We finally have a break from the awful heat this summer.
It's chilly, overcast with a hint of fall in the air.
Tomorrow we'll meet my son Chris for lunch in Manchester. I miss my kids and my grandkids.
My CLS has found some long lost relatives through Ancestry.com. No one can stay lost these days. I am reminded of that every time the phone rings.
We love going to the library here in town. It's a very busy place and I enjoy reading the local paper and finding a new book. Using the library helps keep the clutter to a minimum in our apartment.
I have more books to give away and wonder if they might like the Harry Potter series. I just had to see what they were all about and thoroughly enjoyed them.
It's a good day to bundle up and take the dogs on a long walk. Maybe we'll take them up on the new Clipper Ship Rail Trail. Gator doesn't like other dogs but I keep trying to socialize him.
The President is on vacation in Martha's Vineyard. I've never been there, but have always wanted to go. I'll have to put that on my "bucket list".
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Monday Blahs
What a relief. Low humidity and 67 degrees. It sure has been a long hot summer.
Looking forward to my favorite time of year - fall.
I am starting to throw out "stuff" and reorganizing everything in this small apartment.
I emptied out the little freezer and threw a ton of food out. I have never disciplined myself to date food when I shove it in the freezer. Who the heck knows how old it is. Hopefully we will get rid of the freezer this week, making way for a better spot for the TV.
We enjoyed looking in the junk shops last weekend. We found a good one over in Salisbury with amazing prices. I don't have room for a thing, but it's a good place to get rid of stuff.
Saturday night we ventured down to Hampton Beach and enjoyed listening to the open air concert on the water. The biggest challenge is to find a parking space. We'll probably go again on Thursday, country and western night.
We have been walking a lot and I have absolutely no pain. It's a wonderful thing!
Holding steady with my weight, but now that the dog days are lifting a little, I want to lose another twenty pounds. That means I'll have to investigate the thrift shops for smaller clothes but I'll worry about that when it happens.
School is starting soon and I used to love to take classes. We might take a ride over to Essex Community College to see what they offer.
Who knows what's around the corner?
Looking forward to my favorite time of year - fall.
I am starting to throw out "stuff" and reorganizing everything in this small apartment.
I emptied out the little freezer and threw a ton of food out. I have never disciplined myself to date food when I shove it in the freezer. Who the heck knows how old it is. Hopefully we will get rid of the freezer this week, making way for a better spot for the TV.
We enjoyed looking in the junk shops last weekend. We found a good one over in Salisbury with amazing prices. I don't have room for a thing, but it's a good place to get rid of stuff.
Saturday night we ventured down to Hampton Beach and enjoyed listening to the open air concert on the water. The biggest challenge is to find a parking space. We'll probably go again on Thursday, country and western night.
We have been walking a lot and I have absolutely no pain. It's a wonderful thing!
Holding steady with my weight, but now that the dog days are lifting a little, I want to lose another twenty pounds. That means I'll have to investigate the thrift shops for smaller clothes but I'll worry about that when it happens.
School is starting soon and I used to love to take classes. We might take a ride over to Essex Community College to see what they offer.
Who knows what's around the corner?
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Dog Days
Glory be, this summer has been the hottest I can ever remember.
I turn off the AC's at night as I can't stand the noise. There is always a breeze here and it's 72 degrees this morning. It was 70 when I got up an hour ago.
The electric bill will be a shocker.
We helped at the Firehouse last night. They had a huge turn-out for a promotion for a product called "Juice +". Sounds like an Amway scheme to me. Hard to believe that folks still get sucked in thinking they're going to hit the big time.
My brother and sister-in-law are planning a visit in October. Horrah! I guess I have to "turn to" and get this place organized. Still too much stuff.
Remember Nan, one room at a time.
Had allergy testing yesterday and am happy I didn't react to anything. What a relief! I was particularly worried about mold.
We had a flood in the kitchen last week. The Nelsons upstairs over us left their facuet on in the kitchen and our kitchen was flooded. No telling what that water is doing up in the ceiling with this God awful heat.
There's a Chamber Music Festival this week at the library. Open rehearsal is from 10 to 1. What an opportunity. I particularly love the cello.
What a wonderful place to live with so much available at no expense.
I turn off the AC's at night as I can't stand the noise. There is always a breeze here and it's 72 degrees this morning. It was 70 when I got up an hour ago.
The electric bill will be a shocker.
We helped at the Firehouse last night. They had a huge turn-out for a promotion for a product called "Juice +". Sounds like an Amway scheme to me. Hard to believe that folks still get sucked in thinking they're going to hit the big time.
My brother and sister-in-law are planning a visit in October. Horrah! I guess I have to "turn to" and get this place organized. Still too much stuff.
Remember Nan, one room at a time.
Had allergy testing yesterday and am happy I didn't react to anything. What a relief! I was particularly worried about mold.
We had a flood in the kitchen last week. The Nelsons upstairs over us left their facuet on in the kitchen and our kitchen was flooded. No telling what that water is doing up in the ceiling with this God awful heat.
There's a Chamber Music Festival this week at the library. Open rehearsal is from 10 to 1. What an opportunity. I particularly love the cello.
What a wonderful place to live with so much available at no expense.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Home
Our trip to New Brunswick was everything I had hoped for.
Every time I cross the border from Calais, Maine, I remember the poem we learned in high school. "Breathes there the man with soul so dead - who never to himself hath said, ""This is my home, my native land!"" - who's heart hath ne're within him burned, as home his footsteps he hath turned from wandering in a foreign land.
It's hard to think of the states as a "foreign land" but apparently Sarah Palin agrees.
My brother John had his 70th birthday and we celebrated with a wonderful fun party. My older brother Philip came for a visit and we three were together again for probably the last time.
Helena, my best friend of sixty-eight years remains steadfast and loyal. We know each other so well that we that we have an unspoken link that binds us together.
The cottage where we stayed with my cousin Pat and her CLS (common law spouse)was just like Anne of Green Gables house. What a spectacular view of the St. Croix River.
We made a point of going over the new bridge between Calais and St. Stephen. It's pretty amazing that it finally got built after years of haggling between the two countries.
The customs office on the Canadian side looks like a big train station. It's worth seeing. We've been told that the customs on the American side is more like Fort Knox in keeping with terrorists and other unsavory characters who might try to infiltrate the states.
The reunion with my old high school friends was nostalgic. Some are no longer with us and our days are counting down. Familiar faces are lined with age but I see them as they were in 1957 when we had so much to look forward to.
The night before we left, I visited Mum and Dad's grave and said goodbye.
Endings are sad but there's always hope for new beginnings.
Every time I cross the border from Calais, Maine, I remember the poem we learned in high school. "Breathes there the man with soul so dead - who never to himself hath said, ""This is my home, my native land!"" - who's heart hath ne're within him burned, as home his footsteps he hath turned from wandering in a foreign land.
It's hard to think of the states as a "foreign land" but apparently Sarah Palin agrees.
My brother John had his 70th birthday and we celebrated with a wonderful fun party. My older brother Philip came for a visit and we three were together again for probably the last time.
Helena, my best friend of sixty-eight years remains steadfast and loyal. We know each other so well that we that we have an unspoken link that binds us together.
The cottage where we stayed with my cousin Pat and her CLS (common law spouse)was just like Anne of Green Gables house. What a spectacular view of the St. Croix River.
We made a point of going over the new bridge between Calais and St. Stephen. It's pretty amazing that it finally got built after years of haggling between the two countries.
The customs office on the Canadian side looks like a big train station. It's worth seeing. We've been told that the customs on the American side is more like Fort Knox in keeping with terrorists and other unsavory characters who might try to infiltrate the states.
The reunion with my old high school friends was nostalgic. Some are no longer with us and our days are counting down. Familiar faces are lined with age but I see them as they were in 1957 when we had so much to look forward to.
The night before we left, I visited Mum and Dad's grave and said goodbye.
Endings are sad but there's always hope for new beginnings.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Hot 'n Humid
Today we went to the Lahey. It's a pretty easy trip and only takes about 40 minutes. I had my fourth fill with the lapband. Apparently the average is about six fills in a year. I am right on track.
I need to focus more. I am so easily detoured. Bad Nan!
Physical Therapy for my back is coming along. I have exercises to do at home. I'll be going twice a week till whenever.
Walking is such a joy with no pain. I can't believe I was able to stand the pain for so many years.
I made a cake for my friend Dorrie's birthday. It's been a few years since I've made a cake. I think it had to do with the pain. I am so positive about so many things now.
