fright night

 I actually let out a tiny scream

followed by an "Oh my god you scarred me!"

    I decided today to work on the tree bases in the yard.  There are weeds, suckers, grasses and something very itchy that rubbed on my arms growing around the bases.

    I took a break for supper, then went out again.

    About 8:30 I was ready to come in when I spotted an area of crab grass that has given me fits all summer.

    So I l decided to dig  it out.  This patch was almost a foot in diameter and I was working with a shovel when I heard this screeching from behind me.

    I yelped  then turned around to see  a subdivision neighbor on her very squeaky bicycle.

    I had her daughters in school and she just stopped to say hello since she saw me in the yard.

    We had a nice chat, once my heart stopped racing.

    Jackie called me about 8:45.  I never answer when she calls.  I just go straight into the house as fast as I can.

    I got in and she was just wondering where I was because it was dark outside.

    In the not too recent past, if I don't answer her quickly she thinks I have died.  I know!  But I also know sometimes she needs me ASAP and answering the phone takes time.

    Anyway, I worked around 5 large trees and 2 of the smaller ones. And by small, I mean 1 foot or less.  These were free from the state last May and I planted 11 of them.

    Most of them have leaves.

    But there are 4 that don't have leaves.  They have buds.  I tried to snap a bit off, but they are very flexible, which to me means they are not dead.  But why no leaves?

    I am kind of itchy, but not really tired.

    It's too dark to work outside.  Maybe there is something in the house I can do before I  hit the hay.

    Or not.

Peace and Love

ahhh

 We had some luxury today

    I had a pedicure and Jackie got her toe nails trimmed.  We go to a place in Sycamore, have been going there for  a long time.

    While there, I stopped at the audiologist's for supplies, the eyeglass place for  an adjustment on Jackie's glasses, picked up dog food for Beth, returned some shorts. to Kohl's, bought hair spray at Ulta, and picked up some groceries at Hy Vee.

    It was a busy afternoon.

    But life does have its frustrations.

    We got our X Finity bill and I almost shipped my pants!

    Our bill has gone up almost $100 since June!

    After a very long time with a live chat, I was told our bill had been lower because we had promotions which have expired and there are no current promotions available.

     Neither Julia or Emily have cable service.  Maybe it is time for me to consider  going to another provider.

    But, they have to carry Marquee so we can watch the Cubs on their way to another World Series.

    As we were driving today I noticed some yards are full of old cars and trucks, machinery, garbage, and other stuff.

    It makes me wonder why a person would have 5 or 6 vehicles that don't run.  Or why they leave garbage all over their property.

    When we first married we struggled, financially.  but we kept the yard clean.

    True, walk into our kitchen now and maybe it would not be sparkling clean, and there may be dishes in the sink.  And on the counter.  And the recycling bin may be full.  And maybe the counter tops are cluttered

    But the outside looks nice.

    And that's the way it is.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace

fini

 I mowed today

    I did not start until 4:30, then paused for supper, and finished about 8.

    That seems like a long time....but when you consider supper, bathroom breaks, water breaks and everything, it wasn't bad.

    Looking at the garden, the tomato plants. are huge...but there e are few tomatoes!  Kind of disappointing.

    And I am wondering if I should cut back some of the cucumber runners....they are really going everywhere.

    I had my second PT session today.  Working on stretches, next target will be building up muscles.  Today I did some stretches that really stretched me out!  I am skipping stretches tonight becuse I did them in the morning and in the afternoon. 

    I have read a couple of articles on Lollapalooza in Chicago over the weekend.

    I honestly did not know any of the names of those performing with 1 exception.  I knew Smashing Pumpkins.  But one of the kids at Lolla said they performed on the "grandpa stage." 

    Good grief.

    I saw a video of people leaving the show at the end of the night.  The description was something about how do 115,000 people leave Grant Park.

It showed all these people, holding their phones in flashlight mode,  walking  on Wacker next to the river.

    Now, I man not the most aware person, but if you are leaving Grant Park I don't think you would walk the half mile or so down to Wacker to go home.

    So I am guessing it was an AI generated image.  

    That's my opinion, unless someone can prove me wrong.

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

almost

 Today was an almost day

    I made lemon cookies and they almost came out right.  They are crisp, and they are supposed to be soft.  I followed the directions.  It said to bake until the edges turn light brown, so I did.  But they are crisp, not soft.

    I almost made it through the day without major leg pains.  Afternoons seem to be better than mornings but I still have tines when I hurt.

    My eye almost looks normal.  I just have to remember not to rub it so hard next time.

    I almost contacted my nephew and his family in Switzerland, but before I knew it, it was almost 10 at night there.  Gotta do that early!

    I almost changed the batteries in my trail cam......but I can't get the old batteries out.  There has to be a trick.

