if it's not one thing it's another

These last few months seem to be breakdown time for my possessions. You've already heard all about my car problems and now a bit about my heat pump. This unit is only 3 years old and has worked perfectly up until about a week or so ago. I noticed it was frosting up on the outside of the condenser (or whatever it's called) located under the deck. When I finally went out to try to scrap off the frost, I found not just frost but ICE - as thick as my pinkie finger - filling nearly every slit in the metal cover around the unit. I tried to scrap it off and nearly got frostbite before I stopped. Then I tried to melt it using a hair dryer. That was an exercise in futility and rather funny, or would have been if I hadn't been worried about the unit by this time. Note: hairdryers aren't strong enough to melt very much ice. So I called BGE Home (they actually took calls on a Saturday) and they came out yesterday. The repairman had a bit of trouble finding out what the problem was, because it was so unusual. One vital electrical connection was not functioning because DUST HAD GOTTEN INTO THE CONNECTION!! Can you believe that? I asked him if I should dust inside the closet where the heat pump's fan and electric stuff is. He laughed and said "No" that it was just a freak kind of thing and not likely to happen again. (I was relieved, as I had thought that maybe a mouse had gnawed the wires. I did have a mouse a few months ago, but he is dead and gone now.) I had to carry about 8 buckets of hot water downstairs to be poured into the outside unit to melt the frost built up on the inside of the casing. However, all is well now. The BGE person was very nice and knowledgeable and gave me some pointers on the unit - things I had not been told before. So all's well that ends well. Maybe my electric bill won't be so high in the future!

Now, my refrigerator is making a loud thump when it shuts off (or maybe when it comes on?). I figure it's the next thing to go. And my computer is 8 years old, so it could go at any time. My radio makes an odd noise when I turn it on. (Sometimes I think I'm the only thing functioning correctly in this house!) Life is just full of all these lovely little potential problems, isn't it? Our ancestors had a much more simple life - no appliances to go bad. Of course their lives were short and rather inconvenient. I am very attached to all the conveniences in my house, even when they become inconveniences, so I'm glad I live in the 21st century.

the world of blogging is amazing

I just discovered something quite interesting and surprising (at least to me). I was reading my profile and discovered that from there I could find MANY other bloggers who might have something in common with me. Probably all of you who are long-time bloggers already know about this. What I did was to click on the active links that had been automatically created in my profile. I tried 'retired' and found that there are over 28,000 retired bloggers. Not surprising, as I suspect retired folks have more time to blog. On the other hand, it means that there are many computer users in the older generation. We are not all dinosaurs! I also tried my home, Laurel, MD. That was the surprise - 498 bloggers in Laurel. I flipped through the first 150 entries, just looking to see what kind of f0lks were blogging. Not much information available on many, but I did find one other retired woman about my age. Her blogs are very interesting and I'll start reading them, when I get back from England. She and I have some things in common, so who knows? We might become friends. I already have a couple of women whom I consider my friends, although we have never met except online. You can never have too many friends. Take care friends and stay warm! (It's 15F this morning here on the East Coast.)

snowing again

Today we have a dusting of snow with more falling. Still, we aren't supposed to get much - maybe a couple of inches. And, the temperature is above freezing, so the snow has been melting on the sidewalks and streets. Just very pretty, especially if one is sitting inside in a warm house, watching the flakes come down! Kate, in London, has been enjoying a bit more snow than we have here. London got 4 inches and schools have been closed for two days. Both she and the kids have been enjoying the unexpected holiday. Check out her blogs for snow photos katelnorth@blogspot.com and all the sewing http://katesquilting.blogspot.com/ she has gotten done.

I can't say I have been particularly productive, although I too did some sewing the other day. Yes, I actually managed to thread my sewing machine and produced two pillow covers - the kind that can be easily slipped on and off. I like to change the throw pillows in the living room often, so have an assortment of removable covers. (Storing covers takes up much less space than storing pillows!) The best part of this recent sewing is that I discovered why I was having so much trouble threading the machine. It was a really stupid thing, but then I'm a bit stupid when it comes to my new sewing machine. Now, if I could just get the threader to work! Luckily, I can see well enough to actually thread my machine by hand. Perhaps I'll even do some more sewing soon. I have been planning to finish making cushions for the dining room chairs (one is done) for about 3 years. I bought the material ages ago and made one cushion and then just never did the others. (Of course, most of the time, I'm the only person sitting on the chairs and I only need one cushion, so.......)

Speaking of accomplishments, yesterday I took a number of ceramic creations to the studio to be fired. Eventually, I will post photos of them here and on flickr, but probably not real soon. If I pick them up before the weekend, I'll have time to take photos and upload them, otherwise it will have to wait until I return from England in March. (You will notice I did not offer photos of my sewing. If I ever do anything that could be considered quilting or other creative fabric use, then I'll show it. But, don't hold your breath! LOL)

tagged

Pat wants me to do one of these things where you talk about yourself. Ten things people might not know about me and 5 addictions. I've done one of these before, but it was just an email thing - before I became a blogger. I think the ten things will be hard.



10 things about me:

1. I was born at home. My mother did not go to a hospital for my birth.

2. I graduated number one from high school. I was a 'brain' (today I would be a nerd) and it was a small high school (100 graduates).

3. I have a degree in library service from Rutgers.

4. I met my first husband at Rutgers when I was in grad school.

5. I lived in Germany for almost two years, when my husband was in the US Army.

6. I own a TV, but haven't watched a show in about three years. (I did watch the inauguration, but at my neighbor's house.)

