WEDNESDAY WRANGLIN'

[Nancy]

I have wrangled hens into the run for confinement until we had the next coat of white paint on the coop. It looks tons better now.

[Harmony]

We have both front and back porches and use them both. I will often sit out there to carry on a phone conversation, so I'm not annoying to DH inside as he's trying to get something else done... and I really like sitting either out front or out back while I'm having coffee or watching a rain storm. We're the only ones in the neighborhood that I've seen using a porch, though, even those with nice screened in lanais are not used. (Sadie) I hope you get your insurance figured out soon.

Wrangle: to herd or care for. I wrangled the laundry today, 2 LOL still hanging, another LOL sorted ready for tomorrow. I cared for all the paperwork chores, took care of the statements on my desk and I drove to customers to pick up a check and stopped at the bank on the way back.

I emailed a bunch of people who signed up for our small group which starts this Sunday. I managed to print off a certificate for DH. Couple tries as their program wasn't responding.

I'm satisfied at least this much is done. Gave DH a haircut, glad to have that done, he's been pleading for one, getting shaggy. Gotta clean up kitchen now.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Wrangled up my business cards and we had a nice diner dinner. Dh came with me on the border run which unfortunately turned out to take over 3 hours instead of 2. He's on many deadlines today so that wasn't good.

We did enjoy our dinner, though, and my business cards look and feel great (he paid for the heavier stock, plus they are full colour.) Wally World was out of printer ink for us but I did pick up a great rain jacket. I'm thrilled with it because it has two inside pockets as well as an outside breast pocket and dh says it looks good on me (it is purple.)

Best of all, we took a different route from the diner back to the border and I saw a Tractor Supply store. Dh offered to pull in and it is laid out exactly like Harriet's! And in the exact same spot was the (empty) display of the cherry candies she's got me hooked on. Only $2.99 (I paid $5 per bag with shipping and handling last time!) So I have a much more local source. I'm annoyed at the company because I had phoned and asked them for dealers in Ogdensburg and they only showed Wally World (who doesn't carry the cherry candy, just the jelly bellies.)

On the down side, my NEXUS has expired and I tried to cross the border using it (a HUGE no-no) so we were delayed 20 minutes while they made us sit in time-out (literally - there were no other people in the place and 3 officers on duty but we had to sit for 10 minutes until one of them served us.) I need to reapply for that and also for a new passport because mine expires next August 5 and I need to enter New Zealand on Feb. 6. Normally you need 6 months before expiry to enter a country but I'll look and see what the regulations are for Australia (which I enter on the 5th) and New Zealand. So I need to apply for my passport either before I apply for the NEXUS, or after I've applied but while awaiting for my interview. NEXUS takes at least 8 weeks to get so I many not get it before I leave for Australia. I can still use a passport to enter the US in the meantime, I just can't take the short line-ups that NEXUS offers me.

[Nancy]

We went to the store dgson got his trick or treat costume
For helping paint and some yd. Work. We did no homework.
I got a half off deep pink rugusa rose to fill in a spot in the hedge by the back fence. Dgson helped to dig the hole for it. We planted it and staked bird fencing around it to keep the hens from making dinner out of it.
We came in for a water break when I went out to put Some stuff away I had to scare off a hawk. ACK!

The grand kids are excited to help with more painting on the inside of the coop but first we need to clean it a bit. And I have one more coat to do inside on the run.

[Harriet]

Kathryn, "empty" meaning you are waiting on them to restock at that price or "empty" meaning empty now that you have been their customer?

OKay, what did you ever decide to do about that exercise class at church? I was thinking that might be really difficult for you to join, what with LO's schedule. I don't know what the "ripped" classes might be, unless based on Jil lian Michael's "Ripped in 30" program, but a Zumba program could be managed at home if you feel like being a self-starter and have access to privacy with a VCR. Of course, I realize part of your decision might be based on a desire to help the church with a program.

Lynlee, is puppy more comfortable now? Must be somewhat long-haired? Good to hear the positive things about treatment and physio. Yes, change is in the worldwide air. We are really feeling the cool temp drops here as you feel it rise.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

jEmpty in that they need to restock, I left empty-handed. But there was a shelf tag so I know it is a regularly stocked item. Obviously another one of your addict friends beat me to the candies this time.

On the plus side, I can always phone ahead to see if they have stock.

My passport application form is filled in. Will go for photos tomorrow and then hand over my passport and forms. Had to use my sister as emergency contact because dd doesn't have a phone number in Ontario yet and ds lives in Australia.

Once I hand over my passport, I'm stuck here for 14 days at most (we hope.) Processing time is 10 business days, so that will be October 25. The only reason I have to leave the country is if there's an emergency with ds, so I should be fine. Once I have a passport number, I can start filling in the renewal of my NEXUS.

Edited: Currently it is taking 4 - 6 months to get through the process so I won't have it for the Australia trip. Hope it doesn't inconvenience dh too much.

[BookSaver]

I've whittled down the list of sewing projects to take to a more reasonable number. Still taking too many, but it would take more time to make more decisions. Anyway, I like having a variety with me because I won't know until I get there what the working conditions will be like. If I end up having to work at a table in a dark corner, that will affect what color fabrics I feel like playing with.

Right now I'm doing some maintenance on my Netbook's anti-virus software and files. I haven't used it since August so everything is outdated. We're supposed to have access to free wi-fi in the camping lodge, I should be able to check Email.

Oh, just remembered that I need to charge my cell phone. BRB.
...

Received an Email saying the lodge will be unlocked for us sometime between 10 AM and noon. I will try to get my car loaded and hit the road by 10.

Need to stop at the post office and grocery store on the way, and hope I can find all the requests on the list at just 1 store. They asked me to pick up croissants for Friday lunch, which is why I didn't finish the shopping earlier.

Trying to get to bed before midnight. I have a few computer-related tasks to finish. Must adjust the hdd for the tv to delete some programming; no point in recording shows that I won't have time to watch.