NOT! No slump here. It was a good season. It was just long enough. It had enough fun, shopping, baking and relatives to make it just right. I'm not sick of it but I wouldn't want it to be any longer.
Today I pretty much finished packing up Christmas decorations with the exception of the Christmas tree. Most boxes are in the closet too. The holidays are over, and it's time to move on to the first project of 2009: starting to paint the clock room. I'm hoping to work on the ceiling next week. Work will have to progress section by section because there is so much stuff in the room. I'll clear one small area; prepare for painting; paint; move things back in; move on to next section. It will take me weeks.
Tomorrow is an Em day. If it seems like a good idea, we (she?) will finger paint. I really hate the thought of the mess but she'll love it.
Weather - It was overcast and damp today. The temp got into the upper 30s but it seemed colder.
Exercise - I did a little bit of organized exercise by treadmilling. I did a lot of exercise by going up and down both the cellar stairs and the stairs to the second floor with laundry and Christmas boxes.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
The Holidays
Christmas was a success in our house. Tony, Em and Judy came for dinner and then present opening. Dinner was great, if I do say so myself. I bought too much for Em and held a few things back. Her 3rd birthday is in three months and I'll give them to her then.
Ron and I didn't exchange personal gifts this year. Last month we bought a GPS which was our agreed-upon mutual Christmas gift.
The day after Christmas I just hung around the house. I picked up empty boxes and stray bits of wrapping. I ran the vacuum and generally straightened.
Saturday, yesterday, I drove to Schenectady to visit Cara, my Little Sister. We went to lunch and then to see the movie Marley and Me. Cara is doing well. Her diabetes continues to be under control. She's doing fairly well in school. Her attitude about life in general is very good, and she's doing a great job of avoiding the pitfalls that often occur with girls in her age bracket from her background.
Today I woke up and gave myself permission to do nothing but watch TV, read, play on the computer, etc. Of course the minute I give the OK to be a slug, I get the urge to not be one. I decided to start turkey soup using the carcass from the turkey breast we had for Christmas dinner. Toss in some onions, carrots and celery, plus leftover gravy, and it smells good even to me. Then I got working on wrapping and packaging a few Christmas decorations. It took days to put them out. It will take days to put them away.
Weather - We've had ups and downs in weather. After two weeks of ice, lots of snow and cold weather, the temps turned around last week and everything is melting. It's a mess!! Today the temp is supposed to go into the 50s.
Gas prices - I paid $1.72 at Cumberland in Glenmont yesterday.
Life lessons - Kids don't need a lot of things to be happy. Kids need mommy, daddy, grandparents and aunts and uncles. In other words, they need love and attention. Em had a good time Christmas day, at both grandparents' homes, but what she felt most was the love we all have for her.
Ron and I didn't exchange personal gifts this year. Last month we bought a GPS which was our agreed-upon mutual Christmas gift.
The day after Christmas I just hung around the house. I picked up empty boxes and stray bits of wrapping. I ran the vacuum and generally straightened.
Saturday, yesterday, I drove to Schenectady to visit Cara, my Little Sister. We went to lunch and then to see the movie Marley and Me. Cara is doing well. Her diabetes continues to be under control. She's doing fairly well in school. Her attitude about life in general is very good, and she's doing a great job of avoiding the pitfalls that often occur with girls in her age bracket from her background.
Today I woke up and gave myself permission to do nothing but watch TV, read, play on the computer, etc. Of course the minute I give the OK to be a slug, I get the urge to not be one. I decided to start turkey soup using the carcass from the turkey breast we had for Christmas dinner. Toss in some onions, carrots and celery, plus leftover gravy, and it smells good even to me. Then I got working on wrapping and packaging a few Christmas decorations. It took days to put them out. It will take days to put them away.
Weather - We've had ups and downs in weather. After two weeks of ice, lots of snow and cold weather, the temps turned around last week and everything is melting. It's a mess!! Today the temp is supposed to go into the 50s.
Gas prices - I paid $1.72 at Cumberland in Glenmont yesterday.
Life lessons - Kids don't need a lot of things to be happy. Kids need mommy, daddy, grandparents and aunts and uncles. In other words, they need love and attention. Em had a good time Christmas day, at both grandparents' homes, but what she felt most was the love we all have for her.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Miscellaneous Christmas Pictures
Em's not afraid of Santa this year. Taken at the American Legion in Green Island.
Christmas Eve at home with mommy: Cookies for Santa.
Christmas morning at home with mommy. Em's still half asleep.
Pouring tea Christmas morning at her maternal grandparents' house.
December 26: Em at home with Daddy with more presents
Em trying to fish with magnets. :--)
In her princess tent
In her princess tent
The Flip n' Doodle desk we got her. Worth the price!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Christmas Afternoon at Grandma Marla's
Em's "magic" flashlight.
Daddy and Em looking at her new fire truck.
Christmas Afternoon at Grandma Marla's House
Em and Grandpa Ron playing with a slinky.
Grandma Marla and Em.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Winter's First Day
Winter officially arrived about 7 this morning and there is no doubt that it's here. In the past 48 hours or so we've gotten probably 15 inches of snow, and now the wind is picking up, the temp is dropping and wind chills tomorrow will be 10 degrees BELOW zero.
I keep the sidewalks clear of snow and Ron plows both our place and the rentals. It's a lot of work and the snowpiles are huge. I can't see to get out of the driveway looking north.
Today Ron baked two apple cakes. Yummy.. can't wait to enjoy ours Christmas day.
Ron and I have a bunch of errands to run around town tomorrow. In the afternoon we're headed to St. Peter's in Albany for his scheduled renal flow scan. All people involved are hoping that his right ureter is blocked, thus accounting for the slow but steady rise in his creatinine levels.
My iPod died today. I am sooooo sad. On the bright side, though, I will get one that holds almost as many songs for half the price I paid for the old dinosauer and it will be extremely thin and light.
Weather: Snow, cold, wind, minus wind chill temps.
Exercise: Absolutely nothing other than vacuuming, doing 2 loads of clothes, shoveling and general puttering around the house.
I keep the sidewalks clear of snow and Ron plows both our place and the rentals. It's a lot of work and the snowpiles are huge. I can't see to get out of the driveway looking north.
Today Ron baked two apple cakes. Yummy.. can't wait to enjoy ours Christmas day.
Ron and I have a bunch of errands to run around town tomorrow. In the afternoon we're headed to St. Peter's in Albany for his scheduled renal flow scan. All people involved are hoping that his right ureter is blocked, thus accounting for the slow but steady rise in his creatinine levels.
My iPod died today. I am sooooo sad. On the bright side, though, I will get one that holds almost as many songs for half the price I paid for the old dinosauer and it will be extremely thin and light.
Weather: Snow, cold, wind, minus wind chill temps.
Exercise: Absolutely nothing other than vacuuming, doing 2 loads of clothes, shoveling and general puttering around the house.
Snow Pictures: December 20
One big icicle hanging from roof.
Holiday Mr. Moose under the magnolia tree.
The lamppost at the bottom of the stairs is piled high with snow.
Holiday Mr. Moose under the magnolia tree.
The lamppost at the bottom of the stairs is piled high with snow.
More Snow Pictures: December 20
Taken from terrace looking out onto backyard.
Taken from terrace looking toward magnolia tree. Mr. Moose, lighted to display his holiday spirit, sits underneath the tree.
A picture of the window overlooking the upper terrace. Our Christmas tree shows just a bit.
Taken from terrace looking toward magnolia tree. Mr. Moose, lighted to display his holiday spirit, sits underneath the tree.
A picture of the window overlooking the upper terrace. Our Christmas tree shows just a bit.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Snow!!
I've got lots of pics of Em, as evidenced in the posts below, but I never took pictures of all the snow we've had. Storms started last week on Thursday the 11th with ice. Luckily we lost power for only about two hours in the middle of the night Thursday into Friday. Tens of thousands of people in the Greater Capital District were without power, some of them for six days!
This week we had snow on Wednesday, but Ron and I were able to get to his doc appointment in the afternoon. Thursday was clear, and Ember and I went to Colonie Center.
Friday morning I had my annual physical with my doctor up in Niskayuna, about an hour's drive from here, and I took Ron's truck because snow was predicted to start falling mid-morning. As it turned out, I got all my errands done after the doc appointment and was 2/3 of the way home when it started to snow. It snowed all day and half the night, dropping 10 to 12 inches in our backyard.
And for tomorrow, Sunday the 21st, another 8 to 12 inches of snow is being predicted, starting early Sunday morning.
Em was supposed to visit last Thursday into Friday, December 11 to 12, but because of the predicted ice storm starting Thursday morning, Michele and I met halfway between our two homes Wednesday evening and Em hopped out of mommy's car and into Grandma Marla's. She was sooooo excited! As Michele opened her car door, I could hear Em yelling, "Get me out of my car seat. I have to go home with Grandma Marla right now!"
Em's never spent two nights and two days. She was fine, taking naps and going to bed as usual with no problem and playing and having fun, but when she woke up Friday morning, she was a bit weepy and clingy and later on, when she woke up from her nap, she asked, "Is my mommy and daddy here?" We had a good time with her visit. She's old enough now -- 2 years and 9 months -- that she is trustworthy enough to be allowed to wander most of the house by herself. I can easily do dishes, make supper or do laundry and feel confident she's not getting into anything.
She even went potty down here with no hassle. Life is so much easier when all that stuff goes into one place: the toilet!
Ron and I took Em home in Ron's truck late Friday afternoon because the roads still weren't very good. I felt Em was safer in the 4-wheel drive vehicle.
So as usual, the past week has been busy. I am all done shopping and have just two more things to wrap, one of which is a roll of quarters for Tony's stocking. He goes to a laundromat to do his laundry.
I was supposed to see Cara today, but the road were too bad for me to want to drive the 37 miles to her house and then drive to Latham for the movie. Ron offered me his truck again or offered to drive me up, pick up Cara, take us to the movies and wait for us, but I declined both offers.
Weather: Well, it's been snowy!!
Exericise: Very little.
Gas prices: They've settledin at about $1.82 a gallon at the lower stations, a price I can easily live with.
Life lessons: The simplest thing in life can be the most rewarding. I will never forget Em's face or her words when she saw me in the parking lot of Stewart's waiting to bring her here to Greenville. She was grinning from ear to ear and wound her legs and arms around me just as a money would.
This week we had snow on Wednesday, but Ron and I were able to get to his doc appointment in the afternoon. Thursday was clear, and Ember and I went to Colonie Center.
Friday morning I had my annual physical with my doctor up in Niskayuna, about an hour's drive from here, and I took Ron's truck because snow was predicted to start falling mid-morning. As it turned out, I got all my errands done after the doc appointment and was 2/3 of the way home when it started to snow. It snowed all day and half the night, dropping 10 to 12 inches in our backyard.
And for tomorrow, Sunday the 21st, another 8 to 12 inches of snow is being predicted, starting early Sunday morning.
Em was supposed to visit last Thursday into Friday, December 11 to 12, but because of the predicted ice storm starting Thursday morning, Michele and I met halfway between our two homes Wednesday evening and Em hopped out of mommy's car and into Grandma Marla's. She was sooooo excited! As Michele opened her car door, I could hear Em yelling, "Get me out of my car seat. I have to go home with Grandma Marla right now!"
Em's never spent two nights and two days. She was fine, taking naps and going to bed as usual with no problem and playing and having fun, but when she woke up Friday morning, she was a bit weepy and clingy and later on, when she woke up from her nap, she asked, "Is my mommy and daddy here?" We had a good time with her visit. She's old enough now -- 2 years and 9 months -- that she is trustworthy enough to be allowed to wander most of the house by herself. I can easily do dishes, make supper or do laundry and feel confident she's not getting into anything.
She even went potty down here with no hassle. Life is so much easier when all that stuff goes into one place: the toilet!
Ron and I took Em home in Ron's truck late Friday afternoon because the roads still weren't very good. I felt Em was safer in the 4-wheel drive vehicle.
So as usual, the past week has been busy. I am all done shopping and have just two more things to wrap, one of which is a roll of quarters for Tony's stocking. He goes to a laundromat to do his laundry.
I was supposed to see Cara today, but the road were too bad for me to want to drive the 37 miles to her house and then drive to Latham for the movie. Ron offered me his truck again or offered to drive me up, pick up Cara, take us to the movies and wait for us, but I declined both offers.
Weather: Well, it's been snowy!!
Exericise: Very little.
