2014 was not a kind year for us. My husband went through a lot this year starting at the end of May all the way through mid-December. More tests than I cared to think about. But, hopefully, that is all behind us now.
I started taking some of the Christmas decorations down Friday. The rest will come down this weekend, including what is outside. I have to make a better system for storing them in the basement because everything was a little scattered when I was looking for things this year. That's because I wasn't in the mood to put them away properly last Christmas.
This, I think, is the earliest the decorations are being put away. I usually wait until after January 7th which is Russian Orthodox Christmas. My husband is Russian. His mother was from Ukraine. The other half of him is German. Quite the mixture.
My ancestors on my father's side all the way back to my 5th great grandfather who came to America in 1754 were German. From my mother I have Scottish, Welsh, English, Swiss, and German blood flowing through my veins as well. I guess, though, that I am more German than anything.
When I was growing up it never dawned on us to ask who we were or what we were. Being German back then wasn't something one boasted about due to the war so our parents never told us. I think I was in my late 20's when I learned I was, in fact, very German. I still don't know if it's something to be proud of or not. I traced the Swiss ancestors back to the 1400's and could have probably gone farther but I got tired of writing all those dates down. One day I might continue.
I don't know how I got onto this ancestor thing. Oh yes, Russian Orthodox Christmas. Back in the day when we had a Christmas tree it would stay decorated until January 7th and be taken away the next day. Not any more. We stopped having a Christmas tree when we adopted our cats. It was a good excuse for me not to have a tree and to decorate it because that job always fell on me. And it was me that had to undecorate it and put everything away. That got old very fast. So I thank my cats for coming into my life and sparing me of a chore I never cared for. Don't get me wrong, I love to look at decorated Christmas trees...as long as it isn't me having to put it up and take it down.
So here's to a great 2015. We hope.
Saturday, January 03, 2015
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Monday, December 22, 2014
It Doesn't Seem Right
No, it doesn't...and that is how warm it is going to be on Christmas Day for our area. And I must not forget about all the rain that is coming either. As if Christmas isn't a downer in the first place, then we get slathered with rain and warmth instead of cold and snow.
My husband is patiently waiting for that white stuff. His truck and plow are waiting alongside the garage all ready to go. I keep telling him that because he bought that truck we won't have any snow this year. He gets mad when I say that.
So here we are finally. Christmas week. It will go fast. The day will go faster yet. And then there will be Friday. My daughter and her fiancé will be here that day and we will celebrate Christmas together.
Let's back up and talk about Christmas being a downer up there in that first paragraph. I don't mean a downer as in being depressed or anything like that. What I mean is when people reach a certain age and don't have any grandchildren there really isn't anything to get excited about, is there? That is what I mean.
Christmas comes and Christmas goes and so it goes. Just another holiday for the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer. But the little ones sure have a helluva time, don't they?
My husband is patiently waiting for that white stuff. His truck and plow are waiting alongside the garage all ready to go. I keep telling him that because he bought that truck we won't have any snow this year. He gets mad when I say that.
So here we are finally. Christmas week. It will go fast. The day will go faster yet. And then there will be Friday. My daughter and her fiancé will be here that day and we will celebrate Christmas together.
Let's back up and talk about Christmas being a downer up there in that first paragraph. I don't mean a downer as in being depressed or anything like that. What I mean is when people reach a certain age and don't have any grandchildren there really isn't anything to get excited about, is there? That is what I mean.
Christmas comes and Christmas goes and so it goes. Just another holiday for the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer. But the little ones sure have a helluva time, don't they?
Friday, December 19, 2014
I Almost Made It
I almost got through this Christmas season without having to send out any cards.
And then today three came in the mail.
Dang it.
So I went to my card supply and decided I had better reciprocate or I would feel guilty as all heck if I didn't.
I promised myself that this year would be the year that I put my foot down and would not send any cards.
I wrote two more out just to be on the safe side.
Last year I sent all of seven cards; this year I am down to five. Two friends and three relatives.
I tried to ignore the entire situation although I did purchase a box of cards a few months ago. Anytime I see Christmas cards with a cute cat or two I buy them because I am a sucker for those. Kittens get me all the time.
I have been whittling down my card list for years now and I have come to the conclusion that there is no end to it. As long as others send out cards we are kind of obligated into returning one to them.
Why do I feel so guilty if I don't send one back? What will happen if I don't?
For years now I thought the art of card sending/swapping was a silly thing to do. You send me one, I'll send you one and vice-versa. We have come too far into the 21st century to be doing such an inane thing as sending out Christmas cards.
The funny thing is, you can send them to people year after year and then one year you don't send certain people any and the following year you don't get one from them either. See what I mean? Silly.
And then today three came in the mail.
Dang it.
So I went to my card supply and decided I had better reciprocate or I would feel guilty as all heck if I didn't.
I promised myself that this year would be the year that I put my foot down and would not send any cards.
I wrote two more out just to be on the safe side.
Last year I sent all of seven cards; this year I am down to five. Two friends and three relatives.
I tried to ignore the entire situation although I did purchase a box of cards a few months ago. Anytime I see Christmas cards with a cute cat or two I buy them because I am a sucker for those. Kittens get me all the time.
I have been whittling down my card list for years now and I have come to the conclusion that there is no end to it. As long as others send out cards we are kind of obligated into returning one to them.
Why do I feel so guilty if I don't send one back? What will happen if I don't?
For years now I thought the art of card sending/swapping was a silly thing to do. You send me one, I'll send you one and vice-versa. We have come too far into the 21st century to be doing such an inane thing as sending out Christmas cards.
The funny thing is, you can send them to people year after year and then one year you don't send certain people any and the following year you don't get one from them either. See what I mean? Silly.
Monday, December 15, 2014
Finally After 5-1/2 Years
Back in April 2009 my husband and I went to a place that sells vertical blinds. We special ordered white linen lace for our bay window that faces the front of the house. I was so glad because I would finally be getting rid of the special-order drapes that were hanging there. I can't remember when they were first hung but I do know that it is longer than I care to think about.
Today I can proudly say the vertical blinds are gracing my bay window. My husband asked me a few days ago what I wanted for Christmas. I told him I have Christmas all year round and could not give him an answer. I am going to assume he finally decided to hang those blinds as a Christmas present for me.
And listen, I am a fantastic nagger and every once in awhile I would bring that sore subject up about those vertical blinds asking when he was going to hang them. But it always fell on deaf ears. I don't know how he could stand hearing it from me all the time because I was getting tired of hearing myself talk.
So Merry Christmas to me!
Today I can proudly say the vertical blinds are gracing my bay window. My husband asked me a few days ago what I wanted for Christmas. I told him I have Christmas all year round and could not give him an answer. I am going to assume he finally decided to hang those blinds as a Christmas present for me.
And listen, I am a fantastic nagger and every once in awhile I would bring that sore subject up about those vertical blinds asking when he was going to hang them. But it always fell on deaf ears. I don't know how he could stand hearing it from me all the time because I was getting tired of hearing myself talk.
So Merry Christmas to me!
Friday, December 12, 2014
Some Things Never Change
Remember this?
Five months later and it's still there:
Anyone want to bet it will still be there in another five months?
Five months later and it's still there:
Saturday, December 06, 2014
Nasty Day Today
Cold, damp, dreary...and lots of rain all day. The kind of days I detest. It's these days where I like to stay home, curl up with my book, and stay nice and cozy.
But we had to go out today...there is a thing called returning items for credit. We had to take a second item back to the hardware store because when the plumber was here, he hooked us up with some good stuff for our tub and shower and what we bought at the store was not needed. It wouldn't have worked either.
Since we were out and about today, I decided to try and make a day of it so we went to one of the pet stores I like to visit. I walked into the store with nothing in particular in mind to purchase and left there with almost $40 worth of things, mostly food for the indoor and outdoor cats. I got away fairly cheap this time because whenever I go into that particular pet store the cost is always much higher than that.
The kind of weather we are experiencing today wreaks havoc on my body. When I tell you just about everything aches, I mean everything aches. My knees and legs have started acting up within the past month and I don't know why. Someone said I need more potassium in my system because my muscles are not working as they should in the lower extremities. So I loaded up on almonds (an ounce per day), bananas, and potatoes for baking...one of my favorite foods to eat. I know there are more potassium-rich foods out there and I will research that later when I have more time.
Tomorrow is Sunday. That means football. Yay!
But we had to go out today...there is a thing called returning items for credit. We had to take a second item back to the hardware store because when the plumber was here, he hooked us up with some good stuff for our tub and shower and what we bought at the store was not needed. It wouldn't have worked either.
Since we were out and about today, I decided to try and make a day of it so we went to one of the pet stores I like to visit. I walked into the store with nothing in particular in mind to purchase and left there with almost $40 worth of things, mostly food for the indoor and outdoor cats. I got away fairly cheap this time because whenever I go into that particular pet store the cost is always much higher than that.
The kind of weather we are experiencing today wreaks havoc on my body. When I tell you just about everything aches, I mean everything aches. My knees and legs have started acting up within the past month and I don't know why. Someone said I need more potassium in my system because my muscles are not working as they should in the lower extremities. So I loaded up on almonds (an ounce per day), bananas, and potatoes for baking...one of my favorite foods to eat. I know there are more potassium-rich foods out there and I will research that later when I have more time.
Tomorrow is Sunday. That means football. Yay!
Thursday, December 04, 2014
Full Speed Ahead
The week is halfway gone and I have been trying to get the inside of the house decorated for Christmas. I was able to do the outside a few days ago.
Our cold water handle for the tub and shower started dripping ever so slightly awhile back. I would collect the water in a cup and use that to rinse the tub after I showered and also shampooed my hair.
Last week that drip developed into an almost non-stop drip. I kept up with it though. And then a few days ago it went crazy and buckets were called to duty. Meanwhile we went to one of the hardware stores to look for new handles and whatever else was needed to put a stop to that incessant dripping.
The first kit we brought home did not work and so we had to return it for credit. The second kit was much more sophisticated but my husband ran into a different problem; one that he could not fix. That will have to be returned as well. Tuesday evening he called our plumber. He came out to fix the dreaded drip on Wednesday.
Instead of three knobs we now have just a lever with a plate behind it. The plumber installed a new tub spout and the water diverter is on the end of that. He had also installed the stationery shower head but when my husband saw that he told him he had better put the original back on or, as he put it, my wife will have a fit. Yes indeedy I certainly would have had a fit. I like the handheld apparatus because it also helps to clean the walls of the shower and the inside of the glass doors as well. You can't do that with a stationery shower head.
One headache behind us. Wednesday is our normal grocery shopping day but my husband has a doctor's appointment in the morning and there are a few other things we have to do before we end up at Cracker Barrel to eat dinner. So that day is fairly shot.
Friday we will do the grocery shopping. It will feel out of sorts for me to do that on a Friday because I am so used to shopping on a Wednesday for my food.
Eventually a day will open up and I will be able to decorate for Christmas. I just hope it's not the day before.
Our cold water handle for the tub and shower started dripping ever so slightly awhile back. I would collect the water in a cup and use that to rinse the tub after I showered and also shampooed my hair.
Last week that drip developed into an almost non-stop drip. I kept up with it though. And then a few days ago it went crazy and buckets were called to duty. Meanwhile we went to one of the hardware stores to look for new handles and whatever else was needed to put a stop to that incessant dripping.
The first kit we brought home did not work and so we had to return it for credit. The second kit was much more sophisticated but my husband ran into a different problem; one that he could not fix. That will have to be returned as well. Tuesday evening he called our plumber. He came out to fix the dreaded drip on Wednesday.
