Nate Visits

Here is a picture of my new water line.  Exciting isn't it?

It is Sunday morning and Nate has arrived.  I know it isn’t as bad here as it was on the coast, but we are having heavy rain and lots of wind.  In fact, the wind knocked down one of my Bradford Pear trees.  There is about two foot of trunk left in the ground.  So sad.  We had just been talking about how pretty they were.  Jim and I bought and planted them as one of our first trees when we “moved” here.

The rest of the day I spent watching NASCAR.  I was surprised that my television was working with all the rain and wind.  Kevin came over and brought me a loaf of banana bread that Renea had baked. He also invited me for supper.  Renea made hillbilly lasagna – which is one of my favorites.  She also baked cheese/garlic biscuits.  Dinner was very good!  We had a really nice visit.  I was sorry that Ryan and Stephanie were not there, but due to the weather everyone decided it was best that they stayed home.  When I came back home I read for a while then went to bed.

It rained off and on during the night.  This morning we had a doozy of a storm with a lot of thunder and lightning.  That has since gone through, but it is still raining.  Just a gloomy kind of day, so I am doing laundry.

Good Thursday morning.  I am not going to detail everything I have done the past couple of days because it would be extremely boring.  Summer is back and we are setting record temperatures which means nothing is getting done outside.  So, I have been working on Christmas stuff.  Yesterday I did go to the doctor to get the results of my bloodwork and everything is fine.  This morning I went outside and filled the birdfeeders, and I noticed that my azaleas are blooming (even the one I thought was dead).  Not sure what I am going to do today.

Water and Weeds

Good Morning!  It’s kind of a gloomy morning today.  The sun is not shinning – it is cloudy.  And it is cool and windy.  We just go from summer to winter😊  This morning when I worked outside on the area in front of my deck I actually had a flannel shirt on.  Now that is cool!  I am now half way finished with the area in front of my deck.  I still haven’t sprayed the roundup because of the wind.  I have also decided to go with rocks in both the azalea area and the area in front of the deck.  Now I just have to buy them. 

Today I received a certified letter from the IRS.  Everything has been taken care of except 2015.  Not sure why that problem has not been solved.  All of Alabama, Ohio and the IRS for 2016 has been solved.  Alabama and Ohio were both 2015 and 2016.  It’s interesting how you go to one tax person and they tell you one thing then you find out they were wrong which caused you to do your taxes incorrectly after that.  From now on I will be going to the CPA who helped me get everything straightened out.  What a mess it has been.  I talked to Sally this morning (Tuesday),  and she said they would take care of this.  So good to have someone have my back.

It’s still a little cool here.  It feels wonderful.  I worked out front again today and accomplished quite a bit.  Two more mornings and I should have that part finished.  I have also started working on my Christmas projects.  They are coming along just fine.

Kevin and I went to Lowe’s and bought the electric supplies for Jana’s camper.  Kevin will be taking care of setting that up.  We also looked at steps.  Changed our mind about what we are going to do.

Wednesday I was up bright and early, and while it was still cool I worked outside.  The area in front of my deck has now been weeded. It took me all morning, but it was worth it. I can now see the rose-of-sharon bush that I planted.  I can’t believe it survived amount all that grass.  I can also see the rhododendron and the small hydrangea.  I can’t believe they also survived.  The lantanas look beautiful.   The large hydrangea looks great.

Nothing exciting happened the rest of the day, so I will go to Thursday afternoon.  Kevin came over to work on the electric for Jana’s camper.  He noticed a puddle by the water line.  He asked me if I had been watering in that area and I said no.  It was determined that I had a water leak.  He dug down and we found where it was, but since it was late afternoon we decided it could wait until Friday morning.  Bright and early Friday morning Kevin came over and turned off the water.  He then spent several hours working on the water line and got it fixed.  He also go rid of the pipe that came out of the ground that I hooked the hose to.  He set it up differently, and, hopefully, this won’t happen again.  Did I mention that this is the second time there was a leak in that area?  All is well for now.

While Kevin was working on the water line I started weeding around the birdbath.  It’s been three years since I have weeded that area.  Never again will I wait that long.  It is filled with vines that have stickers/thorns on them.  It is not fun.  I am wearing two sets of gloves and have to go very slow.  I worked for two hours and only finished a small section.  This is going to take a while! 

Making Progress

Good Morning!  I finished weeding the azalea garden.  I am undecided if I want to put white rocks or something else in the area to make it look nice.  First thing I have to do though is clean the deck and sidewalk leading into the house.  I will probably do that this afternoon.  Actually, the first thing I have to do is get the house ready for Brian.  He will be arriving today to go with Kevin on Friday.  They are going deep sea fishing. He will be staying with me for a night or two since Renea’s parents are staying with Kevin and Renea. 

