The funny thing about “to do” lists – A note popped up on my computer. It said “think about closing pond.” That means close it for the winter. It’s not a lot of work but requires going into the pond and cutting back all the plants (less vegetation to decay), putting in the bubbler, removing the filter (and cleaning it) and placing the waterfall on bypass until it’s too cold to have the waterfall going. Takes maybe two or three hours but there is an emotional consequence. It’s sad to close it up. My note said to think about it. I did and decided to wait another week. It’s tricky because you can’t wait too long or you freeze working in the water. Too early and you’re cutting off blooming water lilies. Next week will work.
Speaking of the pond – In the spring I go a little nuts with it. It’s bare when I open it as the foliage hasn’t yet grown so I always buy more plants than I should. This year with the extremely warm weather, everything grew wild. There was a point where I could only see pinpoints of the water. Everything else was foliage. I had to cut back again and again. Next year I will not overplant. (That is my mantra. Will I be able to do that? We’ll see.)
Weird ads – There are a few “beauty” sites I loosely follow. As with anything on the internet these days, it’s flanked with stupid ads. I saw a whopper this week. Nose hair extension. Yes these are real things you can buy. Why? To catch wayward boogers?
A sea of pink – I did my usual Starbucks trip yesterday morning. There were over a hundred people there, all dressed in pink running outfits. It was a cancer run. I’ve been going there for a long time and this is the first time I saw so many groups here. They had a perfect day for a run. It was in the lower 60s at 7 a.m.
For bloggers – Followers are always welcome. However, there are real followers and others. (I am not talking about those folks who read with regularity but typically don’t comment. I call them hoverers and if they enjoy the post, I’m grateful.) This week I received a lot of “floorsander” followers. There was always a different word before “floorsander” but it sure looked like the same person. This is why a blogger should never get hooked on statistics.
So how was your week?
Judging by how long it took me to scroll down to the comment box, I’d say you have more than just hoverers. ☺️ As for next year’s mantra [That is my mantra. Will I be able to do that? We’ll see.] maybe set another reminder? I know I do the same thing in my garden. Mostly I keep putting it off but sometimes…
Have a super weekend!
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It’s hard. You want to pick the perfect time. Definitely not too early.
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And most definitely not too late! Icy water is no fun to work in.
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Did that once. Never again! I have to get in. It’s 28″ deep and it covers my legs. Even in waders it gets freaking cold!
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I used to enjoy clicking on some of the weird ads that cropped up on webpages, but with all the recent talk I’m a little paranoid about bedbug tracked for any perusing that seems even slightly suspicious, and I’m not sure I’m skilled enough to recognize what that might mean! Prior to my concern I loved seeing ads for things like the nosehair extension! On one hand I almost envy the fact that you can quiet the pond and let the garden sleep for the winter. Our work is so year-round! But I can easily imagine that this is a bittersweet responsibility. Let’s hope winter is kind this year!
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I wouldn’t mind a LONGER summer or maybe a long spring and fall. I’ve been seeing the pictures out of California and thinking of you. I know you don’t live in the wine country but it sure looks like the whole state is burning. Hugs.
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Your pond is so beautiful. You must get a lot of pleasure out of it. Your hard work pays off.
About ten years ago, my daughter and I did a 5K breast cancer run/walk in Nashville (all walk for me). It was huge, must have been a thousand people there at least. I still wear the shirt.
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I have friends who do the walk. Early morning walks aren’t friendly to my IBS issues so I don’t do them but I’m with the walkers in my heart.
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“I will not over plant.” I tell myself that every spring too, with respect to the garden. Then I think, “A few more hills of pumpkin won’t hurt. How big can they possibly grow? Twenty to thirty pumpkin plants may look cute when they first come up, but by mid-summer, my husband can be seen shaking his head muttering something about not being able to mow because the monsters I planted are taking over the yard!
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That’s a lot of pumpkin! I’m cutting back (so I say now) on tomato plants too. I missed being able to watch the frogs and fish so maybe…just maybe…I will control myself next year.
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I have 1,500 people who clicked ‘follow’ for my blog, but that’s all they did. Only about 20 regularly visit, and that’s who really follows. Have a great week, Kate.
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That happens to all of us. The number of comments is a better barometer of how popular the blog is.
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I want a pond. One my turtle, Franklin, can take up residence in. But H is having none of it. He says it’s a lot of work. I may just go out there this spring and start one myself!
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It’s not near as much work as a pool if you keep it small. Set up properly it takes care of itself much like wild ponds do.
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I love your pond, and you’ve never mentioned a waterfall before. It’s hard to believe another season has gone by. I see your frogs packing heading for the train. Think pink prevailed here too. It’s amazing how many people participate. My doorman had a pink ribbon on his lapel to honor his wife he said, he brought pink roses to. Touched me when he told me. As for blog readers, cyber peeping Toms, the online peanut gallery, at least they’re reading something. Like the term, hoverers. I think we all just maybneed a pond of our own. Ribbet. 🙂
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It’s starting to feel like hibernation time. Maybe I’ll catch that train with the frog. Maybe we’ll go to the Caribbean and play with Spring as she never seems to want to come home when it’s time!
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I saw you with him…you both had Starbucks and he held the door for you. Whadda frog…:)
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The best!
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Nose hair extensions, now that’s one I haven’t heard of, and yes, why?
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Honest I can’t come up with a single health reason. It was on a beauty blog. Maybe it’s the next big trend. Think I’ll pass on it.
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Our daughter has Alopecia so she has no nose hair. She misses them for keeping dirt and cold out but extensions seem kind of drastic. 🙂
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These extensions definitely hung out and not stylish. I never thought of the consequences of not having nose hair.
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Floorsander…never heard of that word before..:)
Putting off cleaning up the pond is sort of like putting off the end of summer. Glad it waited another week..:)
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You are exactly right! It’s easier (but still not easy) to close it when there are obvious signs of seasonal transition. We’ve been bumping the 80s again so it’s really hard just now.
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I always got sad in the Fall when I had to pack away my flip flops until Spring ~ living here in FL solved that problem.
I expect that waiting a week will add to your net happiness!
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Yes a week will help. Once the weather is cooler we’re not out as much. Even now with the earlier darkness we rarely eat dinner on the porch. I look forward to pulling out the flannels and fleece but would prefer to pack them away around March.
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Nose hair extensions… just no… no. I had a guy follow my blog last week and his blog or maybe his profile was all about how enormously endowed he is… another. just. no. I can’t see why anybody would follow me now, I haven’t blogged in 7 months! I keep thinking I will shut down the blog and park it in private mode but I haven’t done it. Floorsanders… I wonder if they popped up from when you put down the hardwoods. I will know it is spring when you talk about the amorous frogs… 😀
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I have the Barry White music and wine ready for those amorous frogs. I am not savvy about following but there must be an angle. Maybe you’ll follow back but when you are a PG blog and other one is well…way XXX…what are they thinking?
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It was creepy… then kinda funny. Then ick.
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I gave up on stats figures some time ago as everything seemed so erratic, and some of the new followers are closed sites or commercial services. I’m happy with my lot as is, and love the comments as you know.
I haven’t seen the little frog again, nor worked out where the pond is that he was aiming for!
And as for our To Do list, it’s getting longer, not shorter! Oh happy days!!
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After weeks of being in limbo either looking or waiting, being able to get things done must feel wonderful. Bring on those “to do” lists!
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We are on our second notebook!
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I never heard of ‘Floorsander’ followers before. Even my BFF, Google, offered no information on this one. If they don’t have a blog they want you to follow, I wonder what their angle is? Knowing me, I’d trash their comments for sure…and empty the bin!
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They haven’t left a comment. They just followed. It was an email address like smithfloorsanders@xxxx(I don’t remember the specific). Sounded like a business to me but then it came through with different names followed by floorsanders. There were maybe ten of them. Someone is messing with me! 🙂
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Or, someone at a floor sanding office, found your blog, loved the humour, and shared your blog with his/her workmates. That would make sense to me!
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I like that theory!
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I can’t believe that nose hair extenders are a real thing. I wonder if it was just a virus link to get people to click on it? Next time, we demand pictures!
I’m constantly amazed at some of the followers I get. Businesses, young twenty-somethings who love to post pictures of themselves in exotic locations, others who obviously have no interest in a blog written by a retiree. I figure most just want a follow in exchange (ummm, nope). When I get a new follower who writes well and about things I’m really interested in… and better yet leaves comments, I am so pleased. That blogger, I will probably follow back.
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Most times I don’t have the time to check out bloggers but I will for sure if they leave a comment. A reasonable comment. I also get followers that I can’t figure out why they follow. No commonality. Whatever! So…you want me to get a virus trying to get a picture? Picture fleece (dark fleece) hanging on the bottom of a nose. Gross.
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NO! Don’t click… just take a screen print, or a picture with your phone. Or not… that does sound pretty gross.
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If I see the ad again, I’ll update.
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I have some “floorsander” followers, too. Do you just leave them there? I wonder if they set up email addresses to catch all the notifications that they’ll never look at.
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Yes I left them there. Can’t figure out their angle. I thought maybe someone would know why anyone would do that. I checked one or two and there was no blog.
