tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37219509358600333512024-03-19T05:33:28.630-04:00Life's Funny Like ThatDebbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125606268748793noreply@blogger.comBlogger1032125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3721950935860033351.post-81426201881069313922024-03-18T20:22:00.000-04:002024-03-18T20:22:03.326-04:00Other Lives<p> </p><h2 class="date-header" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; position: relative;">Sorry folks. I managed to delete a post. I've put it back, but your comments have been lost. </h2><div class="date-posts" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px;"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="margin: 0px 0px 25px; min-height: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="post-header" style="font-size: 12.6px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7074440752573157726" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><p> 12 out of 12 tomato plants have germinated. My zucchini and cucumbers too. I'm still waiting on 8 pepper plants. That little bit of spring never fails to make me glad. </p><p>We were going to go to an auction today. <a href="https://www.plossauction.com/upcoming-auctions/estate-auction" style="color: #993300; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1900ff;">Here's a link for people who like to look through</span>.</a> The fellow was quite a hunter and there were a lot of mounts. That mystifies me. Why on earth would someone want to hang a trophy that didn't belong to them? But Tim said that one guy snapped up like 75 of them for $100 a pop. There was a lot of art, something that would have appealed greatly to Northsider Dave. We were looking forward to going. We are still getting the feel for this stuff. </p><p>Last night about bedtime, I ended up with quite a gastro issue that kept me up a large portion of the night. I was not feeling terrific this morning either, and felt it was prudent to keep close to the conveniences of home, so off Tim went by himself. </p><p>It was packed and he said that there were no bargains to be had. Furniture selling for thousands. Still, he went and watched and bought a toolbox. (Why am I not surprised?) He brought it home and began to sort through it to see what sort of goodies he had. One of the things was a packet of pamphlets and papers. Turned out it was for a John Deere riding lawnmower. It even had (I'm guessing) a spare key taped to the inside of the owner's manual. </p><p>Tim said, "Huh. A lady bought a John Deere rider there." (He was dumbfounded that she had paid over $4000 for it, which is about the price of a new one.) I said, "Boy, she'd probably like to have that stuff." When Tim mentioned that she seemed to be a friend of the auctioneer, we got the idea to call and leave our contact information at the auction house. We can drop the paperwork off the next time we go through. They keep records of bidder information, and can contact the woman who bought the tractor.</p><p>Another thing that was in this packet was warranty information that provided a name and address for the first owner. Because I am a curious soul who is glad that she was not born a cat, I looked up the name. I quickly discovered that he had passed away back in 2022. It provided his wife's name, so I looked that up and discovered that she had passed last fall. </p><p>Little coincidences. They lived about an hour from here, but they had both worked at a factory that Tim's mother had worked at years back. It was interesting to think that they might have known of each other. Tim's cousin is the minister of a Methodist church in that small city. This couple was Methodist. Another link. </p><p>We nosied through the details and coincidences of their lives. It was a second marriage for both of them. She had been widowed in November of 1972, and she had re-married in September of 1976. But that poor woman! Her son died in December of 1977 at the age of 23. Two years after that, her daughter died at age 21. </p><p>Within 6 years, she'd been widowed, remarried, and then lost both of her children. How does a person get past something like that?</p></div></div></div></div>Debbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125606268748793noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3721950935860033351.post-64631090496844068052024-03-15T19:34:00.005-04:002024-03-15T22:45:02.386-04:00Finally...<p> Today I got up, skipped my breakfast biscuits and coffee and hotfooted it over to the hospital. It would be good for me to get those extra steps in. (In case anyone is interested, it is 2,897 steps from my house to the main entrance of the hospital.) I signed in at the kiosk once again, took my seat and waited. Before long, I was called back into the registrars office, and guess what??? My orders were in the system. </p><p>I want to make clear that there was no point getting upset about the situation, not really. Inefficient? Sure was. But it was not the fault of the registrars. If the orders aren't there, they aren't there. She asked me if the doctor had given me paperwork. They had. So, it was my fault for not bringing that little stack of papers with me the first time around. Of course, they turned out to be completely useless, which led me to wonder if I'd lost something. I didn't think so. But maybe it was my fault. So when I called the doctor's office, I was still not sure if I had lost or misunderstood something. When he assured me the orders were in the system, well...that explained it. All of you who suggested that the orders were never entered? I believe that is what happened. Could I have blown a big ol' hissy fit? Sure could have. But the thing was, this mistake was not made by the young man I was speaking with. Which brings us back to whose fault it was. I know her. She's a young mother, and at the time, she was going through a very difficult time with one of her children. So...could I have bitched about her. Sure. Jeopardizing her job was not going to make things better in her life. </p><p>So...no...I didn't get mad. </p><p>Anyways, I went back to the lab. The lab tech was very sweet, but OMG. She looked about twelve, for one thing. She was so very nervous for another. She couldn't find my vein in one arm. She asked for back up. A more experienced tech palpated, found the vein, showed it to her, and then returned to her own patient. </p><p>My 12 year old tech continued to tap around the inside of my elbow in an uncertain way. It was starting to make me a bit nervous. I said, "Would you like to try the other arm? Perhaps that would be easier to locate." With relief, she snapped off the tourniquet and we started over. We were both relieved to see a vein pop right up. She got her tubes and set them down and they began to roll. She kept picking them up and setting them down and they'd roll again. I finally said, "Here. I'll hold those." She got ready to put the needle in and her hands were trembling. Actually trembling. I felt bad for her, don't get me wrong, but I was also a bit worried about <i>me</i>. </p><p>She did a fine job. It didn't hurt at all. She filled both the tubes required, and I said, "Good job!" as she withdrew the needle. I don't even have a bruise, she did such a nice job. </p><p>But, ye gods. The lead-in just about did me in, and I am not usually squeamish about stuff like that. </p><p>I saw the cutest thing today on my walk to the hospital. A herd of preschoolers, led by a large green dinosaur marched down the street, accompanied by a gaggle of teachers and aides. Their little faces were painted. One had a green mustache. There were rainbows. Shamrocks. Pots of gold. Little banners being waved. It was just adorable. I stopped and said, "Oh, I do love parades (spoiler: usually I don't)." I applauded and waved and they waved back to me with the hand that wasn't holding on to the rope with the loops to keep them all in a line. Cutest bunch of little leprechauns I ever saw. </p><p>I am aggravated about one thing though. Remember that big cooker we got yesterday? It works a treat. It really is a nice thing. (Tonight, roasted vegetables and porkchops: Tim pronounced them perfect.) Anyways, paying it forward, I listed both of my smaller airfryers to give away. 20 minutes later, they were claimed. </p><p>Except that I have had no one show up to get them. One person did not return one DM after telling me that she would be here today. The other got irritated when I asked for a time that she would be by. Her fiance does not even get out of work until 4:30. He doesn't get home until 5. I replied, "Well, yeah, that's fine and all. I have things that I needed to get done, and I wanted to arrange things so that we didn't miss each other." It is now 7:30 and I haven't heard from anyone. </p><p>I went down the list and gave one of the fryers to the next woman in line. She was as excited as if she won the lottery. "I work until 7:30 (it was 7:12). Can you hold it for me?" Too funny. I assured her I would hold it. </p><p>Who would have thought it would be so hard to give stuff away?</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Debbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125606268748793noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3721950935860033351.post-44676986527830915972024-03-14T22:03:00.009-04:002024-03-14T22:26:48.191-04:00Silver Linings.<p> The thing that I didn't tell you all is that when I went for my bloodwork the day before yesterday, I couldn't get it done. She had no orders on file. </p><p>This morning, I got up once again and headed over to the hospital to get those darned labs done. I took the two papers I'd been given from the doctor's office. (Yes, Andrew, I was nicely dressed, wearing makeup, and my hair was neatly styled.) I signed in once again, and I ironically got the same registrar that I had the last time. I handed her the paperwork from the doctor. She said, "Well...these aren't orders. Either the patient has the orders, or the doctor puts them into our system. We don't have anything in the system." She got up. "Let me check one more place." I said, "You checked there two days ago, and I wasn't there either." She said, "I did, didn't I?" I said, "Well, I will have to call the doctor's office and find out what's going on. This needs to get straightened out. I have skipped coffee twice this week." She made a horrified sympathetic face. I said, "Well, fortunately, everyone has lived." She laughed and said, "THAT'S good news." I told her I'd see her next time, and off I went. </p><p>Tim was waiting in the car with coffee, the good man.</p><p>By the way, remember that nicely dressed woman who seemingly jumped line? I figured it out today. The fourth registrar is for appointments. When you sign in to the kiosk, you list whether you are there for labs, imaging, or appointments. The appointments are handled at the fourth window. So that's one curiosity solved. I don't know whether anyone has bought the used lipstick though. </p><p>Anyways, I called the doctor's office as we drove to Erie for Tim's appointment. The office person explained to me that the orders were in the system and all I had to do was come into the hospital, and the registrar would see them. "But that's my point," I said. "I went there on Tuesday, and they had nothing. I went back today carrying the instructions from the doctor that said what needed to be done. She said that she needed the actual orders and there is nothing in the system." </p><p>Long pause. I was put on hold. </p><p>He came back on and said that apparently my orders had been "lost", and that he would resubmit them. </p><p>So. Tomorrow, I will skip breakfast and coffee once again. </p><p>But every cloud has a silver lining. Because I did not have the blood work done, we ended up getting to Erie about a hour early. Tim asked what we should do until then. I suggested checking out a thrift store. He wasn't enthusiastic but he went with along with it. We walked in the door and after a quick look around, he said, "They don't have anything. I'll just sit here and wait." </p><p>I had a look around and I found a banana hanger. Tim eats one half a banana on his cornflakes every morning, and the bananas sit in a bowl. This might help them last longer. So I picked it up. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvy3zUGEHxIjDQhHrsceva6W41R06a1TgizpC9GSOIDwIkaV5IpPi-xyQWow5kAbHOxhn4aX3vhtHfbso9eKKMSV0pS5AZgAjhHJ11o4HCgOdJBtg4vEZH9iB7w3xYErk5da_xfJ7S1e-BrN-VcYBXnFzLJ9136JtIGIG1mzPvalMzB7k0UgvSHfbsCCE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="231" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvy3zUGEHxIjDQhHrsceva6W41R06a1TgizpC9GSOIDwIkaV5IpPi-xyQWow5kAbHOxhn4aX3vhtHfbso9eKKMSV0pS5AZgAjhHJ11o4HCgOdJBtg4vEZH9iB7w3xYErk5da_xfJ7S1e-BrN-VcYBXnFzLJ9136JtIGIG1mzPvalMzB7k0UgvSHfbsCCE" width="123" /></a></div><br />I found two ghost stories for William, and the boy does love a good ghost story, so I picked them up as well. I walked on and saw this: <p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrwLxIkXjhmkFwRT2-Lp4zaZO3Tpu_9Ea8XLrL_-IDFL1NunDIRP7VJ5WOrVk__s8gucZq-4RPRCbUvn_JSraF0D6tKm_jJDa90-j2PKMTD3LatCmCJhwifCZK_ZVcNToTQOHSQZM86jZWdHna60mKRSMUfgLC_Tz2ORpXOIihyEfRFxQRnsGRumM8r9M" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="232" data-original-width="232" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrwLxIkXjhmkFwRT2-Lp4zaZO3Tpu_9Ea8XLrL_-IDFL1NunDIRP7VJ5WOrVk__s8gucZq-4RPRCbUvn_JSraF0D6tKm_jJDa90-j2PKMTD3LatCmCJhwifCZK_ZVcNToTQOHSQZM86jZWdHna60mKRSMUfgLC_Tz2ORpXOIihyEfRFxQRnsGRumM8r9M" width="240" /></a></div><br />The thing did not appear to have ever been used. The plastic cap was still over the prongs of the cord. The manuals were all there. We have two small airfryers, but this would allow me to cook a whole meal at once instead of batches. It was $9.99. <p></p><p>I don't think that Tim was too impressed really, but we bought it. Just to use it, we had homemade frenchfries and I made fish sandwiches to go with. He was happy with supper. He was happier yet when he came out to price them on line. They run, new, from $149.99 to $299.99 (the high price is the price on the NuWave site.) </p><p>"Holy cow!" he said, "you really have an eye for this stuff! I don't know how you do it!" He laughed all the way out to the livingroom. It made his day.</p>Debbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125606268748793noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3721950935860033351.post-22247468459713230832024-03-13T20:32:00.005-04:002024-03-13T21:21:34.552-04:00The Addict.<p>Drug addiction is a terrible thing. We know of an addict who needs help desperately. Can't hold down a job. Has no desire to. Felon, and proud of it, Rehab doesn't work. Homeless. No car. His relationships do not last because he's not looking for a partner. He's looking for someone to take care of him. Support him financially, feed his ego, feel sorry for him. I mean, I really could go on and on. He fancies himself quite charming, and I suppose initially it's easy to make that mistake, but once the charmer's in, all bets are off. <br /><br />And, let's be clear: he's a very dangerous man.</p><p>And yet...yet...from the outside looking in, I see a boy who grew up under the worst circumstances. The very worst and from the outside looking in, I find sympathy uncurling inside of me. I can't help it. I am a sap.</p><p>But I'm a smart sap, one who knows better than to let her heart rule her common sense. I've been down this path before. It leads to chaos. This addict dces not want to change his life. He is not my responsibility. </p><p>I take a deep breath and save the sympathy for the feral cats. </p><p>It's just a thing that's troubled me today. </p><p>We worked on the wiring today. Tim has a therapy appointment in Erie tomorrow, but we hope to be back at the job Friday. We're hoping to be done with that part of things by the weekend. Then on to the plumbing. </p><p>Something affirming has happened. Tim has been saying that I look skinnier. I thought he was being polite. He knows that I'm dieting and exercising, and I figured that he was just trying to be encouraging. The scales show the pounds coming off, but so. very. slowly. I've noticed that my pants seem to fit more loosely, but I thought it was wishful thinking. </p><p>Today, I got out a summer-weight tee shirt and slipped it on. I was so shocked. It is plain to see that I <i>am</i> thinner. Tim came into the bathroom while I was still dumbfounded at the discovery. He looked at me. I said, "I AM skinnier!" He said, "Well...yeah...I told you that you were..."</p><p>That's a great encouragement. </p>Debbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125606268748793noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3721950935860033351.post-1970474343504335792024-03-12T21:11:00.004-04:002024-03-12T21:11:43.274-04:00Curious<p> I needed to get some bloodwork done at the hospital. It was fasting bloodwork, so it was one of those things that needs to get knocked off early in the morning. I regularly skip breakfast, but skipping my coffee is haaaaaaaardddddd. (Also ill advised)</p><p>Anyways, I got a pair of sweats on, and a bulky sweater with easy to roll up sleeves. We were headed to the new build as soon as I was done, and so I was dressed to work. I signed in and I was 6th on the list which appeared on the monitors in the waiting area.</p><p>As I waited, a tall woman, perfectly groomed, perfectly dressed, high heels, leather coat, came in and signed in as well. Her name appeared at the bottom of the list. She took a seat across from me, and I started with that niggling sort of inadequate feeling. Plain-jane, dressed for a day working, no make up at all, hair neat, but not styled. I felt a bit awkward in my carhart sweatshirt (actually it was Tim's but I wear it for work). </p><p>I always find myself wondering what it is like to be self assured and perfect. I am not those things. As I awkwardly watched the monitor and tried not to <i>look</i> awkward, I was much surprised to see that although she was at the bottom of the list, she was called to the registrar's office next. </p><p>Obviously she was someone of importance. I wondered who she was, and why she would receive priority. I was so very curious about this. </p><p>We worked at the new house today, on the wiring. Tomorrow we will work on it some more. </p><p>I saw something that I have never, ever seen before. There is a local garage sale site. Yes. It is on facebook. I keep track of the kids and the grands, and the relatives, but I do not comment. I checked out the garage sale site, and I saw, much to my amazement that someone was selling used LIPSTICK!!!! It had only been used once she claimed, and she did not like the shade. She had 8 tubes she was selling for $4. </p><p>Used lipstick! Once again, I'm very curious.</p>Debbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125606268748793noreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3721950935860033351.post-27310042806531139142024-03-11T19:51:00.006-04:002024-03-12T01:21:59.833-04:00I Can See Clearly Now...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVZbEQVTOVO13HrEqC2kU7qsMiZzeyTv9uYzXxJZiJlVEr0ie4yH5HeosmFx7oISTYKaLoQZzjStqTBWzqIcecVS1phoe_pWw5se7w83cgZ8CBvmlIMJbTWxa_ex5lA97Hdyo21MlLaRbop1CxkYz05Tz31lQ2C7PeTlctRThzgyi45I0-lHRGLDBUYs/s3264/20240311_141942_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVZbEQVTOVO13HrEqC2kU7qsMiZzeyTv9uYzXxJZiJlVEr0ie4yH5HeosmFx7oISTYKaLoQZzjStqTBWzqIcecVS1phoe_pWw5se7w83cgZ8CBvmlIMJbTWxa_ex5lA97Hdyo21MlLaRbop1CxkYz05Tz31lQ2C7PeTlctRThzgyi45I0-lHRGLDBUYs/s320/20240311_141942_HDR.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />This is the south side of the house. Tim made a design change, deciding to put 3 windows on this side of the house. So, these are the two windows that we put in the area that is our livingroom. The windows are short enough that a sofa can be slipped in under them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZRDyvrSPJDJORiasN3hUylh14vY_3OJTwqRuK-tSp9F8keuTnsmh7EPMmExaRn7-uxOohnd96d23Z5b20eQ5UWkMTins06yDoXgq8IJi4Fd09WpjsfVz7XkO8u5ga72R2luJSKdn9qMv6MMlnE1ilqxZBuAOA35SIubfrEMp7iSahBgMpDuFBK25mb8/s3264/20240311_141949_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZRDyvrSPJDJORiasN3hUylh14vY_3OJTwqRuK-tSp9F8keuTnsmh7EPMmExaRn7-uxOohnd96d23Z5b20eQ5UWkMTins06yDoXgq8IJi4Fd09WpjsfVz7XkO8u5ga72R2luJSKdn9qMv6MMlnE1ilqxZBuAOA35SIubfrEMp7iSahBgMpDuFBK25mb8/s320/20240311_141949_HDR.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The narrow window is to the left of the door. He really wanted a window so that you could quickly see who was at the door. The door lies to the left of those two livingroom windows in the last picture. This little nook will hold a six foot log bench. Underneath it will be the boot tray and a wooden box to hold mittens and hats. There will be hooks installed in the corner to hang coats. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtUFd2JGBCEX-2NweZ9yBjy41spgNO1mlM9BxxdX3Hxp9KrPI5kGvDRqm4skw_1-2koWks5ntKRCSUdk3QD70hvv64StazQnAI6p7jhV4CURScivAXZAJ1KtaXXW87mEeAHq9m5J7CNnMPvR8QlmZ8IqliirmUbTRxCADEsApTRCOWx5HfF-JF5P2yGM/s3264/20240311_142250.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtUFd2JGBCEX-2NweZ9yBjy41spgNO1mlM9BxxdX3Hxp9KrPI5kGvDRqm4skw_1-2koWks5ntKRCSUdk3QD70hvv64StazQnAI6p7jhV4CURScivAXZAJ1KtaXXW87mEeAHq9m5J7CNnMPvR8QlmZ8IqliirmUbTRxCADEsApTRCOWx5HfF-JF5P2yGM/s320/20240311_142250.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my design feature. Can you guess what it is? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'll tell you. It is our computer area. I wanted a little window to provide light. It is tucked away in the little cubby between the outer wall and what will be, at some point, a walled in stairwell. Tim put his own special touch in that corner as well. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6itD7aNv-9z1MEIUHSDnZ2O2ae9kNMUdociOOYfUsNZfV7p5crH69FNeRqHyYQREgscK0n8ypgl8p56auTgXhybL1plHiCHfMi0zRFm0BqExPgvIPbAf2EtLWO3pee2lw72QyshdfyBSu4x3EaHFqgIwYB91s13oWzQgBLFvn3fzTAYgOWajHf5abIk/s3264/20240311_141925.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6itD7aNv-9z1MEIUHSDnZ2O2ae9kNMUdociOOYfUsNZfV7p5crH69FNeRqHyYQREgscK0n8ypgl8p56auTgXhybL1plHiCHfMi0zRFm0BqExPgvIPbAf2EtLWO3pee2lw72QyshdfyBSu4x3EaHFqgIwYB91s13oWzQgBLFvn3fzTAYgOWajHf5abIk/s320/20240311_141925.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my kitchen. That window will be above my kitchen sink. That second window, to the left is actually in a different room (well it will be once the plumbing and wiring is inspected, and we can get the insulation in and the drywall up). Anyways, that will be the pantry. It is big enough for the hoosier cabinet, and a couple of wheeled steel shelving units, the idea being that I want an easily cleanable space. It is where the vacuum and the broom and mop will be stored as well. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So there you have it. Windows. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tomorrow, we will resume rough wiring. We hope to have that done by the end of the week. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then we will start on the plumbing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">PS: I admitted it to Tim. He was right about the windows. I can see clearly now...and they make everything much brighter. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's a shot for all you photograpers out there: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPC0WpqRNpo0r5fgpDvOzlMdAP_GA6hjmI2CwmQV2JCHhDlmd1te0rf49FA6bI6C0atErjHw8PV78SoOHYVSHl2MexgSi9fG27LzIeLMGrasOyCKs28BV0SzEO5_2Zt4ntiVNbBqf07zLwLaKgg1IQnC-OwUKJV-Rn7VghJ0eS7r0k2IIRv7FiE_ViZA/s595/FB_IMG_1709736695868.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPC0WpqRNpo0r5fgpDvOzlMdAP_GA6hjmI2CwmQV2JCHhDlmd1te0rf49FA6bI6C0atErjHw8PV78SoOHYVSHl2MexgSi9fG27LzIeLMGrasOyCKs28BV0SzEO5_2Zt4ntiVNbBqf07zLwLaKgg1IQnC-OwUKJV-Rn7VghJ0eS7r0k2IIRv7FiE_ViZA/s320/FB_IMG_1709736695868.jpg" width="283" /></a></div></div><br /></div><p></p>Debbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125606268748793noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3721950935860033351.post-55781958949395795152024-03-09T19:40:00.003-05:002024-03-09T19:40:35.416-05:00What Now?<p>Well, I am sad to report that we have finished all the episodes of Antiques Roadtrip.</p><p>We got the last two windows framed in. It was cold and rainy outside. It will be changing to snow sometime tonight and snowing all day tomorrow. We decided to wait to actually cut out and install the windows until Monday.</p><p>Surprisingly, Tim is being very cautious about the coming bad weather. He has decreed that we need to stay home tomorrow. He's not sure he will even go to church. </p><p>I imagine he'll find something to entertain himself. I have two new recipes to try. Beer fries (in the airfryer) and some molasses cookies. </p><p>If I was a betting woman, I'd lay odds that this is, once again, overblown hype and that we will not get much of anything though. Enjoy your weekend, everyone. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Debbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125606268748793noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3721950935860033351.post-23875918843818235382024-03-08T16:09:00.005-05:002024-03-08T22:28:48.595-05:00Carma! <p> Yeah. I know that's not how you spell it, but...you watch someone acting the ass, and you just tell yourself, 'yeah...that will catch up with him/her', but there's a wicked part of you that wishes, just once, you could be a mouse in the corner to witness the come-uppance...but it never works out that way. </p><p>Well...except when it does.</p><p>A vehicle came roaring down the street, revving his engine and making a general spectacle of himself. What is irksome is that it is a time when there are lots of kids walking home from the middle school, and the very last thing that we need is a driver acting foolish. </p><p>He gunned his engine and...HIS EXHAUST SYSTEM FELL OFF! </p><p>And that wicked part of myself rejoiced.</p><p>We were working down at the new build today. Tim decided that he wanted more windows. To avoid lost time, I simply agreed with him. It rankles me to watch rough wiring pulled out to install the 3 new windows. It just feels like a step backwards, and I hate steps backward. But. It is not just MY house. It is OUR house. So sometimes it is just time to shut up and go with the flow. </p><p>So I was running the chop saw and Tim was hammering, and when I shut off the saw, I heard the radio saying '...voting on legislation that a woman's place is in the home..." and Tim and I looked at each other. <br /><br />"What?!!! Where the hell is THAT???" I said. </p><p>Tim said, "That's just crazy!" </p><p>It is, and we both thought it is ironic AND outrageous that the party who blocks raising minimum wage every. single. time. is now telling women that their place is in the home. We had absolutely no reason not to believe that some evangelical republican right wingers had introduced legislation like that. It won't pass. Most people cannot live on one pay check. </p><p>I grabbed my phone to see which batshit crazy state had come up with that legislation, and was much relieved to read that it was in Ireland. And that they were voting to <i>remove</i> the outdated wording from their legislation. </p><p>That gave us both a little laugh. We were relieved to hear it, but isn't it sad that our country is dancing backwards so quickly that we totally believed that it could be happening here? </p><p>Anyways, it was a beautiful day today. The peepers are out. I heard them for the first time yesterday. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YR0Mpax1-fY" width="320" youtube-src-id="YR0Mpax1-fY"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p>When we came back home, guess what? I got out of the car to see Mangey running to me. Running! He is still pretty thin, but he came right to his bowl and waited patiently. I fed him and he ate every bit of it with a voracious appetite. That was such a happy end to the day. </p><p><br /></p>Debbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125606268748793noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3721950935860033351.post-27878454446934956722024-03-06T20:28:00.008-05:002024-03-07T00:24:33.126-05:00Still Here<p> Boy, I really do like having a smart watch. The bout with the kidney stone on Sunday has made me more mindful of my water intake. I set my watch for 60 oz, and record it as I drink it throughout the day. I do at least 10,000 steps a day. I exercise for at least an hour a day. It's a lot like having a teeny tiny drill sargeant on my wrist. (Sure beats having a drill sargeant on my ass. Been there. Done that.) </p><p>In any case, we got the 'new' car today. Tim is quite pleased with it. We were quite surprised that the car manuals are not all that helpful. We thought we were locked out of it, but we figured it out. We had to ask another Suburu owner how to open the gas tank. Turns out there is a lever on the floor. We were looking on the dash, where they are on the other vehicles we own. We've never had a car with BlueTooth before, so that will be a novel experience. Just as soon as I sit down with the book and figure it out. (Glasses will help a great deal, I think.)</p><p>I ran into a coworker. When I last saw her, she was struggling because she could not have children, and wanted them desperately. Now 5 years later, I saw her in the Walmart. She and her husband began taking in foster children, and have adopted a boy and a girl. I commented that her life had changed considerably since I last saw her, and with the biggest smile, she held her little daughter close and said, "Yes, and I am so happy!" It went without saying. She exuded joy. </p><p>Tim picked up William after school today, as a surprise. He didn't know that Grandpa had gotten a new car, so he was delighted to be the first 'guest' to ride in it. </p><p>It's cold and it is rainy, but I didn't mind. I planted my tomatoes. Romas, beef steak, and one lone cherry tomato. The cherry tomato seeds are from Amish plants. They get huge and one is enough. We will be in cherry tomatoes for the season. </p><p>Early day tomorrow. Ladies day. Mattie and two of her sisters. </p><p>I've gotten behind on commenting. I am reading your blogs, but I can't comment on some of your blogs on my phone, and I have much less time on the computer this week. </p><p>I looked for Mangey tonight. I made up my mind to bring him in and isolate him. I did not find him. </p><p><br /></p>Debbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125606268748793noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3721950935860033351.post-25783000281685557132024-03-05T19:53:00.000-05:002024-03-05T19:53:01.071-05:00Details.<p> What a beautiful day we had! A second day of 70 degree weather. </p><p>This morning, I got up and headed off down town. I was delivering another bill to the city manager for the sewage, this one for $1420. So far, we are up to $11,422.06. I reprinted the previous packet with the previous cover letter. I put a new cover letter and the new bill on top of them. I thought it would be convenient for him, everything all in one place. 😒</p><p>I've been hearing robins in the morning, but today, walking down town, I saw one. I also saw violets, crocuses, pachysandra blooms, and snow drops. It was a nice walk. </p><p>When I got to the city building, the fellow I needed to see was not in the building. I left the stack of paperwork with the receptionist and told her I'd need a receipt with her name, the date and the time that I dropped the stuff off. I don't think she'd ever been asked for that before. I said, "A post it note, is fine. Just something that acknowledges receipt of the papers for legal reasons." She made one up and then said, "I'll stick it on these papers for him." I said, "Well, no. I need that to document that they were dropped off." </p><p>Poor thing. She had no idea what happened there. </p><p>I walked back home enjoying the sun and the spring, and the birds and the flowers. Such a great day for a walk. Such a great day that I didn't stop when I got home. I walked a couple blocks down to have a visit. Walked back home. </p><p>After lunch, I set off once again for another jaunt. I just didn't want to miss a day. Tim had to run to the bank and he was loading up some things that he needed to take to the new build, so I headed out and he picked me up en route. Got another mile and a half in before he caught up with me. </p><p>We got another window in the new house. </p><p>On the way home, we detoured down by the river road to see if the swans were back, because I'd seen <a href="https://anvilcloud.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-trumpeters-fly-by.html" target="_blank">AC's post</a>. They were. But I made an amazing discovery. These are mute swans, not trumpeters. They don't migrate, really, although they do move away to open water where other swans are, sort of a local move. I don't know where these ones go. So. Today I learned something new. </p><p>A nice supper of venison chops with peppers and onions and tomatoes. </p><p>I saw Mangey today. His face looks like it is healing, but he is thin. So thin. He came right to me. I right away opened some catfood for him (he gets the good stuff because a well nourished healthy cat generally doesn't get mange) He smelled at the food and but listlessly went out to lie in the sun. He did not eat. I am kind of worried about him. </p><p>Tomorrow we pick up the new (to us) car. Tim is pretty excited although he doesn't like to let on. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Debbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125606268748793noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3721950935860033351.post-25605508677782810192024-03-04T23:22:00.003-05:002024-03-04T23:26:04.848-05:00Scrap and good fortune. <p> Well, today was the day. Tim's old car was showing signs of a definite transmission issue, and the decision was made that it wasn't worth putting the money into. A new transmission is a pricey fix. So, after some amount of talk, we wound up replacing his car with the Toyota Outback, which should be good to last for the next five years or more. </p><p>That means the Cadillac was headed to the scrap yard. It also means that the other Cadillac, the 'parts car' can go to the scrap yard as well. So yesterday, Tim spent a good portion of the day preparing it to be hauled up to Metalico, a scrap yard up in New York State. Before they take a car, the fluids have to be drained: gas, oil, transmission, radiator. There were parts that he wanted to save. (Short answer: I don't even know why), so he took those off. </p><p>This morning, he drove down to the new build to retrieve the car dolly. Once home, the car was loaded. I decided to follow him up in my car, which seems like a waste of gas, maybe, but I wanted to be sure that there was someone behind him if he ran into problems. </p><p>And...he did. The tire blew on the trailer and before he could get the rig off the road, the tire had shredded, hitting the fender of the dolly so hard that the tail light flew off and went into the brush at the side of the road. I made a mental note of the area it landed in, and then pulled up to help Tim. I had the good jack in the back of my car, and he had a spare tire in the back of his truck. It was if he <i>knew</i> this would happen. </p><p>We got there safely. We got about $500 for the car. I stopped on the way home and walked along the road when the light flew off. It wasn't even damaged, which was dandy news. Tim stopped into the the feed store in Sugar Grove to order a new tire for the car dolly. I met up with him there. Ruben, the Amish man who broke his leg so badly works there, so I asked the woman if he'd gotten home from the hospital. She said that he had, but that the leg was quite bad. He broke the femur, the tibia and the fibula. The lower leg fractures were compound and broken in multiple places. He can't put any weight at all on the leg for six weeks, and then they will begin physical therapy. It will be a pretty long convalescence for him. </p><p>She mentioned that the most miraculous thing to her thinking was that his small son was the one who sensed that his father was in trouble. He told his mother who went to make sure that things were okay. Of course they weren't. I agreed with her. In a worse case scenario, Ruben could have been stuck in the woods for a while. </p><p>She said, musingly, "It's like that Spartansburg case." </p><p>I said, "That was just unspeakably awful." I told her that when we'd run Levi 1 and Levi Too and Clara to Erie to see Ruben, we'd met some Amish from Spartansburg. "That poor four year old. I just can't stop thinking about that little boy."<br /></p><p>She said, "It was that little boy that solved the case." She explained how the police had narrowed down the red jeep clue. Sounds as if maybe someone knew who it belonged to. The police sat down with the little boy and his father, and they showed him four pictures. Without hesitation, he was able to pick out the man that he saw slitting his mother's throat. </p><p>Imagine that. In the midst of all that horror, he had the presence of mind to memorize the man's face. The woman at the counter said she thought that was a miracle too. I could not disagree. </p><p>I said, "You know what doesn't make sense to me though?" At that point, a man walked in to buy feed, but he seemed interested to hear, so the woman said, "What's that?" I said, "Okay. According to his step daughter, or foster daughter, depending on what report you go by, he went to that house believing that the previous Amish owners still lived there. He was looking for his grandson, who'd been adopted by them. According to his daughter, he went there intending to get his grandson back. Now, let's say just for a minute, that the previous owners <i>were </i>still there, and he <i>did</i> find his grandson, how on earth did he think the crime would not be traced back to him? I mean, if he had gotten his grandson, it seems like he would have been the very first person on that suspect list."</p><p>The three of us nodded. It didn't make a bit of sense to any of us. I said, "Well. I guess if someone has that much ugliness inside him, that he would do something as awful as all that, we can only hope that he turns out to be as dumb as he is ugly." </p><p>And we all agreed on that. </p>Debbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125606268748793noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3721950935860033351.post-61804195522779280062024-03-04T00:02:00.008-05:002024-03-04T11:10:38.092-05:00Music to our Ears.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U0OioqNYnjo" width="320" youtube-src-id="U0OioqNYnjo"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> Well, the concert was good fun. It was not nearly as loud as the last event we went to, which was a bit of a relief to my poor ears. Tim enjoyed himself, and it made me happy to see him enjoying himself. There is something very nice about listening to music that you know all the words to.<p></p><p>For the last half of the concert, Tim wanted to be up front, and surprisingly, there was plenty of room to do so. I love to people watch, and there were plenty of people to watch. I watched a tall dark haired woman come up to a man and begin rubbing against him, her arms around his neck. They obviously knew each other, and she was talking earnestly in his face. He listened, but I noticed that his hands stayed in his pockets. He did not hug her back. He did not smile. A song came on that she loved and she turned her attention back to the band, and began to dance. He quickly sat down. She turned back to him and then leaned forward, still dancing, and removing her sweater in a flirty, flashy way. He did not look at her. </p><p>I found this all very interesting. He was part of a group of three men. There may have been a fourth, but he was up and mingling in the crowd, while the other three stayed at their place. appreciating the music, clapping and cheering with the crowd. </p><p>The Titusville Iron Works is just that, a huge old foundry building, probably a good city block in size. It is furnished with an eclectic mix of furniture: sofas, chairs, vintage kitchen chairs and tables, office furniture, benches, barber chairs, There are gas fires in cast iron clawfoot tubs and furniture arranged around these things. There's an old city street car filled with local memorabilia, old cars, old motorcycles. It's hard to explain, but I guess a picture is worth a thousand words. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6u_iNhUmRfzly0c7j_8D83o9Xs37iLdR54vtNZCI_WV-vwzt96w6Bk8duIetmLtqwX3yb67adDl0TpQdUcmzhDZ0l5snMREOH95eEH9Hej7Lima1bVcll_CFATw6xsF8_jcsqGHTZQ9cb5hpDjdeBBCY-qigbyYSl8DsHmUAOWH1GUVlHZzBDLX4X8Kc" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="600" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6u_iNhUmRfzly0c7j_8D83o9Xs37iLdR54vtNZCI_WV-vwzt96w6Bk8duIetmLtqwX3yb67adDl0TpQdUcmzhDZ0l5snMREOH95eEH9Hej7Lima1bVcll_CFATw6xsF8_jcsqGHTZQ9cb5hpDjdeBBCY-qigbyYSl8DsHmUAOWH1GUVlHZzBDLX4X8Kc" width="320" /></a></div><br />Anyways, these three (possibly four) men had staked claim on a sofa right up front that had a long bench in front of it that held their empty beer cans and the remnants of their meals. When the girl heard another song coming that she loved, she climbed up on the bench and began to dance. She must have been quite tipsy. The man who'd been trying so hard to ignore her leapt up to make sure she didn't fall, but acted as if he didn't quite know where to put his hands. He tried to talk to her, but the music was loud ('Tusk'.) He gave an 'I give up' sort of hand motion, and sat back down. <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ATMR5ettHz8" width="320" youtube-src-id="ATMR5ettHz8"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><p></p><p>After her song, the woman climbed off the bench and turned her attention once again to the man. Another man in the group crooked his finger at her and she went to the other end of the sofa to him. He was trying to have a quiet word with her, but...the music was loud, and another song came on that she liked and she disappeared into the crowd. </p><p>I found it all fascinating. </p><p>The three men were joined by another fellow and after a quick discussion (the show was nearing its end), I saw them fanning out in the crowd, craning their heads this way and that, obviously looking for someone. I got the idea that they were looking for that girl. They must have felt some responsibility to her. I found that interesting. Did they all come as a group? What happened? What was the story?</p><p>But in the end, the show ended, and the crowd began to filter out. I will never know. <br /></p><p>So that was our night. Something I found very odd was that in the middle of this set, the guitarist set aside his guitar and picked up, of all things, <i>a flute</i>! He began to play Bouree, which I will aways associate with Ian Anderson. I turned to Tim and said, "That's Jethro Tull!" It just struck both our ears as out of place. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2u0XXpVGUwk" width="320" youtube-src-id="2u0XXpVGUwk"></iframe></div><br /><p>That was our night. I've never been a tribute band sort of person myself, but we've seen three of them now, and it is just nice to spend an evening listening to familiar songs that you know every word to. </p><p>I spent a miserable day today. A kidney stone was on the move. It seems to be over and done with now. It gave me a good opportunity to try to figure out why my watch called my daughter 11 times during the concert. I still don't understand what happened there, but I did figure out how to lock the screen to prevent it. </p><p>So that was the weekend. </p></div></div>Debbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125606268748793noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3721950935860033351.post-74326895313537484342024-03-02T17:08:00.004-05:002024-03-02T17:10:22.189-05:00Breaking news.<p> Wasn't intending to post today, but we got some wonderful news. They arrested a man in connection with <span><a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/arrest-made-in-killing-of-pregnant-pennsylvania-amish-woman/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0004ff;">the murder of the pregnant Amish woman</span><span style="color: #0400ff;">.</span></a><span style="color: #0400ff;"> </span></span></p><p>This is good news for the community, I am sure. No word on a motive. No explanations. </p><p>In othe breaking news, my sister gave me a smart watch. It was something that she got as a reward at work, but didn't want, since it didn't do anything that her I-phone didn't. I had never really considered getting one before, but discovered that I really liked being able to track my 10,000 steps. Measure the calories burned, etc. After a week, it suddenly stopped taking a charge. </p><p>I waffled back and forth on replacing it. It really wasn'ta necessity, and between all the recent budget hits, I did toy around with not replacing it, but...I liked it. I really liked it a lot. So today I replaced it. All by myself! (Well...and with a helpful but shy young clerk who explained all and seemed pleased as punch to complete a sale.) </p><p>And then I brought it home and sync'ed it. All by myself. (It was a lot more complicated to accomplish that the inexpensive watch my sister got me hooked with.)</p><p>Breakfast this morning was enlightening. I got a better idea of how things work. I also found out that this <i>should be</i> a pretty straightforward insurance claim for the city. She doesn't understand why they would even be difficult about the matter. But she offered some good advice, and some really great insights into personalities. She also offered up plan B, if the city manager doesn't respond, which was helpful. The whole visit was very reassuring, and I know that when I told him, Tim felt better too.</p><p>This winter has been the fourth warmest winter on record.</p><p>Tomorrow may be a record breaking warm day for the county. (55 degrees on Sunday, nearly 70 degrees on Monday.) Of course, with that comes the risk of severe weather, to include tornadoes. </p><p>Another interesting note: We used to be a 5a <a href="https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/#:~:text=The%20USDA%20Plant%20Hardiness%20Zone,5%2Ddegree%20F%20half%20zones." target="_blank"><span style="color: #002fff;">plant hardiness zone</span></a> but the temperature has moderated enough that we are now listed as a 6a. </p><p>If only there was something we could do! </p><p>Well, let me get a move on. We've had supper and are about to head off for our concert. The noise level nearly killed me last time. I've got ear plugs. </p>Debbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125606268748793noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3721950935860033351.post-13711745493426962392024-03-01T20:00:00.002-05:002024-03-01T20:00:33.314-05:00WeekendGetting the car stuff out of the way, we were able to spend the day working on the new build. We installed two windows, and have two more to do. I noticed today, that we have become so comfortable working together, that there was little need for words. He called out the measurement for the window headers, and I cut the 2 x 6s to length and measured out the OSB pieces to fit between them. He nailed everything together, and installed it. I am better at installing the zip tape flashing than he is. I did that while he prepared the window. Together, we pulled it into place. <div><br /></div><div>It felt good to be a team. </div><div><br /></div><div>Tomorrow, I am meeting up with a former city official to get some tips on protocol and procedure and what we need to do next on this drain issue. It should be an interesting discussion. Tim is going to head down to the new build to frame in the last two windows. He will not cut them out because we are expecting rain, but they will be ready to finish up on Monday when it is expected to be (drum roll please!) 68 degrees. </div><div><br /></div><div>In between, we are going to the Titusville Ironworks. There is a Fleetwood Mac tribute band playing tomorrow. Tim has always been a big fan of the group, and we have missed any opportunity to see the real thing. </div><div><br /></div><div>Have a good weekend folks. </div>Debbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125606268748793noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3721950935860033351.post-87060604520727718352024-02-29T21:01:00.003-05:002024-02-29T21:23:45.099-05:00The Deed is Done<p> After a day, we finally settled on the car we wanted. </p><p>We will never own a new car. They just are not worth the money. But we were pretty much sold on the Suburu, for the gas economy and the all wheel drive. Tim had seen a car he was interested in, but he had to look. Today we drove a Buick Enclave (hard no from me. It didn't get any better gas mileage than the truck that Tim was insisting wasn't economical to drive. I put my foot down.) We drove a Toyota Venza, which Tim liked and so did I. We looked at other cars. Pros. Cons. We compared gas mileage. We talked price and blue books and by the end of it, I really was just ready to be done. Tim, bless his heart, could happily go on for days looking at vehicles and reading about vehicles and comparing vehicles. And I fully expected that he would. </p><p>We were meeting the seller of the Suburu at 4:30, and Tim and he discussed the vehicle. Much to my surprise he made the decision very quickly. He told the guy we would buy it. He is taking it in to get a fresh inspection. We will have the car next week. </p><p>A blue 2014 Suburu Outback. It is pristine on the inside, and has 105k miles, <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjljMBgFuD9dBsmfeWU7k7tTIA-0yqgy-2gOfsSkCDaFLBuAh_rhkMeC7RlSQ8_uH0mzTde11hBIPTGyeKjklhsWJv343ZrcY7-SJBeI0jcQMZzPhclcH6bc_I2laAyHORbZhKUTgEpRzTjhZvSMuIloMTnI3pKFNyEfqrsI_HKGl2kid9lTsEnY9DBQYA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="110" data-original-width="154" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjljMBgFuD9dBsmfeWU7k7tTIA-0yqgy-2gOfsSkCDaFLBuAh_rhkMeC7RlSQ8_uH0mzTde11hBIPTGyeKjklhsWJv343ZrcY7-SJBeI0jcQMZzPhclcH6bc_I2laAyHORbZhKUTgEpRzTjhZvSMuIloMTnI3pKFNyEfqrsI_HKGl2kid9lTsEnY9DBQYA" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So. That was today. I have a splitting headache. But it is done. We started out with a number in mind to spend, and we managed to keep it right where we wanted it. All's well that ends well. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p>Debbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125606268748793noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3721950935860033351.post-49595545666899660862024-02-28T19:45:00.002-05:002024-02-28T20:16:16.808-05:00Strange Day<p> We headed out a little earlier than usual this morning. We were picking up Levi and his brother in law (also named Levi) and his sister Clara to take them to visit poor Ruben in the hospital in Erie. Tim had his regular therapy appointment, so it was an easy enough thing to do. </p><p>Poor Clara looked frazzled. She got home last night and was heading back today. She will stay overnight with her husband once again, and hopefully the two of them will be back home some time tomorrow. </p><p>The weather has been changeable. Last night, I woke up in the night to thunder. This morning it was so mild it felt like spring. By the time we got to Erie, it was 60 degrees! We dropped the three of them off and headed off. We had a bit of time to kill, and so Tim bought a donut. We wandered through an outdoor store They had shirts on clearance for $74.95 and canvas slip on shoes marked down to $84.95! Tim and I enjoyed the wander, but we knew right off that this was not our kind of store. </p><p>We went to Tim's appointment and noticed that the wind had picked up noticeably. By the time we finished, it was freezing. The temperature dropped 24 degrees in less than 4 hours!</p><p>Despite all that, Tim did some pricing. We are looking at a 'new to us' car. The transmission in his has bitten the dust and the old car is not worth the repair. It was so cold though, and <i>so</i> wickedly windy which made everything that much worse.</p><p>By then it was time to pick up Levi 1 and Levi Too from the hospital. As it was about 1, we stopped at a Burger King to humor the two Levis. The weather was looking dicey enough that we all just wanted to get our food and head out of town as quickly as possible. While we waited, I saw two Amish in a booth. Joking, I said, "Oh, look! Cousins!" The two Levis made a beeline to introduce themselves. </p><p>Turns out the two men were from Spartansburg. They were speaking Pennsylvania Dutch, but Levi said later that the murder of the young mother was not unwitnessed. Her four year old son saw, and was old enough to relay what he saw to the police. Combined with the vehicle information, I hope that it is solved quickly. That poor child, though. </p><p>The community has come together for the family, and there is a reward being offered. </p><p>It is still cold and windy and fierce out, but by Friday, the temperatures will once again be up in the 50s. <br /><br />Roll on spring! </p>Debbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125606268748793noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3721950935860033351.post-39784485642481817132024-02-27T18:37:00.005-05:002024-02-27T18:42:58.077-05:00Unexpected News<p> Watching the news last night, we were both dumbfounded to hear that one county away, an Amish woman was found murdered in her home. She was six months pregnant, and her two young children were in the home. Her husband found her when he came home at lunch time. The two children were unharmed.</p><p>We looked at each other with a sick feeling. I know that it is a different community than their Amish community, but I also know that Mattie and Levi both have what seems to be 1001 cousins. </p><p>We worked down at the new house today. We didn't get the windows in, but we got them framed up. We had severe weather coming, heavy rains, possible hail and thunderstorms. So we just went ahead and framed the windows, but waited to cut the sheeting out and install the windows in their spaces. </p><p>After considering things, Tim decided that he wanted to put in two more windows on the south side of the house. I agreed with him on one. He ignored my objection to the other. More 2 x 6s were required along with additional ziptape. He also needed to pick up some furring strips, so we decided to use the rainy afternoon to head up to the lumber store. On the way back, we figured to stop in at Levi and Mattie's to make sure they didn't need a ride to Spartansburg this week. </p><p>We decided to frame the question just like that. They would know about it. I'm not sure how word gets through their community, but it does. We would see it on the news, but they probably got it word of mouth at about the same time. I know that they do not speak of things like this in front of the kids, so asking if they needed a ride to Spartansburg was all that we'd need to say. They would know what we were referring to, and if it was a relative, we'd made the offer. They could discuss it between themselves later and run down to the neighbor's house and give us a call. </p><p>Mattie met us at the door. It turned out that it was not a relative, but she was glad we were there. There had been a serious accident. Her brother chopped down a large tree the previous day. As it fell, a large branch crashed down. He tried to run, but did not make it. The branch fell on him, badly breaking his leg and trapping him. </p><p>His wife had been hanging out laundry when her daughter told her that 'fadder' had fell a tree. Clara stopped to look where her daughter was pointing. When she didn't see her husband, she went looking for him, and found him pinned under the branch, his leg bones broken through the skin. </p><p>I shivered at the thought of it, and Mattie said, "I know!" </p><p>I asked her where he was and she said that he was in Erie. He had surgery and at least one rod had been put in. She thought there might be two but she wasn't sure about that. He would be kept in the hospital and pumped full of antibiotics for at least three days to make sure that a bone infection did not set in, which could lead to possible amputation. Once that danger was past, he would be sent home. </p><p>I mentioned that Tim had a therapy appointment the following day and we volunteered to take anyone up that wanted to visit him. </p><p>I'm glad we stopped in. </p><p>As we were leaving, Levi followed us out to the porch to quietly ask what we knew about the murder. I said that the police were not releasing much in the line of details, only that they were asking everyone in the community to come forward if they'd seen anything out of the ordinary. A red jeep had been seen going up and down the road. It was parked in the dead woman's driveway at about 10 AM. If anyone had a description of the driver, it had not yet been made known to the public. </p><p>Levi stood with his hands in his pockets. The murder troubled him a great deal, we could tell. </p><p>Truth be told, it troubles us as well.</p>Debbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125606268748793noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3721950935860033351.post-47814524541575215792024-02-26T17:52:00.004-05:002024-02-26T20:35:36.341-05:00Just Another Day<p>Last week, I told you that we got my daughter's birthday card back. It had a bright yellow label on it that listed the house as vacant. Saturday, we got <a href="https://northstoke.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #000dff;">Thelma's</span></a> card back. It was listed as 'Insufficient Address'. I had the sneaking suspicion that neither of those cards even made it to the UK. In fact, I was pretty sure they hadn't gotten any further that Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.<br /><br />So I took the envelopes back to the post office. The girl there was able to confirm my suspicions. Despite the 'UK' plainly written under the addresses, in spite of the International Stamp, they were trying (and failed) to match them to possible US addresses. </p><p>As irritatng as this was, really, I was much relieved. For both of the cards to have come up missing, I had a sickening feeling that someone had seen the colorful envelopes in the outgoing mail and simply picked them up hoping to get lucky and find something tucked inside them. (My daughter's card did have a gift card), so it was a bit of a relief to find that wasn't the case. </p><p>She expertly took a marker to the envelopes and obliterated all the bar codes. She dropped them back into the system. We shall see. I have never had a problem, and I've mailed plenty of cards and letters there. Hopefully that was a one off. </p><p>Today, since it was expected to be pretty warm, the plan was to go up to the new build and install the kitchen window so that we could finish up the rough wiring. There was also a bathroom window to be put in, but there was no wiring to worry about on the outside of that wall. We also needed to install a small window in the computer cubby. </p><p>We got up early and headed out. Half way there, the tire went flat. Tim said, "It's that rim." We immediately pulled off the road into a gravel lot of a service center. How's that for luck?</p><p>Tim got out of the truck and looked. "We're f-----." he said. </p><p>Tim has a problem. He knew that rim was bad, but he was trying to buy a set of rims. He didn't want to get just one. He wants his truck to be purty. Things like that drive me nuts because the fact is, playing the waiting game, waiting until you find exactly what you want sometimes, SOMETIMES bites you in the butt, and this waiting game bit us big time. </p><p>A young man was just coming to work. He and Tim talked. Tim came back and said, "He's got a truck just like this and he can sell us a rim for it. </p><p>So our bearded buddy headed home to get that rim, and Tim pulled out the jack and got ready to pull the wheel. When he got it off and I saw how bad it was, I really was upset with him. The rim had a six inch split in it. No wonder the tire went flat! Why does the man take chances like that??!! I said, "You should have gotten another rim just to hold you over until you found the rims of your dreams, Tim." </p><p>He didn't say anything. I said, "How much is that guy selling you the rim for?" </p><p>He said, "$60. I got $40 in my wallet."</p><p>I volunteered to walk back to the Country Fair to use their ATM. The walk would do me good. I figured it was a mile, a mile and a half back. Not far. It would be much better than standing around feeling grumpy at my husband. Hindsight's 20/20 and I'm sure he saw plainly what he should have done. He certainly did not need to hear my thoughts on it. </p><p>So I set off. I walked and I walked and I walked. It sure seemed a lot farther on foot than it did whipping by in a vehicle. Eventually I got there, and sat down for a short break and to call Tim. The guy came back with the rim. He said, "My boss will not let me mount a tire on this rim here. He'd be worried about liability. But if you take the rim two houses down, I got a friend there that will do it for you." Now how's that for luck? </p><p>Tim carried the rim down, and then walked back and rolled the bad rim with the tire on. The man immediately stopped what he was doing and took care of the tire. The young man's father happened by and took Tim and the repaired tire back to the truck. </p><p>So anyhow, I called Tim just as he was finishing up and heading to where I was. Which was great because the ATM, the one that I had walked 2.4 miles to get to, was out of service! So he picked me up (which saved me the 2.3 mile walk back) and we drove into town to the bank and we got the money to pay the balance of the rim and the money to pay the kid who mounted the tire. </p><p>We eventually did make it to the new build and we got the bathroom window put in. We will go back tomorrow and (hopefully) get the other two windows in. </p><p>We got home and Mangey was waiting. His mange has flared up again and one half of his face is raw, just sickening to look at. It makes me so mad. I don't know where he is picking this stuff up from, but I think that when he picks up a case of it, his owners just refuse to let him in the house. He's on the street. I know that I said that I was done feeding the ferals, but I can't ignore the poor thing. I got him a can of cat food and added a dose of Ivermectin. It worked before, and very quickly. I am sure it will work again. I fed him outside. </p><p>I walked into the livingroom. "Mangey's got mange again." Tim looked pretty unbothered by the news. I said firmly, "When we move to the new house, we bringing him with us." Tim looked at me. "Our cat? Of course we are..." <br /><br />"We're bringing Houdi <i>and</i> Mangey. I'm not leaving him behind."</p><p>Tim didn't say we weren't. </p>Debbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125606268748793noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3721950935860033351.post-66962166014881914572024-02-25T10:47:00.006-05:002024-02-25T12:42:28.367-05:00I Go To A Bar.<p> An elderly woman with dementia is struggling right now. Her husband is in the hospital about 1 1/2 hours from home, and she wants to see him every day. Her daughter had been with her for nearly a week, and they went daily, but the poor woman doesn't seem to remember that. All she knows is that she wants to see her husband. </p><p>Trying to arrange care for her is hard. None of the local 'homes' have openings for the two of them, and so they continue at home. They have care coming in 3 times a week, but it is not nearly enough. The family stuffs the refrigerator with food, but she doesn't remember that she has it. It's really not a good situation right now. </p><p>The daughter had to go back home, and was concerned about her mom on her own. Her brother was coming in but had not yet arrived. I volunteered to go down to fill the interim. "I'll take her out for supper," I said. I thought that it would be a nice distraction for her. I thought a little drive would do her good. It was a beautiful day but cold. </p><p>She was delighted to see me, although she had no idea who I was. I explained several times during the course of the afternoon. and saw the comprehension dawning. An hour later, I'd be fielding the same questions and once again, watching her understanding come yet again. </p><p>So, it was an interesting but not unpleasant afternoon. I listened to her stories of days gone by, and she really is a funny, funny lady. Her humor is something that dementia has not taken from her. I told a few funny stories of my own, and we had a lot of laughs. </p><p>It was getting towards supper time, and (not knowing about the stuffed fridge), I said, "Hey. Would you like to go out to eat?" </p><p>She worried that someone might be coming to pick her up to take her to Erie. They weren't, but I assured her that they could reach my cell if they did.</p><p>I let her pick the place and was a bit surprised when she named a local bar. I'd never been, but she assured me that they had all kinds of sandwiches there. It was out of my comfort zone: one woman with dementia in a bar I did not know, but it was me that put the question to her. </p><p>We pulled into the gravel parking lot. It's quite a jampacked place on Friday and Saturday nights, but we got there a couple hours before the place got hopping. I quietly explained the situation to the woman behind the bar, and she led us to a table where my friend could see all, underneath the taxidermied head of a buck smoking a cigarette. </p><p>While we waited for our burgers, she suddenly got up and set off. I was a bit concerned, but she crossed the building past the bar and headed for the bathroom like she knew exactly what she was doing. </p><p>As I kept an eye in her general direction, my sister texted to make sure we were doing okay. "Yes" I answered, and, just for giggles added, "She's halfway through her first beer." </p><p>My friend returned to the table, and I told her what I had just texted Anna, and she laughed merrily, and then she said. "There's a man at the bar with very long hair. I couldn't resist. I grabbed his pony tail and pulled his hair." And she laughed and laughed. </p><p>Cue Lynyrd Skynrd</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/82VnutYBh9k" width="320" youtube-src-id="82VnutYBh9k"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p>At about the same time, my sister messaged back "SHE DOESN'T DRINK!!!!!"</p><p>I asked my friend nervously, "What did he say?" and she replied, "I didn't stop. I just kept on walking..." and she laughed some more. </p><p>Ye gods and little fishes! I texted my sister. "JK about the beer. Not JK about her pulling some guy's hair." My sister, ever helpful said, "We are laughing here..." </p><p>The burger was good. The frenchfries were the best I ever had. We got out of there with no trouble, and we spent the rest of the afternoon driving around the places she knew as she remembered them to me, and the ghosts of the people who lived there years ago. </p><p>We got home and she began stripping down in the dining room, and conversationally asked me if I was going home soon. She got pajamas on, and my sister texted to say that if she was getting ready for bed that it was perfectly fine to leave her for the night. </p><p>She walked into the livingroom as another daughter called to check on her. "Everything is fine," she said. She told her that she had company. "I don't know her name though..." </p>Debbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125606268748793noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3721950935860033351.post-27913569041353172032024-02-23T22:21:00.006-05:002024-02-24T08:46:11.229-05:00Big Stuff<p> Well, it's been a mishmash of days here. We've been jumping between projects and it is a bit dizzying. Today, we got most of the rough wiring done. We have the kitchen left and then we are done with that. Then it will be time to do the plumbing things. Once that is done, we have the inspector come out and do his thing and then it will be time to do the finish work. That's the fun part. </p><p>Yesterday morning, Tim gathered up $9980 worth of bills. We wrote a nice cover letter: </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">To Whom this May Concern:</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">These bills were incurred as a result
of a demolition done on property owned by the XXXXXs on XXXXX St,
This property was located next door to our property located at XXX XXXXX St.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">We had no prior notice of the
demolition, however during a meeting between the city, the xXxX and their lawyer along with XXXXX and XXXXX (city manager and an employee names redacted for privacy) the
following was discovered:</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Part of the demolition was obtaining
the proper permits from the city. This required capping the lines from
the house to be torn down. XXXXX did this work, and stated
that he ran a camera through the line and that it was a 'dry line'.
He stated that he ran a camera through the lines on the other side of
the house between our property and the property owned by XXXXXXXXXX. He found that line to be 'wet' and “assumed” (his word)
that this was the drainage for our house. He stated that he capped two
lines. </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">When we were notified by our tenant
that her drains were no longer working, we called Warren Webster. The
company sent two workers out and they attempted to snake out the
line. He could not get through. He also marked those lines to showing
that our drainage ran on the opposite side of the house that xxxxxx “assumed'.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">While we understand that mistakes can
be made, this particular expense has cost us over $10,000. In the
interest of getting our tenant back into her home as quickly as
possible, we paid for this work out of pocket, and we expect the city
to take responsibility for this error and reimburse us. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">(End of letter)</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The city manager is an aggressive man who likes to get in people's faces to make his point. Tim is a quiet person. Before he left with his little packet, I said, "Tim, you have got to stand up to him. If he gets in your face, you need to tell him clearly, 'Back up. Get out of my face. You do not raise your voice to me."</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">He came downstairs to meet Tim and Tim handed him the papers. He said, "What? You expect me to pay for these bills?" </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Tim answered "Yes." He waited quietly while the man read the letter on the front and flipped through the bills. Tim said that at one point his head jutted forward aggressively. Tim took a deep breath and prepared to stand up to him. Instead, the man said, "We are not paying for all of this. We will be in touch." He turned around and walked out. <br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Today, we got another bill for $1400. We will deliver that on Monday with an additional cover letter. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I am not sure what will happen, but we have irons in the fire that I do not want to speak about until it happens. I spent a large part of this evening typing up a timeline of events and key players and scanning documents to forward to a person who may be able to help. Tomorrow morning, I will take a bunch of pictures with the good camera and forward those as well. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">We had to take a run up to our construction supply place, the big Mennonite operation in New York state. It was cold and rainy and one of those days for inside work. I don't know if you remember <a href="https://lifesfunnylikethat.blogspot.com/2023/09/the-old-woman.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1100ff;">Mona</span></a>. I've thought of her often, but since meeting her in September, we were so busy buttoning up the new build for winter, and preparing for Tim's surgery and subsequent two month work stoppage that I never got back up there. I rode up with Tim and said, "While you are placing your order, I'm running across the road to talk to Mona. I know that she'll be happy to hear how you fared." </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I scooted across the road in the cold rain and went up her driveway. When I rang her door bell, she popped her head out the door quizically. "I'm not sure you remember me..." and she said, "If you tell me your name..." and I did and she said immediately, "You bought my door!" I told her that I wanted to let her know that TIm had had his surgery in October and that they'd gotten all the of the cancer. She was genuinely glad to hear that. Just like before, she told me to come in. Her little grandson was there, and he was a delightful little monkey. She showed me her new kitchen floor, which I liked very much. We chatted like we knew each other a hundred years. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">It was too soon and Tim was there. I said, "I have to go, but I just wanted to tell you about Tim." <br /><br />She said, "Always stop in when you are this way!" </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I said, "I will. I think of you often. You made a mark on my heart that day." </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">And then I was on my way to the car. What a lovely little moment, with a wonderful little woman! </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Another story about a wonderful woman. An acquaintance and her husband have been, both of them, sinking into dementia. They have lived on their own probably a bit longer than they actually should have been. She really shouldn't be driving, and I was glad to hear that her family had gotten her license taken away. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Anyways, long story short, her husband was ill and taken to a big city hospital. One of her kids stopped in and she was gone too. She got herself a ride to the big city to the hospital. She has no idea who with but fortunately she got there and back but she was missing for 5 hours. Her kids were frantic. <br /><br />The decision has been made that they are no longer capable of living alone. They are such independent people, fiercely independent. They don't recognize their longtime friends and neighbors. Such a sad thing. I hope that my body does not outlive my brain. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">My daughter's birthday was in mid January. The Friday before her birthday, I sent out her birthday card. It never showed up. I sent <span><a href="https://northstoke.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #000dff;">Thelma</span></a> </span>a birthday card on the same day. Neither of them showed up. I was especially dismayed about my daughter's card because there was a gift card inside. I had reluctantly come to the conclusion that since both of them were missing, they were probably taken from my mailbox. Long story short, my daughter's card arrived back to me today. It was returned to sender and marked that the address was vacant. The contents were intact. The envelope undamaged. But here is the weirdest thing: The card was torn on the fold. Inside the undamaged envelope. With the gift card still inside! </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Probably the most amazing news of the day was this, though. My youngest granddaughter is a year and a half old. She woke up from her afternoon nap, indicated that she had to poop and led her mother to the toilet. Her mother was a little surprised. They haven't even begun potty training at this point, but she decided to simply go with it (no pun intended). She helped her sit on the potty AND SHE WENT! Her mother could not believe it, but after doing the post potty routine, they rushed into daddy's office down the hall to tell him this momentous news. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">We are all a bit dumbfounded.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>Debbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125606268748793noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3721950935860033351.post-72433526094488273312024-02-21T20:06:00.007-05:002024-02-21T20:25:07.952-05:00IKEA<p><a href="http://www.blessourhearts.net/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span><span style="color: #0008ff;">Ms. Moon</span></a> gave me a giggle. She commented that Tim must like to shop. </p><p>Nope. </p><p>Tim likes to go into a store and look for what he's looking for, and when he finds what he's looking for, he's done. Well and truly,'time to go, here's your hat, I'm in a hurry'. </p><p>So. We got to IKEA. First things first. We found restrooms, and then, it was well past lunch time, so we went to the cafe. And for all of you who suggested them, yes. We had Swedish meatballs. Just the fact that he got mashed potatoes and gravy made the man perfectly happy. I loved the lingonberry sauce. Tim did not. So, I got his lingonberries too. (I have spent 26 years getting all his tomatoes too.) </p><p>Then we went looking. We didn't need furniture, of course, but we did look at their desk chairs. We want a cloth one that will withstand cracking and peeling and impatient cats. Tim was amazed at the pricing. We looked through the kitchen displays and Tim found just how our kitchen would be set up. He really fell in love with one of the exhaust fans there. We looked at their shelving and storage set ups and discussed the pantry set up. </p><p>I even found a kitchen sink that I think <a href="https://grannysu.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Granny Sue</span></a> will approve of.: <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjg9JHSP2mM_opfXOUX_sBO4UWn8iKWx-7f7TYUOAPP1Xk7mFLZxEx-9YJpkBoHtc3ubb15wM0gplULzrPd2LXWy5tcf5VVY0aNxl6GKnqbNrSAbZlL76kw5XTGSUzwNFBuv-yNfKuGTf5zHuCQH4Z-MbwnpATsNmooysqEHzpyea-dzSLnko6icagLBkI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjg9JHSP2mM_opfXOUX_sBO4UWn8iKWx-7f7TYUOAPP1Xk7mFLZxEx-9YJpkBoHtc3ubb15wM0gplULzrPd2LXWy5tcf5VVY0aNxl6GKnqbNrSAbZlL76kw5XTGSUzwNFBuv-yNfKuGTf5zHuCQH4Z-MbwnpATsNmooysqEHzpyea-dzSLnko6icagLBkI" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We did not get this, because there was no need to. It was not on sale, but we knew what we wanted, and we knew where to find it. It's not a time for us to be dropping a lot of money anyway. We got the second bill from the plumber which was over $5300, on top of the $4300 excavation bill. So we are being a little frugal for the next couple months. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We couldn't find the bathrooms, which turned out to be downstairs on the first floor by the warehouse. It was okay. I was picking up little things as I went. A string bag. A really heavy duty flat edged wooden spoon, a couple spatulas, a nice stalk of bamboo...I was having a perfectly nice time ambling along stopping to look here and there, picking things up and considering them. <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We got to the first floor and it took forever to find the bathroom sets ups. We wandered through the maze that is IKEA, asked a guy who gave us great directions, but it didn't help. And then we asked another guy who actually walked us to where we needed to go. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A lady walking past stopped dead in her tracks and said, "Where did you get your bamboo?" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I said, "Sadly, I can only tell you that they are somewhere on the first floor with the other live plants and that they are on an end display running alongside the aisle. There are tons of them priced at $2.99." She laughed, and I knew she'd been lost in IKEA before too. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We walked through the bathrooms, discussing the pros and cons. I wanted a big sink, something that would hold my water pick and our toothbrushes and the toothpaste. Just some space to set stuff. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He pointed out a couple double sink set-ups but then I saw this, forty inches, ceramic. Tim liked the base of it, with the drawers instead of the cabinet like we have now, and wouldn't you know it? It was on sale! The sink, normally $399 was marked down to $280: $120 for the ceramic top. $160 for the base. Tim said, "You would never get that kind of heavy duty top at Lowe's or Home Depot for anything even approaching $120." He stood studying it. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqe-a9V6TTtWKqKkuU12gy_gGlrlvBRBCYzc7zIMeUoeRyDFC4yVqdaMqRf2vrY6vcf6uTCc_4btbZ_inWgb37shvZUugOk-jWOlWIaBtjKpazX8K0Zf4JVgv0t_9KAtAN0sX5yED125HqCY7rRHEWivBNBUUC3zM6GhfOjNc8f51uXG1UsfkOInb_S8s" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqe-a9V6TTtWKqKkuU12gy_gGlrlvBRBCYzc7zIMeUoeRyDFC4yVqdaMqRf2vrY6vcf6uTCc_4btbZ_inWgb37shvZUugOk-jWOlWIaBtjKpazX8K0Zf4JVgv0t_9KAtAN0sX5yED125HqCY7rRHEWivBNBUUC3zM6GhfOjNc8f51uXG1UsfkOInb_S8s" width="240" /></a></div><br />We got ours in white. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4GKliLcoU0ZpDljblr8nOwaHXllvEAy2tXjc7CK_zRU51FpyufTze2Dqz6CNqamIwRdu92VNRFqhCl5XYMIFnBDOeim382cr6sGEmi33JBugXuY9ro2K-D5A5iALiJhTVeeYUi2B8Kuz6OVxPRbu6ySYROIG0Hvvv3ArEnpyCQYdmV-Xb6oFqHPoS66o" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4GKliLcoU0ZpDljblr8nOwaHXllvEAy2tXjc7CK_zRU51FpyufTze2Dqz6CNqamIwRdu92VNRFqhCl5XYMIFnBDOeim382cr6sGEmi33JBugXuY9ro2K-D5A5iALiJhTVeeYUi2B8Kuz6OVxPRbu6ySYROIG0Hvvv3ArEnpyCQYdmV-Xb6oFqHPoS66o" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They also had a matching cabinet, just over 3 feet tall, but shallow. It would slip into the wall at the side of the sink. We already have the mirror we are going to hang above the sink, but a medicine chest is a nice thing to have, especially when the plan is to make every inch of space count. And this was marked down to $57. Tim said, "I think we need to get these now." I thought that was a good idea too. They have a 10 year guarantee. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We talked to the associate as prompted, and we made arrangements purchase and pick up our bathroom. Tim was ready to go. He wanted to goosestep me right out of there. We'd only been there a couple hours. It had taken us longer to drive there than we spent there, and that included lunch! I told him firmly that he was going to hold his horses. I spent another few minutes browsing around, having my little looky-loo. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In the end, we spent $367, total, $357.22 including tax on the bathroom stuff, and a shocking $10 on fripperies that we surely did not need, but that I wanted. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We drove home and Tim kept saying, "Yes. That was a good store, and we are going back when it is time to put the kitchen together. He really liked that he'd found a kitchen that was the rough footprint of what our kitchen would be. It was nice to see how it would all fit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was just happy that I could count on another trip there. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We stopped into the new build to haul our boxes inside, and then stopped in to visit with my sister and brother-in-law. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dave said, "So what did you think of IKEA? Isn't that a cool store? I really like how they have everything set up and designed for small spaces..." and the men talked. Tim said, "We stayed for two hours!" as if that had been a great achievement. "Two HOURS?" Dave and Anna said. "Nooooo. You hardly had time to look around!" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next time we go, I'm going with <i>them</i>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But we still cannot believe that we have everything we need for our bathroom except for the exhaust fan, tub surround, and the bathtub/shower fixtures. So far we have spent less than $700.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Debbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125606268748793noreply@blogger.com55tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3721950935860033351.post-8742283477753360022024-02-19T13:47:00.004-05:002024-02-19T14:00:19.445-05:00IKEA and things that go bump in the night<p> It is a clear sunny day today. <br /><br />Houdi continues to mend well, and he is still outraged by the fact that he is being kept inside. </p><p>Tim's out and about running little errands to occupy himself. It is cold today and not a good day to work on the house. It should be warmer midweek. </p><p>A local scandal here has been in my thinking. A politician has been accused of indecent assault. He has been married for over 40 years. He has a grown daughter and at least one grandchild. The accusations are just that: accusations. What I know, on a personal level is that he's always been provocative and familiar and given to making comments to women. At the time that I worked in a factory where he was a 'big shot', he was wildly flirtatious. What I know is that a lot of the women he flirted with flirted right back, and thought the banter was great fun. </p><p>The factory is gone now, and he wound up elected to a presigious position within the community. He comes from a prominent local family and his name is known. </p><p>Life rolled along, and at some point, things began to change. His behavior at that factory would be frowned upon today. Actionable in a court of law. The proof of that is plain to see. We read about it virtually every day. </p><p>He is an educated man. I never really knew him well enough to judge how smart he was, but did he simply not notice that things are different? Or did enough women respond to his flirting and teasing that he felt safe, that he'd never be reported, that his attentions were flattering? Did he get old enough (and the women get young enough) that at some point he became a dirty old man? </p><p>I don't know, but I cannot help but think about a man who has, as he prepares to move into retirement, found himself enmeshed in scandal, hurt the people who love him most, and dragged his name and reputation through the mud. </p><p>It's just a thing that I can't seem to stop thinking about. </p><p><a href="https://gzandco.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Gz</span></a> wrote a blog post about 'that Swedish store' last week, that she and Pirate had gone for a gander. I want to buy my kitchen sink from IKEA, a Boviggen apron front sink. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWgoSISvKMg0Mwhy0D8KpRmdkBShJuSGnu7cIPe3N6R6sFBWCG1Sbc3gKnjLVwHAp_7ll1aht6Zve63rz7yRyyoQK-t2UqPSF26T0ifxx1w7SH4TrLJYCkCVgVwTo2-2YunVfGoJKPteDsoTON-vwf9g3_oJ5wv64b7B3mQ8rvmXSZ2jG7IHOQno_tp8w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWgoSISvKMg0Mwhy0D8KpRmdkBShJuSGnu7cIPe3N6R6sFBWCG1Sbc3gKnjLVwHAp_7ll1aht6Zve63rz7yRyyoQK-t2UqPSF26T0ifxx1w7SH4TrLJYCkCVgVwTo2-2YunVfGoJKPteDsoTON-vwf9g3_oJ5wv64b7B3mQ8rvmXSZ2jG7IHOQno_tp8w" width="240" /></a></div><br />We have our cabinets already. And we're pretty certain what we are doing for counter tops (hint: we're not using counter top) but I mentioned to Tim that the cool thing about Ikea is that they design things for small places and that they have rooms set up so that you can wander around and get ideas. The nearest IKEA is outside Pittsburgh, about 2 1/2 hours away.<p></p><p>Much to my surprise, he said, "We should go take a look someday," and in my mind, 'someday' meant a distant unfixed time in the future. Imagine my surprise that we are going tomorrow!</p><p>I'm looking very forward to the trip, even though I am very disappointed in them for never reaching out to <a href="https://shadowsteve.blogspot.com/2024/01/doing-my-part-for-swedes.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Steve</span></a> for his heroics in the saga of the IKEA shopping cart. I emailed them, sending a short synopsis along with the blog link, and saying that it might be nice if they reached out to him. They didn't. </p><p>William had a fine birthday. We stayed up late watching a streamed 'documentary' about paranormal activity that may or may not have scared the mess out of him. I pointed out some obviously fake ones, and he quickly explained to me how the effect could easily be recreated. All the same, he decided to sleep downstairs last night, obstensibly because it was warmer and he liked to watch the wood fire flickering in the dark. That and the fact that Houdi slept on his chest for most of the night. </p><p>Still amazes me that he's 13. It also amazes me that he seems to have suddenly begun to shoot up in height. I am sure that more amazing things are in store. </p><p>Both <a href="https://shadowsteve.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0008ff;">Steve</span></a> and <a href="https://gzandco.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #001aff;">Gz</span></a> have partners having surgery tomorrow. Stop over to extend your good wishes, why don't you? </p>Debbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125606268748793noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3721950935860033351.post-66187657487611882892024-02-18T10:56:00.005-05:002024-02-18T11:42:54.856-05:00Lucky <p> Today is William's birthday, lucky number 13. He is officially a teenager and quite pleased with this. He got a smart phone, his first. He's carried a flip phone since forever. Evidently, that is the social kiss of death in middle school. They have to put their phones into a box when they enter a classroom and there is always giggles to see that lone flip phone in amongst all the smart phones. </p><p>He was relating his relief to me when called me for the first time on his new toy. </p><p>I observed that middle school is like that, that there are always kids that look for something different in their classmates and then single that difference out to make mockery of. "It's what they do, and kids like that will find something new to make fun of. You simply don't pay attention to their nonsense..."</p><p>He said, "Okay then. Let's change the subject."</p><p>Anyways, despite the fact that I rained all over his parade, he'll be over for dinner today. Boston Cream Pie. He will be spending the night since he doesn't have school tomorrow and both parental units are working. </p><p>Houdi was pretty sick on Friday night. I couldn't believe it. Tim said, "I heard two cats out there fighting." I said, "When?" He couldn't remember. But there it was. The cat been bit squarely in the butt. (Remember the last time he was injured, it was also in a place one does not normally pet their cat). So it would appear that he's not the aggressor in these cat spats...more like 'full escape mode'. </p><p>But we had to get through the weekend. We got some topical antiseptic and epsom salts, and there was much squalling and hissing and a regular old set to. He was not a happy cat. Amazingly, my oldest put out an APB on facebook, and someone had 6 pills that had been prescribed for their little dog last fall. He donated them to the cause. Based on weight, I've broken the contents of the capsule down into 3 doses. </p><p>The turn around was miraculous, and the festering is gone completely. Much relief about that. He's pretty perturbed about the small rations. His dry food is set out only after he's had his two tablespoons of wet food with his antibiotic dose. He also is not allowed out, which makes him very ornery indeed. </p><p>Interesting to note that as a feral, he's always been standoffish. When he got sick the first time, there was a big change. I slept one night on the couch, holding him on my lap. He's turned into a huge lovey. This time, he seemed to know right away that we were trying to help him and for all the caterwauling and hissing and struggling, he did not try to bite. Most importantly, he did not run and hide when we were finished. He sat in the hall watching me, and in pretty short order, he was sitting on my lap. </p><p>We've got snow here. It looks very pretty. A good wood fire going in the wood burner. </p><p>Quiet day. I need to get moving. I've got a couple cakes to make. </p><p>Gees: I know what I've been meaning to tell you about. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifbDdS35Nz4ZwDV9abOA9OpWNMay3XRWGzlBuIiqak6r99Bp9r3G7m2sxzS2TkcehIsxDVd8-x5BHmR-AyP5l_9HZNqixPyGPQ6aowdpLeWowTBzDHDnP9Z2ooIdHHhZI1sI2MXZ5oNKTxKvDrLCmVCrRPUhdljUEfhsxI_Jp335FpC5M2USdjx72kNME" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="197" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifbDdS35Nz4ZwDV9abOA9OpWNMay3XRWGzlBuIiqak6r99Bp9r3G7m2sxzS2TkcehIsxDVd8-x5BHmR-AyP5l_9HZNqixPyGPQ6aowdpLeWowTBzDHDnP9Z2ooIdHHhZI1sI2MXZ5oNKTxKvDrLCmVCrRPUhdljUEfhsxI_Jp335FpC5M2USdjx72kNME" width="160" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I found these pickles at the store, and oh, my, are they fine!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The next time that I went to Aldi's, they were gone, and I was disappointed about that. On a whim, I sliced a cucumber into spears and restuffed the jar and stuck it back in the refrigerator. I tried one yesterday. Mmmmmmmmm...I like a pickle that bites back. I bet by the end of the week, they will be perfect. For 75 cents, I got a new jar of pickles!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">ANNNNDDDDD...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On top of everything else, the washer simply stopped spinning. It drained, but did not spin. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hated to tell the news to Tim. It was one more expense we did not need right now. (although the first bill from the excavator is in and it is less than $4300, which $1700 less than the quote, a nice surprise). Anyways, when I told Tim, he said, "oh, that's nothing. Remember it did that before?" I didn't, but he said, "We just unplugged it and gave it a while, and then plugged it back in." Sure enough...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We just need them to get us through until the move. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We are buying a new washer and dryer for the new house. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p>Debbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125606268748793noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3721950935860033351.post-24981801601988786632024-02-16T23:21:00.013-05:002024-02-17T02:07:53.246-05:00Today. <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUSjIalGm-reDJb1eQ9PHNXByWaH95u77nFXvEL_K55RAFhKeCuXjrpL4UmKK87P19rjYB4-uEzRJkItQQWleGGZnJEpzYnp05xg28gn3psDiyNNSeorSvlIfyc6sZOBmMvhxVM4p-NitXNc-NLYL9cIQ02hTozju-9OHRKvI9iB0u7yOJ_k-AXuOZAqY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="675" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUSjIalGm-reDJb1eQ9PHNXByWaH95u77nFXvEL_K55RAFhKeCuXjrpL4UmKK87P19rjYB4-uEzRJkItQQWleGGZnJEpzYnp05xg28gn3psDiyNNSeorSvlIfyc6sZOBmMvhxVM4p-NitXNc-NLYL9cIQ02hTozju-9OHRKvI9iB0u7yOJ_k-AXuOZAqY" width="210" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She also said: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"so long as Zionist nationalism has existed, so have anti-Zionist Jews" and concludes that it is now the mission of such Jews to "Disentangle Zionism from Judaism".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not so different from Christians and Christian Nationalists. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For Steve: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The lamp came with this shade, which was too small. It is a big lamp, six feet tall. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My first thought was to get a bigger shade for it, but, the more I looked at it, the more unsure I was about that. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I actually woke up in the dead of night with the idea in my head that it was not meant to have a shade. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And that I'd seen lamps exactly like this in funeral homes, at both ends of a coffin. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My mind really does continue to work things out while I sleep. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPqmEmYfMwGGCW8UhvNonRbdHzK2ITKEPu1XoAwqhPlKfLAOycsWwicGRiT73JqgM7haNZiYQ5FMNaGLwq5O7a314d1jrU8Uh3rIDWIrLDBqu3YYP3qGQJD55ImnVt1WoeSM8p79Xbhao-Z8_1x4bOY08milf8K_aUnmWt0JDHvo5sohhl2Tkkn6zGQiI" width="180" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is what I bought. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkoIYic9R1XC_X2YGn0h3Wsc6k9a8hb_uxUiPzRuX0W8sXsiUbdyBBOTxqyU0UoxGtMiIpMDaXM4cIgziAhaegZd6JgUgBFyJoTEA0mbZbsRvNWqHC2AsbI9UcgW8gQwAAGLAafuFMocNY8eQbhVx285WWdrfIkG3kkNwUWbDXvpWDP_XuV3ILc_Hkod4" width="180" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I don't know. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br />I think that it needs a bigger 'bowl'. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Tim likes it a lot, but noticed that we have a rather large cobweb directly above it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Stay tuned. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black;">It is a truly horrible picture and a good blogger would </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black;">heist her hiney out there and get a better picture, but...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black;">Now you know. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(I mean, it's not like I'm <a href="https://shadowsteve.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0004ff;">Steve</span></a> or <a href="https://www.blessourhearts.net/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0026ff;">Mary Moon</span></a>.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black;">We worked at the house today. Mainly indoors, moving a 300 lb bathtub 3 times before we finally settled on the layout we want. We actually ended up putting the tub back where we had it to begin with. (Natch.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black;">We hauled a bunch of building supplies down to the basement so that we can begin the layout of the kitchen. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black;">We cut some insulation for on the outside of the house. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black;">Have I ever mentioned how I detest snakes? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir31oKus882jKWeSoUzm5KKQMA3bSG-Gbf42hlpMe8BNE4I7bInB7kvJe-c7WXmr1LXGKzdMzxLoclIMPCF20zneVNUyd0ITMDF95wMRhFZtmfPv38HpxIO3PMxnAnFgRuLv1ehkjPMgNe4eqPXy43V1xnYYzgWWoN36O39O-g11v57yr5RHD-Rge6cmE/s2048/421580260_795859719039514_2444026312835965493_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir31oKus882jKWeSoUzm5KKQMA3bSG-Gbf42hlpMe8BNE4I7bInB7kvJe-c7WXmr1LXGKzdMzxLoclIMPCF20zneVNUyd0ITMDF95wMRhFZtmfPv38HpxIO3PMxnAnFgRuLv1ehkjPMgNe4eqPXy43V1xnYYzgWWoN36O39O-g11v57yr5RHD-Rge6cmE/s320/421580260_795859719039514_2444026312835965493_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></div>Houdi got bitten again, and once more, he is sick. (and on a Friday night~ argh!) My daughter put an APB out on the internet, and quite amazingly, she found someone with six antibiotic pills that they'd been given for their little dog. That will get him through the weekend. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am not going to say how happy I am about the Trump verdict. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But I am. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Finally: a song for:<a href="https://northsiderdave.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> <span style="color: #0d00ff;">Northsider Dave</span></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">God rest you merry gardeners</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Let nothing you dismay</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For Spring is soon to come again</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With lengthening of days, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The sun will warm the soil once more </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And send Jack Frost away</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh tidings of composting and joy,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Compost and Joy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh tidings of composting and joy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black;">One last giggle. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-rtmKyoUeLe7PvAxbJGDa6HOrkNlIrLkrBMYFXc9Sw1Xiuu-2ltp1qWSD0iMAgx8m7Yx1EeQ1zpFFg2hisaFlG00J1vn9B_OO92LSy2iJh1K3432SaSfDQbGB_VCdWEYoe26g0F0__MgXKj4RiSqalP900ibHdYyOufR2L3WhOSDFrMcqEGlGDbn71zg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-rtmKyoUeLe7PvAxbJGDa6HOrkNlIrLkrBMYFXc9Sw1Xiuu-2ltp1qWSD0iMAgx8m7Yx1EeQ1zpFFg2hisaFlG00J1vn9B_OO92LSy2iJh1K3432SaSfDQbGB_VCdWEYoe26g0F0__MgXKj4RiSqalP900ibHdYyOufR2L3WhOSDFrMcqEGlGDbn71zg" width="198" /></a></div></span></div></div><p></p>Debbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125606268748793noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3721950935860033351.post-62253409427945712902024-02-16T09:03:00.003-05:002024-02-16T10:29:24.870-05:00Celebrating Valentine's Day<p>We delayed our Valentine's Day 'celebration' until the 15th. They were finishing up the concrete work at our little house down the street, and Tim is always very interested in concrete work. He wanted to watch them at work, see what they did, pick up some new techniques. </p><p>We also know that this fix is going to be extremely expensive. I cashed out a small 401K and that money is in the bank, but we don't know if it will be enough, so it makes sense to be frugal right now. Between Tim's medical bills and the new build, which we are (so far) funding as we go, to avoid incurring debt. We are both about to turn 67 and we believe in living debt free. </p><p>We mutually decided to skip any February 14th nonsense. He used to buy roses, but really, it is something that always made me feel bad. They are expensive and die so quickly. Chocolates? I sure don't want them. I've lost 10 pounds since the beginning of the year. I've been very disciplined about this, and I'm pretty proud of that. I still bake cookies for Tim every week, but I don't eat them. He has some Reese's cups in the freezer. I think he has forgotten he has them. I see them every time that I open the freezer door, but for whatever reason, I'm perfectly able to shut the freezer door without grabbing one. So no. Don't bring me any chocolates, thanks. I was <i>really</i> clear on that. </p><p>We were headed to Erie for a therapy appointment for Tim on the 15th and so we decided that we'd just stop at two thrift stores on the way home. A friend was trying to get rid of a lamp she'd bought, a 6 ft tall floor lamp. She loved it when she saw it at an auction. When she brought it home, it just looked out of place in her perfectly decorated house. <br /><br />I said we'd take it. We have a floor lamp in the corner of the our livingroom, behind the glass topped steamer trunk that serves as an end table between the two couches. It does not give off enough light but the chandelier in the center of the room is very bright. I'm a lot like Goldilocks. 'This light was toooooo dim....this light was tooooooo bright...this light is juuuust right....'</p><p>And picky-pants me justified it with 'oh look...we were able to give the old floor lamp away to someone who was happy to get it. '</p><p>And while it was right, light-wise, she had a shade on it that is too small for the massive size of it. I'm not even sure it should have a lamp shade. I think it is a torchiere. To be honest, I woke up in the dead of night, with the conviction that I'd seen that sort of light before. In a funeral home, usually in sets of two, one at each end of the coffin. </p><p>Anyways, so for Valentine's Day, we needed to figure out what we were going to do with that light, and as per usual, we hit up the thrift stores first. We did not find what we needed. We stopped at Tim's favorite diner on the way home. </p><p>And that was our celebration. It suited us just fine, even if we did not find what we were looking for, </p><p>I did have to go out on Valentine's Day. It made me smile to see huge roughneck bearded burly men with their giant stuffed teddy bears and gorillas and their boxes of chocolates. They were everywhere, crossing the parking lot, holding their balloons and stuffed animals and flowers, getting into well used vehicles. That is sweet, isn't it?</p><p>We are off to work on the new build today. It is cold, but thank goodness the wind has died down. Last night it was so strong it sounded like heavy traffic on the street. We will be working on the inside. We have plenty of work to keep us busy until the end of the month without buying more supplies. </p>Debbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125606268748793noreply@blogger.com15