We had a couple of days of warmish weather earlier this week. It was warmer down in the valley where virtually all the snow has melted away. Here, at the Aerie, where we are on the northeast side of the hill and at 2100 feet elevation, the snow was reduced but not totally removed. What was eight inches has become no more than an inch, maybe an inch and a half.
That warm weather has disappeared and been replaced by two days where the high at the Aerie was just shy of the 30 degree mark. If we could only see the sun once more.... It's been overcast and cloudy since...well, I can't remember when. Might have been sunny last week sometime. Briefly.
The Winter Solstice will occur this weekend, December 21, 6:03 P.M. EST. The period from sun rise to sun set--the "day"--will reach its shortest. Starting on the 22nd, daylight hours will get a little longer each day. I'm certainly looking forward to that.
******
After eight years in the Aerie, I finally got around to putting a mailbox out by the front door. We get our mail delivered to a PO Box down the hill and have ever since before we moved in. (We took one look at the last 40-50 yards of the road leading up to our driveway and decided NOT to put the mail deliverer on the spot during the winter. It's shady and about a 30-35 degree slope that would be hell for a 2-wheel drive vehicle, which is what she was driving at the time. That's also why Terry has two vehicles: a 2-wheel drive Aveo and a 4x4 Jeep.)
The only "mail" we get at the door is in the form of packages from UPS and FedEx. That and the invoice from the propane deliveryman when he makes a stop. He has been jamming the invoice in the crack of the front door. And every time he does, I worry that the wind will, one day, blow the bill away. So, I finally bought a small mailbox and spent some time Wednesday attaching it to the post at the top of the front steps.
Less than an hour after I finished installing the mailbox, I heard the "beep, beep, beep" of a truck backing into the driveway. Sure enough, the propane truck was here! When he was done, the bill--and the complimentary calendar--were placed in the new mailbox. I love it when a plan comes together!
BTW, the propane was a mere $2.20 per gallon. On October 15th the price was $2.40. That doesn't match the drop in gasoline prices (down to $2.70/gal for regular) but it's still a plus.
******
Christmas is coming! It may not be white
Christmas here at the Aerie. (It WON'T be white if we should get at
least one day of sunshine. How 'bout it? Can we get just one before
Christmas?) It certainly will not be a White Christmas where Terry and I
are heading. We're going to Anaheim on Monday to spend Christmas with
Jessica, Rick and Sandy at Disneyland. We fly out on Monday while Rick
and Sandy fly south from Portland on Tuesday.
Jess lives
two blocks away and works at the park, but will be with us at the hotel
in the park. She will be our personal guide and has already made
reservations for a couple of the special events and meals.
I've
never been in Disneyland and Terry hasn't been in the park since she
was around 10 years old. There have been a few changes since. I'm really looking forward to the visit. It's the flights to and from I am not looking forward to.
******
Reading the news these past few weeks has done nothing to improve my blood pressure or my opinion of a sizable portion of the human race. I don't dare turn the TV news on for fear of yelling and screaming at the screen--or worse.
Even watching sports has become something of a risk. When football players and basketball players promote false narratives ("Hands Up" and "I can't breath") which promote nothing but devisiveness, it burns me up. They are (well) payed to play a game, for God's sake! NOT to push some political and or social agenda.
The same is true for actors and actresses. When an actor steps up to a microphone to espouse some political drivel totally devoid of reality or common sense, or makes the news because of some drunken, drug fueled behavior, that person's performance on the stage or screen might be the greatest in the world, I still won't be able to stomach it. In the back of my head I see/hear the idiot rather than the savant.
Enough of a rant. Time to close for tonight.
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Saturday, January 05, 2013
Photos of Christmas Eve.
{I should have posted these photos a week ago. I've no excuse but will say I STILL haven't posted some I took at Thanksgiving!]
Christmas Eve was spent at my sister Ruthann's house in a continuation of a long, long tradition. My Mom was from a large family (I think it was five sisters and one lone brother) and we used to gather every Christmas eve at one of the girl's houses for a family celebration. The number of people grew and grew as the cousins got older, wed and had kids of their own. We got close to 80 people at the top end.
