Miscellany | un-fancy trash cans
My un-fancy trash cans
My pal Katy recently rehabbed a Restoration Hardware trash can that she'd found in a free pile.
And that reminded me about some of my free trash cans. 😉
This one in my laundry room holds dryer lint; it's a freebie from my Buy Nothing group, and it looks sort of like it was the bottom part of a paper shredder in a past life.
But it works fine as a trash can!
In my bedroom, I have another free trash can from my Buy Nothing group. Functional, but not a color I wanted.
So, I painted it one Saturday night shortly after I moved here.
And yes, this is the type of exciting party lifestyle I lead as a single pringle: trash can painting on a Saturday night. 😉
It looks like this now, and the paint has held up fine.
Please enjoy a Chiquita view.
I made a new fabric shaver convert
I was texting with Elisabeth from Optimistic Musings the other day, and she told me she is now addicted to fabric shaving as well.
Fabric-shaver influencing is very satisfying to me; I love to share the joy. 😉
Plus, I love that I am helping other people breathe new life into their formerly-pilled clothing (and other fabric goods).
(Because people always ask: mine is an Aldi purchase from years ago, but this one is super duper similar, AND it comes with extra blades.)
Not to sound too cult-like but...get one and come join us. Fabric shaving is deliciously satisfying to a frugal heart. 😉
Egg substitutions
Reader Shanna sent me this helpful breakdown of substitutes for eggs in baking.
Eggs have gotten slightly more affordable here in my area, but these substitutes are still probably going to be cheaper!
Stealth frugality
Reader Andrea let me know that this episode of Sustainable Minimalists mentions one of my blog posts. Go give it a listen!
A CIT bank affiliate link
When I had mentioned my high-interest savings account before, at least one of you said I should hunt down an affiliate link for promoting the Platinum Savings account.
Well, shortly after that, I got an email from CIT bank, inviting me to their new affiliate program. Ha.
Soooo, if you open an account through this link, I will indeed get a kickback.
And I updated the links in the previous post too.
But of course, there is zero pressure to use the affiliate link; you can always just go straight to their site and sign up for a great interest rate on your savings. 🙂
Augustine on helping those near you
As is usual when I share a quote...I saw it in a James Clear newsletter. I dunno how he always has the best quotes, but he does.
I love this idea, for times of overwhelm, when you feel discouraged that you cannot fix the enormous problems our world faces:
"Since you cannot do good to all, you are to pay special attention to those who, by the accidents of time, or place, or circumstances, are brought into closer connection with you."
And this is how I think of it every time I go into the hospital for a shift. I am meeting the people who happen to be brought into close connection with me, and I can pay them special attention.
This is a manageable task. I can't fix the world, but I can pay special attention to the people assigned to me, and that is enough for a day.
Honestly, it is true for all of us, no matter where we go in a day (and that includes where we go online). We have the opportunity and privilege to be a blessing to others wherever we move in the real and virtual world, and I think that is beautiful. 🙂
____________________
<checks brain> Ok, I think that's all the miscellany that was rattling around in my head.
At least, for now. We know more will be forthcoming eventually. 😉
Cat pictures also are a comfort when times are rough. I treat myself to a generous dose of cat reels whenever I feel particularly despondent about the World and its People.
Temperatures are increasing here and 50% humity is forecasted, which is unusual and highly unpleasant due to my asthma.
Last weekend's and today's preparations are to get through those hot days with the least discomfort: I prepped a lot of food for quick and healthy meals, got up extra early to open up all windows and doors in the cool early morning hours, and ran all my laundry while it would still dry outside. Otherwise I am cooped up at home, blinds down and sheets in front of doors to keep the heat out. I am doubling my medication this week and ofcourse I did go for a quick swim in the morning - which was glorious. It is only a few days, I do not envy you for living in an area where all summers are so humid!
That Augustine quote is wonderful. I want to write it out and paste it where I'll see it every day.
We also use an old paper shredder container for a trashcan in one of the boys' bedrooms!
But probably our most unusual trash can is my DH's old Six Million Dollar Man metal trashcan. It's a bit rusty inside, and dented, but is a sentimental object that survived his childhood, so we use it.
