Carrots Gone Wrong

From a local CSA here in Charleston, so funny I had to share!

Mr. P's Birthday and 2 days to OBX

Today is Mr. P's Birthday.  All the Ducksters love, love, love Mr.P.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARLING !!!!

Two Days and Just You and Me.

YES!!!!

Happy Birthday Mr. P

Thank you for being a avid reader. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

What's on your Night Stand?-

That is a provoking question I know... I personally keep a stack of books there, the ones I am going to read in the next month. I also keep a fragrant candle, old fashioned alarm clock (the one with the bells on top), and a lamp. I never happens that I read them all in a month but sometimes I try, I have however did read two this week. One not worth mentioning the other is it's Called "A Soft Place To Land" by Susan Rebecca White. It's about two sisters who's parents die in a freak plane accident while seeing the Grand Canyon. In the will they are separated from each other by about 3000 miles due to different fathers and well on from there it goes.

Retail Therapy

I woke up feeling less than stellar after an enjoyable night with good friends with unintended consequences. As ND said she called and she wanted to know how I usually deal with such things so I shared; water, sleep, Advil, water, repeat. I am a big believer in taking your lumps, making your bed and sleeping in it. So I got dressed and headed out to target to finish the wall project I started about two months ago and decided to finish yesterday. Only the frames I bought didn't work the way I wanted and anyone who knows me knows I am very particular about these things. So off I went in search of replacements and I have not a clue what came over me but two hours later and with a much lighter wallet I left. I love these days when you wander the store and find all these things just hours before you could not possibly live without. These days are what get me through the year, the days when I get to spend without abandon because someone has to take care of me and I work hard and I deserve it. Why yes that is rationalization hard at work. These are some of the finds that I now can not live without. ND and I are both in love with this great pillow find they were on clearance happened to be exactly what I have been searching for for months. I have been slowly adding this color into my living room for months but it's a color you must be careful with.

8 days to OBX :the porch

Gator and Couch in action

This AM it started with rain and me sleeping in. Got an email from CD insisting that I had been MIA all week despite the fact I had tried to comment on the Non Sequitur blog and got the internet run around, meaning it said I needed approval. HA!!! So I promptly called CD and left a smart message asking what was up with this and to drop everything and respond.immediatment.  She called back, we discussed her headache and other things as it continued to rain.  Then the sun came out. The dash to get something done. So, above is my beloved Gator (a converted golf cart) that I use for hauling everything,tools, dirt, plants, funiture. Mr.P. got it for me and it has been a life line to continue my yard and garden work.  Here we see the it loaded with the full sized wicker couch that goes on the front porch. Hey if you think this is a Beverly Hillbillies look, you should see it when I stack it with the small stuff that came in two trips. (When you're short you learn to do interesting and inventive things to get stuff done and this really helps when you get old.)  So, Mr.P. and I get the couch out of the garden house(where it lives for the winter)  and onto the back of the Gator, than I drive while he walks holding it, down to the front porch, lift it off and then, voila, onto the porch and into place. Before this I had swept the porch and put up a bracket in the garden house to hang some Christmas wreaths on for storage, and brought down the love seat on the back of the Gator the same way as the couch except a bungee cord takes the place of Mr.P.'s hand. We also bring down the cushions and then it is time to get it all together except the plants and flowers which come after OBX.  So here it is:

Don't you just love it. I do.  I'll show it to you again when I get all the plants and flowers going.  It's heaven in the summer and a great view of the lake. Next step will be the balcony. But that can happen after OBX.

So got cleaned up from this little effort. Lunch with Mr.P. at Sal's. They brought gratis hot garlic knots with sauce, totally hum. Exactly what CD needed for her headache. Meanwhile she was out doing shopping therapy and sending multiple pix of purchases. She'll tell you all about that. Then, on to Lowe's where I scouted deer resistant shrubs for a bed that needs redoing due to drought and deer. I had big plans for weeding and planting when I got home but the wind and clouds rolled in and nope.  I can't decide if I should buy these shrubs before we go, with a chance they will dry out while we are gone or wait and take a chance on them still being there when we get back. What to do, what to do (which, BTW, should not be confused with what not to do.)

