Ups & Downs with a Water Sprite

I like to joke about our evil water sprite. But it wasn’t funny when my husband announced that we received a city water bill for just over seven thousand, five hundred dollars.

Yes. The estimated bill came to $7,500 (US) plus. I almost choked. Thank heaven, an understanding city worker discovered that a newly installed electronic meter reset to zero and somehow compounded our reading. We owe under $100. Whew. We were grateful for the quick resolution and our advocate’s joking attitude lightening the stress.

This ‘sprite’ can bring good things, too. Heavy rain brought a visitor seeking shelter.

I like how the toad first rested in the pot I placed...

... and settled between my frog statues

Who's a Pretty Toad?

 

Apologies and an Artsy Mystery

I did not intend to fall so far behind reading blogging friends’ posts. ~shakes head~ Not sure I’ll ever catch up on all the backlog but will try and do better. I have missed you dear folks.

Meanwhile I’ve been enjoying my flower and vegetable gardens a lot, even on the hottest days. A beach umbrella helps if I can keep it from blowing away. ;P In fact, it’s cloudy right now and I want to walk about and see how things are growing.

So I’ll leave you with an image just discovered on my iPod. I think my obvious mistake actually looks pretty cool. Oh, and the kitties are doing great. :D

This evokes the sea somehow.

Any guess what this is? Or how I captured such an aquatic shade of blue?

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A Stroll about the Garden

I hope you enjoy my short wandering around our suburban homestead. Labeling each would take my perfectionist self hours, so please let me know if you have any questions.

Have you heard about the ancient Japanese wabi sabi aesthetic? Just as Pam Jackson’s talent so often showcases, do you appreciate art that captures the beauty of impermanence?

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More First World Problems

On April 24th my husband asked if I’d spilled water near the bed. Half awake and remembering no such thing, I dismissed his complaint. Maybe one of the cats tried to toss up a hairball. But later I noticed the wetness spreading.

Quiet panic ensued. Had my 29 gallon aquarium sprung a leak? Every millimeter felt dry including outside the tank, inside its stand, and the surrounding carpet. The mystery continued and my pile of wet towels grew, as did a funky smell I wished was imaginary.

Around midweek my husband asked me to drain the tank and move my last surviving spotfin goby to my idling ten gallon aquarium. Fearing the move would be fatal, I stated my case and requested a reprieve. He agreed while asking that I apply a piece of tape showing the current water level.

I’m lucky to have a smart guy. A minuscule water drop led me to the electric pump I’d unplugged without removing its attached air hose. This created a vacuum.

Duh… By the next Sunday I’d dried and cleaned the stinky stain. Hurray! I thank Nature’s Miracle enzymatic cleaning solution.

On another note, I’m having issues online. My own blog declares I can’t sign in after having posted. ~scratches head~ Not surprising, this is the same error I receive trying to comment on others’ posts. I’ve tried various tips and even switched browsers but I’ll figure it out. I’m not dumb.

Still, other failings made me feel rather frustrated and useless. I found redemption when a neighbor needed a friend.

Have fruitless days left you feeling pointless? How do you recover a sense of self worth?

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Tenacious Terra – 7

I caught Terra sizing up my dragon this morning. She tried to look casually aside but I can image what she was thinking.
 

“That’s right, brimstone breath.
Stay safe in your pretty cage.”

Do you think I’ll have to break up a fight one of these days?

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From ‘Preppie’ to ‘Prepper’

Way back in the early nineties, before office employees dreamed of working from home, I dressed like an absolute yuppie. Preppy better fits this post but it’s a bit of a joke. My cousin’s hand-me-downs were nothing popular students wore in the 1980’s. ~sigh~ Anyway, times sure have changed.

Because of inflation and possible food shortages beyond ongoing supply chain issues, fashion is the least of my concerns. I have added and/or changed numerous habits.

Dried coffee grounds & tea leaves will
benefit our vegetable garden.

An unused ice bucket holds what
I have thus far reaped...

Preserving tough meat in the
form of jerky is not new
but sure is tasty...

I will break this down into smaller
packages and vacuum seal each
with a moisture absorber.

Below is a tip unrelated to these uncertain times. I prefer my improvisation over the cheap plastic fruit juicing tools our grocer sells.

Are you stocking up on anything? And on a lighter note, do you miss fashions from any particular era?

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Tenacious Terra – 6

During an early warm spell, I took Terra out back. All I have to do is display her harness, ask if she wants to go outside, and she races toward our walk-out basement door. I don’t know if the word means anything or just the actions, but it’s adorable all the same.

Did you know that we Ohio animal lovers should not only pre-treat against fleas and ticks but also beware of coyotes? Can you believe neighbors have seen coyotes walking down the middle of our predawn streets like fearless gangsters?

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Responses & A Big ‘Huh?’

I appreciate the kind words regarding my handling a centipede. I’m not certain that will ever reoccur. Heh… Meanwhile, Andrew kindly expressed concern for my garden. I am pleased to report that these carnivorous creatures eat many harmful insect species (including those that can transfer dangerous bacteria). And I often use the trick Liz A. described, covering spiders with a glass and sliding a stiff envelope between it and the floor or wall. It’s much easier than what dear Strayer endures trapping to help feral cats. Believe it or not, though, I actually let this little bug free inside.

On a very different and befuddling topic, my husband’s primary care physician is taking much deserved retirement this summer. It had been over thirty years (!), starting just after my husband’s honorable discharge from the United States Air Force and continuing when Dr. T. moved to a teaching clinic. When our health insurance provider forced me to switch yet again in 2019, one of Dr. T.’s residents actually took on my care.

He has since joined a practice much closer to our home. Having him take on my husband’s care seemed ideal, and both physicians agreed. Dr. T. went so far as to say this was a good choice.

However, things didn’t turn out as planned.

This health network, we were told, no longer accepts new patients insured by Molina Healthcare. Huh? I’m very glad my established patient status exempts me from exclusion yet upset for my husband’s sake. Both clinics are under the Kettering Health Network umbrella. So what’s the difference between which one he chooses?

Have you heard of a patient denied care for having the wrong insurance? Should I worry this is a warning sign Molina Healthcare was a bad choice?

Regarding Jezebel, I want to thank sweet Cleo and our lovely Eastside Cat friends for their research. To ease your concerns, I am happy to report her vet check-up last month was great, her head pressing activity is both gentle and rare, and she actually gained lost weight running around. Terra and Polly keep her on her toes. ~grin~ 

Back to silly stuff, those squeamish about bugs will want to skip this final note about centipedes.

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Back in her feline youth, dear old Jezebel would sometimes catch centipedes in her mouth, tossing them in the air and actually disarticulating the unfortunates. It was quite a sight, and also disgusting as removed legs kept twitching. ~shudder~ So far, Terra and Polly stick to chasing ladybugs.

“I did what, you say?”
“You remember, Jezzy… Right?”

“Bleh! You have me mistaken for another cat.”

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