Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Christmas Eve

I'm listening to Christmas music on the television and wrapping presents.  It is peaceful, warm and fuzzy and I love it.  There aren't many gifts this year - too many things have happened that cost money - but the people the gifts are for understand; times are tough for them too.

I've tried calling my Mom a bunch of times, but she was either out visiting with friends or enjoying the friendships of the people at her assisted living facility.  There is a 9 hr difference in time, so I can't keep calling throughout the day.  It's 6:30 pm here and 3:30 am in Denmark.  I will call her tomorrow morning and hope to catch her.

I have to be up early tomorrow anyway, so I will call again ...  I need to start my Scalloped Potatoes around 10 am to have them ready for dinner at 1pm.  While the potatoes are baking I'll hop in the shower and get dressed.  Then scoop up the bag with the gifts, grab the potatoes and off I go ...  I'm going to Dale's parents house with all the other misfits ... LOL.  We always have a wonderful time.

I found out that the only gas station in my little community has closed - bummer - the nearest one now is about 9 miles away.  The people there aren't the friendliest and the place is dirty ... so I will have to drive at least 12 miles or so to get gas.  It a real bummer since all the summer campers depends on it, and the hunters in the Fall.  There is still the Keno Store for supplies, but there is NO gas nor propane.  The tractor store got a propane station so that's a relief.  I'm not sure why the they're closing, but someone said it was due to insurance ... as in ObamaScare ... now why doesn't that surprise me?  I'm very, very sorry to see the station - and convenience store - closed.  There was no gas station when I first moved here, but oh boy, were we happy to see it open. 

I sure do wish we would get some more snow - the dirty patches just don't count for a White Christmas, but I'm happy and grateful that I'm alive to growl about it ... LOL
Merry Christmas to all...
(((Hugs)))


Thursday, December 5, 2013

I seem to be behinder than usual ... LOL

Things move so slowly here in my life that the same thing day after day is just not worth writing about ... pretty sad huh?  Today I'm playing catch up  for the last exciting (LOL) month ...

Thanksgiving was very nice; good friend and good food is always a "fuzzy warm" experience.  I ate too much as always, but not "too much" to make me sick.  The weather was decent, as in not too cold, but no one knew that a week later it would be 3 degrees overnight.

It is currently 11:16 am and the temp has risen to 10 ... today's high is moving up on 30.  I want it to get to at least 28 and SNOW.  Lots of snow.  The sky is bright blue with not a cloud in sight ... but even though the sun is shining brightly there is no warmth in it.

I need to get back to getting presents ready for family and friends, but as always, money is tight - VERY tight.

Oh, I do have some news ... I've spoken with the Lady at the USDA about the grant to cover expenses for my well issue.  The money has been set aside, but will not be issued until the job is done; and it will be issued to the contractor.  The ground is pretty frozen so the job won't happen until April at the earliest ... bummer.  I guess I'm one of the honest folks out there - I would verify the amount for the ditch digging only and set that aside for John and then put my reserves back in my bank to be used for gifts.  I don't think of taking the money and running ... I need my system to be to code.  Not complying could mean a large fine and I'm not into paying anything that would go to the government, no matter what the amount is - my money is my money .. OK, enough of this!

I lost my cute little Lucy chicken before Thanksgiving to a raccoon.  I've stuffed every entry I can see, but raccoons are smart, but I've also taken to locking the girls up in the coop at night.  They have absolutely no problem with that ... besides it's very cold at night and I have a heat lamp in there that keeps them a lot warmer than having a cold breeze flying through the door.

I've worked on my Hugel garden - yes, last minute me! - but am at a stop because the ground is frozen.  It really is done, but I just wanted to get the last of the dirt on top of the pile ... oh well, Spring will come soon enough and the whole pile needs to 'stew' so it's ready for planting after last frost.

I'm hunkering down today, and probably for the rest of winter.  I'm going to get off the internet and sink into a pile of yarn and do some knitting - the couch is a lot closer to the wood stove than the computer is so that will be a real cozy experience ... Love the wood stove!

I will definite try to post more often, but I don't guarantee anything ... LOL
Hugs to everyone and Merry Christmas!!!
me