    I almost went the entire day without using a swear word, but the trail can broke the spell.

    And I almost done with my chores.  Hopefully they will be finished by the time I go to bed.

    Have a great first week of August.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace

rattlesnake master

Cup plant seems to be taking over the native plot

Royal catchfly....I love the red!

riddle

I have a riddle for you 

    Here is the question:  What's a 7 letter word that starts out egg and ends in soup?

    This was kind of a blah day.

    Gray skies, misty, no nap.

    Sometimes I wonder how I am going to get it all done.

    Taking care of Jackie, laundry, cooking, dishes, lawn care and who knows what else.  I complain about it, but I get it done.  Sometimes it takes a while, but I get it done.

    I know there are couples worse off than me, and I am thankful that we are not in a terrible situation.  But it gets mentally and physically tiring with the same day after day after day routine.

    We had a couple of visitors in our back yard today.  It looked like a doe and her fawn.  They were browsing around the bird feeder and then went over to neighbor john's yard.  I lost track of them after that.

    I did not go out to check the garden today.  I should have.  

    Next year I am going with 1 cucumber plant.  This year I have four or 5 of 2 varieties and they have spread like crazy!  But my tomatoes look sick.  I am not optimistic about them.

    Beans and carrots will be good crops.  I can tell by looking at all the flowers on the beans and all the carrots in the planters.  

    That is good.  I cooked the last of the beans the other night.  Well, no actually cooked.  I put the frozen beans in a pan, turned the heat on and went and grilled hamburgers.  Unfortunately I did not put water in the pan and they burned.

    Oh well.

    I guess that is all I have.

    Oh,  the answer t the riddle:  chicken.  I know!  It's not funny!!  But you will tell someone, won't you?

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

    

A little Lasso help

The new season of Ted Lasso starts next week 

     We watched the final  episode of the last season, and I got confused.

    Maybe I missed something.  The feed cut off during he credits, but what I saw got me.

    Coach and Jane were getting married at Stonehenge.  I honestly don't remember that.

    What I do remember is a scene where Keely is with Roy, somebody is getting married, and they look like they are on a beach or estate.

    Help me.... am I dreaming again?  Did I miss the last minute or 2?  Did they reshoot the ending?  Curious minds want to know.

    Anyway...doing my stretches and tonight my legs hurt like heck.  I know!  One day is too soon and it will get better.  I just wish it would be soon.

    We filmed a podcast at the museum today.  I won't tell you much about except I had a lot of fun doing it.  I also stumbled a lot on my words.  I tried to speak too fast and hopefully creative editing will smooth it all out.

    Last week the furnace made a strange noise.  A repair guy came out and thought it was a motor, that a bearing was going bad.

    We opted to replace it now rather than having it go on a day when it is too hot or too cold.  The noise never came back after the first time.....but we were playing is safe.

    Now it is all fixed and I can't wait to get the bill.

    Stopped at Cypress House for a coffee and  was talking about seeing the Savannah Bananas.  Another customer in the store joined the conversation.  She drove to Savannah to watch them!  I think she had a sister there, not quite sure about that part.  But she said it was a great experience.

    Incidentally, her ticket cost $30 and included a hot dog, drink, and fries.  

    It's hard to believe the guy started this in 2018 and almost went broke.  But now it is a million dollar business, entertaining fans around the country.

    If you get a chance to see them.....go.  You will enjoy it.

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

Follow ups

Not much to say tonight 

    I just have a couple of followups to previous posts.

    I have done my first day of exercises as prescribed by the PT folks.  Boy, does that hurt!

    Also, I had my first mojito of the summer.  I know!  It's almost August and I have only had 1.  I guess my tastes have changed.  But it was good.  Sat on the back patio, had a hamburger and my mojito and did my last News-Leader crossword puzzle.

    Why my last?  $143 a year.  This issue had 2 pages on the Rockford Peaches.  That may be interesting, but it is not really Rochelle news.  So until something better comes along, I will rely on hearsay and Facebook for coverage of the local community.

    Friend Dianne asked about the value of my old house.

    My mother sold it in 1978 or  so for $57,000.  Zillow has the estimated price at $975,000.  House has 3,400 square feet.

      That got me curious about the apartment building my grandmother owned.  I was always under the impression my father's dad built the building.  But I don't know. It was built in 1925, according to Zillow.  

    Anyway, units inn the condo building are between $ $516,800 and $631,000 with a smaller unit at $387,00.  The smaller one may also be a garden apartment.  There should be 6 units in the building.

    And the HOA fees are a tad over $400  month

    And if you are a curious person, or just nosey, check out the Zillow linfo for 915 N. Dearborn in Chicago.

    A few of us could all chip in and buy it.

    Funny, eh?

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace