Only a couple of days to go before I head out.  I may not get to see my brother after all.  He has to take his lady friend to have cataract surgery.  Hopefully we can work something out before I head to Ft. Lauderdale.  I don't know how long the surgery takes but he has to have her there by 6:00 a.m.  I told him I was hoping we could at least give each other a hug.
Will do some more cleaning and laundry today....after I get my hair trimmed. 
Went down to the pond yesterday and made sure the pipe was cleared.  Really need to get to the faucet on the other side of the dam.  The volume of water coming out is increasing so I need to get to it to see if I can shut it off.  It's probably going to take a good dose of WD40.  Hopefully when J is up here he'll be able to cut a path down to it.  The good side of it is that with the increase in volume there's less build up at the pipe. 
Guess I'd better get a move on and get something done.  Y'all have a decent day and .....take time to listen.

It's a bit early for Spring cleaning but that's what I'm going to start today since I like to come back from a trip to a clean house. 
Found out that the leak I thought was the gasket around the windshield is actually the gasket on the passenger side door.  Absolutely going to get that fixed before I leave.
Guess if I'm going to get anything done I'd better get a move on.
Y'all have a productive day and remember:  Sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel IS an oncoming train.

The sun shines, although it's a bit on the nippy side.  I'm taking a friend to the botanical gardens to see our guild exhibit and have lunch there.  Might even go out and walk some of the paths if it warms up some.  The daffodils are blooming already!
This coming week will be spent doing last minute stuff before I leave.  There's lots of cleaning to be done as well as laundry.  I like to come home to a clean house after a trip.  I've pretty much made up my mind what kind of "wardrobe" to take.  There is little in the way of toiletries I need to take since the cruise line supplies shampoo, etc.  And since I don't wear makeup it's a given I won't have to lug any of that #$%p around.  I don't mind wearing the same outfit twice, either.
Y'all have a restful Sunday and ponder this:  if tin whistles are made of tin, what do they make foghorns out of?

Don't know if I'll be posting anything while I'm away on my trip.  Internet time costs quite a bit on board ship.  I will check email, but that's about it.
Going to the gallery today.  This is the last few days until March since those of us who are there all the time will be gone for a while during the month of Febru-ugly.  Guess you could say that January has been ugly here, too.  A lot of rain and gray days.  Will be very glad to get into the sunshine (I think I've said that before, yes?).  It's another gray day and it's supposed to rain tomorrow.  Ugh.
Was somewhat reluctant to take on another cat but am glad now I did.  She is most amusing and makes me smile.  Not much can make me smile or laugh when I first wake up but she has managed to so do.
Tried my hand at Quibids.  Not sure I'll continue after I've run out of bids but I did "win" some camera memory cards for 2 cents.  Of course the tax was 28 cents and shipping is $3.29.  Only reason I got 'em was because mine was the only bid.  Will check out what they might have today.
With that I'll bid you good day.  Remember:  the fundamental job of a toddler is to rule the universe...unknown.

Daughter came up yesterday with the kids.  Hard to believe granddaughter is 1 today.  I swear time goes by faster the older I get.  Anyway, she was able to get some stuff done on the 'puter including some blogs.  Grandson finally cleaned off the "train" table upstairs so we could let loose the hex bugs.  When they are scurrying around they look so much like cockroaches it isn't funny.  But yet it is.
I loaned daughter the money needed to get her landline turned back on.  If her good for nothing ex would pay her what he owes her she'll be able to keep it on.  I don't like the idea of her not having a way to call for help if needed while at home.  The cell phone is going to have to stay off for now.  The internet also.  I told her yesterday that while I'm gone she and J are welcome to come up and stay.  I'm leaving the laptop here so J can get on and catch up on his gazillion emails, etc.  I'll take my "minimom" with me so I can keep up with emails while I'm on the cruise.  I hate to come home with God only knows how many emails, most of which are junk.
Y'all have a happy day and remember:  The only thing children wear out faster than shoes is parents....John L. Plomp

Went to my new granddaughter's 1st birthday party yesterday.  Her real birthday is Wednesday but it's much easier to get folks to come to a party on the weekend.  Besides, do you think she knew what the heck was going on?  There were a lot of children there (groan).  Luckily they could be sent outside to play, otherwise we adults wouldn't have been able to hear each other talk.  J's mom and sister were there along with his two nieces.  It was nice to see his mom again and meet his sister.  The birthday girl did pretty well present-wise.  Clothes were the main thing, which was good since she outgrows everything so quickly.  She may only be 1 but she's wearing 18 month already.  I'm thinking she'll be tall like her brother.
I'm off to meet some of the ladies from guild.  We're going to Franklin, NC for lunch and a couple of quilt shop shopping.  I don't need to spend the money but, what the hey.
Y'all have a dry day (it's been raining off and on for two days now) and remember:  life may be just a bowl of cherries but you have to watch out for the pits.

It's off to the gallery today.  Had a very pleasant day with daughter and grandkids yesterday.  Daughter was able to get on the  'net and get some "work" done as well.  She brought the youngest's laundry since their dryer is on the fritz and they don't have the way with to fix it.  I told her she could come up anytime, if needed.
I also told her that while I'm on my trip they could come up and stay a couple of days if they wanted.  Change of scenery and all that.  If J comes up he could get some chainsaw work done.  That would be very nice.  All those dang sweet gums.
Only a couple of weeks before I start packing.  Yay!  Can't wait to get out of here for a while.  The weather here is driving me crazy.  Night before last we had a really heavy downpour.  I was expecting the pond overflow pipe to be blocked so I went down yesterday.  Surprise!  Water was flowing nicely and there was very little to clear away.  Hope it stays that way.  The folks who are responsible for the big pond have some work cut out for them.  I saw that that pipe is almost totally under water.  They're going to need to do something or the water is going to keep rising.  I can't stop the water from flowing that way, not do I want to.  Ah well, it's their problem, not mine.
Y'all have a scrumptious day and remember:  the future ain't what it used to be.....Yogi Berra