Clean House Yard Sale

Today was a busy day and I am not done yet.  Tomorrow is the big yard sale.  Yes, it should be fun even though it is suppose to rain at some point.  I have it set up that I can just stay in the garage if necessary.  Bob hates yard sales.  He thinks they are a waste of time.  No, he is not sticking around for it, but I know at some point he will come around to help.  Hey, my thing is make me an offer and it can go home with you.  Most of the stuff is good and usable.  Lots of baby clothes and things.  Wish me luck, I am hoping to get rid of most things someone else can use.....

Thunder boomers!

We had a dog years ago that could hear thunder boomers a mile away.  She would smile with her tongue down to her toes.  Then she would pace.  Then it was time to hide and shake in her shoes till it passed.  Along comes Bella, all eight pounds of dog.  If is during the day she isn't too bad, she paces, but come night fall, she's a wreck.  From the time it started last night all she did was whine, shake and pace.  It wouldn't have been half bad but she was doing it on the bed.  We tried covering her up and petting her, nothing was working. The storm lasted two hours and for those two hours there was no sleeping.  As soon as the storm passed Bella laid down, put her head down and went to sleep.  We just looked at each other.  Wish it was that easy to go to sleep.....

Life as we know it

Today all is calm in your life.  Tomorrow it is turned upside down.  We just don't know when it will happen.  Then you have people who must fight you every step of the way and won't stop.  I'm sure their day will come too.  If you are carrying the world on your shoulders you don't need someone to come along and upset the world.  Why can't people just stop.  No, push someone over the edge instead.  Thanks!

Rain

Yes, it is raining again.  We don't need it.  My grass isn't dying back, it is actually rotting.  Yes, rotting.  I have never seen this.  Too much water.  Will have to put that on the Spring to do list.  There is an added two inches in the rain gauge from today so far and it is still coming down.  It was really a wet summer and now Fall is starting out the same.  Please let it stop before winter or we will all be in igloos....... 

EEK! Bugs, bugs, and more bugs!

I decided to go outside and do some yard work today.  I do a little at a time so I don't get too out of breath.  So outside I go this morning.  The sun was out and less humidity made the day better.  After rounding up the hedge clippers and electrical cord off I went to finish some trimming.  A few mosquitoes were out and biting.  Can't put the clippers down just to swat the darn bugs.  I just kept moving my arms and legs around so they didn't land.  Some did land and bite.  People going by must have thought I was having seizures.  I got done what I planned to do.  Bob helped me wrap it up for next time.

After supper I went out to weed whack.  Wow, where did the bugs come from?  I was swatting every two seconds.  I felt like I was on one of the commercials and the bug spray is not working.  I was moving as fast as I could.  I really need to get this done and clean up.  The faster I went the more I sweated and the more the bugs bit.  I surrender!  I quit!  No more!  I can't take it!  I'm done!  I put the weed whacker away and ran in the house.  No I didn't clean up.  Hope Bob doesn't go outside till tomorrow.  I promise to clean up the sidewalks tomorrow.  I was nothing more than bug bait tonight.  Excuse me while I go itch.... 

Plastic containers

Ah!  You made the greatest meal for supper and there are leftovers.  Yes, like me you put them in those plastic containers that we have in the cupboards.  Then we stack them in the frig hoping that someone eats them.  Of course the ones we save for ourselves are the ones they sneak eat.  Stacy does take some of the leftovers with her but forgets to return them in a timely fashion.  Of course in the winter I don't mind, but in the summer, in the heat!  She brings the containers in all at once, drops them and runs.  Yes, they are gross and of course smelly.  I get to open them and get the stench!  I have asked why she can't just return them on the same day, "I forget" is always the answer I get.  Maybe I should forget to make meals.  What would she do then?....

The passing of a pet.

We treat our pets like they are part of the family.  We no longer keep them outside on coops.  When they were small we ran with them and shared their energy.  As time went on and they aged, we walked with them.  We felt their pain when they had pain.  We held their hand when they were leaving us.  We grieve them when they are gone.  It's hard to say good by to these wonderful pets.  We love you.....

Rain and more rain!

The weatherman has learned a new forecast.  It is sunny with rain.  What he really means is you might get three minutes of sun shining through the rain you are going to receive all day.  It has been a rainy September.  I think we have gotten 15 inches of rain this month.  The forecast for the next few days is sunny with rain.  Places are flooding again.  Can't someone please stop the rain for a while.  We will need an ark soon....

Relaxation

I actually got some time today to relax.  All the daily chores - make the bed, do dishes, dust, eat, feed dogs and cats, check laundry - were done.  Now I can spend a little time with my "dead people" as I call them, before anyone puts demands on me.  I did get three pages in the computer, I'm proud of myself.  I did answer the phone at least five times, had to take the puppy out twice, ate lunch and finally had to stop to make supper.  Is this really relaxation?  I think it is and no one will tell me I'm wrong......  

Flash drive?

I needed to burn a CD.  My first stop was another store where you can buy these things.  Well, they had CD's +R and -R.  What does this mean?  There were no visible associates so off I go to see the Geek Squad.  They amaze me.  The guy who sold me the computer and some other things came to my rescue.  They had the same thing here.  I told him what I was after and what I was going to do with it and he names something else, "A flash drive."  Now how easy is it to use?  He makes it sound so simple.  No, they won't let me take him home to do it.  He did say it was easy to do, so I bought one. 

Upon arriving home, I am really anxious to use it.  I put it in one of the "ports" and it came on the screen that there was a set of instructions, 12 pages of them and you call this simple!  I fiddled around for a while, and another screen came up.  Ah, this looks like what I want.  Yes, it is transferring the pictures to this little one and a half inch thingy.  Hey, I learned something new and did it myself.  Never did read the directions....  

Good intentions

Upon awakening this morning I found Stacy had emptied the laundry hamper.  This is a good sign.  I guess that she has intentions of doing laundry.  That is great because I want to can the tomatoes that I bought yesterday.  I got busy with my project as soon as I finished my second cup of tea.  I had all the tomatoes in jars by the time her eyes opened.  Her first words were, "Did you start the laundry?"  "Oh, I thought you were doing it since it is in your basket!"  She started naming things she needed to do and then she was gone.  Oh well, down I went and started the laundry.  Most was done by the time she returned.  She did remove all the clothes from the laundry room to the closets.  At least I don't have to do that....

We need a burn can!

I can't count the weeks Bob has been saying, "We need a burn can."  The old one was a galvanized garbage can and they don't last long.  It got to the point it broke in half and who knows what the bottom looked like.  Last week I called a number from our local paper that advertised burn cans.  I told them I didn't need directions because Bob was there before.  Him, forget how to get somewhere!  Never!  Well it was close.  He had me put a place into his GPS.  You know me and electronics.  Why me?  Just because you are driving!  I tried, numerous times.  I hit every button I could.  It didn't give me a direction, it did give me an hourglass.  What is this?  It's looking for a satellite.  Yea, right.  Here take it back.  He tried doing it and it gave him the same hourglass.  He set it so it would show where we were at.  We drove for quite a while and saw some of the same sites twice.  Yes, I asked if we were lost and the answer was "No."  I just had to get that in there.  He finally turned up a road and found the campground he was looking for, and said, "It's right up here!"  And lo and behold it was.  Good, we can now get our burn can.  Not yet, no one is here.  So back home we went.  I called the number and found out when someone will be there.  So back we went at the appointed time and away we went.  "Bob, Bob, where are you?"  Oh, he's out christening the new burn can.... 

