Happy Heavenly Birthday, Katie

Many years ago, there lived a little girl who brought joy and laughter to all she knew. She was a kind child with a wicked sense of humor and an infectious laugh. She loved Barbie dolls, yogurt, and dancing with the Solid Gold dancers on the TV.

Today would have been her 46th birthday. I wonder what she would have been like and where her life would have taken her.

So, Happy Heavenly Birthday, Katie.

kate1a

The Friday Five ~ November 1st

Friday Five 1Happy Friday, and Happy November first! Where has this year gone? Oh well. Here are this week’s Friday Five.

  1. The Carpenters worked all week to transform the flooring in my kitchen and family room.

    20241030_161429It is not only beautiful but also brighter!

  2. Now, I am looking to paint this space. I want to keep it light and bright.
  3. Meanwhile, my dishwasher decided that this was an excellent time to die. I drove down to Lowes, and my new machine will be here on Monday!
  4. I found a new home for all my Pfalzgraff. Not only do I have an essential service, but Jack was addicted to eBay and bought so much. I am one person. I do not need all of this.
  5. I was getting Heidi up from her crate the other day, and I noticed that her dackel butt was pressing against the crate door. This girl is a long……dog. I had another crate that was a lot bigger, and she loved it.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

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The Friday Five Oct. 25th

Friday Five 1This week has slipped by quickly. Velcro dog (Heidi) and I have gone on many rides and spent endless hours together. So here goes!

    1. My friend and I went out to the Lemongrass Restaurant. It was wonderful! I had a Shrimp Bento Box.
    2. On Heidi’s birthday, Heidi was full of puppy delight as she raced all over the family room and enjoyed trying to rip up the foamy steps.
    3. I went to Amazon and found a set of solid plastic steps that matched the ones for my seat.Steps

      I laid the foamy steps to rest.

    4. On Thursday, I went to the Pharmacy for my annual Flu shot. I have no sore arm, and there have been no side effects so far.
    5. Next week, I get my Covid booster. Then, I am done for a while.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

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This, That & Happy Birthday Heidi

It’s been weeks since I wrote. Life has been slipping by, and I always try to get through the days. Some days are easier than others.

I must say it is a lovely Autumn here. It’s not as vivid as usual, but it’s beautiful.

As we approach the winter season, we have seen an abundance of critters in our yards: bobcats, bears, deer, and a skunk. Thankfully, the floodlights have been installed, so I know what is out there before Heidi and I venture out.

I received a notice that my Part-D insurance was not renewed in New Hampshire. I was so upset, but when I opened the next envelope, I was offered Insurance through Delta. Yippie!

I am working on finding my way in this world. Being alone has never been my strong suit. But I am trying.

I have renovated most of the house; now it is my home.

You will not believe this, but Heidi turns three years old today! The time has flown, and I can honestly say that I wouldn’t have made it without Heidi to brighten my world.

So, happy birthday to my sweet girl, Heidi.

Screenshot_20211210-180126_Vacation CountdownBaby Heidi

Happy Birthday Heidi

The Friday Five ~ October 4th

The Friday Five

I woke up this morning, looked out my window, and brushed the sleep from my eyes. Finally, our trees were changing color, reminding me that Fall was upon us. A smile came to my face!

  1. This week has been full of progress. My plumber came and fixed my spigot in the greenhouse. For 25 years, I could not use it because it was installed incorrectly.
  2. Then, my electrician came to fix the automatic lights in the driveway and install two spotlights in the backyard. With bobcats, bears, and whatever else roaming in the dark, I wanted light so that when I take Heidi out at night, I can see.
  3. I had my car detailed. I cannot bend like I once did, so I plan to keep my nice car in good shape. He did a fantastic job!
  4. I had a disaster with my hair. It got so severely overprocessed that it began to fall out. I was so upset. Then, my daughter suggested I visit her stylist for a consultation. Sure enough, at this point, I needed just to let it be—no more coloring of any type. But…I could get a pixie cut to stop the hair from breaking. One or two more haircuts and the damaged hair will be gone.
    mb age 3

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    So, I have a pixie cut for the first time since Nursery School. One thing is for sure: it is easy to do. And yes. The curls are all mine.

  5. My kitchen floor is due to go in in two to three weeks. The reno is almost done!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

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Old Cape Cod & Me

I have been thinking about life lately, perhaps because we have lost so many talented people who have entertained us.