I love Chiquita's fluffy pantaloons. Hope everyone has a great day!
@Karen A.,
A Six Million Dollar Man trash can! How great is that! A blast from the past!
@Bee, right?? Bonus points if it's from the Sasquatch episode !
@Karen A., that quote reminds me of one from Rabbi Tarfom, from The Ethics of the Fathers, that I think of frequently:
“You are not required to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.”
@Suz, Ha! It's like this one that I just found on Ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/266570173732
@Karen A., Ha, nice ! I like that patented jumping motion picture - I can still hear that synthesized "jump sound" (clearly represented by those white circle things) in my head : )
@Karen A.,
NO. WAY!! How cool is that?!! 🙂
@Suz,
Michael Scott in The Office (American version) references that "motion" sound in one episode! Lol!
(Yes, I do watch too much TV. Ha). 🙂
@Liz B., I like to think one of the most loving things I have done in our marriage is to keep (and use--it's in my office space!) this slightly rusty, somewhat dented, 49 year old trash can, because Steve Austin was my DH's hero when he was little. 😀
@Karen A., And at this time, it's had 42 views! We make things popular!
@WilliamB, similar to my favorite quote from a fortune cookie… “the world is full of cacti; however, we are not required to sit on them.”
The waste basket in my home office was once the bottom of a shredder. DH has a wastebasket that long ago was the insert in a lunch box. The waste basket in our bedroom is at least 30 years old.
DH has a fabric shaver and has enjoyed using it.
I have been using soy flour and water for decades as an egg substitute in cookies. I read it as a money saving tip (maybe in the Tightwad Gazette) and even if it doesn't save money I like the fact that there is no raw egg in the cookie dough. I have used chia/flax eggs in pancakes and baked goods.
I love the Augustine quote. We should focus on what we can do today. I will be delivering Meals on Wheels to ten "clients" today.
@K D,
I want to give you a special thank you for "being the hands and feet of God" by delivering those Meals on Wheels to your 10 shut-ins. In my family, my beloved elderly uncle was able to remain in his home several years after he became widowed and too ill to cook -- all thanks to angels like you who delivered MOW lunches. You may never know what a tremendous difference you make, but let me tell you, it is very much needed and appreciated! May God shower you with blessings for doing this important work.
@K D, I've been on the MOW waiting list for over a year because they don't have anyone to deliver to me. Thank you for helping!
After a recent post where you mentioned your fabric shaver, I ordered the one from Amazon. I had been using a razor (I know, eek!) which was semi satisfactory, but had on more than one occasion resulted in a small hole in the fabric. Haven’t used the new shaver yet bc I’m wearing mostly cotton in the summer, but I’ll be ready for fall/winter!
Yes, I have never made a hole in fabric with the shaver! The little guard on the end is magic.
@Kristen, I have made holes multiple times with a shaver, sadly! It's always been with very thin fabrics though. Usually cheaper very thin light cotton mix fabric. If it's thin and light enough it can get sucked in, even if I'm bracing the fabric!
I actually got the shaver you listed (my prior Aldi one died when the batteries corroded inside it), and there is an extra guard for very light fabric, but then I couldn't get it close enough to actually shave the pills. I decided the risk of tiny holes was worth it. Luckily, it's been tee-shirt fabric every time, so the holes don't really get bigger.
I love Chiquita's fluffy trousers! I have a similar picture of my sister's cat not wanting to handle overwhelm!
I don't like fabric shaving. Am I still allowed to comment? I also prefer the blue colour on the bin...maybe that's me living on the edge 😉
This is a really corny saying, but there's some truth to it, as with most cliches: 'you can't change the world, but you can change the world around you'.
I love the teachings of St. Augustine. Random Acts of Kindness are underrated. You can change someone's day through simple kindness -- letting someone go ahead in traffic, holding the door open for someone's whose arms are full, saying a kind word to a stranger, helping someone who is need.
On another note, an unfrugal confession. I bought a Simple Human stainless steel trash can. I wanted a square trash can that would fit in a specific spot in my kitchen, and while shopping at Costco, I bought one. It was pricey, but I was so pleased with it. After just a week or so, DH somehow put a huge dent in it. I still don't fully understand how he managed it. Oh well, it still fits perfectly in its spot in the kitchen. However, all the inexpensive, estate sale trash cans in the house are still in perfect shape.
@Bee, I also have an expensive Simple Human trash can! Our newest dog knocked all our older cans over to forage for food /smelly trash. Now all trash cans must have lids (ewwwww, even the bathroom ...)
@Bee,
I bought a Simple Human stainless steel trash can after we had our kitchen remodeled ten years ago and like everything else in the kitchen it is still going strong ten years later.
Can you rotate your trash can so the dent is not visible?
@Bee,
We, also, have a rectangular Simple Human trash can in our kitchen, and while it hasn't become dented, our fridge - which is stainless steel - has little dents here and there. I have no idea how we managed to dent the fridge/freezer door (insert eye roll).
@K D,
Sadly the dent is front and center, and there is no way to rotate it. Other than that, it is the perfect trash can. As @Meeghan says, it is nearly dog-proof. However, my cousins dog learned to use the foot lever. Rescue Pup has not put those two things together yet.
@Liz B.,
Oh I'm sorry. One of my sons dinged my refrigerator. I think he did it with a mop.
Fabric shaving is so addictive. After I purchased one off Amazon, I spotted they sell them at the DollarStore (no idea the quality). I had never once thought about having a fabric shaver (did I even know they existed before you)? But I am so glad to have this in my tool box of tricks for boosting the wearability of aging clothes.
Ha! I loved that James Clear quote, too (I think we texted about it?), and included it in a blog post a few weeks ago. With the overwhelm of All the Bad Stuff happening in the world, we're often inclined toward wringing our hands. For the majority of us, the most impactful thing we can do it try to improve our local environment, the health and wellbeing of ourselves and those around us and try to be a ripple of positive change. I LOVE JAMES CLEAR and I having dinner with him at some point is on my bucket list.
Oh, I'm glad you got that affiliate offer for CIT! I got one of those accounts on your recommendation, so I can't sign up again to help you out, but it's exactly the kind of low-maintenance account I like: No spending requirements, high interest.
I have never used a fabric shaver, but also, I don't feel like my clothing pills like that. Maybe because I only wear cotton, wool, or silk? Is it mostly synthetic materials that pill?
Saint Augustine is really having a moment. Even before our new Pope --who is a part of the Augustinian order, and naturally references Saint Augustine pretty regularly--I was seeing all kinds of people reading his books, even non-religious people. I still haven't read one, but it's on my list. I keep meaning to ask my priest if he has one--almost certainly, as he has a LOT of books--that I can borrow. Next Sunday. If I remember. 🙂
@kristin @ going country, Recently my high school students and I read St. Augustine's Confessions...or at least a few of the books. But he is highly quotable. It's a good thing to read in small chunks, I think, because you can read and ruminate.
@kristin @ going country, We Protestants, particularly Reformed (Presbyterians and others who would be called Calvinists) and especially Lutherans hold Augustine in pretty high regard. We view him as a sort of forefather of Protestant Reformation as a lot of what people like Luther and Calvin were striving for was to bring Catholicism back closer to the viewpoints of people like Augustine (and of course, Scripture itself.)
I read part of St Augustine's Confessions (not all 13 books of course as I was not a seminary student) but what I did read resonated a bit with me. Maybe someday I will get around to reading more of it.
@Battra92, Are you Lutheran, too?
I haven't found a free trash can in a long time, but when I lived in apartment complexes, occasionally I'd see (and get) one in or near the dumpster. I buy trash cans (and other common household items) very, very inexpensively from thrift stores. I get those small metal trash cans that have a pedal and a lid -- perfect for the bathrooms -- for about $3 or $4 thrifted. They cost at least $10, if not more, from Walmart. I have three bathrooms and finally was able to get those trash cans for all three, although it took a few years. The cutest one has owls painted all over it. I got a big green round trash can for the computer room from Goodwill this spring, after the college kids left town, and really like it. However, now that Snuggy is here, I'm having to switch over to trash cans with lids since he likes to take the trash out of the cans and chew on the items. Again, I'm getting them cheap from the thrift stores (although one of them was from Big Lots' closing sale, 75% off). Also found an older one in the garage left behind by my ex-roommate, which I used for collecting recyclables; a good scrubbing made it suitable for inside the house once again. One of my other recycling bins is/was originally a big plastic red and green Christmas storage box with a broken lid that I bought cheap from --you guessed it!-- a thrift store. Meanwhile, I'm looking around for something to serve as a lid for the green trash can. (A pizza pan, perhaps? It needs to be heavy enough so that ol' Snuggles Boy can't get into the trash.)
@Fru-gal Lisa, Good luck finding something that works to keep your trash in the can! My husband and I were just talking about when we brought our puppy home and set up a child's floorless play pen to contain her - didn't work; she climbed out. So we cut a slit in large plastic gutter extender pipes and slid it onto the top of the walls, so there would be no purchase. Somehow she still got out! This was a 4-lb mini dachshund whose legs were like 2 inches long - I'm still not sure how it physically happened; Mission Impossible music must have been playing in the background. She always headed straight for the trashcans too.
In regards to the quotation, I think that is what, in our church, we talk about as vocation. We have a calling to serve our neighbor. For me, that almost always means the people who live in my house, but it extends to anybody I come in contact with. Some people are called to serve others in more noticeable ways, ways that draw media attentions. Others of us serve in ways just as important, but certainly more quiet and humble. In this way, we live out our vocations in ways as simple as returning a cart for a struggling mother of littles or by being honest in our dealings ("Hey, Walmart, I see on my receipt that you accidentally didn't charge me for that candy bar.")
Hi, guys. Just letting everyone know I'm back from NYC. I'll start describing my adventures in tomorrow's FFT.
About trash cans: These are one set of household items I almost never pay for. Nearly all of mine have come either from DH's old rental properties or off the curb. (Can't say that any of mine were originally from Restoration Hardware, though.)
And I'm also glad to see a rare cameo appearance from Shelley, in addition to the ones from Chiquita.
@A. Marie, hope you had a wonderful visit!
Hm, I'm trying to remember where our trashcans came from...one definitely was left by the previous tenants, three are (bad) lidded trashcans that I bought at Ikea, and that's it. The recycling box came from my old apartment--the rental company gave it to me. And the organics bin...I think we must have bought it at the grocery store. That one's actually pretty good: it's a small plastic lidded bin that fits a small compostable plastic bag and can be disassembled to run through the dishwasher when it gets yucky.
If anyone has a good recommendation for a sturdy kitchen garbage can, ideally a lidded one that will fit under a sink, let me know!
I didn't know you could paint plastic trash cans. What sort of paint did you use?
I had a thoroughly problematic couple of days recently. I couldn't do anything about the biggest (and truly big) problem so I put my upset and anxiety to work by attacking a long list of stupid little things o hadn't gotten done around the house.
The AJ Madison rep (huge appliance company) is trying to insist that they take away the partly-broken stove before ordering the replacement, leaving me no way to cook. She won't win and also I resent that her stupidity means more aggravation on my part.
Turns out my young friend's luggage didn't get driven from her porch (it had things like a college collage project she'd worked on all year). It seems, instead, that FedEx lied when they said they delivered it. MORAL OF THE STORY: insist on a signature upon delivery. Every time.
Another moral for me; even in summer weather, a walk will improve my mood.
Aww, I'm sorry to hear you had a rough string of days!
I think I used my furniture paint (the leftover Benjamin Moore Cloud White stuff) on that trash can. But spray paint is also a very good option for such projects. I just didn't have any white on hand so I used what I did have.
@WilliamB, Sometimes when I am in a funk, the only thing that does help is getting off my duff and crossing things off a to-do list. Or, as you said, a walk or some sort of exercise!
A friend of mine was getting ready to buy a new sofa, because her beloved one was very pilled. She decided to try a fabric shaver. She said it took a while, but she shaved the whole thing and it looks great. $700 saved. Her daughter was so impressed, she did it to her sofa, too.
@Cindi, Great idea! Thanks for sharing. I'm going to try mine on my sofas.
I don't know why, but I love seeing your trash cans in this post. I have long railed against how annoyingly expensive trash cans can be if you buy a new one in stores! Love your little blue-to-white bedroom trash can makeover. It really came out refreshed! (I agree that the blue color was quite a hard sell.) Looks like Chiquita also approved! haha
@Dori, I have that exact blue trash can. It’s in the garage so I don’t care. The trash-picked owl-themed can is in the laundry room, ditto.
Yes, the blue didn't go with my vision for my room! I got a lot of dark hand-me-down furniture so I chose to make almost everything else white to help lighten things up a little.
Leave it to Kristen to give us a miscellany assignment regarding trashcans and have it interesting. My kitchen trash can with the hanging lid was actually one my Dad got for their home. They had it for a few years before they passed in 2001 and I have had it since. I also have a square laundry basket that was theirs. Dad actually used it in their chest freezer to sort and make things easier to get to. My bedroom trashcan was my sister's that she was trying to sell at a yard sale. My craft room trash can is not really one, but a lined basket planter. And would you believe I have two in the bathroom? Both are clear plastic, one I actually bought with a bathroom set (cup, soap dish) and one that doesn't remotely match that my best friend gave me that was her grandmother's.
For some reason, I have no clothes that require shaving. And I barely keep my chin shaved.
The James Clear quote made me think of the starfish story. Many starfish had washed ashore and one person was throwing them back out to sea when a passerby said "You won't make much of a difference to these starfish," and the one tossing said, "It will make a difference to this one."
Just yesterday, at lunch after church, I was discussing the health of one of our preteen's with his Mom. She was so excited because he had gone a month w/o a seizure. And while he was playing a board game with some other kids, he had a fairly significant one. His Mom and family are so used to them, that my nursing experience was no benefit. I could do nothing physical. Our church prayed corporately right then, I hugged and cried with his Mom. And I have prayed every whipstitch since then. They have been through the gamut with health care and have yet to come up with answers and appropriate effective treatment. It matters to this one that I throw him to God's ocean of care and mercy.
Thanks-- I now have the "Whenever I call you friend" tune in my head: "Trash can painting on a Saturday night." or the more traditional: "Sweet love glowing on a Saturday night."
If you're a "sweater shaver" influencer, then I guess that makes me a "painted trash can" influencer. We are both "party lifestyle" people!
Are our parties popular? No. But we enjoy them. 😉
Good Morning,
Thanks for the CIT link. I put my 3 months living expenses in it. By the end of the year, I should have $400 of mad money. That is fun to think about.
I am heading to St. Louis tomorrow to scratch off another National Park! I love doing this. Plus I am meeting a buddy who moved to MO. We will stay for free at my IHG hotels for free and eat free breakfasts. I will take some time this morning to search the best deals for Gateway Arch. I treat frugal fun as a game. But then sometimes I just splurge. It is a nice balance.
On my search for another continent pin in my map: I have decide since I have spent a bundle on Antartica and Africa ( in Sept.) I am going to get my Asia pin as cheap as possible. It is another game.
I googled cheapest airplane ticket to Asia. Singapore was the winner at $649 roundtrip, non stop. Yes, Please. I got 8 nights using my IHG reward points. It includes breakfast and is literally on top of the super cheap and clean mass transit which offers the whole country for nearly free. I am in.
All that is left is Pago Pago for a pin in the National Park America Somoa and Oceanio.
I love retirement.
@Mary Ann,
My family and I went to St. Louis as our final stop on a two week vacation out West two years ago. The Gateway Arch is amazing! We did not find any deals, but went up anyway - well worth it (but not so good if you're claustrophic). The National Park there has a lot to offer. Have a great time! And yay for frugal trips to Asia!
Love, love, love that quote. Thank you.
I discarded the lid that came with a new sharps container (sent to DH by the VA just before DH went to assisted living), put ivory paint over the container's fire-alarm red original color, and it is a trash can in my craft room/office, now. I still have one sharps container I am using for my own used syringes, but at one injection every two months, it will take a while to fill it up.
I also still use a metal bucket with a faded out Coors logo on it that I found in my ditch. I painted it with leftover spray paint for metal and it's been in use for several years now as just a bucket; that's not creative, but I needed a bucket.
Seeing Chiquita's pictures reminds me, I was talking last night about our now deceased fluffy tuxedo cat, featured in my Meet-a-Reader post. He was dumped on us as young cat, and we figured out pretty quickly that he had learned (was probably taught) to play rough. It was undoubtedly cute when he was a kitten, but as a large, almost grown cat, he was nearly lethal. The number of people whose hands he bloodied, mine included! It took a lot of patience and a couple of years, but he learned to be gentle and to see hands as loving, caring things, not something he should immediately attack.
I looked outside this morning to see a crow hopping around in my fig tree, looking for ripe figs, but none are ripe yet. Begone, crow!
I love this medical reuse!
And when each of us adopts your challenge to give our best, we collectivelmake our worlds a better place !!!!!! powerful thing to think about.
YES. Imagine the impact all of us here can make collectively.
I SO needed this today
"Honestly, it is true for all of us, no matter where we go in a day (and that includes where we go online). We have the opportunity and privilege to be a blessing to others wherever we move in the real and virtual world, and I think that is beautiful. "
Thank you Kristen for the beautiful reminder. I have been very discouraged as of late given so many things, this was a wonderful reminder of what I can do!
I am so glad it was helpful! <3
I also use the bottom of an old paper shredder for dryer lint AND I was going to email you this afternoon to see if you have a CIT affiliate link! I'm helping a friend open a HYSA and remembered you mentioning it.
I love the quote. I can be a little woo woo, but sometimes I think people cross our paths just so we can be kind to them. Unfortunately, I forget this at times. 🙂
I like that quote, and I like how you characterized it as a way to do good without feeling overwhelmed.
We are back from vacation and trying to get settled in to a very hot house. We turned our two window units off while we were away, and it made for a very miserable return. I do not recommend it! We did save the electricity needed to run them during a heat wave I suppose, but boy howdy was it hot when we were unloading the car! For anyone worried about our house, it is a bungalow style built in 1935 and was not air conditioned for at least the first fifty years of its existence, and then had only been cooled with window units. It is well designed to handle hot weather, even in our muggy heat waves, and is also very shaded by trees, so even though it was 95 degrees outside when we got home and had been as high as 98 during our absence, it was only 82 degrees inside. Despite that, 82 still felt miserable after being outside carrying heavy bags, and it was humid too. We have been running the AC units for a full 24 hours now and it got down as low as 78, but will still take a couple more days to get down to the 69 degrees we prefer. In the meantime, we are puttering around the house unpacking slowly and eating refrigerator meals until we recover or the heat breaks.
I hope everyone else is finding ways to beat the heat and stay cool this summer!
@Becca, next time consider leaving it on but at perhaps a higher setting. I suspect your electricity savings were at least somewhat negated by your frig, freezer, electronics running more. You may have unplugged your electronics, a woman in TG would deal with the food in her frig/freezer if she was gone over the weekend (cooler if memory serves) so she could unplug it. Even if you have very little in your frig w/freezer, the risk of losing food to save a couple pennies doesn't work for me.
@Selena,
I did the math. Our fridge and freezer cost about .60 a day to run. Our AC units (which are only on/off varieties, so no thermostat setting) cost 6.00 a day, so it was worth it financially, but our main reason for turning them off was to avoid the risk of fire since no one would be home for ten days.
I have the wheeled bottom of a dead shop-vac to use for a bucket in the basement. Watertight and the wheels are a great help.
@Heidi Louise, that is actually the perfect thing to do with the bottom of Shop Vac.
@Heidi Louise, I use shop-vac tubs as planters. Ideal for this purpose, since a shop-vac tub already has a drainage hole (I just take out the plug).
I am chuckling at the thought of you mentioning this in the plural. How did you come to own multiple shop vac tubs??
@A. Marie @Kristen - rental properties! @A. Marie's husband may have had a shop-vac at each. Curb picking also comes to mind.
