What a beautiful day. Quick breakfast I knew I would be in trouble with my iPad if I waited too late,finding FaceTime! And at precisely 9 AM, I clicked on the red phone and it rang and rang and I was about to give up when suddenly, there was my dear scruffy son blearily searching for me, and yes, JACKJE , Germany went back to regular time today, too. The kids want ne to fly up to DD in Somers, NY for Christmas. DDiL would not take ""No" for my answer, and I feel I'm not in good condition to fly anywhere. Yesterday we were trying to convince one of our friends whose kids were insisting she fly up for something, which filled her with dread, and she's 8 years younger than I! I really don't like telling my kids about every ache and pain, but now I'm feeling guilty about not traveling!. I looked for the ...........Oh, shoot, I must have fallen asleep as I just woke up with a page full of gibberish! I'd better come back tomorrow to finish!
Buzz
..........................Always believe etc................................

Anne, I have never lived anywhere that had a rational numbering system I guess so I really never thought about it. As a child we lived on a great long street, blocks long with no intersections and there were vacant lots so the house numbers were strange. After that I was out in the country and if you got a street and a house number you would think they drew them out of a hat. Now I am on a cul de sac and these numbers are more rational but really, I have never paid attention! Good for you to notice the numbering on your street. Let us know if you call someone to find out the reasoning involved.

Hugs.

Lin

A cold, brisk morning but that made for a wonderful walk across the moors with views to die for! Another friend joined us so 4 dogs and 3 humans strolled, caught up on news and discussed weekend tv including the latest David Attenborough Blue Planet series that I watched in high definition. Glorious photography but heartbreaking stories as ice caps melt and wildlife struggles for existence. I never imagined I could be in tears about a few walruses but seeing mothers struggling to find a piece of floating ice to rest themselves and their pups on but ending up having to float on their backs hugging their babies close to them was unbelievably sad. Not too long before it's all gone, melted away but then there's no such thing as global warming according to some!! Another series we had each watched was Gunpowder, all about Guy Fawkes and although I know the outcome I was so caught up in the story I found myself willing them to escape. Not for the fainthearted this one as extremely gory!!

Lin ~ The doggy candles were made last year for Christmas presents and a couple were left over. The trouble is what else do you do with them other than light the taper? At some point he will have to go! Don't you have haberdashery departments in your stores where you could buy a couple of new buttons and get that jacket hood fixed? If not it might be worth an Amazon search just so long as you don't have to purchase a pack of 20!

Anne ~ When our allotment sight was first set up and numbers allocated to plots you wouldn't believe how a group of men with measures and a laptop that showed them a satellite image could make such a mess of the numbers. If you can imagine No.1 starting in one corner then 2, 3 4 etc carrying on up the shorter side to the next corner when they then went back to the other side of No.1 and continued down the longer side 5, 6, 7, 8 but only halfway because they then ran back up the middle! The answer to your query is I think that no women were involved in the numbering!! I'm sorry I had to pick a number that didin't exist for your card that might have given it a slight chance of remaining in Canada!!

Buzz ~ Could a member of your family fly to you then escort you to New York because perhaps with moral support and an extra pair of hands, Christmas could be feasible. On the other hand if going is just too much of a trauma then of course you have to decline. The stress of it all isn't worth it. Having suggested all that, I'm the worst one because after years of awful travel to and from London dealing with crowds, mad drivers and often icy roads I decided staying at home is the best option..... leave Christmas to children, and Sandy of course!!

Patsy ~ Perhaps it was my clocks going back in the UK that had you adjusting yours but so long as you enjoyed a lie in yesterday morning you can have another next Sunday!!

I'd better get on since I just paused for crackers, an apple and piece of Edam cheese for lunch after cleaning out the inside of my car. I still have to have a final sort out of the beehive before settling it down for the winter then get to a car wash. The cleaning and washing because my car gets its MOT tomorrow and I think it should look cared for at least!!

No time to spellcheck so fingers crossed!
Jackie

Thanks SANDY. We are all squeezed into the same size lots. As the small places are torn down, the mansions get less garden which is maybe the trend with busy working couples these days. It's all a sweet mystery of life.

I kept away from David Attenboroughs latest JACKIE. I just can't bear to watch what is happening. I watched a programme on the gentle sloths and it had me in tears. They move slowly of course and men climb the trees to snatch the babies clinging on to their mothers to sell. The babies usually die because humans find it difficult to care for a little clinging baby that needs constant feeding. The mothers aren't killed unlike the apes, but are left bereft. Fortunately, a few enlightened souls are caring for these little orphans from illegal markets and the unscrupulous men are put in jail if caught.

Guy Fawkes, ah poor old Guy and his fellow conspirers. There's a very old pub in Hull in a street named The Land of Green Ginger (from the spice trade) where they first hatched the plot it is said. The pub is all winding staircases and little rooms. I had fish and chips there with Roy nine years ago. Very tasty. Once I knew the story I found it difficult burning a stuffed cloth Guy Fawkes effigy on bonfire night. Not so as a kid. The excitement and the charcoal roasted spuds we ate while the grown ups sipped cider and kept an eye out for naughty little children lighting fireworks behind them.
My ex and my friends husband once lit a rocket inside our dustbin. It went off with an almighty bang and cracked our bedroom window! Boys will be boys however old!

