Yesterday was one of those days when I felt that all my efforts are in vain. 'In Vain Do We Labor...and all that stuff'.
I told Steve that I so desperately needed to be in the house working all day to get some of the holiday messes cleaned up. I worked like a dog all day, and it seemed last night like I had got absolutely nothing done.
The one thing I did get done that I'm pretty proud of is I got a storm window made and put on the door of the rear entrance foyer. Steve had complained about how cold the foyer was, so I had him cut a large sheet of plexiglass for me to mount on the door. In the summer, the sun comes in so hot, and in the winter, the cold just whooshes away from that door. There's double glass, but the door always seemed cold. I mounted the plexiglass permanently, as it will work well in all seasons.
It was an old sheet that we had bought at Lowe's because I could get it discounted. It had a chipped corner. I didn't need all the size, so it worked for me. It had warped some in storage, but I put it on the heated floor in the bathroom under the Flokati, and, in about 30 minutes or so, it had straightened considerably. When I mounted it, though, after a good cleaning, the warped nature re-asserted itself. I already had the adhesive (silicone caulk) on it, so I couldn't remove it. I left it in place and got some tension curtain rods and put them between the door and the buffet on the other side of the room. It worked like a charm.
I left them in place all night, as we weren't going outside, and I wanted the door to properly seal.
I noticed a great deal of difference this morning when I took the rods down.
I'm going to put a new sweep on the bottom of that door today.
I'm presently pressing some plastic upholstry material under the Flokati to use in in some places to cut down on heating bills and the continual drafts that seem to characterize an old house.
We made a terrible mess in the kitchen last night having supper. I had pot-roasted a beef all day, and I cooked a large skillet of cornbread to go with it. It seemed like every dish in the kitchen was dirty. I just don't know where all the dirt comes from.
I did several loads of laundry, and had to dry them in the bathroom on drying racks. The days are just so overcast that they won't dry outside, and I just refuse to run a dryer.
It's still quite cold. Snow is still on the ground.
I un-loaded several things from the camper on the back of the white truck yesterday evening, and I got so cold! I had only worked a while up at the bird houses, and I didn't realize how cold it was outside.
I haven't worked on my Hut since before Christmas. Steve went up there to get a box to put some things in, and told me that my buckets of water that I clean with are frozen.
While we were at Lynn's, Steve took me shopping one day, and I found a lot of those window shields that I use for insulation, and I'm making plans for them for my Hut.
He told me this morning that he'd like to get the bedroom of the Hut finished before he goes back. I have a rather large bamboo rug that I had bought last summer, and I'm wanting to use it on the floor of the bedroom, where the tanning bed will be. That way, I can use the insulating mats under it to assure a warmer floor, and we'll have a beautiful wood floor on the room where the tanning bed will be. I had suggested this to Steve about a month ago, but he wasn't keen on the idea at the time. Now that it's his idea, it's a good one. A small, washable rugbeside the tanning bed will be way more practical than carpeting for that room. The bamboo will look just like a wooden slat floor....and it's paid for.
I need to give the walls another coat of paint before we can install any floor covering, and I suppose today would be a good day for that, though a little cold.
I need to do a lot more cleaning on the house, but I don't know if I'll get the chance today.
Betty Pike had told me last night that Ma Pike had fallen on her concrete porch yesterday, and that she was going to take her to the ER later. I asked her to let me know what was happening, and she e-mailed me this morning to tell me that nothing was broken, but Ruth is badly bruised and will be quite sore for a while.
She's over 90, so a fall is not welcome news.
I've got to get back to my morning work.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
We drove back from Jim and Lynn's today.
It was nice to have a holiday with them. Their house is so pretty. It's one of those houses that a contractor built with a lot of nice materials but poor craftmanship, though. It's very poorly insulated, and the windows are drafty feeling. I hate to think what their utilities cost. It was built for warm weather, and it snowed 7 inches while we were there. No one could go anywhere.
A lovely (quite large) Japaneze Red Maple came down in the snow. I wanted Steve to help Jim try to right it, with hopes that it may live yet, but there was not enough time to do everything we wanted.
We had arrived just a few minutes late to get to a Christmas Eve program at their church, but Lynn was still doing her hair, so we went together, arriving a little after the service started. Bill had read that we were coming on my blog, so he knew, but Marge's face registered total surprise when Steve and I walked in with Lynn.
They had brought a really nice couple with them from Myrtle Beach who are from Holland.
He was an engineer, and is a really smart man. I totally enjoyed talking and joking with him. She is quite intelligent, too, and I had some really good talks and a good visit with her. We called them both Duchy.
Steve took me out once while we were there to do some small shopping. I wanted the after-Christmas bargains on decorations.
Of course, he had to go to Lowe's.
We didn't get to go to the local Goodwill, but he stopped at TWO of them for me on the way home. They have some strange policies in North Carolina for their workers and volunteers. They can't buy goods there. I wouldn't work or volunteer there. They have almost no volunteers, and I can see why.
I wonder what Renae will think when I tell her.
The roads were pretty clear until we got into the mountains. We then run into ice and snow on the roads, and it would have caused me to stop or stay only in the lane that had been cleared. We could only go about 10-15 mph, both because of the ice and the other cars and trucks. All of the rest areas were full of stopped travelers...cars, vans, 4-wheel drive vehicles, and tractor-trailers.
Steve didn't want to stop, and he got us home, but over two hours later than we expected.
We stopped in Jefferson City to get a chicken pot pie at the Colonel's, but I feel like I've swallowed a hot air balloon. My stomach hurts, I've eaten so much.
Lynn had so many delectable treats, and I just couldn't say no.
We got home, and Ronnie had been here. There were tracks in the driveway, so we could tell.
He called right away when he had seen us coming up the road. We got a report from him. It's good that someone was here to feed and care for the animals while we were gone.
Amy has caught whatever virus he had, and she's miserable.
I am so glad to be home, where I can take long baths and take my time to wash my hair. I didn't want to tie up the bathroom at Lynn's so long. They have two and a half baths.
Their house is really beautiful, and Lynn works herself to death keeping it squeeky clean and totally neat. I tried to get her to stop a while, but she wouldn't hear of it. They have small yards in their subdivision, but the houses are layed out nicely.
They have a really sweet house cat, and it made me miss Yoda.
I'm so totally tired, but I'll bet I don't rest much tonight. I've had too much excitement and travel.
It was nice to have a holiday with them. Their house is so pretty. It's one of those houses that a contractor built with a lot of nice materials but poor craftmanship, though. It's very poorly insulated, and the windows are drafty feeling. I hate to think what their utilities cost. It was built for warm weather, and it snowed 7 inches while we were there. No one could go anywhere.
A lovely (quite large) Japaneze Red Maple came down in the snow. I wanted Steve to help Jim try to right it, with hopes that it may live yet, but there was not enough time to do everything we wanted.
We had arrived just a few minutes late to get to a Christmas Eve program at their church, but Lynn was still doing her hair, so we went together, arriving a little after the service started. Bill had read that we were coming on my blog, so he knew, but Marge's face registered total surprise when Steve and I walked in with Lynn.
They had brought a really nice couple with them from Myrtle Beach who are from Holland.
He was an engineer, and is a really smart man. I totally enjoyed talking and joking with him. She is quite intelligent, too, and I had some really good talks and a good visit with her. We called them both Duchy.
Steve took me out once while we were there to do some small shopping. I wanted the after-Christmas bargains on decorations.
Of course, he had to go to Lowe's.
We didn't get to go to the local Goodwill, but he stopped at TWO of them for me on the way home. They have some strange policies in North Carolina for their workers and volunteers. They can't buy goods there. I wouldn't work or volunteer there. They have almost no volunteers, and I can see why.
I wonder what Renae will think when I tell her.
The roads were pretty clear until we got into the mountains. We then run into ice and snow on the roads, and it would have caused me to stop or stay only in the lane that had been cleared. We could only go about 10-15 mph, both because of the ice and the other cars and trucks. All of the rest areas were full of stopped travelers...cars, vans, 4-wheel drive vehicles, and tractor-trailers.
Steve didn't want to stop, and he got us home, but over two hours later than we expected.
We stopped in Jefferson City to get a chicken pot pie at the Colonel's, but I feel like I've swallowed a hot air balloon. My stomach hurts, I've eaten so much.
Lynn had so many delectable treats, and I just couldn't say no.
We got home, and Ronnie had been here. There were tracks in the driveway, so we could tell.
He called right away when he had seen us coming up the road. We got a report from him. It's good that someone was here to feed and care for the animals while we were gone.
Amy has caught whatever virus he had, and she's miserable.
I am so glad to be home, where I can take long baths and take my time to wash my hair. I didn't want to tie up the bathroom at Lynn's so long. They have two and a half baths.
Their house is really beautiful, and Lynn works herself to death keeping it squeeky clean and totally neat. I tried to get her to stop a while, but she wouldn't hear of it. They have small yards in their subdivision, but the houses are layed out nicely.
They have a really sweet house cat, and it made me miss Yoda.
I'm so totally tired, but I'll bet I don't rest much tonight. I've had too much excitement and travel.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010, PM
I'm really late posting today. Barbara was LONGING to read about my glamourous life.
I won't be posting after today for a while, as Steve and I are going to his sister's house for Christmas.
I'm really anxious about Christmas. I never feel like I've got it right or bought the right gifts for anybody. Our family used to have these elaborate dinners for Christmas, but we just can't all get together without someone getting all huffy or hurt, so we decided to discontinue it a few years ago. Now I feel like the holiday is a waste.
I needed Ambien today, so I called Barbara to tell her I was driving down to Blaine to Okie's Drug Store, and asked if she'd like to ride along to check the progress on her house repairs. Of course, she wanted to go. When we got there, there was no one around. The house was locked up tight. She got to look in the windows, at least.
We then came back to Rutledge and went to the Goodwill. She got some lovely window scarves for her livingroom windows, for when she moves back in. They're fuscia, her signature color.
Steve and I had been to Lowe's in Jefferson City earlier today, and he took me by the Habitat Store there. I bought a fabulous really long counter top with a sink already in it for the Hut. It may even be a little too long, but we can cut it down if needed. I was really glad to get it.
We ate at Kentucky Fried Chicken while we were there.
This evening, I filled all the reservoirs at the bird houses. Ronnie is going to feed the cats while we're gone.
Then I went to work in the Hut. I repainted the walls in the bedroom I had painted last night, then sanded and painted (the first coat) the other two walls. Steve had brought a gas heater up there for me to keep warm and help dry the paint, and it made me sick.
I put it in the livingroom for the duration of my time up there.
I came in about 9:00, and we had a ham sandwich for supper. I have to pack for our trip yet tonight. I like to get an early start.
Merry Christmas to all.
And to all a good night.
I won't be posting after today for a while, as Steve and I are going to his sister's house for Christmas.
