IN Carmel

 This weather is a bit different for this time of year.  Should we say strange, weird, unusual, different, or maybe just March.  Let's hope March goes out like a lamb and not like a lion.  60 degrees today is pretty lamb-like.  We did have a lot of wind yesterday and my little once covered with snow yard bird landed on its backside yesterday.  This little guy makes me laugh every time I see him.  He's such a trouper.  I lived in the kitchen yesterday but I also was OUTSIDE.  I "ditched" one of the big flowerbeds.  The temperature was perfect, the ground was perfect for digging and I pulled out a whole lot of creeping Charley.  So I would say the day was a big success.  I've received messages on Facebook about not cleaning flowerbeds early to let all the little good creature bugs emerge from their winter lodges.  Well, I think there is another side to this discussion, that being staying ahead of the weeds that live alongsid...

 That's what I call the sparrows when it comes to building nests in the bluebird houses.  They never give up.  Persistence and hormones keep them going.  I can pull at least two big beginnings of a nest found in the box during any given morning.  I don't know a good answer to change their behavior so I just keep pulling nests hoping that the fisty bluebird will take over my job.  In some respects I'm happy to see the bluebirds still out and about because baby bluebirds need protein bugs in their diet.  It's cold so no bugs yet.  Yesterday we made a trip to Wild Birds to get guards for the birdhouse holes.  Old houses grow holes bigger than bluebirds like.  It also guards against bigger birds entering a house and destroying eggs and babies.  Last summer the Cowbird did just that. This box has a protective ring around the hole. Walks through the garden tell me that some plants are waking up.  The Bluebells continue to fill in spa...

 Yes, it's the yellow season with crocus, forsythia, and jonquils. to name a few yellows. The cold didn't seem to hurt any of these troupers. And there was always a yellow Easter dress.  It's the yellow season.  So yesterday another bit of yellow came into the house.  And one of course, one more bit of yellow adding peeps.  Doug eats these things.  Adding the blue mug also says Ukraine.  One yellow that did not come into the house but appeared often at the window was the Gold Finch.  The males are certainly showing yellow at this time of year.  I took a lot of pictures at the window but saved the one that showed a G F in flight.  How interesting.  There is more good news. Eric with his family is on the way to California to visit  a good friend and touring Disney World.  I think it's World in the west.  They will be there for a week during school spring break.  And Jared and family will make a trip to Carmel Thurs...

 It's 11:45  Monday morning and it's been nothing but good so far.  I have a trip to IU North under my belt already.  A visit to the lab resulted in a blood draw that included one stick with NO pain.  This shooter had a terrific aim and I thanked her.  The visit to the pharmacy resulted in a second Covid Booster shot.  The fact that I've had cancer and a 5 month period of time since my first booster were the qualifying factors. I visited the CPAP office and received my new and improved CPAP machine.  That was a long time coming. The wait is finally over.  I can say out with the old and in with the new.  So three good checkmarks and I'm the lucky lady.  Maybe I should say finished with I U North for the day.  In fact finished for 3 weeks.  Let me add that I like I U North a whole lot.  I have many new friends that work there. The positives outweigh the negatives by thousands.  Visiting reminds me of those months o...

 The title words always, always remind me of a wonderful anthem we have sung about the tumb on the first day that we have sung on Easter morning.  That's a memory worth keeping.  Yesterday was another very busy morning at Bread and bowl.  Four of our regular hard workers had other obligations leaving us with half of a crew.  I felt like I was on rollerskates all morning keeping all the irons in the fire heated and working.  And we made it.  I certainly will make a note of thanking the whole crew for their commitment when all return in two weeks.  Some days are like that even in Australia Alexander would remind us.  The afternoon was basketball once again that continued into the evening.  Such great basketball competitive games.  Jared called so we had a great visit during the time that Jacob was at his clarinet lesson in Bay City.  I think we entertain each other during the wait time.  I'll take it.   I was think...

