Packing away Christmas

June Kellum

(posted on Face Book today)

Knocked myself out yesterday in packing up my Christmas stuff...Got most of it done except dragging the tree out- Chas will have to help with that-bad back or not!!!! I was sooo tired I couldn't get to sleep when I went to bed at 1:00AM...At 3:30 I was still awake... so had to take a prescription sleeping pill. My Melatonin didn't work last night- I guess I was just too tired!! My goodness-couldn't believe it when I looked at the clock when I awoke this morning...10:30!!!! :) But I feel better and am ready to face the day.....and the Rest Of My Life!!

~~~

 

I am reminded of some lyrics from a Dan Fogelberg song...

 The song is "Loose Ends."

.."Surrounding myself with possessions, I surely have more than I need...I'm wondering if this is justice hard earned, or simply a matter of greed...."

 

LOL-

I'm sure Dan was not writing about putting away Christmas decorations...nonetheless...those words came to me!!

Junie Rose

shopping ~ HO-HO-HO

~~~

I went shopping today and accomplished quite a lot...in fact, I'd say I'm about 2/3's finished! Goody for me!!   :)

   The past few days I've been feeling downhearted and overwhelmed with things...feeling like I can't possibly do all the things I've determined I must do... but today proves I can and WILL manage to get things organized and make things MERRY around here!

It was a long, long day for me, as I awoke at 5:30 this morning compared to my usual time of 8:00. I went to bed last night about an hour earlier than usual...but why do I wake up 2-1/2 hours early? No logic or order in my life at all!

I left my house to go shop about 9:30 and didn't get home until almost 5:00. Now that's what I call a long day of shopping!  haha

Charles took this pic of me just before I left this morning. If you think I look tired starting out,

( which I definitely did from too little sleep)

well-you should have seen me at the end of the day!

( really dragging!)

~~

We've had freezing temperatures the past 2 nights!  Our fruit is a lost cause this year again. The trees never really recovered from last year's freezes and the fruit we've had has not been sweet at all. I didn't even bother to try any juice because who wants sour OJ ? Not me!....So, anyway after the past couple of freezing nights I can just forget about the fruit and stop feeling guilty for not trying to use some of it. Truth is, we are just a little bit too far north for the citrus.

Hopefully tonight I will get enough rest so that tomorrow we might get a tree and get my decorating done!!

Tis the season and I'm wanting some festive lights around here!





Good night, all!

Junie Rose

Update on critter visits:

Update to Update: lol

Anyone following my Critters saga might like to read comments left in the post below this one.


Junie

Update:
on critter visits!





Oh, my!

Thought I had things under control, after feeding my cats and latching the screen.

Well, one last look-late-late into the night (2:30 AM)- I was to see that I again had a critter visiting! This time it was the Raccoon! He was calmly helping himself to the leftover Meow Mix-just as the 'possum had done the previous night!

The cats, again, were undisturbed by the strange animal sharing their food.

Since he was there, I hoped I could get a picture of him but when I got my camera and got close to the door he quickly left the scene!

Since the door was secured he had found a hole in the screen to enter and exit the porch!
I had known of this hole in the screen -(which was made by my big cat, General, awhile back when he had become impatient to be out after being in for the night!) but I had thought the wild animals would not be aware of it and hoped the latched door would keep them out! I was wrong!

When the raccoon would see me watching he would leave -but would return 3 times to finish up his meal!

He obviously was no threat to my cats so there was nothing I could do, immediately, except watch!

But -I tell you- it gives you an eerie feeling to realize there are strange things coming into your space in the wee hours! What next- a bear??
(really-we DO have bears in our area- or at least a few miles from us in the Ocala National Forest)

And - what am I to do about all this??

I love and respect wildlife but I don't like these close encounters with these animals!


Junie

Hair cut! ~~(UPDATE of my day at bottom)

***

**Update of my day at bottom of this post!**


****

Yes!

Finally got my hair cut...although as hair cuts go you might think this is not much of a cut!

True-it's not that short but is short for me ! (one who prefers long hair!) It had just become too much to deal with, long, in this hot, summer weather we have here. Everyday I ended up putting it up with clips to survive-but that gave me bad headaches; sooo...I had no choice but to get some of it cut off!

LOL-BTW- in this pic it may look like I'm crying but I'm actually just squinting in the bright sunshine!! :)

Just wanted you to see my hair- so disregard the squinched up face! haha




I have a ton of stuff to do around here because we will be leaving Thursday for our annual reunion trip to Alabama. (My husband's family)

We will also see my bro and S-I-L who live up there.

We're looking forward to it even though these trips seem to get harder each year, as we get older! The problem is we never have enough time... Oh well- 'It is what it is' so we make the best of it!

LOL-I will be looking at the sky and old barns...and maybe some flowers and butterflies...and watertowers!! :)

This time, at least, we will not worry so much about leaving the house empty because we'll have folks here looking after our place and animals!

OK- gotta get going...have to color my hair...among a trillion other things-before the end of this day!


Later!


Junie Rose


***
As it turned out I never did get to the coloring of my hair today...or the shopping I need to do either!

Instead I fertilized almost 60 rose bushes!
Ha!! How did that happen? :)

Well, my life is, for the most part, totally unplanned and tho I knew the roses needed attention I had no plan set out to do the job. I just sort of wandered into it today...in spite of more pressing issues! ...Needless to say I'm beat tonight! The way I do it is probably the hardest way. I dissolve the rose food in a big bucket of water and then pour it onto each bush at the base of the plant!....I know... there are sprayers to connect to a hose. That seems much easier but I have never had good experiences with that-so I stick to what I know!

But it's worth the work - ehh??






~~~


Just talked to Alli who has been working on a deal to get me a kitten. Here she is...(hoping it's a girl, anyway...and they think so) If so I will call her 'Lucy!'


I haven't met this kitty yet but Alli says she's a sweetie. I won't get her until after our return from Alabama next week.

**
Very tired tonight so I'm going to bed real soon- with my book and a Melatonin to help me sleep!

Was up, way late, last night checking out some videos of Paul McCartney's current tour. He recently did 3 concerts at Citi Field Stadium, NY. and from what I saw on the vids and heard from friends who saw his shows-McCartney still has the magic! :)

I got caught up in the music and conversations and then I decided to put some 'Paul' songs at the top of my play list again! Consequently, I was very late to bed and sleep!
(As I said earlier- my life-my days and nights- are totally unplanned!)

HA!

NO! I'm not putting a McCartney Youtube on .. :) .. not tonight, anyway) but you can find them easily! (McCartney-Citi Field will bring them up!)


Goodnight!


Junie Rose

Today ~ 3 ~ 31~ 2009

OK

I can't be the target of 'Blonde Jokes' anymore!

I changed my hair color! :) Well, it's STILL dark blonde but not what you think of when you say 'Blonde!'

Good! I'm tired of that image and all the jokes!! ;)

~~~

Today Charles and our patio guy poured the final little addition (where the BBQ will be) so the job is almost finished! It has turned out really well!

This is the way he finished off the front of the patio
!






I'll be happy to get the back yard cleaned up and some new roses planted!

~~~

I have been under a lot of stress recently, for various reasons, and have had an awful time of sleeping at night and headaches during the day! When I can't sleep until 3:00 AM then I have to sleep later and I never seem to get much done during the day. I really dislike this cycle I'm in now!

One thing on my mind is that I will have to get my driver's license renewed before my birthday, May 5th! I'm a little concerned that I won't pass because of my eyesight! Please keep your fingers crossed for me in that. Also I have a medical procedure coming up next week...just the 'M' test but I dread that too! (what woman doesn't?)

Solved the problem of needing to go to the hair dresser by...just resolving NOT to do it! I'll keep my hair long until I feel better! Al least I got it colored today! :) And I'm no longer a blonde!

Other things too, have been bearing heavily on my mind ...just stressful things that I really can't do anything about- so I need to just let it all go!

