Daily notes for Saturday, November 14th.

 

Something scenic...before I start adding Thanksgiving food pictures to the posts.  I also, oddly enough, have a bunch of advent calendar images.  Last year daughter got me one with shortbread miniature cookies each day... One of the ones I have on the desktop is a pickle advent calendar.

My "pinched nerve" leg was just fine until I sat down here to type.  I did have the usual problem getting my foot into the pant leg of my brown corduroy pants....always. But not as much.  It's Saturday and I am looking forward to my Saturday Cooking Shows.... one is being recorded right now.

I didn't get to read much yesterday as there were some interesting things on tv.  Especially the Guy explaining the Air Plane/Airport problem in a very unzipped flight jumper and..bare chest.... he started in and then got off track and talked about what an exceptional President we had.....I changed the channel.  I kept thinking he might have been someone's idea of a joke...

Well Grocery Shopping was fine after we got going...yesterday at home was not comfortable...I was having quite a bit of discomfort with my leg.  Today, so far, knock on wood......things feel better.  I recall thru-out my life that things get worse and them better...

My Morning Wake up Call.....this time from Social Security...I hung up.  I was told by Social Security that they do NOT call.....they send letters..

So the Sun just broke thru here in Maine.  Should warm up the house...  Cooking shows will be watched from the rolling desk chair...then I'll move to something else and them move again  until it's time for the rolling desk chair again...Son says that will help.  This is fine for tv but not good for Book Reading... and I have some great old favorites to read this week.  

And yesterday I got zero reading time for the Runaway Groomsman.

I have been wanting a waffle... the local bar in this book serves Breakfast for Supper and it all comes on a waffle.  I think I need yeast for a waffle...and I don't have any.

Daily Notes for Friday November 13th. It's a pinched nerve....

 Blueberry Loaf Cake

Image is still (was still) on the desktop.  Now in the trash.  I will look to see if I have the NYT recipe. I do not have it here so will need to go hunting.

My aches and pains are pinched nerves which is why they are quiet and then shouting....when I try to do something that aggravates them.  I have no trouble sleeping...but putting on my socks...not a fun activity. Getting second leg into my corduroy pants is also not great. Anything that involves lifting my foot off the surface of the Earth. 

I also have no trouble walking so I have been doing less tv watching and more wandering around the house looking for "long lost items".  I just moved the heel of my right slipper to the top of one of the rolling chair wheels...felt great.    I did get the sock on.... Son suggests more time in the desk chair and less on the saggy couch.  

I should trade the under-used couch in the living room with the one here by the tv...they are the same but one is used and the other isn't.  I wonder if this is true in most homes...the living room furniture hardly ever used if the TV is elsewhere.

Son has gone out to lunch and when he gets back we will do grocery shopping.   I had a late start and then was busy looking for things.... looking for lost items is much more interesting than just wandering around the house.  And then there was my hair..

I had oatmeal and then a while later a banana.  Now I need liquids.  So...I will get liquids and talk to you tomorrow... 

Daily Notes for Thursday November 12th. Cloudy, Leaves everywhere, plus Deer foraging.

Peanut Noodles.

Well, I slept well and enjoyed my breakfast oatmeal...still working on my cup pf tea- it needs a reheat. I answered an email before starting in on the Morning Post here.  And tea got cold.  I got a few numbers in the empty boxes of today's Suduko.   But only a few.

These noodles look interesting...I'm a great fan of pasta... (understatement)....and peanuts.

Son and Daughter have gone somewhere together to buy a new rake...Son was  not happy with the existing rake.  I guess.  We have a tremendous amount of leaves on the front and back lawns.  Deer eating things off the back lawn.  Should have been trolling the front lawn for edibles. 

I have to gather my hair into a small bundle...then secure runaway bits with pins.  I woke up this morning to a very wide mass of white...Hair gone wild. And even trying for some curl...which I encourage.  Eight bobby pins.  One elastic band. And it still escapes.  And when I was little my mother thought I would be bald my entire life.  Just a slow start.

Got nothing else for you today...I watched the Space Race to the Moon on PBS and recorded it.   I recall holding a newborn and watching on tv with the nurses.....but might have been one of the earlier trips.

 

Daily Notes for Wednesday November 11th. Heating Oil was delivered...

 Meatball Soup.  I won't be making this...ever.  Even though it does look delicious.

Well, putting my socks on is a very very painful experience these days. With that muscle pull in my upper right thigh. Got myself a bit lightheaded...  Really hurts.   My right hand hurts more..a broken blood vessel and something else...it BURNS. I use my right had quite a bit. 

So...Oil Delivery....we can now raise the temperature in the rooms??????  154.9 gallons and $677 dollars.

I had two projects to work on.......yesterday we got my Medicare Advantage Program set up.  It's twenty dollars more per month but I can deal with that.  It's my same program I signed up for at the very very beginning and has never disappointed me...  not available everywhere in Maine but locally..yes.

I watched an Operatic Space Program on PBS yesterday evening....very moving so I checked the listing and set a repeat of it to record. on my TiVo...I liked the images and the music.  Very emotional towards the end. I had forgotten how many of the early manned space capsules exploded or crashed....I was also amazed that one rocket was stories high.. the Atlas I think..skyscraper tall.

So.....that's it from me...perhaps something interesting has happened in your Life???

Tuesday, November 10th....Cloudy and 49 degrees here in Maine. An Abundance of Leaves on the lawn.

My picture file is full of images of food for the coming holiday.  I may save the dessert ones and delete the others.  Or not.  We still have lots of time before the Big Feast. And may have used this one already.

I have never been one to heavily stitch pieced work.  I do run the machine over handmade potholders I give as gifts... but that is more in keeping with usage and machine washing... potholders--quilted or not-- have a short lifespan.  Or perhaps they do not???  The lovely ones I make to give as gifts are never used.

I served myself a Baked Sweet Potato yesterday for the mid day meal. I added Swiss Cheese to it. I have one left but will have something else today for mid day.   Not a clue what it might be as I have yet again NOT made soup.  I had intentions but they failed me.  Toasted Cheese Sandwich sounds good.  But I have a grocery store container of SOUP..and I might enjoy that today...

I am going to blame what ever is wrong with my right leg ....up by the hip joint... which hurts...when I lift that right foot off the Earth... getting up into my high four poster bed (I feel I may have already whined about this ) is not a great thing...it hurts.  Son has added a kitchen step stool... to help me get into bed.  A nice flat wooden box would possibly be a better choice??? Lifting my leg up onto the ottoman where I read (on the couch) is really painful.  I have started to blame every thing going wrong on that leg pain.

 Getting the leg up on the ottoman is OH MY GOODNESS PAINFUL..... once up..it's fine.  The heating pad helps.  Walking, Standing, Sitting and then Not Sitting is just like usual.

There is a bit of a chill here in the house..but it could be me...I'm old. I am going to grab my shawl and bunch it up around my neck.  See if that makes me think I am warmer????  On the couch I cozy up to my heating pad.....under a down lap blanket.

Still reading Soulmate Equation.  Still love the book. After all these years.

Well, the mystery of my not being able to open my fresh new mouthwash bottle was explained by Son who also couldn't get it open.  Little security tabs.  "Over the Top Security on the Mouthwash" these days. And it's alcohol free.... so no buzz.

Monday, November 9th. Sunshine here in Maine and 50 degrees.

 Has ZERO to do with November in Maine. But it's very cheerful.

Yesterday and today's Golden Oldie is still Soulmate Equation by two gals- Christina and Lauren.  They write good books. I have the paperback copy in the bookcase.  Have read it many many times.

Tulips do not last here in my Maine Garden...the wild roaming deer nibble the flowers off each stem... Carefully.  Not wanting any of the leaves. Or the stems.   Once upon a time in Georgia at an apartment we had with a fenced backyard.... I had so many tulips and daffodils (in all the shades of yellow and white) out back and when the children and I sat at the round table in front of the window we enjoyed lunch and the view.   It was always the three of us.  Even then.  That same round table sits here in the living room now by the front window...

Well, I need to pull on my socks.... it's 51 degrees and cloudy and damp here in Maine.  We are grateful for the mild temps as it helps us conserve heating oil.

I baked my two sweet potatoes yesterday after the pizza came out of the oven- wonderful always...watched some football...saw a terrible injury and turned the tv off....started reading.  I have read this one book so many many times.....the sign of a well written book.  The Little Beach Street Bakery is another one....for years now.... that one comes from the library as it is so old daughter can't find me a copy..but did find other books by that same author for my bookcase....  It's nice to borrow it as I have over the years....I think when we have things in the bookcase, cupboard or dresser drawer we forget about them... at least I do.

Daily Notes- Sunday November 8th. Considering.........

 Writing these posts and then printing them to go into a notebook.  Deleting them here.  .And pasting images to the notebook page.  I think posting is NOW  past tense....used mostly to let people know about events and things they are selling etc.  I have no events and nothing to sell. None of those plants are mine.  Not the mirror either.

I only have words.

Well, this week I managed to purchase sweet potatoes which will bake after the pizza is done... I also have a clipped recipe for White Bean Pasta and all the ingredients. (need to buy a lottery ticket????) as I never HAVE all the ingredients for a found Sunday Newspaper recipe..  

Soup  ( I wrote about last week) was NOT made...sigh...I need to wear a post-it on my sweater.   To remind me.  MAKE SOUP.  I did watch some people on some show make soup......not a soup I would eat.

The muscles etc in my right upper thigh are causing me discomfort when I stand, or lift my leg up over onto the  ottoman. Getting in bed is also a trial as my four poster is very TALL. sliding out is easy peasy.  I have been taking Arnica but...it isn't working this time around.  And it always did. In past years for bumps and bruises etc.   I have on a wool sweater and a thermal long sleeved shirt....but I'm cold.  I need socks but can't trust pulling them on while sitting in a chair with wheels....... has HAZARD written all over it. I also have a broken blood vessel in the pad of my right hand just under the thumb joint...burns....or more likely stings...right now.  Not liking typing.

That's it.  Might be some football to watch...socks right here ready to be pulled on and perhaps I'll go find something to wrap around my neck to keep the chill off...Also reheat my coffee.

I finished Don't Look Down...finally.  Now I get to choose another OLD favorite off the library shelf.  Golden Oldies Week.  I more than likely have a trade paper copy in the bookcase but selected hardcover for this week from the Library Stacks.  I haven't read most of them in a decade or more.. definitely   ..so it will be interesting.  Like a reunion of sorts. 

Well, thank you for stopping by..  sorry for being so boring.

Daily notes..Saturday November 7th. Chill in the Air here in Maine. 51 and very wet- overnight rain

 Cookies would be welcomed here...in my house.  These supposedly have only three ingredients.  One of which must be peanut butter.

The abundance of bright orange in the Maine landscape is dulling down a bit with the overnight rain. It might actually still BE raining....  we replenished the fridge etc yesterday at the grocery store. I have cinnamon raisin bagels and whipped cream cheese for "snack".  Grocery store bagels- I need to pull the toasted oven out of the cabinet.

Soup is supposed to be made today....maybe.  I do have a box of Kraft Mac and Cheese sitting on the counter....just begging me to make it.  With the addition of extra macaroni.--something I do if I have extra in a jar in the pantry...like today.   I have sweet potatoes to bake after we take the Sunday Pizza out of the oven tomorrow.  I bought cheese to melt inside the baked sweet potatoes. Yum.

My right leg continues to hurt (up near my hip) when I lift it to rest on the ottoman.  Or try to get into my tall bed. Rolling into bed is working...  As long as I am not doing any of those things and a few others....it's fine. Walking is pain free. Sleeping is pain free.  Getting old is not.

I still haven't finished that book I am reading.  I haven't checked to see if I can watch TV...Son said it was the rain impeding the "signal"........that's a new one.  I do have a British Soccer game on but I have to say- the image on the screen looks very very weird.  And what happened to the Saturday Cooking Shows????

Well, my bagel won't toast itself...have a nice weekend...

Daily Notes- Friday, November 6th. Billionaires lost Billions backing Trump.

 Cheesecake Factory Bling at the White House -- and in the new Ballroom??????  Oh YES!!!!!

Maine's warmish Weather has disappeared...I need to go add a thermal long sleeved shirt to my wardrobe choice for today.    We are going grocery shopping later today and I don't want to be shivering.

I haven't made a list of meals for the coming week as yet.... or chosen a lunch item...but homemade vegetable soup sounds like a really good idea as I sit here shivering.

Televised Entertainment has been slim to none so far.....Either I am NOT the focus demographic or I am being "too picky" or I don't have the correct set of cable channels.  I vote for all three being TRUE.

I selected an un-mended pair of corduroy pants out of the closet for today....also  pants that are not saggy and baggy. In fact, pants I have never worn until right now....I think. Dark brown. (this could mean I have lost weight)  I added a thermal long sleeved shirt and a pale yellow linen blouse.  My hair needs WORK.

I'm up an hour early as the Time Changed and my clocks did not.   I am noticing some did and some didn't.

My computer says 9:58. now it says 10:01.  Now 10:06.   

Well, I have eaten my oatmeal, read the skimpy news in the paper, taken my daily pills, pulled my socks on...am listening to Son turn on the shower in his bathroom.....oh, I also failed miserably on the Morning Suduko puzzle...and only one word on the Jumble.   Not the best of beginnings.

Well, I have my socks on, my hair combed and this post written....the day has begun...long live the day.

Daily Notes for Thursday, November 5th....Clouds and Leaf Covered Lawn. (I thought it was Friday)

He loves to have his name on things. Even on the People's House.  Which is NOT his House.  This is NOT an actual representation but ...it's someone's idea of a joke... The need to add his name to everything is a sad representation of his mental state.. and even sadder one of his emotional state.  Still a child. MINE!

I'll be having great dessert images here for the remainder of the week into next.    Politics?  No..Just No. And the desserts will only be images not Reality.  

The Sunshine from yesterday is GONE.   I have on my wool sweater, thermal under shirt and wool socks and might even add a secondary sweater to today's outfit. But as of now. I added a nice shawl to the outfit. Black with gold designs... the shawl is on my shoulders every single day of my life since it arrived in the mail.

For the very first time in quite a long time...I am finding it difficult to read a book from cover to cover in one day- the one I have on the couch is in its third day and I haven't gotten very far.  My attention span seems to be shrinking,  Old Age is certainly more difficult than I expected.  Very Presidential. Ha!!!!

Daughter clipped branches off the rose bush by the side of the glassed in porch..then clipped them further into short pieces.  Way more pinchy thorns than anyone wants. I recall the actual roses as being small and a pretty pink. We are NOT digging the roots out of the ground.  

We might not have voted on that....as yet.

