September 15, 2012

Mid-September Ruminations and Cogitations



My blog may have been a tad quiet lately, but my life hasn’t been. The minutes, hours, and days crank onward. Here’s a little mid-month update, in no particular order or designated importance. 

The hummingbirds are swarming the feeders in record numbers this year. To prepare for the fall migration, they are frantically drinking our offerings of sugary libations. Every now and then one will rest on top of the hanger, like the little female cutie in the above photo. (Don't forget to click to make the image bigger!)

Jim has been cleaning out our stockpile of old computer equipment. We’ve already dropped off the first load at Best Buy for recycling. We are officially and forever sworn off of any Microsoft Windows-based machines. What a relief! 

For a little fun and frivolity, we went to an antique show yesterday. Golly gee, the prices were frightful. But it was fun to look. I managed to purchase a rustic and tall child’s chair with chippy-white paint. It will reside in my studio room and comfortably hold a couple of artisan bears. After a lot of walking in the heat, we decided to treat ourselves at a restaurant a couple of miles down the road from the event. A lunch of fried chicken livers, pinto beans, and fried okra, washed down with a tall glass of iced tea, was decidedly refreshing. Gosh, it's been years since I've eaten chicken livers!

We had another job completed by the landscaping guys this week. The area underneath our deck has been a bit of a mess since the house was built, with a poorly-placed sprinkler head watering the foundation and too much shade to support grass. So we had them relocate the sprinkler, cordon off the area with decorative blocks, and fill the expanse with small landscaping rocks. It's much tidier now! We’ll pressure wash the brick next. Then we’ll move our heavy Charleston bench down there for a shady spot to sit and rest whenever there are backyard chores. 

Have you ever noticed how one project can accidentally lead to another? It’s funny how that works. While they were working, the landscaping guys discovered that one of the buried roof drain lines had collapsed. Apparently, the plastic pipe was buried too high when the house was built, and equipment probably crushed it when the lawn was extended last year. So the line had to be dug up and replaced, and the trench seeded. Now we have to keep the area watered for the new grass to grow. 

I bought a new camera a couple of weeks ago and I'm on a steep learning curve with it. I’ll keep and continue to use my old camera. Look for a post later on about my latest photographic learning path. 

Despite eating a healthy diet, I have managed to get myself anemic. So I have to remember to pop iron tablets twice a day and get rechecked in three months. Oh joy. Let’s hope that they perk me up a bit. I’m certainly tired of being tired. 

My fall decorating efforts haven’t gotten very far. We bought a couple of mum plants for the twig basket on the front porch. I also removed the light-colored summer quilt on the master bed and replaced it with a darker Amish quilt. Our colorful fall swag now hangs over the front door. It’s a start. And it may be the end too! Okay, okay. I’ll also put a pumpkin out on the front porch. Later. I almost forgot, we added a political campaign sign to our flowerbed this past week. That counts as fall decorating too, doesn’t it?! 

On a whim, we purchased a corn and apple block for the deer that live in the woods behind our cottage. Seasoned with molasses, the block has vitamins and minerals mixed in. It smells heavenly! Jim put it near the edge of the woods and directly across from our breakfast room. We’re looking forward to seeing how long it takes for them to discover it and whether they like it or not. 

Whew, this post is getting to be the length of a short novel. Enough is enough. Thanks for reading my ruminations and cogitations until the gory end!

16 comments:

  1. a political sign certainly counts as fall decor. :) made me laugh.

    love the hummer. ours are still around, but a huge swarm has already left. i'll keep the feeders going for weary travelers.

    good luck w/ the new camera! can't imagine your photos getting any better than they already are!

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  2. Anything for a photo opportunity...providing a buffet for the deer and all. Yes, I agree that a political sign is fall decor, though I've seen precious few of them around. I'm with TexWisGirl, can't imagine a new camera improving your photography. Sounds as if you've got a lot of projects accomplished around the house. Always a good thing just ahead of winter.

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  3. What no pictures of all this activity. I love to see progress around a home. A political sign too...

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  4. You have been busy! I'm looking forward to seeing beautiful pictures of deer eating that corn and apple block. I can imagine how good it smells, too!

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  5. I can't wait to see the pictures of the deer. And... I agree with the ladies above, your pictures couldn't possible get any better.

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  6. That hummingbird picture is awesome. So crystal clear. I haven't done much fall decorating at all. Believe it or not you are way ahead of me

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  7. Wow...What a gorgeous shot of your little hummer friend! I have a lot of activity at my feeders too!

    Tammy

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  8. We've sure enjoyed getting some of our home improvements done this summer. But one thing leads to another...or waits on another. We have 60 bags of mulch in our courtyard right now! Sounds like you got some neat things at the Antique show. I hope you'll post the chair and bears! Enjoy your day....get some rest!

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  9. Anemia is the pits! I had it for a couple of years. I would fall asleep every time I sat down.

    Our hummers have left - they must be on their way to your house! I put up the bird feeders yesterday - hopefully there won't be any visitors of the bear variety. That deer block would certainly attract bears around here!

    Great post, Donna!

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  10. Take care of yourself, my friend. Keep those iron tabs coming and you'll be back 'in the pink' in no time at all!
    ~Adrienne~

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  11. I recommend Shaklee protein drinks for you every day, lady - every cell in your body uses protein, even the anemic ones. And keep taking that iron! Iron Plus Vitamin C is a good combo because of the way our bodies use iron.

    You are busy! I am too - in my Claypen, all kinds of things going on. :) I'm having fun. Our summer flower are still beautiful! We've enjoyed them so much, God blessed that special Mother's Day planting for sure. Also, Marc completely re-did all the landscape watering and put in an automatic system, so we don't have to worry about watering if we go away.

    Hang in there!

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  12. Love the hummer! Aren't they the sweetest things?!
    50 more days Girl....
    hughugs

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  13. Yep, 50 days! God help us.

    You're just a busy little bee, but you need to keep those iron tablets going in. It's not fun to be anemic.

    ((hugs))

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  14. Goodness, you have been busy! It is hard to use a new camera, there is always the auto mode! I have not gotten fall decor in yet either, it is to hot here in Orlando yet. Thank you for the update and dropping by

    Carol

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  15. Hope you're feeling better today!
    I tried a Bunch of times to change my background photo to no avail! I then got into the help section and found the paragraph that said the background had to be translucent in order to upload your own photo for a background. I've been searching for the paragraph but can't remember Where I saw it...I was then able to change the photo After I changed templates...It says I'm using Dynamic Views as my template...
    Hope that helps!
    hughugs

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  16. Girl I don't do anything without that Apple on it ... or Nikon/Nikkor, LOLOLOL! No way can you drive a Chevy once you've been behind the wheel of a Rolls Royce. I hear you re: blog quiet, life busy! So much to do ...

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Marty, here! Donna loves comments, and I faithfully pass them on to her. Thank you so much for visiting!