Thanks Irene!

Hurricane Irene hit us, hot and furious.  My yard and surrounding roads were covered with leaves tree limbs and debris.  It looked like a fall day with all the leaves down.  By Sunday early morning the power went down.  We knew it would, it always does.  So we go into survival mode.  Get the candles out, get flashlights out, kerosene lamp, and small stove to cook on.  The kerosene lamp was empty so that got put back.  Radio - yes with his extra batteries.  Buckets of water for the toilet.  We can do this.

We both read all the books we had backed up, then the newspaper, cleaned thing up that needed to be, anything to stay busy.  By nightfall, I wanted a shower and that isn't going to happen.  Neither will the popcorn snack that I have every night.  Oh no, I am missing the Sunday night shows that I watch.   Yes, it's just like the days of Little House on the Prairie!  I don't think I would survive back then.  I like my lights and running water too much.  Yes, I am spoiled.  But in the mean time we must go on.  Most meals were easy.  Then we started to worry about the food in the frig.  We went and bought ice and put some in both frig and freezer.  This did help.  We didn't lose verything. 

Bob and I started to get on each others nerves for a while there.  He kept saying the lights won't be on for a week.  Well by then I would be in a motel with lights, TV and running water.  We got three inches of rain and it was on the top of the pool cover.  We used that for the toilet.  Then Bob started to talk about a generator.  Yes we wouldn't have these problems if we had a generator.  Can't wait to see if he does follow through with getting a generator.  Yes, we have been through this lots of times.  Country living....

Irene!

The talk of the town for the last few days has been about Hurricane Irene.  We in Northeast Pa. are also suppose to get hit by Irene.  We did our outside "hunkering down" yesterday.  We closed the pool together without exchanging any harsh words.  We both have our own way of closing it.  I hated to do it but I had to clean it after a few storms and it isn't easy.  Now with the cover on it, it has put the finishing touches on summer. 

Going outside with the dogs this morning was interesting.  No summer birds were singing their tunes.  It sounded lonely.  No breeze was blowing.  It was eeriely quiet.  Yes the storm is coming.  I must go to the store, not for the storm bread and water, but the weekly groceries.  Some of the stores were out of bread, water and milk.  I will be buying them because I am out of them.  Upon arriving inside the store all the chatter is about the big storm.  The cashiers said that by last night there was no bread or milk to be had in the store and the manager called and got a delivery of both today.  The latest weather report on the TV is that it is staying further out in the ocean so we won't get hit as hard.  Only time will tell.  Hope all who have gotten the storm are all ok and please keep those of us who haven't safe......

Beans, beans and more beans!

Love planning the garden with Bob.  It is especially fun to start thinking in January of the garden.  He likes to start plants inside.  Beans, potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini and beets to name a few.  Everything taste better home grown.  So come May we grow impatient and start some plants.  Little by little we get them all bought and planted.  Now we wait.  Our garden is usually two weeks later when it comes time to produce.  This year is no different.  The first tomato is always the best.  I sneak out and dig a few potatoes.  We watch the pumpkins grow bigger every day.  Finally it's time to pick beans.  The extra beans get frozen for soups in the winter.  Nice first picking.  I did it alone.  Second picking is done.  There are at least 10 bags frozen now.  I start picking beans for supper three nights in a row.  Bob is now helping me.  When he planted beans he waited two weeks and planted more.  We are over run with beans.  He says the more you pick, the more they produce.  Well, I am done with beans.  I do beans daily.  We eat then and freeze extra every day.  Is there no end in sight?  Free beans at my house....

Four o'clock wake up.

Usually I wake at two o'clock.  Last night I slept, only to be woken up by a smell.  A nasty smell.  A smell that no one wants to admit that they know what it is.  I threw back the covers as my daughter opened her door.  Now I really know what it is.  One of the dogs pooed on the floor, and not the puppy.  I guess someone had a belly ache and couldn't hold it till morning.  After the dog did it on the floor she jumped on the bed to get away from it, waking Stacy up.  Oh, by the way they are her dogs.  She was doing well cleaning up the piles while I sprayed the scent away.  It would take a gallon with this smell.  At least when I put my breather on I won't smell it.  She even lit a candle.  It brings back memories of the night they played a trick on me and I stepped on the candy bar, only her's was real.  After all was done and cleaning supplies were put away, we talked for a few minutes then went back to bed.  Ah, the fresh scent of pressurized air.  Stacy, do you need some?.... 

