A quiet day and it rained nonstop so apart from a short walk on the moors and hoovering the downstairs rooms, I have relaxed, read and written some emails. Betty is still suffering with her tummy upset so I did some research and think it was my fault because I changed her food to a lighter senior dog kibble that might be too rich. Since adopting her she has always eaten a special bland weight loss brand and in retrospect can see her system couldn’t cope with the change. She is now back on the original so I hope to see big improvements.

Lin, every now and then I take a look at Hallmark movies on YouTube but sometimes cringe at both the storyline and acting. Great for a break away from bad news days though!

I’m sorry for your loss Sandy. Another busy week ahead!

Stay safe and warm.
Jackie 🥰

Hello, Tuesday already. I didn’t get around to posting yesterday. I was working indoors and thought my handyman would shovel the snow but later in the afternoon, it was evident he wasn’t going to show up. So I got the trash ready to take out and then scooped the driveway and the sidewalks. When I came in, I made a bit of something to eat and just ran out of steam. Thought I might take a quick nap but alas, I never got back any energy at all.

So good morning, I have errands to do today. Waiting a bit hoping for a little warm up. We do have some sunshine today. But really, it feels like winter.

Hope everyone is okay.

Lin 🙋🏼‍♀️
❤️❤️

I seem to have missed 2 days posting! Not sure how. Yesterday was cold but sunny so a few jobs were achieved outside. I’ve ordered fuel for the stoves to arrive Thursday and needed to tidy the log store to make room. Someone has cut down a fir tree that I had planted by the side of the entrance track when I first moved here. It had been a potted tree used as a decoration the last Christmas spent with my mother and had grown from 2’ to about 20’, so quite a feature that did make me smile. It has been taken away so I’m guessing someone wants firewood although it will take a couple of years to become seasoned!
Today has been busy. I had a pedicure in town, then did some shopping for fresh vegetables and fruit for David. He is beginning to feel and certainly look better and after a cup of tea I showed him how to carry out exercises he needs to do before then heading home. Apart from my own shopping trip tomorrow it should be quiet. Betty is still not eating much but seemed more cheerful and interested when we walked round the village this morning, so little steps. Sandy, I will buy chicken for her tomorrow and see if that helps her.

Lin, that tea set with the crow design was interesting but a little dark. I sensed witchery afoot! I’m sorry you had to clear snow. I too ran out of steam when I got home today and nearly nodded off into my mug of tea!

Late again and I must get to bed.
Take care
Jackie 🥰

Happy Thursday. My morning was spent driving to and from my dentist in Plymouth to finally repair a tooth that had lost a piece of enamel nearly a year ago! Our NHS health care is no better in spite of politicians promises but I’m lucky because I do at least have a dentist. Before I went I took George for a short walk but left Betty at home because she had already done what she needed in the garden and wasn’t keen to go. She is enjoying her chicken and rice meals and today I added a teaspoon of natural yogurt to hopefully help her gut. David phoned this evening to ask me to buy some bags of wild bird feed from the farm supply store so I might head in that direction tomorrow. He has finally got a small amount of daily help and says the carer is very nice but it seems the list of what assistance he isn’t allowed to carry out is longer than the one stating what he can do!
It’s almost midnight and I’ve just been outside with the dogs and noticed the sky is clear and covered in bright sparkling stars. A bit breezy and cold though! Another big storm coming in my direction Saturday night so I’ll try to make the most of a dry day tomorrow.

Off to bed!😴
Jackie

Friday afternoon already. How is everyone?

Jackie, are you in a red or yellow zone for the wind with the upcoming storm. I saw a couple of little maps but few, if any, cities were labeled. I hope you have all the supplies you need in case of a power outage. Do take care. How is your repaired tooth? Hope it is feeling fine. The last time I got a crown it had rough spots and the next time I went to the dentist, 6 months later, he did some more shaping on it which helped a lot.

Sandy, I have forgotten what you are doing this weekend. We have a Christmas market this weekend and several communities are having tree lighting ceremonies. Luckily it is warmer now so folks shouldn’t freeze.

I am going to try to get some of my cards in their envelopes, and ready to mail. I don’t feel like writing notes though. Maybe the cards will just have a signature this year.

Be safe everyone. Diane, are you and all of your family okay? We heard that the earthquake didn’t cause massive structural damage which is good.

See you guys soon?

Lin 🙋🏼‍♀️
❤️❤️

Nearly midnight and still the wind howls! We did go into the red warning zone for a while so stayed in all day. Little Misty survived the night and did spend a short time in the run but they all found the noise of the wind scary so went back inside. I’ve changed the batteries on the door opener but when I checked at dusk it still hadn’t shut so I’ve covered the entrance again so they feel safe. My lights have occasionally flickered but no power cut although I saw on the local news a few trees are down.
I've just stood in the doorway out to the garden while George and Betty popped out and that strong wind has now swung round to the north and feels freezing but hopefully no snow!

A gorgeous teapot Lin. Definitely one of my favourites!

Off to bed. Keep safe.
Jackie 🥰

Good afternoon. We have had a sunny and relatively warm day. I think our lovely reprieve is about over. T was very nice to have it though. I got up nice and early this morning and drove down to the post office and went inside to mail all of my cards. They have changed the labels on the mail slots. Both just say All Mail. I was pleased to dump all of my envelopes in one slot and leave. No problem with traffic, parking, or anything whatsoever. Very nice trip. I did my cardio classes, attended online church and have worked a bit on my December Art Journal.

Sandy, I am glad the Christmas light trip was fun. I have some friends who are finding Christmas tree lightings, parades and light displays all over our area and are going to something all the time. They like to be on the go. Oh, and do you get a photo with Santa Claus?

Jackie, I am glad you did not receive damage to your property. Glad you got more supplies for Betty and some for David. Yes Sheila is probably right, if she hasn’t been running her car on a very regular basis, she might have car starting problems. Maybe she needs to get a charger to hook up to her car, that is if she parks close enough to an electrical plug. Be careful, don’t want to damage your car. Her vision is not that good after surgery? That doesn’t sound good. Well, enjoy coffee tomorrow.

Hate flickering lights. Stay warm!

Lin 🙋🏼‍♀️
❤️❤️

Happy Monday. It was freezing cold walking on the moors this morning and still windy but we managed close to an hour before rushing to get back in my car! I then visited Sheila and she had managed to start her car so was about to drive us to the coffee shop when she admitted her vision still wasn’t great so I told her although I don’t tell people how to live their lives she would be in trouble with her insurer if she had an accident so I drove!! The coffee shop was cosy and we enjoyed chatting for an hour then back home I’ve been writing cards in front of the fire. I was about to phone David to suggest I drop off items of shopping I’ve been collecting tomorrow morning when he phoned me. His electric table top hob has broken down so I will drive to town, buy one then add it to the rest of his shopping.
The hen house door is still not working so I will have to take a proper look at it tomorrow. Always something.
Both pooches seem much better but I’m continuing the chicken diet for now and yes Sandy, little Misty is still with us although frail so I’m making sure she spends time out of the cold wind in their house. Another free meal! Good for you ladies to take advantage of such offers when you know you won’t get drawn into investing! 😁

Oops, battery dying so time to put my feet up. Hi Lin!
Take care.
Jackie 🥰

Good evening. I have been chatting with customer service at Amazon. I waited until after dark to receive a package from them and when I opened it I found the tops of the jars were not sealed and they jars leaked. So chatting, sending photos and then by the time the third representative joined in in the chat, they offered a refund. I took it!

Jackie, I am glad you made it safely down (and back out) of the lane to David’s house. Did you get him all set up with the new hob? Glad you got all of his supplies even though it is tedious you are doing him a great kindness. Have you tasted your batch of plum chutney? Sounds lovely. I am glad you have a spot to set up a kettle if you have a power outage.

Wow, James Norton looks quite intense. Still a nice looking guy.

