Oh my!  I was taking stock of the front yard yesterday afternoon, planning what needs to be done and what needs to be left alone.  Low and behold, there at the end of the gutter at the downspout were two pretty little pines trees, sprouted and growing as pretty as you please.  Well, that is a sure sign to get it in gear and clean the gutters out.  The only problem is that end of the house is about 20 feet to the gutter and I will not climb that far without proper supervision.  So, a good excuse to put it off until I can find a responsible person to take care of that problem - usually my son. 

I have to clean some dead and damaged limbs out of the pear trees.  These trees have been here over fifty years and have to be petted and pampered at this stage.  My pears had some kind of blight last year, previously mentioned here, but they seem to have recovered from this.  This year the squirrels feasted on the blooms and the nuts from the baby pears dropping them to the ground for the rabbits to feast on as they came along.  Therefore, I had no pears this year either, which makes for two years in a row there will be no preserves.  I am thinking I am feeding God's creatures more than keeping food in the pantry.

There are many changes taking place in all our lives and this takes adjustments and reorganizing.  I am thankful for all of God's blessing for all time, but especially over the last few months.  I am thankful for God hearing and answering our prayers when our cousins serving this country were concerned.  One cousin arrived home safe and sound from Iraq this week. Thank you sweet Jesus!

My redneck chihuahuas are having quite a time adjusting to the drastic change in temperatures we have experienced over the last 3 weeks.  They have returned to their cuddle mode for warmth and have been spending more time inside.  They love the hot sun of summer, but that is passed and they are now waiting for me to build the first fire of fall so they can warm their backsides.

Have much to do so until next time  . . .

Happy reading!
Belle

My week at a glance

I will start with an update on my chicks - growing fast and trying to settle into their "pecking order".  Some days I have gathered a half dozen eggs, most days I gather 4 which keeps us full of eggs.  My son's duck was beheaded by some creature from the depths of his lake, so I am now incubating 4 duck eggs.  Wish me luck!

The garden is beautiful!  I had a wonderful salad from the lettuce out of the garden and yesterday I fixed up some beets.  Hubby and I do like beets.  The green beans are blooming which means beans are not far behind.  Same with the tomoatoes and yellow neck squash.  Haven't had a problem with insects so far, but I am well aware that they will soon be flocking into my paradise.  The broccoli, bell peppers and egg plant look very healthy, now if they produce I will be extremely happy.  I wish I had some onions planted as their price has sky rocketed over the last few weeks.  Never thought I would see yellow onions reach $4.00 for a 3 pound bag!  My asparagus bed is shaping up nicely and I am pleased with all the new shoots.  All ten crowns of asparagus survived my ignorance so I am blessed! 

My rosa ragosa is spreading and blooming and looking lovely.  Roses are at their prine this year and the beautiful pink bloom was a little over 6 inches in diameter and smelled divine!  I received two rubber trees for Mother's Day and they are coming right along.  I have to do some research on these babies as I know absolutely nothing about them.  They have made a lovely addition to my garden, however and seem to fit right in to the landscaping I already had going! 

I have encountered a few more little black snakes than usual this year.  I don't know if the chickens are luring them into the yard or the lushness of the plants.  With all the rain we were blessed with this year, the foliage on shrubs and plants alike are thick and beautiful.  The little snakes are driving my chihuahuas crazy and we are experiencing a lot more barking and whining than usual.  The two little redneck dogs just can't understand a snake.

I have enjoyed the search for fellow classmates this week.  I am trying to locate some hard to finds from our graduating class as hopefully we will have a class reunion this summer.  We have lost so many from our class and we really need to get together soon.  It has been exciting to find these people and talk to them.  Most I have not seen or talked to for 40 years.  It is strange to be so close to someone during school and then lose all contact. I look forward to seeing these friends and re-establishing contact.

Haven't done much writing for the past several weeks, but plan to get back to it soon.  My quiet time has been short and interruptions frequent, but things will settle down again soon.  

I would like to thank those of you who have offered up prayers for my cousin injured in Afghanistan.  He is stateside for now, but it looked pretty serious for a few days. It looks like some surgery will be needed before he returns to his unit, but for now he is safe and healing nicely and spending some time with his wife, kids and dad.  Keep praying that his recovery will be complete.

The lettuce must be picked (mine isn't on the recall list), so I will leave you for now.  Thanks for dropping by and until next time . . .

Happy reading!
Belle

My Zero

So tiny, so white, so sweet, Zero's name came from my favorite candy bar.


Zero is my oldest chihuahua which I received as a birthday present 5 years ago. A teeny tiny thing, white with the cutest pink nose, he quickly ruled my world. A cuddle bunny by nature, he sat tucked under his cover sleeping peacefully while I read and Hubby watched TV. Hubby could not stand to leave him alone during the day and would stop by the house to check on him every chance he got, sometimes scooping him up to ride with him on his many trips.


A bit of knowledge - Chihuahua's never grow up. They get bigger and older, but emotionally they remain babies. Zero still sucks a sock he took over when he was a baby, but will also suck on the side of your pants or top while sleeping. Chihuahua's also love their cover, probably because they are easily chilled, and will burrow under rather than sleep on their blanket. Chihuahua's are also wonderful watch dogs, but are not much protection unless the agressor has weak ankles. The Chihuahua shiver comes from a number of things - fear, cold, excitement - they just shiver and shake.


The first year of Zero's life was one of leisure. He laid around in the sun on the porch, nibbled at the many treats he was provided and oohed and aahed over by everyone who came to visit. He remained a small white bundle of joy. He lays on the porch in the late afternoon soaking up the sun (chihuahuas will do this for hours) and loved the weekends when he could stay out all day. Then one Saturday he disappeared. Hubby was changing the oil in the truck and he had brought Zero off the porch. Zero was too small to go down the steps and had been on the ground only a few times. Busy with the vehicle, Hubby failed to see the little white dot at the edge of the yard, but was alerted by a truck that had stopped on our rural road. Standing up to stretch, he noticed the details of the truck as the truck took off racing down the road. Then he noticed that Zero was no where to be found. He ran into the house looking for our baby only to find no Zero. I grieved! I cried, I blamed, I was really distraught. Putting our heads together, we started investigating the truck. It took until Thursday, but with the assistance of some friends Zero was found and returned. If he wasn't spoiled before, he sure was immediately following his return. He was filthy dirty, smelled horrible, and was starved and thirsty. In just a few hours he was back to his "King" status though still cautious with fear wavering in his eyes. Needless to say Zero is not left unattended much any more.


Very defiant, if ignored or disciplined, Zero will get revenge. You just never know the form the revenge will take. Jealous of strangers, but wonderful with the grandchildren, he knows the difference.


Thank you Hubby for the best birthday present I have ever received.

Happy reading!

Belle