Looking At The Stars With Riley

Is my favorite part of the day.  It happens when we decide to stop watching television.  I ask Riley if he wants to go see some stars and he jumps up and runs to the front door.  Any other time, he runs to the back door.  I have seen dippers and Orion.  I have seen Venus.  But I have never seen Vincent's Starry Sky.  But, I can hope that one night I will see something like it.

My Winter Furlough is coming to an end.  I go back to work on March 15th.

Yesterday and today, G and I have been mucking about in the muddy yard pruning shrubs.  I trimmed up two (seriously) overgrown weigelia, some roses and two spirea.  I removed the tags from the two new Beach Plums and the two Serviceberries.  They made it thru our "warm" winter.  Daffodils and hyacinth bulbs are poking their heads out.  One of the Lenten Rose plants is blooming.  Two of the three Witch Hazels have yellow flowers.  It must be Spring.

I have "re-found" an author.  I read the first book a while ago--well, it must be quite awhile since she has written three books now and that was the first.  Kristina Ohlsson.  I guess I am always looking in the "O" section???   Unwanted was first, then Silenced and now Disappeared.  Silenced is waiting at the library--where I was this morning--but the notification just came in at 4pm.  Too many things have already been told in book three (I have read 104 pages) that I don't think book two will hold many mysteries.  It is incredibly odd for an author to retell plot points from a previous book, but this author does.  Anyone reading this one first--would not be tempted to read the others.  Perhaps it should come with a warning on the cover?

We had lunch at Ruby Tuesday and I had the "Salad Bar" last week.  Today I purchase a small red cabbage and sliced it into slivers along with my carrot curls.  So very pretty.  I had a bottle of Ken's honey mustard salad dressing in the fridge which the Ruby Tuesday staff had told me was what they used.  I didn't believe them--but it is the very same.  Now I just have to figure out the croutons-- and never need to go to RT again! I had my VERY favorite salad at Applebee's this week--Oriental Chicken Salad.  It comes in at 1400 calories but I just can't figure out how.  But it was worth it.

I have been so very lucky at Goodwill.  Both times I have gone to the new, larger one in Town, they have been having a 50% off sale on Women's clothing.  I have gotten some lovely things--linen.  For just $2.50 each.  And I got a gallon sized Target storage jar for $3.  But today-- with the weather between Winter and Spring--I re-discovered that I do not have a suitable outdoor jacket or coat to wear---to say, the dentist appointment.  I have to start a list of things I REALLY need.

We'll be have a real New England Boiled dinner in the next few days.  Corned beef, red potatoes, carrots and cabbage.  I may even dig out my favorite recipe for Soda Bread.  I am always reminded of eating Irish Brown Bread and really wonderful Irish cheese when I visited our friends in Ireland. The closest I can come to that is the soda bread recipe and Kerrygold Cheddar.

Well, that's about all that is going on here.

The Winter Jug Project-2016

This is what the jugs look like right now.  This is not my photo.  My jugs are in a packing crate from work and are out on the back stoop.  We (here in Maine) still have freezing nights with still cold but sunny days.  The bottles heat up during the day and freeze at night.  It's called "stratification" on seed packages.  Perennial seeds need a cold stratification to germinate.  I am trying to germinate a number of self seeding "tender" perennials in the jugs.  Lupine seeds would have been a good choice but I didn't have any.  Swamp milkweed is another good choice for the jugs. I also am trying to start onion and shallot seeds.  I may need to try those again later in the month of March.  It may have been too cold.  I have Blue Fescue ornamental grass in one jug.  We could have also germinated more of G's chestnut seeds this way.

This is what the jugs looked like whenever we have had snow.  It's okay if some of the snow or rain that falls goes into the open top of the jugs.  The jugs have drainage holes drilled into the bottoms.

The directions call for drilling the holes in the bottom of the jugs or two liter bottles (clear or translucent--not the ones you can't see through) and then cutting the jugs open from the side leaving the handle section attached to the bottoms.  I insert the point of the scissors--strong utility scissors-- just about where the handle exists and then straight around the equator of the jug to the opposite side of the handle.  So I have 4 to 5 inch of depth in the bottom section for the soil and seeds.

The fill with a seed starter mix of soil (moistened enough to resemble moist chocolate cake-usually best with lukewarm to hot water), plant your seeds, follow package directions for coverage of seeds (some like to stay on surface, some like a light dusting and others like a quarter inch or more over the top.   The add a label stick inside, close the top of the jug over the bottom section and tape shut with some duct tape.   I also followed directions and wrote the seed names on the front side top of the jugs with Sharpie and covered the writing with clear packing tape--so it won't fade.

The jug acts as a small scale greenhouse for the seedlings.  Providing protection, conservation of moisture and on sunny days in winter (it is still winter) considerable warmth. Also the light available outside is 10,000 times stronger than any light you could manufacture with grow lights going for 14 hours a day.

Set the jugs outside (no caps).  Check on them every so often to see if they need moisture--I use a spray bottle to add water inside the top opening.  I also spy into the opening to see if anything is happening.  Riley finds this mystifying.

The next round of jug planting will take place near the end of March.  For more tender seedlings and perhaps a second try at the onion seeds if the first has failed.  I will attempt to grow marigolds, zinnias and bachelor buttons in the jugs.  I have tons of flower seed packets from the end of season grab bag at work.  And I think annual flowers make a garden very jolly.

Once the seeds germinate and little green leaves appear (when one peeks into the spout) it's time to peel off the duct tape and open up the little greenhouses.  Just for the daytime.  Close them up again as the sun goes down.  One little piece of tape should hold the top half of the jug in place.

Later pictures from this website show all the jugs with their top half flipped open and the little seedlings flourishing.  By this time--the little plants can be transplanted to larger pots of go into the garden if the soil has thawed.   It certainly saves on cluttering up the house with grow lights etc.

I hope to have photos of my own robust production of seedlings by April.  We'll see.

In a note on the bottles.  G drinks quite a bit of orange juice and we already use the empty 89 ounce bottles to hold water to water plants on the front porch and in Winter in the upstairs winter plant storage area. So we have quite a few bottles on hand. I was going to try making the juice bottles into "greenhouses" but punching a starter hole for the scissors was too difficult (and a bit dangerous) and I wondered if the plastic of the bottles might be too brittle to cut successfully.  Some of you might have better luck.  Let me know if you find a way.

Possibilities

Whenever a plant of mine presents me with the "possibility" of a flower (bloom) I am instantly positive about the future.  New growth.  New opportunities.  Freshness.

After an abbreviated Winter (here in Maine), Spring seems to be pushing forward.   My amaryllis are also flowering (well, one of them is) and budded.  Time to sweep the floor, pound the winter dust out of the pillows, wash the slipcovers and move ahead. Could I possibly move from No.17 on my To Do List?  Started on January 1.  I anticipated reaching 50 before returning to work.  Oops.

I read a very good mystery--Helen Olson--"Hidden".  A woman who has "disappeared" for 15 years is suddenly found.  I think it may have ruined me for other books for awhile.  We watched "Becoming Jane" about the (supposed) life of Jane Austen before she wrote any books.  We also watched American Hustle (2013).  Next up is Silver Something Playbook.  More Bradley Cooper but I can't see why women think he's good looking?  More ferret or weasel. IMHO.

Today is the one year anniversary of G's heart attack--so we are going out for a late lunch.

In March, almost.

This floral fabric piece (this is just the top section) will be on display at the Curtis Library for the month of March along with pots and pots full of flowering bulbs that the library staff has planted and cared for all winter.

I don't know why I didn't photograph the entire piece (years ago).  Below the flowers is a lovely bowl made out of a piece of fabric I painted.  The center flower has some of the painted fabric in it's center.  At the time I made this piece, I was really into (LOL) those triangular flower shapes.  Like little cat heads.  Or beasts in Jude's Spirit world.  And I was regularly making a terrible mess on my kitchen island.  Acrylic paint spattering everywhere.  Everything in this quilt is lighter and brighter than the picture.  It must have been a very cloudy day.

I still have bolts of the white cotton I used to paint on and a full box of paint.  Why did I stop?
Those are the questions I ask myself when I am not working at my paid job.  Perhaps it was the job. Taking up 40 hours of my weeks and the regular "care and feeding" of the house and family the rest. But to set blame like that seems too easy and sort of lame.  I may have just gotten bored?

I have to admit that when I opened a container and sorted thru the contents (looking for something I never did find) I found the piece above and my heart sort of skipped a beat.  And I did spend a great deal of time running my hand over the handprinted fabric.  I never backed or finished the edges. I just seemed to have stopped and walked away.  Now, it's finished, out in the world.

Riley (the dog) is spending the day with the Vet.  Riley broke a nail on his right foot  (quite deep) and he'll need to be sedated for the Vet to remove the nail.  He spent most of yesterday licking the foot, trying to make it feel better.  I know when we finally bring him home later today, he'll still be under the "influence" and his foot will still hurt.  I am reminded of last February and the fear we all had about the growth on Riley's leg which turned out to be nothing to worry about.

March 4th will be the one year anniversary of G's heart attack.  And the kindness of my friends who took such good care of me. And Riley who pressed his head to G's chest and wouldn't move until I said "Let's get to the ER".

Darkness Giving Way To Lightness

We have had some strange weather but the days march (ha) toward more light.  More warmth.

I finished the last of the placemats, rearranged the drawer (Konda style) with the placemats folded in half then in thirds then like books, spine side up.  The napkins folded into fat squares, then lined up.  Easy to choose a new placemat and a matching or contrasting napkin.  Lots of orange fabric energy in the drawer.  Next sewing project will be more napkins made of commercial quilting fabric.

The paper notes and messages in the photo--well, there are so many pieces of things, projects, thoughts running around just now.  Yesterday I checked on my milk jug seed starting project.  A few containers needed to be watered--I scraped snow into them.  Had to watch where I set my feet as there was slippery ice in unexpected places.

That's how life seems right now--unexpected slippery spots.

Kitchen plans include Onion Soup and another soup using up the head of Escarole in the fridge (with white beans and tomato).  My plan is to try and empty the fridge and give the shelves a good wash. Fresh start and all that.  I do enjoy a sparkling clean fridge interior.

Nearly time to start my tomato and pepper seeds.  And my Amaryllis bulbs have started to flower.  Right now it's the white with a thin red edge. The proper word begins with pi but I have lost my book on proper spelling and haven't managed to get my spell check to do anything other than replace the words I type with words that are total nonsense.

I'm going to stop now--later this afternoon I have a coffee date with my fair weather walking buddy.  I can't walk/talk with this new asthma condition so we have to make do with indoor coffee and conversation.  Don't fret--I have a consultation with a Pulmonary specialist in April and my oxygen levels are 100% when tested.  The Adair put a stop to the constant coughing--which is delightful.

Patchwork--Making Something From Nothing

I have been foraging in the attic fabric boxes and closet for interesting (to me) little bits and scraps to use in making placemats.  By hand.  Not on the machine, unless absolutely necessary.

My ideas were sparked by the "free access" to Spirit Cloth's classes.  I picked up a few amazingly wonderful stitches.  The invisible tack stitch.   The Wizard Stitch.  The Split Stem Stitch.  I tried making a feather but---well, I will blame a lack of the proper threads for my absolute failure. (I got derailed for the better part of a day searching for my bags of threads-- and in the end, it took two full days to find them)

My "method" for the placemats is to cut a piece of flannel-like batting to the placemat size I have in mind.  At other times, I lay the piece I have been working on, on top of the batting and then cut. I happen to be "charmed" by irregular shapes.  Sue me.  (laughing)  I NEVER follow rules.

I don't have the thin, ancient scraps that Jude uses.  I use regular printed commercial prints.  Face up or face down.  They "needle" just fine.

I have been cutting the backing fabric large enough around the edges so I can fold it in half, once, and then pull it up over the edge of the top piece for a finished, sewn edge.  If I had to cut, fold and sew binding on--the placemats would never get made.

I have four finished and the fifth is waiting to have the "binding" slip stitched in place.  For two of them, I have used class projects that were never finished for the tops. I did have to do the invisible tack stitch all over the surface (but not through the backing) to hold down pieces that were loose. I like the "feel" of all the tiny tack stitches as I run my hands over the surface.  One of the placemats has a fabric Valentine tacked to it's center.  Made those years ago and this one got "left behind".

I am wondering if I have to add the placemats to my list of "50 things to get done" as one or as 5?
Truth be told, I am only on number 11.

In other important news, I have FINALLY made and consumed my very first smoothie.

The impetus for this "first smoothie" was a little see thru box in the produce section of my grocery. They had four varieties on display.  I chose the "body builder" kit with apple slices, carrot sticks, a lemon wedge, a chunk of ginger and a few pieces of raw beet.  I added a handful of kale leaves. I really like all the ingredients and perhaps would have been better off just eating them out of the box?

My Vitamix made all these chunks into a smooth "juice" that tasted like beet DIRT.  I added a peeled tangerine and a peeled baby cucumber to try to "sweeten" things up.  Nope.  I could only force myself to drink half---shuttering after each gulp.  Yesterday I added some Splenda to the second half and forced myself to drink it. Waste Not. Maybe I need pineapple and grapes to sweeten it all out????

I do like the "water" I make in the summer with cucumbers, mint and lemon.  I just blend until it's all "water" and then add more water and drink it.  Sometimes I add ginger root.  But that's not a smoothie.

Feeding The Birds

I sent G out yesterday afternoon to fill the bird feeders.  They were edging toward empty and, as I told G, if you have bird feeders out--you have to keep them filled.  It's a contractual thing with the birds.  Especially when it's so very cold. The birds have made a choice to hang around our yard--eating-- and if we stop--well, finding new food could possibly be impossible.

We had the usual chickadees and a new bird (for us) the Titmouse.  A very cute bird with a big brown polka dot eye.  I love anything with polka dots.  Both types were in the Weigelia right by the side of the sunporch.  All puffed up.  Trying to use the branches to cut the effects of the wind according to G.

Riley didn't get a walk.  G is very cold sensitive post bypass and it was just too cold for him.  I am having trouble breathing in cold air so I couldn't pinch hit.  Poor dog.

I spent a lovely morning reading "free" class information on Jude's blog-- Spirit Cloth.  I am now going up to the attic (unheated) to look for suitably aged fabrics to make something unique.  I don't have much.  Mostly commercially printed stuff which Jude doesn't care for.  I think she mentioned cutting up Thrift store clothing that is thin and faded.  At my Thrift store, that all goes into the rag dumpster and is sold as bulk to "someone" but not me.  I remember in the "old days" a regular table filled with a heap of faded and worn items.  But no more.  And I have never tried my hand at dye even though I collected quite a few old damask napkins.  

Instead I will go up and find some very pretty commercial stuff and make a few placemats.  Hand stitched.  Using all those lovely stitches Jude has now taught me.  Wizard Stitching.  That little tack stitch.  Split Stitch Filler.  And most of all, the feather.  I think each placemat will have at least one feather....... floating.

Orchids and the Constant Cough

These Cymbidium Orchids bloom right about now in Maine.  In the winter.  I have a few plants that were given to me by an orchid enthusiast who occasionally looks to "downsize" his collection.  This summer he mentioned that if the plants he still has "don't produce flowers" he is just getting rid of all of them.  On my last visit to the library in Town, I noticed a large, multi flowering pot of these.  So, I guess he will be keeping the orchids.

My Cymbidiums are up in the upstairs bathtub---doing nothing.  They set no flowering shoots this year.  In fact, it's been a few years since mine did much of anything.  I have one white one and the rest are pink.  Well, they would be if they bloomed.  They are making nice green leaves.

I had a follow up visit to my regular doctor this week.  Still coughing.  Did any of you know that a unproductive cough is a sign of asthma?  I didn't.  And for the months and months I have suffered with this cough-- and my doctor failed to add up 2 plus 2.  Now I have an asthma inhaler to go with my rescue inhaler.  One is for regular asthma and the rescue for reactive asthma brought on by cold air, shoveling snow, breathing woodsmoke. The cough has lessened and the wheezing is gone.  But now I am dizzy and feel like I have the "flu".  You know--that slightly odd drifty feeling the flu brings with it.  If I move my head too quickly--well, I shouldn't do that. I don't do well with new medicines.

I went onto a Lyme disease website last night and found a list of "managing the disease" issues.  Included was breathlessness "air hunger", unexplained chronic cough, unexplained sudden weight gain, off balance "tippy" feeling (this is exactly how I described it in my journal), word search, name block (I think I mentioned this in a post, not being able to remember names of people or things?), constant ringing in ears.  All of this began a few weeks after my three weeks of Lyme treatment pills ended.

I mentioned all of this to my doctor but she just isn't interested and she feels the 3 weeks of pills took care of it.  Period.  Yes, I know--get a new doctor.  But Lyme's isn't something doctors feel comfortable treating.  And, if it's gone on for a long time, it isn't even treatable anymore, people are just damaged.  My carpenter has a brother with Lyme's disease. And he can't work anymore because a carpenter has to be able to remember the measurement as he goes from the window (as an example) to the saw to cut the trim or sash.  He gets to the saw and has no idea why he's there.

I made overnight raised yeast waffles for yesterday's breakfast.  I would give them a B.  I would add more flour to the mix and use the preferred evaporated milk instead of the combination of heavy cream (what I had in the fridge) and milk.  We loved Waffle House Waffles when we lived in Georgia. These are like them. When I work them up to a solid A, I will share the recipe.

I am reading the second of the books written by Jorgen Brekke, Breathless.  I had to order the first Where Monsters Dwell so I could read them in order.   The setting is Norwegian. Dark, cold, brooding and quite bloody.  On Netflix I am three episodes into Hinterlands.  Wales.  Dark, wet brooding.  On regular television we are 4 episodes into The Bastard Executioner.  Medieval, dark, brooding and very very bloody.  It's a theme.   In-between, while waiting for the first of the Brekke books--I re-read a lovely little love story--Becoming Finola.  Connie you would like it.  Ireland.

In March, the Americans are back as is Orphan Black.

I made myself a wonderful salad for a late lunch yesterday (to even out a day which began with waffles).  I used my after-Christmas purchased Spiralizer to cut curly strings of carrot.  Do you have any idea how amazingly more delicious a carrot can be when it is presented in a tangle of curls? I didn't and now I will never eat them cut any other way.

Happy Chinese New Year

The Year of the Monkey.  Lively, playful.  We could use a year like that, since it's an election year and all (smile).

Snowing again today.  And it's very cold, no sun and the wind is pretty sharp.  Actually winter.
The Super Bowl was a Super Dud and we left the game (on tv) before the half and watched Downton Abbey instead.  Followed by Worst Cooks in America.  Much more entertaining.  My personal opinion on the Super bowl is that the two teams that make it were A) just lucky  B) too exhausted to play  C) or like to crash and burn in a very public display of....... incompetence.

Watching them roll around on the ground repeatedly fumbling the ball------ I would have blown the whistle and cleared the field.  Refunded the money.  Done.

I had a lovely job interview this morning.  With another employer.  Now I am trying to wrap my head around starting over someplace else.  Do I want to?  Should I?  Wasn't I just talking about limiting the number of months I wanted to work this year?  The Year of the Monkey.  Wow!

I found some pelletized seed packages.  Carrots, Beets, Scallions.  Easy to see and plant evenly. All the seeds are coated with this red clay substance--makes the tiny seeds bigger and brighter.  What fun. I don't have to do (Monkey around with) the flour paste and toilet paper thing this month.  Pasting the tiny seeds out in a grid on the toilet paper--ready to lay down on the soil surface (in the garden) and cover lightly with soil or compost. 150 of each.  Gosh.  150 carrots rather than the 20 I got this year.

My milk jug project (7 gallon jugs) is outside in the garden.  G placed all the jugs in little depressions he made in the snow.  They got rained on and now are covered in snow.  The caps are off--so a bit of rain and snow has probably gotten inside to moisten the soil.  G wondered what the odds were for any snowflakes or raindrops actually making a direct hit.  Now I don't think that matters as the top of each jug has a little white snow cap.  That will melt eventually.  And the seeds haven't actually germinated yet--they are still "sleeping".  I have two more gallon jugs and one half gallon to plant with seeds.  I asked G to look into the recycle bins along the street for more jugs ---- you should have seen me eyeing carts at the grocery--for ones with three or four gallons of milk.  A milk-jug stalker!!!

I haven't gotten the onion seeds started yet--that's my next project.  I'll be using the nice 6 by 10 inch salad boxes (with lids) I get Spring Greens and Baby Kale in.  Have to ask G to drill holes in the bottoms for drainage.  I am checking to see just how much seed starting soil mix I have on hand.

Happy New Year!!!

Hello, Again

Well, even though it was 50 something degrees yesterday and most of the landscape shrubs had fat buds and very green leaves ---- we now have snow.  Lots of it.  Started snowing very early, before I was awake, and continues into the late afternoon.   Snow globe snow.  Swirling around outside.

The dog is happy.  He loves snow.

G isn't happy.  He has to go out and snow-blow it all off the driveway.

I think it's pretty and wintery but I have no where to go--so it's okay with me.

Our daughter had to drive home in it but she's safely home and getting her own driveway shoveled.
No school here in Maine.  So, it's pretty quiet outside.

G and I just finished our usual late lunch while watching House Hunters (Naples, Florida) and one of the houses looked like something I would actually love.  Big open plan and everything white.  On a golf course.  Not that I would use the golf course.  The golf cart?  Yes.

I took my last capsule of the Z-Pak and I still have a cough--but the chest congestion has lessened. I am going to return to "Deep Couch City" and read more of this Norwegian murder mystery which keeps going back and forth from 1538 to 2010.  I ate the last few pieces of my TJ's dark chocolate covered caramels last week (or the week before) so I won't be tempted to get up off the couch to get candy.

I did some laundry and we have lots of leftovers to eat.  Not much work for me to do this afternoon.  So, I will just sit and read.  Until it gets dark outside.  I am reminded of last February--when I was cooking beans every week--trying out new dry chilies for the flavoring.  And this February we are trying to eat as many potato chips as possible with our lunches.

Well, I Certainly Didn't See This Happening

I had a tremendously hard time breathing last night.  The inhaler didn't help much and when I woke up this morning I still had what I would call congestion (no cough) and a feeling of heaviness in my lungs.  And to tell the complete honest truth--I was beginning to wonder about lung cancer.

Called my doctor.  Had an appointment but the office nurse decided, after talking to me, to send me to the ER for a chest Xray and a breathing treatment.

So there I was --wearing a hospital ID band.  I spent 2.5 hours in ER.  And the ER doctor said my oxygen levels were 100%, my chest Xray was perfect, my color was good and for my age I was extremely healthy.  And they sent me home with a prescription for a Z-Pak as the doctor thought a 2 month "cough/cold" was too long.

Everyone at ER thought I looked familiar.  From working down the street from the hospital.  So, while I rested in my ER bed I gave out helpful gardening tips and advice.

G found that fascinating.

Searching For Color

In an otherwise white, grey and black landscape.  The Sun is shining.  The Sky is blue.  The temperatures are between 35 and 45 degrees and it is not "normal".

I got out my seed box and sorted thru the packages.  I am going to start my onions and shallots. Inside.  But I read about a method for starting perennial and tender perennial seeds--outdoors in empty, recycled semi transparent milk jugs.   You cut them open halfway up the jug, leaving a hinge so the top and bottom halves are still connected.  Then you drill or punch holes in the bottom of the jug.  Fill with a  moistened seed starting potting mix (2 to 4  inches) and plant your seeds (read the packages as some seeds like to be covered and others do not), flip the hinged top over the seed bed, tape with duct tape, leave the bottle cap off  (so air and water can go in and out) and then take the jugs outside and set them on a table or just in the snow.  Somewhere sunny is nice.

Being outside in the "elements" will cold stratify the seeds and when warmer (??) temps arrive the seeds will sprout.  Ready to be planted out in the garden.  I am going to try Lambada Bee Balm, Bread Seed Poppies, Blue Fescue Grass,  Sage, Cottage Pinks. If I had some Lupine seeds I would give them a shot as well. Seed packages should read "sow 4-6 weeks before last frost".  If they say that then it is okay to try this method.  My zinnias will go out in late February/early March along with Calendula.

What is a gardener without a gardening challenge?

I will also set myself up a work station and make toilet paper seed tapes for my carrots and beets. The beets did very well last year but the carrots were a great disappointment.  I also want to put in some parsnips.  Which reminds me that we need to start buying and hauling composted manure from the nearest dairy operation.

Otherwise?  We are still trying to get out of the house once each day to "do something".  G is more successful than I am.  My cold seems to be finished--but wood smoke outdoors is causing my asthma to "react".  It's been a real struggle this winter to breathe without coughing.  Or more likely---wheezing.  I am usually dizzy and awfully tired.  But I try to go out each evening with Riley to look at the stars if the sky is clear.

My Calendula salve project made 10 containers (4 ounces each) and look quite lovely but more of a yellow green than the sunny golden yellow I expected.  It was kind of messy but every project is messy the first time one tries it.

Almost February

February is the high point in the "give someone flowers" monthly calendar.  I think it's because life is pretty dull in February and a bright, alive, bunch of tulips cheers people up--considerably. And a big floral holiday in the midst of Winter is good for the floral industry.

Once we get to February, my cheerfulness meter starts moving into the "positive" range as well. February is a short month and moves quickly and then it's March and I am back to work.  Back to seeing PEOPLE.

This January hasn't been as awful as most.  G and I went to see a Woody Native Plants lecture yesterday, I had that wonderful retirement party at the beginning of the month, good books to read, the Collaboratory project to work on recently and today I am melting beeswax into my olive oil and calendula petal mixture and decanting salve into small jars.

Every summer I collect the bright orange calendula flowers and dry them to make healing salve.  This is the first time I have ever actually followed thru with the concoction and a quick trip to the Goodwill for a used saucepan and this show will be on the road as they say.  It looks like I am making quite a bit--enough to give my co-workers for their own sunburned faces and chapped hands.

Saturday I watered my orchids and repotted a few terrestrial ones.  I had them in the wrong soil mix and after watching a few YouTube videos I have now corrected the medium.  I also realize that the cymbidium orchids up in the guest room bathtub need this new soil mix as well.  But they are large and the repotting would be tremendously messy so I think I will wait until I go back to work to repot them.  Easier to clean up the mess at work.  The geraniums in the upstairs bedroom are blooming.

A few of the amaryllis I "over summered" in the vegetable garden are starting to perk up.  Two are showing a nice flower bud so far, one has twins.  It will be weeks before they flower but that's okay with me.  I should have pulled them out of the veg garden in late August and let them dry until their leaves died off.  Then repotted them for Christmas bloom.  But I waited until late October so I am a month or two behind.  I am always learning from my mistakes.  That's what gardening is all about.

Time to start my onion seeds.  And perhaps the peppers as they are very slow to germinate.  I am going to get things going earlier this year and hopefully have earlier crops.  Now that we have "global warming" here in Maine--who knows?

A Saturday Spent Reading And Watching The Snow Fall Someplace Else

For a change, Maine wasn't the target of an enormous amount of snow.

We had some wind, blue skies and not one flake.  It's nice to be the one without snow.

I dropped off the Interactive fabric pieces for the Collaboratory.  Is that a word? I have homework--to come up with three or four quilting "quotes" from me using the words---- Pieces, Patterns, Parts. I don't think I have ever said anything that was quotable.  My greenhouse customers always repeat pithy things they say I have said to them--and none of them sound familiar.

I read a time traveling love story.  I just LOVE those things.  Medieval.  Castles, men with swords,
very rich people in 1254 and in 2015.  Imogen and Phillip.  And best of all, so many other characters who don't have a story (book) yet.  Author is Kurland.

Next up is a Nordic murder mystery by Adler-Olsen.

Dinner was a box of Kraft Mac and Cheese.  Life is Good.

British Sofa

Very cozy looking and the cushions are slouching off the front edge.  I can't imagine being able to get up off the thing once seated.  Sigh.  That's how it would be if I were furniture shopping these days.  Could I get up off the seat of the chair or couch.

Big snow is forecast.  We are being told it won't affect us.  Just cold.  Colder.  Sun is still shining here in Maine.  I am off to the library to deliver the bits and pieces of the interactive quilt project.  I won't know if it's enough until I get there.  May cut a few black crows out of black felt.  Just to gild the lily as they say.

My cold continues.  Not as much coughing these days.  But I have this "swimmy" feeling in my head. It's similar to how I feel with a fever, but I don't have a fever.  And this isn't the flu as I have no aches and pains.  Just a cough and this dizzy feeling.  And I know exactly when the DayQuil wear off---

G wants us to have an "outing" each day.  To go somewhere or do something.  Outside the confines of the house.  Because of unemployment, most of my "outings" are to fill out job applications.  If I can fill out applications.  At Home Depot (with the help of an employee) we couldn't find the employment department on the store kiosk.  So no application filed.  I am only trying for employment in my "field" this year.  My field being greenhouse or plant care.  And it can't involve much driving as my driving vision (at dusk, in snow, when it rains etc) is seriously terrible. If on coming cars have their headlights on--I can't see anything. G just wants me to stop trying to satisfy unemployment.  Give it up.

It's a continuing discussion but I think he is winning most days.

Yesterday my little car got a new battery.   Now the radio will play when I drive into Town.

And The Wind Is Very Cold

The sun was out all day.  The wind was blowing.  The snow is melting during the day and freezing as soon as it gets dark so everything is covered in ice.  The battery in my car (2008Fit) has stopped working.  I don't drive it often enough, long enough or fast enough.  Takes the oomph out of a battery I guess.

I bought a huge pair of LLBean corduroy pants today @ Goodwill.  The only place I will buy LLBean, as I think they are way overpriced.  And the huge pair of pants fit--well, they don't fall down around my knees, but they are loose, the way I like my pants to fit.  These are house pants.  And work pants.  I like to be able to bend over.  They are also short.  I hazard a guess that women with the waistband width of these pants usually have really short legs.  I don't.  So I am  going to have to take the hem out of them and stitch a new piece of fabric inside the hem.  I do this on all the big, wide pants I buy @ Goodwill.  Some day a tall woman with a large waist will move into my town and donate all her pants to Goodwill.  Her LLBean Pants.

