Just found out that my favorite book store, Lucky Dog Books has opened a third store near Lochwood shopping center.   It is at 10801 Garland Road, Dallas,Texas. They are next door to the Writer's Garret and the Casa Linda Bakery.    They have been around for 40 years as Paperbacks Plus and both my daughters grew up in the Mesquite store.   If you are in the area check them out or visit them on Facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/LuckyDogBooks  .

How times Flies when your having fun.

Wow, It took me forever to find the correct email and password to get back in here.  It's been 3 years, but Google switched my email address and used one I forgot I even had.  Who knows what they will use next??

I'm dusting off all my cameras and lens.  I need to get back to my photography.  I even got my old Canon T50 out and all it's old lens.  I love that camera, took some really great shots of the girls when they were little.  My favorite go to lens was the FD 135mm 1:3.5.   I purchased an adapter (FD to Sony) for it several years ago but you have to use it on Manual.  The DSLR keeps telling me that I don't have a lens attached. LOL.  Sooo, thinking about getting some 35mm film.  But I'm so use to being able to see my shots after shooting now, will it be hard?

The above shots were taken yesterday. 5/15/2014

People Pets and Plants.

It seems like I spent the last several months watching people, pets and plants die.   My neighbor across the alley had her lung cancer come back after being in remission for 6 years.   I watched her fight for breath, fight to go home and fight to live.  She passed away late September.  Her grass die long before that, from the summer of 100+ degree months.  My husband and I tried to keep it up but couldn’t.  We kept the her dog alive though, only to learn that her will stated she was to be put to sleep and her ashes mixed with her owners’ and thrown someplace.  It’s a shame to waste a good dog like that.

We had to  put our poodle "Bear" of 15 years to sleep in September also.  He had too many health problems and since he had a living will, we didn’t try to keep him alive with machines.  It is really a hard decision to make, putting a dog down.  We let the Vet handle it and his remains.  I have no desire to throw them in the wind or whatever.  He's at peace and that's all that matters.

Then I find out my uncle had cancer and watched him slip away from us in October.   He died on Halloween night, which is kind of cool because it was his favorite holiday and he was always putting on a show for the neighborhood kids.   He elected to be cremated also.  Seems to be the way a lot of people are going these days.   At least he let his dogs live.

The plants, counting my neighbor’s grass, were several purchased during June thru August, which were the hottest months in the history of the United States ever recorded. I had all my neighbor's plants and still do.  I really struggled to keep hers and mine alive in all the heat. Lost my first Magnolia Tree, but was able to replace it.  Several potting plants,  The Christmas cactus is still having a hard time coming back and lost two hanging baskets of Spider plants.  

I did have a great Thanksgiving and enjoyed friends and family.  Hope you all had a good one also.

108 today.

I know it hit 108 today and  maybe higher.  It's 99 right now at 8:47pm.

 My neighbor is in the hospital and I have been trying to keep her plants and mine alive for the past few weeks. (have them all here at my house. Finally brought some in the house tonight.  Her aloe is looking really sick.  The outer leaves are getting thin and droopy.  Our city put us on water ration of only watering at night 2 days a week.   Some yards, like my neighbor's, are so dry they feel like straw.   Ours looks fine for now.   We have had to water around the house with soaker hoses, trying to keep the foundation from getting any worse than it already is.  Our inside and outside doors are sticking and I don't know from one day to the next which ones will open again once shut.

The Dog Days of Summer

Has it really been a year and half since I last posted.  So much has happened that I doubt I'll remember it all.


  Melanie's wedding was very nice by the way.  I was able to take a lot of photos myself, even through we had a "real" photographer.   


The Dallas area metro is having record breaking highs this summer.  I have been getting up extra early to work in my yard, otherwise it's too hot by 11:00am.    We  only swim at night and the pool is so warm it's not very refreshing. 

I am waiting on a new lens for my camera.  Can't wait.  It's a Tamron AF 90mm Macro.  Hope to be posting some shots soon.

We have a new addition to the family.  "Grace" is a five and half month old puppy.  We were told she is Border Collie/Boxer mix, but everyone is saving Pitt Bull is in there somewhere.  She is extremely smart and is able to get out of almost all the fences we set up to keep her contained.    She took to Max, our 110 pound 8 year old Labrador, right away.  She sleep by him the first night and sleep all night with no accidents even though she was only 8 weeks old.  We gave them this large raw hide bone and they shared until it got towards the end.  Max wanted it, but Grace would sneak in, grab it and run across the yard dragging it behind her.

