I wrote this last night but computer problems would not allow me to view the verification so I couldn't post. In about one hour I will hit 59 - seems everyone is unavailable tomorrow but they were all great about calling today and wishing me a Happy Birthday. The irony? I stayed up all night and planned on sleeping today, figured everyone would be calling Tues. Everytime I started to nod off someone called or came by LOL. I was still thrilled to talk to them and can sleep tomorrow:)
My goal for this blog was to pass on info to family and friends about the goings ons here in my little mountain hideaway. Some of it from my own cranky perspective but never whining. I have left off blogging for the past 2 months because all I have felt like doing is whining. After tearing the achilles tendon in my right leg, I began to put more strain on the thigh, knee and hip on that side and now I am now having problems in those joints and muscles.
I cannot drive because I have very little control over my leg so I hobble about at home, get friends to pick up stuff in town and venture out once every 6 weeks to actually do some shopping. I make it to church once a week because friends pick me up. In the meantime, my friend Debby calls several days a week to check on me and make sure I am OK.
The good news, I am getting a check now and just got my back pay. I still haven't been able to get any repairs done. It is mostly promises, promises while winter gets closer and I still have no heat or running water and still don't have the skirting or deck up. I was able to stock up the freezer with meat so I am trying to stay on a low carb diet. I had planned to start it in Jan but I need to get the weight off that knee now.
The animals are doing well. The big dog broke loose during a storm one afternoon and scared the little dog. I thought he had attacked him but he had actually hurt himself trying to get away. He wouldn't eat for a couple of days but was back to normal before the end of a week. The bad news,I lost my cat. We were all sitting out in the yard on Aug 6. It was an extremely hot day but there was a nice breeze so we sat under the trees enjoying the wind in our faces. Bianca was stretched out sleeping so I didn't disturb her when the dog and I went in to take a nap. I left the door open and she would usually slide back in. She evidently wandered off and was either shot or grabbed up by a neighbor. I miss her terribly.
Mostly it has been uneventful here the past 2 months. With my lack of mobility and the heat, I have slept the afternoons away, curled up with a book or my latest Bible study, or watched movies. I have played on the computer when possible but many times I have been limited because the ankle, leg and knee swell when I sit for very long. It is best if I can lie down and keep the leg elevated.
In the middle of the night I cook, clean and little by little am making a few dents in finally getting things organized. Don't get excited, I still have a long way to go but I am trying to do at least one minor project per day and one major project per week.
Last week's project was to weedeat a 20'x20' area so we could get to the well and find out the size of the holding tank. Part of it was on a slope and I have done more damage to the ankle, knee, hip and back so I have not done much for the past few days. I am just able to sit up this evening and play on the computer.
Well, that's about it. You haven't missed much. I am as grumpy as ever which is a good thing because I am determined to get this leg working again :)
Monday, September 08, 2008
Friday, July 04, 2008
Still Whining about the Pain :)
It has been another week and things are slightly better but not much. I have mostly stayed in bed but Monday the pain seemed to centralize and gather itself into my leg instead of covering the entire body. Tues I was able to sit in the garden for a few hours and plant a few seeds.
Wed I tried to weedeat but it was miserable. I managed to get an area about 15 x 15 around the garden done but it took all day. I had to sit most of the time and now the heel is hurting worst than ever.
The good news, the pain is still only in the right leg. The heel still has that awful purple band around it. The swelling is going down when I stay in bed but it still balloons up if I am out of bed more than an hour or two. The bottom of the heel is the worst. It feels like I am walking on pieces of embedded glass, totally miserable.
One nasty side effect, I am getting painful knots in my right calf muscle when I get up to head for the bathroom. I wake up, am rushing to get there in time and suddenly I am practically crippled by a terrible knot in the calf!!!! It is awful because I have to stop and massage the knot to get it to turn loose. Not a pretty picture and I am so glad I don't have neighbors close by because I am hollerin' the entire time.
I seem to sleep a lot so I am assuming my body is healing and I need to get back to bed so I can be back up and around soon.
Nite all:)
Wed I tried to weedeat but it was miserable. I managed to get an area about 15 x 15 around the garden done but it took all day. I had to sit most of the time and now the heel is hurting worst than ever.
The good news, the pain is still only in the right leg. The heel still has that awful purple band around it. The swelling is going down when I stay in bed but it still balloons up if I am out of bed more than an hour or two. The bottom of the heel is the worst. It feels like I am walking on pieces of embedded glass, totally miserable.
One nasty side effect, I am getting painful knots in my right calf muscle when I get up to head for the bathroom. I wake up, am rushing to get there in time and suddenly I am practically crippled by a terrible knot in the calf!!!! It is awful because I have to stop and massage the knot to get it to turn loose. Not a pretty picture and I am so glad I don't have neighbors close by because I am hollerin' the entire time.
I seem to sleep a lot so I am assuming my body is healing and I need to get back to bed so I can be back up and around soon.
Nite all:)
Thursday, June 26, 2008
How Thick are those Glasses?
Well, it seems the most dangerous thing in my life these days is ME. I managed to fall two times on the same morning almost two weeks ago.
First I caught the front edge of my shoe on the steps and sprawled across the landing. I was slightly scratched and had a few tender places but seemed OK.
