November plans

Today has been fair....the normal weather seems to have returned, lows overnight were in the mid 60's and our highs have been in the upper 70's...I think it managed to hit about 78 degrees earlier today.

The boys both came out late in the afternoon, hubby was working on his truck getting the engine dropped back in so his brother could borrow our engine hoist. As usual, it seems to have been a 'bust' day for getting the younger one to work on his own junk sitting out back. I did let him know that I want it out of my yard and there will not be any future projects done by them in our yard.

My sister in-law called about the menu plans for Thanksgiving...the camping trip portion is cancelled. While we were talking, she was mentioning why they pick certain areas for this annual event. Seems it has to do with the family members who live in North Florida and trying to make things easier for them. That's all fine and dandy, but if she really thought about it, she'd realise that none of them give two hoots about making things easy for anyone else. None of the ones in that area think about anyone but themselves when it comes to making plans for holidays. Its fine for all of us down in this area to make the two hour trip, one way, to their home for holiday gatherings...but god forbid we should request them to make the same trip...doesn't seem right to me. Her reasoning was that none here have the 'house' large enough for all the family...well, maybe my 'house' isn't big enough, but we sure have the property that is large enough for forty plus people. None of the ones in North Florida have a house that large either, and only one has a yard of any size, but no where near the size of ours.

I told hubby the other week that he should suggest it for next year's Thanksgiving. We could throw an awning up in case of bad weather...wouldn't be any worse than being at the campsite area. We have made the 'mandatory' trip yearly to their houses for Christmas dinners every year. Personally, I'm to the point where I could care less whether I see these people or not. If they think they are too good to come to their brother's house for any reason, well, I can play that card myself...the highway runs both ways and their gas isn't any more expensive than ours.

My dinner contribution is usually a ham and a dessert...my sister in-law likes my hams. This year, one of the sisters requested to make a ham. Not a problem, there will be two deep fried turkeys, her ham and I offered to smoke a turkey and make applecrisp. My sister in-law had asked me about making an apple dish and thought the applecrisp sounded good. The extra turkey was accepted also. We discussed what out of the camping gear might be needed since we'll be preparing everything outside once we get to the site. Most things will already be cooked, but knowing how silly some of this family can be, we plan to carry the campstoves and an extra table. The final count isn't in as yet, but based on our 'normal' crowd, we're looking at close to fifty people showing up....one of the sisters brought an extra twenty people last year, without warning. This almost made my SIL catch a healthy attitude, the only saving grace was the girl made sure to bring extra food. It isn't that they weren't welcome, its just that SIL wants to make sure we have enough food on hand for everyone. Can't blame her for that, I'm not much into those kinds of surprises either...not to mention that the area we were in was tight to begin with and all the extra people had everyone elbow to elbow.

Ahhh, such is life with big families....

Van work, Ants and muscle spasms...Oh My!

My day is starting slowly...was up by 6:30 am to spend a few minutes with hubby before he left for work. The air was almost chilly, the temp was hovering right at 75 degrees...amazing that I felt cool at that temp! I turned the fans on before the sun began to show through the trees...maybe it will stay nice like this the rest of the day. I think we are forecast to reach the low to mid 80's today. The lack of humidity in the air is most welcome....although as the sun bakes this swamp I call home, the steam factor will be felt.



Thanks to DJ at Heirloom Gardens, I've found a possible answer to the fire ant issue....besides setting the yard on fire. Her suggestion to Google Fire ants and Molasses was super! Found loads of information about using molasses to get rid of them pesky varmits....my only dilemma at this point...I love molasses myself...do I really want to give up this sticky sweet substance to those sorry ants?? My answer at this point, YES!!

After hubby came in for the evening and got all showered, we were sitting on the sofa and I noticed several 'ant blisters' on his heel...then his ankle...the top of his foot and even his toes...both feet!! I counted at least two dozen of these blisters last night...he said he got them standing on the front walk when one of the neighbors was down the other night. I ended up with three myself last night sitting out next to the walk while he was working on the van. This morning I felt something crawling on my leg and danged if it wasn't a sorry little ant...I was in the house sitting in my chair. GGGRRRR....They have got to go!!

The van is back together now....new shocks front and back, new exhaust system and the tires got rotated....no wonder his back and neck was spasming last night! He's been working on this for what, three or four days now? In addition, he's having to do 'grunt' work on his job....they are demolishing one of the schools and there's quite a bit of metal that has to be dealt with. His actual job is driver, not laborer. Took a pain pill and a muscle relaxer to help him get comfortable enough to sleep! This morning, he was still quite sore and catchy...but, he went on to work as usual. That reminds me....I need to have him call the neurologist and get him to write him another prescription for the pain meds...and the muscle relaxers. He's managed to make the last script stretch since Dec of 2005! Since he doesn't take them very often, there shouldn't be a problem getting this refilled by the Dr. He just hates to take meds and rarely takes any type of pill period. His pain, not mine! Me, I'd be on the phone begging for a refill...especially knowing the type of pain he's experiencing. SIGH...guess that's the price we pay for trying to deal with whatever life throws our way...work through the pain as long as possible and when that's as far as you can go, beg for pain meds to help you continue working longer.

Off and running to the bank to make the deposit I couldn't make yesterday and then a quick trip to the drug store on the way home to pick up another bottle of Advils...at least they take the edge off his pain and help keep my own aches and stiffness under control. Figures we'd be out of Advils and aspirin at the same time...that's a first! I always have some type of anti-inflammatory around.

Rainy daze...

Woke this morning to the sounds of rain...seems to have rained through the night. At 6:30 am, it is already 75 degrees....have we somehow skipped winter and moved back to summer again?

Looks like we might have got close to an inch total and it's still raining lightly at 9:45 am...the sky is dark with clouds and the air feels nice and cool. Thought we might see the sun earlier, but for now it looks as if we will be having liquid sunshine instead.

The only real color change for Fall around my yard, with the exception of the Virginia Creeper, is the Chinese Tallow Trees...Sapium sebiferum ...which unfortunately are considered an invasive species in our area. We have two or three of these and they are beginning to show the orange/yellow on their leaves. Some of the Sycamore trees and the Sweet Gums are also beginning to show their Fall colors...unfortunately, I don't have these in the yard here. Our Oaks are the varieties that pretty much stay green throughout the year. Most won't lose their leaves until almost January. The pines are always green, unless they are dying...ours are looking pretty good. I have noticed that our Crape Myrtles near the front pasture are beginning to lose leaves as well...some have changed to yellow already. Wasn't a very good year for Crape Myrtles in our area...none really seemed to bloom this year.

Hubby is home from work..its not even 11 am yet...seems their job site for today is not ready...and then tomorrow, they are expected at two...crazy way things get done sometimes...sigh...just cuts into our finances.

We ended up going to the U-Pull-it place to get a steering column for my nephew's truck...he's already paid for the parts and labor...all we have to do now is get him here for the job to get completed.

Made the call and he's had a slow day also....seems he just started another yard (he's a yard service)so it will be after 5 pm before he can get here....long as he's here before we lose daylight.  It didn't take long to pull the one we got and hubby could probably do this in his sleep...its a Chevy.

While he was waiting on his truck to get back together, he fired up his string trimmer and offered to do my trim work around the half moon garden...said sure, just watch for the hidden plants...it was quite overgrown.  I also told him he could take it down to the rocks...of course he hit a fairly large one....it zinged past hubby and I and hit his back glass...what luck!  The window was still making popping sounds when he left to go home.  We are checking to see what the rear window kit will cost...and also what the local glass place will cost to have it replaced.  RATS!!!  So far, I can't get the kit at the local parts store...not available...well, that sucks!  Hubby also says this year of truck takes a special tool to cut that window out...great.  He's pulled countless windows and windshields and NOW he needs a special tool.  Well isn't that just marvelous!

I called my nephew to let him know what I had found...he says he needs it replaced before the weekend...well that ain't happening on our end...hubby does work.  Seems the kid can't back with the mirrors and since he's hauling equipment and a trailer...he can't see through the cracks in his back glass to back.  Was a bit surprised at my sister when I called her...her response was " Well can't M put it in for free?  After all, he was doing the trim for you? "  Like I told her, hubby is never unfair with anyone, let alone one of the family...anyway, the nephew volunteered to cut the moon garden....and if it had been MY window I'd have had to put a claim against his insurance for the business....told him that's what he should check into anyway.  I ended up having to hang up as she was on the other line (call waiting) and we were leaving.  Guess I'll talk to her in the morning.  So now it's like she feels it's OUR fault he hit his truck window?  I'll stop allowing hubby to do any work for family members if this is what is to be.  Damn!  It's not like everyone isn't willing to run out and pay whatever SOMEONE else feels is a fair price for their labor....but when its MY husband, oh he should do it for free???  The man practically gives his labor away the way it is already...and so now because it's family he should do it for free?  This window is going to involve Hubby going and pulling it out at a salvage yard, then pulling the one out of the nephew's truck, and finally reinstalling the window.  If he breaks the window, the replacement will have to come out of our pocket....again, he should do this for FREE?????  Not happening....family or not.

How time flies...

Happy October 1st! Hard to believe the year is flying by so quickly, soon we will be ending this year and beginning another....where does the time go? Seems that once a person brings a child into their life, the hours, days and years just zip right past...at least in my experience. In just a few days sis's oldest will turn 31 and then in Dec my own child turns 31 as well.

Wasn't it just yesterday that they were toddlers, being mistaken for twins? Our kids all favor each other so much that they could have had the same two parents, instead of six different people. (I'm referring to the kids of all three of us girls) The other children of my twin sisters could have come from the same mother and father as well. Each one looks like a sibling, instead of a cousin. Remarkable at times just how strong our family genes stand out in our children.

This morning I slept in until 7:30...the cooler weather is good for snuggling beneath the blankets...I had a bit of a rough night sleeping. Might have been due to the phone call from one of the boys earlier that annoyed me. But I won't go into that here.

The temperature at 7:30 am was 68 degrees, cool and nice. The sun was just beginning to glow red across the trees when I got up. Hubby let the chickens out in both areas for me before he left for work. Some days he can be very sweet and thoughtful.

We didn't get the door finished on the new nest box last night. For whatever reason, hubby just can't seem to put two and two together to get it done....another three months for a two minute job isn't going to fly. The stuff is set up for the wood to be cut, and I can run the saws. Just figure I might as well let HIM do it to keep the peace. Every time I've completed any project, he's always come in behind me and redone it saying, this is how it SHOULD have been done. Why waste my time and energy? Makes me insane.

Instead of causing a scene when he began giving excuses last night as to why we couldn't complete the door, I just began putting things away and said we might as well just wait until we have everything he needs. We only need the hinges....grrr.... I had put the girls in the dog carrier so we didn't have to worry about leaving the fence open while we were working...of course all three of the dogs were hanging right at the opening while we were in there. I went ahead and covered the dog carrier as it had rained off and on all day yesterday and the carrier tends to get wet inside. Figure the girls didn't need to be drowned in their sleep. I dunno, may just go ahead and pop that door for the nest box together myself. Once I cut the screen material, he won't be able to re-do it without going for more. It just irritates my eyes out to have him get a project half complete and then stop. GIT ER DONE already!!

Wasn't like he was doing anything in particular while he was outside last evening. He was just bored and not wanting to hang in the house. All he did after ending the nestbox project was pick up his junk sitting out front and take it to the back work area....Well alrighty then!...I've only asked him repeatedly NOT to drag that crap out in the front area anyway. I've been tripping over crap and moving it out of my way for the past three years in that area. I could actually park the van and my truck there if not for all the junk he insists on unloading right there next to the split rail fence. Makes me nuts thinking about it.

Didn't get much accomplished yesterday at all. Three loads of laundry was about the only thing I did, besides vacuuming. Dang, I still need to take the vacuum apart to see what got hung...oh well, guess that just means I won't be sweeping the floor today! hahahaha. Not in the mood to play mechanic at the moment. Still have several more loads of laundry to finish...(I truly believe these clothes are reproducing)...and then to tackle the closet so I can find some place for them to go. More clothes than space unfortunately...another reason to eliminate those things I can no longer wear. What's totally depressing is the knowledge of how many clothes I've already eliminated....just prior to us moving out here, I took over a dozen huge garbage bags (I'm talking the size that I could have fit myself into) to the clothing drop boxes. Where do they all keep coming from? I haven't purchased anything except for a couple of new pairs of jeans during that time!! It's the clothes monster for sure!!

Both Penny and Patty have layed for the day already....just as I thought, Penny is the one laying the darker, larger eggs....was almost funny when I went out to their pen to see why Penny was squawking so loudly....Patty was in the nest box, Penny was at the fence....I went and got their feed before heading to the garden....when I reached the fence, Patty jumped from the nest box to come see me....as I tossed the feed, she suddenly squatted and popped her egg out right in front of me! Then she proceeded to attack the feed....I went inside to check the box and sure enough, Penny had layed her egg already as well. Red layed hers late yesterday, so she may not lay today. Piggy is still determined to hang on to hers....she doesn't act egg bound, so who knows what is going on with her....she should be laying the same size as Penny. After all, she's over a year old now (Penny and Patty are only about six months old).


