Winter Blues

November 18, 2019

Good morning.  Tis wet and gray here today.  The temperature is 37 F degrees and probably won't get much higher today.  The rain isn't supposed to stop until shortly before noon tomorrow.  According to my phone app, which of course isn't usually the most accurate.  So we shall see.

Yesterday turned out to be quite the lazy day for Pogo and me.  We napped and watched TV.  Today though, it's back to "a project a day" for me.  It doesn't matter what the project is as long as I do one.  I'm trying to keep myself active and busy as much as I possibly can.  At least during the cold weather where I don't get out so often.

I keep trying to get back to my crocheting, but for some reason it just isn't as much fun at the moment.  I don't really understand this.  Maybe it's because these last afghans are taking so long to finish?  I don't usually like projects that take forever to finish.  Of course, if I worked on them more often, they wouldn't take so long to finish. 

Maybe this is just the winter/cold weather blues.  It seems to happen every year right about now.  Do any of you ever have this problem?  I just looked this up on Google and it seems to be a common ailment this time of year. 

It's known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).  I copied a lot of printed material on this subject, but it's too long to print here.  If anyone is interested, send me a request by email and I'll send it to you.  (email:  dezuray@comcast.net)

A lot of it can be helped with vitamins C and D, and keeping busy with different projects.  Today I'll check my vitamin stash to see what, if anything, I'm missing.  Then I'll place an order on Amazon. 

Today I have a Dover coloring page for you.  Coloring is very soothing and relaxing and could possible help with the winter doldrums. 

Now I'm going to refresh my cup of coffee and do a bit of blog reading before I pick a project for today.  Before I go, let me share this picture that I borrowed from the web.  This topic is near and dear to my heart.  Even if you can't adopt or foster a doggie, maybe you could visit a shelter once in a while just to visit and play with the doggies there?

So, till tomorrow, Y'all stay warm and have a fantabulous day.

Hugs, Edna B.

A Wonderful Night Out

November 17, 2019

Good morning.  Tis a gray day so far, but the temperature is rising a speck.  It was 27 F degrees just a little while ago, and now it is up to 32 F degrees, with hopes of seeing forty degrees by noon time.  Joe started closing up my porch yesterday, but I still have to go out there and cover everything up and put all the little solar thingies away. 

Last evening,  I went to watch the Disney Magic performance at the Paris Cabaret with my daughter Deanne and my great granddaughter Lilah.  We had a wonderful time.  This was not a dinner show, but desserts and beverages were served.  I had the Apple Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream.  Oh my, delicious!  Both girls had chocolate desserts. 

Here are some photos from last night.  Top left, Granddaughter and Great Granddaughter, Jasmine and Lilah.  Top right, Deanne and Lilah.  Bottom left, Lilah and me, Bottom right, Program.

Jazzy sang "I'm Almost There" from The Princess and The Frog."

Jazzy and Nicholas Foster sang "A Whole New World" from Aladdin.  As of Friday evening, they had not had a chance to practice together.  Then yesterday, Jazzy worked all day at her job and then went straight to the Cabaret.  Nick lives in Maine and drove in yesterday to do the show.  I have to say, they sounded wonderful. 

The whole show was just wonderful.  I thought I had seen most all of the Disney movies, but I discovered that there are a few I have not seen.  So, I'll have to see about renting a few of them. 

I probably won't make it to the December show, "Malt Shop Memories" but that's okay because I am going to the New Year's Eve Show and they will perform the Malt Shop Memories again that night.  So I won't really be missing out on anything.

Today I think I'll just relax and maybe do a bit of crocheting.  And I think I'll call my cousin Ellen to see how she is doing.  She's been in the hospital and is now in a rehab working on getting well enough to go home.  Hopefully that will be soon. 

Now I'm off to do a bit of blog reading.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day. 

Hugs, Edna B.

Do You Read Your Doggie Bedtime Stories?

November 15, 2019

Good morning.  The sun is shining and the temperature is 37 F degrees.  My weather app says we should see temps in the high forties this afternoon.  That would be nice.  It would be even nicer if tomorrow was going to be a speck warmer too because I'm going out tomorrow evening.  Alas, it won't be so. 

Tomorrow evening, I'm going to the Paris Cabaret with my daughter Deanne and my great granddaughter Lilah.  We're going to see Jazzy and the other Starliners perform the Disney Magic Show. 

Today I really should do some laundry.  Every day I say I'm going to do it, but so far I've been able to talk myself out of doing it.  However, the laundry basket is almost to the overflowing point.  That settles it!  I'll be right back......

One load in the washer, and two more loads to go ---towels and doggie blankets.  In between loads of laundry, I'll finish working on my new calendar.  It's almost ready to be sent to the printer.  After that, I'll work on my Christmas card.  I would like to have both of these items finished and back from the printer before the end of this month. 

