Daily Notes- December 31st

So my new calendar was delivered to my door this morning by my daughter.  Very plain and white- businesslike but I have plenty of colored pencils and markers to draw and embellish the pages and days starting tomorrow. 

Have always enjoyed plain white anything and daughter also brought me two heavy sheets of white paper from the Candy Factory I assume.  Can you use this she asks?  Well, yes.  I have noticed my Christmas Tree has a few spots that need stars.  STARS. I am NOT going to try the origami folded stars again.  Any of you remember my pain and suffering and failure after failure- until miraculously I produced four or five perfect stars??  All that I had precut.  I never actually got back to that project.  But this heavy white cardstock would make decent stars.  And I looked through all the posts and it seemed like these words hadn't been used.  Accept or Bloom.  

Accept, even if used twice, - is a good word for right now.  Accept.  Good word for entering into 2021. We will have to accept so many things that are going to happen.  Unknowable right now.  I like that the name of the company is Blue Sky.  I am working on the blue Chakra cloth.  I was going to have it here but when I took the picture I realized that the cloth was not looking great or even good.  I need to take it apart.  Do it over.

We ordered Chinese take out and they have a new supplier of their Fortune Cookies.

"Change has both physical and psychological attributes"  "Best way to avoid temptation is to avoid the tempting situations" and "Every production of genius must be the product of enthusiasm"  Interesting but not really much fun.

I did some math and discovered I am actually 74.  So I will be eligible for the COVID vaccine.  If we ever get our collective American shit together and start giving shots to people here in Maine.  And speaking of that- my doctor's office called to see why I haven't sent in my Cologuard test sample yet.  Welcome 2021.

Daily Notes- December 30th

 Well, I am one word short.  This is the last word in the jar.  Wish.  A perfect word for tomorrow and the entire year 2021.  Wish for better days ahead.  Wish that no one else gets sick or heaven forbid- dies. Wish for Peace On Earth and Goodwill To Mankind.

My Green Square. Unconditional Love. Prosperity.  Abundance. Good Health.  My wish for each and every one reading this and everyone else who I don't even know.

Yesterday I asked daughter to get me a desk calendar for the New Year (I had not seen one in the very  limited number of spaces I am safe to occupy these days).  She was in the parking lot of Target at the time.  She was just about to go inside.  So--my good fortune.   She found only a small calendar and the guy standing nearby tried- as a joke- to take it away from her.  He needed a calendar. Daughter went around the corner and found a large calendar - the size to slide under the keyboard and desktop computer.  Then- because she is the person she is- went looking for the guy to give him the smaller calendar.

I started work on selecting things for my blue square last night.  Then I watched some news.  Looked at pictures of the over 100 service personnel who have died of COVID  (shown on MSNBC).  Police, Rescue and Fire. My dad was Police. So I looked at their faces- mostly older- now dead.  And thought of their families. They ran toward danger.  Could I?  Would I?  I kind of think I would. My father said it terrified him but he still did it. 

Sigh.  I just finished reading the morning newspaper.  Some of the pages were the same as yesterday's paper. How did they let that happen?  I worked for a small Town newspaper and I can say for sure that heads would have rolled and been fired if we had done something like that.  And that paper was pretty incompetent as the last ones to touch the paper were 20 year old pot smoking jokers.  Who made me laugh everyday. I was in charge of the ads getting into the paper.  Who thought I knew how to do that???? Geez, Life was FUN back then.  What I actually wanted to do was type the news copy.  No way.

I actually love typing. If I could live my Life over again, I would have rolls of fresh black inky typewriter ribbon and just go to college with my typewriter and type.  Even though I didn't know how to type.  Because I know now- that you learn as you go-  because your brain figures it out before your fingers do. That one high school typing class I failed- was good enough.  I type.  I am a person who knows how to type with all ten fingers.  I am a person who has volunteered to type newsletters for every organization I have ever joined.  I learned how to do columns. I  amazed myself so many many times.

I WISH I had known I could do this......sooner.

I found a "college ruled" notebook at the  grocery store.  Same kind of page that I used for Morning Pages and now the Washing Machine Pages.  This new one.  This new different sized notebook with a black cover like the others.  Available at the grocery store periodically........well.  It gives me a chance to be writing something else....some other  kind of pages. Now to decide what I will write in this new notebook.

