The Original Twisted Spinster

Started Thursday with flood clean up

Got back late monday leaving again in a few hours. Austin basement needs a pump fortunatly Stacy has one. Creamery is flooded, we will help her move her antiques tonight. Yes, the car that went off the road on 34 was a neighbor. We had not met him yet, but Stacy's family knows his family well.

 Coolness, I just got a phone call and some news from a someone.. I know a secret! Neener neener You all will just have to find out when this person has a chance to get on LJ.  :P

Pics are documented on myspace "Auntiekackie" More or less documenting filth and some of the damage so far from the previous renters.

anyway....

I am home.  Exhausted... Thats all i have to say for now. Going back out thrusday. Gory details later. I did get a photo of the tree growing in the basement.

 Tired. sore...


Saturday i helped my Dad plant all his pots on the patios for summer. Mudpuppy helped. Hubby helped Dad get the furniture out. Patio looks great!

Spent 2 days on cleaning the Austin house and i only got through 2 rooms... 1/2 bath and kitchen. Hubby spent his time in the basement. He spent 2 days cleaning out stuff and sucking up cobwebs.

We did get a bit of the yard cleaned and had the neighbors son mow 1/2 Only half because the grass was so long it was choking the mower and we had to do a garbage deatail in the long grass so he could mow.

1/2 bath toilet leaks and the floor is so GONE! Finding more and more damage as things get cleaned. Its unbelievable

We love our freinds!. Sleddogpirate and his wife came out for pot luck on Sunday. Pirate wife must love my hubby she agreed to shovel the cat poo out of the basement.  Lets just it was more than one 5 gal horse bucket full. Such a sweetie. They have a kennel of dogs so it's something she is not squeemish about. They found a little tree growing in the basement! Still need power washing!

We met the resident mouse around 3 am monday morning. He was after our dounuts. Hard sleeping. Way to sore, didnt fill the air mattress, exhausted and mouse noises. Only heard 1 car in the night. The rest was full of spring peeper sounds.

Woke up early becasue my dog needed OUT. Found the neighbors trying to get their gelding back into his pasture. It was rather humorous. He was enjoying my long grass and dandelions. He was not about to go back into his pasture.

Lunch was a scream as well. Litteraly. Stacy was hooking up her outside hose to her water pump so there was presure for a sprinkler so mudpuppy could play in it. We where all sitting in her garden resting up waiting for lunch when the water came on all of a sudden, arched over my hubby who was about 10 feet away from the hose and splooshed me who was 2 feet from hubby relaxing in a chair. Full force ice cold well water dead center of my chest. Everyone laughed. I don't know why.. I didnt find it funny. I was soaked.......

Settling into lunch was pleasant in her garden, everyone enjoying the shade except me. I was trying to dry out and stay warm in the sun. We had lunch guests. It was the day Stacy planned to turn her turkey chicks out finaly. So we had little turkey chicks around us all during lunch peeping, scratching in the dirt, taking dust baths chasing each other. They where enjoying being outside and it was very amusing to watch thier antics.

The chronic cough i have had since Dec. didnt seems to bother me much out there. Now this morning. Hubby and my son and I are all gunked up and hacking. People keep telling me to stop smoking and i have been saying all along it's not that, i have some kind of allergy because i am always stuffed up.  Well.. Must be somthing in this house. My eyes are gunked, nose is full and im hacking. I didnt cough at all in Austin. Same goes for hubby and mudpuppy. Hmmmmmmmmm. I told you all it wasnt the smoking!

*Sigh* 
All i can say is we decided to start from the bottom and work our way up.  Their cat pooped in the basement. And with the water softener not working right, various holes in the foundations, no backfill or window wells. .... lets just say all the poop is squishy.

 I finaly got my typo fixed...

We view the house in Austin tomorrow. Bring pad of paper to write down everything it needs done.

Front lawn got mowed finaly. Hubby is working 3rd shift tonight to get some experience in loading the trucks.

Truck is still full of camping crap.

It was cool to see Uncle Luke and family and Sleddogpirate and his wife on Sunday.

Cool report on WCCO tonight about the "squishy science" being used to inflate the human impact on supposed global warming. Another one on the city of St. Cloud banning human supsension shows at bars. Finaly some interesting stuff in the news! So tired of crime and politics.

Found my rabbit (No Toes) dead on Friday morning. No sign of what he died from. Just over 4 years old, doesnt make sense. He was healthy. I shaved him. It was terrible and funny at the same time shaving a stiff bunny. But he did his job well in providing beautiful red fuzz for me to spin. I thanked him. Hubby burried him in our garden. Perfect place for him.

That's about it for now.

Current Mood: blah

Camping at the zoo!   It was fun! J3 showed up sat, we got to meet wwwbabe. Unfortunatly for me J3 so enjoys her company he forgot about me his pal, BUT it was made up for with the mead he brought. We got squiffy!.  

Friday night was exceptional gentle breeze warm air wonderful lightning storm with only a short down pour. But it was a grand night. Sleeping was comfortable though it was very late before i could sleep. 

The zoo rooster and turkey started up bright and early. Sat there was tons of public! the zoo collected buffalo hair for me to spin. Mudpuppy has a great time seeing the animals though he was being difficult with following rules.
Saturday night was cold. However the owls in the zoo where very vocal for around 45mn and the wild owls where responding. pretty neat. Not a peep from the coyote or wolf though.

Since sunday was a slower day the public was light. So we all got a special treat in hanging out with the zookeeper while she fed the animals. Mudpuppy loved the bear and the badger.

I did get video of the porcupine dance. I'll load it up later. 

Tomorrow we head to Austin to do a walk through with the owner of the house we are going to move to. I sure hope he gets the keys by then. The clock is ticking.

I love this zoo event. It's very relaxed. We are only allowed 1 fire pit so we communal cook. It worked well. it was a good group of people that went.4 families. It was perfect.

That is zoo combined with camping... I like that word.  WOOT! The zoo has a big bag of buffalo down for me to spin!  I promise to come back with a video of the porcupine dance this year.  Should be a good time. I love the little kids! Mudpuppy is excited to see the otters and the bear. Maybe he can feed it this year.

See yah there Jaimie! I do hope you have your flutes with. 

Marty if you get free this weekend, come down! You can crash under my fly! We can handle one more for food Or at least day trip Sunday! 

Ride should be here soon.


 aaaaaaaaaand I'm gone!..................................................................

The underpants gnomes have taken my book. Ive looked under the bed, in  both bathrooms, on the kitchen table and counter. Looked on the side table next to the chair. I cant find it. I had it at 7am this morning!. This is NOT A HUGE HOUSE. How could it have disapeared!

It's sunny out for now. Last night I made 2 loaves of blueberry apricot oatmeal bread. Gotta make my Italian herb today. getting ready for Oxbow. Stacy makes soup for everyone I provide the bread.

Minimal packing to do since I never unpacked from the scout thing a few weeks ago. Never used anything since we fled the cold and snow and came back home.

Ill be spinning buffalo hair which will be cool. I'm going to bring my carder this time. Last year I did more carding than spinning for them. This will make it go faster. Mudpuppy is excited to be camping with Stacy, Jordon and Joe. Uncle Jamie will be there as well Cottonwood and his boys.  Pretty special to be camping at a zoo when your a little boy. This year I plan on getting a video of the porcupines doing their begging dance.

I walked yesterday. Needed to go to the store so I did 24 blocks round trip. UUUUUUUUUUGH, wrist hurt from wrestling the stroller. Had to bring it since I knew I wasn’t going to carry the groceries home. To bad the walk home is all uphill. It fried me.

Did some carpet cleaning 2 days ago. So much better. need to get back to touch up painting outside, but it may have to wait until next week.

Yesterday Mudpuppy played Schwans guy. Was riding his fire truck and opening up the back and bringing me pretend ice cream. Must have played this for 20 mn before moving on to something else. I called up hubby and told him.  He laughed. Nothing better for a little boy than having your dad as the ice cream man!

Lawn needs mowing badly!... I can not start the neighbors lawn mower. We have a communal mower since all our lawns are so tiny. YEOWCH! just the though of trying to start it right now with my hurting wrists from fighting the stroller pains me greatly.  My right wrist actually aches like I have a fracture. I’ve broken this wrist 3 times in my life... Must be some kind of old age, weather change achy settling in there.

Hmm I’ve got some cat hair I have to get spun up before the move... maybe I should bring that as well.

Need to do laundry.

Must give dog heartworm and frontline him.

(Modern parenting rant below)

It's official.... We are moving to Moscow. pop Humans 649. Cows im sure well over 3000. The owner of the house offered it to us yesterday and will be avilable June 1. We will take the month of June to prep it. Reduced rent for labor. I'm thinking we will be in it by July. So now i have one home to get ready to live in and one home to ready for sale. In other words. If you see me over the next 6-8 weeks chances are i will be covered in paint.

Neighbors will include Linda, the lady i have competed in BP events with for many years. She is the one with the flint. Jerry H and Anne B. I guess Perry comes out on occasion. Big Scott has been seen over there and ofcourse right next door will be Stacy the goat lady and her crew. I love her boys. We will be closer to Sleddogpirate and his wife. Close enough to our fairbault and morristown friends. Farther from my father but the drive time is no different thanks to hwy35 and decent freeway access no 30 mn of country roads just to find a hwy.

Hawk block, plinking rifles, bow target, gardens, wild life. We will get a canoe eventualy so we can journey the creek in the front yard. Supposedly you can make it almost to Owatanna by canoe. Not for swimming or fishing... to much farm field run off I am told.

Oxbow zoo is this weekend. We are putting a hold on all other events until August.

This could be a great thing for Clann.. 15 mn away from Albert Lea. Huge yard to dry canvas! 

*snicker* I suppose we will see Rilla from time to time.  Well, at least when Tanglefoot is in the area for concerts. They like to play in Austin.

So my pals. Keep in touch. If your traveling the Albert Lea area during a snow storm. I will be close with extra beds.

This is a good thing. Just hope we can get the house sold, I am not looking forward to the stress of the move.

Last tenants have trash all over the yard. Gross!

I am sitting here in my moms mink jacket, a string of pearls with a large tear drop of amber with a leaf in it. one of my mothers crowns and her shear leopard scarf that smells like her. Ive been wearing this stuff for hours. Walked into the gas station like this with jeans and a tank top. *giggle*. Everything smells like her.

No one wanted the mink. I think i will make pillows out of it. Teddy bears where done with my grandmothers. Kind of expensive to do. I can do pillows though. My sis got her Aquitenial crown. I have the Hopkins raspberry crown and my brothers wife got the pearl crown she was married in. Fun!

It is good to be queen.. well princes.....

Exciting news. Hennepin historical society will do an exhibit on my mom this summer. We have one of her gowns to send them. 

Found her Oboe from HS. Going to save this. Maybe restore it if a grandchild decides to take up the oboe.

Sorted through her gardening books and art books. Got through her clothing. Her art supplies will go down to my aunt who paints as well. Need to go back another day and pick up the last easle.

Gods my mother had tons of pearls.. All kinds of fun costume glitter stuff as well. The granddaughters are decked out with prom bling!

It's all good. Dad has one trip to goodwill It will fill the back of his car. A box for the art school. 2 boxes for my aunt.  It's done. Much had already been thinned out over the last year. He has her pottery and paintings. He has the lovely townhouse she decorated. He has photo albums. He needs nothing more. We sang him happy birthday. He turned 81 this week. We forgot to toast mothers day. The wine was flowing. The guys watched Goldfinger with Sean Connery. We dusted, tossed and told stories about things we found.

Oh and OMG she had dozens of white cotton and white leather gloves! Full length white leather gloves. My god i have never felt anything so soft and delicate before! Some tiny grandaughters got a mess of those to play dress up in!

Im just blue people, no Im not self destructive, i am not thinking divorce. Just blue
 

 For the rabbit community, nothing to see here.

Just saw a movie today that is fantastic!

I know  many an LJ pal that will LOVE this one!  It's Narnia meets steampunk, meets gothic with a smattering of 1930's and socialism.

Love it!

I love the polar bears! I want a daemon! The witches are wonderful!

I really hate things today.. We are all sick. Power  is gonna be shut off tomorrow. Energy ass is totally tapped out. No paycheck this week cause hubby was sick. 2 weeks ago it was lean because of mom's funeral. Still no answer about the rental in Austin. Im jumping through all kinds of &!$@#&#  up hoops to get county/state aid and they are acting like im some scum taking advantage. the money we where going to make this weekend was going to cover gas for the week, but with all of us sick we could not fullfill the contract. And it's Ed's B-day.

Current Mood: distressed

Hubby is sick. coming down with influenza though he only had a fever for one day. Mild case but he has it. We are to be getting ready for our first event of the year. Packing etc seems like and overload today. Must be ready by Thursday!

I am in serious pain. My Dad did me in.  I dug up the entire South side of his foundation gardens of his townhome. Divided mini daylilies, peonies, pestomin, daisies, globe thistles etc. he added dirt/backfill to the foundation. I then replanted in a staggered double row all the day lilies. I did tuck a few of the speacial plants of  my mother's back in. 

Dad wanted it totally maint free so he didnt have to do anything this fall or next spring. He just wants to forget about this garden. May have to make some adjustments for him this fall and next spring to achieve what he wants. I just was not ready to kill all my mom's plants. He wants only one garden to maintain. Havent tackled that one yet. 

The gardens by the pond within the walking paths, someone else in the family will have to help him with. I fear that taking on all that will kill or cripple me for life.

He is going to grow one tomato and one eggplant in tubs on the deck. My mom hand tons of pots she would grow herbs and other flowers in. I doubt he will do that. I suppose he will do the geraniums on the deck planters though.

It felt good to help him. I didnt have any "funny' or "gloomy' thoughts or feelings walking into the townhouse. It felt good and ok to be there. I was a bit worried I may start crying over the loss of my mom. It's only been 2 weeks since mom died. It felt right to be there and help him.

But DAAAAAAMN my right wrist and both knees throbbed all night nearly keeping me awake. My entire back is screwed, neck shoulders even my fingers hurt!. Day lilies are a bitch to dig up and divide! So much for raking my yard today. I aint doin nuttin!

I got my 3 pots my mom made and one of the treehouse paintings she did. If you where at the service you saw he little porcline round boxes she made. I got one of the acorn ones, a pitcher that was not displayed and the large raku fired unglazed "kitty" pot.  My kitten I had when i was little would always hop in and out of it. Dad is so ready to get her clothing and other mom stuff out of the house. I wish i could help him this weekend. Ill have to make an effort for the following. Im gonna call my sis and make a plan for it. She and i need to help him with all this. Its silly really  my brother sis and i are crabbing over her art pieces and have no interest in her jewelery. LOL odd family! I am hoping I can snag her bird, butterfly and wildflower books. I am not really into her hard cover art books. But i know my sis and some granddaughters are. Crap i forgot to go through her sketch books. Many of her sketches are fab. I was thinking of getting them and reproducing them as note cards for the family.

My dad's car was totaled Saturday night. he was T-boned at 40mph. He was making a left turn into Target on a green arrow when some guy ran a red light. The other car was totaled as well. The engine dropped out. So he is now looking for a used Lincoln. Glad he wasnt hurt. When helping dad i found he pitched my mom's Orchids!!!!!!!!!!!  If i knew how to care for one i would ahve snatched them. He said they where full of ants. Well, I can't take everything my Dad is tossing and we all must respect his need to remove obligations and "stuff" from his home. He has even picked out a pot my mom did of his own to be buried in!.  Silly but cool. I was trying to call my sis while he ran to the store for more dirt, I found his notebook on his desk and yah I was bad, i peeked. It was a list of things that he wanted to do everyday through the end of April. Each day had about 8 tasks.  Cool.  Overall my dad is doing just fine. He has a new pic of my mom framed beside his bed. Very proud of it, had to show me. I don't think i have to worry about him or smother him to make sure he is ok. I can give him his freedom. Parents are so hard to raise!

Since Rilla may be making a road trip on Sunday to Gamehaven i guess ill pack for a dye demo and not so much as spinning one. Prolly have the same scout troops this time anyway so spinning may be too much of a repeat from last year.