 Woo...the view out the window certainly was a wake-up jolt this morning.  This is my roadrunner friend, another Judy gift sitting by the garage door.  His head is that big blob on the left.  You can see his wing on the right.  I had a good laugh when he greeted me on my way to retrieve the morning paper.   More surprises.  These pictures still make me laugh.  When control is gone that's the best one can do and Mother Nature and the Weather Man are doing their darndest with this unpredictable.  The temp is pretty warm and I think all will be well at some point.  Who knows the time or the hour!  What a surprise.  Massive cotton balls I would say!!!! Now I had plan to post some other pictures for today and that was what happened yesterday.  It was a rainy day again.  We've had a few lately if the word few means a whole lot of days.  So the activity for the day was making split pea soup again and baking.  ...

 Then the song mentions those black birds.  I must say they have not been seen around these parts lately.  Yes., I seem to be thinking birds lately.  Carolina Wren is back. Such a sassy-looking bird. with her white mascara in place arched over her eyes and never a feather out of place.  Can't lasso her enough for a picture.  I'll keep trying. This little beauty is back. Never get tired of these flashes of blue darting about.  Yesterday I realized the spring flowers have moved to the bushes.  Love it when that happens.  Here's one of our forsythia bushes.  The sheltered one is blooming...Two others are not.  When we moved to our current house 45 years ago, we planted a mock quince bush.  Some years it blooms, some years not depending on how well we take care of it.  This year in a week or so the mock quince will be full of red flowers.  It's another home memory like horseradish.  Last night was another singing nig...

 I have some spring memories.  Things that happened every spring regardless of any other thing happening.  It was the greening of the yard with dandelion digging for the first greens of the year. Now many yards are sprayed!!!  Digging happened way before the dandelion flower buds appeared.  Mom would be out digging to prepare for supper.  The time...during and after the big war.  Yes, it was a long time ago.  I'm wondering when greens appeared in the grocery store during those war years and immediately after..  Maybe never.  It was wartime! Rationing time!  Another spring memory...My dad, digging horseradish roots...grinding them outside escaping the fumes, and then eating horseradish on potatoes, dandelion, meat, and just about anything feeling as if my head was going to blow right to Mars and then going back for more Mars trips.  I can't do the dandelion but I sure can do the horseradish.  Digging and grinding early in t...

  March always brings school memories of an art project that happened every year.  It was taking paper plates to craft a Lion face with a mane made from yarn and Lamb face with added cotton balls.  In like a Lion out like a Lamb.  That's March.   There there were umbrellas for April showers.  Yesterday and today we skipped March and went directly to April.  But I fear that March will be here by the weekend with a Lion.  We'll see.  One thing that is much appreciated (maybe) is the fact that playing in the dirt outside for me isn't happening.  My body is more than overjoyed.  So I'll take it.   Birdhouse was the theme yesterday and supporting that I collected a few bird pictures again.  So sorry the Nuthatches and Tufted Titmouse were absent from the feeder.  So here are just a few entertainers.  This little bird is one of many kinds of Warblers about the size of a Chickadee.  He has a yellow spot a...

 One might think it's the Spring season.  I say the season of Hope.  It's with hope that the garden shows positive signs.  Hope that allergies stay at their low point.  Hope that the birds are successful in raising families.  Just hope, hope, hope for all kinds of new beginnings.  And this writer continues to thwart the Sparrows who continue in their efforts to thwart the Bluebirds. That refers to cleaning out nesting boxes.  Yesterday I checked again and in one of the boxes, I found a sparrow sitting on about 3 pieces of dead grass just looking and looking at me as if I was the intruder and not her. After about a minute of this, she decided to take a hike.  Good decision, Mrs.  So houses for the birds that need houses are hanging.  I'm ready and with this crazy warm March weather maybe the birds are also.  There have been Bluebird egg sightings but the hope is that hatching will wait till there are a few bugs around to feed th...

 Should I watch the ball games or play in the dirt.  That was a tough choice dealt with yesterday.  I did a little of both but mostly it was an outside afternoon.  I cleaned most of the brick that was covered with grass lining the garden.  Woo...it was another night of dealing with an uncomfortable body.  Come on.body.  This could be the new me that has come my way.  A new something to remember.  I can say that three sides of the garden are finished...Just one more to clean off and it's not very bad.  More plants are showing they have survived the winter.  I love to find them.  Here are the bluebells peeking out of the ground..   The bleeding hearts are nearby.  Bluebells and Bleeding hearts bloom at the same time and make a great pair helping each other to look great!  Ball games.  Purdue made it through.  All the other Big Ten teams are gone.  What's up with that?  I checked this mornin...

Starting another week.  Those starts seem to come around every seven days.  I have that figured out!!!!!   Yesterday was one of those sloppy days that kept me inside most of the time.  I watched the birds and ball games both men and women and that was about it.  Oh, yes...the sweeper appeared for a few minutes and I checked on the parsley.  A few more little seeds have germinated.  This year the parsley patch is right by the house.  Won't need to walk far to cut those tasty little additions to a whole lot of things.  The games were awesome.  Lots of hard work brought unusual outcomes.  It's a never give up attitude not often seen.  Thank you Michigan, St. Peter, IU ladies to name a few.  Yes...big and small schools were represented.   This week I'm blessed with NO appointments anywhere!  Now that's a new experience that hasn't happened for a while.  The week is all mine to fill as I wish or can....

 Woo...when everything works...it's a good feeling.  So far, so good.  My body is working again, not calling my name all the time.  That means it doesn't hurt anymore telling me I need to stop the abuse.  I need to work on the part that says stop even though the job isn't finished.  I take after my mother who had that problem as well, so my sister tells me.  I don't remember that part.  My sister is older.  Taking after my mother...poor excuse.  I am not my mother, maybe!   Today's weather...Jared would say cloudy and gray day in Michigan.  I think their location between the two Great Lakes brings that kind of gray cloudy sky.  So today is a Michigan-looking day with no Great Lakes.  The view from the kitchen window continues to be entertaining.  This morning it was a Cardinal trying to find his way into the Bluebird food.  I've opened the Bluebird boxes since the Sparrows are building their nests in th...

I took the time and the sun has come up or in other words, the pictures will be back. Today was the day and besides, I heard a few of you and decided that it was time for a change. One thing that did a little pushing on my side is that a few things are popping out of the ground. I saw two tiny, tiny little parsl ey plants up. I planted them a couple of weeks ago. Parsley takes forever but can stand really cold temperatures. Then yesterday I found the bluebells so that's exciting. Today I planted two kinds of lettuce. Time will tell if it's to early. Flowers blooming...miniature jonquils, crocus, lenten roses, and a few pansies from Rosie's. Blue and Yellow! Big treat for supper.  I did some grocery shopping after a long time away from the store and decided it was pie time but just too lazy to cut up apples or make the filling whatever it might be.  So a can of sour cherry pie filling went in the cart.  Looks good, smells good and Doug is itching to try it. ...

Two seems to be the number for today. I'm doing another entry because what i posted two hrs ago is really yesterdays entry. It's been a crazy mixed up day. So for today...Noah was with us for the day. It seems that the big kid has passed the bug on to his younger brother. So it was a quiet day for Noah mostly spent in the TV room. Soar throats and stuffy noses need to be addressed. He usually is outside with me all day long but not today. I was out and he was happy to be in. I started my attack on Charley again. It seems like the winter doesn't hurt him a bit. I discovered that the Bluebells are up. The little peek through part that is up is blue not green. BLUE! During their time underground after they bloom the roots move around and they come up in different places. So it's lots of fun to discover where they have moved during their underground time. They completely melt away after their blooming time. The weather has been fantastic. I've done mor...

The second shoe dropped yesterday. Crown appointment canceled. Not by me. Dentist had a sick child. It happens. So today Wed we'll try again. It's been a stub your toe week so far. I spent the day outside again. This time three huge blue garbage cans full. You probably wonder if anything is left. Yup. All ready for what ever is coming to come out of the ground to come out of the ground. I'm ready and the hope is that cold temps will stay put. Love to sit on the patio eating lunch and watching what ever is outside to watch. One last thing to happen with house fixin is to fix two screens that Thad big hail damage. Getting the screens out has been a challenge but I won this afternoon. Alyssa will pick them up Thursday and taken to the repair shop. Then the house repairs are over. I've spent a lot of time picking up small scraps of plastic siding and window wrapping materials roofing nails, guttering screws and more. It's easy to do before the grass ...

Yesterday was a huge flop! I've been waiting for osme time for a new C Pap machine and there have been unexpected delays which I'm really getting tired of experiencing. There is another one now and the hope is that on the 28th of March a new machine will come my way. I'll say mighthappen at this point. Not will happen. My current machine works well but was recalled last year for a strange and misunderstood reason. Problems with scheduling, problems getting chips for the machines, problems with receiving wrong information from the doctor, just wrong, wrong, wrong. I would say this is a charactor building event once again. So I'll build charactor. I soon will have enough charactor to share with a village. Today is the tooth day. I'm sure that will happen. It's the finishing part of a crown which the dentist said there will be more of because of radiation damage. This body maintainance thing is a full time job. I hope to put off scheduling till fall...

Yesterday's vist with Ronnie Bell and his church folks was just the best thing in a long time. Of course he was surprised to see us meeting us at the door as we arrived 30 minutes before church. His office window faced the parking lot allowing him to check us out before we checked him out! What a guy. We had time to look around at a lot of nooks and crannies before church. It's a wonderful facility that provides ministry to the neighborhood. Ronnie's members were so appreciative when talking about his involvement in programing. That's the Ronnie that I know as well. He's coaching basketball teams and is in the building when ever it is open which is a whole lot. Ronnie is involved! His members spoke often of his committment. The rest of the afternoon involved feeding the birds and watching a whole lot of basketball along with checking for any update on Ukraine. Today will be pretty simple. The plan is to stop by I U North again and pick up a new C Pap ma...

Today, there is a change in the house of worship. A smaller group of singers will be in worship at North which doesn't include us. So...something different for the Russells. Our associate minister before our current one was Ronnie Bell. His current parish is on the east side of Indianapolis. We have not seen him since he left for his current appointment at least two years ago. And this morning we are going to his church. It will be about an hours drive so we're starting out early since the worship service starts at 10 am. Get me to the church on time. Ronnie worked with us at Bread and Bowl. I miss him a whole lot so this will be a reunion Sunday for sure. Yesterday's Bread and Bowl was a great morning. It was bitter cold but folks came and all the food disappeared. In the afternoon I did some Palm Sunday ordering of palm frons and Emerald Palms. Went to Lowes and found small palm trees. I'll buy two but didn't yesterday. They would have frozen on the...

Thaht's right...DONE. the itch is over. The pound cake is history. Woo...lots of fun but this pound cake receipe makes a whole lot of volume. I was wearing the cake during the get it into the pan part of the experiment. The bowl kept slipping out of my hands. I sprayed the bunt pan a whole bunch dumped the batter in and then into the oven for 90 minutes at 300 degrees. And when the cake needed to leave the pan it absolutely didn't want to show a whole lot of success. In fact it was a complete disaster. It flunked. But I did my part and it's now history. I would say that the whole experiment has no need to be repeated. That cake is way to sweet. Another receipe called for a whole box of brown sugar plus one more cup. What are they thinking as my friend Marcia would say! I completed the kitchen project with carrot soup. It also has potatoes and tomatoes along with onions and a clove of garlic and a shake of cumin. I'm better with soup. The what's le...

The cold weather is back with a smack in the face of air that isn't so hot. Why was I thinking that winter was on the verge of going away? Don't know the answer. The house is officially finished. Last crew gone with another plate of chocolate chip cookies to send them packing. Gone, Gone, gone. The birds are becoming big time eaters again. The group of friends continues to grow. Today should be a home day. Judy loaned me a bunt pan and the pound cake fixins are on the counter becoming room temperature as the receipe demands. It seems a bit strange to be in this cooking world again fixin and baking things. It's a little chemistry going on. I'm always looking for the silver lining and yesterday beside a house all healed, there was a huge one to mark. As you all know radiation has brought a huge change to eating one side effect is that I've lost some weight. Not a bad thing...infact a good thing with results being that yesterday's doctor visit conversat...

