Our side yard has turned into a goat’s head farm.
If you read that subtitle fast you might be thinking: “Oh, RVSue is raising farm animals.”
No.
I’m talking about goat’s head the weed, its scientific nomenclature being Tribulus terrestris which is Latin for “tribulation and terror on planet earth” or something.
It’s also called “puncture weed.”
I’ve encountered this plant before.
Yet I never paid attention to its stems and leaves, because at the time I was more concerned with the nasty prongs it produces. Hence, my lack of alarm when it first appeared in the side yard. I didn’t recognize it because it didn’t have prongs yet.
Oh, the weed-wacker will take care of this new weed, no problem . . . .
Ha. Little did I know.
I first realized the yard was being taken over by goat’s heads when my beloved Gorilla cart got a flat tire. I find a goat’s head deeply embedded in the tread. The round part is almost as big as a marble and the prongs/barbs/spears are about a half-inch long.
I look around and the darn things are everywhere!
Goat’s heads are designed with evil intent.
As I understand it, during medieval times, they were used as weapons of war. Here’s an illustration of a goat’s head weapon:
Those round things fall to the ground and, while propped on two prongs, another prong juts straight up.
This is so when you step on one it will go right through the sole of your shoe into the sole of your foot.
Imagine a hundred or more of these things lying in wait. Walking across a goat’s head infested yard is akin to crossing a mine field — You’re definitely pushing your luck.
No wonder the boys have been staying out of that yard.
My poor Gorilla cart!
Right away I jump onto Amazon and order a pack of four replacement tires.
I depend on my Gorilla!
Switching out the flat tire with a new one is quick and easy, just remove a cotter pin.
Gorilla is back in service with one white wheel along with her three original black ones.
If you’d like a Gorilla of your own, go shopping at Amazon through this link:
What to do to save the side yard from goat’s heads?
My research reveals that eradicating goat’s heads is a very big challenge. Scan this article and you’ll see what I mean:
“How To Get Rid Of Goat’s Heads”
I was appalled. It would be easier to have the yard removed with a front end loader and have a dump truck drop a load of top soil. I am not kidding.
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On a happier note . . . .
Yucca are blooming! We have yucca plants scattered all around the house.
Every long-time Arizona resident with whom I’ve talked yucca has said the same thing — and I’m quoting here — “Get RID of the damn things.”
Well, I’m still an Arizona newbie because I like our yucca. They shoot up their magnificent spires as a mark that spring will soon end and summer is approaching fast. (We’re going up to 97, maybe 99 degrees, this week.)
I suppose someday I’ll back my butt into the sharp “leaves” and exclaim, “I’m getting RID of those damn things!”
Until that day, I’ll enjoy their fresh beauty.
Side note:
Reggie became frantic this morning, barking furiously at something in the back yard. It took me a while to figure out what was wrong. Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is snake or some other wild creature.
Reggie was in a panic!
Finally I figured out his problem. Take another look at the photo of the yucca and privacy fence. The yucca spires were waving in the breeze causing their shadows to dance on the fence. Reggie saw monsters.
I carried him over to the fence and he was okay. Kind of like a little kid needing to check the closet before bed.
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The Neighbor That Isn’t.
Our neighbor to the rear of our property is an empty mobile home in a state of decline, to put it charitably. The home is in bad shape but its stately saguaro is a fine specimen. This year it’s putting out several buds that I hope will bloom.
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Thrifty decorating continues!
You may recall a photo in a previous post showing our living room loveseat with cushions from the thrift store. I wasn’t really happy with those cushions. Since nice cushions are only $2-$4 each, I can afford to make mistakes. I replaced the cushions with two red ones and two with a white and grey pattern.
The living room is on the north side of the house and could use lightening up. That’s why I painted the black chest of drawers a lighter color and one of these days I’ll paint the walls.
I got a great deal on curtain rods!
If you’ve ever had bare windows to dress you know how expensive it can be, the rods and curtains combined.
See the black rod? I got four of them for five dollars, complete with mounting brackets!
These take care of the two windows in the laundry room and the two in the spare bedroom. With the money saved it was less painful ordering the brand new curtains.
Here are the curtains at Amazon, and, I must say, now that I have them, I can attest they’re worth the investment.
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What have Reg and Rog been up to lately?
The usual stuff!
Eating
Attacking each other
Being cute
What have YOU been up to?
rvsue
THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY BLOG!
RVSue and her canine crew is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
I appreciate those of you who use the links I post in order to go shopping at Amazon. Thank you. — Sue
Amazon – Shop. Connect. Enjoy. All from Earth’s Biggest Selection.
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First?
Wow! Norman is first again! CONGRATULATIONS!
Hi Sue, I want to move to your town just for that thrift shop!
Have a great week, thanks for sharing!
I was told by a guy in Texas who did lawn care that the “goat head” plants thrive in poor soil. It seems counterintuitive, but he said that the way he gets rid of them is to FERTILIZE the lawn areas. Might be cheaper to try that than to do the front end loader!
O.M.G.– I *hate* (and that is a word I generally object to!) goat heads! They truly are awful awful awful plants!! Came home from our playground with the grandkids not long ago and our granddaughter found one (luckily NOT by stepping on it) and we found that the soles of her sneakers we just embedded with them. Yikes!
Did you know that the flowers of your yucca are edible? When we lived in Costa Rica, at the right time of the year there would be roadside stands everywhere selling the “flor de itaba” — the flowers of the yucca — and they had several “local specialty” ways to cook them. Have to admit we never did, so I can’t really offer any first-hand advice, but it might be fun to Google it and try!
Those curtain rods are really good-looking and a true find!!
One the flowers produce bananas…the bananas can be roasted. They are delicious. I learned that in desert survival school.
Wow…I was invaded by cow heads this year. So, for about three to four months I was pulling them by the root before they went to seed. Put them in garbage trash bags and filled my trash canister each week to be hauled out. Every day I filled a bag. Now no cow heads in yard. So glad I took the time to pull them. On a good note, I strengthen my grip…can open jelly jars with no problems and I can do deep knee squats no problem.
Pulling them out was my plan, too. According to the article at the link I posted, they’ll come back. A propane torch is suggested and that’s just the first step!
Rita and Sue, I pulled them out of my yard too and they have never come back. I keep an eye out for them too!
Great deal on rods.. wow.
Corky and i are back on the oregon coast thru labor day.
On the way here i bouoght 5 ac in western cental nevada, thinking on the road for another 5-7 years, will have something to live in built by then.
You have great deco sense…
Have a great week…
Carlene and Corky
Congratulations on your purchase of land, Carlene!
Here in Texas we have Cockelburs which stick in my pup’s paws…we use Weed-B-Gone on them and it works great.
I’m glad I’m not dealing with goat heads. I admit to having no idea what to do. The yuccas are pretty, and I appreciate the saguaro and its flowers.
Apparently, monsoon is arriving in southern New Mexico. I follow the weather there, and they had weather statements about thunderstorms there yesterday. Here in Central Ohio, we’ve hit a “sweet spot” for my issues. High temperatures have been in the 70s for three days and the air is dry (for us). I’ve been able to get out and go places on my electric-assist bike, and I’m enjoying it. I got to a waterfall I’d never visited on Sunday and got there at exactly the right day and time to get a really nice picture. (I won’t claim it was planning or photography know-how.)
Your eye for color serves you well in your thrifting. People here would particularly appreciate the Ohio State school colors, scarlet and gray. I haven’t found anything that gorgeous, but I replaced a scorched pan for $2 today and added a lid for another $1. The new used pan is of better quality than the old one, so that works out.
Sue, Adorable Boys and Super Bloggerinos,
I’m sitting in a little brick picnic shelter at the Bitter Creek Rest Area just off I-80 westbound. I left home on 22 May and have
am slightly less than 1 hour’s drive from Rock Springs, WY. I’m still on my way to Wash. state for a month with my dau.
but decided I wasn’t stopping enough to take in the sights. So I’m slowing down. I’m also travelling with abunch of resp
allergies that became a serious cold and seems to be morphing into pneumonia. To top that off, I began having AMS
symptoms by 4500ft (awfully low but still – I had them) I was holding my own with all of those little items until I left Cheyenne for Laramie and drove from 6200ft to over 8200ft in about 45 minutes. A real no-no if symptomatic. I’ve never found anyone who sells
oxygen but I did find an article on DuckDuckGo that said tylenol might be of some help. Oh, yeah – my simple solution the year I had such severe symptoms was frequent deep breathing. Right! Not this year. I’m lucky to be able to breathe at all and lungs are burning like they are on fire at times.
