want when I finally get my license.

I went to NW Arkansas 2 weekends ago and saw a deer stroll across my brothers back yard. Saw some woodpeckers too. I always see animals I don't normally see when I go up there (remember I am a city kid and generally see animals at the zoo).

I got 29 drops of rain over the weekend that was supposed to be stormy all weekend from Friday to Tuesday. And had plenty of SUN too. I think the old timey weather forecasters did much better than what they do today. So needless to say, I am watering well on the only day I can water due to the water restrictions. But my foundation is cracking anyway. ergggggg