It has now been a little over two months since I retired. It has been a good two months. I have cleaned most of my house, something I didn't devote time to when I worked. I used all the usual excuses, too busy, not too bad, etc... It feels good to have the downstairs and my son's bedroom cleaned. I still need to do our room and the craft room.
We had quite a few spiders (old farm houses with dirt basements are good spider homes) who did not like my cleaning so they tried to take over. We set off bug bombs and they appear to be gone. We also sprayed around the outside of the house and hopefully that will work. We tried two old remedies before that didn't really work to well. We brewed tobacco in water, strained it and added lemon scented dish liquid and put that around the outside of the house. It appeared to work for a few weeks but no longer. The second was hedge apples in the house and they didn't appear to work at all. They just turned bad and we threw them away. So the bombs and outside spray appear to be the best remedy.
I have put off tackling the craft room since there is quite a bit of stuff in it. I am not good at organizing and to be honest, am not sure where to begin. I may buy some tubs and sort things in them just to get the room cleared and then start putting things back. It may take a while.
My goal is still to stay off until the end of the year and then in January begin looking for a part time job. That will allow me to be home when my son gets out of school and help with his homework which was my original objective.
Well, enough for now more later.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
A Bat in the Living Room
Last night around 11:30, I turned the light off in the living room and saw something fly in front of the TV. I watched and waited and saw it again. I turned the light back on and saw something black flying around the room. I finally saw very clearly that the black flying thing was indeed a bat with a wingspan of approximately 5-6 inches.
Since husband had already gone to bed and had worked that day, I didn't want to wake him. Son was watching TV in family room and had fallen asleep.
I watched as it landed on the top of the curtain and settled there. While I didn't want to go to bed with it lose, I also knew I wouldn't be able to stay up all night and watch it. I decided to stay up a while longer, with the light on of course.
Since son already occupied the couch in the family room, I decided I would need to sleep on the floor where I could keep an eye on the living room curtain. I was torn between leaving things as is or waking son and making him go upstairs to bed. I wasn't sure if we had more "house guests" or not and decided the current situation was the best.
I don't recall what time I finally fell asleep, but know it was after 3. I woke up at 6:45 this morning and looked at the curtain-no bat. I looked around the family room-no bat. I went to the kitchen and there it was hanging from the ceiling. My son woke up at 7 and I told him, heard husband stirring so son went up to advise him of the situation. Son comes back down and wants to see a bat so very quietly goes into kitchen. Starts laughing and comes back to advise my kitchen "bat" is really an old fly strip that I didn't get torn completely down and husband hasn't removed. Sone continues with jokes and I keep telling him I really saw the bat in the living room last night.
I go back to the living room and bat is still on curtain just in a different spot. Husband comes down and starts morning routine which includes a cup of coffee and then out side for morning cigarette (husband is still a smoker but does not smoke in house or around son).
Husband comes in with net from fish pond and traps bat but net cannot be removed so I get husband newspaper which he uses to "catch" bat in net. Net is against wall with bat still inside. Husband gets bat caught in newspaper and takes it outside. Fortunately happy ending to bat story for all.
I am not sure how the bat entered the house, however husband thinks it is through the window where the air conditioner is. Making note to get air conditioner taken out today or tape opening.
Keeping my fingers crossed that this is my first and last experience with a bat. Son looking forward to going back to school to tell his summer "bat" story.
Since husband had already gone to bed and had worked that day, I didn't want to wake him. Son was watching TV in family room and had fallen asleep.
I watched as it landed on the top of the curtain and settled there. While I didn't want to go to bed with it lose, I also knew I wouldn't be able to stay up all night and watch it. I decided to stay up a while longer, with the light on of course.
Since son already occupied the couch in the family room, I decided I would need to sleep on the floor where I could keep an eye on the living room curtain. I was torn between leaving things as is or waking son and making him go upstairs to bed. I wasn't sure if we had more "house guests" or not and decided the current situation was the best.
I don't recall what time I finally fell asleep, but know it was after 3. I woke up at 6:45 this morning and looked at the curtain-no bat. I looked around the family room-no bat. I went to the kitchen and there it was hanging from the ceiling. My son woke up at 7 and I told him, heard husband stirring so son went up to advise him of the situation. Son comes back down and wants to see a bat so very quietly goes into kitchen. Starts laughing and comes back to advise my kitchen "bat" is really an old fly strip that I didn't get torn completely down and husband hasn't removed. Sone continues with jokes and I keep telling him I really saw the bat in the living room last night.
I go back to the living room and bat is still on curtain just in a different spot. Husband comes down and starts morning routine which includes a cup of coffee and then out side for morning cigarette (husband is still a smoker but does not smoke in house or around son).
Husband comes in with net from fish pond and traps bat but net cannot be removed so I get husband newspaper which he uses to "catch" bat in net. Net is against wall with bat still inside. Husband gets bat caught in newspaper and takes it outside. Fortunately happy ending to bat story for all.
I am not sure how the bat entered the house, however husband thinks it is through the window where the air conditioner is. Making note to get air conditioner taken out today or tape opening.
Keeping my fingers crossed that this is my first and last experience with a bat. Son looking forward to going back to school to tell his summer "bat" story.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Cleaning the Fish Pond
Yesterday we cleaned our fish pond which has needed a good cleaning for a few weeks. It was being taken over by moss and we couldn't see the fish.
This year we started the pond with 3 small pond fish purchased at Walmart. We added 2 more in July that were given to us by a friend from work.
Imagine how surprised we were to learn our pond now contains 31 fish of varying ages. After cleaning the pond and replacing the water, we placed the original 5 fish back in the pond (1 looks as if she's pregnant now) and 12 of the babies that appear to be thriving. The remaining babies are being kept in a tank so they can be monitored since they do not appear to be doing too well.
Our pond is not large enough for 31 fish and the 17 we have in there now will be too many as the 12 continue to grow. I am going to call around and try to donate some of the smaller ones so all will have a better chance of survival.
The pond was created in the summer of 2006 and we had 3 fish given to us by the same friend who gave us the 2 this year. Those original fish survived the winter of 2006 and 2007 but died in the Spring of 2008. I believe it was due to our weather where it would get warm and then cold again and they just couldn't keep up with the changes.
We have also added some ferns and flowers to the pond which we will be transplanting later this week-they are in pots right now. They were given to us as the garden store felt they were on their last leg. However Tanner has nursed them back to health and they are now ready to be planted around the pond.
We have several hostas around the pond and they are growing. We've had those since the summer of '06. I wanted some of the tall grass plants to put behind the pond but haven't found any that I want to purchase at this time. I would also like to add a small fence accent behind the pond at some point.
I am getting ready to clear a spot to put lawn furniture so we can enjoy the pond more. This is probably the first year I have taken an interest in making more of an "outdoor seating area". I think it has a lot to do with my retirement in July and how the priorities in my life have changed.
I find I am becoming more focused on family and home than in the past where I thought work was most important. My priorities were really misplaced and they are now God, family and home. I am looking forward to concentrating on these priorities more and improving in all areas.
This year we started the pond with 3 small pond fish purchased at Walmart. We added 2 more in July that were given to us by a friend from work.
Imagine how surprised we were to learn our pond now contains 31 fish of varying ages. After cleaning the pond and replacing the water, we placed the original 5 fish back in the pond (1 looks as if she's pregnant now) and 12 of the babies that appear to be thriving. The remaining babies are being kept in a tank so they can be monitored since they do not appear to be doing too well.
Our pond is not large enough for 31 fish and the 17 we have in there now will be too many as the 12 continue to grow. I am going to call around and try to donate some of the smaller ones so all will have a better chance of survival.
The pond was created in the summer of 2006 and we had 3 fish given to us by the same friend who gave us the 2 this year. Those original fish survived the winter of 2006 and 2007 but died in the Spring of 2008. I believe it was due to our weather where it would get warm and then cold again and they just couldn't keep up with the changes.
We have also added some ferns and flowers to the pond which we will be transplanting later this week-they are in pots right now. They were given to us as the garden store felt they were on their last leg. However Tanner has nursed them back to health and they are now ready to be planted around the pond.
We have several hostas around the pond and they are growing. We've had those since the summer of '06. I wanted some of the tall grass plants to put behind the pond but haven't found any that I want to purchase at this time. I would also like to add a small fence accent behind the pond at some point.
I am getting ready to clear a spot to put lawn furniture so we can enjoy the pond more. This is probably the first year I have taken an interest in making more of an "outdoor seating area". I think it has a lot to do with my retirement in July and how the priorities in my life have changed.
I find I am becoming more focused on family and home than in the past where I thought work was most important. My priorities were really misplaced and they are now God, family and home. I am looking forward to concentrating on these priorities more and improving in all areas.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Starting This Blog
I am starting this blog as a way of keeping in touch with friends I left behind when I retired on July 16, 2008. It was a much needed retirement but I do miss my friends.
The first day after retirement was very relaxing. I did what I wanted when I wanted and it felt great. I cleaned the kitchen which really needed. Housework has never been my thing and I ignored it when I was working full time. I didn't like anyone to stop by my house was such a mess. It is not clean enough for visitors at this time, but it is slowly headed in the right direction. We now try to keep more picked up daily which reduces the amount of time to clean when the mood hits.
I have also been enjoying more time with my family. Tanner and I have just "hung" around the house and had some good talks. We have cleaned out one toy corner which was in bad need of being cleared out. He keeps everything and has a terrible time letting go of the old items he no longer uses. He gets that from me as I am the same way (as evidenced by my craft room). We also went garage saleing with Nana (my Mom) last Friday and had a great day. Found some bargains and bought some things I wanted but probably could have done without. I did get some bargains a few winter tops that I liked but would not have paid full price for.
The craft room is really messy and I now have a path to my desk where I can sit and create. This is very needed as I intend to make my Stampin' Up samples for the next Springfield Stamp Club meeting earlier. I am usually creating them the night before the class. I have cleaned out a few items for a yard sale I am having in a couple of weeks and still have a lot more to clean out. I will be adding not only rubber stamping, scrapbooking and misc crafts but also quilting fabric and some books I no longer need.
Today I worked in Tanner's room and donated two bags of old clothes to Goodwill. Tomorrow, after errands I am cleaning the rest of his clothes out which I will also be donating. I am not going to sell the clothes or have them at the yard sale as they typically do not go well.
Well that enough for now and I will continue adding to this blog. I will also be inviting my friends to visit and add to this blog so we can all stay in touch.
Remember to start each day praising God for the good in your life and what He will do through you today.
The first day after retirement was very relaxing. I did what I wanted when I wanted and it felt great. I cleaned the kitchen which really needed. Housework has never been my thing and I ignored it when I was working full time. I didn't like anyone to stop by my house was such a mess. It is not clean enough for visitors at this time, but it is slowly headed in the right direction. We now try to keep more picked up daily which reduces the amount of time to clean when the mood hits.
I have also been enjoying more time with my family. Tanner and I have just "hung" around the house and had some good talks. We have cleaned out one toy corner which was in bad need of being cleared out. He keeps everything and has a terrible time letting go of the old items he no longer uses. He gets that from me as I am the same way (as evidenced by my craft room). We also went garage saleing with Nana (my Mom) last Friday and had a great day. Found some bargains and bought some things I wanted but probably could have done without. I did get some bargains a few winter tops that I liked but would not have paid full price for.
The craft room is really messy and I now have a path to my desk where I can sit and create. This is very needed as I intend to make my Stampin' Up samples for the next Springfield Stamp Club meeting earlier. I am usually creating them the night before the class. I have cleaned out a few items for a yard sale I am having in a couple of weeks and still have a lot more to clean out. I will be adding not only rubber stamping, scrapbooking and misc crafts but also quilting fabric and some books I no longer need.
Today I worked in Tanner's room and donated two bags of old clothes to Goodwill. Tomorrow, after errands I am cleaning the rest of his clothes out which I will also be donating. I am not going to sell the clothes or have them at the yard sale as they typically do not go well.
Well that enough for now and I will continue adding to this blog. I will also be inviting my friends to visit and add to this blog so we can all stay in touch.
Remember to start each day praising God for the good in your life and what He will do through you today.
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