Saving time

My bedside clock needs to be replaced--- since the year they began to randomly decide when day light savings time would change.  It's programmed to automatically springs forward or fall back depending upon the season.  Well, this morning it sprang forward--the only problem with that was that the real time change happened a few weeks ago.  Soooo-- it's Saturday... I had the clock set to get up early and do a health fair at the community center---wellllll, I'm up really early. 

OK, I'll stop complaining and use this EXTRA time to write.  My birds are singing in these muffled tones.  They saw my light and thought it was the sun.  Sorry guys.  Yesterdays' rain was a great gift to my garden.  Duke boy worked most of the day moving plants and weeding beds.  I think I'll keep him.
He is a great pine straw spreader.  My thigh muscles won't even allow me to pass by the bundles without quivering. 

 "I will send the rains in their seasons..." Leviticus 26:4.  I think God must have just reviewed that scripture because it's pouring now. 

Peace.

Buzzards, crickets, and birds. Oh my!

Receive and experience the amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ,
                             deep, deep within yourselves.
                                                   Philippians 4: 23   The Message

What a great scripture! That is my hope for each of you today as you go about the last Friday in March of 2012.

 When I got home last night Duke boy had a delicious supper waiting on the stove for me.  After eating I went to the patio to watch the Hooch run swift and high. The air was full of sunset serenades and peace from my birds. Two very large birds, that I wanted to be eagles since we have some that nest upriver at West Point lake, flew in and out of the trees. When they roosted I studied them through the failing light and my failing eyes and decided they might be buzzards . I'm guessing my tiredness was registering in the atmosphere as the mother load of meals for the month for those guys.

I am happy to report this morning that I wasn't picked clean on the patio.  I'm here listening to my birds wake up the sun again.  It is quieter than previous days perhaps birds take Fridays off too.  The quiet does allow room to hear the crickets who are leaving the night shift to find hiding spots from the day shifts' hungry feathered beaks.

Pen pals

A morning of writing--cards, news article and now here.  I remember when writing was a chore.  Now it's fun to get to it.  Do you realize there are people in Russia who are reading this?  What a connection.  It's more fun than that pen pal in 4th grade in Mrs. Guthrie's room! 

I must go outside and put water in that leaky bird bath. We must straighten it this weekend.  The birds are not discouraged, they are still trying to flop around without spilling over the side themselves. Nothing like a new pool.

Have a super last Thursday of March.

"the heavens are telling the glory of God..." Psalms 119

Heavens, raise the roof!

Thrilling to see my first bloom on my little Grancy Greybeard tree.  Hedgie girl and boy gave it to us for Easter last year.  It had a long rough summer where I did my best along with God's water to see that it didn't thirst to death.  The lessons of life are all around us in the garden.  It was also fun to see a Blue jay trying to waller in our new leaning birdbath.  I just filled it up with water again--so I could watch the waterfall--out the cracks. 

My brother's sons have a new movie out, October Baby.  It's about redemption and grace after a woman makes one of those not so black and white choices.  Those words are in my favorite lines from the movie that are delivered by the police officer.  It's worth your time to see this movie that was mostly filmed in Alabama.  I am proud to be related to such talent.

Here's a scripture for the day.  Isaiah 49: verse 12 or so--it's from my bargain find--The Message.
Heavens,raise the roof! Earth, wake up the dead!
   Mountains, send up cheers!
God has comforted his people.
  He has tenderly nursed his beaten-up , beaten-down people.

Don't you just love that?  Spring is definitely nursing this person.

All the trees of the forest sing for joy

Duke boy and I attempted to level our birdbath yesterday.  Perhaps all our birds will have that  hill cow disease  where one set of legs is shorter than the other.  Did I mention the birdbath was vintage so it has some cracks which lends itself to a beautiful trickling effect when the bath is full, but you do have to look fast to notice it .  A lovely ambiance is struck under the crepe myrtles where we located this new garden treasure.

 Hopefully the birds will appreciate our efforts.  I interrupted the bath of an Eastern Towhee yesterday in the river garden, this is according to http://www.allaboutbirds.com/ .  What a wonderful website where you can even listen to the calls of the birds.  OK, back to the bath,  I didn't exactly disturb him, he completed his morning toilet as I watered flowers on the other side of the garden. Speaking of that--it's probably time to go yell at the cat who likes to try and have my birds for his morning snack.  He's not my cat and I don't yell at him too much because I suspect he's the reason I've only  SEEN less than five snakes in my garden over the nearly 12 years we've lived here.

