Lots of things on my mind….
This morning started badly when I found that my tractor had a flat tire. So I had to take the flat off and take it into town and buy a new tire. I thought the tire was going to cost about $250, but I ended up having to also buy a new tube to put inside it, plus they charged to remove the old tire from the rim, and put the new tire on the rim.
When all was said and done, it ended up costing me $514. And you thought farming was cheap! This is one crappy April Fools joke.
Even though I live out in a remote area we are lucky enough to have trash pick up provided to us each week. For as long as I can remember the trash was picked up on Monday morning. So each Sunday evening the trash goes out to the end of the long drive way.
This week there has been a change, instead of the usual Monday morning pick up, we have been notified that it will now be a Tuesday afternoon pick up. No big deal but it’s something that I have to adjust to after all these years.
It will be nice when they start offering the recycling items as well. They have been talking about this for several years. The wheels of justice turn so darned slow. Right now if you want to recycle items we have to take them to the recycling center that is over 45 minutes away from this place. What a pain, but if you want to recycle that is the only way to do it around here, for now.
Since I’ve never even had the opportunity to actually see or place in my hands any type of Clarinet, much less the Gonzalez reeds that my sister’s middle son was trying to explain to me at dinner at their place over the weekend. It felt good to get away from the house and the farm, with no major holiday or family events being celebrated, just a night away from all the critters and chores that keep me pretty chained to the old homestead the majority of the time.
A nice home cooked meal is always a welcomed change. One that wasn’t placed into some type of Tupperware and brought over for me to re heat by one person or another, usually my sister. I was able to sit and watch TV with my nieces and nephews, while smelling all the wonderful aromas that were floating out of the kitchen. It’s the small things like that which people that are suddenly on their own and secluded from most of the world.
Dinner was awesome, sis is a wonderful cook, something that my mother spend a lot of her time teaching her to do. So most of the dishes are from our mother and they taste just like home!
As much as I would like to think that on one of these Christmas mornings that I would wake up and find the awesome Gibson guitar that I have been drooling over for some time now, I don’t think that it will happen. First of all it is only me here at the farm, second is I don’t put up a Christmas tree anymore since it is only me here and third – no one has a clue that I would love to be able to play the guitar.
I have always wanted to play the guitar. I used to beg my parents to buy me a guitar, telling them that I didn’t need for them to pay for guitar lessons, that I would learn to play it on my own, it never came to be, which I never really understand. I come from a very musical family and if I couldn’t figure out how to play it on my own I would like to think that one or more of my relatives would certainly take the time to teach me a few things. Alas it never happened and most likely it never will as there really isn’t a lot of extra money for such luxuries these days and it doesn’t look like that will be changing anytime soon due to our lovely government and the election that just took place. But that is a subject for another time.
I have always enjoyed the monthly edition of the Reader’s Digest that arrives in the mail box like clock work. I don’t have much time for reading. The Reader’s Digest is perfect for people like me that don’t have a lot of time, they have good short stories and jokes that keep my brain active and alert.
Some times you can do things on your own, but some times you really need to turn to some one who specializes in that particular field. As much as I wouldn’t mind creating and then printing out the brochures, pamphlets and flyers that are needed for the neighborhood watch that I belong to, I really think that they should check out the website that I sent them the link to for custom printing in new york.
Right now is a really busy time here at the farm. With yet another massive snow storm on the way there is so much to do to prepare for. I never seem to have an extra time since the holidays came and went. This has been one heck of a winter so far. Not that I am surprised. We have had some pretty easy winters, these past couple of years, we were due.
If push comes to shove I will do my best, but I’ve heard good things about this particular printing company and I think that they could do a much better job at this point, but we will see what they decide on at the next meeting come the middle of March.
Before I got myself settled in here at the old homestead, shortly after my parents passed on and left the whole place to me for me to live at and run, I did get the opportunity to do a bit of traveling. I’m glad that I got to do the traveling that I did since it doesn’t appear that I’ll be going anywhere any time soon except to go into town or into the neighboring county to see my sister and her flock of kids.
There are two places that hold a soft spot in my heart, they are Alaska and California. Both places have a lot of good and of course some bad that go along with them. The weather is wonderful in California, especially in the San Diego area, but there is a lot to be desired when it comes to hospitality and getting to know people.
The weather in Alaska has got to be the worst weather, considering the older I get the more I don’t like anything to do with cold weather. But the people there are so warm and friendly that it seems to take some of the bit out of the never ending freezing cold days and nights that Alaska is so well known for. Both places are extremely expensive, not good choices for people that are hurting for money to try and live in.
One day I’d love to go back to both places. I need to check into san diego travel expenses and ideas of what exactly I want to do while I’m there and for how long. It would be really cool if I could leave California and head up north and explore Alaska once again, all in the same trip. Hopefully one day I’ll have things under control here and I can take a road trip before I’m too old to enjoy it.
I have always enjoyed the monthly Reader’s Digest that manages to find it’s way to my mailbox each month. With not a lot of extra time on my hands to spend reading any books, it’s nice to be able to pick up a Reader’s Digest and find something interesting and entertaining to read that doesn’t take up a lot of my time.
I’m surprised that I haven’t received a bill from them yet telling me that I need to send in more money to renew the subscription that my parents had forever and day. They must have paid way in advance or Reader’s Digest has just forgotten about us, either way I won’t look a gift horse in the mouth at this time.
One of the many touches that my mother had around the old homestead was the amount and usage of burlap. In just about any of the rooms in this house had something burlap in it. Some people collect unicorns, but my mother collected many things. One of them being burlap.
I came across a fitted faux washable burlap tablecloth on line this morning and it took everything that I had not to immediately order one. I mean the price was right and I do believe that it would great on the dining room table, but I have bigger things and items that are waiting for me to get around to.
I have bookmarked the site for further reference. Who knows maybe if I put it on my Christmas wish list, I just might find it under the Christmas tree this year. It might help if I tell people that is one of the items that I would love to receive. Lord knows I don’t need any cookies, candies, slippers or a new tie! Burlap would be wonderful compared to some of the yearly presents that are purchased and given with out any thought or consideration.
It is a slow process, but I am getting the place turned around and looking better bit by bit. The house hasn’t seen these many changes in so very long, my parents had not done much in the last decade, due to age and illness, so it has a lot that needs repair and changing. It isn’t easy, trying to find the balance between keeping the memories and bringing the much needed modernization into the place, I would hate to cross the line and upset other family members that have a vested interest in the place as well.
I have run across the most marvelous canvas art online and am considering purchasing one of the many pieces that would look good in the old place. Wall art doesn’t have to be expensive, and I’ve really been impressed with the prices that I’ve run across at Mywhitewalls.com, very reasonable and several have jumped out at me and caught my eye. This piece in particular would go really well with the colors in the front living room and is just over $100, and comes with the offer of Free Shipping as well.
I’m sending my one sister the link for her review and opinion, just to keep her in loop with many ideas and issues that I run across. I value her opinion and her eye for colors and decorating for the place.