and the scariest of all ----- RATS!

OK – we all have those things we are, perhaps not afraid of, but really, really, really don’t like.  For me it’s rats – rats, mice – they’re all rats to me. 

2006  Friday morning, I walked out the back door to find the dogs trying their best to get at something behind the small cabinet that sits there by the door.  I figured it was a toad, something they both chase regularly.  Between them, they had dumped over the basket of pecans sitting by the door, scattered yard shoes everywhere and shoved the cabinet catawampus next to the wall.  So - I pulled it away from the wall so they could get to whatever it was before they destroyed everything on the porch. 

Wasn't a toad.  Was a rat.  A really big rat that was trying to climb the wall to get away from them. 

And, what, you ask, did I do?

Well, to be honest, my first action was to scream, jump back into the house, slam the door and lock the dog door shut.  Perhaps not the bravest of reactions, but at least I didn't run out the front door heading down the street shrieking (I had given some thought to that but....).

Anyway, back to the action on the back porch --- two RAT terriers charging a rat aaannnddddd ..................

It got away from them. 

Zipped right past them both heading for the other side of the porch.  (Now, in a space of a couple of seconds, I was thinking --- This might be the best time to call for help - is there a "rat patrol" here in Wharton?  What if it gets away?  I'll never be able to go out on the porch again.  I’ll never be able to go into the back yard ever.  Ohmigod - what if it gets into the house?).

Dogs were hot on the heels (do rats have heels do you think?) of said rat when it made a hard turn and headed for the gate.

During all this hullabaloo, our cat, Pyewacket was sitting on a table just watching.  As the rat headed for the gate, Pye casually jumped down, snatched up the rat and hopped over the fence.

As this point I gathered up my courage and went outside after Pye who was laying in the grass watching the rat.  He hadn't killed it but had definitely given the rat a big owie because it was dragging itself along the grass toward a thick stand of four-o'clocks.  After a minute or so of watching, Pye jumped up and swatted the rat back into the yard.  I told Pye to keep ahold of the rat and ran for the shovel.

When I got back with the shovel, Pye walked away from the rat and, ALL BY MYSELF, I whacked it several times until I was pretty sure it was dead or past the point of terrorizing women and small children.  Then, ALL BY MYSELF, I scooped it up, carried it across the yard and tossed it into the holly bushes over by the barn.  Nothing gets through the holly without serious injury.

I get an “ATTAGIRL” for this action!

Take care.

my Grandmother, me, Denise, Mother
Edith Randolph Sims Bace, Pamela Catherine Abbott Cantrell, Ellen Denise Cantrell, Johnnie Lou Bace Abbott

People Watching

I have, in my lifetime, traveled quite a bit for business.  Now, my traveling is all for fun and pleasure.  Getting to the airport from Wharton can be a bit of a challenge these days so I give myself plenty of time to get to whichever Houston airport.  I can leave as much as five hours prior to a flight.  I just never know how long it will really take me to get into town, to the airport, park, get to the terminal, check my suitcase, etc.  I really don’t like to run down the terminal any more. 

I don’t mind waiting because I think the airport is the best “people watching” place there is.  Honest to god – what are some people thinking when they get dressed for a flight somewhere. 

In my time of people watching ---

I saw one sweet young thing dressed in black suede knee boots with 4-inch spiked heels, black tights,

a fluffy pink tutu skirt that did cover her derriere mostly, and a black low (as in “boobs hanging out” low) cut tee, dragging 2 suitcases toward a gate.  Even with the 4-inch heels, she wasn’t very tall.  I’m guessing she was relying on the short skirt and low shirt to get the suitcases into the overhead bin.  (Oh – bad, Pamela, bad) 

Then, there was a youngish (maybe late teens) guy that I figured had to just about strip naked to get through security.  He was dressed in black jeans with metal studs up and down the legs; black motorcycle boots with chains hanging on them; black leather jacket with metal studs and he had an assortment of metal studs in ears and face.  I wonder – does security have a dressing room or do they just have people like this start taking off clothes. 

One time I saw a woman, old enough to know better, dressed in very tight jeans (the kind you have to lay on the bed to zip and button – of course all that does is push the fat up and over the edge of the jeans – ick) in a black and eye-blindingly white paisley pattern, a lacy white shirt that hit just above the jean waist (which is why I knew about the overhanging fat) and truly unattractive shoes with very high heels. 