 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
   let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
¹² Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
   let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. 
  Psalm  96

Except for the sea--all this is in my garden this morning.  The river is quiet and peaceful.  Hope your day is full of this kind of wonder.  This is your last Tuesday in March 2012 to see all this.  Go outside!

Estate sale bargains

More like March and less like May this morning.  The birds have their teeny little windbreakers on this morning while hunting their breakfasts. I'm still feeling like I did time on the stair master after all that pine straw spreading on Saturday.  Still got a bunch more to spread.  I am happy to report that my garden is looking marvelous!  My bargain of the weekend was a $5.50 bird bath from an estate sale yesterday.  It's under some shade so the birdies won't burn their tootsies this summer. 

Enjoy this last week of March.  Get outdoors and look for all things growing and blooming.  It's amazing to see how many things have multiplied during their long winter of sleep.

"You did it: you changed wild lament into whirling dance.....God,my God, I can't thank you enough."
Psalm 30:12  The Message  ( Actually this was my best find at the estate sale.  A brand new leather copy of the The Message for $1.50.  The pages are that wonderful thin paper with gold edges.  A great Easter present to me!)

Sunday hymn singing

Sleep such a good thing.  Last night I'd used up my daily supply of bend-overs from my pine strawing of the house garden(front yard). This morning I CAN move again.

Today is the Sunday before Palm Sunday. The breeze in my window is chilly on my flip flopped feet.  The birds all are singing their Sunday hymns.  I look forward to seeing that cross, my window view earlier in the week,in church today and hearing Duke boy's sermon.  Hope you will find a place to worship today. 

May the peace of God which passeth all understanding be your constant companion on your path today.

Sweet Georgia breezes

I'm clean now.  This was not true five minutes ago when the Georgia red clay was circling the drain.  My skin has that tight feel from too much sun.  I did wear my hat ALL DAY! It's a habit I'm trying to make myself take up so my later years won't be spent having skin cancers removed from my wrinkled gardening face.  It was a truly marvelous day to garden.  The temperature was cool and the breeze blew all the gardening dew from your skin the minute it popped up. 

My yard is approaching ready for the gardening award judges to stop by.  We've even planted trees for the occasion.  Sistateer GG brought two Yoshima cherries from Macon and they are in the ground. 

We saw "October Baby" last night in Lagrange.  It's a film by my nephews and it's a great story about forgiveness and healing.  My favorite line is that things are rarely black and white.  The acting is good and the scenes are mostly in Alabama.  It's definitely worth a trip to your local theatre.

Make haste

Rainy, grand evening here with only a little thunder and some limited light show moments.  Little BW had to have some of her calming meds to make it through without panting all the air out of her little body.  Perhaps my car will be its' lovely champagne color again instead of dusty yellow.

Great sistateer evening laughing about days gone by, the present, and our hopes for the future.

"Life is short and we never have enough time for gladdening the hearts of those who travel the way with us.  O, be swift to love! Make haste to be kind. "  Henri Amiel

Sistateers ?

GG is coming to my house today.  We've been connected since 8th grade.  Church and mutual good friends brought us together.  She is much better than me about honoring our connection with visits and calls.  Face book and emails have linked us on a daily basis over the last few years.  She brought a golf cart to my daughter's wedding so we could move our guests more easily to the ceremony by the river.  She is in my three musketeers group--more like sistateers from high school.  We attended our 40th high school reunion last summer.  We are disconnected by physical distance but the heart knows no distance.  "Ain't no mountain high enough.." now rolling in my head. 

Who is in your sistateers group?  I had a heart call to the 3rd "teer" of the group yesterday to get an idea for a table painting make-over.  She will henceforth be called "Ms. Sunny",a carryover from her beauty queen days.  These sistateers know the joys and sorrows of my heart and I theirs. 

O that today you would listen to his voice! Do not harden your hearts...Psalm 95:7-8

Curing spring fever

Great trip to Columbus this morning.  The woods are full of blooming dogwoods and many yards are covered in Alabama (red & white) azaleas :).  Richie Havens strummed his guitar and sang, "Here comes the sun" just for me.  OK and the thousands of others with Sirius radio--didn't steal my joy!

