OK, Here’s the story…

I have been listening to the weather  on the scanner and TV.  Central Illinois is to “get a storm of historical proportions, the like of which has never before been seen in central Illinois.”   Freezing rain first with up to 1/2 inch ice accumulation to be followed by snow at the rate of 3 or more inches per hour to exceed 20 or more inches.  Heavy winds has caused this storm to be listed as a blizzard.

Of course this meant another run by the store this morning to get the things I forgot yesterday.  The store was wall to wall people with the carts piled high with all kinds of stuff.  What worries me the most about this storm is that the power might go out.  That would be tragic as the temps are to fall below zero on Wednesday. 

I guess you all know what all I will be doing.  I will be on a goodie making spree as that is what calms me down when I get anxious. 

When I was out this morning I stopped by Bergners and bought a birthday gift for my great, great niece.  she will be 2 years old in March.  Lots of good buys at Bergners today.   I bought a darling little pink angel top and pants, $40 for $8.  Nothing for myself as I bought a jacket and 2 tops last week.

I hope the sun is shining wherever you are today.  It sure isn’t here.

  Beth

Oh no, more snow to come…

and lots of it.  I listen to the weather channel on the scanner each morning while I am making my bed.  What I heard this morning made me want to crawl right back in bed.  More snow to come starting Tuesday through Wednesday with a significant amount.  Winds to pick up to blizzard proportion Wednesday afternoon and 8 below zero F, real temp by Wednesday night.  And I was just beginning to see some grass (and unraked leaves) under the remaining snow on the ground.  I feel for Gertie the Groundhog.  I bet she will go right back to bed too.

Yesterday was not an exciting day.  Toodie told us the cleaning bug had bitten her so she sent it over to me.  I cleaned the dreaded bathroom thoroughly, not liking one minute of it.  Now I don’t like bugs anyway so I am sending this bug on along to anyone who will take it.  Paul can you use it?  I know Carole doesn’t need it as she cleans her house from top to bottom every Sunday after church.  Oh shoot, I guess that means I am stuck with it so tomorrow I will clean some more. 

Enough silliness and I have to get ready to go out.  On my way back I will stop at the store and stock up on necessities for the storm.  Bread, milk, stuff from the deli counter.  Paul knows the drill, after all Boston is buried under mega inches of snow.

I will catch you all later.

  Beth

This makes me so aggravated I could spit…

I just got off the phone after spending an hour on hold and finally talking to opm (small letters to fool the search engines).  I received my withholding statement yesterday from the federal government.  My withholding taxes increased $49 per month.  This is  because of the new tax schedule effective January 1.  I know the government needs the money but boy are they hitting the senior group hard.  I am fortunate in that I can manage without the $49.  Many people cannot.  This could mean the difference for many seniors in staying warm or putting gas in their car, etc.  Or even worse, having enough to eat.  This has been my Wednesday rant on a Friday.  The thought does cross my mind that some of the money we spend on foreign aid and fighting other country’s wars could better be spent on taking care of the people in need in our own country.  Just sayin’!

In addition to lovingly holding the phone and waiting for a human voice this morning I managed to trot back and forth to the laundry room where I got my laundry caught up. 

Yesterday my daughter and I had lunch at what used to be Grumpy Petes and is now called 8th Street something or the other.  I guess because they are located on 8th Street.  Anyway, the food there is still delicious.  Yesterday the buffet was mostly Mexican food with the old standbys of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and gravy.  The green beans with bacon and onion were delicious.  I am not much on Mexican food but the enchiladas were wonderful.  The salad bar is always good. 

I have so many things I need to do today but the telephone call wore me out.    So today is a lazy day.  I have declared this the 2nd day of spring as the temp is to reach 34 degrees.  YAY!!  That is the first above freezing temp for quite awhile.

I hope you all have a peaceful happy day.  Stay safe!

  Beth

Stylish Blogger Award and Awesome Blogger Award…

Thank you to Jen and to   http://facing50withhumour.blogspot.com/ for these awards.



As you’ve all seen, you're supposed to tell 7 things about yourself and then name the next 15 to pass it on to. 
Seven things about me:

1. I was born in South Eastern Missouri the 6th child of 8 children.
2. I grew up in Western Illinois
3. I met the love of my life when he came home from Korea in 1955.  We were married for 50 years and 364 days.
4. I sold my home and moved closer to my daughter and son in law last April.
5. I am a HUGE St. Louis Cardinal fan!
6. My family and friends are more precious to me than money.
7. Last, but not least, I love all of my blogging family.

I am supposed to pass these awards on to 15 others.  Instead I want these awards to go to everyone in my blogging family.  Several have been my friends online for over 6 years now.
  Beth

Cookies finally arrived…

yesterday afternoon and it only took 4 days for a priority mail box to travel 165 miles.  Not bad if I do say so myself.  (Little bit  of sarcasm here)  Anyway the cookies did arrive and all in perfect condition. 

I have been busy today clearing up a bunch of things that needed to be done before tax time which I don’t like by the way.  A  necessary thing that we all have to do whether we like it or not.  Our president is speaking as I am typing this.  A lot of clapping going on.  I have the sound turned down low so I don’t have to listen to the parts of it I don’t want to hear.  At least the democrats and the republicans are co-mingling tonight and not sitting on separate sides.  I guess that should count for something.  I sure am hoping it does.

It was  pretty decent weather today.  I had personally declared this the first day of spring and the temp reached 31 degrees F today.  I was able to go hatless this morning as I ran some errands.  NICE!! change from below zero and snow and ice every day, plus I didn’t have to clean off my car today.  Sorry I had to send it all to you Paul.  Be careful with all that shoveling.  I will be stopping by your store later to stock up.

This is my short post for today.  Gotta turn up the TV so that I can find out what our state of the union is.  Or do I even want to know?

  Beth

Monday Morning Coming Down…

Yep, not only snow on my car this morning but also a nice layer of ice.  And wouldn’t you know, I have to be out and about in an hour or so.  I have bills to pay, etc.  It is warmer this morning with the temperature hovering at 25 degrees F. 

Yesterday was a diamond day for me even though the Bears lost.  Now you all know I really didn’t care which team won but I was hollering for the Bears ‘cause you know I do live in Illinois and Jim was a Bears fan.  However, the better team won and now I hope they mow down the Steelers. 

My daughter and son in law had lunch with me after church yesterday.  Roast beef, carrots, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn casserole and cherry cheese pie.  Now today I have leftovers.  I am going to make BBQ beef sandwiches.  My niece is coming over to have lunch with me today.

My son still hasn’t received his cookies.  How can a priority mail box take so long to get from here to Chicago?  Why did it take a package I sent to Australia a whole month to get there?  Something is wrong somewhere.  I was talking to my son last night and he wondered if the folks at the post office were enjoying his cookies.    Oh well, it is only cookies and I can make more of those.  Not important in the scheme of things.

I need to close for now.  There is still that business of cleaning the ice and snow off my car.  I welcome all help.

Now get out there and make this day a diamond one, or as my friend David would say, let’s make this a double diamond one.

  Beth

Some days are diamonds, some days are stones…

Some Days Are Diamonds
~ John Denver ~

When You asked how I've been here without you
I'd like to say I've been fine and I do.
But we both know the truth is hard to come by
And if I told the truth, that's not quite true

Some days are diamonds some days are stones
Sometimes the hard times won't leave me alone
Sometimes a cold wind blows a chill in my bones
Some days are diamonds some days are stones.

Now the face that I see in my mirror
More and more is a stranger to me
More and more I can see there's a danger
In becoming what I never thought I'd be.

Some days are diamonds some days are stones
Sometimes the hard times won't leave me alone
Sometimes a cold wind blows a chill in my bones
Some days are diamonds some days are stones.

Some days are diamonds some days are stones
Sometimes the hard times won't leave me alone
Sometimes a cold wind blows a chill in my bones
Some days are diamonds some days are stones.

And isn’t it the truth!  Yesterday was a diamond day for me.  I received a phone call from my old friends Anne and Bill .  They were my neighbors down the street back home.  Bill was Jim’s best friend.  Oh my, they could sit on the back porch and have all of the problems of the world worked out in an hour or so.  I would just smile and carry them a glass of iced tea or a cup of coffee.  Anyway, to get back  to what made my day a diamond, Bill called and the first thing he said was “I am in remission.”  I have mentioned before that Bill has stage 4 cancer which began with cancer in a kidney several years ago.  All I could say when he told me this was “Thank you God.”  I know what remission means.  Jim had one 6 month period of remission and those were happy times for us.  What I am saying, is just be thankful for the diamond days and throw the stones away.

I woke up to 9 degrees this morning, that was above zero today.  We had some more snow last night and my car is covered again.  I need things from the grocery store today so I will have to go out and get that cleaned off again. 

I hope you all have a good weekend filled with ‘diamond’ days.

It’s finally Friday…

and it is bitter cold in central Illinois this morning.  Checking in at this very minute at 6 below zero with a wind chill of minus 11 with snow on the way for this afternoon.
I made the cookies yesterday and they are now winging their way to Chicago via a priority mail box and an outlay of $10.95. 



Click on the pictures for a bigger view.  I couldn’t get them all in the box.  The container in the middle picture I gave to my daughter and son in law.  They were kind enough to mail the package for me.  The ones on the paper plate I kept for me. 
I had to smile at a comment left for me from David yesterday.  I had mentioned I would be glad to see warmer weather so that I could explore the cemetery again.  He wanted to know if I was checking out my future home.  No David, I know where I am praying my future home will be.  I know for a fact that my ashes will be next to Jims in the little cemetery at home.  It is just interesting to walk in a cemetery and look at the stones.  I have never gotten to the oldest part yet.  This is a huge cemetery and stretches for miles. 
Since we are under a wind chill advisory today I doubt if I will venture out.  I think I will forego the TV dinner and cook a decent meal today.  You know I did that last weekend, chicken and noodles, etc.  and I ate that for 3 days.  It just isn’t as good after it is frozen. 
WAIT! I am changing my mind as I am typing.  A pot of chili, and that is good after it is frozen.  Mind made up!!
I need to close this now so I can do some visiting.  I hope you are all home and will offer me a cup of tea.  I’m bringing my plate of cookies.
  Beth

Thursday Morning…

and I am up bright and early today, 5:45 AM.  I always feel better when I am up by 6AM.  I looked out the kitchen window and lo and behold, my car is covered with snow again, after I just cleaned it off yesterday.  The temperature is 16 F and the snow is still falling.  We are in for the big chill again tonight with below zero real temps.  I don’t even want to think what the wind chill will be.  This means leave the cabinet doors in front of the faucets open and a trickle of water.

Yesterday I got really energetic and cleaned the kitchen floor thoroughly.  A job I hate  to do that I rank right up there with cleaning the bathroom.

Then wondering what to do next I made up some Old Fashioned Raisin Cookie dough.  These are my son’s favorite cookie.  As I was talking to my sis I said I guess I will end up eating all of these cookies.  And then she told me to put them in a priority mail box and mail them to my son.  Light bulb goes off, great idea, but wait a minute, $10.95 is pretty steep to send one tin of cookies.  So I marched my little self back to the kitchen and made up chocolate chip/pecan cookie dough and put in the fridge to keep the oatmeal raisin dough company.  When I get off the computer in a few minutes I am going to bake enough cookies to fill that priority mail box.

The weeks are going by so fast.  Can you believe that it is only 59 days till spring, give or take a day or two.  I am longing for warmer temps so I can walk around the cemetery again.  I never did get that explored thoroughly.

Now, marching off to the kitchen to bake the cookies.  Which one is your favorite?  I have to say oatmeal raisin is my favorite homemade cookie.  I don’t like the kinds you buy in the store though.

  Beth

Lean on me…

I love this song.

Sometimes in our lives we all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on

Please swallow your pride
If I have things you need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs
That you don't let show

Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on

If there is a load you have to bear
That you can't carry
I'm right up the road
I'll share your load
If you just call me

So just call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'd understand
We all need somebody to lean on

Lean on me when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
Till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on

Lean on me...

 

  Beth

Monday Morning…

and guess what?  It is snowing again and my car is covered again.  Now how many days was it till Spring? Let me calculate quickly.  Oh yes, somewhere around 63 days, give or take a day or two.

I am on this oversleeping kick, 7:30 this morning.  I think I must be making up for the sleepless nights I had last week.  Oh well, I guess it doesn’t matter all that much.

This year is the 25th anniversary of the first federally celebrated Martin Luther King Jr.Day.  I think Mr. King was a fine man well deserving of a holiday in his honor.  When I worked for civil service I was delighted at all the holidays that were celebrated on a Monday.  Now, as I have said many times before, I don’t like Monday holidays.  I like to get my mail on Monday.  Otherwise Monday holidays don’t affect very much else.  The businesses are still open.

Getting back to business, the reason that nothing can be returned to the Sears store here in town is the fact that it is going out of business (closing its doors).  The Sears store in Peoria will remain open.  That is the reason why I am leery of buying a sewing machine here at the Sears store.  However if they mark down the price sufficiently I might change my mind.  There were quite a lot of them in the store when we were there on Friday.

Hooray for the Bears for their win I guess.  I am not a football fan but I know that Jim always cheered them on and my son in law and nephew do too.  I am more of a baseball fan and I cheer loudly for the St. Louis Cardinals in the baseball season and wear my Cardinal T-Shirt proudly.  I also love basketball and cheer for the men’s basketball team at the University of Illinois.

I should close this out as it is painfully obvious to me and to you too that I have nothing important to say today.  I hope that you all have a good week.

  Beth

Saturday Morning…

and I overslept, not getting up till 7:15.  That means I am behind schedule on everything this morning.  I did get the dirty rugs up from the doorways and got them washed.  Lost cause I know because we have more snow forecast for Monday.  Comes a time though when you can’t stand to look at something and the rugs were screaming at me this morning.  When someone or something screams at me I pay attention!

I went out to eat last night with my daughter and son in law.  We ate at Kouris where I had the Friday night catfish special.  This is a whole catfish, coated and deep fried.  Delicious!  I am not fond of the fries that come with it but the corn on the cob was very good.

I have changed the music on my blog.  I am sorry if you missed “Rollin’ With the flow" as that is a great song.

My daughter and I had a nice shopping spree at Sears yesterday.  I was able to buy her several things for her birthday which is February 14th, Valentine’s Day.  Next comes my son’s birthday on April 8th.  I didn’t get a sewing machine because there are absolutely no returns on items purchased there and I don’t want to be stuck with something I don’t like.

Gosh, it is almost time to think about lunch.  Time flies by so quickly when you oversleep.

You all be good to each other. Stay safe and be happy!

  Beth

Use it or lose it theory…

Remember yesterday when I spoke about the advice my sister’s doctor gave to her.  I have heard that statement many times through the years.  I thought it would be fun to Google ‘use it or lose it’, so I did.  Try it, you will be amazed at what you see.  That is the theory that I try to apply to my life.  I am not a spring chicken but I refuse to believe that I am an old hen.  When you start thinking old you begin to feel old and that is the beginning of the end.

We can either sit on our bottom ends 24/7 or we can get up and move around and keep going.  That is what I choose to do.  Listen to the song I have playing, it is a song from the 70s sung by Charlie Rich.  Never heard of him you say, well that is OK, just turn on your speakers and take minute to listen to the song.  “I ain’t never growing old, I’ll keep on rollin’ with the flow.”  If we keep this thought fixed firmly in our minds we can keep on going, even when the going gets very tough.  I have faced tough challenges many times in my life, never more so than I have in the last years.

I picked myself up and kept moving forward and you all can do that too.

Now, to get back to mundane things, which one reader told me once that no one was interested in, the weather.  The weather interests me very much as does your weather.  Now for my weather, for the second day in a row the sun is shining brightly and it is not as cold as yesterday, checking in at 12 degrees so the wind chill is not bad.

