Many people to pray for; God knows this is an "active" group:) Severe thunderstorms last night; mucho thunder & lightening, wind & rain. Tornado warnings and watches. I listened to the storm center I purchased as a result of recommendations here. HB slept through it all, and he's usually up and down many times for no reason:) This a.m. I've learned of damage in communities southeast of us.
Cloudy today. Some good news, my husband is being released from the Behavior Hospital tomorrow after a 3 week stay. He will return to the ALF, hopefully, the change of medication will work on his combativeness. He has been doing well the last few days. I worry after being gone for 3 weeks, that he will be confused again coming back to the ALF and act out.
Zibby, I don't remember where you live, but it must not be too far from us. We also had all the warnings and watches here in central Illinois. The damage was northwest of us. The storms moved southeast and went just to the south of us - about 15 miles away. I stayed up until all the warnings were lifted. I like thunderstorms, which we had, but I'm terrified of tornadoes.
This is such a caring group. We should all take the first minutes of our day to say a prayer for the health and well-being of our members and families. I know I might not be alive or at least have a right arm if not for the prayers from this direction. And, thank you for your concern and well-wishes for my upcoming surgery. I have a lot to do before tomorrow, so need to go take care of the rest of my business (deposits, etc. for my neighbor to do for me), buy groceries, fill prescriptions and CUT GRASS! (its grey and stormy looking here today...maybe the grass won't get done. I'll just finish vacuuming, then). I'm taking my laptop, so maybe I'll feel like keeping in touch.
Janet and Zibby, where do you live, cuz up here in Maine we had TORNADO WARNINGS! Very rare for us. Lots of wind damage. More really active weather for me to observe from my chair today.
Kadee! You're back! So relieved that you are ok. You really had us worried there girlfriend! Glad to hear that your DH is going back to ALF. As far as his possible acting out, better at the ALF than at home with you. Remind me of his dx, my mind is fuzzy from the back pain meds :o)
Jen, my grass needs cutting, but we will have to waite till the rain stops. The boys are getting bored, and school isn't even out! Maybe I'll send them down for riding lessons!
My husband's first couple days of day care went well but it sure is alot more driving before and after work. I am tired. have noticed, though, he is a bit more off his game this weekend and getting up really early (usually my quiet time).
Last night my 180 pound DH put on my size small turtleneck sweater over his sweater and shirt! Also my jewelry and socks started all showing up all over the house in unusual locations. I hate to say I am looking forward to Monday,daycare, and going back to work, which is a pretty high stress environment!
Well, my back is telling me that I need to really stay off my feet for a couple days. It is so much tougher at home as my Mom needs so much help with the boys. DD is not much help unless she is in the mood. Usually she is all about her. Feeling frustrated at being so helpless.
Susan, take care of you....bored kids? Get them into 4-H! Riding lessons, anything like camp around there? I'd LOVE to teach them lessons......right now, I have to make calls to some kids that I had begun teaching, find another instructor to take them on Tuesdays. Geez.....phone call just now. I have to be at the hospital at FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE FREAKING MORNING!!! Later. Jen
I live 1/2-way between Chicago & Indianapolis in a woods betwixt 2 small towns; 45' north of Lafayette where support groups are available--if I can connect.
Thanks Jen, I never thought about 4-H, I will look into it. Hey another lb today 19!!!!!! Wahoo. Back still very sore, really slow healing this time, aghhh.
19 pounds, great. That will help your back in the long run. I know if I had less stomach my back would feel better. One Monday morning I am going to start a diet but not today. A neighbor brought me some chocolate cake.
Lois, you're the resident gardner here. I didn't get around to pruning the few rose bushes in the spring, and I have a lot of branch growth but not as many blooms as usual. Is it too late to prune them back now? Maybe give them some steer manure? (The boys scouts sold it to me years ago, and there it still sits, growing worms.)
good afternoon from steamy hot humid Texas! had lots of company along with 5 grandkids and stepgrandkids under 10! DH did very well and seemed to enjoy the activity- we had grandaughters graduation party and lunch out so it was a very busy weekend. it surely feels lonely once everyone leaves!
on que the squirrlels came for their goodies much to the kids delight. squirrley was especially captivating and allowed them to lay on the carpet in front of the glass door and taunt her endlessly without moving. they giggled and watched her be the perfect pestguest. haha. then they dutifully watched me feed her peanut butter sammich and howled while she stood there eating it within 6in of the glass. she has become quite laid back as you can see to endure this torture. (G). then of course all the others randomly showed up and got a treat as well. one of the kids left the door cracked open and i nearly had heart failure. not 2min after i shut it scooby showed up. i know he'd have had no qualms coming right into the house! eeek. of course everyone got a finger wag!! haha.
lots of laundry and cleanup day. hope your week goes well. divvi
We had some bad storms and tornado watches here in southwest PA over the weekend also. Today is downright cool. Weather can't seem to make up its mind.
