An expensive afternoon

Along about 5:00 this morning, Emma started pacing around and woke me up.  In the six years she’s been with me, she’s only done this a couple of times so I knew I’d better stagger out of bed to take her out.  I just slipped on my Crocs and grabbed a sweatshirt, but I was too late.  She had an accident on the carpet.  I took her out anyway, and she needed it.  I sure wish dogs could have their accidents on the tile rather than the carpet.

Anyway, it turned out to be a dreary chilly overcast day, so I decided not to work.  I had a list of two things to accomplish at home today.  One was the dreaded vacuuming, and the other was to check my pressure regulator on my water hose.  The last day or so, the water pressure at the rig inside faucets has been dwindling.

Since I’m  close to being a professional procrastinator, I didn’t immediately jump to these two tasks.  After all, I had to read blogs and comments and such first.  I appreciate the concern that many of you have expressed about my shoulder.  I want you to know that I have been doing PT exercises all along and am only babying my shoulder as far as reaching overhead until a week from next Monday.  I certainly don’t want my shoulder to freeze up.

Early this afternoon, fellow volunteers Bob and Terry returned from their holiday visit with relatives, and Bob soon was knocking on my door.  It seems their water pressure is next to nothing also.  I tried calling a refuge staff member about our problems, but of course very few staff are working until the new year begins.  They have to use up their vacation days by the end of the year or lose them.  It’s a rather common occurrence at many refuges at this time of year.  So, who knows when this will get looked into.

As far as the vacuuming is concerned, I did my best to clean up the area on the rug with a spray I have for pet stains and odors.  Of course, that means a wet carpet, so I’ve decided it would be foolish to vacuum until the carpet is dry.  Perhaps tomorrow?  I told you I was a good procrastinator.

That brought me to late this afternoon, and I got thinking about Janna’s comment about the Zoomba robot vacuum cleaner.  It’s hard for me to get my mind around a robot vacuuming my rig, but I finally decided that you can’t take your money with you, so I bit the bullet and ordered one.  It had been lurking in the back of my mind especially since my shoulder problem, and the decision reminded me of one made over 40 years ago. 

My younger brother Kurt (Nurse Ratchet) was back from serving in Vietnam and selling Rainbow-Air Vacuum Cleaners.  Though it was very expensive for a new couple starting out, we purchased one from him and I really never regretted it.  I hope it gave him a little commission, and it served me well for many years.  I hope the Zoomba will do the same.

I don’t often get in a shopping mood, but today seemed to be the day.  After ordering the Zoomba, I looked online for some socks.  In June of 2011, I went to a Navy Commissary with my daughter Robyn and purchased some Thorlo walking socks.  They have been the best socks I’ve ever worn, but the tops are getting rather fagged out and falling down to my ankles.  They’re not cheap either, and between the two purchases, I may have to start thinking about getting a job! 

Several readers asked about a recipe for the raisin gravy I made for Christmas.  So, here it is.  I score the ham and put whole cloves into the cross sections of the scoring.  I then pat several handfuls of brown sugar on the outside of the ham.  Put the ham on a rack in the pan, put a cup or two of water under the rack, cover it all with tin foil and bake at 325*.  About an hour before the ham is done, toss in two good handfuls of raisins into the drippings.  After removing the ham, stir in some cornstarch to make the gravy and there you go.  Easy-Peasy! 

I’m off for two days of working the hunter check station this weekend.  I guess I’ve kind of rambled on tonight.  Oh well, that’s the way it is for me…

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy