It’s almost time for me to leave to get my hair cut. I’m really lucky that I can depend on my stylist, Michael Remillard, of Tangles Hair Studio in Greenwood AR 479-996-6366 to make sense of what lives on top of my head. My hair has always been thin, fine, and awful to work with, but now that I’m ‘mature,’ it takes even more. I come out from Michael’s looking like someone has a plan, and that means a lot to me.
After fighting to get both of our irrigation units reprogrammed after our electricity went off and on quickly the other day, we had another really short power interruption yesterday, making us realize we probably needed to do it all over again.
I also noticed, though, that several counties in Arkansas were under freeze alerts overnight. Not us, but it will happen soon, so we’ve now decided it’s probably time for us to turn off both units and drain the system as best we can for winter. That means our plants will kick the bucket since we’ve been really short on rain for quite a while now. In fact, the whole area is under a burn ban and a wildfire sprung up yesterday that they are still trying to contain.
We’ll have to get out our ‘get-ready-for-winter’ list soon. I much prefer the spring, when all is opening up again, rather than all this shutting down and prepping for possibly being stuck up on our ridge line. We have a great start on things now since Richard Billett came and worked on the driveway vegetation for us. And so it begins…
Enjoy your Wednesday. I hope it’s a good day for you.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
I’m throwing my husband into this hole I had dug in the back yard.
At 2 a.m. this morning the light went on. My husband was sitting up, pulling the covers off me as he rummaged through the sheet, blanket and comforter, muttering. I determined that he was, in fact, awake.
We played a game of ’20 Questions,’ since he wouldn’t tell me directly what the problem was. FINALLY, after I got up, we straightened the covers, and I again asked him what he was looking for, after we determined he wasn’t cold, or too hot, or….. He finally said he was looking for the rope that went around the comforter, pointing to the stuffing inside it. We discussed THAT for a good 5 minutes before he agreed that the comforter didn’t HAVE a ‘rope’ running around the edge on the inside, that we didn’t need or want one, and that we should go back to sleep.
I was so frustrated with him at that point that it took me a good hour to calm down – and warm up – enough to try to go to sleep again.
When I got up this morning and came downstairs, he said, ‘hi,’ but had the towel over his eyes and was under his throw in his recliner.
The hole awaits…
Filed under Challenges
Filed under Amazing Animals
Good morning! I’m having a slow start getting to my blog this morning. I had a note on the chat program from our son, asking me to open a PDF file. It’s from the IRS, saying he owes them money. Since our son lives across the world from us, I wrote the check, signed the form and will mail everything later today or tomorrow. Our son pays us back right away, so it isn’t a big problem.
I started a new account on Facebook two days ago because I wanted to read a new blog there. Someone hacked my account years ago and Facebook wouldn’t help me, so I closed my account. I started looking at things there, joined a few local groups, tried to find some of my old friends, commented on a few posts, etc.
I received a notice in my email later from Facebook saying my account was suspended because I hadn’t followed their rules. They didn’t point to anything, so I have no clue. I appealed the decision, saying if they would let me know what I had done, I would make every effort not to repeat it. I haven’t heard anything since, and I’m still suspended, so you MAY be reading the words of a ‘terrorist,’ though, from what I’ve read elsewhere, Facebook allows THAT…
We don’t have anything scheduled today. I’m hoping that things will be quiet around here. I’m working on a couple of signs in my art room, have ideas for two more, and am getting supplies gathered to try to paint some new stationery and/or note cards.
I’ve been trying to walk more, to add to my weights videos and my yoga stretching. I ordered a competitor of the Fitbit watch. I don’t need the brand name and all I really want is for it to track my steps so that I can keep track and try to increase it each time. I should get it Thursday, I think.
I’m on a bit of a plateau on my efforts to lose the lard since I started the protein shakes. I’m tweaking what I’m eating otherwise. I’ve read that eating too much protein can knock you out of ketosis, but I’ll keep doing this until my body has a chance to settle. It’s important that I increase the protein, so the tweaking and increasing movement will continue, hoping for the best.
The weather here has gotten so much cooler in the mornings and nights that not only have we turned off the a/c, but we wait to open the doors until closer to lunch time. What a welcome difference! Monster Cat is a bit ticked because she likes going out on the back porch. In the early evenings there are some bunnies running around and she fantasizes about catching them and eating them. Amber enjoys lying on the tiles right in the doorway to catch the nice breezes.
Our terrific tree guy wasn’t able to take the stray pup who has been visiting us. I didn’t see the pup yesterday, though, so I’m hopeful he’s moved on.
Hope your Tuesday is a fun one.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Filed under Attitude, Funny Signs - Humor
Filed under When Wood Comes Alive
We gathered our trash and drove it down to the bottom of our newly cleared NICE driveway this morning. My husband stopped the truck before we got to the bottom so that I could get out and get the trash can and drag it down to where we leave it for emptying right beside the street. I did NOT fall on my head, though I’m thinking of trying to have retractable cleats installed on the bottom of my sandals so I don’t slip and slide so much. I’m seriously considering getting several pallets to put across the ditch to the side of the driveway and leaving the trash can down there, rather than dragging it down and then back up every week.
We drove back up and noticed our elephant ear plants were drooping. We checked the watering units in the well house and they were wonky again. Apparently every time the power even blips, the control units lose their minds, not knowing what time it is or when or if they’re supposed to come on.
I managed to figure out how to run each unit manually and we had to tweak the water in several of the planters. Then I had to set the clocks again, and reprogram each unit to run automatically. I’ll set my alarm to go out at 3pm and check to make sure that each one runs as it is supposed to.
One of the units had switched which ‘station’ it was on, so when I got the manual setting to work, water whooshed out of a faucet that had nothing attached to it, drenching me from the waist down. Yeah. :0(
I went to check on my husband and found him trying to get up onto the edge of the nook planter (the one behind the house and beside the back porch.) I got him to wait until I could come heft him up and get him settled standing in the planter while he worked on a hose that wasn’t working right. He fixed that, and I helped him get out of there and back down to the ground without falling.
Hopefully, the rest of our day will be QUIET. PLEASE.
Filed under Challenges, character-building exercises
This was the part of our driveway closest to the house Friday. Even after we had a previous guy work on getting the trees on either side of it under better control for the winter (when they tend to fall INTO the driveway from both sides during ice and snow or severe weather) I was still dreading the season to come.
Because a crew from the power company was here to clear the vegetation encroaching on the power lines, I went out and asked if anyone did work on the side or knew someone who did. I got the name and number of Richard Billett, called and left a message. He called me back very soon and came out that afternoon after work to see what we needed.
Happily, this weekend was free, so he started work early Saturday morning. He worked all day long until almost dinner time. He came again yesterday morning, starting even earlier, and finished up mid to late afternoon.
He cut things way back, but left the woody, natural feel we like.
My photos don’t do it justice, but he climbed tree after tree, carefully trimming or taking out some of the tops, opening things up so the sun can now get to the driveway more, enabling faster melting. He took out almost all the dead stuff – anything that looked like it might THINK of falling into the driveway, opening the whole driveway up. There is no way to show you how much he did, but I now feel safer about the driveway than I have in YEARS.
When he was showing me some of what he’d done Saturday and what was left to do Sunday, we walked quite a way down the driveway. It’s steep and skiddy with the gravel, so he offered his arm on the way back up. This old lady was very grateful for a strong arm to anchor me and keep me from falling on my head as I huffed and puffed my way back up.
Not only did he do the driveway, but he cut down a BUNCH of the weed trees that were impeding our view out of the back yard. (We feel if we can SEE it, we OWN it, so it makes us grin from ear to ear when we can actually see down the hill into the valley a bit.) He didn’t even charge us for that because he said it should have been done to clear the area around the power line.
So, in one weekend we are breathing a huge sigh of relief. Our miracle worker’s name is Richard Billett. His side business is called Ba_Boom Tree & Construction. Phone number is 918-315-4286. Email is Baboomtreeco@gmail.com. He does “Tree trimming and removal, Drop & Go, All phases of Construction, Framing, and Remodeling, Custom Decks, Metal Roof/Siding and Repairs.”
To say I highly recommend him is an understatement. He is honest and hard-working. He does what he says he’ll do, with care for the continued growth or function of what is there. (He left some trees in the ground to hold our soil, and took care when topping things so the trees would have continued growth.) He communicates well and wants his customers to be happy with the job he has done. He goes the extra mile. You can trust him.
I find gnomes fascinating. I guess it’s one of the ‘so ugly it’s cute’ things, but I’m drawn to every one I find.
Today is supposed to be the last day of unusual heat for October. We’re due for a cold front tonight with much cooler temps tomorrow. HOOORAAAAY!
Meanwhile, we hired a wonderful tree guy who worked in the heat all day yesterday and will do it again today, trying to cut back trees or branches that look like they’ll dump into our driveway at the next severe weather or the coming snow and ice storms this winter.