Took time to speed water the plants in my back garden, heretofore, referred to as the river garden.  Donnie has planted hydrangeas all over the yard.  Thanks to whoever cut those back and left the branches beside the road.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for their survival.  They are the oak leaf variety, which are his favorite.  We also have some transplants from south Alabama that will think they've gone to Canada when summer hits full force.

As I came down the stairs today there was a cross outside my dining room window. It gave me pause for a minute until my mind allowed me to remember that Duke boy had it there for his Lenten sermon for Sunday.
If you're in the area come worship with us at Shawmut UMC in Valley, AL.  at 11 ET. 

Watch out today for spring fever.  You are most vulnerable if you fail to take the time to enjoy the outdoors at some point during your day.  Peace and more Bama azaleas.

Peace for each step

     Still looking at "peace" in the pollen on my table.  A good housekeeper would have cleaned that table by now--my secret is out--this is why I like to garden.  Gardens don't have to be dusted.  Weeded, yes; planted, yes; watered, yes; dusted, no--unless you mean the occasional 7 Dust, which I rarely use anymore.  I wish for all of you a day of dust free gardening.  I know many of you are having difficulties with all this pollen.  People have come to my office chugging and telling me "It's allergies!"  I make it clear from the first visit to please not bring me any germs so most do their best to abide my policy.

     May your day be blessed with beauty, joy,and most of all with peace for each step.

Where shall it be?

     I need to create a garden venue for counseling.  It's way too pretty to sit inside a building today.  After church last night I did a little speed gardening rather than getting on the treadmill.  I managed to clean the creeping fig off my side steps before it got too dark.  Actually that's probably the best time to do it since you don't have to see all the little black spiders that are just waiting to jump into your shorts and make a new home.  Speed gardening this morning will consist of watering all the beautiful blooming things that are creating this spring celebration for my eyeballs and nose.  I am thinking this is a good day to forget my contacts and wear my glasses, that way I won't want to claw my eyes out by my last appointment this evening.

  " My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.  When shall I come and behold the face of God."
                                                                      Psalm 42.2

   I believe I shall behold it in my garden and in the faces of those I meet today.  Where will your "shall" be today??

Pollen peace

     God is really showing off outside today.  Had coffee outside with Duke boy--he is sad--if you follow basketball then you know why.  We stared in amazement while Cardinals, Blue Jays, Robins, Sparrows, and our Eagle flitted through our oak trees.  Our trees were bare last Saturday night and have leaves and those annoying little tassely things today.  I strolled in my garden and gathered flowers for our lunch table.  It's very hard to cut my flowers but I love flowers on the table too.  My Grandmother always had flowers on her table when you had lunch with her. A Grandmother bouquet was so large sometimes you had to peep around to see who was eating across from you.  This was a testimony to how many flowers she grew. 
     Hope all of you have a church to worship in today.  Shawmut United Methodist in Valley,AL will always welcome you.  Duke boy has special sermons during Lent about the Cross. 
     I just looked over at my black table under my open window.  I think I shall write "peace" in the pollen. 

Golden Days

     Watching "Golden Girls" and have the quote of the morning "keeping me from living won't keep me from dying" .  Rose scolded her Mom for doing too much and got this response.  A good reminder when thinking of how to care for an elderly parent.  Such a great show about the importance of friendships with women and the aging process.
     It's another beautiful spring day.  Hope you have a great Saturday. Plan to do a little soil moving today myself.  First I gotta take a trip to the nursery to get some pine straw. I shall look very well dressed in my garden today with my hat, gloves, and sox--- to protect my newly pedicured toes. 
    

Frolicking through the madness

     March Madness for the Duke boy today.  He has his bracket, his chair, his TV, and is wearing his Duke shirt.  I have learned over the years to give him lots of space on game days.  I hate it that March Madness and beautiful spring days coincide, but I've learned to entertain myself and not expect him to participate in my frolicking.  I shall do the same today.  Time to get the toes done with Hedgie girl so we can have a visit while my feet get prepared for greeting this great weather.  I pledge that I shall wear sox with my gardening clogs so the wonderful feet massagers at Pro Nails won't have to use an IED on my feet to remove the summer soil before they beautify them.
     Hope all of you have a wonderful St. Patrick's Eve, March Madness, spring frolicking day.
     Peace begins with a smile.  Mother T. 

