I Am Coming Into a Transit Time Period

Today's high temperature was: 7

Partly Sunny

Snowing tonight.  Going to be -15 degrees

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Minus 13 degrees when I woke up this morning to frozen water pipes!!  I have a heat tape on my exterior pipes--never have had a problem.  I did not open cabinet doors to let the warm air in.  I did not turn faucets on to let water trickle.  All the things I used to do in cold weather in my farmhouse--I have never done here, because--I THOUGHT THE HEAT TAPE WAS SUFFICIENT!!!  Apparently not!

Turned furnace up to 78 degrees, opened all cabinets by water pipes, turned on water taps. Called a plumber. Shoveled a big bucket of snow and brought into the house to melt so I could have something to flush.
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While I waited for the plumber--I did this:

Buddy climbed up into the rocker, Maggie climbed up with me

and I x-stitched and watched TV,

while they napped.

Working on the little brown bunny

Watching the birds outside

Got the bunny done

I love the basket weave on the cradle

Pipes did not thaw out so I knew, the problem was under the trailer.  Plumber finally arrived at 3:00, a nice young man, crawled under that crawl space like he knew what he was going.  Checked and the heat tape is fine.  However, because of the heaving and shifting of the cement pad this place sits on, it had opened up a small crack in the skirting and that is right where the pipe froze--about 6 inches of pipe.  He got out a propane heater and stuck it in there and we waited to see what would happen.  Nothing!

30 minutes later, I had water!!  Where the pipe comes up from the ground, has a ceramic bowl around it.  Apparently, snow had gotten into it, melted and then froze.  Usually the crock is dry, but because of the  teeny, tiny space between the skirting and the cement (from the trailer shifting), the snow got in there.  Next spring I will be sure dig out that area, put in much more soil and rocks and a 2x4 to keep it solid!!!

I asked him how it happened, why it happened and what could I do to keep it from happening again--this is how I have learned ALL my household maintenance thingies--so now--I know one more, :-) He also shoveled a lot of snow up around the skirting for extra insulation.

Plumbers around here charge $200 an hour, but this guy does a lot of jobs in this park, so it cost me $160--$80 an hour.  GEEZ!!! still a lot!   AND keep the faucets trickling a bit on these horrible, frigid nights to keep the water flowing--so the H2O molecules can't stick together and freeze.

It actually was a nice experience, as I have had with all repair and service people in this area.  They come from smallish towns and schools.  He is one of 14 children, has a twin brother, and is marrying his high school sweetheart in March.  "We found a nice little house, just around the corner up here.  We never would have known it was for sale, but one day, it was as if God sent us on a ride, because we never have gone on that road before, and we saw it. (big grin)  We want four children and I am going to be a great Dad."...and I'll bet he will.
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OMG!!!  I am going to win the Publisher's Clearing House contest!!!  One Million a year for life!

How do I know this?  I filled out one of those free on-line horoscope thingies and this morning I received an e-mail from the astrologer who did my report and she said" I am shocked at the transit period you are coming into.  Within the next three months,  you will receive a huge financial windfall!!!

Read on for your full report!"  and of course, I could have my whole report for.......money, of course,  She wants money.  Apparently she did not read the section where I said I needed financial help?

Just my luck, my "windfall" would be the big Maple tree, onto my house, smashing it to smithereens--which then, I could claim house insurance--I have good house insurance!

I will wait and if I win PCH, I will send her money for my full report, LOL.
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Well--what will tomorrow bring?

There is a Madness To My Method

Today's high temperature was: 13

Sunny

We have the frigid temperatures again, but the huge snowstorm, passed up by to the south.

I'm sorry, readers to the east--you are going to get dumped on.  :-(

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This morning when I woke up, I opened one eye and peaked at my TODAY IS, flip chart and this is what I saw.

I stared at that day.  What happened?  Did I sleep through a whole day?  Was I losing my mind?  Now--let me ponder on all this.

I know yesterday was Monday--there was no mail and I went to the Chiropractor.

I asked the kids what was going on, but they were more interested in getting their breakfast.

So--I took a wild chance that perhaps I had flipped over two days last night, and didn't notice.  I think I need a flip chart to remind me to check when I flip the TODAY IS chart over, to make sure I have done it right.  Oh well--I take the chance that today is Tuesday, change it and go out to feed the cats.

Geez--there is no method to my madness, just the reverse.