Yesterday I used my sewing machine (it's been a LONG time).  I had a bunch of trouble with it.  Tension.  Mine and the Machine's.  The bobbin case enclosure fell out when I tried to figure out why the needle would no longer go down into the bobbin (for regular stitching).  I don't know if all Bernina's have tricky bobbin case enclosures but mine certainly does.  I had to take TWO time outs before I managed to get the darned thing back inside.  Then had to fill the bobbin.  Then had to finish sewing. The work I was sewing on got thrown on the floor.  I don't like it.  It's not what I imagined for the interactive thing.  So, I am walking away for a day or two.  Then trying again.

I also had taken a Mucinex for my cough.  It made me feel like I had the flu.  And I don't.  But I stopped coughing.

Snow Dog & Old Dog

I just watched G get himself prepared to walk in the woods with Riley.  Yes, coat, hat, mittens.  But then he had to add those things you snap around your legs to keep your pant legs dry.  And bending over isn't all that easy for us oldies.  Then he strapped on the snow shoes.  By the time he was dressed the dog was begging to get going.  G was ready for a nap.

They are only going halfway.  The long way is too much.  For G.  I am staying inside, still coughing and still using the inhaler.  Not all that much different from last winter.

We watched both football games yesterday.  Both were seriously disappointing.   In the second, neither quarterback was in any condition to play at playoff level. One of them--in orange--seemed confused most of the time.  Then we switched to Downton Abbey.  Why is the last year of a series always so lame?

Sunday we almost ran out of potato chips.  We are eating way too many.

Cleaned out a few lingering food items from the fridge.  G got a roast turkey breast from the store and I'll be steaming broccoli and making Stove Top for his dinner later today.  I also have pumpkin pie I baked yesterday.  My third try at the new (to me) pizza dough recipe was the best one yet.  We had that Saturday evening with football.

Today my plan is to eat a really gigantic green salad.

Cold, Colder, Coldest

We are in for an Arctic Blast.  The evil Polar Vortex.  Sounds like something on the SciFi channel. Time to settle the cast iron soup kettle on the stove for the duration.

What I like about soup:  It warms you from the inside out.  Because it's mostly liquids--it fills you up. It's easy to make.  I think most of us could throw together an adequate soup with whatever is in the fridge and cupboard.  From experience I know that there is always one--or two---items in the recipe that I do not have.  Then I have to "make do".

Easiest for me to make today is Lentil Soup.  I have everything I need.  Even the fresh tomato to add the acid needed. And a pot of lentil soup lasts a long time.  Lentil soup isn't a very attractive soup.  Tending to look mostly lumpy and brown.  I am going to take advantage of the fact that I have celery, onions and carrots in the fridge.

Wednesday a friend from work came over (bringing chicken pot pie for lunch) and we looked at quilts and then settled down to work.  She was stitching a sampler and finding the work very satisfying.  I was working on those 12 inch squares for the interactive project at the library.  I decided to use a different batting (poly instead of cotton) and was psyched to find the poly was fusible (I have so much stuff in this house).  I fused all the squares with wild abandon.  The thoughts of pinning and even basting them had me very melancholy.  Now I have to quilt them--with the sewing machine.  Assembly line stuff--nothing inventive.

I am reading CJ Sansom's newest (to me) Lamentations (I don't know how it sneaked past me for an entire year).  Picks up right where he left off with Dissolution.  Henry is still alive but fading.  It is taking me longer to get "into" the book this time. I think I read the others pretty close to each other which worked.  I tried twice and actually finished Dominion the third time.  A different end for WWII.

I am finding it difficult to read for the hours on end that is (was) usual for me.  Right now I am blaming the cold meds.  I have chest congestion/cough, again.  The reactive asthma could be part of the trouble.  I fall asleep listening to myself wheeze.

My car was hard to start yesterday morning (I haven't been driving it) and I had no radio (due to the cold or the battery).  Strange driving a car in silence. And my being impaired by cold medicine didn't help.  I gripped the steering wheel and kept saying "focus" to myself as my mind drifted.  Then I started reacting vocally to yellow lights.  My reflexes were slower than usual and I was afraid I would fail to notice the yellow lights.

I managed to drive to get my hair cut, go to the bank, and then the library where I found the Sansom book.  Now, we, living here in Maine, are waiting for what looks like snow, rain and then below zero cold.  I LOVE when it RAINS and then FREEZES for weeks.  The entire house is coated in ice.  The driveway is a skating rink.  The house and garage doors are frozen shut.

Hey, if you know anyone living alone--give them a call.  The police here in Maine found a woman living alone--who had died in bed TWO YEARS AGO.  No one noticed. If I stop writing, have someone check on me--okay?

Living In The Present

Oh.  I am reminded of reading this the first time.  Feeling so sad.  My father lived this life.  Never selling the house he hated and buying (or even renting) a small place on a lake where he could fish or just sit and look at the water.  Always complaining that life had cheated him out of happiness.

We cheat ourselves out of happiness.

I try to be reminded of that as I sit on the back stoop--with G or with Riley, alone or with both of them.  I love being here.  I love listening to the tall trees creak and moan as the wind moves them.  I love going out at night, with the dog, to look at the stars.  I don't want to be anywhere else.

We carried the tree out of the house today.  I will miss it.  Such a beautiful tree and still fresh after all these weeks.  I think it may have been one of the most beautiful trees we have ever had for Christmas.  And it was charming in it's imperfection.

I want to bake bread one of these days of my work furlough.  I did make the new to me pizza crust twice.  I like it but need to tweak it a bit.  And I want to make naan.  Seems simple enough and now that I have learned to use the oven light to proof the dough--my house is very cold--  I think I could also use the oven light to keep milk warm enough to---do whatever turns milk into yogurt.

I have been trying to cook different things in the rice cooker.  I make good rice but tried cooking soaked dry beans in the rice cooker.  Too much water was a problem but the beans were perfectly cooked in very little time.  The internet says I can also make a frittata in the rice cooker.  Will try that next.  I like the "fix it" and "forget it" part of using the rice cooker.  It shuts itself down to warm, unlike the slow cooker.

I have to work on the library interactive art thing I said I would do.

Vaccumed the floors and have the  throw rugs in the washer.  I will have to tackle the baseboards one of these days--they are dirty.  I folded all my dishtowels like that Kondo woman suggests.  Not sure if I think it's better.  The drawer does look neater.  But does it spark enough joy?

It's Here

I did something that had been relegated to "someday" for years and years.  Yesterday I was invited to a retirement party for a dear sweet woman I worked with for almost 10 years.  Her history isn't my story to tell--but she overcame a great deal with the help of a women's support group.

Going to a gathering of employees of the place where I used to work--a place that nearly broke my heart when I had to leave-- is not easy.  But I dressed up, fixed my hair and just got into the car and ...went.

At the gathering I smiled (with my heart in my eyes) at my dear friend--who was so happy to see me. Little did I know, but she had specifically asked that more than a few "former" employees be invited. Her "people" was the way she referred to everyone at the party.  Lovely.

And I did something I never do.  I mingled.  I just walked over to people I didn't know and asked how they knew the party girl.  They talked and I listened.  It was quite wonderful.  I am always happy to re-learn this truth.  A person you love and enjoy being with, will have other friends who you will enjoy knowing.  I think everyone at the party went home with tired face muscles.  I reconnected with so many people from years ago.  And was reminded of how very much they all meant to me. I had missed them----

Last night's dream fragments:  I was working underground, pulling cable and making connections for something with a group of co-workers.

Now Here's An Interesting Thing

Not the paperwhites.  Though I started mine a few days after Christmas and they are up and about 8 inches tall with buds. Never too late.  Most garden centers probably still have some.  Just need a bowl or glass vase, some rocks or pebbles (or marbles) and water.  Mine are on the window sill. I planted 8 in my container.  8 looks right.