Nonsequitur - A Comic of Likely Proportion

Nduckster loves this comic she has been telling me about it for years and recently sending me story lines she thinks I will like. I don't get the paper and even if I did it's not in our local paper so I can't read it there anyway. I had once looked for it online but with no luck. Nduckster however just sent me a printout of part of the strip from the internet in my last strip received via the USPS. Mr. P had without knowing recycled one day of the comics before she had a chance to cut it out for me. Ironically that gave me the information I needed to become an online member and follower of nonsequitur. I am sure Nduckster is grateful that she won't need to cut and mail these anymore. I truly enjoyed getting them in the mail as it was such a nice surprise in the mailbox as the mailbox rarely produces anything fun or exciting in this day and age. I am not a big fan of comics but I do enjoy this particular one. ND thinks that I am similar to one of the characters in the strip; I think she may be right. My father can probably attest to this better than anyone. I am now a follower of it online, it should start being emailed to me daily as of tomorrow. Of the ones I have been sent I have shared them with friends, they always give the reader a chuckle. Check it out, you will not be disappointed.

Baby Ducks Who Could Ask For More?

Spotted by a friend who asked a stranger to hold her belongings so she could snatch this photo for me! 12 babies in all, POOR MAMA duck! Thank you for this picture it makes me smile to think of them running after her quacking all the way into the pond.....

Current Favorite Jokes

I loves these two jokes and they are linked to each other.

Joke 1:

Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Economist.
Economist who?
Economist the recession but I'll try to do better next time.

Joke 2:

Iceland's economy's fondest dying wish is that it's ashes would be spread over Europe.

OK, so you don't like them? Hey, Mr.P. is watching the Stanley Cup which goes on from now until winter. What can you expect of me :) ?

13 Days to OBX aka Nag's Head

Saturday was much cool and wind so not much got done outside that needed doing except the planting by Vaughan's. Sunday was still cool but much calmer so the Baby Girl and I tore into things. Emptied out the dump bed on the Gator (my converted golf cart for gardening chores) and went to prune the crape myrtles down the back drive way. This is a very steep down slope and hard to work on plus we have deer fencing up to protect the shrubs from thier omnivorous ways which had gotten all tangled up in the branches. Got all six crape myrtles pruned back.  This is done to encourage new growth which is what the blooms form on.  Unloaded the bed again into a bursh pile for Mr.P. to put on his new trailer (yes, he finally got himself a trailer) and then clean, cleaned the dump bed of the Gator. This means sweeping out debris from hauling logs for the fire place as well as from pruning and gardening and then getting all the odds and ends out for the garbage, etc.  Then I started the "bring down the wicker furniture from the garden house to the front porch" expedition.  There are two chairs, a love seat, and a full size couch plus end tables, foot stools, plant stands and cushions.  I have worked it out that if I load things just rightt I can get everything down in two loads except the love seat and the couch. So, got that done.  YES!!! 80% of the furniture on the front porch which still needs to cleaned up from winter...a project for after work today.  You have no clue how happy I am when I can get something like this done and before OBX.

In the meantime Mr. P. is on top of the boat. Last year we did not ask for it until we got back in mid May and did not get it until June. This year its been gotten out, Freddy Bishop, the local awning and marine guy,  is going to work on the mooring cover so that it is easier for Mr.P. to get back on the boat which then will get detailed and ready for pick up on May 16th.  Mr.P. is soooo clever.

