Snow flurries?

The weather people reported we would have snow flurries today. I have been looking out through the doors to the deck, and, sure enough, there has been some snow -sorta. I wouldn't call it flurries - that is too active for what I see. A few cute little snow flakes drifting lazily down from the gray skies, to settle carefully on the deck. Since I had thrown onto the deck some pale-colored seed for the birds, it was hard at first to distinguish the snow from the birdseed. So far, the snow has stopped once and then restarted. It has produced barely a dusting on outside surfaces. Maybe we'll eventually get enough to whiten the ground and bushes. Since I have to teach a pottery class today in a nearby community, I don't want a lot of snow. Maryland drivers aren't used to snow, which makes driving on snowy roads especially hazardous. One has to watch out for the other drivers, more than usual.

I have quite a few birds gathering on my deck and feeders today. Many of them, like the cardinals and the juncos, prefer to eat on a flat surface, like the deck. They make an awful mess, so I only put food there when the weather is really nasty and cold. I figure they need a break then. Otherwise they have to compete for food in the hanging feeders. The sparrows and house finches pretty much dominate those feeders, although the chick-a-dees and titmice will fly in, grab a seed and go off to eat it and then come back for more. Yesterday, a wren visited. They are around all summer and often nest in the neighborhood, but I don't see many in winter. I think they prefer insects, which are in short supply this time of year. I've never seen one eating at the feeders, but if I put out raisins or other fruit, they will come to dine. Unfortunately, the squirrels also like the fruit, so the birds are lucky to get any. Squirrels seemingly will eat anything. A neighbor feeds them, so they don't come over to my house too often. My feeders are the kind that are supposed to be squirrel proof. Mostly that works.

I'm supposed to be cleaning and spackling my kitchen/dining walls today, rather than frittering away time on the computer. Guess I'd better get to work. Tomorrow I hope to paint, in between watching parts of Obama's inauguration. This is the first inauguration I've been interested in watching since I moved to Maryland 35 years ago. It's impossible not to be excited about this one. I'm so proud of my country for electing Barack Obama! He has a tough job ahead of him, but I have confidence that he and the country have exciting and successful years ahead.

Baby, it's cold outside!

Well, I got back to normal (see Monday's post) and have discovered that I have nothing much to write about! When in doubt, talk about the weather. It's been in the 20s (Farenheit) for the last several days, although I think it is due to warm up into the 30s for the Inauguration. Brrrrr. You won't find me watching on the Mall! Not that I would even if it was warm. I am very uncomfortable in large crowds and consider going into DC next week to be a nightmare. I just hope the traffic jam and the crowds aren't as bad as predicted. If I watch the ceremonies, it will be in my nice warm house! Speaking of a warm house, I have once again discovered the wonders of solar heating - i.e., sunshine coming into my living room through my new storm door. My thermostat is set at 66, but the room temperature is at 73! It's lovely. For a few house, my heat pump won't be running.

Yesterday I had lunch with the 'Friday lunch bunch' (a group of long-time friends). We were joined by the daughter of one of the couples (now living in Pittsburgh). Elise is a graduate student at the University of Maryland and will be going to Antarctica next week to continue studying penguins. She went a few months ago as well. It's summer in Antarctica and the temperatures will actually be as warm or warmer than here. However, with all the snow on the ground that they have to wade through, the brave scientists will feel pretty chilly. It amazes me what today's generation of young people are doing. Such a wide variety of careers, spread all over the world. Definitely makes for a hopeful future.

Yesterday, I purchased paint for the kitchen/dining room. It's a beige color, just a bit warmer than the almond color of the appliances. I found a darker shade that I also liked, but am saving that for next year when I plan to repaint the living room. The two rooms run together along one wall, so the colors have to look ok together. Anyway, I now have paint and a new roller, but need to get spackle and a sash brush (the kind with a the bristles cut on a slant). I don't buy really expensive brushes, as I've found it's easier to just throw them out after a couple of uses and get new ones. (A professional painter actually recommended I do that.) I will start today removing all the many shelves and stuff hanging on the walls, so that I can spackle all the holes from them and from the pictures and antique kitchen tools also hanging on the walls. If you are getting the idea that I have lots of stuff on display in my kitchen, you are right. The biggest problem is where to put all the bits and pieces when I take the shelves down! I think my living room will look as if I am having a yard sale. I hope to get the painting done next week, although it will have to be in bits and pieces, as I don't have any free days during the week. I will take photos when it is done. I'd better stop procrastinating and go shopping now.

Stay well and warm.

Back to normal, whatever that is

Nothing very exciting happening to me since my last blog. I did drive to the supermarket and the drug store and the paint store on Friday. Spent lots of money, but then I had pretty much cleaned out my freezer and fridge during the car-less week, so I really needed to restock. The stop at the paint store was to pick up some color strips. I am going to repaint my kitchen this month. It's been pale blue for 7 years now and it's time for a change. (Also it's looking a bit shabby.) I change the colors on my walls fairly often, as I get bored with the same colors. The accent colors in the kitchen are bright red and dark blue, I have oak cabinets, and the appliances are 'almond'. So I don't have a lot of choice in wall colors. I think I will go with a beige, somewhat warmer and darker than the appliance color. I'm going to think about it for a few more days and then buy the paint and start! I really enjoy painting, but I surely don't enjoy moving furniture, including in this case, the fridge and a very large hutch, and I hate washing and patching the walls in preparation for the paint. Still the result will be worth it.

