On the road with The Four G’s

For a few years, myself and three good friends got together for the occasional Road Trip.  And, they were fun – we laughed, looked at pretty things, learned something new, and generally were a little silly. 

Our first trip was to Rockport and the Annual Hummingbird Festival.  I’ve mentioned the Hummingbird Festive previously – usually takes place in September when the Hummers begin their long journey across the Gulf of Mexico to the Yucatan.  A trip of nearly 600 miles.  We learned things there.

Another was to Wimberly, San Marcos, and Gruene.  We were there in time for Wimberly’s Market Days.  We laughed a lot, ooh’s and aah’d over things.

 Wimberly

 San Marcos

Gruene

I think our biggest Road Trip was to Marshall, TX with a stop in Gladewater (the antique capital of East Texas, a favorite tourism spot browsing through the quaint old buildings, over 200 antique and crafter's in over 30 antique malls and individual shops, bed and breakfast inns, restaurants, bakeries and down-home entertainment). 

The primary purpose was to go to Marshall Pottery to buy, yes, terracotta pots.  Three of us were members of the garden club and we had plans to teach a “build a potman” class.  So, we needed pots – lots of pots, lots of different sized pots.

We stayed at The Dixie Motel Bed and Breakfast - an inspiring and unique bed and breakfast located in Gladewater's antique district. With a retro '50's style decor and design, it takes you back to a simpler time.  Cool.

Next day we went on to Marshall Pottery.  Whoa – lotsa pots!  Made our purchases, loaded up the truck (we learned things here – like it took a woman’s hand because two men couldn’t figure it out how to get everything into the truck!).

There were other trips that I’ll talk about another day.  Lots of fun, lots of laughter.

Take care

The Four G's.
Gorgeous Gadabout Gardening Gals

So many books, so little time.

I’ve never belonged to a Book Club – the kind where a group all read the same book and have discussions on the story as it unfolds.  Mostly because I don’t always like the reading list choices.  But, I have read several very good books lately so I thought I’d share.

 Origin by Dan Brown

This is the 5^th Robert Langdon book - Harvard professor of symbology who, with the help of the beautiful Spanish Ambra Vidal, museum director of the Guggenheim, tries to not only solve the murder of rich and famous tech-guy, Edmond Kirsch, but also find out the amazing discovery made by Kirsch.  A discovery that would set the religious world on its ear.  It’s a good book.  Lots of action, several back-stories on characters bringing everyone together in one big finish, and well written although I thought it was very wordy.  Still, if you enjoy the Langdon books, this is a good one.

Dragon Teeth by Michael Crichton

First of all, I like Michael Crichton’s work.  I’ve read a bunch of his books.  It was a sad thing when he died in 2008.  This is the 3^rd book to be published since his death and my personal feeling is that it should have stayed in a file someplace.  I found it tiresome to read.  The book takes place in the late 1800’s and is about William Johnson, a rich, ne’er-do-well Yale student who, it seems, is going to college to drink, gamble, and do stupid things.  On the whim of a bet he heads off to the American West to catch up with paleontologist Othniel Marsh to hunt up dinosaur bones.  What he finds is hard work, outlaws, dust storms, prospectors that will shoot first and ask questions later, war with native tribes, and general chaos.  Along the way he goes from being a useless rich kid to a tough and experienced explorer.  I don’t like books I have the struggle to finish reading.  This was one of those for me.

Hidden Legacy Series

 By Ilona Andrews

Ilona Andrews is a wife/husband (Ilona and Andrew Gordon) writing team.  And, yes, the books border on being a bit romancey though not as much as the titles would lead you to believe.  Nevada Baylor is a private detective in a world similar to ours but different.  In her

world, there are magic users with an array of powers specific to bloodlines.  These magic users are the Primes - they own wealthy corporations, run politics, and fight with one another.  The three books are funny, full of action and flashy magic, and enjoyable.  Titles are: Burn for Me, White Hot, and Wildfire.  Don’t let the titles or jacket art work put you off!

They have also written the Kate Daniel books, a series of really great books where the characters are demi-gods, shapeshifters, necromancers, vampires, magic users, warriors, and such.  You should try these also but read them in order.

One more light and very enjoyable …..

 Gone Gull by Donna Andrews

This is the most recent book in the Meg Langslow series.  Now – you should really start at the beginning of the series – Murder with Peacocks – because Meg, her family, and the town of Caerphilly, VA all move along in time.  Again, a very good bunch of books - light, funny mysteries.

Meg Langslow is working with her grandmother to open Biscuit Mountain Craft Center, a facility that offers week-long classes in everything from blacksmithing to oil painting.  A rash of vandalism is plaguing the craft center and it leads to a murder.  Meg is trying to track down the vandal and murderer in order to keep the craft center in business.

I’ve read several others in the past months but I’ll stop here for now.

Take care.

PS I recently reread the first Pern books by Anne McCaffrey  – Dragonflight and DragonQuest, books I read back in the 1970’s.  Yep, still good.

as my father would say, Now grow damnit!

Yesterday the Fort Bend Master Gardeners had their annual Vegetable and Herb sale.  They start weeks previously with seeds, pots and dirt and wind up with pots and pots of veggies and herbs ready for the garden.  These are very knowledgeable folks and the Master Gardener program is great.

My sister and I drove to Rosenberg to the FB Fair Grounds and got in line with a goodly portion of the world to get in and chose plants.  I jumped right past all the vegetable (not the farmer) tables and headed for the herbs.  Picked up Texas Mint Marigold (the south’s version of Tarragon), Basil (2 types), Thyme, and Parsley (even tho the seeds I planted ARE coming up – yea me). 

Since we were close by, we detoured over to a local plant nursery where I got Mugwort, Hyssop, Lovage, and Lemon Thyme.  I like unusual herbs.

Today, I started planting.

I’m going to detour off topic for just a minute – Daylight Savings Time started today.  Ick.  I am a morning person.  Morning people like it to be daylight in the early morning.  And, anyway, by summer, it’s way too hot to go out and enjoy the light until 9pm – at NIGHT!

Back to  --  started planting.

This year I have two rules about plants.  Rule 1: No new flowerbeds.  No enlarging existing flowerbeds.  Anything I get has to fit into the beds I have.  Rule 2: I am considering the mature plant size when I plant a little bitty one.  I have a tendency to think – Oh, look there – an empty 6-inch space – I can put this little (fill in the blank) even tho it will grow to size 6-feet x 6-feet, right there!

 

TX mint marigold
(aka tarragon)

basil

thyme

I did find places for everything and also dug up and replanted 4 Datura, a leopard plant, repotted several things, made another hanging basket, and pulled up clover (oxalis) by the double hands full. 

amaryllis bulbs are about to
burst into bloom

 

borage looking good

All is looking pretty good.

Take care.

Bridal Wreath

dogs and Dogs

Just a couple more memories from yesterday’s dogs.

I mentioned that Sherlock (a Lhasa Apso) came into our family and immediately settled in.  His only negative trait was that he got car sick.  Like driving from the house to the end of the block.  Since he had to go to the groomer regularly, on those days he got nothing to eat and had an early morning appointment (he still had the dry heaves going to and from).  He went early, came home early and once, with four feet on the ground, immediately went to his food bowl to eat.

One trip to the groomer was a bit troublesome because there was a miscommunication of sorts.   I told them to give him a “summer cut” (as in cut it short) and they shaved him to the skin.  When I went to pick him up they brought out a dog I’d never seen before.  Are you sure this is my dog? sez I.  Doesn’t look like my dog.  Not acting like my dog.  Yes, yes, I was assured, he just had a bit of trauma with the “cut” – cage says Sherlock.  Oookkay doubtfully said.  Put said dog in the back of the station wagon and went home.  Odd, no throwing up.  Humm!  Once home, this dog ran under a sofa and refused to come out.  As I was looking for the phone number to call, it rang – groomer – ooops, gave you the wrong dog.  Yeah, I told you so.  So, I went back got my “thank god you’re here happy to see me” dog that was also shaved to the skin.  We didn’t go back there again.

