Song of the day: “Grease Lightning” by John Travolta of course. In regard to today’s activities, I am not at all surprised by the song. But I’ll get to that later. First, let’s get to yesterday and get that over with.
Nothing big going on. In fact yesterday’s weather was so abysmal that very little got done, except damage control. We had thunder, we had rain and we had winds. All was coming down around our ears and the ground trembled, ended up being without electricity for most of the night…which made things interesting for mom and little brother who had to go out after midnight to bring a friend to the airport. Again the same woman, whose dogs we’re boarding for the next week or so. There was so much hail that mom slip-slided down the mountain. Thankfully there was no oncoming traffic, allowing them to come home safely.
This means that my mornings once more involve walking three dogs. They appear to remember us, so it is not a chore or anything. In fact, a couple of them are pretty affectionate.
During the hailstorm we had forgotten that we’d put the young lettuces outside for hardening, meaning we lost several to the hard pellets coming down by the bucket. (Darn it) As for the cabbages in the yard, they don’t give a fig, really. Sure some of the smaller ones suffered, but other than that, most of them are flourishing. I am pleased to announce that the basin is once again fully filled, meaning that all our efforts last year once more paid off. Sure, we’ll need some more rain, once or twice, this spring, but then we should be able to manage just fine ‘till the end of summer…I hope. Hah.
My dogs spent most of yesterday inside my cabin…their choice, rather than mine if you must know. Seriously, they really dislike the cold, and were more than happy to reside in the relative warmth of the cabin, rather than follow me around the property…well, most of them anyway, Sitabah and Dax were not at all appreciative and ended up screeching like a bunch of pigs. Grrr.
With damage control belonged taking water from the garden pit. We still haven’t gotten around to putting in that drain, so we had to do it the old fashioned way again. Since we had to keep an eye on that anyway, we got rid of a big bunch of garbage, debris and whatnot, which of course had to be hauled up to the car later in the day. *sigh* We checked out the recent fill that we applied in front of the house/courtyard and that is one of the few things for which the rain is really good. Who knows, if it keeps pounding a lot this spring, we might even be able to put the floor in before next winter. Yay.
Checking the greenhouse and raised seedbed was done at our leisure, what with the weather not permitting much else anyway. Seriously, I spent a wonderful hour in the greenhouse hunting bugs. Hah. Afterward we headed on down, during the lull in the rain, checking those cabbages and such as I already mentioned. (Sorry)
I worked some in the carport (there was the stove was on for the pack so that they’d get dry a little) painting mom’s new table lamp, and adding a layer of varnish, which makes it look gorgeous! There were some other chores, very boring all, I assure, after which we piled half the garbage we gathered during the day
First there was a trip to the local land fill, and then we headed out (Knight II in the backseat) into the wild so we could take him for a relaxing walk. Despite the miserly rain, he enjoyed it, I think. Thereafter we had to go to the village to return a faulty purchase, which went well, thankfully. I would have hated to lose 40 bucks because I was stupid enough not to check the brand.
We didn’t get home until dusk, and then we were late to get on the way for our appointment with a small charity donation, which we had to pick up in town. No supper for us. *sigh* Luckily we got to that once we got home and relaxed a little at the computers before calling it a night. Of course I got distracted on Wikipedia. I ended up reading about Charlie Chaplin, and several links connected to it, and thus didn’t get to bed until after two in the morning. Aaaargh.
As for today…I was on time, despite the late hour of the previous evening. After the usual chores in the house, and letting the boarder dogs out for a run, big brother and I departed to get rid of another big load of garbage. I am sometimes amazed as to how much one gathers over the years. The place is starting to shape up, though, and that is all that matters.
We made a slight detour road-trip, did some exploring in the woods where there was a ruin of some sort of old factory, or processing station. Climbed a mountain, wandered some paths and then headed back home to get started on the activities of the day.
Finally, what with the sun shining and the wind being absent for a change, we got to work on that old car wreck again, cutting, sawing, slicing and whatnot. Boy, it is not at all easy getting an old heap of rusty metal out of the way. I’ve got my hands filled with cuts and bruises, there is grease all over the place (ergo the song of the day, duh) and, well, we’ve got a seventh of the wreck out of the way now. Yay.
There was another little trip into the yard, checking up on stuff, there were the chats with tenant, who really enjoyed the sunshine again, the chasing the dogs when they misbehaved, and of course cooking. There were leftovers from yesterday, and I made a sort of pasta primavera to fill in the gaps. I like d it, but then, after a long day I am not all that picky. Hah.
Since yesterday was too busy for edits, I’m going to see if I can keep my eyes open long enough to do one tonight. I’m not going to hold my breath. Hah.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Bureaucratic toils
Song of the day: “Swing on a star” by Bruce Willis and Danny...gawd, I never remember how you write his name. But anyway the dude from Hudson Hawk. Hah. Such a fun song.
I better get to this fast because it’s already past nine and I only have a few hours left to get some edits done. Right, yesterday…or at some point in the past couple of days, because let’s face it, to me they’re pretty much a mush of events.
Let’s see. We got a new load of sand, which we’ll have to unload tomorrow morning. Yay. It took a while, and afterward I took the Knight for a sturdy walk (should have jogged, but what the hey) which he will appreciate tonight when it’s time to eat. Hah.
There was sieving, lots of sieving, thank you very much. Piles and piles of dirt had to be processed which meant bending over the sieve until I thought I was going cross eyed. Hah. Gawd, you have no idea how much dirt gathers in dirt, and really, that is not a good thing for construction. Biological material rots, and when it rots it will crack cement and concrete in a month. Learned that the hard way during plaster work. Jeez.
Had to go to Malaga. Mom’s new driver’s license still didn’t arrive and the temporary one has expired, meaning we had to go to traffico which is where you have to go for anything that is about vehicles. *sigh*Since we had to be there anyway, big brother came along to disclaim his old moped for which he still had to pay taxes, despite the fact that the moped hasn’t run in three years. There were endless waiting cues, meaning that first we waited in line at information, then, once we’d received our number 241 (while the counter showed 196, thank you very much). Of course we arrived at break time, meaning more waiting, and when our turn finally came, we just snuck big brother in with us, rather than wait ‘till his turn was up (280, yikes). Once we were at the desk, the nice guy (there’s a change for you, usually these bureaucrats are crabby folk) helped us nice and fast. We were at the desk five minute tops and then out at the car again.
Then we spent another hour wandering through the industrial area of Malaga, searching for a store which sells sewing supplies. Failed to find the right one, but I did get this cute little hat from a Chinese store, hah. I kinda like it, even though it seems a man’s hat.
Tenant and caregiver were also out (at the same time) dealing with a doctor’s appointment and a check at a place for one of those invalid stickers in the car. If she’s lucky, she’ll get one ‘round next year, which is how long the procedure takes. How’s that for insanity?
There was a foray online, searching for bone information (gross subject, by the way). The possible WIP, just as soon as this edit is over, at the moment the plot involves a sick parent, but I am pondering a change where said parent was murdered instead. Ah well, we’ll see. It has possibilities for sure.
Dinner yesterday consisted of leftovers with bread, I did some small edits (on paper) but really was way too tired after being out most of the day and then digging, and sieving, and wheelbarrow-ing (uphill this time) for the remainder of the day. I was in bed before 1:40 in the morning, so that was definitely a plus.
We dug and used the jackhammer behind my cabin again, we really need to have that done some day soon…though the new bathroom is getting to be a priority fast. Hah. We took out at least eight small wheelbarrows of rock and dirt, which we hauled down the mountain as usual for filling.
Gardening, of course, along with a harvesting session of kale and broccoli.
Reading wise I am, at the moment immersed in the last Lyonesse story of Jack Vance. Madouc it’s called, and so far I’m enjoying it. I still can’t say that I understand his characters, but I do admit that they fit perfectly in the beautiful world he creates.
Chaos is as good as new, and making the usual nuisance of himself. Mom and little sister did have a rush trip to the vet yesterday. Purna, one of little sister’s cocker spaniels was breathing strangely, but after an examination, the vet was unable to say what the problem was. No cancer that she could detect, or any other more obvious problems, so we’ll just have to wait and see.
I can’t think of more, so this is it, I guess.
I better get to this fast because it’s already past nine and I only have a few hours left to get some edits done. Right, yesterday…or at some point in the past couple of days, because let’s face it, to me they’re pretty much a mush of events.
Let’s see. We got a new load of sand, which we’ll have to unload tomorrow morning. Yay. It took a while, and afterward I took the Knight for a sturdy walk (should have jogged, but what the hey) which he will appreciate tonight when it’s time to eat. Hah.
There was sieving, lots of sieving, thank you very much. Piles and piles of dirt had to be processed which meant bending over the sieve until I thought I was going cross eyed. Hah. Gawd, you have no idea how much dirt gathers in dirt, and really, that is not a good thing for construction. Biological material rots, and when it rots it will crack cement and concrete in a month. Learned that the hard way during plaster work. Jeez.
Had to go to Malaga. Mom’s new driver’s license still didn’t arrive and the temporary one has expired, meaning we had to go to traffico which is where you have to go for anything that is about vehicles. *sigh*Since we had to be there anyway, big brother came along to disclaim his old moped for which he still had to pay taxes, despite the fact that the moped hasn’t run in three years. There were endless waiting cues, meaning that first we waited in line at information, then, once we’d received our number 241 (while the counter showed 196, thank you very much). Of course we arrived at break time, meaning more waiting, and when our turn finally came, we just snuck big brother in with us, rather than wait ‘till his turn was up (280, yikes). Once we were at the desk, the nice guy (there’s a change for you, usually these bureaucrats are crabby folk) helped us nice and fast. We were at the desk five minute tops and then out at the car again.
Then we spent another hour wandering through the industrial area of Malaga, searching for a store which sells sewing supplies. Failed to find the right one, but I did get this cute little hat from a Chinese store, hah. I kinda like it, even though it seems a man’s hat.
Tenant and caregiver were also out (at the same time) dealing with a doctor’s appointment and a check at a place for one of those invalid stickers in the car. If she’s lucky, she’ll get one ‘round next year, which is how long the procedure takes. How’s that for insanity?
There was a foray online, searching for bone information (gross subject, by the way). The possible WIP, just as soon as this edit is over, at the moment the plot involves a sick parent, but I am pondering a change where said parent was murdered instead. Ah well, we’ll see. It has possibilities for sure.
Dinner yesterday consisted of leftovers with bread, I did some small edits (on paper) but really was way too tired after being out most of the day and then digging, and sieving, and wheelbarrow-ing (uphill this time) for the remainder of the day. I was in bed before 1:40 in the morning, so that was definitely a plus.
We dug and used the jackhammer behind my cabin again, we really need to have that done some day soon…though the new bathroom is getting to be a priority fast. Hah. We took out at least eight small wheelbarrows of rock and dirt, which we hauled down the mountain as usual for filling.
Gardening, of course, along with a harvesting session of kale and broccoli.
Reading wise I am, at the moment immersed in the last Lyonesse story of Jack Vance. Madouc it’s called, and so far I’m enjoying it. I still can’t say that I understand his characters, but I do admit that they fit perfectly in the beautiful world he creates.
Chaos is as good as new, and making the usual nuisance of himself. Mom and little sister did have a rush trip to the vet yesterday. Purna, one of little sister’s cocker spaniels was breathing strangely, but after an examination, the vet was unable to say what the problem was. No cancer that she could detect, or any other more obvious problems, so we’ll just have to wait and see.
I can’t think of more, so this is it, I guess.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Poor Chaos
Song of the day: “Do you really want to hurt me?” by Culture Club. I know what you’re thinking? Culture Club! Why? I don’t know. I can’t explain it. It’s been going through my head all day, darn it. And I don’t even like the song! *sigh*
Ah well, no helping it, I guess.
