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The View from My Window At Work

Long Overdue Gratitude Posts

I am sooo overdue on gratitude posts. It's been that sort of a month.

But here goes in no particular order of  some the things I am very grateful for today


Bagel sandwiches with good cream cheese and veggies
Bagels and as close to organic as you can get eggs for breakfast,
The fact I do wake up in the morning,
The Oliver Wolcott Library in Litchfield with it's great DVD selection,
The town transfer station,
Multiple dinner invitations for Thanksgiving,
Being able to sleep in at least one day a week,
A car that works
Knowing the difference between being smart and being right.
Each and everyone of my dogs, past and present.
My hair stylist that covers the grey!
Good co-workers


There are a few more things, but I will list them later!

I've been struggling with some issues, so it's been hard to post what I am grateful for when I feel so miserable.    You  know, just not feeling the love as I say.

I guess I can say that today, I am thankful I woke up with the ability to complain.!

Today's post of gratitude

I am grateful that I have the common sense to realize that I am not perfect.   How many people do you know think that they are?  

30 Days of Gratitude

I am darned lucky to have such wonderful friends and neighbors.  Heather and Donald are truly the Best Neighbors In The World and take such great care of me and the puppies!  You gotta have friends and they rock!

Storms and more storms

It's been a rough week, first Hurricane Sandy, now snow storm Athena.  The snow storm dropped about 5 inches more than anticipated.  The puppies have never seen snow, did not like it the first time I dropped them out, this morning they had a great time romping around the yard. It gave me time to clean the boxes and put fresh bedding in them.   Two of the pups are nothing but shit boxes.   Poop every where and poop all over me.   I hate this stage of puppies.

I did get the runs shoveled out. So all the dogs are going outside in a bit.    It's not as cold and as windy as it was first thing this am.  

I did at one point have all the toys all over the floor, my shoes fair game to small puppy teeth.  I just don't have enough out of puppy reach places to keep my shoes safe, not having a door on my closet doesn't help the situation either.!

Puppies are back in their boxes being quiet, tea is still hot under the tea cozy, I got the house vaccummed and right now, I feel pretty good!

30 Days of Gratitude

I am grateful that I have a skill set that enables me to work in this competitive job market.

Gratitude

I am so far behind on my 30 days of gratitude

2) I am gratefull I have a working car

3) I am grateful I have good friends

4) I am grateful I have food on my table.

5) I am grateful my dogs are happy and healthy!

6) I am grateful I have the RIGHT to vote to choose my goverment leaders!

The Puppy Proof Pen Project

When I was in dog not coming into season hell, I decided to use a little Law Of Attraction. I have this short chain link pen that I call the Puppy Pen.  It actually stinks as a puppy pen.  The chain link is about four inches wide, perfect for small puppies to crawl through and perfect for not so nice PRTs to stick snouts through to terriorize puppies.It also had embossed pavers in it, perfect to catch lots of puppy poo.

One day this spring before Skye was bred, I decided swap out the smooth pavers in front of the big dog run for the embossed pavers in the puppy run.  It was dirty kind of heavy work, I had to move the pen, pick up the pavers, move the pavers, pick up the other pavers, move then, set all the pavers in their new spots and try to level them out  (If it sounds like I'm whinging, I am!). 

But I managed to get it done and celebrated that with a large gin and tonic and a handful of generic Advil.

There was one last thing to do, which was to puppy proof the pen.What it needed was some hardware cloth to surround it.   I had a number of people say they had extra hardware cloth that I could have for free. I love free, what I don't love is people who don't deliver on free.

A trip to the Home Depot to pick up a twenty five foot roll of 1/2 inch hardware cloth.  I did look at poultry wire for half the price and plastic hardware cloth.   I ended up with the hardware cloth. I just felt better using that instead of something else.

I got my tin snips, a bunch of cable ties and proceeded to wrap the cloth around the pen. I was pretty proud of myself, I managed to cover any and all escape options and fasten the cloth to the pen with the cable ties and very little swearing.....

I also ended up taking one of the spare panels from the old PVC ex pen and made an additional door behind the door to keep the puppies in. Do you know HOW hard it is to keep 5 active Lakie puppies in the pen when you try to do things like put food in or add or subtract pups?  

The Pen Before The Wrap

The Pen After The Wrap.

