Packing & Riding

Today we started getting ready for our trip to Washington, DC. We pulled out the suit cases, decided which clothes to wear, shoes, etc. I finished up the laundry, then went and had my hair stylist tidy up my hair.

I raced home and cooked dinner for Emily and our house sitter, Dori. The two of them will take care of the dogs and stay here while we are gone.

Everything is pretty much set now. All that’s left is to pack the car and actually drive the 10 hours to get there. A lot of people don’t like long car rides, but I actually do. It’s funny. When Hubby and I go on these long road trips we bring all sorts of music to listen to, but in the end, we seem to talk the entire way.

Twenty years together and we still have so much to say to each other. I hope that never ends!

We’re staying at a nice hotel, attending Hubby’s Army Reunion where we laugh, tell funny stories and jokes and see people we enjoy, but only get to see once a year.

Our visit will include a White House tour, a tour of the new Air and Space Museum and just some relaxing down time alone. We’ll be there for 5 days before heading back home.

Of course I am bringing my laptop so I can stay in touch with you all. I’m afraid I fall into the category of the Internet Addicted.

Yep, time to pack and ride!

Pant Suits & Blouses

Have I mentioned that I love my Hubby lately?

Well, I’ll tell you, today he took me shopping, at a one day sale at Macy’s, and he found for me a really gorgeous light gray suit with powder blue lining and a matching shirt. The gray suit has the thinest thread of the same powder blue running through to form a pinstripe! It is so beautiful! Best of all, it flatters my figure and I feel comfortable in it.

Hubby has great taste in clothes for me. When he picks something out, most of the time I feel like a million dollars in it. Probably because he likes it too. He wanted to get a second blouse to go with it, and we stopped in at Coldwater Creek, where I got a pretty white blouse there.

All of this shopping was done in the 90+ degree heat and I was so glad when we were done and got to come home to the air conditioning.

So, I never did find a dress. I’m not sure I liked any that I tried on. So many of them show too much skin or are tents that make me look extremely fat, or worse yet, pregnant!

You know a few years ago, I was going through a plump phase. A little rounder than I am right now. Anyway, I found, what I thought was the cutest pant suit to wear to a reunion. I modeled it for Hubby, who said the color was nice, but he didn’t think it flattered my figure.

Oh I thought he was being so mean. So I brought it with us, and one evening I put it on and wore it to the cocktail party.

One of the men we know well came up to us smiling broadly and took my hand and shook it and said, “Oh dear this is wonderful! You look great, when is the baby due?”

I wanted to die, right there. But of course what do you say?

I smiled sweetly and said, “I’m not pregnant, I’m just fat!” And then I smiled some more.

Since then, I never wear anything until Hubby gives me his honest appraisal.

I always felt bad for that man, but I bet he has never done that to any other woman either! LOL

Saturday Scavenger Photo

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MUSIC

When I was four years old I tried out for a part in the community production of “The King and I”. Much to everyone’s surprise I was given a part. That of the King’s youngest child, the one that slides in at the last second near his feet going the wrong way. The King lovingly picks up the bowing child and turns her around and places her in line with all the others. I sang, and I got all made up with thick pancake make-up and hair color spray to make me look like a Siamese child. I can still recall showering after and watching all that brown make-up wash down the drain.

But my best memories are of all the singing we did with the woman who played Anna. Her name was Fuzzy and she loved all of us kids, or at least we thought she did, and it made every performance that much more fun.

This first picture was taken during rehearsal. I just love those little girl curls of mine!

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The second is at the end of the performance. I am the first child in the first row, on the right, looking at the King and Anna. Even though I was only four I remember so much of this first performance in my community theater.

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Lucky Lady

I was up early, made a quick breakfast and then hopped in my car and headed off to spend the day with my daughter. Do you all know how much fun it is to have a grown up daughter? For those of you who do, isn’t it great? For those of you whose kids are still growing, just wait! It gets really good!!!

I arrived at her place about 9:30, patted my grand kitties, and then we dropped her car off for service. Next, we headed to the mall. Neither one of us had been to this particular mall in years, and aside from Macy’s and Starbucks (yes, I was brave enough to go inside and get a cup of coffee!) the mall was a real disappointment.

However, I got a few tops at Macy’s on sale for $9.99 each and a dress, as well as a cute skirt.

