The Brinkley Landscape Adventure Continued

As the adventure continues I realize I am sort of missing the thick grass that was in the yard -- I don't think we have ever had a lawn that lush. But, now it is just a memory. But, I look forward to good stuff arriving for planting next week.
The tell-tale markings of the landscaper

The French drain

All dug out ready for rebar and concrete! I know, it looks odd but it will look much more logical when the flower bed is put it.

The Brinkley Landscape Adventure

We have always been DIYers. Always. ALWAYS. However, due to the heat, time constraints and loss of upper body strength AW and I have decided to have some "work" done on the back yard. We live in a garden home but our lawn area is bigger than in our old house -- not much of a "garden". When we moved here it was fine because the area beyond our fence was a vacant field with much over growth. Well, the powers that be came and cut down the over growth and erected a "sales office" for the eventually-to-be-built condo for those over 62. In the process, we lost the feeling of being in a cozy, wooded area and immediately felt like we were thrust into a commercial, industrial sort of area with the promise of the condo's dumpster being placed at our back fence. This did not bode well with AW. So, we decided to do some "work" -- plastic surgery so to speak.

This is a photo of our little yard before the massacre -- uh, work, commenced this morning. I will post more photos as it progresses. I guess it is a little late for second thoughts but....

Week 337

sister: brother
talks: listens
electric: company
corner: store
turnstile: line
young: old
horrific: scary
block: stop
wind: blow

I didn't participate this week because I am still reading The Shroud of the Thwacker -- I would already be done if it wasn't for Animal Crossing -- I can see the problem with video games and kids -- really.

July 15th


Starting a little late this week -- blame it on the landscapers!

Outside my window -- still dark, work up way too early and will require nap

I am thinking -- how much I get done early in the morning but would rather be sleeping

I am thankful for -- today, good health for my family, my grandkids, my church, the fact that the landscapers are actually going to do something visible today.

From the kitchen -- I am thankful for Bethenny Frankel -- she makes sense -- well, except for all the wine

I am wearing --- you really don't want to know -- after all, it is just 6 a.m.

I am reading -- what I have been reading for MONTHS -- The Shroud of the Thwacker

I am hoping -- to get more done today but will probably spend the day looking out into the backyard

I am creating --- absolutely nothing at the moment!

I am praying -- incessantly but right now for the health and safety of my family, for David, Diane, Gerald and Dorothy to have a fun safe vacation, for Margaret, for Mundee and her uncle.

Around the house -- what can I say -- landscaping

One of my favorite things -- sleeping late -- do you see a pattern here?

A few plans for the rest of the week -- try to work a haircut in somewhere down the line

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you

I have just posted a new album to my facebook page. It contains photos of my junior high school in San Antonio. The school was built in approximately 1923 and had additions as WPA projects later. My grandmother's cousin, Rose, went to school here the year my mother was born, my mother went here as did my aunts and uncle and my cousin JLSHall. Of all of my educational experience I was happiest here. I loved the atmosphere and I hate what they have done to it -- they rebuilt it and only retained part of the facade, the part that faces San Pedro Avenue. They replaced the gym -- ok, it flooded underneath but still -- and they torn down the locker room which was a WPA project as well as the IA shops.

Spurred on by a graduate school paper of my daughter's, I have tried to find information about Twain online and in newspaper articles but can't find much, especially photos so, if anybody has any old photos or information about the school, I would really like to hear stories or see pictures.

Gran Torino


AW and I watched "Gran Torino" last night. We both like Clint Eastwood and AW used to own a gold Gran Torino Sport so we settled down for what we thought would be a good movie. It wasn't a good movie -- it was a great movie. The language was awful -- the racial slurs were awful but all of that was pretty realistic, I would imagine in certain areas of our population. There were many comedic asides -- didn't know Eastwood could be such a funny, old guy. The story line was great -- but sad. For anybody thinking of watching it, if there is anybody out there that hasn't already -- be prepared for the language and the subject matter but get ready for some laughs, some anger and ultimately, some tears. This movie will definitely go into my personal DVD library.

Molly Sugden 1922-2009




Anyone who is a fan of British comedy is familiar with Molly Sugden who played Betty Slocombe for many years on the hit Britcom "Are You Being Served". Ms. Sugden was born in northern England in July, 1922 and was educated at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. During this time she met her husband, William Moore whom she married in 1958. Mr. Moore passed away in 2000. Ms. Sugden leaves two sons, Robin and Simon Moore.

While Ms. Sugden was active in other roles, she is best known for her role as Betty Slocombe. She played the character from 1973 to 1985. While she may have passed on, she will remain with us as these shows air regularly on many PBS channels.

So, farewell, Molly -- you served us well!

Unconscious Mutterings #336


independence: day
meltdown: what happens when my email gets jammed
vulture: big scary bird, roadkill
hope: faith, charity
float: root beer
hole: in one, plant, sink
trespass: property, illegal
moving: day
extinct: dinosaur
alligator: Razoo's

Do you read celebrity memoirs? Which ones have your read or do you want to read? What nonexistant memoirs would you like to see?

I don't read celebrity memoirs. Even though, in my youth, I read my share of "movie magazines" and had Elvis scrapbooks and whatnot, I am not particularly interested in celebrities. I guess the closest I have come to reading one is the book on Katherine Hepburn and maybe the one on Audrey Hepburn. However, in both cases, I have just not gotten around to it. Since I don't have a huge interest in this genre, I would have to say that there isn't anybody I would like to see write a book about themselves.

Mixing Bowl.com

Found this cute, kitschy little magazine at Target last night. Didn't look at it until this morning but was very pleasantly surprised at what it contained. It has great recipes that use real food, nothing too exotic. Check it out! Really nice.