Moving In and Out of Time here in Maine--- Saturday March 7th. Son shoved snow early. It's WET.

An Engraved Beetle.... I will go back and find names and makers for you.  Isn't it lovely?  Made of Copper and Rose Gold.   Beetle is by Jonathan W Gemmell.  He might have an instagram feed.

There is a chill in the house......I have heat turned up but the spaces in the large rooms are too much and it's Maine...who knows what the situation is behind the walls- insulation????? House was built during a BOOM and supplies were limited...  the bedrooms are warmer as I had work done there...but we never made it to the living room, dining room and kitchen....I doubt there is much insulating this room from the back wall of the garage.   I am waiting for Spring and 50 degrees....I can managed 50 degrees. Right now I use a heating pad on lowest setting to warm up my down lap throw...while watching British Soccer or reading books.

Houses here were for Spring, Summer and Fall...then everyone packed up for Florida for the Winter. I am living in a Maine Summer House.  365.  The Boiler is working hard.   I might consider Florida in the decade to come but just for the Winter....a balcony over looking some water...paper, brushes and paint. Sounds like a decent retirement.  80 to 88.  Outliving all my dead relatives.  

Well, that might be a Pipe Dream.....today I will finish reading a book, watch Soccer and miss out on Saturday cooking shows due to PBS Fundraising.   My Lunch Buddy said I could actually get ALL the PBS content of mysteries etc on Am. Prime.  Which might be why the Fund Raising has become Quarterly rather than Annually.  Smarter People than ME have gone over to Prime.

Well, I need to go find the Beetle information for you...... 

 

Daily Notes for Friday March 6th.....light snow overnight. ( less than predicted) 31 degrees

 Daughter and I were tossing old Women's Club Newsletters from the 1980's and I found this black and white drawing....of the Taunus.  I added some colored pencil.   Frankfurt really did look like this back then and probably still does.  But not these colors....  my drawing.  Possibly copied from a photo.  The years of college art classes not wasted.

Daughter got invested in "organizing" the CD piles....husband had "his" music and I had mine.  I went for symphonies and old style rock and roll.  And Edith Piaf.  I play her most often.  I had a few things mixed into husband's stash...things that were originally mine....so NEW things to listen to while I repair this antique quilt.   I like the repair work- it goes slowly and it's just a tuck and tack..not the intense embroidery I usually get involved in.  Daughter now gets to remove the address labels from husband's CD's before they go to Goodwill. 

A large cardboard box containing all the tubes of acrylic printing ink and acrylic paint came down from the Attic. Really HEAVY BOX.... the acrylic paint tubes were  hard....so we set them up by the south facing kitchen radiator- on the floor under the table holding blooming plants.  Daughter will to happy- the tubes are now pliable.  Ready for art work.  Or Goodwill.  I'm going to give myself a "grace period" to consider reviving my painting career.......which just means making stuff for myself.

This morning I was considering making another Baltimore style quilt top.  I love the one I have hanging in my bedroom.  I love the leaves I hand appliquéd all around.  I want that sort of thing again...once more before I am too old.  And my fingers and joints go stiff.  Too.stiff to hold a needle.  Or a paint brush. But hopefully still able to hold book.  And eyes still able to read that book.

Daily Notes for Thursday, March 5th. Sunshine here in Maine. 37 degrees

 Some color other than WHITE to brighten your day...and mine.  

I slept well and was up earlier than usual.  My "Interpersonal Contact with Humans" has been less than positive lately...I was almost to the point of closing down this blog and my email.  Almost.  But I will persevere..... Life at 80 is not a Popularity Contest.  It's a Long Distance Slog. No Prize at the end.

Daughter and I went thru several boxes (from the endless supply in the Attic) and sorted buttons- yes, a LOT of buttons....before they head over to Goodwill (possibly already gone as daughter is very efficient) anyone need buttons?????  Buttons are gone....I saved the ones I had gotten from my grandmother's house...  Depression Era- she did not throw anything away that might be needed...zippers, buttons, thread. She saved bones to make soup broth.  Every bone.  Always had a garden. I saved the 1900's buttons.. Rather large....or very tiny.....  My Heavy Black Wool Coat will eventually need a button.

I spent...it seems....way too much time with my grandmother...picked up all the Deep Depression Era NEED to hoard things... SAVE everything.  Even socks with holes in them... which I mend....Sweaters are heavily mended with the thin spots supported by a donor sweater (elbows).  I can only wear them in public WITH a coat over the entire outfit.  Other wise I look "homeless".  (I'm told)--25 cent LLBEAN reject pants........I refuse to pay $90 for a new pair of pants that look identical to the 25 cent pants.  And it's Winter- no one sees my pants.  No one sees ME!!!!

It's really really difficult to find a NICE good quality sweater these days ....odor free.  I am even okay with paying $$$ for cashmere.  But what is being sold is so thin you can see you hand thru the wool.  

So I mend.   We also packed up a large box full of husband's shoes...even a brand new pair he never wore. And his collection of hats. Going to the local Goodwill.   Took awhile to get over all that letting go. Surprised it was shoes and ball caps.    

I am noticing that I didn't post yesterday. Today is Wednesday the 4th of March 38 degrees

 I will add any image I can find that brings bright color to a world right now that is mostly dark. And unfortunately on FIRE.

My oatmeal was good, I didn't tip off my chair and smash my forehead (my worst fear) while pulling on my smart wool socks.   The Sun is shining here in Maine...no morning newspaper. (overnight snow)..the day feels off center minus the paper.  Yes, here in Maine you don't get a morning newspaper if it snows overnight..... ?????.  

The engineer has figured out the snow blower and is now a Big Fan... some of the problems, I think, were misuse by husband...getting settings messed up etc.   Now it's working as it should.

I haven't selected a book for today as yet.... I might select Getting Rid of Bradley by Crusie.  

Yesterday daughter brought down two more boxes and we sorted buttons and beads etc....lots of buttons... I was wondering what I had in mind for them...........We filled a good sized cardboard box with all that "stuff" I was buying and NOT using????? and now it's sorted into sandwich bags and headed for Goodwill--the one we like.  We have two nearby Goodwill places....we like one better than the other.

And I found my box of Deb Thread.....in a closet on a shelf...and yes Deb there was tangerine and a yellow green.... and what ever other color I was wanting....all in the box.  Ready to GO. Now I have to try and remember why I wanted it.

Here in Maine- and for sure everywhere else....the MOON has been very very bright and shines into my bedroom windows and off the snow covered yard.  Making it difficult for me to fall asleep.... I wake up tired.   So.....Getting Rid of Bradley, a reheat of my Morning Coffee, and whatever else comes my way. And I think a grilled cheese and pickle sandwich for lunch.   I STILL haven't made SOUP!!!!!

My hair is actually- a few days a week- looking quite nice...it's starting to regain the curl....not that the curls are organized in any way shape or form....  Just shine silver curls.  

Well, I have list here to my left of authors I like...so I'll see if they have written anything new...