Sunday not so super

Posted on Sunday, 21 December 2008 by Mrs. DoF

In my planner book for Saturday 20 Dec, I had written Address newsletter envelopes.  Lots of other stuff happened, moving that tedious task very far down the list.

Last year I was able to use the year before’s envelopes because we hadn’t sent out a newsletter for 2006.  How’s that for procrastination?

Anyway, Christopher said he would be willing to be Editor for the newsletter again,

but then this happened at his apartment click it

and there was no electricity for about 30 hours

Today the weather is terrible wind and -1oF, plus I have a toothache, even though the temporary crown is holding strong and I have been really careful with foods and sweets.  It’s not easy, this time of year, the side of my face being so sensitive.

I called off being in church, even though I was on the schedule for the Toddler Nursery, and you know how much I love being with the younguns.  I’m told there was a willing substitute.

Yesterday while Husband and I were out, we bought a beef rump roast for Sunday supper.  Today, I put it into the crockpot a little after noon, added the carrots around 3pm, then completely forgot to put in the potatoes, so those got boiled in a kettle on a burner of the stove.  Very nice to have supper pretty much taken care of this way.

I couldn’t put off envelopes any longer.  I cleared the table in the study, which got Oscar’s attention.  Mom is doing something different, so he had to be underfoot and on the table.  New black markers, box of envelopes pulled across, Rolodex box carried from its place beside the phone.

Hhmm, the Rolodex box.  I decided to go through it first, to be sure I have current information, especially for the folks who have already sent our way some greetings of the season.

I had to pull out five cards for people who have passed away this last year.  This takes on a whole new meaning, “You’re Off my Christmas card list”.

Meanwhile, Christopher decided he needs to be staying here at our house for a few days.  He says the smell in his apartment is so horrible that he almost barfed while moving the tarp and emptying the filthy water out of the plastic bins.  His roomie also went to his parents for awhile, as per plans already for the holiday.

There is bedding, and other laundry to catch up.
My my my, what a mess.  Landlord Alerted!

Also, the apartment disaster means we have to shift around care and keeping for son Lucas’s cat.  Scratchy and Chris got along so well at Thanksgiving, but now Lucas is meeting at his own place with a cat-sitter for hire over the holidays.

The writing on envelopes is done to the names beginning with ‘B-e’.  It would seem our family newsletter will be arriving in the bleak mid-winter, same as last year.

My planner book says that Monday is for clearing space in the living room to put up Nativity Scene and Christmas tree.  Mahalia won’t be liking that, she’s taken to using my chosen spot as a bridge from her shelf to the chair.

This rambles a bit, but what other reading have you got to do when the weather outside is frightful?

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Posted in Family | 1 Comment

Latest Peg Loom Arrives!

Posted on Saturday, 20 December 2008 by Mrs. DoF

Yesterday being a Snow Day freebie time, I used it up knitting doll hats on my newborn size peg loom.  It is the smaller one in the picture, with 36 pegs.

The hats are going to a little girl at church, just because I wanna contribute accessories for the new doll which I have been assured is coming from Grandma.  Sometimes when children decide to confide in me, well, my heart grows two sizes that day.

This morning, the cats left me sleep in until 8:30,
‘twas truly a long winter’s nap, probably because we left the thermostat up a few degrees, and I also put on a sweatshirt over my nightgown, so I didn’t wake up chilled during the night.

When I got to the kitchen, I realized I had forgotten to put on a robe over the sweatshirt.  However, I puttered along the usual routine, filling the cats’ wet food and dry kibble bowls, rinsing and changing their water, taking my morning medicine.

Then I came over to the computer, checking weather first.

After a few minutes, my knees were protesting the lack of warm bathrobe.

As I was going back down the hall, Mahalia mentioned she would like me to raise the window blind next to her favorite shelf in the living room.

Sitting out there at the end of the walk was the mailman’s truck, where he was getting ready to walk our block with delivery items.

I went on down to my room, and there was Husband, still in bed, and my side looking all ready to be warmed up again.

I lay down with my slippers still on, but pulling the blankets over my knees.

Just when Husband was reaching for my shoulder to pull me in closer, there came a knock on the front door, and the sound of a package being dropped.