Arbor Days

     Had an amazing adventure arriving home before dark on a Wednesday.  Wahoo! After that I participated in a front porch moment with my neighbor.  Now I don't have a front porch---I have a settee, table, and chair in the yard---oops--"front garden"which will now be know as my arbor garden since it's near my Lady Banks Rose arbor.  Don't you just love the sounds of all those words: settee, arbor and the best one-- garden.  Duke boy put all that ambiance in the arbor garden (smiling) when he gardened on Friday.  Rock Man brought his own chair, vintage from a local funeral home, where we decided many had found comfort over the years discussing how the Church Triumphant had a new member. We didn't visit long but we got to take in the sights of the Lady Banks Roses that are just beginning to peek out.  When Duke boy got home from church he accompanied me to the arbor garden where he read the paper while I ate my supper and little BW begged beans from my plate.  We shall have to bring back the small dining table to the arbor too. 
    " Peace begins with a smile."  Mother Teresa

River views

     Who knew that writing could be such fun?  Today I will reach 500 hits on this page.  Thanks to all of you who are hanging in there with me and clicking 10 times a day. Ha.  Your checks are in the mail, I Promise! How many of you remember being in sixth grade and struggling for a page?  How many ways could you say, "I had a great time at my Grandmother's over the summer."  "The summer seemed to go on forever."  "When I saw my friends we talked about the fun trees at my Grandmother's. " ...The word Grandmother filled a lot of space on a page.  I'm sure Cy, our local news editor, is sorry that he ever told me that he had to have at least 500 words for a page...now I can't seem to stop at 700. 
     I'll stop writing about writing and write..
    
     I spent a little time outside last night after some of my clients cancelled.  It's spring fever time so I expect I'll have more of those today.  The Hooch is running high, last night it was within two feet of being out of its' banks.  I walked along it picking up a pocketful of pecans for the basket in the garage, yet to be cracked.  Rock Man, my neighbor, had cut our collective grasses so it was an easy stroll admiring the might of that swiftly flowing water.  A duck passed me going in the opposite direction with little time to say hello. He gave the appearance of riding the log flume at Six Flags.  This is the time of the year when we expect some flooding in that part our "garden".  We've had two floods in the nearly twelve years here.  I remember sitting in the " hill garden" in 2003 watching geese swim by within a few feet of our patio which is high above the river and just outside our house.  The night before was  scary with Duke boy, our daughter, and our dog in an adjacent city hotel and me in the home of friend across the river . The bridges were all closed to our pathway home that night.  Rock Man was home and talked to me several times via phone as I checked the safety of our belongings.  I remember being glad that a prom dress, which is now for sale on Facebook, was on the second floor. 

     Time to make the doughnuts and prepare to head to Columbus for a day of counseling.  Peace to all of you.

Gardening in new gloves

     We've had some gentle rain this morning for all the plantings that Duke boy did on Friday while I was working.  My little pots of lettuce, all flavors like Baskin Robbins, are looking happy.  Perhaps this overcast cloudy, slightly rainy, day can deliver just what my garden needs to get spruced up for Easter. The bird chorus has just kicked in to agree with my sentiments .  I can hear one loud and clear trying to drown out "Morning Joe" in the next room. 
     I just changed a word in the above sentence from yard to garden.  Doesn't that sound nicer?  I think I will refer to" my garden " from this day forward.  Garden work sounds nearly regal as opposed to yard work which sounds like an hourly paid task.  I've always said that Duke boy did the yard work and I did the yard play.  Now I shall say that I do the gardening.  Also put shall in a sentence.  I can tell I'm going to have to get a new, clean pair of gloves before I go outside again.  I'm already imagining needing to spruce up the rest of my outdoor look. Those old yard work pants are just too tacky for the "gardening".  This line of thinking could keep me typing and out of the dirt for weeks...Soon I'll be referring to my "soil".
     Hope you spend some time in your garden today looking for and experiencing the presence of God.

