A Lovely Day at Loon Lake

Family time...

Yesterday was all about family.  Linda and  Dave came over early and we headed to Julie's Coffee Shop for some delicious coffee and time on the Internet sharing OLD family photos.  (Warning to Andy, I have some of you at Grandma Noel's house...)

We headed back to the Lake House to meet my other cousin Marcia Beth and her husband Jim.  (Marcia Beth is Linda's older sister... our mothers were sisters.)  From there, after I gave them each quilts I had made, we headed out for lunch.  It was a delightful meal and we sat and talked about our shared experiences and memories of each other and our family.  It was wonderful.  The last time I saw Marcia Beth and Jim was when my father died in 2007.

Back to the house and Linda prepared for a meeting.  She is working with a group that is fund raising for a young woman who is in need of a kidney transplant.  I like the way they do meetings.  They met over by the lake on outdoor chairs and picnic tables with snacks and wine!!

It is so nice to be able to spend more than just a few hours with Linda.  I love connecting with the few immediate family members I have.

Two Days Down...

Two days into my journey and all is well.

Molly on her platform the morning that we left.

Molly after several hours of panting.  She  has realized that we are on a journey longer than going to the vet.

Almost Ready.....

Packed late....

Rain, rain, go away!  This has to be one of the wettest summers I can remember in a long, long time.  The week had been lovely weather and , of course, the one day that I needed to have the nice weather, it rained.  It rained all day.  I organized inside as much as I could.  I ran errands and it still rained.  There were times of light drizzle when I managed to get Molly's platform set up, got the cooler loaded and Molly's kennel.  This morning the rain gauge read 1.76 inches of rain yesterday!  Now I guess I was lucky as Dover, DE showed extreme flooding with parking lots and cars under water.  So I guess I will not complain, much

I finally got to bed around 2:00 AM and had most of the stuff in the van.  Finish up this morning and hit the road!  Keep good thoughts while I am on the road!

The Brand 'New' Van....

Here is the van after being detailed at LC Autobody today.  They did a beautiful job!

They attached a front license plate holder and my new front plate and frame.

Passenger side.

The van from the rear.  I added the sticker on the window when I got home.

The new decal up close.  I think the van now speaks volumes about my hobby!

It really glistens and gleams!!!  Ready to travel!

OMG OMG OMG !!!!!!!!!

O M G… I cannot believe it…..

I picked up my beautifully detailed and ready-to-travel van.  They even went so far as to buff out the outside so that some of the scuffs and light scratches have become less noticeable or non-existent.  It looks like a brand, new vehicle.  Thanks to the folks at LC Autobody for an outstanding job!  I understand that it was a group effort with the owner lending a hand. 

Anyway, I headed to WalMart to get a few more things for the trip.  And the front, seasonal section has SCHOOL SUPPLIES!  It is barely past the 4^th of July!  What happened to school stuff showing up in August?  July…. It is still July!  Pretty soon it will be on the shelves two weeks into summer vacation.  I am guessing that Christmas stuff will start showing up in August…..

Lazy Day

Not a Good Day to Feel Lazy…

I was up late last night.  I was in no way tired when it was time to go to bed, so I dug in and finished  some major sorting and packing for my trip.  I had to start it as it was put out the trash night and I wanted to get the bags of trash out for pick-up today.  Once that was done, I just kept going through things, packing the things I need to take with me on my trip and putting things away.  If I had to, I could throw things into the van (once I pick it up) and head out I am that organized at this point. 

Anyway, I slept until 9:30 AM and have had my coffee and just cannot seem to get going.  I do have a load of laundry in the washer and I did finally get dressed, so I am making a little progress.  Have some embroidery to do and some more hand sewing.  Also have to get to the store and mail some stuff from UPS.  So I do need to get off my butt shortly.  And I do have other things to do before I head out, so it is not a good day to feel this lazy!

Just enjoying being lazy this morning.  It has rained off and on this morning, too, so it is a perfect day to be lazy!  Just not a good day to be feeling lazy.

Fabric, Physical Therapy and More Fabric..... also Therapy....

Back from PT….

So, after easing into the morning I suddenly remembered that I had gotten a letter from PECO and that they were cautioning about a power interruption this morning from 10:00 AM forward for a couple of hours.  I remembered the letter when I looked out the side window and saw workmen in the bright green shirts and hard hats.  I quickly got a shower (no power, no water from the well) and then I realized the only car I had was in the garage so I dashed out, opened the automatic garage door and made sure I had the car on the driveway so I could make my appointments.

