Oh well.... I think I'm getting used to workers not showing up and not even calling to say they're not going to show up. The tree guy of yesterday was supposed to call me this morning and let me know what time he'd come by this afternoon to finish yesterday's job.
I waited till one o'clock, and then called B to ask if he knew about when he'd be here. He told me he had a problem.... his partner got hurt on this morning's job.... they were getting that taken care of.... he wouldn't be by today, but could he 'swing by' tomorrow? ("Swing by?" What is this? A circus?)
I told him that tomorrow wouldn't be a good day for tree work. (Translation: I'm busy most of the day tomorrow and I won't have time to watch what he's doing.) I asked the tree guy for his next free day..... and he said Wednesday of next week. Fine.
He apologized for not calling me sooner this morning to let me know he wouldn't be here. (In my head, I was saying "Yada, yada, yada...) I told him that I hoped his partner was okay, and I was silently wondering if his partner didn't wear gloves either when cutting down a mesquite tree (big thorns on those trees) and maybe the partner didn't wear safety glasses either when all the sawdust comes raining down from the cut limbs.
The tree guy asked if I would just leave his wheel-barrow in the corner of the yard where he left it last night, and I said fine. (Translation: If you don't show up on Wednesday, I will spray-paint that wheel-barrow bright pink, sprinkle it with glitter, and then roll it out into the middle of the main highway so you won't have to drive all the way back into the hills to pick it up.)
Honestly, I could just scream.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
The tree guy...
Wonder of wonders, the tree guy who told me last week that he'd be here today... showed up. Not only did he show up on time, but he called me this morning to tell me that he'd be here this afternoon, and then he called this afternoon to tell me that he was on his way. Be still, my heart.
After all the warm and sunny days we had, today's weather was totally stupid.... cold and windy and rainy, and the perfect excuse for the tree guy to cancel, but he didn't. His helper, however, didn't want to work today because of the weather, so the tree guy was on his own. He managed to cut off the dead part of the mesquite tree out in the back, which was hanging over the deck..... not an easy job because mesquite is such a heavy wood to begin with, and he had to cut it off in small sections so he wouldn't damage the deck..... plus he positioned a wheel-barrow underneath where he was cutting, and every blessed piece he sawed off ended up right in the wheel-barrow. He kept saying how beautiful the tree was, and he was wondering how much history the tree had witnessed in its nearly 200 years in that spot.
With all the sawing and cutting he was doing out there, I noticed that the tree buy wasn't wearing gloves or safety-glasses. I asked him if he wanted to borrow a pair of work gloves, but he told me that he's never worn gloves in his entire life. When I suggested that he may want to invest in a pair of safety glasses to protect his eyes, he told me that he's been cutting trees all his life and hadn't had a problem before. (I'm guessing his age to be about 30.)
This tree guy B happens to know the handyman we used to have working here.... and B is now working from time to time when handyman W needs some extra help. I guess my friend J was right when she said that 'everybody knows everybody else in these small towns.'
B will be back again tomorrow, to trim some of the other trees that need attention. He has another job scheduled in the morning, and he told me that he'd call me when that first job was done so I'd know about what time to expect him here. I asked B if he did handyman-type of work other than trees, and he said he did 'a little of this, a little of that, but mostly trees and landscaping.' When I asked him about painting, he said he wasn't much into paint and he tends to get messy with it, so I thanked him for being honest about that.
Oh well..... I haven't found a handyman, but I did find a reliable guy to cut and trim the trees.
After all the warm and sunny days we had, today's weather was totally stupid.... cold and windy and rainy, and the perfect excuse for the tree guy to cancel, but he didn't. His helper, however, didn't want to work today because of the weather, so the tree guy was on his own. He managed to cut off the dead part of the mesquite tree out in the back, which was hanging over the deck..... not an easy job because mesquite is such a heavy wood to begin with, and he had to cut it off in small sections so he wouldn't damage the deck..... plus he positioned a wheel-barrow underneath where he was cutting, and every blessed piece he sawed off ended up right in the wheel-barrow. He kept saying how beautiful the tree was, and he was wondering how much history the tree had witnessed in its nearly 200 years in that spot.
With all the sawing and cutting he was doing out there, I noticed that the tree buy wasn't wearing gloves or safety-glasses. I asked him if he wanted to borrow a pair of work gloves, but he told me that he's never worn gloves in his entire life. When I suggested that he may want to invest in a pair of safety glasses to protect his eyes, he told me that he's been cutting trees all his life and hadn't had a problem before. (I'm guessing his age to be about 30.)
This tree guy B happens to know the handyman we used to have working here.... and B is now working from time to time when handyman W needs some extra help. I guess my friend J was right when she said that 'everybody knows everybody else in these small towns.'
B will be back again tomorrow, to trim some of the other trees that need attention. He has another job scheduled in the morning, and he told me that he'd call me when that first job was done so I'd know about what time to expect him here. I asked B if he did handyman-type of work other than trees, and he said he did 'a little of this, a little of that, but mostly trees and landscaping.' When I asked him about painting, he said he wasn't much into paint and he tends to get messy with it, so I thanked him for being honest about that.
Oh well..... I haven't found a handyman, but I did find a reliable guy to cut and trim the trees.
Monday, February 24, 2014
The barn swallows are back.
Those two little barn swallows that sat up in the nest by the back steps of the porch are back again for another season. Last Spring and Summer, those two birds watched me go up and down the steps, back and forth on the porch, and they didn't fly away from their nest as I got close to it. They perched at the edge of that nest and just watched me, with that one-eyed tilt of their cute little heads, watching every step I took.
Well, they're back.... and I'm sure it's the same two birds because they're not flying out of the nest when they see me... both of them tilt their heads to the side and watch me coming and going. And they're not even flying away when Mickey and Gatsby go near those steps under their nest..... just like last year, the little birds look down at the cats and just sit quietly and watch. Just amazing. How in the world do they find this house tucked into the hills after being away from it for so many months? Little birdie-GPS systems?
I'm wishing I could put a kitty-GPS collar on that orange/white cat..... and give him directions to the local shelter so I won't have to take him there. This cat is getting me just a little bit nuts these days. He clearly knows I'm up to something because he sees that cat-crate on the porch and he won't go near it, no matter what kind of cat food I put into it. (Not even a can of Fancy Feast tempted him last night.)
I've found two dead birds near the house, and I'm sure that was the work of the orange/white stray. Gatsby isn't interested in chasing after anything he wouldn't eat, and if Mickey had killed the birds, he would have brought them up to the porch. Mickey's isn't exactly an experienced hunter anyway, except with lizards. The orange cat has also become very vocal......... meowing his way onto the porch every night, as if announcing to the world that he has arrived at 'his' home.
I am determined to bring that orange/white cat to the shelter...... enough already with feeding Fancy Feast and Meow Mix to this cat who has taken over the porch at night, to the point that Gatsby hides in a corner and doesn't even try chasing him away anymore. Gatsby never wastes an ounce of energy unless it's a sure thing.
Well, they're back.... and I'm sure it's the same two birds because they're not flying out of the nest when they see me... both of them tilt their heads to the side and watch me coming and going. And they're not even flying away when Mickey and Gatsby go near those steps under their nest..... just like last year, the little birds look down at the cats and just sit quietly and watch. Just amazing. How in the world do they find this house tucked into the hills after being away from it for so many months? Little birdie-GPS systems?
I'm wishing I could put a kitty-GPS collar on that orange/white cat..... and give him directions to the local shelter so I won't have to take him there. This cat is getting me just a little bit nuts these days. He clearly knows I'm up to something because he sees that cat-crate on the porch and he won't go near it, no matter what kind of cat food I put into it. (Not even a can of Fancy Feast tempted him last night.)
I've found two dead birds near the house, and I'm sure that was the work of the orange/white stray. Gatsby isn't interested in chasing after anything he wouldn't eat, and if Mickey had killed the birds, he would have brought them up to the porch. Mickey's isn't exactly an experienced hunter anyway, except with lizards. The orange cat has also become very vocal......... meowing his way onto the porch every night, as if announcing to the world that he has arrived at 'his' home.
I am determined to bring that orange/white cat to the shelter...... enough already with feeding Fancy Feast and Meow Mix to this cat who has taken over the porch at night, to the point that Gatsby hides in a corner and doesn't even try chasing him away anymore. Gatsby never wastes an ounce of energy unless it's a sure thing.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Sunday morning sounds...
The birds are singing in our pecan trees, the baby goats across the road are calling for the mama goats, and the riding lawn mower is chugging away with my husband in its seat. Spring has finally begun.
I've been out there this morning with the small mower, cutting the grass in the middle of the courtyard behind the garage, and the lawn between the coop and the guest cottage. Both of those places always have the tallest grass, and without the chickens around to scratch up the lawns there, that grass never stops growing.
We used to have a lawn service out here to take care of the property around the house and the cottage, but then my husband got the idea to buy a riding mower. We both went shopping for it, and I told my husband that if he got a mower that I could manage well enough, I'd help him with the mowing. I thought it would be fun. (Not.) I didn't realize that every bit of dust and grass that gets kicked up by the mower ends up on your face and your eyelashes. I guess it would have been better if I hadn't put on make-up before going out there to cut the grass. (Not going to happen.)
My husband seems happy enough on the riding mower. It's a mindless job, like vacuuming carpet. Up and down, back and forth, repeat, repeat, repeat.
The weather has been very warm.... nice and sunny with a few clouds tossed in here and there. Next weekend is Mardi Gras on Galveston Island. We used to drive to Galveston when we lived in Clear Lake..... "Dickens On the Strand" in December, Mardi Gras parades in the Spring, surf-fishing in the summer.... going to Galveston was like a mini vacation. We would see all the tourists in the shops and along The Strand, and we'd think how lucky we were to be living within driving distance of a tourist destination.
Oh well. The town we live in is also a tourist destination, but it's not surrounded by the ocean. We don't hear the seagulls and the waves breaking along the Gulf. We do, however, hear the thrumming engines of lawn mowers and tractors day in and day out.
I've been out there this morning with the small mower, cutting the grass in the middle of the courtyard behind the garage, and the lawn between the coop and the guest cottage. Both of those places always have the tallest grass, and without the chickens around to scratch up the lawns there, that grass never stops growing.
We used to have a lawn service out here to take care of the property around the house and the cottage, but then my husband got the idea to buy a riding mower. We both went shopping for it, and I told my husband that if he got a mower that I could manage well enough, I'd help him with the mowing. I thought it would be fun. (Not.) I didn't realize that every bit of dust and grass that gets kicked up by the mower ends up on your face and your eyelashes. I guess it would have been better if I hadn't put on make-up before going out there to cut the grass. (Not going to happen.)
My husband seems happy enough on the riding mower. It's a mindless job, like vacuuming carpet. Up and down, back and forth, repeat, repeat, repeat.
The weather has been very warm.... nice and sunny with a few clouds tossed in here and there. Next weekend is Mardi Gras on Galveston Island. We used to drive to Galveston when we lived in Clear Lake..... "Dickens On the Strand" in December, Mardi Gras parades in the Spring, surf-fishing in the summer.... going to Galveston was like a mini vacation. We would see all the tourists in the shops and along The Strand, and we'd think how lucky we were to be living within driving distance of a tourist destination.
Oh well. The town we live in is also a tourist destination, but it's not surrounded by the ocean. We don't hear the seagulls and the waves breaking along the Gulf. We do, however, hear the thrumming engines of lawn mowers and tractors day in and day out.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
"If God is a cat...."
".... then you've got it made."
That's what my dad used to tell me when he saw how I took care of our cats.
The orange/white stray is not only back on our porch, but making himself quite at home here. He has chosen us, but I certainly have not chosen him. The orange/white (I refuse to give him a name) has made friends with Mickey, who no longer chases the stray off the porch. They sit there and look at one another. (Creamsicle would be a perfect name for the stray... he looks like those Good Humor ice cream bars with vanilla on the inside and orange on the outside.)
Mickey doesn't seem to mind when the orange/white eats the Meow Mix from the bowl on the porch, although Gatsby growls under his breath the whole time. The orange/white has also walked into the garage for a look-see, but quickly came out again when he discovered that Gatsby was in there.
My husband and I have been trying to get very friendly and close to that stray, because I truly want to get him into the crate and off to the shelter so he can find a new home. As soon as the stray sees that crate on the porch, though, he tends to keep his distance. My guess is that someone had captured him in a crate or a catch-release trap before, which is probably how he ended up here in the first place.
This orange/white is definitely a male, and an un-fixed one at that... he has already left his mark on the back screen door many times, and I'm tired of cleaning up his territorial markings. The stray cat may like it here, but I don't like that he's here. Two outside cats is more than enough, and I don't want to be adding to the cat-zoo on this property.
And Spring has finally, officially begun in the Hill Country.... the bluebonnet seedlings are popping up out of the ground, and people have started to sell puppies in the WalMart parking lot. I'll have to wear blinders when I drive into WalMart now.
That's what my dad used to tell me when he saw how I took care of our cats.
The orange/white stray is not only back on our porch, but making himself quite at home here. He has chosen us, but I certainly have not chosen him. The orange/white (I refuse to give him a name) has made friends with Mickey, who no longer chases the stray off the porch. They sit there and look at one another. (Creamsicle would be a perfect name for the stray... he looks like those Good Humor ice cream bars with vanilla on the inside and orange on the outside.)
Mickey doesn't seem to mind when the orange/white eats the Meow Mix from the bowl on the porch, although Gatsby growls under his breath the whole time. The orange/white has also walked into the garage for a look-see, but quickly came out again when he discovered that Gatsby was in there.
My husband and I have been trying to get very friendly and close to that stray, because I truly want to get him into the crate and off to the shelter so he can find a new home. As soon as the stray sees that crate on the porch, though, he tends to keep his distance. My guess is that someone had captured him in a crate or a catch-release trap before, which is probably how he ended up here in the first place.
This orange/white is definitely a male, and an un-fixed one at that... he has already left his mark on the back screen door many times, and I'm tired of cleaning up his territorial markings. The stray cat may like it here, but I don't like that he's here. Two outside cats is more than enough, and I don't want to be adding to the cat-zoo on this property.
And Spring has finally, officially begun in the Hill Country.... the bluebonnet seedlings are popping up out of the ground, and people have started to sell puppies in the WalMart parking lot. I'll have to wear blinders when I drive into WalMart now.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
My kingdom for a tree guy....
I feel like Charlie Brown with the football...... Lucy is holding that ball and promising not to pull it away just as poor Charlie Brown goes to kick it... but she does that each and every time, and Charlie Brown falls flat on his back and looks up at the sky.
So there I was this morning, calling up yet another tree guy... who told me he'd be here this afternoon... and wonder of wonders, he was. Not only did he show up, but he called back to let me know that he'd be here half an hour later than he promised. (Is there a god after all?)
This particular tree guy seemed impressed with the mesquite tree that needs some serious trimming. He estimated the age of our tree to be close to 200 years old. He was hoping we didn't want the entire tree removed (we don't) and he let me know that mesquite wood is very hard and would most likely ruin the blade on his chain saw (translation: more money). He walked all around the tree, showed me where part of the trunk would have to be cut, and asked me if I needed him to haul away the wood or did I want to save the wood for a barbeque pit. He told me that I could probably sell the wood and get at least one hundred dollars for all the cuttings. When I asked him if he would just take the wood away and charge me a hundred dollars less for the work, he didn't seem to want to do that. (Translation: he wants cash, not firewood.)
