P.S.

I tried to load this on the post and it wouldn't load.  Finally got it!  This is Cecil looking concerned because Finnigan is in "his" spot on the tree skirt!

Tra La La La La!

Hey, all!


Well, thank goodness for the four day Thanksgiving weekend! I need to pace myself for various reasons and it took all weekend to get our decorating done.

The outside work was fairly easy. Golfer brought the containers down from the attic and had them by the front door for me. I did the garland and lights on the porch and only broke one bulb! He finished up by setting out our much loved snowman that his Dad made for us years ago.

Inside decorations were a much different matter. I had lots of helpering furry kids for that. Here is how it went…. Golfer got our trees set up. We made sure all the lights worked on both. On Saturday I decorated the dining room tree. BTW, it is really great. It’s one of those “pop up” trees so it’s easy assembly and already strung with lights. The furry kids were very interested in the red and gold ribbon I use on it for garland. And then even more intrigued by the shiny ornaments. And let’s not get started on the tree skirt. I cannot tell you how many times I have put it back in place.

Then on Sunday I started on the living room tree. I started with the silver garland and was about a third of the way done when the dryer dinged and I had to go get some clothes hung up. Then I went back to the tree and “someone” had “helped” and I started over with the garland. And that’s pretty much how it went. I sorted ornaments as I went because I had decided this year would be a year without glass or antique ornaments. I am sure you can figure out why!

This was the very first year that all our Star Trek ornaments lit up and worked on the very first try. Some of ours are from when they first started making them and light strings have evolved enough that we have to use some adapters that Hallmark sells. I was so happy! The only one of ours that no longer works is our Borg cube. Sad. I miss them!

Anyway, I got the tree skirt under the tree – again, and again, and again……… I think it was Monday evening we discovered that the entire bottom section of the tree’s lights had gone out. We spent a while working on that and replacing fuses with no luck. I have since gone to Wal-Mart and bought a single string of lights and put around the bottom of the tree. And we’ve decided a new tree is being purchased for next year, one like the dining room one.

The Hummel nativity set is safely displayed behind glass doors this year, as are some other favorite breakable decorations. And I have declared the decorating finished. Now on to other projects!

Stay safe!

P.S.

While I was cooking this morning I had the Macy's parade on.  It sure isn't what I remember watching all my life!  The school bands are hardly on.  I didn't recognize the singers or their songs.  And when did the Rockettes stop tap dancing???  If I'm going to watch the Rockettes, I want to see some tapping toes!!

I told Golfer they could have edited that multi-hour parade down to five minutes for me and just shown Santa!  And least he and Mrs. Claus looked good!

Sigh.  Stay safe and have a great holiday season!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Hey, All!

I hope everyone is having a good day!  We're winding down here.  I had a flurry of cooking this morning.  NurseJ and family came for dinner about 12:30.  She is on call today so it was iffy if she would make it, but all was good.  We made it through dessert before she had to leave.  Cable Guy and BeyB stayed a while longer.  I think the tryptophan was kicking in for all of us!

Anyway, it's been a busy week around here.  Last Friday morning I confirmed that we had a flea problem.  Our furry kids do not go outside at all, so we still haven't an answer to where they came from, but it was something that needed immediate attention.  As it turned out, Cinder and Cecil were due for their check-ups and immunizations.  I have an understanding with our clinic that when I can get my hands on Cecil I will just call and they will work us in.

The fleas made this urgent.  And involved some maneuvering on my part.  Getting my hands actually on Cecil involved looking at him straight in the eye and him running under our king-sized bed.  Then I closed the bedroom door and opened the closet door.  And used the stick vac to "vacuum" under the bed.  At which point Cecil dove into the closet and I closed that door.  Then I carefully went into the closet and pried him out from under Golfer's hanging pants!  After that it was just a matter of calling and then getting Cinder.  While they were there, they got the Advantage flea treatment and I brought home some for Angus and Finnigan. 

This stuff is great!  Flea treatment used to involve an all day process where the cats would be bathed, dipped, and sprayed and the house would be bombed, sprayed and scrubbed.  The Advantage kills all stages of fleas.  No muss, no fuss.  I still cleaned real good last weekend.  The furry kids are doing well, not scratching as much.  I still haven't seen an actual flea, but what set all this off was the evidence of flea "dirt".

I think there is some improvement from the spinal injection I had.  Not as much so far as I was hoping.  But some has been set off my the fact I developed a major bladder infection.  Am now on strong antibiotics and doing okay.  And on the plus side, if there is an Anthrax attack, I'm all set!  The drug is the same they use to treat that!

We had to have work done on our relatively new windows.  When washing them recently I discovered a couple places where there had been leaks.  And also a spot appeared above the fireplace, so the guys worked on that, too.  While they were up on the roof they discovered the dryer vent was full of lint.  Different guys are coming tomorrow to clean that. 

Golfer has had to clean up leaves every couple days and we have a mountain of bags on the deck to put out for the next pick up.  He mowed yesterday.  Seems silly to still be doing yard work when we're getting ready to decorate for Christmas!  But that's the way it is.

So have a good weekend.  Be careful if you brave the crowds and go out to shop.  And stay safe!

Sending Out My Sympathies and Condolences

To all the Hostess Twinkie and Ho-Ho lovers out there, you have my thoughts.

I didn't really get to experience Hostess snack products as a child.  Mom was the retail store manager of Nickles' Bakery, in Navarre, Ohio.  They baked great bread and other wonderful goodies and shipped them all over the area.  So Hostess was the competition.

I used to watch the Howdy Doody show on a tiny screened black and white TV.  I remember they had a big contest at one time where the seals at the ends of the bread wrappers were pictures of Howdy and his pals.  (this was back when the bread came wrapped in something like a wax paper wrapper and folded and sealed)  My friends were collecting the picture seals.  I would see the ads on the TV.  I don't remember what the prize was going to be if you got them all, but every kid wanted to get them.

My Grama would get a loaf of Hostess white bread every now and then just so I could get a sticker or two.  She had the Nickles' bread delivered to her house regularly by the bread man, but would buy the Hostess bread at the grocery.  Grama was great!

I went to the Commissary this morning for the last of our Thanksgiving supplies and noticed the Hostess shelves were wiped almost clean.  There were a couple of beat up packs of orange cupcakes hanging on.

I am sorry for your loss.  Rest in peace Twinkies.

I Wish You Enough

This is a clip from an email that has been going around. Golfer and I received it from a friend. I researched the poem and found it attributed to several authors, so I am listing it as “anonymous”. This time of year it seems we are swamped with wishes and lists and wants. I felt this was quite appropriate for the season, even if that is not how it was originally meant.


I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.


To all my friends and loved ones,

TAKE TIME TO LIVE.... I WISH YOU ENOUGH.

Stay safe.

Why Must Everything Be Such a Rush?

My "Fall" garden flag has been bothering me ever since I put it out after Halloween.  It was more faded than I remembered and I decided to get a new one.  I had no idea how challenging that was going to be.  My first stop was at A.C Moore (used to be Ben Franklin's).  I couldn't find the garden flags and asked one of the staff.  I was told all they had were Christmas flags.  And it was true - there was a whole row of those!  I said, "but it isn't even Thanksgiving yet".  And I was told they stock a season ahead.

So I went to another store and they had a lot Christmas flags, and one (1!) with a bright Fall colored turkey on it.  Not really what I was looking for but I bought it and it makes me smile out  there at the front of the house. 

This has made me consider some things and think about our society.  Why are we in such a rush and why do we pressure ourselves so much?  I recently said to Golfer that I felt like I was running behind this year.  I hadn't done much shopping for Christmas yet, had not baked and frozen anything, had not started the cards, and had not even thought about our annual letter.  He looked at me and said don't do the letter.  At first I was a bit upset and shocked that he would consider that.  But it didn't take me long to decide he was right.  Like he said, we have email, he's on Facebook, I write this blog, and we have phones.  What can we possibly write in a Christmas letter that we haven't posted, texted, written about or called to tell someone.

So folks, hang on to your hats!  This is the year I stop doing a Christmas letter.  I am sure some folks will not notice.  Some will probably say "thank God!".  A couple  might miss it.  But Christmas will come on time and all will be good.

There were already some changes planned for Christmas what with having some young, very active furry kids.  The decorating was going to be a little more laid back this year.  I will still open all the boxes and look lovingly at all the decorations.  But then I will be putting most of the breakable ones back in the boxes.  I will be hanging the unbreakable ornaments this year!

Don't worry, kids, I'll still try to make some cookies and there will still be presents for you.  But I have decided to not stress myself any more.  We're going for quality all around, not quantity and stress. 

I'll keep you posted.  Stay safe!

Just Some Observations

Golfer and I went to vote this early morning.  There was a fairly long line,  but it was orderly and we were dressed for the weather.  (It was cold.)

I have always been a "people watcher".  I think I get that from my mom.  Anyway, how did we get to a point in our society where people don't dress sensibly or appropriately?  As I said, it was cold this morning.  Golfer and I had on jackets and hats and gloves and our New Balance shoes. Very sensible footwear.  Because of joint issues, RA, and other issues, I pretty much wear New Balance shoes all the time except for rare occasions.

I saw people dressed in shorts and flip flops.  I saw people in what looked like pajamas.  I saw people in tee shirts and  no coats.  And I saw many, many women tottering around in ungodly shoes with spike heels, or platform soles,  or the worst, high heeled sandals.  Everyone one of them had horrible posture.  If only they knew what they were doing to themselves in the name of trying to be fashionable.  I notice things like that.  It has been drilled into me by arthritis class instructors, doctors, and physical therapists - "watch your alignment!"  And before these warnings, it came from my mom and granma.  I remember as a young girl being told to stand straight, sit straight.  We even had to be able to walk around with a book on our heads.  And we had to do it until we could make the distance without it falling off.

So, ladies, hold your heads high, keep your body aligned and straight and have a good day!

And stay safe!

Belated Happy Halloween and Other Stuff!

Hey, all!

Life has been happening and posting has not been accomplished.    But you've already figured that out!

Golfer and I spent several days in Ohio visiting family.  There were plans for golf, a major high school football game and a Browns' game, besides all the visiting and such.  Let me just say that "Sandy" and her assorted weather issues were not conducive to all of that.  The first of the golf round was okay and then the wind and cold hit.  The guys finished. 

Our planned visit to the cemetery to put Fall flowers on our parents' graves was done in windy rain.

The next day the high school football game was watched on Golfer's brother's big screen TV in the comfort of the house.  Very cold and rainy that day.  So in preparation for the Browns' game Golfer and I went shopping and got him a rain suit large enough to fit over his heavy jacket.  He and his brother headed to the stadium and toughed it out until half time when they had had enough of the cold and heavy rain.

In the meantime, here at home, NurseJ and CableGuy came over and secured all our deck furniture and outdoor items.  L, our "kitty sitter", had plans to pack up our furry kids if necessary and take them to her house in Williamsburg.  As it turned out, all that we had right here at our house was heavy rain and wind.  Our sympathies go out to all those who were hit harder.  Parts of our area closer to the water did have some flooding and minor damage though.

We considered staying another day and coming home on Tuesday, but the forecast wasn't any better.  Alternate routes took us through the snow areas.  So Golfer and I decided to just get on the road and get home.  It was stressful, but we did it with no real problems.  And we are happy to be home.

Golfer got some yard clean-up done and we have many bags waiting for pick-up.  I've been busy cleaning, doing laundry and getting back to work.

Our furry kids are happy and content and as busy as ever.  The time change has concerned them a bit.  Their dinner isn't coming when they think it should!  I put away the few Halloween decorations we had out and put out some Thanksgiving ones.  I have already glued the head back on a small turkey.  And the pilgrim man has been used as a hockey puck a bit.  I am in the process of thinking about Christmas decorations.... no antique glass ornaments will be displayed this year!

So, life is happening all around us and on we go.  Tomorrow is election day.  We are hoping the phone calls and "junk" mail will stop.  Good luck Mr. Romney!

Stay safe, folks!