I'm really anxious about Christmas. I never feel like I've got it right or bought the right gifts for anybody. Our family used to have these elaborate dinners for Christmas, but we just can't all get together without someone getting all huffy or hurt, so we decided to discontinue it a few years ago. Now I feel like the holiday is a waste.
I needed Ambien today, so I called Barbara to tell her I was driving down to Blaine to Okie's Drug Store, and asked if she'd like to ride along to check the progress on her house repairs. Of course, she wanted to go. When we got there, there was no one around. The house was locked up tight. She got to look in the windows, at least.
We then came back to Rutledge and went to the Goodwill. She got some lovely window scarves for her livingroom windows, for when she moves back in. They're fuscia, her signature color.
Steve and I had been to Lowe's in Jefferson City earlier today, and he took me by the Habitat Store there. I bought a fabulous really long counter top with a sink already in it for the Hut. It may even be a little too long, but we can cut it down if needed. I was really glad to get it.
We ate at Kentucky Fried Chicken while we were there.
This evening, I filled all the reservoirs at the bird houses. Ronnie is going to feed the cats while we're gone.
Then I went to work in the Hut. I repainted the walls in the bedroom I had painted last night, then sanded and painted (the first coat) the other two walls. Steve had brought a gas heater up there for me to keep warm and help dry the paint, and it made me sick.
I put it in the livingroom for the duration of my time up there.
I came in about 9:00, and we had a ham sandwich for supper. I have to pack for our trip yet tonight. I like to get an early start.
Merry Christmas to all.
And to all a good night.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Yesterday was my wedding anniversary. Steve got me a card, and he's learned that I like the mushy ones. Charles, my older brother, always sends me something like that. He knows I like them. I got Steve a Makita skill saw. It's REALLY nice.
We didn't do anything special.
We worked at individual projects in the morning, then in the early afternoon, we got ready to go to Down Home for lunch/supper. We took along some Christmas decorations and decorated Barbara's apartment for her. I had a one-sided Christmas tree, which we hung on a wall above her TV and decorated it for her. I put LED lights on it, so it wouldn't get hot or take much power.
It's really pretty. We hung wreaths on the privacy wall between her porch and her neighbor's, and put one in each window. Her apartment looks so much better.
Then we took her to supper with us. After our meal, I discovered that Steve had taken my money out of my purse, so I was flat broke. I had to use a credit card to pay for supper.
I chewed Steve out again for not putting lights in the blow mold nativity set, so he got busy and did it.
I had fed the birds earlier in the day, so I could work in the Hut last night. Steve help out by cutting some paneling for the front end for me. He did really well with the joints, and I won't even need trim pieces to cover the seams. It looks like a camper again in that end. I re-used the old shelf from that area to make a really exuberent window sill. It looks pretty neat. I'm going to cover it with some white laminate.
Steve gave out and came into the house about 10:00, but I stayed behind to do more work and some cleaning. I think I may paint the bedroom, and I've found some pale mint green that will look nice there.
I came in about 11:00. I ate a bit and got a quick bath.
Steve said I only lasted a few minutes before I was sound asleep. I guess I was tired.
It started out looking dreary and rainey this morning, but the sun is coming out now.
We need a few cheerful days.
We didn't do anything special.
We worked at individual projects in the morning, then in the early afternoon, we got ready to go to Down Home for lunch/supper. We took along some Christmas decorations and decorated Barbara's apartment for her. I had a one-sided Christmas tree, which we hung on a wall above her TV and decorated it for her. I put LED lights on it, so it wouldn't get hot or take much power.
It's really pretty. We hung wreaths on the privacy wall between her porch and her neighbor's, and put one in each window. Her apartment looks so much better.
Then we took her to supper with us. After our meal, I discovered that Steve had taken my money out of my purse, so I was flat broke. I had to use a credit card to pay for supper.
I chewed Steve out again for not putting lights in the blow mold nativity set, so he got busy and did it.
I had fed the birds earlier in the day, so I could work in the Hut last night. Steve help out by cutting some paneling for the front end for me. He did really well with the joints, and I won't even need trim pieces to cover the seams. It looks like a camper again in that end. I re-used the old shelf from that area to make a really exuberent window sill. It looks pretty neat. I'm going to cover it with some white laminate.
Steve gave out and came into the house about 10:00, but I stayed behind to do more work and some cleaning. I think I may paint the bedroom, and I've found some pale mint green that will look nice there.
I came in about 11:00. I ate a bit and got a quick bath.
Steve said I only lasted a few minutes before I was sound asleep. I guess I was tired.
It started out looking dreary and rainey this morning, but the sun is coming out now.
We need a few cheerful days.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
December 21, 2010 AM
I'm late posting this morning. It's mine and Steve's 24th aniversary. I often thought we might not make it.
He stayed in bed until 10:00. He sleeps so much.
Yesterday he and Ronnie dug a hole out by the fish ponds and set the filter into it. It was messy work, with light rain and it being so cold.
He has spent almost a week working on the recording security system. I'm wore out with it. It makes strange beeping sounds when there's motion, which, on our back porch, is always happening.
He's planning to someday put it in the kitchen, but I already know all that beeping will drive me crazy. Maybe that's his plan.
I bawled him out last evening for doing such a terrible job on the blow-mold nativity set. It doesn't matter to him, but it matters a whole lot to me.
He put some of the characters out there with no lights in them, and no cords to put lights in.
I went to buy a refrigerator for the Hut. I got the exact model I had wanted at the Home Depot from a lady in South Knoxville for half price. It's so cute. Her husband and son met me at the Weigel's on Summit Hill Drive. Cops were there pulling so many cars over and giving them tickets. I don't know how they have room for the cars buying gas. It's all them low-life black people over there. Just trash.
I came back by the Dwarf's flea market, and bought Steve a new Ryobi skill saw there for our anniversary. I also got him a little tool that you roll along and it measures how long something is up to 300 feet. I gave them to him yesterday.
I got me a recriprocating saw to go with my firestorm battery set of tools. Those are the most useful tools.
I did some quick feeding last night, then went to work in the Hut for a short while. It was pretty cold, so I didn't last long. I need Steve to cut me some panels to go on the front wall, then I can finish it and put the old shelf up for a window sill. Then I can set things in it to look pretty.
I installed the plexiglass storm window in the rear entry foyer transom window last night. It looks real good, and it works! I just don't want to have to pay a lot to keep the house comfortable this winter, when it might get even colder than it already has.
Then bath and bed. I slept pretty well, but woke early and couldn't go back to sleep, so I started early.
I made biscuits and steak for breakfast.
It's drizzling rain, and it's pretty cold.
Looks like a miserable day.
He stayed in bed until 10:00. He sleeps so much.
Yesterday he and Ronnie dug a hole out by the fish ponds and set the filter into it. It was messy work, with light rain and it being so cold.
He has spent almost a week working on the recording security system. I'm wore out with it. It makes strange beeping sounds when there's motion, which, on our back porch, is always happening.
He's planning to someday put it in the kitchen, but I already know all that beeping will drive me crazy. Maybe that's his plan.
I bawled him out last evening for doing such a terrible job on the blow-mold nativity set. It doesn't matter to him, but it matters a whole lot to me.
He put some of the characters out there with no lights in them, and no cords to put lights in.
I went to buy a refrigerator for the Hut. I got the exact model I had wanted at the Home Depot from a lady in South Knoxville for half price. It's so cute. Her husband and son met me at the Weigel's on Summit Hill Drive. Cops were there pulling so many cars over and giving them tickets. I don't know how they have room for the cars buying gas. It's all them low-life black people over there. Just trash.
I came back by the Dwarf's flea market, and bought Steve a new Ryobi skill saw there for our anniversary. I also got him a little tool that you roll along and it measures how long something is up to 300 feet. I gave them to him yesterday.
I got me a recriprocating saw to go with my firestorm battery set of tools. Those are the most useful tools.
I did some quick feeding last night, then went to work in the Hut for a short while. It was pretty cold, so I didn't last long. I need Steve to cut me some panels to go on the front wall, then I can finish it and put the old shelf up for a window sill. Then I can set things in it to look pretty.
I installed the plexiglass storm window in the rear entry foyer transom window last night. It looks real good, and it works! I just don't want to have to pay a lot to keep the house comfortable this winter, when it might get even colder than it already has.
Then bath and bed. I slept pretty well, but woke early and couldn't go back to sleep, so I started early.
I made biscuits and steak for breakfast.
It's drizzling rain, and it's pretty cold.
Looks like a miserable day.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010 AM
Yesterday was a busy day, though Steve had said we would 'just blow it on running around'.
We got dressed for the cold and went to the Tazewell Flea Market. It was so cold up there. They still have quite a bit of snow. There were few shoppers, and just a few vendors. It is just too cold. After a short while, I told Steve that it took a lot to make me leave a flea market, but the cold did it. We headed for the truck.
We then went to an indoor flea market near-by, but it was pretty cold, too. We didn't stay long there, either.
Then we went to a Mexican restaurant for lunch. The 'Church Crowd' was there. They are the rudest customers of the whole week. It was a mad-house, but we got served pretty quickly, considering the crowd.
Our waitress couldn't even speak conversational English. That infuriates me. Those foreiners are taking over our country!
We left there and started for home, but Steve wanted to detour through Morristown and take me to the Goodwill there. I was game for that. I think he's trying to do some damage control, and it is badly needed. I got some birdhouse toy things there. I also got two strings of bubble lights. I'm getting quite a collection. I love them, but they take a lot of power. They look so old fashioned.
Steve went to Lowe's and Radio Shack while I was in the Goodwill. He got some more things for the video security system.
We then came home, and the second shift started.
I had a Christmas program I wanted to attend at Sunrise Babtist with Barbara, so I didn't want to get dirty, so I worked in the house. I did some more of those plexiglass storm windows. Faune Gerber called me from Nashville, and told me that Betty Pike is on the site of those people who enjoy slamming the 2X2'ers. She said that Betty was registered under Nora. I informed her that Nora was Betty's first name, and she used that name to try to get on the site to read a post I had made there. She can't just talk a few minutes, and kept me on the phone for so long. I was afraid I was going to be late picking Barbara up.
I made it on time, though. I wore a red and white dress, with matching hat and heels. I also wore a red leather coat. I was stunning.
We got there a little early, and it's a good thing. The place was packed! Joan was there, and Lorene Ward, who is a member at Southside. She just came for the children.
The play was a little different. Some of the cast wore terrible bathrobes and head scarves, and looked like they had just came out of the shower. The beards on the shepards were so hokey. They used some pallets for the manger, which was a touch of practicallity.
The lead character was this cop, who was trying to quell disturbances in Bethleham, and his name was Joe Saturday, an obvious take-off on the character in Dragnet called Joe Friday. His deputy was called Rookie.
Only one little boy forgot his lines, and just once.
The lady who played the angel truely looked angelic. Her hair was stunning. I just hope Darla Daniel didn't do it, or she'll never live it down. Lori will have something negative to say about it.
One of the shepherds was called Shep. One of them got lost.
