Saturday - Stepping out or Staying in?

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Wish we had sun. It might improve my mood which is certainly grey.

Of the six places dd asked me to look at. One is too small (the owner told me that the kitchen, which was the attraction, is bigger than the living room), one is rented already, two haven't responded by email and there's no phone number for one, the other isn't available on weekends, and the last two are from the same guy. Will check out one today and possibly the other on Monday (that one is currently occupied so he has to give 48 hours notice.)

Sigh...

In the meantime, the last load of laundry is in the dryer and I've refilled the vitamins, mixed up more 'shake & bake', refilled some spice containers, put away the dishes and have started on putting away the winter decorations and putting out spring. Cleared up room in the wardrobe in the dining room for my sewing machine (that will be the new home for my sewing stuff at the apartment.) I need to build more shelves in it for the bobbins and thread, etc.

[Twins' Mom]

Sunny, thanks for the comments about the bulletin. This guy has done it for several years and was also a committee chair until now, sings in the choir and works with the garden committee and likes having a finger in a lot of things. He also supports us financially. We have words periodically but I do consider him a very good friend. But it frustrates me to no end that he will leave things out sometimes because he thinks he doesn't have room, and sometimes because he just misses things. He said he didn't have room for a notice of a May event yet he included a large photo of the new wall and lots of other photos that have previously been on Facebook. After I asked if he was giving up the job, I suggested that a committee might meet monthly before the bulletin is produced to write articles and suggestions regarding what s/b there. As it is now, he just takes what he receives and throws it into Publisher.

Sorry for long vent, altho I hope I haven't made him mad.

Macs had a good workout. We are going to nap.

[Ivy]

I need to shout,
I'm not stepping out!
Staying in
isn't a sin.
There are T-storms today,
with tons of rain on the way.
It's a good day to stay inside
and do my homemaker's pride,
which is take care of me,
as it should be... ♥
and take care of our home
so our cat and DH can roam.
So staying in
is not a sin.
It's a good day
to say
I'm not stepping out,
or it WILL cause me to pout.

[Lilac]

Yesterday I bought groceries, went out to lunch with dd2 and then on to her house to get ready for the garage sale. We spent close to 4 hours just arranging the shelves and then unpacking all the stuff to load them down with. Came home, had supper and then went back to her house. Dd1 and her dh came to bring some bulky things. Dsonil then went home and dd1 and I started marking everything. By that time dd2, her dh and dgd17s boyfriend were bringing her furniture type items. I think she has now gotten rid of every piece of furniture that her and her ex bought. Dd1 and I left around 11:30. There were still 2 shelves to be priced.

When I got to dd2s way before 8 this am, there were already 2 cars waiting. We to open at 9. I let myself in because I know the code and knew they were in the garage. There were still things to be marked so I worked on that. About 8:30 they started hauling out chairs from the dining room and 2 baby swings. We then opened the 3 garage doors and people started pouring in. She had 3 garage stalls packed with stuff. We were trying to haul stuff to the driveway and people were trying to crowd in. It was chaos! By 9:15 we had sold the bulk. We closed ahead of noon. She has 2 end tables, a table from the store and an armoir left plus misc on the shelves. At one point I asked if she had got what she wanted out of the blue bike. We both seen someone leave with it but they paid no one. Also dd1s dvd player was not paid for. That is just for starters. Why do people steal at garage sales? It happens every time. Also we marked everything low enough that we thought there would be no low offers. I think very few things were sold at the low marked prices. AND that is why we are done with garage sales again until we forget what a pain they are.

I have to be at dd2s at 4 for pictures of dgd17 and her bf. Then they have to go to his house, then her dads house and then out to eat. So they can get to the school and be in the promenade that starts at 7.
Dd1, Dd2, the 2 little girls and I are going to it. Guess I better go for now. I had a lot to comment on and will do that later.

[lucylee]

I've been stepping out!

