Merry Christmas

Hi All,

Sorry I've been missing again, but hopefully after the holidays I can settle down and post on a more regular basis.   It's been a busy time of year, as you all well know.   

Weather permitting, our daughter and son-in-law will arrive after work tomorrow in time to have dinner with us.   They stay overnight here and leave for SIL's family after they cook us omelets for breakfast. Yes, that's right - they will cook the omelets.   How's that for service.   They surprised us with that last year, so I asked them if they would like to do it again this year and we'll have the ingredients.   It's a real treat for us.

The above photo was our Christmas card this year, so feel free to take a copy if you wish.

We hope you and your family have a most wonderful Christmas and a very happy, healthy 2015.

Someone's Asleep At The Switch

Hi,

The scene above was actually taken last year about this same time, but it looks exactly the same way this morning after getting 2 inches of snow topped off by a little sleet last night.    Our long range weather forecast is predicting more snow than normal and colder than normal temperatures.  Oh goody!!!!  A repeat of last year.   At least we don't live in Buffalo, NY - I can't even imagine how they begin to clean up from that much snow.   I should not complain about the snow we have received so far.  But last winter went on forever, and I'm not  looking forward to this one being a long one either.

How careful are you when you open US Mail?   Do you check the name on the envelope before opening?   We don't and probably should, but 98% of the time the mail is ours.   Not the case yesterday.

An envelope appeared in our box from a major auto insurance company in Jersey City, NJ.   Mr. D didn't think anything of it because we get a  lot of junk mail.   After he opened it, he realized it was delivered to the wrong address.   That has happened before as now and then we get mail belonging to a neighbor.

The funny part is that the envelope was being sent to someone in Jersey City, NJ - the same city that it was mailed from.  Somehow it ended up in Wisconsin!  WHAT!  Someone was obviously asleep at the switch.  in fact, apparently more than one person was asleep to get this far!

Monday I'll be calling the company that mailed it out so they can do the paper work for their client all over again.   Then I plan on taking it  to the post office.  I know this sounds anal, but the Post Office would never know they made this kind of mistake if they are not told about it.   Even our carrier didn't catch it - the name was totally different, street totally different, and city totally different.

Mistakes do happen, but this was a big one that no one caught it.   What do you think - am I doing the right thing by taking it to the post office?   If I give it back to the carrier, he could very easily just throw it away.  No one would ever know.  When i worked, I always appreciated it if someone called a mistake to my attention so I learned from it and was more careful the next time around.

Until next time,


Mary

Happy Thanksgiving

Dear Friends,

I'm way overdue for a post, and unfortunately December probably will be the same.   The older I get, the slower I move!    If I get any slower, a snail will pass me by.  he he   In fact, I think I saw one run by me this morning.

Winter has arrived early here.   We've had about 5 inches of snow so far (most of which melted last week then was topped off by rain, turning into freezing rain, with a thin layer of snow.    This is way way too early.    I have a feeling that this is going to be another rough winter, and I know other parts of the country are experiencing bad weather too.  We'll be getting another inch tonight into tomorrow - just in time for us to drive to our daughter's house about 45 miles away.  Joy!

We have much to be thankful for this season.  We have reasonably good health compared to some, are able to live independently in our own house, have plenty of food, warm clothing, heat, and  many friends (local and online on Twitter, and in the blog world).,  Also a wonderful companion in our cat, Mario, who is  always ready for  a lap or a snuggle.   I'm feeling extra thankful because yesterday we took a few out-grown winter clothes to donate to the homeless shelter.  Nothing like visiting there to put things in perspective.   The smiles on their faces said it all - but of course there was a big Thank you with the smiles.   They were so very appreciative.  

We will be spending Thanksgiving Day at our daughter's.  Her husband loves doing the Thanksgiving Day meal, and his mother and I love it.   Kim helps him - they are both good cooks..   We are so grateful to have them.

We wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Safe travels if you have to travel somewhere.   I'll try to do another couple of posts before Christmas.  It's a goal!!!   I have also missed reading your blogs, so I have much news to catch up on.  

Until next time,

Mary

The Tale Of The Not-So-Smart Clock

Hi,

Saturday night was the annual Fall, turn-your-clock-back night.  Mr. D and I made a big production of going around to the many clocks we have in the house and setting them at the proper time.   

