More Surprises

I had an unexpected visitor today. My friend, Al the potter stopped by. Now I'm set for Christmas gifts for some of my team members. I can't (won't) show you what I purchased, but be sure they are special. He is involved in various activities of the area, including one this weekend. Check out the links.

Artist Tour

The next big happening is the annual Pumpkin Tour coming up soon.

Pumpkin Trail

I am honored to know this man. He is a very special friend.

Zero

Winter has its beauty but I'm ready for Spring!

Photo by Lori

Winter has its ugly as well. Last night when I turned on the water tap to fill my ice cube tray - NADA! Turned on the hot water tap - NADA! Went to the bathroom turned on the faucets - NADA! Panicsville set in. A feeling of it washed over me and froze me in place! I checked the fuse box and everything was in order. I called a local plumber and left a message. Shaking, I put my head back on and called a neighbor and friend of 66 years. He calls me "Aunt Gere." Soon he and his son arrived to investigate. The heat tape was working. As he was the man who built the pump shed for us so many years ago, he uncovered it, opened the front and inspected everything inside. I sat inside trembling. I'm not good with major failures happening to my habitat. Pretty soon they came inside and turned on the tap and eureka! water flowed fine. The hose valve that was just replaced last March was frozen. He had brought a hair drier and thawed it. The heat tape was wrapped around the pipe on both sides of that tap but not on it. Now it has some new insulation wrapped around the bare area and it didn't freeze overnight. Of course I trickled water in the kitchen and bathroom throughout the night which is something that is always done when the outdoor temperature gets to zero. The plumber called me back within 15 minutes and expressed relief that it was under control here as he had other calls to get to ASAP. 

WHEW! It did take me a while to get over the shock. I must be getting old!

2014

Remembering...

A Christmas Gift from my friend who lives in Hawaii arrived December 2012. In 2016 this new plant, cut from the top of the original, grew its own fruit, with the help of another friend who lives in SC. It took 3 1/3 years for "Pacifica's Offspring" to arrive on the mainland. A 5 minute photo story.

Click link below

Watch it grow! 

Rejuvenated!

Today was a day of joy for me. My friend from HI came to visit when she was in PA visiting her sister and brother and their families. I haven't seen her in several years due to Covid. Unfortunately we stayed out on the front porch because she had a feeling of sniffles coming on and neither one of us wanted to take any chances of closer contact. It didn't matter as we reminisced and enjoyed time together. Yes, it was brisk! She brought me two lovely gifts. One a pineapple ornament and the other a hand soap pump with nourishing and botanical ingredients. It smells GREAT!

Then my local daughter and her husband unexpectedly arrived! They have both recovered from serious cases of Covid and she is working on ambulating after her recent hip surgery. They had been to the orchard and brought me Macoun apples! My VERY favorite! The ladies of course knew each other as they practically grew up together when they were younger. Wonderful that they stopped in!

After they all left I was feeling ambitious so got myself together with determination to get those empty windows covered with the clean curtains. It was difficult with only one arm that can reach up, but with the help of a flashlight, two clothespins, and perseverance I got 'er done! Made a difference. That's one long flimsy rod! See before and after.

And....the plant is still in attack mode! I wonder why it is acting so much like humans by threatening others!!!!

Just bloom and get it over with!

It is only 50° and raw out. No buggy rides for another few days, I guess. I plan for it to leave home November 1 for winter storage. 

tap on image for larger views

911

Please stop and pause and remember this day of 21 years ago... 

2001 - The Mister and I were bringing groceries into our place in the SC campground where we spent every September and October. As I started putting things away, he turned on the TV and we were shocked to see an airplane crash into a tower with a great explosion. We didn't know what had happened until  further viewing with commentary explained the terrible news. Several days later there were items of commemorative clothing for sale at the camp store. We bought a T-shirt. 

Every year since, for the past 20 years, the Mister wore this shirt on 9-11. It was a single wearing and then treasured away until the next year.

Well, now he is gone, but the shirt was passed on to a special friend and neighbor who will keep our tradition. She wore it last year and this year I am comforted by her thoughtful wearing of it again.

Care Package

"Those who truly love you will empower you"

Here goes - New things to try, VERY new to me! My friend, who lives about 100 miles away from me has been a great support when it comes to my comfort. She is a retired RN and has tons of experience and know how.  When I had a foot issue return after many years and was at the campground in SC, she gave me a back roller and showed me how to use it for my nasty recurring plantar fasciitis. To this day it is on the floor under the table where I usually sit and I roll that foot over it many times as a normal daily procedure.

