The hounds woke me at 5:50 this morning. I thought to myself, that it would be 6:50 should they wake at the same time tomorrow. I am clever like that in the wee hours. No, I did not stay up. The canines were not interested in staying up, either. They were happy to crawl back under the covers and snuggle close to me.
It was drizzling rain when they went out and got their undercarriage wet and feet dirty. I had already decided to change the sheets today, so I scooped them into bed, dirt and all. I fell back to sleep quickly and it seemed that no time had past when I felt HeWho leave the bed. The dogs all looked expectantly at him and I announced that it was his turn to take them out.
I wanted to recapture the dream I had been awakened from. I can't remember what the dream was about, all I can remember is that my Dad was part of it and he was telling me something that seemed to be of great importance. I am still wondering what it was. Maybe tonight ....
The early morning wake-up dog was Wall-E. He is normally the last to leave the comforts of bed, but after his day yesterday, he needed to get up early. Three of my furry kids had to see the vet yesterday for their shots and check-ups. Wall-E whined a very spine tingling high pitch all the way. Toni Louise fed off his anxiety and was not to be calmed down.
My doxies were perfect. Oscar lay in my lap and Cujo rode beside him standing against my shoulder. Toni was in the lap of HeWho was driving the vehicle. Thank goodness for back roads and little traffic!
We always ask that Wall-E be treated to a close cropped manicure, since he refuses to let us trim his nails. He is the most docile creature in the world, until you bother his toes. He will bite! Even me! So, he gets a nice little tranquilizer upon arrival. It is always fun to watch him get mellow. He hid under a chair and gazed at us with his half-lidded eyes as Oscar took his turn being checked over.
Oscar is 16, that makes him about 82 in people years. He is hale and hearty. She proclaimed his heart to be beating very strong, no murmurs. He may outlive us all! Toni also received a good bill of health. While Oscar remained stoic while receiving his shots, Toni was not as cooperative.
Wall-E was extremely cooperative, although we all wondered if he might be hallucinating.
There he lay, on his back, oblivious to the world around him.
Didn't even blink when I snapped his picture. He is in his own world.
HeWho loves Wall-E has his hand protectively on the dog. We still had to employ the muzzle, as Wall-E tried very hard to fight off the attack of those nail clippers!!
Hard to see, but his nails have been clipped and filed down. I should have taken pictures of the clippings, so that you could fully appreciate the length of the cuts!
The ride home was nice, no whining. Wall-E lay in the back seat, so still, that at one point I had to check to see if he was still breathing. My heart jumped to my throat as I thought about having to tell my sweet grandson, Gavin, that his dog was gone. I was never so relieved to feel moist dog breath on my hand!
While I was chair ridden the past few months, I didn't run out and shake my fist at big trucks turning around in my driveway. It doesn't stop them, but they do tend to be more careful under my watchful glare. As you can see , the daffodils are still coming up, despite being plowed through.
They came real close to the soaker hose that runs through the center of this garden. Some of the smaller rocks are even smaller.
This particular garden was a big mound of dirt that I had finally tamed into a garden anchored with a big peony in the center. Daffodils and tulips bring Spring in, then give way to ground cover and mums with tiger lilies behind the peony. Cosmos fill in any blank spaces. Or, this is what use to happen.
These big rocks were all pushed forward as the truck dragged it's trailer through.
The solar lights are no longer intact, just more debris to be cleaned up.
As you can see there is plenty of room for a wide turn. I am turning all my considerable creative thoughts towards find something to install on that corner to discourage drivers from driving through my flower beds. I have already come up with some ideas that have been vetoed by HeWho. Like some spikes that would damage the tires. HeWho is afraid a big truck will get stuck here and block our driveway. Suggestions are always welcome ....
Here it is, my blanket chest, with the dog bed on top. The dogs snubbed their noses at it. All cushy and nice, as I made it with their favorite blanket. I had no thoughts of all of them getting into the drawer, maybe only one, or two. So I could maybe stretch my legs out without bumping into one of them. I will give it another week or so, then move it. The legs are tall so that the dogs could easily get into their new bed ..... Might whack the legs down, too.
That rag rug was one of my first ones. I found an afghan at the thrift store. It was cream and red, the kind with really big openings in it, would never keep you warm. I paid $3 for it and then tore two old sheets into strips and spent a few evenings weaving the strips into the afghan. It goes well with the jeans quilt I made. The one that is so heavy you can't sleep under it. Maybe it would be a good rug??
Here is my next paint project. I scored three Adirondack chairs on craigslist for $40. Just need to sand and paint and set up some checkers for the front porch.
So glad I am feeling better. Spring is here and you will be hard put to find me with out a paintbrush in my hand and dirt under my nails. I have seedlings starting to come up inside and I am itching to dig in the dirt.
The killer was caught while we slept last night. Rumor has it he was found in a tree. Up a tree without a ladder?
I may have bitten off more than I can chew .... No pics today, as I am having to pace myself writing. The computer is not keeping up with me. Odd, since I don't even know how to really type. I just peck it out with two fingers. Downloading a picture is out of the question.
I am so pleased with my blanket chest and doggie bed. The other part of the chest is coming along, if a bit slowly. Maybe I shouldn't have tried to do this while simultaneously reworking my sewing room and painting the outside of the building. Oh, and laundry today, as well. I like a good challenge, but I am whipped tonight. I don't even have the energy to nag HeWho.
Really tired. I am still waiting for him to help me hang those upper cabinets in my sewing room. There are four, but they are connected and heavier than I can manage on my own. He still has not hung my stem glass holder under the kitchen cabinet ..... another chore that requires two people to get it right.
I am not sure if this made the national news, but I had limited outside time today due to a murderer loose nearby. As far as I know the manhunt is still going on tonight. Made more difficult by the rain that started as it was growing dark. Lots of woods and farmland around here. The schools might be closed tomorrow. They were in lockdown today and the busses did not run.
I had to keep my store locked and I couldn't sand the drawers .... well, I could have inside, then clean up the mess. Hopefully I can sand tomorrow. I did get four more shutters painted and ready to hang, but I did not cook.
The murderer's (alleged) truck was found just one mile from my exit. He is alleged to have killed three men in Kansas City last night, then a local man about 5 miles from here this morning. All locked in tonight and me with no gun! Just wasp spray and a bad attitude. They better catch this guy, I have stuff to do!!
I never located that circular saw. But, I griped so much that HeWho unearthed the hidden saw and did the cut for me.
I was all prepared with pictures and I cannot seem to download them. So, I will just have to use my words to tell you about my new project. You will recall that I recently decided to take my sewing room apart.
It all started with those cabinets left over from the kitchen re-do. Four upper cabinets, just waiting to be used. I pondered a bit and decided they should go in the sewing room. On the wall that has a high shelf that spans from wall to wall. That would have to go, along with some other things. One of the things in the way of progress was a big chest of drawers.
When I was very young I thought people were saying "chester drawers". I thought that for the longest time and wondered why it was a chester drawer. At least chest of drawers makes sense. I am rambling. This particular chest of five drawers was given to me by my mother-in-law. When we got it, it was green. We called it the incredible hulk. You know, because it was big and green.
HeWho says it was around as long as he could remember and I am thinking it was around long before HeWho entered the world. HeWho is almost 63. This is a sturdy piece of furniture, but the size made it hard to find a place to put it.
Well, would you look at that, the picture finally downloaded! Here it is without the drawers. I decided to downsize it to fit next to the chair of HeWho empties the contents of his pockets willy nilly. This will provide a nice large surface for him to clutter.
I carefully taped it in preparation for the saw. I cut the top two drawers off. I had planned to carefully remove the top and use it on the new side table. Then I got to thinking ...... what was to become of the two drawers left? Just wouldn't be right to simply discard them.
They don't make them like they used to! Since I had this piece of furniture ready to cut for several days as the war over the use of the saw raged on, I had plenty of time to ponder this situation. It came to me in the wee hours of my non-slumber.
I re-thought my design and decided to eliminate the top drawer of the three drawer chest, leaving an open shelf for the lap top and other electronics. I decided to make a hole in the back to bring the power surge strip onto the shelf. The other two drawers can be used for out of season clothes, or whatever. Extra storage is always good.
This left the top of the dresser and an extra drawer. I am loathe to toss anything that could be useful, so I decided to keep the top intact and add some legs and use it at the end of my bed. I already have a bench there, but this would add storage to that area. I can use those drawers for linen!
But there is still that extra drawer from the other unit going next to his recliner. Another night to ponder and I found the solution! I will use that other drawer to put atop the new linen chest at the end of my bed ...... and make a dog bed!!!!!
Feeling ever so clever, I spent most of Sunday afternoon scraping and sanding the linen chest. I painted it with three layers of red and cream and tan paints. Today I worked on the drawers and the dog bed. The chest now sits happily at the foot of my bed. The dog bed is still drying and will be fitted with padding and blankets tomorrow before I attach it to the top of the chest.
I have visions of a dog or two deciding to sleep in this new dog bed at the foot of my bed. I will post a picture of my new project tomorrow ...
Today is a good day. The sun is shining, the electrodes are gone , all that remains is the sticky residue and slightly irritated skin. And ... I wait patiently for the appearance of the circular saw.
My dismantling of the sewing room has me inspired. A new project looms that will require the use of the circular saw. So, you might be wondering, what am I waiting for? The saw. HeWho has decided that I am not capable of executing the necessary safety precautions required to use this tool and I will "cut your fingers off!" This from the man who, while using a chain saw with no eye protection whatsoever, cut his own forehead.
I have secretly been using the chop saw, as I rearrange my sewing room to suit my needs. I carefully look around to make sure his appearance is not eminent before cutting dowels to the correct size. Safety glasses adorn my face and my fingers safely positioned away from the blade. I am very aware of safety.
I suppose HeWho would prefer my attention be in the kitchen creating masterpiece meals that take hours to prepare and only minutes to eat. I can do both. The pork loin from my last post cooked for 5 hours, roasting ever so slowly in the oven, wrapped in aluminum foil. Five hours that I used to do two loads of laundry and move half of the stuff in my sewing room. See, honey, I can manage several tasks at the same time!
I ventured out to his lair in search of that circular saw. I think he has either hidden it, or has it in his car! He is determined that I not use this saw and I am equally determined that I will. As soon as he returns to the park, I intend to search his vehicle. On the sly, of course. I just hope I am not distracted by all the crap in his car and decide to clean it out and organize it.
I did that once to his truck. He had taken my car to visit his mom in Georgia and he had to leave the keys to the truck, in case I needed a means of transportation. It was a balmy Spring day, before the pool was open and I took advantage of some solitude to empty the truck of all it contents ( most ended up in the dumpster) and then sacrificed some of my own bins from my sewing room to organize all his stuff. He uses his vehicle to drive to sites and fix stuff. I put all the electrical supplies together, all of the plumbing supplies together and all of the items he needs for grounds maintenance together. Then I sub-divided that stuff into like items. I really like to organize stuff. Makes me happy. I was excited to present his newly clean and organized vehicle to him upon his return.
I don't think he really appreciated all my efforts. He kept questioning me about where this or that was. Maybe I should just uncover the circular saw and do my own thing, put it back and he will be none the wiser. Yep, that is a better plan.
I have had a good week. Only one really bad day. I managed to get the bathroom painted and today I took my sewing room apart. I was still putting it back together when I realized I was exhausted. Then I looked at the clock. Almost 5:30. No wonder I am tired!
It will still be there tomorrow and I will continue then. In the meantime I will sit and rest. I stuck a nice pork loin wrapped in bacon in the oven about 5 hours ago and cooked it slow, on 250. It smells like a smoke house in here, with the hard wood we burn in the wood stove and slow roasted pork, wrapped in apple smoked bacon. Actually, it smells like heaven! Potatoes are in the pot ready to boil for mashed potatoes and the baby butterbeans are simmering on the stove. Biscuits all set to go in the oven.
I am hungry, as I wait for HeWho runs errands for his wife. I found three Adirondack chairs on Craigslist. Wooden, not plastic. All three for a mere forty bucks! Couldn't build them for that. One is a rocker and the other two will be perfect for the new checker table on the front porch. I really wanted this bar height set I saw on Craiglist. It was only $100. Even though it had the table and two chairs ... I already have a table and my deal will provide three more places to sit. I love Craigslist. I have yet to have a bad deal.
So now I will go to the kitchen and finish dinner as the text just came that tells me HeWho is fast approaching home. When I lay me down to sleep, I will know I earned it today!
