Brrr

It's really cold outside again this morning.  Went down into the teens again last night.  So glad I covered the outside faucets.  There's a skim of ice on the pond again but it will probably melt as the day goes on.  It's supposed to get above freezing.  I don't plan on going down there until it warms up a bit.  It's supposed to rain again soon so I'll wait until that goes by.  When I do go down I'll look like the Michelin man I'll have so many clothes on under the waders! 
Daughter is coming up this morning.  Little dude has an appointment for a physical.  Daughter switched him to her doctor up here since she is not happy with the group of pediatricians down where she lives.  Sprout will still be going there maybe.  Daughter needs to see Dr. also.  She sounds terrible and probably feels the same.  Being sick and being a single mom with two kids is difficult.  Been there, done that.  Somehow we get through it.....because we have to.
I'm going to "play" with my friends this afternoon so I won't be home long when daughter gets here.  Hopefully all the germs will have died by the time I get back.
Y'all have a blessed day and remember:  When things get tough, hold your ground.

It is freaking cold here!  It went down into the low teens or below last night.  It was all of 20 degrees when I got up around 8 this morning.  Cleo usually wants out first thing but when I opened the door she changed her mind.....quickly.  So glad I found my LLBean flannel lined jeans so I can bundle up.  My heat pump is madly pumping away and I can just picture the meter spinning at great speeds and the electric bill climbing into the stratosphere.  I have to go to run errands so it's leg warmers, turtle neck, sweatshirt, flannel shirt, long johns today.  It's supposed to get up to a whopping 34 today and down to 18 tonight.  I can see ice forming on the pond which, by the way, I will avoid dealing with as long as possible while it's this cold.  Perhaps there's a silver lining to it being this cold, though.  Fewer people out and about so I might be able to get my errands done quickly.
Y'all stay warm today and remember:  cold is a four-letter word.  Hmmm, but then again so is warm.

Many of the people I have followed in the past no longer post here.  I miss them.  I know I don't post often mainly 'cause I don't have much to say.  I could write out all my complaints about life but who wants to read that?  My life really isn't all that interesting.  I suppose I could chronicle my adventures with my pond.  I still have to go down to clear the pipe periodically and right now the water is pretty darn cold.  Putting an extra pair of socks on under the waders helps keep my feet warmer and double rubber gloving helps with the hands, but still.
I plan on having a bigger garden this year and could let people know how that's coming along.  I could write about my trip to Mexico but it wasn't very exciting.  Fun, but not exciting.  The best part was playing with a sea lion.  And there were lots of soldiers and police everywhere. 
So, I guess I'll try to write some interesting stuff.  I'll keep hoping to see some of the people who used to post.  Y'all have an interesting day and remember:  believe nothing of what you hear and only half of what you see.

Donating

I've begun to get irritated about all the ads on TV wanting my money. Yes, there are causes I donate to and there are those I wouldn't touch.  The thing is, if I gave to all of them all the amount they want, I wouldn't be able to continue supporting myself.  There's a new one now....Disabled Veterans.  Ummmm, couldn't that be united with Wounded Warrior?  As for the animals.....I'm sorry but humans come first.  There are "charities" for foreign children.  What about the children in this country?  The Native Americans sure could use our help.  Now there are two children's hospitals asking for help.  They both help children without charge....that's good and I try to help when I can.  But don't hound me.  And just how much of my dollar really goes to whatever cause I've given to?  Some discriminate against certain lifestyles.  Some pay their chairman way too much, which means you and I are paying said chairman.  I want my donation to go to the cause not the chairman.  Luckily, so far, I'm not getting soliciting phone calls.  If that happens the first question I'm going to ask is, "How much of my donation goes to the cause?"  Nine times out of ten the solicitor doesn't have a clue.  So, do yourself a favor.  Before you open your wallet, investigate the cause.  Find out just how much of your hard-earned money will go directly for helping the veterans or children or whatever.

New Year

My hopes for this new year aren't many.  I hope humanity settles down and quits fighting.  I hope the government gets its collective head out of its a...I hope people will realize that they, and only they, are responsible for their actions.  I hope people would actually talk to one another instead of texting.
See?  Not much, eh?  I'm sure there are other things I could come up with but I don't want to appear greedy.
Hope your new year is filled with unexpected blessings.

Dear Chevrolet,
I love my 2003 Astro van but I know that I will have to get another vehicle in the near future.  My thoughts turned to a Suburban with 4-wheel drive.  Then I saw the new ones. Ummm, I'm not ready for a hearse yet.  Really, that's what they look like, especially the black ones.  Maybe I'll have to settle for a good used one.
And the Cruze?  I was given one as a loaner when I had to leave my van for a repair.  Not a car for people with long legs or a bad back.  When I adjusted the seat so my knees didn't hit the dash, my arms were stretched straight in order to steer.  Definitely not comfortable.
I don't know who you get to design your vehicles.  Perhaps you might think about having an ordinary citizen give an opinion.
Thanks for listening,
Me

Getting ready

I'm getting ready to go on a trip.  A quilting cruise.  It's at an odd time of year which means I've got a lot of holiday prep to do before I leave as well as packing.  We celebrate Yule (the winter solstice) here which means I have to have everything done by 12/20.  I get home from the trip on the 15th.  Sooooo.  My gift shopping is done but now there's furniture moving, house cleaning, tree decorating, wrapping, making meringues  and........ whew!  Luckily I do have this whole week.  I am looking forward to this trip, though.  It's 12 days and it's where it's warm.  And sunny, I hope.  I need to get away where there's no phone, no newspaper, no TV (not that there's much on it anyway) no drama.  My cabin mate has never done a cruise before so I'm hoping to show her how much fun it can be.
Now it's off to get a couple of table top trees.   Y'all have a Merry Chrismahanukwanzakah.
But before that.....Happy Thanksgiving.