Everything's okay

It went down to 31 last night, but all of the plants made it. I covered everything and put lights in the greenhouse. I did not cover the new pear tree, but it is fine. Worked in the yard all day today. Finally got up to 60
Planted all my sunflowers along the back garden fence. Tonight it is only going down to 39 - so everything should be okay. I probably won't cover everything but will still put the lights on in the greenhouse.

Winter's back

Thank goodness the guys got the greenhouse assembled before this last little taste of winter came. I just spent the other day getting all of the plants off the porch and into the greenhouse and tonight we have a frost warning. I have lights up in the green house to help keep the temp above freezing. I've already planted the cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and brussel sprouts - but had put up row covers over them when I did - at that time I did it to shelter them from the bright sun and 75 degree weather we were having, but it will work just as well against the cold tonight. Most of the flowers that are up are hardy enough and I covered my pansies just to protect the beautiful blooms they have right now. The other good thing is that the apple tree has already lost it's blooms, so it should be okay. I'm not sure if I should cover up the new pear tree or not.

Great Quote

"As a rule, young people do not care for gardening. They lack the necessary patience and perseverance. But in the years of middle life, when one's sun is slowly setting and interest in the world and society relaxes, the garden, with its changing bloom, grows ever dearer." Helena Ely

Hosanna!

"Rejoice greatly, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey--even on a donkey's colt."

May you have a blessed Palm Sunday!

Spring in Cincinnati

Yesterday 80 Tonight 30 Typical Cincinnati Spring. Had to cover up the new pear tree. Even though it was chilly today - around 50 - John and I still got alot of yard work done. Here's some pictures of our flowers that are up and blooming

Opening Day & Tournament Final

What a day - opening day in Cincy for the Reds (almost a city holiday) and tonight NCAA final men's basketball tournament in Indy! None of my teams made it to the final, but I'll still enjoy watching UCLA and Florida on the court tonight. The Reds lost to the Cubs...but then they almost always lose on opening day...too early to tell much about them, but hopefully we'll have a better season than last year.
Crazy weather...hot yesterday and then expected to be 31 tonight. Terrible tornados yesterday all around the midwest. We were okay here in West Chester, although other parts of Cincinnati had wind damage. Nothing like they had in Tennessee....pray for the families there. I'll have to check with AJ to see if Cedar Rapids had any of the bad weather - looked like it was south of him. How did all of you in Indiana fare? They say it is going to be a wild spring.

April Fool's Day

Well Daniel is off on a Youth Retreat, so we've been safe from practical jokes around here - although I think the biggest joke of the day is having to turn the clocks ahead tonight! When it's the semi-finals!! There's no way I'll be going to bed until basketball is over tonight. Looks like George Mason may lose...but I'm still hoping for a rally. Gotta love a team that can knock UConn out of the tournament.
Spent the day transplanting again...the plants are taking over. I need to get some of them out to the porch, but the temps dropped today and I didn't want to risk it. I think it's time to put up the row covers so I can at least get the cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts out. Well the pizza's done and time to get back to the game.

Spring is here!

A wonderful Wednesday working in the yard. I love to get out and clean up the beds this time of year. Lots of bulbs up and ready to burst into bloom...grape hyacinths, regular hyacinths, daffodils, primroses are up and my easter lilies are up. I trimmed all the mums, planted pansies, raked up leaves and weeded the beds. Michael and John helped and then Daniel when he got home from school. I was also able to get the dormant oil spray on the apple tree. So nice to be outside again. We swept the porches, walks and deck. Tomorrow it's going up to 70! I'll be able to work from 7:30 until about 10 - then I'll have to get ready for work. I only work until 4:30 - so maybe I can come home and do a little more.

Happy Birthday to me!

