What a mess. i don't even know where to begin
Friday, March 15, 2013
Stubby little amaryllis blooming at home
This one was funny--it had started to grow in the box so was all bent over. It never straighetned out or grew UP. So now it's just a cute little thing.
Monday, March 11, 2013
What a weekend. What, a weekend?
It was a wonderful weekend in Hawkeye, weather-wise. Saturday was warm and sunny--bright spring sun, so different from a winter sun that hangs low in the sky. I walked to the mailbox with the dogs, who definitely had spring on their minds. I didn't wear a coat, they trotted along. Very, very nice. I watched Argo, which was good but made me feel old. When an event is treated as history and you remember when it happened, you're not young.
Sunday was a regular Sunday, with treats and company at Pat & Jim's. Nice time and good visits. Remembered to set the clocks ahead, which means it's really dark when I get up in the morning. Yes, I know it's lighter longer at the other end of the day, but I sure prefer getting up in the daylight.
Traveling this week--Tupper Lake tomorrow, Dannemora on Weds. Always nice to be out & about. It's supposed to RAIN tomorrow, then snow in Hawkeye at the end of the week. But spring, well, spring is in the air.
Sunday was a regular Sunday, with treats and company at Pat & Jim's. Nice time and good visits. Remembered to set the clocks ahead, which means it's really dark when I get up in the morning. Yes, I know it's lighter longer at the other end of the day, but I sure prefer getting up in the daylight.
Traveling this week--Tupper Lake tomorrow, Dannemora on Weds. Always nice to be out & about. It's supposed to RAIN tomorrow, then snow in Hawkeye at the end of the week. But spring, well, spring is in the air.
Something interesting on the other side of the snowbank
They both thought something good must be happening on the other side of the snowbank--like maybe a deer carcass or something tasty
The end of a very nice day
They always sleep on top of each other--except in bed, when they sleep on top of me.
Friday, March 08, 2013
Happy (really happy) Friday
I only have to work 1/2 a day today, which makes it almost a perfect Friday. It is NOT, however, pay day, which would make it perfect. And also if the sun were to shine. We haven't really seen sun for a long, long time. It's rumored to be shining in Hawkeye this weekend, with temps in the 40's. Maybe that will get rid of the ice that coats my deck stairs. At least this year I shoveled the stairs (most of the time)--some years I just don't do that & it's like a bobsled run on the stairs.
It was a good week in spite of the lack of sun. Well, actually, we saw sun in Albany on Tuesday. It was Library Legis. Day, so 4 of us drove down from Pbg to beg our legislators for money. Did we make any progress? Who knows, but we did make the point that some libraries have to pay for Internet access, while most get it for free. One of our libraries pays $400 a month. And of course there are those of us who have dial access...but I digress. We had a good trip, lots of nice and cheerful conversation in the car, and a good time in the capital. I did get stopped by security, however, for having a pair of scissors in my purse. I didn't know they were there--as one friend wrote, "Oh, so you're one of those people who don't know what's in the huge bag you have on your shoulder." Well I guess I am. Only now I don't have a pair of scissors in it.
I got up early today to wrap my mother's birthday presents. Sort of a pathetic offering this year, but it will be something for her to open. Mostly seeds and bulbs for the garden. I'll mail it today and hope it gets there by Weds., when she turns 87. Wow. My mother is 87. So amazing. Anyway, it was a nice morning at home. Of course the dogs disappeared as I was getting ready to leave for work--it wouldn't be a weekday morning unless I had to wait for their return before heading out. They're so cheerful these days, it's really nice. This morning they had Milk Bones for breakfast because I was too lazy to bring the dog food in from the car. They thought it was odd, but sure enjoyed the meal.
What are my plans for the weekend? DUMP, as usual. I threw away a bunch of stuff in prep. of last weekend's visitors, and plan to clean out the fridge. I'd love to go to the movies--I want to see Silver Linings Playbook but have yet to drag myself into town for that. I had an appointment with my psychiatrist this week & we agreed we should both see the film.
My weekend was great last week. Michael & Stephanie had a good time (I think) and we had a good visit. Dinner with Annie at her house, with Bill. Nice breakfast on Sunday at Big Daddy's, then they left. Was it worthy of the pre-visit hysteria? Absolutely not. My house is still not in great shape for company, but they at least didn't complain and were cheerful. Dogs almost behaved well--too much nudging and begging for attention, but they were good. What do people with grumpy dogs do when company comes? I wouldn't know. I love those "Don't pet him, he doesn't like it" critters.
Today I'm hoping to drag my ass to the Wellness Center, which is like the YMCA here in Plattsburgh, with a pool & exercise stuff. Depending on the membership fee, I may join up to use the pool. I truly need to make myself do something in the way of exercise and this might be a good option. Or not. Won't know if you don't try. When it's lighter when I get home I might walk the dogs, but that's doubtful. Hell, they walk themselves, they don't need me to keep them company.
It was a good week in spite of the lack of sun. Well, actually, we saw sun in Albany on Tuesday. It was Library Legis. Day, so 4 of us drove down from Pbg to beg our legislators for money. Did we make any progress? Who knows, but we did make the point that some libraries have to pay for Internet access, while most get it for free. One of our libraries pays $400 a month. And of course there are those of us who have dial access...but I digress. We had a good trip, lots of nice and cheerful conversation in the car, and a good time in the capital. I did get stopped by security, however, for having a pair of scissors in my purse. I didn't know they were there--as one friend wrote, "Oh, so you're one of those people who don't know what's in the huge bag you have on your shoulder." Well I guess I am. Only now I don't have a pair of scissors in it.
I got up early today to wrap my mother's birthday presents. Sort of a pathetic offering this year, but it will be something for her to open. Mostly seeds and bulbs for the garden. I'll mail it today and hope it gets there by Weds., when she turns 87. Wow. My mother is 87. So amazing. Anyway, it was a nice morning at home. Of course the dogs disappeared as I was getting ready to leave for work--it wouldn't be a weekday morning unless I had to wait for their return before heading out. They're so cheerful these days, it's really nice. This morning they had Milk Bones for breakfast because I was too lazy to bring the dog food in from the car. They thought it was odd, but sure enjoyed the meal.
What are my plans for the weekend? DUMP, as usual. I threw away a bunch of stuff in prep. of last weekend's visitors, and plan to clean out the fridge. I'd love to go to the movies--I want to see Silver Linings Playbook but have yet to drag myself into town for that. I had an appointment with my psychiatrist this week & we agreed we should both see the film.
My weekend was great last week. Michael & Stephanie had a good time (I think) and we had a good visit. Dinner with Annie at her house, with Bill. Nice breakfast on Sunday at Big Daddy's, then they left. Was it worthy of the pre-visit hysteria? Absolutely not. My house is still not in great shape for company, but they at least didn't complain and were cheerful. Dogs almost behaved well--too much nudging and begging for attention, but they were good. What do people with grumpy dogs do when company comes? I wouldn't know. I love those "Don't pet him, he doesn't like it" critters.
Today I'm hoping to drag my ass to the Wellness Center, which is like the YMCA here in Plattsburgh, with a pool & exercise stuff. Depending on the membership fee, I may join up to use the pool. I truly need to make myself do something in the way of exercise and this might be a good option. Or not. Won't know if you don't try. When it's lighter when I get home I might walk the dogs, but that's doubtful. Hell, they walk themselves, they don't need me to keep them company.
Friday, March 01, 2013
Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit
It's the first of March, and my father used to say that the first words you speak on March 1 should be "rabbit rabbit rabbit" to bring good luck. Well, I thought of that this morning while lying in bed, but then I realized that my first words had been "No, not yet," spoken to the dogs to get them to stop thinking that 3:00 a.m. is a good time to get up. So rats, I missed it. One year my father typed the word rabbit a zillion times on a piece of paper & left it next to my bed so I'd see it when I first woke up. He did some cute things for his little girls. Someone else told me that you should say "rabbit, etc." on the first of EVERY month. That's a bit much.
