This Year Let's Have Just a Small Tree

A small Christmas tree shape has formed from snow and ice on my kitchen window. I think there was a sticker there at one time but appropriately enough it now looks quite festive in its own little way. It made me chuckle too so I thought I'd share it with you. Nature knows.....

As Easy As Falling Out of Bed

Relatively easy this morning, but only because I couldn't sleep. I'm fighting a pretty bad cold amidst the trying weather we've had of late....work tomorrow - we'll play it by ear. It was helpful to take a hot steamy shower....a luxury many people don't have during this ice storm power recovery period. I'm really greatful to have gotten my power back quickly...a lot of people don't have power still.
What with having been home for almost four days by myself I'm starting to get an idea about what kind of old lady I'll be.....up and down at all hours of the night...napping a bit in the daytime, watching the sun come up - though it was a bit hard to tell since the moon was so bright and sparkly against the still very icy everything. I think I take after my aunty Anita sometimes in that respect...
I already have the requisite old lady number of cats...

How Do I Get Myself Into These Things?

Here's Pakhet seemingly trapped within the plant fishtank planter. For those of us who understand the laws of reflectiveness there's little to worry about but....
Today's larger worries stem from New England's being currently covered in ice and for many there's no power or heat for that matter. I ventured down to the village to get candles and hot chicken - where every business seems to be lit up....but alas not here at home....it may be hours or days before power is restored. My house is currently still a balmy 59 degrees and I have the added benefit of multiple cats...still they can do little to keep the pipes from freezing (at least that I'm aware of).

Break Time

Of course there were moments of rest interspersed between all the fine work done this weekend. Jimmy took time to play in the sink with Lola, and there was a fine lobster dinner preceded by crab cakes and salad.....and probably a little sawdust.....

Before and After

It's been a very busy weekend so far....big renovations that started with new flooring in the livingroom and is still in progress. The chillins' have put down new laminate flooring (after removing the yucky blue pet hair inpacted carpet) then proceded to build columns that created a separation between the livingroom and a wonderful reading nook with bookcase that I'm sure would withstand a nuclear blast....not to mention the fine detail.
I am the luckyest Mom in the world yes?

The Pipes the Pipes Are Calling!

I spent the best part of the day replacing the heat tape under my house. This morning I woke to marginal water flow and instantly realized the heat tape wasn't working. Well....I've been here 4 1/2 years so I figure I got my due. Still, I'm aching from working upside-down under the house with my arms above me....It took 2 hours under the house in 15 degree weather to get to whithin 5 feet of the end of the pipe. They only make 30 foot lengths of heat tape. Just doesn't seem right to have to do such things at my age....can't see myself doing it again in 3 years but...Wally came by toward the end of the bulk of it. Still there was a good 5 feet that wasn't wrapped....it took quite a while and one more trip to the store to buy another 12 foot length to get the water going again at full force....Wally cooked some steak on the grill and we had that with some mashed potatoes and gravy while watching the rest of the Pats game. I think I'll count this adventure as my trip to church for this week. It's time to start writing notes for that book about the joys of living alone.

Better In Yellow

I'm quite happy with my effort at repainting the kitchen to yellow. Yesterday it was hard to see the true color since it was so gloomy outside and I was painting with all the lights on, but today it's a bit brighter out and I'm happy with the color choice - Thanks to Maggie and Pam for your color chosing help! I was considering several shades paler which would have looked white or worse - Cream! - that's enough to make you tired right when you get up!
It took me about 4 1/2 hrs to get it painted yesterday. People who know me will be surprised at how well it turned out and the lack of paint on unintended surfaces. That painter died of shame....

Priming The Kitchen

Today being a bank holiday, I decided to prime the kitchen....not easy to cover up red. So for now I'm done with that and painting will have to wait for the weekend. I'm thinking of a pale yellow this time.
Lola was her usual helpful self and put her shoulder right into it. She's a little whiter than before....

New Special Feline Talent Discovered!

