tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49516568654434435222024-03-18T21:53:35.274-07:00MeanderingUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger333125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951656865443443522.post-767250769607050582012-09-04T21:00:00.002-07:002012-09-04T21:00:56.293-07:00Closing<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'm going to close my <em>Meandering</em> blog sometime this year. I'm working on how to save the photos and posts as there are so many, many things here that I want to keep. Years of my life with Alan, and our adventures and travels that I don't want to lose. I've heard the whole blog can be put on a memory stick or USB, but I'm not sure how that works, nor have I figured it out yet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It's been nearly a year since last October when I went back to Edinburgh to see family and friends. It was a painful, sad, tearful journey, but also filled with love and kindness. After I returned, I started a new blog: </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://www.justone-terlee.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">www.justone-terlee.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> where I write about this new life: being on my own. There are stories, sometimes poetry, lots of photos, a tear now and then, and often a laugh or at least a smile.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Stop by sometime...</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951656865443443522.post-61154211566002399532011-04-30T14:56:00.017-07:002011-04-30T18:56:50.922-07:00In Memory...<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><i>Alan Alexander Gilliatt</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">January 28, 1944 - April 23, 2011</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I hope your light is now shining in a place of beauty.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> I will miss you love, so much , every single day. </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Be at peace, my dearest man.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">It is with the greatest sadness in my heart that I write this. My irascible, vibrant, cantankerous, lovable, generous, kind, stubborn, decent, funny, playful, hard-working husband left this world last Saturday, at 2:30pm, on a lovely warm afternoon while we worked in our garden.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">It was the most shocking and horrible experience of my life. I will never recover from the unreality of chatting away as we worked side-by-side one moment, to losing him the next. My only consolation is he died instantly, and painlessly, from cardiac arrest.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">I feel so sorry that this happened here, in America, rather than in Edinburgh where he lived all his life. I have talked to his family and several friends in Scotland, but for now, being so far away, there will be no memorial service for him, no celebration of his life amongst the family, friends, military and work people that he knew over his lifetime. It breaks my heart he won't have that.<br />
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We haven't lived in southern Oregon long enough to make friends, become part of the community, so other than myself and small family, there is no one here to mourn him. And as if my heart couldn't break more, it does with this thought: After all our months of work on the new house, we had actually arrived at the very last day--house finished, work done, only flowers to plant--and were both eagerly looking forward to a wonderful summer of relaxing and enjoying our labors. And that's the day he dies..?? I can't fathom the unfairness, or comprehend the timing.<br />
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My mother and sister came immediately, but after a week, they are gone now, and it's just Ozzy, Max and myself. Ozzy is taking it very hard. He wanders back into Alan's room expecting to find him on the computer; he sits at the window waiting for him to perhaps drive up in the car; he stares at me, his big brown eyes asking where his Dad has gone. Max is less bothered because he's only been with us for a few months, yet he's still unsettled and worried. Somehow I have to find a way to relieve their fears and figure out how to care for them on my own.<br />
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But that will perhaps seem minor compared to the magnitude of how I will ever learn to face the silence, and the pain, and the deep, wrenching loneliness of losing Alan. He filled the house, and my life. It is unbearable that he is gone.<br />
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I have no idea if I will ever blog again. I have so many difficulties ahead dealing with two different countries' red tape and rules; and frankly Alan dealt with the UK things so I'm virtually clueless. But even if I had no worries or confusion on that score, I am too numb and hollowed out to imagine ever having anything to write again, once I post this.<br />
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I would like to say one last thing: Treasure the people in your lives, hug your loved ones, talk to them, smile at them, appreciate them, every single day. Don't think there's plenty of time, or put things off for another day, or imagine for a moment you can wait to tell them you love them. In the blink of an eye, your chance could be taken away.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951656865443443522.post-27787235128426832872011-04-23T14:06:00.007-07:002011-04-23T14:12:20.362-07:00Blooming Saturday<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yesterday was Spring Cleaning Day...which totally wiped me out, not only because I <strike>hate</strike> <strike>loath</strike> <strike>detest abhor</strike> don't like domestic chores, but it's hard work with the lugging of the ten-ton vacuum, hands-and-knees mopping of floors, crawling under furniture to dust, etc., etc. When I was younger I had pretty much decided that when I got older, I would have a housekeeper. Hmmm. Whatever happened to that plan..??</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In any case, by the time the SCD was over, so was I. I could barely lift my arms last night. And that would explain how I smashed my thumb between the underside of the dining room table and the arm of my chair when I sat down to eat dinner. Holy Crap, did that hurt. I thought the thumb was a goner for a minute there. It's now totally black & blue, swollen and won't quite bend properly, but hey, at least it happened <i>after</i> all the work was done, right..?? Yeah. Right. Lucky me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here's one really cool thing: Amidst the cleaning and sweating on a glorious, beautiful Friday, we decided to stop in a Kruse's Farms after the dogs' walk. The market has been closed for the winter, but they've just reopened and we wanted to see what they had as surely it was too soon for veggies, or their usual produce.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTpgXYMMtGPfIMW1xqwjUr5WG2cH00U5-XM0KgaMYrnOyP4XYV0EbKOV_cxIUHLR-BLce2F02VaF7jN_YsU-Mr1DnMyDNb8GMaJZu7TKK_GhQrLGd83lJiuk0dpqJjTFcNYHLUJZ5B7LX/s1600/OMGdrb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTpgXYMMtGPfIMW1xqwjUr5WG2cH00U5-XM0KgaMYrnOyP4XYV0EbKOV_cxIUHLR-BLce2F02VaF7jN_YsU-Mr1DnMyDNb8GMaJZu7TKK_GhQrLGd83lJiuk0dpqJjTFcNYHLUJZ5B7LX/s200/OMGdrb.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">OMG..!!</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What they do <i>before</i> the vegetable and produce season begins is supply the most amazing potted plants, hanging baskets, and container flowers you can imagine.</span> <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> They have four greenhouses, all full of just stunning plants. There were several enormous baskets reserved for the city to hang along the main street, and we saw more than one winery with huge, gorgeous potted plants set aside for them, no doubt for their front entries or wine-tasting patios. It was mind-boggling and beautiful to just wander from greenhouse to greenhouse, and around the front parking area--all filled with blooms and color and fragrance.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We bought two hanging baskets, originally to hang off the front deck, but they are so big, only one will fit. The other we plopped into an oak barrel just to keep it safe while we decided what to do with it. It looks so great there, we're leaving it. We also bought some other plants, including three different varieties of Coleus that are just too cool, and some geraniums--one of my favorite plants.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The oak barrel at the top of the back garden, just off the deck...now filled with the hanging basket flowers. Is that the most epic bunch of blooms ever..??!! </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhik6545iFwyUpHF3ZKycijHqHoP2ba8VkF-w0nDiY_px7tJOsS6mtnG9CVOtrXo9RLWAcUuH8Q1B07Zj-2JBRSGNc3SlyUKAQ6KektLL7R59H8cu6brUFw9XOSSZNyyKaFFwau_YMwEPRP/s1600/OakPlants.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhik6545iFwyUpHF3ZKycijHqHoP2ba8VkF-w0nDiY_px7tJOsS6mtnG9CVOtrXo9RLWAcUuH8Q1B07Zj-2JBRSGNc3SlyUKAQ6KektLL7R59H8cu6brUFw9XOSSZNyyKaFFwau_YMwEPRP/s320/OakPlants.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFcVYJx5zoalokw5GZZ0wRI8fco8bjAv7leV0fxAyMh9EmKkELzYNjzhRdaD7779UOqsQhHl3_DAaXlR4hgexYqNshqnyJH09ZlMu7O5zL1-KrdM43YOkK1PXRJ6QWRZEeTDuQHPN-l8l/s1600/IMG_2502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFcVYJx5zoalokw5GZZ0wRI8fco8bjAv7leV0fxAyMh9EmKkELzYNjzhRdaD7779UOqsQhHl3_DAaXlR4hgexYqNshqnyJH09ZlMu7O5zL1-KrdM43YOkK1PXRJ6QWRZEeTDuQHPN-l8l/s320/IMG_2502.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Next are the three varieties of Coleus. These were so interesting, we couldn't decide which ones to get. This first one is my favorite. The red is so deeply red, with a lime-yellow edging.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaiqZxWtf0-ynqEnXfpK32npPxECLquAd12-frj-8Yj_ZTRjyEgaXERV4ky0jF9KDcDCTH-fhMX-CB08J551iOZUSk2dcmSIljJE8vuq_NrU9hniRlsBl-Axw6YsU3SwqcJKnuousj1WfC/s1600/Coleus3aa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaiqZxWtf0-ynqEnXfpK32npPxECLquAd12-frj-8Yj_ZTRjyEgaXERV4ky0jF9KDcDCTH-fhMX-CB08J551iOZUSk2dcmSIljJE8vuq_NrU9hniRlsBl-Axw6YsU3SwqcJKnuousj1WfC/s320/Coleus3aa.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueIRqmADipGRkVb6ye9-3EpfQslttQT1guypLMR5sYEyKuZ6oUZwYVdDEcasA6eFRIBveJIMpx56sT2E8qQ7R632LT4ty8MFQcUIXLG_r0Z4ehFZ-rV37nEN-Aizg43K0iGPfUe_fi_wk/s1600/Coleus3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueIRqmADipGRkVb6ye9-3EpfQslttQT1guypLMR5sYEyKuZ6oUZwYVdDEcasA6eFRIBveJIMpx56sT2E8qQ7R632LT4ty8MFQcUIXLG_r0Z4ehFZ-rV37nEN-Aizg43K0iGPfUe_fi_wk/s320/Coleus3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is Alan's favorite, and again, so cool and colorful...</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhM8PTFPZv9yo_eCTrbj8Hh4GDk69tsWUdfDoFTrJtmPLjYZZQR-dhOibNFhx0G0WLpWDs2mtAY5GOrqfmFn7AhyGINOLoeqsK0GoC0WsU8ZYN8AEgWpjqxDsFkUQTX75GB3VTuy3S-zQ/s1600/Coleus1a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhM8PTFPZv9yo_eCTrbj8Hh4GDk69tsWUdfDoFTrJtmPLjYZZQR-dhOibNFhx0G0WLpWDs2mtAY5GOrqfmFn7AhyGINOLoeqsK0GoC0WsU8ZYN8AEgWpjqxDsFkUQTX75GB3VTuy3S-zQ/s320/Coleus1a.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDCmTyguWYAsaW1-sP_5Zreer18zXBAXawpUFrdiKaS-UtUPfJci9HSLlfm700pyve2UH08-Evm6yftv9gUdJbQYF1dN8-10CLNdloPUeNlI7_M4Q_6bnx5qlt-Ytj5eEQfZGkYBOadd48/s1600/ColeusClose.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDCmTyguWYAsaW1-sP_5Zreer18zXBAXawpUFrdiKaS-UtUPfJci9HSLlfm700pyve2UH08-Evm6yftv9gUdJbQYF1dN8-10CLNdloPUeNlI7_M4Q_6bnx5qlt-Ytj5eEQfZGkYBOadd48/s320/ColeusClose.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Alan didn't particularly care for this one, but because it was so unique--looking like someone had just splattered it with paint--I couldn't resist.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEBFHM6Y6LkTiGVWEdBdvYK5cmXU4yVPPir9VLEAmFtf3zlxUu9wTCGEZF2_Qt5mm1kjn3KIeigz1pmvU9xHip4kaGiK2KpYd_SOdq8DSwJ7l-ejgkieK84lzZ_7ugEeuH7x3rgY3i8ST/s1600/Coleus2a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEBFHM6Y6LkTiGVWEdBdvYK5cmXU4yVPPir9VLEAmFtf3zlxUu9wTCGEZF2_Qt5mm1kjn3KIeigz1pmvU9xHip4kaGiK2KpYd_SOdq8DSwJ7l-ejgkieK84lzZ_7ugEeuH7x3rgY3i8ST/s320/Coleus2a.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A couple close-up shots of geraniums. The bottom one, with the white-rimmed ruffles, is one of my most favorite. They bloom like a weed and look brilliant all summer long. Course, the red one is just as beautiful.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDQHPyBzaSNX6CXhvkPD4DmDswtxD19BTuOtKOHl2icdaPuZwQk3IHoi8G_jTACNUHOKSunxoMkL2DFORPAGbbme_Bl5uj5NpfA7PtiYBkaegtVCl3OOkimBGdJWhc10FHfVI9nO9wuB0/s1600/Ger1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDQHPyBzaSNX6CXhvkPD4DmDswtxD19BTuOtKOHl2icdaPuZwQk3IHoi8G_jTACNUHOKSunxoMkL2DFORPAGbbme_Bl5uj5NpfA7PtiYBkaegtVCl3OOkimBGdJWhc10FHfVI9nO9wuB0/s320/Ger1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJAy3Tlpvkea-9S8BV9xSSqHOCvnNDGhR4V7YeVpojmlnX4WI9UognsrihGJTGTcO4z4w1EdpY0F7tq5qBY9uEdZneZEp9qnBbxpmckUsPYZaUYIkGrnC43R28fzgaiOB3czKKmpZL3vW/s1600/Ger2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJAy3Tlpvkea-9S8BV9xSSqHOCvnNDGhR4V7YeVpojmlnX4WI9UognsrihGJTGTcO4z4w1EdpY0F7tq5qBY9uEdZneZEp9qnBbxpmckUsPYZaUYIkGrnC43R28fzgaiOB3czKKmpZL3vW/s320/Ger2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here is the other hanging basket, which will go on the front deck...or, hang <i>under</i> the front deck to be more accurate, though how we're exactly going to accomplish that is still up in the air. These are monumentally heavy containers--we could barely lift them in and out of the car, let alone lift them over our heads whilst standing on a ladder and trying to slide them into a hook. Once this Herculean feat is done, I will definitely take some photos. I may need them to console me while recovering In the hospital from back surgery.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKVoSdzLDdo5titQ9DIvR1DTDdYvYYyJtN-xDzjYoFVg2PdrBqRWX6OdePRsu1jaKQVENeqwb5oZxQ7JTRTnqLe6r4JbY3TzLptDDUA0u94Hl3bPPZFdXTo7lvKVhy1olGsPLwgLB2Z26/s1600/Hanging1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKVoSdzLDdo5titQ9DIvR1DTDdYvYYyJtN-xDzjYoFVg2PdrBqRWX6OdePRsu1jaKQVENeqwb5oZxQ7JTRTnqLe6r4JbY3TzLptDDUA0u94Hl3bPPZFdXTo7lvKVhy1olGsPLwgLB2Z26/s320/Hanging1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, though I labored for the better part of yesterday on the Spring Cleaning, I did have some time to stop and smell the flowers.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951656865443443522.post-72095782728407255022011-04-21T10:22:00.003-07:002011-04-21T10:26:53.053-07:00Jazzed Up Thursday...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWGeUrlBnJoWx2fhJaSVvJ9tO-zhZ0BDXZJ8j-P6STCuDLp0ediCRETZ2EueexihDQR5AZmQybZXWuQ6blxPot_okFAVPyeRqLyML670yFSjWFD89aaOIEkA-HCngwkEumuy81dnCBPFe/s1600/Coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWGeUrlBnJoWx2fhJaSVvJ9tO-zhZ0BDXZJ8j-P6STCuDLp0ediCRETZ2EueexihDQR5AZmQybZXWuQ6blxPot_okFAVPyeRqLyML670yFSjWFD89aaOIEkA-HCngwkEumuy81dnCBPFe/s200/Coffee.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I haven't posted a Coffee Break for awhile, so here's a short one. Grab a cup, sit back and relax for a minute or two this morning--or afternoon, depending on where you are. </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is good, and hopefully if you click on the picture, it will show up larger/clearer so you can actually read it. The last sentence is the best, of course.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KbwLCEuoYVK95ynbGxK5Em9XwkfThkhA_e43ZXJHEB8Ex3cI0DP-fLLL3f1qGUqOXgN7YhLje7eRyJuAxyCYB9Vx5oHFGJuIjMZi9tf72J1-KGMY8kZmkYuw2NwycoqPEQFC-kD-e3bb/s1600/BeforeJet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KbwLCEuoYVK95ynbGxK5Em9XwkfThkhA_e43ZXJHEB8Ex3cI0DP-fLLL3f1qGUqOXgN7YhLje7eRyJuAxyCYB9Vx5oHFGJuIjMZi9tf72J1-KGMY8kZmkYuw2NwycoqPEQFC-kD-e3bb/s320/BeforeJet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Courtesy of <a href="http://www.jetfunnypictures.com%20/">Jet</a></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">*****************************************************************</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Inexplicable Sign o' the Week. <b><i>LOL</i></b>. You gotta wonder at their public relations department, don't you..??</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrU8jBNEVegQPVbJUs6QPqOQOsUdOGkiZ4g-GKUfudJWaSrpKmqyONt6OjTJmqpZzb4txwR2IqWqDm-4ReSiIF5Qx1Ehrn4Hd5LAe_qTl3blQYUekcjqJD32X537IjPBQ-CVFNg0sFQChk/s1600/OrNotDH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrU8jBNEVegQPVbJUs6QPqOQOsUdOGkiZ4g-GKUfudJWaSrpKmqyONt6OjTJmqpZzb4txwR2IqWqDm-4ReSiIF5Qx1Ehrn4Hd5LAe_qTl3blQYUekcjqJD32X537IjPBQ-CVFNg0sFQChk/s320/OrNotDH.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Via <a href="http://www.damnhot.net/">DH</a></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I found a really great video this morning that I just have to share. It's from the UK, music by the Jive Aces, Britain's premiere swing band. It starts out all doom and gloom and then...</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There's just something about music, isn't there..??</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you're at work, you might not be able to really hear/feel the music. Maybe at lunch...or better yet, turn <i>UP</i> the volume and get your office jazzed on a humdrum Thursday... </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oXvJ8UquYoo?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">Via <a href="http://www.flixxy.com/">Flixxy</a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That's about all I've got for today. The sunshine is streaming through the windows, and I have to get going on the day. Though really...?? I would rather hide out here, with a good book and no distractions or chores.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65etCeJ6BBiTWnTpT_Rx3p11Isgh_mEP82igTwiuekM5_F07yKB1ZqizJi4_nHRLxRy_zyypNjykiivXOIt5zyFqNc_lbjTJSQ0EcF5ljqFRACvWloaxqiZb8tB7LErnkbnghl92Btv65/s1600/treehouseDH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65etCeJ6BBiTWnTpT_Rx3p11Isgh_mEP82igTwiuekM5_F07yKB1ZqizJi4_nHRLxRy_zyypNjykiivXOIt5zyFqNc_lbjTJSQ0EcF5ljqFRACvWloaxqiZb8tB7LErnkbnghl92Btv65/s320/treehouseDH.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thanks to <a href="http://www.damnhot.net/">DH</a></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951656865443443522.post-88399793590087112242011-04-20T14:17:00.015-07:002011-04-20T14:26:17.561-07:00Slow Day...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Not much going on today, so I'm just going to post a few things and call it good. Yesterday was really busy, with all kinds of running around things to do, and in fact we made three trips down the mountain which I think must be a record for us. It was a wonderfully beautiful day however, so in between the running about we took the dogs to the park twice. They didn't complain.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In case you haven't had your lunch yet today, you could perhaps try this soup...it might even take care of the midweek slump of Wednesday...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtw0b_YWAxD-sYjaCq2nzLvkLI5Ij5boP7eMN5iyBQHB9dMJuQYGh3za8ZwwhPM7BE6m1xetoxzRIJQb-JNvBtWvxVOTr0KrJBaaGgoBUmQ6WQd3Zpqwcb0OBFYixqil6tQlWqqjixiJOV/s1600/soup-whiskeyOddee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtw0b_YWAxD-sYjaCq2nzLvkLI5Ij5boP7eMN5iyBQHB9dMJuQYGh3za8ZwwhPM7BE6m1xetoxzRIJQb-JNvBtWvxVOTr0KrJBaaGgoBUmQ6WQd3Zpqwcb0OBFYixqil6tQlWqqjixiJOV/s320/soup-whiskeyOddee.jpg" width="277" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is a good one. I really had to smile when the dog commandeered the blanket...too funny.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/max7vGs-qBk?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Via <a href="http://www.misscellania.com/">Miss Cellania</a></span></span><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here's an amazing thing: A true look at the vast underground world of an ant hill city. Since I only saw one or two ants hanging around, I hope that means the colony had moved on to build another city...and weren't buried in the tons of concrete. It's also just a bit creepy at the end when you realize the magnitude of their endeavors...and just how industrious tiny insects can be.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><embed flashvars="file=http://damnhot.net/img/damnhot.net/img1/20110308/video/ants.flv&plugins=sharing-2&skin=http://damnhot.net/video/player2/skin/kleur.zip&sharing.link=http%3A%2F%2Fdamnhot.net%2F2011%2F03%2F08%2Fwhat_happens_when_you_pour_concrete_into_an_video.html" height="450" src="http://damnhot.net/video/player2/player2.swf" width="600"></embed></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Via <a href="http://www.damnhot.net/">DH</a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well, like I said, it's a slow day. The weather is sort of gloomy too, which really makes me want to take a nap, but instead I should get on with some work I have to do, so...yawn...The End. </span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951656865443443522.post-57028376276434417742011-04-18T11:36:00.023-07:002011-04-18T14:20:15.432-07:00A New and Better Week...<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">...I hope.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
To recap my <a href="http://meander-terlee.blogspot.com/2011/04/time-out.html">Time Out</a> of last week:<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On Tuesday Alan and I had a major disagreement, mainly because of <i>his</i> disagreement with the landscape guys. I won't go into the particulars as it's too boring, to say nothing of painful, to relive the experience of dealing with a bull-headed horses's ass. All the yelling and shouting upset the dogs, of course, so for a couple of days I was taking them to the park by myself to give the three of us a quiet peaceful break, away from the turmoil and tension.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
Wednesday as I was trying to navigate the car down the driveway between tractors, wheelbarrows, tools and assorted flotsam from the landscaping, I heard this horrible <i><b>bang</b></i> that scared the crap out of me. I stopped the car and jumped out. Matthew and Rusty came running, and we discovered that I had inadvertently run over one of their tools--a pick axe. This is one of those aggravating moments where you shake your head in total disbelief, knowing that if you tried to do this, it would never happen again in a million years.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
I hit the very edge of the pick axe head, which flung the handle up, and did this to my beautiful, pristine car:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEp9YDLfJbP1OrjUQ_ZjMqFt_nq9ljpG01PL2dVEZIWtpOF1QFSKrt8HmsouQFBb7ni1X53NR9sYb7urWI1I62Rifk6Np1nfRo_8SBsnsDH_os28cgENZ1YcFJyY29dE9VQlWm8kAMG4QF/s1600/IMG_2475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEp9YDLfJbP1OrjUQ_ZjMqFt_nq9ljpG01PL2dVEZIWtpOF1QFSKrt8HmsouQFBb7ni1X53NR9sYb7urWI1I62Rifk6Np1nfRo_8SBsnsDH_os28cgENZ1YcFJyY29dE9VQlWm8kAMG4QF/s320/IMG_2475.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Imagine how perfectly my tire had to roll over that axe head to have just the handle fly up and do this. Here's a closer view of the damage.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cWDeGyjvPU8_I3S8OzH1S3KJlJUHP9rXx0k19vVRDY3y14HcMXkUOtk8nfvN8JwcGxGI0Ua1QkuNFtAEz9xAh-8V-HsndQ9mULAdBXdNkTlN6L5ItxQh4A1I_LWDCcIdzYKDwbOOsmdZ/s1600/IMG_2474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cWDeGyjvPU8_I3S8OzH1S3KJlJUHP9rXx0k19vVRDY3y14HcMXkUOtk8nfvN8JwcGxGI0Ua1QkuNFtAEz9xAh-8V-HsndQ9mULAdBXdNkTlN6L5ItxQh4A1I_LWDCcIdzYKDwbOOsmdZ/s320/IMG_2474.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I immediately took it to the Chevy dealership for an estimate. Get this. $550.00 for the repair, four days for a rental car while it's being repaired. Hell's Flaming Bells.</span><br />
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Moving on.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
By Thursday the guys had fixed, finished and resolved everything, apparently to Alan's satisfaction. I was no longer involved at this point as he made it perfectly clear during the Tuesday altercation that since he was paying for the landscaping, I had no say in anything. Uh huh. And those of you who know me can just imagine how that went over.</div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I had a nice, farewell chat with the guys late on Thursday as they prepared to leave. They did an amazing job, under what I deem very adverse conditions--and I'm not just talking about the weather. I'm confident the landscaping will look wonderful as time goes by. Though I will miss them being around every day, I'm glad it's over. So, as they drive off into the sunset, I heave a sigh of relief and make plans for Friday and the first day in two and a half months that is free of chaos and confusion.</span><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And then I get called for jury duty.</div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Friday morning, up at the crack of dawn, I have to speak to Alan--who I've basically not spoken to since Tuesday--because he will be in charge of both dogs for the day. Flurry of activity ensues, quick dog walk, breakfast, etc., and I drive off with my mind in a froth of anxiety about the jury crap, and leaving the dogs with Alan for the day. I have concerns on both fronts, believe me.</span><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Naturally, I get picked for the first round of jury selection. It takes all morning and into the afternoon while the two attorneys go through the process to narrow 18 of us down to just the 12 jurors needed for this felony case; a case we've been told will carry over into the next week. Crap.<br />
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Then a miracle happens. They reach the point where the two attorneys "challenge" each other, which means they each can get rid of 6 jurors of their choosing. I'm chanting under my breath the whole time (pickmepickmepickme). Interestingly enough, they both must have wanted a predominately male jury because they excused 6 women before they got to me...</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxqZtHSfD-1iJ3iqolkn091WZ633O0ruKte3bVKnI-gVuWqu0vxsHGJHI-4bMZ4GKxnTm3EjW7d-5iTIwSIs1HX8WB1OZ3L8U5GajkpxSVlqaH9ctXDHFkvkYmefcQkkDZB4KZjS5t513/s1600/laughingDRB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxqZtHSfD-1iJ3iqolkn091WZ633O0ruKte3bVKnI-gVuWqu0vxsHGJHI-4bMZ4GKxnTm3EjW7d-5iTIwSIs1HX8WB1OZ3L8U5GajkpxSVlqaH9ctXDHFkvkYmefcQkkDZB4KZjS5t513/s200/laughingDRB.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">...and </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>YES</i>...barely able to contain myself, biting my tongue so I wouldn't whoop with joy, I was one of the excused.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Once I left the jury box, </span><strike style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">danced</strike><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> walked out of the courtroom, made my way past the security checkpoints, and hit the fresh air, I couldn't contain myself another minute. I whooped, then ran for the car in case there had been a mistake.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, one good thing to come out of a truly wretched week: My civic duty jury crap is over for at least the next two years.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And there you have it. My week in a nutshell. And though it might not seem like a total crap week to any of you, trust me, from my perspective, there's no doubt. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Th</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">e weather has been pretty bad as well, especially over the weekend, with lots of rain and wind. This morning is nice and sunny however, if a bit cooler than normal. We went to the garden center yesterday and I might plant at least one of the oak barrels this afternoon. The other barrel I think will become my tomato barrel. It's still a bit early to do this kind of planting, though once we get into May, I think Roseburg will have fewer and fewer cloudy, stormy days and get warmer and sunnier.</span><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As I was writing this, I looked up as some shadows went past my window. There is a spectacular--though dead--oak tree just across the road that I love. It's gnarly and Halloween scary, and seems to be a perfect landing platform for all kinds of birds.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Three turkey vultures swoop onto the twisted branches. I grab my camera and snap this shot just as the third one touches down...</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObR4w7_zKU_lXVhcfRhHxynKNQgoPXY9aslRYNhQSZXuw6h_GNOq7B1lHhiemP2jYQAdiQtMeWlcXFM-6tL1ZbAkhI5rU_GewtUfXIV_v2eFJjoP4-MkTTMlznC2Y4rmpnsRcJ2W7u5R9/s1600/Birds.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObR4w7_zKU_lXVhcfRhHxynKNQgoPXY9aslRYNhQSZXuw6h_GNOq7B1lHhiemP2jYQAdiQtMeWlcXFM-6tL1ZbAkhI5rU_GewtUfXIV_v2eFJjoP4-MkTTMlznC2Y4rmpnsRcJ2W7u5R9/s320/Birds.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">They don't stop for long. I managed to take this shot just as the topmost bird lifts off. Check out that wingspan. These birds are so big, it's just amazing to see them soar around the Valley and over the ridge and above the house. </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglA8UeUSyPrWUdvtk80L6ILB3FrP05vrV_ubUsbsZvne4n_RRsFg3O7QyA_cA5cMU8ANwhIDwMIU7Era-wHJgXB4NOxwee5yRwVoD5-koeKBWQMJwApUdHC7kjBBCm0JNR9SqD0cwpeUrW/s1600/Birds1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglA8UeUSyPrWUdvtk80L6ILB3FrP05vrV_ubUsbsZvne4n_RRsFg3O7QyA_cA5cMU8ANwhIDwMIU7Era-wHJgXB4NOxwee5yRwVoD5-koeKBWQMJwApUdHC7kjBBCm0JNR9SqD0cwpeUrW/s320/Birds1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then the middle bird takes flight...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JlZTAIhcdrDiusfYGmVt1PBM1w_Ki1DQ8YfEc5tSYWdRqQ92y6JXqtA1BRUfOXgcxGaSfhyphenhyphen-AwH2a2fpENAo49nULC0ks0GpWn2fm6sK053Xgx2RBFq12fTZayBDo4xt0bk6yfyVz4zW/s1600/Birds2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JlZTAIhcdrDiusfYGmVt1PBM1w_Ki1DQ8YfEc5tSYWdRqQ92y6JXqtA1BRUfOXgcxGaSfhyphenhyphen-AwH2a2fpENAo49nULC0ks0GpWn2fm6sK053Xgx2RBFq12fTZayBDo4xt0bk6yfyVz4zW/s320/Birds2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And finally, the last bird, with a great flap, dives off his limb and soars down towards Roseburg in the distance.