Kicking off a three day weekend...

Recuperation has allowed me time to sit in the garden and consider what work needs to be done. Pruning the trees, an ongoing task, seemed most pressing to me. And we (well...I ) have been nothing but slothful the past few days.

We have been just watching a lot of movies lately; Greenfingers (a great Helen Mirren flick) Charlie Wilson's War (Houston story, eye crossing to know what happened back in the '80 to get us where we are today with Afghanistan) PS: I Love You (nice, but I didn't cry) and Bagger Vance (again..if you love hats, you really, really must see this flick.) I even watched a truly weird Bollywood film based on a Russian novel....hoo boy.

This morning Bernie suggested that we do tree trimming on Monday so the clippings could go out with the trash on Wednesday.

He was thinking right with that, but I was raring to make the trees look like I had envisioned, so I headed out. He and Laura followed, and took charge of the tools that were needed to make the changes needed.

I wanted all the branches that were over their head GONE. With the branches gone, it would be possible to see our neighbors lovely tree that turns yellow in the fall, and the pink flowering and blue flowering trees in their yard as well.

It is called "borrowing" landscaping.

It was so hot and steamy out that the camera kept fogging up.

Naturally Tiggie joined in. He is very fond of playing "sticks" and there sure were a lot being created here.
I accidental stepped on his tail at one point. He yowled, gave me an offended look, then settled right back into the action. Bernie found it quite challenging to drop large branches without hitting the cat.

See? Doesn't that look a lot better? Same view as the first shot....
(Notice the Faithful Orange Cat is still on duty.)

We cleared out a tree that was growing almost parallel to the ground. We had stalled on removing it because it always held one of our big bird feeders. We'll replace it with one like the one pictured above, and hang it from a shepherd's crook.

Clearing the branches out should also allow more sunlight to fall on our back lawn area. It has basically died from lack of sunlight. Strangely thought, a volunteer sunflower has bloomed in the most shaded part of the garden.

I'm thinking of scattering more sunflower seeds; the one flower looks so cheery!

I've still got to replant the garden bed. The last few years I've planted coleus; this year I have loads of volunteers. Wouldn't you know it, this year I have a hankering to plant inpatients.

For some reason this year NONE of the local nurseries are carrying inpatients!

I am getting really impatient for impatients!

After four hours of work, we were all sweaty and ready to retreat inside for a nice bison burger cooked on the barbecue (sooo much yummier than beef...) and some mango lassi (yogurt, ice, sugar and mango drink, very refreshing) and we plan to wile the rest of the day away watching a few more flicks.

Are you doing anything exciting this weekend?

Tell me about it.

It has to be more interesting than what we are doing.

I am amazed to think that this time last year I was in Switzerland; what a difference year this is!

Guest Blogger Tiggie

I got my African violets trimmed and watered yesterday. AND I made dinner: Egg salad sandwiches. On white bread.

Being on a low residue diet is so weird: all those crunchy whole grain healthy high fiber items that I have always included in my diet are off limits for now. Angel food cake, white bread, rice and noodles are required instead. Weird. This will likely be changed big time in a week or so, but for now white flour reigns.

Other household members are telling me that poultry is a necessary addition to their diet. Poultry as in the feathered babies that flicker between our tree branches and bird feeders. We are not buying into this at all.

Since I am still in low speed, I'm going to let our orange cat Tiggie, (AKA "Harper Lee", am I the only one who gets this joke?) of Tiggie FOC blog here today. As we all know, he is a cat with a lot to say. So I'm going to just let him say it today and head on back to bed.

I saw Hart loafing on the bench outside yesterday. He looked like someone had let the air out of him.

He is a great hunter, but pretty lax on keeping up with his outside snoopervising duties.

Hart is way too involved in baby bird catching. It just about wears him out racing up and leaping to the bird feeder, then running when Bernie knocks on the window and yells.

Baby birds are too easy; they sit near us and look at us like they don't know what we are. They learn though...

I personally caught a Carolina wren and brought it in to show Bernie. He was ticked off, and took the bird away from me. The dumb wren now sits on the patio chair and smirks at us.

