Happy Memorial Day...

So I guess technically today is the real Memorial Day....seems strange since we just celebrated it LAST weekend. I don't understand. I would think that this weekend would be Memorial Day weekend. Kinda like we have two Memorial Day weekends this year...whatever..

Today turned out to be a nice day weatherwise. It could have been a teeny bit warmer but the sun was shining. I went to the matinee show and saw the new Terminator Salvation movie. Looked more like a Transformer movie to me. It was okay, but I preferred the earlier ones. Then on the way home I did my grocery shopping. When I got home I grilled chicken wings and steak bits. It was a good dinner. I also had those little red potatoes, zuchinni slices, corn, and Italian spagetti salad that I also tossed in some spinach leaves. I loaded the chicken wings with lots of spices before I grilled them and they turned out good. The steak bits were from a rump roast that I had bought that I sliced up into steaks and steak bits for grilling later.
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So anyway, I have to write about this poor little Robin bird that wanted so badly to build her nest on top of my husband's tire while he was parked in our driveway in Caseville. He drove up on a Wednesday and by the very next day he noticed something on top of his back tire. It was a fully constructed bird nest! She had made it that quick. There it was, sitting right on top of his tire. And he had to move his car so I could have my garage sale. So he picked up the nest and put it in the backyard. He moved his car and the next day there was the beginning of another nest on top of his tire. He kept brushing it off and she kept coming back. We would see her flying around with all this stuff in her beak. Finally, he put a tarp on top of the tire to prevent her from building her nest there. But we could see her flying around it and getting frustrated. He even moved his car to the other side of the driveway (we have a circular driveway). He found a half-built nest on his tire again so he had to put the tarp back on it. Finally, my husband made a makeshift birdhouse out of a plastic water jug and attached it to this metal rod and stuck it in the ground near where his car was originally parked. He put the half-built nest inside and put the other nest she built on top. She was confused. We would see her flying around with stuff in her beak and the car was moved and the tarp was on the tire. She even tried putting it on MY tires. We just kept brushing it off. Then he left for home, and I saw her out on the driveway where his car use to be parked walking back and forth with straw in her mouth looking for the car. I felt so sorry for her. I kept yelling at her to USE THE WATER JUG BIRDHOUSE!!...(stupid bird) I had went out to lunch with my girlfriend and when she dropped me off, I saw a little broken blue robin's egg behind the tire of my car with the yellow 'baby bird' yolk running out on the cement. I figured she must have gotten desperate to lay her eggs and she went on my tire and it rolled off. There was only one egg though...I don't know if she laid more some place else. I wanted to cry for her. I felt so bad. She was trying so hard to make her nest so she could have her babies. But she just couldn't have her nest on my husband's tire! I even suggested to him that he let her and he could leave the car there and drive home with me. He looked at me like I was nuts. He said he had no intentions of leaving his car there until the babies would be old enough to leave the nest...which could be awhile I assume. I figure that a raccoon would probably get them before they hatched anyway. Doesn't she know that birds are suppose to build their nests in trees??!!!...not tires....

What is it with us and birds anyway......

Garage Sale is OVER.....

I finally got back from Caseville. I was there for over 2 weeks. I stayed a little longer than I had planned but there were things to do. It was a very busy vacation. Hey, I thought vacations are suppose to be relaxing where you don't have to do anything but relax. Not this trip anyway.

When I got up there I got busy getting my garage sale in order. I hauled all the crap down from the attic and got it all priced, along with what I had already priced sitting in the garage earlier. I was beginning to panic....cause I had so much stuff and didn't know where the hell I was going to put it all. I had about 10 tables and also made a couple of makeshift tables out of snack tables and long drywall pieces on top. And I had some tarps I put down on the grass where I could just lay stuff on. I could only do so much until hubby go there to help me haul some of it out of the garage so I could set up all the tables. I had two long tables of clothes that I put on the deck and left overnight. Then I had more room in the garage. It all worked out in the end. I guess it was worth it cause I made over $500 in 3 days.

So I spent Fri, Sat and Sun of Memorial weekend selling stuff. Actually, I made out even better since I saved money by not going to all the other garage sales going on that weekend. It was killing me though knowing that all these great garage sales were going on and I couldn't get to them!! So I made money and saved money.

Even though I sold alot there were still tons of stuff left over and I spent Monday and Tuesday sorting through everything and packing up most of it for the thrift store in town. I kept a few boxes of stuff to bring back home. But my jeep was jammed packed with boxes that I took to the store.....so they can try selling it.

Then on top of being consumed with my garage sale I also had a lot of yard work to get done. My flower beds were full of weeds...so I had to weed and add the Preen. Cut the grass...weedwhack, edge, etc. My vegetable garden was under water when I first got there so I had to wait for it to dry up before I could finally get the weeds out and get it ready to plant my veggies. After the sale, I bought some tomato plants, pepper plants, cuke plant and got them planted. Also bought a few perennials for my flower garden in front. I started working on the mum flower bed on the side but I only got half of it done. Next time.

We took the dogs to the beach and took some pictures. We went to the condo for awhile, and one Saturday night we went to the Eagles for some Chicken wings.

I was busy with Eagles things some evenings....a meeting, worked the kitchen during Bingo and just hanging out with friends in the bar playing those damn rip-off tickets...haha. Those things are addictive. I won $100 once and now I'm hooked...lol

Hubby thinks they're stupid. I made him play Saturday night and he won $2, but I doubt if he's hooked yet...

Sunday my husband took me out to dinner for Mother's Day. We went to a local restaurant here in our town that I've been wanting to try. We were impressed with the meal. My husband's steak was excellent and I ordered Salmon that was very very good....and the prices were so reasonable we couldn't believe it. Also they gave me two roses!

My middle son apparently came by the house while we were at the restaurant cause there was a card sitting on the counter. We felt bad that we missed him. I called and left a message thanking him.

And my daughter-in-law sent me a beautiful card that she made herself. It arrived on Monday though. It was from her and the boys.....nothing from army son though. I didn't expect anything from him.

I also went to the cemetery and laid lilacs on my mom and grandma's graves.
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I've been riding my bike and it's great exercise....not only for the legs but also cardiac-wise cause it gets the heart pumping. I got the gears where it feels comfortable and I adjusted the seat, but I really have to get a different seat cause this one is small and HARD on my butt!! Not very comfortable. Or maybe I can figure out a way to put a softer pad on it or something. I don't know how Lance Armstrong can ride a bike for 115 miles though....he must have a bionic butt.

Yesterday I took my car into the dealership to get quite a few things done to it before I leave for Caseville again Thursday. I had to get a set of new tires put on. Hubby had been checking prices cause he said that the dealership would charge too much for tires. Total at Discount Tire where I got them last time was $550 total with tires, mounting and balancing. Sears wanted $150 per tire plus the other costs involved. I needed to get that throttle part put in at the dealership and I told hubby that I would rather just take it there and get everything done. So their total cost for tires including the mounting and balancing was $435! Cheaper at the dealership by far. They put in the throttle position sensor, did a fuel system cleaning, replaced my thermostat, did a cooling system service, and replaced my gas cap. They had my car all day but it's done and I hope I don't have to spend another dime on this car for another 5 years!!

I actually got up early to take my car in by 9:00 and then walked over to this restaurant and had breakfast before I called hubby to come pick me up. It was actually nice sitting there having coffee and eggs and bacon and reading the paper at 9:30 in the morning. I should do that more often......(chuckle..chuckle)

MRS. CLEAN....

I was Mrs. Clean today. One of the many things I have to do is to clean my carpets. I have a carpet cleaner but they basically suck...so I rented one of those machines at the store today....the Rug Doctor. For $25 you can keep it overnight. Ya have 24 hours to clean your carpets. Personally, I don't know anybody that would want to spend 24 freakin hours cleaning carpets! I took it home and I cleaned my living room, hall, bedroom, dinette and family room and I had that sucker back in 3 hours!! I was MRS. CLEAN LADY!! But I got to thinking that with the extra 21 hours I had to spare I could have went and cleaned my neighbor's carpets and charged them. I could have made a few extra bucks. And this time of dire economy I could use the extra bucks.