~~~

Tomorrow is my husband's birthday! I have him a couple of really neat things! :) We'll be celebrating on Sunday when all the kids can be here!

~~~

Saturday we will be going out to our friend's place in Hernando for their annual chili cook-off...and then on May 1st, we will have the Retired Police Officers gathering/dinner- held here in Ocala this time! Charles always enjoys getting together with the guys!

In there too-April 27th- will be our anniversary-# 48!! ...And my birthday May 5!
( It's a high # too! haha)
Oh wait- also a trip to Pensacola for a birthday celebration for 2 of Charles' sisters! This will be at Easter time...so we will do a sort of Easter thing combined with Charles' B'day this Sunday, here!

Lots of stuff going on! Wish I could get to feeling better!


OK- Tomorrow will be better ~ has to be!!



Junie

I'm barely here... ( and a slide show )

A long day looms ahead after one of those troubled nights that gave me only 3 hours of sleep! :(

(more later...maybe)

Junie Rose

~~~

Later~

Took a little nap and it helped!
Here is a slide show of our place over the month of March!
Had fun putting it together! :)

Hope you enjoy it!

Love,
Junie Rose

Just another day~

OK-

I know I could find something to post for Watery Wednesday but I'm gonna pass this time.
Don't have anything new and -LOL- I know I have been doing re-runs much too often here!

Still-I will check all the water posts to see what others have found recently! :)


~~~


I hope you all had a fun Saint Patrick's Day!

It was mostly just a normal type day for Charles and me! He was out most of the day, helping Ted with the patio project. Ted worked on the roof yesterday! It's looking good!








Then for dinner we had our corned beef and cabbage-just the 2 of us! It was very good!






These pics are not that great but they are US- :)- and you know I must document our lives here!
(lol- to prove we've been here??)

I was up late again with my music and videos.

Thank goodness for the music! It's great for one who has a sleep problem as I do! After my music I'm usually able to get right to sleep-lol- around 2:00 AM!

Last night we went all the way from Knopfler to Chet Atkins to Sam Cook to The Who and to JIMI...and that dancing bird who likes Ray Charles!!

HAHA~ I'm an equal opportunity music listener!

Had fun with the vids! :)


It's a beautiful, sunshiny day here!
(but we need rain)

Hope you're all having a fine day too!

Junie

Jackson Browne (1~5~'09)

It was one of those nights for me...when sleep was elusive. I got to sleep earlier than usual but awoke at 5:00 AM ! What!!! It's now just past 6:30 and I see a very long day looming ahead. Oh well- you do what you have to, so I will just follow and see where the day leads!

I have been listening to one of my top favorite singers, ( a favorite of the past 30+ years!) Jackson Browne!

I added another of his songs to my play list ~ " To a Dancer." I have 2 of my favorites of his at the top. If you like them check out some of his others on my list!

I consider J. Browne one of the best singer/songwriters of our times! His

lyrics are often melancholy and with heart-felt emotion and understanding of human relationships and life ~ especially in his early songs. In later years he became more political in his writing!

To be honest, I like his songs of love and relationships (in his early years) more than his later works! (...but that's just me...and probably because his political view is not in line with mine! :) )

But , still... I DO love the music of Jackson Browne!

Jackson Browne was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. You can read about it here!

Enjoy!

Junie

Our Christmas Day ~ 2008

( more of our Christmas here and here ! )

~~~

On Christmas Eve I didn't get to bed until around 2:00 AM, so I slept later on Christmas morning!

Charles had said he'd get up to get the dinner going. He always likes to make the cornbread for the dressing, anyway, and this time I was more than happy to leave it to him! :)

Zach had awakened me early, to say goodbye and Merry Christmas, before leaving for Orlando; but I was so tired I just had to hang in there awhile...and let things unfold in the kitchen without my help! By the time I got up (probably around 9:00) things were well under way and we were able to get the dressing/stuffing together and the turkey stuffed and in the oven by 10:00.

