What I Did This Past Weekend

Miss Marple 2

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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In the last few months I have faced uncharted territory.  I figured I had a small and insubstantial cancer, when in fact I have had to switch gears and recognize that in many cases, cancer is cancer and must be fought with every fiber of ones being.

It’s been a real roller coaster ride for me since the day in February when Dr. A called me and told me that the biopsy came back positive.

I thought it meant a quickie surgery, a couple of stitches, and then it would be done.

But then, cancer is cancer, right? Nothing is that simple.

Before I knew it, I had surgery, lost a large portion of my nose and I looked like the elephant man. I went into shock.

And I became depressed.

How can one not get depressed when they are really counting on the happily ever after and suddenly have to face the fact that it will be a long road.

For a while I couldn’t even think of my summer garden. I’ve had one for years and enjoyed it so much. But this year, it seemed like more than I could think of.

Then a few days before my latest surgery we were shopping in Walmart and I was in the garden center when I saw a seed section. My mind began to think about the joy, the love I have with growing our vegetables.

So, I went over and started grabbing packets of seeds. Hubby got me some wonderful soil and we came home.

I knew all my supplies were there, I just needed to sit down and do it.

So, on Sunday, I went out and while listening to my MP3 player, and with the company of my dogs, I started all my seeds (except my peas and beans, which I plant right in the ground).

You see, a garden is life’s way of giving me hope. Hope for a complete recovery, hope for a future of health and happiness.

As I potted the soil and put in the seeds I laughed, smiled and a tear fell from my eyes. One day I want to teach Savannah all about planting a garden. I want her to see how wonderful it is to plant a seed and watch it grow into something you can eat!

Time To Plant The Seeds!

Today I will have Hubby set me up at a table with a spade, my seeds, and the cups for planting the seeds.

Yes, today will be seed starting day!

I am determined to get these seeds started now, so that around June the first I can plant the plants in the garden.

This year I got disease resistant seeds for the zucchini and summer squash and cucumbers. The last couple of years I have had a little problem with powdery mildew and then leaf curl.

I’ll be buying my tomato plants and my eggplant plants. Now doesn’t that sound funny?

I was peaking outside today and noticed that the lilacs and forsythia are starting to open their buds.

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The next week we will have temperatures in the 60’s, so I am thinking that the shrubs will start to really blossom out!

Oh, I just love spring in New England!

Green Grass

Friday found spring coming to New Hampshire. Temperatures soared into the 70’s and the sun shined down upon us!

Hubby has gotten the garden fertilized and also plowed the soil. I decided that despite the surgery I will still plant a garden! We will pick up our starter soil either today or tomorrow.

Once I am home from the hospital I will have Hubby set me up with a table, chairs, the soil, planters and seeds and I will get my plants going. As long as I have the plants going by the end of the month I’ll be okay.

So I went to bed last night and shortly after I did the rain began to fall and we had our first thunder storm. I lay there listening to the rain, thinking how nice it sounded after a winter of snow.

When I got up on Saturday morning, I looked outside and our previously winter brown grass had turned green! Yes, spring is here!

After watching nearly nonstop TV coverage of the terrorism suspects, on Saturday I used streaming TV to watch Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservations” and “Love it or List It”. I simply need to get away from all the distressing news.

So, life is settling in to it’s usual pattern, and Hubby and I are enjoying the first hours of spring.

Snow…Again

OK. I am ready for spring. I sat here, all day on Wednesday and Wednesday night, watching the snow fall. Worst of all, it is supposed to snow well into Thursday night!

Now I leave early on Friday morning to go to my sister’s home. I do not like to drive in snowy weather, and since this trip Hubby is staying home with the dogs, I will be forced to drive myself!

If this was an ordinary visit, I’d probably put it off, but this is the weekend of my niece’s bridal shower, so I cannot miss it!

It’s funny, not even the dogs want to be outside! And even Hubby has stayed inside, away from all that wet horrible white stuff!

I spent the day cleaning up my Facebook page and locking it down. I suddenly found my page full of junk and once I had switched passwords, I went through and deleted things, and made it slightly harder for people to “see me”.

So please everyone. Keep your fingers crossed that Friday will be nice enough for my little trip!

What We Did This Weekend

Miss Marple 2

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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Sunday morning found us waking to this!

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It’s not that we minded the beauty of the snow, but both Hubby and I are sort of over the magic of the snow this year!

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Looking out into the back yard we were amazed at the depth as well as the sheer awesomeness of the clinging snow!

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The dackels loved going out and running through the snow. Anneliese especially! She just runs and jumps and plays! It made me laugh, which was nice!

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Fritz was out and about patrolling the yard! He will stay with me, but gives Hubby and the snow blower a wide berth.

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This is one of our peach trees that is just covered with the thick, heavy, snow!

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Can you see the heart snow flake? That’s my neighbor’s home.

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And last but not least, Hubby and his snow blower!

And it is still snowing!!!

