Having a peaceful night?

It was starting off to be a peaceful night until Bob came in to ask for my car keys.  He never asks for my car keys.  "Why?"  "I want to move something and your car has a hitch."  "Okay, go ahead."  I don't know if this is a good idea.  He wants to move the old chicken coop from the woods to the yard, with my car.  He will have to move my car around the pool.  I warned him if he hits the pool a new one has to be up by tomorrow.  He laughed.  Well even though dinner was on the stove, I went to watch.  Yep, the camera came too.  If anything happens, I want proof!  He hasn't done anything like this in a while.  Very carefully he started to pull and it wasn't moving very far.  With a little help from the crowbar he got it to come up to the edge of the lawn where he wanted it.  After unhooking the coop from the car, he proceeded to move the car away from the pool under my watchful eye.  Okay, mission accomplished..... 

Fund raiser

I have never done a fund raiser, other than selling Girl Scout Cookies or things for the kids.  The local Cemetery here has no sign.  It is a really old cemetery.  Like most cemeteries it is forgotten.  This is the cemetery that holds my ancestors.  Maybe that is why I had that feeling when I was in there last week.  Maybe they want the town visitors to know where they are.  I want to get a sign, nothing elaborate or real expensive.  I know I can Facebook my friends and put something in the local paper.  First I am awaiting the Township Supervisors to tell me what I can have erected there.  I can do this.  It might be fun.  Wish me luck.  Another thing I will keep you posted about.......

Through the eyes of a child

Mckenzie went to her first live animal action today.  Her eyes were wide like saucers and her mouth was as wide as it would open as soon as the auctioneer opened his mouth.  "What is he saying?"  she asked.   All I could understand was the price and nothing else.  He kept this up.  Now she wants to see Grandpa bid on something, anything.  We really didn't need a rabbit.  They were cute.  How about a large chicken?  No, don't need that either.  Eventually some Ginny hens came up, he bid and won so fast no one realized he did it till he was done.  Mckenzie had a grin on her face from ear to ear.  It was special and we got to share that.
It really must be something to see things like children see them.  The world is always bright and cheery, not the way it really is.  The next time you see something that is brand new, take time to enjoy it like a child would and savor the moment....

Whose yard is the nicest?

With Summertime comes yard clean-up.  Seems like it grows on a daily basis.  Bob does the grass, he won't let me use the riding mower because he thinks I drive it too fast.  It works!  Then I get to  help with the trimming.  I use the weed eater till it dies.  It takes half hour to run it down, by then I am to my limit too.  I tire easily yet.  He really doesn't want me to do that, but I feel I am helping.  I start at one point and do some every night.  It just seems like I am doing the same spot every two days.  The grass is getting cut twice a week.  It rains daily, so everything is just growing wild.  I have given up on feeding the lawn.  If I did feed it, how fast would it grow then?  Maybe it would have to be cut every other day.  Here it is only June and we are both getting sick of doing the yard.  Not bad, it only took 6 weeks this year.   My new idea is to pave every inch of grass.  I know it cracks and the grass grows in the cracks.  Moss grows on it too.  Okay, Bob we need to go cut the grass again! and again! and again!...

Cemeteries

You all know that I love Cemeteries.  If it was up to me, any one I see on the side of the road I would love to visit.  I see a sign for a cemetery and Bob gets the look on his face that says, " Please don't ask."  Usually I let it go unless it is on my list of cemeteries I need to visit.  I put the pix in the computer to send to people who need them.  Stacy showed me how to do it and I remembered.  Now, Mckenzie is scouting cemeteries for me.  When she passes by one she tells her Mom, "Grandma would love that one."  Upon returning home she tells me all about it.  She loves hearing my stories about visiting the cemeteries.  I told her about what happened the other day, she loved it.  She really got a kick out of Grandma falling in the cemetery.  "Was someone trying to pull you in with them?"  No, I just fell in a hole.  Not too co-ordinated at times....

