Purging Domestic Goddess

I woke up this morning with more energy than I've had for awhile. It was also much cooler than it has been for many days. I have had a long list of things to get done this week... with rarely getting the most mundane chores crossed off the list because it is just too hot.

Today... DH and I needed to do laundry... it's been put off for 2 weeks now, other than doing his things for work. So... he decided that I needed to sort the laundry and while I was at it... I went to work in the closet too. I have 3 big bags of clothes, shoes and handbags that are headed to either Good Will or the Salvation Army. I could drop it in one of the Planet Aid boxes, but I heard that people take that stuff and sell it for their own profit and not for charity. It shouldn't matter... only that I am finally getting rid of some old clothes that I really don't need and have been hanging on to because to the memories or dreaming that I will ever be that small again.

So... I am being a Domestic Goddess today... getting every thing cleaned and shined and sparkling and getting the house smelling good again. (It's amazing how bad dirt can smell and you don't notice it... until you start to clean... ----> telling on myself! I hate cleaning... and the dogs can be soooo piggy!) So, as I go... things are getting pitched in to the trash, thrown in a bag for donation... and a few things like my little pine bench, my wood plant stand and my wicker antique rocker are getting put up in the loft of the basement. I need room and I need organization... and NO CLUTTER!

Here's to a clean and happy house and that I have the energy to keep going until I'm done! Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

Just This and That...

I can't believe that we are half way through July already. I guess time flies much faster than I remember! Yesterday was another very warm day... and I thought I was "Superwoman!" I did shopping and then carried all of it into the house and put all of it away. Then I figured I'd go ahead and roll up the garage door and pull out the hose and water all my flowers. I'm feeling it today!

And to make matters worse... it's wicked hot and even more wicked humid! Thankfully, there is a strong breeze blowing this afternoon that is suppose to bring thunderstorms (and rain?) so that I won't have to do much watering. It's too hot for me... and my poor flowers. (I know... whine and snivel!)

I went to the flower shop this afternoon... things are so slow that the owner is cutting the shop hours to 11:00 to 3:00. (I personally think that's ridiculous... he could try and advertise and do something to perk things up outside... but what do I know?) I need to win the lottery so that I can buy the place and put it back on the map! (It won't happen any other way!)

Well... I took a sneak peak at my electric bill online... it's only going to DOUBLE this next month! Yikes... it's expensive to try and stay cool.

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

Yay For Thursday!

It's Thursday morning... and even though I didn't sleep exceptionally well... I still woke up feeling good and in a very happy mood. I hope I can maintain my energy level because there is so much that I need and want to do today. I need get my house dusted and picked up so that DH can vacuum for me. I also need to get my grocery shopping done... although I don't have all that much to purchase this week.

I also want to take Pumpkin to get her nails done... she's overdue for a trim. And I want to give her a bath... and I should buy dog conditioner so she doesn't end up using all of my hair conditioner. (It does make her fur feel sooooo silky and she smells so good!) So I guess my day should start with a trip to PetSmart with Punky. That's always fun since she's so little, everyone just melts when they see her.

DH has a physical therapy appointment tonight. His shoulder is still hurting and burning. In fact, both shoulders are beginning to hurt him. He is working as carefully as he can and takes ice packs to use during his lunch break.

This morning is cool and overcast... but they are telling us that it's going to be scorching hot today. I have the fans blowing in... and soon I need to close the windows to capture that cool air, close the blinds and get things buttoned down to keep the house cool this afternoon. I guess I'd better get myself out the door and taking good advantage of this cooler morning air.

Thanks for reading... be blessed.
~Suzanne

Girls Night Out

Last night was a rare occurrence for me... I actually went out to dinner with a wonderful group of ladies for the time in over 2 years! Everyone that went was currently, or had been involved, with the flower shop... with me being the only one that has not actually worked there.

We went to a local Japanese steakhouse. It was tucked into a strip mall with a "dollar-type" store and an auto parts store for neighbors. Once inside, you'd never know that you were in a strip mall at all. We were seated at a hibachi grill with 2 grilling areas with the entire space seating about 30 people. Anyway... I was the first in line to our table because of the way we were situated in the waiting area. I ended up sitting at the very end of the bar in our area, right where the hibachi chef would be standing and our food would be waiting on a cart, ready to go on the grill.

Everything started out well... we all got our drinks. Then we placed our order... and then they brought out our soup and then our salads. The usual stuff... then they brought out our food cart... loaded with all our entrees. I was the "odd person out" as I ordered the chicken and steak combo. Everyone else ordered seafood. I could feel my face getting red just thinking about my iodine sensitivity. We all also received 2 sizzling shrimp as an appetizer. It was good... I did go ahead and eat it.

Then the chef put on all the veggies and got them steaming up.... and as part of the "show", he diced up zucchini and would pitch you a piece to catch with your mouth. If you were successful, you were rewarded with "free sake"... I was on the end... I passed on catching veggies, as did the rest of my group. Then the chef came around with the Sake... as I was opening my mouth to say "No, Thank you"... he began to pour it in my mouth... I was trying to get him to stop, but it took a moment for him to understand that I was saying no. Just what I needed... Japanese alcohol! I have no thyroid, I cannot process alcohol. It ended up making me feel sick to my stomach... and it was hard to eat my dinner and have fun while my stomach pitched and rolled every few minutes.