I could not do some embroidery for fear they would turn the power off.  I shut down the computer so that it would not turn off with being properly shut down.  I kept waiting and waiting, but nothing.  I could not even see the men anymore.  I was watching quilting videos on my IPad and came across a couple of easy, peasey quilts that used pre-cut fabric.  So, since the Physical Therapy office could be easily reached from a couple of my favorite quilt shops, I put Molly out and then left for a little fabric shopping before going to PT.

I found a delightful Layer Cake and some lovely charm packs at the Quilt Shack.  I also stopped at Log Cabin Quilts where I found another set of charm packs that will make a lovely, sewing-themed quilt.

I headed to PT where I met a very nice man by the name of Kevin.  He measured and twisted my thighs, knees and legs.  The right thigh is a full inch smaller in circumference than the left, so I am obviously not using it correctly.  So he gave me 4 exercises I am to do every other day at home.  Nothing strenuous, in fact only one actually bends the knees.  The rest use resistance and isometrics to strengthen the muscles with adding stress and wear on the knee.  Not a bad routine and perfect for me to use as a beginner.

Stopped at the Quilt Ledger on my way home to get another set of solid color charm packs.  So I will be readjusting what projects I will be taking with me.  This will eliminate the need to haul big cutting mats and rulers!  I always pack too much, always have but I like having what I want to use when I am away.

Got home and the microwave still had the time set, so they did not turn off the power after all!  I will be doing the embroidery tonight and trying to catch up tomorrow before I go pick up the van.  Cannot wait to see it all spiffed up and ready for the trip.

Day One of Final Prep...

Getting Ready Week…

Yesterday was a busy day.  Molly had an appointment at the groomers.  Even though it was not really time for her to go, I wanted her to look her best for the trip.  Surprisingly enough Minneapolis has about the same temperature range as I do here in Southeast Pennsylvania.  One would think that being much farther north that the temps would be cooler.  I checked their temps over the past weekend and one of the days they were actually warmer than my area.  So having her with short fur will keep her cooler on our adventure.

I stopped by LC Autobody to ask some questions about some service on my van.  Since I bought the van used and not knowing the kind of driving that was done in the vehicle I wanted to know about preventive maintenance on her.  So I scheduled some extra work to be done on Tuesday so that when I hit the road on Saturday I will be confident that everything is as fresh and new as it can be.  Wednesday they will detail her and I will look as good in her as I can as well.

I picked up some beer to take to Brian and his friend Matt.  They cannot get a particular variety of beer out there, so I will be carrying several cases with me along with several bags of Herr’s potato chips.  I will also be taking some fresh mushrooms to my cousin in Chicago.  I will be staying with her for a couple of days before I go on to see my son, Brian.

An unexpected dinner out with my BFF, Debby, was the highlight of the day.  We have not been able to be together much of late, so when she became my pick-up person after dropping off the van, we took advantage of the time and had dinner at the Brass Eagle in Gap.  They always have good food and it is the type of place where one can actually talk to you dinner companions without yelling over loud music or the din of an echoing crowd.  So, we took a couple of hours out of our busy lives and caught up on what we had been up to.  I really like her new hairdo.  It is short, smart and adorable.  Makes her look years younger!

Spent the rest of the evening with busy things that included talking to my other BFF, Marji to catch up on her day.  Then I curled up with Molly and finished the binding on a quilt.  I have never liked hand sewing.  I am not particularly good at it, but last night I found it very relaxing.

Another busy day today!

Better Not Be a Bug...

Odd Day, Yesterday…

Yesterday was the first day of some really hot, summer days.  I had one plan for the day and really wanted to get ahead of the clearing the bedroom and initial packing for my trip.

One of my insurance guys came by to alter the payment method on some insurance coverage I was approved for.  I did not want the funds coming out of my checking account and I had forms of approval for an alternative method. 

After he left, I felt so tired… and it was still early in the day.  I ended up falling asleep in the recliner and when I came to I was still so very tired, I headed to the bedroom and went to sleep for most of the afternoon.  I NEVER nap, but all I wanted to do was sleep.  So, I did.

I woke up, got some food and then it was time to go to bed again.  I figured I would toss and turn having slept all day.  I was wrong!!!  I fell asleep and aside from coming to so I could turn off the TV and later to let Molly out, I did not wake up until just before the alarm went off.  Still a little zapped today.  I better not be coming down with something!  Not before I head out for this road trip!!!!!

BOOM, BOOM, twinkle, twinkle....

A Magical Night….

There is not much that can match a professional fireworks display.  They are beautiful, intense, loud and every year there seem to be new and delightful effects that happen in the sky.

I also hate crowds.  I do not like being bumped and jostled.  I do not like standing in a queue for food or a ride or whatever the event might require.