Daily Notes- December 29th

 This scrap of cloth--removed from a larger work that failed miserably- has found a new home on the orange or yellow square all by itself.  I can't quite recall from where.  Not that any of them stayed put- except for red. Which is entirely red.  The other squares eventually- as cloth was added- moved into other colors.  This one with it's red center.  It stays. On the orange cloth.

I am empowering myself to break the  Chakra Rules.  Water flows where water wants to flow.

I selected blues for the next square.  Staying away from the blue I like most- indigo (imagination) for the next square.  Communication, expression, truth -blue.  Ah. True Blue.  The places where I have the most TROUBLE in my life.  Expressing opinions.  Saying too much.  Which is one reason I leave few comments on the blogs I read.  Mis- communicating.  My Achilles Heel.  Here?  Just my Daily Notes. A safe haven.  Don't like it- don't visit. Not a popularity contest. 

Watched football yesterday.  Less to see who wins anymore.  More to see how the game has changed with COVID. How players who, in the other seasons, rarely saw playing time.  How things are morphing.  The Teams who are more "outside the box" are doing so much better, perhaps even for the first time in a long time.  Teams who do the same thing no matter what- Patriots- are failing.  Patriots need a new coach.

Daughter's car is ready for pick up.  There are many things I could say about this but I won't.  One can't know everything unless they walk in the other person's shoes, right?

There are people who also think they know what is right for me.  Not always right. Not always possible.

Communication.  Empower yourself to listen.  Too few of us listen. Too busy talking.

Daily Notes- December 28th

 My bulb garlic is "transforming" itself.  I will pot it up and let it continue to grow.  Way, way too late to plant in the garden.  Garlic shoots and leaves are tasty.  So, let it grow.

Daughter's car went into the shop this morning.  Struts are okay until Honda's recall (good news as it's a very expensive replacement issue). The new ones will be on Honda's dime.   The drive shaft looked bad but after inspection was okay. Bearings were also okay. BUT the car failed the State Inspection again.  This time for the muffler and rear Winter tires.  So those things are ordered and will be replaced tomorrow.

Next time we visit the shop- I'll try to get MY car an inspection sticker.  Fine for not having a sticker here in Maine is $100 a month.  No excuses.  Both of our Honda Fits had to have the entire rear bumper assembly re-built with new parts.  That's why we failed our annual inspections in the first place.  That was when we were trading cars and taking turns with a car in the Auto Body Shop. One car has 34K and the other 140K.  Guess which one is mine.

Overcast without Sun today.  There was a clear viewing of the Full Moon last night.  I had thought the front porch light was on.  No.  Just the Moon. I tried to find Jupiter and Saturn.  But I could not.  I love the Planets.  I love watching Nova programs about the planets.  I had always hoped the Space Program would have advanced enough to be able to take my remains up and leave them out there with the stars and planets.  Not yet.

I haven't read a book in nearly 10 days.  Lack of humidity in the house- dry eyes.  Even with the drops. I tried to do some hand sewing  (other than the holiday potholders) yesterday evening- wow.......it doesn't look great.  I gave  the cloth a good hot press with the iron and spray starch.  I'm afraid to take a close look at the work.  I might walk around with a spray bottle of water - spraying the rooms.  See if that makes any difference.  

I  checked the fridge.  In my manic holiday shopping I managed to FILL the fridge with cream cheese, eggs and butter.  Lots and lots of each.  Daughter brought me a box of graham cracker crumbs and on the box a very nice recipe for NewYork Style Cheesecake.   I just need sour cream.  I still need to make cookies that require butter and cream cheese.  But that's about it for Holiday Baking. So...the cheese cake.  Or Ina Garten's cheesecake which uses up a massive amount of cream cheese and is like 5 or 6 inches tall. 

 Toss up.  And there is still the Boozy Cake.  Good news is that other than Baking, reheating leftovers and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches......the kitchen is closed.  And Baking is not a priority.  With me.  Cream Cheese has a long life in the fridge.

Daily Notes- December 27th

 A bit blurry but as you can see- a little bird is contributing his little berry twig to the household.  It's cold in the house today.  My eyes are dry and blurry- I need to put in drops.  I might pause here and do that.  

Yesterday I wasted four hours on a History channel program on the 1947 Roswell UFO crash.  Tedious investigation and at the end.....nothing.  The prior program was on the significance of the number 12.  A number that has been interesting to me- but not as interesting as 11.  1:11 and 11:11 numbers I see frequently on the microwave as I walk past.  Too often to actually be random?

The Nashville explosion is taking on conspiracy theories already.  The guys who know these things say it was simply a suicide with extra embellishments.  The close street situation with tall buildings a perfect bomb corridor.  More bang for your buck.  The things we are learning on tv.

I also learned today that a Presidential Pardon removes your Fifth Amendment Right to not self incriminate.  But you can still be brought before a court and asked questions.  Which you must answer.  I am not sure Trump thought this one through.  The Founding Fathers.  Not so trusting.

No sun today.  Cold in the house. I made grilled cheese sandwiches with added ham and turkey for husband yesterday around 3pm.  I rolled some Swiss and ham up and ate that.  Followed by my Boozy Bundt cake and vanilla ice cream.  We never did have supper.  Today we are having pan fried pierogi. More cake and ice cream. I keep adjusting the Christmas Tree lights.  Life in the Very Slow Lane.

Daily Notes- December 26th

 Embrace the way Life has changed.  And Life has changed.  We have all changed. 

Christmas Day was so much nicer than Christmas Eve.  A nice slow slog of a day.  So much rain.  And all the snow is gone and yesterday it was often in the 50's and 60's temperature wise. So unlike Maine winter weather.  We went out without coats.  The heat never had to come on.

Long phone calls with both our children (adults)- we got to hear the geese flying over our son's apartment building in California.  He's on vacation.  Meaning not working but instead playing with all his video games.  Because he will be working from home until August of 2021 (and beyond)- he was given a new laptop- this time he asked for the largest one available.  We talked about "what if" they never go back to an office type work situation.  He said that was entirely possible- only Time will Tell. He said California right now was a serious mess. People refusing to wear masks or stay home.  "They want what they want". My son also said it's the lowest paid workers who are paying the price for all this "wanting". The service industry.

Daughter got us presents- even though I said no.  

We have so much food in the fridge- we'll be heating stuff up for meals until the New Year.  It's in the 35 degree range this morning.  Sun is shining.  I had a bad night and spent some time crying.  Reminded of a painful childhood.  The Holidays make it all cave in on me.  Shake it off.  I keep saying that year after year- shake it off.  

Well, I haven't had breakfast as yet.  And it's almost lunchtime.  Our waking hours are shifting- it might have something to do with being in the house 24/7 and not seeing people.  But we are up well into the night and then waking later and later the next day.  I watched new to me Lifetime Holiday movies last night. They are similar to Hallmark but some of the troubles are more serious in the Lifetime movies and the romance is iffy.  Never a sure thing and the romance is often quite awkward.  It's like the actors have never actually ever kissed anyone before.  I often wonder if the director wanted it to be that way. 

Daily Notes- December 24th

 Well, we did simplify Christmas this year.  No gifts.  No shopping.  I did some "making" of potholders which are being happily received.  I also made another batch of boozy cranberries which are also being welcomed joyfully at doorways here in Maine. Homes without children.

I am in the early stages of the annual Pierogi making.  The ones up top are the cheese and chive ones for daughter.  As soon as I clear space on the stovetop- these will be boiled and then taken over to her house and tucked into the fridge for when she gets home from a long slog at the Candy Factory.

I am resting and have used my inhaler.  This meal has always been labor intensive and stressful  One year it was a complete failure.  The food ended up in the garbage can.  It slithered into the can.

We have weather alerts about high winds and rain.  so I would like to get this all done and cooked before the power goes off.  More stress- at a time when I need less.  Sigh.  Well, we have been disappointed before.  What's new?  Even with the generator- the stove won't work- so no boiling of dumplings.  

I have to get back to work.  So- Dear Readers- the 20 to 30 of you out there- Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday.  Be kind to someone today.  I would suggest hugs but it isn't safe.  But send an email hug.  Do Zoom if you know how that works.  Be happy.  Be well.  

I am saying all this now in case I have no internet tomorrow.  It's 48 degrees right now. In Maine.

Daily Notes- December 23rd

 What the World needs now is...LOVE.

My Felt Advent Calendar.  It had little daily prompts in the pockets when it was given to me.  I still have them but didn't put them into the pockets this year (or last).  I'm sad to have to admit this- but I am not feeling the least bit Christmasy. I am scheduled to be making Cookies today.  I am not looking forward it. None of the cookies I will be making- are cookies I eat.  So much of my cooking is stuff I don't eat. I am making the Confetti Sprinkles Cookies and Chocolate Chip Cookies.  I am postponing the sugar cookies with frosting for February 14th.

