A Different Life II

[Lily&Me]

I remain a loyal supporter of Faithworks Ministries in Brunswick, Georgia, who prayed for Doug and cared for the daughters and myself while he was in the hospital.

I get their newsletters a couple of times a year, and received this in my inbox this morning...the announcement of a Homeless Housing and Job Training Initiative. I love it.

http://thebrunswicknews.com/news/loc...e4f06dcc9.html

These are good people down there, doing good works, and headed by the most wonderful Dr. Wright Culpepper.


Temps had dropped here by about 40 degrees this morning, since late afternoon yesterday....it’s time, tho, and I’m ready for a little snow on the ground.

Be careful what one wishes for, of course, but I do love a nice blanket of fresh snow.


Got my fresh wreath on the front door, and a few seasonal things set out in the little house, but am going to again dispense with putting up a tree and all the usual decorations...it’s a helluva lot of work, putting up and then taking down a few weeks later.

I don’t do the holiday dinner or gatherings here any more, and my couple of days with the grands over their break will be at the motel with indoor pool, as has become the new tradition.

Too much energy and activity in this small space for those near grown kids...an indoor pool makes much more sense, and we will probably get a movie in this year, as well.

Proud of myself, am I, still managing and enjoying these, with no end in sight.


Darling daughter keeps me updated on the antics of Lenny, and he seems to be growing up.

At the dog park the other day, after chasing down one of those torn up park balls a couple of dozen times, he dug a hole and buried it, pushing dirt over it with his nose.

Talk about instinct kicking in.

Then...he repeatedly ran off, complete with snaps and barks, another dog that kept coming close to the hole...and when he had the ball in his mouth, he still guarded the empty hole.

Their little boy is growing up fast.

He’s a very, very good dog, but they are wisely purchasing some sessions with a private trainer to get him to stop jumping, and will hopefully add this to behavior to understand and manage...resource guarding, it seems to be called.

This dog is going to be 100lbs and hip high, before he is done growing, so a high level of obedience is going to be very important.

Yikes.

Maggie

[Lily&Me]

This was Lenny as a small puppy, when he was adopted by his first owner.

He still has this sweet face.

[Lily&Me]

99.9% of the crocheting I do is to donate to those in need, or to give away to people I meet.

However, I saw this beautiful pattern in the Underground Crafter newsletter I subscribe to, and thought an infinity scarf for myself was in order from re-purposed yarn from a project I started but abandoned.

She of the newsletter made this quite a bit wider, and out of I believe four different colors, but I thought narrow was better for me and that this light color would show off the lovely crochet pattern.

As a friend pointed out, with an infinity scarf you don’t have all those long scarf tails to drag in the ground or possibly into dog poo when you bend over to pick it up.

Scarves and cowls, of which I have made a couple for myself , are perfect for dog walking on cold and windy days...just enough additional at the neck to cut the wind and chill.

[mimiandrews]

Great scarf! I agree that the neck of a coat always lets cold air leak in unless one wears a scarf or something. I haven't tried the infinity scarves or cowls, but I think I will. One of those "when I have time again after moving" ambitions.

[Lily&Me]

Hi there, Mimi!

I think so often of your new house, and am so ready for you to get settled into it...can’t wait to see pictures of its’ finished self.

I have found a couple of gorgeous hooded cowl patterns, that I made up in beautiful yarns for my own self and leave in the Interstate....they make such a difference especially when beach walking with Lily in February and March, and are just enough additional warmth for me.

I love them, and yes, a project for you once you are moved and settled.

This time next year, you will be readying for the holidays in your new place, have a supply of wood in for your beautiful new fireplace...so fun!

Cold as a well-diggers a— here this morning, Doug would say.

But, I have lots of firewood.

Maggie

[mimiandrews]

They were supposed to do the rock around my new fireplace today, but were delayed in finishing their previous job by rain. Now it's going to be next week sometime. The builder has strongly recommended that I be there to provide guidance when the rock guys come, so I've been somewhat on call all week.

Yes, I'm definitely looking forward to next year when the house is done, the moving is done, and the grandkids are only 45 miles away. But this is still this year, so I am
once again hanging minimal Christmas decorations in my old mobile home. Maybe I'll get the lights up tomorrow. They provided a bit of cheer last year. I hung them on the fence instead of the roof, so no ladders to drag around and climb. Safer that way and it still looked good.

[Lily&Me]

Yep, I know what you mean about ladders....I just don’t do them.

I have been up on my step stool several times this past week or so, cleaning some ceiling light fixtures....if I have a wall or the refrigerator to steady me getting up and down, I can do anything.

Maggie

[paiceman]

Maggie:

Don't know if you have any interest or your summer schedule but the Navy Blue Angles will be in your daughters town

August 24-25, 2018 New Windsor, N.Y

Bud

[Lily&Me]

Hi Bud, and thanks for that tip.

I’ll be out there late spring, not again in August, but I’ll be sure they know.

Maggie

[Lily&Me]

Lily got a Bark Box today, from Lenny...she was sooooo excited, a box and all its’ contents, just for her.

Now she will think every box that arrives contains toys, chews, and treats.

[Photobum]

Cute.

[Lily&Me]

Hi Vince.

4 Christmas-themed toys, 4 bags of treats, and two chew treats in that box...Lily pulled the toys out, one at a time, prancing around with each before going back for the next one.

Lenny has experienced his first snow, jumping around in it like it’s one big toy, and eating it by the mouthful...a video my daughter sent can’t be loaded, but guess I officially have a grand-dog.

Very cold and windy here, and the snow keeps bypassing us, but I did go by the Interstate this morning to start it up for a bit and check on things...it ran, no leaks, all seems well.

Maggie

[Photobum]

I would love to have seen it. My pups will be six months old Christmas Eve. Right now they are hell on wheels, eating pillows, a duvet, my Armani reading glasses, a library book, their collars, leashes, two camping chairs...amazing what puppy teeth can do...

Merry Christmas (Mele Kalikimaka) to you...hope your holidays are wonderful.

Oh, I am currently in Sam's Family Spa for two months. Hot tubs and swimming pools in the desert with temps in the eighties. Google it...

[Lily&Me]

Double trouble with two pups, I am sure, Vince.

That spa resort looks wonderful...a great place for you to pamper yourself a bit after your roughing it, summer stint in the NP campground.

Merry Christmas to you, as well.

Maggie

[Gearheart]

No Maggie pups and kids are the same way. Having 2 is not twice as much trouble it is trouble squared. It is an exponential function and 3 gets really interesting.

[rmkrum]

Yup. The old gag is one is not enough and two are too many.

Now explain to me why we have 4 kids (all grown up) and four rescued doggies.

Must be masochism?

[Lily&Me]

I have two children, and have had one dog a time...enough for me.

Maggie

[Photobum]

All I know is that they beat each other and not me.

[Lily&Me]

You sound very happy, Vince, and I credit those pups for bringing so much joy and love to you.


I’ve been pining for a small teakettle for the Interstate, and finally broke down and ordered a 6 cup, stainless steel one from Vermont Country Store.

I like a cup of tea mid day, and sometimes a hot whiskey of an evening that requires boiling water ...yes, I can and do use the microwave, and can also pull put a saucepan to boil water, but they seem so uncivilized.

There are other small teakettles out there, but they are very modern looking, which is not my style...I love this little one, which suits me, is of excellent quality, and will tuck easily in the under cabinet of the galley.

The longer one travels, the more it becomes about refining the small details...

[Lily&Me]

I found this pattern, and am making a pile of these out of white cotton for the kids and grands.

Going to get some thin red ribbon for hanging them on the tree...