    
 

Birds songs for a changed Monday

     The light is hitting the land in my backyard and the birds are singing themselves awake.  Coolness from my open window slightly chills my wrist as I type.  I hear at least three different kinds of birds singing .  I learned recently that birds sing different songs in the morning from those they sing at night.  Just in the time it took to finish that sentence there are at least two more who have added their songs to the first Monday after the time change.  They are singing because they are unaffected by this human condition.  It will take me at least a week to recover from this assault on my sleep rhythms. I countered yesterday with a two hour Sunday afternoon nap.
     "Love as Christ has loved me."  This was my scripture in two different devotion books and one of them isn't a dated study. Hmmm??  The Holy Spirit speaks to me often through reading and scripture.  Perhaps my own song needs to be tweaked for this first Monday after the time change??
     Peace to all of you today.  Look for the daffodils in your path.  They may have human faces.

Spring forward and get me to the church on time

     Amazing day in the outdoors of GA.  Gibbs Gardens was a lovely spot and time with Ms. M. even lovelier.  So funny when we drove right by Woodstock to "get back to the garden".  Millions of daffodils--no joke.  Ms. Tilly, my GPS did a great job with directions so we only had to make one "legal u-turn" to find the place.
    Peace and remember to "spring forward" tonight on the clock. Gotta reset the coffee pot ..

We've got to get ourselves back to the garden...

  "We must want to be changed by Jesus' marvelous act of loving..."
Madeleine L'Engle.

What a struggle that is for me right now.  It's so much easier to do all my usual stuff!  I know that path most days.  I suit up for the ordinary and God seems to deliver the  impossible or at least what seems to spot light on all my weaknesses.  When will I know to chance the other path?

OK, speaking of paths.  I hope to travel many beautiful ones today.  I'm going to Gibbs Gardens in Ball Ground, GA with a dear friend and perhaps the Duke boy.  Duke is on TV at 3 today which puts a bit of a kink in the timing.  I have not allowed for Jesus to change me on the fact that I want a relaxing day with no drama over the radio and whether we can find the station with the game.  Back to the Garden...sounds scriptural but it's probably more Woodstock..."we are stardust, we are golden, and we've got to get ourselves back to the garden".  Was Joni singing about Eden?  Don't know.  Do know the Woodstock song isn't available for my ring tone.  Sad.  On a quest for the most daffodils blooming at one time in the country.

Almost forget what a super job the Duke boy did on the yard yesterday while I had to work to catch up from being out.  His John Deere cranked on the first try.  Thank you, God.  The weedeater cranked.  It was truly a spring miracle.

Dr. Oz brilliance

     I was felled by a migraine yesterday.  Had to cancel clients and came home to crash.  An eye mask is essential for such an occasion.  I wear one all the time now to sleep because Dr. Oz says...."you get deeper sleep".   Honey, I believe it. I have become a champion sleeper after several years of disrupted sleep.  Now I just have to get up for nighttime water releases---if you are closer to 60 than 50 then you get that.  Yesterday was the first time to use my eye mask during a serious headache.  I am much improved today without any residual discomfort in my head. 
     Just before sunset yesterday I'd recovered enough to sit quietly on my patio and take in the day. Oh my goodness.  I miss sunsets a lot due to more work schedule so it was quite a treat.  I've mentioned before that my yard overlooks the river and since the trees are still  barely budding out this is when the  viewing experience is at it's peak.  Got to see a duck swimming around and a few other unidentifiable swimmers.  What peace. 
  My prayer for your Friday is good friends in your path and no headaches! 
"I pray for the peace which bringth understanding" Helen Keller
  I just decided that I will write on Paris time from now on.  I long to travel there so I decided this will get my body acclimated to the time change. ( My decision has nothing to do with the fact that I have no earthly idea how to get the time stamp to work!)

Gardening awards

      Our local garden club is awarding a quarterly " beautiful yard".  Perhaps I'll get it since in a couple of weeks I'll  have 5 or so tulips, a handful of daffodils, an amazing Lady Banks rose arbor, and more vetch than you can shake a stick at.  I have not stayed ahead of the vetch this year so it's even choking out the other weeds. It's deceptive when it first takes hold because it has cute purple flowers and pretty little leaves.  It reminds me of alot of other things that can take hold quickly like fat on your middle after a trip to the bakery so you can snack on one of their pretty little treats.       I just returned from visiting with my Mom and sister.  Every visit I wonder if they are going to tell me that I'm adopted.  They are both thin and can snack on those pretty little things from the bakeries without the same consequences as me. Whenever we are together you can be sure the day will include a bakery visit and I ,of course can't be rude.  Staying ahead of my weight and eating healthy things so I can indulge when visiting with skinnier family( or strangers who took me in) is a lot like gardening.  It's a daily thing and since I neglected it all winter I gotta reap the consequences. 
    