HOWEVER – I am having a fun time, the drive is long and more to come so part of my lower body is essentially numb.
I have been trying to keep up my email writing with pics of where we are for 27 folks who are “riding” the “short bus” with me as driver.
I skipped a day just to rest and got so many emails to see if I was ok and where the heck were we. Made me laugh, (a choking kind of sound with horrid croupy cough of a 90-year old lunger). I just crossed the Continental Divine and noted it was 69++ and I was feeling fine. So I suppose the tylenol is working.
I working on my travel skills in my quest to be Sue when I grow up. It’s nearly 7PM Wyoming time so I thought I’d sit here, relax, perhaps reorganize and repack the truck while waiting for sunset. I’d like to video a panoramic view of same then send off the last email of the day to folks.
Also, when around folks at tourist places, eating places, motels where I’m staying, I try to emulate Sue and strike up conversations with perfect strangers. What a joy!!! Have met some of the most interesting folks that way. Night clerk at one motel in Nebraska
and I started talking, she used to live in Wash state as did I. By the end of the conversation, she provided me with tupperware of a Japanese dinner she had cooked (she is Jap.) and you won’t believe how delish it was.
Thank you, Sue, for all you’ve taught us about being our own best which will enrich our lives and those lives of folk with whom we come in contact.
Weather has been marvelous except for one afternoon late in Ohio while I was visiting cousins there. I finally decided to stay the night due to so many watches and warnings plus my daughter was on a flight home to Wash. state and had to deviate well into Canadian air space for quite a few miles to get around the storms so the storms must have been quite high in the atmosphere.
Looks like I’ve plenty of time before the sun sets after its hard work, shining on all of us and sending little beams of happiness and health for each of us.
Sorry to hear about your goat head invasion. Don’t suppose you could locate a guy with a goat or couple of goats to just browse the plants out of existance then you could deal with just the roots? Seems an appropriate solution – goats’ teeth for goats’ heads ???
I have lots to do before the sun begins to color the sky so TTFN to all of you and rest well.
Anne – we’re not in Georgia any more
Love your reports, Anne.
Dealing with altitude sickness I discovered that getting out and walking a little bit is a great help, if that’s doable for you. Hope you feel good tomorrow, safe travels….
Those goat heads appear almost as nasty as the “jumping cholla” my husband experienced one time when walking on a desert trail (BTW, an AZ friend recommended carrying a comb to take our cholla thorns).
We are finally in our villa in Green Valley and we love it but it hasn’t been without problems. Since we bought it without visiting it in person, we were prepared for some repairs and things that needed to be replaced/cleaned/upgraded, but were unaware of just how icky and dirty everything was. Fortunately, I had a cleaner go through it before we arrived and so glad as we would have ended up in the Best Western until we could get it clean. The two main issues are I’ve had to clean every. single. piece of kitchen equipment lest we run the risk of food poisoning (the couple was quite elderly and I’m sure just couldn’t see the crud), and my spouse had to take apart the washing machine to clean out the crusted on gunk which was the cause of a horrible odor. Just how is it that something that gets our clothes clean can get so dirty??
I’m quite envious of your thrift store as our beloved White Elephant has been a bit of a disappointment as the good stuff is taken first thing in the morning. We have delivered boxes of stuff to them so are grateful for that but since we have a small car with us instead of the pick-up, are unable to pick up any used furniture so ended up actually going to a furniture store today and buying brand new furniture! Egads!
That all being said, we are loving our new little villa and won the lottery with our wonderful new neighbors (which is important as we are in close proximity) and our beautiful view of the green lawn and trees. We are cherishing our gorgeous mornings and evenings before we return to Oregon in a few weeks. But we will look forward to our return this fall.
And I’ll echo what others have said about being happy you are continuing your blog.
