Back up your files - Computer up and died

First of all, I want to thank all of you for your kind comments on the photos of Nanci's orchids. They are beautiful blooms that I enjoy seeing.

The Computer Saga

Well, this computer problem started Sat. morning, after I had signed in, with a message box saying I wasn't allowed acces and an error msg. in another window popped up. We copied down the number then DH got online to do some research. He read in forums, different websites, and even on Micro-softs' site too and didn't get much of a definite answer to the problem. -You might get back in after you restart, but the same thing could happen in time.- We were able to get in later Sat. and again on Sunday. Sunday morning we backed up my files to the external hard-drive, and that felt good. DH made recovery disks, and then yesterday morning, I had the same thing happen after signing in, black screen and same error msg. Oh good grief! I then asked him what about my email. Yikes! We hadn't even thought of that the other day when backing up. Somehow, we got in again after restarting, then I deleted some mail in my inbox of email, and DH saved the rest. I headed off to work and he headed off to Office Depot while the computer was doing a scan. He talked with a techie there, and getting Windows 7 would not cure the problem that was wrong with VISTA. By the way, this problem was with VISTA. The techie said that operating system was the worst they ever made because they did it in a hurry because Apple was coming out with their new operating system right around then.

O.D. did have an HP Compaq Presario on sale he noticed while there. He came home. The scan was done, and he restarted the computer. Nothing. He tried starting it in safe mode and still nothing. He went back to OD, and told the guy what happened and both agreed it was definitely dead if it wouldn't even start up in safe mode. The guy asked DH if we had backed up files and DH said yes, which the guy couldn't believe, because so many don't. I am so thankful to God for the nudges to 'back-up' NOW, and that we had that little window of opportunity to get my email. Or at least we hope we did. We won't know until later. This morning after coffee and breakfast, we started unhooking the old, and setting up the new.

This is going to be an all day + project for DH. He had computer problems himself recently and had to get a new computer and has been setting his up and transferring files etc. At least now, we'll both have Windows 7. I've heard of Ubuntu, and think DH might have it on one of his old stand by computers. I think he was sure I wouldn't like it.

One real bummer is my old HP deskjet printer that I've had since 1998, will not work with new computer. Boo Hoo! I've been doing some research here at work, and from what I found, I think I like the HP Officejet Pro 8000 Wireless.

What do you all have for your printers that put out good quality color prints? I enjoy making my own greeting cards using my photos. I'd love to hear your input on printers and what works for you.

L.Conrad lost all of his files recently and posted about it. As soon as I had the first problem the other day, BACK UP NOW came to mind and I'm so glad we did.

My wireless mouse did work, we had to go back to wired internet connection though, but that's fine. We're not sure if we had a CD come with this, DH will check it out later. My old ergonomic keyboard didn't work either, so changes are definitely happening. Hopefully I'll be able to get online and tell you what I think this evening.

It's very windy and gray and more rain is expected, making the plant life happy. It's another quiet day here at work.

Here's a picture of Oleander blooms that my boss has in two pots right outside the front door. They have a delicate sweet scent. They are also poisonous, but are grown everywhere down here. I've seen them with red or white flowers too.

So, BOTTOM LINE --- BACK UP YOUR FILES, immediately if not sooner. :-)

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

Computer problems

Hi Folks ~ It is raining here, hurray. A nice gentle rain right now. Rain is expected for the next couple of days too. We have so needed it and are thankful.

I'm having computer problems at home, with Vista, may be getting Windows 7. Two different times now I've not been allowed access in the past 5 days. I've had this computer a little over 2 years now. DH is figuring it all out. He is the computer techie in our family, I am a wus when it comes to that stuff. and I am thankful he can do so many different things himself. He has saved us lots of money through the years.

It's very quiet here at work, and will be until after Thanksgiving. The northerners have all gone back home, so that it's mostly us year rounders here now.

I'll post some pictures that I took of orchids that my friend Nanci, grows next door here to where I work. She and her husband have an outdoor area behind their shop and this is where these orchids are. The pictures were taken with a Kodak Easy share camera here at work. Not the best camera, but these aren't too bad.

Enjoy the rest of your week.

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

Actually, the stained glass piece is ...

not really stained glass, like we think of, but painted. The soldering makes the outlines, and then the glass is painted. We really like the details. Our friend was in the antiques business at one time, and he had this piece a long, long time. I don't know what this technique is called, but maybe a stained glass worker/creator will know.

We are enjoying it in the living room window.

Here are pictures showing it in more detail, so click on the pictures to see larger images.




***

Learning is a treasure
that will follow its owner everywhere.
Chinese Proverb

***

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

A May Monday

Good afternoon everyone. Well, it's afternoon here anyway. It's breezy, warm and humid, summer is here the beginning of May. We did get some much needed rain last night and that was a good thing.

We do our errands on Monday mornings. This morning we were almost to the bank, when we saw a pile of broken 2" thick pavers. Oooops, turn around and let's load them in. Boy were they heavy! We also got 5-6 huge marble tiles that had chips out of them. We then proceeded to the bank, then back home as we didn't want to drive my car on the rest of the errands with all that weight.


When we started out this morning we saw a 6'x8' section of privacy fencing curbside across the street. We checked it out later and ended up bringing it home. It still has life left in it. DH invented what we call a wheelie, years ago, for hauling sheets of siding etc. and I suggested using that instead of trying to carry the thing across the 5 lane road. Every time we use the thing I start laughing because it makes the job so easy, and is a hoot to use.

After we got back home from doing our errands and I was bringing the groceries in from the porch, and DH had parked the van, I heard him talking with someone and wondered who it was. It was a friend of ours and he wanted to know if we wanted to buy a stained glass window he had. We both had seen it and do like stained glass, but it has been awhile since seeing it, so DH went to his house, and came back home with it and he also bought a rubbermaid shed for rakes. We got both things cheap. The stained glass window is broken, but still a unique bit of beauty. The shed needs a little repair to the doors as the knobs that hold it to the unit got broken. DH can do that. Now we have to figure out where to put it.

Here's the fencing and shed.

The stained glass piece fit in our front window perfectly,

so that's where it is for now.




Yesterday morning we both puttered outside, helping each other with different projects. I'll be working Wed-Sat this week, so probably won't be doing much outdoors tomorrow as I've got some other things to take care of.

I did get some flower pictures taken after recharging batteries. :-)

My 'Incense' passion vine is full of buds. I just love this flower.

The next four pictures are of Kathleen.

These are Vanda orchids, in morning sunlight.

The next two photos are of the Dwarf White Orchid tree,

the blooms are delicately scented.

I love the shadows close up in the second picture.




Here we have the Cardinal Vine and it is wrapping around our carved Tiki out of a palm that we found years ago. I look forward to collecting seeds from this vine so that I can grow more of it around the gardens.

Here is a canna grown from seed. I have no idea which color the flowers are. A second canna has popped up in the pot too.

This is our hamelia patens that I started from a cutting. It has grown up and over the lattice arbor and onto my sheds' roof. The bees, butterflies and hummers love it. I've even noticed a new plant about 2 ft. away coming up and was surprised to see that. I'll have to dig it up and plant it elsewhere.

So, that's it for now from our part of the world.
May you all be blessed in your lives.

Hugs,

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL