Good evening. The last day of nice weather for right now and I did run a couple of errands. I did wait a while though as some type of traffic problem had produced a huge backup of cars and while I was not going to drive on that Interstate, a lot of cars exit off at a large intersection that I use and at the best of morning times getting merged in is difficult. It was busy when I got out there but manageable. I went back to Trader Joe’s and was quite excited to see old favorite products (and the prices were not terrible) and a number of pleasant people working this morning.

I did another load of laundry today and ran the clothes through 2 cycles of drying. That worked well but maybe next time I will try the extra spin cycle instead.

Yes of course, worked on Valentines again today but also read some library books. I have quite a nice stack of books to read. 😂

Jackie, your weather has been brutal. Internet service available? And I hope your power stays on. Hoping George is feeling well.

Sandy, and I hope you are having a good time with your friends!

I have about 8 cards to finish and then on to the next thing. I see the place where I donate cards is asking for “Thinking of You” cards. I can do that.

Be safe everyone. Hi Anne, Patsy, Jeri, Diane, Barbie and all our other Sneaker friends.

Lin🙋🏼‍♀️
❤️❤️

Hi LIN, when I bought my washing machine the salesman advised I used the 2 spin cycle rather than the 1 and this I’ve always done with no problems. Takes longer in the washing machine of course.

It’s an awful dark dull day today. I was up early because Jill needed the “bathroom” but Mark in his morning text said he and Mary Jo slept until 10:40 because it’s so dark. Even my groceries arrived a little later than usual. Its supposed to rain all day and evening and then turn to snow.

Apparently Toronto is the 7th worst city worldwide for cars on crowded roads. This I can well believe plus we seem to have the worst drivers in the world.but that’s my opinion.

Well off to make lunch.
Anne.

Hello. Much chillier today with a cold, cold wind! I am staying indoors as much as possible!

I did talk to the friend whose call I missed yesterday. I hadn’t spoken to her since the week before Christmas. I had a difficult time communicating with her as her hearing seems to have declined more. Darn. I tried.

Made vegetable soup this morning but only a small batch once again. Enough for lunch and that was it. There are enough vegetables and broth to make another little pot of soup sometime in the next several days.

And yes, back to making Valentines and I am engrossed in reading one of the library books.

Jeri, I am sorry your day is filled with unpleasant tasks. I am glad you have been outdoors for a walk! Nice….

Anne, thanks for letting me know the 2nd spin is recommended. I will definitely try it! Along with the wind, this morning we had a very light snow but nothing like what you are anticipating I am certain.

Sandy, I am glad you will be at your meeting today and wow, a good time last night with winning some $$! No one won the MegaMillions jackpot so Friday the 13th is the next drawing! 😄😄

Jackie, I was watching one of Kerry’s videos and he talked about a raffle that will be held soon with fabulous prizes. I forget the price of each ticket but people commenting online sounded excited about the prizes.

Patsy, how are you? Have I been missing your posts?

Diane, I hope you are still okay!

Be careful everyone.

Lin🙋🏼‍♀️
❤️❤️

Interesting spout on this teapot

Hello, yesterday’s post seems to have vanished! We had more power cuts, high winds and rain so I didn’t walk until about 2pm then found myself wading through streams and huge puddles. To cap it all, the farmer rocked up to feed his animals so we found ourselves in the middle of a steady stream of dozens of cattle and ponies moving towards the drop off point. George and Betty very sensibly moved to a sheltered corner to watch them go past before I decided to splash back to my car.
This morning I drove into town early to get some fresh groceries then took the pooches to a different section of moor where it’s higher but there is less sitting water. Another freezing wind blowing but although I noticed a beautiful rainbow as I arrived, the rain stayed away. Dear George managed to mess himself again and I’m racking my brain to figure out what could be upsetting him. Once home he stands patiently while I wash him then I check his paws and nails for knotty or overgrown problems. Of course Betty expects the same treatment even if she isn’t prone to such issues!
I’ve had a light snack of crisp bread, grapes and a slice of cheddar cheese so will now wash the windows inside and vacuum before lighting the fires. Another Arctic blast expected next week so I must order logs and coal, also contact an electrician to install a fan heater in the shower room because the current one is quite useless.

