Littlesister

Dogmom, I know what you mean. I still haven't caught up on things. Sometimes I just get on without signing in to read up on what I have missed. But of course, there are the ones where I have to sign in to read but at least I could read up on some of the things I missed. Been very tired today and GS is back in his depressed state and acting up. So just took the ham biscuits to the church and talked with friend and came home. GS and I have to have a talk about things. Seems one of his issues is that he does not see the action of his consequences of things he does. several days ago, he got up during night and turned my AC way down on 64. I woke up freezing and couldn't understand why the house was so cold. Checked the thermostat and sure enough that is what he did. So, I put it back to 75 where I keep it. Tried to explain to him that 64* runs my electric bill way up and I cannot afford that after the money I spent on him to get plane ticket, get his car shipped here and other things he needed after he got here. Not to mention that I found out he left his good clothes at his sister's house, and she just found them. So, she is going to ship those to him. So, for 4 days he has been moody and fussy because I told him he cannot touch the thermostat. He really needs to learn the consequences of his actions. This is not going to be an easy task to teach him as he thinks he can just do what he wants no matter what it does to others. Then yesterday, he was helping to get some rocks that the people that was putting in the dry wells had put in and was throwing them in the grass. We were getting ready to plow up the area for garden and had to get the rocks up. Tried to explain to him about the rocks getting thrown by lawnmower as well as they could damage the blades of lawnmower and he didn't seem to understand the consequences of that move. So, I had to tell him not to do that and he got mad. So, I just Picked the rocks out of the grass and took care of that. How do you teach a 20-year-old the consequences of his actions have repercussions? He seems to see nothing wrong with the two things he did. One raising my electric bill way up and the other causing damage to lawnmower and or breaking a window if one got thrown by the lawnmower. He surely does not think ahead.

That is how I do meatloaf as I am the only one eating it. GS does not like it. He is very picky and really needs to get out of that. So, I will make a meatloaf and slice it up after it has cooled down and wrap in plastic wrap and then in a freezer bag. Then in the freezer. Then when I want meatloaf for dinner, I just take out a slice and leave the rest in freezer. Didn't think about the bread but am so going to try that.

Didn't get much done today as the construction guys worked in kitchen all day. But now it is almost done. I can now get the cabinets cleaned down and finish getting things put away as well as getting my appliances back in kitchen. Now I can have room for the dehydrator to stay in kitchen where I can get more use out of it. So, I just caught up on some reading as it has been raining off and on and now, we are having thunderstorms. Just don't need a gully washer rain to wash my garden seeds up. So far, all light rain. GS is still having a down day. Hope he picks up tomorrow. He's been using muscles he forgot he had. So, a bit sore as well. Caught up on some reading while the kitchen was being worked on. Busy day tomorrow, funeral home and picking up ham biscuits for birthday party at church. I also lost another friend and found out this morning. that is 2 friends in a week. But I know they are in a much better place and one day I will see them again. Just hope no more of my friends pass as I have one now that is now doing well.

I have always either canned or froze my squash. I will be trying out dehydrating them this summer as I have planted a lot of it this year. I like dehydrating because it will save my jars for meat and other things I can. I love the idea of dehydrating, but just haven't been able to with construction going on. I have a lot of butterbeans in freezer as well as mixed veggies that I want to get dehydrated soon. Now that kitchen is almost finished and yes finally one bathroom and the kitchen is now almost fully complete. Now for the rest of it. But I can finally get my dehydrator up on kichen counter and start using it.

Dee, I know how it is. I can relate to both you and Darlene. I don't live in the country any longer as the town has been dumped on us. And I do miss those country back roads that now have houses, apartments and more stores that are mostly useless stores. Mostly restaurants. I don't eat out hardly ever. I do have neighbors that are friends as I live in a neighborhood, but they all are doing their own things, and most are much younger than me with kids. So, they stay pretty busy. I lost another friend yesterday and just found out today. So that makes 2 friends lost. I have another friend that is not doing well, and I am very concerned about her. Things are not looking good for her right now. She found out she has colon cancer and had surgery but refuses chemo. She's in rehab now and she has a high fever, and they don't know what from yet. Hope it's nothing to do with the surgery. I do enjoy just being home and reading and meditating on the blessings I have had over the years. I watch the rabbits in the back yard. We have 2 baby rabbits. Haven't seen the mother in over a month now. I do have my grandson here with me now and he has turned out to be a blessing over the 2 weeks he has been here. Garden is almost fully in, and he had an interview today by phone and an in-person interview on Thursday. Only thing is that it is 12-hour days and off on Friday and Saturday. But he is young and needs the money. Benefits are great as well as the starting pay. So, I am thinking if he saves his money, he should be able to get his own place in at least a year. Needs money for furniture and just starting out on his own he needs a lot. I can help him with some of it and hoping his mother will help with things also. And the ducks are back. They all disappeared a couple of years ago. Thinking someone had them removed from neighborhood. So, though I am in what used to be country and now urban, I can still enjoy some wildlife here. Even had a fox running through the yard a couple of nights. So hopefully in a year or so, I will have my house back and no kids again. Love my grandkids but they are adults now and this is the youngest one and just needs that guidance to get on his feet. He will get there. And he is really wanting to get land and move to the country. He loves the mountain area. Maybe one day if he puts his mind to it, it will happen.

