Shredding Papers and Writing.

It's our anniversary today.

A day or so ago, Paul asked what I wanted to do -
and I said- go out to dinner.
Where?
I don't know.
How about the Hilltop Inn? (I've never been there - except for a wedding reception. It's on a hill overlooking Elmira. ) Sounds good.
So that's our plan. I'm excited.

It's a gray day today. And cool. I'm doing wash. Paul's getting the spice rack set up. We found another place for the spices! I'll show you a picture when it's all done. I'm excited.

Yesterday I set about a project that I really needed to do, but it's not quite completed. . . as I write. I'll have to finish it eventually.

Clean off the area around my computer/printer.

As most people know, desk neatness is not one of my finer attributes. Cleanliness - yes. Neatness - no. I try, but it always seems to get away from me. I know - "a place for everything, and everything in its place." BUT - Some things I never have found a place for - and these are the items that are getting troublesome. And there are papers to get rid of. Paul said to shred them. But - there's too many papers. It'd take forever.

I want him to have a fire out back and I'll add them to it. He said it's against the law. (But I know he's made a fire, before, with kindling he's found out there, because a couple of evenings, we sat and enjoyed it. I'll just add my papers. He doesn't need to be an accomplice. He can turn his head as I feed them to the fire.)

I am noticing more and more that people don't e-mail. At least I haven't been getting them lately - except from businesses. Seems a shame. People don't write letters or e-mail any more. At least I don't get them. People can belong to Facebook - which I do. Kind of. I'm not sure how to answer people.

Speaking of writing. Here's a subject that I've written about before - a long time ago: Cursive writing.

Recently, someone said that because people don't use cursive - that in a generation or two, they won't be able to read it. If that happens. . .What'll happen to all my journals from years past? BTW - they're all g-rated. Will no one be able to read them? I refuse to think that.

My family has had writers for several generations. My son and daughter are gifted writers. My daughter's career requires publishing papers. My grandfather wrote some beautiful poetry. Even had it published. A great great aunt went to Asia and her letters home were kept. My dad kept a journal.

I began writing when I was 11 - and kept it up . . . through high school, in to college. I began writing again in 1976 - til the present time. So . . .What if no one can read them? . . . AND doesn't everyone think that they, themselves, are important? As I said . . .They're all G-rated. They don't have locks. I wrote them for public view. You might say - it's an old-fashioned blog. It's a look at a life in the 1950's,60',s 70's, 80's, and on and on. What if they're not readable?

One can argue that blogging is the same thing. Well, yes, it is. But - a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Delete vs. paper. There are some sites that try to fix this problem - and they'll make it into a book for you.

Well - have I rambled today! Sorry about that. Now I can hear Paul's hammer going, up on the shed's roof, and I think my wash should be dry. Time to get back to that. And see what's happened with the Spice Rack. . .

How're things goin' in your neck o' the woods?

Busy weekend

Yesterday afternoon Paul and I traveled up to Rochester to help celebrate Drew's graduation from high school. Drew is my former husband, Neal's, great nephew. It's always a treat to see all my former in-laws and get caught up in the news of their lives. Carole, Drew's grandma, and the family are going to Italy in about a week. Carole is a retired teacher, and while teaching began working in a travel agency. She now owns a travel agency and usually plans all the family trips.

This trip will be extremely exciting for Fran, the other grandmother, who came up from the Bronx. She is so excited to go to Rome and the Vatican. She said she saw the Pope when he visited NYC - and her comment was - IMAGINE! The Pope saw where I live. Now, I'm gonna see where he lives! Her eyes just lit up!

I just realized I didn't get a picture of Drew. How strange of me. He's a good lookin' kid who'll be going to University of Rochester in the fall. Same as Alaina, Paul's granddaughter. Good lookin' and going to U of R. Hey - I think I got a picture of him by accident. The first picture of Paul holding Gracie in the tent shows three boys, on the left, in the background. I think Drew is the one in the middle. And in the last picture of the house, I think that's Bill, Sue's husband, up on the deck, cooking. He's the one with a dark shirt.

How quick life changes when kids go off to school! I could go on and on about this subject, but I won't. Having Drew and Alli flown the coop, there's only one left. . .Amanda - but they've got four years to go til then.

I may be a slow learner - I'm always concerned that I'll repeat myself when I write - so now I'm going to re-read my most recent post. I usually don't. (What an easy solution!) If I can remember.

