I've been trying to go some place. Trying! First, we tried to find a way to slip down to the Gulf for a couple of days, and then noticed it was supposed to rain this weekend. Then, we tried for the US Space and Rocket center, but the car's check engine light has come on and I'll be doing that tomorrow instead. And he had a Latin convention for school that he forgot about. He's in Gatlinburg, as of last night and won't be back until Saturday evening. Oh well. At least, I have one of my favorite friends coming to visit me. Since I'm not traveling it might just work! That's next Friday. We're going on a walking tour of Nashville (I live here, but haven't ever done it) and going to a swanky place for lunch. There, I've been. But it's just so darn good. I hope I get the purple car fixed cheaply. Oh, and I have to get the red car's emissions done tomorrow. Glad we didn't get halfway down to the Gulf and the car act up then, so it's good it happened at home.

I've been battling velvety tree ants in the yard. These are aggressive and bite me and the dog too. I'm trying boric acid mixed in cat food. The ants love it, but I'm not seeing any reduction in their numbers.

Otherwise, life is good and just the usual stuff--managing the dog, cooking, shopping, volunteering at the bookstore.

Marilyn, I can imagine the chickens are loving the warmer weather. How old is Alyssa now? Does she love all the Disney princess-themed "stuff?" My granddaughter does.

Work work work!!!!!! We have a new client that is VERY demanding and they want changes done NOW. Not tomorrow but RIGHT THIS MINUTE. Can you tell I'm cranky??? I'm so far behind in non-work stuff and there's not enough time in the day to get it all taken care of. So, my days consist of 10-14 hours in front of the computer, feeding that cats, cleaning the litter boxes and maybe cleaning up after dinner. Hubby made dinner last night so I got a chance to get out of the house and exercise.

I have one thing to look forward to next week and know it's going to be fun! Can't wait!!!!!

Socks, Alyssa is now 4 and loves the Disney Princess movies. She loves pretty dresses, especially very long ones and she loves her little high heels, that for some reason she calls her "long ankles". I asked why she called them her long ankles and she said, well they aren't my "long feet". The chickens are enjoying being outside a lot, they run all over the place, sometimes we find an egg under the forsythia bushes. Thanks for asking.

Sue

Oh yeah, Marilyn, my little granddaughter clacks around the house in those shoes too. She had them on with socks at Easter, and they were just too tight and looked funny! My DIL took her to see Cinderella--I thought she was pretty young for a movie theater--but she liked it, and she's only 3-1/2. I think all the little girls have gone princess-crazy now!

I'm getting ready to wrap up my winter in Florida and head back to Massachusetts for the summer and fall. There is a busy social season here before all the snowbirds leave with year-end dinner dances, socials, and stuff. In addition there is the cleaning, packing, and organizing to do so we can get out in an orderly fashion and be able to return to a clean house next November. I'm more than ready to get back up north; 10 more days.

It's almost 80F here this noon. Tomorrow we drop 20 degrees. I don't care, as long as the sun is shining! Our Westie's been sick (at both 'ends') -- in addition to having that wart in his ear that has to be cleaned daily. My pneumonia is better, but I wonder if I will ever stop croaking and get my voice back. Good thing DH is almost *never* sick.

Socks, might you try Terro on those ants? I use it on the teeny water-seeking ants we get on Maui. There are traps, or you can just put drops of it out on pieces of cardboard or whatever.

Marilyn Sue -- You *know* how I love to hear a 'chicken report*! Thank you!

Chisue, thanks for the suggestion. Terro is aimed at sweet eating ants. These ants won't touch jam but love canned cat food. Supposedly boric acid works, mixed in with their food. Haven't seen proof of this yet!

I am sorry for the trouble with Eliot and hope he's comfortable. The pneumonia took its toll on you; do take care and continue back to your normal healthy self.

Sue, there just aren't enough days in the week for the things you do.

I hope Norm is improving steadily.

I too love hearing about your chickens!

Norm has not improved much at all, refuses at times to do therapy. So not much I can do about that. Chicken report today, found one egg behind the dog pen and one under the kitchen window. Amber worked at picking up sticks and clipping unwanted stuff and later Kevin came and mowed for us. I sure appreciate all the kids do for us.
Sue

Thank goodness it's been raining here for days with more to come. Because after reading all of the above I'm too tired to do anything! I applaud your energy!

a pal posted a recipe using a cup of sugar, boric acid, mixed in warm water...then put out on cotton balls soaked in the solution. one friend in ak used it couple of days ago and is now ant free? also heard someone subbed coke for the water?

dh finally got word his father is now on Medicaid...what an up-hill battle...we have a folder at least 2" thick, of all the info they wanted...oh including 2 life ins policies which were actually his car ins and another temp from good sams club days... he's 93...and now we're getting all his junk mail...that stuff never ends...

finally have turned the heat off...this is the latest we've had it on in a long time...and today was the first time we've had trees leaf out...(se mi)

Socks, the Velvety Tree Ant are really sweet eaters. They feed on honeydew producing insects and nectar. I would absolutely use a Terro boric acid bait on them.

Not arguing with you, rhizo, but I put out jam and cat food, and they ignored the jam, loved the cat food. I'll probably get the Terro today and see if it works. Last summer I tried another bait (might have been Amdro, something starting with "A"). It did not work. We finally had a guy come spray which helped, but it would be good to not have that expense again.

Have you had those ants and success with Terro? They are nasty things, climb my legs, bite later when they get up to the neck. Also they torture the dog.

Why am I not surprised that Norm won't cooperate? LOL Sorry about that, Marilyn Sue. (I know his disabilities must depress him.) Glad for your local and helping family members!

I haven't been doing much, I was worried about today since I am going stir crazy! Then I asked my son to take the cover off the pool and found its GREEN! Well, now I had something to do...... my pump was burned out. I had to buy one and a bunch of chemicals. That sure filled my day!

Just watching it rain. We have one or two sunny days and then four or five rainy ones. I so enjoy seeing my blooms after the cold winter but just as sure as something blooms the rain comes and ruins it. I know, I know. In a few weeks the rain will stop and I'll be wishing I had some.

JoAnn, do you mind if I ask why you're going stir-crazy? Is it the weather that's keeping you in?

I can't seem to get myself very motivated these days...

I'm so sorry, MarilynSue, that your husband isn't trying very hard to get better. My neighbor deals with that concerning her husband, though his issues aren't as intense as your husband's. I'm glad you're carrying on anyway, and having help from your wonderful kiddos.