Projects, Pains, and Painting

I spend hours each morning, when I’m physically capable, outside. After feeding and playing with Annie, I decide what project I want to attack. There is a vast amount of work to be done in my back yard. Suffice it to say, that if I had money to burn, I’d hire out many of the tasks.

I’m not certain exactly when I had my SO extend the large ladder for me. To my recollection, the Little Giant ladder has been up for almost a year waiting for me to paint my balcony. I made the decision to devote the three weeks he was driving to Canada to see his mom, to working on my project. I figured I could knock out the chore in the allotted time. I knew the time would fly by quickly, so I set an area goal when I started each morning.

Before he left, we put up a three-foot deep kiddie pool so I could cool off during this awful heat. Moving the ladder in the restrictive space was very difficult for me. After working in my yard each morning, I go in the pool. Each night I go in the pool again and then cover it, so the critters don’t go swimming. I do not like to share my space with uninvited guests.

I was hindered working because of my broken toe. I’ve only been able to wear adjustable sandals because of my taped pinkie toe. Right after he left, I hurt the same foot again. I climbed off the ladder, took off my sandals, and got the hose to water my planters. Stupidly, I smacked the same foot into the heavy ladder. This time I was sure I rebroke the pinkie toe as well as two or three other toes. I fell to the ground in tears. Knowing the protocol, I taped the toes and then iced them. This put a damper on my plans to get everything done on time.

On Monday, Annie stepped on my taped foot and I thought I was going to pass out. I called my doctor’s office Tuesday and was able to get a telemedical visit with the NP. She sent an order to the medical clinic so I could get an x-ray. I made the drive to get the x-ray ASAP.  I was told there would be a 24-hour turnaround time for the results. I called Thursday and then again Friday trying to get the results. Each time, I was told I would be getting a call back. I still haven’t heard anything. Gotta love medical offices.

Doing a little each day meant I was able to sand, fill, scrape, use Bondo, sand again, prime, and paint the wood. Yesterday, I finished the front and the left side. I am proud of myself for not continuing past my pain threshold. I take days away from my chore as needed. My body decides what I will be able to accomplish.

Today was a do-nothing day. It is the 7^th anniversary of my mom’s passing. I spent the day thinking of all the great memories I made with my mom. Typically, I only go shopping early in the morning. Today, I went to the store in the afternoon to get supplies for her and my favorite lunch. It felt good to make a Reuben sandwich in her honor. It was nice seeing the Shutterfly memories of 6 years ago when I went to Michigan to visit her sister and my cousin. It was comforting getting messages from loved ones who remembered the date. I am feeling blessed.

Written for:
Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge – Memory, hosted by Sue W and GC
Wednesday challenge from Susan and GC POOL.
#FOWC fly   #FOWC vast
RagTagDailyPrompt night RagTagDailyPrompt knocking
Daily Word Prompt suffice DWP recollect DWP devote DWP certain

 

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Tuesday Reflections

Suffice it to say that I was worried about Annie’s reaction to the fireworks yesterday. Who could blame me? My poor dog reacts so scared and frightened, I am afraid she is headed for a heart attack. I had my stash of everything related to making her day easier on my kitchen counter.

I gave her the first CBD treat at 6:30 when the fireworks started. I also provided regular treats while I put on her Thunder Shirt. I started by adjusting the collar. She just gazed into my eyes and waited for another treat. I repeatedly called her by name and told her what a good girl she was.

After the first CBD treat, she was very calm. As the explosions came more frequently, I half expected her to request some munchies to deal with the noise. It seemed like smooth sailing, until they started going off much closer to my house. I reached for the prescription medication from the vet. If only I was ambidextrous, I might have been able to get her med in the place it was supposed to go. The applicator said to apply the medicine between the lip and the gums. Yeah, sure. The vet tech had told me that if Annie swallowed the medication, it would do no good. I think she swallowed most of it.

Back to the drawing board for me. I gave Annie the 2 mgs of Melatonin that was safe for her. I wanted to suppress her anxiety, so she didn’t freak out as the explosions came closer together. She did great. She wasn’t panting, searching for a hiding place, or running around. She’d look around as the noise increased but did not panic.

At midnight, it was quiet. I took off her Thunder Shirt. Ten minutes later the fireworks stated up again. Poor Annie was frightened, and her heart was racing. I quickly put back on her shirt and gave her treats. She calmed down to a degree. She became a Velcro dog. I had to pet her nonstop. She had to be laying on me as much as she could. It was after 1 am before the house was quiet again.

I learned a lot from this 4^th of July. Annie was in much better shape this year than any previous years. I will do even better for Annie next year.

FOWC ambidextrous  blame

Daily Word Prompt suffice

The Daily Spur suppress  draft related

Rag Tag  eyes   sail

TTC  NAME, and COLLAR

Sarah Goes Job Hunting

Sarah, the young hostess, wasn’t faring well at fairing down the possibilities of a new job. Her dream of being a hostess in a fancy restaurant, went up in ashes when she broke her boss’s karaoke machine and speakers. Sarah snuck back into the restaurant one last time. She approached the head waiter and asked him about getting a referral from the chief. The waiter quipped, in his nasty way, that it would be impossible for any teenager to be hired as a hostess again. He further explained that her pernicious behavior had all the wait staff snickering behind her back. She left the restaurant deciding that the head waiter was just a flabby boor, who believed only an adult could do her former job.

