- We experienced the polar vortex last week with incredible weather! Low humidity and temperatures...it was actually chilly in the mornings and evenings. It felt like fall, which made me very happy!
- Last Friday I was sicker than a dog, flat in bed, for a full 24 hours. That never happens to me! I can count on one hand the number of times my stomach has been sick my entire life. I never even threw up while pregnant (although I felt like I could!). I wonder if I picked up a bug at the auction the day before. I'm thankful nobody here caught it! The Mister, afraid he would catch it, slept on the couch! ha. But he did take over and care for the house and boys, so that's good.
- If you drop a new roll of toilet paper in the toilet, there is no saving it. None. Don't even try. ha.
- I bought a set of china at the auctions a while back for $2 and sold it over the weekend for $800. No, that is not a typo! Just goes to show that you never know! I was a little giddy about it, especially since my kitchen reno fund was sucked away in the last month by major household/auto expenses. If you like the little Hall teapot in the photo, it's in the shop. And no, it's not $800. ha.
- Taylor and Lauren bought tickets to the NASCAR race this Sunday for the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis and invited me to come along! I am SO excited. Not only am I excited to go to the race, I'm excited that they would want me to tag along! Aw. Love those two!
- We have two little skunks that hang out in our yard every evening. They eat the seed that falls from the bird feeder! The Mister went out to fill the bird feeder for me a few days ago and came running back into the house! ha. Last night I saw Shadow out of the corner of my eye leap up in a tree and took a closer look just in time to see the two skunks walk under the branches. Shadow sat in the tree a good 30 minutes until they left. Smart kitty! How do you get rid of skunks??
- My big project for this week is getting the monthly flea control on all the cats. I got about half of them done today. Now it's just a waiting game for the stragglers to come wandering home!
- There's a hawk circling above our neighborhood as I'm typing this and I keep thinking of the theme song from the old movie Oklahoma... the hawk making lazy circles in the sky? ♪♪♪ haha. When I was little, I thought Curly and Laurey were dreamy! But I was scared to death of Jud Fry!
♥
Wow-ee! You scored on the dishes!!
ReplyDeleteYes, I did! I just got lucky, really. It was a huge set, near the end of the auction when everyone was tired and many had left. I don't think anyone wanted to pack it all up to take it home and I got it for the opening bid. Amazing.
DeleteCongrats on the dish sale! Around the 1st of every month, we chase our pets for flea prevention application. They stay mad at us for about a day!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry you were sick. I bought some single packs of hand wipes today to keep in my purse and car. How fun to be going to the NASCAR race.
Yes, I have hand sanitizer and didn't use it all day! My fault...I know it's germy handling everyone's ID and money. Yuck!
DeleteOur cats are ok with the flea control except for Tiger...he tries to clean it off his siblings! Crazy cat! It's like he says, "Oh, you have something yucky on the back of your neck! Let me get it off for you!" lol...
Then he is sick?
DeleteNo, Tiger seems fine! Silly cat. He does mother everyone. Probably lost one of his lives doing that, though.
DeleteJud Fry WAS scary!
ReplyDeleteI agree! Especially when you're 10 years old! haha. I had bad dreams about him!
DeleteWow! That's an incredible profit! Hooray for you.
ReplyDeleteGlad no one else has gotten sick.
Thanks for the info on the TP. (In case I ever need to know...)
Love that you are going with Lauren and Taylor. :)
I know..yay for me...my 26 year old kitchen needs gutting...literally! It will happen eventually! ha.
DeleteI'm so excited for that race...I've been before and it's a lot of fun! We're going to the Michigan one in August, too!
Hi Betsy.....#3 made me giggle.
ReplyDeleteBut #4 blew me away!!! My goodness.
Hope you continue to feel better and no one else catches 'the bug' in the meantime.
I'm so glad my boys didn't catch that bug...that would have been REALLY bad. ha.
DeleteDuring the Great Plague in 1665 here in the mother country (?) the people had to drop their money into a bowl of vinegar when buying something, and the shop owner would retrieve it and drop the change into the bowl. They thought that it would kill the germs. Not a lot of people know that. . . . .
ReplyDeleteYou could try that at the next auction Betsy, if you don't mind stinking of vinegar when you get home. I can just imagine you sitting there and telling the punters to "Just chuck your money into this bucket of vinegar, please, oh, and your ID" Ha.
oh, I am LAUGHING! Yes, I'd smell like a pickle...and so would everyone's driver's license!
DeleteSo they knew and understood about germs even then.
DeleteIt most certainly looks like it Tony, they weren't as dumb as we thought.
DeleteI guess they did! Vinegar still remains one of the best and cheapest natural cleaners! I just might soak my hands in it after the next auction! haha.
DeleteWhy aren't you guys saying 'we' instead of 'they'?
DeleteBecause "they" were "them" then, and "we" are "us" now. Different people? Like we speak proper English here, and you speak funny English there.
DeleteComprenez vous?
DeleteYes, but I would think that you still consider yourself part of the mother country whether it is 1665 or 2014!
DeleteAnd I actually understood that French!
You crack me up keith lol
Deleteand where is Eddie when WE chaps (guys) need him?
DeleteHaha!
DeleteEven Tony bailed on you, Keith!
DeleteHello Keith!
DeleteDid you call?
Why do you need me - you seem to be doing quite well on your own! . . . and even came out with a bit of French!.
And hello Gloria
and Hello Betsy
and Hello Tony . . . . if you are still here! . . . . :)
And I thought Tony was a loyal friend, just shows you dunnit? He seems to have scarpered !
DeleteYes these lawyers are all the same!! . . . lol
DeleteNow that is quite a list of random thoughts:
ReplyDeleteThat weather last week sounded great - not too hot.
Here it has been hot today.
Strange how the flu bug hit you suddenly like that.
Very glad you are recovered with or without the help of vinegar.
Agree dropping a toilet roll down the loo is curtains for the toilet roll.
The number of times that has happened here. My dad once lost his false teeth down the toilet but managed to recover them. Somehow it makes putting them back rather unappealing.
Absolutely fabulous about the sale. Are you good at maths :Gross Profit $798, Mark Up 39,900% Gross Margin 99.75%
Great about T& L and the invite
Skunks and fleas . . . . hope they 'hop it'
Hawk - hope you get it on camera but it misses it's prey. . . . . :)
That hawk was way up high! I would have gone out for a photo if I wasn't busy writing my post. But I could see it from the window here at my desk. I wonder if he was look at all those cats in my yard! haha. Maybe he'll swoop in and take a skunk!
DeleteWould you?
DeleteNo, but hopefully I'm smarter than a hawk!
DeleteWhen we've had tiny kittens, we didn't let them outside until we thought they were too big for a hawk to carry off!
Yes - if he likes the skunk he might come for the other. Not sure how you get rid of them but hear they stink the place to high heaven - no wonder the hawk is so high . . . lol
DeleteDon't you have skunks? I'll send you a couple!
DeleteI think I shall pass on that one . . . . no they are not here in the wild :)
DeleteIn the wild? lol...
DeleteEddie - we got skunks here alright, they are all in Westminster.
DeleteIn the wild!! . . . . . it seems to tickle you that phrase. Don't you use it there? . . . :)
DeleteAnd Keith, yeas you have a point - they are in parliament !!!
I love your new teapot:love the color!
ReplyDeleteAnd Im happy Taylor and Lauren invite you:))
It needs a sweater, Gloria! haha! It's tiny...just for one person. So cute!
DeleteYes I was thinking you teapot need a sweater for next winter!
DeleteHaha!
Well now, that's just a potpourri of good stuff / bad stuff!! I'm reading and it's like YEAHHH... then AWWWW... then YEAHHHHH... then AWWWW.... It makes for good reading though! Hahahahahaha. And I really AM sorry about you being sick. And I really AM glad about the $800. Seee there??? AWWWWW .... YEAHHHH..... LOL
ReplyDeletelol....you're cracking me up! I did say it was random....
DeleteHow exciting to sell the dishes for such a good price..Also nice to put a cushion back in the Kitchen Kitty...no pun intended.. HaHa. So sorry you had that 24 hour bug. No fun being sick...especially that sick.
ReplyDeleteThe Kitchen Kitty! hahaha.....oh, that just cracks me up! Yes, that's what I'm calling it from now on!
DeleteYou know I agree with you on the weather. Last week was FABULOUS!! Cool mornings and evenings, LOVE THAT. Maybe we'll get lucky again. Thanks for the toilet paper tip (??) ha! Have fun at NASCAR and it is so cool that the kids invited you. Your dish sale is crazy. Did you sell them on eBay or in your shop or what? Congratulations on that!
ReplyDeleteToday was pretty nice, too....so lovely! The sale was in my shop....crazy, huh? Yay!
DeleteI don't know what to do about the skunks. We have them around the farm during their mating season. Always fun! (Not really....)
ReplyDeleteThere's one on our back porch right now...and the cats are getting way too close! I'm cringing in fear of them being sprayed! ugh!
DeleteSkunks hate mothballs...there you go! No charge!
ReplyDeleteSpread them around...or in an old sock....
Cheers!
Linda :o)
Ps.....what a score in your shop......
Really? Do they even make mothballs anymore? I'll have to look!
DeleteThat's a great idea of Linda's
DeleteAhh! . . .maybe not so good . . . I've seen comments about poison.
DeleteI did see on internet that skunks are repelled by human urine . . . . maybe some on the porch!! . . . . lol
Apparently foxes's works even better..
What pests they are . . . .
human urine....welllll......not volunteering on that one! Besides, the cats would smell it and think it was a new spot to go! Then we'd smell like hillbillies with an outhouse. ha.
DeleteDamn, that is an awesome score
ReplyDeleteReally never know at your shore
2 bucks to one
To another worth a ton
Blah to the skunks though
If a spray comes all aglow
Things may stink for a while
Be smelled a good long mile
Captured them and have them fixed
Then the spray will be nixed
Then you'd have pet skunks too
There at your zoo lmao
TP in the loo
That can't do
What a waste
The cat can't eat it if you turn it to paste
Six cats and a skunk on the porch tonight
DeleteNobody seemed to be full of fright.
Except me inside watching it unfold
thinking that we would have stink untold
But the skunk seemed to know them all
and curled in the corner to sleep at nightfall.
Only at the zoo
I am telling you!
lmao they will never go away
DeleteAnd may even start to play
Just so they're happy and not wanting to attack
Deletebecause I think that stink would set me back!
hahaha....talk about a numb tongue.
My bell would surely be rung!
Had to dash earlier.
ReplyDeleteI guess my berry bowls are gone, huh? I wish I could have bought the complete set - it was really beautiful. But I am glad someone got it that purchased all the pieces - how lucky! I hope they love it. Sweet green teapot. I like the sunny yellow one in the shop too.
I was wondering about you not posting for a day (God forbid you take a day off!) and hoped it was not because you were sick. Glad it only lasted a short time. I, too, am rarely sick to my tum - I think I can count on one hand! I just refuse to let myself... although that can be a bad thing sometimes. But I guarantee that whenever I am around a lot of people I get a cold or the flu. Without fail.
Skunk patrol: http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Skunks. Make sure you scroll all the way down as their numbering system is strange. Some you may not want to try because of the cats... and birds... but some look like they might help. They will be less likely to congregate if you remove the food source, but that means no birdies! Hope they don't use the cat flap!
Yes! The bowls are gone. We should have set them aside with your other things! But yes, the set gets to all stay together. A couple of years ago we fed the cats outside before they came in or we had the cat flap. That brought the skunks and raccoons, too. Can't really stop feeding the birds! How sad! I'll check out the wiki...thanks!
DeleteNo, no, I am happy that they are all together in someone's home and I definitely would have told you to set them aside if I craved them. I had been musing about them but honestly I don't need any more china. It's just that I love china! And I can't wait to see those sweet lettuce bowls. I am also eyeing that crystal bowl new to the shop. Good thing I don't go to auctions! Ha!
DeleteYou could be friends with Ralph and have bidding wars! haha.
DeleteHa! Yes, I could probably give Ralph a run for his money. :-)
DeleteRe Linda's suggestion - I have read quite a few things on the internet about mothballs poisoning cats. They either ingest a bit by mistake or it leaks into puddles that cats drink out of. Very dangerous.
ReplyDeleteHi Suza....we used this method to rid skunks under our deck...
DeleteI had no idea it was harmful to cats...
Thanks for pointing it out!
