A scary-good time at the pumpkin patch.

Mr. & Mrs. Denneler

One cat, two kids, three water heaters and fourteen years later ... Happy Anniversary to us!

Just taking a short break from "projects" at the Dennelers this month, while my mom recuperates at our house from her latest back surgery. The second one in less than a year. For anyone interested in the medical terminology, she had a spinal fusion from T10 to S1. (Basically, they used a small hardware store of screws and rods to straighten her spine and relieve the pinched nerves down her legs. ) Bea says "Grandma needs a bandaid." Well, that's true. But Grandma Nette also needs a boatload of pain killers to make it through the day right now.

This has been quite an ordeal. I don't think any of us expected her to be in this bad of shape after surgery. But we're finally starting to turn the corner and she's moving and walking more. And smiling and joking more. So the healing process has begun. Wish us luck and sent any extra prayers you might have laying around.

Back surgery is not for wimps. That's for sure.

OK. So I'm no Mr. Peanut.

Just a follow-up story on the peanut plant I attempted to grow this summer. I did not kill it. Hooray. But I don't think this crop of nuts is going to feed a family of hungry squirrels. Boo. Maybe a light snack.

After a fairly unsuccessful summer produce crop - only three tomatoes and a handful of green peppers - I think it's time to hang up my gardening gloves. I'll stick to flowers. And grass. I'm really good at growing grass.