Good-Bye Peach Tree

Lat night after dinner I walked the dogs and all was right in the world. The dogs were good, the sun was setting in pretty pinks and blues. Yes, it was a nice night.

We watched a little of the tennis from New York, marveling at the expertise of the competetors, and commenting also on how we miss the likes of Steffi Graff, Andre Agassi, Stan Smith and Rod Laver. Today’s players are great, but we do miss our old favorites.

At 9:30 I got all the dogs together for their last wee-wee of the night. This is usually a quick and totally uninteresting event, but last night when I turned on the back lights and opened the door this is what I saw.

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Of course these were all taken the morning after when the sun came up, but I will tell you that I stood with Hubby in stunned silence staring at our Rich Haven Peach tree.

There is nothing that can be done to repair the damage to the tree, although we may be able to cut the tree back to the stump and see if it will grow a shoot over the next year.

The fruit? Well, we are leaving the tree as it is, for now. We hope that enough nutrients will get through to the fruit so that they will ripen on schedule in the next ten days.

It’s been a tough year for growing just about everything here, but I am not discouraged. After all there is always next year!

I’m Hooked

I’ve decided I am hooked on Youtube. Do you know that you can find almost anything in the world on there?

You can find, “How to knit”, “How to tape a foot with plantar faciitis”, music videos from all of our favorite groups, including my favorite group “The Beatles”!!!

You can learn to make a crepe, or wedding cake or a classic taco salad! So far when I have typed in a search, I have gotten something back.

Now I am not slow. Actually I even have a few videos on Youtube from back when Greta had the pups.

It’s hard to believe they were ever that small!

The only downside here….I’m not getting much done. I need to put the laptop down, get away from learning how to knit and do something serious like make dinner.

I wonder what they have on Youtube for “What to make for dinner”?

Being A Mom

This will be short because today has been a long day and I am beyond tired, but here I go.

My daughter had to have some surgery today. It was difficult and truly unpleasant for her and I went down to lend moral support and comfort to her. (I truly hope I did both)

What I discovered was, no matter how old your kids get, they are always your children and that heart stopping, worrying is still there. Of course the easiest thing is that you get to ask them coherent questions about their pain and get straight answers.

However, I’m here to tell you that not matter what, you as a parent would gladly exchange places with your child to ease the pain they are in.

Mandy was brave, she was strong and she came through the surgery very well. I was so proud of the way that she handled herself and the position that she found herself in.

I was thinking about staying overnight, but then M. arrived and he took over the comforting roll, and I drove home.

Now it is bedtime for this Mommy and I know before I can sleep even a moment, it will be morning once again.

4, 4, 4, 4 Meme

Well, KT over at Baggachips tagged me for this meme, and since I haven’t done a meme in a while, I thought I’d just do this. It’s called the four, four, four, four meme. Which doesn’t make much sense considering there are six categories, but whatever.

1. Four places I go over and over: Grocery shopping, Weight Watchers, My sister’s house and a cruise.

2. Four people who email me regularly: Mel, Uschi, Janet and The Circle of Friends

3. Four of my favorite places to eat: Canoe, Hong Kong Buffet, My house, Applebees

4. Four places I’d rather be right now: A cruise to anywhere, the beach, Punta Gorda, and Australia.

5. Four TV shows I watch:Two and a Half Men, House, NCIS, Desperate Housewives.

6. Four people I will tag: Ayone who wants to play.

Nearly The Wettest Summer Ever

I’m starting to think that this summer never really happened. It seems we went from springtime to fall without any of those long, hazy, lazy, days of summer. It was so dark and so wet. Most of the gardens in our area are complete losses. I know that mine is.

It has been the summer of rain. How much rain you ask? Well here is a quote from our local television station.

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A LOT OF YOU HAVE BEEN ASKING IF THIS IS THE WETTEST SUMMER EVER. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN 7TH PLACE, AND STILL CLIMBING

**Numbers are for Concord, the only area where official records go back to the 1800s. These numbers vary greatly from place to place, but give a basic idea. *Records are for precipitation for the months of June, July, and August.