I wasn't going to hurt it or anything; I just wanted to show Bernie that I could catch a bird if I wanted to.

I got going on my rounds..,..everything was just fine. The raccoons had stopped by and left some trash behind, but that isn't my problem.

I am allowed to hunt snakes though. Inside snakes. Ones that are knitted by Grandma, and have 'nip and crinkles and bells inside.

Man can those things fight.

I have to re-kill them every day.

Another Tiggie-Snake trophy shot.

It is a lot of work killing snakes. I always work up a bit of sweat, and my fur gets all tangled up. A nice long bath followed by a good nap makes for the perfect ending to a successful hunt.

Name That Gator

I must be doing better. Even though I am still inclined to afternoon naps from which I awaken convinced I still have an IV in my hand and side rails on my bed, small bits of grey matter are re-awakening. Part of this sleepiness is normal recovery from being sick and sleep deprived. It doesn't help that I have not had a cup of caffeinated anything for a week and half now either.

I dream of Carl Larsson paintings, which is a very pleasant thing, and consider the garden which is heavily shaded, leafed about with bushes and trees that need trimming. The temperature soars in the afternoon and I sit outside until I am warm through and through, then retreat once again to the cool interior to sip fluids and nap again.

This morning I awoke and knew the gator's name. The yet unnamed gator who slid into the oil smeared waters that are rapidly filling the Daisetta sinkhole. I could picture him in his private green swimming hole, and hoped that he was happily still splashing about.

I think his name must be "Slick."

They say I will go home today....

Whew, I never thought I'd be in the hospital for eight days with this. Today I am feeling much better. I actually got an amazing eight hours of sleep last night, uninterrupted by vigilant medical personnel.

The GI doctor said I can safely go home now. We are just waiting for the attending physician (a lung guy...go figure) to drop by and sign my release form. He could show up in the next two minutes or in four hours from now. Who knows. Doctor's rounds have their own mysterious rhythms around here. (Update: I finally got to go home at nine pm Sunday night. Hurrah!)

So we wait, read the Sunday paper, think about how today is much better than last Sunday, and are so thankful for all who prayed for my healing and the people who worked hard to care for me.

There has been no definitive label given to what has been going on with me. A scope of my colon in a few weeks will be needed. Meantime I'll just keep taking antibiotics and protonixs and eating food that is low in sediment. Please pass me the yogurt and buttermilk; aren't I just the luckiest person around... I actually like buttermilk anyway!

They say that laughter is the best medicine. I got a healthy dose yesterday when the local newspaper published the next chapter in the Diasetta Sinkhole story. The news...I laughed so hard I almost fell off the bed.


It seems a seven foot long alligator has been swept into the rapidly filling sinkhole. A "yet unnamed" alligator.

People who were working on dismantling "storage sheds that were teetering on the edge of the crater" (huh? how nuts is that?) saw the gator swimming thirty feet down from the edge of the sinkhole. Water has begun to fill the hole, water both from below the earth and from the surrounding swampy land. An alligator infested swampy land.

Naturally this concerns some people.

The water is highly contaminated with oil. Prepare yourself: the gator may get oil on his skin and eyes. And of course some folk want to see the gator "rescued."

Yeah, right. Ain't gonna happen.

The locals have been willing to admit that they have been sneaking out to the edge of the sinkhole to see the gator swimming in his own private pool. One nineteen year old woman even let the press use her name as she talked about doing such a thing.

Wonder what Bishop will be doing to her? Sure do hope she isn't packing a parasol when he catches up with her.

I can not imagine why the locals are even bothering taking a look-see. One old guy (age 74 according to the article) noted that they had a nine foot gator living right behind an old gas plant in town. Workers used to huck the the gator their left over sandwiches.

Anyway, I figure everyone needs both a laugh and something to think about. Even though there are plenty of unnamed gators around, apparently the sinkhole gator now needs a proper handle. A name to match his fame in these otherwise troubling times.

