Today's soup is chicken noodle- chicken stock, chicken, celery, shredded carrots and fine noodles. It came out really well, but a little bland. I added salt and pepper to my bowl, and that fixed it. We had grilled cheese with it, of course!
We had snow flurries this morning- better than the two feet of flurries that my friend Janet in NY state had!
I have three snowflakes done for my blizzard! I took the advise of Sherry and made them in yarn with a bigger hook first, to get the idea of the pattern, now I'll go back and try crochet thread.
Baby Joey will be a year old this week, and Amary turns six months old tomorrow!
We went to the grocery store this morning and spent a small fortune. It had been almost a month since we did a big shopping. I love our little grocery store in town- it has about everything you need, without all the extraneous aisles. If you don't stop to talk- sometimes you run into half the town- you can be in and out in a half hour.
I just finished the new Jayne Anne Krentz, "River Road", which was really good. She remains my absolute favorite author.
And the beat goes on!
Holly
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Soup's On!
I have the crockpot going with chicken noodle vegetable soup. 2 cups of shredded cooked chicken, a can of crushed tomatoes and one of diced, 2 cans of chicken stock, half a bag of fresh shredded carrots, some chopped celary, some seasoned salt and a little water. Put it all in the crockpot (with crockpot liner, of course), and go away and let it cook and blend. I'll put noodles (precooked, or I'll lose all my broth) in the last half hour. It'll give me a couple of meals for us, and I'll take mom a couple of days worth.
Yesterday was horrible- rain, and a sudden drop in temp made the roads all icy just as I left for work. The hill was slippery, and a bus coming up the hill was stuck. I went down it about 5 MPH! Once I got to the Pike, the road was much better, but no one was going more than 20 MPH. I was about 10 minutes late for work, but I got there!
Am I the last one to find out that you can put teabags in the re-usable Keurig cup? Or just put the cup in empty, and put the tea bag in the cup? So much cheaper than the k cups, and a better selection! Right now I'm drinking raspberry zinger.
Today it's almost 60 out, and rainy. We've already been out and did all our errands, so I'm in for the day.
Steph, Dan and the pups are settling in to their new life in Beaverton (right outside Portland) Oregon. Amary is feeling much better after her bout with bronchitis.
I got the urge to crochet snowflakes. I found a pattern on about.com that uses regular yarn, and made a couple while I was in Mill Creek, which I gave to Manda. I also bought a book that uses crochet cotton, and the supplies. And I put up the question on the HGTV crochet boards, which got me some links. One of which was to join a group called crochetville, which I did last night. One suggestion was to make a snowflake every Monday, which will give me 52 by next Christmas. I like that idea a lot. As one woman put it, she's made blizzards of snowflakes!
But I have to finish the baby afghan I'm working on before I start anything else, quilting or crocheting.
Happy Saturday!
Holly
Yesterday was horrible- rain, and a sudden drop in temp made the roads all icy just as I left for work. The hill was slippery, and a bus coming up the hill was stuck. I went down it about 5 MPH! Once I got to the Pike, the road was much better, but no one was going more than 20 MPH. I was about 10 minutes late for work, but I got there!
Am I the last one to find out that you can put teabags in the re-usable Keurig cup? Or just put the cup in empty, and put the tea bag in the cup? So much cheaper than the k cups, and a better selection! Right now I'm drinking raspberry zinger.
Today it's almost 60 out, and rainy. We've already been out and did all our errands, so I'm in for the day.
Steph, Dan and the pups are settling in to their new life in Beaverton (right outside Portland) Oregon. Amary is feeling much better after her bout with bronchitis.
I got the urge to crochet snowflakes. I found a pattern on about.com that uses regular yarn, and made a couple while I was in Mill Creek, which I gave to Manda. I also bought a book that uses crochet cotton, and the supplies. And I put up the question on the HGTV crochet boards, which got me some links. One of which was to join a group called crochetville, which I did last night. One suggestion was to make a snowflake every Monday, which will give me 52 by next Christmas. I like that idea a lot. As one woman put it, she's made blizzards of snowflakes!
But I have to finish the baby afghan I'm working on before I start anything else, quilting or crocheting.
Happy Saturday!
Holly
Thursday, January 9, 2014
How can it be January already?
From September on, 2013 was a blur. The middle of December, Steph and Dan sent his car and their belongings off to Oregon, and moved in with us. We had Christmas at Heather and Ed's, where they made a lovely dinner. Christmas night we came home and ran around like crazy people, doing laundry and packing. Rapid Rover came at 5.20 AM on December 26, and took me, Steph, Dan and the dogs to Philly airport for our 7.30 flight.
Who knew that December 26 is one of the most busy flying days? I use mobility assistance for my knee, so I was thru security and at the gate by 6.30. At 7 they announced they'd start boarding, just as Steph and Dan finally got there with the dogs. The flight ended up waiting another 45 minutes for the 20 people stuck in the security line!
The flight was good, and the dogs were good, except halfway there when Whiskey decided he'd had enough and started barking. We quieted him with cookies. Ben picked us up at the airport, and warned us that we were going to a house of sickness.
We knew Ben had been sick with a virus. He'd shared it with his Dad, then with Becca and Brandon, then with Manda. Manda was in the beginning stages, Becca and Brandon had gone home, and Ben and Randy were recovering. We were careful with handwashing, but by Saturday I was having a lot of nausea.
Steph and Dan stayed away from everyone and left at 6 a.m. Friday, but Steph still got very ill Saturday afternoon.
It was so nice to see Polly and Randy! We hadn't seen them since the wedding. Polly was the only one who never got any trace of the virus. They had lunch with us when we arrived, then they headed out to Becca's for the last days of their trip.
It was a quiet visit for sure! But Amary is such a delight! She laughs, and smiles all the time. She was being clingy, and would only come to me for a few minutes. She ended up getting sick after I left, and had bronchitis, poor baby.
I flew back here New Years Day, and was home for 12 hours before I had to go back to work- that was a miscalculation on my part. I should have came home the day before. So we had school Thursday, then the snow hit and we were off Friday. Much as I don't like snow days, I was glad to have that one!
And now it's January, and a new year!
Happy New Year!
Holly
Who knew that December 26 is one of the most busy flying days? I use mobility assistance for my knee, so I was thru security and at the gate by 6.30. At 7 they announced they'd start boarding, just as Steph and Dan finally got there with the dogs. The flight ended up waiting another 45 minutes for the 20 people stuck in the security line!
The flight was good, and the dogs were good, except halfway there when Whiskey decided he'd had enough and started barking. We quieted him with cookies. Ben picked us up at the airport, and warned us that we were going to a house of sickness.
We knew Ben had been sick with a virus. He'd shared it with his Dad, then with Becca and Brandon, then with Manda. Manda was in the beginning stages, Becca and Brandon had gone home, and Ben and Randy were recovering. We were careful with handwashing, but by Saturday I was having a lot of nausea.
Steph and Dan stayed away from everyone and left at 6 a.m. Friday, but Steph still got very ill Saturday afternoon.
It was so nice to see Polly and Randy! We hadn't seen them since the wedding. Polly was the only one who never got any trace of the virus. They had lunch with us when we arrived, then they headed out to Becca's for the last days of their trip.
It was a quiet visit for sure! But Amary is such a delight! She laughs, and smiles all the time. She was being clingy, and would only come to me for a few minutes. She ended up getting sick after I left, and had bronchitis, poor baby.
I flew back here New Years Day, and was home for 12 hours before I had to go back to work- that was a miscalculation on my part. I should have came home the day before. So we had school Thursday, then the snow hit and we were off Friday. Much as I don't like snow days, I was glad to have that one!
And now it's January, and a new year!
Happy New Year!
Holly
Sunday, December 22, 2013
I'm alive and well!
October was a blur, November was two cataract surgeries, and I'm not sure what happened to December! I can't believe Christmas is so close, and on December 26 Rapid Rover comes at 5 a.m. to pick us up for a 7.30 a.m. flight to Seattle!
Us is me, Steph, Dan, Toast and Whiskey. Their move to Portland is really happening! Dan's car arrived at Manda's today, the pod with their belongings is en route, and we fly out Thursday. They'll spend Boxing Day at Manda and Ben's, then Friday they'll drive to Portland- a 4 hour drive- and the pod will be there and they'll move into their apartment. Steph's car has been sold, and she'll get a company car out there.