April is for tree climbers

 I had the family here yesterday for Easter.   Melanie and Dee worked on the wedding invitations.  We finished up today and Mel took them to the post office.  I am tired, but need to take the income tax in to the CPA tomorrow. I've been cleaning and shopping and getting our taxes together, for a week now.

After dinner Brad and Dylan were outside throwing a football and it was caught high in the neighbors tree.  I got some shots of Brad climbing up to try to shake it out.  Didn't work, but we all had fun watching.  They finally threw another one at it, and knocked it out

I haven't climbed a tree in at least 12 years.  I use to get up in the neighbor's tree with Dylan, but then my neighbor didn't like it.   Tree climbing was something I did a lot as a child.  But being 59 with osteoporosis, I guess my tree climbing days are over.  Unless I find a very  large tree house with a ladder.  Now that's a thought.

I have been looking into Brad's family history for him.  His surname is  Brunott.  His Great Grandfather came here from Amsterdam, Noord-Holland by way of Canada.  Very interesting.  I have met a very nice man in Canada who has helped me with research there and in Holland.  It is progressing nicely.  Hope to have some to show his Grandfather at the wedding.

Monday at the Arboretum

I made it to the Arboretum the day after we had snow.  It snowed about 6 inches on Sunday, melted  off by late afternoon and we had 70 degree weather on Monday.  That is not only strange for Texas, it's strange for anywhere.

  I ran out to the Dallas Arboretum to see if anything was left of the tulips.   They looked great.

Global Warming my ass. More like Global Freezing!

Okay, it was 72 degrees yesterday here in the Dallas Metro and now it's 37 degrees.  Enough of this nonsense.  I'm ready for Spring.  The Dallas Arboretum is having their Spring Bloom, with thousands of tulips.  We went the week before (I'm a member) and no tulips.  The cold weather and snows we have had delayed the growth.  So they finally bloom and it starts raining and turns cold.  They are talking snow for Monday.  This is crazy!!!  I want to take photos.

I have had such bad luck last year.  First the ankle injury on Memorial weekend, then the dog bite at the end of December.  I am finally getting to where I can rock and roll, and the weather turns bad.  Go figure.

Wedding arrangements are going along.  We still need to send out the invitations, but Brad is dragging his feet on getting his list together.  No list, no friends.  Seriously, I told Mel I would help him get it together if needed.   I am not worried.  It will get done and it will all work out.

St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day!   And happy birthday to my grandson, Tyler.  He was born ten years ago today.

 St. Patrick was known for driving the snakes out of Ireland.  But what they don't tell you is he drank a lot and was the only one who saw the snakes.......


 
The boys are out on Spring Break and I had them for Monday and Tuesday.  We took them to the zoo and had a pretty good time.  I got lots of shots of Tyler climbing large rocks.  So he had fun.  (the photo below is a meerkat )  Dylan is twelve and getting to the age where he gets embarrassed easily, but I think he had a good time.

This is Tyler

This is Dylan.

If you haven't watched Meerkat manor, it's worth a watch or you could get it at Amazon.

My hand is slowly getting better.  I can use my camera if I hold most of the weight with my left hand.  I still have some pain around my wrist, near the slash, but it's getting less and less.    Some numbness still, the worst being in my thumb.  

I want to buy some lens for my Sony.  I've been looking at  the large 500mm.  This looks like a good deal.  I could really get a great Moon shot with this one.

Random March Thoughts or Marching along

I think my hand is doing better. It's still numb but not as bad if that makes sense.  And it hasn't hurt in awhile.  I have been very careful to not lift anything heavy or use it much.  Let's wait awhile longer to see.  Keep me in your thoughts and prayers, it must be working.

MJ and I went to the park with Max the other day.  On the way back I tried to get him to stop at the Animal Shelter but he wasn't going for it.  At times I still want another small dog.  Bear is not going to be with us much longer and I would like him to help train any new dog.  That's how he was trained.  We had Spike and Bear learned from him about going outside and to bed.  Max is not the greatest roll model for a puppy.  I guess after saying that, what if it took after Max instead of Bear.  Okay I can see where this thought process is going.

We also went to the Dallas Arboretum this past Friday.  No tulips.  They plant thousands of  tulips each year, but this year all the cold weather has set them back a few weeks.  I saw two.  So I shot a few photos of trees and koi.  It was nice to walk around.  The weather was about 62 and sunny.  Lovely day.