Last night I had planned to watch some Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts.  However, I fell asleep early instead.  I'm thinking that I might pick another book from my bookshelf to read tonight.  As I look at the bookshelf nearest to me, I realize what an eclectic look it has.  There are novels from my favorite authors, books about birds, Tarot, gardening, science, dreams, household hints and tips, holidays, software programs, herbs, genealogy, Bedtime Stories for Dogs, Cookbook for Children, probate, New England Folklore, and a Bible.  And that's just one of my bookshelves. 

In "Bedtime Stories For Dogs" there are stories and nursery rhymes.  The stories include:  The Three Little Pugs, Hans and Greta, Jackie and the Beanpole, Goldilocks and the The Three Cats, Red - Riding to the Dog Show, Snow White and the Seven Chihuahuas, CinderDane, and Princess and Peabody. 

The nursery rhymes include:  Peter Peter, Little Miss Muffin, Jack and Jill, Humpty Dumpty, Three Small Dogs, Hickory Dickory Dog, and Angel Dogs.  Would you like a sample of one of the rhymes?

Hickory Dickory Dog, The mutt scratched in the fog.  The fog rolled out, He rubbed his snout. Hickory Dickory Dog.

I think I should take my leave now and do a bit of blog reading.  So, till Sunday, Y'all have a fantabulous weekend.

Hugs, Edna B.

Learning To Get Along With My Laptop

November 14, 2019

Good morning.  It's gray, and only 16 F degrees outside.  We may get up to the low thirties later today.  Goodness, whatever happened to Autumn?

Well, yesterday was not much of a productive day for me.  But I figure that's okay.  I worked my whole life, so it's okay to have lots of lazy days now.  Company could not make it last night, so I popped a movie into my laptop.  Torch Song Trilogy is another of my favorite old movies. 

I just might get to like this new laptop.  Especially now that I know it can play my DVD's.  Not that I have very many of them.  I don't.  My TV plays them too, but then I have to remember how to switch what to what and back again.  This used to be easy for me, but now my brain does not want to remember all this tecky stuff. 

Tonight I might watch another DVD.  This one features the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts, and Bob Hope and Johnny Carson are being roasted.  It will be fun to watch all the old time celebrities.  Well, they are not "old time" to me, but most of today's young folks wouldn't even know any of them. 

Last night I stepped on the scale to see how my weight is doing, and got quite a surprise.  It said that I have lost about seventy five pounds.  What??  There must be a mistake here.  I know I've lost a couple pounds because my jeans are getting too loose.  But there's no way I lost seventy five pounds. 

I just went to re-check this, and guess what?  The batteries in the scale are dead.  Well, there's the problem.  Once I put new batteries in it, I'm sure my weight will go up.  I'll take care of this later when I've finished posting here.  I want to relish my new skinniness for a little while.

My Pogo is still asleep, all curled up beneath the warm orange blanket.  We both love this blanket.  It is so soft and warm.  I guess now, though, I'll have to put a couple of my other blankets in the Good Will bag.  I really did not need another blanket.  But, how can one pass up a beautiful fluffy, warm , orange one?  Did I mention that it is orange?  The Fates knew that I could not walk by this big splash  of beautiful color without picking it up and putting it in my basket. 

Now it's time for me to do a bit of blog reading.  Before I go, let me leave you with this image that I borrowed from the web.  There's lots of folks complaining about the wildlife coming into their yards looking for food.  Just remember that this land was their home before man took it over to build more houses. 

So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day.

Hugs, Edna B.

Our First Snow Of The Year

November 13, 2019

Good morning.  Tis a wee nit nippy this morning.  The sun is shining and the temperature is 18 F degrees.  Today's high is supposed to be around 31 F degrees. Guess who isn't going outside today.

Well, yesterday we had our first snowfall.  I'm just not ready for this stuff.  At least most of it disappeared quickly.  Here's a photo of the snow on some of the leaves on the ground in my driveway.   I have to say that it does look pretty against the various colors of the leaves.

And what did I do to while away the day?  I wrapped presents.  Two of my mailer boxes are now
finished and waiting to be taped up and labeled.  When I got tired of wrapping, I paid a few bills.  I just have to put the bills outside by the mail box to be picked up by the mail man.

After supper last night, I picked up the pink afghan and crocheted a few rows on it.  I'm trying to get it finished so that I can start on another one.  My grandson Trio is wanting one in his favorite colors, Red and Black.  While Audrey was here, we catalogued all my yarn.  I checked this list to see if I had any of these colors.  I do have the Red, but not the Black.  I'll be ordering some today.

While Audrey was here, she took this photo of one of our creative squirrels helping himself to some birdseed.  Even if they are pesky, they are fun to watch.

I just noticed that we never took my air conditioner out of the window.  I'll have to see if Joe can help me do this when he puts the screen covers on the porch.  It will help to keep the heat in and the cold out. 

Today I'm going to make a pot of meat sauce and spaghetti.  DIL Janet may be coming by this evening, and I won't have to take time away from our visit to cook.  If I were smart, I'd cook enough meals for the next few days and put them in the freezer.  But I don't have enough energy to do this.  I do have the energy to cook one meal.  So be it.

Well, that's my news for today.  Before I go, let me post a chuckle to start your day.  This was borrowed from the web. 

Now I'm off to do a bit of blog reading.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day.

Hugs, Edna B.

Brrr! Winter Temps Are Moving In

November 12, 2019

Good morning.  Tis gray outside and the temperature is 44 F degrees.  I just looked outside, and there is a layer of  wetness on my car's windshield.  According to my phone,temps should rise to 53 F degrees in just a few more minutes.  Then by noon, it should be raining with the temperature beginning to drop again. 

By 3 p.m. temps should be down to 37 F degrees, and it should be snowing.  The snow should stop by 5 p.m., with temps still dropping.  By 3 a.m. temps should bottom out around 22 F degrees and stay there till around 10 a.m. tomorrow morning when it should get back up to 25 F degrees.  Winter doesn't begin until December 21 this year.   I wonder why Mother Nature doesn't know this. 

Well, yesterday I did not stick to my plans.  (what else is new?)  Instead I was busy checking out a few things on my laptop.  I discovered that my CD drive also plays DVD's.  So I popped in a movie to see if it would play.  To my delight, it played. 

Yankee Doodle Dandy is my all time favorite movie.  The dancing and singing is wonderful, and the songs are so joyous and uplifting.  I've probably watched this movie at least twenty times over the years, and every time I see it, it is still as wonderful as the first time I saw it.  Pogo wasn't into watching the movie again, so he took a nap .  (Something tells me that he likes this new blanket as much as I do.)

A package just arrived.  Oh goodie!  It's my new supply of Emergen-C Gummies for Immune Support, and Emergen-C Elderberry Gummies for Immune Support +.  I do what I can to stay healthy throughout the Winter so that I'm not sick when it is time to go to Florida.  Most of the time it works.

Pretty soon, we'll have to close up my little porch.  Joe said he would see about getting the screen covers up soon.  Once they go on, it helps to keep a lot of the cold from seeping into my part of the house.  I'll have to get some new plastic sheeting for the front of the porch. 

Once the porch is closed up, I'll have to start my countdown till Spring.  In a way, it's sad.  As a little kid, I loved the Winter.  I had so much fun outside in the snow.  But as an old lady, I no longer enjoy the Winter's cold temps and wicked weather. 

I guess a lot of folks' moods change when the cold temps move in.  One blog friend calls it "Seasonal Attitude Disorder."  I looked this up on Google and I found a site that explains it quite well.  It's actually called Seasonal Affective Disorder.  Just click on this if you want to check it out  It's really a good article.

Before I go, let me post another of Dover's beautiful coloring pages.  These are great stress relievers.  Enjoy it.

Now I'm off to do a bit of blog reading.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day.

Hugs, Edna B.

Today We Honor Our Veterans

November 11, 2019

Good morning.  Today is Veterans Day, a day to honor all those who have served.  My family tree is chock full of Veterans and covers every branch of the service.  Because of all our brave Veterans, we are able to enjoy our freedom.  God Bless each and every one of them.

Yesterday was rather quiet for Pogo and me.  I spent several hours going through lots of old photos.  My goodness, so many memories.  I still have lots more photos to go through.  There's one photo in particular that I'm looking for.  Hopefully I'll find it. 

Tis gray outside right now with temps of 39F degrees.  My phone app says we may even hit 50F degrees later this afternoon.  And, you're not going to believe this, but my phone app says that tomorrow's high temp will be 59F degrees with SNOW.  Now I ask you, how is this possible?

For those of you who have bought a new laptop with Windows 10, and those of you are going to buy one, here's a tip if you are like me and want to use a mouse instead of the touch pad.  Fold a paper napkin and tape it over the touch pad.  It's easy to replace when it starts to get ratty.  I did this, and so far it seems to be working just fine for me. 

On TV, they are showing the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.  It is 70 feet tall and is set up, ready to be decorated.  I think it's a shame to cut down this beautiful tree, and the number of lights that go on it is a shameful waste of energy. 

I think a much smaller tree, maybe only twenty feet tall, and a sprinkling of lights on it would be quite beautiful and sufficient.  Why do they have to be so wasteful?  Not just them either.  Anyone who does this falls into this category of being wasteful.

The weather reports are forecasting wicked cold temps for us really soon.  This makes it difficult for me to go out because the freezing cold makes it hard for me to breathe.  Something tells me this is going to be a long cold Winter. 

Today I'd like to start wrapping a few things.  All boxes needing to go in the mail should be ready to go out in about three weeks.  Yup, Christmas is right around the corner.  I keep telling myself that "today is the day to start wrapping" so I may as well do it today.  I know I'll feel better after I get it done. 

Before I leave to do a bit of blog reading, let me share another cute kitty cat image that I borrowed from the web.  I hope it gives you a chuckle.

Now I'm off.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day.

Hugs, Edna B.