May, 2011

It has been so windy and dry around here. Every day we get "red flag alerts" which means dry and subject to fires. We haven't had even one drop of rain all this year; and the midwest has way more rain than they need. Mother Nature sure is strange!

Nothing much new going on around here. I have ordered some Marquis Grape vines to plant to replace some of the nice green vines that we had and were destroyed by that awful deep freeze we had in February. Otherwise, most of our desert cacti and succulants are doing fine. I was worried about our ocotillo, but is has turned green and looks great.

Mother's Day was great around here, none of the kids were here, but Stewart sent me a cash gift and bought me a nice big chocolate cake with red roses on top and it said "Happy Mother's Day Mom"..delicious. Teresa sent me some chocolate covered strawberries which I dearly love and Phyllis sent me a large houseplant which I truly needed because all my other ones were killed. So it was a happy time for me. I enjoyed talking online with some dear old friends from many years ago. Time changes us all, but it is so good to talk to people that once played such an important part in my life. When I say "talk", I really mean writing on Facebook. I dearly cherish all my Facebook friends.

April and NO showers

March went by quickly for us. February was a short calendar month, but seemed to us to last forever. April is going pretty good so far. We need rain in the worst possible way. Daily the weather bureau gives us fire alerts because of the wind and very low humidity. I love the sunshine, but our region is a tenderbox, just waiting for something to start a fire. New Mexico is having some fires not too far from here, one in the Gila and one over in the Ruidoso area. I don't think that Luna county has had a drop of rain this year.

Nothing new to report. Kids and grandkids appear to be doing well. Grandson Nicholas will begin studying at VCU in the Fall. He is such an artistic talent, and I know he will do well. Everyone else is just busy working and making life best as they can. Son Stewart has moved to a new location in Tucson and I am anxious to see some pictures!

We are well, pops and me. I'm having a little arthritis pain, but so what? Just a couple of otc pain pills work just fine. Haven't been blogging much because really I haven't any real news. We are enjoying our kitty very much. We have always had dogs and this little cat is such fun, hungry all the time. I think she is spoiled because she can do no wrong.

Wishing you all a happy Springtime. Hubby is still trimming the dead stuff off many of our shrubs due to that awful deep freeze we had in February. I hear that the freeze killed off over half of the Palm trees, here and in Las Cruces. It is recommended that the palm trees that we all plant be California Fan palms instead of the faster growing Mexican Palms. Live and learn the hard way huh? Some of those trees were 40-50 years old.

Hawk was here today!

We had a "sharp-shinned hawk" come visiting and was sitting on our fence. They are year 'round residents, but we have never seen one that close to us, it could see us sitting on the porch! We think the many small birds that came to eat our birdseed, was the attraction. However, it may have been it's intention, but the small birds just took off immediately when the hawk arrived. It was unnerving for us to see a bird of prey so near our doors.

Our temp is to be 82F here today. Spring is official this Sunday but it has been "springlike" for a couple of weeks now. Our fruit trees are in bloom and hubby just went to Walmart to get some fertilizer for them. He has fertilized the roses already. So many of our shrubs look awful after that deep freeze last month. We just don't know if we can save any of them.

Nothing new happening here, and that is indeed good news. Take care all and enjoy your Spring!

March 2011

I really hope that this month is better than last month! February was the pits. We had that horrible deep freeze that killed much of the local flora. Also our town had frozen water pipes of epic proportions, every other home had some water damage. We were without running water for 7 days total. So I am glad that is done and over with and then my computer modem (qwest) went down and I had to send it off for repairs. I guess I thought they could just repair it online, but no and worse yet, I sent it to a wrong address and it was sent back and then I had to resend it. I hope the rest of this month shapes up. Our weather forecast shows 70s and upward all next week so thank goodness for that. My telephone is vonage and it has also been OFF since it is dependent on my internet connection. I went out a bought a little tracfone and am having trouble activating it, don't know why. You know, life gets much harder when you get older..that is all I can say about that.

So anyway, I sure hope life has been better for the rest of you. I see that my friend Lyn was having water problems;( but who hasn't. Have good days people and enjoy Springtime!!!!

January 2011

This picture is just a little part of my Cherokee heritage, my great grandfather on my mother's side was a full blooded Cherokee. Although, the Cherokees don't care much for bloodlines, mostly they follow geneology via names.

We are in the middle of January and one thing I can say, winter has been on the mild side. Our elevation gives us very cold nights, otherwise it would be like Fall in most parts of the country. We are looking at about 10 days of 60+ - 70+ weather, very nice. I am due to receive some books from my bookclub, and I plan to sit outside and read my books, fun time!

I have been watching "In-Session" on tv lately. I am fascinated by the trial currently underway where the Arab doctor murdered his Italian-American wife by lacing her calcium caps with cyanide.:(

Otherwise, all is about the same here. I'm a little concerned about Floyd's memory, think I had better talk with his doctor about it. Which reminds me, our best friends David and Betty Watson have left for Fresno, CA where they will live with one of David's grandsons. Apparently this grandson really wants them there and has the room and funds to be able to care for them. Betty has Alzheimer's and David has lung cancer, so, crap happens with us old folks. Makes me want to cry but David is tough and I have no doubt that if this doesn't work out, he will just make other arrangements.

I am looking forward to this coming week and the milder weather. I always love the sunshine.

Looking forward to 2011

I don't know why, but I always look forward to a new year. At my age, you would think that I would want time to stand still. I guess it seems like a new beginning, a fresh start. All is well here, no complaints. Christmas came and went and we enjoyed it. Up until Christmas Eve, we had mostly low 70s as a daily high, but that didn't last. No rain here at all, but some clouds off and on. Much colder nights, but this being a high desert, we expect that. Seems that all family members are doing ok what with this recession hitting some worse than others. This too shall pass.

I enjoy the western channel on Encore and they are having a 24 hour Wagon Train marathon on Dec. 31 and then beginning Jan 1st, they are having Wagon Train episodes every afternoon, like they do The Virginian. Looking forward to that. I love my cowboys, lol.

Healthwise, we are about the same. I have been eating too much sugar this past week, but a little insulin helps. No plans for New Years except to watch the Rose Bowl Parade, a little football and some yummy snacks. I certainly wish all of my FB friends and all my family and otherwise friends a wonderful 2011.

Quiet Christmas

Hope everyone enjoys their Christmas holiday this year. We plan to be at home and enjoy a peaceful time with good food, our pets and lots of nap time, lol. How boring ,huh? Oh well, it works for us.