The pen is not quite as spiffy as the "big dog"runs, but it is paved with smooth pavers (easy to scoop poop, bleach and shovel snow out of).   The damaged Mason end panel with a tarp over it makes for some shelter from the rain. I will see if I can find a small dog house at Tractor Supply Company for better shelter.   

Time start to finish for both parts of the project, about 3 hours.   But the pups now have a nice safe place to hang out in the yard.

Things I Hate

1) Undercooked pasta
2) People who don't read e-mails to the end.
3) Knee socks that sag
4) Having to wear reading glasses
5) Being stood up.

Please note, this is not a complete list.

Today's Thought.

So I decided to participate in The Thirty Days of Gratitude project I saw Dogs Don't Eat Pizza Blog.    I've spent a good portion of my time recently feeling resentful about things in my life.  Things I have no control over, things I have control over that don't work out, and things in general. It really is a negative way of thinking and I wanted to change that.   

I read somewhere that it takes 21 days for something to become a habit.   I will probably need the thirty days!  

I woke up this morning in the most frightful mood. I feel mean and want to be mean to someone!  Yeah, that frightful.   Then I remembered all those people in New Jersey, on Long Island and on the CT shore that have lost everything-homes, cars, possessions, those people without power and won't have power for days more. Yikes, how selfish one becomes in a mean grumpy mood.

I am grateful that I woke up this morning in my own bed with my dog to a house with power and food in the fridge..


Makes you think doesn't it.

The New Mail Box

One of the projects on my ever growing to do list was to replace my crappy  dented  mail box.  When I moved to my little house years ago, there was no mailbox. The previous owners had a post office box at the village post office. Our little road with 5 houses has all the mailboxes at the end of the road in a row. It's pretty common when you live in a rural area to have this sort of box arrangement.

When I moved to my house,I WANTED a mail box, my own personal mail box for my own personal mail.  I bought a box and a friend of mine installed it for me oh so long ago as part of a housewarming present. 

About three years ago, some of the degenerative youth of my town did what degenerative youth have done for years, they took a baseball bat to a bunch of boxes and smashed them up.   Given the fact my mail box is in the middle of 5 others, what were the odds that mine would get hit as compared to the ones on the end.   Well it did.  See what it looked like below. Note, the other boxes which are just out of the photo were NOT damaged at all......

The front door was missing, the side was all bent, no package hook and the flag was useless.


I started to look for a replacement mail box.  Your basic metal mail box was expensive, like way more than I remembered paying for the first box.  Plus I had myself convinced that it would be complicated to replace.   And I wanted one that was not basic black and it had to be metal.   

Wandering through the Home Depot a few weeks ago, they had these bronze colored metal mailboxes on sale for $9.99.  I grabbed one without thinking. I got back to my car, slapped my head and said "What was I thinking?"   I don't know if I can replace the mail box all by myself.

Huh, silly me.  I had to remind myself of my new mantra, girls with power tools rule.

Off I went to the mail box with my cordless drill, two screwdrivers, a crow bar and a hammer.  It was easier than I thought.  The box was screwed to the wood base with some very old, very rusted, very small and very easier to remove screws.  I dusted off the wood base, and went back to the house to get the new mail box and some wood screws.  I dropped the new box on the base and used a couple new wood screws to fasten the box on the wood base.  Never had to use the screwdrivers, crow bar or hammer. Yeah a bit of overkill to bring them all up to the box. 

Total time start to finish,  about 12 minutes including the short walk from the road back to the house. I now have a nice new mail box with a door that closes so my mail will stay nice and dry. I have since added new stick on house numbers to make it complete! 

One thing off my list and done all by my lonesome!

I survived Sandy!

I survived Hurricane Sandy just fine. BUT if I have to hear one more person in this area bitch about not being prepared, I think I may have to find them and bitch slap them. 

Come on people!  Get with the program!

Chores

Hard to believe that fall is actually here. I spent part of today doing some of my fall chores. Today's chore was washing my windows. I managed to get all but one of the house windows done inside and out.   I have one window that will require me moving my desk and all the electronics.  It can wait until next week.  

The dog room is another story. I got the exterior of the windows done, I have to do an overhaul on the room, crates out, floor swept and washed, I can then clean the inside of the windows and make sure they are all in "their upright position".  It will also give me some time to think, yet again, about putting plastic on those windows or some sort of wind/cold/winter protection.  

