New Year's Resolutions

It is that time of year when things are almost new again.  I have to admit being one of those who try to decide what is working and what needs to be changed.  I always have high hopes that I will accomplish more the following year.  I have a list, at least in my head.  

It has been awhile since I've posted.  I-Needa has been visiting, and we've had a wonderful time.  I must admit that I haven't thought much about writing for my blog.  I just seem to have so many things to do.

I thought I wanted to get back and do this, but in looking at what is working and what is not, I believe I'll take a vacation from thinking about writing something to post.  I appreciate all who have come to my tiny spot in the world and checked out my doings.  However, I'm thinking that I need to be spending my time doing other things.   

I wish everyone a joyous new year.  I hope that each one is blessed in spirit and in your everyday doings.  

Wassail

Sing along: 'Here we go (or is it come?) a wassailing among the leaves so green....'

Hey... I went to look through some of my music books to find the words... For some strange reason, it isn't in my church hymnal. I think I know why.

Yesterday I promised that I'd share this old recipe with you... only if I had done something about some of my Christmas decorations. I'll confess that I'm not finished with the decorations, but I have gotten some of them in place, so figured I'd met my own requirements and could share.

This 'Vintage' (Have you noticed how everything is vintage these days?) recipe box was the first one I ever had. I just haven't been able to throw it away and considered it replaced by my updated files. I acquired this decades ago... I won't tell how many. You probably have an idea if you've been in any of the flea markets and seen one like it sitting among the vintage section.

But.... I digress. This little box started out its life with me in high school. I had to have it for home economics class. We cooked, among other things. Our teacher was excellent, really excellent. Her name was Lillian. Lillian was one of those take charge gals. We were all thoroughly convinced as we walked through the door of her classroom that she was in charge of us... and she was. She was going to make young ladies of us, from our heads to our toes. We would be cleanly, well groomed, know how to walk and sit properly, know how to cook, and know how to sew. She was a marvel. She was... really.

My little recipe box holds basic, and I do mean basic, recipes. It contains a whole section on eggs: Fried, shirred, soft cooked, hard cooked, poached, steamed, scrambled, and French omelet. Can you believe that? Seriously. There is even a card on frying bacon. Seriously.

Currently, I'm wondering, seriously wondering, how a recipe to serve 100 wassailers, complete with wine options, came to be tucked among the more basic recipes. I will guess that it was added a tad bit later than the egg recipes. For one thing, it was done during the turquoise ink phase of my life. I'm not sure when that was, but I do remember having turquoise ink. Some of the words on the recipe have been water marked.... proof that I actually had this out in the kitchen. I know I've made this before. I do remember Mother making this for our choir after Christmas caroling. It hit the spot... without the optional wine.

Now, if you think that I'm going to get out my camera and whip up this 100 serving drink for you, guess again. You will get a no frills presentation. Deal with it.

Now, if you are even a tad bit curious about this drink (Yes, it is a drink) and its history, just check this quick link at wikipedia. Okay now, moving on. You are about to get the recipe. You hope.

The recipe from Lillian: Waissal Serves 100:


3 quarts hot tea (pour 3 quarts boiling water over 1 oz. tea) and let steep 5-7 minutes.
Remove tea.
Add 2 teaspoons whole cloves, 1/4 cup stick cinnamon tired loosely in a loosely woven cloth bag.
Heat to boiling, then simmer 10 minutes.
Add: 2 1/2 gallon apple cider
3 quarts orange juice (about 4 1/2 dozen oranges
1 quart syrup ( 1 pint sugar, 1 pint hot water heated to boiling)
1 quart Claret or similar wine if wished (that would be optional)
1 quart grapefruit juice
1 pint cranberry or loganberry juice (loganberry juice?)

Mix the day before and bring to boiling point, but DO NOT boil.
If sugar is needed, it may be added the next day.
When Wassail is heated, the spices are more noticeable.

Okay... I just looked up loganberry and found it is a hybrid of a raspberry and and American dewberry.. whatever that is. I believe I'll head to the local small town grocery store and ask for a pint of loganberry juice. That ought to be fun.

If you are planning on carolers dropping by or hosting a big party, you might try this hot spicy fragrant drink. Yum!

I Do Not What I Should

I'm going to write this post today (Friday) and set it to post tomorrow (Saturday). I'm going to confess that I'm not doing what I should be doing today (Friday). I'm sure I'm not so different from others.

As I begin this writing, it is early afternoon. My morning is gone, and I haven't accomplished one thing from the list of things that I really should be doing. I didn't even manage to feed my Man Cat Pumpkin on time. I was two hours late doing that. A faint mew from the porch jerked me into reality that I'd completely forgotten him. Bad ME! I'd gotten so focused on other things that I forgot about him entirely. He is a creature of habit, and I'm sure he had been standing on the back porch for a full two hours plus waiting for his meal and wondering what was up with his human. Bad human!

I'm just recovering from the same malady of nose and throat that has afflicted a good portion of those in our small town. Being in that wonderful state of retirement, I was able to stay inside and whine privately. I've also used up a vast amount of Kleenex.

Feeling yucky has not led me to get my Christmas decorating done. I'm one who usually puts out the decorations as close to Dec. 1 as I can. Not this year. I'm afraid if I don't get started on the process soon, I'll miss the whole event.

This morning I felt much better. I thought I might be able to do a little decorating. So.... what did I do? Not decorating. Not even feeding the cat.

No, I've sat at this computer and worked on my blog site. I've e-mailed friends and played with iPhoto. I have not gotten one thing done about decorating. I may just need an intervention.

I'm a gifted procrastinator. Perhaps I should phrase that as being gifted at procrastination. Heck, I do a darn good job of ignoring what must be done and doing what doesn't have to be done. One little voice tells me to 'Get on that list!' while another one says 'Go ahead and do what is fun.' Neither one of those little voices is gifted.

I hereby determine that I'm heading for the cubbyholes that house my Christmas decorations. I'm going to start on it.... NOW. As you read this post in the morning (Saturday), I hope to have something to show for my focus. Hopefully, I'll have something worthwhile to tell. Did you notice the double use of the word 'hope'? Hope is not a plan.

I think I'll dig out my Wassail recipe and post it tomorrow. I haven't made that in years. I'm not looking for it until the decorations are up. Period. Until then.... I'll 'hope' I get my act together.

Here I AM

I just haven't been able to completely give up this blog thing. I know... I said I was gone... but who really knows.

This morning I started messing around and ended up making a newsletter with Smilebox. I thought I'd just e-mail it to a few friends for fun. Then I realized that it was pretty big and some probably wouldn't be able to open it on their computers. I decided to post it here instead.

Please feel free to play my newsletter. It was just a fun thing I was messing with. I felt it went a little slowly at first, but then you do get arrows so you can turn the pages. Have fun.

