Country Breakfast

There's something to be said for getting up at 4:45 in the morning! Breakfast! I've just finished eating buttermilk biscuits, country ham (cured in NC) and a perfect fried egg all cooked by these little typing fingers in my very own kitchen! Rounded out with a cup of awfully good coffee, this has got to be one of the best meals I've had in a while! Yummy!

I also had time to put a turkey breast in the crock pot with baby carrots, celery, onions and a million cloves of garlic. Supper will be almost ready when I get home, just need to cook a pot of rice and it's done!

My baby sister will be 57 tomorrow. Seems like it was only yesterday that we were at camp and she asked me to cut her hair off and glue some to her upper lip so she could be a pirate for a party. Thought Mother would kill me when they came to pick us up! We're going to the coast for seafood on Saturday to celebrate.

I was given a project at work a week ago today. I was to take our availability listing and add botanical names to all of the common plant names. Got it all in the computer yesterday, so now it's only a matter of sorting and printing. Looks good. Feels good too!

Sure do like my job! Gotta get ready to go.

A hot bath

Did something last night I haven't done before (here). Took a bath.

The tub in my bathroom is one of those big, deep whirlpool baths and I've always been afraid I'd not be able to get out if I got in it...so, I've avoided it...just rinse the cat hair out every now and then.

I've worked over nine hours a day for the past three days and when I got in from work yesterday every muscle in my body ached. After doing Shirley, Goodness and Mercy chores and talking with Helen, I decided to get in the tub to see if I could soak some of the aches and pains out.

Put candles out, a glass of red wine, a book and the special wash cloth that rm knitted for me years ago...Moisturizing bubbles and a moisturizing face mask and I was set. Got in the tub, GLORIOUS! Then I realized I had forgotten a bar of soap. Got out and got one (lavender & oatmeal). AAHHHHHH!

Two cats on the edge of the tub and Shirley doing her jumping up and down thing trying to see just what was going on. What a hoot!

Thought about the whirlpool aspect, but I'm a scaredy cat when it comes to electricity and water...figured the worse thing that could happen would be electrocution and that should be quick...so I hit the button...oh heavenly bliss! However, it was a little noisy. The cats scattered and Shirley backed up into the bedroom where she could keep an eye on me but not be too close. Turned it off fairly quickly, but not before it whipped the bubbles into the highest mound of bubbles I've ever had in a bath!

Slept like a log!

Gotta run, work calls.

What a nice weekend!

Saturday was rather unusual. I met Mother in Tallahassee at 9:30am. Since she had insisted that I'd met her at the shop the last time I suggested that I drive so I could meet her there next time. She didn't want to do it, but finally we were off in my car with me driving! Thank goodness. She got us lost! I was able to back track and we finally got to Talbot's! Found a couple of cute things that were on sale and left to go to a cute little bistro-type restuarant. Good food and we had a nice visit. Got Mother safely back home and came back to Monticello.

When I pulled into the driveway I saw a package on the front porch, but putting Shirley out was my first line of business...put her out on her chain and carried a few thing in from the car...the phone was ringing.

It was Helen asking if her package had arrived! Got it in from the front porch while talking with her and opened it. FUN! She had rooted some of the Tapioca tree for me and sent several little shirts and a dress as well! Got shirley in while we talked and was able to put groceries away and do a few other little things while on the phone. Then (while still on the phone) the door bell rang.

It was Leah Jane and Max. Shirley was delighted! She and Max romped and were nuts for about half an hour while we visited. Then we walked around the yard for a little while (the camellias are blooming) and they walked on home.

Came in and the phone was ringing, it was Martha Jean. She's looking for a Yorkie and has found a breeder about an hour and half from here. We'll go see the puppies next weekend. While we were talking Shirley suddenly went bonkers, barking her head off and freaking out as she looked out the front windows.

I looked out just in time to see a trailer from a pickup truck come to rest about 6 feet from the front of the house. The truck was backing up the driveway. Got off the phone and opened the door as the bell rang. There was a tiny, old, nicely dressed black woman at the door. I looked at her and a light bulb went off. She was Rachael's sister...Rachael raised my sister and me for about 17 years! It seems she and her daughter were going to get an organ and just couldn't wait for "the men folks" to help them. The hitch on the truck and on the trailer weren't compatable (obviously!). We tried, but couldn't get it hitched up correctly, so I told them to just leave the trailer until they found someone with the right hitch.

Walked back into the house and the phone once more was ringing...Mother. Talked a few minutes. Got off. The phone rang again, Martha Jean checking to see if things were okay.

WOW!

Yesterday was quiet. Did yard work, read the paper and watched a movie. A fellow came around 5:30 and got the trailer. As I said a quiet day! Thank goodness!

Gotta run, it's a work day.