I've got a busy weekend ahead of me. Company coming tomorrow, early afternoon. Michael & Stephanie, who own a camp near my house, are coming from Boston to see their camp in the winter. They're staying with me. Yikes. I spent last weekend cleaning the house (more or less), getting things in presentable shape. Also hosted book group Sunday eve, another good reason to get the house in shape. I still have some work to do upstairs but I've managed to keep the downstairs in pretty good shape. A little tidying up is needed. The kitchen is a mess, beyond anything I can fix. I seldom look at my house through someone else's eyes, but when I do it's a rude awakening. My fridge is dirty inside and out. My stove is dirty and won't come clean. My pantry is a mess--you can't really walk into it right now, there's too much stuff on the floor. The biggest problem I have is TOO MUCH STUFF. I have furniture upstairs that I'd like to use but it's full of crap. I need to clean out the bureaus (there are 3, full of old clothes and mouse nests). I need to clear the floors of the master bedroom and the mud room. These are projects I hope to attack in May, when I take my big 5-day break and stay home. Let's see how it goes.
The weather finally broke--no more sub-zeros for a while. It's been in the 30's, which feels spring-like and balmy. Snowed this week, and because it was so warm the snow was heavy (I'd call it heavy & wet, but isn't snow always wet?). We got about 6" in Hawkeye, and I think we're supposed to get about 6 more during the weekend. It doesn't bother me as much as it does some years--I guess I used up my tolerance for the cold before my tolerance for snow.
Tomorrow night is dinner at Annie Holt's--Michael, Stephanie, Bill and I will go there. She likes to cook and have company for dinner, so we're all going. Rush couldn't come this weekend so it's just Annie.
Our book group read Billy Lynn's long halftime walk last month and no one really liked it. We must be poor judges of literature, though, because it just won the National Book Critics Award for fiction. Harumph.
Dogs are doing well. Treasure brought home another deer leg (how many legs does this deer have?) but I took it to the dump. Poor T., she looked very disappointed. If dogs can look disappointed.
She & Tess are having a good time these days, lots of running around & chasing each other. Tess is thrilled to have a dog to play with--Chances used to play with her but got too old to be interested in it. They used to play Mean Fighting Dogs a lot, lots of snarling and jumping on each other. I loved it when they did that but Ken hated it so I stopped taking them to his house. In hindsight I can't believe I took them in the first place, but that was then. They don't get out much anymore--trips to the dump and to RI, that's about it.
I've got a busy weekend ahead of me. Company coming tomorrow, early afternoon. Michael & Stephanie, who own a camp near my house, are coming from Boston to see their camp in the winter. They're staying with me. Yikes. I spent last weekend cleaning the house (more or less), getting things in presentable shape. Also hosted book group Sunday eve, another good reason to get the house in shape. I still have some work to do upstairs but I've managed to keep the downstairs in pretty good shape. A little tidying up is needed. The kitchen is a mess, beyond anything I can fix. I seldom look at my house through someone else's eyes, but when I do it's a rude awakening. My fridge is dirty inside and out. My stove is dirty and won't come clean. My pantry is a mess--you can't really walk into it right now, there's too much stuff on the floor. The biggest problem I have is TOO MUCH STUFF. I have furniture upstairs that I'd like to use but it's full of crap. I need to clean out the bureaus (there are 3, full of old clothes and mouse nests). I need to clear the floors of the master bedroom and the mud room. These are projects I hope to attack in May, when I take my big 5-day break and stay home. Let's see how it goes.
The weather finally broke--no more sub-zeros for a while. It's been in the 30's, which feels spring-like and balmy. Snowed this week, and because it was so warm the snow was heavy (I'd call it heavy & wet, but isn't snow always wet?). We got about 6" in Hawkeye, and I think we're supposed to get about 6 more during the weekend. It doesn't bother me as much as it does some years--I guess I used up my tolerance for the cold before my tolerance for snow.
