Ruby Slippers Posted April 29, 2020 Share Posted April 29, 2020 I just got word from my new employer that those of us working from home should continue working at home through the end of May. Of course, this may be extended again - but now I know I have another month of work-from-home freedom. Yay! My days are work, hot bubble baths, cuddles and hotness with my man, watching shows and movies, jogging/walking, relaxation yoga, little exercise breaks, small house projects, cooking, small creative projects here and there. I'm still doing fine with it. It can be monotonous, but I'm just going with the flow. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
preraph Posted April 30, 2020 Share Posted April 30, 2020 You know you've been home alone too long when you get a little thrill when the Barilla recipe emails come to your spam folder..... Link to post Share on other sites
amaysngrace Posted April 30, 2020 Share Posted April 30, 2020 I cooked up some nectar and put my hummingbird feeder out yesterday and today one showed up. I also wrapped a huge blue ribbon around my tree out front to honor our front line workers. Yesterday I also took down the siding this guy I hired hung up crooked. He screwed it on and stripped every one of them. Like in the middle of each piece. So I have that to fix now unless I break down and hire my friend Lou who I know will do a good job. I’m planning to go for a run later on today. I just started that up on Monday and my legs finally feel well enough to go back at it again. They didn’t hurt at the time but boy are my lungs shot. I had to keep stop running and go to walking just so I could breathe. Anyway I did a mile and a half. Not bad for a first day out in over at least ten years. I’ll see how I do today. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
preraph Posted April 30, 2020 Share Posted April 30, 2020 (edited) I need to put out the nectar. I don't know why I haven't. Probably because afraid I can't replenish the sugar, but I may as well use what I have since I don't use it for much else. Edited April 30, 2020 by preraph 1 Link to post Share on other sites
amaysngrace Posted April 30, 2020 Share Posted April 30, 2020 Sugar is on my list for next time I go. Is there a sugar shortage? Link to post Share on other sites
preraph Posted April 30, 2020 Share Posted April 30, 2020 I don't know. Haven't had to buy it. Maybe not. I hear people are doing more baking. It can't be that hard to get, surely. I think I have enough for the summer birds. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites
amaysngrace Posted April 30, 2020 Share Posted April 30, 2020 I had to go to two stores to find powdered sugar at Easter but bought three bags when I saw it. Maybe I can just use that. i have raw sugar but I don’t like using that cause it makes the nectar look funky in the feeder. i guess I could always dye it red. Link to post Share on other sites
preraph Posted April 30, 2020 Share Posted April 30, 2020 I just made some nectar. Then I have to find place to store it in the fridge....oh, yeah. I need a 2-cup or larger glass measuring cup with spout on it and a cover for that. Maybe I'll order one if I can find one. That would be handy. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
preraph Posted April 30, 2020 Share Posted April 30, 2020 (edited) Got my hummingbird feeder up and going. It's feeding time here of an evening, but I doubt I have one. Usually I wait until I see one before putting nectar out and have not seen one. Usually I see one by the 28th of March (I keep a hummingbird journal and put it on my calendar for next year. ) I bet I get one soon though. At least one neighbor nearby keeps nectar out, so we get each other's birds some. The little bastards are greedy and won't let another bird share the feeder. It's nuts. I also ordered a Pyrex 2-cup with spout and cover, just like I needed. Good ol Pyrex. I'll have to throw out an old one that I can't see the measurement fractions on anyway and is all clouded to make room for the new one. Edited April 30, 2020 by preraph Link to post Share on other sites
amaysngrace Posted April 30, 2020 Share Posted April 30, 2020 I know, they air fight each other and mine has at least six feeding holes. Cant they all just chill and share a meal together? 1 Link to post Share on other sites
preraph Posted April 30, 2020 Share Posted April 30, 2020 I know! I almost fell over when I saw one of those forest fire videos a few years ago where starving hummingbirds were like 30 to a feeder. They weren't nearly as picky then! Last year, I had one let another one feed, but I mean, it could have been its baby or something. Only time I've seen it. They kill me how they fight. They get up on the high wire not far from the feeder and just buzz the crap out of each other and then when it gets serious, they just go higher and higher into the air until one runs the other one completely off. I put out 3 feeders one year trying to prevent it, but they just fought over all of them. And I couldn't keep the ants out of them all. Link to post Share on other sites
major_merrick Posted May 1, 2020 Share Posted May 1, 2020 On 4/29/2020 at 11:57 AM, preraph said: I'm needing my plumber, but I don't really want people in the house. One faucet is driving me nuts . He can work probably. I think it would be too risky though. Preraph, I think you can add "learn plumbing skills" to your list of things to distract you from the virus. Home improvement stores should still be open and considered "essential" in any area. Plumbing jobs like replacing faucets don't take much work. If you've got time on your hands, save money and learn something new! Plenty of videos online that will help, even if you can't tell a pipe wrench from a screwdriver. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
preraph Posted May 1, 2020 Share Posted May 1, 2020 My problem is I can't get down under the sink to turn water off down there. I can't bend far in the knees or sit down low because of my knees. And I'm also trying not to go into the stores still. But yes plumbing would be a great skill to know. I have a plumber that I've known for about 30 years now. He gives me a real good deal. Although now that he's flipped his company again, he'll likely want to be working for cash which is kind of chancy during this virus. Link to post Share on other sites
lana-banana Posted May 1, 2020 Share Posted May 1, 2020 The kittens have invented a game. This is obviously only played in the evening, when they're supposed to be winding down in the living room. 1) The two of them in unison bolt downstairs at a speed only measurable by JPL. 2) Kitten A sits patiently and visibly---too visibly---on the carpet. 3) I, an idiot, bend down to scoop up Kitten A even though I have learned this is inevitably followed by 4) Kitten B jumping out from under the furniture to attack my leg. Link to post Share on other sites
Happy Lemming Posted May 1, 2020 Share Posted May 1, 2020 I installed the toilet paper holder, towel bar and towel ring in the master bath this morning. I ordered them to match the Delta Faucet and shower control (I installed), so it would look nice. I got a deal from an on-line source. Apparently they were happy to make a sale and gave me a discount for buying all three. Master bath is 99% done. When the governor lifts the "Stay at Home" order; I'll go purchase a glass shower door from the home improvement store. Then it will be 100% done!! 1 Link to post Share on other sites
preraph Posted May 1, 2020 Share Posted May 1, 2020 Sounds nice! I've just got to have a couple faucets replaced soon. One of them is about to get to where I can't stop it dripping in any position and I can't stand that. Link to post Share on other sites
Happy Lemming Posted May 2, 2020 Share Posted May 2, 2020 4 hours ago, preraph said: I've just got to have a couple faucets replaced soon. I used to install nothing but Moen, but had some issues with the last couple of faucets I installed. Delta gives you a lifetime warranty on internal parts, all you have to do is keep your original receipt. I figure if they are going to back the internal parts with a lifetime warranty, I'm guessing they are very well made. So, I'm going to give Delta a try, this time. Just my two cents. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
preraph Posted May 2, 2020 Share Posted May 2, 2020 Thanks.. unless he wants to do it a different way this time, I let my plumber buy them for me. He gets them at plumbers supply or sometimes he has some already. He gives me great deals on things. But if he does want me to go get it, I will go get Delta! Link to post Share on other sites
carhill Posted May 2, 2020 Share Posted May 2, 2020 Most faucets can be repaired easily either with a new cartridge or disc seal. My CA place still has the original Moen faucets and bath/shower valves from the 60's and the cartridges are still easily available at box stores or on Amazon. 10 bucks, ten minutes, done. Myself, I did maintenance on the chainsaws getting ready for another round of tree falling, set up the circular saw blade sharpener in the kitchen to sharpen the dozen or so various carbide saw blades in use, god that's boring, bzzz, click, move blade, bzzz, click, 60 teeth per blade or more. Got some fuel for the tractor, diesel is barely over 2 bucks a gallon, it'll be cheap to mow the back 40 this year. That's tomorrow. Sunday it's window washing, get all the fungicide spray from the turbines off the windows. They were getting fogged up. Normal spring stuff in ag-land. Pretty quiet still, few people in town when I drove in to get fuel, and not much activity other than the sprayers. Saw a couple worker vans though, that's encouraging. Must be picking vegetables somewhere nearby. Hope folks have a safe and healthy weekend. Link to post Share on other sites