Generally fireworks and crowds go hand-in-hand, so I generally do not get to see them up close and personal.

That changed last night………..

My hometown has a fair in the local park the week of the 4^th of July.  I have been in the area over 30 years and for as long as I can remember, the fair has been that week.  The Friday night of the fair is Fireworks night and as the years have passed the display put on has gotten bigger and better.  Over the years I am reminded of the fact that the fireworks were going off when I heard the loud booms during and at the end of the display.  For close to 20 years, I was out of town at campgrounds where my late husband and I rested and relaxed on weekends and vacations, so it did not matter.  But I sold the place that was our last weekend retreat so I found myself at home last night.

Those of you who have been reading this blog know that I have been going to a local Mennonite Church over the last year or so.  The building is just as you drive into the town.  Last Sunday they reminded the members that the church would be opening up the building as well as cooking hotdogs and serving drinks to members and anyone else who might enjoy one.  Seems as though the position of the church is one of the best areas to view the fireworks that are set off in the park that is not but a couple of blocks away.

I had been cleaning the bedroom, sorting through more ‘stuff’ from the house I sold and beginning the task of packing clothing and things for the trip I embark on in a week.  I remembered from time to time that the fireworks were happening but by the time I should be leaving I was tired and still had mounds of clothing and suitcases all over my bed.  Finally I said to myself….”self, get in your car and go see what is happening and take a break!”.  So, I headed to town!

I arrived around 8:00 PM.  There were already town folk with chairs and blankets lining up on the grassy area in front of the parking lot of the church.  I parked my van on the upper level and walked over to where the Pastor and his family were enjoying hotdogs with their grandchildren.  I watched the young children run around, playing and laughing.  I enjoyed a hot dog.  And as darkness began to fall, booms and bright flashes began all around us.  Other areas began their displays.  Finally a LOUD BOOM and a very bright flash, almost directly overhead, announced the beginning of the display we had come to see.

The colors were bright, they twinkled, cascaded and exploded.  There were red, white and blue…. Green, silver, gold, purple…. A rainbow with every explosion.  Some of the sounds were whoosh, whistle and pop.  Some were intense BOOMS.  But it was spectacular.  Some of the time it would be one or two going off, some of the time it would be four or five.  At the end it was one after another after another after another.  It was beautiful.  I had a small quilt on the ground and actually laid out almost prone so I did not have to crane my neck to view the display.  And they really seemed to be just overhead.  It was as close as I have ever been to a fireworks display.  I loved it.

So, Happy Birthday America!  Thanks for the special holiday where these wonderful displays are expected.  I know where I will be next year, if I find myself at home!  It was amazing.

Family Fourth Celebration

Family Fourth…

Yesterday was the 4^th of July.  Another special Holiday that we celebrate here in the United States.  Another special day when families get together for a family outing where we can slow down and catch up.

I made my homemade baked beans.  I made a smaller batch than I usually do and made them in the oven instead of the roaster I make BIG batches in.  They turned out fairly well.  There was a nice, smoky flavor to them and I think that everyone enjoyed them.  I still have a nice amount for me to enjoy for a couple of meals.  I love being able to make these beans and can only do so for a big gathering.

The big day was at the home of my brother-in-law, Al and I had not seen him for more than a year.  He splits his time between Pennsylvania and Florida.  Last year was not a good year medically for him.  He spent many days in the hospital before getting a pacemaker that seems to have solved all of the issues.  He looked very healthy with a nifty close cropped haircut that I have never seen him wear.  It was also comforting to see him finally admitting that there are some things he can no longer do.

The three sons who live in the local area came to the celebration.  Allan came for a while and cooked the burgers and dogs for us out in the suddenly sweltering heat.  Albert brought dessert and a pasta salad that were yummy.  Ed brought his kids, Eddie and Nicole.  His wife, Lisa, had to work and we missed seeing her.  Al’s daughter, Nancy, and her family, Jeff and Steven, were not there.  Nancy has been in the hospital with uncontrolled high blood pressure.  They are trying to get the blood pressure under control before they release her.  I am happy to report that as of last night she was finally feeling much better and might be released today. 

It is always nice when family can get together.  The Boylan family are part of my late husband’s family.  They welcomed me into the family when I married Rudy and have kept me in the family after he died.  I love them all very much.

It was a delightful day.  Thanks Al for opening your home for the day.

Update on knee...

Day after the Shot…

Just a brief note, the day after getting my Cortisone injection my right knee still feels wonderful.  I slept well, although I did wake up around 4 AM for no reason and stayed up for a bit before going back to sleep.  But there is very little pain in my knee.  I am not doing the tottering, wait a moment until the knee lock in place.  I hope this keeps up.  It will be the first time in YEARS that I can walk more normally!