I finished off the hot dogs yesterday and today I will have a grilled cheese with pickles. Clear the decks for Grocery shopping tomorrow..... I saw lactate free cream cheese in the grocery handout...and want to try it on some cinnamon raisin bagels next week.  "Research Purposes".   I also have yogurt ice cream bars but not very often.

Recalling the MONTH when I ate only steamed rice and vegetables (Doctor's Orders)....no flour, no eggs, no dairy, no meat.   I could have a banana..no other fruit was allowed.  As the weeks went by I could "TRY" one new food to see if my "terrible symptoms" returned (also was taking steroids).  It was awful but.. I healed myself.  I still like a bowl of steamed plain  Jasmine rice.  I add a small amount of balsamic vinegar to it and some tiny green peas..   Sounds pitiful but...one gets used to pitiful..  when the rash, the itch and the swollen eyes go away.  

Oddly enough my youngest brother had these symptoms at birth almost and into his adult life also. One month seemed like too little when I thought about his years of suffering.

 

JD Vance Blaming Trump for the LOSS

 So perfect you just can't make this stuff up.

Daily Notes for Wednesday November 4th. So Many Election Surprises.!!!!! An UpRising.

 We The People....have spoken..Enough was more than Enough for most of us.  Sort of like when Obama won and they all said it wasn't possible.  The People make it Possible when we get fed up.... we took the House of Representatives and the Senate. Back... 

I tried to stay up watching one Red Candidate after another losing. Governors, Senators, Representatives...a clean sweep.......waiting for totals from Maine...but gave up..this morning first thing before anything ...newspaper.... Our Resident Senate Trump Butt Kisser LOST...... Let's have a parade. Too bad the guy who won is no prize.....but a win is win.... and in his first 6 years he can't actually do much of anything.

I stayed up until Rachel of MSNBC said they needed to take a station break because people needed to pee.

Supposed to get up to 74 today in Maine with Sunshine.  And we have lots of Sunshine today.. keeping us warm as we wait for Heating Oil.

Daughter was here yesterday and did SO MUCH WORK on the landscaping...  Cutting back all the perennials.  Pulling weeds...  we both hoped the Lawn Guys would come do one more cut...it's not happening.  I do have a lawnmower in the shed if she wants to mow.  I do not know how to make it work. I did at one time....but that Time was so very long ago. 

Perhaps Son could get it going...??????

Daily Notes for Tuesday November 3rd, I wish I had French Onion Soup...

 November and my "landscaper" is out back doing things.  Cutting back the False Indigo and hauling it to the back property line.  For starters.   It's a real mess out there.  Grass needed one more cut. Didn't happen.

Son is doing the thermostats as I either do them at the wrong time or wrong temp...  which is why I wear thermal socks,  a nice warm wool sweater and a scarf.in the house....  we are being frugal with oil...for heating. We have no secondary heating source.  We got Trumped yet again.  We have Auto Delivery so when we get low enough...we hope the truck comes.  

A SURPRISE in the mail yesterday...a hardback copy of Fast Women.  Thank You.... Thank You....Thank You.  It fit so perfectly in my bookcase.  I'm trying to like Don't Look Down from the Library but it's not what I want to be reading this week.....so I'll select something else... I chose old favorites from decades ago on yesterday's Library visit.   And I few other's I'll name as I read them...  Next visit I am taking my Library Notebook with me- has lists and lists of books.  One's I've read.

I grabbed my shawl and have it wrapped around my neck.  Heating pad is on my couch if I feel the need.  I did late in the afternoon yesterday,  At 80 I get cold sooner and take longer to warm up.

Answering questions on my Peonies...daughter is using their Latin names...I once did that...Wo Peng is the kind that doesn't get cut back. He's out front.  

Connie we both have Landscaper Daughters!!!!!

Well, that's about all I have for you today...I'm going back to Don't Look Down... there are things about that group of people that I like.  I am going to check in on the TV listing for Storage Wars...see what I can record for later.  A grilled cheese sandwich for lunch for me with extra pickles or Hot Dogs....Daughter brought a container of Hungarian Soup for her lunch.   We all three of us are individual in our likes and dislikes.  Husband liked chicken noodle soup... We three do not. 

Daily Notes for Monday November 2nd. One More FULL TV Day of Political Ads.

 Batwing flower. Interesting.  Sort of a cat vibe also.

So furnace is running...it's comfortable in here right now now.....I have had my pills, oatmeal and Electrolyte water.  My hair is combed (extra points), I have proper (leaving the house) clothing on (triple extra points) and only need to add my socks to the ensemble.   Library to drop off books and pick up new ones.  Perhaps even find a fresh old magazine to enjoy on the free magazine rack,

I watched almost all the football in the afternoon yesterday.. witnessed some season ending injuries, Sunday Pizza was excellent as usual.....I had mine with a nice salad.  What we need here (I can imagine Son cringing) is DESSERT.  We don't have it because he loves dessert and refuses to give in to it.  So I have these tiny toddler cups of ice cream in the freezer.....for emergencies.  Not very often.

If it was a box of shortbread cookies????? Lifespan of the cookies would be very very short. Indeed.

I have been coloring my Autumn Pumpkin with multi colors of Sharpie.....When it''s complete I will share it with you....for sure by Thanksgiving.  Each color needs to dry before the next one. Consumes TIME.

The top right of the computer screen is tempting me with an offer to learn how to take a screenshot.  Really?   That Batwing flower is a screenshot if I ever saw one??????? correct me if I'm am wrong.

Well time to tempt gravity and pull on wool socks without face planting on the wood floor.  Always a scary situation.  I would really hate smashing yet another pair of eyeglass frames.

RE: political ads...we get one that mentions a candidate who had two children with his 2nd cousin. Here in Maine that's not a surprise. It's not even news.

Daily News for Sunday November 1st. Son said it was okay to turn up the heat... We are conserving heating oil,..

 A secondary photo.   I like the leaves on this one on top... useless but decorative.  And I have a tub of felt plus a hand full of felt scraps...never throw felt away.

So...as I wait for the temp in here to go above 60...... and settle into the couch for football.......and later Sunday Pizza plus a handmade green salad for me.........I wonder about the NYTimes Recipes I copied down for SOUP.  The most likely One to try is the Italian Pasta and Chickpea Stew.  I have cans of white beans and boxes of small pasta.  I also have a can of tomatoes.  The freezer still holds a few cheese rinds.  I like to toss them in.  I will skip the rosemary as I have never liked it and do not have it in the spice drawer.

Once upon a time the garden to my left...now TALL weeds crowding the whole house generator--- was supposed to be a Herb Garden with paths etc.  Daughter might want to rearrange a few things and pull a few wheelbarrows full of weeds...to get the Herb Garden back in shape. Maybe Six Perennial Herbs. I can buy the Annuals at the grocery store.  Or grow them in a medium pot on the back deck.

So...Son has found me a channel to watch FOOTBALL.   49ers and Broncos.  Right now just talking heads and an empty stadium...  we have TV on "mute".  We don't actually realize how large the football players are until they are handing out candy to the kids in the crowd (while eating a huge burger) in a very tight suit..

The room is warming up... the couch awaits....and my coffee needs a warm up. Sunday Football.

Daily Notes for Saturday, October 31st. Sunshine here Maine.

 I purchased a red felt heart that resemble these hearts....long ago in Europe.  Perhaps Sweden Or Norway.  It is here somewhere now..  I like the speckled ones in the top right side.

Well, the furnace is running, the sun is shining, I haven't pulled my wool socks on as yet...(balance issues as I might fall forward and hit my head on the floor). .......I have to let the bowl of oatmeal circulate... and then pull on my socks.   I am also trying to moderate the temp in here...so I use less heating oil.