A few hours later I was doing a simple job, pouring collected rain water into a larger container. I slipped on the muddy surface and fell on the deck. I ended up with the left shin, right knee, right shoulder and right forehead black and blue and swollen. I ended up in bed for a few days barely able to move.
Pardon my old one dollar "yard shoes", had them for years and slip them on to walk Miss Bubbles or to just feed and water. I have good, heavy duty tennies that I wear when I am actually out there working. You can see the almost healed area just below my knee from the first and second fall. The deep red on the lower shin is from a fourth fall and the purple on the ankle and heel is normal, that's the vericose veins that I have all the time in this leg.
Sunday through Wed I had to work on a bunch of paperwork for Social Security, type a statement, gather financial statements, etc and send it in. I finally finished it all early Thursday morning (3am) and put it in the mailbox. When I went outside about 1030am it was so cool and beautiful I decided to do a little work in the garden, I was feeling better. Not so sore and it was nice to get outside again. I knew the afternoon would be too hot so I decided to get to it.
Very simple, water some plants, transplant a few items and then move about 20 concrete blocks from the front of the yard to the back area by the garden. Simple & easy, I finished the watering and transplanting in about 15 minutes. I had hauled one set of blocks and had to rest about 15 minutes. When I started round 2 I picked up the 2 blocks and needed to step up onto a flat section of grass. Evidently I miscalculated (again with the bad eyesight) and my foot slid back into the hole as I fell forward with the blocks in my hands.
I know it didn't but I would almost swear my toenail scraped my shinbone on my right leg!!!!! I heard, felt, or saw something tear or snap then my entire heel/ankle area went limp. I kept trying to get up but could not get my right leg to respond. I finally rolled onto my right side and was able to use the left leg and arm to get me to my feet. 
OK this is a pic of my right leg about 10 hours after the fall. That black and purple mark on my heel goes all the way around. The entire area about 3 inches above it is numb. The front part of the ankle is partially numb but also throbbig and hurting. After a week it is all swollen like a tree trunk and a lovely shade of varying green and purple plus I still have that purple band. The second pic is my arm from the wrist back. I managed to chew off a good section of skin by hanging onto the concrete block during the fall.
I was in terrible pain but could put my weight onto my right foot so I was sure I had not broken the ankle. However the leg would not lift or respond to any commands I tried to give it. I was at the front corner of the mobile home so I was able to drag myself along in a crab walk while holding onto the front of the trailer. I would move the left leg then drag the right leg along. It took me almost 40 minutes to travel the approximately 24 feet to the front door.
Negotiating the two steps to get into the trailer were excruciating. I was yelping and hollering and am surprised the neighborss didn't come running. Luckily it was daytime and I think they were all off at work.
In about 10 hours it will be one week since that fall and I am still in misery. I can barely get out of the bed to do much besides make a sandwich or feed and walk the animals. Anything else is just too much.
I did a bit of research on WebMD and think I tore the achilles tendon or at least stretched it way further than it should go. For younger people it suggests surgery but for my age it suggests immobilization and elevation so I am trying to follow that route. Even trying to sit at the computer has not been possible except in short spurts. I have been working on this piece since two days after my fall but after 30 minutes my legs swell up and start burning and throbbing so I head back to bed.
So, I guess getting an eye exam is another item that will be high on the list when I start getting my check. I don't hear any volunteers to be my seeing eye hunk so I guess I better get some stronger glasses LOL. In the meantime I am trying to move slowly and stay as immobile as possible.
Edited to add pics
First I caught the front edge of my shoe on the steps and sprawled across the landing. I was slightly scratched and had a few tender places but seemed OK.
A few hours later I was doing a simple job, pouring collected rain water into a larger container. I slipped on the muddy surface and fell on the deck. I ended up with the left shin, right knee, right shoulder and right forehead black and blue and swollen. I ended up in bed for a few days barely able to move.Pardon my old one dollar "yard shoes", had them for years and slip them on to walk Miss Bubbles or to just feed and water. I have good, heavy duty tennies that I wear when I am actually out there working. You can see the almost healed area just below my knee from the first and second fall. The deep red on the lower shin is from a fourth fall and the purple on the ankle and heel is normal, that's the vericose veins that I have all the time in this leg.
Sunday through Wed I had to work on a bunch of paperwork for Social Security, type a statement, gather financial statements, etc and send it in. I finally finished it all early Thursday morning (3am) and put it in the mailbox. When I went outside about 1030am it was so cool and beautiful I decided to do a little work in the garden, I was feeling better. Not so sore and it was nice to get outside again. I knew the afternoon would be too hot so I decided to get to it.
Very simple, water some plants, transplant a few items and then move about 20 concrete blocks from the front of the yard to the back area by the garden. Simple & easy, I finished the watering and transplanting in about 15 minutes. I had hauled one set of blocks and had to rest about 15 minutes. When I started round 2 I picked up the 2 blocks and needed to step up onto a flat section of grass. Evidently I miscalculated (again with the bad eyesight) and my foot slid back into the hole as I fell forward with the blocks in my hands.
I know it didn't but I would almost swear my toenail scraped my shinbone on my right leg!!!!! I heard, felt, or saw something tear or snap then my entire heel/ankle area went limp. I kept trying to get up but could not get my right leg to respond. I finally rolled onto my right side and was able to use the left leg and arm to get me to my feet. 
