Category: Life

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Gardening and weather woes

Never have I been so uncertain about the weather as I am this year. I realize that it is odd all over and various states are getting pounded with elements they aren’t used to, but even my body and older age creeping in, doesn’t change the fact that I used to be able to tell what the weather was going to do, just by how my body felt. Now, it isn’t like that. I’m getting kind of tired of my joints and such, hurt on wonderful sunny days, and are better on dismal and cold rainy days. What is up with that?

My gardens and perennial plants don’t act they know how to react to the weather either. My sage and parsley of all things are growing at an incredible rate of speed, along with some other plants and even a small tree I have outside.

We had frost last night and it was cold and windy. I would welcome back the 80 degree, with a warm breeze weather we had in March, compared to this. So would my plants in the garden.

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Missed auction

Of all the auctions to miss, it was the items for auction from the home my daughter and her family will be moving into tomorrow. Things came up and I had to do some important errands, thinking I could at least make it to the tail end of the sale, but didn’t.

I went for no doubt the last time to my daughter’s “old” house, tonight and she had told me that she wished she had known what I wanted, and she would have placed bids for me, but then she also knows that I will bid on boxes of what seem like junk and come up with a treasure, I’ve no doubt wanted for a long time. I’m very fortunate like that. I consider auctions an art.

I’m going to the new home tomorrow to wander through and tonight I got joy out of seeing my daughter so excited and happy. She’s so excited to show everything to me, and I’m excited to see it all. She deserves this and so do her kids.

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Help with a thesis or dissertation

My niece called me last night and sounded so proud of herself, because she had finally looked into a custom dissertation writing service. This is something I have been telling her to do for months and months, but bless her heart…like most young adults and kids, “big” adults don’t have a clue as to what they are talking about. They think we were born old and never experienced things that they are going through. I went through this with my oldest daughter when she was in collage and I’m sure I am going to go through it three more times before all my children are grown and out of school.

I wanted to check out some of the links my niece had looked at about how to buy thesis online, and found it to be very interesting, indeed. A person can get a lot of help with the writing of all their needs. It cuts out having to spend hour and hour online and at the library. And I know from experience sometimes a person can’t find exactly what they are looking for at the library and I myself have had to have books I needed ordered from other branches, which took a long time.

My nice told me that when she could buy dissertation online, just hearing the relief in her voice, was enough for me not to tease her about the “I told you so,” part of months when she fretted about it all. A plus is, that she is saving money and also time by using this service.

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Getting away from it all

My daughter and I are at other place that we both love, and have left the guys to fend for themselves over the weekend. It’s good to go a bit South for awhile, to get away as there has been a bit of turmoil going on over stupid stuff that I just didn’t feel like dealing with this weekend. My daughter and I just needed to get away. My daughter Iris, is a sensitive young lady and she is the kind that likes and wants to keep the peace, but I could tell she needed the break as much as I Having my two sons stay with their dad for a time might be a wake up call for them, and it might be a good one…I don’t know. He lets them get away with basically anything, and I’m kind of tired of being the bad guy all the time. Of course, they will indeed take full advantage of the fact that their father when home, tends to get lost into the sofa and television and doesn’t have a clue what is happening around him. Yes, I am a bit worried, but I’m leaving that worry to fate. What happens if anything, will.

In the mean time, once we got here it was like we breathed a deep one and then relaxed. It’s so peaceful here.  I am however a Mom first and foremost, and indeed want to call to see if everything is going alright. BUT, I have to have Faith it is and then let it go.

Tomorrow I think Ris and I are going to go shopping. I need to try and find some film for my old camera and also want to get more acrylics to finish a painting I’ve been working on here. I’ll also take Ris out to lunch and to any shops or stores she would like to go to also. We’ll go to mass on Sunday and it’ll give me a chance to get updated on what is happening in the community and the congregation. It’s Lent and I’m anxious to catch up on what is happening and if there is any volunteer work that needed to be done, that Ris and I usually sign up for if we know for sure we can get down here. Other than that, we have plans to do things around the house and in general…relax a bit.

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A new telephone

The telephone I had, wasn’t working well and I have known for awhile I’ve needed a new one. I wanted to get one with two handsets so I didn’t have to keep the phone off the charger when I wanted it near me. Unfortunately we only have two phone jacks in this house, and one doesn’t work. I was told by the telephone company that I would have to pay at least 400.00 (this may not include labor) to get it fixed. I personally have never heard of such a thing, paying THAT much just to fix a phone jack, but this is what I was told by our little local telephone company.

Delaying buying a new telephone wasn’t an option as of last night, when the older one got totally demolished. I’m not going to go into how, but lets just say…I’ve got a kid that is grounded for life. Anyway, my husband went out and got a new telephone. I have to say, being techno challenged, it is going to take some time for me to figure this one out. All the buttons it has on the phone and answering machine, look like it is a control panel for NASA use.

While talking to my daughter, I accidentally hit a button that turned out to be speaker phone and nearly dropped the phone because it freaked me out. My oldest son is the one who hooked up and set all the buttons on this thing…I have to find the manual he put someplace and read it well.

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Router cords and computer stuff

While I’m blogging and also working on my computer, my son needed to run a long ethernet cord from my office to his bedroom, because he needs internet access to activate Windows 7. In other words…he doesn’t have a long enough cord to reach from the office router to the bedroom, so he is using two routers all together to connect the computer in his room to the internet.

Actually that sounded pretty good for a person who is totally techno challenged, didn’t it? LOL! Okay, my son told me what he was doing, since there are now cords looped all over my computer desk and the other desk I have in the room, as well as an antique barrel that I use as a plant stand, then across the floor, out the door, into the kitchen and into is bedroom. Say that all in one breath!

While I was writing a different blog post, I was into my zone and didn’t notice anything he was doing until I finished and got up to get a cup of tea. I tripped over a cord he was laying out. My son the computer whiz, actually can catch a person really well. All the time apologizing, explaining and smiling since he had found a way to do what he had to do and also caught me from falling on my face. My fault…he had been telling me what he was doing and I actually didn’t care at the moment, since I was in writing mode. He helps me all the time with my computers and the upkeep…I don’t care if cords are all over for a little while. Maybe he’ll find a way to put Windows whatever on my old faithful!

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A quiet Friday night

My daughter and I are the only ones home tonight. At least for awhile. My two sons are at band practice, and I don’t mean school band. They play in a loud music, screaming vocals, headache inducing band. I am so glad practice isn’t here, and in this instance that our home is too small to host band practice.

My husband works this weekend, and since he works nights, he won’t be home until morning. This means not having to listen to snoring loud enough to cause acute insomnia in those who have to be subjected to hearing it. (Which is why I have my own bedroom).

I putzed around the house making lists for what I want to get in town tomorrow, hung a new shower liner, all the while making mental notes on what colors I want to redo the bathroom in, and other mental notes on home improvement ideas. My daughter put in some suggestions and then wandered back into her room and is exercising her vocal cords for her next singing gig. She is  singing softly. Unfortunately she has to, since she has a sore throat. I’m really enjoying the peace and quiet for now. It’s been sort of a poopy day until now.

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Hugs are awesome

>I’ve always thought that hugs are the mainstays of feeling loved, needed and cared for. There are so many different kinds of hugs, but the best are those that are sincere and tight. Not the pat, pat, on the back then quick break away hugs. Or the ones that are half hugs. Tight mean it hugs are awesome. I needed a hug today, and when my daughter got home she automatically came to me and pulled me out of my chair. She said, “You need a hug, Mom.” Then she gave me the biggest tightest hug. It did make me feel better, I admit. It’s amazing how she knows when I need a hug and gives it just at the right time.

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A home alarm system needed

Living here, I have always trusted my dogs to watch my house, until new people started building around us and moving in. Now I’ve found that I need a Home Alarm System. It’s pretty sad that I have felt safe where I am living for over twenty years, and now I don’t. Homes are getting broken into all around us, we had our windows smashed last summer, and it just keeps getting worse and worse. I love my house and don’t want to move, but if this keeps happening, I’m afraid we are going to have to move out to the farm house, which needs a whole lot of work.

I’ve been checking into Home Security Systems, and reading recommendations. I’ve also been asking friends about the systems and companies they have and trust. So far, I’m not sure exactly what I want. Actually it’s looking like we are going to need what I’d like to call “full coverage.”

All these break in’s and destruction started about six years ago. Until then, folks around here watched one each others homes and garages, and were good neighbors. We all were like family. But new low income houses started being built and old people were moving, as taxes kept going up because of the new houses and water being pumped into the village, plus the break ins that started. It’s a shame that this is all happening. I saw an ad about ADT Home Security that I am going to check out. Maybe I’ll feel a bit more safe and relaxed if I know we are safe and our home is when we are gone.

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Memories through photographs

While the kids and I are in the process of some heavy cleaning, I’ve been sort of going through photographs. Believe me, as an amateur photographer who’s passion is taking photos, I have hundreds and hundreds of loose pictures. Some are in photo boxes, some are in a photo tower that as five shelves stocked up with loose pictures, and then there is my cedar chest and a big plastic bin full of pictures I have take over the years. These of course do not include the library of albums I have.

I worry about fire. I’m terrified of it. Photographs capture moments in a lifetime, that can never be captured again, and while going through some of the photos, I have to admit that some are pretty darn good. They look professional. I’m not trying to “toot my own horn”, but when I’m taking photos, I know instantly if they will be good or not. The right lighting and post or not a pose…which ever. Most of my really good ones were taken with my old trusty Pentax Zoom 60X. I love this camera, and now to find film for it is nearly impossible. Not to mention that it doesn’t work for one reason or another and there is no one around here that will touch it. I’ve got to still keep trying to track down someone to fix this camera for me. I don’t like digital cameras. When I find a camera I love, I’m happy and this Pentax was the best camera I ever had. It “fit” me and the photos were excellent.

The memories that flooded back while looking at some of the photos that I did last night, were nearly bitter sweet. There are moments I am so glad I captured.