relief

We had pedicures today and I feel great 

    Granted, the technician had to use a chainsaw on my big toe, but once that was trimmed, al the others were fairly easy.

    Honestly, why do we wait until we are past needing a. trim to schedule a trim?

    Then the plan was to come home and move mulch.

    Well.......the best laid plans often go astray.

    I stopped at the grocery store in DeKalb and then we hit Ollie's for some frozen custard.  I had a new flavor, dark chocolate, which had bits of chocolate cake in it.  It was pretty darn tasty!  Jackie had regular chocolate.  Despite it being warm, neither of us dripped much on our tops.

    But that all took a little time.

    Emily needed a little help moving a couple f items out of Johanna's house.  So Julia, Sheri and I went.  We were there almost 2 hours, making trips up and down the basement stairs with items to sell. 

    I think.

    Camryn and her mom, Shannon, are holding a sale tomorrow in Rockford.   An address would help, but all I remember is Myrtle Lane.  It's in Wildwood Subdivision, right off of Perryville an Harrison.

    We helped a little in bringing items out of the house, but to be honest, after several. trips up and down the stairs this old boy was a bit tuckered.  And I did spell that with a t, I checked.

  We came home unloaded the cars, ate pizza and drank some delicious rosé named Whispering Angel.  It was al very nice.

    But the mulch didn't get moved.  The garage is a mess, even worse than normal.  I have not read the  entire Trib or done Wordle for the day and I am pretty dang tired.

    If you like tools, then head up to Rockford and go to Johanna's garage sale.  Check Johanna's Estate Sale on FB for pictures and other information.

    Have a great night....I think I will sleep well.

Peace and Love

ain't that special

 Just a lot of random thoughts tonight

    I know, what's different from any other night?

    The Marlins baseball team designated for assignment a player that has $24 million due him this year.  That' contract was a big mistake.  I wish someone would pay me that much to not play baseball.

    In my FB memories tonight, a lot of D Day posts showed up, but one from a long time ago dealt with the weather.    We lived on Skare Court and on this date it was 97 degrees, with a hight of 100 expected for tomorrow.

    That was in 2011, if I read that correctly.

    When I planted my native garden, I imagined nature would take care of itself.

    Wrong, he who knows least!

    Thistle and grass have almost taken over my newest plot.  I have been out there a lot pulling grass and thistle.  I should not say pulling, because I try to dig it out. It is not easy.  If we had a decent rain it would help, but we don't seem to be getting those.

    My older plot has a lot of cup plant.  Now, I like cup plant....but there are way too many.  I dug out about 10 today and I am sure I missed some.  I am trying to keep it in one corner,  but dang, t hey spread.

    My bike is still hanging.  Is it fear or laziness?  I wish I knew.

    Cubs not looking good again tonight.  Result is another loss.  Can't seem to beat Cincinnati.  That's a hard one for me to spell.  I had to look it up.

    Boy was the wind bowing today!  Knocked over 2 of my patio chairs.  I ended up taking the umbrella down because I thought it was going to go and take the table with it.  And the dust was blowing like crazy!  Hopefully all the good topsoil landed where it will be useful

    That's random me for tonight.

Peace and Love

never forget

Tomorrow is an important date in history 

    June 6, 1944. D Day.

    The invasion of Europe begins on the beaches of Normandy in France.

    Thousands of young men and boys from the US and Allied forces landed on beaches all along the French coast, facing the machine guns and other weapons of German defenders.

    Jackie and I have visited Omaha Beach twice.  The first visit was another story, and the weather was terrible.  It was so foggy you could not see the beach from the cemetery.

    The second visit was much better.  I went down to beach where so many lives were shattered that day.

    Omaha is a big beach.  And it was a long way from the water to the bluffs.  I could not imagine the horror those young men faced as the landing ships opened  their front doors and the troops jumped into water, sometimes over their heads, with 60 or 80 pound packs on their backs.  German guns firing non stop at them from positions above the bluffs.  Land mines.  Artillery shells.  It must have been hell for them.

    But they advanced and eventually the Nazi forces were defeated.

    Standing among all those white crosses in the cemetery certainly gave me a sad feeling.  Yet I was grateful that so many sacrificed their lives to save the world from Hitler and his demented ideas.

    This is the 80 anniversary. Several vets from the US will be attending.  All are in their 90s.  

    They truly are the Greatest Generation.

Peace and Love

blech

That is how I feel right now 

    I am. ready to toss out something I don't think I have ever tossed out before.  EVER!!!!

    I had a little half bottle of white sangria wine.

    I have had red sangria.  In Barcelona.  Spain.  On vacation.

    I had it with tapas at a restaurant and it was good.  

    Of course, it had stuff in it...fruit, oysters, dead bats.... but it tasted fine.

    I wanted a little wine tonight with supper.  I figured a half bottle was good, because that is a glass tonight and one tomorrow.

    But holy cow!  I could not even drink 1 glass!.

    I TOSSED OUT WINE!!!!!

    You read that right.  I could not stand it ... too sweet, too syrupy, too what ever.

    We had brats tonight.  I thought a little wine would be good.  I knew it was going to rain, so I started early...just not early enough.

    As soon as I put the brats on the grill outside, it started lightly raining.

    As soon as I took the brats off it stopped.

    Meanwhile, I was wet.  And dry. And thirsty.

    I thought my day could not get any worse, but I turned on the Cubs.  They are playing the worst team in baseball, a team that does not score runs, does not hit, and is on pace  to lose 110 games this year.  Cubs have their best pitcher going. 

    Cubs are losing 5--0.  And in a rain delay.

    Two waves of storms have approached us, but disappeared by the time they reached our house.  I hope it rains, because the gardens need it.

    Meanwhile, I think I will look for another  bottle of a different wine for tomorrow.  

Peace and Love

grrrr

 I tried for years to grow strawberries

    I never succeeded.  I would get 1 or 2 berries, then nothing.  I would put in "everbearing " planets and they might as well have been called neverbearing.

    I finally ripped out the plants a few years ago.

    This year the girls bought me a strawberry plant.  It is in a container on the front porch.

    So far, I have had 3 berries off it!  Unfortunately, I have competition.

    Julia said dog Beth ate a strawberry!. When I was out with her today, she got up to grab another one!  Takes them right off the plant!!

    Guess I have to put the plant up higher.

    When we had Corki, she would go into the strawberry field and eat them.  Between her, the rabbits, birds and whatever, I never got any.

    I am wondering if Beth had anything to do with the missing tomato and pepper plants.  

    I had 2 of each in the raised garden, but yesterday I had none.  3 of the plants were completely gone an the 4th was chewed on pretty heavily.

    I am guessing a rabbit.  I don't think a deer, but it could have been.

    Of course, it's harder now to buy tomato and pepper plants, but I managed to get some and re plant them tonight.  I have my fingers crossed.

    We had storms predicted for all day today.  But we got nada.  Not a drop of rain, and none in the forecast until tomorrow afternoon.

    I even went out early today to mow the field before the 3 days of rain started.  Well, early as in 11:30.  I was up at 9 but I wait until Jackie is ready for the day before I go out side.

    At least the Cubs did not lose today.

    Hopefully they will start winning soon.

Peace and Love 

eh

This was a strange day 

    I keep saying it:  I have no desire to do things.

    No, I did not take a nap.  I just basically fritted the day away.

    At my age that is not something one should do.  I should take advantage of the day, carpe diem!!  But I don't.

    I eventually mowed the yard, thinking the next 3 days may bring rain.  I may mow the lot tomorrow morning if it is not raining.

    I did get a little frustrated.  I turn on my phone and listen to music through the Blu Tooth ear protectors, but for some reason they would not play.  Kept saying Blue Tooth was not connected.  Tried and tried and tried before I gave up.  (Notice, I do not know how to spell Blue Tooth, so I spelled it both ways, hoping people will think it is a typo.)

    I also gave Beth her flea and tick treatment.  

    Julia and I took her crate to the basement, which seemed to confuse the dog.  When we got it down there she went in it and looked at us.

     I don't think I will trip on her at night.  That was the main reason we crated her.  When she leaves the crate, she goes by the front door to sleep.  At some point she scratches on Julia's door and jumps up on her bed when Julia opens the door.

    We'll see how this works.

    I also finally put out the patio umbrella.  It is a 2 person job because I can never find the stand when I am holding the umbrella.  Julia guided it in today.  I did forget the golden ring, which means I will have to take the umbrella out of the base and put the ring in the table.  Oops.l

    I also watched part of the Cubs game.  Just too darn frustrating at this point.  They have good players, but they are not producing.  l hope they get it together before the all star break.

    Julia and Emily spent a little time at Johanna's house.   There is still a lot of stuff that needs to  be dealt with.  If you are interested in woodworking tools, let me know and I'll put you in touch with Emily.

    Johanna was good at making things.  We have a lovely table in the great room that she made for Jackie to display her Dickens Village on at Christmas.  That will be a memory we will always cherish.

Peace and Love

Happy June

 Lots of thoughts on this dreary June day

    Yesterday was a mix of emotions.  It was also  a day I may have overdone caffeine. 

    I had a tea for breakfast, Dr. Pepper at lunch, and 2 Pepsis at supper.  I thought I would have trouble sleeping, but actually fell asleep quite easily.

    I was tired today, so at 1 I decided to take a short nap.  I woke up 3 hours later!

    Luckily it rained most of the day and I could not have done anything outside anyway.  And the crew spent the day at Johanna's, cleaning, selling things, and tossing stuff out.  But there is still a lot of electronics to deal with.  Not sure how they are going to handle it.

    Marie and Heather, Johanna's mother and her wife, came to dinner.  We had a nice visit, but next time we see them I hope it is under much happier circumstances.

    Anyway, I am really tired tonight too.  Hopefully my afternoon nap will not affect my falling asleep.

    That's it.

Peace and Love