The day started out extremely cold and finally warmed up. Met some old friends for lunch - always good to see them - and one has a new job! That is so good to know as he was laid off the month before I was. So far, I think there are just 3 of us that are still jobless.

Mentioned that I found a new hobby to replace the motorscooter. Power parachuting!!! it has 4 wheels that touch the ground (when it's on the ground) and you don't need a special license either! While most just rolled their eyes - one friend was pretty adamant that I take up something safer like jet-skiing! oh well, I'm sure I'll find something by the time it is warm enough to do something other than clean up the garden.

Made a wonderful leek and potato soup last weekend. It's the first time I made it and it was very tasty. I'll have to make it again this winter.

Yes, it is winter here. We've had an early snow - I don't ever remember seeing snow before Christmas here (and then it only lasted a few hours!). This snow didn't last long either but it was pretty and gave everyone a nice way to start out the holiday season. But I'm ready for spring now.

Oh what a beautiful weekend. It isn't often we have a fall longer than 2-3 days. The leaves are gorgeous and haven't all dropped overnight like most years. Nice and warm and sunny.

The cats were allowed out to the back yard for a bit. Millie carefully made her way to the covered swing since the grass was wet and she doesn't like to get her feet wet. Sam did his usual walk around to make sure there were no intruders and everything was to his liking. Then he proceeded to eat my pansies.

Mom dropped by and I don't think she ever believed that he likes pansies so she saw it first hand today. We went out to eat and then I showed her some of the new shopping areas. Which brings me to a pet peeve - we're supposed to be 'green' and saving gas etc yet all the new shopping areas are basically strip centers with standalone stores that require (at least in bad/hot/cold weather or when buying heavy things) getting in the car and driving to the next one. Short trips are a complete waste of transportation energy but here we are - building to ensure we continue to use more gasoline.

Of course, some people know I tried the motorscooter route to counteract my big SUV that carries all the heavy gardening stuff I use year round. LOL. One smushed elbow - replaced with a big titanium bolt- and a broken arm and most likely a torn rotator cuff. Too bad they didn't discover the torn rotator cuff when they found the broken bone. Oh - of course, that was 2 separate motorscooter incidents in less than 6 months. Needless to say, it's for sell - which is too bad because I really enjoyed myself and was having a great time!

October 28 2009

I'm baaackk.

Oh my. How did I get so busy that I haven't posted in so long? SO much rain that I'm just now finishing up spring cleaning in the yard. Used the sprinkler system only for about 3 weeks this year. And of course, when it got hot so quick (well it seemed that way because of all the rain in June and July) I had to garden in the middle of the night (note: one way to get back at noisy neighbors is to go traipsing through the yard at night and tripping over things you can't see so well - another note: don't walk and carry sharp objects in the dark).

My nephew went to Australia and New Zealand over the summer to plant trees. He had a lot of fun but lost a lot of weight and it was really cold there at times - 1 place where they were supposed to stay had frozen pipes and no running water so they got to stay in a pub that week - the good news was that they could eat well there. Now he's in Hong Kong taking a semester at a university there. He'll be back in time for Christmas.

My niece got her doctorate and has moved to Washington DC to work as a chemist for a legal firm. She'll be going to law school next year (funny, I could have sworn she said she finally was tired of school). She has a huge flat - a whole 400 square feet that is twice the cost of my house that is 4 times larger. I just don't know where she puts all her clothes and shoes.

Her brother is still working mostly in town; loving what he does. I think that is so cool for someone that young.

The cats have been allowed to have supervised visits in the back yard so they will get some much needed exercise. They are so funny. Millie comes back in the house to use the litter box. She's much better at hunting than Sam but then Sam has never really been outside so while he acts like the big hunter, he doesn't know how to act when there is something there. Millie had to teach him to make noise (he squeeks like a girl) so maybe he'll figure it out. He likes to go back inside after about 10 minutes if it is too hot.

Spring has sprung in Texas! Last weekend it was high 70's low 80's and it was so nice. It felt good to work in the yard. Getting out and stretching and just loving how the sun feels right now after being so cooped up during winter - yes I am aware that anyone living north of the Red River will laugh their heads off at that statement. but what is ... is.

My early spring flowers are so pretty - except the ones in the front that always come up but never bloom. They must not like that spot because I moved some last year to the back and they actually had flowers.