Though our Christmas has been a quiet one, with only one festive (rowdy) day of family get together, I find myself enjoying the one day of no obligations following that day.
I guess we are officially into "taking stock at the end of the year" mode. Good Guy has kept track of his reading this year, and has cracked the 100 book mark. I wanted to beat last year's number, but I'll have to read until midnight on the 31st to make it, I think.
So, after my day of leisure, I find myself with a LIST this morning. Redo the mitten end you screwed up, send one more package, order medicine, work on the binding of the quilt. My sister brought me a quilt to bind, since I rather enjoy mindless, repetitive tasks-------which prompted the comment once that I'd make a good mental patient. ( Never mind, that's another story. I don't want you to think I'd insult anyone.)
But this quilt is enormous. It was to be a marriage gift, and the making of it has outlasted the marriage. Honestly.
I did one side yesterday, so I'll have something to do during the remaining Bowl Games. Except the Rose Bowl. I have to knit during that one. For good luck.
Taking stock-----I am at Day 495 in my 1000 day project. (101 things to do in 1000 days.) I am floundering and need to focus, and there's nothing like the New Year, to help you get back on track. One of the directions for this project advises, "Get used to failing." This is always good advice, for I learn more from my failures than from my successes.
So soon we will return to "normal". Alas, even when I'd prefer to change, I'll return to my default position. That has been the experience of the past, anyway.
But where there's life, there's hope. Happy New year to you, and may one of your resolutions take hold.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Ready Enough
We have not been stressing here about Christmas "preparations". I have been baking things and wrapping things, and watching for boxes to arrive, but we are not stressed.
Today the writer of the first blog I started reading reflected on the reason why she'd had "enough". No matter how much you give, wrap, or do, none of that stuff can tell the people you love how much you love them. Even if you write them a wonderful letter, that won't do it either. I am going to try to be present, not preoccupied, while I interact with my people this holiday season. My youngest son sent me a birthday card that said, This isn't just a birthday card, it's an I love you card. I will be sure that they all know how welcome they are and how I enjoy them being here.
Yes, they love the food, (I hope) and they are happy if their favorites are around while they are home celebrating, but people remember how you made them feel while they were with you. It is more important to be having a good time together than that everything be perfect. Nobody in my relationship is accustomed to perfection anyway, I'm pretty sure. (I certainly didn't raise my clan that way.)
Christmas will come whether we stress about it or not. Honest.
If this is the season of peace and good will, I'll do my best to make it true under our own roof, for myself and those I love. I pray it's true for you, too.
Today the writer of the first blog I started reading reflected on the reason why she'd had "enough". No matter how much you give, wrap, or do, none of that stuff can tell the people you love how much you love them. Even if you write them a wonderful letter, that won't do it either. I am going to try to be present, not preoccupied, while I interact with my people this holiday season. My youngest son sent me a birthday card that said, This isn't just a birthday card, it's an I love you card. I will be sure that they all know how welcome they are and how I enjoy them being here.
Yes, they love the food, (I hope) and they are happy if their favorites are around while they are home celebrating, but people remember how you made them feel while they were with you. It is more important to be having a good time together than that everything be perfect. Nobody in my relationship is accustomed to perfection anyway, I'm pretty sure. (I certainly didn't raise my clan that way.)
Christmas will come whether we stress about it or not. Honest.
If this is the season of peace and good will, I'll do my best to make it true under our own roof, for myself and those I love. I pray it's true for you, too.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Solstice Musings
I eagerly await the date and hour when I am assured the days will begin to gain in sunlight once again. Alas, just when I should rejoice in the celebration on Midsummer, I get bummed out because the days are growing shorter.
I can well understand the relief and celebration of primitive people when the days began growing longer. I can't imagine sitting in a dark longhouse by the fire because it was dark for 18 hours a day, and freezing cold outdoors when it was light. Talk about "cabin fever"!
On a completely different subject, these guys gather together to celebrate and decorate a corner during the holidays. One of them survived Good Guy's childhood and is in the same state as the Velveteen Rabbit. Isn't he so bald and sweet?
Well, today is a baking day which precedes a Swedish meatball making day. We're down to the wire, folks! Happy preparations!
I can well understand the relief and celebration of primitive people when the days began growing longer. I can't imagine sitting in a dark longhouse by the fire because it was dark for 18 hours a day, and freezing cold outdoors when it was light. Talk about "cabin fever"!
Well, today is a baking day which precedes a Swedish meatball making day. We're down to the wire, folks! Happy preparations!
Monday, December 20, 2010
Where's the Line?
Passing along a link from this morning's e-mails.
Where's the line? Click here to hear the song.
We are minimalists in the decorating for Christmas department, but this makes the cut. I love the image of Mary, reclining on one cheek. She did just give birth, after all.
Merry Christmas!
Where's the line? Click here to hear the song.
Merry Christmas!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Greetings from Savannah
Between us, Good Guy and I have seven kids. They are adults, to be sure, but they're always your kids, right? Anyway, even with such an abundance of offspring, we are a little light in the grandchild department.
But we have Granddogs galore. At the latest count, we have eight granddogs, and they all have major personalities. This one belongs to a professional photographer and sent us her own Christmas greetings.
I pass them along to you.
Have a great pre-Christmas weekend.
But we have Granddogs galore. At the latest count, we have eight granddogs, and they all have major personalities. This one belongs to a professional photographer and sent us her own Christmas greetings.
I pass them along to you.
Have a great pre-Christmas weekend.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Four on Friday
The birthday celebration goes on and on. Since we were snowed in on the original date for dinner, we made the trip to our favorite restaurant for a wonderful dinner last night. And that would be Alice's restaurant in Iron River. Read about it here We had a delicious meal and drove home in new snow. It didn't amount to much when all was said and done, though. The snow, that is.
We finally got our tree up. It's short enough to fit on our coffee table in front of the window. I'm trying for "pretty" this year. No cartoon mice, no black stars painted in kindergarten, no pickles. We'll see how long I can hold out for that.
Baking began too. I made half a batch of granola to send to the youngest who requested some. Then I made a braided cardomom sweet bread for Good Guy, who wistfully told me about a package he'd get from a friend's mom every Christmas wherever he was, with this ethnic treat enclosed. I have spritz mixed but not baked.
And last but not least, I sported a "passenger" from 11 Am yesterday until the same time today. It was monitoring my pounding heartbeat for 24 hours. This weirdness had never happened to me before. My labs drawn this week were all normal, so we'll see what the expert has to say about this 24 hour test. (Actually it hadn't happened for 48 hours, so I almost scratched the appointment, but thought the better of it.) As I used to tell my kids, "It's probably nothing." No kids have neglected health like the children of medical professionals. At least the ones who grew up in our house. In spite of us, they seem to be healthy and hardy. What if I have to give up real coffee for good!?
We finally got our tree up. It's short enough to fit on our coffee table in front of the window. I'm trying for "pretty" this year. No cartoon mice, no black stars painted in kindergarten, no pickles. We'll see how long I can hold out for that.
Baking began too. I made half a batch of granola to send to the youngest who requested some. Then I made a braided cardomom sweet bread for Good Guy, who wistfully told me about a package he'd get from a friend's mom every Christmas wherever he was, with this ethnic treat enclosed. I have spritz mixed but not baked.
And last but not least, I sported a "passenger" from 11 Am yesterday until the same time today. It was monitoring my pounding heartbeat for 24 hours. This weirdness had never happened to me before. My labs drawn this week were all normal, so we'll see what the expert has to say about this 24 hour test. (Actually it hadn't happened for 48 hours, so I almost scratched the appointment, but thought the better of it.) As I used to tell my kids, "It's probably nothing." No kids have neglected health like the children of medical professionals. At least the ones who grew up in our house. In spite of us, they seem to be healthy and hardy. What if I have to give up real coffee for good!?
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Wooly Wonders
I wonder if everyone who blogs is in the same boat during December. Whenever I sit down with the computer and want to visit with you a bit, I think of all the other things I ought to be doing. Oh, let me think. Yes, it's almost always true-----amazing that we get it done at all.
This morning I got something cool in my e-mail from Knitting Daily though that cracked me up. On Saville Row in London, where tailor made suits reside, they cordoned off the street and put down sod, and brought in sheep. The object being to promote the wearing of wool.
You can see the original and even a video, here. Scroll down to "Sheep in the Street, the campaign for wool."
Sheep in the Street Campaign for Wool
In October 11, sheep could be found grazing Savile Row, the street in central London synonymous with fine men's tailoring. Cars were removed to make space, turf was laid, and fences and a barn were built overnight in anticipation of the early morning arrival of the sheep. The organizers hoped to bring as much attention to the wool itself as the products made from it.
The sheep kicked off Wool Week (October 11-17) in the United Kingdom, which aimed to highlight the natural advantages of wool. Over ninety apparel and interior retailers, representing four hundred stores, took part. Wool Week offered the public the opportunity to interact with wool and sheep with events from Meet the Sheep (highlighting different breeds) and sheep parades to in-store events and specially organized knitting workshops.
This morning I got something cool in my e-mail from Knitting Daily though that cracked me up. On Saville Row in London, where tailor made suits reside, they cordoned off the street and put down sod, and brought in sheep. The object being to promote the wearing of wool.
You can see the original and even a video, here. Scroll down to "Sheep in the Street, the campaign for wool."
Sheep in the Street Campaign for Wool
In October 11, sheep could be found grazing Savile Row, the street in central London synonymous with fine men's tailoring. Cars were removed to make space, turf was laid, and fences and a barn were built overnight in anticipation of the early morning arrival of the sheep. The organizers hoped to bring as much attention to the wool itself as the products made from it.
The sheep kicked off Wool Week (October 11-17) in the United Kingdom, which aimed to highlight the natural advantages of wool. Over ninety apparel and interior retailers, representing four hundred stores, took part. Wool Week offered the public the opportunity to interact with wool and sheep with events from Meet the Sheep (highlighting different breeds) and sheep parades to in-store events and specially organized knitting workshops.
This cracked me up, since I've become such a yarn snob. I vastly prefer wearing wool---and since it is -10 degrees here at the moment. (That's outdoors. Inside it's a toasty 68 degrees.) I plan to wear as much wool as possible when I leave this house.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Five on Friday
- I am disappointed to learn that the Inuit do not have hundreds of words for snow. Linguists no longer believe that, and I found that a charming idea. Snow is varied in the way that it presents and the way it ages, and we could use a great many more nouns to cover it. For instancce we received several inches yesterday out of precipitation that was no prettier than a misting rain. It's light an fluffy on the ground, but wasn't that way while it arrived.
- When I went to check out at my Amazon account, I had an extra item in my cart which raised my total by $500. (It was a flat screen TV set.) Good Guy was only doing a price comparison, he said. Man, I've got to watch him like a hawk!
- Last year at this time we were driving the day after the worst snowstorm of the winter in order to catch a flight from O'Hare to Cancun. Thankfully, the sensible folk were all at home out of the weather.
- It's time to clear off some surfaces of their usual mess, uh, decor-----and make a stab at Christmas decorations. We don't really have that much room but if all the surfaces were cleared, maybe that would be pleasant enough!
- We also need to burn candles very judiciously in containers to avoid accidents with our cats. Enough said about that.
- Well, OK, six things instead of five. The T-shirt saying that makes me laugh the hardest is this one: Here I Am, what are your other two wishes? No self esteem problems there! (Have a great weekend. I'm celebrating my Older Than Dirt birthday.)
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Winter Reading
I spent this sunny December afternoon in the company of the ladies in my book club discussing a wonderful read, Peace Like a River, by Leif Enger. We all loved those characters and the warm relationships between the family members and their kind friends.
The winter is long here, and Good Guy and I are readers. He reads mysteries and other fiction, occasionally. He also is a news reader of the first order, and as a retired English teacher he loves poetry that is witty and literate.
I used to finish every book I started to read, but I no longer slog through books with characters who are unpleasant to know or who don't deserve to have good things happen to them. This year I have found the books written by British author, Ann Cleeves, who always writes with a wonderful sense of place in her mystery stories.
Last year I found a writer who wrote three different series of books, and his heroes were very much alike in each series. Stuart Kaminsky's heroes are always kind of small, down-trodden guys, with faithful strong friends.
I love Alexander McCall Smith, and Alan Bradley, who wrote The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. I love the idea of Reacher, the hero of Lee Child's books, who has no home, and collects no possessions. He has access to a steady supply of money to enable his travels----I like that idea, too. Not too possible, or practical, but an interesting idea.
So one of the joys of December is planning what to read during the rest of the winter. Nat, one of our group, has library credentials, and she steers us to some new interesting stuff-----and also some authors we've never found before.
I'm open to suggestions, any and all. Feel free. Consider it an early Christmas present.
Happy preparations!
The winter is long here, and Good Guy and I are readers. He reads mysteries and other fiction, occasionally. He also is a news reader of the first order, and as a retired English teacher he loves poetry that is witty and literate.
I used to finish every book I started to read, but I no longer slog through books with characters who are unpleasant to know or who don't deserve to have good things happen to them. This year I have found the books written by British author, Ann Cleeves, who always writes with a wonderful sense of place in her mystery stories.
Last year I found a writer who wrote three different series of books, and his heroes were very much alike in each series. Stuart Kaminsky's heroes are always kind of small, down-trodden guys, with faithful strong friends.
I love Alexander McCall Smith, and Alan Bradley, who wrote The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. I love the idea of Reacher, the hero of Lee Child's books, who has no home, and collects no possessions. He has access to a steady supply of money to enable his travels----I like that idea, too. Not too possible, or practical, but an interesting idea.
So one of the joys of December is planning what to read during the rest of the winter. Nat, one of our group, has library credentials, and she steers us to some new interesting stuff-----and also some authors we've never found before.
I'm open to suggestions, any and all. Feel free. Consider it an early Christmas present.
Happy preparations!
Monday, December 6, 2010
Flowers of the Season
Well, the third time's the charm it's said. At the end of this narrative, I hope you will find a photograph of our Christmas cactus which has been blooming so beautifully since Thanksgiving. It was a gift when quite small from my neighbor, Saint Bev.
It has budded other years, but has never bloomed this much before. I have read that it's a good idea to put the plant in a darker, cooler place for a time. I just try to keep the plants out of the traffic pattern of the cats. When she was a kitten, the Rearranger used to sit smack dab on top of my shamrock plant. That didn't add to the vigor of the shamrock, you can bet.
By the way I took the car out on an adventure this morning to the post office, bank, paper recycler, and card shop. Tiring but it made me smile. Thankfully we have no snow on the ground.
Simple Homey Pleasures
Lest you think I don't appreciate the blessings of my home, (after my rant about being housebound) let me share a couple of this weekend's joys with you.
This morning when I got up, I decided to enjoy some of those wonderful Christmas smells, and make a treat for breakfast. I had some apples left from the Thanksgiving pie baking, and some stray apples here and there that needed using so I made German pancakes that puff up. All one recipe name. I cut my recipe in half for just Good Guy and me, and it turned out looking beautiful, smelling great, and it even tasted OK.
I would show you how lovely my Christmas cactus looks too if my pictures didn't keep disappearing. Maybe tomorrow.
This morning when I got up, I decided to enjoy some of those wonderful Christmas smells, and make a treat for breakfast. I had some apples left from the Thanksgiving pie baking, and some stray apples here and there that needed using so I made German pancakes that puff up. All one recipe name. I cut my recipe in half for just Good Guy and me, and it turned out looking beautiful, smelling great, and it even tasted OK.
I would show you how lovely my Christmas cactus looks too if my pictures didn't keep disappearing. Maybe tomorrow.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Coming or Going?
If you stop by here very often you know that I'm recuperating from joint replacement surgery. And though I am progressing very well, I am getting bored with spending so much time at home.
When I feel perfectly well, I usually choose to spend lots of time at home anyway, but now that it is sort of "enforced" homebodiness, I'm feeling rebellious. I hauled out my journal this morning to record my "happenings" and I felt like a poser.
Happenings! Baking lemon bars in memory of my father-in-law, gone from us since 1987? (He would pull the most memorable face whenever he saw a person bite into a lemon wedge.)
Or starting to knit a woolen mitten? Being able to walk down stairs using both legs? Pretty fascinating stuff.
So when I have my 'druthers' is there interesting stuff in my journal? Phhhhhtttttt! Of course not. Do I fly planes or bungee jump, or play a sport, or win lotteries? No time lately, that's for sure. So why do I feel so stifled?
I haven't been to the library for a month, or gone out in the car on my own since the end of October. Not that Good Guy isn't great company, but I know the problem now.
I don't have any independent life! It is a fortaste of really being a "Shut-In" and I don't like it one little bit! Although I'm not young any more, I am healthy and strong, and for long periods I have my wits about me, I'm pretty sure.
I think this weekend will be a good time to resume driving. Time to be brave and strong and independent. There will be good news soon, count on it.
When I feel perfectly well, I usually choose to spend lots of time at home anyway, but now that it is sort of "enforced" homebodiness, I'm feeling rebellious. I hauled out my journal this morning to record my "happenings" and I felt like a poser.
Happenings! Baking lemon bars in memory of my father-in-law, gone from us since 1987? (He would pull the most memorable face whenever he saw a person bite into a lemon wedge.)
Or starting to knit a woolen mitten? Being able to walk down stairs using both legs? Pretty fascinating stuff.
So when I have my 'druthers' is there interesting stuff in my journal? Phhhhhtttttt! Of course not. Do I fly planes or bungee jump, or play a sport, or win lotteries? No time lately, that's for sure. So why do I feel so stifled?
I haven't been to the library for a month, or gone out in the car on my own since the end of October. Not that Good Guy isn't great company, but I know the problem now.
I don't have any independent life! It is a fortaste of really being a "Shut-In" and I don't like it one little bit! Although I'm not young any more, I am healthy and strong, and for long periods I have my wits about me, I'm pretty sure.
I think this weekend will be a good time to resume driving. Time to be brave and strong and independent. There will be good news soon, count on it.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Tricky Christmas Memories
I've spoken here before about Flylady, helper and encourager of the terminally disorganized.
She encourages us to begin holiday prep long ahead so we don't get caught short and unprepared at the last minute. It isn't as though we don't know that it's coming. It's pretty predictable that way.
So she sets up a Holiday Control Journal, and you (ideally) spend a few minutes really thinking of the essential things that "make" the holidays for you. That is what this post is about.
Even though I have this mental picture of sleigh rides and snowmen over the holidays, that doesn't really ever happen to me except vicariously by watching television. So I was surprised when I pared down what's really essential.
The great holiday smells of good stuff baking, candles, piney woods, family favorite baked goods.
A Christmas Carol by Dickens.
Candle arrangements
Celebrating with my sisters and their families.
Sending off care boxes to my kids who won't be home.
Christmas Eve service with candles burning and everyone singing Silent Night, while the pastor praying we don'd burn the church down.
I don't need to decorate outdoors, or even have a tree---though we always do have a real tree. I don't need to see A Wonderful Life, though I often do. I don't need wassail-----scratch that. I do need wassail. And eggnog, at least once.
Happy preparations, everyone. I'm off to stock up on birthday cards.
She encourages us to begin holiday prep long ahead so we don't get caught short and unprepared at the last minute. It isn't as though we don't know that it's coming. It's pretty predictable that way.
So she sets up a Holiday Control Journal, and you (ideally) spend a few minutes really thinking of the essential things that "make" the holidays for you. That is what this post is about.
Even though I have this mental picture of sleigh rides and snowmen over the holidays, that doesn't really ever happen to me except vicariously by watching television. So I was surprised when I pared down what's really essential.
The great holiday smells of good stuff baking, candles, piney woods, family favorite baked goods.
A Christmas Carol by Dickens.
Candle arrangements
Celebrating with my sisters and their families.
Sending off care boxes to my kids who won't be home.
Christmas Eve service with candles burning and everyone singing Silent Night, while the pastor praying we don'd burn the church down.
I don't need to decorate outdoors, or even have a tree---though we always do have a real tree. I don't need to see A Wonderful Life, though I often do. I don't need wassail-----scratch that. I do need wassail. And eggnog, at least once.
Happy preparations, everyone. I'm off to stock up on birthday cards.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
So Now We Start on Christmas?
Well, I've got some news for you because in this family we have eight birthdays to celebrate in December. It's not too bad for Adam, Beth, Robin, David, and I because our birthdays are earlier in the month. But the younger children are on the 23rd and 28th. It is tough to gear up for another big celebration so close to Christmas Eve and Christmas.
Of course, we do have to get ready for Christmas while all this is going on, but no Christmas tree will go up before the middle of the month. I send my cards out really early, but just because that's a favorite part of my own little celebration. And I have had years when there was news to get to people before they sent cards to me. Some years are like that. New addresses, for instance.
Our celebration is pretty low key, and I try to concentrate on the reason for the season by making it a month from Thanksgiving to New Years of giving in little and big ways. One year when it "just didn't seem like Christmas", I tried that. It gets me right into the mood right away.
I have a first cousin who shares my birthday. She is exactly a year younger than I, so we've always known when we'd hear from one another----if at no other time of the year. She was my first "sibling" as we would spend time together at our common grandmother's house, long before my sister was born. So I had to share with Beth, and she always wanted the 'best' stuff! She's always had the most excellent taste. LOL
So my wish for you tonight is that you have joy in your preparations. Do only the things that are meaningful to you and experience them with all your might.
Of course, we do have to get ready for Christmas while all this is going on, but no Christmas tree will go up before the middle of the month. I send my cards out really early, but just because that's a favorite part of my own little celebration. And I have had years when there was news to get to people before they sent cards to me. Some years are like that. New addresses, for instance.
Our celebration is pretty low key, and I try to concentrate on the reason for the season by making it a month from Thanksgiving to New Years of giving in little and big ways. One year when it "just didn't seem like Christmas", I tried that. It gets me right into the mood right away.
