I Think I Need A New Job

LOL, Mariana

Your post reminded me that I have to drag out artificial tree down from the attic! More LOL

Wow that is a big cactus. I hope you post pictures of it all lit up :)

And I can't inspect lights either, I always miss a few dead ones heh

Love your house and the sculpture. That cactus is crazy big.

Mariana, No one is a great tree light tester. LOL. I have experience with this. There is something awful that happens when we check lights. You can plug them in and they'll all light up, then you unplug and start stringing or whatever and as you say, only some will light or none will light. At that point the jiggle test is in order. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. This means you jiggle the lights until they either come on or they don't. If they don't, get hubby to jiggle, and if they do, then you put them on and hope they will remember being jiggled and still work once in place. It's all a toss up. I don't think you did so bad after all.

That's one awesome cactus.

The cactus is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

LOL - great house. That cactus is huge!

Yup Get new job. ;-)

Love the cactus. Love the house. What a beautiful Spanish bungalow! Especially love the thought of "shivering" and being "bundled up" when it's 50 degrees! It's 6 degrees here at the moment; the temperature will probably drop below zero during the night and never see 50 degrees again until sometime in April or May! Have a cozy Christmas in front of the fire. And I bet that cactus looks incredible when it's all aglow with lights!

Huge cactus! I hate testing the Christmas lights!

LOL Murphy's law, I suppose.

Very cool house...we have given up on having lights work the next year. We seem to buy new ones every year, take them off carefully and when the following year rolls around...well, you know the rest. Oh, I'm having a hard time feeling too badly about you shivering by the fire, all bundled up in 50 DEGREES! We'd have our capris back on if it was that warm here:)

What a beautiful home, as well as a huge cactus! I do hope you'll share a photo when the lights (the ones that work!!) are strung and illuminated!

LOL!!!

Well post photos when it's finally all lit up, please!

That is one monster cactus Mariana, and a beautiful house I love the arched windows and doors, If that happened to me my wife would have said a good tradesman never blames his tools or workers, I love this time of year decorating and preparing for Christmas, merry Christmas,take care.
Darcey.

This was a funny story. I laughed all the the through it. I was also struck by this image of a fire in 50 degree weather. It was 50 in Atlanta today. I went out without a coat for crying out loud. Also at 50 degrees you still have flowers blooming in your yard. The dew killed ours back in October. Do post pictures. I know how hubby felt, my better half worked me unmercifully today as well. Cheers.

Rick, LOL!

Lynn is right - I've had the same experience myself! Cute story Mariana, and I really like your house. Thanks for sharing!

I say, Did you know Home Depot is giving a rebate? Bring in your old lights for a rebate when you buy energy-wise LED lights...and they last like three lifetimes or something like that!

Love the house. So charming!

That is one BIG ole' Cactus Mariana. Love your home.

That happens to me all of the time. It is so frustrating. I love the cactus and bet it looks spectacular with lights.

Love the house and cactus Mariana!
The lights probably DID light up when you tried them - but then the lazy half of them gave up, and wouldn't re-light. That's what they do!
Next time, light, extinguish and re-light...

Too funny! Christmas lights on a cactus!

We are just the opposite here. Good thing I am involved. My husband is a fanatic about so many things, but he couldn't do many of them without me. :)

I hope you aren't too disappointed about being fired.

What a darling little house, Mariana! And that huge cactus is absolutely wonderful! It all looks so exotic compared to life here in MinneSNOWta! And I see that your cactus casts prodigious shade ...

Now, regarding those pesky lights ... NO ONE has any luck with them ... no matter how hard one tries ... and I know this from years of experience. Marriages have completely dissolved because of them! We (meaning my husband) puts little white lights on the Japanese Yew in our backyard every December where they shine merrily until a wayward squirrel, looking for a free meal, comes along and takes a big bite out of the cord ...

You have to post a shot of it all lit up.