Then some of Mom's sisters moved to Florida and age began to thin the upper echelon and the tradition sort of faded away.
As they have since those glory days, Ruthann and Al hosted their two daughters' and their families as well as one of Al's sisters (Nancy) and her husband and their two daughters (Lori and Jacki). Lori, in turn, had her husband and little daughter in tow. Some how, I managed to NOT take any pictures of my sister and Al or of Terry and Kristen's husband, Rich. Even so, there was a pretty good crowd in Ruthann's house and it will get larger next year as Lori and Kristen are expecting.
Ryan, Sami and Sandy (one of my nieces) were present along with...
...Aunt Kristen (Sandy's sister and another of my nieces), who liked playing with Sami's new toys.
Al's sister (Nancy) and her husband (Fred) were there...
...along with their daughters including Lori and her daughter Ashley...
...and her husband, Rhys.(Who was playing with Ashley's toys.)
Christmas Eve was spent at my sister Ruthann's house in a continuation of a long, long tradition. My Mom was from a large family (I think it was five sisters and one lone brother) and we used to gather every Christmas eve at one of the girl's houses for a family celebration. The number of people grew and grew as the cousins got older, wed and had kids of their own. We got close to 80 people at the top end.
Then some of Mom's sisters moved to Florida and age began to thin the upper echelon and the tradition sort of faded away.
As they have since those glory days, Ruthann and Al hosted their two daughters' and their families as well as one of Al's sisters (Nancy) and her husband and their two daughters (Lori and Jacki). Lori, in turn, had her husband and little daughter in tow. Some how, I managed to NOT take any pictures of my sister and Al or of Terry and Kristen's husband, Rich. Even so, there was a pretty good crowd in Ruthann's house and it will get larger next year as Lori and Kristen are expecting.
Ryan, Sami and Sandy (one of my nieces) were present along with...
Ryan, Sami and Sandy
...Aunt Kristen (Sandy's sister and another of my nieces), who liked playing with Sami's new toys.
Kristen
Al's sister (Nancy) and her husband (Fred) were there...
Fred and Nancy
...along with their daughters including Lori and her daughter Ashley...
Lori and Ashley
...and her husband, Rhys.(Who was playing with Ashley's toys.)
Rhys
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Christmas Family Time
So. Yesterday morning (Christmas Eve), bright and early, Terry and I fed the cats, packed the truck, clean the kitty litter boxes, checked their dry food and water dispensers, fed the cats (again) and hit the road.
First stop was McDonalds for breakfast and then up to the orthopedist in Corning to get my knees shot up with cortisone. PA Kimberly Ryan performed the voodoo that she do so damn well! A little freeze spray and...poke, poke, jab, jab...I had been injected! Ryan then informed me that cortisone could be given as often as every three months. (I had thought it was six and so limped and bitched since September about sore and achy knees!)
Pain removed, Terry and I hoped on Rt. 17 east to I-81 south, I-380 south-east, I-80 east and were New Jersey bound. (The only snow we say was in the first 13 miles from the Aerie to McDonalds in Mansfield. ALL of the other roads ran through towns, forests and fields that were brown or greenish brown and held virtually no snow. Nada. Nil. Zip. This despite the temperature reading exactly 32 degrees until we crossed the Delaware River. General Washington and his men would have died for this kind of weather! Both on their raid into Trenton and as they made camp in Jockey Hollow.)
We got to my sister's house around 2 PM for our annual Christmas Eve gathering with Ruthann, All, their daughters and their husbands, Al's sister, Nancy, and her husband and daughters and husband and a couple of grandkids (one for Al and Ruthann and one for Al's sister Nancy). We learned that next year there will be a couple more grandkids--one on each side.
There was plenty of food, lots of congratulations, and some pretty heavy present unwrapping by the two grandgirls--one 6 months and the other almost 2 years. (Okay, Sammi, the six-month old needed some assistance from Mom and Dad, but she showed talent.)