Then there was the gal running (and let me tell you, I was impressed that she could even walk, much less run) to catch a plane dressed in standard business attire – jacket, white blouse, black straight skirt to the knees – until you got to her feet and the f**k-me pumps.  Black pumps with a wedge at the toe of the shoe to raise the height and 5-inch pencil thin heels. 

Another woman I saw, maybe 40-ish to 60-ish dressed for the ranch in plaid shirt, duster, straight legged jeans and boots.  This isn’t odd since I live in Texas and boots are normal for men and women.  I’m just not sure how they get boots off for security.  I’d have to have either carry a boot jack or get someone to pull them off or I have to sit crossed legged and pull like crazy to get my boots off. 

Then there was the couple I’d have never guessed were a couple.  He was dressed strictly for business – suit, tie, nice shoes, briefcase, phone thingie in the ear.  She had on tall platform sandals, jeans rolled up above her ankles with strategic bleach holes up and down the legs, and a fur jacket that came to her butt.  I’m reasonably sure she had on a shirt but couldn’t see that.  And she wasn’t young – another “old enough to know better” types. 

How about the sweet young thing in v-e-r-y short shorts - very short, tight shorts, a turtle neck sweater, a fuzzy jacket that came to the waist of the shorts and – oh yes – knee high, suede Eskimo boots.  I don’t know where she was going but at least parts of her were going to be warm. 

The most sensibly dressed travelers are the 70-ish men and women.  They all dress for comfort.  Of course, they all have the most “matching” outfits I’ve ever seen.  Like, the little lady dressed in pink and lavender athletic shoes, purple socks, lavender jeans, pink shirt, purple jacket.  Or the guy in black athletic shoes with red wavy tire tread soles and black with red piping everything else – pants, shirt, jacket – couldn’t see his underwear but I’m guessing red and black.  Or the lady dressed completely in red and orange – from her shoes to her hat – she looked like a walking flame.

Then – there’s the carry-on luggage.  I have to wonder, once again, what are people thinking.  One young man carried on a huge duffle bag.  It was nearly as tall as he and he was tall.  Plus, it was stuffed full.  He hefted it up to the overhead bin and pushed and shoved and tucked and levered and heaved and put his entire weight behind a final three pushes and got it into the bin.  My personal thought – it’s still there in the bin.  Then there was the guy that didn’t have any carry-ons that I saw but after the initial crowd passed by, got up and searched through every bin for a place to put his windbreaker which he wadded up and shoved in a space between 2 suitcases.  Really????   Back

packs are very popular for all ages now.  And I’m not talking about something smallish you’d put your book and few carry-ons in – I’m talking about the Marine 60-lb back pack.  Why in the world would someone carry one of those rather than roll one of the handy rollie bags?  Of course, 9 out of 10 people carry-on their luggage and that’s almost alarming if you think about all that stuff falling out onto your head.  I check my bag – always.  Can’t reach the damn bin to get a suitcase in or out anyway.

Take care

Colorado to Arizona - I hate to move.

So –   We stayed in Colorado a year and for a number of reasons made the decision to move.  Both daughters were in Arizona and as fate would have it, MHN’s company offered him a transfer to AZ.  The problem being that he was going to have to leave almost immediately.  I would get to stay and pack everything up, deal with the movers, and follow as soon as possible.  Unpacked it all; packed it all; I’m doing something wrong here.

The packing went smoothly enough and I hired a mover.  As time came to leave Colorado and turn southward, my sister offered to come up and make the Boulder to Phoenix drive with me.  Moving day arrived and so did the snow, which continued and turned into a white-out blizzard.  Again.  We left with my little LeBaron packed to the roof with two humans, one 110 lb. Weimaraner, 3 cats in individual carriers, assorted minutia that had been left, suitcases,

pillows, cooler, and heaven only knows what else.  Honest to Pete – I felt like a gypsy.  About, oh, 10 minutes into the drive we heard that there was a huge pile up on the highway (our highway) because of the snow storm.  That slowed things down even more but we kept right on rolling – slowly - but rolling none-the-less.  All of a sudden one of the cats started to yell – really loud.  She didn’t appear to be hurt or even uncomfortable – I think she was just stating her opinion about another move. She yelled, non-stop for
3 hours until I thought I would just have to set her carrier out on the side of the road.  As it happened, I turned her around so she faced the back and either she stopped howling or we couldn’t hear her because it got less noisy. 

