Category: Friday Five

My week has been a whacky one. Between snowstorms and cell phones, I’ve been finding my days slipping by. In any case, here is this week’s Friday Five.

1. Heidi’s new puffer jackets arrived. The other two shrunk when they got wet, so my poor baby only had half of her body covered.

   I bought the next size up, and she really loves this!

2. I sat down, paid my bills, and took a deep breath. The repair of my furnace and the need to get oil done in the space of four weeks made my Amex card go tilt.
3. I have a home system that I needed to download on my phone. I had it working, but couldn’t get into the dashboard because I forgot the password, and I stewed about it for 24 hours. Then I woke up in the morning and had an idea. I raced to enter the password into my phone. And it worked! Once done, I quickly wrote everything down!
4. We had some warm weather today, which helped melt the snow and ice on the patio. Much easier for Heidi to go out.
5. Lastly, this week I found out that several of Jack’s and my friends have passed away. These are mostly people in their 80s. A dear friend of mine who served with Jack in the Army and also as a Pan Am pilot sat me down and told me to think long and hard about marrying someone so much older. (20 plus years) In a kind way, he wanted to prepare me for the day when they were all gone, and I would be alone. I was twenty-nine at the time and thought I had all the time in the world to enjoy Jack and our friends. Life goes by quickly, my friends.

So, here I sit with my Heidi, now my Emotional Support Doggy. She truly is my little love-baby!

Welcome to a new year! 2026! If last year proved anything, it was how quickly a year can rush past us. So, as Heidi and I drove around a bit today to look at the recent snowfall and icing, I couldn’t help but think that I am ready for spring! To start this year’s Friday Five, here we go!

1. I know I have mentioned that I had one more closet to clear out in 2025. I filled up crates with all the shelf and floor stuff and brought it out to the family room. While watching TV, I have gone through everything, and by tomorrow, I will begin arranging the shelves in my two closets. Finally, this will be done!
2. This is a special time of year for me. Four years ago, I flew to Nashville and then drove up to pick up Heidi.

   She was such a little snuggler, even from the start

   Our first night together at the hotel.

   I remember holding her for the first time. I am so grateful that I found this girl. What a loving companion she is for me.

3. The year has started with a fair amount of snow and ice. Yes, it is pretty, but with it comes the bills for heating oil and snow plowing. Ah well.
4. Next week I’m going to an Optician for an eye exam and to order new glasses. Oddly enough, the idea of getting new glasses is something I am looking forward to.
5. Today, I will enjoy the beauty all around me. How fortunate Heidi and I are to live amongst such beauty, even if it is cold!

Happy New Year!

Can you believe it? Here we are, in December, the last month of 2025! I am sure many of you will agree: 2025 has gone awfully fast!  This past week was going to be a busy one, so I decided to call the “Puppy Nanny” to care for Heidi and go to Salem and stay for a few days, as my events were all in that area.

1. I was invited to my cousin’s 70th birthday bash last weekend. Dave is the kindest man in the entire world. He is married to my cousin, Janet, who grew up with me and is very much like a sister.We all love Dave dearly. Left to right, my cousin, Larry, brother-in-law, Ron, the birthday boy, Dave, Melodie, me, Janet, and Traci. The party was so much fun, and I got to see so many people I hadn’t seen in a very long time, as well as my sister, Melodie, and my brother-in-law, Ron.
2. The next day I was free, so Janet picked me up at the hotel I stay at when I am in Salem, New Hampshire, and we hit the Mall. It dawned on me that aside from the small Outlet Mall near me, it was the first time I had been in a real Mall in ten years.

   It felt good to walk around, and I even purchased a  few things for myself. Like, two pairs of jeans that are now two sizes smaller than what I was wearing 4 years ago, two pairs of winter gloves, a bed jacket, and a beautiful scarf.

   

   We stopped for lunch at a Greek restaurant decorated for Christmas and enjoyed an excellent meal!

