Category: Friday Five

It’s Friday! Another week in 2018 has gone by. With the wind, cold and rain, not to mention sleet and snow, I feel like Autumn is rapidly on it’s way out, and winter is on its way in!

So as the week ends here are this week Friday Five!

1. The temperatures have dropped and when I walked the doggies this morning it was 33 degrees! The wind was blowing and I felt like I had stepped into midwinter! In fact, I plan to get out my winter jacket and hat and gloves. It’s time to make those changes in the closet.
2. It’s also time to get the air conditioners out of the windows. I need to call our neighbor and arrange for him to come on over to give us a hand. Those window units are really heavy and Jack and I have a hard time with them.
3. After several weeks of frustration, I think I have finally figured out the new thermostats.  It was not easy.
   * I read the manual and that was no help at all.
   * I went on YouTube, and other people with this system, detest these units.
   * I knew, however, if I just kept trying I could figure it out.
   * Why does the heat stay on and not shut off? What was I missing?
   Well, I was missing setting the shut off temperature on the until. It’s called “COOL“. The reason I missed that was that we do not have any air condition system set to these thermostats.
   I needed to set the cool temperature to the same temperature as the heat setting. Then when the heat turned on and raised the temperature to say, 72 degrees, once it got there, the cool setting kicks in and shuts off the system. Sound complicated? It is, but once I figured that out it seems to work just fine!
   This kept me contemplating the problem for the last month!  However, the problem is now solved!
4. One of my dearest friends had a Big Birthday yesterday. Jack and I called and sang Happy Birthday to her, in harmony no less! I do wish we lived closer to her! Happy Birthday again, Candy!
5. We’re still working on Dackel Princess. Fine tuning her. We will be putting in a comment button and I hope to get the header taken care of too. The biggest problem, corrupted code, has been solved by my friend and super-girl, Megan! She also has come up with the new design! Thank you so much, Megan!

So have a great weekend everyone, enjoy the Autumn or Spring if you are in the Southern Hemisphere!

 

This week was one of the busiest yet for us. However we got a lot accomplished and as I sit here writing, there is a smile on my face. So without further ado here is this weeks list.

1. The Sandwich Fair was really awesome this year. I spent so much time walking around with Karin, and we saw so many great animals as well as some lovely foliage and scenery. And did I mention the fox that ran out in front of my car? It was healthy and it sure was fast!
2. We drove around looking at leaves and also helped our friend from Germany get the last few things she needed before she headed home on Wednesday. It was a nice visit and I hope she comes back soon.
3. Our glasses came in and Jack immediately adjusted to his. After a full day, I finally feel like my eyes are adjusting. You all have seen me, now, here is Jack in his new glasses!

   

4. I had a fair amount of the roast beef leftover from dinner the other night, so today I made a nice and hearty beef stew. It was actually pretty easy and yet, it tasted so good!

   

5. Today is grocery shopping day to get the things we will need over the weekend. Not too many things are needed, just a few important things. Next week we’ll be doing a big shopping.

And so ends another week!

It’s Friday? Really? Wow, did this past week just fly by. Having doctor’s appointments, getting our flu shots and other things, kept us on our toes all week long! So as I sit here on Thursday night looking back over the craziness that I call our life, here are the five things that stand out the most.

1. Thankfully the error was found that lead to Jack’s Mohs Surgery being canceled. Jack’s margins were clean and so he avoided that procedure. I am so very glad. My experience with Mohs Surgery was not an easy one, and I would not wish that on anyone! Especially my husband!
2. Every year I get a flu shot and every year I react to it. Sometimes I get the flu, this year I have just run a temperature off and on. I guess I am just a sensitive soul.
3. I went to a new Eye Doctor (Optometrist). I felt sad that I couldn’t go to my longtime doctor because this year the Company changed Coverage and Providers. But I have to tell you, the new doctor gave me such a thorough exam, that I do not feel the need to go for a secondary exam at the hospital. She checked everything! My retinas, my eye pressure, my optic nerves, as well as prescribing new glasses. Honestly, she was wonderful and I am happy with the change.
4. I ordered new glasses and new sunglasses. It was crazy how it happened, but the two frames I liked were made by Coach!

   

   

   Yes, very chic and they fit like they were made for me!

5. And last but not least, we have a friend visiting from Germany, so we have done a few things like go for Foliage Trips, out for lunch, and yes, enjoyed New Hampshire’s Tax-Free Shopping!!!

Another week has flown by and here we are, nearing the end of September! How can that be? Sometimes I wish that time would just slow down a little. Give me just a little more time.

But alas, there are seven days in the week, twenty-four hours in the day and that’s it! So I am grateful for the wonderful world around.

Here are this week’s Friday Five. I actually could have made a longer list, but I will keep it down to Five.

1. We’ve had our friend visiting from Germany. We have had a lot of fun talking, cooking and eating, and sharing stories and laughing a lot!

   

   She left us this morning to drive to the Canadian Maritimes and will be back here after we get back from our trip to Virginia Beach, VA. Then she will be with us one more week before her return to Germany.

