Difficult Days...

It's been a tough few weeks of late. Our hard headed brown dog shows increasing signs of age and the deterioration that comes with that. In her case, she has episodes where she is unable to stand or stay upright. Her back leg(s) seem to give out. When it happens and John is not here, she and I just have to stay put until she seems ready to try to move. Ten minutes seems like a lifetime. When John is here, he can lift her to her bed and try to help her lie down. It's a difficult and worrisome time. We had concluded that it was probably time to say goodbye and wish her well in that other place. We even got as far as signing the papers, paying the fee, and gathering in the lovely room at the Vet's where these things take place. But, after talking with the Vet, we agreed to see how she might fare over the next days. When she's not in the throes of the "episodes", she looks pretty good for a gal of 94.  He is a kind man and he obviously cares for both his patients and their families. And while he would do whatever we thought was best, he was able to help us put some specifics to the "quality of life" issue that predominates our concerns. So, we'll see how the good days: bad days ratio plays out. Yesterday was a bad one. It may be that John and I are not the bravest or hardiest souls in the household. To see her struggle and be helpless to help is heartbreaking. She has more heart than ability these days, but she steadfastly maintains her role in the pack. We want to do right by our lovely girl. If only it were clear what that is....

A Little of This and That...

It snowed here last Sunday. Enough to stay on the ground overnight. Yesterday the sun was shining and the daffodils have opened up. Whew. Mother Nature is in a frenzy. But Spring is definitely "winning" and it gets greener by the day. I look forward to dinners on the deck before long.

John has been digging a patch for some black raspberries. That has kept hm busy for about an hour each evening and most of yesterday. It was my day to do the fetch and carry routine as I made trips to Costco, Sears, Kinkos, World Market, Petco, Home Depot, and Central Market.In between I threw in a little laundry. No wonder I was tired! Today we will have breakfast with friends and then the fellas will install the shiny new microwave-convection-lots of other stuff oven. We plan to hit the local Nursery in the afternoon to get some half barrels for planting herbs and tomatoes.

John returns to California tomorrow for 4 days. The hard headed brown dog and I will muster on. I have some interesting projects at work just now to keep me busy. Let's see what the week brings....

Lion v Lamb

March is turning out to be a "conflicted" month. It doesn't yet look like Spring but it's milder than Winter. Still somewhat cold but the first daffodils are blooming. The ground is so sodden that I took a step into the grass earlier this week and, as if on a slip n slide, I went sliding right down into the muddy, watery, mess. And then I was a muddy, watery mess. Had to strip off in the garage and take everything (coat included) upstairs to be laundered.

John has been away since last Tuesday. First he did the usual work week in California and then on Friday evening he flew down to Los Angeles and is spending some time with daughter Karen. She is running the LA Marathon today and John will drop her at the start and then he and Chris (her boyfriend and an all around good guy) will drive to Santa Monica to watch her finish! Go Team Grant!! Then he'll hop a plane back home and I will pick him up later tonight.

It has been a long week and his absence has been felt. The hard headed brown dog has needed careful watching as she seems to have developed some weakness in her back legs. They appear to give out on her from time to time. I don't know what this means or how serious it is yet, but lifting a 60+ pound dog is not something I can do on my own. When she is up, she seems to be fine and her movement is not restricted. But the extra vigilance means I am not as free to do other things that want doing.

Still, being the only one to accompany her outside has meant that I am privy to all the activity out there. On the nights when it has been clear (and there have been some), I was able to watch the dance that Jupiter and Venus have been doing this week as well as spot my old favorites like Orion's Belt and the Big and Little Dippers. When it has rained, it hasn't been a soaking rain but a misty one. The woods are full of birds, some of which make their way to our feeders during the day. There is much singing in the woods in the morning. And we have a mystery thief who has taken a fancy to the blocks of suet which we hang for the birds. The first night, I failed to capture both sides of the holder when I hung it and the door was easily opened. The freshly hung block was no where to be seen. I put a new block in the holder yesterday, making sure I had secured both sides, and this morning, the holder is dismantled. The suet is gone. I suspect a fat raccoon thinks these are candy bars and is making off with them. He hasn't successfully managed the second block as it hangs on a smaller branch. If he is eating the whole block, it won't be long before he will be too fat to climb anything!

Looks like a lamb of a day so far although rain is predicted (when isn't it up here?). Think good thoughts....

A Grandmother by Any Other Name...