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR44HDlRIgcUgyFiX9TzwozukWa78UyKc5b35OQxRnvnImGBa_u8c6SHTsgAbrSv_a1F4ctKSQgrYg5M2vmtIZyU2dJV8iU0mpZw5Nz4WK2FKI3OWP4YiKr_5wZAy_x5QUb0L_TrNjgI6e/s1600/Birds3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR44HDlRIgcUgyFiX9TzwozukWa78UyKc5b35OQxRnvnImGBa_u8c6SHTsgAbrSv_a1F4ctKSQgrYg5M2vmtIZyU2dJV8iU0mpZw5Nz4WK2FKI3OWP4YiKr_5wZAy_x5QUb0L_TrNjgI6e/s320/Birds3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Very cool. And makes my usual blah Monday a bit special. Hopefully that means a good omen for a better week than the last... </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951656865443443522.post-716801892734025382011-04-17T10:05:00.000-07:002011-04-17T10:05:05.003-07:00Cinema Sunday<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Back from the worst week on record. Details to follow tomorrow. For today, I just want to post these two short videos of the landscaping project...</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The first one was taken on January 26th, just before the project started. This is just a refresher really, as I've already posted this on the blog, the same day I filmed it.</span>..<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wDXGH12smVI?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Okay...the Big Reveal. This clip was taken yesterday, April 16th. It's a bit long, and in fact was too long for YouTube so I had to chop off the ending to keep it under 10 minutes. (Which is originally all the upload time I was allowed. I've now upgraded to 15 minutes--though only time will tell if that's a good thing.) </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">So, forewarned on the length, make sure you have a cuppa at hand, settle in for some Sunday viewing...and here goes:</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Z-KoaguigJM?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The difference is pretty astounding, isn't it..?? Course, you really have to use your imagination to "see" the landscape as it will look in time, not particularly how it looks at the moment.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tomorrow I will do a recap on my wretched week. So, again, forewarned: You might want to go shopping, or read a book, or forget my blog link. I know I would...</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951656865443443522.post-4405121550315110552011-04-12T13:49:00.000-07:002011-04-12T13:49:26.029-07:00Time Out<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm taking a few days off, maybe longer, I'm not sure. Things aren't going well in sunny rural Roseburg of late, and I need some time to navigate through the dire straits of my detrimental relationship with Alan, his meddlesome and ruined relationship with the hapless landscapers, and all the rocky shoals in between. And that doesn't take into account that both dogs are suffering from the turmoil, or that my number is up any day now for jury duty. Wow. Where did I go wrong--was it that left turn I should have made instead of the right..?? Makes you wonder sometimes how you end up where you do...</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here's what I'd really like to do. Though, on the other hand, maybe this is what I <i>have</i> been doing and that's why I find myself right where I am at this moment. Ah hell, whatever. I'll be back, I just need a time out.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyQdIdT-NSW6Syhz3aB9_vDaHfsuTm90S7ue3WcSnhrc5HZ06WOJoZULlGG4dkL1RVbf-Nzb2RfdFuU3h7KSk24SHFKKL2d8du4Ntg7d1qQkpq3wuDYD_NZsVGqFdnvqAIjFS58KtlJR3/s1600/Bagkitty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyQdIdT-NSW6Syhz3aB9_vDaHfsuTm90S7ue3WcSnhrc5HZ06WOJoZULlGG4dkL1RVbf-Nzb2RfdFuU3h7KSk24SHFKKL2d8du4Ntg7d1qQkpq3wuDYD_NZsVGqFdnvqAIjFS58KtlJR3/s320/Bagkitty.jpg" width="253" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951656865443443522.post-17666268465143132592011-04-11T09:52:00.000-07:002011-04-11T09:52:22.578-07:00Moanday<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What is it about this day..?? Years and years of getting up for school, then work..?? The start of a new week should be...what...invigorating, energizing, exciting..?? Why isn't Monday any of those things..?? Or maybe it's just me. I have never, ever liked Mondays; the rest of the days don't bother me at all, though late on a Sunday afternoon the "oh crap tomorrow is Monday" mindset kicks in, which makes part of Sunday tainted by that nasty Monday. I do think it's sort of weird, now that I don't have to go to school, or work for that matter, that Monday is still my least favorite of the seven. Conditioned response, I'm sure. I mean really, years upon years of school and work will pretty much ruin a Monday for all time.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The guys are here, bright and early this morning, raking and digging and doing who knows what. I will be soooo glad to see their trucks drive away down the mountain for the last time. They are really nice, hardworking guys, but enough already. Once the landscaping is over, I'm taking a good long breather from workmen, projects and chaos. I hope.</span><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here's something to occupy a minute or two of your time this morning. Can you spot the kitty..?? I swear, I almost lost my eyesight trying to find it. I enlarged the photo, shrunk the photo, stuck my nose nearly into my laptop screen...and still couldn't figure out where the cat could possibly be. When you do spot it, it suddenly just jumps out at you, and you wonder how you couldn't see it. Really cool...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgHMNVtHf3sE3gDO2bLhAfMemFok1F-AdQ85mAWyEV93AJ_SSOj4gTTp-tZx2_j0saZUo2vxox050gCEzt6Pf8DgLQWaUAXApLneOXm3wa_AOe1Dd8icrlfTVOyHDzPVRLgIJlHjrAfel/s1600/InvisibleArb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgHMNVtHf3sE3gDO2bLhAfMemFok1F-AdQ85mAWyEV93AJ_SSOj4gTTp-tZx2_j0saZUo2vxox050gCEzt6Pf8DgLQWaUAXApLneOXm3wa_AOe1Dd8icrlfTVOyHDzPVRLgIJlHjrAfel/s320/InvisibleArb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Via <a href="http://www.arbroath.com/">Arbroath</a></span></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Inexplicable Sign for the day. This is a great, though scary, photo. It took me a second to get it. Then I wanted to pull my feet up onto my chair while I cringed in horror..!! Move to the side of the road..?? I'd rather take my chances with a speeding vehicle. And seriously people, would you really be </span><i style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">walking</i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> along this bit of highway in the first place..??</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3p0YtvtaLVWiDuwyC1PQi-mK3CvZ7WVZ3AIVAMooRZ3W-ohWPETE7QIY2hyg70I9w9jVz4hlfEteLhsT8RdoeUmUUc281pJpGiB51AG57DLFmJsB0CLi8eq42ve_gjui5S4kup1isRDsn/s1600/gators.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3p0YtvtaLVWiDuwyC1PQi-mK3CvZ7WVZ3AIVAMooRZ3W-ohWPETE7QIY2hyg70I9w9jVz4hlfEteLhsT8RdoeUmUUc281pJpGiB51AG57DLFmJsB0CLi8eq42ve_gjui5S4kup1isRDsn/s320/gators.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On that note--and since it's fairly early in the day and I don't have anything noteworthy to post so far--I'm going to get on with things around the homestead. Have a good Moanday folks...</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951656865443443522.post-5439929489038065812011-04-10T14:36:00.010-07:002011-04-10T14:48:57.241-07:00Cinema Sunday<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well, I say Cinema Sunday, though what I'm really going to do is post some videos I found throughout the week that I haven't had time to put on the blog, rather than a feature film/movie.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mostly these are funny dog vids--my favorite--though there is also a beautiful rendition of Swan Lake...the music, not the ballet. So, settle back on this quiet Sunday afternoon, and watch a few short films.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">First up is this hilarious vid of Poncho, the Dachshund stuck in a sweatshirt sleeve. It's really funny, especially every time he wags his tail, though I think the best part is how clueless the guy is in getting the dog out of the shirt (<i>don't yank from the top, pull up from the bottom</i>), and the "mom" isn't any help as she's laughing and filming. </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AblShyveLFQ?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**************************************************************</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Snuggles, the Chihuahua apparently has a deep aversion to the remote. The best part of the video is towards the end when she starts talking about how much she hates that thing...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/f-qFdvcJbMg?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**************************************************************</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I loved this one. It's a video from some kind of Japanese TV show. And I can only wonder how the dog was trained to do this most clever thing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><object data="http://cdn1.static.videobash.com/flash/player.swf" height="481" id="player" style="visibility: visible;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="608"><param name="movie" value="http://cdn1.static.videobash.com/flash/player.swf" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="flashvars" value="autoplay=false&image_url=http://cdn1.pics.videobash.com/thumbs/000/018/425/large2.jpg&autoreplay=false&video_url=http://media1.ord.videobash.com/mp4/000/018/425/480_18425.mp4&options=http://www.videobash.com/&related_url=http://www.videobash.com/video/player_related?id=18425&link_url=http://www.videobash.com/video_show/dog-barks-quieter-18425&video_title=Dog+barks+quieter" /></object><br />
<a href="http://www.videobash.com/video_show/dog-barks-quieter-18425">Dog barks quieter</a> brought to you by <a href="http://www.videobash.com/">Funny Videos</a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">************************************************************</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And last, but truly not least, here's the <i>Swan Lake</i> video, played by Robert Tiso, with wine glasses and water. It's really stunning, and eerily beautiful.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RwCR1FpbnhQ?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">************************************************************</span><br />
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Okay. That about covers it for our Sunday movie viewing. Tomorrow should be the last week of the landscaping, so by Friday, I should be able to do a video of the "After". At some point, either late Jan or early Feb, I did the "Before" video; I'll have to look in the archives for it. It would be interesting to see them both together. I'm having a hard time remembering how things used to look, before mud and chaos.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In any case. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday...</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951656865443443522.post-66534789947677192722011-04-09T16:19:00.000-07:002011-04-09T16:19:22.328-07:00Bonsai Boys...<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Those of you who have followed my adventures over the past few years will remember Bob, my most beloved and beautiful bonsai.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivp8vZlTZxVX450nbAzzuRTWgwWPOQVV9e5RsL22zgrq299v1QPeKCOFEf6xnh5vzfvIB9p-rts2wkj035C7WYgLT5QnxwmQ4fas6a4d9SCPIUiT1-ijZZYFUaMsgwLhYpqXGEExwwOeMX/s1600/Bob.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivp8vZlTZxVX450nbAzzuRTWgwWPOQVV9e5RsL22zgrq299v1QPeKCOFEf6xnh5vzfvIB9p-rts2wkj035C7WYgLT5QnxwmQ4fas6a4d9SCPIUiT1-ijZZYFUaMsgwLhYpqXGEExwwOeMX/s320/Bob.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">No doubt you will also remember how hard I tried to get Bob special dispensation to accompany me to America--to no avail, of course. So, you know I ended up giving him a good home with my ex-neighbors in Edinburgh, Lorna and Derek; Derek being a bonsai man in his own right.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A day or two before leaving Scotland, Lorna and Derek gave me a going away gift: Money to buy a new Bob when we got settled in America--money I have hoarded for the day I find his replacement. Naturally, there are no bonsai to be found out here in the wilderness. <i>However</i>, I was talking to Matthew the other day, one thing led to another, and he told me about this little nursery, about ten miles from Roseburg, that might actually have bonsai trees.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This afternoon, after walking the dogs, we drove to the nursery, and <i>**jump up and down with glee** </i>they had a wonderful selection of just amazing bonsai. Of course, some of them were very old and way too expensive, but I managed to find this little gem...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_H_xgX3xzVNJO0NpK3BMFrAvf6DmIJ29TPrfmzegcVDU-ozRmV-x9XrHvt6fg-PsGXqGvnpXvtnk6GUYLCoyJooLiiZHDCRd8-imWDiJY-h90-ECuVa-vS1KO-ffobTZi7u13CyHim6om/s1600/Bonsai.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_H_xgX3xzVNJO0NpK3BMFrAvf6DmIJ29TPrfmzegcVDU-ozRmV-x9XrHvt6fg-PsGXqGvnpXvtnk6GUYLCoyJooLiiZHDCRd8-imWDiJY-h90-ECuVa-vS1KO-ffobTZi7u13CyHim6om/s320/Bonsai.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjplOCL-wi_blY9Zh497y3fzciBatbhtY-TNnQ0bGB2DFcYi05zeg-l2dxqJApxr8SAWglTLx9zGghvsxSAWTXz90MWtef0CgtSvlfDOecdRDR-xKPKmwjBnpsUIrHgSkJ6N0dq9axRnt2V/s1600/Bonsai2a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjplOCL-wi_blY9Zh497y3fzciBatbhtY-TNnQ0bGB2DFcYi05zeg-l2dxqJApxr8SAWglTLx9zGghvsxSAWTXz90MWtef0CgtSvlfDOecdRDR-xKPKmwjBnpsUIrHgSkJ6N0dq9axRnt2V/s320/Bonsai2a.JPG" width="305" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He doesn't have Bob's stature, or class, but Bob is nearly a decade old, while this guy is a mere sproutling. It will take some time for me to get him in the proper shape, though he will never have that excellent twisted trunk that Bob does. Still. I finally got to spend my "replace Bob" money, and now have another--though very different--bonsai tree.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, I want to thank Lorna and Derek for two things. One...for taking Bob in the first place (and he is very much alive and doing well); and second...for giving me the wherewithal to replace him. Really cool.</span> <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Old Bob, New Bob, and I thank you both...</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951656865443443522.post-53948611506578170292011-04-09T11:27:00.065-07:002011-04-09T18:09:25.547-07:00Slow Down Saturday<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I jumped from Thursday to Saturday, and left out Friday entirely. Too much going on yesterday, plus it was a beautiful day and we were out and about for a change doing some fun things. I meant to take photos of the landscape progress once the guys left, but they were so determined to finish the drip irrigation system, they stayed and stayed, then it was dinner, walk the dogs up the road, blah, blah...and the blog was forgotten.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, just now I was outside, not only surveying the dried mud damage, but the irrigation system, which on a scorching hot Summer's day in Roseburg, will work beautifully. We won't lose water to evaporation, the plants will get a constant, steady supply of water from the ground where it will do them the most good, and we won't have an enormous water bill. Good all around then.</span><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our very pretty and dainty Weeping Cherry. Several of the neighbors have stopped to admire it. As you drive down the road, it just stands out perfectly in that corner. Once the dirt is raked, and the bark in place, things should look ever so much better...I hope.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3PezWHWdlDQc_6GJp0x47JOULw2U8OUhazmc62DDs_ikD1tQBFPlXriQ1eNZPSaoG4GiVL5taoI1Af8KX8OZegrP4583OoBUdqiLxfnczH1FZxPB4Y-6VTxRriYgAxN7buLmxa3xfDaW/s1600/WeepCherry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3PezWHWdlDQc_6GJp0x47JOULw2U8OUhazmc62DDs_ikD1tQBFPlXriQ1eNZPSaoG4GiVL5taoI1Af8KX8OZegrP4583OoBUdqiLxfnczH1FZxPB4Y-6VTxRriYgAxN7buLmxa3xfDaW/s320/WeepCherry.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My woodland area under the Birch trees, filled with ferns, baby blue Iris, Day lilies, Oregon grape, Mexican Feather grass--it will be a wonderful little space, and totally shaded in the hot sun by the trees.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhp1fLyZ94mhenTvvl5U_7VXXNZ6wjK_asQJ2M4tl-FMVkx29dyE0o8refJJ_91pLzJX-mPaX7IEFHQF9MzSOoZGE6a6IB3xMFmNqW5pni72xIJViX7Gcwa2UmSV4RaXat6ER5h1vsxWE/s1600/Woodland.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhp1fLyZ94mhenTvvl5U_7VXXNZ6wjK_asQJ2M4tl-FMVkx29dyE0o8refJJ_91pLzJX-mPaX7IEFHQF9MzSOoZGE6a6IB3xMFmNqW5pni72xIJViX7Gcwa2UmSV4RaXat6ER5h1vsxWE/s320/Woodland.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
A different angle, coming off the front deck steps...<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFAjy6e7frFy4VEQxsIt_unafrjFBWmQTrDyvyFiHGPuvtYaEUyJ4XEMDUmKmlajAD5OTibumEFBnxxDyrdQfF0v0wVhtjbV7IqnBeffuo-e4G5DstYPkRyjpadJN1ysVfvm7LF6zgWyJ/s1600/Woodland1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFAjy6e7frFy4VEQxsIt_unafrjFBWmQTrDyvyFiHGPuvtYaEUyJ4XEMDUmKmlajAD5OTibumEFBnxxDyrdQfF0v0wVhtjbV7IqnBeffuo-e4G5DstYPkRyjpadJN1ysVfvm7LF6zgWyJ/s320/Woodland1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One of my new favorite plants: Heavenly Bamboo, which as it turns out is not bamboo at all, but looks like it. The variegated leaf colors and the bamboo-like stalks are just totally cool. I love bamboo, just not their invasive qualities. With this plant, I get the look without the aggro.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXs2RSaJ756RfrYl89prge6FSX6jSV9d0LSHO9MFh9zSIIafQg8zQR2lffo4z77QMf9jEEMlnI-VOQsQccDj92UnlHZBsRh-BiZuYevXkIFo0ws1bFtzZnBbwwCJxUW1m7NEXQfDK4bCdR/s1600/HeavenlyBamboo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXs2RSaJ756RfrYl89prge6FSX6jSV9d0LSHO9MFh9zSIIafQg8zQR2lffo4z77QMf9jEEMlnI-VOQsQccDj92UnlHZBsRh-BiZuYevXkIFo0ws1bFtzZnBbwwCJxUW1m7NEXQfDK4bCdR/s320/HeavenlyBamboo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My least favorite area of the whole entire property. Barry's house looms over this side of our yard and house, plus the ground is just awful; it's virtually bedrock, and slopes very sharply. We have planted two staggered rows of eleven brilliant red Rhododendrons, then covered the dirt below with 25 little ground cover plants. I can't think of their name at the moment, though they will grow into a hillside of tiny yellow flowers...at some point anyway. It took lots of tubing to get the irrigation everywhere along here. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lFq-XqeprlZa7YlQI-vgUb0yBJTR16pOB_P9qryfdQrA6heXS4JgIeCqJ2YgaWsPc4xBZ78-XzzyZMaBKqqSRzTFbrDhko31ZGylykmgxsVKRWx8LarO89JLBQ_RiznGGDnq4OYGC8U0/s1600/SlopeCover.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lFq-XqeprlZa7YlQI-vgUb0yBJTR16pOB_P9qryfdQrA6heXS4JgIeCqJ2YgaWsPc4xBZ78-XzzyZMaBKqqSRzTFbrDhko31ZGylykmgxsVKRWx8LarO89JLBQ_RiznGGDnq4OYGC8U0/s320/SlopeCover.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One of the two trees planted in the backyard. This is the Weeping Twisted Birch, the other is a deep purple Lilac further up the slope. I love this tree, it's so elegant and interesting, isn't it, with the weeping, and the twisted trunk..??</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWMGmAYF2iMEz-qxLE0G9vuYTB0xEwqV-NtknU5mkNqVOXDF-O8kfsp7gwLmlrp0HBIQGN9DjPbyVu5pTDlWjZsKKFcdJb4pyljBmHPtjkjtPr_1Gdv5rQXTCEVgXLDSL9BAc1VcBmDIC/s1600/WeepTwistBirch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWMGmAYF2iMEz-qxLE0G9vuYTB0xEwqV-NtknU5mkNqVOXDF-O8kfsp7gwLmlrp0HBIQGN9DjPbyVu5pTDlWjZsKKFcdJb4pyljBmHPtjkjtPr_1Gdv5rQXTCEVgXLDSL9BAc1VcBmDIC/s320/WeepTwistBirch.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That about takes care of the landscaping for this week. It's been a grueling, miserable time, but from now on, it should all be downhill. Next week is the fine-tuning, the bark, the grass, and the clean-up. So, wow, that means by next Saturday...<b>We're Done</b>...!!!! Oh, most definitely we will have to break out the Prosecco for <i>that</i> event..!!<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**************************************************************<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After boring everyone into a coma with the garden stuff, I have a couple of things to post that are not related to me, mud or meltdowns. Actually I have a ton of things I haven't posted this week, but I'll settle for just these two for today...<br />
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I love this. To me, I don't think it's so much the power of the words, but more having the ability to use them to create their power...</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Hzgzim5m7oU?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Via <a href="http://www.presurfer.com/">Presurfer</a></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
**************************************************************** <br />
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And for once, I will finish a post, not with an animal, but with this absolutely adorable little girl. I want to be her. Seriously.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We do not stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">-- Anon<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRF61WsZ_lwG0IdDn2bLtwGsxx6TC9vCEp2iGezOHCqL5UpZ3dTOZ2urn6TJAzKZIooXkrLxaylKfdGFmLWomoOpIcRXHJg1yda2cT4cfvNhE6DZjX-4Df-XtiJqMniQi-eAD7ULjo70aM/s1600/AdorableAmo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRF61WsZ_lwG0IdDn2bLtwGsxx6TC9vCEp2iGezOHCqL5UpZ3dTOZ2urn6TJAzKZIooXkrLxaylKfdGFmLWomoOpIcRXHJg1yda2cT4cfvNhE6DZjX-4Df-XtiJqMniQi-eAD7ULjo70aM/s320/AdorableAmo.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Via <a href="http://www.amolife.com/">Amo</a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Have a great weekend everyone...</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951656865443443522.post-85021277038761529672011-04-07T15:04:00.003-07:002011-04-07T15:11:59.751-07:00Snow Day<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Seriously. Can you believe that..?? Woke up this morning to snow. Now, granted, though everything was covered in white, it wasn't much more than an inch. Still, I was pretty stunned when I got out of bed and opened the blinds. This is </span><i style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">April</i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">, right..?? Isn't that supposed to mean mild Spring rains, flowers, and all that stuff..??</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">By lunch time I had finished my assigned tasks outside: where to put the last of the plantings. It was pretty grueling towards the end as I was running out of plants, and still had too much bare ground showing, but after I added a pile of rocks to a large bare area and placed plants between the gaps, that helped.</span> <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Besides, over time I will find other plants, rocks, <i>things</i> to fill in the bare ground spaces.</span><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I think we are finally getting to the end of this whole landscaping <strike>ordeal</strike> project...and man, am I glad. What was supposed to be about a six-week project has grown into ten and possibly eleven once it's all said and done. I'm just tired of the mud and the dirt everywhere, the chaos and mayhem. </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In fact, I'm pretty much tired of everything these days. It's been a very long, convoluted period if you go back to this time last year when we were just getting started on the whole relocation from the UK to the US, packing, moving, new house, etc., etc., blah, blah. I need a vacation. Somewhere there are no people, no workmen, no changes, upheavals, egocentric partners, bossy dogs, arguments, decisions, courthouses or jury duties.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This would work nicely...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9XYztNag2jIyE39ab-TKXz-a1H22dt4fjPI1a6fM4FXI8wptt9tmOVUAqSVwO5GksQQRTt3B-itpV8q_7haCmYbdYIii3r_Mfcdv4MY2Jf3KYHKjxTGa8OaH9CxfhHH2ZKJjcZ3tGBmT/s1600/LostHouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9XYztNag2jIyE39ab-TKXz-a1H22dt4fjPI1a6fM4FXI8wptt9tmOVUAqSVwO5GksQQRTt3B-itpV8q_7haCmYbdYIii3r_Mfcdv4MY2Jf3KYHKjxTGa8OaH9CxfhHH2ZKJjcZ3tGBmT/s320/LostHouse.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951656865443443522.post-13698371398861098032011-04-06T17:03:00.000-07:002011-04-06T17:03:39.532-07:00Boulders and Bad Weather<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today was one of the worst weather days we've had, as far as the landscaping goes. Of course, it was the very day I had to be outside nearly the whole time. Pouring rain, and about 15 degrees cooler than normal, it was just a dreadful day.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Except for my three boulders.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have a thing for rocks, stones, boulders, and have collected pebbles from all over the world, for most of my life. So, when I wanted some natural art for the front yard, the only thing that would do was a boulder or rock. Matthew told us to check out the Co-op, so last week Alan and I drove about 10 miles outside Roseburg to the quarry/stone/rock yard to look over the available stock.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Naturally, the first boulder I see--and want desperately--is just a mere 2,700 lbs. I know that's pretty much out of the realm of possibility, so I move on to two smaller-sized ones. Later, I tell Matthew I have selected the two and Monday he drives out to see if he can get them in his truck. I also mention in passing the Goliath boulder, and wax poetic about what a truly amazing thing it is, yada yada. So, he gets out to the Co-op place, takes a look at what I've set aside, then calls me. Wants to know if I really want Goliath because he agrees it's a great stone and understands perfectly why I love it. One thing leads to another and we end up getting all three, though now he can't possibly get them in his truck because of the weight factor, so they have to be delivered by the Co-op. Today is delivery day. Totally cool.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The stones arrive, as the rain pours and the mud runs...</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_sAUmuEq3Z8-IMguFZqDlrLdmRfuyqQiHWOqVyp2WWCTWAQ3mAedlHinWDWVZwPcvgaLUxcVO6b4HqzwmgdeZfffWTKiDwdnJBkQQPnn8LkhBCR_Qv7-ceiJxq8O3YkbW8pf3wyIYnJ4/s1600/Stones.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_sAUmuEq3Z8-IMguFZqDlrLdmRfuyqQiHWOqVyp2WWCTWAQ3mAedlHinWDWVZwPcvgaLUxcVO6b4HqzwmgdeZfffWTKiDwdnJBkQQPnn8LkhBCR_Qv7-ceiJxq8O3YkbW8pf3wyIYnJ4/s320/Stones.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Goliath is first off the truck...</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhoDzal1xXfulnonTp00qa0VafVLkF-32h1x1dM2Nv0H5uMwMBf833ZtftIkBjmZTm70yRpR2T6dUhPiCU5a9Eka5JaBzrlYIWRnjYx0kaDlfC6-ZLUd_3JRDQP6DGk1EIck8_IUcrf45c/s1600/Goliath.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhoDzal1xXfulnonTp00qa0VafVLkF-32h1x1dM2Nv0H5uMwMBf833ZtftIkBjmZTm70yRpR2T6dUhPiCU5a9Eka5JaBzrlYIWRnjYx0kaDlfC6-ZLUd_3JRDQP6DGk1EIck8_IUcrf45c/s320/Goliath.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There was lots of digging and positioning and repositioning to get this gigantic thing in just the right place as it will never be moved again--unless the entire ridge falls into the abyss...</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbpl6T0gh1Z3KV0oDZx-LXjGhDUr9Wsi3wJemaUceGMZx6x1q01WBZQCM5zH8TZkE0D7IF-rQHUd53dQziz3ZJGu1gCSIwj6g8c7TelRwzaafbGTil6EEHZS73hSr2UyxhKii7PVm1iYG/s1600/Goliath1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbpl6T0gh1Z3KV0oDZx-LXjGhDUr9Wsi3wJemaUceGMZx6x1q01WBZQCM5zH8TZkE0D7IF-rQHUd53dQziz3ZJGu1gCSIwj6g8c7TelRwzaafbGTil6EEHZS73hSr2UyxhKii7PVm1iYG/s320/Goliath1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It took nearly an hour to get to this point. Seriously. It was grueling, beyond muddy and miserable, but oh, so worth it when Goliath was in just the right spot...</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkq-oNKkmY_ksKbEGQ6NBBuTb9X4YQD2ZLFxfd_M5izqFGI9oDLw42r_VvYLlv-QfrSj9Ds6c4JxvIFPzgfREcoFWk71y0GRa4qXc3xz-vloc4GGDJ7CArbXjfk0TV5YOE_aPj9ysHsbN/s1600/Goliath2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkq-oNKkmY_ksKbEGQ6NBBuTb9X4YQD2ZLFxfd_M5izqFGI9oDLw42r_VvYLlv-QfrSj9Ds6c4JxvIFPzgfREcoFWk71y0GRa4qXc3xz-vloc4GGDJ7CArbXjfk0TV5YOE_aPj9ysHsbN/s320/Goliath2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here's the finished area, about two hours later with the planting done. And really, is this a cool piece of natural art, or what..?? Use your imagination here and disregard the frigging mud, picture a beautiful Summer's day with the plants bigger, bark around the boulder, and the unique beauty of this bit of Nature, looking for all the world as if it always lived right in this spot...</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPCYbvhhQKe7nn9byKqqx-Al0dsryNlXGwRBfRdLoT0lqLa22AlTk4zlfdObdxMNyThbm1DeYorP78lOa-oSJI5fio98pzEFRMnjZR0COfVxHcP0MZPW8dmLPYDQZJr2ZmLm8cXwsSRh2/s1600/Goliath3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPCYbvhhQKe7nn9byKqqx-Al0dsryNlXGwRBfRdLoT0lqLa22AlTk4zlfdObdxMNyThbm1DeYorP78lOa-oSJI5fio98pzEFRMnjZR0COfVxHcP0MZPW8dmLPYDQZJr2ZmLm8cXwsSRh2/s320/Goliath3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now, back to the two smaller stones, though <i>smaller</i> is a bit misleading. They were also very heavy, just not so bad as Goliath. Here's the area cleared for their placement. Have I mentioned that it rained in buckets, and we were working all day in sloppy, slippery mud..?? I did..?? Well, too bad, I was out in it for hours, so I've earned the right to mention it again--and maybe one or two more times for good measure...</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_EvnOUZztR0yMOcnFp9W7_WE9UhF37StjyXPwKHbgcXfOq18_eqqqmF07cnc1PnqvNnRyAfUB75iVAFpTVCx8mQaR6KJF_BIfbom38g0hHZrTBvvPzgQSUmF3QslVtFTR4UMeIGvBvtM/s1600/Before.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_EvnOUZztR0yMOcnFp9W7_WE9UhF37StjyXPwKHbgcXfOq18_eqqqmF07cnc1PnqvNnRyAfUB75iVAFpTVCx8mQaR6KJF_BIfbom38g0hHZrTBvvPzgQSUmF3QslVtFTR4UMeIGvBvtM/s320/Before.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bad photo taken just after both stones had been maneuvered into place. It took quite awhile to get them to this point, plus two tractors, a few shovels, and some smaller rocks for balance. It was very dicey a couple of times, too. Still. Perseverance and back-breaking toil can accomplish much...</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhavX539NYz7MnneNN5YII9OvpchKNXDrxuYfpYzoFdq2KVlb0cYtofsXiK9yTp7-CO7xEYxBWcYSaIAD9IGQfpc3TlZbPNCPFJSxPH6recZGbd7cJdxbI706iNHzfZ_aPz50Uh40MVhRpG/s1600/TwoStone.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhavX539NYz7MnneNN5YII9OvpchKNXDrxuYfpYzoFdq2KVlb0cYtofsXiK9yTp7-CO7xEYxBWcYSaIAD9IGQfpc3TlZbPNCPFJSxPH6recZGbd7cJdxbI706iNHzfZ_aPz50Uh40MVhRpG/s320/TwoStone.