Tomorrow night is dinner at Annie Holt's--Michael, Stephanie, Bill and I will go there. She likes to cook and have company for dinner, so we're all going. Rush couldn't come this weekend so it's just Annie.
Our book group read Billy Lynn's long halftime walk last month and no one really liked it. We must be poor judges of literature, though, because it just won the National Book Critics Award for fiction. Harumph.
Dogs are doing well. Treasure brought home another deer leg (how many legs does this deer have?) but I took it to the dump. Poor T., she looked very disappointed. If dogs can look disappointed.
She & Tess are having a good time these days, lots of running around & chasing each other. Tess is thrilled to have a dog to play with--Chances used to play with her but got too old to be interested in it. They used to play Mean Fighting Dogs a lot, lots of snarling and jumping on each other. I loved it when they did that but Ken hated it so I stopped taking them to his house. In hindsight I can't believe I took them in the first place, but that was then. They don't get out much anymore--trips to the dump and to RI, that's about it.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
SOOOO many stones on the beach!
There were a ton of stones on the beach, with little bare sand. Lucky thing we'll get our sand back by summer.
Town beach pavillion, now abbreviated
There used to be a big front to the building with nice places to sit in the shade. That all got taken down after the last storm, it was losing ground.
Will it never end?
It was 3 degrees this morning, but I guess, on the bright side, that was ABOVE zero. While I was gone it was -5 and the house got down into the low 40's. I'm getting pretty tired of cold weather. Will soon be tired of snow. We have more than a foot on the ground, with more due soon. I know I always say "that's what it's like to live in the North Country," but every year around this time I have the same reaction to the weather: WHEN WILL IT END? The frost heaves on the Clayburg Road are out, which is a good sign that winter is moving right along. We've had some ice jams on the rivers (like, where else would they be?) but nothing too serious yet. When I drove through Upper Jay there were chunks of ice on the other side of the road from the AuSable River, which is pretty dramatic.
I had a good trip to RI. The driving was uneventful, which is what we like. The trip down is boring, probably because I'm really sick of the trip to Albany, and after that the ride is broken into different legs.
My mother is fine but has slowed down a lot in the last couple of years. She turns 87 next month. I'm just used to having a YOUNG mother, so it's an adjustment to be with her at this age. She moves more slowly and is very careful, as well as being fairly forgetful. But she's a peach and I enjoy being with her. I took her grocery shopping because she won't drive in the snow and hates to go out if there's any ice at all. I wish I lived nearer so I could take her more often. She doesn't like to ask Mark to take her, but does that often enough. I don't really wish I lived nearer--I wish SHE lived nearer. I like where I live. Even in the winter.
Mark & I walked on the beach one day with the dogs. Not many people there (3) because it was a cold day. We didn't go back because it was snowing hard the next day, and the next day I left. What did I do while I was there? Not much. Read quite a bit of the book group book (Billy Lynn's long halftime walk), which I'm not really enjoying. I have hopes that it will become a better book in the second half. Rather pointless right now.
Not sure when I'll read it--I often read the book group book the weekend of book group, but I have a lot to do this weekend so may not get to it. I have to clean clean clean my house. That will include dusting and getting rid of cobwebs, straightening the pictures, tidying up the piles of reed upstairs, cleaning the bathroom upstairs, making the bed in the guest bedroom upstairs, and oh, so many other things. I'm hosting book group on Sunday, which is nice, but have company coming next weekend, which is more complicated. I've only had my family stay at my house in recent years, so it will be interesting to have friends instead. These are people from Boston who own a camp down the road from my house--they want to be here in the winter. They'll arrive Saturday & leave Sunday, so I just have to figure out a few meals. We'll go out for dinner Sat. night. Someone suggested I feed them whatever it is that I eat, but I don't think frozen Weight Watchers dinners and yogurt will really do.
