Archive for the ‘Musings’ category
December 12, 2016
My friend called last night and said it’s snowing, and the tips of the snow have such beautiful ice crystals you have to see them. She was so right. The ice crystals looked like white lights shining in the darkness from the deck. The rail and the deck box too were bright and shining. I watched the snow fall until I was too cold to stand any longer by the back door. This morning it’s raining. The wind was fiercely blowing when I got the papers and is still blowing, but it’s a bit subdued. It’s warmer than it has been the last few days.
My days have names. Yesterday was tree day. Today is decoration day as the trees branches have nicely fallen. I need to start hauling up my Christmas bins from the cellar. I hope to get to the boxes closer to the wall as there are some decorations I haven’t used in a while, and I like to alternate. I need to find my collection of tall, plastic, lit from the inside, Santas from the 1950’s. I also have Christmas Carol figures somewhere way in the back. I haven’t used them for the longest time. My mother used to say she had enough decorations to decorate several trees. I could say the same.
I have to shop because cookie day is coming. I need a list of ingredients and a lot of energy. My Christmas cards are still waiting. They are on the table in front of me making me feel a bit guilty that I haven’t started even though I have the cards and the stamps. There are still presents to wrap for my Cape friends, but I have all week for that.
The smell of pine is already filling the house.
Categories: Musings
Tags: Christmas tree, couds, days with names, decorate the tree, plastic Santas, rain, smell of pine, snow crystals, tree day, Wind
Comments: 2 Comments
December 11, 2016
My tree is standing in the living room. It is fresh and a lovely dark green. When I shook it and banged it on the walkway, no needles dropped. The guy at Hart Farm, where I buy many of my flowers, pumpkins, and cider, told me it is one of the freshest of his trees. I believed him. When I ran my hand up the green on the branches, the green bounced back. This evening I’ll start decorating my beautiful tree.
The play, Mame, was wonderful yesterday. It was one of the best plays I’ve seen at the Stoneham Theater. The crowd loved it. There was laughing and lots of applause. The house was filled. Going to that theater always makes me a bit nostalgic. I spend so many Saturdays there watching the matinees when I was a kid. It is configured differently now, but when I look, I can still see the seats the way they were. The back rows were always couples making out. I used to gape at them when I was going to the bathroom. The balcony was usually empty because when it was filled it was like a war zone. Missiles of JuJu candy rained down on us from above. Al, the owner, would stand in the balcony to make sure nobody threw stuff. He wasn’t always successful. The stage is where the screen and a small stage used to be. The small stage was in the front of the screen. My mother said someone would stand on the stage when there were dishes or prizes given away. That was before my time.
Dinner was at Felicia’s, where the fish market used to be. I can’t help but remember the square of my time when I visit it now. As always the meal did not disappoint. We started with mussels in a thick red, hot sauce which was so good we had to get more Scali bread to sop it all. We both had Rustica Chicken which is linguini in an Alfredo type sauce with charred red peppers, and sausage. I topped off the meal with Sambuca coffee.
Yesterday was a wonderful start to the Christmas season. I saw a fantastic play, ate a great dinner and spent the whole day with my sister. When I drove her home, I got to see so many houses filled with lights shining in the night. I figure a ride to see the lights is coming. It is traditional!!
Categories: Musings
Tags: Alfredo sauce, Christmas tree, Felicias, filled balcony, fresh tree, JuJu missiles, linguini, Mame, movie theater, Sambuca, war zone
Comments: 6 Comments
December 10, 2016
The day is mostly cloudy with only a bit of blue. It is really cold. Last night was in the teens. Right now it’s 24˚. The weather will stay cold until Wednesday when we’ll be back to the 40’s. I’m going off Cape today to see the play Mame. My sister and I do a play then dinner every Christmas season. My mother started the tradition. One of the plays she took us to was Death of a Salesman with Brian Dennehy. It was superb but was the fodder for jokes about Christmas cheer and the season to be jolly. I love this tradition.
I wanted a band to greet me when I got home yesterday from my errands. The Christmas boxes are wending their way to Colorado, the trash is dumped, and the last present bought. I even stopped and picked up clam chowder for dinner. It was delicious.
Last night I made the fudge for my sister. It didn’t look right, but I put it in the fridge expecting it to harden. When I checked it later, it was soft. Around 1, before I went to bed, I checked it and it was still soft. I knew I did something wrong, a first for me with this fudge. I figured I’d make it this morning but then realized I wouldn’t have time. I made it last night. While stirring to the soft ball stage, I realized I had read the thermometer wrong on the first batch. A silly mistake! By the time I was finished making the fudge and cleaning the kitchen, it was close to 2, but I am glad I am not disappointing my sister. This batch hardened.My mother often forgot one of our presents hidden in the house. When we’d open the gifts on Christmas morning, she’d remember because it was missing. Sometime during the day, a brand new present would appear under the tree. I remember one year she forgot the ice skates she had bought me, not the white ones I already had but an antique pair with straps you attached right to your shoes and a single blade with a curl at the ends. She had tucked them behind my other presents as if I had overlooked them. I didn’t care. I liked the surprised of this really neat gift.
The sun is now out but the day isn’t any warmer. I’ll bundle up.
Categories: Musings
Tags: 24˚, clam chowder, cloudy, cold, dump, errands, forgotten present, fudge, ice skates, packages, second batch, trash
Comments: 13 Comments
December 9, 2016
Last night was freezing. Gracie slept right beside me with her head on my arm. I guess she needed the body warmth. We have sun today, but I’d gladly trade it for a warmer day. The temperature is in the 30’s and will go down to the 20’s tonight. At least we won’t get snow.
Al my Colorado presents are wrapped. The bin holds only unwrapped Cape presents, and I have time yet. Today is busy. Gracie and I are going to the dump then to UPS. I also need to get a Dunkin’ gift card and a few groceries. I have to make fudge for my sister. I’ll be seeing her tomorrow and the fudge is a tradition, a gift she loves. Tonight I’ll watch Hallmark Christmas movies and write out my Christmas cards. I have my Edward Gorey cards, special ones for the family and a few I bought in Ghana. The tree is postponed until Sunday. I am disappointed.
This end of the street is dark, no Christmas lights, except for my house. One of my neighbors does have a white light in each window, but that is it. At the other end of the street three of the houses have lights. And on the next street, one of the houses is amazing. The lawn is filled with lights and lit figures of Santa and his reindeer. The house is outlined. All the trees are ablaze with light. It is the best house in the neighborhood.
When I was a kid, the square at Christmas always had carolers the nights before Christmas when people were shopping. The John Hancock Company gave out free soft cover books of carols, and they were passed out each night to the carolers. I remember one cover had a church with a lit stain glass window. Another cover had three choir boys wearing white gowns and red bowties. I still have a couple of books, one of each cover. I remember singing in the square. We stood on a platform right in front of the drug store and the Children’s Corner. I was in the fifth grade. We probably weren’t all that good but we were enthusiastic. I remember it all.
Categories: Musings
Tags: 30 degrees, carol books, carolers, Christmas lights, dump, dunkin-donuts, freezing, fudge, Grocery store, UPS, wrapping
Comments: 8 Comments
December 8, 2016
I think the sun went on vacation. Yesterday it rained in the morning and stayed cloudy the whole day though it was warmer than I expected. Today is also drab and gray. I am so glad that I was out for quite a while on Tuesday, the first sunny day in a while. I took the highway down cape but came back Route 28. It was a beautiful ride. I passed the ocean a few times. It was low tide and the water was still. It had a grayish tone. I saw a wild turkey fly. I hadn’t ever seen one fly before. It took a lumbering leap into the air and over a fence. I wasn’t sure the turkey had the height but it did. When I was passing the cove, the only boats moored, other than a single sailboat, were fishing boats. Most needed paint and had nets and lobster traps on deck. They all looked weathered and old. In Chatham, the store where I wanted to shop was gone. It didn’t matter. I really enjoyed the ride.
Last night my house was aglow. The front fence has strands of colored lights. The gate has a huge white star on top with trails of white lights coming from it. The top of the fence to and from the star is also white. Beside the driveway, bare branches on a bush are covered in huge Christmas ornaments. A floodlight shines on them. My deck rail has strands of colored lights atop it. I added bows to the three wreaths, put balls of colored ornaments in the basket on the steps and put my old sled with my ice skates beside the step. When it got dark last night, I went outside and stood on the street to check out my house. It is beautiful.
I did what I thought was quite a bit of wrapping yesterday. Come to find out I have so much more. All of the gifts are now downstairs filling the den and the hall. Maddie, though, is complicating the process by lying on the paper. She looks so comfy I don’t want to disturb her. I’ll probably just use different paper.
Tomorrow I’ll get the tree, the highlight of my Christmas. I love to sit in the living room just to look at it. Its aroma fills the house. I have a couple of new ornaments from Ghana. They aren’t really ornaments, but they’re big, round and colorful. They’ll do just fine.
