The Constitution of the United States

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Article. I.

Section. 1.

All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

Section. 2.

The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.

No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.

Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New-York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.

When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.

The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.

Section. 3.

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.

Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year; and if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.

No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.

The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.

The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States.

The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.

Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.

Section. 4.

The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.

The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.

Section. 5.

Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.

Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.

Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal.

Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.

Section. 6.

The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.

No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office.

Section. 7.

All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.

Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States: If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.

Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.

Section. 8.

The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;

To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;

To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;

To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;

To establish Post Offices and post Roads;

To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;

To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;

To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

To provide and maintain a Navy;

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;--And

To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

Section. 9.

The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.

The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.

No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.

No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken.

No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.

No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another; nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.

No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.

No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.

Section. 10.

No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.

No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it's inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Controul of the Congress.

No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.

Article. II.

Section. 1.

The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows:

Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.

The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by Ballot for two Persons, of whom one at least shall not be an Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And they shall make a List of all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for each; which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the Certificates, and the Votes shall then be counted. The Person having the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President, if such Number be a Majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed; and if there be more than one who have such Majority, and have an equal Number of Votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately chuse by Ballot one of them for President; and if no Person have a Majority, then from the five highest on the List the said House shall in like Manner chuse the President. But in chusing the President, the Votes shall be taken by States, the Representation from each State having one Vote; A quorum for this purpose shall consist of a Member or Members from two thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the States shall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice of the President, the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of the Electors shall be the Vice President. But if there should remain two or more who have equal Votes, the Senate shall chuse from them by Ballot the Vice President.

The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the United States.

No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.

In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.

The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.

Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:--"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Section. 2.

The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.

Section. 3.

He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.

Section. 4.

The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Article III.

Section. 1.

The judicial Power of the United States shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.

Section. 2.

The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority;--to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls;--to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;--to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party;--to Controversies between two or more States;-- between a State and Citizens of another State,--between Citizens of different States,--between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.

In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make.

The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed.

Section. 3.

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

Article. IV.

Section. 1.

Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.

Section. 2.

The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.

A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another State, shall on Demand of the executive Authority of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction of the Crime.

No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due.

Section. 3.

New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.

The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State.

Section. 4.

The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened), against domestic Violence.

Article. V.

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.

Article. VI.

All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

Article. VII.

The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.

The Word, "the," being interlined between the seventh and eighth Lines of the first Page, the Word "Thirty" being partly written on an Erazure in the fifteenth Line of the first Page, The Words "is tried" being interlined between the thirty second and thirty third Lines of the first Page and the Word "the" being interlined between the forty third and forty fourth Lines of the second Page.

Attest William Jackson Secretary

done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independance of the United States of America the Twelfth In witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names,

G°. Washington
Presidt and deputy from Virginia

Delaware
Geo: Read
Gunning Bedford jun
John Dickinson
Richard Bassett
Jaco: Broom

Maryland
James McHenry
Dan of St Thos. Jenifer
Danl. Carroll

Virginia
John Blair
James Madison Jr.

North Carolina
Wm. Blount
Richd. Dobbs Spaight
Hu Williamson

South Carolina
J. Rutledge
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
Charles Pinckney
Pierce Butler

Georgia
William Few
Abr Baldwin

New Hampshire
John Langdon
Nicholas Gilman

Massachusetts
Nathaniel Gorham
Rufus King

Connecticut
Wm. Saml. Johnson
Roger Sherman

New York
Alexander Hamilton

New Jersey
Wil: Livingston
David Brearley
Wm. Paterson
Jona: Dayton

Pennsylvania
B Franklin
Thomas Mifflin
Robt. Morris
Geo. Clymer
Thos. FitzSimons
Jared Ingersoll
James Wilson
Gouv Morris

Lots to Say, Not Much to Say

I am not going to get political this time.  But it's coming.  And it will mostly deal with the collosal mistake I think the SCOTUS made today.  I have so much I want to say about it, and a few other things, but I have to let it percolate for a while so I can get my thoughts in order.  It is no secret, never has been and never will be, that we are a Conservative family.  We will stay that way.  Although the word "conservative" by itself probably does not even begin to explain just how far right-wing we are.  I've heard (and used) the word "Ultra-Conservative" describing us and it's pretty apt.  But maybe not even strong enough, in all honesty.

All that is to say, when I do post my thoughts - if you don't agree, that's your right.  We (still, for the moment anyway) have the right to our own opinions.  Comments might or might not be accepted, that will be determined later.

OK, enough of that.  For now.

T-1 day until vacation!  The Teenager keeps asking me if I'm all caught up, since I'm going to be gone next week.  I'm pretty much always caught up, it's not a particularly busy office.  Even on the times when it is busy, I'm generally able to stay caught up.  In fact, I'm generally ahead of things and especially when I'm getting ready to be gone.  Today was a b.o.r.i.n.g. day.  Among other things, I swept the kitchen.  I also made sure that the copier & fax machine are filled with paper, the hand soap dispensers in the bathrooms & kitchen are full, there are plenty of paper towels in the dispensers in both bathrooms and the kitchen, and (most important for the Teenager!) that both bathrooms are fully stocked with toilet paper.  Yesterday, I fed & watered all the plants, as well as topping off the indoor fountain that is in the atrium.  Today, I vacuumed a few spots.  Tomorrow, I'll run the dishwasher early (it takes us a week to fill it since it's just coffee cups) and I'll probably get the trash out of the office cans and into the garage.  I'll also water the "garden" where the Teenager has one cherry tomato plant, 2 jalepeno plants and 2 other peppers that I can't remember the name of.  I've paid every bill that was due and all the ones due next week and I finished up what little filing I had yesterday.  I'm going to be alternating between bored stiff and putting out last-minute fires tomorrow.

Almost none of that is actually office work, but it's not exactly a normal office!  It's generally a fun one, it's just a little different.

Otter and I were going to the library this afternoon.  But she got a better offer.  She's off with HP this afternoon, they were going to get fast food for lunch and then go see the movie Brave.  Which I want to see, but I'm not sure if I'm going to get there anytime soon.  We might possibly go see a movie next week, maybe Men In Black III.  Or maybe not, we're not planning much in the way of specifics.

OK, that's it for now.

Rain Barrels & Bat Houses

OK, Froggy.  Pay Attention!  There may be a test later.  :)

Rain Barrels. I strongly recommend them.  You need to have rain gutters, as the rain is collected from the roof and needs a way to flow down into the barrel.  For some reason, I can't get the pictures to load so here's the original post where I have the pictures:

Rain Barrel Pictures

You can reroute one of the down spouts to the barrel.  Bill cut a hole in the top of my barrel, then he pushed the end of the downspout into it.  There is a filter at the top of the downspout - a knee-high hose works really well and is easily replaced because it will get dirty.  The filter is to keep leaves and debris out.  The hole the downspout goes into is also a possibly entry place for mosquitos, so you can see if you can rig up some type of a filter at that point as well - again, knee-high hose work great.

Rain barrels can be made out of a couple of different kinds of barrels, but a big 55 gallon one works well.  You can probably find a supplier of barrels just by looking on the internet or possibly in the phone book.  He also installed a twist spigot.  You can have the barrel sitting on the ground, and it can be sitting up or laying on it's side.  It's going to depend on where you want to put it and how much room you have.  Mine is on it's side.  You'll want to have the spigot towards the bottom, since gravity will be how the water will leave it.  The spigot is sealed around the edges, Bill might have used silicon caulk.  It's pretty much a necessity to seal it, otherwise it will probably leak.

My barrel was originally white, the "natural" color the plastic was that it was made from.  I painted it a dark green because I was having a problem with mold caused by the sun/warmth and dark colors will block a little of the sun's light.  At times, the water will still develop a smell and discoloration.  When that happens, I usually drain it then it gets rinshed out.  To rinse it, it just has to be moved away from the downspout and then Bill sticks the garden hose in the hole where the downspout goes.  You can use things like bleach, but that pretty much defeats the purpose of having natural rain water to water your plants with.  The best place for one is probably a shady area, since the sunlight will help mold/mildew grow but I didn't have a spot that was shady enough.

Bill built a wooden frame for my barrel, but they aren't necessary.  We didn't want it sitting on the ground so he built the frame/stand out of some scrap wood he had.

I strongly, strongly suggest a product called Mosquito Dunk.

You can get it at any hardware store and possibly also at places like Walmart.  Put one in as often as the directions say to - I think it's 3 months for the type I use.  It will dissolve and the water will still be healthy for plants, but it will kill any mosquito larvae that hatch from any eggs that survive.

You can also buy a pre-made rain barrel, I've seen them at Lowe's and places like that.  But they might be pricey.  I don't remembe what my barrel cost but I'm thinking it was somewhere in the neighborhood of $10 or thereabouts.

As of this morning, my rain barrel is pretty much empty.  We've been using it to soak the morning glories since the summer heat is here already.  But I think it's down to the last few drops so Bill's going to take it off the downspout this weekend and we're going to rinse it out.  It needs to be rinsed out periodically.

Also, if you ever do get a hard freeze (yeah, I do know where you live!), they can freeze.  Mine is usually dry by the time winter gets here, but any rain in the winter will flow right into it.  I don't usually worry about it in freezing weather, but I would imagine that if it were 100% full it could be a problem if it were to freeze because the plastic could split.  But it would be easy to replace.

Bat Houses:

Contrary to popular belief, bats are not evil!  The are actually very good animals to have around.  They eat all sorts of unpleasant bugs, but they seem to really enjoy snacking on mosquitos.  This is not my bat house, I couldn't find a picture of it.  They are available at a lot of hardware stores, and they can also be ordered online.  They come in a couple of different styles, but this one is a lot like mine.  They have to be put in an area that the bats llike - they prefer eastern/morning sun and shady afternoon/evenings.  They have to be put fairly high up, I think it's somewhere around 12 feet but you can look that up on the internet and there will probably be directions with anyone you buy.

It can take the bats a few years to find the house.  They are natural survivors and they have places to roost, but they will eventually move into the bat house.  You may not ever know that they are there.  Sometimes, birds will build nests in them but not if there's a bat in it.

Stuff I Did Today

I think I might have been the first voter for my precinct.  There are two that vote where I do, and it was an interesting experience.  The guy checking to make sure everyone was in the right place at first thought I was supposed to be somewhere else.  Then he realized that he was looking at the wrong number on my voter's id - and he's a paid employee!  I finally get my ballot, mark all my candidates and then have to ask where the machine is to turn it in.  Takes them a while to figure it out - even though it was pretty obvious, once someone pointed it out to them.  OK, I insert my ballot and then watch as it gets spit back out.  I asked what I was supposed to do at that point, and they told me to pull it out since they are legally prevented from touching someone else's ballot and to re-insert it.  Which I did.  3 or 4 times!  Eventually, the paid employee realized that there were two precincts and that each had their own machine - the one I needed was almost hidden as it was way in the corner.  Inserted it in the machine, and it was accepted.  After all that, I forgot to see what number I was but I'm thinking that I was probably the first person for my precinct.  We used to vote in one spot, then it was moved to another spot where we voted two or three times.  Then, the election board decided that it was time for another round of musical chairs and we are now voting in the third place in 6 years.

I met Bill for lunch today.  We went to our favorite Tex-Mex place.  I didn't over do it, but I'm still kind of stuffed from lunch so I might not be interested in dinner any time soon.

Otter and I watered the morning glories this morning, before I went off to play find-the-voting-machine, and I realized that the rain barrel is starting to get low.  It was pretty full, but we've been using it a lot.  Especially since it's started getting H.O.T. so early.

I didn't gripe about the weather today.  I actually kind of like the heat, when it's not humid.  Today was warm but not humid, so it was not a griping day.

That's about the extent of my exciting day.

It's Going to be a Scorcher

I think we have another South TEXAS summer on our hands.  Today's official temperature was 104.  Same thing tomorrow.  Wednesday 105.  Although once you get to 100, it's kind of all the same!  Today was exactly what was forecast:  heavy air with little breeze.  Which makes it feel hotter.

I know, I shouldn't gripe - I did grow up with this after all.  But that doesn't mean that I have to like it!

Ok, on to other things.

Evilbugfiredeveldeniziensofhell.  Yes, we still have wasps!  The one that was starting a nest outside of Otter's window wasn't on the nest last night or this morning, so we thought that maybe it had abandoned it.  However, it's back this afternoon.  So, Billyboy's going to spray it later.  He did knock down the other two nests that were in front - the ones he killed first right after I got stung.  He didn't want anymore bugs to get any ideas and think tht they might be welcome here!

Of course, they might think that anyway.  At least, one of them did.  The one that Bill killed inside the living room this afternoon.  Otter was on the couch and she saw movement out of the corner of her eye.  It was climbing the curtains.  Bill got his electric fly swatter - the kind that electrocutes things.  Fried wasp does not smell good!  But, it is better than being stung by another one.  We're not sure how it got in, Bill said that it looked like it had a deformed wing and couldn't fly.  It could have come in with one of the dogs through the dog door, or it could have come in with one of us.  It was a big one and I thought at first that it was actually a hornet, but Bill said it was "just" a wasp.

Our vacation plans for next week have changed somewhat.  We have decided to put the zoo off until the fall.  Besides the fact that we don't want to be out in the heat if it's like it is this week (and it could well be), the animals won't be active if it's very warm.  So we will wait until it's a little cooler.  We will possibly go to a movie next week, thrifting, rambling shopping trip - we'll find something to do!  Even if it turns out that all we want to do is keep the couch from flying to the ceiling.

Actually, that sounds like a good thing to do tonight.  I think I'm going to have to do just that.  And I might just finish the crochet hat I started last night.

Siesta Sunday

It's a good day to spend napping.  It's fairly hot, at least for late June. It's still Texan tolerant, it's just a little warmer than normal for the time of year.  It's supposed to be that way for the next several days, and the air pressure is supposed to be "heavy" which also means humid and yucky.  I have a feeling that we'll probably spend as much time inside as possible.  Otter got her normal Sunday chore (cleaning the dog's yard) done on Friday, when it was nice.  Friday was in the 80's and breezy.  And that was probably the last of the below 90's we'll see for a while.  It's supposed to be 100 - 102 the next few days, hopefully it won't be a summer like last year.  But nobody will be surprised if it is.

So, I got my outside time early.  I spent a little while out on the deck this morning, with my coffee and a beagle.  BigDog was out in the yard somewhere, doing whatever he does when he's out of sight.  Maggie never actually got the grass, she apparently only went outside because Frasier did and then when she saw me on the deck she decided to stay there with me.  I did finally get to see the hummingbird, though.  I was beginning to think that it was on it's way south to migrate when Bill saw it.

Movie review:  Sherlock Holmes Game of Shadows.  I'm not exactly sure if I'm getting the name right or not, but it's the most recent one.  I have one thing to say about it.  It would be more fun, exciting and entertaining to watch paint dry.  Also, watching paint dry would probably be a much more productive use of your time.

I've managed to get a little headway made in de-stashing.  Although it doesn't look like it.  I've used up 2 1/2 small balls of yarn on the scarf-turned-lap-blanket.  I got quite a bit done on it yesterday.  I did some today, but I'm not sure if I'm going to get back at it today or not.  It's still fairly small, so it's not a problem to work on it during warm weather.  Unlike the afghan which I really, really, really want to get finished this year!

I've been thinking about the fact that I have been without a dishwasher since March.  I'm still not in any hurry to replace it.  We've been through four in 18 years, and they were not necessarily the cheapest ones available.  But they should have lasted longer.  I'm willing to keep doing dishes by hand for a while.  Possibly for a long while, because I'm not really sure if I'll ever want one again.

Froggy is all moved into her new home.  They actually moved Tuesday.  Well, the movers came on Tuesday but their furniture wasn't delivered to them until Wednesday.  But the point is that they got moved.  And she remembered the rocks!  Froggy, I know you are glad to be done with the stress of the last few months.  I was asking you when the process started and you weren't sure - I think it was right before Easter.

Just 5 more work days!  I'm really looking forward to the time off.  We don't have anything planned, beyond the zoo and Otter's doll house.  We could decide to head off on one of our rambles, but at this point we don't have plans for one.  Mostly, I think we are just looking forward to not having to get up early.  Well, somebody will still have to get up to get the dogsters fed but then he (since it's usually Bill) can go back to bed after that.

Think we need to teach those two dogs how to tell time.  And then we need to teach them that 5:30 is too early, that it's ok to wait until 8:00 or 9:00 for breakfast!

Thirsty Thursday

I'm kind of thirsty.  We had chili for dinner.  With the Hot rotel and Hot variety of chili beans.  I used at least 1/2 cup of chili powder, but it honestly might have been closer to 3/4 cup.  It was hot!  And delicious.  But now, I'm thirsty.  My mouth was on fire for a while, but that's now stopped.  I'm not complaining!  It was very good.  Also, it was made with beef this time since Bill gave blood at work today.  I thought he could probably use a little protein and iron.  And jalepenos!

I found a few of Bill's things on my shelves in the garage.  Such as the pressure canner he uses when he's casting small parts for the pachinko machines.  They have been removed from trespassing in my space, and are now on the work bench/desk formerly known as Otter's workbench.  I'm going to do a little more cleaning out/organizing/de-cluttering on my shelves in the next several days.  And anything of Bill's will be removed!  Otter's happy, because we found all the glitter.  It was hidden on my shelves.  Now, it's in her room on her shelves and she's happy to have one of her main craft supply items within reach.  I'm sure that there are more things of hers out there, but she might not have any room for them.  I'm also sure that Bill's got stuff of his hidden on my shelves, but that will be remedied soon.  And then, maybe, I might, possibly, get to my ifIevergetaroundtoitoneofthesedays mosaic project!  (Don't hold your breath.)

I haven't seen any more evilfirebugdeneziensofhell in a couple of days.  At least, not at home.  There were a few of them starting a nest right outside the front door at work, but they got sprayed today.  It's now become one of my crusades to rid the world of as many of those things as I can!

It rained this morning.  It wasn't a long rain, but it was nice.  I spent a few minutes out on the deck before I left for work.  It was cool and cloudy.  Then shortly after I left for work, it started raining.  It was a nice rain, and we could use more of it.  It quit shortly before I got to work.

I managed to get a little crochet done on my lunch hour.  I'm working on a couple of UFO's, I'm starting back on the scarf-turned-lap-blanket.  I'm going to get back on my scrap yarn pillow cover, but that one has to wait until I've finished up a few other things since it's being made with yarn pieces that are too small to do anything else with.

One more work day and then one work week until we are on vacation!  It's a stay at home vacation, not a staycation - I dislike that word.  Our plans include the doll house refurbishment we planned for a year ago, a trip to the zoo, making pizza and whatever else we feel like at the time.  Probably lots of crochet for me.

Guess that's it for today.  Chili and crochet.  It was a good day!

Wednesday, But it Feels Like Monday

Or maybe it's really Friday the 13th and nobody told me?  That is what the 95-year-old-teenager told me today.  Of course, from the day he (and I) had, I can see why he thinks that!

It was just one of those days, and I was very glad to see 3:30 roll around so I could escape.

Otter found the above picture and told me about it.  It's cute.  It's pretty close, too.  I found a similar one that talked about how wasps only desire is to mess things up for humans and it was right on.  It just had language I don't use, so it's not on here.  No sign of any of them today.  The fly/wasp trap has a couple of flies in it, which is not bad - but no yellow jackets.

The upshot of today is that it's one less day until Friday!

Today is the last day of spring/first day of summer.  That's because summer officially starts(ed) right after 6:00 p.m.  Although I don't think we really know what day it is.  Or what time it is.  The clock & calendar have been messed with too many times, so it's really all just a guess anyway.

Bill keeps asking me to spell words for him.  I can't type my thoughts and spell other words at the same time, so I'm going to post this.

Happy Summer!

Just a Normal Tuesday

So far, it's also a firedevilevilbug free day.  That's a good thing.  Bill killed the two we found yesterday, and I didn't see anymore anywhere but that may only be a temporary thing.

We have a fly trap, it's a 2-piece plastic contraption that resembles an upside down bowl (lid) with a bottom piece that resembles a bundt-style cake pan.  The bottom piece is filled with water and something to attract flies, wine works wonders.  They fly in through the opening in the bottom, land in the liquid to get whatever sweet stuff they think it is and then they can't figure out how to get back out (flies aren't smart) so they drown.  It works the same way with wasps.  Somebody Bill works with told him to use mountain dew soda to attract the wasps.  He filled it yesterday, so far it's empty.  I'm hoping that it won't attract bees, just wasps, but they will probably be attracted to it as well.

Otter and I went to the library this afternoon.  We got our usual load.  Then I paid a $4.00+ fine for her books that were late because I wanted to read them and forgot about them.

We moved the rest of her craft stuff/creative stash from the garage to her room.  It's kind of dusty, but she's going through it and putting it on her shelves.  Some of it might get to my shelves in the garage.

Froggy is now moved!  She had an iteresting time with the packing company yesterday, but the moving company (today) was apparently much more professional.  So I now longer have any "blood relation" family in SA.  Which is kind of sad, but I'm very happy for Froggy & her family.  I think that they'll be very happy.  Once the moving company brings their belongings tomorrow and they've had time to find themselves!

Monday's Buzz

I have developed a pathological hatred of wasps.  Yellow jackets are a type of wasp.  They are not bees.  I like bees, even the big bumble bees.  Any bee can sting, but they usually don't unless they feel very threatened.  Even bumble bees give you a warning!  They usually fly at your face, sometimes they run into you, but they very seldom sting without warning.

Not wasps.

I'm firmly convinced that they have no other reason to exist, beyond finding a human and making his/her life miserable for as long as they can!

We (ok, Bill) killed the nest on the back fence that I found yesterday - the one that probably had the evilfiredevilmonster that stung Otter.  He killed the two nests underneath the lean-to.  We did not dunk the windchimes, because upon closer inspection it was obvious that they were not builing inside of it.  However, they were flying into it. 

 But they weren't coming out!  So, that is obviously where the portal to Hell is, because they are going somewhere!

When Otter and I got home this afternoon, we discovered another nest starting on the front porch!

I think I'm going to have to go buy another can of spray.  We had the can we've been using for years, we've never needed it.  Now, in the space of a about a week I think we've emptied it!

Sunday Accomplishments **EDITED

1.  Father's Day Breakfast (Check)
2.  Church (Check)
3.  Laundry (Check)
4.  Dishes (Check)
5.  Otter clean out dog yard
6.  Find out if Otter is allergic to yellow jacket stings (CHECK!!)
7.  Find three other active yellow jacket nests (Check)
8.  Move rest of Otter's craft stuff from garage to shelves in her room.

Well, I guess 6 out of 8 isn't too bad.

Except for # 6.  It wasn't a good thing to accomplish.  I don't think Otter much appreciated it, either.  I feel her pain!  Otter was starting on # 4, I knocked down the two dead nests from the lean-to and she was carrying them in the shovel to toss over the fence.  However, wasps are very protective of nests - even if it's not their own, and we think that one from the two active nests that we discovered in the lean to after # 5 was accomplished probably thought it needed to defend the one of the two nests that had lots of (dead) eggs in it**.  I was out in the front yard, I was going to go knock down the two dead nests Bill got last week and trim the remaining tree limblets off the tree I was working on when I was stung, and I heard her yelling repeatedly OWOWOWOWOW all the way from the back - I figured at that point that she'd been stung because she's pretty stoic about pain.  By the time I got inside, she and Bill were in the bathroom and he was checking the sting.  It's on her belly.  No asthma issues!  Just the usual intense, burning pain that makes you want to scream.  She iced it, washed it, took tylenol and used alchohol on it.  She also put a bandaid over it, she was afraid her clothing would rub the spot.  Bill and I checked the area where she was when she got stung, by the back fence, and found two old nests but nothing active.  But then I looked in the lean-to when I was putting the shovel and tree tool up, and that's when I found the two active nests.  They are going to get sprayed this evening.

The third nest?  It's on the front porch.  They are building inside the metal tubes of my windchime!  It's going to get taken care of this evening as well.  But it's going to get a watery grave, it should just fit inside a bucket full of water.  After it's dead, I'll move the dead nests from the front of the house - I don't want to get stung again!

Bees and yellow jackets/wasps are not the same thing, so there is still the possibility that Otter could be allergic to bees.  But, and this is just a guess, I'm thinking that the fact that she didn't react to the wasp sting might be a good sign about that.

# 5 & # 8 on our list will be taken care of later, probably tomorrow.  Otter's had enough of being outside today.

After all the drama, Otter and I went to the dollar store and Wallyworld.  Among other things, we bought cookies at the dollar store.  And a tube of hydrocortisone cream since it's used on bug bites/stings and the ones I have in the first aid kit were out of date many years ago.

Movie review:  John Carter.  It was not as bad as we expected.  It felt very rushed and badly edited, I think that a great deal was left out of the books that might have been needed to explain a few things.  But it was better than we expected.  It was set-up for a sequel at the end, but Disney's already announced that they actually lost money on it and that there won't be any more.

Bill was checking on our eBay stuff while ago.  He might have gotten a "listing confirmation" email from eBay, but somehow he discovered that our eBay account had been hacked.  Someone posted a vehicle, a one day listing that started at 10:50 this morning and would end at midnight tonight.  It was a cash-only or send a money order transaction.  Only thing is, we don't have the vehicle in question and aren't selling anything at the moment!  He canceled it, then he changed the passwork and notified eBay.  Since they stated cash/money order only, he didn't think that PayPal had been hacked (it was before) but he checked it anyway and it looks ok.

I did a little crochet yesterday.  Not much, but I got a couple of rows on my scarf.  I went through my patterns, I'm looking for new projects to destash and also because it's just fun.  I have a few ideas, but nothing is certain yet as far as my next project.

I think Bill's enjoyed his Father's Day.  He got to play with power tools!  Later, we're going to have Digorno's pizzas and Otter is going to bake him a cake.  We will probably also have some of the strawberry cheesecake ice cream pie from his early birthday (yesterday) which is surprisingly not all gone yet.  It won't last long, that's for sure.  And Otter made sure that Pastor Dave knows that Bill's birthday is tomorrow - she announced it to Dave when he was asking what everyone was doing for their dad's for Father's Day.  I think she probably figured that it was a fair thing to do, since he embarassed her one time when she was very young with a birthday announcement in church and she's never forgiven him.  I think that they are even now.  At least for that one. :)

**While it's highly possible that the firedevil thought it was defending a nest, it's also highly possible that the active nest she was standing close to was where it came from.  I was walking the back fence, to see if I could find any nests and I found one that is hidden behind the trellis we have on the back fence for the morning glories.  It's just a few feet from where Otter was standing.  It's going to be gone tonight as well.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there!

My Dad hung the moon.  He was my Hero.

Otter's got a special "Daddyman", too.

Happy Day for Tulsa! (It's BACK!)

Remember this:

Sad Day for Tulsa

Read this:

Oh Happy Day!

The cause of the fire that destroyed the drive-in was never officially determined.  But it was suspected that someone was stealing copper and caused something to short out on the electrical equipment that was between the screens.

I'm just happy that it's been rebuilt.  Not many drive-ins exist anymore, but this one is a very important part of Tulsa's history.  Even though we don't live in Tulsa anymore, we are close enough to be able to be happy about it.  It's now a part of Tulsa's future.  I think that people will support it.

It's a Good Thing.

Thursday Stuff of Varying Degrees of Importance

My head itches where the firedevil stung me.  I'm trying not to scratch!  But I keep finding myself scratching.  It finally quit hurting with the searing pain last night - it didn't quit hurting, it just got better, but it wasn't a pleasant experience to wash my hair a few hours later and combing it out afterward was torture.  I took a couple of motrin when I went to bed.  Also, I'm pretty sure that it was a yellow jacket and not one of the small, brown wasps that we also have.  Not that it makes a difference, I'm sure!

I came home and found two more of the beasties attempting to start a nest on the front porch.  Bill thought he squashed them, but they either came back to life or two more showed up and took their place because they were back at it when I went out again a little later.  Bill got the spray this time, and they are deaddeaddead.

The office telephones needed a tecnhician to come out today, he found a huge nest full of inhabitants while he was working on the outside phone box - they were on the gate this time.  I've lost count of how many we've had at work, but I think we're up over 15 now.  Don't know why they are so bad this year!

Otter's off with HP today.  They went to lunch somewhere and went to the movies this afternoon.  So she doesn't know that there is a strawberry-cheesecake ice cream pie in the freezer.  I'm not going to tell her, either!  (It's for Saturday when we are going to have Bill's birthday since he has to work a b(oring)oard meeting Monday evening and won't be home until who knows when.)

I took my car in for an oil change today.  I got to the Chevy place just after 7:00 this morning.  They had one car ahead of me, so they told me to just wait and promised to be done in time for me to make it to work on time.  They were done in less than 30 minutes and that even included running it through the car wash!  Nice change from the previous place.  Also, it was about $12.00 cheaper.  And the other place wouldn't have washed it, either.

Now, I'm going to go surf the 'net for a while.  Anything to keep from scratching my head!  I will probably crochet later, I'm making caps at the moment with scarf plans for the near future possibly.

I'm On a Mission

To destroy yellow jackets.  All of them.  And I'm going to start with the one that just stung me!

Otter and I were trimming some limblets off of one of the trees in the front.  I had been looking for nests, but didn't see any.  However, when we were almost through - I heard a buzz and felt something sharp & hot on my head - just above my left temple but back a little bit.  And at almost the same second, I saw it fly past me.  I am not allergic.  But that doesn't make it feel any less painful.  I think it was a glancing blow, they seldom shed the stinger and can keep stinging.  I don't think that there was a nest in the tree, but they don't need a reason.  They are very aggressive.

We came in and Bill looked, but can't see any sign of a stinger.  Just a red, slightly inflamed place that was hard to see because of my hair.  I sent Otter to put the tree trimming tool up, it's stored under the lean-to in the back yard.  She came right back in, still holding the tool, to report that there was an active nest under the lean to and that they looked angry - also known as flying around.  Which means that I was actually really close to a nest, but they didn't bother me.  At least not then!  Bill was going to mow, but he's going to put that off until tomorrow.  Tonight, he's killing yellow jackets.  If we still have enough spray left, that is.

The side of my head is a little wet now, from the ice I'm using.  The pain is better, but it is still there.  It's not as widespread, or as hot.

Oh, by the way - there were actually two nests on the front of the house that Bill got the other night.  The one I found by the window, and there was another one under the overhang of the porch cover but it was on the opposite side of a support pole so I didn't see it at first.

Hate those things.

We don't know for sure if Otter is allergic to bees.  Mom was, but I'm not.  However, Otter has a lot of allergies and some of them are ones that Mom had but I don't.  She's been instructed to call 911 if we're not with her and she gets stung.  She is to tell them that it's a bee sting, but that she might possibly be allergic and has asthma.  I'd rather have an unnecessary call to 911 than her not make the call and then get into trouble.  I think that they would understand, but even if they didn't it's a risk worth taking.

Rotel Tomatos Texas Bliss!

Otter and I ventured to Wallyworld today, for groceries.  We discovered something.  Something fun.

It's no secret that we are TEXAN and it's also no secret that we have our own language.  One of our favorite words, as mentioned here many times before is Fixin.  With or without S on the end.  It's kind of our all-purpose word and very few non-TEXAN speakers get it right.  Although we did hear the radio columnist Neal Boortz use it (correctly) the other day.  He's not a TEXAN, but he did go to TEXAS A & M University and I think he's sort of an adopted TEXAN.

Anyway.  There is a point to this.

While we were in Wally, we found this:

They got it right!  The canning plant is in TEXAS, so that might have something to do with it.  But they are owned by a non-TEXAN company.  But they got it right!  Rotel is probably a TEXAS staple, there are other versions of tomatos with chilis (pepper kind of chili) but for most of us, Rotel is the one & only brand.  Although I didn't buy this particular flavor - the "Hot" one had more peppers listed in the ingredients.  But I'll probably try it.

In the meantime, they got it right!  :)

OK, now that I've gotten that out of my system (well, not really), on to other stuff.

I gave the 95-year-old-teenager his cap today.  He was very happy with it.  Then he spent the rest of the day pestering me about nonsense, so I actually got very little done.  But that's ok, he's still really cool and a lot of fun.

I think it's from the movie, Finding Nemo, but there is a catchphrase we seem to use a lot.  "Happy Place" which is used when one of the characters (starfish, I think) has to deal with an unpleasant situation and she tells herself to "find a Happy Place" so that she can think of something pleasant.  It's kind of become a family joke to talk about going to one of our Happy Places.  For example, Otter uses the expression "find a Happy Place" when Bill's teasing one of us.  Today, I realized where my Happy Place is.  It's in the closet.  The one with all the yarn!

Where is your Happy Place?

Unmotivated Sunday

Today's title courtesty of William!

He said he couldn't get motivated today, meaning he doesn't have any desire to go do anything in the garage because it's kind of on the warm side.  Also, he's been busy already - he got to climb around in the attic of the shed and find the shelf unit for Otter's room as well as a deck chair and misc. stuff.  Later, he gets to go kill another yellow jacket nest which I discovered on the front of the house earlier and it's a big one.

The shelf unit was dusty, so we took it out front and Otter hosed it off.  While I was hooking the hose up, I noticed the nest.  It won't be there long.

Anyway.  Otter's room.  She piled everything on top of her bed and ran the vacuum really good.  Then Bill carried in the shelf unit (Thanks Bill!) and she's busily putting all her stuff on it.  We washed her window curtains this morning, since the shelf will be partially blocking her window.  She's kind of cleaning out as she stacks stuff, she's at least discovered one duplicate vhs tape.

I got Bill's green crochet cap finished yesterday.  After I looked at it a little closer, I discovered something else that was making the caps wonky.  The Resident Engineer loves the reason for the problem:  I was following the directions!  And the directions were the problem.  There was one stitch at the start of each row that I'd skipped in the early caps (on purpose) and somewhere in there, I apparently started to include that stitch.  It makes the entire row wrong, it makes too many stitches and that increases the size of the row.  If the increased (extra stitch) is ignored on the next row and doesn't have a stitch made back into it, the row will be uneven.  A stitch made back into it will make the next row bigger and that messes up the shape and fit of the cap.  So, I frogged about about 3 rows on Bill's cap and re-did it without the first stitch.  And it shaped up perfectly.  So, while my tendonitis issues probably did have something to do with it, the main problem was that the pattern itself isn't quite right.  I made another hat yesterday, the 95 year old teenager wants one, and I skipped the first stitch on it as well.  Worked out wonderfully.  The hat for the "teenager" is a variegated brown/tan/white yarn that I also used on one of the pillows I made for the couch.  I used about half of what I had in that shade, as well as about half of a larger ball of the green yarn on Bill's cap.  So I am destashing, it's just not as quickly as I'd like.

I did have somewhat sore arm muscles yesterday after all that crochet, but not that bad.  But I'll probably wait a day or two before I pick up a hook again.  Which won't be easy!

Virginia got her shawl, she was very happy with it.  She said that she gets very cold in church and it's going to get a lot of use.  I'm going to use the one I'm making for myself at church as well.

We went to the dollar store today.  Bill actually wanted to go, but Otter & I were already going to head that direction.  He needed small bungee cords for something on a pachinko project and I just had several things I wanted to get there.  For some reason, I never have a problem finding things to buy at the dollar store!

FROGGY:  DON'T FORGET THE ROCKS!

Thursday Already?

I've noticed something strange lately.  Weeks that are short, such as those with 3-day weekends, seem to creep by.  But full weeks?  They have raced by lately.

Not that I'm complaing!  It's been a crazy week.  And I'm really glad that tomorrow is Friday.  It just seems like it should only be about Wednesday for some reason.

I started crocheting another cap for Bill last night.  I'd made him a 2nd one a while back, it was green.  I made it with the same directions, yarn type, hook, etc. as all the other ones.  But it didn't come out right.  Then I noticed that all the ones after that one were also off.  Shape, mostly but also in size a bit.  Then I realized that my arms had been hurting for a while, and it was probably when the tendonitis was starting.  So, I took a looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong crochet break and then I started to get back into it slowly.  Bill's green hat was either frogged out or donated, I think it was in the donate pile but I don't really remember.  I make a lot of things and then donate them, so that's probably where it went.  Actually, I think I made and remade it two or three times.  There was a point to this, what was it?  Oh yeah!  I started another green hat for him last night.  With the same pattern and yarn size, but with a smaller hook.  The cap pattern calls for a slightly larger hook than my normal one, which is what I made all the rest (good and bad) with.  But I'm using my favorite hook, which is a size G instead of a size H.  I got about halfway through it last night, but then I got busy with dinner and never quite got back to it.  I was planning on getting back on it tonight, but I think I'm going to wait a day or so.  I was very busy at work, and some of it was physically busy - lifting stuff, dragging a trash can that probably weighs more than I do to the curb, etc., and my arms are a little sore.  Along with my back!  So I might not get back to the cap until Saturday.

I also (finally, after months and months of putting it off) got my pattern binder organized.  I have a lot of patterns that I got off the internet, I'm on all sorts of email lists for crochet-related stuff and there are usually lots of patterns with those.  I have patterns that came out of books.  I have patterns that are given away at most stores in the yarn department.  I have patterns I created.  BQ finally decided that enough was enough, and I got it organized last night.  I cleaned out a bunch of duplicates and stuff I either didn't like or had made and wasn't impressed with.  But I still have a very large, 3" I think, plastic binder that is filled to the point of almost being too full.  I have another binder of the same size, it's just waiting until it's needed.  I use plastic sleeves to hold the patterns, most sleeves have two patterns in them.  I had forgotten about a lot of patterns that I had, and now I have all sorts of projects planned.