This & That

You know, I love my new parka. You remember, the one I got a couple of weeks back? We have had nothing but freezing temperatures, and winds that gust to 50+ miles an hour, and when I need to go out and walk the dogs, that parka is the only thing standing between me and becoming a giant icicle!

It’s a down parka you know. With a down filled hood, which keeps the wind from my sensitive ears!

For the first time in many, many, years I have not been getting cold when I am outside, and that is a miracle!

Sunday night when I went to bed, I lay there listening to the wind roaring outside. I hoped when I woke on Monday morning the wind would have died down, but that was not the case. We have at least one more day of it before the wind stops, and we get more SNOW!

I cannot complain about snow up here. Frankly, my sister who lives well south of me, has gotten so much more snow than I have. However, I am over snow this year and would really like an early spring.

How about you?

Blizzard of 2013

We woke to blustery winds and heavy snow on Saturday. The snow was already well past a foot deep, so that when I opened the door for the dackels to go outside they all glared at me, and turned around and hid in their beds.

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You cannot see the other side of our lake in these pictures. Usually we have a good view, but during a blizzard, it’s pretty tough.

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This is out our front door looking down on the lake. See that little house on the lake? That’s a “Bob” House, where fishermen set up to ice fish.

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Fritz is an incredible help to his Dad when he is blowing snow! You almost cannot see him!

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Here is Hubby, working so hard to clear all the snow! He spent hours on Saturday clearing the driveway and steps.

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I wonder how long all this snow will last. I hear by midweek we will have warmer temperatures.

Blizzard?

So, are you ready? I watched the news and then the weather channel, and then looked at the National Weather Service, and they all say we will be getting 18-24 inches of snow over the next 24-36 hours.

I’m ready. I filled the cars with gas. I shopped for food. I got my roots done. Oh wait, when you know you might be snowed in for a week, don’t you run out and get your roots done? No? Well, it’s in the top 5 of things to do before the snow flies!

Hubby and I also cleaned the carpet in our bedroom with the new super dooper, carpet cleaner that we purchased yesterday! Wow! It did a good job, and now my bedroom smells wonderful!

So, blizzard, bring it on. I have plenty of DVD’s to watch, and meals planned that do not require long cooking times in the oven.

Well, to all my New England readers, keep me posted on your snowfall. In turn, I shall keep you posted on ours!

Happy Friday!!!

The Sun Came Out!

The fog finally burned away and the sun came out and we had temperatures that rose up into the 50’s (f)! After lunch I sent Hubby out to do some doggy duty in the yard, as the melting snow revealed a mound of poop in the yard! Just think how fertilized our back yard will be this spring!

Fritz was his constant companion, watching him, and making sure that Hubby did it correctly. Ah, what a faithful dog!

While the boys were out I discovered a new show (or new to me) ‘Love it or List It’. Have you seen that show? These two people come in, a Real Estate Agent and a Renovator, and they each have a job to do. The Renovator tries to remake the house into their dream home, while the Realtor tries to find them a better home. Fascinating show, and I did not agree with any of the outcomes!

I need to actually do my hair and make up each day, so as not to scare the customers! Today I tried out a simple pony tail, and I was shocked that my hair was long enough to do this! And it didn’t look half bad! (I think!)

Tomorrow I go shopping for food. Since I’m working this week, I need to actually plan the meals, and by that I mean, plan easy meals. Easy to throw together and easy to clean up. I also need to plan my lunches to take with me. My work literally takes me out away from any fast food, or easily obtainable salads. So bring lunch, I must!

Hubby will simply have to manage on his own for a few days. I’m thinking he will more than likely hit Subway or McDonalds!

Have a great Tuesday Everyone!

Snowy Days

So, what do you do on a snowy day like we had on Saturday? The weather forecasters said we would get light snow. Perhaps 1-3 inches. The National Weather Service in Grey Maine said 3-5. No one predicted the hard, at time blizzard like conditions that found me asking myself, why on earth I live this far north?

Nor did anyone predict the 20 car accident on the highway near my home. At least, thankfully, no one was hurt.

I admit that it was very pretty to watch it today. Hubby helped me and we made clam chowder from scratch. That’s New England Clam Chowder, all creamy and nice!

About the time that I set the chowder on the back burner to slowly cook, Hubby went outside to use the snow blower. I knelt in front of the hearth and laid a lovely fire. I have to brag a little in my ability to make a fire that not only catches quickly, but burns nicely and evenly!

This talent stems back to the early days of living in the house. The heat was only under the basement floor to begin with, and first one up in the morning had to make a fire to warm the house. I was always up first, and so I wanted that fire going strong fast and throwing a lot of heat!

Anneliese is better today. The pain medication seems to really be helping her.  I have had her out in the snow and she’s done just fine. Her medication is just a miraculous drug!

I just heard we may have more snow tomorrow. I’m simply not going to believe any of it!

I sure need a vacation to some place hot and dry right now! I’m really not enjoying the snowfall.

Bah!