Daily Notes- Wednesday, December 31st... A New Year Starting Tomorrow. 23 degrees and Sunshine

 My new desk top calendar..  The page under the keyboard is packed with images... the new calendar is  a blank canvas.   The red is my down lap blanket...  keeps me cozy.

I watched several episodes of Antique's Roadshow yesterday.  I am always surprised by the things people bring in.   And I think about what I might dig out of the attic if I had a roadshow ticket.  I can never think of anything.........

Not much to add to this last post of  2025.  It was a good year...no one died. No one fell down and broke anything..... I tried my best...even though I heard plenty of complaints regarding what I thought was my "best".

I could also express complaints about other people.  But ...sitting here thinking about it....slight annoyances are not really complaints.  Large annoyances are. And one or two did really annoy me- thank goodness they aren't related to me.

I guess I am supposed to make Resolutions....for a New Fresh Year....I'd like to list more of the big fat cookies with the red jelly centers....but that would NOT be a "Healthy Choice".  I can list walking up to the end of the street and back- when it's warm and the street is dry.  Months from now.

I am actually looking forward to warmer weather, dry sidewalks etc so I can go to the Library again. I may not like the way the Library looks, or the way it's being run but the gal's behind the checkout desk brighten my Friday visits.  I'm still sad that most of the books I check out come from"other" libraries....and hardly any from my Library's stacks.  The condition of my library is a sad whisper of what it was when I worked there.  There are moments in the stacks when I want to cry. For what we lost.

Well...a New Year.....A fresh calendar.  I wet my hair this morning and it's getting its "curl" back. Fighting its way back from the razor hair cuts......which we will never be getting again........

I have a drive over the New Bridge in my Future Plans.. when Winter is over...and perhaps Sweet Potato Fries at the Riverview restaurant.....but I will wait for Spring.

You'll hear from me..... Next Year...(tomorrow).....

Daily Notes- Tuesday December 30th. Sunshine here in Maine. Melting Ice. 23 degrees

 Good Morning....Sunshine here in Maine and  23 degrees.  Slippery sidewalks.

I started the day being told I was OBNOXIOUS. In an email. Regarding my opinion of Song Sung Blue movie and the negative reviews......

I am guessing having a "differing" opinion makes one obnoxious... Like the President. Not really sure I should be boxed up with him though.........not same to same... (we do both have white hair but my skin isn't orange).

So far.......I keep waiting to feel sad or something with the name calling but actually...I don't really care what this person thinks of me- as she is often VERY critical of me.  A long time friend who is often mean spirited...she also wants me to donate money to people I don't know. Because I don't "need" it...myself.

Sounds like "Elder Abuse".... three episodes of Antiques Roadshow cheered me up.  A LOT!!!

Daughter is picking up my book....we ordered it from the book store....she is also buying me my new 2026. Desktop calendar. You all know how much I love starting each day with images and my glue stick. Also the weather report. There is a box in the dining room with a few years worth of calendar pages....like a super large diary.  I'm thinking....quite seriously---of dragging out the watercolor paper and brushes and paints and PAINTING.  I'm still a few dozen or so years away from Gramma Moses but... I could start warming up.......

I love that the Sun is shining....makes it feel warm even when it isn't.....That shrub that was bent over and possibly going to crack- is NOW snow free- it all melted in the rain and while still NOT standing straight.... all it's stems are intact...has a good chance of staying upright and alive.  Like me.  Cracked...but not giving up. Still standing upright.  But happier on the couch.  Where I might be a bit obnoxious.

It's Raining here in Maine and eventually temps will fall and we will FREEZE over.

 Sidewalks are clear....soon to be iced over.

Daughter and I were going out today but now we are not....

FOX is no longer broadcasting here on the local channel... I never watch FOX unless it's Sunday and we have a football game.  We had to find another FOX station on the cable offerings.  To watch the game. No idea what has happened..... it's only a "loss" for me for Sunday Football....

I found a "Diet" on the internet. Profile Diet.  50grams of protein/ 45grams of nuts and seeds/ 45grams by weight of cooking oil or avocado/ 20grams of viscous fiber- sounds disgusting (they suggest half cup of broccoli, medium sweet potato and half a cup of brown rice) 2 grams of Plant Steriods... No suggestions.

