Nice invite . . .

Middle child called yesterday and invited me to lunch at the Mohegan Sun. P&D's Pop wanted to stay home and paint while out was out of the house so I was off on my own! Parked in the old UNC parking lot and met Kiddo and his Mom at the bottom of the escalator. We walked right smack through the whole Casino, clear to the opposite end and Margaritaville had a grill problem! So we backtracked and ate at Kiddo's favorite, Bobby's Burger Palace. It was very good and fun to see the kids together having a good time! There was one bad note though. Middle child told me that Kiddo's older brother was going back to work after lunch at McD's on Route 12 the day before yesterday when his friend driving a Chevy Malibu, were stopped to make the left turn to Cardinal Honda and were rear ended by a twenty-five year old lady in an Audi who was texting and hit them without even slowing down. Both kids were brought to the hospital and sent home with Valium and other pain pills for whip lash. Incredibly eye witnesses say she never even put on her brakes. The seat backs in the Malibu broke and her hood was bent up. Hope the kids don't have too many residual problems. Kiddo's brother is twenty years old today. Scary idiots out there still using their damn toys while driving. I'd go after her big time. That is just callous, self-centered, stupidity.

Grampa invited me to go see the last of the Hobbit movies. Must admit I like them. Then we stopped at New York Pizza for lunch. I watched UCONN Men lose in overtime to Temple and I quit watching the Women's game against East Carolina because it was ridiculous. It's not good for the Women to have to play so far below their station.

Well I guess those are the last complaints of 2014. On a plus note I received at least three singing Birthday calls. What a hoot!

Quote:  Where boasting ends, there dignity begins.   ___Young

This experiment may fail . . .

Digging out the best of 2014 bird photos for FB Group

P&D's Pop has just returned from the VA with his latest hearing aids and I am the recipient of another two dozen roses, the first two have finally faded away after two weeks, and . . . the old hearing aids! I'm wearing them now and of course I realize they were not meant for me but thought it would be a good trial to see how they work. So far my only complaint is that every sound is too loud! Gees, I can't even sniffle without hearing myself! The sliding door in the bathroom is like thunder! But . . . on the plus side I can hear much better. I told P&D's Pop that I feel as if I should speak more quietly and he said that would defeat the purpose! So, I'm going to see how long I can keep this experience going without giving up. I asked him where the volume button was and he said that was one of the problems with this set of hearing aids - no volume control, just on or off. He likes his new set because they do have volume control. We'll be going out to late lunch, early dinner at The 99 and I'll see if I can handle the new ears well enough to not be jumping out of my skin!

It's only about 35 degrees this morning but bright and sunny. Not sure if I'll walk outside or in the house. Been very lazy these last couple of days. Finally working on my counted cross stitch project from last year and that feels pretty good. I know it seems odd to say a counted cross stitch project feels good but it does make me feel warm and comfortable as I watch the little tiny stitches become a neat scene on the very small canvas. Get a kick out of it. Sandee may be right; counted cross stitch isn't that difficult it you just plug away at it. I like working with bright colors on the very fine special fabric that is used. If I like this small project she gave me I may look for a bigger project to keep me quiet, thoughtful, comfortable and carefree! It's a soothing project unless it ticks me off when I make a mistake and have to pull out a lot of stitches! 

Time to organize my calendars for 2015 and box up 2014. Life is precious and even with my complaints, life is worth enjoying on God's unpredictable Earth.

Quote:  I saw one excellency within my reach - it was brevity, and I determined to obtain it.   ___Jay

Beautiful bright warm December day . . .

My seventy-second Bluebird; perfect.

Find it hard to believe that we're at the end of the year and it is a balmy 50 degrees in bright sunshine. Will have to go for my walk after the UCONN women finish beating up on SMU. It is ridiculous that the powers that be have put UCONN basketball in jeopardy with the American Athletic Conference. It is the dunce conference and UCONN basketball does not deserve it; football yes. UCONN football is an oxymoron. I don't understand the politics of college sports but obviously, as usual, Connecticut is a loser. The only thing left that is fairly decent in Connecticut is UCONN basketball and Mother Nature. Dégoûtant.

Oh well, Grampa is at the flying field on this gorgeous day. We brought Kiddo home from his Frication and I'm keeping fingers crossed that we don't end up with his terrible cold. Wow, he's caught a doozy. He was sick before and during Christmas. Seemed a little better today. We had a really nice small clan Christmas dinner. The roast beast was excellent and tonight we will eat the remaining slice along with turnip, mashed potatoes and Caesar salad. Tomorrow I will make soup with the bones I've already cooked up. Really don't want to think about taking the tree down because it is looking so fine. I may give it until 2015!

Quote:  Of nineteen out of twenty things in children, take no special notice; but if, as to the twentieth, you give a direction or command, see that you are obeyed  ___Tryon Edwards

Il est né . . . Joyeux Noël . . .

Over thinking . . . perhaps . . .

It's a good thing blogs don't have to make sense!

Been fuming lately about the murders in New York of two policemen; the demonstrations calling for the deaths of law enforcement officers; the rioting and chaos where many blacks are ruining the lives of other blacks; not understanding why many American blacks who are really mulattos will not accept their mixed ethnicities. Roots are what we all need to grow into the best person we can be. It makes no difference the mixture but what evolves as a person is important. Anyhow this lack of understanding on my part has led me to rethink Facebook. I know, that seems odd. But I can't square the drab, dull, foolish, inane quotes, memes and statuses with people who really give a damn about the welfare of the people of these United States. I include myself in these observations. I realize I'm rambling but it's because I can't get a grip on any logic. Everything seems to defy what seems logical to me. I don't understand why the color of ones skin is some kind of litmus test. The people who think they are helping others by putting up sayings are empty headed. We should be acting properly when we go out. We should be studying the politics and the people we put in office. We should help drum out the fear mongers and rely each person to uphold the just laws of our country. We must throw out the elites who would decide for us what we must be. We should be able to go anywhere in this country and not fear being in the wrong neighborhood.  We should be able to tell the truth.

 In this weird blog of mine tonight I'm trying to find out why liking stuff on FB is important to my life when most of the stuff is trite. Not sure how this fits in with what I've said in the first paragraph but I think that people on social media can't really get to the heart of anything because you have to see people, hear people in person to appreciate and understand what is being said.  Blurbs, tweets, interviews do not give us the truth or the trust we must have if we are to really discuss the evil in our society. I've decided to cut down on the likes in general and stick to family likes! I believe I'll continue to post my birds, flowers and scenery on the two FB groups that I enjoy. I enjoy them because most of the people involved on these sites are really only interested in nature and beauty. I particularly like the international group because the photos are lovely and amazing. And it doesn't make a difference what part of the world you are from. I suppose that makes it quite impersonal but there is something heartening in people who share a love of nature, art and beauty.

So for the time being I shall cut back my perusing FB and trying to be a nice friend to all. There is something missing in this somehow one sided, impersonal, unreal method of communicating. It seems as if we are yelling, laughing, crying, to no purpose. It is not warm and comfortable like when you actually talk to someone or write to them to share some sweet or sober thoughts. It's as if we don't think when we use the new technologies to communicate via social media. There is nothing social about typing ones smallest thoughts for all to see. See, I'm getting grouchy again and I think it's because I want so much to scream at the people of the world to go away. Just go away and be quiet and calm for a while. Think, think some more, think again and for heaven's sake be quiet; be peaceful; be loving; be kind; be generous; be brave; speak the truth; fight to protect what is good and noble; point out what is evil and destroy it. It is confusing. It is hurtful. Is there a god of good and a god of evil? Is man never to improve? How can man be so inhuman, despicable, hateful, perverse?  Is there a better place to be?

Quote:  Philosophy is a bully that talks very loud, when the danger is at a distance; but the moment she is hard pressed by the enemy, she is not to be found at her post, but leaves the brunt of the battle to be borne by her humbler but steadier comrade, religion.   __Colton    ( Really? Neither is doing a very good job or have we given up on philosophy and religion and that is the problem?)

All kinds of neat goings on . . .

White-throated Sparrow - only seen here in Winter

A little after mid-night on the 18th Baby Carlos was born. He's a beautiful baby boy and joins his cousins Carleigh and Taylor as the apples of their eyes. Whose eyes? Our southern family's eyes. It's pretty darned sweet to have three little ones in the family as Kiddo is already 10 years old. Hope I get a chance to hold Carlito before he gets too big to be held. Such peace, warmth, comfort and pleasure to hold a baby in your arms.

Just a while ago Oneco friends bearing gifts arrived at our door. With the homemade cookies, always the very best in the whole wide world, and dark chocolates from Sanborn's, was a beautiful tray. The  design was counted cross stitch Spring flowers which S. made. It's beautiful and I have leaned it up on the little bookcase by Grampa' chair in the living room. It's just perfect. We'll be joining them for dinner this evening at Twin Oaks. Looking forward to a Black Russian and escargots; whatever else I have will be just dandy as being out with friends is always a great relaxing time.

Kiddo came for his Frication and gave me a concert on his brand new saxophone. He's playing well. Last Friday's chorus and band concert were the best ever. I can only expect them to keep improving. Something to look forward to.

Quote:  Old friends are best.  King James used to call for his old shoes; they were the easiest for his feet.   ____Selden

Having trouble warming up . . .

Loon caught  a quahog!

Karen and I decided to brave the cold and wind to see if we could see the Snowy Owl at Charlestown Breachway in Rhode Island. We didn't get to see the owl but we did get some shots of loons, ducks and sea gulls. We were out walking along the water's edge for at least an hour and even though we had dressed warmly we were so cold because of the wind. The birds were being buffeted! Some ducks in the channel were trying to swim against the extremely strong tide and couldn't make any headway! They were being pushed backwards so they opened their wings and flapped along with their feet seemingly paddling against the tide. Later we saw some ducks riding out on the tide. They were going like bats out of hell. We spoke with a man who was also taking photos but he said they hadn't see the Snowy Owl in three days. The owl was also seen at Moonstone Beach but a lot of people came out to photograph him and the four wheelers on the beach scared him away. Tarnation! I've never seen an owl in the wild never mind a Snowy. We'll probably try again on our January trek.

Had a good visit with younger sister yesterday. It's nice to be with someone who kinda sorta knows you inside out. We always have a good time, good lunch and great dessert. P&D's Pop got rid of a lot of stuff that's been hanging around this old house for years. He got a few bucks and we didn't have to pay someone to come and take it away! They didn't take the books or records though so I'll have to see about giving them to a church or school yard sale. Amazing how much stuff we've accumulated over the years in addition to what came with the house.

Will pick up Kiddo tomorrow for his Frication. He let us borrow his walkie talkies to see if we like using them to communicate from the kitchen to the basement and they're working fine as long as I remember to turn mine on! Went to his Christmas Concert Tuesday evening with middle child.  Best concert ever.  The band concert was very good and the chorus was pretty impressive.  So glad they have a new music teacher and best of all Kiddo now has at least one man teacher!  That really is great. I'm surprised by how well they did because I've met their teacher and he is a very mild mannered, young, thin, shy young man.  But I think the "young" is the important part.  The kids like him and actually pay attention.  Whoopie!

Quote:  The meaning of song goes deep.  Who is there that, in logical words, can express the effect music has on us?  A kind of inarticulate, unfathomable speech, which leads us to the edge of the infinite, and lets us for moments gaze into that!   ___Carlyle

No doubt . . . I am prejudiced. . .

In the yard as work is being done on the garage roof.

Went with Kiddo's Mom to his school's Christmas Pageant Friday evening and the Fifth Graders gave  the best performance of the evening even beating out the pre-schoolers! They sang in  parts and played their recorders with nary a missed note and sang on key. Pretty GD good as Mémé Caron would have said. They performed God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and Dominick The Italian Christmas Donkey.

When we arrived home in Moosup Kiddo had Grampa and me open the Christmas presents he had bought for us at Sacred Heart's Christmas store. That was great. He got me a cover for my iPad 2 and Grampa received some NASCAR cars which Kiddo had to make before we could display them on the roll top desk.  'twas a very good day.

I keep learning new stuff and that's very good. P&D's Pop returned from the VA Audiology Group with a few pages for me to read about living with hearing loss. I knew a lot of it but there are some new facets to the auditory research. We both have to be more careful when speaking and listening to each other.  I'm at that point where I sometimes feel as if I'm misinterpreting the sounds I do hear and that leads to some confusing conversations! I shall endeavor to concentrate on my listening skills and also to try to enunciate clearly when I do speak.

I missed Mass this morning because we had so many people here working on the roof and giving estimates for the junk piles we've put together! Grampa said I should have cooked the Christmas Roast Beast today as we had so many cars and people in the yard: eight vehicles and six people. Poor Grampa has already made two trips to Lowes. Since I've been pooped out just watching the goings on I suggested we go to New York Pizza for sustenance when all is completed. He accepted the idea with alacrity. Since we don't keep any beer or Margaritas in the house it's a good way to relax and have an excuse not to cook! I may go for a walk outside again today as it is clear, bright and in the low forties. I'll wait until Grampa gets back from his latest foray at Lowes. They forgot to give him his veterans' discount last trip so he may have to gripe a bit!

Quote:  As there is much beast and some devil in man, so there is some angel and some God in him. __The beast and devil may be conquered, but in this life never wholly destroyed.     ____Coleridge

Back to crotchety . . .

Didn't come out perfect but I like this shot.

Can't believe that within two weeks I have gotten bills from two doctors' offices for a few bucks each. So I thought, what the heck just pay them. So I paid the first one only to have the check returned to me and was told they had made a mistake. Then the second one came in, different office, and I thought I don't think I really owe them anything. I called the office and was told they don't do the billing; I would have to call Boston because they have a billing agency that takes care of that. I called Boston and the girl told me. "Oh, it's a mistake, ignore the bill."  Now this is not right. How many people get billed for a few bucks and pay it thinking they owe it? How many companies or doctors ' offices keep the added money?  To top it off I was given a new prescription for toothpaste, yes toothpaste and CVS charged me $19.29. I asked how that could be because the last prescription cost me nothing. They said because one ingredient had changed I had to pay. I paid but called Caremark and told them the sad story of the newest toothpaste prescription. After 45 minutes on the phone the sweet lady told me to go and get my $19.29 refund. Good gravy. I was fit to be tied. It's a good thing Gampa drove me to the pharmacy or I might have run everyone off of the road in my pique.  That's too many minor medical billing problems in a week and a half. I miss the old days when computers were not involved, just humans and no errors were made because of wrong codes by people who don't know what they're doing. I had a similar problem this week with our Wifi. Our computer has been slow as has the iPad and I called Metrocast. The young man told me to unplug the phone and plug it back in and I'd be all set. Did it. Was not all set but I gave them a few days for this unplugging to work. Didn't work. Called again yesterday and a different young man told me that the previous young man was wrong and that he would reset the modem and call me back to see if our speed had improved. I think it's better now. Perhaps I should just unplug from this crazy society we're living in and stick to cash  payments and personal visits to pay bills! You know what? I bet you can't even go to a doctor's office and pay cash!

Did have a good visit with younger sister today and my inherited iPad now has a screen protector and new folio type, magnetic cover. Very nice; very nice indeed! Grampa set it up for me. Went to watch Kiddo's Sacred Heart JV team play St. Patrick's last night and was surprised that St. Pat's has about 15 kids on their JV team to our eight! Their coach put in his weakest platoon for the first quarter and our Kiddos went ahead by about 10 points. Second quarter St. Pat's put in the second platoon and they scored at will and went ahead by a lot. You can figure out how the third and fourth quarters went. We lost 38 to 32 and the kids played their hearts out. Definitely a learning experience. At least St. Patrick's didn't keep their super sized JV platoon in for the whole game! When I saw the varsity teams I almost died. Again St. Pat's had umpteen tall kids, I mean six footers to our much smaller team, number wise and size wise. I don't know what the score ended up being but I can't imagine it was in Sacred Heart's favor. Gotta give our kiddo's A+ for tenacity.

Grampa is on his way to a Yankee Flyers Club meeting. Hope the roads don't ice up. Okay, now that I've gotten all that merdeski out of me I feel better. Thank you blogosphere.

Quote:  He who is firm and resolute in will moulds the world to himself.    ____Goethe

Song from Mass this morning touched me deeply . . .

Manic Sunday

One of today's photos - untouched.

Started the day at the Roadside and was told that they aren't moving to Canterbury! Holy cow. These guys are more variable then the winds of change. They are bending, wispy willows in a breeze. I feel badly for our friend Trish who was ready to finally have her own place and now these guys aren't selling until they sell. They are pretty flakey but they do have good food, nice servers and good customers.

Liked the singing at the 11 o'clock Mass this morning. They have a great song, " Lord, show us the way; it's been a long and cold December kind of day. . ." I like singing with them and since there aren't many people at this Mass and not too many people sitting next to me I can belt out the songs to my heart's content. That's sweet. I don't carry a tune too well but I do like to sing and they put the words up on a screen I can actually see.

A lot of odds and ends to do this week. Besides the usual, Grampa will be getting the Christmas tree because I'd like Kiddo to help me decorate it Friday. He's always a big help. I finished writing out the Christmas cards today and will mail them tomorrow. I hope my friend Clara can get the Christmas ornaments to me a bit early this year. I ordered them in July but she's had some family upsets and been really busy with at least four extra people living with her for most of the summer and into the Fall so I'm not sure how it will turn out. But I'll make do. She a very nice friend and I don't want to hassle her. I don't think she realizes that I have to mail some of the Eggsquisite decorations to Louisiana and Florida so she sends them on time for our tree which can be a little late for gifts to the little ones.

Took a few photos today but it is so cold that I didn't stay out long. Was going to walk up the street for my exercise except it's so windy and about 32 degrees that I'll settle for working out with the Wii.

Yay! Just got a call from middle child and we're invited for pasta supper.  That means I don't have to make my chili for supper.  Hell's bells though, I'll have to cook it up tomorrow.  Oh well, life is never perfect.

Quote:  I've never had any pity for conceited people, because I think they carry their comfort about with them.   ____George Eliot

A real uniform . . .

Needed a bit of color on this grey December day.

Went to see Kiddo play in his first JV Basketball game at St. Bernard High. They lost in double overtime 20-18. But his Sacred Heart team really got it together and worked hard in the second half to tie the game and go into the overtime. They were just a bit short. St. Joseph's had already played two games and our kiddos were in their first game so I think they did quite well. Their uniforms are quite professional compared to Groton Rec t-shirts! I restrained myself in yelling instructions on how to play and only clapped and yelled encouragement. Hard work! Grampa had to take me out for lunch at Gus's Pub because I was famished after all the yelling and screaming was done. And . . . the game was actually played at 9 in the morning!

After Kiddo got his Mom's password yesterday he was able to go on line to get new games for my super iPad. He also taught me how to use the camera and a few other useful apps. I may sell my old one now that we're chugging along so well with this one but I'm not sure since I can read on the old one while Kiddo plays on the newbie! He suggested I give him my original iPad but I don't think I will; too many distractions in a kid's life as it is; doesn't need more.

Bumped into the Mains while we were at Gus's. It was nice to speak with them. They are older than we are by about ten years but still hanging in. They asked if the house was still on the market so I explained how we'd probably try again in late Spring but didn't feel very confident about selling. He made me feel quilty because they've always had Carons living here; well, at least since about 1911. They may just get their wish of us staying. I doubt the economy in Connecticut will improve at all for years to come.

Time to exercise before the UCONN women's game.

Quote:  When our hatred is violent, it sinks us even beneath those we hate.  ___LaRochefoucauld

Mixed bag . . .

Getting used to living in this old house again without worrying about where we're going. Just living in the here and now.  Let the future unfold.

Went to breakfast at Roadside and one of the owners sat with us making sure we'd go to their new place in Canterbury. I told him, in a kidding voice, bien sur, that is was too far. He had a baby conniption fit and then explained the move was related to the landlord in Central Village. It's possible that they don't see eye to eye. She can be a tough old bird. But I like her. It does look like Trish, our favorite waitress, may be taking over the Roadside and making it into her own. She's been wanting to own her own place for a long time so I hope it all works out for her. She'd just have breakfast and lunch.Keeping my fingers crossed. Three months after the guys open their new place at  Dino's in Canterbury they will have the option to buy the entire little mall for 1.2 million. Hopefully all goes well . They will keep the name Dino's for a few months and have not come up with a new name yet. I'm still disappointed but if Trish can get her life's dream of running her own place then I'm all for it.

Grampa had time for early breakfast because he's only going to school for third period for now. The early class is working on a cardboard boat competition and the third period is now working on the solar/electric car competition. The man is in his glory fixing machines at the school and enjoying every bit of the time at PHS. Nifty.

Had to call Metrocast this morning because our computer and Wifi are so slow it's ridiculous. Supposedly they cleared it up by having me unplug the phone for 20 seconds but I'm not sure that did the trick. I'm using the iPad 2 in Kiddo's room because it is still too slow in the kitchen which is where I like to work. Hell's bells. I can't get a break. I really like this iPad. I can work so much faster on it. That's incredible. I can imagine that daughter-in-law is thrilled with the latest edition because I love this second oldest version!

