It's The Strangest Thing

Today's high temperature was: 24 degrees

Feels like temperature: 16

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Today was one of those days when I just felt real peaceful and content.  I have no idea why--just like I have no idea why on the days I feel shaky, depressed and weepy.  There is no rhyme nor reason.  But...I like this kind of feeling much better.  I just felt real mellow--wish I knew how to keep that feeling.

This time of year is the happiest time of year--according to all the polls.  It is also the saddest time of year--according to a lot of the polls.  There are so many people that are sad this time of year, because a loved one is missing from their family gathering.  A parent, child, spouse, sibling.  Even if it isn't talked about, someone in the group is missing and someone is thinking about them.

Nostalgia reigns  supreme.  I miss my Mother and the way she made Christmas the most wonderful time of the year.  I miss the fact that most of my grand children are all grown up now--it is so fun to have little kids at Christmas time.  Of course, this year I will be missing my youngest daughter and her family.  I miss the way Christmas was back when I was married and the kids were young and so excited about everything.  Going to the Sunday School Christmas program where they had all parts to play and pieces to say.  

For us that are alone, it is really hard this time of year.  I have the house all decorated and lights inside and out and...no one will see it. It is just for me and it seems all too much work at times, but I know I need it.  There are no presents under my tree--no secrets packages for Fred (or me) to shake and see if we can guess what is inside.  No one to wake up with Christmas morning and eat cinnamon rolls and open presents with.  No one to ride home with, in the dark, after the family Christmas Eve and talk all about it.  Yeah--it is so hard.  BUT--we put smiles on our faces and we dress up with a bit of glitter in our ears or around our necks and we laugh and talk and maybe go to Christmas Eve late church services.  

No wonder that on December 26th, I take down the tree and get rid of all the decorations.  It is over!  I want it out of my house!  Then of course, I have New Year's Day, the second year of Fred's "transition" date.  This year, it too will be hard, because he would have been so excited to watch Michigan State play football in the Rose Bowl!!  I still may make "our" platter of Game Day goodies--some Hickory Stick, slices of good Wisconsin cheese, some sweet Gherkins and those wonderful Breton Sesame Seed crackers to put it all on and munch to our heart's content.  <sigh>

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It is the strangest thing.  I cannot draw--for the life of me--I cannot draw a picture.  I can't get the perspective right so things look like they should--some near, some far.  But--I take a blank piece of cross stitch fabric and I can stitch what I want to see.  I can see it in my mind and just start stitching and along comes ideas and how things should look and.....

I got the front of the barn done and then figured out how to put the back end on it==a row up so it would look like it was farther back.  Then I decided, it needed steps by the door that led into the calf pens--cement color.  Then, I wanted a silo back behind the barn--like it actually was, so..how to do that.  Ah yes.

  

Then I decided I wanted a fence that looked like it was back behind the barn and I came up with this and the gate.  I think I will take that fence kitty corner up from the barn to the blue line and on the other side too--to give the illusion of a fenced in field because....I gotta get a tree or two on the left upper, so I can have a few cows there.  A corn field over to the right of the barn, and of course, I have to figure out how to get a green tractor in there and--perhaps a driveway coming down past the house.  Guess I will put in the house first and the driveway later--when I am sure of the placement.

But--that's how it's going and I think the perspective looks good.  I don't need a pattern!!  I just need to let my mind wander and figure it out. It really does look like our barn--in a sort of sampler/Amish/Grandma Moses/provincial way.

Obsessive and Completely Undisciplined!!!

Today's high temperature was:  26 degrees

2" of snow over night and this morning

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Every single morning, when I come out into the living room, this sight greets me.  Maggie must do it during the night.  Cats are so sneaky--she pays no attention to it during the day.

It is hard to get straightened out properly.  I use my Grabbit stick

I had after hip surgery, when I couldn't bend over for 6 weeks.

I find myself talking to the cats like I did my kids.  When I swing my legs out of bed, they are all over me.  Meowing and carrying on.  "Are you ready for breakfast?  Just give Momma a minute to go potty."  "What's the matter, Honey?"  "Maggie, I said no!"  "Hey--quit wrestling...someone's gonna get hurt."  I guess, when you have no one else to talk to in the house, you talk to your pets!!

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A couple more inches of snow and Dan--my snow digger-outer guy showed up again.  This young man has ADHD and is very hyperactive.  He moves so fast, which gets him in trouble AND he will talk FOREVER!!!  But, I like him.  I didn't think a mere 2 inches of snow needed cleaning off the parking pad, but he cleaned off my car, swept the porch and railings and beat the snow out of my welcome mat, and shoveled the parking pad clean, so I gave him a 10 spot.  I am going to call on him, after Christmas, to haul all my heavy stuff back out to my shed and back to my bedroom closet.  Yes--I could do it, if I had too, but it makes my back and hips ache--so--I will pay him five or ten bucks and it will help both of us.
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I went searching for a microwave yesterday.  I stopped at the Habitat for Humanity place, and the Salvation Army store, but they had nothing.  Then I went to Wal-Mart, Lowes and Home Depot.  I knew the one I wanted, so I was just checking prices.  

Wal-Mart=152.00

Lowes = 126.00

Home Depot = 79.57

The same oven--such a price spread!

...AND, if I opened a charge card with them, they would take off $25.00.  So I did, although I will never use it--I don't like the Home Depot store all that much.  I prefer Lowes.  

The kid loaded it up for me and when I got home, I called Merle and he came down and brought it in and unboxed it for me.  I like it!  It is smaller then the one I had, but it is perfectly good enough for what I use one for. (Mine does not have any black on it--all white)

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Then I went over to the JoAnne's store--just to check on cross stitch fabric--just to check.  I found just what I wanted!!!  A yard long and a yard wide--$5.00--off white.  So I got it.  Going to put it away until January 1st when I start the project of stitching the farm and town on it.

Undisciplined and obsessive as I am--I got it out this morning, measured it, marked it off with a chalk pencil and then--WOE IS ME--I had to start it while I watched my soap.

Starting with the barn

I have a photo of the house I grew up in (before the remodel), and I found other pictures that resemble the buildings on the farm and the town (school and church) and I scanned them and printed them out on graph paper and charted them so I would know how large they were going to be when stitched.  Of course, I have every color of floss known to mankind, so no need to buy that.  All this stuff was rattling around in my mind, so I just HAD to start--just to see--honest!!!  I have no self discipline or control!!!!!

  

The house is printed out on graph paper.  It will go down a bit and right of the barn--somewhere.  I gotta get a John Deere tractor, a couple of cows and a silo next to the barn first.  Just going on instinct and color choices and we will see what happens. It, of course, won't look like the photos, but it will do.

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I got a deal on gas yesterday too.  I have allotted $40.00 a month for gas.  Yesterday, I stopped to fill up--it was $3.09 a gallon.  I filled it up for $30.99.  YAY

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I took Pearl and Merle's Christmas gifts up to them.  I made spaghetti sauce for Merle and two scrubbies for Pearl.  I also enclosed one of my books for their great grand daughter and a scrubbie and lottery ticket for their daughter--who have just moved into our park.

In case you are interested, here are the instructions on how to make the lighted Christmas balls that I have hanging outside.  Sounds like a good craft for you or your husband to make for next year. :-)

http://www.ehow.com/print/how_4471345_make-hanging-plastic-cup-ball.html

    

Snowy Weekend

Today's high temperature was: 22 degrees

Snowed all day

Snow total for the weekend--7 inches.

Suppose to be 40+ on Friday this week :-)

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It snowed all day Saturday.  We expected it.  We were ready.  We did not expect the snow that came today--it was suppose to shut off around midnight, but it didn't.

Merle came down to shovel me out--I sent him back home.  I don't want him working that hard in this cold weather.  Instead, I have a young man that comes--cleans off the car, the porch and steps and the entire parking pad for $10.00.  He is 47 and has two kids to support--has been without work for five months, so I would rather give him the work.  He came yesterday and today--I hope the snow quits or I am going to go broke, LOL.  Today, I gave him $20.00 for the job and he cried!!  I told him it was a Merry Christmas gift.  