After I had the cats happily slurping up their tablespoon of morning wet cat food, I went into the bathroom.

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I have always been a blonde.  I was born a blonde, which turned into a white haired tow-head, which later turned into blonde, which, at about 15, started going mousy.

My Daddy hated the mousy and told my Mother, "Dorathy, put some lemon juice on her hair, or a rinse, or something."  So my Mother bought a "special" shampoo that kept my hair nice and blonde.  

I have colored my hair for....let's see...almost 60 years!!! EGAD!  My driver's license says my hair color is blond.  Every form I fill out says my hair is blond.  My once profile on the dating site said I was a blue-eyed blond and showed a picture(s) to prove it.

See my picture at the top of this page?  Even last summer, I was blonde or blond--whatever.

About six months ago, I decided there was enough grey color coming in that if I quit coloring it, I would have quite beautiful, snow white hair--like my sister has, like my Mother's father had.

Imagine my surprise, when quite suddenly one morning and quite shockingly I might add, I realized that all these years, I have had dark hair under my scalp--those dark hair follicle's wanting to come out and see the world...and so they have.  In actuality, I have been a brunette!!!!!  I do not have the beautiful snow white hair of my Mother's side of the family, I have the dark, really dark hair with grey overtones of my Father's side of the family--none of them ever went totally snow white.

My Chiropractor massage lady said yesterday, "You look different.  You look good, but there is something different."  She couldn't figure it out and I didn't help her because, to tell the truth, every time I see myself in a mirror, I am quite shocked.  

BUT--in my pursuit to find my "authentic" self, (LOL),it's me and I'm not going to change it---at least not right now.

I am quite amused at all of this!

So--let's see.  What else is there-----

I noticed something else this morning--at precisely 9:00 a.m., the sun comes through my computer room windows and does this:

If I were one of those widows searching for SIGNS,

I would think this was one.

BUT--it's not!  It is the sun's movement and when

we Spring Ahead, it will occur at 8:00 a.m.

I don't know if you remember, but last fall, on clearance, I ordered one of those triple-decker planters.

I thought how much fun it would be to plant it with Succulents.

Then I saw this on a website!!

WOW.

However, pondering on this--if I bought all the Succulents AND the cute little houses, that dang thing would cost me a couple hundred dollars!!!  I may have to review my idea?

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 Went out--filled feeder with this added to the seed---

He came back..... 

after a few nibbles--he flew off onto the ground--I could see him chewing on snow 

kids tell me, "squirrel runned away"

...and one last thought--

...but, who's counting, right?

Releif

Today's high temperature was: 23 degrees at noon

10 degrees now.  Minus degrees tomorrow.

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I wish Alberta would keep her Clippers up there in Canada, where they belong.

I wish Santa would keep his Polar air, up at the North Pole, where it belongs.

We are heading into another week of minus and single digit temperatures.

Not that it will effect me all that much.  I have no where to go and nothing to do so......I will stay warm and cozy in my wee residence.

Got up this morning and was going to take a shower--no hot water.  All sorts of worse case scenarios went through my head as I cleaned out the bedroom closet to get to the hot water heater waaaaaay in the back.  Heating element burned out?  Nope--I have a gas heater--they don't have an element.  They have a pan with the gas burner under it.  Down draft of air blew out the pilot light?  Probably--has happened before, but not in the last 3 years.  

I called Pearl's husband Merle and he came down to together, we figured it out.  Got the pilot light lit, turned the dial to "ON" and...whoosh, on came the gas and the day was saved.

Merle went home and I noticed that the toilet was running--like it needed the flush handle jiggled.  I jiggled.  It kept running.  So............I took off the tank cover and jiggled and fiddled and found out the problem.  The water leveler, on the float, had been turned so that the float never went back into his "hole" to let the tank fill up.  Turned it back and all was well.  Saved the day again.

Finally has enough hot water to take a shower.

Watched my soap, and traveled to the Chiropractor.

My headache was once again galloping all over the top of my head, my neck hurt so bad I could hardly turn it, the pain behind my shoulder blade (scapula) was back and my arm was numb.

I got the massage--it hurt so bad, but this girl knows what she's doing.  Then I saw the doc.  He gently held my head and moved my neck back and forth a bit--then he used his magic Woody Woodpecker tool up and down my spine, on my shoulder joints and my neck.  Then I moved to another room and another tech came in and ran the Thumper all up and down my spine, neck, and down my back, legs and feet.

I was so limp I didn't know if I'd be able to walk back to the car.  The cost?  $10.00--that was for the massage--the rest of the Chiropractic visit is paid for my Medicare.  I go back next week.  I will have to go once a week for, probably, four weeks, then every other week, until I can get back to the monthly maintenance.  I never should have quit going in November--6 weeks is just too long--the reason being?  I have slipped twice on the ice and contorted my spine and neck keeping my balance, PLUS, the old arthritic joints were really hurting.  Feel very sore tonight and probably will a bit tomorrow, but by Wednesday, if it is as it was before, I will be pain free.  At least the headache is gone!!!

Now--I have parked my car and don't think I will have to venture out until Thursday, when I once again, run out of Diet Pepsi and milk.  I have been without CAKE for three days and I may have to get some soon!  I was going to stop today on the way home, but something told me I was too tired, so instead of going through Brighton to get home, I came home the back way and when I got up to the west side of town, the corner where I turn right to come home, there was a very long line of traffic going into town.  I looked in my rear view mirrors and I could see fire trucks and ambulances, so, apparently there had been an accident.  I'm glad I listened to the God Whisper that told me to go the other way.

Now--I am exhausted and going to bed.  

I have such an exciting life!!!!!

Just In Case You Were Wondering..........

Some Days..........

Today's high temperature was: 30 degrees

Partly Sunny

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I don't understand how I can feel so great one day and then the next, feel so dizzy and woozy.  Some days--I just can hardly get around.  This is one of those days.

I have had a vicious headache for three days.  I haven't had a headache in years, so I knew this one was probably a pre-condition for a stroke.  Or, perhaps I had a brain aneurysm?  It might also be a brain tumor,as my balance has been off lately.  I suppose it could be from the arthritis in my neck?  I have been having a lot of neck pain lately.  BUT--you know me and my fears/worries/phobias/neuroses!  I have to believe the worst about everything, so if it DOES happen, I am prepared!!

I could not get to sleep last night because of the pain so at midnight, I went to my bathroom drug cabinet and pulled out the bottle of Tylenol #3 (with Codeine).  I wanted to take a Percocet, but decided that was too strong and might make me woozy today.

I slept well.  Woke up fairly early and my head was so foggy. it seemed hard to see and my balance was off and the headache was back.  Yup--with the balance problem, it was probably a stroke.

At least I knew what day it was, thanks to my flip card, hanging on my
bedroom closet door knob.

So, Buddy and I climbed into my chair

and watched TV and cross stitched and watched the show

going on outside the window.

The headache would not go away, but I was feeling a bit steadier on my feet--obviously a hangover from the pain pill I took last night.  I got out of my chair at noon, ate some Tuna-Mac salad and, thinking of how my neck was hurting and it might be the arthritis, I took a Naproxen.

Two hours later, after my soap, the headache was gone, my neck didn't hurt anymore and I was ready to tackle this!!

This job should take 10-15 minutes.  Unhook the chain that

goes to the flapper, from the flush lever.

HOWEVER--as it always is,  the old lever had a small

"O" ring that was attached to the lever.  The chain,

instead of having a simple hook onto the lever, 

had instead a lock hook, onto the "O" ring on the lever!

.  I had to use the needle nose

pliers to pinch together the chain hook and get if off the "O" ring.

Got it off, however the chain fell down into the icy

water of the tank.

Got the lever out with no problem and since

the new lever had no "O" ring to attach the chain,

I had to pry it off with the pliers, from the old one

to use on the new one,  and...

of course it broke!

Let's worry about that later.

The new lever went through the whole on the side of the

tank easily, HOWEVER, as it always is, the lever

was sticking up toward the tank top.

I took it out and put it in the other way and now...

the lever was sticking out over the edge of the tank,

with the handle facing backwards.

This is a Universal flush lever--to fit side or front

flush handle spot, but something definitely is amiss.

I cut the new level for the correct length and then...

laid it beside the old one and could see the problem.

Different angle and no matter which way I put it

into the hole, it would not work.

Okay--not to worry because the only damn thing

I needed to fix the old lever, is the plastic nut

that holds the lever tight against the inside of

the tank--and the new lever has one such nut.

Threw the new lever into the wastebasket.

Slide the old lever back into place,

put the new plastic nut on it and turned it--

ah yes--reverse threaded--GEEZ.

