Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Shot in the foot

Went to the Podiatrist today. I knew that shot was going to be bad when she froze my heel first. At first I thought no big deal when the needle entered the foot but then I saw stars when she hit the inflamed muscle. Said she wasn't going to shoot the ball of my foot right now because it would be excruciating. Yikes! At my dad's urging, I asked about cruches. Since it impossible to completely stay off ones feet, and getting harder to limit walking to 10 steps, she thought that was a good idea; however, gotta be sure left foot doesn't get worse as a result. So I boght the crutches tonight and have been a miserable failure trying to use them. Surely I will figure them out.
Meet Helen (above). She is a Ratbone dog being fostered in Georgia.

Reilly (above) is an active boy in Ratbone foster care in Wisconsin.



Delilah (above) and her sister Diva (below) are being fostered in Yakima WA with their mom "LeMae" (3rd photo). This little family was left at a shelter and about to be PTS because mom contracted kennel cough.










Sunday, April 27, 2008

Green Thumb Sunday

This was my Sunday surprise today. I've been really good at staying off my foot all morning and rewarded myself 5 minutes of digicamera in the garden. I heard a bang agaisnt the screen porch door as I came around the corner and was greeted by a Black Racer. Scared the heck outta me! I think I screamed and then Eddie took off after it. Luckily he didn't catch it. I wasn't quick enough to photo it so I borrowed the photo from: oops, I lost the link.

The most colorful hybiscus in my yard. It is a real survivor. conan chopped it down once, a frost got it a couple years ago, and jerry broke/damaged it pulling out a rouge vine. It may be a weak shrub but the flowers are gorgeous.

My staghorn ferm. I am thinking if we remove the propane tank, which we do not use because we don't heat our pool, then I may cosolidate all my ferns creating a fern garden! When I bought this one a couple years ago it only had two leaves - or was that last year?? I purchased the most unusual items from this lady who lives near my friend Christina. She has an awsome yard and sells plants she has propegated. Her sale was probably yesterday because it usually coincides with Green Thumb Festival :(

My Christmas cactus which is actually an Easter cactus but blooms more like a Mother's Day cactus. Let's just call it a holiday cactus and be done with it!

This plant was delivered to my Dad's house when my step mother died. You just wouldn't believe how many plants were delivered to the house on top of everthing at the funera home. No kidding, there were probably 50 plants. Most were what one would think of as houseplants but in my climate they are lkiving outside. Dad is still keeping a dozen or so alive. Since we drove to Arkansas we were able to bring a few back and I created a Bessie garden. A cold night took out a couple of them and I moved the bromeliad to my new bromeliad border but I still have two "Bessie" plants in a corner by the pool - it's a reflective area of my garden.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

It's not my day :(

I look forward to this weekend every year because it is the Green Thumb Festival weekend in St. Pete. In the past I have volunteered and browsed but, more importantly, usually bought a new plant of two. This year I am sidelined with that darn foot problem and will miss those fabulous corndogs! http://www.stpete.org/parks/greenthumb.htm

Oh well, thought I would pass some time on the computer BUT went to the eye Dr. today and due to dilation, I am seeing blurry and the screen is too darn bright. Plus, mosts of my Rat Terrier friends who post alot and keep me amused are at Rat Terrier Jamboree in Tennessee. It's great but I miss reading all the posts and seeing all the photos on Rat-Terrier.com and Ratbone Chat.

But, don't feel too sorry for me........I got a new bed today. A 12 inch memory foam and it feels GOOOOOOOD! It's actully in the guest room (take note of that friends and family) but I use that room for watching TV so I am test driving it.

Vickie

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

More Ratbone Dogs Hoping For Forever Homes

First photo is Hoss. He is being fostered in Alabama. He was left at a shelter when his owners moved. He was in the euthanasia room but started screaming and clung to and kissed the shelter worker when they tried to lay him on the table. They decided to spare his life if a rescue would take him. How can you resist those eyes!