1. 1897: 20.49 inches

2. 1887: 20.08 inches

3. 1872: 19.33 inches

4. 1915: 17.92 inches

5. 1903: 17.13 inches

6. 2006:16.46 inches

7. 2008: 16.08 inches (as of 6am, Tuesday 8/26)

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We have been able to use some of the fruit that we have salvaged. Certainly the peaches are getting a lot of use in jams, ad we have supplied our friends and neighbors with copious amounts of fruit. Soon our Stanley Plums will be ready. I’m not sure how many of those will be suitable for anything other than jam.

Well, it’s time passing isn’t it? Each year, going along, some seemingly normal and others like this year, definitely one of a kind.

Fritz

Today it was all about Fritz. We had his yearly visit to the Veterinarian’s for his shots and examination. He did very well, weighing in at 77.7 pounds with a good heart rate and hearty tail wag!

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I was a bit concerned about one of his eyes that seemed to be running a little. Just a small infection, so we got drops for that. I also picked up a fresh tube of beef flavored doggy toothpaste for him.

Yeah, just what we need. A dog with beef breath! LOL!

Fritz was so excited to go out in the Jeep, with the window rolled down, just enough for him to poke his nose out of. After the Vet’s appointment we drove to the Post Office and then home. We drove into the yard and I saw Hubby up on the hill checking the trees. I thought Fritz would run right up there with him. So what does he do when I let him out of the Jeep?

He ran full speed up the driveway away from the house! I called him and he didn’t even stop or look back. I walked up the steps and asked Hubby what or earth was wrong with Fritz. He shrugged and said he didn’t know, but for some unknown reason Fritz does this every time he goes out in the car and then comes back home.

Talk about stretching your legs after a car trip!

20 Pints and a Dackel On The Go

I was just sort of lazing around today, if you can call canning 20 pints of brandied peaches lazing, and enjoying the warm sunshine that seems to have settled into our area. It’s a little late for my poor garden, but I may still get a few tomatoes and eggplants out of my pots on the patio.

The dogs played, yes even Anneliese was up and running about today playing with her brother. It seems the Dackel Princess household is getting back on it’s feet after the most recent bout with raging dackel hormones!

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Anneliese has taken over the little doggy bed, but trust me, that’s okay after her desire to hide from every one and every thing! It’s nice to have her back out with us again!

At this point I think I can safely say that we have canned enough peaches and peach jam for the next 12 months. We will be having Stanley Plums come in soon and I always enjoy making jam from them as well.

I will tell all my close family and friends now. For Christmas this year, expect food!

Monday morning Fritzi goes in for his yearly shots. I will take him even though he is truly a terror in the car. I think I will just roll down the window and let him get some air. He loves that!

Aside from that, this week is a work around the house week for me. I have a lot to do here at home, but no pressing engagements! Yay! I need a few days to regroup, do laundry and pay a few bills!

Happy Monday to you all, and have a great week ahead!

A Day In The Life

Saturday Janet and I went up town to the local Craft Fair. It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed all the walking around we did. However, I was on my feet walking around so much that at the end of the afternoon I felt like I was walking like a drunken sailor.

Nonetheless, once home I made up 2 big batches of Heavenly Jam, made pulled chicken, mashed potatoes, salad, roasted egg plant and asparagus for dinner. We had Emily and her Dad here for dinner and that was a lot of fun.

Emily was playing around with Arnie, who has to be the most flexible and relaxed dog ever. I mean really, when was the last time you saw a dog falling asleep like this?

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While cleaning up the kitchen, and washing a hundred and one pots, pans and dishes by hand, Emily snapped this picture. No make-up and I like it because it shows how well my nose is healing.

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I also played with Arnie, planting a big smooch on his nose.

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It was a big day and as the day is closing, I admit to being exhausted and needing just a little sleep!