The dogs had a good time in RI, and it was good for Treasure to be quieter than she is at home. She's stopped limping, which is a big relief. I guess she sprained a toe or something, and resting while we were there did the trick. They run around a lot at home--chasing squirrels and each other. This morning they trotted to the bog to check it out. Why do they always leave just as I'm getting ready to leave for work? Well that's a stupid question--they can tell when I stoke the stove and put on my coat that I'm getting ready to leave, usually without them. Anyway, they were gone for a few minutes but came home, out of breath and happy.
I had a good trip to RI. The driving was uneventful, which is what we like. The trip down is boring, probably because I'm really sick of the trip to Albany, and after that the ride is broken into different legs.
My mother is fine but has slowed down a lot in the last couple of years. She turns 87 next month. I'm just used to having a YOUNG mother, so it's an adjustment to be with her at this age. She moves more slowly and is very careful, as well as being fairly forgetful. But she's a peach and I enjoy being with her. I took her grocery shopping because she won't drive in the snow and hates to go out if there's any ice at all. I wish I lived nearer so I could take her more often. She doesn't like to ask Mark to take her, but does that often enough. I don't really wish I lived nearer--I wish SHE lived nearer. I like where I live. Even in the winter.
Mark & I walked on the beach one day with the dogs. Not many people there (3) because it was a cold day. We didn't go back because it was snowing hard the next day, and the next day I left. What did I do while I was there? Not much. Read quite a bit of the book group book (Billy Lynn's long halftime walk), which I'm not really enjoying. I have hopes that it will become a better book in the second half. Rather pointless right now.
Not sure when I'll read it--I often read the book group book the weekend of book group, but I have a lot to do this weekend so may not get to it. I have to clean clean clean my house. That will include dusting and getting rid of cobwebs, straightening the pictures, tidying up the piles of reed upstairs, cleaning the bathroom upstairs, making the bed in the guest bedroom upstairs, and oh, so many other things. I'm hosting book group on Sunday, which is nice, but have company coming next weekend, which is more complicated. I've only had my family stay at my house in recent years, so it will be interesting to have friends instead. These are people from Boston who own a camp down the road from my house--they want to be here in the winter. They'll arrive Saturday & leave Sunday, so I just have to figure out a few meals. We'll go out for dinner Sat. night. Someone suggested I feed them whatever it is that I eat, but I don't think frozen Weight Watchers dinners and yogurt will really do.
The dogs had a good time in RI, and it was good for Treasure to be quieter than she is at home. She's stopped limping, which is a big relief. I guess she sprained a toe or something, and resting while we were there did the trick. They run around a lot at home--chasing squirrels and each other. This morning they trotted to the bog to check it out. Why do they always leave just as I'm getting ready to leave for work? Well that's a stupid question--they can tell when I stoke the stove and put on my coat that I'm getting ready to leave, usually without them. Anyway, they were gone for a few minutes but came home, out of breath and happy.
Looking through Dannemora
This is the town of Dannemora, not far from Plattsburgh. The wall on the left is the prison--Clinton Corr. Fac., a maximum security prison. It's imposing and intimidating, and I know quite a few people who work there as corrections officers. That's a preferred job here in the North Country--good pay, good benefits, job security. It's not a nice job, and lots of the CO's don't talk much about work. I know some very gentle, kind men who've turned into cross people because of what they've experienced in their jobs.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Going away
I'm heading out tomorrow morning, off to RI for a long weekend. My mother had no power for several days, and often gets the blues this time of year, so I figured I'd give her a break and visit. "Do you take your dogs?" people ask. Well, so far, yes, but I'm wondering if maybe it isn't time to start thinking about going without them. It would be simpler--for my mother and for me. Well, not this trip.
It's been a pretty good couple of weeks. I got to spend time with Duncan & David while they were here for their winter visit. Dinner one night, dessert another, and lots of email & some phone conversations. Duncan is at home in Minn. now, after being stuck in Burlington for a few days due to last week's storm.
