It’s Always Something

I got out of bed as usual this morning and took all four dogs into the kitchen. I switched on the coffee maker and then headed for the back yard with the beasts. All performed well and I staggered back into the house to turn on the computer and drink my coffee while I read my email.

I pushed the power button and nothing happened. I pushed it again, and again nothing. I panicked. Had my computer somehow died in the night without telling me?

Then I had an idea. I would use Hubby’s laptop A/C adapter and see if that helped. Sure enough, the computer came right on and showed me that my battery was completely dead. Once I had charged the battery a little I took my laptop back to it’s original adapter and tested it.

The adapter is dead.

I plugged my laptop back in with Hubby’s adapter and charged the batteries, but now I knew I would need to replace the A/C adapter.

All this before my first cup of coffee!

Hubby got up and about that time I called several stores to inquire about replacement A/C adapters. $129.99!!! (GASP!!!)

Hubby got on his laptop and started looking. He found my adapter offered on Ebay and we have ordered it for $37.00 shipping included!

In the meantime his Dell A/C adapter fits my Gateway and it is doing double duty keeping both machines charged.

This is the first time my A/C adapter has quit working on any of my laptops. So I am a little surprised.

But then again, it’s always something!

Busy Summer Days

Thursday was a busy day. I had to get up early to bring Anneliese to the Vets to have some x-rays done, which meant that I had to be up, dressed and out the door by 8:30. This I was able to accomplish, despite the fact that I am really a pajama worker.

I do my best work in my pajamas!

When I got home from dropping Anneliese off, Arnie looked at me like I had committed a crime! Where was his sister? What had I done?

To take his mind off of her absence, Hubby and I took the three dogs out to the garden and pulled weeds, hunted down the latest zucchini and cucumbers and tossed the balls for the three pups.

By noon the woman who is selling our peaches stopped by to collect the peaches she needed for that days Farmer’s Market, and I was able to get some of her home grown garlic. This stuff is to die for, it is that good!

About three o’clock we called the Vet’s and they said to come and get sleepy Anneliese. So we got Arnie and piled into the car and drove to pick her up. She was so sleepy still, that she put her head on my arm and drifted back off to sleep.

Dinner was an easy meal. Pork chops, the last of my freezer applesauce, baked new potatoes, and zucchini and summer squash tossed with olive oil and garlic and sauteed with a little basil.

Arnie is happy to have his sister home. They slept next to me in my chair all evening. They truly are best friends.

Arnie Get’s Plucked

Last night my friend Barbie came over to see me and to help me with Arnie. We have the Zuchtschau (German Dog Show) coming up in a month and Arnie was in need of a little grooming. Our little man was getting seriously overgrown in the face.

I was feeling a little intimidated about where to start this project, and Barbie offered to help. Thank goodness she did. I know I would not have done such a good job.

August 21 001

Here he is. Doesn’t he look great? Thanks again Barbie!!!

Mari, Mari, How Does Your Garden Grow?

I’m really enjoying my garden. Especially the tomatoes. We have so many and I have played around with things to do to use the tomatoes up before they rot.

I have made real, from scratch, spaghetti sauce. I have sliced the tomatoes, placed fresh basil with olive oil on them and topped this with thinly sliced mozzarella cheese and broiled it. We’ve chopped them and put them into sandwiches. You name it, we have added tomatoes to it.

Am I sick of tomatoes? No. I love them. Especially home grown ones.

The Butternut squash is flourishing! We will have many very large squash to store for the winter. Butternut squash are one of my favorites, so this makes me exceptionally happy!

The corn will be ready to eat in about a week. We probably have 2-3 dozen ears of that.

Hubby had over 200 pounds of peaches from our Reliance Peach tree. Yes a truly banner year for peaches.

Even the cucumbers are doing well. I can see another batch of Moon Glow pickles coming up.

The only thing that hasn’t thrived are the Eggplant, and I suspect that I started them too late. Next year I will start them inside and early. Very early. What I would not give to grow my own eggplant!

Yes, I love this time of year. Harvest time. I love eating the fresh vegetables and it’s about this time of year when I begin to plan my next garden.

Next year I will be doing…

The Seasons…

It’s August. In the past I remember Augusts filled with high temperatures and many days spent playing in the surf at the beaches of my childhood.

As I have grown older I see the seasons in a different light. The light of the sunsets. Tonight was a good example. We had the most beautiful sunset. Pink and coral and yellow. The only problem? This really resembles an Autumn sunset, not an August sunset.

August 20 009

I’m actually ready for summer to end and Autumn to come to us. I look forward to the first day I can wear one of my sweaters, or light a fire in our hearth.

Meanwhile, I’ll just keep enjoying the sunsets and watch as the seasons pass us, one by one.

August 20 011

My Girl, Anneliese

Anneliese is growing up. For the longest time she would wander around and you had to watch her, like you would watch a 2 year old child, lest she disappear. In the last few weeks she has started to stay in the yard and seems to understand the boundaries of our property.

She has also started to listen. Now if this lasts, I will be totally thrilled. As a young puppy you would call her and she would pretend that she did not know what you were saying or whom you were calling.

Now she actually turns her little head and even (gasp) comes running to you if you instruct her to do this.

August 15 005

I wonder if all of this compliance on her part is due to the treats that I try to keep in my pocket to reward her good behavior. Whatever the reason, when I look into those beautiful eyes I melt and fall in love with her all over again.

The Bunny Boy

Each one of our dogs has their own unique personality. They also have their favorite toy, spot to sleep or favorite treat. Fritz has his “monkey”, Greta has a 12 inch rawhide bone and Anneliese has everything else in the house. But none have ever “arranged” their toys the way that Arnie does.

August 10 001

Arnie will carry his little bunny all over the house. Up on the window sill, or on the sofa. He will even carry it onto my bed and lie there with it if I am taking a nap. He places Mr. Bunny into position and then settle in next to him. The result of his work is priceless.

August 15 002

We never know when we will see him curled up with his new friend, or if he will share Mr. Bunny with us. (He usually does) One thing is for sure. Mr. Bunny really is his good friend!

PS: As I sit here writing this entry, Arnie jumped down, went and got Mr. Bunny and brought him up in the chair. We are now cuddled together! LOL!!!