More digging in the dirt

Ok folks, cross your fingers my gardening efforts have been successful.  I really don't want to do too much more of it.  I managed to dig out the old dead potentilla. And, it felt so good to throw it away

The one on the other side proved more challenging but the man next door saw me struggling and come over with a bigger shovel and snips and between the 2 of us we got it out.  So with all the old out it was time to plant the new.  

There is the 2 new shrubs on either end. I'll fill in the bare spots with a few annuals later this week.  The other side of the step has the new hydrangea (hiding behind the tulips) and the other euonymus on the end

I want to plant some low annuals around this one too.  And I have a new basket for my step

Almost there!  Miss Abby probably won't like me sharing this picture. I took her to the groomers a few days ago and said I wanted her clipped short for summer.   Oh dear.........I picked her up and...........all I saw was legs and ears 

I think she's ashamed.  I hope it grows quick.  Poor little thing. And naturally it's been cool since she got clipped. Friday night she shivered when we came in from outside.   I can't believe the weekend is over already.  I really need 3 day weekends on a regular basis 

50 ways to celebrate

Even though I tried to convince myself it wasn't happening, I celebrated a birthday this week.  I reluctantly rolled over into a new decade.  It's not so much that I mind "being" 50 but I don't like "saying" I'm 50.  Lol.  I realized that when I was in university, my Mom was the age I am now and I thought my Mom was so OLD.  GROAN....... So here are a few highlights from my big day.  I arrived at work and the entrance to my office was filled with balloons

Later that day my Mom's best friend arrived at my door with this

I knew she didn't really buy me a case of vodka.   Lol.   Inside the box was a real treat.  

There were 50 individually wrapped gifts!  Each one numbered

What a neat idea! I had so much fun opening them all.  Some practical kitchen gadgets etc, some funny inside jokes, some sweet reminders of my Mom, some beautiful keepsakes.   I think it was one of the nicest gifts I have ever received.  And there was another very special surprise.  My sweet friend Kim from Field of Dreams blog sent me the most beautiful bouquet of flowers. 

A bouquet of pure sunshine all the way from California!  Have I mentioned before what a lucky girl I am?  

It wasn't a twig.......

Yesterday was supposed to rain but when I got up it looked not too bad outside. I figured if I wanted to do any outdoor work I should get right at it.  So I scraped the old flaky paint off my window frames and got new paint on.  It looks so much better. 

Now I think I should repaint those red rails to white and instead paint the front door a color.  I'll mull that over for a few days.  After the paint was done I still had some energy left so I thought I'd try and dig out those old roots and shrubs.  I started with the old rose bush and after a lot of digging and pulling I managed to get it out.   Feeling cocky I thought I could get the potentilla out by myself with my tiny little shovel.  I saw a bunch of dead twigs near the base and went to scoop them up with my hands and that's when it happened........the thing that led me to quit and have a drink

I grabbed a twig but it wasn't a twig.  It was a leg of a dead bird!    Ewwwwwwwww  I have got to get some thick gardening gloves.  And this is just one of the reasons I hate to garden.  Lol.  In less disgusting news, Abby got a new shirt specifically to wear when she visits Auntie's house.  She manages to get in so much trouble there.  Lol

Trying to be a gardener

I am not a gardener.  I don't enjoy anything that involves digging in the dirt, worms or bugs.  But I do want my little house to look pretty.  So I'll give it another try. I'm slowly digging out the dead stuff and weeds and getting closer to planting new 

Soon this patch of mud will be the new home for my dappled willow.  On the other side of the step I still have some digging to do.  There is a dead rosy bush with ridiculously deep roots and a dead potentilla on the far right.

At least the tulips are pretty.  To the left I plan to plant a hydrangea and I have a euonymus for the left. 

I also broke down and bought a new lawn mower with adjustable wheels.  Now my lawn will look as good as my neighbors.  Look how nice and close it cut the grass?

I hated spending the money but I was so happy with the results I think it was worth it.  I've complained about that old mower since I moved in.  The sellers left it for me which I appreciated but it was time to retire it.   The weather for the rest of the weekend is iffy so not sure if things will get planted yet.  And I desperately need to scrape and repaint my window frames so if it's not raining in the morning I plan to get right at that.  I should have done it last year but........procrastinated.  Lol

She's One

I can't believe that tomorrow Miss Abby will be 1 year old.  My little furry bundle of joy.  She was so small when I brought her home, she looked like a tiny black bear

Now she's growing up and finally (yes, finally) starting to mature a little.  But even when she's acting like a wild, stubborn puppy,, she is still a joy.  My little boo-bear 

 Happy Birthday sweet girl.

All hail the Queen

Yes, I am the Queen of procrastination.  Just to prove my point, I planned on making a post Saturday and now it's.........Wednesday.    I have been taking a university course online for my job.  I had a term paper AND an assignment due on Monday.  I mean really, what kind of sadistic fiend assigns 2 major projects on the same day?   Just cruel I say. I had breakfast with a gal pal Saturday morning and intended to lock myself away the rest of the day and finish so I could enjoy my Sunday.   Well.......guess how that worked out?

First I couldn't concentrate because the kitchen was a mess.  Then my neighbor was out pulling weeds and I felt shamed to do the same.  Then I thought I'd better get the laundry out of the way.  And it went on and on like that all weekend

I finished at 10pm Monday night - 2 hours to spare.  Lol

What is wrong with me???

Get a real job

I'm so angry!  Why do some people think it's ok to steal other peoples hard earned money?

Friggin hackers have been messing with my family.  Last night at supper time I checked Facebook and had a new friend request from Auntie.  I immediately knew she had been hacked.  Ughh, of all people.  The one person who can literally make a mountain out of a mole hill.   I jumped in the car and went to her house to tell her and change her passwords.  She was upset but I told her it wasn't anything she did and I noticed it quickly so it should be ok.  I changed her account passwords and posted on her Facebook page NOT to accept friend requests from her for a few days.  Several people, like me, recognized it as a hack and deleted the requests.  But not all of them........

A few hours later I get a half hysterical call from Auntie.  One of her friends accepted the request and soon was "chatting" with who they thought was auntie who needed money.  AND SHE GAVE THEM ALL HER INFO!    Luckily at the end of the conversation she got suspicious and called Auntie on the phone to confirm.   Well, she spent the next 2 hours on the phone with her bank, freezing her accounts, changing credit card numbers etc.   Then she has to contact all her utilities who have pre-authorized payments and give them new account numbers.   She acted quickly enough that they didn't have time to get any of her money.  I'm still fuming over it.  I wish I could get those guys and smack them stupid.

Why do they have to prey on people?  Why can't they get a real damn job?  And in all honestly, the friend told me what they said to her, and it wasn't even a good scam.  Pretty weak ass if you ask me, but she fell for it anyways 

Hopefully this is the end of it.  I can't take another evening like last night.