Now, I wouldn’t want you to think I’m an irresponsible pet owner.  When Bandit came to live with us, he was a fully mature male dog.  MHN had never had him neutered and in fact, turned a little green whenever it was mentioned.  I believe I told you already that Bandit was a lover of all female dogs in heat (he liked people too but the problem was mostly the other thing).  After many phone calls of “please come get your dog”, I finally said – Bandit had to be fixed or go live with MHN’s parents.  Enough was enough.  Honest-to-god, it was a major deal – he (this would be the human ‘he’) whined and whimpered and fussed and boo-hoo’d.  You’d though MHN was going to the vet.  Bandit – couldn’t have cared less.  When all was done, Bandit pretty much stayed in the yard, with only the occasional trip out to sit on somebody’s car (sigh). 

As I said previously, after Gus died, I did not want another dog – ever.  We moved away from Galveston in the summer of 2004 and in November of 2004, MHN came home one day and dumped a fat little black and white puppy in my lap. 

If you don’t like her, I can take her back was his only comment.  Cheating – who doesn’t instantly fall in love with a cute little puppy.  MHN insisted on a “tough” name for her (nothing frilly or girlie) and she informed us her name was Morgaine LeFay.  (King Arthur – Camelot - powerful enchantress)  From the get-go, Morgan was a very opinionated girl.  Play – yes, play, a lot.  Play meant – I throw the ball.  She chased the ball.  She picked it up and bounced it a couple of times.  She put down the ball and pranced back to me.  And, then waited for me to get the ball and throw it again.  Well, she was an only child.  Sometime later, while I was in Arizona visiting, during a phone call to MHN, I commented that when I got home we might discuss getting another dog as a companion for Morgan.  Later that same evening, I got a call from MHN.  I got the dog, sez he.  Huh, what dog?  Morgan’s brother – so she has a playmate.  And, Merlin arrived. 

The two of them were a good match.  Morgan was bossy and Merlin was obedient to his sister.  Now, during play time, if I threw the ball, Morgan raced to get it first, picked it up and dropped it, then Merlin would pick it up and bring it to me.  All worked out well.  Anytime we left the house, both dogs would howl, yip, yowl, and yodel to the point that more than one person asked me – how many dogs are in there?  Two, just two.

Merlin was a digger.  And he was known to dig under the fence (and dig a hole large enough for his sister who was quite a bit larger) and wiggle out.  Eventually, the fence had cement blocks all around everywhere he could dig. 

A few years ago, Merlin became very ill and ultimately left for the summer lands.  It was very hard on both Morgan and me.  So, now Morgan is once again an only child and pretty much rules the house. 

Take care

Dogs and dogs

So, I have a little dog.  To be honest, I’ve never really thought of myself as a “dog-person”.  I don’t react well to dogs I don’t know.  Michael never met one he couldn’t charm into doggy grins and wagging tails.  Me, not so much.

However, thinking back, it seems I’ve always had dogs of one sort or another for all of my childhood and most of the time since I’ve been an adult.

Tippy was out first dog from the time I was a very little person until I was 8 or so.  I have just fuzzy memories of him.

The first one I really remember was King (King Comus) – a boxer.  He was a lover of everyone and almost impossible to keep contained inside a fence.  He could literally climb the 6-foot chain link fencing that made up his dog run.  My father finally had to put a top on the pen.  And, when he was banished to his large fenced area, he would cry “maaaamaaaaa maaamaaaaa” until someone let him out.

