Hi, Dianne!  I had no idea that Tyler has been so into physical fitness over the years.  I've never met him but spent lots of holiday dinners with Sandy's granddaughters Ashley and Katie.  Sandy has her own upcoming surgery to think about.  About 8-9 years ago she had part of her lower intestine removed....and they will be checking her out again, as she has been having bleeding again.  Sandy will be 81 in June.  We're praying for everyone.  Her best friend in life just passed away last week (Beth).  Beth had a horrible surgery gone wrong when she was young.  She had itching in her back all the time.  When they did a procedure on her, she could never walk again.  Then she had to have her legs removed.  She was a beautiful lady.  Anyway...on a happier note.  I gave Randy a bath outside yesterday.  Well, we both kind of had a bath.  LOL  I had these "mitts" you put on your hand and don't have to rinse afterwards, but I always do.  He looks really good today.  Randy will be 8 years old June 23.  Seems like yesterday we were bringing him home for the first time.  Lizzie seems to be feeling much better these days.  That's good! The orchid is still in bloom.  She won't give up yet.  The rose bush is "iffy".  It became too hot, too soon here.  I still see one bud that looks to be opening but it's very small.  I'll give it some time.  :)  Have a good day!  xxx

I shared a post from Ashley, Tyler's husband, regarding his health with osteosarcoma.  He's hoping for lots of prayers.  xxx

Hi, Dianne!  Don't worry too much about the orchid.  They have a mind of their own.  Now mine likes to start a bloom stem towards the fall or winter, but this year, it was a bit early and is STILL blooming.  Amazing!  I'll take another picture of it soon and post.  I don't stake my orchid blooms because the first bloom broke off when I attempted to stake it up.  The stems are very fragile at first.  :(  I won't say I cried (but I did).  LOL  I watered her yesterday in the bathroom, pouring off the water that was draining out of the bottom.  Then I wipe her leaves off.  It's dusty out here in the desert and she appreciates the clean leaves.  (?)  LOL!  I had to make Randy rice and chicken this morning.  He was being finicky and after eating the chicken/rice, he ate the dry, too.  What a dog.  Also, he tried to get me up at 5:30 again this a.m., but I just stayed in bed until 6:30.  He was fine laying by the door.  His time is off after the time change, maybe?  I'm glad Lizzie is feeling better.  Randy will be 8 years old June 23rd.  It is good he's still as healthy as he is.  We haven't had a boxer yet that lived to be 9.  :(  They have a shorter life span.  It just doesn't seem right.  He gets lots of hugs and kisses these days.  Sigh!  Have a great day.  Take care!  xxx

Hi, Dianne!  Sounds nice with the curtains and losing the blinds.  We have mini blinds with curtains in the living room but slat blinds for the patio doors.  For some reason, out here where it's so sunny, blinds seem to work with curtains.  I'm not a blinds only person except for the patio door.  I've seen some aphids on the rose bush but the instructions on the spray I have said not to use it on newly planted.  Not sure why.  Maybe that particular product.  I'd hate to lose the buds.  Sandy let Don know that Tyler has to have a couple rounds of Chemo...and his foot will need to be set so he won't be able to walk normal again.  Also, there was indication that he did have some in his lungs.  :(  Sandy has to go to the hospital to have whatever is in her intestine removed.  So far she doesn't have a date for that.  I got my bone density test results back, but don't quite understand them.  Our appt. is May 5, with Dr. Russ, so I will wait until then to hear what he has to say.  I'm sure it's nothing more than osteopenia.  Take care!  xxx