Sarah needed some inspiration quickly. The balance in her checkbook was less than fifty dollars. Her puppy needed his last shots, and she needed a new lens in her sunglasses. The glasses could wait. The puppy could not. Sarah asked her friends if they knew anyone who lends money to unemployed hostesses. Her prospects were somewhere between slim and none.

Sarah just might have to take that job her cousin offered. Her cousin said it was a golden opportunity to make easy money. Sarah worried about working in a fabric store though. After all, she couldn’t tell the difference between velvet and wool.

MLMM – lens, lends, fairing, faring
#MVB-PROMPT-  ashes, machine, snickering, inspiration
FOWC – referral, quip, nasty
Daily Spur- teenager, velvet
WOTD Challenge – pernicious, flabby
Daily Word Prompt – boor
#EM-RWP – balance, golden
#TTC – puppy
Rag Tag Community – wool

 

 

Thanksgiving 2021 – My Non-Fiction Thanksgiving Holiday

I had a small Thanksgiving dinner this year. No guys were included. I planned for just my cousin and I this year.  I purchased a small turkey  for dinner for the two of us, with just enough leftovers. There is no way on G-d’s green earth that I will ever serve tofurkey. It is an abomination to my entire digestive system. From my taste buds to my intestines, it is a no go.

My goal this year was to celebrate  all the things I am thankful  for, without  making myself a wreck beforehand. It is customary, in my household, for some major or minor glitch to impact my Thanksgiving. I was strongly hoping that everything would be OK this Thanksgiving and that no mayhem would ensue. 

I was seriously tempted to just serve desserts. I bought a small pumpkin pie, not knowing if my cousin ate pumpkin or not. I had dark chocolate covered almonds from Trader Joe’s. I made tons of oatmeal cookies. I even found a gluten free brownie mix for my dear cousin. OMG, I tasted one last night and it was to die for. 

My meal was almost finished. The oven, toaster oven, and three crockpots were cooking away. I took some time to peruse  my menu plans before going outside to enjoy the beautiful skyline  the strong Santa Ana winds had cleared for me. I sat on my swing with Annie pondering all the things that had been successful today. I was almost afraid to think of what might still go wrong before my cousin arrived.

I should never have been so lost in my thoughts. It seems I left the back patio slider open when I went out to swing with Annie. I reentered the dining room and saw something out of my peripheral vision. A sparrow had entered my house and was sitting on top of my living room lamp. I was grateful that everything was covered in my kitchen and that I had not set my table yet.

The poor bird was frightened and unsure of Annie. Luckily, Annie could care less about birds. (Now squirrels are another matter altogether.) I took pity on the frightened bird. I had to figure how to remove it without harming it.  I had just cleaned my windows and sliding doors making it difficult for the bird to find an escape. It flew into the front picture window a few times. I opened the front door and the sliding patio door. Then Annie and I went out back in the hope that the creature would find its way out. After a few minutes it came flying out back whizzing past my head. It was a joyful moment. 

Minor crisis averted. I gratefully set the table and began plating my cold side dishes. When my cousin came, we laughed about the unwelcome bird guest. I mentioned that perhaps the small bird was protesting the turkey cooking in my oven.

My cousin made a tasty vegetable dish she brought and I served up the mashed potatoes, rice stuffing, matzo ball soup, biscuits, gravy, and of course, turkey. Between the cold and hot dishes the table was full. I didn’t get a picture of the table with all the food because we were both starving by then.  

We had a lovely meal together followed by outside time swinging with Annie and playing Mad Libs. It was a joyful time, and I am thankful we were together. We talked about family no longer with us and the memories we share. I am grateful this Thanksgiving for old memories, newly made memories, and the opportunities for future memories.

 

The Laundry Monster

I am not sure how many others have to deal with a laundry monster, but I sure do. I am astonished by how much laundry accumulates in my house. I haven’t decided if we are the dirtiest people around or the cleanest. The deluge of laundry in my garage is overwhelming. The monster takes glee in multiplying my pile.

Dirty laundry is my nemesis . I try and try to stay on top of the pile in the laundry bucket. I don’t like to delay doing laundry because I am convinced that it grows in my absence. There must be short rotund tomte sneaking around my house dirtying linens and clothes.  I fold one load, while I wait for the end cycle signal to tell me the next load is dry. Then, I repeat the process again and again. When will it end?

It makes me feel inadequate when the laundry basket is never empty. I see it as a sign that the laundry monster is winning the battle. Perhaps I can figure out why I am being targeted by the silvery haired trickster.

If I am fortunate, the Medium I contacted will come to my house and slyly convince the tomte to vacate my premises. I hope to exclaim to the world that I am all caught up (at least for two days.)

Written for:
Daily Word Prompt- astonish
Ragtag Daily Prompt- deluge – nemesis –
Three Things Challenge – try – dry – why – sly
The Daily Spur – delay – signal – medium
Your Daily Word Prompt – rotund – while
FOWC – repeat – inadequate
Weekly Prompt – sign
Word of the Day Challenge – silvery
MMA Word of the Day – fortunate – exclaim