Indian Summer

GOOD MORNING MORAVIA.....What a beautiful morning, if only predicted to be one in a row.  It's 10:30 a.m. on November 24th and it's 67 degrees.  Inside work is nearly done and time to finish decorating, mingle with the feathered girlfriends, purge Jeff's hot water tank and soak in the sunshine for a bit.  Soaps will be tivo'd today and fresh air will trump housework.


Floors went in at 4628 last Friday and what an improvement it was on everybody's attitudes.  Things look cleaner, fresher and "doner!" Lacie nearly has the kitchen organized, stove arrives this afternoon and that will make 3 rooms nearly COMPLETE!!!!!!!!!  Both kids have a few days off in a row so I can see some moving exercise working off some of that turkey and gravy (and birthday cake) from Thursday.  I, on the other hand, do not eat gravy so I will be the forewoman of the moving contingent.  All will heartily agree that being in charge is my forte'! I might not always know what I'm talking about but I will definitely continue to command;-) They often just smile at me and continue in their own way.... It's a mutually understanding group.....thankfully!


Christmas cards are ordered.  Talk about last minute... Needed all of us to take pictures at our respective homes...and by last night at dusk.  The cut off for the 40% coupon was midnight last night.  We made it and we're all still speaking.... A HUGE holiday accomplishment in itself.. I hope you'll all enjoy.


Now, it's off to the sunshine and splendor of Indian Summer... A season that will only last 24 hours!

Bird Brained

I've been published!  Well, sort of published..I have a photo I took on the cover of a local conservation annual newsletter.  It is such a joy to live in and around an area that "houses" wildlife.  Who knew it would be so much fun to bird watch.  Who knew I would rarely leave home without my binoculars and my camera....and an extra battery... I mean really, who knew?  The leaves are gone now and the eagle's nest is once again visible. I haven't seen any action there yet but it's probably been a matter of being there at the wrong time.  The crops have been harvested and being hunting season, I'm not moving around there too much...I have no desire to be field dressed and truthfully, I'm way more fat than meat.  My research tells me that the eagles have already been back to the nest and made any improvements necessary to secure it for spring mating season and egg laying (or actually late winter sometimes.)  They will continue to use that nest until it's no longer viable and secure...(which I hope is many more years.)  Talk about "empty nest syndrome"... I would have lingering withdrawals and probably need therapy:-(
My smaller birds are still depending on me to provide their treats through the long, cold winter. My chickens are trying to stay warm and we'll see how they welcome some new family members this week-end.  We've kept them separated for a couple weeks but hope they can all snuggle up and get along. After all, birds of a feather flock together!!
It'll probably soon be time to provide some meals for the eagles too.  They're thankful I'm sure and it also brings them closer for some great photo sessions.  I'll keep you all posted!

One of those mornings:-/

Did you ever have one of those morning where almost everything pissed you off? "Hello Thursday."  First off I noticed a note ( to himself) on Lee's sink. Holy cow, how the hell old are we that we need to remind ourselves to eat breakfast?  Then I realized that I hadn't put on earrings and my socks didn't match.Breakfast went smoothly and then it was time for the Post Office and home for my daily chores.  First mail I opened was a letter from Blue Cross explaining that as of January 1st, we could no longer get a 90 day supply of "maintenance medications" at our local pharmacy. They MUST be obtained through a mail order program associated with Wegmans or Prime Mail.  Blood pressure rising.... I have a real dislike of being told what to do, where to do it and who to do it with (I know..sentence ending in a preposition!) Of course, all of our maintenance meds were on the list.  Ring, ring...Hello BC/BS..(which I'm pretty sure stands for bull shit!)  The nice lady explained that I could opt out and continue to support my local pharmacy but I would only be able to get 30 day supplies... "Whatever..opt me out!"  The coverage is the same and my LOCAL pharmacy will remind me.  Blood pressure returning to normal levels.
Next I decide I'll balance my checkbook.  I needed to transfer some $.  There's a little line on the transfer where you can keep track of what you're transferring funds for (another preposition :-( Today it was several things and I just decided...it was "none of your business!"  Guess what?  They actually READ those little notes on your transfer.  On another banking matter I had called to question, my friendly banking representative (I ♥ her) returned my call and mentioned that my transfer note (of 5 minutes prior) had indeed been noticed by the head office and "was their business!"  My time of being pissed off was over and I was once again happy to know that my surliness hadn't gone unnoticed... 
All is good.... on to light falling snow, Christmas carols and wrapping gifts..

My Bucket List...in reverse;-/

You know I love lists...all kinds of lists.  Grocery lists, Christmas lists, To-Do Lists and even a Bucket List.  My Bucket List is short.  I'm not a world (or even local) traveler.  I'm not the least bit interested in running a marathon or any other kind of race.  I don't want a tattoo or any body part pierced.  I don't want to unite with any long lost relatives (or even short lost ones.)  I have no desire to see where my ancestors came from.. (I'm fearful that trail may lead to prisons or asylums.) I don't want to climb a mountain or swim in the Amazon, see Mt. Everest or float on a Venetian canal.


I would enjoy taking my granddaughter on a cross country jaunt stopping at our leisure to see whatever trips our triggers on the spur of the moment.  I want the trip to take place in a beautiful, pricey motor home with a qualified, sighted and non-hearing impaired chauffeur who is fluent in "Yes Ma'am!"  I would like to get acquainted with some of my distant, southern cousins whom I've grown close(r) to over the past few years...Thank You Mark Zuckerberg!  I would like one more grandbaby.  I think Jeff would make a great Dad and I have explained often how growing old without children and grands is a lonely prospect.  I would love a beautiful pond where I could sit and watch (and listen) a pair of loons.  That's pretty much it.....so I'd say I was pretty content with the status- quo...especially now that both kids and their families are within screaming distance and appear to enjoy my company.


There are, however, some things I absolutely DO NOT want to do before I meet my Maker. I enjoy camping but not in a tent, I love waterfalls but I prefer looking up at them, I HATE bridges or stairs with no back risers, I love picnics..on the ground and a good bike ride is awesome..on a sidewalk. Now, the suspended camping is inTREEguing but it would need more thought, less brains and more vodka!

Fortunately, I am ALREADY old.

I didn't get this way by being stupid

Get the picture?

http://www.lipstiq.com/others/7-photography-tricks-you-didnt-know-your-smartphone-can-do/


iPhones (smart phones) are pretty wicked indeed.  I love my regular camera (versus my irregular one?) but it isn't always easy to carry it everywhere and I pretty much always have my phone.  As you are aware, I love pictures. I've even taken my camera to a funeral and a burial. Read into that whatever you may!  I must admit I haven't printed more than a dozen photos this year.  I have a small printer that allows my iPhone photos to be printed.  If I want to use one in a craft or send one, I'll use that.  The days of ordering hundreds of prints, organizing them in an actual album or scrapbooking are over:-(  I have not, however stopped taking pictures!  There are so many ways to store, share and print photos that I have actually evolved with the times... Wow, I'm pretty proud of myself!  It's almost Christmas card time, one of my favorite times of the year, and I can't wait to get all the amazing cards from friends and family adorned with their pictures...really..I'm not being facetious..I love them!


The tricks in this article are simple and seem to work. I can't wait to try the drop of water and the glass in the water.  I'll let you know how they look...heck, I'll even show you!

EIGHT is GREAT

Eight years ago in a hospital over the hill, a beautiful little girl was born ( OK, maybe not contest beautiful...a little slimy, a little yellow and doing a great impression of a Chinese doll.)  She was supposed to stay in her little womb without a view throughout the night (her doctor said, "No baby tonight!") Her Grandma went to the hotel ( I know it was only Cortland,) her Papa was home in bed and her Uncle was driving furiously up Rt. 81 trying to arrive in time.  Everyone relaxed a bit after the no baby tonight alert was given.  I was all nestled cozily in my hotel bed when the phone rang.  It was Bailee's Dad declaring "she was on her way.....hurry!"  Leaving my room not quite fully clothed and hiking up my jeans while I ran down the hall, I hit the parking lot, jumped in the car and hit the road at a rather high rate of speed... Hoping no red lights (from stop lights to cop lights) hindered my own personal Bailee 500.  In the door, up the elevator and into the room....."Ok" said the friendly
doctor, "You can push!" she told Jess
 and " Grandma, you can breathe!"  Whew....... Never having given birth, it was amazing.... Out she came...in she went....out she came....in she went...WTH... All was normal. One more big push and there she was.... in all her naked, little slant-eyed glory. Never had I seen anything more beautiful!  Next it was my job to literally cut the cord.  With some trepidation and a little fear that she might lose air and start circling the room, I snipped her away from her Mom and welcomed her into this crazy, new world.  Uncle Jeff arrived, Papa woke up and motored over and all was well with the world.
I may never get to experience that joy again but if not, I'm happy, content and blessed beyond words!
                                                 ♥Happy BIRTHday Bailee♥

20 Things a mother should tell her son.

Awesome Quotes: 20 Things a mother should tell her son.




We might need to chat....even at 36......but a better son.........no way!!!!  ♥

Spoiled? ...not MY Granddaughter

I read a great article yesterday on Face Book.  Can you "unspoil" your kids (or grandkids in my case) at Christmastime?  It all made perfect sense but hey, I'm the grandma not the mom!  My daughter reminds me of that almost daily.... OK, so if I'm the grandma, I must have extra special privileges that allow me to forgive some things and allow others.......lots and lots of others!  I should be able to spoil without fear of retribution.  I should be able to give without fear of the mother's death stare and I should be able to wipe tears and forgive bad behavior when no one else will....It's my God given right after allowing the mother to even survive her childhood...just sayin'.  This article talks about Christmas and sometimes too much..is too much...Seriously? it's Christmas. How could there possibly be too much of anything.  We're reminded daily that life is short ( a hell of a lot shorter for old people) and should be lived (and loved) to the fullest.  "Live each day as if it's the last," Tell your family you love them each day," "Never put off until tomorrow.....!" and so on... So, if next Christmas may never come, I'd better heap on an extra helping of stuff just in case.. Makes perfect sense to me!! There was, however, some good advice for Grandmas who have many grandchildren or even for adults who love to give to other adults and grown family members. Give something they want and something they need, something to wear and something to read!!  Almost anyone I know would be happy to have those four gifts under the tree.....including me...hint hint!


http://www.today.com/news/7-ways-unspoil-your-kids-holiday-season-1D80283106

The Dentist

How can I explain to you how I feel about the dentist.  You might say it's my own personal Auschwitz.  There is seldom pain inflicted there but the dread, the anticipation and the palpability are painful in themselves.  This morning I had, what I believed to be either, a broken tooth or a displaced large filling.  The gal seated me (in the electric chair) and asked if there were a filling in that tooth...Answering a question with a question, "Isn't there in all of them?"  She laughed.  Her name is Sandy so she has an amazing sense of humor!  My dear friend Rick (the executioner) popped in immediately and assessed the situation.  "Yep, it's a filling and we'll replace it. I just need to DRILL A LITTLE!"  I promptly crossed my fingers, my legs, my eyes and my heart....."Ok", I replied... My life flashed before me. It had been good so I was ready for whatever came next.  Zip....zip and it was ready to accept the new filling....which by the way was zapped in place by a heated, laser, ray gun...(I'm pretty sure!)  "That's a pretty big filling," he said.  "You may need to have a crown on it in the future."  In the future.....that was music to my ears.  A future is a good thing and this queen can always use a new crown.

Veteran's Day

I have little experience to draw from when it comes to family in service.  My Grandfather served in World War I and wrote copious entries in a diary as well as taking photos, which back then, was unusual. (Now you know where I may have inherited my love of photos and writing.)  I believe my Uncle Jack was in the service as well and went on to be a successful crop duster in Arkansas.  My Dad never served as he was just a skinny man with tons of brains and shitty eyesight.  My brother passed away at a young age, my husband fled to Canada (just kidding) and my son went to college.  We do, however; have cousins (on the Hatfield side) who have proudly served and continue to serve and train those who will go on to serve and protect for years to come.  Thank you Tiffany and Wade! Many friends have served and I am in awe of their commitment to our country.  Some left families behind which I can't even fathom... not that they would leave them but that they knew the importance of intelligent, compassionate and dedicated men and women answering the call.