We had to stop every so often to kick the ice and snow off the wheel wells (and you know, I’m pretty sure that is just not in my job description being from the south and all), let Gus out, stretch our legs and backs, and generally keep the tedium of a long drive in snowy weather under control.  Once again – it’s a 2 day drive to Phoenix from Boulder.  We stopped in Albuquerque for the night a little more than ½ way.  Now, the quest was to find a place that would allow the big dog and three cats and we had not much success there.  Plus, it was getting late and dark and we were both tired and so we sort of cheated.  We saw a sign for the “A-1 Motel Owned by Americans”, a smallish motel, a little shabby looking but right off the interstate.  So, I went in and asked for a room preferably close to the back door “so we could keep an eye on the car”; in reality, so we could sneak Gus and the cats into the room.  Got everyone into the room, fed, watered, and generally settled.  Then Ellen and I alternated going for some dinner.  I was concerned about leaving Gus alone in a strange room, fearful he’d bark or, gods forbid, start howling.  She went first and when she got back said, “ohmigod, the pot smell is so strong in the hallway, you could get high just walking down it.”  Oh good.  I went to eat and we both went to bed early. 

Long about 3 am, Gussie woke me up whining and pushing his nose into my face.  He walked over to the door, looked at it, looked at me, looked at it.  Oh nooo – go outside – in the dark  - really???.  After assuring me he absolutely could not wait another couple of hours, I got up, got dressed, got the leash and headed for the door. 

Just as I put my hand on the handle, a bloodcurdling scream came from the room next door.  I took my hand off the handle and just stood there.  Then, followed a full blown screaming argument between a man and woman.  She was screaming so loudly I could hear her every word and, may I tell you, none of them were nice.  She called that man every unflattering thing she could think of and then told him things he could do, a few of which would have been physically impossible.  He would answer her back in a quiet voice.  Then I heard a huge crash (door being thrown open so hard it hit the wall behind it and shook that little building) and more screaming invectives.  I just looked at Gus and said – “hold it, we’re not going anywhere”.  After a while, things got quiet.  Ellen, who was awake through the entire screaming affair, asked me if I wanted to go ahead and leave.  So we did.  Loaded up the big dog, three cats, and everything else and set off for Phoenix. 

 

We arrived at the new house about the same time the truck did.  The same procedure took place – that is, me trying to check off boxes and three guys carrying them in through every door in the house, then facing umpty-bazillion boxes to unpack. 

I hate to move.                                  Take care

Again - DID YOU KNOW ...

So, today, I’m back to plants.  I’ve chosen a couple of “herbs” – some you will recognize, some you may not realize are considered an herb and some you may have never heard of as an herb or anything else.  So, DID YOU KNOW …

TANSY is a hardy perennial which will grow anywhere and survived the GREAT FLOOD OF 2017 just fine. It also repels ants and flies so tie a bunch near open doors or windows. This herb is a dye plant and, by using the leaves, can produce colors from a grayish green to a dark green depending on the mordants. The flowers provide a yellow dye.  It is a good companion plant for potatoes as it will help protect them from potato beetles.

Since the 8th century it has been used to treat intestinal worms, rheumatism, digestive problems, fevers, sores, and to bring out measles.  It was frequently worn in shoes to prevent malaria and other fevers.  Though it may have been best known as an embalming herb.  It has been packed in coffins, wrapped in funeral sheets and had wreaths of Tansy placed on the dead to protect them from one life to the next.

During the 1600 and 1700’s, meat was rubbed with or packed in Tansy leaves to fend off flies and delay spoilage additionally, it was used as a strewing herb for the same reason – it helped to repel insects.

You should be careful though in giving Tansy to someone, in the Victorian Language of Flowers, it is a declaration of war.

DILL is a self-seeding, bee and butterfly attracting annual.  Plant it in a sunny, well drained spot

where it can stay.  It puts out a long tap root so it may not transplant well.  It also isn’t the best as a potted plant –  the long tap root thing.

It can be used fresh, dried, and frozen.  Dill attracts many beneficial insects which makes it a good companion plant for cucumbers and broccoli.

Use Dill in a tea to help with digestion, induce relaxation and sleep, help keep bones healthy, prevent excess gas, treat dysentery, and relieve arthritis pain.  Oh!  and it can calm down hiccups.

It can be used to protect against witchcraft, burned to prevent thunderstorms, and place it at the door to prevent anyone envious of you from entering.

It is by far one of my favorite cooking herbs.  It’s delicate so add it at the end of your cooking process to flavor breads, chicken, eggs, soups, vegetables, fish and, of course, to make pickles.

So, the last one is a perennial shrub with flowers ranging from white to almost black.  It has been referred to as the Queen of Flowers.  In 2012, it was the Herb of the Year.  This herb has been a culinary staple and recognized for its medicinal qualities since ancient Greek and Roman times.  Have you figured it out ---- ROSES.

Here are a few facts ----

·         Roses are found on every continent except Antarctica (gee, kinda like oxalis)

·         All roses have thorns

·         The stems, with the thorns cut off, can be used as arrow shafts

·         Flowers are used to make dyes ranging from pale pink to deep red

·         Traditionally, red roses mean love, pink roses mean romance, white roses mean purity, and yellow roses mean friendship

·         Flower petals can be added to salads, made into tea, candied, used in cookies and cakes, jellies, puddings, as a flavor in honey, alcohol, vinegar

·         The fruit of the rose is called Rosehips which contain more vitamin C than oranges. They can be eaten raw, can be dried and made into tea, are considered a “survival” food because they will remain on the rose bush through the winter

·         Some cultures associate Roses with silence – so, roses adorning a ceiling is a reminder to never repeat anything spoken beneath (sub rosa)

·         Petals soaked in water can be used to bathe sore eyes

·         Ground petals were made into salves for sores and eczema

·         Rose tea was taken for heartburn, coughs, fevers, and colds

·         Rose hip and petal tea was used externally for infection and inflammations, internally as a sedative for headaches and for upset stomachs

And, here you just thought they were just pretty flowers!

Take care

Moving a 1000 gallon pond, fish, a turtle and plants …..

2006   When we made the decision to move to Wharton from Galveston, my first assumption was that the pond would stay in Galveston.  It was big, full of fish and a turtle, had a deck built around it and, most importantly, it was buried in the ground.  And I was not going to dig it out.

The people that bought the house in Galveston were not interested in having a pond.  So, Michael decided we would take the thing with us.  After removing everything in it, he started pumping out the water.  He ran a tube down the side of the pond and as the water was pumped out, it went under the pond form (aka: stock reservoir) and floated it out.  I have to tell you, I was impressed. 

Got to Wharton and set the pond up.  All is well with the world – right?  Of course not.  I made the big mistake of going to a pond store.  They had the most wonderful set-up one pond emptied into a small river, which emptied into a smaller pond.  Beautiful.  And just how hard could it be?  Michael was all in favor of having such a set up but he was thinking of having a moat that ran around 2 acres while I was thinking of a 5-ft stream.  We did compromise with a 25-foot river.

And for years it did not work as envisioned.  Part of the problem was that not one but TWO pumps died.  Damn things.  Then we had some river issues.  Then turtle/fish problems.  Then a couple of tall plants blew over in the water and the dirt all washed out.  Then the bullfrogs moved in.  Then too, there is a short time to work on such things because once the temps reach HOT, I refuse to work in the yard.  And so on and so forth.  I finally reached the do or die year.  I told Michael, it all got working bigod, or I was shoveling it all in and selling everything.

And so we started a process that took several weeks.  MHN pumped the water out and I got into the big pond with boots and started lifting out pot plants, rocks, and icky black stuff full of leaves and things I don’t even want to think about.  Discovered a new turtle had wintered over in the big pond.  (I think they leave hobo marks someplace around the yard that say “easy touch” or “kind woman”, eat their fill, rest up, sunbathe a bit, and hit the road.  This is fine as I don’t want any permanent residents other than a couple fish.).  Then also found a large number of bullfrogs (ick), all of which I threw out (the dogs were very entertained by these

guys) though I’m sure they all moved back in as soon as I left.  So, after cleaning out the big pond, I moved to the river and cleaned out leaves, leaves, and oh yes, leaves.  Honestly I think every tree in my yard walked over and dumped their leaves into the river.  Then, I moved to the little pond and did the same thing there.  Finally, we put 8 - 500lb bags of rock (well maybe not 500lb bags but certainly felt that way by the end of that day!) into the river. 

