My Garden and Things

Is not this beautiful ?  It is the bloom from the artichoke which will go to seed.  We have several on our bush and are thrilled to have them for next year.  Our Garden was not big at all as we just had, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, regular tomatoes ( cannot recall the type), and of course my herbs, rosemary (which I hope stays for a long time), oregano, and sage.  The sage seems to be taking over as I do not seem to have much oregano.  The of course I have lots and lots of mint.  That really takes over but I do love it.
     I do so wish we had planted green peppers as well as red, and orange, some hot peppers and of course, Pumpkins and then ornamental squash.  Cannot think of the name of them but I am sure you know what I am talking about.
     Our weather is Autumn for sure.  How I love the cool mornings.  Jim and I wrap up in jackets and have our coffee outside.  This morning it was quite windy coming from the north so we sat on the deck which is on the south side of our house.  So we were protected from it.  Oh, it was so enjoyable.  Wish we had a roof over that area to keep the rain out but it is just a cloth to protect us from the sun.

 

This is a picture of our first blossom from the citrus tree.  We do not know for sure what kind it is so that will be a surprise. 
     I do go out and sit a lot and enjoy the sights and sounds.  How refreshing it is to do. 
     Enjoy this day and our new Season.  Tootles

My Sweet Tasha and Sweet Bella

Isn't she sweet ?  We got her on Craigs list.  She's not too big and not too small, she is just right.  Very self centered but sweet about it.  Right next to her is Bella (which we call puppers) She is a Chihuahua (had to look up the spelling on that) and our son brought her home because her owners were not able to keep her.  Jim is an old softy and he knew we would take her as we have his dog all the time.  She is also a chihuahua but tan colored.  We really don't mind they are small dogs but we have made it plain, this is it, no more dogs ( I'm not kidding).  We also have 4 cats, 2 we brought with us here (they were strays at our old house) and 2 are strays that invited themselves to become apart of our family here.
     I have more pictures to show you but am having a hard time finding them on my computer.  I swear where do they go ?  I just put them on from my ipod and now I can't find them.
     It's funny as we were talking about that in the pool today, all the new technology now and how when we were growing up we were so happy with so much less.  It was a treat to have a coke on Saturday night.  Mom would always make hamburger (homemade, they were so yummy).  She would toast the buns.  How she would do it is....Once she turned the burger over the top of the bun would go on it and the bottom of the bun on top of that.  Well some of the top bun would slide over in the cast iron skillet and get toasted.  When the burger was done, you slid the scoop under the burger, pulled everything out and took the bottom of the bun (which is on the top of your stack) moved it under the scoop, slid the scoop out and whaalaa! a juicy and delicious  burger.  Mom always put tomato, lettuce, pickle, ketchup and mustard and said, "See, here is your salad, meat and bread all in one."  Mom didn't think it was a meal unless there was meat.  I have to say Mom was a great cook and I loved everything she made.  How lucky I was.
     Now I don't eat meat.  Let's face it with all the chemicals and antibiotics they pump into the animal it's such an insult to how it use to be.  We are lucky enough to have our own chickens and get fresh eggs everyday.  Oh, how I love that.  I don't know how that industry is going to stop but I do know millions of Americans get very sick and some die because of our tainted meat.  I won't even get into the treatment of all the animals at the slaughter houses.  How barbaric we have become and I for one do not want to be a part of any of that.
     Now they are talking about altering the DNA of some plants to produce some kind of large vegetable.  I don't know, just what they are trying to do but you can bet your bottom dollar it has nothing to do with something good for the people and has everything to do with getting a few folks very very rich.  How said is that and what has become with integrity and honor.  OH, MY, GOD, (he doesn't like it at all), don't get me started.
     The vegetarian advantage.  Eat fruits and vegetables with abandon----at least 5 servings a day.  Vegetarians definitely have a health advantage.
     Nothing looks surer in the food pharmacy than the powers of fruits and vegetables to help ward off disease and prolong life. Evidence is piling up at a fact pace, confirming that fruit and vegetables are full of exotic health-promoting compounds that boost bodily defenses against disease in all kinds of ways. Undeniable vegetarians and even meat eaters who eat lots of plant foods have an impressive health advantage. (From one of my favorite books, " The Food Pharmacy Guide to Good Eating," by Jean Carper)  Get the book it's great.   Tootles

Saturday Morning

I  would like you to meet Alice and Rose, our pet goats.  Actually  they started out with our Granddaughters but you know how that goes so Grandpa is taking care of them.  Believe me he is not complaining as we love them and enjoy watching them very much.  When they get excited to see you coming, off they go running lickity split with their heads turned to the side.  Let me tell you they are so cute.  They are very curious and have loads of fun just running around and investigating everything in site.  Then they settle down dig two little shallow holes with their two front paws to place their knees in and sit down and relax.  They love to sit in the shade and just watch the chickens, Elvis our stray kitty, who plays with Edgar, our other stray kitty, who is now a cat.  I think he gets too rough but Elvis keeps going back for more.  They sit and watch for hours.  Alice and Rose also love to eat Alfalfa but also love to nibble on the chicken feed, oatmeal and just about anything that's a grain.  What fun they are to have around, NO, we do NOT even think of eating them.  I sure hope they did not hear that as they would be very upset and I'm sure plan an attack of some kind.

     Now have you ever seen anything more adorable.  I mean they even have their Sunday socks on.  Enjoy !   Tootles

That's not all !

     I didn't tell you everything.  The first guy I talked to not only backed out the charge but he gave me a promo of 9.99 to use at Amazon for my inconvenience of having to call Amazon and explain how I messed up.  WoW!  What a company.
     Our gym is offering Silver Sneakers which sounds like something I would want to join, and I did but it's only offered to those who have a certain type of health insurance, if in fact you do, the insurance will pay for your membership in the gym.  Sounds great right.  That is, until you realize if you don't have health insurance from their list, not only will they NOT pay for your membership but you CANNOT join in Silver Sneakers Classes.  Let's see....what would you call that ?  I was looking into it because I wanted to take the classes, from what I understood some of the exercises were from sitting in a chair, getting up and down from a chair, wrist and hand exercises and a lot more.  Well, I was in, as it sounded great to me.  I assumed (you know what they say about that) you could still join in the classes, they would just not pay for your membership, which was fine with me.  Jim and I have already worked out our budget so we can go to the gym.  That's how important we know good health and exercise is.  Well, after more inquiring, I'm afraid, that is not the case.  One instructor explained to me they we going to have the wellness program spill into silver sneakers.  WHAT does that mean ?  I have stopped asking and as you have guessed I'm a little slow.  This is another way of dividing the classes of people.  My bank account is not even close to most of the Seniors there but for some reason I didn't think that would matter at a health club as long as you paid your membership. Yes, there are different classes which cost more if you want to partake even the wellness program is 10.00 dollars extra a month which we were happy to pay but to not even offer this class to other seniors who would forgo the membership in the gym being paid is a shame, shame, shame.  I still love the gym and of course all my instructors and will continue doing my routine.
      Ok, that's enough complaining.  I must keep it positive and happy.  Jim is mowing our lawn right now and I smell fresh cut grass, and there is a chill in the air each morning now that tells you Autumn is sneaking in.  How lovely change is especially when we are looking forward to it.   Tootles

Amazon WOW !

     I just had an experience with Amazon that I am so impressed about I must share.  I always check out the free books, well, a couple of days ago I was clicking on some new books and the only thing I can figure (I've done it again, will explain) is I go out of the free books and am looking at the ones that cost, my brain is still on click mode and there I go.  What happened is I checked my bank balance and there was another 9.99 that shouldn't have been.  So after going into Amazon I still could not find where they had charged me, I called them.  The guy on the phone couldn't have been nicer.  I explained I was charged for a book I didn't buy.  Well, he checked my account and asked if I had purchased these three books.  I said , "Yes, but they were free".  He said, "No, this one is 9.99.  I swear I thought it was free.  He stated he would back it out.  I was so happy.  So what do I do again today!  I'm looking in the free books again (I'm doing this on my computer, otherwise I would have hit the, sorry it was an accident button) I go out of them and see a book that draws my attention and wham, I click.  As soon as it went through I knew I messed up.  I swear, what a dope !  So I go to my account and find where I had called before and talked to another guy.  I did explain I had just done this a few days before but could he please take it off and not charge me.  Let me tell you, again he could not have been nicer and did in fact take it off my Kindle and put my money back.  Now That is Customer Service and That is why Amazon is #1.  Am I right or am I right.
     What great weather we are having.  It's fall for sure.  I am looking forward to rainy days just don't want there to be too many.  Tootles

Saturday, September 11, 2010

     Yes, I do know what today is but I do not want to dwell on the sadness.  My heart goes out to all the people who have suffered because of it and blessings for the future.
        Don't you just love those Saturdays you are able to get everything done you were hoping for done.  Well, I have almost that is.  I do still have a deck that is covered in cobwebs and needs sweeping and another little hideaway in my yard that could use some sweeping but Come ON, everything else is done, well not dinner.  I mean I haven't really thought about dinner so I don't have anything going yet for that.  Oh Well, here I thought I was doing so good.  I know I am tired and my back hurts as well as my feet so I must have done something.  Let me think.....what was it?  Oh, I can't remember, but believe me it was really something and I'm pretty sure very hard so I'm glad I did it.   Tootles
    

The Fall of Giants !

     Have you heard ?  Oh my Word !  Ken Follett has come out with a new book.  No, not just a new book but there will be three.  Yes, that is right. A Trilogy.  The first one which will be available on September 28, 2010 is " The Fall of Giants."  I am so excited about it.  I just wrote about liking his style of writing and the two books  (The Pillars of the Earth, and The World Without End) I read and am now rereading on my kindle.  I went to his site on the web and was able to read the first chapter.  Go there now, just type in his name and you'll get there.  The details in his books are very impressive.  You actually feel you are there with the people and enduring life, especially the hardships.  I tell you the first chapter is something.  I want to tell you about it but I really don't like to do that as I think it is best to start reading blind and draw your own opinion.  I never read the end leafs or the back cover as I want it all to be a surprise.       I was watching an interview of Toni Morrison and she stated, " Start reading a book like  your going to a party and the first page is the front door and each room is a new chapter, you don't know what's inside until you cross that thresh hold.  At the time she was talking about her book "Paradise".  What a book that is, the first line will startle you.  That's all I'm going to say about that.  Anyway getting back to "The Fall of the Giants", I really feel this is going to be big, I mean REEAALLYY big.  The only problem I am having is the price.  It's 19. something, let's just say 20 dollars.  That's a lot of money and it's a little less then that if you get the hard cover.  WHAT!  Hey, what happened to 9.99?  Of course, it says the price is set by the publisher.  What?  I don't know about you but I don't think I like that.  I know it's somewhere around 1,000 pages and believe me I do know this is going to be a great book so I will have to think about this for awhile.  I will let you know what I decide.  I know I will get it, I just have to think about it for awhile to justify it.  Tootles