My first inkling was the sound of Baron's nails tap, tap, tapping on the wood floor.  Yes, the Beast arrived home safe and sound even though he (somehow) cut an hour off his normal drive time.  He swears he did NOT speed but we all know how he lies.  If he got a ticket even, he would never tell me.  Oh, I would find out because he would have to put it in the checkbook and that is always here by me. 

He was full of stories about his time in NC and I will tell you some of those in the next few days but not tonight.  The only one I WILL tell you is that Baron was just as happy as could be with running all over the mountain and the riverbed.  The Beast said they had to wash off his feet constantly before he could be allowed in the house.  He got enough exercise, that's for sure.  But, even he seemed happy to be home.  He seems calmer for now but he IS becoming more of a watchdog these days.  He also seems to be listening (finally) when he's told *enough* about his barking.

I made the Italian beef and it was wonderful, of course.  I knew it would be.  I made up a sandwich for the Beast and he had the happiest look on his face.  I gather that his aunt seems to be either over-seasoning or the food is bland tasting for some reason.  I told him it could just be that she forgets if she has added it or not.  The woman IS almost 90 for heaven's sake!  She is actually amazing compared to many old people I have known.

She sent me some cute mushroom decorated cannisters and spice holders.  There is also a cute (small) teapot that goes with the set.  I am going to display it on the kitchen/dining wall.  It's very *country* looking and will make a nice decorative touch to the brown contrast wall that the Beast painted.

The Beast managed to talk to a grove owner about our problem and the guy told him to trim the hell out of the trees and suggested a fungicide that will be absorbed by the trees to add to the treatment.  He ordered it while he was away and it got here today.  He is FINALLY going to both top the trees and cut away some of the branches that he should have done after that first year.  But what do *I* know?  He had to hear it from a MAN, of course.  Couldn't you just strangle him?  I know the urge to kill has been strong in me but I am resisting hurting him .... so far.

The Beast got the trailer and the back of the truck cleared out.  When I called AM to thank her for what she had sent me, she told me the Beast had left behind all the shirts he had hanging in the closet.  Figures.  He told her he would probably be back in July so I told her to just put them aside for him until then.  It could have been worse, I suppose.

Today is my last day of freedom.  Tomorrow (or today when you are reading this) the Beast will be coming home along with Baron.  I swept all the rooms with no rugs (bathrooms, master bedroom, living, dining and kitchen areas).  I almost fell over because I am still get huge piles of dog hair.    Not that it matters since the beast it is coming from will be home, shedding more hair all over the place, some time tomorrow afternoon.

Sheepie has decided she is spending another day or two with the Princess.  I was informed that the new apartment is totally organized and put together.  Sheepie was proud because she helped do it all and the Princess said she was a huge help.  I guess maybe she learned a lot about that due to all the times she's had to move because he dad doesn't seem to be able to hold a job....at least, not for long.  Sad that her life has been like that.

I still have to put fresh linens on my bed tonight but I decided I would do that just before I take my shower.  I also plan on damp mopping the floors since Chewlee tends to be a bit messy when walking with her juice.  Oh, she tries hard but she will get excited and end up slopping some juice on the floor.   Even wiping them up can sometimes leave a bit of a dull spot. 

She was tired today when I picked her up from preschool.  All she wanted was something to eat.  She asked for some beefaroni and I happened to have one can left so I heated it up for her.  She sat eating it in the high chair (when she's here, she still prefers that even though she sits in a chair at home), watching TV quietly when her mother came for her.  She was also ready to go home, mainly because she was tired.  She will probably lay down on her bed to watch her TV and fall asleep even before her bath.  She is always so sweet when she is like that.

Me?  I'm tired tonight also.  I won't say I am going to bed early because I usually end up having my *second wind* in an hour or so.  Bratfink told me she tired out Buttmunch today to the point that Buttmunch needed a nap.    She is getting organized, little-by-little.  I could easily strangle the Mother for being a hoarder and leaving the mess behind for others to try to straighten out.

Sheepie grabbed up some Lindt chocolates the other day when we were shopping.  I'm not a big chocolate fan and she kept telling me I really needed to try one.  I finally buckled and grabbed one out of the assortment she chose.  Figures it would be one of the white chocolate ones.  If I am not a fan of chocolate, I'm even less of a fan of white chocolate.  But, the one thing I hate even more is waste.  So, I decided I could take little bites and eat it.  Imagine my surprise to find out it was actually very, very good.  Much creamier than the white chocolate I have had before this.  I was impressed and even went back and had one more.....on purpose! 

I got my pepperoncini for the Italian beef recipe I am making tomorrow.  The one I mentioned yesterday from Pioneer Woman.  I really DO need to buy her recipe book.  I have everything ready to go tomorrow morning (This IS Thursday I am speaking about) and am starting to really look forward to this.   I even brought in my slow cooker from the shelf in the garage.  (Can you tell how I am already slobbering with the thought of it?)    It's excellent even though I am truly spoiled by the Italian beefs served in Chicago.  It comes so close to the wonderful taste that it will more than do for us. 

A neighbor just stopped by to check and see if anyone here had lost a phone.  He had found one on the side of the road just down from our house.    I didn't know him so he has to be one of the new ones.  I told him that, yes, my granddaughter had the other day.  When he asked me to describe it, I told him it was a new touch screen phone.  He then asked if she had a picture on the screen and when I told him that the last one I had seen had been one of her daughter.  That's when he laughed and pulled it out of his pocket and said, *Did it look like this?*  Sure enough, I knew it was hers.  He did say something about it having a case but I didn't catch why he didn't have it and I really didn't care.  I then came into the house and called Sheepie because I knew she would answer her phone.  I told her what happened and she started laughing as she relayed the message to the Princess.  So...mystery solved.  I figured out she must have set the phone down on top of her car when she put Chewlee into her car seat.  She then jumped in the car and headed for home with the phone still on the roof and it slid down the car and onto the side of the road.  At least now she knows that Johnnycakes had nothing to do with it so that's a good thing.

First the bad new.....the Beast will be home on Thursday.  I know, I know....I had hoped he would stay gone through the weekend but no such luck.  *Sigh*  I'll get over the disappointment...eventually. 

Today was the day the Princess moved all the goodies into her new apartment.  A couple of friends helped move the big stuff and also the washer and dryer she had to buy since her apartment was not one of the ones that came with them. I made a big pot of spaghetti for her, Sheepie and the helpers and sent along some garlic bread for her to pop in her oven to go with it.  She even managed to do her grocery shopping and, when she stopped off here to pick up Chewlee, she looked very tired.  Poor Sheepie had that *rode hard and put away wet* look, too.  But.....the Princess said there were only three more boxes to unpack and then put the baby's room together and they would be done. 

I also got the news that my grandson has enlisted in the Marines under the Deferred Entry Program.  He has always wanted to be a Marine and was in the Marine JROTC at his school before they moved to Nashville.  His new school had the Air Force JROTC and he was underwhelmed by them.  I'm happy that he's doing what he wanted although NOT happy about the idea that there is a war going on in the Middle East that he COULD end up a part of in the near future.  He won't actually go through boot camp until after he graduates next year but he will be going to PT once a week and once a month there is some kind of special event that is to build up his endurance.  He should be ahead of the game physically by the time he goes to boot camp and more buff when he gets through.

Sheepie is spending tonight with the Princess at the new apartment and will probably be dropped off early in the morning when the Princess goes to work.  I think she said she will be getting off work at 5:30 or 5:45pm so that means she is scheduled to open the store.  The last few times Chewlee has been here, we have had to cajole her to get her to leave happily.  She always says she wants to stay here with Grandma.  I don't know if it's that she really LIKES being here or she doesn't like the unrest she is feeling because of the break-up.  Only time will tell.

Since the Beast is coming home on Thursday, that means I need to finish up the cleaning I started before he and Baron get home.  I washed the blanket that he had in the back seat for Baron to lay on and I swear, there is a small dog hidden there.  When I took it out of the dryer and cleaned the lint screen, I was sure of it.  Baron should be naked from all the hair he loses constantly yet there is never a bare patch anywhere. 

I'll bet my daughter, Buttmunch, will have lost a lot of weight when she finally finishes helping out Bratfink and The Boy.  She was complaining that she was doing too much sitting around, getting fat (her words).  But, from all I have seen and heard, she is getting a workout now!    But, that's a good thing because she really and truly HATES not having something to do.  Taking care of her apartment with just her and Circle is a breeze.  She is unhappy that she doesn't have a job but, who knows?  Maybe it was part of a bigger plan that she would be available to help out Bratfink and the Boy.    Stranger things have happened.  Perhaps, after this, she WILL find a job.  *Grin*  One can only hope.

I think the Beast misses me.  Figures.  Or he misses his trees and is anxious to try out this new sprayer that came the day he left.  Either way, he will be home and busy once again and out of my hair.  One can hope, right? 

I promised the Beast Italian beef for when he got home so, since I am using the Pioneer Woman's recipe for it ( http://thepioneerwoman.com),
I have to go and get some pepperoncini.  I have everything else I need, including a couple of green peppers that I enjoy with mine but isn't part of the recipe.  I cook those separately. 

