dbjc364's Blog

What the heck happened...,
Nov 23, 2009 | 1:49 AM PST
Tag: stuffed celery..yumm...

in the last 48 hrs...I think I'm really in a dream or nightmare,not sure which.So roll-roll-roll your boat,,,Last thing I remember I was standing in the living room getting down cobwebs,putting up some decorations, and thinking I'd like to change my furniture around a bit-as its been awhile.Then came the rat, then an emergency phone call for a big job,Auntie needs me to come clean up the mess after a bad rental,its going up on the market now,she doesn't want to deal with it anymore.I went and looked at it- and its bad.And my daughter left her husband,and landed here.Landon stays with daddy, and his routine stays normal with me tacking care of him,& to school,him sleeping in his own bed.But she will get him today for a night here,and have him on her days off. She doesnt want to stay long-thank goodness, and will save as much as she can,buddy up with a co-worker, and get a place as fast as they can.I wont charge her rent if it means she can find a place quicker-just a little for food.She's lucky I had a blow-up mattress on hand, as last week- I finally sold the double bed that was in that spare room, and going to a single bed for better space.Well-that wasnt very good timing I quess...This next job will take me a few weeks to get thru,but because winter is upon us, and the windows are so very bad, I'll hire my brother for one day of just window washing.He did a good job on my other brothers place last week,and I can concentrate on the general mess.Well- I tried clicking my heels together to see if I'd wake up,but nothing happened.Oh-well.. ok- the traps are set-he set one off, but he was too fast and didnt get smacked.Brother told Jim to mix cheese in with the peanut butter,so he mixed up a better concoction.I'll pick up those pest control things this week. I told jim to wait for me,as I wanted to square away the last garage bay a bit more to get my car in there- but he worked on it while I was checking out the job.I got home to plenty of room for the car-but then had to tell him I have a truckload of furniture coming in.Very little is going to the dump from this rent,some good stuff,and I got a matching couch & chair in very good condition for myself,which I need. Missy will get mine, and much needed items for her new place-as she pretty much just has her clothes & personal stuff.The living room set just needs a light cleaning.All the stuff will have to be stored in that bay,so I quess its a good thing he got it all stacked.I hope its not long for her to find a decent place she can afford,then I can put my car in there.I think the planets are doing something wacky....today I will get the rest of the turkey trimmings,as I know I won't have spare time later on.I'll be able to start the big job at the end of the week,and even though its bad, I reassured my Aunt it'll sparkle and shine by the time I'm done.She was meeting with the realtor yesterday. So I'm sure that was a load off her mind-as she's out of state.For this very reason,is why we havent pushed renting our place,and taking our time fixing what needs to be done.We dont think we'll rent it,and if we do it'll be a hefty security deposit.Landlords simply have to stop feeling sorry for people so much,as there's plenty of people who will abuse a property,and not give 2 hoots about it.We lov turkey and are looking forward to a nice meal and good company.Not sure who'll show up-but told them dinners between 12 and 2,and the doors open...and the Cribbage board all warmed up..

Well, I have to say- this year I out did myself..
Nov 22, 2009 | 2:09 AM PST
Tag: its turkey time..

Accidently, on purpose, as I tell my daughter. She looked up on my overhead beam around Sept.,in the living room, and I had a pretty big cobweb growing.She let a blat out of her,which was halarious in itself.She told me I should really take the cobweb down,but I said no,because them I'd have to do the whole room and didnt have time just then.I said, believe me, I have more....

Well,w
ith Halloween coming up, I decided to leave them in place,and really you would have been proud of me for growing such a big beauty...she was turning inside out,,and it just made me laugh harder.I knew after Halloween I would spend the afternoon cleaning.So I did yesterday.All the cobwebs are gone,*sigh*...that one was really amazing, and I didn't get a pic.Well, I didnt have to buy any decorations,which I thought was pretty cool.She didnt see the humor in it.oh- well..., On to the holidays,Jim cleaned the ceiling fan for me,and I dusted, and started putting out a few decorations.We've had a mouse in the house.We leave the cellar door open for the heat to rise better into the kitchen.He finally went and got a trap,as the daughter saw something out of the corner of her eye the other day.I said dont worry its just the mouse,but thats funny,usually he doesnt come around till I get up at 3 a.m. in the morning,to scope out the pantry.She says, that was one big mouse,I said ya, he's a chubby little bugger,eating my potato chips,which I now have a container for.Well, other than the skunk in the cellar a few years ago story,,we havent had a problem with critters except an occasional mouse.No-, never in my wildest dreams, did I ever think any other critter would bother to venture in-especially up the cellar stairs.Needless to say, I was a little more than freaked out,and up on the breakfast counter is where I sat,,when Jim said-{I was on the comp},"that aint no mouse...".I said, then what the hell is it,? walking into the kitchen,,he says its behind Landons chair, and just then a freaking rat went racing across the floor.I'm pretty sure I let out some kind of noise and swear word,,and up on the counter I went.I've never seen a rat in person,but I knew what it was from pictures.So there I sat -all big-eyed,and refused to come down from my safe perch, till my hero went to the store and bought traps & hand grenades.oh- my, I only had 1/2 a cig,I had snuffed out, no valium or whiskey on board,,and my packs were in the laundry room-which is where that thing was headed.I made him get me my slippers before he headed out-I dont know what that was suppose to do for me,but made me feel better.I didnt move till he got back-then made him go fetch my cigs.I said its highly unlikely you will have clean clothes till that things caught....Well- he started plugging some holes{the two drain pipes in the bathroom where we tore out the old shower},after the thing is caught, he will cut the drain pipe in the cellar for a permanent fix. Mice certainly make me skittish enough, I just cant wrap my mind around this thing or anything bigger than a mouse. It looked to me like 8 inches long, and he was on a dead run, so I'm sure more scared of us then we of him.We think he went down the drain pipe hole.Anyways, now- the cellar door is staying shut, and heat will have to come up the chimney hole section.At this point, I'm not even sure if I can go down cellar to stoke the stove now without drugs in my system....

Leftover hay...
Nov 15, 2009 | 1:53 AM PST
Tag: what can we dream up next..?
and what to do with it? Only thing left to put some cover on, is the Hydrangea's,even though I didnt cover the last year.I've never covered any of the roses,even though I keep reading to do that.One bale of hay left to spread around somewhere. Its been raining steady since yesterday late afternoon.The chimney needs yet another round of chalking as thats leaking.But that will have to wait for Rick.I got to do a slight re-organization/clean in the kitchen which was ready anyways, as Jim put up a shelf near the stove for me for my everyday herbs.How is it a person has 6 platters? I swear they have babies...anyways I pulled them down from their muddled perch,all nice and dusty from construction,hmmm,goes good with turkey-in the dishwasher they went,and now on a nice shelving unit.Jim added small strips in front so I can sit them upright,and they look so much nicer than all in a muddled pile.That'll be good for now-but they really need one of those special upright racks for plates,and wont take up so much room.Since turkeys are quite reasonable-$5.60,/ 13 lbs.,for the first one, I went and picked up another for late winter.I pay more than that for a chicken any other time.Each year now,I like to try something new I've never made, so this year its New York cheesecake,and a Pumpkin Roll over the holidays,so I've been gathering up all the ingrediants each shopping trip.A good round of Michigan Rummy last night,now my daughter is hooked,as she won many pennies, and she got out of the house without Landon for a few hours,and she was the one putting up a stink about playing on a work nite. But we ended by 9,so she could still get a good nights sleep,but she had alot of fun.She wants to play again next week,but I had to tell her to give me a couple weeks.We hadn't had a "House of Pizza",pizza for at least 3 yrs, so that was a treat.I don't want to slave in the kitchen on card night,so I'll have to think of something easy to feed us.Banana splits or Apple Crisp was also a treat,as we seldom eat dessert.The Apple Crisp called for 1/2 cup of water,to juice up the apple mixture, but I used 1/2 cup of applesauce instead, and like that so much better.Another small {2 day} job coming up next week to snug into the schedule but it can be broken up,so I'll do one week day and one weekend day and be done.My other brother bombed for flies,as he gets so many like an "Amityville Horror" show,waits and rebombs again,and renters are coming later this month,so it needs cleaning up.On my xmas wish list is a Cheattah Ash Vac for the stoves,and their not cheap,but it looks like Santa will grant me this one-with the extra job,as I'm saving up for it.I've just about cleared the yard stuff away,one more haul with the little red wagon and it'll be done.The stove heats the house far superior than the oil furnace ever thought of,so we're happy we made the change.A new set of stairs will be next,a nice little project probaly over the winter.

Taking its time..
Nov 9, 2009 | 1:43 AM PST
Tag: mousy-mousy-where are you?
Old man winter is taking his sweet ol' time getting here.First its cold a few days-then back to 50's & 60's. Tomorrow another 60* day after yesterday of 55*. Every good day-we're outside putting stuff up on the walls,and picking up stuff around the yard.i just know its good on the front end of winter with the lower cost of fuel-but I'm pretty sure we're gonna pay for it with rain and ice over the long term.Jim got the coal bin all built in the cellar,then onto a big scrap wood bin-thats made from scraps,now thats finished. I have today off -so I'll gather more building scraps up,that are here & there. We can get one car in a bay again,now work on the other side this morning.Spend 2 yrs. building the buildings needed,then another 2 yrs. putting the tools etc., away.What a long process it is.Every box I come across, I weed thru it to determine if its needed.We've still got dandelions popping their heads up here and there too.Almost unheard of around here.This afternoon,I'll finally get to put the crocus in-but I might as well wait till the sun is shining on my back in that one spot.I have a mouse in the pantry,but can't find the little bugger,or what package he's getting into.I've been slowly putting stuff in large glass/plastic jars & containers so it can't have a feast,but need to pick up a few more.And he waits till I'm sitting in the comp chair in the wee hrs in the morning before he puts up a ruckus-jumping me clean out of the chair! Armed with a flashlight and a broom,although I know I'm not fast enough to catch it anyways...

Spare me your germs...
Nov 3, 2009 | 1:00 AM PST
Tag: a chilly toad..
thank you.Daughter is sick with something nasty,I sure dont want it-thanks.Makes no sense to me.She's going to work,and spread it around.She always fills in for other people,but says theres no one to cover for her. Mathematically thats impossible.Her boss should promptly send her home if she had a brain.And she works in a nursing care facility.I've told her over & over to stay home,she also went to walmart last nite- I told her to mark the cart-so I dont use that one.Dont know how many times sick people have to be told to stay home and take yourself out of the bustle of the human race for a few days,to recoup, and not spread your germs even farther.well, I have to be at her place this morning to get Landon ready for school,so I will wear gloves and a mask, and bring my Lysol.I'll also use the extra gas, and take him home to avoid her coming here after work, and bringing those nasties into my environment,at least till she starts sounding better.I'm not paranoid,but it seems to me some people dont have much regard to making others sick.Our weather keeps going back and forth,warm to cold, 50*-30* ,most of my yard stuff is picked up now,but still have a little more to go.I picked the last of the carrots.Since my wall was torn out behind the kitchen stove to install the chimney,I lost my shelves that I put the everyday essentials on.I couldnt take it anymore, so I put up Radiant Barrier,and at least Jim will put 2 shelves back up for me today.Now my stuff wont fall down the hole,and I'm keeping up with the silver wall decor thats quite prominent around here,and just in time for the holidays.All I have to do now is add some red bows,and it'll look quite festive.I figure we're at least a year or two from gutting this kitchen- it depends on buying a new sink & the one counter top.The stove in the cellar is doing well, and keeping us warm,we dont have to turn on the pellet stove upstairs yet.Jims building the coal bin now, and almost finished,just the front to do today.Landon will be more than happy to help him with that.As long as he's in a halfway decent mood, we can forego the nap today,as he hasn't had much time with Pappa the last few months.The other day I looked out the window to see this blob of a thing crawling in the driveway. If you could picture a tarantula and how it walks,lifting its legs, I could swear thats what it was,but of course we dont have them here,silly me. I went outside with the camera, and it was a huge toad,making its way to the mud.We put him over by the gardens out back near the water and mud, and away from the tractor tires.It sure was a funny site- as he was very cold and barely able to walk,he sure wasnt hopping.I think he should be hibernating by now..? I have no idea what toads do at the end of the season...