The baby Jesus was badly mis-handled by the sheriff, who declared that the star on his chest was the only star going to be seen in Bethleham. They sang rather bee-bop type songs, but mixed in some of the traditional sounds of Christmas. It was different, but not all bad, of course. Darla sang a beautiful solo. She has such a lovely voice.
The Byrd family was all there. They didn't speak to me, and I didn't speak to them.
Joan and Darla sat with Barbara and me during the fellowship and refreshment time afterwards.
Then Barbara got Creed Daniel to play her some songs on the piano, a Howard grand.
He's pretty good with honky-tonk type music. Creed commented to me that our Christmas lights looked so good. I told him he must tell Steve.
I took Barbara home, and mentioned to her that she had no Christmas decorations. She said that she just didn't have any. I'm going to take her some today, and Steve has kindly consented to go along to do the heavy lifting. I'm going to take her some gift certificates for Darla Daniel, which I know she will love.
I then came home and put up one storm window in the bedroom suite in the transom window, and preped the transom window in the rear foyer so I could hang the storm window panel today.
Angie Slagle had left my stained glass nativity window on the back porch yesterday while we were gone, and it's so pretty. All the angels make it a little busy, but there WERE a multitude of heavenly hosts. The holy family are all a little small in comparison, but it's a beautiful window panel. I'm not yet sure where I'm going to hang it.
I suppose Steve and I are going to Lynn's and Jim's for Christmas.
We got dressed for the cold and went to the Tazewell Flea Market. It was so cold up there. They still have quite a bit of snow. There were few shoppers, and just a few vendors. It is just too cold. After a short while, I told Steve that it took a lot to make me leave a flea market, but the cold did it. We headed for the truck.
We then went to an indoor flea market near-by, but it was pretty cold, too. We didn't stay long there, either.
Then we went to a Mexican restaurant for lunch. The 'Church Crowd' was there. They are the rudest customers of the whole week. It was a mad-house, but we got served pretty quickly, considering the crowd.
Our waitress couldn't even speak conversational English. That infuriates me. Those foreiners are taking over our country!
We left there and started for home, but Steve wanted to detour through Morristown and take me to the Goodwill there. I was game for that. I think he's trying to do some damage control, and it is badly needed. I got some birdhouse toy things there. I also got two strings of bubble lights. I'm getting quite a collection. I love them, but they take a lot of power. They look so old fashioned.
Steve went to Lowe's and Radio Shack while I was in the Goodwill. He got some more things for the video security system.
We then came home, and the second shift started.
I had a Christmas program I wanted to attend at Sunrise Babtist with Barbara, so I didn't want to get dirty, so I worked in the house. I did some more of those plexiglass storm windows. Faune Gerber called me from Nashville, and told me that Betty Pike is on the site of those people who enjoy slamming the 2X2'ers. She said that Betty was registered under Nora. I informed her that Nora was Betty's first name, and she used that name to try to get on the site to read a post I had made there. She can't just talk a few minutes, and kept me on the phone for so long. I was afraid I was going to be late picking Barbara up.
I made it on time, though. I wore a red and white dress, with matching hat and heels. I also wore a red leather coat. I was stunning.
We got there a little early, and it's a good thing. The place was packed! Joan was there, and Lorene Ward, who is a member at Southside. She just came for the children.
The play was a little different. Some of the cast wore terrible bathrobes and head scarves, and looked like they had just came out of the shower. The beards on the shepards were so hokey. They used some pallets for the manger, which was a touch of practicallity.
The lead character was this cop, who was trying to quell disturbances in Bethleham, and his name was Joe Saturday, an obvious take-off on the character in Dragnet called Joe Friday. His deputy was called Rookie.
Only one little boy forgot his lines, and just once.
The lady who played the angel truely looked angelic. Her hair was stunning. I just hope Darla Daniel didn't do it, or she'll never live it down. Lori will have something negative to say about it.
One of the shepherds was called Shep. One of them got lost.
The baby Jesus was badly mis-handled by the sheriff, who declared that the star on his chest was the only star going to be seen in Bethleham. They sang rather bee-bop type songs, but mixed in some of the traditional sounds of Christmas. It was different, but not all bad, of course. Darla sang a beautiful solo. She has such a lovely voice.
The Byrd family was all there. They didn't speak to me, and I didn't speak to them.
Joan and Darla sat with Barbara and me during the fellowship and refreshment time afterwards.
Then Barbara got Creed Daniel to play her some songs on the piano, a Howard grand.
He's pretty good with honky-tonk type music. Creed commented to me that our Christmas lights looked so good. I told him he must tell Steve.
I took Barbara home, and mentioned to her that she had no Christmas decorations. She said that she just didn't have any. I'm going to take her some today, and Steve has kindly consented to go along to do the heavy lifting. I'm going to take her some gift certificates for Darla Daniel, which I know she will love.
I then came home and put up one storm window in the bedroom suite in the transom window, and preped the transom window in the rear foyer so I could hang the storm window panel today.
Angie Slagle had left my stained glass nativity window on the back porch yesterday while we were gone, and it's so pretty. All the angels make it a little busy, but there WERE a multitude of heavenly hosts. The holy family are all a little small in comparison, but it's a beautiful window panel. I'm not yet sure where I'm going to hang it.
I suppose Steve and I are going to Lynn's and Jim's for Christmas.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
December 19, 2010 Sunday AM
Yesterday morning was one of those times that are so very rare now. Steve actually got up at the same time I did. He sleeps so late. I don't know how he can stay in bed when there's so much happening right outside our windows and doors. There's lots happening inside, too.
He stayed up for a while, then went back to bed. I think he must have some kind of sleeping disorder.
I did house things in the morning, because I didn't want to get dirty. I had plans.
I got ready to go out, and took a little trip to take Ada Davis the Christmas Tree curtain panel I had painted for her. She was extatic over it. Ed was so pleased. He loves to see mine and Ada's friendship work. She's such a good friend and associate for me. She's always so supportive, much like Barbara or Shannon. She sent me home with a box of her home made fudge. I noticed that her doves are gone. I didn't notice until I was leaving, so I hadn't asked her about them. She has this lovely little cage for them in her back yard that looks sort of like a pagoda. One of her sons (Gary, I think) built it for her. I would love to have one like it.
I came home hungry, and asked Steve if he's like to go in to Rutledge for some lunch, but he didn't want to stop his work on the security system. I offered to get him a hamburger.
I didn't get to Rutledge, though. Rutledge Pike was blocked off for the annual Christmas parade.
I had seen a house for rent down close to Ada, and I wanted to go tell Renae about it.
I had to call her, instead.
I came back home and had a ham sandwich.
I then went up to the Hut to work. It takes so long to get anything done. Steve came up to help me, and I asked him to change out the roof air conditioner, so we could panel that part of the ceiling. He started in, but was not enthused, and I could tell right away that he was going to make it a real project. He did. He took the inside part of the old one down, and then decided that it was going to be too much trouble to take off the outside roof component, so it's now just sitting up there with little to hold it in place. I see disaster looming.
He then cut the panel to go on the part of the ceiling that is half-way between the living room and kitchen, where the air conditioning is located. When we started to put the panel on the ceiling, we quickly saw that he had cut it about six inches away from where it needed to be.
I didn't say one word, though some really nasty ones were floating around in my head.
He said he would trim it out with some elaborate trim. Trim? It's six inches off!
I'd like to hit him in the head with a 2X4, but he'd have to bend way, way over.
He then started to hang some lights along the ceiling over by the rear wall, and I started insulating the wall up over the tongue with my salvaged ceiling tiles. He carped about my mess the whole time, but I believe in using what you have, and that stuff is just messy. It's fairly easy to work with, though. You can cut it with a box cutter.
After I finished putting it in place, I caulked all the seams. I covered the whole wall on that end of the camper. It looks pretty nice. I'm going to get Steve (if I can) to cut me his scraps from the ceiling material to put on that wall for paneling. I also have some of the salvaged paneling from the old house down by Shannon's church to use, and I'm planning to use it down next to the floor, where the wall takes an innerward turn. I'm going to re-use the shelf that was on that wall originally to make a really exuberant window sill. I like to set things in windows. My mother did, and I think it's kinda neat. I miss her.
Steve gave out on me about 6:00, and came into the house. I stayed behind to clean up a bit, then came in myself. He was asleep on the sofa. He said he was cold, but I sure wasn't.
I let him sleep, and I painted on my Christmas curtain panel. I'll do well to have it done by Christmas, the way I just have to work on it when I can steal a minute away.
I got a bath and washed my hair, then went to bed. It was after 11:00 or so.
I slept fairly well.
There was a really heavy frost this morning. It looked like snow before daylight.
Steve is finally up.
I e-mailed Lynn to tell her she was welcome to spend the night in my Hut anytime.
They may have to sell their house, because the airport has moved their runway so close it's damaging Jim and Lynn's windows. There was some frog the airport wanted to spare. Yeah. Forget all the people in the area....we've just GOT to save a bunch of frogs.
He stayed up for a while, then went back to bed. I think he must have some kind of sleeping disorder.
I did house things in the morning, because I didn't want to get dirty. I had plans.
I got ready to go out, and took a little trip to take Ada Davis the Christmas Tree curtain panel I had painted for her. She was extatic over it. Ed was so pleased. He loves to see mine and Ada's friendship work. She's such a good friend and associate for me. She's always so supportive, much like Barbara or Shannon. She sent me home with a box of her home made fudge. I noticed that her doves are gone. I didn't notice until I was leaving, so I hadn't asked her about them. She has this lovely little cage for them in her back yard that looks sort of like a pagoda. One of her sons (Gary, I think) built it for her. I would love to have one like it.
I came home hungry, and asked Steve if he's like to go in to Rutledge for some lunch, but he didn't want to stop his work on the security system. I offered to get him a hamburger.
I didn't get to Rutledge, though. Rutledge Pike was blocked off for the annual Christmas parade.
I had seen a house for rent down close to Ada, and I wanted to go tell Renae about it.
I had to call her, instead.
I came back home and had a ham sandwich.
I then went up to the Hut to work. It takes so long to get anything done. Steve came up to help me, and I asked him to change out the roof air conditioner, so we could panel that part of the ceiling. He started in, but was not enthused, and I could tell right away that he was going to make it a real project. He did. He took the inside part of the old one down, and then decided that it was going to be too much trouble to take off the outside roof component, so it's now just sitting up there with little to hold it in place. I see disaster looming.
He then cut the panel to go on the part of the ceiling that is half-way between the living room and kitchen, where the air conditioning is located. When we started to put the panel on the ceiling, we quickly saw that he had cut it about six inches away from where it needed to be.
I didn't say one word, though some really nasty ones were floating around in my head.
He said he would trim it out with some elaborate trim. Trim? It's six inches off!
I'd like to hit him in the head with a 2X4, but he'd have to bend way, way over.