Instead of three knobs we now have just a lever with a plate behind it. The plumber installed a new tub spout and the water diverter is on the end of that. He had also installed the stationery shower head but when my husband saw that he told him he had better put the original back on or, as he put it, my wife will have a fit. Yes indeedy I certainly would have had a fit. I like the handheld apparatus because it also helps to clean the walls of the shower and the inside of the glass doors as well. You can't do that with a stationery shower head.
One headache behind us. Wednesday is our normal grocery shopping day but my husband has a doctor's appointment in the morning and there are a few other things we have to do before we end up at Cracker Barrel to eat dinner. So that day is fairly shot.
Friday we will do the grocery shopping. It will feel out of sorts for me to do that on a Friday because I am so used to shopping on a Wednesday for my food.
Eventually a day will open up and I will be able to decorate for Christmas. I just hope it's not the day before.
Sunday, November 30, 2014
No Football Today
Here I sit and no football to watch. One of my two teams, San Francisco 49ers, has their bye (off) week and the other one, NY Giants, is playing the Jaguars who have won one game and lost the other ten this season. That game isn't televised. I hope the Giants win that game because they aren't doing so well this year and have to concentrate on getting things together.
I usually watch the Philadelphia Eagles games but they just played this past Thursday and aren't scheduled to play until next Sunday. And I like to watch the Dallas Cowboys just to see them get beat and for no other reason. No other teams command my attention except the Washington Redskins and they aren't doing so well either.
The temperature is currently 40° but it is supposed to get warmer than that today. Tomorrow is going to be nicer as far as a higher temperature is concerned. Today is quite dreary and when I look out my window all I see is gray tree branches and white snow and it looks so cold.
I really hate this in-between-the-holidays time of the year. As Thanksgiving approaches I always get somewhat gloomy. Back in the day when my parents were here yet both Thanksgiving and Christmas were something to look forward to. The entire family (siblings and their kids) would gather around the table and sit down to a magnificent feast my mother was well known for...that is no longer the case.
My parents brought us all together (I have two siblings and I am the middle child) but now things have changed. My sister lives in California and does not associate with me for some reason or another, and my brother lives not too far away and does not associate with me for some reason or another. I have reached the point where I really don't care anymore. It is what it is as they say. So be it. I tried in the past to connect with both of them and have given up.
I don't look forward to Christmas for the same reason. There is one holiday however that I anxiously await: New Years Day. Now that is something to look forward to simply because it leaves both Thanksgiving and Christmas in the dust.
(I tried to post a photo but Blogger is playing games)
I usually watch the Philadelphia Eagles games but they just played this past Thursday and aren't scheduled to play until next Sunday. And I like to watch the Dallas Cowboys just to see them get beat and for no other reason. No other teams command my attention except the Washington Redskins and they aren't doing so well either.
The temperature is currently 40° but it is supposed to get warmer than that today. Tomorrow is going to be nicer as far as a higher temperature is concerned. Today is quite dreary and when I look out my window all I see is gray tree branches and white snow and it looks so cold.
I really hate this in-between-the-holidays time of the year. As Thanksgiving approaches I always get somewhat gloomy. Back in the day when my parents were here yet both Thanksgiving and Christmas were something to look forward to. The entire family (siblings and their kids) would gather around the table and sit down to a magnificent feast my mother was well known for...that is no longer the case.
My parents brought us all together (I have two siblings and I am the middle child) but now things have changed. My sister lives in California and does not associate with me for some reason or another, and my brother lives not too far away and does not associate with me for some reason or another. I have reached the point where I really don't care anymore. It is what it is as they say. So be it. I tried in the past to connect with both of them and have given up.
I don't look forward to Christmas for the same reason. There is one holiday however that I anxiously await: New Years Day. Now that is something to look forward to simply because it leaves both Thanksgiving and Christmas in the dust.
(I tried to post a photo but Blogger is playing games)
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Snow Is Coming To Our Valley
The temperature Monday was 70°.
There will be rain today.
It is supposed to snow Wednesday. Possible total of 8 inches.
And on Thursday there will be some damn fine eating...and football, too.
So we will go from excellent to bleh to yuck and back to excellent in just a few days' time.
Happy Thanksgiving to one and all.
Eat to your heart's content ~ stoke that furnace ~ because winter is knocking at the door.
There will be rain today.
It is supposed to snow Wednesday. Possible total of 8 inches.
And on Thursday there will be some damn fine eating...and football, too.
So we will go from excellent to bleh to yuck and back to excellent in just a few days' time.
Happy Thanksgiving to one and all.
Eat to your heart's content ~ stoke that furnace ~ because winter is knocking at the door.
Friday, November 21, 2014
Helpless In My World
Can someone please tell me why we were ever blessed with the person that is supposedly running this country all on his own?
I just don't get it. What is his problem anyway? It was bad enough we had to be saddled with him the first four years and then those people voted him in for another four years. He is, in my opinion, quite inept, but great at being a liar.
Why is he so angry with our country? Why does his wife hate our country?
Why, why, why??????????
I just don't get it. What is his problem anyway? It was bad enough we had to be saddled with him the first four years and then those people voted him in for another four years. He is, in my opinion, quite inept, but great at being a liar.
Why is he so angry with our country? Why does his wife hate our country?
Why, why, why??????????
Monday, November 17, 2014
NASCAR 2014 Season
It seems like it was just yesterday when I taped the 2014 season race schedule to my wall for the NASCAR Sprint Cup racing season, but it actually happened back in January.
When I taped it there I thought Nice...a brand new season of racing ten months long. And I sighed 'cause I was happy it would be just getting started. It really does seem like it was just yesterday.
And here we are, the last racing weekend of the year is now over in what seems like the blink of an eye. If I hadn't watched every race every weekend I wouldn't believe how fast they flew by.
Didn't I Tell You?
I told you to keep an eye on this kid. He won the NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship last week. He's 18 and graduated high school this past May. His parents, above with Chase Elliott, made sure he attended his graduation too.
This was his first season in NASCAR and his team was put together last December. He became the youngest champion in a national series and he is also the first driver to win a championship and rookie of the year in the same season.
I followed his father, Hall of Fame inductee Bill Elliott, for most of his career and I can assure you I will be following this young man's career as well.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Crowned Today
Kevin Harvick won the Championship in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. This was the first year a new system was used and I, for one, do not like it at all. But I must confess that it did make for some great racing at times. When it came down to the last race, it meant that only four drivers were eligible to win the championship. Of those four that were eligible, there was only one driver I wanted to win. He did. He drives for Tony Stewart. This is his first year with Stewart-Haas Racing and he did a great job all year long, so he deserves the accolade.
...and now I wait for the next season to start next February. These past ten months flew by but you can bet the farm that these next three months will drag.
When I taped it there I thought Nice...a brand new season of racing ten months long. And I sighed 'cause I was happy it would be just getting started. It really does seem like it was just yesterday.
And here we are, the last racing weekend of the year is now over in what seems like the blink of an eye. If I hadn't watched every race every weekend I wouldn't believe how fast they flew by.
Didn't I Tell You?
I told you to keep an eye on this kid. He won the NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship last week. He's 18 and graduated high school this past May. His parents, above with Chase Elliott, made sure he attended his graduation too.
This was his first season in NASCAR and his team was put together last December. He became the youngest champion in a national series and he is also the first driver to win a championship and rookie of the year in the same season.
I followed his father, Hall of Fame inductee Bill Elliott, for most of his career and I can assure you I will be following this young man's career as well.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Crowned Today
Kevin Harvick won the Championship in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. This was the first year a new system was used and I, for one, do not like it at all. But I must confess that it did make for some great racing at times. When it came down to the last race, it meant that only four drivers were eligible to win the championship. Of those four that were eligible, there was only one driver I wanted to win. He did. He drives for Tony Stewart. This is his first year with Stewart-Haas Racing and he did a great job all year long, so he deserves the accolade.
...and now I wait for the next season to start next February. These past ten months flew by but you can bet the farm that these next three months will drag.
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Old Man Winter Has Arrived...
...and I am not amused.
It is currently 34°. That's two degrees away from freezing folks!
I am so not ready for this stinking cold weather.
And to top it all off, it is raining outside. Nope, forget the rain. I just poked my head through the curtains and looked outside...the ground is white. Holy Toledo!
It looks like my hibernation time has arrived.
I have been at a stalemate as to whether I want to continue this blog or not. Neither side has won as of yet. Sometimes it just seems as if I am wasting my time typing words.
I have so much to write about but never can seem to find the time. And since I don't have a lot of heat in this room, I tend to not want to stay in it for very long.
It's winter. It's cold. It's nasty. What more can I say?
It is currently 34°. That's two degrees away from freezing folks!
I am so not ready for this stinking cold weather.
And to top it all off, it is raining outside. Nope, forget the rain. I just poked my head through the curtains and looked outside...the ground is white. Holy Toledo!
It looks like my hibernation time has arrived.
I have been at a stalemate as to whether I want to continue this blog or not. Neither side has won as of yet. Sometimes it just seems as if I am wasting my time typing words.
I have so much to write about but never can seem to find the time. And since I don't have a lot of heat in this room, I tend to not want to stay in it for very long.
It's winter. It's cold. It's nasty. What more can I say?
Friday, November 07, 2014
Remembering Scotty
He was only three years old. He lived with his mother and his six-year-old brother...and his mother's boyfriend...and his mother's boyfriend's wife and their infant...in a small trailer.
For three days Scotty's mother and her boyfriend tortured him until he died. His brother withstood the same torture but somehow survived the ordeal. He said both of them laughed while they were being tortured.
The wife of the boyfriend stood by knowing full well what was going on and looked the other way.
What the hell is wrong with a society when things like this are left to happen?
The lack of Christianity in this country is appalling. The lack of the fear of God is sorely needed again. Must this country be brought to its knees before the people wake up and get their shit together?
I cry for Scotty and others like him. I also pray for them as well. We all should.
For three days Scotty's mother and her boyfriend tortured him until he died. His brother withstood the same torture but somehow survived the ordeal. He said both of them laughed while they were being tortured.
The wife of the boyfriend stood by knowing full well what was going on and looked the other way.
What the hell is wrong with a society when things like this are left to happen?
The lack of Christianity in this country is appalling. The lack of the fear of God is sorely needed again. Must this country be brought to its knees before the people wake up and get their shit together?
I cry for Scotty and others like him. I also pray for them as well. We all should.
Monday, October 27, 2014
It's About Time
Dale Earnhardt Jr finally won at Martinsville. The trophy for winning is a grandfather clock, something he has wanted ever since his father brought one of many home. He said he has wanted one of these trophies since he was a little boy.
This marks his 23rd career win and his 4th win of the season.
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Meet Beanie (Bopper)
This little kitten has more than enough energy with plenty left over. He/she is the only one to survive the litter. Its mother, Stumpy, had three kittens at the beginning of the year, so all four of them play together. Meet Stumpy's kids:
This is Beanie
Beanie and Saddle
Beanie and Momma Stumpy
Beanie and Boots
Beanie showing off for Boots (on its back)
Beanie and Spur (Beanie's tail is short like Mom's)
Beanie got its name from the small patch on its head. Boots, Saddle and Spur were given their names by my husband.
Beanie can be running helter-skelter all over the place and the next thing you know, he/she is either having lunch at Mom's expense or curled up sleeping somewhere. It happens that quickly. A real Beanie bopper.
Beanie got its name from the small patch on its head. Boots, Saddle and Spur were given their names by my husband.
Beanie can be running helter-skelter all over the place and the next thing you know, he/she is either having lunch at Mom's expense or curled up sleeping somewhere. It happens that quickly. A real Beanie bopper.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Wacky Neighbors Explanation
It seems I have been misrepresenting our neighbors after reading comments on my three posts about them. Let me bring you up to speed:
First of all it may seem like I am acting like an old biddy with my nose in their business. Far from it. I do not go out of my way to make my life miserable by the things they have done since moving here two years this November. All the things I have been complaining about they put in my face on a daily basis. It cannot be avoided either.
