1979 a blast from the past

 My other baby brother and she who sees robins first celebrate 45 years of wedded bliss today! 

1979  That is my sister Julie age 13 on the far left and the flower girl is our oldest daughter Trica she was 7 years old that year. 

Congratulations! 

Christmas card report: 12 finished so total is 65

Pain report: I have a little less pain....hopefully it will keep improving. 

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Who knew?

 I saw these UGLY Poinsettias in the grocery store the other day.  Why anyone would spray a perfectly pretty white poinsettia this awful blue is beyond me.  

A dear old friend once told me "it takes all kind to make the world go round" and then she would giggle. 

Far Guy and I made it to the Car Dealership for an oil change and tire rotation without buying a new car, I think Far Guy accompanied me just so I would not buy a new car.   After that for a really exciting time, he dropped me off at the Clinic for a blood test the Rheumatologist ordered.  

My back pain has changed, the pain does not go away when I lay down after the injections...so I am more restless and get up often.  The pain is a full dull feeling...maybe it will get better with time... I sure hope so. ( I want my no pain time back)

Christmas card report: Only 6 were finished for a total of 53 so almost half way.  I have a bunch coming down the assembly line in the next few days.  Drying time is holding me up...four dry times...background watercolor must be dry before proceeding, then drying time for the foreground watercolor and then for the gouache ( it makes snow) and then drying time for the glue. Uffda.  I didn't know how time consuming this project would be.

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Book Club 2024: December

 I had virtual book club yesterday.  We read The Women by Kristin Hannah.

I give the first part of the book a 10 and the second part a 9.5 ...I would highly recommend it, it is about a Nurse that served in Vietnam.   Everyone in the book club liked the book. 

I ran errands in town whilst Far Guy had his infusion yesterday.  Groceries, bank, picked up our special order Christmas paper for the non existent Christmas letter and I went to the Meat Store...we were out of Bacon!  Came home put everything away, visited with my baby brother, his bride, Baxter and Smudge.  Smudge grew a bit taller when they were gone for a couple of weeks and Baxter is looking thin...I think he missed my treats (Cheerios). 

No huge improvement in my back pain yet....might be a little less pain...time will tell.

Christmas Card Report: 12 more added total is now 47.

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Ground Blizzard

 Yesterday we had what they call a Ground Blizzard.  The winds kick up what snow it can and blow it around.  On our way to my appointment we saw many snow-nados/ snow-devils ...that is snow picked up into a swirling cone the air.  The high yesterday was 13 F or -10 C  the low was -2 F or -18 C  the windchill was brutal.  The weather is headed for the negative numbers for a few days and then it will warm up again...maybe above freezing and rain...I could do without rain and ice everywhere.  Stay cold enough to snow...please. 

Some spots in the road were icy and in some places it was hard to see. 

The epidural steroid injections into my back were not real painful, I expected that they would be more painful.  The Doctor said it will take several days to know if they worked or not.  So far the pain remains...I have a full feeling in my back and a headache...and I am not normally a headachy type person. Time will tell.  It was worth a try. 

I had another biopsy on my face last week, they were atypical cells but the margins were clear...so praise God no more surgery on my face!

Christmas Card Report I was able to take 12 cards from the drying area so my total is 35.  Slow but sure. 

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One step at a time

 Today I have steroids injections into my back.  God willing and we hope the roads are good. The injections were ordered by the Spine Clinic Doctors. I hope that it helps with the pain.  Time will tell.  I can have 4-5 injections in a year if it works. When it no longer works I will be evaluated for surgery. 

Next week I have more arthritis injections two at a time in my belly.  This is the second time ( every 4 weeks) on a new med called Cimzia.  Last time I had no adverse reactions...and my psoriasis was a bit better as for my arthritis pain...no change...still a bugger.  Since I have multiple types of arthritis...Rheumatoid, Psoriatic and Lymes Arthritis...I am a challenge for the Doctors.  The Rheumatology PA that has been managing my care finally moved on and I go back to see my other Rheumatologist later this month. 

Riding in the car for any length of time is so very painful.  I am still doing PT exercises, whirlpool baths and we purchased a massage gun that has heat.  I take 6 Tylenol a day and a gummy on the days that I am able to stay at home.  Most days I have a long nap with a heated rice bag. The pain just wears me out.  I have no pain or very little when lying down...however I cannot lay around all day. 

One step at a time...

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Christmas Card count... a measly 4 cards yesterday total now 23.  It is a new project and has some kinks to work out...drying time is very important!  It is all a learning process.

A little progress

 I am busy between household duties; laundry, organizing, not much cooking, selling "stuff" on Facebook and creating the Christmas cards.  I ordered the paper for the Christmas letter and ordered a gift for Far Guy and one for myself.  Progress.

I didn't have to shovel the snow that fell...about an inch maybe a bit more...my other baby brother came by and blew it off the walk and the patio!  The snow came down gently in huge flakes ...Far Guy's sister would have called it a Winter Wonderland. 

Christmas Card report only 9 completed today...total 19. 

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Cards and Deer

 It is about time, not sure if it was the snow, the below zero temperatures or turning the calendar to December...but I finally figured out this years Christmas card.  Usually by this time of year I have mailed them out.   I missed going to Craft Retreat this Fall as that is usually a project I work on while I am there. 

Anyways...I made the final decisions on what I am doing.  I want it to look like an old Christmas Postcard.   I have that vintage paper that I ripped to size last September and it has been sitting on my desk...waiting. 

So...I completed 10 cards yesterday...at this rate I will be done by mid December.  

The cards are stamped and signed on one side and watercolored on the vintage paper on the other side.  The stamped side is all done...120 of them. 

in this photo is the old Volcan sad iron on top of a small plastic box that is holding down the ten completed cards to keep them flat, my glue bottle upside down to make it easier for me to grab and my stack of card backs.  

Progress is slow...I have lots of watercoloring to do! 

While I was working at my desk...what did I spy? 

Do you see her? 

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Sitting pretty

 Peach drove me nuts climbing up on the bench by the dining room table...the floor is tile and if she fell off backwards it would really hurt. 

Then she found out she could sit by the fireplace all by herself. 

She loves sitting next to her favorite person in the whole world...and cried real tears when it was time to say goodbye to Auntie Jen.

When you are little you can make your own spot to sit.

My yarn bowl turned upside down makes a good place to sit if you have a little butt! 

Goodbye to November and Hello December.  Doesn't seem like it should be December this soon. 

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Three GREATS

 Our three GREATS have so much energy...that is why parents are young and not old!

They are growing up so quickly! 

Hey Mikey tried on the deer hide coat that Far Guy had as a child.  His Father had it made for him. 

Cee Cee cut her own hair one day last week when her bangs were in her eyes...she is not much of a hairdresser.  Every kid does it some worse than others.   She was very curious about all the photos we have on the wall and who was in them. 

And then there is Peach. She is in a "I can do it all by myself stage"  little Miss Independent. 

We are really enjoying interacting with Peach, she is a real doll.  Hey Mikey moved to Michigan when he was just a year old and Cee Cee was born in Michigan...so we missed out on most of their early years. 

Fun kids! 

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Grand Girls

 The Grand Girls were here on Thanksgiving morning before taking off for their Thanksgiving dinner. 

Our Grandsons ...Noah worked a late shift and Adam lives too far away...but we will see them at Christmas!  Hopefully all five will be there then! 

I got to see Paige's beautiful rings. 

Paige reports that married life is great and she and Cole had a wonderful Honeymoon minus the fact that Cole was bitten by a raccoon and had to have the series of rabies shots. 

Savannah is working hard at her lash business and says that a tattoo artist has moved into the space next to hers and she wants a new tattoo.  I asked about boyfriends...but she says she is taking a break in dating.  However there is someone she is talking to.

Maddie has the three GREATs and she enjoys her job.  Life is busy for her and for her husband Brenton. 

It was wonderful to see them all, the house was quiet after they left.

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Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Over the river and through the woods to Grandparents house they go!  

Happy Thanksgiving!  

