Should I feel guilty?

As you know we got the attic drywalled, taped and sanded; plus we got our bedroom ceiling repaired.  Anyhow they worked 9am until 4pm, Tuesday through Thursday, three guys.  On the Friday it was 9am until 2pm, 2 guys and then on the following Tuesday it was 9am until 11:30am, two guys.

One of the jobs was to drywall the corner of the hip walls, which they haven't done yet.  After chasing them about this, I finally got an answer from them saying they will do that job when they come to do the basement.  Then when we had a look at the attic, they have missed sanding some of it, and there is a ridge, which is noticeable even in the daylight.  So no doubt when I paint it, it will stand out like a sore thumb.

So I called the boss and he finally came around on Monday and had a look at the attic.  As he was looking at it, he said words to the effect that he hasn't made a cent on this job, infact he's lost money.  Again he will get them to fix the problem when they come back for the basement.

I haven't paid for this job yet, and don't think I should until it's completed..........although I did suggest to dh that maybe I should pay 75% and keep the 25% back until the job is completed.  Also it's not my fault they took as long as they did to complete it; thank goodness they quoted us on this job and the basement.

Should I be feeling guilty about them not making any money, and should I pay for the drywalling?  I haven't received a bill yet.

Did you remember to put your money in your Daily Savings Pot?

Today's Money Saving Tip:

It’s only a drip, right? Wrong. One drip per second can add up to 200 gallons per month. So fixing that leaky faucet is definitely worth it, especially if it’s hot water.

Double trouble.......

I was sitting at the computer and was distrubed by such a noise; it was these two squirrels talking to one another.

This one wasn't happy that the other one had appeared.

This one wanted to join in eating the bird seed.

Molly was totally and utterly transfixed by them both.

Finally the one on the fence left, and peace reigned once again, with the squirrel eating all the bird seed and Molly watching it!

The other day we had six turkeys wander through the front garden on their way to roost for the night in the woods.  You will only see five in the photo, as one hen bird was just out of the shot.  There were five hen birds and one male.

(click on the photo to enlarge it)

He must be a busy boy and a bird with tons of patience, having to keep five females happy!!!

Did you remember to put your money in your Daily Saving's Pot today?

Today's Money Saving Tip:

Grass clippings contain 80 to 85 percent water and decompose quickly when left on the lawn. The clippings also help keep moisture in the soil longer, reducing the need for frequent watering (saving both water and money)


Up to 25 percent of a lawn's total fertilizer needs can be met if grass cuttings are left on the lawn. The clippings slowly release essential nutrients—nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and minor elements — slowly so the lawn is continuously being fertilized. Well-fertilized lawns need less water.

Average lawn mowing time can be reduced by 30 percent when grass cuttings are not bagged.

A birthday, an award, and other stuff

It's our first borns' birthday today.  Ds is 26 today.  He was born around 1:30am British time after me only being in labour a "few" hours and me being moved from one hospital to another one 30 minutes away, as the doctor didn't want to stay up all night waiting for me.  Oh and I also slept for ages in between as the pethidine sent me to sleep.

I only ended up going to the hospital in the first place as I developed a "slow leak" in my waters.  I remembered waddling into the hospital with a hand towel stuck in my underwear as nothing else would work.  No idea why these strange things happen to me???  Ds was was due on the 12th and arrived on the 4th, although it was a toss up as to whether he would arrive on the 3rd, which is my cousins birthday.

I do remember that the delivery rooms and the maternity ward being chock a block full.  I also remember being woken up in the middle of the night by the nurse asking if I was breast or bottle feeding, and me asking if ds wanted to be fed, and her telling me no, they just wanted to know???

Oh, and I nearly forgot, I had shingles, so there was a bit of confusion as to whether I could breast feed or not.  I could it turned out.  All in all a very straight forward pregnancy and delivery!!

I got this award from Tracey, thank you Tracey.

Now I have to tell you 7 things about me...trouble is I think you all know everything!

1. I won't watch scary shows or movies as they give me nightmares.

2. I hate raisins, currents and sultanas, and happened to marry someone who also hates them, very convenient if you ask me, and now the kids won't eat them either.