Jeepers, I had to hire a new guy to cut my grass and though I do have a very large yard. The ones that are not in the business any longer only charged $40. Now the new guy that I got is charging $60 but he is doing a great job. So, with gas prices rising, I am not complaining. I did get my push more back last Sat. But SIL didn't bring it back in the best of condition. I was nasty dirty and missing the side piece that throws the grass out. So might see about getting a new one or to check the shed to see if it has a bagger. If it does that would be even better as the grass clippings can be used for the fertilizer pile. The only thing I want to do is replace the siding and guttering. The house is brick but has wood trim that we put siding on to keep from painting it. It is not a top priority so it will get done at some point down the line. Otherwise, nothing else left to do on outside of house. Just working on inside. So, hoping they will be finished within another month. I have things I need to get done that I won't do while they are here working. I have at least 50lbs. of wheat berries I need to get into mylar bags, and I don't dare pull that out with construction workers here. Guess that is one of the reasons I am in an all-fired hurry for them to get this work done. Lots to do that I can't get done and has been over 4 months needing to be done.

Thank you Becca. Knee is still very sore and painful, but I am just working through it for now. You have more patience than I do on getting your house done. These guys are only here 4 hours and then leave. So it is very slow going. 8 hours would have had this house done before now. And the owner sent them to finish a plumbing job and they got here late today. So had they come early this morning the kitchen would have been done. So will see what tomorrow brings. Been working on the garden past few days as well as today. Squash is in, okra, butter beans, green beans, and cucumber plants are all in. Plus, I got some herbs planted. I have 2 more plants of herbs to transplant tomorrow if it's not raining. The raised beds are 95 inches long and I have 2 rows of butterbeans in one and 2 rows of green beans in the other one. Will see how they do and maybe next year I can get 3 rows of each in them but will see first how they do. Don't want to crowd them. The bigger old area that DH and I used to have our garden at, my grandson tilled all that up. Still working on it as the grass grew over it and it is St. Augustine grass. That stuff is hard to get out. But we got it. So, hoping to have potatoes planted next week if not too late. I am running out of room for much else. But I have my pea picking brain thinking about a brand-new area for planting watermelon and cantaloupes. Plus, the strawberries over where the blueberry bushes are. Getting nowhere yet on canning but the garden is almost done. So far peppers, tomatoes, zucchini and onions are doing great. Hoping and praying the rest does really well this year. We all need to have a great crop with prices in stores like they are. Will be pulling out dehydrator as with the new counters being extended for bar, I now have a place to put the dehydrator on counter where it can stay put and yet out of the way. Will get more use out of it that way.

Got on the owner again today. Seems he has 3 or 4 clients all on his case. But they came here today after finishing up on another job this morning and got the backsplash almost done. They will be back tomorrow to finish the kitchen. Told them I need for one room to be done and that is the kitchen. What was supposed to be finished in 2 weeks has taken 2 months. But as soon as they are done and gone for the weekend, I am pulling out those turkeys and going to be canning all weekend. Well almost Sat. is a bit tied up. But the Turkeys need to thaw anyway. So, it will be Sat. afternoon getting things ready. That will take a big chunk out of the freezer as I have 4 of them. I also have another ham in freezer that I will use for canning up ham and beans. So, while they are working on main bathroom next week, I will be canning beef and chicken all next week and if I don't get the turkeys finished up will get those finished up first of week and then start the beef. Veg. beef soup, beef stew, and anything else I can think of for a quick meal as well as just canning up beef. Then for the chicken. Once the freezers are empty, I will be stocking with butter, more meat as I can find it. Going to hit some farms for meat and maybe buy half a cow and chicken.

Haven't been able to can anything as of yet as they still have not finished kitchen. They started the backsplash but keeps stopping to do other things. I jumped on the owner today about it because no one showed today and not coming tomorrow. I let him know he will not get another penny till job is done and the kitchen I want done yesterday. So, they are coming on Thursday, and they best get kitchen done. I really need to get the meat out of freezer and canned. I have 4 turkeys in freezer, and they are taking up room.

