Locked in...not out

I have managed a time or two to lock myself out of the house, but never did I manage to lock myself in...until today.  The one time I locked myself out was in the winter in a sleet storm when I went out to feed two pet ducks in my PJ's.  I had to break out the window on the back door with a brick, reach in and unlock the door.  Another time I had to remove a window, crawl in and unlock the back door.  I couldn't break the door window because I had replaced it with Plexiglas.  Try breaking that stuff.  The last time I locked myself out I had to call the PD to come and help me get in late at night after work.  You just don't want to be seen breaking glass and crawling through a window after 12 A. M. in the morning.  I don't, anyway.

This morning was a bit different.  I couldn't get the back door open.  Something of the machinations of the deadbolt lock wouldn't work.  I could have got out the front way, but then I couldn't get into the back porch which is also locked from within  via the outer storm door.  Of course, that is exactly where all (most) of my tools are.  What to do...what to do.

I do have a small box of tools inside for inside stuff.  So...with a hammer, a Phillip's Head screw driver, a lot of fussing, and a cold chisel I did get the dead bolt lock off and out the back door.  A burglar or a bad guy would have to be very determined and make a little noise to get into my house.  However, I now need a new lock and they are not all that cheap.

After working out in the yard I needed to cool off so I watched a video of Casablanca starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, an old black and white classic.  It was worth watching over again as it is timeless.  Gone with the Wind, if you can find it in black and white, is also a timeless classic.  Both are better without colorization.

It wanted to rain, but Mother Nature just couldn't work up enough local moisture.  It spit  once or twice and gave up.  Now, we could use a little rain occasionally.

END

DULL IS GOOD AT TIMES

It has been a dull day.  Other than doing what was necessary and dragging the patio umbrella out into the ally for trash pick-up in the morning, I have been lazy.  Tomorrow I need to get busy.

The little mouse came back, but this time I caught it in a bag and put it in the trash can.  Sorry, mouse.

 PLEASURE HUNT

*

Who says there's nothing here to do

And life for them gets boring...

You'll never find me idle or

in bed just merely snoring.

*

There's books to read and weeds to pull

Flowers that need smelling...

And roads to walk and streams to wade

And stories that need telling.

*

There's friends to cheer, when life gets drear

And gardens that need hoeing...

Or take the boat down to the creek

To fish or go a-rowing.

*

The song birds need a listening ear

God's creatures need attention...

Roll up your sleeves and go to work

That will rid you of your tension.

*

Lavonne Childers Minigh

*

END

EEEEK?

Yesterday I took a late afternoon shower as I was all stinky and sweaty after working in the yard most of the day.  So...imagine my surprise when I got up and went into the bathroom this morning...to find a mouse in my bathtub.  I went to find something to "defunct" it with and came back to find that it had squirmed up under the bathmat.  In order to send it to Mickey Land I would have to bash it under the mat and have mat-bash mess.  I therefore went to find the mouse bait only to find that said mouse got up, out, and away.  Which sort of pleases me because I hate killing little mice, mouses or moses, big or small.  I don't know how the mouse got into the tub or how it got out, but I am glad it is gone and stays gone.

I took myself to the beauty shop and got a haircut.  Now, some of the gray is gone and my hair is a lot neater.
I didn't get much done today.  It did rain; a nice, gentle rain.  We are expecting more tonight, but maybe not so summer easy rain.  I didn't get much done inside either, other than taking some things to the library for their sales table and getting a few books and a movie.

I have some items to go to the Good Will Store and will find more as I sort through some things as I continue to de-junk odds and ends.  I have several working TV remotes and several working phones that are going.  Why do we save such stuff?Tomorrow I will sort some of the other stuff I have "saved."

END

"THIS DAY..."

"THIS DAY GOD MADE, A BRIGHT AND GLORIOUS DAY..."

Now this was the kind of day that we all look forward to having.

I worked outside the better part of the day so I am tired.  It was a cloudy kind of day...not too hot...with a soft breeze to cool my brow, just the kind of day for getting things done.

I got the front yard mowed, reached over my head and trimmed some of the low hanging branches off the tree, (best I could) pruned along the fence in the front, and up part of one side of the fence on the other side.  I got most of what I pruned cut down to size and bagged.  I hope we don't have rain tonight because I didn't get the other side cut down to size and bagged yet.  I literly ran out of (physical) gas and decided that was enough for one day.  Do I have a lot more to do?  You bet your Bippy.  Another day, soon I hope.

I will not write too much tonight.  Beverly is one her ways to Denver and points west, early in the A.M.  I hope it is a good trip and the weather is good for their traveling.  Oh, I forgot...Stu is going , too!

*

LIVING THE WORD

*

Folks go to church on Sunday

And think they "have it made,"

But there are six more days in which

To practice what we've prayed.

