Friday, March 1, 2024

Egg Day

The snow is all melted, and the rain has settled in for at least as long as a 10-day forecast.  There will be a few snow days in there, but hopefully they will be just flurries and not here to stay.

I had Katherine only today after school.  I miss Graysen when she doesn't get to come, but her soccer practice is three or four days a week, so I hardly ever see her any more.  

I decided this afternoon to boil some eggs because I've not been liking eggs too much lately and neglected the 18 I have in the refrigerator.  When I checked the date to use by, I noticed that it was tomorrow.  I know those aren't exact, and you can do the float test, but I figured I was pretty close to having to share some.  I boiled 8 anyway, and I asked Katherine if she liked deviled eggs.  We need an interpreter for our egg conversations.  There are yellow eggs (scrambled) and white eggs (boiled) and round eggs and galaxy eggs (fried), but even the deviled eggs have descriptors.  "The yellow parts are mashed up, but I don't like the green things in them, but I do like the red stuff."  I translated that to paprika and knew I was good to go.  Sometimes one will like deviled eggs plain and the other will like it with pickles, but they hardly ever like the same kinds at the same time.  

Anyway, I was excited because I would get to use up some eggs and get to offer a healthy snack too.  

Katherine asked if she could have the carton to keep her squishies in, and I told her she could if she would transfer the eggs into the plastic bin in the refrigerator - something I obviously didn't think was important enough before.  


I had to hold my breath as she had the carton across the room and carried them two by two to place in the bin.  An 8-year-old doesn't like a ton of instructions from anyone, especially this one.  She did great though and played in the china cabinet while I prepared the eggs.  


Last week she brought home 3 noodles from school - filched probably from art class? - and asked if I would get her some more interesting ones.  Like a good Mimi, I bought a box of colored pasta, and she's just discovered them.  I know my limits, so I didn't ask why she wanted the pasta, but I noticed a lot of arranging in there.  I shouldn't be surprised at what children come up with to entertain themselves, because I was the same way.  It didn't take much.  She was just as thrilled with that box of noodles as she would have been with a new toy.

I worked on the eggs and absolutely was not in the mood for them, so I sent them all home with her. 
 

When I finished them, she popped a couple in her mouth and took the rest home to her sister.  

I wonder if those round yellow centers reminded her of Twister, because as soon as I got the kitchen cleaned and sat down, she came in and put the Twister game in my lap.  She knew I wasn't going to join her all twisted up on the floor, so she let me be the "spinner" while she and an imaginary person played.


I figured it wouldn't take long to get tired of playing with an invisible person, but it didn't seem to matter.  I had to spin and call out her position and then the partner's position.  Over and over and over.  Such fun.  You'd think she had a crowd playing with her.


I'm just not taking many pictures lately, especially since I've not been outside any more than I have to.  Also the girls don't really want me recording the things they say and do as much as they used to, so I have to be sneaky.  

To is Friday early release, and I'll have four of them walking here.  It's still a little wet and cold to play outside, and I don't want to be responsible for other children crossing the street, so they'll probably play in the house.  I have a couple of new card games and plenty of art supplies available.  You never know what kind of moods they're going to be in, so we'll see.  







Saturday, February 24, 2024

Progress

 I've written a few more posts than I thought I would this year, although having no incentive to do anything and less incentive to write about that lack thereof.

I'll add some pictures I had forgotten and see how that goes.


The amaryllis finally bloomed, and it was beautiful for days.  It was almost white with just a little outline of pink or purple.  Now comes the decision on whether to plant it outside or leave it in a pot outside - or what.  

Emily's finally came in about a week after mine.  


I wish we knew how and when to plant them to enjoy them again next year.  I think mine did bloom twice last year in the same pot.  I'll have to go back and check.

Pictures from school.  Making their Valentine boxes.




And opening them after school.








Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Making Our Way Through February

 It hasn't been a fantastic month weather-wise, but it hasn't snowed either, so I'll take that as a positive.  I had a wellness visit with my doctor yesterday here in town, and that went pretty well.  No new ideas about how to get me some energy, but we have "plans" for a few things to maybe help.  I got a pneumonia shot, my blood pressure was high - but it usually is - and we made a few minor changes in my medications.  I have to go back in a month after labs, but I'm not expecting too much.  Nothing really hurts, and I don't feel bad.  I just need about 10 hours of sleep at night and sometimes a nap.  I feel like I'm wasting what little life I have left, but I did some positive organizing in the sewing room, and now I feel like I will finish up a few projects in there.  All the pins, ribbons, art supplies for the girls, thread, and most of the buttons are organized.  Fabric is fairly neat, and knitting and crocheting needles and yarn are corralled in baskets.  I cleaned all the surfaces and washed the window and window sill, so it's pleasant to come and go in there.  I can't make the decision to let the embroidery machine go, but I don't know if I'll ever remember how to use the program on my old computer and organize my files.  

