Another Plumber Visit, a Death, and Other Things

Tuesday, the volume of water coming from the sink in kitchen and bathroom suddenly decreased. I told Tommy and he called the plumber back. I thought it was the aerator stopped up. Of course, it could have been a water leak. Anyway, it was both aerators failing at once. I could not unscrew them and Tommy didn't seem interested. So, over $200 later, we have two new aerators!

I finally got a lampshade for the lamp I brought to put next to the loveseat where I perch. Maybe I need a lampshade two inches longer. The harp shows. Maybe if I sit up, it will look better.

Speaking of lamps, when the light in the ceiling in his bedroom blew out shortly after I arrived here, he went into another room to get a lamp. It was one of my lamps! When I was recovering lampshades and selling them to antique shops, I had about 20+ extra lamps in the basement and sewing room. One day when he was at my house putting the mower back in the basement, he came in and asked me if he could have/borrow one of the lamps as his had died. He either took two lamps at once or took one, needed another and took a second one. Either way, I was shocked when he brought out 'my" two lamps. So, I am using a familiar lamp. It is not one I would choose to use, but it is not bad.

He is annoyed I bought Fire Ant Bait since everyone in this neighborhood has fire ants and cannot get rid of them since they just move elsewhere. Yes, they do since fire ant killer just kills the ones who get into it. Amdro Bait or another bait is made to be carried back to the nest, killing all the fire ants. Fire ants got on my leg up to my panties and up to my knee on the other leg. I jumped off the bank and into the ditch by the road and ran toward our house, screaming and crying. My little brother chased me down, grabbed me, got me down in the road and took his hands and scraped them off me. Fire ants bite down with mouth and sting with rear end. So, they don't just fall off. We had gone through the bushes to pick plums on our ten acres. I was the one of the four children who stood in a fire ant bed.

Now, I am terrified of any ant. Several years after this incident, Daddy told me to get in the kitchen and wash the dishes. There were dishes all over because Mama was ill. I protested because there were ants all over the dishes and counters. I cried and bawled and refused. Daddy was livid and threatened me. I told him there was nothing he could do to me that would make me get into the ants. My little brother, one year younger, came into the kitchen and killed every last ant for me. I was forever grateful. I am not afraid of snakes, but I am terrified of ants.

In a few minutes, I will be applying Amdro Bait to the yard, about two feet from the ant mound and all around it. There are about a dozen in the yard, but I will treat one today unless my back is not hurting me too much. Okay, I waited too late today.

It is only in the high 60s and maybe in 70s and the humidity is low. The skies are blue, so it is a good day....lol. When it was 62 degrees, the sun shone so hot on my bare arm that I had to use my cloth I got to cover my arms--the one that is satin-backed crepe. Shorts and tank top are still very appropriate for the weather now.

I finally asked him if I could use garbage bags in his kitchen garbage and he agreed. Before, I said there was not one waste paper basket in the house. Well, I just could not see them in the dark! He still uses a bag hung onto the living room door. Having a kitchen waste basket means I don't have to walk to the living room with trimmings from squash or sweet potatoes or tiny pieces of anything. The stack of lids and plastic containers is slowly disappearing. I wonder where?

There is another waste basket sitting on his little table in the kitchen. I have plans for it as he said "it is just sitting there" when I asked him if there was a reason it was on the table.

I hadto have the Burger King tater tots with cheese inside. But, a serving of four was $1. I loved them but will never purchase them again. Have you tried these?

Today, I heard the name of a long time friend. He was one of the victims of a triple shooting in Cullman. He was 75, former principal. Tragic and another friend gone too soon.