Hi there.....

So kind of you to stop by....I do enjoy the company.

Saturday, April 22, 2017

Gutters

Heard a noise the other night when we had a gully-washer come through.  The next morning I saw what it was.  Half the gutter in the back of the house had come down.  Hoped I could do something about it myself but, no.  So I called someone I found in the yellow pages.  He came out and was amazed that the whole system hadn't come down because of what was attaching the gutter to the house.  The weight of the trash that had built up was just too much.  Partly my fault for not getting it cleaned in the fall.  A friend had put me in touch with a guy but he never showed and I just forgot about it.  Too much else on my mind I guess.  I used to clean it myself by climbing out on the roof but age and wisdom kicked in.  So I'll let the pros do it from now on.  At any rate the pro came out, looked at it and gave me a price I can live with.  Actually I'm going to get them all redone as I don't want any other gutters detaching.  I'll have his guys clean 'em, too, when the time comes.  Sometimes it's wiser to have a pro do the job even though it kicks you in the wallet.
Y'all have a lovely day.

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

?

I don't understand it.  He treats her like shit and he's still living in the house.  The kids never know when he's going to have a temper tantrum.  He's still doing things he's not supposed to while on probation.  He's working job #5.  It may last a few weeks then it will be on to another one.  He doesn't like being told what to do or how to do it.  He's bringing junk to the house and she can't even park in her own garage.  He thinks he's hiding his drinking but there are beer cans all over the place "hidden".
I've backed off but I may have to step in again and tell him to leave like I did before.  I really don't care where he goes just so long as he is GONE.  She deserves better.  She has a heart as big as the state of Alaska but I believe it's time she toughened up and told him that it definitely isn't working and it's time for him to leave.  I keep waiting for her to do that.  I'm tired of it all.  He is only interested in himself and always will be.  He's a narcissist of the first order.  He is NOT committed to the family.  He never will be....only committed to himself.  He once told me that I am the cause of her "angst".  Really?!!
I love her and hurt for her.  I just wish she would wake up!  But I have to let her do it her way.😢😕

Monday, April 17, 2017

The thumb

I would say that the thumb is probably the most important digit on the hand.  Without it gripping would be nigh on to impossible.  Unfortunately arthritis has decided to take up residence in my right thumb.  Particularly in the knuckle closest to the wrist. This is very much an imposition since I knit, weed, weave baskets, make jewelry and other stuff and my thumb is most important in all those things.  I've started wearing a brace at night in hopes that it will help.  I can't stop what I'm doing so must persevere.  Oh yeah, there's that cleaning house thing, too.
Actually it has taken up residence in my left thumb as well, just not so badly.  Sigh.  Getting older is NOT for sissies!
Y'all have a productive day and ask yourself:  if a tree falls in the woods and no one is there, does it make a sound?

Sunday, April 16, 2017

Self-sufficiency

I try to be as self sufficient as possible.  That means I need to know how to do a number of things that would otherwise take someone else to accomplish.  For instance - the other day I had asked a friend to change out the battery in my van because it had gone deader than a door nail.  He came over after work and removed the old battery and was going to come back the next day to put the new one in.  I don't think I would have succeeded in getting the dead battery out because of the strength I saw him need to undo the bolt on the brace holding the batter on its platform.  The next day, however, he didn't show because of work.  The next day after that I decided I wanted to use the van so I proceeded to attempt the task of getting the battery in the van and hooking it up.  I did it!  And I didn't even scrape a knuckle.  The hardest part was the brace as the angle was awkward and it took a bit of time to get the bolt in the hole.  She started right up.  Yay me.
Yesterday I worked on one of my garden beds.  The one where I'll be planting sunflowers.  A trip to Lowe's and I had soil and compost to add.  I'm going to wait until the guy who mows tills it all in before I plant.  I don't have a tiller.  Have thought of getting the little one that's advertised (Mantis) but that wouldn't be big enough for some of the other areas I want to plant in.  Since my guy is willing I'll let him do all that for me.  These bones are getting too old to be doing much heavy work, although I'll push if I have to.  Living by myself is my choice.  I'm lucky to friends willing to help when needed.  These next few weeks I'll be busy outside giving those weeds who have taken up residence their eviction notices.
Yes, minor things I can do.  I will call in the big guns for those I can't.  I know my limits, some of which have been learned the hard way.
Y'all have a lovely day and remember.....smile...it makes people wonder.

Thursday, April 13, 2017

Spring

I do believe Spring is finally here.  The dogwoods are in bloom and I have iris blooming along with a couple of tulips from Holland a couple of friends gave me.  The weather is warming.  I've started getting the urge to work outside....so many weeds!  Don't believe I'll have a vegetable garden this year.  Last year was a lot of work for little return.  I'm not sure about the asparagus.  So far only three or so have been harvested.  The ones I planted last year haven't shown up yet.
Don't think I'll be traveling until August.  I did go to Fairhope Alabama a couple of weeks ago with a friend to visit her daughter and son-in-law.  It's a lovely place and the food around there is really good (as attested to by the weight gain).  There may be some day or weekend getaways.  We'll see.  Uncle Sam took a big chunk of change so things will be tight for a while.
So many of the folks I have followed here have gone away.  Kinda makes me sad.  Guess everyone has gone to Facebook or Twitter or some such.  I'll stay here.
This morning I'm going to try my hand at hooking up the new battery for my van.  A neighbor was kind enough to remove the old one.  I went and bought a new one.  He was going to come install it but had to work.  Afraid it was going to rain I managed to wrangle it onto its place in the engine compartment.  Of course the black lead decided to tuck itself under the battery so I had to maneuver that out.  No easy feat since the battery is almost snugged up against the side of the engine compartment and the "shelf" it's on is exactly the size of the battery.  I managed, though, with a few strong words and determination.  My neighbor hasn't been able to come by so I'm going to hook it up myself.  When I asked to him on the phone he was amazed I'd gotten the darn thing in.  I told him why I'd done it and that I was a person who did what needed to be done...somehow... even at my age.  I guess he thought I wouldn't be able to pick up the battery (why don't they make them with a handle anymore?) since they can be quite heavy.  So now I hope I have the right tools to finish the job.  If I do I'll pat myself on the back.
Experimented with ramps last night.  There's a vegetable stand that sells them up in Otto so I thought I'd try 'em.  Not bad but more trouble than they're worth.  I cooked them with potatoes, bacon and eggs.  Have any of you had them and, if so, what did you think?
Y'all have an awesome day and remember:  A friend is someone who listens to your BS, tells you to your face that it's BS and then listens to more of your BS.

Thursday, April 6, 2017

Wet

Was in Alabama for a few days and was supposed to come back Monday.  When we got up it was raining like crazy and the weather wasn't looking good for travel.  Not only that but a section of I85 had collapsed in Atlanta due to a fire under an overpass.  Ordinarily that's on the way home.  Some re-thinking had to be done as we watched the weather on TV.  Seems violent storms were in the path we were going to take.  Some research by our host produced a good route. Tuesday we left AL and headed home.  The sun was shining and all looked well.  The drive was longer than it would have been had we come the usual way but that was out of the question.  So we took a different route which was quite pleasant.  The roads were good and not crowded.  We saw some countryside we hadn't seen before.  Our only stops were for fuel.  Yesterday was different.  Rain and lots of it.  We've been in a drought so the rain is a good thing.  Just wish we hadn't gotten it all at once.  My pond is now definitely full but I won't go down there until someone can go with me.  Don't want to break my leg for a third time.
The weather this year has been very strange.  In the 70's in January and February.  March was a seesaw of warm and cold and it looks like April is going to be more of the same.  Doesn't look like it's going to get above 60 today.  Hope the sun stays out.
Y'all have a great day.