I'll stay with Amaryllis and her parents until New Year's Day, when I have an 11 a.m. PST flight back here, and back to work January 2. Amary is so bright and alert- we facetime frequently- and I can't wait to see her again. They had snow on Friday! It was 50 here!
I've done some sewing, and it felt great. Some receiving blankets and burp diapers for a baby shower, and some flannel pillowcases for Mom, Manda and Ben. Mom had bought 3 panels that make a baby book each, and I sewed them for her.
Now I have the urge to crochet snowflakes for next year. I've never used crochet cotton, which is like string. I printed a free pattern from a website, and I have to get the cotton and the tiny little hook. I figure I'll take it with me to Manda's and work on it in our down time.
I've only read a few books this month. I'm not sure why, I did most of my shopping online.
Sly and Tina have us trained well. When you go into a bathroom, Sly races ahead, jumps in the tub, and looks at you expectantly. He wants the faucet turned on to a trickle, so he can drink. His other trick is racing to the slider so he can be let out onto the porch. He loves to watch the birds and the squirrels.
Tina sits on the table next to Ralph's recliner and looks at him til he sits down and puts a towel on his lap. Then she gets on the towel and settles in.
And that's what's going on in my world!
Holly
Us is me, Steph, Dan, Toast and Whiskey. Their move to Portland is really happening! Dan's car arrived at Manda's today, the pod with their belongings is en route, and we fly out Thursday. They'll spend Boxing Day at Manda and Ben's, then Friday they'll drive to Portland- a 4 hour drive- and the pod will be there and they'll move into their apartment. Steph's car has been sold, and she'll get a company car out there.
I'll stay with Amaryllis and her parents until New Year's Day, when I have an 11 a.m. PST flight back here, and back to work January 2. Amary is so bright and alert- we facetime frequently- and I can't wait to see her again. They had snow on Friday! It was 50 here!
I've done some sewing, and it felt great. Some receiving blankets and burp diapers for a baby shower, and some flannel pillowcases for Mom, Manda and Ben. Mom had bought 3 panels that make a baby book each, and I sewed them for her.
Now I have the urge to crochet snowflakes for next year. I've never used crochet cotton, which is like string. I printed a free pattern from a website, and I have to get the cotton and the tiny little hook. I figure I'll take it with me to Manda's and work on it in our down time.
I've only read a few books this month. I'm not sure why, I did most of my shopping online.
Sly and Tina have us trained well. When you go into a bathroom, Sly races ahead, jumps in the tub, and looks at you expectantly. He wants the faucet turned on to a trickle, so he can drink. His other trick is racing to the slider so he can be let out onto the porch. He loves to watch the birds and the squirrels.
Tina sits on the table next to Ralph's recliner and looks at him til he sits down and puts a towel on his lap. Then she gets on the towel and settles in.
And that's what's going on in my world!
Holly
Sunday, December 1, 2013
I'm still here!
I was so not in blog mode! Since the last blog entry, I've had cataract surgeries with lens implants to both eyes. The first time, I was terrified! Everyone who has had it done assured me that it's so easy, but I was still afraid.
It was kind of surreal. They give you some happy juice in the IV, and you kind of drift, and the next thing you know it's over! With the first eye the doc recommended I get the super lens, because of my astigmatism. I did, even tho it wasn't cheap. The second eye only needed the standard lens.
I still taking drops in my eyes, and I have to use cheaters for anything close.
My first post from the iPad!
It was kind of surreal. They give you some happy juice in the IV, and you kind of drift, and the next thing you know it's over! With the first eye the doc recommended I get the super lens, because of my astigmatism. I did, even tho it wasn't cheap. The second eye only needed the standard lens.
I still taking drops in my eyes, and I have to use cheaters for anything close.
My first post from the iPad!
Sunday, October 13, 2013
More Sadness
Manda's eighteen year old cat Sunshine AKA Kitten died. Friday morning. Kitten started her life here in NJ. Heather was working at our local grocery store and someone found two tiny kittens in the storeroom. Heather brought home one, and a co-worker took the other. Kitten decided Manda was her person.
When Manda graduated college and moved to Houston, she came home and took Kitten to Houston with her, where Kitten was happy to be an only cat. She bonded with Ben during their evacuation from a hurricane, and looked to him to protect her. When they were transferred to Seattle, Kitten flew with them there.