3. I am as sick as a dog when I fly, I am not afraid of flying, it just doesn't agree with my system.

4. I will not touch dark chocolate as I get terrible headaches with it.  All other chocolate I will eat!!

5. I was actually on the school field hockey and netball teams and wore the school sashes.......

6. I tried out to become a police officer, didn't get in though.

7. I don't drink alcohol.........I used to, I find all it does for me is make me sleepy.

Did you remember to put your money in your daily savings pot today?

Today's Money Saving Tip:

Say NO to those asking for money. Aren't you just about tired of seemingly everyone asking for your money? You don't ask for money, so why should others?

Not only is this one of the money saving ideas because you hang onto your money, but it will also help you keep from getting "taken" by the con artists that abound. Here is a quick list of tips:

Get on the "no call" lists.

Ask phone solicitors to take you off their call list.

Hang up on pushy solicitors.

Offer to perform a service for the organization instead of giving money. They won't accept your offer, and that will end the call.

Request a number where you can call back, then never call back.

If you're going to cave in, them tell them to call you back later. When they call back, have the courage to give them the "cold shoulder."

Speak gibberish or another language during the entire phone call.

Ask them to hold on for a moment, then go out and cut the grass or fix yourself a meal.

It's your money, so just say no to others that think it will change hands simply based on a request. You have your own hard financial battles to fight, and you don't need others taking away your ammunition.

Like many other things in life, one of the great money saving ideas is simply to say NO.

My two columns........and a bit of a strange/funny story....

Here is a link to my column this week at the Eden Valley Messenger, where I talk about being both British and Canadian.  Here is a link to my column in the Orangeville Banner, where I talk about the idiots on the road and how no one takes a blind bit of notice of the speed limits.

I think I am going to use the Eden Valley Messenger column on the Orangeville column next week, as I think its pertinent to both columns in this case. 

I forgot to tell you about this yesterday.  On Thursday we had a dove fly into our family room window.  There is nothing unusual about birds flying into our windows, except this one really hit the window hard.  Both me and Molly went running to the window to see what had hit it as there was such a bang.  I looked down and on the ground was a poor dove.  A very dazed dove, who looked as though it had hit the bottle.  It was staggering around and shaking it's head.  It was the funniest thing to watch. 

However, it then stopped moving and I have to say I got worried enough that I called the vet to see what I should do.  They told me to bring it in and they would put it out of its misery.  Well, I must admit, I wasn't happy with that idea.  So they told me to pick it up and put it in a tree out of harms way then.  So I went outside to pick it up, and as I was approaching it flew into the nearest tree, where it stayed for a couple of hours.  It then flew away.  I bet that poor birdie had one heck of a headache!!

Also on the way home from the hospital I had to stop on the road to let a wild turkey cross (back road through Mono Centre, dad) and for one brief moment as I was sitting there a thought flashed through my mind......EASTER DINNER......by then the turkey had wandered off.

However the more I think about it, how on earth would I have caught a turkey?  Then if I did actually catch it, how on earth would I have killed it?  I know you are supposed to wring their necks........well I think that's how you kill birds......but one look into its eyes and that would have been it, I would have had to bring it home as a pet and what would Molly have thought of that?

Then there will be the process of plucking it and emptying its inside's (icky), and would there be a lot of blood????  Oh for goodness sakes, it's easier and less aggrevating to go to the store and buy a bloody turkey!!

Gosh, I am stressed now, all because I saw a wild turkey!!

As I am typing this on Friday night, I am not sure which part of my body aches the most.  Me and dh spent the day putting our bedroom back together.  Dh put up two new lights in our bedroom and changed all the sockets and switches.  My job was to clean all the woodwork, as the masking tape I used sucked, even though it was the green stuff, and my paint bled behind the tape.  So I spent ages scraping off the paint of all the wood.

I still have a few bits and bobs to do, like fill up the small closet.  Dh still has the handles to put on the closet, and then I think that's it......thank goodness!!  Another job completed.

Did you remember to put your money in your Daily Savings Pot today?

Today's Money Saving Tip:

Instead of getting your hair cut every six weeks, stretch it too 9 weeks....

Again I apologise for not getting to your blogs, I am so tired and we have been so busy. 

It's my own fault, I kissed him!

