A Day at Wally World

I spent the day at Wally World and more of that leftover water pump money. My friend Barb had an appointment in town for about an hour or more and offered to drop me off to pick up "just a few things". She was worried that I would be waiting outside for a long time. ROFLOL she still hasn't learned that I shop the store from one end to the other. She nearly fell over when it took two carts to haul everything to the car.

I started at the garden shop with hoses for the newly installed water pump plus fitting, adapters, nozzles, etc. While I was there I just had to grab some bulbs, fertilizer and other garden goodies. They had some great deals on shade plants for my "hill of doom" plus I decided to grab more of those .20 packs of seeds. Heck if I don't get them planted I won't be out that much.

After 8 years with my son I didn't have a single tool left except a pile of bent flat head screwdrivers. I stopped off in tools with the intention of buying a small jigsaw to cut holes in my hydroponic tubes. Well heck I needed a Dremel to cut the center holes, Of course who could pass up a $20 sander for the metal porch glider that needs repainting and, while I was at it I might as well get a small drill LOL.

In electronics I couldn't find the battery for my phone so I bought another headset for my cordless phone and a new cord for the hardline. A stop off in the stationary area yielded a write on wipe off board and cork squares - yeah, like I am really going to get organized LOL. I finally rolled into the grocery section with a full cart and was only halfway through my "short" list LOL.

Oh well, a trip to Lowes to get the rest of my fencing and garden supplies and I will be broke again. I will probably not be able to buy a thing for years but it has been fun finally restocking these items I have been without for so many years.

The bad part - now I really do have to get my butt in gear and get some things done around here. No more sink piled with dishes or overflowing laundry basket because of no water. No more unfinished repair projects because I have no tools. Sheesh, I am beginning to think this high class living may be too much work. I am longing for the days on the mountain in my camper trailer hauling water and reading by camp lanterns and kerosene lamps. Well, may not, I would miss my internet :)

Hugs

Linda B:)

WOOHOO!!!! Running Water

I am doing the Happy Dance today.

I HAVE RUNNING WATER AGAIN!!!

Well, almost. They put in my new water pump today. After being down for 14 months and below zero temps this past winter, I have leaks - lots of them.

He repaired the pipe at the well so it is on and running. I can attach a hose to the spigot there and run it up to the deck. I have a couple of old near rotten hoses that I am hoping will hold together until I can get to the store and buy some new ones.

The bad news, I can't find my hose nozzles. Most of them have fallen apart so I am not even sure I still have one that works. Anyway as soon as I can work all this out I will at least have water to the deck and can fill up buckets and jugs as I need them. The entire thing was only $650 - much better than the $1400 to $3500 I had been quoted so far.

The other good news - I got all my garden seeds and plants ordered. I have been trying to add more fruit in my diet so I ordered patio fig trees and blueberries. I am already getting the cold veggies potted and several kinds of lettuce and onions started. Can't wait until planting :)

I also splurged and bought a bench for my deck. It folds into a picnic table and even has a hole for my umbrella. I saw it on QVC and several older people gave it high ratings saying it was easy to flip back and forth.

I love to sit outside in the morning and read the paper, do the Sudoku and my Bible study. I also usually carry some fruit, yogurt or a granola bar to have for breakfast. The table function will be perfect for this.

In the evening I like to just sit back and watch the birds or gaze at the stars after dark. The bench function will work great for that.

In the heat of the afternoon I like to stretch out for a nap in my glider. It is too big to fit on the deck and also too hot there so I want to move it under the dogwood tree so the critters and I can have a place to cool off on those steamy summer afternoons.

I was going to save up to put one of those Sunsetter roll-up awnings on the deck because I don't want a roof. The front edge of the deck gets the most sun in the entire yard and is where I will be putting my tomatoes, peppers and other sun lovering plants. Anyway I can use the umbrella with the table/bench and not block the sun to my veggies and flowers.

Well I am off to waste some water:)
Linda B:)

Finally - '08 WrapUp

I am a procrastinator - if I can't do something perfectly I put it off until it
doesn't need doing anymore or I feel so guilty about putting it off that I throw my
hands up and finally wade in. At that point, whatever happens - happens, so here are my latest ramblings.

I had intended to do better on blogging this year and was going to start the year
with a wrap up of 2008 and yet, here it is almost April and my first blog of the year is finally arriving. I would like to say it was lost in the mail but it was definitely lost in my brain somewhere.

'08 was one of those rough, roll with the punches kind of years - still out of work and trying to get my disability, I seemed more down than up at times. The credit cards sputtered to a halt one payment short of covering the January bills. I got a call about that time telling me I had been hired as a substitute teacher. A couple of catches - I could only work a couple of days a week and my first check would not arrive for almost two months.

Oh well, I had a job again so I immediately tried to hustle more money but was turned down everywhere. I had $160 a month in food stamps but things went right into the crapper and I broke down crying because I didn't even have money to buy toilet paper (no pun intended :).

Praise God for my wonderful friends and church members. Some of them decided they would care for my animals and buy their food. People would show up with bags of dog food, packages of light bulbs and toilet paper and misc groceries. When I caught the creeping crud from the kids at school they even brought me cough drops and Kleenex. I was given clothes for Christmas so I would have something to wear to school and others tucked $20 bills into my pocket now and then so I could buy gas to get to the schools. When my van broke down they all told me their schedules so I could call and get rides. Can you believe it? People got out of bed at the drop of a hat to rush me to whichever school called. It was amazing and reminded of how truly blessed my life has been and is.

In May I went before a Judge and was approved for my disability based on my medical records. The checks began the end of July but my $700 a month meant I was making "big" money so I lost my food stamps *sigh*.

In June I fell and ruptured my Achilles tendon which has left me near crippled and
unable to drive (and a bit cranky about it - you may remember the blogs whining about it LOL). The end of Aug I received my back pay and began the long road of negotiating payoffs for my credit cards.

I saved a small amount of the money to get my car and well fixed. I have been without
water since Feb 08 and have been quoted prices from $1200 plus to $3500. I simply did
not have that much so I have held out. I talked to a man this week who is going to replace the pump this Friday for a flat fee of $600.

Hallelujah, I can't believe it!!!! I will finally have running water. Dang, now I have to start doing the dishes again. Being unable to drive I have had to depend on the wonderful people from my church to fill milk jugs for me each week so I could have water for me and the dogs. My garden did terrible during the drought last year because there was no rain water to keep it going and barely enough in the water jugs to keep me and the fuzzy butts going. It was the perfect excuse to put off laundry and dishes:)

'09 started off good and bad. I finally negotiated the payment for the last credit card but a few days later I got a notice that I have to start paying $96.80 a month for Medicare beginning next month. That leaves me with $200 a month for groceries and misc spending so I am working hard to get in a good garden this year. The leg is still partially numb and still has barely any calf muscle but I am getting around better these days. Also, having my well working, I will be able to
keep everything watered so I am optimistic.

I had plans to get some scrapbooking, sewing and knitting done this past winter. Single digit temps changed that. With the furnace out and just a small electric heater with a bad thermostat, I spent most of the winter buried under a pile of covers and wearing 4 to 5 layers of clothes. I did catch up on some old movies and a few books :)

Well, we are basically caught up. Aren't you glad that's over? LOL Right now I am trying to get everything ordered for the garden and some lettuce and onions started. Also I need to find out what kind of hot water heater I have so I can buy new elements for it. It took a powder about a week before the water pump. I will be so happy when I can finally have a long hot shower again.

Have a great day,
Linda B:)