I watched some news yesterday before starting in on my Crusie book....Don't Look Down.  The big tall helicopter pilot is staring into the swamp...and the big alligator is staring back.  Book also has lots of Barbie dolls.  And Parties....to keep the 4 year old happy.

Saturday Cooking Shows... I watch but never cook.  Well, I do make Soup. But not today.

Cross the Street New -ish Neighbors still having things done to the house...yesterday men in white plastic hazmat suits doing something...perhaps in the basement????  Which is only a crawl space.  That side of the road is still pretty "swampy" when it rains a lot- and it did rain a lot in the first 10 years we lived here...often flooding the yards and the road.  Former cross the road  neighbor was lucky the big tree next her house tipped AWAY from the house and fell into the swamp.  If it had fallen toward the road we'd all have lost electricity for a good while.  And we would not have been able to go anywhere... trapped by the tree.

My side of the road is sandy.  The benefit of being the first house built...they brought in sandy soil to even out the lot. In the first decade I lived here the side yard out back was filled with water and ducks.  And Eagles flying over to snatch up a duck for lunch or dinner.  I have seen two young deer and one mature  female deer in my front yard last year eating my ornamental flowers out of the containers....-  No male with wide antlers in quite a long time.......  Son thinks they moved elsewhere due to heavy traffic on the road  behind my house....after one walks thru the swamp and the nasty thorn plants..on Town Property.

Well, I need to pull on socks, watch cooking shows and read...  I'm done with politics for the day unless "someone" has a sudden health issue and faints or "soils" his pants.. or both.

Daily Notes for Friday October 30th. Grocery Shopping Day....????

 Witch Hazel.  Halloween.  

So...here we are ....almost November...  but still October.

It's Grocery Shopping Day and I should be considering my Lunch Choice for the week. Son goes out every other day but I eat here at home everyday.....and it's a very sad commentary (on my own process) when I have nothing interesting to eat.... I am sort of thinking Hot Dogs since it's been quite awhile......not Soup as I have had enough of that..... Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Pickles is always my fall back position but last week it was baked sweet potatoes (with melted cheese and butter) and they were wonderful. Vitamin A.

My fridge holds pre cooked bacon and two jars of sweet pickle chips.   I never got around to making Steamed Rice with frozen peas.  I talk about it often but then stay seated on the couch reading,......  I read Welcome to Temptation cover to cover yesterday and will read it again in the next few days.   After reading Don't Look Down...another Crusie written around the same time as Agnes and the Hitman. Which might be nice to read again..

This Morning's News was more of the same....Vote for Me.....I already voted...and NOT for whomever paid for those ads.  Heating Oil is climbing in price here in Maine and I am cold most of the time..."add another sweater" is going to be my motto.

I tried watching a favorite Hallmark movie yesterday.  Could NOT make it to the 15 minute mark.  So..sigh..I have outgrown them.  I had sort of had them in mind for my Retirement Years

Daily Notes for Thursday, October 29th. 10:37 am.

 Not sure where this image is from or WHEN it's from.  But I enjoy it. Use it whenever it shows up.

Today is Thursday and the Sun is shining there in Maine....Voting is still taking place... Medicare enrollment is still taking place.....oldest state population in America here in Maine????????

I've wondered about that oldest population thing ever since I first heard it mentioned decades ago. I at first thought it was the average temperature here...the cold air keeping germs from multiplying etc. But now I think it's just hard wired stubborn-ness.  And the very cold winters.  So many people live well into or close to their 100th birthday.  Many of them friends of mine (who I miss every day).

Each asked me to take something of theirs (after they died) that meant so much to them....a quilt, a chair, a sweater, a cast iron casserole....all here and touched and used and worn everyday.  Mended as needed. I also took home their fabric and unfinished quilts.....and sort and box and use it all.....to this day. 

So....... watched a bit of chat on MSNBC yesterday....but made sure I stopped myself from making it a habit.  The talking people were churning the same facts over and over and..well, that has no real purpose does it????? Doesn't change anything....  Same with Storage Wars and Hallmark Movies....Doesn't change anything..

So I went back to my book.  And with every page I hope someday I will Own a copy of this book... Crusie's Welcome to Temptation.  Until it's due at the library I will pick up the book and randomly open to any page and start reading. (for the next three weeks)...all the pages are a delight.   The pages also make me want a Dove Bar. I think my grocery has them somewhere in the Ice Cream Cooler.... I recall them being expensive and the box containing only FOUR.  I should get a box on my next birthday.  Or for Christmas.  Both.

Well, I have oatmeal to microwave and socks to pull on- gets more difficult to do the socks every day!!!!! Keep worrying I'll tip over and land on my face.

 

Daily Notes for Wednesday, October 28th. Sunshine, a Chill in the Air and furnace going.

 Monhegan Island....where it looks like it might be damp and cold.  Pretty sure the houses are empty and only used in the summer months. Possibly with no insulation. Sits right on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.

I just deleted everything I had typed here because I was positive it had all been written before and possibly more than once or twice etc.  This happens when you go nowhere and see no one and re-read the same books over and over again. Even the Storage War Lockers are starting to look the SAME. To me.

The only NEW stuff is what is happening at the White House....or the Cheesecake Factory as Obama now calls it.  Gosh I miss Obama. The stick on gold stuff was a bit too tacky....for all of us.

I keep my living room fire place plain.  Just a few pictures up top.  Well, more than a few. But none of the glued down cheap plastic gold stuff.......

That's it for today....I have a box of Kraft Mac and Cheese for later.... Soup might actually get made tomorrow or a few days from tomorrow.. I have everything (which is actually not much)- onion, carrot, celery, canned beans...I forgot to buy a potato and don't want to bother the neighbors asking if they have an extra to share with me. Friday is right around the corner and I can buy one potato.. 

I did bake two sweet potatoes and can have them warmed up with butter and melted Swiss cheese later today..... sounds cozy and warm.

 It's been quite awhile since I spoke to any neighbors (or borrowed anything)...  now it's colder and well, not a chance of seeing anyone outdoors now.  That Monhegan sky is pretty much our Maine cold weather sky. And it's as depressing as it looks.

Daily Notes for Tuesday October 27th. Almost Halloween. A VERY Sunny Day here in Maine.

 

French Onion Soup.....I wish I had some for today as it's a chilly morning and probably the same for the remainder of the day.   

Well, the furnace is running. (noise)....I am at the tipping point in the book I am reading.....this is where I skip quite a few pages (over 100 of them).....- but this reading I may just move ahead to the last 50 pages. (not a fan of the rundown apartments and the swamp portion of the book).... and call it good enough. And then start in on a new (old) book.  Welcome to Temptation.....I had to wait for it to be available as it was in "repair" for a few weeks. 

Yesterday was one of those days when things I thought were lost forever showed up again.... I was using only one of the painted bookmarks I had made for myself because the other FIVE were missing...well, I found them yesterday and now have them in a secure space here on the desk.  Painted watercolor paper.

I also pulled a few art supplies out and looked at them for a while. Then put them away.

I selected a few very very old favorite books at the library and they haven't been read in many many years....I do have paperback copies but love the hardbacks so much MORE.  

So Storage Wars continues to fill any open spaces in my day....but not for long... I'll have to find something new (Law and Order???). But right now...I need to pull on my wool socks and reheat my breakfast coffee- one more time..... take care...... thank you for reading.....