Grandma, Nana, Mimi, Mamaw, Gammi, Granny, Gram, Gran.....My personal favorite is Gram, but any would do. Yup, the beans are spilled. We are about to become grandparents for the first time! Sometime in late August or early September. Just like that, the world changes. And that "gift quilt" I have been talking about in earlier posts is, in fact, a gift to that grandchild.

On other fronts, John is feeling much better. The cough still lingers as it does when these illnesses strike. But he is far more functional today than a week ago. We went to breakfast yesterday with some friends and then ran a few errands. This week we received the new dishwasher and it is so much better than its predecessor. We had one small "incident" when regular dish soap was used in place of dishwasher detergent for its first run. But we'll put that behind us and move on for the sake of the marriage. Let's just say that bubble baths hold little appeal for me now.

As I mentioned last time, it is as if this house has some kind of warranty that is at its expiration date as several things have seemed to fail all within a short time. Perhaps it's those damn solar flares. Who knows. The last to go was our hard drive for our satellite TV. After some lovely chats with the "technicians", we received a new hard drive unit only to be stymied by a set up process that insisted we had two remotes and were attempting to program them both to one location. But we don't and we weren't. Several more conversations with the "technicians" and some more of our life minutes used up and now we have a new remote on its way. I believe the technical/expert explanation was "Sometimes they just stop working and who knows why". Really?  We gave up and watched a streaming video that evening and John figured out how to get the old remote to talk to the new receiver the next day. But we still have a new remote due to arrive any day.

John will be going to California again this week and at the end of the week he will fly down to LA to watch daughter Karen run in the LA Marathon. Go Team Grant! He'll return home on Sunday. Life will continue as it does up here in the quiet. Hopefully, I will find the time to work on that quilt. Till later, this is Gram signing off...

March Fly-By...

Weekend! John arrived home on Thursday night with a cold, possibly the flu. He is in the thick of it now so we will miss the Farm Breakfast this month. He's "off the grid" and I am plying him with chicken soup. Fortunately the Central Market keeps a steady supply of chicken soup going among their 8 or so that they have on their soup bar. My vegan kitchen lacked some of the necessary ingredients to create a pot of it on the spot.

I brought a little work home with me yesterday and will probably see to some of it over the weekend. I came home early yesterday to monitor said ill person. Working from home allows me to get quite a lot done in a short time since there are not the usual distractions and interruptions. I have been reading a book titled "Quiet: The Power of the Introvert in a World that Can't Stop Talking" and it certainly validates my preference for periods of solitude, especially when I want to work. Actually, it validates a lot of my persona.

We experienced some snow showers last week. None of it stuck to the ground at home, but some local areas received as much as 7 inches. I'm really done with that winter thing now. Somewhat warmer temperatures and a little sunshine would be nice. I'm ready to put the chairs back on the porch and get some hanging flowers up. John was right about the heat pump. It was low on freon. The "heat pump guy" charged it and replaced some little part while he was here yesterday. He didn't see a leak, but my resident AC expert will bring a leak detector kit home and check it out more thoroughly. At any rate, it's working just fine now.

Today I will do the usual errands and then I will try to get some quilt time in. I was distracted last weekend by a sudden compulsion to work on a jigsaw puzzle. So, it's another weekend. Too short, but welcome all the same. And it's March. Time surely seems to fly...

That's a load of old pooh....

Totally enjoyed the three-day weekend mini-vacation and the short work week. I could do that every week, I'm afraid. I think I'm more productive in both spaces. We unexpectedly got a load of horse manure from our lovely friends, so John's weekend took a different turn. And he has continued to move it around during the week. The plan was to use a trailer that could just dump it out so the fellows wouldn't have to shovel it this time and they could dump it right into one of the garden beds. Unfortunately, the trailer was so big that it couldn't be maneuvered close to the garden and when it "dumped" the darn stuff didn't slide out. So they ended up shoveling. And because the trailer was so big, we ended up with twice the usual bounty. That's a lot of you-know-what! And it's in a big pile on the lawn/meadow/jungle clearing. Not the landscaping feature one would plan.The robins are having a field day with it.

We ordered a new dishwasher yesterday. We have never been pleased with the Maytag that was in the house and missed the functionality of the Miele we left behind in Cali. So, week after next, we will no longer be tolerating unwashed dishes and silverware. Lovely. Funny how time flies and here we are nearly 3 years in this house, finally getting around to this.

