Brenda & Lisa both made FB posts. I did not. I am fully aware of the date. I don't want to deal with sympathy and prayers and other such unhelpful bullshit. not in any way beneficial to me. and that's on me.

Izzy came over to play. decided to put The Case File in the bottom of closet. but of course I have to thumb through it and think some thoughts first....that's just who I am. just deb.

I finished up The Kid Robot. hung up the signs in Creepy Corner I made last night. read some. 'researched' some. and took a chair nap.

tonight we took a ride out by the farm. Ann had called this morning, smelling smoke. she could see smoke from house. told her someone was probably burning brush. forgot all about it. Kevin stopped on way home to get gas. people were telling him 3 fire departments were out earlier battling a brush fire 'out by farm'. it was the farm on back side burning something, jumped the fence and got into Kevin's brothers pasture. the guy who runs cows there moved cows out of way so firetrucks could leave gate open. a few trees and wooden fence posts charred some. grass is burnt off. as a girl who grew up in KC, I'm sure this was alarming. as a country girl, it's just life. like gunshots. we have neighbors who target shoot frequently. I don't think a thing about it.

made chicken potpie for supper. had enough biscuit dough left to make 2 cinnamin raisin biscuits. it's a good day.

took girls to dr. appt. watched Izzy eat lunch at McDonalds.

she is always so excited to go anywhere. Millie lost her first tooth today. Koren says Tooth Fairy pays $5 for a first tooth. Katie booked a whale watching expedition. I am doing TikTok and FB reels "research " on shampoo & conditioner bars; Foldie carry on bags; vacuum travel bags...I. am. on. it. insane headache. 20,000 steps. always easier the days I hoop. hooping is so much easier on my old achy overworked feet. I ask a lot of them. called and refilled a Rx, called and scheduled Rip board so we can go to Katie's this weekend. put my cheapy Valentines aliens in an alien display. did a spot o' scrapbookin'. I was so excited for the mini tacos I found at Hy-Vee last night, and by 'ad there, I like 'em. I discovered a "behind the scenes" book by In Broad Daylight author. and ordered In Broad Daylight, know I've seen the show. have I read the book? ALSO, there is a book about The Beatrice Six, so yep. I was on amazon today. I have been a good girl and avoiding it for a bit. AND my new grandma sweatshirt arrived! it is the perfect amount of cozy. the perfect amount of baggy. I rec'd a letter from my long-time relative penpal and had some not-so-nice thoughts.

finished The Hotel

not as ghosty as I hoped it would be. did a journey to HyVee. puzzle is starting to come together.

made little Robots head.

sketched. didn't hit step goal till 9 p.m. very lazy day.

a nice relaxing day at home.

no big accomplishments today. found the box that I think will be Robot Baby's head. put some pieces in the puzzle. baked a bundt cake. finished a book. watched a doc.

us girls picked up Z from Owls Club.

we went to McDonalds, got pics of the girls with Ronald McDonald. then came here to play. temps dropped into 40s. blustery wind beating against the house.

I met KJ at Mercer school and picked up Zerelda. Daddy had an academic meet to coach.

we went to gas station for snacks, then took her home where we played cops and bank robbers, then kidnappers outside with Izzy. Cow Kevin was concerned to see the girls playing in truck, he came over to check on them, and of course Gramma was in the back seat being kidnapped. I've told them they can only play in the truck with a grownup. Kevin had an early morning dr. appt, then went to Chillicothe to get his oil changed, which is his love language. I HATE calling on phone to make appointments. I hate going to appointments. and sitting in waiting rooms. he also bought the exact truck bird feeder I was going to buy in Nebraska when the clerk directed me to Christmas clearance, a cute truck, but not a bird feeder....anyway. now the bird feeder is hanging in tree. cause now I love birds. AND he got a hummingbird feeder and juice for the bathtub when spring comes....still can't sell silver. market has dropped but not safe yet.

to farm a.m. Zerelda has a new bedroom window! and a somewhat cleanish room. still have to attack the top of dresser, but ran out of time.

Rip had a groom appointment. his groomer now has an AI assistant you can talk to when you walk in the door. I tried to use it. sometimes I feel really old. walked the trail, then sat in parking lot. usually I shop the whole time. am I developing healthier habits? or is walking less peopley than shopping?

