A messy job

Today my husband and I did something that no one likes to do - we cleaned out the coils of the refrigerator and pulled it out and cleaned under and behind it. It certainly benefited the refrigerator, but sure made a mess of my kitchen floor. My husband very generously offered to mop the floor for me, but after swiffering it a couple of times, it looked pretty good, so I persuaded him to let it be. It was time to have dinner anyway, and then we were so tired we just cleaned up the dishes and collapsed in front of the TV. It is a fact that many people never clean their refrigerators, leading to totally clogged motors. Ours was making a funny noise, but sounds better now.
We must be doing late fall cleaning, since I have bestirred myself and cleaned out my filing cabinet, burning and throwing out a fairly large box of papers. We threw caution to the wind and threw away all of the real estate documents for both the cabin and a house we once owned in Marin County. A little voice in the back of my head warns me that we might want to look something up sometime and the papers will be gone, but it was a choice we made and it is too late to turn back now.
It has been pretty cold here this week, and we are going through our wood faster than we expected, but boy, does that wood fire feel good. Well, that is all for tonight - keep in touch!

Christmas past

The peanut butter cookies are out of the oven, the pork chops are braising in the skillet, and I have a little time, so I'll blog a little. This is Christmas Day, bringing back memories of years and years of Christmases. When I was a child, we cut our own trees from the woods behind the house, and decorated them with tinsel and real candles. When the candles were lit, it made a beautiful soft light, somewhat dangerous in case of fire, but lovely, nonetheless. One year my sister accidentally set her hair on fire by getting too close to the tree, but it was quickly put out and she was only singed. The presents were put under the tree in little piles for each recipient, and we all opened our presents early on Christmas morning. I usually got a book, among other things, and spent Christmas Day reading my new book and eating candy. When I was small, the Bobbsey Twins and Honey Bunch were the usual titles, and then when I was older Little Women and Little Men made their appearance. The whole family got to read them, of course, We had a cupboard that held all of the books and comprised a window seat at the living room window. Since we had no radio, no TV, no victrola, we were by necessity constrained to read. I am a voracious reader to this day.
Now evening has come, with darkness outside and our little artificial tree twinkling with its little electric lights and glass ornaments. Across the way I can see my neighbors tree glowing in the darkened living room. I hope all children had wonderful Christmases, and I hope everyone had a bountiful Christmas dinner. Merry Christmas all, and keep in touch.

Everyone needs a grandma

This little essay was written a few years ago, but I have resurrected it because I still feel the same today as I did then.

Everyone Needs a Grandma

Dear Grandma,

How good you were to me! You spoiled me and praised me and loved me just as I was. You never compared me to anyone else, and always had kind praise for me, no matter what my transgressions were. When I cried because I was afraid of the dark, you took me into your bed and lit the lamp on the night stand and left it lit until I fell asleep.
But you left too soon! I was only ten when you died, and I needed you more than ever when I went into my teens. You would have viewed my escapades with humor and tolerance. When I sneaked out of the house and went for a moonlight swim with the neighbor boys, you would have seen it as the harmless prank that it was. It would not have been the end of the world or a source of gossip and condemnation that followed me down the years until eternity. When I accepted a ride on the ferris wheel with a boy I met at the carnival, you would have known that it was just a harmless act of kindness on his part and a spirit of adventure on mine. He grew up to be a very successful businessman and a pillar of respect in the community. It didn’t ruin my life or lead to a stroll down a disgraceful path, as my beleagured mother predicted.
How I missed you, Grandma. You had ten children and many, many grandchildren, but you made each of us feel special and loved. Never did I hear you say a critical word about anyone. You were the most understanding person I ever met.
You met death in a terrible accident when you were only sixty. Your own mother lived to be 97. If you had only lived to be eighty, I would have been thirty and grownup, and past the turbulent years of my youth. But I was lucky to have had you as long as I did. Everyone needs a grandma!


I am a grandma and even a great-grandma now and I hope I am half as good as my grandma was! Night all and keep in touch.

The Depressed Reindeer

It's time for a Christmas story, again, so here's one from awhile ago. Hope you all enjoy it.

