Here's me with the mariachi band mural at Rosita's today. We all have sombreros on our cabezas.
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Friday, September 30, 2011 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME. FELIZ CUMPLEANOS A MI.

Today, on my boofday, I met Bergy & Avis and Ron & Liz at Rosita's for lunch so I could get the next photo of me in a sombrero on my birthday for my collection.

While we were eating, I noticed that mural above the bar, so I took a picture of it and plugged in my photo next to the girls.

Ron was kind enough to take a bunch of pictures of me in the sombrero. Yes, it's the eighth year I've been doing this craziness.

Coincidentally or not, the first year I did this was the first year that Andrew and Jarrett were not on the planet to celebrate with me. I'm sure they'd both think it was a hoot.

Still wish they were here with me. That's the one present I'll never get. see ya later, djb

My front flower bed has been wiped clean by professionals -- not much left.
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Thursday, September 22, 2011 - When I looked back at the photos of how gorgeous my front flower bed was a few short years ago, it made me crazy at how out of control it had become!

I have NEVER cut down the flowers or the grasses in the fall like a lot of people do because I want something for the birdies to sit on and eat in the fall and the winter....

...however, it became so weed infested that I couldn't take the ugliness any more. I pulled so many weeds so many times and cut down so many wild weed trees that I thought it would be okay this year. NOT even close.

My plan now is to dig out the numerous weed trees which have roots that go all the way to China. I really need a sharper ax but then I thought about it....probably not a good idea in my hands.

Plus, I'm going to have to kill some flowers to also kill the weeds. But maybe then I can actually walk through the garden. Oh yeah....and mulch heavily in the spring.

Also want to plant some more hearty tulips and daffodils this fall in the spots in the garden where they disappeared over the years -- through disintegration or critter theft.

Gotta go. It's ALMOST fall. see ya, djb

Two tomatoes were in the garage on the counter. Notice that one has been half eaten ---- but by whom? ah ha!
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Wednesday, September 14, 2011 - Okay, so I was out in the garage in the late morning when I heard a noise behind the shelves. Thinking it was a mouse, I high-tailed it into the house because I hate meeces to pieces!!

About 2 p.m., I went out into the garage (to get in my car) to drive into town to mail a letter to Alyssa when I noticed a critter running around in the same place near the shelves.

It wasn't a mouse. It was crazy ALVIN the CHIPMUNK. yikes!

So, I drove out and went into town, mailed the letter and then came back. I walked out to the street to bring in my garbage can when I spied him again. He was knocking over mosquito spray cans and scooting around all over the place. Yikes again!

I left the garage door open and the side door and went into the house. After a time, I came back out to see if he had left. NO, he hadn't left.

He was eating one of the tomatoes that I had set on the counter. WHAT? A vegetarian chipmunk??? ay yi yi!!

What to do? I grabbed my can of bug spray and sprayed the tomato and came back in the house.....leaving the doors open in case he wanted to go back home to his hole in the ground.

Later on, I checked out there again but didn't hear him or see him. Hopefully, he's gone!!!!! Remember the bird I had in the garage for two days? Yeah.

Also, a couple weeks ago, I had the mad screeching squirrel coming toward me near the washing machine. I told him to get out there more than once! (That's when Bob asked me what's going on out there??)

Actually, it's still a WILD KINGDOM out in the country. see ya'll later, djb

This afternoon, I saw this haziness toward the west and wondered what it was?
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Tuesday, September 13, 2011 - I didn't smell any smoke, but I saw a haze toward the west. It wasn't humid today and it was really windy so what was it??

Then, I heard someone on the news say that smoke from Minnesota was blown here by the strong northwest winds. hmmmm

MINNESOTA WILDFIRE SMOKE REACHES ILLINOIS

Smoke from a forest fire in northeastern Minnesota carried south by wind is apparently entering Illinois, filling the sky over parts of northeastern Illinois with a gray, smoggy haze.

~Chicago Tribune

So, I took a picture and here it is. Not too bad here but apparently other places are really smoked in. Yikes! ~djb

Here's the Harvest Moon this morning at 5:11 a.m. CDT shortly after it became a full moon.
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Monday, September 12, 2011 - For some reason, I keep waking up at 4 a.m. every day. THAT is annoying!! Except for today because when I looked out the window, I could see the full moon.

By the time I decided to take a picture of it, the clouds had partially obscured the view. However, I was able to get it to peek out from behind the clouds for a photo (see above).

Here's the scoop on the Harvest Moon:

September 12, 2011 - 5:27 a.m. EDT – Full Harvest Moon: Traditionally, this designation goes to the full moon that occurs closest to the autumnal (fall) equinox. The Harvest Moon usually comes in September in the Northern Hemisphere, but (on average) once or twice a decade it will fall in early October (right after my birthday!).

At the peak of the harvest, farmers can work into the night by the light of this moon. Usually the moon rises an average of 50 minutes later each night, but for the few nights around the Harvest Moon, the moon seems to rise at nearly the same time each night – just 25 to 30 minutes later across the U.S., and only 10 to 20 minutes later for much of Canada and Europe. Corn, pumpkins, squash, beans and wild rice – the chief Indian staples – are now ready for gathering.

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So, now you know that by the time you read this, the moon has already become full earlier this morning. Have a GREAT day, djb

9-11-2004 - 9:18 a.m. - Andrew & Jarrett's memorial pond had just been completed.
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Sunday, 9-11-11 - Here's what I don't understand... people only seem motivated or interested in celebrating BIG if an occasion has a zero on the end, e.g., 10, 20, 30, etc. (exceptions are made for 25, as in silver anniversaries).

This has driven me crazy for a very long time. Was there a law passed when I was out of the room? I remember last year, when Grandpa and Gladys turned 90. That was a HUGE deal. And living to 90 years is incredible and should be celebrated.

However, isn't turning 91 a BIGGER deal plus ONE ???

Where in the world did this mind set originate??? Is it because we have 10 fingers and our number system is base 10? Is it because we have a special word for ten years: DECADE?

If you find out, let me know. Maybe it's because I always thought birthdays were important so I made them festive and fun for the boys. Not ever imagining that my special parties for them would end forever. (You get to eat whatever you want.)

Now, I get to remember the anniversary of their deaths. Each year, I remember them (well, each day, all day, every day) specifically on March 3rd.

If I had to wait until 10 years after they died to always remember and never forget....wow! That would suck. djb

Here's the thermometer reading this morning at 6:35 a.m. Only 50 degrees on our patio. In the 40's out in the yard!!! A few days ago, it was 95....yikes!
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Monday, September 5, 2011 - Labor Day and Grandpa Burkholder's 91st birthday.

Yesterday, I heard that this coming winter in northern Illinois is forecast to be a lot like last winter. WHAT??????

Snow. Snow. And MORE Snow! oh boy! Can't wait for that. Is it time to move to Florida yet? brrr ya later, djb