It would require almost 4 hours of cooking time! We would have our Christmas dinner ready about 2:00!

I must say this was a perfect turkey dinner...stuffed turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, corn, sliced tomatoes, candied sweet potatoes, rolls, cranberry sauce...carrot and celery sticks/with veg-sour cream dip... AND LOTS of desserts! I didn't make my banana pudding this time, though! :( We all missed it, too!
































































We had a fine Christmas Day!
(but we missed Zach)

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas!




Love,
Ginga

(Junie Rose)

Family stuff!

Lol!

OK!

If y'all are getting sick of looking at 'Ginga's family,' then just skip this post...but ~ you're all welcome to share in our day if you'd like!

I know the family will want to see us all in pictures...'One more time!' haha

Alrighty...moving right along...

I find if I stay up later I have a better chance of sleeping ~ so that's what I do. I often listen to music, work on my blog or pictures or chat with friends, late into the night.

When I finally DID get to bed last night (after 1:00) I got to sleep pretty quickly- in fact I didn't even read at all! Can't say I slept all that well, tho, as the dang cough disturbed me several times! After my late, late, night of online music, etc... I slept a little later than usual this morning.

When I did awake about 9:00 I had to hurry things up to get ready for the family to come, around noon time!

Charles cooked ribs on the grill this time and I made Mac & Cheese, baked beans, fresh veggies and a sour cream dip... deviled eggs... :) made it simple and easy! Cake and ice cream too, of course!

I didn't make pictures of the food this time - just us folks!

( Click on pics to enlarge )

Cast of characters:

Daughter:
Tina (My youngest child)

Son:
Christopher (the birthday boy and my oldest child)

Grandsons:
( My 2 oldest grands) Dan~with the beard and Brian ~ with the smile :) )

Granddaughter:
Allison ( My only granddaughter and youngest of 4 grand kids)

The Old Folks of the Farm:
Ginga (aka Junie Rose, Juniper, Junie, June Bug, to list a few... )

and

Gabbo (aka Charles , Charlie, Ed, Chas, ...but never Chuck!)


Lol ~ OK ~ maybe you can sort us all out! Here we are below...at Ginga's very messy house !

( Hey!! I been sick for a few days so I got a good excuse!)



























































The Characters missing today were~

The Orlando Cats~ T, T and Z (My middle child and her husband (Tam & Terry) and my youngest grandson, Zach)

And Marc ~ My computer guy! (My other son in law)

Missed all of you!! :(


Oh!
Want to show you this! This is Brian's Art work he did on some old weathered boards... it's for a table top! ( I love his art- :) ...although I must admit it's quite different! )















Last but not least.... I give you "The Incredible Shrinking Woman!




( Well, if not least ~ at least~ shortest!) ;)



Love,
Ginga
aka-Junie Rose

Sept 19, 2008

OK Here we 3 are - all these years later... :)

Chris had made plans to have dinner out with his cousin and best friend (one of them, at least) so we didn't do anything for his birthday today, except give him his gifts!

Good thing, too, as I am still not feeling well and didn't feel like doing much. This cold and cough is really hanging on with me! I'm still not sleeping well.
LOL- it sure shows in that picture...(that I'm not feeling well) but you know me - I always want to document our lives when I can!

Here is what we gave him! It's a George Foreman Grill...and the little gator is a lamp - very cute!! :) Also gave him $$ for a couple meals out or a few gallons of gas! :)















We're, tentatively, planning to have some, or all, of the other family here on Sunday for a cook-out celebration for Chris! :) Hope so!







Sarah Palin will be speaking on Sunday about 25 miles from us. Although I would love to attend that, I don't feel up to making the effort.
( since I've been sick all this week! )

~~~


Gonna try for some sleep soon, but first, will leave you with some pretty flowers from my back yard today!

Yes! I DID get out for a little while with my camera!









































Have a good night!


Junie