This week is Winter Break, and Emily and Ryan had planned to go see Dune last night while I had a sleepover, but she started having back spasms Saturday and postponed any type of movie-going.  My offer still stands to have some company, but I'll need to know ahead of time so I can take a nap before they get here.

I'll scroll through my pictures and see what I've been interested in these past few weeks.  I took a picture of the first piece of furniture we bought to show a friend - a $35 desk from a thrift store in Summerville, GA.


We were only 21, so I think we did a pretty good job of redoing it and choosing something we would love through the years.  It's a little wobbly, but after 55 years, if I haven't tightened the legs yet, it's not going to get done unless someone inherits it who will do it.  I think I now remember that Ryan did that for me when we first moved here, but it seems to need it again.  

The sampler above it was done so many years ago that I don't remember.  Back when samplers were in style.  I loved this pattern and enjoyed making it more than anything I've ever done.  We had friends in town who had opened a framing shop - the Varners - and they did an excellent job on everything they ever did for me, this one in particular.


I'll try to take a better picture tomorrow when the light is better.  Graysen showed an interest in the sampler one day, and I loved telling her about young girls in the past learning their ABCs and numbers by embroidering them over and over and showing off their skills and artistry.  Grandmothers love a teaching moment, but she looked at it a minute and said, "Why do you have it?"  I said, "I embroidered it myself, all those thousands of little stitches, just to hang over this desk."  Far from being impressed, she said, "Why?"  Children know how to take the wind out of your sails.  

I've had this up all day waiting for something interesting to happen to write about.  Actually, I just forgot to post, but at least it's a few words.  I haven't seen the girls this Winter Break and miss them, but I know they're having fun being at home and resting up from the last few weeks of being so busy.  Soccer and basketball still goes on in spite of the week off too.  I'll go listen to my audio book until I get sleepy and see if I can get back on a better sleep schedule.  Unfortunately, I slept a few hours this afternoon, but I do enjoy afternoon naps.  I'll soon have the sewing room cleaned up enough for a few pictures.  My heart isn't in sewing right now, but I do have some things I want and need to do in there.

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Birthdays

 I feel like I've done a few posts on Facebook - lots more than usual - about birthdays and don't really want to do it again.  But I will, because Facebook might be a thing of the past one day - and so might this blog.  Who knows.  

I can count on three birthdays the first 6 weeks of the new year, and this year we celebrated one more.  The girls' friend upstairs turned 10 while everyone was shut down for a few days over the snow, ice, and wind, so we just gave her good wishes in passing.  Her grandparents from Florida also spent the week with them, so we didn't see her except in passing.  That would not do for Graysen and Katherine though.  They wanted a REAL party and wanted to plan and do it themselves.  They're amazingly good at planning and carrying things through.  Sometimes the preparation and decorating are more fun than the actual event.  

I was in charge of food, and I knew it would be simple.  I'm glad of that decision, because the grapes and popcorn I put on the table were completely ignored, although the Lemon Loaf was devoured.  It wasn't what you would think of for a 10-year-old's party, but they all love Starbucks, and I found a copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf I wanted to try.  It turned out pretty well.


Without the lemony glaze, there wasn't much to it.  I didn't have any lemon zest and don't think it would have made much difference.  The combination was just right - to me.  Mary, Noreen, and I had a piece on our Scrabble morning, and I think we all thought it was pretty good.  I was going to post the recipe, but I can't remember the one I used.  It seems to be a fad right now, and I'd like to try a few more versions - and there are many.  

Before I iced it, I had it on the counter and mentioned to Graysen that that was the birthday cake.  She looked at it for a few seconds and then politely said, "I don't really like cornbread."  Poor baby.  Once that sugary lemon glaze covered it, she dug in and didn't leave a bite.

As soon as the girls got here, they got to work.  Kate wanted to make a Pin-the-Tail-on-the Cat game.  I think one of the overpriced kits Emily had bought for Graysen's party last year had one, and they loved it, although I would have thought that particular game was long out of style.

Kate asked if I had a big piece of white paper, and when I gave her a piece of white foam board, you'd have thought it was the best thing EVER.  I love all that excitement.  She got busy and drew a cat.


I offered her black markers and black construction paper to make it show up better, but she reminded me that the players had on blindfolds, so it didn't matter.  Makes sense.  She spent more time fighting with the double-stick tape to hang it with than the actual drawing.  

It was a hit though.  I can't imagine a game they would have enjoyed more.  I gave them a sleep mask that was perfect - except if you look at the ceiling, you "might" could see the cat.  It didn't matter, they spun each other around and shrieked and make some strange pins.





















The "prizes" were well received.  They had cats on them, and then they had more screaming and tumbling around to do.  I loved every minute of it.  It makes me to happy to see them thrilled over simple things.





Such a fun day.

Emily had a birthday on the 31st and Alan had one on February 4th. I'm not sure they had quite as much fun as these girls did, and I don't have any pictures, but I'll work on a mention later when I have more time.  They deserve their own posts!  I just need more time.

I have so many problems with videos.  Just when I think I've figured it out, something else comes up to frustrate me.  On this last one, I was able to watch it, but at the end there were "suggestions" of disturbing videos to watch.  I've tried over and over through the past couple of years to end a video without this stuff, but I've failed.  Right now, it just shows a frozen one, which may be best after all.

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

There Goes January

 I shouldn't rush time since it seems to be getting away from me, but all the winter months can just fly by.  After the snow and ice, it's been just - gray - rain and more rain and cold too.  






I love having the option of staying home and not getting out into it.  I ended up ordering groceries from Amazon Fresh again, and I'm really liking that.  It's good for when I need heavy things like drinks and cat food and cleaning things.  I don't need an excuse though. I just like knowing what time they will be here and stepping onto the front porch and bringing them in.  Since the girls have done such a good job cleaning my pantries and refrigerator, it was nice to put them in without crowding 

I'm up early today, but I'm not going to spend all my good hours on writing here.  I have my list, and I'm sticking to it.  I did forget to bring in the garbage and recycling cans yesterday since I didn't go around back.  The wind is awful, and I hope it's not another chase to get them back home.  Monday first thing I noticed people on the community groups all excited about 62 degrees and sunny.  I already had on a long-sleeved shirt by then and was glad I did.  I never saw any sun, and while it was warmer, it still was not warm enough.  I had a dentist appointment at 12:00, and he was downright glum about no sun.  I found myself searching through the trees for some and thought it was lighting up in one place, but it was just snow on Mount Si.  

I still was glad to be out and had several errands, but I did not enjoy my visit to the dentist.  Lately he has done the cleaning, and since he likes to chat a little - and listen - it's slow and not particularly uncomfortable.  There was a new hygienist Monday though, and while she's just as nice and sweet as can be, she took a personal dislike to my teeth.  No small talk from her.  She was whipping around those sharp instruments and suctioning and jabbing, and I actually got tense.  I had to make myself relax my arms.  And she was typing away on her computer as she did a section of my mouth.  I actually got a little worried. 

 I guess lots of people enjoy being a dental hygienist, but it can't be the most fun job ever, and I know she is doing exactly what she's learned to do and has been instructed by the dentist to do.  I think I had rather just skip any visits at all, but I do feel better mentally when I leave.  Physically, though, I felt drained and just wanted to go home.  So no errands for me that day.  My mouth didn't feel like eating so I had something to drink and took a nap!  It doesn't take much for that to happen.  I could tell the way the cats looked at me when I got home that they knew to go grab their best spots.

I had a good Sunday visit with Mary and Noreen, and we played Scrabble.  Noreen has a super-duper set with a turntable - carousel? -  so we don't have to reach so far or read upside down, so that was fun.  Mary has a normal game, and I don't even have one at all, so I have to hope they don't get mad with me.  I can't imagine that though.  I do enjoy having friends to relax with and who share lots of the same feelings and interests.  I'm waiting for word on whether or not I'll be playing bridge this afternoon.  I want to, but I'm still a little hesitant about playing with experienced players.

Today is Emily's birthday, and I'm not sure how we/they will celebrate.  The middle of the week is so full.  I have her gifts though, and they're coming over to help me Saturday with heavy things and high things, so we may wait until then.  

I found this picture of her the other day, and I threatened to post it on Facebook.  I don't think she cared.  She knows she was cute.  Looks like it was Christmas at Grandmama and Grandaddy Ray's house. 


Kathy found one of her drinking coffee with Grandaddy Windham - but I don't think it's coffee.  From the look on Roy's face, it wasn't very good coffee.  I bet it was spicy Russian tea.  It's the companionship that matters.


That's enough for today.  This computer is determined to outsmart me and give me 20 options when I just want 2.  Obviously, I'm making bad choices already.  

I'm going to do the pictures of Carly's birthday celebration last Friday and Katherine's yellow belt results.  I'm sure there are other things, but I just have to get going on cleaning and catching up on everything.  Then Graysen's birthday will be here in two weeks.  And Alan's next week, but we don't spend much time decorating and celebrating for his - although we would if he would allow it.

I keep looking at my clock to make sure it's a.m. and not p.m. since it's so dark still.  

Yes, I did pay for my negligence yesterday.  I knew when I saw they weren't behind the car that I was going to be cold very soon.  Little stinging, cold raindrops in my face and numb feet.  


The amaryllis is not going to make it in January, but I think it's the biggest one of the whole group Emily gifted.  Looks to be pale pink.


I have the morning free even if I do go to bridge at 1:00.  I like free mornings and days.  I sent back 3 audio books last week and picked up a paper one Monday - Kids Run the Show.  It's about using children on social media, but I've just read a couple of pages.  I do have some good ones coming, and got a few knitting and origami books at the library. I need to be reading my Basic Bridge book.

 I think I'm going to subscribe to the Sunday Seattle Times.  I miss that, and I need a gift.  And practice. And more to crowd my brain.  I missed the Wordle word today.  I won't say the answer in case someone hasn't done it, but I had the 2nd and 5th letters all along, and nothing I plugged in fit.  


Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Keeping Up With the Weather

 Luckily, I don't have to leave the apartment too often, but it's back to school for the girls and back to work for Emily after a long weekend with a snow day at one end and a holiday at the other.  Just glancing at the weather news, I saw the words "unseasonably warm spell for Western Washington" yesterday, but today when I looked at the week's forecast, I saw very few hours this week above the mid-30s and lots of snow and ice on Wednesday and Thursday.

I told Elise I would go with her to have her battery checked, so I guess we'd better do that today and make sure she has enough food for her and her cat.  I have plenty for myself and my cats.

It would be a great week to have a good book or two to listen to, but I've sent back the last three I've started.  The only one I read was Secret History by Donna Tartt.  I didn't like it at first and almost returned it, but then I remembered another book she had written, The Goldfinch, and all the good reviews this one got, so I held on and finished it.  Not great, and I kept dozing off and having to rewind and not being able to remember what had happened last, so I probably ended up taking twice the time to read it as I should have.  


It was hard to identify with a bunch of guys - and one girl - whose favorite pastimes were studying Greek and immersing themselves in the language plus working their way through their parents' money and getting drunk, but I persevered, and found a pretty good story there.  The Vermont in the winter setting made it realistic for this particular week, so I spent some time curled up in front of the fire covered in cats trying to improve my mind.  Not really.  I think it's too late for that.  I just wanted to enjoy a good book.

I started The Country of the Blind, a memoir by Andrew Leland yesterday and realized I wasn't in the right frame of mind to learn more about what is involved in losing one of your 5 senses.  But I had some extra time later and so started it.  Lots of good reviews and the word "humor" attracted me and made me realize it might not be totally depressing but more interesting and informative, and I did start it.  Who knows what we'll be called on to face as we go through life, and I like knowing all I can about things - just in case.  So far, I've liked what I've read.

No plans today except to go with Elise if I need to and to read the next chapter in my learning-to-play-bridge book and learning a little more about bidding.  I think I'm going to have to actually play some games to understand a lot of the book - rather than play the robots on line.  Those robots are big risk takers, and sometimes I find myself having to play for 6 spades when I myself would have stopped at 2.  

I want to also practice knitting left-handed in case Graysen and Carly show an interest in learning the old-fashioned way.  I can knit right-handed in my sleep, but put the needles in the opposite hands, and I get way too frustrated.  The girls might be just as willing to learn right-handed.  It would make things a little easier for all of us, but I don't want to turn them off before they find out if they're going to like it. My right-hander, Katherine, so far hasn't shown much interest in yarn crafts.  

Layla just likes it that I'm up and keeping her company in the middle of the night.  Sometimes her little raspy purr drives me crazy, and sometimes it's nice to hear.  Bowie got too warm by the fire, I think, and went off toward the bedroom to find just the right spot to make me have to move him when I go back to bed.  


 
 That LEAVE ME ALONE look.




Monday, January 15, 2024

January Has Arrived and Settled In

 No matter what kind of start I have for the new year - ANY new year - something in January comes along to interrupt my excitement over a new start.  It's usually weather related.  

I never got really organized after Christmas, but I did get the garage cleaned out enough to get the car in - if I get help moving a couple of things to a different corner.  I tend to think I have to wait until someone taller or stronger comes along, and that's the smart way, but then I never do catch them at the right time, or the taller and stronger ones are in the middle of their own projects.  

It's an extremely ugly little room with no insulation but some protection from the elements.  Looks like it needs sweeping again already.  I need to get rid of the desk and foyer table, and the car will just fit.


Ryan built these shelves and put them in my other apartment's garage and just pulled them out and repositioned them here.  


The hot water heater is behind the white cabinet along with extra bins.  I'm so relieved to have pared down my belongings to things I really need or want others to have.


I'm willing to gift the freezer to anyone who wants it, but I haven't advertised it yet.  It's pretty old, and I would feel bad if someone lost some valuable food because of it.  I very rarely open it more than 4 or 5 times a year, so it might have some good years ahead.


When a friend moved away a few years ago, she gave me these sturdy shelves, which I put right outside the laundry room door.  They're so convenient to use as an overflow pantry, shopping bag and mailing things storage, toys, and the few summer things I find I need during that month of warm weather.  A recycling can is to the left of that door, and it's nice in cold weather to just open the door and toss boxes and papers out there until trash day.


This table is usually hanging from hooks, but it's too nice a staging area for groceries and a craft table too hang up for long.  There are toys underneath and bikes and scooters hanging above everything.  


After I had cleaned up and put up all the Christmas decorations, I realized that the top shelf of the hutch still had Christmas plates up there, and I couldn't do a thing about it.  No climbing on chairs or stools for me.  No over-reaching and accidentally dropping one on the glass shelf and breaking it.  At the first of the week when Noreen was here and we were drinking tea/coffee/wassail and eating the peanut butter and oatmeal balls she brought and having a nice catch-up visit, I decided to take advantage of her being a lot taller than I am and asking her to take down the top shelf things.  She was glad to, of course, and that was the final transformation.  I haven't quite gotten the things into the bins in the garage or decided what I'm going to replace them with, but a tall friend is nice to have.


One of my favorite toys I got for Christmas was this:


 It looks like a miniature concrete mixer/igloo, but it's a super-duper fancy cat litter box - one that sifts through the litter every time they use it and makes a neat deposit in a smaller pan lined with a plastic bag underneath.  Not only do I avoid that terrible left knee pain caused by bending down and making a lot of scoops, but it doesn't smell and the cats have to love stepping into a clean box every time.  When I see what they had to wade around in if I just left it for one day makes me sad for them and for all cats.  My cats have enough perks in life for them not to be objects of pity though.  They are free to snuggle in front of the fire or on the bed all day long and sleep just as much as they want to. They have 3 different outdoor scenes they can keep an eye on without even getting cold.  They sometimes don't even have to ask for their food; it just appears in little bowls as soon as we wake up.  The worst they have to do is meow obnoxiously for the afternoons pellets - not from hunger but from the excitement of hearing the tinkle of the food into the metal bowls and knowing they're superior to the human.  

The young people in my life are very generous to me, even though I don't deserve it.  They seem to know what I need before I know it myself.  For the joy of having beautiful and delightful children visit me several times a week, I get catered to and clearly appreciated.  I hope they know how much I appreciate them too.  I do my best not to have to ask for anything, so they make their own decisions about what I need and bring me servings from the restaurants they visit and offers of picking up groceries or driving me places I'm not comfortable driving. Most importantly, they allow all these little girls to chatter and play and dance at my house and allow me to eavesdrop on their extremely funny conversations.  

Anyway, we worried that my cats wouldn't take an instant liking to their new contraption, but they absolutely did.  When they jump out, they stand just outside the door and wait for the littler mixer to start turning, which is enjoyed a lot.  They probably only miss the ability to linger in the box, scratching and digging and causing me to have to vacuum every day.  I'm going to work on the app that allows you to monitor when the box needs emptying and to talk to the cats when you're not there.

It's a good time of year to have wassail and coffee from my new little stovetop coffee pot.  



The wind has howled for too long, and the snow has piled up, but it's not over yet.  I think in a couple of days we'll have some warmer weather. but it will still be January and many months to go before spring.