We cut back the big rose bush last month along with all the others.  So far so good.  Some of the large canes are doing well.  I'm sure it won't be blooming this year, but who knows.  I have been doing what I can in the yard with one hand.  A set of new pruning shears helps.  I am so ready for warmer weather.

Melanie and I choose the wedding invitations last week.  Everything is going along fine on that end.  I got the chance to speak with Brad's grandfather the other day.  I am looking into their family history for Brad and had a few questions.  Very nice man.  It is difficult trying to trace back to Holland thru Canada.   It's coming along, but slowly.

Feb snow

My hand is still numb from the bite, but I have to block it out sometimes or get really depressed. We had a lot of snow for the first time in years here in the Dallas metro. I took some photos, even through my hand was hurting. I try to put the camera weight on my left hand, but I still have to push the buttons with my right. I have a remote, but can't use it with my left and hold the camera also. :) I got up the morning of the 12th to an absolutely gorgeous view. My Neighbor's tree had lost some branches , but it was looked great. I got dressed and hurried out without even a cup of coffee. That is totally unheard of. I even talked to people without my coffee. So I guess that answers that question: Is there life before coffee? answer : Only when it snows! I want to lose about 10 pounds before Melanie's wedding in May. I started yesterday on watching what I eat and exercise. I got very winded after exercising and it scared me some. MJ was working until 9pm. I told him I'll have to only do it when he's home. At least until I get back in the habit. Of course he says I look fine, but he would say that if I was 100 lbs over weight.

Update on the Dog Bite and New Year

The Animal Control did call and Toby was negative for rabies. That was on a Friday and he was put to sleep the following Tuesday, Jan 12th. The wounds are healing nicely. My hand is not. I still have numbness in my thumb and the two fingers next to it. Can't lift anything heavy. There is still pain in the wrist and up . I can use a mouse okay, and some typing is not too bad, I rest in between. My youngest daughter became engaged right before Thanksgiving. The wedding is set for May 29th. We found the dress, so the rest should be easy. MJ had vacation time he had to take or lose it, so he has been off since Feb 1st and goes back to work on the 10th. The first and only project was to severely cut back my Seven sister's rose bush. It is over 20 years old and the roses were not as large or plentiful as in the past. I have a standby in a pot in case it doesn't make it. It took him two days to trim it back. Wish me luck.

Update on Christmas Dog.

I'm sorry to say that Toby is out of here. On the morning of the 29th around midnight, I had put the grandsons and other dogs to bed, called Toby into our room where he had been sleeping. Usually he would go right to his bed, but for some reason he didn't want to. I think he had been having too much fun playing with the boys. MJ came up and told him to go to bed and he stepped forward and let me clip the leash on. We had not been letting him run free yet, trying to get him use to sleeping in his bed beside ours. He refused to lay down on the bed and lay down instead on the floor next to it. Normally that would be okay, but since the boys were here, I knew I would be getting up to check on them, they always play awhile, and he was in my way. I kept telling him to get on his bed. Finally I reached down and lifted him up with both arms and was moving him over. He growled, but I was almost down with him. The next thing I knew, he turned and bite my right wrist. Then he bite again and would not let go. That is the worst feeling, pain and mentally. I yelled something at MJ, I don't remember what. I think I said he was biting me and wouldn't let go. I was pulling back from him and finally he released my arm. I stood up and got away from him quickly. I had a two inches slice in my wrist and it started bleeding, a lot. Tyler came in, saw it and ran for the others. MJ was trying to find something to apply pressure with. We called 911, mainly because I couldn't get it to stop bleeding and thought I would have to go by ambulance to the ER. Police came. The paramedics got it stopped and wrapped. We decided to let MJ drive me. We called my mother to come sit with the boys.
We got to Baylor ER quickly and was seen pretty quickly. They x-rayed it, gave antibiotics, a tetanus shot, but did not stitch it up. They said it might cause more of a chance of infection. They wrapped it. We were back home by 3:45 am.
I decided later that morning that I could not keep this dog. I had really loved this dog, but now I was afraid of him for myself and grandsons. So MJ called the Violas, told them what had happened and ask if they wanted him back because we couldn't keep him. They said they would come get him. In the mean time, Animal control called and told me they needed to watch him for 10 days, he couldn't leave the state. So we all decided to surrender him to Animal Control. He had bite someone 3 yrs ago and everyone agreed after my experience, he would have to be put down. The fact that he clamped down and wouldn't let go was the deciding factor for most of us. So AC came shortly after noon on Tuesday. I said I would surrender him to them and signed the papers. He was in my office behind closed doors and I did not want him drug through the house by their pole in front of the boys, so I went in and put his leash on him and walked him out the truck. I said goodbye. AC will call me after 10 days with the results, rather he showed any signs of rabies or not.
I'm sorry for Toby, the Violas, and us. My wrist seems to be okay, but have numbness along the top of the thumb and two fingers. I'm seeing my doctor tomorrow.
Coming home from the hospital early Tuesday morning, a small black and white dog ran in front of our car. I said " Let it run". I think I have learned something from all this, but only time will tell.