Okay--here's the interesting thing.  Ever since I stopped working for the winter, I have awoken in the morning with the faint traces of the night's dream.  I may dream but never remember any of them, before these.  These I remember like a handful of photos.  And, they are all about work.  Not my regular work. All  the "jobs" are strange yet wonderful.  Last night I remember --military uniforms--country location--stone cottage--vintage vehicles.  I wake up happy.  Relaxed.  Refreshed.

In another one I remember -- large, large building--sort of a factory--dirt floor--green overall uniform--noisy--earthy.

I am trying to be conscious of any fragments I remember each morning as I wake.  Wouldn't it be fascinating if these are all jobs I have had in past lives?  But more likely I am remembering scenes I have seen on television or envisioned in books. I don't see myself but see the surroundings from my viewpoint.  And throughout the dream I am working.  Going about the business of the job. Whatever it was.  Like I wrote at the beginning--my memory on waking is like looking at a handful of photos.

Today I am going to sort all the paperwork I have collected in my bill paying bag.  Sort it and arrange the important things by date, shred the unimportant stuff, sort out the tax papers.  I plan to pile the "shred" things on the shredder and then go back and look them over before actually shredding.  I don't want to have to sort and paste documents back together.  My bag includes all sorts of things we get in the mail.  Most not a bit important.  Easier to just stuff it all in the bag (at the time) rather than try and decide what's important.

 I am always reminded of shredding years and years and years of bill receipts my dad saved.  And this was after my brother shredded and filled a whole carton of large garbage bags of paper a few years previous.  I do remember shredding Medicare papers and having to have the past 12 months reprinted and mailed to me---when obnoxious doctors, labs etc decided to "try" to get paid a second time by the estate.   The wonderful clerk at Medicare said it happens all the time and then mailed me two very fat packages of copies.  My dad loved going to the doctor.

G and I went to see Star Wars on Monday.  I actually loved it.  But I could be sentimental.  I was reminded of 1977 and my little boy.  He LOVED Star Wars.  And would have been delighted by little BB8.  Harrison Ford always looks great.  And Chewy.

2016- More Painting

And, hopefully, more of my own photographs here on the blog.  I am already trying to institute a daily journal habit.  Not writing (which is okay) but drawing and then some writing (which is better). And using paint, makers, glue sticks and other stuff.  Just making stuff is better than doing nothing.

The Universe has also given me an artistic opportunity for February.  Art.  Interactive. For the Library. I have an idea.  Need to make samples and then see if the Library agrees or disagrees with my idea.  It will be hands on.  If nothing else: I will be using fabric and the sewing machine for the first time since 12x12 stopped having challenges.

I got out the paints at the end of December for a high schooler working where I work.  I showed her a few techniques and gave her a boxed set of pastels that I rarely, if ever, used.  She wants to study fashion and wants to paint her fashion designs in watercolor.  Her excitement got me thinking.  Where has mine gone?????

I am up to #8 on the clearing up clutter list.  I read about that clutter book that's the rage right now.  In order to do the bookcases or my closet, I have to take everything it OUT, pile it on the floor and then assess the "spark of joy" that each time gives me before replacing it on the bookshelf or in the closet. Since anything (and I mean this literally) made of linen "sparks with joy" almost everything goes back in the closet--even though I rarely wear any of it.  I need to refine my "spark" before starting.  And what about different sizes for different weights.  Do you get rid of the delightful shirt or pants now and then later when you weigh less---can't find replacements?

Going by what I wear on a daily basis-----I could actually get rid of 95% of what is in the closet.  Same pants everyday in past 2 weeks (washed), same sweater, same scarf/shawl.  When I worked it was the exact same clothing in each season.  Washed after work, dried and worn again the next day etc.  I was gifted a second pair of pants (which was exactly the same as the first) and wore those but it just wasn't the "same" so I switched back.  After work, same clothing every day.  When I do shop I try and buy a "repeat" of the item I love to wear.

Now, reading this--I can see that cleaning out the closet should be SUPER easy.  I just need to choose the BEST of each category and then the second best.  Get rid of all the rest or pack away in the attic in case, heaven help me, I actually lose any weight, smaller sizes of the same things I wear now.  Which I see as being virtually impossible.  Losing weight, I mean.

Today I am going up into the attic (actually the second floor guest room) and look for an old book so I can tear out pages, paint them and then tear them into pieces to make collages.  If I can't find one--I will have to sacrifice a dictionary to ART.  I prefer the pulpy thick paper of educational manuals from the 50's and 60's.  Wish me luck!

Twenty Sixteen

I'm thinking I have about 20 more years on planet Earth.  Living to 90 is certainly not certain. But I can give it a good try.  So, we should be thinking of ways to enjoy that 20 years after spending the previous 69 plus working to afford "just living".

Well, that is really sounding like a "downer" isn't it.  But I think it is difficult for people living a "purpose driven life" to shut that thinking off (or just mute it) and start living a joyful life.  Not that purpose in itself can't be joyful.  I would say I have been happy almost my entire life.  Happy-Ish.
Once I stopped wondering if I had failed to accomplish what fate had set out for me to accomplish but in truth that supposed "failure" still haunts me.  I never had a job title that defined me and my accomplishments.  My parents expected me to have that.  I never did.

I have always tried to have employment.  Been rather driven to always have employment.  And I can't quite let that compulsion go.  But I have never had a profession.

Perhaps in Twenty Sixteen I can let that go?

Today I washed out the silverware drawer.  It doesn't contain any "silver".  That's the drawer next to the drawer I washed today. Full of silver flatware we don't use.  Saving it for a special occasion.  And truth be told, there are never any special occasions.  Neither of my children want it.  So, I should just open the case, pull it all out and use it.  But the regular every day drawer is now clean and sorted.  Item 8 on my 50 item list of things I cleaned, tidied, finished or put away.

A dear friend is coming over to eat with us this evening.  We'll have some sort of artichoke dip she is bringing alongside gin and grapefruit juice drinks.  Pizza (I have the dough rising in the oven with the pilot light as heat source), a nice green salad, and red wine.  I am also considering making cheese manicotti but that may be too much food.  We have brownies for dessert with whipped cream or ice cream.  I think that's a special enough occasion for the silver flatware and the crystal glasses.

We finished watching River.  Loved it.  And are now into Daredevil.  Marvel Comics is developing a series of these shows.

The fridge in the garage stopped working.  I lost all the red peppers and blueberries from my garden. so much waste.  I am sad about it.  Very.  All was frozen solid the last time I visited the freezer. It's all now in the compost bin.

Wishing You A Colorful New Year

Some think life is like a box of chocolates.  Me?  Like a great big box of colorful crayons, colored pencils, colored pens, or pastels.  Give me color.  And I'll be happy.

The sun is out today in Maine.  Some of the snow has melted.  G and Riley had a good walk--the full 2 miles. The path they travel is lumpy, bumpy and slippery at times.  Easy enough for the dog--a bit more trying for the 69 year old dog owner.  We've wondered about letting the dog go out on the walk by himself.  Not seriously.  But possible, with a drone flying over his head???

My list of 50 items of cleaning or tidy-ing has jumped from 5 to 7.  Not going well.

I am presently washing the dog's two orange vests and two of his bed blankets.  I also sprayed his beds with Febreze.  Keeping things "fresh".

My Christmas tree started drinking water a day or two after Christmas and is now drinking water on a regular basis.  I know I say this almost every year--but I REALLY love this year's tree.  It looks amazing.  And I realized I need to make about 10 more of the cute Santa ornaments from last winter. I still have the patterns and lots of red felt.  Good time to do it as next November /December I won't find the time.  Now would also be a good time to make the 2016 cards. (no)

Time to decide what we'll be eating today.  Some years we've gone out for dinner--usually at 5pm so as not to be crowded by party goers, but I don't know if we'll do that this year.  I made a pan of triple chocolate brownies yesterday (and didn't use a box mix for the first time in my life) and they are certainly chocolate.  Lots of caffeine. The recipe said to bake them until they were almost done.  No time given.  I missed the almost done.  So they are done and not as moist as they should be.

Watched the USA all day marathon of Mr Robot yesterday.  Still good and still very confusing.  We are also watching River on Netflix.  Only two episodes left of River.  A detective who talks to dead people.  We watched the Marvel Comics series Jessica James and might try the Marvel series Daredevil.  Supposed to be "dark" and set in Hell's Kitchen.  Season one is supposed to be good. Season two, not so good.  G thought another show was doing a marathon but he couldn't find it when he looked up the USA news.

So, almost 2016.  The year G and I turn 70.  I think we should start thinking about living life just for the fun of it.  Not take things too seriously.  I've already started with my choice of bright red eye glass frames. A co-worker asked if I bought them especially for Christmas.  I looked at her to see if she was serious.  She was.  So I said "I've been wearing these every day since September".  "oh" was all she had to say.  I need to be a bit more obvious I guess.  In 2016.

And It Finally Snowed

But not as much as this older photo shows.  Only a few inches.  And G had some apprehension regarding using the snowblower as he was using it when he had his heart attack in March.  The last time we had snow.

So.

It was good that we only had a little snow.  Not good that it was cold and windy. G had hand warmers for his cold fingers and later put the hand warmers into his slippers to warm his toes.

Riley didn't get to take his daily walk--as the snow clearing took most of the daylight hours.  I managed to pay the bills, do a bit of cleaning, read a third of one of my library books, read a few blogs, tape our Christmas cards to the doorway frame (so old fashioned and festive) and fix us some dinner at 4 pm (when it is getting dark).  We are eating early like we do when I don't go to work.  G has dessert around 8 or 9 pm.  I have coffee or tea.

I am sleeping until 8am which is nice.  Much better than waking at 6am.  But finding it difficult to find something to do after eating breakfast and reading the morning newspaper.  That's when I usually pack my bag and go to work.

If G is awake I can start making noise and doing housework.  But he is usually still sleeping so I have to be quiet.  I sorted the onions, shallots and garlic I had stored on the sunporch.  It's getting too cold out there now so I needed to pack them into something that would protect them from freezing. I don't want to fall into a pattern of watering the houseplants and end up drowning them.  I think I will gather supplies and try and do some drawing or painting in the morning.  That's quiet work and I think it will be very nice to make art every day.

Snow Is Forecast For Tuesday

G has filled all the feeders out by the garden.  We have lots of finches.  Riley hunted a flock of 6 wild turkeys about 2 weeks ago.  Big ones.  Not too many crows these days but I love to watch them.  We still have berries on the crab apples, the bittersweet and since the soil is still warm--lots of worms. Good eats for the birds.

The squirrels are very active which keeps Riley in good form.

The warm sun has disappeared.  The grass was frozen this morning and the rhodie leaves were thin.  Conservation of resources. We still have a few clay pots to empty and bring in from the herb garden. I had basil in them.  Did better in pots than in the garden soil itself. All the basil got that fungus on the leaves.

I have started a clipboard with blank pages for a 50 item cleanup list.  So far, I have five items.   I am working on the dining room table (yet, again) with a pile of my art supplies and work tools and managed to clean out the dishtowel drawer and wash and bleach the dishtowels, my undies and sleeping tee shirts.  Not dirty but certainly dingy.  Now all are sparkling white.  I potted up my paperwhites.  But first had to find the stones. And then find the bulbs.  I tried to make a case for that being THREE items but common sense prevailed and it was only the one.

The Amaryllis bulbs I had planted in the garlic and onion bed outside (and which grew considerably in bulb width) are still not doing much in the way of sending up flowering stems.  I can see the faintest, tiny-ist, growth so all is not lost.  Next year I have to pull them out of the garden earlier--like August.  Still time to have flowers for Valentine's Day.  Perhaps, Easter.

Today G and I are going grocery shopping to buy supplies for a big pot of chicken soup.  Ever since his heart surgery, G has been very temperature sensitive and is always cold.  The medication that keeps his blood pressure abnormally low is the cause.  The hot soup seems to help warm him up.

I discovered an injury from the fall I had at work.  One of the fingers on my left hand is very bruised and dark blue (doesn't hurt).   I began massaging the bruised area to move blood around and through it.  Seems less blue black this morning.  

That's about all that is happening here.  G and I watched episodes 2-4 of River on Netflix last night. We could have gone on and watched more (into the night) but wanted to save something for this evening as television in the holiday weeks is pretty thin.  Now we have to find something to watch when river is complete.  Any Netflix suggestions?  We could always start in on House of Cards.

Christmas

We had a full moon and some misty rain.  But the weather guys promise snow storms next week.  And that's okay as I don't have to drive anywhere.  Work is finished for the year (and then some) until February.  Hugs all around at work.  We are so very much a family.

Our son got his package.  Is eating the cookies.  Perhaps setting the puzzle pieces out on his coffee table.   Cursing us for the shredded newspaper (the packing material) which is all over his carpet.

I had planned to do all my Christmas shopping at the drugstore that sells "as seen on TV" products but forgot (?????).  Lucky for us, my daughter had the same idea and she DID shop there.  Can't wait to see what she bought me---- we haven't opened presents yet.

The Christmas Eve pierogi making went well for me (and for my son) this year.  I used Bob's All Purpose Flour and wow, there must be some magic in that bag.  No noodle dough problems.  Easy and almost fun.  Made 2 dozen of each.  Potato, Sauerkraut and Cheese.  G and I ate ours just after I finished cooking the last batch.  Way good.  Best ever. Can't wait to fry them up for supper tomorrow.

Today we have Christmas Burritos.  I made rice for myself.  I have red onions from my garden, avocados, tomatoes, lettuce and cheese for the burritos.  G and S will have meat. Then we'll have a Pumpkin Cream Pie with Brown Sugar Whipped Cream.

So much "run up" to the day and then here it is-----then gone.

Wishing you a happy day with those you love.  And if those you love are far away......time to remember why you love them.   Peace and Love to you all.

Christmas Minus One

Too much to do and by the time I get home from work--well, it's just not enough time.  Getting up at 6 am in the dark and getting home at 4, in the dark.  I know.  I know.  It's what all working people face during the holidays.  Feeling all stressed out like the little branch tied to the package up top of this post.  It's supposed to look stylish but just makes me think of the ties on a straightjacket.

The cookies are all baked.  The majority are on a UPS truck in sunny California, and hopefully, will be sitting in the lobby of my son's building when he gets home from work today.

My Secret Santa liked her gift.  I liked the one I got.  Everything seems to be going well at work. Tomorrow is my last day (of work) and I have a Terrarium and a Bonsai gift to be picked up by customers who wanted their gifts on Christmas Eve and not one moment earlier. Both are very lovely.  If I do say so myself, since I created them.

So far, this Christmas season I have gotten three very nice tips.  The tree yard boys get tips usually for carrying trees and tie-ing them to the tops of cars etc.  Not so usual to tip the gal re-potting your plants or creating dish gardens, terrariums or bonsai.  I do a lot of bonsai.  I planned ahead this year and stocked up on "great" rocks to include in the bonsai dish with the little tree. I also try and add moss and a little path.  I told a co-worker (and new friend) that I would love to make real outdoor Bonsai--as a job.  So, call me if anyone out there needs a Bonsai maker.  Okay???

Christmas Minus Four Days

The last of the cookie dough I made last week is now baked into cookies.  And I sat down Saturday and actually came up with a design and drew the design on cards.  And addressed and mailed the cards.  They won't get anywhere in time for Christmas but---  Well, I have no excuses.

A few of the gals working the Christmas Table at work have decided (each on our own) to make changes in our lives.  Doing things differently, letting things go etc.  There must have been some magic in the air.  My plans aren't really firm as yet.  But working (outside the home) is going to be less the next year.  I'll keep you informed of my choices but not theirs.

Allergy:  Well.... I am not allergic to wheat flour.  I have been eating bread for three days straight and no rash no itch and no watering eyes.  I wanted to see what would happen.  And nothing happened.
I still have reddened, flaky skin from my hairline to my eyebrows.  But no itch.

I am NOT going to press my luck and eat any nuts because I have a feeling that would not go well.

The bread I am eating is a whole grain rye from When Pig's Fly.

Today we are packing up our son's package with cookies and presents.  He may not get it until New Year's.  Not that it will matter as he is probably busy seeing Star Wars.  And my son is pragmatic like his mother.  If he wants something he goes out and buys it for himself--doesn't wait for Santa to buy him things.  So, the check I send is more important than the box from home.  He does appreciate the cookies.

I was feeling rather blue this Christmas season--due to the 6 Benadryl a day and then in the space of 48 hours so many people (customers) have shown up at work and were so happy to see me.  Gosh, is there anything better than seeing people's faces light up when they set eyes on you?  I don't think so. I am usually so surprised by that.  But this year, I am really appreciating it.  Leaning into it.  Hugging back.  Doing things differently.

We finished watching Netflix Jennifer Jones (Marvel) and are now into River (BBC).  That song from the first episode is stuck in my mind.  I have to download it.  Listen to it all the time. Love to Love You.  From the 70's.

G is back with the box.  Need to start wrapping and packing.  Then start the pierogi dough and fillings.  I work the next three days.

Cookies, Cards & Ornaments

I am way behind.  I haven't even decided what to draw for the christmas cards this year.  I did plan ahead and used a coupon to pay for a big package (50) of Kraft paper blank cards and envelopes.  Just in case they stop making them (and I still want to use them).  That's like 4 years worth of cards since I only send out 12.

I had planned to make another felt ornament like the STILL WAY CUTE Santa coat and hat I made last year.  I don't have any heart buttons and wonder if I actually want snowmen.  The carrot nose looks difficult.

I finally (oh, you should see how backlogged I am with chores) made two of the three batches of cookies.   The Apricot Oatmeal from MS.  The Snickerdoodles (that for some reason spread instead of puffed).  But the kolachke are still in the fridge. I am packaging (really cute) the cookies up as gifts for people at work since I don't think I should be eating cookies.  They look delicious.

My rash comes and goes and the only variables in my diet don't seem like things that would cause an allergic reaction.  Like orange slice candies.  They are all gone now--so that won't be a problem.  I did eat some roasted peanuts at work (I regularly eat peanut butter on a big spoon out of the jar as a meal) and the rash struck.  So,  how can I be allergic, now, to things I have eaten in excess for years and years without a care in the world?????

I am achingly tired of the brown rice, banana, butternut squash and bran flakes with soy milk.  I love all those things but now that they are the only things I can eat-----I am growing less fond of them each day.  Each "new" thing I add---the itch comes back.  Today I added popcorn and am waiting for the rash.  I am getting no protein.  Not a big meat eater anyway and now--not interested at all.  I did make chili (and still have three portions) and the rash struck just 20 minutes after I ate the first bowl.

It's cold and it's raining here in Maine.  All the days in December (minus one) have been colored orange on the weatherman's calendar.  All warmer than normal.  We won't be having a white Christmas.  No snow.  Just rain.  Here it is--not even 4 pm and dark as night.

Time to shower and put on my jammies.   Only 5 more days of work.  I think. Then it's Christmas.

Christmas Gifting/ Wishes and Dreams

I'm not really into it this year.  Or last, for that matter.  Things are too easy to obtain.  Click.  And it's yours.  Like it...use it.  Don't like it?  Return it or just tuck it away somewhere for your inheritors to deal with. What does anyone NEED???  Sigh.  Why can't we exchange wishes and dreams instead? Open a pretty package and find, nestled in tissue, a lovely wish.  Just for you.

The tree is up and has lights and decorations.  Listing to the side.  Tempting itself to tip right over and crash to the floor.  With all my ornaments.  It's happened before.  I lost all the angels and Santas made of glass and sparkles when my sweater caught on a 12 foot tree and came crashing down onto G (sitting in his chair).  The snowmen didn't break.

We attached some of my soft garden wire to the stem and attached it to the fireplace mantel.  G and I remembered another tree we had tied to the ceiling--so it wouldn't tip over.  This tree--charmingly whimsical-- has a thin stem.  Making it difficult to stabilize with the three screws in the stand.

The first of my 3 days off, I set the 4 sticks of butter out on the counter to soften.  All day and all night.  Still not soft.  The second day of my three days off, I mixed up three doughs.  One for Snickerdoodles.  One for Almond Apricot Oatmeal cookies.  One for Apricot Kolachke.  They are now in the fridge.  Today is my third day of my three days off and I must actually bake cookies.  Sounds like a charming new Christmas song doesn't it?

Yesterday I cubed, peeled and baked an enormous butternut squash and made a large container of organic long grain brown rice.  That's what I will be eating this week at work for my interpretation of the BRAT diet.  For G I made a large casserole dish of sausage, mushroom, onion, marinara sauce.  To be eaten with pasta.  But not by me.

No cashews yesterday.  No rash.  I told G he must eat the rest of the 2 pounds of cashews himself.
What an odd thing to be allergic to.  So the total of things I can't eat without getting a rash are wheat flour and cashews.  Okay.

Today. Cookies.  And I can't eat any of them.  Perhaps that is why I am having difficulty actually baking them?

Walking The Dog

Any minute now.  G is taking a class all day today.  I had wanted the entire day to myself.  Baking cookies, reading a book, ordering gifts by phone.  The house is so cool that the sticks of butter I set out before breakfast are still cold to the touch.  I did manage to make the apricot filling for kolachke.

Thursday I tripped and fell at work.  Knocked the wind out of me and the adrenaline rush left me feeling faint.  My employer wanted to know if I needed to go to the hospital to get checked out. I didn't.  No bruising and no aches or pains.  I must be too heavily "padded" to get hurt falling face down on cement. My doctor would use that as another club to beat me up regarding my weight.

This is my fifth day of eating a Banana, Rice, Applesauce diet.  Had to skip the T (toast) as I am finding that I have an allergy to wheat flour.  Not the bran. Not gluten.  Just the wheat flour--the white stuff in nearly everything.  I know this is true because I made packaged au gratin potatoes and about 30 minutes after eating them with some delicious ham and steamed broccoli---my face started to itch.

I can eat yogurt with bran buds.  I can eat TJ's Bran Flakes.  I can eat steamed brown rice.  I can eat roasted butternut squash.  I think the vanilla ice cream was okay as it was "homemade" style.  Nothing much added to the cream.  I can eat corn chips, but not too many.

I feel better.  The itching and red scaling skin near my hairline was difficult.  None of the medicines would work.  Like 6 Benadryl a day.  Zyrtec.  Also my eyes have stopped watering.  And the lack of watering means a lack of burning skin around my eyes as well.

Wheat flour is hidden in almost all processed foods.  So "do it yourself" food is going to be my best choice going forward.  I am interested in finding out if the vermicelli flour in pasta is the wheat flour I am allergic to because, it's only a matter of time before I feel the "need" to eat pasta. I find it interesting that the bran doesn't bother me.

I am going to have to make soup.  Not that it's cold here in Maine.  Our weather guy makes up a monthly calendar--blue days are below average and orange days above average.  So, far, in December, we have had one blue day.  All the rest are orange.  And, this week, all the days will be very orange as today is supposed to be 55 degrees plus.

Time for the walk.  A large black dog is giving me the lethal X-ray stare.