So far this winter, we have escaped bad weather. Today is cold, but sunny. However, the weather people are threatening us with nasty, cold weather later in the week. Sooner or later we'll get some ice, snow or sleet. (With my luck, that will happen in February on the day I am flying to England to visit Kate and family!) However, usually on bad weather days, I am just glad that I am retired and don't have to drive to work. Of course, I do have to get to various classes and volunteer activities, but at least I don't have to drive in rush hour traffic which will be all snarled up by the slippery roads.

Wheels again, finally!

Picked up my car last night. It didn't cost as much as I had feared, although still a considerable amount. The car runs very smoothly now and I can't even tell when the gears are shifting. There are a couple of other potential problems with the car, unrelated to the transmission. I'll have to take it in again most likely in a week or two, but hopefully the problems won't be major. However, here's the funny thing - the engine light is still on!! This is the stupid light that comes on when any of 42 different things need to be checked or fixed. My mechanic assures me that this time it has to do with the emissions system and isn't a serious problem. He isn't recommending that I do anything about it, just ignore the light. I sure hope he's right. The light is very annoying, but I suppose after a few weeks, I will no longer notice it.

You don't realize how car-dependent you are until you are without one. Of course, there were two cars in the household when I was married, so I haven't had this sort of problem in many years. I realize that if the time comes when I can no longer drive safely, I will have to look for a different place to live - a place where I can easily walk to stores, post office, etc. Perhaps that time will never come. My dad drove his car until he died, although he didn't drive much the last few years. It's something to think about, however, when planning retirement. Public transportation in the US, even in metro areas isn't the greatest. The English people complain about their trains and buses, but their system is wonderful compared to ours!

So, I'm back on the road. Happy Trails!

American Museum of Visionary Art

Yesterday, my friend Lynne and I went into Baltimore to visit a new museum. www.avam.org Lynne is an artist, so we had decided to go to one of the art museums there. This was a wonderful choice! It features artists who are self-taught and are not exactly traditional in what they produce. The pieces on exhibit were like nothing I have ever seen and were fascinating. Among others items they had: a model of the Titanic made from toothpicks; various items, including one piece of furniture, made of matchsticks; a tree and a pond (representing the sea) all made of or decorated with mirrors and colored glass; two walls of murals depicting mostly farm life, done in primitive style by a man who lives in a mental institution and is 112 years old; ceramic heads with distorted faces; drawings of faces - human and cat - done with pen and ink (I think), featuring hundreds of lines, rather like those Spirograph pictures kids used to do, but much more interesting; and so much more. This would be a great place to visit with kids, as there were a number of interactive displays. The gift shop is filled with books, some really nice crafts and a whole lot of stuff that is pretty much junk - but very high class junk. I've never seen a museum store anything like it. The museum itself has a spiral staircase going up three floors with a metal railing that has unusual items incorporated into it, e.g., a paintbrush and a glove. I will definitely go back, as I think they change their exhibits periodically. We spent about 2 and a half hours there (it's a small museum) and then had lunch at the Rusty Scupper which overlooks the Inner Harbor. A little expensive, but very good food and service.

a different look

Here, on the right, is a photo of where the Christmas tree resided for the last month. It looks really different now and blessedly stripped down. I love Christmas, but I can only stand all the color and sparkle for so long and then I want a much simpler look. The pottery on the table, except for the cat, is part of my every increasing collection of things I have made. (The smaller pitcher was made by Kate years ago when she was also playing with clay.) In the chair, you can see a bit of a lap quilt that Kate made for me years ago. It's my favorite (she has made several for me) as it is very soft and the colors go nicely in the room. The photo on the left shows some of the same pictures that were hung on that wall for Christmas. However, the masks have now replaced some cute little snowmen and a Holiday wall hanging. Again, the pottery on the table is a mix of my creations and things I just couldn't resist buying. The white bowl resting on its side and the black bowl with the handle are purchased items. The photos in the tall frame are some I took around the neighborhood a few years ago when we had some snow.

Today is laundry day - real exciting. I really should run the vacuum cleaner to get the bits of silvery glitter that stick to everything after the tree and decorations are gone. I may still find one more ornament hidden away among the house plants or in some odd place, but mostly the house is back to normal. Thank goodness.

Happy New Year!

Yep, I did it - took down all the Christmas decorations in my living room, including the tree, yesterday. (I still have lights and garlands to remove from the top of the kitchen cabinets.) It took all afternoon, as I had to haul empty boxes up from the basement and then back down when they were filled. With the Christmas stuff packed away, I brought up the boxes that contained my black and white items - mostly pottery - and began arranging (and rearranging) the items on shelves and tables. I'm still rearranging, but will settle them by this evening, probably.... Yesterday evening, my next-door neighbor called to invite me to come over and see her new dining room table and chairs - they are gorgeous! - and stay for some New Year's cheer. I ended up being there until after midnight, as various other neighbors dropped in. We nibbled on goodies and sipped wine and finally toasted the arrival of 2009 with champagne. I have to admit that I sipped a bit too much wine and felt somewhat the worse for it this morning. What's amazing is that I actually stayed awake all evening. Usually I fall asleep after two glasses of wine. I guess it was the good company (and a number of rather noisy kids) that kept me awake.

Today is cold (brrrr) and sunny. I don't think I'll go walking today, although the wind that was very strong yesteday has died down pretty much. We didn't get any damage around here, but some parts of the metropolitan area had trees come down. Fireworks were cancelled in several nearby cities. I guess people went outside to celebrate anyway, but I prefer to be inside when the temperature gets into the 30s. I grew up in western New York State where winter is cold (minus 20 sometimes) and snowy and I don't miss that at all!