8/9/2015
Yesterday, Jeff, Scott and I went out to Andy's house to (a) see the new puppy (he's cute); and (b) pick up Benjamin to come and stay a few days with us and Auntie Kim.
We also brought Stacey a desk, bulletin board and bookcase that we had sitting in the basement. I told her that since the furniture was now hers, she could paint/stain, etc. to each piece. My theory is - once it leaves my house - it doesn't come back!
Benjamin showed me where his home school was going to be down in the basement. While Stacey has a few days Benjamin free, she says she will use the time to get the school area set up with supplies, etc.
Scott, meanwhile was pulling cables from Andy's basement to the upstairs. It was a project he started when Andy's house was built, but work on his own townhouse, took priority over cabling for at least a year.
While the men were doing their cable work, Benjamin, Stacey and I were sitting watching movies. They have a lot of movies I've never seen before - but if during the watching - Benjamin became disinterested - we found a new movie! I saw a lot of partial movies, but not one all the way to the end.
We didn't get back to our house until 2:00 a.m., and Benjamin who had been sleeping in the truck, wanted to know if he could have a story. Since I was very tired, I told him the story would have to wait until he comes back to our house on Wednesday.
Today, I will do some house wifely type chores and maybe a bit of a snooze in my new recliner in the den. It's not really called napping, if you just happen to fall asleep watching television.
Have a good day, whatever you are or are not doing.
P
Sunday, August 9, 2015
Friday, August 7, 2015
Getting Ready for Benjamin!
8/7/2015
Benjamin is coming to stay with us on Saturday night. He will also be spending Sunday through Wednesday with Auntie Kim. Once he's good and tired, he'll come back here for quiet time with Mom Mom and Pop Pop.
I am going to bake a purple cake (that should look lovely on the teeth and tongues), with purple frosting and bits of black, purple and blue decorations on top. He'll love it.
I have a bookshelf in the den that houses all of Benjamin's favorite movies. Trouble is, Mom Mom doesn't think she can sit through yet another viewing of Shriek. If she does, she might Shreek!
I have bought a few new movies to watch with Benjamin. Now he may have already seen them, but I haven't. It will nice to watch something new for a change.
During Benjamin's last visit, it was a bit of a tussle to get him to sleep in the spare room. I bought him a snow globe that changes colors - until the batteries wear out. And, he knows we're either downstairs or across the hall, but he would prefer to sleep with us in our bed. We loved having him in the bed, until he started to grow up and suddenly he was all arms and legs - and he was everywhere. We already share the bed with the two dogs, so we just can't add a squirmy young boy to the mix.
Benjamin seems to know that when he's at our house, it's quiet play, books, sitting together and watching movies. When he visits, he gets the best of both worlds. All action and adventure with Auntie Kim and wind down time with Jeff and I.
Time to put my purple cake in the oven.
P
Benjamin is coming to stay with us on Saturday night. He will also be spending Sunday through Wednesday with Auntie Kim. Once he's good and tired, he'll come back here for quiet time with Mom Mom and Pop Pop.
I am going to bake a purple cake (that should look lovely on the teeth and tongues), with purple frosting and bits of black, purple and blue decorations on top. He'll love it.
I have a bookshelf in the den that houses all of Benjamin's favorite movies. Trouble is, Mom Mom doesn't think she can sit through yet another viewing of Shriek. If she does, she might Shreek!
I have bought a few new movies to watch with Benjamin. Now he may have already seen them, but I haven't. It will nice to watch something new for a change.
During Benjamin's last visit, it was a bit of a tussle to get him to sleep in the spare room. I bought him a snow globe that changes colors - until the batteries wear out. And, he knows we're either downstairs or across the hall, but he would prefer to sleep with us in our bed. We loved having him in the bed, until he started to grow up and suddenly he was all arms and legs - and he was everywhere. We already share the bed with the two dogs, so we just can't add a squirmy young boy to the mix.
Benjamin seems to know that when he's at our house, it's quiet play, books, sitting together and watching movies. When he visits, he gets the best of both worlds. All action and adventure with Auntie Kim and wind down time with Jeff and I.
Time to put my purple cake in the oven.
