11/7/2015
Yesterday I was on leaf pickup detail again. Jeff's job in the handling of leaves is to blow them into a pile, which looks easy (but probably isn't) to me. My job is to pick up said leaves and stuff them into compost brown bags. Picking up is time consuming and hard on the back.
Yesterday I filled three bags of leaves, which was only the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. I could have raked leaves for hours, but gave up after two hours, feeling that I had done my best to pick up the ever blowing and wandering leaves.
I took a breather in the morning sun before returning to the never ending task! As I leaned my head back in my chair, I gaze up into our 29 year old oak tree. The tree is majestic to look at. One half of the tree is nearly bare of leaves. The other half still has many more leaves to fall - unfortunately.
While I was catching my breath, I watched as a solo leaf fell to the ground. Why does that leaf fall off the tree, but others leaves on the same branch do not. Mother Nature surely knows more about leaves dropping than I do.
Until we have our first frost, the routine of getting the leaves into a pile and picking them up will be almost a daily chore. The wind yesterday blew leaves from our yard, into the street as well as the neighbor's yards. I had to ask myself, how obligated did I feel to pick up leaves in your neighbor's yard that I know came from our tree.
We want to be a good neighbor, so more often than not, Jeff will blow leaves from the street and other yards to be considerate. The wind was blowing yesterday, and as I sat in the sunshine of a beautiful fall day, I watched leaves gather on the driveway where I had just been working.
When we planted this tree in 1986, we couldn't have imagined back then how such a small tree could grow to it's present size.
Today is a new day and while I'm typing, I can see individual leaves falling to the ground. I could be on leaf duty today, but I choose not to. If I wait until tomorrow, the number of leaves to be picked up will increase only slightly.
Today is National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day.
P
Saturday, November 7, 2015
Friday, November 6, 2015
Solar Power
11/6/2015
Scott is having solar panels installed on his roof to help reduce his electricity bill. If he refers someone to the company, us for example, he gets $250.00.
When Scott said that he was going to have the solar company call and make an appointment with Jeff, I was pretty sure that Jeff would say no way. But that didn't happen. The solar man came to the house, showed us all the red spots on our roof (which means that's a good area for panels), and explained the benefits.
We use a lot of electricity in our house, and our electric company loves us! Apparently with solar panels put on our roof, we could save some money, particularly in the summer when the electric company's rates are at their highest.
Jeff has received the drawing of our house depicting where on the roof the panels will be installed. Before installation, we need to have the HOA's approval and the signature of four neighbors who live next door or behind us. Once we get the approval, the company can get permits and schedule the installation.
There is no maintenance on our part of the panels. The company will come out and fix, repair or whatever if something (I don't know what) happens to the panels. The panels aren't the prettiest I know, but if they can keep our electric bill lower, then I guess it doesn't matter what they look like.
P
Scott is having solar panels installed on his roof to help reduce his electricity bill. If he refers someone to the company, us for example, he gets $250.00.
When Scott said that he was going to have the solar company call and make an appointment with Jeff, I was pretty sure that Jeff would say no way. But that didn't happen. The solar man came to the house, showed us all the red spots on our roof (which means that's a good area for panels), and explained the benefits.
We use a lot of electricity in our house, and our electric company loves us! Apparently with solar panels put on our roof, we could save some money, particularly in the summer when the electric company's rates are at their highest.
Jeff has received the drawing of our house depicting where on the roof the panels will be installed. Before installation, we need to have the HOA's approval and the signature of four neighbors who live next door or behind us. Once we get the approval, the company can get permits and schedule the installation.
There is no maintenance on our part of the panels. The company will come out and fix, repair or whatever if something (I don't know what) happens to the panels. The panels aren't the prettiest I know, but if they can keep our electric bill lower, then I guess it doesn't matter what they look like.
P
Thursday, November 5, 2015
The Server Was Down!
11/5/2015
I'm pretty sure this doesn't happen to many, or any, of you, but we have a server in the basement. Doesn't everyone? When the server is down, you can't receive or send emails, surf your favorite haunts (Amazon) and Facebook.
I don't think anyone can really appreciate the lonely feeling that comes over you, when you realize that you're "screaming" but nobody can hear! Each morning while I wait for my coffee, I come to the computer and check for incoming emails, which are mostly spam. This morning when I woke my computer up, there were no incoming emails and I couldn't search for anything.
