Life from where we are

Sun Room.....Day Twelve

2012-02-14T20:55:00.000-05:00

They started this morning running the beams through a planer several times.

There was a huge pile of wood chips by the time they were done

Here Jim is doing the ceiling.

They finished up the day putting the beams into place but they have to be bolted in yet.

Molly decided to check out the windows...just making sure she can see everything!

LiLi's dresses

2012-02-14T14:05:00.000-05:00

Sun Room .....Day Eleven

2012-02-13T20:30:00.003-05:00

Good day today!

This truck showed up again bright & early with the pine.

This was a cool fork lift....see how it has one wheel in the back & two in the front?

When he got to the end of the driveway he turned the wheels 90 degs so he could drive in the other direction.

All the insulation was finished & they put up the vapor barrier. Poor Chris had to crawl underneath to do the floor from below!

They did put up a couple boards on the ceiling but had to leave early to go pick up the beams that were being cut at a sawmill in Johnstown.

Without wheels!

2012-02-13T13:13:00.000-05:00

I am not a homeless person but I am a wheelless person. My car went in for a simple oil change on Friday & I was told that the rear frame had rusted beyond rust! He did not say be careful driving it until it got fixed, he said DO NOT DRIVE IT! He checked out the rest of my car & everything else is perfect for a car as old as mine so we are getting it fixed.

Meanwhile I have no wheels & it makes me very sad!

Warning to everyone.....don't ever let anything you own in on the fact that you are spending mucho bucks on something else as they get insanely jealous & demand attention!

It was a very entertaining weekend as we went out Sat to get Popster a new phone.

They kept his old one for the Smithsonian!

We kept it very simple as he hates anything technical.

After we got back in the car we paired the blue tooth with his on-star mirror. That's when the entertainment started.....it was better than any comedy show you have ever seen. Apparently "Matilda" didn't seem to recognize anything he said & would repeat back numbers if he said a name. I am so bad but I could not stop laughing which made it worse. Wanda is looking better & better to him right now! The "frosting on the cake" was when we went out yesterday I suggested that I try & he was like sure how's she gonna understand your accent! I pressed the button & said (in my best accent) "Call Josh's cell phone", she repeated it back & the phone began to ring. After that call I said "Is there anyone else you would like to call?". Not a problem...it worked again.

Now Matilda & I are both on his sh*t list!

Happy Anniversary

2012-02-13T04:00:00.000-05:00

Happy 14th anniversary to Mark & Dani

LiLi's B'day party

2012-02-12T20:45:00.001-05:00

Mark, Dani & LiLi just got back from Disney on Friday so we had her party this afternoon. She got to spend her actual birthday with Mickey & Minnie!

Jessie just loves Bernie!

LiLi just loves Jessie

Can you believe this little peanut is five already!

Scott fixed her gum ball machine so it gives out 5 M&M's at a time...she believes it's magic & knows how old she is!

Sun Room.....Day Ten (up-date)

2012-02-11T20:59:00.000-05:00

Today was spent finishing up the outside & waiting for everything to happen. They waiting for the building inspector to check the sonar tubes for the porch & steps, the electrical inspector, & for the delivery of the insulation & the knotty pine for the interior. Of course everyone showed up at once.

Molly decided they were all there to entertain her!

How many guys does it take to unload a truck? Especially when that truck has the wrong stuff on it! Yup, you heard that right....they brought the wrong pine. Jim was livid as he had special ordered it. Supposedly the right order will be here first thing Monday! We'll see.

This is a sonar tube filled with concrete.

What was I thinking?

2012-02-10T20:39:00.000-05:00

I finally did laundry today.

After I put the first load in I looked at it & it was like I had fed goldfish to a whale!

What would have been an average load was totally lost in this huge tub.

It gets better....I had to get up on my very tippy toes to get the clothes out & barely made it!

I should have bought one of those dumb pedestals to stand on!

Maybe LiLi will lend me her footstool.

Sun Room .....Day Nine

2012-02-10T13:47:00.002-05:00

By the time I got outside to take pics yesterday there were too many shadows so I only have a couple. The siding got finished up along with the electrical work. They broke up part of my sidewalk to put in a couple more sonar tubes for the landing & steps. Tomorrow, hopefully, they will inspect those so the concrete can be poured. The roof will be completed so that's pretty much it for the outside. Monday they should be able to start insulating & working on the inside!

My new toy

2012-02-09T16:19:00.004-05:00

As I mentioned in an earlier post our tenant left & took the washing machine that was part of the contract on our house so Popster took my washing machine & told me I could go out & buy whatever I wanted. I could have really taken that literally but he knows me too well. The last thing I wanted to do was go shopping for a dumb washing machine. I had better things to do like sew, pick out tile, light fixtures, ceiling fan, furniture.......not buy a washing machine.
I did some research on line over the weekend & originally was set on buying an HE top loader (no agitator)but after reading the pros & cons decided maybe an HE front loader was a better idea. Armed with my new found knowledge I headed out Mon morning to buy it. I left home at 9:30 am & had bought it & was back in my car on the way to the market at 10:13am. I was not wasting any time! I also did a total about face & bought a top loader. It was bigger, had all the same features & I didn't have to spend &250 on a stupid pedestal so I wouldn't have to bend down to put my clothes in the washer!!!
It was delivered yesterday & after looking at it I decided with all the options it has why isn't there one that sorts the laundry for you? If it can sense if there's a stain on something why can't it sense when you mix darks in with your "tighty whiteys"????

