Daily Notes 0n Friday December 20th. A Dark and 27 degree Friday ( yesterday was sunny and warmish)

 It feels like this on some Maine Evenings  (usually). The streetlights....  This year the grass is still green.

Well, it's chilly in here and the furnace (boiler) is doing its best to warm the house to 64 degrees. I did have it higher last Winter with husband needing warmth and Son still in California mode. 

I watched a Christmas Movie.....and then I watched the PBS program on the bodies found under Notre Dame after the fire.  Ancient burials.  

Today there is a soccer game on some station...Liverpool.  I like their games best as the people in the stadium sing.  And I like hearing that while I stitch.

Groceries today and I am buying more bananas and navel oranges.  My Dental Cleaning went well. We numbed my teeth first with something I swished in my mouth...also numbing my lips.....I have very nervy teeth and cleaning is usually a terrible experience.  My tech was super happy about me bringing her a book......I had anticipated this and selected something very nice for her. In years past I brought her a book list.....of the books I had read and enjoyed....

I discovered a real trove of unused Christmas Cards...now I need to find them a place to live between holidays.  So I don't forget yet again.

I am getting used to the instant coffee.  

I have my bedsheets in the washer....a place near my feet shredded....the fabric falling apart.  I don't think it was me (but I did make it worse)....my husband had very sturdy toenails and I think he shredded the linen.  I now have to consider mending......or- since I sleep alone- putting the shredded area on his side of the bed.....under his pillows.   Easily done.

Well, it's Grocery Shopping Day and seems like Son is getting prepared.....I also have a heavy book bag to return to the Library.  Some of it read and some NOT.  Now that I am interested in stitching scraps of cloth together to make a square....I am not reading as much.... Liverpool is playing Soccer today...I can stitch thru that.  I hope they sing...I love that.

Sunshine and colder weather on the way....Thursday, December 19th. Dentist.

 Final chair  of the old series I dug out of the trash pile.  If I find a decorating magazine in the library hallway give away thing tomorrow ...I might draw a few more chairs or anything else the magazines have multiple images of......... I really like the drawn lines on this chair......I did a great job. Swoopy.  I am actually the ARTIST I wanted to be.....long ago.  Funny how that happens.

I looked for additional Christmas Cards... no luck as yet.  I am recalling using a lot of them last year or the year prior. Daughter and I might swing by the Book Store and get a second box of the ones I chose. After the Dentist.  (So not looking forward to the Dentist)

I now have an organized sewing room....will I machine sew?  I doubt it.  But when it all goes out of the house- it will be sorted and organized.  I spent some Brain Time...thinking "who would want quilting cloth?"  It's not that popular anymore.  Acrylic (plastic) printed cloth is the "quilt" of choice these days.

I did scavenge a nice box of scraps....cut off pieces-- just floor and wastebasket stuff...sewing them by hand into squares.  Avant-garde Pot Holders.  Why not....I'm old enough to be making Crazy Pants Things. It could be worse..... I could be drinking Gin all day out of a coffee cup.. I recall a few old ladies of my acquaintance that did just that.....Day Drinking while your family thought you REALLY liked coffee and tea..  I usually brought a book to read while they napped. 

So...dentist and then some Hallmark...I watched PBS on the Eiffel Tower construction.  Amazing.  

Well, that's about it...if anyone wants to play Five Questions...send them along and I'll try to answer them.... Can be serious or silly..or both.   Santa (a friend) dropped off a bag of chocolate candy...in the mailbox....treats!!!!!!!! Surprise Treats....the best kind..

Wednesday, December 18th. I missed a day here.......Sunshine and 40 degrees

 Well. I can't recall why I didn't post yesterday- but I DID write all my Christmas Cards.  And put stamps on them and sent daughter off to the post office as one European card needed the European Airmail stamp.  

I used up all the cards....and had people left over....so I will dig around in the card drawer to see if I have a few orphan cards... 

The mail brought ME two cards....one from a lovely friend who I knew from 5th grade thru high school graduation...we stopped seeing each other as often when I went away to college- as her father had the impression that girls who went off to college- and no longer lived at home- were whores.  I was allowed to come to her house (supervised) but that was it.  A few years ago she asked me to call her- iPhone- and we chatted for the first time in many many years.  She was preparing dinner for her husband. On her card she asked me to call her after the holidays. I will.  

Daughter went off to the postoffice and then drove to the next Town to see about a watch we found in husband's collection (her assistant duties).  Then she had new tires put on her car and still remembered to stop and buy me a small carton of coffee cream.  Son had thrown out the carton I had- said it had expired....I guess it had but was still quite okay by my "standards" which he says are questionable.

I switched to the wider screen version of Hallmark...better image...I get two versions of everything. I usually watch sports on the wider version- Soccer and Open Wheel Racing.... but yesterday the Hallmark Christmas Mystery looked very very nice. It was an old one that I liked years and years ago.  

I went down to the sewing room and dug thru the wastebasket and pulled out scraps...made myself a square....very nice....I have more scraps and will be making another square today.....Mindless handwork as I watch Hallmark..

It's Medicare whatever time and I got four phone calls that woke me up.....I hung up on all of them. So..that's the news....My cards are in the mail.....I only had the one package of ten- Daughter offered to go buy more but I said..."I ran out of people".....the address book is full but I haven't seen or heard from people listed there in decades....who knows where they live now.  Or if they are alive.

I do have extra cards in a packing box....and I do make a card (I draw, paint or color) for the neighbors and my lunch buddy. That's enough.  Getting old...it breaks your heart somedays.

Daily Notes- Monday, December 16th. Intermittent Sunshine and 36 degrees

 I just am so fond of the strange and Wonderfull-ness of budding flowers.

Football yesterday was not worth watching....the Pizza was wonderful as usual.  I did fall in to Hallmarks' Trap and watched two Christmas Movies....I did not record them to save...... dismal even with actors I usually enjoy.....This one guy- see him too much and you've seen all his emotional faces...

I also watched an older recorded movie about a woman returning from Iraq without her bomb sniffing dog..  They had worked together since he was a puppy....but she was sent home and the dog had a few more years of service..... I'd seen the movie before- the love interest was a junior version of Tom Cruse. and any long time readers might recall- I am not one of Tom's fans.

I tuned into a  recorded Hanukah movie (really craved jelly donuts it was like that movie where every day was a repeat of the same day) and then carried the book I had chosen to read.... off to bed.  The Wedding People.  7 day loan so needs to be returned on Friday.  Not what I expected.... Woman- College Instructor...arrives, no suitcase......intention is to kill herself.  Hotel is filled with wedding guests.

First 34 pages (endlessly tedious). Describes her marriage, useless tries to have a baby and/or get tenure at the college where she and husband teach  (she would have liked either).  In depth description of her neighborhood Wine Shop and the "tip" jar on the counter. ... and the clothing worn by all the Wedding Guests in line at reception, then contents of her husband's closet at home.  So, very very riveting 34 pages- also included were holiday vacations and the clothing she wore.. on those Ozark hiking vacations.

I actually, now that I wrote all that...can't imagine ANY other book that crammed that much useless info in 34 pages. I am leaving out descriptions of boring sex with her husband and her cat's bowel disorder..  THIRTY FOUR PAGES IN............  

Someone published THIS.....someone at the Library chose it (New York Times Bestseller List) for the New BOOK shelf.  I have made a promise to myself to read ALL the way to page 50.  Unless something fabulous happens- page 50 will be the last page I read.  I imagine any other people having read this far would be offering to run her over with their cars or push her off the balcony of her fifth story room.  Really.  Cover blurb says it's "wickedly funny"...........NO......just 1000% NO.

Football Sunday- Pizza!!!!! Sunshine and 20 degrees here in Maine. Yes! 20 degrees.

Beverley's Quilt.   I now see the quilt each morning. And remember Bev.

I washed my husband's bed pillows yesterday (finally).  Once just to get the down flattened (wet) and hopefully remove some of the waxy residue from his skin that was in the pillow coverings...then a second hot water wash. Which seemed to have gotten all the waxy oil off the fabric....then the dryer...when I went back to  check on them....both pillows were puffed and dry and smelled nice and clean. I had clean pillow covers to zip onto the fresh clean pillows.  Perhaps today I will wash my own pillows....I sort of envy the clean ones of their POOF!!!

I watched a Hallmark Christmas Movie about a Santa Training School.  One of the Santas was actually Santa  (with memory loss and confusion)...I recalled WHY I stopped watching Hallmark Christmas Movies.  This was a new 2024 movie and the kissing was sort of better......on the movie prior to the Santa one the guy actually opened his mouth and seemed interested.

I finished reading my library book.... The Wedding Party.  Next up is Deaver's Tracker book.  Now that CBS has taken the show off...and shoved it into a streaming service.....I can't watch the actual show anymore and wish I had kept the recorded episodes.  I don't know why CBS bothers to create episodic shows.  High Potential is also gone.  Elsbeth remains-- why?  Will Trent is coming back.

Update on the new coffee....One cup a day....like caffeine training wheels. (I got a good laugh typing that). No Open Wheel Racing so just Football Games today with Football Pizza... onion, red bell pepper and black olives as toppings along with pepperoni today.  We might add pineapple one of these Sundays. Or do more mushrooms.  We like toppings.  We also have already cooked bacon...we could add that.

I watched the end of a British Soccer game yesterday.  I still do NOT understand off sides--- which complicated yesterday's game and ended in shoving and pushing and the goalie smashing into the pole on the side of the goal and ...well that looked like it REALLY hurt..

 

Saturday the 14th of December...Sunshine and 24 degrees here in Maine.

 My Thoughts Exactly....Buy The Books.

The SUN is shining... I am having Columbian Coffee (instant but NOT decaf) from Trader Joes with cream and Splenda.  My intention when the Splenda runs out- to just use sugar- I already use sugar in my cups of decaf tea. Or just dump the Splenda and go straight over to sugar.  I am down to two daily pills...a multi vitamin and the smallest size statin that they make... and I think that pill is only a "cover his ass" pill for my doctor. The Statin my husband took was as large as my multi vitamin.

I've had a nice shower and washed my hair....I have a load of clothing in the washer.  I think I passed the point of no return yesterday......on being Listless.  Lifeless.  Have decided Life is short and I need to just ENJOY myself......I'm NOT the one who died. Stop acting like it WAS me.

Son is very happy that the broken riding mower (John Deere) is now GONE.  It got picked up yesterday and now has a new owner..... if you recall husband driving over a full gas can- setting the thing on fire- you now know how that story ends........with the mower no longer in the side yard covered in a blue tarp. Daughter is finished with the Sewing Room....it's all organized and all that is left are the things I cannot decide to keep or let go.  She has the discard pile somewhere..knowing I'm going to say...have you seen.......?  I say throw cloth away and then I realize I needed it....I actually don't NEED anything.

All the SHARP things are in ONE place....so I don't accidentally cut myself.  DebL's cloth and thread is in the living room next to my couch.  Next to ME.  My favorite things to do are to sort, fold and rearrange all that stuff.  My Happy Place.  A favorite  quilt....made for my dear friend Beverly years ago, is now on my bedroom wall behind the Buddha... it came back to me after her sudden death one December.   I got her Christmas card in the mail that day.  The Quilt was on her coffin....Her daughter said it was Bev's favorite thing...that she traced each hand appliquéd leaf with her fingers each day.  (photo tomorrow)

When it doubt, and this is NEW for ME, I let go.  Yes.....I let go.  Time is short- and all those projects etc....I don't have the time or interest for them anymore.  I'd rather fool around with DebL's dyed cloth and especially her thread.......I'm considering a hand lettered sampler (like the ones DebL makes)....Life would be perfect if I had my co-pilot Riley still here underfoot.  I might return to watching Law and Order.  Like going back in Time.

Well I think I should go check on the washing machine and if done- start the second load...

Another Day - 27 degrees with Sunshine...

  A Few Missteps this morning....and the computer deciding to finish spelling words- not the ones I was intending to spell.  I am guessing the new computers are trying to be intelligent.  Guessing at what the person typing might be trying to type.....I'd notice it more if I was typing with our looking at the keyboard. I used to be able to just look at the screen- yep I looked at the screen and the keyboard finished the word before I had a chance to... fascinating.

What am I reading? I finished a book and just started an old favorite- Wedding Party.There are three in a series with books for each of the three women friends.  This is my favorite. Teddy and Maddie.

Daughter brought me a jar of Trader Joe's Instant Coffee.   Columbian.  Smooth and bold.  I scratched the coffee I had put on the shopping list for today....I'm tired of TEA.. Which I am making and drinking just to keep up my daily water intake.  I do feel better when I drink a good amount of water. Not as drifty.

Library and Grocery as soon as Son makes the shopping list.

Daughter has retreated to the Sewing Room to add the stuff we sorted to the color coded storage tubs....I was so very very exhausted by the time we stopped sorting.....I am going to assume I let stuff go that I should have kept but I just wanted to STOP.........at least I didn't have to "justify" the things I said yes to and defend the things I said no to.  Sigh.  We aren't even close to being finished in there..... one happy note- all the framed art I had in that room stacked up....is NOW on the walls.

While there was all in the sorting I tended to gaze a the art......well, Grocery store and library wait for no man or woman... see you tomorrow...unless you make a comment here and I send you a reply?????

Thursday, December 12th. Sunshine after the "Big Storm" blew over and past us. Sunny, 39 degrees and 99% humidity. Green grass.

 Sorting thru the Sewing Room....it took a LONG TIME (and we aren't done).   I had to advocate for things I wanted to keep. Meaning have a reason for keeping....I got to the point of saying "because I want to" (like a two year old)..........I did offload quite a bit and what we kept will be moved into the appropriate color coded tubs.

We found lots of parts etc for the sewing machine.....I don't see myself EVER needing to buy new needles. EVER.  And considering I use the machine about 10 hours per YEAR......NEVER. And sharp pointy things are in their own safe space.  For the first time.  Goodwill is getting quite a few things back...I no longer have an interest in them.  I may have evolved......it could happen.

The light  (sunshine) is very good today so I might give the Annual (missed last two years) watercolor of the Pomegranate a go.... I have the paints, brushes, paper and the Pom ready to go.  And I do need to think about the annual Christmas Card....I have a lovely boxed commercial card...I might just send it.  As the years go by...fewer and fewer cards go out.  I am often saddened by the people who no longer have any contact with me.....drifting away....I miss them.

Deb L- a box of white linen stuff is coming your way- eventually....  Good possibility.   .....we haven't touched the linen closet as yet.... Sam started a box for you. I'll check the tubs of clothing...for linen shirts. and I know two sets of twin sized linen sheets.   Sam reminded me.......

Son printed out a sheet of hexagons for the small art project my former cross the street neighbor asked me to make.  I had been trying to free hand them- which is fine for me but not quite what P wanted.  She wants to remember her grandmother's handmade 30's quilt...Not own it.  My collection of 30's and 40's quilts is moving on to the Antique Market.  The printed sheet of hexagons is perfect. Appreciated.

Well, I actually had quite a bit to say this morning....my cup of tea- in a favorite polka dot cup-- has been reheated twice while I typed this...so I am going to make a fresh cup...read a bit-- perhaps paint or draw or just close my eyes and be old and warm and well cared for......

Another Wednesday....this one dark, dismal and cold. 99% humidity. Rain and wind coming. Power Outages..

 Another of the colored pencil circles.  I have a few more that need coloring.

My hair is finally cut the way I wanted- very short- Pixie Cut.  I showered this morning and now it's washed and short and all is well in My Little World.  Well, it would be well if I had a working whole house generator.......I have the pad and the tanks but no generator. And we have WEATHER COMING.