First, I have to tell y'all, after my post yesterday about being the laziest person in the world -- well -- I don't know what came over me. It may have been the Mt. Dew Kickstart drink I tried. (Extra caffeine). It might have been that I was just embarrassed to keep seeing all of you busy bees and there I was wallowing in my laziness. Whatever got me out of this chair, I was on a roll:
* cleaned all 5 bathroom mirrors
* s/s all 3 toilets
* cleaned dh's shower
* washed & hung to dry 3 loads of clothes
* walked 3 miles w/dh, ds, and dgs in stroller
PLUS had ridiculously exhausting conversation w/d?uncle.

Today, I got up and went to another cousin's in-law's funeral visitation. That IS sorta ridiculous, I think, and dh refused to go. (He just wanted to watch ballgames on tv.) But my cousins have all been so wonderful to me and their spouses are such kind and good people, that I felt I should go. I only have 4 first cousins, and they are all brothers & sisters to each other, so we're a pretty tight-knit family, you know. My cousin's husband seemed to appreciate me coming, anyway.
After that, I visited the funeral where my paternal grandparents and duncle are buried. I took pictures of their stones so I can remember and record their birth and death dates. For some reason, my maternal grandparents' dates, along with my paternal grandmother's dates, are easily remembered, but for some reason I cannot keep my other dgf and my uncle's dates in my head.
After THAT, I visited a local plant sale at a local historic-site/home and bought a few daffodil bulbs.
THEN -- I called dmom and talked to her about all the dysfunction in the family and went on up to her house and visited with her for a while.
Finally, home, set out the daffodil bulbs.
Oh -- and before I went to the funeral visitation, I went to the bank and to CVS. So it has been a pretty busy day. I don't feel lazy anymore, LOL.

WOW. That is terrible, Lilac -- people stealing at yard sales. Good gracious.
Hope your dgd has a wonderful time at the prom!

(((Kathryn)))

Ivy, our day started out with pouring rain, but thankfully it had stopped before I had to leave the house. Too muddy to really work with the daffodil bulbs though. Old ones need separating, but dmom said just wait till fall.

((Twins)))

likes having a finger in a lot of things.

Sorta thinking you have someone like my uncle in your group, too!

Sooo happy about Harriet's new car and Elizabeth's interview!!!

Waving to Nancy... Sunny... helia... Lynlee... Cowinkie... Dee... Harmony... Norma... BookSaver...

Hope you all have a good evening! I think we are going to see the movie about the grown man in the spelling bee. Can't remember the name of it now, but it looks funny.

Oh -- btw -- we saw Noah. Yes, I am well aware of all the controversy surrounding it and the fact that the director is an athiest. Just wanted to see for myself. Hmmm... yeah... everything you are hearing is true. There is an ark, and there is a flood... but beyond that, if you see it, my advice is just don't even THINK you are seeing something related to the Bible, and when you do see something familiar in it, just think, "Hmmm... that's just like the story of Noah in the Bible." Because THIS Noah doesn't have a whole lot to do with the Bible Noah. There are similarities, yes... but there are LOTS and LOTS of differences, some for no apparent reason at all.
God's Not Dead is a much better movie, IMHO.

[Nancy]

Stayed in h. Is home having cave time.
I am playing with the last of my fiber.
Carded up one batch.
Another waits to be picked & teased before carding.
Lunch us done.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

The rental house was disgusting. Beyond disgusting.

Remember dd's apartment in Burnaby that left me with a sore stomach when I saw it the first time? The place that, when she was burgled while they slept, she knew they went through the front door because the stopper they put under the door to stop rats from getting in was disturbed? This was worse.

My stomach is still upset from just being there. It smelled. I can't think what they were thinking putting the house on the market. The agent said they'd be pulling out all the carpets and repainting but we'd have to sign and trust the place was going to be gorgeous when it was done. Like that is going to happen.

This guy also represents a second place on the list so it is off the list now.

