Pulling Weeds, Etc.

It took me almost a week, but I have finally finished pulling the weeds.  Next to the one lantana I have an Arizona Sun Blanket flower in a pot. I had never heard of this flower before.  I just thought it was pretty so I bought it.  Anyway, while I was weeding the lantana a butterfly was busy feeding on the Arizona Sun Blanket flowers.  It didn’t seem to matter that I was right there.  I guess I will have to start taking my camera outside with me while I am working.

 

I have been watering my plants and trees every other day since it is so dry.  However, we did have some rain yesterday (Sunday) afternoon.  There is a chance of a shower every afternoon now that it is so hot and humid.

 

The hummingbirds seem to really like my new feeders.  There are two of them at the feeders off and on all day long.  They were also feeding while I was weeding.  Awesome!  Actually, I think they are protecting their feeders.

 

Kevin and Renea were both home on Friday and they invited me to go shopping with them.  Couldn’t say no.  We even stopped at Chill while we were out.  Went to Lowe’s, Hobby Lobby and Kroger.  Came home, had a glass of wine then Kevin grilled pork chops and Renea made fried potatoes.  Good supper.  After supper I filled the birdfeeders and the birdbath.  Then I was done for the day. 

 

One of the reasons we went shopping was so Kevin and Renea could buy some flowers, potting soil, etc.  Kevin spent most of this week putting up a new flagpole.  He finished it on Friday morning and they wanted to put a few pots of flowers around it.  It looks great!

Kevin and his helper

Before I left Kevin and Renea’s Ryan contacted them on Skype and we all were able to talk to him.  He sure looks good. 

 

Saturday Kevin and Renea had a houseful of company.  I guess I should say the usual bunch.  Kevin fixed a pork butt in his smoker for supper and it was delicious.  We also had macaroni salad, cole slaw, backed beans, potato skins, and drinks.  Renea baked a red velvet cheese cake that was absolutely delicious.

 

Sunday morning I became a member of the church I have been attending.  FYI – It is the Landmark Church of the Nazarene in Phenix City, AL.  Kevin, Renea and Stephanie attended with me.  Kara was also there.  Her and Patrick (her husband) were the people who introduced Pastor Andy to me.  My friend Evelyn (Grandma) was also there to welcome me.  I am so glad I have done this.  After church I took Kevin, Renea and Stephanie to IHOP for breakfast/lunch.  Kevin was the only one who had lunch.

I Had Company

Tom and Bertus came to visit last week.  It was awesome to spend time with them again.  I’ve missed them both.  Since I’m still not allowed to do much we spent a lot of time talking and having some wine.  On Tuesday we drove to Opelika and had lunch at Arby’s then went shopping at Lowe’s.  We bought several plants (as if I needed any more).  I just couldn’t resist.  They headed for home on Wednesday and arrived safely on Thursday. 
 

Wednesday I got a few things caught up around here since I haven’t been doing much.  I am doing a little bit of yard work such as pulling weeds, feeding the birds, watering the trees and filling the birdbath.  Sounds really exciting doesn’t it?  The rest of the week I spent repotting my new plants and placing them where I want them.  I did some weeding around the birdbath and the one side of my deck.  I still have a lot of weeding to do on the other side.  I can only work out there in the evening because I have sun in front until about 4:00. 

 

Kevin and Renea went camping this past weekend.  Stephanie had some friends stay with her. She was home because she had to work.  I watched a lot of television this weekend.  I’ve even started watching NASCAR races.  I did really good until Sunday.  I spent that day have a personal pity party.  I watched the Indy 500 and the NASCAR race.  I had several good cries. Jana and Brian both called me and that cheered me up.  Monday morning I had a long talk with myself and I am doing much better now. 

 

It looks like it is now summer in Alabama.  HOT!  IN THE 90’S!  And no rain in the forecast.  So, I am still watering my plants and my trees.

Watching The Grass Grow

I’ve been to both of my doctors this week – my GYN/Surgeon and Primary Care.  They both informed me that I am doing fine.  Everything is healing just the way it should.  However, I am still not allowed to do much; no grass cutting, no vacuuming, etc.  So, I watch the rain, then the sun comes out and then the grass grows.  By the time I get permission to cut grass it will be up to my butt.  Kevin has been trying to keep up with cutting the grass, but it isn’t easy for just one person. 
 

I have been starting to do a little weeding.  My garden looks really bad with weeds.  I just go out once a day and pull weeds for about 10 to 15 minutes.  I have one side of the deck ramp finished.  Now to start on the other side. 

 

My neighbors, Ricky and his wife, have been putting in a garden.  I am also watching the corn grow.

 

Back to the doctors.  I do not have to go back to them for six weeks.  I have been told that I can drive now; just not very far. Besides I get tired really easy.  The pathology report came back showing pre-cancer cells.  Seems we did the right thing doing the surgery.  My GYN/Surgeon said it looks like they got all the bad stuff.  However, I will need checkups for a while to be sure. 

 

 My plants are doing great.  Kevin and Renea gave me a Clematis for Mother’s Day along with a trellis for it.  I have it in one corner of my porch.  It’s looking good.

I am soooo bored!

No, I am not cutting grass, working on my flowers, or any other yard work.  I am also not running the sweeper or mopping the floors. I am not allowed to do anything fun.  J
 

I had my surgery last Wednesday and everything went fine.  I came home on Thursday, and went right to bed.  On Friday my right arm started bothering me a little, but I had gotten a pneumonia shot in that arm and I thought it was just a little sore.  Kevin came over early Saturday morning to check on me and I showed him my arm (Kevin and Renea kept checking on me by coming over, having me over to their house, or texting me.)  He took one look and said I know what that is, and he went and got Renea.  It seems I had cellulitis, which is an infection at the site where I got the pneumonia shot.   It needed to be treated with antibiotics ASAP or it could become very serious.  So, off we went to the Urgent Care in Auburn.  The doctor took one look and agreed that it was cellulitis.  So, I got a shot in the butt and was put on Bactrim.  My arm is getting better.

 

I was given a prescription for Percocet for pain before I left the hospital.  I will not take that again.  It made me loopy.  Since I am loopy to begin with, I sure don’t need Percocet.  I had the same reaction Jana did – I was hallucinating.  I didn’t need the pain medicine anyway.  I did just fine.

 

When the nurse was getting my discharge papers ready this voice came over the intercom and asked if I was familiar with Lovenox which is a shot you give yourself – in your stomach – once a day for 28 days.  My reaction was WHAT?????  She said someone would be right in to explain it to me.  Well, that was what they explained to me.  I just cannot see me giving me a shot like that.  So, about that time Renea arrived to take me home.  I told her what was going on, and she said no problem, she would give me the shot.  Every day when she gets home from work she gives me the shot.

 

Okay, so I have been watching television – daytime television is boring. I have been reading – I can only do that for so long then I fall asleep.  I play games on the computer – I’m still stuck on number 65 in Candy Crush.  I have also been working on my plastic canvas project.  Next I am going to tackle CRAP JEOPARDY.  I have it started.  Just need to make some final decisions.

 

That is what is exciting in my life.  Now, aren’t you glad you read my blog. 

Update Re: Yard, Flowers, etc.

Don’t remember if I mentioned that I bought a new birdbath for my front yard.  I have spent the past couple of days creating a circle to place it in and then filling the circle with white rocks like I have in my rock garden.  I also bought a statue of St. Francis of Assisi to put by the birdbath.  I think it turned out looking good!

 

My hydrangeas are finally starting to grow and look pretty healthy.  As for the lantana (remember I numbered them) are starting to sprout.  Numbers three and four, which I transplanted and thought I had killed them, are doing the best.  They both have a lot of new greenery.  As for one and two, I cut them back as I was told and what I read, and they are showing small signs of life.  Hopefully, all four will survive. 

 

The pink dahlia is doing beautifully.  The yellow one is green and bushy but no flowers.  It is finally starting to get a few buds.

 

 

I still have not had time to plant the irises I bought.  Kevin has made me a large planter for it, but it is not quite finished.  Anyway, the yellow one has a bud on it and so does the purple one.  The white one looks healthy, but no buds.

 

 

My azaleas are doing great.  I numbered them also.  Number one is the biggest and has the most flowers.  Number two is in the middle and has quite a few flowers.  Number three is the smallest, but it does have some flowers.  I’m just so glad they made it thru the winter.

 

 

My new weeping willow and weeping cherry trees seem to be doing just fine.  I tried taking a picture, but they are hard to see since they do not have many leaves on them yet. 

 

The two crepe myrtles that Kevin transplanted from his front yard to my front yard look like they may have survived.  I did not trim them or anything this spring.  I want to be sure they survived the move.  They are starting to get some leaves on them, so I think we may have succeeded. 

 

The red maple tree looks a little sad.  Not sure if it will make it.  It is starting to get a few leaves so I will keep an eye on it.

 

Not only have I been working on the flowers and birdbath, I also cut Kevin/Renea’s front grass.  I had cut my grass over the weekend.

 

Yesterday morning I spent at the doctor’s office getting my pre-op physical.  Yes, I have to have surgery on May 1^st.  I have been having “female” problems so I will be having a complete hysterectomy.  This morning I went with Kevin to the doctor’s office.  He had to have another procedure on his neck and he is not allowed to drive afterward.  He is resting now and doing fine.  Other than that, we are all doing fine.

 

It is supposed to be 90 and humid this afternoon so I may have to find something to do inside.

Spring Has Sprung!

As I mentioned before, Renea and I rented a booth at the Lee County Flea Market on Saturday.  We sold a lot of our flea market stuff, but not any of our business stuff.  Now we are looking for craft shows to take our business stuff to sell. 

 

As said above, spring has definitely sprung.  It has been sunny and in the upper 70’s to low 80’s.  I have been planting flowers, weeding the rock gardens, cutting grass, feeding the birds, etc., etc., etc.  Yesterday I had three hummingbirds at the feeders.

 

After the flea market we went to Lowe's and bought supplies to plant the trees we bought at the flea market.  I bought a weeping willow and a weeping cherry tree.  

 

 

Kevin planted my weeping willow for me in my back yard

 

He planted my weeping cherry tree next to my deck.

Hopefully, they will survive.

Kevin and Renea bought two weeping willows. They planted theirs in their front yard.

 

While at Lowe's we also bought flowers and potting soil. I bought some petunias, verbena and another hibiscus.  The dahlias I bought a couple of weeks ago are doing great.  I have planted everything except the iris.  I bought three of them. 

 

 

I also bought a couple more bags of rocks.  I am going to put them around the birdbath in my front yard.

 

My azaleas are blooming.  I have cut back my lantanas.  One has some new growth coming up.  I am watching the other three. I have been concerned about my hydrangeas.  It looked like all I had was the sticks left from last year.  However, I now see new growth coming up from the ground, but no new growth on the sticks. Again, I’ll keep watching.  Looks like my potted sticks of trees have survived.  Not sure about the two crepe myrtles that Kevin transplanted from his yard to my yard.  My maple tree looks a little sad, but there is some new growth so I will keep an eye on it.  My water bill will probably be enormous this month since I am watering all the trees. 

 

We have all been miserable with allergies.  The pollen count is in the extreme.  However, it is supposed to rain on Thursday and they say that will help.  I just hope we don’t have any severe storms. 

Just Keeping Busy

Saw my first hummingbird this past weekend, and they have been feeding every day since.  I had put my feeders out last Thursday. 

 

Have been cutting grass.  The weather has been great until yesterday.  Now it is cold and raining.  Kevin and Gio cleaned up the rest of the large branches and filled the holes in the yard.  I have been picking up the smaller branches. 

 

Renea and I are renting a booth at the Lee County Flea Market on Saturday.  She has a lot of “stuff” to sell and I have some “stuff” to sell.  We decided that it would be more practical to rent a booth since we don’t live on a much traveled road.  We also live in what is considered the country and would be far for people to stop by.  We also plan to take a few items from the business.  We have made some new things and we want to see how they do.  I have been making items from plastic canvas such as coasters, bookmarks, magnets and a few other things.  We are also taking a few lamps that Kevin and Renea made.  We have decided to expand from just wood products to include crafts. 

 

The church I attend had an Interactive Stations of the Cross Service on the Wednesday before Easter.  This was a first for them.  It was different from anything I had ever attended and it was awesome.  I hope it becomes a regular event.  They had a beautiful Easter Service on Easter morning. 

 

When I got home from church the Easter Bunny (the one that lives next door) had been over to my house and left an Easter basket with lots of goodies.  I had Easter dinner with Kevin and Renea.  It was only the three of us.  Kevin had fixed a brisket that was DELICIOUS!  We had sweet potatoes, vegetables and bisquits.  Stephanie had to work so she wasn’t there. 

 

Not much else to tell.  Just been doing the usual stuff.  Nothing exciting.