Enjoying a day off....

I am enjoying a day off, if you can call it enjoying or a day off. I am using my time off to declutter and clean and sort. Not the fun it sounds like either! Ha ha ha....
The good thing is, the house is looking better. I have been making a good effort to rid myself of stuff I do not need or want. Funny, when I dragged it in here, I thought I needed it or wanted it, but now its just one more thing to clean around, or move for the tenth time. I have almost for the sunroom cleaned out (I say almost) more like another week of dragging boxes and bags out and I should be able to go back to having my tea and coffee in there. Still trying to find the little heaters that keep the room cozy in the winter, so I can be in there without losing any fingers to frostbite.
It really is a nice place to spend mornings and to read and cuddle with the puppies. They love sitting in and around me all snuggled up under a blanket. God knows I have tons of reading to do.
Sigh.....................

Working for the Man

Have a new job. Not one of my more fabulous jobs, but its a job, and it pays. The wages are meager, the times, even though I am not full time, amounts to full time away from home. Changes in schedules, lapses in time management, bare bones in the finances, lack of sufficient help, all leading to a general feeling of sadness. This is not a life on this wage, this is not a way to get ahead the old fashioned way, this is a way to become poorer and poorer with each passing paycheck. I thought, at first, fortunate to have been offered a job, and to be offered about .90 more an hour than most of my counter parts was a coupe de etat. It was unconstitutional, I am sure, but more for me, a learning experience. To see the working underbelly of a large, big box store, and the lack of any care or concern for employees or for their own customers. I am sure you know I am working for the man.....in tan and blue.....

Smattering, dusting, some sugar, crusty dew.....

Supposed to get a smattering of snow, thats a dusting for all you in blogland, or would that be some sugar? Some crusty dew....I think someone is not awake at the weather desk, because it was a balmy, if not overcast day. If the sun would have been out, it would have made it fabulous. I went and had lunch with my brother Ted after meeting up with the measuring guy from Lowes....Mr. Rice....he's got his work cut out for him. I put together some of the stainless steel solar lights, have to wait for 3 days of sunshine....this could take a while. Anyways, after lunch came back with a haul from Cracker Barrel, went for that beautiful blue and white lamp....just bit the bullet....I'm worth it! Anyways, my Mom snagged this kid on his way home from school to get the patio table out of the basement and onto the deck! IT LOOKS FAB U LOUS! And he set up the cement bench for me. What a sweet kid, wouldn't take any money, made me feel bad. I told him I would pay him and then he wouldn't let me. Gonna be ready for him next time. Then after he left, I realized I needed the chairs up there too....well hopefully he'll stop by again and I can pay him. Am so tired I am going to BED!

Nippy Tippy.....

Busy week. Went to bible study for busy women today (like I have time for this?). It was awesome! Lots of sharing and stories and just a lot of drama in the group right now. My secret prayer pal shared she lost her Mom a while back and her Dad is living with her and her family and he has just been diagnosed with cancer. Boy, did that one really get me. All the sudden she is balling her eyes out and I started crying right there with her. I didn't want to say anything about myself to the group after that scene, so I just asked for prayers as I am going to the doctors on Friday. I saw her a little while after class and told her I was sorry about her Dad, and that it must be rough coming on the heels of her Mothers death. Told her I knew how scary it must be, and that I too had been diagnosed with the C. She wrapped her arms around me and I hugged her back. I didn't think she would let go, but eventually she did. I gave her my number and told her to call me anytime if she needed to talk. Asked her not to say anything to anyone, just want to keep mum about it....Still don't want to give it out there, as I don't think I can take all the fussing, or worse, the scared looks people give you when you do tell them. Its absolutely frightening. No point upsetting my sister in law (she knows I got diagnosed with it, but doesn't know how serious). Also asked them to pray for my neighbor lady (Irene) we share the same middle name, so I have felt close to her, even before I moved here. Anyways, her daughter in law came the other day and told me they have called in hospice, she doesn't have much time left. So sad, she'd such a little thing....and I noticed she was even smaller since Christmas by about 5-10 lbs when she was already way too thin to start with. I knew it had to getting worse, but I just try and be cheerful and talk about happy things. So I stopped by today and her daughter was staying with her, they've all started staying in shifts so she won't be alone. Its all so scary to think about. Maybe God is getting me ready to face I might die from this....Or to let me know how bad it could get. Lets hope it doesn't. I applied for insurance on the house, am trying to get it all insured, so no one will have to do much, if things are worse than expected. Funny how calm you can be, after you quit crying. Right now I am feeling I'm getting in a place where I can talk about it a bit more.....just saying I am scared is such a big step, but my fear is giving into it and I certainly don't want to do that. Tomorrow they come to measure up the house for the kitchen, butlers pantry and new laundry room. Am looking forward to not schlepping my laundry to the laundry mat and having an oven that doesn't have to have the door propped shut with a broom stick. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.........
Mom is getting excited about her place being ready soon and we have gone over and over what she will do with her new place. Then I can get to the business of really having some thoughts to myself and not have to watch what I do in my own home anymore. I like the idea of actually having some private time....wonder how long that will last. Poor thing....she is still sick. Oh.....my sister in law left the baby with Mom while we went to bible study and Nippy Tippy bit the baby's finger after she pulled the blanket off him and he had already growled at her once and Mom had told her to leave the dog alone.....too bad she's only 2 and paid Grams no mind....and came back and pulled the covers off AGAIN as soon as Mom wasn't looking. Getting her finger nipped for good measure. Needless to say, he got a good screaming at from her, and then from me when I got home. He knew he was bad....staying in his basket while he got yelled at, hung his head and finally came over and leaned his head into my lap to express his regret at having bit the baby. I know he was sorry, but he still bit her, and we can't have that. So, I drug the kennel out of the basement and set it up and plan on using it to let him control his area.....kids know when he is in the kennel that is OFF LIMITS to them. Hopefully the baby will get it too.....lets see if being 2 and seeing "doggie jail" clicks. No doubt she will still find a way to stick her fingers into the kennel to pet him, she just loves the dog. Too bad he's such a little horses ass when he's sleeping, but aren't we all....speaking of which......time to get some sleep myself.

Deck this

See the mountains from my new deck!
Its a beautiful site outside looking towards the city at night is really pretty. You can see all the mountains around here in town all lit up. The twins and the baby came to spend the night. We fed them spagetti, Sunny D, and some popcorn. They are all in my room, of course, laid out any where they could squeeze in. Lots of activity, made necklaces and gave them all a bath. What fun! I'm exhausted! Mom's holed up in her room with the door closed, guess she's past pooped! Sleepy go night night.

Mom on Deck

Mom was scared to be the 1st on the deck!

Deck up, stairs on railing going on!

My brother Ted working hard!

Destiny all wrapped up for a walk!

Desting & duck 

hangers hung 

deck on 

mortar brick repair 

back frame 

Whoa Momma! 

Cemeted posts 

It takes two to auger 

deck going up 

My hallway upstairs 

My bedroom shelf 

Tippy trying to sleep 

My living room 

Note Tippy and Greyhounds 

leftsooner

leftsooner

This is the view off my new deck. I sit up in the air about 10-12 feet off the ground, looking down the mountain (it slopes all the way down to the creek). See the shepards hooks? Trying to keep all the birds here fed it a monumental task. Who ever said they eat like a bird hasn't seen this herd of seed munchers! LOL! Tried to get the patio table out there today, but the siding guy had come and dropped EVERYTHING in front of the walkout basement doors where the table was being stored. Ah well.....still beautiful, isn't it?
See the creek from my deck!