Rainy days and Mondays....

Well, this day hasn't gone very good. It started when I went out this morning and thought something about the pool just wasn't right. On investigation, I realized that the skimmer filter was not working. It looked like it was pushing things into the pool instead of pulling them out and the water was a little greener than normal...so, a call to the pool man was in order. I called him and explained it to him and he said to turn the pump off and he will get to me as soon as he can. Never fails that it messes up right before the holiday weekend.

Then I decided to clean and fill the fish pond since I have bought a new pump and filter. I got down in it to get the rain water out and noticed that the "gunk" that Gene had used to cover a crack had just pealed right off. So, I cut out the weeds and decided to try again to fix the crack.

So, I got some water proof "gunk" and found an old pool toy and cut out a square and covererd the crack with it. Then, I cut a bigger piece of the pool toy and covered it again. I now have a bright orange square in my pond....I will fill it with water tomorrow and see if it holds.

While I was looking for the "gunk" in the garage, I ran across a door bell button that I had bought years ago. I decided to put it on...that went just fine, I didn't get shocked or anything. Now when you push the doorbell, there is a horrible sound in my house. Certainly not a pleasant sound, but at least it works for the first time in 10 or so years!

Then Aaron called to tell me that Sarah wouldn't let him ride her horse! He always tattles when he calls me. He got upset that I couldn't come up there and swim with him, to the point that he was crying, which of course made me cry. I don't think it will ever get any easier to be away from them.

Then, I checked on the status of an order that I have that is being delivered via UPS and their website said that it had been delivered and left at my front door last Friday.....well, I don't think so; it is nowhere around my house. So, now I am trying to find out exactly where they delivered my digital binoculars! Sheesh, now I remember why I hate to order anything. When I was working I always had my packages sent there, and never had any trouble.

Gene has been busy making a ramp for Sharon and Phils' temporary dock. He loves a project!

Well, I am glad that Monday is over!

Trashy, Out of Control and Overgrown

Ha!, not me....well, maybe I am a little overgrown these days; but I am referring to the shrubs in the courtyard. I had looked at the trashy area in the front of my house long enough.....ATTACK!!! So, this morning, bright and early I started another day long job. I was into the job before I thought to take a picture of how very bad it looked when i started, but this is the way it looked after I had been working on it. Notice the gardening tools that I used included....tada.......a power saw!

After I had removed the first shrub, I noticed ants...not just a few ants, a gazillion ants. So I had to get out the ant spray and give them a good bath before I could continue. I have never seen so many ants...they were attacking..up my legs..it was really something to see. So, with the ants under control I continued my task. I raked and raked and pulled up vines, roots, coke cans and some unidentifiable things that I don't even want to think about. So, after I got it cleaned out and filled up 5, yes 5 large garbage cans of debris which I had to carry to the edge of the yard and dump over the hill; (my contribution to recycling) I decided that I needed to run to Lowes and get a few things to plant in the now bare looking area. So, I came in and took a shower and off to Lowes I went. I got back and planted the plants and here is how it looks now....don't laugh...I told you I hate to play in dirt!Anyway, it looks better and cleaner, albeit a little funny, I have to admit. I just have no clue how to make landscaping look good. I guess I just don't have that gene.

Anyway, as I said before "this not working is killing me"! Tomorrow I am off to tackle my aunts house that we are putting up for sale, so I guess I will have another full day! I worked today from 8-3:30...so I almost got in a full days work.

This "not working" is killing me!

When you are home all day, you see things that need to be done around the house. When I was working from 7-5, for some reason, I didn't notice all that needed to be done around the house. So, Tuesday, I power washed around the pool for 6 hrs. I ended up with bright concrete, and bright and sore shoulders. Needless to say, after I finished I was ready for a dip in the pool.

Yesterday, I spent 4 hours just cleaning junk out of the garage. Well, that sure worked the soreness out of my shoulders, now my back is sore!

Drew and Lindsay sent Gene this book for fathers day. He is really enjoying it. However, don't try to watch TV in the room with him while he is reading. Right smack in the middle of my favorite show, I do not need to know how to put bees in a jar and put them under water to attract fish, nor do I need to know how to clip the wings of water fowl and tie the bait to their legs and let them do the fishing for me!

A few more pics of our trip

We saw this car traveling on the interstate. I can't believe they had all of this tied on the roof!

We saw this beautiful double rainbow traveling thru the flatlands!

Sarah and Paige "riding" on the Merry Go Round

On the train to Chicago

Aaron looking out of the window of the train! I really need to learn how to turn on the flash on my cell phone camera!

Busy couple of weeks

Well, these pics are not in any particular order, but I am too lazy to reorganize them. This is Aaron in his Iron Man mask that we got him for his birthday. He really had a good time at his party, and has declared that he likes birthdays!



Paige had his party at Monkey Joes. It is a great place for kids, they can play and play and not get hurt.

A close up of the birthday boy

Here is the birthday boy sitting in the Birthday King chair.

Here is our sweet diva

The family in the hotel pool

Aaron had a great time swimming. I think we had enough floatware on him

Sarah in her bathing suit.

Aaron ready to swim

The Chicago skyline from the Childrens Museum

Sarah

Aaron loved the Children's Museum

He watched the pirate show at the Navy Pier and got to meet one of the pirates because it was his birthday

The very expensive merry-go-round at the navy pier

Aaron riding the Thomas train at the Navy Pier

Here they are at the Metra Station waiting on the train to take us to Chicago and then we took a city bus to the Navy Pier. It was a neat trip.

Sarah sure likes her Poppy.

At the hotel making a pillow tower

And finally a last night pic of me and the kids playing looney toons on the puter! Sarah watches everything that her brother does and tries to mimic him. It is very sweet.Out of the mouth of babes: Aaron said "Mimi, did you paint your hair white"!

Before we left for Chicago we had guests. This is my mother and her younger sister

Mother and Daddy

First of the Month!

I hate to go out around the first of the month. Here are the places that I think should be avoided if at all possible around the first of the month:
1. Post Office - Good grief, there are people there an hour before it opens to get their check! And then they go to the bank and cash their check...not caring that they have to pay $15.00 to cash the check if they don't have an account....and you can bet that they don't have an account, because heaven forbid the government find out how much money they actually have. And then they go happily back to the post office for a handful of money orders...once again paying extra because they won't have a bank account to write checks on.
2. Any grocery store.....where they buy soft drinks by the car load with the government issued food stamp card; and these soft drinks are promptly sold to local convenient stores for cash. They use this cash to purchase "items" that can't be bought with a food stamp card.
3. Walmart - Well, they just can't wait to go to the Walmart and blow all their money. Heaven forbid they park in a marked spot....nope, they are so sorry they pull right up to the door and block the entrance. And forget about them having enough sense to place their carts in the cart bin...they just leave them in the parking lot to bang into cars.
4. Dollar store - don't even think about it
5. Any fast food place....boy they can't wait to get out and spend $100.00 feeding the whole family at a fast food place...big time out, never mind that grandma could sure use that $100 for her meds since her medicare allotment has run out..
6. Doctors office - gotta activate that card and get their meds.. Young, healty people who have never lifted a finger in their life to work, and they are handed everything. Old people who need medical attention and meds can't get it.

First of the month............nuff said......just stay home!