Our neighbor is having a yard sale - everything is "make an offer" - and they'll take just about anything. I admired some beautiful old vanity mirrors. They're the big heavy ones that used to sit on top of a dresser. One has shelves on both sides and a light built into the top part (which needs a new plug but is otherwise in good condition). The other one only has shelving on one side, and no light. I know, I know - I'm about to move and I'm decluttering - and I certainly do not need more furniture. But these pieces were calling to me. They're so pretty and they're a piece of history. They don't make things like this anymore - not of the same quality anyway. I had to walk away. About an hour later the neighbor guy came over and asked me if I'd watch his yard sale for a while. he had to go to work and his mom would be by in an hour and a half to take over... He'd give me those two vanity mirror pieces in exchange for my time. Well yes, I can certainly sit in the neighbors' yard in the sun for 90 minutes and sell stuff! I even took a bunch of photos and posted an ad on Craigslist for them. Still, only one group came while they were gone and they didn't buy anything, despite having a nice conversation with them. They were pretty busy the rest of the day with people stopping by, so maybe the Craigslist ad helped.
My dad and my brother stopped by this afternoon to drop off the new (used) washer and dryer. We didn't have a wrench to take the old hoses off the old washer, so we didn't get them set up right away.
Each of the kids gathered up one garbage bag of stuff out of their bedrooms to throw away, and I got almost halfway through cleaning out the refrigerator before it was time to go to the parade. We typically skip the parade, but this being our last year in town, I figured why not reward the kids for helping to clean. Off to the parade we went.
It was hot, but the three kids I took were surprisingly well behaved! The ground rules were simple - don't wander off, and don't go in the street for candy. They listened to perfection, even passing up not one but two candy tosses that landed in the road, while the kids around them ran into the street to gather them up. A couple years ago a small child got her hand run over by one of the big trucks in the parade when her inattentive parents didn't notice her dart out into the road for a piece of candy. Fortunately nothing was broken and the child was fine, but the truck literally stopped on this toddler's hand while onlookers were screaming... it was horrible (and fortunately I wasn't there - only got second hand accounts from people I know who were there). I was reminded why people with sensory issues shouldn't go to a parade... Wow those sirens had me in panic mode, but I managed to hold it together and so did the kids. I'm really proud of them for their behavior at the parade today. We walked home and enjoyed water bottles from the fridge and the 67 degree basement (it was 84 outside). No sooner did we cool off after the parade, they were swept off to dinner and a movie with Grandpa (Tony's dad).
And what did I do with my time to myself? The first time I have been completely child and husband-free in months? Well of course I went out to do bunny chores! I got most of them watered, and decided to add nest boxes for the three that are due starting on the 6th. In so doing this, I noticed that Elizabeth's cage is starting to cake up in the back. I forget that with the smaller mesh on the bottom of her cage, sometimes hay and straw can clog it up. So I put Elizabeth in a small transport cage opposite her cage and hosed out her cage before adding the nest box. When I went to turn around to retrieve Elizabeth from the travel cage, there must have been a bee that I didn't notice that had landed on my neck, and me turning my head was enough to either pinch the bee against by skin, or startle it into stinging me. I didn't see it (maybe it was a hornet or anything else that stings and flies)... but I felt it. I haven't been stung by a bee since I was in school some 20 years ago. I don't recall a bee sting being this painful. I feel like such a wimp, but it really hurts. I didn't see a stinger, so I put ice on it for a good long while to try to curb the swelling. All that did was turn my neck red and cold - but it still swelled up and it still hurt. I refuse to take pain meds for a bee sting. On a positive note, since I'm still breathing, that means I am not allergic to bee stings! Good to know! I keep getting twinges of intense localized pain. I'm hoping it feels better in the morning. It's quite distracting right now.
We are still hoping that we can get someone out to look at the water heater tomorrow or the next day. It'll be nice to be able to take a shower again. It's only been one day, but it's a hot day with lots of time in the sun and messing with rabbit stuff... I'd appreciate a shower. I'm sure anyone who has to stand near me would appreciate me taking a shower too. (haha)
Happy Independance Day!