Daily Notes- December 31st- Street and driveway are wet but no snow or ice.

 My "inner child" is tempted by the tiny gingerbread cookie houses.  There was a "time" in my Life, when I would have made these cookie houses for a Social Tea Meeting at my house.  I was very social.  I loved putting together a party or a lunch or anything.  I had everything from cocktail glasses to champagne glasses to tea cups.  Plenty of tablecloths.  Cloth napkins.  Ah.  And I had friends.  Had.  Most of them have already passed on to the next Life.  I already feel like the Bus has left me behind.

There were days when I couldn't get my grocery shopping done for all the stopping to have conversations  with quilting friends, work friends, with greenhouse customers with just "a question".  Life was abundant.

This simple little cookie house balanced on the edge of a cup of tea...........it's like opening a door to the past.

I managed to feed myself yesterday.  The Crock Pot Pulled Pork was  (is..as there is so much in the fridge even using the tiny crock pot) delicious.  I ate it with pasta.  It was cold here in the house yesterday.  A green salad felt too chilly to me.  Husband continues to eat the prepared (by the grocery) Chicken Parm meals.  Which is pretty amazing and easy enough.

I, just now, realized I have brown felt and white embroidery floss.  I could make a few little houses- six- for a Christmas Tree.  If I managed to ever have a tree again.  I was reminded that I had wanted to make a new ornament in early December but couldn't think of one.  And here it is- on December 31st.

I am thinking a tallish, skinny tree.  With wide spaced branches.  So I could fill the branches with all the ornaments in the boxes.  Lots of lights.  2022.

Daily Notes- Thursday, December 30th. 36 degrees, wet and dismal here in Maine.

 Well, almost done.  Record numbers of cases of "new" COVID here in Maine.  200K and counting. Our population here in Maine is 1.2 million souls.  So-- It's EPIC as they say.  I used orange crayon because orange seems to be the COVID color.

Grocery store visit today.  I bought a Tiramisu Cake.  Expensive but we are worth it.  I am also making pulled or BBQ pork in the crock pot.  First cooking was overnight. I did the shredding of the pork after breakfast and added in the BBQ sauce, some brown sugar and the cooking juices.  It smells delicious. I have some soft flour tortillas if husband wants to eat any.  I like it on top of a green salad. So I bought Romaine lettuces.

I am considering using the crock pot more often in the coming year.  I would welcome any recipes Readers of the Blog out there use and enjoy.  I am thinking my pasta sauce might benefit from Crock Pot treatment.

My husband drove me to the grocery today and gets to park up front with the handicap tag he has.  So, he got to witness an elderly guy in the handicapped car parked next to us---- get out of his car and "check out my groceries". I am laughing.             He also wanted my cart when I finished unpacking it.

When I got in the car...I mentioned to husband that he now "knew my demographic" for men interested in me.  "Good to know" was his only comment.  But he made sure the cake was in OUR car.

Daily Notes- December 29th. Cold with the Sun shining

 I wish I had been a better formed person when I was in college.  This is the sort of thing- not this good even in my dreams- but something simple and organic- that is what I should have been drawing. It's who I was and am even today.  But I wasn't well formed or emotionally healthy back then.  I was a mess. Just getting up on time and to the right class was EPIC ACHIEVEMENT on my part back then.

So my neighbor is home and beginning her 5 day quarantine.  She was in Boston and with New York City family members. (the NYC people tested positive).

So it goes after a indoor winter Holiday.  With eating and drinking so- no masks.

We had to shovel snow again yesterday.  This time I was exhausted and had to rest on the couch to regain the ability to breathe in and out with ease. Breathing in and out is something...not to be taken lightly these days.  Not one single thing on cable or on the TiVo that I wanted to watch.  The week between Christmas Day and New Years Day- stinks on television.

So.... I stripped the bed and did two loads of wash- turned the king sized mattress (I just spin it clockwise) and got all the fresh sheets back on and stuffed the down duvet into a fresh cover.  To say I was exhausted is to be too kind.  I felt every year of 75 when I was done.

Daily Notes- Tuesday, December 28th. More snow overnight.

 Dinner.  I prefer not to eat something cold like this in winter but....I wasn't interested in any of the leftovers yesterday.  Today I might be. Will be.  Or I will cook something.

 I ate this fruited yogurt while watching Ancient Aliens- Australia.  Did you know the Australian continent is one of the least explored continents?  And, it's isolated inhabitants have DNA going back 30,000 years?  Because no one arrived to dilute their blood until Captain Cook arrived. This is the sort of stuff that's on Ancient Aliens.  On the Regular.

I watched because they also gave me lots of lovely Ancient Art and Cave Wall Painting to look at. And after a wall painting/rock carving- I got to see the actual Milky Way and lots of Cosmos - so I could appreciate how similar they were in content.  I also got to watch the men mix Earth into lovely colored body paint.  And paint themselves. And, they also smoked and ingested various intoxicating substances to reach "a higher plane" and communicate with the Ancient Gods.  It was quite beautiful.

Certainly MUCH better than the extremely AWFUL football games.  OMG.  What has happened in the past 10 days to football?????   There was more excitement (less athletic ability) in the fist fights on the benches and in one case...on the field.  If I remember correctly. I've stopped watching.  

I spent the Time after Australian Ancient Aliens watching old recorded (TiVo) Christmas movies.  I watched the waltz one again (fives times in two days).  It's actually titled Christmas Dance.  And I watched the one where two children  are seated at the children's table at Christmas Eve Dinner.  We see them grow up.  Year after year. Until they break each other's hearts.  And I watched the movie where the marketing ex goes to Vermont to manage an old bookstore for a month.  Falls in love. Then leaves. Comes back.  There's one more I forgot to watch.  The "kiss in the elevator movie".  I hope I didn't erase it.  There were three elevator movies. Only one was good enough to see again and again.

Daughter called from a bookstore yesterday where she found shelves of romcom.  None of it was my kind of romcom.  I have two here on the ottoman.  And another five on the book table.  But my head and my heart are tired.  And sad. And feeling rather broken hearted.

It snowed.  So I shoveled my way out to the street to get the newspaper.  And then dragged the recycling can back up the driveway but gave up when I got to the sidewalk.  My chest hurt.  Difficult breathing. I decided not to have a heart attack and die in the driveway. Stopped shoveling.  Did you you know women rarely survive a heart attack???? Or heart surgery. Husband's surgeon and nurse told me. A Warning.

Daily Notes- December 27th- Sunshine. Clean Driveway. Bills Paid.

 We'll be going for a ride in the car in a few minutes to return books to the library.  It would be lovely to be able to walk to the library instead.  Daughter lives close enough, in Town, to walk (but she doesn't).  I have often thought it would be nice to live in Town.  To walk places.  To take a walk and get a coffee and read a book or have a short conversation with someone. Husband doesn't do conversation. Never has.

The car, and the need to drive everywhere, creates a wall of sorts between me and the Town where I live. Years passed with me not being the friendliest of people.  Now..I like to be around people for short periods of Time.  I often think....I could manage to be around people more often and for longer periods of Time. If I practiced.  I miss the greenhouse and the many people with problems.  I had lots of great conversations with them.  It seems like forever, ago.

So..the library.  And returning books and the one puzzle we managed to finish. The one on the table is taking a very long time.  Way too busy.  And there are only a limited number of piece shapes.  So easy to put the wrong ones together.

We had football pizza last night.  Ugh...the games were brutal.  The chat today on the one show I watched- equally as brutal.  COVID has ruined everything for many of the Teams. The Patriots played poorly. It was almost like no one was coaching them.  Well, I was...but no one was listening.

