Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Today's Update - 27 May 2015

Unfortunately my father's health has had another set back and I'm in the midst of helping my parents.  We did get them moved in with us but little else has been accomplished.  Will try and update further in the next day or two.

I have been working on the stories so check the usual suspects.  The links for the stories in motion are on the right hand side of the page:
  • A Bunch of Wild Thyme
  • Emi on the Caloosahatchee
  • Zombies Aren't Real ... Are They?!
  • Dark Days
I'm still doing a reread of Up On Hartford Ridge and hope to get additions to that started soon.  Right now I'm travelling daily to the hospital and don't have much internet access to load stuff up until I get home and by then I'm either exhausted or dealing with other responsibilities.  I will get things going in the right direction but I have to prioritize the needs of my parents right now.

Thanks for everyone's kind wishes and prayers.  They are appreciated and I hold them near to me during these difficult days.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Short Update - 20 May 2015

Had a nice long update but power blipped and I lost it while blogger was trying to save it.  So, just a quick one to let you know that I've been adding bits and pieces to the usual suspects.  I'm still trying to figure out why the last entry for "Geeks" won't post and show up.  May have to completely retype it.  Ugh.

My dad's recovery is going to be very slow.  Doctor's say upwards of a year.  Tentatively they will be staying with us two months, we'll re-evaluate that as that point approaches.  Hubby and I have put our summer vacation on hold but the kids will continue to do their thing.  The sacrifice is worth it if it gets my parents back on their feet physically and financially.

The links for the stories in motion are on the right hand side of the page:
  • A Bunch of Wild Thyme
  • Emi on the Caloosahatchee
  • Zombies Aren't Real ... Are They?!
  • Dark Days
I'm also doing a reread of Up On Hartford Ridge and hope to get additions to that started possibly this weekend.  Depends on the logistics of moving my parents down on Friday.

Thanks for putting up with my crazy schedule! 

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Today's Update - 5 May 2015

(That's not the sun, that is the full moon we've been experiencing.
Photo was taken about 8 pm.)
 
 
Well it if isn't one thing it is certainly going to be another.  Now on top of all of the other medical issues my father has been facing post-heart surgery he is now going to have to have gallbladder surgery.  My poor mother is at her wits end.  We are trying to get them to come live with us for at least a few weeks, and they want to, but events keep interfering.  Faith tells me to put it in God's hands and trust in His timing.  My humanity tells me to stomp around and have a hissy fit at everything getting in the way of my wants.  If this is a test of some sort I'll admit to struggling. 
 
Having nothing but good things happen doesn't make for many opportunities to become a stronger person.  Wish that wasn't the way it is but apparently that's the way the human race has turned out to be.  We need adversity and challenges to grow and be the best we can be.  Someone once said that the strongest steel is forged by the hottest fire.  I hope that is true and applicable to humans as well.  If it is then by the time life is finished forging me I should be positively "stainless."
 

I'm trying to work on writing but I'm running into challenges there as well.  I've got the last bit of "Geek" written and in draft mode but something in the formatting is having a battle with blogger.  I post it and it just isn't showing up.  Something is being read as code and I have to go through each little blurp until I find what is going on.  If I can get it posted tonight I will but I have to be honest, I'm very tired and not finding a lot of patience for something that isn't obvious.  I'll get it up as soon as I can.

Below is what I have added to.  Also, I have decided that in a few days I will start finishing the next one which will be "Hartford."  I'd like to finish that one by the end of June at the latest.  It may very well be sooner but I'm not going to even try and guess because if I have my parents to look after and have to deal with a lot of summer activities for the kids plus the business goes crazy during the summer ... you get the idea.  Let's just leave it at Hartford being the next on the list to finish.

Zombies Aren't Real ... Are They?!
 
A Bunch of Wild Thyme
 
Emi on the Caloosahatchee
 
Today's vids have absolutely no purpose beyond entertainment.  My brain is positively fried which sent me off in a weird direction on the internet.  From one search to another and then another ... I fell into looking at what all could be deep fried.  Trust me, you don't want to know.  There is one channel on youtube where this guy deep fries positively everything.  The ones that I'm posting aren't quite that bad but should give some of you a giggle.
 
Deep Fried Pickles
 
Deep Fried Mashed Potatoes
 
Deep Fried Butter On A Stick
 
Deep Fried Oreos
 
 
 

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Today's Update - 3 May 2015

(Three of the palms in my front yard.  They are much taller than you can tell from this picture.  In the wind they sway and the sound of the fronds rubbing together is almost hypnotic.)
 
 
Yesterday was been what my father would call a long day at black rock.  Add to that a full moon bringing all the crazies out and you can imagine how work came hand over fist.  Day didn't start off too bad but about 1:30 it is like the bottom dropped out of everyone's minds.
  
Had a softball game at 8 am.  Weather was cool with only a little wind but the ball was wet by the dew on the field.  Didn't seem like the girls could keep a hold of the flaming thing.  Then halfway through they finally came alive and my Sporty Girl hit two doubles and a home run with an RBI of 9 for the game.  Not too shabby.  Not too shabby at all.  And that's with a sore knee where she got capped by a low line drive at Thursday's practice.  Came home and the man was there to fix the sprinklers.  We could have done it but the guy owed us a few bucks on an AC he nicked the copper line on while doing some landscaping.  It was a good barter.
 
But by 1 pm the day began sliding.  Everyone seemed to want everything three days before they ask for it.  Too many people with excuses why they weren't going to have the rent until the end of the month and didn't want to pay the late payment.  We had one break in to a unit we were getting ready for a new move in and we suspect the former tenant's brother but with no proof there isn't a thing we can do about it but suck it up.  Work day wasn't over with until almost midnight. 
 
Came home to try and find some good things after a hard day and what do I see when I pull in?  Our magnolia tree starting to rock some blooms.
 


Then I round the walk and my gardenia bush is just loaded as well.


And then right at the door there is a beautiful hibiscus.


It was a blessing that I needed and refreshed me.  But obviously not enough that I could write last night.  LOL!  Here is what I have been able to update thus far today:

Zombies Aren't Real ... Are They?!
 
A Bunch of Wild Thyme
 
Emi on the Caloosahatchee
 
Geek Inherit the Earth
(I hope to have this up before the end of the day.  Blogger is pitching a fit about some hidden formatting in the file that I need to find.)

Today's videos have to do with the fact that you likely have an edible landscape whether you realize it or not, all you need is a little investigation.  One of these days I hope to find ways to make most of the things in my yard edible or useful in some other way. 

The first vid is on making homemade hibiscus tea.

 
 



Friday, May 1, 2015

Today's Update - 1 May 2015

(Jasmine blooms from my garden.)
 
 
Not a huge update tonight.  Beginning of the month so the business is taking most of my time.  My father is also getting out of rehab earlier than expected so we are in a rush to figure out how things are going to work out.
 
Here's the story updates for today:
 
Zombies Aren't Real ... Are They?!
 
A Bunch of Wild Thyme
 
Emi on the Caloosahatchee
 
Geek Inherit the Earth
 
I hope to have "Geek" finished this weekend.  I had to break up some of the parts because of length so that is what is taking the extra time.
 
Sorry there isn't more but at least I got the stories posted.
 
Enjoy!  And have a great weekend!