Newsletter

Make a Smilebox greeting

Gone

If you have strayed to my little corner of the blogger world, you have found me missing. I'm sad to say that I just haven't had time to live my regular life and also step into cyberspace and post anything. Then I have to feel the guilt of knowing I should post and haven't. It is a feeling of letting those down who have come to check my doings.

I've really enjoyed working on my little blog, but I think it has become something that I'm just not going to do on a regular basis. I may leave this up for awhile and see if my vacation is soon over and I can get back to it. In the meantime, I do hope for all to find a little humor in their lives and to have a blessed holiday season.

Almost Together

For over a month I've whined and complained about the house being fixed up. I've shown you horrid pictures of piles of lathe and plaster, of sheetrock sanding, of a big big mess.

Master Carpenter Man is gone... and I've had a bit of time to recover from all the work I did trying to clean up after him. I've managed to get some furniture back where it belongs and think of my home as a quiet place to relax.

That isn't completely true yet as still need to work on the dining room woodwork. I'm really not done, but well on my way. I keep saying 'tomorrow' I'll do this and that, but I keep postponing all the work I still have to do.

I'm writing this in the evening to post first thing in the morning. It is my hope that tomorrow really will bring some incentive for me to paint and finish up in the dining room. I have guests coming soon, and that means a deadline.

I thought I'd let you know that life is settling down a bit. Perhaps I'll be back to living like a human again. It's certain that I have a new appreciation for anyone who tackles having work done on their home. It is a challenge, an exhausting challenge. In the end, I think it was worth it. As a matter of fact, I'm thinking about a kitchen remodel. I've even spoken to Master Carpenter Man. Someday... perhaps in the spring.... First, I need to forget about what happened this past October.

Always Put the Toilet Seat Down, Part 2

When I wrote about poor Daughter I-Needa and the squirrel that got into her toilet and drowned, I NEVER thought their would be a part 2 to the story. I'm sad to say, there is a part 2.

I-Needa was messing around in the kitchen a couple of days ago and heard a noise coming from the downstairs bathroom... a splashing sound. It just couldn't be!! No way should she have to endure yet another round of having a critter in her toilet bowl. The first one was stress enough.

Going into the bathroom and checking it out, there was definitely a splashing sound coming from the toilet bowl. Big question: WHAT to do?

I realize that we humans create contingency plans in our heads for many possible emergency situations. Personally, I have plans for what to do if there is a power outage. I have some survival plans. I do not have any plan for what to do if I hear something splashing around in my toilet. I suppose I'd scream and my stress level would shoot through the roof. Past that, I'd have no idea how to get the critter out of the toilet and out of my life.

I really felt for I-Needa when I called and she picked up the phone and told me what was going on. I felt her pain, her frustration, her stress level rising. I was glad I was here in my own home without something splashing around in the toilet. I would have been no help. Seriously.

I-Needa jumped into action and did what any good woman should do... she thought about what man she could call. She needed one then... a hunter... a problem solver... a man who wasn't afraid of anything that could be splashing around in her toilet. She needed someone to lift that lid and solve her problem.

Not all men are created equal. Some are endowed more with hunter instincts and problem solving skills. With her thinking cap on, the image of such a hunter and problem solver formed in her mind. She picked up the phone and dialed his number.

Thankfully, he was receptive to her needs and prepared to come to her aid. He would need a bit of time to form a capture plan, but he would be there. To his credit, this man had been watching a football game... with only forty seconds to go.... his favorite team. The fact that he was able to tear himself away and rescue a damsel in distress renews my faith in humanity.

There is this thing I've learned about men. It may have been from that book about men being from Mars and women being from Venus. However, it is true. Men are the problem solvers. Hand them a problem, then get out of the way. They will mull it over and come up with a solution. I-Needa was counting on this.

Sure enough, the Man had the solution for capture and retrieval when he arrived on her doorstep. According to I-Needa, it was an brillant plan, and the man was very pleased with his invention.

The problem: There was nothing in the toilet. Alas, the critter had gotten back out of the bowel and into the vent pipe. Now she would be left to call the plumber. Of course, it was dark and there wouldn't be any getting a plumber until the next day.

To I-Needa's credit, she had the good sense to let the hunter and problem solver demonstrate what he would have done if the critter had been there to capture. She bragged on his brilliance and thanked him profusely for coming to help. Then she called the plumber.

According to the plumber, she would need to call Mr. Rooter. Yes, now she would need to have her toilet 'snaked.' Arrangements were made, and Mr. Rooter man arrived to deal with the problem. The toilet had to be unseated. There it was... a bushy squirrel tail coming from a pipe behind the toilet.

According to I-Needa, most of the people who know her are now afraid of their toilets. Squirrel number 1 was reason enough to convert all to putting down their toilet lids each and every time. Squirrel number 2 brought fear of vent pipes into action.

Rescue Man number 3 showed up later in the day to put a screen on the vent pipe, which is on the roof. Hopefully, really hopefully, there will be no squirrel number 3. If there is, I-Needa will probably have her home on the market. Just kidding.

Lost Cat

Man Cat Pumpkin wasn't around this morning for breakfast, which is most unusual. However, I sat his food out and checked once in awhile to see if he had been here. I began to be concerned as he just didn't show up to eat. He likes eating, and always shows up.

As I was sweeping away in the dining room, it dawned on me that I'd gone out to the little building behind my house last night after dark. I had thought about Pumpkin as I went and had tried to be sure that he wasn't around as I opened the door to put something inside. I certainly didn't want to lock him in there overnight.

I went to the building to check, rather hoping that Pumpkin would be in there and all would be well. I've certainly never locked him in before, and I wasn't sure how he would like it if I had.

I opened the door and waited. Pumpkin came sauntering out of the little building as if nothing unusual had happened. He didn't seem to care a lick that he'd been locked in all night. I checked the building and absolutely nothing had been disturbed. The only thing at all different inside was that his food storage container was opened. He hadn't had to work hard to do that. It has a spring lid that just pops up if the opening lever is touched.

It will be interesting to see how Pumpkin treats me today. He may have enjoyed his inside stay last night. I guess I'll find out when I try to go to the car later. He usually follows me and throws himself down in front of me. If he is aloof, I guess I'll know.

Always Put the Toilet Seat Down!

I-Needa called last night. She started by thanking me for always making her put toilet seats down. She came home yesterday from work, threw her purse and keys on the table, and headed to the downstairs bathroom. She said that usually she doesn't bother to turn on the light in there, but for some reason she did. She lifted the lid on the toilet and there in the toilet was a drowned squirrel!

Of course, she slammed the lid down and screamed. That is just what I would have done too. I-Needa and I simply aren't geared to handle such emergencies well. At that point, we need a man. She went into serious thinking mode as to what man she might know who was brave enough to retrieve the dead squirrel from the toilet. She thought of a friend's husband. He would be perfect. She called and told her friend all about her problem. They came right over with husband properly dressed for squirrel retrieval.

I-Needa remained squeamishly at a distance while He Man, who came prepared with gloves, bag, and floppy hat, stepped up to the toilet and checked it out. His comment: 'Well, that's a big one, and he is dead.' With that, he plucked the poor creature from his watery grave and placed him in the ziplock bag.

The idea of ALWAYS putting the seat down began years ago when I was a kid still living at home. That was the days before APSD (Always Put Seat Down). A sewer rat came up through the toilet and escaped into the house. Fortunately, Dad was at home, so he immediately flew into action and chased the rat around the house with a large waste can. When he finally managed to corner the critter and get him under the can, he went to the basement and got some ether, that once used anesthetic. He was a dentist, and for some reason he had some of that stuff in the basement that day. Anyway, he put some ether on a rag and got it under the waste can. Then he waited until the rat passed out. It worked.

Our family learned a lesson that day... Always put the toilet lid down! That is my routine, and I've passed that on to my children complete with the rat story. I-Needa was bubbly with gratitude when she called. Her life might have been a tad more complicated if the poor creature had gotten out of the toilet bowl and spent the day running around her condo being chased by the dog. The picture wouldn't have been pretty.

If I've ever given you one good piece of advice that you might want to take to heart, this might be it. Anything that happens to get into the sewer pipes can come up in your toilet. Spare yourself. Put the toilet seat down and look before you sit.

Interrupted Life

It is amazing how something like fixing a problem in the house can just take over your life.

It all started with me just thinking that I'd love to have some crown molding in the living room. The other problem was a crack in the dining room ceiling, which led to replacing that very old sheetrock.


Well, the living room ceiling was just as old, and it became obvious to me that it was silly to spend all that money having crown molding put in the living room and then possibly having to take it all down to replace the ceiling.

Yesterday the BIG day finally arrived, and after all the weeks of trying to fix stability problems and raising the living room ceiling, MCM started the crown molding in the living room.

It was a moment to savor, and I certainly was there to take a picture as the first pieces were put into place. I told him that this is what I'd asked him to do in the first place and he could now consider himself 'back on the clock.' He smiled. It's a good thing he has a sense of humor.

I'm not sure if mine is still intact or not. As I said earlier, my life has been interrupted. Nothing much has been the same. I've pretty much been a prisoner of my living room and the mess in the house. I have painting to do too, so am not free yet. Somewhere along the way, my humor has shifted a bit. I think I'm just tired, and when one is too tired to get out of a chair at night, one is too tired to try to fire up a little humor.

At any rate, things are coming along. There is painting to do today. I need to get busy and paint woodwork. I've done some prep work on that, so am going to try to get some real paint on the woodwork. I did paint the walls.... two coats... over the weekend. It almost killed me, but I got it done.

I do believe I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. MCM should be finished today or tomorrow, and then he will haul all his stuff away and leave me to put my life and house back together. I will admit that I'm going to miss watching him work wonders. He really is an artist with his craft, and I love to see what he accomplishes.

I must be off and getting on my nasty paint clothes. I've got to work. If I'm ever to return to normal, I have to take charge and get busy. I want my life back.... soon.

Coming Along

MCM (Master Carpenter Man) has arrived early every day since Oct. 1. This started out about getting a little crown molding. We've been through this before.... a project gone wild.

At this point, the sheetrock is all up, mud and sanding has been done. MCM is doing a last cleaning here before starting more painting.

I think I'm beginning to see that light at the end of the tunnel. Of course, he is leaving me to do the final painting of the walls and the woodwork. I did beg him to cut in around the new crown molding before he leaves. Actually, I mentioned it quickly in passing yesterday, and today he suggested that he might cut in around the new molding with the wall color for me. I just love subtle suggestion.

Yesterday the sanding dust was thick in here again. I truly hate it when he has to sand. It isn't so much the mess as knowing that he is having to breathe that dust. Terrible! Of course, he has a mask, but that dust is everywhere...

Although yesterday's dust was not as bad as before, I did feel sorry for him. When he was finished sanding, I poked my head in the living room and asked if I could bring in the Shop Vac.

Although I'd intended to just help a little, my question was met with his face lighting up like a beacon. He said, 'Do you want to clean up?' Good grief NO, I don't want to clean up!! The floor looked like freshly fallen snow. The air was thick with dust. Now, why would I WANT to clean up?!

The problem was that the 'sorry for him card' had been played, and I just couldn't refuse to go in there and clean up. So I said, 'Sure, I'll clean up." At that, the man made the fastest get-away one could imagine. He practically ran from the room, picking up his lunch box on the way. I was left holding the Shop Vac and wondering how I could have gotten into this mess.

Grace had called earlier in the afternoon with an offer of stew. It was a cold day, and stew looked awfully good at this point, so I put down the Shop Vac and fled the scene myself.

With a full tummy and knowledge that I MUST clean that dust packed room, I returned and swept on into the night.

Of course, MCM came in this morning, grabbed the sander and 'touched up' a few spots. Then he took the Shop Vac and did it all again. MEN!

Here Today

Today we are here. I'm the observer, MCM is the one working. Occasionally I snap his picture to make sure he has enough light in the attic to work. Actually, he has learned to ignore me.

I had some insulation left over from stuffing it in the walls downstairs. So.... what do you do with left over insulation? Of course, you insulate.

MCM was a tad unsettled about having those big white rectangles of insulation just plopped on top of the rafters. He said they just didn't look right.


Actually, I had those laid in the attic as insulation when the ceiling was dropped as didn't want anything shot down into the space between the old ceiling and the lowered one. As it turned out, shooting something into that empty space would probably have landed the ceiling on my head. I'm glad I checked with MCM before doing such a thing.

So... MCM took the left over and nicely fitted it in over most of the new ceiling area. I think it made him feel better. He also put the white on top of it, so had to remove the 'vapor barrier' on the white. That meant I had MCM Droppings in the attic and had to bag those to take to the trash. I did put my camera down long enough to do that job. One thing is for sure, I have insulation over the living room!!

MCM is going to start sanding this afternoon. Now, that is a messy part of this sheetrock and mud process. Major MESSY! I'm not looking forward to it. I'm sure it isn't MCM's favorite job either. At least I can escape and hide somewhere. He is stuck in there with mud dust flying everywhere. We'll put a fan in the window and point it outside. I hope the fire department doesn't show up.

I've got to go get extra stuff out of the living room so MCM will have less to manage when he starts sanding.

A Continuing Saga

I was so excited the other day as thought that Sheetrock Mud Day was at last here. WRONG! MCM arrived and started digging holes in my current sheetrock.

Then he did THIS! He decided it would be easier to just put new sheetrock over the fireplace. Granted, there were problems there... big problems. So.... my dreams of mud went out the window for the day and he dug holes in my walls and put in lots of screws.



He finally left me to clean up the mess, so I swept and swept. I even had orders to take a broom and sweep the ceiling. I did that too. See how nicely I lined up his sawhorses. I'm such a peach.

I had visions again of mud coming along. I know that some day soon (soon?) I'll be back in the living room with all things new and nice. In the meantime and beyond, I have the mess. However, I'm not complaining. I'm just not the complaining kind. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.



MCM arrived and got out a mixer and attached it to his drill. Then he started mixing. I thought about what a lovely big loaf of bread could be blended with that huge mixer blade. It did my heart good to see him mixing away. He said he was going to put this stuff on all the little holes he had dug out in my walls. I just loved him for that.







Meanwhile, I'm still living with this mess, which I fondly refer as MCM droppings. His stuff is everywhere.... EVERYWHERE!

I understand... I really do. There are buckets, tools, pieces of cardboard, shingles, masks, sacks and cans of nails, screws, bolts, etc. There are drills, a halogen light, and who knows what else... all in my dining room. I'm not going to show you the kitchen. You'd cry!




Yesterday MCM got down to the mud business. He came really early and put on one layer. It took a long long time. Then he went home for awhile and returned in the early evening to add another layer to the ceiling. So... this is what I have now. Pretty? I guess that truly is in the eye of the beholder. At least we are making progress. Someday... whenever that is.... there will be a real room here again.

My favorite Scripture is when Jesus said that He goes to prepare a place for me. 'Thank you! Thank you!' I say. I'm NOT being disrespectful. I'm just making Him smile a little.

As for the here and now, I'm really glad to see MCM when he comes. I know he is making a mess, but it takes time to do things and do them right. He is a perfectionist, and I'm glad. I tend to just wear out and slap things together. Not MCM. He works patiently and takes things in stride. I'm sure I can learn something from that.

Building

The day has arrived and sheetrock will be going up on the ceiling. I've been so busy with doing little things around the house that I've not had time to look up, much less think about posting on a blog.

This photo is from yesterday when Master Carpenter Man was putting the finishing touches to the new ceiling support system. It has been fascinating to watch him. I've said it before, but he really is a master at his craft. He is a perfectionist and has been working at building for years. He knows how to do all kinds of home building things, and probably has done them all. I love the fact that he doesn't hurry and just slap something together. It is done right when he finishes it. He really is a finish carpenter.

I know this sounds rather bazaar, but I think I might actually miss seeing all this lovely wood framing. It is being covered as I write this. I have taken pictures at every step of the way, and I think I'm just going to have to make a little mini scrapbook of the event. It has been quite a journey.

I laugh every once in awhile and tell MCM that all I really wanted was a little crown molding in here. I'm certainly going to have that too. It is going to be fabulous!

I have a list of things I need to go do, but just had to find my blog and add a little something. I'll be back soon with updates. Riveting stuff, huh? I should be taking pictures of the other rooms with all the stuff crammed in them. I'll be washing glassware and sit-abouts from now until the cows come home. Now, there is a good old country saying.

I know that one day soon MCM is going to desert me, and I'm going to be left alone in this new room with all the wall painting to do. I'm going to be a sad sad sack. I'll miss someone who really knows what he is doing getting all this work done. Like I said, it will just be me left to my own devices. I'll have no choice but to step up to the plate and get the work done. That is a thought for another day.

Waste Not, Want Not

Daughter I-Needa has been busy changing out things at her house too. She bought this ceiling fan and light for her house when she first moved in. Having recently gotten the same fan for the guest bedroom with a different light, she found the guest bedroom light put out much MORE light. So.. she set out to replace the light in this fan too.



I do believe that I can safely say that daughter I-Needa is frugal at times. I will also say that teachers have a knack of finding multiple uses for almost any object.

Therefore, it came naturally to I-Needa to find some use for the globe covering the old fan light.

Well, Folks, there you have it: A new fruit holder and table decoration. Such elegance. Well now, you have got to give I-Needa credit for reusing and recycling. The kid is GREEN! Go, I-Needa!

I Didn't Sign Up For This!

Well, the decision was made and the living room ceiling is coming down. We've passed the point of no return, and it is going to have to be full speed ahead.

I felt a little guilty about all this extra work that MCM didn't sign up for in the beginning. I know it is just part of the process, and he really doesn't care, but I'm still dealing with a tad bit of guilt.

I therefore opened my mouth and said something like 'I'll do what I can to help.' Wrong move!!

During the dining room ceiling demolition, MCM's son was around to tote all that old sheetrock out the door to the waiting trailer. It seems that MCM thought I could help with that little chore. So...... believe it or not...... I've been shoveling sheetrock into my large blue rubbermaid tub, placing it on my dolly purchased from QVC, hauling it outside to the waiting trailer, and dumping it there. Seriously, I've been doing that! Trust me, I didn't sign up for this!

MCM hollered to me at one point and asked if I'd ever had a worker that had disappeared. I couldn't believe this khaki pair of pants hanging from the sheetrock. That's one big rag. Of course, I ran for the camera. I told MCM that he could have them if they fit. Generous of me, huh?

There was also a squirrel skeleton up there. Yuck. He made sure to point that out to me too. I let him know that I wouldn't be getting that down. It was his job! Men's work.. yep, not my job! I sure didn't sign up for skeleton removal.


down

down




I know this really doesn't give you the full sense of the mess in the living room, but it looks mighty big to me. It manages to cover the floor. MCM has left the building to take one trailer load to the dump. I've taken the opportunity to sit down and rest a bit. My head may think I'm forty-five, but my body says 'It's a lie!' Besides, you really need to see what I've been doing today.

I really do want to make you feel good if you are reading this. You can be sooooooo glad that it's me and not you. One thing is for sure, I'm going to have the cleanest house in town when I get everything put back together. Everything is dirty, so everything must be cleaned. I don't believe I signed up for that either. As soon as all of this is done, I'm going to get a little notebook and fill it with my writing over and over 'Get no more bright ideas!'

The Good News and The Bad News

I'm up in the wee hours having tried every trick I know to go back to sleep. It just isn't happening. I'm sipping on a cup of hot 'Sleepy Time Tea' hoping that it will do some good soon. I'm sleepy, just not asleep.

The good news is that the dining room ceiling is finished. That doesn't mean that the room is finished as I have to paint all the other woodwork and do something about this wallpaper. I've loved this wallpaper for ages, but it has seen its better days, and the new ceiling is making everything else look like it needs a facelift. I'm going to have to get with the program and do something. That means there are more decisions to make. At this point, I'm not into decisions.

The bad news is that MCM (Master Carpenter Man) is ready to start on the molding for the living room. Well.... that living room ceiling was lowered before I lived in the house, and it is old sheetrock. The place where the ceiling and wall meet isn't exactly even. So... you take a nice straight board and put it against a wall/ceiling area that goes up and down. The effect is less than desirable. The solution would be to take down the old ceiling and put up a new one, which would also raise it up a foot.

I've always wanted it up higher, and it would be beautiful like the new dining room one. However, visions of what will be happening in there have been dancing through my head, rather like those visions of sugar plums, only these aren't sugar coated.

I remember these pictures and know that the living room is at least twice the size of the dining room... at least.

To my credit, I think I'm not only considering myself in all this mess, but I really hate to put MCM through this again so soon. It was nasty stuff, and not a fun thing for anyone.

Oh, he hasn't complained about it, but I just hate to be the cause of such a thing.



You realize, of course, that this project will go on and on. I'm going to have to find something else to write about soon, but at the moment, there isn't anything else. This is my world.

I tried to get MCM to change houses with me for awhile... just until the projects are complete. He wouldn't have anything to do with it... the mean man.

I guess the good news is that there are solutions to the problems. The bad news seems to be that the solutions are a bit of a trial... Oh well... It is what it is.. Tah Dah

And The Work Goes ON...

I suppose I should savor the excuse of not being able to cook a decent meal these days. Getting around the kitchen is a bit of a challenge. I will admit that I've not missed a meal so far. As you can plainly see... there are a few extra items in the kitchen... most of it belonging to MCM (Master Carpenter Man). The cute little blue and gray shop vac sitting on the old ice box is mine... MINE. I love that little vac for cleaning out the car and such. I'll admit that I brought it in to use myself on things like the chair rail. I cleaned a bit with it. Silly me! It is dusty again.


MCM is making good progress. I took this early yesterday, and he has pretty much finished with installing the crown molding in the dining room. There is more to do in there today, but I imagine he will be finished there before the day is through.

Now I have a big confession to make. I've jokingly mentioned several times that I wish my living room ceiling were raised. It was in its lowered state when I got the house. It could go up a foot and would match the dining room ceiling.

MCM mentioned that and wondered if I really wanted to raise it. I actually thought about it. What is wrong with me!!? Did I not see the pictures I posted of my dining room?! Do I not remember the mess? Do I not understand that the living room is much much bigger than the dining room? What is it that I could even let such a thought even cross my mind? I must have inhaled sheetrock dust!

Furthermore, I'm sending conflicting signals to MCM. He doesn't know weather to run for his life or stick around. Actually, he probably doesn't care one way or the other. I'm the one who cares... seriously cares. The thing is... if I tell him that I'd LOVE to have the ceiling raised and he does it... I'm going to be in a BIG mess and will have a BIGGER bill too. Hum.... It is awfully early in the morning to have to make such decisions. However, there is all that lovely crown molding that he is going to put in the living room It would be a shame to put it all up and struggle with getting it to fit when he could put in a whole new ceiling and then put up the crown molding.

I'll say that I'm going to go back to bed and start again later in the day with all this thinking. I think I might need another cup of coffee and a reality check.

Walking In The Cloud

MCM had warned me repeatedly that this sanding the ceiling mud stuff was going to be bad... really really bad. He just couldn't seem to paint the reality bad enough and kept repeating himself. Oh, he had my attention, no doubt about it.

I realize that Sunday is suppose to be a day of rest, but this stages thing and meeting time schedules for him meant dropping by in the afternoon and doing a little sanding. We'd tried that in the morning to get it out of the way. A little damp place on the ceiling called a halt to that plan and moved it to the afternoon.

MCM's repeated warnings drifted past my mind as I sat in the pew at church, and I had a sudden inspiration. It may not have been the kind of inspiration I was suppose to get at church, but suddenly I pictured a very sturdy all metal large square fan that I bought years ago. It was sitting in the attic and still worked. I just knew that I might help solve this dense cloud of dust problem if I could get it blowing out the window. I got home and headed for the attic to retrieve the fan. Sure enough, it did a lovely job of forcing the air, dust and all, out the window. I just hoped no one saw it and called the fire department.

At one point I pulled back the sheet that I'd hung in the kitchen door. I must have had the camera just right as the flash managed to bounce light off some of the particles and make it look like large snowballs suspended in the air. Lovely.

You can actually see a tiny part of that lovely fan in the bottom right hand corner of the picture.





I had to take a picture of MCM to show you how white he had turned. Check out his arm! His face had lots of white too. He would vacumn his mask once in awhile to get it easier to breathe. I took to calling him Casper.


At this point, he was pretty well finished with the sanding. There was just one more little thing he wanted to do. He retireved his HeMan Shop Vac out of the kitchen and took it to the dining room. Then he did the unthinkable.


He hooked the hose up to the blowing end and blew the dust off the ceiling! Gussie! That dust flew everywhere. What a sight.

After a bit of time with the vacumn, he primed the ceiling. The man actually asked me if I wanted to prime the ceiling. I gave him a long slow look and told him that I was not crazy and had no immediate urges to prime the ceiling. He looked a little dejected, but got out the primer and went about the process himself.

I was a little surprised after he finished that he cleaned out the roller and pan himself. I thought he'd want to know if I had any desire to clean those. I didn't, and I'd have told him so. Actually, I'm not all bad, I have cleaned some of those tools before, but I don't want to spoil him into thinking that I want to paint and clean up messes. I don't at all... and I do mean AT ALL.

One thing is for sure: MCM will be back bright and early tomorrow. I will have more progress reports. I'm sure the mess will continue for another two or three days. I know at the end of it that I'll love the new look.... if I can find it.

Torture in the A.M.

I'm going to write a quick note as I hurry out the door to church. I'm going to spare you pictures. You've seen, and it hasn't gotten any better.

MCM was here this morning. I opened the door to feed my Man Cat Pumpkin, and there was MCM on his way to sand the ceiling. In all fairness, he had warned me yesterday that he might do this. Sure enough, there he was to torture me in the A.M. There just doesn't seem to be a reprieve from the mess. It is still everywhere.

In fairness, it is just one of those things that must be done in steps and stages with time between for drying, etc. His idea was to get the MESSY part out of the way early this morning and then get on with life. It was his plan, perhaps a good plan.

It didn't go exactly as planned as he spotted a little gray area on the ceiling and pronounced it still damp. So, as quickly as he had flown in the back door, he flew out again with the promise, or threat, whichever it might be, to return again today.

I have rather a difficult time keeping up with MCM and his doings. He comes in rather like a whirlwind, and I'm never sure which way it is blowing. He has a plan, and I try to figure out what it is. There is always moving furniture, which I like to plan and do ahead of time. I like to try to defend my rights to the kitchen stove and a few other places around the house. It sometimes takes some planning as things just seem to be placed here and there in no particular order.

I'm really rather worried about this sanding thing. I've been warned repeatedly by MCM, and I do mean repeatedly. He has built this whole thing up to a thick cloud.... can hardly see through, he says.... dust everywhere... EVERYWHERE! Well... I can hardly wait for this.

Silly ME.... I actually got out my little shop vac yesterday and cleaned the chair railing in the dining room. I guess that was time foolishly spent. After all... the THICK cloud will be here soon, and I'll rue the day I called Mr. MCM. I'm sure when it is all done, I'll quit this incessant whining and return to normal. I hope. In the meantime... do feel just a little sorry for poor little me. Or not!

Working On The Roof

I seem to have men working everywhere. While Master Carpenter Man has been tearing up the inside of my house, the outside has been getting some attention as well.

R.C. has been repairing one of those flat metal roof problems. He has been here off and on for awhile and has cleaned all the metal panels, resealed them and and replaced the screws. He has also been coating the seams with some kind of a rubber UV coating. I'm very grateful to him as was having a problem in the guest bedroom. I discovered a nasty leak after a particular hard rain. That's just something one cannot ignore. I thought it was fixed at one point, but discovered a fresh big spot not long ago. So, I called R.C. and he has come to fix it. Actually, I had him work on all the roof as figured if I had a problem in one place, another was sure to follow. I call that prevention, which is truly worth more than the pound of cure.


While he was on the roof, I would run outside once in awhile and holler up to see if he was still having a good time on the roof. He kept assuring me that he was. I told him to let me take his picture, and he did, but regretted not having his floppy hat for the photo. I was a little sorry too as he looks like he came straight from Raiders of The Lost Ark with it on.

It seems with an older home there is always something to be doing to keep it in shape. I'm certainly doing my fair share at the present.


I think I've had about enough of all this fix it stuff. I wondered what else could happen when the doorbell rang and the pest control man was at my door to treat the yard, and the UPS man also dropped by with a package. Gussie! There are men everywhere except the kitchen. At least some of the things that need to be done around here are finally getting done.

I will say that I'm not too sure about my sanity. I think I'm still okay, but I'll get back to you later on that one. In the meantime, enjoy your nice tidy house, shred your 'to do' list, and just sit back and relax. I plan to do that one day myself.

Men At Work

My whining continues as men work at my house. My poor kitchen has furniture from the dining room and lots of tools scattered about.

The dining room shows signs of all those ceiling droppings. The nice blue tarp you see in the distance is hopefully protecting my living room from some of the dust.






I want you to see that the mess extends into the yard. There is hardly a place in or around the house that does not harbor Carpenter Man droppings. A MESS!!


However, I must keep reminding myself that this is the price I must pay for getting something accomplished.

Well... we need to be real enough to say that it is PART of the price. The big price will come at the end.

Progress is being made and now we have MEN at work, father and son. Isn't that nice??

Actually, there was a lot of work going on with the ceiling. MCM showed me a sag in the ceiling, so he went to fix it and got it all braced from the attic. Lovely, really.



MCM had a really neat machine that he used to lift the sheet rock in place. He made it himself. I was going to put it on my blog... but thought I'd best ask him first. So... you will have to be content looking at these nice slender guys with drills working on my ceiling.




So...... yesterday the sheet rock went up, then the mudding began. A little mixing and things are going to get going.




Keep looking...






There you have it.. the ceiling is in place and now begins the fun of taping and whatever wonderful thing will be done to the ceiling.

Go.... MCM (Master Carpenter Man) GO!!!

I really do love watching men work. I do. I admit it. It is better than TV. It gives me great pleasure to see things accomplished that I could never never do myself. The whole scene is really easy on the eyes.

Why Did I Want This Man?

Okay.... I'm doing some serious, and I mean SERIOUS thinking why I wanted to see MCM coming my way! Would you just look at this mess!!

I confessed right away that I didn't expect this at all!!! Not at ALL! I mean, it was a tiny crack on the ceiling to start with. Now LOOK! MCM said that he had hoped to just take the sheet rock down and put more up... of course... OF COURSE... there ended up being more to it.

My dining room is knee deep in sheet rock and whatever else they could pull down.

It isn't safe in here without a mask. Really.

Here is my current ceiling. Actually, I'm not going to show you this until the next blog day, but I'm seeking refuge in the kitchen on the computer. There really isn't much else to do. I'm going to have to go around to the front of the house to go to the living room.


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Now isn't this lovely? This is some of the mess sneaking into my kitchen! Oh, good grief!

Really! I'm having serious questions in my mind about why I wanted to do this. I know I had a good reason, but the reality of it isn't quite what I thought it would be.

No Turning Back

Wonderful Master Carpenter Man has entered the building. It didn't take long to make a mess out of the kitchen... and everywhere else in the house as well.

The problem was a crack in the ceiling. MCM (Master Carpenter Man) announced that the whole ceiling should be replaced. 'It is old old sheet rock, and the best bet would be just to replace it.' That is what he said, and I believe him.

I spent yesterday getting rid of everything in the dining room. It is now spread all over the house, and I do mean ALL over.

When MCM finishes with the new ceiling, he is putting in new crown molding in the dining room and also in the living room. I can't wait to see that!

Of course, I decided I must also paint the living room ceiling again before he started with the molding, so did that as well yesterday afternoon. I still have to paint around the edges of the ceiling, but will get to that sometime today.

Let me assure you that taking down sheet rock is a MESSY business... I mean SERIOUSLY MESSY. There is dust flying everywhere. I hung a tarp between the living and dining room and hope that helps. I also hung a sheet between the kitchen and dining room. I have a door to a bedroom that I also closed.

I entered without a mask a bit ago OSHA (some safety inspector people who workers love to see coming) would probably have a fit. I just had to see what they were doing in there. Well, part of the ceiling is gone, and .... (Oh... do scroll down to see the floor... It is Lovely!



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There it is!!!

MCM went to get his trailer as is going to have to do something with this ASAP. It is going to be knee deep soon, and Princess here isn't going to clean it up. Nope... NOT ME!

You can see that I'm in for a royal mess, so might as well be called Princess. I know I have your total sympathy in this matter and that you will be with me in spirit. Of course, I'll be posting pictures of this whole coming along process. If I think the shrubbery might have been a cause for death, this may really do it. At least I don't have to do the work this time... or at least not all of it. I will be painting, of course. Don't you wish you were me?

What Have I Done?

I hope I'm not the only one who jumps into something and then asks the question 'What have I DONE?'.

I've been waiting for my Wonderful Carpenter Man to call and get busy on my 'to do' list. I've actually been waiting on him for a couple of years. Seriously. He is busy and certainly never lacking for work. I've had all this time to think of things I'd love to have done.

That all sounds innocent enough, but in all this time I've had, the list has grown and grown. Some of the items are things that NEED to be done. Others are things I WANT to have done.

Yesterday Mr. Wonderful Carpenter Man came by to check all this out. We wandered around from room to room as I rattled off the list. I don't know if he was surprised, but I kept hearing all this stuff coming out of my mouth and wondering at my own sanity.

I finally asked the all important question: 'So, when can you start on this?' I had to laugh as the question put a look on his face which might be described as a deer caught in headlights. We were down to it now. The big question.... 'Well', he said, 'what about Thursday?'

Then the ball was in my court. So... here I was at long last with Mr. Wonderful Carpenter Man ready to begin this whole mess. I stress the word 'MESS'. I've seen him in action before, and know that the mess proceeds the finished product. Yes... I'll be living in a mess for awhile.

I'm not sure if I returned the deer in the headlights look or not. I couldn't see myself. However, I gathered my wits about me and replied 'Thursday will be fine.'

I'm up early this morning realizing that I'm going to have to work too. I have painting to do: sanding, caulking, painting, etc. Note the word 'I'! Yes, I have to work as well. There will be no slacking around here for awhile as long as Mr. Wonderful Carpenter Man is around.

You see, I need incentive to get busy and do all this woodwork painting, etc. This is work I CAN do, so best be doing. Truly, I can see the writing on the wall, the big picture, the reality of what I've done, etc. etc. etc. I have committed myself to the mess and to the work. The work will begin TOMORROW! I'm really sincerely positively asking the big question: WHAT HAVE I DONE?

The Happy Fall Feeling

It's here at last! Fall has arrived with promises of cooler temperatures, lovely leaf colors, and soon to be hearty soup. I'm ready!

Those nasty old summer temperatures are not my cup of tea. I don't like heat. Soaring temperatures drive me into the house and find me in a listless condition.

With cooler temperature, I'm ready to go. Although I've been complaining about yard work and thinking it might kill me, I told you that I'd be very proud of myself once I was really accomplishing something out there. I have much more to do, but it is coming along, and I'm feeling like I'm accomplishing great things.

I've been fussing around inside trying to get that cozy feeling going there too. I do love the oranges, reds, and yellows of fall. They just make me happy. I headed straight for the fireplace and decked it out with a few colors and symbols of fall. Now I can sit there in the evening and enjoy the fact that summer is gone and happier days are ahead.

I found some lovely real mums for outside, but need to go purchase more. I'm going to have to get going and see what I can do about that. I even promise a few pictures of flowers and trees in the near future. Yes, I'm on a roll with joy in my heart and that happy fall feeling spilling out from the inside.

Surviving Shrubbery

I survived Death By Shrubbery! I told you that I'd probably be bragging on myself if I survived the trimming of the shrubs. I'll confess that I'm not completely finished with the second shrub, but I have lots done, and I am very pleased with myself.

Yesterday morning I started bagging those very sticky ouchy limbs. I decided to play it smart and use my leather gloves. As I searched the craft building for them, it began to dawn on me that I'd given them to Right Back one day when he couldn't find his and was desperate. They were too big on me, but fit him fine. So... I have no leather gloves. I really was a tad sad as knew my poor little fingers were in for another day of being tortured by those sticky ouchy leaves. They hurt!

Next I went to the tool house to retrieve the metal stand for these filling the bag jobs. No stand! My suspicions immediately ran to Right Back. I'll bet he hauled it off for something and intended to bring it right back. I've yet to address this issue with him.... but I will.

So, poor little me had no gloves or stand, and here was this nasty filling job to do... ouchy leaves and all. I managed... of course I did. I had to do it the old fashioned way: Cloth gloves (the same ones I used when cutting them), a rake, and lots of bending over. At least I can claim that I exercised. Hey, I really do try to find the positive in things. Claiming exercise for the day is a definite positive... one I need more of... much more.

So, here you see the lovely six... count them.... six... bags of shrubbery debris sitting by the trash can waiting for pick up today. I hurried outside in my nightgown and took a pic as knew you would really really be devastated if you didn't get to see it. It is such a lovely sight.

I realize this is another subject entirely, but I have to give it to Right Back that he showed up yesterday and intervened in the great mouse flinging event. He doesn't seem to mind at all doing that flinging job. Here I was complaining and carrying on something awful, and he just handled it for me. My hero... my kid.

Daylight is burning, and I do believe I need to go do something... even if it is wrong. Don't worry, I'll confess it, wrong or not. At least I'm alive and have survived shrubbery and mice. Tah Dah!

The Dreaded Mouse

I do believe I've taken photography in a new direction... downward, perhaps. I realize that there is absolutely nothing redeeming about this photo. Composition. Yuck. Lighting. Yuck. However, that just isn't the point. I took a zillion pictures trying to get one with the little green light blinking. I finally got one, so please cut me a little slack and know that I appreciate your sensibilities.


I know I've written on this subject before, but it seems to be a cycle... one I don't like at all. I do believe that someone runs into the critter world the first day of fall and hangs a sign out that says 'Get Inside Now!'

Obedient to the forces of nature, those little mousie critters head for the nearest entrances and get ready to spend a comfortable winter. That may not be entirely true, but it is life as I see it.

I've battled the battle before. I've stuffed steel wool around every pipe and crevice. Still... they come. I didn't use to have this battle, but I do now, and I HATE it!!!

I'm really a tad ashamed to admit that this whole sharing my house with a mouse puts me into a spin of emotion. I can't set a trap... not one of those snappy things. Son Right Back has done that for me before, but he isn't always available to do that little chore. Oh, this does qualify big time as one of the Men's Work items... not something I want to do... definitely for the Men.

I guess I'm squeamish or something, but I just can't deal with the mice very well. I'd certainly rather face the holly shrub than the mouse.

A couple of years ago, I invested in an electronic mouse trap. Seriously, there is such a thing. It's that little black box in the photo of the day. I see it as a more humane form of execution. It is instant, just as the snappy kind, and it should be easier for me to dispose of the remains. Note the word 'should' here.

So, I armed the electronic mouse trap and put it in a darkened area of the pantry. It is most effective at night when the house is quiet and the mouse is ready for action. The mouse should smell the peanut butter, head into the hole in the trap, and be zapped into mouse heaven.

