The Shadowlands of Flintville

Subtitled: "Dirty deeds done under the cover of darkness."

OR...  "Things that go bump in the night" 

Good Morning All;

I don't sleep- well, or often- but when I do, it is almost like my own little piece of paradise.

Under the blankets and the homemade quilt- the weight of warmth. 

Personally, I do not care for the lightweight fluffy comforters of today. And am happy to save those bits and pieces of such for the cat or the dog. After sewing up the edges I can place them around to be found (usually by Sputty)- and soon there is a snuggled cat somewhere within the confines of my little farmhouse.

Last night I did not sleep early- I had napped a bit after Casey left, (after spending her entire day here)! When I woke, I was quite wide-eyed and bushy tailed.

Such is life.

It is dark- quiet then- even with the window opened a crack- even with the fan running over the stove. 

If I have the heat on, it is also warm.

Lately I have been using an old piece of Green Bay Packer material for a lap cover. it keeps my legs and feet toasty warm when Punk and Sputty are dreaming, lying elsewhere. It is good enough for me during this (knock on wood) 'warm' winter as I read on and on -from links -and thoughts- that are searched for, then researched on(ward).

Looking forward, with that glass being half full, I was reading about the Spring equinox, and waiting for another page to open about the Fat Witch Brownie Book. (Note: she cooks- she does not eat little girls in small brown uniforms). hehehe

Of a sudden, out of the corner of my eye, and a split second before my head turned- I see a great black fleeting image- The cat, very much outstretched like a flying squirrel, taking sail off the chair through the dining room, and into the dark confines of the kitchen.  

I heard nothing, even as he landed on the old rug between the kitchen and the living rooms.

I waited to hear anything...

Comes a memory of the night before- as I'd been woken with a very loud 'bang' and a 'crack'... Later inspection would prove this to be the linen scented candle I had just bought- still in the bag from the store. A 'new' fragrance I had been eager to try in here- A light enough scent that I had thought might mix well with the patchoulli and the sage, (and of course, the dog).  hehehe

Damned cat. As he'd pushed the bag off the table, it had left little hope that I would ever find out if it would have mixed as nicely as I'd imagined... 

As that thought passed, I was quickly reminded that there was something in the kitchen that I, quite probably did not wish to deal with at that point in time- 

I waited. And I waited more- for anything to come of my aerobatic cat.

A moment later I heard a low gutteral growl... The sound that only comes from a feline as it protects its food.

Then nothing once more- save for that interminable 'wait'...

Confirmation came quick as he silently strode back into the room with a mouthful of mouse. A medium-size interloper that, I imagine, had been on its way to seek out the new bag of cat food that I had lain on the chair in the kitchen. Rarely am I able to put everything away form a shopping trip- I put the necessary things into the fridge/freezer, and the rest will be put away when I am able to do so. 

There ARE worse things. (Hmmm... -I think).

Almost as soon as Mr. Sputnik had shown me his pride, it leapt from his mouth- and again my cat began twisting- soaring, to retrieve it. 

I had no capabilities at that moment to participate in the chase. My back being just about as painful as it can get...

And yes, it is a story that has been told by me many times previous. Still, I have not seen a mouse in 3 months. This, thanks to Sputty, (or maybe thanks to the fact that none have been 'in' either. 

Then again, I have not seen last night's mouse either...

I am unaware if the damned cat ate it, or lost it. 

My day is planned in advance to see if he has, or not. 

As for Sput, he is asleep on the couch.

Punk will gladly help me- Her nose being one of my greatest assets. My airborne cat will not help further.

Off I go now- Going to be a LONG creepy day- one of which my nerves are not quite ready for. 

I shall try to put away things in their proper places- Perhaps even I will find a dead medium-sized mouse that has crawled under 'something' in a last ditch effort to hide from its predator... 

Ugh.  Maybe I will even vacuum up the leftovers, if indeed there are any.

At this rate, I will never be able to get my house into shape to $ell it.

For now though, it is warm enough- And as I wait for my little pills to kick in, I will try to go take a few peeks around as I remove my rugs and toss them outside to be shaken off.

My love to all. May you have a 'wunnaful' day!

XOXO

Me

Turkeys in My Basement! ~Er, No, wait...

A frosty morning-
Taken a few days ago...

Good Morning All;
I woke this morning, chilled- it was still dark- Quiet too, as I'd slept in the living room...
The first thing to do is to let Punk out.
Soon as I'd opened the door, the rain hit me in the face; driven hard, and cold too.  Hearing the forecast, more of the same, (possibly mixed with the "S" word), for today and tomorrow. (This proves little help to warm me).
Ugh!

Speaking of "eek" ...was too!  ('Ugh' and 'eek' fall into the same windblown genre of word usage), Punk did me a favor a while back.
(At least I think it was a favor)...

I'd been down in the basement, cleaning out the sh/L-itterbox when Punk made a very strange sound.
Turning to see, she was literally 'pointing' out something... No, I do not take my unpredictable, (and somewhat "possessed"), camera down with me while I am doing that stinky task.  hehehe

Punk was staring at the wall above and between my water softener and my water heater...

 ... I looked.

There seemed to be quite a problem with some of the insulation...


Yeah. Crap. That's not right at all.
I am not sure if she saw anything move- But if she didn't, I don't think she would have pointed that way?

See the insulation in the next photo-


That's the way it's supposed to look!

Yes, wait a second, it gets WORSE...

I have some old pink insulation out in the pumphouse. Thepumphouse is 75 feet away from the house


But I took the picture in my basement!?! (Add 'eek' or 'ugh' as you wish)

Imagine how baffled I was; how very complicated this mess had just become...
As i was shooting a few pics, I realized, of a sudden, my own welcomed animals had become quiet, nonexistent.
(Completely disappeared would be the right description).
The Cowards!

Looking around at this mess I call a basement, I found Punk...

She must have thought she fit right in with the junk...   hehehe


"Busted!"
Almost camouflaged she was; save for those eyes.
(And, as always, that mischievous grin on her face).  hehehe

But ok- Where the dickens was The Sputnik?

I found him too-
On the opposite side of the basement...


  ... in the crawlspace!!!  (NOTE: 'ugh' and 'eek' definitely apply)  hehehe 
Perhaps he knows something that I don't know. (I really don't want to know).

I believe I will be having a bit of company this Friday!
I met Christy as she replied to an ad I had posted on Yahoo's Free Stuff, many moons ago. My back was really bad that year and I could not keep up with picking all my beans. Christy, among others had replied, and we have stayed in touch ever since!
Christy has 8 children- At the end of the month they will be adopting 2 more little girls!
She has offered to bring herself, and her crew of 8 children, (ages 11-17), on Friday to come and clean -and maybe even get the outside ready for Winter!
I am thrilled; honored, that they will come.
(Maybe she didn't expect me to accept her offer)! hehehe

A few weekends ago, friend Duane came up from Milwaukee, on his Harley; and with one of his young sons.
His son had wanted to buy the old Buick Roadmaster, "as is, where is"!
As soon as they hit Sheboygan it had begun to rain- (That should have told them what kind of day lay ahead for them). hehehe
Friend Lynn had also come out that day- and helped me as I tried to charge up the battery and put air in the drivers front tire.
By the time Duane and his son arrived, they were soaked to the skin; right through the riding gear.
The charger did nothing for the battery- Duane only had the Harley, but I had my Rendezvous- We hooked the 2 cars up and waited and waited- the battery would simply not take a charge!
I called Fleet Farm- Fortunately they were open for another 25 minutes- I sent Duane and his son off in the Rendezvous... They even made it there and out by the time the store closed!

An hour or so later, the Roadmaster roared to life- We cleared a place in the old shed for Duane to leave his bike overnight, as he wisely chose a ride home in the dry of the car.




Getting ready to leave for home.
I waited to hear from them, that they had made it home.
They did, safe and sound.
I am happy that the old girl went to a decent person too.

Casey was out about weeks ago and as she was fixing to leave, she happened to look back toward the woods-




What a beautiful leader they have this year!
A completely white, wild turkey! He is so pretty! I hope no one shoots it...

Now tell me WHY can't I have TURKEYS in my basement???

My love to all.  Have a 'wunnaful' warm Tuesday!

XOXO
Me

PS
Yes, I told Randy almost immediately when I saw the basement...
He has not shown up here, except for while he is 'on duty', since.
Methinks he's scared!!!    hehehe

Varmints. Infusions. And Cheerios

    Punk- Bothered by the wind last week-


Good Morning All
Please vote today? Even if you think it won't matter, do it anyway. It's way too important not to. Personally I am happy that it is finally sinking into peoples heads that their votes can change the world in which we live. Your vote DOES count, no matter what you believe right now.
Undecided? Take the image of Casey to the polls with you, and vote according to your conscience. Know that a Republican vote has the potential to kill many people that wear her shoes, and fight her fight against a chronic, debilitating disease.

Lots going on today for us- Casey has another infusion, and I have a bit more shopping to do while I am in town- Happy I do not have to vote today. Those lines- around here anyway, promise to be long...


With November comes the advent of snow- Wish it were not so, but there is always the possibility of it- and lots of it. Of course no one knows how each season will differ from the last, but many are getting ready. I have seen many plows attached to trucks already, and many sights like this at area shops-


I still have to get mine out.

Casey brought me in yesterday for my darn head. My head feels better, but I still feel nasty- Could not fall back to sleep, worried that I would not wake in time to bring her in for that infusion. hehehe Talk about a vicious cycle.

These guys seem to cycle too-



A little mole thinking he might have liked some of that peanut butter.

These varmints are not in the house-
Thanks to an ever vigilant Sputnik, and Punk too. (Well, she tries). hehehe

In Spring and In Fall I always catch a bunch out in the attached garage. And every now and then, Sput does get one on the inside.
And it all has to do with the weather-


As does this... from last weeks windstorm.




The weathermen have told us that the mb's pressure from that storm was comparable to a Category 3 hurricane. Happy I am that I do not live down south, my headache had begun with that drop in pressure...

Punk would go outside, and within seconds was completely bothered by the fact that she could smell something, and not be able to figure out which way it was coming from. She would walk across the yard with her head swinging back and forth- Casey said she looked like she was at a tennis match! hehehe

Punk would gather up her toys, in whatever room she was, and just wait.




And wait...


Yes. Sponge-Bob now has a tail. Had to sew him up twice already. hehehe
So finally I just combined the two toys- Punk watches my every stitch...


Sputty?



He could care less ~as long as he gets fed.



After all that wind, Punk now chooses my old jacket to grab and go lie on.




She has also taken to lying under my little table... Cute




Sputty- Cleaning up after dinner. hehehe



Casey had moved her infusion from Tues to Thurs last week because of that wind.




Nick taking Casey's blood pressure- 105/58





I brought along some Cheerios for her to munch on.
She was still hungry so I ran to Tony Roma's to get her a sandwich!




I think she liked it! (I got the Claussen)! Mmmmm


I'd better close if I am to get in the shower before I leave- Perhaps even to turn the heat on before I do that...  It's about 30° outside as I type, and about 64° inside.

My love to all.

XOXO
Me

SissieKrissiePoo, KC, and "Momma~Donna" too!

hehehe
Cartoon from here.

Good Morning Everyone!
I am reading that you all have had a "wunnaful" Easter weekend! I even got a card in the mailbox! (Snail mail, not the inbox).

This card and letter from my birthmother- She is so good at writing letters and such.
I once was also, but when my hands went kaplooey that all stopped.
Casey and Greg had stopped in to see (birthmother) Donna and (her husband), Bob while they were in Milwaukee last month...

Donna and Bob will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on the 23rd. (It does my heart good to see real marriages last this long; through the good and the bad, and everything in~between.
They can still laugh together. (That says it all about happy marriages)!

Since I don't think I ever did post the pictures that Casey took while they were there, here they are now...
Gosh I have a crappy memory lately...
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Bob. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Madonna

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And all together now...
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Donna and Bob own a tavern down in Milwaukee-  Each year for St Patrick's Day she makes 60 pounds of corned beef. (Each year she says "never again" and then makes it anyway).
They rarely, if ever, have any leftovers either! Yummy!
My sister, DeeDee, runs the bar- Money for her, (she's the one that lost her husband in 2008 to cancer).
Donna and Bob have 3 daughters. Kathy, DeeDee, and Shari.
Donna, having been married once before, also had a daughter, Patty, who died in 1976.
My sister Kris and I were the 2 given up for adoption.

This is SissyKrissiePoo!

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...as she got here last week to clean the gravel out of the lawns.
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Casey came out also; pointing to a hornet up on the house
(Which did not show up in the pic).
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Punk said she'd help too.
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As long as she didn't have to lift a paw. She was dubbed the "supervisor"... hehehe
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hehehe
Claims she had to supervise because of a hairline fracture in her shoulder..
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Kris and I. We don't share fathers, yet there are many times we look alike.
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Kris and Casey!
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Kris, and a ton of gravel -by the old stump.
*Thank you SO much Kris! For doing it all! *
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Vole runs...
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We had gone down to Kelli's and had stolen her trailer back again...
This worked much better than my decrepit wheelbarrow.

Besides, Punk can't ride in the wheelbarrow.
Hmmm   What about that shoulder?!?!
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hehehe
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Then they all took a well deserved break!
Kris treated us to lunch from Krolls West.    YUM!
If you are ever in Green Bay, you have to eat here just once. 
I guarantee you will want to go back.
Check out the autographed celebrity tiles on the walls too while you are there!
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It was in the 70's that day-
Today it is raining and gloomy- a candle kind of day. But oh, how we need the rain!

I have much running around to do today, and will try to get all my errands done before I go back to the 'toe' doctor tomorrow. YIKES!

I had given Kris a book, (which she forgot to take with her when she left). I will mail that out today. A few other stops too,. First will be to make my vote count.

Casey has an appointment for another UTI.
I'm beginning to think she will never be rid of those... She drinks lots of water, juices, etc, so everything should be working all right.
Perhaps it has something to do with her missing spleen?
Hmmm...

I'd better close and get on with my day.

Hope all is well in your little corner of the world?
Have a happy day!

XOXO
Me


PS
Besides a mole wanting to be inside, there is a difference between a mole and a vole... CLICK

Methinks I do not like either one.

No, I am not holding this critter!  
Pics from here

Mad 'Nuff to Spit Nails

I am ever so hesitant to say "Good" Morning...
I am too mad to even try to be nice.   hehehe?


That said,  you're just gonna have to figure it out yourselves...

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1.  Ignore the dustwebs... 
2.  Know this is NOT where I feed the cat!

(Anybody caught laughing, giggling, or snorting will be shot on sight).
'Sides, Kelli already did that. (Yes, she is still alive). hehehe
She thinks they are just SO cute. Not me. Not by a longshot.

XOXO
Me

One Mo' Blog. Thank you to my Friends.

This bear, received as a gift from a like~minded woman;
I believe that these were Brandy's exact words last Saturday!
-hehehe-

Good Afternoon!

So much going on at once-

Last weekend was a gift from Heaven, weather wise. It was in the 60's and even a low 70. Very welcomed weather for November. As I type though it is 48° and it isn't to get much warmer any more.  Yes, I will be mowing my lawns today with earmuffs on.
Sad/True.


Some of these pics were taken last week, some this week.

Casey has shortened class periods on Tuesdays and Thursdays- She generally drives out before or after those.
Of course Mr. Sputnik comes outside with us now... There are no two ways of getting around that unless I want to come back inside to a cat that actually "hollers" at me. (Too funny he is)! 
The weather matters not to him...

...As long as he is getting someones undivided attention!
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And what does Punk think of sharing her Casey's attention?
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HAHAHA!  
Maybe she ate a rotten crab~apple while she grazed?!? 
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She still loves the rubber Frisbee...
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Casey threw that one!  Way up high!
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Later that day to have Miss Kelli leave work early so there was still a bit of daylight left at the end of her day.
They chose to walk the dogs to the woods...
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Krazy Koko had run ahead and was nowhere to be seen anymore...
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Coco had gotten fixed 2 weeks earlier; and the vet had "grounded" her with her outings.
Having gotten her stitches out, that rule no longer applied!



Kelli had gone to a trade show and is showing off her new sweatshirt...


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I couldn't agree more!
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Kelli got to go to her trade show. I got to go to WalMart. (Such is life). hehehe

I bought 2 of these bird-feeders. I set one up out the south side of the kitchen; and the other to the west. I can see them both with just a few steps around the kitchen.
I love watching the birds in the middle of the winter. (Ok, anytime). & it never fails to amaze me that the birds can even live when the temps get so far below zero.
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Notice the squirrel shields up there. 
They work well, so far, too. I haven't had to refill the feeders for over a week!

Perhaps the pillaging varmints have died...

...Seeing as I had to "feed" them too...

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Mmmm!
It is out in the shed.
Punk and Sputnik are away from it.

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Last weekend I literally begged for help.  Yes, there ARE some things that my back is not capable of.
As you may know, the damned drains were not fixed yet. And while it bothers me none where the tub and the sink drain, it might bother a potential buyer. (I received a phone call out of the blue last week from a man whose son might be interested in my place. Nephew to Greg who already owns the 25 acres behind me).
So the silly stubborn drain had to be fixed.
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First to roll out the red carpet...  hehehe
.Then to free the stinkin' & stubborn "tee" that was plugged up.


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John Pryes rolled up his sleeves and dug in. (Thank God for friends)!


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While he was cussing up a storm in the crawlspace, Brandy, Casey, Sarah, and Ashley were busy elsewhere. My little dumpster was full to the brim yesterday!


John had to ask "The Boss" what to do next though...

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Fair is fair- As appointed Supervisor for the day, Sput had to get dirty too!
Notice this foreman is wearing a necklace made of cobwebs!  eeeeeekee!
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Finally getting the old pipe off, John, Casey, and Sarah, made a beeline for Pulaski to get a new one. (The old one being trash by the time it finally gave way).

So you ask, who ended up getting the dang thing off?
That would be Miss Brandy herself!
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You GO, Girl!
She might have been cussing my camera in this picture.
Of course she may have been explaining her work too.

Either way, the job was done!  The following day, Punk and I showered and it all went down to the septic, via the correct drain!
Say "YAY!"

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Yesterday Sue and Glenn came to get another truckload of apples!
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I swear there'll be more too
~because I don't know where the heck all these came from to begin with!

But it is done for another year. Thank you Sue and Glenn!
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While Punk did calisthenics with her Frisbee, Glenn fired apples into his box.
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     "The Suspended Apple!" hehehe
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Suzy Q brought my now empty dumpster back up the driveway!
Punk thought she was stealing it?!?  Goofy dog!   

Time for me to get outside shortly and do the final mowing. After all, I have to get that done before I have to beg John and Brandy to come over again and get the snowplow on the little tractor.


Hope all is well in your little corner of the world.  My love to all.

XOXO
Me

PS  Contrary to what some believe I do not sit around all day long. You should KNOW me better than that by now. As my back allows, I am sitting, standing, or laying down.  Does that afford me time to read? Yes, but only after my work is done thank you very much!
That one truly hurt...