View Full Version : The Daily Rave
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I like this idea of deep cleaning the house one day a month--maybe I should try that.
Me, too! That was one of the things I used to like about Flylady--her routines just made cleaning more mindless.
I could handle a monthly deep clean. I think I'm going to try it, too.
iris lilies
9-29-23, 8:10am
Me, too! That was one of the things I used to like about Flylady--her routines just made cleaning more mindless.
I could handle a monthly deep clean. I think I'm going to try it, too.
do you mean, you clean baseboards of the entire house once a month? Argh!!, Nooooooo.
If you don't, you get what I looked at yesterday--I was horrified to see all this dirt and I thought I had cleaned it recently but obviously not. This is the stuff that has happened since I had abdominal surgery last fall--everything is just dirty because I haven't been scrubbing anything. Ugh.
iris lilies
9-29-23, 8:33am
If you don't, you get what I looked at yesterday--I was horrified to see all this dirt and I thought I had cleaned it recently but obviously not. This is the stuff that has happened since I had abdominal surgery last fall--everything is just dirty because I haven't been scrubbing anything. Ugh.
My excuse…. I don’t even have baseboards in half of our house. They are being installed on the daily.
But this discussion is hitting home because I have been seeing the little corners of dirt in the rooms that ARE finished. We’ve lived here for a year now. Things are no longer shiny and new. There’s a year of grime on some things.
do you mean, you clean baseboards of the entire house once a month? Argh!!, Nooooooo.
And all the doors!! Can't forget about the doors. Dust settles into all the crevasses. I literally clean my house top to bottom each month. From ceiling fans and cobwebs to baseboards and floors. End the day dripping in sweat and tired as heck but man, the feeling of going to bed knowing that everything in my house is spotless is the best!! And that I don't have to do it again for another month! :laff:
iris lilies
9-29-23, 9:05am
And all the doors!! Can't forget about the doors. Dust settles into all the crevasses. I literally clean my house top to bottom each month. From ceiling fans and cobwebs to baseboards and floors. End the day dripping in sweat and tired as heck but man, the feeling of going to bed knowing that everything in my house is spotless is the best!! And that I don't have to do it again for another month! :laff:
OK you Queens of Clean, tell me—do you have a special tool to wipe down baseboards? Or (don’t tell me tjis! Haha) you actually have to bend over the baseboards in your entire house!!!
catherine
9-29-23, 10:52am
My deep-clean issue is that my DH is married to using the stove top to cook everything: sear meat, sautée everything... and we have no range hood. I cringe when I think about our beautiful pine finished-but-unpainted ceilings and the grease they harbor. Never mind all the dishes on my open shelving!! Dishes that I don't use for a week or so need to be washed before use.
OK you Queens of Clean, tell me—do you have a special tool to wipe down baseboards? Or (don’t tell me tjis! Haha) you actually have to bend over the baseboards in your entire house!!!
I do the dreaded "bend and wipe" method but there is a product out there called Baseboard Buddy that involves no bending.
iris lilies
9-29-23, 10:54pm
I guess this is a Rave, although it could turn into a rant!
Today I went by a fellow iris Society member’s house to pick up boxes of Iris she had purchased, but will not be able to get into the ground. She’s having family problems and she just wants the iris to go to somebody who will get them in the ground
This is… So many iris, easily $1000 worth of iris, it might be as much as $3,000 worth. It’s hard to tell because Iris growers put several “bonus free “Iris in with ones you order. They are all labeled and she even made garden markers for about 30% of them.
I am madly sorting and soaking them, looking up photos of each, deciding what to keep, and emailing people who I think might take them. I am keeping most of the 2023 new introductions, and many 2022 introductions, but still, there are dozens and dozens left.
New introductions go for $55-$65, depending on the hybridizer. I have at least a dozen.
Didn't get started on deep cleaning until about 9:30pm so only got my boys' bathroom and the hallway leading to it done tonight. Took about an hour. Also wiped down both boys' doors as well as the linen closet door. Called it quits for the night and will pick back up with my bathroom and bedroom first thing tomorrow. Entry, kitchen, and living room on Sunday. Then the fun begins and I can pull out my Halloween decorations and put them out in the kitchen, living room, and outside.
House has been deep cleaned and Halloween decorations are up. Dinner has been cooking in the crockpot since 10am so it's officially time to sit and relax for what little time I have left of the weekend.
Enjoy your accomplishments and your decorated clean house, Klunick!
Enjoy your accomplishments and your decorated clean house, Klunick!
Not sure what I did differently than any other time I deep cleaned the house but I woke up Sunday morning and my legs felt like I had gone to the gym and did 6 hours of just leg exercises. Good thing I did 99% of the cleaning on Saturday so my legs hurting didn't really affect getting the rest of the house done on Sunday. Legs were still hurting yesterday but luckily today, everything is back to normal.
frugal-one
10-4-23, 4:24pm
Started Sept 14 to fix/repair and completely screen in porch.... it is done as of today... Oct 4!!! They also put in new carports and did some inside work. Really pleased on how it turned out! Ordered a nice bench for the front (should be here Saturday) and bought some furniture for inside the porch. May get better furniture next year but will be adequate for now. Everything is so picked over. We will paint the metal legs on a table and I bought a really nice tablecloth for the top and pillows for the chairs. Worth every penny!
The new porch must be so nice. And there’s still some good weather left to enjoy it.
iris lilies
10-4-23, 4:40pm
Started Sept 14 to fix/repair and completely screen in porch.... it is done as of today... Oct 4!!! They also put in new carports and did some inside work. Really pleased on how it turned out! Ordered a nice bench for the front (should be here Saturday) and bought some furniture for inside the porch. May get better furniture next year but will be adequate for now. Everything is so picked over. We will paint the metal legs on a table and I bought a really nice tablecloth for the top and pillows for the chairs. Worth every penny!
it is great you got that work done do quickly. The decor will be pretty.
I am for the first time considering pillows for our outdoor chairs. And a rug. The table and chairs sit on a deck which is so very blah.
frugal-one
10-4-23, 9:17pm
The new porch must be so nice. And there’s still some good weather left to enjoy it.
I’m in Texas so the weather will better in winter. We put in a ceiling fan so now early mornings and evenings are comfortable.
happystuff
10-5-23, 8:45am
Congrats, frugal-one. Sounds lovely!
iris lilies
10-5-23, 9:24am
Maybe this is a rave? A premature rave?
I have decided to hire a landscaper. That seems anathema to us plant people. But honestly, I’ve been struggling with this Hermann front garden for years now, and the “random pretty plants placed wherever” method of my cottage garden in the city is not working here.
For one thing, half of the plants I used in the city can’t be here because of deer, they eat the plants.
my little town of Hermann has several professional plantings that I keep a close eye on. I’m going to hire the landscaper who did one of them and ask him to use many of the same plants. That includes roses, which I HATE to take care of, but these are polyantha roses that require little care.
A good landscaper/landscape designer can be a great thing. The one time I used it was when we had large shrubs under our front windows removed--they were out of control and not too pretty. I didn't know what to replace them with, so I brought a sketch, including the footprint of the house and garden, and the dimensions of the area I wished to replant.
I took it to a local family-owned garden center and asked if he could help me with decisions on what to plant where. He told me to walk around and pick out a few plants I liked. I did that, handed him my list, and right there, at the counter, he sketched out a plan for me. I purchased the plants and hired his guys to come and plant, but there was no charge for the design.
It was totally worth it. I think asking a local landscaper to help will ensure that they will be able to suggest deer-resistant and other regional factors to be mindful of.
frugal-one
10-6-23, 7:58pm
Thanks for the kind words everyone!
We had a great day at the fair. Saw the draft horse show, our favorite, and then we got to watch the harness racing. Have not been to a harnes race since the age of 12, so that was great fun. All I remembered was that there were pacers and trotters. Just wish I had figured out how to read the program and bet--we didn't even know there was betting, we were such fair rubes. By the time we got settled with apple crisp, husband had lost interest after the first 4 races. I didn't even get to see any trotting races.
Personally, if it hadn't cost 30 dollars to get in, I would have gone back the next day.
$30 to get in! Wow! Ours is free to seniors on some days, otherwise $10.
We have senior days at the State Fair but darn the parking is still $10 on top of any tickets.
We paid 5 to park and 15 per person.
Working from home for the first full day since the WFH job ended in March 2021. I’ve done a few quick things at home on the weekends, but this is first big chunk. Car gets towed to mechanic today so I had to stay home. A lovely coworker has been driving me to work so she’s saved me the cost of a rental.
I’m working via Remote Desktop. The only awkward thing is that I’m used to having our transportation software on one monitor and email on the other. I have two monitors at home (three with laptop screen), but I can’t move anything over from the monitor the Remote Desktop is on. Oh well, I’ll just work slower. I was going to take the day off but manager suggested I could just work from home.
My almost 92 year Mom decided to give up driving (thank god) so I flew one way to Detroit, spent five days visiting family and friends in Ann Arbor, and have been driving her 2018 Volkswagon Jetta with only 19,000 miles back to New Mexico since Monday. I really had no agenda and I don't have to be back until Friday, so I have been taking my time and taking in the sights. Ann Arbor to Iowa City the first night (I lived there from 1990-92), then meandered through Iowa and ended up in the middle of Nebraska in a "cheap yukky motel." Tonight I'm in Cheyanne Wells, CO, a funky little town out on the eastern plains. Tomorrow I'm going to head for Trinidad, CO and spend a little time walking around, then I'll head for home. Now that I'm older traveling is fun, but I actually do want to get back to the comforts of my own home. It's interesting to me how much I have changed over the years - all my out west travels of yesteryear were my escape from the drudgery of my life in Ann Arbor. Now that I actually live out west permanently, it's a totally different feeling.
The Jetta is AMAZING! The nicest car I have ever owned!
