Content/Sidebar/Sidebar

Milkmaid has a much nicer sound to it than, say, goat girl.  Which is what I’ve been doing all week.  Since Rick is gone, and he’s the one that normally feeds them (that’s what he gets for being an early bird), it falls to me this week.  We supplement their grazing with grain so they get all the nutrients they need.  Only it makes them lazy and they start demanding, quite loudly, as soon as they suspect someone is up. 

This sweet little face is Antoinette.  I think she is my favorite but don’t tell the others.  She has become the most vocal but she’s also the most shy of the four.

Other than the early morning foray out to the goat pen I’ve been kind of housebound.  It’s gorgeous out and the garden beckons, only there is a temporary, seasonal danger lurking out there.  One that I am no match for.

The butterflies are back. 

I have an absolute phobia about moths and butterflies.  Butterflies are really just moths in drag.  I can’t explain it, really.  People look at me with a perplexed look on their face when they hear of this and say "You realize, of course, they can’t HURT you."   Yeah yeah – whatever.  They are still evil.

And the ones out now are BLACK!  The devil’s own butterflies.  I went out to get the mail today and two of them fluttered by me and I had to run back into the house.  It’s pathetic.  I have an actual physical reaction – my entire body gets icy cold and I get goosebumps all over.  Not to mention my brain seizes up and my eyes bug out of my head.  I’ve actually jumped out of a moving car when a moth flew up in my face.  That was 23 years ago and my friend is STILL mad at me about that.  Sheesh, it’s not like I was driving or anything.

I do have everyone trained – if a moth flies into the house everyone leaps to their feet to get rid of it and then pull me out from under the couch.  And no one who loves me will ever buy anything with a butterfly motif. 

All righty then.  Enough of that topic.

I did actually get out super early this morning and finally planted something in my hanging basket.  I have had a shepherd’s hook and an empty hanging basket for a year now and I finally trimmed the coco mat and planted some bacopa and I forget what the other plant is – does fabulously around here. 

Oh before I forget – Thank you for all the feedback on Photoshop and the offers of help.  I’m kind of glad I’m not the only one that is overwhelmed by it.  I think I’m going to try out the Elements version and see if it has all the features I need.

And…. last day to put your name in for the Blue Moon Giveaway – I have added a couple of surprise items.  I will draw a name at 9:00pm (West Coast time) on Friday.  Just leave a comment on this post and I’ll add you to the list.

Let’s get back to our regularly scheduled program, shall we?  I’m not quite caught up but I’m getting there.

I’m trying this little thing where I stay focused on one task and don’t allow myself to be distracted.  My problem is I feel like I have so many pressing things to get done and I feel they all need to be checked off my list NOW.  So I start one thing, get distracted start on another, check my email, look at a link, make myself a cup of tea, decide to dust the tops of the door jambs while I’m in the kitchen – and I feel like I’m not really accomplishing anything.  And I feel like I’m spending umpteen hours working when in reality – if you took a stop watch to me, I’m probably just putting in a normal eight hour day only I prolong it with little bitty distractions. 

You’ve probably seen the commercial for a sleep aid that shows some poor woman, laying in bed at night, unable to sleep because her mind is churning with all the things she needs to get done (like that isn’t 98% of us…).  Well I’m like that during the day.  So onto my little plan.  I actually set a timer for 30 minutes to accomplish a chore (okay tax gathering activities) where I had to give it my undivided attention.  And it worked!  In 20 minutes! 

I seriously sound scattered.  It’s amazing I manage to get dressed in the morning.  Oh wait.  That doesn’t always happen. 

Let’s move on to the picture portion of today’s post.  I actually spent some quality time out in the garden on Sunday.  My Sundays are normally spent doing laundry and gathering up things to take down to my Dad’s  But this Sunday I stayed home.  Rick is out of town this week and someone needs to feed the goats. 

So I stayed and got the weeding finished.  Admittedly I had Rick take the weed whacker to the last bed but they be gone and that’s all that matters.  I also have a sneaking suspicion that the pretty pink flowers Belle is lazing about in are actually weeds but hey, the color works.

The azaleas are all going nuts.  I know I complain that’s all I can grow here are azaleas but man are they ever pretty right now.  Glowy, gorgeous pinks.  This picture is actually a rescue.  Rick was at a client’s house and admired their beautifully landscaped yard and the owner said – "oh I’m tearing it all out and doing something low maintenance."  What is lower maintenance than azaleas, pray tell?  Anyway he told Rick when he was ready he would call him and Rick could come dig up whatever he wanted.  About a year later the guy actually called and we went there and dug up 50 year old azaleas and transplanted them into our yard. 

I love it when the yard is all tidy.  And for some reason I don’t get all distracted when I’m out there.  I stay on task.

I must say this alone business is weird.  I’m really all   a   l   o   n   e  and usually I’m NEVER alone.  I can’t remember the last time I was alone.  Someone is always around – either here or down at my Dad’s.  Very unsettling.  And something skittery and leggy feeling just fell off the ceiling and landed on my face and I had to rip my sweatshirt off and leap about in a most undignified manner.  I suppose there’s a bit of a silver lining.  If you are going to be totally undignified it’s probably best not to have an audience.

Look!  The first rose of the season. 

Oh!  And if you haven’t already – go to the last post and leave a comment ~ Friday will be here before we know it!