On the home-ownership front, this house must have had a short warranty that is expiring quickly. I noted the crumbling gate pillars last week. Now the heat pump is behaving strangely and one of the gutters seems to have "split", and so we (John actually) hear a drip from the bedroom when it rains. And one of the little louvers on the dryer vent outside fell off! A large ladder is needed for a couple of these fixes. John and our friend Bob are talking about going in together and buying a large ladder; infrequently used but necessary. It's all in the details, eh?

So, the man-made stuff is vexing, but Mother Nature has been actively producing and readying for a Spring show. Loads of buds are appearing on the trees and bushes. The crocus are up and look so delightful. Daffodils and tulips are almost ready to bloom and they have multiplied since last year. John found that the garlic and shallots that overwintered in the garden are growing and will be ready to harvest before he plants the spring seeds. We had some hail last evening which is still on the ground this morning as it's 27 degrees. We are slowly moving away from wintry weather, though.

Today is a quilting day. I have a small project I'd like to complete and then I'll turn my attention to color selections for the gift quilt. John is off to Cali this week so the animals and I will carry on as we do. And then it will be March. Lion or lamb, I wonder...

Carpe Diem...

It's a long weekend and just what the doctor ordered. Feels like a mini-vacation. We attended the annual fundraiser for a school in the area last night that focuses on creative arts. They produce a mystery dinner theater and hold a silent and a live auction. We got two other couples to go this year and it was such fun. The theme was disco and it certainly brought back memories of the 70s. Wow, did I just say that? Anyway, I managed to get a couple of the silent auction items I bid on. One is a black and white photograph of dogwood flowers up close.

Today is a quilt show at the fairgrounds and I'll go see what inspires me today. It will be a good pace to be on a rainy Saturday. John has lots of soccer to watch today. Tomorrow promises to be pretty dry, so outside jobs can wait.

Finally the stairs have become too much for our Zoe girl. She had a little difficulty coming down them Monday morning and John ended up carrying her part way. Then Monday night she just couldn't convince herself to climb them at bedtime. So, she has spent the nights downstairs this week and although she would probably like to be nearer her pack, she settles down pretty quickly and has slept well. She is otherwise fairly robust and continues her usual routines.

There is probably more to say, but it is, after all, my mini-vacation and I should move along. Carpe diem and all that...

Up, Up, and Away

John went flying with our friend Bob 2 weekends ago. He caught some nice pictures of places we haven't been. This is top of Mt. St. Helens and you can see the dome that is forming and the steam rising from it. Then they flew as close to Mt. Rainier as they were allowed back over Olympia and the State Capitol Building and on up the Hood Canal to Port Townsend airfield where they stopped for lunch. On the way back, they circled the house. It was a good day. I stayed home to have a massage (already scheduled) and then work on taxes. What can I say....

As you can tell, the weather that weekend was fabulous. We're back to rain, but it's only the light variety. And the temperatures are in the mid-forties. Not bad. Not snow.

The gate is finally in place and working! Actually, it makes a big difference to my every-other-week "home alone" existence. At least I'm assured that no unannounced visitors will visit. Now we discovered that some of the stones on the entry pillars have fallen away and underneath is that same type of disintegrating concrete that was originally used to mount the gate mechanism. Well, right now it's not in a place that can be seen, so we'll play around with some "repairs" and if push comes to shove, the pillars will just have to come down. They look nice, but not essential now that the gate is properly mounted on posts. Home ownership....the hits just keep on coming.

Otherwise, it's been pretty much the usual routine of work-home-work-home-weekend! I'm composing a color palette for a quilt I'm starting. It's in that conceptual stage where perfection is still possible. The tulips and daffodils have poked their green stalks through the dirt, anticipating spring. We might have lost the crocuses to our wet winter this year. Some of the trees have buds already. And the light is starting and staying longer each day. I drive to and from work in daylight if not sunshine. That's a relief. Speaking of driving to work, that should happen pretty soon so watch this space for more to come...

Olympia WA and the state capitol building

 Mount Rainier fly-by

Sunshine visits the Pacific Northwest...

The weather has turned unusually warm. It's early February and it's over 50 degrees. The sun is brilliant and the colors look so clear and intense. Everyone is out and about. There was a line at the car wash yesterday. Cars lined the road next to a walking trail in Silverdale. These Northwesterners don't waste time. When it's nice out, even for one day, they are outdoors. We went to our monthly Farm Breakfast, not so much for the food anymore as to sit and chat with our friends. Good times. Today John will go flying with this same friend, Bob, who is a pilot. He will take many photos of parts undiscovered by us so far. I already had a massage scheduled for this morning, so I'll stay on the ground this time.

