Lucie Tails.

I am back guest posting on juliannah’s blog. I learned about guest posting by checking out the interwebs with juliannah’s red box that she always has on her lap. Well, maybe not always since she leaves in the morning and comes back hours later to free me and Buddy from the self imposed prison crates.

She still does not know I can get out. We will just keep that a secret ok? So if you want to read more adventures, please take it with you to your grave!

So Buddy and I were having a nice weekend, you know relaxing on the floor, begging for nachos and such. Then along came Sunday. I like Sundays, because I do not have to go in the prison crate. The only thing is juliannah stays in bed well after the sun has come up. Hey, I might have to pee or something! At least Buddy howls and we get a chance to relieve ourselves.

So this weekend, juliannah tried to cut my beautiful fingernails. I like my fingernails. I am a woman after all. Plus, they come in handy when I want to dig the occasional hole in the backyard. I am a dog too after all. I must apologize for the gash that I left in juliannah’s arm, but seeing that contraption clipping thing coming at my toes scared the crapola out of me. And, I do not care if Buddy is too little to revolt! Alas, I am not. I heard juliannah and Corvette talking about some one called groomer. And a muzzle. This does not sound pretty.

Well, that is it for now. I can be found hiding out under the bed. Toenails intact.



See How My Garden Grows – A Summer Series

I have learned much this summer. I live in a very hot and arid climate. I learned that I can not plant in a normal way. Tomatoes and peppers need to go in when the mesquite tress are green. Corn and snap beans, after the heat of summer. Definity do not plant cucumbers and zucchini together. Monster plants.

I am going try gardening year round to find what works best. I will gather information hopefully I can come up with a better plan. My corn is basically shot because the sun burned it up. I surprised it did not start popping itself.

There are a few stalks that seem ok, but not many.

The aspargus is very happily climb the bean polls.

The cucumbers have taken over. I fear I will outside someday and be swollowed whole. I better keep a better eye on my Chihuahua.

More pepper flower that have since I too these photos have turned to little pepper buds.

The zuccini has plenty of yellow flowers, but so far no zuccini emerging. They are also threatening a takeover.

The tomatoes are giving it their best shot.

Here is a little cucmber trying to stay hydrated.

That is about it. I have me some dead corn to pull up.

See How My Garden Grows – Summer Series

I am afraid my garden has an enemy. It should be a friend but it has turned evil and must be halted. What it the enemy? The sun. Yes, it is the sun. Out here in the Desert Southwest the sun can literally cook an egg on the pavement. I have seen it.

So the plan is to provide shade for the garden. Show I went to the home improvement store and bought this.

Corvette will put it up and now my lovely little veggies might have a fighting chance. I am still learning how to garden here in this heat from Hell.

Here is a few photos from my garden.

Look at that cucumber!

Mucho corn tassles!

Check out that cucumber

This was supposed to be lettuce. Do not know what went wrong. Hopefully next week will be better. This is leaving the building. Now.

You Capture – Fun

This was hard, even though I had fun this past week, but I did not capture too many good photos. Oh well here goes.

It is fun to eat good food.

It is fun to watch your granddaughter open birthday presents. Happy 9th Birthday my Butterfly!

And, it is fun to blog, on my pretty, red Dell laptop!

I did not have much time to edit, but hopefully you will get the idea.

Stop by I Should Be Folding Laundry for some more fun.

See How My Garden Grows – Summer Series

Well, the summer heat has hit the Desert Southwest. It is about 104 degrees as I type this. I spent last evening soaking my garden in defense of the heat. I will be out later, once again soaking in an effort to hope the heat does not fry my garden. Tomorrow’s forecast is 107 degrees. Pray I am successful. Check out my latest photos.

Tomatoes are finally starting to bear.

I have Snap Beans!

Another shot of my beans and lettuce.

Another snap bean.

Hot Pepper Flowers

Artichoke

Very pretty. Like it.

Happiness Project – Lucie

This is my first time participating the Leigh’s Happiness Project over at Leigh vs. Laundry. Thanks so much for inviting me Leigh. We can not have too much happiness in our life.

This is Lucie,  my big red dog. Yes, I always refer to her as “my big, red dog.” Why? Because she is and she reminded me of Clifford the big, red dog when I rescued her over a year ago.