Then we were off to the LL Bean Outlet, where I got the cutest blouse, and then decided I should look for some new hiking boots. So, I went back to the shoe section and began hunting for some comfortable boots. The first and second pair felt horrible and quickly went back on the shelf, but the third pair fit perfectly and felt like bedroom slippers! I looked at the price and it read:

$9999.99!!!!

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Now that is some hefty price for hiking boots! I Took them up to the check out counter and asked the girl if this was the real price? And if it was, was it perhaps because they were magical boots? LOL!

Yes, it was a tremendous mistake that took several minutes to figure out. In the end they were $81.99, a much more manageable price! They came home with me too.

The best part part of my day though, was sitting at Bugaboo Creek having lunch with my daughter. For that hour it was just us talking, and enjoying each other. I really am a lucky lady.

I dropped her off to get her car and then headed home late in the afternoon. My ride didn’t seem so long because my friend Gail and I got a chance to talk on our cell phones and play catch up on life. Gail and I have been best friends since we were 13 years old! We met at summer camp. This is our 35th year of friendship!

When I arrived home, Hubby and the pups were all so happy to see me. Greta even sang me a sweet doggy song, then Hubby took me out for fish and chips. That was great too.

Now I am ending my day, in my pajamas with Greta by my side, thinking I am one very lucky lady.

Labor Day Thoughts

It’s a holiday weekend here in the USA. It’s Labor Day. The official end to the summer. We live in an area that is popular with summer guests. They arrive the last weekend in May, which is Memorial Day and seem to flood our streets, stores and parks until Labor Day.

I grew up on Cape Cod, with it’s narrow streets and back roads, but truly lovely beaches. People come by the thousands to enjoy their time on “the Cape”. Those of us that lived there year round, always looked forward to the end of summer when life would return to normal, and now here I am in New Hampshire, faced with the same tourist problems.

I used to get all upset about it, but then I realized that I was really the lucky one. I get to live here year round! The tourists only see it in the summer. To live here and witness the autumn, the winter and the spring is fantastic!

So today when Hubby and I went out to get a few things at the store and we were stuck in traffic and then had to wait in long lines I just smiled, feeling happier than I have in a while.

I’m living with the man of my dreams, in the most beautiful part of New Hampshire and we not only have our home, but 4 pretty nice dogs to keep us company.

It doesn’t get any better than this!

A Beautiful But Odd Day!

After some really awful hot and humid weather, a cold front moved through, bringing with it cool dry air and bright sunny skies. As is common with the passing of a cold front, today also was a tad windy, but it was a gentle breeze that made you feel good.

Hubby and I were up early to go off and get a few errands done. He had a tire problem to solve and I had some unmentionable clothing problems to solve.

Hubby dropped me at the Outlet Mall and then he headed off to the tire center. I was a wee bit early so I sat talking to a woman about nothing in particular, just enjoying being out in the wonderful weather.

Soon the stores opened and I stopped in to get some new underwear. Usually I get boring old white in the style I like, but today they had these funky colors that I can only describe as watermelon color. One watermelon flesh color, one green and one sort of yellowish. Pretty, but definitely wild and totally unlike what I usually wear. So for the next year or so I’ll be feeling funky even if no one can see why!

Then I went to another store to buy something I really hate to buy, but well, I’m a woman, over 40 and let’s face it. There are certain areas of my body that need help staying up.

The very kind sales lady offered to measure me. She asked what size I’d been wearing. I told her. She laughed.

Then she took a tape measure and began to measure me in all sorts of places that I don’t always let Hubby touch! Her judgment? I was seriously undersizing my unmentionable area.

She brought me several of these items. I tried them on and realized that the “girls” were not the same size or shape, nor had they stayed where God had actually placed them twenty or so years ago.

I stood there staring at my former perky friends, and it dawned on me.

Gravity!

Need I say more?

Thursday Thirteen #51

Thursday 13

Things I Did Today

1. Got up and walked the dogs.
2. Made breakfast and cleaned it up.
3. Put on the double batch of Heavenly Jam (peach) to cook. (It took about three hours)
4. Got the canning jars out and in a pot to boil and sanitize.
5. Pitted 3 pounds of plums and chopped them up to make jam.
6. Did four loads of laundry.
7. Made a potato salad to have with lunch.
8. Made pita pocket sandwiches to go with the potato salad.
9. Had lunch.
10. Canned the Heavenly Jam. 15 jars!
11. Cleaned up the kitchen and started the plums to cook.
12. Canned 10 jars of Plum Jam! My favorite!
13. Made stuffed zucchini for dinner and cleaned it up!

