Well, I am way overdue for some blogging… I've been to Indiana for an ordination, Oil City to preach, Grove City for a confirmation… And more! But that will come, I hope, later. For now, some fun that I found on AKMA's blog:
Your Linguistic Profile: |
| 60% General American English |
| 20% Yankee |
| 10% Dixie |
| 10% Upper Midwestern |
| 0% Midwestern |
I think I have found the new market the tobacco companies have been looking for. See this article.
They can't sue, right? Perfect!
(Thanks, Micah for the link.)
…has sprung in the Shenango valley!
…cleaning has begun. I've been doing quite a lot of that today. My morning shopping rounds took me first to Lowes, where I got two packs of vacuum bags for my indoor carpet cleaner. I tend not to change that often enough, and am overdue yet again. Then I went to the car wash, where I got the car nice and clean. I then went to the feed and seed store for sunflower hearts (less mess) for the birds. The next stop was the vacuum store where I ordered a new brush for my indoor sweeper. The old on is in good shape, but last year I used it a lot on the balcony and would just prefer to start fresh.
While I was there I made an impulse buy, a new "stick" vacuum by Eureka. It happened while the gentleman was looking up a price for the brush I started looking at the new vacuums. My thought was it would be nice to have one to use on the balcony when the indoor/outdoor carpet out there was dry. When it is wet and caked with seed I have to use my small shop vac. But when it is dry I had been, as noted earlier, using my regular vacuum. I wasn't entirely pleased with this notion since the balcony has bird seed, leaves, and other yucky unmentionables… Which I'd rather not then bring into the house. The small stick vacuum has no brush, but it has as much power as many full-size uprights, and I can dedicate it to the balcony.
Once I got it home and assembled I found that it worked beautifully on the balcony which, as you can see is much cleaner. (Two weeks ago it was disgusting. Imagine all the bird seed, shells, leaves from fall, and other things that have been compressed between and under layers of snow all winter revealed once the snow melted. Y U C K).
After the vacuum shop I stopped at Auto Zone for car cleaning products. You can see the tire cleaner in the balcony shot above, and one very clean tire near the top of the photo (yes, that's my car).
I then moved on to Kraynaks where I looked for pansies and did not find any. I did, however, find some nice pansies at K-Mart. I brought everything back home and proceeded to CLEAN! First I potted up the pansies. Then I started with the balcony, which you have already seen. That took the new vacuum, a broom, gloves, and a large bag. I finally tossed my Christmas tree out (it had been out there for months providing perches for the birds, but it was time). The leaves have been picked up, the seed swept up, and all tossed. I finally got rid of two hanging pots that weren't in good shape anymore, too.
After all that was done I stopped for lunch. Phew. After lunch I moved on from the balcony to the car. I've cleaned the floormats and interior surfaces, and armorall'ed them. The front and rear windows have been cleaned, along with the mirrors. I threw out a ton of junk, and organized things a bit. I need to run the vacuum in there, too, but don't have any way at home to get power that far (without a really long extension cord). I'll either find someone's house to do that at or wait until the next time I visit my parents and use their garage. The car looks to be in good shape for a while (see: here, here, here, here, and here).
I even put the spring/summer wiper blades back on the car. The winter ones have more life left in them but I still engaged in a long debate about whether to keep or toss them. (Those that know what else is going on with me will understand.) I decided to keep them.
The car's so clean I think I'll have to cancel any upcoming road trips… Wouldn't want to get bugs on it!
With the car clean and my 10th trip to the dumpster accomplished, I drove back to Kraynaks for plant food and a birdbath (see balcony photo above). I just figured it was time to water as well as feed the birds. They have yet to demonstrate that they know what it is.
I've also started two new hanging baskets, one with tomatoes and one with butterfly attracting plants. Both are in the oven germinating. More photos when those begin to produce shoots and flowers and such.
Hard to believe that the area looked like this, this, and this just 6 days ago! Here's one for comparison.
It is now after 1600 EDT and I needed a break… So I'm blogging! But, alas, I am nearly done with that and must return to my cleaning efforts. All this going and coming has left a trail of dirt through the house, and I'm overdue for my weekly vacuum anyhow, so I'd best change the bag and do that now. Sigh. Maybe some dishes will magically get clean, too (looks like it!)…