We had the leftover Potato and Ham soup again last night, this round, I added Broccoli. After supper I made a pan of Snickerdoodles....instead of dropping them individually, I just roll the large pieces of dough in the cinnamon and sugar and then put them in a cake pan so they cook like brownies. They take about thirty minutes to cook at 375 degrees. I've had this recipe since I was a young teen...we used to make them all the time during the summer months and they were my youngest brother's favorites. This batch came out pretty good, but it seems I was the only one in the mood for something sweet. Hubby only had one...they went to lunch yesterday at one of the Barbecue places and his stomach was a bit upset when he came home.

Today is forecast for us to hit 91 degrees...looks like I best get moving if I want to get anything done before the heat.

Just another 'blah' day...

A repeat day of the last few...cool in the early hours and by noon right at 90 degrees with humidity....ho hum... It never really cooled much yesterday evening, though we did get a short bit of rain around 6 pm. Just enough to wet the grass and leave a small puddle in one of the birdbaths. At least with the spit of rain, I didn't need to water the remaining plants.

Sis called this morning....seems she cracked her foot on their bowflex and was on her way to have an x-ray...poor kid! Every time she turns around, she's breaking something! With her recent diagnosis showing a severe Calcium deficiency, every 'bump' is now a major concern. She's taking shots daily for Calcium and a huge amount of vitamin D weekly as well. I spoke with her a short time ago and she was waiting for the pharmacy to fill her prescription. The Dr at the ER has said its just a sprain, but she should return in three days if she is still unable to bear weight on it...crazy! For now, she's on crutches with orders to stay off it and keep it elevated...great...means the kids will be looking for a sitter as "grandma" normally keeps the little ones while the parents work....the little ones are both under two.

The sky is beginning to get very overcast...we are forecast for rain later this afternoon...normal sea breeze effect rains...if only they would come early enough to cool things off. I can always dream...lol. Need to head down to the feedstore and pick up scratch feed for the chickens...probably should head on in to the grocery, but I think I'll wait until tomorrow or the next day for that chore...I've come to the point where I really hate grocery shopping. Never was real fond of it to begin with and with prices being what they are nowadays, I truly despise going.

To top things off, my refrigerator's freezer compartment seemed to be defrosting today...hopefully, its just doing its normal cycle as its a frost-free model...a little disheartening to see it 'spitting' ice from the ice through the door...the ice maker isn't hooked up! When I checked to see what was going on...my ice container I use for tea was thawing....NO!!!! I went ahead and kicked the setting a bit colder...let's hope that helps! This fridge is ours, and its only ten years old...we bought it new....if it goes...well, looks like the landlord will be spending money to replace it....the one that was here when we moved in was bad, wasn't a big deal since we owned ours and brought it with us.

Off to the feedstore!!! Let's hope I'm there and back before it decides to dump buckets of rain....

Beautiful day for an Anniversary...

Today has started with low humidity, cool morning air...temp at 8am was a pleasant 76 degrees. The sky is bright blue with high puffy clouds...looks very summery around here this morning....too bad its moving towards Fall...LOL

As of noon, the temperature has risen to about 85 and the humidity has also risen...ugghhh, just when I thought it might begin to get tolerable. A/C is back to cranking, trying to keep the house at 80 degrees as the sun bakes outside.

Its hard to believe that today is my son's 12th wedding anniversary...seems like just yesterday I was pregnant with him... They got married on Friday September 13th at the 13th hour (1pm)...thought it was pretty cool as we have such a thing for the 13th. Hubby and I will celebrate our 12th year of marriage in Dec...we will celebrate 17 years of togetherness Monday September 15th...the anniversary of our first date. Since we've been together since our very first date it only seems right to celebrate that date also....hubby actually mentioned it the other day about us having an anniversary coming up....he can be sweet when he chooses.

With the dryer weather forecast I'm hoping we can get some of the mowing finished this weekend. Hubby has most of the back pasture finished and we should have the parts for the mower sometime today...they were supposed to be in yesterday. Maybe now that he's located the longer hose for the pressure washer we will be able to get the roof ready for the sealer. According to the directions on the sealer, the temps need to be above 70 degrees (got that and then some) and there can be no rain in the forecast for at least 24 hours (looks like we got that)...I'm hoping to at least get the sealer applied by the end of the weekend...sigh...now if I can just get him on the same page. He's out and about this morning with a friend, hunting parts at the local U-pull-it place...they seem to go about once a month. I don't mind going, but not with all of us jammed in the truck...not in this heat.