When she posted a picture of her mother's 96th birthday I just knew she would give me some tips of how her mother keeps her skin and self so well. I asked and boy did I get answers! In the mail. A box of potions and lotions so to speak.

The first was this!

Beekman 1802 - Pure whipped body cream - goat milk body moisturizer for dry skin. Daily intense hydration body butter, rich with vitamin E, mango seed, and coconut oil. 8 oz. It melts in for long-lasting hydration and smooth skin, without feeling greasy. Fragrance-free and good for sensitive skin. Use for entire body. source-internet

The next gift was this!

Argon Oil is nature's richest source of all three essential fatty acids (omega 3, 6, 9), which are known to counter the loss of firmness and help boost the appearance of skin's elasticity. source-internet

Also included were more of these.

source-internet

She gave me one a while back, but it seemed to warm up too fast so now I have backups! Easy!

I am already experiencing the effects of the body cream and the argon oil. If I had started using these about 50 years ago I would be without a single body wrinkle and have no turkey neck either. The best part is that I feel the love that was sent with the products and actually feel the difference of my skin already! It's a win-win.

tap image to view larger

A Very Good Day

It started off with my neighbor helping me - again!  Last week she removed the foam bed topper and mattress pad from the double bed. They went into a trash bag because it was way too soft for me to use. Today she put the new mattress pad on AFTER flipping and turning the mattress. I was no help at all. Then a sheet and I'm going to try it out tonight!

I decided to take a buggy ride and was hoping it wouldn't rain. The clouds were large and black when I started.

On my ride I 'saved' a 5" turtle that was in the middle of the road at the neighboring lake. I put it in the buggy basket and brought it home to make positive identification. I have just started learning the difference of two species of lake turtles here and didn't want to put it in my lake if it was of the invasive species.

I took photos but the stinker wouldn't stretch out its neck very far. However, I'm sure it is a painted turtle and I let it go. The following images are mine.

Internet photos next of Painted

Internet photos next of Red Eared Slider

tap on image to view larger

Then I used my stretchy new hose for the first time to spray off the dust on Buggy. I tried to remember what to turn on for water to flow and how to use it and then how to put it away. I dun gooood!

The postal carrier dropped off a special gift at my door while I was out riding. It was a box full of skin care goodies from a dear beach friend. Her mother just reached age 96 and I wanted to know her secrets. I anticipate using these very special items! More about them later.

It's Hereeeeeee!

Big fat flakes came down for a short while early this morning. When I looked out at 6:45am the temperature gauge told me it was exactly 32° and the frost was everywhere, though light. Ok - First frost - First snow - Third day of November. NOT better late than never but that isn't my concern. Mine is to be sure I'm ready, with the help of others that is. 

Yesterday I got the 'bright' idea to call the place where we bought our golf car several years ago to see if they did storage. THEY DID! When they gave me the charge for this service I immediately told them to come and get it! That way it won't have to be hooked up here with the heavy duty wire that gets plugged into the porch receptacle so the switch can be turned on on regular intervals to keep the batteries charged. It won't have to be covered. It will sit indoors in a facility where it is safe, warm, charged and cared for and I can have it delivered back (in about 6 months from now) whenever the warm weather returns. Hey! The price was so minimal and fair for the entire service, and the payment will be due upon its return, I feel great relief!

I made a feather for my hat on this one! See?

The Yard Guy has just about completed winter preparations yesterday. He blew some more leaves, did a final mow, covered the porch swing, stacked the porch chairs, brought the large snowblower out from the shed and started it up. It is now stored in the carport, ready for use. He raked the stones around in there for better coverage and distribution to make the area smoother. He turned on the switch at the heat tape control box for the water supply protection. That tape goes underground from the well into the pump shed. It then goes around the switch and storage tank in there and out again to cover the pipe that brings it into the cabin. This pipe goes through and under the carport roof and into the log wall. I'll still have to trickle water when the temperature gets around 15° just to make sure nothing freezes. The only thing he has yet to do is to bring into the carport the container of ice melt, and the snow shovel and fill the gas cans. I brought in the silky swinging craft hoops from the porch for the winter. That was easy but I couldn't have done any of the other preparations without his very competent help. I'm not his only responsibility around here. He takes care of many others after school and on weekends. You see, he is a school teacher and his wife is as well. They have a family of several teenagers and are very busy people involved in multiple activities. I am sooo fortunate to have this help. 