I threw back the blankets, jumped up and scooted down the hall, throwing open the door to see if it might be my latest peg loom.
Yes, It Was! and the mailman was only about 15 feet from the steps.

He turned around again, and there I was in my nightgown, sweatshirt, and slippers, saying Thank You! as if he were Santa Claus himself.

He grinned from ear to ear, saying he thought that a package with Crafts as part of the return address label would be very welcome, which is why he knocked on the door rather than just setting it down.

We gabbed a bit, about how ready we might be for the holidays (neither is, since this is a very busy season for both our jobs), his young son’s Wish List, the baby’s cough.

Neither of us mentioned my outfit (nor my cold knees), as I was standing holding open the storm door as we chatted.

Then he went on his way, a full pack on his shoulder.

I went back to our room, where Husband had gotten up and started getting dressed.

He said wryly, “I wonder how many other women on that guy’s route jump out of bed with her husband to go running down the hall in her nightie to answer the door?”

Hearing it spoken that way, I could see how the scene could be construed with all kinds of mixed feelings.  We’ve been married a long time now, so what it did was send me into a fit of the giggles so hard I had to grab ahold of the corner of the dresser, then sit down on my stool for a minute.

There’s a part of the wedding ceremony which speaks about the promise to love, honor, cherish.  I don’t remember speaking the word Trust, but I’ve learned over the years that it has to happen in so many situations.

I finally got ready and we went out for breakfast, then shopping at 4 different stores, the last stop being the bakery for an apple pie.  Just the two of us have already consumed a nice fraction as a mid-afternoon snack.

Now then, I’ve got a new 41-peg loom to initiate.  This one is supposed to be a size to fit Toddlers, and I know a really pretty pastels yarn to do so.

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Posted in Crochet | 2 Comments

Ice Storm means an at-home day

Posted on Friday, 19 December 2008 by Mrs. DoF

Although I had signed on to TA Sub at an elementary school Second Grade (are you kidding? last day of the semester means clean out desks, movies, cookies!) ALL SCHOOLS and everybody else for miles are closed due to an ice storm.
This gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling, knowing I had been willing to fill in, but the ability to serve was taken from me.
I get to remain indoors with ongoing yarn projects.

Husband is considered Non-Essential Personnel at ISU, so he’s home, too.  He says there is a whole bunch of work to do while the college students are gone, plus there is a new guy in training, but he’s home.

and we are both grateful
that we still have electrical power for Internet

what Oscar and I saw when he wanted to go outside the front door

what Mahalia and I saw from the top of the back steps

I can see there is a tree branch broken and hanging in the yard of the house kitty-corner.  The snow plow just went down Gregory Street.  Somebody is making scraping noises on a sidewalk, but I can’t quite discern who in the neighborhood is brave enough to be digging out already.

Decrepit Old Fool has a post up, also.  Nothing quite like a phone call after midnight to set me in stressed out mode.  Our youngest son and his apartment house are in a bad way with roof leaking and water problems.  I donated a big plastic tub from my yarn room to catch dripping.

Well, it’s time for breakfast.
Can’t type anymore until I have some Red Rose Tea.

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Posted in Personal | 5 Comments

More time at the Dentist, Planner, Caroling

Posted on Monday, 15 December 2008 by Mrs. DoF

Sunday afternoon is not the time to be calling the dentist at home leaving a message saying my temporary crown had cracked and broken and been spit out while in a public eaterie.

Yet that is exactly what I had to do.

The missus called back awhile later, saying the Monday schedule could accommodate me at 10:15am, so I got on the SubFinder computer grid and cancelled the job I had lined up.  When the phone system called with a different position, I clicked that I was sick and do not disturb again.

The weather was quite a mess this morning, yet no schools were cancelled.  I looked at the jobs grid and saw 8 positions for TA Sub, but my sick day stood firm.  Going to the dentist is reason enough to miss work, right?

Anyway, they got me in and out promptly. The roads have been plowed and salted, so I thought shopping would be fine, while I was on that side of town.  And it was, traffic wasn’t too much at that time of day, and the sun came out to help melt ice on the car windows.