Fall

Bring out the warm sweaters, there's a nip in the air.  The air smells different.  The mornings are now foggy.  The air conditioner sits unused most days now.  The weatherman is calling for possible frost.  I guess fall is here, sneaking in with all the usual changes.  The leaves are falling in layers on the grass.  Can't wait till we have to start picking them up.  No more cutting grass.  We will expect a few more warm days before the snow flies.  Another summer is in the past.  It will leave behind memories that will , be in our minds forever, things we saw, things we did, people we were with.  It leaves us a little sad for the season that is gone and happy for the season to come.....       

Pets

We have finally found peace among the pet world here.  The dogs would get sent to their room at 8:00 so the cats could come out and eat and have free run of the house.  One by one the cats have walked right up to the dogs and there hasn't been any problems.  The boldest of the crew is Pumpkin.  You wouldn't think so because he is so big.  He walks past the dogs like they aren't there.  Big Boy chases Bella now.  Lucky and Bella are good friends, Mama cat just watches from the sidelines.  So we have declared this house a peace zone for pets.  Even when Grandma was here with her cat, they were all fine.  Now to make sure no one brings home any more strays......

You left us alone!

Most of the time when Bob goes away on business Stacy and I get into some kind of trouble.  This time she wanted to change the twin bed to a queen bed, but needed a frame.  We did find one in a long box.  The box was as long as the car.  Certainly it won't fit in the trunk.  She pushed and shoved and with the final push got it in the car.  Too bad it was taking up room on my side of the car.  With a little rearranging we got it in so I was comfortable.  I felt like I was in a child's car seat.  It was funny.  We finally got home with it and she dismantled one and put up another.  Then she laid on it and it sagged in the middle.  Down to the lumber store we go.  My car this time it is bigger!  She got plywood cut to size.  Great, put it in the car and lets go home.  Supper is ready.  It took quite a bit of rearranging to get it in my car.  We pushed the front seats as far forward as we could and the back door finally shut.  Take me home!  On the way home we both sat on the dashboard.  We really looked funny sitting straight up and that close to the window.  Home at last.  She brought in the plywood and got it set up while I reheated supper.  Mission was accomplished.  Wait till Dad sees what she did.....

Everyone has one!

What does every Mother or Father have?  The squealer.  It is the child that will tell everything you don't want them to, usually at the wrong time.  One of the kids just turned another year older and we said the younger year.  Of course we turned green when they blurted out the correct age.  Ok, who spilled the food on the floor and didn't clean it up?  No one did it so the squealer said who did it.  Who ate the last cookie?  Once again no one.  Squealer said who did it.  Tell them not to tell Daddy what you just bought for his birthday and they will run around yelling, "I have a secret!" till Daddy gets mad and makes them spill their guts.  Once they start school they can't do this and keep their place in society.  They are no longer the squealer but the tattle tale.... 

Let's go to the fair!

Going to the fair with kids is always a challenge depending on their ages.  Little ones can be put on a leash and guided around.  Once they hit a certain age you can't, so you must grow eyes to watch them.  Why does each child want to go in a different direction?  We need to stay together.  To them that means wherever they want to go you will follow.  Bobby was the one we always kept an extra eye on.  He liked to wander more than everyone else.  He never looked to see where anyone else was.  On occasion he would disappear and we would be frantic, of course he was looking at something and enjoying himself.  Now that he has his own kids he often wonders how we did it.  I just tell him all my grey hairs have a name, and he caused a lot of them....

Quiet time

My house for the past two weeks has been busy.  My Granddaughter came back to the states from overseas and was staying here.  Then my Mother and a lady from her apartment building were here because of the possible flooding where they live.  Add on the three people who live here, three dogs, 5 cats, because Mom has one too, we had a house full.  Everyone got along well and there were no problems.  I spent most days cooking and doing laundry, I was behind because of the excess water
coming from the skies.  Little by little people were able to go home.  Britt left this morning.  My house is quiet again.  I shut the TV volumn off once in a while to listen to the silence.  Wow!  I know enjoy it while I can, I'm sure it won't last long....

I love my baby brother!

Bringing home baby is always fun.  Such a memorable day in your life.  As the days go on everyone has to get use to a new little one in the house, especially the children that were already there.  There was three years between our first and second children.  Therefore there shouldn't be too much getting use to.  Grace would always say, "I love my baby brother."  That was a plus.  Every once in a while I would hear Bobby scream bloody murder.  I would go and make sure he was okay.  He was in the carriage and nothing was picking him.  Couldn't figure it out.  Finally the one day, there stood Grace looking in the carriage.  "Do you know why he is crying?"  Yes, he was going to cry so I smacked him in the head and gave him something to cry about.  I really wanted to laugh but kept it in.  Yes, children learn what we say and she followed through.  After that we really kept an eye on her when she was around him.  We never had a problem like that again....

Birthday greetings!

Bob's birthday is today.  We aren't sure how old he is though.  He said his birthday was the day he was concieved.  We say it is the day you were born.  So whatever he wants it's his day.  He is having fun doing what he wants.  So Happy Birthday to the greatest man around!  I love you more than you can believe.....

I went down town with Britt today in her car.  I said I forgot my helmet.  She wanted to know if I needed to go back for it.  It took her a minute to catch on, then she started to laugh.  Got cha Britt.....

Almost time to go back down town for my jug.  Oh I hope I got some donations.....

Update

The pie was great.  We did wait till it cooled off a bit to eat it.  The sun finally came out.  A blue sky came with it.  Haven't seen that in a while.  The river crested and the travel ban was lifted.  People are now able to return to their homes.  We did return Bonnie to her apartment and kept Grandma here for a few more days.  She isn't really happy with that but maybe it will help my sanity, or put me totally over the edge.  Britt will be leaving to go to her next base and maybe the house will be returning to normal?  In my house, what is normal?  Will I ever know?

Tomorrow is Nicholson Bridge Days and the Heritage Society has invited me to bring down a jug to see if they can collect more donations for me.  Wish me luck!.... 

Making a pie.

Mom's friend wanted to make the family a pie as a thank you for bringing her here during the evacuation.  She went first to the apple tree and picked her apples to use.  Next was the recipe book.  As she was naming ingredients, I told her what I had.  No crisco use margarine.  She then asked for a flour sifter - I never had one.  A pastry cutter was next - what's that?  No I don't own one.  Use a fork.  Okay now she is in the kitchen busy making the crust.  We are watching and wating patiently to taste test it.  Do we really have to wait that long?....

Evacuation!

As you know we have been having large amounts of rain in the last few days.  We knew it was going to cause problems.  We are at the beginning phase of flooding.  The creek down the hill went over last night.  When I got up this morning it was still raining.  I put the news on to see what was happening.  They were starting to evacuate the areas that were affected years ago during Hurricane Agnes.  Okay, that is Grandma.  I called the office where she lives and they said all residents need to be out by 8:00 PM.  Britt and I jumped in the car and went down and got Grandma and another one of the ladies that is close friend.  The air was full of excitement and fear.  We suceeded in getting our two ladies out.  Next was the drugstore so we had enough meds.  That done, we need to get back on the highway.  Looking at the traffic ahead, it was bumper to bumper.  It took a while to get out of town.  The traffic going into town was three lanes and bumper to bumper.  Glad I wasn't in that.  The road was clear all the way home.  Now we have the two ladies settled in for the duration.  We are now waiting for the river to crest and see what floods.  Oh by the way, it hasn't rained in three hours.  Hope this is the end of it.....

More rain!

Ok, can someone make the rain go away?  Do the "stop the rain" dance.  We have recieved 6 inches of rain in four days.  The creek is really high and expected to run over tomorrow.  We just went through this last week with all the rain and it is being repeated.  I'm tired of seeing no sun, just clouds and wet stuff falling down.  We surrender.  Don't give us any more.   Make the weather forcaster say sunshine.  Wait here he is, oh no, more rain to come!.....  

New lessons!

Every day we learn something new, I don't care how old you are.  The hardest thing in life has to be when we let our children learn something new.  How to ride a 2 wheel bike without the training wheels.  How to swim.  How to stand up for yourself.  How to buy things in the store.  Our latest experience is watching Britt try to buy a car.  She's achieved the age of 19 almost 20.  Keep in mind she is in the service and can fight for our country.  We let her embark on this experience by herself.  She must learn this at some time.  She picked a place to go and checked out the cars online.  Then she went to the dealership.  Everything was fine until they found out she has a drivers license from Virginia not Pa.  Now she must go to the DMV to see what to do, only they aren't open.  In the mean time like everyone else she gets frustrated and cries.  We did try to soothe her and that didn't work, so we made her laugh.  Wow, does this bring back memories of all three kids of mine and of myself.  Oh well, there is always tomorrow.  Let's hope it's better......

Bella

I am sitting here watching Bella, the little dog, interacting with Britt.  She is biting at her like she is Sally dog.  She is upset because Britt ate the food in her hand.  Nothing was left, even though she fed Bella some.  Bella has been following everyone that goes in the kitchen, trying to get a snack.  She has snacked all day.  This six pound dog is going to be twenty pounds and need to be pulled around in a wagon because she is so heavy.  She sits by the table and barks till you give her something.  If that doesn't work she sits on her back legs and begs.  Bob breaks down every time.  My only salvation is she likes veggies and they are good snacks, just don't tell her that.... 

Too many titles!

What are your titles in your home?  Cook, dish washer, laundry worker, floor cleaner, maid, dog walker, cat and dog feeder, scheduler, taxi driver, shopper (don't mind this too much), banker, doctor and nurse.  Can you add anymore to the list.  Now I know why I am exhausted every day.  My feet go from morning to night.  The family does help with some of these things but I am the main co-ordinator of everything.  I am responsible for too much all at one time.  Who in their right mind would take this on?  I would do it again at the drop of a hat.  I do love my family!....  

What is it?

My Granddaughter just arrive home after serving one year in Korea with the Army.  She is staying here until she goes to her next assignment in a few days.  Yes, her things are set in certain spots in the house.  At least they aren't scattered all over.  I went into the bathroom and found this thing, I would say it was a hair brush, at least it looked like one.  It was loaded with her hair!  It was unbelievable that that much hair came out of her head!  She has fine hair.  Of course I had to go and ask her what it was.  We all had a good laugh.  But now the more I think about it, we can turn this into something else.  There are people out there that save dog and cat hair and make knitted sweaters, maybe we can send this brush to them and they can knit a sweater out of it!  I will go buy a brush just like it and make a switch.  Think she'll notice?....

Happy days

I felt really bummed out upon learning that Borders Book Store was a thing of the past.  There are no bookstores in our area then.  Now what do writers do.  No book stores, no one to see your book.  What are we to do?  A few days ago there was a notice in the paper that another book company had bought some of the Borders were bought by them, our local store was on the list.  They are due to take over in October.  Yea!  Now I must get to writing again.

Where's the family?  They will give me new ideas with their going ons......

Hurricane Irene

This is the blog I wanted to post on Sunday but was unable due to no power.

We awoke to the sound of silence as the power went down at 5 AM. Now we can listen to the sound of the rain plummeting against the roof and the driving winds with sounds of falling trees.  Hurricane Irene has arrived.  Actually it arrived earlier but we slept through it.  Upon arising we went right to the windows like a magnet pulled us there.  We were checking for damage.  Other than the yard being littered with leaves and small branches, we fared well.  We are now living like pioneers.  Hot beverages were done on a camp stove, out bread untoasted.  Toilets were flushed with water that accumulated on the pool cover.  Bathing was done in a bucket.  Food was cooked on the grill.  Ah, Stacy showed up at the door that morning with hot beverages and sandwiches, which we hungrily devoured.  Guess this will be life for the next few days.  By 8:00 that night in the dark I surrendered.  If this is a joke, I'm done.  Give me lights or give me sleep!....