Poison Oak

 Lack of sleep and the national events of Sunday evening rendered me incapable of writing a post. I had been 29 hours without sleep when I finally was able to succumb on Sunday night. Then, I slept 8.5 hours and felt better than I have in weeks. 

Sunday evening, I finally opened a can of salmon for salmon croquettes. First, I had to get all the black stuff off the salmon. I could smell it and became ravenous. I must have eaten a quarter of the can as it came out of the can (not heated). It was delicious! Mama always put crushed saltine crackers in her croquettes. Decades ago, I decided oats were a better, more healthful choice. We had no saltines or oats last night. So, I used cornmeal. There were just enough chopped onions in the refrigerator

When I tried to form the patties to fry in olive oil, the patties were too dry to hold together, so I added a bit of olive oil. I should have used two eggs, but I only used one because I didn't have a whole can of salmon. They were good. If I had fried potatoes, gravy, and Great Northern Beans, it would be just like in my youth. But, I don't eat like that anymore. I had green beans with it. I forgot we had mustard greens ready to heat and eat. I only remembered when I saw them on Tommy's plate. 

Tommy took the ads and made a list. He actually put Prego Spaghetti sauce on the list. He uses it once I make spaghetti and puts it on other food items. He added an apple pie, just one at bogo for $3. It was only 6" across, thankfully. 

The main thing I wanted was a bag of salad mix. Fresh Express was bogo making it $3.50. I thought that was much more expensive than usual. So, I had him get only one. Dasani was b2g1, so we bought 3. He got bananas for me and forgot the bread. We need to go to another store tomorrow. Plus, we still have a bit. 

Where we were going to use the little chainsaw around the dogwood tree is a mass of poison oak. Now, we need to get rid of that! The mower wants to get rid of it in the fall when it dies back. I want it gone now. Besides, touching it in winter can still cause a rash/reaction. I took poison oak off little and large trees at my house when I noticed it. But. this is quite the infestation and won't be easily removed.

An electrician is scheduled to come and put up the three light fixtures in the kitchen this weekend. I saw a post on Next Door that made its way to the internet. At last, we will have proper light! 

Shockingly, he bought Life and Cheerios. Both were bogo. I didn't realize he had no more boxes stacked up on the bookcase by his chair. Yes, he wants them close. I gave up storing them on a shelf in the kitchen...lol. 

Well, I managed to sleep from 4-6:30 and could not even wake up. I have no idea, no remembrance of say, "Okay, I will be right there." Yes, I did come to the living room about 7 pm. 

I told Tommy we need to work every day to get the dining room where the electrician can get a ladder in there to work. He said, "I guess that means I have to do it." He is a good man. Actually, when cleaner comes, I will direct her what to do that will make it less onerous for Tommy. 

Tommy did not know how to buy strawberries. He has bought some almost dead ones. So, I finally instructed him to only buy shiny berries and to notice how some are dull, and not so plump. Now, he buys the best the store has. He washed them in vinegar, rinsed, dried, and stored them in a glass bowl with SnapLock lid. They are as good now as when they were bought last week. And, they are delicious.  Every night, I have about five. Yum! 

Tonight, I had a chicken tender, a salmon croquette, lots of green beans, salad, and strawberries. 

Have you ever battled poison oak? 

I Goofed Up and Dogs Being Removed

 As I said, I ordered a mini chain saw Sunday night. I searched on Amazon for a Stihl GTA26. Then, I ordered the one that showed up. It was not Stihl as I figured out this morning. So, I looked for Stihl dealers. We went to a very nice hardware store and bought what I wanted. The guy was nice and brought it outside for us to look at. He took Tommy's cc and driver's license, went inside and paid for it AND filled out the warranty. Easy peasy.

We went to phone store. Somehow, the pin did not work when I talked to person on the phone. Then, we went to Publix for eggs. 

The chain saw was a total of $199. Tommy likes it. 

I called city about why yard is overgrown again. Also, the dogs are still suffering from being abandoned. Plus, on the telephone pole at the end of their fence, on the right-of-way there is a coil of wire, probably from internet company and a loose piece of wire. I have seen kids touching them. I am afraid someone will be hurt. The woman told me those were not electrical wires as though I thought they were live wires. I told her emphatically that I was not fearing electrocution, just hanging themselves. She told me to call ATT. Nope, I have reported a danger to children. They can call all the internet/telephone services themselves. The woman said someone else called about the dogs this morning, too.

Tommy saw people working and went to tell them about the trees and weeds between the two fences that both belong to the house next door. When I mentioned it to the woman, she told me just to go and spray it. I told her I did not like Roundup and certainly did not want to look at tall, dead, brown trees and weeds. She told me to go over and tell him when he was working. Why is all this my responsibility? She is very nice, by the way. 