I can pop it all into my slow cooker in the morning and it will be ready when he gets home.  There's no such thing as nice crusty rolls to go with it like we get in Chicago but I buy hoagie rolls here and pop them in the oven to crisp them.  Works for me.    If the Princess reads my blog, I know she will be showing up for some without me having to mention it. 

Another hot day here but I kept the air on for a bit longer than usual this morning before I shut it down.  We kept the doors closed to keep the cool in as long as possible and did our shower and change thing like usual.  I finished making out my list for when we went to Walmart after picking up Chewlee.

The Princess came by for lunch and she and Sheepie talked about getting the Princess moved into her apartment.  They are going to move over the Princess's clothes from her closet and get the things from the bathroom organized at the new place.  The Princess told us that she had already had the refrigerator moved over there and turned on so that it would be cold when she moved the food over tomorrow (Tuesday).

Sheepie and I did some wash and got things dried, folded and put away before we left to pick up Chewlee and get to the store.  I wanted to get through it quickly so I could get home and make our dinner.  The Princess had invited herself over so she could shower and change before they left to go to the new place. 

Johnnycakes picked up Chewlee before we were ready to eat since he had already stopped and bought her some Crystal burgers so they would eat at home.  I don't think Chewlee has a clue that *daddy* isn't going to be at the new place yet.  We will have to wait and see what happens with that down the road.

While we were shopping at Walmart, Sheepie got either a text or a phone call from her dad.  She was very upset after it and told me she had just gotten some bad news.  It seems they are losing their house due to her dad not having worked for a couple weeks.  He works construction which, as we all know, is not what it used to be these days.  He wasn't able to make the rent so they have to move.  She hasn't said that she wants to go home to help pack them up or anything but I will find out in the next few days.  I just know that tonight and tomorrow, Sheepie will be with the Princess....and perhaps even longer from the way they talked.

While we were shopping, Chewlee was looking around and suddenly announced that she was a BOY and she liked BOOBS.  I stopped dead and said, *Now what in the world made you think you are a boy?*  She just shrugged and said she just *was*.  Sheepie told her that when she had bathed her yesterday, she sure as heck was a girl then and Chewlee just laughed.  She then told us (again) she liked boobs so I said to her, *You like boobs on YOU, right?* and she said a very hearty *YES*.  I told her she would have nice boobs in a few more years and Sheepie looked at me with a kind of shock on her face and said, *Grandma!*  I told her it was true and just left it at that.

We finally ate here after the girls goofed off doing weird stuff to the Princess's hair.  She blew it dry for her and it was hysterical how she managed to puff it out.  It looked AWFUL but they were both laughing about it.  Then Sheepie straightened the Princess's hair with the flat iron amidst lots of laughing.

When they finally left, I finished putting some of the groceries away and, suddenly, the Princess was back.  She had gone home and within a few minutes, she realized she couldn't find her phone.  She checked the car then came here on the off chance that she had left it here (she hadn't).  I called it several times and it was going right to voice mail so I knew it had been turned off.  When I asked her if she had turned hers off, she said she hadn't so she got pissed because she thinks Johnnycakes took it, shut it off and is hiding it on her.  For what purpose, only he knows. 

It isn't going to stop the inevitable move out so it is really dumb.  I think she is paying for his cell phone so all it can do is tick her off enough to have HIS phone shut off.  She actually gets that phone for free due to working for AT&T but I don't think she had planned on denying him the phone regardless of what has happened between them.  Besides, who knows what the future might hold as long as he doesn't do anything stupid.  The one thing I know about the Princess is she can be unforgiving if pushed.

It's time for me to get this done and ready for viewing on Tuesday.  You have to remember that my blog is a synopsis of the previous day from the day it shows.  It's just easier for me to do it that way while everything is fresh in my mind.  Love you all and I wish you a happy day. 

Saturday night was one of the weird ones I have on occasion.  I was wide awake when I should have been ready for bed.  I ended up watching DVD's on my TV and playing games on Pogo until about 5:30am.  I wasn't tired even then but decided I should go lay down and see what happened.  I did finally fall asleep around 6am.

I woke up around 10:30am or so and got online.  I spoke with Bratfink for a bit while having my morning coffee.  Later, she went to bed to get some rest.  She worries me at times because of her pain and difficulty getting good rest.  I understand how that alone can drain your body of it's ability to deal with pain and lead to other problems.  *Sigh*  Love you, Sis, and I say a prayer for you every time I think about you (which is often).

After finishing my second cup of coffee, I decided I needed to shower and get dressed (which I did).  I then made up my bed and put away the clean dishes in the dishwasher.  It seemed weird to me that Sheepie wasn't here but I hoped she was having a good time with her cousin, the Princess.

