Hi, Folks!
I just thought I'd stop in and say "Hi!"
Not much to report on my end...
We still haven't heard what the rent would be on the house of the parents of the BF's coworker....
The BF has been working late nearly every night...and working on the weekends...and we still have no money saved.
Hope has been spending more and more time with her parents...leaving me alone with only Sarah to talk to while the BF is away.
I am stressed and worried and waiting for the next bad thing to happen!
Well...a not so good thing has happened...the plumbing seems to be creating a horrible odor to rise from under the kitchen sink and from the drain in the utility room floor...
I had woke thinking that the trash had gone bad and prepared to take it outside to the dumpster...but the odor was so strong on my newly-awake senses that I gagged and gagged the whole time I tied the bag and carried it outside....only to realize that the smell hadn't been coming from the garbage!
I opened windows and aired the place out a bit...and my gag reflex settled down so I could drink some coffee.
...This has occurred before...but the odor has never been quite this strong! ....but it has always gone away...so I hope it does this time, too...so I won't be subjected to this putrid odor for the entirety of the remainder of the days I have left to live here!
Speaking of trash...The Big Black Bear has been coming to visit!...so raid the trash dumpster!
We use a bungee cord to lock the lid closed...but the BF forgot the other day...
I heard the dumpster fall over and went to look...
There was Mr. Big Bear, dragging something off into the forest!
I went back inside to finish what I was doing...then I checked back outside...just in time to see Mr. Bear considering a return visit to the trash dumpster!
I shined my extra bright flashlight into his eyes and he just kept looking from me...toward the overturned dumpster...back towards me....until I stood up from my crouched position and raised my hands over my head!
Then, he just turned and walked rather nonchalantly on up the road.
So...I have been adamant about locking the dumpster...but that hasn't stopped Mr. Bear from coming by to toss the barrel around and force the lid open enough to pull stuff out!
Last night he came back 2 times...the brave BF walked up the road the bear went up with his extra bright flashlight but Mr. Bear had finally made his departure for the night.
He came back by, again, tonite...I heard the dumpster fall over and went outside to scare him off...
He didn't look like he was going to scare so easily this time...till I walked toward him and banged on the dumpster....then he turned tail and hurried up the road.
He is a BIG bear! ...every bit as big as the bears one sees at the circus!
I sure am glad that black bears are instinctually cowards!
We had 4 male deer come by the other evening...
Hope got to see them.
In fact, Hope was on the deck, calling to them to come to her...like one would call to a dog!
The deer never came to her...but they gave her a nice view of them eating the wildflowers and grass across the driveway!
We also seem to have bunnies...the first time since we have lived here...
Apparently the foxes had a bad breakout of mange, so the fox population goes down and the bunnies and chipmunks and other rodents multiply quickly!
The hummingbirds really like Hope!
They come around when she isn't here...to get their drinks...but I don't hear them like I do when Hope is here and playing outside!
When she is here, they chase each other and zoom close to Hope's head...making her gasp in excitement!
They don't exhibit this behavior when only I go outside!
Sarah has been doing better...at least she has been showing more interest in eating!
For a little bit, there, she was looking like a skeleton with skin over it!...except that her ribs weren't showing...but her face was looking pretty "boney!"
But something changed (who knows "what!") and she has been eating large meals...mostly by herself!...and finishing all her food!
Though this causes me distress because I have to lift her, I am happy to see her putting some weight back on!
She has also been more receptive to being tickled! ....for a long while, she just wouldn't laugh when I tickled all the "right" spots...
But she has enjoyed being tickled till she is out of breath and telling me to "Stop!" in sign language! ....only for her to sign "More!" when I quit! Lol!
I haven't felt so good, lately...
I suspect it is caused by the worry and stress I and enduring...but I just don't seem to have the endurance I had a month ago...
Walking to the mailbox and back really takes it out of me lately!
...By the time I get back to the house, my legs ache and I am exhausted!
I have been slowing down on the hand-washed laundry...getting one load done in two days...just not feeling up to staying with it till it's done...plus my wrist and hands seem to be hurting more than usual.
My hip hurts me if I stand too long...so, it takes me for forever to get all the dishes washed...
Yet, if I sit for too long, my left leg aches until it forces me to get up and find something to do to take my mind off the pain!
Not much food sounds good to eat...but I do eat one decent meal every day, whether it tastes good to me or not...and I have been catching myself overindulging on candy!
...It starts with me looking at the candy and thinking "that really doesn't sound good right now," ...but, before long I have eaten far more than my fair share!...more like 3 or 4 servings in one sitting!!
Then I question myself: "Why on earth did you eat ALL THAT CANDY?"
My reply is usually something along the lines of "Because I secretly have a death wish and hope to die of a sugar high!"
(Yes...I DO have such conversations with myself, btw! Lol!)
Well...not much else is going on here...
The weather has been ever so pleasant at our elevation...
While folks are roasting in temperatures exceeding the 90 degree mark in the city, I have been flirting with adding a sweater to my ensemble to ward off chills and goosebumps!
The warmest part of the day is rarely hot enough to complain...and a stray cloud covering the sun for a few minutes will reduce the temperature in a hurry!
I hope everybody is doing well...not melting or in fear of your home going up in flames...
I hope life has been treating you all well!
I'll check back in when I have the time...
Hope is returning tomorrow (Thursday), so my time won't be my own for a while! Lol! (I'm not complaining! I LOVE having Hope with me to use up all my time! She gets much more enjoyment from my time than I do! Lol!)
Everybody have a great day/evening/weekend!

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