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We have never had a pond. Does a pool count? Or the fact that I rescued a turtle and took it to a friend who does have a pond? LOL! As always, I enjoyed the post.
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I read your post about rescuing the turtle. We don’t get them around here, just frogs. Yes a pool counts if you have to close it.
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Now that’s just gross! I think we should invent leg hair extensions (good for holding up your socks in the dead of winter!) I, too, am trying to get motivated to get out and cut down all of the perennials before really bad weather sets in. Wish I had the motivation! It’s 45 degrees out there this morning!
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We are in the midst of an unseasonable heat wave. Makes cutting down flowering plants so much harder. By the end of the week we may have cooler weather. Leg warmers! That’s what we could call those leg extensions!
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I feel the same way about closing our screened-in porch for the winter as you do about your pond. The wicker furniture has to be stored in the basement and the plants have to be tossed, nothing difficult to do, but I put if off for as long as I can.
I agree about not getting hooked on stats. I would’ve given up on blogging years ago if I believed they mean anything. All I look at them for is to see if there’s an overall change in pattern, not the specific numbers that show up there.
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We also have the screened porch to close up. We keep the furniture there but take in cushions and cluster the furniture together so we can close it. So sad. Did you ever notice someone with 5000 followers but they get 15 likes and a handful of comments on a post? Never made sense to me.
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I’ve wondered about those kinds of stats, too. There’s something off. Do they buy followers somehow?
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Maybe Amazon sells them by the pack, a thousand followers to a pack!
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😉 I know that you can buy Twitter followers, so who knows if/where you can buy blog followers? Amazon sells everything…
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You can buy Twitter followers? I’m so behind the times!
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Yes, for those without self-esteem, there is a solution. Buy your followers, look like you’re someone special. 🙄
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Good grief!
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The closing of the pond is such a lett8ng go t this time of year. I’m working up to plant some bulbs …. when the weather cool so down a bit.
Thanks for the Christmas guft idea!
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As a gift? Gosh, I hope not!
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Floorsanders? That’s a new one to me. What the heck are they?
Now I have a terrible picture in my head of a hairy-nosed person with a bad cold.
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I like to “booger” up your day! 🙂
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I saw that picture of the nose hair extensions and I think I saw the real thing at work the other day. I didn’t want to stare at the girls face but it definitely looked like there was something coming out of her nose that wasn’t just a nose piercing. GROSS! As for blocking unwanted followers, I went to WordPress to look that up and you can delete a follower but you can’t really block them. According to them the internet is public. You can delete them and that way they won’t automatically see you in their feed. Happy Sunday.
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Ewww! Can’t imagine someone with extensions or natural nosehairs that they don’t trim. I don’t feel stalked so at this point I won’t do anything. Just can’t figure out what the point it. It’s not like I’ll get my floor sanded!
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NOSE HAIR EXTENSIONS?! No way! OMGosh, that’s weird.
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I regret not saving the picture because it was weird. Wasn’t going to google it either as I didn’t want it to follow me everywhere I go.
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Can WordPress block people? I’ve never had a notion to do that, but it kind of feels like we should have that ability now that you are being haunted by floorsanders.
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I don’t know. Other than a follow click, I never hear from them again. If they didn’t all come within a few hours and have the same pattern, I wouldn’t have noticed.
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You can block, you can remove followers. Reader page – see top left: followers. Click on that. For blocking, go to your [now I can’t find it!] your profile/preferences page – ask the WP happiness engineers. Sorry – big fail (I’m still learning, but really don’t appreciate the bot-followers and get rid of the ones I’m sure are bots.
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Kate, I love hearing about your pond. Thanks for the update.
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Thank for stopping by.
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Nose hair extensions??? What drug was the inventory on, do you think?
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It was accompanied by a very gross picture too.
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Floorsander? that’s a new one for me.
Your feelings about closing the pond are similar to our’s about closing the pool. It feels like defeat … giving in the reality that winter is coming 😦
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Good way to describe it. The pond is bare without the plant growth but I keep underwater structures so the fish can hide from predators. The frogs are pretty much on their own.
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Nose hair clipper I understand — I actually gave that to an obnoxious guy at work one year as his secret Santa gift. But extensions?! WHY?
Next up, armpit hair extensions!
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All the better to smell you! PS: I love your choice of gifts!
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Nose hair extensions? For real? That’s crazy! Your pond area is beautiful, Kate.
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Yes there was a picture of a model with a rat’s nest coming out of her nostrils. Gross!
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I was about to “like” this comment of yours, but then that made me think it could send the wrong message. So I’ll just concur here: Gross! – Marty
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Oops! I “liked” your comment. Still gross!
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That’s given me the biggest laugh of the day so far! 🙂
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Let’s hope it gets better from here! 🙂
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