Happy Birthday to the both of you.

Have a wonderful birthday everyone.

Contractors said they would be here late and never showed today. Owner sent them on another job. I had a little chat with owner today. Told him it is now going on 5 months and again no one coming today or tomorrow. Told him I wanted kitchen done yesterday not next week. So, they are coming Thursday. Also told him he will no longer be paid any more money until the job is finished. I am done with this. He is trying to micromanage the construction crew and you can't do that in this line of work. He needs to let them finish one job before starting another. But that is not how this man works. Seems he has other customers complaining as well. Still hasn't started on fireplace yet, but the wood stove is sitting in garage. Might just tell him he will not be putting in the stove and to not charge me for that. I can get my chimney guy to do it. They also install the wood stoves. I want to get rest of house painted after I get house back together and replace outside lights and a couple of fans in house as well as some light fixtures. This company will not be doing that. I am hiring someone else for that. Grandson and I have been working hard on garden. We plowed up the old section where DH always planted. Tomatoes, peppers, onions, squash, are all doing great. Cages are now around the tomato plants. Will try to get pictures as soon as I can get time to get them off phone. Haven't planted in the section we plowed up yet. Lots of grass to get out. Had to plow up twice and lots of raking to get the grass out. Have a tarp over the area now to kill off anymore weeds. So will hopefully be planting by this weekend. Going to plant the carrots if not raining tomorrow. Made a cucumber climber out of old pallets. So, they can just climb up that. Will be easier to find the cucumbers as they do seem to hide. Haven't had time to read much and catch up. But do hope everyone is doing well and I am praying for those in need. Saturday is going to be a busy day. Funeral home at 11 am and then all the way back my way to pick up ham biscuits and then to church for a birthday party for one of the ladies in my Sunday school class. She will be 95 years old. just hope my right knee holds up to the driving. Took GS to chic fil lay for dinner and my leg gave out trying to drive. It was hurting really bad. I think I have a meniscus tear. Need to get an X-Ray. Just what I don't need with everything going on. I will just keep wearing a brace and using bio freeze on it. Then when I have more time, I will take care of it.

Kappy, just saw your garden. It is looking great. I should have gone to page before this one, so I had missed that. I am now in process of getting my garden fully planted. Getting tomatoes in ground in a little while. Then going to tackle the second raised bed box and get that put together. I really need to get those soaker hoses again. I had some but they were so old they were splitting apart. Time for a few new items for yard. New shovel, hoe, and post hole digger, Mine are all falling apart. Might try to just get new handles for them. Will depend on price and which way is cheaper.

Ambergris, hope all is ok with toes and they aren't broken. I know that hurts. I was attacked by a frozen whole chicken that fell out of freezer several years ago and hit my little toe just right and broke it. Got bad news this morning. One of my best friends that has been in hospice for a couple of months, passed away this morning. Seems I am loosing a few friends now as we all are getting older. She will be greatly missed. Prayers for the family. Contractors came yesterday but didn't really get a lot done. They grouted some of the main bathroom but did not finish. Still over half way to go and then started back on the backsplash in kitchen but didn't even finish one wall. Then leaves at 2:30 to head back to office in VA Beach for what owner wants them to do on Monday. Seems owner is having lots of issues with other customers as well. As he is trying to micromanage the contractors instead of letting them finish one job before going to another. So now I am putting my foot down and not paying another dime till job is complete and to my satisfaction. I am over this mess of not being able to get things put away or anything.

Becca Anne That is a cute puppy. Contractors were called off my job again to go work on another house. I am over this crap. So, I left him a message for when he gets off of Vacation. He now has 30 days to finish this job and will not be paid any more money till job is finished and if he pulls contractors off my job again to go do another job then I will be talking with a lawyer about the situation of breach of contract. The job was supposed to be finished by the 17th of April. Every time he pulls the guys off my house it puts my house back another week. So will see what he thinks about a lawyer being bought into the picture. I cannot go all summer or all year whichever he things he is doing. My life is on hold for this. I don't get a vacation and can't have friends over because of the dust and mess in house. I will throw the fact that he can vacation while my life is on hold. Mt. Rider, Granddaughter and her DH is now moving out of her mom's house. Seems her DH can't be happy in a pie factory. He hates his job and not happy living with his in-laws. Seems GD's dad had to call her DH down for being too loud on the computer games with his friends and SIL didn't like being woke up in middle of night. So, he didn't like being told to pipe down. GD's husband plays on computer with his friends all night and when he is not at work that is what he does. He doesn't like Manuel labor according to my DD. So, he will not turn his hands to help around house. So now they are getting an apt. So much for saving up for a down payment on house. He quit his job when he was here. And a whole lot more. So, issue is not with my GD but with her DH. Grandson is doing great. But has a never-ending appetite. Guess he had missed meal colic. At least he can buy his own food and helps with that. He helps clean up after meals and is working in the yard as well. He is helping where he can in house, but with the construction we are limited on getting things put away, washing windows and curtains, etc. So that is all on hold for now. At least he is starting to gain a bit of weight back. That boy was skin and bones when he got here. Still a way to go through. They picked up his car a day early, so it should be here around the 6th or 7th of May. He is trying to find jobs now but needs car and his clothes for the interviews.

Becca-Anne, I know this is a baby toy but maybe it would help. It is called a shape sorter geometric matching beech baby stacking toy.

Themartianchick: Praying for your mom to get much better. It is hard to care for a loved one when you work outside the home. But glad you had a boss that was very understanding. Been very busy since grandson moved in. He has been working circles around me. Got the blueberry bushes planted in ground. They had outgrown the pots and the pots were falling apart around them. He then took some of the bricks I had and landscaped the area. he wants to plant strawberries around there as well. Got part of the garden planted as well. Green peppers, tomatoes, okra, squash, zucchini, and other things. We are going to be enlarging the old garden area to plant potatoes. Construction on house is still going on. They are just over halfway there on getting the hall bathroom done. Then to finish in the kitchen and then all the small stuff to be done to get it finished. Hoping they will be done by middle of the May. The deadline was April 17th and that was by contract. Well, they didn't meet that one. Grandson has been doing very well here. He helps around the house without being asked to help. He washes his own clothes and helps with cleaning the kitchen and has even cooked dinner for me. Of course, it is his favorite food. Fish! He is still trying to get used to the time change. With his working nights and the 3-hour time change from west coast to east coast, he is still having a hard time during the day. But is now staying up longer and longer during the day. He is looking for a job here, but car will not be picked up and shipped here till Thursday. Then it should be here around the 7th or 8th of May. Most of his clothes are being shipped here with car. Glad I held on to DH's clothes, he needed some summer clothes and was able to wear some of his clothes. He was coming from being where it is very cold to being hot here. So, summer clothes were very much needed.

Hope everyone is doing well. Mt. Rider, glad everything went well for you, and you got to also spend time with family. Time now to rest up. My grandson got here this morning from Washington State. He is a sight for sore eyes. He has slept ever since he got here. Not much sleep in 2 weeks and the time difference as well. Though he should be rested in a couple of days. He has lost so much weight. So will have to work on that. He and his sister patched things up and I am so glad about that. I really think what went on was the fought of both of them. But either way he left on a good note. He will be able to find a better job as they have an overload of warehouses around here. And I am hoping he gets full time. We have an Amazon distribution center and an Amazon prime store. So that is great for him as well as QVC warehouse and a ton more on rt. 58. Even a coffee warehouse. Lots of choices and he would better be able to afford to live on his own here verses in Washington State. It was cheaper to have his car shipped here than to try to buy a used car. Can't believe the price of used cars now. So, his car should be here around the 7th of May. They will be picking it up from his sister's house around the 28th. So that's not too bad.

Jeepers, I didn't think about the nature sound CD's. I have a couple but are packed up due to construction. So, I will pull those out when I start unpacking after they are done. They are relaxing.

I was cleaning out the kitchen cabinets Friday and the lock on the foot stool broke. So, the steps tilted, and I took a fall. Didn't break anything, and the carpenters heard me and came running. My back on left side is badly bruised from hitting the knob on the bottom cabinet door. But This to will pass. One of the carpenters helped me up and he finished getting the dishes out of the cabinet for me. I was so thankful for the help. Neighbor got the stool fixed so that won't happen again but now I won't be able to fold it up to put away. But that is fine. I can just set in garage open when not needed. Grandson will be here to help me bring it in when I need it and take it back out when not needed. At least till he gets a job and only here before and after work. He is already making plans for the small bedroom pantry. I really think he will be a great help for me. Been using the blu imu ointment on hands and using my glove for the support. It has been giving me a fit lately. I won't use those RX's either. Just Advil for the swelling if the ice doesn't take it all down. As I was cleaning out the cabinets, I thought about the issues a lot of you are having. And with Mother not being able to get dishes from upper cabinets. So, I have moved all dishes, and bowls down to lower shelves where it would be easier for me to get to without climbing up on a stool to reach things. Putting food in the upper cabinets where I can use one of those grabbers to get what I need down. At my age easier is better. Not getting any younger.

