Christmas holiday

We had a great trip to RI, really enjoyed being there, had lots of good visiting and relaxing.  Relaxing from what?  Well, I was on vacation.  Vacation from what?  I just talked to a friend on the phone for a long time and she asked me what I've been doing to keep busy.  Oh dear, how embarrassing, I don't do much of anything.  Lunches in Plattsburgh.  Play with Lab puppies at the breeder's.  Watch too much TV, read too few books.

Anyway, Christmas was very nice.  I got there on Monday the 21st, had an easy drive down.  Liza was in good shape but has a torn meniscus and worries about her knee so doesn't do much.  We went to town every day, which is the norm for visiting her.  She sat in the car while I did shopping and errands, that was just fine.  We had a good Christmas day, lots of presents and fun.  Mark cooked a delicious chateaubriand for dinner (WOW) and that was fun.  Mark and & took the dogs to the  beach after Christmas--it was a short walk because it was rainy and windy and the dogs were not enjoying it at all, since they were on leashes.  I went to Jamestown to see my friend Linda.  We shared a duplex when I lived in RI so have known each other for 40 years.  We had a good visit--we always get together at Christmas and used to go to lunch in Newport but now we just visit at her house.  Easier and very pleasant.

I drove home yesterday, left Liza's at 8 and went around Boston instead of my usual Hartford-Albany route.  I stopped in Hanover, NH to visit cousins.  I stayed a couple of hours, had a really nice  visit with them, then came home through Vermont and across the lake.  There was a lot of traffic, which surprised me.  It took longer than my usual trip because of the route, so I was tired when I got home at 5.  The house was just fine, it didn't burn or collapse while I was gone.  No frozen pipes, the weather was warm and wonderful while I was gone.  Last night it was 10, and it snowed about 5" during the night.  Now it's sort of sleeting but is 20 and not bad.  I went out to get the paper this morning, they've plowed my road and the snow tires and AWD I have made it an easy drive.  Tonight I'm going to a neighborhood party on the other side of the lake with friends.  It should be nice, it's an annual gathering.

I have no plans for the rest of the week.  I talked to Annie Holt this morning--they were here for Christmas week but went home yesterday so I didn't get to see them.  They'll be back.  I think my friends want to have me come for dinner--they're here from Scarsdale, and have a relative who's new to the area and they want me to meet her.  Next week I'm going to the breeder's to help her give shots and microchip the second litter of pups.  There are yellows and blacks in that litter, wow are they cute. 

It's been a really nice holiday season.  The weather, strange as it was, was fine.  Now we're having winter but it's still warm, due to be 40 tomorrow I think.  No sub-zero temps predicted.  I have friends coming to their camp below my house at the end of January and they're hoping for extreme conditions.  We have a long way to go to reach that.

I have chores to do--unpack & put away stuff, set up my new smoke detectors (that was all I wanted for Christmas), put away my new toolbox (very nifty present from Mark), feed the birds, shovel the deck, get more firewood.  Will any of these count as an activity for the day?  I need to get back on track with my 3 things a day.

Dogs are happy to be home.  It seems strange, even though I was only gone for a week but it seems as if I left a long time ago.  I have to adjust to my routines, get back into the Hawkeye swing of things.  I'll go to Pat & Jim's in a little while, got some Canadian Club whiskey for Jim at the NH liquor store yesterday.  It will be good to see them again, hear about their holiday.  Soon enough it will be 2016.

Mark and Tess relax and wonder at the marvel of Christmas generosity.  We don't do stockings, we do baskets.  Santa brought the dogs FOUR BAGS of treats, which spent the week propped up on the back of the couch.  Tess stared at them a lot.

After Christmas we walked on the beach, but it was a foggy/misty day with strong wind.  Even though we had the whole beach to ourselves, we kept the dogs on leashes, which they did NOT appreciate at all.  We didn't walk far--Tess starts to limp when she gets bored, and it didn't take long for her to be bored by walking on a leash.

The Italian villagers rushed the creche, looking as if they were raiding it but really they were bringing gifts.  My sister sends these clay figurines every year from Naples, and we have a great time guessing what exactly each one is bringing: like, I don't really think Broccoli Man is bringing a big bunch of broccoli, but that's what we've assigned him.  Watermelons?  Not likely.  Then there's the woman who's got her skirt lifted up...what's that all about?

And at the end of it all, we're exhausted and hate wearing our pretty bows, so we chewed up a box and collapsed.

CHRISTMAS!

Here she is, Christmas tree 2015.  Not bad but overdecorated because I have way too many ornaments.  I know, you'll all study what else is in the picture.  A white cyclamen that I got for my birthday, a box of Russel Stover chocolates, the dog food bin, an indoor-outdoor thermometer, some unidentifiable things.  It's my dinner table, it has to have unidentifiable things on it.

Back to Plattsburgh this morning, a quick and uneventful trip.  It was snowing when I got home, but now I think it's raining.  I have chores to do but cannot, absolutely cannot make myself get started.  I need to sort presents to figure out what's going to RI but that just seems like a lot of work.  I guess this is what happens when you retire, after a year.