The Special Gift From MARY

A lady I met at the beach when we had our place in SC has been my friend since we first met in the pool. It has been many years and we developed something special that has continued. Mary lives in Canada. Every year she and her husband and other family members would travel to the campground and reside in rental units for many of the winter months. Those were grand times!

Sharing is something we have in common. Sharing projects, creations, talents, and thoughts were common and still are! I'm not going to elaborate here but just want you to know how talented this wonderful friend is. She's a knitter, a jewelry maker, and so much more, including nursing skilled. 

I just received another pair of her special slippers! They were mailed to me (airmail!) on December 17, 2020 and I just received them January 21, 2021. The coincidental part is that I was wearing my maroon fleece trousers when they arrived and there was maroon yarn in the pattern. She had asked me earlier what colors I would like when she made another pair (5th!) for me and I suggested red or brown. She had contacted me again to say her supply of red was not going to be enough but she had an idea of how to fix that predicament.

Oh! how good they feel! My older pairs of two brown, one blue, one yellow still have life left and are worn daily. Now I'll be sporting these. I have to ask her what type of yarn she uses because they last like iron! They surround my feet with warmth, unselfish love and art!

Please tap on image to view larger

 

Phentex Yarn is a synthetic yarn made from olefin fiber. It's made to be long-lasting and well-worn, making it a popular choice for big projects and apparel that's meant to last.

Olefin fiber is a synthetic fiber made from a polyolefin, such as polypropylene or polyethylene. It is used in wallpaper, carpeting, ropes, and vehicle interiors. Olefin's advantages are its strength, colorfastness and comfort, its resistance to staining, mildew, abrasion, and sunlight, and its good bulk and cover.

Link to Video of pattern demonstration: slippers

Another link to Video of pattern demonstration: slippers

(please read comment BELOW from my Mary!)

Sundry Sunday

 Did I tell you that our new (August 2020) Sharp Ninja vacuum cleaner bit the dust? Well, after a couple of calls to the company, it was determined that the head needed replacement because it wasn't jammed and just would not make the brush rollers roll! It was working one day and then the next, nada! Since it has a 5 year warranty, a new head arrived today via Fed-Ex and there was NO charge for anything at all! And, we don't have to return the failed part. Ordered on Dec. 14 arrived on Dec. 20. Now that is good service and customer relations! (I did have to call twice because I couldn't understand the first person as he talked way too fast. The second call was a woman and she really took her time helping to solve the issue.)

Our yard, lawn and snow assistant asked for a gingerbread recipe and I had just the thing for deliciousness! It is a tried and true recipe and he sent me proof that anyone can bake them! He and his wife made them together and that made me so happy! They have four teenagers at home and I'm sure they will all be devoured soon! These are their photos.

The little guy (great grandson) won't be two until February but he has joined the family of very hard workers. I guess his twin brother was hiding.

The next two are sweet shots and I'll be sure to show his brother another time.

The next picture is from a couple, Laurie and Paul Lobbregt, who specialize in landscape and wildlife photography near Milford PA. It is especially beautiful because of the thick fluffy coat the deer sports. The caption says, "On Thursday morning after the snow storm there were White-tailed deer searching for food in my backyard."

                      Their Facebook page is -

https://www.facebook.com/EdgeOfTownPhotography/

please click on image to view larger

In case you forgot to save it earlier.....

RECIPE for the Chewy Easy Gingerbread Cookies

CHEWY GINGERBREAD COOKIES

Ingredients

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

1 cup packed brown sugar (I use dark)

1 egg

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons molasses

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 1/4 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon kosher (coarse) salt

1 tablespoon ground ginger

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

2/3 cup granulated or coarse sugar (I used Demerara coarse sugar as I didn’t have white coarse sugar)

Steps

1. In large bowl, beat butter and brown sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in egg and molasses. Stir in the remaining ingredients except the sugar. Cover; refrigerate for at least 2 hours!

2. Heat oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat. (I have parchment paper, it only takes one sheet for entire batch.) Put the sugar in a small bowl. Shape the dough into 1 inch balls (about the size of a walnut) and roll in the sugar. Place the balls about 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet.

3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or just until set and soft in the center. (10 minutes worked for me and I used a timer.)  Cool 2 minutes and then transfer from cookie sheet to cooling racks. Store tightly covered up to one week. (I stacked them on a covered cake container and they will not last one week, I know it!)

Makes 60 cookies!