I have slowly been replacing the grass in my front yard with shrubs and flowers. I think it's silly to water grass just to mow it. It's rough sometimes, though, because the deer, rabbits and voles like to nibble. My hydrangea is suffering this year. Most everything else is ok, though. Nothing is deer resistant, they pick and choose from year to year. Desperation is motivation to chomp. 

Couldn’t agree more Tiny. Such a significant waste of water really. I don’t mind grass at all when it is allowed to cycle it’s own dormant season. Problem is that is when most people want to be out on it and long for the soft green-ness of it. 
Hmmm. Deer do make it tough in places to garden. I’ll have to do some reading on “deer resistant” plants in your neck of the woods as I’m curious now. I’m surprised they like Hydrangea. 
Guess you could plant them some corn...? Lol! Pumpkins make beautiful yard plants but not Evergreen. I’m sleepy and not thinking clearly. 

OMG.

I just wrote a huge cathartic thing, processing some of this dang void, and have absolutely no clue how I made it disappear into the ether! Ugh!

Well...one thing in it was how I e been using the visual of Tab and Jackson with their Vulture playmates to stay present and in the moment. Then I said I was gonna go on another walk now and go see John. He’s leaning. Had pondered aloud on why I allowed myself to build such symbolism around something I knew wouldn’t last. Then equated that to nothing really lasts except styrofoam. So, it was a much more introspective and thoughtful thing than this here, but I just can’t recreate it. Maybe it will show up. That’s happened before. If not...at least I got it out and somewhere in the web world exists more useless pondering of an addict. 
Hope you enjoyed your Sunday! 

One of our neighbors has blue hydrangeas and they are lovely. The deer ignore it. I have white and they get nibbled. I hear the color depends on the pH of the soil. Don't quote me on that. The only thing I've never seen even a nibble out of is my peonies. Even the dumbest fawn won't touch them. Not sure why, but I'm not complaining. I wonder if bunnies nibble pumpkin vines? The birds and bunnies can almost be as bad as the deer. My neighbor has two sheds up on cinder blocks and he puts vegetables underneath it to feed the little nippers. He smears peanut butter on the deck railing for the squirrels. Not a fan of that but if it makes him happy...it just leads a lot of squirrels our way and the dogs go nuts chasing them around. Sounds like a lot of stress for all parties involved. I thought it was funny that Yellowstone put out a thing today on twitter saying no selfies with fluffy cows. What a hoot.

Oh, squirrels. I saw one today that it took me a minute to figure out what it was. Had no tail. Just a little stub. At first I thought it was a bunny but then it would have had no ears. Poor little guy. He seemed happy enough, scurrying around. Hope he can climb ok and get up away when needed. One of my neighbors puts out peanuts in the shell. She loves the squirrels. I’m always finding the shells in my yard.

I like the blue hydrangea too. I’ve heard that too about changing the color by changing soil pH. I think it takes a while though. They have some here that the blooms are really big and look like cow heads. I’ll find you a picture.

So...that is funny! No selfies with fluffy cows. You know...I’ve been there and seen some people do some really stupid stuff. Got a book there called “Death In Yellowstone “. You can probably get it anywhere. It is actually pretty darn fascinating! Not to be mean, but, yeah. People have done some really dumb things there and not lived to tell about it. I try not to underestimate Mother Nature, but I swim in the Pacific so maybe I’m just as stupid. 
Not sure if bunnies eat pumpkin vines? When I was a kid my Mom planted them along the drive. We kids used to crack up cause folks would drive out from the city so their kids could see cows. Yeah, sad, I know. But true. Anyway, there were always people that would stop and ask what the beautiful plant was with the huge orange flowers. I might do one next year in honor of my Mom now that I think about it.

Ok...maybe not cows...but some kind of creature, yes?

What are those plants???  How wild!  Are they eaten or grow like that?  Pig...dog...cow??

My turn to nuke my post grrrrrrrrrrr.