I am also going to the grocery to buy more raw cranberries as the Brandy Cranberry Relish is wildly popular and has been requested by THREE people.  Evidenced by the return of empty washed jars the day after being gifted prior to Thanksgiving.  I will try not to have it boil over all over and into the stove this time.

I am not really looking forward to much of anything right now.  But I am not depressed or anything.  I am going about my days in the normal ways. The only personal thing bothering me- my left eyelid rash is   back.  Stress related and also could be part of the evergreen allergy.  I do touch the tree everyday while watering it.  And I could have then touched my eyelid.  These things happen.

Some thing going on with Blogger so I am going to stop and publish.

Daily Notes- December 22nd

 Today's word out of the jar.  Would be wonderful to have a really good laugh.  One where your eyes overflow with happy tears and you just can't stop.  Laughing.  Been a long time.  A really long time.

I am working on my green square.  For Heart. "air, unconditional love, intuition, prosperity, abundance, good health"  With a bit of yellow for "trust your gut".  This square is not even five inches wide.  I have miles to go before it's done.  I like the yellow greens but mostly chose the woodsy greens to wear as clothing but for some odd reason- there are no woodsy greens in the Fabric Closets.  Why????

We forgot to eat supper yesterday.  We had breakfast and lunch but then..........nothing else.  Not that I was cooking anything.  I wasn't.  Husband wanted dessert.  So I served him ice cream.  He was good with that.

I tried very hard not to watch any "breaking news" yesterday. Why is his family not intervening???  Why doesn't someone- an adult in the room- speak truth to the lies?  I have started to have less and less confidence in the American "rule of law".  This man is not above the law.  He does not make the laws. I guess I will have to go back and read the Constitution  to find out why we are putting up with this circus.

I am certainly not laughing.

Daily Notes- December 21st

 The Dollhouse Christmas.   Peace on Earth.  The Elves are climbing a ladder to decorate the roof top. The house is no longer furnished.  Daughter took all the furniture to her house.  The house sits on a table in the entrance way - the front door is to the right.  The staircase to the Magic Attic is to the right and behind. Combined with the tree- it's a very warm and Happy Christmas. I had made a "sort of" effort to sell or donate the dollhouse.  But it was "too big" for most people wanting a dollhouse.  So...I am keeping it.

We had rain, sleet and snow last evening so husband is out with his new snowblower clearing the driveway.  If allowed to settle in, overnight we might have a ice covered driveway.  Like the Twins down the street.  Their dad made them a skating rink in the side front yard.  One twin loves hockey.

I did my normal Monday grocery shopping but there was nothing normal about the grocery store.  I had a hard time breathing which makes the brain cells a bit less snappy.  So I kept having to check and recheck my list.  I think I bought too much butter.  (laughing)  I did remember to buy onions.  I forgot last week. I got dark chocolate chips.  

My word for today is "Begin" and I feel like Christmas is beginning. I might bake some cookies. The Confetti ones that husband loves.  Sugar, Butter, Sugar, Sprinkles, Cream Cheese.

For anyone reading who is interested- as of this minute 13:46 on Monday the rash is gone.  Wasn't seen on Sunday either.  Just in case- I bought a fresh new bottle of Calamine Lotion.  

Daily Notes- December 20

 My Christmas Tree.  All dressed up.   I had a bit of a hiccup getting the image into the post this morning. It had become so easy and for some reason- this morning- it was not.  Perhaps they moved things? Perhaps I am losing brain cells?

My rash was very very angry when I woke up yesterday.  Applied lots of Calamine.  And at about 1 pm I noticed it was completely gone.  I was shocked.  Really shocked.  Kept waiting all day for it to come back. But nothing.  And then about 9 pm- it started up again.  I had eaten a Larabar- Coconut Chocolate Chip. I don't know if that was the trigger but.......today it's plain oatmeal and later steamed white rice.  Tea. I would add bananas to the list but bananas give me really terrible acid reflux. I have plain yogurt but it's so cold- makes me feel cold.  The oatmeal and rice can be eaten hot.  Oh, and I did have the last of the vegetable soup.  Could a person get a rash from soup????

 And now I am dressed- still pajama pants and haven't eaten anything yet.  I don't trust myself to put on real pants.

This reminds me of the Christmas when I had a really irritated nerve that ran from my neck, through to the right shoulder into my right hip.  The heating pad and the couch. It didn't hurt (that much) when I was standing- so I cooked and baked as usual.  I just couldn't sit at the table to eat.  The mysterious red rash is much better.  Well, there is no nerve pain.  Which is like being electrocuted unexpectedly.

I worked on two more potholders.  They are looking very nice. I picked an excellent backing color. I am quite good with color but most times- I stop looking when I find something that looks good- and this time I kept looking.  So- I learned a lesson not to be happy with the first good choice.  Keep looking.

My Word for today- Investigate.  I am going to do a search on rashes.   

Daily Notes- December 19th

 I found two more pieced potholders so will need to quilt them and then fold over the edges of backing to bind the edges.  Easier than making strips of binding.   The fabric is something I found at Goodwill- when I used to go into Goodwill.  Like in 2019.

Well, I have had a very very interesting 24 hours.   Yesterday I noticed a rash on my stomach.  Red, puffy, blotchy.  It would itch if one scratched it- I did not.  It looked like dermatitis.  I applied Benadryl spray. By bedtime my complete waist down body was red, angry, splotches.  Hot shower and Calamine lotion.  Middle of the night I got up to pee and noticed the rash has spread and was now everywhere.  Very very hot shower. I learned this trick from Brown Tail Moth rashes.  Very very hot water.  

This morning the rash was intensely red, puffy and ALL OVER.  Another hot shower and Calamine. I just  noticed (pee break) the rash is now gone again.  This is all very very strange.

But, yesterday I wore a pair a pants I haven't worn in a long time.  There might have been some thing on the inside of the pants that irritated my skin.  In any event- I am dehydrated, sleepy and happy to just wear my pajamas and my robe the rest of the day.  Maybe even take a nap. And that makes me Smile.

Smile the word I pulled out of the jar this morning.  Smile about a rash that- for the moment--has decided to just disappear.  All the Benadryl and Stress has made me very tired.  So, it's a toss up of the couch or the sewing machine.  I'm thinking the couch is going to win.

Daily Notes- Friday December 18th

 Grow.  No better example of that than my Avocado Tree.  Now 24 inches wide and 16 inches tall. See how lovely and deep green the leaves are?  Very proud of my little (not so much) tree.  It has been moved from the sink counter where it enjoys bright overhead sky light to the floor next to the heater and the window.  The skylight has snow on it.   But the sun is shining so pretty soon the snow will slide off and the Avocado and the Coffee Bean plant (last year's Christmas Gift from husband) can return to their usual spots.

Grow- I just love the word and the experience of growing things.  From seeds best of all.  Next month I can begin starting some seeds on the back deck.  In my little half gallon plastic milk jugs.  I think they actually held orange juice not milk.  I have a big tub of soilless mix and the re-cycled bottles ready to go. And I saved seed from  all the beautiful flowers I grew last Winter.

We both worked on clearing the driveway of snow- 18 to 24 inches depending on location.  Very very dry snow.  Not heavy.  Blowing.  That was the worst part- the blowing.  We got everything but the pull out parking spot and the back deck area done.  Husband likes to make a path from driveway to back deck and to the compost bins. He'll do that today.  We like the drive and front walks done right away.  In case of a medical emergency.  Or fire or something where we need to get out of the house.  Or someone needs to get into the house.  That's an indication of the way we think these days.  Husband also makes sure to clear a path to the hydrant out on the street in case of fire. House Fires are a huge problem here in Maine in Winter.

We had a little gathering of neighbors at the end of our driveway in the dark.  A young couple worried I was trying to shovel the driveway myself and could the wife send the husband down to snowblower for us??? and the next door neighbor coming over to help me shovel out the mailbox. My own husband was clearing the drive in front of garage.  My  neighbor across the street doesn't have outdoor Christmas lights so she has decided to turn on all her outdoor porch and roof security lights.  Amazing.  Could most likely be seen by the passing Space Station.

Daily Notes- December 17th- SNOW DAY

 The ornament my son made in Kindergarten.  I am thinking the teacher had all the separate elements pre-cut.  All he needed to do was paste them in the appropriate spots. Cutting felt at 5 years of age- not easy. I also know the teacher had my son reading to his classmates in the reading corner.  I reported her to the Principal.  We did not speak after that.  Yes, he could read at five.  Self taught at four.  Hated reading to the other children.  Saw it as punishment.  His classmates loved having him read to them.  Who was right?

