Zoo Talk: Catching up

It's been a few days since I posted any kind of an update here. Sorry. I have my laptop with me all the time, but sometimes when I get off work I'm just too tired to say anything.

I finally got my taxes filed and I'm getting a much-needed and surprising refund this year. I had hoped to at least break even, like I did last year, but apparently I didn't make enough extra money this time around. In a way, it was good that I didn't, although the extra money was very much needed last year. I made it through, though, and things should be a lot better this year.

I'll use part of my refund to do some maintenance on my truck and maybe even see what's wrong with my 5-disk DVD player. I have a very nice Samsung HDTV but I had to get a regular DVD player to play movies and music on awhile back. Too bad, because the 5-disk one was great. The player and TV will work together, but I think the laser in my big player is shot.

I put out some plants that my brother-in-law dug up for me out of his yard - lamb's ear, bee balm, and columbine. They are all doing very well. I've watered them daily so they are perking along pretty nicely.

I lost one Rose of Sharon bush during the winter, but the others are growing leaves and looking lovely now. I figure that, even though they are still small, I'll get a few blooms on them this summer.

I'm going to go shopping for more herbs and flowers. I may plant a few tomatoes and hot peppers, but I don't really have time to care for a regular garden anymore. I prefer to grow the herbs and flowers these days, anyway. They add fragrance and dimension to my yard and to my cooking.