Yesterday was catch up day. Katie and I made a visit to the residential extended care home that we couldn't get to last Tuesday. I went out to my shed and brought in all my Christmas "stuff". I may not get anything done with it until later in the week or next weekend but the weather guessers say there's another cold front coming our way and we can expect more snow later today or tonight and in the early part of the coming week so I want to have everything where I can get to it when I'm ready. I still need to gather my harvest & thanksgiving decorations to put away until next year.
Today and tomorrow are for cleaning. I'm going up to True Value to buy a steam mop to get these floors really cleaned. I also want to pick up a pole & clips for hanging my outdoor Christmas lights when the weather permits. (I no longer do ladders.) Wish me luck, we'll see how well this device works! If we get snowed in again, I have ample cleaning, laundry, and dvr'd TV shows to keep me occupied. Hot homemade soup tonight. Last year my daughter-in-law gave me a small 2 servings crockpot. I love it! It's perfect for making small meals just for me.
The sun is trying to break through. We're at 40 degrees. Guess I'll get out and back before the weather turns again. Have a great weekend, everyone. Stay warm and dry!!!
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving!
Tomorrow I will go up to the Evergreen Conference Center of Oakhurst for Thanksgiving. I have much to be thankful for this year! We'll have a liturgical worship service in the chapel and then we'll move to the dining hall for munchies and visiting. About 1 o'clock, the birds, potatoes, veggies, cranberry sauce, the rest of the trimmings and the pies will all come out and we'll eat our fill and then some. The Anglican Bishop of our Diocese will give the Eucharistic Service and he will be the surrogate patriarch at the meal.
Friends of mine from the valley are coming up. Some will come for the weekend and some for the day. We'll visit and catch up on what's been going on since the last time we were together. Other friends from the local area will also join us. And there will be television for football addicts.
The weather this week is r-e-a-l-l-y cold!! ECCO is at about the same elevation as where I live so I'll dress appropriately and be ready for the chill. I'll help serve the wine before the meal (one for you, two for me - that'll warm me up) and wander around with my camera. I'm looking forward to a very pleasant day.
Our church office printer/copier went on the fritz this afternoon so I'll slip into their office and run the Sunday bulletins and inserts between the service and the meal (yes, I have their permission) and after the meal, I'll find someone who wants to help fold & stuff while we visit. I can drop them off at the church on my way home and the rest of the weekend is mine.
My husband is buried in the Columbarium on the premises so I'll go up and visit. The Center is one of the most beautiful spots in the area. Coming here for special events and holidays is becoming tradition for me, especially more so since I moved up here. It's easy to get to, the food is fabulous, I get to spend the day visiting with good friends, and no clean up after.
However, being a traditionalist, I did buy a small turkey since they were on sale, and threw it in the freezer for roasting later. It'll be good for another turkey & trimmings meal with leftovers for picking, and the rest will make frozen one-serving hot dishes & soups for when I when I want homemade but don't feel like cooking.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
I Remember ...
Sitting here watching the snow, I remember w-a-a-a-y back in the day when I had moved to the midwest and experienced my first real snow. I had gone to Minnesota to stay with my in-laws. My husband followed later. About this same time, pre-Thanksgiving, I woke one morning to deep, midwest snow.
Being barely 20, if that, and a southern Calif girl, I was entranced. It was beautiful to look at and fun to play in. I was still too young to realize that it was freakin' cold out there. I did learn to avoid driving from November into May. I had one experience on black ice my first year and the following year, when I was pregnant, I had the experience of not being able to find the sides of the road ... that was enough for me. We had moved to a house of our own by then and the neighbor, a girl my age, taught me to can and we stored foods for the winter, made our own baby foods, and I baked bread or made tortillas. No need for us to drive, her husband managed a grocery store and he'd bring home milk and whatever else any of us needed.