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Couple hours later and again, use your imagination and fast-forward about three months...</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yM8S9E8jw3y37OD4TWDH81acfpDvTyXO3eaKBN-w03uVEqvXpHKSRUc4kB8NkS9Qo_g19JPZQjV5E459kBdgGURt8x7N8FlYBgGN-jK9HI0pxwA2j5cue6JaVuwPu6dR18JuC7Tohwf2/s1600/TwoStone1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yM8S9E8jw3y37OD4TWDH81acfpDvTyXO3eaKBN-w03uVEqvXpHKSRUc4kB8NkS9Qo_g19JPZQjV5E459kBdgGURt8x7N8FlYBgGN-jK9HI0pxwA2j5cue6JaVuwPu6dR18JuC7Tohwf2/s320/TwoStone1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The view from the back of the two stones, though I have to say (yes, again), it was absolutely lashing rain when I took this shot and everything--from the driveway to the rocks to the mud puddles--just looks like crap.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Kgaqbr52drrMsfNmWkhSPi6kG2j3Uia50YD7HlJ7GDJD6dbr19O2W38QZAXgaooVcK842yziu_LK_BDyHOGeNHp9KLrieq0NzBkSwgfkllzrAvDp_VS25IOZqFa-Q8kkN7-g9i0vwq4u/s1600/BackTwoStone.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Kgaqbr52drrMsfNmWkhSPi6kG2j3Uia50YD7HlJ7GDJD6dbr19O2W38QZAXgaooVcK842yziu_LK_BDyHOGeNHp9KLrieq0NzBkSwgfkllzrAvDp_VS25IOZqFa-Q8kkN7-g9i0vwq4u/s320/BackTwoStone.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tomorrow we should finish the rest of the planting, then the drip irrigation system will go in on Friday, though I'm finding myself questioning drip irrigation while shivering with cold and soaked from head to totally mud-laden boots.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_piTthiP7vzEnXR0ciFHc_06XsY48-lnCJHqGQMw5zAhz5BLGm5tx1UUOBZqgD1BPkHBW-zoe5XGOjOXOUmievt9l2i949LmXduvAv5-IZbSs0QV8Qg8mH3yhJ42BjEGy0AoAGUpR-LRR/s1600/Boots.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_piTthiP7vzEnXR0ciFHc_06XsY48-lnCJHqGQMw5zAhz5BLGm5tx1UUOBZqgD1BPkHBW-zoe5XGOjOXOUmievt9l2i949LmXduvAv5-IZbSs0QV8Qg8mH3yhJ42BjEGy0AoAGUpR-LRR/s320/Boots.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's been a very tiring, totally crap weather, hard slog of a day. But wow, how happy am I to have my boulders...?? Very...</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951656865443443522.post-76709871506184717932011-04-05T17:23:00.000-07:002011-04-05T17:23:55.301-07:00No Time for Coffee Break Tuesday<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The day started off with a leap out of bed to hit the deck running. We needed a bit more dirt for the front before the plants arrived at 10:00am, so the dirt guy was called yesterday and expected around 8:00 this morning. He showed up early. After doing his "blow dirt everywhere" thing, Matthew and Rusty headed out to the stone quarry to get an idea what my three large boulders look like. And no, in case you're wondering: you haven't missed a post; I just haven't mentioned them before now, but they will become an integral feature of the landscape in the front. I'll tell that tale tomorrow when I can take photos. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Alan and I decided it would be a good time to go grocery shopping while the day was young and before the plants arrived. As we drove off, I took these "before" photos, just in case the plantings were delivered while we were gone. The blank canvas of the front yard...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6-gtzGAk8hUkdkQky9W7l5Er6NhsPWaCIBNVGeboWa1_Dhys4SHBHZ0nJB6dIF69s08PoRAr0AS3ISBtC816453z7Y0f5mWxyWKahL-8NioLkomstQglLWPpimyBQ8TpIagz91kGYQEi/s1600/Blank.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6-gtzGAk8hUkdkQky9W7l5Er6NhsPWaCIBNVGeboWa1_Dhys4SHBHZ0nJB6dIF69s08PoRAr0AS3ISBtC816453z7Y0f5mWxyWKahL-8NioLkomstQglLWPpimyBQ8TpIagz91kGYQEi/s320/Blank.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbkNsKAALRd_Hild3_uKLqJ4SJwGfG76gGUM_37zWbLj5QfYqqGswOtHyD0tJw3ldYSQQ1IpchPe_nTsqi5hLsEQdU5KZP2UvRVufYXuidmakl1Xia5Dq0JGCEIpj51uD1AZBt_kEMdIN/s1600/Blank1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbkNsKAALRd_Hild3_uKLqJ4SJwGfG76gGUM_37zWbLj5QfYqqGswOtHyD0tJw3ldYSQQ1IpchPe_nTsqi5hLsEQdU5KZP2UvRVufYXuidmakl1Xia5Dq0JGCEIpj51uD1AZBt_kEMdIN/s320/Blank1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So. We drive down to the gate, and what do we see but all our plants and trees, with Matthew and Rusty loading everything into one of their trailers. Guess the plant supply guy was early today, too. (His truck/trailer wouldn't have been able to turn around on our small mountain road so he had to unload on the outside of the gate).</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUN4X3VUZHdANHyRix3S1z6INfE-zqxzdgyCIj4wUWkC7LMcTX8bE3Wcz3PB9DbQ73uAYnk4SQKXfo_1b-oHmY1-SEFyRLfb0tGDld2EKNRXnP8BDYW9_2cwH3LFkGEEpI-_4eFPqEECT/s1600/IMG_2386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUN4X3VUZHdANHyRix3S1z6INfE-zqxzdgyCIj4wUWkC7LMcTX8bE3Wcz3PB9DbQ73uAYnk4SQKXfo_1b-oHmY1-SEFyRLfb0tGDld2EKNRXnP8BDYW9_2cwH3LFkGEEpI-_4eFPqEECT/s320/IMG_2386.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xkh5CilSf-bMcKHFnDOPjBNkaS1eUlVBlVfWJy-hV3FG7kcwxqDKlhJnb6zRbxefxSbHu_ljP1TQlXi38sjm0dqbQ0Z0k9LcNx2DQphrrhsrc7Dz46XWMwL4SAZu4_4OT8XRPeyuLeEr/s1600/IMG_2387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xkh5CilSf-bMcKHFnDOPjBNkaS1eUlVBlVfWJy-hV3FG7kcwxqDKlhJnb6zRbxefxSbHu_ljP1TQlXi38sjm0dqbQ0Z0k9LcNx2DQphrrhsrc7Dz46XWMwL4SAZu4_4OT8XRPeyuLeEr/s320/IMG_2387.JPG" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1UnkcowZLHJ4XKaQNwtl4LWmNMjN3NJ4UHrpE7C6M8oS4Vs3ngcDmFVX2w4NxokaeGiZvrRxwiOMjkBrQ9FGEnj3pBTKcKhwd-F9PVkRc0PLtOSLJdIgFztqryamGqFchOEtETZUbntf/s1600/IMG_2388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1UnkcowZLHJ4XKaQNwtl4LWmNMjN3NJ4UHrpE7C6M8oS4Vs3ngcDmFVX2w4NxokaeGiZvrRxwiOMjkBrQ9FGEnj3pBTKcKhwd-F9PVkRc0PLtOSLJdIgFztqryamGqFchOEtETZUbntf/s320/IMG_2388.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I quickly snapped some photos, then off we dashed to the store. When we got back an hour later, the front was nearly transformed with dozens of pots filled with plants, trees and shrubs. Though, I think we will still need more before all is said and done.</span> <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Turns out, it's a <i>really</i> big front yard.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9810Th7JyKHoVIIJ2giPdZW5gYEHaDjjNIZNkMOnTpQqdxfWfmjAa1wugQISfJMfwQQB2s5ODzVUw72NX2UWHrjIgmm1PbLovosrscQveSZmkST5mswtSfDx05cMg-MlA367MuFhy6a1/s1600/After2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9810Th7JyKHoVIIJ2giPdZW5gYEHaDjjNIZNkMOnTpQqdxfWfmjAa1wugQISfJMfwQQB2s5ODzVUw72NX2UWHrjIgmm1PbLovosrscQveSZmkST5mswtSfDx05cMg-MlA367MuFhy6a1/s320/After2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjiWfDPknar51BdT8St0S6nSjGvb7wGvOHTuKfkc-L94KTxKgAB_s6SyKWbwrgTzlSC-U-ikVo9QEdyu8fOV7AdLQCUPGS32-SflUpNz5OWeOGxkM2B0avrsPXwyocCamojIsN5kjnRb_c/s1600/After1-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjiWfDPknar51BdT8St0S6nSjGvb7wGvOHTuKfkc-L94KTxKgAB_s6SyKWbwrgTzlSC-U-ikVo9QEdyu8fOV7AdLQCUPGS32-SflUpNz5OWeOGxkM2B0avrsPXwyocCamojIsN5kjnRb_c/s320/After1-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtN5cgd4osYGHyPEPmlvsgNAEssGJrFQjBnuYXt8_9QmSN2WGs2gSpYuJ8XJxKzGLbxzOk6eJscvE7669oVz159dwpIhyphenhyphenItubh_YIDW_fqJSxLpZMZ0kebR56knd_BjXUKCeNTOEvQnhLn/s1600/After1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtN5cgd4osYGHyPEPmlvsgNAEssGJrFQjBnuYXt8_9QmSN2WGs2gSpYuJ8XJxKzGLbxzOk6eJscvE7669oVz159dwpIhyphenhyphenItubh_YIDW_fqJSxLpZMZ0kebR56knd_BjXUKCeNTOEvQnhLn/s320/After1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now comes the hard part: Deciding where to plant everything. It's not easy, especially as I have to try to picture how things will look in a few months, and next year, then five years in the future. About halfway through driving the guys nuts (<i>"no, no, two feet to the left"</i> and <i>"nope, don't like that there at all"), </i>I realized we will probably need more plants. But, for now, we will build the bones of the garden, then figure out the rest as we go along.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Putting in the rhododendrons...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6jUVrvcxLSiqQuWt3nCTl17TuHzKO1lTdNjaAUl823f4JpPj30H_JRHc5sN-YC2GGnAk0znwrV9wXWbaZm9ARv74N1xmRFAxmcpxxLKvzrtdNj-8jM8XRKLgAuTtJLoD33VlfcnMlZ3K/s1600/Rhody.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6jUVrvcxLSiqQuWt3nCTl17TuHzKO1lTdNjaAUl823f4JpPj30H_JRHc5sN-YC2GGnAk0znwrV9wXWbaZm9ARv74N1xmRFAxmcpxxLKvzrtdNj-8jM8XRKLgAuTtJLoD33VlfcnMlZ3K/s320/Rhody.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Still working on what goes in this small side corner...though the orange cones will be planted somewhere else.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhLbRNbCaDiy9m7P6osl8y3w3lK1wh1JpAOKiAYQIV4h7O_m_M5cKQF7ublVJDob2xeHyk8s1Pr1m9YVb-gWEm2nNTX3RRYnMMdIFesnkr_1BguKlcLXdD3AMvuMqEZc7VMC_1-300GY7/s1600/Side.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhLbRNbCaDiy9m7P6osl8y3w3lK1wh1JpAOKiAYQIV4h7O_m_M5cKQF7ublVJDob2xeHyk8s1Pr1m9YVb-gWEm2nNTX3RRYnMMdIFesnkr_1BguKlcLXdD3AMvuMqEZc7VMC_1-300GY7/s320/Side.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm up on the top of our bank now...and see what I mean about how big the front suddenly appears to be..?? WAY too much blank space between everything. I'm a French Intensive gardener...I don't want to see this much wasted space and/or dirt. (And these two photos are really the side of the house, not the front at all...)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TuKLmm2mxOM4E_MLz4ALzxHbggWV23dwb9m5hparJRnuW-D4U3ypGMllAX_ci_VRIzN1TEghAiiCoGXYckwKm7rmw2qXPZ_R8wIzj9t-g4MwyiNSnn78qO_sAhnerTewyFG-vrU4mDsJ/s1600/Slope.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TuKLmm2mxOM4E_MLz4ALzxHbggWV23dwb9m5hparJRnuW-D4U3ypGMllAX_ci_VRIzN1TEghAiiCoGXYckwKm7rmw2qXPZ_R8wIzj9t-g4MwyiNSnn78qO_sAhnerTewyFG-vrU4mDsJ/s320/Slope.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTxOiyd1UYAlBRP4y9wMt_UbV7Gbm6emwO_Ycrx1z_Qb6b7qFl22SMQQW0nbZlu8NnGgSA2b_kMFUX00Lb_l_EZbpeYFOCnvcsLtihjmjTixCR0snPce3NQmboUXQYD7cTVriPVOTKKf7/s1600/Slope1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTxOiyd1UYAlBRP4y9wMt_UbV7Gbm6emwO_Ycrx1z_Qb6b7qFl22SMQQW0nbZlu8NnGgSA2b_kMFUX00Lb_l_EZbpeYFOCnvcsLtihjmjTixCR0snPce3NQmboUXQYD7cTVriPVOTKKf7/s320/Slope1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After the guys planted all the rhodies, the most gorgeous Weeping Cherry, a Magnolia tree, and a Japanese Maple, they moved on to planting the pines along the back fence--mainly because I was losing the plot and couldn't decide what needed to be planted next. They had saved these six bushes from the front yard when the initial demolition went down, and now it was time to transplant them. A back-breaking couple of hours later...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh18MDEB7LdZhRdoZXgv-SXrCv4m_tAANP_cUJ2sz1dbzGQcSTpElqdNTbxvd3L9FfAQcW67btqRBh8jlZpYKeRbmCRwW0bEuKM3g7m9seyyhABpqpf7rO4v7_4bY1UBcETlYb0U_6AZ0w/s1600/BackSlope.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh18MDEB7LdZhRdoZXgv-SXrCv4m_tAANP_cUJ2sz1dbzGQcSTpElqdNTbxvd3L9FfAQcW67btqRBh8jlZpYKeRbmCRwW0bEuKM3g7m9seyyhABpqpf7rO4v7_4bY1UBcETlYb0U_6AZ0w/s320/BackSlope.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjApeReEX9BXqMI5fkeiBJ11eLDowHNRakS3l8Wi-5ucv5z6sksRv0k_rf04yG7PVg73zhjRl36MODY4zSjqAlwVtl9yBMARxlNWn58n6NCivQX2I4O8WaikbHcDnyCCzoLZxKF9LfwXmF-/s1600/BackSlope1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjApeReEX9BXqMI5fkeiBJ11eLDowHNRakS3l8Wi-5ucv5z6sksRv0k_rf04yG7PVg73zhjRl36MODY4zSjqAlwVtl9yBMARxlNWn58n6NCivQX2I4O8WaikbHcDnyCCzoLZxKF9LfwXmF-/s320/BackSlope1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLI9SuMQCwLq-hfC953mhMplQhYhMwF8jz25-iXURGIgANmnDRyt9wREyIG6OabGaMUQwCijmU5Pr3894lTbdvxuz7yFW3R46wlTZ2x0mVWn2RPs7sq7dSxDWQirUU_Ih15zKVO7rEQe9T/s1600/BackSlope2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLI9SuMQCwLq-hfC953mhMplQhYhMwF8jz25-iXURGIgANmnDRyt9wREyIG6OabGaMUQwCijmU5Pr3894lTbdvxuz7yFW3R46wlTZ2x0mVWn2RPs7sq7dSxDWQirUU_Ih15zKVO7rEQe9T/s320/BackSlope2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And, at last...all planted. With any luck, they will adjust to being wrapped in burlap balls for the past two months and will now grow big and lush and be a perfect barrier along that portion of the fence to discourage the deer. Who knows..?? If the plan works, I might actually get some flowers in the backyard after all.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41qNdN5FngrYa71U6yWQWbGUr9Jck5wempSplypCEc8P0m7iWqzlDlx_qiXCjL5CJHFOSalmFkfvnn3Dgwo92dLLkZ3uV3L6-cgb7dQKzN-sbzFWvGBYJv2o4uBNzz0puc4i0Ipu_6oXU/s1600/Pines.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41qNdN5FngrYa71U6yWQWbGUr9Jck5wempSplypCEc8P0m7iWqzlDlx_qiXCjL5CJHFOSalmFkfvnn3Dgwo92dLLkZ3uV3L6-cgb7dQKzN-sbzFWvGBYJv2o4uBNzz0puc4i0Ipu_6oXU/s320/Pines.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's been pretty much a non-stop sort of day. Of course, in between all the plants and plans, we had to do the dog walkies, though that wasn't a hardship today as it's been very warm and pleasant. Perfect to be outside digging in the dirt.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tomorrow we have to get majorly serious about what goes where. After I post this, I'm going outside to wander amongst the pots and try to visualize things. Once the boulders are delivered--first thing in the morning--I'll have a better idea where some things will go as the boulders are truly a feature of the front yard and I have plants specifically in mind to plant around them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>[**Jumping up and down with excitement here...and just wait until you get a look at these babies...mwahhhahaha...**].</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's another busy day tomorrow, and I'm supposed to be ready to point, direct the flow and know what the hell I'm doing, so I'd better get on with things. More photos tomorrow...<i><br />
</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951656865443443522.post-61977234901140685442011-04-04T11:08:00.000-07:002011-04-04T11:08:34.720-07:00April and Stuff...<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Daisies are the flowers of April, so whilst walking the dogs at the park yesterday, and with camera in hand, I took the new </span><i style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Meandering</i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> photo for the month of this lovely little clump growing under an oak tree. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Though the weather vacillates between torrential downpour and tropical heatwave, we have managed some great walks with our critters lately, sometimes getting home just in the nick of time before the latest storm sweeps across the Valley. April is definitely an interesting weather month... </span><br />
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<div align="center"></div><div align="center" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>"April cold with dropping rain </i><br />
<i>Willows and lilacs brings again, </i><br />
<i>The whistle of returning birds </i><br />