Dinner Rachel Style

Sooo when we went to Rachael Ray a few weeks ago, Rach (see we are on nickname terms) made this maple and mustard chicken.  It has many of my favorite ingredients, chicken, mustard, maple syrup, onions, potatoes, butter, garlic...... yumm

I've been waiting for a good day to make this dish.  I had a few variations on her reciepi. I used a cut up chicken in stead of a chicken done in quarters. I ended up put the garlic in the pan with the tatties, onions and apples instead of in the sauce.   And I did not use a shallot.  I thought I had one, but did not.

This is the cut up apples, onions and tatties covered in some melted butter salt and pepper.

This is the cut up chicken lovingly rubbed with Olive Oil, salt and pepper. 

The veggie mix after roasting for 10 minutes as Rach said we should. I think I should have roasted the veg a little longer, in the end the tatties were a bit on the al dente side... 

The chicken on top of the veg with the maple syrup and mustard mix.  I'd use a bit less syrup and a bit more moutard the next time I made this. I'd also use a bit more cider vinegar...

The finished product out of the oven.  It made the house smell amazing....

On my dish, yes that is the steam from the food rising in the photo, I don't have a haunted plate!

The veg after being stuck back in the oven for an additional 15 minutes.  It made the tatties oh so much better.   Next time I will roast the veg a bit longer.....

I'm going to be eating leftovers for the rest of the weekend.......

You can find Rachael's Recipe by clicking here.here  

Things I Love

1) Hearing from an old friend after months and feeling like it has been only days,

2) A clean kitchen floor.

3) A good nights sleep.

4) A proper cup of tea.

5) Finding an extra $20 in my wallet.



Note, this is not a complete list.   

Might, what a limiting word.....

This is what I don't understand.  Why can't people help themselves? I mean, I see and deal with more people who can't help themselves and live in a world of : might".  As in, it might rain, so I won't go on a bike ride.There might be flowering plants on the hiking path that might make me sneeze, I might need all those old clothes that never fit me any more, I can't get rid of those old files as I might need them. I can't say no to someone because I might hurt their feelings......

I mean, seriously?  

Things I Hate

1) Cold damp dreary days.
2) My achey knees.
3) Soggy Slippers.
4) Wine that has gone "off".
5) People who don't read e-mails,letters,documents until the end then ask stupid questions...



Please note, this is NOT a complete list

Who Needs A Panini Press

I wanted a grilled cheese sandwich for dinner tonight, a smushed grilled cheese sandwich. I don't have a panini press, so I improvised!

Things I Love

The smell of Sunday gravy cooking on the stove.

Listening to the radio in bed in the morning with one of the dogs.

Puppy breath.

Rain on the roof while snug in bed.

Finishing a project.

The smell of sheets after they have been hung out on the line to dry.

A properly poured pint.....

                  Note this is not a complete list......

The Rachael Ray Show

A couple weeks ago, The Best Neighbor In The World and I went to a taping of the Rachael Ray Show.   I've gone to a couple taping's of Anderson Coopers Talk show and to the Nate Berkus show.  I've waited something like 9 months to get Rachael Ray tickets.  When the e-mail appeared in my inbox for two tickets, I jumped on it!


I do have to say, I was pretty chuffed that Rocco DiSpirito was on the show.  I love Rocco.  What can I say, I have a thing for men who can cook.

The cool thing about the show was we ended up with a ton of schwag.   We got a copy of Rocco's new book, a mini wireless speaker, a watch, a make up kit (so not being used by me), a coupon for a  Rowenta travel iron, a copy of Rachaels magazine and and a Temper pedic pillow.  I needed a new watch, it's a bit big, but it's still pretty good and we also have a coupon for another watch band (can you say PURPLE). I love that pillow...... I think we ended up with close to $300 worth of stuff. We looked like bag ladies as we schlepped to the bar for a drink (good beer,mediocre food).

I'm hoping the travel iron arrives before I leave for MCKC..........

The End of The Summer Basil

It's fall, that's for sure. It arrived this past weekend, the air decidedly crisper, the sun setting earlier, the gardens slowing down.  I started (way too late again) to make pesto and chop up the basil in some olive oil to put a kiss of summer into winter dishes.