Gas prices: They've settledin at about $1.82 a gallon at the lower stations, a price I can easily live with.
Life lessons: The simplest thing in life can be the most rewarding. I will never forget Em's face or her words when she saw me in the parking lot of Stewart's waiting to bring her here to Greenville. She was grinning from ear to ear and wound her legs and arms around me just as a money would.
Hamming it Up: Pictures Taken Week of December 15; Em at 2-3/4 years
Em just hamming it up.
This is the dress Em wore for Christmas cards.
This is the dress Em wore for Christmas cards.
Em Outdoors: Pictures Taken Week of December 15; age 2-3/4 years
Hmmm.. don't know why she's outside in the snow with no jacket.
Playing in the backyard of her maternal grandmother.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Ember at Thanksgiving
Em helping her maternal grandma make pies for Thanksgiving.
Em hamming it up for the camera.
Thanksgiving day.
Em hamming it up for the camera.
Thanksgiving day.
Recent Pictures
The Mouser!! Penny takes a nap on a warm radiator after catching a mouse in the cellar.
Ron and the newly-assembled moose I got as an early Christmas present. It's animated and lighted.
Holy Smokes
It's been a long time since I've been here. That's a reflection of how busy life has been... busier than usual.
We left for Wisconsin for Thanksgiving on Monday, November 24. This year, and for the first time since Ron's traveled there for T-giving, we took two days going out as well as the usual two days for the return trip. It takes about 18 hours to get from Greenville to just north of Green Bay and after last year's trip, the last third spent in hard rain with five hours of that after dark, I refused to do it again in one day. It was downright scary as well as extremely stressing and exhausting. He'd never admit it, but I think Ron was glad for the two-day trip.
Instead of individual Christmas presents for one another, we bought a mutual one of a GPS just two days before leaving for Wisconsin. I love tech gadgets, and the TomTom we purchased is no exception. I had it up and running before leaving the mall parking lot and played with it so much on the trip that I am now an expert. We didn't need it for the actual trip. Ron has traveled to his daughter's many times, but I wanted it in case there were problems in Chicago to go around as well as being able to find motels, restaurants and gas stations. It worked great!!
I missed Em terribly while gone for the week at T-giving, and she missed me. Michele called me T-giving morning so Em could talk to me. Em asked if I was going to come and eat with them. When I said, "No," she cried and sobbed and begged me to come home. When we finally got home Michele told me that every morning when she woke up, Em asked, "Is Grandma Marla coming today?" Every morning she cried when she found out I wasn't. She was soooooooo happy to see me on Wednesday last week. It had been two weeks; a long time for a little girl.
So life is pretty much back to normal, except for Christmas prep. Ron has doctor appointments. I'm doing Ember care two days a week, though I have her three days this week. I had Em yesterday, and if the weather cooperates (a storm is predicted Thursday into Friday), I'm bringing her down for an overnight Thursday.
I'm just about ready for Christmas. I want to pick up a pair of gloves and some underwear for Tony's stocking. I also need to get money out of the bank for him as well as mail presents to Maureen and her family. Tony, Ember and Judy are coming here Christmas afternoon for dinner and present opening. The original plan called for Michele to also come down, but she has backed out telling me that she didn't want to spend more time with Tony than necessary. I don't know what that's all about but apparently he's done something wrong. LOL
Gas prices - They are LOW LOW LOW. The lowest we saw on our trip to Wisconsin was $1.53 a gallon somewhere in Ohio. Back here in Glenmont, Cumberland farm is selling it for $1.81 a gallon. Greenville stations are $1.89. Yahoo!!
Exercise - Other than that which I get from living life, I've done nothing extra special.
Weather - Temps have been up and down. It was really cold over this past weekend through Tuesday. Right now the outside temp is 50 degrees but will fall into the 30s and bring a winter storm.
Life lessons - Oh there are so many lessons and changes that I've experienced the past two weeks, but it's difficult to put them into words. What comes first to my mind is I better watch what I wish for. This relates to going to Wisconsin (or really NOT wanting to go to Wisconsin). It also relates to missing Ember but after being with her for a couple of days, wishing for another break because I am so so so tired at the end of the day. I don't know how grandparents who do full-time care do it, unless they do a haphazard job. Child care takes a lot of time, energy and effort if one doesn't use a TV for a babysitter.
