Hi, Dianne!  Sounds nice with the curtains and losing the blinds.  We have mini blinds with curtains in the living room but slat blinds for the patio doors.  For some reason, out here where it's so sunny, blinds seem to work with curtains.  I'm not a blinds only person except for the patio door.  I've seen some aphids on the rose bush but the instructions on the spray I have said not to use it on newly planted.  Not sure why.  Maybe that particular product.  I'd hate to lose the buds.  Sandy let Don know that Tyler has to have a couple rounds of Chemo...and his foot will need to be set so he won't be able to walk normal again.  Also, there was indication that he did have some in his lungs.  :(  Sandy has to go to the hospital to have whatever is in her intestine removed.  So far she doesn't have a date for that.  I got my bone density test results back, but don't quite understand them.  Our appt. is May 5, with Dr. Russ, so I will wait until then to hear what he has to say.  I'm sure it's nothing more than osteopenia.  Take care!  xxx

Good morning, Dianne!  We'll reach a high of 88 degrees this afternoon.  Seems impossible, doesn't it.  Right now, at 7:43 a.m., it's only 57.  I'm not sure if Ashley and Tyler went to Cleveland Clinic yesterday, as Don hasn't talked to Sandy yet.  She was busy visiting her best friend in life waiting to pass into heaven.  :(  I'm happy to hear the doctor gave you meds for your arthritis.  I did too much yesterday...some weeding outside and then ran the sweeper and mopped the tile floors out here.  Too much for me anymore but somebody has to do it.  LOL  The tile floor is everywhere except for the area rug and rug in front of the patio doors.  Kitchen, family room (?), hallway to the bedrooms, laundry room.  I'm wondering if anything will show up on the Dexa Scan they did.  Oh, I took pictures of the teeny tiny buds on the rose bush I planted.  I've been worried about it, as it's been really windy one day, and now the extreme heat for this time of year.  The orchid is still in bloom.  This bloom was unusual.  It started out sooner than usual and then developed more buds after thinking it was finished.  Hope you're having a Happy St. Patrick's Day!  I looked through Don's closet with him by my side after he said he had no green shirts to wear today.  We found at least 3 t-shirts.  ;)  Take care & think Spring!  xx

Hi Dianne!xoxo
Sent you some Gold my friend!
Love & hugs for you!

Hi, Dianne!  Ashley and Tyler are heading back to Cleveland Clinic again today.  Don will talk to Sandy again today & make sure the trip was safe to make with all the crazy weather.  Hope you have had no problems up there.  Did you get more snow and winds?  We had a breezy day yesterday.  It didn't feel like the low 80's with the winds.  I think we'll hit some 90's this week.  I keep checking on the tree out front that was cut back in the Fall.  It's slow to recover but when it does, look out.  It provides lots of shade to the lizards & other critters out there.  Take care & how is that shoulder?  xxx

Hi, Dianne!  You were at Cleveland Clinic with your daughter and Don's sister's granddaughter, husband, and baby were there today!  Seems Ashley's husband has osteosarcoma and they are checking to see if the 5-month old baby, Maylee, has the gene or whatever to inherit the disease.  :(  This has been so sad for Sandy (Don's sister).  She herself is waiting to hear about her biopsy (intestine) that whatever it is will need to come out.  So...it's just been bad news all around.  Tyler, Ashley's husband, had "things" removed from his leg/ankle area 2 times at Ohio State University's hospital...and had not been feeling well the past three months.  Well, Cleveland Clinic just drilled into his leg and discovered the tumor.  He's only 32 years old.  :(  Ashley is a nurse.  Then we came home to find a large lizard was dead after the garage door landed on him.  I was so sad...we love our lizards.  On a happy note, Randy is fine, and ornery as ever.  He's happy now, getting watermelon balls.  Don's been buying the small seedless watermelons at Smith's (Kroger's) recently.  He'll do anything for melon ball!  LOLOL  Take care....I hope Caroline is ok.  xxx

Hi Dianne, I did get your last message and I'm sorry that I haven't replied until now. I've been so caught up in the topiary trails - they are really tough and take a lot of time, sprinkles and perseverence!
How are you? I'm glad to hear that Lizzy is recovering from her surgery. I hope she's much better by now. The girls keep you very busy and it's great that they have so much going on in their lives. Have you managed to escape the flu? I hope the weather has improved a bit from the hard winter you had. Things are looking quite springlike over here but it's still very cold, and tonight it's blowing a gale outside. I hope some spring flowers are starting to bloom for you in your (real) garden!
We only have one hedgehog left at the rescue now! Alll the others have been released back to the wild - yay! xx

Hi, Dianne!  Good to hear Lizzy's biopsy came back negative!  One less thing to worry about.  :)  Nice to hear your hubby was very helpful cleaning windows, etc.  I know all about dog slobber on our patio sliding window!  Notorious for drips and spots!   Don helped me with weeds today.  :)  Hurray!  It was hot next to the hot rocks while pulling them.  Now that I'm back inside, I'm cold.  Just can't please me!  LOL  The rose bush is doing ok.  I see a couple of leaves that look dry around the edges but probably the shock from getting planted.  Hopefully!  Going in for a bone density scan on Friday.  The scan will be easy compared to the forms I've had to fill out online.  Don't like going in to Vegas for it, but that's the way it goes.  Take care & enjoy the rest of your day!  xxx

Hi, Dianne!  I did plant a rose bush 2 days ago!  :)  It's a Coral Knock Out!  I hope it survives so I can see it bloom.  It's been really windy today, and it survived!  :)  Hope the snow is melting there.  Spring is not far off now.  xxx

Good morning, Dianne!  I am happy to hear Lizzie is healing and feeling better.  Randy had a spell last week with his acidy stomach but has been ok since.  We always worry about him & he dictates whether or not we leave the house for very long.  We were going to go to Death Valley today, but actually am not in the mood.  I know that sounds awful, but we've recently gone into Las Vegas 2 times in the last 2 weeks and not up to it.  I get these awful leg cramps at night in my legs.  Last night up putting Theraworx on my right leg.  It just won't settle down.  I'm supposed to go get a Dexascan before our next Dr. appt. in May.  Was waiting until the chances of snow on the mountain cleared, as have to go to Las Vegas for those, too.  Oh, you should see my orchid.  Maybe I'll post a picture taken yesterday.  It must have started blooming before Halloween and is still in the blooming stage!  I mostly ignore it and don't put any plant food on it at all.  Water it once a week if I remember...lol!  It's always in on my craft desk in the bay window where it gets plenty of sunlight.  Put yours in the sunniest window but don't let it bake.  ;)  I've only transplanted it once in probably 8 years.  Pretty sure it wasn't purchased until we moved to this house.  I was planning on getting a rose bush this year.  Maybe today?  I'll let you know!  Take care, Dianne!  xxx

Hi Dianne, I hope everything's OK with you, as we haven't been in touch for a while. Sorry I've been a bit preoccupied with the topiary trails - they're very challenging and take a lot of time and sprinkles! I'm hoping to finish my current blue and indigo trails before Easter starts in FL so I can relax a bit.
Has the weather improved for you at all? I heard there were severe snow storms on the east coast. We've had our first really springlike day today - sunshine and quite mild! All the snowdrops, crocuses, hyacinths and daffodils are coming up. I can't wait for a bit of warmth - it's been wet and cold for so long. I bet you can't either! And we're finally managing to release lots of hedgehogs back to the wild, after they've been stuck indoors with us for ages. That's always a good moment.
I do hope you and the family are all OK. Look forward to hearing from you. xx