I have a first cousin who shares my birthday. She is exactly a year younger than I, so we've always known when we'd hear from one another----if at no other time of the year. She was my first "sibling" as we would spend time together at our common grandmother's house, long before my sister was born. So I had to share with Beth, and she always wanted the 'best' stuff! She's always had the most excellent taste. LOL
So my wish for you tonight is that you have joy in your preparations. Do only the things that are meaningful to you and experience them with all your might.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Thankful Wednesday
We started this busy day before Thanksgiving Day with my "one month past surgery" check up with my bone doctor. My x-ray was fine and my function is good. He urged me get moving and stop babying myself. What happened to "Don't overdo?" He just laughed at me. Humph.
Well, if I'm so able, I'll do some Christmas shopping. So we stopped at the book store and the card shop, so I can start my Christmas card writing on Black Friday, when others are out boosting the economy. My cousin, Nikki, spends Friday that way, too.
We had a conversation last night because our next to last uncle left in my Dad's family died this week. Nikki's dad is the youngest and had just arrived in Arizona for the winter when he got word of his brother's peaceful death, which happened in his sleep, it appeared. (The best we can hope for.) The two brothers had spoken on the phone on Sunday, when all seemed well. My uncle was a happy, good-natured guy and a fine Christian man. It is always a comfort to feel they are "ready to go". Even if they aren't fixin to leave.
After the shopping, I got to bake an apple pie and start dough for sweet rolls. So, I've had a pleasant busy day, and it overcomes the mid-afternoon doldrums. I've been getting cold and needing a nap in the afternoon. Today I can have a cup of tea, and write a blog entry. So my house smells yummy and feels cozy, even though it's getting dark so early.
We must bring the aforementioned pie to dinner tomorrow. Good Guy is making his wonderful "stuffing" too. We will have a fun time at my sister's, watching football and visiting with her in-laws. They are great people and we always enjoy them.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Well, if I'm so able, I'll do some Christmas shopping. So we stopped at the book store and the card shop, so I can start my Christmas card writing on Black Friday, when others are out boosting the economy. My cousin, Nikki, spends Friday that way, too.
We had a conversation last night because our next to last uncle left in my Dad's family died this week. Nikki's dad is the youngest and had just arrived in Arizona for the winter when he got word of his brother's peaceful death, which happened in his sleep, it appeared. (The best we can hope for.) The two brothers had spoken on the phone on Sunday, when all seemed well. My uncle was a happy, good-natured guy and a fine Christian man. It is always a comfort to feel they are "ready to go". Even if they aren't fixin to leave.
After the shopping, I got to bake an apple pie and start dough for sweet rolls. So, I've had a pleasant busy day, and it overcomes the mid-afternoon doldrums. I've been getting cold and needing a nap in the afternoon. Today I can have a cup of tea, and write a blog entry. So my house smells yummy and feels cozy, even though it's getting dark so early.
We must bring the aforementioned pie to dinner tomorrow. Good Guy is making his wonderful "stuffing" too. We will have a fun time at my sister's, watching football and visiting with her in-laws. They are great people and we always enjoy them.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Monday, November 22, 2010
A chat about Hair
Oddly enough, I have had a number of conversations about hair, or lack thereof in the past week. I think it's funny because after months of never even thinking about hair, there has been such an avalanche of chatter about it. Maybe it has something to do with growing protection for cold weather. Or not.
Whatever, since I have been somewhat confined to quarters, I personally am in need of a haircut. That's about the extent of professional care that I seek. I do want a good cut though, and I want a person who doesn't gossip to do the cutting.
Once when I dropped our dog off at the Doggy Hotel, Carole said to me, "I love your hair". (That is so memorable, because nobody says that to me.) I replied, "What color would you say it is?"
Long pause........Pewter, was her reply. I laughed. My hair is thick and plentiful and shiny, but not styled.
I'm pretty old, and my husband has both white hair and a white beard, so I don't want to pretend I'm a trophy wife. He's only six months older than I am.
Nobody was happier than I was when hairdressers started paying a little attention to what your own hair wanted to do when they'd give you a haircut. Whooppee! I could wear my hair straight as long as it was cut and clean, it would look okay!
So, I don't need hairspray, I can wear stocking caps all winter, and I just have to stay on good terms with Saint Sharon, my haircut maven. Easy.
All of that to say, if you have questions about or problems with your hair--------I know nothing! I truly can not help. Ever. At all. Honest.
Whatever, since I have been somewhat confined to quarters, I personally am in need of a haircut. That's about the extent of professional care that I seek. I do want a good cut though, and I want a person who doesn't gossip to do the cutting.
Once when I dropped our dog off at the Doggy Hotel, Carole said to me, "I love your hair". (That is so memorable, because nobody says that to me.) I replied, "What color would you say it is?"
Long pause........Pewter, was her reply. I laughed. My hair is thick and plentiful and shiny, but not styled.
I'm pretty old, and my husband has both white hair and a white beard, so I don't want to pretend I'm a trophy wife. He's only six months older than I am.
Nobody was happier than I was when hairdressers started paying a little attention to what your own hair wanted to do when they'd give you a haircut. Whooppee! I could wear my hair straight as long as it was cut and clean, it would look okay!
So, I don't need hairspray, I can wear stocking caps all winter, and I just have to stay on good terms with Saint Sharon, my haircut maven. Easy.
All of that to say, if you have questions about or problems with your hair--------I know nothing! I truly can not help. Ever. At all. Honest.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Thanksgiving Sunday
Today I'm thankful for the friends I've made since I began blogging, including the Sweetie who sent me this beautifully embroidered cushy dishtowel, and recipe cards with the inspirational message:
I am only as strong as the coffee I drink & the hairspray I use.
I do drink high test coffee, for sure. But if I've bought two cans of hairspray, that's a lot. So I got a really good chuckle out of the recipe card message.
Thanks so much, shannon, and thank your MIL for the embroidery job. It's really nicely done! Now to get to work copying those recipes!!
Heal quickly!
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Freaky Friday---a late report
We were never in any danger, as far as I can determine. But yesterday had some unusual happenings. I am not a great believer in astrology, but it helped me understand why there are people who DO.
First off, my e-mail contained a couple of personal messages from people who don't keep in touch by e-mail. My niece is involved in a dog rescue operation and asked if we'd consider doing a home visit to a nearby town. (Hmmmm, it's something Good Guy would have to take care of, or at the very least drive so I could do it.) It seems these home visits should be done by dog lovers. We are only dog-likers.
OK, maybe that isn't Freaky. Just unusual. We consented to do it.
Next up, I discovered that a light bulb had dislodged itself somehow from the front porch light fixture. It lay unbroken on the porch, with the threaded portion still intact in the fixture. How did that happen?
Then, in my e-mail was a plea from a friend, claiming he'd been mugged on vacation in London and could we help them? I e-mailed him from the address I had in my address book, and got a reply that they were waiting to hear from me. (The message wasn't polished enough to have been written by him, so I figured something was amiss. But we'd be pretty far down on the list of people he'd ask help from....)
When Good Guy got up he called the friend to discover him safely at home, and not adrift in the UK. I wanted to e-mail the scammer and tell him/her that I'd just wired a couple grand to bail them out. It would be in the usual place. That should unnerve them a little.
After that I quit counting the odd occurrances. I think maybe it's like the old saying. things happen in threes.
UP weather----cold and windy, no snow. The colors of the day----grey and brown. Dull stuff!
Have a great weekend.
First off, my e-mail contained a couple of personal messages from people who don't keep in touch by e-mail. My niece is involved in a dog rescue operation and asked if we'd consider doing a home visit to a nearby town. (Hmmmm, it's something Good Guy would have to take care of, or at the very least drive so I could do it.) It seems these home visits should be done by dog lovers. We are only dog-likers.
OK, maybe that isn't Freaky. Just unusual. We consented to do it.
Next up, I discovered that a light bulb had dislodged itself somehow from the front porch light fixture. It lay unbroken on the porch, with the threaded portion still intact in the fixture. How did that happen?
Then, in my e-mail was a plea from a friend, claiming he'd been mugged on vacation in London and could we help them? I e-mailed him from the address I had in my address book, and got a reply that they were waiting to hear from me. (The message wasn't polished enough to have been written by him, so I figured something was amiss. But we'd be pretty far down on the list of people he'd ask help from....)
When Good Guy got up he called the friend to discover him safely at home, and not adrift in the UK. I wanted to e-mail the scammer and tell him/her that I'd just wired a couple grand to bail them out. It would be in the usual place. That should unnerve them a little.
After that I quit counting the odd occurrances. I think maybe it's like the old saying. things happen in threes.
UP weather----cold and windy, no snow. The colors of the day----grey and brown. Dull stuff!
Have a great weekend.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Friday Fragments
fAhh, wonderful Friday once again, when we can all get together with our leftovers
and make our own version of "Stone Soup". Thanks to Mrs. 4444 at Half Past Kissin' Time for getting us all to contribute and share.
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The physical therapist who visits me three times a week, (post knee replacement surgery) told me the other day that they have no TV reception. They use their set for DVD's and movies. His four children are all great readers and value their library trips above all things when they get to town. I was amazed, but pleased for him.
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It looks like we will spend our Thanksgiving with my sister and her husband and his family. That will be great fun, because they all love to laugh, and they are wonderful cooks. I have to call this evening to find out what we can contribute to the meal. My specialty would be a pie, but I think pie may already be taken.
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My Christmas cactus has decided to be a Thanksgiving cactus this year. About half of it is budding like crazy.
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I have four pairs of socks ready for Christmas presents, and one pair on the needles. I was "gifted" with a load of wool yarn which will make wonderful warm wooly mittens, so I'm anxious to make some of those too. They go really quickly.
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Even though some stuff is done, I'm feeling some significant pressure, because no other gift choosing or ordering has been done. I usually shop well ahead, but I'm kind of out of sync this year. Maybe I'll resort to gift cards, or Heifer International.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Happy Friday! And Have a nice weekend, in case I don't get back here this weekend.
and make our own version of "Stone Soup". Thanks to Mrs. 4444 at Half Past Kissin' Time for getting us all to contribute and share.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The physical therapist who visits me three times a week, (post knee replacement surgery) told me the other day that they have no TV reception. They use their set for DVD's and movies. His four children are all great readers and value their library trips above all things when they get to town. I was amazed, but pleased for him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It looks like we will spend our Thanksgiving with my sister and her husband and his family. That will be great fun, because they all love to laugh, and they are wonderful cooks. I have to call this evening to find out what we can contribute to the meal. My specialty would be a pie, but I think pie may already be taken.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Christmas cactus has decided to be a Thanksgiving cactus this year. About half of it is budding like crazy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have four pairs of socks ready for Christmas presents, and one pair on the needles. I was "gifted" with a load of wool yarn which will make wonderful warm wooly mittens, so I'm anxious to make some of those too. They go really quickly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Even though some stuff is done, I'm feeling some significant pressure, because no other gift choosing or ordering has been done. I usually shop well ahead, but I'm kind of out of sync this year. Maybe I'll resort to gift cards, or Heifer International.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Happy Friday! And Have a nice weekend, in case I don't get back here this weekend.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
The Rearranger
She also loves to sit on the monitor of the old- fashioned computer while I play solitaire or scrabble, swiping at the "cards" as they are dealt. Walking across the keyboard, listening for the beeps is fun, too.