On a different note:  it is now taking me almost an hour to get all of my new exercises done first thing in the morning and, on a good note, it seems to be paying off.  Wow, the therapist has added eight new exercises and even though it takes me a  while to plod through them I feel pretty good afterwards.  So perhaps all of this stretching is going to work well.  On top of that I still have to do my half hour of walking outside or inside.  Cool stuff for sure.

Also, a very good note:  middle child called last night just to talk.  That is so nice. It's wonderful that she now has some time to just relax and call.  Another cool beansies in the book!

Quote:  The busy man is troubled by just one devil; the idle man by a thousand.   ___Spanish Proverb

Interesting day . . .

Went to see younger sister today instead of tomorrow because we're supposed to have lousy weather. She's got the makings of a cold coming on so we bumped elbows instead of hugs! Leave it to us to figure out a new greeting for sickies! I dragged her along with me to Target in Winsor to try to find a cover for the iPad 2 I inherited from son and his wife but was not impressed with anything there. All of the coverings were supposed to fit 2/3/4 but all had the camera cut out on the side and mine is in the middle. So when I got home P&D's Pop managed to squeeze my old iteration one cover on the newbie and did a few exacto cutouts and I'm off and running. The newbie is great for me because I can type so much faster on it. This is sweet. It came with a cover but I'm accustomed to the screen being protected and it wasn't on the iPad 2. With Grampa's ingenious help it is now and I can still prop it up for typing. Very cool beansies.

I've got to do a lot more playing with this gadget and I may get the hang of it. In any case Kiddo will like the fact that he can download better games. Went out to dinner with Oneco friends last night and it was so calm and restful to be out with such nice people. When we returned to their home before going in for a nightcap we were invited into the nearest garage and there was the Mrs.'s new car - a brand spanking new black Camaro. Wow, what a beautiful, wonderful, comfortable machine. I've never sat in a driver's seat that felt made to order; this seat fits to a T. They are both so pleased with their new vehicle and their grandson's only complaint is that it's a convertible!

Almost time to get the leftovers on the table. Since I always have lunch with kid sister poor Grampa has leftovers when I return from visits to East Granby but I did bring him a treat. Of course I shall have to share the pumpkin maple babycake with him even though I shared a chocolate peanutbutter babycake at lunch! Life is fine.

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

Unholy way to begin this day . . .

Not the Bluebird!

Can't believe I've just spent about three quarters of an hour cleaning shit off of one of my favorite pairs of shoes. I made a huge mistake yesterday when I was so excited about the Bluebirds that I decided to make them a treat and I put out some peanut butter with raisins and mealworms in a flattish dish on the big outcropping near their box. I also put out some very expensive special bird food and dried mealworms in another dish also on the rock. I checked them out after breakfast this morning and both had been licked clean. I came in the house to clean up the pans and P&D's Pop noticed the mess I made when I wiped my feet on the old towel I leave by the door. It was the worst mess I've smelled or seen in many years. I had to flush the bottom of the shoe outside with high pressure from the faucet and then brush like hades to get it perfectly clean; then I threw everything that had touched the right shoe away. Horrid, horrid horrid. To top it off I didn't think it was a fox that made the mess. As I'm writing this blog I saw Soldier, who never goes past the driveway and . . . yep, he was checking out the place where the flat bottomed pans had been! And yep, I'm sure it was dog shit I stepped in and it was he who came here and didn't bother to stop at the door for his regular snack. I yelled at him and made him go home and the tête de merde stopped in the middle of our property on his side of our house and pooped. He never used to poop here, peed yes, but there's a newish dog in the neighborhood and the people let him out and I have to chase him away from this yard whenever I see him because he poops here too. I think I'll ban Soldier who seems to be following the new dog's lead. No more snacks. I hate having to watch out in my own yard for dog messes. Still ticked off,

Well that's a load off my mind. Ha. Having a good weekend other than stepping in it. Kiddo went sliding Friday and that's a good thing because it's already 50 degrees at 9 of the clock in the morning and the melting is audible. He beat me at every game we played this weekend but Grampa managed to beat us at the newest iteration of Monopoly. He, Grampa, was tickled pink! Kiddo is turning out to be a pretty good sport and though losing is not fun it isn't a big deal. While he was playing his concert for me yesterday the Bluebirds showed up so I had to go take some photos while they graced us with their presence.  After bringing him back to Groton we stopped at Gus's Pub in Plainfield for lunch thanks to Grampa's gift certificate. Food was fine and since they only have beer and wine I tried a Bud Light Lime-a-Rita: surprisingly good, stronger than I expected but definitely drinkable.

Time to think about getting ready for late Mass.

Quote:  Narrow-minded and ignorant persons talk about persons and not things; hence gossip is the bane and disgrace of so large a portion of society.  ___George Eliot

Best Turkey . . .

Yuppers! Gotta hand it to son-in-law; he roasted up the best turkey of the year. The meat was tender, tasty and downright salubrious. I've never been very good at turkey and so I was delighted when middle child called and said they were in charge of Thanksgiving this year. Phew. I only made two pies and a bread; the rest is a delicious history with no clean up plus two really sweet young men at the table. One for the books, I say.

Son-in-law called his brother in Florida to wish them a happy day and also wanted to speak with his sister and her son who had flown to Florida for a family/Disney visit. But to his surprise she wasn't there. Seems she had tickets to fly out of Bradley in Connecticut and tried to get on the plane in Warwick, RI at T.F. Greene. Made for a real mess picking her up in Florida! I think she hung around Providence and managed to get a late afternoon flight. Hope they all knew what airport she would be landing at. It's just funny as heck because she is a perfectionist, although it sounds like something I am capable of.

Will send out some early Christmas cards this year letting all and sundry know that we've cut out all presents except for four kiddos. I'm not sure what has possessed me to do this but I think the commercialization of this peaceful, family day has taken the 'buying gifts' out of me. It seems to trivialize the beauty of Christmas so we'll have our usual family feast, a tree and cards and call it quits. I'll get myself to the Children's Mass too.

Be leaving shortly to pick up Kiddo for his Frication. Hope he remembers to pack a snowsuit and boots. It's 34 and windy but the hill looks good for sliding. I shall watch only. Don't want to risk breaking my neck coming down at breakneck speed!

Quote:  The chains of habit are generally too small to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.   _____Johnson

Thanksgiving Proclamation

Unhappy state of affairs . . .

At least this little guy is happy at the Diner!