This has nothing to do with my word for today- Inspire.  I actually don't think I inspire anyone. Perhaps I should try harder???I

It has been snowing for awhile now.  About 12 to 16 inches I think.  The plow came by once.  I volunteered to dress up and walk down to the newspaper box to see if we got a paper.  We did.  Our newspaper gal never lets us down.  I was covered in snow by the time I walked there and back.  Daughter told the Candy Factory that she wasn't going to even try to drive to work.  Excellent decision.

I am making Dee's Pantry Soup today.  Haven't had since early days of the Pandemic.  But sounds good. And I have everything to make it.  Beans, cabbage and potatoes.

Yesterday husband had a doctor's appointment regarding the "horrible pain" in his back which came from "nowhere".  I had a list of the "Where" the pain came from.  Doctor and his intern checked his back and hip and found the right hip joint did not open or close when he lifted his leg or bent over.  So, it was kind of stuck or in spasm.  Doctor suggested a ball of socks or tennis ball- something to push against that joint to get it to open- would be painful but once open would feel wonderful.

Daughter had given me this "roller stick" to use to relax muscles.  Massage for pain tolerant people.  I asked husband if I could try it on his back when we got home.  I knew I only had the one chance.  So I rolled it vigorously over the back and the hip joint.  And he yelped.  And then when I stopped he said- it felt better.  Do it again.  And there you have it.  Another few roller treatments and things will be back to normal.  

This wonderful doctor is a General Practitioner not a Specialist. But he has a really creative way of working/listening to his patients and trying to find out what is happening.  Now that Inspires me. And since he has had several students observing in his office over the years- the feedback from these Tufts Medical Students must be very positive also.  Yesterday was a good day.

Daily Notes- December16th

 My word for the day and a little lamb made for me years ago by my sweet little kindergarten going daughter.  It holds a "front and center" place on every Christmas Tree.  She also brought home chicken pox that December.  Tomorrow the ornament my son made at the same age.

My tree now had lights and ornaments and is perfect.  It stays up until  January when the Wise Men arrived.  I can't believe that Christmas is next week. I need to start on my cookies.

Well, I made very large cups of tea for my friend and I.  It was indeed 28 degrees on the back deck.  Even in the Sun.  My tea had sugar hers had honey.  And I had to answer questions regarding the honey.  Had the honey EVER come in contact with a spoon that had peanut butter on it.  Some people eat peanut butter and honey sandwiches. And she has a very big peanut allergy.  

Her family is dealing with elderly parents in care situations and as time passes- money issues. Paying for at home care or commercial care facilities.  Two different situations- And the havoc that trails down to the family members making decisions.  Often not the right ones by mistake.  Making decisions while under emotional stress.  And then we spoke of death. It was an interesting visit. I could relate slightly.  I sat by my father's bed in the Palliative Care unit one November.  Making decisions for my father as executor of his life and estate.  I know what a heavy burden that is. But add to that the problems with money.  A nightmare.

Husband is not wanting to eat his regular lunch of cold deli meats rolled up in Swiss cheese.  So I asked if he "might" eat the same meats in a grilled sandwich.  A "hot" lunch.  Yes, he would.  And he asked for American cheese and not Swiss.  So......today he wants the same.  Well, okay.

Susan-- I will indeed test the potholders made with just potholder batting.  See if they are okay before giving them away.  My friend on the back deck and I were reminded of someone who gave us potholders that did nothing to keep hands from the heat of a hot pan.  So, a double reminder regarding homemade potholders.  And a double layer of batting is a good solution if one cannot get to the store for the special "potholder" batting.

I found a few other little potholders that never got bound with edging.  So- a few more.  And upstairs I believe I have Santa Fabric.  I can make them up for next Christmas.

I believe I am allergic or sensitive to Balsam.  My left eye is swollen and itchy.  

Husband has a doctor's appointment today at 3 pm.  I am going along.  The doctor likes me to accompany husband to doctor visits.  Now.  Will be interesting.   Just like every day is "interesting".  Hope your day is also interesting but without quote marks.

Daily Notes- December 15th

 Another image from the fashion magazine (free at the library).  Sort of "trust in helping hands" ( in protective gloves?).  so fashionably COVID.  If offered to me- yes, I will accept the vaccine.

