[My] Life in Wisconsin

More Flintville 'Ketchup'. -And a few questions too.


Good Saturday Afternoon Everyone!
I am hoping you are all enjoying this beautiful weather?  At least it is beautiful here, though a bit warm for my tastes as you can tell by the pic... 
My own comfort zone being somewhere around 72.5° to about 76°; (with a nice breeze). 
It has been over 250 days since we have been so warm!
Any warmer- or with any ugly humidity, and I just can't breathe well. This is not from my emphysema, although I am sure that exacerbates the choking feeling- but I have always been like that; even as a small child.


Baling hay was absolutely the most hideous chore I can recall. 
Blowing the chopped hay and/or straw to the haymow was a very close second. 
I did all that all with no mask either. Ignorance was bliss when I was 12. hehehe

Question ...
As I was trolling around the internet the other day I found a few things that puzzle me still.
Why would my blog be referenced and linked in "opencongress.org"? Please click here.

I also 'found' it linked here, which redirects to here (CLICK)
There is also a 'flintville' on this blog, http://infinityrealm.wordpress.com/flintville/ which is written by a kid. I cannot access that part of his blog myself, but just found them all to be very strange.

But alright- I have digressed- how about I get back to Flintville here?  hehehe 
While Casey was out here last week, she cut Punks toenails. 
*I hate that job almost as much as Punk does, (probably even more). 

Punk was, at one time, just fine with having this done to her. Then I made a 'bad' and brought her to Petco for her bath- (Trimming the toenails is included in the price).
When I went back to pick her up, she was walking sort of gingerly. I noticed that her nails were very short.  There were also the telltale styptic pencil 'leave marks' on almost every single one of her toes! I was even more than horrified to think of what this pup had gone through- (She was only about a year and a half old). 

Not that I can blame her, but she now takes it most personally when she has to have her toenails cut.


Punk "Don't even LOOK at my toenails AGAIN!"

No kidding, after her trimming, she lays like this for a few days; (especially if I leave the trimmer out where she can see it).   hehehe 

She has been sick- and being that she still has pain, she is still being treated for her ears- (that last dose of antibiotics really threw her system out of whack).  
And STINK!- OMG, those ears are stinky- too smelly by morning if I dare miss a night treatment. PEEEE-You!

Yes, she also gets plain old yogurt- and lots of it, every day. 
Doc Spires once told me that a quarter cup would do her well enough. I begged to differ; and so, she gets about a cup. (Aw heck, it can't hurt).



Come outside with me for a bit?


Columbine

Aren't they lovely?! 
They always look to be so delicate; but thus far, all of my flowering plants have withstood much wind! 

Then the Orange Blossom- 



Orange Blossom- Where is "E-Smell"?
... or a white lilac perhaps? 
Who knows?

Oh, we SO need "E-Smell" for some of these pictures! 

On the east side of the house, and Randy's favorite bush to trim---
The double "Snowball Bush"

Dbl Orange Blossom

 ... Still thinking about that "E~Smell".


My lilacs are not yet quite open- 
I shouldn't say "my".   Rather the dark purple, my favorite, came from Mom, (via Ginny Ryan)- and the lighter lavender ones out by my old garden I stole from Kelli and Tim before they built the duplex. hehehe


Y'all remember this pic?

Nearly Tulip

This is what they look like now...


Tulips, done
hehehe

 ... A few weeks ago, Punk, Sput, and I were walking around when Punk spied my one and only 'tiger tulip' stand . One had opened to show off it's most beautiful colors...  
Before I could stop her she ran to it, and pulled the blooms right off! (What a sassy dog)!
At hearing my sharp intake of air, she opened her mouth- The petals fell out one by one as she just stood there with her jaw open looking at me.
Nothing I could have done then, so no hard feelings- (Just my shock)! hehehe


Over on the front lawn I have some more of the variegated columbine- A bird, or a mouse, or even Mother Nature, has dropped them in the grass by the front porch, and alongside some of my hostas...


Columbine and Hosta



Around to the back again- Randy has finally trimmed my half~dead plum tree.


Plum Tree, Trimmed down
Looking quite nice if I do say so myself.

Down at its base you can see a pretty bunch of baby trees taking root (and thriving too)- 
These have been growing since late 2010, and I am not yet sure if they are plum, or pear. The leaves of both so closely resemble the other-
Either will be fine by me. 


Speaking of the pear tree- (Was too...)-

I will either have to board it close, or chain it up, this year...

The Punk, and the pear tree
It seems to split a bit more every year- And once the new pears are on it I don't think it will be solid enough to support them without giving in to their weight.

What you cannot see from this angle is the baby pear tree that has taken root right next to it. It is about 4' tall now- about 4 years old.
So when the old one finally goes to the great nursery in the great beyond, a new pear tree should be ready to take its place!

Question # 2 now-
I have never heard of a fruit tree blooming twice in one year, have you?

Because my D'Anjou pear did just that this year! 
The 1st time was just after that hot spell we had in March- (about a week afterward).  Those blossoms were so sparse- few, and far between, I was saddened, thinking what a measly year it would be for my pears. 
Then it blossomed again, (showing off many many BIG and PLENTIFUL blossoms)!!! 
I couldn't believe my eyes! My mouth waters even as I write!



What does Sputnik do while we are all out walking?

Sputnik, hehehe

Usually he will keep up, but there is a whole new batch of rabbits in the windbreak this year; and he lives most days just to keep an eye on the branch encampments we have built for them. 
I have 3 BIG piles of old wood, branches and sticks and some leaves too; (taken as we prune the trees). 
The 'wabbits' think we put that there just for them.  We do!
Mostly though, Sputty keeps his distance because he does not wish to tangle with Mama Rabbit! hehehe



After wandering- (I try to get a decent amount of walking in each day), I do still mow the lawns. 


Punk- While I mow lawns

I always leave the tailgate of the Buick open while I mow, using it to hold the phone and to have a place to rest my weary buns and back when I have to take a break..  The open tailgate seems to be Punk's personal invitation to recline in the front seat. Too funny she is!
And yes, Sputty had been right there with her as I drove up on the mower, stretched out on the dashboard; but he left before I could take the picture. 


Those of us that live in Wisconsin had to vote on the 8th- A primary election for governor. (Know that IMHO, our Scott Walker is an ass).
I made a special effort to vote early in the afternoon so I would miss the rush hours at the poll. In our little community- ( of Suamico), I was already voter # 1119. I don't think I have ever seen such a high number on my slip. So that was very good to see!

Anyway, I vote about 3 or 4 miles up on County M- 
As luck would have it, "M" was under construction...

Cty M Road construction

Before I tried to drive all the way there, I pulled over to ask one of the road crew if I could even get to Calavera Springs. 
He said 'yes, but take 'er slow, and with caution'.
I opted just to take the old Swamp Road, and then cut back to "M". (A longer route by a mile or two, but it would keep my car a bit cleaner). 

Finally getting to the park, there is a big old sign on the gate. "Voting has moved to Town Hall."
Grrrrrr............. 
I am not sure if this move is permanent, or if it was only like this because "M" was gettig a facelift. 
I hope it is permanent- Easier to get to; especially in November when an early season snowstorm could make getting to the park almost impossible.

I'd better close for now- Am going to go scrounge up some lunch- my tummy is angry now and is letting me know it too! (Better late than never). 

I hope everyone has a "wunnaful" weekend!


XOXO
Me