P&D's Pop returned this stormy morning with a very nice monetary gift certificate to Gus's Pub from a friend at the school.  That is really very nice but somehow there is a downside to this generosity and that is:  he went to the Roadside in Central Village to get the gift certificate but they wouldn't oblige him because they are leaving soon for Canterbury. What the hell. I knew down deep that they wouldn't stay in Plainfield but I've really enjoyed the food and especially the service. These guys have never stayed at anything for more than a few years and then they're off. I was hoping this would be different. I guess I'm blown away by the fact that these two guys use people for their own ends and are not pleasant to the people that work for them. That sounds like sour grapes and it is but I believe it's the truth. I've seen servers in other restaurants we've frequented also treated like dirt and this has been the same. I think if I were working there I would have walked out on them long ago. They have great food but lousy manners. I suppose we may check them out in their new digs but perhaps we'll just go to breakfast less. We have found a very good place for lunch with a couple of beers and a Margarita so we're all set! Could end up saving us a lot of money. Okay, there it is, the bright side. I will miss seeing Trish but imagine she will find a new place to work. She's an excellent waitress and great employee who is most definitely underpaid and overworked.

Missing my weekly trek to East Granby because of a Nor'easter. It's only raining now but will probably turn to snow later this evening. We are getting some pellet rain at the moment and I think that younger sister may already be getting wet heavy snow. I'll weather the storm writing Christmas cards and reading.  The birds are looking frazzled; not sure I can get any good photos today.

Quote:  Self-trust is the essence of heroism.    ___Emerson

Gees . . . I have been very bad . . .

Yes, bad to the bone. For some inane  reason I felt almost faint went I got back from my bi-weekly cribbage games with cousine S. I had eaten a good breakfast but because I was so hungry on my return at around 11:30 I ate enough to fill two of me. Still didn't feel great but went shopping at Big Y along with the entire village and came home still craving food. So I did the best I could; I went out and bought myself Ben&Jerry's Everything But The . . . After I ate half of it I felt terrific and cleaned the house a smidge, played around with the Lumix and was ready for supper! Now here we are after supper and I just finished the Ben&Jerry's. Awesome. I hate that word but it fits the circumstances. I just put on at least 5 pounds. But I feel super fine. Nothing else to say.

So discouraged by the news today. Can't believe that Ferguson, Missouri is in the throes of race riots. This should have passed years ago but it seems to be getting worse. One would think that having a mixed race president would help ease the tensions in this vast United States of America. But if anything racial tensions are worse than I've seen them. I find it frightening for all people that we are still looking at skin color, eye shapes, ethnicity, religion as important. What has happened to our souls that they no longer shine through the morass? It is painful to live in such crude, backwards, material, selfish times. It seems that man truly is an animal without the instinct to love, honor and protect his own kind. Other animals have their instincts and live quite well in their animal kingdoms. Man is the worst animal because he follows base instincts and has not improved over the time he has been on this Earth. One may not believe in God but one can understand why a belief in a some intelligent being seems to be the only way to bring order into the chaos man makes. Man is in a losing battle with himself. Don't like it one single bit. I really think that the song from South Pacific fits our situation here on earth. "You've got to be taught, before it's too late, to hate all the things your relatives hate. You've got to be carefully taught."

Well this isn't helping my mood so I'll just sign off. And to think that I'm an optimist. Gees Louise.

Quote:  The existence of evil, as Whately well says, is the great theological difficulty; and the apparent want of success of good men in overcoming it, is but one branch of this difficulty.   ___Bristed

I've never blogged at night before . . .

Isn't that crazy . . . I swear I've never written in the evening. I usually write in the afternoon but I was caught up walking my couple of cold miles, taking photos of the hawk P&D's Pop saw and I've just finished watching Gold Rush on the boob tube. It's good that we can tape it and skip the ads. Not sure why I get a kick out of the show but I do. Perhaps because it takes place in Alaska and of all the reality shows it's interesting to see gold kept in Mason Jars as the weeks progress. No one else keeps stuff in Mason Jars on modern day media! There's really nothing worthwhile that comes out of other reality shows. At least I get to see gold and I like gold. Wish I had at least one solid gold coin to keep on top of the old desk so I could admire it. Pure gold looks as if it must feel warm, bright, heavy and beautiful. I'd even settle for a little, teeny weeny bar! We gave Kiddo the gold we panned when we were in Alaska so he has a little bit hidden away, probably worth about $25. That's cool. We also gave him some pure silver. I'm sure it isn't worth too much but it sure is pretty.

He just called to tell us that he's doing a good job on two of his projects for school. He has one due Tuesday on Lionfish and then a super big one due in January about Tchad. He had to pick a country where French was spoken and he chose Tchad! Wow, it was hard finding him a good book to use as part of his research. They are not allowed to go overboard using Google, Wikipedia or media junk so it's pretty interesting to see him working on his projects. He and Grampa went to buy just the right poster board colors, spray glue and various other colored paper so he can finish the projects. His Mom hates the projects but the kid seems to thrive on them. Personally, I hated them when I was in school and I rarely assigned projects in my classes. I hated cooking projects or art projects. What a pain in the derrière for all. I'm always impressed how he can speak extemporaneously on any subject he has decided he likes.

We played Chess this weekend and now I think he's hooked. I sent him a set from Amazon. He should get it Wednesday. His Mom is going to kill me because he'll be bugging her to play. He was practicing on the iPad on the way to Groton this morning. I'm not a good teacher so I told him to play against the computer. He'll learn more that way!

Quote:  Heaven must be in me before I can be in heaven.  ___Stanford

Okay . . . that was interesting . . .

Sweet

Got to the Orthopaedic Doctor's office a smidge early and I was in 'the room' a bit early too and lo and behold the doctor was right on time. Gee, I like this man. The MRI's showed a slight tear in the right rotator cuff so we'll just leave it alone. He warned me not to throw anything overhand with the right arm nor rotate it much. The back has more arthritis than I expected but nothing major. He offered me a shot which I declined but I'll be going to a therapist to set up exercises I can do on a daily basis to strengthen and stretch my back. I'll show the therapist what I've been doing because I think I've done some exercises I was taught in cardiac rehab that probably aren't good for the back. (Definitely not going back to the guy in Danielson.) The doctor also told me I could go back to my weights, just don't throw things or rotate the right shoulder. Yay. I've already dug them out. I had to hide them from myself so I wouldn't use them. I do have a tendency to go overboard.

Got back from a good visit with younger sister yesterday and P&D's Pop had been speaking with a guy who explained that we need to have railings on the porch steps and the steps going to the milk room. So that's what he's doing at this very moment; working on the porch railings. We may just pull out the steps to the milk room and add some loam and grass instead of a railing. Neither of us really use those steps because they can be somewhat treacherous especially in the Winter. As I think about it perhaps there should be a railing at the top of the wall by the milk room. Everyone is safety conscious to the extreme and even though there have been many kids brought up in this old house and I'm sure many of them have jumped from the top of that wall I guess today's kids need to be protected from their rash behaviors. C'est la vie, n'est-ce pas?

Think I'll walk up the street today. It's not quite 32 degrees though so I'll have to dress up.  Poo.

Quote:  Sophistry is like a window curtain - it pleases as an ornament, but its true use is to keep out the light.

3:50 post meridian and I had to turn the lights on . . .

Haley's Farm, Groton

It's been a dark and dreary day but some how it has flown by. Not sure how that happened. Did a couple of loads of wash, made beds, played with bird photos, went to Big Y, oh, read the Bulletin - that's it. Oh, exercised too and had a monster lunch. I was starving and made myself egg salad with lots of Sweet Vidalias, Cain's Mayonnaise (the only good mayonnaise) with real butter on an English muffin and a homemade café mocha. And . . . wait for it . . . I'm still hungry. What's up with that? P&D's Pop always says it's the caveman genes that are kicking in with the cold weather so my body needs more food to keep warm. I've always bought into that tall tale because it's a good excuse to eat rich and hearty.

My Christmas cards arrived today. I ordered 120 from Etsy. They are just fine. Pretty much white cards that say Merry Christmas. I like their simplicity. The lady I bought them from added some birthday cards as a thank you for the order. That was nice. We're going to change our Christmas giving this year. Got to let the big kids know that we're only giving to the young ones, that means Kiddo and eldest's two grand children actually three with the newbie due in about four weeks. Stopping the candy from the nuns to all and sundry. Having a little trouble with that decision but it's time to stop. I will send out Christmas cards to all. Not ready to stop that yet. We'll also have a real tree and a few simple decorations around the house; it'll be a plain and quiet Christmas.  And of course we'll have our traditional family Roast Beast on Christmas Day. Sounds good to us.

Quote:  The soul of man is infinite in what it covets.  _____Heber

Now that was nice . . .

Was pleasantly surprised when I was told my godchild from New York was coming for a visit! So it ended up an excellent day. Her father and mother brought her here around one o'clock, then her older sister showed up and my younger brother and his wife too. Very cool. Spent time drinking coffee and tea and us older folks also had snacking goodies. The best part was talking, laughing and being together for a few hours. It really is a rare occasion so it was nice to have everyone here in this old house.

Kiddo and I played UNO yesterday and he beat me about eight hands in a row. I was surprised when we went out in the cold to shoot some baskets (I'm the gopher) and I forgot all about my right arm. So it must be working pretty good because I could throw the basketball around and made a lot of nice bounce passes. Good on me. I like it like that. Will go visit R. Tuesday this week. I have a doctor's appointment to find out the results of the MRI's on our usual Wednesday visit.  I have the CD of the results to bring with me. That's pretty cool.

Feeling a bit spiffier today even though it is gray and cold out. Grampa and I went to the flying field and I got in about a half hour walking in the spitting snow. Fresh air always perks me up. We also went to Hog Heaven in Fiskdale, MA to pick up some parts for the planes.  On the way home we stopped in Southbridge to give older brother and his wife the Indian Corn I had put aside for them. Short visit but good.

 Time to read the paper which is still not getting to us at a reasonable hour. It's been an entire week that the Bulletin arrives around 8am. Much too late for Grampa who is up and about by six or earlier. Will have to call again and make a more forceful complaint! Doubt it'll work though.

Quote:  Three things too much, and three too little are pernicious to man; to speak much, and know little; to spend much, and have little; to presume much, and be worth little.   ____Cervantes

The doldrums . . .

New roof

Still struggling to get out of the doldrums. You'd think that having the new roof on this old house would do the trick but it's just okay - no big deal. Went to visit younger sister yesterday and we took a ride to Newington to visit her husband's grave. The headstone looks really nice and it was good to see how the cemetery is well cared for. We had our pepper and egg grinder for lunch then drove to Simsbury for our cupcakes. Wow, they are good. I brought home a little cake that P&D's Pop and I shared after supper. Stupendous amount of frosting and we both licked our plates clean. Must stop with the sweets! It's a good thing I only visit R. once a week.

Thinking we should try to figure out what this old house is really worth in this year of our Lord 2014. We really don't know. So I think that Grampa will ask the people at JCS Bank who we should hire just so we have a true picture of what we're worth. The guys who worked on the roof did a good job and it does look good. We were impressed that the underlying wood is still in great shape. That wood has to be ancient.

Off for an MRI this morning. Not a happy camper since the shoulder and sciatica are in pretty good shape at the moment thanks to all the cortisone. But I guess it's worth a shot to find out what the problem is besides, of course, just pain older age! (Pun was not intended.)

Quote:
     Gossip has been well defined as putting two and two together, and making it five.
     I hold it to be a fact, that if all persons knew what each said of the other, there would not be four friends in the world.   __ Pascal

Veterans Day 2014

Thank you, love of my life. Thank you Aaron, Dana, and Dyana's Dad.  Thank you Kyle's Grampa. I love you.

Plain grouchy . . .

Geese in a fly over at Arlington National Cemetery
Photo by Donna L. Epstein-Cole who gave me permission to share this beautiful photo

Unsure why I've been grouchy all day but I have been. Starting out the day too early, without the Bellyache Bulletin to read and spending the first hour after I got up trying to contact the nimrods in Norwich and getting nowhere didn't help. Then I strolled into the kitchen after P&D's Pop had left for school and cars, trucks and men were piling up on the driveway. Yikes, I had to go and retrieve a bathrobe as I was certainly not ready for workers at the windows. The roofers came without notice only two weeks late but at least the job is halfway complete and they've been halfway paid. Have no idea if they will return tomorrow or not. They were out of here by 1pm. But it's looking pretty darned good. If it lasts as long as our old roof, 45 years and counting, the roof will outlive us! The underlying wood is in beautiful condition, just as it was 45 years ago so we can't complain about anything. It was time to break down and invest in a new one but it hurt me to write out the check. I hate spending that much money for something that didn't leak! But it was breaking up in some places so I know it had to be done.

Went with P&D's Pop to the flying field and tried to walk off my grouch. It helped a little. Didn't get too much accomplished today. We'll see what tomorrow brings. Still have so much reading to do but I keep taking pictures and working hard to improve them once I've taken them! I do find it relaxing to go upstairs, kneel on the floor at the window and try to get some good shots of the birds. I lose track of time when I'm taking photos and also when I'm playing with them. I think I should take a class to learn how to use my camera to full advantage. That's a maybe.

Younger sister called and was happy with her mini vacation with our younger brother and his wife. She sounded great and had a good time. Also spoke with older brother today about Massachusetts and Connecticut politics. What a mess. At least the people in Massachusetts now have a Republican governor. We couldn't even kick the incumbent Democrat bastards out. Oh what a state we're in - something is rotten in the state of Connecticut. Am I paraphrasing Shakespeare?  I hope the ending isn't as brutal.

Quote:  He fancies himself enlightened, because he see the deficiencies of others; he is ignorant, because he has never reflected on his own.   ___Bulwer

Hard work . . .

Beauty personified

Phew, I'm pooped. P&D's Pop and I went for a walk, after a great snack on fresh desserts provided courtesy of the Roadside, and on our return I decided to clean up the rest of the garden for Winter. I cut down the asparagus stalks and then hit the raspberry patch. It's hot, sweaty, healthy work; I worked slowly and wore gloves so I'm still in pretty good shape. Very few people at Mass today because the kids have a long weekend and I guess you don't need Christian instruction if you're on holiday even though somehow or other the overhead projection of the prayers for the kids' Mass still has " and my soul shell be healed." I swear I do not make this stuff up. So . . . point being (yes, I'm rambling) everyone involved with the kids' instruction should be teaching them the difference between shall and shell even though it is religious instruction! Ignorance is not bliss nor is it blessed. Good, I've got that out of my system again.

Friday I brought Kiddo and his saxophone to the music store because the instrument would not make proper sounds no matter what Kiddo or his teacher did. We came home with a loaner sax that sounds terrific. Luckily middle child had bought a two year warrantyand it's being cleaned. Should be ready in about a week. I should have known that it needs cleaning and spiffying up twice a year. Will have to do that from now on. Got some fantastic photos and a video of Bluebirds at the box near the garden yesterday morning and today. I was so excited because they are the best photos I've ever taken of our Bluebirds. The sun was out bright and low shining on the birds; perfect.

Went to see Alice in Wonderland last night with Oneco friend and her daughter. Her daughter often gets us tickets to the Plainfield High School productions. The kids do an excellent job. As a non sequitur, I'm still rambling,  I'm glad that Grampa has a chance to work with our high school students. It's a plus for everyone - even I get a chance to have a little old house time to myself when he's at school! Will be playing cards tomorrow with cousin S. Still enjoy our biweekly get togethers.

Quote:  There is certainly something of exquisite kindness and thoughtful benevolence in that rarest of gifts, - fine breeding.    ___Bulwer

Very good grey day . . .

Picked up my friend K. at 9:30 and we were off to Haley Farm in Groton for some photo taking. It rained all day but not hard enough to stop us from walking one of the trails closest to the little cove. We were amazed by how beautiful Haley Farm is and plan to go back in good weather to walk the trails and hope to see many different species of birds and flora. A lady who had come to walk the trails told us she had seen an owl yesterday. That would be so neat for us. We left as it started to rain hard and parked at Bluff Point to eat our peanut butter crackers, sandwiches, pretzels, almonds, cheese, cookies and drink lots of water; good snacking! Since it was really raining after lunch K. thought we should go to Slater Museum on the campus at NFA. It was a bonne idée. We saw the Connecticut Pastel Society's 21st Annual National Exhibition. It was very good and made even better because K. is quite an artist and could answer my questions with ease. We've made another Adventure Date! Cool.

Had a chance to visit with younger sister for a while yesterday before I dropped her off to stay with our younger brother and his wife. I'm sure they are all enjoying the visit. Good weather for staying inside and gabbing the day away. Grampa and I decided to go out for burgers at New York Pizza in Central Village. The $5 off coupon given to him by Rob, the PHS teacher he helps, is great. We can use it all year long! Nifty.

Probably wasn't too brilliant to take photos in the rain today but I'm going to download what I took and see if my poor camera minded the rain. I only took about 60 because I hated getting the camera wet. I've set it on the Bunn coffee maker to make sure it's all dried out!

Quote:  Nature is the most thrifty thing in the world; she never wastes anything; she undergoes change, but there's no annihilation - the essence remains.    ____T. Binney

Voted . . .

Started out this beautiful morning in New England, US of A at the polls in Moosup, Connecticut. We had some trouble finding a place to park! There was a line to check ID's and it continued as we received our ballots and had to wait for open carrels. This is spectacular, grand, super and every other good expletive you can fathom. Wow! We went to breakfast, bien sur, at The Roadside and it was very busy. After delicious poached eggs on cheese on toast we were treated to railroad men moving dunnage for the new rails they will be installing. I felt like we were back in the 1940's. Life is invigorating, at least for now. So I accept all that is good in this day without question and pray that tomorrow will see a change in the fortunes of our tattered republic.

Scrubbed this old house yesterday because it needed it. I've gotten lax in my dotage. I only clean when the cleaning spirit moves me and that is much less frequently as I grow up. I consider this progress. I'm still anal but I'd like to think that I'm a smidge more relaxed. We went out for supper with Oneco friends and it was very good. What a pleasure to be with longtime Onecoians; very comfortable.  Will try to go for a ride sometime today to find the eagles in Rhode Island. Not sure what we'll come up with but I'm looking forward to it. Still have some shopping to do at Big Y. Since they have enlarged and redone the store it takes me longer to find what I'm looking for and I meander through every aisle! Oh well, one day I'll get the hang of it and will know exactly where to go!

Quote:  I hate all bungling as I do sin, but particularly bungling in politics, which leads to the misery and ruin of many thousands and millions of people.  ___Goethe

Tumbling down the Bluebird trail . . .

Bluebird came visiting this morning.  It's a good thing Grampa sees things for me!

P&D's Pop invited me to walk the Bluebird Trail this afternoon. I've never been with him to check out the Bluebird boxes. It's a pretty impressive hike by my standards. I was surprised by how steep it is. Three of the eight boxes had mice in them so P&D's Pop cleaned them out. It's a good crisp day for a walk in the woods. We saw at least four of his Bluebirds in the trees as we passed. It's a good thing I didn't take my camera because I came slipping and sliding down a steep slope on the thick bed of fallen leaves. Scared myself but although I may have a black and blue right hip and a sore right shoulder tomorrow I seem to be in one piece. We'll just have to take a less steep walk home next time. I really do want to go back. It was good to be out in the woods and meadows.

Went to the children's Mass yesterday. I don't think you're supposed to laugh that hard in church. Oh my goodness. The children sing quite well but there is one songster that drowns out the rest along with the entire community and she sings off key. I had trouble keeping the laughter inside. It was awful. Not sure why you would let one child ruin  some of the songs. I really think she should be signaled to quiet down and let other voices be heard and perhaps it wouldn't be so gruesome.  After Mass I always drive by our old homestead on the chance that our great-nephew or niece might be outside and I'd stop to say hello. It has never happened yet but I still like the drive. Mr. Walker's house is for sale. I wonder if he has gone to live in an assisted living home? He must be in his late eighties.

Quote:  Kindness is the only charm permitted to the aged; it is the coquetry of white hair.   ___Feuillet  (Ha!)

Holy cow . . .

Rosie O'Grady

Just grabbed the iPad, walked by the kitchen windows and a monster slew of Common Grackles flew away. They had covered the feeders, the ground, the trees - yuck. They must recognize my movement in the house because they took off like bats out of hades. I usually chase them with a broom! They usually just go into the trees up on the hill and taunt me but I'm pretty tenacious too and run up and shoo them off so today they just moved out and kept flying. Finally some progress was made. 'would be nice if we could get rid of our greedy, nasty, grabby, noisome, pitiless, rotten, curmudgeonly politicians as easily. I fear there will be so many illegal votes cast Tuesday that the enemy will continue in office and our middle class selves will continue the slide into extinction. Not sure what the power brokers will do when we no longer exist to boost their egos and power. Scary thought!

Wow, hadn't planned on going into my disgust with the state of  Connecticut but there it is. Will be going to see younger sister Wednesday. I always look forward to our visits. We'll stop in at the Harvest in Simsbury and pick up our delectable large cupcake for dessert after we visit the cemetery in Newington to check up on her husband. We haven't been in quite some time. It is a beautiful resting place; well cared for.  Then we'll go to lunch at our favorite eatery near her home. It's always a pleasant visit and renews my faith. She reminds me that most people are kind, generous, sweet and undemanding.

Quote: What the heart has once owned and had, it shall never lose.   ___H.W. Beecher

Cajun CJ's Gumbo . .