Robin
Well hello there,
Darling photos of the boys as usual! Heh, they need their own blog I reckon. I wondear what they’d write about you, Sue? Like Bridget when she wrote, she told it like it was! HaHa.. 🙃. I’m stunned looking at the photo of those goat weeds! Stunned! Ugh! They look like they have thorns like cholla- is that what I’m seeing? Goodness, digging them up looks impossible. And poison- nooo! What are you going to do with them, if I may ask?
Since last writing, we’ve spent our time in Canyon De Chelly. Oh my! What an amazing place! We camped in two different spots the week we were there, the second being the park adjacent to the Visitor center. $12/night, dry camping, but with flush toilets, and water spigots spaced throughout the park. There were picnic tables, and lots of big shade trees. We took two guided hikes down into the canyon, and both were amazing! Small groups of 6 or 8, and we were treated to lots of stories and history of the canyon and her people. We took our hiking boots off at the bottom of the canyon, and waded calf deep in the cool water, with a soft, sandy bottom. It was an absolute delight! Our guides were both Navajo, both raised in the area, with families living above the canyon, or down below in the canyon. I can not describe what an amazing time we had getting to know the area on foot like that; up close and personal, first hand.
We are now boondocking outside of Durango. We’ll be here a few days while we wait for mail, and our cat food order to come in to one of the pet stores here. Tomorrow we’ll take a day trip up to Silverton. Thursday we are moving camp to be on the West side of town, and closer to Mesa Verde. We want to take several backcountry hikes there that we didn’t have time for last June. It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since we passed through this area on our way to pick up our Casita in Rice. Larry did some figuring, and since we left Vancouver last June, we’ve been 19,958 miles so far. Wow!
We aren’t too sure where to next, but we will continue North these next few months.
I hope everyone reading is well, and enjoying the good life!
Cheers, Suzi, Larry, and kitty.
Hi Suzi! Thanks for keeping up the updates. I love hearing what you are up to!
😊
Suzi! Hello from Rhonda! Such a pleasure to see you here and triangulate our friendship through Sue! Sounds like you are thriving! Hugs!
😊 Good to see you here also, my friend.
* Sue, Rhonda and I ran into each other at White Sands Nat’l Mon. recently. It wasn’t until after, that we discovered we’d each been following your blog. Love how “life rolls”! 😍
Oh the plague of goat heads…..we had them when we bought this property along with a nasty spiky low dark green bush that had huge burrs. No idea what those were called….the way we got rid of them? Digging out each stinking plant by hand. Once they have sprouted and gone to seed, we actually watered them so the ‘seeds’ aka goat heads would sprout, then pulled those out. It was tedious and nasty and every other descriptive word you can imagine….use good gloves! It was something that required a bunch of work, but we can walk barefooted anywhere on our place, an acre, and not get a puncture. It took a couple of years!
We also pulled them out along our driveway off the main road because of punctures on our son’s bike tires, got puncture proof tubes later, plus punctures on my horse cart tires, cart now has solid rubber tires.
I feel for you!
I also meant to add that the SW Anasazi tribes used the roots of yucca as detergent, calling them “yucca suds.” My spouse kept telling me that couldn’t be true until we visited a desert museum that talked about it. We have one outside our patio wall so now I know where to go if I run out of detergent. 🙂
Here is a weed killer that will not harm the boys. It will, however, kill whatever it is sprayed on, so you should spray it at the base of each goat’s head weed. I don’t know if that is possible, but if you can, it should kill them.
1 gallon vinegar
2 cups Epsom salt
1/4 cup Dawn dish soap. (use Dawn, other’s don’t seem to work as well)
Mix it all together and put it in a spray bottle, If you are going to try to put it on each weed, maybe use a bottle with a single small hole to get it directly on the base of the weed. The first time I used this, I sprayed the weeds that grew up at the base of the garage door. They all dies and didn’t come back for about 5 years! Don’t spray it where you want other plants to grow, the salt will prevent them growing for a while.
I’ve used this recipe, and it does work. It kills grass immediately, but on my more difficult weeds, it took a couple of applications. Good non-toxic starting point. I grew up in Arizona with those “stickers.” And everything everyone has said about them is true!
Hi Sue,
I’ve been hanging curtain rods too. And painting our “new” AZ home. And walking my fur babies in our park like neighborhood. They love it here. We all do.