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Great Blessings

 We are going to be Great Grandparents again! 

We are truly blessed. 

 Our three GREATS will become four!  He or she will join Hey Mikey, Cee Cee and Peach sometime in June.  By that time Peach will be two, Cee Cee five and Hey Mikey eight. Our Granddaughter Maddie and her husband Brenton will be very busy!

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Night Visitors

 We had our second snow on late Sunday night/early Monday morning.   We now have about two inches of the white stuff.

See all those tracks in the snow?  Something was having a party around the bird feeder. 

This is a photo of the security camera.  They sure had fun and emptied out one side of the feeder.  I suspect the five squirrels that showed up enjoyed a bit of that spilled seed too. 

We made a list for errands in town and as we left the yard the smaller deer was watching us from the edge of the woods...I suppose he/she wanted a morning snack. 

Town was fine the Turkey is thawing in the fridge and the rest of the groceries were purchased for a simple meal on Thanksgiving Day.  Turkey, mashed potatoes, GF gravy, GF Green Beans with sour cream and onion potato chips on top instead of the onion rings with gluten, corn, olives, pickles and Snickers salad.  Guests are bringing GF stuffing and GF cake.  There will be more than enough food!

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Say What?

 Brumotactillophobia.  Go ahead and say that three times real fast...kinda rolls right off the tongue doesn't it?

I realized I had it when I saw this photograph of my Nephew Kirk and his daughter Jordyn. Kirk had a birthday last week and I think he wants to be a Viking:)

Notice their plates...Kirks is a real mess...but Jordyn ...I coveted her pretty pink divided plate immediately when I saw this photo on Facebook (photo used with permission)

Anyways Brumotactillophobia is an irrational fear of food touching.  It is a quirk I have had as long as I can remember.

My stomach has compartments...I am convinced of it.  Perhaps it is my CDO (Compulsive Disorder Obsessive) in hyperdrive! Or is it a control issue?

Sometimes I have a plate and several bowls at the supper table...you know one plate for my steak and my steak sauce way far away from my steak even though I drag my steak through the sauce I do not want it touching until I want it touching...the other bowls would be a salad and a potato...not together... separate bowls..and if I had a slice of bread it would be off my plate on my napkin...and holy moly if I had a pickle it would never be on the plate or in the bowls...it would be on the far corner of my napkin no where near the bread. Pickle juice on any other food is unacceptable to me...Far Guy doesn't care he balances his pickle and bread anyplace on his single plate.  I try not to look at his plate or anyone elses while eating. 

My eating habits are just chaos...and it is getting worse as I age.  I watch lots of cooking shows...and when they stack food up all nice and pretty...stuff under the meat and stuff on the meat... it nauseates me...I am not a good one to take to a buffet...when Far Guy fills up his plate I cannot look at it because I will start to gag.  

It is exhausting for me to put more than one food on my plate...If I put three foods on my plate I would be continually pushing them far apart as possible.  I will never put Jello on the same plate as meat, veggies and mashed potatoes...ever.  No red/orange/lime colored mashed potatoes for me or melting toward my meat or veggies... Jello Alert!! Jello always needs its own bowl.

I can eat soups and hotdish because it is all cooked together!  So see I am a little bit normal! 

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More sorting

Yesterday we had a busy day.  We both worked upstairs.  Far Guy managed to gather together a garbage bag full of worthless stuff so I added some old computer accessories that I had shoved under my desk up there too many years ago to recall.  We went to the transfer station and recycle once and are gathering for another recycle trip...mostly old magazines...Farm and Ranch Living and nearly every issue of Martha Stewart Living.  

I filed last years Christmas card photos and letters that I could not part with.  I sorted through some of the Shiny Brites and will sell some of them.  Three boxes were sold yesterday but that is just a drop in the bucket.  The lady was just thrilled!

This is the next bunch on the chopping block.  

We made some discoveries...you know things put away so well that you forgot you had them.   A sure sign that we are aging.