Congrats on the new wheels--that sounds delightful, and glad you are able to make the trip before the snow flies. Good job!
happystuff
10-12-23, 8:52am
Sounds like you had a good time visiting with family. Yay! to the new-to-you car! Have a continued fun and safe trip home.
catherine
10-12-23, 1:15pm
The road trip sounds amazing! And congratulations on the car! So exciting!
Our family is big on meanders, so yours sounds awesome! Nothing better than just going where you will... and finding unexpected joys along the way. My DD and I took a road trip from Houston to NJ once when she told me she was driving to Houston to drop off her friend. Coincidentally, I had a market research project that brought me to Houston at the same time, and I, in no way, was comfortable with her driving back to the East coast alone, so I cancelled my flight back to Newark, met up with her in Houston, and we went on our way, staying in Texarkana, visiting Hope, AK, then going to Memphis, Knoxville, Tazewell, VA, Washington DC, and finally, home. It was a really memorable meander!
But, as you said, there's no place like home.
New great niece. Born in London, Eng. this morning. Eden Rose. Of course she's beautiful. My baby sister is now a grandmother!!!
She's already booked a flight for a month from now, I think! (lives in DC.)
iris lilies
10-12-23, 1:30pm
New great niece. Born in London, Eng. this morning. Eden Rose. Of course she's beautiful. My baby sister is now a grandmother!!!
She's already booked a flight for a month from now, I think! (lives in DC.)
what great news! It is lovely to have a new baby human to celebrate.
happystuff
10-13-23, 8:45am
Wonderful! Congrats to all, nswef.
Awww, congrats on the new kidlet in the family!
Thanks everyone. We are all so excited. I remember when my sister was born, I was 10 and to see her 3 children all grown up and one a parent now!!! Just amazing!
catherine
10-13-23, 12:23pm
Congrats, nswef! I love the name! May you have many years of joy with her!
It is a really pretty name and very London--Carnaby Street and Twiggy cool.
we're hoping Eden Rose has an English accent of some kind....mother is from Georgia and dad Washington DC...
catherine
10-15-23, 9:20am
we're hoping Eden Rose has an English accent of some kind....mother is from Georgia and dad Washington DC...
If she goes to preschool/daycare there, there's a good chance she'll at least have some kind of hybrid accent! In my DH's Scottish immigrant family, he never went to preschool, but his brother did. My husband has a Scottish accent--acquired through only having interacted with other Scots in his formative years--but my BIL does not. The accent for my husband has been a blessing and a curse--people love the accent, but then they think he's faking it when they learn that he has lived here pretty much all his life. I can vouch that he is not faking it, although he does have a propensity to lay it on a little thick at times. And as he gets older, he seems to channel his mother's broad Glaswegian speech patterns a lot more.
How interesting Catherine. I know my husband's Maryland (southern) accent increases when we go to North Carolina to visit his Mom's side of his family. She had a pretty strong southern accents and lived in MD for 50 of 75 years.
iris lilies
10-15-23, 12:03pm
If she goes to preschool/daycare there, there's a good chance she'll at least have some kind of hybrid accent! In my DH's Scottish immigrant family, he never went to preschool, but his brother did. My husband has a Scottish accent--acquired through only having interacted with other Scots in his formative years--but my BIL does not. The accent for my husband has been a blessing and a curse--people love the accent, but then they think he's faking it when they learn that he has lived here pretty much all his life. I can vouch that he is not faking it, although he does have a propensity to lay it on a little thick at times. And as he gets older, he seems to channel his mother's broad Glaswegian speech patterns a lot more.
i think I would love your husband!
catherine
10-15-23, 12:17pm
i think I would love your husband!
Haha! You wouldn't be the first... but I have a feeling he'd love you, too!
frugal-one
10-24-23, 9:08pm
Went to 2 local farmers’ markets here in the RGV and totally surprised at the wonderful organic produce. Was able to sample local fruits I have never had and see the local mushrooms in the area. I bought local honey and kombucha. There are 2 more markets I can check out! DH said he enjoyed going too! Supposedly more vegetables will be available in a few weeks.
I love it here! There is so much to do and people are friendly. I feel I have found finally my forever home!
That is so wonderful--you worked hard to get there, congratulations!
catherine
10-25-23, 10:07am
I love it here! There is so much to do and people are friendly. I feel I have found finally my forever home!
That is such a great feeling!! I'm so happy for you!
happystuff
10-25-23, 12:07pm
That's wonder, frugal-one!!
Went to 2 local farmers’ markets here in the RGV and totally surprised at the wonderful organic produce. Was able to sample local fruits I have never had and see the local mushrooms in the area. I bought local honey and kombucha. There are 2 more markets I can check out! DH said he enjoyed going too! Supposedly more vegetables will be available in a few weeks.
I love it here! There is so much to do and people are friendly. I feel I have found finally my forever home!
That’s lovely to hear!
I’m happy to report I’m about halfway through my Christmas cards. I keep them low effort. They’re diving photo cards so I don’t have to write anything on the card. I use a return address stamp. I do handwrite recipients’ addresses. I tried labels last year and it was more of a hassle than hand writing them. I have maybe 20 international cards. Those take about a month at most, so they will go out 11/15. The rest will go out right after Thanksgiving.
happystuff
10-26-23, 9:00am
I’m happy to report I’m about halfway through my Christmas cards. I keep them low effort. They’re diving photo cards so I don’t have to write anything on the card. I use a return address stamp. I do handwrite recipients’ addresses. I tried labels last year and it was more of a hassle than hand writing them. I have maybe 20 international cards. Those take about a month at most, so they will go out 11/15. The rest will go out right after Thanksgiving.
Kudos for being so pro-active!! I was just thinking about whether I was going to send any holiday cards out this year or not. Jury is still out.
iris lilies
10-26-23, 9:31am
My annual extravaganza of writing notes and processing 300 to 500 Christmas cards for Bulldog Rescue may be at at an end.
I told our organizer I was ready to start on Christmas cards and she said she’s been working on them since May and may not need my help this year, so yay!
I order my cards from Walmart in early October after I have good diving photos. They appear at my door in about a week.
iris lilies
10-26-23, 10:57am
This effort has turned into a nice little partnership:
There is a cat colony, near my house, a colony of feral cats. Someone has made a nice cat house for them out of plywood and tarps. The other day I saw a woman servicing the cat house with food and water, so I stopped and talk to her. I told her I was going to drop off some money for her for cat food.
as it turns out, she has low income being recently on disability for an injured back. She lives with her mother, who’s on Social Security. They have a nice brick house that probably doesn’t cost a whole lot to maintain and Hermann but money is tight. So I dropped off some cash to her, and we talked further, and she needed more plywood.
So DH worked with her to get plywood.
I told her I’m really glad she’s taken care of this cat colony of about six or seven cats, that originally started out to be 15. She took over caring for them when their original caretaker went into a nursing home. I told her I do not want the responsibility of a cat colony, so I’m very, very happy that she’s doing that and we can contribute monetarily towards that effort.
catherine
10-26-23, 1:13pm
This effort has turned into a nice little partnership:
There is a cat colony, near my house, a colony of feral cats. Someone has made a nice cat house for them out of plywood and tarps. The other day I saw a woman servicing the cat house with food and water, so I stopped and talk to her. I told her I was going to drop off some money for her for cat food.
as it turns out, she has low income being recently on disability for an injured back. She lives with her mother, who’s on Social Security. They have a nice brick house that probably doesn’t cost a whole lot to maintain and Hermann but money is tight. So I dropped off some cash to her, and we talked further, and she needed more plywood.
So DH worked with her to get plywood.
I told her I’m really glad she’s taken care of this cat colony of about six or seven cats, that originally started out to be 15. She took over caring for them when their original caretaker went into a nursing home. I told her I do not want the responsibility of a cat colony, so I’m very, very happy that she’s doing that and we can contribute monetarily towards that effort.
How nice! Sounds like a perfect partnership!
Sounds like that is going to work out. You have cash (and plywood) and she does the work.
iris lilies
10-27-23, 10:29am
I get a ridiculous amount of pleasure by watching Instagram videos of cats carrying things in their mouths, usually dragging the things.
I get a ridiculous amount of pleasure by watching Instagram videos of cats carrying things in their mouths, usually dragging the things.
Yes, the cat videos are quite amusing.
sweetana3
10-27-23, 2:20pm
Our cats have a big toy basket and one spends a lot of time digging to find just the right toy. Right now there are at least 5 on the stairs and 3 in the middle of the living room.
iris lilies
10-27-23, 2:34pm
Our cats have a big toy basket and one spends a lot of time digging to find just the right toy. Right now there are at least 5 on the stairs and 3 in the middle of the living room.
Only one of our cats plays with toys, the girl cat. We keep her toys under the breakfast table, behind chairs, so that our brat of a dog doesn’t steal her toys and chew them up. He is afraid of the chair legs and won’t go into a space like that.
His giant bulldog jaws destroys her toys in 2 seconds if he ever gets to them.
Lately she has been bringing her mouse toy, which she completely IGNORED for months, upstairs each night. I look for it and bring it down, putting it safely away, each morning.
When we first got our now elderly Siamese cat, he would drag a piece of string around the house and howl. Then he would try to hump it even though he had been neutered. A string?
Went to the final farmers market of the season here in my town and actually got there early enough to buy some produce! The farmer, knowing it was the last market day, pulled and cleaned ALL his carrots to bring to market and they were gorgeous! I bought two bunches and two of the cutest little baby cabbages! They looked like giant Brussels sprouts. One for each of us, DH and I.
