What Are You Doing Lately?

11 years ago

What have you all been doing lately. Well, the weather has finally turned nice and this afternoon I got my big rig out and took a few spins around the property with Izzi. Izzi ran around most of the time, but rode on with me some of the time. I had to stop different times because of chickens in the way, but it was really nice to get to go out. Husband is home from rehab and was sleeping in his recliner so I took advantage and went outside. There is no change in his condition as far as being able to do things for himself. He can walk, feed himself and talk. It looks like the next few days are to be really nice. I hope you all are having nice weather.

Sue in Central Indiana

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Comments (14)

Alisande
11 years ago
What is your big rig, Sue?

It was getting warmer around here, but today is cold with snow flurries and lots of wind, so I'm enjoying the woodstove. Wednesday it's supposed to go down to the single digits again. I'm glad I still have stacked firewood.

Your husband must be so glad to be home. I hope he continues to improve.
mamatoad
11 years ago
Sue, I am so happy to get news that your husband is home and able to walk and talk. Thinking of both of you and keeping you in my prayers. I've been in the house all day due to the howling winds! It's warm and sunny but the pollen count is astronomical and those winds just keep blowing!
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matriarchy...you'd be surprised what you can pack into a small space! My yard is pretty small. I have a 30 year old half twin on a corner lot. It's less than 1/3 acre on the deed. Realistically it MIGHT be 1/4 acre between front/side and rear. For perspective, the side yard is 24 x 36 and the front is 28x48 and is bissected by a walk to the house which is about 4.5 ft wide. My back yard is about 44' long and an irregular 48 wide. (You have to net a large shed and a driveway out of that width across most of the length so for all intents and purposes it's 28 wide. The meadow just fits into an area about 15x30 but bisected with a 3 foot path going through and around it to enjoy the insect life and the flowers as you meander through it. Not sure you can meander through such a small space...! I had specific goals for the yard and knew it was beyond me to design it on my own. So I hired a landscape design professional with a degree in horticulture and landscape design and who specializes in native/natural landscaping. We are beyond pleased with the results! I was intent on providing habitat and welcoming birds. I wanted to attract and sustain butterflies and hummingbirds. I like to enjoy a garden but I did not want to spend tons of time working in it. Truth be told..I spend more time working in it than I would like to but I am having a terrible perennial weed problem this summer from the early hot summer! I did not want much grass. So the front yard is primarily flower beds...a long one flanks the front of the house (there's goldenrod and aster in this one among other things) and the fence line that divides the front and side yards. There is a huge island in the center of the front yard...huge being relative to the side of the yard. There's a tree in each end....and it is jam pack full of flowering native perennials throughout. (A neighbor said I had a jungle and my little GS said yes, a jungle for insects. The birds love it!) Then, the strip between my walk and the neighbors is another perennial bed. There is a swath of grass surrounding the island...but it's only about two mower widths wide. The side yard has beds...a raised and a ground level...on all 4 sides of it (along the house and between side and back, front and side and along fence on side). There IS grass there...not a lot...but grass for the dogs to potty. The back yard is no grass. There's a row of privacy arbs/red cedars/hollies along the back....and a series of gravel paths. Flower beds under trees...a lot of trees (I created a shady microenvironment in a SW aspect in the upper part of the small back yard)...a small pond...a boulder/rock outcropping, the little (teeny!) meadow below it, ferns up under the trees. There's about 12-1500 plants + trees. About 65 varieties in all. Anyway. The only grass in my back yard is native tall grasses...not turf grass. I wanted lots of flowers, seeds and fruits and that's what I got. Now it's quite charming and very tended...but not nearly as tame as most suburban plots. My neighbors are accustomed to very manicured things. But they all love and comment on the variety of my flowers, the birds and wildlife the garden attracts...and the impact they make in such mass. But it took a lot of work (we installed with some help) a lot of research finding the plants some of which are rather obscure and not a small amount of $$$. Just not all at once. It's always evolving. But, once you get past the keeping and tending grass idea you'd be surprised how much impact you can pack in a modest space. I'll take some pictures when I replace my digicam. DH took mine to a fishing trip and fell in the river. This is the third camera of mine he broke so from now on he gets disposables and I will replace mine...I have my eye on the Canon s5 is. Robin
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All the industry and activity here make me ashamed. I'm researching which Medicare Part D plan will be best for DH. I think I'll stick with my current insurer rather than hassle with changing; wouldn't save much. That insurer's premiums went up a third, but their charges for my meds went down. Our experience with changing insurers has been terrible. We're also staying with our BC/BS Medigap policies after talking it over with the insurance exchange rep. We must go through the exchange to get HRA funding from DH's former employer. Those funds should take care of the Medigap premiums and a good part of our Part B premiums. There will still be a big chunk going to the Part D insurers and for DH's two expensive meds. (I feel fortunate to have *any* help from a former employer in this day and age.) We're to have a low of 6F tonight, then a couple 'normal' days before plunging back into this 20 degrees below normal cold. I wish we could see a little video of the 'chicken chase' back to the hen house! Marilyn Sue -- Amber and Alyssa are fortunate to have loving family around them during this hard time. I can't forgive my father for *choosing* another life, leaving us when I was a toddler. My DH lost his father as a child, too, but his father died of a coronary; it wasn't a deliberate choice. Amber isn't the first woman to think her love would/could change a man!
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Sue, your life is so full. I can't imagine how you do all you do. My days are mostly filled between going outside to fuss with the flower gardens and puttering inside with puzzles and the day to day cooking and 'light' housekeeping. So much rain that I am not getting as much outside time as I would like. On the 4th we did travel 100 miles to my husbands family reunion. Rain started the day, but by 2 pm it stopped and a good time was had by all in spite of the mud all around our shelter and the playground in the park. Only 21 of the usual 35 or so attended. So disappointing. Seems a lot of the 'young' crowd opted for Fourth of July picnics where booze and fireworks were available. This past Monday a couple that we spend a lot of time with came to lend DH a hand with general maintenance of my elevator that gets me up from the garage level to the kitchen door level. We met this couple just 5 years ago, so we are still getting to know all about each other's lives pre meeting. We ladies had a great visit in the house while the guys worked out in the garage out of earshot! My lift chair needs replaced, so DH and I went chair shopping on Tuesday. We have looked at several brands over the past few months and settled on the 'Golden Technologies' brand chair. Much, much better made than any others we looked at. I chose an upgrade in fabric that added almost $400 to the base price, but I am worth it!
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socks
11 years ago
Marilyn, how smart of you to take time for yourself and get out. Not that your spirits are low, but it must have perked you up to go outside and enjoy your property and chickens. I hope your husband is able to gain more strength and return to his old self.

