New Yard Meme

I love this tree. It's a Tulip Poplar. I was looking at it a couple days ago and thinking how much I enjoy it. Every season it does something wonderful and I love to watch the changes throughout the year. So I decided to share ir with you my bloggy friends.

Here it is in spring just as the leaves begin to open.

This branch is just over our deck and you can see the leaves peeking out.

A close-up of the branch end.

My plan is to re-take these pictures each month throughout the next year. Just to share with y'all the changes of my favorite plant in my yard.

I'd love to see your favorite tree, flower, plant, whatever, in your yard. If you like, grab the idea and let me know you posted.

Weigh-in day!

Woohoo, I lost another pound this week.
I also won a raffle at my meeting.
Lovely huh?

All I had to do was show up for 8 weeks in a row. I did that anyway and won this too. I got some cool measure thingys, a new food scale, cookbooks. Good stuff.
I'll see you next week..

Country Girl is having a Giveaway!

Go visit Kate at Chronicles of a Country Girl. She is having a giveaway! I love her photos and her dog George is a real cutie!!!
Go visit!

I'll see you all later for the results of weigh in day!

Kindle!

I am so excited about Kindle's agility training. She is just a wonderful jumper and her stays at the start line are gorgeous. She runs quiet!!!!
Here see what I mean?

She is a blast to run and a gem to work with.
I am so looking forward to competing with this little girl.

Urban Dictionary Meme

Flea at Flea's World stole this Meme from Kate at Chronicles of a Country Girl and in turn I am stealing it from Flea. (They are 2 of my favorite bloggers, go check them out.)

Here's the directions and if you read this, you are tagged!

Answer each question by typing in your answer on Urbandictionary.com. You MUST use the first definition!

1. Your name: Louise

Louise is a popular feminine form of the name Louis; it is used in all English-speaking and French-speaking countries, and is commonly found across Europe.
rhymes with most opf the english dictionary: cheese, peas, keys, please, knees, wheeze, jeez, bees, ease, tease, sneeze, these, fees and so on..................
Also in a famous saying
What up Louise!
"Jeez Louise!"
(Oh yes very famous, if only I had a buck for every time I've heard it......)

2. Your age: 51

A joint made of 51% weed and 49% cocaine.
Hey dude let's smoke a 51.

(Ha! yeah lets smoke a 51! That would make me a hyper paranoid!)

3. What should you be doing: Going to bed

Telling people during a party that you're going to sleep but rarely end up in a bed
Guy 1: dude its 5am im going to bed
Guy 2: bitch get off my counter
Guy 1: sorry
(Curious...)

4. Favorite color: Green

yes... it is most definitely referring to the marijuana... and also, upon occassion, any substance with similar uses. too, properly, of course, it is a golfing term, but that;s really not very much fun, now is it?
'yo, where da green at?'

(Is this some sort of trend? I seem to be in drug sort of thing here. Hmmm)

5. Birthplace: Endicott

Endicott NY is a small town in southern NY characterized by a disproportionatly elderly population, early teenage pregnanicies, a grade school educated workforce, pessimism, ignorance, pollution, and ever increasing economic and urban decay. Endicott is best known for the speedie fest, during which the local hicks, get drunk, and consume large amounts of food the form of speedies which are skewered meat not unlike a shish-kabob. Popular activities in Endicott include: eating, smoking marijuana, going to church, collecting welfare and complaining.

My hometown is this hole named Endicott, you've probably never heard of it but it's an hour south of Syracuse.

(Jeez, glad I was only born in Endicott and grew up in Owego the coolest small town in America!!! Although speedies are wonderful!! I am making those soon.)

6. Month of your birthday: September

A wonderful month when the air smells sweet and the weather is perfect for the girls where to tight little sweaters that show off their curves.
I can't wait for september to come so we can play in the leaves!

(Ok, then. I just thought it was a nice beginning to fall.)

7. Last person you texted: Donalyn

Donalyn isn't defined yet.
(Wiser words were never said :-))

8. One of your nicknames: Weezee

Weezee isn't defined yet, but these are close:
badness
expression likeness towards something, OR being impressed by it

that car is badness! {that car's off d hook}....
OR those shoes look like pure badness (shoes look hott)
(I'm not sure how I feel about this though I like the shoe reference)

9. What are you doing this weekend: Gardening

to hella blaze/to smoke pot
Africa: Did you get the supplies?
Hookah: Yeah. We'll be gardening in the grove tonight!
(This is getting unsettling.)

10. Random word: Lion

A big, furry brown cat, found in the savvanna of Africa. NOT the jungle, you phyco's. Often toated as the king of beasts, and no one knows why. Some say that the lion is the biggest cat, even though the tiger is the biggest cat in the world. Often hunted for trophies.

Lion- Bwa ha ha! I'm the lord of the jungle!
Tiger- (walks out of jungle) Dude, you live in a savvanna
Lion- Shut up and bow, slave!
Tiger- (bashes lion with paw, instantly snapping neck) Bitch!
(This is bizarre!)

That was fun! And educational! Although I do not think much of the spelling and grammar and the Urban Dictionary, but fun.
OK, be brave, give it a try! You know you want to.