I will be with the Boylan family this afternoon for the holiday.  Nancy, Jeff and Steven will not be there.  Nancy has been in the hospital for several days now.  They are trying to bring really high blood pressure under control.  We will miss them but are keeping good thoughts that the doctors can figure out what is going on and get it controlled.  

Happy Birthday, America…

Happy Birthday, America…

It is the 4^th of July and time to celebrate this wonderful nation that we have the privilege of living in.  We are so lucky to have the freedoms that we enjoy.  The majority of them were crafted by our Founding Fathers in the very document that we celebrate the signing of today.  Many have been added by the thoughtful and caring people who followed.  The words they put to paper created a nation where so many have grown up living a dream that people in other less fortunate countries cannot even imagine.

I am one of the lucky ones.  To look at my house one might not think of me in that way, but from my eyes, I am lucky.  It is a small house (under 1,000 square feet) alongside a busy road, but I no longer hear the noise from the traffic (I am immune to it).  It is close to 100 years old and does not have the curb appeal of the lovely brick mini-mansions that are the current, preferred house of the up and coming crop of the upwardly mobile generation.  But it is all mine, bought and paid for so as long as I can afford the taxes, I am good.  It is cluttered as I am trying to consolidate the contents of a summer home that I recently sold while trying to get it settled into the new life that is mine and mine alone since my husband and best friend died a couple of years ago.  There is a well (so no water bills until the pump dies or if it should go dry after many years of use) and an on site septic system (it would not pass inspection to sell but it works just fine for me).  I am retired and between Social Security and investments I am doing fine.  Living the dream!

I will, in all possibility, outlive many of the changes that I am seeing when I have the nerve to look at the news.  I am seeing a very greedy and corrupt government… Local, Commonwealth and Federal… who no longer care about the majority of their constituents but rather cater to the wants of the few, wealthy groups who can line their pockets with money and perks that set them well above the people they are supposed to be serving.  I see our freedoms being reduced and changed by the desires of the few rather than what the majority want.  I see the government sticking their noses into places that their noses should never be to the point that when they finally realize that what has been created cannot be sustained, the entire nation will collapse.  At least I hope I will no longer be here to see it.  But I fear my children may still be around.  But then my parents probably felt the same way… we humans are amazingly adaptable!

But today we celebrate the very creation of this nation.  We should be proud of what was done then and we should honor the men and women who serve in the military to give us the rights we have.  And we should pray that our leaders will wake up and smell the coffee, before it is too late.

Happy Birthday, America!

I've Been Shot!!!

And the Doctor Said….

Well, today I braved all of the tourist traffic in Lancaster County to have the first visit with Dr. Renz, an Orthopedic Surgeon with the Lancaster Orthopedic Group.  I left early enough to get there in plenty of time… so I thought.  I did arrive on time, but just barely.  I have not been out in the daylight fighting trucks and tourists in Lancaster County… and no I know why.  But I made it, turned in my paperwork, was ushered into the exam room and they set about getting all of my test information together.

Once everything was in place, Dr. Renz came in.  He is a younger doctor but not too young.  He dressed in a suit and not scrubs or a lab coat.  I was struck by how professional he was ad yet he was down-to-earth and personable.  He looked, again, at the pictures of my right knee and declared it arthritic.  There is arthritis all through the joint and in most places it is bone-on-bone.

Since I have never had any kind of therapy or injection therapy or rehab, we decided to give those a try.  I was given an injection of cortisone and then fitted for a proper knee brace.  I go back to their therapy department next week for a series of exercises that I am to do at home to help strengthen the muscles of both legs.  I will go back in 6 weeks for evaluation and we may continue that trend for a while.  But there is no doubt that in time, I will have to have the knee replaced.  But for now, we will shoot and exercise.

The shot was a nasty little thing.  Rub a swab with medicine on it, then spray for cold.  Then pinch and BURN!  It was not a long burn and ended up just feeling full which also went away.  I am sure tomorrow I will feel the pain more than today but by the time I start on my trip, if it works, I will feel pretty good while I am driving and away.

So, step one done.  Many more to go.  But I like that this man just did not jump right in to the ‘let me cut you open’ mode and will instead see how I react to different treatments before we go to the surgical route, even though it is where I will end up.  But I have known that was coming long before I ever went to see Dr. Renz.

Oh Happy Days!  These are the ‘Golden Years’.

A Fun New Gadget

A Fun New Gadget…

I am a gadget addict.  People always ask me where I find all of these things.  I have never found it hard, I am just always looking around for the fun and interesting things I can bring into to my life to provide me information and fun.  Last week, I found another gadget that I am thoroughly enjoying.

Last Thursday we had rain.  It poured in the late afternoon.  I was safe and sound inside my house, but I could hear the rain pounding on the roof and windows.  I had a lion’s Club meeting that evening so I headed to the local Baptist Church.  Stepping outside on my deck I was struck by the sound of rushing water.  There is a runoff from the field across the street that runs under the road and then divides my property from the house to the north.  The roaring told me that there had been a lot of water and it was cascading down the hill.

As I drove, there was debris on the road all along the way.  The streams were full and rushing much like my runoff.  There were areas where you could see gravel and sand-like material in the road where torrents of water had moved the debris from the gravel driveways.  Lots of signs of lots of water.  Upon arrival at the Lion’s Club I was informed that we had received 3 ½ inches of rain in just a couple of hours.  No wonder there was water rushing.

As you know, I had a computer die and had replaced it with an inexpensive Gateway from WalMart.  While there I had gone to the electric hardware side of the store.  I was looking for a specific power strip to set up the new computer.  This strip has a master outlet and four additional outlets that rely on the master outlet. So my computer is plugged into the master and my monitor and printer are plugged into the additional plugs.  When I shut the computer down, the printer and monitor turn off as well.

In the same aisle was a selection of weather monitoring gadgets.  Most of them were temperature gauges and humidity gauges.  There were the normal rain gauges that collect rain, after it stops you go and read the measurement, dump out the water and wait for the next rain.  What I found among all of these devices was an electronic rain gauge.

 

Jane's New Gadget

It is an Acu-Rite Rain Gauge, model #00875W.  It was $20.00.  So I decided for that amount of money I would give it a try.  I brought it home and set about getting it setup.  There are two components to the device, one if the collector/transmitter and the other is the receiver/display unit.  The collector has a simple system.  There is a scale-like device inside that has two small cups.  It is balanced on a rod system so that as water fills one of the cups it forces the cup to drop down, dumping the water out of the bottom and places the second cup in place to fill up and then drop down to dump bringing the other cup up.  So as the rain falls these cups fill and dump and fill and dump.  Each time a cup dumps it transmits that information to the receiver and displays the calibrated amount on the screen.  Yesterday there was over an inch of rain by the end of the day and overnight last night there was an additional ¾ of an inch of rain.  There is more in the offing today.  The unit has several modes so you can measure an ‘event’, the ‘day’ the ‘week’, and a couple of totals areas so I guess you could do month and perhaps year… your option.  Each one can be individually reset to start new at the desired time and the event and day rest automatically based on the clock setting.  I have not had it a week yet, so that one might rest automatically, too.

So, another fun gadget in my life…. Yippee!

Almost Back to Normal… Computer-wise…

Almost Back to Normal… Computer-wise…

 I really have other things to do.  I am leaving in less than 2 weeks for my trip to Chicago and Minneapolis.  I have things to organize and pack.  New glasses to pick up.  Some sewing to finish and projects to organize to take with me.  I have to get the stuff to make my naked beans for July 4^th.  Laundry. Shopping for the trip.  Am I doing that……. No!

I have been working on this stupid computer since connecting it up to my network.  I knew I would not be able to get back to my normal pursuits until I got things into the computer.  Last night was the final step with the things I was compelled to do.  I took the old hard drive, hooked it up as an auxiliary drive and transferred pictures, music and documents to the new drive….whew, none of that is lost.  I will lose some of the recipes I have been putting into my cookbook program.  I periodically back the program up and I can restore from the last backup.  But I did not back it up lately.  I was planning to do that just before I got ready to take my trip.  Yikes, never again!  I had printed out all of the recipes I have lost, so I should be able to recreate most of them, as long as I can find the hard copies.

I am getting the hang of Windows 8.  Thank goodness I have had a smartphone and my IPad.  There are many features of Windows 8 that are geared for tablet type computing.  It is a bit awkward to maneuver around.  I have also invested in and am trying Microsoft Office 365 which is the annual fee-based Office Suite.  I can load it on five computers and keep up-to-date on all of the updates year after year after year for a single fee per year.  Much better that forking out big bucks for the software every few years and only being able to use it on one or two computers.  So far, so good.  I will let you know how it works out.

I still have some items that need to be finished.  I ordered a new updated copy of my recipe/cookbook program.  So when that arrives, I will have to load it in and backup the recipes I have saved.  I am sure I will find some items that I have forgotten to put back on the new box, but for the most part, I am back and functioning.

So, I will now clean up the computer parts and pieces all over the living room and get back on track for trip prep.