Good morning, Dianne!  We'll reach a high of 88 degrees this afternoon.  Seems impossible, doesn't it.  Right now, at 7:43 a.m., it's only 57.  I'm not sure if Ashley and Tyler went to Cleveland Clinic yesterday, as Don hasn't talked to Sandy yet.  She was busy visiting her best friend in life waiting to pass into heaven.  :(  I'm happy to hear the doctor gave you meds for your arthritis.  I did too much yesterday...some weeding outside and then ran the sweeper and mopped the tile floors out here.  Too much for me anymore but somebody has to do it.  LOL  The tile floor is everywhere except for the area rug and rug in front of the patio doors.  Kitchen, family room (?), hallway to the bedrooms, laundry room.  I'm wondering if anything will show up on the Dexa Scan they did.  Oh, I took pictures of the teeny tiny buds on the rose bush I planted.  I've been worried about it, as it's been really windy one day, and now the extreme heat for this time of year.  The orchid is still in bloom.  This bloom was unusual.  It started out sooner than usual and then developed more buds after thinking it was finished.  Hope you're having a Happy St. Patrick's Day!  I looked through Don's closet with him by my side after he said he had no green shirts to wear today.  We found at least 3 t-shirts.  ;)  Take care & think Spring!  xx

Hi Dianne!xoxo
Sent you some Gold my friend!
Love & hugs for you!

Hi, Dianne!  Ashley and Tyler are heading back to Cleveland Clinic again today.  Don will talk to Sandy again today & make sure the trip was safe to make with all the crazy weather.  Hope you have had no problems up there.  Did you get more snow and winds?  We had a breezy day yesterday.  It didn't feel like the low 80's with the winds.  I think we'll hit some 90's this week.  I keep checking on the tree out front that was cut back in the Fall.  It's slow to recover but when it does, look out.  It provides lots of shade to the lizards & other critters out there.  Take care & how is that shoulder?  xxx

Hi, Dianne!  You were at Cleveland Clinic with your daughter and Don's sister's granddaughter, husband, and baby were there today!  Seems Ashley's husband has osteosarcoma and they are checking to see if the 5-month old baby, Maylee, has the gene or whatever to inherit the disease.  :(  This has been so sad for Sandy (Don's sister).  She herself is waiting to hear about her biopsy (intestine) that whatever it is will need to come out.  So...it's just been bad news all around.  Tyler, Ashley's husband, had "things" removed from his leg/ankle area 2 times at Ohio State University's hospital...and had not been feeling well the past three months.  Well, Cleveland Clinic just drilled into his leg and discovered the tumor.  He's only 32 years old.  :(  Ashley is a nurse.  Then we came home to find a large lizard was dead after the garage door landed on him.  I was so sad...we love our lizards.  On a happy note, Randy is fine, and ornery as ever.  He's happy now, getting watermelon balls.  Don's been buying the small seedless watermelons at Smith's (Kroger's) recently.  He'll do anything for melon ball!  LOLOL  Take care....I hope Caroline is ok.  xxx

Hi Dianne, I did get your last message and I'm sorry that I haven't replied until now. I've been so caught up in the topiary trails - they are really tough and take a lot of time, sprinkles and perseverence!
How are you? I'm glad to hear that Lizzy is recovering from her surgery. I hope she's much better by now. The girls keep you very busy and it's great that they have so much going on in their lives. Have you managed to escape the flu? I hope the weather has improved a bit from the hard winter you had. Things are looking quite springlike over here but it's still very cold, and tonight it's blowing a gale outside. I hope some spring flowers are starting to bloom for you in your (real) garden!
We only have one hedgehog left at the rescue now! Alll the others have been released back to the wild - yay! xx

Hi, Dianne!  Good to hear Lizzy's biopsy came back negative!  One less thing to worry about.  :)  Nice to hear your hubby was very helpful cleaning windows, etc.  I know all about dog slobber on our patio sliding window!  Notorious for drips and spots!   Don helped me with weeds today.  :)  Hurray!  It was hot next to the hot rocks while pulling them.  Now that I'm back inside, I'm cold.  Just can't please me!  LOL  The rose bush is doing ok.  I see a couple of leaves that look dry around the edges but probably the shock from getting planted.  Hopefully!  Going in for a bone density scan on Friday.  The scan will be easy compared to the forms I've had to fill out online.  Don't like going in to Vegas for it, but that's the way it goes.  Take care & enjoy the rest of your day!  xxx