And Yes...I spent most of the yesterday outside. It was a lovely day. Found more to tear up and fix up. Garbage truck emptied the two blue cans and by three oclock, they were full again. It would seem that I have a habit of doing that. Our guttering day has been changed to today. My guess is that the predicted snow helped to make that change and the fact that the gang finished early on their yesterday job probably helped. I made sure that all the downspout areas were clear of ivy. One corner took a lot of work but all is ready for a good work day for the gutter crew. My goodness, the house hail happened in the middle of last summer. This has been a long slug for a lot of unpredictable reasons. My recollection is that the roofing job came with a huge rain storm resulting in a bathroom ceiling coming down. That crew got fired. Then the siding job came with an ice storm. So avoiding a snow event is probably a good thing. It's Thursday and tonight we'll be with our ...

That was yesterday. So with rake in hand I was Out and about with more raking and clipping and cleaning, this time the ground cover in front of the housegot some attention. It got a great smashing with all the house siding job guys that brought a major fixing, I hope. I picked up so many nails that found a hiding place in the ground cover. It was like finding Easter Eggs. The mess raked up is a great start for next weeks garbage. My two blue cans are full for todays offering. I failed to mention that last week while cleaning the garden my eye caught some movement with my thought a bird was crawling around. No bird...My first chipmunk now is in the woods about 3 miles down the road visiting with other Russell catches added to the park last summer. Happy to say that today should be warm enough to get closer to the finish line for the first attempts at cleaning gardening sites in the yard. I'm sure early March will bring April and May work as well. Doug brought me a wond...

It's sometimes very strange how the day comes together. So yesterday...I got the sweeper out. Shopped for groceries. Made broccoli soup. Bought 3.99 gas to fill the tank and this morning gas is 4.29. Didn't plan on one thing yesterday but got motivated to do. So I did. The garden was one place I didn't do. It's still a sponge but we'll see what the day brings. There is one more big patch of creeping charlie that needs to go. Then it's simple raking. Well, I think it will be simple. Not to much planned again for the day. Doug probably would like to see a cookie day. I'll think about that. Years ago my brother gave me what I recently deiscovered as being a great cookbook. It was put together by a big important restaurant in Richmond Va. I've got my nose in that book almost every day these past couple of weeks. Thinking pound cake right now. Could use a bunt pan. Lots of butter, lots of cream, lots of eggs, Yum, yum. I've never made a ...

It would appear that the sponge can hold no more water. Our two nights of rain have left a whole lot of new water front property north of Indianapolis. I would imagine south, east and west as well. Thinking of a saying that we heard every fall growing up with my dad. Winter can't ocme until the creeks are full. Well, they certainly are full now and I'll just apply that saying to spring now although a whole lot of winter can come in March during turnament time. I did a garden slog this morning and the garden is still here in a well soaked form. I'm wondering what the parsley seeds are thinking. It would appear that most of the day will be spent indoors. I could clean, and then I could not. The food supply seems a bit low. I could go to the grocery and then I could not. Doug still has poptarts, I have eggs. There is soup in the freezer There is no reason to go hungry. I am reminded that the world needs a whole lot of prayer. TV immages continue to haunt and ...

Yes, it's Sunday and of course it's church morning. This afternoon included a snooze on the chair watching TV. I love watching home restorations and today shows included the town of Laural Miss. The couple doing this show are just great. She is such a great designer and he is a wonderful preacher kid carpenter. They are the best. I decided to walk the garden knowing that we had rain during the night. Doug heard some thunder, I heard nothing and I was told that the tornado sirens went off around 2 am in Carmel. My goodness, there must have been a flood of water. It's a mucky mess but I managed to work in one little area pulling out a whole bunch of creeping charlie. He just never quits. And charlie know how to survive the winter coming back stronger than ever. So it's just another round of getting rid of charlie. A few more days of garden work and then I'll say finished for a while. I imagine the while won't be to long. The days will be quiet pleasa...