A few years back it was discovered that an alligator was living in a pond in a park in San Francisco. The local newspaper held a contest to name the critter.

You can guess the name that won, right?

It was a natural; of course he was the GOLDEN Gator.

I'm thinking hard about what they should name the Sinkhole gator. I asked my nurse Eva what name she would give the gator. Without a moment hesitation, she shot back:

"In Louisiana, they'd call him 'Dinner.''

Gal Pal Gail pointed out that since he is already swimming in oil, all they need to do is drop a match and we could have fried gator ready in a jiffy.

It must be all the meds that are slowing down my thought processes. There must be a great name for this beast. Your suggestions are needed. Like I said earlier, laughter is the best medicine. So go ahead...take your best shot at naming this critter.
If you make me laugh your payoff will be knowing you have done your part in helping this sick person feel better.

Mother's Day

Hi all. I haven't posted this week because I got very violently sick on Saturday night and was hospitalized on Sunday. My favorite Mother's Day present was a big push of Dilaudid into my IV. If you are ever in serious pain, try it...you will like it.

If I can hang onto my food for 24 hrs perhaps I can go home tomorrow. My colon is definitely goofed up. The labs results show it isn't food poisoning and two doctors hold two different opinions on what is going on. Nothing can really be confirmed until the colon heals and can be scoped.

Right now the antibiotics makes all food taste horrible, and with each bite I take I wonder if it will stay in me. I simply do not want to eat; I think I have discovered a miracle cure for appetite.

It's been a rough five days. Today is the first time I have felt well enough for B. to bring me my laptop. He has been by my side each day, and Laura has been "on call" literally as she is training out of the area. Her professional knowledge is priceless to me as it is difficult to know when to head to the Emergency room or when to ask for something different during care. (My favorite tip from her: ask for baby wipes..the hospital has them, and regular hospital tissues are really rough...)

I am praying that the colon heals super fast, and that my mouth and stomach also return to normal. I just want to be well...and go home.

Friday Afternoon Date with the Criminal Element

Yup, that's me in Daisetta Texas, home of the giant sink hole posing next to the yellow DO NOT CROSS POLICE LINE tape.

Daisetta Texas, where it was as hot as heck and where I had hoped to get a glimpse of the giant sink hole that has been so much seen on the news lately.

Lovely town....

Bernie and I headed out to Daisetta around 3:30 pm on Friday. It was a pleasant hour long drive through the country. Having a GPS guide us through the various highways and biways was most helpful.

When we pulled into Diasetta city limits, we realized that this was a really, really small town.

Population 1023 if I remember right.

The main street, named Main Street, was closed to through traffic, so we parked beside several other vehicles in an unpaved parking lot and wandered across the road to where all the television trucks were already parked.

Every sort of official vehicle was parked at various angles on the street.

Police, fire, rescue, Texas railroad commission...

That last one really made me curious.

(Bernie's ahead of me in that last shot, in the white shirt, walking along with his hands stuffed in his short's pockets.)

A quasi command station had been set up in the middle of the road.

I'm not sure what coded messages were being posted there, but everyone seemed rather laid back and calm. Right behind that booth was another tented area with stacks of water bottles, table, and several barbecue smokers.

Hmmm....a nice barbecue dinner sounded like a lovely option for sink hole viewing apres activities.

In front of the white board command center a small crowd had gathered; a group of about 20 people. They began to walk down the road in a tight group, lead by an official looking person in a uniform. Bernie and I picked up the pace and caught up with them, assuming that they were headed to the crater.

The officer stopped on the grass about a block down the road. We crowded around him expecting some kind of address. You can see the tape blocked road leading to the crater in the picture above.

I thought maybe I could get a better picture by walking down to the opening of the dirt road.

I walked a few feet that way. The officer spoke up and told me I wasn't to stand there.

Okay.

I walked back to the crowd.

I really couldn't see much. A tanker truck came driving up the dirt road and stopped. Bernie commented that the tanker must weigh a lot more than all of us, and why couldn't we step up on the curb to see better.