We left for Wisconsin for Thanksgiving on Monday, November 24. This year, and for the first time since Ron's traveled there for T-giving, we took two days going out as well as the usual two days for the return trip. It takes about 18 hours to get from Greenville to just north of Green Bay and after last year's trip, the last third spent in hard rain with five hours of that after dark, I refused to do it again in one day. It was downright scary as well as extremely stressing and exhausting. He'd never admit it, but I think Ron was glad for the two-day trip.
Instead of individual Christmas presents for one another, we bought a mutual one of a GPS just two days before leaving for Wisconsin. I love tech gadgets, and the TomTom we purchased is no exception. I had it up and running before leaving the mall parking lot and played with it so much on the trip that I am now an expert. We didn't need it for the actual trip. Ron has traveled to his daughter's many times, but I wanted it in case there were problems in Chicago to go around as well as being able to find motels, restaurants and gas stations. It worked great!!
I missed Em terribly while gone for the week at T-giving, and she missed me. Michele called me T-giving morning so Em could talk to me. Em asked if I was going to come and eat with them. When I said, "No," she cried and sobbed and begged me to come home. When we finally got home Michele told me that every morning when she woke up, Em asked, "Is Grandma Marla coming today?" Every morning she cried when she found out I wasn't. She was soooooooo happy to see me on Wednesday last week. It had been two weeks; a long time for a little girl.
So life is pretty much back to normal, except for Christmas prep. Ron has doctor appointments. I'm doing Ember care two days a week, though I have her three days this week. I had Em yesterday, and if the weather cooperates (a storm is predicted Thursday into Friday), I'm bringing her down for an overnight Thursday.
I'm just about ready for Christmas. I want to pick up a pair of gloves and some underwear for Tony's stocking. I also need to get money out of the bank for him as well as mail presents to Maureen and her family. Tony, Ember and Judy are coming here Christmas afternoon for dinner and present opening. The original plan called for Michele to also come down, but she has backed out telling me that she didn't want to spend more time with Tony than necessary. I don't know what that's all about but apparently he's done something wrong. LOL
Gas prices - They are LOW LOW LOW. The lowest we saw on our trip to Wisconsin was $1.53 a gallon somewhere in Ohio. Back here in Glenmont, Cumberland farm is selling it for $1.81 a gallon. Greenville stations are $1.89. Yahoo!!
Exercise - Other than that which I get from living life, I've done nothing extra special.
Weather - Temps have been up and down. It was really cold over this past weekend through Tuesday. Right now the outside temp is 50 degrees but will fall into the 30s and bring a winter storm.
Life lessons - Oh there are so many lessons and changes that I've experienced the past two weeks, but it's difficult to put them into words. What comes first to my mind is I better watch what I wish for. This relates to going to Wisconsin (or really NOT wanting to go to Wisconsin). It also relates to missing Ember but after being with her for a couple of days, wishing for another break because I am so so so tired at the end of the day. I don't know how grandparents who do full-time care do it, unless they do a haphazard job. Child care takes a lot of time, energy and effort if one doesn't use a TV for a babysitter.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Mid November
The warmth of a nice October has fled as a cold mid-November roars into the country. It's cold out there. Damn, I hate cold.
I've been working on the clock room. I will redo it one way or the other, if only to paint and organize all the stuff in it. The bookcase is empty and I've cleaned the one corner of the room where it sat. There is so much stuff in the room that I will have to paint section by section, moving stuff around as I paint.
I realize that nothing had been done to any of the rooms upstairs since before Ron and his late wife moved in. Ron has lived here 32 years +/-. THIRTY-TWO YEARS!! The four bedrooms upstairs apparently were not considered worthy of attention. One was slept in and the other three were used for storage. Not in my lifetime, if I'm able, will I allow four good rooms to be a mess. Since moving in 18 months ago, upstairs I've painted our bedroom; wallpapered and painted the computer room; painted the hallway. The clock room will be a long time coming around to something acceptable. It will be my winter project.
Tony was on vacation last week so I saw Em only on Thursday for a few hours when I took her to an indoor playground and out for lunch. I was a grandma who could have fun without any sort of discipline or teaching.
