KarenSue's Journal

It's gorgeous outside today! We're off to run some errands and pick up a few things for the house. I need a new door mat, a flag, and some flowers. I've been meaning to take photos of the front - I'll try to do that today.

I really need to update the $20 saving account amount. I'll take care of that later. I went to the library and spent $8.00 on books. Several have sold lately.

SIL and I are planning a garage sale for the 2nd weekend in June. I've decided to put half of the money into the $20 savings/emergency fund account and spend half on things for the house. There are some areas that seriously need a new coat of paint around here.

Just a few minutes ago I caught the year old dog gnawing on the trim. We still need to work on that!

This is hilarious! How many of these have you done?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg&eurl

I have this weekend off, but it's been raining and cold. I need to put a second coat of paint on the front door but it looks like that won't happen until later next week. I'll try to take photos then.

A bunch more books have sold and I'll ship them tomorrow and update then.

For mother's day we got MIL some pistachios (her favorite) and "The Notebook" DVD. For my mom, DH got her "Monster In Law" LOL and I got her a frame and some B&BW shower gel - Magnolia. It's one of her favorite scents. We stayed frugal this year.

The kids gave me some lotion I've been wanting and DS made me a trivet at school. The lotion was on sale for $8.00 and DD made me a card. DH made me breakfast in bed - it was very good except for the eggs. He overcooks things. I tried, but he noticed I didn't eat them all. DD also gave me a rose.

One place I worked, the ladies would compare notes on sweetest day, mother's day, etc. I would feel bad if I got less than others. Now I'm older, wiser, and don't really care what other people do. We don't buy cards too often anymore, because it wastes money. Once you get out of the habit of buying a card for every occasion, it seems silly to ever get one.

I went to the library the other day and found some more books to sell. The total cost was $8.00, and my new $20 challenge total is $568.43.

Here's an update on my recent book sales;


Clean Your Clothes With Cheez Whiz - $1.33 profit

The Extended Phenotype - $7.68 profit

Mutant Message Down Under - $2.08 profit

1916 - $2.49 profit

Actually, I need to update these totals later. My computer isn't working and I'm upstairs using DD's. Her room sure is a mess!

Yesterday I painted the front door and garage door. I'm going to take photos to see the difference. I've been sick with something the past couple of days. I'm not sure if it's stress, lack of sleep, or some kind of flu. My lymph nodes are swollen and I just feel tired and blah. Sometimes I'm hot and then I get the chills.

I've been spending money lately. First on paint, then on a new lock set for the front door. The old one was so junky looking.

Today I need to go into work and get my review. I'm not expecting much in the way of a raise. I work hard, but my attendance has been terrible lately. Today is my day off.

I hope all of you are having a good day today. I feel like taking a nap, and I already slept in. I think I'll rouse myself and try to do something useful.

This post is realy boring.

Do you want to see the "after photo" of the painting?

I finally took the time to edit the $20 total amount - it stands at $576.43 right now.

I never did take a photo of the front before DH put the mulch down. This is the after.

http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=42197118/PictureI...

I don't know if I'm doing this right. Let me know if you can see anything through my link.

Shadow is still in a lot of pain. She has a new Fentanyl pain patch and has been given a prescription for Valium. The muscle relaxers and pain pills weren't doing it, and she would just cry and cry. If this isn't resolved by the end of the week, we will just have to let her go.

I've been taking time off of work to care for her, and the vet bills are adding up.

I stopped by the paint store today. I'm going to paint the front door and garage door today, and keep an eye on the dog. Hopefully she will rest more easily today. None of us have been sleeping well.

The kids know that we may have to have Shadow put to sleep. They just want her to be pain-free. She is only 6 years old.

Well, I'm off to start scraping and painting. Have a good day.

I almost forgot - I deposited $110 from my last couple of paychecks into my $20 challenge savings account. The new total is $562.85 - I need to update some books costs and sales later. It's a big step in the right direction. I haven't saved money in too long.

My savings account is at 5th Third, and also the checking account where my online sales money is direct deposited. The checking account is the one that I used when I had my store. I've been hanging on to it for sentimental reasons, mostly. The debit card has my name and the name of my store - a link to the time when I was the boss.

