Damn . . .

Taking care of these teeth as Ma insisted, is getting to be a chore. Last week our new regular dentist was supposed to cap #12 but when she took a really good look at it she realized someone had done a partial root canal. For some unknown reason it was never completed and her x-ray showed a black spot that might have been an abscess so yesterday I went to a Root Canal Specialist in East Lyme. Nice thing is I've found another really young woman who is pleasant, has a sense of humor and tells you straight out the problem and shows it to you. She has better x- ray equipment than the normal dentist's office and so we found out the good news first, no abscess. But the bad news is we don't know what was packed into the small part of the root canal after the nerve was killed and don't know why the job wasn't completely done. I do remember missing school a number of years ago because my left cheek had swollen so much and I was on antibiotics for a while. In any case I will have the specialist do the root canal and find out what's going on in this mess before Dr. M in Groton completes the crown next year. Not happy about this but I will try to keep my teeth intact. I'm more than miffed at Dr. C here in Moosup. He really should have let us know when he was in over his head and sent us to someone who knew what to do. It's too late for recriminations but both Puppy's Pop and I thought we were getting good care and now we've both got dental problems. It's no wonder no one has heard a peep from Dr. C's office. Even the specialist asked if I knew how their office could contact him because they have other patients who have ended up needing root canals and can't get in touch with the C's to get the records. Oh well, we're doing fine, just disgusted that we trusted someone implicitly and whether he meant to or not took us for a ride.

Will be off soon to visit younger sister in East Granby. I'll also stop at Munson's to pick up the Christmas favors for Christmas Dinner. Can't believe the time is flying by like this. My friend Barbara is home and recuperating. I sent out a card yesterday and she emailed me that she'll be out for about two and a half weeks. I may call her in a few days. Want to give her time to start healing before I call. Have to get to the credit union this morning. Spent too much money this month. Surprise! Have to hit it up for a bit. Bought way too many books and fun stuff for me and Kiddo. Even got Grampa a Red Green sweatshirt!

Quote: Thou may'st esteem a man of many words and many lies much alike. ___Fuller

Thanksgiving Proclamation

Thanksgiving Proclamation I knew there was something missing on Thanksgiving Day. The Norwich Bulletin no longer prints this beautiful Thanksgiving Proclamation written by Wilbur Cross. Just click on it and enjoy the succinct, descriptive, touching language. I have to believe that there are still officials in our land who can write half as well.

Almost spry . . .

House boat on the Tanana.

Maybe I just needed to laze around a bit because I'm feeling almost up to snuff today. Good breakfast with a delicious potato pancake and the fixings, kids' Mass where I watched the story of Noah (?) and Grampa said we'd go out walking when it warms up. Did get some bad news too though. My friend Barbara at Sacred Heart got sick while working in the kitchen last Wednesday and ended up in the hospital. She had her gall bladder removed yesterday and may be home by Tuesday. She'll be out of work for two weeks. That's not good in any way, shape or form. She's such a spit fire I hope she gets well soon. I'm sure being home for two weeks will drive her crazy.

Quote: An ungrateful man is like a hog under a tree eating acorns, but never looking up to see where they come from. ___Timothy Dexter

Interesting aside . . .

Fishing in Alaska.