I hope Popster isn't waiting for any clean socks as I need a couple more days to study up for my first load!

Sun Room....Day Eight

2012-02-09T10:30:00.000-05:00

To day the plan was to finish up the roof & then get started on the siding.

The outside is really shaping up now with siding.

Hopefully all the outside work will be done by the end of the week & they will be here to inspect the electrical work.

Just a warning........

2012-02-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

Jessie Messie passed her driver's test yesterday so all you people on the road watch out!!!

Just kidding! Congratulation Jessie.....I am really happy for you.

Creative people are slobs!

2012-02-08T12:41:00.001-05:00

Why is it when I work on any project I'm such a slob....I won't even dare show you pics of the rest of the room!

These are deliberately out of focus because of certain nosy people who read my blog....I will post better pics next week after LiLi's birthday party!

2012-02-08T12:36:00.001-05:00

Not much to show in pictures from yesterday.......except that boom truck showed up again with more shingles & the siding. They spent the day doing the the roof on the whole back side of the house. At least we know there won't be any problems now it's done right. Added bonus Jim was able to weave the shingles in on the addition so it really looks like it's always been there. I guess eventually we'll have the redo the roof on the rest of the house! I'm just happy the weather is cooperating.

The end of an era

2012-02-07T10:19:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was the closing on the house we owned in Sch'dy. You could say it was bitter sweet as the house belonged to Popster's parents. They moved there when he was 14 so his father could start his own business. There was a 3 stall garage behind the house, on a side street, which proved to be a good location for his machine shop.

This is the house where we spent our honeymoon! Yup, you heard that right I spent my honeymoon with my new in-laws who I was meeting for the very first time! On the other hand Popster was spending his honeymoon with his Mom & Dad! The reason, in case anyone is interested, we were married in England where we were living at the time.

Fast forward a few years....when Popster's Mom died in 1986 his father wanted to retire & we took a giant leap, with Popster leaving a safe, secure job with GE, & became owners of a machine shop. It was definitely a learning curve for us but we survived for 20+ years.

Fast forward again to 1999 when his father died the house was left to Popster & his brother & sister. They opted out of being landlords after a couple of years so it became our ~~headache~~ house. We had a pretty good tenant to begin with, someone we knew so it wasn't so bad being a landlord.

About 4 years ago Popster decided he just wanted to drive school bus for 4 hours a day so he put the business on the market. He was able to sell it but Mike, the guy that bought it, knew nothing about specialty grinding so he agreed to stay on & train him. In the meantime our tenant moved out of the house & we rented it again but she was a real ~~loser~~ piece of work. She had more sob stories & my softy husband fell for everyone of them! A year ago he decided enough was enough & put the house on the market.

There wasn't hardly any action at all to begin with & then all in the same month Mike decided he couldn't handle 2 jobs & sold the business to his buddy Joe we got an offer on the house. Joe knew even less about grinding so he asked Popster to stay on & help him. The offer on the house meant that both our tenant & Joe would have to move out. Popster felt very guilty about having the evict them but when the ~~low-life~~ tenant took the washing machine that didn't belong to her & did not pay her last month's rent he changed his mind about her!

Joe has moved the shop to Albany which is a hike for Popster to have to drive so I don't know how much longer he will stay with him.

I believe things happen for a reason so maybe it's time for a change! Let's see what life has to offer next!

Someone is clearly confused!

2012-02-06T20:36:00.001-05:00

I spotted this in the yard today.

It is a lily of the valley.

It is only Feb 6th!

They are not supposed to bloom this early!

Sun Room ...Day Six

2012-02-06T20:29:00.001-05:00

There was a little setback today. After spending the morning doing the electrical work Jim went up on the roof to finish that. He was looking things over & spotted some problems with the rest of the roof on that section. He thought it would be a good idea to take that off & replace it which would also make "tying-in" the two roofs look better & also be less likely to cause any problems with ice build up. I said go ahead & do what you have to do so they spent the afternoon removing the roof & now tomorrow will be the day to get it all done. It's a good thing the weather is cooperating!

Happy Birthday LiLi

2012-02-06T04:30:00.000-05:00

Happy 5th birthday LiLi.....you need to stop growing up so quickly!

The call that changed some lives

2012-02-05T09:19:00.000-05:00

Four years ago Mark & Dani got the phone call that changed their lives & sent them on a new journey! What a journey it has been & we love being part of it!

Freda has a new friend....or two!

2012-02-04T21:34:00.001-05:00

"Dear God Floyd what is that next to me?"

"Floyd do something now! You know I don't like furry rats!"

"That's it! Get me down off this tree. I need some smelling salts!"

Sun Room....Day Five

2012-02-03T22:30:00.000-05:00

Today didn't warm up enough to finish the roof so they picked up the door & put that in instead

It's not finished as it came with the wrong hardware.
There was a little accident today...apiece of wood flew out of the saw & through the window. The window was not open at the time!!!!
This is the vision I've had in my head since this project started.....these pics were taken from inside the kitchen with the french doors open.

Oh crazy life

2012-02-03T22:26:00.001-05:00

No pictures tonight I don't feel like uploading them.

It was one of those days today.

We sold the house that we rent out & the tenants had to be out today. The shop wasn't a problem as that was all moved out earlier this week so we went over this morning & got that cleaned up along with the garage but, of course, our tenant hadn't even thought about moving. Popster finally got a hold of her just before noon & she was just getting a U-haul. He went over tonight & the house is a pig sty, plus she took the washing machine that didn't even belong to her! The walk through is at 3:00pm tomorrow so I guess I know what we'll be doing tomorrow!