Mary, thanks for the recomendation, but I have a garden but am NOT a gardener. My DH was the avid gardener in the family. I do not have the proverbial green thumb. I do know a little but nothing about roses. Actually I have a rose bush like yours and will watch for someone to advise us.
I asked my husband tonight about the late pruning of roses, and although it took him awhile to think about it, he said, "It will be okay as long as you leave on enough leaves, so that they can get sunlight and nourishment." It makes sense to me, and I'll put it on my list of things to do.
mary75---I'm no gardener either and have been having a time getting my roses pruned in a timely way. This year they got pruned in April. They're flowering now, but not abundantly. Spread rose food 2 weeks ago and will again later in the summer. In the past ths has happened and if i can follow upo with a proper pruning in the Fall, They shlould give me a bumper cop of blooms next Spring. They did the last time this happened. Coolest 2 things about these is their wonderful light scent--not the usual heavy one, and they send out roots and baby bushes come up--not always in the flower beds. Flowers are varying shade of light pink.
Mary75: I'm somewhat of a gardener. Actually, I'm a late-blooming gardener, hated to garden when the kids were young, felt I had other things to do that were more important.
Anyway, I prune the rosebushes in the spring, probably late April, beginning of May, whenever spring begins, which is rather late where I live. I prune the canes later when they need it, say when one of them is growing like crazy and the bush looks off-balance. I think you should prune the dead canes from the winter, since having them takes away the nourishment from the rest of the plant, which is probably why you're not getting much in the way of leaves or flowers. So, I say prune the brown ones now. I don't think it's too late to do that.
Roses can be pruned anytime although fall or spring are the best. They will come back either way unless you prune them to the ground!! I was always told to prune just about a leaf with 5 petals on it. Then I heard it doesn't matter so take your choice.
Lovely day here in NH.We drove to Hampton Beach and went for a walk. The beach is pretty but not like the Pacific. No shells or kelp scattered like we have on the Oregon Coast and the waves are smaller. I know up in Maine it is more like Oregon's. then we drove to the campground we worked at in 2006, met the new owners and toured the campground. Hb remembered probably 1/2 of it so that lets me know his memory loss is slowly progressing.
He only remembers about 1/2 of the funeral - not the breakdowns thank goodness. He has done a lot of sleeping which I expected - combo of jet lag and the stress of it all. As I read Peggy's news of her Craig dying I could really feel the pain - the pain I was feeling as the pastor said my FIL's name which is also my hb's name. I guess since there will be no funeral when he dies, I can look at as his too - just early. I know - morbid isn't it?
Not sure what we will do tomorrow - I will enjoy today.
Gardening's the theme for me too. Birthday present for myself was to have bamboo planted along the sidewalk next to our house on both sides. We live on the side of a hill so it's 7 feet down to the planting bed from the sidewalk and our yards are visible to all the passersby (this is a tourist town), but soon the bamboo will fill in and we'll have some privacy. It already looks nice. I know all about how invasive it is and have researched it for the past two years and think I'm okay as it will run into stone walls in either direction. I just wish my back could withstand this gardening on the hillside. Bought this house a couple years ago totally for the setting as I was looking for my "garden of eden" and it has great potential, but lots of worki getting there. The workers came out three separate times today trying to work between the thunderstorms.
On Lord, BAMBOO! I hate bamboo! We have very invasive bamboo on the middle level of our tri-level yard and we cannot keep up with removing it. Not sure what my brother has in mind for this project, but because we have the Bear River running along the lower level we have restrictions on what chemicals we can use!
Back is still sore, going to my women's support group tonight, but will need to be driven. OH! DOWN ANOTHER 2 POUNDS TODAY! 21 POUNDS AND COUNTING! I'm melting away!
Marsh - welcome back or are you still on your trip?
There are variegated bamboo that does not spread. If you have the spreading the best way to control, when already planted, is to drive a barrier beside the bed. It needs to go down 3 feet or if you can't go that far as far as you can). This will prevent the majority of roots from spreading out. If you are planting new bamboo, put the barrier in before planting. It will never stop it all (short of a concrete box in the ground) but it will help a lot.
HB slept in until noon, took me an hour to get him to go eat (I even slept thru the breakfast at the hotel). Now I am trying to think of something to do this afternoon instead of sitting in the hotel room the rest of the day. Tonight we hope to go visit his sister after she gets home from day care and has her dinner. Tomorrow night we go out to dinner with his brother,sil, sister and 2 niece. That should be exhausting but good.
Susan good job on the weight loss. I can see it gives your sadness a boost.
What is called bamboo a lot up here is Japanese knotweed, very invasive. The only way to stop it, truly, is to put old carpet over it for a few years, you can then put soil on top of that and make a flower garden.. I have a friend who did that and really kept after any shoots, and finally it gave in. Otherwise it's a never-ending battle.
Roses respond very well to a banana peel put in the ground near them. Pruning - I prune dead stuff back in the spring and all through the summer as well as cutting back errant branches when needed. They bloom well so I must be doing something right.
Susan - congrats on the weight loss - does this mean that clouds have silver linings? Hurt back, eat well, weight loss........
Beautiful morning - its clouding up now. My clemantis is growing very well, I had to add more ties so that it could continue to climb the top of the trellis. I planted a red clemanis and a white one together last year. They are doing very well - I really like the combination of the flowers. My mother used to cut three of them and put them in an oversized brandi snifter floating around. It always looked so pretty.
Congrats on weight loss Susan. I LOVE MY BAMBOO. I've been thinking about it and pondering and researching for two years. I had it planted in beds on each side of our house bordering the sidewalk. The barriers are the STONE and CONCRETE on each side of planting beds, so invasion issues covered.
I have a very old clematis in the front garden of my house. It is a very hardy plant and every year it grows like crazy. I cut all the dead vines off in the spring and let it grow from the bottom to the top. The flowers are white and huge. People stop and ask me about it often, one lady asked if she could have a cutting of it.
But, to the gardeners out there: After the first beautiful bloom the earwigs start attacking it and eat the flowers before they can even get to their glory state! Could someone tell me what to do about earwigs?
There are a lot of insecticides and pesticides on the market that will kill earwigs. Sprays are generally not as effective as granule and residual earwig treatments. For basic earwig control and even treatment of large earwig infestations, both an indoor and outdoor earwig control regiment should be instituted. Boric acid powder, insecticide dusts, and other earwig powders and dusts containing pyrethrins are effective earwig control agents in the home. Outside of the home, earwig control agents should be spread 6–10 feet from the foundation outwards, all the way around your home. This type of earwig control is made more effective if sprayed lightly with water to help the poison seep into the ground (2–3 inches) where earwigs generally lay their eggs.
Will have dinner with his brother,sil, sister, nieces tonight then fly home tomorrow. I will be glad to get back to my motorhome and bed. It has been good being away from the stress with my sister but trying to get him out of the motel room is hard. He will go if I think of something to do, but I get tired of thinking up things so I sit at my computer.
It was raining when we left Portland and arrived in Manchester - will be raining/showers tomorrow when we leave and same in Portland. Oh well!!! nice weather in between.
Thanks so much, Charlotte! I've tried sprays, dish soap with water, cayenne pepper, but I haven't tried dusting the ground. Boric acid powder sounds like a good one to try. Thanks again.
Just got back from two days babysitting with the granddaughters, and had another "escape" incident. On the first evening we were ready to drive home at twilight, walked out the front door with DH, each of us carrying a tote bag with the stuff we had brought in case we decided to spend the night. I turned back a moment to wave goodbye to the baby at the front door, and when I turned around DH was nowhere to be seen. Thought he would be near the car, parked a ways down the street (a section of the street had been blocked off when we came in the morning, but DH had kept his eye on the car all day and knew just where it was). But when I got there, still no DH. So i drove in all directions, thinking he must have made a wrong turn, be waiting beside the wrong car, etc. no luck. Back to the house, called the police and they sent out two motorbikes and two cars to search the area. Neighbors went out on bikes, and also my DIL (carrying babyphone). I waited in front of the house and alerted everyone who came by on bike or walking. (Several people out walking dogs made an extra round for us). He was found after almost two hours -- the police were ready to put out a nation-wide (remember, Holland is a very tiny country) missing person's alert when a passing motorist called in a sighting of a man in short pants carrying a bright orange bag walking along the expressway. He was bathed in sweat under his jacket and had scratches on his bare legs, had no idea what was going on. Told the police he was going "home." The next morning he had forgotten all about it (we didn't drive home but stayed the night) and was very pleasant and cooperative all day, smiling at the baby and playing ball with the two-year old. The police, as usual, were all very friendly and helpful. They all seem so young. One kid young enough to be my grandson (well, if I had married younger) suggested that I have DH placed because maybe pretty soon it was all going to be too much for me! He was very earnest.