I wasn't into winter sports, didn't have the ankles for ice skating, but I could throw a mean snowball and roll a mighty fine snowgirl . We'd go to St. Paul for the Winter Carnival. I'd watch while everyone went skating and then we'd check out all the ice sculptures and eat our way around the carnival and stop at White Castle on the way home. Being from California, I'd never heard of White Castle (they're these one-fourth size hamburgers). It was a really special and fun time, I also found I enjoyed ice-fishing with my father-in-law. You put up a little hut (or not), dig a hole in the ice, drop a line and hope something down there is not only awake but is hungry. I did a lot of fishing, I don't remember doing any catching.
When my two oldest children were babies, they loved to play in the snow in our front yard. They enjoyed "snow"cones that I'd drizzle with homemade fruit syrups (no yellow snow). We had a Springer Spaniel that thought the babies were 'her' pups. She drew the boundaries in the yard and watched over them with me. If they looked like they were going to toddle beyond her set boundary, she'd grab their diaper or snow pants and drag them back. She was great with them. I enjoyed those winters.
Some years ago, Grandpa & I took my son, his wife, and our two granddaughters up the road toward Yosemite. We were living in the Valley then and made it a winter weekend outing. Fortunately it was a snowy weekend. We spent the night at a little inn and Grandpa and the girls made a snow midget. Grandpa got too cold to stay out long enough to make a full size snowman. The girls went down to the main building and warmed up in the jacuzzi. The next day we went next door to 'the hill' and the girls and their parents used a round toboggan thing to slide down the hill. The granddaughters had never seen snow and their dad didn't remember being in the snow. Everyone had a great time. The youngest still enjoys snow sport.
I don't have any great desire to be out in it anymore except maybe to take some pictures and then not for very long; I get too cold too soon. Katie's no longer fond of walk-abouts in the snow either. Guess we're both getting old. We're perfectly happy sitting in front of the fire watching the snow through the window. And we have months ahead of us to do just that. Usually it doesn't snow too often and not for too long. The again, when I bought the house, they told me I'd only get a "dusting" of snow. I'm so gullible.
Being barely 20, if that, and a southern Calif girl, I was entranced. It was beautiful to look at and fun to play in. I was still too young to realize that it was freakin' cold out there. I did learn to avoid driving from November into May. I had one experience on black ice my first year and the following year, when I was pregnant, I had the experience of not being able to find the sides of the road ... that was enough for me. We had moved to a house of our own by then and the neighbor, a girl my age, taught me to can and we stored foods for the winter, made our own baby foods, and I baked bread or made tortillas. No need for us to drive, her husband managed a grocery store and he'd bring home milk and whatever else any of us needed.
I wasn't into winter sports, didn't have the ankles for ice skating, but I could throw a mean snowball and roll a mighty fine snowgirl . We'd go to St. Paul for the Winter Carnival. I'd watch while everyone went skating and then we'd check out all the ice sculptures and eat our way around the carnival and stop at White Castle on the way home. Being from California, I'd never heard of White Castle (they're these one-fourth size hamburgers). It was a really special and fun time, I also found I enjoyed ice-fishing with my father-in-law. You put up a little hut (or not), dig a hole in the ice, drop a line and hope something down there is not only awake but is hungry. I did a lot of fishing, I don't remember doing any catching.
When my two oldest children were babies, they loved to play in the snow in our front yard. They enjoyed "snow"cones that I'd drizzle with homemade fruit syrups (no yellow snow). We had a Springer Spaniel that thought the babies were 'her' pups. She drew the boundaries in the yard and watched over them with me. If they looked like they were going to toddle beyond her set boundary, she'd grab their diaper or snow pants and drag them back. She was great with them. I enjoyed those winters.
Some years ago, Grandpa & I took my son, his wife, and our two granddaughters up the road toward Yosemite. We were living in the Valley then and made it a winter weekend outing. Fortunately it was a snowy weekend. We spent the night at a little inn and Grandpa and the girls made a snow midget. Grandpa got too cold to stay out long enough to make a full size snowman. The girls went down to the main building and warmed up in the jacuzzi. The next day we went next door to 'the hill' and the girls and their parents used a round toboggan thing to slide down the hill. The granddaughters had never seen snow and their dad didn't remember being in the snow. Everyone had a great time. The youngest still enjoys snow sport.