OK. So we leave for lunch with me all chuffed up about progress, go to El Grande Rodeo one of our Favs, and then on to Lowe's for 100 ft hose and fittings to set up the watering system for the new trees. Quick stop at Kroger for lettuce and mushrooms (I'm making my variation on pasta puttanesca with fresh mushrooms, zuchinni, and spinach) and then to the Tractor Store.  As we are driving about I ask Mr.P. about the 39 gallon garbage bags which have become another expedition. We use these and they have disappeared from all stores. MR.P. was supposted to check Wade's.
"I forgot all about it"
"Ah, and you used to have such a sharp mind."
"That's the way it goes."
We're both laughing.  I comment that if anyone thinks they can get Mr.P.'s goat they are saddly mistaken.
So, at the Tractor Store, I stay in the car while Mr.P. goes to get the Baby Girl her treats.  He comes back and we're off to home. After about a mile Mr.P. says: "I don't want to hear any more about my mind.  I found the 39 gallon bags.  I saw a sign that said Hefty and I went and looked. I got two boxes of 25 each."  We're set for another year.
OK, no more about Mr.P.'s mind. You all hear that!!!!

A Day Among The Masses

It is not really my thing, I hate crowds, not overly fond of people and prefer to be home... However I ventured out yesterday and took in the local WTA Tennis tournament called the Family Circle Cup... The week of searching Craig's List ads led to great seats and a great day. Sadly, my favorite as well as the favored player was hurt early in the first set of the first Semi Final match (Caroline Wozniacki). None the less fun was had by all. We were even able to see the Blue Angels that were preforming here in Charleston as well this weekend. It is a perfect day here, 70, sunny, and a slight wind... These are the days when I know why I live hear. Summer is on it's way so I am sure you will be hearing about the ungodly humidity in no time.

Two Weeks to OBX

In two weeks the Ducksters will be reunited at OBX, that's the Outer Banks for you non-middle Atlantic folks.  There is so much to do here first. Get the spring pruning done (butterfly bush and crape myrtle--I'm late on that), weed and spread mulch, get the porch furniture out, etc. etc not to mention the inside stuff plus actually getting the OBX stuff together and ready to go. So, what do I do, I buy three Cleveland Select Ornamental Pear trees for the edge of the old garden area.  I love these trees and they are all over here. They bloom in very early spring (already done) and they turn lovely reds and maroons in the fall. Their growth is very upright with a tear drop shape to the limbs.  They are often used in urban street scapes due to their upright shape and rapid growth. I got these from Vaughan's in Dublin (VA not Ireland) where I know the owners and love talking with them -- two sisters. Fortunately, I was smart enough to bite the bullet and have them plant them. Paid for them yesterday and Sherry Vaughan said maybe in a week or so they could get it done.  I reminded her--two weeks to OBX.  Now for folks in this area to say you are going to the beach (we always ask Myrtle or OBX--this is VERY different and tells alot about who you are) is like saying I'm on a pilgrimage and people take it seriously. So, low and behold Sherry calls about 11AM  to say, "We can be there by 1PM today to plant."  Mr.P. and I were just getting ready to go to lunch and take a bunch of old electronics to the e-recycling (remember I'm also cleaning out the storage room) which ends at 3PM.  This is county sponsored and only happens once or twice a year so missing this is not a joke.

 We strategize. If we wait and try to do everything together, we'll be eating lunch at 3PM.  So, I send off Mr.P. with the electronics (YES !!!, getting rid of something more) and go out to connect hoses, etc.  Also, while waiting I decide to get the area rug down in CD's bedroom for Mr.P's treadmill. Good move because just as I get the carpet on the pad, the door bell rings and they are here about 15 minutes early. Great !!! There is hope for a lunch by 2PM.  So, Sherry's son and two helpers get on the job (which was fantastic, planted,mulched and staked) and by 1:30 we're good to go.  No, Mr.P.  I come in and see he's called and call back.  OK  He's in this long line of folks with huge loads of electronics and is only two away from drop off. He's been waiting over half an hour.  OK. My back hurts from shifting stuff around and doing some weeding so I can move on to the mulch. I sit down with the heating pad on my back and do a little reading (yes, on the Kindle) and am just dosing off when Baby Girl does the "DADDY'S HOME" jump off the bed.  Wash hands, brush teeth and hair and change shirt. We're good to go.
We're just sitting down at one off our favs BT's when Mr. P. looks at his watch and says, "You said we'de be eating at 3PM and its two minutes of."  It's amazing what you do to meet the OBX deadline and keep moving on the at home agenda. Mr.P. is a brick. Don't you just love that man. I do.