It's been such a gorgeous day with the cold air, blue sky, and the golden leaves falling.
frugal-one
10-28-23, 9:39pm
Finally getting to the point where can start working outside. Have deadheaded a number of rose bushes and they are blooming profusely now in a variety of colors. There is also Texas or Mexican petunias that bloom continuously with no care and attract hummingbirds. I watered them only 2 times this summer even with the parade of 100 degree days! I know little about roses and how to care for them here in the south. Since the are well established, I will research and try to keep them going.
that sounds beautiful, frugal-one. Something you might want to plant is rosemary; ours in South Carolina has huge, like a hedge, just regular old rosemary.
catherine
10-29-23, 11:27am
You are so lucky to have established plantings! I'm sure they will give you joy for years to come!
happystuff
10-29-23, 12:10pm
A rave for camping! Just got back from a weekend camping with a group of friends and some family. No tents - we actually stayed in simple cabins (no electric or water - just a wooded cabin-like little building.) Very grateful it was no-tents as it started to rain in the early morning hours. LOL. Anyway, it was fun and relaxing and just what I needed. Yay for getting away and enjoying nature!
frugal-one
10-29-23, 6:14pm
that sounds beautiful, frugal-one. Something you might want to plant is rosemary; ours in South Carolina has huge, like a hedge, just regular old rosemary.
Thanks for the suggestion. I will check it out!
happystuff … sounds like a wonderful time!
pinkytoe
10-30-23, 10:31am
Frugal - If you really get into gardening, I can send you all sorts of plants that did well for me in TX. Yellow bells for one.
frugal-one
10-30-23, 9:43pm
Thanks pinkytoe. I am not much into gardening these days except for plants that do well with neglect. The Texan petunias meet that definition. The only other plants in that bed are roses. So it should not take too much care (I hope). I will look up yellow bells.
I find feeding my roses is helpful. I use Espoma Rose-tone.
frugal-one
10-31-23, 7:02am
I find feeding my roses is helpful. I use Espoma Rose-tone.
I’ll give it a try. I see it an organic fertilizer and available locally. Thank you.
This is sorta stupid, but made me happy. I had to fill out a volunteer form for the WI Historical Society for the volunteer work I do as an editor/proof reader. It will get me free entry into all their sites, which is neat. I had to sign it and there were a few boxes that had to be checked that did not allow me to X the box. I was going to print it out, but then I remembered I now have a Logitech Crayon, less expensive version of Apple Pencil, and so I was able to sign the form and check the boxes without printing it out. Danged handy!
iris lilies
11-3-23, 11:46am
DH is finally putting a top coat of paint on our hallways, downstairs and upstairs. He has been working on the hallways for months now. He goes around muttering “ 11 doorways! 11 doorways!” He means he has had to spend so much time on the trim for each one of these doors, and then actually hang and paint the doors.
We replicated the doors that were originally in this house in 1941 so it looks very cute and original. They are two panel doors.
Anyway – my rave for the day is the top coat of color is bland, a color of heavy cream, but it’s so soft and pretty. It’s just very cottage-y! This morning I viewed it next to the light blue of the cottage bathroom and honestly it’s so cute. This house is so damn cute.
Not only is it Friday but it's "end of the month" Friday which means it's time to deep clean the house and take down some of the September's seasonal decor and put up my Halloween decor. Since I don't have a ton of Halloween decor, I keep most of my Fall decor up and just add little touches of Halloween decor to it.
Another deep clean has begun. I switched things up though. Normally on Friday, I deep clean my boys' bathroom, the hallway leading to that bathroom, the linen closet door, and my boys' bedroom doors. Tonight, I started in my bathroom and got that deep cleaned as well as my bedroom.
DH is finally putting a top coat of paint on our hallways, downstairs and upstairs. He has been working on the hallways for months now. He goes around muttering “ 11 doorways! 11 doorways!” He means he has had to spend so much time on the trim for each one of these doors, and then actually hang and paint the doors.
We replicated the doors that were originally in this house in 1941 so it looks very cute and original. They are two panel doors.
Anyway – my rave for the day is the top coat of color is bland, a color of heavy cream, but it’s so soft and pretty. It’s just very cottage-y! This morning I viewed it next to the light blue of the cottage bathroom and honestly it’s so cute. This house is so damn cute.
Cream is a lovely color.
I had a lazy weekend, but also a productive one. Got all my bedding and towels washed. Kitchen is clean. Bathroom is clean. I have to remember that the bathroom is so much easier if I do it weekly. I’d rather read than do housework!
frugal-one
11-5-23, 8:35pm
I had a lazy weekend, but also a productive one. Got all my bedding and towels washed. Kitchen is clean. Bathroom is clean. I have to remember that the bathroom is so much easier if I do it weekly. I’d rather read than do housework!
Me too… I used to clean for 30 minutes to 1 hour and read for 30 minutes as a reward. I set a timer. It worked well. Lately there has been too little time for reading though.
Not sure if this is a rave or a rant… I have 9 things coming next week! I have been spending money hand over fist trying to get our place completely fixed and decorated. My goal is to have everything done by the end of the month. Everyone is telling me there is plenty of time. I hate shopping and just want it over with. Will call next week to see if I can get a few rooms painted. We were going to do it ourselves but decided to make it our anniversary present. I will be so happy to have everything done and get our lives back to some semblance of normal. It bothers me to have disarray.
Me too… I used to clean for 30 minutes to 1 hour and read for 30 minutes as a reward. I set a timer. It worked well. Lately there has been too little time for reading though.
Not sure if this is a rave or a rant… I have 9 things coming next week! I have been spending money hand over fist trying to get our place completely fixed and decorated. My goal is to have everything done by the end of the month. Everyone is telling me there is plenty of time. I hate shopping and just want it over with. Will call next week to see if I can get a few rooms painted. We were going to do it ourselves but decided to make it our anniversary present. I will be so happy to have everything done and get our lives back to some semblance of normal. It bothers me to have disarray.
I’ve done a ton of decluttering over the last few months so I have a lot more space than I used to.
I spent last night and this afternoon after church reading a fabulous new book. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yannos. Fantasy, with dragons! Very different than Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern, though. The next book, Iron Flame, comes out Tuesday! Thank goodness for Kindle versions. Talk about instant gratification! Anyway. Fourth Wing is incredibly gripping. I’m in the third chapter on a re-read! Yes, on the same day I finished the first read.
frugal, the redo sounds great. Please post photos, if possible, when you’re done.
Frugal, I am also bothered by disarray. I am slowly trying to get this place in better shape since we moved here under duress, in such a panic, and then spent the last three years dealing with my parents. I am going at it slowly, but trying to improve something every day.
iris lilies
11-6-23, 10:36am
This is not a rave, but it’s just a daily report.
For the first time in my life, I’m playing with liquid starch. I have napkins and placemats to starch. We shall see how that pans out.
iris lilies
11-6-23, 10:42am
Me too… I used to clean for 30 minutes to 1 hour and read for 30 minutes as a reward. I set a timer. It worked well. Lately there has been too little time for reading though.
Not sure if this is a rave or a rant… I have 9 things coming next week! I have been spending money hand over fist trying to get our place completely fixed and decorated. My goal is to have everything done by the end of the month. Everyone is telling me there is plenty of time. I hate shopping and just want it over with. Will call next week to see if I can get a few rooms painted. We were going to do it ourselves but decided to make it our anniversary present. I will be so happy to have everything done and get our lives back to some semblance of normal. It bothers me to have disarray.
good for you in hiring it done. At this stage in life if we have the cash, hire it done! That’s my motto.
IL and frugal one, I too am in the "if I can afford it, I'll hire it out to be done." Last week our shed was painted in 3 hours by two painters!!!! I drank coffee and sat on the porch with my friend!!! It's hard to get the husband on board sometimes. But, what a great feeling to have that job DONE! Also had a tree trimmed. And we're getting new windows and storm doors.
Got a good jump on my Christmas shopping. Husband is done unless he comes up with more suggestions. Several things bought for one son. One thing about for my mom. Youngest son always waits until the last minute to give me suggestions.
iris lilies
11-6-23, 12:41pm
IL and frugal one, I too am in the "if I can afford it, I'll hire it out to be done." Last week our shed was painted in 3 hours by two painters!!!! I drank coffee and sat on the porch with my friend!!! It's hard to get the husband on board sometimes. But, what a great feeling to have that job DONE! Also had a tree trimmed. And we're getting new windows and storm doors.
swap out “I drank coffee and sat on the porch “with “I drank wine and sat on our deck “and yes, that is now my dream. Sit and watch the little worker bees do the work.
I am there. DH is not there yet
But we are limited of course by the unavailability of workers to do this work.
Yes, IL it is always hard to find someone. We were lucky with the painter- he is the retired custodian from the elem. school where I substituted and then volunteered after I retired. He retired a few years ago and we saw him doing painting around our little town. He had also plowed our driveway once. So I called him and he came fast! So now I need to see what else he does. We have figured out how to vaccuum the gutters without a ladder, so that's been done by us. There are many other jobs...and figuring out who to call is tricky!
But we are limited of course by the unavailability of workers to do this work.
That's our dilemma. DH swore he would never do his own plumbing, but he has had to on occasion. I won't let him do his own electrical work, so we ask a retired master electrician how to do it, and then he helps us out with small things. Last time I asked a local electrician to add a light switch to our pantry, he told me, "You don't want to do that. This isn't a real house. This is just a cabin." People up here pick and choose their jobs, and they never choose my little requests.
iris lilies
11-7-23, 1:12pm
That's our dilemma. DH swore he would never do his own plumbing, but he has had to on occasion. I won't let him do his own electrical work, so we ask a retired master electrician how to do it, and then he helps us out with small things. Last time I asked a local electrician to add a light switch to our pantry, he told me, "You don't want to do that. This isn't a real house. This is just a cabin." People up here pick and choose their jobs, and they never choose my little requests.
That’s just it—I could find someone to paint my entire house. I can’t find someone to paint a closet. They don’t take the small jobs.
But those small jobs are what husbands are for. Unfortunately, my nearly 70 year old husband also slaves away at the BIG jobs.
Got my 2008 Suburu Forester (159,200 miles) sold today to a local friend. I think I was a little over-ambitious on the price, which started out at $5500. In my mind I knew I would never get the $5500 but was really wanting to get at least $5000. Then I lowered my expectations to $4800. Three weeks of dealing with various locals and people on Facebook Marketplace (trying to sell a car that way was a total dud - so many people asked if it was still available, I'd say yes, and then I'd never hear from them). Then I had a young local woman really interested in it for her first car and you could tell her parents were teaching her how to buy a used car. She definitely did her due diligence - I let her take it to their family mechanic in Santa Fe yesterday in which he gave her a HUGE laundry list of what was wrong with it to use as leverage on the price. I think she basically subtracted the total cost of the struts (over $2000 for those alone, plus another couple thousand for all the other things he deemed needed fixing) that he said needed replacing immediately (which I didn't quite agree with, as my mechanic had checked it out recently and never said boo about them). She only offered me $2800 for a car that was perfectly drivable for quite awhile. I told her that someone else had offered me $4000 for it the day before so that was that.
Finding an immediately drivable decent used car these days for under $5000 is pretty rare now. I am going to put $2000 in my emergency cash stash. Then I gave $1000 to my husband for my share of some home repairs we recently got done, and the final $1000 is going to go for a new laptop I need for business purposes and then I'll put what is left in my money market account to pay down bills.
I needed to get it sold by next week or else I would have had to renew the registration for it.
Wow, I am impressed; that could be in the frugal thread, Sioux!
I need to get my car ready for winter and then tuck it away in the barn as yesterday we had snowflakes.
iris lilies
11-9-23, 3:59pm
We saw Craig Ferguson in his stand up act last night. That guy is very good. His show was 1.5 hours of him talking. No opener, just Craig. He is quite physical in his comedy, moving around dancing, singing, waving his hands, kicking his legs.This is quite a change from all the other comics I watch who are purely “stand up” (or perch on a stool ala Chappelle)
and talk.
He opened his show with the recorded song “Everybody Dance Now!” and he ran out on stage playing bagpipes to that tune. Hilarious!
I like Craig Ferguson a lot--partially because of the Scottish connection. I would really like to see him live--but DH is not a live comedy fan. He's not a fan of recorded comedy, either, for that matter.
I’d rather read than do housework!
+1
Re Craig Ferguson: For possibly the entire six years he hosted a "late late show," we taped the show to watch earlier the next evening. I think he's one of the funniest people on the planet. Spontaneously inventive.
In these sad news days, we've discovered some of the show monologues, and the best show interviews (skip the starlets), on youtube.
Especially good: His interviews with Ricky Gervais. Hard to say which of the two are wittier, but if I had to, I'm going with Craig.
iris lilies
11-11-23, 1:18pm
Re Craig Ferguson: For possibly the entire six years he hosted a "late late show," we taped the show to watch earlier the next evening. I think he's one of the funniest people on the planet. Spontaneously inventive.
In these sad news days, we've discovered some of the show monologues, and the best show interviews (skip the starlets), on youtube.
Especially good: His interviews with Ricky Gervais. Hard to say which of the two are wittier, but if I had to, I'm going with Craig.
I will look up that interview because I am watching old Ferguson clips on YouTube. I have not seen that one. Ricky Gervais is immortal.
At one time on this very website I had as my tagline “Ricky Gervais is my God “.
I’m currently reading Craig’s book called American on purpose: the improbable adventures of an unlikely patriot.
iris lilies
11-11-23, 1:38pm
Today I am marveling about the difference in soil quality in our yard. Out of sheer luck, we placed my lily bed in an area of high-quality soil. It is loose and rich and friable. I have been dumping buckets of compost on it for two years now but that would not have altered the original structure yet, I would have to dump compost for a decade to make inroads.
It’s amazing because just 20 feet away where the iris beds are is crappy clay soil. I spent $800 adding Turface to that soil and it’s good enough for Iris because they are shallow rooted and don’t require high-quality soil.
Just ordered several boxes of Republic of Tea holiday tea assortments for gifts. Goddaughter’s mom and grandmother who always host at the holidays, plus for the coworker who gave me a lot of rides to work when I had car issues.
That should be the last of the Christmas stuff.
iris lilies
11-11-23, 2:16pm
Just ordered several boxes of Republic of Tea holiday tea assortments for gifts. Goddaughter’s mom and grandmother who always host at the holidays, plus for the coworker who gave me a lot of rides to work when I had car issues.
That should be the last of the Christmas stuff.
The tea assortment sounds nice. Good choice for winter time.
happystuff
11-14-23, 10:03am
Tea is one of my favorite consumables to gift. Thanks for the reminder and the brand, tradd.
Just ordered several boxes of Republic of Tea holiday tea assortments for gifts.
Borrowing this idea
sweetana3
11-25-23, 6:34am
Our favorite cherry orchard in Wisconsin, Seaquist Orchard, had their free shipping for Black Friday. We ordered almost all our Xmas presents from them. The bakers among our friends get dried cherries and another group gets special cherry jams. This year I am going to add a small bottle of cherry liquor to the dried cherries to they can try soaking some of them in it.
Consumables are the best.
iris lilies
11-25-23, 7:31am
Our favorite cherry orchard in Wisconsin, Seaquist Orchard, had their free shipping for Black Friday. We ordered almost all our Xmas presents from them. The bakers among our friends get dried cherries and another group gets special cherry jams. This year I am going to add a small bottle of cherry liquor to the dried cherries to they can try soaking some of them in it.
Consumables are the best.
Cherries! Wonderful gift.
Put in my leave slip for Christmas break. Will be off Dec 20-Jan 7. I am 80 hours over the cap and if I don't use it, it will get dumped into my Sick Leave balance. I have almost 700 hours of sick leave so really don't need any more although the more I have, the more money I will get when I finally leave for good.
Had first appointment with new direct primary care physician. She is wonderful! She looked at all my xray, MRI, and CT results from past year and ordered a bunch of blood work to rule some things out, which I did that day, and she called last night to tell me the results of all the bloodwork and schedule more tests to look more into a few things. It was amazing! I highly recommend going this route, it was like going to the doctor years ago, when they listened to you and worked at diagnosing. Feel like I wasted last the whole last year, but it will be all right now.
iris lilies
12-1-23, 9:45am
Had first appointment with new direct primary care physician. She is wonderful! She looked at all my xray, MRI, and CT results from past year and ordered a bunch of blood work to rule some things out, which I did that day, and she called last night to tell me the results of all the bloodwork and schedule more tests to look more into a few things. It was amazing! I highly recommend going this route, it was like going to the doctor years ago, when they listened to you and worked at diagnosing. Feel like I wasted last the whole last year, but it will be all right now.
This is exactly my experience with my own direct care physician. I have been amazed at the times she reaches out to ask questions, give me advice, etc.
Yes, she even recommended specific vitamins I need to take. And she is not alarmist, very balanced.
I got a nice box of different types of bite size brownies from the customer whose hot air freight shipments I worked on every day of Thanksgiving weekend. Very tasty, but I had a few and put the rest out for the office to share the hip spread. LOL.
The Indian half of the owners who is such a jerk is now gone to India for about six weeks. It’s like a mini vacation for me!
My little house is looking especially cozy on this cold Vermont night so I thought I'd share a pic.
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early morning
12-6-23, 6:05pm
catherine, how lovely! thanks for sharing.
iris lilies
12-6-23, 11:03pm
So nice! Have you all had a lot of snow there?
rosarugosa
12-7-23, 7:20am
So nice and cozy, Catherine! We do little fairy lights during the dark seasons and it definitely helps make things feel cozy!
Just beautiful--very cozy for winter!
happystuff
12-7-23, 10:02am
Your little house does look very cozy, catherine! Thanks for sharing.
Looks like the perfect size, too.
Wrapped all the Christmas presents this morning. Took over two hours but it's finally done.
Got $100 cash in a Christmas card from a customer. Got the same last year. And yes, I can keep it. Card was handed to me by one of the owners.
iris lilies
12-18-23, 8:56pm
Got $100 cash in a Christmas card from a customer. Got the same last year. And yes, I can keep it. Card was handed to me by one of the owners.
That is nice!!!
rosarugosa
12-19-23, 7:13am
Very nice, Tradd!
happystuff
12-20-23, 9:55am
Nice, Tradd! I've gotten several gift cards from some of the teachers. Very nice gesture.
I'm actually really enjoying not working for the time being - I have lots of projects to take care of and it has been snowy and cold so the idea of sitting in the gallery for seven hours a day with hardly any one coming in is not appealing at all.
During this work sabbatical I've been going to the gym while I'm in town running errands and just taking it easy by walking around the track at a slower pace than I usually would do in the past, and riding the exercise bike. I am so out of shape that it feels like I am starting at zero and clawing my way back to health. My left shoulder and arm are still acting up quite a bit, and my lower back as well, but I am feeling pretty good otherwise. I've lost 3.5 lbs on our diet reset in the last week and making sure I get enough sleep.
I'm actually really enjoying not working for the time being - I have lots of projects to take care of and it has been snowy and cold so the idea of sitting in the gallery for seven hours a day with hardly any one coming in is not appealing at all.
During this work sabbatical I've been going to the gym while I'm in town running errands and just taking it easy by walking around the track at a slower pace than I usually would do in the past, and riding the exercise bike. I am so out of shape that it feels like I am starting at zero and clawing my way back to health. My left shoulder and arm are still acting up quite a bit, and my lower back as well, but I am feeling pretty good otherwise. I've lost 3.5 lbs on our diet reset in the last week and making sure I get enough sleep.
Great to hear that you're finding some respite with your health on your time off. Enjoy it!!
Sioux- thanks for the update and glad you’re doing OK. Congrats on the weight loss.
happystuff
1-9-24, 11:39am
That's a fabulous update, Sioux! Congrats all around.
Took 3 weeks off work over Christmas and it only took me 2 days to get myself caught back up. Someone was "helping out" while I was out but instead of doing everything, she'd do a couple things and leave the rest for me.
A very kind neighbor was shoveling off walkways and did my car (surrounded by drifts up to my knees) when I asked and wouldn’t take anything. Got the 8” of snow off the top of the Scuba Sherpa that I couldn’t reach, too. The snow removal company isn’t the best so neighbor was doing all the walkways to the buildings on our end of complex.
happystuff
1-13-24, 3:40pm
Nice neighbors are a treasure!
That's awesome, Tradd!! Good neighbors are worth their weight in gold. I was worried about the weather--we actually have no wood for our wood stove because of reliance on the heat pump--so I asked DH, should we run to the store and buy wood in case we have a power outage (wood at the convenience store is expensive at $6-7/small bundle). And he said, "No. We have Bert's in an emergency" (our next-door neighbor who has spent the last few weeks building a woodshed for his 4 cords)... In NJ we rarely interacted with our neighbors, despite living there for 35 years. It's so nice to have neighbors that care and are willing to help you out.
iris lilies
1-14-24, 3:12pm
A very kind neighbor was shoveling off walkways and did my car (surrounded by drifts up to my knees) when I asked and wouldn’t take anything. Got the 8” of snow off the top of the Scuba Sherpa that I couldn’t reach, too. The snow removal company isn’t the best so neighbor was doing all the walkways to the buildings on our end of complex.
we had a little light, dusting of snow, overnight, and one of our neighbors, who is about 10 years younger than we are came by with a snowblower to blow snow out of our driveway.I guess we are now officially those old people for whom people do things.
It wasn’t all that long ago that we were the people who shoveled the walks for the old people.
That's awesome, Tradd!! Good neighbors are worth their weight in gold. I was worried about the weather--we actually have no wood for our wood stove because of reliance on the heat pump--so I asked DH, should we run to the store and buy wood in case we have a power outage (wood at the convenience store is expensive at $6-7/small bundle). And he said, "No. We have Bert's in an emergency" (our next-door neighbor who has spent the last few weeks building a woodshed for his 4 cords)... In NJ we rarely interacted with our neighbors, despite living there for 35 years. It's so nice to have neighbors that care and are willing to help you out.
I’ve lived here 15 years and just the last year or so really getting to know people on my building. I know all the people in the other 3 units on my floor.
we had a little light, dusting of snow, overnight, and one of our neighbors, who is about 10 years younger than we are came by with a snowblower to blow snow out of our driveway.I guess we are now officially those old people for whom people do things.
It wasn’t all that long ago that we were the people who shoveled the walks for the old people.
If someone wants to help, I’m not going to argue. I was also parked in a handicapped spot, walk with a visible limp, plus shoveling neighbor said his wife has two club feet, so he gets it with mobility issues. Told me to let him know if I need anything.
Our lovely neighbor plowed our driveway last week. Like IL we are the old people in the neighborhood...not a bad thing. This morning the snow we had for 2 hours laid and inch of so, but the marvelous sun took care of it. Now if only the wind would die down. Power went out for 2 hours yesterday.
In the neighbors helping neighbors department, we had our next door neighbors for dinner last night. They gifted me peach moonshine in a Mason jar that one of their relatives had made. I love that I live in a place where I get homemade peach moonshine in a mason jar as a hostess gift. Why did I ever think I wanted to live in Manhattan?? BTW, it's DELICIOUS.
iris lilies
1-19-24, 5:58pm
I do not think I would enjoy peach moonshine, but Catherine , I’m glad it’s tripping your trigger!
I do not think I would enjoy peach moonshine, but Catherine , I’m glad it’s tripping your trigger!
It's better than you think! Very smooth and peach-y. But I get it--when I think moonshine I think rot-gut. This one is not like that. But what I really like is the idea of of my neighbor's stepsister with her still hidden in the woods, making jars of the stuff.
iris lilies
1-24-24, 7:37pm
Our main grocery store changed hands and has new owners. It seems to be extraordinarily cheaper. I don’t know for sure since I didn’t do an item by item cost comparison, all I know is, I went in to do our usual grocery shopping, which is usually a tad over $100 and this time it was $78.
everyone around town is saying it’s cheaper. It’s also more upscale, there’s a greater variety of fruits and vegetables.
it looks to be a winner!
This is great, because our “save a lot” closed ( discount store) last summer. At that time before its closing we had three grocery stores in our small town of 2500 people, so that was really good. Now we’re down to two and that’s OK.
iris lilies
1-26-24, 9:31pm
This is a rave I guess?
Last week DH started work on our living room. A week later, he is halfway done. Good Lord this is going fast. He says “well sure it is going fast because there’s only three windows and one doorway to make trim for.“
I’m used to him working for months on other areas of the house that have many many doorways and many windows.
i’m going to have to make decor decisions much sooner than I have planned. This is very stressful.
I could slow him down by taking time out to build picture frames for all the art I’m buying. If you all think I’m going to pay current prices to frame all these pieces y’all have another think coming. I put framing in the same category as flying first class, not gonna happen.
Absolutely loving my new primary care direct doctor and the care model. It is the best medical care I have had since I was young. I am so glad I took the risk and am paying the monthly fee.
catherine
1-27-24, 10:39am
Absolutely loving my new primary care direct doctor and the care model. It is the best medical care I have had since I was young. I am so glad I took the risk and am paying the monthly fee.
So glad to hear, Tybee!
iris lilies
1-27-24, 1:55pm
Absolutely loving my new primary care direct doctor and the care model. It is the best medical care I have had since I was young. I am so glad I took the risk and am paying the monthly fee.
This is splendid! I’m so glad it is working well for you!
I was nervous to do it, but wow, doctor is fantastic, communication is a thousand percent better than last doctor, and she is already way ahead of the game diagnostically speaking.
People who apply for job postings that clearly state “on site” and “no work from home” and are upset when they’re told in an interview (when they ask about it) that WFH is not possible. My company has finally realized my two person dept needs more help. We posted various places online and are working with a recruiter they’ve used before. Had three interviews the end of the week. They all came from LinkedIn posting. I’m the dept lead and sat in on all interviews. Two gals, one guy, all mid-late 20s. When the gal was told WFH not an option, she cried. WTF? Who the hell cries in a job interview? When asked why they thought a job posted as NO work from home could be permanent WFH, they said they hated dealing with people and didn’t want to work in an office. Snowflakes. And no permanent WFH is NOT possible. Owners and HR hate it although they do it all the time. I am set up to WFH for weekend shipments (I’m in international shipping), but was recently allowed to WFH for most of a week due to illness (Covid). Manager had massive pushback from HR for that. Company owns building and it WILL be used. The job could be done remote all the time but that won’t be allowed. That is not the point of my post. My chunter is the people who saw a job posting that said NO WFH and were upset when they were told NO work from home during interview when they asked. I’m sick of entitled people. My industry is often people in the office. These candidates were fairly green. What I do is complicated and even if WFH was an option, it would have been a disaster to attempt to train them remotely. Plus they only lived 20 min from the office.
Another peeve today: people who are utterly incapable of considering something within its historical context. Somewhere else I hang out online people were discussing average historical meals from the late 1940s-1950s. People were complaining there was too much sugar, butter, and carbs. When it was pointed out to them that these were normal meals for the era, the “too much” people flipped.
And my husband's new cardiologist also gets a rave review--he just called him at home at 8 am to follow up on an echocardiogram and check in with him!
Tybee, that’s a great doc!
iris lilies
2-5-24, 11:39am
Finally, after years of searching, I have found a geographic connection to Scotland in great grandfathers. And it was so easy! Someone made a family tree on Family Search going back to the 1400’s for our Patterson relatives.
Family members on my father’s side, Stuart, have been diligently pursuing our immigrant ancestor’s origins for decades. This immigrant and wife came to the U.S. in late 1800’s, not very long ago! You would think it would be EASY to find them, but Nooooo! I finally gave up on him and turned to other family lines in an attempt to tie one to specific places in Scotland.
identifying a home village in Scotland was my goal. Now I can say it is Perth. Yay, Perth! And I have been there ‘ tho just in the train station.
early morning
2-5-24, 12:04pm
Il, that's SO exciting! I'm pretty sure DH's family are from Dumfriesshire but I haven't been able to confirm at this point, I've lost a couple generations somewhere. I have Scottish relatives too, and we would love to visit Scotland.
Iris, Good news! I have been to Perth and bought a paperweight, millefoile I think it's called with the pretty little rods that make a flower design. We saw them make one. So, you might need to put it on a list for your next trip.
iris lilies
2-6-24, 10:03am
Iris, Good news! I have been to Perth and bought a paperweight, millefoile I think it's called with the pretty little rods that make a flower design. We saw them make one. So, you might need to put it on a list for your next trip.
I am glad you have your Perth memerabilia. Those paperweights are pretty.
Got all my weekend chores done tonight except for a few loads of laundry. Wanted to have a relaxing two days off where it's not spent cleaning a good portion of each day. I even decorated a little for St Patrick's Day.
Got all my weekend chores done tonight except for a few loads of laundry. Wanted to have a relaxing two days off where it's not spent cleaning a good portion of each day. I even decorated a little for St Patrick's Day.
That’s great! I’ll do that sometimes, too!
That’s great! I’ll do that sometimes, too!
Normally I will just do my boys' bathroom on Friday night but got on a roll and kept going. Would take breaks now and then to watch the hockey game on TV. It was somewhat enjoyable than powering through multiple chores to get done early afternoon so the entire day isn't spent cleaning.
iris lilies
3-4-24, 2:50pm
My brown cat, disabled for several months, has completely healed. He now comes downstairs on the regular to hang out with us all. He is now more affectionate than he was even before his illness.
It remains a mystery what injury kept him lethargic for several months. Poor kitty, He just needed to heal on his own.
Here he is today, hanging out.
5761
My brown cat, disabled for several months, has completely healed. He now comes downstairs on the regular to hang out with us all. He is now more affectionate than he was even before his illness.
It remains a mystery what injury kept him lethargic for several months. Poor kitty, He just needed to heal on his own.
Here he is today, hanging out.
5761
Wow! That is so great!! Did you ever have any idea what his illness was from?
My rave of the day is, I said no! This is like a kid telling her parent she went potty by herself.
The BIL saga continues.
Well, after 16 months of him doing very well at his job and never once asking us for a penny (even though he had to figure out how to make ends meet on a cashier's salary), he has had a stumble--some of it bad luck and some of it bad decisions. He got fired from his job. His hiring manager seems to have been very sympathetic and liked him, but she left and was replaced by a manager who either "had it out for him," or was not going to tolerate an employee undermining her. We suspect it was the latter. Simultaneously his landlord decided to change the apartment from a shared roommate situation into a single family apartment. So he also had no place to live That was the bad news.
The good news was that he got another job and room right away. Bad news is he didn't have an income for a couple of weeks in between and his unemployment for those weeks is mysteriously somewhere in the system, so he doesn't have money for rent for March. Plus he's sick as a dog--some respiratory illness and he was sent home from work yesterday so that's another day he won't be getting paid. He is freaking out that he is late with the rent--afraid the landlady will kick him out. We told him that she can't do that, and that any reasonable landlord will give a few days' grace given the circumstances.
But he was looking for us to cover the rent--$1500 (for a crappy basement room with several other people in the house.... housing is ridiculous here!!).
We said no. We promised him that we would never let him sleep on the streets or go hungry, but he has to deal with this on his own. I hope it works out for him, but we really can't afford to bail him out. I'm sure he doesn't understand that, but that's his problem. My son asked if we were going to offer him the camper for a few weeks, and we said no to that, too. My daughter and DH and I are joint owners of the camper. It's not ours to give away. Please pray (if you pray) that things do work out with his unemployment and room, and that he doesn't get fired again (I don't think he's doing too well at his latest job).
What a tough situation, Catherine! I am horrified at the rent he pays for a room in a basement, shared housing. Wow. Is he old enough for senior housing yet, and is he on a waiting list?
iris lilies
3-4-24, 4:54pm
Our cat was under veterinary care, being treated for arthritic pain. That was not the problem as it turns out. He was under the weather for 6 months. It was probably a torn muscle or damaged disc.
catherine, I am so glad you said no to this current BIL crises.
Please read the movie reviews thread, I made a post for you.
iris lilies
3-4-24, 6:01pm
Your BIL is very fortunate in that low level jobs are begging for workers.
What a tough situation, Catherine! I am horrified at the rent he pays for a room in a basement, shared housing. Wow. Is he old enough for senior housing yet, and is he on a waiting list?
Yes, being 61 he is eligible for senior housing and I have a call in to a nice place now (rents start at 1100) and am expecting a call back. He is in the queue for affordable housing, and he actually has a "in" of sorts--my son was on the board of the Burlington Housing Trust, but they, of course, are not allowed to favor anyone. The only thing they can is be aware that he is waiting (like everyone else.) They say it can take 2 years to get a place. That rent is, indeed unbelievable. He went to see a place out of town but 20 minutes from work. He said it looked abandoned. Black paint over some windows; no landscaping and grass and weeds growing wild. The studio he went to look at was so small that he didn't think he would even fit in the shower. But... he is actually reconsidering taking it at this point. It's $865. I am hoping he can get through the year OK. when he turns 62 in January, at least he'll have social security and he can continue to work, although that will reduce his SS a little.
Yes, being 61 he is eligible for senior housing and I have a call in to a nice place now (rents start at 1100) and am expecting a call back. He is in the queue for affordable housing, and he actually has a "in" of sorts--my son was on the board of the Burlington Housing Trust, but they, of course, are not allowed to favor anyone. The only thing they can is be aware that he is waiting (like everyone else.) They say it can take 2 years to get a place. That rent is, indeed unbelievable. He went to see a place out of town but 20 minutes from work. He said it looked abandoned. Black paint over some windows; no landscaping and grass and weeds growing wild. The studio he went to look at was so small that he didn't think he would even fit in the shower. But... he is actually reconsidering taking it at this point. It's $865. I am hoping he can get through the year OK. when he turns 62 in January, at least he'll have social security and he can continue to work, although that will reduce his SS a little.
The reduction is not that bad--I took it 63 and kept working, and they don't take away any of your social security until you hit the earnings level--for this year it is 22,320, and then for each 2 dollar you earn over that they take away 1 dollar in benefits, although you get them back at the end. Plus, if he years where he earned zero, they will replace those years with what he earned, meaning his social security will go up a little each year he works. Not much--mine went up something like 15-20 dollars a month. But it all helps.
happystuff
3-5-24, 10:12am
I agree - tough situation, catherine. Sending prayers.
Good luck, Catherine. I hope it works out for BIL, and congratulations for standing firm on not bailing him out. I'm sure that wasn't easy for you.
Made $30 on Facebook Marketplace by selling a tool for metalsmithing I hadn't used in a while. Dropped off some clothing to the consignment shop in town - not the greatest because they take 60% of the selling price, but it clears out my closet a little bit. Dropped off some still-pretty-nice expensive hiking boots back to REI that K. can't wear anymore. They'll take them as a trade, so he got $54 on his Co-op account to use for other things.
I'm going to do a minor repair on my cool little tent that I bought from REI about 8-9 years ago and post it on Facebook Marketplace. This is the same tent I took on all my summer trips out west before I moved to NM and it makes me a bit sad to let it go. In reality, I ceased to be able to crawl in and out of a pup tent several years ago. I just have to think of camping a different way now; someday we hope to get a small trailer to pull behind the pickup truck.
Wednesday night I "attended" a free Zoom webinar sponsored by Grow Native Massachusetts on "The Secret Life of Native Bees." The speaker was one of those delightfully geeky, brilliant, passionate people who has found his niche in life, and he was such an enthusiastic and engaging speaker that the time just flew by. It was a really excellent experience.
There is another webinar next week that unfortunately is not free, but given the quality of this week's webinar, I might just fork out the $38. Next week's topic is "Landscaping with Natives."
Wednesday night I "attended" a free Zoom webinar sponsored by Grow Native Massachusetts on "The Secret Life of Native Bees." The speaker was one of those delightfully geeky, brilliant, passionate people who has found his niche in life, and he was such an enthusiastic and engaging speaker that the time just flew by. It was a really excellent experience.
There is another webinar next week that unfortunately is not free, but given the quality of this week's webinar, I might just fork out the $38. Next week's topic is "Landscaping with Natives."
Sounds great, rosa! Nothing better than a good topic led by a passionate instructor. Last night DH and I went to the our local lake organization's headquarters where there was a presentation about the implications of phosphorous delivery into the lake by the tributaries during the summer 2023 floods. I definitely didn't expect to be entertained by that topic, but I was! And they served great home-made desserts, too!
iris lilies
3-8-24, 11:28am
Giving credit where credit is due:
The Chinamen!
I feel like I have stumbled into an alternate world where “Made in China” means top quality.
i have this new collecting hobby that I hate to confess to, but there it is. Anyway, I am currently buying Blythe doll clothes and accessories and the Made in China stuff is designed and sewn impeccably. The materials are real, not polyester and they are scaled down appropriately.
These items are cheap! The only downside is, I have to wait weeks for every shipment.
The shoes are splendid minatures. The shoes are to die for.This pair has a tiny pocket on the side that snaps shut with a tiny magnet closure. If you could smell these shoes you would smell real leather. They cost $8.
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I fixed the dripping faucet in 15 minutes, replacing the spring and washer!!! Thrilled to have the materials and the tools necessary!!!
iris lilies
3-8-24, 1:47pm
I fixed the dripping faucet in 15 minutes, replacing the spring and washer!!! Thrilled to have the materials and the tools necessary!!!
I admire you for this, I have no ability to do this.
How are you with toilets? Ours has stopped being able to flush all the way and we have to resort to filling up a bucket from the tub and pouring it into the toilet to get everything to go down. We've checked everything we can outside at the septic system, and have plunged it and snaked it out to no avail. It seems to be a problem just past the the 3ft reach of the short snake and before the first part of the septic tank just outside the outer wall.
I hate that at this point we might have to hire a plumber to figure it out...
I only do faucet washer replacement!!!! All the rest of plumbing scares me!!!
No expert on toilets, but ours is balky sometimes. We have 2 and if one is flushed , the other is slower...the well pump might be the difference. Also if you have a stack coming out of the roof you might run a hose down it to see if it has a clog.
early morning
3-10-24, 7:43pm
Does it flush ok using the bucket? Seems that would indicate that a blockage on the outflow isn't the problem, or at least not all of the problem. The water inlet between the tank and the toilet bowl may be plugged/limed shut. If not enough water is getting into the bowl fast enough, it won't work properly.
Does it flush ok using the bucket? Seems that would indicate that a blockage on the outflow isn't the problem, or at least not all of the problem. The water inlet between the tank and the toilet bowl may be plugged/limed shut. If not enough water is getting into the bowl fast enough, it won't work properly.
My thoughts exactly! It takes a certain amount of water to force waste past the bowls trap. If adding a bucket of water clears the bowl, the first place I'd investigate is the tank.
I might suggest taking off the lid to the tank to see if there is water coming through the flexible fill line into the tank and if it shuts off too early before filling the tank to the right level. I really dislike plumbing problems, but a fill valve kit and flapper are not that hard to replace and not very expensive. Another possibility would be to turn the shutoff valve off, disconnect the fill line from the tank, then turn the water back on to make sure there isn't a plug further upstream of the tank itself. My amateur guess of things. UTube is my friend for adjusting and/or replacing the fill valve kit.
But yes, the tank needs to fill to the appropriate level to clear the bowl and that's a place I'd look and easy to check if you haven't already.
Shout out to my husband who got a tooth extracted yesterday and didn't act like a baby when he got home. :cool: We all know how men can act when they don't feel well. Like they are on their deathbeds. My husband was a big boy about the whole thing. I didn't even have to make him a special dinner last night. What we were having was soft enough that he could eat it without any complications.
Shout out to my husband who got a tooth extracted yesterday and didn't act like a baby when he got home. :cool: We all know how men can act when they don't feel well. Like they are on their deathbeds. My husband was a big boy about the whole thing. I didn't even have to make him a special dinner last night. What we were having was soft enough that he could eat it without any complications.
I'm impressed he could eat anything! I had two broken teeth extracted recently and I think it was about 3 days before I could eat anything remotely dinnerish!
I'm impressed he could eat anything! I had two broken teeth extracted recently and I think it was about 3 days before I could eat anything remotely dinnerish!
I was too, actually. Figured ice cream for dinner was on tap. He took some OTC pain meds and seemed to do the trick.
Our friend who does home maintenance repairs came over today to check out the toilet - we started ruling out all sorts of different scenarios and looked at some YouTube videos; it was ascertained that there was an incomplete clog somewhere between the toilet inside and the flush out pipe just outside the outer wall. In a house like ours (hand-built 25 years ago by a guy in his twenties who LOVED to use recycled materials), things like how he set up the plumbing can be pretty unorthodox. Other weird things like the vent pipe to the outside is pretty wonky with a 90-degree turn to go out the wall (instead of a straight shot up to the roof) that has no screen to prevent a bird from getting in there... Plus an entire new fancy complicated septic system was installed just before we bought the house makes diagnosing things not as straight forward as it would be in a suburban neighborhood.
Anyway, it cost us a whopping (ha!) $80, lol. I love employing our local handy people - getting a plumbing company out here would have cost a couple hundred dollars, I'm sure.
iris lilies
4-11-24, 11:55am
This is not a rave exactly it’s just funny:
This morning, DH got a call from someone in our old neighborhood asking about how to turn on the water for the community garden there. DH was once in charge of the irrigation system, but hasn’t had responsibility for it for several years now.
But here is what’s funny: the guy who called is the former water commissioner for the city of St. Louis.
rosarugosa
4-12-24, 6:40am
That is indeed amusing, IL.
I earned a little money this week, for the first time in months. I manned my friend's little bead store in our village for 5 hours yesterday (I have no idea if any of you remember, but I used to manage a bead store for nine years long ago back in Michigan, so it's a no-brainer pick-up job for me). I was about 2.5 hours in when it started to hurt there sitting - her chair is better than the one at my old job, but not great. By four hours in it was pretty painful and difficult to make it through until 5pm, but I did it. I told her this morning I could do some half days if she needed to leave and pick up her son, or possibly just one day per week. We'll see what happens - I have a lot of doctor appointments coming up to find out what sort of treatment/surgery is in the cards for me. The best time of the day for me is from around 10-2pm, and after that, I'm toast.
Then this morning I did an on-line Zoom focus group for the jury selection process for a court case coming up in a different county. It was the second time I've ever done this, but the first time doing it via Zoom. It was really interesting, and I made $125 for 3 hours of my time! I will look for more opportunities like this. Meanwhile, my disbility case is being reviewed by Social Security. All I need to do at this point is send all my medical notes/clinic documents to my law firm and wait.
happystuff
4-14-24, 9:07am
Lots going on, SiouzQ! Congrats on being able to work a bit and good luck with all the medical stuff!!!! Thanks for keeping us updated!
happystuff
4-19-24, 9:10am
Giving a positive shout-out to the individual at work that handles insurances, etc. Went for a meeting yesterday to cover re-enrollment forms (had some changes) and, while there, was given additional information on things to do to prep for retirement! Should get my new little to-do list done this weekend. Hardest part is going to pick an actual date, as they need/want to know that several months in advance.
iris lilies
4-19-24, 9:18am
Giving a positive shout-out to the individual at work that handles insurances, etc. Went for a meeting yesterday to cover re-enrollment forms (had some changes) and, while there, was given additional information on things to do to prep for retirement! Should get my new little to-do list done this weekend. Hardest part is going to pick an actual date, as they need/want to know that several months in advance.retirement on the horizon!!! Yay!
Giving a positive shout-out to the individual at work that handles insurances, etc. Went for a meeting yesterday to cover re-enrollment forms (had some changes) and, while there, was given additional information on things to do to prep for retirement! Should get my new little to-do list done this weekend. Hardest part is going to pick an actual date, as they need/want to know that several months in advance.
Woot!
Nice, happystuff!! There's nothing like having a check-off list with a firm end game in mind!! Congrats!
ToomuchStuff
4-19-24, 11:24pm
Keeping a good attitude.
Today was my scan day to determine if it is working or time for EOL decisions.
A lot of people were asking me, including a late friends mother (the only friend I have lost to this type of cancer).
I told them it was going to either be a good day (cancer shrinking and we get an idea of how long it may take), or a great day (EOL, and I no longer have to worry about hitting on married women, as I might be a bucket list item, or the worst is the husband just eliminates a lot of pain for me). Win win, either way.:laff:
Results from the doc Monday, the nurses are watching out.
rosarugosa
4-20-24, 5:47am
Hoping for good news for you, TMS. I know how stressful it can be to wait for the results.
happystuff
4-20-24, 9:17am
Wishing the best for you, TMS!!!
iris lilies
4-20-24, 9:57am
TMS we are thinking about you! Thank you for keeping us informed.
I love your win-win, TMS. Hoping for a shrinking situation, prayers for healing.
Turns out the top Thoracic Outlet Syndrome surgeon in the country is someone whose family I grew up with in the same neighborhood - his sister was a classmate of mine and he was a classmate of my brother, all the way from grade school through high school. And because last week I finally posted on Facebook what was going on with me to my friends, the sister (we're friends on FB) contacted me about her brother, the TOS surgeon.
So it looks like I'll be going to St. Louis sometime in the future to have a consultation! I've already transfered my medical records and got a referral from the vascular surgeon in Albuquerque, who applauded this amazing coincidence. I really do like and trust the ABQ surgeon and would have him do the surgery if I didn't have this possible opportunity. It's the difference of the one guy doing about 25 of these surgeries per year to a surgeon that has done 1000 of these TOS surgeries and written many studies/papers during his long career.
iris lilies
4-25-24, 4:12pm
If you end up coming to St. Louis for surgery and you need to stay a while, let me know here. Maybe I can work something out with you using our condo. Even though I’m forbidden from renting it, I would think the condo board doesn’t care if I have a friend stay there occasionally for a few days. I assume he does surgery at BJC/Washington University hospitals, but if it’s another hospital it still might be a convenient location.
If he’s at St. Louis University hospitals that is stupid close, like within half a mile.
I think it will be the BJC/Washington University Hospitals. Thank you for possibly offering this; that would be positively awesome. Hopefully I will know more in the next few days - since I'm from the "old neighborhood", it sounds like they are going to fit me faster than the average person out there. When I first spoke to the office staff the other day, I asked how far out they are making consultation appointments and she said February 2025 but assured me that I would be seen sooner than that!
It pays to have connections, I guess, even if they are over 4 decades old!
If you end up coming to St. Louis for surgery and you need to stay a while, let me know here. Maybe I can work something out with you using our condo. Even though I’m forbidden from renting it, I would think the condo board doesn’t care if I have a friend stay there occasionally for a few days. I assume he does surgery at BJC/Washington University hospitals, but if it’s another hospital it still might be a convenient location.
If he’s at St. Louis University hospitals that is stupid close, like within half a mile.
What a nice offer!
As I have said many times in my life, "It was meant to be."
iris lilies
4-26-24, 8:32am
What a nice offer!
SiouzQ went to the University of Iowa. So did I.
connections.
SiouzQ went to the University of Iowa. So did I.
connections.
Corn people LOL
happystuff
4-26-24, 9:05am
Agree - what a nice offer, IL!
Garden rave--last summer I planted some tulip tree seeds because I had pruned the tree and had a bunch of seeds, and today I saw that I have about four tiny trees coming up in the 5 gallon bucket where I planted the seeds--just checked photo online and yes, that is indeed what they are. Be cool if I could get them into treedom.
iris lilies
4-26-24, 7:53pm
Garden rave--last summer I planted some tulip tree seeds because I had pruned the tree and had a bunch of seeds, and today I saw that I have about four tiny trees coming up in the 5 gallon bucket where I planted the seeds--just checked photo online and yes, that is indeed what they are. Be cool if I could get them into treedom.
That is nice that your seeds are growing. I’m not very good with seeds other than the standard annual flowers.
Is that how they propagate trees or at least tulip trees? for the lower orders of plants I deal with I’m skeptical of specimens from seed. Sometimes the offspring produced from self pollination is a phenotype like the parents. Sometimes they are entirely different. For all of my plants I much prefer propagation by cloning.
****
That is nice that your seeds are growing. I’m not very good with seeds other than the standard annual flowers.
Is that how they propagate trees or at least tulip trees? for the lower orders of plants I deal with I’m skeptical of specimens from seed. Sometimes the offspring produced from self pollination is a phenotype like the parents. Sometimes they are entirely different. For all of my plants I much prefer propagation by cloning.
****
Yes, you are right about cuttings being the norm, and I did some of those, too, but I could not resist the seeds. And I don't think my cuttings made it, although it's too early to tell.
I do the same with apple trees, even though I know that each seed will grow a tree that is different than the parent. I think it was hearing about Johnny Appleseed as a kid! I have grown several little guys from seeds we gather when we are driving around in the fall--I have trees from Michigan and Maine, labeled by the individual tree. It's just a hobby I like, and I like to think about the different trees--we look for old abandoned trees, old trees on old farms, etc. We gather the apples, save the seeds, and eat a lot of apple pie in the fall.
rosarugosa
4-27-24, 6:29am
Tybee: That is a wonderful hobby!
Seed starting is a passion of mine. I have been growing peach trees but haven't a clue where to put them all. And various oak trees. And...
iris lilies
4-27-24, 8:33pm
Time for some iris rave!
look at this big, dark, white edged iris called ‘ Dark Universe’. I lost it in the chaos of our move and a weed infestation a couple of years ago, but got it back and now it’s thriving. It is a Wow factor iris.
58285829
rosarugosa
4-28-24, 6:02am
Those are lovely, IL!
Time for some iris rave!
look at this big, dark, white edged iris called ‘ Dark Universe’. I lost it in the chaos of our move and a weed infestation a couple of years ago, but got it back and now it’s thriving. It is a Wow factor iris.
58285829
That is gorgeous! And it matches my garden color scheme of purple and yellow!
Those are really beautiful, IL!
Here are mine this year - all we have are yellow ones, planted by the previous owner of the house.
Someday I will get around to planting some purple ones.
5830
I keep meaning to ask you - what do you do with the iris leaves in the fall? Are they supposed to be trimmed or do you just leave them alone and get rid of the brown leaves in the spring?
iris lilies
4-29-24, 1:38pm
Nice yellow iris!
Yesterday we went to the first Challenger Little League baseball game of the season. We've been going to watch our friend's child (now 24) with Hurler's Syndrome since 2010 I think. It is wonderful to watch these games. Kids of all abilities, different difficulties encouraged and being successful at hitting the ball and running! Look for one around you if you need a shot of joy.
ToomuchStuff
4-29-24, 10:07pm
How often do you divide them?
Used to get my starts from my 100 year old neighbor, when she passed and they sold the house, I was sad to see the kid of the purchaser rip them all out.
iris lilies
5-8-24, 2:19pm
I have a pretty newish Iris called ‘Bashful Look’ that is a pretty deep pink, with bluish/lavender beard. Last year it won Best in Show at two different Iris shows with two panels of judges.
This year it won first runner up in the Iris show last weekend, with yet a different panel of judges. Here it is on the winner’s table this year and in another photo. It is pretty!
5850
5851
I am very relieved to say I finally did setting today that has been nagging me for months. It involved navigating a customs website that is notoriously non-user friendly. I got a pleasant surprise todsy that the website has been massively updated and the task I needed to do was done quickly and with much less pain than anticipated. I would think about this thing in the middle of the night. So glad it’s done!
iris lilies
5-8-24, 9:22pm
I am very relieved to say I finally did setting today that has been nagging me for months. It involved navigating a customs website that is notoriously non-user friendly. I got a pleasant surprise todsy that the website has been massively updated and the task I needed to do was done quickly and with much less pain than anticipated. I would think about this thing in the middle of the night. So glad it’s done!
it is such a relief when things like that are done.
Beautiful blossoms, IL.
Good for you, Tradd!
A couple of years ago we bought an organic potato sampler from Fedco here in Maine and planted them and had an amazing crop of potatoes. DH wrapped them in newspaper and put them in 5 gallon buckets and then didn't get to eating them all, so last year they had sprouted and we planted those for a second year of bumper crop potatoes. Now I am planting the leftovers from last year so it feels like a perpetual motion machine of potatoes.
happystuff
5-9-24, 11:43am
Beautiful, IL. And Yay!, Tradd.
And the customs audit today with CBP (remote) went fine, too. Yay! I was danged nervous. Celebrating with Culvers for lunch.
And the customs audit today with CBP (remote) went fine, too. Yay! I was danged nervous. Celebrating with Culvers for lunch.
Lucky you! The cod sandwich is the best fish sandwich I have ever had.
happystuff
5-14-24, 11:13am
Just got back from the dentist and it wasn't awful! New hygienist and there was actually laughter. Plus, a good check-up, which never hurts to hear.
iris lilies
5-14-24, 11:46am
Just got back from the dentist and it wasn't awful! New hygienist and there was actually laughter. Plus, a good check-up, which never hurts to hear.
Yay, another dreaded thing accomplished!
Yay, another dreaded thing accomplished!
This would be a great thread!
iris lilies
5-15-24, 9:26am
This would be a great thread!
It would!
I finally have my appointment at the Clinic for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome at Washington University School of Medicine - June 13! Which was way sooner than I expected, so now I am scrambling. I need a flight, and a rental car and a place to stay - Iris Lillies, are you still willing to offer me the use of of your condo for a few days? I'll totally understand if it is not feasible on such short notice or if you've changed your mind.
Yikes!
iris lilies
5-29-24, 5:13pm
I finally have my appointment at the Clinic for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome at Washington University School of Medicine - June 13! Which was way sooner than I expected, so now I am scrambling. I need a flight, and a rental car and a place to stay - Iris Lillies, are you still willing to offer me the use of of your condo for a few days? I'll totally understand if it is not feasible on such short notice or if you've changed your mind.
Yikes!
yes that was fast.
The dates leading up to June 13+ work for me because I don’t need to stay there until the night of June 16, and even then I wouldnt really have to if it didn't work.
It is good you’ll see this condo before you have actual surgery because you can assess how well it will work for your recovery. The building itself is disability-friendly because it has elevators and you can drive right up to the back door and get on an elevator. That is why we have people in wheelchairs and with walkers living in the building.
The downside is that there is a a single bed and a couch in my condo, neither very comfortable for surgical patients. You can see how it will work out for you, hope it does.
I will send you logistics in a private message.
Cheers!
Thank you, Iris Lillies!
I am looking to fly in on Wednesday May 12 and leaving the afternoon of Friday May 14.
happystuff
5-30-24, 12:57pm
Wonderful news, SiouzQ. Best of luck with it all. And a wonderful thing to do, IL!
This is so cool!!! So glad you are getting very quick medical treatment and what a great thing that you can use IL's apartment!! The dynamics of this forum are so interesting. Here we are a tight "band of brothers and sisters" after decades of revealing so many aspects of ourselves to each other and getting understanding and respect in return, without even knowing each others' real names in most cases. I would expect that this is highly unusual in the world of internet superficiality.
rosarugosa
5-31-24, 8:06am
I second that, Catherine. This scenario makes me feel extra good about our little community!
Yes, IL and Siouz Q give hope to forming friendships even on line! I'm glad Siouz has good news about at least finding out what might work!
iris lilies
5-31-24, 9:29am
About these online relationships:
more than 20 years ago, we had Jonathan Allen and his wife visit us in St. Louis. I can’t remember why they were in St. Louis.
I casually remarked to a friend of ours that I was going to be seeing “a guy I met on the Internet”. My friend stared at me in horror because that was code for getting scammed or robbed or murdered. Haha!
All this got me to thinking about when I first joined the forum; I know I was on the previous incarnation of the Simple Living. Forum. Does anyone remember when that started? I'm trying to think back to when I first got on the internet - I didn't have my own computer for a long time until I got my MIL's old one, but I cannot for the life of me remember at all when that was...is there a way to find out?
I was looking back at my old messages and saw that I met "Float On" in person when she came through Madrid about a year after I moved to New Mexico! I wonder how she is doing?
There are so many people we don't hear from anymore! I hope they are off leading good and fullfilling lives out there!
catherine
5-31-24, 11:19am
I was going to say late 1990s, but to check myself I googled Simple Living Network, and Dave Wampler's closing post is still there. He posted the end of his 15 years hosting the website on New Year's Eve 2010. He started it in 1995. I feel like I started regularly visiting in 1998. There are so many people I still remember.
I'm pretty sure I've been on here for at least 20 years. I don't quite look like my profile picture anymore, but I like remembering how strong and fit I was back then, because sadly I sure ain't like that now...
I have to sing the praises of Target pickup. No minimum order and no appt time needed. The one by my place doesn’t have a huge grocery section, but it’s cheaper than Jewel (major grocery chain here) and I can get most of the stuff I like. It’s been at least 3 weeks since I was in a store and my knees prefer it. The Target by work has a full grocery section so I need to do a bigger order there for more stuff.
I think I’ve been a member (from the previous forum) in 2002ish maybe.
I think I joined the old forum not too long before it ended, maybe 2009. Then I briefly belonged to an incarnation started by PDQ (I believe that was his name), then this incarnation since it's inception.
I started on the old Forum, probably 2002 or so.
I think my time line is similar to catherine's. I hardly posted - if at all - for many years on the old forum and this one, but came and read pretty much every day.
I have a clean oven!!! circa 1988 GE electric range. The knobs for the timer and stop time and clock are broken so I used a plier to turn the timer and stop time. I didn't bother to change the time on the clock because you just have to add 3 hours to create the stop time. It was a perfect day to do it as I could keep the windows open for air as it does smell like electrical fires. It is CLEAN and shiny! I did nothing extra to it, just wiped out the bottom. The window came clean and it was covered with drippy brown stains. ALL GONE. All we've had to do with the stove is replace the baking element which was easy- ordered on line and put it in ourselves. It makes me happy every time I open the oven door!
early morning
6-2-24, 11:16am
I have never "cleaned" my oven. I do wipe it out occasionally and think about using the self-clean option, but I have a horror of things getting that hot for a prolonged period. Silly, but there ya go. Maybe I'll be brave and move the oven out into the middle of the floor and try it sometime. It's also a GE, I think from early 90s.
I think I've been on this forum - under a different name- since the late 90s. I'd been looking for a frugal home since Amy D. stopped her newsletter in the mid 90s. The only member I've met IRL is Fawn. She and her kids came to our house for dinner once when she was passing through the area. I think it freaked her out, she is one who tries for 100 items in her home, and I have way more than that in my kitchen cupboard! It was a nice visit, though.
early morning, The fear of the high heat put me off, too. But the stove is snugly in between two floor cabinets and is against a wooden back, and no problem at all. The top of the stove gets hot to the touch, but not scalding. Give it a try. But do open windows as the smell is of burning electric wires. It's such a joy to open that door-and even peek in the window!!!
That's interesting about meeting Fawn. I remember her.
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