P
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Varmints
8/6/2015
I've long said that I'm fine with outside varmints living - as long as they live outside. Once you come into my house, then you're fair game. Last night while watching television, there were two flies landing on the screen. I guess they were going to the "light". Don't really want to kill them on the screen, because then I'd have something else to clean.
However, this morning waiting for my coffee and bagel to be ready, two flies announced their presence in the kitchen - and all bets were off. I grabbed the flyswatter and began to to duke it out with the first fly. He landed in the sink, but was only wounded - but by the time I got through with him, he was mortally wounded.
The other fly was perched on a plastic jar - I aimed and hit him and what luck he landed in the jar. A hole in one shot I would say!
I've done everything reasonable to help rid the house of small barely visible bugs that hover around the dog's kibble and the recycling bin. The kibble was easy. I bought a container guaranteed to keep critters out, and it really does. I didn't want to buy a plastic trashcan with a flip lid, because I knew that wouldn't keep out anything. So I now have one of these fancy containers for both the dogs' bones and another for kibble.
I have left the flyswatter on the counter as a subtle warning to all flies - land and prepare to die. Dead Eye Dick/Jane is on patrol!
P
I've long said that I'm fine with outside varmints living - as long as they live outside. Once you come into my house, then you're fair game. Last night while watching television, there were two flies landing on the screen. I guess they were going to the "light". Don't really want to kill them on the screen, because then I'd have something else to clean.
However, this morning waiting for my coffee and bagel to be ready, two flies announced their presence in the kitchen - and all bets were off. I grabbed the flyswatter and began to to duke it out with the first fly. He landed in the sink, but was only wounded - but by the time I got through with him, he was mortally wounded.
The other fly was perched on a plastic jar - I aimed and hit him and what luck he landed in the jar. A hole in one shot I would say!
I've done everything reasonable to help rid the house of small barely visible bugs that hover around the dog's kibble and the recycling bin. The kibble was easy. I bought a container guaranteed to keep critters out, and it really does. I didn't want to buy a plastic trashcan with a flip lid, because I knew that wouldn't keep out anything. So I now have one of these fancy containers for both the dogs' bones and another for kibble.
I have left the flyswatter on the counter as a subtle warning to all flies - land and prepare to die. Dead Eye Dick/Jane is on patrol!
P
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
An Early Anniversary Present
8/5/2015
For a number of years, Jeff and I have had a leather manual reclining sofa in our den. In the beginning, which I think of as our honeymoon years, the sofa was wonderful. The leather was soft, the recliner was easy to use to recline as well as put the recliner back in its "original upright position".
And then age set in. Like all things that you use daily, the sofa began to show it's age, a bit of a tear on one arm rest, and scratches (not that we cared) from the dogs. But in the really big problem, for me not for Jeff, was that I wasn't strong enough to put the recliner back into a sitting position when I was done watching television. It became a sort of war between me and the sofa, and most of the time the sofa won! And I was tired of the fighting.
I wanted a power reclining chair, which would require no more exertion for me than pressing the power button. I don't want to say I nagged, but probably I did, and last night we went to Costco and Jeff bought two power recliners. I was/am in heaven. We are keeping the old sofa in the room so that the dogs have a place to sleep. Horrors if they had to sleep on the floor, like - well - like dogs!
I told Jeff that I considered the recliners a perfect anniversary (next month) and Christmas present for me. Since the recliners recline completely flat, Jeff can get some much needed "zzzzz's" while I'm watching cooking shows!
Since I now have these lovely recliners, I don't really think (although give me time) I have anything else to nag about!!!
Now all that is left for me to do is to list my chaise on Craigslist and find it a new home.
P
For a number of years, Jeff and I have had a leather manual reclining sofa in our den. In the beginning, which I think of as our honeymoon years, the sofa was wonderful. The leather was soft, the recliner was easy to use to recline as well as put the recliner back in its "original upright position".
And then age set in. Like all things that you use daily, the sofa began to show it's age, a bit of a tear on one arm rest, and scratches (not that we cared) from the dogs. But in the really big problem, for me not for Jeff, was that I wasn't strong enough to put the recliner back into a sitting position when I was done watching television. It became a sort of war between me and the sofa, and most of the time the sofa won! And I was tired of the fighting.
