Saw that and probably the band is dodging ice crystals too. ALMOST not quite spring here, the dog likes it outside, but it's not time to put out my tropical plants YET. I do have a maidenhair fern which seems very happy out on the back porch tho, coming to life with little sprigs. It's a very picky thing! So things can't be all bad. The plumeria is still dormant. The purple velvet plant turned into black mush :.( I liked that plant too. ALMOST time to get the repotting done, and turn over a spot for the tomatoes. Recycle the compost, that sort of thing.

Speaking of gardens and John Lodge (he likes them too) my Ex sent over a bottle of plum wine a few months back, and I hadn't had the courage to sample it. My plum tree is a real over achiever, so I gathered up bags of them, gave some to the mail lady, neighbors, and a bag to my Ex who mentioned he could make plum wine.

I had the courage to uncork it last night, needing marinade for some chicken. WOW my Ex can COOK...... it's VERY good. He should go into the wine business, seriously!!!! Sort of dry, and it's a white wine too. I'm gonna give him all the plums he wants next fall!!!!

Our microclimate at the top of the hill isn't quite into making rhodie buds, but in a bit.....

Yards are SO hard to take care of!!! I need to mow as soon as it gets dry and I have a day off at the same time. I have a mad riding mower... Dad HAD to have one, and then got too addled to drive it, poor ol' fellah. It's taken out two windows and a car mirror so far.

Naw my Ex doesn't want me back, and vice versa. I pulled up behind him at a stop light yesterday and we both flipped each other the bird. It was a friendly sailor thing, no animosity. Far too much water under the bridge to think that relationship would ever rekindle. Ugh. But credit where credit is due, he cooks well, makes good wine (wow), and is also a very talented close up magician. Good lookin' too. Otherwise he's lazy as sin and not my cup of tea..... he was a lot of work to maintain, and nagged worse than a woman. No more toxic relationships.... no thank you. Life is too short.

See, that's why you shouldn't say "I love you I love you" without really KNOWING someone..... like you gag gag over Justin, and so many others. You're just seeing the surface. Try living with someone for a while, and see how long you last!!!! There's more to it than surface attraction.

The first day of Spring and I DID have to scrape my windows this morning! ALMOST warm enough to stop having to turn on the heater. I look forward to lower energy bills.

That's the frost we had a day ago.... it got to you rather quickly!!!!

It was so nice this afternoon that I cracked out the riding mower and did a number on the front and back lawns (large yards). The back was full of dog doo, I have a big dog, and I pick it up infrequently, but having said that, my compost bin is the best endowed in the county, short of the horse owners down the street. Anyway after picking all that up, I mowed and got the back yard all clean, then drove around to the front of the house to mow THAT. There was a strange dog, just sniffing around and looking for a nice place to relieve himself. Nice looking dog too, what used to be called a "redbone hound". Anyway I had just been out looking it over, and sure enough my neighbors have been letting their dust mop dog out to do it "elsewhere" (my lawn) ............... those sorts of pet owners REALLY frost me, they love their dogs, but won't clean up after them.... let them go do it on the neighbor's lawn. See above, I had already done my duty for the day.

Anyway I caught this dog in the act, and went after him with the riding mower!!! It's quite loud (I wear earplugs) and the poor dog looked flustered, tried to run.... I chased it right off the lawn like Mr. Toad and down the road!!!! Brazen thing. And then I mowed the lawn, chipping all those little dog lumps in the process. My yards aren't beautiful, but they do look 80% better now.

So, I guess it's going to be a summer of warfare, picking up dog doo and dumping it in secret back on the neighbor's lawn. I've done it twice now, and miraculously the piles stop appearing for maybe two weeks, then they start appearing again once everyone's long term memory erases. I just don't understand people who can't keep their dogs locked up responsibly. It's not like we live out on the prairie or something... .

The maple trees have not budded yet... they take their time!!! However, my hops plants are coming back, and look quite happy and healthy. I'm so mad at my orchid I put it out on the porch too, and soaked it with plant food, so if it dies, it's not MY fault.... I've repotted it like it says to do on line and have NOT over watered it. Refuses to pull out of it, sick plant. Bummer cause I really like orchids.

Yeah one more day of work tomorrow, then a week off and I'll maybe get a garden in or repot these miserable weeds around here. Lots to do!!!!

Bachelor buttons? I love those too.