"In the Spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt."

I don't recall ever having such Spring Fever as I have this year. There's something about seeing the fruits of your labor grow and bloom in all their glory.

I had the idea to find different "window boxes" or in my case "porch boxes" at various thrift stores. I made some wonderful finds, with the help of a friend, and have been potting different flowers and plants in them for the past couple of weeks.  It took a lot of spray paint and patience, but today I was finally ready to hang them all.  Dad helped, of course, because without him, I'm not sure I'd get anything accomplished. Thanks Dad!

Front porch:

Small green box in the center of the railing. Bleeding Hearts at the foundation. LOVE!

Coral box on left. Yellow mailbox right center. Pallet box bottom right. Hydrangea bottom right at foundation. LOVE!!

Side (south) porch:

Back (fence) area:

Found these rubber boots at Salvation Army, poked holes in the bottom, filled with dirt and Voila! 

I found everything but the plants at thrift stores. OH! And then there's this:

It's a newspaper roller for fireplaces. There's a handle, which I had to remove, that will roll newspapers nicely to use when making fires. Best find with the help of my friend. 

I'm working on a new paint project for a neighbor friend up the street. I haven't gotten any farther than transferring the letters to the painted wood, but my goal is to have it done by the Antique Walk, which is fast approaching. So maybe not...

The Whyte house

And now, as I type "The Whyte house" I think the H in house should be capitalized. Damn. I had it that way and then thought, Nope, I need smaller case letters. But now. Yah. Capital it is. Sometimes all it takes is a step away to realize what looks right and what doesn't. 

I have my job interview with the City today for the Deputy City Clerk position. It's a job I've wanted ever since finding out the City Clerk was retiring July 2018, the deputy would presumably become the clerk and the deputy position would be open. I'm happy I got an interview (11 people applied, whittled down to 4). I'm generally not too nervous during interviews, but this one feels different. Maybe because I actually want it. Maybe because these people "think" they know me already so it's a bit different atmosphere than going in cold. Maybe because I really, really, really don't want to come across as a dumbass and fear that I will. Maybe because I don't feel "good" enough. 

I'm just doing what I always do, which is read through the job description, my resume, cover letter and application, my answered interview questions and various recommendations I've received previously. I realized today, I should read those recommendations daily because they're glowing and I actually believe those people thought those things about me and so they're a nice boost to my ever-declining-self-esteem. 

My interview isn't until 6PM this evening so I have all day to not think about it. :)

"Measure twice, cut once."

Or in this case, measure width but not height and you're without a storm door for 3 weeks.

*sigh*

Who'd've thought my doors would be more than 80"? Not me or my Dad, that's for sure. So we got the old door off, started working through the steps of the new door: attached the hinge rail to the door: and then went to hang it....actually did hang it.....and it was 4" too short. Four freaking inches.

*sigh*

I'm going to *sigh* a lot. A.Lot.

I called Menards, breathed a *sigh* of relief that we could return the door, and we proceeded to take it apart and put it back in the box. We drove to Menards and, of course, had to special order the 84" door. It should be here sometime before Christmas, lol. No, really, August 11th...so they say. Hopefully it's not 96 degrees, which feels like 110.

I am so sick of this heat & humidity!

And while the gauze I taped to my body did its job, here's the problem with it: actually, two problems: 1. It did keep the blood & pus from dripping down my leg or onto my shorts, but it also held the blood & pus, which is just flat-out-disgusting. And it smells. It smells like death. I could smell it on our way home. So gross. And 2. the tape was really starting to chafe my ass where there was no gauze. I think if I'd had gauze that went all the way around my body and the tape didn't touch any skin, it would have been better.

I'm just going to walk around my house partially naked today. It's still swollen - hard as a rock - which means there's more infection and I have an open wound that's probably still seeping...so it's best I just lay on a towel all day and nobody bother me.

Speaking of which, I watered plants for two of my neighbors while they were away on vacation and haven't gotten a word of thanks. Now, they may have stopped by while I was away on one of my excursions, but I find that doubtful. I don't expect much, but a thanks would be nice. I'm really not too bothered by it...I just think it's rude and you know how much rudeness bothers me! So I guess I am bothered...

For some fun & happy news, not only am I a dog-sitter and flower-waterer, I am also a buzz-cutter:

Connor before

Connor after

I haven't buzzed anyone's hair since an ex-boyfriends in 2005 or 2006. I used the #1 blade. When I first started buzzing his hair, I thought, "Oh shit, this is really short!" but I'd already started so there was no going back. I think he likes it. If he doesn't, I'll never have to do it again!