Wall Bustin'

     "before all these walls built on fear there was unity in the mind and heart of God." Henri Nouwen

Time to go do my part to break down walls today. Good to know that I don't do this alone. Good to know you are out there too.  My prayer is that others will recognize your own personal gift for wall busting and honor it rather than fear it. The older I get the more I tend to back away from the use of sledge hammers for wall busting.  Many walls require a small chisle and mallet.  This attention to detail can prevent further injury to the hearts involved since the weight of the wall is usually damage enough.  God has given you all you need to remove wall dust from your eyes.  Use those tears followed by a good belly laugh. 
    

Missing the porch swing

     Took time to have lunch with a cousin today who I hadn't seen in nearly twenty years.  It was great to catch up and hear about her family.  Our families visited almost weekly  growing up so it didn't take long to feel like family again. Her mom was one of my favorite people as a child because she had such a great sense of humor.  She could say things to my mother that seemed outrageous to me then, and my mother would laugh instead of getting angry about it.  I long for that gift of delivery. This cousin was a bright spot in our two days of doctors' appointments and health issues.  I mentioned a family reunion but those take planning and time which most of us seem to have too little of these days.  I did send my blog address to her sister so perhaps we can reunite via the web.  I also long for the swing on my aunt's front porch where my cousin, Martha, and I spent a lot of time being silly.  Sorry you couldn't make lunch with us, cuz.  We had you there in spirit. 

Miracles on the Hooch

     A miracle happened in our home last night.  My husband heard the tornado siren before me and WOKE ME UP.  Then he went downstairs with our dog and... here is the amazing part--he went willingly to the basement with me.  I had  readied the basement by checking our radio (that stays there), having a flashlight, and  putting some chairs out.   I confess we've been know to lay in bed and listen to the siren, wind, and rain surround our house because we were just too tired to get up.  If we'd been killed we would have missed all the "Lord's will" statements when the truth was "just too tired to get up".  All the folks who did lose their homes or lives last night are in my prayers.  I don't believe it was the "Lord's will" and  I'm sure some of them did try to take cover and some were just too tired to get up. I believe this time of year is full of inclement weather and those in its path are often devastated.  Be vigilant today since I'm not sure we're in the clear yet.
     "We look forward to the time when the Power of Love will replace the Love of Power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace."  William E. Gladstone (look him up)  British Prime Minister

New life

     Another rough weather day in our area.  March is doing its lion thing I guess?  81 degrees?? Wow.  I finally planted my lettuce and spinach in big pots just yesterday so maybe I'll have enough to make a big salad by this time next week with rain and warmth---not too much warmth for lettuce.  It felt so good to dig in the dirt and be in my yard for a little while before going to  a long day of seeing clients.  I always forget how relaxing it is just to be outside doing some piddling.  If you garden then you know what I mean.  Now when I look onto my back porch the pots have new life instead of tons of dead water oak leaves. 
  One of my scriptures this morning was on laughter.  "I will turn their mourning into joy, I will comfort them, and give them gladness for their sorrow." Jeremiah 3:13.  My prayer for you if you are in sorrow is that it will be turned into joy in small ways everyday.  Peace to all.

Lonesome valley to belly laughs

"Any discipline involves participation in suffering...and the occasional stabbing joys that come from being part of the human drama." Madeleine L"Engle.  Today I know I will be involved in some suffering since that is the nature of my discipline, and my hope is that I will also get to witness some stabbing joy.  Most of us walk that lonesome valley feeling the weight of our pain on days with suffering.  I am fortunate to have colleagues who support me in my walk when the day seems to have little joy.  You already know I have a great family that provides much joy in my day.  My prayer for you today is that God will put others in your path to lift you up when the suffering seems too much and to offer you  a good belly laugh as well.  This morning my laughter is from the fact that I've already pulled my over sized trash can to the road before the truck even entered my neighborhood.  Ha, Ha!!