Some people, most of you probably, would feel strange without your cellphone. Me not so much? I did charge it this morning so that I could call Jeff and tell him that I couldn't use the computer and that the land line telephone, and yes we still have one, didn't have a dial tone.
Happy to say that the computer guys in my life, quickly recognized the problem and Mom is happy again. I'm fully connected to everything and everybody. While I don't like talking on the phone, I do love checking out Facebook for updates on friends. And, of course, I use Facebook's jigsaw program (I guess that's what you could call it) to continue to work my brain. I'd love to tell you that I'm making progress in that direction, but I don't believe I am. I forget as much now as I did a year ago!
Oh you are going to love National What Day ladies:
I'm pretty sure this doesn't happen to many, or any, of you, but we have a server in the basement. Doesn't everyone? When the server is down, you can't receive or send emails, surf your favorite haunts (Amazon) and Facebook.
I don't think anyone can really appreciate the lonely feeling that comes over you, when you realize that you're "screaming" but nobody can hear! Each morning while I wait for my coffee, I come to the computer and check for incoming emails, which are mostly spam. This morning when I woke my computer up, there were no incoming emails and I couldn't search for anything.
Some people, most of you probably, would feel strange without your cellphone. Me not so much? I did charge it this morning so that I could call Jeff and tell him that I couldn't use the computer and that the land line telephone, and yes we still have one, didn't have a dial tone.
Happy to say that the computer guys in my life, quickly recognized the problem and Mom is happy again. I'm fully connected to everything and everybody. While I don't like talking on the phone, I do love checking out Facebook for updates on friends. And, of course, I use Facebook's jigsaw program (I guess that's what you could call it) to continue to work my brain. I'd love to tell you that I'm making progress in that direction, but I don't believe I am. I forget as much now as I did a year ago!
Oh you are going to love National What Day ladies:
- National Doughnut Day
- National Men Make Dinner Day (must cook, no BBQ allowed!)
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Home Town
11/4/2015
Many years ago, I had an opportunity while visiting my aunt, to return to the little town where I spent my high school years. That ride through town, which was very small, didn't take much time, but allowed me to relive so many memories.
During high school, it was my job to go to the post office to collect the mail. We, and everyone else, had a little metal box that looked like this:
My aunt drove me past the post office, the tiny grocery store and Minny's "department" store. Minny's was a wonderful place to browse. When you walked in the store, the smell of old permeated your senses. The store carried a bit of this and that. Think of Woolworth's downsized by 90%!
I just checked out Fisher, Illinois' website. Sadly, there is no Minny's department store, but there are a lot more stores in town then there used to be.
My aunt and I went to the local cemetery, where my grandfather is buried. I have never felt the need or desire to visit graves, but I made an exception this time.
I saw again my high school, which back in 1967 was small. The classes were small too, I think my graduating class had something like 42 of us. Since there were so few of us (in the big picture), we all decorated the homecoming float, we all participated in the senior play, and we all went to the parties. It was an idealistic way to spend teenage years.
So there you have it. Small town USA. It was a wonderful place to be a teenager and I have many fond memories of my years living in this small town.
P
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
The Thing That Lives Under the Porch!
11/3/2015
We have an animal(s) living under our front porch. Jeff and I both think he/she/they have been having a wonderful time under the porch for a long time. And, as we seldom saw them, we just put it out of our minds.
In the last month, our animal must be hungry, because I've stepped out on the front porch and he's walking on the sidewalk. He hurries to get under the porch, and I hurry to get back inside the house! This is not a win/win for either of us.
Since he's becoming more visible and brave or stupid, depending on how you feel, we have decided that we must hire a trapper to remove the animal(s) from under the porch. This morning I have called several trapping companies and it's going to cost us money to trap this guy. As it turns out, it's a lot of money with no guarantee of success.
Three days of trapping will cost anywhere from $300 to $395. That's a lot of money to spend, particularly if the trap comes up empty. Oh and the fee is for only three days of trapping. If you need a few more days to try and catch the animal, that's going to cost extra too.
I guess we have two choices: leave the critter under the porch (and we think he's been under there for some time, we've just not seen him before now) for the winter; or spend money that may or may not capture him.