They were still going strong when Terry and I departed to go to Linden and spent the rest of the evening and Christmas Day with our daughter Jessica at Grandma's house. (She was working until after 5 PM so opted not to make the drive to her Aunt's house. Grandma is in California with her other daughter, her niece and nephews and their spouses and our son, Rick, and his spouse who drove down from Portland, OR.)
As we stepped outside of Ruthann and Al's we found that it was snowing pretty darn hard. All the grass was covered and there was some accumulation on the colder car surfaces but the paved road was just wet. Even so, I drove carefully as we headed over the mountains to I-287 south and then Rt. 24 east, I-76 east and the Garden State Parkway south. The temperature remained right at the 30-32 degree range and it was snowing the whole drive.
When we got to Linden, we unpacked our bags and settled down to watch the last half of the first showing of A Christmas Story...and then the entire thing again between 10PM and midnight. (As Jess said last night. "Why is it I have seen this movie like a million times, yet I still find it funny?" "That's the power of Jean Shepherd's use of the English language. Too bad you never got to hear him on the radio." It was then time to hit the sack.
This morning the temperatures are in the low 40s, the snow had changed to rain and everything is wet. The precipitation here has stopped. and it's looking like it will be a pretty nice day. Terry has gone off to mass, Jess is still sleeping and my knees are feeling great!
Merry Christmas to all.
First stop was McDonalds for breakfast and then up to the orthopedist in Corning to get my knees shot up with cortisone. PA Kimberly Ryan performed the voodoo that she do so damn well! A little freeze spray and...poke, poke, jab, jab...I had been injected! Ryan then informed me that cortisone could be given as often as every three months. (I had thought it was six and so limped and bitched since September about sore and achy knees!)
Pain removed, Terry and I hoped on Rt. 17 east to I-81 south, I-380 south-east, I-80 east and were New Jersey bound. (The only snow we say was in the first 13 miles from the Aerie to McDonalds in Mansfield. ALL of the other roads ran through towns, forests and fields that were brown or greenish brown and held virtually no snow. Nada. Nil. Zip. This despite the temperature reading exactly 32 degrees until we crossed the Delaware River. General Washington and his men would have died for this kind of weather! Both on their raid into Trenton and as they made camp in Jockey Hollow.)
We got to my sister's house around 2 PM for our annual Christmas Eve gathering with Ruthann, All, their daughters and their husbands, Al's sister, Nancy, and her husband and daughters and husband and a couple of grandkids (one for Al and Ruthann and one for Al's sister Nancy). We learned that next year there will be a couple more grandkids--one on each side.
There was plenty of food, lots of congratulations, and some pretty heavy present unwrapping by the two grandgirls--one 6 months and the other almost 2 years. (Okay, Sammi, the six-month old needed some assistance from Mom and Dad, but she showed talent.)
They were still going strong when Terry and I departed to go to Linden and spent the rest of the evening and Christmas Day with our daughter Jessica at Grandma's house. (She was working until after 5 PM so opted not to make the drive to her Aunt's house. Grandma is in California with her other daughter, her niece and nephews and their spouses and our son, Rick, and his spouse who drove down from Portland, OR.)
As we stepped outside of Ruthann and Al's we found that it was snowing pretty darn hard. All the grass was covered and there was some accumulation on the colder car surfaces but the paved road was just wet. Even so, I drove carefully as we headed over the mountains to I-287 south and then Rt. 24 east, I-76 east and the Garden State Parkway south. The temperature remained right at the 30-32 degree range and it was snowing the whole drive.
When we got to Linden, we unpacked our bags and settled down to watch the last half of the first showing of A Christmas Story...and then the entire thing again between 10PM and midnight. (As Jess said last night. "Why is it I have seen this movie like a million times, yet I still find it funny?" "That's the power of Jean Shepherd's use of the English language. Too bad you never got to hear him on the radio." It was then time to hit the sack.
This morning the temperatures are in the low 40s, the snow had changed to rain and everything is wet. The precipitation here has stopped. and it's looking like it will be a pretty nice day. Terry has gone off to mass, Jess is still sleeping and my knees are feeling great!
Merry Christmas to all.