Also got the mail carrier's card and $20.00 in the mail box so she will get it tomorrow.  Twenty dollars seems like such a minuscule amount today, doesn't it?  What with little kids getting $400.00 IPad's and Smart Phones--twenty dollars seems like five dollars to them.  <Sigh>

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I spent most of Sunday (today) working on trying to make cross stitch patterns out of photos.  I have a long frame-26 x 6" and I want to stitch a series of scenes from my childhood--the house, barn, school, church, tractor, cows, dog, etc.  So I have had to scan the photos and print them out on graph paper to see how big they are.  Also been looking online for free cross stitch patterns for cows, tractor, dog--that sort of thing.  It will be a project I start in January.  I always have to have a new cross stitch project to start the new year and get me through the winter months.   I am crocheting a sweater/bootie/bonnet/afghan baby set for my friend Bethie, who works for an animal rescue group and they have a silent auction in February.  Hope I get it done by then--however, I need to have two different projects, so when my wrist gets tired from crocheting, I can switch over to cross stitch.

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Yesterday, I finished my 3rd baby crib cover/quilt for the non-existent great grand children. LOL  For some reason, it soothes me that, even though I may be dead when a great grand child is born, at least my grandchild will have something for their baby from her grandma.

1st one

  2nd one and my favorite

Just finished.  This is the one I got at

The Salvation Army store for $2.99

I need to get to town tomorrow and we aren't suppose to have any more snow until nighttime.  I was feeling so blessed Thursday night and woke up Friday morning to find my microwave had died.  I turned it on to warm up my milk for cocoa and it made a terrific racket and no heat.  I unplugged it to see if it might reset itself, but when I turned it back on, a few sparks flew so I yanked out the plug.  It hadn't been heating properly for the last month, so I should have known.

Isn't this just great?  My life seems to be, one step forward and three steps back, BUT, I thanked God for having it last these past 11 years.  I'll tell you one thing, you don't realize how often you use the microwave, until you don't have a microwave.  I have to warm up my milk in a pan on top of the stove--just like I did 20 years ago.  OH--we are so spoiled!!!  Perhaps I can find a re-furbished one?

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I have been watching Season 3 of Downton Abbey--catching up, getting ready for Season 4.  I can hardly wait!!

I have all my gifts wrapped--just waiting for Maddie's $10.00 laser cut ornament from the Nutcracker Ballet place I ordered.  I got an e-mail, it has been shipped, so I should get it any day now.

I paid end of month bills today, gas, electricity, cable company, health insurance, life insurance and have $50.00 left in the checking account.  That is good--usually by now I am down to $15.00, LOL.

I got my notice from Social Security of our cost of living raise--I get $14.00 more a month.  I just don't know what I am going to do with such riches!!!

Life is good!!!

Underdogs and Little Brother-PREPARE!!

We are called Little Brother by that other university in South-East Michigan.  Well--we trounced them good AND we beat Ohio State that hadn't been beaten in 24 games and we are on our way to GLORY!!

http://www.wilx.com/news/haveyouseenthis/headlines/Rose-Bowl-2014-Prepare-for-2014-235768241.html?device=phone

WE ARE FROM THE LAND OF SPARTA!!!

WE ARE SPARTANS!!!

OH MY GOSH!!!

Today's high temperature was: 29 degrees

Partly sunny

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It's been an OHMYGOSH kind of day.

I woke up kind of early and checked the outside temperature and it was 21 degrees!!  OHMYGOSH--it has been 9 degrees every morning this week.

Then I opened up my e-mails and got this weather alert:

! Winter Weather Advisory !

Issued at: 4:16 am EST on December 13, 2013, expires at: 12:00 AM EST on 

December 15, 2013

...Winter Weather Advisory in effect from 9 PM this evening to

midnight EST Saturday night...

The National Weather Service in Detroit/Pontiac has issued a

Winter Weather Advisory for snow and blowing snow...which is in

effect from 9 PM this evening to midnight EST Saturday night.

Hazardous weather...

 * snowfall will increase in coverage and intensity tonight

   and continue into Saturday evening.

 * East winds will increase to around 20 mph late tonight and

  continue on Saturday...causing wind chills to fall into the

  single digits above zero.

 * 4 to 6 inches of snow is expected by Saturday evening.

OHMYGOSH--no wonder it is warmer--it has to warm up a bit to get that kind of snow!  That means a trip to the store because I am almost out of milk and food and the cats are completely out of food!!  

