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Saturday, February 28, 2009
Finding family
Facebook - wow!!! I joined recently - not something that I really wanted to do because I don’t do the whole internet social networking really well -- and I love it!! Three of my cousins have found me --- and a couple of old friends. Soon, I will develop my facebook skills and find old friends and family too.
My mom called last week. She had been contacted by friends that we had back when we lived in Houston in the 60’s! Lots of catching up -- and I got their email addy and will send photos.
Makes me think of the life I would have had, the people that I would have been close to had we not moved to California. Oh well, the opposite would be true - what and who would I have missed out in California had we not moved...
I’m working on my atrium today. Cleaning years of dog hair and dust. The wet/dry vac. makes a funny sound when rocks get stuck in the hose.
Happy Weekend!
My mom called last week. She had been contacted by friends that we had back when we lived in Houston in the 60’s! Lots of catching up -- and I got their email addy and will send photos.
Makes me think of the life I would have had, the people that I would have been close to had we not moved to California. Oh well, the opposite would be true - what and who would I have missed out in California had we not moved...
I’m working on my atrium today. Cleaning years of dog hair and dust. The wet/dry vac. makes a funny sound when rocks get stuck in the hose.
Happy Weekend!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Hens??
I just had to take a moment to share with you all the status of our chickens.
As you know, due to my long and lengthy complaining, Gary and I have had chickens since last summer. We did this in order to try to live a more green, sustainable lifestyle. And, it was supposed to save us money in the long run: eggs, fertilizer, eating scraps, etc... And as of today, December 1st, we have had no eggs.
In order for us to live this more green, sustainable lifestyle, we had an initial outlay of funds for the backyard chicken coop, chickens, feed, and other assorted items that we never thought about... buckets to hold the feed, feeders, waterers, cloth to cover the chicken coop to provide shade, yadda, yadda, yadda.
So as time passes, I notice that the chickens aren't laying eggs. All they are doing is eating and pooping. They eat a lot and poop a lot. I mention this to Gary. He (who is a scientist) says that this is due to the young age of the chickens. He assures me that we will have eggs by October.
October comes and goes... no eggs.
I mention this again to Gary. And He (who is a scientist and expert Googler) says that now it is due to the lack of daylight. There is something behinds the chicken's eye that is stimulated by sunlight, causing the chicken to lay eggs. I think that it has nothing to do with sunlight - but more to do with roosters parading around as hens. (And of course I tell Gary this - and he thinks that I'm silly).
Last week, Gary bought a flood light and timer. "Now the chickens will lay eggs", he says. So he installs the flood light on their chicken coop and attaches a timer, runs an extension cord across our back yard, down the hillside, and plugs it into the outside outlet.
A couple of mornings ago, I was dozing and heard a rooster crowing. I figured it was quite a ways away from us because it was faint. And it didn't sound like a rooster... more like, "wrack-a wrack-a wrack"! I mentioned it to Gary later in the day. He said that he didn't hear a thing.
So this morning, I was dozing and heard the same thing -- wrack-a wrack-a wrack! It still sounded far off and muffled. I nudged Gary awake so he could hear it too. I wondered which neighbor had snuck in a rooster and was glad that it was so far away. But Gary jumped out of bed, threw on his robe and ran outside to check on the girls!
A few minutes later, he thumped back inside. I asked after the chickens -- and he said that they were fine. And then after a little muttering and stomping around, he tells me that Snowball, our white chicken, looked at him square in the eye and said "wrack-a wrack-a WRACK".
Humph, so much for eggs.
As you know, due to my long and lengthy complaining, Gary and I have had chickens since last summer. We did this in order to try to live a more green, sustainable lifestyle. And, it was supposed to save us money in the long run: eggs, fertilizer, eating scraps, etc... And as of today, December 1st, we have had no eggs.
In order for us to live this more green, sustainable lifestyle, we had an initial outlay of funds for the backyard chicken coop, chickens, feed, and other assorted items that we never thought about... buckets to hold the feed, feeders, waterers, cloth to cover the chicken coop to provide shade, yadda, yadda, yadda.
So as time passes, I notice that the chickens aren't laying eggs. All they are doing is eating and pooping. They eat a lot and poop a lot. I mention this to Gary. He (who is a scientist) says that this is due to the young age of the chickens. He assures me that we will have eggs by October.
October comes and goes... no eggs.
I mention this again to Gary. And He (who is a scientist and expert Googler) says that now it is due to the lack of daylight. There is something behinds the chicken's eye that is stimulated by sunlight, causing the chicken to lay eggs. I think that it has nothing to do with sunlight - but more to do with roosters parading around as hens. (And of course I tell Gary this - and he thinks that I'm silly).
Last week, Gary bought a flood light and timer. "Now the chickens will lay eggs", he says. So he installs the flood light on their chicken coop and attaches a timer, runs an extension cord across our back yard, down the hillside, and plugs it into the outside outlet.
A couple of mornings ago, I was dozing and heard a rooster crowing. I figured it was quite a ways away from us because it was faint. And it didn't sound like a rooster... more like, "wrack-a wrack-a wrack"! I mentioned it to Gary later in the day. He said that he didn't hear a thing.
So this morning, I was dozing and heard the same thing -- wrack-a wrack-a wrack! It still sounded far off and muffled. I nudged Gary awake so he could hear it too. I wondered which neighbor had snuck in a rooster and was glad that it was so far away. But Gary jumped out of bed, threw on his robe and ran outside to check on the girls!
A few minutes later, he thumped back inside. I asked after the chickens -- and he said that they were fine. And then after a little muttering and stomping around, he tells me that Snowball, our white chicken, looked at him square in the eye and said "wrack-a wrack-a WRACK".
Humph, so much for eggs.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
6-24-08 Midsummer update
The flooring is done - and looks quite nice.
The office is almost done and looks quite nice.
Now, we just have to put the rest of the junk away.
sigh
A friend asked me to send photos of the office re-do. I promise that I will... as soon as I find the camera!
Gary and I went to IKEA to buy the new office furniture. We ended up buying tables (instead of desks) and two, two-drawer filing cabinets. We also bought some bamboo-rice paper curtains to use as closet doors. I must say, it all came together nicely. Now, we have to unpack our stuff and put it all away. We are getting rid of most of the computer equipment that sat on a server rack (I know - a household shouldn’t have its own server... but you know how it goes). I de-cluttered and tossed a paperbox full of old files, FAFSA applications, student loan documentation, school papers... etc. I actually burned it in the fire pit - don’t want anyone to get a hold of my personal info...
Next on the list is to figure out if we have fleas.
Yes, I said fleas.
I have done the bit where I walk around in white socks and look to see if any jump on my legs (they show up on the white socks). But nothing.
So, I bought organic flea powder and spray anyway- sprayed the mattress, couch, dog bed, curtains, and anything else that looked like it would harbor fleas. I washed all the sheets and throw blankets that were on and around the sofa. And I did the flea powder on the rug that the bed sits on... and vacuumed and vacuumed...
It was a lot of work but (hopefully) worth the effort. I did sleep well last night - didn’t wake itching with new bites. I am still itching from the old bites but that is better than old and new!
I still don’t know if it was fleas... we did frontline on the dogs and cat (we’re normally good about that but forgot to do it in May). Whatever it was, I sure hope it is gone now.
The garden looks good - lots of tomatoes on the plants. We pulled up the last of the cabbage and broccoli a week ago and Gary planted peppers in its place. I hope that by August, we will have so many tomatoes that we’ll be complaining!
The plum tree is full - to the breaking point. I think that I need to start picking plums - they are beginning to ripen. I still have gallons of plum juice left over from last year. Gary tried his hand at making plum wine to use some of it up... I don’t know how that is going to turn out.
That is it - midsummer update.
The office is almost done and looks quite nice.
Now, we just have to put the rest of the junk away.
sigh
A friend asked me to send photos of the office re-do. I promise that I will... as soon as I find the camera!
Gary and I went to IKEA to buy the new office furniture. We ended up buying tables (instead of desks) and two, two-drawer filing cabinets. We also bought some bamboo-rice paper curtains to use as closet doors. I must say, it all came together nicely. Now, we have to unpack our stuff and put it all away. We are getting rid of most of the computer equipment that sat on a server rack (I know - a household shouldn’t have its own server... but you know how it goes). I de-cluttered and tossed a paperbox full of old files, FAFSA applications, student loan documentation, school papers... etc. I actually burned it in the fire pit - don’t want anyone to get a hold of my personal info...
Next on the list is to figure out if we have fleas.
Yes, I said fleas.
I have done the bit where I walk around in white socks and look to see if any jump on my legs (they show up on the white socks). But nothing.
So, I bought organic flea powder and spray anyway- sprayed the mattress, couch, dog bed, curtains, and anything else that looked like it would harbor fleas. I washed all the sheets and throw blankets that were on and around the sofa. And I did the flea powder on the rug that the bed sits on... and vacuumed and vacuumed...
It was a lot of work but (hopefully) worth the effort. I did sleep well last night - didn’t wake itching with new bites. I am still itching from the old bites but that is better than old and new!
I still don’t know if it was fleas... we did frontline on the dogs and cat (we’re normally good about that but forgot to do it in May). Whatever it was, I sure hope it is gone now.
The garden looks good - lots of tomatoes on the plants. We pulled up the last of the cabbage and broccoli a week ago and Gary planted peppers in its place. I hope that by August, we will have so many tomatoes that we’ll be complaining!
The plum tree is full - to the breaking point. I think that I need to start picking plums - they are beginning to ripen. I still have gallons of plum juice left over from last year. Gary tried his hand at making plum wine to use some of it up... I don’t know how that is going to turn out.
That is it - midsummer update.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Monday - 6.2.2008
I realized that having new flooring installed throughout the house is as much work as moving.
Really
I’ve spent hours and hours packing all of our books, barware, wine, doo-dahs that we display, electronic equipment, more books, and did I mention books? It feels like I’m packing for a move, because everything actually must be moved from one room to another. However, I don’t have the benefits of moving into a new place.
Now I know why people don’t remodel as much as they do on TV. It is too much work! Even if you are paying someone else to do the remodeling - you still have to work! I thought that if you paid someone else to do the work, all you had to do is write a check, wait a few days and taa-daa... it is done!
Nope
Wrong-o
I get to work.. and worry that the work won’t be done in time....
And where am I going to put the piano?
Really
I’ve spent hours and hours packing all of our books, barware, wine, doo-dahs that we display, electronic equipment, more books, and did I mention books? It feels like I’m packing for a move, because everything actually must be moved from one room to another. However, I don’t have the benefits of moving into a new place.
Now I know why people don’t remodel as much as they do on TV. It is too much work! Even if you are paying someone else to do the remodeling - you still have to work! I thought that if you paid someone else to do the work, all you had to do is write a check, wait a few days and taa-daa... it is done!
Nope
Wrong-o
I get to work.. and worry that the work won’t be done in time....
And where am I going to put the piano?
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Blehh...
Tuesday, the day after Memorial Day... gotta go back to work. Bleehhh...
How am I going to make it through five more years of this??!!
Well, I guess I have only five more Tuedays after Memorial Day to deal with.
And Six more holiday seasons.
I never thought I’d get short timers this early...
How am I going to make it through five more years of this??!!
Well, I guess I have only five more Tuedays after Memorial Day to deal with.
And Six more holiday seasons.
I never thought I’d get short timers this early...
Monday, May 12, 2008
This is LIVING!!
Okay, so this was the best - ever!
I came home early today because I had two HOUSEKEEPERS coming over to clean my house. (I feel soooo naughty). So they are here, and it is a little uncomfortable because I’m now a lady of leisure --- oh, except for those hellish hours spent at work.
Anyway, lady of leisure has decided to spray bug spray outside because the spiders are taking over the awning over the koi pond and the fence. So, I’m trying to figure out how to connect the nozzle to the power sprayer (I bought a separate one for the bug sprayer) and lo and behold, I hear a lawn mower going. Now I didn’t start a lawn mower --- don’t even own one! It must be..... My GARDENER!!!
I have two Housekeepers and two Gardeners working at my house at the same time....
I LOVE THIS!!!!!!
And all I have to do is sit here and write my blog. Oh, and clean the muck out of the koi pond, and spray bug poison, and feed the dogs, and make dinner.... hmmm......
I came home early today because I had two HOUSEKEEPERS coming over to clean my house. (I feel soooo naughty). So they are here, and it is a little uncomfortable because I’m now a lady of leisure --- oh, except for those hellish hours spent at work.
Anyway, lady of leisure has decided to spray bug spray outside because the spiders are taking over the awning over the koi pond and the fence. So, I’m trying to figure out how to connect the nozzle to the power sprayer (I bought a separate one for the bug sprayer) and lo and behold, I hear a lawn mower going. Now I didn’t start a lawn mower --- don’t even own one! It must be..... My GARDENER!!!
I have two Housekeepers and two Gardeners working at my house at the same time....
I LOVE THIS!!!!!!
And all I have to do is sit here and write my blog. Oh, and clean the muck out of the koi pond, and spray bug poison, and feed the dogs, and make dinner.... hmmm......
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