Bunnies

I still don't have my laptop hooked up for wireless so I can't post any pictures. My brain is too frazzled from the move to even attempt to figure out how to do it on hub's Mac.

Becky left a comment about the bunny that Maggie caught and for her to be careful because of their teeth. I can't wait to show you a picture of them here. In California we have rather large field rabbits. Not too cute and they stay out in the fields.

What they have here are the cutest little, itty, bitty, cottontail bunnies. Something you would give your children at Easter if you didn't know better, but that's another story. They are all over the neighborhood and burrow around the foundation of the houses. Sometimes Maggie will sit with just her head poking out the pet door waiting - hoping. If she sees one, she's off to the races. The other day she was sitting in the entryway and looking out the storm door that is glass all the way down. She spotted a bunny on the neighbors lawn and went berserk! She actually got up on her hind legs and just stood straight up like a person. I tried to get a picture but my camera wasn't fast enough.

I remember the first time I came out here to visit our son. I was taking a walk in the neighborhood and saw a bunny in a front yard. I actually went up to the front door to ask them if they had a pet rabbit that had gotten out! I'm so glad no one was home!!!!

I think it's ironic that I have collected garden bunny statues over the years. I have them sitting in the back yard. Now they have furry friends as well.

Gotta go - things to do, things to do.....

I'm Alive!!!

Thought I better pop in to let you all know that I'm still alive and kicking. We made the move to Colorado and what an experience it has been! I remember moving when I was younger and I would have everything unpacked and put away in one day. Sadly, those days are gone. I'm older, slower and have more stuff. We've been here a month and we still have a mound of boxes to wade through. Every time I open a box it's like Christmas! There are still some things I cannot find which is driving me nuts! I have all the boxes labeled by room but so far there are a few things hiding.

One thing that has been limiting me to getting more done is the altitude here. I'd heard it takes a while to get used to it and boy, is that the case. I'm out of breath constantly. Yesterday, for example, I hung some blinds up in the extra bedroom. They weren't cooperating and by the time I got done I had to go take a nap. "Had to", mind you! LOL!

I am less than thrilled with the colors of the walls so I don't see the sense of unpacking everything and hanging pictures until I can get them painted. I have to repair the ceiling fan in the kitchen because I pulled the chain to turn on the light and it broke. I had lumber cut so I can make the shelves in the pantry deeper and I need to paint them before I install them. It's been raining, though, so I have to wait till the weather clears up. Since we are retired things can wait until tomorrow. It doesn't have to get done in one day! Yay!

Speaking of weather....WOW! I'm from the mid west originally, so I enjoy a good storm. The other evening the wind started blowing and the clouds rolled in and it got dark fast. We had hail and rain. Then I heard a siren and went to the back door. "Honey, that's not a fire truck!" Yup! It was a tornado warning siren!!!!! Some of the neighbors were out front so I went out, introduced myself, and asked what they do here when there is a tornado warning. "Come outside and watch!" Just like when I was a kid! It was very exciting (we had no problems as it turns out) and I spent the next hour gathering pillows, water, medicine, food and other incidentals and taking it down to the basement. Then later I spent another hour bringing it back up. I'm going to put together an emergency box to keep down there so I don't have to do that again.

Maggie does not like thunder and lightening so she hides or follows me everywhere. Speaking of Maggie, she has realized her full potential as a terrier. You see, this part of Colorado has the cutest little wild bunny rabbits. They are everywhere! Running up and down the street, sitting in the grass, and burrowing under the houses. Cute, yes, but to Maggie, aka Big Game Hunter, they are the enemy! Our back yard is very large and she is constantly running full speed ahead looking for them. If she sees one, she chases it all over. The other day my husband said, "What does Maggie have in her mouth?" I went running to the back yard because I had this sinking feeling. Sadly, she had caught one. It's little paws were hanging out of her mouth! She was so proud of herself. Hopefully, they will get the picture to stay out of our yard.

It took over three weeks to get our internet hooked up and we still don't have wireless. I'm using my husband's computer now but when I can use mine, I'll be able to post pictures.

Today hubs and I are taking the day off and going to have lunch at a restaurant we discovered and then to our first visit to IKEA. This should be fun!!!

Happy to be back blogging!!!!! Toodles!!

Almost there.....

We're almost ready for the big move on Monday!!! We are having "issues" with our internet provider. Issues as in no access (I'm writing this post at my Mom's house). It's a well known company who has initials for there name, if you catch my drift. I've been told that others are having the same problem as well. This is not a good time to be without email service. I have people I need to contact but don't know there phone numbers or email address. There customer service has been less than helpful and hubs is going to attempt to call them again today. Wish him luck.

In the meantime, if you need to email me go ahead and see if it will work. I'll check in on my blog periodically from the road.

Next stop - COLORADO!!!!!!

Is New Necessarily Better?

I'm moving.

Far away.

This involves change.

Lots of change. 

I don't like change. 

Never had. 

So, I go to the blogger dashboard and guess what?  Change!  All new Blogger dashboard. 

Really? 

You couldn't have waited until I was settled and my brains didn't feel like scrambled eggs? 

Really?

Packing

I'm keeping really busy packing. I was in a "let's purge" mood even before the move was planned so this is giving me a chance to clean out some stuff. The other day I emptied the Tuff Shed and left in it only the things my daughter is going to take and what I'll donate to the gardener. I put all my tubs of Christmas decorations and other miscellaneous "stuff" on the side deck. Today I went through it and was able to cut the number of tubs I'm taking in half. Some of the stuff I just threw out since it wasn't worth keeping. The rest is loaded in the van waiting for a trip to the thrift store.

We were informed of the items that the movers won't/can't put in the truck. No paint, garden and household chemicals, spray cans, the list goes on. Most of those items will be given to my Mom and daughter.

I had quite a few cans of spray paint. I also had some outdoor items that needed to be revitalized with a new coat of paint. So it made sense to me to spray them here and use up the paint rather than take them and have to buy more paint in Colorado. So I spray painted three little metal side tables, a vintage metal plant stand, a three tiered wicker table, a bird cage, a wicker planter, a tall metal garbage can that was my dad's, an umbrella stand, and two metal garden obelisks. I even spray painted a small vintage wicker sleigh that was in with the Christmas decorations. That's a lot of painting!!

You can't take plants in the moving vans so this little beauty, along with most of my other potted plants are going to my daughter's house to live.

My beautiful little Cherokee Red Dogwood tree will have new owners.

I'm allowing myself to take one plant This is a new variety of a dwarf Clematis. She is sooooooo pretty right now and I just can't leave her behind.

So she'll make the trip in our van. It's the only plant I have room for. I was going to take a camellia or two but they don't grow in Colorado! How sad is that? They are my favorite plants. The yard at our new place is huge and it will be fun sprucing it up. I've already found a lovely nursery to go visit and I'm planning many trips to the Denver Botanical Garden for inspiration.

I'm tired so I think I'll go have dinner and plan my day for tomorrow. I sure can't say I haven't got anything to do!!!

Tutorial Help-Ceiling Fixture

I have started keeping a recipe card file next to my computer. If I see a recipe or a quilt pattern or some other idea I want to reference, I write it on an index card and file it in the appropriate section. That way I won't forget where I saw it.

It usually works. Usually. Since the house is in turmoil from getting ready for our move and my brain is not functioning on all cylinders on a daily basis, I forgot to write something down.

A blogger did a wonderful tutorial on how to replace and hang an electrical ceiling fixture. Does anyone out there remember seeing it? I'd appreciate your help!!

Thanks.

*I found it - here!!!! Whew! I hate losing things. This is a great tutorial and I've made my little index card so hopefully I'll remember next time. Check it out.

Information Highway

There is a lot going on this weekend at our house. For one thing our son is home for about three weeks. Major Woo Hoo!!!!!! As you may know he's in the Navy and we've been blessed to have him stationed state side the last few years with just a brief six months tour in Afghanistan. He's off again in May, this time to Bahrain for one or two years. Major frowny face!!!!!

He's quite the techy guy and recently upgraded to the new IPad 3. He has generously given me his IPad 2. First I said, "Wow!!!!!!" Then , "What does it do?" Turns out it does just about everything except cook your dinner. Although you can purchase a special holder that attaches to your kitchen cupboard or the front of your refrigerator so you can watch your favorite cooking shows while preparing meals. So I guess you can say it does cook your dinner!


We went to the Apple store yesterday and I felt like a fish out of water. When I was working I was a whiz at the computer and was the "go to gal" when someone needed some help and our I.T. department wasn't available. I wasn't afraid to try anything. Since I've retired I've concentrated more on the "finer" things in life like gardening, quilting, reading and afternoon naps. I'm a little, or should I say a lot, rusty in the computer area. Our son told me to go in and ask questions about it. Well you can't just go in and say, "HELP!!!!!!! What does this thing do??????!!!!!!!", without making too much of a fool of yourself. So after talking to a few sales clerks who I swear were just barely old enough to be driving, we all decided I just need to go take a class. So I left with most of my dignity in tact, but feeling ancient - when did I start sounding like my mother? I'll go back in the next week or two and take a class from them and, hopefully, gain some of my confidence back. The major thing I'm going to enjoy about the IPad is that it has facetime on it. That means I can "talk" face to face with our son while he is in Bahrain. Cool!!

On another front, my cousin Sherry is visiting from Michigan. She flew into southern California to visit her best friend, Irene, and they have both traveled up north here to see the sites and visit family. We got together yesterday at my Mom's place for a bit. Today we're driving to Concord to visit our Uncle Carl. It'll be Sherry, her friend Irene, my Mom, my sister Janice, my sister Judy, my niece Jamie and myself. There's gonna be a whole lot of talking going on!! Poor Uncle Carl! He's a pretty quiet guy so I hope he's up for this!! I'll try to remember to take a breath and take pictures.

You all have a wonderful Sunday!!!!

Happy Birthday Dory!!

On a hot April 10th at 9:24 a.m. 42 years ago our daughter, Dory, was born in Livermore, California.

Rather than send me the usual mixed bouquet arrangement of flowers, my husband managed to find the most beautiful bouquet of lilacs and brought them to me. I have always loved lilacs and Dory has as well.

Dory, we love you so much and couldn't be more proud of the woman you have become, the mother you are to our grandson's and the friend others can only hope to strive to be. Your creativity is always a sense of pride and awe to us all.

Have a wonderful Happy Birthday!!

Happy Easter

Blessings to you all!

Sending a special Happy Easter Birthday wish to our grandson Redmond. I can't believe you are turning 13 years old today!!!!!

Changes

I've been putting off making an announcement because I'm basically a private person. I know that sounds strange. I write a blog and tell things to readers all over the country, if not the world. However, I shy away from personal stuff when I write. I also shy away from personal stuff in my day to day life as well. Just a little idiosyncrasy of mine. I like to think of it as an endearing quality! LOL!

Well, the time has come to make an announcement. We are moving. Next month. To Colorado!!!

"Big Whoopie Do" you say? I've lived in California since I moved here in the eighth grade many years ago. No, my family didn't come out here in a covered wagon!! My parents bought an Archway cookie truck, piled our stuff in it and off we came from Michigan 50 years ago. I've lived in the same house here in Escalon for nearly 25 years. I like things the same. I don't even like to rearrange furniture and once I set up knick-knacks and decorations around the house, there they stay.

So moving 1,300 miles away is a "Big Whoopie Do"!!! I'm excited, scared, apprehensive, worried, happy, nervous and a million other emotions that change from one minute to another. Mostly I'm tired right now. Packing!!!! What a nightmare. We are having movers move us but we are doing the packing ourselves. I now live in a cardboard jungle of boxes, tape and bubble wrap. I swear I can get a job working for a moving company packing when this is over. I've gotten really good at this!!!!

It will be sad to move away from the familiar places we take for granted. There are restaurants I've eaten at for 50 years here! There are still areas left to be explored and discovered. However, we have grown to love Colorado and it has felt increasingly more like home every time we visit.

I am hoping that eventually the rest of the family will move out there to be near us. In the meantime, I'll be making lots of trips back to visit my daughter and the grandsons. That's been the one difficult part of this decision so please keep me in your prayers on that account.

The one saving grace that I hold onto is that although I will be leaving family and friends, I will still have all of my blog friends no matter where I go. I hope you all know how much that means to me.

Posting will be rather sporadic while we make this transition. I still have lots of work to do here and once we get to Colorado, I'll have lots to do there as well but I'll be checking in as often as I can and will still be checking your blogs as well.

I value your friendships and I covet your prayers!

Wagons Ho!!!!!