That cart is awesome! Much better than the wheelbarrow I was contemplating. I may have to order one, and if I do I’ll come hereto do it. The yucca are cool! I would want to keep them unless they injured me, but those goat head things are evil! I’m glad the dogs apparently know not to step of them. I hope you can get rid of them!
It is a “monsoon-like” weather we are having here in southern NM. The eastern side of the state is having a rough time with tornadic type weather and even a few tornadoes. Monsoon has another month to go plus or minus a week or so. We also have lots of high winds starting around Memorial weekend – was really bad this year and very dusty.
Yuccas are pretty but I am learning (like long-timers to the SW), don’t let them grow and get rid of them as they spring up very fast. You do have to learn what to look for though. Also watch wearing open-toed shoes as all kinds of spiney cactus love to pop up anywhere, here I’ve learned to look for them in the shade of trees. So once a week, I am on “cactus patrol” to pull them up and throw away. It’s hard to see them until they get about 1-1/2 inch tall and I dig at the base and pull them out by their little root. I am not a “yard cactus” lover. So far I’ve managed to control the goatheads and a few other undesirables with Ortho’s GroundClear just once a year. Works for me. Too hard nowadays at this age to bend over and pull all the weeds. I have learned to have solid wheels on my carts, etc so they don’t get punctured.
Love your decorating. Is becoming a nice comfortable home for you.
Oh mercy, that was the bane of existence during some of our “farmy” days…so sorry you have goats head to deal with!! My daughter is working on her weeds (granted not like these) by covering them with the heavier cardboard boxes like one moves with, and covering that with some bark. SO far…so good. I also gave the ones near the edges a good soaking with straight vinegar…as well as some other weeds in cracks around. They all appear brown and dead now…but rain in a few days and then we will see!! Also, my dad felt that if his goats were allowed to munch on the weeds when young, that there was less goat heads to deal with…strangely enough. Hope you solve that.
We are still dealing with hubby’s issues…even though he had to go to ER in the ambulance (almost $8,000 for that plus the 5 hours in ER…hope our insurance and medicare will pay most of it)…we STILL have not seen a full fledged doc since that. We have an appt the end of this month to see an expert…I hope he will be ok till then. I guess hydrocephalus is not a big deal to the medical experts around here…or maybe it is just because we are old? Hubby wants to get an oxygen machine in hopes it will help him feel stronger…I remember your taking some oxygen at times from a canister thing? I am wondering how you currently feel about such? If you care to share. Thanks!!
Elizabeth, I am sorry you and your husband are going through this. I do hope that your medical bill will be covered. Trying to get good medical treatment can be so frustrating!
Thank you Dawn!! We hope most of it will be covered too…but such trips are not fun and our goal is to avoid that if we can!!
Elizabeth…
The oxygen I bought is intended for hikers and other “recreational use.” I don’t see how it could hurt your husband to try it (although realize I have no medical training).
The canisters are available at some WalMarts, sporting goods stores, and Amazon. They wouldn’t be practical for long term use.
We haven’t heard from Desert Ginger in a long while. I hope she reads your comment and replies because she has the experience to give you a better answer.
BLOGORINOS WITH EXPERIENCE/KNOWLEDGE OF OXYGEN MACHINES:
Please read Elizabeth’s last paragraph (above) and share your opinion/advice.
Hi Elizabeth,
I suggest that instead of supplementing his Oxygen intake, you make sure that your hubby is not anemic and has adequate iron in his diet. Although this will take a bit longer than a “whiff” of oxygen; extra oxygen will do no good unless his body can use it. So if he had blood drawn at the ER, which is a usual thing, try to find out if his hematocrit was low, normal or OK. Also, staying well hydrated may help him feel better. I hope this helps. If you do decide to supplement with Oxygen, I suggest a pescription from your doctor for insurance purposes.
Thanks for your input, Lisa…we will look into that information. Maybe more liver etc might be a good idea…he hates most greens, though we do eat broccoli often. He takes b12 both in shots and by mouth…he has a problem with having enough of that for some time now. It is hard to figure out what helps a person and what is simply to be endured as part of aging.
Thanks Sue…yes, I know you are not a medical person…he wants to buy a $1200 machine…and I am hoping to get him to try something a bit cheaper in waiting to see if the doc orders that for him. He wants to deal with the weakness this has brought on him. Which is part of the symptoms of this problem.
Elizabeth, please don’t try any form of oxygen for your husband without going through his doctor, being ordered from a legitimate company that trains him how to use it and the amount needed. It really isn’t something to use casually. I’m not talking about the little canisters used by hikers, especially in high altitudes. Hoping he’ll do much better. It’s a hard road.
Thank you Judy! I am beside myself…time goes on day by day…some of the time he is very weak and tired. Yet we wait and wait and wait…no one has done a thing for him yet. It worries me. The standard of medicine in this country is downright scary. Guess most of the good docs have left us…
Hi Missy! My advice for Elizabeth regarding oxygen is see a doctor. I use oxygen but my Inogen One cost about $3000. Here’s the thing you may not need oxygen. You can get an inexpensive Oximeter (less than $30) and it will show your oxygen level (should be in the 90’s percent). If you have many conditions it will render you breathless but not necessarily low on oxygen. See your doctor first. BTW Oxygen systems are covered by medicare if ordered with a doctors script.
I’ll second the suggestion of an oximeter. I bought one because I had symptoms that fit with not getting enough oxygen. The oximeter is easy to use and tells me important information. My oxygen is fine. I had other things to do to feel better (and I’m doing them).
Thanks, Calvin…so apparently the other things you were told to do help with your feeling better? Or maybe you researched them out yourself? Once we get setup better in the new apt we moved to, I can focus more on research…but any advice I am welcome to listen to also. Thanks!!
I’ve worked with whatever doctors I can, but I’m on Medicaid and most of them aren’t that great. (Some are.) I talk to the doctors and get diagnosed, but I check each diagnosis with reliable online sources, talk to people who have it (or had it), and especially I check and monitor each medication. I have several conditions, some of which interact with each other, and I find it necessary to be proactive.
Thanks, Jim…if we wait LONG ENOUGH, I guess we will see a doctor…have 3 appts scheduled…one coming next week with a nurse, one the 27th and one July 27th…we will see which ones actually happen….if at all. We do have the oxygen meter thing…but it is this weakness thing that is getting him… Thanks for the advice…we did learn that if doctor ordered, were told it could be covered by Medicare. We has seen the MRI photos so we are convinced by reviewing what is online, that he does have the Hydrocephalus…so it is very worrisome…how long before more damage happens etc?
Hi, Elizabeth,
As others have mentioned, if needed, the doctor should provide a script so you can run it through insurance.
My Dad had several advanced lung diseases and had to be on very high flow of oxygen 24/7. He had a concentrator in the house with a long tube connected to the machine. When out, he had to lug the huge oxygen tank(s) with him. Some folks don’t require such a high level of oxygen and can use a portable concentrator.
Good luck in getting the answers and help that you need for your hubby. **hugs**
Thanks so much Denise…still waiting we are!!
Thx for the info, had never heard of goat’s head plant before; learning never has to stop, no matter how old we are! Enjoyed the pics, as always. Glad that you and your two little boys are well.
Sue, thanks so much for the funny blog. You’ll never know how much it lifted my spirits when I most needed it. I’m going through a really hard patch at work. Don’t know how much longer I can stick it out here. So, I might have to move to find a new job. I keep playing the lottery, but the Lord doesn’t see fit to let me win! LOL 😉 So, that just means I will keep slogging on. Thanks for providing a ray of sunshine in an otherwise awful day!
Hi, Dawn,
I’m glad my blog gave you a lift. I hope things improve at your job or you find something better.
Sending my sympathies on your job situation too, Dawn!! When hubby retired the work situation was so bad it caused his health to plummet (acc. to our doc). I asked him the other day if he had ever missed working…heh, not too much!! I hope you can retire sooner rather than later!! Both of my daughters have had a horrid year at work too (and one lives on West Coast and one on the East Coast). So go figure…seems the loonies are running things these days eh? Hang in there!! Hope things get better soon for you!!
Sue … could you send me an email? I have some classified news for you. 🙂
Sorry, Steve. Throughout the years of my blog I have refused emailing readers because I want to limit distribution of my email address. I hope you understand.
Best wishes to you and the hounds….