Got it tightened on--now to hook it back up.

Okay--the little metal "O" ring that the chain clips into is broken.

So..what can we use?

Undaunted--I got some of my copper wire and cut off a small bit.

Man that water in the tank is cold!!!

Pushed the wire through the hole in the lever and attached the clip from the chain--

wired it up and--VOILA

So I cobbled the job, and it took me twice as long, but guess what--it flushes just perfectly and in the whole scheme of things--that is all that is necessary!!

Put all my tools away and wobbled back to my chair.  The headache was back and making me nauseous--just like a Migraine would.  

I'm very, very glad I have an appointment at the Chiropractor's on Monday because, that will help my back, neck, shoulder and all will be well--I just know it will.  AND no more "Mind Monsters" (as Bella calls them) about strokes, aneurysm or brain tumor to worry about!!!

....and if this nausea keeps up, at least I have a flushing toilet to curl-up around!

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I almost forgot--today is my oldest child and only son's birthday.  Mark Templeton Miller

January 17, 1958

7:28 p.m.

8# 15 oz.

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Balisha--I already had the frame and was thinking about what I could cross stitch to put in it. 

 9 x 26 inches

Good Grief!

Today's high temperature was: 23 degrees

Snow

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I decided yesterday that I wouldn't run up to the store.  That I would stop on my way home today, after the school gals luncheon.  Then I decided not to go to the luncheon.  So, this morning wanted to run up to the store.  I was out of  milk, wet cat good, Diet Pepsi and I wanted to get a new "nut" to put on my toilet flush handle to fix it.

It was snowing a bit, but the weather man had said, "1/2 to 1 inch"--no big deal.  I decided to wait until 2:00 to go--the snow was suppose to stop by then.

Well--let me tell you what--it was still coming down at 2:00, heavier then this morning and the wind was blowing!  It took me forever to clean off my car and get the windows defrosted and take off.  The semi-highway out in front is usually always clear--not this afternoon.  It was slushy with snow and it was slick under the snow.  The Meijer store is on the right side of the highway, so I just got in the right lane and drove along--I was going about 45, when I had to stop at a traffic light and the car wanted to slide a bit, so I slowed it down to 35.  A better idea anyway as it was practically a white out!!

Got to the store and got everything I needed, and a few more things--as it always seems I do.  Couldn't find just a nut for the flush lever, so I bought a whole new handle kit--cost $7.00.  It is made of plastic, as the original one I had is, but here, in this area of water with a high content of lime, calcium, rust--plastic holds up much better than metal.  It's going to be an easy fix, actually.  Unhook the handle from the chain that goes down to the flapper, put the new handle in, tighten the nut, hook the handle up to the chain.  Easy Peasy.

Of course, it won't be, because--I have a high profile toilet and the bathroom furniture is sits under, makes working in the tank very tight.  I shall prevail however, even if I have to empty everything out of that cabinet and move it out.  No big deal!! (she said).

Loaded up the car with groceries, drove home--even heavier snow then before, brought up the empty garbage can, got the mail, unloaded all the groceries and got in the house.  I was covered with wet, cold snow.  My hair was sopping wet--I have my summer hair cut you know--very short.  All of this misery could be alleviated a bit IF I wore a hat.  And gloves.  And boots.  LOL.  I don't even start wearing a winter coat until Christmas......two days ago, I was outside filling bird feeders and walked down to Pearls in my sweatshirt.  It was 40 degrees--I didn't need a coat.
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Finally got the camera---6 days after promised arrival date.  It is newer then mine, but it is not as nice.  Mine had an eye piece to look through AND the screen--this one only has the screen to hold up in front of you.  Mine had a stabilizer thingie so I could take pictures and not worry about my shaky hand.  This one does not.  BUT--it was half the price of what it would have cost to fix my old one--which had already been repaired two years ago.  I have trouble with the zoom feature--things tend to come out blurry--but that may be my shaky hand.  I did manage to get some pix.

I think I already showed you my school?

The Methodist Church where my grandfather once preached,

my parents were married (and buried), where I was baptized, as

were all my children.  Where I got married, my sister,

and Pammie got married.

My mother planted 5 small pine trees around that church

when I was in first grade.  They are still there, and nearly

70 years old.

The ancestor's house, where sister lives now.