We are having a miserable heat wave (90's), and it's rather upsetting because we are in severe drought conditions and are supposed to curtail water usage. DH and I got away for a couple days' mini-vacation. We were able to take the dog which was fun.
Sue_va
11 years ago
Marilyn, all that sounds like things are perking up. Just getting out side is a morale booster I think, and you and Izzi riding the big rig sounds like you are getting back to normal. All sounds like progress, and that is what we want to hear.
Sue
User
11 years ago
I hope your husband continues to improve.

Getting ready to make dinner and unpack from our weekend jaunt.
gadgets
11 years ago
I've been lazy for most of the day. I want to know where you are, Socks, as I'd love to send Ohio's excess snow/rain/ice your way to help alleviate your drought.

Shirley
glenda_al
11 years ago
BEAUTIFUL weather here! Finally! Been shopping for clothes today and yesterday. Had a 30% off coupon at Kohl's and happy with my finds there.

This week looks beautiful as well!
pattico_gw
11 years ago
I've been making Easter treats for the younger kids at church.
They are an egg made out of card stock that is a cracked egg. It is held together with a brad. When you open the cracked egg you see a chick's head. We colored them with markers. The plan is to tape an easter sucker on the back.
Have a little over 20 done but I think I'd better make a few more.

I saw these online but I still can't get my computer and printer to be friends

So I had to go free hand.
socks
11 years ago
Sounds adorable, pattico. In CA, gadgets. We'll take all the wet you can send!
Amazing Aunt Audrey
11 years ago
Marilyn being a city slicker myself, I am in awe! I have collected all the supplies and have mapped out a plan for my spring cleaning. I will start after I get my flowerbeds in order, and mail my spring swap pkg. Hopefully tomorrow. Had to dig out my xmas card list to get her address. My iris bed is sprouting like crazy...so need to clean it up. Same goes for my lillies. The hostas haven't peeked out yet.
prairie_rose
11 years ago
I'm waiting for things to dry up a bit more, then maybe I can think about starting on my yard. I leave a little "trash" over my flower beds, helps keep the critters from making a toilet out of them over the winter. Made a quick check this weekend of calving supplies, every thing looks good there, at least until we start calving and then you really find out what kind of shape you are in.

This weekend, we had family over for Chinese food dinner and watched the Flames kick the $h???p out of the Maple Leafs, watched the Flames again last night play a hard fought game against Colorado, and the Womens World Curling Championships from Japan. Got the ironing caught up, and did some crocheting (while watching hockey).

Marilyn, I hope your husband keeps improving. ((hugs)) to you and him.
Marilyn Sue
Original Author
11 years ago
To those that wondered what my "big rig" is is my golf cart and that is what my husband called it before I even got it home. I keep it in the garage all the time when I don't use it. Izzi thinks she has to go on it each and every time it goes out and she usually does. Not unusual for us to haul 3 dogs as we ride along slowly around out back. Looks to be another great day here. Our son is planning on coming out and taking down a big old tree or two out front. They need to come down. Actually Norm has not made much progress at all and had gotten some worse especially with his speech. Doctor thinks he had a mini stroke, here at home before he had the pace maker put in. Looks like another sunny day coming up. Hope we all can enjoy it.

Sue
rob333 (zone 7b)
11 years ago
Sounds fantastic! Like you're getting back to "normal". Happy to hear it.

Evidently, I am up to nothing?! I went to a party on Saturday and when someone asked me what I've been up to, I had no answer. Except work stuff, and we worked together, so I wasn't about to talk about that. I need to get a life.
socks
11 years ago
Prairie, how many calves are you expecting? What role do you play in helping, just making sure mama and baby are OK and don't need human assistance? They are in the pasture? Do you worry about critters preying on the babes?

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