<i>And trumpet-lowing of the herds." </i></div><div align="center" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">- Ralph Waldo Emerson<i> </i></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i>"April is the cruelest month, breeding</i></div></div><div align="left"><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i>Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing</i></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i>Memory and desire, stirring</i></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i>Dull roots with spring rain."</i></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">- T. S. Eliot</div><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i></i></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i>"April hath put a spirit of youth in everything."</i></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">- William Shakespeare<i> </i></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i>"A gush of bird song, a patter of dew</i></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i>A cloud and a rainbow's warning;</i></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i>Suddenly sunshine and perfect blue</i></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i>An April day in the morning!"</i></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">- Harriet Prescott Spofford</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">***************************************************************</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Today is a busy day outside as the guys get everything prepared for tomorrow's big delivery of all the plants, trees and shrubs. I'm just a bit nervous as I don't want a structured, uniform, too-planned kind of garden; I'm looking for a rugged, blending in, wow-how-cool kind of landscape. I sure hope that's how it turns out. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Regardless--and nerves aside--I am <i>very</i> excited. April seems like the perfect month to have this happen, doesn't it..?? Many photos will be taken, starting tomorrow, and no doubt continuing on through the week as things unfold. I have crossed fingers that we've chosen wisely enough to avoid a "come and get it" smorgasbord for the deer.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">***************************************************************</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">I have some cool stuff to post, but I'm going to save it for tomorrow's Coffee Break. I will leave you with this however, and hope it brings a smile to your Monday... </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMfV8ykruiyfv_LcwMgHX8zICuY7Kf_8njtM8YHgdGG3a-CYV54GKRPuP778oVmdxQPLJz0qwwUhzwarfrLRijgmen0r4ysFwVlrCxHtgv9vJIGIFLbk1EKEAMrOPtIuMFOrxNwBuOkRg/s1600/CatTreatsMsC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMfV8ykruiyfv_LcwMgHX8zICuY7Kf_8njtM8YHgdGG3a-CYV54GKRPuP778oVmdxQPLJz0qwwUhzwarfrLRijgmen0r4ysFwVlrCxHtgv9vJIGIFLbk1EKEAMrOPtIuMFOrxNwBuOkRg/s320/CatTreatsMsC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951656865443443522.post-76250716955922791662011-04-03T11:31:00.000-07:002011-04-03T11:31:42.898-07:00Cinema Sunday<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here's a good short animation film for Sunday. Enjoy it, and your day...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jEjUAnPc2VA?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951656865443443522.post-4643164373932451682011-04-02T11:04:00.014-07:002011-04-02T11:15:11.440-07:00Saturday Trivia...<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yesterday's trials and tribulations didn't happen after all. I was not selected for jury duty as there is apparently nothing noteworthy in Douglas County requiring jurors--so far. I am also off the hook for Monday, though for the rest of April, I have to call the Juror Hotline every night at 6:00pm to find out if I'm needed the following morning. At least I don't have to go to the courthouse every day, which is a slight reprieve from my angst-ridden expectations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After a long, convoluted conversation with Matthew, we also decided it wasn't necessary to go with him to the nursery supply place today. He had a complete inventory of plants/trees/shrubs from the nursery, so we just walked around our garden areas and working from his diagrams, could pretty much decide what would work, and where, and how many. If all goes well, the stuff will be delivered on Tuesday, and planting will begin..!! I can't wait. It's been nothing but mud and dirt and barren ground for over two months now--I want to see some life, and green growing things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Three heavenly days of sunshine and totally warm weather have evaporated into rainy, windy April showers today. Yesterday it got into the mid-70s, which was almost too amazing to believe. We had every door and window in the house open in an effort to dissipate the unexpected heat, and it was nearly 10:00pm last night before it felt cool enough to close things up again. I know, I know. I'm sure those of you still in the cold, chilly throes of early Spring are probably wishing I would shut up; if it's any consolation, today is just as miserable as April should be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's sort of an agonizing teaser to have these spectacular glimmers of sun, and warmth, and an early Summer-like feel to things, then have it abruptly snatched away in a flurry of rain and storms and cold. Mother Nature has a strange sense of humor, I think.</span><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've got a selection of things I fished from the Internet Sea over the past few days, so fill that coffee cup and sit back on this Saturday morning for a bit of trivia...</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">First up is this very cute video of the quickest way to get down a flight of stairs...</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Nr19QX1p44c?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Via <a href="http://www.arbroath.com/">Arbroath</a> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Next are two bored, elderly ladies playing pranks on passing motorists. I really laughed at this one...</span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="360" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/video/xhb54m"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/video/xhb54m" width="480" height="360" wmode="transparent" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed></object></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Last video is very cool. It's called "water painting" and wow, it's amazing. This is also an advert for the plight of millions of people around the world who don't have clean water. Though it's in French, for a written English translation, follow this </span><a href="http://www.vimeo.com/21157000" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">link</a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> then scroll to read the message under the video.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/21157000" width="400"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And to finish the post today, let me share this mind-boggling <a href="http://buenosaires.for91days.com/2011/02/09/the-ateneo-grand-splendid-bookstore/">link</a> to the most stunning bookstore on the planet. It was originally a theatre, but is now the Ateneo Grand Splendid Bookstore in Buenos Aires. (I love it...not only Grand, but Splendid as well...)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I live in this small town in the wilderness--(yes, I really do; any town that doesn't have a bookstore is a bloody wilderness in my book...pun intended)--so to see the magnitude of this place just kills me. Not only the sheer volume of books, but the beauty of it, too. Sigh...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3RpWz3ab5IOAWQxr0Xdy6-4Rh75gJYH8UH4ZYgrR9NM7ObZSyNz0cpb1o6K-QfCdpxsnV_Qat3TndHu0aTt0VuOFM1ZVLQE-Qwxi9IuzAMY4xko7BOcj10hBqhlNmYv-NJL4lm7rXsOy/s1600/BookstoreDRB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3RpWz3ab5IOAWQxr0Xdy6-4Rh75gJYH8UH4ZYgrR9NM7ObZSyNz0cpb1o6K-QfCdpxsnV_Qat3TndHu0aTt0VuOFM1ZVLQE-Qwxi9IuzAMY4xko7BOcj10hBqhlNmYv-NJL4lm7rXsOy/s320/BookstoreDRB.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Via <a href="http://www.darkroastedblend.com/">DRB</a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Have a great weekend all... </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951656865443443522.post-80962967121921547902011-03-31T14:38:00.019-07:002011-04-01T09:40:48.275-07:00Busy, busy...<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yesterday we went with Matthew, the landscape guy, to a local nursery to see what plants/trees we wanted for the grounds. Saturday we are to drive north to the big city and go to a large nursery supply place, but Matthew wanted a glimmer of what I had in mind, so we went local first.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was a glorious afternoon to be out looking at flowers and plants. Got to 71* and was so warm and pleasant, it made wandering around the gardens totally enjoyable. We bought a few things--because Matthew said his supplier up north didn't carry these particular specimens--then more or less nailed down the types of plantings I have been envisioning, at least for the most part. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here's what we got yesterday...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I love these: Mexican Feather Grass. I will plant these around some boulders, maybe with a fern or two for company. Up close they are variegated, with gold and green and yellow all mixed together.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSD3KwrFKXdfHT5BYF6FB7h-njlIiLAX0o8MIQKTI73Fsh9CzX6uNDpcD2_wnuGptmLr29kVtDvsIav2WXe0-fsrcqgD0CbU1FEGAPgBZARviJ18AjlVS-WPyhI1GC7HfG174INBWh1SuC/s1600/MexFeather.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSD3KwrFKXdfHT5BYF6FB7h-njlIiLAX0o8MIQKTI73Fsh9CzX6uNDpcD2_wnuGptmLr29kVtDvsIav2WXe0-fsrcqgD0CbU1FEGAPgBZARviJ18AjlVS-WPyhI1GC7HfG174INBWh1SuC/s320/MexFeather.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At the side of the house, near the back door, is a very shaded, quiet area. These Hellebore will work just perfectly there...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiA6E5MnTCEcwEum5plL7G5jicCcyG3celS-sle91u0d1RCy20Q9PAwq33e07slncQe98IYiLdAzRY4kpGr35Xpf61o64Hg9zt5YUYP-nUH_UE6fwBfjHdIZFY7aOfKqyUKZeI8gKLnBDD/s1600/Hellebore.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiA6E5MnTCEcwEum5plL7G5jicCcyG3celS-sle91u0d1RCy20Q9PAwq33e07slncQe98IYiLdAzRY4kpGr35Xpf61o64Hg9zt5YUYP-nUH_UE6fwBfjHdIZFY7aOfKqyUKZeI8gKLnBDD/s320/Hellebore.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I couldn't resist this beauty. The fragrance, the twisty coil of the branches, and the perfect little white flowers just captivated me from the first moment. This Osmanthus will grow about 6 feet tall, so the place where it's sitting in the photo is just about where it's new home will be when we're ready. It will cover up the mine shaft area under the porch stairs...and smell heavenly when we're sitting out on the front deck.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8VY2aqg311jEaFvE9omRZNysXab1ek-OOabMmJ-Vm-deqRwTD7XeL1kpOYkjw3W5BrGJOqPTVo9JspqZbcFPw87NIoEGtTpduxrnUq8ixD__sNJQR0xcO35E9H-gvP7oLsOUUhr3Nb0J/s1600/Osmanthus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8VY2aqg311jEaFvE9omRZNysXab1ek-OOabMmJ-Vm-deqRwTD7XeL1kpOYkjw3W5BrGJOqPTVo9JspqZbcFPw87NIoEGtTpduxrnUq8ixD__sNJQR0xcO35E9H-gvP7oLsOUUhr3Nb0J/s320/Osmanthus.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Again, irresistible. These Japonica usually come in white, but when I saw these delicate, Victorian looking, rose-colored ones, well, what can I say...I had to snatch them up. The perfect mauve/rose color isn't coming across in the photo, but you can sort of get the tone.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpqrp0n2HLzeHq67CaTRsjK4HqJQbVCW0Eusmw3Mv_CQqhLvnKJyKlysGOHkm4AyCwvY7mX23808xKfNrcNX5sUh4-o8nOYQBXxINLAHzmjHJIApL9C8aT-0kFaKfw-m6LNfVMET8gnlj/s1600/Japonica.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpqrp0n2HLzeHq67CaTRsjK4HqJQbVCW0Eusmw3Mv_CQqhLvnKJyKlysGOHkm4AyCwvY7mX23808xKfNrcNX5sUh4-o8nOYQBXxINLAHzmjHJIApL9C8aT-0kFaKfw-m6LNfVMET8gnlj/s320/Japonica.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here's the whole group, including the new deep purple Lilac tree which will go in the backyard on the slope. This is just the tiny beginnings of the ultimate finished garden, but I feel it's a good start.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbziePsXLC6NjOfFZ6dvgBrnvI3Geb_cM6rQMeKpB1PQxEDltHCT1hdVecxNHMuoXupUDw9U6AIDe2Q0RaKFnWj34CjkTToud9ohWnmE9sm51W-hsbvsCOGTVwuaBj3t4YJH-FK5l_Pdo/s1600/Group.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbziePsXLC6NjOfFZ6dvgBrnvI3Geb_cM6rQMeKpB1PQxEDltHCT1hdVecxNHMuoXupUDw9U6AIDe2Q0RaKFnWj34CjkTToud9ohWnmE9sm51W-hsbvsCOGTVwuaBj3t4YJH-FK5l_Pdo/s320/Group.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Of course, I can't have any of the flowers from the Edinburgh cottage garden, though there will be some flowering shrubs, ferns, herbs and a variety of daylily that the deer supposedly won't eat. It's really annoying that I have to build the new garden around the wildlife, but there you go. Such is life in the wilderness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Almost forgot. I took these shots of the back last night, after we returned from the nursery. This is the new landing as you step off the back deck.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPC1QWxpNpEXY7XqxNntJcadLcjsxBjg7WioOQYVdfh5wUM7rz3k_X4BXRilAiVLcQOXQGHg1qHNw5Qbr3wj-hIMNBbaXNzR-NI51riCn34VIMRRqCwZjsmYvtgxx9OWl-4rkODALyQSG/s1600/Landing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPC1QWxpNpEXY7XqxNntJcadLcjsxBjg7WioOQYVdfh5wUM7rz3k_X4BXRilAiVLcQOXQGHg1qHNw5Qbr3wj-hIMNBbaXNzR-NI51riCn34VIMRRqCwZjsmYvtgxx9OWl-4rkODALyQSG/s320/Landing.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ozzy, sitting on the edge of the landing before going down the steps...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtFNwAdb5pdpmKsm_nZZ-M4JTiyKU3u62DoW8a4k_6aaOjclSTTIYxIG0bqdvtXRyBVDBGrd_h27Be9GDsSJuytquBy31ZJrO-sKxbnR4RyU2pXKd9_p_GFCOHzfTPw8DzqaY7qI_zkS8/s1600/OzSteps.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtFNwAdb5pdpmKsm_nZZ-M4JTiyKU3u62DoW8a4k_6aaOjclSTTIYxIG0bqdvtXRyBVDBGrd_h27Be9GDsSJuytquBy31ZJrO-sKxbnR4RyU2pXKd9_p_GFCOHzfTPw8DzqaY7qI_zkS8/s320/OzSteps.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The piazza, steps and new enclosure wall. The shadows make the stone on the piazza look a different color...they're not. All the stones are the same color.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKvNYRvVl8X874nmz8AjJ55AL4xckq_-2H27vO_q8Akztq06Mb4qkJ-4D8T67y3rERv7mhkFyzgDuyeYNERvI7oGpvyoGDn_8Bu5phoYWLrKgE4Mkaq_NsOlsDO9dTlXpOD008V_ZozaS/s1600/Piazza.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKvNYRvVl8X874nmz8AjJ55AL4xckq_-2H27vO_q8Akztq06Mb4qkJ-4D8T67y3rERv7mhkFyzgDuyeYNERvI7oGpvyoGDn_8Bu5phoYWLrKgE4Mkaq_NsOlsDO9dTlXpOD008V_ZozaS/s320/Piazza.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In this photo, I'm standing on the upper deck, looking down onto the piazza. The part where the steps go down, and where it looks slightly dangerous if you fell off, will be where the BBQ or one of the whiskey barrel planters will go to minimize the break-your-neck aspect.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_I87-xEfPIF_p1iArBFfL-IjoEyVgkkEeFIADPSeL55ryZQBvt5yv4AAWXRl4e3D4JjVgfypeELc_4bS87WvGjRsWOAc4V0uFA9M5tH4a1eyhOxKIHWFTrvLKGbdd3B057s4eAm8JP3p/s1600/UpperView.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_I87-xEfPIF_p1iArBFfL-IjoEyVgkkEeFIADPSeL55ryZQBvt5yv4AAWXRl4e3D4JjVgfypeELc_4bS87WvGjRsWOAc4V0uFA9M5tH4a1eyhOxKIHWFTrvLKGbdd3B057s4eAm8JP3p/s320/UpperView.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All things considered, when the plants and trees are in place, the back will look pretty good. And how totally cool to be rid of the Path of Doom...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6uDIHQhfDxRxplSoegsmEiVXt9EbW-6XhK3lbbYBPTticreTw-ct7EkELPnnRGMNxiKmDf6suhyphenhyphenhyphenhyphenWlQ4eudrVMFSGP0LRwnBRZw_RWT99HpwuSvyhyow4jX0OsIOfd9Wk6ztkXciwVe/s1600/XDoom.