We were tired last night but hb woke up this morning feeling more refreshed than I did. I have been tired all day. Went to the chiropractor which helped with the aching back from all the plane riding and airport sitting. Glad to be home. Now for decisions what to do in the future. I hate it that the relationship that was rebuilt with my sister has now been destroyed (something happened back in the 70s and it wasn't until about 2004 that I approached her). It is not so much the situation with my son but more the personality changes that occurred from the stroke. That and the short term memory loss that has caused the most problems cause she forgets, denies causing problems then remembers the original later and denies the middle section. You would think having a hb with short term memory loss (except he doesn't remember) I would be more patient/understanding? but she gets so angry and nasty between the beginning and ending of the memory problem.
We have the promise of sunshine and warm temps this weekend.
Sorry Jeanette about the wandering. I can only imagine how frightening it was. Yesterday in the airport hb went to the bathroom. After 10 minutes I started getting worried, then 15. When I tried his cell he had not turned it on. Even though he has not gotten lost like that, there is going to be a first time. Turns out he took a wrong turn but eventually found his way back. So glad it was in a terminal not very busy or many people. My incident was small, I can only imagine what yours must have been like. Listen to that young man - something has to be done. If not placement yet, some form of tracking device.
Thunderstorm passed through; probably more later. I like them during daylight hours and if not too severe. Picky, picky. Today granddaughter brought great-grandson (9 mos) and stayed w/hb while I visited w/friends. Nice. She said he went to bed shortly after I left and got up about 30' before I got home. I was gone 3 hrs; so her "visit" wasn't too bad.
This a.m. I asked hb to sign a birthday card for "Adam." Hb: Who's he? I explained he's our oldest grandson, and hb said, "Oh." Then I said, "Happy Anniversary; we've been married 49 years." And he responded, you guessed it: "Oh."
Hoping to figure out a way to unwind today. One downside of my husband being in day care is he gets up by 6am on the weekends too, which used to be my quiet time. Oh well, could be worse, but I am more nervous about sneaking our for a early walk now.
Yesterday was another one of those "three shirts, with a ski jacket on, two pairs of trousers," kind of days. And everything keeps disappearing...Aargh!
dog, sounds like your hb and mine are "reading" the same programme;O I found his wallet in the pillowcase when I was doing laundry. He hasn't mentioned it; so I've tucked it away. Didn't want to get ready for church this a.m.--probably as he'd already put his mismatched socks and layers on--added to, I should say; he sleeps in layers of clothes, too. Whatever, that's (layered look) not something I concern myself anymore UNLESS we're going out. Foggy skies today to match our brains; I don't feel like doing anything.
Hey, today is a day that it's okay not to wanna do anything!! I need my friends here to e-mail me. New computer and laptop. I haven't been able to figure out a simple issue until now...how to add addresses to my contact list. Previously, it was automatic. Okay, I've figured it out, though. I was over-thinking it all.
Today, I want to be left alone by my neighbors...isn't that awful? Just need to be checked on a couple of times...not overwhelmed with care. Figure I'll get better faster if I'm left on my own now. Today it's cloudy and VERY hot. It looks like more thunder boomers are in the forecast (so.west VA). The farm across the way has had thier hayfields baled...it is so beautiful to look out upon. I love living here, even with all the work.
Neighbor's grand-daughter is here and helping me with the barn and working with one of my ponies. Thank Goodness!!! Love you all! Have a simple and restful day.
Today is our 51st anniversary..whoopee! I was up most of the night with sick pup, so had a slow start, but decided to go for it, and we had a bottle of Champus as of days gone by..he had w/ OJ, but I at least enjoyed it..did he? Who knows! Not much of a celebration.