Kitten had a long and happy life, and died next to Manda with Manda petting her. What more can any of us ask?
Deaths come in threes, (no matter what Ralph says), and the third was Ed and Jeanne's ancient little dog, Missy. Jeanne said even when she was deaf and almost blind, Missy knew when it was mealtime! She slept in a suitcase in the closet, and she'd emerge when it was time to eat. Missy will be missed by Ed and Jeanne.
All the arrangements are made for Florence's viewing and funeral and burial. Her apartment is all cleaned out, and her clothes have been donated to Goodwill. We have two boxes of her "stuff" here. We were saying how sad it is that everyone has their treasures, and when they pass, what do you do with them?
Tomorrow morning I go for visual fields testing, to make sure there's no glaucoma, then my cataract surgery can be scheduled. The doc will implant a special lens to correct the astygmatism, and give me wonderful distance vision. When the second eye is done, I won't need glasses except to read, and I'll be able to use cheaters for that! I've worn glasses all the time since 4th grade! I'll have to get my eyebrows done! I can buy sunglasses that aren't prescription! Wow!
And the beat goes on.
Holly
When Manda graduated college and moved to Houston, she came home and took Kitten to Houston with her, where Kitten was happy to be an only cat. She bonded with Ben during their evacuation from a hurricane, and looked to him to protect her. When they were transferred to Seattle, Kitten flew with them there.
Kitten had a long and happy life, and died next to Manda with Manda petting her. What more can any of us ask?
Deaths come in threes, (no matter what Ralph says), and the third was Ed and Jeanne's ancient little dog, Missy. Jeanne said even when she was deaf and almost blind, Missy knew when it was mealtime! She slept in a suitcase in the closet, and she'd emerge when it was time to eat. Missy will be missed by Ed and Jeanne.
All the arrangements are made for Florence's viewing and funeral and burial. Her apartment is all cleaned out, and her clothes have been donated to Goodwill. We have two boxes of her "stuff" here. We were saying how sad it is that everyone has their treasures, and when they pass, what do you do with them?
Tomorrow morning I go for visual fields testing, to make sure there's no glaucoma, then my cataract surgery can be scheduled. The doc will implant a special lens to correct the astygmatism, and give me wonderful distance vision. When the second eye is done, I won't need glasses except to read, and I'll be able to use cheaters for that! I've worn glasses all the time since 4th grade! I'll have to get my eyebrows done! I can buy sunglasses that aren't prescription! Wow!
And the beat goes on.
Holly
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
A sad day
I had just gotten to work this morning when Ralph called to tell me that his mom passed away. She had gone to the nurses station for pain meds, which they gave her. The nurse did the charting, turned around and Florence was gone. Very peacefully and quietly, which is what we wanted for her. She had her 91st birthday last week.
We meet with the funeral director tomorrow afternoon to make the arrangements.
When Ralph called me, I contacted my girls to let them know. Heather immediately felt like she had to do something, but didn't know what. Ralph told me to stay at work, since there was nothing to be done today. I did, but I was antsy all day- I felt like I should be doing something. It ended up that Heather and the kids came up when they got home from school, and Steph and Dan came over, and we all went to the diner to eat. Tomorrow morning Heather is coming up and she and Ralph will go wash Florence's clothing and donate it to Goodwill.
After we see the funeral director, I have an appointment with the cataract doctor, and hopefully can get a date for surgery, and hopefully it will be soon.
And the beat goes on.
Holly
We meet with the funeral director tomorrow afternoon to make the arrangements.
When Ralph called me, I contacted my girls to let them know. Heather immediately felt like she had to do something, but didn't know what. Ralph told me to stay at work, since there was nothing to be done today. I did, but I was antsy all day- I felt like I should be doing something. It ended up that Heather and the kids came up when they got home from school, and Steph and Dan came over, and we all went to the diner to eat. Tomorrow morning Heather is coming up and she and Ralph will go wash Florence's clothing and donate it to Goodwill.
After we see the funeral director, I have an appointment with the cataract doctor, and hopefully can get a date for surgery, and hopefully it will be soon.
And the beat goes on.
Holly
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