Wanted to go for a walk on this very windy, quite cold sunny day and since the Dog Track is out of bounds I asked Puppy's Pop if he wanted to accompany me for my old routine walk on our very own street. He declined but said he'd walk with me at the Yankee Flyers' field since it was too windy for flying and he had some "stuff" to do. We walked about 3/4 of the way around the Industrial Park, about a mile, before we cut cross lots through the cut hay fields to the flying field. Pretty good walk but I doubt I will walk through the hay fields on my own. Too rough and bumpy for me. From there we went to the Putnam Walmart because I had told Grampa that they has kerosene for $21 for 5 gallons. Surprise, I was very, very wrong. (Notice, not one "very" but two.) It was $21 for about 2 gallons. My flub. From there I thought we were going to the Java Jive in Woodstock for lunch. Wrong again. Started out going South on the entrance to 395 and immediately did u-turn on the exit so we could go North on 395. Phew, that was fun. I decided to ask where we were going and found out we were looking for the Yankee Flyers' meeting place so Grampa could go to the Thursday meeting. Well . . . The latest incarnation of the meeting site is in a not-Catholic church in Grosvenordale across from Colt'sPlastic. Yep. We think we found it. A Methodist church which is across from what may have once been the plastics mill but is now a type of shopping center cum-office space cum-whatever they could put in the old mill. But naturally we didn't stop to see if we really had the right spot we just kept on driving and driving. So I dared to ask where we were going since we hadn't really ascertained where the Thursday meeting is to take place. I was told that we were under control as we drove down Route 131 almost into Southbridge, MA before we went left on Route 197 through North Woodstock ( a beautiful drive) and then left on 169 to our lunch at Java Jive. Yes, a good time was had by the two of us. I couldn't help laughing on the drive. Gotta love that man. He's just too much fun. I never know what to expect even after almost 44 years. When we returned home we had a message from our neighbor that their dog, Lex was feeling better. That was a relief. Thursday night, because my hip was bothering me so much and I didn't want to take the time to clean off the turkey carcass I had just cooked up for stock I had Puppy's Pop throw it outside behind the garage. Of course old Lexi-pooh got loose and pigged out. He'd been sick ever since.

Quote: It will be found that they are the weakest-minded and the hardest-hearted men, that most love change. ___Ruskin

And a good time was had by all . . .

Of course the turkey was ready early but since the little gang got here early everything was fine. Somehow or other I managed to hurt my right hip so I was pretty crippled up by last evening but I'm a bit better today. Kiddo decided to stay overnight last night because . . . he only had 4 more chapters to read for me in Let's Pretend and then we would have to go to Target. He was pushing me to let him read all Thanksgiving Day. He even told his parents they could leave as soon as dinner was over! But I made him hold out until last night and so this morning we have already made our trek for his latest game/toy. He bought a Lego put together that he and Grampa are working on as I write. He needed a new Bey Blade for his collection and naturally I needed a new Bey Blade too. The store was busy but not crowded and we had no problems getting in and out. Kiddo and I will go to lunch at Richoni's before we head to his haircut and then back to his home to play until his brother takes over as caretaker at 6pm. Another good day even in the rain.

Quote: When thankfulness o'erflows the swelling heart, and breathes in free and uncorrupted praise for benefits received, propitious Heaven takes such acknowledgement as fragrant incense, and doubles all its blessings. ___Lillo

Impressive . . .

I'm almost scary. I've made a good start at getting ready for tomorrow. (Took a break because Uncle R and T just stopped in. He's in big trouble. Bought a new car and wasn't supposed to do that. Yikes, I don't want to get involved with that.) They are having Thanksgiving at their house with her son, the new baby, his wife and daughter. That'll be great for them. Kids are a whole lot of the fun. I'm in Groton and Kiddo and I have just finished a game, a puzzle and the first chapter of Winnie-the-Pooh. He's on his DS so I figured I should finish my blog. I've already got the table opened up, the dishes out, the cran-raspberry sauce made, turnips cooked, chairs moved around, extra table for deserts set up, ingredients out for the pies I'll make tonight, stuffing for celery made, celery cleaned and cut and the bread machine ready for 8am start tomorrow. Pretty cool.

Feeling rather upset because Grampa and I can no longer fly and walk at the Dog Track. The owner has piled up huge mounds of rubble from the monster rubble pile in place of the gates that the kids kept tearing down. It's impossible not to take the hint. So Grampa will now fly during the week at the radio control field in Danielson and at the Sterling School on weekends. I'll have to figure out my best walking path at the Yankee Flyers field. Darn. We were so comfortable in Plainfield. But I'm sure we will survive this attack on our routine! Well it's time to sign off because I hate to let the Kiddo play too many games without me.

Springtime in November . . .

It smells like early Spring here at the Rose Cottage. It is just after 9am and we have 56 degrees and quite sunny. I believe the rain is forecast for this afternoon but I'll appreciate the rain as the River is extremely low and I'm sure the winter rye could use some help. Grampa is off to East Hartford for horseshoes and I'm certain he'll be at the Dog Track when he returns to make up for the crashed flight yesterday. I felt awful as I watched his latest and one of his best planes just go straight in. But he is amazing because he's got it all back together again. It looked to me as if the wind just swept out from under the full fuselage plane and it fell like a brick. I don't know the proper terms to use to describe the accident but it looked terrible. I thought Grampa would call it quits after that but he brought out the Snow Fox and continued to fly in the windy conditions. Gotta love that man. Finished up some bank business today but couldn't get them to give me the 2011 calendar. Have to wait until Friday. They will not give them out before Thanksgiving. How bureaucratic. Have to be on my way to Groton and the dentist soon. Am not looking forward to another cap but "que sera sera." Mama always insisted we take good care of our teeth and so I'm trying to be a dutiful daughter! What an intelligent, sharp perceptive lady, that mother of ours!