Happy Birthday Prentice!

It's hard to believe that my baby boy is 36 today! Where does time go? The night he was born, in Atlanta, it was sleeting. This morning I went out in my shirt sleeves to get the paper. Go figure.

It has been a busy week. I was looking forward to being a slug today...not doing much, but Mother called last night and wants to go shopping today, so this will be brief so I can get ready and go. She wants me there by 9:30...as she said the store opens at 10...I asked if she thought they'd sell out before we got there if we were later than 10. She didn't think that was funny.

Months ago the young fellow who was harassing me on the phone was shot and killed. Well, it seems his mother is using my phone number as her contact number. I'm getting all sorts of collection calls for her here. This is getting old. I don't know if I have any legal recourse, but I've been thinking of calling the sheriff's office and asking if I do. One of the calls gave her address...it's here in town.

Must dash.

Big wind...big hair

Today it's unbelievably windy! I keep the front door at work open, sorta hooked back by the front porch swing and today, it slammed shut countless number of times! I did finally have to leave it shut, darn it!

I ran a couple of errands in town around noon today and the wind really did a number on my hair! It's getting rather long for me and the wind took it and whipped it into a frenzy! I had unteased BIG hair for the first time I can remember! Not terribly becoming.

When I got home this afternoon my garbage can was without a lid. I guess it was yet another casualty of the wind. I wonder if I can just buy a lid? Doubt it.

Friday night I rearranged the living room. I had been able to walk through without lights. Can't now. Maybe soon.

No news to speak of...not even good ramblings.

The weather this past week has played the thermometer like an accordion. However, instead of in and out it's been up and down! Wednesday and Thursday it was actually shirt sleeve weather and then Friday it really began to change. We had high winds rain and even tornados in the area. Yesterday it was clear and beautiful and windy and COLD! The wind was so high that several times I had to chase down a couple of chairs that I keep in the carport and gusts caused smoke to billow out of the fireplace and into the house! This morning it's quite calm out, but cold (and dark).

Prentice was coming over today, but called last night and can't make it. After reading his blog, fishingnframing.blogspot.com, I certainly can see why! Was really looking forward to his visit, but he says soon.

Helen called last night. We had a nice (and short for us) chat.

Have a funeral to go to this afternoon. The mother-in-law of a classmate.

Just got off the Walmart site. Was checking store hours in Thomasville. Turns out they are a 24-hr store. As soon as I get off the computer I'm going there. Need two chair cushions. I rearranged the living room Friday night and the rooster cushions on the chairs I put in there DO NOT GO!
Sure wish I had my sewing machine. Could make some.

Rosie's youngest is ten years old today! Hard to believe. I'm sure it was only yesterday that we were in Apalachicola to pick up TM and the little one crawled into our car like she was going too. Even have a picture somewhere of her sitting there...so cute. Time FLYS!

Perhaps I'll have something to post about later, but for now will close and go to Thomasville.

Busy, busy week!

Is it Thursday already? The week has been so busy that the days have gotten away from me. I suwannee it feels like it was Sunday just yesterday!

Monday night we had a Humane Society meeting and I put in 8 hours at work on Monday also. So it was a long, tiring day and a rather late evening for me...it was a quarter to 9 when I got home.

Then Tuesday was another long day at work, but I did call it an early evening...in bed by 8 and soundly asleep shortly after. Then a phone call at 9 woke me and it was after 12:30 before I managed to go back to sleep!

Yesterday was another 8 hr. day at work. I had errands to run and lots of walk-in folks to deal with along with the normal day to day stuff that I do. Then we spent about an hour on plant availability so I can also do some selling. Now don't get me wrong, I love it, but I do find it hard to include extra stuff in my day or evening.

Then last night I went to a dinner party for my friend from high school who has just moved back to town. It was wonderful! But once more a late evening. I'm going to drop by her new (old) house after work today and then come home and poop out!

My #1 daughter, RM, has had a really hard blow delt her. They lost half of their dairy goat herd to pneumonia. I know, and I'm sure she knows, that they'll rebuild their herd. But the loss was so hard for all of them.

Gotta ready myself for work.

Wild cat

This hasn't been a good week for Goodness. He's gone WILD...not sure what his problem is, but he really needs to snap out of it before I snap! At present he's in the tub crying...I just threw him from the top of the monitor and threatened his very existence. His favorite no-no lately has been the top of the tv in the living room, from there he jumps to the mantle and mills around, just looking for trouble! He's crying a lot, usually from the top of a cabinet in the kitchen or the top of the 'fridge. Heavens know he gets his share of attention! Now he's sitting on the chair outside of the shower and crying like his heart is breaking...there, I opened the door for him. Oh no, now he's in there crying and it's echoing! Got home the other day and the screen was down from the fireplace...little black foot prints everywhere and he was the only one with soot on him! He tries to dash past me out the back door whenever I come in or go out. Just don't know what to do. If the street out front wasn't so busy and there weren't so many loose dogs around, I'd let him out, but I can't. He has plenty of food, water, toys, clean litter boxes and lots of room and nooks and crannies and he's eating plants (ok ones). Maybe he needs a puppy. Wish I had a answer! Oh good, he left the shower.

