Category: My Life

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 found me busy around the house. Somehow the Autumn temperatures and somewhat darker skies, put me in the mood to clean surfaces. I spent an inordinate amount of time in the kitchen, the bathroom, and yes, I even took everything out of the fridge, washed it all down with disinfectant, and checked all the labels for expiration dates! Hubby was amazed (as I am not a big fan of completely cleaning the fridge like that), but it was long overdue, and now I am ready to go grocery shopping on Wednesday.

I did laundry, changed the sheets on my bed, vacuumed and even washed the floors in the kitchen. Because the kitchen was so clean, I cooked two wonderful dinner meals, Grilled chicken one night and braised pork the next.

I also wrote my five page report and got it sent out via email. I worked most of Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning on that.

I did see two movies on HBO, “Hereafter”, which I still recommend, and “The Switch” with Jennifer Aniston and Justin Bateman. It’s a really cute fluffy chick flick. “Hereafter” is more intense, and an intriguing movie.

The weekend ended with me taking a long hot bath after dinner.

The other day Hubby pointed out that there was a piece of foam rubber on the carpet. He picked it up and did an examination. Where had this come from? The great mystery began.

He looked all over the place, convinced that the dackels were shredding something important like their little beds. I, however knew the real problem.

It was my recliner chair.

The poor thing is 11 years old, and literally falling apart. Two springs have fallen out, as well as various amounts of stuffing, but until now, no actual foam rubber.

So yesterday, when Hubby was outside the dackels and I broke out the vacuum and decided to get under the recliner. Now this is tough because the chair is very big and very heavy, but what I did was tip it on it’s back so I could see under it.

Oh my goodness! I didn’t just find dust bunnies, but a dust “Pitbull”,  as well as plenty of foam rubber.

I vacuumed quickly, afraid that the dust pitbulls would jump out and get me! The dackels barked at them and I gasped at their size.

Unfortunately this means that I really do need to get a new chair, and I love my chair! It’s a chair and a half and I can sit here with all three dackels. They do not make my chair any more. *SOB*

The company now makes “pleather” ones. You know “pleather” = fake leather.

Anyway, Hubby and I will need to start shopping now so I can find something I like before I sit down in the chair and hit the floor.

Funny how attached we become to our favorite chairs.

And…here we go!

1. Why do I seem to be falling down so much lately?.

2. There have been times I wanted to go, but I have so much to stay for.

3. By far the most important part of my life, is my loving family.

4. Proud American.

5. But when the going gets tough, the tough, make jelly!.

6. Happiness has been with me for the longest time. How lucky I am!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to having the grape jelling made and in jars, tomorrow my plans include taking my blankets to the laundromat to wash and Sunday, I want to catch up on a few housework things and take a nap too!

I just woke up and looked outside and there is a rainbow outside. We really do not see too many up here, but down on Cape Cod, where I grew up, we saw them a lot.

I’ve always loved them. There is something so mystical and magical about them. Especially because they last such a short time, and yet their beauty has inspired so many songs, poems and dreams.

As much as I love rainbows, I don’t think I have ever seen one in a dream. Just in person, which makes me feel that I much be totally devoid of magical imagination! lol!

In some ways this rainbow happened on a morning after I dreamt of a few people that are no longer with me. So perhaps my affinity for rainbows does have something to do with dreams.

I’ll be posting the Friday Fill-Ins later in the day.

1. What do you do at the first sign of a cold? Will you get a flu shot this year?

I’m the Queen of Denial! LOL!

I do drink lots of juice and ginger ale, and chicken noodle soup. Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup. To me, that is what I want when I’m feeling bad.

I have already had my flu shot. Did you know they are vaccinating for three separate strains of flu this year? It’s all in one shot, but apparently they expect a bad year.

2. What advice can you give about how to conquer fear?

Take a deep breath, and just go forward. Things will come in your life and there is nothing you can do to stop it. So get a grip and go forward and don’t look back! (Of course, I fall apart afterward, but I do get through the actual event.)

3. Share two good things about your life right now.

Mandy and Matt’s engagement, and the fact that we have had such a large peach crop!

4. A hot fall fashion trend in 2011 is a return to sixties style…tunics with pants, shift dresses, pencil skirts, cinched waists, bold prints, high necklines and short lengths to name a few. How does this fashion trend fit with your wardrobe and personal sense of style?