Kindle update: This is about the great site called www.ereaderiq.com . They've changed it somewhat since I first wrote about it. It now shows three significant categories: eBook prices you're keeping track of, recently lowered priced ebooks, and most popular ebooks with dropped prices. Oops... And free ebooks. Those aren't the correct labels. . . but you get the idea. I've located several good ebooks with really low prices. I'm just finishing one; an autobiography of Larry King. His life was filled with very colorful characters. Only cost a couple of dollars. I would recommend it. You know, Amazon.com has had many, many thousands of complaints about ebook pricing. The sales just weren't coming in. Thus this site is helping sales. And I'm very happy.

We promised our good friends, Guy and Ginger, that we'd pick them up at the airport this morning. They had been in California visiting relatives for a month. So - off we went. Took Gracie with us and stopped at McD. take-out, and parked in the cell-phone lot. We anticipated waiting a while. Paul had his Kindle, I had the Sunday papers. However, our timing was way off! We ate our breakfast and then there they were!

I'm gonna go look at ereaderiq.com now, and see if I see some more ebooks. I want to add to the list I'm keeping.

So - what's happenin' in your neck o' the woods?

A Little more . . . this and that.

Lately, we've been talking about doing some traveling. So . . . my window-shopping project this week was to locate a kennel for Gracie. I did talk to Lue, as I mentioned in the last blog. We looked the Bed and Biscuit kennel up on the internet, and decided that last night we'd go visit it during their open times which was 5:30-7:00.

I called, and Paul, Gracie and I went for a look-see.

It's about a half hour ride. Not bad - when you consider we, as small -pet-lovers, wanted the best for her. (Okay. Her smallness complicated things - at least for us worryworts.) Nice place. Anyone want to "visit" the site? http://www.bedandbiscuitithaca.com/ The only thing I wish they had had was a videocam to watch them during free play.

Gracie did well. She shook a little when we got there, but she wanted to play with the owner's cat, and was fine when she went into the noisy dog kennel area. And just as the owner said - It quieted down as soon as we left. There are walls on each side of each kennel so the dogs can only see the dogs directly across from them. Very clean place.

We used our Tom-Tom to find an Ithaca Panera bread, sat outside, and had a light supper. Lots of places to sit outside in that town.

This morning Gracie went to our vet, Dr. Kyle, for her annual shots, plus the required kennel cough vaccine. I can remember, years ago, when my folks' german shepherd, Gretchen, got kennel cough. They didn't have a vaccination against it then, and it was quite upsetting to see. Gretchen was okay, but little Gracie would have had a more difficult time of it. So - Gracie has had all her shots, plus a dose of benedryl as a safe-guard. She's sleeping right now. Comfortable as can be. BTW - She weighed 4.9 lbs.

We had our good friends, Wes and Ruth, here from Bath, for a visit and dinner on Wednesday night. They hadn't been here in a while so it was good to see them and get caught up on their family, and vice-versa.

Paul called his sister, Edna, who had a heart procedure done earlier in the week. The test came out well. They didn't see any problem - but she needs to keep monitoring her blood pressure. Even more than she's been doing. It'll be nice to see Mike and her at our mid-July family reunion, along with Paul's other siblings, Howard, Bob and Bonnie.

I sent Evie a package (18month size light blue sundress that I forgot to bring last time I visited). Can't send a gift to her without something for Vincent, so I put in some easy-reading books. Nancy sent an e-mail thanking me for the gifts. Evie's dress was from the same company her Easter dress was from - which I thought was such a pretty yellow! Nancy said Vincent'll love the books, but that he's reading at a second grade level now. Guess I'll have to get more difficult ones for him. It's hard to believe he hasn't even started kindergarten yet. He's taking after his mother.. . that I know.

Although I wouldn't be at all surprised if Dan had been an early reader too.

Paul is sitting at his computer, busy ordering shutters for the shed that match the house's. He's begun putting the shingles on the roof - only working on it in the early morning before it gets too hot. He has a cell phone in his pocket. Don't worry - He's really careful. He said the roof is not as steep as he thought. We don't intend for anything to happen, BUT just in case. . . I can't see the back of the shed, from anywhere here in the house, and requested he have the cell phone. As I said, he's really very careful. And most of it can be done by ladder. Nevertheless, I made sure I was home from the vets asap. Pictures will be coming soon!

I take that back. . . he's up on the roof and it's lunchtime now.

Bible study was yesterday morning. Our DVD video was about baggage - . The setting was at an airport baggage claim area - to symbolize baggage we carry throughout life. I'm getting to know the ladies better, and they're warming up to me. All good things!

So - the morning's gone. Gracie's still asleep on the couch. Time to get lunch ready. How're things goin' in your neck o' the woods?

This and That. . .

Paul's been busy outside all morning putting siding up on the shed. It's almost finished on the front side, and looks great. I'll wait a bit and then take some more pictures.

Fathers' Day: We went to church and the minister had all the fathers that were over 70 stand up. My goodness - what a group they were. Paul said to me afterwards - I bet she wouldn't do that for the women! I agreed.

We had a reservation at 1:00 for brunch at the Hilton Garden Inn over near the mall, and we were disappointed in the whole thing. It was just an "okay" brunch. Not great. Couldn't help comparing it to the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel where we celebrated Mothers' Day. The selection of food wasn't half as nice. The music was fine - a classical musak - but not the "live" harpist we had on M. D.

So - you ask - why didn't we go to the Harbor Hotel? Because they weren't serving brunch. When I called, they really pushed their sit-down fathers' day meal. How strange. Why wouldn't they serve brunch on Fathers' Day? I think they lost a lot of customers. Most young families like the idea of a brunch where their kids can pick and choose what to eat.

Coming out of the Hilton, we got in the wrong teal colored Toyota Corolla. Same color, same year, same inside. It took us a while to realize it - BUT - they had the Toyota floor mats (we don't) and there was a wrapped present in the back seat. That was such a strange feeling. We laughed so as we hurriedly got out and located our real car a few cars down.

We had that happen once before, down in Florida, when the exact same car we had -a white 2001 Chevy Malibu - parked next to us in the Circlewoods Clubhouse parking lot, and we got in that one. BUT - hadn't we locked the car? Left my pocketbook in there? Did we forget to lock it? and this one was unlocked and my pocketbook wasn't there anymore. Oops. Rather stressed out for the moment.

When I was at Nancy and Dan's last time, I saw a wireless 5-day forecaster in their kitchen which I thought would be perfect for Paul, because he loves things like that a lot - so I ordered it from Brookstone. " Accuweather.com forecasts - beamed to you free." We set it up - and it failed. Unfortunately, we're in an area that does not get reception - more than 1 bar. It needed two or three. We tried it all day. No luck. So - back it goes.

I bought the weather forecaster at the beginning of May, and reading their return policy - it says - they'll give money back up to a month, but after that they give a gift certificate, which will be fine. He can pick out something he'd like! I assume they'll send a catalog along with the g.c.

We are researching kennels for Gracie. There's no real hurry, but if we wanted to go away, we would like a place for her to stay. I searched the web yesterday and found quite a few. But -there's nothing like a Real-live Expert Recommendation.

So I called Lue this morning. We're going to check out the place she's used for Greta. But we all know without seeing it, it should be great because Lue would only allow Greta to be in a great place. Of course, Gracie is only 4.5 pounds, and Greta is 85 pounds. I was concerned about her (Gracie's) size so when I checked out their website, they had some videos of their "guests" as they call them. They categorized playtime according to dog-size. Good.

This week is filled with six-month doctors' appointments, and so our answering machine has been ringing off the hook with confirmation calls. I guess it's a necessary thing at our age. It keeps the elephants away. And if that needs explaining. Ask.

That's all the news from this edge of the woods. How're things goin' in your neck o' the woods?

The Little House in the Big Woods

For once, I got the pictures in order!

Except for the first one - which was taken after the shed was set, but shows the size of truck they sent! It's taken through the screen in the living room. The little section where the shed traveled on, is called a mule. They could only bring the mule if they brought the large truck. Paul got mixed up and asked for the "pony" (meaning the mule - it's nice to know someone else gets words mixed up) because he knew the shed had to travel through some dense wood sections.

He ordered the shed without shingles or siding. He made sure there was enough extra when we had the house built, so that any out-building would match the the house. The fellow who brought the shed joked that the trip was so bumpy the shingles and siding fell off. He was a nice young guy.

Luckily

Been talking to Jil lately, and last night we talked to Jil and Bob via speakerphone last night at 5:00. It was almost like we were together! They were even having popcorn, like us. Both dogs were here and there. It was fun and good to hear brother Bob's and Jil's voices.

The reason for our calls: Our new dishwasher down there went kaflooey. Jil sent me an e-mail. He wanted to know what to do. The dishes were ending up with white spots. So we told hime what to do - contact the place where we bought it. A repairman came out and said it needed a new pump. He ordered it. Luckily it's still under warranty. No cost to us.

Weather: it's getting cloudy today and we're due for rain tonight. (We've had our alloted two days of sun this week.)

Remember the shed we ordered two weeks ago? Well, it's being delivered between 10-2:00 today! That's a little different from the 4-6 weeks scheduled. Another - luckily - Paul ordered the gravel and spread it around last week, cut down a tree or two, and generally made the area ready for delivery. What a guy.

Paul's brother in law, Scott, stopped by on Wednesday afternoon for a cup of coffee and a chat. We're glad he came. I like him. I enjoyed getting to know him better. He had some humorous tales to tell of the time he lived with Paul and Donna. Donna had 8 siblings, and Scott was the youngest. He stayed with Paul and Donna for a while when he was around 12 years old. Here's one: He and Paul were carrying bags of groceries from Lue's house to Paul and Donna's, and ate a whole dozen donuts on the way. They lived three houses away.

So - we await our shed delivery.

What's happenin' in your neck o' the woods?

An Entire Weekend - Unplanned.

This doesn't feel like a beginning-of-the-week Monday. It's like we haven't had Sunday yet!

We didn't go to church yesterday, but lolled around. That's not like us at all. We just took it easy, watching a recording of the day's CBS Sunday Morning, reading the Sunday news. It was different, but nice. I guess my favorite statement - guess we needed it - fit. (And also) We're "creatures of habit."

The whole weekend was different.

Starting with Friday afternoon - Sharon called. Ida had her American Heritage Girls Club end-of-year picnic and moving up ceremony at Catharine Park that evening. Would we like to come? Ida would be getting some awards. Of course, we would and did! The American Heritage girls was a new club formed this year. Sharon began their Chapter, and is their Group Leader. She's doing a wonderful job.

Saturday morning, our TV cable was out, and the electricity went out about a half hour later, so Paul and I went to Friendly's for breakfast. Beforehand, Paul called Time Warner and a recording said the power was out for about 500 customers and would be back on around 11 AM. It was. We never found out what happened.

In the afternoon we had quite a rainstorm. It came down in buckets. We couldn't see across the street and we even had a bit of hail.

Then - Saturday evening - As we were watching TV, Paul got a phone call from Lue. Her brother, Scott, (and his brother-in-law) had just arrived from Washington State. Scott wanted to borrow some tools. (It seems the storm "did a number" on her electrical wiring and some of her lights quit working in the back of the house.)

We sat in our kitchen, talked, and drank coffee - til almost midnight. Scott had come cross-country in three days! He drove 48 hours non-stop from Montana. . . with only two catnaps from there to here. Not wise, but he did it. Let's hope he's more sensible going back.

Then Scott invited us to go out to dinner Sunday evening with Lue, her sister, Sharon, and Sharon's husband, Mike. The six of us went to The Seneca Station, overlooking Seneca Lake, and had a lovely dinner thanks to a very generous Scott.

The electrical problem wasn't fixed, so Paul and I came back with Lue and Scott, and the two men continued trying to find a solution. They didn't, so Paul went back there this morning and he and Scott fixed it.

Paul finished up the tile in the kitchen. Spice jars: Naturally, since they were above the stove, the spice jars needed to be washed. This was problematic because I found out that when you washed the bottles, the spice labels came off. So that meant taking the white tops off, washing them separately, and delicately washing the rest of the glass bottles. Can you imagine 33 spice jars without labels. Sure, you can sniff, but hey. . . 33 scents?

So - what's happenin in your neck o the woods???

Picture - I promised.

I have two pictures of the Falls. The bottom one is the one Paul was talking about. He found it upstairs. It must have been taken in early early spring, because there aren't any leaves on the trees. It does show a greater force of water, but the top one is almost as exciting. You can see the bridge in the top picture. Paul said the water came almost up to the bridge in the bottom picture.

It's kinda small - but you can see the Falls from the same viewing spot as the top picture. There is a large area hidden from view where the water pooled and streamed off - not sure if it's to the right or left. Paul said it was very safe. BUT He said the spray could be felt on the road out front which is the spot from which the pictures were taken.

Some weather-related themes and other unrelated topics

After I read my postings through to check for grammatical, spelling errors, I usually decide on a Title for my post. Thus - the above - mostly. . .

Early this spring , when we were at Montour, I told Paul that the Falls looked really full. He said - you ain't seen nothin' yet. He had a picture of the Falls where it looks like a mountain of water coming down. He found it. I have it before me, and if I can figure out how to put real pictures and not digital, on my blog, I will. Scary, scary, scary.

We ordered a futon for the Library upstairs for extra sleeping quarters. It's supposed to come in a week or so. We also ordered a six-foot high woven five-screen wood privacy room divider (say that six times fast!) and it came this morning. We took it upstairs and sat in the rocking chairs "behind it" where the futon will be, and you can't see in. Or out. And stretched out, it really gives privacy. Good! It's almost like a separate private bedroom.