It’s that time of year for the doldrums but our group seems upbeat and keeping busy. As I weighed myself last Sunday I will check if I’ve lost anything tomorrow. I’m surprised I’ve managed to keep to healthy food although not having naughty goodies in the cupboards does help! A mushroom/vegetable stir fry this evening and I will stay away from noodles!

A strange looking teapot Lin; something wrong with its spout! I thought of you this morning when I saw Easter eggs already on display and wondered if you will be creating cards. I’ve no idea when it is but then our stores put everything out months in advance!

Jeri, walking makes me feel so much better too, even when there are days I initially look outside and sigh “Oh no!”

Patsy, I’m so pleased to read your family is rallying round to help. Even those small tasks can be a struggle.

Sandy, I imagine Babe finds any change difficult and the unknown can be scary. I remember my brother John was the same after a car accident when he was in his 30’s so we can all be too easily institutionalised, whatever our age. Continue to look after yourself and set time aside for some fun!

Anne, I see you’ve lost weight so well done you! Reading about your weather helps me feel I’m not alone! George threw himself off the end of my bed barking furiously about 2 am but I couldn’t hear anything outside. If someone was creeping about out there they would have departed rapidly in case the hound of the Baskervilles was on his way!

Dirty windows are staring at me!
Jackie 🥰

Brrrr Anne, you’ve made me pop upstairs to switch my electric blanket on just at the thought of your weather! Here, another gale is blowing down the chimney but it’s midnight and relatively mild so time to let George and Betty out for a last garden visit before we join Brady, already snoozing on my bed. 😸

Jackie 🥱😴

Another wet day here. I got a late start for this day. I had a horrible night. I take a mini-dose of statins. They are a misery. They cause painful muscle cramps especially in my hands. But I am up and on the job as we say. But I am behind already and for a Saturday, one of my favorite days!

Sandy: our best wishes to Babe for a speedy recovery. Our son in law was in desperate condition and the docs and hospital staff thought he wasn’t going to make it. But he slowly came around and they put him in rehab because there was no room anywhere else in Oregon. He was feeble but was able to come home and he is pretty good now. He still has cognitive issues from the fall that caused brain damage. The good news is that he made a dramatic recovery!

Lin: for me, I love making valentines. It makes me think of when I was a little girl. I sat at the kitchen table with scissors,, glue, paper doilies, construction paper and crayons. We sang songs to the music o the radio and created valentines. Good times!

Jackie: not to scare you but just a warning! Farmers and dairy people often put out poison especially in the lambing season. It is to poison coyotes or rats (foxes) etc. not sure if George could have gotten into something like that. A trip to the vet and a few tests should clear up any
possible issues. He is such a sweet little guy, we all love him.

Hello to all dearest sneakers….
Patsy ☘️😘

Yesterday flew by with lots of housework and WhatsApp messaging after I found a couple of envelopes containing photographs from over 40 years ago and just had to share. As friend Pat, 3rd from the left, commented, don’t we look young! It was someone’s birthday lunch.


There’s a chill in the air today but it’s certainly brighter so the morning walk was a longer one round the village with Betty in her new winter coat and George trotting along at a pace that made my thighs ache! We were all woken up in the night by hail crashing on the roof and it was still lying on the ground long after sunrise so my next job will be to muck out the hens to ensure their nights are cosy.

Thank you for suggestions about what George might have eaten. Thankfully he is not one to eat anything off the ground unless I inadvertently drop a dog treat. Betty is a different story! Although animals graze on the open moors where we generally walk, nothing poisonous is put down because Britain has strict laws against most chemicals being spread where it could run off into drinking water supplies. Bodmin moor has 2 large reservoirs that rely on local streams and rivers and I’m not saying it never happens but when it does heavy fines are handed out to farmers. I did buy a few different treats for Christmas and think there’s a pack amongst them that contains something he struggles to digest so it’s a process of elimination. Today was a good day!

There goes my plan to muck out the hen house… more hail crashing down! Perhaps I can clean out the garden room instead.

Sandy, can I assume Babe’s daughter isn’t wanting to stay with you. If so, go with the flow sweetheart!

Lin, afternoon tea with rock cakes…. How could you? 🫣

Happy Sunday. Stay safe and warm.
Jackie 🥰