Oh & I have to go shopping for a new washing machine because Popster is taking mine over there!

Sun Room.....Day Four

2012-02-02T20:47:00.003-05:00

Lots of progress today. They had the rest of the roof done by noon & then this boom truck showed up with the shingles.

That thing was humungous!

By around 3:00 they had the roof complete except for the ridge vent. It wasn't warm enough today with the cold front that went through & no sun. Hopefully tomorrow will be better so that can be finished.

I thought they would go home early but I could hear hammering & when I went to look they were putting in the windows.

Tomorrow they will get the door & put that in.....what do you think breakfast out there on Sunday?

What do I do........

2012-02-02T20:38:00.001-05:00

People often ask me what I do all winter when I'm not working. To be perfectly honest I often wonder how I find time to work. I always have "projects" going. Right now my "project" involves all that material.

This sewing machine

A certain little girl who will be turning five next week! If you need a couple hints study this photo.

I took a look at this view earlier & suggested to Jim if would be really cool as a window. After he told me if would cost around five thousand & add 4 weeks to the job I said no we'll just paint a mural up there!

Love is.........

2012-02-02T10:50:00.004-05:00

Love is having beautiful grandchildren.

Sun Room....Day Three

2012-02-01T20:53:00.001-05:00

Today was the craziest day weatherwise......it was 46 degrees when I got up this morning. It started to rain early & was supposed to clear up by 11:00. Jim didn't want to take a chance on opening up the roof because it was still very iffy for the rest of the day. They were able to get all the lumber cut & then when it stopped raining went to work on the roof.
You can tell how warm it is by Jim being in short sleeves....the temp actually reached 59 deg.!

These are the only pics I managed today as around 3:00, while they were putting the plywood on the roof we had a downpour & then it got really windy so that was the end of working for the day. At least the weather report is clear now for a few days so they should be able to get the roof finished.

Sun Room....day two

2012-01-31T20:52:00.001-05:00

One of the things that amazed me today was that the big pile of lumber that was in my back yard yesterday morning is gone....in fact they had to leave after lunch to get more!

Now I can get an idea of how the room will look with the windows framed in.

By the end of the day there are even walls! Rumor has it the roof goes on tomorrow. I'll be moving my chair in this weekend!

My view from the inside is a little blue right now!

Sun Room - Day one

2012-01-30T20:35:00.000-05:00

Even though I knew Jim was finally coming today I didn't believe until

I saw this in the street and

this in my driveway!

I am not able to take pics of the whole yard as my lens is still out being repaired.

By 3:30pm my room had a floor. I told Jim I was bringing my chair out tomorrow........he didn't find that amusing!

"Pinch me....i'm dreaming!"

2012-01-30T09:32:00.001-05:00

Stay tuned ....we finally have some action!

Overheard this morning:
Freda: "Hey Floyd I see we finally have something going on around here!"

Floyd: "Oh yea....looks like they'll be here a while"

Freda: "You don't suppose they'll be doing the Full Monty do you?

The power of the button!

2012-01-28T21:10:00.000-05:00

On our way home from dinner tonight we called to activated Popster's On-star mirror. It took about 10 minutes & our adviser said it would take about 5 more minutes for the activation & not to remove the key until it was complete, to just follow the instructions.

As we pulled into the driveway a recorded voice said installation was complete so Popster pressed the call button thinking he was turning it off. Wrong! It started ringing & he got an on-star operator. He started explaining that he called by accident & the more he talked the deeper the hole got & the more I laughed!

He finally said "Okay I am going to press this button now & get rid of you"

By then I was splitting a gut laughing so hard!!

He walked into the house muttering to himself.....something about wouldn't life be great if he could get rid of all aggravating women by pushing a button!

They're all through....scandolous!

2012-01-27T12:10:00.002-05:00

That's it ....it's final! Their rocky & tumultuous relationship is over & it wasn't pretty! Wanda is history!

Popster has a new love in in life......I bought him the On-star rear view mirror for his birthday & finally got it installed yesterday.

How long will it be before he calls her a lying bitch?

Shek the musical

2012-01-27T07:24:00.000-05:00

We went with LiLi to see Shrek at Proctors last night....it was Our christmas present to her. Popster has been working crazy hours since he got back from Florida so Mark went with me instead. It was great but didn't start until 8:00pm & lasted 2 1/2 hours. LiLi did great until the last 45 mins & was asleep before we left the parking garage.

I have no pictures cus I'm a "bird brain"

OMG she really meant it!

2012-01-25T12:11:00.002-05:00

Molly & I just got back from obedience class. We were doing "long recalls" with a dog in each of two corners of the room & taking turns to leave the dog, walk diagonally to the other corner & call them to you. Al's golden (the same dog that took off two weeks ago) did it again & guess what? ~~Dr Ruth~~ Betty made him leave the building & his dog was put into a crate! As soon as the dog was in the crate he came back in but had to ignore his dog until everyone was done. At which point he could get the dog back out of the crate & try again....it worked because the dog did fine then. But during the long sits & long stays the dog would keep getting up!

Man that dog is making Miss Molly look like an angel!

Gong Xi Fa Ca!

2012-01-23T06:17:00.000-05:00

"Oh I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts"

2012-01-22T19:54:00.000-05:00

Jessie needed a ride to work today & when she was done we picked her up & she spent the day with us. We took Molly to her agility lesson & on the way home we stopped at the market to get some crusty bread to go with the soup we we having for dinner. Jessie has been obsessing about getting a coconut so I told her to go pick one out.

First of all we made holes in it to get the milk out.

Then we took it out on the work bench to break it. Here is ~~Lizzie Borden~~ Jessie in action!

Don't get in her way.......I almost didn't get the picture I was laughing so hard!

She insisted on gluing the shell back together so she could save it.

This is what she does to Molly's ears every time she comes over!

Hot/Cold, Sun/Snow, Play/Work

2012-01-21T09:28:00.001-05:00

Someone is in for a rude awakening today!

Remembering.....

2012-01-21T05:30:00.000-05:00

Today would have been my mother's 91st birthday......Happy Birthday Mother......we all miss you!

Warning....your village idiot may be missing!

2012-01-20T18:01:00.001-05:00

I take Molly on two 2-miles walks every day, once in the morning & again in the afternoon. We also have two different loops that we take, a morning one & then a different one in the afternoon.

You know how every neighborhood has that person....you know....the one that's a little different from the norm? Well we have this lady that doesn't just have a "few screws loose" hers are "missing in action"!

In fact I would even goes so far as to say she is certifiable! Big Time!!

She has a beagle named Dexter who howls at every person, car, animal...in fact he howls at anything that moves! Most people say they are not sure which end of the leash is the wackiest!

For the past two weeks, no matter what time I leave the house, I meet her.

I don't get it!

She doesn't live that close, in fact several blocks away. I don't stick to a schedule this time of the year, sometimes when it's cold I wait a while in the mornings. The afternoon it's anytime after 4pm, as long as I get back before dark.

Now for all you people out there who might be keeping score, I just want you to know one thing. I am the one with the perfectly well-behaved dog trotting along next to me, looking down her nose at that dog as if to say "I just don't get what your problem is"

Yellow Finches

2012-01-19T06:30:00.000-05:00

These little guys fascinate me....I'm obsessed!

Molly got a haircut

2012-01-18T18:12:00.000-05:00

Can you sense the attitude....she had to go right from obedience class to the groomers (her appointment was moved from yesterday because of the weather)

"I am not going to bother with you at all!"

"Did you hear me? I said don't look at me!"

BTW......I did not have to leave the building......I was very good today!

I refuse to get excited!

2012-01-18T14:56:00.002-05:00

Look what showed up today!

"So you had a bad day"

2012-01-17T21:25:00.000-05:00

Popster's in Florida where the sun is shining & it's warm!

I'm stuck here where it snowed & I had to shovel it!

I fell off a ladder & didn't know whether to laugh or cry.....I think I cried!

Ran over Mark's garbage can in the pouring rain!

Took the dog for a walk & it poured before I got home!

Popster called to tell me he was on the beach!

Is it okay if I hate him??????

The "critters" are taking over!

2012-01-16T06:30:00.000-05:00

The woodpecker was back several times today

I even spotted him in the tree

I really think is a different one to yesterday...it seem to be a little smaller.

This guy was hanging out hoping the birds would spill something!

Molly watching....trying to disguise herself as a christmas cactus!

"Oh come on let me out there to chase them all away....... pretty please with sugar on it?"

Testing, testing, one two three

2012-01-15T18:44:00.000-05:00

My favorite model letting me test my new lens

Just some birds

2012-01-14T13:58:00.006-05:00

I have my zoom lens on my camera as the other one is being repaired....it worked well this morning when the finches came for a visit
Technically this is not a good shot as the bird isn't in focus but I like it anyway!

They are such busy guys & there are usually 8 or 9 at a time between the two feeders.

This is my red-bellied woodpecker.....he is getting genormous!

He stayed a long time today so gave me a chance to get a couple good shots.

So much for the so bird experts who say this species will not come to back yard feeders or eat commercial suet!!!

Inspiration

2012-01-14T09:17:00.000-05:00

I just found this quote:

Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. its normal is still killer. And your taste you gotta know Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through. By Ira Glass

Resolution

2012-01-13T11:24:00.002-05:00

My resolution.....use sunscreen every day!

Oh yea...we finally had snow!

2012-01-12T20:50:00.000-05:00

As usual the weatherman was wrong & instead of a smattering of snow turning to sleet & then all rain we had 5 inches........I do believe that qualifies as a bit more than a smattering! Made all the skiers happy but I was enjoying winter without it.

I only have pictures taken from the house as it did turn into rain.

Here's someone else that doesn't look too happy!

Who gets the time out???

2012-01-12T09:41:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was the first obedience class of the new session for Miss Molly which I am doing with her....Popster does the agility class. The teacher for this class is Betty who looks just like Dr Ruth minus the accent! All the dogs but one were taking the class for a second or third time....Molly is not the only flunkie........so she decided to continue on from last session instead of from week one.

After doing some initial warm-ups on leash she split the class in half to do off leash heeling & u-turns. Of course I'm in the first group & having not worked with Molly off leash in class was a little nervous...to say the least! Last session I would have the leash around my neck but attached to Molly's collar. In fact that's what I started to do but ~~Dr Ruth~~ Betty said "No I meant off leash!". We started off down the room & Molly was like "ooh no leash?" & decided to have a "Yahoo Spasz Attack"! It probably only lasted 15 secs before I was able to grab her but apparently another dog did the same thing so there was bedlam for about a minute!

When it was over ~~Dr Ruth~~ Betty said:
"If your dog does that again I want you to walk right out the door. You will wait outside until we catch your dog & put him/her in a crate. When told you may come back into the building but you must walk to the other side of the room & ignore your dog. After the appropriate amount of time you may let your dog out & continue on with class"
During this lecture Molly is sitting in the perfect heel position listening very intently while I'm like okay now what Nana (that's an expression Josh always used when he was little)!
We did the exercise again & Molly was perfect......go figure!

I was telling Popster about it last night & he said he would have paid money to see me have to leave the building!

Happy Birthday

2012-01-12T09:04:00.001-05:00

Happy birthday to my DIL Deidre

People watching while pumping iron!

2012-01-11T15:35:00.000-05:00

I am a people-watcher & in order to "lose myself" at the gym.....it makes the time go by quicker.....that's what I do. Here are some of the "characters" I get to work out with at 5:30 am

First of all we have Barbie....she earned that name because her hair is absolutely perfect & she wears cutesy workout gear. She's about 15 lbs overweight & on the wrong side of 45 so the image doesn't quite make it. She is always flirting with the young, very, very young kid at the desk who looks like a 17 year old Tom Cruise. I have one thing to say to her:
"Give it up Barbie...you're old enough to be his Mama!"

Next we have Clem Clod-Hopper......he is always on a treadmill for the entire time I am there. True to his name he walks like his feet weigh 75 lbs each!! No matter how loud I tun up my ipod I can't drown him out!

Next up is Tatroid Man............. picture tattoos on steroids! He apparently has not read the sign about lunkheads & grunts all through his workout. Not a pretty sight!

Now for Miss Germapobic..........she kills me. She doesn't spray a paper towel & wipe down the machine when she done, she takes the bottle & sprays the machine! Don't go sit on a machine after her or you'll think you forgot your Depends!!

Peeble's Island or a walk on the wild side!

2012-01-08T17:45:00.001-05:00

We couldn't coordinate a walk with Bob & Noreen today as our schedules wouldn't let it happen. We decided this morning we would go over to Peebles & Molly was in rare form. She just wanted to run in the worst way but there's no way we will let her loose there....the cliffs are just too high & she is way, way too nutty!

Here Popster is giving her a lecture about behaving....too funny!! We have our first class of agility for the winter session this afternoon....should be interesting!

Cutie Pie

2012-01-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

What took you so long?

2012-01-07T20:28:00.000-05:00

I started this blanket for LiLi two years ago....in fact it is a very "seasoned traveler" as it went on every road trip & even traveled to England & back. I finally finished it yesterday which was a good thing as LiLi wanted to finish it herself the last time she was over!

She was very happy to get it & told me she was going to sleep with it on her bed tonight.

This is my next ambitious project & the package the mail man brought me yesterday was the yarn for it.

Anyone want to take bets on how long this one takes???

She thinks she's a lap dog!

2012-01-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

First she climbs on his lap.

Then she watches tv!

Then she puts her head down & gets comfortable! (Notice she has two feet on the floor...that means she's technically not on the furniture!)

Doesn't everybody?

2012-01-06T21:02:00.000-05:00

Have a stuffed animal in the middle of their front walk!

The mail man rang my doorbell today & we had the following conversation:

Mail Man:(handing me a package) "Here this is for you."

Me: "Oh thanks"

Mail Man: (handing over a very soggy hedgehog) "Here, I found this on the sidewalk."

Me: (handing it back to him) "Oh yeah that belongs there!"

Snow........?

2012-01-05T14:16:00.003-05:00

.....after all it is Jan in the great Northeast!!!

It's Molly's Birthday

2012-01-04T20:38:00.001-05:00

Miss Molly is 3 years old today....that would 21 in people's age!

This means she is no longer a teenager & should act more mature!

Do we think this will happen?

Don't let these pictures or that face fool you!

"Alright already! That's enough!"

"Not a happy camper..........

2012-01-04T14:29:00.001-05:00

....would be putting it mildly!!!

I am extremely unhappy & I've even had a couple days to calm down!

It ain't happening......I haven't calmed down!

Our project that I have been waiting so long for has been delayed again!

We have gone from Sept to late Nov to middle of Dec to 1st week in Jan to who knows anymore....get the picture!

I am normally not a very patient person but I have been so patient with this.

Now I'm just mad!

New Year's day on the bike path

2012-01-03T15:32:00.000-05:00

New Year's day was so beautiful....in the 40's & we met Bob & Noreen at the bike path.

This is Max their new dog....Duffy got very sick back in October & they had to put him down. As you can see Max has the same markings as Duffy which is why Bob picked him out. Unfortunately he is not as well behaved....he came from the animal shelter & had been wandering the streets on his own so he has a problem with other dogs. Bob has been working with him & this is only the third time we've walked with them since they got him. He can now walk along side Molly without too many incidents so that's a big improvement

Jessica spent the night so she went with us.

See how Popster is in the middle....he's the mediator!

Fireworks

2012-01-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

New Year's Eve

2012-01-01T19:56:00.001-05:00

New Yer's turned out to be a beautiful night with temps in the 40's so Mark & LiLi decided to got with us....Dani always goes out to dinner with her family.

LiLi was just beside her self with excitement & here she is skipping along the sidewalk with Jessie.....it was really funny as she had know idea what it was all about but she was gonna have fun doing it!

We couldn't get by the carousel without going for a ride.

She is patiently waiting her turn............

....for Ren-e the clown to make her a balloon animal.

She chose a horse.

We needed to get the proper head gear.

And some mac & cheese for supper.

This was an inter-active video game where you could make yourself part of the action on the screen.

New Year's eve is not complete without the famous "kettle corn"

We went to visit the alpacas.

We visited mostly acts geared toward children but then went to a couple other ones which LiLi enjoyed more.....one was an improv show & she was giggling so loud she had everyone around her laughing. Her evening ended at 10pm when Mark thought it was late enough but we stayed for the fireworks at midnight.

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T01:16:00.001-05:00

Little Miss "Betty Crocker"

2011-12-29T20:35:00.000-05:00

LiLi was here again yesterday & after spending some time writing thank you notes we got on skype & talked to my brother. At this point she turned extremely shy...go figure....& mostly sat on my lap & colored all the papers on my desk. She could have kept going for at least two more days cus my desk is so sloppy....hopefully she didn't color anything important!

Then she wanted to cook. This is so funny that with all the aprons she got for christmas she has a tea towel pinned on her....... she is "reading" the instructions!

All good cooks have to taste their work!

Of course I "made" her clean up!

She's being very "paaarticulaaar"!

I made it by the skin of my teeth!

2011-12-29T20:16:00.002-05:00

Yesterday morning when I got up it was 40 deg but there was a cold front blowing in later & it was supposed to be extremely windy for two days & much, much colder. I went to the gym early came home & took Molly for a walk & without taking off my coat went right back out to take in the christmas decorations. It wasn't much fun as everything was soaking wet from the rain we had all night but I got it all inside the garage before the wind really started blowing. It was dry out for a couple days & then I'll get it packed away.

Later on I sat down to find Popster a new trip to Florida. His friend Michael was going again in Jan & I found a flight leaving on Jan 16th & coming back on the 21st so I booked that for him. It was way cheaper so he'll have some credit left over for next year's trip. He's feeling much better by the way, but there was no way he could have played golf so it's good he didn't go.

Except by not going he spoiled my 5 day hiatus!

So what did you do all day?

2011-12-28T15:19:00.000-05:00

LiLi has no school this week so she is alternating days with me & her other grandmother.

She swept up the cookies crumbs from having a snack.

This is her "creative" way of tying her scarf....I'm not sure I can you how she did it!

It took at least 10 minutes to get her gloves on....per hand!

We made chopped salad!

Seriously she does not require any entertaining....in fact she entertains us. She played with her leapster, colored, wrote notes, played school all the time chattering away about real school.

The good, the bad & the ugly!

2011-12-28T11:24:00.003-05:00

Jessie & Meghan came over Mon morning & JoAnn took them out for breakfast at the diner while I cleaned up some of the mess.

After they left JoAnn & I went grocery shopping....for her & Josh.....we're doomed to eat leftovers for the rest of the week! They left to go back to Boston around 4:00pm & I got on the computer to cancel Popster's flight. He had decided by then that there was no way he would be getting on a plane by Weds to go play golf for 4 days. He is feeling a lot better but not that good. Hopefully we can re-book it for the middle of Jan or maybe the Feb break!

The rest of Christmas

2011-12-27T20:33:00.001-05:00

We went to dinner at Scott's house late in the afternoon where LiLi got to open more presents

The theme of christmas for her this year was cooking & she ended up with another apron!

She is making Uncle Scott guess what her gift is

She want to use her oven mitt & serve dinner

We didn't stay there very long as Popster was still having a lot of trouble with his back.....it's not looking good for Florida!!!

Christmas morning

2011-12-26T20:55:00.004-05:00

I am trying to catch up with christmas pics etc. but am having some problems....the camera lens I use the most has something wrong with it so my pics are not that great. I was hoping it would work through the holiday until I can either get it fixed or replace it. I discovered this morning my main computer has a virus so I had to edit the pics on my laptop which doesn't have a good program for that. Anyway I have a few pictures of christmas morning & will do the rest tomorrow.

She likes to shake her presents first!

& also shake herself!

This princess tent from Josh was a big hit!

Mommy & Bernie had to go in with her.

Oh my...what a day!

2011-12-24T23:02:00.001-05:00

I spent most of the day in the kitchen while Popster had several chores to get done. I had my usual "OMG moment" when I realized I was missing some key ingredients from one of things I was making so I sent him to the store. It only took 3 phone calls while he was there to get the 3 things on his list & he arrived home. He "crawled" in the door groaning about his back & immediately went to lie down in the living room to stretch out his back. Great except he couldn't get up! I couldn't help him as he screamed in pain if I tried to lift him up! It probably took about an hour to get him up & in a chair & between ice & pain pills he is feeling better.

Only problem he has od'ed on oxycodon so is now in never-never land.

I do hope they keep him for the night!

Have a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T20:36:00.000-05:00

I am so unorganized this year & am trying to finish up my gifts....the apron for LiLi & do my baking!

Yikes it's christmas eve & I need to get going!

I love to keep up the tradition of mince pies .........
....but why.......

....do I destroy my kitchen........

.......whenever I bake?

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T10:36:00.001-05:00

From our house to yours

Merry Christmas

How to.........

2011-12-23T20:43:00.002-05:00

make your school bus driver happy, happy happy?

A plate of home made choc chip cookies & a Dunkin Donuts gift card!

"Clean up in aisle 5"!

2011-12-22T20:26:00.000-05:00

Guess what I did today?

Ist day of winter?????

2011-12-22T08:30:00.000-05:00

I just got back from walking Miss Molly .....it is 45 degs!

It is the first day of winter??

Popster's Xmas card

2011-12-21T13:43:00.000-05:00

I wasn't able to do the picture of the kids outside the bus as it was pouring so my dear hubby come up with this brilliant idea ...of course he wasn't doing it! We took a series of shots which he wanted to be a montage on a full sheet of paper! Can you hear my voice getting very shrill as I said:

"You want what!"

Of course I did it & it only took 47 hours & $150 worth of ink!

Happy Birthday Popster

2011-12-21T04:00:00.000-05:00

Happy birthday to my hubby!

Why???

2011-12-20T14:24:00.000-05:00

Tonight my husband & other drivers at the bus garage have to go to a wake for one of their co-workers. Last Thurs Bob was driving home in his own car when for some reason (that no one will ever know) crossed over into the other lane & hit one of BH/BL's school buses driven by one of his co-workers & friend. He was killed instantly & she ended up with broken arm & minor scratches.

Her life will never be the same again. We live in a small community where everyone knows everybody so this has hit very hard.

One can't help but wonder what part fate had in this senseless tragedy?

Why???

LiLi logic!

2011-12-19T21:01:00.000-05:00

LIli wanted to cut things out yesterday so her & I made christmas ornaments. Then Deidre showed her how to make snowflakes & before you know we were redecorating her tree.

Do you see Santa under the tree? Thurs night at her concert, the principal of her school, Mr C, dressed up as Santa & walked down the aisle of the auditorium after the kids were all out on the stage together. The older kids knew who it was & were shouting out "Mr C". Dani & I were looking at each other hoping this would all go over LiLi's head. While we were decorating the tree I asked her about Santa coming to her concert & she said:

LILI:" That wasn't Santa that was Mr Claus"

Me: "But isn't Santa's name Santa Claus?"

LiLi: "Yes but his first name is Santa. That was Mr Claus...his first name is Mr & he was just helping Santa!"

Here she is telling me who everyone is in her nativity set.....she named everyone except for the one in her hand which was a shepherd holding a sheep. When I asked who that was she said

LiLi: "This is Mary"

Me: "Isn't that Mary with baby Jesus?"

LiLi: "Yes but this is also Mary...you know Nana..... Mary had a little lamb"

LiLi you have to promise me you will stay this age forever!

Popster's b'day brunch

2011-12-19T11:33:00.000-05:00

It was a crazy, busy weekend so we had brunch at Mark's house yesterday to celebrate Popster's birthday (not really until Weds).

Miniature paparazzi!

Jessie the "dog whisperer"!

Bernie is so cute.

I'll be back later with a funny post about Miss LiLi's take on Santa & her nativity set.

Floyd's :guilt trip"

2011-12-17T10:32:00.000-05:00

Floyd is looking rather smug this morning as he took a little trip to try & make amends with Freda!

"Ge-sh Freda it was the best I could find at the Thrift Store....I just couldn't make it all the way to Walmart!"

" I would have preferred something in fuchsia but I have to admit I am feeling a little toastier!"

LiLi's Christmas concert

2011-12-16T14:20:00.001-05:00

Last night was LiLi's christmas concert & Mark decided she needed livening up so he gave her some M&Ms!

This is the effect on her!

We were way, way back so the pics are not that good!

One of the parents had a very good seat so he videoed it for Mark.

Oh the "frenzy" of the holidays!!!

2011-12-16T10:50:00.000-05:00

Amid the frenzy of Christmas even Freda lost her head!

"Floyd I told you I didn't like it up here! You need to do something about this situation!"

"Okay already Freda. Keep your knickers on.....I'll get help"

"That's better but I'm still not liking these accommodations.....it's just too windy!"

"Holy hyper kids Batman...........

2011-12-15T17:00:00.000-05:00

......today was the day I was picked up by that school bus driven by Popster. We were taking the annual christmas picture but the weather didn't cooperate......it was raining cats & dogs!

We had to make do taking candid shots inside the bus & now guess who has to come up with some kind of montage for the picture!

"Is she spoiled or what?"

2011-12-13T14:44:00.001-05:00

I took these pictures about 3 weeks ago.......after getting back from one of my favorite "junk stores" (that's my name for it) Anyway they have the best dog toys & always have something new which is a ploy for suckers like me who will always buy them!

Molly can smell them a mile away & loves to get something new. Popster always comments about how many toys she has & why do I keep buying more????

This is why....she loves them!

She cuddles them when she sleeps!

Now I'll get to the real point of this post!

Today we went to the "junk store"

Popster & I!

Together!

I lost him in the store!

Guess where I found him?

Guess who got to "squeak" a new toy all the way home?

A dedicated grillmaster

2011-12-12T20:23:00.001-05:00

Popster wanted a grilled steak for dinner even if he had to wear his ear flap hat to cook it!!!

It was a balmy 30 degrees out!

Ho Ho Ho!

2011-12-07T16:01:00.001-05:00

"You talking to me?"

"Do you like my hat?"

"Are we done yet? Where's the treats you promised me?"

Another morning sky

2011-12-07T15:54:00.001-05:00

This was taken Monday morning at the golf course which, unless the weather changes again, was my last day at work for this year.