Please do remember,
The fifth of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot.

Anne.

It is a sort of sunny day here. High thin clouds off and on sunny. Very PNW kind of weather. John got a huge kick out of our discussion about house numbers. I was telling him about it. We have almost always choose rural living no matter where we lived. House number when you live out in country is pointless and even funny. Addresses out here come with detailed instructions and discriptions in mile and landmarks.

Speaking of our infrastructure, I had a very good friend whose husband worked for an oil company. She said when they were stationed in the Middle East, it was so hard for foreigners because they had no phone book or organized addresses. This was of course, many years ago. Business cards were essential. They had not only phone numbers on them but directions on a little map on the back of the card. She was a tall beautiful Swedish blonde and she was briefly kidnaped and held for ransom. She was also very smart and brave.

The holidays are such a strange collection of emotion and stress for some. I love the holidays. We don't have any young children in the family but i still love them. Holidays are espically stressful for John. He says they always were, not sure why but they are. I love having all the music, decor, parties, food, family and friends. John keeps trying to keep things organized. I love a total jumble and happy chaos. We all work it out and try not to stress John too much. We are such a small family it isn't too much of a big to-do around here. We go for elegant and amazing. Big leftovers are just too much for us to deal with. We are all in kitchen at once preparing a special thing. I love to use all my special China and crystal. That's our holidays plus card playing and visiting.

Anne and Jackie: Who is Guy Fawkes? I guess I missed school they day they taught about him.

Sandy: your sunglasses...that is my life! Things just hide and crop up mysteriously in odd places. Who put things in these odd places? Fairies and elves would be my suspicion.

Lin: cards and crafting always gets a bit more frantic and interesting as the holidays get closer. I'll bet your card designing area is covered in glittler and shine. Fun and a constant delight.
Patsy

Bad news on the furnace. It couldn't be replaced and it could be days or even weeks before it's replaced. Not sure what to do if it gets really cold, but don't intend staying with the kids, will keep you posted. I've got a baseboard heater for now. Anne.

jacean2017 wrote: »

Bad news on the furnace. It couldn't be replaced and it could be days or even weeks before it's replaced. Not sure what to do if it gets really cold, but don't intend staying with the kids, will keep you posted. I've got a baseboard heater for now. Anne.

Oh no!! Have your sons bring you several more electric heaters. The Dyson bladeless is wonderful. Meanwhile, staying with someone might be an option to consider if a new furnace cannot be installed promptly.

Lin

Two days can be a long enough time. Bake lots of food so you can have the oven going!! Electric blanket????

Oh No! Anne...is it cold there now? Do you have an electric blanket? I have this notion of you and Jilly going to one of your sons houses and having a sleep-over. Staying up late at night sipping a glass of wine telling ghost stories, reliving past funny times, etc. when our son comes to visit we do that. He tells us stories about his business and his sailing trips. The thing is that people like you and I and our families always find a way to make the most of every situation. Just take care of yourself and the little peewee.
Patsy

Morning, no I prefer to stay home overnight if possible PATSY, with everyone rushing into bathrooms etc in their own homes getting ready for work!
It's 5 centigrade right now with me in my dressing gown - that's about 41 going up to 46 as the day progresses. The Bean and I stayed cuddly warm under the duvet and she doesn't snore, shuffles a bit. The day the furnace is installed Thursday, is the warmest of the three days, naturally. Now that I'm a born again Canadian I SHOULD be able to survive 41! This morning I thought of the street folk in Toronto waking up on park benches in their sleeping bags. We don't have any here in my town, but if I encounter one on my travels I'll buy one a coffee and bagel and realize how fortunate I am. The new furnace, which will be smallish for a small house will cost $4600.
I really AM signing off as,
(N)Anne(Ouk) of the north. Do you remember Nanouk!

Really really running late. Have been to TJ’s. Need to do the post Office and the bank before Mah Jongg. My produce order is stuck in processing this morning. Ugh. No idea when they think they will deliver and I cannot get a timing estimate this morning.

Hugs friends.....please be safe and well.

Lin

Sandydur wrote: »

Is one supplement plan F better than another other than cost? They are all standardized under Medicare's guidelines. I can save almost $100 a month if I change from Blue Cross to Cigna. (change is hard)

Sandy, Are you adding Rx coverage (Part D) as well? I have Blue Cross for my supplement coverage and I have Plan F. They have a pretty good reputation not only for payment but for customer service in this area. I also have an agent to talk to and he is a good guy and very helpful. He also helped me shop for my Rx coverage and I ended up with Humana.

That being said one of my friends changes her coverage every time she can find a lower cost plan at open enrollment time. If there are additional subtleties, I am missing them.

Hugs.

Lin