Luck

If you were lucky enough to choose a husband who stuck it out with you when you were less than perfect (and smart enough to stay with him when he was), who was lucky enough to work 30 years at a job he mostly enjoyed and that provided him with a good pension, then you and he can retire and start over. You can decide what you want your life to be like. You can keep the good parts and leave the cracked plates behind. 

Glasses and dishes in our kitchen cupboard

In our case, we did not move all our baggage with us, because we will be going back to it. It's more like an extended vacation. We have a new house with new furnishings and plates. In fairness, I have to say, it helps to have a child who has good taste and enjoys finding deals. We will rent this house to other people when it gets too hot for us to stay here, so it needs to be fully furnished. We get to decide what we need and what we can do without. At the moment, no waffle iron, blender, or electric mixer. (One of these days, I will see how it works to use an egg beater to make meringues.)

Did you know how much you can buy at a thrift store? I don't mean clothes, I don't need any more clothes before I die (probably). Glasses of all kinds for 99 cents or less. Plates and bowls that match. Cloth napkins. And furniture. These are all at one store. I have been looking for canisters without much success. I found a smallish one at a different store. Of course, I don't want plastic ones. 

Routines

The dog has a routine. He sleeps--in the study if we forget to close the door--where there is a rug. More often in the living room, where we bought a runner and he can fit himself on it the long way. When I get up, he doesn't usually stir--although he may eventually move to the study if I open the door to sit at the computer. He doesn't really get active until after it's light out and one or both of us humans are moving around. He might suggest politely that he would like to be let out, into the fenced yard to water the Nandina (which is fine, because they are non-native and I don't like them much, although they do remind me of the house on Milledge Heights in Athens). There were three of them there, near the street, maybe to decorate the telephone pole. Then he waits for us. Sometimes he thinks we are getting ready to walk him, or maybe we are eating and there might be something for him, although it is usually oatmeal or yogurt and toast, not much to appeal to him. He will obligingly lick the floor if we spill a drop or two. 

When we are finished with breakfast and start moving around in a way that suggests we might be going out, adding jackets or shoes, he gets very excited and happy. He doesn't object to any length of walk, rarely tiring, even at 14. When we get back, he lies down, but he is not sleeping. He is eagerly watching until one of us (usually Ray) gets out the kibble and makes his breakfast. He eats with animation, sometimes slobbering on the floor (which he doesn't clean up). Then he rests for a minute before he remembers that he really wants to go out and lie on the porch. I think the smells are as interesting to him as, say, television is to us. Sometimes he sleeps, but other times he is alert. Of course, he is guarding us against squirrels and neighbors. We check and of course respond to any warning barks, but he doesn't usually leave the yard. If I notice he is gone and start to worry, I generally find him on the side, poking around before he returns to his spot. I thought he would like being here in Durham for lots of reasons, but I didn't anticipate that he would enjoy the front porch. Years ago, in Athens, we had a big deck and not a lot of traffic and we had a series of dogs that enjoyed lying there, mostly calmly. 

Yesterday I had a big cooking project--I made calzones, a first, I think. It took time, of course, because I had to make the dough and let it rise. It's like pizza dough, which is like bread dough. The hardest part was rinsing and chopping a bunch of fresh spinach. The house smelled great. They were quite satisfactory, although not as pretty as ones you buy. Tasty with pasta sauce. 

Can you imagine what this gadget is? I used it to prepare an ingredient.

Spring?

It's supposed to hit 70 here today and we are invited to go out for ice cream tonight.

I spent a couple hours working on CSN yesterday, but it seems a little remote now. I also worked on my sewing project at Amelia's shop, which was more immediate. 

This morning, our favorite neighbor, Libby, introduced us to a visitor from South America and her son, as we were walking the dog. The woman is here for medical treatment. I imagine it is pretty serious if she has come all this way. I am thinking of them. I was glad to be able to greet them in Spanish, maybe it will feel a little less strange. I wonder how many medical people here speak Spanish. 

I filled out online paperwork to volunteer at the Food Bank, but have heard nothing yet. Perhaps my note that I can't really lift a lot or stand a lot limits my usefulness to them. Or perhaps they don't need any more volunteers right now. Or perhaps they are short staff and don't look at volunteer inquiries every day. 

I did a 7:00 yoga class yesterday and an 8:00 class today. A friend from Athens was there as well. It was a very easy level 1 class, but I felt really good about it.

I decided to eat less oatmeal. I've been having it every morning (except Sunday) for a while and I'm wondering if it is contributing to my minor weight gain. I think Christmas always adds a bit and perhaps travel as well. I think the main thing is my small house. I take only a few steps going back and forth, with no trips upstairs. We're walking a good bit in the neighborhood every day, but maybe I should do more. 

A little sad

Yesterday, it snowed in Massachusetts. All the people who had the day off for MLK were able to play in the snow, including Declan and Molli. Tamara did not feel safe driving to work. It was sunny and warm here. Went for a walk, worked on the puzzle, baked ginger cookies. Made Tamale Pie, a recipe with beans and cornmeal, for Amelia. 

We had a call from our agent, Patricia, that a house we were interested in had an offer. The seller had called to see if we wanted to put in an offer as well. We got very excited, thinking the offer she had gotten must have been low. Talked with both girls, studied photos, but in the end the seller accepted the other offer. 

Ray and Amelia went to a bonfire, a friend burning their Christmas tree. I chose not to go--cold and smoky sitting around outside. I was in bed reading when they came home. Didn't sleep well, weird dreams about a food coop. 

Crazy morning

Amelia is here again. It was an unusual morning for us, with Ray getting up at 6 am and me not until 7:30. He wanted to go to HRB to meet virtually with a client, so set his alarm. No explanation of why I didn't wake up when his alarm went off, or before, as is my usual habit. I don't feel like I was really tired. A minor mystery. So, three people eating breakfast in a slightly chaotic fashion. The house is great, but I can't imagine trying to live here with 5 people, including 3 young children. Or 4 college students, who were here last summer. One shower/tub. Although, I lived with 4 other people from the time I was

Cameron didn't get his walk but went out in the yard 2 or 3 times, and wanted his breakfast, so I gave it to him. He says, "I'm so confused. My family is behaving strangely. They smell like everything's fine, but they are not following the procedures. I like being outside, sniffing, but I worry about them, so I have to go back in. And no treats today, hmm?" 

I baked some ginger cookies I had mixed up yesterday. They are nice and soft, but not quite right. Maybe I left out salt? I will add a little to the rest of the batter before I bake it. 

Apple Pancake Breakfast

 It's 28 degrees out! I've been cheated! Didn't I come here to be warm? Although in my house it is not uncomfortable. In my bed under the covers, it was more comfortable, but I'll be good for a little while until it wears off. Then I'll make Amelia's breakfast. She is staying with us because K flew to NJ yesterday for a work-related event that was rescheduled from before the holidays because one-quarter of the employees had COVID. 

Her favorite breakfast is a special pancake that is cooked in the oven. Our version has apples in it and comes from Vegetarian Epicure, a cookbook I got many years ago. I am not a vegetarian any more, but she is. Although I don't think there is a non-vegetarian version of this recipe, sometimes called Dutch Baby and made by the Pennsylvania Dutch. Maybe they would serve it with sausage. 

It's still early to put my contact lenses in, because I'm not very awake. I woke up a little after 4. The heat was running. Now it s a little after 6 and the heat is still or again running. I'm yawning and typing without looking at whaat I've written. I'll have to go back and fix the mistakes, after I put in my lenses. And make some tea. 

That's better. Tea made and some consumed. I had a brief visit to the puzzle table, where I opened the shades. Our neighbors on that side are just a stone's throw away, enough room between us for their cars and our strip of lawn wide enough for a blueberry bush (at this point in its life). Mug warms my hands, but I am not cold yet. If I sit here for an hour without moving, I will be cold. Then I can either take a nice warm bath or shower or put on my clothes from yesterday and work some on the pancake. Moving makes me warm and turning on the oven will make the house warm. 

I like to cook in a very relaxed frame of mind. One thing is I have made this lots of times, so that's less stress. I usually get the ingredients out first. Sometimes I do this when I am not really in the mood to cook. I trick myself. I'll get out these things, I can always put them away if I decide not to go through with it. Also, it warms the ingredients (in this case, eggs and milk) to room temperature--usually they do better then. Also, if I don't have something I need, I can do something about it, decide to ignore it, or change my plan to a different recipe--before I'm irrevocably committed. 

LIttle Things

 Hello,

I have a bruise on the side of my finger. No idea how I got it. Banged it on the bedside table while I was asleep? Also, it's getting harder and harder to take out my contacts. I think my eyes are getting squintier. The right one is not a problem, but I have trouble getting the left one open enough to take out the lens every night. I've worn them for many years, since I was 18? Eye doctors used to tell me I would have to stop wearing them at some point to give my eyes a rest, but nowadays they don't. I've known people who said, "I have to take my lenses out now," and switch to their glasses. I can't see properly with my glasses. I only have them because my current doctor insisted that I get an updated pair. I wear them between taking out my lenses and getting in bed and vice versa. When I read in bed (on my little cell phone these days), I hold the phone close to my face and don't need them. My father used to tell me it was bad for me to read in bad light, or read so much. I thought it was a myth that it would weaken my eyesight. Maybe it made me squint too much and now my old muscles can't hold my eyelids up. I'm sure there is surgery for that. The idea is amusing and terrifying. 

Yesterday, I engaged a lawyer to help with the closing on our house. His name is Sherf. Do you think that's a real last name? We met him when he helped Molli add Michael to the deed for her house. She is a lawyer, so I trust her judgement. I hope he is not sketchy. I guess there are sketchy lawyers out there. The inspection is scheduled for Sunday. I told Tamara on the phone last night. She seemed genuinely happy for us and appreciative that she has 2 months to save and plan to get her own place. 

Polly Face-Timed me. She was with Declan and he wanted to talk to me and say happy Patturday. He may call this morning to figure out how to play a game online, although by now I would have been at his house for an hour. I talked to Polly and Dad and Molli. Dad was pretty exhausted from his 3 days with Polly. Molli had made roast chicken, but she said the weather was too warm for roasting a chicken--she opened a window. It was a few degrees warmer there than here. I was wearing a hat and they teased me about it. I got that habit from Amelia. She is always bundled up, with hats and cowls. It's not really that I was cold, it's just nice to feel cozy. 

Circles, a modern still life

I spent an hour or so yesterday working on my bathrobe. I realize the fabric is almost exactly the same as the shirt I made a few years ago--plaid cotton flannel. I am not as careful with my sewing projects as Amelia is. She is a little obsessive, like her father, which serves her well. They say you should wash your fabric before cutting it--such a pain in the neck. Hopefully, it won't be a problem and it's kind of a loose garment, so it won't matter if it shrinks. My favorite part is the choosing, so I already have several more sweaters I want to knit and things I want to sew. First I need to finish this one. LOL. 

After our brief Face Time, I was really sad the rest of the evening. I miss them all, even my Dad. Of course, if I were there, I would not spend any more time with them than I do now with Amelia. I love her dearly, but she and Kevin are pretty quiet compared to the raucousness of the Lynn crowd. Not that Michael is really rowdy either. I guess it's just the difference between Molli and Amelia's personalities. Lots of up and down drama with Molli. Come to think of it, Amelia is pretty stressed too. Maybe we all need to take up meditation. (I misstyped at first and put medication). 

Exciting news from yesterday? I found a salad spinner in a second hand store (New and Nearly New) for $1.50. There was one I liked better for $2 more--it was exactly the same except it had a green top. After he used it for the first time, he discovered it has holes in the bottom. It's meant to be used over a sink or something. Never saw one like that before. No biggie, just had to clean up a small puddle of water on the counter and floor. I also bought a medium-size glass canister. Not exactly what I was looking for, but might hold most of the oats. I didn't want the plastic ones they had. I'm sure I'll find some one of these days.