Monday, December 24, 2012
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Christmas Plans and Medical
Yesterday I called the doctor up in Corning because my knees were/are killing me. Ms. Ryan will get an opportunity to practice her acupuncture/voodoo as she injects some cortisone into both the left and especially the right knee.
We'll also talk once more about possible knee joint replacement. (I've got next to no cartilage in either knee.)
My appointment is for 9 AM Monday, Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas!
******
Once finished, Terry and I will be driving to New Jersey. First stop will be with my sister and her family for Christmas Eve. The second will be Grandma's house for Christmas Day with my daughter. (Grandma is in California for the holidays.)
We'll also talk once more about possible knee joint replacement. (I've got next to no cartilage in either knee.)
My appointment is for 9 AM Monday, Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas!
******
Once finished, Terry and I will be driving to New Jersey. First stop will be with my sister and her family for Christmas Eve. The second will be Grandma's house for Christmas Day with my daughter. (Grandma is in California for the holidays.)
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Xmas Presents I Made.
I mentioned that I made some of the presents we gave to family members this Christmas. I didn't post photos of those gifts because some of the recipients occasionally look in on this blog.
Well, the presents have been given and I can now show you what I did.
These are tissue box holders made of red oak and a little scrollsaw art. I did two more of the hummingbird boxes. The bass box was for my sister-in-law who has become quite the bass fisherperson down there in the Lake of the Ozarks. In addition to really schooling her husband, she's even giving lessons to others.
This year, I think I'll start a little earlier. Thanksgiving was cutting it a little close.
Well, the presents have been given and I can now show you what I did.
These are tissue box holders made of red oak and a little scrollsaw art. I did two more of the hummingbird boxes. The bass box was for my sister-in-law who has become quite the bass fisherperson down there in the Lake of the Ozarks. In addition to really schooling her husband, she's even giving lessons to others.
This year, I think I'll start a little earlier. Thanksgiving was cutting it a little close.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
On The Road
I'll be heading into NJ today to celebrate Christmas with my sister's family (Christmas Eve) and with my MIL and Daughter (Christmas Day).
Terry left the Aerie yesterday heading in the same direction. Since she'll be staying a few days longer to help get Mom on her flight south so she can take a cruise to the Panama Canal, we decided to take separate vehicles...again. The round trip to the NJ locales is about 450 miles.
Monday, I'll most likely be heading up to New York State (Amsterdam area) to pick up some beef (1/4 of a steer) that we ordered. That will be a round trip of between 400 and 500 miles.
So, between the two, I'll be on the road for almost a thousand miles. And, except for the stiff knees, enjoying every minute of it.
In the mean time, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I'll see you on the flip side if not while I'm traveling. I've left some Christmas Carols for later this evening. Come back and enjoy if you so desire.
Terry left the Aerie yesterday heading in the same direction. Since she'll be staying a few days longer to help get Mom on her flight south so she can take a cruise to the Panama Canal, we decided to take separate vehicles...again. The round trip to the NJ locales is about 450 miles.
Monday, I'll most likely be heading up to New York State (Amsterdam area) to pick up some beef (1/4 of a steer) that we ordered. That will be a round trip of between 400 and 500 miles.
So, between the two, I'll be on the road for almost a thousand miles. And, except for the stiff knees, enjoying every minute of it.
In the mean time, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I'll see you on the flip side if not while I'm traveling. I've left some Christmas Carols for later this evening. Come back and enjoy if you so desire.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Aerie Report, December16, 2011
It's been a wild ride over the past 24 hours here at the Aerie.
All day yesterday the winds blew out of the south and we were hit with a misting rain much of the day as we watched a long thin stream of heavier and sometimes down right violent rain move north northeast over the Allegheny National Forest, Erie and Buffalo. As this band of rain rapidly moved along the front, it also edged its way eastward and it became a question of whether or not we would be affected by its passing.
All day the temperatures slowly rose as the warm southern air engulfed us until the thermometer reached its high of 50 degrees around 7 PM. That's about when the wind shifted to come from the west and the tail of the band of rain hit us. It poured for a little over half an hour as that front moved through. Then the wind shifted even more so as to come from the northwest and its velocity began to increase as well.
During the night, the rain stopped but the wind blew even harder. The house creaked under the onslaught and the sound of the wind in the trees increased to the point of being akin to a freight train just outside the window. It woke us between three and four AM with its din.
Miraculously, there were no trees blown down or uprooted under the force of the wind. If this had happened while there were still leaves on the branches, I'm sure the story would have been different.
The wind has since died down to a more acceptable 5-10 mph. The temperature has also dropped to 30 degrees this morning as Canadian air moves in. It's still overcast and gray but the threat of precipitation whether rain or snow is pretty much over.
******
Tomorrow promises to be a cool but clear day for our annual Christmas Bird Count. Terry and I will be hitting the Lamb's Creek area, part of the Mansfield Watershed area up on Shaw Road and, perhaps, the Firetower in the State Gamelands Area 37. A lot depends upon how much we see and how much time we spend in any one area. Each of these would be full morning visits--in the spring. During the winter there are far fewer birds and bird species around. In a preliminary scout last week, we saw and heard very, very few individual birds.
******
Terry has been out partying with all her groups (Ladies' Guild, EGA, Curves) virtually every day this week and tomorrow's Bird Count ends with another luncheon at a friends house.
Next week we'll be heading into NJ for Christmas Eve with my sister and her family and Christmas Day with Grandma and our daughter, Jessica. We'll take two cars since Terry is going in early and staying late. Grandma needs a ride to the airport for a cruise through the Panama Canal with grandson Brian and daughter Lucille and SIL Doug, with whom she will connect in Miami.
All day yesterday the winds blew out of the south and we were hit with a misting rain much of the day as we watched a long thin stream of heavier and sometimes down right violent rain move north northeast over the Allegheny National Forest, Erie and Buffalo. As this band of rain rapidly moved along the front, it also edged its way eastward and it became a question of whether or not we would be affected by its passing.
All day the temperatures slowly rose as the warm southern air engulfed us until the thermometer reached its high of 50 degrees around 7 PM. That's about when the wind shifted to come from the west and the tail of the band of rain hit us. It poured for a little over half an hour as that front moved through. Then the wind shifted even more so as to come from the northwest and its velocity began to increase as well.
During the night, the rain stopped but the wind blew even harder. The house creaked under the onslaught and the sound of the wind in the trees increased to the point of being akin to a freight train just outside the window. It woke us between three and four AM with its din.
Miraculously, there were no trees blown down or uprooted under the force of the wind. If this had happened while there were still leaves on the branches, I'm sure the story would have been different.
The wind has since died down to a more acceptable 5-10 mph. The temperature has also dropped to 30 degrees this morning as Canadian air moves in. It's still overcast and gray but the threat of precipitation whether rain or snow is pretty much over.
******
Tomorrow promises to be a cool but clear day for our annual Christmas Bird Count. Terry and I will be hitting the Lamb's Creek area, part of the Mansfield Watershed area up on Shaw Road and, perhaps, the Firetower in the State Gamelands Area 37. A lot depends upon how much we see and how much time we spend in any one area. Each of these would be full morning visits--in the spring. During the winter there are far fewer birds and bird species around. In a preliminary scout last week, we saw and heard very, very few individual birds.
******
Terry has been out partying with all her groups (Ladies' Guild, EGA, Curves) virtually every day this week and tomorrow's Bird Count ends with another luncheon at a friends house.
Next week we'll be heading into NJ for Christmas Eve with my sister and her family and Christmas Day with Grandma and our daughter, Jessica. We'll take two cars since Terry is going in early and staying late. Grandma needs a ride to the airport for a cruise through the Panama Canal with grandson Brian and daughter Lucille and SIL Doug, with whom she will connect in Miami.
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
PA Hunting: Day 8: Another no-go.
Another day in the house and not in the field. My back and knees are protesting. The weather really was poor, too. The rain we got last night was supposed to end by noon. Didn't happen. The radar on weather.com didn't show much in the way of green blobs indicative of rain but that might have been because the clouds were flying below the radar. We were in fog all day. Even when it rained, we were still in the fog. Temperatures have slowly fallen all day as well. We started the morning in the upper 40s and they've dropped down to the upper 30s.
