Saturday Smiles

[Twins' Mom]

Yes, I seem to be connected still!

Weeds in front have been sprayed down with Roundup. Some of the plants that went in with the original landscaping are overgrown with weeds that must have come in with the plant - they are so overgrown into the plant that I don't think I can get the weed out.

In another hour, I need to get a shower to go out; I think I will start sanding a little meanwhile.

Oh, wow, Harmony. You need a break! I wish one of us could zip over and keep up with her for awhile so you could have some downtime. Are there any teens from your church who could come by to entertain her for awhile? or take her out to a playground to give you a break? This is why moms have playgroups - they need to talk to other caregivers and they need the distraction that other kids provide!

Going to fold the lol in the dryer and reboot laundry, maybe start a load of delicates. Then some sanding.

[ellyphant]

Happy Saturday!

Back from shopping for DH at K ohl's. He will only shop maybe twice a year. Was excited to check out TJ M axx nearby. Had a great time in there smelling all the candles, etc...'til I saw DH standing there bored to death! Will go back without him!

I miss Nancy too! She always posted in lots of different places on here, so there is a definite void.

Beautiful day here--a little chilly and colors are past peak. Just heard from old neighbor on FB about their fall colors. We were neighbors 13 years ago...FB is wonderful!

[DeeClutter]

I've napped off and on this afternoon -snooze is more like it. I'm still not dressed and am really beginning to toy with the idea of not going to this shindig tonight. Don't feel bad, just don't feel good enough to be real sociable. (Guess that says it in a nutshell.)Think dh would understand. He asked me earlier if I was going to feel like going tonight....... He'll be off talking to all his cronies anyway and I don't want him 'worrying' about me. Means I'd have to be 'waltzing' around talking to this one and that one too. Not sure I'm up to that. Guess I'll see what he has to say when he comes in. Don't want him to think I'm sicker than I am, but I'm just not wanting to do this. OTOH we've already paid for me to go tonight BUT that was only $5 so no big loss. And I wouldn't have to pick things out that won't raise my BS. Think I'm talking myself into it -here. Think part of my hesitancy is how much last night did me in! I have never spent the day in my PJ's when I wasn't quite sick!

I want to be able to go to DS-A's tomorrow for our get together. Postponed it last week because I was sick and dbaby.

Does seem strange without dNancy popping in. Hope her computer (and TV) woes are soon fixed.

Hmm...I've tried posting this 3 times now -wonder what's up with that!

[DeeClutter]

I was just going to ask you how much longer you would have dgd, Harmony, but see you answered that question. Remind us again why you've had granny duty for this many days. I've plumb forgotten now. Grandchildren in smaller doses are great but you've gone way beyond that to a grandiose 'treatment'. That being said, I'm sure there are things about her you will miss when she goes home. I'm trusting dgd's parents will be much appreciative of how much you've gone through in the past many days. You're a wonderful Mom!

[helia]

I wish one of us could zip over and keep up with her for awhile so you could have some downtime.

I agree. Wish I could send dd17 over as she enjoys babysitting.

We are leaving in 30 minutes. I need to:
-put away groceries
-pack snack for the morning pre-run; dh wants apple (already prepped) and p. butter
-change my clothes
-take out of the oven project I'm baking for 5th/6th SS class, the product of our skit. Long story. . .some of the kids requested this.
-put skit baking in freezer so I can bring it next Sunday.

[Twins' Mom]

Harmony, seriously, your dh works with the teens at your church - would he be able to get you a relief shift of a couple of teen girls for afternoon after church tomorrow?

I sanded the kitchen stool from our old house - wooden and too short for breakfast bar counter - and one of the two rockers. Dh sat outside on the back patio with me. Tomorrow I will sand the other rocker and then paint them black. These go on our front porch - dfriend whom we are having dinner with tonight suggested a long time ago that they would look better repainted black instead of the natural orangy oak finish. The old kitchen stool will be used as an informal "table" between the two - I'm using a little teak table there now but don't want to repaint it.

[OKay]

((((Harmony)))) What you are doing is NOT easy. Don't wait until too late to ask for help. (((Hugs))) I look back on the time when LO was 1 and 2 years old and wonder ......how in the world did we do it?

I took LO outside in the bright sunshine this afternoon. Being outdoors made him cough more, but I hope being in the sunshine helped. I know it helped me! While he played, I worked on the garden expansion layout. I drove stakes in the new corners and tied string between the corners to give me a straight line. Then i started hauling blocks. I didn't count them, but estimate that I moved about 100 blocks into place. My back is letting me know that I did enough for now.

