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Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Random Thoughts


the neighbor's gazebo this evening

  1. We had a nice long holiday weekend.  A bit busier than our usual holidays were we mostly hunker down, shut out the world and enjoy being hermits without any outside responsibilities.  We sleep late, eat yummy food and relax.  We did those things this time but also had company for dinner, ran a few errands and enjoyed some local festivities.
  2. We've had rain every day for several days!  Yesterday morning, Garden Girl was laying down in her garden!  The ground was so soft and saturated around her that she toppled over.  Thankfully, she didn't get hurt.
  3. Tomorrow our kitchen cupboards, flooring, sink and counter tops get delivered.  Our reno doesn't start until October 1st, but it will be fun to actually see the things in the garage, ready to start when we are.  I have paint chips ready to narrow down to the best selection, too.  Very exciting.
  4. Along with the kitchen we are having new flooring laid in the family room and foyer.  It will extend from the front door straight through the house to the back door.  I'm actually looking forward to clearing out the majority of our living space!  I'm feeling that 'less is more' mentality and plan on only putting back what I really love and reducing a bit of clutter.  We plan on storing everything in the living room during the reno. I shudder to think of what that room will look like for a month, though, while all the work is done! haha.
  5. Tomorrow is flea control day. haha.  Think I can get 15 cats done in one day?  I'm certainly going to try.  It all depends on who happens to come home.  Velvet is the hardest....since she won't let me touch her.  I'll have to be super quick and sneaky!
  6. Tomorrow I will be picking a huge crop of tomatoes from the garden.  It looks like they are all turning red at once!  Can't wait to make some yummy dishes with them!  Our zucchini and cucumber are done for the season.  Both too soon for my liking!


51 comments:

  1. I love gazebos - so very romantic. I am excited for your kitchen reno - even though it will be chaotic for a while. Good luck with the flea brigade!

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    1. Several of our neighbors have beautiful gazebos! I wish we had one!

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  2. Maybe Garden Girl needed a wee nap... :-)

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    1. Or maybe she was tired of the shower and wanted a bath? lol....

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    2. I'm so glad she didn't fall forward. She would have crushed her face into the stepping stones! The Mister made sure she's more secure now. She's so heavy, we never dreamed she would topple over!

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    3. Ow! And you would have had to perform some surgery. She clearly sensed which way to faint. As you say, you would think she would never have an issue but I guess the earth squelched a certain way? Hope there were no kitties nearby - they would have jumped a mile!

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    4. I'm a little worried about her even though the mister says she's stable. We thought she was stable before! Hmm.... I'd be so sad if she smashed her pretty face.

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  3. Summer has gone by fast, but Fall is my favorite season!

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    1. This has been the best summer I can ever remember...gorgeous and most days not too hot. But yes, nothing compares to fall...although I dearly love winter, too!

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  4. I love gazebos too:)
    I love a picture you put in winter was snowed!
    Poor garden girl:)
    And the cats omy!
    Are many to flea control!

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    1. I know! haha...but it's better than them having fleas! lol...oh my...that would be bad!

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  5. Taking bets at your sea?
    I bet 12 are gotten by thee
    In one day that is
    You'll get them eventually with your flea biz haha
    The cats will sure scatter when the work is being done
    But a messy living room to explore will bring them fun

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    1. I think that is a good guess
      as I don't usually see all in one day, usually less!
      I have to be sneaky and pet them,
      giving a nonchalant squirt then.
      It's fine unless I get nervous
      then they pick that up regardless
      of what my voice is saying...
      they know the game I'm playing.
      lol...

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    2. lol got the dog at the other sea
      Being all nice and sneaky
      He was ticked off for the entire day
      The wiener didn't want to play

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    3. Decided to start tonight
      while I had 7 in my sight!
      Six down and nine to go
      here at my show.

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    4. 13 I have done without a sound.
      The other 2 are not around! ha.

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    5. haha beat my guess quick
      Got them some slick

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    6. I think the rain helped me out
      as they ran inside with a shout.
      ha.

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  6. oo a kitchen reno...that could drive me crazy...ha...
    but i bet it will look great when done....
    smoking hot here and humid....air so thick its hard to breathe
    goot luck with 15 cats in one day..ha

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    1. I hate that humidity more than anything! Bleh!
      It's pretty sticky here, too...maybe it will all blow away soon!
      I'm curious how the boys will do with the house in chaos. lol....oh dear.

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  7. Best wishes with the reno. How exciting!
    Good luck with the kitties too. My 6 are pretty tough to capture for flea treatment. It's like maybe the first one "alerts" the others to what is up!!! lol
    Enjoy those ripe tomatoes.
    Thx for the bdy wishes.

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    1. I got 6 done this evening...they were gathering in tonight so I thought I'd take advantage of the crowd. haha.

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  8. It's been raining here too. I'm so glad Garden Girl wasn't injured in her fall.
    How exciting to get started on the renovation - can't wait to see pictures!

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    1. I need to remember to take the 'before' photos! I guess I could do that now!

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  9. Lots of randomness going on at your house!

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  10. Seems that you got all the rain that I wanted!
    Nothing here....cottage was dry.....Saturday was incredibly windy and humid...
    Today at home was unbearably hot....hid inside!
    Glad you got a start on the kitties!
    Sounds like a very nice weekend indeed!
    Will be watching the renos.....from a SAFE distance!
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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    1. You'd think all that rain we got would end the humidity but it's still very thick!
      We haven't done a reno in a while. Well, the others were additions. Should be ...interesting? haha. But worth it.