OK this is a pic of my right leg about 10 hours after the fall. That black and purple mark on my heel goes all the way around. The entire area about 3 inches above it is numb. The front part of the ankle is partially numb but also throbbig and hurting. After a week it is all swollen like a tree trunk and a lovely shade of varying green and purple plus I still have that purple band. The second pic is my arm from the wrist back. I managed to chew off a good section of skin by hanging onto the concrete block during the fall.
I was in terrible pain but could put my weight onto my right foot so I was sure I had not broken the ankle. However the leg would not lift or respond to any commands I tried to give it. I was at the front corner of the mobile home so I was able to drag myself along in a crab walk while holding onto the front of the trailer. I would move the left leg then drag the right leg along. It took me almost 40 minutes to travel the approximately 24 feet to the front door.
Negotiating the two steps to get into the trailer were excruciating. I was yelping and hollering and am surprised the neighborss didn't come running. Luckily it was daytime and I think they were all off at work.
In about 10 hours it will be one week since that fall and I am still in misery. I can barely get out of the bed to do much besides make a sandwich or feed and walk the animals. Anything else is just too much.
I did a bit of research on WebMD and think I tore the achilles tendon or at least stretched it way further than it should go. For younger people it suggests surgery but for my age it suggests immobilization and elevation so I am trying to follow that route. Even trying to sit at the computer has not been possible except in short spurts. I have been working on this piece since two days after my fall but after 30 minutes my legs swell up and start burning and throbbing so I head back to bed.
So, I guess getting an eye exam is another item that will be high on the list when I start getting my check. I don't hear any volunteers to be my seeing eye hunk so I guess I better get some stronger glasses LOL. In the meantime I am trying to move slowly and stay as immobile as possible.
Edited to add pics
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Doggie Garlic Breath LOL
Shown: My little Oasis with an old glider placed halfway between two dogs and supported with the railings to my unassembled deck :) Front left - Pickwick, Back left - Bubbles, the old girl, Front right - Bianca the attack cat, Back right under the umbrella you can barely see a set of brown legs with white boots, that is Bo the big dog.I have used garlic powder as one of my defenses against fleas and ticks for eons. My boys get it heavily on their food in the spring and summer. I will cut back some in the winter but I make gravies and spaghetti superloaded just for them during the critter crawling months.
I moved into my mh almost 2 years ago but I still don't have over 1/2 of the boxes unpacked or put away. Last week I uncovered a box that should have been pulled out last spring. There was a bag of garlic bulbs stuffed in it. I was extremely sick last year and didn't get anything done in the garden. In fact I didn't even make it into the yard to cut the grass but one time last summer and that job took 2 weeks.
Anyway, I pretty much figured the garlic bulbs were no good but I toted them outside and tossed them onto the glider. Bo, the big dog, kept trying to get at them then he tried to grab it out of my hand. It took a few minutes before it finally dawned on me, he thought it was something to eat. He could smell garlic and associated it with dinner LOL.
On another note, since the boys were trying to eat the garlic bulbs I have decided to add more garlic powder to their food. I can't believe it but they are eating more lately.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
WOOHOO! I was approved for disability
Praise the Lord!!!! I have had everyone in the church praying for the past year. Some felt I might not get it because I haven't had the money to go to a doctor in quite a few years. However my injuries and surgeries were very well documented plus the degenerative problems I have been having with them. I have tried going to a doctor about once every 5-7 years but was disgusted when they kept acting like there wasn't that much wrong. Turns out those Xrays when compared showed the slow degeneration of the bones plus I failed the breathing test the SS doctor gave me.
It has been overcast and rainy plus my back was still hurting so I slept in today. Of course there was something important in my mailbox LOL. I got the paper from the court and it says "I have made a fully favorable decision in your case......found you disabled as of Oct 16, 2006 because of anterior cervical diskectomy and interbody fusion at C5-C6, chonic low back pain, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, osteoarthritis, obesity and reactive airways disease so severe that you are unable to perform any work...."
It will take a few months before I get my check which will probably be about $700 a month. That is plenty for me and the fuzzy butts, just have to make it through these summer months. I figure God will get me through it, he has brought me this far :)
It has been overcast and rainy plus my back was still hurting so I slept in today. Of course there was something important in my mailbox LOL. I got the paper from the court and it says "I have made a fully favorable decision in your case......found you disabled as of Oct 16, 2006 because of anterior cervical diskectomy and interbody fusion at C5-C6, chonic low back pain, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, osteoarthritis, obesity and reactive airways disease so severe that you are unable to perform any work...."
It will take a few months before I get my check which will probably be about $700 a month. That is plenty for me and the fuzzy butts, just have to make it through these summer months. I figure God will get me through it, he has brought me this far :)
Saturday, May 24, 2008
CBS Must Have Lost Their Writer's
Moved to Village Rant and Rave, http://villagerantrave.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
The Good, The Bad and The Really Ugly
Well it is only Tues night but this has been an eventful week. I woke up Sun with a tiny bit of a sore throat which has turned into a very sore throat.