John was out of town last week, so the Z-dog and I went about our business as usual. He arrived back on Thursday. The people who are repairing our gate were supposed to complete that task last week but did not. John will pester them this week to finish it. It's been 4 months now, so it needs to be done. Friday we had an unsolicited visitor (compliments of an open gate) trying to sell us frozen meat. I should put a large "V" on our garage door for "Vegan Household".

We just confirmed the plans for our visit to Maui later this year. It's nice to have it on the books and I look forward to the visit. John will be visiting daughter Karen in March to watch her run the LA Marathon. I don't know how much actual watching he can do when they are moving, but he's going to support her as best he can. I will stay home with the hard-headed brown dog. We don't like to leave her any more than we have to in her old age. We will be going for a short visit to Tennessee in the Spring which means she'll have two stays at the kennel this year.

All is quiet on the front with regard to the Mouse Wars, nary a one all week. Perhaps John has become like the Farmer character in Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit books. The mice have been warned to stay away from his vehicle for fear of not returning. They have steered clear of the house all season since I put those high-frequency noise producing thingees everywhere. Roosevelt has had to make do with a limp ball-toy that he regards as his prey.

It must be the weather and an unseasonal urge for spring cleaning, but yesterday we successfully unloaded our old eye glasses for recycling at the local optometrist's office and took a variety of cell phones to Best Buy where they will recycle them for free. We'll tear down some boxes today and John will take them and the old couch cushions (recently replaced) to the local recycling facility this week. Small things, but feels good to get them completed. And on that note, adieu....

Thoughts of an Unhurried Mind (or Meaningless Ramblings of a Loose Associative State)...You Decide

Blink! That's the week. Maybe since John arrived home just in time for the weekend to start last week, the whole week seemed to speed by just in time for him to leave again. Most of the snow has melted except in a few sheltered areas. The lawn/meadow/jungle clearing squishes from all the moisture. We have a clear day on tap for today which will be enjoyed thoroughly.

John took the hardheaded brown dog to the vet on Thursday for what usually ends up being a $300 outing. She had her thyroid level checked after being on medication and we will adjust the dose slightly upwards. Also had to get more of that low-protein kibble that she eats reluctantly. Still, she looks good and has lots of energy for the old gal that she is. We're grateful for that.

The mouse wars continue. After John went mano o'mouso with that wee critter on his engine block last weekend, he set out a number of traps in his engine compartment (3? 4? 5?) and so far the body count is up to three. There doesn't seem to be another solution to the problem. You can bet I'm not riding in his car any time soon as memories of having a mouse in my car as a teenager come swarming back. Still a little PTMD there (Post-Traumatic Mouse Disorder).

I acquired a new sewing machine this week! The one I had is older than my kids who are no longer kids. It has seen a lot of Halloween costumes, curtains, a couch cover, and various clothing over the years, but it wasn't very helpful at quilting. I've grown fond of machine quilting, but you need a machine that has a longer head at least. I have a quilt to make as a gift, so this spurred me out of my sewing machine inert state and the new one arrived this week. Funny thing, this machine doesn't do a zig-zag stitch. I guess I just assumed all machines did that. I rarely use one (which is probably why it isn't on all machines).

On a completely different note, I also bought a WII console and accessories from someone who was selling one at work. Now John and I can do yoga poses or compete in all kinds of activities. Does that thought make you smile? It does me. I also scored two rocking chairs from someone else at work. We'll pick them up tomorrow. You never know when one (or two) will come in handy.

I have been following a vegan diet since January 1st and like it a lot. The resident omnivore is not so inspired but he is going along with it with only a modicum of grumbling (and for those of you who know him, I say that in earnest). Fortunately he is only confronted with these animal-free meals for dinner when he's at home. For my part, I am enjoying finding foods and meals that satisfy the vegan lifestyle. And on that note, the weekend has begun. I need to get some things underway. Let's talk later...

Glad that's over...

Well, the temperature came up above freezing and is melting the snow pretty rapidly. The roads are clear and lots of people are on them which indicates to me that cabin fever beset a lot of us. John arrived safely on Friday night. We were spared any power outages or trees falling. All in all, winter weather came and it went.

