Saturday Doings

[Emptynester]

Things are starting to get more real about us leaving for the summer. I just made campground reservations for the first night. Usually we don't make reservations but we needed to for this campground to get our 50% discount.

I also made reservations and registered for a rally in July in MN. So that is locked in.

Haven't moved any food yet as, after our walk, DH wanted me to cut his hair. So that is done.

DH and I were looking at a really overgrown batch of prickly pear cactus yesterday morning when a big, old rat was spotted. It is probably a pack rat - but a rat is a rat. We will stop and buy some poison when we are in town next week. His habitat will be gone when we come back in the fall - that is for sure!!!

Off to do the dishes and get the kitchen cleaned up. I have been making double meals this last week so we will be eating out of the freezer. That way I can move everything to the MH and still be able to eat in the house.

[Harmony]

Oh my, MT. I would not want to be packing for 6 months.

OKay, those of us with businesses know how hard it is to get away. We haven't had a trip away in a long long time. When we do go away it is always to see the DKids. We haven't had a proper vacation ever I don't think. Well, an extended weekend to Key West twice.

Our trips to the beach have to suffice. DH wants to go today and Idonwanna. I just have things I want to do here, though I will go with him if he's set on it. We may e getting some rain later anyway. Last eve. it rained and rained. Wow, our swale was full up to the road and the retention pond across the street was full also. I came here to post and then lost connection before I could submit. I know Sunny is getting more rain than we are because she's further north, closer to the storm.

Whatever we do today, I must go shopping and make big huge fruit platter for tomorrow's funeral luncheon.

DH is napping. He seems so tired these days. I know his hip hurts a lot.

[DeeClutter]

(((Mr. Harmony))) Wonder if DD is getting rain on the opposite coast. They left for Cocoa Beach yesterday for the weekend. Gd13 took a friend with her & wonder how that is going. They're probably keeping each other entertained. A good thing! Saw there was supposed to be turbulent surf from FL up, so maybe they're not getting in the water at all. DD, gd & friend are going kayaking tomorrow -on the Intercoastal.

I just spent the last nearly 2 hours looking for pies for dh for tonight's baked food auction. Went to our normal bakery -closed for the holiday (neither of us even thought about it), came back to a town about 10 miles from first to look for a particular bakery -think it's gone, came back about 4 miles from camp to a really good bakery (next in line was the local big grocery -14 miles in other direction). Finally found some things at this bakery - a key lime pie and a Boston creme pie. DH's first words were: "You couldn't get any pies?" I just gave him the look He didn't think they looked like 'pie' boxes. I could have baked I suppose but didn't think about it early enough. Bakery items are SO expensive! A cherry pie -probably a 9" was $14.50. Wouldn't it just be easier to give a $25 donation, says I? AND I'm sure dh will be bidding (way too much) on something tonight. Be funny if he bids on one of our own -NOT.

I read for a while and dozed heavily. I hate spending time during the day doing that.

DH is down getting potatoes cooking for tonight's chicken barbecue. Hope he remembered to get me a ticket. He gets one free for his contribution of time. Think they sold about 200. Campground was on the news last night -pointing out people staying close to home for the weekend.

I don't particularly like packing for 6 months either, Harmony. Just a necessary evil at this point in our lives. I'm already dreading getting ready to go back south.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Another sunny day here. The towels on the line are almost dry and I've just started a load of fine washables that I'll hang out for an hour and then bring in and hang up inside if that isn't enough.

Dd called and we'll meet her for supper tonight. Am trying to connect with her god-brother and bring him along too, but he might be at work.

Dh and I are working on anthems (I'm here because he had to tune the auto-harp.)

[ellyphant]

Started the day with a trip to the bank to get some papers notarized. Then had a successful trip to K ohl's for tennis shoes so DH and I can resume our evening walks. Worked up a sweat making a bowl of coleslaw--don't want to use a/c just yet. Could not get my food processor to work. Don't use it often enough to remember its quirks. Usually have to read directions each time I use it. The problem is I know where those directions used to live in the other house, but not where they are in this one! Ended up just chopping the cabbage with a knife. Will donate that darn food processor if I don't find the directions! It is obviously too advanced for me, if I can't work it after all these years! So frustrating...

Harriet, you should write a book about your hens. Your story with the snake was so entertaining!

We are getting thunderstorms--the cook-out this evening may be a cook-in.

[Indiana]

ellyphant many times you can go on line for directions for appliances.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Still waiting to hear from dd.

I shall spend the rest of my time in 15s now, having wasted most of today.

[Lilac]

ellyphant, when I was packing up the items on shelves in the utility room (furnace and hot water heater), I came across a box and lo and behold was a food processor that I didn't even remember having. Dh and I think he might have bought it for me as a gift when we lived in the house before the last one. I vaguely remember where it was at that house. I probably should get rid of it since I know it wasn't used in 15+ years. Hopefully I can remember to use it.

This morning dd1 and I walked. Then I mowed the yard at both houses. Dh trimmed at both houses and pulled weeds out by the alley at other house. I was feeling kind of woozy by the time we came home but my bs was not low, so I guess it was the heat getting to me. It is hot and windy and really doing a job on the lawn at the other house.

MT and Dee, I have to say that I admire your ability to pack for 6 months. I had a terrible time just packing for 10 days.

Harmony, a fruit platter is such a nice contribution to the funeral luncheon.

[Nancy]

I was wishing I had a pot for a rosemary plant I got yesterday and then ta-daa found a blue one by the patio out side I got from the farm several years ago glad I spotted it first! Yea for that. When I was watering I found more squash seeds up and sprouting so they just took longer than the others because they were in the shade or did not get as much water I guess.

[Harriet]

Nancy, if you can, just buy straw, not hay - cheaper, plus you don't care that they get anything to eat from it, just that it's comfy to live on it. My quick/easy source for it is the home improvement stores, where it is kept stocked for building supply (landscaping) year-round, in case others only have it at certain times.

After I got my ddad's breakfast and went to walk with him and he decided on a nap, HRH and I left dd in charge for the first time EVER (though she hated it). We finally got to the bank together to sign papers the notary there had told me (on a wasted first trip) had to be signed with both spouses present. The only possibility for that for HRH was the bank's minimal Saturday a.m. hours. (This is just the trivial right-of-way sliver thing for the state to improve the road, but we don't want to be seen as the hold-up!) Why on earth send documents that require spouses to be present together to sign, making it twice as much trouble!!! Dumb.

The nice notary lady, speaking about spouses, asked what our special plans were for the weekend, and HRH said we got 15 minutes alone together to rush to the bank - that's it. She laughed, but you know, really, he's not kidding.

We had to rush home without looking side to side, of course, but later I took dd by the used bookstore, and though I found several cute craft books, I was too cheap to buy. She found a book for sketching ideas. Our library is closed for repairs until June 9, which is a problem in more than one way, including the fact that I owe them money.

At home I tried to find a Mary Engle breit idea from one of the books but I don't believe any crafter has photographed theirs for the net. She had taken a single Newel Post (staircase post of turned wood with the round knob on top) and painted it delightfully (of course - in her style) and hung the sign, "Bloom Where You're Planted" from it, slightly skewed, with twine/rope. Several examples were shown, standing in gardens of flowers, veggies. Reminded me how much I enjoy her imagination, and how many times I've decided against purchases of her books or her magazine, just because they seemed pricey.