I found Zerelda's princess dress I made her when she was Izzy size, and handed it down. Izzy loves a good princess dress.

when I was walking to car to go home, saw an eagle swooping majestically in pasture behind farm house.

day #19 of 20,000 steps. I believe my first 2 days in a row?

I thought I was taking girls to dr. today, but KJ had the day off. a relaxing day. finished the movie I started last week. and a documentary. cut batting for Bigfoot quilt front, and a flannel sheet for backing. and made 2 pillowcases from same sheet. Kevin picked up my first Rx refills of the year. did some redecorating in gramma barbie deb's apartment.

a situation has arisen. Rip has his first winter groom (waaaay overdue) tomorrow afternoon. KJ found out he has concession stand. Zerelda needs picked up. how to make it work? maybe Kevin will get an early out? I mean, yeah, she can hang out at school all day and night and get back home at bedtime her first day of the week, after probably getting home in time for bed tonight....I feel bad. I could take Rip with to pick her up, then take him to groom at Trenton, run her back to Ann, and back to get Rip? maybe? idk. you'd think being a gramma would be easier than being a mom, but impossible situations occasionally surface...

just a quiet day at home. another 20,000 step day. # 18, to be exact.

Kevin is in season 3 of his latest medical drama series find....and I put a few pieces in the puzzle....found a cache of pictures from our anniversary party and KJ's last wedding....so spent some time scrapbooking. I'd ordered extras for Zerelda and Izzy so got them ready for their scrapbooks.

ordered all Snapfish pics through today (Feb. 15). have decided to do a photo collage or individually frame wedding pics of kids. Koren. KJ. Katie. KJ again.

my Valentine took me to the Steak Special For Two at Toot Toots, then we walked about Walmart.

it's a thing we do...

Friday the 13th. had donuts with someone I love at Ridgeway School today.

came home, exercised, ate lunch, picked up girls, and we went to see Zerelda (and Daddy!) sing in The Talent Show. then to McDonalds. and Izzy to dr. with sore throat. then Walmart and home again.

nsv today. finally got around to trying on my dress from Katie's wedding. the one that wouldn't zip up for Kj's wedding. I was home alone. zipped it up. slipped over my head. easily got it on. a bit trickier getting it off....the scale hasn't been going down, but maybe all the walking is getting somewhere. think I'll tuck this into my suitcase for our cruise! maybe do a sunset photo shoot on deck? a girl can' dream, can't she?

I played with Izzy at her house today. talked to Katie.

she has booked our cruise! I stood on our back porch at dusk, looking at the first star, crying happy tears. we. are. going. on. an. Alaskan. Cruise. something I never even dreamed could be possible. found a new grandma sweatshirt with all the kids names on it to order, hopefully it will fit AND be comfortable, not that slickery fabric. probably won't be. that didn't used to be a thing. it cost enough to be a good quality sweatshirt. I'm on track for 20,000 steps again today. (18,803 at 6:21 p.m.)

Kevin early out. beautiful spring like weather.

I went to farm, Izzy helped me hang the solar lights on a couple of small pine trees. she picked up pine cones. we were going to make pine cone people, but I can't find my google eyes....I piled up limbs. they came here and hung out till Daddy and Z picked them up. I had some inspiration, and ta-da! The Patchwork Bigfoot/Scooby Doo/camo pants pillowcase is ready for the washer!

the more tv shows Kevin watches about hospitals and doctors and police, the less I trust any of them. working too many hours. short staffed. they can have bad days like anyone. personal problems. axes to grind. biases. (we all know they hate FAT people.) I wouldn't trust any of 'em.

there was a SWAT van at Cainsville. a woman we know in Newton tazered a guy. the world is going crazy and we're all along for the ride.

I let Ann down today because I had a bitch of a headache and just not having a good deb day.

watched a Netflix doc, finished the ghost book I was reading and gave it a scathing 2 star review on amazon, learned that Princess Cruise ships only serve Coke, but you can bring 12 cans of a different beverage aboard. made my step goal. a lot of unproductive down time in my recliner. started the Crazy Patchwork Bigfoot Pillowcase. it's gonna be K-raz-eeeee. also came up with a new deb's bigfoot movie scene. Kevin took an early out. don't think he's feeling his best, either. but we don't discuss those things.