I watched a program in progress about the guys who went to the Moon and walked around etc.  When asked if they would like to "go back a second time" they all said NO.  No explanation of that answer was in the program.  I'd like to know why they said no.

I watch our new neighbor across the street- she comes out every so often to shovel a bit and then stops and goes back in the house...her husband doesn't shovel.  And they are not putting their cars in the garage.  We have my husband's Jeep in the driveway pullout and my car and Son's car in the garage.  We are still thinking about selling or donating the Jeep.  It might actually come in handy in the snow... I recall it having some snow driving features.  It's the only husband car I never drove...I drove all the others he brought home.  I liked the big Land Rover.  Wish we still had it. Fun to drive. And I hardly ever say that about driving.  I NEVER say that about driving.

I am eating on a semi regular basis these days.....not always what I should be eating...I had a pint of chocolate ice cream while watching tv last night.  High Fat content and zero sugar.  Must be ice cream for one of those new age diets.  Lots of fat and no sugar. Atkins????

I have nothing else to type....the shower has worn me out and I think I need to drink some liquids and sit on the couch and stare at the wall.   Rest up.  Wait for the Storm to blow thru.

Snowed Overnight. Plow Guy came by. Plowed. 26 degrees and no Sun. Haircut Cancelled.

 Remembering when I was folding Stars...this one, I used an old map.  I found the ones folded out of yellow paper but this old map one- was quite lost.  And is now found.

Daughter and I sorted out the paperwork boxes...taxes from the 1960's, all the European taxes, even my grades from college....as many A's as F's.  And not as many of those as I recalled.  I was either not as bad as I thought or the college just didn't give a damn.  There was an "A" next to Tennis... I never went after the first 2 weeks.  I think I should have taken Ballet.  Balance issues in college --I tripped and fell a lot. I still tend to do it if I bend at the waist too much. Bam, I hit the ground.

Daughter says the shredding pile has to sit....and then we will sort it out again...just so we don't shred something and then say- OMG what did I just do!!!!!!!  Been there and done that.

I have a huge basket of laundry to do...mostly Down Filled Pillows... husband's...possibly need to be washed twice.  He was always very "oily".

Daughter pried all the State Quarters out of the cardboard United States Coin Map that husband had...He enjoyed finding and filling the coin slots.  We also have a sheet of one dollar bills... cannot be hand cut. The edges have to be a certain way to go thru counting machines etc.  No idea what to do with them. Useless......in sheet form.  Found a signed baseball- will see if the Twins want it.

We did find quite a bit of crap....some was so worthless that even Goodwill would say no.  But my husband saved it all. We also found the paper etc that goes with all the major appliances and some appliances we no longer own.  We found menus from company events....lots of pens with company names.  

We also found old old family photographs that my children are not interested in... I might package them and send to my brother....he keeps stuff like that.  If reading this Bill or Sue- let me know if it's a yes or a no.  Time to reheat my cup of tea for the second time this morning.....oh, it's nearly afternoon.

Monday December 9th. Usually 9's are lucky days for me. More snow. No Sunshine.

 I have added many pieces of cloth to this over time....and it's past time to add stitch.  Or give up.

It's cold outside and I forgot to turn the thermostat down before I went to bed last night.  Warming empty rooms makes little sense to me.

I watched football yesterday.  I enjoyed watching football.  Our 4pm pizza was delicious.  I did miss the red bell pepper strips....we forgot to buy one on our shopping trip. It should be permanent addition to the list.  I keep thinking I will make a pot of vegetable soup...and then I don't.  Today, it's because I don't have a potato to add to the pot.....how can I run a household and NOT have a single potato?????? I also might NOT have an onion.  We might have used the last one on the pizza.  I do have carrots and celery.

Perhaps Son is going out for lunch and can get me an onion???

I am hoping Public TV will stop fund raising....and go back to regular programing.  Otherwise I am cranking up the cd disk player and listening to Edith Piaf.  In French.

Tomorrow I have to be up early to get my hair cut...9am. Shorter.  Because in Winter I have to wear a hat.

I had my bowl of oatmeal and  tried to find a few numbers fro the stack of unfinished Suduko puzzles. I found a few numbers....not enough to make me feel good about my ability to do the puzzles. And now I am here and feeling cold. Well....that's enough about ME.  How are you today?????

December 8th. Woke to a White December Morning. It snowed.

 In case you actually recall what I write here....This is one block of the box of unfinished pieces I was searching for-  The border strips were hand needle turned.  Usually on long car rides to visit friends....friends who rarely, if ever, wanted to visit Maine.  These blocks had been lost for years.

I will admit this...now that they have been found.....I am not that interested in them... the one here is the one I like best.  The leaves are a nice addition to the block.  They had all been folded and boxed up...I wasn't looking for a box.....which was why I never looked inside any boxes.

My Son is depressed by the snow that fell overnight.  He doesn't like this part of living in Maine. And it's not enough snow for the plow guy to come by.....so snowblower- if it starts.

I finished a good book and started another- a series of three by unknown to me author.  I took a wild leap. I am not sure it was a good idea.  40 pages in, I felt myself drifting away....  Every Summer After by Carley Fortune.

If I continue to drift...I'll select something from the bookcase...something I have already read and loved reading.  It's days like this when I think learning how to knit would have been a fantastic idea.  I am watching cooking shows on the Cooking Channel right now...Pioneer Woman.  Her voice is a bit annoying.  I miss the every day cooking shows....now it's just Sunday Morning.

Nothing much else- it's Pizza Sunday....football.  At 10 pm Tracker. on CBS.

Saturday, December 7th. Very light snow on the ground- temps in the low 20's.

 Yet another chair drawing....I need to walk around the house with the iPhone and gather images for you all.  I am reading a 50% off book- Tessa Bailey- title Window Shopping. ExCon designs a fancy NYC window.  Yep, that could happen.

The chairs are ones from home decorating magazines- photos and then I made a line drawing.  In ink. I recall a class I took in Drawing. (college)....what an opportunity that I wasted....... if I had only drawn five chairs...I might have had a chance......so these are done with zero classwork or education.  The ability came fully loaded but undiscovered by me until late in Life. Each chair seems to have a personality.

I managed to eat actual food yesterday.  I forced myself to make a plate and eat the food. Here at home.

I am very very tired these days... could be age related...or just fatigue....or boredom.  I tend to just sit and stare- the TV no longer interests me and reading....well, the books I have on the Library shelf are not all that interesting.  I managed to find 5 numbers on the Daily Suduko. Then I gave up.

PBS would have had cooking shows for me to watch today.....but they are doing Fund Raising all MONTH.  Trying to sell old people copies of the show they just watched.- some of these "shows" are so old they are in the old square tv format.  It's pitiful.

I have a line up of Hallmark movies to work thru and delete.  Mostly Christmas ones.  Some might get deleted after the first 30 minutes.  The ones where the guy is actually a Prince...falls for the gal cleaning the room, falling off her bicycle, almost getting hit by a car etc etc..  There's one where the Prince changes a flat tire. Hits his head and forgets who he is??????  That might have been a book I read.

So, I need to get started on today.....finish the Window Shopping book.  Start another one.

Sunshine and very cold....26 degrees. Light amount of snow on the grassy areas.

 I very small quilt I made- notice the scissors for scale.  A Doll Quilt????   If I can find it- I'll try to do binding....I can never recall the way to fold the corners.

It's fun to see what came out of the unexpected photo file off the old computer.

I added ornaments to the table top tree....it's very "sparkly" now.

Watched The remainder of Dark something or other  ...the Hillerman Indian Reservation mystery series. I have read the books...So I watched two multi episode stories- now they could have been recorded years ago....but another is supposed to have been offered.  Not sure I arrived in time.  I deleted- the Tivo is now at 20% (mostly Hallmark Movies).  I need to make the call to order the new one...but first find the number.

I was trying to read a Tracker book- but it's about some compound with rules etc very secretive-  I got bored.  So I will move on to the next book..  today is Library Day so I can find a few other things to read- or not....I do have three books in a series I purchased....new to me author.  Always a shot in the dark.

I've been asked by my Son to eat MORE food...yesterday we used my......Air Fryer...to crisp up some French fries in the fridge...  From restaurant meals.  They were wonderful.  I have never used the thing on my own........I have some stuff in the freezer I could Air Fry. Someday.  I've eaten Mussels and Eggplant Parm at two different restaurants.  Not both at the same time.

The Floral Delivery was a very lovely Red Poinsettia from my Bankers.......It's now on the Flower Table with the glass jar of Paperwhites which are now reaching up over the top of the tall glass vase.....green shoots but no flowers as yet....I add water to the vase each morning.. the roots filling and pushing up the pebbles..I admire the flowers each day when I stand at the sink washing our assorted dishes and cups and glasses.  Very very enjoyable.  The flowers and the dish washing.

The Bean Corduroy pants I have been wearing for a few weeks- they get washed---are now too large... the waist.  So I will be sorting thru and finding a new size to wear unless I want the try taking tucks in the waist etc.  Perhaps I should have kept the 14's?????  Nope.

Thursday, December 5th. No sunshine here in Maine- 36 degrees

 My Christmas Gingerbread House.  I decorated a regular boxed doll house and had it at the Library Check Out Desk all the years I worked at the Library.....it feels like  Some Other Life.  Or....more like the Life I am now living is "something other".  Not exactly less...just not what I expected.

I recall a male Library Patron trying to pick a fake gumdrop off the roof of the house....I mentioned to him that nothing on the house was "edible" while he was trying to pry that gumdrop off.........

So, cold weather here in Maine....wet.  The coastal areas are warmer than inland.  So Maine might be having snow today but my coastal part of Maine is having cold rain.  Which will freeze overnight and we'll have ICE.  Lovely.  A Call this morning- A Floral Delivery today.  From Whom???????

The gal that helped me with the landscaping around my house- actually she helped with the WEEDS that had taken over the landscaping......is now caring for 26 cats...  OH!!!!

So..I have to put on my wool socks, make and put my bowl of oatmeal in the microwave, read the morning newspaper, do my sudoko puzzle- try for at least 5 numbers-- wait to see what is coming in from the Flower Shop and then.....add a few more things to the Christmas Tree.  Decorate the sides- I just have things on the front but that's all.  

I didn't want a tree...but now that it's here....I love having it.

Daily Notes a bit late in the day....Everything is just fine...I had a "Road Trip" which began at 11am.

Well, things aren't going as I would like but we will work thru it.... the 48 inch round wreath- (there are two) and the new fake tree daughter and I purchased inside the window.  I can see a few dead bulbs.

We (my Master Gardener Classmate and I)  had a late lunch at Olive Garden after shopping at Kohl's.  I give up trying to spell it correctly.  My Driver had a new store credit card and first use promised 40% off....we got to the cash register- long line with only two open.......and when her purchase were totaled she got 20%.  The 40% was for the DAY she got the card- ONLY that day.  I, personally, would have returned everything right then and there. And asked for scissors and cut the card up.

That's how I roll these days.

My daughter was excited by the large bookstore in the Augusta shopping center ( a one hour drive on I95). Barnes and Noble...we didn't get to go there. She was hoping I would find books there I wanted to read... me, too.  It's a shopping center with little signage and hills and parking and it's actually quite a mess.....more so than I remembered. I don't EVER need to return.  Never.

By the time we made it back to home base, it was dark and the store windows in Town were lighted up and everything looked "cozy".   Well, tomorrow I will post"on time".  

Tuesday, December 3rd. Cloudy with a chance of WET.

 Another Chair.  I have things to take pictures of with the iPhone...but yesterday was very busy here and things were moved out of the Office/Sewing Room and Shelving was taken out the boxes and put together and then storage tubs were taken out of a bedroom closet so I could hang clothing- I have so much clothing......(most of it was bought at the LL Bean employee Shop the one October I worked there...)

I have clothing- never worn as yet- to last me thru to the end of Life.  And all sizes in case I actually attain my perfect weight (doctor's opinion). I am drinking more water each day and peeing quite a bit...so perhaps getting rid of fat cells.  I don't know how it works.  I am wearing new to me clothing.  I feel okay... not perfect by any means...death takes quite a lot out of people like me.  Emotional People.

I have stopped crying...which is fantastic as it was wearing me out.

I watched Three Billboards an FX movie I had recorded years ago... the Tivo let me fast forward thru the commercials.  The plot was sort of all over the place and I wasn't real happy about the ending.  I don't think I have any more recorded FX movies...so I will start in on the Hallmark Christmas ones. And delete them as I go.  Santa might bring me a brand new TiVo if I order one.  One that does streaming and DVR.

Next up will be Netflix or Prime.  Or both.  

Son and Daughter put  two 48 inch wreaths up on the porch...just the white light ones.  The center one would have meant moving the bird feeders in December......where would the birds find food???? so, just the two white ones... the third one is LOADED with colored lights...fantastic looking. Sigh.  We can possible get the birds to eat elsewhere next Spring.

Well, I finished yesterday's book and need to choose today's book from the stack on the bookcase.  I have two library books that need reading. The Tracker ones.

Daily Notes- Monday December 2nd. Sunshine and 31 degrees

 Line drawing for you today.  I haven't seen this particular item in years....but if I find it (again)..I'll finish coloring it.  I really was quite good at line drawing.....I should do more of it.

I watched the San Fran - Buffalo game in Buffalo.  They only shoveled the ice packed snow off the lines. Was a brutally cold game to watch and San Fran didn't have the right clothing. I also watched the season's last Tracker episode.  I wish I had recorded them so I could watch them again...but the TiVo was acting up.

I can see remnants of snow on the ground.  Where the Sun isn't shining.

I had a slice of our Pumpkin Pie last night with the Buffalo game... so delicious.

Not much else going on.  I have the December Desk Calendar to work on.....I don't use that desk anymore- but will once this new iMac takes over.  Right now both are working.  Old and New.  On either side of the living room.

I washed clothes yesterday and then Son washed his laundry,  I keep hoping the Generator People will return and get the generator set up for the Winter Power Outage Season.

Not much else to report.  I am trying to work my way thru a book...it's not holding my attention.  I think my daughter will be taking me shopping tomorrow.  I plan on showing her my Winter Boots and my No Slip Shoes....I might agree to buying a new pair of Crocs and putting the old pairs in the garbage bag. But that is AS FAR as I plan to go.

Sunday the First Day of December. Sunshine here in Maine...38 degrees. It snowed in Maine but not here.

 I am trying to work my way back to the sewing room to "Find Things" but until THEN, you get colored pencil circles.  And tomorrow you get a chair drawing....(there are quite a few chairs from that period of my Life).

I am off to a late start because Son and I watched Open Wheel Racing.... now I have some cooking show on which sounds annoying so I will be moving on to something else or reading my new paperback. Until a football game I want to watch comes on.....

I had to sort thru a box - a large box---of images I had  (I turned off the tv yesterday evening) cut from various magazines... Daughter had given me that task.....now it's done...and I have a plastic storage bag full of images for my desk top calendar pages in 2025.  She also returned my Doll House Furniture... why she wanted it is beyond me.

We (daughter and I) are going shopping- she says---for Winter Weather Shoes (non slip) this coming Tuesday.  Not very interested. As I have non-slip restaurant shoes I wear in the Winter and they are still great.... if I had thought to wear them on Thanksgiving-- I would not have slipped and fallen on the ice covered grass.

I had a shower this morning...washed my hair with my new shampoo....excellent.  Everything I have on is clean.  And everything I HAD on is in the laundry basket waiting to be washed.  