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Sorting

 Friday was a quiet day, I did some laundry and sorted my way through a project.  Far Guy warmed up meals out of the freezer for supper...he had a Impossible Sausage dish and I had Hotdish..the one with potatoes, veggies and hamburger topped with cheese. 

It has been a while since I sorted for our Grands...I have three ring binders for each of them filled with "stuff" they might appreciate someday.  My Mother kept a few things that I did not keep.  I have been shoving things for the Grands in a container and it just needed to be sorted and put in its proper place.   Far Guy helped and in no time at all we were done! 

What is inside?  Birth announcements, coloring pages works of art, school programs, sports rosters, baptism and birthday party announcements, confirmation and graduation announcements, family trees, family history, obituaries of their Great Grandparents. 

I also have photo albums for them all...it is a project I started Up North...I have sorted some more photos to add to that project sometime this Winter. 

Do you keep similar things for a bit of family history and hope it is appreciated someday or do you just shred it all?  

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A little light

 I found a tiny bunch of LED lights on the pantry shelf.  I think I was going to put them on the wreath outside the front door...I put them up by the blue glass in the window instead.

It makes for a bright spot in these dreary November days. 

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First Snow

 Rain turned to snow in the early morning hours on November 20th.  We have enough to almost cover the grass.

Isn't it beautiful?  At least some of the brown is covered up with white.  I shoveled off the walk. Typically it snows three times before the snow stays...we will see what happens...our weather forecast looks like wintery temperatures for the rest of November.  

Jen sent a photo of Sadie in the snow...they got more snow Up North than we did. 

Looks like she walked outside on the patio and laid down.  I am sure she was racing around like a wild girl before long.  

I had a sorting day...sorted out some more "stuff" and labeled a bunch of photos.   I also cleaned out the old toy box...threw some old hiking boots out and began a donation pile for scarfs and hats no longer worn.  I tried to clear some odds and ends or "I will get to it later" stuff off my desk.  I was partially successful. 

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Cousins

Some of my cousins on my Dad's side of the family gathered yesterday for lunch. Seven showed up;  Geraldine, Hilda, Wilma, Georgianna, Evelyn and Chuckie.  It was a nice visit.  Better than visiting at a funeral....plus we were at the place that has the wonderful Sour Cream and Raisin Pie! 

I had a few old photos to share with the gals. 

This is an old photo from1994.  In the photo is Far Guy's Mother, me and my cousin Kathy.  That is Mary Ann's head of dark hair, she is a sister to several of my Aunts.  We gathered for a quilting bee to work on our 25th anniversary quilt.  Many of the relatives embroidered a quilt square and they were all included in two double quilts.  The photo was taken at my parents home on the lake downstairs in their large family room.

My cousin Kathy was missed yesterday....she always like the gatherings.  Perhaps the gathering she is having in heaven is much better!  In 30 years every one in the photo has died...except me. 

The quilts have never been used...they are like new.  

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Mailed and other stuff

 I mailed a whole bunch of odds and ends AND this years Christmas ornaments yesterday.  It took the postal clerk about 30 minutes to deal with my 15 packages.  He said he hadn't mailed that many packages in the last six months.   The lady waiting behind me was not too happy. 

We still have a few Christmas ornaments to hand deliver.  

Back at home I gathered together all my lawn mowing garb threw it in the washer and washed my red boots off in the sink.  All of it including my hat will be stored in the old toy box until next year.  

I got two pair of snowboots out and washed up a pair of crocs for the shoe drawer.  Also decided to get rid of two pairs of shoes from the shoe drawer...progress! ( Truth be told I still have one pair of crocs by the door just incase I need to slip them on quickly instead of my snowboots)

Listed a few more things for sale on Facebook Marketplace.  It all takes time. 

My desk is full of "stuff" from upstairs...paper stuff...old stuff..."stuff" that my Mom kept..that needs to be sorted out...many things will find a home in the Grands three ring binders that I have been keeping for them.  ( I sorted things out for my siblings last Spring and my pile of "stuff" just sat upstairs.)   All that "stuff" needs a proper storage spot!

AND I am ready for the snow!  I can tell the snow is coming...change of weather is painful for me. 

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