Daily Notes December 26th- Snowblower and Shovel Day

 Well, even when one doesn't bake...the baked goods seem to find their way into the house.  Yesterday I had a chocolate chip muffin.  Today Football Pizza which I make myself.  I haven't baked the Boozy Cake yet- maybe tomorrow.

And G used the snowblower and I used the shovel to clean up the mess that the snowblower leaves behind. We got rain followed by snow and then rain again so mostly we had a layer cake of hard and soft snow. Now it's all clean dry asphalt and 36 degrees.  Cross the street has a plow guy and it looks really awful over there and she's lost half the side lawn.. plow guy digs right into the grass.

Christmas was a lovely day.  Great gifts, Phone calls and the Christmas Burritos were very tasty and I got so many great books... and read one of them......delightful.  

Daughter also found a book titled "the Modern Natural Dyer" and it has a list of dye plants.  So I am making a list for me to have handy in my purse and one for daughter to carry when they go plant shopping next Spring for the Landscaping business. 

I know that Artist Supply in Portland has all the dyes for sale.  I could just visit Portland someday and buy them- it's just with reactive asthma I am afraid of the powders.  Inhaling them. Killing myself. So the plant material itself sounds safer.  The Maine plant catalog never has Madder root. Always sold out.  And then..I wonder if I actually want to get into this dye pot thing.  When I can paint the cloth the color of madder. I have a picture of the color-- I can mix color.  It's something I am good at.

The Patriots lost.  Sigh.  I had a few spoons of ganache to soothe myself.  Now a book to read.  

Six more days on my desk calendar page.  Daughter got me a new calendar- just like this one.  Perfectly DELIGHTED.  That's me.

Daily Notes- December 25th. Merry or Happy Christmas to All!!!!

 Merry Christmas.

Gifts were found on the couch where we sit doing nothing, sewing or reading or watching tv.  They got into the house all by themselves while we were sleeping.   Books.  Candy.  That's what I got and fruit flavored sparkling water (lemon and strawberry-rhubarb) that mix very well with gin and vodka when everything is ice cold. All from Trader Joes about a 40 minute fast drive from where I live.  

I still haven't gotten my wish for a local Trader Joes.

Husband got a stack of new coloring books of mandalas and a BIG new word search book.  He is circling words as I type these.

Our son called from California.  He has to get up early to make the call.  But he does it.  Lovely boy.  Lets us talk and ramble on and on.  A true gift from his heart.

We were eating breakfast at noon.  We are really degenerate adults. I am reminded of how I scolded the two 18 to 20 something -year old children when they got up past noon.  And now...it's me doing it.

I was up late.  Two of my old favorite sweet Hallmark movies on TiVo.  I watched them both twice.  The last- the Christmas Waltz (a busy business man learns to waltz) had such sweet music to accompany the waltz lessons.  I mostly just kept hitting rewind to listen to the music.  Like winding up a music box. I think I might have done it for a few hours if the hour wasn't so late.  I am going to check the CD's I own- to see if I have a waltz.  Last year it was Edith Piaf.  At full volume. In French.  Glorious.

Daily Notes- December 24th. Christmas Eve.

 Christmas Eve.  One of the Twin boys came by yesterday with a gift of homemade cookies.  And News. Regarding the hockey ice rink not yet built.  The Puppy who now outweighs both boys.  He said he couldn't visit longer as he had many cookie deliveries to make to the neighbors.  We wished him a Happy Christmas. 

An email from another neighbor getting her sleigh ready to travel to see her son and her three (or four) granddaughters.  Four if her daughter travels north as she is traveling south.  We are picking up mail and watching the house while she is gone.  We got a bottle of wine and a glass jar of Brandy Balls.  Yum.

Cookies, Brandy Balls and Wine.  I melted a can of sweetened condensed milk and dropped in pieces of Lindt very dark chocolate 85%.  Ganache.  I did a very very tiny taste test and am "sugar" dizzy - not even using the amount of chocolate asked for in the recipe- It's cooling.  Later today I am baking the Boozy Chocolate Christmas Cake.  And I might loosen up the Ganache with some Kahlua.  I need to make a quick trip to the grocery for Vanilla ice cream.   

I planned dessert but not actual food.  

And really....who cares????  I can have a Christmas Grilled Cheese&Ham Sandwich. With Cheetos. And husband will be happy with the usual Chicken Parm he has every day. I can buy something to eat at the grocery..  

I am not making the Christmas Eve Polish Potato and Sauerkraut Pierogi.  Making them last December nearly killed me.  I might be too old for it.  I tried to come up with some sort of "easier" meal that included all the Pierogi ingredients but didn't come up with anything....yet.  Any Bohemian/Polish Cooking People out there with ideas?????

So...Merry Christmas to all.......you mean the World to Me.  What a Gift you have been to me all these years.  

And, yes, Paula...send more yarn.  In a bag this time not a box and closer to February....when I have worn new holes in my socks!!!! Connie- how did you know my big frying pan needed a big potholder????? thank you.  

Daily Notes- Thursday, December 23rd Sunshine and 21 degrees.

 Occasionally, I use my brain to make life easier.  Today I pulled out the really old Scrabble game (we upgraded a few years (many years) ago to one with little indents for the tiles.  So they didn't move around. This old school one has a flat board.  

Husband was having difficulty with his Jumbles.  So he stopped doing them.  It's one of the exercises for his brain and thinking processes that I encourage.  So....I got out the little stand and assembled the letters and presented it to him and he figured out the word pretty fast.  So......that felt like a "good thing".

Nothing much on tv so I did a bit of sewing- felt bored and ate too many things- I tend to eat when not involved in doing something- be it tv watching, reading or sewing or even mending socks.  Today I have all the supplies for mending the underarm sections of my favorite sweater.  I have the cashmere donor sweater ready to cut into patches.  And my friend in Colorado sent me sock mending yarn so I will be using some of that for the patching.  I already mended my socks.

The sweater I am wearing is more patches than original sweater.  I have more of the donor for the sweater  I am wearing so eventually it will be a "new" sweater-all the sections being sandwiched and sewn together.  But who cares????  In Winter, I am wearing my old black wool ankle length coat. That's all people see.  The old white haired woman in the huge black coat.  When I do fall on the ice- I tend to bounce. Or at least I did bounce when Riley would pull me down to the ground on our snowy slippery Winter walks.  That old coat has saved me from serious injury.  Many times.

I mended and patched the sweater I have on.... on January 6th.  During the rioting at the Capital.  I was standing the entire time.  I could not sit down while all that violence was going on.  I patched.  And the patching looks like I how I felt that day.  This is the first time I have worn the sweater.  Since then. Pretty emotional.

I am thankful for my friend in Colorado (who I have never met) for sending the mending yarn for my socks..  I mended four pairs of socks that I love almost as much as these very old worn thin sweaters.  Daughter checks Goodwill on every visit for a black, dark grey or middle grey cashmere sweater for a one or two X woman. Even men's sweaters.  These sweaters are all over 20 years old.  One or two might be 30 years old.  They don't make them like this anymore.  New sweaters are very thin and they smell funny.

I  hand wash the sweaters with a very nice lightly scented body wash that Trader Joes used to sell..   They stay soft and bouncy with a neutral smell..

Daily Notes- ICE and more ICE on all walking surfaces this morning.

 My Sports Radio Show is playing all the hilarious stuff from the year.  Dirty Christmas Songs with the dirty words bleeped out.  Last song was all bleeps- which was actually even funnier than having words. And they are re-playing calls from listeners which are so so funny. Lots of Naughty.

The snow plow is driving around spreading salt etc.  To take care of that ice.  Husband has gone out to spread sand on the front walk and steps- where he face planted one year.  Wow.... was that exciting. Lots of bruising, swelling and luckily no broken teeth.  His nose took the major hit.  

We had pizza last night.  And watched the Washington /Eagles game.   Today Gary returns to Chicken Parm and I will be having Pantry Soup.  We got mail this morning- it came late yesterday- two Christmas Cards- one from my brother and sister in law.  I am still looking for some kind of "FANTASTIC" recipe to use up the two boxes of instant vanilla pudding mix.

My Master Gardener Friend Patty left us a stack of gifts.  I got really lovely boot socks.  Soft and cozy. And a puzzle.  Husband got rub on tattoos. My library friend left him a stack of new puzzle books.

The only "event" today is husband taking his car in for an oil change and state inspection.

Temps are now 40 degrees and snow melting pretty darn quick.

I managed to get two cloth items finished- added another round of strips -- and now have them starched and basted to batting.  Now I have to wonder what to do- hand or machine quilting.  Since they are almost 100% hand sewn, I think I need to hand quilt.  I am not that great at it.  But in the ditch- who sees it?

Daily Notes- December 21st- First Day of Winter. Cold and White outside.

 So here we are- First Day of Winter.  The Long Slog until March or April.  Sometime Spring is Late showing up here in Maine.   I plan to start seeds in my recycled milk jugs on the back deck the first week of January..  Mostly Marigolds.  They were very much appreciated last summer.  By me.

I have been thinking of growing my tomato plants in the compost bins this coming growing season.  It's sunny there.  Soil is deep.  Watering might be a problem as I will need to run a hose over there or carry water.  I didn't notice ANY pollination of flowers on any vegetables in the fenced garden the past two years. No blueberries.  Very little rhubarb.  I worked so hard over so many years to get that raised bed fenced area going.  It was great for many wonderful years.  Abundance. And now Old Age.

I have to admit- there are fewer and fewer insects flying about.  And they do the work of pollination. I have hand pollinated in my younger years.  Now- it's too hard for me to be out there everyday.

Sports Boston was dull and irritating.  The evening Football games- like watching high school football in August.  No one knowing what the heck they are doing.  And getting hurt.  When Omicron and Delta teamed up- everything should have been cancelled.  Or delayed.  I did hand sewing. My eyes got blurry.

Here in Maine the hospital numbers keep going up and up and the UNMASKED population stays unmasked.  I want to move to a State with good numbers and a population that stays masked.. I know- that's "crazy talk".   No State has good numbers and a population that stays masked.

I took inventory of the pantry and the freezer and fridge.  Seeing what's available for our Dining Pleasure. Today we'll be having Pizza with, hopefully, the Washington Football Game and the Patriots Practice Team Quarterback (with not even 7 days notice) leading the Team.  What could go wrong??? I guess it should be What Could Possibly Go Right.  I have a good feeling about this.  Washington has spunk.

Daily Notes- Monday, December 20th-- Snow Day!!!!!

 Snow yesterday- G and I got to clear the drive and walkways.  He used the snowblower and I used a shovel.  I had started to think we wouldn't get snow this year.  It's VERY bright outside with sun shine and temps going to the high 30's and even into the 40's.  Snow will become ice overnight.

Football.  I stayed up late last night and alone- the snow removal tired husband out--and watched the Saints take Brady and Tampa apart.  

One part of me felt bad- the other part just thought it was wonderful.  Brady can be beaten. And at the very end- 9 to zero- Brady smashed his Microsoft tablet and then threw it in the dumpster behind him.  And to add more battery acid to the burn- the coach that brought him down was the Saints practice team coach, I think------- everyone else had COVID. The Saints real Q-back has something wrong with his foot and he was on the sidelines screaming and yelling and so so proud of his TEAM.

Today (I think, but this week for sure) the Patriot's Practice Squad Quarterback is heading up the Washington Team. COVID is making opportunities for some bench players to SHINE. We'll see what this guy is made of.....And I like the Washington Team.  The resemble old school Patriots from years ago. Just get the job done guys.

Today the Sports shows have plenty to chew.  The Patriots epic mess of a loss and then Brady"s REALLY EPIC MESS.......I have cloth chosen, thread and a needle- ready to listen and hand sew.  Let the good times roll.......Soup is ready to eat when I get hungry.  Nothing to do but enjoy the day.  Sigh.  Happy Me!

Daily Notes- December 19th- Snow overnight. Possibly 3 inches.

Well, inserting the picture a new way and now all sentences begin in the middle of the page. It's always something.  You get this image because I made soup for myself yesterday while it snowed. And my soup looks very much like this image of vegetable soup off the internet. 

Cabbage, carrot, onion, tomatoes, white beans and two potatoes. Pantry Soup - Covid 2020.

It's very tasty and good to have in the fridge.  I added a handful of small pasta shapes.

We couldn't SEE the Patriots game yesterday as it was on a streaming service and nothing we have  "streams" and especially nothing that streams FOX. But I got updates of the score as it was happening on my phone.  We lost. I will need to wait until Monday's Sports TV to find out how and why.

Instead of Football I watched a very good interpretation of A Christmas Carol. And I enjoyed it very much. And before that a Lifetime movie which was pretty interesting.  We got to see the guy naked from the waist up several times which I didn't mind in the least- he's very good looking..  I was thinking the director was just inserting that footage at random times to keep viewers interested in a rather "nothing" plot.  And the guy brought the girl the same fake Irises, twice.  One flower bent to the side.

I'm going to put on my boots and heavy black wool coat and shovel the front steps and sidewalks. Husband is out with the snowblower doing the driveway in from to of the garage. A very large space that takes forever to clear.  We have done it with shovels before- when we could breathe.

 

Daily Notes- December 18th. Snow is promised by 5 pm. No sunshine. 45 degrees.

 Not Christmas but it's a tree and there is snow.  We are promised snow, bad traffic (roads) etc etc. (power outage is standard here in Maine) Husband is filling the bird feeders so the birds will be able to eat if it snows..  I have emptied the paper shredder into the compost bin.  The coming rain or snow will get it wet.  Decompose all the shredded junk mail.  For awhile there I even shredded the daily newspaper.  

Last night NOVA and the Milky Way.  And the Big Bang.  And in billions of years- the end of all this. So enjoy what you can.  It's not forever.  This Glorious Galaxy.  The Boston Public channel has an entire evening of the Great British Baking Show.  Our cheap ass station does not and will possibly do Fund Raising instead.  

 I made Confetti Cookies for husband yesterday afternoon.  I had to do so much clutter clean up to get open space for the Kitchen Aid Mixer.  And the cookie sheets and then the cooling racks.  I had to dig around for all the items that go into the cookies.  He forgot to eat them.......

I haven't written Neighborhood Cards yet.  Last year they all got a set of two handmade potholders.  But not this year.  And I am not feeling like I want to make more cookies.  I do intend to bake another Pumpkin Pie.  I enjoyed that.  Football Game tonight so we'll have Pizza.

Husband did a Word Jumble puzzle this morning.  He used to do one everyday and then they got difficult and he stopped.  Today...he unjumbled all five words.  Has the limited screen time been a factor???

Daily Notes- Good Morning. Promised snowstorm can't actually happen at 50 degrees.

 This small simple kitchen reminds me of my grandmother's small house.  Just enough room for a small table-my daughter has it in her house- and a few mismatched chairs.   On one visit we made strudel. And stretched the dough so thin with the backs of our hands- you could read through it.  Lovely apple strudel.

The weather was supposed to be wintery but I went out to get the morning paper and it's very warm- no coat or jacket needed.  And the driveway was wet- overnight rain. Global Warming is real in 2021 here in Maine where we used to get 48 inches of snow overnight- many times in each Winter.  No more of that.

Terrible Thursday Football.  The early injury.  We watched even though I have no interest in either team. The game was sloppy. Mismanaged.

I have a new 500 piece puzzle on the table.  We are picking out the outside edges.  To get started. Husband finished up the 100 piece children's puzzle.  I didn't get to do much beyond the edge pieces.  It's like that here.  Disinterest in something until I show interest and then-  the puzzle I  had hoped to add to my activities- no longer mine.  Perhaps that is how I should go forward with this memory loss thing.  Show interest in my own activities to get him to lessen the use of screens and then he'll take over my projects.  Screens which impair his cognitive skills and short term memory.   No new memories- so long term is wasted as well.

Let's imagine what the iPad is doing to young children. And their attention spans. What will their adult lives be like.  Who will change their diapers?

Daily Notes- December 16th- Haircut Day- Dark with Rainshowers

 I think these are chocolate ganache balls with additions of sprinkles and pretzels.

I got my haircut and was the only person in the shop wearing a mask. And I said "I wear it to protect every one I love".  Period.  Full Stop. And everyone went back to minding their own business. And not making eye contact.

Dee was right.  Hallmark 2021 is different.  Kissing.  Lots of it. And well done.  Public displays of Affection.  I'm happy.  Each new movie I have watched has been a delight and my old favorites are showing up and I enjoy those as well.  It's a Great Holiday Season.--even without a decorated tree etc.

I am liking this "easy Christmas".

I finally got a cabbage for Dee's Pandemic Pantry Soup.  Which I make all the time with the addition of a large squirt of Heinz ketchup. Last time I made it- I subbed Brussel sprouts for cabbage as the cabbages were HUGE at the supermarket.  Today- still big but not huge. So, let the good times roll....I am having SOUP.

I bought a few things for Christmas Holiday Meal Prep.  Not as much.  Daughter is still on the Leaky Gut Protocol and is now re- introducing food (very slowly) into her diet to see which re-ignite the inflamation. She has lost all the pre protocol swelling.  Can wear clothing a few sizes smaller now. So will not be having the regular Christmas Eve Food- possibly not ever again.  Reminds me of my brother. Allergic to everything.

I need to turn on my Sports Show- Urban Meyer got fired overnight.  

Daily Notes- December 15th. Hospitals here in Maine are overwhelmed. Unvaccinated people.

 My picture file situation continues to.....morph as the days go by.  Let's hope I can make it to the end of 2021.  That, I think is possibly doable.

After that...it will most likely just be word pictures here- Like the Washing Machine Pages.  And..well, that will have to be fine. I don't actually know, anymore, how many of you read these Notes.  At one Time I had "stats" and the numbers were quite astonishing.  But that was before everyone had a blog.

I removed images from the files yesterday or the day before- tidy work- ones I had already used and added a few more to the desktop.  This one just "showed up" and I had not seen it in the file before.  But I like it very much.  I like saturated color.  

I actually did some really good work when we had the Collage Challenge everyday before COVID- so more than 2 years ago..  Really good work.  It was an incentive to make ART each day.  And it felt so so GOOD.  

An extension catalog came in the mail last week.  Art classes the next Town over. Brand new high school just opened and it seems they included a fully functional Art Studio.  Printmaking. Painting, Pottery wheels.  Kiln.  These are things I had in college but wasn't mature enough to make proper use of.  I had too many mental health issues (severe depression). I couldn't get past my own problems to see any Future.

So that booklet sits.  And I am looking at it each day. MECA- Maine College of Art is in Portland. I don't know how I would get there. I actually would like to enroll.  And the local private college here in my Town has a well put together Art Program with Studio Art- I have been tempted to ask......they sometimes allow local residents to audit classes.

I'm not who I was back in my college days.  So afraid. So unsure.  Now...I guess I just have to spread my wings and give flying a try out...for the first time.

Daily Notes- December 14th- Sunshine, Cold- People are dying.

 Chocolate Shortbread Dog Cookies (for people to eat). An Early Christmas Present so I can eat them now.  And  you can see there are also chips of chocolate in the cookies.  Spotted Dog. Thank you, Sam.

I have been having fun with the half page listing a car dealership puts into the daily paper.  Listing the selling high points of the cars on offer.  Mostly used.  For some, it's that they are "clean" or have "recent oil".  Today it was that the car came with "records" ..of what?  Accidents? Owners? Parking Tickets? 

It's fun to circle all the ones with "recent oil" or "slightly used tires".   It's nice to find this amusement in otherwise pages of not so great news.  Maine is in the dark blue of High Numbers of RECENT CASES of COVID.  Mostly North. Non-Vaccinination people who won't wear masks.  Even vaccinated people are testing positive with Delta up there. What was that great Republican Quote? "I just don't care"?

Watched an excellent Hallmark movie  yesterday after Sports and then turned to more football.  Arizona v. the Raiders. Odell had a catch.  I was wanting Arizona to win. They didn't.

No reading yesterday.  Not all that much TV either.  Mostly just sitting.  Just sitting.  Reflecting on my Life as it's been lived.  How it could have been different.  Difficult to know if ANY difference would have been better or worse.  I think I will be thinking about that for the rest of my Time Here on Earth.

Daily Notes- December 13th- Not much going on.

 I ran out of Christmas Pictures so you get a  Christmas Dessert. Raspberry swirl cheesecake. Good!

I wore myself out with three and possibly four footballs game yesterday plus a Hallmark Christmas Movie.  It wasn't all that great until during the Green Bay game the camera found this guy in the stands- doppelgänger of Rogers.  The two live images next to each other just as the guy in the stands looked up right at the camera people.  Eyes, expression etc. I have Tivo so I can go back and forth with anything on tv- called husband over and ran it for him a couple times.  It was amazing.

Today the library and I checked out two puzzles ( I finished up the squirrel puzzle last night before bed) one puzzle is from the children's area (100 pieces) and the other the adult section (500) but images that are very bright and colorful.

Dropped off my Christmas Cards at the post office.  It was super busy- long lines.  And then to the Grocery Store because we needed Kleenex and milk and orange juice.  Again, very busy.  Now, I'm home and have the weekend book which I intend to read again.  I tried getting new books but none I wanted on the shelves. So I am going to have to request them from other libraries. And I do have a big book to read.  Serious. I have been putting it off.  I am not in a serious frame of mind.

I am going to be doing "not much of anything" for the rest of the day.

Daily Notes- December 12th- Yesterday it rained and today the Sun is out and it's in the mid 40's/

 Bad lighting but it's just to let you know I have a puzzle on the table that I am working on.  For some reason husband counted the pieces and found around 15 to 20 are missing.  So....makes it more interesting. This is a small 115 piece puzzle of a squirrel.  I thought it would be a good "memory exercise" for husband- time not spent on a tablet or phone. He doesn't agree. So...in the Spirit of Old Age- I will exercise my own brain.

Power went off at some point last night (as the storms passed thru Maine) and the computer- well, I think it might have LIKED being off and dead.  It has sluggishly returned to life-- the typing letters are appearing in a "current fashion rather than a delayed one" but it was a slog to get it going.

In reply to Connie- my daughter makes "quite a few odd recipes" (an understatement).  The Frito Bark has hot stuff in it so I didn't get any.  Melted dark chocolate, Fritos and the hot ingredient.  It's a "thing" I guess.  She is still On the Leaky Gut Protocol and is not eating any of the bark so I was gifted with left over supplies like Fritos and little square pretzels. She made something else with the pretzels. 

Snacks to fill my little one cup snack bowl.

She did stop somewhere in Portland on the way home to buy vegetable based pasta.  Lentil, Bean etc. And she ate dinner (with two friends) in a Mexican restaurant and had a big bowl of Guacamole.  That restaurant makes AMAZING Guac at table side. She's careful not to come in the house after seeing "people".