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    2. I am sure it will be perfect!

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    3. Well, I don't know about perfect but it certainly will be SO much better!

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  11. It's so fun to watch someone else do the reno. We've never owned a home so never got that opportunity. Lived in parsonages until Sunland, and now. So my reno is changing the decoration for the seasons.
    Funny, I hadn't thought about having to do the flea control for ALL your cats... what a job.
    Can't wait to see the colors and all the things you are going to do.

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    1. Fleas we do not want so they all get it!
      Really looking forward to the new kitchen...I like how it will make me clean up and clear out and start fresh. Lots of work, but fun, too.

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  12. Yes . . . . looking at garden girl she definitely would be better standing on her own patio slab base to stop her falling over.
    Good luck with all the kitchen/floor delivery things . . . .
    . . .and flea control day . . . . . sounds almost involved as sheep sheering . . . . . good luck with Velvet, and hope she is not too hopping mad . . :)

    Have a good day . . . .I'm driving the bus . . . . :)

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    1. Well, would you talk to the mister because he doesn't think she needs a slab. ha.
      Always interesting to get flea control on Velvet. I've only been successful twice...have to sneak up behind her and do it without touching her, (besides the tip of the tube). Crazy girl.

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    2. Oh dear . . . . . well an alternative might be to use guy ropes I suppose to stop her falling over ! . . . lol . . . can't and shouldn't really say more than that.
      I wonder why Velvet is so nervous . . . . was she mistreated perhaps . . . :)

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    3. Tie her to the tree with a rope around her neck? lol...oh yes, wouldn't that be a lovely sight! rofl....

      yes, poor Velvet...doesn't want to be touched.

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  13. Hi Betsy - you may have been relaxing, but the brain was obviously ticking over fairly fast ... looks like you've got a busy month ahead, and then an interesting dusty October till November shines squeaky clean. Tomatoes and fleas ... ah well - life is life isn't it ... enjoy concocting some delicious dishes without the protein! Cheers Hilary

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    1. Yes, I'm not sure my brain ever stops multitasking. lol....busy couple of months ahead but I'm really excited.

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  14. Nice place, greeting from Belgium

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  15. I keep thinking about the "less is more" concept too. A few years ago I really wanted to get to the point where we could live a more "fluid" lifestyle, then we moved Mom in with us and became more "grounded" instead. Now I seem to have accumulated "more instead of less". There is hope though. The Big Brothers/Big Sister called last week and they are looking for donations of clothes and books. Can you guess what I have a lot of? I'll give you a hint. Clothes and books.
    Tomatoes. Less is probably more when it comes to those too. They get out of control way too quick when the nights get cold and days grow short. Last night James and Bethany made salsa. I'm not sure I have the energy to think about vegetables today so maybe I'll concentrate on the clothes and books instead.
    Good luck with the cats. Sofie needs another bath, haircut, and flea treatment too. If I get that done it will be areal accomplishment.
    :0)

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    1. I've done the less is more thing a few times...but it has to be repeated for a born collector like myself. haha. It's time for another phase of it, so this will be such a good incentive for me. Sounds like the big brother/sister organization called just at the right time!

      I make a tomato veggie soup with most of my tomatoes and put it in the freezer. Quick easy suppers during the winter.
      This one, if you're interested..
      http://myfivemen.blogspot.com/2013/09/fresh-tomato-vegetable-soup.html

      Nugget is the one that needs some tlc...claw clipping and a good brushing. He hates both, so I've procrastinated. He looks awful! ha.

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  16. Good Afternoon Betsy, I have popped over from Ivy, Phyllis and Me! to say hello. My, you certainly will have a very busy time with your flea control day.... are you almost there..... is everyone been sorted out?
    Revamping a kitchen is always a mammoth job.... but when the work is complete you will be over the moon... and new floors, how fabulous.
    Best Wishes to you from England.
    Daphne

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    1. Hi, Daphne! So great for you to visit! Two more kitties to go, then we're good for a month. haha.
      You are SO right...I will be over the moon when all the house reno is done. And the anticipation is half the fun!
      Thanks so much for stopping by....

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  17. Sounds like you have a lot coming up! I'm so excited for you with your kitchen re-do, but I don't envy you the living room storage unit! I lived in that for seven months while we re-did our bedroom in our old house. We were using the (tiny) living room as our bedroom and closet as well as sitting area, and we even had to sleep on our sleeper couch that whole time. This was also while our youngest was an infant and our older guy in the terrible twos . . . good times- NOT! ;)
    Hope the de-fleaing was successful. I don't know how you manage it with so many- I hate doing just our two! Actually, I make my Husband do it. But I have to pester him a good week in advance to make sure it's done on time ;)
    Hope you have a wonderful week!

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    1. Oh my goodness...seven months? Well, we're only going to have it torn up for 2 weeks, so I think I can manage that. And we won't be sleeping in the living room with all the storage...and no two year olds here! haha.

      Flea prevention...it's a must! No fleas allowed here! haha.

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  18. Busy.. busy! We're hoping to get a gazebo constructed sometime next year. I'm happy for you for your upcoming improvements but I can't say that the word "renovations" makes me do anything but grit my teeth.. seeing as I've endured them at one home or another for nearly 18 months now. I hope yours are completed much sooner. And.. fifteen cats? Yikes!

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    1. Can't wait to see your gazebo! I'm sure it will be featured in many lovely photographs!

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  19. Glad that you had a good weekend. I hope that the kitchen works go well and that you love it when it is finished!! xx

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