Rainy evening again

So it's time for more indoors stuff, lol. I don't mind. If I can't get outside, trust me, on a five-acre homestead in the making, there is always something to do somewhere. I'd planned on getting trash out and burnt and getting some more wood cut today, but when I got out of work, it was raining steady and that squelched that idea. By the time I got home, I had just about enough time to get inside and hang up my coat before it started drumming hard on the roof again. If nothing else, the seasonal creek at the bottom of the mountain is running full, so the wildlife has plenty to drink right now. The ranchers are happy, because steady rain like this for a few weeks in early spring means three or more good harvests of hay as long as we don't get a major summer drought like we did a couple of years ago. Ranchers then were lucky to get two cuttings, and the second was pretty horrible. Hay prices shot up everywhere due to lack of hay, and you know that meant a lot of cattle got sent to the slaughterhouses so that ranchers wouldn't have to feed them over the winter, too. It was awful. The area still hasn't completely recovered from it. I'm sure other places around the country that got hard-hit haven't completely recovered, either.

So much to do, so little gumption to do it. I think tonight's going to be a wasted night, because I'm just whipped from this week. It's been hard, and getting back into the swing of things as far as getting stuff done outdoors now that I can GET outdoors again most days is just making me more tired. Add in all the rain, and it really gets to you.

I did have fun with HughesNet yesterday evening. Our bill is generated the 28th of the month, and Quentin and I checked to see what it was supposed to be. Somehow, it went from what is should be up to nearly $90. No, no, no. That is not right. So I spent some time on the phone with a lovely rep last night and she got it fixed before the bill was generated today. Seems when Quentin called a couple of weeks ago to add me to the account and have all the one month free extras taken off, all the rep then did was make a note about it and didn't do his job. The gal I got last night looked back at the notes, and fixed things, including removing all the unnecessary antivirus (have my own, thanks), and express service stuff (I can probably fix it myself, thanks) that added the extra money on the bill. Hopefully, the OTHER rep will get yelled at, but I ain't holding my breath. I didn't fall off the turnip truck this morning, after all!

Some sadness tonight, though, left from late yesterday. One of my friends from church back home posted on her Facebook that an older lady we all know and love from church had passed. Everybody knows her and her husband as Gramma Faye and Grampa Chuck. Chuck likes to give hugs to EVERYBODY, and Faye has always been a pillar with loads of hugs as well. Chuck is apparently not doing too well with this, and no wonder, as they have been together for forever. Well, over 50 years, and these days, with the divorce rate the way it is, that is just about as close to forver as you can get.

And remember how I mentioned Crossroads Village? Faye (Margaret) worked there for 35 years as a volunteer and employee as "Mrs. Eldridge" in the Eldridge house. She also put on 4th of July ice cream socials at the Eldridge house, and will be missed by everyone there. The Village did a lovely photo of her at work as "Mrs. Eldridge," located here:


Mrs. Margaret (Faye) Smith as Mrs. Eldridge at Crossroads Village

I'm gonna be a wreck this weekend and Monday, which is her funeral, because I so want to be there and can't be. Four states is a bit far away on a tight budget and especially when I can't get bereavement time for a non-relative. Even if she WAS a substitute Gramma. So pardon while I drown my sorrows over the next few days with Irish step dancing videos and Coke (soda, not the drug, lol) and don't seem to be quite myself. I know you will all join me in praying and sending good thoughts the way of her family, especially Chuck. Goodness knows what he's going to do, he's not been well of late, either, so it likely won't be long before "Mr. Eldridge" joins the Mrs.

Not too many books tonight - the majority of what I could find were junk "cookbooks" and weren't worth the bother of posting them. What I could find that seems good is here, though.

KINDLE FREEBIES OF INTEREST


Christmas Cookies - Just Like Your Mother Use To Make Starting a New Garden (VOL. 2): How to Plant Seeds and Seedlings, Care for Your Plants, and Grow 12 Simple Vegetables, Plus Shade Gardening (Growing Organic Vegetables at Home)
Knitting Scarves For Beginners (Learn How to Knit)
Container Gardening For Beginners : A Comprehensive Guide For Growing Plants In A Limited Space