Birds are feasting on the birdseed on the front porch.   I need to finish my Swiffering of the kitchen floor. And eat some lunch before doing that.... that's about it for this Sunshine filled Sunday in Maine.

Saturday, November 30th. Sunshine and 35 degrees

 Someone wanted to "see" my work....well, this is an old piece I found in the subterranean picture file.  I don't think I own it anymore...a gift to someone...ten by ten inches.  I sort of wish I still owned it. I think I still have a scrap of the pink flower material- I painted the flowers on white cotton then cut out shapes added the yellow stars. The leaves were cut from another piece of painted fabric.

I decided I had white cotton on a bolt (still do), a closet full of paints and brushes...why not make my own fabric.  I set the wet white washed fabric on a large restaurant sized sheet pan... painted with water based cheap bottles of paint and let it dry on the pan. Added details with a black Sharpie pen.  I will admit to mixing paint to make my own colors.   I did study art in college...I can mix colors.

I think I mentioned son got my TV working again...like a miracle. BUT, it's after Thanksgiving and tons of crap on the tv...so I had to sort thru a large box of paper and magazines to keep myself occupied.  Most of it is now in the recycling box on the porch.  Still, I got something done.

I am resting after having breakfast, reading the newspaper and attempting to Swiffer Damp Mop my wood floors BEFORE eating breakfast.  My floors are filthy. But doing that before breakfast---huge mistake.

I also rotated the flowers on the low table in front of the low window... sunshine equality. The glass vase full of pebbles and paper whites needed more water and the Amaryllis needed water also.  

Out the front window the birds are having seeds and swinging on the bamboo perch we set up for them.

I think Son and I are making OUR Thanksgiving meal this afternoon...so we have leftovers for a few days.

I don't have much else to write.  My intensions for the day are more Swiffering of floors...a load of wash...and hopefully my blood pressure gets high enough for a shower.  So NOT interested in fainting in the shower.

Friday November 29th. Snowed and was pretty slippery driving here in Maine after 5 pm.

I think this is a new to YOU circle.  With the change over to the new iMac and all that's going on here I have lost track- sending mail from the old desktop to the new one.  Sort of like talking to oneself.

We had a lovely dinner at the neighbor's house yesterday afternoon...I chatted quite a bit with the host family's neighbor- lives one street over....about my age.  We have even lived in the same states and towns but not at the same times.  She is not as feeble as I am.  Sent me some items on her cell (to mine) while I tried to recall if the number I gave her was correct...it was.

On the way out, it was dark, raining and had snowed so of course I slipped on the grass and fell.  I didn't break anything- a bit of stiffness in my right shoulder but other than that.....okay. Our host drove us home- down the street four houses.

Today is usually grocery and Library... but Library is having a heating problem.  I bought the BIG container of oatmeal and am already 3 quarters done with the contents... 

The transition from the old computer to the new has been quite good.  

I sit here at the first dining room table of Married Life with the new iMac... our first purchase (the table) after moving to Georgia.  We had a table, ironing board, vacuum, and two lawn chairs. (when the owner of the table dropped it off- saw no chairs- he went home and brought over four chairs (on credit)). The chairs actually went with the table but we couldn't afford to buy them....the vacuum and ironing board were wedding gifts.  We had to go out and buy a bed.  We had been living in furnished rentals at college.  Had been gifted sheets and pillows as wedding gifts. Thank goodness.  I had a frying pan, a one quart saucepan and a Dutch oven.  Oh and a Betty Crocker cookbook.  That I still use.  Very very humble beginnings.

Anyway......the sun is shining and all the snow etc from last evening is gone. sidewalks etc are dry.

I am going to see if the tv works- yesterday when we got home from dinner...the tv had no images..no sound.  just didn't work...but the TiVo worked so I watched something I had recorded. 

 

Happy Thanksgiving To All.

 Yesterday my son went out for an already cooked Turkey Breast from the grocery deli... for our after the big day meals...we also baked sweet  potatoes and a very very excellent Pumpkin Pie.  He used a very intricate pie dough recipe...new to me but it turned out spectacularly. I got to roll it out..crimp the edges.

We are doing all this cooking because we are having dinner down the street with the Twin's family today and wanted leftovers for the weekend etc. for ourselves.  We like Thanksgiving to last.....as we do the Christmas meals as well.  Leftovers are so fantastic.  We'll make the stove top stuffing and the gravy and mashed potatoes tomorrow.  Oh, I can't forget the green bean casserole.  We did this last year as well. We ate leftovers for DAYS.

Daughter has had MEN in her house for two days I think...one day taking her very very old furnace apart and carrying it up the stairs and out the door.... her house is tiny and they had to--I'm guessing "'chop" the thing up in moveable pieces....the new furnace is in and working and she thinks the house is 'too warm" at 57 degrees... The men figure the furnace was put in before they built the house.  Only way they could have gotten down into the basement in one piece.  They all used her bathroom...so..I feel her pain.

It's a dark and dreary day.   Sad too as this was my husband's favorite holiday. He liked turkey.

My tea needs more sugar and a re-heat....back in a minute or two.

Investigating my new computer I discovered a file holding images from years and years ago. I moved some of them to the picture file and deleted the rest.  Long time readers will recall the series of chair drawings...One  perhaps two fabric things.

I'm reading the Getaway Girl by Tessa Bailey..  favorite author. I found it on that last visit to the bookstore.. It's different and interesting. I need to turn on a few lamps- a very dark outside today. I think it rained overnight.  Have a wonderful day all of you......

Sunshine here in Maine but 41 degrees 0n Wednesday November 27th

 Almost back to normal... now that I have an image for the daily notes.

Slowly but surely. Step by step.

I slept well but had so many things to think about when I woke up...sorting thru them all- using my inner delete button on things I no longer need to worry about.  But now I'm up and dressed and have "sorted out" the images- can you tell I was reading a British author's newest book????  I made a cuppa tea while reading also.  (laughing)

So....images are here...text is here...chair is here....what's old is new again.

Tomorrow is a holiday and we have been invited to dine with the Twins and their parents... Son and I will make a small holiday meal for the weekend and have leftovers for next week's meals. We are both looking forward to it.

Heat has been turned up from the overnight low.  Chugging along.  Tomorrow I will take a photo of the large glass container and my paperwhite bulbs.  They are enjoying having their new roots in the pebbles and water.  Seemed to have grown overnight.  They also have Sunshine by the window and heat from the radiator beneath the table they are sitting on.  Me, too.  Sun, water and heat.

Library has sent a notice that they are closed....a heating issue that needs repairs... I still have books to read and pages to color.....a new TiVo and a new TV are in my future plans.  Neither is working correctly. One might be messing up the other- I don't know...but they are connected.  I will watch some tv in the dining room on the old tv my husband watched.....see if it also has troubles...if so-- call Comcast.

I am reading a book I purchased at the bookstore....not what I expected...not sure I will finish it.

I watched a whole season of Vienna Blood on the TiVo last week.  Recorded a while back... I have two different Pride and Prejudice movies recorded...so that will be wonderful to watch.  Then delete. And a dozen or more Hallmark Christmas Movies....watch and delete or just delete as Hallmark shows all of them again year after year..  

Thirty Three Degrees this morning- Tuesday, November 25th, Sunshine

 Still no images here but working on it.  It's ME and not the new desktop.  Mail is arriving to the little box at the bottom of the "new" screen so images should arrive as well.  I just need to send them...

I continue to color the circles-not every day as I had hoped but...yesterday I found more circles in the notebooks but very simple designs so I had to do some "additions;" line drawing in the large spaces. And I drew a few loose designs....not as perfectly round as the ones I had been coloring. I have to find the circle making tools.

When I figure out how to get them here- email-- I assume. You will see them.

When you do something over an over you can actually forget how it happens, it's just muscle memory.

