I have been uncovering and unboxing things that I have been looking for. The last box had my Wink Hub and the smart lock from the Parkesburg house. Also Ethernet switches and cables. Not sure how I will use them in this house, but I am sure I will, in time.
Kitchen gets more and more functional. I came across my drill and have hung my metal measuring cups and spoons over the area where the mixer is living. The other measuring and baking stuff is located in the cabinet below, so the kitchen is taking shape. Still missing some baking pans, cake... loaf... pie plates... but they will appear. Also able to install towel rings at the sink so cloth towels are available for hands or drying dishes.
My tech home is shaping up as well. Every free standing light in the house is plugged into smart plug. The living room lights are on a schedule so they come on and off throughout the day, making the house look occupied, even when it is not. I have routines for several times during the day. If I say Good Morning, I get the weather report, a report on what is being celebrating that day, a fun fact, a joke and what is on my calendar, then it turns on the lights in my bedroom. If I say Wake Up, it does the same thing but will fire up the coffee pot in the kitchen to brew a pot of coffee. Saying Good Night I get the weather report for tomorrow, a fun fact and then any light that is left on will be turned off. I can arm and disarm my Ring alarm system with my voice commands. The entire upstairs has been set up with door and window sensors. I have three or four windows in lower level to set up... perhaps today.
The guest room is shaping up. I have been ignoring it until yesterday. Rob and I got the beds set up shortly after moving in. The movers were supposed to do that but three nuts had been lost in the move, so we had to buy replacements and then put the daybed together. It is really the smallest room in the house. The daybed takes up a big amount of space. I got a Google Mini set up in there so any guest can use it for information and to control any of the lights in the house. I have a fern stand in there as a lamp stand. My old console sewing machine is in there, too, but I am thinking that I may be moving it out into the living room... where it was in Parkesburg... and take the matching fern stand that is now in the dining room into the guest room. It will fit better. I am going to be putting my little travel TV in the guest room, too. It is small and will suit that room so much better. Any guest can use it to watch TV or DVDs as a player is built in. Yepper, things are coming together.
It snowed again on Thursday. Another 4 to 5 inches fell. This time there was some wind involved as this storm was the remnant of a Pacific typhoon or hurricane. Rob and Kate really felt the wind up on the mountain. Rob said it kept him awake one night as the storm approached. On Friday I attempted to get my snow blower running. But I could not get it fired up. We think the electric start is broken, so you have to pull start it. I just no longer have the strength in my arms to do that. I tried for an hour to get it to run, but nope, not happening. I tried off and on the rest of the day to no avail.
Rob and Kate arrived early Saturday morning. Rob was able to get the blower fired up. He did a pass or two and then I took over so he could deal with a really hard to use gas can and get that gas into smaller gas cans that are easier to use. I appreciate safety things on gas cans, but when they make it so safe that the gas is unable to come out once it is inside, they are no longer usable. While this was happening, Kate was clearing the steps to my front door. It was a team effort and I am so grateful that they are here for me. I did manage to take off a shear pin on one of the tines, so Rob is looking to find a replacement so we can repair it before the next storm. Looks to be a standard part here in Alaska. I am also going to try the electric start as the directions describe to make sure that it is indeed broken. We might try to get that feature repaired if it is or look at a new blower that I can start on my own. I need to be able to work the blower on my own for the days when Rob and Kate need to stay at their home to deal with snow.
This morning I am enjoying a couple of cups of coffee and watching the NASCAR championship on TV. I am also sending this blog out to you. Having the live NASCAR events actually being in the late morning rather than afternoon is really great. I can ease into my day, watch the race and still have the bulk of my day to get something accomplished. I love it. This is the last race of the season. I will be missing them until Daytona in February.
I have a couple of pictures for you. They are older, but still very relevant. The first was a morning early in November when I woke up to somewhat cold weather. I have a thermometer screen in my bedroom. It gives me inside temp. and three outside temps....one at the front door, one out at the fence by the driveway and one behind the garage. This was early morning here in Alaska in November.
Can you tell the outdoor from the indoor???
I got new glasses. I have been struggling for a bit and knew I needed some new glasses. I went to the vision center that Rob and Kate used. My appointment was for after Thanksgiving, but I was on the cancellation list and they called me, so I got in early!! The difference in the prescription was dramatic. I still have some issues, but there are things in my vision that are clouding things here and there, but at my age, that is normal. My new glasses are really kicky. The fronts are plastic and look like confetti with teals and purples. I love them. What do you think???
So, I am off to get my day started. The race is not over, but I am finishing my second cup of coffee, so I need to get going to work off the caffeine. I will have the race on in all of the rooms I will be in.
Have a great Sunday and week!!
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Let me know if you had fun reading my Blog. I moderate my Blog comments, so it may not show up right away. Thanks for reading and sharing my life. Hugs, Jane