I gave Paul an early Father's Day gift - a Kindle. I told him ahead of time what my idea was, so he could research it, and we could get just the model he wanted. It came on Monday, so we opened it up and got it started. It was hard to get it going at first, but it's running fine now. Last night in bed, he was using it - reading a book sample, and earlier in the evening, when I was at the computer, I didn't hear any noise in the living room and assumed he was asleep in his recliner. Nope. He was reading his Kindle. Good! The new one is smaller and thinner than my Kindle 2. I think his is called The Third Generation.

We're supposed to have Florida weather today. Up into the 90's. TGF - a/c! Nancy had hot weather earlier this week - when she didn't feel well, and not realizing they'd have such heat, Dan left without putting a/c in the windows. An honest mistake for this time of the year. Well - She managed to get two of them up and running. Way to go, Nance! She missed Vincent's school hot end-of-year picnic, but promised him she'd take Evie and him to the beach later in the week. Her illness may have been a blessing in disguise. (If you can call it that. . . ever!)

Jil is awaiting his wife, Epril's trip here. He's gotten visa info. and all seems to be going according to plan. She should be here for their 3rd anniversary on September 27th. Naturally, he can't wait. He misses her so. He puts pictures up of her all the time on his blog. We're all excited. Such an event! It'll be a memorable day.


That's all the news from the Woods Edge. How're things goin' in your neck o' the woods?

Thank you for the responses.

Got two responses about our kitchen tiles. One - to move the spice rack because being over the stove isn't good for the spices. Which we knew - but didn't have another wall space big enough for the beautiful rack which was a gift. Two - put up the tiles. Leave the spice rack as is. It'll blend in fine. Thanks to both of you!

One comment, from a person who read this as a blog, is found below the last post. I can't add e-mail comments. Haven't figured it out yet.

We had a "first" today. We had breakfast outside on our deck. The sun wasn't up far enough so it was shady. Paul is now preparing some land at the edge "our forest" for the new shed we ordered on Friday afternoon.

Yes. Friday we took Gracie and went up the lake to an Amish place that builds sheds, garages, play houses. Actually I hear it used to be an Amish-owned company, but it isn't now. Anyway - there're still some Amish there, as you can still see some women with longish skirts and the little white caps on, walking around.

The place reminded me some what of the modular home factory we visited several years ago when we were deciding to build a modular home. But sheds don't require assembly line production. (I don't think.) There was a huge barn where they were built. Plus they had many (over a hundred?) on display. Some of the sheds were big enough to be called small cottages! Some were small enough for use as a child's playhouse. Some had window boxes. Porches. Most had shutters, double doors. Nor was ordering at all like creating our home. The shed was ordered in 15 minutes. It should be delivered in 4-6 weeks.

We have so many things on order! A futon for the library upstairs, a privacy screen for the futon upstairs, a Father's Day gift for you-know-who, now - the shed. How about a shower door? We're headed out today to order one from Lowe's. Perhaps they'll have it in stock. Wouldn't that be a good surprise.

Nancy is alone this week because Dan has gone to a convention. They use sitters part-time to take care of Evie, and Vincent goes to school while Nancy goes to work. Nancy said that his kindergarten class next year will have a foreign language every day - chinese. Interesting. And exciting.

Lunchtime. So - not much else to report from the Woods Edge.

How're things goin' in your neck o' the woods?

Short week

We finally have some nice late afternoons to enjoy our deck! It was windy and our huge umbrella was "making like a sail." We were both hoping that the wasps building a tiny wasp nest would get really sea-sick. We didn't take the time to find out. Paul knocked it down with a broom. Quick death.

I had been told that when I retired that every day would seem like Saturday. It does. Kind of. But weekend scheduling, holidays that fall on Fridays, Mondays, certainly make the week seem short. Friday is here so quickly.

Last summer, I talked about my feelings as a retired teacher. I enjoy being home, retired. Summers are the same, as summers have always been. It doesn't feel like I'm retired then. And it should. All teachers are on hiatus. . . a lapse in continuity. and. . .are just like me. At this time of year, when most teachers retire, retirement is utmost in their minds. Either the retired ones, or the ones still working. We remember how it was and how it will be.

I am so glad I'm retired! And to have such a great partner to enjoy it with me.

So how're things goin' in your neck o' the woods?

We need a suggestion or two. . .

Decisions, decisions - Paul and I got some tiles for the backsplash in the kitchen. I think it's really nice - Paul did a great job - but not sure I want it behind the stove, and surrounding areas. My thoughts are: It may look too busy with the spice rack being there. Our plan was to continue the tile-height up to the cabinets, and then tile the wall behind the stove, continue on with the lower height up to our utility garage. So - what do you think?