Chewlee Gives Us A Scare !

First of all, both the Beast and I got up (fairly) early and the Beast decided it was time to mow Dennis' lawn because he is supposed to be back here on Friday afternoon.  How's that for a nice surprise.  The Beast, I discovered today, had an accident with Dennis' lawnmower and some tree branches.  No, not the way you think.  I told you that Dennis had made a shade for himself on his mower so that he was protected somewhat from the sun.  Not any more.  The Beast tore the hell out of it in the fight with the branches that he lost.  So, Dennis will have to devise another shade....actually, he will need to replace the fabric is all.

The gal from the insurance company got here earlier than she had said.  Not really a problem but I guess the damage on the garage and door was more than she could actually figure but she took some pictures, talked to the Beast and is going to have a contractor come over and give us an estimate.  The Beast called Tara tonight and wants her to have the contractor she used for all the work on her house come and give us a bid.  We have no idea who the hell the contractor is or what kind of work he does that the insurance adjuster is going to send to us.  But we do know the one that has done all Tara's work is a good one.

As for Chewlee.....I went outside and sat on the stairs to wait for Chewlee to get off the bus at 4pm.  The bus came whizzing down the street and never even braked in front of our house but turned the curve and braked to let the Spanish kids out in front of their house.  I was stunned.  At first I thought ...*well, maybe the Princess had her days off mixed up and forgot to call me to tell me that Chewlee was going to be picked up/dropped off at her own house.*  So, I called her to find out if that is what happened.  

The Princess' shock was apparent and she quickly hung up to call the school to see if Chewlee might have been left behind.  The school had no answer for her and she called the principal directly.  In the meantime, I went outside again, hoping that maybe she got off in front of one of her other friends homes across the circle.  What do I hear?  The school bus again.  Sure enough, it stops in front of the house and I walk over to the bus to ask him what happened.  First, it wasn't her regular bus driver.  I guess Chewlee got on the bus, laid down and fell asleep as soon as the bus took off.  She was on the seat directly in back of the driver so he didn't even see her there.  I don't know what happened but I know he had to have discovered her after leaving our area and then circled back to drop her off.  

I called the Princess right away to tell her what the driver had told me.  He apologized for not seeing her or realizing she should have been on the bus.  I knew he wasn't the regular driver so I told him it was no problem as long as she was safe.

Chewlee tried to blame her mother for her falling asleep but I told her that her mother was NOT responsible.  When I asked her what she got today, she told me she got a *9* and that WAS her mother's fault.  Turns out her mother didn't do the homework she was supposed to do with Chewlee.  I told her that she really should read everything in her folder because the homework was reading the book that the Princess knew she had.  Chewlee told me, when I read the instructions, that her teacher told her that she had to read each book to me/her mother/whomever three times.  So she did.  I was proud of her because she asked me about two words (there, whisper) and she remembered them after asking the first time.

I then dated a line on the book page, wrote the name of the book and initialed it.  Chewlee will be tested by three questions about the book.  Her answers will determine her retention.  She will have to re-read the book until she can answer three questions (and the questions DO change).  The monitor has to initial the page also along with Chewlee's score each time.  It's a push to make the kids superior readers and help them advance quickly in their reading levels.

I worked with her one her spelling words and, because she had three words that she really didn't know, I made her write them all five times.  Later, I just turned to her and asked her to spell first one, then another, etc.  She did much better then.

Our weather is cool but it was sunny most of the day.  The weatherman says we won't have any actual rain until Thursday.  We got the car into the repair shop and it's only going to cost us a little over our deductible to repair so we aren't putting in a claim on it.  I have to remember to call our agent and let him know that fact.  We left the Yaris there at the repair shop and he says it should be ready in just two or, at the most, three days.  It's the parts that make the difference.  He might have to wait a day for them.

So, love you all.   Going to get this posted and think about an early bedtime.  Chewlee hates when I even close my eyes and will start talking, talking, talking to me to keep me from napping.  She now has been learning to play bingo on my lap, one card and I help her.  She still hasn't scored a bingo but she hasn't played that many games.....yet!  She literally begged me to let her play.  I let her try three cards (she insisted she could do it) but she finally asked for just ONE card to play.  She does just fine with one and is learning that there are certain numbers that only go under certain letters.  I'm waiting for her to really *get it*.  She will.  

Have a great Hump Day!  Stay warm and dry.  **Wink**

A Day Of Little News....

Today was cold in the morning but it warmed up a bit in the afternoon.  I spent the morning talking to our insurance agent then, a little later, the claim adjuster for our homeowners policy.  She laughed when I told her what happened and said that it happens more than I would believe.  I also talked to the body shop that the Toyota dealer said they use since they don't have a body shop on premises.  I made an appointment tomorrow to bring the car in and get an appraisal.  We will just leave the car there for repairs if it falls around the price the Beast thinks it will and not bother to make a claim at all.  If it runs more than he thinks, we will have to turn it into our auto insurance company.  We really don't want to because we don't have *accident forgiveness*.  Just because of our age, having an accident would guarantee a raise in rates for us.

Other than that, the only news is that I discovered the Beast hasn't been taking his medications.  Don't ask me why except that I know he thinks he doesn't have a blood pressure problem any more but....he's had a headache he can't get rid of and that really bothers me.  That's what was happening to him just days before he had his big stroke.  I yelled at him about it because there were no refills noted on the latest summary from our prescription notice.  He can be so damn stupid about things at times.  I told him, *Of course, you haven't had any high blood pressure for a while.  Do you think the meds get out of your system on a daily basis?*  I think he does.  Like aspirin or something.  I doubt even aspirin leaves your system overnight.  Sheesh!

Turns out it hasn't just been this past month that he stopped taking his meds.  He was obviously not taking them daily because his prescription that I got refilled the month before that had lots left in it.  It almost looks like he was only taking it once every two or three days.  I told him, *If you have another stroke, you are going into a nursing home.  I will NOT go through that again because you were too stupid to take your pills!*  We'll see what happens.

I suppose that actually WAS news of a sort, wasn't it?  But not good news or happy news.  I really thought my breaking the house was news enough for a week or more.  BTW, the adjuster is coming tomorrow around 1pm and we will take the car into the body shop around 10am.  I just wish it weren't a 2013 model.  It just makes it seem more violated to me.  I think we only have around 5000 miles on it, if that.

We didn't have Chewlee today because the Princess was off work.  She picked her up after gymnastics.  It seems a bit lonely here on the days we don't have her.  She does bring some fun into the house and even the headaches don't seem bad at all.  They are just *kid stuff*.  

Time to post this for tonight.  Love you all and I hope you are having a good start to your week, wherever you are.  Say a little prayer for the poor people in the U.K. who are suffering from the aftermath of a bad storm.  That can be so miserable in winter, especially when you lose electricity and need that for heating.  Saying that, stay warm and be careful driving.  **Wink**

I Break The House....Wah!!!

Yes, I really did.  All because I did one of those things you watch on TV insurance commercials and think, *Oh shit!  That couldn't really happen.*  Here's what went on.....

The Beast left to pick up Chewlee for church and Baron came in and laid his head on my lap.  I knew he was sad and needed a little attention.  So I decided that I would take Baron out for a ride in the car and find a place he could run around.  He was overjoyed to get into the car.  The day had warmed up considerably and it felt good to put down the windows and let the breeze run through the car.  Baron had his head out, smelling the smells that dogs enjoy when it suddenly occurred to me that there really ISN'T a place around us that we can take him to let him run.  I really didn't want to go clear to the other side of Guntersville to let him run along the river so I hooked a U-turn and headed for home.

When I pulled into the driveway, I wanted to try to gauge a kind of landmark to my left that would allow me to pull the car close to the garage since you can't see the nose of the Yaris.  That led to my thinking I needed to brake and, instead, I hit the gas.  Yes, it really happens in real life.  I hit the gas and this thought ran through my mind as I hit the edge of the garage and the garage door.

Sigh.  It's a real mess.  Thank goodness the door was really a kind of cheap contractor one but I still destroyed the edge of the garage.  I kid you not.  It's broken and the Beast thinks it's probably going to run our insurance carrier around 10K to repair.  There's wood that is broken inward.  The aluminum siding is a mess.  The door and it's components will need to be replaced.  Plus, there is damage to the car.  We thought at first that I had damaged the radiator because of the liquid that was flowing on the driveway but it was the windshield washer container that got smooshed as well as the front of the car.  That, too, will need work.  Sigh.  

Chewlee kept saying to me, *Grandma, it was an accident.  You didn't mean to do it!*  Bless her sweet little heart.  It didn't keep me from feeling like a real schmuck for having it happen.  It looks awful.

