Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Weather, moving-or not, etc

Catching up, good to see Doris & Mary Jo posting.  As usual I posted last week, but it didn't "post".
Been really busy, too busy.  Eye report from Mayo clinic Dr. is A&!  It was last Wednesday.  Always stressful, but thankfully it has been almost 1 year since the surgery and there is improvement.
That's why DH is taking me to N.C. for a vacation.  The surgery/radiation last year overlapped my 65th birthday, so he said honey-NEXT year we will do something special.  And this is it.
You might think it strange, but the sale of our house has fallen through, and I'm glad.  Too much going on in the same time period.  It was to close on the Tuesday after we returned, but the buyers were going through the Veterans Affairs (VA for those in the states) and various reasons he wasn't going to occupy in 30 days.  We will take it off the market until the Spring.  Not looking forward to more yard work, but maybe can hire someone to help.
DH is meeting with the relative by marriage who is interested in selling us their beach condo tomorrow.  It won't be available until at least June anyway.
So, with my 97 year old Mom failing fast, I didn't really want to clean the attic, sell/consign/give/purge all our "stuff" in the next 30 days!
Going to Waynesvillle, N.C. for the apple festival, then to Boone, N.C. to enjoy the trees and ride bikes, hike, walk the dogs, and enjoy life and see fall trees for 8 days.
Sara in Fla.

Weather . . . ugh

We've had a very dry September and are making up for it this past week.   Over the past eight days, we've received six inches of rain at our house.   Then two  or three more days of drizzle and cloudy skies.   We are over it!

I brought  my computer back to the repair shop and they had to reset my browsers.  I never would have guessed.....but it's now easy to post here, so I am a happy camper.

Cooler weather here now, more like autumn!   More summer clothes will go into the off-season closet and more winter stuff will be brought down.   I do enjoy the four seasons but moving the clothes back and forth is a bit of labor.   

I am currently working on some valances for DS and DDIL.  She chose upholstery fabrics for them - ugh - but the good news is that they're fairly lightweight, as upholstery stuff goes.   I'll post photos when they are finished and hanging, hopefully within the next month.

Monday, October 13, 2014

From MaryJoG

The leaves on our maple are beginning to turn and irrigation water is turned off.  Both are sure signs of fall.  Morning walks require a jacket now.  The yard looks better than it has in past autumns.  Everything is in full bloom. Dahlias are especially pretty.  The hibiscus has a last peppermint pink bloom while its leaves are yellow and beginning to fall.   Had to replant much in July because of water problems.  All of the early plantings died while I traveled north.  Now know how the sprinkler system works and all is well.  The past six months have found me learning many 'guy' jobs.  Necessary to maintain the home but not my first choice.  Would much rather quilt.  Had fall furnace maintenance done to learn a new one is needed.  The first estimate will happen this afternoon and the second opinion later this week.  The 14 year old does not meet environmental standards and is not efficient.  Two neighbors in the subdivision had to replace theirs during midwinter.  Would rather do it now than be without heat later.  Jeff (middle son) spent three days winterizing the house and helping with chores.  All seems to be ready for winter.

The trip to AZ is done.  Spent the first day alone making decisions and taking care of John's things. Needed that time to process.  Friends helped the rest of the week.  Was happy to donate the contents of the quilt room to Project Linus.  Our books went to Bookman's who turned them into vouchers to give children free books.  Food went to the food bank.  Native American art is going to the museum for their gift shop.  A free sign on the garage emptied 90% of it; that was a chore I'd dreaded.  UPS picked up thirteen boxes to ship home. They contain quilting, Christmas and books.  Left a minimum of furniture, linens, kitchen supplies...so the buyer could move right in and set up with only a trip to the grocer. St. Vincent's picked up the rest.   Am not especially pleased with the realtor but it is in multiple listings so someone else will sell it.  Think she is one who lists then sits back and waits for another to sell so she can collect half a commission.  It was a week full of memories that impressed me with its finality.  My friend, Susan, set much in place so that it went better than I'd expected.  We worked all day and then went to dinner in different posh places.  She was a food critic and wanted to show me new restaurants.  Many offered gluten free menus which I appreciated.

A tropical storm was due to hit so I rented a SUV with more clearance as 8-9" of rain was expected.  Only got showers.  It was very humid the first few days with temps above 100.  The SUV had a feature that scared me to death.  I was driving from the airport, seeking the best way across town and an image of an exploding car (in red with stars) flashed on the dash.  Pulled over immediately to learn that it was signaling me a car was tailgating.  If I'd hit the brakes, he would have hit me.  It also flashed if a car got too close on either side or if one was too close to the center line or shoulder.  When I returned the car, the clerk said those were great safety measures.  My reply was, 'Only if you warn the driver of them.'  Not a car that I'd buy...

With that behind me, am not wanting to move again.  Will winter here and decide in the spring whether or not a townhouse is in my future.  The big quilt room upstairs is coming together.  Am looking forward to working there this winter.  Three quilts are in the works now.  A pastel baby quilt for my new great niece, Daisy.  A bright 'big girl' quilt for her sister, Danielle.  And, an art quilt...love switching gears between the three.  Keeps my creative juices flowing.  Do need to take time to put away the rest of those pesky boxes from AZ...

Blessings,
MaryJo


Sunday, October 12, 2014

Miss Lily

Forgive me for posting another photo but my friend Susan from California sent this through several days ago, which she'd taken of their cat, Miss Lily, whom she caught in the middle of a yawn.  It's a fun picture...
Lovely sunny day here in Southern Ontario, Canada heading into a week of rain.  Must do some pulling of the plants from the gardens today, as the hostas, once wet and hit by frost, disintegrate into big slimy leaves lying flat on the ground.  Love the hosta plants but cutting them back in the fall is a chore.
Rosey