The Depressed Reindeer

It was two days until Christmas and Santa's big workroom was bustling with activity. The elves were hurrying to finish all of the toys and get them wrapped and loaded on the sleigh. It was warm and cozy in there, and the elves were singing and chattering as they worked. There was a fire in the fireplace and a big-kettle of soup was simmering over the flames. It smelled delicious and with the lamps all aglow it was a happy sight. Mrs. Santa Claus was rocking in her rocking chair, knitting and keeping her eye on the elves.

Everyone was happy except Santa Claus and he was worried. He had a frown on his face and every now and then heaved a big sigh. He paced back and forth and even walked in a circle.

"Whatever is the matter?" demanded Mrs. Santa CIaus.

"You have been moaning and groaning all day. Try to be a little more cheerful. What are you worried about?"

Mrs. Santa Claus liked to concentrate when she was knittIng, but Santa Claus was getting on her nerves. She was waiting for an answer, but she didn't put down her work. Click, clack went her needles and she rocked back and forth slowly, waiting.

Finally Santa spoke. "It's Donder," he said. "He says he is depressed and he doesn't want to go out on Christmas Eve. He says he is too tired and he Just can't make It."

Mrs. Santa Claus was so shocked she dropped several stitches and had to rip out the whole row. "That big baby." she said. "Who does he think he is? We all get tired but there are some things a person just has to do."

Mrs. Santa Claus put down her knitting, put on her shawl and walked down the path to the barn. The snow was piled high on each side of the path and it sparkled in the sun. The air was crisp and cold. She went into the barn.

It as warm and oozy in there too. Mrs. Santa Claus looked around and counted the reindeer. All nine were in the barn and some of them were eating and some were sleeping, but Donder stood all alone in a corner. He had his head down and his eyes closed. Mrs. Santa got the bottle of reindeer tonic and tried to give him a tablespoon to perk him up but he wouldn't swallow it and let it dribble out of the side of his mouth. She tried giving him some of his favorite food, dried moss, but he just closed his mouth and wouldn't take even a single bite.

Mrs. Santa Claus was so irritated with him that she felt like giving him a good clout or yanking his tail. "I give up, " she said. "You just stand there and pout. See if anyone cares. You should be ashamed of yourself."

She told Santa she had tried but it was no use. He wasn't going to go.
"I know," said Santa. "I'll just have to think about it and see what I can do."

That night Santa and Mrs. Santa Claus went to bed in their big feather bed but they oouldn't sleep. Mrs. Santa Claus tossed and turned and her hair came out of her bun and got tangled all over the pillow. Santa Claus paced back and forth. Finally he went back to bed and at last they both fell asleep. And as so often happens, while Santa was sleeping he had an idea. He knew just what to do.

In the morning after they had eaten their breakfast he went out to talk to Donder again. "You won't have to go this year," he said. "Rudolph can take your place. If it is not foggy he can pull the sleigh for you. You can stay home and rest."

Now Donder was depressed but he had a temper too. And he had always been jealous of Rudolph because he had a red nose and would go-down in history. He stamped his feet and tossed his antlers. He snorted and switched his tail. "I have always had the spot right in front of the sleigh," he said. "How will It look if Rudolph is back there with his big red nose glowing all over the place? I don't care how tired I am, I am going to go and no one can stop me!"

Santa Claus smiled under his bushy beard. He turned his head away so Donder couldn't see how relieved he was." I knew I could count on you," he said. "Get some rest. It is going to be a busy day tomorrow and a long ride tomorrow night."

When Santa Claus and Mrs. Santa Claus went to bed that night they slept soundly. Everything-was going-to be all right.
Bye for now - keep in touch!

No news is good news.

Another week gone by already. i had intended to do better than this, but time goes so fast, and life is so tranquil that I really have no dramatic news to impart. We have been watching Turner Classic Movies in the evenings, which passes the time pleasantly and I have some forms to fill out, which will keep me busy for an hour or two. My firm resolve to try new menus has not deserted me, but for tonight we had macaroni and cheese and hot dogs, hardly an imaginative feast. My chili and stew that I made on Thursday and Friday were very successful, though. Luckily for me, my husband will eat just about anything.
We are expecting some heavy rain, supposed to start tonight, so we have brought in some wood for the wood stove and are prepared for an electric power outage if one comes. We have a nice supply of candles and will ride out the storm if it comes.
We expect a wet winter this year.
Will try to be more interesting next blog. Take care and keep in touch.