A Couple of Busy Days

What a day!  Started out bright and early this morning taking Penny to the vet.  She was due for a checkup because of her bleeding and hair loss.  Of course, it was interesting getting her into her carrying case.  The first time I got her in she escaped before I could close it.  Then it was a game.  Eventually she went into my closet and I was able to get her from there.  Success.  I had been sent a text on Saturday telling me that she was not to pee for two to three hours before her exam because they needed to get urine from her.  Now…..how was this going to work.  Her appointment was at 9:00, so we got up at 6:00, I fed her and put her into her carrying case (after catching her that is).  We left at 8:15.  I figured she would be good to not pee during that time.  If she did we had a problem.  We made it just fine.  Her exam went fine as far as her urine is concerned.  However, she is still losing hair.  They gave me some topical spray for her.  Let’s hope this works.  If not, more testing.  She goes back in three months.

After arriving home and turning Penny lose, Jana came over with Mattie and Jana and I headed out to go shopping.  We had a list of places to go, and a definite plan.  First stop was the Post Office for Christmas stamps, regular stamps and a couple of boxes.  Office Depot was next on our list for Ryan’s Christmas present.  Next on to Kohl’s for a new purse for me.  Then on to Target for several miscellaneous items.  Naturally, we had to stop at Hobby Lobby.  I needed another thread holder, a wall hanging for my bathroom (after all I did get a new shower curtain and towels) and a few other items.  Stopped at Kroger for gas.  FYI – I hate their new pumps!  PetSmart for some dog and cat Christmas presents.  Then Outback for lunch.  We were exhausted when we got home.

Now I have a Jana story.  When we stopped at Target Jana bought a case of beer.  I don’t know how it is done in other states but here in Alabama they at least ask your birth date even if you are my age.  Jana did not know this and when she was checking out the cashier asked to see her ID.  Jana looked at her and said, you want to see my ID?  I am 73 years old and you want to see my ID?  The cashier said Yes Mam.  I was quite a distance from Jana and she yells at me:  Marilyn, I am 73 years old and they just carded me!  Needless to say we had a great laugh.  Everyone in line, the cashier and a lot of other people were laughing with us.  She has been telling everyone!  It made her day.

Didn’t eat supper since we had such a late lunch.  Watched the finals of DWTS.  Not happy with who won!  Turned it off as soon as they announced it.  I don’t care if they ever have another season.  I probably won’t watch it if they do!

After a good night’s sleep we had another busy day.  I did my laundry plus a few extra loads of odds and ends.  Jana and I went to the shed and brought up my Christmas tree, ornaments and other decorations.  We took the car down so we could do it in one trip, and we succeeded.  All the Christmas stuff is in the house and we have an obstacle course to get around.  Tomorrow is putting up the tree and decorating day.

While out and about in the yard we also filled the bird feeders.  Since I haven’t had the feeders up since last winter it is taking a while for the birds to come back.  They seem to have found the ones in the back yard a lot quicker than in the front.

I hung the picture I purchased for the bathroom today.  It is definitely not a bathroom picture, but the colors go with the shower curtain, towels, etc.  It’s one of those pictures that probably no one but the owner will like.  Jana likes it though.

I had planned an early night, but I forgot that I hadn’t folded and put away my last load of laundry.  It was laying on my bed so I had to get that done.


Another busy day ahead of us.  Jana is doing her laundry.  I ran the dishwasher last night and now I have to empty it.  I washed all the Christmas dishes.  Now I have to decide where to put them. 


Jana and I tried to hang the three wreaths we had from last year on the doors outside.  However, it didn’t work.  We tried using the suction cup hangers.  They kept falling off.  So we decided to put them away and try something different next year.  In previous years we hung them on the deck railing.  I don’t have a deck any longer so that doesn’t work.


I put up my tree.  No decorations yet.  The ornaments are sitting in boxes on the floor next to the tree.  Maybe tomorrow.  I did go through several boxes and put some items around the house.  Now those boxes are in the back of my car to go back to the storage shed.  I still have one more box to go through, and three small trees to decorate. 


I would like to mention here that Mattie is still in protection mode with Penny.  Neither Jana or I can correct her.  If we do Mattie gets between us just like Smoky did.


It’s bedtime now.  Tomorrow, which is Thanksgiving, is going to be another busy day.

A Kevin Story

It has definitely been a while since I have posted a blog.  I am going to start this one with a story about Kevin on Veterans Day.  He was busy cleaning the front yard of pieces of wood and other “stuff” that had accumulated during several jobs that he had done.  Previously he had dug a pit in the back yard as a burn pit, and he was throwing all of the “stuff” in there to be burned.  Since it was such a nice day, and the fact that it was supposed to rain that night, he decided to burn the “stuff” in the pit.  He checked and found that the burn ban had been lifted. 


I was working in the She Shack and he stopped by on his tractor to let me know that he was going to be starting the fire.  Of course, he goes prepared.  The water was turned on and the hose hooked up.  He was on his tractor and he had his six pack of beer with him.  He also carries a gun when he worked down by the woods because you never know when you might see a snake, coyote or other wild critter.  Shortly after he started the fire I heard a series of very loud bangs.  I assumed he was shooting snakes, mice or some other critter.  I didn’t really think too much about it. 


After I finished what I was doing in the Shack I got on the golf cart and rode down to find out what he had shot.  He didn’t shoot anything.  They had fireworks for the fourth of July, and there were several that didn’t go off.  They threw them in the fire pit.  So, on Veterans Day, mid- afternoon, Kevin had his own fireworks display in his backyard.  Now you know the “rest of the story.”


That has been the most exciting thing that has happened.  Jana and I have cleaned the house getting ready for Christmas.  Ginger had mentioned that she was putting her tree and decorations up early because Thanksgiving was late this year.  That put Jana in the mood.  Her tree and decorations are already up in her house.  She has her tree up and decorated in my house.  She even has her cards written.  I have my Thanksgiving towels up along with a sign saying Happy Friendsgiving.  I am not as efficient as her.  However, my house is ready for the decorations. 


Penny loves Jana’s tree.  She is being pretty good about it.  She hasn’t climbed it, but she has tasted it.  When Jana and I get after her, Mattie comes to her defense just like Smoky did.  After the way they chase each other around I was surprised to see her do this.  I guess they like each other after all.  Penny just doesn’t like her butt being smelled. 😊


I have finished all of my sewing.  Most of our shopping is finished.  I had two doctor appointments.  Both for my kidneys.  Everything is fine.  I don’t have to go back for six months.  Next appointment is in December with my heart doctor.  Jana is enjoying her new computer.  It sure works a lot better than her old one!


Most evenings we have been seeing deer in the front yard.  This won’t last because hunting season has started. 


That’s about it for now.  As you can see things have been very exciting around here lately.

Early to Bed

Brian left early on Monday morning.  He arrived home safe and sound.  He did stop somewhere in KY and delivered a couple of fishing rods for Kevin.  The guy called Kevin and told him he was very happy with them.


Jana and I had a busy shopping week.  We spent one day in Columbus, GA.  We went to Barnes and Noble and bought several books each.  We both had gift cards.  Jana’s was “free.”  I had to add a little to mine.  From there we went to JoAnn’s where I spent my two gift cards.  I actually have $3.00 left on one of mine.  Only because there were several coupons I could use.  I bought needles, thread, scissors, and jelly rolls.  It was a lot of fun!  Next stop was PetSmart so Jana could get a couple of leashes for Mattie.  Then it was on to Cracker Barrel for lunch.  Then home.  We were exhausted.


We spent another day at Tigertown.  First stop was Hobby Lobby (of course).  Didn’t have any coupons, but I did have the weekly coupon.  We both bought a couple of ornaments and I bought a couple of Christmas presents.  Then it was on to Kroger.  We both needed a few groceries.  Then the most important stop – Best Buy.  Jana bought a new computer.  She decided to do this after we tried to do a couple of things on her old one and it just wasn’t working.  We had lunch at Arby’s.  When we got home, we unloaded the car, put the cold stuff away and collapsed.  Didn’t do much the rest of the day.


Friday was the big day!  It was Christmas Made in the South.  We have been attending the past several years and always enjoy it.  We also spend a lot of money.  Again, this year, we were able to park in the garage.  Of course, there was a long line of cars waiting to get in and we had to park on the roof.  That was okay.  I used my cane this year and Jana used the walker.  Renea was not able to join us this year.  This was the first year the line waiting to purchase tickets and get into the craft show wound outside the door.  There were four lines inside where you could purchase tickets and they had someone there directing you.  It went fast.  Jana and I decided we would probable skip next year.  The show was great but most of the vendors were the same ones we have seen the past couple of years.  There were a few new ones, but it was mostly food such as cakes, pies, donuts, etc.  Jana and I both bought a couple of ornaments.  Jana bought Mattie a Christmas present.  We also bought a couple of t-shirts.  We stopped at Wendy’s for lunch on the way home.  The lines were so long for concession food, we were tired and our legs hurt.  Again, we collapsed when we got home.


After resting a while we set up Jana’s new computer.  We got most of it completed, but we plan to do a little tweaking on Saturday.  She has to learn how to use it because she upgraded to 10.


Saturday was recuperation day.  We spent a lazy day.  Tweaked Jana’s computer.  She did some work on it to get used to and learn how to use it.  We went to Mass and stopped at Zaxby’s for supper.  Watched the 4^th quarter of the Alabama LSU game while eating. 


Sunday was another lazy day.  Watched the NASCAR race.  I did go to the She Shack for a while and put away the items that I had bought at Joanne’s and Hobby Lobby. 


It was early to bed both nights.

Busy Couple of Days!

Brian and Jana have arrived.  They drove from Cincinnati to here in miserable rain.  They still made good time and arrived safe and sound.  It was so good to see them.  I should also mention that Mattie was also with them.  Brian will be leaving early Tuesday morning (They arrived on Wednesday night about 10:30).  Jana will be staying until approximately the first of February.  It will depend on the weather and when someone can take her back to Cincinnati.

All of us have been busy since they arrived.  Kevin took off work.  He will not return to work until Tuesday.  They are busy doing some jobs for me.  This is my birthday present.  So far they built a wall across the front of my patio.  They filled that area and the area at the end of the patio with rocks and then river rock.  It looks really nice.  

 
They also put my downspouts back up on the house.  Brian, with help from Kevin, hung my ceiling fan which had fallen earlier this summer.  They moved some things for me.  Brian hung my “quilt wall” in the She Shack.  Of course it came advertised as 6’ x 6’.  It was definitely out of square, but it still looks nice.  I also purchased a shelf rack for the She Shack which they put together for me.


In between they did a few things for Jana that she needed done to finish setting up her camper.  Now they are working on putting on a barn door on the shed where the boat is stored.  Hopefully, this will keep the birds out of the shed.  

The three Christmas tea towels are ones I embroidered for Jana.  I gave them to her early so she could hang them in her camper.  She is very happy with them.  I think they turned out pretty good.

I have these in my kitchen.

Thursday while the guys worked on the wall Jana got her camper in order.  She put everything away that she brought with her.  Brought the books over to me that she brought for me.  I gave her the books I had been saving for her.  I also went to the orthopedic doctor about my knee.  Regular checkup.  Everything is fine and I don’t have to go back for a year.  He also gave me a cortisone shot in my hip since it has been bothering me again.  It was a busy day for all of us.  Kevin grilled pork chops for supper.  Brian did the inside work.  Supper was delicious.  We spent the evening watching Mrs. Brown on television.  We did a lot of laughing.  We also played with Copper and Shelby.  It was a fairly early evening because everyone was tired.



Yesterday we went to morning Mass, then we had breakfast at Ihop.  Hadn’t been there since last year.  We both had French toast which is our favorite.  After that we went shopping at Walmart. Jana and I went down to the She Shed and moved some things around.  They had put together my shelf rack, and we started putting stuff on it.  Took a break for a while.  By then the guys had started on the barn door.  They stopped and grilled hamburgers and hot dogs for supper.  Renea had made broccoli slaw which everyone likes except me, but that is okay.  Brian had requested it.  Then we watched Two and a Half Men and did a lot of laughing.  We also played with the dogs again. It was another early evening.

Saturday Kevin took Renea to Atlanta for a baby shower.  When he returned he and Brian started work on installing a barn door on the part of the shed where Rick’s boat is stored.


Jana and I went to evening Mass.  When we returned Brian and Kevin fixed us supper.  He grilled fish he had caught earlier and froze.  It was delicious.  We had mac and cheese, broccoli slaw and rolls with the fish.  Since it was pretty late by then we did not stay.  Everyone was tired.


Early Sunday morning Kevin and Brian came over to be sure they had taken care of everything I needed done.  The two of them decided that Brian would return home on Monday.  They were not going to go fishing.  They both had too much to do.  They did finish the barn door on Sunday except for painting.  Kevin said he would do that later. 


In the afternoon Brian and Kevin went to Atlanta to pick up Renea.  When they came back they grilled chicken.  We had left over mac and cheese, salad and rolls.  Again it was an early evening because Brian wanted to leave about 4:00 a.m.

I don’t like this time change.