Which I hope to do later today. The packing up, I mean, not the mailing because the post office is closed. It being Sunday, you know.
Fine Martial Fiber
Chronicling the arts of my life
Sunday, July 13, 2025
All Done!
Which I hope to do later today. The packing up, I mean, not the mailing because the post office is closed. It being Sunday, you know.
Friday, July 11, 2025
The Culprit
No reason other than not wanting to wash. And they're patriotic.
I said, "We're past the rainy season now, so that's OK. Just don't forget about me!"
He's been doing landscaping since he was 13 and his dad started their business, so I know he knows what he's doing. I name dropped a mutual friend -- yes, you Edna-- and told him she'd said he was the best. He likes to talk, but he said these young people mow a few lawns and watch HGTV, then think this stuff is easy, but most of them end up going out of business because doing it right is a lot harder than they expected.
He also said the dirt the other guy had brought was garbage dirt, which I already knew. He's going to get me some good dirt and fix me right up. Best part of all, he's only going to charge me $1000 -- or less if he can swing it. He said he felt so bad about the other guy taking advantage of me, he's going to make sure he gets my cost below a grand.
Heh, when I told him how much the other guy charged me, well, let's just say he uttered some words I don't want to post on the blog, as they will ruin my PG rating.
OK, really he didn't say anything that bad, but saying that isn't as dramatic. Still, I don't want to give people the wrong idea about the man because he was very nice.
We chatted a bit more, and I said, "I wish I'd found your number first!" Then he went on his way, and I finally calmed down enough to get something to eat.
He was telling me I should leave a bad review of the other guy to keep him from ripping off someone else, but I replied, "It's just not in my nature to be a Karen." I'd rather just wait until the second landscaper -- Justin-- finishes up and post an absolutely glowing review of the job he does -- saying things like, "This is what good landscaping is supposed to look like!" and stuff like that.
Truth is, there were so many red flags in that conversation I had with the first landscaper, it actually makes me fear for his wife. The main ones being how he tried to turn everything around and make it all my fault, even though he didn't even come close to doing what I paid him to do, and how he tried to intimidate me and accuse me of trashing his small business -- his small Christian based business for no reason, because in his mind, he'd done exactly what I'd asked, which is a typical narcissistic response.
But it's a tremendous relief and a weight off my shoulders knowing I don't have to deal with him any more. The only downside is that now I have to wait on the other landscaper to finish what he needs to do before I can move forward with getting my herb garden started.
Well, maybe I can get the fence painted while I'm waiting.
And finally, there are big changes happening out at work, but I'm going to save that for another post, because this one is long enough already. Plus, I didn't sleep well at all last night and have had a massive headache all day.
I'm going to get off of here and knit and watch some mindless TV.
Laters...
Thursday, July 10, 2025
Prime Day Deals