Yesterday, I left work at 5:40 and raced to the closest 5th Third. I got stuck behind a farm tractor and it was slow going. As I pulled up to the bank, I noticed with dismay that it was 5:58. I raced up to the door as another customer was leaving. A man (employee) grabbed the door from the inside and pulled it closed as I was pushing it open to go in. I asked him what was up and he said "WE"RE CLOSED". I just wanted to deposit some of my paycheck into the $20 challenge account, something I've vowed to do for the last 2 pay periods. Unfortunately, 5th Third is open 9 to 5 M-T and 9-6 Fridays, and I work. It was so rude and I was really angry.

I got to thinking on my disgruntled way home.

1) Why am I even using this bank? The locations are no longer convenient for me.

2) I need to let go of the past. I don't own a store any more. I don't need a business account.

3) TCF bank is just across the parking lot from where I work. It doesn't get any more convenient. Plus, they are open late weekdays and also on Sundays.

My next day off isn't until the middle of next week, but I know what I'll be doing when I run my errands.

5th Third, you suck.

OK, I vented. Whew!

Shadow our dachshund is having another rough day. I think I'm going to take her to the vet and see what they can do. I know the next step is to give her a shot and a prescription for Valium. Yes, dogs take that too!

DH is being a grouch today. He can be such an idiot at times.

Today I worked, and tomorrow the same. The money is nice, but spending time at home on the weekends is nice too.

I asked DS what he ate today and he told me popsicles. Great.

The house is a mess.

Well, I better get going and work on some laundry. I stopped by my first yard sale today and picked up a couple of books. I'm off to check the web to see if they're worth anything. I also found some books at the Salvation Army. Total spent - $2.55, and two other books have sold. I'll update the challenge amount when I have time.

I went to the library the other day and spent $8 on books. My new challenge total is $455.40.

I read constantly, and one nice bonus about selling books is that I have a ready supply of reading material on hand all the time. So many books, so little time...

Shadow, our Dachshund, isn't doing well. She is in a lot of pain from her back troubles. The only position that she can find comfort in is flat on her back. When DH and I are at work we put her in her kennel. I hate doing that. I leave for work as late as possible and he leaves after work as soon as possible. Even so she's in her kennel for almost 7 hours. I know it's what we need to do to help her heal, but I wish I could be with her! The weekend is coming up and I work the late shift Monday, so tomorrow will be her last time to spend that long in the kennel for a few days. We can't risk leaving her out because if the dogs see or hear anything, they bark and run. Shadow can't run right now - she would really mess herself up!

The kennel is nice-sized and I give her a pain pill just before I leave in the morning. I know she will sleep for at least a few hours. She's been sleeping with us every night lately. It seems to give her comfort to know we are near. I know it gives me comfort to be able to watch her sleep.

Anyhow...

Tomorrow is payday! I need to transfer some money into my $20 challenge savings account. I never did do that last payday, so now I'll add just over $100 to the challenge amount on my next day off. It's nice to see that savings account slowly build into something. Right now I plan to have it as an emergengy fund. I cut up my credit card, so I need some source of funds if the car breaks down, unexpected dental bill, or who knows what.

I've sold a few more books;

To Do My Best - $8.51 profit

Sea Of Grey - $3.28 profit

Healing Foods - $9.87 profit

Youth Bible - $6.26 profit

Who Moved My Cheese? - $2.75 profit

Not bad this time. These books were from the Salvation Army. There's another library I want to check out. I also need to find time to hit the yard sales. My new challenge total is $463.40.

If I don't get off of the computer soon this beautiful day will go to waste! I've decided to put this out there and then get out of my chair.

Here goes;

List my books on Half.com and Amazon.

I'll be back...

Done

Next - DD and I have some errands to run. She needs new shoes and I'm going to order mulch for the front yard. I'm also going to the bank to transfer money into my (secret) savings. It's for the $20 challenge.

I'll be back...

Done. I drove out and ordered our mulch - it will be delivered Thursday. Would anyone like to see before/after photos of the house? Mulch always looks so nice when you first lay it down. I went to the bank and transferred money. We went to the mall, where I returned some shoes and got DD some spring/summer clothing. She's been feeling down about a boy lately, so we went out and had some retail therapy. I didn't go crazy - no credit card debt. I used my Paypal card that has some E-Bay money available. I need to make some time and list on E-Bay - I haven't done that in weeks.

OK guys. I read the responses to my last entry and you are right. I have my credit card in my hand. Extra sharp scissors in front of me. Here goes...

I JUST CUT UP my credit card. Oh my gosh! I threw some (tiny) pieces down the toilet and flushed them. The rest is sitting in the garbage. It doesn't expire until 2009 so the won't send me a new one until then.

