Alright, I could not make this up.
Not 24 hours after the great flood debacle, I am pulling my paperwork together for the tax appointment. I go into my office to turn on that computer to pull all the needed info from Quicken. (In order to prevent all that office equipment from ever pulling a ghost load, those circuits are activated by a wall switch.)
So, I walk in the room, flip on the wall switch, hear a loud ZZZT and then the big *POP!*, and I squeal and turn the switch off. Heart in throat, I hesitantly walk over to my desk. Any smoke? No. Any bad smell? No. But, what the hell . . . ?! There's no way I'm gonna turn the switch on again until I've taken every single piece of electronics off my desk to plug in elsewhere in order to establish its (working vs. non-working) status. Which is NOT what I have time for in this rush to get ready for the tax appointment!!
I swear to GAWD, the universe is working AGAINST ME getting these things and Big Decisions made!!!!!!!!! Arrrrrrghh! What the hey-ell, people?!
Showing posts with label If It Ain't One Thing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label If It Ain't One Thing. Show all posts
The Weather Has Broken!
Glory be, glory be, the weather has finally broken! It was in the (are you ready?) 60s (!!) last night, and it's only 76 in the sun right now! Humidity is still high, but I'm hoping the lovely breezes will PUSH that out! Whoo-hooooo! Please say that was IT for the summer?? I feel almost giddy today, but that may be in part to an old friend who's coming to visit for two nights (and not just the weather)! I haven't seen her in YEARS - she lives in Portland, OR. She's going to stay at my little cabin instead of here (puts her in a much more central location to town for visiting), so I'll head in this afternoon to give it some quick spit-and-polish before her arrival. Then, barring the bugs, we're planning on a wonderful, long, picnic & wine dinner on the cabin's deck tonight catching up!
I think some of what I'm (positively) terming "giddiness" is also anxiety. I rescheduled my tax appointment for tomorrow, knowing (ha!) I'd have PLENTY of time this week to prep for it . . . and I STILL haven't gotten one lick closer to being ready than I was when I made the date! Gad, time, time, time! Where does it go? I blame it on the washing machine disaster of yesterday. I was SUPPOSED to have the entire day to prep for taxes, but you know that my plans went array. Oh, I was SO angry! I'm glad that the daughter of the repairman who told me how to take things apart is one of "my girls" and that I love her . . . otherwise I'd have an irrational fury towards her father!
So, the long and the short of it is: I was trying to save money by finding out everything that I could do myself before he'd have to come this long way out (and I'd incur a hefty service fee on top of whatever work / repairs needed to be done). He was super generous about telling me how to take the front of the machine off, look for the pump and its filter, take the filter out and see if it was clogged. I'd told him that the machine was full of water and wouldn't empty. He confirmed that no, it wouldn't, if the pump was clogged. But, here comes my frustration: after instructing me about the pump and its filter, shouldn't he have ALSO told me that there's NO CHECK VALVE between the pump and the water in the machine???????????? A) I can't believe that there IS no check/stop valve there: a huge flaw in design?? B) I can't believe that he forgot to mention that to me! Or, is it such common knowledge to them that he didn't think of it?
As I started untwisting the pump's filter, water came oozing around the sides. No problem, I thought, there can only be a cup or two in there (judging by its size), so I grabbed a towel. But, the water was coming out a little too fast to be sopped up by just the towel, and I noticed that it was dripping down into the thick plastic pull-out storage bin that the machine sits on. A pain to reallyquickly pull everything out of that, but a perfect place for the water to flow unchecked. So, once I'd pulled out the contents of the storage drawer, I opened 'er up and let the water flow. By now, I realized that there WAS no check valve and that ALL the water was draining out of the full washing machine. But, no worries, that huge plastic-lined bin (Exhibit A) would catch it all. Matter of fact, it almost looked like it had been designed just for that purpose!
So, bombs away! I stood back and watched the gacky, month-old dirty, stinky water flow out into the storage drawer. BUT, just as I noticed that the water level in the storage drawer was remaining at one height although the water was still GUSHING out the filter's hole, I simultaneously noticed that the entire floor was beginning to FLOOD!
The freakin' storage drawer had tiny holes in the bottom of it!!!!!!!!!! And, yes, ALL the (stinky, did I mention that?) contents of the washer were now fully flooding the utility room, into the closet, and under the wall into the bathroom. As the water from the unit trickled to a stop and the drawer fully emptied, I was already in Full Alert mode. Have I mentioned? Un-effing-believable! Every single rag/towel was thrown onto the floor, and I grabbed the mop. (Thank GOODNESS P-Diddy had made a second trip back here on Sunday when I was gone JUST to return that and one other tool of mine he'd overlooked the previous day!)
Anyway, I needn't tell you that the remainder of my day was NOT taken up prepping for taxes. And, as soon as the water was sopped up, I poured myself a stiff whiskey-sour and went out on the deck to holler a four-letter word or three and simmer down.
Upshot? The floor of the utility room, closet, and bathroom are now clean and dry. Rugs and towels adorn the laundry lines outside. Waterhog mats are drying. And, my washing machine works better than it has in months. And, at no cost to me other than time and frustration. So, it could be worse, right? Grrrrrrrr.
ON a much lighter note: it was time to change out my header picture, but the old one of the boats at dock was taken from our table the night I was taken out for my birthday. Not bad, eh? The new one was taken on Sunday when Bundle of Joy's family and I went up to the lake 10 miles north of SRR for the afternoon.
Oh, and another 1" of rain fell last night w/in the time constraints of about 60 minutes. Yet another confirmation of the recurring theme: WHAT'S WITH this extreme weather??
I think some of what I'm (positively) terming "giddiness" is also anxiety. I rescheduled my tax appointment for tomorrow, knowing (ha!) I'd have PLENTY of time this week to prep for it . . . and I STILL haven't gotten one lick closer to being ready than I was when I made the date! Gad, time, time, time! Where does it go? I blame it on the washing machine disaster of yesterday. I was SUPPOSED to have the entire day to prep for taxes, but you know that my plans went array. Oh, I was SO angry! I'm glad that the daughter of the repairman who told me how to take things apart is one of "my girls" and that I love her . . . otherwise I'd have an irrational fury towards her father!
So, the long and the short of it is: I was trying to save money by finding out everything that I could do myself before he'd have to come this long way out (and I'd incur a hefty service fee on top of whatever work / repairs needed to be done). He was super generous about telling me how to take the front of the machine off, look for the pump and its filter, take the filter out and see if it was clogged. I'd told him that the machine was full of water and wouldn't empty. He confirmed that no, it wouldn't, if the pump was clogged. But, here comes my frustration: after instructing me about the pump and its filter, shouldn't he have ALSO told me that there's NO CHECK VALVE between the pump and the water in the machine???????????? A) I can't believe that there IS no check/stop valve there: a huge flaw in design?? B) I can't believe that he forgot to mention that to me! Or, is it such common knowledge to them that he didn't think of it?
As I started untwisting the pump's filter, water came oozing around the sides. No problem, I thought, there can only be a cup or two in there (judging by its size), so I grabbed a towel. But, the water was coming out a little too fast to be sopped up by just the towel, and I noticed that it was dripping down into the thick plastic pull-out storage bin that the machine sits on. A pain to reallyquickly pull everything out of that, but a perfect place for the water to flow unchecked. So, once I'd pulled out the contents of the storage drawer, I opened 'er up and let the water flow. By now, I realized that there WAS no check valve and that ALL the water was draining out of the full washing machine. But, no worries, that huge plastic-lined bin (Exhibit A) would catch it all. Matter of fact, it almost looked like it had been designed just for that purpose!
 |
| Exhibit A: Storage drawer now cleaned out, dried out (same for contents) and repacked - AFTER the fact! |
The freakin' storage drawer had tiny holes in the bottom of it!!!!!!!!!! And, yes, ALL the (stinky, did I mention that?) contents of the washer were now fully flooding the utility room, into the closet, and under the wall into the bathroom. As the water from the unit trickled to a stop and the drawer fully emptied, I was already in Full Alert mode. Have I mentioned? Un-effing-believable! Every single rag/towel was thrown onto the floor, and I grabbed the mop. (Thank GOODNESS P-Diddy had made a second trip back here on Sunday when I was gone JUST to return that and one other tool of mine he'd overlooked the previous day!)
Anyway, I needn't tell you that the remainder of my day was NOT taken up prepping for taxes. And, as soon as the water was sopped up, I poured myself a stiff whiskey-sour and went out on the deck to holler a four-letter word or three and simmer down.
Upshot? The floor of the utility room, closet, and bathroom are now clean and dry. Rugs and towels adorn the laundry lines outside. Waterhog mats are drying. And, my washing machine works better than it has in months. And, at no cost to me other than time and frustration. So, it could be worse, right? Grrrrrrrr.
ON a much lighter note: it was time to change out my header picture, but the old one of the boats at dock was taken from our table the night I was taken out for my birthday. Not bad, eh? The new one was taken on Sunday when Bundle of Joy's family and I went up to the lake 10 miles north of SRR for the afternoon.
Oh, and another 1" of rain fell last night w/in the time constraints of about 60 minutes. Yet another confirmation of the recurring theme: WHAT'S WITH this extreme weather??
Blog Humbug
Blog Humbug! I've just been in a mood lately - and it's no mood that feels like blogging. Part of it is that I'm too damn busy to make the time, part of it is the ol' "what do I have to write about" garbage, part of it is that I need a BREAK! So, there ya go: 3 parts equal the whole.
The washer's broken, and the laundry is thigh high. The mower's broken, and the yard is knee high. Dropped the mower off today to be repaired and also found a possible fix-it-myself for the washer. (Cross your fingers!) And, tomorrow, I'm trading some nannying hours for quality time with the washing machine at Baby Girl's house. Shee-it: just looked down and there's a tick embedded in my sweater. Hang on.
'Kay, tick has been roasted on stove burner. Thank gawd I'm not afraid of THOSE particular creepy-crawlies!
Did you notice that I actually said 'sweater'? Yes, the weather FINALLY broke yesterday, and its glorious now. The miserably hot (87 degrees still at 8 PM) weather and high humidity is gone. Let's hope for the rest of the summer! That said, I still had the A/C goin' in the truck today . . . but that might have been just because neither of the windows on the driver's side open.
I'm really disgusted with the jungle-like appearance of the yard right now, and that probably affects my mood. Lawn mower should be done by the end of this week, at best, or on Monday.
I bought a (well-used) piano a couple of weeks ago and had friends help me move it last Wednesday night. It's nestled into its corner of the livingroom now, and it even sounds really good - although I need someone in to tune it up (literally AND figuratively): it has quite a few sticking keys. No, I don't play, but I've always wanted to play something I could sing along with, and the guitar just does NOT come naturally. So far, I can plink out (with one hand) "Blueberry Hill". Maybe when life slows down (hahahahahahaha!) I'll take some lessons.
After being on the waiting list for well over two months, I FINALLY got the dogs in to be groomed today. Maisy is so shiny and clean with her feathers trimmed, and Tucker lookssocute! I took "before" shots last night and will take some "after" shots to post.
Probably another reason I haven't blogged, I now realize, is because I'm still dealing with these Big Things I'm having to research and make decisions about. But am still not ready to talk about.
But, my from-March-to-June work with a lawyer that I (may have?) alluded to is finally finished. It all had to do with zoning and a business idea: to see if I could legally do it out of Swamp River Ridge here. And, the upshot is that no, I can't. That was going to be a secondary source of income, anyway, and there were some big cons to the idea, so it's not a great downer. And, at least I know now . . . and isn't that what we hire lawyers for?
The other Big Thing has a deadline that is FAST approaching, so I'm actually taking almost two weeks out of the office to focus on and finish that up - the rest of this month and maybe a titch into August. (August, already?! There's ANOTHER shee-it!) That will officially begin on Friday (the two weeks out of the office). That means, too, that I'm taking no more website jobs until all this has fallen into place. I've taken one little graphic design job on, but it's small. And, I'll do as much as I can on my existing jobs from here at home. I'll have to run into the office from time to time, but that will coincide w/ needing to grocery shop or get gas, too, so that's fine.
The local arts festival came and went. Our summer one, anyway. I split a table with a friend this year instead of manning one by myself since I felt like I needed to establish my (gallery) presence in town, but that was a joke. My location, at just one block up from the main drag, just does NOT garner walk-in traffic. Lovely sandwich board or no lovely sandwich board. But, my point in mentioning the arts festival is that I suddenly find myself on the newly-established (but needed) board of directors.
We had (yet another) huge hub-bub with our director / coordinator this year. And then, after very publicly resigning the day before the festival, she (within 48 hours) re-appointed herself as director w/o talking to anyone else first (also very publicly). She has since, rather unceremoniously, been "disbarred" and a board partially selected. Of which I am a member. Guess that's what I get for being a fairly level-headed person, huh? ;)
What else? Remember my oldest girlfriend who's building a cabin just 9 miles from me? Whose two little ones I took care of over Memorial Day Weekend? Well, following that massive storm a week or so ago (when I lost 8 trees), I finally (!) got over to their cabin to make sure it made it thru okay. And, in the big picture, it did. But, for the here and now, it didn't. All the tarping was ripped from it, and the (finished, mind you!) downstairs flooded with between 1/2" and 4" of water, depending. Thankfully, their floor is one that can take a little damage, but I went back there last night, mop and sponges in hand, to take up all the standing water. Meanwhile, her husband immediately pulled together all his remaining vacation hours, and, with her sister stepping in to take care of the kids over the weekend while my girlfriend works, he's heading up here tomorrow night to work through the weekend to repair as much of the damage as possible (and make even more progress towards completely enclosing the cabin). I wonder how his finger's feeling? (He broke it over Memorial Day Weekend. Working on the cabin.)
My birthday's come and gone and it feels good to be 40 . . . but it will feel even better to be 40 + a month or so: when I have these Big Things finally all under control. And maybe I'll even be able to tell you about them then! ;)
The washer's broken, and the laundry is thigh high. The mower's broken, and the yard is knee high. Dropped the mower off today to be repaired and also found a possible fix-it-myself for the washer. (Cross your fingers!) And, tomorrow, I'm trading some nannying hours for quality time with the washing machine at Baby Girl's house. Shee-it: just looked down and there's a tick embedded in my sweater. Hang on.
'Kay, tick has been roasted on stove burner. Thank gawd I'm not afraid of THOSE particular creepy-crawlies!
Did you notice that I actually said 'sweater'? Yes, the weather FINALLY broke yesterday, and its glorious now. The miserably hot (87 degrees still at 8 PM) weather and high humidity is gone. Let's hope for the rest of the summer! That said, I still had the A/C goin' in the truck today . . . but that might have been just because neither of the windows on the driver's side open.
I'm really disgusted with the jungle-like appearance of the yard right now, and that probably affects my mood. Lawn mower should be done by the end of this week, at best, or on Monday.
I bought a (well-used) piano a couple of weeks ago and had friends help me move it last Wednesday night. It's nestled into its corner of the livingroom now, and it even sounds really good - although I need someone in to tune it up (literally AND figuratively): it has quite a few sticking keys. No, I don't play, but I've always wanted to play something I could sing along with, and the guitar just does NOT come naturally. So far, I can plink out (with one hand) "Blueberry Hill". Maybe when life slows down (hahahahahahaha!) I'll take some lessons.
After being on the waiting list for well over two months, I FINALLY got the dogs in to be groomed today. Maisy is so shiny and clean with her feathers trimmed, and Tucker lookssocute! I took "before" shots last night and will take some "after" shots to post.
Probably another reason I haven't blogged, I now realize, is because I'm still dealing with these Big Things I'm having to research and make decisions about. But am still not ready to talk about.
But, my from-March-to-June work with a lawyer that I (may have?) alluded to is finally finished. It all had to do with zoning and a business idea: to see if I could legally do it out of Swamp River Ridge here. And, the upshot is that no, I can't. That was going to be a secondary source of income, anyway, and there were some big cons to the idea, so it's not a great downer. And, at least I know now . . . and isn't that what we hire lawyers for?
The other Big Thing has a deadline that is FAST approaching, so I'm actually taking almost two weeks out of the office to focus on and finish that up - the rest of this month and maybe a titch into August. (August, already?! There's ANOTHER shee-it!) That will officially begin on Friday (the two weeks out of the office). That means, too, that I'm taking no more website jobs until all this has fallen into place. I've taken one little graphic design job on, but it's small. And, I'll do as much as I can on my existing jobs from here at home. I'll have to run into the office from time to time, but that will coincide w/ needing to grocery shop or get gas, too, so that's fine.
The local arts festival came and went. Our summer one, anyway. I split a table with a friend this year instead of manning one by myself since I felt like I needed to establish my (gallery) presence in town, but that was a joke. My location, at just one block up from the main drag, just does NOT garner walk-in traffic. Lovely sandwich board or no lovely sandwich board. But, my point in mentioning the arts festival is that I suddenly find myself on the newly-established (but needed) board of directors.
We had (yet another) huge hub-bub with our director / coordinator this year. And then, after very publicly resigning the day before the festival, she (within 48 hours) re-appointed herself as director w/o talking to anyone else first (also very publicly). She has since, rather unceremoniously, been "disbarred" and a board partially selected. Of which I am a member. Guess that's what I get for being a fairly level-headed person, huh? ;)
What else? Remember my oldest girlfriend who's building a cabin just 9 miles from me? Whose two little ones I took care of over Memorial Day Weekend? Well, following that massive storm a week or so ago (when I lost 8 trees), I finally (!) got over to their cabin to make sure it made it thru okay. And, in the big picture, it did. But, for the here and now, it didn't. All the tarping was ripped from it, and the (finished, mind you!) downstairs flooded with between 1/2" and 4" of water, depending. Thankfully, their floor is one that can take a little damage, but I went back there last night, mop and sponges in hand, to take up all the standing water. Meanwhile, her husband immediately pulled together all his remaining vacation hours, and, with her sister stepping in to take care of the kids over the weekend while my girlfriend works, he's heading up here tomorrow night to work through the weekend to repair as much of the damage as possible (and make even more progress towards completely enclosing the cabin). I wonder how his finger's feeling? (He broke it over Memorial Day Weekend. Working on the cabin.)
My birthday's come and gone and it feels good to be 40 . . . but it will feel even better to be 40 + a month or so: when I have these Big Things finally all under control. And maybe I'll even be able to tell you about them then! ;)
Checking In
Evenin'.
I probably shouldn't write when I'm in a grumpy mood, but I feel like it, so there ya go! I know all will be better in the morning. Maybe it will even be better after I finish writing!
And, I guess it's not that I'm really in a bad mood. It's just been a particularly long, emotionally exhausting past couple o' days.
My work week began last Thursday with a text message so alarming that I had to pull over to the side of the road (I was driving into town and my cellphone picks up reception at that certain point). One of my oldest girlfriends was in distress and, wanting to escape it all, packed her three kids into the car that morning for a very spontaneous 6-hour drive up to the quiet of the north woods. Another old girlfriend (we're a bit of a triad, we three) stepped up to the plate by offering her family's cabin in the woods. Her brother-in-law had to be called to unlock it. Then, he was off to work. I called Mama Pea as soon as I had more information once I was in town at my office, and she dropped everything to begin cooking and baking in order to feed the four . . . knowing money was tight and it wouldn't be practical for them to eat out every meal.
The majority of that day for me was spent getting details of this Escape from the Big Shitty and planning and picking up groceries for meeting the family at a pre-determined intersection to take them to the cabin (where they'd never been before). Too, it's an off-grid cabin, so they needed someone "in the know" to show them the ropes (the brother-in-law still being at work and she probably feeling more comfortable with me doing the showing than a fellow she hadn't seen in a couple of years).
Then, from late afternoon until 10:45 PM when I left for the 1-hour drive home, I was with them getting 'em settled, having dinner, playing games with the kids, showing the novelties of biffies (outhouses), etc.
On Friday, I got a few things done in the office but was with them for a good portion of the day, too. We pulled together a beach cook-out and spent a lovely evening on the lake. Mama and Papa Pea even joined us for an hour or two out there!
Earlier that day, I'd shown Son #2 how to sharpen his knife so that he could get ready to be the hotdog & marshmallow stick preparer that night. Unfortunately, I apparently taught him well because we weren't at the beach 15 minutes before he'd cut himself pretty good. Son #1 wasn't blameless, though. While Son #2 was sharpening one of the stick ends, Son #1 threw a rock at him. As Son #2 said, "And I flinched." Flinch, knife slip, end of story! Boys will be boys! And, wouldn't you know: NEITHER the mom nor I (Ms. Preparedness) had a BandAid! We did have paper towels and a rubber band, though . . . which served just as well.
After the sun had set and we were beginning to watch the fireflies, the family and I planned out our entire Saturday (I'd put a sign up at work saying that "due to a family emergency", my hours would be limited for the weekend) and through brunch on Sunday. The boys were excited about the opportunity to use the fishing poles they'd thought to toss into the car, and we'd all take in the amazing solstice pageant at the folk school that night.
I was tired that night after two days of unexpected action and changes of plan, and so my wake-up call of 4:00 AM Saturday morning didn't help things. I still hadn't received my ordered bug net canopy for the bed, and the mosquitoes started their attack then. Did you know that it's light enough to see a mosquito land on your arm so you can slap it dead at 4:00 AM? I do. I fought them until 4:45 when I finally GAVE up and GOT up.
And, now that I think about it, maybe it was this day's text message that had me so upset that I had to pull over. Yep, now that I remember, it was, because I was driving the 1-ton. I'd cleaned it that morning and checked and refilled fluids (wiper fluid, oil, and radiator water) so it would be ready for the scenic drive the five of us would take that day about an hour north of town. The text message was from the girlfriend who owned the cabin. The family was gone. Poof! They'd packed up and left early that morning.
There was a text from the Gotta Get Away From It All one, too, thanking me and saying that I am "a beautiful friend". Wonderful compliment but I would have liked a little more conversation and information. And explanation.
So, Saturday was spent stressing about what imagined circumstances could have caused this normally entirely-on-the-ball woman to do that. And trying to contact her. And talking to Cabin Girlfriend about what was going on. And the same with a very concerned Mama & Papa Pea who, of course, have known her her entire life. We all finally heard from her in the late afternoon. She'd just felt like she needed to get back. Hmph. After an escape of little over 24 hours? Obviously, she's dealing with some stuff that . . . I don't know, is TOO HARD to deal with? It's not like her. And I'm worried.
After work that night (it certainly wasn't like I didn't need the time in the office vs. a day of fun - AND I did have customers although they didn't buy anything), I called brother-in-law to let him know that I'd like to pick up the keys to the cabin and just make sure everything was closed up properly, pick up Mama Pea's soup pot, etc., etc. I guess I was hoping to find a note, too, to explain the abrupt departure, but I knew that I was hoping against hope. And, I was. No note other than a quick one to Cabin Girlfriend, thanking her.
I tried to de-stress Saturday night once I was home and succeeded to do so until I remembered, THANKFULLY, right before bed, that I'd promised to nanny for a couple hours Sunday morning! And, I'd have to leave the house at 7:00 in order to be there in time. So, another short night of sleep. BUT, a GOOD night of sleep because my bed canopy had arrived in the mail that day, and I spent most of that evening putting it up! I can't tell you HOW good it felt to crawl into it that night, knowing my sleep would NOT be interrupted nor abbreviated by flying, biting bugs!
So, Sunday, I was up and out early. Spent a couple of wonderful, went-by-too-quickly hours with Ruti and then drove into town to meet her folks at the folk school where we had brunch. There was to be a special 10-year anniversary presentation to her daddy after brunch, and I thought I'd stay around for that. As I was milling around the back of the room waiting, I noticed the used-to-be-friend that the ex had the affair with sitting just two rows in front of me. That was, amazingly enough, the first time I'd run into her. And, suddenly, I lost my taste for the event. So, I said goodbye to Ruti and her folks and slipped out.
After getting a couple glazed-over hours in at the office (dunno if I did any good, being there!), I headed to Mama & Papa Pea's for a quick dinner (thank you, Mom!) and Father's Day greeting. I was super disappointed that Dad's present of the book, The Filter Bubble: What the Internet is Hiding from You hadn't arrived in time. Tracking showed that it had been in St. Paul on the 16th . . . but I still hadn't received it by the 19th? What the! He got a handmade card, too. Five-year-old Ruti and I had been working on our respective Father's Day cards that morning when I asked her to tell me what time it was, and she said, "It's one-zero-two-eight." 10:28?! Ack! We were supposed to leave in 15 minutes and we had a mess of card-making supplies spread all over, teeth weren't brushed nor face washed nor hair brushed, AND jammies were still on! So, I had to finish my card by myself in my office that afternoon without NEARLY the amount of crayons, colored pencils, and markers I'd had access to that morning! ;)
After dinner and one beer that went straight to my head - literally, my ears and cheeks were BRIGHT RED! - it was back to the office to close up and figure out a clever way to display / mount some of my business cards on the wall of canvases and gallery mounts I have at my realtor friend's building. Then, down to his office to do that, a quick stop at the self-serve discount greenhouse for the second fuchsia I needed on my way out of town . . . and home!
Oh, and did I mention . . . I also found out this weekend that the ex is moving back to town. He'll start his old job again in September. Wow, five whole months living in Alaska. Really? Well, they do say that "that which does not kill us, makes us stronger", right? ;)
I probably shouldn't write when I'm in a grumpy mood, but I feel like it, so there ya go! I know all will be better in the morning. Maybe it will even be better after I finish writing!
And, I guess it's not that I'm really in a bad mood. It's just been a particularly long, emotionally exhausting past couple o' days.
My work week began last Thursday with a text message so alarming that I had to pull over to the side of the road (I was driving into town and my cellphone picks up reception at that certain point). One of my oldest girlfriends was in distress and, wanting to escape it all, packed her three kids into the car that morning for a very spontaneous 6-hour drive up to the quiet of the north woods. Another old girlfriend (we're a bit of a triad, we three) stepped up to the plate by offering her family's cabin in the woods. Her brother-in-law had to be called to unlock it. Then, he was off to work. I called Mama Pea as soon as I had more information once I was in town at my office, and she dropped everything to begin cooking and baking in order to feed the four . . . knowing money was tight and it wouldn't be practical for them to eat out every meal.
The majority of that day for me was spent getting details of this Escape from the Big Shitty and planning and picking up groceries for meeting the family at a pre-determined intersection to take them to the cabin (where they'd never been before). Too, it's an off-grid cabin, so they needed someone "in the know" to show them the ropes (the brother-in-law still being at work and she probably feeling more comfortable with me doing the showing than a fellow she hadn't seen in a couple of years).
Then, from late afternoon until 10:45 PM when I left for the 1-hour drive home, I was with them getting 'em settled, having dinner, playing games with the kids, showing the novelties of biffies (outhouses), etc.
On Friday, I got a few things done in the office but was with them for a good portion of the day, too. We pulled together a beach cook-out and spent a lovely evening on the lake. Mama and Papa Pea even joined us for an hour or two out there!
Earlier that day, I'd shown Son #2 how to sharpen his knife so that he could get ready to be the hotdog & marshmallow stick preparer that night. Unfortunately, I apparently taught him well because we weren't at the beach 15 minutes before he'd cut himself pretty good. Son #1 wasn't blameless, though. While Son #2 was sharpening one of the stick ends, Son #1 threw a rock at him. As Son #2 said, "And I flinched." Flinch, knife slip, end of story! Boys will be boys! And, wouldn't you know: NEITHER the mom nor I (Ms. Preparedness) had a BandAid! We did have paper towels and a rubber band, though . . . which served just as well.
After the sun had set and we were beginning to watch the fireflies, the family and I planned out our entire Saturday (I'd put a sign up at work saying that "due to a family emergency", my hours would be limited for the weekend) and through brunch on Sunday. The boys were excited about the opportunity to use the fishing poles they'd thought to toss into the car, and we'd all take in the amazing solstice pageant at the folk school that night.
I was tired that night after two days of unexpected action and changes of plan, and so my wake-up call of 4:00 AM Saturday morning didn't help things. I still hadn't received my ordered bug net canopy for the bed, and the mosquitoes started their attack then. Did you know that it's light enough to see a mosquito land on your arm so you can slap it dead at 4:00 AM? I do. I fought them until 4:45 when I finally GAVE up and GOT up.
And, now that I think about it, maybe it was this day's text message that had me so upset that I had to pull over. Yep, now that I remember, it was, because I was driving the 1-ton. I'd cleaned it that morning and checked and refilled fluids (wiper fluid, oil, and radiator water) so it would be ready for the scenic drive the five of us would take that day about an hour north of town. The text message was from the girlfriend who owned the cabin. The family was gone. Poof! They'd packed up and left early that morning.
There was a text from the Gotta Get Away From It All one, too, thanking me and saying that I am "a beautiful friend". Wonderful compliment but I would have liked a little more conversation and information. And explanation.
So, Saturday was spent stressing about what imagined circumstances could have caused this normally entirely-on-the-ball woman to do that. And trying to contact her. And talking to Cabin Girlfriend about what was going on. And the same with a very concerned Mama & Papa Pea who, of course, have known her her entire life. We all finally heard from her in the late afternoon. She'd just felt like she needed to get back. Hmph. After an escape of little over 24 hours? Obviously, she's dealing with some stuff that . . . I don't know, is TOO HARD to deal with? It's not like her. And I'm worried.
After work that night (it certainly wasn't like I didn't need the time in the office vs. a day of fun - AND I did have customers although they didn't buy anything), I called brother-in-law to let him know that I'd like to pick up the keys to the cabin and just make sure everything was closed up properly, pick up Mama Pea's soup pot, etc., etc. I guess I was hoping to find a note, too, to explain the abrupt departure, but I knew that I was hoping against hope. And, I was. No note other than a quick one to Cabin Girlfriend, thanking her.
I tried to de-stress Saturday night once I was home and succeeded to do so until I remembered, THANKFULLY, right before bed, that I'd promised to nanny for a couple hours Sunday morning! And, I'd have to leave the house at 7:00 in order to be there in time. So, another short night of sleep. BUT, a GOOD night of sleep because my bed canopy had arrived in the mail that day, and I spent most of that evening putting it up! I can't tell you HOW good it felt to crawl into it that night, knowing my sleep would NOT be interrupted nor abbreviated by flying, biting bugs!
So, Sunday, I was up and out early. Spent a couple of wonderful, went-by-too-quickly hours with Ruti and then drove into town to meet her folks at the folk school where we had brunch. There was to be a special 10-year anniversary presentation to her daddy after brunch, and I thought I'd stay around for that. As I was milling around the back of the room waiting, I noticed the used-to-be-friend that the ex had the affair with sitting just two rows in front of me. That was, amazingly enough, the first time I'd run into her. And, suddenly, I lost my taste for the event. So, I said goodbye to Ruti and her folks and slipped out.
After getting a couple glazed-over hours in at the office (dunno if I did any good, being there!), I headed to Mama & Papa Pea's for a quick dinner (thank you, Mom!) and Father's Day greeting. I was super disappointed that Dad's present of the book, The Filter Bubble: What the Internet is Hiding from You hadn't arrived in time. Tracking showed that it had been in St. Paul on the 16th . . . but I still hadn't received it by the 19th? What the! He got a handmade card, too. Five-year-old Ruti and I had been working on our respective Father's Day cards that morning when I asked her to tell me what time it was, and she said, "It's one-zero-two-eight." 10:28?! Ack! We were supposed to leave in 15 minutes and we had a mess of card-making supplies spread all over, teeth weren't brushed nor face washed nor hair brushed, AND jammies were still on! So, I had to finish my card by myself in my office that afternoon without NEARLY the amount of crayons, colored pencils, and markers I'd had access to that morning! ;)
After dinner and one beer that went straight to my head - literally, my ears and cheeks were BRIGHT RED! - it was back to the office to close up and figure out a clever way to display / mount some of my business cards on the wall of canvases and gallery mounts I have at my realtor friend's building. Then, down to his office to do that, a quick stop at the self-serve discount greenhouse for the second fuchsia I needed on my way out of town . . . and home!
Oh, and did I mention . . . I also found out this weekend that the ex is moving back to town. He'll start his old job again in September. Wow, five whole months living in Alaska. Really? Well, they do say that "that which does not kill us, makes us stronger", right? ;)
Bah Humbug!
Grump, grump, grumble, grumble. It's my Sunday, and I'm NOT ready to leave the homestead tomorrow! And, I'm going to a BBQ tonight, so that cuts my day short - especially since I'll definitely need to shower before heading out. Do I want to go to the BBQ? Yes. Do I want to do both: stay at home AND go? Yes. Grump, grump, grumble. There's just not enough time in the days. Grump, grump. And I don't feel like I got enough done here at home (OR my work-from-home office stuff). Poor me, wah, wah.
Oh, geez, I just resituated my car and put one of the legs down on a cat's tail. And then sat in the chair. THAT'll pull me out of my pity party! ;)
Plus, tonight I'll get to see Bundle of Joy and her parents - we're long overdue for a visit - PLUS My Girl AND the whole family from Let's Get Real! AND some other friends! I think there'll be cold beer there, too, and I'm out. ;) I was told, "What can you bring? YourSELF!" Of course, that means that I'll make rhubarb muffins for dessert. ;) Who can go empty-handed? Oh, right: men. (Hahahaha! Sorry just had to throw that one out there!) Ooooh, AND, I just saw that the Let's Get Real family has named their acreage: Tanglewoods Homestead! I LOVE it!
Hang on, since my time is precious today, I need to make a list. Scratch paper . . . ??? And I even got up and down w/o stepping on a cat!
I know that another reason I'm complain-y is due to my espresso machine and washing machine. Which have both gone belly-up. After a long stint of inactivity, I put the espresso machine in a more user-friendly location in the kitchen and got all set to use it on Monday. I was really looking forward to it! And . . . nothin'. The water does NOT come out. I took off all the visible-screw parts but couldn't get far enough into the guts. Eventually, I found a hidden, miniscule screw which I think will afford me that access, but I can't get the dang thing off and fear stripping the head. I need to soak it in WD-40 and hope that will do the trick . . . and that the WD-40 won't drip into any of the wrong places. WD-40 infused lattés? Mmmm, don't think so. ANYWAY, I'm hoping that the problem is just a clogged water tube. Something I can easily fix. I don't relish the thought of boxing up the heavy beast and sending it . . . where? . . . for repairs. Plus, it was an expensive, quality bugger that I CAN'T just chalk off to our throw-away society.
And, remember how I said I got a load of rugs washed on Monday? The proper nomenclature would be "I TIRED to get a load of rugs washed on Monday". And all night Monday into Tuesday. And all day yesterday. Finally, I took out the sopping rugs and, having the same problem with NO LOAD in the machine, realized I need a repairman. I realized, too, that this problem has been long in coming. I've had to baby this new (what, in the last 5 years?), digital (bah!) machine for several months. Unless I do various re-sets to the program after re-sets, it wouldn't finish a load. So, literally, a single load would take all day to complete. Not an efficient use of my time NOR off-grid power! In a whacky way, I almost hope the cost to fix it is too prohibitive in comparison with a new machine. Mama Pea is giving up her (one of the first) front-loading energy & water-efficient machines for a good, simple, old-fashioned top loader. And, I want to copy her. I HAVE found the need for a machine in which clothes could soak. And, you can't do that in a front loader. I shudder to think, too, what a service call alone (forget about the repair work!) will cost all the way out here! Time will tell. Stay tuned. Until then, in I go to the laundromat tomorrow.
Speaking of things not working right . . . I didn't think it was possible to screw up rhubarb crisp, but I did it! I made (correction: attempted to make) Mom's recipe yesterday, and it was a failure. Not in the "can't eat" kind of failure but definitely the "wow, that's ugly!" category. The sugar-cornstarch mixture (need to buy some arrowroot - didn't know that cornstarch was made with GMO corn, but, of course, that doesn't surprise me) was quite thick (maybe I cooked it too long?) and just sat on top of the rhubarb. ALL through the baking process . . . and I even baked it 15 minutes longer than called for. Wouldn't soak in at ALL. Very weird. And, none of the usual moisture came out of the rhubarb, so the bottom crust / crumb mixture stayed dry. What the? Yeah, I checked all my measurements - and they were all correct. Harrumph!
AND, to top it all off, I've been having problems with my new laptop being s-l-o-w . . . which, as you can imagine, is neither RIGHT nor stress-relieving. So, trying to do my office work, 95% of which is online, has been aggravating. But, Norton is showing no viruses or worms AND I downloaded and ran Housecall yesterday which also picked up no problems. So, that narrows it down to my Internet connection. Either the satellite my dish uses is becoming too filled up (something I've already heard tell of) OR a tree has grown into the telecommunications path. I'll have to look into that latter option. Unfortunately, there's not much I can do about the first.
In other news, critters and phenology. (What's phenology of your own making - your front yard - called, I wonder?)
The dragonflies have arrived but NOT in the droves I need them to in order to really make a dent on the bugs (dragonflies eat mosquitoes). I think it was Judy who made a comment about the bugs - happy for me that they've abated a bit - and it made me wonder: do most of my readers think that we have an outbreak at the end of May / beginning of June and then they go away? No, no, no, no, no, no, and au contraire! As the joke goes, northeastern Minnesota has two seasons: winter and bug season. Here at Swamp River Ridge, I'll have three full months (June, July & August) of needing to keep bug dope, head net, and my bug jacket handy.
Oh, geez, I just resituated my car and put one of the legs down on a cat's tail. And then sat in the chair. THAT'll pull me out of my pity party! ;)
Plus, tonight I'll get to see Bundle of Joy and her parents - we're long overdue for a visit - PLUS My Girl AND the whole family from Let's Get Real! AND some other friends! I think there'll be cold beer there, too, and I'm out. ;) I was told, "What can you bring? YourSELF!" Of course, that means that I'll make rhubarb muffins for dessert. ;) Who can go empty-handed? Oh, right: men. (Hahahaha! Sorry just had to throw that one out there!) Ooooh, AND, I just saw that the Let's Get Real family has named their acreage: Tanglewoods Homestead! I LOVE it!
Hang on, since my time is precious today, I need to make a list. Scratch paper . . . ??? And I even got up and down w/o stepping on a cat!
I know that another reason I'm complain-y is due to my espresso machine and washing machine. Which have both gone belly-up. After a long stint of inactivity, I put the espresso machine in a more user-friendly location in the kitchen and got all set to use it on Monday. I was really looking forward to it! And . . . nothin'. The water does NOT come out. I took off all the visible-screw parts but couldn't get far enough into the guts. Eventually, I found a hidden, miniscule screw which I think will afford me that access, but I can't get the dang thing off and fear stripping the head. I need to soak it in WD-40 and hope that will do the trick . . . and that the WD-40 won't drip into any of the wrong places. WD-40 infused lattés? Mmmm, don't think so. ANYWAY, I'm hoping that the problem is just a clogged water tube. Something I can easily fix. I don't relish the thought of boxing up the heavy beast and sending it . . . where? . . . for repairs. Plus, it was an expensive, quality bugger that I CAN'T just chalk off to our throw-away society.
And, remember how I said I got a load of rugs washed on Monday? The proper nomenclature would be "I TIRED to get a load of rugs washed on Monday". And all night Monday into Tuesday. And all day yesterday. Finally, I took out the sopping rugs and, having the same problem with NO LOAD in the machine, realized I need a repairman. I realized, too, that this problem has been long in coming. I've had to baby this new (what, in the last 5 years?), digital (bah!) machine for several months. Unless I do various re-sets to the program after re-sets, it wouldn't finish a load. So, literally, a single load would take all day to complete. Not an efficient use of my time NOR off-grid power! In a whacky way, I almost hope the cost to fix it is too prohibitive in comparison with a new machine. Mama Pea is giving up her (one of the first) front-loading energy & water-efficient machines for a good, simple, old-fashioned top loader. And, I want to copy her. I HAVE found the need for a machine in which clothes could soak. And, you can't do that in a front loader. I shudder to think, too, what a service call alone (forget about the repair work!) will cost all the way out here! Time will tell. Stay tuned. Until then, in I go to the laundromat tomorrow.
Speaking of things not working right . . . I didn't think it was possible to screw up rhubarb crisp, but I did it! I made (correction: attempted to make) Mom's recipe yesterday, and it was a failure. Not in the "can't eat" kind of failure but definitely the "wow, that's ugly!" category. The sugar-cornstarch mixture (need to buy some arrowroot - didn't know that cornstarch was made with GMO corn, but, of course, that doesn't surprise me) was quite thick (maybe I cooked it too long?) and just sat on top of the rhubarb. ALL through the baking process . . . and I even baked it 15 minutes longer than called for. Wouldn't soak in at ALL. Very weird. And, none of the usual moisture came out of the rhubarb, so the bottom crust / crumb mixture stayed dry. What the? Yeah, I checked all my measurements - and they were all correct. Harrumph!
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| At least things looked pretty until they came out of the oven! ;) |
AND, to top it all off, I've been having problems with my new laptop being s-l-o-w . . . which, as you can imagine, is neither RIGHT nor stress-relieving. So, trying to do my office work, 95% of which is online, has been aggravating. But, Norton is showing no viruses or worms AND I downloaded and ran Housecall yesterday which also picked up no problems. So, that narrows it down to my Internet connection. Either the satellite my dish uses is becoming too filled up (something I've already heard tell of) OR a tree has grown into the telecommunications path. I'll have to look into that latter option. Unfortunately, there's not much I can do about the first.
In other news, critters and phenology. (What's phenology of your own making - your front yard - called, I wonder?)
The dragonflies have arrived but NOT in the droves I need them to in order to really make a dent on the bugs (dragonflies eat mosquitoes). I think it was Judy who made a comment about the bugs - happy for me that they've abated a bit - and it made me wonder: do most of my readers think that we have an outbreak at the end of May / beginning of June and then they go away? No, no, no, no, no, no, and au contraire! As the joke goes, northeastern Minnesota has two seasons: winter and bug season. Here at Swamp River Ridge, I'll have three full months (June, July & August) of needing to keep bug dope, head net, and my bug jacket handy.
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| Lilacs are my ALL-TIME FAVORITE flower, and I was sad to leave the four (?) bushes I had planted at the old house, Hastings-on-the-Lake. One was situated in a spot that I thought I could sneak it out w/o the buyer noticing too much and so did just that. This is the first year that it's flowered at Swamp River Ridge, and it's REALLY flowered! There's NOTHING like opening the front door in the morning to the smell of lilacs! |
Speaking of plantings and when they begin flowering . . . do you know anything about Dolgo Crabs? I planted several a couple of years ago here and, while they are flourishing and thick with foliage, they've never blossomed. Mama Pea asked me if they were close enough for cross-pollination, and the majority of them are - all along the front walkways. Anyone know?
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| The blue / purple lupines are beginning to bloom, and the bumblebees are loving 'em! |
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| The pink lupines are still a little shy. |
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| Here's a picture of the leaves on the funky Siberian Peashrub I planted. Each one is no longer than a dime! |
Internet update: yup, I think it must be a tree in "the line of sight" issue 'cause I'm having troubles uploading photos (which require a constant connection) AND it's windy. If it IS that, though, I'll take it: that one, I can fix! Even tho I HATE to cut down a live tree. :(
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| I think this large tree in the distance is the culprit. |
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| Finally, here are some current shots of the chicks, now 6 weeks old. This is a Faverolle in the foreground. In the rear is Blinky, the only one I've named . . . she's smaller than the rest, probably because she's blind in one eye! Or, more to the point, it never opened. Other than a slightly slower physical development, tho, she seems to be just fine! |
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| Another shot of the Faverolles and their feathered feet. |
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| One of the Barnvelders. I love when they're young and their feet are such a vibrant color . . . before they start to bleach out with age. |
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| This Faverolle looks as if she's (??) saying to me, "I'll be a good broody hen! See? I'm already practicing!!" |
Well, this post is going to have to wait to be published, because I can't upload any more pictures or save my work. I think I'll have to wait until the wind dies.
Okay, it is 4:05 now, and the Internet is finally cooperating (although it's still windy, so . . . ?!). Rhubarb muffins are out of the oven (at least I can still bake THOSE), and it's time for me to jump into the shower. Of course, on the one of my three days that I haven't spent any time outside, it's cooler with a lovely breeze keeping the bugs away. Go figure.
Picking Up Where I Left Off
What a silly, silly gal I was to think that I'd have the time or energy to blog between last Thursday and today! Ha and double ha!! But, having said the final goodbye to "my relations" about an hour ago, I am on the road to normal schedule & health recovery plus general "lost a week there" organization & catch up.
First off, yes, I am still sick. I was in such bad shape last Tuesday that the mama (and doctor) of "my relations" suggested some antibiotics, post-haste. And, since I had been worried about my illness being a nasty bout of Strep Throat, I was open to the suggestion. And, I think the 5-day course DID help because, on the 6th day, I'd taken a little slide backwards. But, no Strep and no little ones getting a really nasty germ from me. Now I'm left with a wracking cough that's left my ribs sore and the ability to sleep just a tad (ah-hem) difficult. Lots of snot, too, to blow out, but no more pretty colors in my mucus. (Aren't you glad you asked?) So, DEFINITE progress. The bigger little one (at 3 months away from his third birthday) actually asked me a day or two ago, concern tinging his voice, "Una choking?" No, Una was not choking . . . just hacking up a lung, thanks very much. :)
And, an aside: you all know that I'm Bopee to many little ones, but, to these two, I'm Una. Una = Up North Auntie. :) It's amazing to look at E, the little boy, and realize that, in two short years, he will be the age that his mama and I were when we met and became instant best friends, 35 years ago! If/when I can ever dig up a photo of us at that age, I'll be sure to post it!
Anyway, it was a week ago tonight that "my relations" showed up to my house which was FILTHY and overrun with dirty dishes and GROSSness and not NEARLY ready for the kids and/or nannying which was to begin on Thursday. You'll remember, too, that as the mama unloaded the kids, she called out in a stressed voice, "I need a drink and a place for my family to sleep!" Why? Well . . . .
"My relations" are in the process of building a cabin just a scant 9 miles* from Swamp River Ridge. The mama and I grew up together in this tiny village that boasted only a church, town hall, and post office. We were both raised in off-grid, rustic homes. If you had EVER told either one of us that we would grow up, buy LAND in the same hills of this village AND decide to either live or vacation there, OFF-GRID, we would have laughed ourselves into the ground! So, the irony of our situations is NOT lost on us!
Another aside: yes, their cabin is 9 miles away from me. WHEN the road is not washed out. This is what the previously-bridgeable wash-out looks like right now:
So, adding to the stresses of the week, instead of making 20-minute 9-mile trips between the two properties at least twice each day, we were forced to travel 2 miles east (in the opposite direction), then 10 miles south & west, then about 6 miles north . . . a drive of about 45 minutes, given the road conditions! It's definitely been a week of "if it might happen, it will happen"!
Anyway, when "my relations" arrived at their cabin on Tuesday night, two vehicles to haul all their supplies plus dog and two little ones in tow . . . planning to live at the cabin for the whole visit . . . they found that the winter of heavy snow had NOT been kind to their cabin, and the temporary roof had leaked. This might not have been a huge deal save the fact that the new beds and mattresses and down comforters and crib had all become one mold-covered mass of mildew! That is what they were greeted by at the end of two long days of travel and two hungry kiddos, it now being near 6:00 PM.
And, that is what caused them to load everyone back up into the two vehicles and head (the long way) to sick Una's, hoping they could beg a stove to cook dinner on and a place to bed down for the night.
After the mama made a quick dinner for everyone (sick Una included) and she'd had a gin & tonic ("That's the BEST G&T I've EVER had!") and the daddy had soaked some of the frustration and worry with a beer, they started calling motels. Remember, though: it was Memorial Day Weekend! Think there were any vacancies???
Amazingly enough, they got rooms for the duration of their stay within one motel complex - all except for that (Tuesday) & Friday night - but they'd have to pack up and change rooms EVERY SINGLE day! And, the dog was not allowed.
By the time the kiddos were bedded down for the night and impromptu beds ready for the adults on the couch and in the sunroom (the guest bedroom in the house is NOT yet ready for guests, but perhaps I need to WORK on that!), we three grown ups had a plan. The mama would take the little ones to the motel the next day and get checked in and settled while the daddy went to the cabin to begin proper assessment and treatment of the damage. I would keep the dog and try to recover (quickly!) from my illness on Wednesday and prep for taking the kids starting Thursday.
After the family was off Wednesday morning, I began taking stock of the disaster of a house and noticed a dark puddle of unhealthy looking urine on one of the kitchen rugs. Hmmmm . . . ? Both cats still being on antibiotics for UTIs and the whole house in an uproar from the night before, I chalked it up to stress from one of the five 4-leggeds in the house and didn't think much more about it.
* When this deck was built, I designed it with a set of steps leading down to the top of the valley. EVENTUALLY, I'd like to carve a path into the hillside here which will lead right down to the river, all on the property.
So, fast-forward through that day of house cleaning and trying to take it easy (yes, I know those two things are counter-indicative!) to Thursday morning and my first day of nannying. I was awoken by the visiting dog an hour earlier than my alarm would have rung and immediately smelled something . . . horrendous. Once downstairs, I discovered no fewer than FIVE puddles (yes, puddles) of doggie diarrhea. And, by the amount of food in the mess (hardly any), I knew it had come from the visiting dog because she had hardly eaten the night before. And, while she had gotten me up early that morning, it was, unfortunately, several hours too late for her accidents. Aiming for rugs or carpeting only (WHY do dogs DO that?!), there had been plenty of time for the messes to soak and set in.
I felt bad about my decision, but given me still being so sick plus taking care of the kids all day long, I had to tell the mama, when she arrived to drop off the kids that morning, that she'd have to find somewhere else for the dog. Now realizing that the urine stain of the previous morning had probably been from their dog and not one of my critters, I figured she (the dog) was just stressed with all the upheaval and tension she felt from her family. The mama was concerned about her health, though, and decided that she'd have to lose another day of work at their cabin in order to take the dog to the vet as an emergency visit. Annnnd, good thing she did!!! Poor L (the dog) had kidney stones, a UTI, and some other issues I've since forgotten! So, at that point, I was GLAD she'd had the messes in the house . . . otherwise, we wouldn't have realized she was so sick! The mama, of course, was still mortified by what I'd been greeted with that morning, but I was just glad we were getting to the bottom of L's problems!
So, another precious day of cabin work was gone for the mama, and there was a large vet bill plus five days of unexpected motel bills to pay. So much for their get-things-done, money-saving trip!
Meanwhile, back at the ranch (the cabin), the dad was realizing that there was no way they could put the second story on the cabin this visit as had been the plan . . . and the blueprints he'd meticulously detailed all winter would have to be thrown out the window. Now, the number one priority was getting a good roof on the structure. He quickly regrouped and revised the blueprints to encompass a low-ceilinged loft instead of a full second story and set to work.
To be continued . . . .
Stay tuned for a broken finger and trip to the ER, blackflies, pouring rain, and a dog in diapers!
First off, yes, I am still sick. I was in such bad shape last Tuesday that the mama (and doctor) of "my relations" suggested some antibiotics, post-haste. And, since I had been worried about my illness being a nasty bout of Strep Throat, I was open to the suggestion. And, I think the 5-day course DID help because, on the 6th day, I'd taken a little slide backwards. But, no Strep and no little ones getting a really nasty germ from me. Now I'm left with a wracking cough that's left my ribs sore and the ability to sleep just a tad (ah-hem) difficult. Lots of snot, too, to blow out, but no more pretty colors in my mucus. (Aren't you glad you asked?) So, DEFINITE progress. The bigger little one (at 3 months away from his third birthday) actually asked me a day or two ago, concern tinging his voice, "Una choking?" No, Una was not choking . . . just hacking up a lung, thanks very much. :)
And, an aside: you all know that I'm Bopee to many little ones, but, to these two, I'm Una. Una = Up North Auntie. :) It's amazing to look at E, the little boy, and realize that, in two short years, he will be the age that his mama and I were when we met and became instant best friends, 35 years ago! If/when I can ever dig up a photo of us at that age, I'll be sure to post it!
Anyway, it was a week ago tonight that "my relations" showed up to my house which was FILTHY and overrun with dirty dishes and GROSSness and not NEARLY ready for the kids and/or nannying which was to begin on Thursday. You'll remember, too, that as the mama unloaded the kids, she called out in a stressed voice, "I need a drink and a place for my family to sleep!" Why? Well . . . .
"My relations" are in the process of building a cabin just a scant 9 miles* from Swamp River Ridge. The mama and I grew up together in this tiny village that boasted only a church, town hall, and post office. We were both raised in off-grid, rustic homes. If you had EVER told either one of us that we would grow up, buy LAND in the same hills of this village AND decide to either live or vacation there, OFF-GRID, we would have laughed ourselves into the ground! So, the irony of our situations is NOT lost on us!
Another aside: yes, their cabin is 9 miles away from me. WHEN the road is not washed out. This is what the previously-bridgeable wash-out looks like right now:
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| It's hard to tell from this angle, but this hole is about 4' deep and as wide as 6'. |
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| LOTS of gravel has been washed off the road. |
Anyway, when "my relations" arrived at their cabin on Tuesday night, two vehicles to haul all their supplies plus dog and two little ones in tow . . . planning to live at the cabin for the whole visit . . . they found that the winter of heavy snow had NOT been kind to their cabin, and the temporary roof had leaked. This might not have been a huge deal save the fact that the new beds and mattresses and down comforters and crib had all become one mold-covered mass of mildew! That is what they were greeted by at the end of two long days of travel and two hungry kiddos, it now being near 6:00 PM.
And, that is what caused them to load everyone back up into the two vehicles and head (the long way) to sick Una's, hoping they could beg a stove to cook dinner on and a place to bed down for the night.
After the mama made a quick dinner for everyone (sick Una included) and she'd had a gin & tonic ("That's the BEST G&T I've EVER had!") and the daddy had soaked some of the frustration and worry with a beer, they started calling motels. Remember, though: it was Memorial Day Weekend! Think there were any vacancies???
Amazingly enough, they got rooms for the duration of their stay within one motel complex - all except for that (Tuesday) & Friday night - but they'd have to pack up and change rooms EVERY SINGLE day! And, the dog was not allowed.
By the time the kiddos were bedded down for the night and impromptu beds ready for the adults on the couch and in the sunroom (the guest bedroom in the house is NOT yet ready for guests, but perhaps I need to WORK on that!), we three grown ups had a plan. The mama would take the little ones to the motel the next day and get checked in and settled while the daddy went to the cabin to begin proper assessment and treatment of the damage. I would keep the dog and try to recover (quickly!) from my illness on Wednesday and prep for taking the kids starting Thursday.
After the family was off Wednesday morning, I began taking stock of the disaster of a house and noticed a dark puddle of unhealthy looking urine on one of the kitchen rugs. Hmmmm . . . ? Both cats still being on antibiotics for UTIs and the whole house in an uproar from the night before, I chalked it up to stress from one of the five 4-leggeds in the house and didn't think much more about it.
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| Here is L, the visiting dog, contemplating Bonzi at the foot of the stairs off the large deck*. She minds well, though, and obeyed my, "No, you do NOT get to chase her!" |
* When this deck was built, I designed it with a set of steps leading down to the top of the valley. EVENTUALLY, I'd like to carve a path into the hillside here which will lead right down to the river, all on the property.
So, fast-forward through that day of house cleaning and trying to take it easy (yes, I know those two things are counter-indicative!) to Thursday morning and my first day of nannying. I was awoken by the visiting dog an hour earlier than my alarm would have rung and immediately smelled something . . . horrendous. Once downstairs, I discovered no fewer than FIVE puddles (yes, puddles) of doggie diarrhea. And, by the amount of food in the mess (hardly any), I knew it had come from the visiting dog because she had hardly eaten the night before. And, while she had gotten me up early that morning, it was, unfortunately, several hours too late for her accidents. Aiming for rugs or carpeting only (WHY do dogs DO that?!), there had been plenty of time for the messes to soak and set in.
I felt bad about my decision, but given me still being so sick plus taking care of the kids all day long, I had to tell the mama, when she arrived to drop off the kids that morning, that she'd have to find somewhere else for the dog. Now realizing that the urine stain of the previous morning had probably been from their dog and not one of my critters, I figured she (the dog) was just stressed with all the upheaval and tension she felt from her family. The mama was concerned about her health, though, and decided that she'd have to lose another day of work at their cabin in order to take the dog to the vet as an emergency visit. Annnnd, good thing she did!!! Poor L (the dog) had kidney stones, a UTI, and some other issues I've since forgotten! So, at that point, I was GLAD she'd had the messes in the house . . . otherwise, we wouldn't have realized she was so sick! The mama, of course, was still mortified by what I'd been greeted with that morning, but I was just glad we were getting to the bottom of L's problems!
So, another precious day of cabin work was gone for the mama, and there was a large vet bill plus five days of unexpected motel bills to pay. So much for their get-things-done, money-saving trip!
Meanwhile, back at the ranch (the cabin), the dad was realizing that there was no way they could put the second story on the cabin this visit as had been the plan . . . and the blueprints he'd meticulously detailed all winter would have to be thrown out the window. Now, the number one priority was getting a good roof on the structure. He quickly regrouped and revised the blueprints to encompass a low-ceilinged loft instead of a full second story and set to work.
To be continued . . . .
Stay tuned for a broken finger and trip to the ER, blackflies, pouring rain, and a dog in diapers!
If It Ain't One Thing . . . .
Some months ago, I pledged to complain only about those things I cannot change. Therefore, and since I'm complaining for a few people, I feel justified. (No, I'm not going to take on the economy or the U.S.'s policies abroad. That will wait for another day. Ha ha.)
Last fall, I had promised (hmm, maybe I'd better change the names to protect the innocent) "my relations" that I'd care for their kiddos for this week around Memorial Day Weekend. We settled on 5 days of toddler & babe care with two days "off" in the middle for me so I could be in my gallery in town on Saturday & Sunday with the hopes of garnering the first of the tourist season's business.
So, it was a double whammy ("No whammies, no whammies!" Anyone remember that game show?) that I woke up Monday morning sick as a dog. Talking to "my relations" on Monday & Tuesday, we decided that I needed another full day for recovery (yesterday), and so I wouldn't start my nannying stint until today. That means that my relations would lose 1 day of the week of work they'd planned on. Not ideal, but better than both of their little ones getting sick and me, without proper rest & recup, getting sicker.
Having also long-ago decided that we'd switch vehicles for the duration so that they could have the use of my big, 1-ton pickup, we'd planned the trade for Tuesday night. So, that afternoon, I slogged outside and loaded into the truck the generator, some tools & extension cords, and all the scaffolding, etc. that they'd be borrowing. Yes, I probably SHOULD have waited for their help with all of this but I wanted to be able to crash that night, and none of us knew how late they'd be coming to do the trade. I strapped down the load, wrote them a note, left the keys in the truck and went inside to lay down and watch a movie.
Just as I was setting up the chick flick, the dogs began barking - announcing the much-earlier-than-I'd-expected arrival of the mama and kids for the vehicle exchange. I went downstairs in my stinky, sick-infused jammies for a quick greet sans hugs due to germies. As I walked towards the car, I saw the mama unpacking the kids. (More than I expected for a quick vehicle transfer.) When she saw me, one little one in arms and the other toddling out to giggle at the dogs, she called, "I need a DRINK and a place for my family to sleep! In that order!"
And, with that note of anticipation, I leave you, dear reader, for my first day of nannying. I need to jump in the shower to try to disinfect myself. I will leave you with this teaser, though: this morning's installment was brought to you by doggie diahrrea.
(I'll try really hard to get back to you tonight. Barring sickness/exhaustion.)
Last fall, I had promised (hmm, maybe I'd better change the names to protect the innocent) "my relations" that I'd care for their kiddos for this week around Memorial Day Weekend. We settled on 5 days of toddler & babe care with two days "off" in the middle for me so I could be in my gallery in town on Saturday & Sunday with the hopes of garnering the first of the tourist season's business.
So, it was a double whammy ("No whammies, no whammies!" Anyone remember that game show?) that I woke up Monday morning sick as a dog. Talking to "my relations" on Monday & Tuesday, we decided that I needed another full day for recovery (yesterday), and so I wouldn't start my nannying stint until today. That means that my relations would lose 1 day of the week of work they'd planned on. Not ideal, but better than both of their little ones getting sick and me, without proper rest & recup, getting sicker.
Having also long-ago decided that we'd switch vehicles for the duration so that they could have the use of my big, 1-ton pickup, we'd planned the trade for Tuesday night. So, that afternoon, I slogged outside and loaded into the truck the generator, some tools & extension cords, and all the scaffolding, etc. that they'd be borrowing. Yes, I probably SHOULD have waited for their help with all of this but I wanted to be able to crash that night, and none of us knew how late they'd be coming to do the trade. I strapped down the load, wrote them a note, left the keys in the truck and went inside to lay down and watch a movie.
Just as I was setting up the chick flick, the dogs began barking - announcing the much-earlier-than-I'd-expected arrival of the mama and kids for the vehicle exchange. I went downstairs in my stinky, sick-infused jammies for a quick greet sans hugs due to germies. As I walked towards the car, I saw the mama unpacking the kids. (More than I expected for a quick vehicle transfer.) When she saw me, one little one in arms and the other toddling out to giggle at the dogs, she called, "I need a DRINK and a place for my family to sleep! In that order!"
And, with that note of anticipation, I leave you, dear reader, for my first day of nannying. I need to jump in the shower to try to disinfect myself. I will leave you with this teaser, though: this morning's installment was brought to you by doggie diahrrea.
(I'll try really hard to get back to you tonight. Barring sickness/exhaustion.)
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