A guy in the crowd turned to Bernie and said "You aren't from around here are you?"

Bernie allowed that no, we were not.

The local informed Bernie that the town's officer needed very little to arrest anyone and lock them up for 48 hours, no questions asked.

Now there's Southern hospitality for ya.

The officer didn't speak again except to warn everyone to stay back.

EVERYONE was standing in the road; the yellow police tape was at least ten feet away.

I really wanted a good view of the sink hole. I walked back up the road to a place where I could see between the trees. The edge of the crater was just barely visible. I took a shot.

Notice where the police tape is.

I decided to continue walking back to the command center, and the view was a tad better from there. I stepped up onto the lawn, noting that there was a couple of people standing in the trees looking out over the sink hole. I was about three feet from the curb, which gave me an extra 8 inch or so of altitude.

I've zoomed in on this shot and cropped out the police tape.

See the two guys in the trees? The blur in the sky is the news helicopter that had been continuously circling the sink hole since we first arrived in the area.

It was at that point I heard the officer say "Lady, I'm going to ask that you be escorted out of the area."

Huh?

I looked around to see who he was talking to.

Um...that apparently would be me.

I stepped back and a police woman came right up beside me. "Escort her out of the area" the office said again. I was gently herded over to this vehicle:

Now picture this: Here I am, dressed in a nice sky blue knee length skirt, white tank top, white belt, a scarf around my neck and I am carrying my open parasol.

The police woman barely comes up to my shoulders.

"Ah, Bernie?" I called out.

"Yeah?"

"Hon, they want to escort me out of here."

Bernie loped over.

"Can I go with her?"

The police woman made eye contact with the officer.

"No."

"Can we just walk out of here by ourselves?"

A moment hesitation, then a hesitant "OK" was heard.

Whew!

My little drama seemed to put an end to the tour opportunity. Everyone began to drift back down the street, grumbling about the ultra controlling officials.

Various news cameras had tagged along, and I watched as the more "folksy" and colorful characters got singled out for an interview.

Don't you think they missed a great opportunity to interview little ol' me and the police harassment that I had suffered?

I spun my parasol lazily as I walked, careful not to walk too fast or too slow.

Just real casual like.

We walked pass this scene with a deep hole at the base of a pole? Another sink hole?
No, a local informed me. It was Liberty counties (censored) idea of a drainage ditch.

Oh. Apparently most of the folks were not overly fond of the local government.

I paused to watch the ABC news guy practice his report, barely audible over the roar of the helicopter overhead. I did catch that the town was asking the governor of Texas to declare the town a disaster area.

Not to be unkind...there's not a lot to the town to begin with. Lots of boarded up buildings and such...

The news truck parked on a lot on

Main Street.

Our car...and another Main Street building.

Maybe the sink hole would be like the old joke about Alabama hurricane damage:

It did a half million dollars worth of improvements to the area.

I never thought of myself as a rabble rouser, or as person that would ever be needed to be run out of a town via police escort.

Secretly I almost hoped I could have gotten the ride. I've never have had a ride in a police car before. And as Laura always says: If you are ever in a police car or an ambulance, ask that they turn on the siren. Get the whole experience, get all the bells and whistles!

Now I will always wonder what could have happened it I had gotten in the car and asked for the siren to wail.

Maybe me and my parasol would have made national news!

Bernie and I headed out of town after that.

I tried to think who I could of called to make bail for us if we had been locked up.

That is the problem with not having very many face-to-face friends.

Gail said she would have wired me bail money.

She is a really good friend. In fact she said she would of wished that she could have been there in there with me!

Now here's be the best two parts:

A video with the law enforcement officer (Hu8gh B8ishop) who booted me out of the area.

And better....

This video of the man talking to MSNBC.

Oh my!

When it all caves in.....

If you have been following the news lately you are probably aware of the record breaking sink hole that is forming not far from where I live. Not to worry...it is about an hour's drive away, our property is not at risk, and yes I do intend to drive on over for a look-see later today.

If you are behind on the story of the ever growing depression, you can catch it here.

