Hi Dianne, I hope everything's OK with you, as we haven't been in touch for a while. Sorry I've been a bit preoccupied with the topiary trails - they're very challenging and take a lot of time and sprinkles! I'm hoping to finish my current blue and indigo trails before Easter starts in FL so I can relax a bit.
Has the weather improved for you at all? I heard there were severe snow storms on the east coast. We've had our first really springlike day today - sunshine and quite mild! All the snowdrops, crocuses, hyacinths and daffodils are coming up. I can't wait for a bit of warmth - it's been wet and cold for so long. I bet you can't either! And we're finally managing to release lots of hedgehogs back to the wild, after they've been stuck indoors with us for ages. That's always a good moment.
I do hope you and the family are all OK. Look forward to hearing from you. xx

Hi Dianne, wow that weather you're having sounds pretty severe! I hope you and the family are all staying safe. Nothing like that here, although we are currently having some very strong winds and heavy rain lasting for days, so there's some damage to coastal towns and quite a bit of flooding in places. I hope all the hibernating hedgies out in the wild will be OK. We've got around 45 in the hospital at the moment, and they're all going to be stuck there for several weeks because it's too cold and wet to release them. Poor little things!
I hope your weather will start to be a little bit kinder soon, and that you're managing OK. xx

Hi, Dianne!  Oh, no!  Not a torn rotator cuff in combination with arthritis.  :(  That sounds painful.  Years ago I tripped over the open dishwasher and fell into the stove oven door handle.  It was awful trying to use the atm at the bank.  (lol)  Took a long time to feel better.  Give yourself time to heal.  Did he say they could do anything for you?  Exercises or physical therapy?  Randy had one of his bad days today.  The acid pumps were working overtime and he did get sick several places.  He's feeling better after I made him the chicken and rice.  Will you be getting any of the big storm we've been hearing about?  Hope you are spared.  Take care & hope your arm gets better with less pain.  Randy says "hi" to Lizzy!  xxx

Good morning, Dianne!  It is 47 degrees this morning at nearly 9:30 a.m.  Cold cleaning up after Randy this morning.  Brrrr!  It will get up to 66 degrees today.  I'm not sure what I'll get into today, but probably no weeding.  You never know, though.  Don is hobbling around with a knot on the bottom of his left foot.  He says it's like walking on a marble.  So, we'll go to Walmart and get him an insert.  Not sure what he could take for inflammation, as he is allergic to aspirin and doesn't really like to take things like Aleve or Tylenol.  He has flat feet, which makes it all the worse.  :(  On a different note, my niece's daughter, McKenna turned 13 yesterday.  They live in Chardon, Ohio.  This is her youngest child except for raising Stephany's youngest daughter, Elliana.  Bethany has four children...Olivia married this past summer and Max is in a relationship and lives in his own home, Anna Marie is in nursing school, so McKenna is her last "baby".  Stephany had two children, Whitney and Elliana.  When she passed from Covid (and a previous cancer) in 2020, Bethany welcomed them into her home.  They were always a close knit family anyway.  Recently they went up to Lake Erie to s

Hi, Dianne!  For some reason, I like Mondays now.  The weekends seem weird because regular shows aren't on.  But since there are so many streaming channels these days, I'm not sure I like that.  Who has time for it all.  I find myself watching baking shows, The Repair Shop, Miracles of Nature, etc.  I do catch Danny Thomas reruns, and most evenings we see "Everybody Loves Raymond"!  Do Charlotte and Claire like to play basketball?  They must if they are on a league.  :)  Have you watched very many of their games?  I wasn't very good at sports, but did play softball at the park when they needed another outfielder.  I think they purposely stuck me out in right field as I couldn't throw very straight.  Ha ha!  I used to bowl on a league with my sister and friends.  That was fun but I wasn't very good at that either.  132 was my average.  Ha ha!  Don's sister, Sandy, has a granddaughter who plays on a traveling professional volleyball team.  She (Oriana) is 13 years old.  Randy says "hi" to Lizzy.  Hope you have a nice Tuesday!  xxx

Hi, Dianne!  Oh, that's awful for girls that age to be acting so mean.  They should be ashamed of themselves.  It's not life and death out there.  I get mad at football players when I see them blatantly do things they know is illegal, thinking it won't be noticed.  They need to get a soul!  I hope your granddaughter is ok!  Don brought in a piece of wood that he said would be just great for a gingerbread house.  I did make one last year at Christmas time but opted not to do one this Christmas.  Maybe I'll make one that relates to Easter with some pretty decorations.  Hum....now I have to think what to do, etc.  Should be fun.  ???  Take care & give Lizzy a hug from us!  xx

Hi, Dianne!  Randy wasn't feeling so good this morning.  Hope he has it out of his system now.  How has Lizzy been?  My niece, Bethany, who lives up in Chardon, Ohio, had to put their 9 year old dog, Sadie, down after Christmas.  She was so sad.  Never a good feeling.  Wish boxers were a healthier breed.  In my memories today, Evander showed up.  He was such an amazing brindle boxer.  Larger than Randy.  He had megaesophagus, and I had to grind his food in a blender...half food, half water for years before he passed.  Just the opposite of what Randy has.  He has a narrow throat.  :(  Might get out in the front yard today for a little while to pull some weeds.  I will not get them all this go-round, as I'm "old"!  LOLOL  The back yard is easier to keep weed free.  Take care & have a good day!  xxx

Hi, Dianne!  We never go out on New Year's.  When young I do remember going out with my brother and his wife, and my ex.  I'm not good with dressing up.  Always feel awkward for some reason.  I'm too "casual"!  :)  LOL  xxx

Hope 2026 has been good to you thus far!  It's been good here.  Heard from my son who was MIA for a while with me.  He's been living with my ex for years now.  Has two children.  Colin is off living with his girlfriend now.  Sophie is the young one...will be 13 in June.  Unbelievable.  He sent me pictures of her shoveling snow out front of their house.  He says she loves to shovel snow.  Christopher had a rough couple of years with his toe surgery, then broken ankle, etc.  He said he's finally able to walk without a cane.  My daughter keeps busy with their 3 cats, work, and my grandson, Chase, living at home.  Life.    Take care & have a nice Saturday.  The weeds are growing at rapid pace with all this rain & cool, weed growing weather.  Ack!  xxx

Happy New Year to you, Dianne! I hope you enjoy the last day of 2025 (bedtime here - at 10pm, not midnight, haha!) and very best wishes for 2026! Health, peace and happiness to you xx