I thought I had tried everything, trying to get Amber, our almost 10-month-old yellow lab to quit digging in the planters where we dug out old rose bushes and just left dirt for planting in the spring. This was a daily problem, almost as if she made the rounds, thinking that it was her DUTY to leave dirt everywhere for me to come clean up.
Mary Lou, my sister-in-law from Charlotte, said that what she and my brother-in-law do to discourage their dogs from digging in the yard was distribute their poop where digging was off-limits.
Before the big freeze around here, I gathered a goodly amount of samples with a dustpan and put some in each of the planters. I then put some leaves in the planters so they would look like the other planters we had mulched around the yard. This was about 3 weeks ago.
SO FAR, SO GOOD! No digging in the planters! Even though it has been really cold around here, Amber loves to be outside. She has had several opportunities each day to do her digging. Hats off to Mary Lou for the wonderful suggestion!!!!!
Filed under Amazing Animals, Gardening
sunnystreets.blogspot.com
Me again. Patting myself on the head. Sorry if this is aggravating, but it’s such a NEW THING for me to be actually getting ahead of some things, rather than always having to run the bulldozer and wear a dust mask.
My husband is already getting tired of my saying, “Let’s talk about my desk again!” After at least 20 years of stuffing and ignoring the problem, my desk is as clean as if we just set it up, moving in to a new house. \
I love my desk. As you can see in this picture, there is a roll top with a key that I close, if needed or desired, though I usually leave it up. There are 6 small drawers – 3 on each side, with a larger drawer underneath. In the center are 7 slots and two pencil/pen holders in the opening between.
This is a closeup of the roll top part with the key.
On the right you can see one of the guides for the roll top to come down. There are 7 drawers under the flat part of the desk – two filing cabinet type drawers and two smaller ones above, plus the center drawer.
This shows you the pull outs on each side that give you more writing space, or a place to hold stuff to the side while you’re working in the middle.
My husband thought I would go for a more modern desk 35 years ago, such as the ones made for computers, printers, etc. He gave me the option again when we moved here about 30 years ago, and again, when we changed the office around to face the desk in a different direction. I loved my choice then and still treasure my desk now. I’ve always loved lots of cubbies, nooks, crannies, and maybe a secret spot or two…
15 drawers gives you a LOT of space to stash things. It takes many years to finally get to the point you can no longer find things, and it seems like a treasure hunt when you finally go through everything, empty each drawer, and clean things.
I found some good things I can donate to others. I now have things organized so I can actually FIND things again, plus I’ll have a great bag of extra trash to put out the next time the wonderful trash people come and will whisk it away. :0)
smile and shine via stephanie youmans wilson
I think Amber and this sweet fellow are having a contest. This guy definitely wins the “most-sticks-in-the-mouth-at-once” category, but Amber wins the “longest stick” category at 12 feet.
Filed under Amazing Animals
“Birds and Stars on Blue” – Paul Militaru Photography
“Two Beauties” – Paul Militaru Photography
“Water and Ducks” – Paul Militaru Photography
Filed under Paul Militaru Photography
“Wind of Hope” -Leonid Afrenov-afrenov.com
Filed under Creativity, water paintings
pearlsofpromiseministries.com
I know that this title was one of the episodes of Breaking Bad on TV, but my parents were using the term when I was growing up in the dark ages, so I think the TV folks borrowed it. My parents used it to describe frenzied behavior of any type, and I use it here in the same way.
I have definitely been ‘bit by a dead bee,” in that I’ve done more cleaning out and re-organizing around my house than I’ve done in years. I don’t know WHICH dead bee bit me, but I’m thinking of marking this period of behavior totally unlike me on my calendar. it’s so rare.
It started before Thanksgiving, when I was running the bulldozer trying to get the house at least marginally presentable for our friend Nora to come share Thanksgiving dinner with us. I cleaned off the usual really piled up areas, and then I was ‘bit.’ I have been feeling the need to get rid of ‘stuff,’ either by donating it, throwing it away, or deciding where it should live. In each step MORE things that have been sorely neglected pop up to say, “And what have you done for ME lately?”
For the past day or two, the focus has been on my desk. I have a roll top wooden desk that we bought 35 years or so ago. Since having this house built in 1987, I have put things INTO the drawers, but then they get lost in the shuffle, never to be seen again – until now.
I love my desk. It has a nice flat space for working with a tray type center drawer underneath and then three drawers on either side. Two of the drawers on the sides are small and two are file cabinet type drawers. At the top of each side, right under the flat part of the desk, are two pull-out pieces for extra writing space. Above the flat part of the desk there are two reasonable-sizes drawers, one on each side. Above each of these are three small drawers then between them, going across the desk are slots. Above that, is the roll top which I can pull down, if I’d like. (Usually, there is so much ‘stuff’, it isn’t possible to close it. I just love the roll top for its looks.)