After that, I did two loads of wash which was mostly towels and the clothes from the last two days.  I also had to wash the good towels from my bathroom since they get a coating on them from the Beast's smoking even though he keeps the air purifier on.  I doubt that anything can really keep the air clean, especially from smoking.

I finally turned on the TV and cruised the channels just to have a bit of noise.  This neighborhood is quiet most of the time unless we have a new house being constructed.  Those are few and far between these days.  Heck, there are still several acres of lots unsold.  I finally decided to put a DVD in and I decided to watch....are you ready for this?....Tornado!    Just what I need when the skies are clouding over and we are heading toward some nasty thunderstorms...maybe.  I say *maybe* because they haven't materialized as yet and it's after 9pm on Sunday as I write this. 

I did think it was a goofy thing for me to select in this area that gets hit by tornadoes.  Heck, the one that hit here last month still has a lot of the debris from demolished homes, schools, etc. that hasn't been cleared away yet.  You can see big piles of debris on lots waiting for pickup.  What I miss the most are the trees in some of the areas I drive past or through.  They don't even look like the same places.  One street had a beautiful canopy of trees that shaded the street and the homes.  Gone.  It looks so....naked now.  It will be years before it has the same ambiance, if ever.

I watched TV and played games.  I did the daily Trivial Pursuit for Bratfink (which I have done while she is still trying to get organized at the new house) and did the one for KP while I was at it.  Bratfink usually does hers just to help her out since her duties in Iraq keep her off the internet a lot.  Plus, we just found out that her quarters were moved and she no longer has access to the internet.  We aren't sure if she will get it before she comes back home in August.  No matter, between us, Bratfink and I will do her challenges and other games until she can do them for herself.  What a great day that will be to us.  *Grin*

I played some games that I don't usually play mostly because of the constant interruptions I get from the Beast when he is here.  Some of them you just can't walk away from and catch up on because you can't pause them (like bingo games).  It was nice and relaxing for me.  I talked to a few online friends and went through my email.  I read the news and the comics (I just LOVE the Sunday comics, don't you?).  BTW, I still haven't heard from the Beast.  I had originally planned on going to Walmart for a few things and fill up the car's gas tank but decided I didn't HAVE to do it so I didn't. 

I DID, however, make up a longer list of things *to do* that I will get done tomorrow.  The Princess will be moving into her new place on Tuesday so I thought I would make up a pot of spaghetti for her to eat and feed her *helpers*.  I want to pick up some garlic toast to send over (or bring over, whichever).  I considered just having them come here to eat but they might just prefer to eat as soon as they are done and who knows when that will be?  I'll pick up what I need and let her take it with her when she picks up Chewlee tomorrow (Monday) or let her get it on one of her trips on Tuesday.  I'll leave it up to her.

I was relieved to find my roll of stamps that I thought I might have put away somewhere that Chewlee couldn't mess with them and forgotten where I put it.  You know, Old Timers.  But, while looking for my little crocheting scissors, I found them at the back of the drawer I had always kept them but buried under some note pads.  *Blush*  That saved me from having to buy another roll, however.  I really didn't want to have to admit to the Beast that I *misplaced* the roll of stamps that I had hardly used. 

It also makes me feel better about myself because I really didn't remember moving them but I had considered doing that when I couldn't keep Chewlee totally out of that drawer.  That is, until I moved *her* pens.  I put them in a totally different drawer, along with some other things that I let Chewlee use and her own notepads I gave her.  She can't use ANY pen except on paper and that is a strict rule here since the day she found one and wrote all over herself and a wall here in my room. 

I had to take the Kilz (a special paint to prevent things from bleeding through paint) and cover what didn't come up when I cleaned the wall.  We had planned on painting in here so I wasn't THAT upset but she DID get punished for what she did.  That time, it was a marker she used.  A BLACK marker.  She didn't like how she had to be scrubbed to get it off her legs and arms, either.    She hasn't written on anything BUT paper since that time.  At least, not here at Gramma's. 

Sheepie was dropped off a little while ago and hit the shower first thing.  She's now on the Beast's computer and in her jammies.  I guess I should get up and turn on the air conditioning for a while.  It's still very warm and muggy here.  There...did it while it was on my mind.

I had forgotten about teenagers and their showers.  Mostly teenage girls.  Sheepie sometimes takes two showers a day.  I remember having four teenagers in the house and going through towels like crazy because:#1-they all took two showers a day and, #2-they didn't believe in using a towel twice.  Worse, the girls used TWO towels each time because they had to have one for their hair.   