The carpets were torn up by an animal clawing at them. The ensuite bathroom flooring was missing (probably clawed away) and the house smelled. I know I said that but it bears repeating over and over again.

We drove around that end of town and identified some possibilities. We also looked at one from the parking lot that we are waiting to see inside. That one had a good vibe so I think there are still two that are possibilities. I'm going to try and book viewings for Wednesday morning since I have a meeting Wednesday afternoon in town. Drove over 60 miles today. Glad I'm moving into town - dd would be so far away I'd seldom see her otherwise.

I lost it when I got home and spilled grease from dh's snack on the floor. And dinner wasn't right when we came home. He decided we shouldn't eat out (that's OK) but then didn't start cooking the moment we got home. Or even 30 minutes later.

The sap isn't running without sun. He got a whole 2 cups of sap today (we got 3 litres last Saturday.) The temperatures are fine but there has to be sun. Not sure if the whole 'season' can go by without sap running but it wouldn't surprise me if that's what happens.

[Nancy]

I got the coop cleaned moved the nest boxes outside
To get ready for the pullets.

We had scattered showers today here with some sun breaks.

[Harriet]

Cowinkie, what a nice thing to say!

Norma, hope you have a safe trip home.

Oh well, Nancy, I had answered you with an idea in A, C and N but you already had it figured out. Glad you found it.

Thanks for movie review, lucylee.
It's so funny (well, sorta funny - be ready to get irritated with me, lucylee) that lucylee mentions Mt. Dew. HRH just told dd he doesn't want her drinking Mt. Dew anymore because of the brominated vegetable oil. PepsiCo removed BVO from all Gatorade products in 2013 because of consumer complaints, but has not yet removed it from Mr. Dew or diet Mt. Dew. They were expected to make a decision by now but haven't, so now there are news stories. HRH remembers when the FDA had taken the "safe" status away from BVO in the 70s, when he was a lab technician for Coca-Cola. He didn't know the FDA has kept it "pending further studies" for all these years, and he didn't know it was still in Mt. Dew. Just one or two servings a day probably doesn't hurt anybody, of course.

Lilac, I agree that it is especially awful shop-lifting when it's done to people trying to have a yard sale. Sounds like you worked hard and things did move, though.

Kathryn, at least you are helping avoid problems for dd.

Sunny, I hope you learn all the campers had no problems.

Dstepson came over today. We had a nice fish lunch. The morning was somewhat productive.

It has dawned on me that in this awful rainy weather I don't want to get into the car until it has mats. Sigh. What do you use for temporary mats? I would really like to go to church in it tomorrow.

Have visited my colorist. Kathryn, I did notice you said you were trying coloring your hair again. I hope you like it. Tough decision for me, and definitely don't see it happening soon. Guess I'm hanging on until they invent that easy pill we used to hear jokes about - just take a pill and get your youthful color back. Frankly, it is enough effort to call it exercise, I think.

[Ivy]

I just got the address for the Oso mudslide patients who are at Harborview Medical Center, in Seattle. I wanted to tell you a bit about the patients' conditions and ages first. So far, they're the only living victims from the Oso mudslide. Here are their ages and conditions now:

- A 22-week-old baby was upgraded to serious condition in intensive care Friday and was breathing on his own.
- A 58-year-old male was also upgraded to satisfactory condition and was no longer in intensive care.
- The baby's 25-year-old mother was in satisfactory condition.
- A 37-year-old man was listed in satisfactory condition.
- An 81-year-old man was listed as serious and improving in intensive care.

Here is the address, in case you, your family, kids, or friends or church would care to send them greeting cards. On the news, they said the cards these patients are receiving mean so much to them and their families. I just addressed my 5 envelopes, to write them each a note, this evening.

Oso Landslide Patient
Harborview Medical Center
325 - 9th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104

I hope it's "Okay" to post this here, but I see a need, which needs fulfilling, which warms their hearts, helping them to feel a bit better each day. ♥ Thank you!