I happen to have a smart alarm clock by my bed.  In the spring it didn't automatically change like it should have - it had to be manually set.   After getting the instruction book out and following the procedure exactly on how  to set Time Zone, I set the clock to Zone 3, which is what the book said for Wisconsin.   It should have gone off - right?   Wrong!

For some reason it didn't adjust, and had to be reset it manually--- again.   Mumbling under my breath "just  give me an old fashioned wind-up clock any day!" ha ha - I think it's time to retire this one even though it isn't more than 5 years old, if that.   Ha ha -  maybe it will accidentally drop on the concrete, brake, and we can blame Mario!  (poor kitty will tell you he gets blamed for everything).  

Does your smart clock work, or  do you still have a "dumb" clock?    Have "dumb-smart clock" - am willing to trade for "dumb clock"!

Until next time,

Mary

Happy Halloween

Hi Everyone,

It's a very spooky halloween this year.  The wind is howling down from Canada at 50 MPH and the temp is 38.  Snow flurries are expected off and on today.   brrrrr!   We feel sorry for the children tonight as they make the rounds of the neighborhood for trick or treat.   I remember the days of walking our daughter around the neighborhood - sometimes in the rain, wind, and a little snow one time.   Not fun!

This is also "exchange leaves" day in the neighborhood.   Our yard was cleaned up last Saturday, but now is full of leaves from those up the street!   it's a good thing Mr. B will come one last time for cleanup.   We so appreciate him.  

Sorry I've been missing again for a month this time.  I always have good intentions, but then my brain goes dead on what to write about and/or my back is tired of sitting at the desk.   Maybe there is hope this month.   I'll try.

Since I'm such a hap-hazard poster, you might want to follow via email - that way you'll get a message when there is a new post.

Hope all is well with each of you and you haven't blown away yet!

Until next time,

Mary

Great Weekend

Hi Everyone,

Isn't that photo of the hummingbird great?   Our daughter's mother-in-law took that picture from her kitchen window, which I think is amazing.    She took the one below too:

Bev kindly gave me permission to use these lovely photos in my blog.

We had such a good Sunday.   Our son-in-law's mom, Bev (the family photographer) invited both her sons and families to their house yesterday for lunch. Bev and Steve have two sons - both married (one to our daughter).   Both sets of in-laws were invited yesterday (we're one of the fortunate in-laws).   We had food in abundance and it was such a good time. We are so fortunate to be considered part of their family.

After two weeks of perfect weather (lots of sunshine, temps between 72 and 78 daytime and no humidity) things changed today.  Fall is here.  We had rain today and only a high of 55.   This entire week will be below normal fall temperatures.   I'm not complaining because I'll take this any day over 90's and humidity.    I'm just hoping it doesn't mean an early winter.

Sorry I've been missing for so long again.  I'm trying to rectify that.   Now to go around and visit - my favorite part.

Until next time,

Mary

Childhood Revisited - Part I

Hi Friends,

Yup - that's me.   I sure have no idea how old I was, and my mother passed away a few years ago, so I can't ask her.   I'm guessing I'm 3 or 4 maybe.  What is your guess?

Last spring a cousin sent me a brown mailing envelope containing many photos that she thought I'd appreciate having.   This was not one of them, but by and by I'll be sharing them with you.   One of my Mother's sisters passed away a couple of years after my mother, and the cousin was still dispensing of things.  It was so thoughtful of her to give me a folder full of pictures.

I'm having fun reliving my younger years and thought I'd talk about them here because I'm sure many of you can relate.

My mother and I were very poor, and yet I see that picture must have been taken in a photographer's studio.   I know my mother didn't have the money for such, so apparently one of her sister's must have paid for it.   

Most all of my dresses were "hand-me-downs" from a cousin or made for me out of "gunnie sack" or more commonly known as feed sack fabric!  Yes, that's right!  Apparently various feed items would come in those sacks.   Sometimes for animals on the farm.   he he - very stylish!  But they were usually a good cotton fabric and quite often had pretty, dainty flowers printed all over.   However I got a new dress, it was a real treat. I would prance around and feel like a princess! 

Probably most of you are not quite old enough to have had clothing made out of Gunnie Sacks or Feed Sacks.   But I'll bet most of you are familiar with "hand-me-downs."   It was like getting a new dress to me.  


Those were simpler times back then.   Sometimes I miss those carefree days of youth.  ha ha - but then I'd have to grow up all over again.   Nah - guess I'll stay this age.

Until next time,

Mary