Sandy, it is snowing quite heavily here right now. Is it snowing in your area? I don’t think it is supposed to last all night long but we will see. My long term care insurance is what we used to call nursing home coverage although this policy provides in home care at a reduced daily rate (lower daily limit than nursing home stays) if certain conditions are met. It has nothing to do with Medicare, or supplemental health insurance plans. I worked for an insurance company and they launched this type of policy while I was working there and employees got the first opportunity to sign up if you were old enough. I think I had to wait a year or two. Anyway, they didn’t have any data to help put together loss ratios for rating purposes and many other companies were trying this coverage as a new product. That’s why the rates have gone up and up over the years. Most companies bailed back out. It seemed like an excellent safety measure for someone without family.

Well, enough. Totally boring, hope that explained it.

Be safe everyone.

Lin 🙋🏼‍♀️
❤️❤️

Good evening. It is massively cold now. Eeeck! We have a streak of not too great days. Super cold? Snow, ice, bone numbing wind chill. It may get back to the 40s on Sunday afternoon. I have a couple of errands I would like to do tomorrow but wind chills in the negative teens doesn’t sound like running around weather.

Sandy, congrats to Marisa. EMT training right? Does she have a line on a job? There are openings around here with private ambulance companies but I hear it is pretty hard work. I have a friend who works the night shift at a local hospital. Enjoy your visiting time with son and DIL.

Jackie, hope you have had a good day. Have you spent any time at the Lingholm Kitchen and Walled Garden Portinscale (hope I spelled that properly). Angela visited there and posted some photos. It is beautiful and I would love to spend time roaming around that fabulous garden. You have so many lovely locations.

Well, need to hop along. Be safe everyone.

Lin 🙋🏼‍♀️
❤️❤️

It’s Thursday evening and I’m not feeling too great having developed a head cold. Perhaps finally relaxing yesterday gave it an opportunity to sneak up on me! It has been bleak and bitterly cold since the weekend too, the sort that seeps into your bones so that hasn’t helped. I had to take David to the GP practice today for his appointment to remove staples so another drive along the dreaded muddy track, but at least I now know where passing places are should I meet another vehicle. On the way into town one of David’s neighbours nearly drove into us because she was going too fast round a blind bend so that was a lucky escape! He is still nervous when walking but the nurse has told him everything looks healthy and now the staples are out he will improve quickly.
I was worried when walking George and Betty yesterday because they were both very slow and I began to fear the worst but they are a lot better today so I think the freezing air had affected them. We are getting older!! Misty is still alive but I had noticed her chums were bullying her off the food, a nasty side to hens when they operate a survival of the fittest campaign! Tonight she was still outside their house where a few bits of corn had been left by Storm and Bluebell when they went to bed, so I placed more in front of her, which she eat so tomorrow l will place her in the greenhouse where it is warmer, with food and water, and see if that helps her improve.
I still haven’t finished writing Christmas cards but should do so tomorrow 🤞🏻

Sandy, enjoy your son and his wife’s visit tomorrow. I hope you got home from Marisa’s graduation before bad weather arrived. Keep warm; it sounds awful.

Goodness Lin, I shouldn’t complain about our bleak weather when I read what you are getting! I did set up the new hob for David and was horrified at the condition of the old one. I wonder if a carer refused to use it or warned him it was dangerous. I brought it home to add to items to be taken to the tip, just in case he was tempted to keep it! I’ve only ever been to the Lakes a couple of times but missed the Lingholm Kitchen and gardens. There is so much to see in that area but was never there long enough to see everything. Do stay home if it’s dreadful outside.

Some useless snippets of information from this month’s Country Life magazine with an Advent Calendar on its front cover. Each day it offers up seasonal observations. Christmas cake used to be called the Twelfth cake because it wasn’t eaten until January 5th, (Twelfth night) and before Advent calendars, the days leading up to Christmas Day were marked with lit candles and started in 19th century Germany. Last one before I go to bed…. Santa’s red suit first appeared in the 1870’s. Before that he was depicted in green robes!

Time for a couple of Paracetamol and bed!
Jackie 🤧