Even though it's been sitting in a drawer, I feel weird without it.

No more impulsive online purchases. The cabinet is in the same room as my computer.

No more vacation spending. You know, if you're on vacation and having fun it's easy to charge things.

I can't buy things for the house and charge them. My reasoning is that I'm adding value to our biggest investment. The truth is that I just want it.

If one of the dogs gets sick I can no longer charge it. I need to be more serious about having an emergency fund.

No more taking DD to the mall and charging her clothes. She is always so happy and "loves me so much" LOL. But, I am the one left paying off those clothes and the interest charges. The next week I'm back to being "mean" LOL. She is 17.

I've had this credit card for years and years. I feel kind of strange, like a safety net is gone. I guess I need to build my own safety net, out of savings and not borrowing.

Thank you to those that commented on my last post. You are a good influence!

Dad approached us a few weeks ago with an offer to loan us some money in order to pay off our high-interest credit cards. We gratefully accepted and now I feel like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. No more late fees! No more high interest! Now we just make payments to the Bank of Dad. One of my paychecks will go towards paying him back, and the other will be for bills (gas, electric, cable, etc.) and savings. DH will cover the mortgage and groceries. It feels good to get out from under those fees and charges, and have a set plan finally.

Here are the recent titles of books I've sold;

Five Quarters Of The Orange - $5.61 profit

Second Helpings - $3.71 profit

Delivered From Distraction - $9.86 profit

Hank Zipter book - .80 profit

Shopaholic & Sister - $3.07 profit

Magical Thinking - $5.15 profit

Yay, You! - $4.76 profit

Daughters of the Moon - The Sacrifice - $3.89 profit

Hellion - $1.45 profit

Seven Laws of Teaching - $2.76 profit

Dead Man Walking - $2.49 profit

How Men Have Babies - $4.16 profit

Matters of the Heart - $4.62 profit

Pretty good this time. I love it when the books go for a high profit. It balances out the inexpensive ones. Total profit this time comes to $52.33, making my new total for the $20 challenge $432.73.

I had this weekend off and it was fun! Friday we all pitched in and cleaned the house, then Saturday DD had "a few" friends over. I never could have people spend the night or hang out when I was a teen. Dad was always so irritated with noise and activity for some reason. He's still like that. Anyhow, DH and I ended up preparing dinner for 15 people! I don't know how they all fit into DD's room. It's big, but even so...

They are nice kids. We want DD to be happy, but also we know where she is (home) and what she is doing (eating until she is stuffed) and who she is with - Tim, Josh, Ben, Jake, Mike, John, Sarah, Julie, Sara, Michelle, and some that I don't remember.

My husband makes the most outstanding chicken - his own recipies. He made bourbon chicken, chinese style, and BBQ chicken. He got a marriage proposal from one of the kids. LOL it was a guy. We made rice, chinese sesame noodles, fruit salad, brownies, cookies, etc. It was fun.

Sunday was my sister's birthday. We drove out to mom and dad's and had dinner. There was a lot leftover so we brought tons of ham, shrimp, and other goodies home. That was about the only frugal thing I did this weekend!

When I got up, things were fine. I was on the way out the door to work when I looked at Shadow, our Dachshund. She was looking up at me with pitiful brown eyes and whimpering. Her back is bad again. When Pretzel (her sister) died, I assumed that she would be OK and went on to work; I had a meeting that day. By the time I got home that night she was too far gone and we had her put to sleep the next day. I cried for two weeks over Pretzel - she was my precious.

Anyhow, all of this is going through my mind when the phone rings. It's DD - I forgot to give her money for the pizza party at school. Crap.

I called work and told them I was going to be late. Loaded Shadow into the car and went to the high school. I let DD play hooky and she drove us to the vet. DD is 17. I'm glad we took Shadow in. She was in a lot of pain by then and her back had gone into spasm. She was hunched up like a ferret, and crooked, like a boomerang. It was bad. I got her meds, dropped DD and Shadow home, ate a quick lunch and raced to work.

One the way I felt crampy. By the time I got there my trousers were spotted. You girls know what I mean.

It was a long day.

Shadow slept with us last night. She is up to 16 pounds because of the steroids. How can a 16 lb. dog hog the covers like that?

She's in the kennel now. Keep your fingers crossed. Right now it looks bad, but I'm hoping she recovers from this and can still have a good quality of life.