I don't have any great desire to be out in it anymore except maybe to take some pictures and then not for very long; I get too cold too soon. Katie's no longer fond of walk-abouts in the snow either. Guess we're both getting old. We're perfectly happy sitting in front of the fire watching the snow through the window. And we have months ahead of us to do just that. Usually it doesn't snow too often and not for too long. The again, when I bought the house, they told me I'd only get a "dusting" of snow. I'm so gullible.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Time to Dump Dish Network
Yesterday I woke to a light layer of snow on the ground and no TV reception. This morning it was snowing but the TV worked fine --- until about 9am. The dish apparently can't find the satellite - again - because it's out - again. Granted, it was snowing when it went out; it stopped snowing almost 2 hours ago and the sun is breaking through. Wait - the dish was out yesterday AFTER the snow (no build up of snow in front of the dish on my roof, I checked. I've suggested relocating the dish so it hangs over the roof but it's been explained to me that that would take extra wire, what was I thinking?)
Let me see, during the winter rain & snow is the only time I would have the idiot box on during the day and it's also the only time I can count on it not working during the day. Hmmm. And, since Dish feels no sense of responsibility - after all, these are Acts of God - you'll see no rebate for loss of service (sometimes days not just hours). Meanwhile, since I DVR the shows that are on too late for me, I can put a recorded show or shows on until the dish warms up and I have reception again and I'll make good use of the DVR feature until I can replace Dish. You'd think I'd get used to this and just accept it. It happens every rainy and snowy season.
I checked with DirecTV. They advertise that they have better reception since they have many more satellites available from this area. When they got here, they told me I have too many trees. Tomorrow I'll call the local cable company. I won't save a dime because they don't use DVR's, I'll have to subscribe to TIVO but I'm told by those who have cable up here that they don't lose reception like we do with satellite and I'll be getting what I pay for, so maybe I am saving money. I'm not paying any longer for this thing sitting on my roof that's there just for looks and not necessarily attractive at that.
Maybe I'll just make a cup of hot cocoa, grab my Nicholas Sparks book and a blanket.That would make for a good day - unless the power goes out.
Let me see, during the winter rain & snow is the only time I would have the idiot box on during the day and it's also the only time I can count on it not working during the day. Hmmm. And, since Dish feels no sense of responsibility - after all, these are Acts of God - you'll see no rebate for loss of service (sometimes days not just hours). Meanwhile, since I DVR the shows that are on too late for me, I can put a recorded show or shows on until the dish warms up and I have reception again and I'll make good use of the DVR feature until I can replace Dish. You'd think I'd get used to this and just accept it. It happens every rainy and snowy season.
I checked with DirecTV. They advertise that they have better reception since they have many more satellites available from this area. When they got here, they told me I have too many trees. Tomorrow I'll call the local cable company. I won't save a dime because they don't use DVR's, I'll have to subscribe to TIVO but I'm told by those who have cable up here that they don't lose reception like we do with satellite and I'll be getting what I pay for, so maybe I am saving money. I'm not paying any longer for this thing sitting on my roof that's there just for looks and not necessarily attractive at that.
Maybe I'll just make a cup of hot cocoa, grab my Nicholas Sparks book and a blanket.That would make for a good day - unless the power goes out.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Nov 20th, There's White Stuff on the Ground
The weather guessers predicted rain for last night and/or today - I woke up to snow. Wasn't much of a snow, just enough to knock out the television reception for a few hours and to leave patches here and there and my deck and the roads icy. It was maybe 33 degrees and the snow still falling when I got up this morning. It quit about 9am and the sun came out about noon. More of that white stuff is expected tonight thru Sunday night at my elevation. Looks like good baking and soup-making weather. Not much chance you'll find me playing slip-n-slide out there once it starts. I'll just hunker down until it's deep enough to walk in.
Apparently I had a critter try to cross the bridge over my pond last night. I found the large geranium plant that sits on the center of the bridge in the pond this morning. The pond has a pergola over it and we didn't have winds (it's a heavy planter, would have had to be extreme winds to move it). I had planned to bring it up onto the front porch today to protect it from the cold & snow but instead I found myself out in robe & slippers in falling snow pulling it from what I'm sure it thought was a watery grave and dragging it up onto the porch before I even had my coffee.