Filled everything up, put in the pot plants, turned on the pump and lo and behold! it worked.  The river nearly had rapids but it worked!  Then, a day later, everything – ponds, river was brown.  Not a pretty color. 

MHN completely emptied the ponds again.  I got into the big pond to discover another pot had knocked over and dirt had washed out.  Once again, I cleaned out much icky black stuff.  Then, he swept the rivers rocks and I cleaned out more icky black stuff from the little pond.  Filled the ponds, turned on everything and it worked!  Next day – still working!  Yea!

Note:  Do you see why I say "Ponds are not for Wimps!"

Take care

Stand ..

It doesn't seem right to relate an amusing experience today, with the recent tragic shooting in Las Vegas so fresh in heart and mind. 

I am, for the most part, not political.  It seems to me, however, that our elected Government is nothing but political and responds by manipulating situations to further themselves to the detriment of we mere mortals.  Many appear to have different priorities than those for which they were elected. 

In times of catastrophic events, the mere mortals work together to help overcome a dangerous situation.  I’m not sure our governments – federal, state or city – can.

I’ve thought for a while now that America is no longer the Golden Land, the place of Milk and Honey.  I don’t know where that place is.  Perhaps nowhere at this time. 

But, this is what we have.  We, the mere mortals, and those we’ve helped put in an illustrious place, need to come together and work at bettering our society.

If we can stand together, aren't we better? stronger? happier?

Take care.

Ponds - the good, bad, and ugly!

You know, if I ever write a gardening book, there is going to be at least one chapter dedicated to PONDS.  And, may I say, having a pond is not for wimps!  It is hard, frustrating, dirty work unless, of course, you are smart enough to have all the design work, plumbing, electricity, and digging done by professionals.  I’ve had ponds and now, I think, they are sort of like snow – pretty, an interesting effect to a yard and best enjoyed from a photo. 

First of all, if you are starting with grass covered yard, stop.  You really don’t want to do this without a fair amount of research, time, strength, patience, and help.  My first suggestion is – start with a fountain.  Ah, you say, is that what you did?  Oh hell no – certainly not.  We did the whole “start with grass and dig a hole, etc” thing.  And please note – the term “we” is used very loosely.

  

My first mistake, back when we lived in Galveston, was even mentioning to Michael that I wanted a pond.  I was originally thinking about a 20 gallon puddle and he envisioned Lake Houston.  One day he came home from work and announced that he had bought a pond form – it would arrive the next day.  It was a stock reservoir that held about 1000 gallons of water.  Great – a 1000 gallon pond – oh good.  OK, I got to do all the digging (oh joy) for (1) a hole big enough to hold the big blue tank and (2) the trench(es) for the electricity for the pump, necessary to keep the water from turning a delightful shade of puke green.

As I look back, the pump and filter arrangement, we used, was perhaps not the best choice but we went into the whole pond thing blind with no research and only a vague idea of what would work.  These days bogs and bio-filter systems are a better, somewhat easier choice.  By the way, don’t ever go to water-garden stores.  They just appeal to your unreasonable sense of “I NEEEEEEED THIS” and “how hard can it be?”.  Remember, those people are professionals and it can be really, really hard.

I wanted to grow water plants.  MHN wanted fish.  Well, that should be ok – right?  We located the pond in the sun.  Good thing/bad thing.  Yes, I could grow water plants, I also grew all kinds icky, nasty algae.  MHN acquired coy and gold fish and one day, an Oscar fish.  Then he brought home a turtle he’d found on the side of the road.  You know what all those things do in water besides swim – right?  Cleaning the pump filter material was almost a daily job.  Ick.  HA! I discovered that a variety of plants would help filter the water.  Cool!  A new problem arose, between the coy and turtle, the plants would get eaten to the dirt. 

I decided to try water hyacinth which is a free-floating perennial plant that helps to filter the water.  Unfortunately, it is also a non-native, invasive, noxious plant that can form thick mats. If it escapes into the natural freshwater ways, the mats will cover the entire surface and cause oxygen depletions and fish kills. (Water hyacinths should be controlled very carefully.)  The water hyacinths worked well plus the turtle and fish ate them and I had a system to make sure they did not escape into the world. Yea!

And, it only took us 2 years to get it all working! 

Tomorrow: Moving a 1000 gallon pond, fish, a turtle and plants …..

Take care