Quote: Inviolable fidelity, good-humor, and complacency of temper, outlive all the charms of a fine face, and make the decays of it invisible. __Tatler

Got a bug . . .

Damn. . . I've gone and picked up some sort of stomach bug. I'm dragging so badly. I did go shopping for our Thanksgiving dinner and managed to walk about 1 1/2 miles on this grey day but that's it. Hopefully I'll be all recovered tomorrow because I have a dentist appointment and a few more odds and ends to clear up before Wednesday. On Wednesday I'll pick up Kiddo from school at 1pm and keep him in Groton until about 4:30. Then I have to scoot home and start cooking: turnips, cran-raspberry sauce, apple and pumpkin pies. I'll also get the tables set up and dishes ready before we go to bed. Then on Thursday morning I will only have to cook the turkey, potatoes, corn, gravy; get the salad prepared; put out the cheese, crackers, fruit, olives, wine, chocolate favors and bake the bread. Will have 6 or 7 of us for an early 12:30 pm dinner. Making myself hungry already.

Time to relax a bit.

Quote: I have come to the conclusion that mankind consume too much food. __Sydney Smith

That's it . . .

OK. I quit. That's it. I've finally finished the garden for the year. I refuse to do anything else. Yesterday I cut down the peonies. I cut down the asparagi. I cut down the new raspberry plants. I cut down the old raspberry canes. I super mulched the dahlias I'm trying to make survive the winter. I raked leaves and now I've had it. Besides I walked my 2.1 miles in the wind at the Dog Track. Today I swear I will have a do nothing day: watch the UCONN women; watch the last race of the season; read and if Grampa decides he wants to go flying I'll walk. We'll have easy hot dogs and beans for supper. Sounds good to me. Time to get started. I've had breakfast and went to Mass so I'm raring to sit back, relax and enjoy the day.

Quote: Love and a cough cannot be hid. ___Herbert

Mémère, Pépère and Uncle David

In at 9:17 out at 9:26 . . .

Salmon. Alaska, bien sûr!

Incredible speed at the Putnam DMV. Had to renew my license and I dreaded it. Miraculously I was in and out in 9 minutes. I can't even begin to understand how that happened because when I got there the lady in charge was talking Christmas parties with a co-worker and I never thought they were going to shut up. Not only did I finish up fast for my license but I literally zipped into Walmart and bought a kerosene cantainer and was home by 10:03. So all in all it was an hour trip to Putnam for the DMV and Walmart. Damn, I'm good.

Not so good is Puppy's Pop's news when I got home. The Hoyt's house was broken into but at least they caught the rat fink who was still parked in the back of the house. We never saw anything. Must have been out walking at the dog track. We figure it must have been the same person who stole the huge fly wheel we had near the milk room. Some one also broke into Carl's new house on the hill behind April's and took his copper piping. It's getting somewhat nerve wracking around here. A couple of nights ago a young couple decided to have a super big argument right in front of our house. I was about to call the police when they left in a car. Not too happy about these shenanigans.

Quote: O thoughts of men accurst.___Past and to come seem best; things present worst. ___Shakespeare

Obama Still Smokin': A Modern U.S. President

Grey day yet good . . .

Found the filter on my Dyson after son told me about finding his after using it for 5 years without cleaning it! Our filter was in a different place but I did find it and washed it out. Supposed to do that every 6 months. It's only been about 2 years for us so we're three years to the good in the competition to keep those Dysons cleaning up a whirwind! Got a lot of odds and ends done today: Big Y; a few Christmas presents; Christmas cards at the Hallmark store where they graciously let me use my $10 off coupon even though it was two days out of date; picked up Kurig cups for daughter's home, hot chocolate and biscotti for the big kid; managed to walk at the Dog Track too so all in all a rather full day. Time to get my list ready for the Trappistines and write out the Thanksgiving menu so I can be ready for next week. Can't believe that the holidays are almost upon us. But that's fine. I really like the holidays and I'm hoping that perhaps next year the three kids and their spouses and friends can make it for at least one celebration even if we have to make one up to accommodate everyone!

