Category: My Life

Monday I had planned to sew some new toys for the dogs. I was not able to accomplish this, due to sewing machine failure. I tried everything to get the silly machine to work, but after going through all the steps to troubleshoot the true nature of my problem, I just finally gave up and decided that the blasted thing is kaput!

I’d thought about getting it fixed, but the machine is 30 years old and just to have it looked at (before anything is even done) it would cost me $50.00! For $65.00 I can get a new machine with all the current advances, which will make my sewing experiences much better than in the past.

Truth be told, that machine has never really worked well. I’ve had to bring it in for adjustments three times, and I am not what you would call an avid sewer! I guess three times isn’t bad in 30 years, but…I just sort of think these things should work, you know?

So the dog toys did not get made, although I did make two braided tug toys. In the next week or so, I will get over to the sewing center and check out their machines. I want one that threads itself, and is easy to use.

This could be a good thing. Just think of all the things I can do with a new machine? New curtains, dog toys and maybe even a dog costume or two!

This might just be interesting!

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend!

I attempted to get a lot done this weekend, but instead of doing house work and boring things, I filled my time with movies and cooking and scanning.

Friday night we watched a movie on the TV. I can’t even recall what it was, so I’m guessing it wasn’t very good.

I made clam chowder and it was simply terrible! This doesn’t happen to me too often, so I rinsed off the clams and the potatoes and saved them to remake the chowder over the weekend.

On Saturday we decided to go to the movies and see “Hereafter”. I really enjoyed and found value in that movie. I find that either you like this movie or you hate it. I think much of your reaction to it will depend on your life experiences.

On Sunday morning I made a creamy soup base, and added the clams and potatoes to it. I simmered it for 20 minutes and it came out splendidly. I now know what I did wrong when I made it originally!

I also spent a few hours scanning in slides. I am the keeper of the slides from my family. About a year ago, Hubby and I bought an Epsom Scanner that was capable of scanning in slides and cleaning them up. I’ve started scanning slides that my Dad took, way back when.

This is my sister Melodie on her fourth birthday!

Also, my brother and sister on the first day of school. Melodie must have been 5 and Dickie probably was 7.

Anyway, there are probably 10 reels of slides down in my basement. I’ll keep working to scan them in and then make up flash drives for Mel and I and our kids.

We watched a segment on 60 Minutes about Jane Goodall and now I am winding down, getting ready for the week ahead, which notably includes a bone density test, my first. Yes, I am that old that I actually require this to be done!

So, that’s what I did this weekend. What about you?

I’ve never been a big movie go-er. I figure that eventually the movie will come onto HBO or Starz, so unless something really amazing comes along, I tend to avoid the theater. I’m not exactly sure why, really. Our ticket prices aren’t that bad, and the theaters are close enough, but I just hate to commit to sitting still for two hours with no bathroom break! (I mean, you could go potty, but you’d miss the film now, wouldn’t you?)

However, the month of October has found Hubby and me out to the movies THREE times! I do believe in all our married years we have not been out to the movies three times in one month…EVER!

Now, what has brought about this miracle at the Box Office? Three unique and compelling movies. Two were rather serious and then the third was just plain fun. Best of all, the three films were well acted, well written and well directed!

The first being “The Town“,

the second one was “R.E.D.“

and now “Hereafter“.

I’m starting to look at the newspaper so I can plot and plan what Hubby and I might see next weekend.

Somehow I know that this run with the movies cannot last. Hollywood is all too predictable. There is a lot of junk made and very few really good films.

I’m not into gore, or movies that are horribly violent. I also don’t really go for the current favorite “vampire” movies. I enjoy good stories. Stories that make me think, or feel or dream.

So I recommend all of the three movies mentioned above. “The Town” and “Hereafter” are a bit more serious and “R.E.D.” is just plain fun!

This morning after breakfast I felt like having New England Clam Chowder for our dinner. Creamy, yummy, simple chowder! I’m sure that the cold “snowy” weather encouraged these feelings, so I went down into our freezer and grabbed a container of clams that a neighbor had given us a couple of months back. They’d dug these clams up in Canada and frozen them and brought them home. Ah yes, hot, lovely chowder.

All day I thought of this and looked forward to my soup. At 2 pm I started chopping onions and celery and getting things ready. Everything smelled so good, and my spirits were high.

Then about 5:15 my stomach started talking to me. As if laughing at my daylong desire for chowder, it began to turn and twist and not feel so good. Shoot! I want chowder, but I’d really only like to have it once tonight…if you know what I mean.

So, I’m sitting here thinking if I should attempt to eat it, or just feed it to Hubby and wait until tomorrow to try to eat it, myself.

It’s frustrating to have worked hard on this, in my Julia Child apron, and with my wonderful heavy cast iron soup pot, only to have my stomach betray me!

Since I know my stomach better than most I’m going to wait. I’ve put a couple of apples into the oven to bake and perhaps I will just eat that and hope for better times with my stomach tomorrow.