Daily Notes for Monday October 26th. Clouds and a bit of a chill on this October Morning.

 I have the backyard looking like this but not the chairs.  And wouldn't want to sit outside anyway.

I have yet to pull on my wool socks but I have had breakfast (oatmeal) and my electrolyte water and pills. My hair is a wild wide mess....uncontrollable.   Election news continues to bore me senseless with name calling and lies.. I all ready voted.

I am reading an old favorite book and skipping the plot points that have aggravated me from the beginning....the remainder of the book is quite lovely.....as are the characters...but the subplot stinks. When we roll off the main plot into the swamp.....omg I skip ALL the pages.....  But he hasn't swung by with the new AC unit as yet.... so I continue to read.   Agnes got a new AC unit from the Hit Man.  

There was Football yesterday...I have no recall of who played whom and stopped watching when my sweet potatoes were ready to exit the oven.   I will be having the sweet potatoes for lunch today.  I do not recall if today is grocery or library...I know...I should make an index card....to remind me.  There was no newspaper today as it's Monday....would be nice if there was also no news on tv because it's Monday.

I need to pull on my wool socks... Maine has decided Summer/Fall is over....Winter is next up..  There is zero sunshine.  As I proofread the Sun has arrived....very bright.  All the dew on the grass is sparkling.

I seemed to have discovered (yesterday) several packages of very very nice cards- the sort one sends to friends with a nice written letter inside.  I used to do that. I stopped because I got fewer and fewer letters in return...until I got NONE. And actually never heard from people again.  I often wondered what happened to them....still no clue. Letters I wrote started being returned by the post office.  I was getting the feeling  everyone else had MOVED on and left me behind with no forwarding address..  

Here, too, on the posts I write. People comment for a few years and then poof...never to be heard from again.  I feel like the fictional character in One Day in December who sends letters to dead people- no stamps.......in December.  I send all year not just in December.

Daily Notes for Sunday, October 25th. Pizza Day....Lots of sunshine but only 46 degrees.

 Camden Falls.. enjoy the Maine Sightseeing.

The Sunday newspaper was full of political opinions...Susan Collins isn't faring well.  Lots of negative opinions about her "Trump Butt Kissing"....... she does what she needs to do to keep the job I guess...only that has flipped and is no longer working for her..... I'm not saying the other option is better.. since he is what they call "a complete unknown".   I already voted.  Weeks ago (it seems)..... for the  "Complete Unknown".  I have NEVER voted for Collins in all the decades I have lived here in Maine.. I have never trusted her....to tell the truth.

The Sunshine is lovely today even thought it's not a warm sunshine.   The back lawn is getting overgrown and very very GREEN and the front lawn is NOT... Deer keep foraging in the back yard even though acorns are still abundant out front.  I had hoped the guys would come cut the grass one more time...but I guess not. Son has told me the lawn mower is in the garage.....when I asked.

I need to up the room temp..nope...I already did change the temp..  I'll just pull up the collar of my sweater.  As soon as I hit publish I'll go bury myself into the couch and the down lap blanket.  I used the heating pad to warm my legs up yesterday. 

A very very interesting (to me) article about Van Gogh's Starry Night.   Vincent painted what he actually saw in the night sky- not a product of Vincent's imagination as we had been told it was. A South Korean team reported their findings after years of forensic astronomy.  I have always loved that particular painting and thought it was in an Amsterdam Museum..  But it resides in the Modern Museum of Art in New York,

Close enough....that I might someday actually see it in person.

Daily Notes for Saturday, October 24th. Sunshine here in Maine... 47 degrees.

 I selected a white and yellow small flat decorative "pumpkin" yesterday while grocery shopping... I plan to use a nice black pen to draw designs etc on the surface. A different design in each wedge shape.

I have a number of Kid Friendly recipes to look at...they are usually simple and easy to prepare even for older people...some are eaten with a spoon...which is also easy for older people to manage.  And none of them require a knife.   The only thing easier is a sandwich. I finished the soup...need to make more.

Politics are cluttering the TV choices... reading helps fill the days.  There is often some British Soccer. And now that I am 80..I find napping so much easier to manage.  Just sit still and close my eyes. Done.

I continue to enjoy (I don't think the word conveys the cringing I do while watching). Storage Wars.  Big Heavy Men in Tank Tops???? cough. gag...... this is when I change the channel......

I am recording three Saturday PBS Cooking Shows for later.  Right now I am going to read until it's time to watch British Soccer.  That's my day.. I have some sorted piles of scrap cloth ready for stitching into squares.  Which involves threading needles....I might enjoy reading more.....  than sewing today.

Heating Oil is now over SIX DOLLARS a gallon- My tank holds 400 gallons. And doesn't last all Winter.  And I wear wool socks,  thermal shirts covered by wool sweaters and a nice down lap quilt when I sit on the couch with the heating pad going.  Reading a book.  From NOW (today) until April.  I haven't gotten the furnace past 60 in decades.  But the Sun is bright and warmish today. 

48 degrees. Outside. Grass is nice and green and needs to be mowed....

Daily Notes for Friday October 23rd, Grocery Day.....I need more food.

 Rockland, Maine Fall Foliage.  Not much color.

Another path in the woods reminding me of the area behind my house.  And the Daily Dog Walks. which always brings tears to my eyes....like right now.... I loved that dog. Always will.

I have lots of Thanksgiving Food images to the right for the Holiday Week's Posts.  Not sure what Son and I will actually make.  But we do agree on using REAL eggs this year... we used a liquid egg sub last year... and nothing turned out as it should...our pumpkin pie was a LAKE.  I ate the crust...Son was disgusted. by me eating the crust. It was a really good crust.

So grocery shopping today and I am....new to me....hungry.  I seemed to have outlived the lack of appetite  (it's been 3 years since he died) and now...will eat ....and actually enjoy food again.  I was surprised it had been 3 years..I was NOT keeping track.  The Lewiston Shooting had a story in the paper....I do recall that vividly.  Same time period...Same days and nights.

Heating Oil is going to be super expensive here in Maine.... all because Trump started something he couldn't or would not stop with Iran. Canadian Oil is available but Trump has screwed that source also. 

So...we are going to the grocery store as soon as my Son thinks I am sturdy enough.  Then home again. I have Fast Women to finish reading.... we haven't opened all the freezers as yet.... and the office couch hasn't collapsed as yet.....I'm telling you...... this small book has so much going on....... I intend to keep the book for the entire lending time of three weeks....keep reading it.  Sigh. And hope it's still on the library shelf when I want to read it again. Let's all hope it is!!!!!

Well, I should attempt to contain my hair and put on my wool socks...be ready to go when Son comes down the stairs...... the 25 cent fresh LL Bean pants I have on have a loose zipper... so I need to pay attention to that.... really!!!!!

Daily Notes for Thursday, October 22nd, A bit more chill in the Maine Air...

 Oatmeal, Newspaper and Suduko....  one bill but it was just a warning..the real bill comes a few weeks from now.  I had one check to write- son is carrying it to the mailbox as I type.  

A lone deer was out back eating things off the grass.  We looked at each other.  I tried for a photo but..it wasn't clear what I was having you look at.

As soon as my breakfast circulates.....I will attempt a shower.  There is nice shower chair so I can sit down if I get shaky,   I left my hair wide and curling this morning...didn't bother with it much.  I was happy to see that it still gets curly.

I am eating my way thru the food supply in the fridge ...things purchased for me.  Today might be the Pot Stickers.  In honor of book I am reading.

