Locked out in My Undies, Buzzards are Back
Tue, Jul 21 2009 04:56
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What a week! Capped off by locking myself out of the house. I went to say goodbye to the view before I changed to work clothes and drove to town. The back sliding door sometimes seems locked but can be opened, and then when you shut the door DOES lock. Not a good thing 10 miles from town. I immediately realized what a dilemma I was in, but checked every door and window anyway. Fortunately I found a pair of river shoes so I at least had SOMETHING on my feet.
I then went through all my options.
1. Walk to the Nowells- a mile or more down a caliche road, hoping they would be home and not think I was a complete loon. And when I got there? No plan.
2. Walk to town- to the little house on Grace. Call Tracy. Problem is, I discontinued my phone service. Plus it was 10 miles. Plus, I was wearing a T-Shirt and plain white bikini panties.
3. Bash the well house siding in and get the key to the back door, which I had responsibly placed there for emergencies. And then forgot that Tracy added a dead bolt to the door. THAT key was in the house. Siding repairs would be expensive and probably not take place anytime soon.
4. Sit in the garage all day hoping someone would show up to work and help me problem solve. Fat chance. (Of someone showing up to work). Temps of over 100 expected.
5. (The winning option) Bash the door knob off the garage entry door. Tracy had put up a temporary door knob, which was a pretty cheap model. I found the top to an old fashioned ice cream maker made from cast iron and started bashing. The knob came off pretty easily, but the guts took a bit more doing and more make due tools. But at last- success!!!!
Lesson learned. Keys have been appropriately placed. (Maybe I should put a cute outfit somewhere too).
Stay tuned.
I then went through all my options.
1. Walk to the Nowells- a mile or more down a caliche road, hoping they would be home and not think I was a complete loon. And when I got there? No plan.
2. Walk to town- to the little house on Grace. Call Tracy. Problem is, I discontinued my phone service. Plus it was 10 miles. Plus, I was wearing a T-Shirt and plain white bikini panties.
3. Bash the well house siding in and get the key to the back door, which I had responsibly placed there for emergencies. And then forgot that Tracy added a dead bolt to the door. THAT key was in the house. Siding repairs would be expensive and probably not take place anytime soon.
4. Sit in the garage all day hoping someone would show up to work and help me problem solve. Fat chance. (Of someone showing up to work). Temps of over 100 expected.
5. (The winning option) Bash the door knob off the garage entry door. Tracy had put up a temporary door knob, which was a pretty cheap model. I found the top to an old fashioned ice cream maker made from cast iron and started bashing. The knob came off pretty easily, but the guts took a bit more doing and more make due tools. But at last- success!!!!
Lesson learned. Keys have been appropriately placed. (Maybe I should put a cute outfit somewhere too).
I finished painting the tree shadows on the "feature wall" in the master bedroom. I needed to completely finish ONE PROJECT, since I currently have several thousand. OK, several dozen.
AND.....looks like I am in a long haul with the Battle of the Buzzards. Found out they live 20 years! Are very intelligent! Adapt well to various sounds and sites meant to scare them. Have very stinky poop....blah blah blah. I just want them gone.
I tried putting big bubble wrap around the railing, thinking it would scare them with the popping. I think it was served as a nice cushion for their feet. I'm surprised I didn't come home to find a bubble wrap popping party....Stay tuned.
Comments
Uh, My Bad.
Wed, Jul 15 2009 05:48
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Turns out buzzards can't tell the difference between real, dead foot long geckos and wooden foot long geckos. I had placed one in the diamond window up in the library loft.
A few days ago I saw a buzzard landing on the sky deck early in the morning. I ran out to do my Jethro Clampett imitation and the sight of the gecko in the window struck me immediately.
A few days ago I saw a buzzard landing on the sky deck early in the morning. I ran out to do my Jethro Clampett imitation and the sight of the gecko in the window struck me immediately.
Live and learn! I haven't had a vulture land on the deck since the would be (wood be!) gecko was removed. Now a note to all the buzzards: go eat some rats!!!!
This weekend in honor of Mary's 50th birthday, she, Linda, Karen, Margaret and I went to Las Vegas. I was the only one who had been- I've been several times on business. It is definitely more fun with sisters. We had so many foibles, getting lost the first day was of special note. My favorite thing was seeing Le Reve at the Winn, which was awe inspiring. It made me want to get back into a work out routine and get limber and strong! Oh, my fallen youth!
Speaking of fallen youth, my mom was at my dad's volley ball game last night and tripped onto some concrete, breaking her shoulder. Ouch!!! She toughed it out in her usual Janet G fashion all night and went to get checked out today. No cooking, cleaning, following Dad into the garden for several weeks!! We are watching you!!!
Still working on several things at Big Hill. No ipe in sight, but more lights in place and the kitchen sink repaired. I have spent the last few nights painting shadows of trees on the main master bedroom wall. In fact, I was just sitting here wondering why my upper back is sore- I have been climbing up and down an 8-foot ladder, reaching out to get corners. Duh. What was that about fallen youth??
I don't travel this week. Can I get an AMEN!!!??!! Last night I lay on the back deck while talking to Tracy and then Rebecca. I say several shooting stars and satellites, and the Milky Way was ridiculous! I felt like I could have just scooped it up.
In the DFW metroplex today was the 16th day of the summer with temps over 100 degrees. Our annual average for the whole summer is, you guessed it, 16. Everything is turning brown, ponds are drying up, Looks like we are in for a long, hot summer.
(wo)MAN verses NATURE
Tue, Jul 7 2009 03:01
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More exactly, woman verses birds! Sheesh, of all the things I worried about when moving to Big Hill, birds were least on my list.
I wasn't concerned to see the road runner drinking from the hot tub, although he was certainly irked at seeing me. I let the mud nest building bird make a next under the eave of the well house.
I got a bit out of sorts once the sticks and mud- and poop- from the chimney sweeps who made babies in my chimney flue- started falling into the hearth.
But turkey vultures on the sky deck!!??? I won't stand for it! Tracy and I saw one on the ledge when we got home from church Sunday. We went up to find evidence of more. Yesterday I came home to find two on the deck, one on the chimney and one on one of the stone entry walls. Let me tell you, their poop is nasty!!! I chased them off like an old man, trying my best to sound ornery and frightening.
Why they all of a sudden to make themselves at home is beyond me, but I noticed they chose the two days I was out of town this week to make a landing.
I am trouble shooting ways to keep them away. Based on information retrieved from the Internet I seem to have a battle ahead of me. I put some tarp up and left the speaker on, blaring the TV out in hopes they will think humans are nearby. When I went home at lunch today the deck was empty. I now dread going over the first hill, waiting to see what awaits.
In other animal invader news, Tracy brought Pebbles and Bubba out this weekend- his two chihuahuas- to hang out with the cats. The first thing Pebbles was greeted by was a facial boxing from a (fortunately) declawed Girly. That set the tone for her attitude throughout the rest of the stay. Bubba and Sweet Pea tried their best to stay out of the way.
Waiting to get the kitchen sink remounted. Although so far the cinder blocks are doing a great job of holding it up, still waiting to get the second garage door opener mounted, the remaining lights installed, and a a long list of punch stuff.
Tracy and I watched seven or eight fireworks shows form the sky deck Saturday after returning from the grand opening of the Green Pickle, a Texas beer and wine garden, right at the end of Grace Street, and owned by my frind Tonya.
I wasn't concerned to see the road runner drinking from the hot tub, although he was certainly irked at seeing me. I let the mud nest building bird make a next under the eave of the well house.
I got a bit out of sorts once the sticks and mud- and poop- from the chimney sweeps who made babies in my chimney flue- started falling into the hearth.
But turkey vultures on the sky deck!!??? I won't stand for it! Tracy and I saw one on the ledge when we got home from church Sunday. We went up to find evidence of more. Yesterday I came home to find two on the deck, one on the chimney and one on one of the stone entry walls. Let me tell you, their poop is nasty!!! I chased them off like an old man, trying my best to sound ornery and frightening.
Why they all of a sudden to make themselves at home is beyond me, but I noticed they chose the two days I was out of town this week to make a landing.
I am trouble shooting ways to keep them away. Based on information retrieved from the Internet I seem to have a battle ahead of me. I put some tarp up and left the speaker on, blaring the TV out in hopes they will think humans are nearby. When I went home at lunch today the deck was empty. I now dread going over the first hill, waiting to see what awaits.
In other animal invader news, Tracy brought Pebbles and Bubba out this weekend- his two chihuahuas- to hang out with the cats. The first thing Pebbles was greeted by was a facial boxing from a (fortunately) declawed Girly. That set the tone for her attitude throughout the rest of the stay. Bubba and Sweet Pea tried their best to stay out of the way.
Waiting to get the kitchen sink remounted. Although so far the cinder blocks are doing a great job of holding it up, still waiting to get the second garage door opener mounted, the remaining lights installed, and a a long list of punch stuff.
Tracy and I watched seven or eight fireworks shows form the sky deck Saturday after returning from the grand opening of the Green Pickle, a Texas beer and wine garden, right at the end of Grace Street, and owned by my frind Tonya.
The July days are hot and long, but the sunrises and sunsets have been beautiful. The fleeting moments of peace are a welcome respite from the hooha. It all helps.
