Dec 11

Here Comes the Weather

Papa and I had a great trip to Pigeon Forge at the end of last week.  We drove home on Sunday, narrowly escaping the ice storm that caused trouble in Northern Ohio and Southeastern lower Michigan.  We did see a few accidents, but at the time we went through, a little commen sense would have prevented those.  They were all on or near bridges.  Remember, bridges freeze before the roadway. 

 We saw some good bluegrass.  The best of the show was the Steep Canyon Rangers, IMHO.  See them as soon as you can.  Papa is working on his pictures, which I will probably post on Wednesday.  Stay tuned.

I’m trying to get ready for Christmas, not so easy a task this year.  I did send cards today,  If Papa hadn’t helped, I would have never made it.  Now, I sewing, cleaning and so on. 

A front is coming, or perhaps it’s here.  The weather men are singing and dancing with glee, they love bad weather.  The rest of us are quietly looking out the windows, sighing, and looking for the ice melter we had last spring and put somewhere.

Dec 05

Snow? A Haircut?

Winter finally happened here in the Detroit suburbs.  I had to shovel the drive today.  Well, I didn’t have to, but it’s always better to keep up on such things.  And it’s good exercise.  Papa and I are headed out for a long weekend in the Smokie Mountains this afternoon.  I guess that’s why the weather turned, to make the trip hard.  Oh well.

 You may remember my raves about my haircut problems.  Yesterday I had a haircut; that rash action was an impulse move, fueled by my very impulsive inner self self.   Every time I do something like this, I hear my Aunt Jane saying, “The physical  therapist said I was far too impulsive to have a walker without breaks.”  I believe Aunt Jane was over 90 then; and her personality and actions still displayed that familiar family trait. 

Anyway, I was a post office mailing GS2 a package.  He still hasn’t received the birthday package I mailed on November 14th, for his November 27 birthday.  The Navy says Christmas packages need to be mailed by November 25, and by December 9th for priority mail.  I wouldn’t dream of using regular mail, so both packages were insured, and by priority mail.  I don’t know what the “birthday” deadline was, but I missed it.  I didn’t miss the Christmas deadline, so I hope he gets the darn thing. 

Oh, yes, the haircut.  The last one I had was a while ago, quite a while.  So, I kind of sneaked a peak into the window of the franchise hair cut place next to the post office, and went in and mailed my package.  On the way out, I just walked into the haircut place.  The woman that met me at the desk said she had cut curly hair before, so I just crossed my fingers and took a chance.  It doesn’t look great, but it is all one length, and just a kind of short tee-pee.  It curls pretty well (it always does), so no one will know that I spend about 2 minutes on my hair style each day.  I can hear my brain telling me to go to a better place, and pay more, and all that stuff, but I just can’t. 

 So, it’s off the Pigeon Forge, the outlets, the buffets, the music, the fun!

Dec 04

It’s Clear and Cold – See the Stars

Tuesday is garbage day at Granny’s.  It used to be Monday, but improvements were made in the route, or something.  I really don’t remember the whole explanation.  Anyway, they start collections at 7, and they mean it.  D1 missed the recycling truck one day by not being up early enough.  All this means that on Tuesday morning, when Papa steps into the shower, I’m out there putting the trash and recycling at the road.  This morning at 5:45 EST, I saw a bunch of stars.  Seeing stars in the city is not easy, but there aren’t as many lights at 5:45 am as at 10:00 pm, so I had a chance.  I grew up under a star-filled sky in northern lower Michigan, and it looks like home to me, whenever or wherever I see a sky like that.  It was pretty cool too.  Please don’t tell the neighbors I just throw on my bathrobe to put out the trash, I know they all get dressed and put on makeup. 

Today is full of stuff to do, and so is tomorrow.  Then Wednesday evening, we’re off to the Smoky Mountains for the Larkins Christmas Show, and a little outlet shopping.

Dec 03

I’m Back…

I guess I’ve let the blog slip out of my grasp over the past couple of weeks.  We helped D2 move.  When I got home, I was met with a number of pressing items, not of which was a blog. 

Ready for Christmas?  That what people are asking now.  I’m not, but I might be by the 25th.  This year will be quite different for Papa and I.  For the past several years we have traveled to Jekyll Island after Christmas and stayed until after New Year’s Day.  Since Papa will need to return to work on January 2nd, we won’t be down there this year, and probably for several more.  It’s just the way the dates fall.

I did post Papa’s photos from the Southern Ohio Indoor Music Festival, take a look!

Nov 23

Here we are

We are in Kalamazoo, helping D2 move.  We found out how old 5? really is.  We’re stiff and sore.  Progress is being made.  More Sunday!

Nov 15

Headlines

TIME OUT from the fun, please read this carefully.  Especially if you are concerned about the future on our earth. 

The Detroit Free Press front page is screaming at me today, “Ski-high dioxin level taints river in Saginaw”.  People, if you don’t understand about dioxins you aren’t alone. 

Dr. Linda Birnbaum made a presentation on Dioxins in Saginaw, Michigan on April 13, 2005 and was kind enough to grant  permission for her presentation to be published on the site of Citizens for Alternatives to Chemical Contamination “CACC”. Read about dioxins here on the CACC site.  You might also look the CACC site itself over for other information regarding environmental issues in the Great Lakes basin.

Nov 13

Vote!

Vote here for the “Click on Detroit” channel 4 team HS football team of the week.  Oh ya, vote for Troy, please.

Nov 13

Sunny and Bright today

It’s a nice looking day, already.  The garbage men already took the leaves, so they’re right with it.  Of course, even though I worked hard yesterday, there are many leaves on the lawn again.  We only bag the one from the walnut tree, the remainder we mow up and put on our garden.  So, I guess I could do that again today.  But, today I need to make apple sauce.  We’ll see how fast I can go.  I’m going to start the music, and core the apples.  Hope to be done early, because there are other tasks ahead. 

I need to pack for our weekend at the bluegrass festival.  I need to wash, vacuum, finish cleaning the flower beds.  Organize my research for a trip to the Bentley Library at the University of Michigan Thursday.   I also need to send a package to GS1 for his birthday.  He’s in Cuba, GITMO for those that know the lingo.  We’re hoping he’ll be back in the states in February as scheduled.

I also have to pack all my painting, painting clothing, and other miscellaneous items for a long visit to D2’s new house in Kalamazoo.  Their goal is to scrub, paint, clean, put in some flooring and move in by Nov 30.  They’ve started without me, a good thing.  I will be going after Papa and I get home Sunday.  So, I’ll have 3 days to work, a trip to M-in-L’s for a Thanksgiving dinner, then a few more days to help them.  Papa will help after Thanksgiving, he is planning to travel back to Kalamazoo with me from M-in_l’s house.  I guess I’ll be tired, but it will be a good tired.  I’ll do whatever I can to help.

Nov 12

Funny, very Funny

Today is the day that the government celebrates my birthday.  Or something like that.  So, here is the explanation.  When I was born, November 11 was Armistice day.  You older folks know, the eleventh hour, the eleventh day, the eleventh month.  For the younger ones, it was the day WWI ended.  A few years after I was born, the name was changed to Veteran’s Day, a day to honor those who served our country, whatever the time or conflict.  Even later, powerful forces convinced the government it wasn’t possible to honor veterans, or celebrate other holidays without a day off work.  To they moved a bunch of holidays to a conveniently located Monday to get a day off work and a long weekend.  At least, government employees get a day off work.  Interestingly enough, the Veteran’s day celebration here was on the actual day, yesterday.  But, the government and banks will be taking the day off anyway.  Now that’s funny.

When I was young, I came to understand that there was always a parade on my birthday, and also to feel sorry for family, friends and acquaintances who had do without such luck or honor.  It took a few years to realize that it was the holiday, not my birthday.  This year, my birthday was celebrated on the proper day, yesterday.  I received some very touching cards, from M-in-L and friends.  Our family went out for lunch. I didn’t cook, I didn’t wash, I didn’t clean. 

I’m sure you all know what that means for today, I’ll be cooking, washing, cleaning and a bunch of other stuff.  I’ve got a busy and short week ahead.  I’ll be sewing, cooking, cleaning and packing. 

Papa and I will be at the Southern Ohio Indoor Music Festival in Wilmington, Ohio on Friday and Saturday.  It means missing GS2’s game, which we will keep track of by phone.  Talk about hard decisions–.  We purchased the tickets the day they went on sale in August, when, based on experience, we never dreamed the team would be playing in the state playoffs.  If GS2 had not been injured and was able to play, we would have chosen the game.  However, Papa and I have to somehow make a life for ourselves along the way.  In the over 38 years of our marriage, we have never had an empty nest.  I am hearing rumblings indicating that could happen in the next several years.  If it does, we sure do need to have a strong relationship and joint interests to fill our time.  There won’t be nearly as much cooking, washing and cleaning to fill it up!

Nov 10

Gray Saturday

Papa and I worked on the yard and garden a little this morning.  The leaves are finally falling some, but many are still on the trees.  He ran the mower and dumped what he collected on the garden.  I removed all the tomato cages, and picked some tomates in the process, I ate one for lunch and it was OK, but not great.  Most of the garden is frozen, but I also managed to find some green tomatoes for a friend; and there were a few carrots I brought in to make a carrot cake.

My sinuses are killing me, this is day three of a horrible headache.  Not sure what to do, I tried some sinus medication today it it helped some. 

I didn’t feel good yesterday, but we went to GS2’s game anyway and had a ball.  The away (our) side of the field didn’t have nearly enough stands for our team’s supporters.  Additionally, parking was a nightmare, and not nearly enough was available.  People were parked on sidewalks, lawns, everywhere.  Our side filled the bleachers, the band was given portable bleachers on the track, and our crowd spilled out around the fence, 2 and 3 deep for much of our side of the field.  Our opponents crowd was big too; the place was packed.  There was no way to get near the concession stand, so I was really thirsty before the game ended. 

Papa edited his photos this morning before the yard work, and they are here.  Regional trophy, what a great thing for the kids.  I’m working on a slide show for the football banquet, which is Monday.  Hope I finish in time.  D1 and GS2 cleaned the house and did some wash while we did the yard work, so it’s pretty spiffy around here right now.  D3 is at a craft show today, trying to see some of her wares, I sure hope she does.  She has some beautiful hand-made scarves, and lots of other cute things.

I’m taking a nap.  Right. Now.