From what I've seen this past week, I'm thinking I may have a small bear hanging around. Monday morning I found one trash barrel pulled out from the carport and part way down the drive. The lid had a hole in the center and had been worked off the container. There was some trash strewn but there was nothing it wanted so it was easy to clean up. The other container was dragged to the other end of my property and behind the storage shed. And it was the heavy one!! I've had dogs & raccoons get into the trash but this wasn't their M.O. so I'm thinking not dogs or rac's; that leaves pooh bear. I put the containers in the shed for the night since the next day was trash day, closed the doors, crossed my fingers and hoped the shed would still have doors in the morning. Tuesday morning everything was as I left it, so I put the containers at the end of the drive for the trash dude and haven't put anything else out this week. I'm hoping that whatever my visitor was, it got discouraged and has moved on to somewhere that serves a better buffet. I bought a new container that's marked "critter proof", Knowing that my critters can't read, I'm not inclined to hold my breath.
Guess I'll make a quick run to the grocery store for some flour, butter, and milk before the skies let loose again. Everyone have a wonderful weekend; that's my plan!
Apparently I had a critter try to cross the bridge over my pond last night. I found the large geranium plant that sits on the center of the bridge in the pond this morning. The pond has a pergola over it and we didn't have winds (it's a heavy planter, would have had to be extreme winds to move it). I had planned to bring it up onto the front porch today to protect it from the cold & snow but instead I found myself out in robe & slippers in falling snow pulling it from what I'm sure it thought was a watery grave and dragging it up onto the porch before I even had my coffee.
From what I've seen this past week, I'm thinking I may have a small bear hanging around. Monday morning I found one trash barrel pulled out from the carport and part way down the drive. The lid had a hole in the center and had been worked off the container. There was some trash strewn but there was nothing it wanted so it was easy to clean up. The other container was dragged to the other end of my property and behind the storage shed. And it was the heavy one!! I've had dogs & raccoons get into the trash but this wasn't their M.O. so I'm thinking not dogs or rac's; that leaves pooh bear. I put the containers in the shed for the night since the next day was trash day, closed the doors, crossed my fingers and hoped the shed would still have doors in the morning. Tuesday morning everything was as I left it, so I put the containers at the end of the drive for the trash dude and haven't put anything else out this week. I'm hoping that whatever my visitor was, it got discouraged and has moved on to somewhere that serves a better buffet. I bought a new container that's marked "critter proof", Knowing that my critters can't read, I'm not inclined to hold my breath.
Guess I'll make a quick run to the grocery store for some flour, butter, and milk before the skies let loose again. Everyone have a wonderful weekend; that's my plan!
Friday, November 19, 2010
Let It Snow, Let It Snow
We've been enjoying beautiful weather both in the valley and up here as well. Temps have been in mid to high 60's at my house and I'm a couple hundred feet higher than Oakhurst proper.
The weather guessers are showing rain all weekend in the valley but they're forecasting snow for the foothills. The forecast reads 5" of snow at the 3000' level for Saturday night and 8" snow at 2500' or lower for Sunday night. My house sits at 3000'. Guess I'll go out and wrap pipes, cover planter boxes and bring other plants in or at least put them on the front porch where they'll be somewhat protected. I need to remember today or tomorrow to charge the batteries in my emergency lanterns and camera and to bring in bags of pellets for the stove. A crockpot of a hearty soup and cornbread ready and waiting sounds like a plan.
I'll miss the warm & pleasant days we've been enjoying but I always love the first snow of the season. I could easily have waited a few more weeks, however, because it makes me want to get out all my Christmas decorations and we haven't done Thanksgiving yet.
Enjoy the change of seasons, everyone!
The weather guessers are showing rain all weekend in the valley but they're forecasting snow for the foothills. The forecast reads 5" of snow at the 3000' level for Saturday night and 8" snow at 2500' or lower for Sunday night. My house sits at 3000'. Guess I'll go out and wrap pipes, cover planter boxes and bring other plants in or at least put them on the front porch where they'll be somewhat protected. I need to remember today or tomorrow to charge the batteries in my emergency lanterns and camera and to bring in bags of pellets for the stove. A crockpot of a hearty soup and cornbread ready and waiting sounds like a plan.