What you won't find is the report on the formation of my own recent personal depression.

I haven't had much interest in posting the last few days. One thing after another piled on and frankly I was wiped out.

Bernie had left last Friday for a business, a trip that would take him from home for five days.
Saturday Laura was fighting a cold, so I headed to the Houston Hat Net party on my own.

It was an hour and half drive to get there; but worth it to see my fellow hat enthusiasts. We all live at different corners of Houston; long drives to get together is the price I pay anytime I want to see these friends.

At the party behatted ladies chatted and caught televised glimpses of Kentucky derby hats.

When it came time to mount the riders for the big race, I watched the names come up on screen, and I whimsically declared that Eight Belles would be my horse. I was astonished to see her come in second in the race, and sickened moments later to learn she had broken both her legs right after the race and had to be destroyed on the track.

How could the death of a creature that I had only known about for a few minute affect me so deeply?

Normally I think I would have managed having Bernie gone so long, and the horse tragedy. But these two events came about as Laura's time with us was coming to a close. She had taken an assignment here in Houston so we could spend time together; she arrived in January, and it was time for her to move on to her next assignment. The little over four months time together went oh so fast.

Over the weekend Laura struggled with twists and turns concerning her upcoming nursing assignment-details that had us both wondering what she ought to do next. No answer seemed ideal or clear cut. She was still tired from fighting her cold, her vacation and knowing she was facing changes ahead.

She had just gotten back from a week in Sweden; it was hard enough on me having her gone one week; now I was facing her being gone away and back to her own life away from us for good.

Having had my friend Gail come and go the week before underscored to me how precious it was to have a friend to visit face to face. Phone calls and emails are nice; but no replacement of a smiling face and shared hugs. I know I won't be able see Gail again for a very long time.

On Sunday Laura and I took a last walk through the woods together. The wild iris were blooming in the sunlight, and I saw the first little girl spiders who will soon grow up to be the big yellow spiders of summer. Another summer has come...it seemed to happen so fast.

Last Monday, as Laura and I ate Swedish pancakes, I was already struggling with missing Gail, and knowing the next day Laura would be packed up and gone. I knew when she left Bernie would still be gone out of town.

That realization hit me hard; it was then that I started to crumble. Sometimes I really hate being alone.

That night a local buddy told me that she and her husband will be leaving the area soon as well. Another sad blow. I am really, really sick of saying good bye to friends and family. And I am super tired of trying to make new friends here. My buddy and I both agreed: it is difficult to meet people who have time for fun and friendship.

Tuesday morning after a night with lots of tears and little sleep, I went for dental work: prep for two crowns. Ouch.

Laura and I agreed she would drive off while I was gone. She left me loving note, and the cats had dragged several of their favorite toys into the empty guest room, apparently in a last ditch attempt to make her stay. We stayed in touch via cell phone as she drove alone half way across America. Tuesday was tough. Bernie cut his trip short to fly home.

Today Laura is back in our home town of San Diego. She will be with my mom and Bernie's mom on Mother's Day.

Bernie is busily doing business from his office; I can hear the conference call he is leading even as I type. It helps to have him home and that the twists and turns of Laura's assignment have apparently been resolved.

More or less...

I'm doing better today. There are things to do and places to go: A sink hole to visit and there's an Art Car block party happening tonight. A hat on a different kind of block is in my hat room right now just waiting to be finished.

Some days, and weeks are better than other. It is like when I walk through the forest, there are always shadowy patches and sunlight spaces. If I keep walking, I eventually pass through both.

I'm going to keep walking. The next bright patch (or hippo car) may be just around the bend.

PS: The hippo art car belongs to Hat Netter Sue, whose new red hippo car is the sister to Sue's purple hippo car. 'Cuz really, can a girl ever have too many hippo cars?

Cinco de Mayo Swedish style

Fast on the heels of Kentucky Derby Day (the previous two posts have lots of hats...and have been updated....)

Let me be the first to wish you a Happy Cinco de Mayo!

