So, no one cares….but I reached a goal of sorts. I have only completed 2 recipes, and no craft projects….but they are pinned, so they can not escape my mind. I also found this joke. with no author given; “I am going to name my dog 5 miles, so I can say I walked 5 miles everyday.”  I got my new AFO today, and in a funny twist of fate I know what AFO means now. “Ankle Foot Orthotic”, thanks to the incredibly boring magazine selection in the waiting room, I learned something today. I wore it about an hour, as recommended. I am supposed to ease into it, since I have not worn one in so long. I hope to take a real walk about tomorrow, around my neighborhood. I won’t be walking 5 miles, but I will be one step closer to running 5k someday. I at least hope to live to see grandbabe run it’s first 5k.

June 26, 2013June 26, 2013 by igneousidol 2 Comments

Poking Out of my Shell

I finally made it outside to sit for a few minutes. In between thunderstorms, I ventured out to get the mail. I saw this snapping turtle walk down the road. He then started to walk into my yard. I was sitting out front reading my mail. I had my dog out on the porch. She hates being outside, but she lies on a blanket if I am outside. I guess so I don’t sneak away without her. I rapped on the window to get my son to bring the camera out. He took this picture. He then showed it to the neighbors. One neighbor wanted it gone, so she got it into a bucket. She then took it down the road to the swamp. She has small kids, and was scared of it. I would have let it keep walking. I am sure it just wanted to lay some eggs or already had. I wonder what wildlife I will encounter next. I hope the deer stay away from my bucket garden. I have several tomato blossoms. The plants do not look that great. I hope they survive the week I will be gone.
I have not done much of anything lately. Just sitting around hating my life. I spend too much time trying to figure out how to make it better. I also spend too much time watching Netflix.

June 25, 2013 by igneousidol Leave a comment

Nature’s Tree Trimming

Mother Nature did not want this tree any taller. I am kind of glad it fell that way during the last storm. I have been afraid it was going to fall towards my house or the neighbors. I have been living on the edge, without homeowners insurance. I plan on getting it as soon as my roof is fixed. The only company that gives homeowners insurance to pit bull owners, does not give it to tarped roofs. Today was beautiful, no rain. I did a load of laundry for the first time in days. I will do more tomorrow. I did hear a gurgle in the kitchen sink, so I don’t want to push the system too much.
I made perfectly browned french toast according to my son. He only likes it lightly browned, no dark spots. I started to make a second batch and noticed the bread was moldy on a few pieces. Being the great mother I am, I did not tell my son. He ate all of his and asked for another piece. I choked mine down drowned in syrup. I am going to freeze all my bread I don’t eat in a day for the rest of the summer. I hate stale bread. I hate frozen bread, but I hate the taste of mold more.
I made my own unsweetened ice tea today. I get very food creative when I am poor. I am going to try to live from my cupboards and freezer for the next week. I guess I will be making the salmon for the dog. I bought it for my son, and now he says seafood makes him sick.

June 20, 2013 by igneousidol Leave a comment

Part of my Bucket Garden

Looking a bit sad, lack of sun and too much rain lately on top of two hail storms yesterday. I thought they would have been more damaged, but they are still kicking. I have some smaller pots that don’t show in this lineup, plus a few more on the other side of the house. One of my solar lights is working too! I was ready to take it back for a refund.
One of my trees lost half of a big branch. It is stuck on another branch plus still attached by some bark. Anyway, I think my bucket garden is pretty much going to stay unfinished this year. I have three buckets I still can not get the lids off. I don’t have the funds to buy any more compost. I am so glad I did not plant anything in the ground. It is like a swamp, even in the higher areas of my yard. Last year, my first here, it was dry all the way until October. It rained, but soaked into the ground within a day. I can hope all I want that it dries up again this year, but I know that at some point this area will flood. It is so flat and not much higher than the swamp down the road. I am already planning on doing a bucket garden again next year. I hope to accumulate a few, or a lot more during the summer.

June 19, 2013 by igneousidol Leave a comment

Some Encouraging Words, I Picked Up At A Doc’s Office

The following has no author listed on the old fashioned photocopied paper. I picked it up from a stack of them on the receptionists desk, at one of my son’s former doctors. :

TO ACHIEVE YOUR DREAMS, REMEMBER YOUR ABC’s

Avoid negative sources, people, places, things.

Believe in yourself.

Consider things from every angle.

Don’t give up and don’t give in.

Enjoy life today. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow may never come.

Family and friends are hidden treasures. Seek them and enjoy their riches.

Give more than you planned to.

Hang on to your dreams.

Ignore those who try to discourage you.

Just do it!

Keep trying no matter how hard it seems, it will get easier.

Love yourself first and most.

Make it happen!

Never lie, cheat or steal always strike a fair deal.

Open your eyes and see things as they really are.

Practice makes perfect.

Quitters never win, winners never quit.

Read, study and learn about everything important in your life.

Stop procrastinating.

Take control of your own destiny.

Understand yourself in order to better understand others.

Visualize it.

Want it more than anything.

Xcellerate your efforts.

You are unique of all God’s creations, nothing can replace YOU.

Zero in on your target and go for it.

 

Now, I can recycle this paper in good consciousness.

 

June 17, 2013 by igneousidol Leave a comment

My Father Was The Perfect Parent

Of course, he was not perfect in every way. He did one hell of job with his 4 kids. He worked hard, played hard, and when not doing either filled his time with hobbies and tinkering around. He was not scared of much. He always thought better of me than I thought of myself. Most important he was always there for us. He talked, listened, lent money and advice and cracked jokes. I think of him often. Sometimes I just need him to know what is going on with me, sometimes I just miss him not being able to live to be 100, at least.

June 16, 2013 by igneousidol Leave a comment

Another Rainy Day and Local Flooding

They closed a portion of a road about 20 minutes from here, because of flooding. I believe it is going to clear up soon. I hope so, I have huge puddles by my deck. It is almost surrounded. I did not park in the driveway, so I won’t be able to move my car until it dries some. I need to pick up my son tomorrow afternoon. He is going on a school field trip. I hope the weather is mostly good for their trip too. Fun still can be had in the rain. I am not having any now. I am stuck inside with housework staring me down. I turned to Netflix, but that becomes quickly boring. I hope to get into the housework, right after this blog post.

June 13, 2013 by igneousidol Leave a comment

I have my first pepper blossom!

Jalapeno I think, surrounded by flowers. Might not be the best companion planting, but I was surprised to see the flower so early. I never grew jalapenos before (that I can remember). I have to move the whole planter, when my son has time to help me. I have more urgent chores for him to do, so it will be left until the weekend. I hope it is nice this weekend. I have mushrooms or some other fungi growing all over my lawn. The rest of my bucket garden is alive, but not looking so great. I hope it is just lack of sun the past few weeks.

June 12, 2013 by igneousidol 1 Comment

Busted Water Can repurposed

June 12, 2013June 12, 2013 by igneousidol 1 Comment

Ready to Rock and Roll, and walk

I was fitted for my custom AFO, finally. I have high hopes of walking with ease. I want to go farther and faster than I have in the two plus years post stroke. I am waiting for insurance approval, then I go back at the end of this month to try it out.

It has been rainy here, so I don’t need to water the bucket garden. I love how easy gardening is. I have some gnomes I bought at the last auction. They are waiting for placement around my yard. Elvis Gnome will soon have company. I will have to move my chairs, the morning glory has grabbed hold of one. I have a lot of housework to do still. I was off to a good start getting things done on the weekend, I just burned out early. I did not drive anywhere Saturday or Sunday. It is both depressing, but good not to burn up gas money.

June 10, 2013 by igneousidol Leave a comment