Thanksgiving Week And Ever Forward to Christmas
Took off Monday morning headed for Marion County. Had a great visit with my financial advisor; this young man and I have an unspoken grandma/grandson relationship and since I haven't seen him in 3 years there were plenty hugs and laughs. Got my burrito and a Subway sandwich (why drag up all the ingredients for sandwiches when I "can" taste Subway's), then headed to Judy's.
We spent two days binge watching, first Bridgerton, then Outlander, I'd never seen any of either of these. Now caught up on Bridgerton, and only through 8 episodes of the first season of Outlander, neither of which I'll be watching again unless I find myself sitting in Judy's living room again.
Her family home is HUGE, like Scandinavian Lodge huge - two-story vaulted ceiling held up by a long tall rock wall. Yes, a very cold house. There's a small fireplace in that stone wall, now with a wood burning stove shoved into it. The stove has a glass front and I haven't been warmed by a wood fire since the 90's when I lived at the coast. I wound up being a big fluffy pillow for her old pup and 2 cats, we kept each other warm. Thankfully the heat drifts upstairs to the bedrooms. Found myself sleeping on a very soft daybed but realize I have got to get myself a much softer mattress at home. Slept good and woke with clear sinuses, unlike the clogging I get at night from keeping my forced air furnace at 68.
The only downside was having to dodge the pea fowl poop those birds like to drop right at the front and back door. It's a mystery to me but all nine of them stand and stare at the doors for hours - awaiting the food supplier must have something to do with it. ;-)
Judy gifted me a decent computer chair her Dad got at a going out of business sell-off for way too cheap, he got 4 for $20. I do believe they were used at a conference table since they have excellent padding and allow one to sit up straight. I've always wondered why mens' computer chairs lean backward way beyond comfortable for women.
After loading up Wednesday morning, I got the chair wrestled into the back of the pickup, got in and took off. I drove for half an hour before I reached for a cigarette and realized - I FORGOT MY PURSE?! I have never done that, it must just be one of the bonuses of being 65 now. Backtracked and got home before dark. Once home I was soundly scolded by the hummingbirds who I apparently starved to near death while I was gone. I lightly brined the little game hen just in case Dad forgot that he'd told me several days earlier that he didn't want a Thanksgiving dinner, he'd find his own restaurant food, and just wanted to watch TV and nap. Went to bed early and slept like a log.
I wound up roasting the game hen (took only an hour), made gravy from the drippings, found the gravy over rice was reasonably good (thanks to abundant salt and pepper) but the little bird tasted like nothing - no taste - pff
It's going to be overcast and dry for the next few days that will allow me to get into the yard for weed eating and trimming dead stuff from the dormant things out there. My little Cypress shrubs are thriving nicely, the Lenton Rose has finally taken off after doing nothing all summer - they really like the colder, wetter weather. I won't get blooms from it in February, it will take a couple years for that to happen.
This weekend I also need to pick a new Medicare Advantage plan policy, complete a few uncomplicated sewing projects, and put up re-hemmed sheers at the living room window. Next week I'll take Dad to a couple of doctor appointments and bring out the little ceramic Christmas tree. No baked goods gifts again this year, can't trust whether they taste good enough to give away. Might manage sending out a few cards.
Happy December to all for nearly completing another totally buggered year of uncertainty and unrest about our democracy. One thing for sure, I don't think any of us have ever experienced the length and depth the Qrazies have devolved to. I'll be surprised if Portland doesn't become ground zero for the threatened next civil war - nothing but continued conflict and riots up there. On that cheery note do have a great December.
We spent two days binge watching, first Bridgerton, then Outlander, I'd never seen any of either of these. Now caught up on Bridgerton, and only through 8 episodes of the first season of Outlander, neither of which I'll be watching again unless I find myself sitting in Judy's living room again.
Her family home is HUGE, like Scandinavian Lodge huge - two-story vaulted ceiling held up by a long tall rock wall. Yes, a very cold house. There's a small fireplace in that stone wall, now with a wood burning stove shoved into it. The stove has a glass front and I haven't been warmed by a wood fire since the 90's when I lived at the coast. I wound up being a big fluffy pillow for her old pup and 2 cats, we kept each other warm. Thankfully the heat drifts upstairs to the bedrooms. Found myself sleeping on a very soft daybed but realize I have got to get myself a much softer mattress at home. Slept good and woke with clear sinuses, unlike the clogging I get at night from keeping my forced air furnace at 68.
The only downside was having to dodge the pea fowl poop those birds like to drop right at the front and back door. It's a mystery to me but all nine of them stand and stare at the doors for hours - awaiting the food supplier must have something to do with it. ;-)
Judy gifted me a decent computer chair her Dad got at a going out of business sell-off for way too cheap, he got 4 for $20. I do believe they were used at a conference table since they have excellent padding and allow one to sit up straight. I've always wondered why mens' computer chairs lean backward way beyond comfortable for women.
After loading up Wednesday morning, I got the chair wrestled into the back of the pickup, got in and took off. I drove for half an hour before I reached for a cigarette and realized - I FORGOT MY PURSE?! I have never done that, it must just be one of the bonuses of being 65 now. Backtracked and got home before dark. Once home I was soundly scolded by the hummingbirds who I apparently starved to near death while I was gone. I lightly brined the little game hen just in case Dad forgot that he'd told me several days earlier that he didn't want a Thanksgiving dinner, he'd find his own restaurant food, and just wanted to watch TV and nap. Went to bed early and slept like a log.
I wound up roasting the game hen (took only an hour), made gravy from the drippings, found the gravy over rice was reasonably good (thanks to abundant salt and pepper) but the little bird tasted like nothing - no taste - pff
It's going to be overcast and dry for the next few days that will allow me to get into the yard for weed eating and trimming dead stuff from the dormant things out there. My little Cypress shrubs are thriving nicely, the Lenton Rose has finally taken off after doing nothing all summer - they really like the colder, wetter weather. I won't get blooms from it in February, it will take a couple years for that to happen.
This weekend I also need to pick a new Medicare Advantage plan policy, complete a few uncomplicated sewing projects, and put up re-hemmed sheers at the living room window. Next week I'll take Dad to a couple of doctor appointments and bring out the little ceramic Christmas tree. No baked goods gifts again this year, can't trust whether they taste good enough to give away. Might manage sending out a few cards.
Happy December to all for nearly completing another totally buggered year of uncertainty and unrest about our democracy. One thing for sure, I don't think any of us have ever experienced the length and depth the Qrazies have devolved to. I'll be surprised if Portland doesn't become ground zero for the threatened next civil war - nothing but continued conflict and riots up there. On that cheery note do have a great December.