Hi Linda - yes, to cats and dogs both apparently. And of course to children who might think they are toys or mints. Some very sad stories.
DeleteWow! Who knew! Good to know though...thanks!
DeleteHope the kitties didn't get too close tonight and that no one was sprayed!
ReplyDeleteThey all got close and I cringed! But nobody was sprayed. Apparently the skunk didn't feel threatened and curled up to nap on the porch with them all sitting there looking at him. haha. Crazy! Just plain crazy! haha.
DeleteSuch a funny picture in my mind. That was one brave skunk... of course I guess he knew that if they got too close for comfort, he had a secret weapon.
DeleteThat skunk was a baby...just a tiny thing, about 1/3 the size of the cats. He just curled up in the corner and went to sleep! haha. We have smelled 'skunk' through out the neighborhood, so I know they'll spray if irritated. The cats seem to be wise around them, but last night, with 6 of them getting within a few inches of that skunk, we were watching with horror just on the other side of the glass door. The more I tried to get the cats to come in, the more they suspected something and wouldn't come! I just had to leave them to fate, which thankfully, was fine. ha.
DeleteLoved your random post today. The toilet paper tidbit made me LOL. ah ah!
ReplyDeleteYour china sale makes working the auction all the better, eh?
Sorry to hear you were sick. I wondered where you were as you don't typically disappear without warning.
As for getting rid of skunks... well, shotguns and automobile tires are the only ways I know to take care of 'em. Can't say as I care for either method.
The thing about guns and cars...they would still spray as they said farewell to this earth. haha. And this close to the house, we'd have that smell inside forever! Can't shoot him anyway since we are inside the city limits. Maybe they'll meet their demise under a car wheel further down the road. haha.
DeletePoor things. Did you know they purr like cats? Well, kinda.
DeleteNo, I didn't know that. But I've heard them chattering to each other as they eat bird seed on the ground. I guess they feel comfortable enough not to spray. You'd think one of the cats would have gotten it by now!
DeleteSince my cats don't go outside, a couple of years ago I stopped giving them flea medicine. Much less stressful for both me and them.
ReplyDeleteHave fun at your NASCAR race :-)
Most of my cats don't even realize I put it on them! I just give them a treat, a little head scratch and a quick squeeze of the tube on their neck. It's Velvet I can't get to since she won't let us pet her. So, it's not stressful here...just expensive! Geesh!
DeleteThanks about the race....I haven't been to one in a few years...looking forward to it!
Hope you are doing fine now..thats so sweet of your man to take care of the house and children when you were on bed..congrats for the china dish sale..and so happy that you are accompanying Taylor and Lauren at the NASCAR..Enjoy!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to Sunday for sure! And yes, I'm SO glad that was just a 24 hour virus. Oh my!
DeleteLove the teapot! I have a teapot that belonged to my great grandmother and it is a treasure! I never knew her so it is so nice to have. We live just on the edge of our town, so we have open fields behind us, and skunks! lol I am always trying to be very careful when I take our dog out after dark.
ReplyDeleteWe're on the edge of town, with farmland all around. I think the skunks live under the neighbor's back porch. Another neighbor had a red fox under his last year and it was quite a sight to see that thing trotting through the backyards!
DeleteThat's great that Taylor and Lauren invited you to the race. It must be a different experience seeing it in person.
ReplyDeleteGlad you weren't feeling sick for long. I was wondering what happened to you last Friday.
Isn't it? I'm pretty happy about it. Yes, seeing a race in person is a totally different experience!
DeleteYep, Friday I went MIA. Glad it was only one day! I'm enjoying your trip a lot...glad it's going well!
Hi Betsy - I saw you had really cold weather - I know you don't like hot ... so don't cross the pond for a few days! Amazing $788 profit ...
ReplyDeleteWell I'm glad you're better .. getting knocked out with something is a real pain ... your critters and flying thingummies .. are great to read about ..
Enjoy that NASCAR day out ... cheers Hilary
Well, it was realllly cold weather...just about like fall instead of blazing summer. It was wonderful! Yes, always a critter here to entertain...some scary and others not so scary. haha.
DeleteSo glad you're getting to come visit "our Fair City"! I claim it as home, for we've lived here for twenty-four years, now. I'm still Southern to my toes, but this is a fabulous place to live. Hope you get to see some of the wonderful things Indy has to offer, as well as all the race fun.
ReplyDeleteDowntown at dusk is a marvelous place to be, (or any time)---the circle lit with twinkle-light trees, the immense steps to the fountain filled with folks enjoying the evening, the fountain around the monument adding its cooling shush to the air, and all the horse-drawn carriages and music makers (sometimes the Symphony right there on the Circle turns on the loudspeakers and we sit all up the fountain steps) filling the evening with such an atmosphere of fun and welcome.
We love the Fogo de Chao, right off the Circle, with a salad bar that's a work of art, and then all the enthusiastic young men in Gaucho pants, rushing from table to table to carve off slice after slice of whatever fragrant, delicious meat they're carrying around on those immense sizzling skewers. It's a show in itself, and the food is fabulous. Reservations a must during a race weekend.
You'll be fairly close to the Zoo, lots of museums, the Symphony, the Capitol, White River Gardens, The Eiteljorg, which is a fabulous, immense collection of Native American and Western art and artifacts. Don't know how much time you'll be here, but we certainly enjoy all these a lot.
And Shapiro's at 808 South Meridian (eight blocks straight down from the Circle) is a more-than-a-century-old institution. A REAL Pure-D DELI, with the absolutely best corned beef (the Reuben is SUBLIME) we've ever found anywhere. Latkes and big bowls of rich yellow noodles and stuffed cabbage. My first only-read-of Celery Tonic and Cream Soda of my life here, and until a couple of years ago, all their soft drinks were in the old-fashioned glass bottles. I won't mention the cases and cases of mile-high pies and cakes and those loaves of still-warm rye bread. Our favorite place down-town.
And since we live way on the East side, I'm not too familiar with any of the area around the Track. I know you'll love being here!
rachel
Well, thanks for all of that! Too bad we're only going to be there for the day! You make me want to stay a week! haha. You're on the east side? I've only 2 hours from Indy! Wait....mile high pies? Maybe we can make a stop after the race. haha.
DeleteGood random thoughts! Good luck with the cats:)
ReplyDeleteHi, Betty! :) Thanks for coming over and reading my rambles.
DeleteBetsy, I was concerned something was wrong last week, because you are always so prompt about posting new daily messages. So glad the rest of your family escaped. I have chronic intestinal upset problems to the extent that I'm always nervous whenever I am away from the house. I feel for you having the stomach flu. I'm actually afraid if I have a severe case of it. A doctor once told me there are few things worse than severe nausea and severe itching. How smart of your kitty to recognize the skunk threat! They are such intelligent little creatures! Lynne in NC
ReplyDeleteYou know, Eddie suggested I post a quick note saying I was sick but I didn't think anyone would miss me! haha. Oh gosh, the nausea was so bad I couldn't look at my computer screen. I sent a couple of necessary emails from my iPad in bed and turned it off. I feel for you feeling bad like that most of the time! Something like Crohns? Poor you! I have to tell you, though, that Slate stayed in bed with me that whole day! He just knew! He rubbed his head all over mine like a great big hug. Have to admit that his company did make me feel better. :)
DeleteGlad you're feeling better, those bugs are so horrible. That skunk sounds pretty horrid too, glad we don't have them.
ReplyDeleteWe are so glad that skunk didn't spray! haha. Oh my.
DeleteHow fantastic was that with the china!!!! I am always amazed at your auction finds, but that one really has to be the most amazing yet that I have heard you achieve!!! A great kickstart to your kitchen reno fund indeed. I hope that you are feeling totally better now. xx
ReplyDeleteI know...isn't that amazing! Sometimes something is at the auction and the right buyer just isn't there! That's why some things are left for the trash, too. I think that's what makes it so fun...you never know what will happen!
DeleteI think it's such a complement that Lauren and Taylor want to "play" with you. COOL!
ReplyDeleteHave a great time. (I know you will)
Me, too! Seriously...I was so touched. :)
DeleteI'm so glad you are feeling better! Hey, we are going to be in Indy this weekend too. Probably Saturday. Email me if you have any free time : )
ReplyDeleteBuy tickets! Near turn 1! :)
DeleteHave a birthday party Saturday. R is turning 11. But we are coming back home Saturday night. Have fun at the races!
Delete