The damn Beast just HAD to tell the Princess to go out and look at the garage when she came to pick up Chewlee.  She actually thought we had just painted the door.  She missed the right lower part of the door entirely.  But, in truth, it was damn near dark outside.  When the Beast took her over to the inside garage door and turned on the light, she almost died.  I just said, *Please don't make more of a big deal out of it!  I feel horrible as it is.*  She had just come inside because she wanted to borrow my big slow cooker so she could make a ham in it like her Aunt Raven had a few weeks back when she visited.  I told her, *Just take it and go, please.*  She IS going to give us the ham bone for some bean soup.  The Beast was especially happy about that.

So tomorrow morning I have to call our insurance agent and explain what happened to get the claims adjuster out here.  I'm not sure if I have to use our automobile insurance for the claim on our car or not.  Our agent should be able to tell me.  Then I have to call Toyota to find out when we can bring in the car for repair.  I truly put MY mark on it now.

It's really the repairs to the garage and how extensive it's going to be that get to me.  I had no idea I had done such major damage until the Beast got home from church and we looked at it together.  The only reason he wasn't swearing up a storm was because he had Chewlee there.  She has to put her nose into everything.  But she knew how I was feeling and tried her best to comfort me.

Love you all.  Say a little prayer for me.  The good thing that will come out of this?  The new garage door.  The Beast really hated the old one because it WAS cheap.  In a high wind it flexed and made noises.  But there wasn't any real reason to replace it because it worked.  Well, now it doesn't.  *Sigh*

Chewlee Has A Bad Day.....

Today was *the worst day EVER!* for Chewlee.  This is what she told me.  First, the Beast said he was going to take pictures of her and Sam together....and he didn't.  To make matters worse, when she went over to Sam's because the Beast had gone there, the Beast told her to *go home!*  Then, later, he told her she could go play with the three little girls that live over on the other side of the circle, they had another friend over and told her to *go home and don't come back!*  She cried all the way home.  When she got back here, she started wailing all over again because the Beast got on his *mooter scooter* and took off on Baron's run without her.  That just about did her in.  She also tripped over a rock...a big one...and fell down.  The only reason she didn't get a boo-boo was because she was wearing pants.  THEN...to make matters even worse, the Princess got her drawers in a twist because Chewlee's room was a mess so she came over and got her from her sleepover here.  Chewlee told me once again...this was the worst day in her life.  She didn't want to go home and cried all the way to her mother's car.

The Beast assured her that he would come and get her for church in the morning.  I hope the Princess puts on a pair of Chewlee's tights under her dress so her legs stay warm because it is going to be COLD and, possibly, breezy in the morning.  I'll have to call and remind her mother about that first thing...or Johnnycakes if the Princess has to work, which she might.  I don't know because I still don't have (and haven't had all month) a copy of her schedule.  SIGH!

Yes, it was cold here.  I was really surprised that the Beast took Baron for a run even because it was both cold and overcast.  And the Beast gets chilled easily on that motor scooter even if he doesn't run it fast.  I'm just as glad (except for her hurt feelings) that Chewlee missed that ride.  But she does love going on it with him.  He rides the scooter at a slow pace since Baron isn't really up to a chase any more.  I don't know if it's the cooler weather or just that he's *middle age* for a doberman now.  He would rather just make a slow trot around the circle with several stops to smell the aromas....LOL.

I spent the whole day in the house.  Mostly comforting Chewlee and then making sure she got her shower (yes, she IS taking showers these days).  I certainly didn't expect Chewlee to have to run out in the cold, in her pajamas, and go home.  I have missed her already and am not going to sleep well without her.  That's where MY mind was.  She snuggles up to me at night and it's so sweet.  Who knows how many more years...months...time in general...that I will be able to enjoy that?  Or the memories she will carry on in her life of me?

Love you all.  I'm going to head back to bed and see if I can sleep without her to cuddle up with.  I'm certainly tired enough but who knows?  Stay warm and dry.  Drive carefully.  **Wink**

Sneaky Beast Fails....LOL

I saved this to tell you today because I had other stuff to talk about yesterday.  And this was another thing that happened on Thursday.  

The UPS man stopped by and dropped off three packages.  I didn't see them all...at first.  What I saw was the Beast sneaking towards the garage with a package from a well-known camera store that I am VERY acquainted with from previous years.  I yelled at him to come back but he acted like he didn't hear me.  I went to the inside garage door and saw him put the package on his work bench and head back to the front of the house.  At that, I opened the door, went down the three steps and grabbed the box then headed back into the house.  I heard the Beast yell from behind me to *bring that back!  What do you think you are doing?*  I yelled back, over my shoulder, that I was going to see what it was he was trying to hide from me.

What did I find?  Another damn camera which we need like tits on a bull around here.  The only thing that DID puzzle me was I recognized it as a rather inexpensive Canon camera.  Made for the amateur photographer, which the Beast is not.  He has cameras that professional photographers slobber over when they see them.  I saw one do it a couple years back when we were at a Hot Air  Balloon Festival.  I could scarcely believe it.

Anyway, he kept saying it wasn't expensive.  I told him that the word *expensive* depended on just who was using it.  If it cost more than $100.  it was expensive and not money I felt we should be spending.  But you can't stop the Beast. 

Later on (I wasn't talking to him at that point), I found out why he bought it.  He actually had done a lot of research on cameras that had the components that he wanted from a camera and he had the lenses to increase the sharpness of the pictures besides.  The reason for it?  He's gotten so shaky that he HAS to use a tripod to take pictures any more.  His cameras, with the lenses he uses, are heavy.  With his telephoto lenses on this one, it's very much lighter.  I mean a couple pounds lighter.  Really!  I know he hates to admit that he's lost so much strength and *steadiness* and it becomes a chore to change the camera around if he wants to take a picture at a different angle.  So I kind of forgave him for THAT but I was still mad at him for attempting to hide it from me.  Worse, for not telling me about it before he ordered it.

He discovered a couple interesting things both about the camera and the cd that came with it that had (supposedly) several different programs on it.  When he tried to open the programs on the cd, it was almost empty.  So he went to the site to try to find the program that would open the type of pictures the camera took as well as the program for when/if he took videos with it.  Yes, it has that capability, too.  Anyway, at the site, it told him to put the original cd that came with the camera into his computer.  He did and, amazingly, a bunch of programs were suddenly there.  They actually had them HIDDEN on the cd.  I guess to discourage copies being made without having the *key* to unlock where they were hidden.  Clever people.

He used it today to take some pictures of Tara's older son, Keith, who is a senior this year.  He hated the ones that they took for the yearbook so he was told he had to submit his own so he would be in it.  I'm not sure if the picture was to replace the regular photos or if it was for the sports section since he plays either baseball or football.  I'm not really sure.  Shame on me.  I'm a bad great-auntie!  Anyway, the Beast got several good pictures of him.  Unfortunately, even though Keith wanted the pictures, there was a certain reluctance on his part that you could see.  He had some god-awful grimaces on a few of the pictures.  Not natural smiles at all!  But then there are at least a half dozen or so of nice smiles.  In one picture, he looks almost like he's getting ready to laugh at something off camera that he sees or hears.  Anyway, he should like them.  The Beast also got rid of some of his skin problems with photo shop.  Those *problems* will be gone in a couple years so it won't matter if they are fudged a bit.  Most professional studios do that anyway.  He's really a good looking young man.

We both liked the quality of the pictures the camera took.  The Beast could have printed up an 18x24 blowup and never lost any of the quality of the picture.  That is a GOOD camera, regardless of whether it was a $200 camera or one that cost $14,000 (yes, he has one that cost us that much...just for the body of the camera...no lens).  Oh, and that was the price over 10 years ago.  I don't even want to know what a new one in that category costs but I already told the Beast I would divorce him if he even THOUGHT about it.  LOL!

Oh, the other packages were a couple frames for the two unframed 18 x 24 pictures he made up.  One is another one of Chewlee and the other is one of her with me.  He had to work hard to make me look decent...ROFL!  The third package was the wet/dry shop vac with the long hose and attachments that we got with our points from the credit card we use from time to time.  I can't believe how fast we got everything after ordering it.  I really figured that it wouldn't be unheard of to have to wait six or eight WEEKS for it.  It wasn't even a week from when we ordered it until we got it.  Amazing.

Love you all.  Stay warm and dry.  Drive carefully in areas with snow and freezing weather.  Remember there is such a thing as black ice, which is very, very dangerous.  I need all the readers I can keep.  **Wink**

Chik-Fil-A Day for Chewlee's School....

I told the Beast that if I even THINK about taking Chewlee for the school fund-raiser at Chik-Fil-A next year to shoot me.  He said even if I didn't go, he would be happy to shoot me.  Ha!  Ha!  It's wall-to-wall kids and their reluctant parents.  The kids run around in stocking feet or barefoot because they are running in and out of the play area and don't want to keep putting their shoes on.  I almost died of embarrassment because Chewlee didn't have socks that matched (she said Mommy just throws them in a drawer and she couldn't find two that matched) and one of the socks had a huge hole in it.  She finally pulled them off and I threw the sock with a hole in the toe (a big one!) in the garbage.  

No sense sending it home with her because it would just get washed and thrown into the bunch again.  At least MY kids had their socks matched up for them.  I wouldn't have DARED to just dump them in a pile.  They, too, would have just grabbed two and not cared if they matched.  They were kids after all.   They were a bit older than Chewlee......no, a LOT older than Chewlee.....before that mattered to them.  LOL!

I got a chance to talk to Chewlee's favorite teacher and found out that Chewlee always stops by, twice a day minimum, to just give her a hug and say Hi!  She is very fond of Chewlee (especially now that she is another teacher's problem child...LOL).  Chewlee was surprised that her old teacher knew the name of her daddy (Johnnycakes!).   She told Chewlee that she knew her mother well so, of course, she would know the name of her daddy.

Me?  I discovered that Chewlee had left her jacket at my house so I called the Princess to find out if she had another one at her house (since the mornings are so cold now) so that I wouldn't have to go back to my house to get it, drop Chewlee off at HER house and then come home again.  It was getting dark and cold out and I really wanted to get us both home before full dark.  I hate driving at night.  Chewlee had a long sleeve shirt on so I knew she wouldn't be cold going home but I worried about in the morning.  The Princess told me to just bring her home because, even if she couldn't find one of her jackets, she could always put sweaters on Chewlee over her long sleeve shirts she has.  So, I drove Chewlee home.

On the way to her house, she started to tell me that tomorrow was going to be the coldest, cold day we ever had.  I figured she wanted to go get her jacket so I told her what her mother said.  She then told me that tomorrow she would need LOTS of jackets because of how cold it was going to be and that we might even have SNOW!  That made me laugh and I told her that we were NOT getting snow tomorrow because I had already checked on what the weather would be like so she didn't have to worry about that.  She told me that she was going to have to wear her boots even if there wasn't any snow because her boots kept her feet warm.  She said that they sometimes made her feet TOO warm but she couldn't take them off at school.  Teachers don't like that and Chewlee said it wasn't safe, either.  I told her that I was glad she had learned that.

She started to tell me all the things that COULD happen if she didn't have her shoes/boots on....like slipping and falling, people stepping on her toes (and breaking them!  LOL), getting nails or other sharp things in the bottom of her feet.....there was a long list she regaled me with.  At one point, she stopped and said, *Grandma, did you hear me?*  I told her I was listening and then repeated some of what she had told me so that she kept going on with her list and didn't repeat herself....much.  I think she gave this a lot of thought.

When we got to her house, I debated walking her to the door but she told me she could do it herself.  Then she said in a small voice....*Are you going to stay until I am in the house?*  I told her of course I was going to.  Then she went around back instead of to the front door and the auto-light came on.  Knowing her mother sounded like she was napping, I called to make sure she let Chewlee in.  Once she told me Chewlee was in the house, I relaxed and backed out of the driveway to head home.  It was damn near full dark when I got home.  Have you noticed  how early that's happening nowadays?  Bratfink told me, *Yeah, it's almost time to change the clocks.*  I forgot about that but we will be gaining an hour soon.  I meant to look up when that happens for this blog but I'll do that tomorrow.

Time to get this posted.  Love you all.  Stay warm and drive carefully.  If you go out to *lift a few*, have one for me, won't you?  Or two or three?  ROFL....**Wink**

The First Day I Spend Mostly Under A Comforter.....

It was cold this morning when I woke up and made coffee.  It wasn't all that early (7am) but the Beast and I both hit the floor around the same time.  The difference was that I do not *wake up* when the weather is cold.  It makes me want to just crawl under the covers and keep warm.  And that is exactly what I did just because I could....LOL!

I poured myself some nice hot coffee, walked into my computer room, turned my computer on, read my emails while drinking my coffee and then went and crawled under a comforter in my recliner and watched TV until I fell asleep.

I spent the rest of the day being up from time to time with a cold-induced case of *almost* diarrhea (sorry if that's TMI but that's the most honest way to describe it).  After a bathroom run, I had to bury myself under the covers due to having the chills from sitting on the *throne* for several minutes.  Once I was nice and warm again, I put on my robe and did a little interacting with the Beast before heading back to my TV and, ultimately, another nap.

Chewlee, I think, found me a bit cranky due to the stomach ache that I had by the time she was dropped off by the bus.  I spent a little more time yelling at her than I would normally because she was so anxious to watch her *Peppa Pig* that she forgot that we say *Please* when we ask for someone to get something for us.  She acted like I was her maid and that made me mad.  I told her that SHE was NOT going to get anything unless she said *Please* and then *Thank you*.  It's a small but important thing for her to remember, no matter what is going on around her.  She is usually better mannered so it annoys me when she forgets.  

Her mother told me to send her outside because she was *almost there* so Chewlee put her shoes and socks on and grabbed her backpack.  I tried to get her to put her jacket on (because it WAS cool outside and the wind was blowing) but she insisted she didn't need it if her mother was waiting.  But, when we went outside, Chewlee said to me, *Grandma, my mommy lied!  She would be here by now.*  I had to agree with her there but it was only a few minutes later that the Princess pulled into the driveway.  I think Chewlee ALMOST had gotten on her bike when her mother showed up.  Chewlee ran to the car, got in and I returned to the comfort of my computer room, my recliner and my comforter.  LOL!

The Beast made some blueberry cobbler that was excellent but he thought the cherry cobbler was better.  I told him the main difference to me was that he didn't forget to add the butter to the drop biscuits for the cobbler this time and the topping was a whole lot better.  I admitted, however, that I am partial to cherry cobbler over blueberry.

Bratfink showed up and surprised me so we got to catch up on some stuff.  I always miss her when she's gone for one reason or another.  I told her I was going to do this blog and then head for bed so that I might actually get to do a few more things tomorrow than I got done today.   I want to make some fried chicken or, possibly, grab us a ham steak and make some split pea and ham soup.  The Princess has had a taste for some for a couple days so I can always send some home with her.

I thought I would mention this to all of you that are interested but it looks like Dennis will be home from Texas right around the beginning of November.  I have to admit to being a bit surprised that he is well enough to come home.  I figured it would take a bit longer but he obviously has good healing qualities.  I do know that he is really anxious to get home and the Beast will be glad to see him.  He's spent a lot of time making Dennis laugh with some of the funny things he's managed to say about things going on around here, including some things that were being done for Dennis.

Well, nothing but cool weather ahead of us for now but I put out my sweats for tomorrow and am going to take a shower right after I get this posted.  I turned on my baseboard heater to warm up this room and got a nice warm pair of jammies out to put on after my shower.  

Love you all.  Hope you had a great Hump Day and a wonderful Thursday.  Dress warm (or cool, depending on where you are).  

Chewlee And Her Pumpkin....

When the bus dropped off Chewlee, she came in dragging this bag behind her.  You could tell it was heavy because otherwise Chewlee wouldn't have been dragging it with both hands.  She HAD stopped a time or two while coming up the lawn and tried to see if holding it UP helped but she always ended up putting it down on the ground again.  She picked it up to carry it up the stairs and then it was down on the ground again.  Too funny!

It turns out that the kids all went to the Pumpkin Patch today and got to pick out a pumpkin to take home.  Every other year, Chewlee picked out a much smaller one  that she could easily hold.  Heck, she could carry her bag, off the ground, with ONE hand!  Not this year.  She picked out the biggest one she could and it must have been hard for her to carry it back to the bus so it wouldn't be taken away from her (they wouldn't have but she didn't know that).  She was just very determined to get the best pumpkin she could.

It 's a great size to carve so I was a bit shocked when she asked me if I could make pumpkin pies from it.  I told her I could but not if it was carved up first and a candle put inside it.  She told me, *No, I mean if I give it to you NOW, can you make pumpkin pies for everyone with it?*  I told her that I could and would if she really wanted me to but I thought she should show it to her mother and ask her if that was okay.  She was actually torn because she KNEW it would be a good pumpkin  to carve and have lighted outside but she wanted pumpkin pies from HER OWN pumpkin.  The end result was that carving it won out but I promised her that I would make pumpkin pies for her and even one for her mother to take home.  She was happy then because she could have her pumpkin and get pumpkin pie to eat, too.  LOL!  Smart kid.

Here's a picture that the Beast took of her before she went home.

That's our Chewlee!  It's not the best picture the Beast took but it was the only one I could get him to send me right away so I could put it here for you to see.  That's our *little Princess/tomboy/smart ass* kid.

It seems  the kid really WILL do almost anything for a pickle.  The Beast actually was going to take her to Walmart and let her pick out whatever jar she wanted of pickles.  And you know that they have gallon jars of dill pickles.  Chewlee, like her mother before her, would have grabbed one of those, I'm sure.  However, I whispered to her that *I* had a jar of the little dill pickles that I had hidden away and, if she was good about letting the Beast take pictures of her, she didn't have to wait and could have some of MY hidden pickles.  She liked that.  She then ran out to the kitchen where the Beast was getting his camera ready and said to him, *Ha! Ha!  I've got one up on you, Papa!  And I'm not going to tell you what!*  

When the Beast shared that with me, I was surprised.  Her saying she had *one up on * him just seemed so....so....adult-like, I guess is how it hit me.  That's why I say she is part *smart-ass*.  She comes up with things from time to time that just stop you in your tracks.  Too funny!

I made the stew I had been craving and it turned out just great.  The meat was perfectly tender and the carrots and potatoes were done just right!  It had just the right seasonings and onions.  Nothing overwhelmed the individual tastes of the ingredients.  I didn't mention the peas because they always keep their flavor and texture because they go in last of all and are basically just heated up before you serve the stew.  Now if it were really cold outside, I might have made dumplings for the top but I'm not crazy about them, only the Beast is.  And (gag!) he prefers the Bisquick ones over homemade.  But it does make it easier so that he gets filled up.

One of the Beast's buddies was diagnosed with walking pneumonia.  When I had it years ago, I was just left at home to get well.  It was AWFUL but I survived.  His buddy, however, is asthmatic so breathing is a problem and there can be many complications.  Unfortunately, he needs to be hospitalized but none of the hospitals around us (there are five or six within a 35 mile radius) are equipped to deal with him so they are checking on the facilities at the hospitals in Birmingham.  He will know in the morning and the Beast told him that he would drive him there if they found a hospital for him.  They are afraid they might have to send him to Atlanta so say a little prayer because that's a long way for his family to go to even visit him.  And he will be in the hospital for a while, trust me.  Walking pneumonia is worse than regular pneumonia.  They can treat pneumonia easier.

Love you all.  Have a great *Hump Day* and a nice, calm drive to and from work.  Be careful driving and make sure you are dressed properly for the weather in your area.  I sure wouldn't want anyone to end up with *walking pneumonia* or the regular stuff.  Yuk!  **Wink**

Sheepie, The Princess And ME.....

I got into a discussion that ended up in an argument with my son, Mustachio, tonight.  It was over a feud that Sheepie and the Princess have been in for well over a year now.  I forget how we got started on it but I told my son that it was obvious that Sheepie didn't love me because she is taking her feud with the Princess out on me.

She never calls me any more or comes by to see me.  She doesn't even come over to see Chewlee, which she WAS doing for a while.  Chewlee, who loves her, misses her and so do I.  I love her fiance', Teach, as well.  

I told my son that it really hurt me that she never came and spoke with me about her feud when it first started.  Even the Princess never mentioned it until I asked about it after my daughter told me it was going on.  But I DID see the Princess almost daily.  So, when I finally asked about the feud, all I ever heard was what was going on from HER side.  Not a word from Sheepie about anything except this:  She said she and Teach would never attend any family function again.  No Thanksgiving or Christmas or Easter dinners because *the Princess* would be there.  So who was really being punished?  Me.

Now I am an old person.  No, I won't deny it.  I see it in my mirror every day when I remove my teeth to brush and clean them.  Or comb my thinning hair.  It's obvious.  Which means that my time on this earth is getting shorter.  I'm not in great health although I do try to keep my doctors appointments (multiple doctors these days) and I take all my medications so I am trying to prolong that time as much as possible.  Family is important to old people.  Sheepie is family although she has obviously cut us out of her life as such.  US!  Not the Princess but all the rest of us that love and care for her.  My heart hurts when I think about it and I cry.  Why?  Because although *I* love her, she obviously doesn't love me.

When we found Sheepie after all those years that her biological father had after he kidnapped her and kept her from us, I was elated.  I couldn't wait to see her.  We went through all kinds of ministrations to get her to be able to come and spend Holidays and summers with us.  After the first couple years, she was even allowed to take the bus up to see us (we paid for it) and we picked her up from the bus station.  Her dad or his girlfriend of the hour would pick her up when we sent her back home.  When she decided she was old enough to take the initiative and make her own decisions, we paid for her to go to her mother's house to live with her.

Now I will make no comments about whether or not that was a good decision or not because we really haven't discussed it.  I DO know that she couldn't wait to graduate and leave Kentucky to move down here with her fiance's family.  She's been there ever since.  They will marry after he graduates from college.

I have no idea when, how or why the feud started.  I just know that it was going on for a while before I even heard about it.  It seems everybody had an opinion about what was going on although I really believe it should have been left for the two girls to settle or get over.  Whatever it took to get the family back in order.

I am human.  Because I heard only one side of the whole story, I defended the Princess whenever anyone stuck their nose into the battle.  In hindsight, I wish I had been able to just say, *It's between THEM, not us.  Keep out of it!*  But Sheepie even missed the wedding of a cousin she loved because *the Princess* was going to be there.  Well, hell...so were a lot of other people.  She was missed.  It has caused a hole in the family that shouldn't be there.  It reminds me of high school kids, honestly.  Petty, petty, petty feud.  My advice is that they should BOTH GET OVER IT!  They are blood.  That is important...and especially important to an old person like me.  I have always, always been family oriented.

I have taken in brothers and sisters over the years to help them out for one reason or another.  I felt they needed to be with FAMILY.  Not strangers.  If I had even been asked, I would have taken Sheepie into our home when she moved away from her mother's.  But I wasn't asked.  I didn't even know that is what she had planned.  Hell, I wasn't even told until the last minute when she was going to graduate.  That tells me this:  I love her but she doesn't love me.  My heart hurts right now so I think I will close this missive.  I'm sorry to bend your ears on this but the argument with my son just brought it all out of me.  He doesn't understand where I am coming from.  He just kept saying...*Why should she?*  That hurt me, too.  Why?  Because I took care of her a lot when she was  young and I loved her then.  That should have mattered to her.  She should have known I loved her then as I love her now.  I am so hurt that she can write me out of her life like it was nothing.  Does anyone understand why I am feeling like this?  Maybe I should just accept it.  I just don't know.

Love you all.  Be happy.  Love your family and keep them close.  You just never know....

A Very Good Day!

If you read my last two blogs, please be aware that they are reversed.  I started the one that ended up last on the day I was hit by my IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).  I had started it early in the day figuring that I could add to it as the day went on.  That didn't happen.  However, it was saved as a draft instead of being cancelled so I went ahead and finished it when I noticed it after I had done yesterday's blog.  Forgive the confusion.  It was my fault for not noticing the draft sooner than I did.

Anyway, today was a good day for me.  I mean other than being beaten up by Chewlee all night.  That kid is like a bull in a china shop with the way she sleeps.  It was cold last night and we didn't turn the heater on because we had a nice heavy quilt on the bed.  Chewlee beat the crap out of me with either kicks or hits and it would wake me up.  On my part, I would feel around to see if she had kicked off the covers again or gotten twisted in the two other covers she brought to bed with her.  One was just a baby blanket that she kept here in case she forgot her blankey.  The other was a very thin Indian type blanket that the Beast bought by accident but it's very soft and Chewlee likes it so she smoothed it out underneath the quilt over herself when we first went to bed.  And yes, I went to bed early with her and slept most of the night.  I mean, other than semi-waking up with Chewlee's kicks and hits.  But I would feel her arms and legs and re-cover her before snuggling back with her to try to keep her covered.

I woke up around 6am and got up to make coffee.  I went into my computer room to turn on my computer so I could sort through the spam and read any real emails.  The smell of the coffee woke up the Beast so I found him pouring coffee for himself and he told me that it was a real pleasure to wake up to fresh coffee without having to wait.  We often set up the coffee so all we have to do is push the button and, 7 minutes later, the coffee is ready.  But it really IS nice to wake up and just go pour yourself fresh coffee.  It put him in a good mood for the day.  Even Chewlee benefited from that.  I'll explain later.

I was the one that got frustrated with her when I was trying to get her dressed for church.  She didn't want to wear the dress I picked out but I made her wear it because it had a jacket and it was cold outside when they were going to leave.  However, I made a mistake and brought up she could wear this one soft sweater she had here over it instead of the jacket if it was cold in church.  She took that and ran with the idea.  When the two of them were ready to leave, she quickly put the sweater on over the dress and ran out the door.  Oh....and she was wearing a pair of those tight elastic pants underneath the dress since I was really worried about her being cold.  Her mother forgot to bring over a jacket for her and a pair of socks but I managed to find a pair here although they looked awful with the outfit if you looked closely.

The pants were black and she wore them with a long sleeve shirt when she went out to play after church since it had warmed up a bit.  One of our neighbors had come by earlier to see if Chewlee was here because his little girl wanted to play with her.  She looked so sad when I told them Chewlee was at church but would be home shortly.  I told Lola that I would send Chewlee over there after she changed her clothes and she got a big smile on her face and said *Thank you!* in a cheery voice.  That put a smile on MY face.