Well it has been a great birthday! Nice cards, wonderful, thoughtful gifts! Michael got me a pear tree for the backyard...I think it'll be 3-5 years before we'll get pears, but I am so excited! Tomorrow is my day off and we are supposed to have nice weather, so I am going to use my new organic spray on the apple trees and the grapes. This year we should have nice fruit without the "rust" spots we've had in the past. I'm using products from Gardens Alive and they have great instructions to follow.
Michael also got me a pair of those bionic garden gloves that are recommended by the Arthritis Association. He gave me a pair last year and I used them so much I wore through the fingers. Daniel gave me the special edition DVD of the Legend of Zorro! (I love Catherine Zeta-Jones and Antonio Banderas!) Michael and Daniel took me to Mimi's Cafe for a birthday dinner. John gave me a pot of tulips and is going to get me a big load of dirt for my new beds. A garden girl's dream!! My great team of co-workers gave me a beautiful minature rose plant! I got a IM birthday wish from my college roomie and lots of beautiful cards and e-cards! Thank you everyone for making this a special day!!

Basketball & transplanting

Sweet Sixteen! Of course the game I'm most interested in starts the latest (9:57 est) But UCLA plays Gonzaga - could be worth waiting up to see. I'm going to be busy during the games transplanting my seedlings into bigger pots...I have the little tv all set up in the basement. It snowed here on the first day of Spring and we are supposed to have more this weekend. I was hoping to be able to get some of my hardier plants out on the porch but I'll have to wait. So the plants are spreading throughout the house. I had to set up another small greenhouse in the living room. It's like living in a conservatory!

What a tournament!

It's been quite a weekend...seems like more upsets this year than ever! It has made for some of the best basketball I have seen. Nothing is better than a low-seeded team fighting tooth and nail against a "powerhouse" and winning! Even though the results reeked havoc with my bracket, it still was great basketball.
Today has been hard, remembering everything that happened a year ago - my dad's last day with us. But my mom told me today about a card she received in the mail from an old friend who wrote "Thinking of you as you celebrate Jack's first year with Jesus." And all throughout the year I have thought "this is daddy's first easter with Jesus" "this is daddy's first christmas with Jesus" but I hadn't thought of this one year anniversary in that way - but it is how I am going to think of the passing of time from now on. Every day brings me one day closer to joining my friends and relatives who have preceeded me to heaven - one day closer to being able to sing praises together to our Lord and King.

Hoops!

Every year I say it - every year it seems to be true: College basketball offers the best in games to watch. Always surprizes, always great first round games....the little guys upsetting a #2 or 3 seed - always a #12/#5 upset and just the most entertaining sports tv! And this year is another great one... even though some of those upsets ruin my brackets - I just love to watch them. Overtimes, double overtimes - it is no wonder we all have March Madness! I'm staying up way too late, but IU has a late game and I just have to watch. Go Hoosiers!

Update

My CT scan is clear of any more lung problems! So I don't have to take the anti-fungus medicine. All my pulmonary function tests were better than last time. I am feeling better than ever. I've lost 28 # and have a good handle on my diabetes.
Today I planted my first seeds outside - peas and snow peas. All my indoor seedlings are growing well. Only a few more days until Spring is officially here. And the NCAA tournament starts tomorrow! It's a great time of year. Of course we are also drawing near to the one year anniversary of my dad's passing - a very sad time. Yet knowing that one day we'll be together again is a wonderful gift. I think of him so often when I am working out in the yard, as I think of his dad's flower garden also and my grandparent's farm. Wonderful memories of times spent as a little girl helping with the planting. Memories of my dad and how carefully he tended his tomatoes and watched over the planters of flowers that my mom arranged each year. I am so grateful for this love of growing things that was passed on to me.

Great Doctor's Appointment!

Saw the endocrinologist today at the diabetes center. She was thrilled with my results. I've now lost a total of 26 # (since August) and lowered my A1C from 6.4 to 5.8 She said that my blood sugar levels were good and to keep doing what I'm doing (which is watching carbs and increasing exercise). I don't have to see her again for 6 months! Yeah!
No word yet on the lung culture, although the results are "in the mail" so I should be able to report soon on that. I will repeat the CT of my lungs at the beginning of March as well as a repeat of the pulmonary function tests. If I get an all-clear from those - I won't have to take the anti-fungal medicine.

Seeds are coming!

I'm so excited because last night I ordered my seeds for this year. I can't wait until they all get here and I start planting. Now I'm thinking about where I want to put everything, how I want to improve or change the beds I have and dreaming of new beds to make. I'm asking John and the boys for dirt again for my birthday. I hope they get me a big load this year....because I have so many plans. I'm working on how to document them. I've joined a garden site where I can journal, but I'd like to share my progress with friends and family. So I'll think on it for awhile and let you know if I'll continue to post on my garden journal, or if I'll move to a different site or format. Tomorrow I'm starting my pepper plants.