So, I’m running on fumes tonight. I was out most of the morning, taking Chaos to the vet for his dental surgery. He really didn’t like me leaving him there. All obediently he went into the cage, sat down and looked at me morosely (shivering all the while) while I headed back out to get my bodywarmer. Put that over him and then promised I’d be back to pick him up ASAP. He has such doggy eyes. It just broke my heart leaving him in that cage, but there was no helping it. Had to head for town to pick up some supplies, along with a grocery or two. Wasn’t back longer than an hour when I had to go back again to pick him up. Gawd I was startled. He was so apathetic! He barely even responded to when he heard my voice. Didn’t in fact respond at all until I squatted beside him and put my hand under his nose. Then he finally raised his head, only to let it drop again as if it was just too heavy for him. Poor Choas.
I tried to rouse him for more than ten minutes (apparently he has a really slow metabolism) and when that didn’t work (I had serious fears that I was going to lose him to anesthetics. It has been known to happen) the vet assistant and I carried him out to the car and put him in the back. Our gorgeous weighs a whopping 88 pounds, thank you very much.
On the way home I stopped once to check on him, he wagged his tail once, and by the time I got home he was raising his shoulders from the floor of the car.
Big brother and I carried him inside to a sunny spot. He was more comfortable this time around, lounged in the blanket we used to carry him. Hah. Around six in the evening he was walking around again, and is now lying at my feet begging for food. That’s my gorgeous!
But that was a slight spoiler of today, wasn’t it? Let me just rewind a little and tell about yesterday. Now, if only I wouldn’t blank at this very moment……..right, I did some sawing. Cousin Ed is remodeling her place a bit, putting up panels under her windows because the old panels were looking so bad.
What else…made zucchini soup for today, rather than yesterday. We had some major bags of frozen zucchini in the freezer, so I took out three. Two for soup and one for a ratatouille that I made later for supper. Ate that with chickpea burgers last night and then got down to the edit. Yay.
Good news on the “doing-the-blog-different-every- now-and-then. Soon there will be another interview with an author from the States. Tanner Artesz, and as you might have guessed I already did a review for him some time ago. I can’t say anything specific in regard to the date, since the interview is still in the beginning stages, but I just thought I’d give y’all a heads up.
There was an unload-the-car session, after which I repaired a kid’s kick scooter back to functionality and worked on the table lamp I’m fixing up for mom. What with all the sowing she needs a proper light there.
Fence fixing too. The sun was out, the wind gone for about 24 hours, and we put up a section of fence that Tadaika had wrecked for the gazillionth time. This time we did a large strip of diamond metal fence, so that oughta do the trick. Yay. In fact, while we were digging today, none of the dogs (except Abacara who just squeezes herself through a three inch gap between fence and gate) joined us for a change. It was awesome. Hah.
I distinctly remember a very short nap, which was wonderful since the weather was nippy. Heck, it was downright cold because despite the other dogs throwing up a racket outside, Knight II, Chaos, Sitabah and Dax didn’t even bother to raise their heads while we cuddled together on the bed. Hah.
There was watering of course (today cousin Ed did the honors, due to my having to go out and bringing Chaos to the vet and everything) along with a nice little harvest of tomatoes from the greenhouse, fresh parsley and another broccoli. I did hunt bugs, naturally. The little buggers keep turning up.
Well, of course I did laundry, cleaning and all that sort of boring stuff. I hauled stuff, I dug and on the overall was kept nicely busy.
We managed another edit somewhere along the way. Not a huge amount of pages, but enough to be able to say that we’re making progress.
And I’m going to leave it at this. My days is as good as over, and since I can already think of bed (with a barely concealed whimper) fondly that is a good thing. Hah.
.
Ah well, no helping it, I guess.
So, I’m running on fumes tonight. I was out most of the morning, taking Chaos to the vet for his dental surgery. He really didn’t like me leaving him there. All obediently he went into the cage, sat down and looked at me morosely (shivering all the while) while I headed back out to get my bodywarmer. Put that over him and then promised I’d be back to pick him up ASAP. He has such doggy eyes. It just broke my heart leaving him in that cage, but there was no helping it. Had to head for town to pick up some supplies, along with a grocery or two. Wasn’t back longer than an hour when I had to go back again to pick him up. Gawd I was startled. He was so apathetic! He barely even responded to when he heard my voice. Didn’t in fact respond at all until I squatted beside him and put my hand under his nose. Then he finally raised his head, only to let it drop again as if it was just too heavy for him. Poor Choas.
I tried to rouse him for more than ten minutes (apparently he has a really slow metabolism) and when that didn’t work (I had serious fears that I was going to lose him to anesthetics. It has been known to happen) the vet assistant and I carried him out to the car and put him in the back. Our gorgeous weighs a whopping 88 pounds, thank you very much.
On the way home I stopped once to check on him, he wagged his tail once, and by the time I got home he was raising his shoulders from the floor of the car.
Big brother and I carried him inside to a sunny spot. He was more comfortable this time around, lounged in the blanket we used to carry him. Hah. Around six in the evening he was walking around again, and is now lying at my feet begging for food. That’s my gorgeous!
But that was a slight spoiler of today, wasn’t it? Let me just rewind a little and tell about yesterday. Now, if only I wouldn’t blank at this very moment……..right, I did some sawing. Cousin Ed is remodeling her place a bit, putting up panels under her windows because the old panels were looking so bad.
What else…made zucchini soup for today, rather than yesterday. We had some major bags of frozen zucchini in the freezer, so I took out three. Two for soup and one for a ratatouille that I made later for supper. Ate that with chickpea burgers last night and then got down to the edit. Yay.
Good news on the “doing-the-blog-different-every- now-and-then. Soon there will be another interview with an author from the States. Tanner Artesz, and as you might have guessed I already did a review for him some time ago. I can’t say anything specific in regard to the date, since the interview is still in the beginning stages, but I just thought I’d give y’all a heads up.
There was an unload-the-car session, after which I repaired a kid’s kick scooter back to functionality and worked on the table lamp I’m fixing up for mom. What with all the sowing she needs a proper light there.
Fence fixing too. The sun was out, the wind gone for about 24 hours, and we put up a section of fence that Tadaika had wrecked for the gazillionth time. This time we did a large strip of diamond metal fence, so that oughta do the trick. Yay. In fact, while we were digging today, none of the dogs (except Abacara who just squeezes herself through a three inch gap between fence and gate) joined us for a change. It was awesome. Hah.
I distinctly remember a very short nap, which was wonderful since the weather was nippy. Heck, it was downright cold because despite the other dogs throwing up a racket outside, Knight II, Chaos, Sitabah and Dax didn’t even bother to raise their heads while we cuddled together on the bed. Hah.
There was watering of course (today cousin Ed did the honors, due to my having to go out and bringing Chaos to the vet and everything) along with a nice little harvest of tomatoes from the greenhouse, fresh parsley and another broccoli. I did hunt bugs, naturally. The little buggers keep turning up.
Well, of course I did laundry, cleaning and all that sort of boring stuff. I hauled stuff, I dug and on the overall was kept nicely busy.
We managed another edit somewhere along the way. Not a huge amount of pages, but enough to be able to say that we’re making progress.
And I’m going to leave it at this. My days is as good as over, and since I can already think of bed (with a barely concealed whimper) fondly that is a good thing. Hah.
.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
The smaller greenhouse
Song of the day: “Step by step” by Whitney Houston. Quite inevitable due to the news I heard early this morning. My, there was a shocker. It ranked right up there with Heath Ledger and Brittany Murphy. Totally didn’t see it coming. Weird.
Well, let’s see if we can do this fast today. I’m in a bit of a rush because I need to go out later and I still want to do some edits.
For the past couple of days we have been working on the new (smaller) greenhouse. Just yesterday we put up the knee-high wall that will hold the future glass structure. We opted for natural rock, because it will look nice with the courtyard wall behind it, and the smaller rock walls below it. I’m making pictures, so once it is done I’ll show off. Hah.
But anyway, yesterday we put up the wall, allowing us to spend today chopping away the thin concrete floor that used to make up the little terrace in the past. It sounds a lot easier than it was since this was the one time when our tendency for overkill nipped us in the butt. We’d put metal work in the concrete, for crying out loud! Grrr. Be that as it may, we spent the majority of the afternoon doing that, and going on up to finally work on the Opel again.
Yep, we got around to putting the side panel that big brother spray painted the other day, in, and were only left with one screw we had no idea where it came from left. *sigh* I don’t know how that works, but usually when you take something apart you are left with a screw or two.
