Winter Wonderland

Snow???  Yes, a honest-to-goodness snow!!!  Emergency weather reported  8 inches of snow.  Harry thinks it's less here at our house and I believe he's correct.  We are well prepared for staying home even though we don't have to.  Main roads have been plowed.  We would only have about three blocks of real snow/ice to drive over.  Enough about the weather.

For a time I lost interest in reading but that has past.  I'm making a priority list and deciding if I should to buy books, a Kindle, or rely on the library.  The Huntsville Public Library is located on the other side of town.  We do have a branch really close but it doesn't always work well for me.  If I have a book held, the due date is 7 days with no renewal.  That's because someone else has usually requested a hold.  No time to really digest the book and re-read parts that are interesting/meaningful to me.  I guess I am spoiled and cranky but I don't want to feel pressure attached to my leisure time.

Gathering day was fun.  I baked a pork loin and had peas and corn.  It was simple but no one went hungry.  Afterwards some of us enjoyed an episode of Funniest Videos.  Others - namely Uncle Joe (our oldest) and Jesse played a video game that captured Jesse's interest.  Both little ones were excited because of the winter storm warning and the fact that school was cancelled for today.  Pictures of sleding, snowmen, and snowball fights were dancing through their heads.  They did not wake up to disappointment.

Time to wrap up this post and move along with the day.  As usual, thanks for visiting.  Ya'll come back, ya hear.  Hope you are well and happy.

Morning Mail

Here I again.  Man, I'm gettin' good at this bloggin' thing.  Not much to blog about but here I am anyway.

I'm sitting at my keyboard chuckling about my morning mail/deliveries.  I received a Fit and Strong workout DVD for the over 60 crowd.  About an hour later, Harry brought me my one piece of mail for the day - a Victoria's Secret catalog.  Hmmmmm - Talk about two far ends of the spectrum this is it.  Can't you just picture it:  An old fart in a wild Victoria's Secret get-up, joints popping and creaking, flopping (I no longer jiggle) around while trying to keep up with the over 60 crowd DVD?  Lordy, lordy ain't life grand!!!

I'm taking Harry out to eat this evening.  He's been working on tank maintenance most of the day and I know he's tired.  Remember we have a total of five saltwater tanks (total over 700 gallons). The tanks are pretty much "stand alone"  (other than daily adding water to replace evaporation) but big maintenance days do come along on a regular basis.  This was one of those.  Do you think Outback would be a good choice.  Yep, I do, too.

Cheryl, the coral in the header pic does look like a fluffy blanket.  If you touch it, though, it retracts all the fluffy little polyps for a little while.  Most corals will do that.  I have three yellow corals and three purple/blue clams that set the theme for my tank. 

It's time for me to think about moving on to a couple of things that I still need to do today and get ready to go out to dinner.  Until later,  take care. 

Fiji Leather Coral and Floor Drains

Hello to everyone.  Once again I'm sitting at the keyboard trying to think of something worthy of a blog.  I could blog about the state the house is in - messy, none too clean, and boarding on "just move out and leave it."  That would only depress me and make me feel guilty.  Not gonna do that.  Let me think a minute more . . . .

The new picture at the top of my blog is the Fiji Yellow Leather coral which is the centerpiece in my salt water reef.  It has at least doubled in size since Harry bought it for me in April, 2009.  It has grown pretty fast for a coral.  The color is accurate - a soft, fluffy yellow.  That explains that.

At dinner yesterday, we (the gang) were talking about houses and what amenities we'd want in a new house.  (or something to that effect).  I declared that should I ever be fortunate enough to build another house there would be tile floors and a floor drain in every room with connection to water.  Just think of being able to hook up a hose and spray floors clean.  I think that would be neat - no mop and clean floors.   Many years ago, when I was a teenager and living with my parents, we had a mud/pump house room with a floor drain .  The drain had a screw on cap which completely closed the top.  To clean the floor one just removed the cap, attached a hose with a spray nozzle to the laundry sink, turned on the water, and pointed the nozzle.  A real quick squeegee, replace the cap, and move on with your day.  I still think my dad had great ideas.  Sometime I'll blog about his most wonderful (in my opinion) shop.  It was truly unique.

I made a quick round of blogs and sat here for far too long.  It is almost noon and I still am wearing my robe.  Gotta get a move on.  My best to everyone. 

The New Year Begins

We waved good bye to 2010 and filed our happy memories for reflection.   We are thankful that we have reached yet another new year. A year that promises many happy times and peaceful moments.  Let the new year begin! 

