The Green Woodworker and other things

TB's hoping to get a business off the ground and wants to call it The Green Woodworker because he'll be using recycled material. He's made various things for people over the last year or so. Here is an example of what he can do. Someone with a nautical theme asked for an anchor to fill part of her wall and this is what he came up with. I think it looks beautiful! I'm sure the customer will like it too.

Here is a spice rack TB made for our cabinet. He's very creative and can make all sorts of things--magazine racks, wall hangings, ornaments, and on and on. He can customize things to what the customer wants.

What we basically need to do is get a website going with pictures of his projects. We also need to get the word out. Being able to participate in that craft show will help!

So we survived the great snow storm of October 2011. Yes, it was an event but I didn't see a reason to go all ballistic about it the way some people and news stations did. I like to watch Judge Judy and it's carried on a station out of Allentown, PA. Well, last night the show was preempted for non-stop coverage about this great storm. I guess Allentown must have gotten a lot of snow. We got just a dusting but I heard some areas got up to 8 inches of snow. The way they carried on at that station, you'd have thought the world was ending! I watched something else.

I didn't get any pictures of it but Munchkin lent a paw to "help" me fold laundry. She'd put her paw out to hold down a sleeve so I could fold the shirts properly. The only problem was, her claw kept getting stuck and I'd have to gently remove it. I tried to convince her that I didn't need any help but she insisted on assisting. ;)

On the down side, diabetes may be creeping back to TB and me. :( For the last several days, our sugars have been running higher than normal in the mornings. I contacted my doctor who said to track it for 2 weeks and if the levels are consistently high, I'll need to get some blood work done. It's very discouraging. One thing I'm trying now is cutting way back on carbs. On one of my previous visits to Dr. Greenbaum, he was concerned I was losing too much weight too fast. At that time, I added a lot more carbs to my diet to try and slow down the weight loss. The same thing happened with TB.

It's always something! :P

Snow in October

Now I know there are places where snow in October is the norm...but it ain't around here. Today TB and I made our shopping run after dropping Kristin off at her class and Heidi off at work. It was pouring down rain and cold. When we got out of Walmart, the rain drops were fat and heavy and I suspected the dreaded *snow* was mixed in. After Shoprite, we were sure. We were getting ice pellets and hearing reports of accumulating snow in northern Jersey. Sigh.

I love snow. I do. But I love it in winter, not in fall or spring! Who wants to see the little kid trick-or-treaters running around in heavy coats over their costumes? That's no fun! I also miss fall and spring weather. It seems like we get a few days of each and then the rest of the year is summer or winter.

I finally gave in and turned the heat on very low last night. I was hoping to hold out until November but the weather just didn't cooperate.

One benefit to the chilliness in the house: the cats all want to nap with us. I have pictures to share on Cats on Tuesday of various members of the gang. This afternoon I had Munchkin snuggled up under the covers, Mouse on top of the covers curled by my feet, and Kosmo and Cubby lying nearby and providing their own heat. It's like having space heaters all over the bed! :)

I wonder how the people at Occupy Philadelphia will fare. I know they want to stay no matter what the weather but today will definitely be a test. With the heavy rain, cold, and snow, if they can withstand this they may actually make it through colder weather. At this point, I think I would be a fair weather protestor and would pack my stuff up and go. My body ain't what it used to be.

TB still has pain and discomfort from the hernia surgery. I've been looking at his abdomen and the redness doesn't seem to be spreading but it's also not going away. I wonder if we should be contacting the surgeon but TB says we were to do that only if the redness was spreading. Fortunately, there is another appointment with Dr. Greenbaum on Wednesday so we'll see what he says!

Snow cancels school!

Ah, winter. I started the "spring" semester this week and snow closed the college today! This semester I'm taking physical science, history of the foundation of education (something like that) and educational psychology. There was a fourth but there's so much work required that I decided to drop it. I don't need that class to graduate but I do need these three. I feel a little scared of how much is required but I'm giving it my best shot. I have several papers to write, group projects to do, individual presentations and have to go into the field to attend a school board meeting and volunteer in a school setting. Whew!

This winter we've had a snow storm every week and I'm so tired of it already. I want spring. TB and I need to move someplace with a warmer climate, a place where snow is a rare occurrence. Say ... North Carolina. I know they do get snow too but it's more of a once in a blue moon occurrence. So this is what we woke to this morning:

Everyone piled out the door to shovel ... except for me!

Oh...and Mouse didn't go out either. He sez: Dis da way I spend a snowwy day!

With the threat of another snowstorm coming next week, TB and I decided to get an electric snowblower, the kind we could afford. He found one at Lowe's in stock and bought it and we all started to pile into the car to go get it. First I took pictures of our street.

Pretty yes! Aggravating and frustrating yes!

Off we went to Lowe's but it was a wasted trip. The store tried to call us back after the order was placed but TB had accidentally put down the wrong phone number. There was no working electric snow blower for us and so we had to turn around and come back home. Everyone piled out and had to finish digging out the driveway with shovels.

I guess that's what we'll do next week too.

Come on, spring!

Snowy Saturday

I remember the weather forecasters last fall said something to the effect that we would have a *cold* winter but not a snowy one. Huh? In two weeks we've had three events and another one predicted for next week. Granted, the amounts have been nothing like they were last year. That first storm (on December 26) dumped two feet on us. Yesterday's snow brought a couple of inches and today we're expecting another 4-6. I hope that's all because clearing the snow has become a big issue for us!

This morning TB and I took Buddy for a walk as the snow was getting underway. It sure is pretty when it's falling. We went back to where the woods are but didn't go in. We'd have to cross a log bridge to get anyway and that would have been a little risky for us because I'm sure the log would be slippery.

I took this picture of Cubby and Indigo in our bedroom window this morning before we left for our walk. I had the flash on but the picture came out really dark.

It was especially good for me to go on a walk because I've been struggling with depression again. I look at some of the things I need to do and feel overwhelmed. I think about writing something but then can't seem to find my focus. I think stress and worry are getting to me. When I don't get things done, I get mad at myself--the old all or nothing type of thinking I still struggle with. I think I need to exercise and find things to do that will distract me. The internet doesn't hold my attention anymore so it'll have to be something else. Meantime, I'll look for free things for TB and me to do to help keep me busy.

Thursday Thirteen #51: Winter Wonderlands

Thursday Thirteen

Yesterday I made a slide show of the snow storms we had over the last 4 days and also shared pictures of the aftermath of Blizzard 1996. Just for the fun of it, I went looking back for other snowstorms, not so big. Unfortunately, I only have pictures dating back to 1987 although there have been many more. I don't know what happened to all of my pictures. Many have been lost over the years.


This is me, taken in the winter of 1987. I was pregnant with Billy.


Here's the view from our patio in 1987


Looking at the front of our apartment building, 1987


This was taken in the winter of 1991, Columbia, Maryland


Billy and Heidi build a snowman, 1991


That splash of red there is my car in 1991!


Kristin's "first" snowstorm, winter, 1993


Snow is for kids, isn't it? This was taken in the winter of 1994.


Heidi's queen of the hill!


Billy and friend David build a snow fort.


Here's Kristin and Buddy, December, 2002


Oh no, don't take my picture, TB!


Home Sweet Home!




I couldn't help sneaking in one more picture from our snowstorm yesterday. We really haven't ventured outside yet but ... I did open the front door to take this picture. Check out our mailbox!

Okay, I take it back ...

We are having some snow storm! I've put together a little slide show. The first set of pictures are from our first storm on February 6th. Those are followed by some of me and the kids from the blizzard aftermath in Columbia, Maryland, 1996. The last are all from today.

I started out with two taken around 7 a.m. when nothing was going on. I took a few more around noon when the snow began to pick up again. The last few, #21-28 are all from around 4 p.m. What a difference a few hours makes!