Supposed to snow tomorrow and I'm afraid that's OK with me.  It just seems as if there should be snow, and dismal me thinks that, the sooner we get snow, the less we'll get at one time.  It's those 2 foot dumps that are really a pain in the neck to deal with. 

Well anyway, happy holidays to all.

My version of a creche.  There's no baby, there's no manger, it's all about the animals.

Non-winter weather

It's warm, warmer, warmest.  Temps have been in the 40's consistently, up to 50 near here.  I can't seem to enjoy the weather because I keep thinking that winter days will be added at the end of the season.  Instead, I should be thankful that we're using up so much of winter with warm weather.  It's 30 today and that feels chilly.  That's bad.  We had barely a dusting of snow this morning, mostly that has disappeared. That, too, is bad.  We need snow for its moisture and snowmelt.  Yikes.  So far my well is behaving OK but I'm nervous about that, too.  I can find lots of ways to worry about my water supply.  If the ground freezes hard without snow my well can freeze (that's happened).  If we don't get enough snow my well can go dry (that's happened).  Or, and this is my preference, none of this will happen and life will go on.  So far so good.

Last week Julie & I spent a day in Burlington.  I'm always happy to spend a day there.  We did some shopping, had lunch at a nice restaurant, and had a fine time together.  The ferry ride home was sort of rough, with big waves splashing over the bow of the ferry.  We remembered the worst ferry trip either of us has ever taken, back in the 90's, when we were going to pick up my new car.  That was in March and it was freezing weather.  Huge waves, and the ferry started going up the lake instead of across the lake.  I was sure we would have to be rescued by the Coast Guard, it was just awful.  Neither one of us said much--all I remember is that I kept apologizing to her.  When we got to the other side my car was encased in ice from the spray.  Boy that was awful.  This ride was nothing like that, just some rocking and splashing.

I had a good birthday, spent the day with Lin & Ralph.  We went out for lunch, then to the movies (Spotlight) and I stopped at Pat & Jim's on the way home.  Lots of birthday activity.  I called my sister in the morning and we had a nice conversation.  Talked to my mother after that and we had another nice conversation.  My mother is laid up right now with a torn meniscus, which is really hard for her.  The tear doesn't sound too bad, and the doctor she saw felt it wasn't a bad tear, surgery not necessary.  My poor mother has not had any health problems in recent decades so is not used to being in pain and immobile.  I offered to go there earlier than planned, to help her get ready for Christmas.  I think she'd just as soon skip Christmas this year.  Anyway, I'm going there on Monday the 21st, will stay for a week.  There's a neighborhood holiday party on the night of the 29th, so I'll go to that.

I'm hoping to stop in Hanover NH on my way home from Liza's, to see a favorite cousin.  I haven't had a good visit with him in a long time (since his mother's funeral) and we really like each other so it would be great to spend time with him.  He's living in California right now but will be in Hanover for the holidays so hopefully I'll catch him then.

I've done most of my Christmas prep already, which is very strange.  It's sooooo much easier to get ready when you're retired!  I've been shopping here & there, sending Christmas cards a few at a time, shipped the presents to Italy and to a cousin in Vermont, and best of all, I bought a tree, put it up and decorated it.    It's a good tree this year.  The only problem with it is that I have too many ornaments so it's extremely well decorated.  It looks good.  I wanted to put up some outside lights but don't seem to be able to make myself do that, even in the warm weather.

Am I sticking to my 3 things a day plan?  Not always.  I was on a roll before Thanksgiving but sort of lost it when I went to RI.  Now I'm just focusing on getting things done for Christmas.  Most days I stop and ask myself how many things I accomplished by the end of the day.  I do pretty well, most days I can list 3 things.

The dogs are doing well.  Tess refuses to age any more and is doing very well.  She's not lame, isn't deaf or blind at all and I'm really pleased with her.  She's nearly 13 and is very stubborn, more stubborn than she used to be.  She's demanding in a gentle, sweet way, pretty pushy.  I get a kick out of her.  Treasure is OK too but she likes to run.  She takes off down the driveway and I don't know where she goes but she's not usually gone long so I guess she's mostly just eating rotten apples on the ground.

Life is good, very good.  The weather is the only thing I have an issue with.  What am I going to do if winter comes?

Easy Sunday

Not much to report for today.  I was up very early so went to Plattsburgh as soon as the stores opened.  I needed more yarn, plus got a poinsettia for Pat.  It was a quick trip, in and out, no traffic and no crowds in the stores.  Lovely.  I went to Pat & Jim's at noon, had a nice visit with Bill and others.  Came home, did some knitting, stoked the stove--all of my wood is now stacked and under cover.  That is just too amazing and cool.

Yesterday was a wonderful day because I got to play with PUPPIES.  I've been in touch with my dog breeder, offering to help her with litters or other chores.  We finally worked out a good time and I went there to help her vaccinate seven 6-week-old chocolate Labs, and to microchip them.  She waits until the puppies are tired and sleeping to do this, they're not at all wiggly and are sooooo cuddly and fantastic.  Jeezum those pups are cute.  It all went well and Sue (breeder) and I had a good visit.  We've known each other for a long time, I've had 4 of her dogs.  She asked if I would be a reference for perspective buyers.  I was really flattered and said yes, of course.  She has the best dogs and is a very serious and conscientious breeder.  She has an adult female she's thinking of retiring within a couple of years and thought that dog would be a good match for me.  Well...   I don't want to have 3 dogs right now, but Tess is 12 so maybe in the next few years it might work out.  Tess is in good health and does very well.  She and Treasure make a good pair.

I've no plans for the next couple of days.  I did spray that horrible spray foam insulation in the cellar hole.  What a mess.  I didn't know how to do it--it's not as easy as it might seem, and I got it all over.  I did get some holes filled, but there's a big spot where the foamboard has broken so I need to tape it back up.  I don't like working down there, would rather ignore the whole mess of primitive plumbing.  I still haven't wrapped the pipes in the laundry room, maybe that will get done tomorrow.

Wednesday I've got plans to go to Burlington with Julie, just for fun.  She has vacation time to use up and she suggested we go--I'm always up for a trip across the lake.  That will be nice.  Friday I'm having lunch with Barb for our annual birthday visit.  We'll have a good time, we always do.

Dogs are fine, I'm fine.  The house is warm (but it's not winter yet).  The bathroom needs to be cleaned.  Let's see...if I wrap the pipes and clean the bathroom, then walk to the mailbox, that will make THREE things in a day.  I need to get back to that.  Reading doesn't count.  Knitting doesn't count.  Watching Law & Order reruns doesn't count, either (too bad).

Thanksgiving trip

 First trip to the beach on Thanksgiving morning--it was warm but windy, with big surf.  Poor Tess and Treasure had to stay on their leashes (our new policy).  Treasure ran across my mother's road on Weds., scaring me something fierce.  There's not too much traffic on the road but cars drive fast, so we were very lucky that she wasn't hit.  I freaked out, and kept her on a leash ever after that.

The table, set and ready for the turkey.  I took the turkey with me, bought it here.  It was a good one, a 12-lb. Butterball.  Liza did most of the cooking the whole time I was there, except for the lobsters and clams that I cooked.  She likes to be in charge of the kitchen, which is fine with me.  She cooks dinner for Mark every night, keeping her busy.

Liza and Mark at the beach, watching the surfers.  It was a nice day, warm enough but still windy.  The surf was unusually big, and there were about 20 people surfing in wetsuits.  It was fun to watch them.

Surfin' USA.  When I was young, in Illinois, I really wanted to be a surfer girl.  I had pictures of surfers on my walls, and listened endlessly to the Beach Boys (none of whom ever surfed).  I wanted to go to college in Calif., though that idea evaporated when I fell in love with someone from Yale.

The beach.  We had it to ourselves for a while.

The whole visit was nice.  We had lots of good visiting and spent a lot of time reading.  I took Liza shopping several times.  Since she doesn't drive anymore, Mark takes her wherever she needs to go and she doesn't like that much.  I don't mind taking her anywhere she wants to go.  We went to the grocery store several times, and did some Christmas shopping as well.  The weather was good, it was cold one day, rained one day but mostly was warm and pleasant.  Mark and I walked the dogs on the beach on Thanksgiving, then later in the week we walked them at the Univ. of RI's botanical garden on campus (my alma mater).  That was very pleasant but again the poor dogs were never off their leashes.  Tough luck, sweeties.

My trips down and back were fine, uneventful and easy.  I traveled on weekdays and avoided the holiday rush, which was my intention.  I made good time both ways, under the usual 6 hours it takes.  Hmmmm.  I'm always trying to beat my best time, without taking any chances or driving too fast.

I'll go back for Christmas, will probably spend a week there.  I worried about my house this trip, as I always do.  Nothing to worry about, though it was 7 the morning I returned.  I left the heat on, had the heater in the cellar to keep the pump warm, and all was just fine.  Maybe the best thing about my Thanksgiving was that the Holts stacked ALL of my firewood, putting it in the wood shed under cover.  YAY.  Not only did they do that for me, they tidied up outside and did a DUMP RUN in Annie's truck.  I had a mini-dump of crap that I collected in anticipation of a dump run, but I didn't expect them to do it.  That was really, really nice.  What a relief.

I went to lunch with Julie in Plattsburgh today--we've been eating at the new Japanese restaurant for the past several weeks, a switch from our usual Thai meals.  I ran errands while I was in town, got some Christmas shopping done plus hit the grocery store big time.  I guess I haven't done a big buy in a while.  Always a shock how much we spend on food.

Tomorrow I'm hoping to get back to my 3-things-a-day routine.  I'd like to spray foam in the cellar to plug the holes in the walls and insulation.  Ugh.  I also want to wrap the pipes in the laundry room, which freeze and burst pretty much every year.  That will be a trick, getting behind the washing machine.  What a difference that should make!

Life continues to be good for me.  My house is warm and dry.  It's raining outside, due to turn to snow tonight.  Nothing dramatic, just a few inches.  It's about time.