I can't wait fir the snow!!!  I have no where to go and tomorrow is filled with basketball games on TV, so I will sit inside and watch the snow drift down and pile up.  Maybe someone will come and offer to shovel my driveway?  It's cool!
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I went to Madeleine's "holiday" concert last night--after dark, but I made it okay.  I got there 45 minutes early so I could get a parking space near the entrance to the auditorium--sat in my warm car for half an hour and then went and found my favorite seat still unfilled.  In fact, there were three in a row so I could save two for Karen and Mark.  There were four different musical "bands" or orchestra's.  Maddie plays in the last symphony--the top classed one.  

Of course, the three boys in that group, that I adore, were also playing.  I didn't get to stop in at the band room afterwards to see everyone, but I know Maddie saw me when she exited the stage.  Then, OHMYGOSH--this morning I got the loveliest message on face book from Matt--he is the drum major for the marching band and also plays trombone in the orchestra.  I adore this young man!  He is one of the finest young men I have ever met.

Here he is with Maddie--I wish these two would get together!!

So anyway--I got this Face Book message from him that said, "Grandma, I saw you in the audience.  I was looking for you afterwards.  I wanted to give you a hug.  I know you come to hear Maddie play, but I also know that you are there for me too and you can't imagine how much that means to me.  Thank you for your encouraging words to me--you are so special.  I love you.  Merry Christmas."

Cried?  Well of course I cried.  I found out a week ago that his parents are divorcing!  It breaks my heart.  They are so active in their church, you would never think that sort of family disaster would happen to those kinds of people.   He is going to Michigan State next year and will be auditioning to be one of the marching band drum majors--and I just bet he makes it!!!  

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As I was walking out of the auditorium last night, I heard someone yell, "Grandma Judy", turned around and there was Maddie's best friend Susanna.  

After the Nutcracker last Sunday, I had given her an ornament.  It is a laser cut circle and you can have it show any character from the Nutcracker Ballet.  I gave her the Snow Queen one and had it engraved, "Snow Queen--2013".  She came running up and grabbed me and hugged me so tight!  "Thank you Grandma!  It means so much for me to look out and see you sitting in the audience when I dance.  It makes me dance better!"  

OHMYGOSH--I left the building feeling so warm that I didn't even notice the cold, as I walked to my car!

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So--back to today.....I ran up to Wal-Mart to get some provisions.  We have 4-7 inches of snow coming in tonight and all day tomorrow and the furry kids were completely out of food and more importantly, so was I!

When I got back home, I picked up my mail and in with the Christmas Cards was a check for two of my children's books--from someone who reads this blog, but never leaves a comment, that I know of--thank you Judy!!!  I will send them out next week.  I so appreciate it!!

Then I came up on the porch and opened my storm door and there was a cardboard envelope.  I have ordered Madeleine a small engraved laser cut tree ornament that shows the Dew Drop Fairy, the role she danced in the Nutcracker.  I thought that was in the cardboard envelope.  

I toted my groceries inside, filled up my bird feeders, put away my groceries and sat down to open the envelope.

OHMYGOSH--inside was a Christmas card AND three gift  cards for the Rich Peoples grocery store!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  They were sent to me by a lovely woman from Indiana.  They don't even have VG's in Indiana.  How did she figure out how to get gift cards?

One of my recent resolutions was to only get groceries at Wal-Mart.  That is the only place I can afford--even though I hate the store here.  And just look, an angel dropped gift cards into my life so I can at least go to VG's and get their delicious deli salads and prepared salads, their wonderful fresh fruits and their wonderful yellow loaf cake with the inch of icing!!!!!  My treats that I so enjoy!!  Melissa my Angel!!!  If I ever win a PCH money prize I am sharing it with you!!!!!

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So--I have been touched by ANGELS--real angels!!!  I even got a hug from the Red Kettle bell ringer.  The same woman who is outside Wal-Mart every single day!  I always stop on the way out and put a dollar in the bucket and today we had a wonderful conversation.  She asked for God's blessing on me--I consider that an Angel wish!!

On the way to my car, there was an old (older then me) lady trying to load groceries into her trunk, so I stopped and asked if I could help her.  She wanted to give me a five dollar tip.  Can you imagine?  I told her to drop it into the Red Kettle the next time she went in the store.

