Well, tonight was the last session of GriefShare for this year. I really enjoyed this year. We did not have very many this year, but the ladies that did come attended most of the sessions and each time I could see them taking little steps in their grief journey.
I will not mention names here as we always promise that what happens in GriefShare stays in GriefShare. Each meeting was special. We shared stories and fears. We cried. We went through several anniversaries together.
The wonderful thing is that while the leaders of this group are imparting wisdom to people who are new to grief, it never fails that I find just as much strength and determination from them as they begin to move forward to find their new normal lives.
What people do not always understand, especially those who have not been touched by grief, is that time does not heal all wounds and we are not going to 'get over it' when someone has passed away. With a loss that deeply affects one, there is a hole in their life that will never quite get filled. In many cases the actual course of ones life will be altered as the plans and dreams that you shared with the person who died are forever changed.
It is a comfort to find others with whom you can talk and share and cry and not be judged. We learn to rely on God for our comfort and each other as well.
I am hoping that I will continue to see some of these ladies as time goes on.
But for now, GriefShare is finished. There will be another session next year.... if not sooner. It is such a blessing to be able to be of service to others who are in search of answers. While I miss Rudy every day, I have found at least one calling where I can help others and that is one of my greatest joys!
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Saturday, March 28, 2015
A couple of nice days, snow and a new/old machine....
The weather has not felt much like spring. Thursday evening was a teeming downpour. One of those storms where the two feet from the car to the covered deck had me soaked to the bone.
Friday I worked on some paperwork and then headed to Maryland to pick up Miss Marji. She was not at her best. She has been hurting all over as she went to watch her granddaughter Chance play tennis. She was bundled for the cold temps, but her DIL had them sitting on the ground on a blanket and she got chilled. Then she ran out of stem trying to walk back to the car and ended up falling, flat on her back, thus the hurting all over. She is seeing her heart doc on Monday to check on her new implanted pacemaker to make sure it is doing the job.
We drove to Baltimore to visit Vivian Freeman, a wonderful Red Hat Lady and an Origami Owl dealer. She was having an open house and selling some of the current charms and some retired ones. The nice thing about her business is that she cares about her clients, not like the last one I experienced. We had a grand time and got some nice charms for our lockets.
Today I was in Ephrata doing our Pillowcase Saturday. It will be the last time at that shop, they are moving and will be doing more machine quilting services rather than fabric and classes. But they are still going to provide the pillowcase kits to sew, so we are going to set up in the church fellowship hall and also look into doing some sewing classes for some of the local youth and older folks as well. It is an idea that we have been batting around for a while and this will give us a perfect time to change things up.
On our way home, Patty (from church) and I stopped at Dave's Collectibles where I picked up a Singer 401A vintage sewing machine. I had found it on EBay and saved shipping by picking it up in Lancaster. It was supposed to be operating, recently serviced and had several attachments. I got it home and doubt that it had been serviced. But it was in good shape and did show signs of having a drop of oil here or there. But I went over the innards myself and greased gears and oiled other moving parts. It was humming well. The lone bobbin that was in the machine was plastic and I doubt that they had them back in the 50's. So I have ordered some bobbins that will work and I will adjust the tension and it will sew some lovely stitches. I am looking forward to learning some paper piecing techniques on it.
Tomorrow I am becoming a member of the Parkesburg Mennonite Church. I have been going to Sunday School and Church for the last three years. They are wonderful people. And I am blessed to be able to become a part of the church family.
Friday I worked on some paperwork and then headed to Maryland to pick up Miss Marji. She was not at her best. She has been hurting all over as she went to watch her granddaughter Chance play tennis. She was bundled for the cold temps, but her DIL had them sitting on the ground on a blanket and she got chilled. Then she ran out of stem trying to walk back to the car and ended up falling, flat on her back, thus the hurting all over. She is seeing her heart doc on Monday to check on her new implanted pacemaker to make sure it is doing the job.
We drove to Baltimore to visit Vivian Freeman, a wonderful Red Hat Lady and an Origami Owl dealer. She was having an open house and selling some of the current charms and some retired ones. The nice thing about her business is that she cares about her clients, not like the last one I experienced. We had a grand time and got some nice charms for our lockets.
Today I was in Ephrata doing our Pillowcase Saturday. It will be the last time at that shop, they are moving and will be doing more machine quilting services rather than fabric and classes. But they are still going to provide the pillowcase kits to sew, so we are going to set up in the church fellowship hall and also look into doing some sewing classes for some of the local youth and older folks as well. It is an idea that we have been batting around for a while and this will give us a perfect time to change things up.
On our way home, Patty (from church) and I stopped at Dave's Collectibles where I picked up a Singer 401A vintage sewing machine. I had found it on EBay and saved shipping by picking it up in Lancaster. It was supposed to be operating, recently serviced and had several attachments. I got it home and doubt that it had been serviced. But it was in good shape and did show signs of having a drop of oil here or there. But I went over the innards myself and greased gears and oiled other moving parts. It was humming well. The lone bobbin that was in the machine was plastic and I doubt that they had them back in the 50's. So I have ordered some bobbins that will work and I will adjust the tension and it will sew some lovely stitches. I am looking forward to learning some paper piecing techniques on it.
Tomorrow I am becoming a member of the Parkesburg Mennonite Church. I have been going to Sunday School and Church for the last three years. They are wonderful people. And I am blessed to be able to become a part of the church family.
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
P I C T U R E S !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Better late than never. But I have been busy working in the basement and today, thrift store browsing in the damp, cold weather.
First, I have pictures of the new floor in the now, empty bedroom that my boys shared when they were young. Rudy had built the room as the tiny bedroom upstairs was really way too small for two boys to grow up in. I had very little money at the time, much like now, so we put down a foam backed, looped carpet to warm the basement floor up and it had been on the floor for 35+ years.
After putting down the laminate flooring in the sewing room, I bought extra boxes and that was the 'big' project that got finished with Danny and Darren's help while Rob was here. So the cheap carpet came up and the Dri-Core panels, waterproof sheets and the laminate went down. Now I have to finish painting the room, go through all of the stuff that came out of the room and put it back together into a more livable room for the boys when they come and visit.
I have been finishing a project on my 'to-do' list in the sewing room. There had been a workbench at the back of the room and I choose to leave it in the room after the floor went down. It had a particle board top and in order to use it for cutting material, it needed to be a smooth, hard surface. There is a particle board sheet at most lumber stores that has melamine glued on both sides, making it a perfect surface for cutting mats and rotary cutters. I went to Home Depot and bought a 4' X 8' sheet and had them cut it to the correct size. I could have cut it, but it is a really heavy material and I could never have wrestled the full sheet around to cut it down. I brought it home, cleared off the workbench and glued the piece down to the other top. After setting up overnight, I covered the raw edges with yard sticks that I bought at Home Depot, too. All I have left to do now, is paint the legs white, and that is finished.
Still have to get one more yard stick. The side of the workbench that is up against the cutting table from Indian Acres still has a raw edge, so I will get another yard stick and cover that edge. But this way we can measure out some yardages easier if we need to do that. Two people, now, can easily be cutting back on the tables and the cloth covered, silver thing on the floor is an ironing surface that can be laid on top of the mat to so some ironing.
I am really pleased with the room now. Sill have some things to organize, but that will come in time. I took time today to make three sets of Half Square Triangles. I am doing a Half Square Triangle Challenge... I am getting directions for a new Half Square Triangle Block for 24 weeks. I am three weeks behind, so I made three sets of triangles and will hopefully get caught up before the next clue comes out on Saturday.
First, I have pictures of the new floor in the now, empty bedroom that my boys shared when they were young. Rudy had built the room as the tiny bedroom upstairs was really way too small for two boys to grow up in. I had very little money at the time, much like now, so we put down a foam backed, looped carpet to warm the basement floor up and it had been on the floor for 35+ years.
After putting down the laminate flooring in the sewing room, I bought extra boxes and that was the 'big' project that got finished with Danny and Darren's help while Rob was here. So the cheap carpet came up and the Dri-Core panels, waterproof sheets and the laminate went down. Now I have to finish painting the room, go through all of the stuff that came out of the room and put it back together into a more livable room for the boys when they come and visit.
I have been finishing a project on my 'to-do' list in the sewing room. There had been a workbench at the back of the room and I choose to leave it in the room after the floor went down. It had a particle board top and in order to use it for cutting material, it needed to be a smooth, hard surface. There is a particle board sheet at most lumber stores that has melamine glued on both sides, making it a perfect surface for cutting mats and rotary cutters. I went to Home Depot and bought a 4' X 8' sheet and had them cut it to the correct size. I could have cut it, but it is a really heavy material and I could never have wrestled the full sheet around to cut it down. I brought it home, cleared off the workbench and glued the piece down to the other top. After setting up overnight, I covered the raw edges with yard sticks that I bought at Home Depot, too. All I have left to do now, is paint the legs white, and that is finished.
Still have to get one more yard stick. The side of the workbench that is up against the cutting table from Indian Acres still has a raw edge, so I will get another yard stick and cover that edge. But this way we can measure out some yardages easier if we need to do that. Two people, now, can easily be cutting back on the tables and the cloth covered, silver thing on the floor is an ironing surface that can be laid on top of the mat to so some ironing.
I am really pleased with the room now. Sill have some things to organize, but that will come in time. I took time today to make three sets of Half Square Triangles. I am doing a Half Square Triangle Challenge... I am getting directions for a new Half Square Triangle Block for 24 weeks. I am three weeks behind, so I made three sets of triangles and will hopefully get caught up before the next clue comes out on Saturday.
Sunday, March 22, 2015
A long, long night!
I have no idea why, but last night I could not sleep. As far as I know, I have no great stresses in my life... GriefShare is winding down, trip to Fancy Gap is about 30 days away. Work on the floor in the bedroom is done. A list of things to do, but no pressure to get any of them accomplished. Joining the Parkesburg Mennonite Church next Sunday, but that is a joyful event. Maundy Thursday Service is written, approved and speaking parts assigned.
I did not nap or even drift off while watching TV. I did some work in the basement. I was tired when I went into the bedroom. Fresh sheets on the bed which usually makes sleeping really nice.
But, nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
I did not have any solid sleep. I tossed and turned and tossed some more.
So I will struggle through today and hit the hay early tonight. I hope to get some good sleep tonight!
I did not nap or even drift off while watching TV. I did some work in the basement. I was tired when I went into the bedroom. Fresh sheets on the bed which usually makes sleeping really nice.
But, nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
I did not have any solid sleep. I tossed and turned and tossed some more.
So I will struggle through today and hit the hay early tonight. I hope to get some good sleep tonight!
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Still no pictures but got a lot done!!!
Sorry, I keep forgetting to take the camera downstairs to take a picture of the floor in the bedroom. So just keep looking and I will get it down there.
Rob is back at home in Alaska. He will be home for a while but in April he and Kate will be at two workshops, back to back for Tai Chi out on the west coast, they will then fly home for a short period and then head to Europe for a River Cruise with my other son, Brian and their father and his wife. I think it is the Rhine River and they will also be taking some time in what used to be Czechoslovakia and is now the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Their father is an American born Czech as his parents were both born there. They used to drive me crazy when they would come visit... they would speak Czech when they were making remarks I was not to understand.
Rob and I got lots of things done. He helped Danny replace the strap on the snow plow. He assisted with the floor project in his bedroom. Before Danny and Darren came, Rob & I took boxes of stuff out of the room. We dismantled the large L-shaped computer desk that has lived in the room. We had everything out of the room except the bed and the old file cabinet.
Danny and Darren and I worked on the flooring with Rob helping carry materials downstairs and taking things upstairs. The floor looks wonderful... I promise, pictures soon. I am no putting anything back in the room until I paint the walls.... and then I will go through all of the boxes and NOTHING goes back in unless it is something I will be using or might need.
Rob finished securing the electrical work that he did last time he was here by mounting and sealing the boxes that are outside. He walked all around the yard and picked up a full trash bag full of trash/junk that had blown into the yard over the winter. He helped get all of the construction trash upstairs and outside for the garbage men to pick up on Wednesday.
Thursday we took a break and rode to Wilmington. I had gotten a call about an item that was being held for me at Stony Brook Sew and Vac in Wilmington. In 2007 I had gone to the old store for a Floriani Seminar and bought some embroidery software that I wanted to use in the business. I never did get the time to look at it and just relied on what I had been using from Husqvarna Viking. Stony Brook had called late last fall to say they had something I had ordered, but since I had not ordered anything I thought they had a wrong number. When they called this past week they said it was software and it was free. I looked it up online and it was an entirely new, full blown digitizing and management system for embroidery, being sold for anywhere from $3,000.00 to $3,500.00. I figured it was worth the drive. And sure enough, the Floriani company had found the people they contracted to do the original software to be faulty and not willing to fix things without lots more money. So Floriani hired their own people internally, totally reworked the software and actually gave it to all of the clients who had purchased the old software. There is a 222 page users manual and I am hoping to figure it out how to use it more. So I am guessing that the trip and two plus housrs in the car was well worth going. Rob enjoyed seeing the area that he grew up in for the first 6 years of his life. He remembered quite a bit more than I expected him to remember. Perhaps it is just because there are parts of that time that I would prefer to forget.
Rob and I finally got the trim piece up on the ugly wall.... that is now one of my favorite walls in the house. I now have to finish painting in the dining room, too. So there is a bit of painting happening in my future. Our final task, after sharing dinner with my friend, Sheila, was to try to identify the circuits in my electrical panel. I had the service upgraded when I had central air installed a couple of years ago. The electrician had marked a few things but not that many. New items had been marked as they were added, but there were many things not marked. We managed to find all but 2. I am guessing that the 2 will be single things or add things but I will find them eventually. I am marking all of the items that should be able to run with the generator in yellow labels and the ones that cannot be run on the generator in white. It will keep me from blowing up my generator.
So. Rob headed to New Jersey Thursday morning to pick up his wife, Kate and head back home. He was excited to get back home as the temperature in Fairbanks was finally going to be above freezing! Yesterday was 47 degrees there.
I cannot tell all of you how wonderful it is to have Rob willing to come out and take care of the things his Mom needs, We have created a shared document on Google so I can add things to the list as I find the need and can move them to the done list so Rob can see how much is getting done. I also find the list helpful so I can remember what things need to be done and not just sit around doing nothing. It has been four years since Rudy died and while I think I am doing well and I am.... I am still feeling the effects of his death and still making small steps in finding my way without him.
I am grateful for all of the people who have helped me with over the last four years. I do not know how I would have gotten this far without you all.... you know who you are. I love you all!
Rob is back at home in Alaska. He will be home for a while but in April he and Kate will be at two workshops, back to back for Tai Chi out on the west coast, they will then fly home for a short period and then head to Europe for a River Cruise with my other son, Brian and their father and his wife. I think it is the Rhine River and they will also be taking some time in what used to be Czechoslovakia and is now the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Their father is an American born Czech as his parents were both born there. They used to drive me crazy when they would come visit... they would speak Czech when they were making remarks I was not to understand.
Rob and I got lots of things done. He helped Danny replace the strap on the snow plow. He assisted with the floor project in his bedroom. Before Danny and Darren came, Rob & I took boxes of stuff out of the room. We dismantled the large L-shaped computer desk that has lived in the room. We had everything out of the room except the bed and the old file cabinet.
Danny and Darren and I worked on the flooring with Rob helping carry materials downstairs and taking things upstairs. The floor looks wonderful... I promise, pictures soon. I am no putting anything back in the room until I paint the walls.... and then I will go through all of the boxes and NOTHING goes back in unless it is something I will be using or might need.
Rob finished securing the electrical work that he did last time he was here by mounting and sealing the boxes that are outside. He walked all around the yard and picked up a full trash bag full of trash/junk that had blown into the yard over the winter. He helped get all of the construction trash upstairs and outside for the garbage men to pick up on Wednesday.
Thursday we took a break and rode to Wilmington. I had gotten a call about an item that was being held for me at Stony Brook Sew and Vac in Wilmington. In 2007 I had gone to the old store for a Floriani Seminar and bought some embroidery software that I wanted to use in the business. I never did get the time to look at it and just relied on what I had been using from Husqvarna Viking. Stony Brook had called late last fall to say they had something I had ordered, but since I had not ordered anything I thought they had a wrong number. When they called this past week they said it was software and it was free. I looked it up online and it was an entirely new, full blown digitizing and management system for embroidery, being sold for anywhere from $3,000.00 to $3,500.00. I figured it was worth the drive. And sure enough, the Floriani company had found the people they contracted to do the original software to be faulty and not willing to fix things without lots more money. So Floriani hired their own people internally, totally reworked the software and actually gave it to all of the clients who had purchased the old software. There is a 222 page users manual and I am hoping to figure it out how to use it more. So I am guessing that the trip and two plus housrs in the car was well worth going. Rob enjoyed seeing the area that he grew up in for the first 6 years of his life. He remembered quite a bit more than I expected him to remember. Perhaps it is just because there are parts of that time that I would prefer to forget.
Rob and I finally got the trim piece up on the ugly wall.... that is now one of my favorite walls in the house. I now have to finish painting in the dining room, too. So there is a bit of painting happening in my future. Our final task, after sharing dinner with my friend, Sheila, was to try to identify the circuits in my electrical panel. I had the service upgraded when I had central air installed a couple of years ago. The electrician had marked a few things but not that many. New items had been marked as they were added, but there were many things not marked. We managed to find all but 2. I am guessing that the 2 will be single things or add things but I will find them eventually. I am marking all of the items that should be able to run with the generator in yellow labels and the ones that cannot be run on the generator in white. It will keep me from blowing up my generator.
So. Rob headed to New Jersey Thursday morning to pick up his wife, Kate and head back home. He was excited to get back home as the temperature in Fairbanks was finally going to be above freezing! Yesterday was 47 degrees there.
I cannot tell all of you how wonderful it is to have Rob willing to come out and take care of the things his Mom needs, We have created a shared document on Google so I can add things to the list as I find the need and can move them to the done list so Rob can see how much is getting done. I also find the list helpful so I can remember what things need to be done and not just sit around doing nothing. It has been four years since Rudy died and while I think I am doing well and I am.... I am still feeling the effects of his death and still making small steps in finding my way without him.
I am grateful for all of the people who have helped me with over the last four years. I do not know how I would have gotten this far without you all.... you know who you are. I love you all!
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
My Angels.....
First of all, Rob is here. His beautiful wife, Kate is in New Jersey for work for a week, so after they flew into Newark and spending the night with friends, Rob drove down here to help with some of my projects.
Marji's husband, Danny, was coming in on Monday to supervise and work on putting the laminate floor into the bedroom that my boys grew up in. In 1983, Rudy had built the basement room for them after I bought this house. We had put down foam backed carpet to warm up the room for them and it has been down ever since. It has gotten damp with moisture and who knows what was spilled when they were younger and did not clean up well. It needed to be cleaned but I was afraid it might fall apart. There were a couple of slices in it where the boys had cut something out and accidentally cut through the carpet.
Rob and I had gone to Home Depot on Friday to order 45 Dri-Core panels for the necessary sub-flooring. I already had the laminate and underlayment. We went at the prescibed time and not only was the order not ready, they only had 37 panels. We took what they had and first thing Monday, I called Home Depot. I spoke to Dave at the Pro Desk and he checked, apologized (with no actual sorrow for the issue) and said that they were expecting more to be delivered on Tuesday so I could pick it up then. I thanked him and immediately called back and was connected with Dana, the manager. She was genuinely sorry, said she would call other stores and find the 8 pieces we were short and deliver it to the house.
Danny arrived a little after 11:00 AM and brought my other angel, his son Darren. While it was a small room, initially there were all 4 of us working. Rob and I had cleared the room of everything but the bed and a very heavy file cabinet. Basically, we left those in the room and just did sections and then moved the furniture out of the way in the finished areas. Rob had to do some work via his computer, including a conference call, so after helping get things moved and bringing Dri-Core panels downstairs, he was out of the way. Danny and Darren are very, very good at doing floors, so they were just working away with Danny measuring, Darren cutting and Danny installing. By 5:30 PM, the finishing touches were going down. It looks sooooooooo much better in the room and will be much warmer and less damp now. And just putting those two floors down has increased the resale value of the home. I will be slowly loading the room. I am going to take advantage of having everything out to finish painting the room and really brighten it up.
I really have no idea what I would do without Danny and Darren stepping up to the plate and helping me out. I am hoping that this is now the last BIG project that I will need help with. I should be able to handle the little things that are left or will be able to figure it out on one of Rob's visits.
I have not taken a picture of the room yet, but I will come back and add it soon, so check back... if there are no pictures when you read this.
Thanks to Danny and Darren for all of the hard, hard work putting down the floor. And thanks to Rob for the lugging up and down of things until you were sidelined with your calls and conferences. You are all my angels and I appreciate it more than you know. Love each of you so much.
Marji's husband, Danny, was coming in on Monday to supervise and work on putting the laminate floor into the bedroom that my boys grew up in. In 1983, Rudy had built the basement room for them after I bought this house. We had put down foam backed carpet to warm up the room for them and it has been down ever since. It has gotten damp with moisture and who knows what was spilled when they were younger and did not clean up well. It needed to be cleaned but I was afraid it might fall apart. There were a couple of slices in it where the boys had cut something out and accidentally cut through the carpet.
Rob and I had gone to Home Depot on Friday to order 45 Dri-Core panels for the necessary sub-flooring. I already had the laminate and underlayment. We went at the prescibed time and not only was the order not ready, they only had 37 panels. We took what they had and first thing Monday, I called Home Depot. I spoke to Dave at the Pro Desk and he checked, apologized (with no actual sorrow for the issue) and said that they were expecting more to be delivered on Tuesday so I could pick it up then. I thanked him and immediately called back and was connected with Dana, the manager. She was genuinely sorry, said she would call other stores and find the 8 pieces we were short and deliver it to the house.
Danny arrived a little after 11:00 AM and brought my other angel, his son Darren. While it was a small room, initially there were all 4 of us working. Rob and I had cleared the room of everything but the bed and a very heavy file cabinet. Basically, we left those in the room and just did sections and then moved the furniture out of the way in the finished areas. Rob had to do some work via his computer, including a conference call, so after helping get things moved and bringing Dri-Core panels downstairs, he was out of the way. Danny and Darren are very, very good at doing floors, so they were just working away with Danny measuring, Darren cutting and Danny installing. By 5:30 PM, the finishing touches were going down. It looks sooooooooo much better in the room and will be much warmer and less damp now. And just putting those two floors down has increased the resale value of the home. I will be slowly loading the room. I am going to take advantage of having everything out to finish painting the room and really brighten it up.
I really have no idea what I would do without Danny and Darren stepping up to the plate and helping me out. I am hoping that this is now the last BIG project that I will need help with. I should be able to handle the little things that are left or will be able to figure it out on one of Rob's visits.
I have not taken a picture of the room yet, but I will come back and add it soon, so check back... if there are no pictures when you read this.
Thanks to Danny and Darren for all of the hard, hard work putting down the floor. And thanks to Rob for the lugging up and down of things until you were sidelined with your calls and conferences. You are all my angels and I appreciate it more than you know. Love each of you so much.
Monday, March 9, 2015
Food Drive ready to go and a Good Friend....
I had the normal first night of daylight savings time lack of sleep. This is the one time change that affects me the most. Sure, we spring forward so when you go to bed the night that the change happens, if it is 11:00 PM, in reality it is midnight. The next night, when the clock says it is 11:00 PM, your body believes that it is only 10:00 PM.
To make it worse, if you have a tendency to be a night owl or suffer from insomnia, it only magnifies the issue. So last night, I headed to be a little after 11:00 PM. Winston was just fine, he curled up in his couch and was sound asleep. I, on the other hand, tried to close my eyes but eventually just gave up , turned on Netflix and watched a sappy love story movie, which was 2 hours long and I watched the entire thing. So after that, I switched back to my favorite Netflix TV series, West Wing (I have watched every season in order for many years to where I can recite dialog as it plays... but was one of the best written shows) and somewhere in the middle of whichever episode was next to be watched I fell asleep. I had the TV set to turn off, so it did and I slept until Winston wanted out at 6:30 AM. To say I am dragging today is an understatement.