The squirrel battle

I have been doing battle with a family of gray squirrels who seem to think my bird feeders are their own private a buffet. You remember this post, Smorgasbord.
I love watching the birds so knew I had to find a way to discourage this squirrel gluttony.

I started with this baffle.
Because our squirrels had learned to shimmy this pole, the little buggers!
It has worked great!
This last weekend I got the first squirrel proof feeder.
They are a little pricey so I will wait a couple weeks to replace the other larger feeder by the driveway.
This morning while having my coffee and watching the birds, the gray gang arrived and were shocked to find the buffet closed to them. They tried a few approaches all to no avail.

Ha! It was satisfying to see them settle on the ground to munch on the leavings.
Too bad I didn't snap a few photos of the perplexed looks.

I can't wait to replace the other feeder.

Peaceful Sunday

How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 36:5-7

Our Easter Visitor

I think this lovely fellow was a bit confused when he visited last Sunday.

Or perhaps he thought it was safe to come feast at the bird feeders on Easter rather than Thanksgiving.

The dogs were extremely upset about his visit and he almost moved on before I could bag a picture of him. (Why are the batteries always on the charger when this stuff happens?!)

He's actually quite handsome or maybe she is quite attractive.

Perhaps my brother in law big Lar can clear up the gender for us.

HEY LAR, is this a girl or boy turkey?

Easter

Easter is always a family day for us. For the last 16 years Scott's brothers and their families have joined us for an annual Easter egg hunt and dinner. Its fun to watch the kids some now teenagers, search for eggs and try to out do one another.

The day was bright and sunny but quite brisk. The hunters kept moving though and were able to stay warm.


Baskets are getting full!

Hmmmmmm, these children look rather, well, older.
You have to watch your basket! Uncle Peter may just make off with it. Run Juli, run!!!
Hey who is this? Charlie Chaplin in our driveway!?

Just nephew Peter hamming it up!!!!

Everyone worked up a good appetite..

So we adjourned to the house for warmth and dinner. Unfortunately there are no pictures of that. With this group eating is serious business.

Hope your Easter was as much fun.

Window on the world

We've had some cold and rainy days recently and though it doesn't bother the dogs much, I am a wimp so we have not been outside as much.

This means little puppies have to settle for watching the world.
Luckily there has been lots of activity at our front bird feeders. What with the return of the birds and the marauding band of squirrels its like a nature show.
Kindle likes to rearrange the pillows on the couch, creating a lovely perch to watch all the excitement.

It's sunny today, I better find a way to sneak in a walk between classes and private lessons.

Poor Jackaroo

I know spring is on its way because the bees were out last weekend. Buzzing about probably searching for a great place to build the new hive, checking out the status of flowers and projecting when honey production can commence. I think the queens are promised bonuses if there is a good yield this year.
Our own Jackaroo who seems to be a bee magnet had his first run-in this year with a Yellow Jacket. They're particularly nasty bees and really don't seem to need a lot of provocation to sting. They don't make honey either so really I see no purpose for them. I guess the cross pollination thing is a good reason for existence. But, do they have to be so ill tempered?

Now Jackaroo is no shrinking violet. I have seen him kill several snakes and he is fast and efficient about it and certainly not afraid of them. In fact if he sees a snake it is indeed difficult to keep him from killing it. He is very unhappy if I am present as I do not allow snake eating. (Is that a form of sushi, hmmmm no, I guess that would be eels not snakes.)
But, I digress.

Scott was out working on Sunday and all the dogs were out there helping (read getting in the way, chasing wheelbarrows and getting underfoot). Jack who is always bringing a ball just in case you want to take a break and toss it for him was milling about. He started crying (poor baby) and Scott saw a huge yellow jacket crawling away. He immediately realized it had stung our little red boy. Into the house they came for me to take charge of the patient. That's one of my jobs you know. Jack looked quite pitiful, limping and worrying over his foot. It was slightly swollen and if you've ever been stung by a yellow jacket you know it hurts!!
Thankfully it does not appear Jack is allergic to bees but I doctored him up. Have you ever tried to hold an ice pack on a Tasmanian devil's foot. Not an easy job.

After just a few minutes he was quite recovered but milked it for a while for some extra cookies and sympathy. He held the foot up off the floor and looked at us with big ole sad eyes.

He seems to have suffered no long term effects.
The bee didn't fare quite as well. Scott stepped on it.

Oh well at least this is a sure sign of spring!

Weigh in day!

Woohoo! I lost 1.7 lbs this week. All my changes have made a huge difference not only because I lost but because I feel better. Working out more is helping me have more energy. I have also been eating lots more veggies and fruits and feeling better because of that too.

That's it for this week but I will be back later with another post.
Thank you all who have sent encouragement and support. I really appreciate it!

Weigh-in day Grrrr

OK, so I am on a plateau. It happens, can't say I am enjoying the view though.
As frustrating as this is I am going to look at it positively. I just need to change some things and I'm sure I will get myself off here and start losing again. I'm switching my food choices to include lower carb stuff. (I have a great recipe I'll tell you all about tomorrow.)

I am upping my exercise again, puff puff..... the dogs are loving all their extra walks. I have even roped Scott into a few more hikes in the woods.

I'm also giving up those lovely Weight Watcher ice creams for a week in an effort to jump start things and opting for more fruit instead.
Stay tuned, it shouldn't be long with all those changes.