Yesterday morning I got up and glanced over at the table where our 1,000 piece puzzle had been assembled - to find it GONE!
It was then that you can well imagine, all manner of thoughts crossed my mind.....a quick call to Guiness to let them know that MY kitties were clearly geniuses for having dissassembled all 1,000 pieces so completely? Yes, that and much much more...
As I marveled at the efficiency they displayed in the utter completeness that they carried out their task, (all in their spare time between naps) shaking my head, trying to take it all in I was sure this diserved a post at least.

Nachos Night Out

Last night was Nacho and beverage night at Hermanos in Concord. A good and much needed laugh was had by each and all. Sarah treated Melissa Miller and I to Nachos, Quesa Dillas, beer and wine. It was discovered that there actually IS something on the menu that Melissa will eat - the Amy's Quesadillas - although we devised a far better name for it - The Melissa's favorite Quesadillas better enyoyed without chicken that may have been cooked with yucky peppers and preferably not adorned with rabbit food although you can still include the sour cream.

Our charming and excedingly helpful server Lisa (aka Waldo) posed for photo documentation as did Sarah and Melissa with their beverages but I'm told by my phone that I've exceded my size limit for this post and will have to send those pictures later. All in all a good time was had then Sarah and Melissa went off to downtown Concord on a voluntary mission to move barriers for Howl a ween in Concord night. Melissa was also called to duty for the Obama campaign and Sarah too had other unspecified tasks to accomplish. I had but two things that needed doing - buy a big bag o' kitty litter. And make my way home to Tilton. Mission accomplished.

WalHan Unlimited

The chillins' are putting a new roof on my brother Normand's house. It's been a might breezy and cold up there but they're making great progress and should be finished tomorrow. I've been to visit and offer support in the form of RedBull and cookies the last couple days. Today I took pictures since the light was nice and the weather was a bit more conducive to taking my hands out of my pockets.
And Yes, there was goofiness. Wally gave his belt to Hannah because she was inadvertently (or maybe not) mooning the street and there was potential for traffic mishaps. There were issues with that generous donation on Wally's part though:

The Belt Issue They've been working pretty fast and there was some time for occasional jollity though and some little dancing between hauling the bundles up the ladder.

Fine TuningIt's not as easy as it would seem......

When a good song comes on the construction radio....


A Little Dance

A Little Nailgunning When everything's in the right place....

A Little 80lb Bundle When you get tired of dancing......

Another Thursday

Two-Headed Same-coat Wearing Monster

Hey, it's just me trying again to post mobile. This kind of problem has become a long technical journey that I'm still determined to get to the end of. Please bear with my attempts to put things right.

Chipping away at The to-do List

The Finished Puzzle w/Flashglare!

The Raked Lawn

It was a relatively quiet weekend including some raking on Sunday and some cleaning and puzzle finishing on Saturday.
The rest of this week promises to be somewhat bleaker than today's Indian summer like weather. There might even be a few snowflakes...oh please not yet!
Today I'm planning a little for next weekend's chores and hoping

too to fit in a little fun while I'm at it. The whole process of getting ready for winter is a bit daunting but chip away at the list I will...

Two Spooky Puzzleguards
There's going under the house and doing a little more insulating, hot water pipe wrapping (that had me under the house with a hair dryer last year) and of course plugging in the heat tape (electric bill goes up 20 dollars a month)....sigh, summer living is easier I think....I have to find something fun to do in winter....maybe snowshoing....maybe if I get some it won't snow?

Today's View

Well, really this is yet another attempt at getting my post-by-mobile phone abilities back. If you can see the not-so-remarkable picture of the view outside my window that means I've found a work around for my mobile photo to blog posting issues. It's the main reason I haven't posted much lately.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

This is the view that would have published if I could send via my phone again.....

Amusing Weekend

As of about 2 weeks ago, I suddenly can't post images from my phone. I've tried all the suggestions, and even rebuilt my phone, but still can't......Anyway....