When flame throwers and poison are needed to eradicate any problem it sounds like going to war. Sheesh, Sue, after reading that article and what she recommends as the only solutions (propane torch and chemical weed killers) that really work to get rid of goat’s head I think you have a real problem to deal with. Hopefully with a bit more research you’ll find an acceptably simple way to stop those plants from continually invading your yard, or discover that you and the boys can peacefully coexist with them.
It’s so nice that you have blooming yucca, budding saguaro, attractive home furnishings and an adorable little crew around to draw your eyes and thoughts onto
lovelier things 🙂 . Our unusually cool and rainy recent weeks here in central NY state have brought a quite beautiful and rare gift with them. The trees had become more heavily laden with samara ( wing shaped seeds that flutter, turn and spin as they drift carried by the wind towards the ground) than in any other year I remember. This past weekend was spectacularly windy, and watching thousands of those golden colored samara fall through the early morning mists surrounding my home was among the prettiest sights I have ever beheld. That evening a friend and I saw it happening again as we were sitting by a bonfire. He isn’t usually what one would describe as a particularly sensitive guy, and even he was obviously in awe of how wondrous it was to watch. So, watching creation bring ever changing sights that take one’s breath away is what I have been up to.
Wonderful, weather! I enjoyed your comment.
Thank you for teaching me a new word: samara. Love it! The word itself seems to twirl in the air when spoken. 🙂
Wow, and I thought we had some crazy weeds in Texas! I’m battling wild strawberries which look like the real thing but just spread like crazy and have “berries” that even the birds won’t eat. My neighbor planted a Yucca close to my fence and I continually have to chop the sprouts that want to come into my yard. Wish the darn thing would spread the other way!
I am a long time reader but not contributor. I love my home and my Casita. In my part of Texas we have both goat heads and grass (sand spurs) burs. Goat heads: cheap flip flops to pick up all the goat heads possible as you ‘walk’ the property, then throw away. Shovel and hoe for plants that are up and water to sprout the ones you missed. Takes one long season for a good start! Forever vigilant for the sneaky ones.
Yikes- those weeds sound awful! I think I might be tempted to just have cement poured in the yard, and just have some planter boxes! Wishing you good luck in dealing with it…
Thanks for the uplifting post. Like Dawn I too needed a pick me up. The doc got me started on some anti-anxiety meds last week. I am in such a funk, I am barely functioning. I sooo need to get motivated. Seems like all I manage to get done is laundry/cooking/cleaning kitchen & take care of hubby. I also still have my “work from home” job which I don’t want to deal with but have to however slowly.
Hope you, the pups, and the blogorinos have a great week.
So Sorry to hear that Barbara. I know you feel like you don’t have time, but please try to take care of yourself. A good friend once told me when I was feeling down to be kind to myself. So, please be kind to yourself!
Thanks Dawn.
Barbara, I too have had my own bouts thru my 72 years of life with depression. In my 30’s I was prescribed at different times 3 different meds for depression. Here’s what has worked best for me. They seem simple but have really helped !!! Self talk-no negative statements to myself-substitue with a positive statement every time it happens. Being grateful for each & every good thing you have- example when having to do laundry I say to myself I am so grateful that I have this washer & dryer to make the job easier. Other woman in other countries make be washing items creekside in dirty water. Or I am so lucky that I have food to put on our table-many women see their children starve in poor countries. Be grateful you have a decent kitchen to prepare your food in. BEING GRATEFUL is the key !!!! Last but not least-TREAT yourself everyday no matter how little time you may have to something special just for you-example read a good book which can take you to another place or time and give you something to look forward to. These all may seem so simple but have made a big difference when I practice them. Best thoughts & wishes in your journey-only you can choose to make it enjoyable !!!! KAYE FROM OREGON
Thanks Kaye, I can usually get myself out of these feelings, but I think I let it get to bad this time. I will try your suggestions, it certainly can’t hurt.
As a kid growing up in the desert I hate goat heads! They used to go all the way through the bottom of our flip flops and hurt like crazy. Tessa has “found” some in our travels and they are just miserable. Beautiful Yuccas (sorry they were so scary for Reggie).
