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Do I sound healthier?

I mixed up my broccoli slaw and ate a serving.  It was quite tasty.  I figure there are all sorts of vitamins running around in my blood stream from the broccoli, carrots, and cabbage.  So, I must sound healthier!

I used that cole slaw dressing but I didn't find it entirely satisfactory.  First, it was very thick.  Second, it was pretty darn bland.  I added some vinegar and some sugar and that helped immensely.  Thinned down the bottled dressing so that I could actually "toss" the broccoli slaw and spread it around and brightened the taste considerably.  I probably still could have added a bit of salt, but decided I could get along without it.  Anyway, I'll be doing broccoli slaw again.  And, with this batch, I still have at least 2 servings left.

So, I tracked down the handyman I used a few months back.  So, he's due here next Friday at 10AM.  His first assignment is to fix the pet door!  Yeah!  Here I am worrying about window coverings to keep the sun out and I'm about to have a big open hole in the wall.  I guess the only saving grace is that it's on the east side of the house and in the shade very early in the morning.  Now I'm trying to decide if I want to be safe from whatever lurks in the garage and let him use HIS drill to hang these curtains. 

I started work on a kit for release for Memorial Day.  I pushed aside the kit I was working on which can be finished later.  But, the Memorial Day kind of has a deadline.  So, I'm trying to control my OCD-ness and do what I should.........  Anyway, I've done 6 printed papers and am moving along as though inspired.  That's a GOOD thing! 

I'm getting back to work.  Thanks for the company while I munched my late lunch/early dinner.  Maybe later......

Real Life

I had so many photos, big ones, in that last post, I decided to hold this part til later.  Typepad was getting a little cranky......

I don't really have a lot of news of a personal nature to post this morning.  I mean, it's not like I married Prince William yesterday or anything......Did you watch the wedding?  People on the west coast would have had to be in front of their TVs by 3AM and I just wasn't up for THAT!  I did look at photos on AOL and some short videos.  It was enough for me.  I guess there's a lot of hullabaloo in England over the fact that Pippa, the bride's sister and maid of honor, also wore white.  Get over it!  I realize there's tradition to be taken into consideration, but still........

So, I guess all the guys with ED are headed for Libya.  From what I hear, Ghadafi is passing out free little blue pills.  Pah-rum-pum.  No, I realize it's NOT a laughing matter.  It's not a laughing matter if you have ED and it's not a laughing matter if you happen to be a Libyan woman in the parts of the country that rebelled.  If the news reports are true, and that's always a big IF, Ghadafi is literally encouraging his soldiers to rape by passing out Viagra.  That is unthinkable anywhere and particularly unthinkable in a Moslem country.  The repercussions on a Moslem woman would be beyond horrible, possibly even death in some sort of "honor" killing. 

Well, I have spent 4 hours getting 3 kits uploaded to ACOT.  The site gave me fits on the last kit I was trying to upload.  Maybe I wore out the uploader or filled up the server?  Anyway, I was stuck on trying to get one part to START uploading for 40 minutes.  Bah!  I had no idea I'd just now be finishing up with the uploads when I started at 6AM!  I've had coffee, but unfortunately it was decaf which didn't help AT ALL. 

Last night was one of those wander-through-the-house-in-the-wee-small-hours-of-the-morning nights.  It took me a long time to get to sleep and then I only slept about an hour and a half before I spent two hours out here filling time til I thought I was tired enough to sleep.  And, I knew I had to be up early with so much uploading to do.  I think I might have managed 4 hours of sleep.  I'm ready for a nap.

Just to show you how tired I was when I got up, I decided a few minutes ago to go run an errand.  I tried to put my car keys in the pocket of my shorts only to discover I had my shorts on backwards! 

When I got up it was frosty in here.  My hands were cold and so was the rest of me.  I had my little space heater going under the desk but that wasn't enough to make a difference.  Finally, I went to check the temperature in the house and it was 66 degrees.  I can handle that if I'm wearing a sweatshirt and heavy pants, but it's a bit chilly for me when I'm wearing shorts and a tee shirt.  I finally had to kick the heat on for a few minutes, just to take the chill off.  It's still cool and windy outside now.  I even passed up a garage sale while I was out because I just was not about to look at garage sale stuff whilst shivering!

I read something interesting on the internet last night on the subject of dogs who shed.  The author states that it is exposure to light that causes animals to shed, not temperature.  The more hours a day they are exposed to light, the more they shed.  I have one of those fluorescent money-saver bulbs in my dining room light and another in the hall.  I don't like to take those 3AM patrols in the dark, so one or the other is on when I go to sleep.  From now on, it will be the hall light.  Max sleeps in the living room which is very well lit when the dining room light is on, but almost dark when the hall light is on.  So from now on, it will be the bulb in the hall that is lit, not the one in the dining room!  And, yes, according to the author of the article I read, this applies just as much to artificial light as it does to daylight.

Many's the time I've wanted to put a door across the entrance to that hallway and another further back.  I honestly think it would eventually pay for itself through energy savings.  During the day, the bulk of my time is spent in the front end of the house.  I really don't need the a/c much in the bedrooms in the day time.  I could close the door at the back of the hall during the day and only worry about the temperature in the front of the house influencing the thermostat.  And, at night, I want my bedroom to be cold enough to hang meat, but I don't need the pups to get frostbitten toes in the living room or office.  I just haven't been able to puzzle out the opening and closing of vents in the various areas of the house multiple times a day.  This is particularly true in the living room/dining room area where the openings are up so high I need a stepladder to reach them.  Maybe I should invent remote-controlled vent covers?

Time for some eye candy, I guess.  The CT at Sunshine Studio Scraps has posted their layouts with my products.  I think I'll show you one by cityangel23.  She used the Brian the Aviator kit to create this darling page.

I think this is the perfect kit for these photos!  How cute!  If you think she did a great job (on short notice) you can leave her some love here.

Alright.  I really am going to go back to bed and try to get some more sleep.  I hate this, but I am really not very functional on 4 hours of sleep.  Be blessed!

At last I can spill the beans........

I've been waiting a while to do this.  I'm glad the wait is finally over. 

Announcing my new store at

Sunshine Studio Scrap

Hows about them apples!!!!!!!!

And, to celebrate, we have not one but three new kits this week as well as two recent kits that are on sale in both stores.  Let me show you what we've got!

First up, a cute kit primarily for boys, but you could use it to scrap days spent under beautiful blue skies as well.  Also, perfect for your travel pages.  It's called Brian the Aviator.

Here's a closer look at the elements, papers and alphas.

Mother's Day is coming up soon, so a kit that's perfect for scrapping the ladies in your life is appropriate.  You can scrap your Momma (or yo' mama), your favorite aunt, your daughter who is the mother of your grandchildren, or darn near anything else with this kit.  It's called La Femme.

The following is an ACOT exclusive:

See, I told you this kit would be perfect for all your feminine layouts!

Finally, a kit for the princess in you or for scrapping that beautiful little princess you're raising.  This kit is called Itty Bitty Princess and I had my teeny tiny granddaughter in mind when I created it, but there are a lot of ways you could use this kit!

This kit sat on my hard drive for quite a while because I couldn't find a dragon and I couldn't find a princess that satisfied me.  Finally............  Here it is.

I am also adding Bloomers and Bloomers 2 to my Sunshine Studio Scrap store so both of these kits will be on sale this weekend at BOTH stores.  Here are the kit previews.  Since you've seen them before, I won't risk breaking Typepad by publishing all the detail previews for them again.  This is just by way of a reminder........

So everything you see here will be on sale

30% off for Saturday and Sunday only

in both stores.  Pick your favorite store and help me celebrate the inauguration of a brand new (to me) store!  The buttons to the top right are linked!  Check back later in the week for a freebie!

I know you'll think I'm lyin'

But, I'm not.  I decided to treat myself to a new, totally empty vacuum cleaner bag.  And I ran the vacuum cleaner over the 3/4 of the office I vacuumed yesterday and the other 1/4 I'd not done.  Then I vacuumed about a 4 sq ft area of the living room.  And guess what?  The bag is full of dog hair and dirt and I'm back to cleaning out the tubes with my finger.  Can you believe it?  Pinky swear, it's the truth.

I sorted through the stuff on that bottom shelf on the fridge door.  Next will be to try to get all the ooey gooey stuff off the flat surface of the shelf.  I found stuff in there I KNOW I never bought.  I don't have a clue where some of it came from.  For all I know, Joe moved it here from California and when he "cleaned out" the fridge, just ignored it.  So, I'm starting to wonder if I'm going to be able to lift the kitchen trash bag to empty it.  I am not one to keep old bottles and jars so I've pitched a bunch.  Joe would have saved them to store leftovers in..........

I tried to go through the stuff in that last car box.  What a mish mash.  And it looks to me like it will end up in the garage, kind of among the tools til I get a lot closer to a garage sale.  There are two car jacks and two sets of booster cables.  Actually, I think there's a set of booster cables in the van too.  I think Will said he found 3 or 4 umbrellas in the car and one of those was in this box.  And there's an entire collection of bungee cords.  I'll have to stretch those and see if they're dead.  Rubber doesn't do well in the desert.  Lord knows how long Joe hauled those around in the car which spent a LOT of time in the hot dry desert sun.  I managed to throw some things away, but some of it looks like it's worth selling and the rest is just part of the mysteries of life.  Anyway, I think I'll pack what is left back in the box for ease in carrying and take it to the garage to sort tomorrow.

I bought the shredded broccoli to make broccoli slaw.  Then I realized I don't really know how to make broccoli slaw.  So I researched a bit on the internet.  It appears I can just pour some cole slaw dressing on the shredded broccoli mixture!  How easy is that?  And, I just happen to have a bottle of that in my newly cleaned fridge.  Actually, I was hoping that was how it would work out, since I knew I had that cole slaw dressing, but didn't have time to check a recipe before I dashed out of here this morning.  So, I'm glad that worked.  I think that will be pretty darn tasty!

I gave myself another treat too!  I ate 6 gorgeous ripe strawberries!  Oh my, were they good!  Made me think of that Mimi's salad I love so much with the walnuts and blue cheese crumbles and strawberries and craisins, but nowadays, Mr. B.U.D.G.E.T would not approve of me spending that much on a salad.  So, I'll just remember it wistfully for now, LOL.  I was surprised to note that the el cheapo grocery store actually has bagged salad mixes.  Unfortunately I didn't see the one I like best or I'd have bought one.  Maybe next time.  Besides I figured I could do the broccoli slaw cheaper than a salad.  Even after you buy the greens, you have to think about tomatoes and onions and all the other ingredients.  And, chances are broccoli has more vitamins than some of that other stuff anyway.

Mostly tonight, I've been wading through blogs.  I've managed to whittle the accumulation down now to 1943 blog posts to read (from 2480).  I can guarantee you there are at least 400 there I won't read.  I'm not all that interested in those blogs anymore but have yet to figure out how to delete the blogs from my list of approved feeds. 

So, here is the big news of the day and if you've read this far, you can celebrate with me.  I came home to find a voicemail message from the guy at Social Security who processed my application for survivor benefits.  Quite honestly, that didn't set well with me.  I mean, it was all determined.  I qualified.  I needed to send in two documents, I sent the two documents, now why is he calling me.  Of course, my first thought was that I was going to have to argue with him over some technical point.  I mean, after all, you don't hear good things about Social Security.  I called, he was on the phone.  I went to drag the last batch of groceries in from the car and while I was outside, he called back.  I called again.  He was on the phone.  The receptionist type that I kept getting could tell I was anxious.  She kept telling me I would have to wait til Monday because they close at 4 mountain time and it was quittin' time.  I made up my mind I was going to turn it over to the Lord and NOT worry about it all weekend.  But, lo and behold, he called me back.  And, to make a long story short, he decided I qualified for benefits back to the date of Joe's death.  My choice, and boy it was a tough one (NOT!)--whether I'd like to give up $25 per month in benefits going forward to get 3 months worth of back benefits in one lump sum.  It must have taken me all of a second and a half to work this out.  Send me the BIG check!  So, once again God has rained blessings on me. 

I knew this was a possibility.  But, what a blessing that it became a reality.  Now, I'm wondering from which hat God will pull the next rabbit! 

So, I have had enough for one day.  I was not too smart and cleaned out that bottom shelf bent over.  So, it's time to get horizontal and rest the back.  Besides I have a mountain of uploading to do tomorrow, as early in the morning as I can possibly start.  So, I'm off to snoresville as soon as I feed the dogs.  Sleep well..........

 

Mid Day report

I spent quite a long time at the office.  Trying to catch up.  And doing two payrolls, LOL.  Scottie told me yesterday that the time sheets that were there were to be paid next week.  Today I found out that the boss wanted everyone to be paid.  Unfortunately, I only found out that second part after I did a payroll for just the boss and me. 

My errand for the day was to stop at the el cheapo grocery store.  I don't know when Jennifer plans to go to Costco next and I don't know if I'll be invited to go along.  So.....  I decided I'd better try to find something I might want to eat.  So, I spent just over $45.  Some of what I got will last some time.  Some will be immediately consumed.  I got the equivalent of two boxes of Honey Bunches of Oats, 2 gallons of milk, a BIG container of Nesquik, a package of 12 burritos, a package of 10 fish fillets.  I got a little bit of fresh fruit, three bananas and some strawberries.  For veggies, I got the makings for Broccoli Slaw and I got 2 yams which I can just microwave and eat with butter and 1 yam will make a meal or two for me.  I also got a couple of cans of peas on sale and some peroxide and a tiny bottle of bleach.  I think that's it.  So, food that looks different than what I've been eating.  Even managed to work in a veggie or two and a little bit of fruit. 

I am not particularly a fan of Mexican food though Joe did his best to convince me these last years.  However, I can eat it.  And, while cleaning the fridge I found a LARGE container of salsa.  So, I nuked one of those frozen burritos and laid on some salsa and it wasn't half bad.  Not gourmet quality, of course, but edible and tastes unlike anything I've eaten in the last 4 months. 

I figure I can eat fish or fish sandwiches, make some pasta with peas, and eat burritos.  And I even have at least 2 meals worth of yams.  So, I'm pretty well set up for a while with what was already on hand and these purchases. 

Well, I have stuff still in the car that I have to drag in.  I'm thinking I'm going to have to get a cooler into the car for days like this.  Oh, Lord--that means a trip to the dreaded garage......  Bye for now!

Good news and bad news.......

Well, the good news is that I am beneficiary to 650,000GBP or so the e-mail I just got (and deleted says).  The bad news is that right in the middle of drying my hair my hairdryer went kerphluey.  I was blessed to have an OLD hairdryer (if I'm not mistaken, it's between 15 and 20 years old) that I think used to be my daughter's so I was able to finish drying my hair.  But now I shall have to spend time finding and ordering a new hair dryer.  I surely don't want to depend on one that's 15 years old.......  Great for a backup at times like this but not for daily use.........  It's the "little" things like this that really upset Mr. B.U.D.G.E.T.  They DO mount up!  Thank God, I have a rich daddy.

On a short string

I'm headed in to work today.  Can't stay here long........  Among other things, I'll do payroll for myself and my boss. 

I am tired this morning.  I was up about every two hours last night.  Gotta remember to drink that water earlier in the day!

I have decided I'm going to have to sacrifice a z-pack for this sinus thing.  I'm out of erythromycin now and I still have solid evidence of infection.....  Yuck!

If you're a scrapper, you probably know about Etsy.  In case you're not a scrapper or don't know Etsy, let me tell you about it.  You know, we ladies are really creative.  We make all sorts of things--jewelry, clothing, home decor pieces, etc.  Well, Etsy allows creative ladies to sell their handmade items in a boutique type atmosphere.  I haven't purchased much at Etsy because of Mr. B.U.D.G.E.T., but what I have purchased, I have been really pleased.  When Elizabeth was born, I bought a personalized necklace for Jennifer with the names of her three children on it.  I also bought a necklace there for my daughter-in-law.  I was just reading another blog and found a big post about "mini wallets" which can be used as business card holders.  Let me see if I can steal a photo......

Those are from an Etsy Shop called Knitty Bitties.  They are featured on one of my favorite blogs, Beneath my Heart.  Anyway, they have all sorts of products, camera strap covers, little quilted fabric strips to wrap around your coffee cup to keep your coffee warm but keep it from burning your fingers, a soft cover for your Ipod, etc. 