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6uDIHQhfDxRxplSoegsmEiVXt9EbW-6XhK3lbbYBPTticreTw-ct7EkELPnnRGMNxiKmDf6suhyphenhyphenhyphenhyphenWlQ4eudrVMFSGP0LRwnBRZw_RWT99HpwuSvyhyow4jX0OsIOfd9Wk6ztkXciwVe/s320/XDoom.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today we went over the planting diagram Matthew drew up, based on yesterday's field trip, and with any luck, the front will look </span><i style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">very </i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">cool by this time next week. More rhododendrons than I would have liked, though I understand the why and wherefore of having them: color, concealment and deer-proofing. To me, they require a lot of maintenance, like roses, but if they serve their purpose, I guess it's okay that I'll have to pinch a million sticky deadheads after the growing season.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'll be off the grid tomorrow for the jury duty crap, and again on Saturday as we head to the big city for the landscape stuff, so have a great weekend everyone. I can only hope you'll have a much better Friday than I anticipate having. Buggers...</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951656865443443522.post-69416523444329555472011-03-30T11:27:00.003-07:002011-03-30T11:28:54.963-07:00Dirt<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yes, dirt. Piles and mounds and hills of dirt. The top soil is going in today on the front yard, which is exciting and encouraging, and already is making things look better.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The truck driver moves the rig by remote control, which is interesting. In this picture, he's just making sure all is ready for the dirt to be blown into the yard.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0_m1JggSYkj-BwtxVFUsGAPjVIf7xrmJt3DUdic49slz2JwHsflI2wV5apjSQSip_jy9m5h71NoXQRlhi1qsnLCEC6yXwz5oextmnNyJJmFMNFeKCMZfokvioPFQ-WV_Rw02jOvQsZD5/s1600/DirtTruck.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0_m1JggSYkj-BwtxVFUsGAPjVIf7xrmJt3DUdic49slz2JwHsflI2wV5apjSQSip_jy9m5h71NoXQRlhi1qsnLCEC6yXwz5oextmnNyJJmFMNFeKCMZfokvioPFQ-WV_Rw02jOvQsZD5/s320/DirtTruck.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now he's standing in the road, remotely spraying the soil <i>and</i> moving the truck along as Matthew watches the flow. It's very good soil--really rich and loamy--and should be great for all the new plantings and trees. Though, I've gotta say, it's pretty strange to see this huge dump truck move along with no one in the driver's seat. Right now it's reversing up the road, seemingly by itself, no one in the cab, though the steering wheel is moving...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijjraN4OyCLTqY7sVrcw-0l1T3sNVA7cIJlXujDw_IY9JNQkcvWIETyj3T5XCyUynnX3WY-dvpAq5n2KSIVnigvtJJXjLonTZKfkXHcpsxbEsrMVsuJ7SnmHBYGCBv9EKyMRpW8-NWfIdN/s1600/Dirt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijjraN4OyCLTqY7sVrcw-0l1T3sNVA7cIJlXujDw_IY9JNQkcvWIETyj3T5XCyUynnX3WY-dvpAq5n2KSIVnigvtJJXjLonTZKfkXHcpsxbEsrMVsuJ7SnmHBYGCBv9EKyMRpW8-NWfIdN/s320/Dirt.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's great to finally be heading toward the planting stage. We're starting to think of what trees and shrubs to put in, plus I want to make a trek to this place Matthew has mentioned that has really cool boulders; there are a few places around the front that I want more rugged and natural.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today it's in the high 60s, warm and totally pleasant tee shirt weather (I know...how amazing is that..??). </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And look..!!! The Birch trees in the front are getting their leaves. I can't believe it. The trees have sprouted almost overnight. Truly, Spring is here...at least in southern Oregon. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzx3Q6yaNh-l_xtnZausiXXs4unuJZRWcTzVP31D2r0lFz5cROHgjE-JT-bhR5V6COAn3MHUu57KHx8RWmGi_VzWda4Ss6cGSfrZrsJvxD11xAf02MeejxQBZKl5oWKI2zka1LQ0bpcXu_/s1600/Birch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzx3Q6yaNh-l_xtnZausiXXs4unuJZRWcTzVP31D2r0lFz5cROHgjE-JT-bhR5V6COAn3MHUu57KHx8RWmGi_VzWda4Ss6cGSfrZrsJvxD11xAf02MeejxQBZKl5oWKI2zka1LQ0bpcXu_/s320/Birch.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObK7mWHYlccDHYkJ9Mg3Jve3hrTukdhvyMMmfN17GtZlpy3T3ut9sXfMJKr1ls4RffRVNpXTpNXBTHSzvA7OYW8b9UMc5blxAHC1T1IfEliaw99bdHyM8YQ3fCNRTTxLOW1V9MUC9sWld/s1600/Birch1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObK7mWHYlccDHYkJ9Mg3Jve3hrTukdhvyMMmfN17GtZlpy3T3ut9sXfMJKr1ls4RffRVNpXTpNXBTHSzvA7OYW8b9UMc5blxAHC1T1IfEliaw99bdHyM8YQ3fCNRTTxLOW1V9MUC9sWld/s320/Birch1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> The landscape guys are still working to finish the backyard, too. Later today I will take some photos of the ex-Path of Doom, and the new piazza. I was very cranky when they jackhammered my planting/privacy area, though it <i>has</i> given me a larger area for my little piazza/niche space. I'll just have to do containers, I guess, instead of ground planting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Speaking of containers. We got two whiskey half-barrels over the weekend--at a very good price I might add--and because there's no place to put them outside just yet, we stored them in the garage. OMG. I could have gotten falling-down drunk on the fumes the next morning when I walked into the garage...!! Wow. Talk about a contact high...whew..!! The fumes have mostly dissipated now, over these past few days--with the garage doors wide open--and I can only hope that whatever was stored in these barrels will help my plants grow. Either that, or it will make alcoholics of the deer when they eat them.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951656865443443522.post-53590253087701291442011-03-29T15:15:00.000-07:002011-03-29T15:15:43.330-07:00Not Much...<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Stormy, stormy, stormy Tuesday. Another wet walk with the dogs. March will slog into April in a few days...and April is always about rain. Though, when all is said and done, rain is truly why any of us live in the Northwest: we love the green, green hills and valleys, trees and landscapes...all due to the rain. I'm absolutely positive the reason I felt instantly at home in Scotland was for that very reason: the rain, which brings the myriad greens to life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today starts Week Seven of no smoking. It's amazing really. Even though I feel ever so much better, not a day goes by that I don't have a...let's see, what's a polite word for it...hmmm. Okay. At some point, every single day, I have a <i>moment</i> where I would mow down a flock of school children to have a smoke. Thankfully, I resist the urge to do any mowing or smoking. It helps a great deal that we aren't around anyone who smokes, and rarely encounter a smoker when we're out and about. I'm beginning to think Alan and I were the last two people in Oregon who were still lighting up. Now we've become two of those self-righteous non-smokers we used to blow smoke rings at. Sad, but true...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here's a laugh for the day. These twins, 17 months old, are having the most involved conversation. It makes perfect sense to them, as you can see. I think, as an outside observer, it has something to do with a missing sock. Very cute, and I have no doubt in my mind, they understand what each other is saying...</span></span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_JmA2ClUvUY?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++</span><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">ABC and People magazine did an online poll for the all time <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Best_Film/fullpage?id=13103596">Best in Film</a>. There were 15 categories (Best Movie, Best Comedy, Best Action, etc.), and only films in the English-speaking language. Over 500,000 people voted. I was surprised at a few of the winners, not so surprised at others. </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For Best Movie, I would think it a toss-up between <i>Gone with the Wind</i> or <i>To Kill a Mockingbird</i>, though only the winners are posted, not the runners-up. Interesting to see which films took the honors.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++</span><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Had to go grocery shopping this morning, then take the dogs walking, have lunch, blah, blah, so I'm pretty behind on some stuff I didn't finish yesterday. Because of the <strike>damn</strike> <strike>frigging</strike> <strike>crap</strike> jury duty obligation starting Friday, I'm trying to get organized, just in case the worst case scenario happens (i.e. I actually get stuck on a jury), so best get on with what's left of the day.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's such a dreary Tuesday though, maybe I'll just go make brownies instead.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951656865443443522.post-53884082311574137762011-03-28T11:22:00.000-07:002011-03-28T11:22:35.033-07:00Monday Stuff<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Did you all remember to shut your lights off on Saturday for Earth Hour..?? I was deep in my book when suddenly Alan started shutting off the living room lamps. Scowling, I said, "What are you doing..?? Reading here..." <br />
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He gave me a look, then said "It's 8:32..." Well crap. Leave it to me to get all involved in the book plot, and forget about the reality plot.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's very, </span><i style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">very</i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> dark up here on the mountain. There are no street lights and we're up beyond the reach of any residual light from down below, so the darkness is nearly absolute when you've turned everything off. It's cool, though also creepy if you start imagining things...like what </span><i style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">really</i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> goes bump in the night...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The response around the world was totally overwhelming, with millions of people participating and hundreds of countries. The most interesting thing to me though was Scotland became the first country to get 100% support across all municipal councils in the nation. In other words, the whole of Scotland got behind Earth Hour.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yesterday was another blustery, stormy day. There just isn't a time during the day to take the dogs walking lately without getting rained on in some fashion. Though, after the afternoon walk, we managed to get home before this monumental storm came charging over the Valley with <i>serious</i> rain and wind. With the way our house sits--exposed on all sides--some days it feels like we're lost at sea in a rudderless ship; even the creaking of the house as the winds wail around the corners sound like an ocean-tossed vessel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the midst of all this weather excitement, I noticed this odd rainbow across the Valley floor. It wasn't an arch, and was barely above the ground...more like a band of color, just shimmering in the air. I took several photos, but really, this is one of those times where you had to be there. The colors just didn't translate to the photos, though even if you can't see the rainbow, you can sure see those storm clouds coming...</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP16sLllnkn7wAKWep8SdztZ8VQdlslpKlVVeZ8kvjB3v2ppEpyOcfMI0qUBka6JOY7q4BUB40EP4N-2yRyj-kFt5OyBLYFyCJb-k9yM-uSGgC4r2FRE-9EqEdYAlJI4rdKHVt6mR_InYA/s1600/Rainbow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP16sLllnkn7wAKWep8SdztZ8VQdlslpKlVVeZ8kvjB3v2ppEpyOcfMI0qUBka6JOY7q4BUB40EP4N-2yRyj-kFt5OyBLYFyCJb-k9yM-uSGgC4r2FRE-9EqEdYAlJI4rdKHVt6mR_InYA/s320/Rainbow.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCOu3M7PEiHFUhslFPehnWSRqzRH3No8FsUfr8PtRugPWSKB-PYKwj84GFewMv-x6fUT3cnKfzgRrTMKFrZY48zEjuuEBiwuec2N02L1xAqkA5o-OKu_SSdROBJxcI6TdbUObqnSRFWdu/s1600/Rainbow1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCOu3M7PEiHFUhslFPehnWSRqzRH3No8FsUfr8PtRugPWSKB-PYKwj84GFewMv-x6fUT3cnKfzgRrTMKFrZY48zEjuuEBiwuec2N02L1xAqkA5o-OKu_SSdROBJxcI6TdbUObqnSRFWdu/s320/Rainbow1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gq68hRR1R0O99QBvGWrzKMbBZAZzHLIDsVk_yuuWwcMe4xcKr9OBvNWMiQBhr3y0UiCm1TCYxF-zkh2Par29V-mM3CKG28QDtDf6u7opNE2TzGr4YB3GXy4WDEdzW-9EKHnhD6seg-Cj/s1600/Rainbow2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gq68hRR1R0O99QBvGWrzKMbBZAZzHLIDsVk_yuuWwcMe4xcKr9OBvNWMiQBhr3y0UiCm1TCYxF-zkh2Par29V-mM3CKG28QDtDf6u7opNE2TzGr4YB3GXy4WDEdzW-9EKHnhD6seg-Cj/s320/Rainbow2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Oxford English Dictionary's latest edition has just come out, with revisions on over 1,900 words and an additional bunch of new ones, including "initialisms" like OMG, LOL, and TMI among others. For a complete list--which is really interesting--check out the </span><a href="http://www.oed.com/public/latest/latest-update/#new" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">OED</a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> site.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Funnily enough, I looked up initialism (cool word) in my Concise Oxford Dictionary, 1983 edition. No such word existed at that time. Modern technology has changed much in our world, hasn't it..?? For better or ill remains to be seen...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have a ton of chores to get done today so must get on with things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mondays. Crap...</span><br />
