miriamwithcats Member

Kim in CA, do you practice gray water conservation? Gray water is the water from sinks and bathtubs and washing machines. It can be diverted to use on the garden. You cannot divert the water from the toilet! But the other water is safe to use on gardens. In Idaho there was a drought for many years while we lived there. The…

Lilacs flower best in full sun. You often find them in part shade because they are such long lived shrubs that the trees nearby have grown tall enough to block their sun. My white one and one lavender one were planted beside my house, probably around 1900. I have to let them grow 15 feet tall to get enough sun to bloom. I…

Janet, check out this site for information about shrubs, including lilacs in OK. http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-5816/HLA-6439web.pdf

Chris in MA... I ordered from the company I always get my jeans from, and the same style I always get. So I thought just getting a size smaller was good. I have a hard time using the sizing charts anyway. My body is so weirdly shaped (think German peasants) that even those aren't very helpful. And as far as wearing cute…

Oh, and KJ, congrats on the study! That sounds like fun!

KJ, yes, definitely use the muck from the gutters in your compost. It is half decomposed leaves and tree seeds! The only caveat is if your roof is new there may be grit from the shingles in it. I noticed that my new roof shed a bit at first. But I don't think there is anything in there that you cannot have in the compost-…

Pip, PCP stands for primary care physician in managed health care terms. My new, too loose jeans really are TOO loose. I wore them to physical therapy and kept having to pull them up! I guess I will take the side seam in a bit so they fit better.

Joyce, I never had any knee pain until I tore my meniscus. That is when I found out that I had bone on bone arthritis in my knee. The surgeon said that it was not uncommon to have no pain until something happens that causes inflammation in the area. That somehow triggers your body or brain to recognize that you have pain…

Saw this and it made me think of all the dog walkers here!

Katie, I like the sleeves the way they are. The dress has a funky seventies vibe with them the way they are which I love! Also, try PT for your knee. It has really helped mine. When I have to sit for long periods, I straighten my leg every so often, so the joint isn't in one position. That seems to help with the knees, but…

It is hard to let go of toxic friends or family. They are someone who knows our history, and who at one time were worthy of our time and attention and we hang on to that memory. I recently removed a toxic friend from my life. He had known me since '94, and supported me through some tough times. But he had become an angry,…

So, I tried on my new size smaller jeans this morning. I was nervous about trying them on. So often, I will order something and it is too small when it arrives. I was pleasantly surprised! The jeans (with the exception of the waistband) are actually LOOSE! And these are stretchy jeans that are designed to be snug! (Like a…

Yeah Chris!

DJ, I am not sure that it is good for your lab to be licking paint even if it isn't lead based. Have you tried spraying hot sauce on it?

Heather, so sorry to hear about Kate. Tulips sound wonderful.

Saffron, I have had problems with depression since I was four years old. I also have a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling and have trained as a Peer Support Specialist. So my comments come from that background. What you are feeling right now- hopelessness- is a symptom of depression. It sometimes helps to keep telling…

Joyce, I can relate! I have clothes I wear at home (jeans and tees with holes in them from the cats) and clothes I wear to go places that I put on immediately prior to leaving the house. I take them off as soon as I get home. That includes the bra- I am allergic to latex and elastic is latex. So is spandex. So they make my…

Lillian and Margaret, the smoke from the fires made it all the way to Iowa yesterday. It was so smoky!

Cheri, love the afghan squares!

Janet, (((((hugs))))). Carol, so proud of you and your pastor and bishop! As I type this, my grandchildren are here. My granddaughter is 5, my grandson is 7. Since he was two years old, I have known that he was transgender. His mom's side of the family is not accepting, keeps saying it is a stage, that he just needs to be…

Margaret, what fun! Thanks! My lilacs are in bloom right now! I have a white one, two light purple, and the sensation lilac (white with a purple edge on each blossom). The scent is heavenly. I also have two dwarf Korean lilacs that will bloom soon. They have a much more intense scent- the whole half of the yard smells…

Janet, (((((hugs)))))

I usually read mostly nonfiction, but scored some Kellerman books at the used books sale at the library this week. As I read them, I made an observation and I wondered if anyone else had this same problem. When I am reading, every time the people in the book are eating a meal, I find an intense urge to get a snack. As I…

Just because a large acreage is surrounded by protected land, doesn't mean one is safe from others seeing one. Decades ago, when I was in Idaho, we lived right by a butte. The butte was part of the Birds of Prey protected area. The nearest houses were all a mile away. I let my former husband convince me to get naked at the…

Marcelyn, cello is the preferred instrument in my extended family. My mother played it and was good enough to play in the Nashville Symphony when we lived there. I played it from 5 until high school and was forced by circumstances out of my control to quit then. My oldest sister and her husband have both dabbled in it (she…

Heather, Bea is adorable.

Penny gorgeous pictures! Sylvia I have nights like you just had! Not fun. It makes the next day so hard to get through. Will you have a chance for a nap today? I have been awake since 3:30 this morning. Just woke up for some reason. Was wide awake, until about time to actually get up, and THEN I got sleepy. I am reading a…

Made me laugh too! I lived in OKC for a year, but had and still have family there.

Sylvia, usually no more than 20 minutes for ice. You can do it again, but you don't want to cause frostbite! So sorry you had such an awful experience at the chiropractor. Penney, I am having a hard time wrapping my head around the north side getting too much sun! I always look for lots of east, south and west light in my…