Maybe tomorrow. Maybe not.
******
I spent part of yesterday and again today down in the wood shop. I'm working on some super-secret Christmas presents that I can not put photos of on this site because some of the recipients may get a sneak peek if I do.
******
We finally got the last of our Christmas cards in the mail today. That's only about a week late. Terry usually addresses them all the day after Thanksgiving and I write up the letter to be enclosed. This year we were both a little slow.
******
We've already received some cards from family and friends but today we got our first Christmas present. Brian and Vicki sent a package of Omaha Steaks. While we certainly will enjoy them, I have to wonder if he's trying to say something about my efforts to put some venison in the freezer?
Maybe tomorrow. Maybe not.
******
I spent part of yesterday and again today down in the wood shop. I'm working on some super-secret Christmas presents that I can not put photos of on this site because some of the recipients may get a sneak peek if I do.
******
We finally got the last of our Christmas cards in the mail today. That's only about a week late. Terry usually addresses them all the day after Thanksgiving and I write up the letter to be enclosed. This year we were both a little slow.
******
We've already received some cards from family and friends but today we got our first Christmas present. Brian and Vicki sent a package of Omaha Steaks. While we certainly will enjoy them, I have to wonder if he's trying to say something about my efforts to put some venison in the freezer?
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Christmas Day
Merry Christmas
Enjoy
Oh Holy Night by The Celtic Women
Santa Claus Boogie by The Tractors
Santa's Got a Brand New Bag by SheDaisy
Rudolph The Rednosed Reindeer by Gene Autry
Rusty Chevrolet by Da Yoopers
Enjoy
Oh Holy Night by The Celtic Women
Santa Claus Boogie by The Tractors
Santa's Got a Brand New Bag by SheDaisy
Rudolph The Rednosed Reindeer by Gene Autry
Rusty Chevrolet by Da Yoopers
Friday, December 24, 2010
Merry Christmas!!!
I'll be heading east to New Jersey in a short while for Christmas at the MIL house as well as a stop at my sister's.
These small gatherings are a far cry from the old days when all of my Mom's side of the family would gather for Christmas Eve. As the Aunts grew older and began to pass away, and the family grew larger and larger--and more scattered, we called a halt to it all. Only one of the five sisters and one brother is still alive and family is now scattered from Connecticut to Carolina to Florida. (I don't think anyone's gone west of the Appalachians...yet.) I do miss those huge reunions though.
The weather seems to be cooperating this year and there are no ice storms or major snowfalls predicted. In past years, I ended up staying at the Aerie due to those winter afflictions. Terry made it into NJ last year and again this because she goes early to meet with her stitching friends. Of course, last year she ended up having to shovel 18 inches of snow off her Mom's driveway and sidewalk while I had a mere 2-3 inches here. This time, the snow that's forecast will be primarily off the Jersey coast on Christmas Day and again on Monday. That gives me time to sneak in today and out Sunday night.
******
Here's wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas.
These small gatherings are a far cry from the old days when all of my Mom's side of the family would gather for Christmas Eve. As the Aunts grew older and began to pass away, and the family grew larger and larger--and more scattered, we called a halt to it all. Only one of the five sisters and one brother is still alive and family is now scattered from Connecticut to Carolina to Florida. (I don't think anyone's gone west of the Appalachians...yet.) I do miss those huge reunions though.
The weather seems to be cooperating this year and there are no ice storms or major snowfalls predicted. In past years, I ended up staying at the Aerie due to those winter afflictions. Terry made it into NJ last year and again this because she goes early to meet with her stitching friends. Of course, last year she ended up having to shovel 18 inches of snow off her Mom's driveway and sidewalk while I had a mere 2-3 inches here. This time, the snow that's forecast will be primarily off the Jersey coast on Christmas Day and again on Monday. That gives me time to sneak in today and out Sunday night.
******
Here's wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas.
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