It was an amusing weekend....the chillins' were up for a nice Cornish Game hen dinner on Friday night. Saturday we went to Portsmouth and on the way home, stopped at a puzzle store (all puzzles of all kinds) on Rte. 4......and bought a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle. Upon getting home around 7:30 Saturday evening we worked on the puzzle until 11 pm and got about 1/4 of the way done. By Sunday at 4pm we had it about 1/2 done. I always loved jigsaw puzzles and did so many while growing up...it's a lot like being a kid again....but the chillins' always have that effect on me anyways.....

Sunday night we played Wii Tiger Woods golf while listening/peeking in on the Redsox/Tampa Bay game. Although the Redsox lost, team Wally-Lulu beat team Beardsly-Hannah soundly 5up.....thanks to some heavy coaching from pro Wally.

A Spot in the Sun

Ahh Sunday morning with a cup of coffee and a sunny spot on the floor. What could be better? One more day off and more beautiful weather in store for tomorrow.
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Last Blasts

It's a really beautiful day here in NH and promises to be throughout the long weekend too! I was pleased to see the monk's hood saved its blooming effort until now and also managed to attract a chubby bumblebee.

Looking around I'm seeing enough leaves on the ground but still enough left in the trees that would make raking a pointless task at least for a couple more weeks. I'm sitting on the screen porch enjoying one of the last bouts of warmish weather too. I always miss sitting out here in the winter and so do the kitties. They're excited about all the falling and blowing leaves and the few brave bugs still flying around.
I should head outside and start clipping back the garden myself. It's too nice out to stay indoors.
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Enchanted Forest

I had a lovely weekend in Calais Vermont at Sarah's family camp. Although it was a short stay - Saturday morning through Sunday morning, we got a lot of walking and talking in. It was a rare chance to spend some time with friends and family that I don't get to see very often, and much fun and food was enjoyed by all.

There was a forest walk taken that included trees with faces on one stretch. For those with less energy there were strategically placed benches for resting along the way. The fall colors are really starting to take hold there too.

My daughter Hannah and I slept in the outside building with lots and lots of blankets since there was no heat in there. We also managed to fit in two walks to the store and a crossword puzzle, and of course - pictures.

Hannah and I pictures taken by each other.

The whole group

Cammy, Louise and Sarah practicing our over-the-glasses stern librarian look.

Hannah and Lilly working on their coloring.

Reta and a slowly waking Annah.

Abbie and Sarah in deep discussion.

Looking Forward

At last glance the big budget bail out had not passed and the stock market made a historically deep plunge. I'm not unhappy that it didn't pass since I don't believe anyone would have learned anything from yet another bail out. I'm just not sure Americans are ready to make the sacrifices that they're about to have to make. It's scary to think about the people who will really suffer because of all this....and yet that's what comes of not asking questions and making assumptions. We've been like children dependent on parents that weren't really paying attention to our future. Then again we should have been paying more attention ourselves....there's an adage about if it sounds too good to be true?
Well, appropriately enough it's officially fall and it'll get colder before it get's warmer again. True enough for what's coming for all of us here in the US as well as the rest of the world. But the seasons pass and so shall this. I'd like to just hear one admission that perhaps someone who should have known better didn't think really hard about how we're going to make it through this winter.

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The View

It's Monday again and I know I haven't posted in a while....seems as though the combination of worries about the economy, impending menopause, Autumn with its shortening days, and if that isn't enough - It's Monday....here's my view from my cube here in the basement....

This seems to happen most every year, and for the most part I'm able to change my perspective merely by making myself aware - Oh yeah, this again.....but this year is a little tougher....I guess I need to get out of the basement and see some sun a bit more often.

EOD and E0S

Yup, I think it's time to admit the gardening season's over. It's also end of day too but that's more of a relief. I know there's still cleanup and putting to bed of the garden to do but there isn't anything left to harvest save the lettuce cilantro and dill. It's a little sad and I'll have to find a cold weather activity to get me through.
I got just two peppers from the two plant I put in. I may rethink planting them next year. Lettuce, tomatoes and broccoli did well so they're keeper crops. So are all the flowers. We made lots of improvements this year and hope to do more next year as money permits....it's sooooo worth it.
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