Our Sears store here is closing in March and today is the first day of the clearance sales.  I am going there with my daughter this morning.  I have in mind to buy a sewing machine.  I have been thinking about this since I moved here.  I have hemmed two sets of curtains by hand and that is getting old.  Even if I use it only for that type of thing I think it would come in handy.  I used to sew a lot when the children were small.

Gotta run now.  I hope today is one of the best days in your life.  For my friends in Australia, you remain always in my thoughts and prayers.

  Beth

Thursday morning…

and the sun is shining brightly over the snow covered ground.  The real temp is 1 degree F but the wind chill is below zero.  I am going out to warm up the car soon and then I am going to venture to the grocery store.  I am running out of important things like TV dinners.

I feel better this morning after a decent nights sleep.  And I remember this little piece of advice my  sister’s doctor gave her; ‘Use it or lose it".  Now I do believe that could apply to just about anything in our life, from a  25 cent coupon on Charmin to multiple other things, too numerous to mention.  I was told by my doctor that when I felt better I could resume exercising, starting with 5 minutes a day for a couple of days and gradually working up to the 30 minutes I normally do.  I will start that today.

The housecleaning I will leave till next week.  I have already enlisted some help with Spring housecleaning in a few weeks. 

Did I mention that Spring  is only 66 days away?  Groundhog Gertie is all set to make her appearance on February 2nd with a  famous TV personality there.  Click on the link to find out who.  Groundhog Gertie, don’tcha just love that name.

My car is not going to start itself so I am going out to brave the cold and get it going.  Catch you all later.

  Beth

Where did Monday go…

Here it is Tuesday, over a week has passed and I am still not feeling like my old self.  My niece came over yesterday and took me to the grocery store.  After all of the walking in the store by last night I had quite a bit of pain again.  So today I do nothing again, which I am very tired of doing.  But I am here to complain about it and for that I am ever thankful.

I woke up this morning to 23 degrees and several inches of snow on the ground, a good day for cooking something, perhaps a pot of beans and some cornbread.  Something on the stove that can simmer for awhile without me having to watch it.  My house is beginning to need some attention in the cleaning department, also some laundry to do, but those things can wait.

I worry about my friend Kerrie in Australia.  She lives in the area which is flooding http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2011/01/11/2011-01-11_australia_flood_death_toll_rises_as_raging_waters_threaten_brisbane_nations_thir.html  I am praying for her and her son and all of her fellow countrymen.

So I guess I won’t complain about the snow here either as it is only 68 days till Spring.

My friend Carole is on my mind so much these days.  Her ‘Miss Catt’ has been very ill.  We have all been praying with her.

Lots of time to sit and think for me lately. 

  Beth                                                               

Countdown to Spring…

is 70 days.  Why you know we will just turn around good and Spring will be here.  No more snow, ice and bitter cold.  I have learned however that it is better not to hold my breath while I am waiting.  It was 6 degrees this morning when I got up at 7:30.  I have no idea what the wind chill is but it is breezy so I imagine it is below zero.  It has climbed all of the way up to 16 now.

My daughter came over yesterday, bringing me a lunch of fried chicken, etc.  Yumm!!  Then she cleaned the snow off my car and took it on a run to the pharmacy to pick up a script for me.  Next she changed my bedding and did the load of laundry.  Thank you Marcia!!!  Everyone should be blessed with a daughter as kind as mine.

I am walking better today and the pain is not as bad.  I am not ready to run in a marathon though.  I will wait a day or two for that.  I need to go check out the kitchen for something to eat.  I learned yesterday that if I run my toaster oven and microwave at the same time it will trip a circuit breaker as the maintenance guy patiently pointed out to me.    I am always delighted to give maintenance a way to earn their salary on a Saturday.

I finally took down my clock that plays a Christmas song on the hour as it was beginning to get on my last nerve.  There is a time for all good things and the time for that clock is past until this coming December.

Have a peaceful day all of you.  Stay safe and be happy!

  Beth

And I am satisfied…

because you know, I was not asking for George Ryan to be released, only that he could visit his dying wife.  http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2011/01/ryan-visited-ailing-wife-in-hospital.html

This has happened and I am glad.  Please read the article.  I have a family friend who works at the hospital where Mrs. Ryan is a patient.