My favorite James Clear quote: "When you can't do it all, do something small."
Thank you for that quote <3
I'm about to go back to work (and urban ICU) for 3 nights in a row after a few days off, and this quote feels like a good way to counteract the "Sunday scaries".
What a fun post, Kristen! This is the time of year when I am often in the Land of No Electricity, Phone, or Internet, so I am just catching your posts as I can. Thank you for setting the standard for us out here in Blogland.
Here is what one person did for me today because I happened into their orbit: My husband dropped me off at the hospital because he had a doc appointment. This is my 11th iron infusion and my 5th blood transfusion in the last three months. And I just saw the cardiologist there two days ago. Suddenly I have to reregister and my husband had my wallet so no insurance or ID or I can't get the infusion. I found myself weeping, telling the young woman how often I had been there, how ill I am, how my husband was off for another round of chemo that we had not anticipated. She stared at me for a minute and said, "I am going to make this work. Bureaucracy will not stand in your way." She found my face on an old insurance card photo in the record, so she knew it was me. She verified the rest of my history of recent procedures, made some notes and signed me in. She must have told the infusion department what a wreck was coming their way because they ended up bringing me one of the milkshakes they make to try and put calories into chemo patients. Obviously, she was following the advice of today's quote, Kristen.
We are already being substantially blessed by the two close relatives who flew up on their own dime; both are in construction and they have torn our study to the studs and are rebuilding it. They refuse payment and say they are happy to be spending time with us and each other and to be in Alaska. They say it takes a village to raise a child. Little did I know it takes a village to keep old people going!
And by neighbors who retrieved our Dane when he hopped a 6 ft. fence while we were in the ER, and for good measure their young daughter decided my garden needed watering and just did it before we got home.
And then I came home from today's infusion to the Dane who, for the first time, spontaneously gave me a lick. A year and a half with us and only this week is he freely giving affection. FINALLY. We were beginning to think he would never really bond with us. But he still won't let us cut his toe nails and now we follow the vet's advice and let him continue to chew them off. Weird and seems neglectful, but okay. It is tricky to put giant breeds under and that is what it would take, never mind $700 or so each time.
This probably should have waited until Thursday's usual topic but lately I have needed to force myself to count my blessings because between my health, my husband's cancer, and how we are about to punish the not-wealthy for daring to exist, I am not finding it easy to be cheerful. Your blog and Katy's blog help, too, so thanks for posting so frequently.
Awwwww, I am SO GLAD someone had some compassion on you and helped you. You are dealing with so much right now. Sending you so many hugs ♥️♥️♥️
@Lindsey, I'm thankful for the kindness you received. I have been frustrated by the medical establishment a bit as my father is having a hard time with his back. It means the world when medical personnel treat you like a real living and breathing person worthy of attention and sympathy.
@Lindsey, one dog we had (long story but people had too many dogs, kids, both worked) who along with her other canine companions, spent her day in a crate (which, like being tied up, is the height of cruelty and I am not a dog person by any means. But I am an animal lover). To pass the time, she kept her toenails nice and tidy.
@Lindsey, Thank goodness she made that work! I wish you all the best as you both continue the battle.
@Lindsey, sending you a hug and a hang in there. i love danes. when i lived in brooklyn godfrey a dane was my friend. sadly he passed way too soon.
Guess what Chiquita butt lol.. always helpin'.
I should invest in a shaver. I do have a few shirts that could benefit. Not that I don't wear them pills and all.
Resist, survive, and thrive is my motto. Our pocketbooks are our greatest weapon.
I have that exact paper shredder, apparently, b/c that is my exact bottom! Ha. It lives in my bedroom now (b/c small house woes) and I see it multiple times a day. Funny, when I moved to my small house, I thought, this is IT! I've done it! It took me around nine years to wish for a wee bit more room. DH suggested we get rid of 1/3 of our possessions and maybe I'll try that soon.
I use my sweater shave on my carpet. My dog scratches it up often...scratching a spot to lay on...but the sweater shave smooths it out & makes it look new again. It takes a long time to have a rug!