Been a Long Time

To those of you out there that thought I might have given up on blogging, not quite.  I have just paused for a bit...a long bit.  I wish I was able to give some valid excuses for why I haven't written anything like, climbed Mount Everest and didn't have Internet access or hiked the Appalachian trail from beginning to end or my computer broke or had a baby so life was really crazy, but none of these have happened.  I don't have any excuses other than, I just haven't.   

I do have a few things in mind, but for now, thought I would leave you all with a photo of hubbie.  Football season is upon us.  So thought this was appropriate.  This is from a retreat night with the organization I work with.  The men were getting ready to play hours of competitive sports.  He looks ready!!  Look out!

  

America's Got Talent

I'm a bit late in posting this, but the other night, Hubbie and I were watching America's Got Talent.  When we catch it on TV, we like to watch it because of the Hoff  aka David Hasselhoff.  Not even sure if I'm spelling his name correctly.  He really is so funny, especially to ADB.  His comments are so random.  Anyway, just watching for pleasure making comments on the comments of the Hoff and then, this comes on....Go Memphis!!!  We've seen them on Beale Street and they really can flip.  Take a look and enjoy.  If anyone wants to visit, we will take you there to see them live...Any takers???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZheAy9PTHJo

Garden and a few other things

It's been a month and so I thought it timely to do another garden update.  I have some fun and sad news about the garden.  Let's start with the sad and then we can get excited about fun!!  The sad news is 1 plant is dead and another may be soon to follow.  The squash plant which I had such high hopes for has died.  I think it is the gardener's fault which is very hard to admit.  Oh pride!!!  So, little baby squash that was growing now lays dead.  The zucchini plant is on its way down too!!  I'm trying to save it, but I think it might be too late.  Sad news!!  It doesn't help either that when I call my mom to tell her, she tells me she has squash and zucchini coming out of her ears in their garden.   Good thing I don't live close or I may be tempted to sabotage her plants.  Just kidding - I really wouldn't do that.

The fun news is that I do have cucumbers, bell peppers, tomatoes growing on the plants now and can't wait until they get bigger to pick.  I thought for a long time I was going to have tomato plants, but no tomatoes.  But they are showing their cute selves.  Also, this evening I went out and picked green beans....yeah...look at those things in the pot.  How fun to have some success and be able to eat them.  Small victories...

Some other news is ADB bought me a blueberry plant!!  This may not be so exciting for some of you, but  I love blueberries.  Hopefully next year I can have some of my own.  Right now I'm trying to figure out the best place for the plant to go so it will produce fruit.  But isn't it cute in its pot.  He surprised me with it one day after he went and got some groceries from the store.  He picked this up as well.  Don't I have the best Hubbie!!

  

Garden Update #2

Even though it has been so hot here in Memphis (in the 100's - you read that correctly) and we haven't seen rain in I don't know how many days, my little garden seems to be quite well. 

(This picture isn't the best!  I'll try to take another one soon.)

We have had some funny moments like when ADB told me that the corn had fallen over...and it really had.  He said to me one day when we came home from work, "H - you might want to go look at the corn because it has fallen over."   Yikes!!!!  But don't worry, with the handy internet, I found the problem and hence the solution...more dirt around the corn stalks.  So now we have standing corn...see slide #2

It gets taller everyday!

And now for the most exciting news...there is evidence that we may just see fruit (and vegetables) from this garden.  I was out walking around the garden.  Something I do everyday - just want to make sure everyone is doing okay.  I look at my cucumber plants (which I think are the cutest because they have these vines that swirl around anything they can find to attach to) and I find this....

It's the litle cuc!  Now, the key will be for it to grow to be a big cuc before some animal eats it.  

WARNING:  If you are an animal and I find you in my garden...you will be dead! - maybe not right at that moment, but watch your back - I will find you.  I now this sounds a bit intense, but you have to be.  

But don't worry, this cute dog won't be found in the garden...he's the keeper of garden.  He only went in the garden once (very early in the game) and soon learned that that wasn't the best thing for him.  He continues to be the best dog ever!!

Vacation Time

Last week, ABD and I spent a few days at Perdido Beach in Florida.  It was beautiful and the weather was perfect!!  Here is a little picture from where we spent most of our days!

The Garden

The last weekend in May my parents and sister came to visit us here in Memphis.  When they came, I had a little project I wanted to do.  Probably not what they had in mind, but I couldn't think of a better thing to do.  I have always wanted to have a little garden of my own.  I grew up with a huge garden and love all the fresh vegetables!!  I don't think I had green beans from a can until I went to college.  So, if the master planter was coming to visit, I thought I would have him help me!  In our backyard here in Memphis, we had a little shed on a cement square.  I wanted to take that shed down the day we bought the house.  So after a year of looking at it, I figured this weekend was the weekend to get rid of that eye sore.  So, down came the shed and then we had the huge project of getting the concrete out so I could make the garden.  We rented this machine from Home Depot that cuts concrete.  Andy and my Dad went after it.  We used some of the concrete as a border to the garden and put the garden where the cement pad was.  Below is the finished result.  I'm so excited to have a garden and can't wait until I can see the fruit of our labor.  It was a very laborious job (lots of sweat and lots of dirt to cart in).

This is the corn section of the garden.  It is struggling a little bit... or at least I think.  But maybe I need to have a little patience and talk to it more.

The beans shot up.  That is what is to the right of the picture.  In the other section, I have tomatoes, peppers, squash, zucchini, cucumbers and carrots.  I already had to replace the zucchini plant.  The first one I put in died, but this one is doing great!!

I'll keep posting pictures so you can see the progress of my little garden.  

I was Running...

ADB and I often run around a golf course here in Memphis on Saturdays and some Sunday afternoons.  We run here for several reasons:

1.  It is a change of scenery from my normal run

2.  ADB likes to run there and so I have a running partner

3.  It is really pretty there

4.  It's a golf course and so ADB likes to go there

5.  It's a golf course and so ADB can watch golfers while he runs

6.  Did I mention it is a golf course?

As many of you know, my husband is addicted to golf.  Addicted may be a strong word, but he really does love it!!  As I write this, he is on a golf tournament weekend - playing in a tournament with 16 other men where they are divided into two team.  They will play a lot of golf over the next 3 and a half days.  Anyway, we run around the golf course with different views/ways of running/thoughts on our mind.  Here is what I'm thinking when I run: 

I just love all the flowers/trees

I'm so glad I have a running partner today

Look at that house - they've done some work in their yard this week

Wow, that man's shirt is really yellow

Look at that cute dog (wish Bailey could come, but he would probably pass out after 5 minutes

As you can see...nothing really.  Just mindless thinking.

Here is how ADB runs (I'll give you the verbal since I'm not too sure what is going on in his head, but I'm sure it pertains to golf).

Did you see that guy hook the ball?  (me: Didn't really pay attention.)

Wow, that guy was lucky. (ADB to the man who hit the ball - You got a great bounce on that one) 

Babe, let's run on the other side of the street, this guys looks a little wild.

Nice, nice (referring to a shot that a guy made)

Let's watch this (I just keep running - he will catch up in a second)

As you can see all referring to golf.  He comments on how his neck hurts from straining to see golf shots as he is running.  I really think the only reason he runs with me is because it is a golf course that we are running around.  We normally run around twice (each lap 2 miles).

So, on this particular occasion, we are running close to a tee box.  ADB makes a comment on how this guy can't hit the ball the at all.  

me:  "How do you know? Do you know him?"

ADB, "No, I saw him hit earlier." 

me:  "When was that?  Did I see him?"

ADB:  "Yeah, it was a couple holes back."  Most likely on lap #1

me:  keep running

ADB:  "Heath, keep left, this guys wild."

I move over a little.  He has said this several times before.  I think at times it is a game he is playing with me to keep switching sides of the street.

We have run past the tee box now and maybe half way down the fairway.  ADB is no longer beside me as he has done his normal lag behind to watch the shot.

I hear the ball being hit.  Think nothing, hear it all the time running around the golf course.

Then I hear, "Fore!"

ADB:  Look out Babe!

I turn around quickly and see a golf ball barely miss me.  I'm not one to exaggerate...this ball just missed me.  Then I see my husband stop running completely, throw his hands up in the air and yell - "You Idiot"!  Yes, he yelled this.  plus, "What were you thinking?"  I thought ADB was going to fight the golfer.  He's not a fighter, but I really thought I was about to see him start sprinting the tee box.  Meanwhile I keep saying, "ADB, come on...I'm fine...Let's go...(using his full name)...(again full name) not a big deal...I'm okay... come on...he said "fore"...etc.

ADB:  I'm going to go talk with him.

me:  (mortified)  No!  He didn't mean to do it.  I'm fine.  Let's keep going.  (In fear I was about to see my husband fight someone)

ADB:  He should have waited five seconds and we would have been out of his range.

me:  It's okay.  

ADB:  He's an idiot.  I knew he was going to hook that shot.  He is a horrible golfer. 

me:  (pulling on his arm) Let's go.  We are almost done.     

Finally, we begin running again.  ABD is still talking about it.  I'm just trying to get back to the car before anything bad happens.  Day ends, we are fine.  Run again at the golf course.

A few weeks later....

We are running, ADB is doing the normal strain the neck to watch shots.  Switching me from one side of the street to the other.   Sometimes I'm obedient and listen and sometimes I just don't want to run across the street, so I move over a couple of steps and just keep going.  Well, this time we are running the opposite way around the golf course.  Change of direction.  It's good to change it up a bit.  Plus I thought we could work on the other side of ADB's neck strain.  Don't want one side of his neck bigger than the other. So we are now running toward a tee box.  We are about halfway to the tee box from the green, and ADB tells me to move over.  

ADB:  These guys look like crazy golfers.  Let's move over.

me:  (moving, but reluctant.  I'm not having a good run day and just want to stay the course.  Letting out sighs and sarcastic statements like, Is this guy really going to hit us??  How do you know??)

ADB:  Heath, really move over.  This doesn't look good.  (ADB running in front of me a bit now.  Kind of weird, but I just keep going.)  

The ball is hit.  I don't look up - just doing my thing running.  Hear the ball hit the pavement in front of us.  ADB catches the ball!!  What two times now we have almost been hit!!  Unbelievable!!  I mean don't these golfers have more control over what they are doing??   

I later learn that ADB knew this guy was going to hit it right at us, not on purpose but he just wasn't a good golfer.  So, he ran ahead to shield the ball from hitting me.  First of all, don't I have a great husband.  Second of all, when did he have the ability to know where shots were headed.  Amazing!!!

Shocking I know, but these events really did happen.  And yes, we still run around the golf course.  I like the change of scenery and ADB is fun to watch as he talks with and critiques the golfers.  I've just learned to move when he says move and to keep my eyes surveying a bit more instead of going off into runners world mindlessness.  Good lessons in being submissive.  I'm always learning..