I had spent the weekend preparing the flyers and information for our sponsoring businesses and getting flyers in various forms out to our members so that when the 21st arrives, everyone is ready for the spring Community Food Drive. We will be getting whatever food we can collect to the Octorara Area Food Cupboard just in time for Easter. So I was out around noon to deliver printed flyers to the two remaining drop-off points.
I was also extremely touched by an email from a dear friend. She is an elder at the church I am joining this month and I met her at the first GriefShare that she was attending as well as helping to lead. When I called to inquire about the program, she had answered the phone and was so kind and inviting that I knew this was where I needed to go to help me deal with Rudy's death. Walking in that first night, she was loving and kind and gave me a wonderful, big bear hug. Over the years since that day, we have formed a deep friendship over a shared experiences. We have been there to help the other find answers and new pathways in our "new normal" since losing our spouses.
She knew I was struggling with some of the things that are happening at the Lions Club and wrote a little email this morning letting me know that she was thinking about me and how much our friendship meant to her. She has also been talking to the OBX ladies and there will be a couple of them on Palm Sunday who will be sharing my big day with me when I join the church.
I realize that I have many friends and acquaintances. I also have several exceptional friends. Marji, who is more like a sister that I never had. Debby who comes and goes depending on her family issues, but we have shared some very special times (both good and bad) that will always have us connected and Sheila, with whom I will always have a special bond from our shared losses and similar thinking/emotions. I cannot wait to share my special day with all of you!! I am blessed beyond what words can express.
To make it worse, if you have a tendency to be a night owl or suffer from insomnia, it only magnifies the issue. So last night, I headed to be a little after 11:00 PM. Winston was just fine, he curled up in his couch and was sound asleep. I, on the other hand, tried to close my eyes but eventually just gave up , turned on Netflix and watched a sappy love story movie, which was 2 hours long and I watched the entire thing. So after that, I switched back to my favorite Netflix TV series, West Wing (I have watched every season in order for many years to where I can recite dialog as it plays... but was one of the best written shows) and somewhere in the middle of whichever episode was next to be watched I fell asleep. I had the TV set to turn off, so it did and I slept until Winston wanted out at 6:30 AM. To say I am dragging today is an understatement.
I had spent the weekend preparing the flyers and information for our sponsoring businesses and getting flyers in various forms out to our members so that when the 21st arrives, everyone is ready for the spring Community Food Drive. We will be getting whatever food we can collect to the Octorara Area Food Cupboard just in time for Easter. So I was out around noon to deliver printed flyers to the two remaining drop-off points.
I was also extremely touched by an email from a dear friend. She is an elder at the church I am joining this month and I met her at the first GriefShare that she was attending as well as helping to lead. When I called to inquire about the program, she had answered the phone and was so kind and inviting that I knew this was where I needed to go to help me deal with Rudy's death. Walking in that first night, she was loving and kind and gave me a wonderful, big bear hug. Over the years since that day, we have formed a deep friendship over a shared experiences. We have been there to help the other find answers and new pathways in our "new normal" since losing our spouses.
She knew I was struggling with some of the things that are happening at the Lions Club and wrote a little email this morning letting me know that she was thinking about me and how much our friendship meant to her. She has also been talking to the OBX ladies and there will be a couple of them on Palm Sunday who will be sharing my big day with me when I join the church.
I realize that I have many friends and acquaintances. I also have several exceptional friends. Marji, who is more like a sister that I never had. Debby who comes and goes depending on her family issues, but we have shared some very special times (both good and bad) that will always have us connected and Sheila, with whom I will always have a special bond from our shared losses and similar thinking/emotions. I cannot wait to share my special day with all of you!! I am blessed beyond what words can express.
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Two days of sun and a little bit of warming....
Well, everywhere I look, I still see snow. I did not measure here at the house (I really can't as with the wind and snow that drifts over from the field across the street, I never get the same amount as the official snowfall). But I understand that we got close to 11 inches on our Thursday storm and I can easily agree with that. I know there was a good five inches on the first pass around noon and there was every bit of that and more on the second pass that caused the 12 year old strap to fail. I have two huge mounds of now on either side of the driveway up by the road. I have to pull much closer to the road to view any oncoming traffic. There is also quite the pile of snow back by the garage. This storm had it encroaching onto the driveway so the truck is now parked farther up the driveway than it usually sits.
The snow drifted around the back of the house and has some interesting formations. There are a couple of areas in the back that are no longer accessible for Winston as it would be over his head. When the snow was still softer and fluffier, Winston actually leaped (as best as his little legs will do) to moved from spot to spot.. He has a small area along the base of the deck that he can easily walk. The places he packed down are now icy and I know he will be happy to see this cold stuff go away. I will not be so happy as the next phase will not be just ground, but muddy ground and what with Winston being a digger, I predict he may need a foot bath on the deck before he will be allowed in the house.
It was very nice to get out of the house yesterday and today. Yesterday I headed to the 10 & 41 Consignment and Gift Shop. This is being run for the benefit if the Lions Club, although because of the economy we have not seen a great deal of return yet, but it has been a huge benefit to the people living in the area. A lot of very nice stuff has been donated that have allowed people looking for bargains to find things they need. It has also allowed people who have things to sell to find a venue for their items and get money that they might need.
Someone had donated many bins of fabric and it was fairly nice fabric. The shop was selling ti at $5.00 per bag, so I went when it first started and went back yesterday for a couple of more. I am doing a couple of mystery quilts and scrap quilts, and this was perfect so I did not have to use my more expensive fabric on blocks that I am just learning to make, I also dropped off the flyers for the next Community Food Drive that I planned through the Lions Club. We had dome one in January that was put together very quickly and managed to get some good food donated to our local food bank. So, I put together the idea for a quarterly drive and we are working with a local bank and car dealer. It is a good service project that is not a great deal of work for a lot of people.
Today I went to church. I only stayed for Sunday School last week as the snow had stated that day while we were in Sunday School and I am not a good snow driver during a storm, so I opted to head home and get off the road while the getting was good.
I have been going to the Parkesburg Mennonite Church since I completed the very first GriefShare program. I have found, from the very first day, that the people are warm and genuine, caring and helpful. They are not pretentious, they are not puffed up, they are not showy. The services are simple, many times the hymns are sung without anyone playing music and sometimes without a hymnal. I feel at home and happy with these fine people and have made the decision to become a member of the church, which will happen on March 29th, Palm Sunday. I am honored and humbled by their acceptance and I hope to be able to add some value to the church family as time moves forward.