New Additions!

A few weeks ago Mckenzie brought home some eggs, not to eat, but to grow chicks!  Yes, she wants to try again.  Last years chickens went to the bear.  We will try again.  Grandpa dragged out all the equipment to incubate the eggs.  It is not an easy fete.  We have done it before.  We were not successful.  But she wants chicks.  She bats her eyes at Grandpa and off we go to get chicks.  Very small chicks.  We set up all the equipment as we are putting away all the other equipment.  At least they are in the garage for now.  They are cute and fun to watch.  Right now they are huddled in their food dish for a nap.  Now we must clean out the old coop so they have a home.  Grandpa?....

Staying young

This is the weekend I am at the mercy of a busy 7 year old.  She really is lots of fun.  She's revolving into a very witty, compassionate person.  She's a great kid.  She told me today she had to write something and she read it in front of the class.  She does like to write.  Maybe someday she will be a writer like Grandma.  She just smiles.  We don't have too much planned yet, but I know she will not let anyone in this house sit for very long.  Maybe I can talk her into going and helping me read cemetery stones.  That will occupy her time and mine for a while.  They do say if you are busy that you stay young.  Guess I'll stay young for a while yet as long as she is around...

Loosing teeth

Just heard that Mckenzie lost another tooth.  When my kids were young this was a great day.  You get to wrap the tooth in a tissue and place it under your pillow to see how much the Tooth Fairy will leave.  The next morning was exciting like Christmas morning with presents under the tree.  Daddy would perform magic with the loose tooth that is hanging on by a small piece.  If Daddy does magic it doesn't hurt.  The kids have tried the string on the door - this doesn't work.  Bobby went to the Dentist one day and had a few teeth that the next tooth was growing under them.  The Dentist loosened them up a little and of course Bobby pulled them out all at once.  Two days later he shows me more teeth.  "Oh, they were loose so I pulled them.  The Tooth Fairy will give me more money."  Now that is more like it, he's just looking for more money.  I caught him later trying to loosen more teeth.  I had to make him stop, they were his second teeth!....

Electronics

As you know, I am not good at electronics.  My computer told me today not to shut it off.  It was configuring.  The screen was blue and sure didn't look like it was doing anything.  Then it tells me it is updating.  Of course I didn't turn it off!  It might blow up.  How do I know what it is going to do?  It tells me these things on occasion and I really don't see anything different.  Oh well.
You will be proud of me, I am offically an Ebay seller.  Have you ever sold anything on Ebay?  Well to start with, you must figure out how you want your ad.  I can write stories but ads.  They are simple.  Then you have to have Paypal.  That is where the trouble starts.  I am telling them I have Paypal!  I have bought lots of things on Ebay before and always used it.  No, now I need to be verified.  Okay, that takes 2 days.  So now I can't see my ad for two days to see if I did it right.  So I wait the two days and I am verified and am able to place the ad.  Wow!  I am proud of myself, I did it by myself!  Then I listed another item.  Hey, this is fun.  Now I am looking for other things to sell.  Any ideas?....   

Cemetery hopping

Today was a beautiful day weather wise.  The sun was out, low humidity and few clouds.  The perfect summer day.  I have been getting anxious to continue my photographs at the local cemeteries since I have found more ancestors.  Looks like the perfect day to do it.  After supper is a good time.   I went to the first one, took lots of pictures.  I take the puppy with me - certainly not for protection, but for company.  She stays in the car as I write the information down then jump out to take the pictures and make sure the info I wrote is correct.  Then I jump back in the car.  There are lots of mosquitoes out!  Upon arriving at the next cemetery, I had to pack up all my items and carry them in.  It's not big and you must walk it.  I found the stones I was after really quick, took the info and pictures and kept walking.  The bugs were twice as bad and that is with bug spray on!  I was checking out a fallen stone and found it to be one I was researching.  I did a quick picture of that one.  Okay, I am done and proceeded to walk to the gate.  The grass needs a cutting, but still makes a quiet place to walk.  All of a sudden it got cold!  Oh no!  What is going on.  I heard footsteps on leaves that aren't there!  The hair on my arms stood up.  Now I do believe in ghosts and I didn't stay around to find out who or why.  I must return.  Stay tuned......

