Got Bugs!!

I spotted a couple Japanese Beetles in my garden yesterday.

Not to worry, I squashed them. 

Like that was really going to help!

Speaking of 'Squash', spotted a cluster of eggs under

a few of the pumpkin leaves.  

Picked those off too.  

Then this afternoon, I walked back out to the garden....

and HOLY CRAP!!!!

They had invaded my asparagus! 

They were NOT there this morning!

Nasty little beasts!

A few too many to pick off one at a time.

So, as much as I hated to.....I sprayed them. 

 

If I wouldn't have spotted them, they would 

have picked these plants bare in a few hours.

I'll take the 'stink bugs' over these any day!

Lady Bugs For The Garden.....

Sometimes I get carried away with my projects. 

It keeps me sane, I think?

So, when I saw this garden art project that involved

bowling balls, all I could think of is, 

"I've got to get me some!"

As luck would have it, Marsha's dad found me a couple old b balls.  

This one is her Grandpas!  

Yes, it is still her Grandfathers, she gets to keep it. 

I wonder if he would have ever imagined it being turned into a bug?

 

 The first step is to use a high quality primer. 

Finger prints are optional.

They were covered by the 2nd coat of primer, 

and I was more careful this time!

Next came the coat of orange!

This was my FAVORITE part!

Two coats, just because I LOVE the color!

 

Then use green frog tape to make your black markings. 

I made the middle strip first. 

Loved taking the tape off!

Now for the 'spots'!

I got creative and cut the circles out of the green frog tape. 

This tape is AMAZING!

I put the tape onto plastic, then just cut out the circle.

It worked fabulously!

Next I positioned the 'spots' where I wanted them.

Then painted them. 

Apparently I didn't think that was worth taking

a picture of, because I didn't!

I think painted the 1 1/4" wooden balls that would fit on 

the end of the copper tubing. 

These would become the antenna and  

placed in the two finger holes.

I drilled holes into the box of tubing and used 

Q-Tips to hold the balls in place to dry.

Aren't they cute!!

 

I put a couple coats of Polycrylic  protective finish. 

 

Then glued the antenna in using Gorilla glue. 

DON'T USE TOO MUCH!

Then used some black caulking to fill in the 

thumb hole and around the antenna.

How fun is that!

It will look cuter outside around the flowers.

It's currently snowing,  so

I guess it'll have to wait! 

Bill said he will NOT haul 20 of these around

for Christmas presents next December. 

I guess I'll have to come up with a more

portable idea!

Carrie Got Lasik Surgery!!

I don't suppose most people own a vehicle long enough to have to replace the headlamps. In the last year or so, the headlights were noticeably dimmer.  You could change the light bulb, but it was apparent the problem wasn't resolved.  

Marsha mentioned that a friend purchased new lamps for her mom's car, and couldn't believe the difference. So, the search began for a pair of headlamps for my 2003 Honda Van, Carrie. 

I know, a van is just a vehicle, but, she's more than that to me. I bought her new almost 8 years ago, and after 230K, I'm kind of attached.  I won't buy another vehicle until I'm forced to. Yes, blame me for the poor economy, it's not my fault I love the van I have! 

Yesterday Carrie had her new 'eyeballs' installed!

To say it is an improvement is an understatement!

Although you can't really tell from the pictures, they are BRIGHT!

Here's to another couple hundred K!

Or...at least one more.....

Well Done Carrie!

11/23/63 - The Kennedy Assassination

A friend's Dad was talking bout reading this last Fall while he was visiting us at an Agility Trial.  He's an avid reader, like many of my friends, so we share book knowledge often.  It wasn't offered at the library as an e-reader edition yet, so he was patiently waiting for that.  Harry reads on my IPAD, GIVE IT UP HARRY!!!  (Inside joke here!!)

Then another friend was talking about it at the ICDOC Agility Trial in December.  It turns out that this is a 'time travel' book, in which Jake (aka George), goes back to try to stop the assassination of JFK.  

I like time travel books, but not a huge fan of Stephen King.  Generally you need to read the first 100 pages to get to the point, and quite frankly, I'm not that patient!  Terry assured me that someone died within the first 5 pages, so I thought that sounded like a good start.  I got on the waiting list for the 'book' version!  My poor NOOK would need to sit this one out.

It's a pretty thick book, especially if you're used to using a reader.  I also 'lucked out' and got the large print edition, so, I buffed up while I read.  It's about a thousand pages, and true enough, it started off fast.  I really liked it!!  About 2/3 through it really got slow, eye poking slow, and a bit predictable.  Then, when you finally get to 'the date', 11/22/63, it's like he can't end it fast enough. Maybe that was just me??

It was an enjoyable read.  At least I read the whole thing.  Some books are so bad, that life is just too short, so I just shut the book and move on.  I didn't use to be able to do that.  

My favorite time travel books from all time are the Outlander Series by Diana Gabladon.  I can read those over and over again.  In fact, I'm in the middle of book 5 now.....and better get back to reading as I have a thousand pages to go, and it's going to be 'yanked' from my Nook on Sunday!  YIKES!!  Oh well, I can always check it out again.  

Ideas to Make Life Easier

 A couple of these I might actually try.....not the 'linen closet' however.....that looks like WAY too much work!  I guess I don't really care if my sheets match!  G


The first one reminds me of Liz when she stopped at the DQ on the way to Wentzville and got a strawberry shake.  A strawberry got stuck in the straw.....thus she stated she had two options.  "Either suck it up, or blow it out.".....that was the 'theme' for the weekend.

I wonder what the vacuum hose would look like if I tried that?  OMG!!  The dog hair!  Might be worth a laugh!

ENJOY!

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Why didn’t I think of that?!  We guarantee you’ll
be uttering those words more than once at these
ingenious little tips, tricks and ideas that solve
everyday problems.

Hull strawberries easily using a straw.


Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture
will disguise dings and scrapes.  Rubbing a walnut
over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings
and scrapes.


Remove crayon masterpieces from your TV or
computer screen with WD40.


Stop cut apples browning in your child’s lunch box
by securing with a rubber band.


Overhaul your linen cupboard, store bed linen sets
inside one of their own pillowcases and there will
be no more hunting through piles for a match.


Pump up the volume by placing your iPhone & iPod
in a bowl.  The concave shape amplifies the music.


Re-use a wet-wipes container to store plastic bags.


Add this item to your beach bag.  Baby powder
gets sand off your skin easily, who knew?!


Attach a Velcro strip to the wall to store soft toys.


Use wire to make a space to store gift wrap rolls
against the ceiling, rather than cluttering up the
floor.


Find tiny lost items like earrings by putting a
stocking over the vacuum hose.


Make an instant cupcake carrier by cutting
crosses into a box lid.


For those who can’t stand the scrunching and
bunching: how to perfectly fold a fitted sheet.


Forever losing your bathroom essentials?  Use
magnetic strips to store bobby pins, tweezers
and clippers, behind a vanity door


Store shoes inside shower caps to stop dirty
soles rubbing on your clothes.  And you can
find them in just about every hotel.


A muffin pan becomes a craft caddy.  Magnets
hold the plastic cups down to make them
tip-resistant.


Bread tags make the perfect cord labels.


Bake cupcakes directly in ice-cream cones, so
much more fun and easier for kids to eat.


Microwave your own popcorn in a plain brown paper
bag.  Much healthier and cheaper than the packet
stuff.


Install a tension rod to hang your spray bottles.


Turn your muffin pan upside down, bake cookie-dough
over the top and voila, you have cookie bowls for fruit
or ice-cream.


Freeze Aloe Vera in ice-cube trays for soothing
sunburn relief.


Create a window-box veggie patch using guttering.


Use egg cartons to separate and store your
Christmas decorations.

Moving Goldfish

(Before) - above

After

Today I captured my 4 little goldfish to move

them inside for the winter.

They will have to be happy,

(or will be once out of their bag)

in a 60qt tote on the enclosed porch.

Hopefully they will be fine out there for

a couple more months.

My main concern is that Nettle

will decide to put her front

feet inside the tote, and start

paddling like she does in the

buckets of water outside.

The dogs haven't even noticed

them yet.  I'm hoping to keep it that way!

The border collies will NOT

be the problem! 

It's that Portuguese Water Dog!

UGH!!! 

Shoulda bought another BC!!!

Toads, Mud and Naked Ladies..........

 

A very busy weekend!!  

Friday began with watering the flowers, 

and the garden....AGAIN!!

I can't remember the last time we had rain!

It keeps missing us!

 

Saturday, the excitement continued. 

We've been losing pressure in our hydrant in the barn.  

Thursday is stopped completely, 

so Marvin the Mole (Jeff) told us we'd need to dig it out again. 

I missed out on all the fun last time....8-10 years ago? 

This time I got to have the fun!  

It actually was kind of fun. 

Bill and Jeff finished fixing it Sunday...

Thanks GUYS!!

I love my ponies!!

 

The Naked Ladies are almost done.

They are pretty, but don't last long.

They are also know as.....

the belladonna lily, the amaryllis, or an amarillo.

 

Finally, no matter the last of rain....

those "Fish-tunias" keep on blooming!!!

Nice Rilda!!