Today I will be doing some laundry, working on some plans for Maundy Thursday service at the church and maybe getting some sewing in as well. Rob will be here on the 12th and there will be some more progress on projects here at the house. I am excited to see him and to see what we will be getting done. Danny Lantz will be here sometime this week, after the new strap arrives for the plow and, hopefully, to assist Rob and I in putting down the new floor in the bedroom downstairs, the primary reason for Rob to come out. Then I will have two rooms with nice floors in the basement. It will make things so very nice when guests go in that room. Plus I can go through everything in the room and get rid of the stuff that I do not need to have around. Lots of work once Rob comes... but not too much, I want to enjoy his visit as well.
This is the second day that I have seen mostly sun. And I pushed my clocks forward so it will stay lighter later, which will help moods. Hopefully the snow will melt and I will not see anymore big snows. I am ready to come out from the winter doldrums. Preparing for Fancy Gap and many more fun, summer activities. Come on, Spring!!!!!
The snow drifted around the back of the house and has some interesting formations. There are a couple of areas in the back that are no longer accessible for Winston as it would be over his head. When the snow was still softer and fluffier, Winston actually leaped (as best as his little legs will do) to moved from spot to spot.. He has a small area along the base of the deck that he can easily walk. The places he packed down are now icy and I know he will be happy to see this cold stuff go away. I will not be so happy as the next phase will not be just ground, but muddy ground and what with Winston being a digger, I predict he may need a foot bath on the deck before he will be allowed in the house.
It was very nice to get out of the house yesterday and today. Yesterday I headed to the 10 & 41 Consignment and Gift Shop. This is being run for the benefit if the Lions Club, although because of the economy we have not seen a great deal of return yet, but it has been a huge benefit to the people living in the area. A lot of very nice stuff has been donated that have allowed people looking for bargains to find things they need. It has also allowed people who have things to sell to find a venue for their items and get money that they might need.
Someone had donated many bins of fabric and it was fairly nice fabric. The shop was selling ti at $5.00 per bag, so I went when it first started and went back yesterday for a couple of more. I am doing a couple of mystery quilts and scrap quilts, and this was perfect so I did not have to use my more expensive fabric on blocks that I am just learning to make, I also dropped off the flyers for the next Community Food Drive that I planned through the Lions Club. We had dome one in January that was put together very quickly and managed to get some good food donated to our local food bank. So, I put together the idea for a quarterly drive and we are working with a local bank and car dealer. It is a good service project that is not a great deal of work for a lot of people.
Today I went to church. I only stayed for Sunday School last week as the snow had stated that day while we were in Sunday School and I am not a good snow driver during a storm, so I opted to head home and get off the road while the getting was good.
I have been going to the Parkesburg Mennonite Church since I completed the very first GriefShare program. I have found, from the very first day, that the people are warm and genuine, caring and helpful. They are not pretentious, they are not puffed up, they are not showy. The services are simple, many times the hymns are sung without anyone playing music and sometimes without a hymnal. I feel at home and happy with these fine people and have made the decision to become a member of the church, which will happen on March 29th, Palm Sunday. I am honored and humbled by their acceptance and I hope to be able to add some value to the church family as time moves forward.
Today I will be doing some laundry, working on some plans for Maundy Thursday service at the church and maybe getting some sewing in as well. Rob will be here on the 12th and there will be some more progress on projects here at the house. I am excited to see him and to see what we will be getting done. Danny Lantz will be here sometime this week, after the new strap arrives for the plow and, hopefully, to assist Rob and I in putting down the new floor in the bedroom downstairs, the primary reason for Rob to come out. Then I will have two rooms with nice floors in the basement. It will make things so very nice when guests go in that room. Plus I can go through everything in the room and get rid of the stuff that I do not need to have around. Lots of work once Rob comes... but not too much, I want to enjoy his visit as well.
This is the second day that I have seen mostly sun. And I pushed my clocks forward so it will stay lighter later, which will help moods. Hopefully the snow will melt and I will not see anymore big snows. I am ready to come out from the winter doldrums. Preparing for Fancy Gap and many more fun, summer activities. Come on, Spring!!!!!
Friday, March 6, 2015
Snow, snow, snap and snow....
March 5th... It was March 5th. Spring should be in the air. The only thing in the air yesterday was snow.. and lot of snow.
It was a nasty week. Started out on Sunday with snow coming down at the end of Sunday School and my opting to go home. It snowed lightly all day and then turned to sleet and then finally a coating of ice over everything. It was supposed to be followed by rain to wash it all away, but the rain never happened.
Monday the sun came out and "poof" it all melted.
Monday night was a repeat of Sunday and woke up to less snow, but sleet and ice everywhere. Once again the rain that was to come did not appear. I opted not to plow, hoping that the sun would appear and melt it all again. No sun, some melting on Tuesday.
Wednesday I plowed frozen slush/slop as noted in the previous post.
Thursday I woke up, expecting to see snow on the ground. There was a light coating but the snow was coming down and within a couple of hours there was a good three to four inches of snow. So I went out for round one of plowing. The forecast was for 7 to 10 inches of snow and at the rate that it was falling, that would be no problem.
I had noted on Wednesday that the nylon strap in the plow winch that raises and lowers the plow had evidence of the beginning of a rip. The plow was purchased the winter after my late husband bought his truck. It is a 2004 pickup and he bought the SnowBear Personal Snow Plow from BJ's that fall. It was the display model of the plow that they were no longer carrying. He went over the contents in the box with a fine tooth comb and everything was there. It was greatly discounted and scanned at checkout even lower, so it was a bargain. Likely a 2003 model of the plow, so the plow is likely 12 years old. It has plowed many flakes of snow into large piles over the last 10 years of use. So every year I have done the plowing I have been waiting to see some wear and tear on the strap and it appeared this week.
I went out for a second round of plowing around 5:00 PM. The snow had finally stopped and the temeratures were already falling. It was to get to 4 degrees and the snow would have been uber solid. On the third pass from the driveway, I hit the button to raise the plow blade and nothing happened. I moved the truck away from the highway and got out. Sure enough, there were now two straps... one attached to the plow and one attached to the motor.