The basil seems to taste different in September than it did in August.  I still have made a couple jars of pesto and a handful of small baby food jars that have either just basil or basil, parsley and a little olive oil.  IF  I had my act together, I would have been doing this all summer long, oh well, next year...

Another Project Bites The Dust

I've had this old cast iron fire grate for a couple years.  I had originally had it in the house to store shoes, but I could never find a good spot for it. So out the front door and at various points it was a leaf collector, shovel holder and dog toy holder. It was getting a bit drab and a tiny bit rusty and in need up a face lift. Here it is in pieces with a coat of primer on it. 

I had a can of leftover Rustoleum High Heat black spray paint.  I got it to spiff up my old gas grill, but I figured it should be ok to use on the grate.  Here is the finished product!  I'm going to get a nice potted mum to put into this.   I'm thinking yellow would look good against the white clapboards and blue trim.  Total time start to finish, less than an hour including dry time!  

Laboring Day

While the rest of the US had a BBQ, hung out, watched baseball, I used my one day off to get chores done.  The list of things to do is long and lengthy. I have been taking inspiration from DIYDiva and attacking my list of stuff that needs to get done.

The first chore was re-organizing the shed.  When you live in a house that is 476 sf with no attic, basement or garage, prioritizing what goes in the shed is paramount.  For me, it's the excess of dog crates. I counted, I have 21 crates of varying styles, types and sizes. I only have 4 dogs, but 21 crates?  Yeah a bit much

This is all the crap, uh stuff, out of the the shed. Under the blue tarps to the right are the rubbermaid bins I store other "sutff".  I pulled out almost everything, less the plastic shelving unit, that was easy to just stick in a different spot. I swept the floor, made a pile of stuff to go the town dump and pounded a few nails to hang "stuff".

Why do I have a photo of the rotted corner of the shed? Well that whole soffit was filled with nasty biting yellow jackets. I had dumped a full can of bee killer spray the night before. I saw them going in and nesting a few days before and I had visions of opening the shed door and getting swarmed.  

The right side of the shed, all the crates, chairs, coolers, tent, cones and the back seat to the Escape are neatly stacked. You can also see the Tule Rack I still want to sell.

The left side of the shed, on the shelves, miscellenaous things, to the left where you can't see it, all the rakes, shovels, brooms, pitchforks and assorted gardening items.


The whole process start to finish only took about an hour.  I should be able to keep this pretty tidy.  I could use a much bigger shed, but this will do for now! Maybe later this fall, I'll slap a fresh coat of paint on it.

I Totally failed that 26 day challenge.....

Yeah, I totally failed that 26 day challenge, fast forward a few years and I now have grass by my runs, a lovely paver walk way, the puppy pen (which is another post in an of it self) has a top on it as well.  Each run has a dog house, Ben never uses his, well, only to pee on! 

Some things that have to be done sooner rather than later,

1) Re-caulk the house where the siding meets the foundation. As you can tell by the photo below, Ben has taken a terrier like interest in what is living behind the siding and in the walls.  I'm sure we have more than our fair share of mice.    I know we have more than our fair share of mice.

2) Probably not only have to re-caulk, but replace a couple rows of clapboards as well. Can you see where someone has had a snack?????? It's the perfect height for a Parson or a Lakeland......

3) Put hardware cloth all around the puppy pen.  The chain link allows very small and creative puppies to climb out of said pen, and allows very naughty terriers to stick their snouts into the pen.  

4) Re-sod or put more pavers down in front of the puppy pen.  When it rains, it gets very very muddy.

5) Plant some more hostas and shade loving plants behind the pen.  Putting in any type of an annual is just not working, the impatiences and coleus are all getting eating by slugs. I want to make a shade garden since that part of the yard gets minimal sun.

I have such an odd work schedule that I should be able to do most of these things with a little time, effort and energy. I should do these things at least once or twice a week instead of drinking wine in the sun lounger staring at the lake and listening to WPKN.........

Getting Back To The Blog

Since I've had to do a blog, facebook page, twitter, and two web pages for work,my own fun stuff has totally fallen by the way side.

Sooo, since I really love writing about ME. I'm going to start re-blogging here. Plus it's much easier to post photos of things here than on my FB page.