Wow have we had a few days of WEATHER! Since Friday I've gotten over 7 & 1/2 inches of rain measured in my rain gauge! The wind had really been strong, too. Both the front porch and the carport are flooded and the puppy yard in one large mud puddle! I took the garbage can out to the street earlier and debris had piled up in the gutter just at my driveway and I had a most astonishing puddle quite a ways up my driveway! Used a large stick that had blown down to make a path through the pile and watched the water just gush down the road! Then I picked up the rest of the stuff in the year that the wind brought down.
The wind also tore about a third of the plastic I put up around the front porch a few weeks back down. So for an hour or so I fought the wind on a ladder on my soaked front porch and stapled the plastic back up. I'd saved a handful of the thick, slick campaign fliers that came around a while back, so I cut them into strips and used them between the staple and the plastic. That should help, the heavy paper ones that I put up at first just got wet and let go. I also cut some wind flaps on that side. I have the few potted plants that survived the puppies and the drought out there. They seem to enjoy it as they've gone through a couple of weeks of weather in the 20's at night and seem no worse for wear.
I spent Thanksgiving at home alone this year. So did Nancy. It was quite pleasant and I got a lot done...not sure just what, but a lot. I baked a little ham and made potato salad and ate all day! Then on Friday I used turkey from the freezer and the ham bone and some ham and made a fantastic pot of Spanish bean soup. Yum!!!
I've put off making my share of the ornaments for the Opera House Christmas tree until today. We're decorating tomorrow. I've gathered LOTS of berries and leaves and acorns and pine cones and lichen and stuff and just didn't know what to do. So I ended up hot glueing Yaupon Holly berries in pine cones and put wooden stars on top that I drilled a hole in and I call them Christmas trees. Don't look too bad, sorta like a third grader made them. Oh well.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Shopping and othr pleasures
Saturday morning I met Nancy a little later than usual (9:30) because we decided to "do" lunch instead of breakfast for a change. It's so much easier to do 9:30 than 7am! We went to Talbots and shopped their sale. There wasn't much and they had rearranged the store to hide the emptiness. It really didn't work too well and wasn't so pleasant to shop in. Nancy had received two cards in the mail from Talbots for 30% off, one for her and one for a "friend". I was the friend. They had a wonderful sale on socks and we both stocked up!
I've been hearing that Talbots was in trouble and that they have already closed their men's and kid's stores and that they are planning to close many of their ladies stores. This experience on Saturday really seemed to back that up. It's a shame.
Then we went to Bert's house, but he wasn't there. We left cards (his 91st birthday is Wednesday) and Nancy sorted through Mother's mail and the junk mail and then we left.
We just couldn't decide where to have lunch, but as we were driving down Capital Circle we saw Famous Dave's Bar-b-que and whipped in. Talk about a feast!! We both had the Devil's spit bar-b-qued hamburger. A half pound of meat with jalapeno bacon and all the trimmings slathered with Devil's Spit Bar-b-que sauce. Talk about to die for!!! I got four meals out of that burger!!! The manager bought us dessert, bread pudding, and it was absolutely wonderful! So good that I got the recipe!
It's been quite cold. One day this weekend I wore a hat, scarf and jacket in the house all day!
I've been hearing that Talbots was in trouble and that they have already closed their men's and kid's stores and that they are planning to close many of their ladies stores. This experience on Saturday really seemed to back that up. It's a shame.
Then we went to Bert's house, but he wasn't there. We left cards (his 91st birthday is Wednesday) and Nancy sorted through Mother's mail and the junk mail and then we left.
We just couldn't decide where to have lunch, but as we were driving down Capital Circle we saw Famous Dave's Bar-b-que and whipped in. Talk about a feast!! We both had the Devil's spit bar-b-qued hamburger. A half pound of meat with jalapeno bacon and all the trimmings slathered with Devil's Spit Bar-b-que sauce. Talk about to die for!!! I got four meals out of that burger!!! The manager bought us dessert, bread pudding, and it was absolutely wonderful! So good that I got the recipe!
It's been quite cold. One day this weekend I wore a hat, scarf and jacket in the house all day!
Friday, November 21, 2008
Brrr!
We have been right cold for the past week. Several nights we've hit 27 degrees or lower over night and low 50's in the day time! (The wind has been fierce, too!) For North Florida that's quite cold this time of the year. Rumor has it that this will be a colder than normal year for us!
I still haven't turned the furnace on. Nor have I had it checked out or had the propane tank filled. I'm just not going to do it! I have the fireplace and a couple of space heaters and that's just going to have to do!
When I was little, 5ish, we lived in an old farm house that was built waaay up off the ground and wasn't insulated. I remember running through several unheated rooms to get to the kitchen and the wood stove (that Daddy would have going pretty hot) to dress and have breakfast. We didn't have heated bedrooms or bathrooms...I think there was a little space heater that we used in the bathroom, but we had to go through a screened sun porch to get to it! I remember several times going to Daddy's office to take a bath in a galvanized tub because it was warmer there than in the house!
Well, I think I can do this. I do go to bed a little earlier (if the fireplace has burned down enough) and I've been turning one of the space heaters off. I don't know if it's safe to leave a space heater on all of the time or not. The other night I turned them both off and didn't have the fireplace going and the house was very cold in just a few minutes. I turned just the one in the living room on and in an hour or so I was comfortable enough. Shirley stays burrowed most of the time but, for some reason (probably puppies), she can't keep her sweater on. Since she's lost so much weight she shivers more.
Yesterday was our Fall Festival at work. I was outside from around 11am until 3ish. In the sun it was quite comfortable, but in the shade it was cold. We had a really good party with soccer and basketball and darts and toss games and an auction and wonderful food. We had the event catered by out local Mexican restaurant. We had 5 different types of soft tacos and red beans and rice. There were grilled chili peppers and onions and halves of limes and really good sauces. I brought over half of mine home and had it for supper! Yum!
That was one of my longer days in a while, ended up with 7 1/2 hours on the clock! When I got home I was tired to the bone! and my back was killing me! I took an Advil liquid gel and that eased my back and sat down in my recliner with numerous animals and just vegetated the evening away.
Watched Survivor, thank goodness they got rid of that Randy guy...they should have done that weeks ago, now he's on the jury and he's such a loose cannon!
Nancy and I are meeting tomorrow to do some shopping and have lunch. Tonight is my dinner with the ladies. Food is really the mainstay of entertainment, isn't it?
I still haven't turned the furnace on. Nor have I had it checked out or had the propane tank filled. I'm just not going to do it! I have the fireplace and a couple of space heaters and that's just going to have to do!
When I was little, 5ish, we lived in an old farm house that was built waaay up off the ground and wasn't insulated. I remember running through several unheated rooms to get to the kitchen and the wood stove (that Daddy would have going pretty hot) to dress and have breakfast. We didn't have heated bedrooms or bathrooms...I think there was a little space heater that we used in the bathroom, but we had to go through a screened sun porch to get to it! I remember several times going to Daddy's office to take a bath in a galvanized tub because it was warmer there than in the house!
Well, I think I can do this. I do go to bed a little earlier (if the fireplace has burned down enough) and I've been turning one of the space heaters off. I don't know if it's safe to leave a space heater on all of the time or not. The other night I turned them both off and didn't have the fireplace going and the house was very cold in just a few minutes. I turned just the one in the living room on and in an hour or so I was comfortable enough. Shirley stays burrowed most of the time but, for some reason (probably puppies), she can't keep her sweater on. Since she's lost so much weight she shivers more.
Yesterday was our Fall Festival at work. I was outside from around 11am until 3ish. In the sun it was quite comfortable, but in the shade it was cold. We had a really good party with soccer and basketball and darts and toss games and an auction and wonderful food. We had the event catered by out local Mexican restaurant. We had 5 different types of soft tacos and red beans and rice. There were grilled chili peppers and onions and halves of limes and really good sauces. I brought over half of mine home and had it for supper! Yum!
That was one of my longer days in a while, ended up with 7 1/2 hours on the clock! When I got home I was tired to the bone! and my back was killing me! I took an Advil liquid gel and that eased my back and sat down in my recliner with numerous animals and just vegetated the evening away.
Watched Survivor, thank goodness they got rid of that Randy guy...they should have done that weeks ago, now he's on the jury and he's such a loose cannon!
Nancy and I are meeting tomorrow to do some shopping and have lunch. Tonight is my dinner with the ladies. Food is really the mainstay of entertainment, isn't it?
Friday, November 14, 2008
First Garden Club Meeting
Yesterday was my first Founders Circle Garden Club meeting. I knew about 1/2 of the women there. The meeting was held at Palmer Place, one of the most historic and haunted homes in Monticello. During the Civil War Palmer Place was turned into a hospital and it is said that the spirits of many of the men who died there and who are buried there frequently appear. This isn't the only home, area or building in Jefferson County that has spirits, but is possibly one of the most beautiful! There is also a full size antique car museum on the grounds of Palmer Place that also has a full size merry-go-round and several other carnival rides that have all been fully restored. The calliope played Christmas carols the entire time we toured the museum. It was all breathtaking!
This Garden Circle will be decorating areas of the Opera House for Christmas, so most of the meeting was spent talking about making organic ornaments for the tree and centerpieces. We also had a cookie swap (everyone took 2 dozen cookies). I came home with more cookies than I know what to do with! I've already eaten more cookies than I usually eat in 5 years and I think I'll take the rest out to work and let the boys dispose of them! Oh, and we had chili and soup for lunch.
Poor Nancy still has a kidney infection. This is 8 or 9 weeks now and she's really feeling poorly! She's going to a urologist and every time she finishes a round of antibiotics they do another urinalysis. This last time they told her that she has 2 different bacterias and they put her back on one of the antibiotics she's already been on, but double the dosage at twice the frequency. Lets hope this works! She can't afford to lose her kidneys! Can anyone?
The weather is quite odd! Last night I was watching tv and the air conditioner came on! When I looked at the thermostat it said it was 82 degrees! Now the tv is saying we could have a hard freeze Sunday night. Talk about yoyoing! Right now I'm in short sleeves with the back door open. Bet this will not be the case Sunday! Today we are to have severe thunder storms! We do need the rain, just not the storm!
No real news. Puppies are still here and a little better (some days). Shirley and the cats are all fine. Shirley had to wear her sweater two days last week. No change with Mother.
This Garden Circle will be decorating areas of the Opera House for Christmas, so most of the meeting was spent talking about making organic ornaments for the tree and centerpieces. We also had a cookie swap (everyone took 2 dozen cookies). I came home with more cookies than I know what to do with! I've already eaten more cookies than I usually eat in 5 years and I think I'll take the rest out to work and let the boys dispose of them! Oh, and we had chili and soup for lunch.
Poor Nancy still has a kidney infection. This is 8 or 9 weeks now and she's really feeling poorly! She's going to a urologist and every time she finishes a round of antibiotics they do another urinalysis. This last time they told her that she has 2 different bacterias and they put her back on one of the antibiotics she's already been on, but double the dosage at twice the frequency. Lets hope this works! She can't afford to lose her kidneys! Can anyone?
The weather is quite odd! Last night I was watching tv and the air conditioner came on! When I looked at the thermostat it said it was 82 degrees! Now the tv is saying we could have a hard freeze Sunday night. Talk about yoyoing! Right now I'm in short sleeves with the back door open. Bet this will not be the case Sunday! Today we are to have severe thunder storms! We do need the rain, just not the storm!
No real news. Puppies are still here and a little better (some days). Shirley and the cats are all fine. Shirley had to wear her sweater two days last week. No change with Mother.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
The beginning of the weekend!
Thank goodness it's Thursday! For the past few months my weekend has begun on Thursday and it's Wonderful!!! No big plans for my 4 days, just house stuff and yard stuff and dog stuff...and all that stuff is actually never ending!
The main thing I'd like to do this weekend is work on a painting. We'll see.
Monday I went to see Mother. She's still banished from the main dining room and I found her finishing up her dessert in the "bad girl" room. She was happy to see me and liked the pictures I took her. Also took her a couple of lemon drops, they weren't particularly welcomed, not chocolate.
Left there, found gas for $2.25!, ran to Publix and then got my hair cut next door. It was my regular fellow and this was my first cut since he disappeared for 6 weeks this summer (I had a stranger cut it then) and I'm not so thrilled with the cut. It actually seems to have no shape and all of the frosting is gone and it's just a dark blob sitting on the top of my head. Not sure what I'll do with it, but I'm sure I'll take the scissors to it...maybe try to color it, too!
Got a flu shot at CVS on Tuesday. I called my doctor's office and they are charging $40, CVS charged $30. Found out later that the health department is charging $20! Should've gone there. I'm not sure why insurance doesn't cover the shots. Doesn't make sense to me.
Yesterday I changed out all of the files for TLS's year-end. This morning my shot arm is aching, not sure if it's the repeated lifting and moving of the files or if it's the shot. Maybe it's a combo.
We've gone 2 days of no poop in the house!!!! I'm afraid to mention it, don't want to jinx anything! However, I'm afraid the sofa is history. I was watching tv the other night and my nose cleared just enough that I wished it hadn't. The smell in the room was awful and I finally tracked it down to the sofa. I have Febrezed and vacuumed to no avail. Not sure what to do other than get it out of the house! Damn!
The election on Tuesday night was record setting in so many ways. The number of young people registering and voting for the first time was astonishing! Good for them! I do hope they maintain an active interest in issues and continue to play an active part in shaping the country they will be inheriting in a very short time. The numbers of voters turning out all over the country was awesome! It will be the best thing for the future of our country if all of our citizens stay informed and active in the power of the vote!
We had a very gracious winner and a very gracious loser. Both men were facing a mountainous task and I wouldn't be surprised if one of them had a small sense of relief and one a twinge of what now?!
Oh no! Quiet puppies!
The main thing I'd like to do this weekend is work on a painting. We'll see.
Monday I went to see Mother. She's still banished from the main dining room and I found her finishing up her dessert in the "bad girl" room. She was happy to see me and liked the pictures I took her. Also took her a couple of lemon drops, they weren't particularly welcomed, not chocolate.
Left there, found gas for $2.25!, ran to Publix and then got my hair cut next door. It was my regular fellow and this was my first cut since he disappeared for 6 weeks this summer (I had a stranger cut it then) and I'm not so thrilled with the cut. It actually seems to have no shape and all of the frosting is gone and it's just a dark blob sitting on the top of my head. Not sure what I'll do with it, but I'm sure I'll take the scissors to it...maybe try to color it, too!
Got a flu shot at CVS on Tuesday. I called my doctor's office and they are charging $40, CVS charged $30. Found out later that the health department is charging $20! Should've gone there. I'm not sure why insurance doesn't cover the shots. Doesn't make sense to me.
Yesterday I changed out all of the files for TLS's year-end. This morning my shot arm is aching, not sure if it's the repeated lifting and moving of the files or if it's the shot. Maybe it's a combo.
We've gone 2 days of no poop in the house!!!! I'm afraid to mention it, don't want to jinx anything! However, I'm afraid the sofa is history. I was watching tv the other night and my nose cleared just enough that I wished it hadn't. The smell in the room was awful and I finally tracked it down to the sofa. I have Febrezed and vacuumed to no avail. Not sure what to do other than get it out of the house! Damn!
The election on Tuesday night was record setting in so many ways. The number of young people registering and voting for the first time was astonishing! Good for them! I do hope they maintain an active interest in issues and continue to play an active part in shaping the country they will be inheriting in a very short time. The numbers of voters turning out all over the country was awesome! It will be the best thing for the future of our country if all of our citizens stay informed and active in the power of the vote!
We had a very gracious winner and a very gracious loser. Both men were facing a mountainous task and I wouldn't be surprised if one of them had a small sense of relief and one a twinge of what now?!
Oh no! Quiet puppies!
Monday, November 03, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