February!!!

I can't believe it is already February! I tried to post on here from Florida, but the computer I was using wouldn't let me. Anyway, I had a wonderful trip to Lake Mary to visit my mom and her friend, Jackie. They have a cute apartment, close to a grocery store, movie theater and shopping center. Since they do not have a car - it is good that they can walk to these things. While I was down there, mom rented a car and I drove them to see some of the things they wanted to check out. We went to Blue Springs and saw the manatees, Bok Tower, Mount Dora, Cocoa Beach and some beautiful gardens near Orlando. I got to stay almost a whole week and we had great weather (in the 80's). It was a lovely winter break - especially in one of my busiest months at work. So I came home to alot of work (which is why it has taken so long to post again) but I finished everything that needed to be completed by January 31st! Now that everyone from NCCC and DMI has their contribution statements and can do their taxes - I'm on to a new project: a building campaign at NCCC. I will keep busy during February tallying commitments and writing reports for the leadership teams. Then the last weekend of February, weather permitting, Michael and I will travel up to Buffalo to help my sister, Jacque continue to sort through my mom's old house. Before I know it - it will be March.

Cold again!

Well we reached 64 degrees yesterday! But it must have been too warm for the Bengals, as they lost to the Steelers....taking us out of the playoffs way too soon for the fans. But today - winter is back with temps only in the low 40's.
I am happy to say that I am feeling so much better each day and beginning to do "regular" things again! My bedroom got a much needed cleaning this weekend. Today I worked for 3 hours in the basement sewing room and really made a dent. We are still trying to sort through and clear out stuff from John's parent's house. When John's dad died two years ago - we were so busy that many things we had to just pile up in the basement in order to clear out his apartment when the nursing home wanted. Now my mom is clearing out her basement and seeing what a big job she has is helping me get going on ours. One bag to Goodwill and one to the trash today - plus alot of boxes sorted through and the contents put in their place. I have no idea how long it will take to get through but wintertime seems like a good time for an inside job.

Walking again

Finally I am back to walking....so far my foot is NOT hurting too much to do about 20 minutes at a time. I still probably need to get to a podiatrist, but I put gel inserts in my tennis shoes and it feels better. Anyhow, the other day the temperatures were great for a walk outside (54) but today I took my shoes to work and walked around the church (inside) after I was done working. Not as exciting as walking outside, but it was warmer.

Happy 2006!

No resolutions because I like to set goals as things come up not just on a particular day of the year. But I do hope that I will be more consistent in blogging than I have been the last two months. I think I just got tired of talking about my health!
We had a whirlwind trip to Buffalo - don't feel like we did that much, but Mom appreciated it, so I'm glad we went. So nice to see her new house. I will try to post pictures of it on the Harris site http://spaces.msn.com/members/harrishomepage/
as soon as I can.
We enjoyed a nice holiday time with the boys this year, mostly watching movies. I actually did some baking for them, although it was hard to not be able to eat what I wanted. I did try a cookie or two, when my blood sugar would allow.
Andrew is back at school - we miss him already! He is such a great guy to talk with and we really enjoyed our time in the car with him.
My mom invited me to visit her in Florida - so I will be going down Jan 18 thru 23rd. I have to drive a rental car from the airport to where she is staying - hopefully I can manage that. I'm going on Mapquest next to find the directions.

Merry Christmas to all!

Well it has been a month since my last post. I've been busy recovering from surgery, working and trying to catch up on work from my 2 weeks off, getting ready for Christmas and learning all about diabetes. I didn't decorate for Christmas, other than candles in the window and the nativity scene...too sore still to lift out the boxes and put everything up. Tomorrow John, AJ and I are making a quick run up to Buffalo to see mom before she heads to Florida and help her with a few projects. Then drive back on Wednesday. I have full days to work on Thursday and Friday getting the books closed for the year. I am feeling better each day - but still suffering with alot of rib pain. We still do not have the results from the culture and currently are planning a repeat CT scan and pulmonary function tests in 2 months before deciding about medication.