Closet Checking

One of my friends said she is keeping an old blanket from when she was a child and doesn't know why. I think I know why. Our childhood treasures remind us of the past in a good way. Her note prompted me to check out two items that I have and treasure them as well. So, I dug deep, took them out of their protective wraps and - lo and behold - they are still in great condition! (I do not know how to get wrinkles out of old muslin that was washed and put away a long time ago, though.)

The first is this muslin candlewick coverlet that my mother made for me either before or soon after I was born. I'm not sure of the date. She did tell me that it kept her busy learning how to design it. It measures 42" x 66" and might have shrunk when it was washed. Nice pattern, don't you think?

The next item has handwritten note that Mother wrote. Isn't her penmanship lovely? It measures 26" x 36" which is just right for a cover in the baby carriage in the winter! I have a picture of "Aunt Ida" that I treasure too.

Those were the days!!

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If you would like instructions for candlewicking please click on link Candlewicking Embroidery

Keeping Warm

Well, I'll bet a bunch that you never would think of someone writing about a red rubber bottle! It just popped into my mind and I have to get the memory out. OUT! I say, "OUT!!"

First, I would like to say that I love my electric blanket that our daughter gave to me a couple of years ago. I never thought I would use one. When we moved into the cabin in 1997 there were two here and I gave them away because I was afraid of them catching fire. They were old. I started using my new one and now really count on it to keep my feet and legs warm in the winter months. No more wearing long johns and socks to bed! Even when I would stand in front of the fireplace gas insert to warm up and make a 'dash' to the bed, the heat would be gone and I'd have a hard time getting to sleep. Not now. 

As a child of the 40's and 50's the bedding covers were older quilts, lined with wool batting. They were tattered and heavy, we were young, I don't remember being cold. BUT! When we were sick, the hot water bottle was called into action as a belly warmer, foot warmer, neck warmer and more. I think it was common custom to find the red rubber bottle with all of the extra 'parts' hanging on hooks on the back of bathroom doors. At least several were in that exact same place when I used friend's bathrooms! It was common. Never once did I wonder what the extra tubes were for. Now I know. I have no idea if ours were ever used. I just remember the comfort of that red rubber bottle, filled with hot water and covered in a flannel slip-on made a difference. I see they are still sold. Do you have one? I don't. 

 

Buttered Buttermilk Biscuits and Bacon Breakfast

 What?!!! No eggs???? Well yes, we have eggs but had a large scrambled omelette yesterday for lunch so.....

For a change of pace something that we rarely have. A real treat!

Sing the song with me...B...B...B...& BB!

Be still my heart ~~~~~

Reminder...

This is a re-post from nine years ago. I must remember how hard it was then and how much easier it is now to keep warm.  Just click on the link below.

 Heating in the "old days"

Boys

Yesterday was the birthday of both a grandson and a great grandson. Alex is now 32 and Angelo is 26. Alex loves his little twin nephews, age 2. Angelo is the father of two boys, ages almost 2 and almost 6. 

Boys are full of great things, adventurous things, magical things, wild things, active things, and sweet things! Keep plenty of bandaids in Stock!

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Saturday Happenings

The Mister fell AGAIN this morning as he was walking cross the living room to the kitchen to refill the humidifier container. It seems that when he is carrying something in one hand it puts his balance off enough to cause the fall. This time a nasty elbow skin tear. Lots of blood. He simply does NOT pay attention and moves along without thinking. He did not trip! He just fell over. I watched it happen. DANG do I EVER HATE cleaning up the bloody messes. I have to move a kitchen chair next to him so he can pull himself up to a standing position. 

Today it's raining and I have been busy - before the fall - slicing and dicing fresh carrots and celery in prep for stew or soup or something. I also have a loaf of bread just out of the oven. It is the frozen style and bakes really well and is easy peasy! Rhodes is the brand. There are packs of either 3 or 5 frozen loaves in a bag. The cost is about $1.00 per loaf and it is very good!

Now back to nurse duty as most of the bleeding has stopped and  bandaging is required. See attached photos of injury.

Hangin' in here....Not a happy camper. 

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Almost March..

Each day brings us closer to less snow, more mud, but it's OK, it's nature's way.  We got out this morning to pick up Ed's meds and to get our two week laundry done. The driveway was a sheet of ice here and we were lucky enough to be able to find an 8 lb. container of snow melt stuff; wouldn't want to have the Schwan's delivery guy fall when bring our frozen foods next Tuesday! Also it will be safer taking our trash to the curb on Tuesday as well. The Mister takes the car to the mailbox instead of tempting fate! He did loose his balance in the parking lot of the hardware store today, fell right down and cut his finger and bruised hand but otherwise not hurt. Guess having a cane in one hand and the snow melt in the other when trying to open the back door of the car was just too much. There goes my dishwasher for another week or so!!

Looking  back, what  was the thing to do when driveways and walkways were slippery? Wood ashes were spread. Not anymore.

Friends in Barre, Ontario Canada sent pictures today. The images below show what they have there.

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Heaps

I slept very well last night, believing that the beam that runs above my bed (head) wouldn't collapse and be the cause of the end of me. Although the sun wasn't shining at 9am when I took pictures this morning,  I just want to show you the heaps of snow surrounding us here. It is now 10:15am, 36° and the sun is out doing its job of melting our piles. Well - somewhat! I cannot go out to the road to get different photo angles as the ground and driveway are very icy. We have run out of snow melt. It's OK. I need to clean the bathroom and the Mister is vacuuming. Household chores will be done today. Maybe we'll be able to get out and take a trip tomorrow to the laundromat. Only 22 days until Spring!

I'm in the carport looking out.

I'm at the back corner of the carport
looking along the high bank behind the cabin.

I'm at the front corner of the carport.

Back inside looking out.

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Stuck and Saved

Yesterday was our scheduled trash pick-up day. To my horror I saw the truck coming around the corner and starting to travel across the dam road to our place when ..........he went straight instead making the curve! Oops! Landed on the snow-covered slope of the bank. Thank goodness it didn't roll over or onto the lake ice. He walked over here to see if we had any idea who to get to pull him up and out of his predicament.  There is a large logging business right on that corner so I called there to see if they had men and/or equipment to help. Two fellows checked out the situation and said he really needed a wrecker with a winch. After about two hours one came and did the job.

As it was so far away I never even thought to grab the camera, besides I was more concerned about the driver. He was soooo upset. It was a brand new truck and his boss was fuming! Yes, the road was plowed but not cindered. Today he returned and picked up our trash with the new truck. He was awfully quiet and I felt really sorry for him.  

This morning the swinging door to my bedroom was hanging up on the overhead beam. WARNING! Too much snow on the roof. I contacted the company that put on our new metal roof this summer. The business fellow and his two sons are in Utah enjoying winter there, but his secretary said she could send out a couple of men to clean the roof. Now we know this is new. In the past, the heat inside rose and the roof melted down OK. Now we are better insulated with a heavier roof and the snow is staying. The men came and worked for almost two hours.  The fellow said there was about 3 ft. on the porch roof and the carport roof and almost as much on the main roof. They had to be careful to not scrape it into the ditch behind the cabin because when it melts it would fill the ditch with water and then we would have water seeping into the back log walls. They scraped it sideways back there and then off behind the carport. I will be billed later. I was told it should cost about $100-200. We shall see. The door swings nicely now and there are heaps and heaps of snow surrounding our home.

See the beam that goes over my head!

See the same beam exiting the doorway gap at top and see the bow of doorway!

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More Snow Today

Darn! I was hoping the sun would come out! I took these shots yesterday when the sun wasn't shining at 7:30am. Boring window views yes, I know! 

It was also cold at 7:30am. 

The unusual thing is that we never saw temperatures go below zero this year. VERY unusual! This is looking out through the bathroom window.

Now I have a funny story to tell you about what happened to a relative who lives about nine miles away. They have a long uphill curvy driveway to the home.

“We discovered that after the snow on Thursday, FedEx delivered 2 packages but did not drive up our drive!  Instead they put the 2 packages in our garbage container! It was a chore to get them out as the container was frozen to the ground so we could not tip it over. We had to take a heavy rake and pull them out! Glad there was nothing fragile in them!”

I'm guessing that the driver thought the packages would be protected there. He did his best to deliver! Good thing the container was empty!

Well, that's all folks. It is 24° and fine snow is coming down fast at 11:30 on this Monday morning. Good thing we got our grocery shopping done yesterday. More snow expected for tomorrow. Only 26 more days until SPRING!

Another Birthday!

This little darlin' just celebrated her first birthday. She's a great granddaughter. The family doesn't live nearby and photos are a joy for me to see. Her older sister is now 5. She's our great grandaughter #3. There are 9 great-kids (six boys) altogether, besides the 2 great-great boys! I also recently got word that there will be another great baby in the family soon. 

I wonder which family member she's imitating here!