Welcome to the Restaurant

My kitchen is one of my favorite places to be.  When I am angry, look out, I go into a cooking frenzy.  Bob loves it.  He gets a big selection of food to eat and feeds tidbits to the puppy.  When the kids were younger we ran the kitchen like a restaurant at suppertime.  Once the after school activities started it was, who will be here for the meal tonight?  Setting aside a portion for that person was always done.  Some days there were two of them going elsewhere.  So there was a clean up after each person came in.  Now that there are only two of us, we eat and clean up at the same time.  But then there are the pets.  Bob who gets up first, feeds the cats in the morning.  I feed the puppy when I get up.  Then just before we eat supper we feed two cats and the puppy.  The other two cats are still hiding and don't come out till eight o'clock.  They get fed then.  So, we have gone from people restaurant to pet restaurant.  Is this my kids getting even with me?... 

Happy Father's Day

Today will be short and sweet - do I know how to do that?  Of course not.  I dedicate the column today to all the real Fathers.  The ones who are always there and not forced to be there.  The great Fathers who can't be there because they are fighting for our country.  The Fathers that have gone ahead of us. The Fathers who really have the love and compassion for the children, be they small or grown.  I have a Husband who is one of those.  We all see it.  We all love him for it.  Happy Father's Day!!!!

Father's Day

Tomorrow is Father's Day.  I want to say Happy Father's Day to all who deserve it.  We all have biological fathers, but it does take someone special to be a father.  I for one never knew my father, I wouldn't know him if I tripped over him.  So to me, he is a sperm donor, nothing else.  He never cared about me, never acknowledged me.  That is okay, I am grown and have my Mother to thank for that.  The person who was a Father to me was my Father in law.  He was good to me, cared about me and loved me.  He isn't with us any longer, but Happy Father's Day in heaven.  We love you.

Grandma update!

Yesterday I went down to take Grandma to the Foot doctor and for a follow up to her fall at the regular MD office.  I use to be familiar with the town I was in till the age of eleven, but don't expect me to know where some things are.  Mom never drove so she went along for the ride.  She could give some directions but then you are on a search and destroy mission.  The foot doctors's office has a big foot hanging outside.  Now how hard can that be.  We found it!  It took five minutes to get fron the parking lot to the inside of the building, Mom is using her walker now.  So, she sits down and I go to the window, tell them who she is only to have them tell me she isn't even in their computer.  "Mom, are we in the right place?"   "I don't think so," was the answer.  Now back to the car we go.  We will find it.  Down the next block as we were told by the first office, there is another foot.  This one is in a window.  Mom gets out of the car and agrees this is the right place.  Okay one thing down.  We have time between appointments.  We go to the grocery store with no problems.  We packed all the items in the car and go to her MD appointment which his office is next to the first foot doctor.  He was happy.  She had no injuries from the fall.  She is okay.  The goose egg on her forhead went down.  Now we can go back to her place, put the groceries away and I will be on the way.  One thing I learned is - I'd better start watching where Bob is going instead of watching the scenery so I can say where I need to go!.... 

A beautiful day

Yesterday was a bad day.  It ended up with my elderly Mother going to the Dentist and falling on the floor head first.  With a few complaints of pain to the attendents in the office, she got 911ed to the ER for evaluation.  After numerous calls placed to her at the ER, I finally got the call at 10:00 pm that all was okay and nothing was broke. Prior to this, she called everyone she knew and told them that she was in the hospital and didn't know when she would be able to go home.  She said she couldn't walk.  I know because I got the calls from them wondering what happened.  She of course was making me feel guilty for not taking her.  Why do Mothers do this?  Are we all doomed to follow the same path?  My kids make me feel guilty, my friends make me feel guilty, and my Mother makes me feel guilty!  Am I guilty?  No, people just don't understand what I want.  Guess it is the wall I like to put up between me and others so I don't get hurt.  When does the guilting stop?  I must now leave - Mom wants to go to the foot Doctor and a follow up to the regular Doctor from yesterdays fall.  Talk soon.......

Stress!

I like to live my life nice cool, calm and collected.  No, like everyone else some days it isn't.  People make you feel guilty for what you do and don't do for them.  I am one person. And yes, I can try to do everything people expect me to do, but please understand when I can't.  Don't make me make excuses just to make you feel better.  Right now I am trying my best to run two households with all the problems that crop up.  Some days it just isn't possible to drop everything and run, as much as you want me to.  An occasional thank you would be great.  I don't expect it but it would be nice.  I have feelings too!

Thank you for reading this and letting me sound off on someone other than Bob.  I needed this.  See you all tomorrow!!!   

Junk mail

I have had comments from my mail delivery people that I must be on every junk mail list around.  Every day there is a new stack of junk to go through.  Some goes unopened to the junk bin, and at times some of the junk is really good.  We had the same delivery person for years then she retired.  All of a sudden the junk mail dwindled.  I have no idea where it went.  All of the mail I use to get is now down to four or five envelopes a week.  I miss all that mail.  There were days that I got no mail at all!  This hasn't happened in thirty years.  Oh, but I do get other peoples mail.  I put it in our box the one day and she put a note on it that it needed more postage to send it elsewhere.  I don't like sending nasty notes but this one deserved it.  It wasn't my fault that it was delivered here, now it is your problem to deliver it to the person it is addressed to - without more postage.  After this we got better service.  Now if I can just get a little more junk mail...

Mother on strike!

How many times have you told your kids to pick up their clothes?  Set the table?  Feed the pets?  These are normally assigned to each child to give them some responsibility.  I have to put my clothes in the hamper why can't they?  Bobby was six, Grace nine, Stacy was too small to give her anything to do.  Now with three children, I don't think I should have to be the slave here.  It did get to that point at times.  That is it, you are all responsible for your own clothes to make it to the hamper, if not they don't get washed.  They knew I washed clothes every day, just to stay ahead of it.  Bobby would throw his clothes on the floor and as promised, I didn't say a word.  Grace followed him.  Okay, I will not say anything.  I bit my tongue everyday, their dirty clothes were mounting up, on their floors.  Can't wait to see how long it takes.  After a week, they still didn't break down and neither did I.  All too soon they will be out of clean clothes.  Who will be first?  Bobby!  He came downstairs in the morning crying he had no clean clothes.  The rule is, the clothes go in the hamper or I don't wash them.  I didn't throw my clothes on the floor, so you can't either.  He pulled on a pair of pants that weren't too dirty and off to school he went.  That night he cleaned all his clothes off the floor and put them in the hamper, Grace did too.  For the next few days I did laundry 24/7.  Maybe this strike thing isn't so good.  It did teach them for a little while........  

Hoarding

What is hoarding?  Hoarding is saving things that have no real value to anyone but you.  It can also be saving time and memories, like hoarding all the memories you can into a weekend and remembering again for a period of time.  It's fun to cram everything you want to do into a weekend.  Just to bring a smile to someone's face.  Do you hoard memories.  I think everyone can say yes to that!....

Old fashioned toilets

Stacy and Mckenzie went to the zoo today.  They got to see a lot of the wild animals.  Of course at one time, nature called.  They found the bathrooms and in they went.  They were like the old fashioned out house, but had plastic seats, the rest was open.  Wow, you don't have to flush!  Mckenzie was not impressed but she did use the facilities.  I didn't think that these places were allowed anymore.  Bet she wishes she never saw them either.