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I had these visitors today:

I know some people don't like Blue Jays'

but I think they are beautiful

As long as the Goldfinch and the Cardinal don't see each other

they should both be able to get lunch in peace

Doesn't everyone love Chick A Dees? 

The first House Finch I have seen in quite awhile 

Hard to see--a Ladderback Woodpecker

Love the Nuthatch 

and Maggie waiting for the Bird Revue to start.

I filled up my big silo feeder. 

OHMYGOSH--it has been a wondrous day!!!

Thank you, God.  Thank you Angels.

It's That Time Of Year

Today's high temperature was:  19 degrees

Feels like:  about 10 degrees

Mostly sunny

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Nostalgia reigns supreme this time of year.  

We always sent photo Christmas cards over the years.  I found these this morning, in an envelope,  and decided to scan them into my computer.  Some years are missing--I know not why.

1957--we've only just begun

My high school sweetheart--he was so handsome.

1959-Mark was 20 months, Pam was 2 months

1960

1961- Mark was 3, Pam 2 and Karen-2 months

1962--five years married and 3 kids

1964

1966

1967--had just moved into my grandma's house

1968

1970

1971--Mark 14, Pam 13, Karen 11, Jennifer just 1

1974

1979--Pam and Allen just married

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...and then it all fell apart

It's Colder Than A Well Digger's A**

Today's high temperature was:  19

Feels like temperature:   9

Light snow all day.

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I heard that phrase (title) when I was 45 years old and dating a guy from Georgia.  He was a real stupid person actually, but he had to explain to me what it meant, as I had no clue.

"Back in the day, they dug wells by hand.  

The further down into the hole the 

well digger got, the colder it got. 

He was leaning back against the cold ground and his ass got froze."

Okay.  I wonder what happened to him--he was very tall and skinny with a big Adam's Apple--looked and acted like a real hillbilly and wasn't all that bright.  But, he worked for GM and made a good salary.  He's the same one that said:

"Ya'll get nahce tar on yer car."

Nice tar?  All over my car?  I went to look.

He meant, "nice tires".

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For some reason, these photos made me chuckle.  These were taken at Nelson Mandela's funeral.  Now, remember--these people are on the platform, up in front, for all to see. Michelle is the one I studied--the look on her face and her body language says a lot.

The President greets the beautiful, blond Prime Minister of Denmark

 Let's take a "selfie".

"Sorry Honey.  Here, you sit next to her." 

(Look at Michelle--she isn't even looking at him.)

Why aren't Michelle and the Prime Minister chatting it up? 

I'm sure there is a reasonable explanation.  I thought it was disrespectful behavior at a funeral, but then, what do I know..perhaps it is common behavior.  I think Michelle probably didn't find it humorous.  

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I like these photos better--showing Hillary, the Bush's and Obama's having a fun time together.

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Today, I wrapped the few gifts I have for my family.  I didn't have boxes to put the girls scrubbies in, but I had saved Kleenex boxes.  I cut them down and they worked great!!!

You cut off the top, and cut the flaps just to the sides

Fold the flaps in and bend the top down to the side joint 

Tape the top and side together, and you have a nice, neat little box. 

My Mother would be proud of me!!  Necessity is the mother of invention.  Hold your applause--yes I know, I am clever, LOL.

I also took the last 10 quarts of spaghetti sauce that was frozen, put it back into the big pot and cooked it down some more so it is thicker. Then bagged it up in quart Ziplock baggies and put it back in the freezer. 

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I heard from Karen tonight that Grandson Stephen (her MSU sophomore) has tickets to the Rose Bowl.  He and two other guys--can't afford to fly so they are driving!!!  From here to California!!! 32 hours one way.  Karen, never a worrier, but has been since Maddie's accident last week, is concerned.  I said, "You gotta let him do it.  You pray he will be okay and let him go.  It will be a great experience for him."  He and his two buds plan on staying at his oldest sister Helene's apartment.  She has a studio apartment--very tiny.  She said she had room for two, Stephen said, "Well three of us are coming."  Two can sleep on the floor and one will have to sleep in the bath tub.  LOL!!!  Heck--they are college kids--they can do it and think it's all fun.

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 As I looked out the living room window across from me tonight--this is what I saw.  It looks like I have a lighted tree out in my side yard.  I like it!!!