Littlesister

Becca Anne, were you able to find the rain barrels on Amazon with the info I gave? So far, they are really working out for me. 

Finished up on the small wood rack and finished getting it painted. Hopefully that will make it last much longer.  Got the other 3 wood racks put together for grandson to work on today. Don't think he can get it all finished today but at least most of it. 

Babysitting again this afternoon so GD and her DH can go look at a couple of houses. I really hope and pray they get the one they want. I saw pictures of this one and it is really nice. Totally remodeled and all one floor like GD wants. 

Going to start back on my bedroom closet this evening after everyone has gone home. To many interruptions around here and I should have already had this house back together. But if it's not one thing it's the other.  And on top of that I have a guy that keeps calling and wanting me to put all my retirement in gold. Hopefully I took care of that. He is really pushy and this time to get him off the phone I pushed back. I can only block so many numbers on my landline and it is full right now. The blocked calls are pollical calls. If I unblock them right now to block this guy's number, then I will have the pollical calls again. So won't clear it till after the elections.  I will just have to make sure I look to see who is calling before I pick up the phone. But hopefully he won't call back now. 

Baby went home just after 4 and then I got ready to head to the hardware store. Needed some spray paint for the small wood rack. It is old and starting to rust. So got the rust oleum paint and got part of it painted when I got back home. Will finish that up in the morning so GS can work on the wood pile. Still have one more wood rack to put together. And will get that done also before the baby gets here. I am keeping her from 2 till 5 tomorrow so they can go look at a couple of houses. They are planning to buy a house. I really liked the one GD showed me. It was totally redone and really nice huge back yard all fenced in. It also had a really nice shed in back as well. Nice neighborhood also and I am familiar with the area. Closer to her DH's work at the Coast Guard base. So that would be a plus. 

Need to get bills paid and a few other things as well inside the house before the baby gets here. So early start for me in the morning. 

Hello Andrea, I know what you mean about life getting in the way of gardening. I am having that issue for the past 2 years.  And now I am babysitting my great granddaughter tomorrow again so there go the flower beds. Will get what I have to do tomorrow morning before the baby gets here. Then will be playing with the baby and yard work is on hold. 

I will need to figure out a good location for my grow bags next year. Not planting a garden this year other than the front yard flower bed on one end of house. I need to get the mulch put down and the cinder blocks and bench set up for pots. But being in the front yard I don't want to use the grow bags. Using pots that have drainage in the bottom of pots. I am going to grow herbs in those with a cherry tomato on each end of the bench and sunflowers on the back side of the bench. That will be the only gardening I will be doing this year and then setting up everything by way of huge, raised beds for next spring.  Might plant collards in one raised bed this winter though. Not sure about anything else for winter garden yet. 

Sounds really good Mother. 

It was just me and GS who had been called into work early. Went in a 2 pm and got home at 10 last night. 

So, I grilled minute steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, sauteed onions, and Brussel sprouts.  GS heated his up after getting home last night, ate and then went to bed after we got all the groceries put away. He never buys groceries so that was a surprise. He did good. 

Wonder if you can get huge tubs to grow sweet potatoes in if that would work to get them to grow. Irish potatoes are really good.  3lbs for a $1.00 is good. Potatoes of any type here are getting expensive now. But still not too bad if I get them on sale. 

Once I get the raised beds set up. I want to figure out an area to grow potatoes.  Just hope I can get this yard figured out. 

GD will be here with the baby around noon. I will be keeping her for a while so GD can run errands today.  Don't know how long I will have her but don't think more than 4 or 5 hours. 

Just cleaning and finishing up on the wood racks today. Not sure what else I will be doing yet. 

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter.  Mine was quiet and peaceful. Listened to preaching a lot of the day and watched some Easter shows and read. Then cooked dinner. So, a very easy day yesterday. 

GS had to go into work early so he could get off early but still didn't get home before 10pm last night. He bought groceries yesterday while at the store.  So, after 10pm last night we were putting away groceries and then he heated up his dinner and ate, then he went to bed. He is working again tonight and then after 7 straight days of working, he will be off tomorrow. He really looks tired. 

He is also proud of his little pouch of a stomach. Can't count his ribs anymore. He made it up to 130lbs.  He needed that weight. 

Can't get a picture of the rain barrels on here, but this is what I bought.  

Amazon:  FCMP outdoor RC4000-BRN 50 Gal. BPA free.  Flat back, color brown. They are 127.27 each. If you go on Amazon to rain barrels. You will see them.  Don't let the flat backs fool you. They are totally round on the inside. But the flat part on back is rounded inside. They also have screens on top.  You can't dip a bucket in the top the way they are made but the hose works great.

Becca Anne, I also skipped on the Easter Candy this year. One too young to eat it and the rest are on their own with candy.  GS is not much of a candy eater. And I can't eat it anyway. So, no candy this year. 

Jeepers, I think I remember her posting about that. Will have to see if I can find it. Right now, I only have the 2 barrels. One on each end of the back of the house. I want to get a couple of more at some point to attach the ones I have. I won't need the overflow tube on the one I have now but just on the one attached to the first one as the overflow would spill into the second rain barrel. 

And on top of everything going on, I am getting a sore throat. Must be the pollen. It is getting thick. My grey car is now green. 

tightened the bolts on the one rack that I put together yesterday and got one more done today. Moved them to the location where the firewood will be for GS to set up. I really hope I won't need any more log holders for this wood. I think this guy that I bought the wood from gave me almost 3 cords. We have already put up a cord and a half and still way more than that to stack. But it will get there, and the extra cord is good. 

the guy that cuts my grass loves my rain barrels and wanted to know where I got them. He loves the fact that they have a screen on them, and I also showed him the tubing for the over fill. When it overflows the tubing is connected at the top of barrel, comes down and under the bottom of barrel and takes care of the overflow. Plus, I can connect another barrel using tubing to fill the second barrel from the first barrel. He said he is wanting to get some to set up a water system for his garden. 

That is a lot of different potatoes Necie. Hope your garden does really well.  The different types of potatoes are interesting. I knew there were a lot of different types but had not heard of some of those you mentioned. 

I am going to miss not having a full-on garden this year. But knowing I can go to the farm down where my church is, does help. I am taking it as the price for getting the garden seeds and things I will need for planting this year will just go to the local farmer. And I can get fresh eggs. That is a plus.

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. 

I am planning for next year. I should have the raised beds I already have fully set up at least by the end of this summer.  I will have those ready for next year. I will plan what I want to plant in them after they are set up. Then I will add maybe a couple more of the raised beds making it 5 or maybe even 6 raised beds total. That will help keep out the rabbits and such. (I Hope). next year. The dogs behind me are already trying to get behind their shed so rabbits must be under there already.  I have 2 blueberry plants that are now budding out. Need to clean out that bed soon. 

My garden is out this year. Just too much going on right now. I haven't had time to start the seeds. So just going to do the flower bed one with the pots and a couple of tomato plants on each end of the bench and the sunflower seeds in back.  Then I will hopefully get the raised beds set up and ready for next year. It will be a lot of work without planting anything. So will just hit the farm market for what I need this year and then next year will be a better year. I have everything I need for the area in garage to start seeds under the grow lights but didn't get to set it all up yet. But it will all get there. Just not for planting this year. 

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.