I wrote that John is a good symbol cos as long as it takes to bloom is like how long it took to quit!,  Also that bloom reaches to the sky....like we did when we quit cos it seemed impossible!!!  Another reason is we may not have another quit in us from going through this.......  So when the bloom falls we remain a healthy agave!!,  How is that so far?

My bro, his friend and sis in law are the best.  We had a lot of fun.  My bro even did a water aerobics routine with me!!  He is the best.  He and his friend cleaned out my gutters, pruned tree, showed me how to operate my newest battery powered yard tool.  We ate and after a hike, late swim, they hit the spa.  I didn’t want it to take off my spray tan so passed.  Actually like it colder out.

Yes girls I love hydrangea too!!  Can’t grow it here but I don’t grow anything that requires much care.  I think acid will turn them blue.  Oh Tiny...peonies!!!!  You are so lucky.  Love those but not a Tx survivor.

Funny you guys are talking about squirrels...I finally saw where the squirrels are jumping onto the roof.  So loud like a giant’s footsteps...lol. I miss seeing pumpkin vines.  They are pretty cool to watch grow.  I saw this thing where you tie netting around the fruit so animals don’t take chunks out of them.  Cool idea.

Had urges yesterday with family here and will say they were so happy I quit and complimentary!!  I explained to sis in law how it is not an overnight thing or even a one month thing!!  Course she has never smoked.  It was really nice tho.

Hugs to all you warriors!!

Peggy

5-8-20

Those look like cows heads to me! Little noses at the end and all. I've only seen the big round hydrangeas. I think the cows are just lovely. I'm going to have to check out this book. Im a total jerk because I think sometimes people get what they deserve when it comes to wild animals. They think the parks are an amusement, and they are safe to do whatever. Then they get a dent in their car when bison give them a warning. Let me add that I do not laugh if someone is seriously injured. Just car dents and getting chased. Every year at work we have to go to a winter safety presentation. It has things like how to walk safely on ice, winter driving tips, etc. Then they show video of people walking into puddles, falling down, getting out of a moving vehicle that had lost control on ice, that sort of thing. It takes every ounce of self control I have not to laugh. Who jumps out of a moving vehicle on a hill because their car is sliding? Seriously?!?! Who wear high heels to walk up a steep blooming hill? All the women I know have a kind of tote bag for the winter that you throw your good shoes and purse in. Then when you get to your destination you switch shoes. Peggy, I'm glad you got to see some people. Covid has us all so isolated. I'm also glad people got to tell you what a good job you are doing because everyone needs to hear that. Know that you are doing a great job staying smober and you're an excellent role model. I figured with where you live your tan would be real. We need to get you outdoors! Although they do say that no tan is a safe tan. I'm on day two of zero lozenges, no nrt or nicotine of any kind. Ive been edgy, and a little crabby but overall good. There were a couple of times that I felt like I really needed one, but I held off. Got up early to walk the dogs but the wind was howling and it was pouring so I just worked on my cross stitch. It's called Halloween squirrels. One is dressed like a vampire and one like a princess. Of course there are pumpkins and acorns. I've gotta bang this thing out before October, so I'm working hard on it. Gardens and crafting are my gig. What do you guys do for fun?

Of course I have no idea what anyone is talking about! But you 3 seemed to be entertained, so that’s good! 
 

Tiny that is awesome without the NRTs! Yes probably be a little irritable but hey who cares as long as you don’t piss the wrong person off! Lol . I’m over a month with cutting the Chantix down. But it takes 2 weeks before your body adjusts to changes, so on the 15th of this month will cut down again, and see how that goes.

I make or do a lot of projects. So I have realized that doing my “projects “ actually triggers the cravings. Because while doing I would smoke or take breaks to smoke. Today was cleaning walls and ceiling from the wallpaper I took down and the popcorn ceiling. Tedious work. Trying to get glue or remaining wallpaper off. Only got half the room done. Oh well. Tomorrow another day.