What else. Well, there was the yard of course. It was actually kinda nice down there since the wind didn’t blow that bad on the lower terraces. I watered plants and seedlings, both today an yesterday, and while yesterday I only harvested some broccoli, today I managed to get a whole bucket of chickweed that went really well for supper this afternoon. Everything down there is doing rather splendid, and seriously, with this type of weather I’m inclined to just stay there (and in the greenhouse) if for no other reason than the splendid warmth.
Grandpa is really liking the mittens I made for him the other day. Says they keep his hands nice and warm during his walks with his dogs in the morning. Good thing, since the cold hand thing is driving him bonkers.
Did a wee bit of cleaning in my cabin again because it was really getting to be ridiculous again. It still is, but at least the floors are clean. *sigh* But seriously, who’s got time for cleaning when you come in around midnight, drop into bed pull up the blankets, have your eyes closed ‘till the alarm goes of, get dressed and are out again before the sun peaks over the mountains? I sure don’t.
Typed out tenant’s letter yesterday afternoon. Her handwriting is not as neat as it used to be, so I offered to write it on the computer for her so it would be easier to read. That, and I did a photo session with her, so she could add two pictures to the letter. Got a couple that worked out splendidly, and even she is happy about them, which is a rare thing.
Well, I’ve gotta give Chaos his first antibiotic, his operation is less than a couple of days away, poor thing. He’s not liking today’s cold by the way. He’s lying at my feet and I covered him with a blanket. Now, as he falls asleep his paws will stretch out, only for him to very slowly pull them back again, lest they get too cold. Hah. It’s really funny to see.
Well, let’s see if we can do this fast today. I’m in a bit of a rush because I need to go out later and I still want to do some edits.
For the past couple of days we have been working on the new (smaller) greenhouse. Just yesterday we put up the knee-high wall that will hold the future glass structure. We opted for natural rock, because it will look nice with the courtyard wall behind it, and the smaller rock walls below it. I’m making pictures, so once it is done I’ll show off. Hah.
But anyway, yesterday we put up the wall, allowing us to spend today chopping away the thin concrete floor that used to make up the little terrace in the past. It sounds a lot easier than it was since this was the one time when our tendency for overkill nipped us in the butt. We’d put metal work in the concrete, for crying out loud! Grrr. Be that as it may, we spent the majority of the afternoon doing that, and going on up to finally work on the Opel again.
Yep, we got around to putting the side panel that big brother spray painted the other day, in, and were only left with one screw we had no idea where it came from left. *sigh* I don’t know how that works, but usually when you take something apart you are left with a screw or two.
What else. Well, there was the yard of course. It was actually kinda nice down there since the wind didn’t blow that bad on the lower terraces. I watered plants and seedlings, both today an yesterday, and while yesterday I only harvested some broccoli, today I managed to get a whole bucket of chickweed that went really well for supper this afternoon. Everything down there is doing rather splendid, and seriously, with this type of weather I’m inclined to just stay there (and in the greenhouse) if for no other reason than the splendid warmth.
Grandpa is really liking the mittens I made for him the other day. Says they keep his hands nice and warm during his walks with his dogs in the morning. Good thing, since the cold hand thing is driving him bonkers.
Did a wee bit of cleaning in my cabin again because it was really getting to be ridiculous again. It still is, but at least the floors are clean. *sigh* But seriously, who’s got time for cleaning when you come in around midnight, drop into bed pull up the blankets, have your eyes closed ‘till the alarm goes of, get dressed and are out again before the sun peaks over the mountains? I sure don’t.
Typed out tenant’s letter yesterday afternoon. Her handwriting is not as neat as it used to be, so I offered to write it on the computer for her so it would be easier to read. That, and I did a photo session with her, so she could add two pictures to the letter. Got a couple that worked out splendidly, and even she is happy about them, which is a rare thing.
Well, I’ve gotta give Chaos his first antibiotic, his operation is less than a couple of days away, poor thing. He’s not liking today’s cold by the way. He’s lying at my feet and I covered him with a blanket. Now, as he falls asleep his paws will stretch out, only for him to very slowly pull them back again, lest they get too cold. Hah. It’s really funny to see.
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