I have to get tires for my car. It's gonna cost me $500 to get tires. I need to get that throttle part put on my car and that's gonna cost me. Maybe I should have asked my neighbors if they need their carpets cleaned...
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The Star Trek movie came out and I went to see it tonight!!!! I couldn't wait to see it...I have been anticipating this movie for along time. This is a GREAT movie in my opinion. They did it in the 'prequel' sense.....Star Wars did that....Batman did that...etc. The story takes place when the crew is about 25 years old and just starting with StarFleet and how James T. Kirk becomes the Captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise....I just loved it! The actors are incredible in their portrayal of the characters. And just gotta love Leonard Nimory for being part of it! Good Job guys!!
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Tomorrow is Mother's Day...whatever. No cards in the mail. Youngest son said "Happy Mother's Day" when I dropped him off at the airport. Okay, maybe I'm NOT the greatest mother in the f'''''''' world, but it wouldn't hurt to send a f'''''''''' card!! Whatever...

I bought myself a Mother's Day gift. I bought myself a bike! I'm going to get my ass out there and ride and burn calories. I tried walking and it's so boring and I can't run anymore. I use to have a stationary bike but that's really bad cause you're peddling and peddling and you don't get anywhere....so I'm going to peddle my way to thin again!! It's a nice bike for the money...under $100. So we'll see. Remember the guitar I wanted and I was going to teach myself to play??...well it's still in my computer room leaning up against the wall. So we'll see how many miles I put on this bike....

I got back from taking my son and his girlfriend to the airport. They're flying to Florida for a week's vacation. Her parents have a timeshare there. Hubby will have to pick them up next Saturday cause I will be in Caseville by then. I'm planning on leaving by Thursday. I thought about leaving after the weekend, but even if I left Monday, then that would only leave me 3 days to get everything ready for my garage sale that following Friday...besides getting the grass cut and everything else I do when I get up there. So I'm leaving Thursday or Friday at the most.

I have so much to do here though. If it wasn't for my garage sale I wouldn't go. Yesterday I had my bathtub re-reglazed. Today hubby took all the tapings off and there are alot of rough patches here and there. I called the company and complained. They will have to send someone to buff it out. So until they do, I can't use my tub yet. Aren't there any competent workers/companies out there anymore??? Everybody wants top dollar and does a half-ass job.

I still need to rent a carpet cleaner and do my carpets. I still need to get new tires for my car. I still need to take my car into the dealership and have this part put in. My car is not running right and keeps stalling at lights. I was hoping to get it done before I leave again. I couldn't get anything done today because I had to go to my son's and do the airport thing.

I'll be SO glad to get this garage sale over and done with! And people better come....and people better buy!

WHY DO I KEEP LOSING THINGS??!!

Several many years ago I wanted these 14K heart-shaped amethyst earrings for Christmas. Instead my hubby bought me a pair of 10K heart-shaped CUBIC ZIRCONIA earrings. I was not very happy and threw a hissy fit. So the following February on Valentine's Day I woke up and found a small package sitting on the kitchen counter. I opened it up and there were the amethyst earrings I wanted! Even though I mainly wear the diamond studs he eventually also gave me for another Christmas, I love those amethyst earrings and wear them occasionally.

I have been going through my jewelry box taking out all the jewelry I don't like or wear anymore to sell at my garage sale. I'm also getting out all the jewelry I want to put in this jewelry wrap thing I have that I take with me to Caseville all summer. This is basically for my summer jewelry and jewelry that I want to always keep with me and not leave home if nobody is here. So I'm going through my jewelry and cannot find my amethyst earrings!

Actually I first discovered them missing shortly before I left for Caseville this last trip. I even looked closely inside all the little pockets of my jewelry wrap and they are not there. So I thought that they must be somewhere in Caseville from last summer. I probably wore them, took them off and set them somewhere. Also I have a box that I keep some jewelry in and thought they might be there. I really doubted it but hoped....

I went to Caseville and looked everywhere and did not find my amethyst earrings. So now that I'm home, I'm going through my jewelry box more closely and looking everywhere they might be. Even places that they wouldn't be in a million years, but who the hell knows what I do with my stuff anymore. They are nowhere....They are lost...They are gone.

I am just sick about it. I'll keep looking and maybe my guardian angel will lead me to them.

They are probably in the same place as my shoes....

The Missing Shoes....

At the end of last summer I was shopping at the K-Mart in Bad Axe while in Caseville and they had their summery type shoes on sale. They had these white with blue gym shoe type shoes that I liked. I distinctly remember buying TWO pair....one for home and one for Caseville. That way I wouldn't have to keep remembering to take them when I went to C'Ville. I have quite a few things that I buy like that...buying in doubles. I remember putting the two shoe boxes inside this closet in the bedroom there until I came home. Before I left for C'Ville this last trip I decided to wear the pair that I thought I had brought back with me in the Fall. I looked everywhere and couldn't find them. So I figured I must have left both pairs at the cottage, probably still in the closet.

When I was just there, I looked for the shoes. There is only one pair in the closet...in my shoe rack and not in the box. I looked everywhere and could not find a second pair anywhere. I found the shoebox filled with DVD's in the attic for the garage sale. At home I also had a shoe box filled with DVD's for the garage sale. So I'm assuming that I must have brought the second pair home with me last Fall and was using the box for garage sale DVD's. Since I've been back home this week, I have looked everywhere and simply cannot find the second pair of shoes. And I KNOW I bought two pair last Fall.....and I have the two empty shoeboxes. But where are my shoes??

Hubby said I probably gave them to charity when they came a few weeks ago. Lord, I hope not. I really doubt that I did. Simply cause I gave the Charity pickup crap I figured I couldn't sell at the garage sale. Or maybe I threw them in with some garage sale stuff and I'll find them up in the attic when I go through that stuff next time I get up there.

I know I bought two pair....I remember they were on sale for only $10 and I decided to buy two pair for that price. Plus, I have two boxes. So where are the damn shoes!!???

Back Home

I drove home from Caseville in the rain. It either rained or was dreary and cold most of the week that I was there. There were only a couple nice days where I could get outside and get some yard cleanup done. I did finally get the grass cut before I left. The main thing I have to do there is rake up all the stones out of my grass before I can even cut it. We have a stone driveway and when the plow guy plows it he pushes the snow up on the grass and the stones stick to the snow, so when everything melts we have tons of stones in our grass. This year it was ridiculous. There were literally piles of stones like someone took a bucketful and dumped them on the grass. I don't know why he plows so much when we aren't even there. Next year I'm telling him to only plow when I call him to say we are coming up. Otherwise, the damn snow can sit there.

So Keno had his first experience in driving to Caseville. Unfortunately, the little guy threw up when I was almost there. He did pretty good otherwise. He slept and was quiet for the ride. Before I left I didn't feed him anything and he was fine driving home with no nausea. The weather was crappy most of the time so I didn't take him down to the lake. But he got to know the place and he and Mini Sue had fun barking with Trooper, the dog next door.

I went out Saturday night to the Eagles and left them both home alone and they were okay. He was very happy to see me when I got home though. And I went out again Tuesday to a meeting there and Bingo Wednesday night. But otherwise, I stayed home with him while he's getting use to the place.

I kept busy going through all my garage sale boxes I have in the garage and getting everything priced. I still have tons of stuff in the attic that I will get down the next time I go up. But I would say that I got half of it priced which is a good start.

And my allergies were terrible when I was there. They were already acting up before I left and I was taking medication for it. I had headaches and sneezing. The rain was only making it worse, I think. Sunday I woke up with my eyes all itchy and my face was eyes were swollen. Wednesday after I cut the grass, I got hives or itchy swollen bumps all over my face and chest and some on my arms. I took an antihistimime and put cortozone cream on my face. It cleared up. Maybe I'm allergic to grass now. It was weird. I ended up feeling okay and went to Bingo and won $20!

When I got home Keno was scared when I opened the door to take him out. He didn't know where I had driven and what I was going to do with him. I told him he was going to see his "pa" and "SQUIRRELS!" and that perked him up. When he got in the house he was so excited. He ran to my husband and started doing that 'smile' thing he does. Hubby says that's the first time he's smiled for him. But he was so happy! Then he jumped up on the back of the couch and started searching for squirrels. And when he finally saw one, he went totally nutso. He was shrieking and screeching like a little bat. I let them both outside and he was running all over the yard trying to get that squirrel. He was back home!

My husband put up chicken wire fence in front of our picket fence so there is no way Keno can squeeze through now when he chases squirrels and bunnies. He also raised that little wooden thingy that he jumped over to make it higher and put more chicken wire across the bottom. I believe our backyard is now "Keno proof"!

Today hubby and I went into Plymouth because they were having some "Green Fair" going on. There were tons of booths set up. We set up an appointment with a company to come out and give us an estimate to have insulation blown into our attic. Hopefully, that will save us money on our gas bills next winter. There was a little bar & grill there that we went into and had a few beers.

Tomorrow I'm going to a rummage sale and hubby is going to a swap meet with our youngest son. Glad to be home....