I review listings on Zillow.com every single morning looking for a suitable home to purchase. I’ve said before I’d love to downsize — that hasn’t changed. The problem is, if I would sell my current home there’s NOTHING to buy. With two big dogs I can’t rent in the meantime. What apartment or condo would have us?
Building right now is scary with the price of lumber. Homes that are total gut jobs are so overpriced it’s crazy. I’m not necessarily limiting my choices to my current area either. Still, from an investment perspective, even with the price I could get for this home every option available in this market would likely be a future loss.
And don’t get me started on realtors! The second a property comes available, they have a buyer lined up. I get it… but their buyers are chosen because they’ll list their home (that also already has a buyer lined up) to increase the bottom line profits from realtor’s percentage fees.
Barring a miracle, we’re here for a while longer. At least we have a decent-sized backyard where grilling sensations happen…
And the tree in the front yard is pretty this year…
There’s a new survey that lists the four things that make practically everyone feel loved.
They are:
When someone shows compassion toward them in difficult times.
When a child snuggles up to them.
When their pets are happy to see them.
When someone tells them, “I love you.”
All those things are wonderful and do work most of the time for most people — but that #2? I’m not snuggling with any child. Not mine — and not my amazing granddaughter either. 🙁
I certainly feel the Oxytocin dumped when my puppies gaze at me the same way they look at turkey noodles (they LOVE turkey noodles!), but I’m not the only one missing hugs of compassion and love right now. You are too, right?
Still, the study is a reminder of the simple things we can all do to show appreciation of one another and make this COVID beast a little easier to carry. Let’s all try harder to spark feelings of warmth and tenderness during these totally shitty challenging times.
COVID-19 isn’t all that’s changed things around here, and a fire in the fireplace isn’t the only difference between 7 years ago and now in the ‘escape the 80’s house’….
How severe the pandemic is in the places where people I care about are located… Daily new COVID-19 cases (7 day moving average): Indiana-93.1 (down a tad); Jackson Co – 123.1 (up) — 7.45% infected (up); Florida 45.9 (up); Nevada – 82.5 (up)
TIL (today I learned): Every Christmas season, an estimated 3.6 million Japanese families treat themselves to Kentucky Fried Chicken. It’s become a nationwide tradition! Although my Mom would love that… Chinese restaurants are the only eateries that I know of that remain open around here on Christmas Day. 🙄
Painted the hall today but no photos to show until I actually put the outlet covers on and Perry puts the lights back up. Instead, I’ll share the minuscule things at the end of the driveway (there’s one on each side):
Not elaborate by a long shot, but they are only there because we needed to cover-up concrete slabs — or maybe an underground tunnel that reaches the Brownstown jail. But I’m pretty sure they cover concrete slabs that supported the brick pillars that once marked the end of the driveway.
Remember them? This was the last one to die…
It’s easier to cover them than bust them up. I figure once the shrub things fill out — it will look a whole lot better.
Merida has 2 doggie CBD pills under her belt. I hate to say they’ve helped… but she’s been unusually normal today. Don’t want to brag too soon and be all disappointed, but she didn’t throw them up — and that’s a start.
Daily new COVID-19 cases (7 day moving average): Indiana-19.09 (slightly up); Jackson Co – 13.6 (down slightly); Florida 14.2 (down); Nevada – 15.7 (up)
Y’all notice Indiana is higher than Florida AND Nevada now? Matter of fact, Indiana is the 10th worst place to be in the US if you don’t want COVID.
There’s a lady, Jane, I met a long time ago while working with a local bank to have items printed. She and her husband owned the print company. On Thursday, she had an issue with her web service and asked for my immediate help. I had her fixed up in no time.
Saturday morning, she showed up at my door with a bottle of wine, an awesome throw pillow and tried to give me $20. The pillow is really cool and wine is always great!
I refused the cash and didn’t know she’d left it for me to find once she’d gone. I didn’t find it but…
It’s always nice to be nice. The only one in this scenario that WASN’T nice was Merida. She took the $20 bucks and hid under the bed. I retrieved it before it was in pieces, but it sure was soggy.
While Jane was here, we compared dog war stories — she has a problem child too. Said she gives her dog CBD chewies and they’re amazing. Huh! By Merida’s weight, she’s supposed to get 3 per day. I figure 10 might make a difference and anything is worth a try. My sanity depends upon it. 🙂
While Perry just sent a text that said the SUV is fully loaded from his trip to Home Depot for outdoor additions, I’m back on the ladder painting today. My view…
Daily new COVID-19 cases (7 day moving average): Indiana-19.07 (slightly down); Jackson Co – 13.9 (same); Florida 15.0 (down); Nevada – 13.6 (down)
TIL (Today I Learned): The FDA lists a daily percentage of added sugars in foods and drink. A single can of Coke contains 78% of your daily recommended sugar intake. Read more here…
I mentioned that I was going to paint my fireplace. Not gonna lie, I was pretty nervous about it. Once brick is painted, you’re committed. But I’m happy with the end result.
It went from this (when we moved in)… to this… (until today)…
To this…
I used Avorio White Limewash Interior/Exterior Paint by Romibo. Once I started mixing the stuff I thought I was in BIG TROUBLE. It’s like painting watery sand. It was the messiest stuff I’ve ever worked with but very forgiving. Like… when Merida walked on it before it was dry, it wasn’t hard to fix. (insert eye roll here) The GOOD dog just posed for a photo.
Next up is either the master bedroom and bath or repainting the floor in the sunroom. Neither project excites me. Blah!
Daily new COVID-19 cases (7 day moving average): Indiana-19.7 (way up); Jackson Co – 149 (up); Florida 16.4 (still going down); Nevada – 17 (down)