I tend to live in a vacuum. Unless I have somewhere to go, I don’t really shop. So, I will wear my cords and jeans, and sweaters and just be comfortable.

5. Were you involved in scouting as a kid? How about as an adult?

As a kid, yes. But when we moved when I was in fourth grade to a new school, I quit Scouts.

6. Apple, pear, plum, pumpkin…your favorite fall flavor?

To snack on, apple. But I simply love pies, and my favorite is pumpkin.

7. What characteristics do you think are essential in a good teacher?

Patience and organizational skills. My niece, Jinny is an Elementary School teacher, and she also has a great love for kids.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

The apples are starting to come in, and once we have enough Macintosh and Cortland’s, we will be making apple sauce. I’m nearly out of my frozen apple sauce and really need to put some up. There is nothing like homemade applesauce in the Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer!

It’s been a long week and I am tired. Still! I plan to do quiet things over the course of the weekend, like read, or perhaps try a new recipe, and write to a few people that I haven’t heard from in a while.

If I get up the energy, I want to clean my garden of all the plants in it, with the exception of the eggplants, and butternut squash, which for some odd reason, are still growing.

I also need to go through a bunch of paperwork for the Library, so I am prepared for our meeting on Tuesday. And trust me, there is a l lot of paper work to go through.

Perhaps somewhere in there, I can sneak in a nice walk, and a soak in the tub. That is total spoiling of me time!

What do you have planned for this weekend?

1. When I was 10 years old We moved from the house I was raised in for my first ten years, on Clipper lane to a house, on Oak Street that I didn’t really like except for the purple bathroom my sister and I shared..

2. Eggplant is my favorite vegetable because the taste is so good to me!.

3. My dream pet is and probably always will be a wire-haired dachshund.

4. I hope beauty and love surrounds you.

5. If I could live anywhere in the world I’d live in a cottage by the sea, where it is never too hot and never too cold..

6. The love of God the Father, keep on shinin’ on me.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to the rehearsal dinner for the wedding, tomorrow my plans include going to the wedding and watching my nephew and his fiance have the time of their life and Sunday, I want to drive back home to New Hampshire, with no traffic!

1. Do you think the world became a more dangerous place on September 11, 2001 or did we just become more aware of the danger? How has your own life changed as a result of that day?

I think we became more aware of the danger. At least I did. I’m afraid I wore rose colored glasses much of the time. Especially after the break-up of the USSR. Having grown up during the Cold War, I always considered them the enemy. But as I sat in front of my TV set on September 11, 2001, I felt battered, bruised and as if part of me died too.

2. Did you think your parents were too strict when you were growing up? How about in hindsight?

My parent’s did the best they could. I did an awful lot to escape their notice. As I was an after thought child, neither one of them quite knew what to do with me.

3. Share one random but candid fact about yourself.

It is hard for me to get close to people, as I fear losing those I love, more than anything else.

4. Would your nearest and dearest describe you as simple or far too complicated?

Oh, way too complicated!

5. What is your favorite stadium or carnival food?

I totally love hot-dogs with mustard and relish. I also love fried dough, and kettle corn! Did I mention I am a lifetime member of Weight Watchers?

6. Tornado, hurricane, earthquake…how many of these natural disasters have you experienced? Which event do you think would be the scariest?

I was in a minor earth quake, a no-name hurricane and lived in an area with tornadoes. I say I’m afraid of all of them. I am a big chicken! I would far rather be in a blizzard than in any of those.

7. Labor Day weekend is approaching so a work related question seems appropriate. Growing up, did your parents assign you regular chores? Were you paid for doing those chores? If you’re a parent do you assign chores to your own children?

I did dishes, by hand, usually with my sister, before we had a dish washer. I did not get paid. I also did laundry for the family, and no, no payment. I did have the girls do chores and they got a small allowance.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I am on my way to Connecticut to my nephews wedding. I will also be spending time with my sister, mother, and nephews and nieces and grand nephews and nieces! What fun! I’m giving myself plenty of time for the drive as many roads are washed out, or closed due to Tropical Storm Irene.

I’m really excited about the wedding, and having sister time with Mel. Hubby is staying home with the pooches,  and will keep the home fires burning until I return!