I just looked out my back window and I see one a couple of birds at my new feeder.  Yea!

Made my trip to Kroger, and the groceries are put away.  I changed the bedclothes on my bed and got out the clean sheets for the hide-a-bed.  I will be sleeping on the hide-a-bed because I don’t want Penny waking Brian in the middle of the night.  I don’t mind.  It is a comfortable bed.

Brian arrived about nine o’clock.  We went over to Kevin’s.  Kevin had fixed some kind of special hamburgers.  Brian ate his supper there.  I ate a couple of pieces of bacon.  I already had supper, but the bacon sure looked good.  It was good to see Brian.  We came home from Kevin’s about ten o’clock, and were in bed by five after ten.  We were both tired.  Brian had been up since ten o’clock the night before. 

And, no, I didn’t get the deck or sidewalk cleaned.  😊

We were up bright and early this morning.  Brian went over to Kevin’s for a fruit smoothie and cup of coffee.  He then came over here and showered and visited with me.  Of course, we solved all the world problems, and discussed a few of mine.  Then Kevin came over and the two of them took off.  I have a feeling I am going to have a lazy day.

They were gone awhile.  Mostly just “shopping.”  Kind of like women do.  Anyway, while they were out Kevin took Brian over to see Ryan’s house.  When they returned we all took a nap.  After that we headed to Kevin’s.  Brian and his friend, Rick, had gone fishing a few weeks ago and they caught a bunch of trout.  Rick had fileted them and Brian brought them with him.  Kevin fried them a couple of different ways (breaded and blackened).  They sure were good!  We all, including me, had a couple of mixed drinks.  I hadn’t done that for a loooonnnngggg time!  We then spent a while visiting on the patio.  We called it an early night because Kevin and Brian were leaving in the morning for their deep sea fishing trip.  While on the patio we called Bob and sang Happy Birthday to him.  He was really surprised, especially since he didn’t know we knew that his birthday was the next day. 

Friday morning Brian and Kevin left for their fishing trip.  I didn’t do much of anything.  In the evening when it cooled down a little I went outside and cleaned the sidewalk in front of the azaleas.  It was a mess and we were just dragging all the dirt inside.  I also sat on the deck for a while. 

Today is Saturday and the weather is supposed to cool down for a few days (at least).  So, this morning I headed outside and weeded a section of the area in front of the deck.  Now I am inside taking a break.  Not sure what else I will be doing today. 

Didn’t do much.  Just regular everyday stuff.  I did go to Mass later in the day.  Stopped and picked up a BLT from Subway on the way home.  That was about it. 

We heard from Kevin and Brian.  Kevin posted a few pictures on facebook and reported that they caught 182 pounds of fish.  Not sure what kind.  They did say Ricky caught a twelve foot shark, but had to release it.  They said they had an awesome time.  I am so glad to hear that because they were both looking forward to going.

This morning it is beautiful outside.  There is a pretty good breeze, but that is okay.  It is great to actually have some fall type weather.  I worked outside for quite a while this morning.  I am about 2/3 finished with the weeding.  I keep saying weeding, but it isn’t weeds I am pulling.  We have this “stupid” grass that spreads like crazy and has these spikes that are full of seeds and just keep sowing more grass seeds.  Anyway, this grass grows like crazy.  The south uses it because it withstands the heat and drought.  It wouldn’t do any good to try and get rid of it and plant other grass because everyone here in the country has it.  This is what is growing in my flower beds, and it is butt high.  There are a few weeds, and I need to spray some roundup on them, but because of the wind I will wait until they stop.  Otherwise the roundup could damage my plants.  Such is life in the Alabama country 😊

I am inside now.  I have three loads of laundry to do today.  The first has been started.  NOTE:  They are finished. Laundry is folded and put away.  I watched the NASCAR race this afternoon.  NO FOOTBALL!!!  I am boycotting football.  I think they are a bunch of millionaire jerks, and I have no respect for any of them!

Brian and Kevin have arrived.  They had a great time.  Since it was early enough, Brian decided to drive home today.  I don’t blame him.  It sure was good to see him and spend some time with him.

I have started some paperwork that I need to update and send to Brian, Kevin and Rita.  Hopefully, I will finish it tomorrow.  I have quite a bit of other paperwork that needs to be done, and I also want to start my Christmas projects.  Just not enough hours in the day.