Got the lights on the tree and looked at them last night while watching Hallmark Movies- and kept getting up to fuss with them- a bit to the left, too deep so pull some forward  and then before bed- I trimmed a few branches off the bottom.  Cleaned it up a bit.  It's hard being me......

Today decorations.  Ornaments.  And the daily fuss- potting with them.  That's a word- fuss-potting. It's how I live my life.  Fussing around with things- changing my mind- back and forth.

Before the fuss potting- hot cups of tea on the back deck in chairs- I have to find some chairs- with Patty.  She is recently returned from Boston where she helps care for her 102 year old father.  Everyone in the household got Covid early on.  Caregivers, father, my friend.  They recovered pretty quickly.  Patty is an RN and is now doing contact tracing for CDC.  We are having a visit- outdoors, 6 feet apart and with masks wearing heavy Winter coats, scarves and mittens.  Twenty eight degrees.  We might decide to walk. Rather than sit.  We'll see. How it goes.  But we won't be in the house.

I have not made my green square yet but my friend Patty is "unconditional love".  The tree........it takes up all my time.  And energy.

I have three new potholders to quilt and sew (I pieced them years ago it seems).  I cut the backing fabric larger and will fold and bring it up over the edges.  No binding.  I also added warm and natural batting to the potholder insulted batting. I read the paper instructions.  Now I worry the others are too thin.  Any comments?...................... I can't redo the ones that are done already.  But I don't want to give my neighbors something that will not be protective?

Daily Notes- December 14th

 Turn a pile of assorted scraps into something? Or a pile of evergreen cuttings into a new crown for the Porch Goddess? I still haven't gotten that done.  It's been too cold outside. (I could lay newspaper in the sink and work on things there or in the garage)  Or just go up in the attic with knees that have decided to hurt when you bend or climb steps.   

The boxes are down.  No lifting.  I backed down the steps and lifted the boxes down one step at a time.  Old Timer's Ways.  Old Knees.

We actually do have to WAIT until January 20th to relax.  

I have my car back so I can drive myself places.  Husband will need to figure out what the radio wants us to do-  it says insert code.  I am reminded of this happening once before when the battery was dead.  There's a book.  I hope there's a code.  I like my radio station.  I could use CD's if the radio won't go.  Patsy Kline or Jingle Bell Rock.

It's cold here in the house- even with the furnace going. No Sun.  Storm coming.  Rain right now.

Husband enjoyed his home made chicken soup yesterday.  He was also more relieved than he wanted to let on- when I walked into the kitchen and said  "I'll do the washing up".  He'd had enough standing up for one day (one week) and got right down on the couch with his heating pad.  It's like the Old Folks Home here.  

The Library Pick up and the Grocery just about wore me out as well.  Things have to returned to Very  Serious at the grocery.  Only one entrance/exit.  One BIG BIG guy at the door.  This is where the "mask" problems happen.  I found everything I needed to buy.  I also purchased a prepared meal of meat loaf, mashed potatoes and a very large serving of broccoli.  So I can have a proper dinner this week.  Not just peanut butter sandwiches or grilled cheese.  I should make myself soup.  I should.  But I don't.

All that goes on and dark at 3pm- it takes it's toll.  If I don't do things early in the day nothing happens ........and I have stopped reading- my eyes are tired and dry.  I returned books unread today.  I enjoyed sewing the binding on the potholders.  So I am thinking of repairing the old worn out yellow and white quilt.  Perhaps just making it a bit smaller where things are really raggedy.  Like me.....getting raggedy around the edges but still whole in the center.

Daily Notes- December 13th

 My Orange Square-  Let go- let it flow.

Tree is drinking water.  I am watching Christmas Movies on ION and they are strange and delightful.  The actors are different- goofy.  Last night the lead guy looked like he was 20 and had an pre- teen daughter. He parted his hair in the middle and it fell over his ears.  Very stupid looking. At the end of the movie, he got the girl and his hair was combed back and off his ears.  He looked 10 years older.

Next movie had another good looking woman and an off the charts weird guy. He was sweet and nice but he had two outfits.  When he packed to leave for good- a flat messenger bag.  I guess he traveled light.

So that was that. While I watched- I sewed the binding on my potholders.  