Monday I finally got my day in court before the disability judge. We were only in there about 5 minutes, I nodded, said yes a lot and suddenly it was all over. The lawyer said that I was approved tenatively but nothing is definite until I get it in writing which will take about 3-4 weeks. So I am rather numb but have been told I am supposed to be happy, maybe :)
When I got home I found a letter from the Food Stamp Office taking away my food stamps. Let's see I made $207 on 1 Mar, $319 on 1 Apr and $241 on 1 May. With that whopping salary and another $300 coming on 1 Jun and $160 on 1 July, it seems I no longer qualify for assistance *eyes rolling*.
Today has been awful. The long drive to court Monday left my right side in a lot of pain. After the 4 hours going, coming and being there, we also spent a few hours running some errands for Frances and going to Walmart. I picked up some bags of dirt and manure and was also able to get Eugene to bring the glider and rocker over for me. I was going to try posting about it in my garden blog but it has been locked because they think it is spam ????? Also my recipe blog is locked so I can't post the chicken soup recipe I made up yesterday. Oh, and the computer is still giving me a fit with the stupid adware bugs, GRRRRRRRRRRRRR.
Well, I am heading back to bed. I am still in a lot of pain from Monday and probably will be for another day or two. As soon as I get batteries for the camera I will get pics of the "oasis" and post them in the garden spot.
Hope your weather is as nice as mine is,
Monday I finally got my day in court before the disability judge. We were only in there about 5 minutes, I nodded, said yes a lot and suddenly it was all over. The lawyer said that I was approved tenatively but nothing is definite until I get it in writing which will take about 3-4 weeks. So I am rather numb but have been told I am supposed to be happy, maybe :)
When I got home I found a letter from the Food Stamp Office taking away my food stamps. Let's see I made $207 on 1 Mar, $319 on 1 Apr and $241 on 1 May. With that whopping salary and another $300 coming on 1 Jun and $160 on 1 July, it seems I no longer qualify for assistance *eyes rolling*.
Today has been awful. The long drive to court Monday left my right side in a lot of pain. After the 4 hours going, coming and being there, we also spent a few hours running some errands for Frances and going to Walmart. I picked up some bags of dirt and manure and was also able to get Eugene to bring the glider and rocker over for me. I was going to try posting about it in my garden blog but it has been locked because they think it is spam ????? Also my recipe blog is locked so I can't post the chicken soup recipe I made up yesterday. Oh, and the computer is still giving me a fit with the stupid adware bugs, GRRRRRRRRRRRRR.
Well, I am heading back to bed. I am still in a lot of pain from Monday and probably will be for another day or two. As soon as I get batteries for the camera I will get pics of the "oasis" and post them in the garden spot.
Hope your weather is as nice as mine is,
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Lovely May Day
After two weeks off in April, I really had to catch up. The teachers are trying to use up their personal days and I worked 4 days a week the last few weeks plus spent the extra day doing laundry or cleaning house. The weekends I spent in bed recovering LOL.
Today was beautiful. We had terrible storms over the weekend and it was super cold and dreary (almost freezing this morning). I worked Monday and took the kids out in the afternoon after the sun came out. There was a brisk breeze and I was going to drag them back inside but they were saying they were warm and wanted to stay out. It was probably my last day of teaching so I am trying to get in the swing of yard work and crafts, getting ready for summer.
I spent the day weedeating and reconstructing the Oasis. The umbrellas were blown all over the yard during the storm Sunday but I fished them out of the weeds and rebuilt my little place. I ate lunch at the Oasis and had a delicious cold chicken salad with broccoli, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, and shredded cheddar. It was so refreshing that I had another one for supper. It really hit the spot after lugging that weedeater all day.
Today was beautiful. We had terrible storms over the weekend and it was super cold and dreary (almost freezing this morning). I worked Monday and took the kids out in the afternoon after the sun came out. There was a brisk breeze and I was going to drag them back inside but they were saying they were warm and wanted to stay out. It was probably my last day of teaching so I am trying to get in the swing of yard work and crafts, getting ready for summer.
I spent the day weedeating and reconstructing the Oasis. The umbrellas were blown all over the yard during the storm Sunday but I fished them out of the weeds and rebuilt my little place. I ate lunch at the Oasis and had a delicious cold chicken salad with broccoli, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, and shredded cheddar. It was so refreshing that I had another one for supper. It really hit the spot after lugging that weedeater all day.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Catching Up - Around the House
Let's see, when I left off in Jan I think the furnace, washer, dryer, stove, and oven were not working. Two weeks after I started teaching the hot water heater went out and in midMarch the well died plus I am down to just 3 working electrical outlets in the entire mobile home. All of them are in my bedroom. I am wondering how long before my computer crashes because of the substandard electric. I have an extension cord run to the kitchen which I use for the fridge and then unplug it to plug in the hot plate or other appliances. I tried using a power strip but everything was running at half power. My friends are filling water jugs for me and I have bunches of buckets outside to collect water for flushing the toilet.
Oh and let's not forget the old van. It has now decided to start completely giving out. I got a new battery for it, with help from friends at the church, but it was dead 3 days later. It seems that there is a short in the van and it is draining the battery. I have been able to get rides to work so far but I hate to have to keep calling. Also I was lucky the last few times, I knew ahead of time and could schedule a ride. However, most times I get called about 30 minutes before school starts. By then all my rides are long gone and I still have to get dressed.
