Day 21

Day 21

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Other than a frustratingly long wait in the morning, the day went fairly well.  It started out a lot cooler and windier than expected, so TGF didn’t come over “in the morning”.  I tried to find enough “busy work” to pass the time .. not always completely successful.  I just don’t do “wait” very well.   I did manage to get my cheap hollyhock into a pot .. and discovered it’s blooming!  Not bad for $1!!

TGF and the boys (all 4) got here a little after noon; I think around 1:30, but don’t really remember exactly.  I do know that, as usual, she didn’t give them lunch .. and they came over here asking for something to eat.  I really don’t have stuff like that in the house any more.  I know they tried to raid the pantry .. the only thing they found was a box of crackers (which they demolished). 

Anyway, I got out in the yard with them as best I could.  They kept asking me things like “what is this”  or “is this any good” .. how can I answer when I can’t even tell what it is??  I’m sure we threw away things that maybe shouldn’t have been.  But I’m also sure we saved things that we maybe should not have.  Well, even though the job is far from finished, it looks hugely better than it did.  If my cleaning lady friend manages to find a time to come help me, as she offered to do, it might get completely done and look the best it has in years!

Before they finished, DIL got here.  At that point I pretty much stopped and came inside.   Pollen has never been a problem, but dust is.  We were sweeping and I was starting to get a bit chokey.

After the boys got to a stopping point (which was a lot more than I really expected them to accomplish!), they all came inside, and all 6 kids were back in the den.  They were a bit disappointed that they couldn’t get their favorite cartoon channels (I cut Dish back to only basic), but they got over it!

In late afternoon DSS got here, and they quickly threw as much of the bagged and put aside trash as they could in the truck, and took it to the dump.  That’s the part of the clean up job that so often doesn’t get done, so that’s a great help!

When they got back, he loaded the gun cabinets into the truck.  There are still a few ieces of furniture for him to take home (I told him he could have all the cabinets that DH’s craft supplies were in, since he ended up taking most of the junky stuff that would need a home at his house!)  I think he still has one cabinet to get.

Last night the “missing” cat finally turned up in that back bedroom.  That makes sense .. I’m sure she hid in the quietest place she could find!  So after making sure Maggie and Butter were out, we set the trap with a bowl of chicken (canned) .. she has to be hungry by now.  I haven’t checked this morning (it’s too early to open the front door); but I *think* I heard the trap and the cat crying during the night.  Hopefully I can get her outside and put an end to this misadventure! 

I hate for them to not get fed for over a week.  But I’m very much afraid that if the boys put food out for them, the dogs are going to steal it.  No body will be at the house at the time of day I normally feed them; and I doubt they’ll try to feed them in the hall for fear another one will sneak into the house.

I’m trying to convince myself not to worry about them .. they’re really only “strays” … but I sort of consider them mine!!

When I was gone for a weekend, it seemed like they disappeared .. but within a few days, all but one had come back.  I think one of the litter did wander off on it’s own (or met with disaster).  There are still 4 here, especially the smallest, little gray one we call Shadow.  I’m even thinking about letting hm just come in and be fed with my 2 while I’m gone .. they tolerate him ok.  And I can shut off most of the house so can limit the amount of trouble they can get into!

Well, I haven’t finished packing, so better get busy.  Lots to do before travelling later this morning!