Daily Notes for Tuesday, February 10th. Sunshine, Snow and 24 degrees

 Well, I sent the image twice and it hasn't arrived so I am giving up on it.  Not much is working here on the desktop this morning...well, closer to noon than morning.   I woke up feeling fine and now I have some muscle aches on the left side of my back...

Image arrived....a Pear I painted years ago and had framed...Two Pears..A Pair.

When a day starts out like this....it's really not going to get any better.

I have Doubles Curling. set to record today... USA might get a Gold Medal.

So...I had some chocolate graham crackers with hot tea yesterday as my Book Reading Refreshments. The book I was reading was NOT the one I wanted to read....and I haven't a clue as to the title of the one I wanted to read.   Guy walks out on girlfriend with a baby....she runs garage sales etc for people to earn a living.  Car explodes at the end.   Is that enough to find the book??????

Got nothing more today....need to find something to occupy my brain..  I read over my book list and the book I did want to read....isn"t in the listing...so I'll check the bookcase.... I do not like it when a book is stuck in my head and any others just "won't do".

Daily Notes- later than usual. Monday, February 9th. BRIGHT sunshine and lots of SNOW

 Turmeric Tea.   I was on some strange diet- can't recall why--- and made lots of things with turmeric .. Very good for one's health.   I might try a cup today.... I also only used rice to make things. It did help. The strange diet did help reset my body and so many things corrected themselves....

Elimination Diet....I had a very very bad skin rash...doctor said he'd given me the strongest meds (steroids) but nothing worked....so the diet....which worked...  I used the Vitamix to grind white rice to make rice flour. And made the most ridiculously tasteless rice muffins (no egg, no dairy).  My cross the street neighbor was into that sort of thing so I made HER a batch....she loved them..... I also blitzed carrots into a "soup" for her.  The Vitamix got the soup really HOT.  It wasn't bad but I did add heavy cream to my bowl....

Son made some fantastic nachos yesterday for halftime of the Super Bowl...  The Patriots have never really done well playing Seattle.  Never.   And yesterday was really ...omg.   I sorted a bag of DebL's beautiful scraps during most of it......I plan on making a small nine patch...today. Curling. Is On.

I had to go back and see if I had already mentioned Turmeric in the last post...I loose track easily.

Nice hot shower this morning....clean hair... quite wild and white...it's at that turning point...not long or heavy enough to be tamed and still short enough to scramble itself.  Swirls....and curls.

My coffee has cooled down too much and it's very bitter... the last of this jar of instant decaf...I have a new one in the cupboard waiting....different brand... possibly better?????  I am going off the trail here and not having daughter buy the Organic Fair Trade one.  Which I am having now...a bit too bitter for me.  I am going to drink the "usual got nothing going for it" instant store brand coffee.  Less bitter. Less everything.

I am enjoying my oranges...they are sweet, juicy and rather perfect.  This week.

I watched  a Julia Roberts movie-- the last 15 minutes of it...."I'm just a guy..standing in front of a girl" etc.   I might watch the whole thing if it's on when Curling is not. Or just record it.. 

Today's book is another Crusie....while I wait for The Lost Husband to be picked up at the Library. The one I have here is about a woman, a baby, and an ex husband and a cop wanting to arrest the husband. It's confusing and really a lot of fun....

Daily Notes- Sunday February 8th. Breakfast was good, Paper was not and New Library System is unusable by ME.

 I have no image for you today....Outside the window I have snow and more snow and very large footprints (holes) in the snow from some animal or person going across the back  "lawn".

I tried to  request a few Evanovich books...but the Library has installed a NEW system that is all pictures... no words.  Pictures of the covers of books....  I tried to look at the catalog where I usually look for things but that's gone or somewhere else.... I gave up. I also tried clicking on a book picture but then it wanted all sorts of information from me.....stuff I was uncomfortable typing into their system.

So...I really gave up.....On them..... on the library.  And you all know how very very much I loved my Library.

Well, I'm going to sit and cry a bit more and tears make it impossible to read or sew.....so until I work thru things I'll just sit and look at the list of books I wanted to order for next week....and realize I won't be ordering them.

I finally realized I could order them from OTHER MAINE LIBRARIES and I DID....they will arrive next week.  It's what I will do from now on......Other MAINE LIBRARIES...  Not mine.

Daily Notes for Cold, Snowy Covered Day in Maine... February 7th. 12:40 is the time stamp.

 Dug an old favorite cup out of the cupboard.  Pansy.   I will try not to drop this one..... Not even 24 hours of use.....as yet.  My grip is not what it used to be and one more cup is in the trash..... I did a few more pages in the shredder but it needs to be emptied into the collection bag for Trash Day.  The shredder part on it is heavy and gets me off balance.  Not something that I should be...off balance....ends in hitting one's head on sharp objects.....I believe that's one of the top causes of death in Old People. Head Injuries.

I worry MORE about that missing woman now that they found her blood on the front steps. Why didn't they find the blood the first day.....that's what I want to know... front steps........

I had to self direct the paragraph I typed regarding what went on yesterday at a certain  House....images etc.... it's his fall back image when feeling "less than"...... I would have played the  Baby Diaper image...with the tag line- "what is that smell???"

I finished Crazy for You and need to choose wisely for today's book...  I'm thinking..... Most Crusie books have a dog, a great looking guy, and some sort of creepy person trying to kill the lead female. I might go to some other author....as a space bar...  what I would really like is a book that makes me laugh out loud...

I'd actually like anything that would make me laugh out loud till I had tears in my eyes.

Daily Notes for Friday, February 6th.....Sunshine, not AS cold. Groceries... No Library.

 Bugs.

Grocery shopping was good- my refill inhaler is generic and looks third world country -ish.  But was $33 instead of ten times that.  The person packing our groceries did a "terrible" job... I got double the number of oranges....the ones at my store are very very good. And Chocolate graham crackers.

They had raspberry filled donuts but had heavily covered them in powdered sugar...I like them naked. I did not buy any,,,,,

I shredded some more paper....but haven't transferred it to the clear plastic Garbage Collection Day Bag as yet. (need three hands)  The little Stationary Area @ the grocery store had just what I wanted... Washable Watercolors in the old school rectangular 8 color set.  With the cheap paint brush....I'll use the nice brushes  I own.  I'm Gonna PAINT.  On index cards.  Not here- if I spill water on the keyboard-- NOT GOOD.

It's too late to send Valentines.....I missed the send date.   But might have a few left over ones to send out to locals.  I like getting holiday cards and assume others do as well...I might be wrong. I AM wrong.

Olympic Curling....I catch a match when I can... when I am not reading.... yesterday (and today's) book is Crazy For You by Jennifer Crusie.   I read it many years ago....this time around I'm older, sadder and not really enjoying the book as much.  I'm identifying with the male characters more than the female.  Feel they are being treated poorly.

My coffee has been reheated too many times- so I will switch over to TEA...with extra sugar or husband's leftover Turbanado Sugar....unless I dumped it??????.  You all have a great day!!!! Don't watch the news.

Another post with no image

It's cold here in the house- I can't image how cold it would be if I went outside.

I am worried about the mother out there wandering in Arizona .......I'm her age but don't have a heart issue or take important meds.....but wandering around, lost in the dark and the cold....I can feel that...I can be afraid of that.......this will not end well.....I HOPE I am wrong.

Another book has gotten itself off the "in transit" list and into the Library.    Waiting for pickup... I shredded more paper....I have a large bag filled with paper that needs to be shredded.....we (daughter) has been emptying drawers and files.  She holds it up and I say yes or no....so I AM helping. She has appointments and will get here when she gets here.....Son has gone out for lunch....while I was having breakfast oatmeal......None of us are on the same schedule.

The shredding reminds me of Lipman's book about Trump in the White House- first time...tearing up every document.  And the staff having to paste them all back together...

Today I am reading Fast Women.   It's like a cross between Perry Mason and Sex in the City. Sort of- I haven't watched much Sex in the City- I just am reminded of the dynamics of it. The clothes, the drinking, and the sex.  Fast Women has that plus a Murder.  Well, more than one. And the guy brings Chinese Food when he visits.....I have been wanting Chinese food since husband died.   Years. Two plus of them.

That's it......I need to check the temp in here...or add more layers.... it's 30 degrees with bright sun outside. Lots of deep snow everywhere.   It was 63 in here- I hadn't turned it up to 66......my fault.  

Daily Notes minus Images. Wednesday, February 4th. Waiting for the Medicare Phone Call. So I can hang up on her.

I can't blame anyone but myself for the lack of an image up top....the iPhone is right here...I could take a picture but..of what?   Snow?  My Socks?  Life here in my house-- very very dull.  My socks are so boring.  I think they are all brown.  I could take a picture of the old phone next to my bed.......

I got out of bed MUCH earlier than usual...way before the morning phone call from Medicare...so I am expecting the phone to ring at any moment now.... Or NOT and that would be a real delight.

I finally remembered to get the temperature  here in the house up to 66 from 60....Bit (ha) chilly in here. When my routine gets just one thing out of order- it's a real free for all.... one book arrived at Library from somewhere else and a few more are in "transit".  I have to let daughter know so she can go pick them up... she is now "in charge of me".  Son has furloughed himself. Sort of a Mom Vacation.

I ate graham crackers while watching Will Smith on Pole to Pole.   It's great that he shows FEAR doing some of that stuff... like swimming under very thick ice. The camera man or woman is in front of him so they are even braver...as those cameras are heavy.  The under water stuff was too scary so I moved on to something less........and it was SO Not the News.

I am going to try and order Lipman's Farce on Trump in the White House.  Remember when I was reading ti and the gal was having to tape all the government papers back together because Trumps tears them all up after finishing reading them?????  Melania ends the book in a huge van holding ALL the White House valuables....heading toward Maine and then Canada and then Greenland?????????

I shoved paper into the shredder....it was therapeutic.  But then I got tired of it...not all that exciting. And read the paper and tried to do the Suduko...Son actually finished the Jumble I gave him...and left it for me to look at.

Finished Bet Me.....I have to choose between Fast Women and Anyone But You for today... Fast Women is very Perry Mason (but with sex and take out food). ..... I've told daughter to buy copies of all the Crusie books for me...even the ONE book I don't like but usually read anyway.

New call: wanting to speak to "the person in charge of the electric bill"l......I said I don't know.......(I pay it but am not in charge of it).  She will call back....later....  I will still be the only person answering the phone.
 

Daily Notes- Tuesday, February third. Sunshine- still lots of snow. 26 degrees

 

Image I added to my wall calendar... This is how it feels after I read the newspaper or watch the news.

1.   I slept well....added water to my bed hair this morning and now it looks curly. white, and okay.

2.  Daughter brought me another pull over zip neck acrylic top....I think it was once mine... and now it's mine again...lighter than the ones I am wearing now....so- more for Spring...when it arrives.

3.  I slept well and my Groundhog Day phone call arrived right on time....I said hello and then hung up. It's a robo call so no one is actually on the phone.   But it's sort of like an extremely annoying alarm clock.

4.  I will be happy when..(they stop calling).I was going to type menopause instead of medicare for the phone call ID...Which is now making me laugh..... Today's book.... I still have 100 pages in Bet Me and then I have to decide on Anyone But You (again) or Fast Women (even more again).  Daughter went to the Library to see what's what.....one additional book did arrived.but after she had left the library.

5.  Daughter and I looked for the silverware....we found other items...a cutting tool to make ribbons of vegetables like sweet potato....and another that did some different cutting...all had Goodwill stickers... this is from the TIME when I wandered around in Goodwill looking for something...anything to buy...I was suffering from Depression......I know that NOW...  The very very lowest of points in my Life...well, other than the months I slept all day, every day....in Germany....before the Women's Club came and hustled me out of the house.  

6. I suffered from Depression almost as soon as our furniture came off the moving van from Chicago. Years of being SO depressed.......I just didn't want to wake up in the morning..... I made it out alive...but I had help- someone came to the house and rang the doorbell until I came to the door....told me to get dressed and we went to lunch.  Saved my Life......No one was coming to save me here in Maine...I had to save myself 30 plus years ago....and will manage to stay afloat now.... because I am refusing to watch the news on tv......makes me cry.

Daily Notes- Monday February 2nd....No clue as to what happened with the Ground Hog.

 No image either....

Daughter is here cleaning out a file cabinet.....moving paper into folders etc.  We plan to look for the missing box of silverware.   Someday. She's in the Attic-- might be today.

I have a growing pile of things to gently place in the shredding machine.  We can recycle shredded material if it's in a clear plastic bag.  I was NOT gentle with my former shredding machine....Not at all. and this one belongs to my daughter..  I think.

Well, I have a book to finish reading....and possibly read the last page and then turn back to the first page if NO Library Books are available.  To pick up.   I could also read the Bodyguard.  Center is the author.

I am warm enough....I have SOUP.  Not watching anything but British Soccer. Politics??....gag me. 

It snowed in Florida...in Georgia....but NOT in Maine...they warned us about Global Warming... I watched that house slip into the water......wow.  I recall cold days while living in South Florida.....Needing a warm coat but not owning one.  Needing the coat inside the HOUSE.

We've got snow piled up higher than I can recall.....3 or 4 feet of it up against the front porch.  Bright Sun not melting anything.

Daily Notes for Sunday February First. Still Cold, Still covered in Snow....

 No image- I don't have anything to share today...

1...Cold here in Maine with Bright Sunshine. 19 degrees.

2...Reading Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie,  I have several other books by this author ordered from other Libraries... They are all listed as "in transit" but that's been a week or more....possibly two weeks...possibly three weeks...perhaps the interlibrary system has collapsed??????   Something has gone wrong ....very very wrong.  This happened once before when a contract with the delivery system couldn't be finalized.   Daughter might be recruited to find and buy them instead.

3.  I had to check last night before I went to bed- to see if I had purchased enough food for the week. I have four and possibly 5 servings of soup...I purchased two, one serving containers of soup...ones I like but not enough to have a whole pot of it waiting to be eaten and I also have ham and cheese fro roll ups..  Today we make PIZZA.  

4.  I didn't buy things to make a salad.  And I am hoping the oatmeal lasts until Friday.  But I do have cream of wheat.  So, I do have breakfast back up.   I worry about breakfast more than any other meal..

5.  I did remember to buy very very beautiful heavy oranges....  four of them... Six days until I can buy more.  I did not buy any bananas...my mistake.

6.  Wrote checks for things.  Everything is so expensive now...Trump really makes a mess of things when he's in office.  He was pretty shady paying his bills when he owned a business.....now he's running OUR business the same way.......  I haven't watched any news shows so I haven't seen him lately- the last time he was reclining on his desk- looked like his back had collapsed on him.   His chin was on the desk top. 

Well, almost. On the desktop.  Son fact checks me.....which is a good thing.... Keeps me on the straight and narrow......I do fabricate.

So that's that......We have more snow on the ground than I have seen in quite a few years- perhaps ten... So the grass under the snow is getting well hydrated...and will perhaps be green??????? this year.  What a THRILL that would be.......Snowdrops have overtaken the top of the tall glass container they are in. Nice and green and sturdy.... one Amaryllis has three leaves now.... a thorny cutting from the woman who was cutting my hair- has roots and several tiny red flowers.  I'm thinking of looking to see if I have sand to mix with potting soil so it can transfer to a clay pot.

Daily Notes for Saturday, January 31st. We have Sunshine here in Maine but 16 degrees..

Got an advertisement in the posts for this sweater.   It looks nice but sort of "too bulky".  And like it would catch on things and the yarn would unravel..... I'm NOT a bulky sweater person...but it did catch my eye. And it is VERY expensive.  Might be cotton- I don't like cotton sweaters. Especially for $400. 

I have one of those choices....Grocery Shopping or Stay at Home.  We are NOT going to the library as there is zero to pick up...my reserves have NOT arrived at the Library even after a week or more...and the sidewalk is often very icy and not shoveled............the Library thing has me worried....seems like things have stopped happening.