Rain is predicted for most of the next week. We had a sunny afternoon yesterday which helped to melt the snow. All that water is running off the roof into the drains and some has found its way into the stream. We have had an influx of birds over the past week who are taking advantage of the fast food in our feeders. Lovely towhees and chickadees and some whose names I don't know. The woodpecker that likes our front porch also paid a visit. John took his car out for a short trip yesterday. He removed the fabric softener sheets from under the hood before leaving (mouse deterrent) and all looked good. Upon return, he opened the hood to replace them and lo and behold there sat a mouse on top of the engine block. John picked the stunned creature up by the tail and tossed him into the snow. Something like a Finnish sauna experience.

Today will bring a little housework (it doesn't do itself you know). We'll watch some playoffs (Go Niners!) and I'll make some chili for our Sunday soup day. I have a new quilt I'm planning out and I'll look at that. And there is a Gaugin exhibit coming to the Seattle Art Museum which we'd like to see. I think a museum membership is in order. The day is underway...

Sledding ???

 Pictures of our snow on Day 5 (Thursday). We accumulated about 8 inches. John was delayed getting home from California as all the runways at Seattle airport were closed due to ice. He is booked on a late flight tonight and I will pick him up about midnight. Fortunately, throughout this storm, we continued to have power so the hard-headed brown dog and I stayed quite snug. I am also fortunate to have a job that I can perform from home so I didn't have to leave the house and attempt the icy roads.No mail delivery and no garbage pick-up gives you some indication of how treacherous the roads were.

When we moved here, it was with the expectation that we would have a little winter weather, but not so much that we would be living in snow for months. It seems that is exactly what we have. This will pass in a few days and we will go back to the temperate rain that is the Pacific Northwest. Not too bad, I say. We might have to buy a sled in anticipation of next time...

First Snow of the Season

La Nina has finally made her presence known. It started snowing yesterday about 2pm and continued for a couple hours; big, fluffy white flakes. The temperature dropped as well so the snow has stayed and we have about 2 inches here covering the trees and bushes as well as the lawn/meadow/jungle clearing. It's lovely powdery stuff; the kind that is excellent for skiing. More is expected throughout the week. John is off to California this morning. We put chains on the tires last evening in preparation for our 5am departure, expecting that with the low temps, ice would be the issue. They stayed on for the journey this morning and then, once we got to the transport drop, we removed them. I'm very glad we did it then as they were not the easiest things to remove and it was better to have two people making rude noises at the things than just me. They will not go back on unless we are nearly buried and absolutely have to use the car. As it was, the major roads were clear and the snow was spotty. So, we have 2 inches at home, but 5 miles away, there isn't any. Still, a larger system is on tap for Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning, so we'll hope to keep power on and manage as best we can. Zoe was a little hesitant when she first went out in it yesterday, but since then she has let her inner Husky out and enjoys the strange white stuff thoroughly. The photo is from the start of the snowfall.

All Quiet....

Brrr...it's cold up here. The temperature outside is 28 degrees right now and expected to reach the dizzying height of 38. There's a heavy frost on the lawn/meadow/jungle clearing this morning and the dog's water and the bird bath are frozen solid. Yesterday we had snow for the first time this season. It didn't stick around except in some sheltered areas, but it is predicted to continue throughout much of next week.

Zoe seems to thrive in this weather and loves to wander around outside for long periods. We have to be diligent about that and watch her closely as the coyotes are in mating season and we are advised that they may view dogs as competition with disastrous results. That was the case with a dog not far from here last week. So, when she walks, we walk.

Some "progress" was made on the gate last week. The workmen were out and demolished the decrepit concrete base that held the gate motor. And that's it. The remnants of that remain there. I expect they are waiting to receive the base that will replace it, but for now, that's as far as we've come. Winter is pretty quiet around here. John has already received some seeds for the garden though, so already we are looking ahead...

Nothin' much...

The first week of the new year has been and gone. John was away most of the week, arriving home on Friday evening. So, somehow the weekend is seeming shorter. We went to our monthly Farm Breakfast yesterday and enjoyed the lively conversation with friends. Then off to do some usual stuff. The weather is holding dry but cloudy just now and the temperatures are pretty mild for this time of year. What happened to La Nina? There will be more "usual stuff" today, but I'll throw a massage into the mix midday.

The animals and I carried on with the week while John was away. It was a pretty standard one: work, walks, and sleep. It seems to work. I have a very busy week at work coming up so it's nice that John is home and I don't have to worry about spending that extra hour as needed versus getting home to let our hard-headed brown dog outside. That's about it for the week. Sometimes it's like that.