I told Tommy and he went over when the guy was mowing, and I was napping. The guy had a big trailer full of limbs and junk. I don't think they have ever picked up a limb since they have lived there. The guy cleaning the yard said they removed huge boxes from the carport and found lots of rats living in them. I suppose they will come here for shelter! The piano is still on the front porch where it has sat for two years. 

He told Tommy that when the city came and removed the dogs tomorrow, he could mow the rest of the yard. Maybe the dogs will get a good life now.

As we were leaving today, a little bird was sitting on my wire chicken. It looked this way and that and jumped over a bit, looked this way and that. It repeated this action until it jumped into two-foot pot that has no plants. I told Tommy there was a nest in there. When we came back, I shuffled over there and looked. Under a piece of cloth there was a bird nest with one egg. I think it was one egg. I did not touch it or disturb it. It seems like it is late in the year for birds to be laying eggs. I hope a displaced rat does not come over here tonight and eat the mama bird or the baby. 

Right now, I must cancel the mini chainsaw. 

I am so happy to find the hardware store with a present owner, I may abandon Lowe's. He even knew about my hardware store in Cullman. 

This post will not be edited!

Have you ever had neighbors like this? 

I suppose we will have a rat infestation?

Amazon Prices

 Sunday night/Monday morning, I ordered a Stihl mini chainsaw, 6". Tommy will use it on a dogwood tree that is half dead. A larger tree fell on it and broke it. The story is hazy. Half the tree is short and bushy, whereas the other half is spindly and lives. Only one half has flowers. It is ridiculous looking. I have no idea how much it would cost to have mower prune it away. But, we have got this. 

Saturday, I looked it up. The price was something like $1,200. You read that correctly. This was the cheapest chainsaw I found. Others were upward from there. I have no idea what happened to Amazon. I had two things in the cart. Both were gone. 

The chainsaw was $59, and I got a discount making it $40. So, we don't have to use this much to get our money's worth. He is strong enough to handle it. It is cordless/battery operated. 

Sunday, we returned a blouse that did not fit, bought paper towels, three 70-sheet college ruled spiral notebooks. Looked for the Stihl chainsaw at Lowe's. Publix--milk for both of us, grapes, two more bags of coleslaw bogo. 

We rarely use paper towels, so this 6-pack should last a year or more. The other day, we had no paper towels, so I had Tommy heat the last chicken nugget on a Kleenex that he folded. Well, the Kleenex was black and the burn smell lingered for hours! He did heat it for way too long. It was like a rock. We often used just a quarter of a paper towel. One day, I had him microwave chicken nuggets on a dishcloth. That seemed weird. But, it worked and we could wash the dishcloth.

In the afternoon I cut up two bell peppers, one bag for freezer and a lesser amount for the refrigerator. Then, while I napped, he ate. He said he used some tomato, onions I had chopped, and bell peppers to make a salad. He will eat things if I have it all cut and ready. Or, he will make a wrap if we have wraps. 

I am still working, albeit slowly, on putting away stuff dug out when we decluttered. With the lamp in the kitchen, I can even see well enough in the kitchen to wash up the Tupperware I bought. I know there is nothing dirty on it to wash off, but I cannot stand and do things in the dark. Call me spoiled, but I like light. 

The forecast this next week is rain every day. Hopefully, some of those days will just be spotty or not for our location. I have things I need to do! 

Dinner--chicken, slaw. I will probably have slaw every day this next week, and that is a good thing. 

Did you look on Amazon and find exorbitant prices on Saturday? I kept trying again and again to determine if I had the right Amazon. This $40 chainsaw was over $1200. 

Monday and Trees

Today has been weird. Granted, I slept late, but we both have been drowsy all day, napping at the drop of a hat.  I heard snoring and looked at Tommy, slack-jawed and sound asleep. It would last from three to fifteen minutes, then he was wide awake. Tommy never missed Jeopardy, but today he said he went to sleep during final Jeopardy. Once I was in bed for my second nap, I wondered if something was seeping into the house. But, I went to sleep mid-thought.

We are going to buy one of the tiny chain saws and Tommy will cut the part of the dogwood that has died. Hopefully, we won't hurt ourselves. He is strong and steady, so it should be okay.  We have a plan. 

I did things but have no idea what I did. We went nowhere even though we need bread and pimientos. Tomorrow, we need to go to pharmacy and to The Pig. 

The call about the dogs was forgotten amongst other calls I needed to make. Tomorrow, I promise. 

I fear I have to cook tomorrow! Rats! 

Do Your Research Before Planting One Of These Trees That Might Ruin Your Yard - Explored Planet

Do you have any of the trees on this list?