A Different Life II

[Rocinante]

If, like me, they are too lazy to deal with all that wood, a gas fireplace with a blower insert is a decent alternative. Not as romantic, but still warms things up a bit.

[Lily&Me]

Yes, the gas fireplaces do a pretty nice job, and can be dialed up for more flame and heat.

I expect they will want to do wood for awhile. He was born and raised in the big city, so woodfires and even backyards were a novelty for him.

When they were here last June, his favorite spot was the patio with a fire going in my new fire pit...he just kept tossing a log in there, sat at the table under the awning, and enjoyed it.

They are looking for something slightly upstate...more affordable, and more likely to offer what they want.

Commutes are already a way of life for them...


Maggie

[ColoradoLady]

Our temps are dropping and we will be looking at lows below 0 over the next few days at least. Snow today and tomorrow of 5-8". We are promised an "upslope" condition, so, it remains to be seen...just how much we will get. Sometimes, the upslope really slams us!

[BassCan]

Maggie, wishing you safe travels when you journey down to the ( hopefully) sunny south in a few weeks. Looking forward to meeting you at Can Opener.

[Lily&Me]

Thank you.

Looking forward to my first CanOpener, and hoping for clear roads and weather all the way down.

Maggie

[mimiandrews]

I know what you're saying about the wood stove. I miss the one we had in the old house. John used to say that the stove put out a friendly heat. For now, though it's propane heat and glad I have it.

[paiceman]

"She knows the signs"

They know, they always know.

Safe travels and clear roads - our plans are we leave January 1 and make a 13 hour run into the deep south. But, then we have planned this the previous two years as well and my health has kept us in Pittsburgh.

My Best

Bud

[Lily&Me]

Thank you, Bud, and if you get South and it looks like our paths will cross, give a holler.

Yes, it's cute....when I get out my travel bags, Lily is despondent, as these mean I am leaving and she is left behind....but she knows the packing cubes go into the Interstate, where she goes along.

Such a sweetie.

Here's wishing everyone here a very happy holiday season, however you celebrate it.

And if you're traveling, be safe.

I didn't take this picture, and this is not Lily...tho if you've ever met her, you know it could be.

[Lily&Me]

We started the day cold here, but the sun came out and it is still cold, but beautiful.

My daughter is sending me fireproof gloves for Christmas...Doug had a pair, wore them out reaching into the woodstove to adjust pieces a bit too large, or misshapen...I could have used them this morning, wrestling about with an odd-shaped piece that began burning before I got it situated and could close the door.

Tomorrow...a high in the mid-20's.

Not much going on here...sorting and organizing a bit for the trip south, sub-sorting for my trip to NYC in a week to see darling daughter and sweet SIL...with an overnight stop in NJ to visit friends there.

A little get-away for Grandma, sans dependents of the two or four-legged variety, and I am looking forward to it. I'll have a day in Chicago on the way back, before train-ing it home...my first leisure time in the city since Doug died, but it's time, and I am ready.

Downtown Chicago, decked out for the holidays, is a beautiful sight....and I will enjoy it.


Maggie

[streaminwild]

There is nothing like a wood stove to keep you warm during the winter. When you have a bad ice storm, and the power goes out. You can still put a can of soup on the stove and have a hot meal. I've never tried a dutch oven on the stove, I wonder if that would work? Have a nice Christmas Maggie. Gregg

[Lily&Me]

Thanks, Gregg.

This particular woodstove has a large enough glass door that one could get a Dutch Oven in there, but I think it would be very messy, getting it in and out, dealing with the coals, etc. I think not.

I have cooked a pot of vegetable soup in a DO atop my woodstove, but it's been awhile, and we were once the only house in the neighborhood with heat when the power went out during an ice storm.

I have thought of toasting bread and cheese in there, with my toasting forks, but have never gotten to that, tho the grands have toasted marshmallows in there with them.

Mimi's characterization of the woodstove as "friendly heat", is very apt...that's exactly what it is, it warms and comforts and nurtures, in a very solid, inanimate way.

I love my woodstove.


Maggie

[DIR1]

Same kind of day here... clear, sunny and crispy cold... frost and ice this morning.. tomorrow is the big stormy day... then back to usual Oregon weather...I've had a fire in the stove since early afternoon and it's never gotten really hot in here like it sometimes does... just staying comfortable... yes, we all love our wood stoves... hugs and love from out here... stay warm, be happy!

[Lily&Me]

I keep my inside front door open most days when using the woodstove....the glass outer door lets in a lot of light, and keeps the living room from being 85 degrees.

It has to be bitterly cold to need to close everything up.

I'm hoping the bitter cold weather holds off til I'm outta here in a few weeks.


Maggie

[Lily&Me]

Socks I found at TJMaxx a month or so ago.

They carry the most gorgeous socks from Italy.

A bit flashy for an old woman, you say?....I simply don't care, say I.

Doug keeps roses in my life, even tho he's not here any longer to provide me with fresh ones....that's what I think.


Maggie

[DIR1]

I love the socks!! I believe, at this age, we can be as flashy or unusual as we feel like... we've earned it!!! I for one, love seeing "older ladies" being fun and independent... it's a good thing!!! Yes, I have the glass front door thing here too... faces south,lots of heat from that..and light... ok, into the day!! Enjoy!! Keep having fun!! Hugs and love from here...

[Lily&Me]

They are really lovely socks, and warm.

Yep, one of the benefits of getting older is that you care less what people think...altho most of us struggle a bit with that at times.

One of my resolutions for the New Year...one that I will share...is to have no expectations.

[DIR1]

That's a good quote.. thx for sharing...

[ColoradoLady]

Maggie, I like the sox...very pretty! I, like you, think we've earned the right to be ourselves, different, however we like. I used to dress for style....now I dress for comfort. Be safe, stay warm!

[Lily&Me]

You, as well, Evelyn.

Currently 21 degrees outside, with a wind chill of 7 ...wood stove has been humming along all day, doing what it is meant to do.

All of a sudden, it is winter.

Had my last needlework group today til the spring, and wore my shrug I finished a few weeks ago there, so that they could all oooo and ahhhh...which they did , and wanted to know where to find the pattern.

Nothing much going on here....skipped the walk with Lily today, will try for one tomorrow when there is less wind.

Sorting, packing a bit, pulling things together, looking at route planning south....


Maggie

[Hittenstiehl]

Whew, this crocheting self lesson is not that easy. Right pinky is cramped, didn't even realize it was doing anything 😓

Got the slip knot chain thing going good. Ha ha that's the easy part. Hmm.. need to turn around. Second row starts to curl up a bit must be going too tight. The turn around's, next rows, aren't quite going correctly. Must be missing or misinterpreting something in the instructions.

Per the booklet I shouldnt be using this fluffy multi strand as a beginner anyway but it's what I bought.

Watching football does feels less wasteful.😙 More practice tomorrow.