Can You See Me?

Can you see me Sweetie?

I'm here....

My poor sweet Justice is 14 and 

deaf and blind.

But she keeps on truckin'.

Wish I were as brave.

Simple Saturday Chores

fresh from the dryer

warm 

smelling sweet

folded 

stacked

it pleases me

uh oh another storm coming

better be alert

I love this shot

Howie's tail is too long for him to sit properly

so he has to sit "side saddle" if you will

and to keep from toppling

he sticks out a leg

making him a tripod

Justice is in front in her "spot"

High Noon

stand off

but I HAD to dig at the rug!

didn't you hear the thunder?

another tripod shot

I've gone to the dogs lately

spending days, 

weeks,

the summer?

 cocooned in my home

puttering, performing simple chores

reading, sewing, painting,

always purging of course

love it - all of it

love the company I keep

unconditional love

(with a bit of neurosis thrown in)

read until 5 am this morning

watched the sunrise peek through 

as I drifted off to sleep

back up at 10 am

as Justice hollered at the base of the stairs

demanding attention

steaming cups of coffee,

warm homemade muffin,

crisp pink lady apple

sliced egg sandwich

using grandma's vintage slicer

a little butter - even less mayo

pepper, a whisper of salt

on potato bread 

a nap is necessary

on the couch

with both my pals 

fighting for position

Howie always wins

simple

soulful

pleasures

saturday

SLEEPY SLUGGY STORMY SUNDAY

Lined up like departing aircraft

Snoozing the day away

Open eyes long enough to say "shoo I'm sleeping"

Storm coming in, more opportunity for Howie 

to chew holes in curtains and tablecloths

The last storm 's tablecloth chew

sigh...

I love this tablecloth and kept turning 

the bad sides to the back.

Now there IS no good side

But those eyes

one blue

one brown 

say I'm sorry

As I shot the pic of the tablecloth just now

 Howie went and hid under the table

checking his penis..

Yeah he does that too when anxious

Such a guy

Have a good week my friends

with special shout outs to all my teacher pals.

I salute you!

Z

Find Joy

Anyone else get a thrill out of a fresh jar of peanut butter?

I love that fresh first scoop with my vintage spatula.

Making a simple place setting to enjoy

the start of the day.

More often than not, I love to do dishes by hand,

except on Thanksgiving.

 Fresh folded laundry

I like to see fresh fruit displayed.

Makes me want to eat it.

A cone free dog is a simple joy,

on the mat that helps guide her through the doorway.

Happy pals waiting for a treat.

Choose Simple Joys today

Personalities

One picture shows personality 

in an instant.

Justice.... quiet, curled up inside her bed,

Howie.... hanging half way out, looking for trouble.

Justice has been ill, and 

will continue to be so.

She is now completely deaf,

blind in one eye 

and has very little sight in the other.

Many lights have to be left on at night 

for her to find her way.

She has an infection we are trying 

to bring under control. She's a trooper.

Their beds are under the desk where I 

write, where I peruse your blogs, and surf.

I can stretch out my toes and give a quick ear rub,

and frequently get a little kiss and a lick.

As the weather cools they will be here

a good bit of the day

searching out warmth.

I too, settle in tight,

keeping the heat off, wearing flannel shirts,

fluffy socks and leave a cozy throw

upon each seat. 

Candles are lit from early morn and

into the night.

I wait.

I wait for the family to be here,

 secure in the warmth and love

of home and hearth.

My personality...

my family here with me.

It is who I am,

what I've been,

and what I choose.

I am much more than "just...."

but my family is my life's work.

I make no apologies.

*****

Darling Daughter is nearly at the half way mark 

with her INDIEGOGO campaign.

Thank you again to all who've so

generously helped and written

her emails of encouragement.

Casting is complete, location is set

she'll be filming soon.

btw...My favorite blue bucket and mop 

are the today's special on HSN, 

cheapest I have ever seen.

A blessed weekend to you all.

Z

Sights Sounds and NEVER AGAIN Around the Old Homestead

The weeks are rolling by

and I'm not sure if that makes me happy or not.

I suppose any week we're all still here is a good one.

As to the day to day, I have been working

 on some projects and solving "issues".

One issue is Justice falling down and up? 

the stairs in the middle of the night. 

A bevy of night lights has not solved the problem.

Not good for the sleep deprived,

 and no thrill for Miss Justice either.

I had this fencing in the garage for some time, 

waiting to be sanded, cleaned, painted and installed.

It was too narrow for the spot but the shoe basket fits perfectly 

in the gap and the problem was solved.

You would think, wouldn't ya?

Except remember the other pooch that dwells here?

Howie?

It took him all of 30 seconds to realize
 he could swing the gate open, 
and passage was once again possible.

Until I figure out a pretty solution 
a loop of rope solves the problem at night.

You would think wouldn't ya?

Around two 2 am, having just shut off the bed lamp, 
a light scratching could be heard..
Upon investigation I discovered it was not scratching, 
but chewing, as Howie attempted to chew his way
 through the basket to get to me.

Now they are both spoiled and have always 
had total access to the house..
well except for the bathtubs. 
Justice likes to jump in and out of them
 and I find the dog hair remnants gross... so no tubs..

Anyway they come and go up and down all night

so I felt the separation would be OK 
as they have four dog beds on the first floor. 

You would think wouldn't ya?

When I let Howie up to join me to stop the chewing, 

Justice woke up, realized she was alone and started to howl.

Howie joined in and once again I'll owe my neighbors
 some damn good cookies at the holidays..

Justice having all her bones unbroken is a priority,

learn to deal with it Howie.

My car was broken into (again).
(So insurance, police reports, fun stuff)

It was parked in the driveway because my garage
 is filled with stuff for that garage sale
I am NEVER going to have again.
The 2nd annual NEVER AGAIN sale is the 29th.

You remember I even threw away all my special flower signs
 after the last one? Well...what can I say....

some other gals wanted to have one too...so...
OK OK no excuses..I really don't know why?
WHYYYYYYYYYY?

The first couple piles, waiting to be sorted and priced.
I could cry..
"GoodWill I'm coming"

My 20 year old ash tree is succumbing to some horrible disease that has struck the majority of ash in lala land, and I am so saddened by it's condition.
Sadder still will be me up in the tree with a chain saw.
How old do you have to be before you 
stop thinking you can do anything?

When I decide to do these umm... "projects" I call up 
my SIL or my daughter on my cell and make them listen
 for my scream or fall so that they can then call for help..
from across town or 2,000 miles away.
What? You see a flaw in my plan?
I do this for gutter, roof, window washing and trees....
The chatting keeps me from being nervous and I like 
to speculate that I might actually survive the BIG FALL...

Made a couple more of these
in several sizes, some may show up on Saturday.
****
just in case I get bored this week...
Thinking of repainting the kitchen cupboards-
yard work needed - about 2 full days-
toilet repair-
sprinkler repair-
recover free chair given to me-

dogs groomed
carpet cleaned pre holidays
(these last two from sale proceeds)

oh, and play Tarzan in the ash tree.

Z

A Good Mom

Look Justice, 

Mom put a gate across the front door so we can look out 

and bark at everyone going by.

I bet they think we're fierce.

Mom did it so she could mop the floor and keep

us distracted so we wouldn't track through the wet.

She's a good Mom.

Pooches and Posterior Sweat

                                Justice                                        Howie

Pant Pant, Sweat Sweat

stinky dog-sweat smell

105 w/ 25% humidity

They were outside just long enough

to wee a little and back inside they came.

I am trying to put away piles of tote fabric 

back into some semblance of organization and 

I also swapped out two cupboards, one into the studio.

Did the old large piece of furniture on a drop cloth pull trick...

Up AND down two flights of stairs.

(Yep, she IS crazy)

Growing my hairs out, 

(plucking the chin ones),

and I had forgotten how with longer hair, 

the sweat accumulates at the nape of your neck 

and then like droplets on a car window,

joins with other droplets into a raging stream,

rolls down past the shoulders, channels itself into

 the back groove, and then slides wickedly beneath 

the pant waistband, down into....

the posterior area.

Or is it just me? sigh

My Oregonian friends Kathy and Kathleen,

here's a proposition...

since you two always want the warmth

 and I always want the rain,

what say we swap homes each summer

from now on.....

Don't even need to call first,

you know the key is hidden,

or try the keypad with St Anthony's assistance. :D

Hope your weekend weather is wonderful,

or at least you have a change of underwear if need be.

Z