2. We’ve had friends come and pick peaches and apples. It’s so nice to share our bounty with people that we care about. It’s wonderful to see the happiness that the fruit can bring to a person!
3. Greta’s ashes came home to us on Tuesday. I didn’t know. We had stopped out at our Veterinarians to drop off some Jam as one of the Vets is ill, and the Veterinary Technician came out and handed me a small tin. It’s said, “Greta. Beloved pet of Maribeth & Jack”. Well, folks, I am not a strong girl emotionally, and once again, I cried and cried. Missing my girl.
4. I’ve commenced Christmas shopping. I’m a bit of an armchair shopper. I have found some of the cutest things to give the children. I am getting better and better about finding wonderful things for Quinn. Having never had boys, this is a new experience. But, the more time I spend with Quinn the more I get to know what he likes! I am having a blast!
5. Lastly, we have a Red Squirrel living in our stone wall. It’s actually a beautiful thing, but it is driving Lili quite mad! It will come out to graze on our fruit trees and Lili tries like crazy to get it! Today she was out for over an hour trying to get that Squirrel. I got a few pictures. Lili made me laugh! She watches and jumps and watches and the Squirrel taunts her. Here are a few pictures for you to enjoy!

Our little Red Squirrel. I think I will call him Red!

He just delights in tormenting Lili!

So this is the end of my week and now I work to pack and prepare to leave the dogs with my trusty House/Doggy Sitter. They move in when we leave and live here and care for the house and the pooches while we are gone. We are so lucky to have found them!

Here we are, it’s mid-September. Can you believe that? It seems this year has been flying by and some days I can hardly catch my breath. Here are this weeks Friday Five.

1. At the start of the week, I prepped 4 batched of Heavenly Peach Jam. The Peaches were not ripe and the next day when I attempted to cook and can it, it all tasted like Peach Vinegar! Yuck!
2. Realizing my error, I quickly picked some nicely colored Peaches for my second attempt. I then proceeded to put the Peaches in Brown Paper Bags, where I closed them up and left them for two days to ripen. Sure enough, this morning they were beautifully ripe and ready to be prepared for Jam.
3. So, I prepped 4 batches of Peach Jam, and they are ready to be cooked and canned tomorrow. I was so careful this time, and I also had my lucky charm.

   

   My friend Emily, who used to live next door to me, was on my cell phone and the two of us talked about the days of yester-year when we used to make Peach Jam together!

4. Saturday and Sunday are laundry and vacuuming and dusting day. Ugh! Not a fan of either one.
5. Next week I need to pull the suitcases down and start working on packing them for our trip. I’m excited about the trip, but really, I am so over the packing of the suitcases. When you get older the packing of suitcases means, packing of pills, blood pressure kits, and various other medical necessities!

So that’s my week this week and a look ahead at the week ahead. I am hoping that the Jam cooks up well tomorrow, but if you hear screams from Central New Hampshire, you will know that I failed! I shall report in tomorrow!

Another week has come and gone. In many ways, this was a big week. It started with me pulling everything out of my linen closet, and tearing apart our office and ended with the loss of our beloved pup, Greta. So here it is. My weekly, Friday Five.

1. I decided the clear out the Office of all the junk that has gathered in there over the 20 years we have been here. I was ruthless and I was throwing away all sorts of useless stuff!
2. Something brought me out to the linen closet and when I opened the door I thought, well, time to do this too! So everything I laid my hands on went out and on the floor!
3. I found rabbit ears for the TV (like those are ever going to work again!) and those were immediately tossed away! My sewing box was a total mess and I spent time organizing that! And the towels! People I had 42 bath towels in that closet! Twenty-two of them will be going to the homeless shelter.
4. Currently, I am 3/4 of the way through both projects. We can once again walk down the hall and actually into the office without stepping on something. I should be done this weekend!
5. And yes, lastly, we bid farewell to darling Greta. It seems like just yesterday we brought her home from Germany. How I will miss my girl. Rest peacefully, Greta!

The day I first met my Greta in Germany! That was a very good day!

Well, another week has gone by and on Saturday it will be September first! Imagine that! In a little over two months, I will turn sixty years young, and then it’s Christmas and New Years and 2019 will be upon us! Whew!

I remember thinking, when I was a little girl, that time went so .s.l.o.w.l.y.! But now, the day’s race by me and I realize how brief our time on earth is. Why just the other day I was starting Elementary School myself, and now my granddaughter, Savannah is starting First Grade! How did this happen?

Well, let’s get to the Friday Five before I reminisce any further about the passage of time!

• This week was so hot. No kidding. Until today, each day was 90+ degrees and humid. It’s the sort of weather we had when I lived in Florida, which is why we moved back home to New England. Let’s just put it this way. I will be very happy when the cool crisp air of Autumn is upon us! I want temperatures in the sixties, where I can wear jeans and sweaters once again!
• Is it possible to keep falling in love with your grandchildren? I spent Sunday and Monday with them and I just thrill at the very thought that they are mine! We cuddle and hug and it is just the best!
• Savannah started school today. Well, it was a meet and greet with her teacher when she got to see their classroom, find where her desk is and where her coat cubby will be. As she is entering First Grade, I like the idea of showing the children what to expect, before classes actually begin.

As you can see Savannah is a very happy First Grader!

• I’m so proud of her and Iknow she is going to be soaking it all in, as Savannah loves to learn things and is so proud when she accomplishes them. Go Savannah! Have a great school year!
• Going back to Weight Watchers was a very good thing. In the last three days, I have written everything down that I have eaten, and I have not put one bad, sugary thing into my mouth! In fact, today I stood chopping vegetables for my salad and for dinner tonight. I also made a fabulous chicken salad for lunch and Swordfish is on the menu for dinner.

So the week has been very positive all the way around. My family is happy and healthy and going forward. What a wonderful time for us all.

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

Another week has come and gone. This was sort of a crazy week. I didn’t get a lot done around the house, but I was pretty busy. So, here are the top 5 things that kept me busy this week.

1. A friend is coming to visit from Germany. She wanted to know a good coastal route from Boston north to visit some of the prettier places in our area. Now New England is just full of beautiful coastal places and it was tough to plot out a trip, but I came up with a nice, easy journey, stopping in Gloucester, Massachusetts, Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Freeport, Maine. I’ve made maps, and directions and I’m excited to share all of this with her!
2. We’ve started to take Anneliese with Arnie with us when we go out to get the mail. Anneliese loves to go for rides, we just need to train her to stop barking at everything that moves (including Arnie’s tail!). She get’s so excited when we prepare to go out and waits at the door looking at us with pleading eyes, “Oh take me too!”
3. I saw a funny thing on the lawn today. It was a gray squirrel holding an apple in his mouth while running the length of the lawn back to his home in the stone wall! Honestly, it was hilarious. I wish I had my camera right there to capture that!
4. My back is better. When I did wake in the night with a twinge, I would roll on my side and pull up my knees sort of in the fetal position and this seemed to help. I slept from 9 PM on Wednesday until 7 AM on Thursday! A really good night’s sleep!
5. Today finds we doing laundry and sort of setting myself up for a free weekend. Saturday I want to attend a Craftfair uptown, and Sunday I’m heading south to see Mandy, Matt, and the kids! It’s supposed to be really hot, so I am planning to get in a nice swim in the pool with my grandchildren! Monday, I get the kids all to myself, as their schools are closed as the teachers prepare for the school year. I am thrilled! I get an entire day with two of my favorite people!

Wow! I sure love these two!

The end of another week and I find that although I am trying quite hard to keep things simple and low key, things are happening around me that are both exciting, and on the other hand Poigniant. So here are this weeks Friday Five.

 

1. Greta. My goodness I’m just heartbroken. She continues her slow deterioration and I try so hard to keep her comfortable and happy, but I am losing this battle. I don’t want to be the one to make this decision, but I feel that very soon I will have to. When Fritz died it was all out of my hands. Fritz had an aneurysm rupture and he went so quickly. With Greta, it has been a long good-bye.
2. We are starting to plan out a trip this Fall. We never travel anymore, so this trip to get together with other Army Otter and Caribou Association members is something we are really looking forward to. When we first joined the association was a large group of men and their wives. However, over the last 25 years, so many of the gang have passed away. But, it’s exciting to go and renew old friendships, and also see places we have not spent time in.
3. Our maps arrived for our trip. Have I ever confessed that I am a Map Junkie? I love maps, good maps, I love following along and finding my way through crazy places. So far we have mapped out a good, easy route for our trip.
4. I’ve decided that I am over summer! Well, not the bright sunny skies, but the heat and humidity part. It just seems to go on and on!
5. I’ve really been enjoying looking back at our time living in Germany. I will do a few more posts next week and share more pictures.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

 

I’ve been enjoying reminiscing about my time in Germany. I will do more next week, but as usual, here is my Friday Five.

Our summer has been one of the hottest ones that I can remember. Each day it is well over 80 degrees and for the last few weeks, many days have been over 90 degrees which is not usual for New Hampshire! Life is full of hot, humid, air masses and cranky individuals! Oh yes, and we have had a lot of rain! So as we enter the second weekend of August here is what’s happening in my corner of the world!

1. The hospital still has not called with a date for Jack’s Moh’s Surgery. It kind of ticks me off that this is happening. He really needs to get in and finish having cancer removed. As it is, the area is not healing, and it concerns me very much!
2. Lili is pretty funny these days. She will bark at Jack to get him to go outside.

   

   Then, when he does, she follows him for a few minutes, and then wants to come back into the air-conditioned house! She cracks me up!

3. Poor Anneliese has her allergy to grass and grass pollen back.

   

   It just doesn’t seem fair that a short little dackel like her should be allergic to grass! It causes her to break out on her belly and get little hot spots. I bathe her with special soap and then once she is dry put on her cream.

4. We met our new neighbors. They’re a really nice family with a daughter named Emily! It makes me remember the days when my sweet Emily lived right next door. Now she is all grown up, and a married lady with a baby of her own!
5. This weekend, I plan the usual, laundry, cleaning, and kicking back. I love the weekends!

Have a great weekend everyone!