I just love it when I find items at a really great clearance price. Right now Easter items are on sale and I am finding some deals on candy. I bought M&M's and Reese's Pieces very inexpensively and will use these for trail mix for the kids. I toss in pretzels, cereal, nuts, etc. and they have a great snack.

It will still be several months before I'm eligible for the company's 401K plan. My next day off is Tuesday and I'll be able to add money to my savings account then. I've sold a few more books and need to update my $20 challenge total.

Yard sales are back! I love this time of year.

Last night I went out with people from work. I spent money that I usually don't. A friend from work has put in her notice and our group wanted to wish her well. I got her flowers and a bottle of wine. She's a nice lady and is moving to Florida.

Another co-worker was there and she is the one that got fired. The law is that you need to work a certain number of days to qualify for unemployment. She was let go one day before she would be eligible for benefits. That is just low. She talked and talked and I stayed after everyone else had left, just listening. Sometimes that's the best thing to do for someone. Sheesh - a rotton deal. I don't work in the same area and can't really form an opinion on her job performance.

I need to watch money carefully now. I think I'll get ready to have a yard sale sometime soon. We sure do have a lot to sell.

DD has had friends over every day and the girls spend the night. When I was a teen I never could have people spend the night much. Now I let anyone over that wants to stay - except for the boys. Yes, they do ask! LOL. DD is 17 and that's too old for boy/girl slumber parties! You would be surprised at some of the other parents. The parents of the boys don't seem to mind letting them sleep over here. I'm an attentive parent, but sheesh! They do hang out all day and I make them cookies. DH feeds everyone. He is the chicken king and they love coming here.

Nice weather is here to stay. I'm happy to not have to heat the house anymore. It saves a lot of money.

DH's aunt has been ill the past few months. She is quite overweight and is diabetic. Her kidneys started to fail a few weeks ago and she was hospitalized. Bedridden, her bed sores were bad. Anyhow this morning her body just shut down and they had to let her go. I know her pain was assisted by morphine. We pray for her and her children. They live about 45 minutes away. I had to call in to work. I hate to leave them in the lurch, but family is important. DH is working in the front yard but later we will go and visit.

Our dachshund dog has gone down twice within the last 8 months with back problems. Both times she has been paralyzed. We gave her steriods, muscle relaxers, and vitamin C in mega doses. We put her on complete bed rest (our bed LOL), massaged her, put her in the warm bathwater; everything. We love her.

Her sister died a year ago from the same thing. That dog was my precious one and I still grieve for her. Anyhow, Shadow has been in pain since last Sunday off and on. Last night it got really bad and I took her to the vet. It cost $168 dollars. Ouch! She has two prescriptions and they gave her a shot and a morphine patch. Last night she slept with us, something that is unusual. The girls have their own beds down here! We wanted to watch her and fuss over her. She was positively daffy from the drugs. At least this time she isn't paralyzed.

Today I will straighten up a little bit and then we will go and visit family. The vet was expensive and now I'll miss a day's pay, but family is more important.

I work with a woman that I like a lot - she is in her mid 50's from what I can tell. I know she has a very tough time financially. Today we were talking and she said she has $3.53 in her checking account. Luckily we get paid tomorrow. She makes maybe $150-$200 a week because she's part time and doesn't make much. Her car payment is $260 or so per month and it's impossible for her to pay the bills.

I was thinking to myself that I would get rid of the car, but I think differently than most people. I bought my car for $750 from my mom about a year ago. It's less than 10 miles each way to work and I run errands in town a couple times a week (library, consignment shops, etc.) My car is 16 years old but it runs. I haven't had a car payment in about 8 years, and neither has DH. That is a major way that we save money. We decided long ago to put money into a new house. I have no regrets about that decision - the house increased in value before we even moved in.

I've decided a couple of things this week. I'm going to take a percentage of my pay and add it to my savings account. It will mean less money to have right now for bills, but if we need money for something that comes up, hopefully I'll have enough of a cushion built up to just withdraw it instead of using credit cards. I'm going to take $50 from tomorrow's check and add it to my fund. I can't tell you the last time I put money aside for an emergency. Sad but true. This seems like a big step in the right direction.

DH has a debit card for my checking account, but I told him to quit using it for the book store, Taco Bell, etc. He agreed, so that's good. I get impulsive sometimes too but hopefully we can keep each other on the right track.

Today I resisted buying lunch at work. The cafeteria is nice, and there are kitchen-like cabinets that we can use. I have a loaf of bread, some p.b., some crackers, etc. in there. I can leave juice in the fridge for 3-4 days at a stretch in a regular carton as long as my name's on it. I'm glad we can do this - it helps a lot of people financially. I was tempted to order out but luckily someone offered me some pizza and breadsticks. Wasn't that nice? He had extra. He left another slice out for anyone that was hungry and a young guy gratefully ate it soon after. I work with good people.

I've heard of places where someone steals lunches or supplies, but that doesn't happen there. Have you ever had a problem with that? I hope not.

Bee Season - $2.13
The Heart Revolution - $2.20
The Passion - $4.35
The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club - $2.09
The Dante Club - $2.02
Grand Central Winter - $2.40
Little Green Men - $1.45
Wait Till Next Year - $1.45

Total for these books is $18.09, and I made an additional $35 on E-Bay. Added to the previous $327.31, my new total is $380.40 so far. Now that yard sale season is almost here, hopefully I can invest some of this money in more things to re-sell at the local consignment shops.

Today is one of those days that I've been waiting for a long time. Warm sun, fresh breeze, trees finally leafing out. Our backyard is filled with trees, and when the spring comes I look forward to the privacy from our neighbors in the back. We each have 1/2 acre lots, and there is a trail through our back yard made of cypress mulch. In the summer we go out and pick the raspberries, trying to beat the birds to the fruit. The spring peepers are one of my favorite sounds in the evening. Geese fly overhead, honking busily. The birds sing good morning. I've even missed listening to the raccoons argue at night.

I've been working in the downstairs bathroom again. I painted the trim, touched up the ceiling paint, deep cleaned, and half of the border is up. I hung a new t.p. holder and still need to hang the towel bar. I painted the door the same white semi-gloss as the trim. What an improvement! We built in 2000, and the white paint on the doors and trim is already dingy looking. I hung the wreath I found at the Salvation Army for $2.99 - it matches perfectly.

Right now I'm packaging and printing labels to ship out the book orders. I sold quite a few so far, and am going to hit the library again next time I'm in the area.

I hope you are all having a good day so far.

Well, I sold one book - Bee Season. Hopefully there will be more soon. After I print the postage I can figure out the profit. It won't be much; maybe a dollar or two.

Happy Easter everyone! We're on our way to the in-laws.

Well, I was able to take care of all of my errands. First stop, Salvation Army. I spent about $4.50 on books and also got some other items. A soap dispenser for the bathroom I'm remodeling. It's of Pooh bear in the 100 acre woods. I know, I'm weird. A new computer keyboard for $5.99 - it's a nice one. The space key on this one sticks and drives me crazy. A very pretty new wreath for the front door. I've had my eye on one at Target for a while, but it's $30. This one was $2.99 and is still new. It's not the same one but is just as nice. A Pfaltzgraff item to sell on E-Bay. Pretty good haul today.

I went to a consignment shop I frequent and they had a couple of checks for me. They came to about $27; I really need to bring more items there. Last summer I bought things at yard sales and consigned them, and this year I'll add the costs and profits into the $20 challenge amount. I just love yard sales.

Next the bank, I transferred the money into my savings account for the $20 challenge and deposited my checks. Emergengy fund established!

Another consignment shop, this one a children's one. I got $8.00 there, and resisted buying a shirt for DS.

The paint store. I got a small can of ceiling paint and a small roller to touch up said ceiling and paint the trim and door. I'll probably have time to do that next Tuesday.

Next, Target. I returned a towel bar that was too short (duh) and found some hand towels on clearance. Very pretty.

Finally, the library. I did that last because it's the most time-consuming. I spent $20 and got lots of good ones.

I came home, made cookies, listed the books, and here I am!

Whew.

If my math is correct, I can add $10.50 to the $20 challenge fund. I made $35, spent $24.50 on books to sell- so the new total is $327.31

Finally! Nice weather has come to this area - it's a great morning to take the dogs to the lake. I put on my Nikes, grab a bag and the dogs, and we're off...

[Shadow and Honey] Oh boy oh boy oh boy! So many things to sniff! Where do I go first?!

[Me] Oh boy oh boy oh boy! Cans and bottles! Where do I go first?!

Every year when it's nice out, from spring through the fall, I take them to the park across the street - there's a lake there. People toss their empties around. This year I'll add the total refunded to the $20 challenge amount. I have no shame. I do look through the trash bins. The sunshine on the water and the morning air are wonderful.

Now we're back. Honey is excited and revved up (puppy-teenager) and Shadow is snoring (6 years old). I'm revved up and ready to go.

Things to do today;

Library for books to sell

Salvation Army, ditto

Bank - transfer funds into savings. After thinking about it, for now I've decided to put the $20 challenge money into a savings account. It will be our emergency fund. I'm not telling anyone, except for you. You won't tell, will you?

Paint store - I need some paint to touch up the ceiling in the bathroom.

I'll update later. Hopefully I'll have lots of good books to sell. I've been working, and have not replenished the bookcase in weeks.

At work I've met all sorts of people, of all ages. It's mostly women, and their financial situations vary greatly. Some are the main breadwinners. Some just supplement their husbands' incomes. It can be very sobering to see what some of the 50-something women are up against.

One person I like a lot is in her 50's, with no health insurance. Low income, not married. What will happen to her?

My husband lost his job a couple of years ago and the one he found to replace it doesn't pay nearly as well. We still do ok, but it's definitely more challenging now. We do have health insurance and are both able to work.

Another woman I know is raising four kids on her own - her husband died last year. She is moving south soon to try & make a fresh start. I admire her courage.

I'm looking forward to warmer weather. The gas bill is already going down quite a bit, thank goodness. The kids are older now. It's hard to believe that in 7 years they will both be adults. Time sure does fly.

I need to save for the future now. It's no joke, or too far away to think about. {Shudder}

I haven't made an update on the $20 challenge lately. I've been selling things, just haven't taken the time to add it up. I'll do books this time and E-Bay next time.

The Truth About Beauty - $7.55 profit

Cloud Nine - $1.64 profit

Angels In America - $7.97 profit

Bubbles A Broad - $3.10 profit

The Seventh Moon - $3.22 profit

E - $2.93 profit

Harvard Yard - $3.31 profit

The Trial Begins - $12.34 profit

In The Face of Death - $7.75 profit

So the new total is $267 + $49.81 = $316.81. I think with the E-Bay sales it should be close to $375 by now.

I still haven't done anything with this money. For now I'm putting it all into a savings account - at least it will be in one place.

Yesterday I had no motivation at all - I just wanted to watch TV after work. That should have tipped me off, because I'm usually not one to sit in front of the TV all night.

This morning I woke up, and it felt like someone had beat me up! Everything hurts and I'm so tired. I called in to work for today and also for tomorrow. Ugh!

DH went out and bought Arby's for dinner, but I just left mine in the fridge. I'm not hungry.

I did sell some items on E-Bay and also some books but will do an update on the $20 challenge another time. I took some Nyquil and am feeling "funky'.

I hope you all have a good evening.

When I'm in the mood to add to this blog, I just keep rambling! I was thinking about a poem by Robert Burns that I enjoy. Here it is;

Wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie,
O, what panic's in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty,
Wi' bickering brattle!
I wad be laith to rin an' chase thee,
Wi' murd'ring pattle!
I'm truly sorry Man's dominion
Has broken Nature's social union,
An' justifies that ill opinion,
Which makes thee startle,
At me, thy poor, earth-born companion,
An' fellow-mortal!

I doubt na, whyles, but thou may thieve;
What then? poor beastie, thou maun live!
A daimen-icker in a thrave 'S a sma' request:
I'll get a blessin wi' the lave,
An' never miss't!

Thy wee-bit housie, too, in ruin!
It's silly wa's the win's are strewin!
An' naething, now, to big a new ane,
O' foggage green!
An' bleak December's winds ensuin,
Baith snell an' keen!

Thou saw the fields laid bare an' wast,
An' weary Winter comin fast,
An' cozie here, beneath the blast,
Thou thought to dwell,
Till crash! the cruel coulter past
Out thro' thy cell.

That wee-bit heap o' leaves an' stibble,
Has cost thee monie a weary nibble!
Now thou's turn'd out, for a' thy trouble,
But house or hald.
To thole the Winter's sleety dribble,
An' cranreuch cauld!

But Mousie, thou are no thy-lane,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men,
Gang aft agley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy!

Still, thou art blest, compar'd wi' me!
The present only toucheth thee:
But Och! I backward cast my e'e,
On prospects drear!
An' forward, tho' I canna see,
I guess an' fear!