I ran up to Walmart and picked up a couple things so I could make salmon patties for dinner.  The Beast and I both love them and we hadn't had them in a couple months.  I also picked up more chicken for Baron and made up some rice for him, too.  We have a big package of mixed veggies that we use along with the rice and chicken for his big meal in the evening.  No, we don't use the whole package of veggies....just part of it.  LOL!

It was nice to do things leisurely and with no pressure or whining from the Beast.  He can get on my nerves easily at times when he starts that.  I emptied the dishwasher and put the dirty dishes in it that had accumulated.  We ate Cup o' Noodles for our lunch along with a smoked sausage sandwich for the Beast.  Chewlee ate the same noodles and two hot dogs besides.  The kid can eat at times.

I made the salmon patties for dinner along with some yellow rice and broccoli.  It hit the spot.  Tomorrow I am making stew for our dinner, having picked up some nice stew meat (expensive these days, have you noticed?).  Of course, it could have been cheaper had I wanted to buy a chuck roast and cut it up myself but what I bought is pretty lean and nicely cut up into bite size pieces.  You pay for laziness.  But, with cooler weather, there are a lot of things we haven't made that are appealing to my appetite now.  I'm thinking meat loaf and mashed potatoes, split pea soup with ham, chili mac....lots of different dishes that we didn't really make during the summer months.

I really am NOT hungry right now.  But I was hungry when I first started planning some meals for the week....LOL.  I'm sure you know what THAT is like!  Well, let me close this out.  The Beast is still watching his football.  He made some popcorn earlier that he split with Chewlee and me.  It was a nice surprise and Chewlee just LOVES popcorn.  After ours was gone, she went out and helped herself to a big handful of the Beast's popcorn while he was talking on the phone....LOL!  She laughed as she came back into my room and told me.  I had heard the Beast tell his friend on the phone that Chewlee was stealing his popcorn so I already knew.

Love you all.  Try to have a good week and be careful driving.  Our weather all over the country is strange so driving conditions will very greatly depending on where you live.  Remember...the life you save may be your own!  **Wink**

Time To Pick The Last Of The Veggies From The Garden.....

The days and nights are getting much cooler.  In fact, the Beast took some pictures of me and Chewlee out on the front porch and it was darn chilly out.  It was around 1pm and should have been a bit warmer than it was, I think.

Chewlee wasn't really in the mood for taking pictures and that shows in a couple of them.  But she put up with it and the Beast DID get a few good pictures out of it.  After giving her a couple pickles as a reward for not being totally miserable about the pictures, I stood out on the deck and looked around at the garden.  The part that is still *alive and kicking* needs to be harvested for the last time.  There are jalapenos, green peppers and a few tomatoes that should be picked.  They will be the last of the season.   

It's always a kind of sad time when the last of the vegetables are being picked.  It means winter is just around the corner.  Even Chewlee brought up how she doesn't like cold weather (like me!) but she knows it's coming.  She told me that she likes *warm* weather, not hot and not cold but just right!  LOL...remind you of anything?

Love you all.  I'm not feeling all that great so I am posting this now.  Have a great weekend!  **Wink**

Had To Take A Sick Day.....

I didn't put up a post yesterday due to being too darn sick to do one.  My IBS kicked my ass and had me in the bathroom as much as it had me down on my back, trying to rest.  I did actually TRY to do a little cooking but just couldn't do much in the way of eating.  The Beast ate, at least.  Today, probably in an attempt to apologize, he went to KFC for our dinner.  Chewlee hates bones in her chicken so she didn't eat any and had her usual chicken noodle soup and a couple hot dogs for her dinner.

Tonight Chewlee spent the night so I just HAD to lay down with her so she would go to sleep right away.  Me?  I took a bit of a nap (of course!) while doing that but I am still trying to recover from my IBS attack.  I have no idea what brought it on but I doubled up my meds for it and it seems to be under control right now.

Chewlee was really funny today.  She was trying to cajole the Beast into giving her some pickles and he wanted to take some pictures of her.  So that was how she got more pickles.  She posed for him and, let me tell you, she did a really great job.  She almost looks like a model with the way she posed.  She smiled brightly and had the cutest looks on her face.  She tossed her hair around and bent her head so darn cute that she made us laugh.  She looked like she was imitating the hair models on TV.

Needless-to-say, she got a lot of pickles.....LOL.  When I was sick and doing mostly sleeping, Chewlee took her cartoon watching to the Beast's TV (and he let her).  He also provided her with her snacks that I usually did until the Princess picked her up.  I didn't even hear them go.  I got up during the night and turned on my computer to check the email that I hadn't even looked at.  An online friend of mine wanted me to play one of the yahoo games with her but I was just not up to it.  I talked with her for a bit and then shut down and went back to bed.

Today was a delicate day because I still was doing the *run for the potty* a couple times until the meds kicked in and stopped that from going on.  Took my intestines a bit to quiet down and get settled but I think the attacks are over for a while.

The Princess had to drop off Chewlee's church shoes and, wouldn't you know, she didn't bring any socks for her to wear with them.  She also didn't bring any kind of coat or sweater for her to wear and I don't have a winter type dress for her either.  I don't know what she was thinking since she knows the mornings are cold.  I don't even have a sweater for her.  It really ticks me off that the Princess wasn't really thinking about keeping Chewlee comfortable at all.  In fact, I don't think she was thinking.

I need to get this posted so I will close for now.  Love you all.  Keep yourself warm and comfortable depending on whatever kind of weather your area has.  Enjoy your Sunday.  **Wink**

Overcast But No Rain For Us Today

I hate when the threat of rain brings your activities to a halt and then you get no rain.  It was damp feeling outside so I guess there must have been rain that fell somewhere closeby.  When the temperature started dropping early in the evening, poor Chewlee came in the house and her hands were like ice.  I felt bad that we didn't have a jacket here for her and she stayed in the house rather than put her pullover sweater on.  She really does hate sweaters but I know when she gets older that will change.

Chewlee was hungry for a change.  I usually have to make her eat before she can go outside or she wouldn't eat until she wound down and was ready for bed.  She ate 3 hotdogs and two big bowls of strawberries.  No whipped cream for her, though.  She just wanted those strawberries naked!  LOL...not her words, mine.  I have to remember to get some cucumbers in the house for her.  She won't eat normal vegetables without being tied to a chair and threatened (just kidding but you start to feel like you WANT to) but she loves cucumbers, for whatever reason.  I figure maybe....just maybe....if we indulge some of these whims of hers, we can eventually lead her into a real salad.  

Baron was acting strangely.  He's usually starving early in the day and the Beast filled up his bowl with his chicken and veggies and....Baron never touched them.  He also didn't eat his dry dog food that we saw or heard.  He finally DID eat but it wasn't until evening but then he ate it all.  I told the Beast that he might just have been depressed over the fact that he didn't get his run yesterday and it was overcast so he didn't get to sit in his sunbeam this morning like he loves to do.  He even would test the air and the deck floor before he went outside to make sure there was no rain on it or any coming down.  By this time, you should know that he's a real wimp when it comes to rain.  He WAS also the same way about snow until last winter when he started to romp in it.  He can't do it for long because Dobie's don't have much protection against the cold (or the heat, for that matter) but at least he was romping.  He won't go out in the rain....period!

The Beast has been happily making up pictures from the party on Sunday.  He spent part of today bringing over copies of some of them to the people in them.  He was very proud of the job he did and how well they came out (once I convinced him that ordinary people would love them...and they did!).  He ended up ordering a new lens (his favorite one for people) because the old one was ruined by smoke.  He couldn't get it clean, no matter how he tried...and he really tried!  I just shrugged.  He does what he wants.  

Later on, believe it or not, we discovered that the very same lens was available to us through our bank points from the credit card.  He kind of overlooked those even though they were really getting high until he got a letter from the bank that the points from 5 years ago were set to expire soon.  That would have been 10,000 down the drain so he started looking over what was available and was shocked!  The quantity and quality of the prizes available was staggering.  We finally picked out something to help out a person we know that has started his own business because we knew it would help him out.  I think he also ordered a really great shop-vac from Bissell for us that we can also use for the cars interiors.  It actually has an easy store hose that's 30 feet long or longer (I forget).

We ended up having chicken nuggets (the frozen kind) along with some mashed potatoes, mixed veggies and his cobbler for dessert if wanted.  I didn't want but he had some.  Chewlee had already gone home for the night after her bath was done and she wrote a letter to Auntie Bratfink.  I know what prompted that.  The Bubble Guppies wrote a letter to Charlie Crab for his cousin and sent it off.  So Chewlee wanted to send one to Auntie Bratfink.  She wrote her letter (it is so cute!), folded it, put it in the envelope and put the stamp on it where it goes.  I get to write the address on the envelope and put it out for the mailman tomorrow.  

She asked me what I thought Auntie Bratfink would think of it.  I told her that I knew she would love it and she might just hang it up near her desk so she could see it.  That put a big grin on her face.  Now all I have to do is find my damn address book.  I went to grab it from where I usually keep it and it's gone.  I have to check and see if the Beast grabbed it for some reason because that's the only reason it would be gone.  Damn Beast.  He never puts MY things back.  I'm beginning to think Its A Man Thing.

Time to get this posted.  Love you all.  Enjoy your Hump Day.  I'm going to try.  **Wink**

Have You Ever......???

Have you ever been sound asleep, dreaming sweet dreams, and suddenly started dreaming of ... let's say...food?  To the point that you could almost smell it?  To the point that you HAD to wake up and make yourself something to eat?  Then, when you shook yourself (or whatever you do to wake up), you discovered that your significant other, or roommate, or one of your kids, was actually cooking something and THAT was why you smelled and almost tasted food?

That happened to me tonight.  I had fallen asleep and was dreaming a nice dream when it suddenly went to an almost savage need for MEAT!  Meat, seared and bloody, tender and tasty.  It was making me salivate in my sleep, which woke me up.  As I shook myself, I realized I smelled....MEAT!  I followed the smell out to the kitchen where I found the Beast, making sausages.  LOL!  Oh yeah, seared and bloody alright!  But, as I stood there, my tummy growled and I could barely put some on bread fast enough.  It tasted delicious but was definitely NOT seared and bloody.  That would have been the steak of my dream.  **Sigh!**  If only........

It was kind of a normal *Chewlee* day.  She got out of the car (the Beast picks her up from gymnastics on Mondays), ran to the front door and came right to my computer room (she knew that's where I would be) and the first words out of her mouth were...*Grandma, can I have some gum?*  ROFL!  I keep gum here just for her since her mother doesn't let her have any at home.  I'm SUCH a grandma!

She stayed out front...sort of.  She was across the street, playing on Dennis's *mountain.  Then it was in the house for some pickles and milk (yuk!  sounds awful, right?).  Then outside with Baron, who promptly ran down the road to the house with the young pup that made the mistake of barking at the Beast!  He just ran down there to stand and intimidate the pup without a single bark, then he turned around and trotted home.  Even the Beast's dog is weird, don't you think?

When the Princess called for me to send Chewlee out since she was almost to the house, I told her that Chewlee would have to come IN before I could send her OUT.  She had to come IN to get her back pack.  When I went outside to call her, she was riding her bike on the grass that was part of Dennis' property.  She dropped the bike, even though I told her to go back and get it, and came running home, hands on her crotch, yelling, *I have to go to the bathroom!*  Sigh!

After she ran in to pee, she came out just as her mother pulled into the driveway.  She ran to get her bike to put it in the garage while I walked over and handed the Princess the back pack.  I told her that Chewlee got NOTHING today because this week, they get half a day off on Thursday and no school on Friday and they are calling it *Fall Break*.  I would have thought they would use the week before Thanksgiving for that but it's just those days and the weekend that makes up *Fall Break*.  But Chewlee told me she had a good day and that usually means she didn't get scolded for any reason and that's a *good day* for her.  LOL!

The Beast got into one of his moods and wanted to bake.  Not a cake but some shortcake (made from Bisquick..yuk!).  He ran to the store and picked up two containers that look like they are a 1/4 of a big basket of strawberries...EACH.  I had said I would cut up the strawberries while he was baking.  I started cutting them up after rinsing them off and realized that the bowl I had selected was full and ONE of the containers wasn't empty yet.  So I told the Beast that I didn't think cutting them ALL up was a good idea since they seem to go bad quickly that way.

I then discovered that he was also making a cherry cobbler (with Bisquick as the cobbler portion...again yuk!).  He gets truly strange when he starts baking and cooking, too.  Thankfully, he wasn't cooking anything tonight.  The cobbler was excellent and, with enough of the juice spilled over it, even the shortcake was edible.  However, it was the strawberries and whipped cream that I concentrated on.  That is ALWAYS a hit!  I only tasted a small portion of the cherry cobbler because I had already kind of overdone the sweets for the day.  Just a tablespoonful....I was good.  **Grin**

Now that he has stuffed his face with his sweets, he's a happy camper and watching his Monday night football game, quietly.  Once that's over, he'll head for bed for the night and sleep peacefully.  That's when I will be able to play my online games without being disturbed by his need to relay everything he hears on his Fox news network that he thinks I should hear.  Not things I WANT to hear, but things HE thinks I MUST hear.  I could strangle him at times but I have restrained myself.  I'm not a Fox network fan.

Well, I think I've bored you enough for one more day so I will close and get this posted for tonight.  Love you all and you know I wish everyone a great week.  Hell, even one great day a week would be nice, don't you think?  **Wink**  

A Tiring Day

I had a very tiring day.  It was mostly tiring because I didn't sleep well last night.  I think I may have gotten 3 hours at first then I woke up, was up for two hours and couldn't get back to sleep.  At least not until around 3 pm or so.  I slept for an hour and the Beast woke me up before he left for this farewell party for a couple that is going to be ministering in Columbia.

Personally, I think they must be a bit on the nutty side since it's such a dangerous country due to the drug cartels but that's just me.  They are a sweet young couple and I hope that God protects them in their endeavors.  They sold their house, furniture and both cars to support them for a year.  Plus he will be able to go up and work for this large company for three months (during the heavy tax time after the first of the year).  Oh, I forgot to mention he's a CPA.

She laughed and said they were practically going down there with just the clothes on their backs (not entirely true, of course) but she has already invested in some of the more colorful and cool clothes of the country.  From the pictures the Beast took at the party (he was asked to take a bajillion pictures and make them up for the couple).  They aren't leaving on Monday, as was rumored.  They are leaving in three weeks....after their house closes.  They do have a house awaiting them, completely furnished that was found by some friends of theirs that are down there.  So they aren't going to be entirely alone.  Everyone that knows them here will miss them a lot.  They are a popular couple.

I did some patching up of our flannel sheets (the one's Baron chewed holes in when he was a puppy).  Also a couple patchwork quilts, same problem.  Finding the patches was a real pain at Walmart.  They expanded their fabric department and their yarn department BUT....I could only find one type of iron on patches for anything other than denim.  And it only had a little bit of beige in it.  No white at all.  I swear, there are even temporary, removable patches !  But not the patches that I always could find at Walmart.  I'm going to have to take a trip up to KMart and Target to see if they have anything there that's familiar.  LOL!

I fell asleep, exhausted around 9pm and slept until almost midnight when the Beast woke me to tell me good night.  Must be a man thing because I wouldn't have done the same thing to him if I found him asleep already.  Now I am awake again but I shall be returning to bed in a little bit.  I feel tired coming down with me.

I haven't seen my Chewlee all weekend although the Beast did pick her up for church this morning but returned her home since she, the Princess and Johnnycakes were going to the Pumpkin Patch.  They take Chewlee every year before Halloween to pick out a pumpkin and I guess they have a small animal petting zoo type thing going there, too.  I just know that Chewlee's heart would be broken if they didn't go.

They sure had nice weather for it.  It got up to around 80 today and was bright and sunny.  I let Baron out in the back yard and he must have stayed out there protecting the yard and then sunning on the deck for over a half hour before he wanted back in.  We have Baron back on the chicken and veggie diet because Baron farted a superior one last night that woke us up.  Even a blanket over our faces didn't help.  He only did it once but he had the one can of dog food and we aren't taking any chances.  I'm glad the Beast only bought three cans of this particular brand because we can pass along the two remaining cans to our neighbor.  Her dogs are outdoor dogs so if it causes THEM to fart, it won't matter.  LOL!

In between church and his party (I WAS invited but really didn't feel like going), we gave Baron a much needed bath.  First with flea and tick shampoo (preventative) and then with a deodorizing shampoo.  He needed both.  Baron loves to run through the tall grass here on a couple of the unsold lots and I'm sure there are ticks in there.  Afterward, you can pluck the ticks off him (when he has them).  I've done it more than once.  Who would have figured that a city girl like me would ever be able to do something like that.

Looks like we have one more day of nice weather and then the rain will be hitting all over this area after that.  Oh well!  I just hope it doesn't last longer than the day or two the weatherman said.  In the meantime, love you all.  Have a great week!  **Wink**

A Saturday Without Chewlee......

The Princess and Johnnycakes both have the weekend off so we won't be getting Chewlee for two days in a row!  It feels weird.  But we have managed even so.  We both got up early but the Beast had much more to do than I did.  I made the bed up, helped empty (and fill) the dishwasher, straightened up my computer room and folded a few clothes.  That was my day since the Beast vacuumed the floor of the living room (mostly because of his mess around his recliner).  He went to the store to pick up a couple gallons of sweet tea and lemonade both for a farwell party tomorrow.  This one young couple is off to Columbia after tomorrow to do some missionary work.  I hope God blesses them because that's dangerous country for anyone, let alone missionaries.

He keeps forgetting a couple things I asked him to get.....some patches so I can fix the flannel sheet that Baron chewed a couple holes in a few years back.  As a pup, he chewed damn near everything he could get his teeth on.  He also chewed a hole in one of my patchwork quilts that I really love so that needs fixing, too.  I also asked him for some refills for our Air Wick auto sprayers that we have in my computer room and both bedrooms.  I've really learned to like them now that we've had them for a while.  I especially love the lavender-chamomile spray.  And there's this one peach one that I love in the guest room.  The Beast likes it for our bedroom, too.  But in my computer room (where I take my naps) give me the lavender-chamomile one every time.  It's very calming and relaxing for me.

I made the Beast an Italian beef sandwich for his dinner (and mine, too!) but I think I am going to have a salad in a little bit.  I've been salad hungry for a couple days and our Ranch dressing is calling my name.  Either that or the Blu-cheese one.  They are both good.  The Beast will probably decide to have one when I make up mine.  I know him too well.  LOL!  (He did!)

He changed Baron's diet on him due to Baron's constant farting.  And it was enough to drive you out of a room!  It was almost constant so we knew it was something in his diet.  We cut out all his canned and dried food and gave him just chicken, veggies and rice for a while.  Until he stopped farting, anyway.  Then we slowly are introducing a brand of canned dog food for a week to see which dog food has been causing it.  We only use four different (available only at pet stores) canned dog foods so it will only take us a month to find out which one it is.  As soon as he starts it again, that dog food is OFF our list and he will go on the chicken, veggie and rice diet for a week once more to clear out his system.  Then we shall see what happens.

The dog really pissed me off more than once.  He actually would walk into my computer room, fart and then leave.  It left me gagging and running for the front door.  I would hold my breath and turn my fan on high to try to clear the room out and I would grab one of the Febreze Air Effects sprays and spray my room before I would enter it again.  He (Baron) would fart at night in our bedroom and it would wake you up and make you leave the room.  A couple times, I thought I would lose my dinner and the odor just hung in the air forever.  It even drove Baron out of the room!  ROFLMAO.  Yeah, it's funny now but not when it's happening.

Love you all.  Have a nice Sunday.  Get together with family and/or friends while you can.  Life is short....too short at times.  **Wink**
 

A Black Bean And Rice Day

It was cool out today and we didn't open the windows on the storm door until afternoon.  In talking, the Beast and I thought it might be a great day to make some black bean soup and rice for dinner.  If you've never had it, it is black beans, cooked with onion, chicken (dark meat), chopped jalapeno pepper and some cayenne pepper to taste.  Of course, there's the usual salt (didn't want you to think it would be bland) and it's not really as hot as you would think.  It's just got a little bite to it.  And you don't really have it too soupy.  It needs to be either cooked down or you have to mash up some of the black beans and add it to the soup to give it *body*.  Then you make some rice and serve the hot bean soup over rice.  It's tasty and filling.

We did a cooperative thing because I chopped the onions and the jalapeno peppers.  I also added just a bit more salt after tasting it and a little more cayenne pepper while the Beast ran up to the store for a few things (primarily the chicken).  We used legs this time but we've used thighs, too.  You MUST cook it on a boil long enough for the chicken to start falling apart.  Some people have used white meat for it but it becomes tiny threads of meat and it's just not as good.  Plus, dark meat has a bit more flavor it adds.

Chewlee had another good day at school and got a smiley face.  She still had her face painting intact and had worn it to school.  It was very beautiful when she got it.  It was two butterfly wings that went from over her brow to down her cheek.  It looked like it had seen better days today and I did manage to talk her into scrubbing it off her face by letting her use my battery-operated skin brush.  I even let her use just a little of my facial scrub, along with some regular bath and body scrub.  Trust me, it was just barely enough to soap up but she was motivated.  She thinks it's such a *big girl* thing.  She stood in front of the bathroom mirror to use it so she could see what she was doing and not get soap in her eye.  She did a good job and her face was bright and clean when she got done.  Then she asked me to help her shampoo her hair (shock!  surprise!)  She usually insists on doing it herself but I helped her get it nice and clean.  I only made sure she got a bath because the Princess ended up working later than she was scheduled and she was exhausted.  She just wanted to go to bed when they got home.  So Chewlee was bathed and dressed for bed.  I also made sure she had eaten although she wanted no part of the black bean soup.  So she got her hot dogs and then a pushup since she had been good at school and here.

It's fantastic sleeping weather and I intend to get some good rest by going to sleep early.  The Beast went to bed about 9:00pm or so because he was tired, too.  He finished mowing our lawn today and, even though he's riding to mow it, it tires him out a lot.  He did take Baron to the park after they went to the pet shop for some food for him, too.  I've taken that walk and, with the Beast's weak leg, I'm sure that didn't help.

I have to put the soup away when it cools down just a bit more and the rice, too.  It will make a wonderful lunch tomorrow along with some corn muffins.  Yum!  Love you all and have a great weekend.  The weather seems to be better (at least fewer storms around) so enjoy it.  **Wink**

Chewlee's School Harvest Festival

Today was a  perfect day for the Harvest Festival at Chewlee's school.  The Beast had his bible study tonight so I went alone and met up with the Princess, Chewlee and a friend of the Princess with her two little boys.

The festival was mostly outside and had lots of things to see, buy and do for the kids.  There was food, of course, cotton candy, some Mexican candies that were very good.  In fact, the Princess was salivating over this one type of huge sucker or some such thing so I bought her four of them for good measure.  I bought four of the smaller suckers for the two older of the kids (Chewlee was one and I forget the little boy's name...sorry).  I also bought cotton candy for Chewlee to share with her little friend and one each for me and the Princess.  **Blush**  I love it although I shouldn't eat it.  In fact, I didn't eat it all and have half the plastic bag of it (it was made fresh) sitting here.  Chewlee will probably eat it tomorrow when she gets here.

 There was a bounce house slide that was really awesome and the two kids made their way to the top twice.  Chewlee had a pretty butterfly painted on her face around the side of one eye with glitter on it.  It was beautiful and the Princess will probably put it on her facebook page.  Chewlee was a bit upset over the idea that she would have to wash it off when she took her bath.  They had a Haunted House.  In fact, they had two of them.  A small one inside the school for the little kids, I think, and a larger one (scarier) for the bolder and the older kids.  I heard a lot of screaming so it wasn't a failure.

There were T-shirts, pretty masks, Halloween bags, adorable hair bows, jewelry, more things than I expected to see.  There was also a couple different drawings, a cake walk that was very different because that one was chancey, too.  It was almost set up like musical chairs.  Very different.  There was a ring toss for large bottles of sodas.  The way it was set up, you almost couldn't lose either.  It was probably the most interest school festival that I have ever seen.  I'll be attending it next year, too.  I'll probably spend more than $20 there this time.  The chances I bought required cash, not tickets....LOL.

My one leg and hip started to pain me so I went home earlier than the Princess and Chewlee but I had fun just watching the kids.  It's been a long time since I attended anything like it other than the Book Fair that Chewlee suckered me into.  LOL!

The Beast didn't even ask about it but I think he knew if I hadn't enjoyed it, I would have mentioned it to him.  But it left me tired and I am heading for bed as soon as I post this.  It's late but not as late as I usually go to bed.  I have a busy day ahead tomorrow stripping my garden.  Oh, and the Beast's buddy, Dennis, called and sounded much stronger and more like himself so I guess he's recovering well.  Still no word from him on what the other tests were all about but, like I said, he'll tell us when he's ready if it's anything serious.

Love you all and I know most of you are glad tomorrow is Friday and the end of work week for many people.  Just remember, the weekend is almost upon us (Hurrah!) so smile and be happy!  **Wink**

IT'S DOWN AND DIRTY TIME, I GUESS....

The Beast actually removed the last two window AC units today.  But guess what?  He used the dolly?  LMAO!  I truly don't blame him even tho' he remarked that the only way he could put the units on the dolly was possibly the worst way.  I told him that the compressors would be sitting in the correct position for more than 24-48 hours so I wouldn't worry about it.  He knew that but it still bothers him when he has to do things like that.

He also hasn't finished putting the covers over the vents like he tried to pretend he had.  It's because he has to get down on one or both knees and it's tough for him to get up again.  He hates feeling old and that's another of the things that tells him he IS old.

He was looking at his winter wardrobe that he has hanging out in the cottage and was trying to decide what he REALLY wanted to bring in.  I told him to bring in my winter coat and I would go through whatever else might be out there that's mine.  I really don't think I have anything else out there but I could be wrong.  Maybe a sweater or two?  I looked and it looked like it was all the Beast's stuff except for my light blue coat.  He carried in a handful of hangers of his long-sleeve flannel shirts and hung them up in our closet.  I think he also brought in his flannel shirt jackets that he loves especially if he's traveling.  

He started talking about taking a trip up to the NE states.  He said maybe Yorktown, Pennsylvania.  Just to look around and see some of the historic sites.  He's never been interested in such things before so I wonder what's gotten into him?  

When he was putting away the AC units, he made a casual remark about putting the necessary wood used to level each unit on top of them when he stored them.  He said it would make it easier for him....or Johnnycakes...next year when they needed to be put in again.  That's the first time he's made a reference to possibly not being around next year....or anytime.  Weird.  Makes me wonder just why he's feeling that way.  Perhaps due to all the various things he is feeling...and suffering from.  I really have no clue.

Tara stopped by to pick up the TV and DVD player.  I'm such a jerk that I forgot to have her look at the spreads and blankets I have here that I don't need.  I also need to find the shams to the bedspread that I want to give to the Princess for Chewlee's bed.  She can use it during the spring or summer, I suppose, since it's not exactly a winter color.  It's pretty much white with a little tan ot beige.  Chewlee likes it but she remembers it mostly from when I use it on the guest bed.  It's meant for a twin bed to go floor to floor.  It might be easier for Chewlee to learn to make up her bed that way, but who knows?

Bratfink swears that my tombstone will read this: * SHE SPENT HER LIFE RAISING KIDS, MOST OF WHOM WERE NOT HERS.*   ROFLMAO!!   That is so true.  Three generations of kids with my own included, and a lot of my sons friends through their early teen years.  I love kids.  It's just sad that the Beast didn't.  He's missed out on a lot of fun and lots of love because he treated his kids like his dad treated him.  He grew up with a father that didn't love him so he never learned how to love kids either.  Truly sad.  He should have wanted to show more love to his own kids.  But, if you don't love yourself, how can  you love anyone?  Know what I mean?

Well, it's late and I need to get this posted.  I hope you can manage to have a great end of the week regardless of what kind of weather you are *enjoying*.  Our nights are cool and our days are getting cooler.  I think our high today was around 73.  Not too warm and not too cool.  But I know what's coming.  Sigh.  

Love you.  Be good and try to be kind to everyone.  A smile goes around the world when it's passed on to everyone you meet.  **Wink**

PREPARING FOR WINTER NOW....

I'm still in love with my new TV.  I can't believe how clear and bright it is.  I keep throwing in my DVD's just to see how different THEY look now, even tho' they aren't Blu-ray.  But I am digressing from my subject.

I told you a couple days ago that the Beast had taken out one of the window AC units.  He said one a day was just fine with him because they are heavy and it wipes him out physically to take one out and then carry it out to the cottage.  He COULD be using the dolly but he thinks that's silly of me to suggest it.  I don't think it's silly but, hey!, that's just my opinion.

But he is doing some serious getting ready for winter.  He closed the vents under the house and put the wood covers he made over them.  I heard the sound of the drill and knew immediately what he was doing.  So the vents are closed and covered now and two of the four units have been put away for the winter.  I knew he wasn't going to remove one a day.  He's 70 years old now and not able to physically do a lot of things he could do easily when he was young.  It bothers him that he can't do them and he complains about it all the time.  I keep telling him, *Beast, you are OLD now.  Accept it and just get on with coping the best you can.*  That always gets me an ugly look but it shuts him up until the next time he has to struggle to do something.

At least he had my help today with opening the doors he needed open so he didn't have to try to juggle the window units.  I told him that it's a good thing they aren't bigger (more BTU's) because then the compressors would be much heavier.  I don't think he appreciated me bringing that up.

I never told you that he gave this old woman from his church the window unit that we had out in the cottage.  She had no air conditioning and is very poor.  He and another man from the church also bought her a nice, used recliner from this thrift store in town.  It looked like brand new and they split the cost of it.  I think they only paid $50 for it but she was so grateful, she cried.  She had no furniture in her living room and, now, she has a recliner to sit comfortably while she watches TV.  She had been using one of her kitchen table chairs but had fallen off it because she would doze off and lose her seating.  At least now, if she falls asleep, she will be held comfortably and won't fall off.  

The Beast installed the window unit in her living room window so that area would be cool.  It was one of the bigger of our units and she told him it even kept her bedroom comfortable at night.  There are times the Beast has a big heart.  He wasn't looking to get praise for what he did and neither was the other gentleman, whom I have met once when he stopped over with his wife.  Very nice people.

I'm glad the vents are closed already because we could still get a tornado or two come through.  I always worried about being over a crawl space with the vents open.  The wind could more easily get under the house and lift us off like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz.  I could see us just spinning through the air and then crashing down in the next town over.  That's the stuff of nightmares, trust me!  We've had come close calls in past years.  So far this year, we've been lucky (knocking on wood).  I know I shouldn't say anything about not having tornadoes hitting us since that's usually the kiss of death and one will hit us or around us because I did bring it up.  Oh well.

The Beast said he's got to take the propane bottles (we have two large ones and one of them we use for the fireplace during the winter) down to get them refilled.  They are both empty.  I don't want to go without having the fireplace to use during the morning to take the chill out of the air and it's kind of nice at night.  It looks like a real fireplace and actually gives off a lot of heat because it's not vented to the outside.  We don't sleep with it on because, who knows?  If the fire went out and the propane gas filled the house, it would be incredibly dangerous to us all.  I am including Baron in that statement.  

Well, time to get this posted for your perusal.  Love you all and I hope you have a fantastic Hump Day.  Tara is stopping by tomorrow to pick up the TV, the DVD player and her tax bill on her house.  We got it because, since we sold the house to her, the change in the deed hasn't made the rounds yet.   It will go to her house next year.  In the meantime, please drive carefully.  Remember, the life you save may be your own.  **Wink**

THE BEAST SURPRISES ME WITH HDTV!

I had asked the Beast for a new TV a while back but my wants usually just go the way of the wind with him.  I will admit that I mentioned (a time or two) that a new TV might just make up for all those anniversaries that I didn't get anything...not even flowers.  AND...I happened to mention that Walmart was having a nice sale on TV's the other day.  However, that seemed to fall on deaf ears.

But tonight, surprise! Surprise!  The Beast walked in with a brand new, 1080psi, Vizio HD TV!  For me!  I was stunned.  It is a 37 inch flat screen and I am still dumbfounded over how amazing the picture looks.  For the first couple hours after we got it set up and the DVD player attached, I couldn't take my eyes off it.  I was playing Avatar on the DVD player and it was just amazing.  You feel like you are right there.  It's almost like having a 3D TV.

Bratfink said to me that it was obvious I hadn't done a lot of watching the TV in the living room with the Beast because that TV is HD (also a 1080).  I laughed and said he was always watching football, basketball or one of his news/talk shows that I hate so why would I?  Not that I hate football.  I just don't like what's happened to many of the teams the past couple years.

I ended up with the Beast's blu-ray DVD player because the TV wouldn't even recognize that my old (new) DVD player was there.  If you read that blog, I replaced my old one when it died on me with a very inexpensive (okay, cheap) one from Amazon a couple months ago.  It worked fine on my old 27 inch TV.  There's nothing wrong with it except it's not HD.  It probably isn't a 1080 psi either but I really didn't care.  It worked and that was fine with me.  

But now?  I will NEVER go back to a non-HD TV.  It's THAT addicting once you sit and watch it.
I even turned on the ending of the movie Avatar on FX that Bratfink is watching.  I love that movie and I love it even more now that I am seeing some of the amazing scenes in the movie.  I feel like I never saw it before.  Not like this.  Am I starting to sound a little nutty?  Sorry about that but I don't remember it looking this good in the theater where I first saw it.  Okay, enough about that.

Since I now have the Beast's Blu-ray DVD player on MY TV, he's going to get another one for the TV in the living room.  I own probably 150 DVD's and not one is Blu-ray.  The Beast told me that I am to buy/order ONLY Blu-ray's from now on.  I understand they are even more amazing on an HD TV.  I can't even imagine that.  Oh well!

I can't wait to see Chewlee's face when she sees this TV in here.  I called Tara and asked her if she would like the TV and DVD player (they are both still good) for one of the boys and she said yes.  But I think she has putting it in her bedroom in mind.  I don't know why.  It was something she said, I think but I didn't care as long as it wasn't going to just be thrown out (that's what the Beast had planned).  I just can't waste something like that when there's nothing wrong with it.  It's the Polack in me I guess.

How is your weather?  We're having such wonderful sleeping weather.  It makes me tired just having the temperature drop down into the low 50's.  I know several states are loaded with snow and all I can say is that I hope nothing serious happened to anyone or caused a real hardship.  At least the states are one's that normally get a lot of snow.  Just not this early.  

It only got up to around 75 but that's good weather so I am not complaining.  I was a slug today and didn't bother getting dressed.  I had no plans to go out so I kept on my pj's and just folded some clothes and hung up others.  I know there's some more clothes that could be folded in the dryer but I said the hell with it once I got this TV.  **Laughing**  I'll take care of it tomorrow.  It's just the Beast's underwear.

I need to jump in the shower and get my hair washed.  Oh, I'll wash the rest of me, too, don't worry.  But I also need to get this posted.  Love you all and I wish you a wonderful week.  **Wink**