My sister, Cinderella, used to make fun of the mountain of clothes out in my garage each week.  I couldn't wash clothes until Saturday back then due to working.  To get my kids to throw in a load or two?  Mission Impossible!  There were times Cinderella took pity on me and would come over and do my wash for me but she would grab the kids and make them fold their own clothes or hang them up AND she made them put away the towels.  Bless her heart, I loved the help she gave me then. 

There were times we would be awakened in the middle of the night to the sound of the vacuum cleaner or some such thing and everyone knew that Cinderella and Frankenstein had had a fight.  She would come over to my house and work off her *mad* by cleaning.  The Beast used to say, from time-to-time, *We should try to provoke a fight between Cinderella and Frankenstein.  Then she could come over and clean again! *  I would never have done that but it's funny now when we (Cinderella and I) talk about it.

Sheepie, however, knows how to use a towel more than once.  She hangs hers up so she can use them the next time because, as she says, *You're clean when you use it.*  I wish I could have gotten that through my kids heads at her age.  They just didn't care.  It was easier to use a new, clean one.  Trust me, I had a HUGE amount of towels at my house.  When the kids started leaving, I didn't have to buy a towel for years. 

The sprayer that the Beast ordered was delivered late yesterday by our usual UPS delivery guy.  It's sitting next to the TV and I have to decide if I am going to try dragging it out to the garage or just find a corner somewhere for it until the Beast gets home.  I'm sure not going to open it.  If a part is lost, I would hear it for the rest of my life and I am not that dumb!  The Beast is plenty skilled at losing or breaking his own stuff without having ME to blame for it. 

Chewlee arrived here bright and early this morning.  She woke me up and I got up and made her some cereal for breakfast.  Sheepie was still asleep at the time and I tried to let her stay that way but Chewlee got more and more boisterous as she watched Dora the Explorer.  Soon, Sheepie gave up trying to sleep after being woken up several times by Chewlee's loud exclamations.  I have no idea what time she actually went to bed but I think she only got about five or six hours of sleep.  I doubt she will be up late tonight.  She went over to the Princess's house to help finish packing up the things that need packing since the Princess moves into her apartment on Tuesday.

I told you Sheepie had asked her *ahem* (pardon the usage) father if she could stay a few more days and he said it was fine with him.  So, she is staying and I guess she is going to help the Princess get settled into the new apartment, too.  I like how close the girls are these days.  Chewlee gets a kick out of saying that Sheepie is her *cousin*.   Not that she understands what a *cousin* really is (let alone a second-cousin) but she knows it's special to her.  She also likes Sheepie and will often tell me that she is going to go sit with Sheepie and she will tell me in the sweetest way that I shouldn't worry, she will be back. 

We did relatively little today due to the heat (and my reluctance to turn on the artificial air).  I am just not fond of air conditioning if I can stand it.  I would rather wet my head and splash my face and arm pits than turn it on unless the humidity is awful.  I will probably throw it on for a little bit if the house doesn't cool down more soon.  I don't want to spend the  night sweating and not sleeping since I do have things I would like to get done tomorrow.  Depending on when Sheepie gets back, we might even run down to the lake for a swim and some tanning time.  This early in the season, I will have to be careful about that but I will know when I have had enough.   I hope! 

It figures that the Beast hasn't called me at all yet, not even to tell me he arrived at AM's house in NC.  But, since they didn't call here looking for him, I know he did.  Dammit!  (only joking).    That's the Beast for you.  Inconsiderate as always. 

I made up a list of things I need to buy at Walmart and, since gas has dropped here almost .40 a gallon since last week, I'm going to fill up the car with gas, too.  I have to stop at Staples to pick up a big enough box to pack up some things to send to Babybrat that don't fit me any more (and I seriously doubt I will ever get into again).  I had considered sending it to Bratfink for her huge rummage sale but, after seeing some of the short movies that Buttmunch took, I decided she sure as hell didn't need ME adding to the muddle.  Besides, once I saw how much weight Babybrat had put on (and Cinderella has lost), I figure they can use it all between them.   The winter stuff I won't send.  I will probably give it to Tara to sell at the Flea Market.  It's useless to me at this point anyway.   If she can make a few bucks on them,  so be it.

Tara has two of her little ones for a month and she brought them by the other day so I could see how big they've gotten.  Her little girl is so darn cute!   She was a bit shy but both she and her brother were definitely pleased by the Tootsie roll pops I gave them after I made sure it was okay with Tara.  Her little boy used to be a bit of a monster but he's definitely grown up a bit and kept saying *Thank you* to me for the sucker.  I saw more smiles on his face than I have ever seen so I was glad that he was a happier little boy these days. 