On the plus side, today's tree guy showed up, and he spoke English, and he didn't seem to want a king's ransom for the work. Not only that, but he told me that he would trim all the big pecan trees as well, and not charge anything extra. He said he couldn't take care of the trees till a week from today, and he shook my hand and gave me his word he'd be here next Wednesday without fail.
"Come on, Charlie Brown.... kick the football....."
So there I was this morning, calling up yet another tree guy... who told me he'd be here this afternoon... and wonder of wonders, he was. Not only did he show up, but he called back to let me know that he'd be here half an hour later than he promised. (Is there a god after all?)
This particular tree guy seemed impressed with the mesquite tree that needs some serious trimming. He estimated the age of our tree to be close to 200 years old. He was hoping we didn't want the entire tree removed (we don't) and he let me know that mesquite wood is very hard and would most likely ruin the blade on his chain saw (translation: more money). He walked all around the tree, showed me where part of the trunk would have to be cut, and asked me if I needed him to haul away the wood or did I want to save the wood for a barbeque pit. He told me that I could probably sell the wood and get at least one hundred dollars for all the cuttings. When I asked him if he would just take the wood away and charge me a hundred dollars less for the work, he didn't seem to want to do that. (Translation: he wants cash, not firewood.)
On the plus side, today's tree guy showed up, and he spoke English, and he didn't seem to want a king's ransom for the work. Not only that, but he told me that he would trim all the big pecan trees as well, and not charge anything extra. He said he couldn't take care of the trees till a week from today, and he shook my hand and gave me his word he'd be here next Wednesday without fail.
"Come on, Charlie Brown.... kick the football....."
Monday, February 17, 2014
Handyman/schmandyman!
Give me a blessed break. Isn't there anyone in this town who wants to get paid for doing handyman work?!?! I had called this latest guy last week, arranged for him to be here at nine o'clock this morning, and as I type, it's now after 10. I had even asked this man to give me a time that was convenient for him, for goodness sake! Even when you ask them to make their own hours, they stand you up! I have a to-do list a mile long.... enough to keep a good worker busy for a decent amount of time... it's not like I'm asking someone to drive out here to pick up a couple of sticks, for goodness sakes.
Honestly, we were spoiled in the beginning with Wayland, who was here early in the morning and did a good day's work for a good day's pay. I miss those days, but Wayland is off doing bigger and better things now and even he hasn't called us back lately. I had asked him if he wanted to work when his other jobs slowed down......... "Why sure," said he. "I will call y'all when I have a free day." Well, he's had lots of free days, but my phone isn't exactly ringing off the hook.
Only in the country, I swear....... you couldn't get away with this type of nonsense in a big city, because the competition would eat you alive and spit you out.
The more I type, the more cranky I'm getting. Time to just come to the conclusion that no one is going to be outside trimming trees today. When the town newspaper is delivered this week, it's back to square one..... reading the ads for a handyman.
Maybe this is my fault. Instead of looking for ads that just say "Handyman," I need to be looking for an ad that says "Handyman wants to work, willing to show up on time, on the day promised."
Is that too freaking much to ask?!?!? GIVE ME A BLESSED BREAK!!!!!!!
Honestly, we were spoiled in the beginning with Wayland, who was here early in the morning and did a good day's work for a good day's pay. I miss those days, but Wayland is off doing bigger and better things now and even he hasn't called us back lately. I had asked him if he wanted to work when his other jobs slowed down......... "Why sure," said he. "I will call y'all when I have a free day." Well, he's had lots of free days, but my phone isn't exactly ringing off the hook.
Only in the country, I swear....... you couldn't get away with this type of nonsense in a big city, because the competition would eat you alive and spit you out.
The more I type, the more cranky I'm getting. Time to just come to the conclusion that no one is going to be outside trimming trees today. When the town newspaper is delivered this week, it's back to square one..... reading the ads for a handyman.
Maybe this is my fault. Instead of looking for ads that just say "Handyman," I need to be looking for an ad that says "Handyman wants to work, willing to show up on time, on the day promised."
Is that too freaking much to ask?!?!? GIVE ME A BLESSED BREAK!!!!!!!
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Orange cat: 1 -- Raccoon: 0
Well, the orange/white stray cat is back on the porch, but I haven't seen that huge raccoon. The orange stray doesn't have any marks on him, and he doesn't seem to be missing any fur, so my guess is that he out-ran that raccoon the other night.
One thing is for certain... we've got to get rid of this orange/white stray. Our formerly-outside cat Gatsby, who now prefers the safety of the house, wants to come inside before it even gets dark. He's been sleeping in the house anyway because of the cold weather we've had, but now that the Texas weather gods have given us warmer temperatures, Gatsby isn't even tempted to stay outside at night anymore.
In addition to that, last night that blasted stray got hold of my leg and gave me a tiny bite. He was sitting out there just as nice as you please, meowing and meowing to me, and I made the mistake of walking away from him too fast. Next thing I knew, he had pushed himself into my shin, with the intention of a male cat's "love bite," which they will do to female cats that they're interested in. Well, lucky me... this orange/white stray thinks I'm the cat's meow. (How's that for an artful pun?)
I've tried to get that cat into the catch/release crate, but he won't go near it. Which tells me that he's been caught in one of those before and he knows if he gets into that crate, he'll be relocated. And I think he likes our porch and the never-ending supply of Meow Mix out there.
Now we go to Plan B. I'm not leaving food out there all night for that stray, because the cat food has been attracting both possums and raccoons, neither of which I want on the porch. Instead of the catch/release crate, I've been putting the bowl of cat food into one of the cat-carriers. Each time the orange stray takes some food, I go out there and move that food dish further back into the carrier. I will try to get that dish all the way to the back of the carrier, with hopes that the cat will feel safe going in there to eat..... and then I can just close the little door while he's crunching the Meow Mix. Then off to the shelter we'll go, and hopefully this cat will find another home.
One thing is for certain... we've got to get rid of this orange/white stray. Our formerly-outside cat Gatsby, who now prefers the safety of the house, wants to come inside before it even gets dark. He's been sleeping in the house anyway because of the cold weather we've had, but now that the Texas weather gods have given us warmer temperatures, Gatsby isn't even tempted to stay outside at night anymore.
In addition to that, last night that blasted stray got hold of my leg and gave me a tiny bite. He was sitting out there just as nice as you please, meowing and meowing to me, and I made the mistake of walking away from him too fast. Next thing I knew, he had pushed himself into my shin, with the intention of a male cat's "love bite," which they will do to female cats that they're interested in. Well, lucky me... this orange/white stray thinks I'm the cat's meow. (How's that for an artful pun?)
I've tried to get that cat into the catch/release crate, but he won't go near it. Which tells me that he's been caught in one of those before and he knows if he gets into that crate, he'll be relocated. And I think he likes our porch and the never-ending supply of Meow Mix out there.
Now we go to Plan B. I'm not leaving food out there all night for that stray, because the cat food has been attracting both possums and raccoons, neither of which I want on the porch. Instead of the catch/release crate, I've been putting the bowl of cat food into one of the cat-carriers. Each time the orange stray takes some food, I go out there and move that food dish further back into the carrier. I will try to get that dish all the way to the back of the carrier, with hopes that the cat will feel safe going in there to eat..... and then I can just close the little door while he's crunching the Meow Mix. Then off to the shelter we'll go, and hopefully this cat will find another home.
Friday, February 14, 2014
Don't get a raccoon mad....
I was reading last night and heard a noise on the back porch.... when I looked out the window, a huge raccoon was eating the cat food that I had left out there for the orange/white stray. I opened the kitchen door and the raccoon moved away from the dish and sat by the porch railing, just watching me. He clearly saw me take away the dish of Meow Mix, and by the look on his scrunched-up face, I knew he wasn't exactly happy about that.
This morning when I opened the door to let Gatsby outside, I saw the total mess that the raccoon left for me to clean up. That blasted animal re-arranged two of the chairs on the porch, he pulled the cloth off of the table inbetween the chairs, and then he not only turned over the water bowl out there, but he must have tossed the bowl to the back corner of the porch. And then, as if that wasn't enough, he pooped all over the porch right near the back door.
So the first thing I had to do this morning was clean up raccoon poop. Give me a blessed country break. Easy enough to put the chairs back where I had them, and fix the tablecloth, and re-fill the water bowl for the cats. However, the poop-mess was indeed one extraordinary mess.
The worst part...... as I was hosing down and cleaning that porch, I saw tufts of orange and white fur.... and I'm hoping that the blasted raccoon didn't hurt the orange/white stray cat. I haven't seen that cat today, and I even walked around the property and looked all over the barn.... no sign of him, and I hope he's not hurt and off in the woods somewhere because of that stupid raccoon.
When I let Gatsby out the door this morning, his nose went right up into the air and he was sniffing around the back porch. He clearly knew that something wasn't right out there, and he wanted to come back into the house. I'm hoping that he was just smelling the raccoon odor, and not the smell of an injured stray cat. My guess is that if the raccoon and the stray cat were fighting out there during the night, both Gatsby and Sweet Pea were probably watching from the TV room windows.
It's been a warm and sunny day here.... and the porch is clean and dry now, and I'm hoping that I see the orange/white stray later on tonight and not that huge raccoon. I'm not going to leave a dish of Meow Mix out there at night anymore..... it's just too much of an invitation to the local wildlife.
This morning when I opened the door to let Gatsby outside, I saw the total mess that the raccoon left for me to clean up. That blasted animal re-arranged two of the chairs on the porch, he pulled the cloth off of the table inbetween the chairs, and then he not only turned over the water bowl out there, but he must have tossed the bowl to the back corner of the porch. And then, as if that wasn't enough, he pooped all over the porch right near the back door.
So the first thing I had to do this morning was clean up raccoon poop. Give me a blessed country break. Easy enough to put the chairs back where I had them, and fix the tablecloth, and re-fill the water bowl for the cats. However, the poop-mess was indeed one extraordinary mess.
The worst part...... as I was hosing down and cleaning that porch, I saw tufts of orange and white fur.... and I'm hoping that the blasted raccoon didn't hurt the orange/white stray cat. I haven't seen that cat today, and I even walked around the property and looked all over the barn.... no sign of him, and I hope he's not hurt and off in the woods somewhere because of that stupid raccoon.