As expected, I didn't get any calls to sub this week so I mostly rested and worked on the yard. It takes a long time for me to recover from any yard work so I planned to make that my priority since I would not have to get up and go to school the next day. I stretched 2-3 hours work over 6-8 hours each day by working a few minutes then sitting under my umbrella and petting the the dogs for 20-30 minutes at a time. It was nice enjoying the birds, beautiful weather and the fur babies, plus I did a little sewing/mending, washing a bucket of underwear and reading the mail. I was able to get a good deal of the brush cleared, some of it burned (only pit burning allowed right now because of the wind), and got some planters ready to start planting next week.
Nothing is planted yet but we have freezing weather coming in over the weekend, even expecting snow Mon so I am glad I hadn't put anything out yet. No I didn't get the knitting machine set up yet. I know Berda it wondering what happened to me. I joined this great group and they are sharing some things I am dying to try but I just can't get to it yet.
Oh and let's not forget the old van. It has now decided to start completely giving out. I got a new battery for it, with help from friends at the church, but it was dead 3 days later. It seems that there is a short in the van and it is draining the battery. I have been able to get rides to work so far but I hate to have to keep calling. Also I was lucky the last few times, I knew ahead of time and could schedule a ride. However, most times I get called about 30 minutes before school starts. By then all my rides are long gone and I still have to get dressed.
As expected, I didn't get any calls to sub this week so I mostly rested and worked on the yard. It takes a long time for me to recover from any yard work so I planned to make that my priority since I would not have to get up and go to school the next day. I stretched 2-3 hours work over 6-8 hours each day by working a few minutes then sitting under my umbrella and petting the the dogs for 20-30 minutes at a time. It was nice enjoying the birds, beautiful weather and the fur babies, plus I did a little sewing/mending, washing a bucket of underwear and reading the mail. I was able to get a good deal of the brush cleared, some of it burned (only pit burning allowed right now because of the wind), and got some planters ready to start planting next week.
Nothing is planted yet but we have freezing weather coming in over the weekend, even expecting snow Mon so I am glad I hadn't put anything out yet. No I didn't get the knitting machine set up yet. I know Berda it wondering what happened to me. I joined this great group and they are sharing some things I am dying to try but I just can't get to it yet.
Friday, April 04, 2008
Catching Up - Substitute Teaching
I got my first call to teach on Jan 22 and have been averaging 2 days a week ever since. The bad part of it, the super virus was raging through the schools and after a year of being secluded from the public, I was ripe for the picking. Every week I went in and worked a couple of days then came home and fell in the bed so sick I could barely raise my head for 3-4 days. Just as I started to feel a little better I would get a call to teach another class and off I would go.
I have taught pre-k, k, 1st, 2nd, 6th, 7th, music, special ed, library covering all grades k-8, and several days of high school. Sometimes the younger ones can be little brats and I almost want to strangle them but really they are cute and usually tickle me. Sometimes it is tough trying to look mean while I am dying to fall over laughing at how naive they are.
Probably won't get any calls next week, the county is running TCAP's (testing for grade levels) and the teachers are required to be there except for dire emergencies. I will try to catch up a few things around here including getting a few plants started and getting my knitting machine up and running.
I have taught pre-k, k, 1st, 2nd, 6th, 7th, music, special ed, library covering all grades k-8, and several days of high school. Sometimes the younger ones can be little brats and I almost want to strangle them but really they are cute and usually tickle me. Sometimes it is tough trying to look mean while I am dying to fall over laughing at how naive they are.
Probably won't get any calls next week, the county is running TCAP's (testing for grade levels) and the teachers are required to be there except for dire emergencies. I will try to catch up a few things around here including getting a few plants started and getting my knitting machine up and running.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Sorry, I've been sick
I caught that nasty flu while teaching in Jan and kept having relapses. I promise to try to catch up over the next week. No school next week. They are giving TCAPs and no substitutes unless it is a dire emergency.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Cranky, Irritable & Wondering "what next"
Well, it has been 10 days since my job announcement and I haven't had a call to work yet. I knew I would not get much in Jan because everyone is just back from the long holiday but I was hoping for a few days. The new pay period starts near the beginning of Feb. If I don't work a few days soon, I will be waiting until April for a paycheck. I have already missed one bill this month and soon I will be a month behind on all my bills. I was hoping to be able to tell them I could catch up after the first of March but it is not looking very promising.
I mentioned doing the yard sale last weekend. It left me in so much pain that I spent most of the week in bed. I was hoping to sell again this weekend but the temps dropped to the teens again and I was simply not able to do it. It was so cold yesterday, I spent the entire day in bed buried under as many covers as possible.
Did I mention the furnace went out? Yep, first cold spell about 2 months ago, it worked for one hour and then kicked off and never came back. I spent a few days last week researching thermostat troubleshooting but nothing I tried worked. Now the hot water heater has gone out. It warmed up to almost 40 today and I thought I better get a shower in case I get called in tomorrow. Well, all I have now is cold water so I guess I will be trying to boil some tonight.
Last year I was trying to keep an upbeat look at everything and kept saying, well at least I have heat and hot water. Sigh, both of those are gone now. I think I could fix it with new elements but there is no money left. I have $25 on one credit card and that is it. I have been trying for months to quit smoking and have it down to 7 per day. I will probably use the money to put $20 gas in the van and buy 2 packs of cigarettes to get me through a few more weeks. I am already 2 months behind on the phone bill and the internet will probably be gone by the end of Feb. I applied for assistance on my heating bill but they don't send it until Mar or April. Of course by then you have pretty much frozen to death. Makes a lot of sense, right?
Anyway, I am just ranting. I am in pain and the cigarettes usually help with pain and cold but I am having to do without them so I am feeling crankier than usual. Add to that no hot water and wondering what will go next and my mood is not the best.
Guess I will go check my eStore but, of course, I am sure I will find no sales so that is getting to be a tiresome thing too. I have lots of things to sell but it is mostly yard sale type stuff and not worth listing online. In the meantime, I am just too sick and cold to tackle the crafts. I wanted to make soap this week but the kitchen is like a freezer. The dogs water dish is frozen solid. I have a small space heater in the bedroom but I have on long johns, sweat pants, 3 sweaters and a hat and I am still shivering.
I mentioned doing the yard sale last weekend. It left me in so much pain that I spent most of the week in bed. I was hoping to sell again this weekend but the temps dropped to the teens again and I was simply not able to do it. It was so cold yesterday, I spent the entire day in bed buried under as many covers as possible.
Did I mention the furnace went out? Yep, first cold spell about 2 months ago, it worked for one hour and then kicked off and never came back. I spent a few days last week researching thermostat troubleshooting but nothing I tried worked. Now the hot water heater has gone out. It warmed up to almost 40 today and I thought I better get a shower in case I get called in tomorrow. Well, all I have now is cold water so I guess I will be trying to boil some tonight.
Last year I was trying to keep an upbeat look at everything and kept saying, well at least I have heat and hot water. Sigh, both of those are gone now. I think I could fix it with new elements but there is no money left. I have $25 on one credit card and that is it. I have been trying for months to quit smoking and have it down to 7 per day. I will probably use the money to put $20 gas in the van and buy 2 packs of cigarettes to get me through a few more weeks. I am already 2 months behind on the phone bill and the internet will probably be gone by the end of Feb. I applied for assistance on my heating bill but they don't send it until Mar or April. Of course by then you have pretty much frozen to death. Makes a lot of sense, right?
Anyway, I am just ranting. I am in pain and the cigarettes usually help with pain and cold but I am having to do without them so I am feeling crankier than usual. Add to that no hot water and wondering what will go next and my mood is not the best.
Guess I will go check my eStore but, of course, I am sure I will find no sales so that is getting to be a tiresome thing too. I have lots of things to sell but it is mostly yard sale type stuff and not worth listing online. In the meantime, I am just too sick and cold to tackle the crafts. I wanted to make soap this week but the kitchen is like a freezer. The dogs water dish is frozen solid. I have a small space heater in the bedroom but I have on long johns, sweat pants, 3 sweaters and a hat and I am still shivering.
Friday, January 11, 2008
I Have a Job!!!!!
The Board of Education finally called this morning and I am officially hired. I pick up my I.D. badge Monday and can start teaching immediately.
No time to chat this morning. I am headed out to set up a yard sale at the crossroads. It is dreary and damp from all the rain last night but I am hoping to catch a few tourists heading to Gatlinburg. Tomorrow will be sunny and cool so I will try again. I need to build up a reserve for gas money :)
No time to chat this morning. I am headed out to set up a yard sale at the crossroads. It is dreary and damp from all the rain last night but I am hoping to catch a few tourists heading to Gatlinburg. Tomorrow will be sunny and cool so I will try again. I need to build up a reserve for gas money :)
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Day by Day
Monday was beautiful. I didn't make much money but the weather was gorgeous and I had a beautiful view of the mountains. Several very nice people stopped by to chat and it was all in all a good day. Of course, I was sore and exhausted yesterday and today after packing the van all day Sun and the unloading and loading Mon so I have spent most of it in bed. I am trying to get some soap made and make it over to a friend's house to borrow some cocoa butter but I seem to be moving slowly.
The dogs are happy. I took Pickwick's sweater off and he has rolled and played in the leaves and dirt until he is filthy. The last few days I made stuffing and mashed potatoes. The boys got the leftovers so they are happy about that too.
Well, I am still tired and sore so not up to posting much today. They are calling for rain tomorrow but nice weather again Fri & Sat so I am going to try selling again this weekend. I have lots of work to do tomorrow so I am off to rest.
The dogs are happy. I took Pickwick's sweater off and he has rolled and played in the leaves and dirt until he is filthy. The last few days I made stuffing and mashed potatoes. The boys got the leftovers so they are happy about that too.
Well, I am still tired and sore so not up to posting much today. They are calling for rain tomorrow but nice weather again Fri & Sat so I am going to try selling again this weekend. I have lots of work to do tomorrow so I am off to rest.
Monday, January 07, 2008
Selling Day
Yesterday was light rain in the morning but not enough to get wet on the way to church. The afternoon was overcast and I spent it loading tons of goodies into the van so I can sell by the road. This is my main income and I have to take advantage when I get a nice day. Today the sun is shining, gentle wind and no rain so I am headed to the Cosby crossroads to sell. I am hoping the snow in Gatlinburg the past week brought in a lot of tourists that wanted to stay over and catch the last of the skiing. The temps were so high over NY's that the slopes had to close so maybe some of those people were able to come this weekend.
I have put the eStore on hold for the day and am heading out in about an hour. Pickwick is overjoyed to be outside again and the inside cat and dog are tickled he is gone. I changed all the linens last night because everything was definitely smelling like dirty dog peeeyeeeewww. I was planning to sell again tomorrow but it is scheduled to be high winds and rain with high winds and sunshine Wednesday. Guess I will be hanging over the tub washing the blankets and linens tomorrow evening. I can hang them out Wed and will need them for the weekend.
I have put the eStore on hold for the day and am heading out in about an hour. Pickwick is overjoyed to be outside again and the inside cat and dog are tickled he is gone. I changed all the linens last night because everything was definitely smelling like dirty dog peeeyeeeewww. I was planning to sell again tomorrow but it is scheduled to be high winds and rain with high winds and sunshine Wednesday. Guess I will be hanging over the tub washing the blankets and linens tomorrow evening. I can hang them out Wed and will need them for the weekend.
Saturday, January 05, 2008
WOOHOO 30 Degrees and Climbing
The cold is breaking and I am feeling more optimistic. The snow is lovely but will be gone by morning. Rain tonight and tomorrow will wash it away. I have an electric bill and c/c bill due by the 15th so this is a blessing because I will be able to sell by the road Mon and Tues and hopefully scrape together enough to pull me from under the bus wheels for one more month :)
Even the mice seem to have fled the building. Bianca presented me with dead ones 3 mornings in a row but nothing this morning. They have probably headed back out to bask in the sunshine and forage in better pastures since I keep everything sealed in glass jars.
School starts back next Monday and, hopefully, I should get my certificate and I.D. badge by the end of the week. I'll be able to start teaching as soon as those arrive but I won't get a paycheck until Mar so I better get over to the website and get some more items listed. I have been too cold the last few days to meet my 5 per day/5 days a week NY resolution so maybe I can catch up.
I was going to make a pot of sphagetti and bake a loaf of bread today but a friend mentioned chili and cornbread so now I am drooling for it. So I will make chili, coleslaw and cornbread today and bake a lemon pound cake. I'll bake the bread tomorrow evening and save a few fat slices to make Texas toast to go with the leftover chili when I come in from selling Monday night. Maybe I will make the sphagetti tomorrow to have leftovers when I get home Tuesday night.
Stay warm,
Linda :)
Even the mice seem to have fled the building. Bianca presented me with dead ones 3 mornings in a row but nothing this morning. They have probably headed back out to bask in the sunshine and forage in better pastures since I keep everything sealed in glass jars.
School starts back next Monday and, hopefully, I should get my certificate and I.D. badge by the end of the week. I'll be able to start teaching as soon as those arrive but I won't get a paycheck until Mar so I better get over to the website and get some more items listed. I have been too cold the last few days to meet my 5 per day/5 days a week NY resolution so maybe I can catch up.
I was going to make a pot of sphagetti and bake a loaf of bread today but a friend mentioned chili and cornbread so now I am drooling for it. So I will make chili, coleslaw and cornbread today and bake a lemon pound cake. I'll bake the bread tomorrow evening and save a few fat slices to make Texas toast to go with the leftover chili when I come in from selling Monday night. Maybe I will make the sphagetti tomorrow to have leftovers when I get home Tuesday night.
Stay warm,
Linda :)
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Brrrr It's Cold
It's 10am and the sun is just beginning to peek over the mountain. We have been warm most of this winter, mostly in the mid 40's to 60's, even a few days in the 70's. We've only had a few days here and there of high 20's at night so we have been spoiled. Tues night it dropped to the teens and we got about 1/2 inch of snow. It stayed in the low 20's all day yesterday and continued to snow off and on all day and back to the teens last night. The real problem has been the wind which has wind chill factors in the single digits.
Since I won't have an income until Mar, I cut the furnace off and have been trying to live in my bedroom with a small space heater. I moved my computer in here and the dogs and I have been huddled under the covers while the cat sleeps on top of me LOL. I am bundled up under 4 sweaters and still keep shivering and have to keep stopping to warm my fingers but I am loving the view outside my window. It is all so white and beautiful. As the sun climbs, it is beginning to glisten and the snow hides all the unfinished projects piled around the yard :)
My cat, Bianca, is loving the cold. When it reaches the 20's, mice seem to think I have sent out an invitation for them to come in for shelter. Bianca is my bouncer and disposes of them immediately. The last cold snap, she took out 3 in one night. Late Tuesday night she marched into the bedroom carrying a gate crasher in her mouth. I keep a plastic bag on the floor for her to play with and she dropped her catch on the bag and played with it for almost an hour. This morning I found another dead mouse on the bag that she nabbed sometime during the night.
Part of me wants to jump up and down and shout "WOOHOO!!! Bianca caught some mice!!". The other half of me is totally creeped out and thinks "OMG there were mice in the house!!!" I know, can't have it both ways and so I guess I will remain proud of her for keeping the place critter free.
They are calling for it to warm up today but be back in the teens again tonight. Guess, it will melt all the snow off and be back to the nasty brown of leaves and weeds with all those piles of goodies reminding me I have work to do *sigh*. Tomorrow will be a day of slipping and sliding on all the ice when I walk the dogs. Which reminds me, I better put some more salt on the steps so I don't break my butt again.
Oh, and I have already broken my NY resolution. I resolved to post at least 5 new items per day in my webstore at least every Mon-Fri. Well, I haven't listed a thing. My fingers and brain are just too frozen LOL.
I am off to read some emails and figure out what I am going to cook. I was going to bake yesterday but settled for noshing on some nuked chicken breast tenders that I tossed in the microwave. I popped some popcorn for supper and watched a movie. Guess I am going to stay a day behind all this year LOL.
Stay warm,
Linda B:)
Since I won't have an income until Mar, I cut the furnace off and have been trying to live in my bedroom with a small space heater. I moved my computer in here and the dogs and I have been huddled under the covers while the cat sleeps on top of me LOL. I am bundled up under 4 sweaters and still keep shivering and have to keep stopping to warm my fingers but I am loving the view outside my window. It is all so white and beautiful. As the sun climbs, it is beginning to glisten and the snow hides all the unfinished projects piled around the yard :)
My cat, Bianca, is loving the cold. When it reaches the 20's, mice seem to think I have sent out an invitation for them to come in for shelter. Bianca is my bouncer and disposes of them immediately. The last cold snap, she took out 3 in one night. Late Tuesday night she marched into the bedroom carrying a gate crasher in her mouth. I keep a plastic bag on the floor for her to play with and she dropped her catch on the bag and played with it for almost an hour. This morning I found another dead mouse on the bag that she nabbed sometime during the night.
Part of me wants to jump up and down and shout "WOOHOO!!! Bianca caught some mice!!". The other half of me is totally creeped out and thinks "OMG there were mice in the house!!!" I know, can't have it both ways and so I guess I will remain proud of her for keeping the place critter free.
They are calling for it to warm up today but be back in the teens again tonight. Guess, it will melt all the snow off and be back to the nasty brown of leaves and weeds with all those piles of goodies reminding me I have work to do *sigh*. Tomorrow will be a day of slipping and sliding on all the ice when I walk the dogs. Which reminds me, I better put some more salt on the steps so I don't break my butt again.
Oh, and I have already broken my NY resolution. I resolved to post at least 5 new items per day in my webstore at least every Mon-Fri. Well, I haven't listed a thing. My fingers and brain are just too frozen LOL.
I am off to read some emails and figure out what I am going to cook. I was going to bake yesterday but settled for noshing on some nuked chicken breast tenders that I tossed in the microwave. I popped some popcorn for supper and watched a movie. Guess I am going to stay a day behind all this year LOL.
Stay warm,
Linda B:)
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Happy New Year
Just popping in to wish everyone a Happy New Year. I planned to make some popcorn and see the NY in with a movie but I stretched out about 830p and woke up at 330a. So I guess I missed it. Tough to be an old biddy LOL.
I've spent the day working on my website and learning about Google Analytics and Attributes. I must be getting old because my eyes are spinning and my brain is in a fog. In the background I have been half listening and watching the Monk marathon. I was hoping for another Clean House marathon like last NY's but they did play it a lot on Mon. I am hooked on that show LOL. I love Nicey from Reno 9-11 and the rest of the cast. Plus I am absolutely fascinated that people will let them into their homes when they are that messy. OMG I can remember when I wouldn't open the door if the house wasn't perfect. Now I have my living room turned into a shop with shipping containers and clothing racks. I shake my head everytime I crab walk through it all and wonder what happened *eyes rolling*.
I forgot to make a pot of blackeyed peas yesterday so it seems strange. My grandmother always made blackeyed peas, rice and greens for NY's. I settled for sausage and cabbage. I was going to make cornbread but my hips will be grateful for my laziness.
Well, now that it is dark and cold, Miss Bubbles has decided she wants to head outside. They have been threatening us with snow the last 2 days. We haven't seen any yet but it is very cold out. Supposed to go to 20 tonight. Guess I better bundle up and head outside since she is hopping up and down.
Wishing everyone a wonderful year of great health, happiness, love and much more,
Linda B:)
I've spent the day working on my website and learning about Google Analytics and Attributes. I must be getting old because my eyes are spinning and my brain is in a fog. In the background I have been half listening and watching the Monk marathon. I was hoping for another Clean House marathon like last NY's but they did play it a lot on Mon. I am hooked on that show LOL. I love Nicey from Reno 9-11 and the rest of the cast. Plus I am absolutely fascinated that people will let them into their homes when they are that messy. OMG I can remember when I wouldn't open the door if the house wasn't perfect. Now I have my living room turned into a shop with shipping containers and clothing racks. I shake my head everytime I crab walk through it all and wonder what happened *eyes rolling*.
I forgot to make a pot of blackeyed peas yesterday so it seems strange. My grandmother always made blackeyed peas, rice and greens for NY's. I settled for sausage and cabbage. I was going to make cornbread but my hips will be grateful for my laziness.
Well, now that it is dark and cold, Miss Bubbles has decided she wants to head outside. They have been threatening us with snow the last 2 days. We haven't seen any yet but it is very cold out. Supposed to go to 20 tonight. Guess I better bundle up and head outside since she is hopping up and down.
Wishing everyone a wonderful year of great health, happiness, love and much more,
Linda B:)
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