preraph Posted May 2, 2020 Share Posted May 2, 2020 Carhill, life on the farm sounds idyllic and also like a lot of work of course. My kitchen faucet needs to be completely reseated, plus the top drips. It's just completely loose. There is a whole lot of corrosion because of our water here. It crusts up around the faucets and inside too, So probably looking at new faucets, one kitchen and one bathroom. I got all of them at the same time but for some reason the master bath one is still fine even though I use it a lot more than the one that crusted up in the guest bathroom. I'm not surprised the kitchen one is worn out. It would be nice to be that handy. But I guess the next best thing is having a plumber you trust. He once got a china toilet, a tall fancy one, and it was cracked all the way down the back broken, and he learned how to do repair on china and put it back together good as new and installed it for me. He didn't even charge me. Link to post Share on other sites
FMW Posted May 2, 2020 Share Posted May 2, 2020 It's become clear what I'm NOT doing right now. I charge pretty much everything (groceries, gas, entertainment, etc.) on one credit card and pay it off every month, it gives me cash credits on my Amazon Prime account. My new statement is about 1/3 less than normal. Amazing how much money you can save without a social life 🙂 I also got a refund on the card for symphony tickets I bought back in January for a performance that was supposed to take place next weekend, but obviously was cancelled. So that will be a credit on next month's statement. Plus, I haven't drank any alcohol for seven weeks now. I have vodka and wine at home, but since I never drink alone it hasn't been touched. Link to post Share on other sites
major_merrick Posted May 2, 2020 Share Posted May 2, 2020 I spent some time this morning working on a diesel tractor that didn't want to start. In general, I dislike diesels. But they don't make larger tractors with gasoline engines, so you work with what you've got. The hay is almost ready for the first cut, and since my husband is still quite busy, I'll probably have to do the cutting and maybe even the baling too. At least I can do that sitting down, as I'm not good for much else since I'm 7 months pregnant. My only issue is that it is already getting hot out, and our equipment is all older stuff that is totally open with no climate controls. I don't do well in the heat, and too much of it tends to make me sick. At least diesel is cheap these days. And since my husband helped the county acquire a HUGE amount of untaxed diesel, we got to purchase at the same bulk price as the county. We also got plenty of gasoline at the county's price, so we won't have to purchase on the open market for a long, long time. Every cloud has a silver lining... Link to post Share on other sites
Fair Posted May 2, 2020 Share Posted May 2, 2020 My life hasn't changed that much. I'm single so I work and come home just like I always did. Go out for groceries, come back. Putter around the house. Being single in a married world is isolating to a degree anyway. Link to post Share on other sites
Happy Lemming Posted May 2, 2020 Share Posted May 2, 2020 2 minutes ago, major_merrick said: And since my husband helped the county acquire a HUGE amount of untaxed diesel, Farm use diesel is always exempt from Federal & State Fuel Tax (IRC 4041(f)(1)) It is dyed red for "Off-Road" use. Link to post Share on other sites
major_merrick Posted May 2, 2020 Share Posted May 2, 2020 1 hour ago, Happy Lemming said: Farm use diesel is always exempt from Federal & State Fuel Tax (IRC 4041(f)(1)) It is dyed red for "Off-Road" use. Yes. But the stuff the county orders (for .gov use) is untaxed AND undyed. My husband just added his order onto the county's to benefit from the price. It is used for both on-road and off-road county vehicles to make the fuel supply less complicated. County road equipment, defense vehicles, etc... all have the same fuel. Except for the few pursuit cars the sheriff's department uses, which burn gas. Of course, we don't have any on-road diesel equipment anyways, so it is kind of 6-of-1 vs. half-dozen of the other. I guess most folks don't get how "squishy" regulations get here in the rural South depending on who you know.... Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts