Hahahaha. Hope this makes you smile.

Another Life Experience

The city prepared to burn down an old house and in the process shut off water and caused a huge surge when water was turned on. I happened to be up already and heard a horrendous noise in the closet across the hall from my front door. That is where all the water pipes come together and there a huge drain in the floor there. Well, water was like a river in there. So no matter it was so early I called the landlord. Then I went to bathroom, flushed, (which turned out to be last available flush for another 6 hours), walked to sink to wash hands, and discovered there was no water now in my place. I walked back out toward the kitchen and almost slipped on the water on the floor. I called landlord back and said come quick, water is running into my apartment. It took him about 15 min to get here but by then there was a river in my entire place. He shut off water and began the arduous task of helping me remove water. He started a pump in the water room and brought his shop vac and I kept bending, soaking hand towel, wringing in big kitchen trash can, bending, soaking etc. until we got it to a level that two carpet cleaners could begin pulling up the water. I told the landlord that I intended to look on the bright side. First being that the water was clean (could have been much worse, get my drift?) and second I don't need to clean the carpets this summer as was planned, and third, well, I couldn't think of a third. The landlord piled the furniture in kitchen and living room as best he could and then set up large fans, loud enough I can fake living in a wind tunnel. Oh joy. We anticipate the fans to remain three days to ensure complete dryness. Big sigh. I was pretty tired and had not eaten so last evening when my friend Vicki texted with invitation to meet for dinner I said I couldn't, I had managed to climb over the side of my recliner and was sitting writing letters and had not showered and the place was wet. She called and told me to come over and shower at her house and stay there. So I did. 

My cat, Lola, had been enclosed in the bedroom all day and was not happy with the wet carpet and noise that invaded her space. Her schedule has become getting food when I have a moment to wreck my arm to reach around the cabinet to get another can of cat food (because of all the furniture stacked and in the way) and a quick pet as I plopped the cat food in her dirty dish. She is quite affronted that she is expected to eat from a dirty dish. 

I did think of a third thing to be thankful for: It is not cold weather and having fans blowing all over me including ceiling fans is quite acceptable. 

Hugs from Nebraska

Yard Frog

This is so cute, if I had young kids still I would want this in my back yard. No, not the front yard.

The Month Of June

Decorating the senior center is great fun. The theme this month is Fathers. We have an artificial tree that used to be only for Christmas, but when I became the official decorator at the senior center, I decided one month was not enough time to see a decorated tree. So part of what happens at our center is a change of "clothes" each month on our tree. This month the tree is clad in mens ties. All sizes and shapes. A gal pal asked me if I could use a box of mens ties last year and I snatched that box and began planning the June decorations. We also have barbecue apron and fishing gear. I even put plastic squirt bottles in the pocket of the big apron: red for ketchup, white for mayo, and yellow for mustard. We have fishing gear and golf clubs too. Any ideas come to mind for more Fathers Day decorations?

Back Home

Arrived home last night in high spirits. The time with my aunt was loving and fun. She and I browsed through all her photos from past family reunions as well as some photos she had of her childhood. She invited me to take any pictures I wanted, so I brought home a few pictures to show my brother next time we are together as well as my kids.

It is lovely in Wisconsin. Eau Claire is about the size of the next town from where I live now and the people are friendly. I wish that Eau Claire could be about 4 hours from me, but 8 hours is doable for me. My friend, Vicki did most of the driving and she planned on seeing a friend in Wisconsin but that did not work out, but she enjoyed the time with my aunt and cousin. One day we drove about 2 1/2 hours from my aunt's house to Portage, WI where we met my uncle and aunt for lunch. They live near Milwaukee so their travel time was about the same as ours. Of the original 11 brothers and sisters, my aunt and her brother are two of the remaining 5 siblings so it was special to see them together.

For most of her adult life, my aunt planted and tended a super large garden, canning and freezing what she grew. This year she has asparagus. She cut the fresh asparagus and cooked some for us and put some olive oil on it, then sprinkled some Parmesan cheese on it. Oh my. So good. I told her that one of my dearest wishes was to be in her kitchen cooking alongside her and when I realized that was what we were doing I hugged her and thanked her.

Aunt has first manicure! 

Bike Season

The seasons should be named by the things we can do during the season.

For me, spring is Bike Season. My bike was treated to its annual maintenance with The Bike Guy. In our little town we have a great guy who can fix anything on a bike, he can put together one great bike out of spare parts.

Summer is Vegetable Garden Season.

Fall is Enjoy the Colors Season.

Winter is Bundle Up Season.

And so on.

Memorial Day