Big Snowstorms

Getting out from under the snow!

What a gift the snow was for me! It was a real true gift from God because I didn't come out and ask for it or pray for it. I just wanted it! I missed it so much. It seems my memories of childhood are filled with snowy days in the winter and especially of white Christmases. I don't know if that's accurate or not but it's what I remember.

When I was a young adult, I remember lovely snow falls like this in the winter time. I remember my first DH and I spending hours digging me out and then enjoying cups of steaming cups of hot chocolate. After we married and had kids, I remember "digging out" parties. Everyone helped each other out and I'd make a pot of coffee for the adults and caffeine lovers, hot chocolate for the kids and those that didn't like coffee. We'd trek to the store pulling sleds to carry home our needed groceries. So one day, I'll dig through my old pictures and find some that I took of those storms.

Anyway, we've been having an especially rough time (I'll post about that later) and so when this snow came on my birthday, it just felt to me like God knew how badly I wanted snow and so He sent it as a special gift. I was as happy as a small child!

Here was the scene yesterday:


TB says "I love you" through the windows

Then he and the kids had to dig out our cars:









I didn't do much other than goof off yesterday. Church was cancelled because of the bad weather. I did make a loaf of Irish soda bread using whole wheat flour; it came out really well. I watched Polar Express with Bill and TB. Later we watched Survivor.

TB ventured out to Wawa to get milk. No, we don't run out and buy milk, bread and toilet paper on the eve of snow storms. We had enough, we just sort of used up the milk faster than we normally might have with all of us home the entire weekend. Anyway, TB was on the way back when some idiot travelling down the middle of the road drove him into a drifted bank. He got stuck and called Bill to come in Heidi's car to help get him out. Luckily, though, two good ole boys in a truck stopped and got him out before Bill got there. The one who caused it, of course, went on his merry way. Bah humbug to you, mister!

Today, TB and I took Bill to work. His car wouldn't start Friday and we're not sure what's wrong with it. Kennan's brother Sean said he'd look at it ... depending on what the snow did. Bill wouldn't have been able to get it fixed anyway because he's flat broke and so are we. So is Heidi.

The roads are terrible! Now we get to see what "The Blob" has done in action. "The Blob" is what a radio talk show host calls the cancer of corruption in Trenton. As I understand it, funds for transportation (as well as just about everything else) has been raided and diverted. I did not expect such poor road conditions from the state of New Jersey. I would have expected it from a state that hardly ever sees snow at all--a state further south, say. Tsk.

School was closed today and so Kristin didn't have to stand out in the icy basically unplowed street. I was glad for that. I'm not sure what they're doing for tomorrow but I'm hoping if they're open it'll be 2 hours late.

And so, life gets back to normal.

Graces in Small Things on my birthday!

Today, I am officially a senior citizen, whoop whoop!

1. Everyone who knows me knows that I have been wanting and wanting snow for a long time. When I woke up this morning, I looked outside and I thought, oh wow, it's like God said this poor woman has had such a rough year and all she wants is some snow. I'm giving her snow for her birthday. And He blessed me with the biggest storm I can remember in years. I have been reveling in it!




These are just two of the pictures I took while TB and I were out walking in it this morning. It's still snowing and I think we must have at least 18 inches! Church services have been cancelled! The grocery store Heidi works for closed early today ... and hopefully they'll be closed tomorrow!

2. The whole family was home today, one of those rare occurrences and it was such a wonderful gift for me--time with my kids and my DH, all of us together. We watched A Christmas Story and Public Enemies together in between the talking and the celebrating and oohing and ahhhing over the snow.

3. We splurged on this roast for my birthday dinner. It was on sale! Kristin made me a delicious cake that was absolutely delicious, the more so because it was made with love.



4. TB fixed my birthstone ring. It's a Claddagh ring and it fits my finger perfectly now!

5. While the lights were out in the house, I decided to take a picture of our tree.


This was one of the best birthdays I can remember!