A Moving Hodgepodge

1. What would you say is the best and worst thing about moving house? The best thing is being able to sort through things and pitch or donate.  The worst is unpacking.  I still have boxes that are unopened 5 years later. I probably did not get rid of enough.
 
2. What's moved you recently?  
Moved me to distraction....the election.  I worry a lot about the direction our country is moving.  I concentrate on laughing at the funny stuff and ignoring the poison that is Facebook. People just Like and Share never checking the facts. The commercials are awful. Just poison.....

 

3. Do you feel your life is moving forward, backward, or is on hold? How so? I think we are on hold here.  Our goal is to keep Mr BC healthy on dialysis, it is something he will do for the rest of his life.  So far so good, but we must remain vigilant about safety.  We had a good visit with his new doctor, our previous one has gone to Mayo, and she was happy with his general health, we must be doing something right. He is so much better than he was a year ago. 

4. On the move, move mountains, get a move on, it's your move, or bust a move...which phrase best applies to some aspect of your life right now? Explain.
We need to get a move on. We need to start back walking the mall. I miss visiting with our friends.  Our morning dialysis procedure sometimes keeps us from making it on time.  We have to figure it out and do better.  
5. What song makes you want to get up and move? Happy makes me Happy!

6. Your favorite snack to grab when you're 'on the move'?  
PB&J, my go to snack. It is quick, I always have the fixings, and it is portable.

7. What one accessory makes your house feel like home? 
Candles, however, I don't light them as often as I worry about forgetting them and burning the house down. I should invest in non burning ones. I sucks being an old F**T.

8. Insert your own random thought here. 
I love all my boys!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. When did you last have to interact, either by phone or in person, with someone in a government run agency? On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate the experience? (10 being fabulous and 1 being pass the Tylenol)

I rarely interact in person with anyone, but I guess it would have been the Missouri Department of Revenue to pay the car tags...It was an 8.  I don't mind interacting with State and County so much as I did when we lived in CA. Next week I will be going to the USPS for passports.  I think it will be okay. Still dealing with locals.

2. The current governor of Wisconsin is considering a run for President next time around. Walker attended Marquette University, but never graduated. In terms of any candidate running for the office of President (not asking here if you agree or disagree with Scott Walker's politics) would the lack of a college degree influence your vote or no? Would that be a factor in your support of any candidate running for public office, even a role less weighty than President?

I think it would depend on his political or business record.  I don't think college guarantees intelligence, honesty, or experience.  Look at W, he graduated from Yale, I hear he played the whole time. Didn't see much in the way of smarts there. Harry Truman has been considered a great president and he was a failed  haberdasher. 

3. When did you last visit a place or site named for George Washington or Abraham Lincoln, and what was that place or site?

Over the years we have visited both of their graves, but that was a while ago.  We have a Washington Street here in Hooterville and we were there the last time we visited our friends Maggie and Jiggs.

4. February 16th was President's Day in the US, but did you know it was also National Almond Day? I didn't think so : ) Do you like almonds? If so, what's a food/dish/recipe you enjoy that contains almonds?

I love my almonds raw and I usually eat a handful every day or so. I have some right next to me now and Caspar our miniature dashound is begging for a piece. 

Too Much Snow

5.The television program Saturday Night Live celebrated it's 40th anniversary this past weekend. Were/are you a fan of the show? If so what has been your favorite (or one of your favorite) skits, sayings, or characters that came out of the program?

We watched the original players and I loved Gilda and thought the Coneheads were a hoot. The weekend update was the original Daily Show.  We haven't watched a lot lately....because it is on too late.

6. Anything purple within ten feet of you? What is it? 

I am wearing a pair of purple polkadot flannel pants right now.

7. Back in December I asked you to submit a question for a future HP as part of a giveaway I was hosting. I grabbed this one from those entries, submitted by Zoanna who blogs over at Penchant for Pens. Thanks Zoanna!

She asks, "How often do you make your bed, and how do you like to make it-pull the covers all the way up over the pillows, tuck the covers in around the pillows, or place all the pillows on top of the covers?" 

The bed is fully made when I change the sheets and tuck everything in....otherwise we just pull the sheets and blankets up, spread the duvet and plop the pillows on top. I wish I had something to put the duvet on when we sleep, otherwise it is on the floor by morning.

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

I have lots of random thoughts, but when I go to post them, they disappear!  

Chat #144

1.  Do you like lemon-aid? Any special flavors?  I love fresh lemonade and I am real fond of strawberry-lemonade.

2.  I'm trying not to use paper goods for this party. How many place settings of silverware(eating utensils) could you come up with? I wish I could borrow some. Before I moved I could probably come up with place settings for about 20.  But my good stuff is still packed away and I got rid of my everyday, because I had my MIL's here at the house and I liked it better than mine. I read this wrong.  I could come up with about 40 place settings of 'silver'ware.  I have a full set of 12 of my grandmother's silver, my wedding silver, and lots of misc stainless.

3.  Have you ever been to a party in a barn? No, but I have seen such things in pictures and Pinterest!  Yours sounds lovely and I bet Wendell will come.

 
4.  Do you wear nail polish? Not any more.  I use to get a manicure and pedicure about every 2 weeks when I worked.  I can't polish my own nails....what a mess. I just deal with plain nails now days.

5.  Please finish this sentence. I wish I could.......sing or play a musical instrument or had some artistic talent.

Chatting About Beans and Things

http://www.everydayruralty.com/

1.  Do you like beans? (the dried bean variety) What do you like them in? 

I mainly put beans in Chili. I am not really fond of beans.
2.  Does your house have enough storage?  

Yes, at last I live somewhere, that has enough. I have attic space on the

second floor and we have a storage shed.  The problem is that we moved

here 2 years ago and still have things in moving boxes since there was 

plenty of space to store them.  It is always something.

3.  Do you have any childhood memories of a store? 

I remember taking the bus downtown to shop at the Woolworth and  JCPenneys with my mother. This was before Malls.  I was running around the aisles when I ran into a woman, who knocked me down giving me a goose egg on my forehead.  She never even stopped to see if I was ok.  I know it was probably my fault, but she should have stopped for me.
4.  Do you ever shop at a farmers market? 
We have several local farmer's'markets close by.  I usually go to the one on      
Tuesday and sometimes the one on Saturday if I am out and about.  

5.  Do you still have your wisdom teeth? Are you wise? :) :) 
I had them removed thirty years ago and did not seem to lose any of my smarts.  I just had two broken teeth removed. One.....that had a crown. and the oral surgeon place an implant so I could have a tooth placed.  It is very noticeably missing and I want to improve my smile.  Also I broke a     bridge and had to have the broken anchor tooth pulled so they can place a   new bridge. If I had been wiser I would have taken better care of the teeth   that were left behind.  

Chatting about Rescues

 

 

• Have you ever gotten a pet from a rescue? Yes our boy, Totem is a rescue, he was a casualty from the housing slump in CA.  His family could not keep him when they lost their house. I am getting ready to volunteer at the local Humane Society.  We have orientation on Thursday!

The reason we call him Totem that he sits like this....a Totem Pole!

A Kick in the Head-Saturday 9

 

1) In the song, Dean sings, "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?" to express how delighted he is to discover the girl loves him. When was the last time you were pleasantly surprised? I have been pleasantly surprised that I love my new home here in Missouri so much.  It is wonderful here with the change of seasons, and Mr BC's bird feeders bring the nature to our yard.

Chatting-Getting Ready for Fall

1.  Did you ever take piano lessons, as a child or adult? No, I tried violin in 5th grade and lasted 3 months....the amount of time for the rental of the violin.

2.  How many times do you eat out each month? About once a month, we are both always on a diet...so it is easier not to go out.  But if it is a special occasion we will go out.

Chatting on the Porch......overlooking the ocean.

1.  My oldest daughter has returned to college for her second year. Could I get you to give her some good wishes here? Please? To Patrice's DD1, Have a happy, productive year in your second year of college.  My DD1 went off to UCSB and the weather was so nice that she only came home for holidays.  She got jobs in Santa Barbara for summer breaks and never came home to live again.  I am currently spending the next 2 weeks in SB visiting now.  She has married and has 2 boys.  So go home when you are finished.

Wish List - Sunday Stealing

 

 

 The Wish List Meme, Part 1
1.) What are 3 things on your Wish list and why?
Wood work painted.
Wall paper removed.
Kitchen update.   

2.) What do you miss about your childhood? 
I posted about my Carefree neighborhood here.  

Pozdrav "Greetings" and Happy Holidays-Saturday 9

1. As you can see, Sam loved giving her annual wish list to Santa. Yet some children are reluctant to climb into Jolly Old St. Nick's lap. Did you enjoy the tradition or were you shy? Or did you by pass it altogether -- either because you wrote him a letter or because your family didn't celebrate Christmas?
I can't remember seeing Santa until my brother was born.  I don't think I was shy, I can remember telling Santa what I wanted and what my brother wanted too.  I think I wrote to him at least once. I have no pictures with him, they were always too expensive. I do have one of Лука.  I haven't seen any new pics for this year.

Friday Contemplations

Less than a week....it took less than a week for every flat surface in my house to become cluttered...after my bi-annual holiday clean-up.  The reason I know the clutter is creeping back is that a phone rang and we could not find it. We weren't sure whose it was... we have 4 including the land line.  We called it twice, I kept saying it was in his chair, and it was.  In the process we knocked off the land line, a popcorn bowl (with old maids in it) and empty pill bottles.  I now have to move furniture to vacuum it up.

What's been going on, you ask?

We are looking for a Class C RV and Mr BC spends hours on end looking and dreaming .  Last night he found one that just got posted on Craigslist.  We answered with an e-mail and we are going to look at it today.  I am going to be the voice of reason if we like it, and not let him buy it right away, we are going to go home and think about it, if we like it.  If it is good as it looks it is going to be hard, because it is just what we are looking for at a good price.  We put a deposit down. It was perfect.


Beautiful Fall



November 2011

I think Autumn is my favorite season. Today the air is crisp after storms last night. I have always wanted to do a fall colors trip of New England and we are planning it for next year.  I again live in an area where fall colors can be so beautiful.  When we drove back from California, last month, we took a different route, through the Rockies, and I took some pictures of the lovely aspens changing. It is a fantastic drive and deserving of classical music playing in the  background as you drive.

It was a beautiful day and we crossed the Colorado River several times and somewhere as we were driving up the Rockies we must have passed the origination.

We had to stop in the small town of Glenwood Springs (I Think) we took these pictures while we waited for our breaks to cool down.  It was a steep drive for the truck and trailer.

Our leaves started to die during the drought but the walnut tree are turning yellow and in the afternoon there is a soft Golden haze that filters into the living room.The wind is really blowing today and when I went out to take the picture, many of the leaves were gone.

 Last year the walnuts were dropping all over the place by now and I was twisting my ankles every time I walked through the yard. I have only seen a few this year and I don't think we will have to pick them up. November is the final drop month so we will see. The squirrels will be the ones that will really miss them.  From the picture it looks like not much is left.  The Maples on the north side of the house are just beginning to change, so I have posted last year's picture above.

Broken-MamaKat's Prompt

My plans for my living room have been delayed by a day or two but I haven't been lazy.  I have vacuumed, moved furniture and cleaned the woodwork all in preparation to shampoo the carpet. I got the ol' Bissel out of the garage, cleaned it out and proceeded  to shampoo the carpet.  It's still damp tonght because the extractor was not operating correctly.  It's BROKEN! The spots are gone, however they will be back because all of the shampoo I used, is still in the carpet.

This is at least the 3rd shampooer I have had in the last 10 years or so.   They don't really hold up that well for me.  having dogs, I use it alot. I looked at the removable nozzle, not knowing for sure it was removable at the time, and it was clogged with dog hair. Using my tool of choice, a kitchen knife, I tried to remove it, but it was stuck.   Being made of hard plastic, as most appliance parts are, I manage to break the top, leaving it cracked.  I broke it ! Not even duct tape rescued me.  I was so upset, I ripped the cord out of the wall and wheeled it out on the front porch, essentially kicking it to the curb for Friday's trash pick-up.

After I calmed down and set the fans up. I went to the computer to price a new one. Yowza! I dragged it back in to the house and looked it over again. I decided to see if Bissel had a replacement part and they DID and it cost $14.99. It is ordered and on it's way. Hope it works.  I am learning if it's broke, try to fix it.

