Been Working on the Weeds

Paul came on Tuesday and spent the day fixing my back fence. Good to have that finished. Twenty-five boards replaced.

Wednesday I worked on cards for Susan. I was thinking of something my friend's mother told me in her later years. She said that the hardest part of getting old is losing a lot of your family and friends. When I started making cards after moving back to Missouri, we had Peggy (gone) - Martha (gone) - Jeanne (gone) - Tall Betty (gone) - Short Betti (wheelchair) - Jean (mostly makes little journals now) - Katie (taking a break; sight) - and Susan, who came later and is younger than the rest of us. Sadly Susan can no longer make cards because of her sight problems. As card makers, we didn't sign cards we sent to other card makers so they could be "recycled." When I sent Susan an unsigned birthday card a couple of years ago, she called me and said how she loved it and was so happy I didn't sign it because she needed it for her sister who loves butterflies. She has three sisters, and all very close. I always think of Little Women when I think of Susan and her sisters. 

I appointed myself her surrogate sister birthday card maker, and I send her cards for her sisters' birthdays now. Susan's birthday is this month, so when I send her card, I'll also include the three for her sisters for 2027. I made this year's cards using wrapping paper.

Susan's card

Last year's sister cards were totally different from this year. All three were identical. I used decals.

Thursday I worked in the yard and took a photo of this plant which I've been babying because I don't know what it is. I ask Google and got various answers; none of them make sense. Anyone know what it is?

Friday was a productive day in the yard. I can honestly say that I think I've won the war of the weeds. Still some cleanup, but mostly under control. I worked four hours because I heard we're in for three days of rain. Hopefully it will hold off long enough tomorrow so that I can take my yard waste to recycle. Now to figure out what to do with the bare ground since I've decided against mulch.

Saturday I got my yard waste to recycle right before the rain. Then the rain stopped and started all day. I decided to be retired and finished two books by the time Tuesday rolled around. 

When we were young, my friends were reading Frances Parkinson Keyes, so consider me a late bloomer. I just finished Lady Blanche Farm, and I'm well into Queen Anne's Lace. She writes of strong women and paints with words. If you're feeling a little nostalgic and missing the old days, try one of her books if you haven't read them.

Did you know that you can grow green onions from green onions? Just save a couple of inches of the root end, stick it in the ground (or pot) and it will grow. You can cut the tops, which is what we usually use anyway, and they will grow back again. Save the roots the next time you buy green onions from the market and give it a try.

I planted some radishes to see how they'd do in a pot, but I fear I didn't plant them deeply enough.

I'm trying to rid myself of some of my card making odds and ends. I found these at Goodwill and couldn't pass up the bargain. The stamp set was 99 cents, a set of eight cards and envelopes for 19 cents and a sticky note strawberry for 19 cents. There were two of each, so I bought everything. Forgot to give Joey one of the stamp sets. She probably won't want them now, as she's getting rid of her wood block stamps.

I quickly jazzed up the notecards, stamped the fronts of the envelopes (back is already cute with the heart sunglasses) and will figure out what to do with the rest later. I've made cards from some of it already, but I guess I forgot to take a photo. I'll have to dream up something new.

My weeds are coming along - just need to fine tune. Now to the patios. Lots of work to be done, but what I don't finish will wait until Paul returns.

One last thing to share. When someone I know was a little girl, she and her neighbor girl friends started a club, and here's what she wrote:

When I was in 3^rd grade, my girlfriends and I formed a club (most of us lived pretty close to each other).  I can't remember the name of our club, but our theme song was "I like myself, I think I'm grand.  I go to the movies and I hold my hand. I put my arm around my waist, and when I get fresh, I slap my face. I'm a nut! (clicked our tongues twice) I'm a nut (clicked twice again) I'm a nut, I'm a nut, I'm a nut!"  Our mothers, of course, thought we were hilarious.  I'm not sure what all we discussed, but we had desserts and planned our next meeting.  

I think this is amazing. Not only because it shows their self esteem, but the cleverness of the poem (song) is really advanced for girls that age. I think I was still making mud pies and decorating them with rose petals. Organizing a club was not even on the horizon; especially with a theme song.

My annual a/c maintenance was yesterday, with a FEMALE technician. Way to go, Girl! First time this has happened. 

Time to stop blabbing and accomplish something worthwhile - like lunch.

DON'T FORGET AN APPLE A DAY

OR HALF IF YOU'RE TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT

TRY THE GREEN ONION TRICK

REMEMBER TO BE THANKFUL EACH DAY

ENJOY THE THINGS WE TAKE FOR GRANTED: INDOOR PLUMBING, A/C, TV, CELL PHONES, INTERNET, YEAR ROUND FRESH PRODUCE, FLASH FROZEN SEAFOOD

NOTICE HOW MOST OF THIS REVOLVES AROUND FOOD? MUST BE HUNGRY

YEAH, I AM - LUNCH

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE