24 posts tagged “around the house...”

On Fridays, I love to clean our house... I usually start at about 8:30 and finish anywhere from 11 to 1pm... nothing better than a nice, clean, stress free place to hang out at all week-end. This last Friday I got caught up in plant maintenance.

I have never had the patience to count the plants that we have. I've started many times, then been distracted by a dead leaf, or a floppy branch. I think we have about 35 or so.

Yes, it's way too many... but each plant has a story. I'm pretty sensitive about our plants. I do think they add to our enjoyment of the house. I was once told by a tack-less person that plants are filthy - pretty much a direct slap in my face...

One particular plant has been bothering me for a long time. It's a 'rubber tree plant' and was from my Dad's funeral in '99. It was about 2 1/2 feet when I got it and now, well, it's big. Real big...

It's been flopping over and really annoying me for a few months now...

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So I precariously balanced on a stool, bent and moved the branches, armed with zip ties and 3M non-permanent hook I fixed it...

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Ah, that's better...

And because one thing always leads to another, I dusted every single leaf on every single plant in the house. I then decided to tackle the philodendrons that are located on the ledges on each side of the fireplace. It's always an area of dead bugs, dead leaves and dirt... It's not the most accessible part of our house and cleaning it involves:

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Fun. Well, it's done, and I won't have to do it again for a few months.

Well, well, well... I've been a fairly productive LG for the last few days... I've cleaned out the garden, the pond, and yesterday I switched out all the summer clothes for the winter clothes. It took a lot longer than I thought (hours really), but I have about 2 bags for donation and about the same amount of clothes will fulfill their dust rag destiny, (as soon as I get the good scissors from my mom). Still to do: clean out the garage, put up the fall decorations, and clean the b'junk off the windows casings.

Exciting life isn't it?

Hm!

I've been invited to play in a tournament on the 17th, which is awesome. It's match play format with me representing the 'Essex County Ladies' versus the 'Kent County Ladies'. It's in Blenheim

Map1

and I've only played that course twice, but I remember it to be quite nice. This invitation makes me feel good, as initially I my name was given by a woman whom I really like and respect, and it makes me happy that she thought of me. I'm sure at times we all feel lost in the crowd and unable to please, so it's good to be thought of now and then.

Today I'm having lunch with KT and SuprT, then I'm attending a board meeting at SC - I'm not sure (no one is really) if I can serve on the board or not. If not, that's fine - but it was nice to be nominated, (by one of the owners, part of the management team no less) as she must think (or at least have thought) that I could be helpful to the operation of SC. If I'm able to serve I'll have to be certain to mention her, and all the little people, in my acceptance speech.

Good God, I hope you know I'm joking.  

There is not too much going on this week-end which is rather nice. It's been great having people over the last couple of weeks, but if William and I are alone this week-end I certainly won't be upset. Either way, I'm happy.

Let me check, yep, life is gooooood.  

Number of items completed on prior list:

2 (the two suckiest I might add)

Number of frogs I surely saved from freezing solid:

8 or 9 (I thought there were only 4!)

Trips to the field to dump nasty pond water:

4

Trips to the burning pile:

5

Times I nearly stepped in dog poo:

5

Times I actually did step in dog poo:

1

Number of times I screamed because the frogs freaked me out:

0

Improvement from last year:

3 (screams that is)

On a scale of 0-10...

Feeling good about getting the frogs to a winter safe habitat:

10

Level of appreciation shown by said saved frogs:

0

Current rating of my hunger:

9

Desire to satiate said hunger with frog legs:

0

Now I feel like I can relax and enjoy the rest of the day, as I actually accomplished somethings!

Yea me!

I especially find this accurate when cleaning.

Take for instance, windows. Your plan is to bust out and get them done - you are armed with a bottle of Windex (or environmentally sensitive alternative) and a roll of paper towels (or environmentally sensitive alternative, although one can recycle paper towels). You approach the first window and notice that:

- The screens have become a filter for all that has attempted to reside in your home, (bugs, webs, fluffy tree seeds, and dirt in general). Okay, so off go the screens. Now you must get a rag, a hose, or a large laundry tub (completely dependent on the size of said screen) to remove offensive grime and what nots.

- The trim or moulding is rather dusty upon closer inspection, so off to get the Swiffer duster, (or rag, you get the point).

- The little vinyl ledges of the windows have become a collection area for tiny dead bugs, and sticky brown matter. You now require hot water, some Mr. Clean Multi-purpose cleaner, (or environmentally friendly alternative), another rag or paper towels and a toothbrush.

- Now you may clean the windows.

Today, when the rug cleaner was not available (okay it was, sans upholestry attachment - useless!), I was vacuuming the edges of our bedroom, when I decided I should pull out both dressers. This involved moving other items: the TV, a plant, a huge mirror, etc.). Well, if I vacuumed behind the dressers, I have to vacuum behind the bedside table. While I am here I might was well flip the mattress and vacuum both sides. Don't be such a lazy ass LG - the sheet on the box spring hasn't been washed in forever - take it off! Should probably wash all the sheets too. Well, since I can see the floor under the bed, might as well vacuum under there, and hey - the bed's not that heavy with the mattresses pulled off - I should pull it away from the wall and vacuum the baseboards and behind the headboard. Is that a spider web in the corner? I guess I'll vacuum all the corners and ceiling joints - I guess I should wash the light fixture.... AaaAArrRRrrGggg!

Oh yeah - then I went to Leaminton and rented a carpet cleaner... needless to say - I'M BEAT!

Today was way too cold to go golfing. Actually, it's not all that cold, but the weather has changed so quickly I'm just not ready for it.

So, I decided today would be the perfect day to steam clean the carpets. We don't have a lot of carpet (2 bedrooms, office, and 1/2 of the big room in the basement. It's fairly easy to move the furniture to the other side of the room where the laminate is, and in our bedroom I don't move any furniture.

Today is the best day to do this task as:

- Pooch is at MomG's

- Billy is working then golfing today, so the moved furniture and damp floors won't affect him at all

- Nothing better to do today

- Carpets will be clean and dry by the week-end, although William is playing in a big tourney and won't be around anyways

However:

I moved out all the furniture, and went to rent the steam cleaner, and yippee! There was one available! But no upholstery attachment - most important for the stairs and edges of the rooms.

Rats.

So I'll vacuum, and check back later.

This morning we awoke to perfect silence. Ah yes, a scheduled hydro outage - which was supposed to be done by 5am... continued on until well past 9am. What to do what to do what to do?

Oh - I'll make coffee and read a book. Nope.

Oh - I'll check my email. Nope.

It's funny how many times within half an hour I forgot that we didn't have power.

So I ended up purging some items.

Yesterday I watched another episode of A&E's 'Hoarders'.

Anyone who knows me understands that I am so not a hoarder. I am possibly the near opposite (complete opposite would be a monk) of a hoarder. I border on minimalism as opposed to 'I have a lot of crapism'.

I recycled about 50 gardening magazines that I never realized I had. I thought I pitched (always meaning recycled..) them a couple of years ago. As I looked lovingly at the pretty covers, I considering quickly going through all of them, but then reconsidered: I hadn't missed them in two years, so out they go!.

Billy had (oh yes, had) a huge collection of old 'Playstation' magazines. These magazines were awesome when they came out. Great reviews, a playable and demo CD, it was just great. The mag changed formats a few years ago and became most poopy. Because the original magazine cost over $10 per copy, Billy pre-ordered for several years for a discount, in about 2001. When the magazine changed its style (much cheaper in every way) we ended up having credit and receiving this magazine for years. Years! Those I've tossed, but some of the original ones we actually moved from our old house. In 2005.

When I asked Billy if I could throw them out, he said, (with sad eyes and a whiny expression), 'but they're mine'. I told him he could keep a few and he sorted through the huge and pile and determined that indeed, all of them were important.

I pitched all but about 8. I'm so cruel.  

I went through our book shelf. Books are probably the hardest thing for me to dispose of. I don't usually purchase books, but when I do, I hold onto them. Many of the books on the shelf a) I've already read b) I did not purchase and were c) given to me by my friend Rachelle, with the express instructions to 'pass them on' when I through. But some are so good! Some of the books I'm waiting to pass on to just the right person. Anyways, I boxed a bunch up, (like 30) my mom picked a few out, my sister in law will look through the pile, then they are off to the book exchange at Sutton Creek.

I asked William if I could throw out old WOW magazines, and he looked so sad and said, 'why are you throwing out all my things?' I was laughing pretty hard. I again asked him if I could pitch them, and he said, 'but it's my dungeon campanion'. I laughed all the way to my mom's house - where I left the magazines for my nephew. Funny. Mean.  

I tossed some 3/4 burned candles, VCR tapes, (don't even have a VCR) - all but our wedding video, which we have never watched btw. I tossed some cassette tapes of mine. William refused to part with his briefcase looking tape hold (oh you know what I'm talking about!) complete with WRIF (Baby!) and WLLZ bumper stickers. Sweet. I asked him to name 5 tapes inside and he got off easy as there were about 10 Triumph tapes. They were also several Foreigner tapes, who he claims to hate, but still, he couldn't part with them. Ah well.

I added to the 'yard sale' pile. Every year my mom's church has a yard sale of which I (barely) contribute to. Items include: some never been used candles, old golf prints (burgundy and forest green frames - no thanks), a mirror, 2 brief cases, etc.

I feel pretty good about our house right now. Yip.

I wanted to start writing a list a day for 30 days, as I thought this would inspire me to blog more. It really hasn't. I assumed I would be posting at least twice a day and I simply haven't. I'm not giving up, but I just wanted to throw that out there.

I accomplished much on my list of yesterday. Additionally, the house is clean and I just took the homemade taco sauce off the stove. William and I decided to have steak night, great night, date night tonight despite the fact that he is on call this week-end. The weather is supposed to be piss poor, so it won't interfere too much with his week-end if he gets called out, but hopefully not tonight.

I don't recall an August when the yard looked so green. Usually by now the grass is burnt and sad, but not this year - although it looked pretty bad in June. It's raining now, and although I wouldn't say it's 'pouring', it has been raining hard and steady for well over an hour now. The dog looks at me like I'm responsible.

I'm through thinking about Vick. He's playing again and despite my desire to be President of Sports - there is nothing I can do about it. I'm not going to change people's minds and it doesn't do me any good to think about that tool anymore. So, I'm over it - but you won't catch me watching a minute of any game he is a part of, even if (gag) he makes it to the SuperBowl.

Next week I'm going to shampoo the carpets. I wanted this done after the painter left in March - March of 08! It's way overdo and getting me down! It's super easy to clean our carpets because of the layout of our house and I don't feel I have to move our bedroom furniture, as 1) we built the house and the carpet under the bed or dressers shouldn't be 'dirty' per se, and 2) the 110 lbs pooch hasn't had access to those areas. A good vacuum should take care of the bunny habitat under the bed and behind the dressers.

I'm waiting for MomG to come home from London so I can kill 5 birds with one stone... drop off the pooch, hit the bank (didn't do that yesterday), the butcher, the LCBO, and the grocery store.

For now: perhaps a nice little nap on the couch with the pooch.

Ah.

Things I might do tomorrow:

- Write a quick review of A Tale of Two Cities. A little thought is required, and I'm not currently in the mood for thought.

- Enter 18 and 9 hole league golf scores.

- Empty the dishwasher. No need to do that tonight.

- Make chili for dinner.

- Make tomato sauce. What I really want to do is make something like Old El Paso Taco sauce, but the closest recipe I found for it calls mostly for a tomato sauce with a few extra ingredients. We use quite a bit of taco sauce and has replaced salsa when we have taco salad, fajitas and the like. Dilemma dilemma... we have a crap load of Roma tomatoes ready to go, so I have to do something soon...

- Walk the pooch, weather permitting.

- Think about getting a job. If I have a job I can't be reasonably coerced into being 18 hole captain again...

- Buy Pepsi and Pepsi products on sale at No Frills.

- Remember to bring a quarter to No Frills so I can use a cart. I hate that... makes me feel like my hometown is a bad hood.

- Have a nap. Time permitting.

- Chat with KT - depending on her work schedule.

- Go to the bank - I just received the cheque owed to me from the golf tournament. Sweet.

- Read.

- Contemplate football, the BROWNS specifically, check out some pools, and start filling my head with mostly useless stats.

- Enjoy every second of my sweet life.  

I have been busy. How is that possible? I don't work outside the home... Well, I stay pretty busy. I'm still going to the house in Windsor, doing our yard work, helping my mom's with hers and even my sister's. Golf, although a luxury, takes up time and energy. Not many non golfers walk for 4-5 hours a few times a week. I'm the 9 hole score keeper and the 18 hole league captain - that means some time spent on the computer, and extra time at the course. I keep busy with our dog, laundry, keeping the house clean, and I try to stick in there blogging, cooking, grocery shopping and keeping up with friends. I sneak in watching TV and reading when I'm too pooped to get off the couch.

Do I often feel that I have to defend how I spend my days? Yes, occasionally.

Do I care? Not really. It only matters how Billy and I feel.

So therefore: life is good!

A long ago friend (whom I haven't spoken to in nearly 15 years) Facebooked me, and I added her. Why not? I am an adult, and she's friends with about half the people in my list.

So the question is, do I message her and explain how I felt about her as we grew up and through the situation that ultimately ended our friendship? Do I tell her my side? So many times (at least on TV shows... haha) former friends can't remember why they fought. I certainly do. Every little bit of betrayal, and I've heard that she had these feelings as well - or actually I don't know about that for sure, there were a lot of rumors and like I said I haven't talked to her in about 15 years.

It's also not that I want her as a real (as opposed to FB) friend - I can barely keep up with my friends as it is, especially in the summer, and I seriously doubt we have anything in common. Like come on.

The only reason I'm considering this is because of those damned dreams about highschool or University that I mentioned the other day... do I have unresolved issues floating about in my subconscious? Is this a past subject that is causing present concerns?

I am seriously open to advice.

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I think that perhaps I should re-evaluate my favorite season.

I have always proclaimed to be a summer girl. Y'know, in my minds' eye I'm a bleached blonde with a hot body spending endless lazy days on the beach. Okay, not really even close. But as spring is beginning I'm feeling this may replace summer as a more mature and realistic season for me to love.

I love watching the garden and all the plants pop up and the trees turn green. Every day I notice the subtle changes in colour and growth. The golf season begins, so I can reunite with friends and see the course come alive. There are the hopes of a new season (can I please break 90 at SC this year?) and in general so much to look forward to...

When I think of summer, I think of hiding indoors because it's so damned hot. Burnt, crispy grass and thirsty plants. Of course there is still camping, golf and other great things - but the excitement of  'newness' is gone.

I think I'm a spring girl.

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I'm so happy it's the week-end. The weather is about 20* above average, so it's going to be in the 80's today. Yes! I golfed yesterday (and not too bad either, except the 11 on the first hole!!!) so I don't feel like I'm missing out by not hitting the links today. I'm going to finish cleaning the house and do a little work outside. I cleaned out the garden beds yesterday, so now it's the unfun tasks of raking leaves that are not easily accessible, going under the deck, and cutting down the Giant Plume Grass (itchy, scratchy stuff). The yard is looking good!

It's still way too early to start the pond or plant anything in the garden. Patience is truly a virtue of a successful gardener.

I hope to catch some of the draft today. Oh oh - I just heard that the Lions took QB Matt Stafford (to be announced formally today at the draft). That's disapointing. I was really hoping for Curry... It's hard to keep up on what's going on in Cleveland - I'm completely brainwashed by the Detroit Sports media (I'm also a sponge of useless Detroit sports facts - you can test me). Regarding the Browns - there are trade rumors regarding Edwards and Quinn (huh?). I'd be great if they could clone Josh Cribbs - that guy can do it all! Anyways... I want the summer to pass sweetly and slowly, but I can't WAIT for football to start in August!

Tonight? Of course wine, steak, hot tub, and a 24 marathon (I think we have 7 episodes to watch!). Awesome - I love our week-ends.

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Life is exceptionally good.