My Christmas Dog

Mother called on Christmas Eve and said there was a stray dog on her back patio. I told her MJ and I would come get it. It was snowing and the temperature was starting to drop. We took it to the Animal Shelter and they scanned it, but when they called the company, were told there was no record of registration. He was wet, matted and smelled really bad. We took him into Petsmart to see if they could cut away some of the matting, but they couldn't without proof of his shot record. So we purchased a $80 clipper set (MJ is delighted over that!!) and came home to do it ourself. We started calling him Presley. He smelled like he had rolled in a sewer. MJ cut as much of the tangles and matting as he could, but it still took hours. He finally gave him a bath around 10pm. We dried him with towels and the hair dryer as best we could. By 11pm I said that was enough. Christmas Day. Got a good nights sleep in our room, beside the bed. I put a post on the Mesquite Animal Shelter website that we found a Cocker and the location. Checked Dallas and Garland for lost cockers, but none. They didn't have anywhere I could post. We called back at 2pm. They said we could have him!!!!!! John and Edee came over to say goodbye. Edee just happen to have all his records with them. And another coincidence, her birthday is Sept. 21 and mine is Sept. 20th. This strange. It's like it was meant to be! His name is Toby. He is six years old, born Dec. 14, 2003. That makes him six months younger than Max. With bear getting older, we had wanted another dog. I can't thank you guys enough for letting me keep him. We will give him a good home and promise to take excellent care of him. THANK YOU JOHN AND EDEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Swine Flu Tips

I received this today in an e-mail. Don't know if it works, but it can not hurt. Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS, DRM, DNB (Intensivist and thyroid specialist), having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institutions like Hinduja Hospital, Bombay Hospital, Saifee Hospital, Tata Memorial etc. Presently, he is heading our Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W). The following message given by him makes a lot of sense and is important for all of us to know. The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is. While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu): 1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications). 2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or sleep). 3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method. 4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population..* 5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption. 6.* Drink as much of warm liquids as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm. (I have been battling a stress fracture in my left tibia for four months now. Not doing much shooting. It's on the mend but still some soreness now and then. Hope to get back soon. Jennie)

A leg to stand on.

My leg problem is still on going. Today is one (1) month since it became swollen. After a Doppler MRI showing no blockage, therefore no blood clot, we have been treating it as a sprain. I spent a week with it elevated and staying off of it as much as possible. Better, but not best. But when I started walking on it again, it began to hurt and swell again. Now I am on a anti-inflammatory twice a day for two weeks. It's been a week and I went to the store yesterday without my ankle brace and it started hurting last night. This is really puzzling. It appears it does well as long as I don't walk on it. Not good. (I told my Doc that I thought my husband was putting something in the water to keep me from shopping, but it back fired, I can't clean either!)

MJ was off yesterday and drove me around town taking shots of old houses, but other than that I am not able to take many photographs lately. I am a member of a photography forum PB Phoenix and I have had to complete stay away. Members are shooting so many great shots. It made me want to get out and start shooting. I stopped by yesterday, lots of new people. Too much to catch up on. They haven't noticed I'm gone and until this leg thing is solved, I guess that's best.

The Cad transmission got rebuilt. Running so much better. Now if MJ can just fix the blinker lights! They have a mind of their own. I'm banking on this being a classic some day and passing it down to Dylan or Tyler.

My Crape Myrtle are blooming and gorgeous. I can see them out my office window.

Okay, I couldn't stand it so I hobbled out and took a shot.

I have been working on "Pages" for different relatives at Footnote.com. To view go to the link below. Keeps me off the streets. By sitting here at my desk with my leg on an ottoman and my keyboard and screen pulled up close, I can work. I want to work on one for my 1st husband's grandfather George Birdwell. He robbed banks with Pretty Boy Floyd and was shot robbing one in Oklahoma. So watch for that one.

Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down.

Okay, it's not really Monday, it's Tuesday. But it is raining and this applies to yesterday also. April 27th while we were in Kansas for my husband's mother funeral, we visited his sister's farm. They collect Studebakers and are getting ready for an auction. I was running around shooting photos of all the cars outside. Most of them rusted, but cool shots. We left for home from there and rolled in around 1:00 am in the morning. We crashed that night and sleep off and on all the next day. I didn't notice until Wednesday that I had a tick on my leg. I jerked it off, but it looked like maybe some got left in there. I had some soreness off and on for several weeks, but it would always go away, didn't last long. Well, this past Monday week ago, my ankle swells up and my lower leg started hurting again. I go to the doc on Tuesday and he puts me on antibiotics. It's only been doing better for a few days, swelling goes down at night, but comes back after walking on it during the day. So to keep off my leg I put an ottoman by my desk chair and sit here with it raised up. If it's not any better by the end of the meds, I'll go back.

With that said, I have found that Picasa 3 has a neat feature in it called Tags. I have been sitting here tagging my Photos into different categories. Birds, Trees, Clouds, Buildings,Colors etc. That will make it so much easier to find what I want. Right now I have to search through tons of shots to find things. Picasa is a free program through Google. It is well worth downloading.

Before the leg thing, I had purchased some bird feeders for the side yard and set up my camera & tripod by the kitchen sliding glass door. Worked great. Got some good shots of Blue Jays, Blue Jays, Blue Jays, Cardinial, Blue Jays, Dove. Can you guess, mostly Blue Jays are coming around. Also some small sparrow like birds. I'm trying for a Woodpecker I saw in my neighbors tree. I'll post if I get some.

And last but not least, my cad may need the transmission rebuilt. It's at the shop now. We are waiting to see if we have to shell out $1800. But that's cheaper than a monthly car payment. It's a 94 Concours (the only year they called it that, afterwards it was always the "Deville Concours" with 151,000 miles, but still looks good. I like a big car, so I'm keeping it as long as I can.

**update** MJ just called, we need new transmission. So I'll be car less for awhile. ***

Beatlemania

I posted this on another blog I have. Thought I would share it here also. I received an email today from GameStop. The top article was about the new The Beatles: Rock Band.

"Most of us remember the first time we heard The Beatles. This fall we'll have the chance to experience what it was like to actually be one of the Fab Four with The Beatles: Rock Band, which takes players on a journey through the band's legendary career. We've just learned that the Limited Edition Premium Bundle will include The Beatles: Rock Band software; a Höfner Bass controller; The Beatles-inspired and Ludwig-branded Rock Band drums with classic pearl finish, a metal kick pedal and a vintage replica drumhead; plus a microphone with stand, as well as additional special content."

Flash back. September 18, 1964. I was about to turn 14 in two days. We at our friends house and their dad, a Dallas Police officer calls. He is working the Beatles concert that night and did his wife and kids want to come. He could get them in free. His wife wasn't interested, but my mom said she'd go and take all us kids. (me, the oldest, my sister and his daughter, both three years younger than me.) So we headed over to the Memorial Coliseum downtown. Went to the entrance he told us to, told the officer there we were the officers family and they slipped us under the barricade. He was waiting for us inside. He put us in a spot right below the stage and told us to stay there. Since we were standing, Mom found a place near there against a wall and there we stayed, much to our regret later. He came to find us right before the concert was over, but couldn't. He was going to take us back stage to meet the guys as they came off stage, who he was escorting out of the building. Bummer! But that night changed all of us. The Beatlemania was contagious. We went in barely liking these long haired weirdoes and came out in tears, madly in love. Even my mom. I still have their albums. The first one Meet the Beatles, the White Album, Revolver, Abby Road, Magical Mystery Tour, St. Peppers, around a dozen I think. Now I'm interested to see what this new game is like and how well it's received by the gaming community.

New Camera

This new camera works great. I got my membership to the Arboretum and hope to use it a lot this spring and summer.

In with the new/out with the old

No, I'm not changing husbands again. (although, after installing laminate flooring in my kitchen together, it might happen) :) Mother brought me a new Sony DSLR A350. My Olympus SP570 uz has never worked correctly. It blows out the corners of every photo I take. (the corners are blurred) I contacted Olympus and I have to send it to them to fix under warranty, so I won't have it for a while. I will never buy another Olympus camera. My grandson Tyler came to visit this weekend. He has a camera and like to hike around the woods taking pictures. He and I went to Kids Quest park and took pictures and hiked down the paths in the woods there, for about (2) hours. Fun time. I am getting a membership to the Dallas Arburedum so he & I can go there. I have opened a page on Facebook. Interesting.