Memories

I was speaking to a lady in the store today about "boys."  Her son totaled his car and then took Dad's and did the same.  The memories of Bobby and cars came rushing back.  I smiled and told her boys are bad with cars.  Bobby was working and I would let him use my car.  The dings and new dents were amazing.  I thought he used it as a bumper car like in the carnival.  I got a newer car and officially let him use the car.  That was mistake number one.  He came home at midnight.  We listened for him to come home safe, he never knew this of course, and all of a sudden the house shook.  Someone hit the divider between the garage doors.  "No Mom, it wasn't me," were his words.  Well whoever drove the car in the garage hit the divider.  I went the next morning and yes the siding was dented and the gray car had blue on it.  So who did it?  A few weeks later he came home and the car was dented from the front to the back of the car.  Once again, his words were, "I didn't do it."  So you mean that you smashed the car and never felt it?  "No."  Weeks later he told me he hit the guard rail and that is where the dent really came from.  He always has a car or truck that has lots of dents in them.  I will laugh when his girls do the same.  That day is coming.  Soon....

New gadgets

Aren't new electronic gadgets great?  I like how they say a two year old can work it.  I know sometimes I would love to hand the gadget to a two year old to work it.  The only thing they are going to do with it, is taste it and make it all wet.  Maybe that is what the gadget needs.   The instructions are in ten different languages.  Does one of the other languages make it easier to work it?  Wish I knew.  Now some of the new gadgets will even talk to you.  Some days even that gets obnoxious.  The GPS repeats itself three times.  I know after hearing it twice I want to tell it to shut up.  I have but it doesn't do any good, she continues on and on.  It nags.  Must I listen to something that nags when I am one who doesn't nag?  No, I pull it's plug!.....

Scenery

After reading my newspaper this afternoon, I knew it was time to get up and start supper.  Bob would be home soon.  Upon arising from the couch I looked out the door, there is one of the bears that visit, standing on the railing, hanging on the pole under Bob's feeder.  He started to bite the wood, even leaving marks in the wood.  The dog's barking scared him away.  Down he jumped and went towards the pool, lost his footing and almost fell in the pool.  His one foot got wet.  He didn't seem too pleased with that.  Finally he jumped down to the ground and started to amble away, but not without looking at Bob's other feeder.  He stood up, looked at the feeder then the house and decided to leave instead of making the seventeen foot climb.  I have a feeling he will return later.  Can't wait to show Bob the bear's calling card......

The pool!

Ah, summertime brings hot weather and time to open the pool.  The pool is twenty two years old.  I do the summer cleaning and take care of the chemicals.  Bob helps me open and close it.  It is really a short season here.  We open in June and are ready to close in mid August.  When the nights get cold the water temp goes right down and the only way anyone wants to enter it is with a wet suit.  Usually when we open and close it we get in a disagreement.  He has his ideas and I have my ideas on how to do it, never the same ideas though.  We give each other the look and walk away disgusted, then the snickering starts, next comes the laughter, then we figure out how "we" are going to do it.  We tell each other every year we are not going to argue over the pool, and yet, we do yearly.  What are we going to do when there is no more pool?....  

Exotic pets!

When Bob was a child he had all kinds of different pets, a chipmunk, a crow and assorted snakes.  These were educational in his parents eyes.  I had cats and dogs.  They moved easier.  This helped when our kids came home with different pets.  We had crows, turtles, assorted snakes.  One of the best was the mice, Stacy's mice.  We started with two, which soon grew to twelve, and then we had an explosion.  We were asking everyone if they had a fish tank they didn't want.  We really needed it.  We sold some to different pet stores in the area.  We didn't tell Stacy they would go to feeding snakes.  She was too young and I wanted some of them out of here.  The basement was starting to look like a pet store.  Finally one got loose.  It had the freedom of the house for two weeks before he got caught.  He was shiny and sleek compared to the others.  We had Stacy pick out two mice she wanted to keep,  We thought they were both girls until all of a sudden there were ten again.  She finally gave up.  The mice can go.  We were taking the mice to the pet store in a little carrier, including Loco the mouse who was loose in the house.  He was never the same, always tried to get loose.  We watched that he didn't get loose in the car.  On arriving at the pet store and being greeted by the salesgirl, we gave her the container and she went into the back to put them in a cage.  As soon as she opened the lid, out jumped Loco.  Up her arm and down her back he went, never to be seen again.  Of course we told Stacy he would come and join the rest later.  Now when Mckenzie asks for exotic pets I just smile.  Of course she usually wins.... 