I then went back to bed as soon as his truck had cleared the driveway (about 7:30am) and didn't wake up until Sheepie woke me at 10am.  We both got dressed and left within a half hour.

We made it to Boaz and the Outlet Mall.  Good lord but that place is so poorly designed, it's incredible.  It's also poorly maintained and there are cracks and pot holes all over the place.  But there is plenty of parking area, for sure.  The sidewalks ARE maintained well, thankfully, or no one would stoll from store to store.  We hit the Gap and a couple other places but Sheepie couldn't find anything that fit her well AND that she liked.  I was kind of glad because I knew that THIS shopping trip was a *grandma financed* one and I thought they were pricey for an outlet store.

We found a cute costume jewelry store that was kind of a buried treasure in there and Sheepie found four or five different bracelets she liked.  I found three really cute bows for the baby's hair (or her mother's, if she likes) and two rings I knew Chewlee would love.  She did love them but she gave one to her mother because (she told her) she loves her.  Awwwwww!!!  So cute.

After about an hour or two of shopping around, I was starving so we drove to Applebee's for a late lunch.  We decided to try out their 2/$20 meals since we got the appetizer we wanted (spinach dip) as well as being able to select our entree from about 6 or 8 choices.  She got the bacon cheeseburger and I got the rib basket with sweet and spicy sauce.  Both came with fries (she wanted the seasoned ones, I got mine normal). 

The burger was so large that Sheepie could only manage to finish half of hers.  The other half is destined for breakfast I think.  I only have two riblets left but I brought those home.  They were GOOD but wouldn't really have been enough for a man.  I almost got the 7oz. steak and I think I will give it a try next time.  I've never gotten anything bad to eat there and I used to go there a lot with the Beast when we lived in Port Charlotte, Florida.

After that, we went to a store called Rue 21 and I was really surprised.  It's a really nice store with very reasonable prices normally and we walked in on a sale.  Sheepie finally found some shorts that she liked and they look good on her, too.  She found three pair even though I told her get four since it was buy one, get one half off.  But she looked and couldn't find any others she liked.  Oh well.  She also bought three cute tops to go with them that were on sale (and I bought two for myself while I was there).  All-in-all, not a bad day when you can go shopping with a 16-year-old and not be dead on your feet.

I had to stop at Dollar General for some clothes soap and found the cutest little outfit for Chewlee (top, pants and a hat).  I grabbed a bag of suckers while I was there but so far, the only ones that DON'T taste awful are the grape.  I think I will just stick to Tootsie pops and Dum Dum's.  When Chewlee rejects them, you know they are awful. 

The girls left a little bit ago to go watch a wave runner competition at the lake.  Sheepie gave Chewlee her bath and we got her dressed so she could go with her mother.  That way the baby can go right to bed when she gets home.  She looked so cute with two curls running down the side of her head (like pigtails but with the rest of the hair hanging down long).  It helps keep the hair out of her face and eyes and Chewlee loves to toss her head around and see them fly around her face.    Too damn cute at times.

Today the Beast finished up the lawn work and worked on a couple of the trees pulling fruit.  I cleaned up under a couple more trees (the stuff that was from last year that was either dried up or just seeds) and then bagged everything and put it in the garbage can.  I then got the Beast packed up for his trip to NC and made him pick out the shirts he wanted to take with him.  He knew what his plans were and what he will be most comfortable wearing.  As for his pants, well, all he needs are the jeans he will wear in the morning, the two pair I packed and the new pair of shorts he bought last week.

We also gave Baron a bath and a creme rinse.  That's always a two person chore even though Baron seems to enjoy it once we get started.  We both end up wet from the knees down and splashed all over just from his shaking.  At least he smells better.  After Baron was thoroughly dry, the Beast applied the flea and tick repellent since those are very abundant in the mountains and I don't want to end up picking ticks out of his hide again.  Nor do I want fleas in my house.  He's also gotten his heart worm meds since he gets that on the first of every month to prevent that scourge.  I am glad we've done that since he was a small pup after seeing what Bozo next door went through while he was being treated for heartworm.  Nasty stuff, that.

The rest is the usual:  underwear, socks, hankies, his sleep pants (since it gets cold up in the mountains at night) and a light jacket.  He said he wanted me to pack them in the *shopping bag suitcases*, which means those reusable ones everyone seems to be selling these *green* days.  It's actually the most sensible way because he needs them to go in back of the seats in the truck.  He also takes a separate bag for his dirty clothes.

He got up early and started cooking the chicken legs and thighs we bought for Baron as a supplement to his dry food.  He will take the big bag of veggies (Baron prefers the California blend ) with, too.  He's even got several cans of the (expensive, natural ingredient) dog food he buys to take along.  With it being in the mountains, Baron is bound to get a lot more exercise and will be hungrier than normal.