We’ve maintained this ourselves for the almost 37 years we’ve been here, but we’re both too long in the tooth for chain-sawing and hauling branches to the side and dumping them off the edge of the driveway anymore.
He’s actually climbing the trees, lopping out the parts of them that cut off sunlight to the driveway, so we’ll have better melting of snow and ice.
He’s also going to clear out a bunch of the weed trees that are impeding our view across the back yard. He said that if he doesn’t finish today, he’ll be here after he finishes his regular work tomorrow. He is a really nice guy and takes what he’s doing seriously. We’re lucky to have found him. (As usual, the guy we found before him doesn’t have a working phone anymore.)
I finished these in the last couple of days and listed them in my Etsy shop.
I’ve started a couple more. My husband has been calmer and has been working on computer stuff, rather than what could be dangerous projects, so I’ve had more time to relax and play in my art room. It’s really great and I THINK that, plus music and reading are keeping me sane. :0)
I’ve tweaked my program for my health by
I’m having to really tweak my eating and drinking log on MyFitnessPal.com. I’ve decided to ignore the protein part of my macro since my doctor wants me to increase it, but I’m trying to watch everything else. I dropped some things I’ve been eating, substituted things, and moved other things around, but I was able to come up with a good combination for today. I love this website and would be lost without it.
I hope you’re doing well and having a fun weekend.
Filed under HandmadeHavenByLinda on Etsy, Thoughts on a ________
Indian Hills Signs – Vince the Sign Guy
Filed under Funny Signs - Humor, Indian Hills Signs
“A cat will do what it wants when it wants, and there’s not a thing you can do about it.” ~ Frank Perkins
“Cats have it all: admiration, an endless sleep, and company only when they want it.” –Rod McKuen
“There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.” –Albert Schweitzer
Filed under Amazing Animals, animal paintings
I LOVE this sweet little owl!
Yesterday was eventful with the crews from our power company cutting down stuff that might encroach on the power lines. They said they are scheduled to come out every 7 years, but they’ve only been out once before in the 37 years we’ve been here.
We actually are due for several different crews. The one with the spinning blade that did the larger work was here yesterday. This was followed by a crew with chain saws and loppers. A third crew will follow at some point with a chipper machine to chew up what the others cut down and haul it away. Finally, mowers are supposed to try to cut the remaining grass. It’s very rocky, so I don’t know how successful they will be.
I took bottles of water out to the chain saw and lopper crew, asking if they did outside jobs or knew someone who did. I got the name and number of a guy they trusted, who does outside jobs on the weekends.
I called. He came out yesterday and gave me an estimate on two jobs – one to clear the weed trees across the back of the yard, and the other to cut back more of the trees on either side of the driveway. He actually told me he wouldn’t charge for the weed trees! We are expecting him by 9 this morning to get started on what he said would be a two-day job! HOOOOOORAAAAAAAY!
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I drank the first protein shake yesterday in my efforts to lose my lard and improve kidney function issues. I tried Premier Protein Chocolate High Protein Shake. Each bottle is 11.5 oz. 160 calories, 1g sugar, 24 vitamins and minerals. 3g fat, 20mg cholesterol, 190mg sodium, 5g carbs, 3g fiber (making the NET carb total 2), 30g protein. It was good! Not like having a chocolate shake from Sonic, but just fine. I can live with this easily. I drank it mid afternoon, when usually I’m feeling a bit low and hungry and it perked me right up. I’m really happy about this addition to my diet. I’ll tweak things around the shake so I’m staying within boundaries on everything.
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I spent time in my art room, finishing a couple more signs and starting a couple more. It is so relaxing to be up there, able to concentrate on trying to make something, away from stress for a bit, totally engrossed in trying to use my new wood burning tool and tips effectively.
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Today and tomorrow are due to be record-breakers temperature-wise, but then we’re supposed to have a cold front come through tomorrow evening to bring the temperatures down to fall weather. I’m ready.
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I hope that your weekend is a fun one, making you grin from ear to ear.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Filed under Amazing Animals
The driveway detector sounded off again. We found some guys asking if they could look around to see where they could drive the chipper truck later.
They left, and another truck came up, this one with 4 guys who are now chainsawing, finishing up what the man with the spinning blade machine started earlier. They said they would be working on the other end of the line, the one that goes across to the shop, as well.
I guess when they finish, the chipper guy will come. I’ve asked each group if they do outside jobs, but no one does. Sigh.
I’ll just be happy with whatever they do. It’s a constant battle around here to keep Mother Nature from growing up around us, trying to push us off the land and go back to the way it was in 1987.
All the activity around here sure keeps your interest, though. What a NICE bunch of hardworking guys. I’ll offer them bottles of cold water in a bit.
Filed under Challenges, Changes
My good friend, Cathy, sent this to me this morning. I had JUST come out from feeding the cat and cleaning up her area, so this was especially apt. I love it!
Monster Cat’s favorite toys are
She WILL get on the cat tower in the corner of the room, especially if I put one of the catnip mice on top. (She is drawn to the ball on a string that hangs from the top level.) I got her some ping pong balls, and though she bats them around for a bit, loses interest and just leaves them. Actual cat toys are a complete dud.
I will say that she plays and entertains herself more than any cat we’ve ever had. We sit and watch and laugh at her as she ‘stalks her prey’ of the ball on the end of the string, crouching down behind the corner of the box, then springing out to pounce on the ball. She then carries it in her mouth and jumps into the box. A few seconds later, she SPRINGS up out of the box and the game begins again.
Her favorite thing at the moment is sitting out on the screened back porch watching some rabbits who have been moving around out there in the evenings. I don’t know if she could actually catch them. They certainly keep her attention.
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family
This is similar to what is on the end of the long folding arm of the machine the man is driving that is clearing the power lines in the right-of-way to the east of our house. They simply showed up and started making noise when my husband was trying to take a morning nap in his recliner. Amber’s barking and the noise finally got him up.
He took Amber and the truck to go find out what was happening. It turned out that there was a man driving a humongous piece of equipment with a cab that moved to all angles, with a long folding ‘arm’ on the front with a spinning blade to saw off anything that could encroach on the power lines. They sawed off a bunch of stuff, particularly off a humongous trying-to-die tree on the edge of what we laughingly call the ‘civilized’ part of our land.
They stopped when they saw me standing out there watching them. I complimented the man operating the spinning blade. Another man will be trying to mow the right of way, though it’s really rocky and will be a nightmare to mow. They said they tried to do it every 7 years, but they’ve only been here once before, and we’ve lived here over 35 years now.
They said a bucket truck will be here within 48 hours with a huge chipper thingie on it to grind up what they cut down and haul it off. I asked if they could take a few minutes and go all the way across the back of the yard for us with the spinning blade. Sadly, they couldn’t. :0/
We paid a guy to clear quite a bit of the back as a fire brake several years ago. He did a great job, but the stuff started growing up immediately, trying to go back to the way it was and we can’t afford to keep doing it.
Just cutting out the top of the tree on the one side made a huge difference in the amount of sun coming in on the back porch.
My husband drove out to the shop when he came back so he could fill up a low tire on the truck. He decided to mow one spot in the yard that needed it, and now has the mower still running in the shop to use up the rest of the gas in it so he can store it for the winter.
Things are quiet around here right now, but now my husband is awake and fussing at his phone… :0)
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Indian Hills Sign Humor – Vince, the Sign Guy
Filed under Funny Signs - Humor, Indian Hills Signs
Filed under Amazing Animals, animal paintings
My SIL’s email this morning ended with, “You come from dust, you return to dust, that’s why I don’t dust. It could be someone I know.” I absolutely LOVE it.
My good friend Marsha came through Milton just fine. I’m so relieved. She’s annoyed that she did all the work of moving things ‘all for nothing.’ She’s saying that “at least things got dusted well.” I’m delighted and relieved she’s alive to BE annoyed. I’m assuming that my friend, Jeff and his family came through all right, since he lives in the same area as Marsha.
Mother Nature has really shown her ugly side lately. So many good people are dealing with so much loss and devastation. All most of us are able to do is to donate to the groups that are helping directly. It’s so little. :0(
We didn’t get all our errands accomplished yesterday, so we’ll continue today. Mail, post office, Walmart and bank are on the list. I should get the protein drinks I ordered, so hopefully I can get started on drinking one per day as my doc’s APRN suggested. I set up an account and got my new med ordered yesterday, as well. It will take a while to get here, but I’ll start as soon as I receive it. Everything else is “keep on keepin’ on. “
I’m going to try to get outside today to trim up some things in the yard. It looks like we may have come to the end of having to mow and weed whack, although there is something always needing to be trimmed back. Our weather is still doing the transition from summer to fall, with the weather this minute super nice, then a HOT weekend, then a cold front with cooler weather. Roller coaster, but I’m NOT complaining, since there isn’t any severe weather with it.
I hope that things are good where you are. Keep your eyes open and stay safe.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
creativeartworksblog 