I D I O T (that would be I / me / self)

  so, this Idiot worked until 8:30 Tuesday night  -- last night, left, fed the livestock (4 chickens, 4 cats) and returned for a County event, so it was 8:30 last night.  Home in time for the new remake Dallas -- of which I saw 15 minutes before I fell asleep (in the chair). 

  I feel old.  Patrick Duffy with gray hair !!!  Dying of something -- I woke up from my nap in time to see the repeat -- and then at 3:30 rose again for the fighting (?) raccoons on the deck.  I had left on the flood lights -- hoping to deter them.  No, they could just themselves see better. 

  I really feel old. 

  I'm having the internal debate about attending the Minnesota Quilters annual show in Rochester.  Need to commit shortly -- Cousin Mary & Linda are there today and tomorrow -- Saturday is fast approaching.  I might just rise really early Saturday and start driving -- 2 hours down -- get there to park and enjoy before the hoards of excited women arrive.  time (and weather) will dictate. 

Diva

so, remember me ...

    the idiot who thought she would not work afternoons this summer.  I D I O T .... in all caps.  It's 7:23 pm and I'm still here.  So, technically, it is evening -- but since I haven't left yet today ....

    I rarely blog about Commissioner Meetings -- today's was a first .. and a doozy.  Needless to say, I hope it never repeats itself.  It was good to see the men with guns and brown uniforms arrive during a heated debate.  All I can say is -- good grief, get a grip.  In a post meeting telephone call, I was referred to as a "communist -- violating the basic rights of the taxpaying public" ... so ... it was a first. 

   Life is full of firsts.  Get used to it.  In my travels on Monday I visited a country cemetary -- one started by homesteaders that is still active today -- a treasure in today's world of idiots (self included) and wack jobs (the commie caller).  I'll return for a longer visit someday soon.  Pictures are on the Ipad and well getting them to upload takes a techie geek and I haven't found one yet.

bonjour ... (I've forgotten my Russian)

M

aahh Monday

   the patch got hoe'd and tilled ... the graduation party happened -- heat and all -- made a brief shopping sojourn to Mkto -- (shorts/bug dust for the patch/dirt for the flower pots/take out salad for supper/2 pair of fabulous sandals) ...

   baked most of saturday ... 5 pans of brownies and 2 pans of disappearing marshmellow bars ...

   it blew and rained and mother nature brought back natural air conditioning .... and the chaos begins all over again ...

   it's good to be me.


M

City Traveler

   So, this Diva returned from a 36 hour event in the City.  Continuing education seminar -- roughly 40 hours a year and I just knocked out 16 of them. 

   During the ethics discussion the presenter flashed up a Gandhi quote regarding ethics, so I googled it to make sure I was correct ... ummmm.  Again, never believe what you read ..  at any rate

Seven Deadly Sins

Wealth without work.
Pleasure without conscious.
Knowledge without character.
Worship without sacrifice.
Politics without principle.
Science without humanity.
Commerce without morality.

   Every version of the quote had a different order and the conference presenter had "business without ethics" not "commerce without morality."

   It was a good trip -- supper with the City cousins last night and had a million jets flying over (I was next to the airport) ... every 3 minutes another one would go, simply amazing.  Have pictures on the IPad.  The view from my room was IKEA and the Mall of America.  The shopping mecca's ... I've never been to IKEA ... might need a summer road trip up there. 

  So I'm sorting my piles and going home to bed.  Too much traffic and way to much road construction.

M

buggers ....

  specifically the black and yellow striped ones ... so dust, dust, dust I went.  Done.  Smaller patch means faster dusting. 

   okay I preached for a month I wasn't going to work afternoons this summer -- and what time did I get home this evening, yes this evening.  5:30 ish.  wrong, oh so wrong. 

    we'll see what tomorrow brings. 

    first up -- shower to get the extra bug dust off of me. 

    next up -- grocery list, I received my baking instructions for the graduation party.  yeppers, we're going to have tasty treats!!!  lots of tasty treats.

toodles
tired and sweaty diva

hoe, hoe, hoe

  down the rows I go.   merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream. 

  yep, I'm losing it.  big time.  faster every day.  2 hours of hoeing will do that to a tired, old, overweight, way-out-of-shape diva.  but it's a nice day -- enough breeze to keep the bugs a bay.  Squash are done, watermelon are done -- just the pumpkins to go ( not many) ... goes fast.  It's the first hoeing so I can see up close and personal what is or isn't coming up -- germination can always be better -- a bit of nibbling by bugs.
   hoeing is one of the "organic" methods of keeping the dreaded cutworms at bay.  Mrs. Earthworks (Diane) ... see blog on on my reading list.  http://www.earthworksgardens.blogspot.com/ (it works I tested it)  Diane does a great job of bug identification and bug control.  Frankly, I subscribe to the better living thru chemicals when it comes to bugs and grass --
   tomorrow I'll dust 'em for cutworms and elder will spray and the hoeing will start all over midweek.  I like to hoe once a week until the vines get in the way. 

   and it's good for me too.  my new exercise plan.  10 steps, hoe, 10 steps, hoe, swat a skeeter, 10 steps hoe. 

    and this is what I found yesterday ..... 

yes, a dreaded varmit track ... dang it ... more chemicals and fencing to follow

"red" the barn cat assisting in the little garden ...

elder #1 having words with him ....

Nick and me !

the GRADUATE !!!

so, I took 105 pictures at home and the ceremony last night -- 3 sets of camera batteries --- even though Lee's eyes are closed this is my favorite !!!  It was a good night.  Cold enough for long underwear !