If she gets tense, she rips paper into confetti. So stash important papers where she can't get at them.
Her latest stunt was ripping the back cover off Good Guy's new National Geographic. That elicited a stern look, right before he busted out laughing at her.
She sits and watches me do things, and if I catch her at it, she looks away and yawns, as if to say, "I don't care." But she is the most curious of any cat I've ever owned, and I'm pretty sure, if she had opposible thumbs she'd work for her allowance. Her brother just lazes about all day being a Lover, but Bella isn't that affectionate. She's got a plan, and there's work to be done. Who turned off the printer?
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
In the Fog
Weather update for the hunters. Nasty and unsafe to be out there shooting or being shot at. I can barely see across the street, so I hope the guys "out at camp" are having a lie-in and a rousing great breakfast until the fog clears away.
In other news, I found a beautiful sweater online this morning. It looks beautiful on the designer, anyway, and is offered in both cardigan and pullover patterns at the Twist Collective. But Anne Hansen showed it on her blog this morning, too. If you are a knitter, check this out at Knitspot. I love the colors, too.
Mrs. 4444's talks this morning about misunderstanding song lyrics, which made me laugh. When the kids at my house were growing up, we were all doing that, but the most famous one was Eric Clapton's "Lay Down, Sally" which had morphed into "Lay Down, Salad."
The hardest lyrics to understand (for me, at least) was the second line of "Blinded by the Light". I've even looked it up, and it still doesn't make a lick of sense to me. All that gives me great appreciation for men like Johnny Mercer, and Oscar Hammerstein, who could write understandable, witty song lyrics. Ooops, who's old?
Just to save you the time: Blinded by the light, Revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night.
A shout out to the Universe-----Um, where do all these catalogs come from? Does every site we ever visit sell our information to marketers??? We won't ever have time to shop, if we have to peruse all these catalogs. I look at two or three and file the rest for recycling, but Good Guy wants to find just the right gift. He usually does, too, bless his heart.
I guess this should be Tuesday fragments. Don't mind me, I'm lost in the fog.
In other news, I found a beautiful sweater online this morning. It looks beautiful on the designer, anyway, and is offered in both cardigan and pullover patterns at the Twist Collective. But Anne Hansen showed it on her blog this morning, too. If you are a knitter, check this out at Knitspot. I love the colors, too.
Mrs. 4444's talks this morning about misunderstanding song lyrics, which made me laugh. When the kids at my house were growing up, we were all doing that, but the most famous one was Eric Clapton's "Lay Down, Sally" which had morphed into "Lay Down, Salad."
The hardest lyrics to understand (for me, at least) was the second line of "Blinded by the Light". I've even looked it up, and it still doesn't make a lick of sense to me. All that gives me great appreciation for men like Johnny Mercer, and Oscar Hammerstein, who could write understandable, witty song lyrics. Ooops, who's old?
Just to save you the time: Blinded by the light, Revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night.
A shout out to the Universe-----Um, where do all these catalogs come from? Does every site we ever visit sell our information to marketers??? We won't ever have time to shop, if we have to peruse all these catalogs. I look at two or three and file the rest for recycling, but Good Guy wants to find just the right gift. He usually does, too, bless his heart.
I guess this should be Tuesday fragments. Don't mind me, I'm lost in the fog.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Firearm Deer Season Begins
Deer hunters are said to like a bit of snow for tracking purposes. This was the scene on our street ten minutes ago.
I haven't heard any gunfire, though we probably have the most deer per square foot here than in the whole state. ( There are restrictions about hunting in town. Even when they decided to cut down on the deer herd.)
Nobody at our house is a hunter. Good Guy is more of a Gatherer, and will shop the whole town for bargains. I don't like to shop at all. I venture out for fabric and yarn on occasion but other shopping is a definite chore. Online shopping is nice for books, though bookstores would be my one exception to the shopping hatred.
I am not a lover of snow and cold any more. Any day from November to April that the roads are clear and we do not have to drive in snow is a day to give thanks, in my book. And this week, while I'm still navigating with a quad cane, is a day to avoid going out in the snow. Unless I get totally stir crazy with cabin fever. It's a mite early for that, but you never know....
Friday, November 12, 2010
Friday Fragments
Ahh, the relief of dumping a lot of tiny bits of ephemera at the end of the week. Especially since the idea of coming up with a Subject for a Post, seems beyond my ken at the moment.
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Someone left Sweetie outdoors last night, or she sneaked out when someone went out on the deck for something. Plus we were awakened at 4 AM by a phone call, with no one at the other end. Did someone call on her behalf? She was quite chilly when she came back indoors.
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My Christmas cactus us trying to bud. Someone tell me, is this the time to move it to a cooler darker place?
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Is forecasting "what the winter will be like" by El Nino, or La Nina any more accurate than reading the stripes on the fuzzy caterpillers?
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How is it possible to own six different glasses repair kits, yet none of them have the size of tiny screw you need to fix your problem?
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For a good read, I highly recommend The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Funny quirky characters, and some history thrown in for good measure.
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Projects on the needles. New yarn and tiny needles----pink socks for Granddaughter. Leftover yarn and bigger needles-------a winter hat with ribbing and a tight fit to prevent drafty breezes around the ears.
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Happy TGIF!
More Fragments can be found at the hosting site. That'd be the brilliant but funny Mrs. 4444, of Half-Past Kissin' Time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Someone left Sweetie outdoors last night, or she sneaked out when someone went out on the deck for something. Plus we were awakened at 4 AM by a phone call, with no one at the other end. Did someone call on her behalf? She was quite chilly when she came back indoors.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Christmas cactus us trying to bud. Someone tell me, is this the time to move it to a cooler darker place?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is forecasting "what the winter will be like" by El Nino, or La Nina any more accurate than reading the stripes on the fuzzy caterpillers?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How is it possible to own six different glasses repair kits, yet none of them have the size of tiny screw you need to fix your problem?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For a good read, I highly recommend The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Funny quirky characters, and some history thrown in for good measure.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Projects on the needles. New yarn and tiny needles----pink socks for Granddaughter. Leftover yarn and bigger needles-------a winter hat with ribbing and a tight fit to prevent drafty breezes around the ears.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Happy TGIF!
More Fragments can be found at the hosting site. That'd be the brilliant but funny Mrs. 4444, of Half-Past Kissin' Time.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Thankful Thursdays
Veteran's Day, here in the States, Remembrance Day in Canada, and Armistice Day in parts of Europe.
My earliest memories are of my mother writing letters to my dad, and her brothers during WW2, and to listening to news of battles and such by Kaltenborn, and other radio newscasters.
Multiplying our little story by the thousands and thousands of people who have been serving in the armed services since then in war and in peace, and there are a great many people to thank.
These people have all had their lives disrupted, some in earth shattering ways. We appreciate the sacrifices you have made and we pray if you are in harm's way, that you will return home intact.
My picture was taken at the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. This is a solemn and sobering visit to make while you enjoy the paradise that Hawaii represents.
I feel blessed that none of my children have had to serve in this way. And I thank, with all my heart, those who have been willing to go. May you always know the gratitude of your country.
Multiplying our little story by the thousands and thousands of people who have been serving in the armed services since then in war and in peace, and there are a great many people to thank.
These people have all had their lives disrupted, some in earth shattering ways. We appreciate the sacrifices you have made and we pray if you are in harm's way, that you will return home intact.
My picture was taken at the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. This is a solemn and sobering visit to make while you enjoy the paradise that Hawaii represents.
I feel blessed that none of my children have had to serve in this way. And I thank, with all my heart, those who have been willing to go. May you always know the gratitude of your country.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Amazon I Love You
Wisconsin has a goodly number of famous and accomplished quilters. I haven't been quilting as much in recent years, so there are wonderful new ones I don't even know about.
But during the years when I was quilting a lot, there was a wonderful, funny lady on the Wisconsin quilting scene. She wrote books, she went on with classes of quilters, and she had the reputation as "a character". She lived in Madison.
Recently, for some reason, I've been thinking of her more often, regretting that I never got to meet her while she was among us. (She died way too young.) Maybe some of her books were in our library. No luck, so I wandered around in my Amazon account to see if I could find any of Doreen Speckmann's books..
Last month I found a book of patterns she used on her cruise classes. They were very vibrant in color and the text was laugh out loud funny. Today I got another book called Pattern Play, 159 pages of wonderfulness, and I bought it for 88 cents! Isn't that amazing?
As cranky as I've been about technology, it does amaze me that I can sit on my couch and search for books I'd love to own and find them as bargains, and that I can download old Chet Baker tracks somehow through the same ether that steals my posts. I hope that someone who is trying to listen Peggy Lee or Michael Buble is getting jammed up with my blog's postings. That'd be pretty frustrating.
These are the pink socks I alluded to yesterday. I think my battery was dying. One is done and the other is started----about three inches worth.
All clothing for my granddaughter is in shades of pink, or "magenta", her favorite color. She loves words.
Back tomorrow, God willing.
But during the years when I was quilting a lot, there was a wonderful, funny lady on the Wisconsin quilting scene. She wrote books, she went on with classes of quilters, and she had the reputation as "a character". She lived in Madison.
Recently, for some reason, I've been thinking of her more often, regretting that I never got to meet her while she was among us. (She died way too young.) Maybe some of her books were in our library. No luck, so I wandered around in my Amazon account to see if I could find any of Doreen Speckmann's books..
Last month I found a book of patterns she used on her cruise classes. They were very vibrant in color and the text was laugh out loud funny. Today I got another book called Pattern Play, 159 pages of wonderfulness, and I bought it for 88 cents! Isn't that amazing?
As cranky as I've been about technology, it does amaze me that I can sit on my couch and search for books I'd love to own and find them as bargains, and that I can download old Chet Baker tracks somehow through the same ether that steals my posts. I hope that someone who is trying to listen Peggy Lee or Michael Buble is getting jammed up with my blog's postings. That'd be pretty frustrating.
All clothing for my granddaughter is in shades of pink, or "magenta", her favorite color. She loves words.
Back tomorrow, God willing.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen---LOL
Wait a minute, I can hear you saying. Wasn't she just counting her blessings a few days ago?
I am, I am, over all the most important things in my life. But this method of blogging is wearing me down. I have had nothing but trouble since I came home and tried to reach into Blogland. I can't post pictures without taking a college course, apparently.
I can't tell you how many new posts I've written that have been snatched away into the ether. So I'm beginning to think that there is nothing important enough to share that is worth the aggravation of dealing with my computer/google/ picasa/toshiba complex of problems.
On the other hand, here I am, trying yet again. If I could post pictures, I'd show you a nifty little table topper I found to finish-------after I made all my deadlines in September and October. I had to dig deep to find old UFO's to complete.
And my granddaughter's pink socks are my companions as I move from room to room trying to avoid boredom. One is completed and I started the ribbing on sock two today.
I enjoyed the blessing of a sleep through the night last night. Hospital life doesn't encourage sound sleep, but it was a pure pleasure to do so last night. So my days are full of lovely little pleasures. The big grey cat snuggling beside me, the mug of steaming sweet tea, the sun pouring through the west windows in the afternoon, the lovely striping yarn I'm using, and shelves full of music. Enough to enoy for however long it takes me to get back to Tap-Dancing for Grannies.
Maybe I'll call Rent a Kid, and get one over here to solve my computer confusion. I'm sure my problems are caused by my ignorance, rather than my technology.
So, I'll bask in the things that give me pleasure and avoid things that make me annoyed. Tonight, anyway.
Cheers!
I am, I am, over all the most important things in my life. But this method of blogging is wearing me down. I have had nothing but trouble since I came home and tried to reach into Blogland. I can't post pictures without taking a college course, apparently.
I can't tell you how many new posts I've written that have been snatched away into the ether. So I'm beginning to think that there is nothing important enough to share that is worth the aggravation of dealing with my computer/google/ picasa/toshiba complex of problems.
On the other hand, here I am, trying yet again. If I could post pictures, I'd show you a nifty little table topper I found to finish-------after I made all my deadlines in September and October. I had to dig deep to find old UFO's to complete.
And my granddaughter's pink socks are my companions as I move from room to room trying to avoid boredom. One is completed and I started the ribbing on sock two today.
I enjoyed the blessing of a sleep through the night last night. Hospital life doesn't encourage sound sleep, but it was a pure pleasure to do so last night. So my days are full of lovely little pleasures. The big grey cat snuggling beside me, the mug of steaming sweet tea, the sun pouring through the west windows in the afternoon, the lovely striping yarn I'm using, and shelves full of music. Enough to enoy for however long it takes me to get back to Tap-Dancing for Grannies.
Maybe I'll call Rent a Kid, and get one over here to solve my computer confusion. I'm sure my problems are caused by my ignorance, rather than my technology.
So, I'll bask in the things that give me pleasure and avoid things that make me annoyed. Tonight, anyway.
Cheers!
Friday, November 5, 2010
Missed the Boat
It already too late for me to jump aboard the "post every day this month" bandwagon, but it have lots of time to read while I hang around and "mend". And I have lots of prompts about things to write while I am enjoying the writing of others.
Our neighborhood enjoys a unique designation in the annuls of Ford Motor Company history. Our neighborhood was occupied by Ford factory workers for many years when the company was building their wood-sided station wagons here. I think they suspended making woodies when they retooled this factory to make gliders for the war effort during WW2.
The Ford plant and Kingsford Charcoal Company dumped their industrial waste between our area and the Menominee River and one day about a block or two away from our house, an explosion happened in their basement when they turned on a light .
This was the first indication that the years of dumping waste had resulted in a gigantic lake of methane below our town. The story is long and pretty interesting even, but I'm not sure of all the facts, so I'll skip to the way Ford stepped up to take care of the problem. Every house in town has been inspected and has a methane detector in the basement. Every house and garage has piping and a whirling device to assist in dispersion, should any methane surface. We have flagpoles galore, not only because we're so incredibly patriotic, but because they serve as venting devices.
These detectors are inspected and replaced yearly, if necessary. They don't just drop by now and then, we have monitors in place, on the job, every day.
I'm pretty proud of Ford, as a matter of fact. It is great to see a corporate entity do the right thing.
Would you like to buy a sweet little house here in Methane Meadows?
The Ford plant and Kingsford Charcoal Company dumped their industrial waste between our area and the Menominee River and one day about a block or two away from our house, an explosion happened in their basement when they turned on a light .
This was the first indication that the years of dumping waste had resulted in a gigantic lake of methane below our town. The story is long and pretty interesting even, but I'm not sure of all the facts, so I'll skip to the way Ford stepped up to take care of the problem. Every house in town has been inspected and has a methane detector in the basement. Every house and garage has piping and a whirling device to assist in dispersion, should any methane surface. We have flagpoles galore, not only because we're so incredibly patriotic, but because they serve as venting devices.
These detectors are inspected and replaced yearly, if necessary. They don't just drop by now and then, we have monitors in place, on the job, every day.
I'm pretty proud of Ford, as a matter of fact. It is great to see a corporate entity do the right thing.
Would you like to buy a sweet little house here in Methane Meadows?
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Thankful on Thursdays
I found a nice blog yesterday where the hostess was listing 10 ways to simplify your life and she has many smart and funny followers. Today she had another fine idea and is hosting Thankful Thursdays. I probably won't link this up, but it's a pretty good discipline anyway.
Now that I'm recovering nicely at home, the surgery well behind me, I have so much to be thankful for, I can barely begin. I don't have any images to express how thankful I am for faith and answered prayer and the unspeakable mercies of God.
But since he ministers to us through our loved ones, Good Guy has to have honorable mention for picking up the slack and being the nurse on duty when necessary here.
I'm also thankful that excellent medical care is available locally and that I was well cared for throughout the course of care without having to travel away from home.
So that paragraph is including my surgeon, GP, hospital staff, and home health physical therapy.
I'm thankful for my own basic healthy self, so eager and able to recuperate quickly. I got my staples removed this morning at the doctor's office and instead of being admonished to get moving, I was told to not overdo. I like that better. I can blog and surf without guilt.
If you'd like to check out Carole's blog, she's at http://caroleknits.net/.
So that is the bare bones beginning of my thankful list. This is the month to ponder these things, after the opportunity to express ourselves at the polls is over. ( My witty cousin, Nikki, has what she calls Post Partisan Depression.) Isn't that funny?
Now that I'm recovering nicely at home, the surgery well behind me, I have so much to be thankful for, I can barely begin. I don't have any images to express how thankful I am for faith and answered prayer and the unspeakable mercies of God.
But since he ministers to us through our loved ones, Good Guy has to have honorable mention for picking up the slack and being the nurse on duty when necessary here.
So that paragraph is including my surgeon, GP, hospital staff, and home health physical therapy.
I'm thankful for my own basic healthy self, so eager and able to recuperate quickly. I got my staples removed this morning at the doctor's office and instead of being admonished to get moving, I was told to not overdo. I like that better. I can blog and surf without guilt.
If you'd like to check out Carole's blog, she's at http://caroleknits.net/.
So that is the bare bones beginning of my thankful list. This is the month to ponder these things, after the opportunity to express ourselves at the polls is over. ( My witty cousin, Nikki, has what she calls Post Partisan Depression.) Isn't that funny?
Saturday, October 30, 2010
I think She's Waking Up
My new header picture, there temporarily, shows my good buddy Bella, waiting patiently for me to return home.
My knee replacement surgery last Monday morning went beautifully, and my post operative course has been without problems. I am expecting to be released back into the general population once again on Monday.
(For the two people in my circle who would like to know medical particulars, I had a spinal anaesthetic, and level 8 pain the first day.) I am impressed with all the machinery that helps to prevent pneumonia, clots, and excessive sleep.
Rehabilitation is the name of the game now, and I am the poster granny for that. I can bend my knee---or maybe My knee can be bent to 90 degrees and lie full flat on the bed at 0 degrees. All they ask of me. Getting it on and off the bed isn't as easy, but as the incision heals that won't be so painful.
So here I lie, reading books, collecting flower arrangements, fielding phone calls, and solving puzzles. And healing well.
Thanks for your well-wishes and prayers. They are much appreciated!
Home on Monday, methinks.
My knee replacement surgery last Monday morning went beautifully, and my post operative course has been without problems. I am expecting to be released back into the general population once again on Monday.
(For the two people in my circle who would like to know medical particulars, I had a spinal anaesthetic, and level 8 pain the first day.) I am impressed with all the machinery that helps to prevent pneumonia, clots, and excessive sleep.
Rehabilitation is the name of the game now, and I am the poster granny for that. I can bend my knee---or maybe My knee can be bent to 90 degrees and lie full flat on the bed at 0 degrees. All they ask of me. Getting it on and off the bed isn't as easy, but as the incision heals that won't be so painful.
So here I lie, reading books, collecting flower arrangements, fielding phone calls, and solving puzzles. And healing well.
Thanks for your well-wishes and prayers. They are much appreciated!
Home on Monday, methinks.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Speedy McReady
Last weekend I got this top which isn't a thing of beauty, but used up some beautiful furnishing fabrics. They were too stiff and closely woven to hand quilt, so I brought the top and a flannel backing to my friend who has large quilting machine.
She got this on Monday. Wednesday morning she called me to tell me it was ready. I was dumbfounded! I have a fine gift finished already. I love to hand quilt, but looking over an acre of unquilted material is disheartening. Especially when you're not young anymore.
The son of mine who will be receiving this gave me a quilt journal to document the work and pictures of projects. He's very optimistic, because there is room in this book for over 50 projects! If they could go this quickly, I have half a chance.
Time for quilts, mittens, jackets, and such.
Have a good weekend, whatever your weather.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Story Tellers
It's Wednesday again and time for a cuppa with shannon of asouthernbellewithnorthernroots.blogspot.com .
I have grumped before about the dragging inefficiency of "the bureaucracy" and the license my daughter was waiting for then still has not arrived. The state's 60 days have elapsed and it's time to call a lawyer.
But I need to tell you a different, older story.
Back a long, long time ago, in a country across the river, a young man and his wife and babies moved from Illinois and needed to register their Dodge Dart in their new land. They procured the forms and filled them out, and sent them to the Great Maw of the State Paperwork Center.
Several times the paperwork went back and forth, yet they still didn't have their car registration. There was never any indication of what the problem was. Finally in exasperation, the young man wrote a letter to the Paperwork Maw, insulting their intelligence.
Quickly a letter returned explaining (patiently) that there was a discrepancy in the car description between two of the forms. One described the car as having two doors, while another said it was a four door vehicle. If they were having trouble determining the number of doors, they could take the vehicle to the nearest law enforcement officer who would be happy to count the doors for them.
The young man and his wife dissolved in helpless laughter, and took the car to the sheriff, who happily complied by counting the doors for them. Then, in due time, they received their car registration.
Happy ending. Plus they got to tell the story on themselves for decades afterwards.
The moral of the story: Someone at the Maw had a sense of humor. Luckily the young couple did, too.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Well, I'm just puzzled!
This yarn picture (of some of my yarn purchases in Ireland) is just to get you in the mood. I know
some of you are knitters and crocheters. And maybe you subscribe to some knitting blogs and some newsletters? And you get catalogs?
Me too, and I thought I sort of had my ear to the ground, so to speak. But I was surprised to learn today that I can purchase a product called wool stainless steel.
Lion Brand yarn products, which include basic staples such as merino, baby alpaca, silk mohair, organic wool, and even cashmere, now also has this product.
"Wool stainless steel allows you to create amazing pieces that keep their shape".
Well, no kidding! Like now I can knit a new toaster oven! At least if I can get an electrician to install the switches and coils and stuff. I'm excited. Enough with the afghans, and lined mittens and sock for friends. I can probably knit a scooter or maybe even a Hog. Now to find some patterns!