Now here's my idea and, yes, I am giving it away.  I live in the world's dustiest house.  I'm betting my house is as dusty as a hut in Africa with a dirt floor.  I want a cover for my computer screen!  I was sitting here last night, working away.  And this batch of dog hair, maybe 6 hairs clumped together just came wafting through the air from god knows where and landed on my computer screen.  And, I probably take my hand and wipe dust from the screen 3 times a day.  It would help SOME if I had an easy to put on cover for my screen, kind of like a tea cozy.  At least, I could cover the screen when I knew I wouldn't be using it for a while, like when I'm getting ready to run out to the office or when I'm headed for bed.  Now, who's gonna make one of these for me in exchange for this fabulous idea?  Just leave me a comment if you're up for it.  I'll get you measurements. 

So, today, I will attempt to coax my back into getting me into some sort of position where I can reach that bottom shelf on the door of the fridge.  Maybe I can put a towel down on the floor and just sit on it.  Anyway, once the shelf is done, next up is the little drawer which is stuffed full of unidentified varieties of cheese.  And some bacon that was in there when Joe died.  I'm thinking that bacon is really beyond the pale by now.  And, I think the unidentified cheeses will become fabulous doggy treats.  If a recipe calls for parmesan cheese, I'd probably want to be really sure I wasn't adding white cheddar, KWIM?  Then, the final frontier, the freezer above the fridge.  It is not so much that that needs cleaned or stuff thrown out as it is that I need to know what's in there.

And, I will continue vacuuming.  I notice that in the area where I vacuumed yesterday, one of the pups has chewed up a stick.  Thank you very much for your contribution, Parker/Max/Punkin.  I will probably even try to find my special little rubber tool and clean out some of the dog hair under the sofa and loveseat.  The vacuum won't fit under there and there's at least enough hair under there to make yet another dog. 

And, I guess I'll just continue my current round robin on the rest of the house.  Living room is up next and that box of Joe's car stuff is my target for today.  After that comes the laundry area.  I think I have some ideas for stuff that can be successfully stored in those drawers under the washer and dryer.  Since I can't possibly get rid of them because I can't move them, I might as well try to use them.  If I make it into the Master Bedroom, it's time to dust in there. 

And my new tax client sent me some stuff via e-mail yesterday so I'd better be looking at that!

Yup, I think I can stay plenty busy today.  How about you?  Did you watch "the wedding"?  Everyone on Facebook is pretty hyped up about that.  I personally could care less about that though I wouldn't mind seeing a photo of her dress.......

I have to go get ready for work.  If I can get in there early enough, maybe I can get out of there while I still have a bit of energy left and can accomplish something here when I get home.  You have a blessed day!

 

A bit more progress

Well, I am still working, but progress has been made.  Progress on the fridge.  There is still one shelf to go on the door, one that is low and going to require bending.  I think that may have to wait til tomorrow.  A whole lot of very old stuff is in the trash.  I think the oldest thing I found was a salad dressing that expired in 2003!  I did keep some expired things--risked puking and tasted them and they were still okay. 

Progress with the vacuuming.  So far I can build a small dog with the accumulated dog hair and fill a boy's dump truck with the accumulated dirt.  And, I'm only about 3/4 done with the office.  Still a lot of real estate to cover. 

I've made progress with the laundry.  At least the clean laundry has made it to bedroom. 

I've climbed up on my step stool and managed to replace the bulb in that outside light. The darn screw holes don't line up very well, and even with the step stool I had trouble seeing.  But, I got it done.

Primarily, I've worked on trying to recreate what was lost from my newest in-process kit when the computer died.  I think I've done it.  Now to move that along to completion before it molds right here on my computer screen! 

I am still having trouble balancing the various parts of my life.  I feel pulled in so many directions with my job, tax work, design, and this house which needs so much work.  It seems I spend a lot of time doing what I must rather than what I want.  I guess that's just the way it goes, right?  I started to try to work out a plan, but the big question is whether I'd be ready to work the plan even if I got it all worked out on paper.  Somehow, I think this particular problem is one with which  many many women are familiar. 

I just fixed myself an egg sandwich for dinner.  I tell you, I am sick to death of the available food in this house.  I ended up feeding half of it to the dogs.  I need something different to look at in terms of food!  Now, if I can figure out how to get it free, life will be complete, LOL. 

Jennifer posted a very cute photo on Facebook yesterday.  Poor Atticus seems to have come down with the same stomach flu Bethie had last week.  He was curled up on the floor of her office sleeping in the photo.  She says the "school pictures" from the Day Care have come in and he looks very cute in his.  No doubt.  He's a cutie pie! 

I have pretty much decided I'm going to have to uninstall and reinstall the new printer.  I tried to scan something today and got nowhere.  I don't know what else to do........

It's time for me to turn in.  I've had enough for today.  I could use more today to work with but I don't know how to get that and I've got to be up early in the AM.  Goodnight.

Research and other minutiae

I forgot to say I researched the cost of blenders at Amazon.com.  They are fast becoming my go-to online shopping site.  Anyway, did you know you can spend anywhere from $16 to $378 on a blender?????  One would think for that big $300+ price the darn thing would be electroplated with gold!  I picked out one for $38 and it is NOT what I really want, but........  I had hoped to find one, maybe by Braun or Krups, if they make 'em, that I could afford.  No such luck.  If they make coffee grinders, shouldn't they make blenders too?  Anyway, I don't care about 14 speeds.  Five or six will do.  But, I would like a glass container.  I don't like the way the plastic ones look when they come out of the dishwasher, all cloudy and all.  Makes me think I'm drinking chemical residue.  Anyway, as long as I buy one for over $25 from Amazon, I qualify for free shipping.  But, mine hasn't smelled funny since that one day, so I'm going to try to use it a while longer without replacement.

I called Scott and he says the timesheets that are at the office are for next week.  Because of unemployment claims and so on, due to intermittent work, our payroll schedule is all mucked up.  But, we're supposed to have a one week holdback on paychecks.  So, we are going back to the holdback.  That is good.  And, I love that those timesheets have already been turned in.  Gives me lots of wiggleroom on next week's schedule.  So, I don't HAVE to go to work today.  I'll go tomorrow and stay longer and save on gasoline from the commute.  Last time I was out and about, I saw gasoline at $3.84 a gallon.  It keeps going up........I guess Representative Waters was telling the truth when she said the price would keep going up til the government could take over gas and oil production and "socialize" it. 

You can see Ms Waters on You Tube here.  It's particularly important to watch the expressions on the faces of her compatriots when she lets the cat out of the bag.  Also, note the level of stammering and stuttering when she realize what she's said.......  Sorry, you'll have to copy and paste this link into your browser as the link is not working.

http://youtu.be/pW_FXjbt6wY

Jobs, jobs and more jobs......

Outside my window, it's sunny with a little cloud cover.  These meteorologists make me a little nutso.  For whatever reason, while today was SUPPOSED to be in the 70's, it's now been upgraded to a high of 89!  Big difference there, guys........But there is NO wind.  That's a good thing for us allergy sufferers.

Well, it's Thursday and I ALWAYS go to work on Thursdays.  It is my day to do payroll so paychecks can be signed and out to the guys by Friday.  It will be interesting to see if anyone bought ink or figured out what's up with the printer.  If they didn't, then I'll have to do manual checks. 

And I have to run an errand after work which will keep me on the road til early afternoon.  I could be home sooner, but I overslept.  Geez......  So, I doubt a whole lot will get done around here, but I'll try.

I did go back over that kitchen floor last night.  I wanted it to look cleaner, but my back was already protesting about doing it once.  But, it looks better.  I also scrubbed the wall next to the dishwasher.  It looks better, but it sure doesn't look good.  Joe was a "slap and dash" kind of "cleaner".  He was in charge of after dinner cleanup and it was really important to be a good 6 feet away when he was "cleaning".  Otherwise, there was just no predicting what would end up on your face, your clothes or in your hair from the "overspray".  Food fragments and water and whatever else.  You can maybe imagine what that wall looks like as the dishwasher sits right inside that wall. 

I realized that I moved on to floors in the kitchen, but I did not go through the stuff on the fridge door.  And I didn't go through the freezer.  So, perhaps that can be my kitchen project for today. 