Quote: O, judgment, thou art fled to brutish beasts,and men have lost their reason. ___Shakespeare

Pleasures . . .

Must take the time to marvel at our new washing machine! Wow, wow, yowza! Yes, it is that stupefying. Not sure if it's because it's a front loader but the clothes come out almost dry so the dryer doesn't work very long to fluff up the wash. I'm so impressed but don't quite know what words to use to describe my great satisfaction with an appliance. Suffice it to say that it reminds me of That Wonderful, Marvelous, Mud-Washing Machine! That was such a nice book and it is now in Kiddo's library.

Our outing to PPAC yesterday was stellar. The Radio City Christmas Spectacular was nice but not outstanding. Perhaps that was because Kiddo wasn't impressed and I so wanted him to really enjoy it. He did clap and appreciate some of the 12 Scenes but it was a let down for me. Part of the problem was that the actor playing Santa was terrible. His voice didn't project and his acting was awful. Perhaps we got the understudy but usually understudies are very capable. Most of the scenes and music were schmaltzy and geared to a generation older than I. Now that's telling you something! The Rockettes were great and I particularly loved The March of the Wooden Soldiers. The ensemble was mediocre. Perhaps that is the fault of the producer and the director. But the greatest part of the show, I would love to see this part again, was the last scene: The Live Nativity. A narator with a godlike voice told the biblical story as the scene unfolded in great majesty. The singing and music were perfect. I believe I was startled to have the real Christmas story unfold before my eyes in the year of our Lord, 2010 when we seem to be the greatest secular society on Earth. I didn't realize that the Radio City Christmas Show dates back to 1933 and that extravagant tableau has been a staple every year since then. That does give me hope for the future of Our Land. It's such a beautiful tradition along with my March of the Wooden Soldiers. So there is real progress in keeping these traditions and one can only smile and enjoy the wonders man chooses to hold sacred.

That's it for today. I've got my work cut out for me. More of that darn housecleaning and getting caught up with the magazines! I really don't seem to be improving with age. Damn.

Quote: The test of every religious, political, or educational system is the man that it forms. __Amiel

Reminicences . . .

Just sipping my post prandial Cabernet-Sauvignon and was thinking about the new front loader Whilrpool washing machine made in Canada that today replaced our almost 27 year old Maytag. Now I realize that it's odd to get nostalgic about a washing machine so I'll blame the wine. My thoughts went back to 1984. Ma Tante was here; Ma and Pa were here; Dad was working at UNC; Gram was in Oneco; the boy was 12; the girls were 10 and 5; I was teaching at KHS with my best friend, Agnes. I've got to say that old washing machine had a lot of wonderful stories to tell as I sipped my wine. Made me shed some tears and smile too. Lord, how I miss the days of yore. Yes, life today is really something special and wonderful. We still love and enjoy our lives but memories of olden days are not ephemeral; they live in our souls as treasures of the greatest worth. Life goes on without the physical beings that formed us and love us but they assuredly are with us always. And so we are thankful for our past, our daily lives and the well trod future they have paved for us.

Sunny and beautiful . . .

While I was out gallivanting with Kiddo yesterday poor Grampa had a big problem on the home front. Our 26 year old washing machine burned out, literally. He called to tell me about the smoke all over the place but no fire. Thank goodness. I'm glad that he was home because sometimes I put in a wash and leave to go on errands. We went to Bousquet's in Danielson when I got home at 6pm last night and bought a Whirlpool front loader. It will be delivered tomorrow, set up and the old one carted off. We paid $1000 26 years ago for our Maytag washer and dryer set. The dryer conked out in 2004 and the washer just died. Pretty good. Had forgotten that we had bought it from the same store, Bousquet's. This time we paid total cost of $760 but that includes about $50 in tax. Disgusting. Can't wait to start using the new one. Hope it works 75% as well as son's does.

Kiddo and I had a good day. We managed to fine some more Bey Blades (dueling tops), gloves for him, books, for him and origami planes for us. He ate a quarter pounder ( no cheese), a small fry and a jug of chocolate milk for lunch before we went to the Mystic Aquarium, one of his favorite places. The Challenge of the Deep theatre was a lot of fun. You sit on a chair and hold on as you go into the depths to view a giant squid who grapples the vessel you're in before a whale saves you. The sea lion show was the best ever with 4 sleek animals strutting their stuff. I just follow where ever Kiddo takes me. He's the expert at the aquarium. Although he didn't want to touch the rays he stayed very close to the pool and was splashed by them as others petted them as they swam by. Will be leaving soon for Sacred Heart. Older brother and his wife will stop in to get the yellow dahlia toes and then they should be on their way to younger brother's from whence the gang will go to Richoni's for lunch. I may bump into them after my stint at the school. Grampa will have to do the garden honors since I'll be on my way. I'm tired of digging up the dahlias and plan to see if I can get them to winter over in the garden. But if I fail at least someone will have the beautiful, large yellow ones!

Quote: Flowers are God's thoughts of beauty, taking form to gladden mortal gaze; - bright gems of earth, in which perchance, we see what Eden was - what Paradise may be! __Anonymous

Damn - I may have to cancel giving them away ; )

Veterans' Day

Thank you. God bless you and hold you in the palm of His hand.

Just rolling along . . .

Back to Alaska.

Can't believe I spent $163 at Big Y just for groceries, not even hand creme or toothpaste et cetera for just the two of us. I didn't even buy anything special for Kiddo. But I did splurge on his big brother and bought him a box of Nonni's Biscotti, Cioccolati, naturellement, since that is all he'll eat. Mea maxima culpa. When I worked at the garage I used to bring him biscotti and hot chocolate for snack after elementary school. He's going to be sixteen December 31 and I expect to help out with his driving lessons. Hope it's going to be fun and not too exciting!

Had a great day yesterday when my younger brother's wife came shopping with me at the Mashentucket-Pequot Casino. I needed, yes absolutely needed, a pair of Not Your Daughter's Jeans and the only place close to home was Foxwoods so off we went. After a lot of help we found Regalia in the old casino and I was delighted at the fit of these made in USA jeans. I also got them to hem them for me. They did tell me that they don't hem jeans but I explained that a wonderful lady at Panache in the MGM Grand had told me that Panache does free tailoring. That got her to call the tailor and an hour later my jeans were ready. I really lucked out because I came home with 3 pairs of very nice jeans and only paid for the NYDJ. My neat sister-in-law gave me two pairs of Coldwater Creek jeans that are perfect. How great is that? Super great. We had lunch at the Gold Dragon: dim sum traditional pot stickers (minced pork and cabbage dumplings wok seared served with a Ginger soy sauce) and sticky rice and chicken wrapped in Lotus leaves; two pots of the best tea ever; an introductory very light cabbage slaw and to top it off desert. The coconut pudding was so mild and tasty served with mandarin orange slices. After our perfect lunch we picked up my jeans and headed out. Couldn't leave without stopping at Munson's where I bought my Thanksgiving chocolate turkeys and a few chocolates to keep me for the trip home. N. and I decided we will have to do this shopping thing on a more regular basis. May go to Cranston or Warwick one of these Tuesdays! Hooray!

Quote: Friendship improves happiness, and abates misery, by doubling our joy, and dividing our grief. ___Addison

Already an odd day . . .

Not Alaska redux.

Started the day looking out of the window this early morning to see Puppy's Pop shoveling snow off of the driveway! Yikes, way to go Connecticut Democrats! I decided not to go shopping for Not Your Daughter's Jeans and Grampa didn't go to the VA in Providence for his blood work so after breakfast at home we took a ride to Oneco for coffee. Well Lizzy B's was mobbed and the owner has to put her two step grandkids on the bus in the morning. Of course there was a 90 minute delay and no bus. I offered to watch the kids, Dakota 6 and Brianna 5, and put them on the bus because Linda was alone in the kitchen and really couldn't stay outside with the kids. Grampa and I ended up buckling the kids into the Dodge and bringing them to the Sterling school. Our good deed for the year! I happened to have my iPad with me because I wanted to show Linda how nice the welcome cart looked in the photos I had taken. Turned out to be perfect for the kids as they took turns playing the dot to dot game as we waited for the bus that never came. Way cool.