E equals Empty!

I use to love when the kids used my car for any reason and brought it home with the gas gauge on "E."  I don't know how many times I told them "E equals Empty, not enough."  Bobby was my worst culprit.  I don't know how many times I looked at the gas gauge and it was on E.  Finally I told him, "If you run out of gas push the car home.  I refuse to get you."  Of course he always called me anyway, and yes I always bailed him out.  I always put gas in my car when it is on half a tank and do encourage them to do the same.  Now the gas gauges shine an idiot lite to tell you you are almost out of gas.  Stacy knows exactally how many miles she can go on that light.  Still to this day I get the call, "My light is on.  I'm almost out of gas.  Come and get me if I don't get home."  It's not my car!  Help me, I want to run away..... 

Bees UGH!

I hate bees of any kind.  It doesn't matter what kind they are.  Bob tells me they won't sting if you don't bother them as I am swinging at them and screaming.  I can sit and watch them if there is glass between us, but don't put them near me.  UGH!  Just thinking about it makes my skin crawl.  I was scarred as a child by my brother.  He would catch bees, cut their heads off, and sting me with the other end.  Of course I would cry and he would get yelled at and promised he wouldn't do it again, till the next day.  So now I see a bee and run.  Bob will have a bee by him and ignore it.  I am next to him and running away.  Now is the time of the year they get mean.  I can't go on the deck without being visited by them and yes I am right back in the house.  Country living does have some downfalls......

I hear them calling!

The ancestors are calling again.  I have found a whole new line that is related to me.  I wish I would find this out when the person is still alive.  It would have been fun to talk to this person.  He was in the service in under cover communications.  That must have been exciting and dangerous.  We did get to know him when he was alive.  He liked to stay to himself, but enjoyed the kids.  He talked to Bobby and Stacy about his life.  He was the last house in the neighborhood to get electricity.  The neighborhood isn't big.  So I guess the Historical Society is on my list to see if I can find more info.  What time to they open?....

Summer update

The bears have not been around in weeks.  This is odd in our neck of the woods.  So Bob thinks he has won the bet.  I won't give in yet, they will return once all the corn fields are cut down.  The bird feeder hasn't been visited by squirrels since we put the garbage can on it upside down. 

I just read in the paper that Barnes and Noble may be the next bookstore to go out of business unless it gets a money backer.  Now what are we going to do when we write books?  Where will we sell them.  I have been so busy that I haven't contacted them about doing a book signing.  Must put that on my calendar.  I do continue to write stories for the next book and in the mean time my illustrator is growing and so is her drawing.  I do keep telling her not to grow up but she is doing it too fast.

We continue to be in a drought watch.  It is suppose to rain any minute.  Yes, it still rains on a daily basis.  I do watch water usage anyway.  I always did.  I let every one know how to conserve water if they seem interested.  It is easy.....

I sound like my parents!

The day eventually comes when the words that come out of your mouth sound like the same ones your parents told you through the years.  The kids always thought we were over protective and said these things so we could practice speech.  Little did they know as we told them, "Buckle your seat belt!" that when they have children they will be saying the same thing.  We have three generations living in the house and it really is funny to listen to Stacy's Mothering skills - most of which I have also done and said.  Then Mckenzie pipes up, "But Mom" and bats those eyelashes, then gets her way.  Brings back great memories.  I just sit back and watch with a smile on my face.  Yes, I wished that you get a child just like you.  It happened.  Now enjoy.....   

Things our children make us do!

I just had to share this with all my readers.  My eight year old granddaughter wanted to go see the Smurf movie tonight.  She wanted her face painted blue, oh, then she wanted Mommy to paint her own face blue.  So after supper both girls went into the bathroom and came out much later dressed alike and with blue faces.  Yes of course I took pictures!  Now I do remember doing these things that the kids wanted me to do.  The worst one was dressing as a clown for work on Halloween and painting my face.  They didn't believe I did it until they went for gas and the attendent said, "You're Mom was a real clown today."  Then they believed I did it.  I guess I was out in public looking as silly as a blue smurf.  Enjoy the pictures....

Don't get old!

Every once in a while you hear the old saying, "Don't get old!"  When you get old everything on your body goes south, you forget where you put things, and you fall.  Well, Grandma fell and hurt her foot, so for the last few days, I have been tending to Grandma.  Not an easy thing at times as she can turn on you at the drop of a hat.  Then we spent eight hours in the Emergency Room because of her condition.  Now, she hasn't been eating right, hasn't been sleeping at night (can't be because she sleeps during the day) and just isn't herself.  Her labs come back better than mine!  Her foot was sprained and was discharged to home.  It is now 10:00 at night.  Of course not knowing the area, I took the wrong turn.  After going on the scenic route for fifteen minutes, I turned around and found the right way.  Once safe and sound in her apartment, I wanted to get home.  I'm tired, hungry and have to go to the bathroom.  Arriving home after midnight, I sat on something that didn't have wheels and relaxed.  I didn't turn into a pumpkin after 10:00 like everyone thought I would.  So like I say, "don't get old."  Too much can go wrong....... 

Drought?

We have had rain almost every day here.  I think there was only a four day stretch that we didn't get rain, plus a day here and there.  Within three days we had four inches of rain.  The weatherman also said that we were above on rain.  Then a report comes out on Friday that we are under a drought watch.  Come and look at my garden, my tomato plants are rotting not producing.  My ground is really wet when you dig down in the dirt.  I only wash clothes when it isn't raining - tough to plan since it rains every day.  My lawn is green and lush, usually if it is a drought my lawn is dry and brown.  Yes, this is one alert I do not understand this time....  

Age __!

Today my son turns another year older.  He may never grow up.  He has fun in his life as he always did.  There were some days he kept me on the ledge ready to jump!  But then he did turn out to be a great person.  The service taught him a few lessons as we all did.  His life is shared by many, as he was one of the main characters in my book.  Enjoy every day to the fullest, and do something daily that brings a smile to your face.  And above all, keep up the stories for book #2.  Love ya! 

Movies

I am sitting here surrounded by three dogs and four cats.  We are trying to make them all like each other.  They have a daily routine.  Two weeks ago I took down all the barriers except one.  The screen that keeps the dogs up and cats down, has been opened.  The dogs are up during the day while the cats sleep downstairs, except for Baby who sleeps under the couch in front of all the dogs till eight at night.  Now Bella is too small to create too much havoc, so she can stay out all the time.  Sally, the lab and Kish, the rottie we keep a close eye on.  Now, Pumpkin is the adventurer.  He comes up to do a drive by on occasion.  Lucky comes up when called, and Mama is quite laid back.  The dogs are pottied at a certain time at night and sent to their room with the gate up.  They can see but can't touch the cats.  The cats sense this and all show up in the kitchen to eat and then run around till they want.  When we get up in the AM it is feeding time for the cats, then they go to their spots and it's time to let out the hounds and start all over.  See, I told you this can work.... 

Friendly people

Driving on the Interstate is fun.  I drive a SUV.  I need it in the winter to go places in the snow.  I am not a slow driver on the highway.  Bob does putt-put, I do varoom!  My last trip to Grandma's was alone.  I drove.  Quiet trip, except for the Four Seasons singing to me, and me singing with them.  I was driving in the passing lane, doing 72.  No cars were really behind me trying to pass, so I continued to pass the cars and stay on the go.  All of a sudden this car decided to speed up and pass me on the right.  Then he jumps in front of me and starts to wave!  Oh, sorry he isn't waving, I think those are hand signals, not so nice ones either!  I waved back.  I was being nice.  Well, if I am going too slow, why don't you just hurry up and get away?  He was now driving the same as me.  Maybe he didn't like to be passed by a female.  Oh well, all too soon the exit was in view.  I waved to the guy again and turned off.  I'm sure he went on to try to annoy someone else.  Oh well.....   

Eveready bunny 2!

Upon going to bed last night, I realized I had an infected big toe.  I got out of bed and put stuff on it and a bandaid and returned to bed hoping to get a good night sleep.  That was not going to happen.  It started to throb and wouldn't stop.  I flipped and flopped like a fish till 4:30 am, when finally my eyes stayed shut.  I slept as long as I could - 8:30.  Then I started my day finishing my leftover projects.  The deck was finished first.  Then in the house I went and tackled the tomatoes.  All 16 quarts are done and then I finished the pickles, 6 quarts of them.  All sealed.  Not one accident.  Then I went back out and put sealer on the deck.  Waiting for it to dry, I started supper.  Bob couldn't believe his eyes when he got home that I accomplished all that I set out to do today.  Now I am sitting down and might never be able to get up for days!.....

Eveready bunny!

I hit the floor running today.  I had certain things I wanted to accomplish.  Yes, I had a list.  Hate those lists but they are sometimes needed.  So a quick breakfast and off I go.  Make a pot of soup first for supper.  Then Walmart is the first stop.  Got what we needed and off I went to Best Buy.  Yes, remember I am not a computer geek, so I am explaining what I want this item to do.  Now can you give it a name and does it exist.  I think the person I was conversing with was new.  He didn't have the usual shirt on.  "Of course we have one!" were his words.  Yes it will do what you said.  He was a geek, he belongs there.  They amaze me.  I usually end up telling them to talk in my English!
 Next is off to the Farmers' Market again.  Must get vegetables to can - tomorrows project.  Next stop is home and unload all my treasures.   Now, I want to clean the deck with the new pressure washer I bought.  Nice toy, works great, but it lasts longer than me.  So with frequent rest periods I have a third of it done.  It started to rain and I quickly put it away.  Don't need any problems there.  I guess I could have kept up because as soon as I put the machine up, the rain stopped.  Guess what tomorrow's project will be?  Where's that list......

The school bus

Watch out for that yellow bus that transports your little angels to school.  Or should I say, watch what those little angels are doing on the bus.  I had two that would behave on the bus because I always threatened, "If you get thrown off the bus for something you did wrong, you will walk to school."  We use to walk.  And yes I know if I said that now I would be arrested for abuse.  It worked for the girls.  Then I had the trouble maker, Bobby.  I hated the calls from the school.  Yes, what did he do this time?  He was hanging out the bus window trying to grab the telephone pole as it turned the corner.  My first question to Bobby was, "Why?"  "Because someone dared me."  Well that isn't a good answer, go write I must keep my hands in the bus one hundred times.  This seems like a lot for a child of nine.  Did he learn his lesson?  Of course not!  "Do you want to know what Bobby did?" came on the phone the next week.  Get your pencil ready...... 

Dry days

All we need are a few dry days in a row.  My garden is crying artificial tears because it is too wet.  We have recieved 3" of rain in the last 3 days.  It started off nice today, the sun actually came out.  Slowly after 1:00 the rains came, one half inch to be exact.  I don't mind watering the garden.  We have only had to do that maybe five times this summer.  Now my idea is to take the extra beach umbrellas and cover the garden with them.  I may need a few more.  I can come up with four of them.  Do you think Bob would notice that the umbrella is gone from the deck?..... 

Family Reunion Time

Yesterday I spent most of the day tending to food I was taking to the Stevens Family Reunion.  They provide half a chicken and everybody takes a side dish and a dessert.  I chose to make baked beans and zucchini bread, like last year.  So I spent most of my time in the kitchen.  Usually when I spend the day in the kitchen, I am mad about something.  This was fun.  Anyway, you also need to bring your own plate and silverware.  No problem.  Since I do genealogy they mentioned my name at the meeting along with the other person who does it  too.  He has been going for years.  This is only our second time.  It is amazing to know how many people are related through the Stevens line.  They all welcome us with open arms.  It was especially nice to talk with Dave.  He has helped me in the past and I have helped him.  Bob spoke to some that hunted and enjoyed himself too.  Can't wait till next year.  I like these reunions!....

Something different

There was a show on the other night about near-death experiences.  Have you ever had one?  It brought back memories of when I first got sick with heart problems.  You see, my brother was very sick, dying of cancer in the Hospice unit of the hospital.  Being a nurse I knew he didn't have much time left.  I was also getting sicker by the day and didn't let him know.  Tests were being done and I needed to wait till all the results were in.  A few days later my brother left this earth.  Two nights later I was in the Emergency Room with congestive heart failure and pulmonary hypertension.  I knew I was sick but not this bad.  They wanted to do a cardiac catherization on Friday night.  What could I say.  I was too sick to not agree.  While they were doing it and found the pulmonary hypertension, they injected a medication.  It took my blood pressure down to almost nothing.  I was at that point fighting for my life.  All of a sudden I saw my brother.  He wanted me to come with him.  I wasn't ready and told him.  He disappeared and I continued my fight with the nurses and doctor helping me.  I did come back but I had a long fight to go....    

TV Remotes!

What is the world coming to.  You now have to have some sort of box attached to your TV or you get no channels.  Living in the country, there is no cable.  Like the man says, "You have to have telephone poles before you get cable."  We do have telephone poles but they go through the woods.  When we moved here we had an antenna and all the equipment.  It worked great as long as someone was holding it up on top of the roof.  Bob could only do it for so long.  So next was a satellite dish.  It was so nice, until they handed me the remote.  Now this remote can handle the DVD player, the TV, the satellite and any other thing you have connected to the TV.  Yea, right!  I have three different remotes now.  Don't lose one or nothing works. Then the other problem, you have to know how to use them.  The TV must be on a certain channel before you can program it to play something else, and don't hit the wrong button in the wrong sequence because then nothing works, and you need a kid around to figure out what you did!  Mckenzie!.....   

Genealogy Day

Ah, yes, the world of the dead.  Yes it is interesting.  Today I spent some time with the "Dead people" as Bob calls it.  Some days they are more fun.  They don't make too many demands on you, only find them.  They don't call you on the phone at the worst possible moment.  They don't order you around.  They don't tell you what to cook.  They can't take you anywhere.  Guess they have their good and bad points.  Some days I think I should hang out with them more than others.  They also don't drive you crazy.

Bella

Bella was brought home as a tiny puppy and loved riding on my shoulder like a newborn baby.  She loved cuddling.  To this day when you pick her up, her legs go out like a baby also being picked up.  She thinks she is human I guess.  Come meal time she likes to sit by Bob, she knows if she sits and begs she will get a morsel.  Some days she eats more than we do.  It's a wonder she doesn't bust.  When it is bedtime she goes with me willingly.  The last few nights she woke up and jumped off the bed.  Wow, does she need to go out?  As I rouse myself, Bob returns her to the bedroom.  He opened the frig and upon closing it, there sits Bella.   Stacy, not being aware of this, goes into the frig and once again there is Bella.  She knows there are people treats in there and once again if you look pretty you get some.  Our only problem now is, we have to share that cheese stick with four (remember we now have three dogs) so they also help with your diet.  Unless you hide it and eat......

Bella and Sally

Sally has always been a hyper yellow lab.  She will jump high enough to lick the top of your head some days.  We try not to let her jump on people.  She's just too strong.  She really is a good dog.  Along comes Bella.  Now Bella is a puppy and wants to play.  Her and Sally like to play tug of war with their toys.  Sally lets Bella win.  Being that Sally is so much bigger than Bella we were afraid at first that she would hurt Bella.  She is like the gentle giant with Bella.  Bella on the other hand goes after Sally's legs, ears, tongue, anything she can get, and bites her.  Sometimes poor Sally yelps because of Bella's biting.  We constantly yell at Bella to leave Sally alone but Sally looks her up to play.  So we just let them play.  Eventually they both tire and lay down.  Peace and quiet - till the next round....