DMom called and asked DH to come look at their vehicle. Something is wrong with the electrical system. I hope it is an easy fix.

[lucylee]

(((Harmony))) (((BIG HUGS))) This would be a HUGE committment and a HUGE energy drain if you were at 110% of good health. In your present situation, you really, really are going above and beyond the call of duty... but I know exactly how you feel, and I'd be trying to do the same thing if I were you. Idea about teen from church is a great idea. If you don't really feel you have the freedom to just leave one of them totally in charge, w/out dd's "permission," then could you have one come over and help dh take charge while you (a) got out of the house for awhile or (b) hid out in the master bedroom for a nap for awhile?

This babysitting thing is really on my mind a lot lately anyway, as y'all know... I'm in one of those obsession cycles about it. For example, tomorrow, I/we expect ddil to bring dgs over pretty early -- b/c she may need some nap time before working the night shift tomorrow night. I slept at least two hours on the way home from ballgame, and dh said, "Go ahead and sleep, b/c if she brings him over early tomorrow, you're going to have to take him somewhere and let ME get a nap. I just can't do the driving all weekend and everything without some time to catch up."
And I'm concerned about NEXT weekend b/c dgs will need to spend the night with us Friday night, and then we will have to make the (longer) drive to college town Saturday. DH really needs me to help him w/that drive, usually, and I'm usually okay for the first half of the trip going... but after dgs has spent the night? I don't know...
And of course, I'm concerned about NEXT fall... and the only person I can think of to even ask to help out with the babysitting, who might even let dgs spend the night, is my first cousin. But she has a swimming pool, and dgs will be walking by then... and ooohhh... I just don't know. DH says I have to just get OVER that... that dcousin has babysat for her niece and hasn't let her drown yet, LOL! And dh says ds & ddil just HAVE to have SOMEBODY in reserve besides us being on-call 24/7, you know? We haven't even mentioned this to ds/ddil, either. They might just say, no way is dcousin keeping him. Ddil might not get into nursing school. ALL of this might come to NOTHING.
But tomorrow and Friday... now those are pretty much certainties.

And y'all KNOW how much we LOVE to have dgs here... but back to Harmony's situation... having a baby in the house IS very tiring. That is for certain!

Twins, the rockers and "table" sound GREAT!!! Big WTG on getting this done.

Helia -- I was thinking like Harriet, I think, who mentioned the terrible lack of privacy w/the conference method you described. I can't imagine our school doing that. Our parent conference day is pretty much "come whenever you want" and sometimes people do have to wait out in the hall, but we all just stay in our classrooms and meet parents there. (They can schedule a specific time, if they wish, but almost no one does.) We have a VERY low turnout, too. I only had about six parents this year, I think. But then, I only have one student failing, since I basically teach all advanced classes this year.
I also weighed in with my humble opinion on the book thread, but my opinion is worth nothing, b/c I've not read the book.

(((Dee))) Sounds like a night alone to rest would do you good.

Elly -- I absolutely HATE to shop w/dh. I can't even shop if he is waiting in the car, TELLING me to take my time.
Of course, I don't really like to shop, period. Hate to spend the money... can never find anything that fits/doesn't look like a teenager/doesn't look like my grandmother... can never make decisions. I am NOT a good shopper.

Waving to NANCY, if she checks in! We all miss you!!!

Sooo glad LO is feeling better!!!
And (((OKay))) and ((DBRO)))... I am sooo sorry to hear about his shoulder surgery and what he will be facing... such a terribly difficult adjustment he will be facing, I know. I'm thinking, when God closes a door, He always opens a window, and He certainly seems to be slamming this particular door shut on your dbro... but I hope he can keep the faith that somewhere, somehow, there WILL be a window sliding open somewhere down the road.

Sounds like Kathryn is having a great trip!

Waving to Harriet... Ivy... MT... Scattered... and EVERYONE else I may be missing. When I get here past a couple of pages, I have to confine myself to replies to what I can see in topic review. (And sometimes not even that much! )

We -- obviously -- have returned from another thrilling (NOT) day of Auburn football. We are so bad it is almost somewhat comical and very interesting to see how this season will pan out in the end. Will they fire the coach who gave us our 2nd National Championship ever only two years ago??? Will they just continue to let the program drift further and further into despair? Each Saturday is a new adventure.

