I'm Pooped

Lyn and I worked on some of the rain damage to the porch today. Pulled down most of the ceiling. I can barely move. She's out with the girls in town. 30 years makes a big difference. We both like the look of the exposed rafters, but it does add to the heat considerably. Scott thinks I can pull the ceiling in the kitchen down by myself. I think he is dillusional. I just hope we get the two ceilings finished and the glass up on the two porches before winter. I'd like to get some painting finished, too, but, who knows.
Finished Dean Koontz's Forever Odd today. Not quite as good as Odd Thomas, but still enjoyable. Also knit several inches on Lyn's afghan from the yarn she bought to make scarves for girlfriends 2-3 years ago. Had to do something to breathe again after all that work on the porch.
Lyn's dog ate 1/2 of a pair of new sandals today. Lyn's. Not mine. The dog is in deep poo right now. She'll probably wish she could poo tomorrow.
Made 2 loaves of good bread today. Easy in the mixer. 1 T. yeast, 1/2 cup warm water, 1 t. sugar (allow to proof 15 minutes) Add 1/3 c. milk, 2 t sugar, 1 t salt, 1 T mixed herbs - parsley, oregano, thyme, rosemary, chives, dill- 2 T melted butter, 1 c graham flour, 2 c plain flour. Mix and knead till it is elastic. Allow to rise till about double in whatever pan you're cooking in. Bake at 350 about 45 minutes. Serve warm with sesame oil, peanut oil, and soy sauce, or with just your basic warm olive oil and garlic. Yumm. Wish I'd made it while the Weavers were here.
Right now, Lyn and Deputy (17 pound cat) are playing. Actually, Deputy is trying to "sneak" up on Lyn. The only problem with that is that he is on the piano keys. He is still doing the classic cat sneak moves with the butt and rear feet, but he's performing a basso recital while he's at it. Now he's distracted again. Lyn announced her belief that Dep has ADD. Well, he does take after his "father" Aaron.
Well, I'm being called to other things, like bed and my new Jan Karon novel. Although, now that I have it home, I think I've already read it. Father K eats a cake and goes into diabetic coma. The jacket blurb just didn't sound like what I'd read. Anyone heard about Ken Follet doing a follow-up on Pillars?

To begin again...

I started two blogs for family and I was just about the only contributor. I hesitated to be too open in that forum, not knowing who cousins would have reading their updates and I didn't want to shock their sensibilities with my posts. I've taken this up; hope to continue it; hope to open myself up some - difficult for me; and hope I don't overly embarrass my children - something they think I stay awake nights plotting to do.
My three addictions I'll admit to are knitting, reading, and chocolate. My current goal is to find enough books on CD at the library to make it worth my while to adjust to the much slower pace of being read to so I can knit and "read" at the same time. A cup of hot chocolate or a chocolate oatmeal cookie has never interfered with knitting. You always have to adjust at the end of a row. When I'm reading I'm not aware of eating or drinking; I'm always surprised to find an empty plate or cup when I reach for the next "hit."
My mother died two months ago. We shared all three addictions. I have lost one of the few people who truly understood why I am not a housekeeper in any sense of the word. She did a great job keeping the reading and knitting in check so she didn't neglect to cook or clean or do for others. I'm not there yet.
I have an unwritten but still firm agreement with a friend. If either of us becomes suddenly incapacitated, the other will go clean house before anyone else is allowed inside. She has a couple of other friends who will be helping me. I'm not sure she realizes she's on her own here.
A recent disappointment has caused me to begin this blog rather than dwelling on the "could have beens." I was born in a town where the natives were the only truly accepted people. I didn't understand it then. I still don't understand it, but I live in a town like that now. I believe it had a small part in my current disappointment. I certainly don't think that was all of it, but I do believe small town politics affect more than the election of the dog catcher. Having said that, I'm going to strive to move on. God has more in store for me than I had planned. He's done pretty good in the past, so I'm going to try to stay as positive and as out of the way as I can so He can do what is best for me.
I truly believe that. I also think if you believe in angels, you must conversly believe in demons. Which leads me to another belief. I believe Satan sometimes works to our disadvantage in causing us to be disappointed in love, career, family issues, church, politics, you name it. I believe it all works out for those who love God, but Job wasn't the only life the Devil stirred up. How can you firmly believe in the all Good working for you if you do not believe in the all Bad working against you?
Am I using that belief to get me through this current crisis of confidence? You bet. It wasn't me being rejected. It was Satan doing a number on me. Works for now.