Categories: Musings
Tags: aglow, Chatham, Christmas lights, cloudy, dark, fishing boats, gray, ice skates, outside lights', ride, Route 28, school, Sled, star, still ocean, white lights, wild turkey, wrapping
Comments: 11 Comments
December 6, 2016
I am blustering and out of sorts. I had another go around with Target as I got the wrong book again, the same wrong book. I spoke to two people, the first being incompetent. The problem, as determined by the supervisor, my second person, is that Biscuit’s Touch and Feel Christmas is in the wrong place at the warehouse. I have to send back poor Biscuit or I won’t get a refund on the actual order. It is my responsibility to correct their problem or lose my money. I am an unhappy consumer.
I have much to do today, but it is a lovely day to go out and do my errands. I have to vote, get the dog’s new license, shop for batteries and some storage bins and then hit the post office. Gracie will be happy as she can come as it is cool enough for her to wait in the car.
Gracie is an occasional toilet water drinker though I keep her water dish freshly filled as Maddie also drinks out of it. Today the toilet bowl on the bottom was filled with sand. I have no idea what Gracie was digging. When I checked her water bowl, it was also sandy, and the floor had a trail of wet paw prints. I have no idea what that dog is up to when she goes outside. Today in the hall she herded poor Maddie. She jumped left and right so Maddie couldn’t pass her. Gracie’s butt was in the air so it was playtime, but not for the cat. I saved Maddie. Gracie looked disappointed.
My house has a bit more Christmas. I brought up my scrub pine, and it was lit last night. This afternoon I’ll bring up more. A little bit of Christmas makes me anxious for a lot more.
My sisters, my cousins and I are all Christmas enthusiasts. It is genetic from our parents: my mother, my mother’s brother Uncle Jack, and my mother’s sister, Aunt Bunny. All our halls are totally decked. I am probably the only one who doesn’t have my tree yet, but I will by Thursday. My house will scream Christmas by the end of the week.
Categories: Musings
Tags: batteries, book return, errands, herding the cat, playful, sandy water, Target, voting
Comments: 8 Comments
December 5, 2016
The day is dreary with early morning rain leaving the sky dark and the air feeling a bit dank. The house is as warm as usual but somehow feels colder. I’m wearing a sweatshirt. Gracie finds the couch more inviting than her outside jaunts.
I’m going to bring up some Christmas from the cellar. I’ll keep going as long as my back does. It looks like no outside lights today as I doubt Skip, my factotum, will be by to put them up. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny.
I’ve turned on all the lights strands in the different rooms. The kitchen has red chili lights and seashell lights. The bathroom has a small tree made of driftwood and strung with white lights. This room has a string of colored lights wrapped around the old wooden ironing board leaning against the closet. In the dark, the lights give the house a festive glow.
I’m not doing any errands today. Like Gracie, I am content to be inside where it is dry and warm. Other than Christmas I have nothing on my household to do list. I changed the bed yesterday and you already know about my triumph over the laundry. I do have my Christmas cards to sign, address and send, but I need to buy stamps so I’m thinking to put them on the list for later in the week. Wednesday will be my errand day.
We vote tomorrow for the Water Commissioner. I don’t remember why it wasn’t on the November ballot, but because it is the only race, the number of voters will probably be low. One of the hopefuls is doing some door to door. I used to work with him so he’ll get my vote. Besides, even if I didn’t know him, I’d be impressed he is running a campaign.
Okay, I admit I am watching the Hallmark holiday movies. All that sugar is addictive. There is also a comfort in knowing all of them have happy endings. I look forward to that.
Categories: Musings
Tags: chili lights, Christmas cards, colored lights, dank, decorate for Christmas, errands, rain, stamps, sweatshirt
Comments: 6 Comments
December 4, 2016
Huzzah! Huzzah! My laundry is clean. The hall is empty of filled laundry bags. It was my only accomplishment of the day, but I consider it a huge one. I did binge watch a Netflix series called Between. I reasoned that sitting with pillows behind my back was a necessity as my back was aching from the trips up and down the stairs. In between changing loads from the washer to the dryer I brought up exactly two Christmas decorations. If anyone asks, I can truthfully say I have started decorating.
My heat is cranking. It is cold, down to the 30’s. It is also a gray day. The bare branches have an eerie look against the sky, sort of a Halloween vibe. There isn’t even a breeze. I have to go out later but I’m not looking forward to it. The warm, cozy house is just so inviting.
