I Am Waging War

This image is from Google. I did not stick around long enough to take a photo of what was on my freezer.

Well, dear reader, it's been a week, and it's only Wednesday. I had a nice little piece planned about talking nicely to and about yourself, but instead, I have a horrifying tale to share. Our 1880s farmhouse has an 1880s basement. Our basement is what you would imagine for an old farmhouse: fieldstone walls and low ceilings; when my parents moved in, it had a dirt floor, but they cemented it. There are little nooks and crannies and dark corners; it's creepy. As if this is not spooky enough, crawl spaces are adjacent to each side of the basement. These crawl spaces have wooden panels over their entrances that look like they are housing unseen and untold horrors. I spend as little time in the basement as possible.

Imagine, if you will, the basement is designed in a T-shaped formation. Walking down the basement stairs, the furnace and well pump are to the right. To the left is a chest freezer just off the basement stairs, along with an old hutch that I use to store antique glassware that is rarely used. In front of one, as they continue down the stairs, is the basement door, a window, and the largest section of the basement. Like most farmhouse basements, ours is lined with wooden shelves holding our home-canned produce, canning equipment, and empty Mason jars. The ceiling is low enough for me to hit my head off the ductwork that hovers above. I'm five foot three, so you know the ceiling is low.

Jordan, Raylee, and I cleaned the basement several months ago. After we were done, everything was spotless and well-organized. It was so clean that I no longer feared going down to the basement because it was clean, organized, open, and much brighter. We replaced all the lightbulbs with LED daylight bulbs. Since then, I have moved up and down the stairs and into the basement without trepidation. After all, we spent three days down there and saw nothing to be frightened of, not even a spider. How very wrong I have been.

I have always gotten a creepy feeling when going back the short hallway to the laundry room, which is also where the basement door is located. You know the feeling I speak of, dear reader. The one where the hair stands up on the back of your neck, you get goosebumps, and you feel that if you took off running, something would indeed chase you. This feeling is so prominent that I refuse to do laundry after dark, use the downstairs bathroom, or, heaven forbid, go to the basement. I am not alone in experiencing this creepy feeling. The Bean feels it, too, as do many visitors. However, little did I know that there is an actual physical entity that I am indeed afraid of, and with good reason.

On Monday, I asked The Bean to go to the basement to retrieve a pound of ground beef from the freezer. My daughter did not hesitate about going to the basement; she is much braver than I am. As I stood in the kitchen preparing for dinner, I heard her yell in a tentative, slightly dramatic voice, "Mom, can you come here?" I responded, "What do you need, buddy?" I was mildly annoyed because my child, like her father, struggles to find things that are in plain sight. I hollered, "Jordan, the hamburger should be on the top, towards the back, in the center. Now, it was her turn to sound annoyed. She said, "Mom, can you PLEASE just come here?" I gave an irritated sigh and went to the basement door. I stood at the top of the basement stairs and again asked what she needed. She said, "Can you come look at something?" As I descended the stairs, I paused and asked, "What is all over the top of the freezer?" The Bean responded, "THIS is what I want you to look at!"

I slowly descended the stairs and looked at the disgusting mess that covered my recently cleaned freezer lid. It looked like a large cluster of small oblong-shaped turds with a white, chalky substance surrounding it. As I looked more closely, I could see fur or hair mixed into the poo. It was not fresh. It looked as if it had been there for a while. Considering I had not been in the basement for two weeks, it could have been there the entire time. The mess was firmly adhered to the freezer lid. I said to The Bean, "It looks like sh**!" She asked what kind of sh** I thought it was. After scolding her for saying sh** so freely, I replied I had no idea. We carefully lifted the freezer lid and got the ground beef while looking at the rafters hanging so close to our heads. I said, "I have a bad feeling about this. Let's get out of here!" I then ran up the stairs ahead of my darling child because I was the closest one to the stairs, not because I didn't want to be the last one in the basement. I told you she is braver than me.

When we were safely in the kitchen with the basement door closed firmly behind us, I took out my phone and Googled what I feared had created the poo pile. The Bean asked what I was doing, and I explained I was Googling poop. She asked me what kind of poop I was Googling, and I told her I didn't want to tell her because I thought she would freak out. She sighed and said, "Just tell me." I said, "I'm afraid it is snake sh**." Her eyes widened, and she said, "Oh, hell no!" I looked back at her and said, "I'm afraid so." The first description to appear on Google described small, oblong-shaped stool with a white, chalky substance at the cap. I then switched over to images, and low and behold, the image that appeared looked almost identical to what sat on top of my freezer! I said to The Bean, "Please go get your dad."

The Bibbed Wonder came to the house to investigate. Upon closer inspection, he pointed out that the poo was filled with grey fur, probably from a mouse, and we could see the slither marks where it had moved off to the left of the freezer lid dragging streaks of poo along with it. I stood at the top of the basement stairs, saying, "Oh no! No, no, no!" The Bibbed Wonder laughingly instructed me to calm down. He informed me it was no big deal and that the creature had probably been there for quite some time without us knowing. I tersely informed him that knowing made a vast difference and demanded that we call an exterminator. He informed me in an annoyed tone that we would not be calling an exterminator because this was 100% my fault. I looked at him aghast and exasperated. I demanded how a snake being in our home was my fault. He informed me that we would not have this issue if I had permitted him to shoot and kill the squirrels and chipmunks in the backyard. Sigh.

I then went into panic mode and said I would shoot the damn squirrels and chipmunks myself, but we had to get this nasty reptile out of our home. The Bibbed Wonder claims that when the food is gone, the snake will be gone. I, however, do not believe him. I immediately went online and ordered snake traps and snake repellent. I did not order the humane traps. Oh, no, this snake must die. There are almost two hundred acres for this thing to take refuge in, and it makes itself at home in my home. Nope, it is war. I then proceeded to take a roll of window screening and cover the vent from the basement to the kitchen. I have seen mice scurry down this vent after stealing the dog food. I now place the dog food in the large crock that holds the dog food when we go to bed each night. If a mouse can fit through a vent, so can a snake. I set every mouse trap we have and had Eric and Jordan place them in the basement.

Soft-hearted, caring, and won't hurt any living creature, Tina is gone. I'm in warrior mode and won't stop until I have proof that the snake is gone or dead. My snake traps should arrive tomorrow. I told Eric he will have to check the traps daily until it is caught because I refuse to go to the basement. Of course, he laughs and makes a joke of everything. I lost my cool and told him everything was not a joke, and this was not funny. If the snake is not caught in a timely manner. I have every intention of calling an exterminator. I can't live in a home I know I share with a snake.

My friend Jenna is no better than The Bibbed Wonder when it comes to making jokes about the situation. After I instructed all three goons that there had better not be rubber snakes placed anywhere around my home, or there would be hell to pay, Jenna laughed and asked if snake eggs would be acceptable. She is not funny—not funny at all. Jenna then went on to horrify me with stories about snakes hanging from cuckoo clocks in her grandparents' dining room in their old farmhouse. I informed everyone that if I saw a snake in our living quarters, this house would be on the market, and I would move to Ireland, where there are no snakes. Aruba has one species of poisonous rattlesnake. It looks as if Aruba is off the table for retirement options because of this.

All I can imagine, dear reader, is going down the basement stairs and finding a snake coiled on my freezer. This image haunts me, and the fear is real. I lay awake at night worrying about snakes in my walls and attic. For my peace of mind, I will feel better when the snake is caught. However, Jenna also placed another terrifying thought in my head. What will happen if the snake gets caught on the sticky trap and drags it around so I can hear it in the basement at night? Gah! It's an atrocious thought. I may be house-hunting before this is all said and done.

A snake in my house is far worse than a ghost. I'll take a ghost in my laundry room any day; please keep the snakes out. Now, if the ghost were to scare the snakes away, that would be an intrusion I could live with. Stay safe and be smart on this hot summer day; I pray you don't have snakes in your home, and keep washing your hands. Ugh, snakes are filthy creatures.

Tuesday Spotlight: Vanilla Bean Dream

Welcome to Tuesday, dear reader. Today, we are spotlighting our latest full-time creation, Vanilla Bean Dream. This is the first time Vanilla Bean Dream has been on special. I feel like the Tuesday Spotlight is a right of passage for one of our soaps. Today, Vanilla Bean Dream has gone from a fun special occasion soap to a well-respected member of our full-time soaping repertoire. It's like one of my children has met a milestone...sigh.