On a warmer note I ordered a kerosene heater from Amazon last night just in case we ever have a power outage. I don't think that Puppy's Pop is too thrilled with the idea but I just want to have it in case. Just can't trust those Democrats in Connecticut to keep the power on. We went for a very cold, windy, brisk walk at the Dog Track yesterday, no flying. I'll walk inside today and go back to my audio books.

Quote: The melancholy days are come, the saddest of the year. __Bryant

Must spew . . .

Not Alaska.

Can't really grasp what Connecticut has done. We are in terrible shape so we put the same people back in office. That is so incredible. On top of that Bysiewicz doesn't have an official count and tells us that Malloy is the new governor. How could you get more outrageous than that? It is enough to make you physically sick. This is not ignorance on the part of our Secretary of State. It is hubris at the highest degree and vengeance. It's too bad for me that I love the four seasons in New England but we really have to consider going to a state where the welfare clients don't vote your money into their pockets. Can't stand too much more of this "merde."

On a brighter note at least the country as a whole did some good things on Tuesday but I don't trust the Republican Party to do what's best for us. Hope they stick to their guns, literally and figuratively, and clean up the mess in DC. If not "numb nutz" will be in office for another 6 years and it will be doomsday for the USA. It is scary.

Good thing I spent a good part of yesterday helping Puppy's Pop spread over a ton of loam on the ruts in the yard made by the felled trees and the logging truck. I don't believe that I could do manual labor for 8 hours a day. That was hard work but I felt good when we were finished. The only thing I did was to keep dragging the soil forward so Puppy's Pop could shovel it into my super wagon. Thank goodness we have the Dodge Ram and we were able to do the work ourselves. That Grampa is a hard worker. He wished Kiddo could have been here to help out. Kiddo would have really liked to go to Rawson's on Hopkin's Hill to get the Ram loaded up. He is also a good worker. Helped me rake a big pile of leaves. Natually he had to jump into them too but his work was stellar!

It's raining pretty hard and 40*. Time to finish reading the paper. (That's a joke.)

Quote: The stoical scheme of supplying our wants by lopping off our desires, is like cutting off our feet when we want shoes. ___ Swift

And my cup runeth over . . .

So many wonderful escapades these last few days. Was supposed to visit my younger sister today but she and her husband have some type of stomach virus so I asked younger brother and his wife if I could beat them at cribbage. They agreed to let me try but our plans changed early this morning when he received a desperate email from their friend who needed help bottling a batch of rosé. Oh my, what a lot of fun. We had to sip and taste the old wine and then compare it to the new. I'm not fond of rosés but I thought it was very interesting to try to check the color, the aroma, the flavors, the texture, sweetness and other classifications! After notes were taken and some juice added to the new wine we were ready to bottle. I really enjoyed my role. I filled the bottles on what looks like a milking machine. It holds six 750mls bottles and stops when they're full. Very cool. Someone corks them at the next stop. The next person puts the labels on and the last step is to heat seal the protective collar. They are packed inverted, twelve to a case. We only had about 20 cases and it didn't take us too long. I hope I get a chance to go again. But he generally bottles on Wednesdays and I'm only available on Mondays and Tuesdays. He gave all of the helpers a bottle of wine. So I came home with a bottle of St. C., a red, naturellement! And then it was off to lunch and getting beat in cribbage. Perfect day. I'm adding this thought: if kid brother's friend added some sweetness to his rose he could call it Not Chenin Blanc But . . . and it would be fantastique!

On top of all that fun we went out with Oneco friends to Marchetti's in Cranston, RI. Saturday evening. Wonderful food with great friends and we stopped at their home for chocolates before coming home. The restaurant was jammed packed when we got there with lines out the door and it was the same way when we left about two hours later. Incredible food and good prices. And to top it all off Sunday morning we saw two red foxes scoot across the hill, behind the garage and down through the garden before they scampered across the road. And . . . later in the day a red tailed hawk came sailing down the driveway. Plus we ended up with four Halloween goblins, including Kiddo so now we have a nice big bowl of M&M's to eat!

Quote: Wine invents nothing; it only tattles. It let's out all secrets. ___Schiller