3. Janet dropped me at the hotel, where I napped and also had a quick meal before falling asleep. I stay at the IHG in Salem and have each time I had appointments with my Eye Surgeon.
4. Tuesday dawned, and I got up and had a quick breakfast. My appointment was set for 11:30 that morning. I was nervous, but also felt that my eye had been doing well. After having the inside of both eyes photographed, pressures taken (16 and 15), and getting dilated, I was ready to see Dr. S. He came in, carefully examined each eye. We lamented about all we had been through together before he told me I was good to go. Come back in one year, unless something unforeseen happens, and then call. I left the office on cloud nine!
5. Now I need to go to my local Optician and get new glasses. I will make an appointment after the holidays.

However, as Christmas nears, it is safe to say I got the best gift of all—my vision.

Happy Halloween!

Well, here we are. The last day of October. Where has the year gone? I know that part of the year was quite stressful as I was worried about the vision in my left eye, but as we race to the end of 2015 things are looking bright. Here are this week’s Friday Five.

1. I have never been a person who putters around. Not my thing. And yet, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday that is exactly what I did. Consequently my shelves are tidy and neat!
2. I overfilled my pajama drawer and it got stuck. I was unsure how to fix it, as I could not get it open. So I Googled it. First I searched and found out that I needed to get the drawer above out and then pinch the two slide mechanisms and gently slide the drawer out. Anyway these drawers weigh a ton, but in the end I was able to do it as well as put everything back. I’m pretty proud of that.
3. I went in today for my first hair shaping in nearly two years.
   
   The good news is that my natural curls are back and my hair will be eaasier to do.
4. I stopped over at George’s Diner for lunch on Thursday. It’s the first time I have been there since Jon and Jose were here.
5. Lastly, My plans this weekend are to keep puttering. I want this place to not only look neat, but actually be neat, even the closets!

Have a great weekend as we welcome in the month of November.

1. I felt pretty sad to hear of Diane Keaton’s death. It seems that 2025 has been full of losses in the entertainment world. I remember talking with my grandmother about loss. But for her, it wasn’t just celebrities; it was people in her own family and peer group. She said that if you live long enough, it happens. Grandma has been gone 40 years, but I still recall our conversations, and I miss her very much.
2. My house shingles are done. I have cedar shakes for my siding, thus proving you can take the girl off of Cape Cod, but you can’t take the Cape Cod out of the girl. It was a big job. Anyone who has had to refinish cedar shakes knows that you need to strip the mold and mildew off the shingles and then use a good product to seal, tint, and finish the seal.
3. I also needed some repair work done to the outside frames of the windows. Anyway, it’s all done now, and I ordered the shutters. Once again, my house is a light, Cape Cod blue/gray.
4. Just when I thought that my health was on an upswing, I got the stomach flu! It hit me like a ton of bricks. So I am taking things slowly, and I hope the flu will be gone quickly.
5. I’ve been playing around with AI. For me, I have used it to look back at what might have been. For anyone who has lost a child, there comes a day when there are no new pictures. For me, it has been forty years. But with AI, I made a little snippet so that it lets me see Katie once again.

Another week has flown by. In a month, we will celebrate Thanksgiving, and after that, Christmas. The older I get, the faster time goes by. So, here is this week’s Friday Five.

1. Well, here we are, October 10th. Today was the day I woke up to freezing temperatures, so I had to turn on the heat. I hated to.I try every year to put it off. However, when Heidi is in a sweater and I’m wearing a turtleneck with a polar fleece jacket, it is time to flip the switch and take the chill out of the air.
2. My Medicare Plus package arrived. For the first time in many years, the cost has remained the same. I have to say, this plan covered me quite well. After all the difficulties with my eye, the issue has been covered.
3.   Heidi has a date with the groomer on Sunday. Madison has been a God-send for Heidi. My Vet prescribed a special shampoo to help soothe Heidi’s allergy. She is also getting her nails clipped because they cause more harm when the itchiness gets her going.
4. I like to sleep in a cool room. I love to sleep under warm blankets and comforters. Nothing I had fit the bill. I saw a winter-weight comforter. I wasn’t paying too much attention, but I just ordered one. A friend told me it was also weighted and might be hard to move under. Last night I used it for the first time. I loved it! I snuggled right down and slept better than I had in a long time.
5. And lastly, this weekend is the Sandwich, NH Fair. I have always loved going, but have missed it for a while.

   But this weekend I will break out my coat, hat, and gloves, and off I will go. As you can see, I get along with old goats pretty well!

I was looking for a theme for this week’s Friday Five, but really couldn’t find one. So here is a mishmash of thoughts from my week.

1. My gutters were in bad shape. In fact, I had portions of my field growing in them. Since we had decided I no longer climb ladders, I called several leaf/gutter companies.  I got quotes, and last week they were installed.
2. On Wednesday, we had torrential rain. It was a dark night, and suddenly I began to hear unfamiliar sounds. I did not sleep well after that. As the day dawned, I could see where the noise was coming from. The new gutters!
3. I have binge-watched an enjoyable show. “Leanne” on Netflix. I have always loved Leanne Morgan, and her TV show does not disappoint!
   
4. Last week, the Class of 1975 from my high school held its 50th Reunion. As I looked through their pictures, I thought about where I will be next year when I have my 50th Reunion. I plan to go back to Cape Cod, rent a small cottage, and reminisce. See my classmates, walk the beaches near my childhood home, and lay flowers on the graves of many of my loved ones.
5. I’ve decided that before attending the reunion, I will have my hair and makeup done professionally.  Life has not been kind to my body or my face.  I will also shop for a cute outfit.

Well, that wraps it up for the last Friday of September 2025. I think 2025 has raced by.

Have a great weekend!

This week was full, full, full. I even had to set the alarm so I was up and dressed when crews arrived.  So here goes, on what happened.

1. 1. A representative from Leaf Filter came by and provided me with a quote. I liked their product, and my gutters were in dire need of repair.
   2. The quote was good, and they could start the job on Thursday. All this was perfect!
   3. On Wednesday, I took Heidi to the Veterinarian.  She has an eye infection, and I am concerned about her rear legs. She seems to rock her legs, not moving normally, more like a cowboy who has been too long in the saddle.
   4. She has Luxating Patellae. At least there is a fix for this. Surgical. But dogs usually handle it all well.
   5. And lastly, today is my mammogram day. Oh, joy!

Well, here we are, the first week of September. The last few days have been a bit gloomy, with no appreciable rain.

1. The lawns are crunchy and brown, which reminds me of our trip through San Diego.  Poor Max (Our White German Shepherd at the time) had lapped up some ocean water, and on our way to the campsite, Max became ill. We pulled into a parking lot, and there was no grass to be found. Alas, Max had to use the crunchy brown stuff to be sick on.
2. Tuesday, I go back to see my doctor. I sure hope the pressure in my left eye has gone down. Anything under 34 would be fantastic. Even though my vision is good, the pressure will be the next thing to conquer!
3. My car was detailed, and it once again looks brand new. It’s a 2023 Highlander with 6949 miles on it.

   My Toyota Dealer says he knows I will not be a frequent buyer. True. Unless something goes wrong, DACKEL and I will be riding together for a long time.

4. Miss Heidi is happy that I can drive short distances. She’s a real beauty, and she is so good to her mommy.

   I want to get her a safety car seat so I can get her in securely and booster her up a bit to look outside.

5. In the last week, I have had many people drop in. They all say the same thing. “Your driveway is beautiful!”

Have a great weekend!

Some weeks drag along, and you wonder if you will get through them. This was not the case for me this week. It was happily exciting. Here’s what’s happening.

1. We have not had measurable rain since early June. Most of the rain was in May.  My lawn is brown tumbleweeds, with barely a green patch. And since Autumn isn’t usually full of rain, we are more likely to see snow before our next significant rain.

2. I woke on Tuesday and sat up in my bed, allowing my feet to dangle over the edge. I stretched and opened my eyes, and I could see! Now it isn’t perfect, but it was close to clear, and once I jumped out of bed and turned on the TV, I could see the Closed Captioning.

3. I was so happy, and I alerted everyone close by. I knew I would need time to make sure it was real.

4. It’s funny because after a long period of time with little to no vision in that eye, I was skeptical about my eye magically healing.

5. I have been out alone. I drove to George’s Diner to have breakfast and to pick up my mail. Today, I plan to take a trip to the farm to pick up corn and collect the mail.

So, my gentle readers, this is all the good news happening here in New Hampshire. I am so happy and so thankful!