Category: My Life

This morning we heard that on Saturday and Sunday, we are going to be getting some snow…maybe! What this means for those of us in the northeast, is that all those little jobs that we’ve been putting off, had to be done before it was buried until 4-6 inches of snow.

I tried to convince myself that making the bed and cleaning my closet was more important. I even got out my winter sweaters, and got those organized.

We took the air conditioners out and stored them for the winter. This was a big job as each of them weighs a ton, and after the windows needed to be cleaned.

But after lunch and a hot cup of tea, I had to face the last job of season, the one I had been dreading! Stripping the garden, and rolling up my garden fencing.

Hubby was busy getting all the hoses put away and closing all the cell calks from inside. No more water outside until next spring.

When I was done I came in and sat down and tried to convince myself NOT to cook dinner, but somehow I got my legs under me and cooked a pretty decent meatloaf, with mashed potatoes and asparagus.

Now I am snuggling with Arnie as I watch the incredibly bad reruns they show on Friday nights. Perhaps I’ll just watch reruns of NCIS on the satellite. Those are always good no matter how many times I’ve seen them!

This picture was drawn by Dave, my cousin Janet’s boyfriend , and then she photographed it, and then did the photo-editing to put in the text! When I saw it, I just knew it was perfect for this weeks Friday Fill-In! Dave, this really is fabulous, and Janet, you took a super picture!

And…here we go!

1. Beware of Little dogs covered in snowballs!.

2. Oh, how I love the first snow.

3. And since we can only go with the flow, I think I will have a fire in the hearth and accept lower temperatures gracefully.

4. Mystical or fine spirits?

5. Where the heart is.

6. Pot Roast is one of my favorite meals when it’s cold out.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to making Maribeth’s Meatloaf, tomorrow my plans include the usual laundry and Sunday, I want to make a real Sunday Dinner. Perhaps a roasted chicken, with all the fixings!!

I listened to the distant lull of heavy equipment machines working all day long. I wasn’t sure where they were coming from, but it made me more aware of the dackels, and I actually walked with them each time they went out.  Later on, Hubby went to our Post Office, and discovered that our neighbors, through the woods, were having their new driveway laid today. Ah yes. Exciting times, when someone up here gets a tarred driveway, that is cause for celebration. Most everyone up here has a dirt driveway. A tarred drive is luxury!!

Many people don’t understand what it means to live in the country. We’re about 20 miles each way to the cheapest best grocery store. Mostly, you cannot see your neighbors house from yours during the summer, and in the winter can’t get there, due to the the snow drifts.

The Post Office is the happening place. In the winter when our population shrinks to nearly nothing, it is likely you will meet your neighbor at the Post Office, even if you’ve had to snow shoe there!

Our winter Ice Fishing Derby is one of those great events. Our big lake freezes over and we all try to go on that Saturday and walk around. You can see the various Bob Houses, see the fish that have been caught and even chow down on sausage and onions on a roll, or plain hot-dogs, and hot chocolate.

Of course I have to mention another really positive thing about living in the country in a small town. We had a woman recently who became very ill. She very nearly died. The village people took food to her family, provided gas money for her family and now she is back home they are helping with driving her to doctors appointments. People care.

The other day I got a phone call. Were all my dogs home? Why yes, yes they were, why? Well someone had located a dachshund in town, and they wondered if one of mine had escaped. Eventually we found the owner, but it got me thinking, how lucky we are to have a community like this. For as inconvenient as it is to live in the country, so far from everyone and every thing, the people make it especially nice.

I really love our little town!!!

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend! After all, you never know when you will need an alibi!

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You know me…I spend my weekends catching up on laundry and housework and almost always I am successful. I even did a major shelf cleaning and that was long overdue and much needed.

I even tried a new recipe for butternut squash, and although it was a good recipe, it still needs tweaking to make it just right.

I took Arnie out one day for a ride in the car and Anneliese the next. They love to go for rides, although Anneliese still has that barking issue going on.

I watched movies. Movies that I have seen before, but want to become more familiar with. Hubby thinks this is insane, but when a movie speaks to me, I want to look at it again and sometimes again, until I can see all that the writer and directer want me to see.

I also got out my MP3 player and listened to music while Hubby watched football. I enjoy watching our home team, but I am not a big fan of the sport in general, and our team plays later this week.

I’m still struggling with reading my book, but I have not given up. I may eventually give up, but for now, I am using a magnifying ruler and taking it line by line.

Have a great week everyone!

1. How do you typically react in a sudden, extreme, pressure-filled crisis? Would we want you nearby in an emergency?

I am absolutely great in a crisis, but it is after that I fall apart! Yes, you would want me.

2. Caramel apple-caramel sundae-caramel corn-caramel macchiato…of the four, which carmel treat would you choose?

I had to look up the Caramel Macchiato! I guess the Sundae because I have to be careful with my dentistry.

3. Is there such a thing as destiny? Explain.

I guess. I mean, sometimes I look at all that has happened in my life, and I wonder…is this all chance…or destiny?

4. What’s your favorite piece of furniture? I’m referring to something currently in your possession as opposed to something on your wish list.

Believe it or not, my big old slightly ragged chair and a half recliner. It’s ten years old and although I need a new one, I do so love this chair!

5. Wednesday night marks the start of the 2011 Baseball World Series. Did you know? Do you care? Will you be watching? Ever been to a professional baseball game? If you’re not an American do you find the title ‘World Series’ annoying or amusing?

If the Red Sox were playing I would know and care…but they aren’t so I don’t know and I do not care…next!

6. A sound that takes me back to my childhood is when I hear the ice cream truck going up and down the streets in the summer. I just loved orange cream-sickles!.

7. On average, once you’ve linked your hodgepodge post to mine how many other participant blogs do you visit? Do you ever come back to the Hodgepodge later in the day or even the day after to read posts?

I try to go to four or five, but Wednesday is my busy day. I promise today I will make a few more!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I’m feeling a little tired today as Hubby kept me up in the night with his coughing. I almost woke him up to go in the guest room and sleep (the dackels and I own the bed), but he didn’t seem bothered by the cough. Tonight he better be quieter or off to the guest room he goes!

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend! After all, you never know when you will need an alibi!

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The weekend was a good one, as far as being productive. Laundry was done, cooking was done, cleaning was done and I can actually say that last night when I went to bed I was really exhausted.  I dropped onto the bed, careful not to smoosh a dackel, and when my head hit my pillow, I was gone!

And that was just on Saturday!

On Sunday I finished my report (5 full pages Eeeeek!), and then set about cooking a Sauer Braten, red cabbage and then an apple crisp for dinner.

I did try to read my book without a magnifier, but alas, I will have to go out tomorrow and buy one of the full page readers. I can tell that I will really enjoy this book. Already the prologue has me!

Autumn winds are blowing and it is cool and gray. Yes, I think that we have past through summer and are well on our way to naked trees!

We watched “Sabrina” last night with Audrey Hepburn! What a splendid movie, and she was so beautiful! We’ve been watching a lot of old movies lately due to the fact that there is very little on TV that we actually enjoy! Most of it is crap! What do you think of the new shows?

I decided on Saturday to get things done here at home. Laundry, washing bathrooms and changing sheets. You know, the whole enchilada!

So after breakfast, which was one of my best creations, I pulled on my jeans, and a tank top and apron, and away I went. I got all the laundry in the basement and started that, tore the sheets off the bed, and remade it with wonderful soft, clean, sheets. I dusted and when I went back to change the laundry, Hubby had already done that.

Now I didn’t mind him changing the sheets and putting them in the dryer, but an hour later when I went back and he’d tossed my light clothing into the dryer, I blew a gasket! Ladies, you will all know that there are certain clothes that you DO NOT PUT IN THE DRYER!

Well, words were exchanged, and I am not sure who won that war of the words…perhaps it was a draw. However, if he wants to help with the laundry that’s fine, but he has to learn the rules!

The late afternoon found me making a rotisserie chicken, baked white sweet potatoes (if you have never had them, find them) and spinach and corn.

While all that was cooking I sat down to write this blasted report, and actually it went far better than I had hoped.

Finally, in the mail today I got a new book. It’s called “From Lark Rise to Candleford…The Trilogy” I could not get it in large print, but I plan to go to the local book store tomorrow and get a page magnifier. Then I will sit back, and read this gentle book and enjoy!

Ahhhhhhh!