I have time to decide.  What will I eat this week??????  I still have leftover soup.  The freezer is empty. Son had hot dogs this week....I was considering them for the coming week......but settled on Grilled Cheese with Sweet Pickles.  I also got Baked Ham and Swiss Cheese--for roll ups.

My Fruit of the Week- Four Gorgeous Navel Oranges.  

Pizza on Sunday......I have one piece left in the fridge- I might be having that after I press print.

"Hell In A Hand Basket" is what is happening.... We need a Hero.....desperately.   And a Hurricane is brewing off the east coast of the US.....like we don't have enough troubles.

 

Daily Notes from a Freezing Cold Maine....The Sunshine has no effect. TEN DEGREES

 

The desk top.   It's REALLY COLD here in Maine this morning... LOTS of Sun and it's only 10 degrees. The furnace is running.....I have it set at 66 degrees.... Son returned my Library books yesterday so he/we didn't have to go out in this cold today.  We have enough food...so grocery shopping was also postponed.  I have LOTS of homemade soup. And a stack of unfinished Suduko Puzzles.

Life as we now know it- really sucks.  Could be worse.....I have to always remind myself- could be worse.

The Snow/Sun Drop bulbs have shot up- the green leaf shoots are up over the rim of the tall glass jar.  The amaryllis has sent up a total of three leaf tips.....the other bulb is doing nothing as yet.....and that might be all it does this year.   If I was grocery shopping today I might have purchased some additional plants for the garden table.   The cactus plant has produced a few pink flowers....

I watched a few Romantic Comedies yesterday....instead of reading..... And I watched The Charge Station shows- CSI-- because they were being shown as full screen.....not the old 70's square version. And eventually I turned that off as well and went over to PBS and watched a documentary about an artist painting portraits of Strong Brave People.......I am hopeful that a book of the portraits and what these brave people achieved is available to purchase at some point in time.  Would be nice to have.. I liked how the artist painted the portrait in one corner or the other and then filled the rest of the canvas with one solid color.  

Well, that's it from here.... I've prepared myself for today's book... Bet Me.  Which always makes me cry. Or I could just read Center's The Bodyguard....which might be the better choice.  I still haven't found a copy of Center's earliest book- The Lost Husband...which would be prefect for today because I have soup..  

I did pass up  A Fall Of Marigolds at Goodwill...an old paperback for one dollar.  What a fool I am some times.....

Daily Notes- Thursday, January 29th. Sunshine and Snow. 16 degrees.

 A neighbor got a new roof on his house yesterday...in the freezing cold temps.  Only he would think that was a great idea. He's needed a new roof for several years now.

I'm getting images of Spring and Summer Flowers in my computer mailbox.Coreopsis. Looks cheerful.

I am showered and dressed in fresh clothing...yesterday's clothes are in the washing machine.  My skin feel dry....House air gets really dry..... now my clothes are in the dryer.

Maine's ICE Guys smashed car windows and dragged a husband and father out of the car and into the armored vehicle and left the mother and 6 day old baby in the smashed car and very cold temps....she didn't know how to drive...... bystanders got her safely home....but she is there alone... 16 degrees and they left her there......left a 6 day old baby to freeze to death. I hope someone does the same to them.

I wondered how I would have managed.....will be thinking about that often today.

I got to a certain spot in yesterday's book....and realized I had read it....well some of it...before.    I won't be finishing it.  I often wonder how books like this one get published.... at some point the Reader just says "I don't care" and stops.  It had great "bones"......needed a MUCH stronger edit.  Lease on Love... Fallon Ballard. Inside cover said it's "cracking... compulsively readable".  It isn't....not at all. 

I have three more books on the Library Shelf....I hesitate to say they will be better.

I have gotten the same Medicare phone call- half dozen times already- I am not addressed by name but told my Medicare Benefits will be "lost" etc.... I hang up.  It's a recorded call- the voice is always the same.. Medicare writes letters..... I know--I have several nice letters...

Daily Notes- Another Day of Retribution.....Steven Miller.....and ICE

 

Todays's newspaper had a small line of type- Steven Miller & ICE.   His Plan. His Idea. And everything falls into place.  Even his OWN bodyguards---lots of them..  The Rat Surfaces.

So, today's morning oatmeal was excellent.... it's cold 19 degrees but we have Sunshine.  

My only real trouble for today......finding something nice to watch on tv.  I was hoping for a movie but might have to SETTLE for Law and Order.  Hallmark had nothing worth watching.  I was hoping for Soccer and there might be one more match recorded.....on the TiVo...if not- then it's the cloth scraps and the old quilt.

I might have to ask son to find me an additional possibility for entertainment..Netflix????  I have a great many Law and Order episodes recorded and can watch them....fast forward thru the dull bits. I do not have many recorded movies....which is a shame.....But what one station takes another gives and right now CHARGE has a few shows I used to watch when the images were full screen...every so often they revert to the small square screen....for months and this time more than year.  It was full screen yesterday. CSI. I watched but....was bored.  What I want today is a good old fashioned MOVIE.

I had the prepared meatloaf dinner yesterday....today I will be having Hot Vegetable Soup. At the table not on the couch.   Largest worry is What Will I Read......I should have asked Son to stop at the Library. He was out the door before the request had formed in my head.

Daily Notes for Tuesday, January 27th. Sunshine and 18 degrees

 I actually colored two index cards.  Getting them to appear here on the screen took much longer than the coloring.

We got more snow overnight... It's Cold and Sunny.....Need sunglasses outside.

Water Main broke yesterday in Town and we had a few hours of wondering- I had a bucket or two of water in case we needed to "flush".   The heating system is "closed" so what ever was inside stayed warm and traveled around the house keeping us warm.

I watched a bit of TV and that wasn't the best use of my time or energy.....or nerves... Antiques Roadshow was okay but I went back to reading......there was a movie I had thought I might watch but realized I just did not have the mental "band width" for it. Either.

What we need in Washington DC is a HERO. Someone Brave and Strong and Intelligent.  I haven't seen anything like that.....the direct opposite?  Yes, Lots of that.   Well, I am going back to the couch. Read, Sew and watch Soccer....  Stay Safe?  I'm asking all of you to do that...or try your best.

Daily Notes on a Complete WHITE Morning in Maine.

 One narrow shoveled path to the front steps.......in case of needing a quick exit.  I can hear the snowblower idling...

I have oatmeal in the microwave and hot water heated for my one a day cup of coffee... I went to sleep last night with the entire state of Maine colored Ice Blue....heavy snow.   It measures well over two feet. But then I'm inside and it's outside.   My oatmeal is beeping.....I'm fine- I am hoping ALL of you are fine as well.

Monday After.......It's Snowblower Snow.....light, dry....lots of it. We can get the car out into the street.

 Overnight we had no idea what was coming into Maine.. The wet heavy ice or the dry stuff.  the weather channel had the weather coming in blue- ice.   I was reluctant to get out of bed.

Now I am working the odds on taking shower - before or after I eat.....blood pressure is tilting low so I think...breakfast first.  I'll be back later- the regular time to have a good chat here on the blog....Joanne.

Daily Notes- Still Sunday....Snow HAS NOT stopped falling but really COLD

 Never lost power- as yet 21:56 --- but the generator would have kicked in.  We made Sunday Pizza and watched the Patriots football game.   Wow.   Started with green grass and ended in a blizzard.

We have about 12 to 18 inches of snow- but the plow has dumped more at the end of the driveway.  Son is not a Happy Camper.  It's not the kind of snow that can be shoveled with 5 inches of ice on top of loose snow if it resembles what Washington DC has.   16 to 18 inches.

Maine is now being visited by all the snow you all in the south east experienced.  Heavy Snow in Boston. Just an hour or two south of me.  Snow is supposed to stop by TOMORROW NIGHT.

My son might be packing his suitcase upstairs?  No he'd never leave his sports car behind. And he certainly couldn't drive it anywhere.

