Littlesister

Necie, seems you are getting the farm set up nice. When all the work to get it like you want and gardens planted, you will have a really nice setup there. Mt. Rider, I worry about you neck issue. I have been down that road. Have you had an x-ray or MRI done. I might be a good idea to find out what is going on. With the dizziness, it could be the spinal cord is involved. Best not to take a chance on that. Try to at least get an x-ray of the neck. Hope your ride goes well and it helps a lot. It is nice outside today so working in yard as much as I can with this Bumb knee. Putting the last 2 wood racks together and doing a bit of weeding. Otherwise, nothing else going on. Did get to sit down last night and read a bit. So that was good.

Becca Anne, I hope they won't casing the houses also. Being the older guy with the 2 young kids and taken pictures was a bit strange. Don't know why the older guy would be hanging around with 2 young kids unless they were up to no good. And why the pictures of our houses. But either way I have Smith and Wesson on guard duty for a while. The guy across from my driveway is navy police and next door to him is a retired police officer. So, whatever these kids' motive is, they best think twice about pulling anything. I put out the neighborhood watch on this one. So, everyone is watching out for these kids. I have extra lights on outside as well. Can't be too careful these days. Jeepers, I hope the increase in the new B/p med will bring your pressure down more. That is still too high. Hoping everyone has a wonderful Easter. I am going to just relax and take it easy. GS will be working late afternoon and evening. GD will be back home tomorrow, and I think my DD is coming in for the day on Sunday but not for sure yet. They just show up at my house unannounced, so will find out on Sunday. That does make it hard to plan anything as I never know what they are doing.

Didn't get as much as I wanted done today. But managed to get a few things done. Got the small wood rack sanded down to paint and only got one wood rack put together before my knee called it quits. But that is one less I need to put together. While I was at the back yard. 3 boys, well maybe 2 young boys looking to be between the ages of 7 and 10 and another one looking to be between the age of 17 to maybe 21 was taking pictures of our houses. One boy started to open a mailbox across from my driveway till he saw me walking down the driveway toward them. I asked them why they are taken pictures of the houses around here and the one boy why he was opening people's mailboxes. They all stood there for a minute and the 2 younger ones took off. The older one just stood there with his hands in his pockets, so I reached around to my back and then he took off running. They rain into the next neighborhood. I know they were up to no good. Question is what they are going to do with the pictures of our houses. I told the neighbors to be on the lookout and gave a description of them. Need to let GS know as well since he sleeps in his car. Then later I get a phone call from a non-speaking much English wanting to know if I would sell my house to him. Told him no and he hung up. Timing seemed a bit strange after the pictures and then that happened a couple of hours later. Hope we don't start having issues around here.

Happy Birthday, The CG. Hope you have a wonderful day.

Mt. Rider, I hope your neck gets much better soon. I know all about neck issues. Have a plate in my neck. Still can't turn my head but so far. But nothing like it used to be. Hope your ride on Saturday does well for you. TheMartinchick. Hope you get all your tax stuff straight also. I think with taking out taxes from my SS checks starting in April that will help next year. Glad my tax lady knew what to do and had the forms for me to fill out and send to the SS office. That made it easier on me than going to the Social Security office to do it. Getting ready in a bit to go out and put the 3 wood racks together. Not raining today and is warmer than the past few days. GS is working until either Monday or Tuesday so is working on Easter Sunday. I hope to get all that ready so GS can finish the wood pile. I have the cinder blocks for him to set up for the new wood racks. They keep the racks from sinking into the ground and falling over. So far, the 3 that he has done has held up really well. After I finish that I hope to be able to clear out the one flower bed I want to set up. Though after walking around the yard, all the flower beds look a bit muddy. The rain barrels are doing great. The plastic drain hoses at the bottom to remove overflow is working really well. Both barrels are full. Might empty them part way but don't have anything to water with it right now other than my Aloe plant. That is in the house right now. Need to get it outside soon. It's getting big now. Already mopped kitchen floor and washed a load of towels. Will sit down this evening and read a bit. Haven't been able to get any reading in for a while.

Everyone seems so busy these days. Gardens and such. I'm still working on getting this house organized and downsized. Taking too long but have had so many interruptions that I am surprised I got as much done as I did. Cooked dinner earlier and now my knee is killing me. I just can't stand on it but so long and then it starts swelling. So been propping it up and keeping ice on it. When my GS gets on that airplane, I will believe he is on his way. I am so ready for him to move on and stand on his own two feet for a change. Hopefully he will grow up. Ambergris, Have a safe trip. Haven't seen the WE2's on here in a long while. Hope all is well.

Happy Birthday, Virginia.

Kappy, you have been really busy it sounds like. Hope they can get the right answer to your hand and fix it. Necie, you have also been really busy with making soaps, lotions and crocheting and such. I am working in the house again today. Need to run up to store for onions. I thought I had some but was out. Been raining all day so far. So, no work outside again. Not doing a lot for Easter this year. Can't drive to my DD's house with my knee. Yep, it is the right one. GD left this morning to go to DD's house and will be back early afternoon. Her DH didn't want to go as they are looking to buy a house and he wanted to go house shopping. They looked at one yesterday but already had 2 contracts on it and they said they won't getting into a price war. So still looking. Boxing up a lot of stuff to get rid of and putting it all by the front door. Going to call Salvation Army as I think they will pick it all up. Much easier than me trying to load up the car. I got my taxes done but I am paying this year again but a lot more. Got all that taken care of. I didn't realize SS still did not take out taxes as well as my retirement that I had to take out extra money on. So, all that is now taken care of. Next year should be much better. I don't have to take extra money out for at least a couple of years and this time I will be all over my financial planner if he doesn't do what I ask. this time. He has been giving me bad advice lately and I really need to find a new one or just go over his head and call the main office. I pay him to do a job and I expect him to do it. Other than the front garden bed I am planning on with the shelving and such. I am not going to do a garden this year. I will spend time getting things set up with the raised beds and take it from there. Then I will have everything set up and ready to go for next year. I think that will take a lot off of my shoulders with trying to do too much this year. GS got a call from his recruiter. The want to make sure that he doesn't have any more kidney stones and going to do labs again for that and check for stones. He passed that one, but I think it is because he is so young to have that issue. After that they will send him to Mepps in VA Beach to retake the test and then from there he will be put on a plane and off to New Jersey. He has to pack his bags of only the necessities he will need. From boot camp he will be put on plane and off to CA for school for 4 months then to wherever they send him after that. His car will be parked in my driveway for a long while, but I don't care as it will seem like someone is always home. Just have to get that wood off of driveway so he can pull it up all the way to the edge of it out of the way. He plans on buying a truck and selling the car later.

Mt. Rider, hoping your DH's back will straighten out so he can work easier. Miki, GS has a new girlfriend that he got off of snap chat. (Don't ask). He has yet to have met her but stays on phone with her during all his waking hours. I have seen her on his phone as they do that seeing each other on the phones. If I get near where he is sitting, she can see me also. His demeaner has changed with this girl. Drinking a lot to the point of vomiting. If he doesn't get into the Coast Guard within the next couple of months, I am packing him up and moving him out. I need to sit him down and have a talk with him again, but he has to get off the phone with this girl for me to do that. I was going to get GS to spray paint the older small wood rack, but it started raining. I didn't think it was going to rain today, just be colder. Been working on my bedroom closet all day. Trying to be careful not to turn my knee the wrong way. Did that last night and the pain was not good. Just taking it slow and trying to be careful with the knee. GS just got up about 40 minutes ago and said he had a doctors appt. I asked what time, and he said there is no time to just go in and sign in. It's the free clinic so I don't know how that works. Don't know if that is the truth or not as with the new girlfriend, he started back lying to me again about things. I need to nip this in the bud and fast. He was drunk last night and came in to go to bathroom and woke me up twice. He was loud to a point I was ready to throw him out on his butt. This has gone on now for 3 days. But on the other hand, I have emptied several boxes from closet and going through a lot of stuff. Refilling the boxes for Goodwill. Then I need to go through all my clothes that are hanging in the closet. Getting rid of well over half of them. That should clear the closet out to almost empty. I would love to put in one of those closet organizers but don't think I could do it. Would have to hire someone for that.

Working inside house today. The weather is cold and damp feeling. Pollen is bad and doesn't help my cough. DD texted me and wanted to know if I started my garden. NO! and at the rate I am going there isn't going to be one. I have not had the chance to plant any seedlings nor get the main garden tilled or the raised beds set up. The flower beds need weeding and mulching before I can set up the area for the pots of herbs and tomatoes. My GD is moving here near me giving me even less time to get anything done. GS is not doing what he needs to be doing now to get into the Coast Guard. If he doesn't get in, he's out on the street. He won't save money and is aways wanting me to do door dash. I am not doing that. I'm tired and no one in this family is doing anything to help me but want me to constantly do for them. I am sure I will be babysitting again when they move so they can get the house they are trying to buy set up and then GD's getting another job and I will be back to babysitting 5 days a week. So, I am in a stuck in the middle situation. My DD never ask me if I have started my garden before, so not sure why this year. Unless she is planning on me supplying her with food. I have a bad knee and can't get into orthopedic till end of April. So, I am just going to finish up in the house and use Evens Farm for what I need. I can get enough to can squash, green beans, butter beans, tomatoes and get fresh eggs as well. Not sure of everything they have till I go there. I love my kids, but I am at the age they should be helping me and not me doing for them every time they want something. I know times are hard for all of them right now, but I need their help as well as they need mine. My GD wanted me to help her with a garden at her house, but who is going to help me with my garden. OK I am done with my rant. I just think I am getting tired and overwhelmed from grandchildren and their wants.

Necie, sounds like you have had a busy day and tomorrow is going to be just a busy. But everything you are doing sounds like fun, even if it is work.

Mt. Rider, Glad you were able to have a nice chat with your mom. I know that means a lot when the two of you are able to talk even if it is by phone. Jeepers, Glad you had a good time talking with GS. Enjoy those moments together. Kids grow up to fast. Miki, Glad you are having a good time with family. GD came over today for a visit. They are looking for a house to buy. They want to be closer to me, so are looking around in Suffolk. They are going to look at a house this weekend. It looks really nice. The baby is about to have a couple of teeth break through. You can barely see them just under the gum line. She's growing so fast. When she sees my GS, she starts crying because he doesn't talk to anyone when he first wakes up. Yep, she was upset about him not paying attention to her. Plus, she's going through a phase where if it's men she's not sure of them. She does this with her dad's father now. And he sees her a lot. GD is looking for another job. Seems others in the job she got laid off from are also getting laid off now. They did away with her job in that company. So, more people are starting to get laid off now. Hoping this job will also be working from home since she is still nursing. Didn't get much done in closet today but tomorrow is another day. Going to start going through stuff and get rid of it.

All very good songs. I have heard those songs many times over the years. Right now, I have a step GS in the Army. Not sure right now where he is. But either near Isarel, or Ukraine. I keep him in prayer for his safety and for a safe return home again.

Got the bedroom closet emptied. Now to go through all that mess. This was the closet that everything got boxed up from both bathrooms and my bedroom from the construction. It has everything you can think of in there. So, lots of organizing and weeding out of a lot of stuff. Just not sure yet what to keep and what to ditch. I have a shoe box full of glasses somewhere and it has the glasses to watch the solar eclipse with. Just can't find the shoe box right now. I think it is on top shelve of that closet. I haven't gotten the foot stool in there yet to pull that stuff down. I will do that tomorrow I hope as GD is coming over to visit tomorrow.

I love butter beans. My mom used to make them using the larger white butter beans. She would put them in a casserole dish add tomatoes and bacon layered on top. She would cook them at 350* till bacon was crisp. They were really good. I also need to can some butter beans. I have a lot of them in freezer right now.

Mt. Rider, glad your DH is doing better. Be careful with all that snow. You have really had your share of it this winter. Becca Anne, hope you can get something going maybe in a year that will keep chickens safe. And you can start again. I still want to set something up also but to much going on right now. Working on my bedroom closet again. And more interruptions coming. But it is about emptied except for clothes that are hanging up. Need to go through a lot of those and get rid of them. Downsizing does mean clothes as well. So, I don't need all that is in that closet, and I don't wear half of them. Plus, a lot of them are too big for me now. They have to go. GD is coming over to visit with the baby tomorrow. I would rather finish up on the closet and maybe get that painted and things put away again. But I have giving up on getting things done without the interruptions. So, I guess I will just go with the flow. It will be there when I am dead and gone. So, what can I say. I'm a popular grandma. Kids and grandkids. I think they have too much fun over here. Need to find a couple of those car fans for GS's car. I want one for mine also. Would help keep the interior cooler when cars are not in use. Need to find a small air condition unit for my shed also. It gets way to hot in there and I want to fix it up to make better use of it other than just storage. I had somethings melt in there also. So, need to do something to fix that. Both rain barrels are full to the brim and haven't gotten any plants in the ground or in pots yet to use the water. Wondering if I should add a bit of bleach to the barrels. But then it might not be good for the plants.

Happy Birthday Pauline.