Harry and I have no set plans for the new year.  For the most part, we'll just play the year as it comes.  We do have a short trip planned to Nashville, TN, in mid January so there is that to think about.  It's been two years since we had a real vacation.  We've been attending to health issues here at home.  I hope we can have a real vacation soon.  Where??  No plans except that I'd still love to do the trip to Biltmore House and the slow leisurely drive up the east coast.   Time will tell if we can do that.  We're also hoping that our out-of-town kids can visit this year.  Fingers crossed for that to happen.

We're having a cloudy rainy New Year Day.  The temps are predicted to dip to freezing early this evening.  The weather gurus aren't predicting ice and I hope they are correct.  Snow - in small doses - is OK but ice is certainly not a welcome event.   

As you can probably see, nothing exciting is happening here.  Just two old farts feeling thankful, enjoying being together this first day of 2011, and looking forward to the new year.

Thanks for stopping by.  Visit again when you can.  Our best to everyone. 

Dreams of a White Christmas Came True

It's the day after Christmas and all through the house
Everyone is resting and and quiet as a mouse -------

Everyone except kitty, that is.  She doesn't understand snow.  She wants different food.  She wants attention.  She doesn't know what she wants.  Christmas was almost too much for her.

Our snow fall is a rare thing.  It's almost a fantasy to expect snow on Christmas.  This year we truly had a white Christmas complete with snow balls and a big snowman.  Never mind that the snowman used almost all the snow in our front yard.   Harry raided the fruit salad to complete Mr. Snowman's face.  Below is a close up of his face.  His grape eyes are a little deep set.  His apple wedge nose is bright green.  (It could have been red.)  His lips are watermelon.  A kitchen towel covered his frozen bald head.  Isn't he unique and beautiful?

Jesse was inside warming up when Harry made this picture.  (I stayed my chicken butt inside and observed from the windows!)

Jesse ran out without his coat for the picture opportunity.  He didn't linger.  Besides his loot was inside and needed attention.

Notice how much the boys have grown.   They are growning up fast. 

Harry had his first BIG gall stone attack last night.  Too much Christmas food, etc.  I knew he was in real pain when he got dressed and waited on the sofa for the car to warm up for the ride to the hospital.  Joe drove us because of the icy roads.  We were in the emergency room 3.5 hours beginning at 11:55.   It was good to get home, be almost pain free, and get some much needed sleep. 

We're having an easy quiet day with snow showers, freezing temps, and be thankful for all our blessings.  

Merry Christmas to All

Christmas is here.  Dinner prep is in progress.  Gifts are waiting the arrival of kids.  Old folks are taking a minute to rest - not that we need to.  For the first time in many years we have snow fall.  It's snowing big flakes and lots of them.  We have 2.5 inches on the ground now and more is on the way.  (Harry made an "offical measurement" of the snow with a 50 cent Walmart ruler.  We believe in cutting edge technology.)

We know snow is not welcomed by most of you, but for us the snow is dreamy - especially at Christmas.

Everyone here is doing well.  We hope you are enjoying the best Christmas ever!  Thanks for stopping by.

Below is a picture looking from our drive across to the golf course.  We live in an older area that has above ground electric/phone/cable lines.  The lines look messy but do their job.

Below are a pictures of the back yard

And last, my view when I sit on the screened porch to watch the snow fall

Title? What Title??

The good news is the South is still sunny. The bad news is it is cold. It could be worse. We could have an ice storm topped with a foot of snow. Not much else to say about that.

James, the seven year old, has a bad case of strep throat. The other members of their household are being checked. Both Jesse and Mommy have sore throats. Keith (daddy) was not feeling well last evening. All that family needs is a long visit from the strep demon. Our youngest grandchild, Mav who lives in WI, is recovering from pneumonia and ear infections. Maddie, our little granddaughter who lives in AZ, was well when we last talked to her mommy. We love our little families and want them all to be well and happy. All four of the young ones are ready and waiting for Santa. (update: Mommy is just back from doctor and she also has strep.)

Christmas shopping is done. I have a couple of bake-to-give gifts to make. I'll do that closer to Christmas. I have a few Christmas things the boys have made over their few years. Those things are on the buffet and dropleaf table in the living room. That's our decorating this year. The kids have a big Christmas tree with no more room for ornaments. Harry and I will just enjoy theirs if we begin to feel Christmas tree deprived. I bought a new HO train set before
Jesse was born. My plan was to have a train running under our tree when the grandchildren were old enough to appreciate it. This year I faced reality and gave the train to Keith for their tree. (The reality is that Harry and I are more comfortable without a lot of "stuff" to put up and take down. We're old farts, you know.)

I know this is just dry mundane blogging. It's all I have. Maybe next time I'll have something exciting or newsy to write about.

Meantime, take care and know that I appreciate all my readers.