He then started to hang some lights along the ceiling over by the rear wall, and I started insulating the wall up over the tongue with my salvaged ceiling tiles. He carped about my mess the whole time, but I believe in using what you have, and that stuff is just messy. It's fairly easy to work with, though. You can cut it with a box cutter.
After I finished putting it in place, I caulked all the seams. I covered the whole wall on that end of the camper. It looks pretty nice. I'm going to get Steve (if I can) to cut me his scraps from the ceiling material to put on that wall for paneling. I also have some of the salvaged paneling from the old house down by Shannon's church to use, and I'm planning to use it down next to the floor, where the wall takes an innerward turn. I'm going to re-use the shelf that was on that wall originally to make a really exuberant window sill. I like to set things in windows. My mother did, and I think it's kinda neat. I miss her.
Steve gave out on me about 6:00, and came into the house. I stayed behind to clean up a bit, then came in myself. He was asleep on the sofa. He said he was cold, but I sure wasn't.
I let him sleep, and I painted on my Christmas curtain panel. I'll do well to have it done by Christmas, the way I just have to work on it when I can steal a minute away.
I got a bath and washed my hair, then went to bed. It was after 11:00 or so.
I slept fairly well.
There was a really heavy frost this morning. It looked like snow before daylight.
Steve is finally up.
I e-mailed Lynn to tell her she was welcome to spend the night in my Hut anytime.
They may have to sell their house, because the airport has moved their runway so close it's damaging Jim and Lynn's windows. There was some frog the airport wanted to spare. Yeah. Forget all the people in the area....we've just GOT to save a bunch of frogs.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010 AM
Yesterday was such a dreary day. I'm so tired of all this heavy air and humidity. Several people have colds and headaches from the high positive ion count.
Steve was in SUCH a bad mood most of the day. He's working on a new recording security system with cameras everywhere, and he's making it such a hard job. Of course, like most of his projects, he gets into it, then starts yelling at me to do things with insturments that I don't even recognise. Then when I can't find them or don't know what to do, he yells at me and treats me like I'm stupid. It just gets on my nerves.
I went to Rutledge to get some feed for the birds, and had a little incident at the co-op. We loaded the feed with the rolling drawer in the back of the white truck, and the feed was so heavy that we couldn't get the tray to roll back into the back of the truck. Three of us (two employees and myself) worked for about 10 minutes, and finally got it about half way in, so I just put the top flap down and drove home that way. I stopped briefly at the Goodwill, but didn't buy much. I found a darling little child's rocker, but Vicky Vinyard was in there, and she wanted it, so I paid for it and left it for her at the front check-out. She can use it for her photography business, and I have several already. It's better to give than to recieve.
I un-loaded my feed when I got home, and filled all the reservoir feeders. Three of my beautiful little doves had died in the recent cold. I've only raised one in the past year, and it died just about the time it got grown. I won't have any if I don't raise some or buy some more.
Barbara called me to tell me that Darla Daniel is not mad at me over the recent mess with Lori, Derk's wife, on Topix. I had recommended Darla to someone as a new hairdresser, and Lori started a real mess with rants defaming Darla. We know it was her, because she told things that no one else could have known. She's bi-polar, and apparently off her medication.
I worked in the Hut last evening. Steve helped me get two of the sheets of the luan paneling on the ceiling. We had a terrible time, trying to fit it in such a small place with a lot of other stuff setting around. Then the nailing gun didn't work. I suggested that we put some WD-40 on it, to make the staples slide into position, but Steve resisted until I finally just went and got the can. He thought it would be a good idea, then. It worked!
Later, he cut me some sheets of plexiglass to fit as storm windows over several windows in the house. I put them up with double-sided tape, then taped around the edges with clear, post-office type tape. You can't tell they're there. I need to get some narrow double-sided tape to put the panels over the stained glass windows that are above the windows in the rear entrance foyer and in the closet room off the master bedroom. The tape I have is too wide.
I gave the windows a really good washing before I put the panels in place. I don't want to look at streaks. I'm going to leave the storms in place all year. They will also keep out the heat this summer.
I was pretty happy with the results. I sat down on the bed with Steve to rest a minute. Then, I had to go start a bath, and, in the process, kicked over the bucket of water I had used to wash the windows. So now there's at least one area of the bedroom carpet that is clean.
These joint and nerve problems are making all kinds of trouble for me. Fibromyalgia is not for sissys.
Steve told me I got a Christmas card from Randy, Burt's oldest son, in New Mexico, but he left it in the truck. I'm glad Randy keeps in touch with his East Tennessee family. He's almost my age, Burt having been the oldest. He died last spring at the age of 86.
It looks to be another rainy, dreary day. I'd love to go over to Jefferson City to the Habitat Store, but I dare not mention it.
Steve was in SUCH a bad mood most of the day. He's working on a new recording security system with cameras everywhere, and he's making it such a hard job. Of course, like most of his projects, he gets into it, then starts yelling at me to do things with insturments that I don't even recognise. Then when I can't find them or don't know what to do, he yells at me and treats me like I'm stupid. It just gets on my nerves.
I went to Rutledge to get some feed for the birds, and had a little incident at the co-op. We loaded the feed with the rolling drawer in the back of the white truck, and the feed was so heavy that we couldn't get the tray to roll back into the back of the truck. Three of us (two employees and myself) worked for about 10 minutes, and finally got it about half way in, so I just put the top flap down and drove home that way. I stopped briefly at the Goodwill, but didn't buy much. I found a darling little child's rocker, but Vicky Vinyard was in there, and she wanted it, so I paid for it and left it for her at the front check-out. She can use it for her photography business, and I have several already. It's better to give than to recieve.
I un-loaded my feed when I got home, and filled all the reservoir feeders. Three of my beautiful little doves had died in the recent cold. I've only raised one in the past year, and it died just about the time it got grown. I won't have any if I don't raise some or buy some more.
Barbara called me to tell me that Darla Daniel is not mad at me over the recent mess with Lori, Derk's wife, on Topix. I had recommended Darla to someone as a new hairdresser, and Lori started a real mess with rants defaming Darla. We know it was her, because she told things that no one else could have known. She's bi-polar, and apparently off her medication.
I worked in the Hut last evening. Steve helped me get two of the sheets of the luan paneling on the ceiling. We had a terrible time, trying to fit it in such a small place with a lot of other stuff setting around. Then the nailing gun didn't work. I suggested that we put some WD-40 on it, to make the staples slide into position, but Steve resisted until I finally just went and got the can. He thought it would be a good idea, then. It worked!
Later, he cut me some sheets of plexiglass to fit as storm windows over several windows in the house. I put them up with double-sided tape, then taped around the edges with clear, post-office type tape. You can't tell they're there. I need to get some narrow double-sided tape to put the panels over the stained glass windows that are above the windows in the rear entrance foyer and in the closet room off the master bedroom. The tape I have is too wide.
I gave the windows a really good washing before I put the panels in place. I don't want to look at streaks. I'm going to leave the storms in place all year. They will also keep out the heat this summer.
I was pretty happy with the results. I sat down on the bed with Steve to rest a minute. Then, I had to go start a bath, and, in the process, kicked over the bucket of water I had used to wash the windows. So now there's at least one area of the bedroom carpet that is clean.
These joint and nerve problems are making all kinds of trouble for me. Fibromyalgia is not for sissys.
Steve told me I got a Christmas card from Randy, Burt's oldest son, in New Mexico, but he left it in the truck. I'm glad Randy keeps in touch with his East Tennessee family. He's almost my age, Burt having been the oldest. He died last spring at the age of 86.
It looks to be another rainy, dreary day. I'd love to go over to Jefferson City to the Habitat Store, but I dare not mention it.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010 AM
It's been a hectic two days.
The snow, it would seem, would have slowed things down a bit. Not so. There was more to do than ever. Steve has been really co-operative, in that he has been doing most of the outdoor work, even feeding the birds. Ronnie has been coming and taking hay out to the cows. He can get that tractor started when no one else can.
I've worked on Ada Davis' Christmas Tree panel, and it's beautiful. I told Steve that I must take it to her today. She won't get to enjoy it much this year, but I can imagine what it will look like in her new sunroom.
I've tried to work in the Hut, but it's really hard to walk all over everything to get even the smallest job done. And it's cold out there.
I've been running an electric heater at each end of the camper, but they can't fight this kind of cold. The plastic over the windows has helped some. Last evening, there was leaking around the roof-mount air conditioner. I had tried (without success) to get Steve to put the new unit on last summer, while it was hot and dry, but he likes to put things off, and I hate to nag, so it didn't get done. Instead, it's parked out on the deck, looking like a high-speed booster on a race car. You'd think Jack Higgs designed our back yard decor. Steve took off the part of the air conditioner that is inside, so I could insulate that part of the ceiling, and I stuffed fiberglass insulation up into the opening of it to keep down drafts. I'd say it will be like that for a long time. I know how things (DO NOT) get done around here.
We had gone to Lowe's Wednesday to get some paneling to put on the ceiling after I got the insulation on it, and choosing was a little difficult. I finally decided to go with some thin luan, which has a stunning grain to it. I decided that I'd just put a coat of varnish on it and keep it the natural wood color. I know Shannon will love that.
Steve has been really good about playing Christmas music this year. He usually resents it, but this year, he's putting some security components in the closet (12X12) where the stereo equipment is, so he's been playing Christmas music. I love it!
We're going to be able to have a video tape of everything that happens around here now. How beautifully paranoid. I guess we can watch people steal our stuff.
Yesterday was Lawrence's birthday, and I called him to have Marilyn Monroe sing Happy Birthday Mr. President for him. He said that Lauren was back in East Tennessee, but that he didn't want any contact with her. I would love to see her. Chelsea usually sends me a Christmas Card, but I haven't got one this year, yet.
I got a card from Rhonda Quesenberry. I haven't opened it yet.
Joel Steese (pastor's son) made the honor roll at Allegheny Wesleyan College this term.
Steve and I went to the Down Home to have their famous Fried Chicken Dinner last night, and we called Barbara to join us. Loopy had our sausage there for us, and I told Barbara that I would portion out some for her. I'm also giving some to Joan and Alyson at the Family Dollar. I won't have much left, but that suits me just fine....I've seen that stuff made.
I bought some more caulk and contractor's adhesive while at the Family Dollar. Their's is the best, and it's the cheapest. I like both qualities. I use a lot of it in the camper, to tighten up things, and to glue insulation sheets to ceilings and up under cabinets. I'm trying to get by as cheaply as possible.
I told Mary to not come yesterday, as Steve was exploding about something every half hour or so all day long, and I didn't want her to get caught in the cross-fire. I think he needs an enema...make that two. One for each ear.
It's dreary here today, and the snow is almost all gone.
I'm not resting well.
The snow, it would seem, would have slowed things down a bit. Not so. There was more to do than ever. Steve has been really co-operative, in that he has been doing most of the outdoor work, even feeding the birds. Ronnie has been coming and taking hay out to the cows. He can get that tractor started when no one else can.
I've worked on Ada Davis' Christmas Tree panel, and it's beautiful. I told Steve that I must take it to her today. She won't get to enjoy it much this year, but I can imagine what it will look like in her new sunroom.
I've tried to work in the Hut, but it's really hard to walk all over everything to get even the smallest job done. And it's cold out there.
I've been running an electric heater at each end of the camper, but they can't fight this kind of cold. The plastic over the windows has helped some. Last evening, there was leaking around the roof-mount air conditioner. I had tried (without success) to get Steve to put the new unit on last summer, while it was hot and dry, but he likes to put things off, and I hate to nag, so it didn't get done. Instead, it's parked out on the deck, looking like a high-speed booster on a race car. You'd think Jack Higgs designed our back yard decor. Steve took off the part of the air conditioner that is inside, so I could insulate that part of the ceiling, and I stuffed fiberglass insulation up into the opening of it to keep down drafts. I'd say it will be like that for a long time. I know how things (DO NOT) get done around here.
We had gone to Lowe's Wednesday to get some paneling to put on the ceiling after I got the insulation on it, and choosing was a little difficult. I finally decided to go with some thin luan, which has a stunning grain to it. I decided that I'd just put a coat of varnish on it and keep it the natural wood color. I know Shannon will love that.
Steve has been really good about playing Christmas music this year. He usually resents it, but this year, he's putting some security components in the closet (12X12) where the stereo equipment is, so he's been playing Christmas music. I love it!
We're going to be able to have a video tape of everything that happens around here now. How beautifully paranoid. I guess we can watch people steal our stuff.
Yesterday was Lawrence's birthday, and I called him to have Marilyn Monroe sing Happy Birthday Mr. President for him. He said that Lauren was back in East Tennessee, but that he didn't want any contact with her. I would love to see her. Chelsea usually sends me a Christmas Card, but I haven't got one this year, yet.
I got a card from Rhonda Quesenberry. I haven't opened it yet.
Joel Steese (pastor's son) made the honor roll at Allegheny Wesleyan College this term.
Steve and I went to the Down Home to have their famous Fried Chicken Dinner last night, and we called Barbara to join us. Loopy had our sausage there for us, and I told Barbara that I would portion out some for her. I'm also giving some to Joan and Alyson at the Family Dollar. I won't have much left, but that suits me just fine....I've seen that stuff made.
I bought some more caulk and contractor's adhesive while at the Family Dollar. Their's is the best, and it's the cheapest. I like both qualities. I use a lot of it in the camper, to tighten up things, and to glue insulation sheets to ceilings and up under cabinets. I'm trying to get by as cheaply as possible.
I told Mary to not come yesterday, as Steve was exploding about something every half hour or so all day long, and I didn't want her to get caught in the cross-fire. I think he needs an enema...make that two. One for each ear.
It's dreary here today, and the snow is almost all gone.
I'm not resting well.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
December 14, 2010, AM
It was cold and snowy all day yesterday. A lot of it layed, but not all of it, or we would have had a real snow. It was very cold, so Steve did the outdoor chores, and left me to play at working on things indoors.
I worked on painting projects a little, did some picking up around the house, and then went out to my Hut to work. I so enjoy working out there, but it's a hassle to have to climb over things. It's so small!
I've got the bathroom about finished, and it really looks good. I still have to get everything out of the closets and insulate and paint inside them, but I'm not sure that's a part of the bathroom.
My walls (now insulated) are a sea-mist green, which is between a mint and a pale sage. The ceiling is white acoustic tile, with pressed-in designs to look like really expensive tiles. It was tricky fitting them around walls and fixtures, but it looks really nice now that they're finished. I still have just a little patch caulking to do around the borders, but it looks great, and I'm really proud.
I took some of my acoustic tiles I had salvaged from the house I wrecked down at Shannon's church and insulated under the kitchen sink, and caulked the seams. I then worked on the ceiling of the livingroom while the caulking set. I took the old screens off the windows and put the old shower curtain from the bathroom over the windows. Then I started taking down the moulding around the cabinets against the ceiling. I discovered that the ceiling would push up, revealing that there was nothing holding the ceiling, and that there was no insulation in the ceiling. I put some pure silicone caulk up in the seam, then run a screw into the paneling on the ceiling, and hung a hammer on the screw to hold the ceiling down until the caulk set up overnight. The caulk was set up on the tile under the kitchen sink by that time, so I gave it a good heavy coat of primer. That ceiling tile is so dry, it just drinks the paint. It's good insulation, though.
It was dark by that time, and I came to the house and had a bit of super, and got a bath to get ready for bed. I remember sitting up in bed for just a few minutes, then felt myself going off to sleep.
I slept really well, for which I thank God. I needed a good night's rest.
Clinch Mountain is so white with the snow and sun this morning.
I worked on painting projects a little, did some picking up around the house, and then went out to my Hut to work. I so enjoy working out there, but it's a hassle to have to climb over things. It's so small!
I've got the bathroom about finished, and it really looks good. I still have to get everything out of the closets and insulate and paint inside them, but I'm not sure that's a part of the bathroom.
My walls (now insulated) are a sea-mist green, which is between a mint and a pale sage. The ceiling is white acoustic tile, with pressed-in designs to look like really expensive tiles. It was tricky fitting them around walls and fixtures, but it looks really nice now that they're finished. I still have just a little patch caulking to do around the borders, but it looks great, and I'm really proud.
I took some of my acoustic tiles I had salvaged from the house I wrecked down at Shannon's church and insulated under the kitchen sink, and caulked the seams. I then worked on the ceiling of the livingroom while the caulking set. I took the old screens off the windows and put the old shower curtain from the bathroom over the windows. Then I started taking down the moulding around the cabinets against the ceiling. I discovered that the ceiling would push up, revealing that there was nothing holding the ceiling, and that there was no insulation in the ceiling. I put some pure silicone caulk up in the seam, then run a screw into the paneling on the ceiling, and hung a hammer on the screw to hold the ceiling down until the caulk set up overnight. The caulk was set up on the tile under the kitchen sink by that time, so I gave it a good heavy coat of primer. That ceiling tile is so dry, it just drinks the paint. It's good insulation, though.
It was dark by that time, and I came to the house and had a bit of super, and got a bath to get ready for bed. I remember sitting up in bed for just a few minutes, then felt myself going off to sleep.
I slept really well, for which I thank God. I needed a good night's rest.
Clinch Mountain is so white with the snow and sun this morning.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
Yesterday was a flurry of activity, as we were trying to get ready for the promised winter storm.
It didn't happen, but it did snow all day, off and on, and it did lay. We had a white yard, and it's cold ...really cold.
Steve worked outside, all bundled up like he was going to be hiking through Siberia, and I worked in the house and the Hut.
I had bought some ceiling tiles, which I put on the bathroom ceiling for appearance and (mostly) insulation. Steve helped me get started, but then he went back outside, and I was left with all the trimming and fitting around the walls and fixtures. It took me all afternoon, but it's a really nice job, now. Even Steve was impressed when he came to get me last night. I still have some slight caulking to do around the walls to cover the slight imperfections of the tile against the walls, but it's really pretty.
My insulation jobs are really paying off. Last night, when I stood in the hallway of the Hut, I could feel cold air coming from the front of the camper on my feet and legs. I haven't insulated and put the plexiglass storm windows there, yet. I'll have to do some clearing out before I can work in the front rooms (kitchen and livingroom).
I'm mostly using rescued materials, and it's saving a lot of money, though it takes a lot more time. I hope my efforts are worth it in the time to come, in saving a lot of money on heating and cooling, and the comfort level of the Hut. I just love my little haven out there.
Faun Gerber called last night, and kept me on the phone for quite a while.
I also talked with Barbara several times about all kinds of things.
There's someone with a mean streak posting negative things about Darla Daniel on Topix, and I think it may be Lory, Derk's wife. I wrote a small essay calling her bluff. Barbara loved it!
Steve is being pretty good about keeping the Christmas lights going this year.
I enjoy them so much.
The snow is so pretty over on Clinch Mountain, but it looks so cold, too. They've called off school in Grainger County for today. My work will go on.
It didn't happen, but it did snow all day, off and on, and it did lay. We had a white yard, and it's cold ...really cold.
Steve worked outside, all bundled up like he was going to be hiking through Siberia, and I worked in the house and the Hut.
I had bought some ceiling tiles, which I put on the bathroom ceiling for appearance and (mostly) insulation. Steve helped me get started, but then he went back outside, and I was left with all the trimming and fitting around the walls and fixtures. It took me all afternoon, but it's a really nice job, now. Even Steve was impressed when he came to get me last night. I still have some slight caulking to do around the walls to cover the slight imperfections of the tile against the walls, but it's really pretty.
My insulation jobs are really paying off. Last night, when I stood in the hallway of the Hut, I could feel cold air coming from the front of the camper on my feet and legs. I haven't insulated and put the plexiglass storm windows there, yet. I'll have to do some clearing out before I can work in the front rooms (kitchen and livingroom).
I'm mostly using rescued materials, and it's saving a lot of money, though it takes a lot more time. I hope my efforts are worth it in the time to come, in saving a lot of money on heating and cooling, and the comfort level of the Hut. I just love my little haven out there.
Faun Gerber called last night, and kept me on the phone for quite a while.
I also talked with Barbara several times about all kinds of things.
There's someone with a mean streak posting negative things about Darla Daniel on Topix, and I think it may be Lory, Derk's wife. I wrote a small essay calling her bluff. Barbara loved it!
Steve is being pretty good about keeping the Christmas lights going this year.
I enjoy them so much.
The snow is so pretty over on Clinch Mountain, but it looks so cold, too. They've called off school in Grainger County for today. My work will go on.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
December 12. 2010 AM Sunday
It was a busy and hectic day yesterday. We have a forecast of winter weather coming, so I'm trying to get everything prepared.
Steve was trying to get all his lights put on the fence down the driveway. He's working so hard to save some of the older strings, but I told him to just replace them with the newer strings.
We had lunch at The Down Home. I saw Uriel and Mrs. Edde, Ada and Ed Davis, and Mrs. Smith and her son, Tim Corum. Tim is with the road department, and I asked him how things were going with the new superintendant. He was non-commital. I finally got him to talk about things by mentioning that I had supported David Bean in the last election. He told me then that he is thinking of running in the next election. I told him I would give him my full support. I don't like Renfro. He fired Karen McNish and hired his daughter to replace her.
I talked with Ed and Ada a short while. I told her I had her a Christmas window curtain that I had painted for her. She's really pleased with that news. She had seen mine last year, and bragged on it so much, so I decided to make her one. I started it in October to have it ready for Christmas. I've got to get it to her this week.
Yesterday afternoon was filled with activity. I got more heaters under the water containers up at the bird houses, made sure all the reservoirs were filled, and tried to get the birds ready for the coming storm.
I then went to the Hut to work. I finished the trim on the bathroom window. It's such a small window, the trim was harder than if it were a larger one. I had to allow for the turn crank for the window, too. Steve came up later and commented "Hey, Babe, that looks really neat".