Over the past several years, we have had many requests for vanilla-scented soap. Initially, I hesitated to create one because a cold-process soap with vanilla will always turn brown. I won't bore you with soap nerd chemistry. Simply stated, the vanillin content creates a chemical reaction that turns the soap brown. In my experience, brown soap is not very popular. However, with so many soap family members inquiring, I thought I should try to create something that smells amazing, is pretty, and embraces the brown color. I believe I have created a soap that smells amazing and accomplished embracing the color brown. However, I am not convinced I achieved a pretty presentation. I've done my best with what I have, and you, my soap family, have embraced it.

To create Vanilla Bean Dream, I felt I had to use exceptionally high-quality ingredients (If I'm being transparent, I feel this way about all our products). I created a blend of sweetly scented oils to enhance the warm vanilla scent. I then took the vanilla scent to the next level by incorporating freshly ground, oven-dried vanilla beans and pods. Seriously, dear reader, I wish you could smell how divine the drying beans and pods smell. My entire home is filled with the scent of warm vanilla, and it is delicious. I add the ground vanilla beans and pods to the base of my soap for a bit of gentle exfoliation. I then attempt to whiten half the soap batter and create a cream and dark brown swirl for the top half. Top it off with a bit of biodegradable glitter, and you have Vanilla Bean Dream.

This week, Vanilla Bean Dream soap and moisturizer will be on special exclusively on the website. For a limited time, you can save 25% on bars and jars. If you have not done so already, it is an excellent time to try our latest full-time soap. It also makes a beautiful gift, or if you have tried it and love it, it's a great time to stock up. It won't go on special again for approximately thirty weeks. That is how many soaps we have in our rotation, which is merely a loose "guesstimate."

On this lovely summer's day, stay safe, be smart, and enjoy the savings; I hope you like it, and keep washing your hands.

Click To Save On Vanilla Bean Dream

Lessons On Self-Care

Many of us have room for improvement when it comes to self-care. Personally, I don't always do what I need to when my body tells me it's time to take a break. My husband is even worse about taking care of himself. In his mind, taking a break, doing nothing, resting, relaxing, and unwinding equivocates wasted time and weakness. The Bibbed Wonder rarely takes a day off. He can be ill, in pain, or exhausted, and he will push himself to the absolute limit. I have learned the hard way that fussing at him to take care of himself does not work. In fact, it goes in the opposite direction, and then he gets annoyed and crabby. Instead, I make subtle suggestions, plant ideas, or point things out matter-of-factly, allowing him to come to his own conclusions and think it's his idea and he is in charge. It's all about creating that illusion...insert a smile and a wink.

So, let's talk about self-care and the importance of taking time to give yourself what you need. With the start of live shows, some of you may have seen me in person and noticed some changes in my appearance. First, my hair is a lot lighter. I have finally decided to allow my hair to go grey. I am trying to do so gracefully, so my magic friend/stylist Mandi has taken my hair to a light, non-golden blonde. I am not a natural blonde, so this is somewhat of a shock. However, it helps my white hair blend, and I don't have a line as noticeable at my roots. I can't say that I like it or that it is graceful, but I don't feel as self-conscious about it if I were to let it grow out and not try to blend it. Dumping chemicals on my head every two weeks is not good. I believe my hair is thicker and healthier without the chemical colorant. Hopefully, in a year or so, my hair will be a lovely natural white, and most of the artificial color will have grown out. I know it will be a long, arduous process, but I have finally committed to it.

Also, you may have noticed I am a bit thinner. In the past, I have been open about my weight loss struggles, hypertension, and early-onset heart disease. Well, dear reader, after joining gyms, cutting carbs, exercising, drinking a ton of water, and trying all the medications out there with minimal results, my cardiologist prescribed the semaglutide drug Wegovy. Wegovy is a weekly injection that slowly increases until one reaches the maximum dose. To date, I have lost 25 pounds. Last week, I had a check-up with my cardiologist, and I am thrilled to share that my blood pressure is down to 112/70, my heart function is much better, and I am no longer fatigued, exhausted, and winded when I exercise. It's amazing what dropping a few pounds will do for one's health. My blood pressure has not been this low since I was in my early thirties.

