Pot

I used to watch my father cut the grass and trim in the yard.  Every once in a while, he planted flowers, but for the most part, it was maintenance, not creativity.  He would pay me $.25 if I bagged the trimmings and hauled the garbage bags to the garage, but even doing those small things set my mother off.  "Girls," she proclaimed, "do not do yard work." 

 

As I have said many times before, it wasn't until I met Tony that I realized that I could have fun planting flowers and messing in the dirt. 

 

I did that today.  I re-planted my "pot."  Last year, I bought a pot to "play" in.  Something I could either create beauty in, or have a disaster in.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that it turned out well.  It was green and had many different kinds of plants in it.  Some were tall, some were close to the root, but the combination was beautiful.  I felt accomplished.

 

Today, I took out all of the dead things that frost and rain damaged and put in new, living things.  I can't wait to see how it turns out.  I like planting.  I like seeing how color changes our yard.  I like enjoy putting different plants together and create a "look!"  We will see how this turns out, but so far, here it is.....

 

The new plants stand, waiting in line, to replace what I trimmed from the pot

And I trimmed and trimmed and trimmed!

Tony bought two Mandavelia plants--I just love them

The new plants go in....

...and settle into their place next to the palm tree

I hope this pot turns out as well as the last one!

My Favorite Time of Year

I used to think that fall way my favorite time of year....the leaves turning colors, cool breezes and the hint of Christmas just around the corner.  But, I've changed my mind--I love Spring. 

 

Spring in North Carolina is beautiful.  There are azaleas all over, in all different colors, geese fly overhead and chant to each other--probably about how pretty the sky is and there is a constant, cool breeze. 

 

Yesterday, we went to pick out some flowers and look at possible ways to extend the patio area--I'm always looking for more space.  We decided to have someone come out and give us some ideas and estimates.

 

We also had some excitement recently.   One of the things that happens here pretty regularly is controlled burns; thinning out thick brush and removing small trees. That's what we thought was happening the other day when we saw giant plumes of smoke in the sky.  It looked like the "burn" was pretty close to our development, but we were comfortable that with all of the building going on, construction crews had everything under control.   Well, we were wrong--it wasn't a controlled burn at all--it was a fire (under investigation) close to Compass Pointe, but not on our property.  It was bad enough to make not only the local news, but David heard about it in Tampa, Florida!  The news piece mentioned Compass Pointe--gee, maybe this event will put us on future GPS maps!

 

I start working 12 hour shifts on Thursday.  More hours, less days.  I worked Easter, but Tony made us a nice dinner before I left.   Tonight, we're going to the City Club for a wine tasting.  Next week, we're going to take our friends, Jan and Stu Friedman, out for dinner for babysitting Dixie while Tony was away and I was working.   And then, David comes to visit.  He reminded me that I promised to play golf with him the next time he visited, so off I go to "stink up the course" with him!  I am looking forward to it!

 

And so, it's a beautiful day and I'm going to plant the flowers I picked out.  Tony is way ahead of me, but I will catch up!

 

 

Here's Tony making the yard pretty for me

We like to have a tall plant surrounded by smaller, cascading ones

The "pot" arrangement I made last year took the winter pretty well.  I got some small plants to put in the corners

 

"Hot to Trot" watches over the backyard

New flowers by the palm tree

Definitely NOT a controlled burn

 

 

Smoke comes up over the rooftops in Compass Pointe

 

I saw this cloud and thought of a screaming eagle

 

When new homes are going up, there's a lot of dust that blows around...lots of dust

New waterways

It just wouldn't be a blog without a picture of Dixie!!

 

 

 

 

 

DOG FOR SALE....FAST AND CHEAP

As you may recall, Dixie has been sick for awhile.  I think I can safely say she's a lot better.

 

We are supposed to have a frost tonight, so I moved the plants on the front porch closer to the house so they would be more protected.  I was 104% sure I shut the front door, but as I picked up one of the pots, (with my back to the front door,) I heard a "happy bark."  If she could people speak, I'm sure she would have been saying...."ha, ha, ha, catch me if you can."  And she was off!!

 

Down the driveway, over to the next door neighbor's tree lawn, up the sidewalk to the house two doors down and finally, dancing her way across the street to the house under construction.   She was low to the ground and moving quickly.  Every once in a while, she would look back over her shoulder to see where I was and change direction if I was getting too close.  She even tried to jump the plastic barrier around the perimeter of the yard that the workers use to keep the blowing dirt under control.  Lucky for me, it was just a tad too tall for her. 

 

The construction site was full of mud, nails, wood and standing rain water.  Neither of us were wearing shoes.  We must have been a sight with me in my pajamas and her running free. 

 

One of the construction workers left a plastic water bottle in the back yard.  I threw germ caution to the wind and picked up the bottle.  I taunted her.    I made it crackle and tossed it in the air, close to me...picking it up before she could reach it.  I finally let her grip it with her mouth and I grabbed her collar.  BINGO...I had her.  She got a really hard spanking and when we got home, she ran right for her cage.   The dog equivalent of  the teenage speak..."YOU HIT ME!  I  HATE YOU, I'M GOING TO MY ROOM"
 

I'm guessing if she could do that again, she would, but I have a plan... If that happens, I have two choices...one, to put an ad in the 'dogs for sale' section of the newspaper...or, I could convince the Mexican workers that she is a rabbit and would be good to have for their lunch. 