Cajun CJ's Gumbo that's what's for supper tonight. Not sure what's gotten to me but I felt like baking too and made some Cape Cod Oatmeal Cookies. Smells good in this old kitchen. Maybe I feel like getting back to this journal because I'm coming to grips with the topsy turvy in my life. Wanting to move south but staying north was a concern for my feeble wits but it's beginning to feel a bit okay. We can play this game day by day and just let our lives unroll as perhaps they were meant to unfold. Have to try to push back the anxiety and know that no matter where we are we'll be okay. It seems pretty straight forward and simple but it's not easy on this ditsy mind of mine. I keep trying to plan things out and I can't. I must remember the year I was so messed up; and then Pa, Matante and Ma died and my kid brother accidentally rapelled off of a cliff, fell, survived and middle child gashed her leg badly in a long jump pit that hadn't been checked for rocks,  I finally gave up trying to figure things out and decided to roll with the punches that seemed to be never ending and here I am today twenty-six years later, feeling healthy if not wise even though I complain about aches and pains and I've got to learn the lesson all over again:  nothing stays the same; changes are inevitable; live each day ; enjoy  today; appreciate all the goodness in my life; know that I've fulfilled my dreams and whatever comes next is a bonus. I always wanted to marry, have children, a home and a good job. Yep. It's that simple and I've been fortunate to have  had it all. So it's time to "Laissez les bons temps rouler" whether it be north or south. I love my husband, my children, my home, my work. What more should I want?  Nothing.

Quote:  The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved, loved for ourselves, or rather loved in spite of ourselves.   ___Victor Hugo

Thoughts . . .

From the glider

Went to the flying field this morning to walk around as P&D's Pop was flying and ended up musing about how beautiful the detritus of life can be when put in a proper prospective. There I was walking on a dump, pejorative term for sure or the more politically correct landfill and it was beautiful. The trees are in autumnal mode, the birds are hunting for food, the animals are gathering their stores for Winter and I'm just a spec on this planet and less than a speck in this magnificent universe. I feel the same way when I walk in the cemetery; again walking among the human remains and feeling a kindred spirit with all who have walked this way before. Life is a conundrum of sorts: peace and war; love and hate; good and evil; sweet and bitter; calm and turmoil. It is ours and we must make the most of our time here so our lives will encourage and hearten all we meet and leave our mark on their souls.

Quote:  In all the affairs of life let it be your great care, not to hurt your mind, or offend your judgment. __And this rule, if observed carefully in all your deportment, will be a mighty security to you in your undertakings.    ___Epictetus

Gotta spew . . .

Last Hummingbird of 2014

Was up before six this morning so got ready fast and talked P&D's Pop into breakfast before he headed to the high school. When we returned he checked the email and said our realtor wrote we had a showing tomorrow at 9:45 am and he couldn't make it (again) so would it be okay anyway, our call. So we answered fine and P&D's Pop left for school. For some reason I decided to check the realtor's email again and I realized that 9:45 tomorrow was today! Yes, today. He sent the email at 10:50 last night! I almost panicked because we had two roofers coming today also to give estimates and that only gave me two hours to get ready! I called the school and P&D's Pop came home to help get the house, garage, basement, upstairs picked up. It's not that the house isn't presentable but to make it more so we always put a lot of stuff away, scrub the bathroom and kitchen etc. At 9:55 a car with two men in it pulled into the driveway: not a realtor and client, though, the men for the roof.  We got a good estimate and will have the new roof put on at the end of October but . . . you guessed it . . . no realtor with a client. I was super ticked but left for my cribbage games and poor Puppies and Dante's Pop took care of our ding-a-ling realtor by actually going to his office. Something happened . . . a heart attack or some such emergency and the people couldn't come so he'll set it up for another time! He never called us. We had to go to him. I really want to slap him silly. What an idiot we chose. If there is a next realtor I want someone I don't know from an agency that actually knows what the heck they're doing. I am pissed.

Okay. All done.

Quote:  Rare almost as great poets, rarer perhaps than veritable saints and martyrs are consummate men of business. _____Helps

Pretty sad state . . .

Hope the frost holds off.  These berries are so good.

Pretty sad state of affairs when I have to stop on my walk back from the end of the road to talk to a very long tailed chipmunk so he will cross in front of me without worrying about what I will do! He was carrying an unshelled nut that was as big as his head and holding on for all he was worth. He finally managed to get it across the road without being hit. Oh how nice it is to see natural life unfolding before your eyes. There were two Goldfinches watching our discussion and when they were satisfied that I meant no harm they flew back to eating the seeds from the weeds along the roadside.

Waiting for P&D's Pop to get back from mowing the flying field. Then we'll be off to Oakland Beach, RI for lunch. Debating whether to bring the Panasonic for a possible photo shoot or just take the time to watch the waves rolling in and out. Big decisions. Kiddo will be home with his parents tonight and I'll go there Monday evening for a while. Thinking of getting him a second stage helicopter because he handles his first one so well. We'll see.

Saw younger sister this week and she's looking great. I brought her friend to visit also. We had a good time. Also stopped to see younger brother and his wifey. Nice to see them and their beautiful home and gardens. Seems like I hadn't stopped in for a while. They had a super good trip to Alaska and Seattle. It's always good to see the calming effect a trip away from the usual can provide. Looking forward to our stay in Louisiana.

Quote:  Laws are like cobwebs, which may catch small flies, but let wasps and hornets break through.     ___Swift

It's been fun . . .

Porter Pond

Kiddo talked Grampa into going fishing Friday and we had a great time. Grampa had already dug up the worms; very hard work as the ground is extremely dry. Those suckers were really deep down. But with a half dozen or so we were off to Porter Pond. Grampa used a rubber worm so Kiddo could have the real thing. Kiddo now puts the bait on his hook but is still having a bit of trouble getting the fish he catches unhooked to throw back. He'll get there. He really does enjoy going fishing especially if it's in the truck! Must be a man thing.

I just returned from my two mile walk and I was able to bring home five, yes, five hazel nuts! Haven't seen any in quite a few years. They don't have worm holes in them so I'm hoping we'll actually be able to eat them after we let them dry out a little more. The smell of grapes  permeating the air and I stopped to eat a few. Not too many ready yet. It does seem early but perhaps the lack of rain is pushing the season. Kiddo and I walked downtown Friday evening for ice cream and marveled at how low the river is. We are in desperate need of rain.

Yesterday Grampa and I went to a car show at Loos Company in Pomfret. We left about 4:30 and the place was starting to get packed. We visited with friends we haven't seen in a while before heading home for supper. Got some lookers for the '37 Ford but no buyers! May hit up a few more shows this Fall. Trying to talk Grampa into a ride up to New Hampshire for a shopping trip. He needs new duds for school. Yup, he's back at PHS again so I want him to look neat! Boy, speaking of neat, I've been on an ice cream bender and have been dropping the good Chocolate Ben and Jerry's all over myself. Had a big splotch on my cheek yesterday when I went to gas the car. Good thing I checked myself in the mirror before I got out to the pump! Not cute.

Quote:  Mind unemployed is mind unenjoyed.  ___Bovee