I'll be MIA for a few days next week while I have my knee replaced. Well maybe more than a few days--depending on how long it takes to get my knee to bend again properly. Wish me well, unless you're a pray-er. Then I'd covet your prayers, as we say at prayer meeting.
While I'm out of commission, you keep your eyes open for patterns for me. ( I just finished Steve's Christmas socks and was wondering what to do next. So I texted youngest son. Socks are always appreciated, was his reply. I thought maybe I could branch out and do something else for a while.)
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Rave On, Maxine!
I'm pretty sure Maxine is copyrighted and I'd go to jail for posting her image--but surely you've seen the grumpy, sunglassed, sourpuss image of Maxine while you're looking for a birthday card at the mall.
I was looking through my fabric catalog, dreaming of projects to come, when I came across a fabric printed with Maxine images and pithy sayings. It's supposed to be Christmas fabric---the time for warm fuzzy feelings and thoughts of good cheer. You remember.
Now, before I sound like I'm critical, I have to tell you that I laughed. What I'm wondering about is "Why?"
Maxine is growling Christmas greetings such as, "Have yourself a merry little Christmas. Just don't drag me into it." Or "I baked! It's a Christmas miracle!" or my favorite---"My soul's had enough chicken soup. I want some chocolate."
Is is that deep inside we want to be free to be grumpy, and have that be acceptable behavior? More like I'd like to be grumpy and have it be profitable. Now there's a combination you don't see so much. I don't even feel grumpy that often, so maybe it's good to have a surrogate Grumpy Person, like a designated driver---who can be grumpy for us all.
Whatever it's all about, nobody bears her any ill will, and I even send Maxine cards to people strong enough to bear up to the laughter. So be who you are, Maxine. You are a valuable public servant. Hee-hee.
I was looking through my fabric catalog, dreaming of projects to come, when I came across a fabric printed with Maxine images and pithy sayings. It's supposed to be Christmas fabric---the time for warm fuzzy feelings and thoughts of good cheer. You remember.
Now, before I sound like I'm critical, I have to tell you that I laughed. What I'm wondering about is "Why?"
Maxine is growling Christmas greetings such as, "Have yourself a merry little Christmas. Just don't drag me into it." Or "I baked! It's a Christmas miracle!" or my favorite---"My soul's had enough chicken soup. I want some chocolate."
Is is that deep inside we want to be free to be grumpy, and have that be acceptable behavior? More like I'd like to be grumpy and have it be profitable. Now there's a combination you don't see so much. I don't even feel grumpy that often, so maybe it's good to have a surrogate Grumpy Person, like a designated driver---who can be grumpy for us all.
Whatever it's all about, nobody bears her any ill will, and I even send Maxine cards to people strong enough to bear up to the laughter. So be who you are, Maxine. You are a valuable public servant. Hee-hee.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Story Tellers Entry
Meet the young me with my baby sister, Jane (her real name). She was born after the proper amount of time elapsed after my father's return after his service in WW2. Up to that time, I had been the queen of the hop, living with Mom and my Grandma Anderson without any fathers, uncles, or men eligible to be off fighting wars.
A little before this picture was taken, probably the winter before, my parents evoked some Tough Love in my direction. It seems that when they would place
that sweet baby in my arms in the rocking chair, she would gently roll down the length of my legs and land with a thump on the floor.
To discourage any further episodes, my parents packed a suitcase for me and sent me off to my grandmother's house. They put some very heavy stuff into the suitcase, so I couldn't get very far. And we lived in an extremely tiny town so I wasn't in any danger.
I struggled with the suitcase, across the street and was cutting through the schoolyard when two girls asked me where I was headed. When I explained that I was going to take the bus to Iron River, and explained that I kept dropping my sister on the floor, they convinced me that my folks would probably take me back if I stopped dropping the baby.
Hmm. I could do that. I'd just stay away from the little monster. So I headed back and stood at the bottom of the long steep stairwell. (Little voice) "Can I come back if I don't touch the baby?"
My dad was standing, six feet tall, at the top of the steps, voice booming, "Are you going to drop her any more?"
(Little voice, squeaks) "No, I won't drop her any more".
He heads down the steps to carry the suitcase upstairs for me, pats me on the head, and says, "See that you don't."
They admitted to me later how they had stood in the front window, watching me the whole time, struggling with the suitcase, talking with the older girls, and heading back home. I don't think the whole episode took even half an hour, but it still sticks in my mind a great many years later. Lesson learned. I never drop her now.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Radical, man
Good Guy and I have a couple of people in our lives who are really close to us. He, especially, has known one of them for all his life. This guy is his older brother, known in this blog as Brotherbob. Since I always wanted an older brother, he kindly consented to be my older brother, too.
His wife, who was born into a different family than I was, is my "adopted" sister. My mom while she was still among us, said she could be a daughter too. With three of us already, one more was welcome.
So, this sister of mine, is trained as an architect, and works as a spec writer at a busy architectural firm. Her keen eye, and her willingness to share knowledge has given me great appreciation for structures we have seen in our travels and of course, here at home, too.
In her work she comes across a great many avant garde, bizarre, and kooky facts and buildings. And today she shared some with me, that I'm going to share with you. I think. I hope.
Check this out, if you have four minutes to, as my friend says, spit and snort (with laughter).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waxfmSpifRw
Please tell me what you think.
His wife, who was born into a different family than I was, is my "adopted" sister. My mom while she was still among us, said she could be a daughter too. With three of us already, one more was welcome.
So, this sister of mine, is trained as an architect, and works as a spec writer at a busy architectural firm. Her keen eye, and her willingness to share knowledge has given me great appreciation for structures we have seen in our travels and of course, here at home, too.
In her work she comes across a great many avant garde, bizarre, and kooky facts and buildings. And today she shared some with me, that I'm going to share with you. I think. I hope.
Check this out, if you have four minutes to, as my friend says, spit and snort (with laughter).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waxfmSpifRw
Please tell me what you think.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
So Soon Old, So Late Smart
I have seen this pithy saying attributed to the Pennsylvania Dutch, and they really hit the nail on the head with that one!
I have been reading knitting blogs of knitters I greatly admire. They attempt projects I can only dream about, and even design their own patterns. Yet occasionally they, like we less talented knitters, pull a big boo-boo, and are honest enough to tell us about it.
There are a hundred ways to mess up when you knit. I'm just learning that. You can neglect knitting a trial piece to check gauge, you can accidentally switch needle sizes, you can choose a yarn unsuited to the project even though it was beautiful and costly. You can make the same error in increasing or decreasing over and over again, which results in increased wine consumption. (That has proven not to help much, except very temporarily.)
But as far as I know, my knitting project is OK, for now, at least.
However, as many times as I've baked bread, I screwed up this morning and didn't add enough flour before I dumped it out on the kneading board. I've found that I can follow the recipe for bread machine coffee bread---a basic sweet roll dough, and let the machine mix it and allow it to raise the first time. Then I can use the resulting dough for rolls or whatever.
But I hate to waste the egg white, so I use the whole egg instead of just the yolk. (I know so much better than the bread machine people.) That's OK, when I remember to add a little extra flour, or a little less milk. When being the operative word here. If I forget that step, I have a messy dough to work with and need to add more flour and knead the whole mess again.
This sort of defeats the whole purpose of using the bread machine to make the process "easy", wouldn't you say? It does, but no matter what the trouble, I have the smell of freshly baked bread in my house. And if I had some more interesting mistake to tell you about, nobody would be any wiser.
So that's the beginning of my weekend. Hope you have a great weekend, too.
I have been reading knitting blogs of knitters I greatly admire. They attempt projects I can only dream about, and even design their own patterns. Yet occasionally they, like we less talented knitters, pull a big boo-boo, and are honest enough to tell us about it.
There are a hundred ways to mess up when you knit. I'm just learning that. You can neglect knitting a trial piece to check gauge, you can accidentally switch needle sizes, you can choose a yarn unsuited to the project even though it was beautiful and costly. You can make the same error in increasing or decreasing over and over again, which results in increased wine consumption. (That has proven not to help much, except very temporarily.)
But as far as I know, my knitting project is OK, for now, at least.
However, as many times as I've baked bread, I screwed up this morning and didn't add enough flour before I dumped it out on the kneading board. I've found that I can follow the recipe for bread machine coffee bread---a basic sweet roll dough, and let the machine mix it and allow it to raise the first time. Then I can use the resulting dough for rolls or whatever.
But I hate to waste the egg white, so I use the whole egg instead of just the yolk. (I know so much better than the bread machine people.) That's OK, when I remember to add a little extra flour, or a little less milk. When being the operative word here. If I forget that step, I have a messy dough to work with and need to add more flour and knead the whole mess again.
This sort of defeats the whole purpose of using the bread machine to make the process "easy", wouldn't you say? It does, but no matter what the trouble, I have the smell of freshly baked bread in my house. And if I had some more interesting mistake to tell you about, nobody would be any wiser.
So that's the beginning of my weekend. Hope you have a great weekend, too.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Not Lonely, Though Alone
I guess a person with cat residents never really feels very alone, since they sit on any craft work I'm doing, and gather around to stare when cooking or eating are in progress.
But Good Guy is in New York City, being a patron of the arts for a week. I have probably told you before about my love of crowds and traffic, so I'm happy to stay home and talk to him on the phone. The weather is grand, and I should be out planting bulbs or cleaning out the garden, but I can do this in fifteen minutes. You can do anything for fifteen minutes.
My big assignment for the week is to fill five bags or boxes of stuff to donate to Goodwill or St. Vincent de Paul. Smaller goals have to do with quilts or knitting projects that are in progress. Not to finish them, but to at least look at them, or make some decisions about them. I've already shredded a couple bags of paperwork that doesn't need to be saved. Do I feel virtuous? It's silly, but I do.
It's just making all those decisions. Like the old joke about the hard job the guy got sorting potatoes. Is it a small large potato, or a medium, or a huge small potato. It all rested on him. Awesome responsibility.
Well, I'm off to work in the garden for fifteen minutes. Maybe I can find one more zucchini. There's always one more, right?
But Good Guy is in New York City, being a patron of the arts for a week. I have probably told you before about my love of crowds and traffic, so I'm happy to stay home and talk to him on the phone. The weather is grand, and I should be out planting bulbs or cleaning out the garden, but I can do this in fifteen minutes. You can do anything for fifteen minutes.
My big assignment for the week is to fill five bags or boxes of stuff to donate to Goodwill or St. Vincent de Paul. Smaller goals have to do with quilts or knitting projects that are in progress. Not to finish them, but to at least look at them, or make some decisions about them. I've already shredded a couple bags of paperwork that doesn't need to be saved. Do I feel virtuous? It's silly, but I do.
It's just making all those decisions. Like the old joke about the hard job the guy got sorting potatoes. Is it a small large potato, or a medium, or a huge small potato. It all rested on him. Awesome responsibility.
Well, I'm off to work in the garden for fifteen minutes. Maybe I can find one more zucchini. There's always one more, right?
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
WHAT are they Thinking
Bear with me, football haters, please. I just must get this off my chest.
I can understand how the pre-game crew at ESPN has a funny segment featuring bad calls and bad plays which they ridicule. It may be painful for some officials or players to see their snafus on TV once again but I think they understand that may come with the career they have chosen.
But a feature that invites fans to be more outrageous than ever? I have to question the wisdom of that idea, even as entertainment. Painted faces, costumes, vulgar signs? Please don't encourage these people.
I'm doubtful that anyone in power at ESPN reads my blog. Perhaps I'm directing my concern at the wrong audience. Thanks, folks, I feel better. (As we say here, that's why there's a "power" button on the remote.)
I can understand how the pre-game crew at ESPN has a funny segment featuring bad calls and bad plays which they ridicule. It may be painful for some officials or players to see their snafus on TV once again but I think they understand that may come with the career they have chosen.
But a feature that invites fans to be more outrageous than ever? I have to question the wisdom of that idea, even as entertainment. Painted faces, costumes, vulgar signs? Please don't encourage these people.
I'm doubtful that anyone in power at ESPN reads my blog. Perhaps I'm directing my concern at the wrong audience. Thanks, folks, I feel better. (As we say here, that's why there's a "power" button on the remote.)
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Inside Joke
Ahem. I wonder how far up in the rankings MSU jumped yesterday. Good game for Sparty.
I really knit fast when the Badgers are making me want to........grumble.
I really knit fast when the Badgers are making me want to........grumble.
There was some good news. Michigan won, and Virginia Tech won. And for a Michigander, it's even good news that Michigan State won.
For those of you who dislike or ignore football and knitting---this is just a temporary aberration. I'll be back to writing better drivel soon. This is sort of directed at my two original Buds.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Friday Fragments
Time again to unload the tidbits of the week that are too good to discard but too small to merit a posting of their own. Maybe by the end of this post I can get the links to work properly so I can direct you there.
My week was highly focused on completing some projects, but I did take Wednesday afternoon off to go picture taking. We're in hardwood country and we're supposed to have glorious fall colors.
1. Trust me, people, nobody wants to boost the beauty of the Upper Peninsula more than I, but the colors here are disappointing at best. The view I hoped to capture across the river----it's still all green. The trees whose leaves have turned color are dull or they blew off during the windy days. So aside from a picture of me pouting, there's not much to report on the color front.
2. I'm discouraged that the football team I follow, which shall remain nameless, broke a team record for penalties on Monday Night Football, losing to the despised Chicago Bears. Shudder!
3. European countries are experiencing citizen protests because the bankrupt governments have had to cut services drastically because they've tried to stop spending money they don't have. Our future??
4. Technology in action this week. A family on our prayer list could send out hourly updates on their infant son's surgery to people who subscribed to their family's blog. A fine idea. It was great to know through the day how things were going.
5. I have voted already. I can mute all political ads with their half-truths and nasty insinuations without guilt.
6. We are still eating cucumbers and zucchini from the garden. Otherwise the sunflowers rule.
Go check up on the others at Mrs. 4444's place, http://www.halfpastkissintime.com/.
My week was highly focused on completing some projects, but I did take Wednesday afternoon off to go picture taking. We're in hardwood country and we're supposed to have glorious fall colors.
1. Trust me, people, nobody wants to boost the beauty of the Upper Peninsula more than I, but the colors here are disappointing at best. The view I hoped to capture across the river----it's still all green. The trees whose leaves have turned color are dull or they blew off during the windy days. So aside from a picture of me pouting, there's not much to report on the color front.
2. I'm discouraged that the football team I follow, which shall remain nameless, broke a team record for penalties on Monday Night Football, losing to the despised Chicago Bears. Shudder!
3. European countries are experiencing citizen protests because the bankrupt governments have had to cut services drastically because they've tried to stop spending money they don't have. Our future??
4. Technology in action this week. A family on our prayer list could send out hourly updates on their infant son's surgery to people who subscribed to their family's blog. A fine idea. It was great to know through the day how things were going.
5. I have voted already. I can mute all political ads with their half-truths and nasty insinuations without guilt.
6. We are still eating cucumbers and zucchini from the garden. Otherwise the sunflowers rule.
Go check up on the others at Mrs. 4444's place, http://www.halfpastkissintime.com/.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Late Story Tellers post
I'm having trouble with picture posting, but I don't have a picture to go with this story anyway.
At this time of year, I love the smell of Lincoln Park in Chicago. Fall in the city reminds me of the greatest high I've ever had in all my life.
Early in October, on a Saturday morning at the end of my first pregnancy, we were living near the park and I could smell the leaves and the weather front as it moved in. After a time, I decided I was actually in labor and we drove the few blocks south to the hospital, just to check. And well before supper time, my daughter had been born.
I was ecstatic! I had a girl! She was early! It was so easy! It was all over already! Everything was fine!
I haven't had many days in my life when I felt so spared the pains and ordinary stuff of life, but the day my Lisa was born was one wonderful day. I was happy when the others were born, and they came with little trouble or fanfare, but by then I knew what to expect.
When you're a nurse and have seen people in difficulties, you always are preparing for the worst case scenario. I'm pretty sure I didn't sleep a wink that night, as happy as I was. I should have slept while I had the opportunity.
But the smell of Fall, can always remind me of the happiness of that special day. Happy Birthday, Lisa.
Shannon hosts this story sharing session. She can be found at http://asouthernbellewithnorthernroots.blogspot.com/
At this time of year, I love the smell of Lincoln Park in Chicago. Fall in the city reminds me of the greatest high I've ever had in all my life.
Early in October, on a Saturday morning at the end of my first pregnancy, we were living near the park and I could smell the leaves and the weather front as it moved in. After a time, I decided I was actually in labor and we drove the few blocks south to the hospital, just to check. And well before supper time, my daughter had been born.
I was ecstatic! I had a girl! She was early! It was so easy! It was all over already! Everything was fine!
I haven't had many days in my life when I felt so spared the pains and ordinary stuff of life, but the day my Lisa was born was one wonderful day. I was happy when the others were born, and they came with little trouble or fanfare, but by then I knew what to expect.
When you're a nurse and have seen people in difficulties, you always are preparing for the worst case scenario. I'm pretty sure I didn't sleep a wink that night, as happy as I was. I should have slept while I had the opportunity.
But the smell of Fall, can always remind me of the happiness of that special day. Happy Birthday, Lisa.
Shannon hosts this story sharing session. She can be found at http://asouthernbellewithnorthernroots.blogspot.com/
Sunday, September 26, 2010
I Love My Town
I do, I really really do.
Of course, in spite of starting out my married life in Chicago----not exactly "town designation", much of my life was lived in the country. Actually, I loved that too.
But in this town, the street sweeping machine comes by and cleans the streets, we have regular, reliable trash pick-up, in spring and fall they send around trucks to pick up large recycleables, they come and vacuum up our leaves if we rake them to the curb. There is a big lot where we can bring our own leaves and yard stuff like branches and prunings if we don't compost our own.
My particular reason for contentment today though is that our state representative sent me a form to apply for an absentee ballot which I did, and which has arrived quickly. I can get this because of my age, but I will need it because I'll be housebound on election day.
(All you snickering friends who laughed at my Dumpster Adventure will be thinking of me as I have a knee replacement at the end of October.)
A fact which leads me to praise the kindness of my neighbors. The neighbor to the south has kindly mowed our lawn for the past two weeks. He does clearing with his snow blower too, though I'm not quite ready to be thinking about that kindness just yet. My other neighbors are good folks too, especially Saint Bev. You can never outgive Bev. If you bring her a plate of pie, you go home with two cans of pickled beets.
All these facts conspire to make me feel very blessed to be living here. We don't have the sense of community that leads us to have a block party, but that could change. When I had a dog and we could both walk, I felt I knew more about the neighborhood than I do now. When you have a pooch or a toddler along with you, people will talk to you, I've noticed. Why is that, I wonder?
I am very fond of both dogs and toddlers, but can't keep up with either one of them at the moment. My daughter says I'll be frolicking like a fawn after I recover from knee surgery. I'd pay to watch that! And that made the rest of the family laugh out loud!
PS---in case you're keeping track, the Tree Project got shipped before the deadline. I had to go scrounging yesterday for old unfinished projects in The Backlog of Long-Forgotten Stuff.
Happy Sunday. I can enjoy the day, because my team doesn't play until Monday Night Football.
Of course, in spite of starting out my married life in Chicago----not exactly "town designation", much of my life was lived in the country. Actually, I loved that too.
But in this town, the street sweeping machine comes by and cleans the streets, we have regular, reliable trash pick-up, in spring and fall they send around trucks to pick up large recycleables, they come and vacuum up our leaves if we rake them to the curb. There is a big lot where we can bring our own leaves and yard stuff like branches and prunings if we don't compost our own.
My particular reason for contentment today though is that our state representative sent me a form to apply for an absentee ballot which I did, and which has arrived quickly. I can get this because of my age, but I will need it because I'll be housebound on election day.
(All you snickering friends who laughed at my Dumpster Adventure will be thinking of me as I have a knee replacement at the end of October.)
A fact which leads me to praise the kindness of my neighbors. The neighbor to the south has kindly mowed our lawn for the past two weeks. He does clearing with his snow blower too, though I'm not quite ready to be thinking about that kindness just yet. My other neighbors are good folks too, especially Saint Bev. You can never outgive Bev. If you bring her a plate of pie, you go home with two cans of pickled beets.
All these facts conspire to make me feel very blessed to be living here. We don't have the sense of community that leads us to have a block party, but that could change. When I had a dog and we could both walk, I felt I knew more about the neighborhood than I do now. When you have a pooch or a toddler along with you, people will talk to you, I've noticed. Why is that, I wonder?
I am very fond of both dogs and toddlers, but can't keep up with either one of them at the moment. My daughter says I'll be frolicking like a fawn after I recover from knee surgery. I'd pay to watch that! And that made the rest of the family laugh out loud!
PS---in case you're keeping track, the Tree Project got shipped before the deadline. I had to go scrounging yesterday for old unfinished projects in The Backlog of Long-Forgotten Stuff.
Happy Sunday. I can enjoy the day, because my team doesn't play until Monday Night Football.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Live and Learn
In my wandering around, reading the blogs of others, I've come across "Seven Things I Learned This Week."
That sounded like a good discipline to me, and the mentioned list always seems pretty interesting, too.
I'm here to tell ya, it isn't easy. How can you not learn seven things easily in a culture where you're bombarded with "information" all day long?
I think because of that very thing, I ignore 89% of what I hear and disbelieve most of the rest that I do hear. And of course, my hearing isn't all it could be.
Not to mention (I feel a rant coming on), it's the season for political advertising. I shudder to think that someone is relying on that information to decide who to vote for.
If I were to share my "learned list" with you, which I'm not doing-----trust me, it's short. It's nowhere near seven, and it wouldn't be that useful to anyone else. I'm going to work really hard to do better next week.
That sounded like a good discipline to me, and the mentioned list always seems pretty interesting, too.
I'm here to tell ya, it isn't easy. How can you not learn seven things easily in a culture where you're bombarded with "information" all day long?
I think because of that very thing, I ignore 89% of what I hear and disbelieve most of the rest that I do hear. And of course, my hearing isn't all it could be.
Not to mention (I feel a rant coming on), it's the season for political advertising. I shudder to think that someone is relying on that information to decide who to vote for.
If I were to share my "learned list" with you, which I'm not doing-----trust me, it's short. It's nowhere near seven, and it wouldn't be that useful to anyone else. I'm going to work really hard to do better next week.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Story Tellers Wednesday
Have you been visiting with Shannon over at http://asouthernbellewithnorthernroots.blogspot.com/ ? (Thanks for hosting this clambake, Shannon.)
I have another anniversary this week. In fact it was yesterday on what is traditionally the date of the equinox.
Eleven years ago on this date, I had what was simultaneously the most serious, hilarious, embarrassing, and painful experience of my life. Thankfully there are no photographs to document this klutzy chapter of my life, but I'm sure you can conjure up some images to illustrate what I'm about to tell you.
My mom decided, on her own, that it was time to move into an assisted living facility, and we decided to buy her little house and move back to the Upper Peninsula from downstate Michigan. She hadn't used the upstairs for much but storage, but we would need to remodel and use the space if we were to move.
We were in the midst of demolition. Actually, I was in the midst of demolition, because Good Guy had gone back to our other house to take care of some business. I couldn't find a crowbar I'd been using, so I climbed into the rented dumpster to search for the missing tool. It was early, early in the morning. It was dewy and damp, and when I attempted to climb back out, I fell backwards into the bottom of the box.
Fortunately for me, I didn't land on lathe with nails sticking up, or other pointy, dangerous objects. But even at that, I wasn't feeling so good. None of my near neighbors were going to be able to hear me yell. There is no foot traffic here, unless someone is jogging or dog walking. I was officially in a pickle.
I'm a little foggy about how I climbed back out. But I thought I'd get myself a water supply and hang out in the recliner to see how that felt. Big mistake. No piece of furniture in my house is as hard on my back as the recliner is. Bad pain. I needed to go to the ER. I wasn't hemorrhaging or especially shocky. No ambulance.
I struggled out of the recliner and felt better already. I called my sister who lives across town. Bless her heart, (and I mean this sincerely), she said, "I'll be right there," and she drove me to Emergency Services.
I won't bore you with all the details, but my diagnosis was that I'd crushed one vertebra, and cracked another in two places. The physician who was caring for me wanted to medicate me for pain, which really wasn't necessary as long as I lay still.
I'd been a hospital employee, so quite a few people would poke their head into the room. "How did you you do this?" (Mumbled reply) I fell into a dumpster, followed by laughter--------no really, how did you do it?
It didn't take long to decline to answer, or to preface my answer with a "promise not to laugh". It didn't work. I laughed at it early and often. When Good Guy got back home, he was surprised that I wasn't there, and called my mom to see if I was there, when I didn't show up for supper. "Oh, she's in the hospital."
I hadn't forgotten about him, but couldn't see any point in him driving home for hours worrying about me.
I spent a whole season of my life in a hospital bed and body brace in my living room watching Fall turn into winter. The maple tree in the yard across the street was my "calendar" as I watched the leaves turn and fall and the snow accumulate. I was enough better by Thanksgiving so I could travel and we could go to get our furniture and I could drive for six hours home.
Thankfully I healed and if not as good as new, at least well enough. It could have been a lot worse.
Lesson learned. No more climbing into dumpsters.
You have a story too. Please share some Wednesday.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Shameless Commerce Division
Many weeks ago, probably, (since time goes by so quickly, and my memory is like a sieve) my blogging buddy Kristin of the blog "The Goat" http://ttelroc.blogspot.com/, had an entry about great products she's purchased and used in her home.
She was doing this as a part of a group that was sharing these findings from room to room in their houses, and it was a great idea. I don't think they were paid for endorsing anything, I think they were just being good kind-hearted people.
I'm not overly loyal to brands, except coffee, nor do I buy cleaning products very often. A gallon jug of Mean Green lasts a long time, and so does Windex.
However, Flylady ( http://www.flylady.com/) a service which offers so much advice and encouragement to us organizationally challenged people for free, carries tools and products for sale. They search for sturdy, unique products that are well worth spending money for.
I have cats, which means I have fur issues. So I invested in a rubber handled, rubbery brush called a Rubba Scrubba, and I love this little tool! It is easily cleaned, of course, but a few brushes with it gobs up the cat fur from corners and rug edges where my vacuum cleaner can't go. I just love it, and may give it to everyone for Christmas. Family, be forewarned!
In the same order I bought Purple Rags in a Bag, and I can wet them and clean windows without any other cleaner at all. No streaks, no lint. The downside would now be----no excuse. Except that there are so many other interesting things to do. The Rags come in their own mesh bag for washing and I would wash them alone without fabric softener.
They sell a kit for cleaning lint out of clothes dryers and hoses, too. I don't have one yet, but I'm very tempted to get one. You never know what all has accumulated between that rotating drum and the walls of your dryer.
Last, but not least, I own a wonderful digital timer which I purchased from her site. One of her watchwords is that you can accomplish a lot in 15 minutes if you keep at it and don't get sidetracked. I use my timer all the time to keep me on track. When I don't feel like doing ANYthing, I can set it for five minutes and promise myself that I can quit after that, and accomplish more than I expect.
I have never aimed for perfection. I just want to be clean and comfy. It's not too much to expect. Flylady is a big help to me and it doesn't take much time.
Have a nice Sunday. You don't need to do housework today.
She was doing this as a part of a group that was sharing these findings from room to room in their houses, and it was a great idea. I don't think they were paid for endorsing anything, I think they were just being good kind-hearted people.
I'm not overly loyal to brands, except coffee, nor do I buy cleaning products very often. A gallon jug of Mean Green lasts a long time, and so does Windex.
However, Flylady ( http://www.flylady.com/) a service which offers so much advice and encouragement to us organizationally challenged people for free, carries tools and products for sale. They search for sturdy, unique products that are well worth spending money for.
I have cats, which means I have fur issues. So I invested in a rubber handled, rubbery brush called a Rubba Scrubba, and I love this little tool! It is easily cleaned, of course, but a few brushes with it gobs up the cat fur from corners and rug edges where my vacuum cleaner can't go. I just love it, and may give it to everyone for Christmas. Family, be forewarned!
In the same order I bought Purple Rags in a Bag, and I can wet them and clean windows without any other cleaner at all. No streaks, no lint. The downside would now be----no excuse. Except that there are so many other interesting things to do. The Rags come in their own mesh bag for washing and I would wash them alone without fabric softener.
They sell a kit for cleaning lint out of clothes dryers and hoses, too. I don't have one yet, but I'm very tempted to get one. You never know what all has accumulated between that rotating drum and the walls of your dryer.
Last, but not least, I own a wonderful digital timer which I purchased from her site. One of her watchwords is that you can accomplish a lot in 15 minutes if you keep at it and don't get sidetracked. I use my timer all the time to keep me on track. When I don't feel like doing ANYthing, I can set it for five minutes and promise myself that I can quit after that, and accomplish more than I expect.
I have never aimed for perfection. I just want to be clean and comfy. It's not too much to expect. Flylady is a big help to me and it doesn't take much time.
Have a nice Sunday. You don't need to do housework today.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Progress Report--Of Sorts
A couple weeks ago I set deadlines, and promised to be accountable to you for my progress. The quilt top that I needed to finish was slated to be shipped on September 15th. It was ready on the 13th, but I wanted my sister to see it first, so it got shipped the next day.
This project has a deadline of September 25th. The binding is on, but I still need to quilt some names into the borders, and stitch a pocket and some documentation (like initials, place it was made, date) onto the back of the quilt. This thing isn't a wall hanging, it's a snuggle quilt. It's also a gift, so I won't say too much more about it.
The appliqued letters spell, Family is a Sheltering Tree, and family names will be quilted into the brown borders.
For those of you who care about such things, most of the fabrics are batiks. I'm okay with how it's turning out and I'm a tough critic.
For comic relief, after the bragging, I can also show you how the "Leaders and Enders" of 2" squares looks. ( Do the math, ladies, I'll be at this for a while.)
I also have a sock in progress, but that will have to wait for the next progress report.
Doing this clearing out of projects may inspire me to resurrect some other things that are stashed away, or stalled out. I have one thing that has ugly parts that clash with the rest. Perhaps I'll discard the parts that spoil it, and make some better decisions next time. We can only hope and pray.
I have enough raw materials on hand to keep me busy if I live to be 100. I'll have to send out for thread and chocolate, but otherwise, I'm good to go. Stop in to encourage me. It's lonely in there with just the radio and the ironing board for company.
This project has a deadline of September 25th. The binding is on, but I still need to quilt some names into the borders, and stitch a pocket and some documentation (like initials, place it was made, date) onto the back of the quilt. This thing isn't a wall hanging, it's a snuggle quilt. It's also a gift, so I won't say too much more about it.
For those of you who care about such things, most of the fabrics are batiks. I'm okay with how it's turning out and I'm a tough critic.
For comic relief, after the bragging, I can also show you how the "Leaders and Enders" of 2" squares looks. ( Do the math, ladies, I'll be at this for a while.)
Doing this clearing out of projects may inspire me to resurrect some other things that are stashed away, or stalled out. I have one thing that has ugly parts that clash with the rest. Perhaps I'll discard the parts that spoil it, and make some better decisions next time. We can only hope and pray.
I have enough raw materials on hand to keep me busy if I live to be 100. I'll have to send out for thread and chocolate, but otherwise, I'm good to go. Stop in to encourage me. It's lonely in there with just the radio and the ironing board for company.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Wednesday---Story Tellers #3
Hi everybody.
Time again for Wednesday and story telling hosted by shannon at http://asouthernbellewithnorthernroots.blogspot.com/, and it's a fine time we have here, too. Join us and read all the interesting stuff the others have come up with.
I would like to introduce you to my father-in-law, Steve. This was the gentlest, softest-hearted man you could ever meet, here pictured with his lovely wife.
When Good Guy and his siblings had all left the nest and/or completed their formal education, she returned to college, living in Marquette during the week, and returning home late on Friday night. Steve worked on the road himself and would return on Friday. He often headed to visit my father, who was housebound and in a wheelchair as a result of multiple sclerosis.
They had a strong friendship, because Steve never treated my father as disabled. He was always Just a Guy to Steve, and Dad appreciated that courtesy. He'd spend Sunday afternoons at our house, too. And in those days a "can't miss show" was Lassie. It never failed. When Lassie had performed her act of heroism for the week, Steve would be wiping his eyes and blowing his nose. If we'd glance and him and smile, he'd say "I guess my dog allergies are kicking up."
When I discovered that my stepson had never read, "Where the Red Fern Grows", I bought it for him and told him it was a family test. He wasn't adopted if he bawled when he read that book. He passed with flying colors.
Nobody could tell a funny story like Steve could either. Good Guy is a good joke teller, but not as funny as Steve was. I'm grateful for my many happy memories of him. He never knew that Good Guy and I ended up together, since he was already gone by that time, but I'd like to think that he was happy for us.
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