This week I have Em Tuesday and Friday. Today I bought her boots for winter at LL Beans, and then she played for an hour in the kids' play area. She was a good girl. No running away; no complaints; and she napped well.
Today's weather - It is cold and windy now. Cold meaning in the low 30s. Lots of snow squalls went through also.
Gas prices - They are freakin' low!!!!! Cumberland in Glenmont has gas for $2.17 a gallon. Yippee!!
Exercise - I've been fairly faithful to the Leslie Sansone DVDs. I can get quite a workout from doing them.
I've been working on the clock room. I will redo it one way or the other, if only to paint and organize all the stuff in it. The bookcase is empty and I've cleaned the one corner of the room where it sat. There is so much stuff in the room that I will have to paint section by section, moving stuff around as I paint.
I realize that nothing had been done to any of the rooms upstairs since before Ron and his late wife moved in. Ron has lived here 32 years +/-. THIRTY-TWO YEARS!! The four bedrooms upstairs apparently were not considered worthy of attention. One was slept in and the other three were used for storage. Not in my lifetime, if I'm able, will I allow four good rooms to be a mess. Since moving in 18 months ago, upstairs I've painted our bedroom; wallpapered and painted the computer room; painted the hallway. The clock room will be a long time coming around to something acceptable. It will be my winter project.
Tony was on vacation last week so I saw Em only on Thursday for a few hours when I took her to an indoor playground and out for lunch. I was a grandma who could have fun without any sort of discipline or teaching.
This week I have Em Tuesday and Friday. Today I bought her boots for winter at LL Beans, and then she played for an hour in the kids' play area. She was a good girl. No running away; no complaints; and she napped well.
Today's weather - It is cold and windy now. Cold meaning in the low 30s. Lots of snow squalls went through also.
Gas prices - They are freakin' low!!!!! Cumberland in Glenmont has gas for $2.17 a gallon. Yippee!!
Exercise - I've been fairly faithful to the Leslie Sansone DVDs. I can get quite a workout from doing them.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Just Stuff
I'm not inclined to think of a title for my posts. That's too much like work.
Em was here overnight Friday to Saturday. We had a good time but honestly she exhausts me. Part of the exhaustion comes from the overstimulation on my brain. There is noise, confusion, demands, an extra person in the house -- all things that drain me. She has a cold so slept almost 3 hours Friday afternoon. That gave me a much-needed break, and of course, as usual, she went to bed at 7:45 without a peep and slept until 6:45 the next morning.
Also last week, Ron had a CT scan Monday. I had Ember Tuesday. Ron had an appointment with the ENT doc Wednesday and I stayed in Albany to meet "the girls" for dinner. Thursday was a Marla day and then Friday, I brought Em down for the overnight.
I've started work on Ron's clock room. God help me. LOL Stuff ... stuff... stuff. It's halfway as bad as the computer room and the hallway were. I did those rooms/areas; I can do this room! I'm not yet enthusiastic about doing the work, so force myself to put in at least half an hour a day.
That's about it.
Exercise - Been doing mostly Leslie Sansone DVDs.
Weather - November is certainly here! It's chilly; it's damp; it's gray. November should have been named Grayber.
Em was here overnight Friday to Saturday. We had a good time but honestly she exhausts me. Part of the exhaustion comes from the overstimulation on my brain. There is noise, confusion, demands, an extra person in the house -- all things that drain me. She has a cold so slept almost 3 hours Friday afternoon. That gave me a much-needed break, and of course, as usual, she went to bed at 7:45 without a peep and slept until 6:45 the next morning.
Also last week, Ron had a CT scan Monday. I had Ember Tuesday. Ron had an appointment with the ENT doc Wednesday and I stayed in Albany to meet "the girls" for dinner. Thursday was a Marla day and then Friday, I brought Em down for the overnight.
I've started work on Ron's clock room. God help me. LOL Stuff ... stuff... stuff. It's halfway as bad as the computer room and the hallway were. I did those rooms/areas; I can do this room! I'm not yet enthusiastic about doing the work, so force myself to put in at least half an hour a day.
That's about it.
Exercise - Been doing mostly Leslie Sansone DVDs.
Weather - November is certainly here! It's chilly; it's damp; it's gray. November should have been named Grayber.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