Inside my front door is the last box of stuff from Joe's car.  I think I haven't messed with it because I can see at least one set of jumper cables in there, maybe two.  Sure enough, once I tackle that box I'm going to have to go into the garage.  That garage is so bad.  And, honestly, there is just no point to my trying to work out there until the floors are done.  There are boxes and boxes of books along the whole left side of the garage, stacked as high as my head.  So, it's not like I can bring those in and empty them til we're done moving furniture around.  I want so much to be able to park in the garage.  It gets SO DARN HOT here and I hate the thought of the van sitting out in the desert sun.  I had thought I'd have some help sorting things, at least with the tools, but it's obvious I'm on my own.  But, I'm tired of having a box of car stuff "grace" my front entry way.  So, maybe I can work on that today and I'll have to wait to think about doing anything in the garage. 

I did get a load of laundry done yesterday, mostly.  I got it all washed and all dried and most of it folded.  But, when it was getting along toward midnight and I was still folding clothes, somehow the desire just drained right out of me, LOL.  So, I will finish folding those clothes and put them away together with what I folded yesterday. 

When the dryer went out a couple of years ago, We had the usual debate.  I wanted to fix what we had.  He wanted to buy new.  Well, as usual, he won and we bought a new dryer.  And a new washer.  And those drawers that go under the washer and dryer.  And those storage drawers are totally empty.  When he bought them, I had thought I would store standard laundry supplies, like dryer sheets and bleach in them, but they're not deep enough for a lot of things I thought I could use them for.  I need to repurpose those drawers.  They raise my washer and dryer up high enough that I don't like it.  After Joe died, I did some laundry and a bunch of his stuff is stacked up on the dryer.  I would save myself a lot of bodily contortions in reaching the dryer controls if I did something with those clothes.  I just haven't wanted to face it.  I had thought I would have a garage sale and sell a bunch of stuff.  But, so far, I haven't gathered up much of any value to sell.  LOTS of stuff has hit the trash.  And I have some things to donate.  One of the problems in dealing with those clothes is deciding what to do with them.  I don't know if I can sell them.  I mean, they're decent quality things, docker pants, that sort of thing, and I think garage sale shoppers would be pleased with them.  I just don't know that I can sell his personal stuff.  So, I don't know what to do with those clothes.  Sell or donate?  It makes a difference in packing them up.......

And, with the pain in my back from mopping, I did NOT vacuum.  I wonder if I can do some of that today.  I hope so.  It's not getting any less dusty around here when I don't vacuum, I can promise you that! I actually got down with my little rubber tool and gathered up a mound of dog hair that was bunched up against the molding last week.  There's another pile just about as big this week.......

I guess another fix-it project I am going to have to delegate to me is the pet door.  The flap is hanging by a thread now.  I tried to have Jennifer's handyman friend fix that months ago.  First, I think he REALLY didn't want to fix it the way I specified.  And, second, it requires some "special" materials.  So, he fixed a couple of things and hung around a lot and charged me a reasonable price for what he'd done and left, promising to call me to arrange a time to come back.  I've never heard from him again.  In Real Life, he is an electrician and started doing the handyman thing to get some money into the house when he was laid off.  By the time Jennifer recommended him to me, he was back to work.  So, maybe he's not even doing this kind of thing anymore.  I just don't know.  Anyway, someone has to do this job and I guess I'm someone.  I don't want to do it because it involves the use of a saw and all we have around here is a manual saw.  And, I'm sure there are saws with sharper blades.  If I had a miter saw, it would be a 3 second job.  But with that manual saw, I'll be at it for hours.  But, look how much exercise I'll have had by the time I'm finished.  Come to think of it, maybe I can have Home Depot cut the wood.......  That would certainly get the job done a lot sooner, LOL.

I noticed too that one of the outside lights needs a bulb.  At least, I hope that's all it needs.  The good part of that is that I get to replace an incandescent bulb with one of those flourescent jobbers that is supposed to save me close to $1 a month on the power bill.  The bad part is that the lights are set high enough and put together in such a way that, at the least, I have to stand on a stool to change the bulb.  And, if I remember correctly, it's 4 screws to mess with just to get to where the bulb gets inserted and they're on top where I can't see them.  PITA but I guess I can handle it.  I just recently located the stepstool I've owned for years so at least now I have a reasonably easy way to reach the fixture. 

Well, I have to get moving or I won't be home til midnight.  I've had a little coffee and I am now safe with dangerous objects like hot curling irons.  Gotta git!  Have a blessed day!