Hi, Sue,
Thank you for a post that made me chuckle – I needed that! 🙂
May your battle with those awful goat head plants be successful! I have a hunch that your invaders may be from the unkempt yard behind you. They are probably growing wild there and hopped the fence. Nasty plants! Cute pictures of my favorite little boys! 💕
Sending you, Reggie, and Roger lots of love and hugs from me and Gracie pup! 😊
For all of the blogorinos that are dealing with health issues of their own or their family, or are feeling down. I understand. I hope today is is better day for you and that there is something positive that brightens your day. Gracie pup needed a potty break just after 5 AM; it was still dark outside and raining; two birds were singing their little hearts out. That made me smile. 😊 Life is good. **hugs**
Hi, Denise,
You were in my thoughts and prayer this morning. I was wondering how you are. Opening my laptop to your cheery messages gave me the answer I sought. Two little birds singing in the dark in the rain… Oh, that we would follow their example, eh?
And your example as well — thinking of others, wishing them well, when you have surgery ahead. Do you know the date?
Hugs to you and Gracie pup!
Thank you so much for your kind thoughts, prayers, and hugs, Sue! 😊
My surgery date is 06/20. Been working on getting things checked off my to-do list. Little by little, things are starting to fall into place. 😊
I hope you and the boys are enjoying your day. It has been raining off and on, but no complaints – we need the rain. After a very busy day, Gracie pup and I are going to enjoy a lazy night. 😊
Hi, Sue,
You got a steal on those curtain rods! Full price, they are not cheap! And those sheers on Amazon are an awesome price!
I have odd-sized windows in my home. 84” panels are too long…I need 72”. In the days before the internet & Amazon, Country Curtains was the only place I could find sheers that size. They have recently gone out of business, but The Vermont Country Store now carries much of their line.
Hi Denise: I posted the reply below on Sue’s last post but was afraid you wouldn’t see it so I copied it over here 🙂
Hi Denise – we just got home from our trip and I saw your note. Hope it’s not too late for you to see my reply – or maybe Sue has a way to get it to you more directly. Thank you for asking about my grand-nephew. On March 19th he was a year old! Yes, growing like a weed and so healthy – it’s just such a blessing. He has no health problems from his heart surgery – the surgeon just said he should not lay contact sports (such as football) when he gets older. He is a happy child, but quite serious and focused – I think he may be an old soul!! I’m thrilled to hear your grandtwins are doing well. Those milestones will come soon enough and then you won’t be able to hold them back!!
Hi, Cynthia,
So glad to hear that your grand nephew is thriving! Thank you for your kind words – yes! The twins will be running around before we know it! 😊
I wish you luck in your goat’s head crusade. Another bad actor is Japanese knotweed, although it does not produce such evil seeds. I know people have become afraid of Roundup (glyphosate), however, from my reading it is not to be feared. The surfactants that are added to it may be bad for you. Gloves should keep the surfactants off if you want to use it. I would not use the 2,4-D herbicides and I would certainly not let a professional use paraquat herbicides on my property (at least those compounds are not sold to the public…although I did whip up a small batch to use on some poison ivy once). I am going to put my DNA where my mouth is next week when I use some glyphosate on weeds in my gravel driveway. My wife’s sewing room continues to be the foster animal room. After the mama cat had 4 kittens a few weeks ago (and got transport after 5 days) we now have 4 new kittens waiting for a ride next week to northern Virginia.
Hello Sue and all! We just got home from our trip to Morro Bay. It was nice to get away even though Jim couldn’t do much more than he can at home. But it was relaxing – I read two books and took walks on the beach with Lucy. Sammy’s arthritis is getting too bad for him to walk across wide swaths of dry sand in order to get to the waterline where the sand is packed harder. To make it worse, he is a terrible traveler and refuses to lay down in the motor home while we’re traveling – so he stood for 5 hours each way and was exhausted when we got there and after the trip home. I think this has to be his last trip in the motor home unless I drive our tow vehicle separately – at least he’ll lay down in that.
I love your new curtains! I think sheer curtains are the prettiest – they let light in and let you see outside while still providing some privacy. I have no idea how to deal with goat’s heads but whatever the treatment is I’d think you have to wear thick-soled boots to do it! I laughed out loud at Reggie freaking out over the shadows – he probably wondered what the heck you were doing when you carried him over to the “bad guys!!”