Ever since they moved here they have not adhered to local ordinances or restrictions and have been living as if they are still residing in Aquashicola. Look it up, you'll see what I mean.
The straw that broke this camel's back with them was when I learned they were trapping our cats and taking them away. We were totally unaware of that action until earlier this year when my husband was way out back and saw the trap at the end of their property next to ours. From then on we had to watch and make sure to release any of the cats that found their way in the two traps they always set. One night I went out at 2:30am with a flashlight to check and also to spring the latch so cats could not get in. The husband apparently checked on the traps before going to work to make sure they were set and didn't check on them till late at night...so what if it rained all day and a cat sat in that rain. So what if they were hungry or scared...he did not care one iota. And there is no excuse for that. This neighborhood was peaceful till they came along. Nobody complained about cats. We have been feeding them for years seeing that they have shelter as well.
When my husband confronted him about the trapping he called my husband a liar and got so red in the face while screaming I thought we would be calling for an ambulance for the neighbor. He went on to curse something terrible and was saying things like F*** the Bible, F*** God. I finally went outside onto our deck and told my husband to walk away. There is no call for the way he ranted and raved and cursed.
His wife was standing right by him and interjecting nonsense about how the cats were pooping all over their toddler's toys. How does a cat poop on toys, or a picnic table, or anything else that doesn't have a surface they can scratch in order to cover their "duty?" If you don't understand that, you don't understand cats.
The neighbor yelled that he had trapped 22 cats since moving there. We live in a rural area with farmed fields all around us. Many of our neighbors have cats, or feed feral cats, because they understand that they will keep the mice and other vermin away. Apparently these neighbors want mice and vermin on their property.
They take all their yard waste, from dead shrubbery, dead Christmas trees, to huge limbs and branches from their trees and pile them up on their property line. That harbors mice. Cats go after mice. What did they expect would happen?
These people have no morals, no scruples, and are just a real pain in the ass and how we got blessed with them as neighbors is beyond me. So to distance myself from them I have decided to ignore them as if they don't exist ~ if that is at all possible.
Yes, I may sound angry and it's because I am. These people took a nice piece of property and turned it into a piece of sh*t. They dug up their yard to plant a garden which is okay; I have no problem with that. Maybe it's because it's on the other side of their house and I don't have to look at it. But they also dug up their yard at various places to plant sunflowers everywhere you can think of including along the street in front of their house. Really? We get asked about those sunflowers numerous times by people we know who pass by our place. Maybe some of the pictures I have posted look good but if you would see what I see you would change your mind in a hurry.
Sorry for this long post but I had to get that off my chest.
First of all it may seem like I am acting like an old biddy with my nose in their business. Far from it. I do not go out of my way to make my life miserable by the things they have done since moving here two years this November. All the things I have been complaining about they put in my face on a daily basis. It cannot be avoided either.
Ever since they moved here they have not adhered to local ordinances or restrictions and have been living as if they are still residing in Aquashicola. Look it up, you'll see what I mean.
The straw that broke this camel's back with them was when I learned they were trapping our cats and taking them away. We were totally unaware of that action until earlier this year when my husband was way out back and saw the trap at the end of their property next to ours. From then on we had to watch and make sure to release any of the cats that found their way in the two traps they always set. One night I went out at 2:30am with a flashlight to check and also to spring the latch so cats could not get in. The husband apparently checked on the traps before going to work to make sure they were set and didn't check on them till late at night...so what if it rained all day and a cat sat in that rain. So what if they were hungry or scared...he did not care one iota. And there is no excuse for that. This neighborhood was peaceful till they came along. Nobody complained about cats. We have been feeding them for years seeing that they have shelter as well.
When my husband confronted him about the trapping he called my husband a liar and got so red in the face while screaming I thought we would be calling for an ambulance for the neighbor. He went on to curse something terrible and was saying things like F*** the Bible, F*** God. I finally went outside onto our deck and told my husband to walk away. There is no call for the way he ranted and raved and cursed.
His wife was standing right by him and interjecting nonsense about how the cats were pooping all over their toddler's toys. How does a cat poop on toys, or a picnic table, or anything else that doesn't have a surface they can scratch in order to cover their "duty?" If you don't understand that, you don't understand cats.
The neighbor yelled that he had trapped 22 cats since moving there. We live in a rural area with farmed fields all around us. Many of our neighbors have cats, or feed feral cats, because they understand that they will keep the mice and other vermin away. Apparently these neighbors want mice and vermin on their property.
They take all their yard waste, from dead shrubbery, dead Christmas trees, to huge limbs and branches from their trees and pile them up on their property line. That harbors mice. Cats go after mice. What did they expect would happen?
These people have no morals, no scruples, and are just a real pain in the ass and how we got blessed with them as neighbors is beyond me. So to distance myself from them I have decided to ignore them as if they don't exist ~ if that is at all possible.
Yes, I may sound angry and it's because I am. These people took a nice piece of property and turned it into a piece of sh*t. They dug up their yard to plant a garden which is okay; I have no problem with that. Maybe it's because it's on the other side of their house and I don't have to look at it. But they also dug up their yard at various places to plant sunflowers everywhere you can think of including along the street in front of their house. Really? We get asked about those sunflowers numerous times by people we know who pass by our place. Maybe some of the pictures I have posted look good but if you would see what I see you would change your mind in a hurry.
Sorry for this long post but I had to get that off my chest.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Wacky Neighbors #3
The neighbors have since received a letter from the township advising them about the do's and don'ts of having a residential or ceremonial fire pit. I have also learned that when the burning ordinance was changed in 2008 the part of no burning between sunset and sunrise was not brought forth into the new ordinance. So I was wrong on that count. Apparently they were in the right to burn all night long while they slept in their tents. However, a night fire must have someone tending it at all times and that didn't happen.
Below is a photo of one side of the neighbor's driveway. When the person who owned the property before them lived there everything was manicured and looked nice all the time. He used to put fresh mulch in these areas (both sides) every Spring and saw that all weeds were pulled. This below is nothing but a bed of weeds. This couple is in their mid 30's. You would think they cared about their property. I watched him take care of weeds one day by using a weed-whacker. Oh yeah, that's really going to get rid of them.
Sunday, October 05, 2014
Wacky Neighbors Part II
Friday night came and went and nobody used the tent. Company arrived Saturday. A fire was started in their round fire pit after the sun went down. I might interject here that we have an ordinance that states no fires after sunset or before sunrise. Did that stop them? Hell no.
The fire burned until a little after 4am. My husband was aware of the fire and was awake all night worrying about an ember being picked up by wind and possibly landing on our house, garage, or sheds. See that field on the other side of the tent? That is quite extensive and when the wind blows it sweeps down the field and across both our yards.
Hindsight is 20/20 and looking back I wish I had called one of the local fire departments to report a fire in the neighbor's back yard. Maybe that would have gotten through their thick skulls. As it was, my husband went to the township to report them to one of the supervisors. The one that had a hand in the writing of the latest fire ordinance. We asked that he speak to these neighbors and set them straight. Or at least send them a letter of warning. This was the third time we asked that the township step in for something stupid these people have done since moving here almost two years ago.
My husband asked to be mailed a copy of the letter. We are still waiting. He has since called the same supervisor and had to leave voice mail asking why no letter was sent out to them. Mr. Supervisor avoids us at all costs. And when we do catch him at the township building, he always has an excuse. My taxes help pay his salary as a supervisor. I wish he would remember that.
The sad thing about this whole incident is that people stayed in that tent overnight while that fire was burning all night long. Suppose the wind whipped an ember onto the tent while they were all asleep?
Crispy critters anyone?
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