Now, he says I'm threatening to post a bad review and trash run his small business into the ground, and he doesn't want to work with me any more. To that I say, if an honest review is such a threat to your small business, then maybe you need to reexamine your business practices. He says he's got recordings of our conversations, and that the truth will come out. I hope it does, because I know what I told him I wanted done.
Wednesday, July 09, 2025
JAG
While we’re on the subject, I’m trying to finish The X-Files, but I’m struggling with it. It just isn’t the same without….um, a certain character. I won’t spoil it for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet, but it isn’t as good.
Oh, and I dropped Britbox again, at least for a while. I am going to miss Father Brown and Sister Boniface, but can’t see paying $9 per month just for those two shows.
Even so, I'm glad for a bit of good news, even if it's something small like that. It's been a very frustrating week at work, and it's only Wednesday. I mean, it's the same old same old. Every single order I've gotten today has had something wrong with it. Every single order I've gotten this week has had something wrong with it.
The frustrating part is that we can't get the support from upper management we need to be successful at our jobs. Junior, for example, is nothing but an overgrown teenager who is more concerned with playing pranks on his employees than he is in solving the problems we have to deal with. It's almost like they want us to fail.
I didn't come here to complain -- again -- about my job, but I've been thinking lately. I used to be able to write clever and entertaining posts about my work days. No matter how bad things seemed, I was always able to find humor in the situation, and could come up with something people would want to read. Not so any more.
Things have gotten so bad out there, there is no humor to be found anywhere. It's become a downright depressing place, and no matter how hard I try, I just can't come up with anything worth writing about. And I can remember when readers were actually encouraging me to write a book.
Nobody says that any more. Nobody thinks that any more.
I think I'm going to end this and go take a nice, hot shower. But before I go, I had been saying I was going to switch my shopping day to Wednesday, but I'm finding that just isn't working out. Reason being, is that the shelves are fairly empty, and I can't get what I need.
I'm probably going to go back to shopping on Fridays, despite the place being a madhouse. At least the shelves are stocked then. But I did pick up a skein of that pink Bitty Stripes yarn.
I guess I really ought to finish the BSJ I've already go on the needles, then, huh?
Tuesday, July 08, 2025
Random Thoughts Of A Tuesday Evening
People don't always need you badgering them about what's wrong. They don't necessarily need to talk about it. Sometimes, they just need you to be there.
Monday, July 07, 2025
Found ‘Em!
I found the buttons!
As with the buttons, I didn't dive deeply enough the first time. Or second...
Sunday, July 06, 2025
Frustrated
I'm so frustrated right now, I don't even know what to do. I was going to get my great-nephew's sweater finished up today, so I can get it packed up and mailed off this week...only I can't find the buttons I bought for it.
The last time I remember seeing them, I was sitting in my recliner -- the same recliner I'm sitting in right this very moment -- picking out which colors I wanted to use. I'd bought some that had various shades of brown and green, and I thought they'd go well with the camo yarn. I set the bag down on the side table, or so I thought. When I went to get it this morning, I couldn't find it.
I've looked everywhere I could think of, and a few places I really didn't expect them to be, but I looked anyway. I even pulled the chair and side tables away from the wall and checked underneath. No dice.
Somewhat defeated, I got out my button box and picked out three that I thought I could use...and I couldn't find my needle. Oh, I found my tapestry needles, but they wouldn't fit through the buttons' eyes. I looked for the one I'd used to sew the buttons onto all of those Calorimetries I'd done a while back, but couldn't find it anywhere, either.
Frustrated, I stuffed the button box and sweater into the drawer, and now I'm sitting here pouting and watching a documentary on the War of 1812. Because, hey, even when I'm frustrated, I gotta be me.
Saturday, July 05, 2025
There Has Been


The last outside chore I took care of was to start cutting up some of these branches.
I was making good progress, too, until the chain came off of my mini-chainsaw. I took it as a sign.
Face it, it was highly unlikely I'd have gotten the fence painted anyway, and cutting up those branches is an ongoing project, so I'm calling it done.
Friday, July 04, 2025
Independence Day
No, that's not all of them, but I'm not going to show you every single piece of wood that came with it. It is fir wood, so it won't rot, but the water seal will supposedly keep them from turning gray and weathered.
Speaking of, while I was cutting some fresh basil for my newest batch of pesto, I found a little friend.
I left him and his leaf alone.
Thursday, July 03, 2025
Good News And Bad News
Wednesday, July 02, 2025
One Day More!
Ah, well, no matter. Once I get my beds all set up, maybe next year I can grow some peppers and make my own hot sauce. Except that I don't like hot sauce, but maybe Cody'll want some. In the mean time, I'll look for some recipes and we'll see what I can come up with.
Tuesday, July 01, 2025
Hello July
I'm not sure what happened. It was fine just a couple of days ago. Bummer, but it's not like I don't have plenty more. In fact, I was thinking about making some more pesto this weekend, and maybe, when I get another ripe tomato, I'll make something like an ensalada caprese.
Monday, June 30, 2025
Goodbye June
Knitting is something I've also had to slow down at, because my hands get sore if I do too much at a time. I think that's one reason I like knitting hats so much. They're quick and easy -- and very forgiving. Even if your gauge is off, or you cast on the wrong number of stitches, it's still going to fit someone's head.
Sunday, June 29, 2025
About Yesterday


I put some rocks in there so he'd be able to get out easier, and maybe so the bees and butterflies could land on them to drink. When I get the fairy garden in place, I want to have something that looks like a little creek with rocks in it, so insects and small animals like toads and salamanders can come and drink when it's hot.
Saturday, June 28, 2025
Red Wings
Never forget them.
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