So now I am sick........Dh is sick and has been all week.  I had a rough night on Wednesday night and woke up on Thursday feeling icky.  So somewhere along the way I must have given dh a hug and a kiss, as he's the only one who I know that is sick?

I had a mammogram on Thursday morning.  It was in a smaller hospital closer to where we live and what a difference.  My appointment was 9:15am, and I was out of the hospital by 9:05am!!!!  The appointment before me was late, and so as I was there, they let me in first.  It was only a regular checkup nothing exciting, infact it actually didn't hurt as much as it normally does.  Mind you as I have a sore right shoulder, that side hurt more than the other side did.  Still it's over with for another couple of years.

For those of you who have never been for a mammogram here are a few tips:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Many women are afraid of their first mammogram, but there ïs no need to worry. By taking a few minutes each day for a week preceding the exam, and doing the following practice exercises, you will be totally prepared. And you can do this right in your own home!
Exercise 1
Open your refrigerator door and insert one breast between the door and the main box. Have one of your strongest friends slam the door shut and lean on the door for good measure. Hold that position for five seconds (while you hold your breath). Repeat again, in case the first time wasn't effective enough.


Exercise 2
Visit your garage at 3 am when the temperature of the cement floor is just perfect. Take off your clothes and lie comfortably on the floor with one breast wedged under the rear tire of the car. Ask a friend to slowly back the car up until your breast is sufficiently flattened and chilled. Turn over and repeat for the other breast.


Exercise 3


Freeze two metal bookends overnight. Strip to the waist. Invite a stranger into the room. Press the bookends against one of your breasts. Smash the bookends together as hard as you can. Set an appointment with the stranger to meet next week and do it again!!


CONGRATULATIONS! Now you have nothing at all to worry about when you go for your mammogram!

Did you remember to put your money in your Daily Savings Pot today?

Today's Money Saving Tip:

Drive your car longer. The buy new versus used debate often overlooks the most important factor–how long you own your car. Drive it as long as you safely can for substantial savings.

I have just posted another column on the Orangeville Banner, called "LEAD FEET" hope you have time to take a peek.

Skywatch Friday

What a beautiful sunset this was the other night, the colours were just stunning..........

For more Skywatch photos, please click on this link

Also visit my Charity Begins at Home........Or does it........ column here

Some photos and other things....

I mentioned a while ago how when we built the new closet in our bedroom, there was a small closet to move.  This is it below.  It had the one shelf in it and some hooks.  Basically useless, but very decorative.

So I got dh to make some shelves, which I covered in plastic paper.  I made a curtain for the mesh window.

And voila this is what it looks like now.

Now I took these photos on Wednesday afternoon, and there is still another coat of paint to go on the walls, and actually at that time I still had to do the final coat on the ceiling.  I ended up choosing a lighter colour than the closet, as the imperfections on the walls was crazy and it's drywall/plasterboard walls.  Who ever did it, couldn't drywall.  So I knew the darker the colour on the walls the more the imperfections show up.  Also with having so much dark wood in the place the lighter the walls the better.

So I went with a colour called "Light Sugar."  It's darker than a Magnolia colour, more like a cream colour and it looks good!!  I have discovered however I dislike painting ceilings.  Dh normally does it, but with him working so many hours, and me being at home, I had a go.  I generally love painting, but painting ceilings are a whole new kettle of fish...LOL

I bbq-ed cremated again on Wednesday night.  I even followed your tips, and made sure the rest of supper was ready (potato salad, coleslaw, and mixed bean salad), so I could concentrate on cooking the burgers.  However I still managed to slighty burn the burgers.  To be fair they weren't as burnt as they normally are.  So there is hope for me yet!!

Today is the start of a new month for the Daily Savings Club.  Did you remember to put your money in your daily savings pot today?

Today's Money Saving Tip:

Right after you open a can of paint,  take a nail and hammer a hole in the dip of the rim, this way after you pour your paint, the paint won't pool up in the dip, it will drip back into the can. This way you won't have a mess when you go to put the lid back on and it will be easier to reopen.

Oh, and keep an eye on my weather icon, as we are having some gorgeous weather at the moment and it's just glorious..........almost summer like.