Good morning!

Tatoulia, your evening sounds nice, and I am glad you found a good home for your fabric.

Tillie, I hope you are safe and fire free! That would be very scary!

I am using calamine on the poison ivy. It helps only a little. Unfortunately, I am allergic to corticosteroids.

CM, I am glad you are feeling better and things are settling down. If ever there was a time to stick close to home and use our resources, it is now!

We went to visit friends on the other side of the city last night - they have their little granddaughter with them. they keep her for 4 days while her parents see/help a friend who is immunocompromised, then the little girl's family does all the things they need to do away from their house, do a hard quarantine again for 14 days, repeat.

The gdd drew 6 ft circles (I think they were 8 foot circles) in the driveway and we all sat in chairs to visit. We traded them kohlrabi, which they are not growing, for turnips, which I am not growing.

Then we came home and listened to the fireworks and sirens (we live three miles from the fire station). at least 5 of our neighbors had large displays last night. We could only see glimpses of them through the trees. But it was kind of cool because the fireflies were amazing last night, and of course the bright orange moon, so I enjoyed being outside in the midst of it all for a while. Because I spent my childhood summers in a beach town with my grandparents, sirens and firecrackers are the 4th of July music of my youth.

So far 8 of my chicks have hatched. They have another 24 hours or so to finish.

Dh is encouraging me to be lazy and rest today. Apparently I have been worrying too much and trying to carry too much. He said it was really good to see me enjoy looking at my friend's garden and watching their gdd play and relax in my chair circle yesterday.

SubC I'm so sorry about the poison ivy! I hope it heals soon! Yay for the goat to help you out!

Cm a couple of my masks are lined with felt and they are lovely. They are made by a pediatric nurse and they are terrific!

Tillie, I too have rosacea. I haven't been able to cover it with makeup. Usually I can even put the skin tone. But with the mask, I'll just be getting makeup all over it.

We went to our favorite place last night. Is called ahead and asked if they could give us a reservation for a place outside. Our table is was perfect and the weather was lovely. The patio is sunken. We go there every 4th of July /9 even though we couldn't walk over to the Esplanade afterward, we did get a bit of our tradition back. It was the first time we've eaten out. It is the only restaurant we will trust. We know the servers and the host, etc. when I called for a reservation, the host informed me that one of our favorite waiters would be there. And I texted the other with a picture, so it was nice. BF was a bit uneasy before walking down and I offered to cancel but he ended up being so relaxed and so happy we went. The food was delicious.

The fireworks outside last night were crazy. Some were absolutely terrifying. I couldn't sleep with window open. Even with my loud AC, I could hear them.

I'm trying to make a reasonable plan for myself today. I need to go to the post office at South Station (open on Sundays) yo get a few things mailed off. I would also like to run a few errands. The car is a pain but I'll drive around today. I seem to recall that yesterday I had another idea for the car, too, but I'll be darned if I can remember it.
I had a lot of half-yards of William Morris fabric, which I had purchased to figure out what to use for my shower curtain (ultimately chose a non-William Morris print). Each piece was prettier than the one before. When I saw that someone was looking for fabric donations, I took all the fabrics and dropped them off. Probably six different patterns in all. I was grateful to get rid of it.

People are being foolish with no masks. I saw about 15 people in a row without them. This is craziness. I hate the masks and I hate how hot I get. But I want to see my mom again.

Okay I'm going to get to work on sorting my packages to mail.

9:00pm and it sounds like the war of 1812 has started out there.

Have to stay awake now to keep alert for wildfires.

Twinkles and Scooter are agitated but I keep talking calmly to them so they are getting more relaxed.

Have two cat carriers ready for Justin Case we need to bug out.

Beautiful flower pics CriticalMass.
Are those black petunias???

Hello CriticalMass

Glad your muscles aren't as sore any more.

Things would have worked out smoothly if it hadn't been raining.
Glad you got a nap in to make up for the lack of sleep.

YEA! for getting the flowers planted!
They sound lovely :)

Happy the majority of people are wearing masks there.
Probably the ones without masks are also the geniuses who are tossing firecrackers.

I think a flannel mask would be extra soft on the skin.
And probably not any hotter or suffocating than any other masks.
I have rosacea and my skin hurts when I get sun or get hot or use something I didn't know my face was sensitive to.

YEA! for your laptop working better and faster! :D

Happy 4th of July!

This is actually only the second time I've been able to sit down and put my RAM-boosted laptop through its paces. It does seem to flow and not choke, so far.

Hi Lori! Welcome to our little corner of the interwebz! Great going getting all those bags of stuff out.

Also welcome to Charlie Cat in SubC's neck of the woods.

Kansas has a mask rule back in place - and at the grocery store yesterday, I'd say 95% of folks were in compliance. Tillie and Tatoulia, I agree with you wholeheartedly that one would prefer never to have to be intubated. Don't know why people don't think about this. Guess they think "It won't happen to me." Sigh.

My side and back aches are improving - Dr. Google said to sleep with a pillow between my knees. That is helping. I went with roommate this morning on her dog walk. Am realizing how terribly sedentary I've become during this pandemic. I long for the day when it's safe to go swimming at the gym again... :(

A couple nights ago had a crazy night. I was on the computer at 1:30 a.m. and girl kitty had a hairball episode. I didn't want the dog to get into the mess so I quick put him outdoors only to realize that it was raining heavily! So then I ran and got some plastic to put down and a baby gate fence thingy from the garage - I didn't want to deal with wet dog, and in any case am not sure which towels roommate would have me use in such a case.

It was crazy and confusing and upsetting for me and for the dog, but we got him settled on his mat and thankfully he and I both were able to get to sleep, and in the morning I got the claptrap back out to the garage and life went on. But I was on about 3 hours of sleep so had to nap later.

All is normalizing now anyway because roommate is no longer significantly radioactive; she can have her pets with her in her room, and everybody's a lot less confused and stressed!

I planted flowers this morning. Pink peppermint striped Rose Moss. White and several shades of purple Vincas I'd gotten at Lowe's the other day, Missed one batch of multicolor Rose Moss, will do it in a day or two.

That thought had occurred to me about using fabric stash now that fabric is harder to come by - I'm hoping it'll work out in a way that helps me de-stash more quickly. I had bought 5 yds. of flannel for mask making, but I don't know how many people in my area would want a flannel mask. Not in the summer for sure; I don't know about the winter, maybe. Wish I could send the flannel to SubC.

Fireworks here began to pick up last night, and I'm sure tonight will be insane. There were 3 incidents in town of someone throwing fireworks at people out in public, like into one lady's car, or onto a table in an outdoor part of a bar. Somewhere, some villages are missing their idiots.

Yesterday was payday so I paid some bills and need to figure what's left. I wonder if we will get that 2nd stimulus check. It would sure give me some seed money for the future if we did.

Stay safe, all!

How cute!
Peeping eggs :)

Been finding a lot of different bird species egg shells scattered around the property the last few days.

So very sorry about that poison ivy :(
Are you treating it with Caladryl?
I had poison sumac once and it was total misery.
How wonderful the goats can eat it down for you.
Wishing you the speediest of recoveries. (((HUG)))

Proud of your Dd for getting a job but wish she had waited too.

I think this quarantining and not being able to shop at will is going to get a lot of people questioning the reasons for keeping some things around for Justin Case.
It is Justin Case time for a lot of things.
Steven's Justin Case hoarded stuff is proving to be unnecessary and unneeded.
Things like the food is proving to have been kept around way too long.
When he starts on a project he has to go to the hardware store because what he has here is not the right thing, is lost or damaged.

Crafting supplies are hard because you never know what future projects you might need things for.
I have more ribbon than necessary, 2 sandwich baggies full, different colors and sizes.
Thread is something that you need and sometimes need specific colors of.
When you see an almost full bolt of fabric at the thrift shop in a cute pattern and it's only a dollar or two the future possibilities are endless.
Now I know what I would like to have in a stash of Justin Case things around to help with boredom.

Happy 4th!

Tatoulia, I'm glad you had such a nice day.

Tillie, of course WE know I already had the fabric, but if was nice that Dh noticed that I was actually using up sone of Justin's things.

The next year may be interesting, with lots of drawdown on Justin, and maybe realizing that I can get rid of things that just weren't useful?

Hot, humid, and nasty here with tons of gunfire and larger explosions. I tied the buck to the garden fence to eat poison ivy Because with all this noise I'm not worried about his bellowing disturbing the neighbors (he doesn't mind being tied, he just hates being left. But if I tie two goats, they either yell because they can?t quite reach each other, or get tangled.

I have horrible poison ivy on the side of my leg. I have to keep changing the bandages because it is weeping and my calf is swollen and feels sore like I got kicked by an alpaca.

Unemployed dd got a part time job. With that and the swim coaching, she can make her expenses, but not much more or savings. Basically she is making what she would make on unemployment after the $600 stops. I think she should have negotiated for an August start date, because she will lose the $600 from July.

My eggs are peeping.

Good Morning Everybody

Hi Tatoulia
So happy you had such a lovely day!!! :D

Wishing everybody a happy and fun weekend.


All caught up with my usual tasks so I get the day off.
But of course I will still do all the cat things.

Supposed to be low to mid 90s today.

According to the local news the parade on Main street will go on and they want everyone to practice social distancing.
If the band marches I wonder if they will all be six feet apart?
Anyways, I won't be going anywhere today.
I have a watermelon. Scooter and I have been sharing it.
Last night there was some gunfire but not much and I hope today no idiot decides to fire off bottle rockets and start any wildfires.
The local annual fireworks display will not be happening here tonight.

Quick check in. I had today off. I woke up at 7 AM (unlike me) then took the drive to the country to drop off the gifts for the kids. It was great sitting outside with the entire family. They opened the sliding glass door so their kitty and I could communicate with just the screen between us. The kids liked their Independence Day gifts. The "patriotic" Mike and Ike's were the biggest hit. I thought the T-shirt's were really cute. Anyway what a joy to be outside with the whole family and to have a cup of coffee.

I dropped off all the snacks for the aides and staff at mom's. I got yo sit on the patio with mom yesterday! 20 minutes of joy. BF biked over and talked to mom through the fence. He is such a gentleman. He is so good to her and genuinely so-immediately asked if he could join.

I'm not caught up in posts but it looks like we have a new person to welcome! Welcome Lori! Together we can do this!!!

And of course welcome Charlie the Cat.

WAY TO GO! Subclinical :D
Yea! for filling up your class.

True words. This is why we can't have nice things. :(

I thought it was a given that you already had the fabric and thread to make Baby wipes.
So yeah, you are using materials you already have on hand. ;)

Small squares of flannel and terrycloth and thread.
Happy your Dh noticed and is happy.
Sometimes having things stowed away comes in handy.
Like arts & crafting things. Especially now with not being able to just go shopping.

Wishing you and the egglets all the best. (((hug)))

This is why we san't have nice things....

I took the eggs out of the egg turner and set them on the floor if the incubator. They should hatch Sunday, but I have to start checking tomorrow.

Dh is happy that I am using up part of my stash making baby wipes.

And I forgot to tell you my class is full.

Welcome Charlie!!! ;D
Now just get into the cat trap please.

Hi Subclinical
Thanks, yes I had some good things this week. :)

Should be safe going into the studio just to pick up your finished work.
Best wishes for the outcomes.

That is something I found so interesting about ceramics. Until it came out of the kiln, you never know how it will look.

We knew things would escalate with people not following all the advice.
We could have had it contained and been able to work and have Summertime events.
My county fair could have happened in Autumn because it's outside in a large spacious area.
But not now because people won't mind.
It is like being a kid back in school and just because "that one kid" in class is acting up the whole class is punished.

Steven is still leaving home but not as often now that his friend is dead.
But he still goes somewhere too many times a week.
I stay at home for week after week and only go when I need food and/or water.

I will not be surprised when the positive count here starts rising drastically.

Hello, welcome Lori!

5 bags is good!

Tillie, how lovely that you got a rainbow! And such a nice phone visit with Nate!

CM,
Yay for your new computer!

Hi Tatoulia! I hope you had a good, safe trip.

I finished glazing my big bowl and will go in just to pick up my last four pieces some time between next week and the second week of August.

Cases are still rising here and I do not need to use the slab roller. Our libraries just closed again. All the closings and missed events and lost jobs are wasted because people wouldn't stay home and wear masks. We are right back at our peak, with more active cases than ever.

My next trip away from home will be either for feed or to get DD's dog, depending on how long it takes the baby to come. Or to take the Tom cat to the vet if I catch him. I named him Charlie.

Good Afternoon

Got up & out first thing this morning.
Did stuff in the yard.
Came inside and stuff in here too.

Taking a break and eating something too.

Good Evening

Was out watering the grass this evening when the wind started raging from the South.
I could hear distant thunder and the sky was filling up with thick dark clouds.
Then it rained a little but not enough to get things wet.
Lots of space between the rain drops.
But I kept watering the grass and enjoying the drops that fell on me.

Then I looked up and right over head was a MASSIVE double rainbow!!!
The colors on the inner rainbow were so sharp and vivid.
It was beautiful.

Welcome Lori :)

WAY TO GO!
You have really been doing a FANTASTIC job!

Happy you found some motivation to help you make all those keep/toss/donate decisions.

Enjoy all that newly emptied space you've made. :D

I'm so excited with what I got done this week! FIVE bags of stuff to Goodwill yesterday and five last week.
Today I cleared out a couple of shelves. I'm stopping by my daughters' houses to let them go through them... books are about culture and politics of their late dad's side. Tomorrow what's left will go to our local Peace and Justice center!
I've been binge watching Hoarders and it has motivated me!

Good Morning

Going to get into the upper 80s today.
Planning to water trees today.
After today temps will be upper 90s.

A man in his 20s has tested positive
bringing our county's total up to 12 cases found so far.

I wonder how many people without symptoms would test positive if they were tested?
Most people without symptoms don't care to get tested, like me. ;)

Since I am never in contact with a compromised person I don't see the need to sit in my car waiting in line out in the hot sun.

Anyways, just another day puttering around at home.

Good Afternoon Everybody

Hi CriticalMass
Great that Roommate had an older computer you can have!
Hope that helps some.

Kitty Cat sounds stressed and worried to me.
Sometimes when cats have issues like old age or an illness or some other mental type of worry
they will vocalize in the night because the quiet and darkness set them off.
Sort of akin to cat insomnia. Sometimes it's just missing someone not there like they always used to be there.
My cats have done this after one of them has passed.
Best way to handle it is with gentle talking, answering their cries, letting them know that even in the darkness you are still there.
And my cats absolutely needed their night light in the bathroom turned on.
If the bulb burned out during the night they would anxiously wake me up to tell me to fix it please.

Some kitties feel insecure when things change.
I am glad the Dog is back where he belongs, that will help in time (((HUG)))


Nathan called me today and we spoke for hours!!!
We talked about everything and nothing.
His veggie gardens are producing well, the fruit trees are looking good.
The ducks and chickens are thriving and there are too many hens so he has a lot more eggs than he needs.
His business is doing well and Mrs. Nate is doing fine too.
I am so proud of him and happy for them. :D

Hi, checking in -

Yesterday was over 100 here. Monday was in the 90s but felt awful. I hadn't planned to go anywhere yesterday, but then in the afternoon the laptop started giving me FITS and I had had it! I really was about ready to take it and throw it in the Arkansas River.

I called the computer store, and ended up taking it in. They installed 4 more GB of RAM for a total of 8. That was $37 + change, not bad. They can also if I want reinstall Windows 7, and put the Linux on a USB stick. Then I could use Win 7 again and learn Linux at my own pace. Of course I would need to take security precautions re Win 7 and not be online with it.

Not only that, but my roommate had her old laptop she hasn't been using. It only has Windows Vista, but she said I could have it. I can fiddle with it and be able to do some of the things that I need to do, then just transfer finished files to my newer laptop.

Kind of crazy workarounds, I know, but temporary, and hopefully will save frustrations for awhile. I haven't had time to see how the extra RAM does with the Linux system; that might make a huge difference right there. Typing this on roommate's old laptop. I think overall getting these computers sorted will reduce my stress level and allow me to be more productive on things like my writing and paper decluttering (due to transferring scribbled notes to electronic form).

The dog is home from the kennel - sleeping a lot. Today is hot, tomorrow will be hot, ad nauseum. Dog will need to sleep out in the living room a couple more days or so; there is a mat for him so I hope he will do okay. Maybe kitty will calm down with him here. Kitty was vocalizing in the wee hours again - a weird, sharp little meow I've never heard the likes of before. I worried he might be sick or having a heart attack, but after awhile he stopped - meowed or yowled some still but it was more "normal."

Getting excited to hear about SubC's grandson soon.

More as time permits.

Happy July!
Planning to make this a month of daily puttering around.

Hi Subclinical
So far it sounds like the studio is still a safe place to work! :D
WTG! for glazing and hope the pieces turn out gorgeous.

Your Summer class is a big success!
Fantastic job you have done (((hug)))

Yes, you must keep the gas tank full and the phones charged.
Plus you must keep keys and shoes handy.
I'm so anxious and know you must be too. ;D

So Mr. Kitty and Boy Kitty have come to an agreement.
That's good to know.


Hi Tatoulia
YEA!!! For Boston!!! :D

So true.
Masks are annoying but having worked in medicine/surgery the one thing I always HATED to watch was when someone was intubated.
Such a horrible thing to do to a person even though they were unconscious.

Your Friday plan sounds like fun.
When I have to drive into Reno I don't drink anything for hours before leaving home.
Then I don't drink anything while I'm there.
On the drive home I will have some water.
So far this has kept me from having to use public restrooms.
Unfortunately it's no good being that dehydrated but it's the only thing I can think to do.
Guess I could get therapy to try to overcome my aversion to to public toilets. ;p

Take a package of sanitizing wet wipes in the car and wipe down the place?

Have a great day today at work work. :)


Nothing much needing to be done here today.
Dishes, laundry, watering all caught up.
No crafting projects to do.
Steven is extra mean and nasty. Doesn't acknowledge my existence but has been having violent outbursts in his bedroom and in the garage.
Yelling curses and slamming/throwing things around.
Makes me nervous.
Have a deck of "Lord Of The Rings" playing cards and I will start playing solitaire to keep my hands busy.

Hello! July 1!

I read all of the posts and the take-away for me was, two kitties on the porch!


I simply cannot understand people not wearing masks. It makes no sense to me. Masks may be hot and uncomfortable but I'm sure a respirator is way worse.

Okay I have to work on my work now. Trying to close out the quarter.

We have Friday off. I'm going to drive out to our friends' house to drop off a 4th of July package for the kids. T-shirts, flags, "patriotic" Mike & Ikes, a beach ball, etc. she had suggested maybe an ice pop in the backyard. My sole concern is needing a restroom. It is a long drive to her house

Okay we had no COVID19 deaths in Boston yesterday. We are staying strong.

I did your sitting for you Tillie.

I went to the studio and did all my glazing but the last big piece.

I got two things back - one came out great and the other was a disaster. I need to send a photo to the firing staff and see if I can get sone feedback. Only the apprentice was in yesterday and that is what she told me to do.

They have reopened the children's program, which made me nervous when I saw all the cars as I arrived at drop off time, but it has a separate entrance and only one shared room I don't use. I do travel through a shared hallway, but I can wait for the kids to be gone should we arrive there simultaneously.

There were a few more people present than before, but I was still alone in the glaze area.

I'm thinking about trying to do the big piece on Friday and be done. After Friday the baby could be born.

Then I filled my gas tank, came home and mostly sat. This is the second time I have bought gas since mid- March. The tank was only 3/4 down, but I want it full when the baby comes.

I ran the dishwasher and watched videos and read. I didn't need to make a list though. I could tell that it was recovery time.

The boy cat came to the front door and meowed loudly this morning. Mr. kitty insisted on going out and chased him about 20 feet, but then after I closed the door and went away he crept back and they are both lying on the front porch, not quite socially distant.

My summer class has one spot left.

Well today I did stuff.
Didn't spend too much time just sitting.
The kitchen is clean again and the garden and grass are watered.
Jack and Cowgirl had my attention and pettins.
Scooter and Twinkles too.

Scooter was laying down beside the water bowl with his head hanging over.
He was just relaxing and watching mousie drown at the bottom of the bowl.
Spent a long time like that.
It was cute :D

Ate a peach. It was perfect!

All ready for bed and I am tired, in a good way.

Good Morning Everyone
June 30th already!
The days seem endless but the month just sped by.

Hi Subclinical
I am so angry with those people at your Mom's doctor's office building.
So rude and inconsiderate and ignorant.

Keep drowning out the negative voices in your head with all the things you DID do.
Best way to quiet down those nitpicking noises. (((HUG)))

From what you described of the studio setup you should be fine going there.
Lots of fresh flowing air and more than enough social distancing.

Good idea to not take recycling/etc. since you have to hike up the road.

Yes, I remember having a little boy that I would have to be extremely specific about explaining every tiny detail to.
What he could do, what he couldn't do, what he should do...
Then there were always the thousands of " WHY" questions he'd ask about everything.

How wonderful to hear your Dh taking the Baby quarantining seriously!!!
:D

I believe locations are allowing businesses to open up and events to be held are because the people just won't behave.
Even shops/restaurants that are open but with mask restrictions are having a LOT of people loudly protesting the mask rule.
So many have had to reclose to protect their employees from violent outbursts and physical harm.
So the authorities have given up with mandatory quarantine until the hospitals are overloaded again.
But they want masks and social distancing and the people just won't comply.
So selfish and inconsiderate of others who are trying to stay uninfected but yet need to work, get groceries or hardware, etc.

We all need to keep doing everything we can to help ourselves.

Yard sales are now being allowed. OK, they are outside...
But I don't think they are necessary and are possibly not socially distancing enough plus you have the hand to face contamination so many people do.

Your quarantine plan would really work to help slow/stop the spread.
I would make it four weeks though, just to be sure.
But the people are revolting, in every sense of the word.

Every man for himself, disgusting.


Anyways...
Lovely cool morning and I am going out to water.
Garden plants and grass.
Yesterday I did nothing but cat tasks.
Just sat lost deep in thought.
Need to get out of my head today and shake off this depression. :)

Tillie,

I'm sorry your county has a new case, but 11 is not bad. Hopefully that woman has not exposed people. Your county's total count is in line with my county's daily count.

I am a little nervous about going to the studio today because cases have bern climbing all around here, but then I remember what it is like in the studio. It will be ok.

Dh has to go to his office today to label boxes. They are moving everything out of his building to a new building before he goes back to work. Currently his back to work date is July 13. But last night I heard him talking to his guitar instructor. The instructor is going back to the music studio in July. Dh told him that he will be quarantining for two weeks after his grandson is born so that he can see the baby, so he won't be able to come in. He doesn't know I heard him, but that makes me really happy.

I don't understand this continuing to open things up when cases keep increasing.

What if we set a three week window where everybody would stay home except for emergencies? It could be in August so people could plan and prepare. Maybe start the second week so people could buy the things they needed or get important routine care the first week. Of course, Americans would never do it.

Also, it would probably be like my son when he was little - we had a shower with a glass door, and he would come open the door and talk to me. I told him not to do that unless it was an emergency, but then I had to define emergency. Something is on fire. A lot of water is running onto the floor and you can't make it stop. Someone is bleeding or unresponsive. Then I had to further clarify bleeding and unresponsive after he fetched me for a paper cut.

I am going to break my rule about not leaving home unless something leaves with me today because I have to walk a tenth of a mile to my car and I already have the one dish and my purse to carry. But I can walk on the bridge now, even though I can't drive on it yet.

Good evening,

Tatoulia, I hope you and kitty get a thunderstorm free night.

I am excited about your shower curtain!

CM, focusing on the books sounds like a good idea. It is important, especially right now, to focus on positive things.

My dil says her dog "sings the song if her people" early in the morning. Is that from somewhere? Or is it regional? You are the only two people I have heard use it.

Sounds like your roomate's treatment is going to be fairly quick. I'm glad.

We had a lot of cloud cover here from the edge of the Sahara dust, but that is all.

My mother went to the doctor today. They had signs up telling people they had to wear masks, but my mom was the only patient wearing a mask, and the nurse who did her blood pressure etc. and the administrative people were not wearing masks. She said she channeled me and complained to her np - who was wearing a mask. Her np said that she was frustrated but did not have the power to enforce anything. But, she took my mother's complaint to the administrator and my mom heard the staff being told they were Absolutely not to interact with patients Without masks going forward and she saw them putting them on, but she said they did not look happy.

I don't care if they are happy. They are supposed to be caring for my mom's health! How is not wearing masks doing that?! If she had really been channeling me, she'd have pitched a fit in the waiting room when she saw all the maskless people. If I had been with her I would have pitched one!

She said they tested her for COVID because she has had a sore throat and sinus congestion for weeks. (That makes no sense to me)

Today was ok. I got my glaze work done. I am going to the studio tomorrow and I might finish everything.

I have been noticing that the voices in my head keep pointing out my failings, but they like to focus on the things I don't do.

So, today I made two columns. I left out routine stuff like chores, but on one side I listed all the things I did that help further my goals, and on the other side I listed all the things I did that were counter- or non-productive. And the good side is very long. It has 21 things.

The bad side just says:

Too much time reading the paper

Ate sugared cereal for breakfast

Put off chores until after breakfast

Let the chickens spill $10 worth of wormer even though I thought about the fact that I shouldn't leave the bottle open on the hay rack between doses, because the chickens might knock it over.

Watched two videos.

Take that voices!

County website posted there is one new positive case of Covid19 here now.
A woman in her 40s.
This brings our total of cases up to eleven now.
The nine others have gotten better and that man, the first case here died.
But he was in the local killer hospital here that needlessly kills way too many people.

So happy you are continuing with the décor update to your home. :D

Very good that you are not buying right away.
You are taking your time, doing product research and taking the budget into consideration.
Responsible consumerism at it's best.

You need the chandelier for baths.
Sounds like such a fun thing to have. :D


There are Robins and Orioles all over my yard today.
Something about the Mulberry trees having half ripe fruit I think.

The song of his people! Got a chuckle out of that!

More thunderstorms today. So humid.

My fabric for my shower curtain arrived on Saturday. The cleaners just stopped by to get it. They aren't working today-the baby was in the car. They told me they are doing it for me and I said, no, I am paying you. I put a check in the Bag and the mom tried to give it back. The fabric cane on a roll and I just peeked into a corner of the plastic to make sure it's the right stuff.

So I'm pretty excited about this. I do have one yard of the fabric here. I do hope I bought enough fabric for the curtain. I don't know how to measure and there is a pattern repeat, etc. now I need to choose bathroom color and have it painted. I also need to get the chandelier reworked and hung. I need a few little pieces first. So the bathroom is coming together.

If there's leftovers, I may ask her to make me a pillow or two.

I didn't ask about the quilt. It was pouring rain.

I'm going to hold off on the iPad for another paycheck or two. I don't want to be in the habit of just buying stuff.

Hi CriticalMass

LOLing about the boy Kitty serenading you in the wee hours. :D

FANTASTIC! plan to just focus on the books in storage!
Putting on blinders is the best way to tackle a project with so many other distractions.
Yes, the closer storage is a lot better than the farther away one was.
You just need to make the time to start chipping away at getting it organized.
Good Luck and Best Wishes! ;)

With so many people not following recommended precautions all we can do is the best we can to keep our own selves safe.
The more they flaunt the regulations the more we have to stay quarantined away from everyone and everywhere.
I really don't understand why so many people are against preventing illness and death if not for themselves but for others. :(

I think some of that Sahara dust has reached your area since it has gotten thick in Houston.
Hope you only get a thin layer (((hug)))

Keep getting out for walks whenever the weather allows.