I received a call late yesterday afternoon from my doctor’s office with the results of the X-Rays.  Severe arthritis was the words used.  I can’t do much about it except wait as Horst said he is doing until I have to have hip replacement or back  surgery.  I had back surgery in 2000 and my arthritis has gotten steadily worse since then.  I live with it which is just about all that you can do.  Pain pills take the edge off but is is not wise to take too many of those as they are addictive.

It is bitter cold out this morning, 9 degrees F with a brisk wind.  I am getting tired of doing nothing but I have been given doctor’s orders not to do anything until this flare-up has eased.  Thank you all for your kind thoughts, they sustain me.

It is time now for me to manage some breakfast.  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

  Beth

Show some compassion…

please!  No one was happier than I when our former governor, George Ryan was convicted of fraud  and several other charges a few years ago.  He was sentenced to 6  & 1/2 years in prison which he is serving at Terre Haute Indiana.  He has now served 3 years of his sentence.  His wife is  gravely ill with cancer and is in her final days.  Ryan’s attorney’s are fighting to have him released during the daytime hours so that he can be at her bedside.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/05/lura-lynn-ryan-in-intensi_n_805071.html     Having watched my husband die of cancer and several other family members, I can find it in my heart to allow him to be with his wife in her final days. Please show some compassion for Mrs. Ryan, he can finish out his term after her death.

I am waiting for my daughter to come and pick me up.  I am going to see my doctor this morning.  It is snowing some so I hope there are no pileups on the roads.  Update later.

UPDATE:  I am back from the doctor where I had 6 X-Rays taken of my back and hip.  I will get the results from them on Monday or Tuesday.  I also have a prescription for some pain meds which I will fill.  My BP was excellent, 112/54 and I hadn’t gained any weight.  Those two things are always good to know. 

I am still in quite a lot of pain so I am going to visit some of you and then get off of this computer and rest for awhile.  I got hardly any sleep last night.

I hope you all have a great weekend.

  Beth

Thursday..

and I have spent the morning in my recliner watching old Bones shows.  (Love that show)  I thought I would go to the grocery store this morning but after I was up for a few minutes I knew that wasn’t going to happen.  My back, hip and right leg protested at the top of their lungs. 

I called my daughter and she graciously brought milk and bread from the store for me.  Then she took my car which hadn’t been moved since Saturday to fill it up with gas.  Gas prices are way up here.  I bet gas will be $4 a gallon by spring, which by my calculation is 73 days. 

My mind is muddled from laying around so much this week.  If my doctor wasn’t in Peoria I would have tried to get in to see her.  That would have meant tests and X-Rays  which I don’t want to mess with right now.  I have an appointment with her on March 4th and I am hoping to hold out till then.  I also feel sluggish from not being able to work out.  When you have an exercise routine that you do faithfully each day your body misses it.  (well anyway the half of my body that isn’t in pain misses it) 

It is 28 degrees here right now which is as high as it is going to get today.  Also some snow is predicted.  I can live very nicely if I never see another snowflake as long as I live.

I hope someway to get out of the house for a few minutes tomorrow, the Good Lord willing.  In the meantime, you all stay safe and be happy!

Hugs,
Beth

Not me…

I woke up this morning to find out that I was not a winner of the Mega Millions jackpot.  Two lucky winners in two different states.  Oh well, I rarely buy a lottery ticket but when the jackpot gets so high I do splurge and buy some tickets.  I am not lucky at winning things but I do consider myself fortunate each day I am able to get out of bed and I do thank God for that.

This morning I am able to walk with a lot less pain.  This will be the third day in a row with no exercising and I think I will have to wait several more days before I start that again.  I do need some things from the store so I will try and get there tomorrow.

It is lovely this morning with the sun shining brightly and the temperature to top out at 34 degrees.  More snow forecast for Thursday and Friday though.  I think I am pretty close in stating only 75 more days till Spring!! 

This is it for today.  Stay safe and be happy!

  Beth

Bright Sunny Tuesday..