I helped debone the chicken and put it into a gallon sized plastic bag so, when I say he's all set to go, I mean it.  The only thing that has to go in the truck in the morning is whatever he decides to snack on and his morning coffee.  I already have his bag of M&M's ready along with his Cracker Jacks, cheese crackers and Maple Treats.  Trust me, those are not MY choices of things fit to snack on but it's HIS trip.  **Insert eye roll here**

The Princess took Sheepie up to Huntsville to a restaurant called Shogun.  It's one of those Japanese steak houses that seats everyone around a big grill and you get treated to a show of the cook preparing everything.  It's a treat that everyone needs to see at least once.  I love the food there so I could go any time.  We used to go to Benihana's in Ft. Lauderdale.  It was an expensive night out (especially with a drink or two) but always worth it.  For Sheepie, it's probably the first time in her life she has ever been to a place like it.

I promised the Beast that I would finish picking all the fruit off the Alberta peach tree (crying, kicking, screaming goes here) and I will.  I won't like it but I will.  I just HATE to see that happen to it but it does have the signs of the rot so out it goes!  Dammit!

Tomorrow Sheepie and I will be heading up to the Outlet Mall in Boaz.  She wants to see if she can find a cuter bathing suit than she has even though it IS adorable.  Ahhhh....youth is wasted on the young, I swear.  She also wants to hit the Gap since they are having a half-off sale on their stock of hoodies.  These are the lighter weight ones from late winter/early spring.  I have a feeling grandma is paying for anything she finds because I am sure all her money is gone.  I hate the thought that she will be leaving for home on Tuesday.  This two weeks has just flown by. 

Tomorrow (I am writing this on Thursday, remember) is Bratfink's birthday and she just got through telling me that she has selected Chinese food for her birthday dinner Friday.  I know she loves it (and I think everyone in our family does, for that matter) but the Boy only likes one or two things they make.  I know his tastes have expanded since Bratfink is with him (gradually) but he is still a beef guy mainly.  I think everything comes in second with him to Taco Bell, however.    I think he could eat every meal from there and never get tired of it.

Anyhow....HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SIS.  LOVE YA LOADS!!!!!

It's almost here!  The day the Beast leaves for North Carolina and will be gone for 5-7 days.  He says 7; I say 5.    We shall see who is closer.  Yes, he really and truly is leaving early, early in the morning Friday.  I will get up to see him off and then return to bed.  *Grin*  Later, Sheepie and I will go do some store cruising and, possibly, buy a few things. But.....

Tomorrow (today to those reading this after midnight EDT) is the day we MUST give Baron a bath.  Good lord but the dog smells like a teenage boy.  All hormones and musty smells.  Sheepie was ticked off because he has started to lay down next to her when we eat at the kitchen table and she says she can smell him.  When the Beast said we were going to bathe him Thursday morning, she said, *Oh yeah, like that is going to help me NOW.*

I had the baby today because of her having had a fever at school on Tuesday.  She has to go 24 hours without a fever before she can be brought back so she will get to go to school tomorrow.  She was a real stinker today.  Well, she was half stinker, half adorable.  She keeps trying to throw these tantrums (and I think she's seeing them at school and thinks they are neat) and she's finding out they don't work here.  Sheepie wanted to know why she was being so stubborn and I said, *Duh!  I think it runs in the family * and gave her *the look* over the top of my reading glasses.  She acted like she had NO IDEA what I meant.

I keep calling Chewlee by Sheepie's name and I told Sheepie that she just reminds me in a lot of ways of her when she was that age.  She is almost the same exact way with her dolls that Sheepie was and she gets some looks on her face that all of the women and girls in the family seem to pull.  It's really hysterical to see. 

Chewlee has gotten bad about taking a nap every day now.  Oh, she will if I lay down with her some days but, most of the time, she fights it.  You can tell when she's tired because she gets very quiet and starts to watch TV with a singular focus.  I have tried to get her to sit in my recliner when she gets like that and she will sometimes lay down and fall sound asleep.  Other times, she is like a little fire cracker.  She just wants to be on the move all the time.  Worse, she starts dragging me around with her.  **Insert eye roll here**

I neglected to mention something funny that happened yesterday.  Sheepie was sitting in the Beast's recliner, watching a program on TV.  Baron was laying down on the floor next to her when he let out a fart that was enough to bring tears to your eyes.  That was bad enough but Sheepie said it just hung in the air and didn't dissipate. 

So, she got up, grabbed a can of Febreze Air Effects and sprayed the air and then gave a shot to his butt.  It made him sit up in a shot and he moved out of the room and in with the Beast.  Bless his little heart.  I was hoping he would let off some in there until I realized that *I* had to sleep in there.    So I put the can of Febreze on the nightstand next to my pillows.......just in case. 

Last year, when I was on my way to the Family Reunion, I stopped in Louisville and spent the night at my daughter's (Buttmunch).  While I was there, I had to make a stop at Home Depot to pick up some spray concentrate we needed for our peach trees and couldn't find locally.  I bought a quart of the copper based stuff recommended to prevent peach curl and I also picked up a fungicide concentrate.

The Beast didn't use the fungicide last year but, when he went to look for it this year (we sure need it now), he couldn't figure out what the heck he did with it.  Neither can I.  We both searched the garage, all the cabinets out there and even my cabinets over the washer and dryer...just in case it got put up there for some reason.  I knew that *I* wouldn't do it.  I put all that kind of stuff out in the garage in the cabinet used to store our lawn and gardening supplies.

So, he's talking to his cousin on the phone (the one in NC) and asks her if they have a Home Depot there. I was shocked because we've been there several times in the past couple years and our route to his aunt's house takes us right by the Home Depot.  He couldn't remember seeing one. 

Anyway, since he's going up there, he will stop and pick up some of the fungicide we will be needing (actually, quite a bit of it).  I told him, since it's going to be a year-long process with spraying once a month even through the winter, to buy a case of it.  If he does or not, he will be the one that has to make the trip to the Home Depot here in Huntsville AND pray they carry the same stuff we want.

It's times like these that I realize the Beast can't do ANYTHING that doesn't turn into some disaster or other.  He's moaning and groaning about all the fruit that has to be picked off and I told him it was his darn fault since he always overdoes everything.  We could have gone for just 8 trees or so but no..............!!!!!  He's got to buy every freaking variety he can find and now we have 32 assorted fruit trees to contend with!  Serves him right.  Except I will be helping out only because, since we have them, I would like to get enough fruit from them at some point to can and freeze.

Well, more clothes to fold and a load to throw in the dryer so the Beast can have his new favorite shorts to take with him.  I'm going to start packing for him so he can get the suitcase into the truck tomorrow and that will be one more thing out of the way.

I read the information the Beast found about the problem and it just made me nauseous.  The wet weather from last year started all this off and the fact that the Beast just left the rotten fruit on the trees and the fruit that fell off lay down underneath.  That gave the fungus food to grow on.  As we were picking off the fruit, I found branches that are just black with the fungus.  Those will all have to be cut off and thrown into garbage bags and trashed (or burned they suggested).  I'm sure large orchards would have to do that if they got this since there would be a heck of a lot more trees to deal with.

What really got to me was the fact that we have probably 20# or more of fruit that is no bigger than a quarter, most smaller.  That's from three trees.  If they had been healthy and gotten to normal sizes, it would mean more than 100# of fruit I could have canned.  If you could see all the other peaches, the cherries, apples, pears and plums, you would cry.  It's just so damned sad.  I can't even imagine how a farmer that had this happen to his orchard could stand it.

I will work on the other trees while the Beast is gone.  It's mainly because I truly WANT the trees to survive and be able to produce good fruit for us.  But for now, all the fruit must go.  *Sob*

Sheepie was helping strip the fruit and one of the nectarine trees is located at the corner of the wooden fence.  To get at some of the fruit in the corner, she had to break up a spider web.  She looked around and couldn't see the spider so she took a stick and knocked the horizontal web down.  She started to duck under the branches to get at the fruit she could see when, suddenly, the spider ran out from the corner towards her.  Well, you would have died laughing to see how fast that girl can move, screaming all the way.  I cracked up because she thought it was HUGE and it was really just about two inches (legs included).  That was it for her....no more corners.

If we can get the trees in back before the Beast leaves and a couple of the ones out front, it will be a big break.  The Beast is spraying the trees after we strip them along with the ground underneath. 

We might have gotten more done today except the baby got sent home from pre-school.  No, she wasn't bad.  She had a low-grade fever and they have something called Fifth's Syndrome going around.  It's also called *Slapped face fever* and there is often a low grade fever that comes and goes for a few days then a rash that is mostly on the face (hence, slapped face).  Until they break out in the rash, they are contagious.  However, some children don't get the rash so they say they must be fever-free for a full 24 hours before coming back to school.  I guess that means I get the baby tomorrow.  If the weather is good, she will just have to join us outside.

Sheepie is over at the Princess's house now helping her pack up some things for her move next week.  It's not something the Princess enjoys (and she's really bad at packing, too) but she will learn.  With the many times Sheepie has moved, maybe she can teach the Princess a thing or two.  Who knows?