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Monday, November 18, 2024

What. A. Mess.

48°f this morning at 5:30 am. Mostly clear, clouding up a little during the day. High around 60, nice.


Well, we tore into it yesterday and are still dealing with the repercussions today. I have been working on Christmas decorating,  and decided that the curtains in this room needed to be washed. Which made me notice how dirty the windows were. Which made me move out the couch to get to the windows better, which meant cleaning under the couch...and there are totes of Fall decor to be put away, half-unpacked totes of Christmas, a pile to take to the thrift. And on it goes.

While we had this mess going on, Larry decided to tackle something I have been asking for his help with for a while: cleaning out and organizing the big pantry cupboard. 


This cabinet is 7 feet tall, 4 feet wide, and 20 inches deep. It holds a LOT. And it was plumb full. So in the midst of the Christmas muddle, we emptied that monster, which took up every bit of available counter and table space and filled a very large tote too. As we worked, we tossed out of date stuff, and filled a bag eith good things for the local blessings box. I mean, who needs 6 bottles of barbecue sauce? Yet there they all were, lurking in the depths. 

I am happy to say that we finished the job today. I don't know if I am going to remember where we put what but at least all pasta and rice is in the same area, as is all the baking stuff, the herbs and so on. Oddly, even with all that we got rid of, we did not end up with any extra space. How did that happen? I have no idea. 



And the windows are washed, mostly. Larry still has to do the outside of the one in the top photo, as it is about 12 feet or more off the ground. The curtains are re-hung, the couch back in place, and I even got through another tote, which held most of my Christmas Tree Forest. Larry put up most of the outside lights too. So progress. 


And got out Larry's "major award" (which might be clear as mud for those in other countries,  but comes from a very funny and hugely popular movie here in the US, A Christmas Story.)


The only downer today was literally that--- I fell 
on the porch, tripping over the hose and cords of the pressure washer. Talk about terrified, trying desperately as I went down not to fall on that new knee! I somehow managed, and I am sorry to say I kinda blasted poor Larry for leaving the danged thing right in the walking path. I mean, yeah, he did leave it there, but I knew it was there and should have paid better attention. Needless to say, it was very quickly taken off the porch and put away. I wasn't hurt, and I did apologize. I swear I did.

So, it has been a long and very tiring day, but it was good to get so much accomplished. I forgot to mention that my physical therapy was at 7am today. What an ungodly hour to have to be in town. And of course I woke up at 5, just because.
I still can't sleep in the bed although I try every night. And last night around 11, just as I dropped off to deep sleep, the dogs found a possum and all heck broke loose outside. So we were up and out with lights, but the poor possum was beyond help and Larry had to dispatch him to a better place. The dogs, however, felt no remorse and indeed seemed quite proud of themselves. Honestly, we don't want possums around here because yes, they will kill chickens. So there is that.

Now, it is time to sit back with some hot chocolate and watch a movie. I think we earned it today.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

23 comments:

  1. SO glad you weren't hurt in the fall. And everything is looking fabulous! I actually loved seeing in that tidy pantry. Don't ya just wanna stare at it for ages?!

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    1. Yes! It is so satisfying to have all that sorted out. And to realize that I do not need to buy any salad dressings, mustards, BBQ sauce, vinegars, oil, cocoa, corn starch, herbs, spices, peanut butter or a bunch of other stuff for a long, long time.

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  2. Shouldn't you still be sort of convalescing? Wow! That's a lot of work.

    I am starting to sleep mostly in bed after pretty well a year in my chair.

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    1. Yes, I should and keep thinking I need to rest, but then...
      I am so glad you are back to sleeping in bed! That's certainly a milestone. I will continue to try every night until this leg finally surrenders.

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  3. And I thought I worked very hard today!!! Just reading about what all you did makes me tired. I hope you plan on resting tomorrow. GM

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    1. Taking it easier this morning, GM. Still have more to do, but some of the harder stuff is behind me now.

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  4. You can't sit still, can you, Sue? LOL...you have to keep yourself BUSY all the time...I admire your energy. Dogs are protecting their home :-)) I don't blame them at all.

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    1. I wish I could. I do try, but there is the to-do list staring me in the face!
      Yes, our dogs know their job. I am thankful they are so alert. We need them here, if we are to grow anything at all with so many deer around us.

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  5. Well, our timing is sort of in sync. Just before I dislocated my shoulder, I took advantage of an annual senior discount day and did a big stock-up of food for winter: 4 months worth of oatmeal, lots of tinned vegetables, etc. and bought two little riser-type shelves to make my tiny overhead cupboard space more functional. BUT. To first clean my little overhead cupboards means getting up and down on a stepstool and taking everything out, piece by piece, before washing the cupboard. Then putting it all back, with the news risers and all the new supplies. This is NOT something to be undertaken with one functional arm. I haven't had enough hours from my Occasional Helper lately to "spend" it on something like this; I need him for shifting hay bales and such. So time ticks away, and you should see the mess that is my kitchen. oh well.

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    1. Oh Quinn, I so wish we lived closer! Would love to be able to help you out. It has to be so frustrating. I hope your shoulder is healing?

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  6. ...I noticed you leg lamp, our 14 year old granddaughter wants one!

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  7. That cabinet full of food stuffs just boggles the mind. And hearing of all the stuff going on in the living room! You all must be a circus! So glad it's all sorted and the possum dispatched. Now for that early (ack!) PT. Like you hadn't enough exercise yesterday...

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  8. Oh I do know how one small job seems to sometimes lead to another small job, and then another and pretty soon, you've gone too far to turn back and you have the mother of all jobs on your hands. We love the Christmas Story here. Have you ever seen The Best Christmas Pageant Ever? Written by the same woman. I read the book years ago, and laughed all the way through. I see that they've remade a movie of it and it is in theaters now.

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  9. Oh my! You are a whirlwind. I'm so sorry about the fall. No wonder you are hurting today, between that and everything else. But well done, everything. I love the Major Award. Just love it! Now, can you take it easy for a day, please?!

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  10. I am so with you. In theory. De facto I still procrastinate... Chapeau to you!

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  11. I bought for Larry for Christmas a few years ago. He loves it. It's a small version.

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  12. Wow, you've been busy. I'm tired just reading about it.

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  13. I am exhausted just reading about what you have been doing Sue! Wow! How satisfying though. Your pantry looks wonderful, what a lovely big cupboard. I hope you knee is ok after all that exertion.

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  14. Holy cow! I think I'd relax with something stronger than hot chocolate but that's just me. Great work, both of you. And I love your smaller version of the famous lamp. That's a great movie.

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  15. You have been busy. And that fall! Sounds like you know how not to hurt yourself. No Christmas decor ere yet. With youngest daughter and her family coming for Thanksgiving plus a niece, her husband and 2 boys we will have a houseful on Thursday. 14 total with daughter and family that live nearby. Niece staying in a hotel so that is a blessing.

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  16. You had a busy but productive day. Glad the fall wasn't worse than it could have been. You deserve to relax with a hot chocolate:)

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  17. Wow! Impressive. And I am, indeed, impressed. I hear you about the cupboards. I had to clean one out over the weekend so that it could be moved. All my glassware and pretty stuff. That all needed cleaning once it came out from behind the glass doors.
    Delighted to hear that your fall did not pop the knee. Well done. I have cords all over the house at present - this deserves a post of its own, not to clutter your comments.
    Stay safe and I love the trees.

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