When I went out to get the Sunday Paper I found a Christmas Card from a friend I went to school with from 5th grade to high school graduation.  We still saw each other on college vacations.  Her parents wouldn't allow her to go to college. She went to work instead and lived at home.  Her father monitored our visits when I would be home for breaks and summer.  Like I was a "bad influence". I think he opened letters she wrote to me- often I never got them and she probably didn't get the ones I wrote to her.. 

I saw her many years ago- she came by my parents house to meet my 3 month old baby and bring me a gift.  I was living in Georgia she was still living at home. We did meet again- when my children were 6 and 4, I think, and she was married.  She is the caregiver for her younger sister who has had a stroke.  Her parents have passed as have mine.  I offer her my email address every year and the house phone number.  Sigh. She never uses it. She wants me to call her- I have given her my phone number many many times.  She hasn't called. I have never been a "phone caller" because I -100%- always choose a bad time and the call lasts 2 or 3 minutes and the person I call has "somewhere to be".

I have begun to suspect this is just something to say- "call me" and no one actually wants to get a phone call from me. I will WRITE, (and many women I have met on the internet thru this blog know this)- long emails and long handwritten letters. I will always WRITE to you.

Daily Notes- December 11th. Raining Quite Hard- Instead if Snow- which is fine with me. 35 degrees

 

Having a bit of trouble tossing photos.  They keep coming back.  Especially the soap image.  We might have had this one already but we won't again as I tossed it off the desktop.  Sorry about repeated pictures.

As I mentioned  in the header- RAIN.  Which in any other December here in Maine would be three feet of heavy wet snow.  But not in the Globally Warm Maine of 2021.

We set another daily record amount of new COVID cases- 1245.  One day. New Hampshire is SO MUCH WORSE.  Way low percentage vaccinated.  Merry Christmas ICU/Ventilators.  I was going to go political but no...don't/can't change minds.

I am going to suggest that every child bearing aged woman go to PP or their clinic and protect yourselves from ANY pregnancy.  Double up if you have to. Two different methods.  Of course that leaves rape- either by strangers or people you know. Is there somewhere to donate bus tickets???? to another State?

My arm started to hurt at around 8pm.  When all the resident internal bits and pieces noticed an invader. Sleep was difficult bu I don't feel sleep deprived so I guess I slept.  I never remember sleeping.  It's not like those pleasant commercials selling sheets. Waking up so damned happy.

I don't wake up happy.

Watched One Strange Rock.  I was reminded of it by a Hulu advertisement with Will Smith.  And then was all " why did I deleted them from the TiVo files?????"- I missed the first 4 episodes but I have the rest.  They put BBC stuff to shame.  And no animal eats, hunts or kills another.  Which I appreciate. No- one animal did get chased by huge hawks and eaten.  

I have a book to read and daughter has been sending images of the snacks she has made for a social gathering this evening.  Frito Hot Dark Chocolate Bark.  The Candy Factory where she works makes it every so often. So she made some homemade version. I didn't get any Bark- just the leftover bag of Fritos. I'm good. the Party Bark will be too hot (spicy) for me to enjoy.

Daily Notes- December tenth. Christmas Cards are written and addressed- just need the Post Office now.

 Remember--in the Beginning --when we desperately thought we needed more soap??? to wash things. To wash our hands 20 times a day.  I still love soap.  I love French soap.  Uneven chunky cakes of it. Some place used to sell it and I bought it...but I can't remember where or if it was even Maine.  Could have been Chicago.

Several Bullet Points :

Roethlisberger is 39.  I've spelled his name wrong (then went to look for correct spelling) but the point here is- 39.  How on Earth is he only 39??? How on Earth is he playing football as a Quarterback. Looking like he's 50 on a good day. Thursday Night Football he hit the ground, sprawled on his back, and none of his teammates pulled him up. He sneered something to the coach as he walked past- wow. Has he always been that guy??? Attitude is fine when you aren't losing the game.

My Sports TV Shows say the Steelers needed to draft a fresh new Quarterback last year. If they did- put him out on the field --can't be worse than Ben.

Snow last night- about a quarter inch of hard crunchy stuff. Snow Beads.  The plow came. We think to spread dissolver chemicals- which are very bad for the Earth..  So it would't ice up after dusk.

When I go have my COVID BOOSTER shot and buy Boozy Cake to celebrate.

Kim (most of the artist work here comes from her blog) made an interesting comment on yesterday's post.  Not being interested in doing things.  The COVID thing.  Disconnecting and then, now, thinking why bother to re-connect.  I get it.  And with me- there are some people- COVID brought out a side of them I don't like- so those people- not going to make any effort to re-connect. I'll make new friends. Or not.

And other things- ....maybe less in the fridge on a regular basis now..... Maybe...always having bread in the fridge for a sandwich is a Great Thing.  Toaster or Pan.  Because a sandwich is always doable with what you have around. And Oatmeal.  And Cheese.  And Carrots, Onions and Celery as staples forever in the vegetable bin. And Soup.  I also like having macaroni to add to soup.  

I was going to do Washing Machine Pages- but I "just don't want to".

Daily Notes- December 9th. Sunshine but 25 degrees. 1265 COVID cases in one day. One county. Unvaccinated.

 My Avocado Tree.  It's now 32 inches tall (includes the pot) and has quite a few leaves.  Every so often a few turn brown (which I don't understand).  And then it makes more new ones.  In the mid to upper right of the background is my other green houseplant.  A hot pepper plant I think.  It has gotten quite leafy but I can see it's veins- so something is not quite right.

Husband is still sleeping.  His arm hurts from his high dose flu shot yesterday morning.  He did not use his iPad all day yesterday.  I know that can't last but I think the "memory loss" wake up call made a dent in his enjoyment.

I am trying to think of a dessert item I can make for myself today.  I like cookies.  But I don't really like the mess of making cookies.  I might make pancakes.  It's not a dessert but it sort of fulfills the "want to eat something sweet" desire I have between breakfast and supper.  We're down to two meals here.  Works best for us.  Well actually, I think it's breakfast, lunch and dessert for husband but I don't buy dessert for myself.

I have this quote on my desktop "without the cacophony, the balance of the past and all it contained seemed to outweigh the future, my mind full of the things said and not said, done and not done.  I no longer understand how to move forward."

Spring will arrive.  I am counting the days.

Daily Notes- December 8th- Windy, cold, icy snow.

A late start here.  I went with husband to his annual doctor's visit.  Discussing memory loss is difficult. We will be trying a new medication going forward.  And we will TRY limiting screen time.  Husband can spend hours on the iPad or iPhone and turns out- these screens decrease husband's ability to remember. He is usually very very confused after the iPad. An angry confused.

But he is addicted to the screens.

I had to insert the photo in this post in a new way.  Last night I changed the batteries in the keyboard which caused the entire system to collapse and I had to do a manual shut down.  I am guessing certain functions might have eliminated themselves in the re-boot.  Like moving photos off the desktop.

I managed to snag myself a COVID Booster shot on Friday, the 10th at 5:15 pm BEFORE the malfunction..  Happy Dance.

I had been visiting the site (online) as suggested after 9 pm.  I did get the appointment by visiting at 6 pm. At my local grocery/pharmacy.  I can buy myself a celebratory piece of Tiramisu cake afterward.  The lines and congestion at the Pharmacy are now...complicating many Lives.  The store might need a security person. I have heard the f word used pretty often in the last few weeks in the line which snakes into Produce.

The Big Truck backed into our driveway yesterday with a Fruit Gift Basket from our Bankers.  I have already eaten the nuts and one orange.  The Big Truck has been delivering packages at a daily rate to the doctor and lawyer living next door.  Other houses on the street also are getting Big Truck visits.  

I don't know if it will actually snow today.  It's those tiny hard particles and not fluffy white flakes. Not Snow Globe Snow.

Daily Notes- December 7th- Pearl Harbor Day. I think.

 Reminds me of Christmas in Germany.  Bees Wax candles.  

So...The Patriots Won.  In 50 mile per hour wind.  At the very end of the game- with a chance the Bills might score- our power went off. Yep- you can't even know how that is here in Maine- Total darkness and then pop it all came back on.  I told husband to go turn on the non TiVo tv in the dining room.  See what happened as I waited for the TiVo to reassemble itself- it takes longer and longer or I am getting to be less patient.

We WON!!!!  Life is Good.

Also in the Life Is Good Column- daughter got her COVID Booster shot this morning at a Walgreens the next Town over. (where no masks are worn and no vaccine is needed)  I am now the only family member with No Booster Shot.  

I am not that worried.  I am ALWAYS MASKED and washing my hands etc.  I also do not go into any stores other than the grocery.  Which is large enough that I can maintain distances. I back up a lot. Leaving aisles that seem too crowded etc. My grocery has alcohol wipes available and I wipe down my cart.  My hands.  I do not wipe down my groceries.  I know several people who blog that did that.  I touch everything and then wash my hands really well.  No face touching.  Ever.

So.....I have written checks for the two bills that arrived.  I set myself up to do the Christmas Cards but then decided I wanted to continue reading a very good book by a Rom Com author named Sara Desai. In this one the love interest guy is a combat veteran with emotional problems and the gal is a lawyer with a very WILD streak.  This is book three.  Marriage Game, Dating Plan and last Singles Table.  

All the same extended family and friends. This book begins with a wedding party paint ball outing and our girl shoots the veteran in the ass with the paint ball gun- up close and personal- because she wanted to get the flag...... before he did. He's been seated (not comfortably)  next to her at the Singles Table at the wedding and she's spilled food and drink on him...of course- this being a Desai Rom Com- this guy hasn't a chance in Hell.  Read them in Order.  Or it ruins the Fun- not much but in order works better.  Didn't and was confused by the multitude of Aunties.

Daily Notes- December 6th. Monday, Monday. Rain here in Maine.

 This clipping holds an idea for a Christmas Ornament.  Over the years I handmade all my cards. At first from watercolor paper and scraps of silk etc.  Trees.  And then sewn on the card stock with the sewing machine --- straight and zigzag-- using gold and silver thread.  My neighbor across the street has her cards framed. They look amazing.  I wish I had sent one to myself.

In answer to your question- I used up all the small scraps of silks and velvet and bits of great old men's  silk ties over a period of three years.. some of the fabric went into the abstract art pieces I was making during this same time period.

And then I drew trees on smooth watercolor paper. Using my colored pencils- brown for the stems and branches and every shade of green pencil for the pine needles.  The trees were drawn into clay pots. One tiny red heart hanging from a branch.  Japanese simplicity.  Perhaps three or four Christmases.

After that, I bought brown cardstock and white ink pens.  I drew White Christmas trees and added  one little red heart to the branches like an ornament.  Those cards were achingly beautiful. I don't have one of those either. The making of the cards was very Zen. Another three or four Christmases.

The past four or more Christmases have been very nice commercially made cards.  Not "making" cards should have warned me that "danger was lurking ahead".  Not making Art.  That is never a good sign.

This idea in the picture.  Some stiff paper/board. Cut with mat knife into a tall triangle. Wrapped (around glue covered surface) in white yarn.  A small stick- (I like the idea of an unpainted twig) for the stem. I would need to find round wooden circles- perhaps something in the Tinker Toy container. And some fake moss. 

These couldn't be mailed... but for the neighbors???  Yes. Hand delivery. Sort of. Just to the Doors. Like last year's potholders. Drop off, ring the Doorbell and down the driveway I go.  Sewing the yard to cardstock would be very messy on the backside.  I thought of that.

Daily Notes- December 5th. Cold with Surprises

 A package arrived either late yesterday evening or early this morning.  Postal Service is Strange.  From Gretchen. In New York State.  Gretchen- thank you so much for this lovely surprise.

This is the empty box (and the stacks of 1.5 inch squares) and the lovely Japanese notebook and pink pen with glitter inside.  For the Washing Machine Pages.  Special Holiday Washing Machine Pages. And into the New Year as well.

The box also contained 6 inch squares of fabric.  Instead of eating my breakfast or reading the Sunday Paper- things I look forward to....I sorted cloth.  Into piles and projects.  A very neat and tidy selection of items  -that I am sure were cluttering up my friend's sewing room.  I don't know how we started writing to each other...but I sure am glad we did start that first email conversation.  Very very glad.   

A few years ago- Connie in Cincinnati sent me a charm pack to make potholders like the ones I had admired on her blog.  I have never allowed those potholders I made --- get dirty in use- instead they keep the stacked pans from scratching each other.  I see them each time I reach for a pot or pan.

Gretchen's stacks will be welcome additions to the (unused) potholder family-- laughing.

Last December I made potholders for the neighbors on my street and friends.  As a gift that I left in their mailboxes as COVID kept us from seeing each other.  I have no ideas about this year ...yet... but the COVID this December is more deadly.  Population reduction.  The Earth tries to save itself if we won't do it ourselves. 

I watched the news conference regarding the Michigan school shooting.  Your child is having thoughts about hurting himself or others and you go out and buy a gun? And let him have it- because- no bullets????? What could possibly go wrong, huh?

Daily Notes- Saturday December 4th. It's COLD but Sunny.

 I took a picture!!!!!  This is my homemade Advent Calendar.  I bought Dark Chocolate Squares to put in the pockets but haven't done it yet.  The weight of the candy will possibly- probably- make the calendar fall off the wall.  It's already number 4.  I'm Late. Already Late.

I made Stanley Tucci's family vegetable pasta sauce yesterday.  Husband was standing by the stove with his bowl and then I explained what it was I had cooked.  And he walked away.  Vegetables.  He doesn't eat them.  Mushrooms on Pizza sometimes.  Onions.  Carrots in Chicken Soup.  That's it.

I had about two small handfuls of chocolate animal crackers left in a bag and half a small tub of Cool Whip in the fridge not used on the Pumpkin Pie - so I dumped the cookies into the Cool Whip, stirred them around and in a day or two- the time it will take for the Cool Whip to soften the cookies- I will have dessert.

I am trying a new routine here. Titled ::: Feeding Myself.  Remember I made Pantry Soup before Thanksgiving--Twice. And then for Thanksgiving all the Vegetable Side Dishes But No Turkey.  Now Vegetable Pasta Sauce.  I should call it Vegetable Drawer Pasta.  I used two organic fat carrots, celery with leaves and a nice onion plus a large can of crushed Italian tomatoes (from Germany) Read the cans- so much strange info.. All the vegetables were finely diced using one of my less used but very sharp German knives.  tiny cubes.  Very precise. I enjoy food prep.  Occasionally.

I am re-reading Shipped.  Angie Hockman.  While trying on wet suits on the Cruise Ship for the afternoon outing in the ocean-  the two travel executives (main characters trying to get the same new job) eye each other.  The young woman has on a bikini and the guy is looking at her and she mouths "human resources".  So he pulls off his tee shirt and while she looks he also mouths "human resources". I laughed out loud.  The young woman has already puked on one of the passengers.  Food poisoning.  Airplane sandwich. 

 Next up, I think the woman actually drowns while snorkeling in her wet suit.  Panic Attack. She's saved but....just. Her sister had a milk shake with local ice cubes and is now recovering from - unclean water used to make the ice. Puking and Pooping.

And, as a person who has BEEN on a cruise ship for a week.......so true.  So true. That week seemed like a ETERNITY and I will NEVER do it again unless I bring a second suitcase FULL of books.  And cloth to sew. People are actually drawn to someone sewing--like moths to a flame.  Especially appliqué. And they always want to touch the cloth.  Especially...men.