And thanks again for the happy anniversary wishes and kind words. I know I complain about dh a lot on here, and y'all can tell that sometimes I put up with stuff that some of you might not, (ballgames, lack of Sunday dinner-outings, etc.) but I figure everybody gets the husband they can deal with, LOL. (I mean, if they stay married any length of time, that is.) I mean, a lot of people who know my dad think he is such a wonderful, wonderful, guy... and in some ways, he is. But in other ways, I do not see how my mother has kept from killing him in these 51+ years! He is perpetually late to every event they ever attend... he is extremely high maintenance in matters of care & feeding... I could go on and on. But dmom has been relatively happily married to him for 51+ years.
Anyway... dh's faults are many, but so are mine... and what it boils down to is, he has been my best friend, I guess since I was 15 years old. 99% of the time, if I'm having one of my panic meltdowns, he knows how to calm me down and make me laugh. When HE is having a meltdown, usually I can see the forest for the trees and help him calm down. We agree on most all the big stuff about morality and life and religion and how the world ought to operate... and we pretty much live in our own little world, like the song says, and we're really happiest that way.
Sometimes I wonder if we're TOO insulated, too hermit-like, you know, b/c when/if something happens to one of us, neither of us have a huge network of outside people we pal around with. But I guess we'll just cross that bridge when we come to it. We have each other, ds, ddil, dgs, our parents & extended family... and we're okay with that. I have several IRL friends I talk to a lot, especially at school, but my panic disorder keeps me from "socializing" with others much... and dh plays golf w/a few guys, but mostly, he prefers to be alone or with me/ds/ddil/dgs.

Oh my... I am making up for my absence all week in one single post. Good gracious. I'm sorry. I better go call dmom & report on our safe return!

[Ivy]

Good Evening, Villager Ladies!

I got a 50-min. nap in with my Dcat on my lap. I finished a letter, updated and ran scans on my and DH's computers, bleached the sheets, helped make the bed, printed some patterns up, walked 30 min., and cleared off some room from disk C and emailed Dson.

It's been non-stop sports here all day. I just took children's elixir for colds/allergies, shut the door to my office, and turned up NPR smooth jazz radio on my boom box real loud, to drown out the news and sports. I've had my fill for today, it's only Saturday and it'll be pro-teams tomorrow. I don't know why it got to me all-of-a-sudden, because it usually doesn't bother me, unless having to use my elixir makes me cranky. At least at nighttime, we watch movies together. ♥ ♥

I need to do mending and hemming. I don't know if I'll do it tonight or not. I'm TRYING to smile! Maybe if I crochet. I hope baseball's on tonight. I can understand THAT game, but football is just way over the top of my head. I just don't "get" it, but try to.

We had thunder this a.m. and some showers. It's dry out right now.

Happy Saturday Smiles to Everybody! Sorry I sound frustrated.

[Harmony]

Hi again.

I do not know the teens as well as DH, in fact I do not even know their names, except for one or two. He wouldn't bother to set something up for me either. His commitment at the church is a sore spot with me anyway. Last week he got up very early and helped cook breakfast for the men's breakfast. I would so have loved to get up to breakfast today when I was so tired. Ak, don't get me started.

Dee, DD1 is overseas with her DH. He was working, then they had vacation. Very nice for them.

DGD is 26 months old. I know some of you thought she was just 1. She is potty training. But so much lifting. Help up into high chair which is pushed up to table without tray; help up onto bed so I can do changes, dress, help up into car seat..you know the drill. One thing I have in my advantage that OKay didn't have - DGD is very petite, about 24 pounds, and I am grateful because any heavier and I don't think I could manage.

I have her because baby's other grandparents are in Pennsylvania. And baby's aunt nearby has a big swimming pool and her boys leave the doors open so much they've had to shut off their alarm. Everybody over there swims, but she is much too young to be trusted in a place like that. Lucylee, I would think twice about the neice or whoever it was with the pool babysitting once your DGS walks. It only takes a second...

Dog is a labradoodle. She's a nice dog, but needs care, as dogs do. She's used to a fenced yard, and I have to walk her a lot or she won't go. She pulls on the leash badly and my arms are sore from that alone.

DumbDog eats tissues and whatever else is laying about and got something pink and I saw her swallow it...so I had to move furniture around and sweep (used broom) and pick everything up; and I mopped the dirtiest places and picked up the kitchen again..so it's not too bad. DD will probably be here Monday about Lunch time and I must plan for that too...

Oh, I know y'all are tired of all this. I'm off to bed.