A nice murder and a pot of tea

I finally found an exterminator, and to my amazement, they were able to send a technician Friday morning. 

I got up and ready early, just as well, because Joel the Exterminator texted at a bit after seven to say he was on his way. I had to dash over and let him in, Handsome Son having left for work long before.

He inspected, found no evidence of roaches or activity, did a precautionary spray of the baseboards, and was done, leaving me with a report for the HOA, by nine. Soooo I forwarded it to them, got an acknowledgement and that's done. Except they still have to invoice me, technicians not being involved with payments. Whatever it costs I expect it will be too much.

Next to get the car in to the dealer for the fuel pump sensor recall I've been trying to get done for two years,  difficult because they haven't had the parts. I want it checked over before winter anyway. Next week I'll set it up. No use asking on a Friday, I know from past experience. 

After all this, and a flying visit to the food pantry to leave canned goods, I decided reading a nice murder mystery on the sofa, cup of tea, afghan, was fine.  

The wind was shrieking round, making it feel a lot colder and I decided not a walking day. I did a bunch of sit to stands with weights, and declared myself fit enough.

Happy day everyone, I avoided Halloween,  aside from admiring the kids in costumes,  again. I really can't handle the scary images and general feeling. 

I grew up with it as a quiet day of remembering our dead, and have never made the transition to seeing it as partying.

 But if you enjoyed it I won't spoil your fun. Different strokes, folks, etc. 

And blink, October's over. How did that happen?

Who exterminated the exterminator? Misfits

Thursday morning was about phoning and searching and trying to track down an exterminator. The one I used in July seems unreachable -- his number was answered by a different company far north, his cell out of service, not responding to emails -- maybe he retired. And all the others are franchises, none very close. 

I'm finally getting estimates, and hoping for an inspection appointment. But it's a weird world, many takeovers, and a lot of negative online reviews.  Which might be fakes written by competitors, you never know.  And they all want continuing contracts with monthly payments. All I want is a baseline for now. And a local company to do it. 

In other dull news, the high tech cream my derma prescribed for the facial skin issue hasn't done much to soothe the itch or smooth it out.  So I returned yesterday to the rosewater and glycerin I used to use, and it feels much better.  And the continuing pouring rain helps quite a bit, with the increased humidity.

Thursday afternoon is take down of the group art show, best fun I've had in a while. It's always a bit sad to remove a show, like leaving a party in a way. 

At the library in the afternoon, my spirits were lifted when I saw a crowd of little kids getting organized for the Halloween parade and party. Tiny dinosaurs, pumpkins, cats, crocodiles, all kinds of costumes. No pix because kids.

Misfits was delivered in the rain, poor guy 

How I know when to expect them

Handy for the customer, but not so good for Robert this week's driver, working under surveillance. They're very accurate. The pink truck must be in the shop this week.

Here's the usual suspects. Extra canned goods for the food pantry. Olive oil because I'm nearly out and I use it daily. Scallions and spinach for the required leafy greens. The scallions are so fresh they snap. Beautiful brown free-range eggs for many purposes, what do you want for dinner, there's eggs, style. Two lots of panko, one now in the freezer for insurance because I like breading.  Brown rice, now spending a couple of days in the freezer in case of any wildlife.  Lime juice to beat up with the yogurt as desserts with the blueberries. 

I'm thinking stir fries this week, thank you, Sandra, also various ideas involving chickpeas, cannellini beans and rice. 

And the box is now broken down and tied with string for the recycle. When it stops raining.

Happy day everyone. Some days we all feel a bit like the box, broken down, tied up. But there's always tomorrow.

Today's resistance 

Here's me wearing my American Patriot pea whistle, in resistance yellow, ready to distribute the others to anyone who needs to resist ICE. 

In Chicago they're being used to warn neighbors about ICE in the streets and to help intimidate and distract them.

If you know a community organizer who can use them, email me with contact details and I'll ship them, no strings.

Exterminator and lucets and fleece

Saturday was about noise and drilling and hoses dragged through the house and smells and debris. And about sorting the mass of items that came out of the storage unit.

I moved the portable ramp into the house along with the other medical equipment. And I Freecycled this portable folding seat 

Happy taker. It's going camping with him. I used to take it out for plein air painting when I didn't know what I might find to sit on.

Later a couple of neighbors helped me sort out a bunch of garden stakes and set the ends in a bag to keep them organized.

Things took an upward leap after the house had been decontaminated and John the Exterminator left.

 I'd admired these maple lucets online. The maker's wife passed on my compliments to him. I've been looking at handmade lucets for ages.

Next her husband offered to make me one if I paid the shipping! I instantly accepted. That definitely improved my day.  

Again I did a search on the etymology of the word and again found it's of obscure origin. Meaning someone lost the bit of parchment it was written on by the only monk who knew, and since then it's been one big coverup.

This is wool day. This library request arrived 

She's hugely readable, a yarn expert, also friend of Franklin Habit, which speaks well of both of them. 

It's her adventure with a massive bale of cashmere-fine merino wool fleece and what happened after it came into her life.

Happy day everyone. You never know what might come into your life and improve your day.

Speaking of trans, I saw an interview today with a trans man who explained a lot of things very frankly and kindly -- the interview was their idea. 

One thing they said was that it's kind for cis people to specify their pronouns, because because it takes a bit off the "otherness" of trans people doing it. I liked that enough to go to my bio on that platform and insert she/her into my self description.

Just sayin'.

The adopted orchid, the exterminator and the foster plants

Early Sunday I cooked an unlikely hot weather dish. Baked shells in cheese sauce. I just felt like it. Small shells, cheese sauce with a lot of sharp cheddar and feta crumbles. It's enough for several days, and might also work cold, we'll see.

But meanwhile, back at the house. One of the findings of the insurance contractor was the source of the neverending ant supply in the kitchen. 

They're all over the neighborhood, constant issue. And since the neighbors on both sides have the same situation as well as termite damage, we all had the exterminator come out Sunday morning to see what's what.

The verdict, after Exterminator John's long client education on termites, their life and habits, likewise ants, is that I need exterminating to happen. 

My house needs termite treatment front and back, no activity right now, but it needs to be done. And I'll get the ants treated. I don't like resorting to this, but it's them or me. 

So now it's waiting for an estimate and I'll go from there. I knew there had been termites years ago, and part of the repair in the kitchen involves replacing wood anyway. We don't have the kind of termites that involve tenting. These can be treated by inserting stuff into the ground.

So one thing's under way. 

This writing was interrupted by Gary dashing in to ask me to hold a wire detector thing for him in his kitchen to trace a short that was turning his lights off. He went to the circuit box and we had the usual Off now? Now? Now?  dialog until he found the right breaker. 

Then yet another plant came over to stay with me while he's away. Here's the begonia, which I'd started for him long ago. 

I'd top prune if it were mine, to make it bushier, but he loves its height, so I'll refrain.

And there are other visitors on the deck. I get to water them. 

There's a coleus near the water bottle, which I started, gave to him rooted, he put in a pot and now it's back for a few days.

This is his plant insurance while he's away.

And the orchid his daughter gave up on has started budding, see in foreground 

It's all go. 

I was indoors, too hot out there. 

Stitching my basket, reading Mrs Pargeter and sleeping took the afternoon. 

I'd had a complete walk around the development early morning. I hope I don't take this for granted. There was a time when I really thought I was past it. Evidently not.

The only drawback of this early rising and walking is that I'm done for by about ten am.

Happy day everyone, stay calm, cool, at least that's what I'm trying for.