It seems like just yesterday, I was climbing the jetties at Surf Drive Beach. Many people liked to lie in the sand and soak up the sun. However, as a child, I could never sit still.

We had picnics at the beach, eating somewhat sandy peanut butter and fluff sandwiches. It didn’t matter. Looking back, it was the best.

Imagine living in paradise and not even knowing this. So was my childhood growing up on Cape Cod.

All summer, I went around in bathing suits and bare feet.

img657Of course, back in the 1960s, I could ride my Schwinn bicycle all around town without worrying anyone.

Dairy Queen treats and trips to Elsie’s Restaurant, where she served the best German food!

elsiesHenry and Elsie Baumann

Life was simple and carefree, and today, as I am living out the final decades of my life, I appreciate that time even more.

The Friday Five ~ September 20th

The Friday Five

Well, another week has gone by. This one was full of ups and downs, so here goes.

  1. I was excited because I was determined to go to our local lumber company and order the last items for my renovation.
  2. However, when I arrived, I discovered they do not do that kind of work. A girl named Kimmie told me that the flooring I want does not exist!
  3. Then I was onto Lowes, where Brittany told me the flooring I want does not exist.
  4. Yesterday, I went to a store that only deals with flooring, and yes, they do have the flooring I want.
  5. When I came home, I ordered four chairs for the screened porch, but the site would not let me complete the sale. Then, my Amex Account alerted me to what they believed was a fraudulent charge. I called them, and they asked if I had ordered anything from Russia. Ah, no! So Amex is issuing me a new card. Daniel, the agent at Amex, told me to be very careful. He said that right now, fraudulent scams are at an all-time high. We will say that the entire incident just pissed me off.

So that’s my week. I am going in an hour to speak with my PCP about my Diabetes. I am not doing well figuring out the meal plans. I ordered a book but would love to talk to a nutritionist.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

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9/11/2001 In Memorim

We can all tell you where we were and what we were doing on that fateful day in September.

September 11, 2001

It was a beautiful day here in New Hampshire. Sunny, bright, clear with blue skies. I was showering and getting ready for a dental appointment while Jack was shingling the house. It was a day like any other here.

Jack had the TV in our bedroom pointed out the window so he could listen to the morning news.

Suddenly, I felt a hand on my arm and Jack told me I had to get out of the shower now; something was happening. I was a little dazed and confused. I shut the water in the shower off and grabbed my towel.

TOWER1

Jack and I watched Fox News, ABC, and CNN in our family room. A plane had hit one of the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center in downtown New York City. Jack, as a former Airline Pilot knew immediately, that it was no accident.

TWINTO~1

EPLODI~1

While we watched, suddenly another plane came in and hit the other Tower!
We were both in shock. We listened to reports. No one was saying terrorism, not at first. But both Jack and I knew.

sept-11-library-of-congress

I look at this picture, and I know that none of those innocent people got out alive. That thought brings me to tears each time I see it.

We watched the Towers come down, one and then the other. We knew people had died. We just didn’t know how many.

At 12:30 I drove to my dental appointment. There was not another car on the road. Not one. I got to my dental appointment and found that I was the only patient that hadn’t canceled that day.

When I got home, we watched TV all day. I called my family and my close friends. Just to hear their voices.

It doesn’t matter your political affiliations or how you feel about war. What matters is on September 11, 2001, innocent people died in New York City, In Washington, DC, and in Shanksville, PA.

People like you and like me. Just because. That day I learned that we are no longer safe here at home.

12FLAG

I also learned that when our country is attacked in such a manner, we pull together and unify.

God Bless all who lost their lives that day, to their families, who will never be the same, and all who serve this country each and every day to protect and defend us.

September 11, 2001: Basic Facts

Chronology
8:46 AM Plane crashes into the north tower of the World Trade Center.
9:03 AM Plane crashes into the south tower of the World Trade Center.
9:17 AM The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shuts down all New York City area airports.
9:21 AM The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) halts all flights at U.S. airports. It is the first
time in history that air traffic has been halted nationwide.
9:38 AM Plane crashes into the Pentagon. Evacuation begins immediately.
9:45 AM The White House evacuates.
10:05 AM The south tower of the World Trade Center collapses.
10:10 AM A portion of the Pentagon collapses.
10:10 AM Plane crashes in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
10:22 AM The State and Justice Departments, as well as the World Bank, are evacuated.
10:28 AM The World Trade Center’s north tower collapses.
10:45 AM All federal office buildings in Washington, D.C., are evacuated.
1:44 PM Five warships and two aircraft carriers are ordered to leave the U.S. Naval Station
in Norfolk, Virginia, to protect the East Coast.
4:10 PM Building 7 of the World Trade Center collapses.

The Flights
American Airlines Flight 11
From: Boston, Massachusetts (Logan Airport)
To: Los Angeles, California
Lives: 92 people on board
Crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 AM

United Airlines Flight 175
From: Boston, Massachusetts (Logan Airport)
To: Los Angeles, California
Lives: 65 people on board
Crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center at 9:03 AM

American Airlines Flight 77
From: Washington, D.C. (Dulles Airport)
To: Los Angeles, CA
Lives: 64 people on board
Crashed into the Pentagon at 9:38 AM

United Airlines Flight 93
From: Newark, New Jersey
To: San Francisco, California
Lives: 44 people on board
Crashed into rural Pennsylvania (southeast of Pittsburgh)

Victims
Victims came from more than 90 countries around the world.
The following are the number of people who died at each site:

World Trade Center 2,823 (includes airline passengers)
Pentagon 125 (not including plane victims)
Flight 11 – 92 people on board
Flight 175 – 64 people on board
Flight 77 – 64 people on board
Flight 93 – 44 people on board

The initial numbers are indelible: 8:46 a.m. and 9:02 a.m, the times the Towers were hit. Time the burning towers stood: 56 minutes and 102 minutes. The time they took to fall was 12 seconds. From there, they ripple out.

That day, these first responders also died as they raced to the scene trying to save anyone they could.

343 Firefighters (including a chaplain and two paramedics) of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY)
37 Police Officers of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department (PAPD)
23 Police Officers of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and 8 Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics from private emergency medical services.
1 Patrolman from the New York Fire Patrol

Fact Sheet
U.S. Department of State
Washington, DC
August 15, 2002

 

The Friday Five ~ August 30th

The Friday FiveHere we are at the end of the month and the end of summer. I went out to get the mail, and the traffic reminded me that it was Labor Day Weekend. Having grown up on Cape Cod, I am used to seasonal tourists. So, here we go with this week’s Friday Five.

  1. My carpenter finished installing the new windows on my screened porch. It is now bug-free and beautiful!

    20240827_182058The inside looking toward the lake.

    20240827_182102I need to brag a little. I stained the wood used inside the porch 25 years ago.

  2. Over the last few months, I’ve been keeping track of my morning blood sugar levels. When I saw my Primary Care, I brought the readings. She took one look and called in her nurse to take my blood, check the sugar levels, and get an A1C.
    imagesWell, much to my surprise, my A1C was 9.3! That is not a good thing at all.
  3. It was determined I needed to start some medication that day. It was decided that I would start on Ozempic—a once-a-week shot. Getting old is not for the faint of heart.
  4. Heidi and I are starting to recover from Lili’s death. She still sticks to me like glue, but I noticed she did well with two people who came to our house today.
    20240630_143803

    She was happy and friendly and did not wee. Our relationship gets deeper and deeper.

  5. So, things are settling down, and Heidi and I are both doing well. Tomorrow is laundry and vacuuming day. Ugh! Oh, well, it is what it is.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

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Lili Marlene ~ March 17th 2014 ~ August 21 2024

My sweet Lili was born on St. Patrick’s Day. When I picked her up at ten weeks, she was an eleven-pound ball of fluff!

May 03 14 006I always wondered why she became so attached to Jack when I was the doggy chef and walker. But from an early age, she made it clear that she was Jack’s dog.

May 10 14 025She grew so fast that she had grown into her ears in no time—such a pretty girl.

June 08 14 004Lili was a fantastic dog. She looked after Jack when he was doing yard or snow plowing. And the day our house had a daytime break-in, Lili saved me.

Birthday LiliShe was beautiful and intelligent and always allowed Heidi to believe she was the Alpha Dog, although Lili knew that she was, in fact, the Alpha.

So, goodbye, sweet Lili. I will miss you always and forever.

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