BOOK SALE & STRAWBERRIES

Yesterday (Saturday) was my town library's semi-annual book sale. Katherine and I went and this is what I hauled home with me:

I also got a huge coffee table-sized picture book of Ireland for my Becky. Book's in her room and I didn't feel like making the trip upstairs for a photo!

There was a rack of  "costumes" and one of the library ladies told Katherine she could take what she wanted, free, because she always goes to the sales. One of the items she took was this vintage bathing suit! It's by Rose Marie Reed and I have no idea what vintage it is. Katherine was hoping one of my blog friends might have some info on this.

I was asking my neighbor a few days ago where she bought her strawberry plants last year and we had a nice neighborly chat. Next day her son brings over this single plant in an adorable ceramic "can". I went to a local gardening center yesterday and got twelve more, so now I have a baker's dozen!

(sticks for cat prevention!)

And, speaking of cats, Calico likes to climb up the ladder leaning on the back of my little shed and survey her world from there!

THE TROUBLE WITH CATS

Last Thursday night, the 13th, Katherine (my 21-yr-old) heard a cat outside and went to check it out. There was a black and white one having a stare-down with one of ours. (This b+w has been around off and on for some months; don't know if it's a pet or feral) Our cat came in and Katherine said the b+w was making funny sounds - I'm guessing typical male cat sounds. It came over to her, rubbing against her and stuff so she patted it - it turned and bit her, through her faux-suede coat and all! Four puncture wounds on the wrist, the two from the top teeth were deep in there.

The next morning she was in a lot of pain and the top/back of her hand were beginning to swell. So we went to see the doctor. He said they don't keep rabies meds in their office so he sent us down the street to the ER. Poor K was all crying and stressing from her anxiety and everything. 

What they did was give her an iv of ampicillin, a drip of morphine, three shots/needles of rabies stuff then, lastly, a needle of antibiotic directly in the skin at the puncture sites - four times and moving the needle around sideways under the skin to spread it around!

(And poor Becky (16) was with us and had to just sit and make the best of it for four hours!) 

We had to go back to the ER at 1:00 a.m. as K had a temp of 101. They gave her another iv for the infection. Got home at 4:00 a.m., went back at 11:00, Friday, for another infusion. Back that night at 8:00 for more. I was sooo tired! Thank goodness the hospital is in the next town!

Had to go back every morning and night for antibiotic infusions - four and a half days worth. Infections are inconvenient, if nothing else! 

Final Chapter: After the 4-1/2 days of going to the hospital twice a day for half-hour infusions (i.v.) of antibiotics, we only have two more visits to complete the rabies vaccines. What an ordeal! Katherine was such a trooper, and all the nurses showed her extra love because she was up front about her anxiety. The doctor that saw her each morning took a special liking to her and spent time talking to her about her art work, college, self confidence - she was awesome!

REDNESDAY

Hi all! Well, on Friday we got the 19" of snow. Since then, we've had 50F/10C temps! Tonight (Tuesday evening) it's pouring like crazy! That's New England!

I wanted to show you the pretty Easter/Spring tablecloth I got at a thrift store a while back, but it won't photograph well because I keep a plastic covering on it. This is a shot I took right after I bought it. It was sold by Avon in 1994. I just love those bunnies!

Katherine will probably kill me for this if she finds out, but this is her holding my cat, Smokey!

That's all for this week! Enjoy the wearin' of the green Sunday!

REDNESDAY

Hi everyone! How many times have I wished that I lived in a perfect, idyllic setting like the one in the above picture! I do hope my heavenly home is something like that! ;) Well, Pidgie the banded pigeon is still around. I think he adopted us!

I'm a collector of pictures - graphics, clipart, that kind of stuff. I have three flash drives that I store different topics of pics on. A few days ago, the one that has all my garden photos, Africam photos, and my Blog files on it was in the slot of the hard drive. The hard drive is on the floor and I stumbled, fell against it, and bent the flash drive! Now it won't work!

I checked online with the maker of the drive and they recommend using a certain company that (very conveniently) fixes their flash drives. I looked that up and it will cost $150+ to save the info onto another drive! Ridiculous, I say! I'll have to look online for other companies that offer the same service. Wish me luck!

I was folding laundry yesterday, and when putting some dishtowels in their cupboard I decided to take a photo of my cherry towels. Here they are ~    Not enough! I need more!!

More red flowers ~

Canna 'Picasso'

Portulaca

Snapdragons

and another Calibrachoa

Cats really do have the best lives, don't they? Smokey, here, is lounging on her "throne"!