The tv continues to pixelate the images...so watching certain channels has become tedious. I was watching the Ravens (I typed Saints-Son will get the joke) and Chargers last night,  Images were perfect until the last half of the last quarter and then the pixies started up.  I don't even remember who won but it was a very good game to watch. I have two sets of stations --the three digit and the four digit.  I watched on the 4 digit hoping that only the three digit ones pixilated.  I was 85% right.

I did my "job" yesterday and bagged up garbage and topped off the recycling bins...Son's job is to haul it all out to the street for pickup.   My other job is to wash dishes.  So few of them that I don't use the dishwasher and just hand wash them.... I sort of enjoy doing it.  I also- might have already mentioned this- got the paperwhite bulbs settled into a glass vase- very tall and large with pebbles.  Overnight the shoots on the bulbs have gotten longer.  I will watch their progress from the sink where I wash dishes.

The cross the street neighbors have their roof top Security Lights on yet again....the lights shine into my living room and the "dining room" area where I have a couch, tv and my desk with computer.  We had no need for a formal dining room.  I have scotch taped typing paper to the areas on the front windows- two of them- where the security lights shine in and blind me.  I am not doing a great job of enjoying the new neighbors.  The lights stay on all day. And I assume all night.

I finished Mr Perfect --Linda Howard and started The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers.  British Author. So Pub drinking and tea drinking with biscuits. I'm a third of the way in.  So I HAD to go looking for cookies (biscuits).. but we don't have any.....so I had some mini Kit Kats with my cup of tea.

Daily Notes on a Brand New Computer. Monday... November 25th.

 I don't have images on this one as yet...so you get what you get.

This is actually a 'test drive" to see if my son got everything he managed to transfer in the right place etc. The type looks tiny to me... I like the size up in the header better.  (Daily Notes) but I am possibly just looking for Trouble... I never really like new things right away.

No image as I haven't loaded any of that here...and I am having to look at the keys and not at the page. He says the keyboard is the same size but I wonder if that is true.

The screen looks big and the type looks small....he rolled my desk chair over here and now things look sort of normal.  But NEW.

Watched football and the Washington Quarterback tried a last second in the game Hail Mary again but the other team caught the ball.  Fool me once...gonna be difficult to pull than off on any other team.

Read Mr Perfect by Linda Howard yesterday.  This computer finishes typing for me. Reading my mind. Mr Perfect was something I had obviously read many years ago...took me a while to figure that out...and when I did I remember liking the book very much. I wonder, once this New Age Mac figures out my patterns...if it will just finish my sentences?????

Little bell signals an incoming email....needs to turn that off.

Next new things are TV and Tivo.  I recorded Tracker and the images were all fractured with colored blobs flashing as well.  The feed from CBS was clear.  I should have just watched it live.

Nothing more to write about and sorry no image of yesterday's coloring page. This new set up will take some getting used to on my part...I am looking forward to seeing what it looks like after I hit publish... seeing it on the old Mac. 

Everything Old is New Again

Anonymous.:  thank you for the list of Deaver/Colter books- I ordered two immediately.

Still Here--- the new desk top is still in it's box- arrived home in the evening hours.

 Another circle... 

Yesterday I read the Jeffery Deaver book on which the tv series Tracker is based.  The tv show is exactly like the book....right down to the bottle of beer at the end of the story.

If you like Tracker on tv- check out The Never Game by Jeffery Deaver.  Sadly, I think there is only one such book.  But this book goes into Tracker's family history... I read it straight thru only stopping when the Apple Store called to check on my ID- in case someone -a stranger was using my credit card to buy a new Apple Desk Top.  I could here my Son in the background saying- "sorry, Mom".

I'm glad they checked.

So, this is the last post from this keyboard...from this desk top.  Next up is either a new cell phone- to send photos to the blog- seems "not worth the money" or well.......... there is nothing else. I am using the touch pad to delete etc as the mouse "has died".  Very tricky business.

I didn't want a laptop....I only use the computer right now to write a blog post.... I know most of you travel  around the house with your laptop....not me...once and done...well, occasionally I look something up but I don't sit and look at the screen for hours.....well, the tv screen...yes. But because I don't have any streaming services-- I don't have much of interest to watch TV either.

Sorry I had to go flush the drain cleaner in my bathroom sink....seems to be clogged. 

That's about it for today...the Deaver book was a big surprise and I enjoyed every moment. I have no idea what happens today... the Sun has just come out and the sunporch is filled with  bright light.  But I know it's not warm out there....I have no idea how today will go.  But Tracker is on after 60 Minutes... late as usual because of the Football Game....so I can't TiVo.  

It's almost tomorrow

 I won't be here tomorrow at the regular time......I'm letting this iMac go and getting a brand new one.

a new mouse as well as this one no longer works.... see when the dust settles..... all is well.

Saturday, November 23rd. Clouds and Rain in the forecast.

 Another Crayola circle.  

I am at a loss as to any fabric work to show here...but I will keep looking.  I thin perhaps I stopped hand sewing when Riley passed (my black lab) and then did mending but not much else.  

There were a few fits and starts that never amounted to anything.  I see them when I sort things or do some sewing machine area cleanup.  Mending work pants...I've done  quite a bit of that.

I can't truly say I've lost interest in fabric art....possibly I have moved on in what I like and the cloth in my closet or storage tubs no longer fits those ideas????  I don't know....but I think perhaps going backwards to Baltimore Style hand appliqué might be where I end up- back to where I began.

Did I mention here I found the hand appliquéd blocks I was looking for?  I did and don't really like them very much anymore. They are the same....I am not.

Watched almost all of the TiVo recorded Vienna Blood (PBS).  A few more hours and that entire series will have been watched and deleted.  I already deleted all of Fargo...I was never really going to watch that. Last to be deleted will be the Hallmark Christmas Movies.  Only because I like to watch them and fast forward thru the commercials.  Hallmark repeats everything endlessly.  I might have gone below 30%.

Nice to have goals....the Daily Colored Pencil Circles here and the TiVo deletions. And my oatmeal and banana for breakfast.  My sweet hot tea is waiting and my small dish of daily vitamin and assorted pills. It's Saturday (I thought it was Sunday) so I will settle in to watch the cooking shows when them come on.

Son reports the "Future Weather" includes SNOW........sigh. His iPhone is very very informed. Mine is not.

Notes- Friday, November 22nd. Cloudy with rain overnight...

 

today's post will be short an hopefully sweet. My oatmeal is ready to eat and I am starving.

Daughter and I went to the big box store and bought shelving for the sewing room..so I can slide the plastic containers of fabric -sorted by color- onto the shelves and be able to "Find Things" which has never been possible BEFORE.  Well, I did have shelving in the upstairs closet- by color...but son has take over the upstairs....and I ended up with tubs full of cloth.

As to what I am making with ALL that cloth...the answer is...one small typing sheet sized piece. Which I stitched from a few scraps nearby- but I will take it's picture for you...if I can find it.  My sewing room is a real disaster area right now.  I also generally make something for Christmas Sending to a few family members and friends.... limited to 8 or 10 finished objects....once it was potholders.

The image above has a shadow on the bottom side...me.

Well, the brand new microwave has a function that continues to beep so one doe not forget they have something in the microwave.....and it is very annoying....but the oatmeal is ready to eat and I am hungry.

Daily Notes- Thursday, November 21st- Chilly with a chance for much needed RAIN

 You may have had this one already but the desk top and the computer are acting up...I wrote everything and it wouldn't publish.  So I am trying yet again..

It's dark and chilly here in Maine even if it's not actually cold.

I have a load of wash in the washing machine- unattended...so that's first for me.  You all recall the Washing Machine Pages as I sat there with the machine to make sure it din't off load the water all over my hardwood floors.  I ran down and checked one time so far.... no water... knock wood.

I am reading the second (actually the first book) of Women in STEM.  Science professions. Love Hypothesis.  Second was better... this one drags a bit.

Daughter and I sorted storage tubs of fabric, art supplies and size 14 clothing yesterday.  Took all the unwanted things- more than we kept to Goodwill.  Then we went to the large chair grocery store and got Hot Food Bar and remembered to buy oatmeal.

I looked at all the colored pencils and decided to buy the inexpensive Crayola set.... I just wanted something new not actually something better....we might drive to Portland and the Art Supply Store --they have a large cabinet with single Prismacolor pencils....  I could select only the colors I want...which would be very nice.  Last time I went I bought square drawing and painting papers....still being used and enjoyed.

Son says yes to Thanksgiving Dinner with the Twins and their Parents...happy days.

Wednesday, November 20th. Dark and damp here in Maine but unseasonably warmer than usual. Oh, now there is Sunshine.

My coloring page from yesterday while watching a recorded episode of High Potential (it's quirky and interesting).  Using my set of 49 Prismacolor pencils... I am wanting the larger set of pencils. I can't JUST watch TV...I have to be doing something else..used to be hand sewing but now it's coloring. You asked and I am happy to give my "Prime Readers" samples of my work.

I watched Leonardo on PBS last night.  He was really something.....amazing.  I have it recorded and will watch many times more- the music was...gosh.  So good. I wish we had had something like this to watch  when I was in college studying art....I would have been more scholarly. Instead we had lazy, half asleep professors boring us to death....if they said anything at all. I did get a 4.0 in watercolor. I already knew how to do that.

Ohio University is known to be a Party School.  I just found that out. Explains so much about my four years there.  I had no clue.  One night, recently, when I could NOT fall asleep I rewrote an English Paper...I had actually read the book-by now, not then. It still makes me laugh. That I wrote it in my head before falling asleep. Better 60 years too late than never.

We are going to Staples today to see what they have in the way of colored pencils and I will venture into another Hannaford grocery store and "finally" buy oatmeal... we keep forgetting.  I do much better thru the day when I have oatmeal......a bit off center without it.  I had shredded wheat this morning....... 

Yesterday at the grocery self serve Hot Bar I was asked for assistance with the way it goes...by two women not speaking English as a first language.  I explained how they could put anything in the box- I used my hand s to say "mix" and then pointed to the front of the store to say that is where they pay. One had a very good idea of what I said and told the other in their language...

While we were at home eating my daughter and I wondered why I am always asked for help by foreigners.  We think it's because I look approachable....I once helped a Japanese man...he showed me pictures of the food he wanted on his iPhone and I took him to where that food was shelved.  He bowed and I smiled.

I can admit to feeling very happy that I could help.

Bob and Rowena just came to my door to share words of God's whatever... I said no thank you. They seemed very nice.... I am now imagining my Son coming down stairs if I invited them in.....wow that would have been something.....not that I have anywhere for them to sit...boxes are piled everywhere. Being sorted... We did Quilting Tubs yesterday....oh, my. Letting Go. Hard Work.  I wonder at night, if I will miss any of it....but daughter and son are good- if I hesitate- they keep whatever it was......no questions.

Daily Notes--Tuesday, November 19th. 48 degrees and Sunshine. Highs in the 50's later today.

 I'm going with no image today...the file is almost bare. And what IS there looks like Christmas.

Today I am going out with my new Assistant--(daughter) and we are stopping at the grocery to pick up my prescription and a box of Oatmeal.  My son has retired from the Assistant-ship Position he has held for one year.  I would have to wait till Friday (regular shopping day) to go to the grocery store........with him.

Then she and I are going to shop for colored pencils. A larger set with more variety.

There is somewhere else we are going- oh, Reny's to look at stuff and perhaps buy something. Or not. And possibly a book store-- to just look around..

The Oil Truck arrived and filled the tank in the early part of the afternoon....oil was way less expensive than it was on the previous delivery. I turned the thermostats up to their normal setting...and the house was nice and warm....in about an hour. The Account is now in my name.....I guess I passed the "credit check".   

This "credit check" bothered me- as a widow.  My signature is on all the checks written to pay the household bills and it's been on the checks for over 30 years here in Maine...but suddenly with husband's death- I had to have MY CREDIT verified in order to get Oil Delivered.  What if I hadn't had a generous balance in my Own Checking Account?????? Would oil have been delivered yesterday- would the house be warm this morning?????  The Joint Account means nothing after your husband dies....because my name is the only one on it.........

I think my Bankers thought I was okay and didn't talk to me about this.....I have my own account and checking etc. And I was okay. But the questioning of my resources was a surprise.  A direct hit.

But all is well that ends well.

We might eat lunch at a fast food place....get French Fries.  I'm pretty excited.

I've noticed that no one is commenting any more....is it because I have gotten boring and you stopped reading the Daily Notes?  Or is it because NO ONE is actually reading the notes anymore....sigh. I know the blog posts aren't very interesting...but right now...I'm not doing much more that eating reading and sleeping.  I took a shower today and am still recuperating from it.  I even have on fresh clothing and my red sweater.....I think I combed my hair.  I might have forgotten to moisturize my face.

Monday yet again. November 18th. 40 degrees, cloudy and damp.

No image today.  The desktop of images is bare....

I am awake but haven't had breakfast as yet. No newspaper on Monday. I have a short stack of unfinished sudoko puzzles to "puzzle" over after breakfast.

Yesterday I watched three football games...I actually cheered when Buffalo scored in the last two minutes and made it impossible for Kansas City to win..  Then I watched 60 Minutes for the first time in so many years.... about the DNA from victims of the Trade Center.....they are still trying to identify the remains.

Next up was Tracker....and then it was bedtime.

My book for yesterday was the newest book from Christina Lauren the two friends who write together. The title Tangled Up in You...Has something to do with Disney's Tangled. I know less than nothing about Disney Movies.  Pizza time kept me from the exciting conclusion of the book.  I won't spoil it for any of you that read the books I mention...

My son encouraged me to stop reading and do some coloring on my project to finish the pages my husband left undone.  So I did...my only problem was sharpening the pencils and having the lead break off.  Is it possible for the colored pencils to get too old??????  Brittle Pencil Syndrome.

Well, yesterday's pizza was as wonderful as usual...we subbed mushrooms for the red pepper strips. 

I keep saying I'm going to make a pot of vegetable soup and I don't do it....one of these days I will do it. I used up the last of the oatmeal and forgot to buy an new box.... so Cream of Wheat today.  Which means Stove Top Cooking of my breakfast.  It's more than I want to do but I do love Cream of Wheat spread out on a dinner plate with butter, sugar and cinnamon toppings.  Like my Grandmother made for me.

Grandma didn't "understand" boxed cereal like corn flakes back in the 50's.  1950's.

Today the Oil Truck is supposed to come and deliver oil.....we are almost out. I am worried.
 

Sunday, November 17th. Sunshine here in Maine- 48 degrees supposed to get into the 50's later.

 Baked Potatoes...One of my Favorite Foods.  I don't eat them often enough. I ought to have a special day of the week for baked potatoes....... those are bacon bits on the right top side of the potato. Yum.

Football Pizza today.  I have plans to watch a few of the many games... record Tracker at 9pm.

I'm reading the newest Christina Lauren book- Tangled Up in You.  Not sure where it's going....100 pages in.  There is a Road Trip.  Husband and I made many of those (road trips) visiting friends in other states.....I do NOT miss them....the only conversation revolved around where and when to stop and eat.  When I say my husband rarely spoke to me....I MEAN it.

My Atomic Clock circled around to get to what it thought was the correct time.....Weird. According to the computer, it's still wrong. ....over a minute slow.  Needs a new Battery....I've had it a long time...husband messed with the prior wall clock and we had to buy a new one....he did that in the last year of his life.. before he was too bad to do anything---screwed around with anything mechanical and messed it up.... it's why I hardly ever left the house.  I needed things like my cell phone, refrigerator and the computer to work.

Okay enough of that....instead of "just" (I do not like that word) reading all the time....yesterday evening I colored one of the designs my husband left unfinished.  I also watched the PBS Cooking Shows in the afternoon.  Some variety to my Life.  Sharpening the pencils was difficult as the lead kept snapping off....inexpensive pencils....

That's it for today....I'll admit to being sad and slightly depressed today..... it's okay.....I need to find something good to look forward to.......but nothing has come to mind as yet....

A Very Cloudy Saturday in Maine. November 16th

 We might have had this before....seems like my picture file is mostly Christmas....how that happened is always a mystery and it's not even Thanksgiving.  The"Feeds" coming in with images must already be doing Christmas.   

I just ran out to the ice cold garage to visit the Oil Tank Gauge....looks like we will make it to Monday. I get hyper nervous when things get too close to the zero line ...of anything.  Even milk in the fridge. My mother did not manage the groceries and we often went to school with no money and no lunch.  And no breakfast.   So...I was trained early on to worry. About everything.

Today seems like we won't be having ANY sunshine.  "Oh, seconds before I hit publish- The SUN comes out"

I have one portion of oatmeal left. I thought I had more in the box...I did not...I do have cold cereal (shredded wheat) and I have a box of Cream of Wheat if I want to cook my breakfast cereal.  Poor planning.  I could also make pancakes.  But I won't.

I may or may not finish the book I am reading...

Move on to the next book.  I have to think about my sock basket....sort out the ones I like for Winter. I have to get my thermal shirts arranged in a stack...find out which corduroy pants fit.  See if I can find a new sweater to wear...the red and gray are getting thin.......There was one I tossed into the closet- need to see if it fits.  I like them loose.   I think it's time to start wearing the grey cashmere with so many elbow patches.  It's actually my favorite sweater....has been for almost 20 years. It has a collar that warms my neck.  60% of the sweater is patches held together with sock yarn quilting.  When i go out in public I wear a coat so no one sees it.  But I think mending is "IN" right now...or was last time I noticed it.

Friday, November 15th. 56 degrees and sunshine.

 This has the title of Christmas Hotel.

Well, my sunporch has been reorganized, cleaned and scrubbed and is now looking very inviting. The garage is in progress with several of the really large garbage bags full....the poison stuff (Round Up- etc) is waiting till Spring when the Town Collects Hazardous Waste.

I called the Oil company...they were NEVER coming...when I ordered the Propane Tanks for the "still not here" Generator- they cancelled my Oil Account (never told me)....so my Boiler that heats water and the house wasn't going to have any oil.....We had a chat that wasn't going anywhere and I actually started crying....I'm really stressed out....and hung up....I might have said something else....which I regret.

She called back and said the "opinions expressed" were NOT her own but were "the way the company was run"NOW-   I waited.....she then said my account was back to Automatic Delivery and Oil would be delivered on Monday... Prior to me being rude.....I wasn't getting anything.  I said Thank You Very Sincerely.  And resumed crying.

Then we went to the Grocery Store.  I wanted crackers but didn't get any.  Because I have crackers. I was reminded that I had crackers. I did buy a small container at the Hot Bar...Fried Food. I will reheat in the Toaster Oven later and enjoy the Deep Fried Goodness of Fried Food.  I might make a small serving of slaw to go with it-- with one of my Soup Cabbages (getting OLD in the Crisper Drawer).

I have been asked to actually "get out of bed" when I wake up instead of laying around awake for a few hours.  I'll give it a try.  I think.....I'm sure....I am depressed.  Total lack of interest in almost everything except the book a day and I am real close to being done with that as well.  Getting really really picky about what I finish reading.  I start them all....but finishing isn't 100% a sure thing anymore. 

When we lived in Germany I actually didn't get out of bed until it was almost time for the kids to get home from school.  Super Depressed......then American Women's Club People started arriving one at a time and honking their car horns till I appeared...and then took me places. Volunteered me for stuff. I stopped sleeping.  I had so many jobs..

Bones and that other show I was watching Missing Without a Trace....I'm done with them. I lack interest in Law and Order....I know...it was a real standard show for me and the Dog.  That leaves Hallmark and I gotta say...I lack interest. Totally.  I often turn to the Weather Channel.....And of course the Sports Talk Show.  Which my daughter got to see and listen to while she ate lunch yesterday.  I told her it "takes up space" in my day.  Sad but true.

So, I cried on the phone and now I'll get oil for the Winter....geeez..what a Life.

Good Morning From Maine......40 degrees, sunshine

 Delicious  Pie.  Next time my daughter and I go out- we'll be looking for one of these. Or the next time my son and I bake... We'll make a Pumpkin Pie at the end of the month.

The house feels really cold, a draft on my leg while sitting here... not the usual. Just checked the temperature- normal.....so it's me...the sun is shining on the back of the house- lots of windows so it warms up the kitchen dining room really well.  The front of the house is usually more chilled. No sun. It's where I am sitting.

My daughter has emptied and cleared out the Sunporch (warm side of the house)...can see the floor.  It's dirty.  The cupboard in there is now holding my vases etc.  In case I buy flowers. She moved the standing shelf over to the window facing the new generator pad- still no generator.  I now have a larger view of the back deck and lawn.  We are going to add a Wicker Chair.... for when I sit out there... to put on my boots or just look at the yard.

She has now gone to her house as the Chimney Doctor is coming to measure for her new chimney liner which she needs before she can get a new furnace....hers has outlived it's Purposeful Life. She dropped off a letter this morning at his place of work.....he had not returned any of her phone calls.  He called.

So she is feeling pretty good about getting things going...

There is a cold draft in here.... I can feel it on my leg....temp of the furnace is as usual...but it's in the 41 outside.  And she has been in an out the front and back door since she got here- letting in lots of cold air.

I slept well.  I've eaten breakfast and read the paper....I haven't gotten to the point of using a fat black Sharpie to color over faces of Political People as yet.....any day now...I'll begin. And enjoy every moment.

I think today might be a good day to chop vegetables and make SOUP.  I have promised myself soup for weeks now...but haven't been motivated to actually make it.  Today might be the DAY.  

My book is Crusie's Bet Me... another Life Long Favorite.  Almost to the end....sigh. I'll need to dig deep in the bookcase to find something delightful......for today.

Daily Notes on Wednesday the 13th of November. In the 40's but Sunshine.

 Marcella Hazans Bolognese.....

Well, fewer and fewer people are reading these words (that I write) and I wonder...should I just stop.????

Yesterday Daughter was working in the garage- we found 6 unopened large gallon sized bottles of Round Up. Husband must have forgotten he already bought some....bought more.....never used any of it..

So the memory loss goes further back...he wasn't shopping the last few years (because he got lost driving). We have to wait for Spring when the Town Hazardous Waste Department Opens.  Drop off all the dangerous products he had on the garage shelving. Quite a bit.

Daughter kept asking if I wanted any of it....I never used pesticides.....there are better natural ways to discourage pests from your gardens......I taught classes about those ways.  Little did I know my husband was...well, it's past now. He's gone.

Yesterday daughter drove me to the Greenhouse where I worked.....I wanted Paperwhite bulbs to set on stones in a glass jar.... watch them grow and make little white flowers... we got very lucky...almost everyone I had worked with was working.....I got to visit and chat and get hugged. One of the young guys was making hot chocolate for everyone....I always get sad when I visit and see all my old friends...and recall the happy days of working there....have tears in my eyes typing this.

We stopped at the bookstore and I found 8 books and a 2025 wall calendar....so a good time.

When we got home my daughter alphabetized by bookcase. It was interesting to watch her method. She just put the books in piles on the floor by alphabet and then into the bookcase...easy.  I'm not sure I would have thought of that....perhaps years ago but not now.

Well, that's it for now...I enjoyed seeing my old co-workers and getting hugged and hugging them...it was a VERY GOOD DAY....now to see if the crack in the big glass jar leaks water........yes, it has a crack.