I already eat most of these things...not the Plant Steriods...

Son has taken his car out and gone to lunch.  

I am taking my coffee and myself to the couch to finish reading my book... I have several Soccer Games recorded....I have plenty to do.....I might even have lunch.. eventually as I just now finished my breakfast.

See you on the other side of this Weather....

Daily Notes for Sunday December 28th.... Sunshine but still very very cold. 34 degrees.

 My Three Pears....

Still cold here in Maine but not snowing... the second card I sent arrived in Wisconsin...yesterday. The reason being a NEW Post Office sorting center.....so..... wonder about the other 14????

The bright spot on the photo is from the skylight...shining on the counter.

I've just rolled some thin sliced baked ham and Swiss cheese up and that's my lunch...we'll make pizza at around 4pm....

A friend sent me a video of Lidia (PBS) making Squash Soup. No sound.

I renewed all the books on my shelf via the internet....in case....we don't get to the Library this week.

Daughter has promised to take me (Monday) to pick up the book she ordered for me and then Staples to buy a new desk top calendar... so I have a Daily Arts And Crafts Project... which I find to be something I look forward to each day....pasting and drawing and coloring on the desk under the keyboard. Even though I will cover up the daily handwritten weather report.....

The repair work on the old quilt goes slowly....the patch strips get folded lengthwise into 1/2 inch wide or a bit more-strips...and sewn to the neighboring strips by hand....with no stitches showing..  Just maneuvering the quilt around takes more energy than the sewing.  I am FAR from done.  I decided to use any fabric in the color of the original but back side up...so it looks faded.

Well, I am sitting here getting cold...and I have a book to read and some football to watch...so I'd best "get on with it"...4 pm we make Sunday Pizza.  Right on schedule.

Daily Notes for a Bright White Saturday in Maine....December 27th. Warmed up to 19 degrees.

 Holiday With The Family.

I watched Groundhog Day yesterday before going to bed....always a delight but as I get older and skip a few years between viewings....it changes...becomes sweeter and funnier...very relatable to my own life.. Now.  In past years the guy choking on his food always reminded me of my husband.  Less now.

We are still buried in snow.   One of my nice tall shrubs is bent to the ground and the major stem is surely going to snap in half sooner rather than later.  I can go out- but I wouldn't be of any use in deep snow other than to fall down and freezer to death (Maine is solidly frozen in the single digits weather wise).  Before being noticed and taken to the Emergency Room. 

I think about the Emergency Room often.  How I do NOT want to visit it.

I've had two possibly three small glasses of water so far today...I am noticing better cognitive capacity if I remember to drink my water. Hydrate.  I had oatmeal for breakfast.  Son fried some of the leftover pierogi with butter and onions for his lunch.... Now the house is very "fragrant".

Daughter and I decided on a Time Out yesterday...after she went thru my cupboards taking out "expired" items.... her father was demented for years before he died....a real "handful" as they say...keeping track of where he was and what he was doing.....and not using a five pound bag of white flour...... was NOT really something I needed to talk about.  Or be reminded of.  

I lost so many of MY remaining years while taking care of him.. I won't be getting a refund....what's gone is gone.... I dumped the flour into the garbage can and walked away.  

Friday, December 26th.... The Day After the All Day Cooking and Eating Experience.

Image is of a tiny Lego Greenhouse KIT.  That I contemplated buying for 5 minutes or so... My Wire something feed had  "what happens to Amazon Returns" as a story today..  OMG!!!

We Three cooked together and ate together and it was one of our all time Best Holidays. 

The Pierogi were perfect.  And plenty for leftovers....  And three cooks in the kitchen- quite delightful. Hope your Christmas was as nice as ours was..... we found and used the Apple Dishes.  

We still have large amounts of snow...the sun is shining so we'll be "enjoying" lots of shiny ICE as the day goes on....today we are have Tacos.   And I can hardly wait....

I need to eat breakfast... read the paper and find my socks.... do a load or two of laundry.

Merry Christmas to All.....25 degrees and 90 percent humidity. In Maine @ 9 am.

 One of the Sock Monkeys....daughter keeps finding more ornaments for the tree.

The Grass Cutting Guy showed up.......at 8 pm and plowed the huge pile of ice and snow out of the driveway to street opening...  we can actually leave home if necessary now...in the car..in an emergency.. He did this out of the kindness of his heart....after a long day at work.....and I hope he sends an invoice...

The new to us whole house generator worked smoothly on its first chance to do so since it was installed. Previous to buying the generator...the power went out quite a lot.  When Son arrived he started up the small generator many times...just a few items- a few lights, the furnace, the fridge..hot water.  This one powers the entire house.  I didn't even notice when the power came back on and the generator stopped.

My new motto- perhaps embroidered on linen....if anyone shows up with propane or oil....say yes. Don't even think about it.

I watched an old favorite Christmas movie yesterday- Angels and Ornament.  It was on the Hallmark list and is also in my personal TiVo collection (which I will lose when TiVo goes away). I am trying to watch the many movies in the TiVo Files-perhaps for the last time.   And I also have recorded  49 episodes of Law and Order if I get tired of Christmas Movies and British Soccer.  January is a LONG month.

I didn't purchase even one gift.  Everyone, these days, buys what they want when they want it.  I cannot think of anything I need or want.....I would say art supplies but I have plenty.  And my bookcase is full of good books.....I have lots of nice wool socks....my cashmere sweaters are heavily mended...but from what we have noticed in shops- new ones are not as nice. And often smell weird.

And that's all because I am starving and need to eat breakfast and read the NEWS.....try the Daily Suduko.. And get on with my day....I have the furnace running and cold air surrounding my legs and feet....Maine. Love it or Leave it.

Daily Notes for Wednesday, December 24th. After The Storm.

 Power was out and the new whole house generator kicked in......and if any guy in a Propane Tanker shows up AGAIN in my Lifetime- I am saying YES to propane. (I said no)........ Also I called and asked the guy who cuts my grass if he could stop by with his truck and plow and clear the end of the driveway...it was too heavy and too icy for a shovel or a snowblower...  my Son was exhausted... he said he'd come by when finished with his other business clients.  We aren't going anywhere.

After I got off the phone my son said I had hit all the right notes with my call...Sincere Apology. 

Son is taking a hot shower and perhaps a nap...  I am trying un-sucessfully to warm my ice cold hands.

Daughter's street had power....but she has a lot of snow to shovel out of her driveway.

I am going to make another cup of hot very sweet tea....and see how many of the neighbor's trees fall into my yard...they have sallow root systems and are heavy with snow....

I'm cold and want to return to my Down Lap Comforter and my book.  I've read it before. I think I liked it. I f not...with e power back on- I will see if there is anything good on tv....I watched Hallmark movie with  this actor that my daughter and I both like..Warren Christie I think.....He just has nice way of just standing there and smiling....

Daily notes- Wednesday December 24th-

 Power is out- house running on Generator...  Son is out with the snowblower...

When you think nothing can make things worse..... or more nerve racking....

trust the weather to be shitty.

Daily Notes- Tuesday December 23rd....Clouds and 30 degrees. A Good Day for a NAP.

No Snow here in Maine..

Daughter and I have gotten into the habit of her showing up and doing a few things on our list-- yesterday it was looking for the Swedish crystal wine classes..(found). The wooden box with a set of never used silverware..... (not found).  The still missing books belonging to daughter.  Before that we watched a Lifetime Christmas Movie.  One of my favorites...the Lifetime Movies usually have some despicable character that we can all dislike....they also have actual real kisses. Not the Hallmark Ones.

Daughter  also found ALL my miniature Sock Monkeys.  Several are now on my Christmas Tree. And some handmade (by me) pin cushions....One is a yellow felt pear.  I have my pins in it. Now. It's Lovely.

I finally located my Christmas Pierogi Cheat Sheet  for the making of three kinds of Pierogi.  Son made his recipes last year (which are mine fine tuned) and we (daughter and I) were fine with them but missed the ones I make.  So we'll see what happens.   I'm basically fond of the potato ones and the sauerkraut ones... daughter of the cheese ones. And we both like thick chewy dough....fried to a crisp in butter......with LOTS of leftovers... days worth.