REDNESDAY

Hello everyone! I'm late posting, but have some good excuses:

1. It's school vacation week
2. I was out in the garden all day, then
3. I was watching a show on pirate ships and, most important,
4. Smokey wouldn't let me!


That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

Besides Smokey's pic, I only have one other red photo to show you today (and two non-red ones). This is part of my seed-starting station, which is to the right of my computer desk. The seed packets, tags, pots, etc., are on the table above this, to the right.


This is Pulmonaria.


And this is Bridal Wreath.

I hope you're enjoying the week as much as I am! Monday, Boston Marathon Day, was 90F/32C - dreadful for the runners!

Smokey's Hideout

Note to self: remember to keep linen cupboard door shut!

REDNESDAY

I swear, kids have much better fashions these days than adults! I'm always finding the cutest outfits in the Girls section at stores. Jade showed up yesterday with this adorable red hoodie, covered in bling . . . soooo cute! (beside it is my red coat and scarf)

Last night I made a cat house for the cats. Chloe decided to take up residence in it, so Becky moved it up to her room, because Chloe is her cat. Here, I took a picture of Becky taking a picture of Chloe!

So far, we haven't seen much snow this year - this little guy will have to do! We had six inches (15cm) of fluffy white stuff on Saturday, which is almost completely gone today. Yesterday was 45F/7C and today will be 50F/10C. The china set in the cupboard is Homer Laughlin 'duBarry' pattern.

When I was at the thrift store a few weeks ago, I found this canister on the floor in one of the back rooms filled with utensils. I asked if it was for sale, and they said yes! The tin money box was an eBay UK purchase a year or so ago - love the graphics!

GOLDEN "GLOW" AWARD WINNER

And . . . the winner of the Golden "Glow" award for the Glowiest in 2011 goes to K.C., for glowing in the late afternoon sun!

GIVEAWAY WINNER . . . AND STUFF

Guess who won the 400 Posts/400 Followers Giveaway? Rebecca of It's A Shabby Pink World! My two "random number generators" (my teens) are both taking naps right now (2:00), so I used an online one, and number 9 came up. And that's Rebecca! Do you think it's a coincidence that our blog names are almost identical? And that one of my teens name is Rebekah? If you love pink (and what female doesn't) then, by all means, go visit her blog! CONGRATULATIONS!!

Now, on to less important stuff . . .

I received one Valentine swap this week already! So early, but she's right on the ball! I will save it, and all that I get, until V Day - it will be more fun to open them all together! I've been cutting mine out this week - I'm so excited!

Smokey was outside my computer room, soaking up the sun on a chilly 27F/-3C day! Yes, I was smart enough to take the pic from indoors!

I stopped at the thrift store today, first time since well before Christmas. Got a glass dome, a pretty bluebirds suncatcher, a cute mini deer, and a 6" tidbit dish by Kromex in the (Anchor Hocking) Wexford pattern.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend! Go Pats!

I WANT TO BLOG ABOUT SOMETHING, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO BLOG ABOUT

Let's see . . .

Mister is re-shingleing (sounds like a 50's song or a name - M. Night Shingleing) some of the barn, I'm in the middle of "redecorating" the kitchen for Autumn, but I took a break. Let me see what's on my camera . . .

This is a Begonia 'Bayou Pink'. I had a pot of them on the step, above, last summer that I had started from seed. This must have been from a seed that fell off the plant. Such a shock that a begonia seed would winter over and grow! I'll be potting it up soon to keep in the house.


We all know that cats sleep in the darndest places! Smokey seems to think this flower box makes a good bed!

A Petunia with a split personality!

Here's a couple of old containers ~ a "moonshine" jug and a cream/milk can.

ISN'T LIFE GOOD?

Smokey taking a lazy Sunday afternoon nap!

CAT-CAPADES

Yesterday, one of the cats (Chloe) was up on the craft table trying to drink out of the water cup for my paint brushes. She managed to spill enough that many items had to be moved out of the way to mop it up. That's when I realized there was a tear in the plastic tablecloth. So I had to clear everything off the table, throw away the tablecloth, and dry out the wood. (It's still got a big water stain on it.)

Luckily, I had purchased a thick, flannel-backed tablecloth at a yard sale a few weeks back, so that went on it today. The table needed de-cluttering anyway!

As you can see, she tried to help me wrap my shoebox for Operation Christmas Child, too! I love this ministry, and look forward to it every year. Follow the link if you're interested in finding out more about it.