Gracie has been in and out all morning. She is restless, and I have no idea why. She does like the cold weather so maybe that’s a reason. She does bark, but when I check, I don’t see anyone or anything. Maybe her barking is what keeps the critters at bay.
My sister and I had our usual Sunday conversation. Today we talked food as both of us were watching the food channel with its Christmas programs. Moe is deciding what she’ll make for Christmas Eve when the whole family comes. Fondue is already on her list. She’ll have two fondue pots, one with oil for meat and one with cheese for breads and vegetables. Onion dip, of course, is a must. My mother always had it so the tradition continues. Moe usually has something Mexican like chili verde or corn tortillas. My brother-in-law usually smokes a roast and some chicken. The roast gets cut into bites and is served with a sauce. I’d want a horseradish sauce. Moe is trying to decide which sweets. Whoopie pies and sugar cookies are a must. She’s thinking maybe peanut butter cookies with a kiss in the middle but that’s as far as she’s gotten.
Part of the fun of Christmas is the cooking and baking. The house usually smells great and I swear everything is delicious.
Categories: Musings
Tags: bad back, barking dog, Cheese, Christmas, cold, critters, decorations, eerie branches, furnace, heat, Laundry, onion dips, smoking meats
Comments: 10 Comments
December 3, 2016
Winter is poking its head in the door. Last night was downright cold. This morning is warmer but is still chilly. The sun is shining but seems to serve little purpose except as scenery. I’m hanging around today though I do have an errand or two on my new list. I’m thinking I might just get to that laundry still sitting in front of the cellar door.
I’m using sticky notes for my lists. There are three notes attached to my table which conveniently is metal. The notes are a bright pink. One is a list of things to do and places to go. It looks long. Another reminds me of fairs and an open house at my potter’s tomorrow. The last list is just a couple of gift items for Christmas presents and where I can get them. Luckily my table is big so there is plenty of room for more bright pink lists.
I figure to start making a list (yup, another one) of the cookies and candy I want to make for Christmas and the ingredients I need. Some traditions still hold. I’ll make fudge for my sister, orange cookies for Clare and if I have time, toffee for Moe and Rod. I’ll also pick some other cookies yet to be decided. I like to try new cookies year by year.
I sometimes wish The Elves and the Shoemaker was real. It would be so neat to wake up and have everything done. I’d be happy to leave a list for the elves. I have plenty I’m willing to share. While they’re at it, they might just do my laundry.
Categories: Musings
Tags: baking, cold, Laundry, lists, pink sticky notes, places to go, sticky notes, sunny, things to do, winter
Comments: 6 Comments
December 2, 2016
Yesterday I expected to be welcomed home by a marching band playing and a couple of burly men waiting to carry my packages. I actually shopped for nearly three hours, a bit of a marathon for me. I had a list, and I finished it though it was close. I nearly gave up on the last item, but it was Gracie’s medicine so I went to CVS. The God of Parking was with me as I got a space directly across from the entrance. The line was long but I was patient. By the time I got home, I had set a new around town shopping record.
Two wreaths and a swag are sitting on the lawn. I think I’ll put them up today. My lights will be put up on Monday or Tuesday. I need to get my tree, probably Sunday. Meanwhile, the scrawny scrub pine artificial tree will take its place in the corner of the dining room. I’ll bring it upstairs when I bring my laundry down. Yup, it is still in the hall, and I have added to it. I don’t know what it is about laundry that makes me so loath to do it.
Yesterday, I was browsing the shelves looking for a bag for the Christmas tree. On one shelf, I saw stencils and a can of white spray for windows. Seeing them whisked me back in time to when I was a kid, and windows were covered with Santas and trees and bells. Our picture window was artfully stenciled by us taking turns. One would hold the stencil while the other sprayed. My fingers were covered in white by the time we were finished. My mother kept an eye to make sure we didn’t overdo. We’d run outside after spraying each stencil to see how it looked. We always thought they were perfect.
I remember the Christmas cards taped around the doorways, the colored candles in the windows, the tree in the corner with the hanging icicles, the Santa and Mrs. Santa salt and pepper shakers and the four small Santa cups which spelled out noel. I always said I got the N because I was the oldest.
Categories: Musings
Tags: bags, band, Christmas lights, Christmas tree, Laundry, marathon shopping, Noel, picture window', Santa salt and pepper shakers, scrawny scrub pine tree, Shopping, stencils, white spray, wreaths
Comments: 10 Comments
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