We had a storm, but escaped pretty much unscathed. We got about a foot of snow, which isn't that hard for us to handle. Our snow was light and fluffy, easy to shovel. Unlike the snow in New England, which was wetter and thus much less pleasant. And there was more of it. We've had a couple of inches since then, nothing "measurable," as they say. Not sure if we're planning to have more snow soon or not. It is warm, 30's, but due to get cold again while I'm gone. This means I MUST REMEMBER to shut off my pump & hot water, and turn up the heat when I leave.
I haven't really been doing much. Lots of time spent on the couch with the dogs, watching TV and catching up on reading. Lots of New Yorkers to read. Now I'm caught up and where I should be. For now. I subscribe to a lot of magazines--something I got from my father, I think. When I was growing up we subscribed to 3 newspapers, a zillion magazines of all sorts--Life and Look, Time and Newsweek, American horticulture, Punch (which was a huge puzzle to me--I couldn't figure out what was funny about the cartoons, not really realizing that it was a British magazine) and others. My father was pretty good about reading them as they came in, or at least that's what I remember. I don't remember the huge piles of magazines I now have at my house in my childhood homes.
The dogs are doing all right. They like the snow a lot and have been romping and running all over. Treasure has some ailment that's making her limp and I can't figure out what's up with that. I was going to take her to the vet in Keeseville last night but just couldn't bear to drive half an hour when I got home. Bad dog owner. It might be related to her toe injury, when she got her toe stuck in a trap n the fall. But it could be something else. I'll deal with it NEXT week. She doesn't always limp, which is one of the reasons I haven't taken her in--with my luck she wouldn't be limping at the vet's.
There's not much going on, just work, home, fires, television, reading, dogs, phone calls. Book group is next weekend and so far pretty much no one is very fond of the book. Maybe it'll get better if I read more. Let's hope so.
It's been a pretty good couple of weeks. I got to spend time with Duncan & David while they were here for their winter visit. Dinner one night, dessert another, and lots of email & some phone conversations. Duncan is at home in Minn. now, after being stuck in Burlington for a few days due to last week's storm.
We had a storm, but escaped pretty much unscathed. We got about a foot of snow, which isn't that hard for us to handle. Our snow was light and fluffy, easy to shovel. Unlike the snow in New England, which was wetter and thus much less pleasant. And there was more of it. We've had a couple of inches since then, nothing "measurable," as they say. Not sure if we're planning to have more snow soon or not. It is warm, 30's, but due to get cold again while I'm gone. This means I MUST REMEMBER to shut off my pump & hot water, and turn up the heat when I leave.
I haven't really been doing much. Lots of time spent on the couch with the dogs, watching TV and catching up on reading. Lots of New Yorkers to read. Now I'm caught up and where I should be. For now. I subscribe to a lot of magazines--something I got from my father, I think. When I was growing up we subscribed to 3 newspapers, a zillion magazines of all sorts--Life and Look, Time and Newsweek, American horticulture, Punch (which was a huge puzzle to me--I couldn't figure out what was funny about the cartoons, not really realizing that it was a British magazine) and others. My father was pretty good about reading them as they came in, or at least that's what I remember. I don't remember the huge piles of magazines I now have at my house in my childhood homes.
The dogs are doing all right. They like the snow a lot and have been romping and running all over. Treasure has some ailment that's making her limp and I can't figure out what's up with that. I was going to take her to the vet in Keeseville last night but just couldn't bear to drive half an hour when I got home. Bad dog owner. It might be related to her toe injury, when she got her toe stuck in a trap n the fall. But it could be something else. I'll deal with it NEXT week. She doesn't always limp, which is one of the reasons I haven't taken her in--with my luck she wouldn't be limping at the vet's.
There's not much going on, just work, home, fires, television, reading, dogs, phone calls. Book group is next weekend and so far pretty much no one is very fond of the book. Maybe it'll get better if I read more. Let's hope so.
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