Not being a dog person, when I married and had my first home, I was content with cats and then, children and cats.  When my girls were about 6-ish, my father gave them a puppy for Christmas.  Oh goodie.  And, Sherlock came into our family and fit in very well.  He loved the cats and kept an eye on everyone.  For all our pets, Sherlock was the least amount of trouble except he had to go to the groomer.  Honestly, he got his hair cut more often than I did!

After Sherlock went to the summer lands, I was dogless again until I married Michael.  He came with an assortment of personal items, a few pictures, and a Siberian husky named Bandit.

Bandit was an unusual husky.  (1) he hated cold weather – drop below 70° and he wanted inside.  (2) he liked to sit on the roof of cars – not our cars – the neighbor’s cars.  (3) he was a lover and it wasn’t unusual for us to get 6am phone calls from people miles away asking us to please come get him as he’d been on their doorstep howling all night.  No, he wasn’t neutered and that’s a whole other story.  (4) honest-to-god, he oozed through the chain link fence to get out.  Our yard was fenced with 6-foot wood on the sides and 8-foot chain link across the back.  He didn’t dig, didn’t climb.  MHN finally decided he commando crawled under the chain link. 

Next came Gus – Gustave van Strahan.  Gus was a beautiful Weimaraner.  We got him when he was 3 months old from a breeder who gave us a “deal” because the pup was the runt.  Gus was my dog.  He wanted to sit in my lap until he go too big and then he wanted me to sit on the floor so he could sit next to me with his head and as much else as possible in my lap.  He followed my every step.  He was not very adventurous.  Once, when we had gotten a new area rug for the living room, Gus refused to step on it.  He didn’t recognize it – wasn’t going near it.  He carefully inched around the rug to get to his bed.  I had to, literally, haul him, step-by-step onto the rug and sit with him for a while before he would walk on it.  Another time, when we were in Galveston at the house there, the next-door neighbor’s mini- dachshund came running over barking.  Gus, who had been raised by cats, took off howling down the street.  I had to take the little terror home and go sit in the middle of the street, calling him until Gus would come out.  Once he saw me, he ran over and sat in my lap, all 100-pounds of him.  Then, Gus had never seen stairs and was not interested in learning about them.  Of course, the house was up and so, I had to place his front feet on a step, then his back feet and pull, then front feet, back feet and pull.  We had to do the same thing going down.  But he was my puppy and when he went to the summer lands, it hurt my heart.  I never wanted another dog again.

Tomorrow – the two M’s.

Take care.

March – comes in like a lion

 Here’s a little more useless information for your exotic cocktail party to impress file.

The month of March is -

 Adopt A Rescued Guinea Pig Month - I’ll bet you didn’t know they have their own website to discover and learn about Guinea Pigs http://adopt.guineapigtoday.com. (no thank you)

Play The Recorder Month - Play-the-Recorder Month grew out of a one-day worldwide event on April 1, 1989, during the 50th anniversary year celebration of the American Recorder Society. (who knew)

And, yes, there are a bunch of serious monthly observations -

Brain Injury Awareness Month – The BIAA provides a platform for educating the general public about the incidence of brain injury and the needs of people with brain injuries and their families. The campaign also lends itself to outreach within the brain injury community to de-stigmatize the injury, empower those who have survived, and promote the many types of support that are available.

and

Women's History Month - The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in commemorating and encouraging the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history.

How about Weekly Holidays

Celebrate Your Name Week: 4-10  is the time for everyone worldwide to embrace and celebrate his or her name. It's also a week for appreciating names in general, and to have fun getting to know more about names.  Ok – my name, Pamela - was invented in the late 16th century by the poet Sir Philip Sidney for use in his poem 'Arcadia'. He possibly intended it to mean "all sweetness".  Yup, that’s me.

Sherlock Holmes Weekend: 16-18

American Chocolate Week: 18-24

 National Button Week: 18-24

World Folktales & Fables Week: 18-24  Merriam-Webster defines a folk tale as “a characteristically anonymous, timeless, and placeless tale circulated orally among a people”. A fable is defined as “a narration intended to enforce a useful truth; especially one in which animals speak and act like human beings”.  All good – bring ‘em on!

Act Happy Week: 19-25

NanoDays: 31-4/8   an annual, nationwide festival of educational programs about nanoscale science and engineering and their impact on society.  And again – who knew?

Finally, a few special days

Nametag Day: 8  wear a nametag and make new friends all around town

International Bagpipe Day: 10  go out and play your pipes – anywhere, anyhow, to anyone!

Check Your Batteries Day: 11

oh no - not Daylight Savings Time already!

Daylight Savings Time Begins: 11  

World Plumbing Day: 11  recognizes the importance of plumbing

Fill Our Staplers Day: 12

Donald Duck Day: 13

National Open An Umbrella Indoors Day: 13

Save a Spider Day: 14  when arachnids everywhere relax and let their spinnerets down

Write Your Story Day: 14 

Buzzards Day: 15

Ides of March: 15

National Common Courtesy Day: 21 

National Goof-off Day: 22  a day to do anything ..except what you're supposed to do today

Take Your Parents To The Playground Day: 24 

Vaffeldagen (Waffle Day): 25

Barnum & Bailey Day: 28

I Am In Control Day: 30

International Hug A Medievalist Day: 31

National Crayon Day: 31  celebrate the invention of crayons and the joy of coloring.

So, mark your calendars everyone!  You don’t want to forget any special times.

Take care

Projects and other stuff

Today has been a day of miscellaneous projects.

Like for instance, washing windows on the inside.  I have an older home and the fairly long-ago builders put 25 windows in this rather small house.  Twenty-five.  And, they are all the (I hate to use the word cheap) CHEAP aluminum kind.  The kind that sweat inside when it’s cold outside and warm in.  We’ve had a lot of that since December last.  And so, it was time to clean all the window sills and all other parts of the windows.  This is not one of my favorite things to do. 

I don’t try to do all 25 windows in one day, rather I do one room a day (every room in this house has at least two windows, some have four).  Cleaning the inside windows includes cleaning the blinds and usually moving all sorts of furniture to get to said windows.

Washing the outside of the windows is a whole other ball of wax.  BECAUSE, I have screens on my windows.  Screens that lock from the inside.  And, most of the windows are (1) screwed closed or (2) just no longer open or (3) if opened may not close again.  That will be a major undertaking for another day.  I’m open for suggestions.

Project #2 was to do some meal cooking.  Since I’m a single person, I don’t cook every day.  It’s very hard to cook for one person.  Instead, when I cook, I put single servings into containers and into the freezer.  That way I get something different every day and don’t have to buy those nasty frozen dinners.  Works for me.

 After this was done and all cleaned up, I was thinking I’d sit for a few minutes and read my book – The Hawley Book of the Dead by Chrysler Szarlan.  It’s very good – a lot spooky.  I’ll let you know how it turns out later.

Sat down and all of a sudden, I remembered the number one project I had to do today.  Vote.  Today is Primary Voting Day in Texas.  Grabbed up my voters’ registration card and purse and headed out the door.  Now, usually here in Wharton, there is seldom a line of  people waiting to vote.  Usually only one or two people at the machines.  Sad.  If you are one of those people that bitch, piss, moan, and whine about the actions of our elected government officials on Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, and whatever other social media is out there, but does not vote – SHAME ON YOU! 

So, I got to my voting place and there were cars everywhere.  Whoa, thinks I, What is this???  Went inside and there was a line of maybe 20 people waiting to vote.  Wow.  As I started to go to the end of the line, someone told me I needed to be in the OTHER line (the one to get registered) and then into the vote line.  Double wow.  And, yea!  People making their feelings known.  Seems to me, this is crowded for a Primary – I’m thinking the election day voting will be busy.  Good!

Take care

PS  By the time I voted and left, the line of people waiting to vote had at least doubled!