I wanted a power reclining chair, which would require no more exertion for me than pressing the power button. I don't want to say I nagged, but probably I did, and last night we went to Costco and Jeff bought two power recliners. I was/am in heaven. We are keeping the old sofa in the room so that the dogs have a place to sleep. Horrors if they had to sleep on the floor, like - well - like dogs!
I told Jeff that I considered the recliners a perfect anniversary (next month) and Christmas present for me. Since the recliners recline completely flat, Jeff can get some much needed "zzzzz's" while I'm watching cooking shows!
Since I now have these lovely recliners, I don't really think (although give me time) I have anything else to nag about!!!
Now all that is left for me to do is to list my chaise on Craigslist and find it a new home.
P
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Jeff's Jobs!
8/4/2015
When Jeff and I got married, a long time ago, we both had defined roles. I was to take care of the house - the boring stuff - laundry, dishes and occasionally dusting. I was also supposed to take on the job of keeping track of bills owing and filing the paid bills appropriately.
Jeff's jobs, besides earning much more money than me, was to dispose of rodents (all kinds), take out the trash, yard work (now done by a company, since neither of us want to work in the yard anymore), change light bulbs and take care of all things mechanical or electric - or pretty much anything else.
Jeff has been and still is very good at his job. I don't have to dispose of dead mice, although I can and have. He's good at replacing burnt out bulbs and is super patient when I fail to understand how something works (even if he's explained it to me before).
Another one of Jeff's nearly constant jobs is keeping the vacuum cleaners sucking. Maggie has hair that just wafts through the air when she walks by, so you could (but I don't), vacuum the carpet downstairs every day. The problem with the vacuum is that eventually there is so much dog hair that the vacuum doesn't suck! This is where my knight in shining armor comes in. Last night, he took a long stick and pulled out enough hair from the vacuum hose, to build another dog. And I was grateful, because now the vacuum sucks in a good way - not in a bad way!
In theory, it would probably make more sense to just vacuum Maggie! Now how Jeff knew last night that the vacuum cleaner wasn't working again, I don't know and I don't care. So many thanks to my slayer of dragons (anything flying or crawling around the house), my champion for helping me more times than I can count, from having a meltdown over trivial matters. And for making sure that I have everything I need before I even know I need it!
P
When Jeff and I got married, a long time ago, we both had defined roles. I was to take care of the house - the boring stuff - laundry, dishes and occasionally dusting. I was also supposed to take on the job of keeping track of bills owing and filing the paid bills appropriately.
Jeff's jobs, besides earning much more money than me, was to dispose of rodents (all kinds), take out the trash, yard work (now done by a company, since neither of us want to work in the yard anymore), change light bulbs and take care of all things mechanical or electric - or pretty much anything else.
Jeff has been and still is very good at his job. I don't have to dispose of dead mice, although I can and have. He's good at replacing burnt out bulbs and is super patient when I fail to understand how something works (even if he's explained it to me before).
Another one of Jeff's nearly constant jobs is keeping the vacuum cleaners sucking. Maggie has hair that just wafts through the air when she walks by, so you could (but I don't), vacuum the carpet downstairs every day. The problem with the vacuum is that eventually there is so much dog hair that the vacuum doesn't suck! This is where my knight in shining armor comes in. Last night, he took a long stick and pulled out enough hair from the vacuum hose, to build another dog. And I was grateful, because now the vacuum sucks in a good way - not in a bad way!
In theory, it would probably make more sense to just vacuum Maggie! Now how Jeff knew last night that the vacuum cleaner wasn't working again, I don't know and I don't care. So many thanks to my slayer of dragons (anything flying or crawling around the house), my champion for helping me more times than I can count, from having a meltdown over trivial matters. And for making sure that I have everything I need before I even know I need it!
P
Sunday, August 2, 2015
Leave Your Dogs At Home
8/2/2015
Stepping up on my soapbox this morning. There was yet another story in the paper about someone who was only going to be in the store for a "few minutes", so she left her dog in the car. The police were called to rescue her dog - she received a $500 ticket and a broken window that will have to be replaced. Small price to pay for being so stupid and selfish.
I love my dogs, but when I'm running errands, they stay home. I see no good reason to take along your dog (it never seems to be a cat) and then roll down the windows a wee bit and go shopping. Why bother to do that? Trust me and I'm not a dog or a cat, but I can tell you that if given their opinion, the pets would ask to stay home. Where it's cool. Where there is water. Where there are pillows and beds to sleep on.