Looks like IKE has really knocked Texas around from the news reports...my girlfriend's son and DIL are in Houston...he works for Exxon...I gave her a call earlier and she said they did not evacuate as of last night...so far, she hasn't heard from them today...figures she'll hear from them later as the storm passes through. Hope they and everyone else in that area are safe.

The way this storm is forecast to track, it looks like everyone is going to be 'enjoying' the rains, all the way back to the northeast coast! Heard one of the weathercasters saying western NY could be seeing the rains from this around Monday or Tuesday....this is one storm that has sure slapped everyone!

Headaches and jumping coffee cups

Its just past 10 am...beautiful blue sky, big puffy clouds, sunshine and about 84 degrees. The humidity is still steamy.

Woke this morning with a sinus headache...cheekbones, ears, eyes and straight down the back of my neck...uggghhh...should have stayed in bed. Haven't had many of these type headaches lately...usually when the seasons begin to change or when I'm having to run the heat....dry air tends to set off a major sinus attack. Hmmm, wonder if it has anything to do with being in the A/C so much lately...never used to bother me. Ah well, just deal with it and move on....I'll just go back to bed if it doesn't ease off soon.

Managed to break my favorite coffee cup last night...my pretty blue one that had the little guy sitting at his desk asking "Is it Friday yet?"...bought that one my first year as office manager, just over ten years ago. Has been my favorite ever since....was the one I used at work too.

Figures it would 'jump' off the drainer...I had already moved it once as it was sitting rather precariously close to the edge earlier. While I was starting supper, I must have disturbed it when I picked a skillet from the drainer...CRASH!!! It bounced and broke as it hit the ceramic tile in front of the stove...and of course I was barefoot!! Hubby just happened to be close by as it flew off the drainer and crashed...shocked him as much as me I think. Fortunately, it didn't shatter, just broke into several pieces...I think I only picked up maybe three little chips after tossing the big pieces. Guess I'll be hunting a 'new' favorite from my other cups now.

Hubby fired the tractor up last night and started mowing out in the pasture area...it was close to dark when he decided to do this...when he came in he said the tractor was mowing lopsided...seems one of the tractor tires is extremely low...not flat, just almost. I didn't realize he had parked it dead in the middle of the yard when he shut it off....noticed that this morning...its sitting directly behind the house. Thought about going out and doing the rest of the yard myself, but the air compressor is on his truck, which is at the shop. I don't think the little boost box compressor is adequate for those tires...we've used it on them before, but it takes forever and in this heat, that ain't happening. The idea of mowing really makes my head pound right now.

I haven't heard from my DIL as yet...the whole thing still has me ready to beat someone bloody. This kid is my oldest grandchild...and while I know we aren't supposed to have favorites, this one has been special to me since his birth. We bonded immediately and I love him as if he was my own child...he is in a sense. I love his little brother too, I just don't have the same connection with the younger one. Strange how things work sometimes.

Yard chores waiting and an upset Nana...

This day has dragged...on and on....its only about 2:20 pm...

Currently, it is cloudy and about 88 degrees...with the ever present steamy humidity. I've wandered outside several times already, checking the mail, feeding and watering the chickens, checking for eggs and just feeling entirely overwhelmed by the outside chores that are beginning to get way behind due to all the standing water we've had. Finally, the water has disappeared, the ground is beginning to feel firmer and I'm not sinking up to my ankles every time I walk off the paths. Just noticed that the 'pools' are gone at the pasture entrances and the huge pond by the playset is also gone. The front 'pond' has left its' big bare spot as it was under water for at least two weeks.

The rest of the yard is looking so shabby...weeds and grass are mid-calf on me...a veritable snake haven in most places. Even behind the chicken coop is being reclaimed by the Wedalia and weeds....it was cleared back to the trees. SIGH...since hubby says the float has developed a leak in the rider carburetor, looks like we will be firing up the weedeaters to knock things back a bit until the mower is fixed....joy....means most of the yard will continue to look crappy for a bit.

My mood has mellowed quite a bit since my rant and rage yesterday. I'm still wound pretty tight over the situation and if its a repeat of last week with the paycheck, it sure isn't gonna be pretty tomorrow night.

Was reading my DIL's blog a bit ago and it seems she's having issues with someone being physically and emotionally abusive to my oldest grandson...the one with autism....

GRRRRR...don't make NANA have to come kick butt!! The way she's written, it seems as its a family member and a friend who are mistreating him. Again, it won't be pretty if Nana has to make travel arrangements north right now....first off, I can't afford to, and second, by the time I get there, I'll be ready to face jail time over my grandson...you DON'T mess with my kids!! I'm hoping to hear from her later.