Leo Birthday Boy is12

Liam turns 12 on August 1, 2019

 

 some happenings recorded in LiamLicks for his 12th year

Liam honoring Tony

The last of Tony Bourdain's shows aired in the fall of 2018
Liam and I loved him and miss him deeply
we wrote a Tony tribute
and then took off to Parts Unknown for a new walking route

https://liamlicks.blogspot.com/search/label/Anthony%20Bourdain


 

Surgery

to check out a growth on Liam's right shoulder

a cone was around his neck

I had to cut it to shorten it

then I purchased a soft one...plaid

then I took it off when a neighbor told me Liam could not lick his shoulder

diagnosis

was a benign fibroma

refresher link follow

https://liamlicks.blogspot.com/2018/12/lumps-on-liam.html 

Starbucks drinks

 I kept switching my Starbucks drinks

 could not find one I would stick to...

Liam was there all the way...sampling and lusting after my choices

an iced grande cappuccino

Game of Thrones

After 10 years of avoiding Game of Thrones we joined in and watched all episodes

 in 3 weeks nod to GoT

We could not be left out of this global phenomenon 

Liam adopted two direwolves to add to his pack...The two living ones out of the original 6

don't know them

meet them

https://ew.com/tv/2019/04/02/game-of-thrones-stark-direwolves-guide/

A new pack of Direwolves

Ghost/ Jon Snow

 Nymeria/ Arya Stark

The lone wolf dies but the pack survives

 

Toe Tackling

New way of affection
Liam is not a lap dog
he is a foot dog
I am not a fan of feet
do not like showing them but Liam does


I keep my feet presentable with a weekly pedicure. I don't like bare feet.

I researched and find it actually has a name. I don't think my dislike approaches a phobia. I merely rather not look

See link

https://patientslounge.com/mental-health/My-Phobia-of-Bare-Feet

Outside Fun

 

Dream Delivered

And then I got My Dream Delivered

Carol's Cab Cove
cab=Cabernet wine

read about it
again or for the first time if you missed it

https://liamlicks.blogspot.com/2019_07_14_archive.html

thank you to Benchmark 

https://www.benchmarksignsandgifts.com/ 

signs for its creation and to my cousin Barbara McNiff for the name
Liam has not yet accepted the CCC
he stands outside the door...see top middle photo
in the following collage

he prefers to hang with his direwolves inside

the photo bottom left is during a fierce storm
and Liam sought comfort from me
because I was sitting out
enjoying the glorious whacks of thunder

I hope he will join me more often

Out in Carol's Cab Cove

LiamLicks

 blog goes on

 and Liam's year long writing of stories

in his eponymous blog
LiamLicks

On a pace to beat last year's total of 21

but will never match the high of 50 in 2012

and that's okay

A 12 year old boy

Woof, woof

Dream Delivered

What it looked like

Before

My dream has been to have a screened in patio out back where I can enjoy nature, wine,  reading, yoga, social media while submerging in bird tweets, trees swishes, wind gusts, pungent odors, roaring planes, distant laughter... outdoor living

I wrote of it in my last blog story

https://liamlicks.blogspot.com/2019/06/mosquitoes-are-coming.html

On my recent June trip to Southport NC I spent wonderful times with my friends on their screened in porch...wine, dogs, nature...I mentioned to them my 30 year dream and how I was waiting to use one of my IRAs because it could not be taken out until age 70...they quickly disabused me of that belief with the fact that IRAs can be taken out starting age 59 1/2...What!!!!

I can have my dream...Paul had thought it was 70 1/2.
 Upon return to New Hyde Park I presented the new evidence.

Okay onward

Paul does not want an extension from the house. I do.

We compromised...

I can have it

But

No door from the inside to it

Fear of weakening the back of the house

No heating

Fear of fire

I do get two side doors

A skylight

A floor on top of the pavers

And a ceiling fan

Saw a recommendation for Kerwin Nicholas on Next Door.com...they also have a mobile app

https://nextdoor.com/

Nextdoor is the private social network for your neighborhood.