My daughter's quilt is coming along and I have 25 blocks all completed. I laid them out in the common room on three long tables and had lots of help from the other residents. It was fun and we came up with a good pattern.
Our music festival in Newburyport was a little damp on Saturday. We stayed until it started raining. No guts! I guess there were a lot of folks who hung in till the bitter end.
The big weekend Homecoming will be the last weekend in July. We're sorry to miss it, but we will be in the Maritimes.
Cooler weather on the horizon.
I need to focus more. I am so easily detoured. Bad Nan!
Physical Therapy for my back is coming along. I have exercises to do at home. I'll be going twice a week till whenever.
Walking is such a joy with no pain. I can't believe I was able to stand the pain for so many years.
I made a cake for my friend Dorrie's birthday. It's been a few years since I've made a cake. I think it had to do with the pain. I am so positive about so many things now.
My daughter's quilt is coming along and I have 25 blocks all completed. I laid them out in the common room on three long tables and had lots of help from the other residents. It was fun and we came up with a good pattern.
Our music festival in Newburyport was a little damp on Saturday. We stayed until it started raining. No guts! I guess there were a lot of folks who hung in till the bitter end.
The big weekend Homecoming will be the last weekend in July. We're sorry to miss it, but we will be in the Maritimes.
Cooler weather on the horizon.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Franklin Pierce
I felt compelled to pick up a book at the library by Michael F. Holt - Franklin Pierce.
Franklin Pierce has come to mind so often. Every time I read that there are very few artifacts, letters and so on, I cringe.
About ten years ago, I worked in a manufactured home community. There was a lady who had a mobile home there called "Mrs. Pierce". She was in a nursing home and in her nineties.
Well, she finally passed away and her heirs wanted nothing to do with her little mobile home which was packed solid with boxes and boxes of all kinds of stuff.
The maintenance crew took most everything to the dump with the exception of a few pieces of furniture.
There were boxes and boxes of letters addressed "Dear Frank". Yikes!
I have tried not to think about it as I have this awful gut feeling that history went to the dump that fateful day.
How sad!
Franklin Pierce has come to mind so often. Every time I read that there are very few artifacts, letters and so on, I cringe.
About ten years ago, I worked in a manufactured home community. There was a lady who had a mobile home there called "Mrs. Pierce". She was in a nursing home and in her nineties.
Well, she finally passed away and her heirs wanted nothing to do with her little mobile home which was packed solid with boxes and boxes of all kinds of stuff.
The maintenance crew took most everything to the dump with the exception of a few pieces of furniture.
There were boxes and boxes of letters addressed "Dear Frank". Yikes!
I have tried not to think about it as I have this awful gut feeling that history went to the dump that fateful day.
How sad!
Friday, July 2, 2010
July 4th - Fireworks 'n Hot Dogs
What a beautiful day here in Newburyport. Our apartment has the curtains standing out straight with the breeze blowing through one side to the other end of the apartment.
We are so lucky!
The music down on the boardwalk at night has been spectacular. Some young men singing a cappella were the best. The group is called Overboard. Check them out on Overboardvocals.com.
We had two Irish guys a couple of nights ago who did a great job playing guitar and entertaining the residents of a 156' yacht that was docked in Newburyport harbor. That was some boat!
Last night we were happy to listen to a three piece band - guitar, violin and base guitar. The violinist also played the mandolin. They played and sang all the old songs including one of our favorites, Charlie and the MTA. Wonder if he ever returned.
Tonight is Friday night so I imagine we'll have some sort of musical treat awaiting.
Happy Fourth. It will be my first year away from Andover for many years.
It's not easy to make drastic changes in your golden years, but you do what you gotta do.
New adventures await.
We are so lucky!
The music down on the boardwalk at night has been spectacular. Some young men singing a cappella were the best. The group is called Overboard. Check them out on Overboardvocals.com.
We had two Irish guys a couple of nights ago who did a great job playing guitar and entertaining the residents of a 156' yacht that was docked in Newburyport harbor. That was some boat!
Last night we were happy to listen to a three piece band - guitar, violin and base guitar. The violinist also played the mandolin. They played and sang all the old songs including one of our favorites, Charlie and the MTA. Wonder if he ever returned.
Tonight is Friday night so I imagine we'll have some sort of musical treat awaiting.
Happy Fourth. It will be my first year away from Andover for many years.
It's not easy to make drastic changes in your golden years, but you do what you gotta do.
New adventures await.
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