Riley's Toy Basket

Riley is still napping this morning. I woke up a bit earlier than I wanted because a neighbor called to ask me to pick up the mail and papers while she visits her daughter in New York. I expect that Riley and I will be walking later, playing with toys and going for a ride in the car to pay the real estate taxes that are due today.

It's cold. We had an overnight freeze. I have the heat turned on even though I try to see how long I can put off turning on the heating zones each winter. And, yes, it is winter. Maine has only two seasons. Winter. Not Winter.

Yesterday I scored a hooded company logo sweatshirt. After getting the sweatshirt I was sent out into the freezing cold (not really but almost) perennial yard to cut back the remaining perennials for hours and hours. Remember I did this on Monday when the temps were nice and the sun was shining, warmly. Let me tell you, this was bone chilling. I would take a break every hour to go into the annual house and have my glasses fog up. I judge the "coldness" of the day by what I need to wear to be warm outdoors. Yesterday: long sleeve shirt, company s/s tee, new sweatshirt, fleece lined company vest, waterproof gloves, wool socks and Crocs. Winter: long sleeve tee, s/s company tee, down hunting liner, fleece lined company vest, wool socks, wool scarf and wool hat, and thinsulate gloves. I take things off if the greenhouse is warm and put clothing back on if I have to go outdoors. We all bring extra clothing in case we get wet. Especially socks. I wear hot pink Crocs year round.

I think I am going to start bringing a large Thermos of hot coffee to work with me. Now that I drink so much GOOD coffee, I find it's warmth and full bodied flavor to be very comforting. All day long.

I mailed K about 9 yards of white with black print fabrics for the Christmas bed quilt she is making. She keeps making blocks until she runs out of fabric. And the quilts keep getting larger and larger. We made up squares of B/W and circles of green while I was visiting and she actually appliqued ALL of the blocks we made. And even 50 of the blue and yellow ones for another bed quilt. I got about a dozen of my own sewn. Slacker that I am. I need to set up a traveling work station and keep track of the needles. Riley is always on the lookout for anything that falls on the floor. And I drop needles like a pine tree.

West Wing will not be airing for 10 days starting Monday. I am in shock. Bravo is going to show MOVIES! The episodes I'm watching are from 2005. Anyone know when the series ended? I got a comment from someone with the boxed set--- let me know how much is left. Jimmy Smits is running for President- 105 days to election day. Please.

We had soup again last night. G's cold has gone into the coughing stage. My walking partner (we haven't walked but three or four times this "not winter" season) has a bad cold which sent her to her bed. I think we'll have pasta tonight. My favorite winter meal of pan sauteed pork, baked potatoes, steamed green beans and applesauce was uber delicious on Tuesday.

Today I have to pay our taxes, return books to the library and pay fines (as my status as a library employee was finally reduced to ordinary citizen) and stop at the grocery to buy more apples. This time I will make a better apple pie and more applesauce. I may even get more green beans. We'll be having pizza on Friday or Saturday. G has the weekend off and plans to repair the rotten garden posts and reattach the fencing. He hasn't even purchased the replacement posts. That alone will take about 2 hours with travel time to the place that carries long poles. And he will sleep late, eat breakfast etc. I can't see much work getting done.

I have bulbs to plant and the new Heuchera that I bought yesterday on sale. Licorice and Cotton Candy. I also have an unidentified peony to plant. In Sam's garden. And I have my own perennial yard to cut back.

My bowl today is filled with the need to be more positive and less pessimistic.

Today would have been my dad's 87th birthday.