I am always aggrieved when I hear about an animal being locked in a car, particularly in the summer. It makes my heart hurt and makes my head spin round! If you want your dog with you all the time, invest the time and energy to make your dog a therapy dog, and then he/she can go with you anywhere.
Sam, our little Westie, would make a wonderful therapy dog, but he's old and it would be difficult to train him to behave appropriately in a store. The next little dog I have, I would like to use as a therapy dog. I don't need a therapy dog physically, but emotionally it would be wonderful to have a dog around to pet when I'm anxious.
Climbing down now. Have a wonderful Sunday.
P
Stepping up on my soapbox this morning. There was yet another story in the paper about someone who was only going to be in the store for a "few minutes", so she left her dog in the car. The police were called to rescue her dog - she received a $500 ticket and a broken window that will have to be replaced. Small price to pay for being so stupid and selfish.
I love my dogs, but when I'm running errands, they stay home. I see no good reason to take along your dog (it never seems to be a cat) and then roll down the windows a wee bit and go shopping. Why bother to do that? Trust me and I'm not a dog or a cat, but I can tell you that if given their opinion, the pets would ask to stay home. Where it's cool. Where there is water. Where there are pillows and beds to sleep on.
I am always aggrieved when I hear about an animal being locked in a car, particularly in the summer. It makes my heart hurt and makes my head spin round! If you want your dog with you all the time, invest the time and energy to make your dog a therapy dog, and then he/she can go with you anywhere.
Sam, our little Westie, would make a wonderful therapy dog, but he's old and it would be difficult to train him to behave appropriately in a store. The next little dog I have, I would like to use as a therapy dog. I don't need a therapy dog physically, but emotionally it would be wonderful to have a dog around to pet when I'm anxious.
Climbing down now. Have a wonderful Sunday.
P
Saturday, August 1, 2015
Showering Without Getting Wet
8/1/2015
Since the stitches in my back won't be coming out until the 12th, and I'm not supposed to get them wet, I had to come up with a way to take showers. I don't know many people who want to go 12 days without showering, but I know for a fact that I'm not one of them.
While resting this morning, I came up with a plan. A good plan I think. If I wear my raincoat in the shower, I can wash all the essential parts of me while keeping my back dry. Ingenious don't you think? Somehow when I wash my hair in a sink, it never feels as clean as it does when I do it in the shower. Then again, that could just be in my mind!
So today, I'm going to try out the raincoat idea. The only other solution is to cut a trash bag and tape it around the incisions, but that seems like a lot of work and a waste of trash bags. I had assumed that I would be seeing the surgeon next week to have the stitches or bandages removed, and I would be go to go.
Since that's not going to happen, I'm taking matters into my own hands, and I know will feel better, at least mentally, once I've taken a shower. I'm not up to doing much around the house, and that's okay, because I'm not expecting company. And, dusting should be one of my first chores when I'm feeling better.
Somethings are just damn inconvenient when you're recovering!
P
P.S. the raincoat totally worked!
Since the stitches in my back won't be coming out until the 12th, and I'm not supposed to get them wet, I had to come up with a way to take showers. I don't know many people who want to go 12 days without showering, but I know for a fact that I'm not one of them.
While resting this morning, I came up with a plan. A good plan I think. If I wear my raincoat in the shower, I can wash all the essential parts of me while keeping my back dry. Ingenious don't you think? Somehow when I wash my hair in a sink, it never feels as clean as it does when I do it in the shower. Then again, that could just be in my mind!
So today, I'm going to try out the raincoat idea. The only other solution is to cut a trash bag and tape it around the incisions, but that seems like a lot of work and a waste of trash bags. I had assumed that I would be seeing the surgeon next week to have the stitches or bandages removed, and I would be go to go.
Since that's not going to happen, I'm taking matters into my own hands, and I know will feel better, at least mentally, once I've taken a shower. I'm not up to doing much around the house, and that's okay, because I'm not expecting company. And, dusting should be one of my first chores when I'm feeling better.
Somethings are just damn inconvenient when you're recovering!
P
P.S. the raincoat totally worked!
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