The football was a. SURPRISE... we won.  Toward the end of the 4th we couldn't even see the players. And they started out with green grass.

Almost time for me to think about getting ready for bed...I just had a very nice sweet orange...and now I need some water.  BE safe.  

Daily Notes- Still standing. Sunday January 25th. Seven Degrees.

  Vintage Snow Drops and Vintage Amaryllis.   I can't throw anything away without giving it one more chance to shine.   Even on a very cold dark day here in Maine.  No sunshine here.

  I  watched some soccer yesterday....then gave up on the TV and finished Agnes and the Hitman.  Today, if the football lets me down- I will finish coloring my drawings .......and I will read Anyone But You for a second and perhaps third time.... I adore a great romance.  And today is Football Pizza Day... Gotta love that.

 The shower head in my shower is shooting water out the top....needs a repair...since daughter says she is my assistant- I'm going to see if she steps up and calls in professionals to fix the damned thing... until then- I'll let it spray toward the ceiling when I shower.  Which even I know is a VERY BAD THING.

Pizza Sunday....  

You know what...I am going to just stop typing...I am not in a good headspace this morning....and I am just going to put a stop to this and  Son says it's the internet messing with the left side margin.  Crap.

Daily Notes- Sunshine on a Saturday in January....SEVEN DEGREES with SUNSHINE.

 Maine...

Well, not much to write about- I could add a photo of my four lovely navel ORANGES....fruit of the week.  Sad....When "four oranges" is the most positive thing one can say.

I keep thinking about January 6th...Insurrection...I think it's time for another. With better results.

We have oil....we have sunshine... I have a good book and a soft couch... I spent yesterday and this morning with tears in my eyes.  They carried a less that 2 year old away from his family. Without a blanket to keep him warm.  Where is he now??????? Cold? Hungry? Alive?

I doubt I would have a fighting chance if they came pounding on my door.

Not the America I want. 

Daily Notes for Friday, January 23rd. Sun Still Shining but we are bracing ourselves for WAY below zero.

No images....the iPhone needs a reboot.  Battery was low. iPhone is old...I have asked if I could use my husband's newer iPhone- change over- Son doesn't care for that idea. It's also old. But not AS old.

Way below Zero up here in Maine.   I bought snack-y things... Granola chunks.  Seeds etc. Cold Fried Chicken Chunks.  Pears and Oranges.  I skipped the yogurt as I am not supposed to have it with my kidneys being on the fritz,  I made the soup yesterday...it's not quite right....needs something  but not sure what or if I even have something good to add. I might simmer it with a Parm outside edge. I have one or two in the freezer. Never throw them away.  

I got more ham and cheese slices for roll ups....and there is another toasted cheese with sweet pickles....

I also bought one prepared meatloaf dinner....cause my lunch buddy mentioned meatloaf.  And I am easily led astray.

Sheets for my bed are in the dryer....I spun the mattress so I will be sleeping on new territory tonight.  The old mattress in Son's bedroom could be flipped....that one was a more "brand new " experience when slept on.  And doing that myself was always an adventure- I got slammed by the weight and height  (into the closet doors) at least once every time- usually more.  Way way too old for that now....bones are still sturdy though. Memory not so much. 

My lunch buddy has had to start a new email.....the robots took over the old forever email.

I am looking all over for my R&B- Robbe & Berking Silver- 150g.  Was here for decades but now missing.  I worry that in the change over to adding Son's household goods to the kitchen it got.....misplaced....sent to Goodwill by mistake...... 8 of everything and quite a lot of serving things. I was always "saving it" for special occasions... Don't Ever Do That. I was also doing things mindlessly as a brand new widow.  Make NO changes the first year is also very SOUND ADVICE.

I wear linen clothing I "saved" ---- just for sitting around the house.  Un-ironed.  I have a book to read... we skipped the Library -third week in a row, I think---because the sidewalks were NOT shoveled. Not safe for me to walk on.  And walking in the street is not something anyone should do in the winter- especially in a black coat.  

Daily Notes- took several starts to get here...ICE is here in Maine.. Population---91% white.

 When the Snow Birds return from their Winter in Florida- well, they will be very very brown. So I hope ICE is gone by then????   Or not...at times it's great to visit "the other side of Life" here in Maine.

The 91% white is from the New York Times article....I was surprised  they had the guts to print that.   But then they said the same on several TV news broadcasts....yesterday.  Maine...we are just so very "white".

I never managed to make the Toasted Cheese.....I got involved with rescuing some over wintered bulbs on the Sunporch....  and settled them after cleaning up etc the stones and water in the tall glass container..... they seemed confused at first but this morning...many have straighten up...gotten greener and taller.... Connie knows their name but I can't manage to pull it out of my head- SnowDrops?  SunDrops?

No image today....I was going to color one of the drawings on the index cards...instead I started reading Agnes and the Hitman.... Agnes made three batches of pancakes to feed everyone in her kitchen.... and then she started in on tenderloin lunch prep.   There were sausages also.  

I always have a deep desire to join them all in the kitchen.  The Hitman, The Clean up Guy (bodies), the two police detectives,  Three Wheels, the guy painting the house, Joey who brought a package of ribs........for supper.  And of course Agnes herself...cooking.....minus underwear..... and the characters keep coming in thru the door.....a great big noisy family type thing....

TheSun is very BRIGHT this morning there in Maine.  Hurts one's eyes as it reflects off the SNOW. Lots of Snow on the ground and more coming, I guess?????

I have continued to PROCRASTINATE regarding the SOUP...Still not made.  Everything ready to be peeled, chopped, dumped into the pot.....but haven't done it.

My Lunch Buddy got propane yesterday...told me in detail how handsome the guy was filling the tanks. Climbing over the snow pile the plow left by the side of the garage.  She and I have to enjoy the small pleasures we get.  She was also reheating Bow Street Meatloaf.....I mentioned taking me with her next time she drove to that store.  I like the meatloaf but like the big expensive sugar cookies so much MORE....

Daily Notes from a Snow Covered Maine....But we have Sunshine. Wednesday Jan 21st.

Good morning.  Time it took getting these index card line drawings here- I could have taken the College Prep Exams.  Getting the left side alignment...wow. Enlarge, print and color them yourself????  Please do- 

And I can see I actually didn't get it where it was supposed to be on the far left.....time out while I bang my head on the desk.   I enjoyed making these drawing yesterday while watching antiques roadshow.  The alternative was British Soccer and I had already watched one match....and wanted to save the second recorded match for today.  I DID enjoy looking at the Very Handsome Soccer Coach- he was grinding his teeth. I know he wasn't happy.

Today is going to be a repeat of the Most Excellent Toasted Cheese Sandwich with Sweet Pickle Slices. Using up the last two slices of Toasting Bread.  I will be making soup...eventually. Eventually is still quite a distance away.

I am also tempted to sharpen the colored pencils and work on the line drawings....

I read Cruise's Anyone But You yesterday and today Crusie's Agnes and the Hitman.. (unless I read Anyone But You again today....it was very good.  I did want Oreos...  I seem to have purchased my very own copy of Agnes... and it's still in brand new condition.  I need a copy of Anyone But You also.  But it may only be in hardback.  Bet Me is also in brand new condition on the bookshelf (soft cover)....and I really love that book.  Really....Truly...Deeply......

I am stockpiling for my Eventual Time in Assisted Living... Index cards.  Black ink pens.  Books. Tub of cloth scraps and thread, needles and scissors.   And a yearly brand new desk calendar and a glue stick. 

I am a simple woman with simple wants...... Toasted Cheese with Sweet Pickles...Dark Chocolate..... Wool Socks....Down Comforter and Down Pillows on my bed..  white linen sheets.....Index Cards (large size), Glue Stick and Pilot G-2 black ink pens....a whole box of them.   Romance Books......only the really really good ones.  Like ALL of Agnes and the Hitman.  

 

Daily Notes for Tuesday January 20th. Fresh Eyes.

Something bright and yellow- cheerfulness on a very very Snowy Maine Morning.  21 degrees and Sun. The white snow is blindingly bright.  

Starting to worry about Arctic Snowmelt raising ocean water levels....in Maine.  We sit close to sea level. And my house sits close to the coast line. And when we moved here  (decades ago) my backyard was a LAKE every Spring.  I had DUCKS swimming in the low, deep, spots and Eagles feeding on the ducks. Carrying the poor ducks away while they screamed.....it wasn't nice.  Then Maine dried up.

Son would say- "why worry about stuff you can't control?"   Virgos need to WORRY. It's in the DNA.

Plan for the day is dragging the central vac hose out and around...floor is pretty disgusting.  The sunshine is making it all very visible.  I have been reluctant to drag out the central vac as it is really a "workout" hauling the hose and getting it bent and stuck etc etc etc.   One can do the entire first floor with only two outlet changes....the hose is that long.  And I am no longer a Spring Chicken.  I need significant rest periods.  To catch my breath.  Could take all day....if I get started.  I didn't start yesterday. 

Yesterday's Happiness was a grilled cheese sandwich with sweet pickle slices....yummmy.  Also the remainder of the Christmas Shortbread Cookies with Hot Sweet Tea.   I still have leftover Pizza slices...for today's lunch.  I haven't made the Vegetable Bean Soup.....yet.  There might be...yes there are.... Brussels Sprouts to add some bitter notes to the vegetable soup... excellent.  Whenever it gets made. I'm in no hurry.

I also have a great book to read and English Soccer to watch....  better get started.....

Daily Notes for Monday, January 19th. Snow overnight. Again.

Homemade biscuits.   I made something like this (often) back when we lived outside of Atlanta.   What I could label- the "Good Years".... great neighbors, lovely big townhouse..  Kids all over for mine to play with. Best friend one Townhouse row over.  Until it wasn't.  Never baked biscuits again. Never really baked anything. Again... the new house in Florida didn't have central air but did have snakes..   The next house in Chicago had friendly  neighbors and the Fire Chief across the street.....to fix things for me.  His daughter was my babysitter.  I found a job......worked.  Was really happy...we moved again. and again. I know you all know all this already...Sorry for the repeating....blame it on the biscuits.

Football yesterday...and the day before.  Sunday Pizza was exceptionally good...crust had a nice "crunch". I also watched PBS after two  football games.....the Nazi's and the wayward British King and Queen.

Started the day with a great hot shower and clean hair.   My chest wound is getting better and less red,...still needs a bandage.... still a bit of uncomfortable if I move or stretch too much. A burning pain- but just a shiver of it.,, these days.

Maine's Senator..Angus King.....is going to meet with Danish Officials re: President's threats.  Our Maine newspaper mentioned ICE agents--locally......here in Maine. A hotbed of immigrants (laughing). People with a tan are suspect here. Why the natives stay in Florida till early summer. Perhaps longer this year????

Today's book- accidentally chosen at Library-- is actually a GREAT FAVORITE..... Jennifer Cruise's Anyone But You.   Need to buy my own copy. Unhappily married middle aged woman moves out  of husband's deluxe  townhouse and into a walk up tiny apartment...also buys a stinky old hound dog set for the "big sleep" at the local pound. She feels she escaped her own "big sleep" with husband.   Meets the  young ER doctor one floor down.  They watch old movies together- all three of them. Man, woman and dog.  Popcorn.  

Daughter called to make sure her land line actually worked......it went out the other day. She is still SICK with the Flu.  Must be a very strong variety this time around.  Daughter said they got the strain wrong for the shot.  

I wish I had bought more cold day old chicken nuggets at the grocery store...that first container of them was very very tasty.  I like them better old and cold than fresh and hot.  I know...Son also thinks I'm really weird.   But it's ME.

 

Daily Notes on Sunday January 18th. A very very Snow Covered Maine. And it's cold.

 The back yard view thru a screen we never took off the windows.  Out the back windows, it looks like we live in a space without inhabitants.  There are animal tracks in the snow.........

We also have a mystery.  Someone is driving a truck into the drive and shoveling our sidewalks. Son is sure it'a truck and not a car.  The Lawn Guy sends a bill if he plows and he DOES NOT shovel...WE know that about him.  

I would give you an image of the improvement on the "whatever" on my chest.  But it's really disgusting. Still red...and now has a scalpel cut thru the center vertically...making it so much more gross. But, in my uneducated opinion it seems to be getting narrower and not as red and puffy.  The meds are working.

I tried out three of the library books I had reserved- they were ALL terrible.....by that I am saying I could not get involved......and the reading was torture.  I tried a few from the book case.....and they are  paperbacks with tiny tiny grey print...I'm way too old for that.....I need full BLACK ink for the print.

Quite a few of my books are going to Goodwill.  Why keep them if I can't read them?????  My eyes aren't going to get YOUNGER.  Most of the books I looked up on Amazon are not available in libraries.  Most not all.  I started out reading Hissy Fit but then I started to recall the deep hole the plot goes into... and the oyster dishes.  That one is not staying in the bookcase.  First 30 pages were funny.

Today is Sunday Pizza.  And Football.  I watched two games yesterday... it sort of breaks my heart when one team loses and they look so...very sad..........Two more today.  Here in Maine the local-ish FOX stations have sort of gone out of business????  One has no listing of programs anymore...if you switch to it and just wait. minutes..a program comes on...the one in the newspaper tv guide.   The other has pay for view (used to be a regular station) and now pay per view.   The Football comes in on the local FOX channel...so it's always a surprise when I can watch the game.  I'm waiting for the FOX News Shows to also box it up and move on.  

I could make some toast......get me thru until pizza at 4 pm.  Six hours....

Bit Late but Better than Nothing.... Daily Notes- January 17th..Snowing.

Well. the computer wants to have the typing centered so we will do what it wants.  I have British Soccer on the tv after watching my PBS Cooking Shows.  Liverpool.   It's snowing here in Maine...Again.

I had a very nice shower this morning and washed my hair...it's getting curly as it grows out. It needs some length in order to start curling and the gal cutting my hair last year was making it way too short and the razor she used felt like my hair was being pulled out by the roots.  And getting thinner and thinner...  when you can see your pink scalp you know it's time to "just say no more"...

My icky skin thing is looking better... and I think it enjoyed the hot shower. Son chose a different bandage for the area and it seems to be happy about that as well. Itches a bit.

Watching British Soccer.  Liverpool in red.  Liverpool hasn't been as strong as usual this season. I listen to the Soccer Chat but it doesn't answer any of my questions.

It's snowing...been snowing for a few days but not accumulating..I mean there is snow that needs shoveling or the snow blower but it's not the usual amount of Maine Snow.  I haven't noticed the Town Snow Plow going by.

I haven't started a book as yet... I have several..but so far the Assassin Spy book hasn't held my interest. Too much description of the train they are on...but perhaps we need that if there is some dangerous shooting or something happening on the train.  I don't care.

I tried to watch a Hallmark Movie...two people meet and like each other but didn't exchange last names etc. So they are thinking about the other person and looking for clues as to what the other person might have said to let them know where to "look"........I lost interest.  I personally lost a person I really liked by never asking for his last name.... I know his parents lived in Akron, Ohio. He went to school at Ohio University.  Another in a long line of guys named James who vanished over the many decades of my Life.   At this point in time- I have to also realize he might have died.  My age group is doing that.

That's it for today...I really am pleased with my hair today...and I am putting the spy book in the rerun bag and choosing something else.  From my own bookcases.

Liverpool just scored.

 

Daily Notes for Friday January 16th. Sidewalks and street are clear...snow on lawn.

 There are things happening to my kidneys...  stage 3 something... my diet has to change.

Doctor and his nurse were shocked by whatever is happening on my chest.   Doctor cut into the area with scalpel. Hoping that would help with drainage.  I now have a much flat-er red bump with a straight cut thru the center. Not as swollen. Still itches.  Hot compresses later (but not too hot). After Library and Grocery.