Becca Anne I hope that takes care of the problem. Glad you are able to start on the garden now. Mt. Rider, glad your ride did well and hoping you will get at least 2 more in this week. Annarchy, glad you and your MIL made it back home safe and sound. Leaving a day early to avoid that storm was a good idea. I have been going through more things and trying to figure a few things out for better organization. Other than that, not much going on. My wood racks came in but with the rain I haven't been able to get them put together yet. GS will be off tomorrow I think so he will help with that. Today it was too cold to get the racks put together and I have one old one I need to paint. Hopefully tomorrow will be warmer. Haven't checked a weather report yet.

Just getting a few things put away where they belong. More boxes of stuff to go to Goodwill. Now I am to the point where I can move the things in my office to the places they need to go. So, getting there but it is slow. Still have those interruptions and the rain as far as getting to the sheds go doesn't help. I did go outside to check the rain barrels. It was still a slight drizzle. Rain barrels are already full, and the overflow tubes are working on one but not the other one. So, need to check on that one. It might be twisted or something but an easy fix. So that is 100 gals of water I have for watering pots and garden. Will use the well only when the barrels are about emptied for watering the garden.

Going through more stuff and was going to the shed to pull out the raised bed boxes but it's raining today. So that won't get done today. Knee was hurting all night, so put an ice pack on it but it really doesn't help much. Seems the heating pad does a much better job. Can't get into the Orthro doctor till April 24th. So will deal with it till then. Shoulder right now isn't hurting and I'm not going to push it. GD wanted me to keep the baby so she and her DH can go do somethings but haven't heard a word. Maybe with the rain they are staying home and not bringing the baby out in it. But they should let me know something one way or the other.

Jeepers, that is sort of what happened to me. I had 2 things that came due and had to be changed around. They were not stocks but an IRA retirement. It happens to me about every 5 years or so and 2023 was the year for 2 of them. So, that is when I take money out for personal use and then the rest is reinvested. It does make doing your taxes much more complicated. I just got caught off guard because taxes were supposed to be taken out and my financial planner didn't do it. He will be hearing about it for sure as I am not talking a small amount to pay to IRS it is a good sum plus having to pay the state as well. I have the SS taken care of now as soon as they get the paperwork and will be calling about the retirement stuff to straighten that out next week.

euphrasyne, that is a good idea, but I had a lot of changes to make with my retirement and on the house, I had to threaten them to get the paperwork for the taxes. I just got that this past Saturday. Usually, I would have had mine done much earlier than this, but the house held that up. I had to threaten them with the IRS and the BBB. I have a tax lady that does mine. She doesn't charge much so I am happy with her, and I don't have to deal with it. She offered me a job today also. It is so tempting but don't think I want to work. Next year I won't have to go through all this mess. I am getting things set up now, so I won't be paying like this year. Yeah, I got caught off guard. Too much going on this past year. My tax lady and I went over some options and they are good ones so getting everything in place.

GS helped me get the second rain barrel set up the right way before going to work. The guy had that up right against the gutter. It was supposed to be 2 inches below the gutter. So got that set up right now. Supposed to start raining tonight so will find out how they will do. I like these as they have a tube that goes from the top down to the bottom for overflow. I can connect another one to these and the overflow will pour into the second rain barrel. Something I may or may not do later. Sat down and balanced check book and paid off all bills. So, I no longer have charge card bills and I have put those away in a safe place. Cutting way back more so than what I have done to get the gutters paid off. That shouldn't take me too long to do. I am wanting to get down to where I only have the house payment, utilities, and insurances. Going to keep it down to that as long as possible. As to doing anything else on the house I am taking a break for the rest of this year and concentrate on garden and downsizing. Jeepers, they will do anything to go after seniors as they think we are stupid and don't know anything. Little do they know.

Jeepers, it depends on how much you make from my understanding. Over a certain income you pay taxes on it. This is on my DH's SS. They were not taking Federal taxes out. I do not pay state taxes on it. Just the Federal. My yearly income is way up there so that disqualifies me from paying taxes on SS.

Jeepers, that is how the IRS got me. For one I didn't realize that SS was not taking taxes out of my SS checks each month. So, my tax lady gave me a paper to get that done. 12% will be coming out of my SS checks each month. I also moved money around and my financial planner didn't take any taxes out after I told him to. So, I got caught on that one. But I will have to deal with it. Got the SS part taken care of and just need to get the rest I need to check on what is what. Next year I should be ok. I didn't realize I made that much money either for the year. I just have all kinds of surprises sneaking up on me. Then I went to mailbox to get the mail and got what I thought was a charge card bill. Nope, I have a small credit on my charge card. Not a lot but will pay for the garden soil I need. Jeepers, I hope all goes well with both the heart issues and the kidneys. for a good outcome.