Lazy Days

I have been lazy for the last month after returning from California.  I have so much to do to upgrade this house.  Hang curtains, shampoo carpets, paint the wonderful wood work, find an electrician and make some decisions about what I am going to do with so much wallpaper.  I plan to do the painting this winter but I want to have some of the surface decorating done by Thanksgiving so I have to push through the ennui and get started TODAY. 

I also have not been following the writing prompts and since that is a time filler, I will probably hold off on the writing until after the Holidays. The fun of blogging, memes and commenting will still be on hand as well as posting about what I am accomplishing.  Today I am finally getting rid of the ugly couch and putting together  my Ikea couch that has been sitting, boxed, on end in the dining room and shampooing the living room carpet, before put it in the living room. Mr BC is vital to this project so I am going to wake him up now!

 

It's Complicated

My life is generally not complicated, then we moved to Missouri....in stages.  Since last August we have made 3 trips between the 2 houses packing and unpacking the trailer.  (see above) We still have one more load in storage in California which we will make next month......maybe.

The complicated part was/is where stuff is.  When we had the 2 houses I could never remember if things were in CA or in boxes in MO.  I would think there was a pork loin in the freezer and it was....in the other house.  This complication was cleared up when we sold the house the last time we were in CA.  Yeah!

New complication....it has been hot this summer....Triple digits for June and July   Too hot to unpack the trailer...too hot to move boxes upstairs and out of the garage....too crowded and hot, in the house to sort through boxes, pack up Grandma's old stuff, as we swap out her stuff with our stuff.  If  Mr Bankerchick wants a tool or some item of clothing he can't find....the  question from him is....."where is the ____?" and the answer is......"packed in the trailer."

Complications are lessening somewhat as the heat is abating and we have spent cool mornings finding homes for the stuff from the trailer.  New complication is.... that we can't find the title for the truck and the CA tags expire this month.  We found all of the other car titles in the safety box, where they should be, but not the one for the truck.  We need a registered truck to make the one more trip to CA and we need an empty trailer also.  So the complications continue.

For this weeks Mama Kat's I chose Prompt  

                                      4.) Write about something that complicates your life.

Saturday 9: Just Like a Pill and a Little More

1. What was the last pill your doctor prescribed? Why?
Simcor, I have a hard time with my cholesteral. I hate it, sometimes I wake up burning.  I take an asprin that is suppose to minimize it, Simcor has niacin in it.

2. How well do you swim?

I swim very well and love swimming, I just don't get a chance to anymore.

3. Who has a big mouth that you like?

My dog Totem.  We refer to him as Tardis Mouth,  he is a small dog that when he yawns his mouth is wider than he is long.  In human terms Julia Roberts has a big mouth, size wise.  If we are talking big mouths that spout big talk, there are too many to mention.

4. Do you believe in political correctness?

This is tough! I think Americans have become so polarized there is no civility any more. I also think we could do with tougher skin about what we consider not correct. 

5. Do you ever patronize people?

I hope not, occasionally DD2 accuses me of being patronizing.  I call it not getting hooked. I don't really like confrontation.

6. Do you or someone you know strive constantly to be perfect?

One should always strive to be better in our lives, however, I do not achieve it by a long shot. Perfection is not possible for anyone. 

7. What song are you totally sick of and why?

People?? I guess, maybe. I don't get sick of music usually.

8. How old were you when you got cocky? Or did you never go there?

Maybe in my 50's?  I remember saying one time, "I could do this in my sleep", in reference to my job. Then everything changed.

9. When you compete with someone, have you ever gotten hostile?

No, I am not very competitive.

We have spent the last week, trying to rest up from our move.  We have one more trip to make back to CA to pick up one more load.  We had to place some stuff in storage and our trailer was probably overloaded this trip.  We sold our house, it was a miracle.  The buyer was someone who  lived in our condo complex and he offered to buy it "as is". No inspection, no termite inspection, no remodeling, and no staging.  Then on the day after Escrow had closed, another unit went on the market, just like ours, for $20 thousand less than ours. (not sure of its shape).  This guy would have probably stopped escrow and been willing to lose his deposit, if it had happened before escrow had closed.  For once a house sale worked in our favor. We took the money and ran!

It has been hot, hot, here, and we had to fix our air conditioning, but it was not too expensive.  I also bought a new washer and dryer, the one we inherited with the house was sooo old...everytime I washed something in it...I kept expecting it to break.  DD2 called while we were in CA and told us about both the AC and the washer.  I haven't had a W/D that matched for years.

Despite the heat we are glad to be here, mortgage free, and back with the puppies.  We are going to unload the trailer now that we have rested and start making this place a little more comfortable.

What to do in June-Mama Kat's Writers Workshop

I have been so busy the past few months, that I have neglected my blog. I still read my favorites and try to comment when I can. I checked out Momma Kat's Writers Workshop today and saw a prompt that I can whip out quickly. I chose  Ten To-Dos in June. (inspired by Denise) The first on my list will be:

1.  Close escrow on our house, finish packing and get out of California. This will take up the first half of June.

2. Arrive in Missouri and be mugged by the puppies.  I have been gone for over a month.  I miss them so much.

3.  Find a doctor and dentist in our new town.  I need to have prescriptions refilled and since I swallowed a crown that fell off last month get it replaced, with the new dentist.

4.  Wave good-by and good luck to DD2 who will be moving into her own house.  She has been living with us for quite a while, as she was completing her degree.  She has actually moved in but has been house-sitting for us with the puppies.

5. Run around the house naked.....if I want... and express my own opinions, without getting into a long discussion of how wrong I am.

6.  Watch some television.  I have been without cable and TV since I've been in CA. We turned it off in November and moved the TV to Missouri.  I did leave the WIFI on so we could watch Netflix.

7.  Start unpacking some of our possessions, move out some of my MIL possessions that we have been living with while waiting for my own stuff. Enjoy the new couch we will bring with us from this trip.  Enjoy having our garage back, once the unpacking is done.

8.  Take the pups to a new vet, to get Gwennies teeth cleaned and get heartworm prevention. (we did not have to worry about this in our old home)

9.   Plan a week of vacation for July with the RV.

10.  Really start enjoying our new home and living mortgage free!  Maybe we can start enjoying our retirement!

HooRay!

The only picture I could find of the CA Condo.

HooRay!
We sold our house and are in Escrow which closes on June 13..  It is an all cash deal, AS IS!

The buyer lives in our complex and is going to remodel for his daughter.  We decided this was our best option as, we are not upside down, we aren't using a realtor, and we don't have to spend a lot of $$$ remodeling the kitchen and painting.  So far it is going smoothly.

With only 30 days we are spending a lot of time packing what is left and cleaning.  We were in the garage with a big dumpster yesterday and I am tired. I have a lot of stuff for Goodwill and Sunday my brother and I will finally go through pictures and personal item from my Mother.  We just boxed it up as we could not face going through it all when we sold her house.  I guess 10 years later we might be ready.

Mr BC is going to drive our car back to MO next week and fly back to finish up packing and rent a storage place for what we can't move this trip, then we are done. I will stay here to clean the house.  As Is, for me, does not include leaving a dirty house. I am so happy but too busy to keep up with the Blog, so I will be gone for a few weeks, with maybe only a Saturday 9 or two.

Back to California

1. After a while, I get tired of going back and forth between Missouri and California.
2.  I do get to see the grandsons and my daughter at least.
3. Well, anyway, it puts us closer to full Missouri residency.
4.  Thunder and lightening storms this week, were very scary to me.
5. I always want to put a pillow over my head like my Mom use to do.
6. The thought of selling my house keeps me going;
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to an Amarillo TX, motel room tomorrow my plans include Flagstaff AZ and Sunday, I want to arrive in California and sleep in my king sized bed!

Well as you can see we are off to California again today and I can't sleep.  We get to see Caшa, Лука, our grandsons, but that is the only blessing.  We are very tired of making this trip and have looked for almost any reason this time, to postpone it, however, we have to go and get this move behind us.
As a final post for a few days I thought I would try the Friday Fill Ins.....some of the folks who do the Saturday 9 meme do this one as well