LIVING ROOM IS DONE !!!!!!

Looks like I won't be getting the two dogs. He didn't call me last Friday so I called him on Sunday. He was kind of wishy-washy about it. I asked him if he was in the process of moving and he said he hadn't started to pack; he didn't call me because they went out. Maybe he and wifey can get back together. I hope so. I told him to use me as a last resort and put the ball in his court.

The living room is done, Fred and his wife came down last Sunday and helped me move the four bookcases back into the room. Took me four hours to put all the books back. Took three bags of books to the library yesterday. Next will be the bedroom and that's going to take a while because it is wallpapered. Yuk.

Had my taxes done Thursday. Owe the $%^&*() government $3719. Seems unemployment, social security and taking money out of the bank for the house all put me in a higher tax bracket. There goes my emergency fund. Oh well, it is what it is.

Was in the 50's today, rain tomorrow. I am so ready for spring but it will take a week to clean up the yard. We 'spring forward' next Sunday and the

WHATS UP WITH EGYPT

I hope those people get what they've been wanting. I wouldn't feel comfortable with the Army in charge. Plus, it seems, anytime there is a hiccup in any region of the middle east, Israel better circle their wagons.
On a lighter note, the trim is done in the living room. I have to fill the nail holes and put another, final, coat of stain on the trim and a fourth and final coat of satin finish on the floor.
Supposedly warm weather is coming in this week. I hope so or I'll be chipping the ice off to mow the yard.
Might get the two dogs next Sunday, haven't talk to him in a while.

I NEED A WINDMILL

Wow, is it ever windy today. Maybe I slept thru Feb and its really March. At least there is no snow in the forecast.
Slight set back with the living room trim. The new baseboard does not match the old in its size. So, we are taking out the rest of the old and then it will all be new. Thats better anyhow 'cause then the stain will match.
Really going thru the firewood this winter by burning both stoves. Will need to buy more in the spring, that way I can work on it all summer and get it in to the wood shed.
Still haven't gotten the other two dogs yet, probably another two weeks before I'm ready. A little anxious to see what Archie will do with two more sisters. I don't think Cleo will be much of a problem. The cats will just growl, hiss and hide.

MORE $%^&* SNOW

Woke up this morning to a foot of snow. Took me 2 and a half hours to shovel out. The road guy, with his nice, big, powerful snowplow saw fit to plow in the end of the driveway. Must be a new guy, the usual township fellas always slow down when they come to my place so that doesn't happen. I vill find him and he vill pay!!!!!
Didn't go to supper tonight either. Roads are drifting. More snow in the forecast for Friday, I hope to go to breakfast with Trudy and Jim tomorrow. I'll put one more coat on the floor after the baseboards are in. Will have to wait another week or so to move the stuff back in. Then, maybe I'll get the two dogs if they are ready to part with them. No rush.

CATCHING UP

Well, what can I say. It's been a while. But, the new floor is down and stained. The windows are trimmed and stained. Baseboard will be finished on Sunday and then we can move the stuff back in. Yay!!!
I have a chance to get two more dogs. Their human daddy is losing his house and can't take them with him. To send them to the ASPCA is a death sentence and besides, they are a bunch of asses. Should have them before the end of February.
It snowed again today. About five inches and it sounds like it is sleeting now. I didn't go out to supper. Too many accidents on the scanner.
My friend Lois fell last week and broke her little finger on her left hand. Got a nice little bruise on her cheekbone and the beginnings of a black eye. She went to the hospital today and had pins put in the finger 'cause it wasn't lining up properly and was unstable.
Dad is slowly getting over his fall. He is complaining of neck pain and says that cervicle collar I took over helps a little. I think its just going to take a while.
Other than that, nothing has changed. I'm a little tired of the cold and the snow. I've shoveled the driveway out three times, and that's enuf already.
Later dudes and dudettes.....

DADDY'S GIRL

What do you do with a 92 year old father that won't listen to you? He called me last Friday to tell me he had fallen and he can't stop the bleeding. So, I went over to his house to see what was up. The lock on the back door was broken and he has been using the front door when he leaves. There must've been some frost on the step and his feet slipped and he fell into the bush. There were a half dozen scratches on his head that were already scabbed over except for one. It was the bleeder. It pulsed with every heart beat. I finally pinched it for about 5 minutes and it stopped. Patched him up and told him to take it easy the rest of the day. I went back home to help finish laying the floor. The next morning he called saying his neck was stiff. So, I took some absorbine jr over and rubbed it in and put him in a neck collar. That went on for 2 days and he decided he was ok without it. I suppose you noticed there was no mention of taking him to the ER or of calling the ambulance. I did ask, more than once, and was met with a resounding NO!!!!!!!!!!! Anyhow, he's tough and none the worse I suppose.
Have had a few nuisance snow storms leaving just a few inches. There is another storm heading this way on Tuesday that might be more lethal. Whatever. It is what it is.
The floor will be finished tomorrow and one window is trimmed. I might have enough left to do the small hallway off of the kitchen.

TRAPEZIUS MUSCLE SPRAIN CAN HURT

Went to the doctors last week and the pain in my arm is coming from my trapezius muscle. I sprained it with all of the work in the living room. He put me on a muscle relaxer and its getting better.
Hope everyone had a nice Christmas. Mine was quiet. I remember how I use to wish for just a quiet Christmas with no running around getting presents and trying to fix a dinner for everybody. Well, be careful what you wish for 'cause now, thats exactly what I got.....................

BRRRR

Started putting down the new floor on Friday, it's gonna look so cool, but still have not decided on what stain to use. The window trim looks great, its only been 10 years since the windows have been installed.
Haven't been feeling too well lately, have an appointment with the Doc on Thursday. My left arm has been waking me up every night with intense pain from my neck to my elbow. I might have screwed it up with all of the spackling, sanding and painting.
I was suppose to go to the city with friends today but I had to call this morning and beg off. Just getting a few hours sleep at night is no good and I feel so tired.
Really going thru the fire wood this month and its not even officially winter. By burning both stoves tho, the house is very cozy. I don't think it got out of the 20's today.
Well, enuf bitchin', moanin', complainin', grumblin and griping. I'll put my big girl panties on and just deal with it.

ONLY 22 DAYS TILL..........

The new floor will be delivered next week. Can't wait, it's gonna look so cool. I think once I get one room completely done, I'll get the ambition to do the rest. Sure would like to have everything done before the end of the year.

Two of my friends have found jobs, then quit. They were both 'sold a bill of goods', and weren't told the complete truth about the jobs. When they went to these companies, the work was something completely different. So now, no more unemployment. Both are widows, so that bites. I'm glad I'm retired.

Haven't been watching the news for some time, so I have no idea how bad things keep getting. I did hear a blurb on TWC about prison inmates getting some god-awful amount in tax returns and the IRS is 'looking into it'. DUH.

Well, I'd better punch up the stove. Thanks for dropping by.

HAPPY TURKEY DAY..........

Went to a friends house yesterday for turkey,ham,potatoes,etc,etc. Good food, good laughs,good friends and turkey farts. Can't beat that with a stick.
The landscaper was here Monday and Tuesday; they'll be back in the spring. Looks great.
Have to go to the tile place on Monday. Fired up the wood stove in the living room and five of the tiles fell off. Guess I'd better take them with me so they will believe what happened. I think the stove might need moved out a little. It is 18" but the pipe is only 10" from the tiles.
Fred is coming down tomorrow and finishing the lattuce work on the ramp, then helping me get the rest of the stuff out of the room so I can finish painting. The floor should be here next week.

SORRY

I sure have been lax lately with the old blog.
An update on the house....
Talked to Dwight the landscaper two weeks ago, he's starting this coming Monday. But have not heard a thing from the driveway guys.
Put down a deposit on the floor last week. I've chosen re-cycled wood from old beams. Rick takes down old buildings and refinishes the beams into flooring. Can't wait to see what that looks like. I figured it would be better than the engineered stuff just because of the dogs and cats. A little scratch and that stuff is ruined but on a real floor, it'll just add character.
Picked up the trim for the windows and will stain that before Fred puts it on. Also have to finish painting the room before the floor goes down.

Have both stoves going today, house is nice and cozy, it's a full time job, and it's not too cold yet. But, I'm sure that'll change. Been having heavy frost each morning. Then the sun comes out and helps to heat the house.

HEAVY FROST

A very, heavy frost this morning. Dad has said '3 frost then rain', so, we'll see.

The tile guys are done and it looks great. I'm glad I'm doing this now for it will surely cost a heck of a lot more in the months to come. I just wish the landscaping guys would show up soon. Still undecided about the floor, that engineered stuff just looks so cheap, even tho its not. I've got to do more research I guess.

Well, must head over to Dad's and then to the store. I hate shopping. But.....

POOR ARCHIE.......

Got some news last week. The person that use to have Archie finally called the lady that gave him to us. She said he was born in September of 2004 and he is a
'peek-a-poo' and not a shih-tzu. Poor little guy, went from 'chinese royalty' to a mutt in a matter of seconds.

Went over to Dads yesterday and helped him start the '57 Buick. He had the battery on charge, wouldn't start. We sprayed ether in the carb, wouldn't start. Took the air cleaner off, dumped gas in, wouldn't start. Fiddled with the starter, wouldn't start. "Hey, Dad, the gage says 'E' maybe we should put some gas in it." Dumped gas in it. Voila!!!!!!!!!!!! Started. Amazing what a little gas will do. Of course it needs another exhaust system, but that's why it sounds good.

Franco will be back on Monday to grout the tile and then he's done. Fred got the siding back on and next is the engineered wood floor in the living room and trimming the windows. Hope I can finish all of this before cold weather

SOON; VERY,VERY, SOON...........

....this will all be over. Cousin John and, his brother, Joe have finished all of the concrete work and, he's coming tomorrow to take the form off of the new step out front. (Last minute request). Then, he's done, for now. I want him to look at fixing the barn in the spring.
Fred came down today and started putting the siding back on the rear of the house where the door (now a window) was. He's already buttoned up the inside part where the stairs were.
The tile guys are coming tomorrow afternoon to make a template for the hearth and then will be back on Wednesday and Thursday to put the new granite hearth down and do all of the tile work in both rooms. Once thats done, the new floor goes down in the living room.
The driveway people will call me when they are coming down. Should only take a day, maybe two.
The landscaper finally got back to me (after I called him), and they should be here the first week in November.
The first Saturday in November is scheduled as wood splitting/cutting day with friends.

I need to stock up on more 'me' food. Went to the pet food store last week and the critters are in better shape than me. I have been leaning towards just canned food because I don't trust the electrical grid if something happens. More than once we've dug a snow cave to put the frozen food in during a power outage.

Have to take the truck back on Tuesday for needed repairs to pass inspection. Still cheaper than truck payments. Finally got the car on the road, and it needs inspected before the end of the year. Should get it serviced also since its been sitting for over a year.

SAME OLE, SAME OLE.............

Well, if I don't post something soon, I'll have to move my own blog over to the 'Underactive Blog' list.
Cousin John is coming tomorrow to start the hearth repair.
Fred was here on Saturday and did the deck and ramp railings, so, except for adding the lattuce work to keep out the critters, and painting, which won't be done until spring. That part is done!!
The sliding door is out and gone. I traded it to Archie's groomer for hair cuts. His, not mine. She and her daughter came down on Wednesday and picked it up. The new window is in and will work well for what I want. It is a sliding window and in the winter, I'll take the screen out, then, I can slide it open and put the firewood in the rik. I won't have to carry it around to the side. Well, maybe one last load. We'll see.
That leaves the driveway guys, who did sent a proposal to accept, and the landscaper, whom I've not heard from. He'd better hurry, 'cause we're running out of good weather.
Some people have said we are going to get another nasty, cold, snowy winter like we had last year. I have to stock up on more pet food and me food, and straighten out the wood shed. Friends are coming down for a splittin' party, then I'll be set.