I'll miss the warm & pleasant days we've been enjoying but I always love the first snow of the season. I could easily have waited a few more weeks, however, because it makes me want to get out all my Christmas decorations and we haven't done Thanksgiving yet.
Enjoy the change of seasons, everyone!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
The Week That Was
It's been an eventful week. Had a doctor appt in the valley Tuesday of last week and met up with my younger granddaughter for a short visit while I was there. Thursday, being a holiday, her dad came up for a few hours. Yesterday, I went back down into the city and had lunch with my daughter-in-law and the older granddaughter.
In between, we've put together a funeral and reception for one of our church members and are now into working on Christmas and year end projects. I have all my Thanksgiving decorations in place, both inside and out, and Katie and I have resumed our daily walks up the road and back down. The weather has been beautiful this past week so the yard called to me and has now been properly manicured and all the debris (leaves, acorns, twigs)from the deck and the front areas, has been blown into the meadow or ravine and it's safe to walk outside again.
Due to the fender-bender in my front yard a couple of months ago, The Hartford decided to not simply raise my rates but to double them so I've been researching other carriers until I found one that has realistic rates and is reputable at the same time. (All these carriers that can save you $300 - $400 dollars by signing with them ... yeah, well.)
We have one or two days of this weather left before the cold front and rain move in so, since I work most of tomorrow, today we'll go out and clean and winterize the pond. The fish keep starting to go into hibernation and the weather warms and they come back out and cold weather hits again. They're as confused as I am, but I think this is Fall's last hurrah so I'll clean the pumps and filters and get the pond ready and tuck the fish in for the long winter's night.
I am, however, leaving time today for one more warm Fall afternoon taking in the view from the porch rocker.
In between, we've put together a funeral and reception for one of our church members and are now into working on Christmas and year end projects. I have all my Thanksgiving decorations in place, both inside and out, and Katie and I have resumed our daily walks up the road and back down. The weather has been beautiful this past week so the yard called to me and has now been properly manicured and all the debris (leaves, acorns, twigs)from the deck and the front areas, has been blown into the meadow or ravine and it's safe to walk outside again.
Due to the fender-bender in my front yard a couple of months ago, The Hartford decided to not simply raise my rates but to double them so I've been researching other carriers until I found one that has realistic rates and is reputable at the same time. (All these carriers that can save you $300 - $400 dollars by signing with them ... yeah, well.)
We have one or two days of this weather left before the cold front and rain move in so, since I work most of tomorrow, today we'll go out and clean and winterize the pond. The fish keep starting to go into hibernation and the weather warms and they come back out and cold weather hits again. They're as confused as I am, but I think this is Fall's last hurrah so I'll clean the pumps and filters and get the pond ready and tuck the fish in for the long winter's night.
I am, however, leaving time today for one more warm Fall afternoon taking in the view from the porch rocker.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Happy Birthday, Katie
One Wednesday a month is Library Day for Katie. That's the day she joins a reading group at the library in Madera Ranchos and the kids read to her. Since November is her birthday month, the kids threw her a birthday party.
the kids took turns reading to her as they do every visit and then the cake came out and the birthday hats and her presents.
The kids took turns taking a piece of a treat, rubbing it in their hands for the smell and then getting her to follow while they hid the treat and encouraged her while she looked for it. They'd give her the command, "take it" when she found it and she munched it down and was set to play this game again.
It was a fun visit for the kids, their moms, the library staff, and visitors in the library who looked at us like we'd completely lost it. I mean, a birthday party for a dog in a library? But I noticed no one walked away from the cake empty handed. I guess if you're going to hang out with crazy people with cake, you might as well enjoy the cake.
