Sitting at my computer the other day I saw movement right outside the office window. Quickly glancing around, I saw this…
Rural living is at its best when you get to enjoy nature.
Me and my trusty phone camera — shooting through a screen in the window — grabbed another shot when the sibling (or best friend) joined the daring exploration of the first.
By the time I captured the above 2 photos, the puppies were alerted and that was the end of the frolicking for the speckled butted youngsters.
While nature can be cute, it can also be scary for humans AND dogs!
During my morning dog detail (letting them out first thing to patrol the yard and do their business), I found a snakeskin shed as its owner slithered either in or out of a small opening to the garage part of the barndo. Yes, it needs to be re-sealed and that’s priority #1 on the ‘to do’ list.
And finally, Merida accidentally stepped on a stink bug and flipped her shit. She couldn’t lick her stinky foot so she held it out in front of her like she was missing at least two toes, verbalizing her plight with loud whines of disgust.
Now you know: In Indiana, the presence of snakes can help reduce the mouse population through predation, but they are not an effective deterrent for keeping mice away entirely. While snakes are a natural mouse predator, they eat infrequently, and mice reproduce far too quickly for a small snake population to make a significant impact on an infestation.
Perry mowed over the weekend and it looked like he was being followed by a dust cloud. It’s been so dry around here, the pool was just about ready to get the hose. We haven’t been able to swim for a couple weeks, but I still have high hopes for a day or two before it’s closed for the winter. Keeping it topped off with water and no rain is a pain.
But the skies opened and solved the problem!
We got just under 2 inches, but it was enough to give the shrubs and trees a good drink and fill the pool to the perfect level. It thundered like crazy, but there wasn’t much wind. Just lots of noise and rain. Upstairs, rain on the metal roof is LOUD… not so much downstairs.
We hadn’t even needed to mow for 2 weeks, and the bean field next to the barndo is about all brown now. I’m hoping it’s because growing season is over, and not because of the lack of precipitation here on the outskirts of the ville.
Now you know: In 2021, a New Zealand woman said she was looking forward to breathing easier and having a straighter nose after doctors removed a calcified Tiddlywink that had been lodged in her nose for 37 years. It was discovered via CT scan after a COVID-19 nasal swab test triggered serious sinus problems.
One thing I can definitely tell you that’s different living in rural Jackson County as opposed to Seymour city is that our electric goes out pretty much every time it sprinkles. If you hear thunder, you should place a bet that the barndo is in black out mode. During the brief storm we had last night, we lost power 3 times.
The birthday girl didn’t even care!
Dharma celebrated her 10th birthday not even noticing the thunder. When Gracie was alive, she would’ve been pawing at the toilet paper roll. Not sure why she did that in particular when afraid/anxious because of storms, but she did.
A cool off an beautiful sunset…
The rain cooled things off just a bit and turned the sky a beautiful orange.
Rural living is the best! ❤️
Now you know: The state with the highest obesity rate is West Virginia, at just over 41%. Indiana ranks among the top 10 states at 37.8%. (BMI is used to calculate obesity — BMI calculator here.)
You’d think retirement — even practice retirement — would translate into many relaxing days all strung together. Sort of like one big, long staycation. It hasn’t been that way for me much of the time, so when one day last week looked exactly like I thought it should for an old retired woman, I noticed.
I got all crafty… sort of. Although I have a huge box of wax and some essential oils to make my own candles, I opted for a “refill kit” and it worked out great!
When heating the already scented oil, the kitchen smelled wonderful and now I have 2 new candles. I also have the desire to make my own fragrances. Even the refill kits are expensive. I know, I know… they have the scent thing perfected already and I’m likely to end up with some not so great candles during practice. Would still be fun this winter though, right?
Practice retirement also means outdoor relaxation.
Listening to a book while sitting outside with three perfect dogs is an amazing way to spend an afternoon.
The bad part about the three perfect dogs is that they are far from perfect in actuality. If I were being honest, they’re a huge part of why I don’t have a lot of time to relax during retirement. Vacuuming and mopping floors happens daily — and that’s not including all the other things that take big chunks of time during the day.
Still, I wouldn’t trade my hounds for anything, and I totally love where I live even when it rains.
Now you know: Clara Peller, the Wendy’s “Where’s the beef?” lady, was also in an ad for Prego in which she says, “I found it!”. After the Prego ad aired, Wendy’s decided to terminate her contract, stating the Prego commercial implies “that Clara found the beef at somewhere other than Wendy’s restaurants”.
The outgoing of funds around here has been way above what is typical. If the lawn mower, A/C, tires, deer accident, and other expenses too numerous to mention weren’t enough, now the TV in the bedroom has decided to take a shit as well. At least we’re all relatively healthy and I have great (and not close) neighbors.
For a close-up view: The Pesky Neighbors’ roof is seen near the middle of the photo below — and my childhood home (with the petrified forest trees) is on the right.
What does it mean when curfews are needed in cities?
I read a couple days ago that the City-County Council approved a new curfew for Indy’s youth. Children 14 and under will not be allowed out after 9PM on any day. Children 15-16 cannot be out later than 9PM Sunday through Thursday and 11PM on Fridays and Saturdays. As a parent of an adult child, I think that timeframe is more than generous. When my kid was 16, my rules would’ve more than fit that criteria.
What parent would allow their child under 14 to be out after 9PM during a weekday anyway? Obviously, enough of them that the government must dictate timings for health & safety. Maybe Washington D.C. — and other cities experiencing high juvenile crime rates — should be a bit more strict in their timings, as well. (Currently, DC has an 11PM curfew every night for all persons 17 and under.)
Weigh-in day for fat chicks is tomorrow and I’m on the struggle bus.
I’m counting Weight Watcher points like it’s my job and I’ve gotten back into the treadmill routine. Still, I’m not losing weight like I have during past ‘Fat Chick Challenges.’ I’m pretty sure my lack of progress is a combination of my age and being near the suggested weight for my height. Even my Oura Ring is giving me crowns as progress reports — it’s just that darned scale that keeps shaming me. 🫤
Now you know: In 1943, American banker Donald Triplett became the first person to be diagnosed with autism. He was labeled as “Case 1”.