When I let Gatsby out the door this morning, his nose went right up into the air and he was sniffing around the back porch. He clearly knew that something wasn't right out there, and he wanted to come back into the house. I'm hoping that he was just smelling the raccoon odor, and not the smell of an injured stray cat. My guess is that if the raccoon and the stray cat were fighting out there during the night, both Gatsby and Sweet Pea were probably watching from the TV room windows.
It's been a warm and sunny day here.... and the porch is clean and dry now, and I'm hoping that I see the orange/white stray later on tonight and not that huge raccoon. I'm not going to leave a dish of Meow Mix out there at night anymore..... it's just too much of an invitation to the local wildlife.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...
.... and the temperatures are finally back where they belong.
However, with all the snow storms pounding along the eastern coast, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we do indeed have a lot more of these sunny and warm days.
I've been calling workmen to get estimates on things to be done around the property... and I have high hopes that everyone I call will be here when they say they'll be here. So far, one man was here right on time this morning, and said he'd get back to me next week with a diagram and his estimate. Another man never returned my phone call, and if he doesn't call back tomorrow, then he's off the list completely. I have high hopes for the first guy, because he did work for a friend up the road and his project was more than satisfactory, it was very nicely done by a good crew.
So difficult to get handymen and construction-type men to do work out here.... and for the life of me, I don't know why. My husband was 'in charge' of all of this project-work out on the property... but he finally realized that he doesn't have the time for this stuff and he certainly doesn't have the time to do the work himself. So now I'm the one with the to-do list (which fills a bunch of pages in a notebook) and I was punching numbers into that phone as soon as the cold weather broke and the sun came out.
We were spoiled with the first handyman we hired a few years ago.... he did work here on and off for two years. Everything he did was done very well, he was always on time, very polite and very nice, and we thought he'd be working for us for years to come. Oh well. He went on to bigger things, building houses and barns and the like..... and I guess doing little day-jobs here and there isn't what he wants to do now.
So now I'm searching for a new handyman.... one who gets here on time, does what we need him to do, doesn't charge a king's ransom, and cleans up his mess before he leaves so it doesn't look like a work-in-progress at the end of the day.
Maybe I'm being too picky... but I don't think we have to settle for a messy worker who shows up late with a cigarette in one hand and a cell phone in the other and couldn't care less if a two-hour job takes him two days to complete because he's so slow that you could count the hairs on his chin as he's trimming the blessed trees.
But on the bright side... and there always is one.... today was a beautiful day.
However, with all the snow storms pounding along the eastern coast, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we do indeed have a lot more of these sunny and warm days.
I've been calling workmen to get estimates on things to be done around the property... and I have high hopes that everyone I call will be here when they say they'll be here. So far, one man was here right on time this morning, and said he'd get back to me next week with a diagram and his estimate. Another man never returned my phone call, and if he doesn't call back tomorrow, then he's off the list completely. I have high hopes for the first guy, because he did work for a friend up the road and his project was more than satisfactory, it was very nicely done by a good crew.
So difficult to get handymen and construction-type men to do work out here.... and for the life of me, I don't know why. My husband was 'in charge' of all of this project-work out on the property... but he finally realized that he doesn't have the time for this stuff and he certainly doesn't have the time to do the work himself. So now I'm the one with the to-do list (which fills a bunch of pages in a notebook) and I was punching numbers into that phone as soon as the cold weather broke and the sun came out.
We were spoiled with the first handyman we hired a few years ago.... he did work here on and off for two years. Everything he did was done very well, he was always on time, very polite and very nice, and we thought he'd be working for us for years to come. Oh well. He went on to bigger things, building houses and barns and the like..... and I guess doing little day-jobs here and there isn't what he wants to do now.
So now I'm searching for a new handyman.... one who gets here on time, does what we need him to do, doesn't charge a king's ransom, and cleans up his mess before he leaves so it doesn't look like a work-in-progress at the end of the day.
Maybe I'm being too picky... but I don't think we have to settle for a messy worker who shows up late with a cigarette in one hand and a cell phone in the other and couldn't care less if a two-hour job takes him two days to complete because he's so slow that you could count the hairs on his chin as he's trimming the blessed trees.
But on the bright side... and there always is one.... today was a beautiful day.
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Raccoons on the porch....
.... and you can always tell when a raccoon was on your porch because they tend to re-arrange whatever they touch, and they touch everything.
I've been leaving a bowl of Meow Mix out on the porch for the stray cats.... the orange/white cat keeps coming to the porch on a regular basis now. The all-black cat has been here at least three times a week, and the brown/beige cat (with blue eyes) has made itself a home underneath the gazebo. So between the three strays, and this blasting cold weather we've had, I just cannot let those cats go hungry. And yes, I'm breaking all my rules about not feeding stray cats. Oh well.
Last week we had a possum on the porch, helping itself to the Meow Mix. I chased it away with a broom, and I haven't seen it since. For the last two nights, however, there has been a raccoon on the porch, not only helping himself to the cat food, but carrying the bowl to another part of the porch. He has also been re-arranging the pillows on the chairs out there, and has even moved the welcome mat away from the back door. Just what we need here.... a raccoon with a knack for decorating.
I think I'll have to take in the cat food at night.... and hope that the stray cats will be able to get on the porch for their meals during daylight hours. I don't even know if that's possible... Gatsby starts howling at any and all four-legged trespassers on 'his' porch, and Mickey has been known to chase a stray cat to the other side of the road. I've noticed that Gatsby doesn't howl at two-legged visitors, probably because of the possibility that they may have food offerings for him.
Stray cats, possums, raccoons, coyotes, foxes, armadillos... and heaven only knows what else has been on our porch during the night. I guess I should be thanking my lucky stars that we don't have bears in these hills, because they'd probably be out on our porch eating the Meow Mix in the moonlight as well.
"Meow Mix in The Moonlight." There's the possibility a country/western song in those words...
I've been leaving a bowl of Meow Mix out on the porch for the stray cats.... the orange/white cat keeps coming to the porch on a regular basis now. The all-black cat has been here at least three times a week, and the brown/beige cat (with blue eyes) has made itself a home underneath the gazebo. So between the three strays, and this blasting cold weather we've had, I just cannot let those cats go hungry. And yes, I'm breaking all my rules about not feeding stray cats. Oh well.
Last week we had a possum on the porch, helping itself to the Meow Mix. I chased it away with a broom, and I haven't seen it since. For the last two nights, however, there has been a raccoon on the porch, not only helping himself to the cat food, but carrying the bowl to another part of the porch. He has also been re-arranging the pillows on the chairs out there, and has even moved the welcome mat away from the back door. Just what we need here.... a raccoon with a knack for decorating.
I think I'll have to take in the cat food at night.... and hope that the stray cats will be able to get on the porch for their meals during daylight hours. I don't even know if that's possible... Gatsby starts howling at any and all four-legged trespassers on 'his' porch, and Mickey has been known to chase a stray cat to the other side of the road. I've noticed that Gatsby doesn't howl at two-legged visitors, probably because of the possibility that they may have food offerings for him.
Stray cats, possums, raccoons, coyotes, foxes, armadillos... and heaven only knows what else has been on our porch during the night. I guess I should be thanking my lucky stars that we don't have bears in these hills, because they'd probably be out on our porch eating the Meow Mix in the moonlight as well.
"Meow Mix in The Moonlight." There's the possibility a country/western song in those words...
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Welcome to the North Pole....
.... if you would like to speak to Santa, please press 1... if you'd like to speak to the reindeer, please press 2.... if you would like to get on line to shoot the groundhog who predicted endless weeks of winter, please press 3...
As you might have noticed, I'm a bit cranky this morning. Cold and totally stupid weather can do that to a person, and right this very minute, our weather is about as stupid as it gets. I woke up to the sound of sleet hitting the windows. I thought I was hearing things... but one look out the window told me that my hearing was just fine. There's a fine layer of snow on the roof, the grass, the deck... and sleet is bouncing off the stones in the courtyard.
Looking at the road going down our hill, I would guess that if I had a pair of ice skates, I could glide down that hill very nicely. However, along with the ice-slicked hill, we have temperatures below freezing, so I think I'll pass on that golden opportunity with the skates.
About the farthest I'm going outside is back and forth to the garage when it's time to give Mickey his cans of Fancy Feast. That cat is huddled up in his pillow-bed, right in front of the heater, and he's as warm as a piece of toast. Gatsby went outside this morning and stayed in the cold for less than two minutes before he ran back to the porch.... I'm sure a warm litter box is preferable to a cold flowerbed. Sweet Pea is running from window to window, looking out at the snow which is so bright-white that all of the birds are very visible as they peck into the snow for frozen bugs and worms.
The weather gods have not only gone crazy, but they've delved into the madness of a frozen inferno of winter magic tricks that seem to have no end. (A "frozen inferno?" Is that even possible?)
As you might have noticed, I'm a bit cranky this morning. Cold and totally stupid weather can do that to a person, and right this very minute, our weather is about as stupid as it gets. I woke up to the sound of sleet hitting the windows. I thought I was hearing things... but one look out the window told me that my hearing was just fine. There's a fine layer of snow on the roof, the grass, the deck... and sleet is bouncing off the stones in the courtyard.
Looking at the road going down our hill, I would guess that if I had a pair of ice skates, I could glide down that hill very nicely. However, along with the ice-slicked hill, we have temperatures below freezing, so I think I'll pass on that golden opportunity with the skates.
About the farthest I'm going outside is back and forth to the garage when it's time to give Mickey his cans of Fancy Feast. That cat is huddled up in his pillow-bed, right in front of the heater, and he's as warm as a piece of toast. Gatsby went outside this morning and stayed in the cold for less than two minutes before he ran back to the porch.... I'm sure a warm litter box is preferable to a cold flowerbed. Sweet Pea is running from window to window, looking out at the snow which is so bright-white that all of the birds are very visible as they peck into the snow for frozen bugs and worms.
The weather gods have not only gone crazy, but they've delved into the madness of a frozen inferno of winter magic tricks that seem to have no end. (A "frozen inferno?" Is that even possible?)
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Always a little surprise....
No matter how long we live in this great state of Texas (which thinks it's a country all on its own)... there is always an exception to every rule that may or may not apply in the other 49 states.
We drove into town to get my husband's car inspected..... and found out that Texas law prohibits state inspections on rainy days. What?!?
You can drive your car at 75 mph on some of the highways.... you can carry a gun or a rifle or a knife.... you can shoot someone who trespasses on your property.... but you can't get an inspection sticker for your vehicle on a rainy day. And why is that? Because the state of Texas proclaims that the mechanic cannot properly test the brakes on your car when the road is slick with rain.
We have lived in Texas since 1993..... apparently, neither one of us has ever tried to get a state inspection sticker on a rainy day. Either that, or the mechanics up here in the Hill Country are quick to make up new rules if they don't want to get their boots wet on a drippy dreary cloudy day.
We drove into town to get my husband's car inspected..... and found out that Texas law prohibits state inspections on rainy days. What?!?
You can drive your car at 75 mph on some of the highways.... you can carry a gun or a rifle or a knife.... you can shoot someone who trespasses on your property.... but you can't get an inspection sticker for your vehicle on a rainy day. And why is that? Because the state of Texas proclaims that the mechanic cannot properly test the brakes on your car when the road is slick with rain.
We have lived in Texas since 1993..... apparently, neither one of us has ever tried to get a state inspection sticker on a rainy day. Either that, or the mechanics up here in the Hill Country are quick to make up new rules if they don't want to get their boots wet on a drippy dreary cloudy day.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Stray cats.... wild possums.
I don't know what the gods of the universe were thinking when the possum was designed.... they are not exactly the nicest-looking animal on this planet. And last night, I got an up-close and personal look at one as it was sitting on the back porch eating the Meow Mix that I had put out there for the stray cats.
The face of that possum was so long and pointed that all it needed was a tall black hat and it could have been a stand-in for the Wicked Witch in "The Wizard of Oz." The possum froze in place when I turned on the porch light and opened the back door, and it just sat there looking at me... not at all happy that I had interrupted his late-night dinner. About three feet away from the possum sat the orange/white stray cat, watching the possum eat the food that was meant for cats, not horrible-looking wildlife.
You would think the stray cat would have chased the possum away, but maybe the cats know that possums aren't as well-mannered as cats. Our dog Gracie came nose-to-nose with a possum years ago, and they stood there staring at each other till we called Gracie to come back to the house. I've no idea why that possum didn't run away from our dog, but it just froze in its tracks and stood there, probably praying that Gracie had already eaten dinner. (Thankfully, Gracie was never interested in doing a taste-test on anything other than 'people food' and dog food.)
So last night, I got the broom and chased the possum away..... that ugly animal bared its teeth at me before it left the porch...... then the orange/white stray started to meow and he turned over on his back. Such a strange cat, this one... he'll turn over to expose his underside, but then if you try and pet him, he will turn right-side-up again. My guess is that he's going to slowly build himself up to trusting us.... and then, I'm sorry to say, I will be taking him to the shelter because we don't need another cat hanging out on the porch. I will feed him while he's here, but then I will hope that the shelter can find him another home that doesn't already have three male cats. (We never get female cats hanging around here.... always males. But maybe that's a good thing..... last thing I need is a litter of kittens.)
Yesterday's glorious weather of 73 degrees is now a memory..... we woke up to a drippy, cloudy and rainy day..... and the temperature is around 45 degrees. And not a drop of sun, which makes it feel colder. Oh well..... this too shall pass... and it will be warm and sunny again.
The face of that possum was so long and pointed that all it needed was a tall black hat and it could have been a stand-in for the Wicked Witch in "The Wizard of Oz." The possum froze in place when I turned on the porch light and opened the back door, and it just sat there looking at me... not at all happy that I had interrupted his late-night dinner. About three feet away from the possum sat the orange/white stray cat, watching the possum eat the food that was meant for cats, not horrible-looking wildlife.
You would think the stray cat would have chased the possum away, but maybe the cats know that possums aren't as well-mannered as cats. Our dog Gracie came nose-to-nose with a possum years ago, and they stood there staring at each other till we called Gracie to come back to the house. I've no idea why that possum didn't run away from our dog, but it just froze in its tracks and stood there, probably praying that Gracie had already eaten dinner. (Thankfully, Gracie was never interested in doing a taste-test on anything other than 'people food' and dog food.)
So last night, I got the broom and chased the possum away..... that ugly animal bared its teeth at me before it left the porch...... then the orange/white stray started to meow and he turned over on his back. Such a strange cat, this one... he'll turn over to expose his underside, but then if you try and pet him, he will turn right-side-up again. My guess is that he's going to slowly build himself up to trusting us.... and then, I'm sorry to say, I will be taking him to the shelter because we don't need another cat hanging out on the porch. I will feed him while he's here, but then I will hope that the shelter can find him another home that doesn't already have three male cats. (We never get female cats hanging around here.... always males. But maybe that's a good thing..... last thing I need is a litter of kittens.)
Yesterday's glorious weather of 73 degrees is now a memory..... we woke up to a drippy, cloudy and rainy day..... and the temperature is around 45 degrees. And not a drop of sun, which makes it feel colder. Oh well..... this too shall pass... and it will be warm and sunny again.
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