This is just another reminder that once I hit 50 my lead stomach, suddenly turned all wishy-washy and I have to baby it! Where are the days of hot nachos, spicy chili and all the rest?

Yeah, I know. I’m getting old!

Post Script:

Well, dinner time came and I ladled out the chowder for Hubby and myself (small bowl). I served it up and when I lifted the spoon to my mouth…YUCK. What did I do? Hubby politely choked down two servings, but I was suddenly glad that my stomach was bothering me and that I couldn’t eat. I’m too cheap to toss those lovely clams, so I think I will rinse them off and try a new soup base tomorrow!

So…here we go!

1. One of my strongest beliefs is…one day we will all be together again in a far better place.

2. The piece of cake I was served today was…huge!

3. The sky is cloudy with a threat of rain and wind and cold, so…I think I will curl up in my pajamas and read my book.

4. My faith in God…is comforting to me.

5. I always thought I’d be…a better Mom than I have been.

6. I thought of the people I love all around the world and I thought that no matter how far they are, we all see the same moon. It made me smile…and then I went outside to look at the full moon.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to…working on a new toy for Fritz…, tomorrow my plans include…sewing the new toy up…and Sunday, I want to…take one closet and clean it out!

Friday Fil-Ins are sponsored by my cousin Janet. Come on and join the fun!

The Random Dozen is hosted by the delightful Linda come join us!

1. Do you prefer to read the book or see the movie?

Usually the book, because they can add more detail to the story.

2. What is your favorite holiday and why?

Thanksgiving. Why? Turkey, chestnut stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, butternut squash, peas, cranberry sauce, apple and pumpkin pie! Need I say more?

3. Which do you like better – the mountains or the beach?

I grew up at the beach and I now live in the mountains. Both are a part of my soul. So I cannot choose. If threatened with bamboo under my finger nails, I think I would have to say the beach.

4. If money were no consideration, what vehicle would you drive?

The one I do now. I love my 6 year old Cadillac DeVille!

5. What is your favorite cold-weather beverage?

Hot tea. But then, I love tea in the summer too, even if the tea is hot!

6. How do you communicate most often with your friends: phone, email, text, face-to-face, or Facebook?

Some friends are strictly Facebook, some are phone friends, some are skype, and some get an actual email letter from me every day. (And you know who you are!)

7. How do you receive your mail? Mailbox on the porch, at the end of the driveway, down the street, or post office box?

We have a post office box, as our driveway is 600 ft long and we would never see a box. I sort of like having a PO Box. I get to go out 6 days a week with a purpose and I love seeing the other year round residents at the Post Office too. Especially during a good snow storm!

8. Of the four basic personality types – sanguine, phlegmatic, melancholic, and choleric – which is your strongest? Which is your least evident? (See definitions below.)

Strongest: Phlegmatic

Phlegmatics tend to be self-content and kind. They can be very accepting and affectionate. They may be very receptive and shy and often prefer stability to uncertainty and change. They are very consistent, relaxed, rational, curious, and observant, making them good administrators and diplomats.

Least evident: Melancholic

A person who is a thoughtful ponderer has a melancholic disposition. Often very considerate and get rather worried when they could not be on time for events, melancholics can be highly creative in activities such as poetry and art – and can become occupied with the tragedy and cruelty in the world. A melancholic is also often a perfectionist. They are often self-reliant and independent; one negative part of being a melancholic is sometimes they can get so involved in what they are doing they forget to think of others.

9. What do you miss the most about being 20?

Being limber.

10. How long from the time you get up, does it take you to get ready to walk out the door in the morning?

I can be ready in 20 minutes, but really I like 45 minutes.

11. Who handles the car maintenance and pays the bills in your family?

Hubby does the cars and I do the bills.

12. For those in the US, how many states have you visited?

1. Massachusetts
2. Rhode Island
3. New Hampshire
4. Vermont
5. Maine
6. New York
7. Pennsylvania
8. New Jersey
9. Delaware
10. Maryland
11. Virginia
12. West Virginia
13. North Carolina
14. South Carolina
15. Georgia
16. Florida
17. Alabama
18. Tennessee
19. Kentucky
20. Indiana
21. Michigan
22. Missouri
23. Wisconsin
24. Ohio
25. North Dakota
26. South Dakota
27. Montana
28. Wyoming
29. Idaho
30. Washington
31. Oregon
32. California
33. Utah
34. Arizona
35. New Mexico
36. Colorado
37. Kansas
38. Oklahoma
39. Texas
40. Alaska
41. Mississippi
42. Minnesota
43. Arkansas
44. Iowa
    

I guess I have done pretty well visiting the different states in my country. Mostly that is thanks to Hubby’s former job as an airline pilot, and then the time we spent traveling via motor-coach around the country.

Monday, I just never should have ventured out of bed. It seems I was doomed from the moment I stood up and whacked my toe on the foot of the bed, to a minute ago, when I walked into a door, thus giving myself a concussion! Yes, it has not been my day! What other wonderful things have occurred?

Well, there are the garden spikes that I inadvertently broke off in the ground that needed to be remade, and then I went down to change the laundry and the tub was still full of water and the machine wouldn’t spin the water out or finish the cycle.

What was in the wash? A nice light load of summer clothing, which would easily be rinsed and dried? NOOOOOOO! A heavy winter blanket that was now sopping wet and still a bit soapy!

I went into Hubby’s work shop and stood there and said,

“Houston, we’ve got a problem!“.

Hero that he is, he came and tried to get the machine to work. Nada. So we lifted the blanket out of the machine and put it in the sink to rinse and then wring out. Hubby was doing the wringing and asked me to get the user guide for the machine.

So, I ran up stairs and grabbed the guide and headed back to the cellar and literally ran into the cellar door hitting the side of my head with a hard thwack! I swear I saw stars!

Hubby wrung the blanket out well enough to place it in the dryer and I came up to call the repairman to come and fix my machine. It’s 11 years old and never had a problem before this. I hope it is not a catastrophic problem. I just can’t afford that right now. Please let it be simply a belt.

I climbed the stairs and sat down in my chair and my head started to spin. It was at that moment that I realized that only I could open a door into my own head and actually injure myself!

Tonight we are having leftovers for dinner. No stove-top cooking for me!  I’m afraid to get near a flame!

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend!

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Sunday was a very typical Autumn Sunday. I worked out in the garden, pulling up the wire fence, and the last few plants that remained in there. The only plants still there are three large brussel sprout plants that are near to producing little mini sprouts!

Hubby worked on more wood, chopping and stacking it, with help from Fritz, of course, and later in the day we worked together putting away the last of the window air conditioners. They are large and cumbersome, and at one point I gouged my arm. Nothing too bad, no stitches required!

Dirty windows have been plaguing me too. I managed to get the windows in our kitchen and family room cleaned up and looking great. For about two seconds…until Fritz and the dackels went right back to rubbing their noses on them. Ah yes, doggy art, on my windows to the world!

Speaking of doggy art, I pulled out my old camera the other day to use the super zoom lens and today I kind of played around with it. Arnie and Anneliese were my models.

Here is Anneliese, all curled up in her little bed. Occasionally she lets Greta or Arnie sleep in it, but most of the time, it is hers, alone!

And here is Arnie. We call him Mister Arnie Man.

I’d like to learn to use all the settings on this camera, as it has all the bells and whistles. I’ve been using my smaller pocket Cannon camera, and love the simplicity, but find I can’t get all the shots I want and I think perhaps switching to my Olympus SP-560UZ-18X for a while, might give me the pictures I’m looking for.

Happy Monday, Everyone!

Today was one of those beautiful autumn days. Bright colors, cloudy skies with just a tease of blue coming through, and a breeze that will not quit. Our yard is not that beautiful, but when you look across the lake there are still really pretty leaves. They were protected from all this wind and therefor remain on the trees.

Hubby was chopping wood and stacking it for the winter, when he called me outside, to witness evidence of an intruder from last night.

It was a BIG pile of BEAR POOP, complete with leaves and berries in it!

I was so excited to see it. You know, you hear about things like this, but to actually see physical evidence right in front of your eyes…well I was excited!!!

Then I turned to Hubby and told him, “Now you understand why I don’t want the dogs out after dark, by themselves!”

Hubby cleaned it up, and then went back to chopping and stacking wood, while I started working on our supper.

I’d gotten a great piece of meat the other day and cut it into chunks to make “JULIA’S BOEUF BOURGUIGNON”. This recipe is a great one, but VERY labor intensive. However, this will last us for at least three meals, so in many ways, it is very economical!

Anneliese is feeling completely well and back to her old self. The last couple of days I have watched with pleasure, as she runs and jumps and tackles Arnie, and even plays with Greta. Mostly, she is playing with Arnie and that is what makes me the happiest, as they have such a wonderful relationship and have had this since birth.

I’ve been able to relax a lot, do a load or two of laundry and read my book. It’s been a such a nice day!

Post Script: It’s now after dark here in New Hampshire. Arnie just had to go out to do his business. So I put him on the leash, got the flashlight and out we went. The wind was blowing, and the beam of light from my flashlight hit something that was moving, and my heart skipped a beat!

It was a tree branch blowing around! I am such a sissy!

So…here we go!

1. Wow, it’s raining hard.

2. Autumn is beautiful.

3. My favorite way to start a day is with lots of coffee.

4. He cleared out the last plants in the garden and he walked in the door holding a pumpkin.

5. I look out my window and see wet, windy, weather.

6. Sleep is what I’ve been thinking about lately.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to sitting quietly and reading, tomorrow my plans include sitting quietly and reading and Sunday, I want to sit quietly and read!

(I’m not feeling too well and think I need a weekend off.)