Now, I just need several days of uninterrupted time and for my tendonitis to cooperate.

68 Years

The Soldier: - By Charles M. Province


It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
If you can read this message thank a teacher,
If you are reading it in English of your own free will THANK A SOLDIER!


It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves under the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
who allows the protester to burn the flag.


To all the brave men and women who have dedicated or given their lives
to protecting this country and it's freedoms:


Thank you.



Remnants

My Dad was my Hero.

Nothing Spectacular Going On Today

Just Tuesday, I guess.  Which is not a bad thing.

Since I put the hummingbird feeders up, Bill's seen the bird once and I haven't seen him at all.  Or her, he's clueless when it comes to hummingbird gender!  But since femals tend to outnumber the males, at least the ones we've usually had, it was possibly a female.

The wrens on the front porch are all gone.  We've been watching them and they have been getting bigger by the minute and they were standing up in the nest this morning.  Mama bird was in the tree beside the porch, and she was chirping her head off.  When I was getting in the car, I saw her swoop back to the nest and keep going - chirping all the while.  I was pretty sure that she was calling them out for flying lessons, and apparently she was because they are all gone this afternoon.  I'll wait awhile before I clean the nest out.  That's two families of birds on our porch this year, the first was a robin and was actually underneath the overhang on the opposite side of a pole from the nest in the planter that the wren seems to like.

In 3 weeks, we'll be on vacation!  This is the stay at home vacation that we really need.  Otter probably only has class on the Monday of the week, then the rest of the week is free time for her as well.  Other than going to the zoo, if the weather is cooperative that is, we don't have any big plans.  We are going to tackle the doll house refurbish, though.  It's been sitting on my workbench for about a year, since I haven't had any big craft projects that required the use of the workbench it hasn't been a problem.  But I'm wanting to get it done and so is Otter.  We were originally going to work on it last year when we had our summer vacation, but that is when it got so unmentionable hot and we put it off until our December vacation.  But the December vacation became a trip to TEXAS, so it didn't get done then either.  We're going to get it done, or at least as much as we can, even if we have to bring it inside the house and chase Bill & the pachinko machines out of the way!  Actually, I don't think it's going to take forever, we should be able to get it done in a week and still have time to spare.  It's not like when we (ok, Bill) built the thing!

I have a load of laundry going at the moment.  From the sounds, I'd say that somebody had a coin in their pocket and it's rattling around the dryer.  Rule is, anything not removed from pockets before I wash the clothing becomes mine - especially if it's money!  I do check the pockets, but I might have missed something this time.

Otter's very much her parents daughter, so that means that she is a crafter.  Her room is a nice size for her, but she doesn't have much in the way of storage space.  What she does have is an exploding craft/fabric/sewing/etc. stash and no place to put it.  We have plastic shelf units in the office closet, one is holding my misc. stuff as well as the overflow yarn (lot of that!) and some stuff such as our emergency supplies (necessary when you live in Tornado Alley).  Bill's shelf unit is on the opposite side of the closet and has computer stuff, his shipping supplies, junk (he has a lot of that).  There are two or three other shelf units that are in the shed, they were used in the garage and also in the old house to hold our eBay inventory.  I got to thinking about the extra shelves and the fact that Otter needs something in the way of storage.  I measured the shelf unit that's in the closet, then met her in her room and we had a brainstorm.  Upshot is, Bill's getting one of the shelf units out of the shed on Sunday if not before, and it's going into Otter's room.  It will probably block a short part of her window, but not that much.  She's probably going to have to move a couple of things around, but it should work well for her needs.  She's mostly glad she'll be able to get her stuff up off of the floor.  The Borg Queen approves, by the way - BQ hates clutter. :)

I haven't crocheted this week.  My arms are a little sore, after moving stuff around at work and cleaning out old stuff.  I've made a lot of headway, but I still have a lot left to do.  The tendonitis is a lot better, it is never going to go away completely, but when I do stuff like shift files around it tends to act up a bit.  I'm not sure if I'm going to do any more de-cluttering/cleaning out, etc. or not this week at work.  It depends - it's not a busy office and I have a lot of down time.  I hate to be bored almost as much as I hate clutter!  The boys have learned to just stay out of my way, although 95-year-old-teenager has moments when he thinks he needs to help me.  He was in a much better mood today, no political arguments!

Frasier is a wuss.  He is seriously afraid of the electronic fly swatter that Bill has.  He usually will go outside or into the other part of the room when he sees it.  This morning, we had two stupid flies to deal with while we were at the table eating breakfast.  Bill grabbed the fly swatter and the dog saw it.  Frasier was going to go outside, but Bill (and the swatter) were between him and the door.  So, he tried to go around the other side of the table which is where I was sitting.  I grabbed his collar and he buried his face in my lap.  Then, as soon as Bill electrocuted the fly (which bounced, of all things!), I let go and Frasier more or less flew out the dog door.  He didn't come back in, about an hour later I had to go physically bring him back inside and then I had to block the dog door to keep him inside!  I opened it up before I left for work, he ran back outside and Otter said that he stayed out for a long time.  When I had to go get him, he was in the lean-to like he was hiding.

Maggie Moo was the opposite, she was crazy this morning and wanted to play.  Which we did, until I got tired of it but she would have been content to run in circles for hours.  She eventually wound down, and then I think she spent the next several hours napping.  Which is normal for her!