I didn't finish my dinner, and I was the only one to not take my left-overs home. We talked about dessert... and it was decided that a few of us would order and we would share deep-fried cheesecake. My order came... and my friend Jackie and I both tasted it... and didn't like it. It was greasy and tasted like the oil it was cooked in. I asked the girl to take it off of our bill... and the next thing I knew... I was talking to the manager. He tried to convince me that it was a great delicacy and that I should be enjoying it. I told him that both my friend and I took a bite and neither of us like it.... it was yucky and I didn't want to be charged for it. He finally relented and gave me my money back.

We all enjoyed our evening... and we had a great time talking and laughing. The only 2 things that were not great, happened to me. But I am thinking that it was just one of those things where the stars lined up just right! I was so looking forward to spending time with these ladies... and I did have a great time with them.

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

Random Bits...

We've been laying low the last couple of days, trying to keep DH's shoulder immobile and either on ice or the heating pad with a 20 minute interval in between. At least the last 2 days were more like normal summer days instead of being in the grips of hell fire. We ate well... I made taco salad on Saturday and we grilled some really good rib steaks and corn on the cob yesterday.

Today... DH went back to work. He tells me that he used his left arm much more and took ice packs to use on his right shoulder. He goes back to p/t tomorrow. I was glad to have a little bit of quiet time today after almost 9 days of togetherness. But I was glad to see him come home through the door tonite.... actually it was pouring down rain and I had to take Nolli-dog outside, so I actually met him outside with the umbrella so he could get all of his stuff out of his truck without getting drenched. (Yeah... it was raining that hard! But I don't have to water flowers tonite! Yay!)

I've spent some good cuddle time with both Nolli and Punky today. I can't believe that we've had Punky almost 11 months now. She is so happy and comfortable in our home. Last night, I had Punky on the bed with while I watched some tv and rested my back. When DH came in to go to bed, she will usually stay on the bed for a few minutes and then go and get in her crate. Last night she kept walking up one side of me and I would tell her to go "nite-nite" and then she would go back to the end of the bed for a few seconds and them come back to my face going up my other side. We laughed as she tried to cuddle on top of me. Finally, DH called her to him and she cuddled with him and then went to sleep on his feet. She's such a sweetie... and so funny too.

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

Perc... Perc... Percolating!

Yeah... I've got lots of ideas running through my head. Unfortunately, I can't really share what I've got going on... and of course, that is causing me to lose sleep. I am trying to wrap my head around what I am thinking about and how best to put it all together. (I know... it's vague, and gives you NO Information.)

Besides that... we've been trying our best to survive the week-long heat wave. I am so glad that we put in a second air conditioning unit... I no longer have to be holed up in the bedroom when it's so very hot. We've also been busy keeping the flowers from dying... and keeping Nolli-dog and Punky cool as well.

DH has been home this past week, he has really injured his shoulder according to the physical therapist. Having to work in such dangerous heat with all the repetitive motion in doing cleaning and maintenance work has caused not only his bursa to swell, but the sublangial(?) tendon that runs under his bursa has become irritated, and could easily begin to "fray" and that would really put him out of work for quite awhile. We are praying that resting it and having physical therapy will help. He did go back to the doctor yesterday and the P/A refused to give him a shot. The therapist was extremely surprised by that, given the amount of discomfort and disuse DH was experiencing. Sometimes, his job really is very, very hard work.

Sorry to be missing this past week, now you what I've been up to!
Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

Of Air Conditioners and Owwies!

It's been kind of a crazy week around here. We enjoyed a quiet and fairly peaceful holiday weekend. Lots of people went away for the holiday and it really was quiet around here, until dark when everyone lit off their fireworks. We stayed inside trying to keep Pumpkin from climbing the walls, it was her first 4th of July here and I wasn't sure what to expect.

Monday, we decided that we wanted to get away and beat the heat. We packed a picnic lunch and DH packed his fishing gear. We drove up to a small state park and reservoir to spend the day. I had a book that I had started, so I was happy in the shade with a cool drink beside me. DH headed for the water... and he was down there for an hour.
We ate lunch and chatted about how long we were going to stay. I tried to move my chair to a shady spot and was overcome with feeling the heat. We decided that we should go since I have a hard time cooling down. We got to the car and the temperature gauge said it was 104 degrees in the shade. Oh my!

It's been brutally hot... and it's been a real job to keep the flowers watered and the dogs cool. Thank goodness we purchased a 2nd air conditioner for the living room this year.

Poor DH went back to work on Tuesday... down in Philly, where the heat and humidity are worse than it is here. He did alot of repetitive motion in his work and he has aggravated his bursa in his shoulder... having great pain in the smallest of movement. (I can relate very well with having issues with both my bursa and femoral bursa being aggravated in my left knee. Owwww!) I ended up taking him to the doctor yesterday and he's been put on complete rest until Monday. It's a good thing that I've been feeling better and stronger this week... I've had to take over some of the things that DH normally does for me.

So... for now, we are staying cool, trying to avoid the middle part of the house because it's too warm. Trying to keep ice packs, hot packs and Motrin going in the proper sequence for DH... and trying to keep food in the house that won't make me spend too much time in the all too warm kitchen! (I love my outdoor grill!)

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne