Huh.

When I was a little girl, Mom and Grama always said that age was just a number.  Grama lived into her 80's and Mom died at 101.  When someone asks me how old I am, I have to think about it to be sure I answer correctly, because it is just a number.  But you know what?  I miss being able to do all the laundry, all the cleaning, yard work, decorating, cooking, and whatever in one day!  Obviously, those days are over; I just plain get tired.

So, I have decided to just take my time with the Christmas decorating and pace myself as I do with just about everything else.  It is coming along, the outside is done.  I arranged things a little differently this year since we have the new porch rails and the spindles are closer together.  I did not want to wrap the garland between them.  We have a new projection light that puts moving designs on the front of the house.  It's hard to get a picture of that, but I like it!

I think we might go ahead and set the trees up this afternoon.  Then I will take my time and get them decorated.  I have opened up a couple containers and set some things around the house.  So things are progressing.

The furry boys were all combed and had their nails clipped.  When I was upstairs pulling things out of our storage, I saw I needed to wash the bed skirt, so that was an additional job.  And then it was time to do a bunch of desk work and bill paying, and then filing. 

I hope everyone is well and happy.  I started the day off with the sad news and disappointment about Matt Lauer being fired.  I felt bad for Savannah who had to do the initial report when the show started.  It was obvious that they had just gotten the news.

On a happier note, the new "Golic and Wingo" show on ESPN is pretty good.  Can't help but wonder what Greeny is doing though.  His show doesn't start until at least April.

Stay safe and God Bless America!

The Gnome Is Getting Ready!

Lots to do here so a short post to show that the Gnome is getting ready!  Time to get out containers and get started decorating.  Stay safe and God Bless America!

Back Home!

We went to Pam's for Thanksgiving and just returned last evening.  It was wonderful to see her and her family.  She prepared a delicious Thanksgiving dinner for us and set a beautiful table.

Boxer and Bloomer are doing well in school and keep busy.  While we were there, Bloomer helped her Mom in the kitchen and did other chores.  Boxer wasn't feeling well, but he still managed to strip his bed and change it, and do all his laundry.  We had a nice restful visit with them.  And the furry family members were not at all shy around us!  When we sat, we had someone on our lap!  Les and Fred went for a walk one nice afternoon.

If only those happy feelings could have overlapped into the traffic!  This was the worst year ever for the traffic.  I-85 is a disaster.  As much as we loved seeing Pam, it was wonderful to finally get out of traffic and be back home.  We were both exhausted.

So, now it is time to catch up.  The laundry still has a couple more loads to go.  I will do a little cleaning and then get started on some of the decorating. 

Stay safe and God Bless America!  I need to go eat some of the peanut brittle Pam made and sent home with us!

Happy Thanksgiving Week!

I thought that before things get more hectic I would just take time to say "Happy Thanksgiving!"  I hope everyone has a wonderful day.

It has been cool, windy, and we've had some rain here.  Today is still cool, but sunny.  Les and I had both done leaf clean-up during the past week but due to the wind you certainly can not tell we did!  However, we bought a bagger for the new riding mower and Les got that set up so I am sure it will get used in the near future to gather leaves.

And while the leaves are coming down fast, we have azaleas blooming and things are still green.  When we get that first heavy frost it will be time to cut back Liriope, day lilies, and do final pruning  on things.  Always something that needs to be done in the yard.  😊

And next week the decorating and baking begins!

I have been having some reaction to the steroids that were prescribed for the recent case of hives and I will be very glad to finish those pills this week.  I know it takes a while to completely leave my system, but I hope it is quick.  Today is a slow day for me; I woke up with a muscle cramp and nerve spasm in my left leg.  This has happened before but today's is a bad one.  It has calmed down but is still tender.  I am being careful.  And did I mention that steroids can make you emotional?

I used to watch the "Today Show" every morning; would even record it so I wouldn't miss something.  I stopped doing that quite a while ago because I just simply can't/ don't want to hear and see any more about politicians, criticisms, blamings, shooting, stabbings, bombings, attacks, protests,  and riots.  There comes a point where you need to protect your mental state.  After Les retired I got used to seeing Mike & Mike on ESPN in the mornings instead.  I really enjoyed them - Greeny and Golic.  Their show ended last Friday.  I am sad.  Golic will have a new show starting next week.  Greeny will have a new show starting next April.  Good for them, but I miss their show already.  I can see my morning routine might have to change.  If there is no Mike & Mike and I can't stand to see the news.....???

Well, life goes on.  Things change. People come and go.  Every now and then something or someone does something good and makes you smile.

We recently saw that the Christmas parade back home had been postponed due to bad weather.  When I was little girl, this parade was always held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in downtown Massillon.  The Christmas lights would be hung over the main street and the stores decorated.  Mom and I would take the Greyhound bus up to Massillon and spend the day to see the parade and everything.  The parade always ended with Santa arriving.  In my mind, there was usually snow, too.  That may or may not be right.  😊  It seems to me that we frequently had snow from Thanksgiving through Spring; even lasting through Easter some years! But maybe a child's mind just remembers snow as a good, happy thing.  I also remember Mom and I would pull my sled up to where they sold Christmas trees and then haul a tree back home.  Mom did not have a car until I was old enough to learn to drive.  It was a small town and we could walk everywhere.  BTW, Mom always picked a tree with small pinecones on it so they would open when the tree warmed up in the house.  They crackled and smelled really good.  And entertained Louie, our orange tabby cat!

Well, enough nostalgia.  Memories are good!  Life is good!  Stay safe and have a great holiday!  And God Bless America!

The Sun Is Out!

I hope all is well with everyone!  It is sunny and in the upper 40's right now, a good Fall day.

My hives are getting better.  The itching is gone and the spots are fading.  I am having some reactions to the steroids though and am hoping those will get better as the dosage is decreased every two days.

Les is doing well and no further dental problems. 

I've just been doing the usual daily chores and keeping up with things.  Got outside a couple days ago before it started raining and did just a little yard clean-up.  Also got a few errands done. 

Our girls are doing well.  Everyone is busy.  The kids are all healthy at the moment.  Little Miss E has had a lingering cough that really has made her mad, but she is getting better.  Cutie Girl is busy with her dinosaurs.  Jordan is studying for tests.  Boxer and Bloomer are doing well in school and are keeping very busy.

Pam is getting settled into her new job and new office.  She got moved the end of last week and is experimenting with drive times trying to find what time to leave the house for the commute that might be the quickest and easiest.  Not an easy chore in Atlanta traffic, but she is handling it.  And here she is by her window.  😊  Reflections of Atlanta skyline.

Life is good.  Stay safe and God Bless America!

"Interesting" Week

I hope you are all well and happy!

We have had some cold, windy weather for a couple days and it is now trying to warm up and is supposed to be in the 50's for the week, with rain again tomorrow. 

I had been feeling a little "off" for a few days and then started getting itchy spots so I had an urgent visit to our doctor.  My fear was another case of shingles, but I was wrong.  Hives!  So that was good news, although I was still itchy with tingly, burning spots.  Doctor prescribed steroids and some Benedryl and things are getting better.  The burning, tingly, itchiness is gone but the spots are still  here. We have no idea what caused the hives.  In the past when I have had them it has been after taking antibiotics that are now on the NO-NO list.  And one bad case when Les left for Thailand for a year a long time ago.  I may be having a reaction to the steroids but I have had to take them in the past and had to problems so I am not concerned right now. 

And while all that was at the worst, Les' new crown fell out while we were eating dinner.  I called the after-hours number for our dentist and we got a return call.  Sadly he is out of town for the week but he arranged for another dentist to see Les on Saturday afternoon to fix it.  It was a little more involved than just falling out since the post had broken, but YAY! it is fixed.  Les is much happier.  And the dentist is a retired USAF dentist with his own practice now so they had things to talk about.

All in all, we have not been doing much the last few days.  We did get to see "Ragnarok" earlier in the week.  Loved it!  I mean, really, who doesn't like looking at Thor with his new haircut??

I've done some "quiet" easy projects like making large red bows for the front porch when we decorate.  And I've worked on the Christmas cards.  Also started a new book that is very good - the new Louise Penny Glass Houses.

Life is good.  Stay safe and God Bless America!  I am closing with something a friend posted that I agree with 😊

Did You Remember?

Did you all remember to change your clocks?  Ours have all been done, either by us or automatically, except for the phone and answering machine.  Les will take care of that one later.

The idea of that extra hour of sleep is nice, but I am sure that I am not the only person who needs a couple days every Spring and Fall to adjust to the time change.  I know our furry boys need to adjust, especially Angus who likes to do "wake up calls and pats" in the early morning.  I told him to forget it at 3:39 a.m. and went back to sleep.

Our weather has continued its back and forth and currently we are having a mild day of a cloudy 70 with high humidity.  One of those days where you just don't know if you need the A/C on or the heat or the windows open.  Tomorrow might be 80 again and then in 50's for Wednesday if you believe the forecast.

Les and I have been busy.  He finished everything on his to-do list. 😊 We cleaned out the garage and had a large pile of stuff for the hazardous waste drop-off.  We had collected a bunch of old paint and old car fluids we were never going to use.  Time to go!  We also had a pile for donation to the DAV.  When we were done cleaning up out there we loaded it all in Kirk and the next morning I took things to drop off. 

We've done yard work also.  All the usual weeding and clean-up, mowing, trimming, and the leaf clean-up has started.  After our first frost it will be time to go out and cut back the Liriope and day lilies and do the final clean-up before Winter sets in.  I say final, but you know that when we have a nice day I will go out and check on things and do clean-up as needed.

We also swapped out the floor mats in our cars.  Cleaned the carpet ones and put away, cleaned the inside of the cars and Les put the WeatherTech mats in. 

My most recent project has been cleaning the woodwork and baseboards and doing some touch-up painting.  Just little dings in the paint here and there.  I brought my little jars of paint in with other supplies and it is going well.  Just have a little more to do and then it will be done.

I have no Thanksgiving prep to do since we will be at Pam's this year.  The Christmas prep is going well.  Almost all of the shopping is done and everything is wrapped so far.  I've gotten as far as getting the cards out and printing mailing labels.  And I may or may not do some baking and freezing before Thanksgiving.  We will see.  When we get back home there will be a flurry of catching up and decorating. 

As far as I know all the family is doing well.  Everyone is busy.  Kids doing well in school. 

Life is good!  Stay safe and God Bless America!