I had insulated the wall, and I painted the new plywood surface the color it's going to stay, I hope.
I have a small sheet of loft-over plastic laminate that I'm going to glue to the lower part of the wall behind the sink to prevent splashing from staining the wall. I think it's going to be pretty nice.
I finished about 9:00, but it wasn't too cold. Smokey comes out and sits in front of the heater and keeps me company. He's getting so old, and I think his joints bother him a lot. I'm glad he wants to be with me.
Steve had just got in the house when I came in. We had ham sandwiches for supper.
When I checked the TLC website, I saw that Faune Gerber is trying to locate Cynthia Thomas, a sister worker from many years ago in the Knoxville area. They published her address.
I sure hope Faune doesn't go after her with all that talk about 'cults'.
She was one of my favorites when I attended meetings. She's a nurse, but gave up her career for the work.
I got up pretty early, but Steve was still sleeping. I could feel the damp and cold coming through the walls of the house. We're really well insulated, so I know it's bad out. This kind of weather really hurts us with fibromyalgia. I hope Lynn is OK.
Steve was trying to get all his lights put on the fence down the driveway. He's working so hard to save some of the older strings, but I told him to just replace them with the newer strings.
We had lunch at The Down Home. I saw Uriel and Mrs. Edde, Ada and Ed Davis, and Mrs. Smith and her son, Tim Corum. Tim is with the road department, and I asked him how things were going with the new superintendant. He was non-commital. I finally got him to talk about things by mentioning that I had supported David Bean in the last election. He told me then that he is thinking of running in the next election. I told him I would give him my full support. I don't like Renfro. He fired Karen McNish and hired his daughter to replace her.
I talked with Ed and Ada a short while. I told her I had her a Christmas window curtain that I had painted for her. She's really pleased with that news. She had seen mine last year, and bragged on it so much, so I decided to make her one. I started it in October to have it ready for Christmas. I've got to get it to her this week.
Yesterday afternoon was filled with activity. I got more heaters under the water containers up at the bird houses, made sure all the reservoirs were filled, and tried to get the birds ready for the coming storm.
I then went to the Hut to work. I finished the trim on the bathroom window. It's such a small window, the trim was harder than if it were a larger one. I had to allow for the turn crank for the window, too. Steve came up later and commented "Hey, Babe, that looks really neat".
I had insulated the wall, and I painted the new plywood surface the color it's going to stay, I hope.
I have a small sheet of loft-over plastic laminate that I'm going to glue to the lower part of the wall behind the sink to prevent splashing from staining the wall. I think it's going to be pretty nice.
I finished about 9:00, but it wasn't too cold. Smokey comes out and sits in front of the heater and keeps me company. He's getting so old, and I think his joints bother him a lot. I'm glad he wants to be with me.
Steve had just got in the house when I came in. We had ham sandwiches for supper.
When I checked the TLC website, I saw that Faune Gerber is trying to locate Cynthia Thomas, a sister worker from many years ago in the Knoxville area. They published her address.
I sure hope Faune doesn't go after her with all that talk about 'cults'.
She was one of my favorites when I attended meetings. She's a nurse, but gave up her career for the work.
I got up pretty early, but Steve was still sleeping. I could feel the damp and cold coming through the walls of the house. We're really well insulated, so I know it's bad out. This kind of weather really hurts us with fibromyalgia. I hope Lynn is OK.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Friday, December 11, 2010
Well, Steve went to buy himself a larger monitor for his computer, and he just said that he wants to see how 'Halo' shows up on his new monitor. I guess I'll see him on Tuesday. Off and runnin'.
Yesterday was an alright day. Nothing exciting seems to be happening lately.
We went to The Down Home for lunch. They had ribs, and they were delicious! I'm not normally a rib person (unless it's prime!), but these were so good.
We took two vehicles, as I knew Steve would not want to linger and do other things while in town. It seems like we're doing more and more things seperately.
After lunch, I had some errands to do. I had taken along some Christmas decorations to give to Chris Mannus, and I got to visit with her and Karen McNish for a while. Karen is fitting into her new job there nicley. It's less money for her, but she's a true 'people person', so she will do a lot of good, and Chris loves her. She had been at the Road Department for twenty years, until she was fired by the new Superintendent. He put his daughter in Karen's old place.
I also took some money to Betty Mills, as she's unable to pay her rent this month. She's having a real hard time. I don't mind helping her a bit. She's such a nice lady, and works so hard.
I went by the Goodwill, and got a few toys for my bird houses.
Renae was not there, but I got to visit with Carselle for a while.
I then came home and got the second shift started.
Steve had already fed for me, so I went up to the Hut to work.
Before Steve went to get his new computer monitor, I asked him to cut the window hole for me in the bathroom wall. He had mounted the plywood over the hole the night before (I thought) to keep the cold out for the night. He said yesterday that he'c just as soon leave the window covered. Yeah, RIGHT! In the Hobby Hut of a woman who loves light. That went over like a ton of bricks. He then started to cut the hole, and cut it on the wrong side, which is where wall area will be. I'll just have to cover it with some imaginative trim, as that's all of that type of plywood I have, and I'm not going to Lowe's to get more.
He left then, and I worked alone until he got back. I primed the walls in the bedroom (which is where we're going to put the tanning bed), and the bathroom above the vanity. I also took off the storm window he had put on the front window of the bedroom, and put some window trim on, and painted it. It should be pretty dry by this morning, and ready to put the storm window back on before the severe cold gets here this week-end.
I wish I had some ready to go on the windows in the house!
After supper (at 8:00), Steve got busy with his new computer junk, and I took the Flokati off the bathroom floor, padded it, and put the heating rug down on it.
Steve didn't even know where I was all of this time. That Flokati is really heavy, and it took me over an hour to get the heating pad down and the rug put back.
I also got some floor puzzles down out of the guest room where I had them stored, and cut pieces for where some small pieces had been lost. They are these large padded floor puzzles of the alphabet that children play with, but I'm going to put them on the ceiling of the bathroom in the Hut. They will be good insulation, and they are so cute! They will be quite the conversation piece!
I was tired, and got a quick bath and got to bed. I didn't sleep well, though.
Betty Pike e-mailed me to tell me that they've not let her into the site that those mean people have made about the 2X2'ers, as they call them.
I had written a reply to a post on that site, and wanted Betty to see it. I wound up getting Steve to copy and paste it and sent it to her in an e-mail format. They won't let you forward their material.
She wrote this morning to say that she LOVED my reply. Boy, I'm doing pretty good if I can get Betty Pike's approval.
It's heavily overcast, and I'm going to put the laundry on a drying rack in the bathroom. I'll have to get all my choring done before the bad weather.
Yesterday was an alright day. Nothing exciting seems to be happening lately.
We went to The Down Home for lunch. They had ribs, and they were delicious! I'm not normally a rib person (unless it's prime!), but these were so good.
We took two vehicles, as I knew Steve would not want to linger and do other things while in town. It seems like we're doing more and more things seperately.
After lunch, I had some errands to do. I had taken along some Christmas decorations to give to Chris Mannus, and I got to visit with her and Karen McNish for a while. Karen is fitting into her new job there nicley. It's less money for her, but she's a true 'people person', so she will do a lot of good, and Chris loves her. She had been at the Road Department for twenty years, until she was fired by the new Superintendent. He put his daughter in Karen's old place.
I also took some money to Betty Mills, as she's unable to pay her rent this month. She's having a real hard time. I don't mind helping her a bit. She's such a nice lady, and works so hard.
I went by the Goodwill, and got a few toys for my bird houses.
Renae was not there, but I got to visit with Carselle for a while.
I then came home and got the second shift started.
Steve had already fed for me, so I went up to the Hut to work.
Before Steve went to get his new computer monitor, I asked him to cut the window hole for me in the bathroom wall. He had mounted the plywood over the hole the night before (I thought) to keep the cold out for the night. He said yesterday that he'c just as soon leave the window covered. Yeah, RIGHT! In the Hobby Hut of a woman who loves light. That went over like a ton of bricks. He then started to cut the hole, and cut it on the wrong side, which is where wall area will be. I'll just have to cover it with some imaginative trim, as that's all of that type of plywood I have, and I'm not going to Lowe's to get more.
He left then, and I worked alone until he got back. I primed the walls in the bedroom (which is where we're going to put the tanning bed), and the bathroom above the vanity. I also took off the storm window he had put on the front window of the bedroom, and put some window trim on, and painted it. It should be pretty dry by this morning, and ready to put the storm window back on before the severe cold gets here this week-end.
I wish I had some ready to go on the windows in the house!
After supper (at 8:00), Steve got busy with his new computer junk, and I took the Flokati off the bathroom floor, padded it, and put the heating rug down on it.
Steve didn't even know where I was all of this time. That Flokati is really heavy, and it took me over an hour to get the heating pad down and the rug put back.
I also got some floor puzzles down out of the guest room where I had them stored, and cut pieces for where some small pieces had been lost. They are these large padded floor puzzles of the alphabet that children play with, but I'm going to put them on the ceiling of the bathroom in the Hut. They will be good insulation, and they are so cute! They will be quite the conversation piece!
I was tired, and got a quick bath and got to bed. I didn't sleep well, though.
Betty Pike e-mailed me to tell me that they've not let her into the site that those mean people have made about the 2X2'ers, as they call them.
I had written a reply to a post on that site, and wanted Betty to see it. I wound up getting Steve to copy and paste it and sent it to her in an e-mail format. They won't let you forward their material.
She wrote this morning to say that she LOVED my reply. Boy, I'm doing pretty good if I can get Betty Pike's approval.
It's heavily overcast, and I'm going to put the laundry on a drying rack in the bathroom. I'll have to get all my choring done before the bad weather.
Friday, December 10, 2010
December 10, 2010 AM
Yesterday was pretty busy. The weather was bright and sunny, but pretty crisp. I've got the heaters going under the water up at the bird houses to keep it in a fluid state. The shade keeps it frozen all day, even when it's warmed up in the sun.
I gathered up some more decorations to take to Dennis Acuff. His nativity scene is growing daily.
I tried to start putting away some of the unused Christmas decorations, but got distracted by the sunlight and the opertunity to work outside. There's so much to do everywhere.
Steve stayed on his computer (I'm shocked...SHOCKED!) until I was ready to leave the house for lunch at The Down Home, which was about 1:15. I had told him I was getting ready, but he just can't be pulled away from his electronic god.
I'm a computer widow.
I talked with Penny while we were at The Down Home about putting one of her dishwashers, Christy, to work as a waitress. She took over for someone last week, and she lit up the coffee shop with her smiles and humor. She's wasted back in the kitchen. Penny assured me she would work on a plan.
I called Chris Mannes to tell her I would bring her some Christmas decorations I had culled, but I didn't get them to her. I got out at the hut and got so busy I forgot to take them.
I worked in the hut all afternoon. I've got the bathroom wall insulated with some tek-foil stuff, made to be in the windshield of cars, and it's really great stuff. It's pretty expensive on e-bay, or I'd buy a roll of it to insulate the livingroom ceiling. I'm going to have to look for those windshield things at garage sales and Goodwills. I still have the closet ceilings to insulate.
I also put insulation in the windows, as they are one of the cold spots. They don't close properly, so I put some really good duct tape on the seams to keep them a little tighter. I'd rather burn lights for lighting than have those windows leaking out all of my heat.
Working alone up there gives me time to reflect on things. I like the quiet.
I've been thinking a lot about the things on the TLC web site, and what Betty and I discussed the other night about it. Betty is so wise in the things of the Lord. She told me to get away from those angry and dangerous people. They're sure mad about something. I try to inject a little sanity into the situation.
Barbara and I talked a while last night, but we neither had much 'tea', so our conversation was brief, for us. She said Ed Bowling was at the City Council Meeting last night, and Patsy came with her camera to get a picture of him being sworn in as the new City Council member. She gave Barbara a ride home. She's a really nice lady. Ed will be a voice of reason on the council, which is badly needed.
The heating pad on the bed seems to be working, after all. I think it's not as powerful as the old one, but it sure helps my feet and legs to have that heat at the bottom of the bed.
The sun is shining on Clinch Mountain, so it's time to get things finished in the house and get outside.
It's supposed to be really cold this weekend, so I'm trying to get ready for it.
I gathered up some more decorations to take to Dennis Acuff. His nativity scene is growing daily.
I tried to start putting away some of the unused Christmas decorations, but got distracted by the sunlight and the opertunity to work outside. There's so much to do everywhere.
Steve stayed on his computer (I'm shocked...SHOCKED!) until I was ready to leave the house for lunch at The Down Home, which was about 1:15. I had told him I was getting ready, but he just can't be pulled away from his electronic god.
I'm a computer widow.
I talked with Penny while we were at The Down Home about putting one of her dishwashers, Christy, to work as a waitress. She took over for someone last week, and she lit up the coffee shop with her smiles and humor. She's wasted back in the kitchen. Penny assured me she would work on a plan.
I called Chris Mannes to tell her I would bring her some Christmas decorations I had culled, but I didn't get them to her. I got out at the hut and got so busy I forgot to take them.
I worked in the hut all afternoon. I've got the bathroom wall insulated with some tek-foil stuff, made to be in the windshield of cars, and it's really great stuff. It's pretty expensive on e-bay, or I'd buy a roll of it to insulate the livingroom ceiling. I'm going to have to look for those windshield things at garage sales and Goodwills. I still have the closet ceilings to insulate.
I also put insulation in the windows, as they are one of the cold spots. They don't close properly, so I put some really good duct tape on the seams to keep them a little tighter. I'd rather burn lights for lighting than have those windows leaking out all of my heat.
Working alone up there gives me time to reflect on things. I like the quiet.
I've been thinking a lot about the things on the TLC web site, and what Betty and I discussed the other night about it. Betty is so wise in the things of the Lord. She told me to get away from those angry and dangerous people. They're sure mad about something. I try to inject a little sanity into the situation.
Barbara and I talked a while last night, but we neither had much 'tea', so our conversation was brief, for us. She said Ed Bowling was at the City Council Meeting last night, and Patsy came with her camera to get a picture of him being sworn in as the new City Council member. She gave Barbara a ride home. She's a really nice lady. Ed will be a voice of reason on the council, which is badly needed.
The heating pad on the bed seems to be working, after all. I think it's not as powerful as the old one, but it sure helps my feet and legs to have that heat at the bottom of the bed.
The sun is shining on Clinch Mountain, so it's time to get things finished in the house and get outside.
It's supposed to be really cold this weekend, so I'm trying to get ready for it.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Yesterday was such a beautiful day, after the dismal weather we've been having.
It was some warmer, but still cold.
Steve and I had 'seperate' mornings, with him at his computer, and me just banging around the house.
I took the bed clothes off the bed to wash them, because I have a new bed heater I want to use.
I decided to let the mattress 'air' for the day, as I really wanted to get outside and work on my Hut. I so enjoy projects like that, but they're a lot of hard work and frustration, too.
We first went to lunch, as Steve was going to have a conference call a little later. So, I had to change clothes. I usually run through about 4-6 changes a day.
I took some Christmas ornaments for the girls at the Goodwill. Renae had asked for some for some gentleman friend of hers. Angie wanted some when I got them there, too.
I also took some spotlight bulbs to Penny, the owner of the Down Home, to use in her lights that light the parking area. She wasn't there, so I left them with Lu Lu, who I call 'Loopy'. She's such a pleasant lady, and I've grown very fond of her.
I delivered a blow-mold angel to the Acuff's, down on 11W. He's got a really neat nativity set in his yard, and he gets way more visibility than my house does. I'd rather see some nativity scenes than all the worldly junk indigenous to this time of year. I try to encourage him. They both gave me big hugs of appreciation, and invited me in, but Steve was along, so I just left the angel at the door. It was out on top of the creche when we came back home. It was one that I had restored, with hand-painted features.
I did some quick feeding, and put the heat on under the water fountains. They're staying frozen too long to suit me. Those birds have to have water.
I then went to work on the Hut, and Steve joined me a little later. We worked out there until almost 10:00. There's just so much to do, and it goes so slowly, having to step over things all the time. It's like trying to heat a chicken coop out there, but I think Steve's new plexiglass storm windows will make a big difference.
The bedroom is now ready for it's final coat of paint. I had primed it earlier, but wanted to do some caulking before the final color/coat.
After we came in the house, I got the heating pad for the bed, and put it on. I had to customise it, as it is really for a full bed, and we have a king. I got it on, the bed made, and it didn't work! I was so frustrated.
I took a bath and got ready for bed. I think we got to bed around 1:00. I was up around 8:00 this morning, which is a little late for me. Steve slept until almost 10:00.
I don't know how he stays in bed so long.
I painted on a Christmas Tree panel I'm making for a window in the living room.
I talked with Angie Slagle yesterday, too, and she has my stained glass window panel nativity scene ready. It's made up from lots of stained glass pieces that I've collected over the years. There's lots of angels. I can't wait to see it, but she's in New Orleans, so I'll just HAVE to wait.
Lynn loved a post I left on her blog. She said it made her laugh and cry.
It was some warmer, but still cold.
Steve and I had 'seperate' mornings, with him at his computer, and me just banging around the house.
I took the bed clothes off the bed to wash them, because I have a new bed heater I want to use.
I decided to let the mattress 'air' for the day, as I really wanted to get outside and work on my Hut. I so enjoy projects like that, but they're a lot of hard work and frustration, too.
We first went to lunch, as Steve was going to have a conference call a little later. So, I had to change clothes. I usually run through about 4-6 changes a day.
I took some Christmas ornaments for the girls at the Goodwill. Renae had asked for some for some gentleman friend of hers. Angie wanted some when I got them there, too.
I also took some spotlight bulbs to Penny, the owner of the Down Home, to use in her lights that light the parking area. She wasn't there, so I left them with Lu Lu, who I call 'Loopy'. She's such a pleasant lady, and I've grown very fond of her.
I delivered a blow-mold angel to the Acuff's, down on 11W. He's got a really neat nativity set in his yard, and he gets way more visibility than my house does. I'd rather see some nativity scenes than all the worldly junk indigenous to this time of year. I try to encourage him. They both gave me big hugs of appreciation, and invited me in, but Steve was along, so I just left the angel at the door. It was out on top of the creche when we came back home. It was one that I had restored, with hand-painted features.
I did some quick feeding, and put the heat on under the water fountains. They're staying frozen too long to suit me. Those birds have to have water.
I then went to work on the Hut, and Steve joined me a little later. We worked out there until almost 10:00. There's just so much to do, and it goes so slowly, having to step over things all the time. It's like trying to heat a chicken coop out there, but I think Steve's new plexiglass storm windows will make a big difference.
The bedroom is now ready for it's final coat of paint. I had primed it earlier, but wanted to do some caulking before the final color/coat.
After we came in the house, I got the heating pad for the bed, and put it on. I had to customise it, as it is really for a full bed, and we have a king. I got it on, the bed made, and it didn't work! I was so frustrated.
I took a bath and got ready for bed. I think we got to bed around 1:00. I was up around 8:00 this morning, which is a little late for me. Steve slept until almost 10:00.
I don't know how he stays in bed so long.
I painted on a Christmas Tree panel I'm making for a window in the living room.
I talked with Angie Slagle yesterday, too, and she has my stained glass window panel nativity scene ready. It's made up from lots of stained glass pieces that I've collected over the years. There's lots of angels. I can't wait to see it, but she's in New Orleans, so I'll just HAVE to wait.
Lynn loved a post I left on her blog. She said it made her laugh and cry.
Monday, December 6, 2010
December 6, 2010 AM
It snowed (and layed) during the night.
Yesterday, Steve wanted to go to Lowe's to get some different lights for teh Christmas Tree. I just let him go alone, as I had a lot to do here, and I didn't feel very well. I went to bed for a short while, but didn't feel much better.
I got up and went out to my garage to start sorting the decorations. Barbara wants all of my cast-offs, and I'm going to give them to her, for first choice. Then she will give the left-overs to Penny to use at the Down Home.
I worked myself half to death, sorting and cleaning all the ornaments and putting up the tree. I've permanently decorated it by putting on the lights, and then twisting the very ends of the longest tips around the light cords. I'm going to put the 'decorator' lights and the ornaments on it today.
I have quite a few bubblers and some 'lighted ice', which are glazed lights that are so pretty.
The tree is really full, and quite tall. We left a section out of it to keep it from going through the ceiling. I have a twinkling star at the top.
We're using LED lights, so there's not too much current being used. The bubblers and lighted ice are traditional, though, so they will use some more current. I'm not going to use only feathered birds this year. I've been collecting some fairly heavy, old-world looking ornaments that are pretty unusual, and I'm going to be using them this year.
I took a bath (a short one) and got ready for bed. I think I died.
I'm so sore and hurting all over this morning.
Barbara asked me about the TLC blog last night, and I'm going to have to call Betty Pike and get with her on this thing. Some of the anger, rebellion, and resentment I see there disturb me.
I guess I need to talk to my Sister Worker.
Yesterday, Steve wanted to go to Lowe's to get some different lights for teh Christmas Tree. I just let him go alone, as I had a lot to do here, and I didn't feel very well. I went to bed for a short while, but didn't feel much better.
I got up and went out to my garage to start sorting the decorations. Barbara wants all of my cast-offs, and I'm going to give them to her, for first choice. Then she will give the left-overs to Penny to use at the Down Home.
I worked myself half to death, sorting and cleaning all the ornaments and putting up the tree. I've permanently decorated it by putting on the lights, and then twisting the very ends of the longest tips around the light cords. I'm going to put the 'decorator' lights and the ornaments on it today.