I am reading Fast Women by Jennifer Crusie (2001). and eventually Gab will start bringing Chinese food to Nell's house.  When I read this particular book I wish there had been a man like Gab in my Life.  Daughter keeps trying to find a copy of the book for me to own and keep in the bookcase...so far we haven't had any luck.  The Library copy was a gift... the library didn't buy a copy.  I might be the only person taking it out as it remains in like new condition.   In the recent "purge" I expected it to be gone.

The sun has come out...well, I have nothing more to type...going to shower and wash my hair...I will be back to tell you I am okay and nothing bad happened....like a slip and fall.  I have grip bars and a chair... and my iPhone near by to call for help.....getting old is so labor intensive.  I recall falling down my Grandmother's steep stairs and no one even came to check on me.  They did slap a bandaid on my bleeding nose. I was two or three years old.  I always felt like I was easy to forget....

Daily Notes for Wednesday October 21st. Sunshine here in Maine- 53 degrees

 30 second chocolate mug cake.

Long time Readers will recall my many experiments with the  30 second microwave mug cake.  I'd really enjoy making one in this blue mug but...sadly I do not own one.  So my mug cake later today will be made in  some other mug..which you will see. Daughter has gotten me quite a few mugs. To replace ones that slip off my fingers and crash to the floor.

I am still being awakened by phone calls that begin with "Can you hear me?"  I say NO and hang up. I doubt that will have any effect.. I used to suggest they find a better job...that got me repeat harassment.

Which was really so bad I stopped answering the phone.. this is what you get for having a land line... Which we need here in Maine because other phone types used to stop working when the power went off as it did frequently.  Land line needs no electricity.

Well the Sun is shining... that makes it a very good day by Maine standards.  I need something to eat.

and then...I have no idea...

Tuesday, October 20th. A nice chill on my neck so I upped the thermostat. Sunshine in Maine. 58 degrees

Blue Hill restaurant photo.  Like eating on my porch. Absent the orange window trim.

So...what's going on here in Maine....still focused on the election and voting.  Still some name calling..also interest in why Trump is feeling up all male guests to the White House....he used to feel up the women guests....now men?????   I enjoyed tv more when Trump was accidentally pooping his pants. How did they get him to stop?????? Question of the Day.

I experimented with the dining room tv...it was the one my husband used to watch strange shows about people shoving each other off inflated objects in a pool.  Sort of like Wipe Out but NOT.  And the tv works.. So I could possibly sit there while eating breakfast and watch tv.  Instead of reading the newspaper.

Newspaper seems like the better choice for my remaining brain cells.  Son says  "Do Not Watch That TV"

It's getting cold...or my old age is making me think I am getting cold.... I might start wearing a scarf in the house- something tasteful and nice.  I might actually own something like that...unless the children gave all of that to Goodwill.  In the "First Clearing of Household Things".  I had them cancel any further clearing......and started taking things out of the box.

I now get to say yes or no to things going in the Goodwill Box.  I do take items out of the box... when no one is around.. Both of my children are really quite intelligent....they know.

So...nothing is new here...  I have books to read and a nice down lap cover to keep me warm.  One more serving of homemade soup and two supermarket meat loaf dinners.  Left over Sunday Pizza.  Son has left to go out for lunch.  I am having a Meat Loaf dinner mid afternoon. Looking forward to it. 3pm?

Well..that's all for now...I have a great book to finish reading and my comfy couch to sit on...if I find some British Soccer I will watch that but so far I have had better luck watching Storage Wars. Hallmark had a movie I thought I could watch...didn't make it to the first commercial break..... I have set 10 to 15 Christmas Movies to record (an exaggeration but not by much).  I can stockpile them until December. When daughter brings my table top tree down stairs..... and plugs it in by the front room windows. And Christmas Begins.  Last year she also brought cookies. Very good cookies.

But first we have Thanksgiving...we are hoping for better results this year.  Our Pumpkin Pie was a disappointment last year (the crust was good).  I also have two sweet potatoes to roast in the oven this week with the Pizza.. I have them for lunch with melted cheese tucked inside. . very nice.

So.......Couch, Book and Storage Wars on deck for another very pleasant "politics free" afternoon. 

 

It only took four tries to get here today....Monday, October 19th...A Chilly but Sunny day in Maine.

 Sun coming up.......somewhere in Maine.

I sorted thru the channels and found nothing of interest to watch...so then I sorted thru my bookcase but wasn't in the mood for reading.   So FOOTBALL.  Some very very interesting games....

Sunday Pizza was most excellent as well.  

I might need to start wearing a scarf around my neck- so I stay warm...the tendons in my neck are stiff and the neck bones make cracking sounds....getting old.

Yesterday I was hunting in the bookcase for something to read and forgot I had library books on the shelf. Son might be correct...my Attention Span. is not what it used to be. Books on the shelf on actually GOOD ONES.  Books being held at the Library for pick up are also very good ones.  I can tuck the baseball one back in the bookcase.

That's all for now....I discovered I do not have a tub filled with the nice batting I like... .... Son went up and found batting...not my usual but........it's how quilting began...use what you have. And be glad you have something.

Daily Notes for Sunday October 18th. Happy Birthday Bill.

 I cut out a recipe for Crock Pot Chili.  After reading the comments I decided I wasn't ever going to try making it.  Lots of cans.  Two kinds of beans etc.  Several comments as to why they used a crock pot..... the New York Times recipes are always wildly commented on...no one agrees on any thing.

I then watched the Saturday Cooking Shows....not going to make any of that either.  I had peanut butter on white bread instead.

I sorted thru the Christmas Movie LineUp on Hallmark....I keep looking for the ONE Hallmark Christmas Movie I adore...I cannot find it.  I ended up watching a few hours of Storage Wars. And then Swiffered Up all the white old lady hair that covers all the floors these days.... It's falling out....but it's curling.

I sorted thru books to find a really GOOD one to read....And just now realized the one I chose is a hot mess...so it's goes back and another replaces it.  Tomorrow is Library Day...I have quite a few holds...

I selected Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey....  she usually writes three books in a set.

Well, Football is on today and after that Football Pizza....  A full day of entertainment.  ZERO Chili.

Daily Notes-- October 17th..Sunshine here in Maine but only 49 degrees.

 Rangely Maine.  I don't think I've ever been there.  

Telling people you ARE a Lawyer even if you were NOT able to pass the bar??????  These are Trump's People...... Perhaps she could now TRY to become a Bitcoin Saleswoman????  Or sell Pillows for the Pillow Guy?????

Today's most important job (for ME) is choosing a book to read.. off the library book shelf or out of the big German cupboard. (which is packed FULL of books.). My very own Retirement Account.  There are books waiting at the Library but..they have to wait till Monday...

I received a post card in the mail telling me I am above average in my stellar Voting Record. I wish they had sent a pin I could wear on my coat....

And another piece of mail cancelled my Medicare Provider Account. Son is hoping he can find me another provider. 

Another piece of mail was almost hilarious....my one share of stock (from my dad) is suddenly many many more shares...  They even send me a LARGE dividend check...... some one somewhere has gone insane.  It would cover the Medicare Payments... for a year or two.

Other news is that even though the Library knew the present Director was leaving in October of this year.. a YEAR AGO...... they are scheduling interviews this month for a new Director..  And this month is half over.  I think whomever they chose decided it was "not a great job for them"......and declined recently. And finding new choices is not going well.  Are we surprised???? No.