Second photo is Little Joe who is also being fostered in Alabama. He lost his home and family due to a divorce situation. Look at that soft fur - don't you just want to snuggle up with him?


Third photo is Major. His foster family is in Michigan. He was left at shelter by his former family with instructions to euthanize him. Luckily, Ratbone Rescues was able to squeeze him into a foster home. What beautiful markings.


This last photo is of Sunset who is being fostered in my state - Florida! Her owners moved and were unable to take her with them. Somebody looks ready to find a new family to love.


If you or someone you know is looking for a pet, please consider adoption. PLEASE spay or neuter your pets and for goodness sakes, don't leave a pet at a KILL shelter!

http://www.ratbonerescues.com/
http://www.petfinder.com/
http://www.1-800-save-a-pet.com/

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Earth Day 2008


Bit under the weather so this photo of my bottlebrush tree in my front yard is the best I could do for Earth Day.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Sunday Gardening part 4 - Bromeliads!!!




This one is for you Julie - you inspired me. About 3 years ago I planted a few, not many, bromeliads. Frankly I had sort of forgotten about them except for the ones in pots. Another blogger mentioned a bromeliad collection and I have admired them at flower shows so I went to check out what has been going on with mine. Turns out they have been multiplying and growing and hiding under other plants. So today I ripped them from their comfy homes, seperated the growth and created an entire bromeliad garden from 3 or 4 old starter plants. Yippee! I was, however, smart enough to leave a couple little holes in case I see something I just can't resist. LOL

Sunday Gardening part 3 - Hibiscus





Pink one is my neighbor's HUGE bush/tree that hangs over my fence. The double, ruffled peach one is mine, all mine! LOL (How did that rose and passion flower sneak their photos in there?)

Sunday Gardening part 2 - pool garden


Two years ago we hired a guy that I now call "Conan the Gardener" to trim our giant white bird of paradise. Apparently there was a language barrier with his crew because when I came home from work ALL my plants were gone - only the huge bird of paradise, palms, and hibicus bush remained (presumeable because they could not be pulled out by hand). All my labor, not to mention cost of plants, for m underplanting *gone* *puff*. I used this as a chance to replant in a more organized way, repeating the same plants at intervals. You can see it came grown back. Jerry thinks we need Conan in again. I think it is as it should be :)

Snday Gardening part1 - Orchids





















The Cyclops orchid fully open & my unusual color dendrobian

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Screen Porch Ramblings



( (Be sure to click on photo for the "bigger picture")

Since I'm to stay off feet (a.k.a. don't go anywhere) I am back to doing my homework from the screen porch so I have some change of scenery. The desktop computer is better because the wireless connection to the laptop is a bit weak out here. Whine, whine, whine...I know. It is going to be a loooong recovery period for everyone ;)

Hubby is just back from Costco and bought me rechargable batteries for my digicam so I am back in busines there. Yippee! I'm including photos taken on the side of the house - that hard to use area. Few years ago I had a landscaper put in a walkway and have been atempting to make it into part of the garden. Right now when you enter from the gate (sorry for the interruption but I just got the most fragrent whiff of the blooming jasmine, it's divine) you pass my succulent garden, then enter the jasmine covered arbor, walk past one wall of the screen porch/orchid house, before the walkway turns and you are in my tiny little backyard.

I'm including photos from both directions and a close up of an orchid that screamed "photo me!" Gardeners, isn't the jasmine fabulous? It is scenting up our entire neighborhood since many people have it. So great. Trying to talk hubby into clearing out the other side of the house and using that little strip too. If he does, I will move my succulent garden over there and expand my bromeliad gardening where the succulents are now. I believe they are all ready to be divided into multiple plants and I would only have to purchase for variety. Cross your fingers and send positive garden vibes.

Friday, April 18, 2008

UGLY, Clunky Shoes


I went to the Podiatrist yesterday due to my heel pain becoming unbearable and what I thought was “it” spreading to other parts of my foot. Turns out I’ve had plantar fasciitis for a long time and have been compensating by walking on different areas of my feet and messing them up as well. For a while I walked on the back of my heel, then switched to the ball of foot near toes, and finally have been walking with the weight on right side. So, now I also have a heel spur, two inflamed bones, and a swollen ankle as well as the plantar fasciitis. In a nut shell, I have to wear ugly shoes.

Dr. sent me to Peltz for proper fitting of athletic shoes which I have to wear exclusively. No bare feet, flip flops, heels, Berkies, nothing - certainly nothing cute! Plus medication, plus injections, plus inserts, plus I am bandaged up for a few days. I’m kinda down about the shoe thing and scared of the injections. On the bright side, I got to go shoe shopping even if it was only for ugly athletic shoes that my feel will feel claustrophobic in. So, if you see me anytime over the next couple months or so, I will be styling one of these two models! Oh, you will have to come see me because I am under house arrest so to speak, staying off the feets except when absolutely necessary - no activity.

PS: In terms of cute sandles and heels, I thought I was "in" when I saw the Podiatrist was a woman until I looked at her feet and saw ugly, practical shoes :(

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

More Ratbones and Survey From Julie's Blog





Julie wanted to see if others would answer it so here goes.....

Four jobs that I have had:
1. Museum Business Manager
2. Buyer for a chain of retail stores
3. Ticket Taker at baseball games
4. Computer Operator

Four movies that I’ve watched over and over again:
1. Steel Magnolias
2. The Harry Potter series
3. A Christmas Story
4. Sleeper

Four places I have lived:
1. Kodiak, Alaska
2. New Orleans Louisiana
3. Alamogordo, New Mexico
4. Dumas, Arkansas

Four TV shows that I currently watch:
1. Meerkat Manor
2. American Idol
3. Big Love
4. That’s about it – I’m a radio show gal more than TV

Four places I have been:
1. Married in Hawaii
2. Cruise to the Bahamas.
3. Canada
4. Mexico

Four favorite things to eat:
1. Papaya with lime
2. Scallops
3. Angel hair pasta
4. Watermelon

Four places I would rather be:
1. Alaska
2. China
3. Paris
4. London

Four things I look forward to this year:
1. Graduation!
2. Diamond mining
3. Family reunion
4. A clean house?????

Now you can copy, paste, and replace my answers with yours and post!


Monday, April 14, 2008

Oh Mickey!

This little cutie is a Ratbone Rescue and being fostered in New York state. He's a beautiful brown tri. I understand he's loving and well trained. Hopefully he will get to enjoy the summer in a forever home - crossing my fingers for Oh Mickey.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

New Bloom and Dragonflies in the Garden






The cattleya opened this morning which is amaizing because it isn't even rooted to the pot. Just stuck it in after Eddie broke the original pot. Decided to take a few shots of some of the dragonflies in my garden :) Vickie

Photo Day - Mom & Dad






I was too busy with school work today to take flower photos, plus I can't figure out how to remove the old photos from my digicam, so I thought I would post old photos of my parents.

Friday, April 11, 2008

My Pathetic Succulent Garden





It's a bit humid in Florida for succulents but I have had a fascination with them since I was a kid so I try :) These are a few shots of part of my succulent garden but keep in mind that I haven't worked outside yet. It does get better.

Second photo is the shady side of my succulnt garden. Basically my garden is that strip of unusable space between the walkway on the side of the house and the fence. You can see I used pots, stands, and the fence to create different levels.

First photo is an upcoming bloom off this very prickly cactus. I found a piece of this plant in the street in St. Petersburg near the Coast Guard base after someone had done some cleaning of their yard and dropped a piece. My hands were a mess by the time I got home due to the hard to see thorns.

Fourth photo is one of my succulent wreaths. I've had this wreath for about 4 or 5 years. I bought two of them at the Green Thumb festival (annual event every April meaning it's coming up soon!) and have managed to keep things alive but have battled to keep soil in the frame.

Third photo is a closer up of the plants on the ground. My Easter cactus is setting buds but not sure you can see. Look at the red cactus - I bought it from a woman who sells starts from her yard once a year. You should see her yard!