 

The deciding factor will be how much I am offered in both scenarios!

What can I say?  Mommy needed the exercise!!

 

 

 

 

 

First Beach Picnic; A Hitchcock Tribute

Tony felt the same way I did in terms of our last post.  Life has been flashing by us, so we decided to slow it down a bit and we headed to the beach for our first beach picnic.  It was a chilly day, with bits of sun.  The wind made it one of those, "why did I bother fixing my hair" days--it was breezy and even with my heavy poncho on, I was cold.  But, we had lots of fun and laughed a lot.  We saw a school of dolphins, shrimp boats in the distance and all kinds of birds

 

Oh boy, were there birds. 

 

Birds are like ants at a picnic.  When you are on the ground, the ants invade your space to get your food....when you are on the beach....it's the birds.  

 

We had croissants, cheese and grapes and a lot of hungry birds.  As soon as they saw the food, they started to walk toward the blanket, in a "circling the wagons" kind of way. 

 

After the beach, it was time for our first cornhole championship.  I think playing golf has given Tony some sort of cornhole edge, because he beat me in all three games.  But, I will rebound another day. 

 

Ah, you can't have a picnic without wine...and plastic wine glasses!

Hmmm...a few birds scope out our food.

A few  more get closer....

Tony takes "the bait" and starts to feed them.

 

Let the dive bombing begin...they started coming in fast and low.

Really low!

A mid air collision over a grape

 

Tony chats with one of our picnic dinner guests

INCOMING.....see that croissant on my plate....guess who ate it?  Hint, it wasn't me.

Now there's a man who has no fear of bird poop

Catching treats in mid air!

 

Tony Swegle....a friend to man, dogs and now birds...

 

And this is how they repay him!  On my chair,  no less!

 

 

 

And so, we head home, to a new view.  See the leaning tree and green box?  One of the construction drivers backed into both.   The green box is electrical, the area lost power for awhile!

 

And now....the cornhole game...my home court--the family tree

Tony's home court....outer space and Star Trek

Yes, Tony...you won all three games...

and really spanked me in the process!!

 

What a fun day we had!

 

 

 

 

 

Catching Up On Stuff

 

 

It feels like life has been running past us lately.  Donna and Bob went back to Cleveland in early March, our system conversion at the hospital finally happened on March 15, Tony's friend, Milt,  stopped by on his way to a golf outing in Myrtle Beach where Tony will join him and other friends on Wednesday and then, Tony will be going to see David at the end of the month in Tampa.

 

Dixie has been totally entertaining as always, but recently sick.  She had a urinary tract infection at the end of February and into March and recently ate some red berries from a bush we have in the yard that may have poisoned her a bit.  She threw up 7 times on Tuesday and once today.  She has been sleeping all day and isn't interested in food.  She certainly has been seeing the inside of the vet's office a lot lately.

 

The weather has turned warm and beautiful.  A few days ago when I went into work very early, there were sea gulls flying around the hospital entrance and they were calling to me. They were stark white against the dark blue sky and it was a very pretty site.  The midnight shift was getting off of work as I was going in and some of them saw me just standing there looking up into the sky.  I guess the warmth and the blue sky attracted them too, because 4 or 5 of them stopped near me to take it all in.

 

I like this time of the year because we will be going to the nursery soon to pick out flowers for our small islands and pots that are around the yard.  Tony takes care of it all, but I enjoy working with a color scheme and picking flowers and plants that really attract your attention.  I hope we can put in something that will extend the surface area of the patio outside this year.  To me, it feels cramped--if you are trying to sit out there your knees are almost touching the grill and you are so close to the chiminea, you singe your eyebrows.  I know...I see extra space, Tony sees dollar signs. 

 

I haven't tried putting pictures into the blog yet, so I may still have the same problems I did last time.  At any rate...time marches on and I am running to keep up.

 

Our new view--new construction across the street

 

Spring....A time to spread our wings...

 

First Flowers

 

 

Poison berries???

 

 

Always on guard

A birthday present from the grandkids

Another birthday gift from the other grandkids!!

 

My Guy

My new look, thanks to Donna--hippie chic!

 

Here's Donna, just before they left for Cleveland...I think she's telling us

 how she feels about snow!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

       

Happy Birthday to You! Part 1

The best thing about February is that we celebrate Tony's birthday.   It's usually a low key celebration, but Tony gets birthday cards, messages and good wishes from all over.  We "Skyped" with Coleton and Anthony, hearing a rendition of not only "Happy Birthday," but also "Peter Cottontail."  God daughter, Emma,  sent a phone video saying "Happy Birthday" and throwing Tony a big kiss.  Ben, Sam, Ellie and Zach called Tony and had a nice long talk about school, Charlie, their dog, the snow and their new "smart TV."

This year, we got to celebrate with Donna and Bob.  The cold, rainy weather stopped us from  going out on Tony's actual birthday, but we did get out the next day. We went to the City Club for a glass of great red wine called "F"  and then on to a favorite French Bistro called, "Caprice."   The food was good and we had a great time.

After that, we came back to the house for cake and coffee. 

Happy Birthday, Daddy Bear, and I hope you have many, many more.


I had trouble posting pictures to the blog so I had to cut and paste. And the captions are all over the place, but you get the idea!!

A drink at the City Club before dinner.

Mrs. Swegle and the Old Guy!

Sibling Love!

Tony and his favorite girl!

         Our favorite guys!