Right now I am wondering what I can buy with the Friday grocery shopping.... limit or DON'T eat Dairy, Bananas, Potatoes, Yogurt.  Drink water but not too much- kidney overload.  Signs that stuff is going wrong- swollen ankles (yes) shortness of breath (yes)- itchy dry skin- (yes)---shortness of breath we though was asthma- cognitive issues- we thought was lack of concentrating or listening.  It's my kidneys.

Expiration Date- unknown.

Jolly News....I haven't a clue as to what I will be having to eat this week- apples, berries, grapes.  A non dairy creamer for my coffee (if I even want coffee)....made out of rice- I think I will skip this and drink tea---I can eat tomatoes, bell peppers and potatoes.  Also beans, grains, egg whites, salmon and tuna.  Olive oil- NO butter. No animal products (no cheese, cream, butter or eggs).  I don't like salmon or tuna.

I can eat vanilla or lemon desserts....absolutely NO chocolate.  

The "stay away from list"- includes everything I have been eating for decades.  The other list- stuff I have hardly EVER eaten. And really don't want to eat.  Beans, nuts, tofu, grains, egg whites, fish. No animal protein. I like baked beans....pistachios....oatmeal.  Not a fan of eggs or fish.  Nuts aren't really a meal. I can't eat SOY- actually can't eat it....get all itchy.   I'm dressed and ready to visit Library and Grocery Store Haven't eaten anything...

Oatmeal....good thing I like it.

Daily Notes- Thursday, January 15th.....Doctor's Appointment. Snow melting or Rain????

 Daughter has the flu.... Son is taking me to the appointment. JUST NOW informed me.

She was around me prior to knowing she has the flu.....so.........but I don't think she sat on the couch with me... I think she sat over by the windows.   I feel okay.... won't touch anything she touched.

Son now has to figure out where the doctor's office is located.... I'm not much help... I drove into Bath once.....and never again. And that was decades ago.  We could always cancel.  I already had shots at the Grocery store for COVID and Flu.  The visit is usually "non- productive".  Other than blood pressure and weight.  I think they took blood last year....no results were shared with me. Personally.  Possibly with the 'portal".... wherever that is.

Well, I have had my oatmeal. Having my coffee as I type.  Getting to the part of the book where happily ever after looks quite impossible.  Been there... still there.

Noticed wood along the underside of roof on the bedroom wing rotting away....sigh...the hunt for someone to do the repair....endless and usually quite impossible........The guy who did repairs to the front porch roof is in prison now somewhere Down South......

Flu...Doctor.....Rotting Wood... Rain....Greenland........sigh.   

Daily Notes for January 14th.....Sunshine, Snow and 42 degrees.

 Yesterday's photo showed up this morning.  Yes, it's a pot pf nice dirt and a ratty looking bulb and a tiny green leaf tip....but I am very grateful that it's all still alive. And that's it's still trying......like me. No  matter HOW ratty we look.

My book is out of the big tall cupboard.....Mary Kay Andrews- Save the Date.  As is "normal" these days I am not reading straight  thru...I read, I stop, I do something else.   So far the two main characters have been guests at three weddings (not together).... he and his dog (twin to her dog) have been invited to sit and have iced tea in her back yard while the dogs play..  There's a piano teacher in the mix.....couple more weddings....runaway bride...ex-husband.  I ate a few shortbread cookies from Christmas....

Daughter had a cat emergency. So we didn't do the project she had lined up for us. Cat is fine.

I watched an episode of One Strange Rock (Earth) in the evening and we visited a very very cold place on Earth. I tried 6 times to spell it and autocorrect did not help.  Starts with an A,  Will Smith. I have all the episodes recorded on the TiVo.   Again.....this is the second time I have wanted to watch this series.

My other viewing objective is Antiques Roadshow...I had ten recorded but several were doubles or triples. So I ended up watching ONE.  And then returned to my book.  As you can guess....things are not going as "planned"......Hallmark has also let me down. Usually in the lull between Christmas and Valentine's Day we get some Golden Oldies....No.  And Soccer is going all FIFA on me.  I might watch the Paris Cup. Was great last year.

This is how a 79 year old woman spends her days....fascinating, right?????  (my socks match today) and I combed my hair.  I recall eating my breakfast oatmeal......the Suduko was very very difficult. Again.

The Art was the Repeat.....Tuesday, January 13th....Sunshine and 32 degrees

 Well, I give up....I had an image of my now (third year) amaryllis bulb sending up a fresh new pair of leaves...... but the image is stuck somewhere and is not arriving in my desktop mail.  If it shows up... or not I can still be very very proud of it........the bulb and the tiny green leaves....

My neck is itchy,  Some people get itchy in the Summer months..I get itchy in the Winter.  But now that I am thinking about it...I get itchy All the Months.......

Today the Sun is shining and daughter has plans to sort and throw away a box full of Father/ Husband's old work things.....we can possibly shove it all in the big shredder in the Library hallway...after removing any identification if it ALL has any..... I had planned to do the same with his high school yearbook- but his classmates wanted me to send it back to them.   My own yearbook was lost decades ago...while in a drawer in my mom's attic.  Where I thought it was safe.  Nothing in my mother's keeping was ever really safe.  Even her children.

Daughter searched the fabric boxes in the sewing room and found me an old fashioned red for replacement of a few rotted out red strips on that old quilt... 

Antique's Roadshow in Alaska was interesting.... yesterday.  Today I have British Soccer...

I spoke to our Banker regarding income tax season...daughter is still waiting for last year's refund. Banker said they have a "shortage of workers" at the IRS...Trump fired a LOT of government workers......perhaps will be allowed to rename it the Trump IRS?????  Things would.....well, stop completely, then,  I guess. but the sign out front would be LARGE and plated in FAKE GOLD.

A woman will be charged (after death) with making a Three Point Turn.....in front of ICE.  And ICE was terrified. Possibly never seeing a three point turn.... before????

And that's it for today...

Another Monday Post- January 12th at 11:01

 A repeat as I have done NO art so far this year.  This one is nice. Again.

Shower....Washed my hair.....changed my bandage.  Carrying my socks around with me... instead of putting them on.  My neck itches.  My rash might be spreading.  Doctor on Thursday.

My Potato got baked.....after the pizza.  Not together.

Football...I'm not sure if I watched two games or three...but I watched them...the last was the Patriots game- looked really COLD.  Lots of injuries- possibly due to the playing field being frozen???? Or do they have heating elements under the turf?????? I don't need an answer.

I might have forgotten to put cream on my face....feels tight and dry.

Been watching a movie short on my PBS of Roland and Mary....they get calls to pull trucks and cars out of snow banks etc.   While driving they talk...about life.  I like it because it's very obvious how much the two care about each other......and they have struggled to make a life for themselves and their three adult children and grandchildren.....and they park their tow trucks next to each other and eat lunch together.

Mary is called to pick up a UPS truck which is damaged and gathers all the packages etc to put in HER truck so...after dropping off the truck for repairs- he driver can deliver them - with her driving him around (between jobs)... The UPS guy looks at the camera and it's like-"she doesn't have to do this"....but he sure appreciated it.  So the short movie is about love and kindness.  I've watched it three times so far.

I've now mentioned it in blog posts twice....it's better than talking about the NEWS.  Or the Football yesterday.  I went to bed before the New England game got going....no paper...it's Monday so I will ask the Internet.....    (we won)

Sunday January 11th... Cloudy and 35 degrees

 You get a repeat of pencils... freshly sharpened.

I love Art Supplies.... simply love them..... and paper- I adore paper...good paper- the kind I can fold, paint, add more crayon etc.  I also like books of blank paper pages.......any size.

I also love scraps of cloth- trimmed off edges and rolled into balls...and one of those balls of strips and edges is right here on the desk top...  I love it.

Today is Sunday Pizza day...I'll be adding my unbaked potato to the preheat and the bake...  I really love a nicely baked potato....with crisp skin.  I just checked - no sour cream but plenty of butter.

Morning headlines here on the internet...more very very horrific stuff about Epstein and his island.

On that very upsetting note.....mainly imagining parents missing a daughter all this time...enough.

Saturday, January 10th. Ice Covering Everything... Son is salting the steps. 33 degrees.

 The image comes from an article on Baker and Taylor the "new" book supplier to every Library. Image also is good for ice covered steps and sidewalks.  This morning.   I'm sure my son is rethinking living here with me as he salts his way to the street and the morning newspaper-- for me to read.

I recall husband slipping and landing on the front steps- on his face...and the second "trip" being to the Emergency Clinic.  

I used to put down sand...not salt.  But I think we might be out of sand. 

My iPhone is not able to connect to the "weather" info... my iPhone is incredibly OLD.  Right now it has color images of clouds and the time. 8:36.  So helpful.  Ah, also my location.  And the date,  And an encouragement that I upgrade.

My Son and I talked about me using my husband's newer iPhone going forward... wiping it and putting the few items I use on it.  We haven't done that as yet..  I haven't a clue how any of that works.  I take pictures and send them to the blog....that's all I do with the iPhone.  But right now I see the date and time and various colors of sky and clouds moving from left to right on the screen. Along with the date.  That's pleasant.........every so often it stops.....then starts up again.

Magically the fresh today's newspaper is on my placemat along with my daily pills.  That guy (my Son) works wonders. Well, my ankles are chilled and the socks are sitting next to my left hand- so best tuck them onto my feet.  I think I will mend the old quilt some more....today..... and watch some of the many Law and Order episodes I have in the Tivo.  No news.  I might never watch news again... the morning newspaper is enough.

 I tried to follow the words of the Orange Man yesterday as he sat (with his spine collapsed) in his chair. But he wasn't coherent.  And kept switching over to different topics and then a sudden swing back to the message.at hand.......and not being able to stay on message even while reading the words.....  My Son says I do that. 

So...I am certainly NOT competent to be running the United States Government,...and doubt Trump is either.

Daily Notes for Friday, January 9th...2026.

 We might have had this already....but I got tired of waiting for the photo I sent to arrive in the mail box over to my left....  and this image is pretty great.

I FINALLY finished that book- when the lights went out...it's a great book...she wrote a second book but like all things.... I forgot to write it down.

There was some interesting  info regarding Dawn dishwashing soap in this mornings newspaper-- one use they didn't mention was using it to wash greasy oily hair....I used in on my very greasy, oily husband one day and his hair actually had never looked that good.  EVER.....  I washed his hair while he bent over the kitchen sink..... used the dish sprayer.... It could have become a regular thing but he forgot almost as soon as his hair was dry....

I watched a program on PBS last night...about a couple who drive the trucks we call when our battery goes dead,  run out of gas, or when we slide off an icy road into a snow bank etc. Independent and not AAA. I recorded it to watch again....when I do I will write down the title...in case "other" PBS stations are carrying it.

An email from my Library... they will no longer to able to "rent" Baker and Taylor new release books and the Library budget doesn't stretch to cover that many new books... so.....I often wonder what they Do spend money on.....the new book shelving is usually pretty bare....MOST of the books I borrow are from "other" libraries.  Not my local library, which I have to say, has gone downhill since we lost an exceptional Director and got this one.... who "says" she will retire in October.

images are showing up in the sidebar-  now...when I am ready to hit publish....

Daily Notes- Thursday January 8th. Sunshine here in Maine- 29 degrees 99% humidity.

I'm just going to start typing... the image I had is not showing up in the in box.... I pressed send.

That same book is going really slowly and now the  lead  character is being charged with murder.  Framed for murder.  I was hoping to get further along and actually get to read one of the OTHER books....I have waiting patiently here on the book shelf.... Some renewed once already.

I continue to get crank "Medicare Files" phone calls.  Never using my name.   I listen and then hang up. It's annoying and the only phone calls I get.... 

My ONE a Day cup of decaf coffee has gotten cold....but I will drink it this way and not bother trying to keep it warm....the furnace is chugging away.. 65 degrees..heating up the large tall ceiling in the kitchen/family room. Where I sit in the sunshine reading the paper and doing (not really) the sudoko puzzle...I am very very bad at Suduko.

An email from daughter on the hunt for some books for me... I'm going to reply that she should "forget it" and move on to other things....

I am enjoying the daily emails from Jude on her "new to her" site.  I like seeing what she makes out of small scraps and embroidery floss.  I also visited a few blogs I lost contact with a decade or more ago...something happened.....not sure what...but I got politely shut out of reading those blogs...it was fine.. I am accustomed to not being one of the "popular" girls.   They do what they do.

I have no counter on these posts to see how many people read them...I assume...no one reads the posts.  And I assume I am correct in that assumption....I called in an inhaler prescription refill.  Life in the Older Person "Lifestyle".

I watched three old movies I had in the TiVo Movie File. I watched one ...twice. Christmas.  When I say old I mean old.  I am on the fence about deleting them.....knowing next Christmas I will miss having them but NOT until then....there was one on Lifetime that I loved....but it never showed up this year...the Lifetime movies have the same actors and the same Canadian houses.....but are not as "sweet"... the regular Lifetime Movies are...wow...just really dark and scary.  I did record the hockey player one...I should watch it today.....after soccer.  And after Antiques' Roadshow...

See...I am acting my AGE...almost 80.

Daily Notes. Wednesday January 7th....Overcast, zero sunshine and 20 degrees.

 No images...  

Still reading that same book....endless. only 2/3rds of the way into it....even after a few hours of reading.

I called in for a refill of my inhaler...might or might not get filled...things are getting "loose" here in Maine as nothing is a "sure thing" - Health Care Wise  and my annual appointment is on the 15th.........we'll see what happens.

Watched an episode of One Strange Rock - it's Will Smith and Earth. Set the remainder of the series to record.... I've recorded them a few times....and enjoy watching One Strange Rock. How is it that you and I live on this strange one of a kind rock????

I have nothing to say- just that I will try and read my book and eventually watch a recored soccer game. And I might sew a few more strips to the old quilt top.  I have a PEAR for my fruit today.  Other than that the fridge is pretty bare....I do have Ham and Cheese for a Roll Up.  I might buy navel oranges for Fruit of the Week when we shop on Friday.

Got nothing else to share....house lights are on- A Dark Day.

Daily Notes- Tuesday, January 6th. Bill Paying.....Sunshine and 25 degrees.

 1.  No image today.... daughter took down the tabletop Christmas Tree... I now have a glass vase with fake flowers and sock monkeys where the tree was....

2.  My Very Very nice German full length navy dress coat is on its way to the dry cleaner.  Will come home clean and dust free and in a protective bag.  I recall wearing the coat to Women's Club meetings (in Germany). I was also carrying a Louis Vuitton briefcase.  Which is VINTAGE LV now and in the closet. I'm also Vintage and Not in the Closet.

3.  Now I wear 25 cent mended faded LLBean corduroy pants (much looser these days), a thermal shirt and an acrylic pullover. And wool socks and men's slippers....men's are so much better than the women's variety.  Less pink.

4.  I've had my oatmeal and a banana so far today- coffee is still too hot to drink.  I am going to stop typing and have an 8 ounce glass of water and my vitamin pills.  I have to do things as soon as I recall them...  done.

5.  Annual doctor's visit coming up...I can see it in the rearview mirror.   Blood work and shots- no idea what shots but I always get at least two...one in each arm.. I already had my COVID and Flu... shots at the grocery store. 

6.  Worked on the old quilt....most of the shredded strips are brown fabric...weird.  I have very little in the color brown in the Quilt room....  so I am using pale pink.  And I have little of that color also. But more than enough for this quilt....repair.  I am using the fabric wrong side up to look as faded as the original looks.

7.  I wrote two checks and Son is walking out to the mailbox by the road with them.... I've stopped watching the news...watching a mentally ill person in charge of things.... not good for MY mental health. I wonder if there is a White House Betting Pool...on when the big bloated guy nods off permanently.

8.  Reading- still- the Night The Lights Went Out.  It's slow going...everyone is dressing up for a party/dance /social event.  The cheating husband is now reconsidering his bad choices.....coming by and asking the ex to have dinner with him and their two kids....she said no.  Didn't want the two children to have false hope.  The Carpenter is a much better choice these days.  The scary stuff in the woods is getting closer to the house every day.