I figured that since the Mexicans waved Mexican flags on St.Patrick's day, we would have Swedish pancakes to eat on Cinco de Mayo.

Makes sense, right?

Laura made them using the recipe in the Swedish cookbook she got over in Sweden.
Yes, they were absolutely delicious!

Before she left for Sweden she asked me if I wanted her to get me anything in particular while she was there.

I told her I would love place mats with pictures by the Swedish artist Carl Larsson .
I was thinking inexpensive plastic....she got me the corked back board mats instead.
You can see how big they are; one is under Laura's plate in the top picture.

I just love them. For years B. and I used to have Friday morning dates at a Scandinavian restaurant, and they always used Larsson place mats. Larson is famous for his gentle paintings that captured everyday family life in Sweden, back in the 1800's.

Larsson's home is still available for public tours; it is arguably the most famous artist home due to his many painting that captured daily life within it.

My personal favorite: The girl's hat, and the cute baby chasing a crawfish: Just so cute.

It is raining like crazy here today; flash flood warnings are up and the lighting and thunder has been pretty steady for the last six hours.

I like rain.

Let it pour!

Millinery: Virtual Kentucky Derby Day hat party begins!

Kate Pernia posted her KDD hat already:



And as bonus material, she added this link to a famous designer's spring collection video, featuring hats, hats and more hats. Yeah RL!


I've noticed that there was a KDD hat swap going on in blogdom yesterday. I'd post a link, but since they were all "fanciful" creations made of cardboard and whatnot, more for decoration than actual wearing, I'll leave it to you to search out if you wish. Poor girls, all that work, when they could have been making a real hat instead.

LauraRN is under the weather today, but she posted a hat picture as well...un-traditional KDD as it may be.

Mimi headed to the derby while Mad Hatter Wanna Be Cristina was out of town. She wore a great hat, and a super flirtation smile. I think we are going to have to keep an eye on Mimi; while she is technically supposed to just make herself available to model Cristina's millinery creations, I have a feeling Mimi has a colorful life planned out and will be willing to share her hatted adventures.

Maureen at Tea and Friendship posed with not only a derby hat but her silver mint julep cup as well. (It is all about accessorizing, isn't it?)

By the by...for you out there who are serious about you hatmaking (you know who you are...):

Derby Hat Contest
(May 4, 2008-May 30, 2008)
Each year, the Kentucky Derby Museum invites participants from around the world to enter their beautiful and unique Derby hats in our annual contest. A panel of judges and guests then rates the hats, with the top twenty to thirty being selected for the 2008 Kentucky Derby Museum’s Derby Hat Exhibit. We are in search of all types of hats, designer and novelty in either men or ladies’ styles. Each winner will receive a certificate of participation in the exhibit along with passes to visit the exhibit during the year.
Would you like to be a part of this exhibit showcasing one of the most celebrated and exciting Derby traditions? All hat styles are needed and creativity is encouraged.

Entries for the Hat Contest will be accepted from Sunday, May 4th until Friday, May 30th. Hats must be delivered (personally or via mail) to the Kentucky Derby Museum between the hours of 8am-5pm Monday through Saturday and 11 to 5pm Sunday. All entries must arrive in a normal shipping box or hatbox and should be accompanied by a completed entry form. Check the website closer to May for printable entry forms.

The form can be downloaded from this link.

Min wore a turban for the VKDD!

The hats worn to the Houston Hat Net KDD party:

(See? Another turban. Turbans are cool!)

Loved that soft chiffon turban.

A Kate Pernia design...

Loved this colorful brimmed beauty!

Special guest appearance: Sue's newest hippo car. Her purple hippo car has been a regular attendee of Houston Hat Net events; she has now added a red version to her hippo car collection.

This one has upgrades: It whistles, winks both eyes, and I think the ears flap too.

Hippo-bottom-mous.

Sue told me the name of her new red hippo, but I can't remember it now. Drat.

She also said people have been very puzzled by this hippocar.

"Hippos aren't red" she has been getting told.

Like they were ever PURPLE either, like her other car???
More pictures as they become available...