Ambergris, I hope and pray all goes well for your DH. I think somehow, I had posted on here earlier about a week ago and the computer went crazy and somehow while typing on whatcha doing today it went to another area. But maybe by now you found it. Went to store yesterday and things are really getting higher and higher. After grandson gets here Wed. morning, I am going to let him rest and maybe on Thursday we will both go out and stock up. Him for things he really likes to eat and then also my general stocking up. I am trying to get out at least twice a week to a different store each time. Trying to buy up all the sale items and also double checking the dates. Not the best dates on a lot of canned goods these days. So, things will be getting much worse. When my grandson gets here from Washington state, he said he is going to help me finish getting the other raised bed together and we are going to get the garden going. So will need to hit the feed and seed store soon. I want to see if they have any more of the gallon jars. If not, I will start putting my flour in mylar bags with 02 absorbers. Then in a metal or plastic trash can for storage. Need to buy another trashcan. For mylar foods it works great and holds a lot more smaller packs. I try to pack the food in meal size portions or for at least what I will use within a couple of months size portions size.

Mother you are right about the Happy Frog being pricey, but my normal place at the feed and seed had no fertilizer. So, I just jumped on that. Neither Home Depot nor Lowe's had any. So, I was glad to get that. When grandson comes in and gets settled, he is going to help me make a box to start my own fertilizer. Only way I can think of to have what I need for garden as next year I am going to add 2 more raised beds. I really don't think we will be able to find fertilizer next year. So, trying to think outside the box.

When DH was so sick my B/p went way up. Don't know how long it was 210/200. That was a lot of stress. Doctor put me on a new blood pressure med and another med, and it started coming down. Not happy about being on it, but that was way too high. So, the way now I handle stress is to lay back on couch and listen to Christian music. Sometimes I will curl up with a good book and read. It seems to relax me.

Good ideas. I have osteoarthritis in my hands. Right one that I use is really bad and need to have knuckle replacement. I use blue emu and the anthric gloves that are fingerless and puts some pressure on hands that helps with swelling and pain. Sometimes I have to use Advil. But mostly take an old sock that I put rice in, tie it off and put in microwave for a minute to warm up. Works great. That idea was from the Phy. therapist. I use the pump bottles as the spray bottles are hard for me to squeeze the Trigger. My shower is a stand-up shower and now has a seat built in though I do have the handicap seat from DH. Holding on to that stuff. I have those scissors and they are very helpful. I also have the pizza cutter and rotary cutter. I can use those so much easier. My hair is long almost to waist. I can no longer braid it so just put in ponytail. So far, I haven't had any issues doing my hair other than can't do braiding any longer. I have a mop that I use for cleaning floors that you squeeze out the excess water. So, I have a ringer for that. Works great as I cannot twist and squeeze the water out. Changing the inside bedroom and bathroom doors to not the usual round doorknobs but the ones that you just push down, and it opens door. I can open door with my elbow if needed. Still have some other doors to change out to those type of handles. They are for anthric hands. I have every kind of way to open bottles and pop top lids you can think of.

Annarchy still praying all goes well. Ambergris, Praying your back will get much better and the pain goes away. Been a crazy few days. The main bathroom has been demoed, and plumbing and electric almost done. Sheetrock is next and then tiling. Kitchen tiles have been sitting on counter for 2 days but not put in yet. The wood stove has been ordered and on it's way. Won't need it now till next winter, but that is fine. Grandson is coming in from Washington state to stay. Will be staying with me for a long while. He could not make it at the high prices of apartments there. So will settle down here. Get on his feet again and find his own place as soon as he gets a job. I think he's going to try to get his old job back if it is available. Hope it is. Full time and he loved that job. He is going to do a lot to help me around house and with garden. Plus, next year he is going to start cutting the grass. Have to get a lawnmower again. Thinking just a good push mower or have son in law bring back the one I had. He never used it. I have not had much sleep in the past 5 days as grandson is getting so excited about coming home again that he keeps calling me at 3 am my time. Can't get it through his head that I am 3 hours ahead of him and then my granddaughter that lives their calls. So, two of them driving me crazy all night. Nice to know I am still loved but really 3 am. By the time I get them off phone it is just enough time to get ready for the contractors to come in. I am beat for sure. He lands at 7.06 on Wed. morning. So, it will be fun with him trying to sleep and all the construction going on. What can I say? Revenge is super sweet. Keep me up all night and the contractors can keep him up all day.