My job is to check the trap in the morning. That's one of those things that makes me know what a coward I really am. I open the pantry door, look at the trap, and hold my breath in expectation of a blinking light. If the light is blinking, I have a mouse. The thing is, I'm always relieved when no light blinks. Then I don't have to go into mouse flinging mode. This morning, the light blinked, which means I have to deal with it.

I've been wondering if Right Back might appear this morning (wishful thinking). I have things to do, you know. There is bagging all that holly shrubbery from yesterday. Then I need to cut more shrubbery. I just don't know when I'm going to have time for mouse flinging. I need help... I need staff. Oh, Man Adam, where art thou?

I know I've got to face the fact that once again I'm left to my own devices. I'm going to have to screw my courage to the sticking point (a Shakespearean knockoff) and carry the trap outside. Then I have to turn off the unit with the switch, open the door, and fling the mouse behind the craft house. It takes a little wrist action.

One year I overdid the wrist action and ended up flinging the whole trap. The door covering the batteries flew off and under the craft building. No way was I sticking my hand under there to retrieve the door! Nothing but having that door in place would make the trap work, so I had to go buy another electronic trap. I did TRY to retrieve the door with a stick and a pulling motion. I only ended up pushing it further under the building where I was sure I wasn't putting my hand.

Well, here it is almost seven o'clock in the morning, and I have my work cut out for me today. I must fling the mouse and bag the shrubbery. I'm not sure which I will do first. One thing is for sure... I plan on showing my Man Cat Pumpkin what I have done. I want him to see that mouse and have a new respect for my hunting capabilities. Something good has GOT to come out of this.

Death By Shrubbrey

I'm relatively certain that the Garden of Eden message to do all that soil tilling and probably shrub trimming was aimed directly to Man Adam. It surely wasn't meant to be Woman's Work.

Actually, I have a definition for 'Woman's Work' that suits me just fine: Anything that I don't want to do.


The problem is that Man Adam is nowhere to be seen. I can't find him for anything, and he certainly isn't hanging about in any garden.... or yard for that matter. At least not that I can find him. So, I gave up this morning. I finally faced the dire fact that I was going to have to assume responsibility for the shrubbery gone wild in my front yard. Son Right Back isn't much of a help in that department either, even if he does qualify for the Man part. Nope... he is pretty scarce these days, and his allergies would kill him anyway with a snoot full of holly pollen or whatever up his nose.

The above is my pile of limbs from my first attack of the holly shrubs. I've been at it for awhile and just had to come in and rest up. I was dripping wet from the exercise, so came in once in awhile to rehydrate and collapse into the chair. A good fifteen minutes of rest and I was back at it again.

I have serious issues with these shrubs. They are out of control and have been for years. It isn't that I've completely ignored them in the past, but I will confess that they didn't get the best of care while under my supervision. So, here we are, and something has to be done....even if it is wrong.

It may not be the right time of year to be hacking away on them, but at this point, I don't care. They are going to be trimmed, and it is going to be up to them if they live or die. That's just the way I feel about it.

Actually, I'm trying to give them a chance to heal from this calculated assault on them. I figured that they have a bit of time left before the snow flies and the ice forms on their leaves. They have some nice warm days left, and they had best use the time wisely to adjust.

I'm writing this blog as a bit of avoidance technique. You see, I have the other shrub to do as well. Then there is the bagging all the mess that you saw lying on the ground. Plus, there will be more off this side.

You do realize that holly is an ouchy little shrub. I put on the gloves I found handy, but they are those little cotton gloves sold in the yard aisle in the department store. I'm thinking somewhere in my little craft building I should have something leather. Leather would be better. Those nasty little holly ouchies stick the dickens out of me.

Yep, I'm thinking that darned Man Adam should be here for the show. That doesn't seem likely, so I believe I need staff. That doesn't seem likely either. I'm not good at facing the fact that the only one who cares one bit about this is me. It is me and me alone. Drat and all.

If I do survive and manage to get this outside mess straightened out and in hand, I'll probably be singing a different tune. Then I'll be so proud of my efforts and I'll be bragging about what wonderful work I've done in the yard. That would be just like me.

If not, perhaps someone will think to write on my tombstone: 'Death By Shrubbery'
Tah Dah!

Alas, Where Did My Humor Go?

I'm sitting at the computer keyboard staring at it. I started this blog some time ago with the idea that I could do something on humor each day. Well, I do believe I've been overrun and trampled by the sheer force of trying to get focused and organized.

You know what I'm doing. Perhaps I should say that you SHOULD know what I've been doing. I'm doing that thing that I decided to do in August. I'm crazed by it. I've been taken over by it. However, I expect my focus will level out at some point and I'll be able to sit back and draw a breath without thinking about it.

When I retired, I envisioned a life of leisure. I could do what I want, when I wanted, if I wanted. I'm not too sure what happened along the way, but four years into retirement, I'm so busy I don't have time to even think about sitting down and leading that life of leisure.

Don't misunderstand, I'd not want to sit in front of the TV with my coffee cup sipping life away. I realize that wouldn't be an ideal life. No, not at all. However, a few minutes here and there of absolutely nothing to do might be nice as well.

Now I have to confess a little something. I wrote the above last night, then put it to bed and turned in myself. I kept trying to dose off and fall into the computer screen. That just wouldn't do either.

The Rest of the Story:

Since last night, I've been to Nearby City to take my mother to an appointment. Mother loves getting out and about and doing a little shopping when she feels up to it. Today she was feeling grand, and we did what women like to do... we shopped. It was great fun, and we were fortunate enough to find some great bargains. I had made up my mind to not buy one thing, but that feeling soon passed and I had a nice healthy supply of new clothes to carry to the car... at a great price, of course.

Mother also needed to go to the shoe store, and I decided I really wouldn't buy anything there. I should have stayed in the car. Yes, I should have. Instead, I ventured into the store. I was a little disturbed at the fact that the front of the store bore no 'Sale' sign. It always has a 'Sale' sign. As soon as I opened the door, we were greeted by a smiling salesman. I asked him what was up as they had no 'Sale' sign in the window. He said that they certainly were having a sale... one on right shoes and one on left shoes. I felt so much better.

While Mother tried on shoes, I looked down the sale aisle really not expecting to find anything. That is when you have to look out... when you don't EXPECT to find anything. Of course, I saw a pair of 'must haves'. They were black zip up boots. I haven't purchased boots for years. I don't have any that fit. I sure hope they are still in style as I now have them in my closet. So much for not spending any money in the shoe store.

You may be thinking that my blog is certainly wandering around today. I do feel obligated to tie it together in some fashion. So, I will leave you with this thought: If you have a few minutes to do something at your leisure, you'd best watch out. It might cost you money. If that happens, you might need your humor to get through it.

So, where did my humor go? I still have it. It's intact and well. Thank goodness. I will live to shop and laugh another day. Tah Dah!