7. I played the flute in high school and college.

8. My straight hair developed waves after the 'change of life'.

9. I love fabric, but hate to sew. (some of you already know this)

10. I love to travel and want to take an Alaskan cruise someday. Also would like to drive across the US. Want to come with me?



5 addictions:

1. music: especially singing, but also listening.

2. reading: mostly romances and crime stories.

3. ceramics: I teach a class and also attend classes. Am into making 'masks' these days. For photos of some of my work, go here http://www.flickr.com/photos/kathydillard/sets/72157609474409824/

4. visiting flea markets, yard sales and antique stores.

5. CHOCOLATE!!!



Ok, that's the best I can do. I won't tag anyone else, but feel free to participate if you want.

Real snow at last.

We really did get some snow yesterday - maybe two inches all told. Trees and bushes look very pretty with their white coats. The cars are not improved, however, by the snow and ice on the windows. I'm glad I'm not driving anywhere today. I'm using the icy roads as an excuse to stay home. Although my sidewalk was very slippery this morning, I'm sure I could drive safely if I needed to. Can't say the same for many Maryland drivers, however. People here fall into two types when it comes to icy roads. They either drive just as usual, which means they slide all over and cause accidents, or they slow down to a turtle's pace, making everyone else impatient and annoyed. The problem is that we don't get enough snow and ice each winter for anyone to learn how to drive on slippery roads. Also, despite all the salt/sand trucks, plowing the roads is not done very quickly or efficiently. Not like New York State where snowplows are everywhere during and after a storm. Oh well, it's not as if we get much nasty winter weather.

This morning, when I went out to get my paper, my neighbor, Will, asked me if I wanted some rock salt. I said, 'yes please', so he got some and started sprinkling it on my steps, which were very icy. His son, who was visiting, said that he could shovel my walk, so he and I did that. It was actually easier than the shoveling I did yesterday, because today, the ice-crusted snow lifted right off, once the crust was broken. It's nice to have neighbors who offer to help with things like snow shoveling. I'm lucky to live in a friendly neighborhood.

Finished!

I have finally finished the kitchen - freshly painted, tops of cabinets cleaned, stuff put back on tops, on counter, and on walls! Frankly, the painting itself was the least of the work. Here are some before and after photos. The photo on the left is before I started painting. I haven't even gotten all the stuff off the counters at this point. The next photo shows the same area after painting, with the stuff back on the counter.

The photo on the lower right shows the piles of stuff I took off the counters, so that I could stand on them to paint. Notice the freshly painted walls. The middle photo is of the longest wall in the kitchen, now filled with antique kitchen utensils and other stuff I enjoy looking at every day. (There is even room for a few more items if I find something irresistable the next time I go antiquing.) The photo on the right shows the coat closet which is between the dining and living room areas. Of the tiles hanging on the left side of the closet, only the second from the top is one I made. (I wish I were good enough to have made those others.)

Today we are actually getting some snow. It's drifting down slowly in very fine flakes. So far we have perhaps an inch. We may get as much as 4 inches by evening. However, tonight or tomorrow it will turn to rain, then ice and be a real mess! I don't have to drive anywhere today or tomorrow, lucky for me. Perhaps by Thursday, when I have a volunteer day at the local hospital, the roads will be okay again. Meanwhile, I'll stay home and sort through the piles of clippings and papers that I had stacked on either side of the computer. Hopefully, throw most of it away, or at least figure out a better way to keep them. I'm good at organizing stuff, but not very good at throwing it away! Wish me luck.

More home improvement

I've been painting the walls in my kitchen/dining room yesterday and today, so I'm really tired tonight. I have taken some before and after photos, but they will not get up tonight - maybe Friday. You don't realize how much stuff you have until you have to move it all into another room - or in my case two other rooms. The painting is almost completed. Still have about an hour more to do. Unfortunately, tomorrow is my volunteer day at the hospital gift shop and then choir in the evening, so the painting will have to wait until Friday. I'll have to live with the mess until then. I have managed to clear off half of my dining table, so I could eat properly this evening. I've been eating at a little table in the living room, and was lucky to have that space. The coffee table and the sofa, a chair, and another little table are filled with things from the kitchen and from the coat closet, which also was painted. The kitchen is functional again, with storage containers and appliances back in their proper place. It looks very bare, however, as I haven't put up any of the decorative shelves and other stuff. I may rearrange a bit and not everything will go back up. (I've already discarded the bulletin board). The hutch in the dining room is still pulled out from the wall because I can't move it. My neighbor pulled it out for me and he will have to push it back, now that the wall is painted. I did manage to move the refrigerator back into it's slot in the corner. It is on rollers, so once I got it past the heat duct, it was easy to move. I am sitting here now, admiring my freshly painted walls., I have to admit that the color isn't quite what I expected. It's funny how colors change from the sample to the wall. I thought it was rather beige/tan and it's really more on the yellow side. It's a different color in the daytime when the sun is shining than it is at night. However, I like the color, so all is well. I have been know to repaint a wall when I couldn't stand the color, but luckily I don't have to this time.

I took time out yesterday to watch the Presidential Inauguration. (Went next door to see it on their big TV.) It was an astonishing sight to see over a million people jammed on the Mall. I was very impressed with Obama's speech. He certainly is a good speaker and he didn't mince words.
I found it very moving, actually. I can't remember the last time I had strong positive feelings about a President - maybe Kennedy. It almost makes me wish I were still a government worker - almost, but not quite! I like retirement too much to want to go back to work, no matter how worthy the cause.