I have quite a few bubblers and some 'lighted ice', which are glazed lights that are so pretty.
The tree is really full, and quite tall. We left a section out of it to keep it from going through the ceiling. I have a twinkling star at the top.
We're using LED lights, so there's not too much current being used. The bubblers and lighted ice are traditional, though, so they will use some more current. I'm not going to use only feathered birds this year. I've been collecting some fairly heavy, old-world looking ornaments that are pretty unusual, and I'm going to be using them this year.
I took a bath (a short one) and got ready for bed. I think I died.
I'm so sore and hurting all over this morning.
Barbara asked me about the TLC blog last night, and I'm going to have to call Betty Pike and get with her on this thing. Some of the anger, rebellion, and resentment I see there disturb me.
I guess I need to talk to my Sister Worker.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
December 5, 2010
I didn't post yet today.
Barbara (who has no life) mentioned to me this afternoon that she misses my posts. She longs for the sweet sound of my melodious voice, I know. Even in print.
Steve and I are still 'testy', even though he's making efforts to make up to me.
I don't give up easily. I'm a Southern lady, and I fully understand the concept of feuding.
It's gotten cold, and I hurt all over. I so hate cold weather. I hate short days. I also hate domoncraps, but they're not going away, either.
We still haven't got the Christmas tree up. Steve wanted to go to Lowe's today to get more lights, and I held out for the pricer LED's, which will not be so apt to set the tree on fire, and will not throw breakers. The Scrooge, also known as The Communist, has not lit up my life-sized nativity out at the driveway. He's going to be visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve.
One of my turkeys died from the cold or something. They take to dying about the time they get grown. They're so hard to raise.
Brad called me last night, and we talked for quite a while. His brother, Eric (the smart one) came out to him the last time he was home. I'll just bet their parents are so glad that they will now never be grandparents. What is this world coming to?
I've been posting quite a bit on TLC, the on-line site for former 2X2's. There's a lot of anger amoung those people. The site manager wrote to me, telling me that I seemed so level-headed, and without bitterness or anger toward those people. I have every reason to love them, and no reasons to hate them.
Faune Gerber introduced me to the site.
I visited the Rutledge Goodwill for just a few minutes today. I wanted to take them some curtain lights that we were not going to be using. Kelly, one of our ladies, has been decorating constantly, but people keep buying her decorations. Renae was there sorting, and had worked herself to the point of exhaustion. I've never seen her sitting down to sort, but she was today. Betty was there, and she's a really hard worker...one of our best volunteers. They were swamped with new donations. That's good, but our sorting room is so small, it was really crowded.
Renae had me a box of feathered birds for my tree. She knows I collect them to decorate.
Betty told me her divorce papers came. I hate that she's going through that at Christmas, but she's doing well with it. Her husband was such a loser. I had told her she needed to jetison him some time ago, and she had given him an ultimatum to quit drinking and get a job, or get out.
I told her to call on me if I could help her in any way. She needs her friends now.
I also went by the Goodwill in Jefferson City, and got me a TV for my Hut that plays DVD's without programing them. You just slide them in, and they start playing. I don't know how to program TV's to play all those things. It's real small, but will be perfect for my little camper hut. It only cost $15.00. I'm really pleased with myself.
I got the paneling put on another wall in the bedroom of the camper tonight. It's cheap paneling, but it will keep the insulation in the walls, and it doesn't look too bad, for free stuff. I'll paint it, but it will look a lot like the original paneling that was in the camper when I bought it. I had insulated the walls with cardboard that Joan had given me from the Family Dollar. The paneling covers the cardboard, and makes for a smooth surface. I then trimmed out the window, re-using the old trim that I had taken down. It had to be re-configured, but it looks pretty nice now. I could feel the cold coming off those windows. I'm going to have to get Steve to cut me some plexiglass or put a fine blade on an old table saw he has, so I can cut it. I'm going to have to have storm windows, and plexiglass is pretty resistant to the cold. It will go on the facing for the windows. I expect it will save me a LOT on the heating. I put mattress pads over the windows tonight when I closed up, to keep out some of the cold.
It's late, and I'm tired, and haven't even bathed and got ready for bed.
Barbara (who has no life) mentioned to me this afternoon that she misses my posts. She longs for the sweet sound of my melodious voice, I know. Even in print.
Steve and I are still 'testy', even though he's making efforts to make up to me.
I don't give up easily. I'm a Southern lady, and I fully understand the concept of feuding.
It's gotten cold, and I hurt all over. I so hate cold weather. I hate short days. I also hate domoncraps, but they're not going away, either.
We still haven't got the Christmas tree up. Steve wanted to go to Lowe's today to get more lights, and I held out for the pricer LED's, which will not be so apt to set the tree on fire, and will not throw breakers. The Scrooge, also known as The Communist, has not lit up my life-sized nativity out at the driveway. He's going to be visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve.
One of my turkeys died from the cold or something. They take to dying about the time they get grown. They're so hard to raise.
Brad called me last night, and we talked for quite a while. His brother, Eric (the smart one) came out to him the last time he was home. I'll just bet their parents are so glad that they will now never be grandparents. What is this world coming to?
I've been posting quite a bit on TLC, the on-line site for former 2X2's. There's a lot of anger amoung those people. The site manager wrote to me, telling me that I seemed so level-headed, and without bitterness or anger toward those people. I have every reason to love them, and no reasons to hate them.
Faune Gerber introduced me to the site.
I visited the Rutledge Goodwill for just a few minutes today. I wanted to take them some curtain lights that we were not going to be using. Kelly, one of our ladies, has been decorating constantly, but people keep buying her decorations. Renae was there sorting, and had worked herself to the point of exhaustion. I've never seen her sitting down to sort, but she was today. Betty was there, and she's a really hard worker...one of our best volunteers. They were swamped with new donations. That's good, but our sorting room is so small, it was really crowded.
Renae had me a box of feathered birds for my tree. She knows I collect them to decorate.
Betty told me her divorce papers came. I hate that she's going through that at Christmas, but she's doing well with it. Her husband was such a loser. I had told her she needed to jetison him some time ago, and she had given him an ultimatum to quit drinking and get a job, or get out.
I told her to call on me if I could help her in any way. She needs her friends now.
I also went by the Goodwill in Jefferson City, and got me a TV for my Hut that plays DVD's without programing them. You just slide them in, and they start playing. I don't know how to program TV's to play all those things. It's real small, but will be perfect for my little camper hut. It only cost $15.00. I'm really pleased with myself.
I got the paneling put on another wall in the bedroom of the camper tonight. It's cheap paneling, but it will keep the insulation in the walls, and it doesn't look too bad, for free stuff. I'll paint it, but it will look a lot like the original paneling that was in the camper when I bought it. I had insulated the walls with cardboard that Joan had given me from the Family Dollar. The paneling covers the cardboard, and makes for a smooth surface. I then trimmed out the window, re-using the old trim that I had taken down. It had to be re-configured, but it looks pretty nice now. I could feel the cold coming off those windows. I'm going to have to get Steve to cut me some plexiglass or put a fine blade on an old table saw he has, so I can cut it. I'm going to have to have storm windows, and plexiglass is pretty resistant to the cold. It will go on the facing for the windows. I expect it will save me a LOT on the heating. I put mattress pads over the windows tonight when I closed up, to keep out some of the cold.
It's late, and I'm tired, and haven't even bathed and got ready for bed.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Thursday PM
I haven't posted much lately.
Night before last was a nightmare. I didn't sleep a wink all night. I finally got sleepy about 7:30 AM yesterday, so I went to bed. Steve laid the phone off the hook.
I got up about 11:00, feeling guilty for not getting anything done all morning.
Steve had been on the computer all morning. He doesn't care if he doesn't get anything done around here all day.
I did a quick feeding, then went up to the Hut to work. I was up there until 10:00 last night, but feel like I didn't get much done. It's hard to get much accomplished when you have to work alone, and have to step over things all the time. It's really crowded up there.
It's cold now. The rain has left, but it's heavily overcast and very cold.
I had two heaters on last night in the Hut, and still was cold until I came down to the house and took a really hot bath.
Mary came today, and we cleaned.
Steve has been a royal pain all day. He wouldn't help me pick up and get ready for Mary this morning. I told him to not even turn on his computer, that I needed his help. That was wasted breath. He left his table setting in the livingroom with scissors, tape (I don't know what for), and other things on it, he wouldn't help me change the bed, he wouldn't get dressed, and he got on the computer and stayed there until about 1:30 this afternoon.
When Mary and I went to lunch, I didn't offer to bring him anything to eat. I figure if he can't go with us, he can go hungry. He's supposed to be on break. Yeah, right!
He finally got off the phone when Ronnie came out to work this afternoon.
I asked him to get the life-sized Nativity blow-molds down from the barn lost for me.
He did (well, part of them).
He then made a big turmoil about how they were supposed to stand up. I told him how to run monofilament from one point to another, and wind it around their necks to keep them upright.
After about an hour, he told me I should come and check them out.
It looked like they had taken them all out there and piled them in a heap.
I don't even want to turn them on.
I think I can count on another spoiled Christmas.
Twenty four years of this.
I should have left town on December the first, and not came back until January.
Night before last was a nightmare. I didn't sleep a wink all night. I finally got sleepy about 7:30 AM yesterday, so I went to bed. Steve laid the phone off the hook.
I got up about 11:00, feeling guilty for not getting anything done all morning.
Steve had been on the computer all morning. He doesn't care if he doesn't get anything done around here all day.
I did a quick feeding, then went up to the Hut to work. I was up there until 10:00 last night, but feel like I didn't get much done. It's hard to get much accomplished when you have to work alone, and have to step over things all the time. It's really crowded up there.
It's cold now. The rain has left, but it's heavily overcast and very cold.
I had two heaters on last night in the Hut, and still was cold until I came down to the house and took a really hot bath.
Mary came today, and we cleaned.
Steve has been a royal pain all day. He wouldn't help me pick up and get ready for Mary this morning. I told him to not even turn on his computer, that I needed his help. That was wasted breath. He left his table setting in the livingroom with scissors, tape (I don't know what for), and other things on it, he wouldn't help me change the bed, he wouldn't get dressed, and he got on the computer and stayed there until about 1:30 this afternoon.
When Mary and I went to lunch, I didn't offer to bring him anything to eat. I figure if he can't go with us, he can go hungry. He's supposed to be on break. Yeah, right!
He finally got off the phone when Ronnie came out to work this afternoon.
I asked him to get the life-sized Nativity blow-molds down from the barn lost for me.
He did (well, part of them).
He then made a big turmoil about how they were supposed to stand up. I told him how to run monofilament from one point to another, and wind it around their necks to keep them upright.
After about an hour, he told me I should come and check them out.
It looked like they had taken them all out there and piled them in a heap.
I don't even want to turn them on.
I think I can count on another spoiled Christmas.
Twenty four years of this.
I should have left town on December the first, and not came back until January.
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