Today I thank those of you who have served, do serve and will serve for keeping us free...something we ALL take for granted daily.  Having the eagle be our symbol of America and it's freedom is something I refuse to take lightly... It is truly a goose bump feeling each and every time "my" eagles fly over, nest and continue to soar right here near EIEIO.

The Cover Up

Have you ever gotten to the point in a renovation project where you make that monumental decision to just COVER IT UP?  We just arrived there and the decision is made....everyone involved even agreed to the product, the color and the price...Hallelujah...Praise God and Strike up the freaking band!  It's only one wall but The Berlin Wall was never as big a deal as this one.  We're down to 12 days before the floor installations and each day has it's own mini cluster $#@%...  Now, don't get me wrong, they're thrilled to actually OWN the house and progress is being made. I have to keep reminding everyone of that.....for my sanity as well as theirs.  The target date for actually moving in is Thanksgiving week. It'll be close but come hell or high water (or hunting), we'll make it happen.  Two rooms will get carpeted Wednesday...those doors will be closed!!!! The kitchen is coming together, new electric service is in, inspected and approved and just waiting for NYSEG to "connect" them. Lots of trim needs to be painted and that's a project for Jeff.  Also, the bathroom and hall need paint and the bathroom needs a sub floor. The master bedroom will be last as it needs a support in the ceiling and another closet built....but Lacie's Dad will whip that up and they can always bunk in the living room for a bit... It'll be an adventure...kind of like throwing sheets and blankets over the furniture when they were kids.  They see no humor in my comparisons to their childhoods but I'm enjoying myself;-)  It won't be long until the befores and afters will remind them of how far they've come and how awesome it'll be.  "All good things take time!"

Holiday Time

Holidays are upon us...especially today... It's Birthday Party Eve, a really Good Friday and I'm Thankful because It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas....It's SNOWING!!!!!!!!  The Rockefeller Christmas tree is arriving at the Plaza this morning and the Beach Boys Christmas album is rockin' at EIEIO.   Jeff worked a late night at the airport but I'm pretty sure he'll be coming above ground soon to enjoy the snow and holiday tunes.... I mean really, who doesn't love Christmas!!!!?!!!


Reno is trudging along at 4628.  Some more rooms are painted, the bar (pass through) is "in" and some moldings are painted and up. Who'd have thought anyone would love a nail gun, early birthday gift so much:-) This will be a busy week as we head for the home stretch...literally. Some insulation on the schedule, a ceiling beam, more paint, and then a bit of a break as hunting commences on Saturday...UGH... My most unfavorite time of the year.  I enjoy the scruff and the camaraderie but stress a lot during the hours of daylight and shotgun shelling.


Floors are scheduled for the 21st so the make up must be prettying up the walls, the windows washed, the floors swept and the rooms emptied of..................everything!  Move in is scheduled for the week of Thanksgiving and Birthday and hunting and who knows what else.... They say the more you have to do, the more gets done..... Whoever "They" are, should hightail it to 4628 and help "git 'er done!"


Birthday photos on tap for next week..Enjoy the week-end!!

Monday Roundup

I've been a little lax in keeping in touch.  It's been a busy couple of weeks!  Jeff and Lacie closed on their house which has allowed us all to put the mental challenges behind us and almost look forward to the physical challenges.  It's going to take a lot of work to transform the older, vacant house into a home but our two families have come together to "git 'er done!"






Tomorrow we'll remember with love our dear friend Mike Powers who passed away a year ago. Lee misses his sidekick and has left his chair at the shop in exactly the same spot. 

Halloween 2014 is in the books. Bailee became a magnificent Maleficent and brought home just enough candy to keep her (and Papa) happy.

November is a busy month for us. Saturday we'll pre-celebrate Bailee's i-eight birthday.  We'll have icake, isnacks and icecream!!!  Guess what she wants for her birthday?  Saturday is also the 7th anniversary of purchasing EIEIO.

The men's favorite holiday season begins on the 15th...Ugh...I hate worrying about who's where and hoping they all know...before they shoot.

Bailee's birthday on the 17th, Jeff celebrates AT HOME on Thanksgiving... Lots to be thankful for this year...

My shopping is done but wrapping is not.... As soon as all of the 4628 house projects are relocated to their rightful place, I'll be able to find my "prize closet" and wrap up Christmas !!

Happy Monday!