Today G wanted homemade chicken soup- not canned soup (which I have been feeding him for a couple weeks) so I went to get things out of the freezer- last package of chicken thighs and then ACK!!! discovered the crisper drawer contents had frozen solid.  Luckily there are two compartments and there was enough celery and carrots in the right side section for the soup.  Everything else went into the compost pot.

My grocery list is  growing.   And then phone rings and the Auto  body Shop was done with daughter's car so we went to pick it up.  Now my winter coat is covered in pink feathers from her steering wheel.  At  least she had taken down the hanging crystals.

Tomorrow I get my car back.  I can go to grocery alone and library. Alone.  In my own car.

Daily Notes- December 12th

 Well, I am so sorry I am so late to the desktop.  I addressed my Christmas Cards and worked on the binding of my Christmas Potholders.  It was a deep dive into the binding technique- I had forgotten all of it.  So, many mistakes until FINALLY I was back into it.  I need to cut one more strip for the last one- but looked at the clock and........ here I am.  I will hand stitch after I eat some lunch.  While I watch tv.

Meditate.  Yes.  That would be a fine thing to do. Riley and I did that. Meditate.  The first 30 minutes we settled - me on the couch and he on his bed next to my right foot.  He pressed his back to my foot and I pressed my foot to his back- and we were quiet.  Settling.  Being Whole with each other.  I think he was my one great love. Unconditional.  Accepting of all faults.  Green.

I worked on my yellow square yesterday.  Trust Your Gut.  It's different but I like it.  I love my Orange square. Emotions, Creativity, Water/flow.  Next up is green.  Unconditional Love, Intuition. Good Health. I have always loved green.  Mossy greens.

My TREE drank water.  I had to fill the stand a few minutes ago.  I have to get into the feel of it.  Remind myself to check- I did before bedtime but should have checked after breakfast. There was still water so it was okay.  Plain water.  No additives.  That's what trees like.  And it is beginning to smell like pine in here.

Another Art Quilter out in the stratosphere  made lovely potholders and hung them on a little tree in her neighborhood.  Inviting passersby to take one.  I loved how the little tree looked  in her photo- and each day I think she replenishes the tree.  Now- my  plan is to put a potholder in my neighbors (on my deadend street) mailboxes.  Boxes with a little red flag you raise if you have mail to go to the post office. And one in the newspaper box for the gal who brings my paper.

Well, that's about all for today.  Potholders.  I haven't read a book in three days.  I am reading a book- but it's on the computer screen. Coming in in two page segments.  So I don't go blind.  I've read this particular book (being written by a friend) before but she has been editing for the past few years and I never did get to read the ending.  So this is exciting.  I always want to say it's Jack and Diane like that old song.  But it's Jack and Anna. She is limiting the number of pages so my eyes don't go crazy.  I'm getting old-- laughing. She also warns me of parts I might not be comfortable with.  I  like Jack.  I like Anna.  I like one of the Russians. (I know I shouldn't)  I like Chang.  With a book- the more characters a reader likes- the better, huh?

Daily Notes- December 11

 Daughter and her co-worker/friend came by and made short work of cutting the tree to the correct height and getting it into the tree stand.  It will need a few hours to hydrate and loosen up.  Perhaps the branches will relax and widen.  But if not, I don't mind.  Co-worker said- no tree topper???  No star????? No. 

I guess I could make one.

My word for today- heal.

I had one hell of a morning.  Reminded of friends who have died- many years and years ago.  Lots of tears. I am really very very sad today.  Heal.  Tears can heal. Breakfast was good. I have branches from the tree shortening and will make a few swags.  And the Goddess needs a fresh Crown.

I wrote something else on my calendar-  "I'm not arguing....I'm just explaining why I am right"

Daughter's  coworker/friend is a therapist (psych) and suggested husband and I would benefit from a dog- an older one.   I'm thinking- instead of saying something to husband I could say it to the dog???? I miss having a dog.  I miss talking to the dog.  I miss looking into a dog's eyes.

Daughter's bank in town (Bank of America) is closed. Not even drive up window.  Someone has tested positive for COVID and everyone was sent home.  I'm guessing that happened.  These are new to us but more than likely are pretty standard everyday crap fests for most of America and the World these days.

My coffee and oatmeal were excellent this morning.  My tree is in the house.  I will wait a bit to go up and look for the light box and the ornament box.  I love doing the lights but if you recall last year- was difficult getting strings to stay ON.  But once we got them going.  No troubles.