Daily Notes- Number 3708. Really, I have written to you three thousand seven hundred and eight times.

 I asked husband to drive me to the library and the grocery store.  Hoping to get him to forget what he was attempting to do in the garage.  It didn't work.  He's out there losing things he won't be able to find as I type. I usually stand next to him with my hand out for the items.  I've tried not finding them but then he drives to the local big store and buys more.... but never what he went to buy.

I  hope I die first. I was looking forward to living alone. But by the Time it happens- I will be too exhausted (and angry) to care.

The Library and Grocery Store with mask was difficult.  I could feel the veins in my neck struggling with not enough oxygen.. I could also acknowledge that I wasn't really thinking as well as usual.  I had to backtrack a few times.  I had a list but kept feeling like I had gotten something I didn't need and had forgotten things I did need.  I did get two cartons of light cream for my coffee and another large container of oatmeal.  My breakfast. The Store shelves for the two things are more often than not.... bare. 

Having extras is like money in the bank so that was fine.  I got three yogurts for me.  In the event of not having anything else to eat for supper- I do get tired of grilled cheese.  Husband got a new stack of Chicken Parm dinners, yogurts with candy, bagels.  Healthy Eating.  He also got a new snack cake.  

His birthday cake was getting "boring". Oddly enough, my birthday cake never bored him and he asked for a piece every night till it was gone. 

I have a stack of books I have read in the past that have entertained me more than once and will again this week..  I have the new Nigella cookbook.  What I would like is a new Nigella cooking series on PBS.  I think Amazon bought all of the PBS back stock of cooking shows.  Prime.  I don't have it.  Because I don't know how to have it. I would like Netflix also.  But the how of it escapes me, also.  I amaze myself doing this blog each day.   

Our PBS station is fund raising selling boxed sets of tapes and discs.  Of moldy old programs. Until December 12th.  An ENTIRE MONTH. You get a free PBS Mug.

Gosh this was a depressing post.  The Heart yesterday did belong to Dee.  

And Dee has had a "worse than me day" if we are comparing.  Sitting in her sewing chair only to discover the dog had vomited on it. 

Daily Notes- December 2nd- Cold and Wet as it is raining today.

 I think this might be Dee?  I don't know where it came from but I liked the image. Let me know if it's yours?  I like it very very much which is why it's in the picture file.

I spent some of the day doing Not Much (other than laundry).  I did enjoy the Sports Shows.  They were discussing the Buffalo Stadium and the Fans.   The fact that the people in the stands actually have sex right there in the seats-- making the TV cameramen's job both fun and not fun, I guess.  And throw sex toys onto the field.  And throw cans of beer and garbage at the Patriots Bus when it arrives.  So.....all that was news to me. Buffalo.  We drove thru Buffalo once. Or around it. Once.

I worked on the December desk calendar a bit.  Most of this first week is actually under the Mac's stand. So, hard to get at and even harder to see.  And it's also pretty dark in the house right now.  I have the lights by the front window on but not over here by the desk.

I baked potatoes.  Yesterday.  They weren't very good.  I was so looking forward to them with butter chives and sour cream...but they were just blah.  A great disappointment.

I do have one interesting thing to tell you.  I was channel surfing past the Naughty Lifetime Channel and my eyes caught on an actress who looked familiar.  Yes.  She is in the Signed Sealed and Delivered Post Office series.  They get engaged and barely are able to brush their lips together in an awkward kiss that makes me cringe on the Post Office Series. 

Well....not on Naughty Lifetime.  So NOT!!!!! Not on Naughty Lifetime.  So the Hallmark Actors actually do know how to KISS on a bed with hands all over..  They just are not allowed to on Hallmark. 

And NOW I won't almost spill or spit up my coffee when I see them on Naughty Lifetime "going at it". Because Naughty Lifetime is Really Nasty.  The Other Lifetime is somewhere between Hallmark and Nasty.  And they kiss but they don't Murder, Rape, Kidnap or Terrorize. Like I said- Nasty.

The Kiss in the Elevator Movie recorded yesterday..  On Regular Lifetime.  And, it's a great kiss. I am going to watch it today.  And some one does gets punched in the nose- twice.  

Daily Notes- December first- Sunshine and 30 degrees

 I think I took this images to remind me of the book.  In case, I wanted to make Calligraphy Animals.

Last night's sleep was awful.  I was in a car with people, going somewhere.  We stopped at a nearly deserted gas station and I got out to pee and when I returned- the car was gone, the gas station was closed and empty, there was no traffic.  My belongings were in the car.  I decided to call someone- but I had no phone numbers, no money and I believe the time of this dream was before the internet and cell phones.

Sigh.  I didn't fall back to sleep. Abandonment is a real issue in my dreams.

Now, I am worried about having phone numbers.  I have already written down the important info for finding blogs if this computer dies.  But what of email addresses????  I am going to see if I can start a new list in my notebook for email addresses.  Some of this info transplants itself into my phone without my doing it.  They are somehow linked.  Not my doing.

Is that why I had this dream??? Because I need to be prepared???

Note: I went back to check and I have ALREADY written down all the email addresses.

I have one more Thanksgiving leftover meal (husband thought having vegetables once was enough so it's just me).  The Pumpkin Pie is finished.  Husband has eaten half of his Birthday Cake Assortment. He isn't sharing.  Which is fine as I don't mind if he eats it all as the cakes are very very sweet. I shared my birthday cake with him. Just saying........

I started reading a book quite late yesterday ...after two Christmas Movies.  I will finish it after I hit publish here.  Then I have one load of washing and a very dusty bedroom floor to Swiffer.  I dusted the Buddha on my dresser.  And the dresser.  I think all my corduroy pants are in the wash basket right now. I may toss the ones I have on in the washer also.  Then all my pants will be clean. But what will I wear while the washer is washing and the dryer drying????

Daily Notes- November 30th.-- sunny but cold.

 I like this piece of art very much.  I'd love for the Postal Service to choose this for stamps. I would buy sheets and sheets of these images if they were stamps.

We have cold sunshine here in Maine.  The upper reaches of America. More Canadian in weather than the rest of the "lower states'. 30 degrees and sunshine at 11am.  Husband went out early for a haircut.  Now he's back working on his coloring book page to be followed by a nap.  I am not certain what I will be doing today. Always wish I could nap.  But I can't. Genetically or Emotionally Impossible.

I keep thinking it's Friday but it's only Tuesday.

I was going to tell you about something interesting that has happened around here...but I can't remember what that was...and actually...nothing interesting or exciting comes to mind.  So..

We watched the nameless Washington Team play the Seahawks last night.  The Washington Team has no name (having been forced to no longer be the Redskins- a good decision) and the announcers said their quarterback wasn't a "franchise quarterback" so........he's not a quarterback?  Because he wasn't drafted????  This guy who isn't a franchise quarterback was like 150% determined to win the game- no matter what. And he did.  The look on his face on the sidelines- We rarely see the Washington Team.  It's not on the New England radar.  The Seahawks will certainly remember this game.

The Twins down the street are going to have their hockey rink again this Winter.  Dad (a lawyer working from home- the street has a high percentage of lawyers for 11 houses) is getting ready to start construction of a larger rink for the 2021 hockey season on our street. Larger twins. Larger rink.  It's lovely to see the boys and their friends out there on "the ice" in the late mornings early afternoons and then under lights after dark. He does all the work himself (on his work breaks).  I was happy to learn we'd have hockey again this Winter.  I love the sound of it on quiet winter afternoons.

My desk calendar (November) is full.  I worked on it yesterday to get ready to tear it off and start in on December.  The garbage truck just drove past.  A Wonderful Day in The Neighborhood.

Daily Notes- November 29th. Sunshine, ice on the sidewalks.

 Not my birthday yesterday- husband's.  

Football Pizza and I had no pizza cheese--which surprised the hell out of me after all these months and even years of Football  Pizza..  So I had to go out to the grocery to buy cheese and everyone must have been coming home on Sunday from Thanksgiving Family Trips or had run out of FOOD so the store was crowded. 

Got home and no pizza sauce in fridge.....I was sort of speechless at that point but did find a bottle in the pantry.  So, all the items for pizza making are now on the grocery list for later in the week.  Or next week.

I did manage to buy more chicken Parm prepared meals for husband.  He loved his cake.  Had difficulty choosing which of the four wedges of cake to eat first.  He went with Red Velvet.  I had Pumpkin Pie.

I finished up my November calendar.  I asked daughter to buy me a new one just like this one for my Christmas Present.  I have enjoyed finding and pasting art on the blocks and then going back and adding colored crayon or inked in designs.  I had all the finished calendars on the floor and will attempt- at the end of December to get a picture of them all.  I am going to need a tall ladder.

I did not read yesterday.  We watched Football.

Today I managed to corral myself into writing checks for the bills. Most difficult part--just getting started. Once I get going it's fine.  And then I walked out to the mailbox by the road-twice. I found more bills.  I was not in the "mood" to write my Christmas Cards today.  I'm not jolly.  But I did snag the christmas Stamps I wanted to match my cards on a visit to the library- I walked across the street and into the post office and it was quite empty.  I may have already written about the stamps.  Probably.  Not that much happens here.  Any excitement- it's in the books I am reading.

I had an idea for a short story today.  Even a title- The Runner. Woman comes to town to settle estate she has inherited from her great uncle as quickly, as quietly as possible..  But first she stops in to the police station- haven't figured out why- keys?- and the Police Chief takes one look at her and promptly drops to the floor, unconscious.  Everyone stands around until the ambulance arrives discussing the Chief's low blood pressure (??) and she makes a run for it.  It's not going to be a "serious" work of fiction.

Daily Notes- November 28th. Snow melting in the cold Sunshine

 Good Afternoon.  Too many things going on here- scattering my thoughts.  Good things.  Phone calls. Emails.  Things I need to attend to.  Listen. Process. Write down book titles.

So......today is a Football Day.  Patriots and Titans.  Two coaches who know each other very very well. History there.  It will be a Battle.  Begins NOW.  

Today is also a Birthday.   Football Pizza and then Birthday Cake.

It's cold.  I did Washing Machine Pages and one load of Wash yesterday.  It was cold where the washing machine lives (dryer vent open to the outdoors) and my handwriting was scribbly.  When I am out of sorts or someplace in my head that isn't great...I see it in the handwriting. And I saw it there yesterday.  So, I settled down and got out a fresh new book and read until my eyes said it was time for sleep.  

I've watched a few Christmas Movies. I've gotten to a place with Hallmark  (not so much Lifetime) where in the first 15 minutes I know.......I know I will like it or I know I won't.  Yesterday it was mostly won't.  Some of my favorites have been on Lifetime.  These movies are less......I don't know how to say this- false? preachy? stupid?  Hallmark has changed in the last two or three seasons.  And not in a good way. But..most of the "good stuff" hasn't been shown as yet.  We'll see.  The Magical Christmas Shoes turned out to be a Lifetime Movie and it's now recorded.  The other one I love- The kiss in the elevator movie has also been recorded- also Lifetime.  I have movies now that I can "medicate" myself with when I am feeling sad or lonely. Movies that make me laugh or just make me happy.

I have to get husband in here to watch the game.  I have the pizza dough out getting to room temp.  I have the cake in the fridge.  It's going to be okay.  A good day.

Daily Notes- November 27th- Snow overnight- melting right now.

 An image of an After Thanksgiving Sandwich. I am not sure what the pink marbled stuff is. Cranberry mayo????  I had another plate of all the sides yesterday for supper.  So good. Husband reverted to the Chicken Parm prepared meal- who is surprised????.  And didn't remember there was pumpkin pie.  He wanted packaged treats.

There is very little impetus for me to do home cooking.  I might bake cookies.  As a Birthday Gift.

I went out today to get his inhaler prescription.  I also got him a Variety Cake. Four different quarters of cake- Caramel, Carrot, Red Velvet and Chocolate for his Birthday tomorrow.  I forgot ice cream but he really won't miss it.  I'm not sure he will like the Red Velvet but he does eat a Red Velvet yogurt. So..... and I have the cookies I "might" bake as backup.  The cake is in the garage fridge.  It'll be a surprise.

I read a book yesterday.  The Dating Plan by Sara Desai.  I have asked for her first book The Marriage Game and it should be in next week.  These are books my library hasn't purchased for the collection but I think they should as it was quite good for a rom-com.  Some names and locations (bridal shop) seemed to overlap with another author so for awhile I was confused.  

Today I am re-reading Shipped.  A rom com that takes place on a cruise ship.  I will skip the first 30 or more pages.  Tedious. Where was the Editor????  And I think I will be making myself a Thanksgiving Sandwich today. Minus the drippy stuff.  I will use the last of the Boozy Cranberries.

Daughter came over yesterday (in the cold rain) and hauled the 48 inch (heavy) round wreaths from the Attic and got them up on the front porch.  We switched them on yesterday when it got dark.  One wreath had a section of lights out so she had to go into the Attic ...again...to get the fourth one.  Thankfully all it's lights worked.  I was pretty happy I had tucked the cord and timer into my underwear drawer after last Christmas.  But need to tuck the light sparker gun in with the wreath timer next time and the box of extra lights.  I think in the next few months that drawer will be full of things that "get lost" and I will need a new space for my underwear.  I just hope I don't forget where the underwear ends up????

Laundry today.  Washing Machine Pages.  Highlights of the Day.  Which is so very very sad.

Daily Notes- November 26th. And Rain is forecast.

 In Progress. As I clear off the things piled on the ottoman- I find stuff.  And some of it gets stuck or pinned onto the work pinned to the wall opposite my dining room table.  Try outs.  Or just stuff that sort of was made at the same Time.  So they have a certain "family" feeling.

My menu yesterday was very simple but took TIME.  I had forgotten that about cooking.  TIME. I started with the PIE as it had more steps and needed a long baking time.  Then I baked sweet potatoes and moved on from there.  It all got done at the same time which, because I am out of practice...was a Big Surprise.

Son and his long time computing friend Edward had no where else to go- so they went out together to have Chinese.  I'm sure they went to the really really great Chinese place son took us on one of our visits to California.  Which reminded me that he (son but also Edward) have been out there since before son turned 21.  With a master's degree.  20. So long ago.

Daughter ate her garlic enhanced food in the company of her two cats.  Eating the last of their Science Diet food.  The COVID problems have reduced shipments of cat food especially Science Diet for cats. So.....things will be rocky over there for the next few weeks.  Those two kitties are spoiled rotten.

We watched football.  Terrible games.  Hardly looked professional.

By the end of the evening I was watching possibly the last filmed work of the chef who committed suicide in a Paris hotel.  He looked bad.  He reminded me of my dad when he was drinking himself to death. Before AA.  Anthony was traveling along the border between the US and Mexico in this film on CNN. I read his first book long ago, about being a chef, very young, and using cocaine.  Addicted from the very beginning.  I wondered if he had ever tried to find out the"why" of it all.  I think my Dad did.  The why of his addiction. Faced it. Owned it. But not until he was old and I was old. Very unpleasant way to grow up.  It might be why I am the way I am. Collateral Damage. and on that note: I turned off the tv and went to bed.