Auld Lang Syne

Translation: "Old Long Ago". The last day of 2011 brings reflection of another year gone that was filled with friends and family, meaningful work, and some time spent in other places. The comfort of the familiar mixed with the excitement of the new. Christmas holiday is over but the spirit of it will linger. This soon-to-be new year brings us new beginnings and new opportunities, but not without appreciation of the auld lang syne.

I spent (or will spend) the official "holiday" Mondays at work, not willing to pay for a day off when I will want that time later in this year. Many people do take those days off, so the place is quiet and the traffic is almost non-existent. A win-win. Since we didn't have any visitors visiting, spending the day at home seemed an unnecessary indulgence. John stayed up here for that second week and that has been nice. He returns to California on Tuesday.

Tonight we will celebrate the New Year at our favorite restaurant Four Swallows. We signed on for the 8:30 seating and hopefully I won't fall asleep before dessert is served. Except for an overnight trip on the train from Paris to Florence when we ate at 10:30 and family dinners in Italy which lasted until nearly midnight, my evening meal usually occurs much earlier (as does my bedtime). Then January 1 brings the traditional observance of the Rose Parade. I can't help it. I have been watching the parade since my grandparents got the first color television and we all gathered at their house to watch and eat lunch in the living room (an unheard of privilege in those days). Now I can watch it in hi-def, well before lunch time. Or I can record it and watch it later. But watch it I will.

The rain has returned. Once the calendar said "winter" was officially here, the weather obliged with typical Northwest rain. This morning it is 29 degrees and crunchy again and promises to be a mostly dry day. Tomorrow the rain starts up again. The sunrises have been gorgeous this week, though. The storms move through overnight and by morning the clouds open up just enough to let the sunrise show through and reflect off the formations. Some very pretty sights on my way to work.

I think I'll leave 2011 here. I'll be back next year...

These are a few of my favorite things...

Lovely week. The Solstice arrived and brings the return of the light. Hard to fathom that 6 months from now, sunset will be nearly 6 hours from its present time.

This Christmas has been somehow quieter than those past. John and I are on our own as the children-who-are-now-grownups balance their grown-up lives. That means that this year they are spending their small bit of holiday time elsewhere. We did much the same at their age and stage of life. They are missed but with us in thought nonetheless. So, without any temporary lodgers, we have had a pretty smooth week. This morning we were up at our usual 4:30-ish. Zoe spent lots of time smelling and barking out in the yard (perhaps at transient reindeer?). We enjoyed our coffee while opening gifts. We can now decant wine while slicing and dicing vegetables with a very sharp knife, enjoying homemade jams and pickles,watching squirrels eat from their own fast food station, or just pouring over wedding photos from the summer. I have a hat (from Ireland, no less) to wear on those frosty days and John will have warm hands and feet as he works in the garden. I have some books from my wish list and an audiotape for use with meditation. John can try new camera angles with his handy travel tripod while wearing new, warm track suit/pj bottoms. And we are the proud sponsor of a rescue dog at Best Friends in Utah. Santa was extremely generous to us this year.

The rest of the day will be spent enjoying time and the company of each other. We plan to get the good china out, prepare an extravagant Christmas meal together, and enjoy a nice wine (properly decanted, of course). Maybe we'll finish that jigsaw puzzle that has persisted since Thanksgiving. Maybe I'll finish my current book on my Kindle. Maybe. Merry Christmas to all...

Fa La La La La....

We have successfully avoided all the crowds of shoppers this year. That's a gift to us. Presents are secured and we are enjoying a lovely holiday season. John was away most of last week, so the Z-dog and I carried on with our routine. I'm not too fond of the flashlight-lit walks we take in the dark, but I do appreciate the opportunity to take in the stars and breathe in the cool night air. On Wednesday, we were on our last walkabout of the evening before heading to bed and somewhere out there were Christmas carolers! The woods were singing! That was a treat.

The mice have been at John's car again. We took it to the repair shop and left it for Monday. There must be a way to deal with these tiny vandals, but we haven't found it yet. So far, my acoustic disruptor system has worked for the house and garage. There have not been any "events" since I put them in place.

