Welcoming December? - #86

 It takes just one heavy rainstorm to strip the remaining leaves off the trees; whatever has been left is brown and crinkled, fragile and hanging on for dear life.  It really looks like winter now. Yesterday, the temperature didn’t rise above high 30’s but the sun was shining, and I bundled up for a walk to get some fresh air, vitamin D.

The family was away over a long Thanksgiving weekend so we had the house to ourselves. I volunteered on the Tuesday prior at the senior center serving Thanksgiving dinner to 75 of my peers ( hard to admit but they are). It was such fun; I ran around assisting in anyway I could - met a lot of new people and even got to take home some freshly sliced turkey and two little table talk pumpkin pies. I have still been trying to get my eating under control and although I could have partaken of the delicious feast- I settled for a cup of coffee. 

Charlie and I each had a delicious turkey sandwich when I got home and we had the pies for our Thanksgiving dinner dessert. Our Thanksgiving was just the two of us but it was delicious and relaxing!

I spent three days of Thanksgiving week (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) making fudge and dipped pretzel rods for Deena and my craft fair booth. We sold these delicious treats and donated a portion of our earnings to St. Jude’s. Dee assisted making the pretzels, but I got the bulk of everything made and packaged. 

I have started replacing all the exterior autumn decorations with our winter theme. I made a new wreath for the main front door which looks really pretty and also updated our snowman (I found it next to a dumpster several years ago; I really never take things being tossed out but it was so cute and in perfect condition!) Our little tree is up in our entryway, sparkling away and I have my ceramic menorah on display to celebrate Chanukah- which is particularly important this year. 

I had been walking as often as I can and have been successful this past week reaching my step goal. But the past few days have been so cold.  It hasn’t reached above freezing yet today.  

My focus is now turning to the inside of our home. I plan to start touch up painting this week.  

Charlie and I participated in a painting class at the library - it was a winter theme. Just wish it wasn't so damn cold out already but I guess the subject was on target.  

I had been looking for another trip to take, prior to our cruise this summer and - Tah dah! We just booked another cruise from Boston to Bermuda leaving March 29 - week long. Neither Charlie and I have ever been to Bermuda before; it looks gorgeous and so much to do! We will be sailing on NCL's Gem and are both really looking forward to this! 

And just like that… today is Christmas Eve Day. We have spent this past week house/pet sitting for three lovelies down in our old hometown, Plymouth. It has been a busy and really enjoyable week. We visited with lots of family and friends. We commented to each other on all the “changes” in town - most not for the better as we drove through downtown and the waterfront. Yesterday evening, we spent a few hours at the Edaville Railroad theme park in Carver and enjoyed their Festival of Lights. It definitely gets you in the holiday mood!

Blanche

   

Primrose

Treebeard

Charlie with siblings Bonnie and Bob

At Edaville

And as 2023 comes to an end, we wish everyone a very happy, healthy and wonderful new year. Adventures await!!

Spending Autumn in New England - #85

 

There’s no denying the beauty of fall. The colors are spectacular and often stop me in my tracks; I find myself saying out loud - “beautiful”. The front of our house is decorated with pumpkins, yellow mums and wreaths with warm autumn colors which look particularly great against the newly painted reddish-orange doors. So glad I did that!

We have just about finished preparing the exterior of the house for the impending cold weather. The final few things planned are to be done when we put up winter decorations. I hope to do some interior work this winter; filling settling cracks, touch up painting and general maintenance. 

The past couple of weeks have been really busy with outside activities. I now have two exercise classes I attend; one of them really kicks my butt while the other gets me moving but is somewhat gentler. I still try to walk everyday but it’s been a little more of an effort reaching the 10,000 steps - though I always have that goal in mind. I really struggle with my eating; I haven’t made any real progress in that area but I keep trying.     I participated in a painting class at the library, joined a class on “Edible Gift Ideas” and got some really interesting recipes for things to make. Charlie and I both finally went to Bingo at the senior center (I had been talking about it for a while; it is nice to do something together). We really enjoyed it and we will now be regulars! I also played Scrabble, and finally lead my rock painting class which was deemed a success! I am already planning a diamond art class for January and rock painting again in the spring.  It is nice to be able to give something back to our senior center.

  

Charlie spends most of his days ( and evenings) in his shed AKA Ham Shack. For the colder months, he has a propane heater he uses to warm the space. He and Minnie both love hanging out there. The Ham Radio community has meet ups every day ( on the air) as well as all kinds of challenges. 

Practicing his keyboard and creating original compositions also keeps Charlie occupied for many hours. It is wonderful he has so many interests! 

Two Sundays ago, we drove up state New York and spent a couple of days at Niagara Falls. It was a long drive ( almost 500 miles) but the scenery was amazing! The weather was comfortable and we were able to sail Maid of the Mist to see the falls up close. It was a wonderful experience!

I hadn’t been to the falls in 50 years and it was Charlie’s first time. Apparently, the Niagara area is now a big casino area too. Of course, this only added to our enjoyment! We stayed at the Seneca Niagara Resort Casino; we had a beautiful room and it was relatively inexpensive ( $85/night). Our trip home was a bit more challenging. We drove through two white-outs - one in the Buffalo and other in the Rochester areas as well as a hail storm.  I’m not really looking forward to snow in our area; I’m embracing the gifts of every 50 and 60 degree days in November!

In December, Charlie and I have secured a house sitting gig the week before Christmas. It’s in our old neighborhood in Plymouth for one of my good friends who’ll be enjoying a vacation to Portugal. We’ll be watching two cats and a dog. 

This is a win-win situation for all of us; my friend won’t worry about the care of her home and animals and we can spend time in our hometown- visit with friends, family and do some fun things. we’re already making plans! Housesitting is a great opportunity for a change in scenery and feels like a “ getaway” for us! 

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and before we know it, December will be at our doorstep. I certainly hope Mother Nature will be kind to us this winter. 

6 Months Later... #84

    

 

 October has arrived in New England and with it brings cooler evenings, shorter days, changing of the leaves,and cranberry harvesting.  I took a walk yesterday afternoon - we live a block from the schools complex (elementary, middle, and high schools) - and watching all the after-school activity as I passed by made me smile.  Football, soccer practice, the track team sprinting around their newly built track, band rehearsing their march to the sound of a single drum beating. It was a plethora of sight and sound!

 

For the past two years, October, much like our feathered friends, has been time for us to head south for the winter. This year we ultimately made the decision to spend the colder months snuggled at home. I have mixed feelings, but overall for me - it just came down to the shear amount of work for me to prepare and the mental capacity I needed to plan everything. I just didn't have it in me. However, staying home doesn't necessarily mean - staying home.  We still will plan getaways all through the winter. And on the upside, it's nice to spend more time with family and friends!

Since we returned home, the summer just flew by! We did a lot of traveling: a getaway to Maine:

visiting friends in NY:

a couple of nights in CT to spend time at our favorite casinos:

 visit to family in Maryland:

 and the highlight - a family trip to Miami to board the Disney Magic Cruise Ship to Castaway Cay and Cozumel, Mexico. 

 It was a great summer and have gotten just a bit addicted to cruising! I have already booked a 24-day cruise next summer out of Boston on the Holland American Volendam - traveling up the coast of New England, into Canada's Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Labrador and over to Greenland and Iceland.  This is a dream cruise for me and I'm counting the days!

On the other side of things, we've had a lot of doctor appointments this year, but for the most part, we are doing well.  Some issues just come with age and even though it's sometimes frustrating, it's still better than the alternative. 💼

Right now, Charlie and I are working on projects around the house.  I just finished painting all the exterior doors to the house - a nice, bright red.  This was high on my list and I'm glad to get it done. 

Last week we washed, winterized and covered the trailer.  That cover has certainly seen better days and this might be it's final year. 

We pulled out our rowboat from behind the shed and put it up for sale. We are hoping to buy a kayak; I think we will enjoy it more.  

I drove by a place giving away free pallets so I pulled over and called Charlie to get them. We are going to restack our wood pile on one and use the others for various projects. 

And then there's the never-ending yard work! I started taking off the exterior pillows and cushions, washing them and storing them away, I need to move all the outdoor furniture and cover, the list goes on... a lot to do before it gets really cold. Thank goodness this week will be pretty nice!

    

I really miss Bay St. Louis and Bandera and the lovely people we have met.  I hope we can get back that way next year at some point.

The final bloom on my hydrangea