I debated about what to do and decided that I still needed to plow and since the plow rests on the ground, which is where it was, I would be able to continue the work. So I finished the task. The only difference is that when I backed up, I was scraping snow behind the plow, so there were little mounds of snow left behind from the backward plowing. But it got the job finished.
This morning I had to go out and plow once again to get the drifting snow and the plowed snow that had been pushed along the front area. The plow did it's job. And now the sun is melting the snow that remained. Everyday it will be getting warmer until it is in the 50's next week.
I have a new strap coming from Pittsburgh. Danny says he thinks he can replace it and I should be good for another few years. So until that happens, the truck will be stuck in the driveway. But at least, I can still move snow with it.
I am really tired of this winter. Not as much snow as I got last year, but it just keeps coming and coming and coming. Hopefully this is the last of the significant snow. And all that is left are the light spring snows, know in this area as 'onion snow'. Keeping good thoughts!!
It was a nasty week. Started out on Sunday with snow coming down at the end of Sunday School and my opting to go home. It snowed lightly all day and then turned to sleet and then finally a coating of ice over everything. It was supposed to be followed by rain to wash it all away, but the rain never happened.
Monday the sun came out and "poof" it all melted.
Monday night was a repeat of Sunday and woke up to less snow, but sleet and ice everywhere. Once again the rain that was to come did not appear. I opted not to plow, hoping that the sun would appear and melt it all again. No sun, some melting on Tuesday.
Wednesday I plowed frozen slush/slop as noted in the previous post.
Thursday I woke up, expecting to see snow on the ground. There was a light coating but the snow was coming down and within a couple of hours there was a good three to four inches of snow. So I went out for round one of plowing. The forecast was for 7 to 10 inches of snow and at the rate that it was falling, that would be no problem.
I had noted on Wednesday that the nylon strap in the plow winch that raises and lowers the plow had evidence of the beginning of a rip. The plow was purchased the winter after my late husband bought his truck. It is a 2004 pickup and he bought the SnowBear Personal Snow Plow from BJ's that fall. It was the display model of the plow that they were no longer carrying. He went over the contents in the box with a fine tooth comb and everything was there. It was greatly discounted and scanned at checkout even lower, so it was a bargain. Likely a 2003 model of the plow, so the plow is likely 12 years old. It has plowed many flakes of snow into large piles over the last 10 years of use. So every year I have done the plowing I have been waiting to see some wear and tear on the strap and it appeared this week.
I went out for a second round of plowing around 5:00 PM. The snow had finally stopped and the temeratures were already falling. It was to get to 4 degrees and the snow would have been uber solid. On the third pass from the driveway, I hit the button to raise the plow blade and nothing happened. I moved the truck away from the highway and got out. Sure enough, there were now two straps... one attached to the plow and one attached to the motor.
I debated about what to do and decided that I still needed to plow and since the plow rests on the ground, which is where it was, I would be able to continue the work. So I finished the task. The only difference is that when I backed up, I was scraping snow behind the plow, so there were little mounds of snow left behind from the backward plowing. But it got the job finished.
This morning I had to go out and plow once again to get the drifting snow and the plowed snow that had been pushed along the front area. The plow did it's job. And now the sun is melting the snow that remained. Everyday it will be getting warmer until it is in the 50's next week.
I have a new strap coming from Pittsburgh. Danny says he thinks he can replace it and I should be good for another few years. So until that happens, the truck will be stuck in the driveway. But at least, I can still move snow with it.
I am really tired of this winter. Not as much snow as I got last year, but it just keeps coming and coming and coming. Hopefully this is the last of the significant snow. And all that is left are the light spring snows, know in this area as 'onion snow'. Keeping good thoughts!!
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Paid the Price today!!!
The last couple of nuisance storms I have gotten really lazy about plowing. After doing the raining, sleeting or snowing overnight, I would get up, the sun would come out and I would watch the icy material melt away before I had a chance to go out and plow.
Sunday we had a snow event that started while I was at church, so when Sunday School was over, there was a lot of discussion of what to do but the snow was really falling fast, so not being one who does well on snowy roads, I opted to come home. The snow came down heavily for quite a while then changed over to sleet and by the evening, the roads were icy and very dangerous.
In the morning I got up and watched as the snowsleetice (I just call it slop) slowly melted away. It was not the brilliant, sunny day and it was not even very warm, but on the main, open part of the driveway, all of the slop disappeared. I did the viewing from a distance and really did not venture out until later. What I did not realize was that in the areas around and in between the van and the truck, the slop had become more compact and was not melting.
Last night we had another snowsleetice event, so this morning I awoke to more slop on the driveway. This time I went out as there was no sun and the rain showers that was supposed to happen all day to wash away the slop did not begin until later in the afternoon and then it was more like a drizzle. I knew that overnight tonight and into tomorrow there is going to be yet another storm...(have I mentioned that I am hating this winter?) that could give us anywhere from 4 inches to over a foot of snow, depending on the report that you listen too. I am hoping that the weather dudes are wrong, but since it is being called all along the Eastern states as a bad storm, I am guessing that I will be plowing several times tomorrow so it does not get ahead of me.
But I did not want to go out and walk on the snow with an old sheet of ice underneath, so I headed out a little after 10 AM and spent two hours moving slop and slush. But the area between where the van had been and the truck was parked was solid, packed frozen slop. And the area right at the end of the deck steps was also frozen. And no mater how much I plowed, I was not making any headway on getting rid of the slop.
I eventually took a shovel and snow shovel and got a path cut out from the deck steps to the lilac bush so that I will not kill myself going along the van and out to the mailbox. But the mound between the van and the truck remained, but I did make it significantly smaller. I worked hard and my shoulders and wrists are felling the result of the banging and chipping to get through the icy surfaces. If I had just plowed on Monday..... if I had just plowed on Monday!
Sunday we had a snow event that started while I was at church, so when Sunday School was over, there was a lot of discussion of what to do but the snow was really falling fast, so not being one who does well on snowy roads, I opted to come home. The snow came down heavily for quite a while then changed over to sleet and by the evening, the roads were icy and very dangerous.
In the morning I got up and watched as the snowsleetice (I just call it slop) slowly melted away. It was not the brilliant, sunny day and it was not even very warm, but on the main, open part of the driveway, all of the slop disappeared. I did the viewing from a distance and really did not venture out until later. What I did not realize was that in the areas around and in between the van and the truck, the slop had become more compact and was not melting.
Last night we had another snowsleetice event, so this morning I awoke to more slop on the driveway. This time I went out as there was no sun and the rain showers that was supposed to happen all day to wash away the slop did not begin until later in the afternoon and then it was more like a drizzle. I knew that overnight tonight and into tomorrow there is going to be yet another storm...(have I mentioned that I am hating this winter?) that could give us anywhere from 4 inches to over a foot of snow, depending on the report that you listen too. I am hoping that the weather dudes are wrong, but since it is being called all along the Eastern states as a bad storm, I am guessing that I will be plowing several times tomorrow so it does not get ahead of me.
But I did not want to go out and walk on the snow with an old sheet of ice underneath, so I headed out a little after 10 AM and spent two hours moving slop and slush. But the area between where the van had been and the truck was parked was solid, packed frozen slop. And the area right at the end of the deck steps was also frozen. And no mater how much I plowed, I was not making any headway on getting rid of the slop.
I eventually took a shovel and snow shovel and got a path cut out from the deck steps to the lilac bush so that I will not kill myself going along the van and out to the mailbox. But the mound between the van and the truck remained, but I did make it significantly smaller. I worked hard and my shoulders and wrists are felling the result of the banging and chipping to get through the icy surfaces. If I had just plowed on Monday..... if I had just plowed on Monday!
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
One down, the "Big One" still on the horizon....
Last night, the roads in the area were bad. I went out to put my tax bill in the mail box. My driveway, except where it had been more shaded was clear of ice from the ice that came down on Sunday, was clear and dry. To my surprise Route 10 was s solid sheet of ice. I am guessing that the melting ice and slush had continued to coat the roadway and froze when the sun went down. There had been an accident just north of the house, over the hill...by the auction house. Traffic had been standing outside the house for more than an hour. I had the scanner app on my phone going after it had started and someone had to have been trapped as the radio reported extraction was complete. So, it had to have caught everyone by surprise as there were accidents everywhere. Even more surprising was the amount of traffic that continued out in the weather and the speed that they were traveling.
Today we cancelled GriefShare because the weather was once again ice and sleet until overnight when it will become rain. So the roads are once again dangerous. But tonight, traffic is considerably lighter and the scanner much quieter.
Tomorrow it is going to head up toward 50 degrees and rain most of the day. I figure all of the current frozen stuff will go away....until it turns to snow tomorrow night. IF the weather guys are right, my little corner of the world can expect 7 to 10 inches of the white stuff.
Come on guys, for Heavens Sake, it is March already. But, I am ready. I have milk and eggs and bread, although old, is not moldy so I am set. Generator is still plugged in with enough gas for two days. Honestly, I would love to test out the generator setup since I installed it. But I could do that with just a good wind storm. I do not need a foot of snow.
The good thing is that the majority of the snow will fall during the day so I can plow midway through the day rather than waiting for all of it to fall.
Winston will be glad to see the ice gone. He is skating along some of the snow patches that are now ice covered. He keeps trying to take his skunk toy outside. I am afraid that he will try to bury it and even though it is relatively cheap, I do not want him to bury it.
So, if I get all of that snow, I will try to get pictures.
Today we cancelled GriefShare because the weather was once again ice and sleet until overnight when it will become rain. So the roads are once again dangerous. But tonight, traffic is considerably lighter and the scanner much quieter.
Tomorrow it is going to head up toward 50 degrees and rain most of the day. I figure all of the current frozen stuff will go away....until it turns to snow tomorrow night. IF the weather guys are right, my little corner of the world can expect 7 to 10 inches of the white stuff.
Come on guys, for Heavens Sake, it is March already. But, I am ready. I have milk and eggs and bread, although old, is not moldy so I am set. Generator is still plugged in with enough gas for two days. Honestly, I would love to test out the generator setup since I installed it. But I could do that with just a good wind storm. I do not need a foot of snow.
The good thing is that the majority of the snow will fall during the day so I can plow midway through the day rather than waiting for all of it to fall.
Winston will be glad to see the ice gone. He is skating along some of the snow patches that are now ice covered. He keeps trying to take his skunk toy outside. I am afraid that he will try to bury it and even though it is relatively cheap, I do not want him to bury it.
So, if I get all of that snow, I will try to get pictures.
Monday, March 2, 2015
I am really disliking winter..... time for it to go away!!
It is March. The temperatures should be reaching into the 40's during the day. I am looking at my thermometer at it has just crawled from 33 to 34 and it is after noon. To say nothing about the snow that came down briefly yesterday followed by freezing rain into the evening. I went to bed, listening to the sounds of the PennDOT snow plows scraping the ice off the road to keep the silly people who were not bright enough to stay home from becoming statistics from this never-ending winter.
I looked out this morning and the van and truck were covered with ice. The asphalt was covered with snow and ice and there was once again the front driveway had an extra layer of ick from the plows keeping the highway clean by throwing the junk from the road into my driveway. The only positive to that is that it includes the deicing product they use on the road and sometimes, if I just wait, the entire front drive will melt by noon, if the sun comes out... like today/
The solar melting process has worked wonders on my driveway. The vehicles are almost free of their ice. Only remaining stuff is in the low areas at the bottom of the windshields. And yet, with the wind, the temperature remains cold enough that all of the ice on the tree remains.
I looked out this morning and the van and truck were covered with ice. The asphalt was covered with snow and ice and there was once again the front driveway had an extra layer of ick from the plows keeping the highway clean by throwing the junk from the road into my driveway. The only positive to that is that it includes the deicing product they use on the road and sometimes, if I just wait, the entire front drive will melt by noon, if the sun comes out... like today/
The solar melting process has worked wonders on my driveway. The vehicles are almost free of their ice. Only remaining stuff is in the low areas at the bottom of the windshields. And yet, with the wind, the temperature remains cold enough that all of the ice on the tree remains.
You can see that the area into my garage (where my Elantra lives) is still an ice rink, so I am guessing that she will stay there for another day.... but then we have another storm coming on Tuesday and another one on Thursday.... I am thinking this may never end....... I hate winter.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)