Flowering Crab Apple ...

This tree is in Mount Hope Cemetery. Last year we were so busy unpacking that I really didnt see much of spring other than right here. We have lots of these at our place, but not nearly as big and majestic as this.

Mom's Lilacs ...

Scratch and sniff ! Syringa (Lilac) is a genus of 25 species of flowering plants in the olive family and is native to Europe and Asia. It's A-sexual, with fertile stamens and stigma in each flower. Now how cool is that ?

IF ? I Fell ?

Lettuce Pray ...

Corn Relish ...

Ruby's Memorial Day Activities So Far ...

Jolly Green Giant ...

This is our tallest asparagus. We haven't tried it yet but I have been buying it at the farmers market, fresh from around the area. It's sooooo good and we are looking forward to our bumper crop next year ... the result of not harvesting this year.

Mia Sopapilla ...

i think this is so cool ...

http://www.nintendo.com/wiifit/launch/#/training/demos/yoga/4

No Dust for the Weary ...

Down to One Bathroom ...

And that takes careful planning ! So as suspected, dust is everywhere, including our quarters which have now been reduced to the bedroom and master bath. We still have access to the kitchen but not for long. Our contractor, Gordie, is Mr. Wonderful and works sooooo efficiently and conscientiously. The electrician had to get a grip on the upstairs wiring prior to the ceiling being sheet rocked in the basement so all of the walls in our living area upstairs had to come down. What a mess ! Mom said our main floor looks like a bowling alley ... she's right. I have it all laid out in my head, though, and I believe it's going to be fabulous. I made a decision and ordered carpet and flooring both this week, and I purchased appliances. I stayed within budget and actually spent half of what Ron budgeted on appliances ... a great feeling because I know I made good decisions on my purchases. The appliances were all on sale at Sears and yesterday they had an additional 15% off the sale price so I totally scored !

Beanus de Milo ...

Bean being a Bi Yatch

Beware of Sugar Wolf ...

Ruby Thursday at her Post

Strawberry Tall Pot ...

Yesterday I planted Mom's strawberry pot. She rocked while I labored.

I put small rocks on the inside front of the openings after I put the Portulaca in. It should help keep the dirt from running out when it's watered. I think she really liked it ... her feet looked happy.

Leo de Janerio ...

Leo is my sister Wendy's cat. Ron and I took him when she died, and his mom, Mama Mia. Cat took her other cat, Leo's brother, P Diddy Diddy Doo Wop Bop and she already had his other brother, Tigger. Today Leo was especially beautiful. He's my Mister Big.

Dandelions Get a Bum Wrap ...

A Good Day to be a Carnivore ...

A Work in Progress...

How nice to have wrapped up this project ! I caved a bit and Ron bailed me out by helping me finish. I am hoping for a garden that improves with age ... I had to thin out quite a few things that are gorgeous but just too thick and scattered, I have a very nice variety now, of both plants and colors. Everything I thought I screwed up or killed is back with a vengeance, the white peony that I thought I planted too low and the Lupin that I thought just would not make it ... those little ladies have been spread by the birds I believe ... they are everywhere.

I had Ruby, Bean and Leo out with me all morning. I must get some photos of them outside this week. Ruby was dragging around her ham bone and burying it from place to place ... first under the garage then under the huge evergreen. It was covered with dirt and gravel and nasty. Leo got away and came right to me when I went after him. I held him and loved him up and it triggered a huge heartache for Wendy. We could be having so much fun in my being home again. Cat came by with more things to store in the horse barn and we talked about it. Bottom line ... it's still very difficult and I wish it weren't true that she is gone.

Dinner with Mom over at Cat's at 5:30. We are resting and watching There Will be Blood.

Almost Finished ...

I'm escaping the disorder inside the house by spending as much time as possible outdoors. I've put 8 hours in on this project so far and will wrap it up today after another 3 or so. I've covered every square inch of ground in the front garden and pulled every weed. I've also done some planting along the way, filling in and spacing a bit better. I'm in Zone 4 so I'm on the learning curve. One of the new things Ive planted is Fox Glove, which is used for medicinal purposes in creating the irregular heartbeat drug, Digoxin. Toxic to pets as it will do just that, cause irregular heartbeat. I've also put in Columbine, Clematis and Hollyhock to name a few. I hope to do an inventory and journal here with pics as well as notes, although that might be a bit overly optimistic.

Today we will finish packing up the living room, dining room, guest bedroom and office. Everything goes in a POD that is on the north side of the house. It's 40' x 10' . Tomorrow the walls come down that separate those rooms. Cat and Jessie came over yesterday and took the doors and trim they wanted and we moved the heavy furniture. Things are moving along quickly but I am only just now starting to freak out a little. When we redid our house in West U I used to come home from work each day and vacuum sheet rock dust. I am not quite that obsessive compulsive these days. One can hope.

Dinette Set ...

My first Retraction ...

I take it back. Barak doesn't seem like a goof at all. I was pulling weeds in my flower garden and Mark in Houston called. He heard on the radio that Barak was speaking here in Watertown and was I going. it was so easy. Cat took me right to him. The Codington County Extionsion Building has dirt floors. There were about 3,000 people there and we were able to see him from our perch by the huge John Deere tractor. We ended up with seats in the 12th row. I so wanted to ask a question about my Social Security ... He is incredibly magnetic and tender hearted towards our farmers and our working class ... I think he has Watertown wrapped up. I'm so happy I went ... perhaps I brushed with Greatness, as Mark said. Back to digging crab grass.

Oh My God ...

OK Barak, you now have my attention, even though you look like a Goof in this photo. Now that I think about it, you look like a Goof most of the time. You need to put on some weight, Dude.

Anyhoo ... Cat says that ... I think John Edwards is adorable. Always have. You could have knocked me over with a feather when I heard he endorsed Barak. I thought ... hmmm ... pick him as your VP and you have my vote. Although I wish it were the other way around, I think I might be able to live with such a foxy VP behind our first young, thin, black President. Young, thin, and black do matter to me. I hate that about myself, but truly, those thoughts are no different than my concern about having our first menopausish, wide bottomed, white woman President.

Hillary will be in Bath, SD today. If I didn't have so much to do I would make the 2 hour trip just to see what she looks like close up. I'm sure Mom would love to go. I will have to tell Ron a fib ... like we are going to Sioux Falls to shop, or he will take my keys away. Barak will be here on Friday. I am definitely going to the airport and to the County Extension Building to hear him speak. Sheesh ... couldn't you have put him in the Event Center so that wouldn't sound so "farmish" ? It will be a cinch to be wherever he is here in Watertown, and to get a great look at him. Maybe I can shake his hand and be on TV. I'm in. I was on TV in Houston with Jimmy Carter many years ago when he was there for a book signing of his poetry. They picked the footage of him with me because I made him laugh.
Watch for me on KSFY ...

The Niece Plant ...

Catherineathronium , also known as "Bug", needs lots of tender loving care but she gives a bunch back. She provides unlimited entertainment and does well in any location.

My Great Aunt Ruth ...

Meet Ruth Redmond McGillivary, Grandma Sickle's baby sister on my Mom's side. She's 97 years old and slipped off of her bed yesterday, resulting in a nasty jagged break of her hip. Her surgery was at 8:00 this morning and she came through it beautifully. Mom and I went up to the hospital to see her for a few minutes last night. We took her a cute pot of pink and white begonias. Good things do happen at Prairie Lakes, the old Saint Ann's Hospital ... after all, I was born there !

My Weather Pixie, Feed Troughs and Miss Martha ...

Is she cute, or what ? She changes outfits with the change of weather. When I left this morning she was wearing a sweater with her jeans. When I came home this afternoon she had changed to a short sleeved blouse. She also and had her dog outside with her. I wish she was fixing dinner and wanted to weed.

I'm not EVEN going to show you the picture of the two huge feed troughs I bought today. At least not until they are painted feng shui red and the strawberries, petunias, moss roses, clematis and alyssume are cascading over the top and down the front. I may have read a little too much Martha S. this winter.
Happy May Day !