9..Various women (in the book) have made chocolate chip cookies (not needing the recipe) and I DO HAVE EVERYTHING here to make a batch of chocolate chip cookies.... I even have the cheat sheet to tell me HOW the oven works. No one wants cookies.

10...About a DOZEN British Soccer games in the TiVo... ready to watch. Also perhaps a half dozen Antique's Roadshow....also recorded.  49 episodes of Law and Order ready to go also.  

But I am reading and mending......

Daily Notes for Monday, January 5th....16 degrees and LOTS of Sunshine.

Art- Bette Ridgeway.  

I tore one of her works out of a magazine a long time ago and taped it to the wall in my bedroom.. I look at it every morning....so looked her up and found four more images....of her work. The one on my wall is blue.

I also found, while sorting and tossing paper etc (Danish Death Cleaning)- a newspaper article with an interview with ME after a gardening class lecture. I was described as "spunky"..........been awhile since I was "spunky".... these days I'm mostly bored, tired, crabby, angry, or sleepy.  Typical of most people my age. Boomers......

I've eaten my way thru all the available leftover Christmas food.  Next up is "cooking".  We had pizza yesterday. Always great...while watching football.  I watched two games- possibly a third one that I didn't really pay attention to.......just watched...there was some recorded British Soccer with VERY unsportsmanlike behavior.  Yellow cards but not the Red one I expected to see...after the full body knock down one guy gave the Goalie.

My bowl of oatmeal was quite good- I got the proportions of oats, water and time in the microwave just right.  Nice.  

I'm considering making real coffee (in the Future)--not instant...but knowing the limits of my new older attention span.....not going to be my best idea.... I have several French Press in the dish closet...my friend and I would eat lunch in the Little Bistro...and coffee arrived in single person French Press...I loved it....the Bistro closed- no more French Press or Black Bean Bisque.  They could make more cash catering weddings. Follow the Money and not your Heart..???? never really a good choice long term.

I made Several Really Bad Life Choices...I still regret each and every one of them.......to this day.  I'd love a do-over.  Like the ones in my romance books. Perhaps why I read them???????

 

Daily Notes- Sunday, January 4th. overcast, zero sunshine 14 degrees

Okay, I figured out the curser placement... it wanted center yet again...I did not.  Chair was taken out of my paper collection and trimmed down...  I have more...but all the same chair as this one...

1.  Well, I did some first aid on myself....some ointment, then a sterile gaze pad and then tape.  All from husband's Heart Surgery Box of Supplies.  I did need to cross the hallway for scissors for the tape. I have this itchy swollen patch of skin over my breastbone.... Which in 11 days the doctor will examine. See what it's all about.  I'll just be keeping it covered.

2.   I keep thinking I see people walking around outside...at 14 degrees I don't think it's a great idea.

3.   Soccer yesterday....everyone looks exhausted... ready for the season to be over.  I think I saw someone punch another player yesterday but was too lazy to rewind and see if I actually did see that.  No Hands!!!

4.   We have now gone from a Republic to a Dictatorship...taking over other countries..etc.. When is Congress going to Shut Him Down???  I want to type something else here but it could get me arrested. Like everyone else ......and I do have to keep the itchy spot bandage dry and clean.

5.  So that's it...Soccer to watch and possibly some Football.  And the Sunday Pizza.  I didn't find my favorite screw top wine at the grocery (again) so I'll have lemonade.  I have wine with corks but...I'm OLD and not much good at getting corks out of wine bottles.  Never was..and would feel kinda strange walking around to neighbors and asking them to open my wine bottles....  I can hear it now..".that old woman is coming up the drive with another bottle of wine....."

6.  Well the Sunday Paper won't read itself....
 

Oksy...took awhile to get this up and working....Saturday, January 3rd....sunshine and snow.

Here we are and I can't get the text to start over to the left...It happens and I have no idea why or how to make it stop.  Yesterday turned out to be a great day....

1.  I found the squares I was looking for...I had tucked them in a plastic tub for "safe keeping." and they were really safe...from me finding them...

2.  I watched two movies Pretty Woman and after than Sweet Home Alabama?  Pretty Woman is always in my recorded box...But Sweet Home wasn't..  Reading the credits Richard Gere actually was playing the piano and wrote the music he was playing.... I also got the name of the opera from the credits and chose to believe--until proven wrong --that I have a disc with that opera.

3.   I have several British Soccer Matches to watch today as I sew one piece of cloth to another... I sorted a stack of pages I had ripped from magazines...when the library had magazines in the lobby we could "feel free to take home". I don't think anyone is publishing magazines anymore.  If they are..I don't see them.

4. The big truck that picks up green buckets of compostable garbage from the neighbors is driving past...they empty the weekly bucket in an open trailer...lots of green buckets on the truck...in return ...I think...you get a bucket of compost...freshly composted???  I do have two large squares out back- using wooden pallets...and both are full of compost...no where for it to go as yet.....  weeds and plants sometimes start growing in the Spring...I uproot them and let them "compost"... One year I had many many worms... I try not to repeat that year.  I know worms are a good sign but..not a Fan.

5. Well. I am going to stop typing and start watching tv.  Do some hand sewing...  ignore the uneven margins.

Daily Notes for Friday January 2nd....Cold...16 degrees. Bright Sunshine.

1.  I have to work on the desktop images...like...GET SOME.

2.  It's Friday and I won't be going to the Library- The street between the grocery parking lot and the Library does NOT get shoveled...and it melts and freezes and is not a SAFE walk for an old woman. The grocery parking lot gets salted...like every day and is always 100% ice free. I'll see if Son thinks me going the grocery is a "good idea'....... He just asked if I was ready to go to the store-- yeah!!!!!

3.  I want to go to the grocery so I can pay for the groceries.... I took a shower this morning so my hair would look nice...if I wear my hat- it won't really matter.  But...it's nice to go out in public with clean hair.

4.  I have been searching for the black and brown squares I hand sewed....Can't find them...Been looking.  I did find some kits for ABC Samplers.  I bought them but never did start any- cross stitch. I have two complete kits and one very incomplete one...no chart. Scarlet Letter Kits...  I might see if they are still in business... even if it's been forever since I purchased them...

5.   A Vintage Sampler- hand embroidery seems like a good Winter Afternoon Project... an alternative to reading if the books I have aren't that great.  I'm also considering reading the entire Louise Penny series.. I have them all (here) in hardback- thanks to my daughter....I purchased the newest book on the last book store visit (in person). I won't be "in person" again until Spring.

Daily Notes from Maine....Thursday January first...Sunshine and Snow on the ground. 27 degrees

Snowdrops.

I had these in my perennial beds for many years...I think the squirrels dug them up...every year so I stopped planting them...

One thing I can always count on- squirrels..

I have two Soccer Matches to record.....I watched three episodes of Time to Come Home on Hallmark yesterday. I had seen all three in many years past....I don't need to see them again for another five years or more. But it was nice to know "second chances" are aways available .... but not for me, I guess.

My book is one I read awhile back and forgot...Karen White's "the night the lights went out".  Set in the area around Atlanta.... it has that Southern sweetness about it.....like sweet tea.   And reminds me of happy days living in Georgia.  If I was ever to move away from Maine ...it would be to Georgia.  Both my children were born there.  We left the Atlanta suburbs to move to Florida...The first of many many moves...  

I forgot we had a sunporch loaded with toys and furniture and a large painting my brother sent me...none of it got packed or missed for decades....... when we were quickly transferred to Chicago and our fourth home.  And then to Germany a few years later.

Southern food is being cooked...tomatoes are being left on doorsteps...sweet tea is being made. All things I did when living there,  having babies.... being happy.....so of course husband had to move us to Florida. Where I was alone and miserable and he was working in the Virgin Islands.  Anyway...I am reliving my Georgia Happiness...with this book.... Previous book was set in Florida....by the water... Might look for a Chicago book next- any suggestions?????

Happy 2026...My new desk calendar fits perfectly...already have things pasted on it...