So – 7 drawers under the flat part of the desk, 8 above the flat part, 2 shelves, and 7 slots. That’s a LOT of space for someone like me to squirrel away goodies and stuff for a long time, ignoring the buildup.
I have finished cleaning out the drawers now and am concentrating on the flat part of the desk which has received stuff I’d like to keep, but either put away in the now clean drawers, move somewhere else, or give away. I’ve filled a big trash can, too.
I think it was definitely due some attention. I’ll take pics when it’s finished.
“Ice Skating” – Paul Militaru Photography
“Ice, Snow and Birds” – Paul Militaru Photography
Filed under Paul Militaru Photography
Marguerite Duras via World Literature Today via Cathy Ruggiero
Filed under Favorite Quotes, Reading is FUNdamental
jellyfish-flickr.com
lily-www.picturemosaics.com
Filed under Creativity, mosaic
Amber with Squeaky Frog Toy
I told you recently that we’re trying to get Amber to “Say It!” when she wants to go out, or from the outside of the door when she wants to come in.
Earlier today after she had been out about half an hour, I went to the garage door and peeked out. There she was, sitting on the steps, hoping someone would come. I said, “SAY IT!” through the crack, and after some encouragement, she gave me a good bark. I opened the door, let her in, gave her a treat and said, “GOOD GIRL!” My husband did the same thing when she got to the office, having heard the good bark.
Later, I was typing at the computer, concentrating on answering an email when Amber came and sat beside me. I looked at her and said, “Hi,” gave her head a couple of pats and then returned to my email.
Suddenly, a humongous “WOOF!” erupted from the smiling dog. I jumped straight up in the air, coffee cup in my hand – with both my husband and I saying, “Jesus!” at the same time, and then I managed “GOOD GIRL!” on the way down. I immediately got up, giving her a treat and let her out. She seems to be on the good side of the learning curve on getting out now. Hopefully, she’ll learn that woofing and door opening works in both directions…
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family
sunnystreets.blogspot.com
Forgive me for tooting my own horn, but I’m patting myself on the head today because I’ve done one of the things I hate most in life – done my bookkeeping book and office deductions for taxes.
I always put it off until I’m really under the gun, and then I’m doing it in a panic. Since I closed my website, Creative Artworks, in July, I decided that I would try to get a jump on everything and get that out of the way. It is now done, for the last time ever. :0)
I’m now going through receipts, trying to at least get the stacks organized, for our regular taxes. I’m also using this opportunity to clean out my desk. so far I’ve done the filing cabinet type drawers on each side of my desk, cleaning out, throwing a BUNCH of stuff away, getting everything out of the drawers so I could clean out the hair balls at the bottom of each one and start fresh.
I guess I’m about half finished with going through the drawers. I haven’t done this for years – content to stash things wherever I could put them. I’m determined to get better in my pack-rat-itis habit, trying to get together a donation to the Veterans Thrift Store and the local library once a month, and fill an extra 39 gallon trash bag each week with ‘stuff’ that has been gathering dust. I just finished doing the extra bag, and it’s in the back of the truck, ready to go down to the bottom of the driveway tonight for pickup tomorrow.
NOW I’m going to go put my feet up for a few minutes and finish drinking a cup of coffee before fixing our lunch.
I hope this first day of 2018 is being good to you.
Filed under Acting Like a Grownup, Attitude, Challenges, Changes, Organizing/DeCluttering
blog.mozaico.com
hiltonhead patiof urniture-knf-marbella-mosaic-table
Filed under Creativity, mosaic
books rock my world via cathy ruggiero
I’m reading book number 35 of 40 books I have in the Robert B. Parker Spenser series. Even while I’m comfortable enjoying being in this wonderful world he created, I’m sad that soon I will have re-read them all again. Another writer is trying to provide more – and I guess that is the most sincere form of flattery – but the books just don’t ‘make it’ for me. He tries, but it’s a really pale version of what Parker seemed to create effortlessly.
I’ve decided that when I finish the last book in the Spenser series, I’ll re-read his Jesse Stone books. I have all the movies made from these, so I can really dive in and enjoy.
Since it’s really cold for Arkansas – a low of 10 this morning with a high of 26 – making low carb comfort food and curling up under my throw with a good book is a nice way to spend some time today. :0)
Filed under Reading is FUNdamental
Marilyn Sunderland-www.lushome.com
Oddkinson Really Gourd Art-pinterest.com
pinterest.com
Filed under Gorgeous Gourd Art
“Walk in the Night” – Paul Militaru Photography
Filed under Paul Militaru Photography
Diane Dobson Barton via Cathy Ruggiero
Filed under Attitude, Encouragement, holidays
creativeartworksblog 