Vacation Time

So as you know I was on vacation for my birthday a few weeks back. It is hard coming off of vacation and returning to normal life. My friend Kelly and I have decided every weekend will be vacation time, no chores allowed. All chores must be accomplished during the week. Last night I did two hours of chores and feel like I accomplished so much more in a day than I normally do. I will let you know how this goes but it does feel good on a Saturday afternoon to just say, no I can't, I am on vacation... I am just about recovered back into the day-day so it may hard to maintain this, I am a doer, I love to work, I love to build things, fix things, make things. I love using my hands it's who I am... Vacation time is oh so tempting though.....

A Wild Night

Thursday evening after getting home from a banquet, we finally all got settled down to sleep about midnight. Now, we all know that the Baby Girl does not like her routine disrupted so it came as no surprise that she was restless.Mama and Papa (Mr.P. and Me N.Duckster) are supposed to stay home, provide her with treats,total pack time, and much attention.  Around 4:30 AM she got Mr.P. up who let her out. Mr.P. has come to insist that he be the one to do this chore (bless his heart) since I have trouble falling back to sleep. I got up to go to the bathroom and just as I was getting back into bed the phone rings and I pick it up.  Well, Mr P is already on this and I hear "Go back to bed Darling. I'm on the phone with the sheriff's office." OK, that is not really what a wife needs to hear.  He comes back to bed and I pounce on him "What was that all about?"
"They got a 911 hang up call from our number."

Now, two things: we get strange hang up calls all the time. I've decided its Verizon's spastic telephone service.  The other is that based on my work, the sheriff's office is likely to move into possible domestic violence protocol. I mean-- Husband answers. Wife picks up phone. Husband does not let wife speak.  So, now I am totally awake.  Sure enough about 20-30 minutes later (hey we live out in the country) I see lights.  Maybe its the paper  being delivered? Nope.  Finally, there are lights being flashed directly into the house and the door bell rings. Baby Girl is on full alert. I know I'll have to go talk to the deputy---but with 90 lbs of barking lab at my side. I open the sliding door to the balcony and step out. The Baby Girl charges out in full "I'm protecting my mom from you" mode.  The deputy is satisfied that there is no immediate danger except maybe to him (or he thinks we are a couple of nut jobs who do random things like call 911 and hang up) and leaves after saying "Have a good morning."  Easy for you to say,buddy.  Baby Girl and I got back to bed in time to get up.  What a night. We're getting too old for these kinds of adventures. Actually its good to know that our Sheriff's office  takes everything seriously.  What if something really had been wrong.

Letting Go Is The Hardest Part

My brother gave me a stack of ones for my birthday, bound and all. Giving them to the teller at the bank just about broke my heart.... I used to work in a bank so I should not have the weird attachment some people have to bound bills. I do apparently and it was oh so hard to give them up! They are safely deposited, and with Dad's gift card Weber grill here I come! Perhaps I will love it more than the bills?

Dog Lovers Must Read

"The Art of Racing in The Rain" I picked this up at Costco for my vacation, I didn't crack it until the last day as I was very far behind on Newsweek... I started to cry about a page in, put it down as it was not a beach read, picked it up and somehow finished the first chapter in tears. I was at this point unsure if I was ever going to read it again. I closed it until I returned home on Sunday afternoon. I promptly read about half the book and enjoyed every moment of it. I finished it last night and if you have ever loved a dog it is a MUST read...

Fun Times

One of my most favorite places I have ever been, I never tire of it and always enjoy it. It is this quaint village on Siesta Key in South West FL on the Gulf of Mexico.
This sign is new and come to find out the village itself has an association. Spring Break was in full swing which made the people watching even more fun and spectacular... Spring Break should be mandatory for all working adults!

Bed Head

You so easily forget how much you love sleeping in your own home in your own bed.... I just returned from ten days away, I think the sleep I got last night mattered more than the previous nine...