Charming, charming house, Mariana! You crack me up! We're not used to 50 degree weather, are we? It sends us scurrying inside - LOL!

that is so funny!! if it was 50 here we'd be running around outside w/o coats, so happy!!

i love your cactus.

Ha! Oh well... LOL. We have huge cactus just like that; they get so tall. Wonderful huge blooms too, and I can see some buds left on yours. Your house reminded me of parts of Santa Monica when I first opened it. Very nice.
Take care.

Pretty soon your resume will look like mine - all snaggle-toothed from the things I have to leave out of it! Remove "Dump Inspector" and "Tree Light Inspector" and what do you have left?

(Writer, photographer and good friend -- works for me!! What more could you need?)

Ahhh Richard, you are such a positive and happy soul - thank you - No wonder you are blessed with such wonderful goodness - I know I am always sending you sunshine...and I am not that jealous - more like envious - you are a fabulous chef both at home and over the sea and you travel to exotic places - Yes, I envy you but mostly ADMIRE you ! Thanks for your comment - yes indeed it's a bit snaggle toothed for sure - now, you're inspiring me to put together another article but I need to jump to your hood and see what's going on! Thanks! Salud

John S. It's always good to see you as I know that you are a person who is in tune with nature - yes, indeed these trees get tall and I have had to cut several arms and replant in the back 40 - also, some dear friends get them for gifts. I purchased Alfred back in the 80's and what a great friend he's been - recently, I ate one of his fruit and it was great - anyway, oh yes, well regarding Santa Monica, these small Spanish bungalows dot the coast - they were built in the 20's and 30's and still retain that pre-war charm! Thank you
for stopping by! Salud

Jessie, I was hoping someone would catch that one! Lol - everyone is freezing and here we are having 50 degree weather; however, it was down in the 30's this morning! Ain't that cold? Well, I am a tropical woman and anything below 60 is very cold.

Linda, I am sure that up there where you are, the temps are a bit colder than down here, right? Anyway, thanks for coming for the visit - nice to see you!


David, dear, I will download the camera soon and post it later this afternoon!

Marianne - love your comments and I'm sorry about the poor squirrel - now, I want to see a picture of your Yew tree - I forgot what they look like...I can only imagine how gorgeous the outside of your house is if it's anything like the inside - I haven't stopped thinking about it - you have to see my dustbowl to appreciate! I know what Minnesnowta looks like - I have a sis in law in Minneapolis and my dad was from northern Wisconsin (most of his life)...anyway, this was great to see you ! Thanks for the compliment - Salud

Yes, 50 F isn't a cold December day at all! ;-) Maybe you'd better pick a different time of year to visit me! :-) (But what's to worry about when I keep my house set at 70 F year round! The heating and cooling both work!)

Haha! That's the worst when they don't light up!

LOL! 50 is cold!
But seriously, I'm with you. I swear I'm a blone Latina born too far north of the equator. I'd be huddled up by the fire too. Just like I hibernate in winter here in the north.

Alfred, love how you name everything. My "Alfred's" (ha ha) came from cuttings in a friend's yard many years ago, same with my Aloe. They grow crazy for sure, and have had to cut mine back a few times. I have given a few others cuttings from mine as well, and know some grow in Nevada now at my sister's house, LOL. Two of mine, one out front and one in back, are both taller than the roof now. I love the blooms they get, bigger than your hand at times. Bees like them too! I think these cactus originated in Peru, but not sure. We call them Peruvian cactus around here for what it is worth anyway.

Hi John - I have loads of cacti - I can send you any kind almost - We cook our nopales every which way usually stir fry or on the pit wrapped in tin foil. We also eat the fruit - Alfred might be a patayo cactus but we have some others that are similar that look more like the patayo...thanks for comming by! Salud

outdoor lights have to be the most difficult fob of all.

You'll find your calling yet

You light up his life...that should be sufficient! (love the cactus!)

and who made him boss?! ;)