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</div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="posterousGalleryMainDiv p_embed p_image_embed" data-posterous-file-list="%5B%7B%22large%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Fposterous.com%2Fgetfile%2Ffiles.posterous.com%2Ftemp-2011-03-26%2FnzqAIrfgaqvJrvfxcBeFtdswHwjAoemFJkIhpuhrvGazlvekxyhkzyhebvzc%2FPeople_celebrate_Earth_Hour_at_Edinburgh_Castle_Scotland.jpg%22%2C%22originalWidth%22%3A%22294%22%2C%22largeWidth%22%3A%22294%22%2C%22thumb%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Fposterous.com%2Fgetfile%2Ffiles.posterous.com%2Ftemp-2011-03-26%2FnzqAIrfgaqvJrvfxcBeFtdswHwjAoemFJkIhpuhrvGazlvekxyhkzyhebvzc%2FPeople_celebrate_Earth_Hour_at_Edinburgh_Castle_Scotland.jpg.thumb.jpg%22%2C%22originalHeight%22%3A%22448%22%2C%22largeHeight%22%3A%22448%22%2C%22thumbWidth%22%3A%2236%22%2C%22height%22%3A%22448%22%2C%22main%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Fposterous.com%2Fgetfile%2Ffiles.posterous.com%2Ftemp-2011-03-26%2FnzqAIrfgaqvJrvfxcBeFtdswHwjAoemFJkIhpuhrvGazlvekxyhkzyhebvzc%2FPeople_celebrate_Earth_Hour_at_Edinburgh_Castle_Scotland.jpg.scaled500.jpg%22%2C%22thumbHeight%22%3A%2236%22%2C%22originalSize%22%3A%2242%22%2C%22original%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Fposterous.com%2Fgetfile%2Ffiles.posterous.com%2Ftemp-2011-03-26%2FnzqAIrfgaqvJrvfxcBeFtdswHwjAoemFJkIhpuhrvGazlvekxyhkzyhebvzc%2FPeople_celebrate_Earth_Hour_at_Edinburgh_Castle_Scotland.jpg%22%2C%22width%22%3A%22294%22%7D%5D" data-posterous-image-gallery-initialized="true" data-posterous-image-gallery="true" data-posterous-options="%7B%22zipFile%22%3Anull%2C%22zipFileSize%22%3Anull%2C%22external_url%22%3Anull%2C%22showDownload%22%3Atrue%2C%22url_slug%22%3A%22scotland-hits-100-aFaGG%22%7D"> </div></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951656865443443522.post-17811130512620058982011-03-27T11:11:00.000-07:002011-03-27T11:11:55.739-07:00Cinema Sunday<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There are some brilliant animation short films out in the big world these days. I don't post them as they usually run anywhere from 4 to 20 minutes--too long for the normal blog attention span and/or a person's time frame during the week. However, I think Sunday is a great day to share some of my favorites: a day usually not too busy or fraught with other things.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So. Take a wee Sunday break and watch <i>French Roast</i>, a wonderful film about a snobby Frenchman, having coffee in a cafe, realizing too late that he doesn't have his wallet.</div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Enjoy the rest o' your day...and this short film.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> <iframe frameborder="0" height="170" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/8453466" width="400"></iframe></div><a href="http://vimeo.com/8453466"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951656865443443522.post-20586174036910198912011-03-26T14:43:00.013-07:002011-03-27T12:37:56.473-07:00Chaos and Cat Naps...<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had a computer/camera glitch this morning--I'm still not sure which. I had planned to take a few photos, download them, do a quick blog, and get on with other things before it was time for the dogs' walk. I took the pictures, went to my photo program...and discovered I no longer had the download function...in fact, my photo program had no recollection or memory of my camera. Gone. Zapped. Disappeared into cyberspace. It was like my camera, which I use nearly every day, didn't exist anymore.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This was soooo not good. If I were still in the house in Edinburgh, I would know exactly where to lay my hands on the CD to reload the lost functions. Unfortunately, I didn't have a bloody clue where that CD might be now. Over an hour later, the house turned upside down, still no CD, though in all my <strike>cursing</strike> searching, I did manage to find a CD from an older version of another Canon camera I used to have, and miraculously, I was given the choice (after downloading the whole frigging program) of picking which series of camera I wanted to apply the program to. And <i>eureka</i>. It worked. I was able to get the photos off the camera, into my photo program, and hey, only waste an hour and a half of my morning. Buggers.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Flowering Plum tree--next to the driveway--is in bloom. It's pink, and pretty and I was reminded of how it looked in the Winter covered in snow, so I decided to do a seasonal montage--though Summer and Fall look fairly similar except for the background and a slight tinge of the color change.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmRnFJ4WIoKFuKvyRjTm5vih_lCho0HNMFP770v-2B4HU0tAQAS4xdmFkNlJxDe4t_r-56iD9Uk2LoGTRqiT5O6VW4nsqbs9t3D_H0AgNRIo2TDzJilw8yZlsei2ggRygN25wNOK5fn5J/s1600/Summer-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmRnFJ4WIoKFuKvyRjTm5vih_lCho0HNMFP770v-2B4HU0tAQAS4xdmFkNlJxDe4t_r-56iD9Uk2LoGTRqiT5O6VW4nsqbs9t3D_H0AgNRIo2TDzJilw8yZlsei2ggRygN25wNOK5fn5J/s200/Summer-1.JPG" width="200" /></a> </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll start with Summer. We had just moved to America, to Roseburg, and into our new house. I took this shot from the old deck, looking over the drive, in the scorching heat of August...</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjaIP4Gnm63EM8fLdQ4yg63duQpco8fO-tfVV4Wwx-VRe95bO5QDTPjZB3WtIk7oITP1fnbh_zXaf1msF-Ywxo2oHFPDp1npdjrwjWXiJO3XeEQM1GtHy6ynsNJbQG3y7M_iUPjTIB3VR/s1600/Fall-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjaIP4Gnm63EM8fLdQ4yg63duQpco8fO-tfVV4Wwx-VRe95bO5QDTPjZB3WtIk7oITP1fnbh_zXaf1msF-Ywxo2oHFPDp1npdjrwjWXiJO3XeEQM1GtHy6ynsNJbQG3y7M_iUPjTIB3VR/s200/Fall-1.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Late October and the Oaks are losing their leaves; the Plum still has plenty of foliage, though the color was changing from the Summer burgundy to a bright Fall red...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLiiXzCXkWSahroR8DcGCeibkFJZCNXxoIytJr6ETAnLHnKPMNgechyJx0hKyMjTDZjsaJXr3urpNkZE4xjMbFwx1ZORITt2j8wjsJ3lLuXETI7UlzRXbFXgChztXE_RxkUuvN46asFAVx/s1600/Cherry-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLiiXzCXkWSahroR8DcGCeibkFJZCNXxoIytJr6ETAnLHnKPMNgechyJx0hKyMjTDZjsaJXr3urpNkZE4xjMbFwx1ZORITt2j8wjsJ3lLuXETI7UlzRXbFXgChztXE_RxkUuvN46asFAVx/s200/Cherry-1.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">February, and the tree is buried under a beautiful Winter's blanket of soft, fluffy snow...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_62aRdy6gkduALqxpDbyRo6XizIMR2WlV1PCdMPnVtyX4janm3BaTcsAikhUdcbAdIeRClz0ByhUM3wCS1rvZ5VPx1G2kl9wKzo6RtrnpjVDC6Msqi89CkOdtQYce4TqeHgjYVweGG6RJ/s1600/SpringCherry1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_62aRdy6gkduALqxpDbyRo6XizIMR2WlV1PCdMPnVtyX4janm3BaTcsAikhUdcbAdIeRClz0ByhUM3wCS1rvZ5VPx1G2kl9wKzo6RtrnpjVDC6Msqi89CkOdtQYce4TqeHgjYVweGG6RJ/s200/SpringCherry1.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today, nearly the end of March, and as the pink buds sparkle in the early Spring sunlight, another year in the life of this little Plum tree comes full circle.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pretty cool, actually...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Though I have avoided taking photos of--or taking part in--the whole backyard fiasco, I've had a few inquiries about what it looks like, so this morning I sucked it up, and took these shots. I'm not going to comment at this juncture however...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjN1up15a-tFdURm77yk4mDjKY5grLL7IWTrqIQiFAnoaddE7x-jAF6LwMw3OIBdIkf-uY1giG3Mm5O3cnLilMC3acjp8enVDgwp5A3BXxXc-bgfX4n_1qJvhDU6s6VjBTs49n_NzTFgD/s1600/IMG_2328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjN1up15a-tFdURm77yk4mDjKY5grLL7IWTrqIQiFAnoaddE7x-jAF6LwMw3OIBdIkf-uY1giG3Mm5O3cnLilMC3acjp8enVDgwp5A3BXxXc-bgfX4n_1qJvhDU6s6VjBTs49n_NzTFgD/s320/IMG_2328.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYQ_8h9e7msO3ZZsm_YT30NWBgtToHOfoB8tH85iKL4F8eOjbnYE4s6x9CFmcKxeOvggOLy9w_yx29Zs_pG0VNQUUR5l3KP-9DX4LfE0TRahRURh8aPyATNM1LaDTKTtc3KDAWib1UXes/s1600/IMG_2329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYQ_8h9e7msO3ZZsm_YT30NWBgtToHOfoB8tH85iKL4F8eOjbnYE4s6x9CFmcKxeOvggOLy9w_yx29Zs_pG0VNQUUR5l3KP-9DX4LfE0TRahRURh8aPyATNM1LaDTKTtc3KDAWib1UXes/s320/IMG_2329.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even in the midst of muddy chaos...there is a bright spot...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP47a_fIYnbB0VlejCT_mLi3xjtqXtPJ5davjkzyk52mxgqfIWgSJPqRP2t06nsuvnjJIJGHbXJeCS1GSqaTMHttCMohsjPPGipYi5AVU3dSP5G7fvLDcbOmd5aiIDrGM8Akpf32UqhRAC/s1600/IMG_2330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP47a_fIYnbB0VlejCT_mLi3xjtqXtPJ5davjkzyk52mxgqfIWgSJPqRP2t06nsuvnjJIJGHbXJeCS1GSqaTMHttCMohsjPPGipYi5AVU3dSP5G7fvLDcbOmd5aiIDrGM8Akpf32UqhRAC/s200/IMG_2330.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGN0MM5TBpHfrKOUMd-QO5iMQPpW00q7B2zfbwRSlKbpYP6kDQG8cf8yNgDoh_EbGm8InuVwSv8PoKVH0KMwalFIagfeHEbm6HiI8pt931CcuwDimDf_LiYqueZ4sUPvNC3sEZQOapubz_/s1600/IMG_2331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGN0MM5TBpHfrKOUMd-QO5iMQPpW00q7B2zfbwRSlKbpYP6kDQG8cf8yNgDoh_EbGm8InuVwSv8PoKVH0KMwalFIagfeHEbm6HiI8pt931CcuwDimDf_LiYqueZ4sUPvNC3sEZQOapubz_/s200/IMG_2331.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The weather today is awful...lots of rain and winds and basically just dreary. I'm very glad it's Saturday afternoon because I'm going to go find a good movie on the telly, have a cup of coffee with a cookie or two, and with any luck at all...I'll end up just like this before too long. Care to join me..??<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fwgR-jYstHbNNlIzD10Kz6KdsrIJw7G9nxDvwEiV5Z3-_0G_Kyb5-j2GyroYN-aKlds_eHdQjgDQPgveVdQTdCys2tPsoEXGolar4IZEnUa6Oje5I9ujmF95238sBVeu0QOQSd2IZ55Y/s1600/NapKittyCoolPix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fwgR-jYstHbNNlIzD10Kz6KdsrIJw7G9nxDvwEiV5Z3-_0G_Kyb5-j2GyroYN-aKlds_eHdQjgDQPgveVdQTdCys2tPsoEXGolar4IZEnUa6Oje5I9ujmF95238sBVeu0QOQSd2IZ55Y/s320/NapKittyCoolPix.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Via <a href="http://www.coolpicturegallery.net/">CoolPix</a></span></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951656865443443522.post-34098692868038143452011-03-25T11:01:00.000-07:002011-03-25T11:01:29.726-07:00Tempus Fugit<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Friday already. The week has gone by really fast for some reason. Actually, not only the week, but the month has just been speeding along--no doubt the quicker to arrive at April, and the beginning of my trials (yes, pun intended). At this time next week I will be sitting in the damned courthouse beginning my month-long civic duty. And, no, I will <u><b><i>not</i></b></u> stop ragging about this until the bloody month is over and my life/time/liberty have been restored.</span><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yeah, yeah...okay, moving on.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Notice the banner on the right there...?? Yep, that one, the one that's marking the countdown until Earth Hour, tomorrow, March 26th. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.earthhour.org/">Earth Hour</a> started in Sydney, Australia in 2007, when 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour to make a statement about climate change. The next year the movement had 50 million people across 35 countries/territories participating. Famous landmarks like the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge and Rome’s Coliseum, stood in darkness for one Earth Hour. In 2009, over 4,000 cities in 88 countries/territories officially switched off to pledge their support for the planet, making Earth Hour 2009 the world’s largest global climate change initiative ever held, though surpassed in 2010 when a record 128 countries and territories joined the global display. People from all walks of life, around the world, turned off their lights and came together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, do your part tomorrow: Turn off the lights at your local time of 8:30pm for one hour. Wherever you are, just switch 'em off, light a candle, relax for an hour. It's a good thing...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThLLUsz9JGtjRVG1xoWrwcIStPKyj7fT4p0BpPxH9KkG1hrLfVNQCXsR7d1Fo5dn05FBLr7FKgo2tNy8Q5ERbBv6fX6W5HK8oaRWgzwTb-zg7sEpR0RIAZN4bzHqGsbewvlDb3bifa073/s1600/Coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThLLUsz9JGtjRVG1xoWrwcIStPKyj7fT4p0BpPxH9KkG1hrLfVNQCXsR7d1Fo5dn05FBLr7FKgo2tNy8Q5ERbBv6fX6W5HK8oaRWgzwTb-zg7sEpR0RIAZN4bzHqGsbewvlDb3bifa073/s200/Coffee.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've got some funny and/or cute videos this morning. Just some tidbits to lighten the day, bring a smile or two, and kick off the weekend. So, fill up that coffee cup, settle back and take a wee break...</span><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Cutest puppy video in the world. First he doesn't want to wake up, then he gets cranky towards the end because he's been awakened, then left on his own. Seriously...how adorable is this...?? </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/N8G4YgQyEMk?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Via <a href="http://www.petalot.com/">petalot</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> *************************************************************</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I love this cat. His name is Maru. There have been several videos of him doing this "slide into the box" thing, though this is my favorite. The way he splays himself out as he's diving into the cardboard is just too funny. Even jamming into the table leg doesn't slow him down...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hPzNl6NKAG0?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Another via <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_849326541">petalot</a></span></span><a href="http://www.petalot.com/"><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here are 18 very cool </span><a href="http://www.dailycognition.com/index.php/2009/07/01/18-cool-tricks-you-can-do-to-your-body-that-you-didn-t-know.html" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">health remedies</a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> that you can do for yourself, using your own body. Like how to get rid of that tickle in the back of your throat, or stop the brain freeze from ice cream, or unplug your sinuses. Really good tips, and won't cost you a thing--my kind of health care.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLmkIC9OJAjvUu62ehp0AdxGiq1ASuOVGkpgl_XnS8_f2qsDJ0HKfi9_TtbaCziaOFKAPiaGjBF9efV7kNzasDs9MzSwukTOsFbwi_F3EGgmclexJ6py3ACZwOqFMfymqY1v2QoHx5Prm/s1600/SunbeamsCO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLmkIC9OJAjvUu62ehp0AdxGiq1ASuOVGkpgl_XnS8_f2qsDJ0HKfi9_TtbaCziaOFKAPiaGjBF9efV7kNzasDs9MzSwukTOsFbwi_F3EGgmclexJ6py3ACZwOqFMfymqY1v2QoHx5Prm/s320/SunbeamsCO.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sunshine is good for us because we all--even our animals--need that Vitamin D. Ozzy does this same thing. There's a spot on the carpet at the front window that always gets the late morning sun, and that's right where he likes to stretch out. Too bad it's been a bit dreary for that lately.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">***********************************************************</span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And now, to finish off our coffee break, let's take a moment to reengage our brains before going back to work. Ready..?? Okay, inhale a deep, cleansing breath...hold...and exhale...very good. Twice more...and it's time to get back to work. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You can wait until later this afternoon for this:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="309" id="AOLVP_826153864001" width="549"><param name="movie" value="http://o.aolcdn.com/videoplayer/AOL_PlayerLoader.swf"></param><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><param name="flashvars" value="videoid=826153864001&publisherid=1612833736&stillurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpdl%2Estream%2Eaol%2Ecom%2Fpdlext%2Faol%2Fbrightcove%2Fstudionow%2Fams%2Ffb727174512dc%2Fposter%2Ejpg&playerid=61371448001&codever=1"></param><embed src="http://o.aolcdn.com/videoplayer/AOL_PlayerLoader.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="transparent" allowfullscreen="true" bgcolor="#000000" width="549" height="309" name="AOLVP_826153864001" flashvars="videoid=826153864001&publisherid=1612833736&stillurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpdl%2Estream%2Eaol%2Ecom%2Fpdlext%2Faol%2Fbrightcove%2Fstudionow%2Fams%2Ffb727174512dc%2Fposter%2Ejpg&playerid=61371448001&codever=1"></embed></object> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Via <a href="http://www.urlesque.com/">urlesque</a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Have a great weekend everyone...and don't forget about Earth Hour tomorrow..!!</span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0