She is about a year and a half old and still a big puppy. She loves to play and dig (bad dog) and junp on people (pretty much cured that with a spray bottle!)

All in all, I love her lots and she returns the sentiments everyday. Thanks for visiting from the Happiness Project and please leave a comment and tell me about the pet you absolutely love!

See How My Garden Grows – Summer Series

My garden is doing well despite 100 degree weather. Trust me, I spend a lot of time with the garden hose these days. I was happy to see that my snap beans are bearing.

I like this shot because I accidently created Depth Of Field without even trying to!

Here is another shot of the cucumber flower. Waiting for actual cucumbers.

My corn is nearly a foot tall now.  So exciting!!!

Just another shot of my beans, carrots and Asian radish, which I need to check because I think they may be ready for harvest.

Topsey Turvy Strawberry: Weapon of Mass Destruction

So, for Mother’s Day I received a Topsey Turvy Strawberry thingamajig. What I really wanted was a strawberry pot. You know, the pots with multiple openings for the strawberry plants. Well, Corvette only went to one store and then gave up the search. I was a little disappointed, but I accepted it and bought the plants and put them in the thingamajig.

I did not water it until after we hung it since it would become heavy after watering. Guess what? It was heavy even without the water. We hung it up and I watered it and that was that. I watered it about every two days since them because it it nearing 100 degrees here these days.

The other night Corvette was telling me that we should put another line on because the line was stretching. I said, we can take care of it this weekend. Yesterday I was watering the berries as usual and I put the hose in the top and just let it run. It is hot outside and I do not want stand and hold that hose up to it. I went in the house to do a few things and a bit later, maybe 10 minutes, I came back out and this is what I saw.

The Topsey fell right into a pot of pansies and the pansies exploded all over my back porch. At first sight I thought, “Oh no”, but then I just started laughing. As you can see, my big red dog, Lucie was a bit shocked too!

Well, I man handled the Topsey out of the pot and yes, it is much heavier when wet! Here are my poor pansies. Kind of looks like a crater in the pot.

Unbelievably, some of the pansies actually survived the impact.

As for the Topsey Turvy thingamajig, it presently resides on the back porch, awaiting a METAL line to hang it on.

Note to Corvette; Next Mother’s Day, just find the strawberry pot. Please!

As a side note, Corvette also wants the TP tomato planter and the TP Hot Pepper Planter.

Nooooooooooooo!

Cooking From Scratch.

I just started growing herbs a few weeks ago. I have basil, thyme, oregano, cilantro, chives, parsley and rosemary. So far I used the basil and cilantro. I must admit that fresh herbs are so much more flavorfull than the dried version from the super market.

Now I am on a quest to find more recipes that use fresh herbs. This fits in perfectly with my plan to only cook from scratch. For the last 2 weeks I succeeded in making meals from scratch. It definitly saved money. I normally spend anywhere from $60 to $80 a week for groceries and my bill was around $40 for the cooking from scratch weeks.

I am also going to make bread this weekend. Years ago, when I was a young SAHM, I baked bread by hand all the time. This was before bread machines came on the scene. I do have a bread machine, but I am just going to use the dough cycle and then bake in the oven so I can have horizontal loaves instead of vertical.

I wish I had more time to devote to my new endeavor, but I work full time and there is only so many hours in the day. Maybe I will win the lottery one day so I can go back to being a housewife again. hah

I will be taking photos and post them here and over at Life is a Box of Chocolates for my weekly Sunday Brunch edition.

You Capture – Depth of Field

This week’s assignment was Depth of Field. I must admit, my camera can not do that, but I did google how to do it in Photoshop and luckily, I found a way. Also, I think I now have a new obsession. Thanks Beth for once again challenging us.

This is an Anthurim. I love the tropical feel to this flower. Makes my Desert Southwest home a little softer.

This is a rose bush that was given to us when our Lab, Genie of 13 years passed away. Our neighbors at the time brought the roses. Very much appreciated gesture. Also, yellow roses were the flowers at my wedding 31 years ago.

This is my corn that is growing in a crate that my homie girls at work went out of there way to get for me.