Just think no annoying alarm clock at 3:45AM tomorrow!

How much you wanna bet I wake up anyway!

Two steps forward, five steps back!

2011-12-06T04:21:00.001-05:00

I just noticed that my blog header is still in the wrong season!

I must be in denial!!!

It's this insane weather we're having so I'm still working.

Maybe I'll catch up with the rest of the world soon!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

2011-12-03T20:11:00.001-05:00

We decided today was the annual family bonding & going out to the woods to cut down a christmas tree. We ended up at the Elms which is right around the corner from Scott's house & where Jessie now works on weekends.

That's why she is wearing the red apron...she make the apple cider donuts in the little cafe they have. It's so funny because her other part time job she has is at Focastle ( apple orchard/gift shop/ cafe) & her job there is making donuts!

Meghan & Jessie

LiLi & I wandered over to see Santa' reindeer & all we found were these guys.....can't imagine how he's going to pull that big sleigh with these little goats!

When we found everyone again they were looking at the pre-cut trees!

Within five minutes each of them had the perfect tree!

It's never been that quick before! As you can tell it was a beautiful day, reasonably warm & they picked out trees that quickly.....normally we trudge through the woods for hours freezing our tushies!

"Hurry Dad...it's getting heavy"

We had to go for a trolley ride out to the fields

We were just going to ride out & back but LiLi spotted this fun slide that was from their "fall fun stuff" & had to go down it.

As you can see it is pretty long but she wasn't the least bit scared!

She went down the first time with Scott but came out alone as he got stuck!

That's our trolley ride back in the distance.

It was a really nice day & no one missed trudging forever through the fields looking for the "perfect" tree!

Remind again why I'm torturing myself or day two

2011-12-01T04:30:00.000-05:00

The pictures aren't the best but I couldn't be bothered getting the tripod out.

See that dumb green-lit tree.....it took me 2 days, 59 trips to the store & I lost track of how much I spent. Most people would have given up but not me cus I'm stubborn like that. Sad to say I'm not sure I even like it now!

This is the result of two days work but keep in mind I also washed all the windows on two floors of my house. Popster even got dinner last night! He couldn't sit down to eat as I have decorations & boxes on every surface of the house!

I am giving everyone fair warning first sign of snow this all gets put away!

Day one progress

2011-11-29T20:15:00.001-05:00

I pulled a whole bunch of boxes & bins from the basement last night & started unpacking them this morning before I went to play golf. Within a half hour I had stuff strewn everywhere....then I left!

I got home at lunch & went right to work.

This pile of tangled up mess went back in the bin & I used some new lights I found

We found a santa hat for Molly to wear!

"How long to I need to sit here holding these lights?"

I made some progress &--- take note of the wet driveway--- even worked for a while in the rain....at least it was warm out! Tomorrow is supposed to be halfway decent so maybe I'll be able to finish up outside. I am also washing windows & doing some some final clean up work along with having to make all new bows for the new window wreaths I apparently decided to buy last year....must have been an after-christmas sale that lured me in!!!

"You better watch out"!

2011-11-29T04:00:00.000-05:00

The "grinch" in me is going into hibernation for at least a year & I'm dragging out all the christmas decorations!!!

But first I'm going to play golf as it is going to be 60 degrees today!!

Yes, for those of you that pay attention, I am posting this at 4:00 AM...how else am I expected to accomplish all this in one day!!!

How about a cran-apple bread sandwich?

2011-11-27T04:15:00.001-05:00

This was Thanksgiving morning & LiLi is serving the cran-apple & pumpkin breads we made.

She makes sandwiches......putting the pumpkin bread between two pieces of cran-apple!

"Sandwich anyone?"

Prepping, baking & texting?

2011-11-27T04:03:00.001-05:00

LiLi didn't have school Weds so she spent the day with me.

We made soup.

She takes her job very seriously!

Took a break to text her Aunt JoAnne!

Then we made cran-apple bread.

Good thing we had all day as greasing & flouring the pans just a little longer than normal.

As I've mentioned before she very paaarticulaaar!!!!!

Oh the wonder of childhood!

2011-11-25T21:57:00.001-05:00

While LiLi was at my house on Weds she got a phone call from the big man himself.......oh the magic of believing!

"Oh my darling Clementine"

2011-11-25T21:55:00.001-05:00

LiLi discovering clementines!

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T07:30:00.000-05:00

Little Miss "Smarty Pants"

2011-11-23T13:47:00.001-05:00

Mark & Dani went to a wedding...or as LiLi put it got married....Sat do we were babysitting. We went out to dinner & when we got back LiLi wanted to practice her reading with me.

Every time she read a sentence I would say wow & she would look at me & with a big grin say "Aren't I a smarty pants?"

Bernie was challenging Henry to a fight. I think I know who would lose!

Another year.......

2011-11-21T20:11:00.001-05:00

has gone by & it's now 47!

Keep in mind I was only 2 when got married!

Funny story that only people who have been married forever will appreciate!

When I got home from work Poster had a dozen roses & a card waiting for me. I opened the card, read it & looked at him & asked if he was saving money by re-using last year's card. He looked at me & I believe the words were something like

"What are you crazy woman! No one could possibly remember what card they got last year! Do you know I read every card in the Hallmark store before I carefully chose that one! I don't believe you know! You show me!"

I marched upstairs & came back down 5 seconds later with last year's card.

Need I say more!

The best part of this story is the reason I remembered the card was because I also got the same card for him last year!