Yesterday was another garden work day. Should NOT surprise anyone anymore. Lots of weeds were removed. It's those pesky ones that just don't seem to mind the cold mornings to grow after the snow. They sure were healthy pretty green ones that now are no more. You might think that nothing was cleared last fall. Wrong, wrong, wrong. The garbage truck and it's driver are my friend taking away all the unwanted last fall and now spring trash. I took a walk this morning with my coffee cup. Still to cold to work but there is another bed that needs raking. Sad to say it's not the last bed either. My hope is that I have a little more sense as to what will keep my body working well. It's a bit sore this mornng. I'm encouraging it to "get over it". We made a wonderful run to the bird food store. I could spend hours looking from one end to the other. There is a well stocked supply of bird food in the garage and we added an Oriole official feeder. We'...

Yes...it's a happy day already. The sun is shinning and the prospects of a day warm enough to be comfortable outside is here. I call it a gift. Yesterday my walk included my winter coat, a rake and a chance to make things a little better. So I did. There are a few piles of winter left over that will be contributed to the garbage can today. The number of beds raked for spring are growing. Just a few more to do. The rest of the day will be pretty simple. There may be a run to Wild Birds later at some point to resupply the seed container providing entertainmnt at the window. And that's all I have on my plan for the day unless I get to a bit of sweeping in the house. That's a boring thought. Last night was another Thurs. choir practice with another cancer announcement. It just never seems to stop. This time Daphne Chen will have breast surgery Monday. It would seem we've experienced way to many cancer events. Three have resulted in deaths over the years....

I'm nearing the end of the season of doctors. And I am grateful for all of them but grateful to have some time away from them. They will return in a few months for another round. I'll be fine and grateful the round is over again. Today was the eye doctor and that one is finished for a whole yiear. Yeah! Being diabetic makes the eye doctor a must and all is well. All is well, all is well. I'll take it. No glasses needed and blood vessels and optic nerve are in great shape. Gratitude abounds. Check that one off. Yesterday was a fun day. One more flower bed is ready to go. Other places have been raked. So little by little I'll be ready. It's hard to imagine after all the fall work that there is more to do but some how the winter blows into the beds more stuff to clear away. I can't remember when I worked in the garden on March 2. Just happy thinking about what to plant. In fact this morning just outside the garage door I planted parsley. Those lit...

Our youngest grandson is 12 today. Happy Birthday Eli. The oldest is 16 with three more grandsons inbetween the first and the last. It's a grand son's world for the Russells. Yesterday's visit with Dr. Moore went well. He is such a kind gentle doctor. The next visit is in three months and that pattern will continue for two years. It's the same pattern that a few more of my doctors will demonatrate. The afternoon was spent in the garden. That's a certainty when the temp is above 40. One area is cleaned out and ready for the big show called bluebells expected sometime in April. A few Blackeyed Susans need to go. They sure like to move in and moving out will happen in the not to distant future. Spring surprises are always fun. That happens because I ALWAYS forget where plants are during the winter coverup. This morning there has been a walk through in the garden and later when it's a bit warmer I'll be out with my clippers, rake and big blue ...

Yesterday was a great long work morning at church. It's the beginning of Lent and time to purple the church. So we did. I feel good about the fact that the sanctuary seems to have returned visually to the time before the pandemic with banners hung, crosses found across the balcony and the cross in the choir loft once again draped with purples of many shades. For me it's a feeling of returning again to a good place in a great space. I could add, sort of like going home again. The mask restrictions are loosened a bit from a must do to your choice as far as parishoners are concerned. None vaccers are encouraged to comply with maksing. I feel the choir will continue to be masked. The chapel also recieved the purple treatment as well as the west entrance. It was a long work morning but one I really enjoyed returning to. Heidi worked along side learning the North way of doing things. She also brings a fresh approach with her leaning on her past experiences in other church both...