Winter is Coming
Although it is unnaturally cold lately after a very hot summer, it is not the current weather that causes me to think of winter. Rather. it is the snow removal contract that landed in my email on the weekend. They will gladly keep my very short driveway cleared for $467 (tax incl). Shauna's drive is about a half car length longer, so she will have to fork out $80 more.
You may recall from last winter that we we were overly blessed with snow, and you may also recall that it accumulated to the point that the pile in the yard grew taller than I. Pushing snow is one thing but lifting it high is another, and then there is the big, heavy pile that the plows leave by the road, and I cannot deal with that anymore.
So, I don't have much choice but to pay the piper, as it were. There are financial costs to aging that people don't think about.
I almost forgot, but there is another sign of winter, Sue ordered and received the wool for her winter afghan project.
Car Troubles
Our 2010 Honda was getting noisy. It had only been 2.5 years since I had done the exhaust completely, and we had driven fewer than 11000km/7000mi in that time. Nevertheless, there was a hole in the pipe, and the costs of repair was more than $550.
ITU
Speaking of expenses for seniors, I went to the expense of purchasing UTI test strips that cost almost $19 for 3 strips. You may recall that they discovered a UTI in that trip to the ER. Or did they?
My last UTI, two years ago, also in August, was a deuce to clear up, so once the meds were finished, I wanted to know if we had contained this one. According to the trips, we hadn't.
I was expecting to be prescribed more antibiotics, but when they cultured the specimen, they did not, strangely enough, find an actual infection. So the test strip is reporting one thing, but the lab results do not concur. I guess that I should see the doc for clarification.
Inconsiderate Dog Owners
I get that people can't help their dogs peeing on lawns. I really do. And our front lawn is so rough, especially in this drought, that I don't mind too much. However, Sue has maintained a lovely pot of flowers near the sidewalk as she has done for years. It's never been a problem before, but a dog peed right on the pot and damaged the flowers. Sue moved that pot to the back of the yard and put another in its place. It was hit again. That is not acceptable.
Speaking of parched grass, I am glad to report, however, that the drought broke yesterday. We had a goodly amount of rain. Is it my imagination, or is it looking greener already?
Our snow removal contract will be up for renewal soon too. Everything is so expensive these days.
ReplyDeletePlease send the rain this way, AC.
We don't need that extra cost here...thank goodness. And Sue's pot? Get some vinegar, water, equal parts, and a few drops of dish soap...spray all over pot and plant. It acts as an animal deterrent and as a fungicide.
ReplyDeleteThat doesn't help? Try: Garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper powder and 1cup of water. Let sit for about an hour then spray.
Both are done once a week.
Hope it helps.
The UTI? Copy and paste this link. This is SO simple ...a home remedy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3oA_Z3wYC8
hugs
Donna
hugs
Donna
Thanks
DeleteMy snow removal, including paths, is covered in my association dues. All I have to do is sweep off my car, and neighbors usually help with that. So that's one thing that's already organized. I'm not ready to think winter just yet.
ReplyDeleteThat seems a large amount to pay for snow removal. But I don't have to think about such things where I live. Mostly our snow stays in the mountains where it belongs.
ReplyDeleteWow, it's certainly costly to have achieved a lifetime of days! Tough to have car expenses...and that snow removal is way awful! Good to hear there are dog deterrents.
ReplyDeleteFortunately I have a nice snow blower that all I have to do is turn the key and follow behind it. At your rates, it has paid itself off four or five times by now. But it would be hard to use in your situation and mine will throw the snow a good 20 to 25 feet depending on how heavy it is. It would be hard to do in your drive without throwing it in your neighbor's driveways.
ReplyDeleteCars that don't get driven much or only get driven short distances are a money pit when it comes to maintaining exhaust systems. They just don't get hot enough to thoroughly dry out any condensation inside the pipes and rust out quickly. I had a car like that once too. About every two years I was getting major exhaust work done. Eventually I just started taking the long way home to allow it time to heat up and the problems have gone away.
This is useful information. 👍
DeleteI am still the snow remover here, but I have a skid steer. So, that's cheating. This seems like a lot of money for clearing a small space.
ReplyDeleteI never let my dog pee on someone's flowers but it happens to my big planter out the front all of the time. Manners don't seem to be the same these days as when we were kids.
ReplyDeleteThat's so frustrating about the flowers; some pet owners are very inconsiderate! The snow removal cost is a small price to pay for preserving our elderly bodies. I would even do it at my age. I don't even have a snow shovel nor have I needed one except for very rare occasions. I'm envious of your rain.
ReplyDeleteThat is a lot of money to clear the snow.
ReplyDelete