Or perhaps they are following Trump Hiring Rules????  Hired someone who was not qualified as a Librarian?   Well..I have little else to report.  Homemade Vegetable Soup will be served for Lunch... There's plenty if you happen to be walking past the house.......and not trying to scam me with house repair deals??????  Son swept the acorns  off the driveway....so walking is safe right now.

Daily Notes for Friday October 16th.... A Cloudy Damp (wet) day here in Maine.

 In the past when I had a big Black Lab to walk...this is where we went.  Onto the Town Commons.

Those many many days are in the past now....I could NOT do that walk...I would WANT to do the walk but..not far into it I would be having trouble breathing....that's how I'll die- not being able to breathe. So I take it easy these days..... enjoying each day..... happy to be able to breathe.  I am repeating myself...

The Couch.  A Good Book.  A nice warm cup of vegetable soup- homemade. Wool socks and a Down Lap Quilt.  The content of my cable provider is quite dismal.  Even Hallmark disappoints...even though Hallmark had Hudson from Hudson and Rex in one of its lame "romances" yesterday.   I almost watched ..but remembered I don't care for Hallmark this year...  I wanted  Storage Wars...

So...Zero Sunshine for Maine Today....we needed this RAIN in the Summer not now.  But the lawn is enjoying the moisture...the news of the School Shooting was so very very depressing- Five Dead (at least that is what the news reported..).  I recalled another similar shooting.....it actually felt like a "repeat" when the Principal reported she was driving from Portland to the school...I recalled that exact thing happening the last time.

I have a set time to be ready to go grocery shopping....no Library....just Groceries.  What do I want to eat next week????????  When the Soup is gone.   I don't know.

Daily Notes for Thursday October 15th. Sunshine with a bit of chill. 56 degrees

 I cleaned off the desktop..... I had images that I was using for the blog posts....was getting crowded.

I slept well but woke up tired so I reclined on the couch until I felt okay to make my breakfast ...oatmeal. And then I read the newspaper....OMG.....I have already voted so the amount of lies and fabrications in the commentary for Maine's Senate seat fills the pages without purpose. If anyone believes Collins votes for Mainers and not with Trump...bless your stupidity.

So sunshine and a chill.  I have to find something for my neck.. possibly the heating pad. Neck is making those bone crackling noises.... always shocking to listen to my bones moving around.

Daughter has dropped off a Roof Rake for use when the roof has a lot of snow on it.  She bought a new one for herself that she likes better..... son will try it out once it snows....see if he likes it.  Right now we have green grass.  

I have been eating my way thru my large container of homemade vegetable soup...nice to eat something warm when it's so cold in the house.  Son is leaving to have lunch.  He drives someplace and tries different restaurants.

I am strongly hoping that there are some Storage Wars episodes to watch today.  Nothin political or heavy or needing thoughts.....or decisions.  Just listening to people discuss storage locker contents.

I am reading Bet Me.  Just getting started.  Watched a Hallmark movie yesterday about a Philly Mechanic who discovers his real father is a Royal.. the father has a red convertible the mechanic repairs...  And then some Antiques Roadshow.   

Door bell with a shifty guy wanting to do a "thermal scan" for my house.... I don't need any repairs as I won't be here long enough to enjoy them.  Clock is ticking.

Daily Notes f0r Wednesday October 14th. The Sun is shining--54 degrees outside and 64 degrees inside.

The Androscoggin River Turbine Project between my Town and the one across the river had a  problem recently and the fish that usually cross over  were in, most cases, beheaded by the blades. The newspaper had photos...I didn't think I needed to share them with you.....  it was all very sad.

 After I paid my Property Taxes yesterday My daughter and I visited the Library... I also looked at some art and crafts books daughter thought I might like....but I told her I wasn't "ready" to start "making stuff" yet. The fabric strips are still to the left of the couch where I sit....I admit to not being able to find the right patterns or colors to work together as I would like.  Crabby Joanne.  Becoming Extremely Crabby Joanne.

Actually yesterday's activities made me REALLY  tired.   Tried reading. TV was abundantly political yesterday so I turned it off BUT thought Trump's problems with his relatives and relatives former significant others was pretty amusing..  Later I watched recorded episodes of Storage Wars.. I'm hoping I set the TiVo to record more for today's entertainment.  I really have no need to pay attention to Storage Wars...just watch.. I have my own storage locker intrigue in the Attic. Daughter and I keep hoping we'll find "lost treasure".

I have been turning the thermostat up on heating the house but I am still COLD..especially the back of my neck... so I am going to find my scarf and add it to the day's clothing.  I used the heating pad yesterday to warm up and will  do that again today....I'm realizing how OLD I actually AM.  I look forward to late lunch and a bowl of my vegetable soup...... until then Storage Wars or Antiques Roadshow.

 

Daily Notes for Tuesday 0ctober 13th. Chill in the Air here in Maine. 45 degrees and Rain,

 It's raining,

I made vegetable soup yesterday....every vegetable in the cupboard, in the fridge, in the freezer I could find plus a can of white beans  and some tiny pasta.  I had a nice bowl for supper and today is REALLY SOUP weather..  Dark and Wet with nice chill in the air.  I spotted two short squat deer in the back yard yesterday...dwarf somethings.. could they have been goats????..eating things- things that don't matter in October... so I left them to it.

News....well I am going to start blocking the News channels and just read the paper.  Discussing things you can't do anything about is a true waste of time. That's like talking about starting a diet while eating donuts.  I'm not starting a diet and I have zero donuts (which is incredibly sad).

I wrote checks and balanced my checkbook.......like being smacked around with wooden stick. and I have a HUGE Property Tax Bill to pay this week....... and VOTE.  That's this week also.

And a wake up since I was actually reminiscing about the olden days when companies sent out catalogs of all sorts of things I liked to buy... I have a stack of 25 cent LL Bean corduroy pants in the closet...all good..never worn by me or anyone else. Sometimes one leg is longer than the other???? I can hem... Sometimes there's a rip.  I can mend.  And since I wear them in the house....or in cold weather under a long black wool coat.....no one sees them...or cares.  I recall ( early in my time here in Maine) seeing old women shopping in the grocery in their nightgown and a coat.  I understand..now.

Daily Notes- I skipped a day and didn't even notice........also my stats went up. Today is Oct. 12th.

 Every so often things happen here that I have to find and delete... Stats..

Readership beginning with yesterday (going backward)....114,146,234,55,72,93.  Look like lottery numbers... last Tuesday was a Big Deal!!!!

My usual Readership Numbers are single and double digits... And the double is usually in the teens. So I'm referring to these number as Lies. Shameless Lies.

I woke up yesterday and the arch of my right foot was very very painful (perhaps I've already told you this--if so know that it's still painful today)..I hobbled around and then gave up and sat down on the couch with my foot up on the ottoman and read my book and watched tv. It was a decent day.  Son and I also made Sunday Pizza and it was fantastic as usual... I tried to watch the Saints play Atlanta but that match up has NEVER been anything I want to watch...so I looked at the ceiling for awhile and then got back into reading Agnes and the Hitman.  

Things are happening in the book...not any of them being "good things" but Agnes keeps cooking....making batch after batch of pancakes.  She's making ribs for supper while the guys are in the cellar trying to blow open the heavy bank vault style barrier to see what's hidden behind it.   Never a dull day.....  I'll end your suspense... No I won't.

The conclusion of this epic tale of bullets and bombs is real close now....  And really it's my favorite part.

So...Monday....I have on a sweater and wool socks....  I'm still cold.  Winter in Maine is really terrible.. It's why everyone moves to Florida and stays there until April or May...sometimes April is no weather prize... We've shoveled snow in April.  The bakery that makes the wonderful jelly donuts is closed for the Winter...  I had hoped for an October Farewell donut...but no such luck...... My grandmother made me jelly donuts....I watched her fry them....it was like watching magic happen as they puffed up.  She made her own jelly also. 

Daily Notes and an Update.... Got my vaccines- Flu and COVID. Yesterday.

I woke up with a stiff neck, a painful arch on right foot and neck bones that are snapping and popping.. welcome to being 80 in Maine,..it's also cold here this morning...Sun is shining.  I have on a nice red wool sweater..soft and cozy- but I need something on my neck as my neck is very cold.

Daughter stopped by to tell me her house and pet sitting job is NOW completed....so she will be over to take me to VOTE...and pay my Property Taxes.  She also has three VERY good Landscape Jobs to keep her employed Spring and Summer of next year..  She looked happy..Which is a very good thing.

I've just taken my three pills with lots of water... My right shoulder was painful this morning...I think that was the Flu shot acting up...yesterday the COVID shot was acting up in my left shoulder.  No fever this time around.  My right foot is not doing good this morning.....bones are noisy and painful. My neck hurts.

My hands are freezing cold.  House is at 60 so I added a few digits to the thermostat. 

I am excited about dumping myself onto and into the couch....PBS has stuff to watch...Cooking. And then I'll read. Perhaps to sleep????  I got myself into a repeat reading of Agnes and the Hitman.  He just found a ticking bomb attached to the underside of his black Defender.....I had one of those....loved it. And then POOF it was gone..... the Defender not the bomb.

So...it hasn't snowed as yet.....the sun is shining but cold.  The new guy across the street made a big pile of leaves for his toddler grandson to jump into.... I laughed....
 

Daily Notes- Friday, October 9th. Grocery Store list to get two shots...Flu and Covid

 Image from the sidebar file.  

I'd like to be wearing my thermal long sleeved shirt but..."shot day" so I need short sleeves.  I may add a warm vest to my outfit.   I had the flu once...long ago when still working at the greenhouse.....once was more than enough..... not sure about having COVID...ever. My Lunch Buddy had COVID several times and it was awful. She said. Mostly because she had herself and husband to care for....alone. I'd have been in same situation with husband and myself if we'd both been sick.

The news lately has been terrifying....which we should expect with a mental case in charge. Now he wants to put people on boats (ships) and send them out into the ocean. Never to return, I guess.  I think he should send himself out first as a sort of trial run for a year or two.....if he likes it...make it a regular thing. Could glue fake gold things all over the boat. Fancy it up.

I had more to say but I doubt ...with the way things are going...that my comments would be welcome.

I.haven't been up long enough to have any interesting thoughts.  And it's very very cold in my house and I just turned up the temp on the furnace.  It will take quite a while to warm this large open roomed house up. Should have had more doors installed.  It's more of a warm weather place than winter place.....cause Mainers go to Florida in the Winter.  Almost all of them...the bakery people making the fantastic jelly donuts go to Florida every October and come back in April.  All tan and happy. Son gets me a jelly donut on the first day they have them after getting back. From Florida.

A very very large building on Maine Street (across from the donut place) is being taken down....a Dry Cleaning establishment.  So many tonic forever things having to be taken care of.... It's a very large building...and was doing dry cleaning for decades before I moved here 20 years ago????  I think apartments are going to fill the space in a few years.  With under the building parking?????  Plans often do not work out.... the area is very close to the river.....under water parking????????

Well, an hour or so under my down blanket before going to get my SHOTS.....to warm up... I might fall asleep.

Daily Notes for Thursday October 8th. Clouds and Damp here in Maine...49 degrees

 I'm okay with Damp.... we needed rain here in Maine...   the front over fertilized lawn is still brown. Might actually be quite dead. Tru Green Hell. Covered in acorns. Back yard is very very green and lush.  Has more shade as there are lots of tall old trees out back. Zero acorns. 

No matter what I wear or how I set the temp in here..I am cold.  I have a thermal long sleeved shirt on. Corduroy pants and wool socks...  I'm going back to my room for a sweater. After I write to you.  Because writing to you is my favorite part of the day...until lunch..... very late lunch as I just finished breakfast (11am).  I do enjoy lunch at around 3 pm.. Even though it's the same every day.  Peanut Butter Sandwich.  Never with jelly.   

Ah, the SUN has arrived.  (for approximately 20 minutes)

I haven't found ANY of my library books of GREAT interest to me. I am reading Ten Rules for Faking It right now ....I read all my Good Books once a year. So third or fourth year for this book.  As I age, different plot points are noticed....some irritate me...some surprise me.  I often wish the books could be edited again and re-issued.  Fresh.   2020 not that old. But old.

I am going to need to go back to my room and get a sweater....eventually. If I leave now, I might get sidetracked by something or anything and not finish the post....an 80 year old brain cannot be trusted to stay focused.  It goes where it goes.

So...The Sun is NOW HERE!!!!!!  Very bright .... Sort of blinding in the back yard. (now gone)

What do I plan on doing today?????? Glad you asked....Read.....Watch TV.  ZERO NEWS!!!!!. I have small piles of cloth strips that are color matched to look nice together....I might sew them...into squares. None of the finished squares look good together......that worries me.  But not enough to stop making them. It's Busy Work.....plain and simple..... Idle Hands and all that..... I refuse to turn the squares into potholders.  Been There Done That. Requires Batting...I have none... and no one sells it here anymore. 

Well, I have scraps that might total a square yard or more...that's it. If I piece them together.

Well, that's enough nothing for today's post...I need to go find my sweater as my neck feels chilled...and perhaps I should comb my hair again...try for some semblance of neatness.  Yesterday I inserted a handful of bobbie pins into the mass of hair....got it flattened....but needed to re-insert pins as the day matured. I do have a nice elastic band........that could hold the majority of the hair in one place for longer than the pins do....they give up so easily... perhaps they are unionized?????

Daily Notes for Wednesday October 7th. Chilly here in Maine....thermal long sleeved shirt and wool sweater.

 And I'm still cold.  There are no pumpkins here in the house..And I doubt we will buy any Halloween candy again this year....  The big neighborhood down the road is packed with houses..so the kids go there. This dead end street is just that...  any kids who lived here are grown and gone.

I set the temp higher so the furnace will go on.  One degree higher.... take the edge off the chill here in the living room.  The kitchen dining room is being warmed by the sun shining in the windows... this side of the house gets only shade.

I did sleep with my window open last night.  I don't think I will be doing that again?????  I have a deluxe down comforter....very very nice.

Political news is either mean spirited, weird or just boring...  I do plan to vote.  Not that it matters.  My politics and Maine are not a good match....I didn't match well in Chicago either.  Or Ohio....  I did have a chance in Atlanta, Georgia....... but also not a great match.

So that's it for me....I am shivering...in a thermal long sleeved shirt and a wool sweater.... I might have trouble being 80 in Maine...in the Winter.  Getting my first real understanding of why the older Mainers head for Florida.......or are already there by now.  But...not a fan of Florida.....been there done that...of course NOW I could afford central air.......and an ocean view. And I could spend afternoons drinking. But I think I'd prefer reading.

Well, I need to find a book for today and talk my Son into taking me into Town to pay my Property Taxes and VOTE......then come home and sit on the couch and read another book......out of the bookcase. Try not to read one that makes me cry.  I'd rather read one that makes me laugh. Yesterday's book made me cry.