I decided to return to my quest for a Weekly Planner and my favorite lip balm.  Both are very hard to find these days.  I did get a nice planner, not quite as good as the last couple years, but I will be able to use it.  I paid more than I wanted to, but with only 3 left on the rack, I figured I couldn’t wait for the clearance sale.  The lip balm had the correct brand but only in cherry flavor (yuck), so I will have to go back after the delivery truck and stockers fill up the hook next to it.

When my sons were little, dragging them all over for little errands wore them out, and bored them to tears.  Not to mention how much I could embarrass them, just by talking to somebody else waiting in line.

Nowadays, shopping alone, when I bump into a buddy somewhere, we can lean on our carts and gab to our hearts delight.  She’s a college professor, so Winter Break looms long and lovely for her.

At the credit union where I was making a deposit, there was a lady there playing a piano.  Some kind of promotion bringing on the holiday spirit.  While I was waiting in line, she was playing the tune of an old hymn, so I hummed a little.  She kept messing up the words, so I started to sing them.  She caught on real quick, played softer while I was busy with the teller, then called me over before I got to the door.

Next thing I know, we’re singing Hark, the Herald Angels Sing as a duet and other folks in the bank lobby were watching.  The pianist explained that her mother began her lessons when she was 7 years old, and oh how she wished she was alive to see her now.
I was thinking that my sisters and sons would be laughing like crazy at me singing in a bank lobby.

Then she asked if I could start the next carol.  I began Away in a Manger the way we sing it at the Mennonite Church, and not with the long a-a-ay note done the more popular way.
She played by ear along with me for a line or two, then said, start over.

So we started over, and I sang all three verses I know of the words, with her right in time and tune with me.  I didn’t know so many people were in the audience, but when we got done, there was applause.  I did a little half bow of acknowledgement.

She wanted me to stay longer, said we make a good team, but I said I had to get the groceries home.  As it is, the honey got a bit cloudy because of the cold in the trunk.  Not supposed to freeze honey.

Now the dark clouds are coming over again, but I’m indoors and warm, with the tea kettle almost ready to whistle.  My treat is hot chocolate and a peanut butter wafer bar.

Here’s hoping this finds you in a good place, making fond memories.

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Posted in Personal | 8 Comments

Time for another Meme

Posted on Sunday, 14 December 2008 by Mrs. DoF

Since I haven’t written one lately, here’s a meme, as found at Mostly Cajun

Do you remember your first favorite song?  If so, what was it?
There’s a Song in the Air is an old Christmas tune, and I remember sitting next to my daddy on a wooden pew in the old church building on Jefferson Street in Martins Ferry and thinking that was the most lovely music ever.
Sometimes Dad would whistle it while he was at the stove or brushing my sister’s hair, even during hot weather.

What do you refuse to eat?
Many dishes which have the spice CURRY.  When I was pregnant with second baby, I worked at a small restaurant which had a daily special.  One night was something with curry in it, I had the worst queasy stomach, and so my mind still holds the memory.  After 25 years, I am able to stay in the same room with the smell, but not yet put a fork to my mouth.

Have you ever injected any kind of drug before?
for three years before I got married, I worked as an LPN, so I dispensed many kinds of medications.
Had to give a couple shots to the cats when Husband wasn’t around to do it.
never done any on myself
I do try to donate blood when I’m healthy enough, so a needle in the arm ain’t no big deal.

Do amusement park rides make you sick?
Not that I remember.  It’s been years since I was on one though.

Who is your favorite Star Wars character?
the Ewoks look like cute little bears, but are so devious with weapons

What kind of cheese do you put on your sandwiches?
Provolone, baby Swiss, sharp Cheddar
any or all, anytime

What was the first thing you ever learned how to cook?
Spaghetti
sauce by browning the ground beef, chopping onions and green peppers, opening quarts of home-canned sauce and tomatoes,
boiling the water and breaking the long pasta to fit into the pot
I was so short I had to pull the step-stool over and stand on it to stir
Dad was sitting at the kitchen table reading the newspaper, giving pointers

Did you ever collect beanie babies?
I can see four from where I’m sitting.  Two were gifts, one from a yard sale, one won at a raffle.  I cain’t say I’m a collector, but the toys I have bring sentimental memories.

When was the last time you got a haircut?
I would have to check my planner book to be sure, but I think maybe a month ago

Have you ever been to a bachelor/bachelorette party?
Yes, many years ago

Where are you most ticklish on your body?
My ribs.  When I was in high school, I signed my study halls to work in the library.  As I was returning books to the shelf, a guy who had a crush on me would poke me in the ribs and think it was funny.  He came close to getting my elbow in an eye at least one time, so he decided to not pursue that route further.

Have you ever bailed anyone out of jail?
the Summer I was 17, the cop shop called and said my dad had been brought in for drunk driving.  Mom was at work.  I rode my bicycle downtown, and went in and told them I would take dad home.  They said I was underage, so would not release him.  I argued with two policemen that there would be more trouble if dad was still there when mom got home.  Small town where everybody knows everybody, gutsy girl making sense.
Awhile later, Dad came tottering down the hall, a big cop and I got him into the truck, the cop tossed my bicycle in the back, I drove us home.  My sister Darla helped get him to bed.
by the time Mom got home, Dad was snoring, supper was cooking on the stove.
There are stories for another time about when our sons were teenagers and had friends making unwise decisions.

What’s the last board game you played?
Checkers with a student in the Special Needs program

Do you still own any VHS tapes?
one chest holds about a hundred, another even bigger, some on the shelf behind the door in Joe’s old room, a bag of donation behind the couch, a box next to Lucas’s bed, altogether maybe 400?
our machine has both a VHS slot and a DVD tray

Do you shop at JC Penney’s ever?
my favorite place to buy pants that fit
Actually, I was in there the other day looking at winter coats, then talked myself out of making a purchase, even though there was a great sale.  The need for athletic shoes and comfy slippers was more pressing, so the coat I’ve got will have to last one more winter.

If there was a real Jurassic Park, would you visit it?
No, but I do like watching the buffalo roam at Wildlife Prairie Park

Do you ever read the newspaper?
We pay for two Sunday papers to be delivered to the front porch.  Sometimes one lands during the week, usually as part of a promotional.  I hate the piles waiting to go out for re-cycle, tho.

Do you eat your mac & cheese with a fork or a spoon?
Fork, with ketchup on it, and pickles alongside

Is there any medicine/pill you take everyday?
Synthroid and Calcium Citrate.  A multi-vitamin when I think of it.

How many 20 dollar bills do you have on you right now?
None, just a $10 and couple ones

Would you do meth if it was legalized?
No Way.  I do miss Ephedra since it’s been outlawed.  Nothing quite like a small pick-me-up when the schedule gets overwhelming.

Do you think Obama will be assassinated?
Somebody is sure to try

Have you ever made out with someone and then never saw them again?
What had been a strong relationship up to a certain event, then I got jilted by a phone call.

Do you drink egg nog?
Yes, I love egg nog, but my history with milk consumption has peaks and valleys, and since menopause, or maybe since I’m taking thyroid medication which overlaps the timing, plain milk wreaks all kinds of havoc with my innards.
My last trip to the store, I bought rice milk egg nog, but I haven’t opened it yet.

What are you wearing?
White granny panties, blue denim pants (I can’t say jeans because the waistband is elastic) cotton socks, SAS lace-up shoes (not the loafers I also love so much) a bra mended in two places, a cotton sleeveless undershirt, an ISU Redbirds sweatshirt, my wristwatch, and leverback, silver color earrings

Posted in Personal | Comments Off on Time for another Meme

New Shoes for Treadmill walking

Posted on Saturday, 13 December 2008 by Mrs. DoF

The other day while I was on the treadmill, I got a pain in the back of my left thigh, so bad that if I had not been alone in the house I would have thought somebody shot a BB at me leg.
It turned out to be a muscle cramp, knot the size of an acorn, which took what seemed like hours to walk and stretch and rub away.  Not to mention two large glasses of water intake.
It made me leery of doing any more walking for awhile.

This morning after breakfast, Husband and I were again at the shoe store.  We both need athletic shoes for walking the treadmill.  It’s a bit embarassing, the amount of money we spent for our feet, what with the Wide sizes and the particularness of what is comfortable.

Plus the clearance shelf produced a lovely pair of warm sheepskin slippers which come up around my ankles the way I like my slippers to be.  None of that style of having my heels hanging out in the cold while I sit reading the paper in the morning.

Ah well, we earn our money,
and we need good covering for our feet while we do.

I just walked what I like to call a 50 minute mile on the treadmill, and I must say that new name brand shoes in the proper size with good arch support make the exercise much more do-able than six year old shoes with a gap on the outside of the right one.
Didja see that number?  Yep, the number on the screen said .25 miles with 13 minutes walk time.  No way would I qualify for a competition.
I had to stop walking at 25 minutes, my left knee said long enough.  The incident lingers of me going down tangled up with my bicycle since the first Sunday in August.
Getting old ain’t for sissies.
Little troubles pile up over time.

Husband tells me that the treadmill will help keep infirmity from coming too soon.  He’s got much more willpower than I do.
He says his new shoes are also bringing a different perspective on walking.

It’s a gray clouds and blowy afternoon on the prairie.
I’m real glad I can stay indoors yet still be able to feel like I did something good for my body.  A treadmill and athletic shoes are a nice investment when I look at it just so.

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Posted in Family, Partner | 1 Comment

I used my Fun Cash for Music

Posted on Thursday, 11 December 2008 by Mrs. DoF

Usually when I get money for something I made with yarn, I turn around and get more yarn to keep the variety of my supply going.  Depending on my mood and project due date, I can go into the closet and choose something lovely.

However, the friendly donations of yarn have been plentiful this year.  I’ve got bags to go through yet, and organize on the shelf unit that Husband recently put up for me.

So, with a very nice windfall of payment for 8 pairs of potholders, and one blue hat, I decided should look over at something else I enjoy.

Yes indeedy, I just got done with an order for three music CDs from Amazon, all new, and high enough total to get the free shipping option.
Loreena McKennitt, Laura Sullivan, and Enya have holiday albums out now.

This means I will have five new cds, what with my Linda Eder and Kristin Chenoweth already here (I just looked at that list and realize they are all women)

Does this mean I might drive the guys crazy with the stereo while we are on Winter Break?  Well, maybe, but Grammie Pammie gave me an idea about using headphones and keeping my music to myself.

There will be some electronics department shopping going on, after school is out but before the big morning.

I know a guy who can be giving me advice about it, too.

Gotta go get ready for my Yarn Group.

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Posted in Personal | 1 Comment

Making good use of my time

Posted on Monday, 8 December 2008 by Mrs. DoF

The SubFinder computer grid said there were a couple jobs today, but I took the morning off to be able to go to the Mennonite Women Christmas party.  I did sign on for a job this afternoon in a junior high.

A few minutes after the Do Not Accept icon was clicked, the phone rang.  It was a friend from the circle saying the party has been cancelled due to inclement weather.

Now some folks might think this means I should decide to call a school and see if a TA Sub is still needed.  But me? no, the inclement weather is still happening, and yes, I have been promised to be at work at 12:30.

What I decide to do is to start a load of laundry,
put away all the clean dishes, then

finish a sapphire blue hat made with Vanna’s Choice yarn,
and begin one with Lion Brand Homespun

all while listening to my ‘new’ Christmas Stays the Same cd by Linda Eder, which I can recommend as good for your spirit.

Gonna go now.  The washer is on its last spin.

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Posted in Crochet | 4 Comments

Same Ol’ Saturday Stuff

Posted on Saturday, 6 December 2008 by Mrs. DoF

I’m not sure if anything going on is blog-worthy.
Yup, just the ordinary happenings of a couple empty nest folks.

We went out for breakfast and the waitress said she ‘almost’ put in our order before coming over to ask.  As it happens, we did request our usuals, regular coffee in both cups, and the #1 for me and #2 for DOF.  Although two weeks ago, I asked for a Gypsy skillet.

After breakfast, while on that side of town, we went to the shoe store.  Husband got a new pair of the same type of Rockports, while I had to order a proper size pair of shoe boots, suitable for snowy weather yet comfortable enough for climbing on and off the school bus when I work as a Job Coach for students on the Work/Study program.

Home again, where we whiled away the afternoon looking at computer screens and reading magazines when we took time for a snack.  Not much in the way of chores done today at all.

Husband remembered something he wanted from WallyWorld, and asked if I wanted to come with.  We must be a little bit crazy to go to the big box store on a Saturday evening during holiday shopping frenzy time.
Our cashier was pleasant through it all.

