Attack of the Angry Arachnids

I have been away for months it seems like.

I have a great excuse.

I have been bitten seven times by brown recluse spiders while swimming in the pool.

See all the lantana and clematis between the patio and the pool?

I enjoy the jungle look while swimming laps in my private lagoon.

Chucks found several drowned spiders in the skimmer.

Spiders become very angry when drowning.

As I backstroked down the pool, I pulled the nasty arachnids down my body where they found a spot and bit the ever-loving heck out of me.

On five different occasions.

You can go here to see what a bite looks like.

Three rounds of powerful antibiotics, daily careful debriding of the crater-like wounds, and Polysporin and finally I am well.

I have not been in the pool in weeks.

I am very lucky not to have lost any chunks of skin tissue.

I did know NOT to puncture the head on the bite.  It will release the venom into your blood stream.

My faithful sidekick Willie was playing in the garden bed while I painted this toolbox.

A loud yelp and a tremendous leap and frothing at the mouth.

Yes, poor Willie was bitten by something poisonous.

After several shots, antibiotics, and pain meds, he is on the mend.

Both of us have made a decision NOT to stroll about outside.

Started with this unfinished project of someone's.

Sprayed painted it Aqua Rust-Oleum.

Sanded and added a Minwax Golden Oak stain to age it.

Added a black handle.

Filled it with small buckets and took it over to the booth.



 

I was finally able to sit down, put my arms to my sides, and turn my neck after recovering from the angry spiders.

Then along came Irma tearing leaves and pine straw and small branches off the trees.

While out raking, I stepped into a fire ant bed.

I am currently NOT a fan of the insect world.

AND in February I will be radically cutting back the jungle! 

Willie insists.

See y'all!

Pampering the Pooches

Scout was one scruffy mess.

Willie was filthy dirty.

Off to Jennifer to be bathed and groomed. 

Willie looking spiffy with his red bandana.

The two of them together.

Being warned NOT to roll in the dirt.

Scout is quite spoiled and must eat his dinner on his blankie on the sofa.

Willie eats in the kitchen where he is forever hopeful we will drop a crumb or two.

He always checks to see if Scout has cleaned his bowl.

Really?

That's all the food I get?


 

Hey, Scout, you didn't leave me anything?

Scout fast asleep - worn out from his day of pampering.

The end of the pampering the pooches tale.

Or tail.


See y'all!

ETSY SHOP IS CLOSED

No Quickies

Miss Peepers is highly perturbed with me.

I did not work on any quickies projects this past week.

So sorry.

I am a total Olympics geek spending hours watching sports - I am now a huge rugby fan.

I did complete my Saltwash versus plain sea salt competition.

See who wins the gold and who takes the silver in tomorrow's post.

See y'all!

CLOSED FOR SUMMER!

 Use this discount code to receive 10% off your purchase at the Distressed Donna Etsy store:

DISTRESSEDDONNA16

SHOP HERE! 

Found!

We are ecstatic.

Miss Peepers has found her way home after eleven days somewhere.

She is a few pounds lighter, dirty, and very hungry.







She will not let go of me so excuse the typing and short post.

She continues to tell me of her adventures, but unfortunately we do not own a cat translator.

Of course Azalee is completely depressed.

She will have to go back to sharing laps and treats.

Willie and Scout were very excited for about a minute.

Then decided a doggie nap was a better idea.

Chucks and I really appreciate all the thoughts and prayers we felt coming our way.

Our neighbors went over and beyond in searching and spreading the news of her disappearance.

See y'all!


 

My Etsy shop is on vacation so I can clean up a bit and clear out items lingering too long.

Lost

 MISS PEEPERS

On Friday afternoon, February 5, our cat Miss Peepers went out for her daily walk and sun bath.

However this time she never came back.

 Chucks, the neighbors and I have a sneaking suspicion the previous owner's granddaughter has stolen her. She was at the abandoned house at that time picking through the trash left behind.

 I miss my cuddle buddy even though she hogs the heating pad at night.

We miss her playfulness and gentle nature.

Even Azalee, our other kitty, has been looking all over the house for Miss Peepers.

We have notified the microchip company and filed a lost report

Both the animal shelter and the SPCA have photos and files on her.

If the granddaughter returns we are to call the police since Miss Peepers is considered personal property.

 Would we do that?

Well, if she promises to take care of Miss Peepers and will keep her up to date with her shots, maybe we will forgive.

We just would like to know Miss Peepers is safe and warm.

See y'all.

View how we came to adopt Miss Peepers here. 

UPDATE:  I finally found a way to get in touch with granddaughter who says she did not see Miss Peepers in the days she was working at the house. No one in the neighborhood has had one sighting of her.  We are hoping she is safe.

My Etsy shop is on vacation so I can clean up a bit and clear out items lingering too long.

Book Loot Two

Book Loot Two is all about the underdogs of book finds.

Bought for the subject matter or the cover art.




Not valuable.

Appeal to certain tastes. 

All five of these had great titles or great cover art.

Sometimes there are found relics in the books - bookmarks, study notes, letters, post cards, and in this case - a fold-out advertising fan.

I leave them in the books for customers to find.

These three had both the original paper covers and wonderful graphics on the bound covers. 

Tied a simple ribbon around each one of these to call attention to the cover art.

Bible Characters had a whole lot of character itself. 

Tattered and torn - wonderful font and book plates inside.

I have a broad customer base for vintage textbooks at all grade levels.

A World Geography book from 1950.

I bought the National  Velvet book for old times' sake.

I once collected National Velvet's - I had over forty copies of them from different years, sizes, covers. etc.

I have since sold them, but still buy them when I spy one.

Can you tell it was my favorite book growing up?

I usually buy Will Rogers books - this one Ether And Me.

Yes, I do read many of the books I pick up.

Anatomy of Me caught my eye.

I sell a lot of reference books.

Everyone needs a Mammoth Encyclopedia of Wit and Humor!

RANDOM ITEMS OF INTEREST

I drove my mother to the doctor to find out more about her swallowing problem.

The office is located in a renovated cotton mill.

Very impressive!

The sliding loading dock door is hung in the waiting room.

Look at the size!

They sanded it a little and waxed it a lot.

They must be patina people!

Here's a pic of Willie and Scout after returning from the vet.

They both have suffered sports injuries.

Willie had to get a follow-up spine adjustment for his wrenched disk.

Scout was playing with another small dog at the dog park and stopped suddenly.

 The other dog rear-ended him.

Scout now is suffering a very bruised ACL in his rear left knee. 

They are sad because they are not allowed at the dog park for a couple of weeks.

However they are quite in love with the pain meds!


See y'all!

Use this discount code to receive 10% off your purchase at the Distressed Donna Etsy store:

DISTRESSEDDONNA15

SHOP HERE! 

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