Little known facts about a groundhog: Their burrows generally have two to five entrances, the tunnels can be as long as 46 feet and 5 feet underground. One person dug out 11 groundhog dens. They can do serious damage to building foundations. We are lucky, I think, that the porch where this guy lives hasn't started to lean!
P
We have an animal(s) living under our front porch. Jeff and I both think he/she/they have been having a wonderful time under the porch for a long time. And, as we seldom saw them, we just put it out of our minds.
In the last month, our animal must be hungry, because I've stepped out on the front porch and he's walking on the sidewalk. He hurries to get under the porch, and I hurry to get back inside the house! This is not a win/win for either of us.
Since he's becoming more visible and brave or stupid, depending on how you feel, we have decided that we must hire a trapper to remove the animal(s) from under the porch. This morning I have called several trapping companies and it's going to cost us money to trap this guy. As it turns out, it's a lot of money with no guarantee of success.
Three days of trapping will cost anywhere from $300 to $395. That's a lot of money to spend, particularly if the trap comes up empty. Oh and the fee is for only three days of trapping. If you need a few more days to try and catch the animal, that's going to cost extra too.
I guess we have two choices: leave the critter under the porch (and we think he's been under there for some time, we've just not seen him before now) for the winter; or spend money that may or may not capture him.
Little known facts about a groundhog: Their burrows generally have two to five entrances, the tunnels can be as long as 46 feet and 5 feet underground. One person dug out 11 groundhog dens. They can do serious damage to building foundations. We are lucky, I think, that the porch where this guy lives hasn't started to lean!
P
Monday, November 2, 2015
Peaceful Sunday
11/2/2015
Yesterday, was a peaceful day. Jeff had to work during the middle of the night, I think because it was time change weekend.
Jeff did paperwork most of the day, a job he doesn't really look forward to. I'm the envelope stuffer and stamp "put-er-oner' and get the bills into the mailbox before the mailman comes.
My job, as it is every Sunday, is to organize Sunday night television. And I take my job seriously. There are so many good shows on Sunday night, that a bit of organizing and moving shows around has to be done. It's not a major job, but one where I excel.
Early in the evening, Jeff took me to Wegman's, which is a very fine grocery store. Not only do they have products that I haven't heard of, but their customer service to second to none. If you did all of your grocery shopping at Wegman's, you would go broke, because nothing there is cheap.
Before we left, we were watching Mike Rowe, who is a favorite of ours, doing his show "Dirty Jobs". One of his jobs was to make bologna with the Setlzers Lebanon Bologna. The company was started in 1902. Seltzers continue to produce bologna the old-fashioned way - in tall, wooden smokehouses over hand-tended fire. It was interesting to see how they make their bologna, which is in no way a comparison to the bologna most people eat. Jeff googled and found that Wegman's, sells their bologna.
Wegman's also has an outstanding array of food for lunch or dinner. We both picked up our food from several different buffet offerings and sat in their restaurant and ate before shopping.
I like the store so much that I just want to wander up and down the aisles. The uniqueness of the foods they carry is amazing. And while I don't actually shop there, it never hurts to look. I eventually ended up at the deli counter and asked about the Setlzers bologna. Apparently, they make two kinds: sweet and regular. The woman at the counter cut us off a slice of each and we decided to buy a small amount of the regular.
If you have an opportunity to try what is referred to as Lebanon Bologna, be sure to do so. You will be amazed at what a difference there is in taste compared to the regular stuff. We also bought some apples and I bought a slice of white, coconut cake - which was yummy!
I don't get out of the house often and don't drive when it's dark, so I turn in to a pumpkin before six o'clock now. So I appreciate an outing, even if it's to a grocery store.
P
Yesterday, was a peaceful day. Jeff had to work during the middle of the night, I think because it was time change weekend.
Jeff did paperwork most of the day, a job he doesn't really look forward to. I'm the envelope stuffer and stamp "put-er-oner' and get the bills into the mailbox before the mailman comes.
My job, as it is every Sunday, is to organize Sunday night television. And I take my job seriously. There are so many good shows on Sunday night, that a bit of organizing and moving shows around has to be done. It's not a major job, but one where I excel.
Early in the evening, Jeff took me to Wegman's, which is a very fine grocery store. Not only do they have products that I haven't heard of, but their customer service to second to none. If you did all of your grocery shopping at Wegman's, you would go broke, because nothing there is cheap.
Before we left, we were watching Mike Rowe, who is a favorite of ours, doing his show "Dirty Jobs". One of his jobs was to make bologna with the Setlzers Lebanon Bologna. The company was started in 1902. Seltzers continue to produce bologna the old-fashioned way - in tall, wooden smokehouses over hand-tended fire. It was interesting to see how they make their bologna, which is in no way a comparison to the bologna most people eat. Jeff googled and found that Wegman's, sells their bologna.
Wegman's also has an outstanding array of food for lunch or dinner. We both picked up our food from several different buffet offerings and sat in their restaurant and ate before shopping.
I like the store so much that I just want to wander up and down the aisles. The uniqueness of the foods they carry is amazing. And while I don't actually shop there, it never hurts to look. I eventually ended up at the deli counter and asked about the Setlzers bologna. Apparently, they make two kinds: sweet and regular. The woman at the counter cut us off a slice of each and we decided to buy a small amount of the regular.
If you have an opportunity to try what is referred to as Lebanon Bologna, be sure to do so. You will be amazed at what a difference there is in taste compared to the regular stuff. We also bought some apples and I bought a slice of white, coconut cake - which was yummy!
I don't get out of the house often and don't drive when it's dark, so I turn in to a pumpkin before six o'clock now. So I appreciate an outing, even if it's to a grocery store.
P
Sunday, November 1, 2015
It's November
11/1/2015
Yikes, it's November already. Where did the year go? Were we having so much fun that we didn't notice the months slipping away? Oh and did you remember to set your clocks back an hour? If you haven't, be sure to do so before tomorrow morning, or you might be late for work.
For some of us, November signals the start of buying Christmas cards, and making lists of what to buy for whom. I'm one of those people, who doesn't let Christmas sneak up on me. I shop early, mostly on line, and don't put off what needs to be done.
For help with buying something for me, I started a wishlist on Amazon, because people tell me I'm too hard to buy for. Since I pretty much like everything, I don't see how hard it is to buy me a gift.
Jeff was nice enough last night to hop up and answer the door. Since we live at the top of a hill, we don't get as many children as other streets do. So, we have some candy leftover. But, we did buy candy that we liked - Reese's Peanut Butter Cups! I'll put the candy in the freezer so it's not quite so tempting as having it sit on the counter. I've never eaten chocolate that I didn't like - unfortunately.
Jeff blew all of our leaves into a pile yesterday and I was the pick-up man. I wasn't picking up the leaves too long, before our next door neighbor came over to help. Things went a lot faster with his help. In fact, I stopped picking up and left the manual work to Jeff and our neighbor.
By the way, in case you're wondering, there are 54 days until Christmas.
Today is:
Give Up Your Shoulds Day
National Author's Day
Zero Tasking Day
Yikes, it's November already. Where did the year go? Were we having so much fun that we didn't notice the months slipping away? Oh and did you remember to set your clocks back an hour? If you haven't, be sure to do so before tomorrow morning, or you might be late for work.
For some of us, November signals the start of buying Christmas cards, and making lists of what to buy for whom. I'm one of those people, who doesn't let Christmas sneak up on me. I shop early, mostly on line, and don't put off what needs to be done.
For help with buying something for me, I started a wishlist on Amazon, because people tell me I'm too hard to buy for. Since I pretty much like everything, I don't see how hard it is to buy me a gift.
Jeff was nice enough last night to hop up and answer the door. Since we live at the top of a hill, we don't get as many children as other streets do. So, we have some candy leftover. But, we did buy candy that we liked - Reese's Peanut Butter Cups! I'll put the candy in the freezer so it's not quite so tempting as having it sit on the counter. I've never eaten chocolate that I didn't like - unfortunately.
Jeff blew all of our leaves into a pile yesterday and I was the pick-up man. I wasn't picking up the leaves too long, before our next door neighbor came over to help. Things went a lot faster with his help. In fact, I stopped picking up and left the manual work to Jeff and our neighbor.
By the way, in case you're wondering, there are 54 days until Christmas.
Today is:
Give Up Your Shoulds Day
National Author's Day
Zero Tasking Day
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)