Bugs anyone?

I always liked to cook.  When we have company I always make different things that we like to eat and I know others will enjoy.  I occasionally try new things, sometimes good, sometimes bad.  One of my new favorites to make is Chicken Marsala.  Like Julia says one cup for the pot and a sip for the cook.  The chicken is great.  I love feeding the family.  The other thing I like to feed (not) is the mosquitoes!  I was just outside to water the garden and a swarm of them came to feast!  There were so many I couldn't swat them all and now have itchy bites all over any flesh that was showing.  Bob couldn't believe I was coming back in so fast.  Let him go out and see the swarm.  Summer really is here.  New list for store, bread, milk, bug spray, more bug spray, and more bug spray.  That should do it!.....

Back seat driver

A few years after we married I got a full time job.  At first we shared a car.  Finally, we were able to buy another car.  He worked one shift, I worked another.  I enjoyed the freedom a car gives you.  I liked to drive.  When we would go someplace in my car, I would drive.  Bob didn't mind as long as he could help me drive.  He was a little more experienced than me, like that makes a difference.  One day I had it with his back seat driving.  I told him to stop it and let me drive.  I got so mad because he kept it up that I stopped the car and told him to get out.  The kids were in the backseat and were the quietest I have ever seen them.  They knew I was mad.  The cars were starting to line up behind me.  I made him promise to stop telling me how to drive and he could stay in the car.  He did promise and off we went to the honking of horns.  Did he stop?  Yes, till the next time..... 

Updates!

Lastest update on the bears - We have numerous bears coming in the yard.  Most are not even interested in the new bird feeders.  I'm still not giving in.  They will get into the feeder and get the one 17 feet up the tree.

The latest on my book - I called the local Barnes & Noble to let the Manager know that the book is now on the "Book returnability list."  She checked it out and it isn't listed as that yet.  She told me to call back in a few weeks to check again.  Then she asked if I wanted to do a book signing when it is.  Of course I jumped at the chance.  Now, I must be patient and wait.  Oh, I hate waiting.  Will you wait with me?...

Pets

On occasion we go and get Stacy's dogs and bring them to Grandma's for the day.  We pack them in the car for the ride.  They get all excited about 3 minutes up the road.  The cats are rounded up and put behind the screen on the basement doorway.  They have the run of the cellar while the dogs have the run of the upstairs.  Bella was all excited to see Sally dog.  She is like a flea on Sally.  She bites Sally's legs all the time.  Sally gets fed up and sits, but now Bella bites her tail to make her get up.  Occasionally we yell to Bella to stop biting and it works.  We just laugh at the two of them.  Kishi just watches. 

The other thing we must remember is too dry the toilet seat before you sit.  Sally likes to drink out of the toilet but isn't so neat about it.  It doesn't matter how much water is in her bowl, she likes my bowl more.  Thank heavens for antibacterial wipes!....

School's out?

This is the time of year that the kids really don't want to go to school.  The weather turns hot and their attention span dwindles.  They only have a week or two to go.  It's not that they are sick, but they aren't doing anything in school that they can't do at home.  It use to be I had to push the kids out the door with threats.  "You had better show up at school or no going out tonight," worked.  The younger ones were not allowed out of their room if they didn't go to school.  Sickness wasn't an excuse.  They had to call Dad if they were sick.  No one was sick enough to call Dad!  So some of the things that we invented did work.  Wonder if they will do the same with their kids?