First Load

I wish I could explain the ambivalence I felt when hanging out my first load of wash in my own back yard on my own, personally constructed clothesline. Lots of memories of childhood when I did this as a regular thing. Lots of frustration because clothespins just ain't what they used to be. Some doubt about committing myself to this way of life, but reminding myself that the sheets will be nice and unwrinkled coming off the line, I would be saving money and I liked the way they looked. I hoped I would like the way they felt. It was a remarkably warm day for this time of year I heard. There was a breeze and the clothes billowed toward the fence. I hoped the dog next door did not attack when the sheet blew over the fence.

My dilemma is whether or not to use my "collectible" clothespins or not. I guess I would feel more connected to my labors if I had real satisfaction in pinning the clothes up so they would stay instead of being frustrated with cheapy clothespins that exploded off the line as I tried to secure a pair of socks or pants. I even have a wonderful, old clothespin bag that I can put on the line. I just want to keep it in good repair. This must seem so trivial to my readers - unless they are old enough to relate to the feelings that come with gathering these fresh smelling clothes into your arms and running inside before it starts to rain. Or, folding each piece as it comes off the line so there are absolutely no piles gathered in the house. It's a different life. I think I'm going to like it. Have a great laundry day!

Progress is slow but progress nonetheless

Learning about chain link fences was my task on yesterday. They look hard, but as with everything in life, if you break it down into manageable parts, it can be conquered. The fence with which we were left, I found on close examination, was being held up by bag ties and rope. So, I bought fence ties - short aluminum pieces that can be wrapped through the top of the fence around the rail and through the fence again. It took awhile but my husband pronounces the fence as "looking better". Then I tackled the sagging gate. Find the right wrench and you have it made - if you can find bricks to hold up the gate while you loosen the parts, bang on them with a hammer to get them in the right position and then tighten them again at the right level. I will say that on Sunday I eliminated one piece of rope holding up the fence by our back gate and today made things right with the front gate. It was dragging on the ground but now swings freely. However, I learned that some things take two hands, so I have one piece of fence that will keep the next door dog in her yard until I get help.

I admit the fence was rather unsightly - but never believed the next door neighbor, who rents from her father, would have the nerve to come out while I was working on it and say "I was going to talk to you about that to see if you could do something about it." I told her that what she sees is what she gets - that my tax bill was so enormous that I was lucky to afford the fence ties. I had gotten a clue to her feelings when her husband had said she was talking about a "privacy fence" before we moved in. I will be happy for the happy renters to construct one for themselves - then I will have privacy. I did not work on the fence for her - I worked on it for ME. I still have some work to do but this body can tolerate only so much.

We got several quotes on having junk hauled away - ranging from 325 - almost 500 dollars. After turning down the bid left by 1-800-got-junk we got a call from them (I think) saying they would do it for $300. I believe that is more reasonable and they are coming on Friday. Just think, I will have bare floor to walk on in my room above the garage. Now I can prime the steps and get them painted and I will have the beginnings of my CREATIVE CENTRUM! Next is getting the garage wired and insulated and walls put up, painted, etc., and I can start moving stuff out of the house. I'm hoping the wireless will make it through the walls. JOY

I am studying for the Spelling Bee. I learned that there is a National Spelling Bee in Cheyenne, Wyoming in May. Actually there are a lot of people who take this very seriously and the winning word last year was "bharal". I have lists of words. I think my advantage is having lived and eaten in many countries, planted many varieties of flowers, and having worked in the medical field. So many of the words fall into categories of food, plants and body parts or functions, or the medicines to fix diseases. I have words for which I need to find definitions, but can't find my unabridged dictionary. I am going to have to look them up online or go to the Library. But the Library doesn't allow coffee inside, so I guess I am going to have to opt for the computer at home. Do you know the definition for "philippic"? Or for whinge, kakemono or cred? Easy to spell if they can be defined or pronounced. I'm on it.

Not flying girl

I could have gone to fly today but I chose not to. I am 1) recuperating from the construction of the compost bin, 2) too blitzed from not enough sleep, and 3) watching the Master's. Since it is the first tournament of the golf season I will be able to follow the players for the rest of the season better. I am not a golfer. I am, however, a fan of those who are good at it. I don't much care for anyone else who plays. It is an emotional sport to watch and I'm sure, to play. So much history, and it is so international in nature. Speaking of nature, the winds are gusting to 30 mph at Augusta, and providing a challenge beyond what is already a tense day of play. But enough about that.

I was out late last night after retrieving my husband from the airport. Usually I just drive around until he appears at the curb, but last night I parked and went into our "international airport." His bag was lost between Boston and Chicago, so it got later and later. Then I still couldn't sleep. So I was up at 4:30 a.m. reading and trying to nap after I finished my latest book. It is by John Dunning, called 2 o'clock eastern wartime. Dunning wrote the Bookman's Wake and Booked to Die, two books I enjoyed very much and learned so much while reading about first editions, etc. Well worth reading. This latest book is not an easy read, but worth sticking with. It is about radio in 1942, with a murder or two thrown in. Intriguing.

The compost bin was a lesson. I got pallets from Ace Hardware and l-brackets that were too short and screws that were too long. It is cobbled together and standing tall, however. If I write an eHow article about it it will be how not to build a compost bin. I believe it will work just fine, especially since I sat outside and cut a pile of old vines I had pulled into 3-4 inch pieces to use as a base. It seems one must have a base of little canes like that so there is good drainage down and an easy path for the little critters to crawl up from the ground. I have some stuff to pour in - microbes and such, that will help get it started. That will be tomorrow.

We will have the Mantis tiller all serviced and ready to roll tomorrow as well, and I bought an electric lawn mower online this morning and picked it up at Lowe's. I bought hostas for under my big tree by the back door (where the laundry was supposed to go) and will plant green and white caladiums in two wooden planters I already have. A plan is coming together. So, I have direction for the week. Call the "Got junk?" people and get quotes and have the upstairs room over the garage and basement cleaned out. The the domino effect can happen. The cabinet is painted - not totally to my satisfaction. It will be a galloping horse. As soon as it is really dry I can rearrange my breakfast room. Check-a-marka. Have a great day.

Love thy Neighbor

Today I have reason to love my neighbor. While outside I noticed my neighbor hauling stuff in his wheelbarrow, so asked what he was doing. He had a load of mulch that he and his son were hauling and spreading. I asked if I could borrow a file so I could sharpen my spade and post-hole digger as I was digging holes for my new clothesline posts. He found 3 for me then asked if I wanted help. God bless him! He came over later and started to deepen the holes I had started. Well, there were a lot of roots, so he requested a shovel. We went into the garage and got one, then he said "Are you sure you want to put that clothesline there? The trees are going to drip sap all over your clothes and the birds are going to poop on them." I gave it some brief consideration and changed my mind. So he dug new holes over by his fence. I planted my new rhododrendons in the other holes. Ouila! He also helped me pull down my chain link fence out by my garden. As we worked I told him I had pulled a vine out of his redbud tree. He told me that that was a grape vine. He had cut it back. But - yeah, I have a grape vine. I will make it a house. What a gift!

Later the two guys from yesterday showed up and sawed the new 4x4 then cut the slot in it for the posts. They were marvelous. Then yours truly drilled all the holes and put in all the bolts and screw eyes, hauled them to the holes, hauled the two 50# bags of quickset concrete, set up the posts, made sure they were plumb, poured in the concrete (you don't even have to add water - it absorbs it from the ground. It started to rain and I almost collapsed. My feet are killing me. I have been doing hard labor most of the day. But I have two clothesline posts in the ground. Tomorrow I will string the line. I am saving the sheets to wash until tomorrow so I can hang them out. Yes, I will include a picture.

I did bake cookies for the two neighbor guys and had them ready. I was so glad I did that last night. The house is clean, the bed is made - but, I may never make it up there. God, I love my neighbors. They really make things happen.

New Laundry Friends

I have a neighbor, and his friend. They are the guys that pick up leaves around the Borough and do other general maintenance. I have been consulting with Buddy about constructing my new clothesline. Finally settled on two 4x4 posts and 2x4 cross pieces. The plan was to cut slots in the 4x4 and bolt the 2x4 into it. Today we were just joshin' around when I was unloading groceries and ended up with the friend cutting my 4x4's for me. Only he had a different vision of what I needed. I will now have 4x4 cross pieces. I will now go buy a new 4x4 for him to cut tomorrow when he gets off work. I have now returned my too short hardware and have new hardware for the clothesline that he says will never go anywhere. It will be humongous.

It is almost impossible to find the old metal pipe clothesline poles like we had when I was a kid. They asked me how many lines I planned to put up - 3 or 4. Well, 3 will do as I will not be hanging clothes out for a family of nine as I used to do when I was a teenager. I also won't be ironing a bushel of clothes everyday after school as I used to. I think I have the hardware for 4 lines. Maybe this thing will live into posterity. It is going to be right outside my back door. I ain't haulin' baskets of laundry to the back 40. One reason is it would probably get stolen because it would be hidden by the garage. I've already lost a baker's rack, wire shelf, and room dividers off my front porch. There are thieves here. I'm not in the greatest neighborhood I guess. But, being a stranger in town what did I know? So my laundry is going right outside the back door.

I told Buddy about my laundry pictures. His laundry was proudly hung in his backyard. He always hangs it out, except for socks and towels in the winter. I will take a picture of it as my "Dillsburg Laundry" picture. His nice friend is coming over tomorrow to finish the carpentry. I just have to get the 18-24" deep holes dug for the concrete. Have to go below the frostline you know. Don't I sound like a pro? Progress report to come.

Emotional Attachment to T-shirts

Is there anyone else out there that is having a hard time giving up their T-shirts? I have an entire under-bed storage container full of them. In the past I have worn them in the summertime to sweat in, do yard work, paint, show off my travels (I told you I liked attention and am full of pride) and sleep. I have narrowed my sleep shirts to two, plus bonafide night wear. One is a "one size fits all" shirt from Tirenia, Italy and the other is a sleep T from a visit to the American Museum of Art. It has pictures of First Lady Inauguration gowns on it. Comfy and it covers my bottom. So, where do I go from here. If I get the Spelling Bee Tee what do I do with it?

At one time I began cutting out the picture on the front of the tee and making a place mat out of it. I got to two. I have drawers full of place mats. Who wants to eat off of my old T shirts anyway? Some of them may be collectible, but who would want to collect them? When I mentioned that I had a KU championship T shirt from 1988 one person said "I'll bet that is a collector's item." Just when I was ready to give it up this comes up. I have used it to paint in, in the past. Now, as to the painting issue. If I don't paint in the T shirts, how do I keep from getting paint on my good clothes? I was painting my cabinet the other night in a long-sleeved mock turtle T and got paint on the sleeve. I was soaked to the elbow by the time I got the paint out. Do I modify my no T shirt policy to include painting? And which ones do I keep for that purpose?


Next dilemma. If I donate my T shirts to the local Methodist Thrift Shop am I going to see someone walking around town in my St. Louis Museum of Art Piccaso T shirt? I will know that that person hasn't been within a thousand miles of St. Louis and would never have been to that exhibition because they are too young. I got that T shirt when my husband and I went there for our anniversary celebration. It's a memory. They are all memories. How do we shelve our memories? Getting the shirts out and looking at them bring memories flooding back. What if I get Altzheimer's disease? Won't I need something to remind me of who I am?

I believe these are issues for many people, not just me. I think that is why we Americans have to rent storage units in which to keep our excess possessions. Wasn't it easier when there were work clothes, school clothes and church clothes, and NOTHING ELSE? I'll wait for some responses from my erudite readers before I continue in this vein. Now I know why my father would never allow me to complain that I had a headache. It was just too personal and inconvenient. OIWIWAOMW

Pea and the Bee

Well, my team won! KU is the champion school. I remember when I sat in the fieldhouse, stomping my feet and yelling Rock Chalk Jayhawk KU. It is eerie to hear. I didn't hear it at any of the NCAA games, but there were references to the Rock Chalk Jayhawks.

Tuesday, 10:00 and I go to the Senior Center Spelling Bee for York County, Pennsylvania. There are seven contestants and 157 words later I am the winner. Now I have to compete on May 6 at Penn State in York. What a hoot. I had some real time conflicts for that day and when I talked to a couple of the other members one said "it's only for a T-shirt." Well, that is an interesting perspective. Since I have sworn off wearing T-shirts I had to pause a moment and think. It's not about winning a T-shirt. It is about pride. I admit it. I am proud of my spelling skills. Probably too proud and I do brag. I like attention. So, I will go to the Spelling Bee in York. And, if I win, I will wear the T-shirt and will compete, and if I win I will brag. Who will it hurt? It is funny I think.

On my to do list, the cabinet is about half-finished. The trim paint I am using will cover well with two coats, and I am not quite through with one. The trash and recycling got out, I got the new shower curtain and liner up, bought some new towels. I'll check the list again, but I did slack off a bit today.

When I Googled for OIWIWAOMW I came up with other blogs with that label. I guess I am not the only weiner fan. Wonder about those other people. Pea

My KU

I can't believe I am sitting here watching a basketball game but I wouldn't miss KU at the NCAA Championships for anything. Just like I wouldn't miss watching the Master's next week. I'm not excited just fixated. I keep missing good shots because I was setting up this blog. This is as good a place to start as any because my musings are to include my past. In this case graduation from the University of Kansas in 1965. I attended one KU basketball game during that time. I just didn't know how to get a ticket I guess. I loved it but I was so inexperienced and naive that I couldn't do something so simple. I was truly in another world. My life was pretty predictable then - eat, sleep, study, work. It lead to a career which is now for all intents and purposes over. That is a pretty profound statement - but I did say that it was about the past, present and future. Yea! A field goal and KU leads 43 to 40. It is so close. They are so good - both Memphis and KU.

I have a chore list this week and I will be checking things off every day. You can see how stimulating being retired is. Tomorrow's big event is competing in a spelling bee at the Senior Center across the street. I always wanted to be in a spelling bee. "Makela and the Bee" inspired me. I watched it while in Panama visiting my sister. Now I have to put my money where my mouth is. Then the list includes buying a new shower curtain, paper towels and potting soil. I have coupons and am trying to take advantage of discounts when they are available. I need a clear shower curtain as my tub enclosure and shower are very dark - can't find the soap in there.

When I get back home I will continue to paint a cabinet for my breakfast room. I should be finished on Wednesday and then will put my breakfast room back together. May not mean much to you but it will to me. I also hope to collect all of the chain link fence parts laying around the yard and garage. I hope to find enough to either re-construct the fence myself or have someone come in to do it. It's not functional at this time.

I also want to finish digging the holes for my clothesline poles, assemble the 2X4's and 4X4's and drill the holes for all of the bolts and screw eyes. I guess I should write an article for www.eHow.com about this. I'm pretty committed to using sunshine to dry clothes whenever possible. Maybe someone else out there wants to do the same thing. I will wait for my husband to be home next Sunday to put the posts in the ground since it involves carrying 50 lb. bags of quick set concrete around. 47 to 51 - bummer. Then I will string the clotheslines. But that is on next week's list. I think this is enough for now. Have a good day, night, week.