Their yard is full of Maples, so I had to put a Maple

tree in the picture.

I had a heck of a time trying to figure out how to

put Ginger Bread trim along the eaves.  Some goes over

the windows too, but thought it showed too much clutter.

Also got my school bus stitched, with the name of

the town--Byron.

Not a very good picture.  

I remembered to put my dog over by my childhood farm--left side.

So--there it is.  The first eighteen years of my life.  I just wanted to keep adding things--I had such a great time making this.  I still do not know how I did it.  I have never cross stitched anything without a pattern.  My Mother would be amazed (as was my sister, LOL)

Now to stretch it on a piece of foam core and get it into the frame.

Of course, the minute I was done with this, I started the new quilt.

This thing is loooooong.

It will take me a few months to finish--

which is a good thing.

Oh just great--it's still snowing outside.  Oh well--doesn't matter.  I have no where to go until Monday.

Let's see what tomorrow brings.  It is Friday you know--or so my hanging flip cards tell me, LOL.

I Think It Will Help.....

...because--I took card stock paper and on each sheet, I typed in two days of the week, ex. MONDAY, then farther down,  TUESDAY--in 72 font and bold.  Then I cut the pages in half so both were the same size, punched holes in the top, put a piece of heavy duty string through the holes, and now that contraption hangs on my bedroom closet door and when I go to bed, I flip the next card over, so that when I wake up in the morning, the first thing I see is--THE CORRECT DAY OF THE WEEK.  and...it really helped this morning.  I knew it was Wednesday all day and was not confused at all, wondering what day it was and if I had something special to do or watch on TV.  

Hey--I may be losing my memory, but I still got my ingenuity!!!
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So--Pearl is constantly yelling at me because I never go anywhere, so this morning, I walked up to her place and sat and chatted with her for over an hour. 

Then I came home and wrote out checks and paid bills on-line.  

My friend from Saginaw called, but she couldn't talk.  She refuses to get the flu shot and now she has the flu and is very, very sick.  I hope it doesn't go into pneumonia!!

Watched my soap and cross stitched.

Then Bethie called to say, she and her hubs were going to a movie in town and she was going to stop out to bring me dry cat food and the loaf of Banana-Nut bread that she forgot at the last luncheon.  It was so good to see her and chat a bit.  That bread is out of this world!!!  It isn't made from any boxed mix that's for sure.  A nice big slice, warmed a bit and slathered with butter (and I mean slathered) was so good, when I finished it, I had to have another big slice!!!
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Then I cleaned up and hauled out my garbage can because--I KNEW it was Wednesday :-)

Ate some Tuna-Mac Casserole that I made yesterday--I actually cooked.  I had Tuna-Mac salad for lunch and Tuna-Mac casserole for supper.  I live such an exciting life.

Then I watched the news, and Wheel of Fortune and (my favorite) Jeopardy and watched MSU beat NorthWestern in basketball.  

During  half-time I called my little sis and we talked for an hour!!!  So nice.
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I got an e-mail from Bethie telling me she was not going to the girls luncheon tomorrow, because..........of all the reasons I had blogged about last month.  I can remember, when we used to get together, we'd sit and talk and laugh and didn't want to leave after two hours.  Now, no one talks, we start looking at our watches as soon as we are done eating, and the only important bit of information is deciding where the next luncheon will be.  Can anyone say, BORING?

About the only reason I even go now is because I get to stop in afterwards and visit with my sister, but not tomorrow--because I decided last month that I wasn't going to go this month, except I had something to give to Bethie and we took care of that this afternoon!

I think your advice was correct--attend every other month or two.
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So what do you all think about that story of the lady who is brain dead, but is pregnant (16 weeks) and by law the hospital can't pull the plug, but her husband and family want too?

Let us hope none of us are ever faced with a decision like that!!!  On the one hand, the woman is truly head, but they can keep her body functioning with life support.

On the other hand, there is another life involved here.  Apparently the baby is still alive.  Can they wait another month or so to see, through an ultra sound, if the baby is viable and could be born via Caesarean?  Man alive--what an awful situation.

Well, enough of all that.  Tomorrow I am going shopping because I am out of milk, Diet Pepsi, wet cat food and I need to see if I can get that part to fix my toilet handle.  

Geez--husband's do come in handy at times!  I can't quite figure out how to fix it and I know, Fred would know right away.

Wish my camera would get here--I have so much to show you!!!