As part of her birthday month, she had her annual check up at the vet's. Because she has a number in her blood count that has always been off kilter, we do a panel every year and every year it's still off but it's consistently off. Therefore, I'm happy to announce I have a happy, healthy, if slightly overweight, 10 year old Katie dog. But then that just means that we're now right around the same age, a couple of senior citizens, both slowing down, and slightly overweight. I have AARP and she has Aarf. Just two pups in a pod, still good for a few more years and birthday cakes together!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
The Gathering!
I had the very best time on Tuesday!!! Friends of mine in the valley were throwing a surprise birthday lunch for another friend at Marie Callendar's in Fresno so I planned a full day around it and Katie and I drove down. There must have been twenty of us gathered in that room. It was a celebration and reunion both. You could feel the warmth, the love, and the happiness generated by this group.
I haven't seen some of these gals in almost 5 years, since I moved up here. Others, it had been 2 or 3 years and there are a couple I still see regularly. These are all friends from my previous church when I lived down below and, unfortunately, all but a couple of them and their families have left that church since the new priest took over. Consequently, most of them haven't seen each other in maybe a year. The eating was the least of the "lunch". It was all about celebrating Jeanine's birthday and the gathering . The visiting and memories and stories were wonderful and made us all homesick for each other again. There'll be more of these get-togethers, I guarantee.
I hope you had a really special birthday, Jeanine. And, Sara, we have a date in December at Crab Cakes!
I haven't seen some of these gals in almost 5 years, since I moved up here. Others, it had been 2 or 3 years and there are a couple I still see regularly. These are all friends from my previous church when I lived down below and, unfortunately, all but a couple of them and their families have left that church since the new priest took over. Consequently, most of them haven't seen each other in maybe a year. The eating was the least of the "lunch". It was all about celebrating Jeanine's birthday and the gathering . The visiting and memories and stories were wonderful and made us all homesick for each other again. There'll be more of these get-togethers, I guarantee.
I hope you had a really special birthday, Jeanine. And, Sara, we have a date in December at Crab Cakes!
Whether the Weather
Had to drive down into Coarsegold on Monday. We'd had a rainstorm the night before and the scenery was glorious. The air was brisk and cool, the skies were clear blue with some white, fluffy clouds, a few of which had tinges of gray to let us know the rain wasn't done yet. We've had warm weather longer than usual but have already had a couple of inches of rain as well.
We passed meadows that had shrubs still in blossom and meadows that were already yellow and brown. The trees were a real sight! Leaves of orange, yellow, red, various shades of green yet. Ah yes, this is what living in the mountains is about. Having said this, we were treated to a doozy of a hailstorm in the late afternoon. Pea-sized hail that covered the ground and gave us a preview of things to come.
Tuesday we drove into the city and were treated to more clear skies and another bounty of color. Almost makes that hour long drive a treat. And it's a little warmer down there; I think they hit the mid-60's.
I love having the four seasons up here. Fall is probably the prettiest season even though Spring is the one we most look forward to following a long winter. Downside of this glorious weather? Tomorrow I get to go out and walk behind the lawn mower and edger again. But, I'll enjoy it while it lasts. Winter's only 6 weeks away. Already we've been waking up to 32 degree weather. We may warm up to a high in the upper 50's again for a few days yet, which is acceptable as long as we can have the sunshine.
We passed meadows that had shrubs still in blossom and meadows that were already yellow and brown. The trees were a real sight! Leaves of orange, yellow, red, various shades of green yet. Ah yes, this is what living in the mountains is about. Having said this, we were treated to a doozy of a hailstorm in the late afternoon. Pea-sized hail that covered the ground and gave us a preview of things to come.
Tuesday we drove into the city and were treated to more clear skies and another bounty of color. Almost makes that hour long drive a treat. And it's a little warmer down there; I think they hit the mid-60's.
I love having the four seasons up here. Fall is probably the prettiest season even though Spring is the one we most look forward to following a long winter. Downside of this glorious weather? Tomorrow I get to go out and walk behind the lawn mower and edger again. But, I'll enjoy it while it lasts. Winter's only 6 weeks away. Already we've been waking up to 32 degree weather. We may warm up to a high in the upper 50's again for a few days yet, which is acceptable as long as we can have the sunshine.
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