Good Morning :)
Got down into the high 40s last night and it's just 60F in here this morning.

Happy you figured out your new cutter Subclinical.
Good plan to use up random thread on the edges.

Gardening is so much harder when you have clay.
With sand you just need to add lots of compost and manure and mulch every year and then you have great drainage.

Hope your dreams are allowing your brain to work things out and let you relax and rest.

WAY TO GO! For your right to brag!
I remember my 6th grade graduation party.
The teachers all got together and made all the plans without ever asking any of us students.
They spent the money on a picnic lunch in a neighborhood public park with a private membership swimming pool.
None of us ever wanted to swim at that pool because they made all girls wear swim caps and it was known that some boys would watch through the windows of the girls dressing room.
The teachers were mad when us girls refused to swim and boys wouldn't swim without us girls.
When the teachers were yelling at us we all said that if they had asked us, we would have told them we wouldn't do that.
The lunch in the park was good and the teachers managed to eventually get a refund on some of the pool fees for the next year's graduating class party.
After school that day I went home and swam in my neighbors pool that they allowed me to swim in any time I wanted.

You are a GREAT Teacher asking your Students what they want or need in a class. ((((HUGS))))


Hi Tatoulia
Happy you are not over thinking about how to rehome the quilt :)

So glad you and Miss Kitty have each other.
Best buddies (((HUG)))

So sweet of your to have treats for Mom's people.
Little displays of appreciation go a long way.

I would never have figured out how to work that Android if Nate had not walked me through it.

Have a great day with work!

This'll just be a quick one to say hi and I'll post a more thorough update and responses later.

Things here are going well - roommate is to the day when 95% of it will be out of her system by this afternoon or so. Yesterday we socially distanced some binge watching of Dark Shadows, which was fun.

The kitties are less sanguine - grey boy again decided to get up in the wee hours and sing us the song of his people. Loudly.

This morning I did manage to haul my carcass out and go for a walk with her. The breeze was enough to keep temps down. Even though it's been awhile now since our rain, it gets muggy once the day's heat starts.

Don't know if that Sahara Desert dust cloud affects you all in your respective areas - I think some has reached here as the air looks hazy in the distance and some folks report allergy symptoms.

Covid is on the increase in my county, and given the numbers of non-mask-wearing people I've seen the last few weeks, I am so not surprised. :( It's bad in Florida as well, where my cousin's immunocompromised 10-year-old boy resides. He had a knee surgery and also must have scans because a spot was found on a femur bone. If people who are selfish and don't want to wear masks cause him to get sick...

Just gotta pray that does not happen. But it makes me angry to think how selfish and clueless many are.

I'm planning more about my storage unit. If I can do the boxing of books thing (getting rid of some in the process) and just put blinders on and not worry about any other areas that need attention until I get the books done, I think I will be pleased with the results and whatever the next thing to tackle will become apparent.

This will have to be during cooler times, whether that means getting up early and just going over for an hour or whatever. I need to remember how tickled I was back when I moved to this closer storage unit, and how I anticipated it working to my advantage. Sometimes when things drag on, it's easy to forget things really ARE better than they used to be, and continue moving forward in that knowledge rather than stall out.

I'm going to pick up a few groceries and things in a bit here, being cautious of course, then I'll be back.

Glad you all like the flower and other pictures. :) I love photography.

Good morning! It is the end of the quarter so it is a busy time for me at work.
That's a nice feeling, SubC, that you have a nice group of kids signed up already! And it is both your foresight in asking them what they'd like and your teaching skills that bring them to you! WTG! and yes, sometimes a little work-around the administration is needed!

Tillie I'm glad you got into my IG account. I haven't posted anything in a while. CM you do an excellent job of taking photos of flowers! Not easy to do!

We had a line of thunderstorms yesterday afternoon and into the night. Kitty kept coming over to me did comfort and I really appreciated it. I realize that at almost 16, we've been good friends for a long time.

Thanks for the help on the quilt. I am absolutely ready to let it go but got caught up in the idea of a "good home". I may reach out to my original cleaning fairy and see if she's going to be in Boston at all. If the goodwill were open I could take it there.

I'm planning to stick with the iPad. I like Apple products and my previous, 2d generation lasted a long time. The one I want is under $500. I don't need the fanciest. Someone once gave me an android tablet and for the love of God, I couldn't get the hang of it.

We bought snacks and treats for the people at my mother's house. I'll take on Friday.

Okay back to work. Have a wonderful day everyone!

Good morning.

Tatoulia,
I am sorry you're mask is making you claustrophobic. I actually find mine strangely comforting. I think I like having something to hide behind.

It sounds like you are doing really well with all the life things.

Tillie, I hope the wildfire season is not bad this year.

I grew up with sand fir soil. Learning to garden here is a lot different. The clay is the reason everything stays so wet - no drainage. And then it bakes rock hard mid summer and it is hard to pull the carrots out.

I have a little basic serger, so I will serge around the edges. I am doing some of them with two layers and some single. The edges are going to look funny because I have decided to use up a lot of my random spools of thread.

The new cutter is good. I did have some trouble at first because the blade guard keeps me from seeing the blade clearly, and I kept getting off by its width but I have figured it out.

I wish that you will find some little craft to occupy your mind.

Do you know how to make beads from paper? Perhaps you have some paper or colorful packaging that you could try that with? Or you could try cat fur felting - LOL! The New York times had a strange article on doing embroidery with your own hair.

My dreams were very strange last night. I assume my brain is doing whatever it needs to do to mend itself.

I have a little brag. Our summer program registration is up since Wednesday. I have six students for eight slots so far and the most anyone else has is two for ten. I'm sure part of it is the class, but I like to think it is also because the kids like me, and most important, because I asked them what they wanted before I offered my class. I am constantly advocating for surveying families before we do class offerings, and my boss is constantly telling me it doesn't work. (You have to pay when you register, so I expect there will be more sign ups after July 1)

Tatoulia
I kept trying different variations and got it!!!

Thank you!

YEA:)

Tatoulia
Sorry but I couldn't get it to work.
Even tried removing parts like http etc..

:(

Good Evening
Beautiful and cool evening here with a gorgeous sunset.
Unfortunately the pretty colors are from wildfire smoke in the air.

Hi Subclinical
Thank you

WAY TO GO! for the walk and raspberries! :D
Yeah, tipsy and drunk people are terrible about social distancing.
Outside is good but doesn't help when people touch.

With the baby wipes
do you finish the edges with a zigzag type stitch to prevent shredding?
YEA! for starting the cutting!
How do you like the new cutter?

Have a great day tomorrow glazing. :D

Nice you have natural clay in your yard.
I have sand.
Where I live was once upon a time a massive ancient lake where ichthyosaurs used to swim.
I have even seen their fossil remains.
So this is actually just a sandy beach here with no more lake.

When there were flowers blooming in my garden I collected the wilted petals and have them in a bowl, so I have been making potpourri as a craft project.
I also harvested a lot of desert sage when it was young and tender.
Now it's mainly just keeping things hydrated and waiting for Autumn when more will be happening.

I used to have sewing projects but I have sewn them all.
The isolating closedown has kept me from getting things to use for crafting. :(


Hi Tatoulia
(((HUG))) yes, masks can feel so stifling.

Happy you are keeping your chins up. LOL :D
Glad you and BF has a busy and wonderful weekend.

I have an Android tablet that constantly crashes and do not recommend the cheap ones to anyone.
Think Steven spent 10 dollars for it, new online.
Good luck finding a new good iPad.

So proud of you continuing to work on your home and finances. (((HUG)))


Just got a few rain sprinkles, I'm grateful.
I know my fears and panic is generated from Steven and his behaviors.
One reason I need crafting busywork to keep my hands busy, it helps relax me.

Hello everyone!

Tillie my Instagram is https://www.instagram.com/susie.7010.

I know that bored feeling. Also the overwhelmed one, SubC. I realized tonight that my panic is, at times, coming from my claustrophobia. Mask overwhelms me. I can't always think right.

So far I am staying as safe as I can. Frequent showers, wiping down things, distancing, etc. BF is very, very careful. So we haven't let up a bit.

I'm not up to date but I wanted to check in. I had a busy and wonderful weekend with BF. Doing what I can to keep my chins up. 😀

I'm going to buy a new iPad. My old one stopped working and the phone is too small. I don't need the latest or greatest and just WiFi is fine with me, so I'm going to see where I can budget it in. Meanwhile I am being diligent about savings and paying down that small loan. I'm proud of myself. I'm working away on it. I'm also working on better maintenance here. Really taking a look at things and improving.

Goodnight CM, SubC and Tillie. And anyone else including Joan.

Hi Tillie,

I am sorry about the dust and pollen.

And that you are out of craft supplies!

I'm pretty sure I have enough craft supplies for the rest of my life. Even if I ran out of storebought, I could always dig clay out of the yard and refine it..... And there is the woods and the marsh and the creek bed....

I went for a walk with dh today and ate some more raspberries.

I also FINALLY started cutting squares for baby wipes. I cut twenty of the terry cloth and the rest will be all flannel.

My neighbors are having a pool party. Dh thinks it is ok because they are outside. He thinks they will socially distance. I think they will drink too much and spread germs.

There is still caution tape across my driveway, but it is ok. They wouldn't invite us or come over anyway.

Tomorrow I have a little glazing at home I want to do.

Good Afternoon Ya'll

Only 88F in the shade today.
With the wind raging, it only took half an hour for the towels & washcloths to dry on the line.
Sheets & pillowcases even less time.

I'm bored.
The wind is really messing with my allergies making me cough a lot.

Both cats are bored and napping.
Scooter in the rocker & Twinkles beside me on the couch.
I would take a nap too but I'm not sleepy.

Good Morning Everybody

Winds picked up by 9am and will continue to get stronger all day.
Fortunately the temps will stay in the 80s.
This will be an extreme wildfire danger day.
Already a major fire in Reno area.

Have some laundry to do today since last night I put clean sheets & pillow cases on the bed.
Kitchen is staying relatively clean since I haven't been cooking, just eating lots of fruit/veg and bagels & muffins.

The dust in here is pretty bad again and will get even worse today.
Constantly have to wipe it off the counters and table.

I keep brushing Twinkles but he keeps shedding and pulling fluffs off himself so the carpet constantly needs attention.
Wish he would let me brush his belly.

Switching Scooter's cereal out for another kind to see if that helps with his scarfing & barfing problem he's developed recently.
He just eats too much too fast. Hope he doesn't like this other brand as much.

Need to find an activity to get interested in.
Some kind of craft or something.
All my craft supplies have been used up and I don't have any more beads or fabric or whatever to do anything with.
Still have some pencil puzzles and am tired of videos. ;p

BIG ((((HUG)))) Subclinical
Feel better...

Good morning.

I am shattery today. Dh is trying to taje care of me.

Cm, I'm glad things went smoothly. Hope the kitty settles in with you.

It is raining today, so no new boy kitty who does not have a name. Mr. kitty is sleeping in chairs.

Hi CriticalMass

All I had to do was copy/paste it in the bar. :D

So sorry you are having puter issues.
There may be a program running hidden in the background.
Some sort of add on that you do not want taking up all the power.

I have removed so many since it updated yesterday and now it's able to work faster and not being so stupid, doing stuff I didn't want it doing.

Glad Roommate is doing well. Steven had no side effects and felt "normal".

Having the proper support and firmness and padding in a bed can make all the difference.

YES! get out and take walks in the evening when it's cooler.
That really will help with so many things and help you feel better overall and get some more restful sleep. :D

Hang in there Kitties, soon things will be back to normal (((HUG)))


The wind has picked up and it feels like being in a blast furnace out there.
Have the hose slowly watering trees so I only need to check on it every hour or so.
103F at 1:35pm and humid too. :p

THANK YOU!!!
It worked GREAT!!!
Those strawberries look so delicious.
I have been wondering if Kitties get too quickly bored with that ball tower toy.
Such beautiful flowers and you capture them so perfectly.

:D

Tillie - try this and let me know if it works:

instagram.com/bunnyplanetqueen/?hl=en

I don't know if you have to put https:// in front of it or anything. If it doesn't work as is you might try doing that. IG works a bit differently on my laptop vs. my tablet vs. my phone, so it's hard to tell.

Technology! :P

Had more freezing with my computer and I'm going to contact the computer place soon to talk to someone who knows something and maybe see if I should take this computer in and have them try and talk some sense into it. First of course I would need to get an idea what that would cost.

One plan would be to have them install Windows 7, and I could just use it while NOT connected to the Internet (to avoid hackers), and also run the Linux OS from a USB stick. Best of both worlds maybe. Plus if they can help me optimize the Linux I may have better luck with it. In any case, geek jargon aside, I can't keep on fighting with this blasted machine when I want and need to get some WORK done. :(

SubC, does new kitty have a name? I concur with Tillie a Barn Cat would be good to have.

Our grey boy was distressed in the wee hours and let it be known with much me-yowl-ing. Tonight I'm going to try to make a ritual of going to bed out here on the couch, try and get him interested in sleeping with me; maybe that'll calm him and I'll enjoy it too.

He and missy are usually okay until they see my roommate come through or she goes into the bathroom, etc. Then they are reminded of her existence and want to go to her and can't understand why that is not allowed right now.

We are going to try and watch some Dark Shadows here in a bit, with her sitting socially distanced from me and blocking off her lap and the side table so the kitties can't try to get on her. She is feeling pretty decent, no major side effects.

Despite yowling kitty, I slept okay and my back feels a little better. Two pillows instead of one last night were a good idea. This is the same type of musculoskeletal pain I was having back last fall or whenever and the doctor did that adjustment, was going to have me go for PT but then I found a different spot on the mattress and the pain went away.

Clutter is to blame for this new round as the bed is just a nightmare. I'm hoping I can get all the crap that doesn't belong there gone when I return to sleeping there. And if possible go on some walks with my roommate. I've turned into too much of a couch potato and that's not good.

Lots of these things needing done will be easier now that we have this big event behind us. :)

Good Morning Everyone

Hi Subclinical
We missed you but we really do understand (((hug)))

GREAT! that the rat population is noticeably better and less smelly!

We know that virus would be spreading out from the cities and I wish your DH and Steven would be more careful.
It was important for us to use precautions in the beginning and it's even more important now with the wider spread.
You MUST get to see your Grandchild even if you have to quarantine your DH away from you at home.
((((((HUG))))))

My state has ordered everybody to wear a mask at all times in public.
The other day Steven subjected me to a rant about how he went off on a grocery store cashier about store policy.
Steven was angry that the man snapped back at him.
That poor man, trying to do his job just checking groceries and having to listen to people beotch at him about store policies all day long.

Do you have a low fee spay/neuter clinic near by for "Barn Cats"?
Here for 40.00 you can get a female done and 30.00 for a male and this includes inoculations.

You really could use some good Mousers.

Going to be over 100F today but supposed to stay under 100F the next few days.
Going to water trees and Lilac bushes today.
But mostly will lay low inside and putter and watch Roku.
Laundry is caught up and kitchen is clean but bathroom needs some attention again, as always. :P

Good morning,

Sorry I've been absent the last few days. I've been going through a period where everything seemed overwhelming and just forcing my way through the essentials and watching too many videos. I'm starting to come out of it a bit today, but I'm going to just start fresh to get through the block of posting something.

Please know that I have been reading and grateful for your posts and thinking about you all even though I am not responding to all of your events.

Very proud of CM.

I slept ten hours last night and I have done chores and started the dishwasher. I have not seen a live rat for two days, although I found half a rat yesterday. The barn is starting to smell better.

I seem to have another new cat. He is a pretty young tomcat, (which is going to be a problem). Yesterday he came within two feet of me while I was petting mr. kitty. I think he wanted some petting, but mr. kitty hissed at him and he ran away. They do sit in the yard social distancing very properly and watch the birds together. Flat Cat will also social distance with them now and then, but still avoids us. We don't see Flat Cat every day.

If he stays, I will have to catch him and take him to be neutered and get a rabies shot. I cannot have him growing up and fighting with mr. kitty.

Cases are accelerating in my state, we set a new record yesterday. And the counties that hold my family's lives are part of the problem. Dh is still playing golf though, and I will go to the pottery studio on Tuesday - I actually feel safer there than at home because all the people seem to be taking this more seriously than Dh does. It may be my last trip. I will fill my gas tank on the way home. Dd was born two weeks early, and I won't go out again after the baby is born because I want to see him.

Thunderstorms today.