a snowy day

What a week.  I joined the 9 to 5'ers for the week but my day started at 7 a.m. and quit by 8, 9 or 10 depending on what was happening in the evenings.  This morning I stayed in bed and slept till neat 10.  Once in awhile it is good for the body and soul.  We were out playing euchre last night so it was after 11 when we got home and near 12 when we made it to bed.  All was clear then but at 7 this a.m. it was snowing so hard I couldn't see up the street.  When Don picked up the paper from the porch after 7 it was lying on the bare boards so hadn't started too soon before.  It is now near noon and we are in for a day of it.  It will cover the spring bulbs and bushes and help the water table, if it needs any help. 

 

On Tuesday we had about 8 to 10 inches of snow, you centimeter people can figure that out, inches I know what is happening , centimeters I wonder. 

 

I want to thank you, Don, not my significant other, but a Don who lives in the County who read my blog and answered my question about the word "blog". Thanks Don and for your encouraging words. Also about "podcasts".  Daughter, Sandy, sent us a CD and it has music, and a story teller Janet telling about things related to the County and instructions on how to instal it.  We have listened to it and it is so great.  My the things out there that the younger generation are tuned to  and we olders are hearing about. Keeps one busy keeping up with the times, which many of us never will. Speaking of instructions my Don ordered a digital camera. No we didn;t own such a thing just an oldie that sat most times in a drawer which we forgot to take with us when we went any place.  At Christmas time our one granddaughter had one given to her so they soon had it working and even printed a picture on the printer.  Don was so impressed that all of a sudden we needed one.  He is not one to order on line, in fact this was his first attempt and with instructions from  daughter #1 he ordered.  It was suppossed to be here between the 2nd and the 17th.  Quite a gap. Anyway the 17th came and went  so he called and he was told that they were backed ordered and would be here in 2 weeks.  Two days later as we were going out the door a delivery person came to the door with a large parcel.  As we were on our way to a funeral we had no time to open it.  After the morning funeral we were invited out for lunch at one of our upscale restaurants.  A group of women at a luncheon can make a lots of noise chit chatting but they come in second in that department when at this luncheon a group of about 20 men were there for lunch also.  What a clatter as all were talking at once.  How anyone could tell what the one next to him was saying is a mystery.  Maybe that is the reason all talked at once so the next man wouldn't  have to respond to something he didn't care about. They were there when we got there and 2 hours later were still there.  We figured when the food came all talking might cease or at least calm down. There seemed to be no difference.  Anyway when we left they were at the coffee stage so lots of time to resume  full volume their ideas on whatever that was.   When we came home we tackled the box. Now the box was 11in by 11in by 8in, now that is inches, not centimeters    and inside was a 2 and a half inch by 3 and a half  by 1inch camera but there were lots of other things as well. Lots of box tho. Cords, batteries, a printer, printer paper other things that I didn't ask about.   It is now 3 days later and all is still sitting on the table and some of the parts not unwrapped as yet.  Don has read the book which was on the top that said "Read me first".  Now there is an indication that this is not going to be as simple as one is led to believe.  We were going to spend part of this morning reading the book again but it is now past noon and we haven't even picked up the book as yet.  The CD has to be installed and that is enough to delay any further reading forr a bit.He has acquired another new gadget.  A paper shredder.  We had  bought one years ago ,the cheapest they had .  Will we never learn? Cheaper is not always better. This time the higher priced ones were on sale, the store never loses, so he went for it.   What a difference.   Now he is busy cleaning out the desk drawers and the shredder is happily chewing up the papers that have accumulated for years.  As Don once said ' If you keep everything for 25 years there will be a use for it.'  Methinks the 25 years have passed.  This one sits under the desk , plugged in so when a piece of paper gets anywhere near  it,  it merrily gobbles it up . What an great idea ! What will they think of next!!

 

We have been watching the Olympics.  What a spectacular opening ceremonies.  The closing may be as well.  What an act Vancouver has to follow in 2010.  The millions spent on window dressing or whatever you want to call it.  One wonders  if these cities ever get out of the debt they must end up with.  Having enough money to live on every day as we think we have ,shoundn't give us as big a head ache as they will have when their  bills come in.

 

Laundy is done , lunch is over and now time for a rest before we might tackle the camera puzzle.

snow, wind, sun and cloud,

On a windy sunday with morning sun and afternoon snow flurries and a wicked wind we haven't ventured too far outside.   We did drive  to church this morning and will drive to the Legion for dinner but the bycicle is the only place to get some exercise today. It is in the bedroom and facing the TV so it is easy to sit there and peddle and watch the Olympics.  There has been hockey on this aft.    Yesterday the wind was much stronger than today but brilliant sunshine all day. The two windows in our den face the afternoon sun and so warm lying on the lounge in the sun, doesn't beat the sunny south but a good place when the cup of tea comes.

 

Today we celebrated Lord and Lady Baden-Powell day.  We had sparks, brownies, scouts . guides and beavers celebrating with us this morning. What a wonderful organization for children.  Now it is seniors day, church meetings as well as lodge meetings.  Some of the stuff gets a bit too serious but the kids have a more relaxed and fun programmes but they too will be olders someday and into more serious things.  May they enjoy and appreciate their youth.

 

Have a good afternoon and evening all.

snow, 10F and chilly out there

Millie, you are my inspiration. At Christmas time , daughter, Sandy, told me what a blog was. She said she'd send me a website to check out and Millie it was yours. I thought if at 80 you can blog, at 82 surely I could do it. I needed a lot of instructions but Sandy got me through those and because of you, Millie, I am blogging. Thank you. I think it is a neat thing to do.

This is sunday and tonight we are off to the Legion for dinner, we do this every sunday night so no dishes to do and no decisions to make. It is served buffet style so there are seconds but we don't take advantage of that as we are not near as active as once and the weight could pile on.

As the Olympics started on friday we watched the opening ceremonies and they were wonderful. Don is busy watching those this afternoon.

Last night saturday we went to a concert to raise funds for Pathways for indepent Living. 8 different performing groups donated their time and talent to this event and it was a great evening. I have a cousin who has 3 boys, 15, 14, and 10 who play the violin and she plays the piano for them. They are talented and were on the programme so had toes tapping during their stint. There was a packed house. The organization did well and many people will be helped. There has been and is a lot of musical talent in my family as well as my mother's but when musical talent was being passed around I was missed, too bad as I love music.

Here it is tuesday a rather busy one. I went swimming this morning. We had about 3 inches of snow last night but it was the soft fluffy kind. I swept our sidewalk out to the car last night so there wasn't much to do this morning before I left. Went to the Bible class at 9.30, came home and got into my Red Hat finery and to a luncheon at a restaurant. A friend talked her husband into going and Don went also. About 20+ women and those 2 men. At least I didn't have to get his lunch here. As it is Valentines Day that was the theme at the restaurant. We had a good lunch, and some contest and prizes. Everyone was to take a gift of about $5.00 in value. Some of the ladies were going to a nursing home after and sing for the residents. Me, I was too tired as I had had a busy day yesterday. The men enjoyed the luncheon and we women paid for them. Now how much betteer could they get it than that? Spent the afternoon yesterday at a lodge meeting and more food of course. I'm trying to get rid of 5 pounds so may have to move to the country and away from things, to do that. Tonight we are going to a fancy restaurant for a Valentine dinner, compliments of daughter #1. We don't need any more material things and have suggested that the kids give us gift certificates to a restaurant. Betty did just that for a Christmas present. We will enjoy.Thank you Betty. I won't even mention about tomorrow as it is a fuller day. Don't want to be idle as that is the devils workshop, and the devils name is Alzheimers. deliver me from that .

It is above freezing today so is a dab slushy out but the snow is so glaring that one almost needs sunglasses on.

Time for a rest.

What a blustery Feb 17th we had this morning. When I went to the pool at 7 the weather was gloomy, but we should be used to that by now, but at 8.30 there were a few snowflurries. The snow and rain and ice came for about an hour and left a crusty mess and the temperature dropped . Anyway we are in for the day. Yesterday was very tiring. Early to the pool then to Belleville to see the Dr about my knee then back to go to the soup and sandwich luncheon at the church then to a bridge affair at 1 and home by 4. I didn't dare go upstairs and lie down or there would have been no supper , Had to get that on as Don had a lodge meeting. When he left after 7 I found the bed and there I stayed.

Am reading a very interesting book about the early missionsries, 1864 to 2002. What those women went through. But then dedicated women seem to be programmed go through deep waters anyway. To China, Japan. Formosa and places like that. They also did work in northern Manitoba, and Saskatewan getting schools, churches built as well as educating the men women and children. They devoted their days and nights and long working years to try and make it better for the people and under very trying times I am amazed, while propped up in bed with the hot water bottle under my knees, by their strength and stamina. I think I have had it too soft. My kids tell me that I am spoiled. I have worked hard to win that title. Am also trying to finish the last one of the Harry Potter books that granddaughter Tamara loaned me. I have reading material by my chair in the living room, another by the bed and another by the chesterfield in the den. Just have to make sure I read some from each, each day so my forgetter doesn't forget what the story was about. I had my 50,000 mile check up at the Dr this morning and she figures I'm in good enough shape to make it to the 90 I'm aiming for. Don't know what I'll do after that.

Tomorrow and the weekend look unbusy as of now. May try and get a 6 handed game of euchre in one of the nights. The laundry is done so rest time again, lovely!!

this was clinic day

Once a month Don and I volunteer at our local hospital in the dialysis clinic from 8.30 am to 10 a.m.  t present we have 10 patients  and that is all the chairs  we have    Our small hospital is struggling to keep going.   We were fine until some knot heads decided we needed to amalgamte, along with 2 other smaller hospitals, with a bigger hospital on the mainland.  Apparently we didn't have anything to say about it and things have gone downhill since.  About 4 years ago a new part of our hospital was made for dialysis patients and we have 10 chairs.  The clinic is open 3 days a week and there are 2 shifts.  Can't believe that so many people need this service.  Once the amalgamation team got us , and we were in the black, they soon fixed that and away went our money and slowly they have taken our services away.  Foprtunately we have a very active Hospital Auxiliary and all money they raise goes into the foundation and the Quinte Health group can't touch that.  We have had 2 very heated meetings and the last one was last fall.  The Community Centre was open for anyone plus the mayor, the CEO of the Quinte Health services plus administrators from the other 2 hospitals with standing room only, 3 deep along the walls plus many on the floor and many who couoldn't get in so went home.  Our hospital is a very important place in this community so all are passionately interested.   The mayor was the first to speak and with a look of utter surprise on his face he said " I can;t believe this crowd.   Everyone booed him.  What was he thinking!!   In Toronto, a big hospital in that large city lost its Womens College Hospital to amalgamation but fought it and 2 or 3 years later was deamalgated so we had that to argue our cause.  Our member of provinical province assured us that there would be a meeting with the minister of health from the federal government  but so far I think that got conveniently sweept under the table.  They took most of the lab work plus cut out beds and all the time the CEO of all this gave himself a raise in pay so there went another nurse.  What some people won't do to get power and money.   Too heck with sick people. 

 

It was a chilly one this morning.  -4 F  or about -20 for those who think in Celsuis. No wind so felt real good out there.

Tonight we are going to a birthday party.  There are 3 couples and we get together for cards about once a week.  One of the 6 had a birthday yesterday and today we go to the other coupls place for dinner first.  After a small glass of sherry and a visit we sit down for dinner.  The birthday boy had a stroke in July and has recovered very well.  He will be 76 I think.   A hot game of 6 handed euchre should take us to about 10 or so and then time to get back home.  Always a good time tho.

 

Am still waiting for the borner slicer I ordered to come but methinks that will take some explanation on someones part.  I sure don't need the plastic storage thing they sent. 

 

Was talking to my Granddaughter a night ago and as she has been at her job , as well as a few others, they were planning a pot luck at work.   They work all night shift  from 10 p.m. to 6.30 a.m.   She was making a cheese cake plus a carrot cake.  They probably had food runnng out their ears.  Apparently the food is put out on a table and as each one has a break they go for it.

 

Am after Don to put in a piece about some of his experiences in the navy during war time.  He thinks no one would be interested but I think so.  We will see.

 

Lunch time and time to sample the latest batch of soup I have made.  No 2 soups are ever the same, just what ever is in the refrig and either needs to be garbaged or made into soup. 

Feb 8

    We are having a sunny day as we did yesterday and about time.  January was a warmer and no snow and no sun month but February is much colder with some snow here  but some sun.  No wonder people feel a bit depressed.

 

A week ago I sent for a borner salad chopper and slicer .It cost $25 and  was coming from England.  Imagine my surprise and dissappointment when a box arrived yesterday and in it was a plastic holding stand to keep the slicer in except there was no slicer.  Just have to wait till Betty,daughter, gets home to have her help me to get this thing sent back and to get what I ordered. It was over the internet and I think from E-Bay,  my first and possibly my last attempt at that kind of buying. What I have been using since my old one broke, Don has mentioned that this substitue doesn't do as good a job.  Maybe there will be another box with the proper slicer .  Who knows. There is no such thing as things working out perfectly.