A Dress

I need a dress.

Now I never wear dresses anymore. Up here in New Hampshire I find my general mode of dress to be jeans and either turtlenecks in the winter and t-shirts in the summer. Occasionally I’m forced to wear a skirt and then it is a jean skirt.

I’m simply a casual sort of girl. I mean, why buy a fancy dress when you are going to have four dogs jump all over it? Jeans work fine for me.

However, we’re going to an event and I need a dress. Now I enjoy shopping for dresses about as much as I enjoy shopping for dress pants, bathing suits or shorts. It’s just not on my top ten list of “fun” things to do, but do it I must.

I wonder what sort of style I should go for. Quiet and conservative? That’s what I usually go for and then I’m not happy with the end result. Perhaps I should try something a little bold and daring. Show a little cleavage!

I can see it now. Me and Hubby on the dance floor in my new dress dancing the night away.

Hmmmmm. Maybe getting a new dress could be a good thing.

Sunday, Busy Sunday

What a Sunday we had!

We were up early with the pups, had coffee and breakfast and then headed to our local community park where we can walk the dogs and let them swim in a lake there. We wanted to get an early start so that we didn’t have to deal with high temperatures and the high humidity.

No one was there when we arrived and so once we were down the path a bit we let the dogs off the leash and let them run. Oh what a joy it is to see the dogs running fast and free through the woods.

The walk went faster than usual due to their quick pace and soon we arrived at the lake. Hubby had brought with him two sticks to throw for the older dogs and he started right off with them.

Hubby and Fritz
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Fritz and Greta swimming.
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Anneliese watching her Mum.
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The puppies were so interested and they also went in. Once even swimming out a ways in the lake. I wish I had been faster with my camera.

I did, however, manage two pictures of them at the shoreline. Here is Arnie.
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And Anneliese.
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We came home and I rinsed off their mud, and we had our lunch outside on the patio while we watched the dogs. Lunch consisted of our first corn on the cob from our garden!

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During lunch Hubby noticed Anneliese rolling around in the grass. Not a good thing. This usually means that she has found something terribly stinky to perfume herself with. Yep, that was it. Apparently it was so stinky smelly that Arnie just had to share the joy and he also rubbed his newly clean body in it.

So out came the towels and the doggy soap and once again, I was giving doggy baths. Then I wrapped them up in towels and brought them inside the house.

We watched the Red Sox trample the White Sox on the television and then went out to meet our friends for dinner at a Swiss/German restaurant. I had wiener schnitzel and Hubby did too. Dessert was tobler cake and ice cream. Yum!! I think I should stop eating for a few weeks now!

The day ended with us watching mindless television and playing quietly (ha) with the dogs. One thing is for sure, it is seldom quiet when I play with the dogs!

It was a good Sunday though, a very good, Sunday!

It’s Always Something

I got out of bed as usual this morning and took all four dogs into the kitchen. I switched on the coffee maker and then headed for the back yard with the beasts. All performed well and I staggered back into the house to turn on the computer and drink my coffee while I read my email.

I pushed the power button and nothing happened. I pushed it again, and again nothing. I panicked. Had my computer somehow died in the night without telling me?

Then I had an idea. I would use Hubby’s laptop A/C adapter and see if that helped. Sure enough, the computer came right on and showed me that my battery was completely dead. Once I had charged the battery a little I took my laptop back to it’s original adapter and tested it.

The adapter is dead.

I plugged my laptop back in with Hubby’s adapter and charged the batteries, but now I knew I would need to replace the A/C adapter.

All this before my first cup of coffee!

Hubby got up and about that time I called several stores to inquire about replacement A/C adapters. $129.99!!! (GASP!!!)

Hubby got on his laptop and started looking. He found my adapter offered on Ebay and we have ordered it for $37.00 shipping included!

In the meantime his Dell A/C adapter fits my Gateway and it is doing double duty keeping both machines charged.

This is the first time my A/C adapter has quit working on any of my laptops. So I am a little surprised.

But then again, it’s always something!