Watched yet another Football (American) game yesterday...bottom of the last quarter...Guys in the blue pajamas didn't win.  49ers did.  If there is a game today I will be watching it. Otherwise one of my recorded British Soccer Games. And perhaps a repeat of a favorite Hallmark Movie.

I was cold yesterday so stayed bundled up in my down lap comforter....didn't work on replacing strips on the old quilt...but..today I have choices of TV watching (Hallmark/Lifetime/Soccer/Antiques Roadshow)....book reading......quilt repair......and just staring at the wall the way cats do.....at least all my cats did........the dog stared at the cat staring at the wall......always entertaining. I was staring at both of them.  My Life NOW is so boring.  Incredibly DULL. Dull enough that I wish I knew how to Day Nap.

 

Daily Notes- Monday, December 22nd. Sunshine and 25 degrees

 We will be having a few of these Englebreit illustrations as we approach Christmas.

Watched the Patriots football game last night....it was close but they won...you could see it in their eyes- they were not giving up.....even with injuries etc... I was sad that Lamar injured his back...I have always been a fan of his.

We are looking for things in the Attic... champagne glasses and a wooden box of silverware.  There was a lot of "gather it up and throw it out" after my husband died- ....... a lot went to Goodwill...hopefully not the champagne glasses from Sweden.  Or the lovely knives, forks and spoons.

Winter has returned today- chill in the air.... we are gathering the ingredients for our Christmas Eve and Christmas Dinner....I am excited because the food is actually  "one of My Favorite Things."

Well, there is a real chill in the air and I have to figure out the heating system-  a higher number????

Daily Notes for Sunday December 21st. Sunshine and 43 degrees....In Maine. (not a JOKE)

 We don't have any of the stuff to make these lovely beverages....  looks yummy.

1.   Addressed and stamped all my Christmas Cards... wrote things inside... remembering all of the wonderful friends I have...and all the places I have lived.  Have a few stamps left...for bills. A few.... will need to add stamps to the Grocery list on Friday.

2.  Sunday Pizza... Football (Buffalo).....and British Soccer....And  Movies...the new one with Pickleball in the title on Lifetime was actually entertaining...and I now know all about Pickleball.  Lifetime is a more touchy feely kind of Hallmark......

3.  Watched a great Soccer game this morning...I have more recorded...for watching while I continue to sew scraps of cloth over worn or shredded strips on that old quilt.....cloth does eventually decompose...if not protected. Not all of it but on this quilt- a lot of it.

4.   My front and back lawns have never looked GREENER or more LUSH....in December- I am 1000% sure I will be canceling Tru Green....and doing my own fertilizer applications....or not...perhaps give the grass a "time out"....as it was probably OVER SERVED.  

5.   An injury on the football field so bad they chose not to show it.... whoa. Right leg- 

6.   And on that note I will return to my cozy couch, down comforter and some dark chocolate. And a fresh cup of hot sweet tea.

daily Notes for Saturday, December 20th. Sunshine here in Maine. 30 degrees and no hurricane yesterday.

 Well, the Hurricane we were expecting....no show (we thought maybe we would get to see and hear the whole house generator work)...but we did get RAIN and now we have green grass.. finally- was brownish green all Summer but now- at the end of December a bright healthy GREEN.  What a strange YEAR...

These cards may or may not be going out today with the bills.  Three bills.  I think...nope four.   Lots of Sunshine today.. And a late Christmas Card is still okay, I think.

I found a recipe from the NYT for a Blueberry Breakfast Cake....I was watching Hallmark and quite a bit of baking was being done on the shows so I checked my supplies.....I can definitely make the Blueberry Breakfast Cake...if I want to..frozen berries in the freezer.  This recipe was from months and months ago...not recent.  And oddly enough I have eggs.

I might jack the furnace up another notch- chill on the back of my neck... I woke up at 5 am...Was awake thinking- not always the best thing for me to do....and then I woke up a second time and it was 9 am.  So I got out of bed and started my day......Oatmeal in the microwave and hot water in the pot for instant decaf coffee... paper, sigh......always dismal.....Suduko not as dismal but still unfinished.

My instant coffee is on it's third warm up...very very icky... I gave some serious (vaguely) thought to asking Santa for a small counter top Nespresso machine.  But always have second thoughts regarding one cup per day and not really picky about coffee....thought I did REALLY enjoy European Coffee. When I lived in Europe...it was very strong and excellent... I liked eating lunch at nice restaurants....I liked day drinking wine......I thought the men were so well dressed and so very friendly....of course I was so much younger and minimally attractive.  Then...... now I am old and often forget to comb my hair.

Good Morning....Friday December 19th... Almost 50 degrees and raining here in Maine. Hurricane.on it's way.

 Image of a few of MY Favorite Things....... on this Very Windy, Wet Friday in Maine... We are expecting a Power Outage, Strong Wind etc Trees falling across roads and power lines.... We have Oil to warm up the house...and we have a Whole House Generator which will be having its first official opportunity....to power the entire house for longer than the 20 minute weekly "test".

We will purchase grocery items for Christmas Dinner...closer to the day... I have what I need for grilled cheese sandwiches and canned baked beans.  And pickles...I wanted to buy some- Son showed me the  pickles I have in the cupboard.  I also have soup...in the fridge.  I had a big bowl yesterday.  

We WERE going to drop off books at the Library but I decided to keep them for another week.. for Hurricane Reading.  

Worst thing to happen here in Maine is Strong Wind...the trees here have shallow roots and the soil is sandy,....things will happen... Trees will fall on houses, cars, power lines and people.. After all the years- hardly ANY interest in underground power lines.... unbelievable.

So, I have a nice warm ( re-warmed) cup of coffee and my chair and my TV and eventually my books and my hand sewing..... I didn't ask Santa for anything but I might ask him to rethink the hurricane.

Daughter covered the twin couches with their cheerful red covers.. been in the attic a long long time... We also have curtains over the large door openings.  We have the furnace cranked up a few degrees now that we have oil in the tank- all the way to the top.  64 degrees.....I know- not much different form before but actually feels like a lot  WARMER.

The only phone calls I am getting are related to Medicare....I hang up..

Daily Notes for Thursday, December 18th. Sunshine and 33 degrees...

 My Winter Project.   I don't remember where this came from but it's been around for quite awhile...Some of the fabrics have decomposed.  And I began replacing them.... the red is replacement strips.In the lowest section to the left you can barely see the batting strips that will also replace missing batting.

This quilt like all the quilts made  decades ago- is quite heavy...  Keeps me and my old knees warm while I spend days on the couch.....reading, watching Hallmark Movies,  sewing strips to the quilt, listening to the boiler chug along...waiting for the Oil Delivery Truck...so I can get the temps above 62.

It's suppose to warm up into the high 40's today and tomorrow so..that will warm us up a bit more than usual.  I've gotten used to the very low 60's-inside the house. Back when we first bought this house...we hardly had money for food...let alone oil.  At that point....moving to Maine was actually a monumental MISTAKE.  Both of our children were in college.  Our life outside Chicago was secure and comfortable- we had food.  My husband had a JOB.  I had a JOB.  What were we thinking moving here????????

Daughter arrived yesterday looking for something to do- she ended up watching (for a second day) a Hallmark Movie with me and winding floss thread around clothes pins   My entire collection of floss.

Which goes back to my theme of the early days in Maine....I would visit the local 5 and Dime and go down the stairs to the spot they had for embroidery floss.  And I would take all the time in the world to  select 6 skeins.   My only personal purchase for the week.  Perhaps a dollar???? Early 1990's.  Daughter is winding some of them......around clothes pins...the ones I used in the garden when I covered rows of seedlings on cold nights.

Well, I have nothing more to type....I have read the paper and will make a strong effort not to watch any NEWS programs...I have British Soccer recorded......and a dozen or so Hallmark Movies...and this old quilt.....more than enough...

Daily Notes for Wednesday, December 17th,,, 34 degrees now and 40 later in the day... Sunshine.

 In the picture file....seemed cheerful..

I read the Vanity Fair  story in the morbid paper... laughing....... morbid paper- MORNING PAPER. Boy that's was an amazing typo....still laughing.  Great start to the day.

1.  Sun is shining brightly today in Maine...not warming us up but we are headed toward 40 today..

2.  Coffee is a bit stronger than I like it- so I am going to step away for a few minutes to fix it.  Needed a warming up and some extra sugar.  Not much because I have gotten used the bitter taste of this brand of instant coffee.  From the Health Food Shop.in Town.

3.  Daughter and I watched a Hallmark Movie while she stapled an iced curtain over th e doorway facing the front door.... a cold area even with a heater on the wall.  

4.  Snow is hardening into crusty ice.....the sidewalks and roads are clean and dry.

5.  Ventured into the Cloth Room several times yesterday for old looking pale pastels.  For a Vintage Quilt Repair.  Not sure just how old this quilt is but was and still is in very bad condition on the surface... Back side is great...the quilt  keeps me warm as I add patches to all the places that are worn thru or just shredded..... 

6.  I am having trouble with my iPhone....it  doesn't have enough juice to send a n image tot he computer. I will have the engineer see what's what.... picture of the quilt tomorrow....after I charge the MOUSE....

Daily Notes for Tuesday, December 16th. Plenty of Sunshine but only 26 degrees

 We might have had this one already but it's the last of the ones in the file- so tomorrow I will have  something "new"....make something new.  Actually address cards and mail some out... the card I chose mentions the New Year so..might work out if I continue to be TARDY.

Teeth Cleaning was better than usual.   And that says something because it is NOT my favorite appointment.  I've been tasked with trying to use the "buzzy" Sonic toothbrush......again...it sets my nerves on edge.....like being electrocuted.  Sort of..  very unpleasant.  Next appointment is end of August...

Sun is shining and snow is melting... The Oil Delivery is set for Friday...this Friday... then I can move the temps in here from the low 60's to the high 60's.  My hands  and feet will remain cold as that is the way they have been since birth.  Even in wool socks and gloves....Ice Cold.

I had Sweet Potato Pierogi for late lunch when we got home from Goodwill.  They were fine (I would have them again) but next time fried with some onion in the butter.  Today I will heat up Vegetable Bean Soup......I have yogurt and fruit but.. I need to eat something WARM.

I might also be repeating myself...this happens when you live --alone: and hardly anyone talks to you all day.  That was my marriage and now..it's my adult children.  Patty did call and talked to me for quite awhile.   I think she had a list  of topics in front of  her ......of things she wanted me to do.   That never works with me....... I was born stubborn.  And now I am old and stubborn.

How are you doing?????

Daily Notes on Monday December 15th, Son is out shoveling snow. 15 degrees

 This tree is a collage of Library date due slips under the tree........ I actually had fun making this years ago.  I brought home all sorts of scrap paper from the Library.....I found the trash basket unlessly interesting.   That's who I am down deep....

1.  Sun is shining but having little effect on the temperature.  Today is the day of reckoning...will they deliver oil or not...  it's the last gasp for this oil company we have- to keep us as customers.

2.  A delightful movie on Hallmark last night... ice skating, shopping, cookie baking...all the bells and whistles of a Hallmark Movie.  The  regulation "misunderstanding " was also there at the end.  

3.  My personal misunderstandings never end or progress as the ones on Hallmark do,,,,,

4.  Football was cold and rather good yesterday.. Mahome's knee injury on the same knee as the first one-  It looked bad but he was sort of walking, with the help of two big guys, into the  building etc. But those Football Guys like to Tough it Out on camera.

5.  Well, I need some hot oatmeal and  a nice cup of decaf to get the morning going... Son is out shoveling the driveway...he exchanged a daily walk for daily snow shoveling.... so far we haven't had really heavy wet snow...but we do get ice on the walk=ways...so the rule is..... I don't venture OUT.

6.  Today...I hope I can find something riveting to do with myself....I did uncover stacks of drawing paper etc in the sewing room- when I went there to look for something.....not sure what.  I also drew on five or so index cards and plan to add color today....until I can find another "amusement"  of the artistic variety.

7.  I have Soup (heated in the microwave) and cornbread for lunch....oatmeal in a few minutes for breakfast.   Coffee...each of these items heated up with electricity which we have....I recall living in States other than Maine and having Heat arrive the same way Electricity arrives......it's days and weeks like this that I wonder WHY we stayed here????????  

*. OH my gosh- today is dentist......in 15 minuts/

Still Very Cold and Snow Covered here in Maine....

 You haven't had this one yet.

Well, it's a COLD white Sunday here in Maine... Snowing.

1.   I did make Corn Bread to go with my Vegetable Bean Soup (homemade). and it was delightful.  Son was gone so I studied the line drawing he had made of the icons on the stove...while trying to recall the one for the oven...I finally did.  Bosch... so icons and not words.

2.  Yesterday was a good day until late evening and the college shooting....the pain and suffering of those parents worried it was their child injured or dead.  I cry everytime I think about it- like now.

3.  Today is Sunday Pizza and American Football.   

4.   I watched a Lifetime Christmas Movie yesterday...It's Hallmark with kissing etc.  Lots of ETC. I set the TiVo to record that movie and a few others.....For later.... 

5.    Well, aside from having a very stiff neck today- tension....I am doing fine...and I am now going to select today's Rom Com book and turn on the heating pad and take two Tylenol and settle into the couch.  Turn over the worrying about Oil Consumption to the Engineer...  They will either come or not.. I have zero effect on the outcome- which is why my neck muscles are so tight they ache.

6.   Bad Things come in--wha tis the number????  Well, heating pad, couch , book and re-heated breakfast coffee.......These are a few of my favorite things....... oh, and of course YOU!!!!!!

Saturday, December 13th.... I tried sending messages to those of you who sent them to me...

 Nothing worked....so everyone gets all the  info.

Heat Pumps are a lovely "idea" but here in Maine they don't work... perhaps it's the Summer Vacation Land construction of the houses (little insulation) but the heat pumps don't get the house warm... new people next door got them and have fireplaces going all day and night to keep warm.. same across the street- piles of fire wood.

I have squirrel nesting materials in my chimney and even though I call to have the chimney cleaned out... no one ever actually shows up...which I guess could be the Maine State Motto... We Just Don't Show Up.

On their behalf....most of the Actual Born in Maine Folks (really nice people) are spending the Winter in their Florida Houses. And these are the people who own heating oil businesses (and sell the business to people in Boston), do plumbing work (on frozen busted pipes) etc.  Before going to the Bahamas or on a long extended Ocean Cruises.  (my street neighbors).

I wasn't born in Maine but going somewhere else for the Winter sounds rather nice. Better than trying to hunt down several hundred gallons of heating oil.  In December.

I might suggest Son try and purchase an electric blanket for himself... tomorrow we make pizza so we will have the oven preheating etc so the kitchen will be warmer than usual.  We'll both stand close to it.

I have my down lap blanket and heating pad and British Soccer Matches to watch... I need to reheat my coffee one more time and then settle in for an hour or two... nice and warm... son says we have enough oil to heat the house  "as usual'' for a week.    Was fact checking the post and read this line just as the boiler kicked in....rumbling noise....

After a delightful phone call with my Master Gardner Pal....I set the oven to preheat and mixed up my package of Jiffy cornbread.... to eat alongside my homemade Vegetable Bean Soup.

Oven preheated to 400 and is now baking my Jiffy Cornbread... for 20 minutes.  Then I will be heating up a nice bowl of vegetable bean soup and having LUNCH.   Pretty close to the actual time people eat lunch.

I watched a Christmas Movie last night...I don't recall the title...it's a guy who wishes he hadn't gotten married... in his new "life " he lives in a huge house and has a fancy red sports car in the driveway- never even gets into it.  Has a driver pick him up for work and drop him off each day.  Runs into the woman he didn't marry...sees the kids they didn't adopt......still not adopted.  Sort of a Modern Business Scrooge.

What sort of Life do you think you would have liked better than the one you actually lived?????