Since that store did not have a weekly planner of the type I like, we thought we might try the bookstore.  We haven’t been there in months.  I found a planner which might do when I’m desperate enough, but with still three weeks left of the year, I will keep looking.

We decided to make it a real date and get lattes and dessert, even though we hadn’t had supper yet.  Although we both were reading in the cafe, neither one of us bought anything.  I hear that other folks do the same thing, use the cafe as a sort of library for borrowed materials.
I carefully put the magazine back on the rack.

At home again, as we were unloading the car in the driveway, I heard another car start its engine out on the street.

Walking through the house, I could make out a shadow of a tall young man looking under the hood of a dark color car.  When I called out a name, he said he wasn’t him, but then I knew who he is….an old friend of youngest son Chris.  They played in a band together for awhile.
If we had been five minutes later getting home, we would have missed him!

We invited him in to catch up on his news, put on the tea kettle, and I fixed us grilled cheese sandwiches and steamed broccoli for supper.

After he left for his hour drive back, I called my sister Danna in Ohio.
She says she loves the purple and teal knitted hat,
and that our mom has quite an outbreak of shingles so she is on an anti-viral medication for a month.

Now, Husband is on the treadmill and I am about to do the dishes.

Yup, a most ordinary Saturday, for us anyway.

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Posted in Family, Partner | 2 Comments

Holding Up thru Dentist and Visitation

Posted on Wednesday, 3 December 2008 by Mrs. DoF

Last I remember writing was about having a toothache.  Well, I got in at the dentist’s office at 9am Tuesday.  The gal at the front says they keep a room open for emergency situations, and I’m telling ya, mine was building up to one.  There is a $20 fee above and beyond the price of an office visit, quite reasonable.

The doc said the best thing to do was remove the gold crown installed in February 1994, and replace it with something a bit more modern and stable.  He could fix me up right there and then if I wanted.
Since I had decided to take the whole day off, we got right into it.  He actually rubbed his hands together.  I love a man who loves his job, especially if it means I’ll be getting better.

The paperwork got explained and I signed the form.  Our co-pay was $374, and I didn’t even glance at expected insurance payment.  I’m just glad I have a hard-working husband, and we live in a place where there is an intelligent dentist.

He says there was some decay under the crown, which he had to grind off.
Doncha H.A.T.E. the dental drill? the vibration? the smell?

A temporary crown has my mouth more content.
In a couple weeks, I go back for the permanent.

I’ll tell ya, I shoveled snow on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.  This is a great workout for an old broad trying to lose weight.
It was not so great for an old broad stretched out in a dentist’s chair for 43 minutes.  When I stood up, my hips, knees, ankles, and plantar fasciitis all protested loudly.
I had to pace the waiting room for a few minutes before going out into the cold and clearing off the car again.

I took a nap in that afternoon, and fixed macaroni and cheese (soft chewing) for supper.

Today, I worked the morning in a Pre-K room. Little kids 🙂
Had a short nap this afternoon, then got some mail ready.

Tonight, I’m home safe and sound despite freezing rain and dropping temperature.

After reading the obituary in the paper, I was at a memorial service for an old friend.
I learned they think he had a heart attack, died in his sleep.  Three years younger than me. Ya never know.

I was his oldest son’s childcare provider until he went to K-gdn, what seems like just yesterday.  He’s about a year younger than my youngest son, says he has a job he likes.

Sweetest thing is that the kid remembered me and my name as soon as I said Hello.  I had to give him a huge hug, and stood holding his hand awhile.

Then his mom came over and recognized me, even though we haven’t seen each other in 10 years.  She asked if I’m still crocheting.  I said there was a sample in the sympathy card.  I love being able to tuck a bookmark in an envelope this way.  Thank You Grandma and Lena for being so patient 44 years ago, when I was a young girl who wanted to make something pretty with hook and thread.

We caught up some news, and exchanged e-mail address.
She says she doesn’t want to “lose” me again.

Like I said, I’m home, and now Husband, too.
Time for a long winter’s nap.
as soon as I feed the cats, get the clothes out of the dryer before they wrinkle, load the dishwasher, take out the trash, put my cell phone on the charger….

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Posted in Personal | 3 Comments