Ann & Izzy had appointments.

and there was a brief Walmart trip, and a photo shoot with Ronald McDonald.....I took an outdoor walk at the park. forgot how hard those 3 laps are. much harder than walking in the house. and much more peopley. Katie recommended Eden on Netflix, watched it last night. surprised I didn't have nightmares....or maybe I did?

another day of reading. finished Joe Hill Book. read through several super short books.

finished front of Bigfoot quilt. now to get something for batting and hand tuft it, I think. I've never done that before. hmmmmm. will have to do some tutorials. Kevin watched the Superbowl. Yay Seahawks. whatever. I opted out. he also worked on puzzle. Katie called. she is still planning Alaskan Cruise. I love the way that rolls off the tongue. definitely will pack maxi dresses and my Bigfoot Alaskan Cruise hoodie. it WILL be an Alaskan Cruise. not THE cruise on the hoodie, but A cruise. shorts. capris. so exciting.

a peaceful day at home.

a lot of reading. a lengthy afternoon chair nap. some actual cooking. thought some deep thoughts. watched a beautiful sunset. life is good. (insert heart emoji) Kevin thought he saw something dart across the hall....he thought a mouse. so I brought traps upstairs, checked batteries, cleaned, rebaited. left one up here, took one back downstairs. of course I know what he saw. I've seen it too. several times. out the corner of my eye. I think it's ghost Miss Cuddles darting across the hall from the old doorway into kitchen. once I saw a dark long thin shape at the end of the hall that looked more rat like. that was when Mom was staying with us in severe pain from her broken shoulder and no one was sleeping much. brought trap upstairs then, too. never caught anything.

I'd found a used copy of The Hotel book - based loosely on Opp Hotel in Rock Port.

seller cancelled, so ordered a new one instead. also printed out tiny names, then cut out tiny balloons and hearts and colored them red, and glued tiny names to them, then added these to my new calender that finally arrived the other day. I was not a happy camper. first, the damn thing didn't arrive till pretty much February. granted, I did order it the week before Christmas. it was perfect. abandoned mattresses in scenic places. I was so excited. got all these emails that it was in customs. it was in the states. when it got here, NOT what I ordered. a scenic landscape one. doesn't even tell you location of pictures. but it's a calender. looks like a free bank handout calender and I paid good money for it. lesson probably not learned. anyway, now family birthdays and anniversaries are on there.

another beautiful starlit night. taking our bedtime walk, got even with abandoned neighbor house, had just turned on my phone flashlight...

Rip barked and lunged towards side of road, something scurried loudly through grass, there was a crash like whatever it was ran into something or jumped through a broken window and knocked something over....I jumped AND screamed like a ninny, couldn't see that far with flashlight, so we promptly about-faced and returned home with our tails between our legs. whew. what an adventure.

also had a start this morning. I was brushing my teeth. the tv would BLARE then quiet. then BLARE then quiet. it was supposed to be just me and Rip at home. so, I peek out into hallway....and Kevin is in his recliner. at 8 a.m. on a Friday he works. wtf. I enquire, "Are you sick?" he replies he slept through his alarm and was going to be late, so took a vacation day. the next time I came out, he was asleep. a bit later, he was gone. went to farm to check more into water issue. still nothing. he had chiropractor appt. he wanted to wash truck. issue with car wash. didn't have time to call the "if problems call...." #. then to eat at the place we both know I don't like. next to a table of loud opinionated annoying people. longest wait we've ever had there. my food didn't taste right. but I was in a mood and getting a cold, so it is what it is. then HyVee and home again. Hardees was shut down. Pizza Hut is going to close a lot of restaurants. wish THIS chain would shut down, too.....ugh. AND a letter from a person that makes me cringe just like I do every time the house phone rings or I get a text. I briefly skim it, find something to get pissy about, then toss it. I am quite unhinged, I fear. Katie is planning an Alaskan cruise leaving from Seattle. can you even imagine? a balcony room? sounds like quite a good use of some 401k money. (insert smiley face here.) I am nothing, if not a responsible adult. oh. also had to get dressed and go to bank to do a favor for a family member. decided while I'm there, might as well haul in the half a gallon pickle jar of change. $107.29. waste not want not. see a penny pick it up, all the day you'll have good luck. see a penny, let it lay. bad luck you'll have all the day.

insomnia last night. so, I worked on puzzle and sewed on quilt.

went to bed when Kevin's work alarm went off. had just woke up when Ann messaged me. yesterday she told me tub was slow draining, I poured half a jug of drain cleaner down it. today toilet backed up into tub. I walked lagoon, didn't see anything frozen or clogged up. couldn't find our long snake. Kevin bought one on his way home from work and went straight to farm, where he found nothing wrong, and toilet was flushing correctly. meanwhile, the girls spent most of the day at my house. on the way here, Izzy wanted her snack. Ann told her it was yogurt, too messy for car, wait till we get to grandma's. Izzy kept requesting her snack. when we reached the curve where you can see our house, she deadpanned "We're finally here. My God." (I felt the same way.) Gramma was tired and cranky, and not the most delightful companion today. Izzy wanted to go home. Mommy didn't want to. we made cinnamon raisin biscuits. she found the rocking horse in basement, and the big spider, and the fuzzy blue bear mask. she stayed busy all day. daddy and Z picked them up and took them home. haven't heard from them, so hoping all is well. or we'll be digging up the yard trying to find the problem....we once upon a time lived in a rental house where everything backed up into the tub and landlord told us it was our fault, we didn't put straw around the house. so Kevin found us an apartment and we moved. later she told us there was a busted pipe in the yard....I don't want to be that landlord. but all the repairs and problems are vexxing. you skate along for a while then something else goes to hell....much better to be the renter than the landlord. much cheaper.

obits of 2 people I know in this weeks paper. always sobering.

kickstarter kickoff for SmallTownMonsters! how many years have I been a kickstarter? since I 'discovered' them! and an update from Jason Hawes, looks like The Conjuring House is still within reach. my $10 (or was it $15?) might be put to good use yet!

ordered Rachelle amazon baby registry gifts shipped to her. made Rip groom appt. now we pay half when make appt. which I'm looking at as a payment plan. all good. unsubscribed from a shit ton of emails. quite a productive day, I must say. Ann says KJ wants to read King Sorrow when I'm done with it. in my FB research about Rock Port Main St. Hotel, found a book written round about the Opp Hotel. so ordered if off amazon, used.

the girls and I picked Z up from school Day 2.

she came limping to car in tears. she'd fell at recess and hurt her leg. AND got in trouble for sticking her tongue out a girl who stuck her tongue out at Z first. 3rd grade ain't no picnic. her teacher has been braiding her hair. she's the only girl in 3rd/4th grade class. (or maybe it's 2nd/3rd?) I do know she's in 3rd grade, anyway. there are 6 boys, I believe. today's agenda was Mercer County Library, requested by Izzy. who I think honestly thought the Library was the Bookstore off the square (with the comfy reading chairs and the GIANT Squishmallows)....they both found several books to check out. will have to get to the bookstore again....then we came to my house, where the girls had supper, a long hot bath, and then we played till time to take them home. I hope we made some memories today. hanging out with The Littles is exhausting. they think so much faster than I do. but it is so much fun. in the kids section at library I found a Vampire Snail book, a Bigfoot book, and a ghost book that I had to just sit down on the steps in the corner and read.

AND I had an interesting conversation with my neighbors who razed my other neighbors condemned (and according to a former long time resident, haunted) house. they found his Father's ashes during demo. and one dead rat on the couch.

another beautiful full moon. in a cloudy sky. (insert heart emoji here)

the girls and I picked up Z from school. Daddy had concession stand. I was early, so did a drive about and took another set of pics of the Ridgeway Hotel. I bet she was a beaut back in the day. did some FB snooping, found a bit of history on her. we went Valentines shopping at Walmart, then thru McDonalds drive-thru.

finished the February 15K challenge. I feel accomplished. and dead tired. but that's just me. watched a tubi movie while I hooped. reading Joe Hill's King Sorrow. framed a teeny tiny Abraham Lincoln picture. now to find the perfect place to put it....work on quilt is at a stand still. no time. ditto the puzzle. the exercises take time. bought Hallmark Valentines for all the grands, filled them out, addressed them, and into mailbox.

am I upset that the groundhog saw his shadow today? no. because it is fuckin' February 2nd. and we live in Missouri.

Ann & Iz rode along to pick up Rip from boarding. then hung out here. we'll pick Z up from school the next 2 days. Daddy has concession stand one night, Academic Meet the other.

had a most wonderful weekend with Everett and family.

he is truly the sweetest baby. we are the LUCKIEST grandparents, we got a good batch (insert heart emoji here.) on the way home, we stopped by The Beatrice Location and got my pictures, plus a small piece of broken glass from a broken window on back side. back door was not fully latched, but I didn't try to open it. I DID take pictures through a couple of broken windows....I am an urban explorer, after all, albeit a timid one....