 

Went swimming this morning early so am hyped up for the day.  Am playing bridge this afternoon. Tonight may find me in bed earlier than usual.  I went to bed at 7.45 last night as I wanted to see the movie "Colour Purple".  Don was watching the downstairs TV and it is rather nice watching TV from the bed  especially with the hot water bottle under the knees.

 

I went to Bible class yesterday and 23 women were present.  We are studying Acts, have a wonderful leader and a good study book.  Our leader and her husband spent 11years in Nigeria as missionaries.  She has 2 children who were born there.  I am reading a book "Certain women amazed us" and is about missionaires going to foreign lands as well out west.  It relates stories from 1864 to 2002 taken from files that were kept by the church they served.  What a life they led and some would say what a life they gave up to minister and teach others in the name of our Lord  and many were persecuted.

 

Have to get something ready for dinner tonight and have rather lost interest in getting meals. If I was alone I might be a tea and toaster and that isn' the answer, so maybe it is a good thing I have someone to cook for.  First thing I should do is get me an up to date cook book and get some new ideas.  We go out mostly every Sunday night for dinner.  This Friday we are going to a friends to celebrate a birthday and I am taking a salad.  That I can and don't minfd doing. Time to hit the kitchen.

Feb 4

Well here goes for my first blogger try. I live in a small town, Picton, Ontario, about 4000 people, for the winter and 10 miles along the bay in the summer to a great summer place. We could use it year round but it is down a steep hill and with winter snow and ice we can't get in too easily. We used to snowshoe in the winter but now that we are past 80 we were told that if we went by snowshoe again the snowshoes would get wrapped around our necks!!! It is a lovely place in the summer and we have neighbours near by.

My husband and I will have been married for 58 years this coming July. I love watching people's reaction when we ask "how did you 2 meet. I say we met in bed. An explanation has to follow. I was a nurse at the local hospital and one morning when I went on duty a very frightened looking young fellow had been admitted during the night. He has saucer like eyes that said ; Get me out of here. He was my patient for the next 3 months. I wasn't that impressed but he had a lovely mother who visited every day and I took a shine to her. After Don went home I was invited for dinner. He came to get me and as there was a lot of snow he had put chains on the car tires and when he came back he unhooked the chains and left them lying there and forgot to pick them up. Apparently he was smitten. 2 years later we were married. We have 4 great kids and the youngest, Sandy, our computer expert has set me up on this and I'm sure it will another great adventure. I swim 5 mornings a week, play bridge, 6 of us play 6 handed euchre once a week, am a Red Hatter, a reader and various household tasks that seem to have to be done. I belong to the Rebekah Lodge and we were busy with that but with no new and younger members we have had to amalgamate with another lodge about an hours drive from here.

Don was in the Navy during the war. We visited the beaches at Normandy on the in June 2004 as he was on landing craft there. During the war we knew a war was on but I too busy at the hospital to even think of what war was like. I had a great history lesson on our trip there tho. In The end of October 2004 we went on a pilgramage to Italy and Sicaly to celebrate 61 years since that conflict. Don was on a landing craft in that area as well. Wanting power and getting it anyway possible is so distructible and what do you get in the end.

We have travelled for several years and had a great time along with my sister and her husband. On every trip we had some funny things happen and made the best of any screw-ups . We have decided to stay home this year unless later on we get sick of the same 4 walls.

There is lots to do in Picton. We have a theatre, shops of all kinds, lots of restaurants, a amateur theatre group who put on shows at a restored church in the country. A fairly famous sand beach and the county is surrounded by water. We are a peninsula surrounded by water and there are now 3 ways to get to the mainland. Will have to do some research on the size of the place but over 20,000 live on the island as it is called. Lots of apple orchards that are now being dug up and grapes planted in their place. We have several wineries now which seems to be a growing money making project .

I have a rest every afternoon and it is that time now so will have to come back to this another day. It has been a great day and we are going to a jamboree tonight.

A note from Sandy

Welcome to my mom's blog. Inspired by Millie, my mom decided that 82 years old is not too old to start a blog. She's part of a growing trend of senior bloggers that include interesting reads such as Time Goes By, Cop Car's Beat, Milt's Muse, Dad's Tomato Garden and Oldest Living Blogger.

Bring it on, Mom.