Just a short post because I am feeling a bit under the weather.  My arthritis has flared up big time.  I have however finished moving recipes.  You may find my new recipe space at http://bethmariesrecipes.blogspot.com/

  Beth

The first Monday…

of a brand new year.  It is a bright sunny day with the temperature hovering at 23 degrees F.  It is not supposed to get much warmer than that.  At least there is no snow on the ground now and none in sight for the next few days.  That is good news.
Recapping the last few days.  New Year’s Eve, bedtime at 10 PM.  I figured the New Year would arrive without me watching for it, and it did.  New Year’s Day I went with my daughter and son in law to Applebees  to eat.  That was fun and I didn’t have to cook. 
Thanks to a Christmas gift from my niece in WV I am awaiting a gift package from Omaha Steaks.  This meant I had to clean out my freezer.  Hopefully the boxes will fit in there OK.  If not I will be having a feast right away.  The package is supposed to arrive in the next day or two.  This also means I have to stick pretty close to home.
I am in the process of changing my recipe space from wordpress over to Blogger.  When I get it all finished I will let you know.   Right now I am liking the looks of it, so much nicer looking than wordpress.  So far I have moved over 100 recipes with quite a lot more to do.  Bringing back lots of good memories for me, even remembering Jim’s favorite song, “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone.”  He used to kid with me all of the time about that song.  And you know what, he was right, I do miss him. 
Time to get back to moving recipes.  I hope this week is a good one for us all.  Stay safe and be happy!

The year 2010 in a nut shell..

Looking back and taking stock of last year for me.  January started off depressing.  It had been so icy out that Christmas with my kids had to be changed a couple of times.  Alone on Christmas Day 2009 I gathered up goodies to take with me to the nursing home to visit an old friend of mine.  I slid sideways backing out of my garage into the alley.  This scared me enough that I managed to get the car back in the garage and I went back in the house.  I think that I was in a state of depression, no family close by, 100 miles in two different directions.  So the thought began to cross my mind in January that I wanted to move closer to family.  Not Chicago where my son lives, as the traffic is horrendous there.  I love my son dearly but I couldn’t imagine driving in that area. 
That left moving closer to my daughter.  Still, I really did not want to leave my home, 50 years of memories there with Jim.  So I put that thought to the back of my mind.  The winter continued snowy, cold and lots of ice.  I did manage to get out most days to workout at the fitness center.  I was doing really well too, lifting fixed weights, treadmill and recumbent bike.  I had a lot of friends, even a few of them were almost like family.  But the idea was still in my head to move.  I did a lot of soul searching over this.
Time moved along until as I have mentioned before in a post, I woke up one morning in March and picked up the phone and called the realtor that had sold my good friend’s house.  Johnny on the spot he marched his bottom end over, took photos.  Wham, bam, the next day he started showing the house.  On the 5th day my house sold.  Divine intervention is what my Twin told me and I have come to believe that.
Next came a lot of pure hard work on my part.  Doctor visits, dental checkup, and the most daunting task of all, packing up 50 years of stuff.  Sorting, packing and giving away, I did this all myself.  My daughter came to help me with a garage sale.  I made several trips moving stuff in my car and my good friends Rex and Sandi furnished me with all of the boxes that I needed.  Still all in all I had to hire a moving van.
Ok, now on April 15 I found myself living in a city that is 8 times larger than the little town I lived in for so long.  Oh no, there are lots of one way streets here which I haven’t mastered yet. (That is a new year’s resolution by the way)  I suffered so much with homesickness.  I thought I had made a terrible mistake.  As the time has passed I have developed what my daughter calls my “comfortable routes” that I use to go to the stores, pharmacy, etc.  She keeps telling me that I can go another way and for heavens sake mom use the GPS as that is what it is for.  Having raised two kids, I just nod my head and agree and go right ahead and do exactly what I want to do.
Anyway, the bottom line is, I am happy here.  I do miss my house and my friends, but I call them and they call me and a couple of them have come to see me a few times.  I have a lot of family here besides my daughter and son in law.  So summing everything up, 2010 has been a good year for me and I am looking forward to 2011 being even better.
I hope this will be a good year for you all too.
  Beth