tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-113447522010-02-20T11:33:35.305-06:00My Garden SpotGardening Without Regard for Dignity. Life gives you manure, learn to make compost.Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629439279545629954mrsfrance@gmail.comBlogger1516125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11344752.post-14524342515903584022010-02-13T19:20:00.002-06:002010-02-13T19:47:04.793-06:002010-02-13T19:47:04.793-06:00TightThings are tighter than normal this year. Add to this, the number of plants I've lost this winter and a general state of disorder that reigns in my gardens... and I'm not a happy camper. There are going to be a lot of holes in my beds, and I'll try to fill them in with some annuals, maybe even sneak in some more veggies in the front beds, where I have sun. The vegetables will be a welcome Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629439279545629954mrsfrance@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11344752.post-306095823396799402010-02-12T15:31:00.002-06:002010-02-12T15:37:08.526-06:002010-02-12T15:37:08.526-06:00Humm.... I've heard similar complaints/comments from people here in the US about how we're making boys into poor copies of girls. I hadn't realized that it might be a more global problem.What do you THINK?Will China soon become second only to Thailand in producing ladyboys? — Zi Le Shang, netizeeAccording to "Save the Boys," the traditional Chinese method of 'caged breeding' raises a child likeNancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629439279545629954mrsfrance@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11344752.post-54555173896570414572010-02-06T01:41:00.001-06:002010-02-06T01:47:22.751-06:002010-02-06T01:47:22.751-06:00A DeclarationH/T to Jaded HavenNancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629439279545629954mrsfrance@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11344752.post-26282882512131243422010-01-25T13:21:00.005-06:002010-01-25T13:57:31.502-06:002010-01-25T13:57:31.502-06:00DismalYep, that's a pretty dismal Hobbit's Pipe. This was a beautiful plant, but the snow in December toasted it. I got home just a day before the snow fell and I went to work at work before I even got home. I just couldn't get everything... or much of anything.Since then, some physical...issues... have limited my ability to do much of anything. Which, is kinda dismal in and of itself, actually. Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629439279545629954mrsfrance@gmail.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11344752.post-23813414859849393292010-01-22T14:28:00.002-06:002010-01-22T14:33:10.556-06:002010-01-22T14:33:10.556-06:00Free MowerDee, from the Oklahoma blog Red Dirt Ramblings is having a give away. If you'd like to win a free Fiskars mower (non powered, reel type), go and leave a comment telling one thing you can do to make the world a cleaner, more sustainable place. You know, sustainability? The desire to have enough "'nuff" at the end of the month...or year or decade....Enjoy! Anyone in the US or Canada is eligibleNancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629439279545629954mrsfrance@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11344752.post-46273448125852490652010-01-19T09:58:00.003-06:002010-01-19T10:09:49.789-06:002010-01-19T10:09:49.789-06:00Truck BombI don't live in Massachusetts, tho I have a sib who was born in Boston, during the same naval tour (my dad) that resulted in me being born in Idaho. Think about that for a moment..)Anywhose, I have to say, I like a man who drives a pickup and has been able to keep it going for 200,000 miles. Takes attention to detail to do that, and a keen appreciation for how much a new pick up would cost. Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629439279545629954mrsfrance@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11344752.post-84989429456968389322010-01-10T13:39:00.003-06:002010-01-10T13:45:23.190-06:002010-01-10T13:45:23.190-06:00NewsThe news was dire, and impelling.What do you think? Future engineer? draftsman? architect? inventor?click on the picture and pay attention to the tooth...Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629439279545629954mrsfrance@gmail.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11344752.post-45873589256751255662010-01-10T12:08:00.002-06:002010-01-10T13:37:43.360-06:002010-01-10T13:37:43.360-06:00What 'Pup Wanted to DoWhen 'Pup moved here to NW Harris county, there was... and is...a very good volunteer fire department in place. They cover an insanely large area with a remarkably few volunteers and are very effective. They do quite a lot with (what used to be very little) comparatively little. Things have gotten better for them recently, as the area has developed, but they still rely on the volunteers.An Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629439279545629954mrsfrance@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11344752.post-21950922813169215402010-01-07T21:36:00.002-06:002010-01-07T21:37:04.201-06:002010-01-07T21:37:04.201-06:00This Does Not Give Me a Warm Feeling..Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629439279545629954mrsfrance@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11344752.post-70172194293345813322010-01-07T13:23:00.002-06:002010-01-07T13:28:31.620-06:002010-01-07T13:28:31.620-06:00Dang, It's Gonna Be Cold.This was from December 4, the neighbor girls made a very cute little snowman. It's going to be cold enough that, were he still around, he'd be good for almost 2 days, instead of the 8 hours he was with us in December. I hate the cold.Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629439279545629954mrsfrance@gmail.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11344752.post-52090751971739854282010-01-05T12:25:00.002-06:002010-01-05T12:27:39.513-06:002010-01-05T12:27:39.513-06:00"Don't Mess With Us"The title is a quote. Take note.This is happening more and more.. but we don't hear as much about home invasions anymore. Think some may be getting the message?MessageNancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629439279545629954mrsfrance@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11344752.post-31864891351290882982010-01-04T22:15:00.002-06:002010-01-04T22:16:53.102-06:002010-01-04T22:16:53.102-06:00Oh. Joy.Lovely.It's gonna get even colder.view the forecastNancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629439279545629954mrsfrance@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11344752.post-12636092355503128152009-12-21T12:22:00.003-06:002009-12-21T12:50:37.400-06:002009-12-21T12:50:37.400-06:00Whoosh!'Pup's workplace is having a Christmas party this week, in the middle of the day. They've invited family to go, so we're going to show up, I think, even though 'Pup is technically on vacation this week. Still, they're promising door prizes, and we've been kinda lucky with those lately, so....'Pup stayed late at work last week, so that he could make sure his desk was clear. Not that it will be Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629439279545629954mrsfrance@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11344752.post-80212657675417771302009-12-21T12:08:00.001-06:002009-12-21T12:09:28.273-06:002009-12-21T12:09:28.273-06:00Happy Winter, AllWe're in the last few minutes of fall here, and in less than an hour it will be officially winter. I can't wait for Spring...sigh.Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629439279545629954mrsfrance@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11344752.post-14029818217065183552009-12-18T14:08:00.002-06:002009-12-21T12:19:57.723-06:002009-12-21T12:19:57.723-06:00Well, it's just a week before Christmas, and still, I've not finished my shopping. It would have been easier to shop if I'd worked in November, but since the clock can't be turned back and I couldn't have been in two places at one time, life is, as it is. I have been able to get a few items on sale, here and there. Went to Hobby Lobby and was very lucky finding some pretty little boxes to giveNancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629439279545629954mrsfrance@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11344752.post-24154502543016357832009-12-13T23:11:00.003-06:002009-12-13T23:21:45.727-06:002009-12-13T23:21:45.727-06:00Jobs and BlessingsNo, I'm not looking for a new job. In fact, I emailed my good boss the day I was coming home and told him that I hoped he could fit me in somewhere on the schedule, and before I got halfway between Victoria and Houston, he was calling my cell phone and asking if I was going to be able to be in Houston before 4pm, when we open. I had to stop by 'Pup's work and transfer the luggage I was carryingNancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629439279545629954mrsfrance@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11344752.post-5902984117629843832009-12-07T21:38:00.002-06:002009-12-07T23:16:09.105-06:002009-12-07T23:16:09.105-06:00Snap! Lemon grass Belinda's DreamSalviamore lemon grassjasmineTaking pictures of plants covered in frost and the odd snowflake and ice crystal is not the normal course of events for either 'Pup or me. Still, we walked out Saturday morning and did our best, trying to beat the sun. It was still below freezing, but where the sun could reach the leaves, the ice was melting. Some of it, the most Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629439279545629954mrsfrance@gmail.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11344752.post-6001641461282472702009-12-07T19:08:00.000-06:002009-12-07T21:33:06.510-06:002009-12-07T21:33:06.510-06:00Dear Santa part 2Dear Santa,Our desktop computer died and the little screen on my netbook gives me a headache when I want to edit photos. I know things are tight right now (they surely are in our bank accounts), but I've seen a lot of stores with things on deep discount sale.Still, I know we'll have to save up for a while, since we do plan to buy others gifts (though honestly...the yawning cavern that is the Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629439279545629954mrsfrance@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11344752.post-77084672047507590552009-12-01T21:59:00.001-06:002009-12-01T22:03:01.599-06:002009-12-01T22:03:01.599-06:00Coming HomeI didn't want to post this too soon, as we've been told we're going home before, and it didn't happen.. but.I think we're going home tomorrow.Just in time for me to put the frost covers on my plants.sigh.Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629439279545629954mrsfrance@gmail.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11344752.post-89157016801388352622009-11-17T22:02:00.003-06:002009-11-17T22:50:37.986-06:002009-11-17T22:50:37.986-06:00Natural Forms and FunctionsCan you guess what this is?If you said a honeycomb....you'd be wrong.For one thing, it's made of metal, and bees, strong tho they are... don't do metal.What it is, is an anilox. It's used to transfer ink from the ink reservoir to the printing plate in large printers of things like brochures, newspapers, and even cloth. It seems the shape of the cells is one of the more efficient ways to Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629439279545629954mrsfrance@gmail.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11344752.post-25374754612099853062009-11-17T20:59:00.003-06:002009-11-17T21:37:35.104-06:002009-11-17T21:37:35.104-06:00People WatchingThe hotel here has a free laundry room, with some washers and dryers. It shares an area just off the lobby with some gym equipment. Needless to say, I don't have much use for a stationary bike, and frankly, my upper body has been getting all the workout it needs. So, I waited outside in the lobby, watching the television in there.This also gave me some time to people watch. After not very Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629439279545629954mrsfrance@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11344752.post-33677088814859612632009-11-17T19:52:00.003-06:002009-11-17T20:51:24.237-06:002009-11-17T20:51:24.237-06:00Coming Home?The doctors gave us the news today that it might be possible for my mom to go home by the 21st. This is good news, as we'd like her home before Thanksgiving. Frankly, it would really suck to spend Thanksgiving here in the hotel room and long term care facility.Perhaps I've become a little tired, because one of the first things I thought of when the doctor said "3 or 4 days"... was that it was Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629439279545629954mrsfrance@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11344752.post-46543171302700722662009-11-07T13:26:00.002-06:002009-11-07T13:36:46.699-06:002009-11-07T13:36:46.699-06:00Fix'er Up...My sister is still working on getting her new house in a better condition. It's a solid house, but needed a lot of work, after having been neglected for the past 10 to 15 years.It was amazing how many of the original fixtures were still in the house. I think it must have been built as one of the "houses of the future" style homes from the 1960s. As such, it was high end for the time. Since then, Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629439279545629954mrsfrance@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11344752.post-49320578303664777162009-11-07T13:05:00.003-06:002009-11-07T13:25:22.308-06:002009-11-07T13:25:22.308-06:00Dear SantaDear Santa,Knowing that you are going to have a lot of demands on your hands for Christmas things this year, I'll try to make my requests simple and few.Okay.. at least...not complicated and not very many.I'll work on it!First of all, I don't want you to spend too much money on me. Things are probably tight for you, too, so I know you'll be shopping for a sale with the same fervor and Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629439279545629954mrsfrance@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11344752.post-39939589630261187122009-11-01T00:11:00.000-05:002009-11-01T00:11:43.994-05:002009-11-01T00:11:43.994-05:00A Peach of a GiftWaaaay back at the end of July, I received an email from Gurney’s® Seed and Nursery.They made some wonderful sounding promises about a peach tree."Gurney’s Flat Wonderful Peach Tree is the result of decades of breeding at Rutgers University. The peach’s flat, doughnut-like shape gives it a perfectly bite-sized height—great for fresh eating, and less messy than round peaches. The snackable shapeNancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12629439279545629954mrsfrance@gmail.com3