My goal is to lose another fifteen to twenty pounds, concentrating on losing weight around my middle section. At this late stage of life, it is not all about vanity (although I like how my clothes fit now) but about being healthy, getting off most of my medications, and living a healthy lifestyle. I know some of you may disagree with the use of this type of medication, but for me, it has been a game-changer. With a new and accurate diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis and switching to the injectable biologic Humira, I am feeling better than I have in over a decade. The people who are close to me have noticed an improvement in my health, the way I move, my mood, and my increased energy.

Finding the right combination that works for me has taken me years. Changing rheumatologists was the best choice I have made. As a patient, who am I to question someone who has gone to school for eight years with a concentration in their specialty? What I have learned is that it's okay to question. It's okay to take matters into my own hands when I feel that a doctor is not listening to me. It's okay to ask questions about treatment and say, "I am not comfortable with this. What else can you do?" It's perfectly acceptable to switch doctors when I feel I am not receiving the answers I am looking for. It's also okay to advocate for myself.

Do I enjoy driving to Pittsburgh every three months to see my new doctor? No. Did I feel uncomfortable going to a new doctor? Yes. Did I feel like a bit of a hypochondriac going with a list of ailments, medications, and treatments that didn't work and asking for help? Yes. However, taking the time, putting in the research, asking for help, and being willing to leave my comfort zone because what was being done for me wasn't working has paid off. I feel more like my old self again. I am not napping every day at 2:00. I have the energy to do more in all aspects of my life. I feel good and don't dread daily life. It's been worthwhile and I am better for it.

So, dear reader, those are the significant changes. Now that I am feeling better, I have decided to do small things that help me, make me happy, and improve my quality of life. I finally got a library card. I know it sounds weird and might not seem like a big deal to you, but going to the library makes me happier than you can imagine. My friend Jenna, who is great at helping me do things outside my comfort zone, asked me if I wanted to get a library card with her. Of course, The Bean and I said yes. We signed up for our library cards and then explored the library. I felt at home and excited to be surrounded by so many books. I felt at peace in the cool, comfortable, and quiet of the stacks. The hard part was deciding what books to read because the possibilities seemed endless. I settled on three books. I am revisiting Jennifer Chiaverini's Elm Creek Quilt series, a new horror author and a work of fiction with a touch of magic. I have finished one of my books already. I wanted to go to the library every week, but The Bean informed me she thinks every other week would work well. I think she is right.

I have also decided to do small things for myself, like getting a massage every few months, having a pedicure every six weeks, and maybe getting a facial. To keep my mind sharp, I have joined the Master Class series. I am going to watch the Martha Steward lecture to begin, and then I believe I will take a few marketing courses. I've also decided to look for a digital marketing course at our local college. I'm unsure if anything is offered, but I feel it is worthwhile and productive to explore this avenue. I have also declared Sunday to be a non-work day. I try to work full-time at the business throughout the week and do household chores on the weekends, mostly on Sundays. My goal is to balance my time during the week between the house and the business and take Sunday to do something I enjoy or nothing at all. I need to strike a balance and set a good example for my daughter.

My point is that after fifty-plus years, I finally think I understand the importance of caring for myself. I continue to feel nagging feelings of selfishness, laziness, and self-doubt about doing things I enjoy and taking the time to do them, but I am working on that. I know I can't just eat whatever I want and expect healthy results. I grasp that I can't just sleep and hope to feel better. I understand that sometimes I need help, and I need to be okay asking for help. I am trying to be okay with not keeping pace with my workaholic husband. I also know I can't force him to take care of himself. That is something he has to come to understand in his own time. I can try to set a good example for my daughter. I can try to balance work, fun, and self-care. It's a learning process.

Give yourself some grace, dear reader. Take the time to do what is best for you, even if it isn't the easiest way. Advocate for yourself and your health. Don't be afraid to ask questions and make changes. Try to accept that doing nothing is good for you and needed. Taking the time to do things that make you happy is not a waste of time. Make friends who get you out of your comfort zone...they're the best. But most of all, be kind to yourself. On this overcast summer day, stay safe, be smart, take care of yourself, and keep washing your hands.