‘Viro Video Version

I already posted pix of XH cleaning the ceiling fan.  

This is the full story, in living color.

Enjoy the  Video ‘viro version!

 

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I’m so thrilled that I finally learned how to youtube!!       Thanks, DD1!!         And Stella has been a tremendous help to me in the tech dept, as well.        Also, thanks to SF!             Without him, I wouldn’t even have a computer to work on!       (Which is now fixed, I just need to get a new connector thingy, so I can get back on the net.       ARGH!!)

 

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A Norwex post.        (This is my business link.      I make a commission on any sales.)

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#8- ‘Viro Video

Workshop Working

Oops!    This is a Seven Seconds Series post, and I forgot to alliterate it to that.       Drats!     Oh well, hopefully we will all live thru it!

http://simplydesigning.porch.com/7-hours-to-a-decluttered-home./

Seven Seconds

Second Seven Seconds

Second Seven Seconds Sequel  

Seven Seconds Scullery 

Seven Seconds Scullery Spices

Seven Seconds Scullery Scape

Seven Seconds Scullery Sunder

Seven Seconds Scullery

Seven Seconds Scullery Spices

Seven Seconds Scullery Scape

Seven Seconds Scullery Sunder

Seven Seconds Scullery Scrape

Seven Seconds Scullery Scaffolding

Seven Seconds Scullery Second Scraping

SS Scullery Scrapings, Scobblelotcher

Seven Seconds Sisters’ Scene

Seven Seconds Scullery Skippy

Seven Seconds Shed

Seven Seconds Shed Seconds

Seven Seconds Sinking

Seven Seconds Second Sinking

Seven Seconds Shade

Seven Seconds Siesta

Whirled thru working on the workshop today.    (Sat.  Should have done it Wed!!)

In an hour, I quick sorted thru half of the workshop!!       I couldn’t believe I went so fast!  DD1 was there, helping me.      She looked thru boxes very quickly, if it wasn’t even mine, she put it on the trash pile.       Things that weren’t sentimental, not personal ornaments, new stuff that I forgot I bought, etc, she could donate, or discard for me.   

I kept a couple boxes of pictures, etc, that I need to take my time to go thru at a later date.  But so much stuff I let go!!     Very proud of myself!     And so was she!      She really has been a wonderful cheerleader, in this process.     She acknowledges how hard it is for me to give up stuff, and she applauds every effort I make to trim down.       Thank you, honey!!

The paving bricks, left big pic on bottom, I gave away last Thurs, on Freecycle.      I was so glad to see them waltz away, under someone else’s heavy lifting power, not mine!!     And XH was grateful, too!      He’s been helping me so much, in this purging, and packing up to move process!

I was so tired, (it was HOT in there!), that I forgot to take after pix.      Ah well.     Tomorrow’s another day!       It’ll still be there!        I haven’t signed the title, and given the keys to the new owner yet!       I’m still waiting for him to be approved by the park.      He only came to look at it Wed.    So, I’m trying to chill my jets!

DD1, and I will be moving in together, to facilitate taking care of the girls more easily, and the sharing of Vanronica.      We’ve looked at several places.     Even put a deposit on one, moved the furniture in, and then I decided I really couldn’t live there.     I know!!    Why can’t I listen to my gut feelings the FIRST time????     Anyway, we are supposed to get back half our deposit, when the lady re-rents it (for realz that time).      So, only cost me $400, plus turn on fees for gas, and electric.      Quite an expensive lesson!      But, it would have been far worse, to actually move in, and suffer!!      My mental, physical, and emotional health are far too valuable to me now, to not live peacefully, and comfortably.

(There were code enforcement cases open on the property, parking was a nightmare, the only play space was all concrete, and DD1 and I would have had to share a bedroom.     And the very worse thing of all_ the potty space was too tiny!!!!     I knew better than to say yes, at the time, but squelched my instinctive NO!, just so we’d have a place right away.     The decision was made out of fear on my part.    And I had already promised myself not to let fear run my life anymore.      So, to stay true to myself, I had to suck it up, and cancel the deal.     DD1 was disappointed, so was the landlady, but better they are disappointed, than I live torn in half against myself.     And scraping the hide off my thighs every 3 hours!!)

After an hour’s rest, I asked SF to let me borrow his car, and go back over, to bag up the trash, and the donations.     But instead, he came with me.     Even better!!

And that meant I could take some after pix!     Yay!

After round 1.

Still stacked pretty high.

Looking good!

Getting there!

Lots to donate!

Wow! Big difference!

Then, he and I went thru more stuff, that she and I didn’t get to. 

So very empty!

Well, a few gifts left behind…

Lookit, Ma! (almost) No junk!

Yay for empties!

So sparse!

Another gift!

Whew!   The results of 2 more hours work!      Well worth the effort!

He piled all the donates outside, on the carport.  

Isn’t it lovely?!

Beautiful!

                                                                   Isn’t it lovely??!!

Look at that glorious humongous pile!! I feel tremendously accomplished today!!

 

Previous House Time: 20 hrs 38 min

Workshop Time: 2 hrs x 2 people= 4 hrs   (It was 3 different people, but only 2 people each hour.     Does that clear up the mud?)

Total House Time: 24 hrs 38 min

I’m so exhausted, I.can’t.even.move.    (In more ways than 1!)

 

Shink Shining

Congrats, Melinda!           What??    What for??          For starting out confusing us with once again with made-up words!        Oh, that.      Well, I do dearly love my alliteration, ya know.          We know, we know!!         Since I wanted to talk about shining the sink, sink had to become shink.      (I beg the pardon of all those who don’t speak alliteration.)

The shink, uh, sink.

Anyway, I’ve been rethinking the whole sink shining thing, from Fly Lady.    I’ve been adamantly opposed to her methods.      Firstly, cuz I was lazy.     Fully dressed down to shoes and make-up ain’t happenin’, as I have clearly stated previously.       Secondly, I don’t wear make-up, almost EVER!!, and no shoes in the house, so, I literally CAN’T do her method!   (Not that I’m morally opposed to shoes in the house, I just don’t wear ’em.    I do NOT make my guests take theirs off and put on slippers!)      

Toes, and shoes. Freedom! (At SF’s house. I don’t dare have wires like that out in the open!)

But lately, I’ve been wondering if her sink shining thing might, just maybe, have some merit.

Why’s that??          Well, you know the problem with roaches that I have.      

 

Yes, yes I do.     And I’ve noticed that they seem to LOVE to treat the shink, er excuse me, the sink, as their maternity ward.        Oooooh, okkkkay.        And exactly how does that relate to shining it?        Well, I wondered if I shine it, so that it’s dry all night, if that would slow down the birth rate, or maybe alter the location??

Hmmm, well seems to me the only way you’re gonna find out, is by trying it.

What??       You mean I should actually TRY it??          Uh, duh!       How else are ya gonna find out the answer to your question??          {stammers}     Well, I just really, um, kinda thought it was more rhetorical, really.

So, okay.     I dried out 1 side, so that the other, wet side could be the control.     Ya know, like a real scientific experiment, and all!!

Dry as a bone.

And lo, and behold, when I got up in the middle of the night, the wet side was crawling with baby roaches, as usual.      And the dry side??       Wait for it!!            The dry side only had 1 roach in it!!    

I was amazed!!           So, what did we learn??            Well, that drying the sink would be worth it!         (But, I still won’t do it every night, I’m sure.        By bed time, I’m usually bushed!!        And just remember- Slob IN Recovery- not Recovered!  Yet!)

Summary:   Experiment was successful.      Follow thru is essential.

Friendly Frontier

YAY!!     I think I’ve solved my no internet problem!

Bright House became Spectrum, and raised their rate $20.     Well, that left me out in the cold, since I’m paying off my credit cards.

THEN!  I saw a Frontier truck in the neighbor’s driveway, and inspiration struck!      It was like lightening!

       I got all excited!     So, I called them up, found out it was only $46 a month, only $6 more, instead of $20!!!        A big woo hoo there!!

So, I asked XH, to pay over the phone, and gave him the $46.     I was ecstatic!!           Home internet in T-7 days and counting!!

That was on Tuesday.

Then on Monday, I get a letter in the mail.       From Frontier.

Not looking good here.                

It was worse than not good- it was horrible news!      They said my credit wasn’t good enough to have service without a deposit, so they couldn’t serve me.        What in the world was the $46, that I had already paid, which the guy TOLD me was a deposit???

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m mad now.      

    (Can ya tell???)

So, I called and finally got a real live person.        No, I didn’t unleash on her.        I just asked for an explanation, of the contradictory info.

Her answer was, “Not enough signal strength” in my area.       Uh, huh.          And why then was I signed up for service, and charged on XH’s credit card???

She apologized several times.       But all that hot air didn’t get me internet.

So, now here I sit here at SF’s, stewing in my own juices.          (Trust me, it’s not a pretty picture.)

Frontier is not so friendly now.

(Back to the drawing board.       The soaking-wet-from-all-my-tears, drawing board.)

Chosen Cheesecake

Yummmmm!!        Cheesecake!

SF made DD1 a cheesecake for her birthday.       And there wasn’t any for me, except 1 teeny, tiny, itsy, bitsy bite.

Like this:

    The worlds’ smallest bite of cheesecake.   Ever.

Did ya need a microscope to see it?      Yeah, it barely made a dent on my taste buds, either! But, at least she gave me a taste!        Thank you, DD1, for sharing!       Have I mentioned that I love SF’s yummy cheesecake??

And I might or might not, have complained to him, that I didn’t get any.      Except for above referenced teaser tidbit.       (I totally complained.     And whined.     Maybe even begged a little.      I’m shameless when it comes to good food.      And his cheesecake is VERY good!    Even dare I say, “Excellent”!!!!)

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So, 2 weeks go by.

Then, tonight I came over to blog.     And I always check out the contents of his fridge.  Ya know, in case he hid a salad in there for me or something!

Tonight it was OR something!!    

My very own, personal cheesecake!!
                          

SF does love me!!       I told you!!

(The fact that he made another one for DD1, and 2 for himself means nothing to me!)

I wasted no time getting that into my mouth!!

I’m in my own little world of gustatory delight right now!!

After some hours, (I refuse to say how many, or how few), the pan looked like this:

All gone, gone.

Farewell sweet cheesecake.        You’ll always be here in my heart blog.

Hospitality House

The Saturday after Hurricane Matthew, I decided to have some peeps for dinner.     

Since when are you a cannibal??

WHAT??    ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT??

Re-read that sentence.

Oh, yeah, okay, I see the problem there.     Saturday, I decided to have some peeps OVER for dinner!

Much better!

And even though I had had the girls overnight, it still only took me about 10 min. to make the living room and dining room/kitchen presentable!!       That was a huge accomplishment!!

  Yup, hid some baby toys under that there blankie!!

And yes, I threw put some of the bulky stuff in the girls’ room, but I wasn’t madly running thru the house, just throwing stuff any ole where!

    After all, where does the girls’ stuff belong, if not in their room??

{throat clearing}      What about this??

     (Please note: Dresser top is still neat, except for the 1 blankie!)

Yes, I did put all the sewing/quilting stuff from the dining table, in the crib.      And your point?

Well, you shoved stuff.

True, but that was only a small bit of stuff, and the sewing room IS in my room, so MY point still holds!     “I wasn’t madly running thru the house, just throwing stuff any ole where!”

Mama was spending the afternoon, with me and the girls, and I decided I needed to feed her, for once.     Usually I say, “Sorry, Mama, I don’t have anything.”      (For some reason she won’t eat PP’s canned mac and cheese. )

  

So, I thawed some chix thighs, put them in (Rose’s) crock pot.        Then, I cut up onions, put them in crock, and there was no room for the potatoes!       Mama and Rose were NOT happy about that development!       I blithely said, “We’ll just have to mash them then! “Knowing good and well I didn’t intend to mash them!}

But, I did peel the potatoes.      By this time, I was exhausted, and needed some refreshment. So, I peeled, and sliced some apples for PP, and ate some.      Ah!     The restorative powers of sustenance!

Then I washed off table, and set it.      Washed enough forks.

SF kindly cooked the broccoli, after Mama mashed the taters.      Rose had gone home, and baked put a blackberry cobbler in the oven.     Oh so yummm!!       (Even the store bought stuff tastes good with vanilla ice cream on it!)     And, for all those watching my diet for me, no, it wasn’t GF.                     After dinner, I cleared the dishes, and stopped Mama from washing them all.     She managed to get most of the pots done, before I caught her!

   {Could you have guessed our menu from the crock dreggs??}

I didn’t finish them till next day.     Babysitting, cooking, and cleaning was enough for 1 day!!

The last time I had  peeps over for a meal was Dec. 24, 2015, for the Hawkins family Christmas Eve party.      And to prepare for that took a month, and 3 sessions with an organizer, and 1 pd cleaning!!

I’ve come a long way, baby!!

Silly Sippys

SF and I were having an argument.    A silly, little argument, really.   I’m embarrassed to tell you the topic, silly.

Okay, if ya really wanna know, we were arguing over the color of the sippy cups he just bought.

Uh, huh.   Sippy cup colors.   Nice….

Well, at least this time I wasn’t the only passenger on the crazy train!!   SF never goes on that ride with me!!

See, here’s the new sippys he bought.

Looks deceptively all purple.

 

So, understandably, he thought they were all purple.   But!!   I had already opened one, and given PP a drink in it.   So, I KNEW there was a green top on it!

WE argued for about 15 min. over the phone.   {Why no, I didn’t have anything else to do!    Why do you ask??}   Finally, I took a pic, and sent to him, to prove I was right!

Haha! There’s green in them there lids!

 

He capitulated!    That almost never happens!!

So, please forgive me if I crow a little!!

 

Uh, Melinda??

What now??

Actually, the top isn’t green.   It’s purple.   The ring is green.

 

Oh alright, so we were both right.   How often does that happen??

I’m trying to figure out how to make it a real button!! Have patience, please!!

Meantime, here is the linky website.

http://grammysgrid.com/blogging-grandmothers-link-party-1/

Done Dollhouse!

When I was in Hobby Lobby shopping for clearance crafts, and I saw the (expensive!) dollhouses, I thought, “Oh, how I’d love one of those for PP’s birthday, God!  But they’re too expensive. ” sigh

http://www.hobbylobby.com/search/?text=dollhouse

 

(This one is only $119.    And it’s the bottom of the line!)  

  And went on my merry way.   ALWAYS merry when I’m spending money!

But since I clearance shop, it’s never TOO much money.   Unlike that one time as a new mother when I spent $110 on clearance beads...    I never could figure out why hubs was so angry.    Didn’t he understand exactly HOW much MONEY I had just saved him????   (And no, I didn’t ever use all of them.    Do you know how many beads are $110 worth, when each pack is only like 25 cents???     Let me just tell you.    Eleventy million!!)

Anyway, life went on.   About 2 days later, I was over at Jeanette’s house, when her neighbor came out the door with {Drum roll, please!!}  a dollhouse!    She said, “Do you want this?   You were the first one I thought of.”     I almost snatched it outta her hands cried!   Then I told them about my prayer.   God loves me!!    (And He loves you too, just the same!!)

It had some boo boos, and bangs, but it had been well loved!    And she gave me all the pieces!

3 walls/floors were off, and the peaked roof was detached.   Yes, it had been thru a hurricane!

So, it’s missing a roof? No problem! Voila! It’s a skylight!

 

But, SF to the rescue!   I told him it was for PP’s bd, and he got all construction contractor on me!   (Just in case I’ve never explained it, Sweet Friend is my first EX, and therefore PP’s PopPop.)

Taking down some walls! It was too tall anyway.

He took that thing apart, then put it back together again, stronger than before!    (Missing an attic, but tra la!)

Yes, he cleaned up the construction site, and removed the nails!!

She was one happy little lady, when she saw it in her room!!   

And here it is , in all it’s glory, PP’s Dollhouse, Done!

And her (generic) Barbie is very happily living there! With her pet zebra, and the Veggie Tale Nativity Stable, and half the cast, apparently.

Happy Birthday, PP!!   Omie, and PopPop love you!!