You can't just read the Scriptures,

You have to live them, too.

And in your soul you must believe

God knows what's best for you.

Life takes a lot more giving,

Than most of us condone,

But everything belongs to God

...And nothing is our own.

*

Grace E. Easley

END

Pseudo-Hoarder

I am something of a pseudo-hoarder.  While not an extreme hoarder, I still have a lot of"stuff" to get rid of.  A real-true-hoarder can not stand to let things go and always has an excuse or a need to hang on to things.  Perhaps it is the result of poverty or some kind of emotional distress or an emptiness that needs filling.  I don't know.  In my case I was happy to get rid of a lot of unnessary junk and accumulation and will continue to due so, one room at a time.  No, you don't need to climb over huge piles of assorted debre' and yes, you can walk through the house from one room to another.  I still feel compiled to divest myself of unwanted, unused , unknown objects.  So-out-they-do go and the saga continues.

I have done a few things inside because I couldn't do things outside.  We did get some rain.  I must have slept through it, for the most part. 

I would like to get a few more tomato plants, if I can find any, and replace the one that went to 'mater heaven.  I have a few old potatoes that are going soft and I think I will put them into the ground and cover them with grass clippings.

It is time to think about that summer garden, but I also need to get a few things done within, before anything else without, such as touch up painting and hanging the rest of the prints and curtains.  I find that I can only do so much per day...getting old, you know. 

I am thinking of taking my metal detector and hard case to the pawn shop and getting rid of it.  Or perhaps putting it on Grieg's list.  I know my treasure hunting days are past, so why keep it.  I have even tried to give my stereo away with all the records and 8 tracks..no takers.  Oh well.

I have been going through all the coupons that Cindy sent me.  I already used the one from The Olive Garden and one for crackers while I wait for the week's sales to come out on Monday.  One thing I do not need at this time is meat.  Ah, but TP is always a necessity!

It has been a slow day and I am a slow thinker so I think I will slowly quit right here.

END

TOOTHPICKS

My living room walls are full of toothpicks.  Yup, they are holding up the walls!  I have been trying to hang pictures.  Every time I drove a nail it was in the wrong place and that left holes in the wall... ergo...toothpicks.  When I make a hole in the wrong spot I push a toothpick in the hole and break it off.  Then all I need to do is spot-touch up-paint it and it doesn't show up.  See, I told you I had a wall full of toothpicks.

I am having trouble hanging these framed prints.  I can still drive a nail, but there is no power behind the swing.  I can't drive a nail in straight anymore as my arm does not obey me as it did three years ago.  Still, I got three pictures up, one small nick knack holder and a mail holder up this afternoon...with the help of toothpicks.  I still have three larger prints to hang, but I need to get some picture hangers and do it right.

I checked my tomato plants and found that one is dead and must have croaked overnight.  I wonder if one of a number of stray cats has used it as a French Luv.  My pepper plants look fine and I see a tiny Roma tomato coming forth.

I spent all my time inside today because of the heat.  I hope it is cooler tomorrow...on Saturday.  I have a lot to do, including mowing the front lawn.  A little rain in the evening wouldn't hurt and it might make me grow.

TAKE TIME

*

Take the quite time of evening

At the setting of the sum

Before the moon arises

And all the work is done

Take time to thank the Savior

For the blessing of the day

And in the quite stillness

Just fold your hands...and pray

*

Betty Christman

*

END

2012

I'm tired and will go to bed early.  We went to the Olive Garden and had a really good lunch.  I had Chicken Scampi on Angle Hair Spaghetti and Debbie had Lasagna.  We both had double salads.  I really enjoyed the lunch as you can actually taste the various flavors.  However, I ate too much.  After the lunch we went back to Debbie's and watched 2012.  Now there is a scary movie.

I didn't get home until 6 P. M.  I was out almost the whole day.  At least the temperature dropped slightly and I won't have to run about naked in order to cool off.  Now, that would be a real scary sight!.  The humidity is a little lower, too.

The pump on the bird bath seems to have stopped working, but I filled it anyway.  I looked at my plants and they didn't seemed to be as shriveled up as on other days.  I need to figure out where I want to plant my sweet potato(s) and one cucumber plant that is starting to vine.  As it is predicted to be a bit cooler this week-end, I will get it done.  I am considering a small summer(fall)garden because some of the things I wanted to plant did not get planted because of all the rain.  I have time to think about it.  It may be a long, hot summer.

Beverly is getting ready to go to Denver.  I hope it will be cool for her out there.  I keep telling her she should go gold mining, but I don't think it appeals to her!  It appeals to me, 'though, esp. at $1,800.00 an ounce.  Two or three ounces and I would be good to go!

And I am going...to bed.

END