Nextdoor is the best way to stay informed about what’s going on in your neighborhood—whether it’s finding a last-minute babysitter, planning a local event, or sharing safety tips. There are so many ways our neighbors can help us, we just need an easier way to connect with them.

I believe each town may have a next door

We hired Kerwin and his team

Kerwin Nicholas...see his card and mine below

his team
Osman

and his little bro

I write a blog so I too have a business LOL

we met,  purchased the materials

The materials arrived Saturday

 July 6th

Paul expressed concern that they would be stolen

I told him I would cover them

I did this and received no help from the boys

Who remained inside

Liam on the love seat, Paul on the couch

in the cool AC

Both watching baseball

Apparently it is my project so no help will be offered

Paul looked out  the side and commented it looked like a casket for a military funeral

Yep

It does

The flags on the right are marking where I have planted recently harvested marigold seeds. My neighbor let me take over her land and I figured the show of patriotism would scare off our aggressive lawn guys who excel in disrupting dirt

Day 1 -Monday July 8

Day 2-Wednesday July 10

Day 3-Thursday July 11

Day 4-Friday July 12

and it is done

Kerwin and his team are outstanding

I had no photos to show Kerwin to illustrate what I wanted.

I had a vision and I described it to Kerwin. He was able to create my dream and improve upon it

Gobsmacked by his gifts and spirit and knowledge .

A High Recommend for these Contractors

because

They care

they seek perfection

keep you informed as to what is happening

they are fair

made it easy

and fun

we enjoyed their presence and their company

the alacrity with which it was done was amazing

reliable

always arrived when they said they would
wanted us to be happy and we are!
My Dream is a reality

as for the door I have to accept the compromise
I figure I can put a step stool in my outside room and climb in the window. The wine is kept next to it.


Eventually maybe I could take an axe to the window then approach Paul with the need to fix it...
and
A door could be made

Or I could descend from upstairs through the skylight

Skylight

and on Friday a housewarming gift arrived

I will be getting two Adirondack chairs, a rug and pillows and cushions 

My Amazon cart is loaded and ready for Prime Days Monday and Tuesday 

I have wine

I have my bell to ring when more is needed hopefully Paul or Liam will hear

Liam not sold on this outside home yet, likes it better inside

Maybe I will get the door 

 when I am 70 1/2

Woof, woof

Mosquitoes are coming

soon

Not Today
Liam and I

We love it outside

but at some point there are mosquitoes and they are ferocious and blood sucking and welt producing

MOSQUITOES ARE COMING
when?

whenhttp://www.mosquitomagnet.com/articles/mosquito-season

We are looking to screen in the patio...a dream which will come true soon...

I have written about my concern and experiences in prior LiamLicks 

an obvious recurring theme in my house living life, tap/click on links to read

https://liamlicks.blogspot.com/search/label/mosquitoes%20feast

an excerpt

There is no buzz. There used to be. When I was a kid living in our 3rd floor apartment in Pomonok Houses in Queens, NY there was a buzz. It came on summer nights. It was the sound of mosquitoes buzzing around my head. We did not have screens on the windows. They would find me and circle for a feast. I pulled the covers over my head to hide from the buzzing bugs.

PULL UP THE COVERS

We did not have air conditioning; it got very hot quickly. Usually the mosquitoes got what they wanted, leaving gorged with my blood.

Now we have screens and air conditioning. We live in a house with a yard. I had always dreamed of a yard.  Of sitting outside with my dog. I have that yard and I have a dog, Liam.

The mosquitoes are also outside. Screened out. They are not like the ones in our growing-up apartment. These make no buzz. They bite so quickly and so often that one trip outside and I have multiple bites. These bites are not like the childhood bites. I don't know that I have been bitten until suddenly an unbearable itchy sensation compels me to scratch until the welts appear. These bites remain sensitive and keep their shape and itch producing sensation for days. These are not the mosquitoes of the 1950's and 1960's. Who are these new creatures? They also can make one sick because some have West Nile virus. People die from infected mosquitoes. 

and Another

https://liamlicks.blogspot.com/search/label/bug%20zapper

excerpt

Saturday June 15, 2013 about 6:30PM

I set up.  I go out early evening because that is happy hour. The day is winding down, the mowing is over as are outdoor house projects. The sounds are more muted. Also a more deserving of rest feeling exists after the day's events. Who else goes out early evening? The biting bugs led by the mosquitoes.

Equipment set up. My fire pit, bracelets on wrists and ankles anchoring long pants, socks, long sleeves

wine, Kindle, devices, Liam

I read, play, listen, watch, think. I do not itch, scratch, swat, wave, or hide.

I get bitten

I am type O...as are most ppl

After 2013, I stopped going out
the prep was ridiculous, and zapping of bugs inhumane
I subjugated my dream of a screened in patio for these past 6 years
I am older now.looking at the final years of my life and I am venturing out again

it is time to act on the dream

Some photos of us outside to right and following

We stay out a long time

 Liam gets his fill earlier than I do and beckons me in by standing and staring me down

MOM, COME IN

Our Dream is Coming

woof, woof

Rosy Girl

I think this might be bad

I woke up 

on Wednesday May 22 with a massive sunburn

except I had not been in the sun

and the rash existed only where clothes had touched and every area tingled and felt like I was being pricked by needles

don't think Shingles 

I have had the opportunity to receive the two latest vaccines

  

I keep becoming more fiery, red and blown up

my skin is the color of Rosé wine
https://vinepair.com/wine-101/learn-about-rose-wine/ 

with a hint of salmon
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salmon_as_food 

neither of which I like at all

For two days I tried every remedy I had at home

I researched and used all the products shown at right below 

and yet
I grew rosier
and when it crawled up my face to my hairline and traveled down my legs
I knew I had to seek professional help

I made an emergency appt with my dermatology group

The PA, Angela, took pictures for future reference 

She was intrigued 

Angela said I was definitely reacting 

That’s good I suppose 

I still have reactions

something is in me and revolting by displaying an angry evenly distributed sunburn with a few areas of blotch...I dubbed it rashburn...

I had worn a dress to bed...one I had not worn since last summer...when my dresses get too stained I relegate them to indoor use only. Did something occur in my closet? 

Impossible

I Marie Kondo'ed my entire closet two months ago.  No surprises there...

Was it my profound recurrent nightmares finally sprung to the surface...Liam illustrates

Was it the wrenching goodbye to my guest plants? 

They left Tuesday, the day before the outbreak

MY GUESTS ARE LEAVING

I was prescribed a powerful cream and the over the counter antihistamine Claritin
My items were in CVS. The helpers are never in a happy place.
The prescriptions are all over in bins, carts, shelves... if not found immediately the assistant delves into a darker place and shoots aggressive vibes at the customer. I was the recipient of anger as my cream was in a giant brown bag off to the side. She shoved it on the counter at me causing a clatter.
I motioned that I had a non-prescription item as well...this added to her consternation...transaction done. I turn away, reach for my car keys, Not in my bag. I go back. The customers help me look. Her big shove at me had pushed my keys off the counter into the shelves below....where they were found residing with those items they want you to grab as you go like gum, mini candies travel lotions

arrive home

swallowed the Claritin pill

then to the cream
It took a half hour to apply the cream 

I did it myself with a wooden spoon for hard to reach places

I don’t ask for help from Paul because I am practicing to be a self-sufficient widow
my yoga flexibility helps with the positions I had to achieve to get to my middle back.

Liam tries to help
but he
is a licker
not an applier

I then had to walk Liam. I wore a dress which stuck to me. It was windy. Thank goodness for the cream. I only wore the dress. I noticed a group of young teenagers following. Himm.

Liam kept turning around looking. was a free feeling. since my body was scorched the wind and bare covering was relief. Liam and I sat outside so I could cool off

The rashburn is receding from my face.and moving down
a bit each day
At the one week anniversary of its appearance, Wednesday May 29,
there was vast improvement
Only legs now
and today June 2nd
gone

so what to do to prevent it from happening again
No Clue

I have decided to excuse all the suspects mentioned and adhere to a dictum which works
Blame up, credit down
My fault
and I give credit to all the listed possible causes
as participants

Woof, Woof