Really cold last night and the one before. Kept a fire going from Friday night up to this morning. Now it's supposed to warm up. That's a good thing!

Cleaned house all day yesterday. Today I've read the paper and have a movie I'm going to watch this afternoon (Cinderella Man). If it warms up enough I may do some weeding.

Oh drat! He's back in the shower!

Friday's post

It seems we've been given a break with the forecasted weather. Yesterday they were saying it would be in the low 20's tonight and tomorrow night, now it's the high 20's to low 30's. Better! It's 33 this morning with a 16 mph wind...sure feels cold!

Am thinking I've bitten off more than I can chew with the Human Society. When I wasn't working full time it wasn't so bad, but now I'm working 37+ hours a week and I am feeling terribly overloaded having all of the additional work. I'm afraid I'm going to resign. Hate to leave them in need of help, but at the age of 60 I just don't have what I used to have energy-wise. They need young folks.

Mike is 59 today. Happy birthday.

Last night was the night for phone calls: Mother, Anna, Helen and a bunch of telemarketers.

Wednesday around 4:20pm a lady was killed in a one vehicle accident right outside where I'm working. I had already left, but the fellows all saw the aftermath.

Had a fire in the fireplace last night...bet I do tonight again for sure!

Gotta ready myself for work.

Ghosts and things

Monticello has been called "one of the most haunted small towns in America" by the American Ghost Trackers and I now believe I have a couple of ghosts of my very own!

A few months back I wrote about the weird incidents with all of the clocks in the house (including the computer clock). That has pretty much settled down, but on occasion one or more of them will change time. Some of them are electric and some are battery operated and it doesn't seem to make a difference.

Well, now something else is going on. For the past several weeks I've noticed the strong smell of a woman's perfume. This only happens in the old part of the house and comes on very suddenly and disappears just as quickly. The first time I noticed it I had just showered and gone to the living room to watch tv. The smell was so strong that I smelled my gown and robe to see if I'd gotten something on me. It wasn't me. Then earlier this week I got another smell, sorta like a mechanic...you know, oily and a little sweaty. This too, happened quickly and disappeared quickly. Then last night both smells were here at the same time, but each was very disernable.

Always before Shirley has lifted her head and smelled the air, but last night she jumped up onto my footstool and growled and ended up barking at a spot behind me. It was as if she could see something! Wild!

My friend Leah Jane was telling me that she also has a ghost. Her ghost smokes a cigarette on her porch (no ashes or butts, just smell) and the smell seeps into her house. It's been going on for many years and she's no longer afraid of it. Her house was built in 1910, mine in 1940. Interesting!

We've had several days of above normal weather, but that's soon to change. Friday and Saturday night we are to have a hard freeze. We sure have gone from one end of the thermometer to the other this winter!

ETC posted on her blog yesterday for the first time since they got back from China. The pictures of the two children together are wonderful!

Loving my job. Gotta get ready to go now.

Off and running

I had an absolutely wonderful three days off work and now I'm off and running. The long weekend was a mixture of doing nothing and getting a few things done.

Friday a fellow from work brought a weeping willow over and I planted it in a hole I dug on Wednesday. It's immature, of course, but came in a 7 gallon pot and stands about 10 feet tall. Planted it off the carport and patio. When it's grown it will have a canopy of around 20 feet and will give not only shade, but also privacy on the patio.

Saturday I grocery shopped and cooked. Collard greens, black eyed peas and a pecan pie that I made with fresh cane syrup (instead of Karo)...all went quite well with the smoked Boston butt and the apple and pear chutney that I made earlier in the week.

Sunday was spent reading. eating and cutting back the lantana out front. It sure has a pretty little pale yellow bloom, but whomever planted it didn't take into consideration the growth habit it has. Since July I've had to cut it back dramatically three different times. I didn't even realize that the holly out front was laden with bright red berries until I uncovered it. So I'm going to move the lantana to a spot in the back where it can do it's thing and not bother anything else.

Yesterday was one of the stormiest days we've had in a while. Heavy rain and thunderstorms. We were under a tornado watch until 9 o'clock last night. Helen called around 7pm and we "yakked" until after 8. She had forgotten that she'd called on Sunday and told me all of the same things all over again. Her mind's not the same...I guess brain cancer and age can do that.

Gotta get ready for work.