No progress was made on the gate repair this past week and it looks like that will be the first project completed in 2012. It has simplified package delivery during this season of online shopping though, so I can't complain. We are looking at replacing the dishwasher next. The one that was in the house is allegedly a high-end product but we were spoiled with our Miele in California. This current dishwasher doesn't clean well and has a poor dish-placement design. So, we've put up with it for nearly three years and have decided that enough is enough.

We are enjoying unusually dry weather. I think we have had something like 0.6 inches (or less) of rainfall this month. It was quite cold last week, but the temperature has moderated some as well now. What a difference a year makes. We are actually going to have a Skype call with our friends this morning. Turns out last week I was misinformed. And then I'm off to get a much-needed massage. We're on a path to achieve some health-related goals this next year. Again, enough is enough. And on that note, the day has begun...

You Know the Drill....Read On...

It was nice to have John at home this past week. It always is. Tomorrow morning he will head for California for 4 days and the hard headed brown dog and I will manage on our own. At least it's predicted to be fairly dry for the week so that makes some things a little easier (like taking the 4:30am walk outside).

We didn't get the Christmas tree up last weekend and have now agreed that it won't go up at all this year. What a relief! Don't get me wrong. I love the tree. It's an annual ritual that lets me reflect on the past year(s) as I place the ornaments on the tree. It's like comfort food. But we're on our own for the holiday this year and it doesn't seem necessary somehow. And it takes several hours to get it up and then to take it down. So, there are festive decorations about the house, but no tree. We mailed off the last of the cards and the Christmas parcels yesterday. Hooray! Most of our holiday is spent vicariously with those who are dear but not near to us. 

Progress is being made on repairing the gate. It is now mounted on one of the new posts with impressive hinges (ball bearing, no less). Hopefully, while the weather holds, they will be back this week to assemble the arm and opening mechanism so John can do the electrical wiring next weekend. They have to knock down the current base that is made of crumbling concrete and will replace it with a metal base. However, in the interim, the gate stands open which has allowed packages to be delivered right to our porch and that has been very nice.

We'll be working around the house today, doing some of the mundane things that keeping a house requires. We will talk with friends in England via Skype (what a fantastic invention that is!) and will make one trip out for the necessary pet food and the not-necessary-but-nice coffee. It's Soup Sunday, so I'll put something together to simmer in the crock pot and that will double for my suppers while John is away this week. Now though, I have a date with the treadmill in the garage...

Would you look at the calendar! It's December!

Wow. December. How'd we get here so quickly? We had a good visit with son Jake and girlfriend over Thanksgiving. November is typically the wettest month up here and it all seemed to come down during Thanksgiving week. But we took advantage of the one dry day on Friday to visit Port Townsend and if you have to be out on "Black Friday" that was a good place to be. Otherwise, we stayed close to home and enjoyed the visit. Thanksgiving dinner was a definite winner this year. The menu was largely the usual fare: roast turkey (brined), mashed potatoes from our garden, gravy, candied sweet potatoes that came out perfectly for once, homemade cranberry relish, homemade rolls, dressing made with fennel, prosciutto, pears, and toasted hazelnuts (a new "favorite"), and brussel sprouts sauteed with chestnuts, prosciutto, and shallots. Of course there were pies: pumpkin, pecan, and Banoffi. Something for everyone (with seconds!). Today the Autumn decor will disappear and the Christmas tree will go up.  December is official.

The weather has turned dry for a projected, extended spell. Historically, in our few years of experience up here, December has been the coldest month. It is certainly the darkest. We are dark by 4:30pm and still dark at 7:30am. Once the Solstice comes around this month, the light will start to reappear and I look forward to that. With the cold weather comes more frosty mornings and John took the first tumble on the steps this year. He lived to tell about it, but it was a reminder that slippers do not have the appropriate traction needed in this season. We got some tread strips and will apply those to the steps this weekend.

Work on the new gate mechanism began this week. Some pretty substantial black posts, approximately 4 inch square by 10 feet, have been placed in preparation for mounting the actual gate. They will likely finish the job next week. John will take advantage of this dry weather to make some more progress on the shed's gutters. My wall hanging quilt is complete so I am without a current project. Time to take a look through the accumulated "things I want to do" and see what calls to me. Today we will go to the monthly Farm Breakfast and meet up with friends there for a hardy chat. Then we have some errands to run and household duties to attend. The aforementioned Christmas tree will make its appearance today or tomorrow, and Christmas cards will be readied for mailing. There's a nice rhythm to all of this and a familiarity to it that I enjoy. Guess that's a good thing...