HAPPY NEW WEEK and HAPPY NEW MONTH and HAPPY NEW MOON!
I hope everyone has a good December and holiday season. A new moon begins the month and another new moon will end the month (and the year)!
On Thanksgiving night, my region had a weak earthquake. People felt the shaking, but no damage was done. It wasn't a big deal, except that folks were talking about how distressed the dogs, cats, and wildlife were before, during, and after the quake. We have small quakes once in a while, and nobody knows why this particular quake disturbed the animals so much. The raccoons on my patch were goofy, running around on the roof, barking, and trying to get in the house. One woman said the ducks on her lake raised a loud ruckus. Lots of folks said their dogs behaved strangely. Many people had animal stories.
We had Arctic cold move in yesterday, and the raccoons have now begun their hibernation (torpor).
Love and hugs to everyone.
Hope I'm not flattering myself in thinking you can't live without hearing from me by reposting my blather from the last page of last week!
But first, thank you Diane. Interesting about how animals react to some events but not others. Hope you're staying warm in your little house.
Morning all: Way overdue in responding. OH ended up in the ER on Monday, having gone to Costco (having also forgotten that I told him I was going that afternoon!) and had an attack of the wobblies going around the huge store. I was at the gym, got a call from Costco, who'd called the meds but they waited for me to get there before the paramedic confirmed OH was off to the local hospital for checkup. Three hours later we're home. My prescription: Do PT exercises for heaven's sake!!!!
We had TxGiving on Wednesday which granddaughter did at our house. Was really sweet of her and very yummy. She's wonderful. Then daughter got sick yesterday. Better now but...
Meanwhile: Looks like Diane may be having bad weather in her area.
PatO; Hope you're able to get out in the car today...
AQ: Our Black Friday sales now seem to go on through Christmas. Much talk this year about "is this really a bargain?" Hope you got nice fridge. Ours is two days older than God and still working; darned awkward space arrangements but can't see replacing just because it's old, hard to organize, and doesn't match rest of kitchen. :-) (Have the same issue with OH now I think of it.) That critter the cop rescued must've been freaked out by all the surrounding shrieks. Bravo to Ms. 13!!
OG: Glad you got out for shopping without any hassle.
Rusty: Chatsworth looks fabulous. A very rich history indeed. Wonder where the money came from for the many changes/upgrades/etc over the centuries. Multiple and maybe some dubious sources?? Still, it's a gem. Would love to visit. Read a book about the Mitford sisters and their various shenanigans.
dibnlib: Well, your friend is too modest. We are all in awe. Im not sure I'd cope as well with what she's been through.
Heather: Hope you're over the annoyances pertaining to recent houseguest. :-)
That's me caught up on here - I hope.
Take care all.
DIANE – I am not ready for a new week!!! What happened to the last one? Did I miss a few days?
DIBNLIB – Your friend is wonderful and an inspiration to us all.
ANNETTE – So glad your OH is OK. Please don’t lecture him too much.
RUSTY – Now you have finished your garden, you are welcome to come and attack mine!
Yes I am so pleased with Miss13. She has matured this year at the “big” school. She is willing to try new skills. She is more aware of “things” – eg she announced her horror that “men used to own women”. It is not so long ago that women could not vote, a woman’s property became her husband’s on marriage, etc, etc. And they still do not get equal pay.
Tomorrow I am off to State Library where the twins are in a school choir singing beneath the χmas tree in the old library building.
Thank you Diane. Gosh an earthquake. It’s very interesting how the animals know isn’t it? Sensible raccoons tucking themselves up for the winter!
AQ - enjoy the twins’ concert. My 6 year old great niece is going to be Mary in the school nativity play. Unfortunately tickets are always limited so I doubt I will be able to go and see her. I have had a photo of her in her costume. She looks very cute with her 2 top front teeth missing!!! Annette - sorry to hear about your OH. Glad he was attended to quickly. Worrying for you though.
Thank you, DIANE . Racoons on the roof? Gosh.....
ANNETTE - should your OH be driving, given his medical issues? Sending hugs. I'm still mulling over some things that my visitor said /did.
DIBNLIB - I looked up the surgical procedure that Erica had. Absolutely amazing - and so is she.
LINDY - hope all is OK with you -
RUSTY - My garden is as ready for Winter as it ever will be, The last garden bin collection here was last Tuesday. There are still fallen leaves on the ground !
All is well here. My eldest and her OH are coming this afternoon. He will tackle the dodgy Wi-Fi signal at the back bit of the house.
I'm alright thank you, Heather. Was going to write at near midnight last night but remembered that Diane would be changing the page!
Thank you for starting us off, Diane. Hope the animals weren't spooked because they know there's more earth tremors to come....
Annette - Sorry about the scare with your OH. Worrying. Glad you had some nice family time over Thanksgiving.
Dibnlib - Your friend Erica is truly inspirational. She deserves all the luck in the world. I'm sure I'd be wailing over my bad luck at getting to this.
Rusty - More lovely outings. Thanks for the photos.
AQ - Enjoy your choral outing. I'd need my hankie if it was me!! How they're growing up. It seems so recently they were born.
OG - Pleased you managed to get out and about.
Heather - It can be a culture shock to hear a different point of view from someone from other parts of the world. Gets the little brain cells working!
It's December already, and I'm certainly not ready to start changing the date of the year this time - it still feels like 2023!!
I'm ready!!
Thank you for the many comments about Erica. I have to add that she has a lovely husband who is there for her through thick and thin.
SO, ‘tis December – didn’t we already have one of those a year ago?! I have sorted and labelled the Ch cards and written a few sentences in most of them – no letter this year – why should I when others don’t! Didn’t go to church today – too wet and cold and I have to get wet tomorrow going to the dentist, so not risking twice. As you can see, the whole thing has me quite “bah–humbug” this time – but I think we shall feel better after J’s procedure next Saturday. He’s very anxious about it, although he has had a colonoscopy before – and quite a few others in the family.
DIANE – thanks for our new week and the moon news. Animals are so good at picking up weather events like earthquakes etc. I was sitting in the lounge yesterday evening when I heard a huge bang outside. OH was in the shower and said he heard it, but he didn’t automatically run to investigate – I made him get dressed and have a look around outside. It had sounded like someone setting off fireworks under the wheelchair ramp, but he didn’t find anything untoward.
ANNETTE – I hope your OH is as well as can be - they do worry us, don’t they. Glad you all enjoyed GDaughter’s TxGiving at your house – she is good to you all - learned from you, I think.
AQ – weeks here seem to be going very slowly – just waiting for spring to arrive in the new year. Enjoy the school concert at the library – good to know they are all doing well.
HEATHER – I hope your S-i-L can fix the Wi-Fi so you get a good response right through the house. Our garden is not ready for winter – I think I shall have to get OH to book the gardener for more of the jobs – his prices are good, and I find it quite painful not having it all done – I grew up with my father keeping a good garden and I followed his rules after I grew up.
LINDA – loved the minimalist Ch Tree!
Heather: OH seems fine driving - for now. I was following him to one appointment in my car and he didn't seem to have any problems negotiating traffic, etc. It's his legs that give out (hence my entreaties for him to do the darn PT exercises) and Costco is a huge store - I think he was a bit ambitious in terms of visiting various departments. The memory seems affected when it comes to what's recently happened/been said. Don't spend too much time fretting over visitors remarks (I'm guessing uninvited advice.)
Lindybird: Love that tree!!
OG: I seem to remember you were feeling rathe bah humbug another year or two Poor J; not a pleasant procedure at all (they always had to put me out completely, but I gather that's not the case for everyone).
Meanwhile, got a call from UK niece today: BiL is in hospital with arrythmia - at least the initial diagnosis. He apparently fell in the kitchen late last evening; didn't want to cause a fuss so dragged himself into the lounge where - at 2:30 a.m., he finally called the paramedics and was carted off to hospital. My nephew had visited him during the day and claims his Dad seemed alright, in spite of apparently not having shaved or combed his hair for days and still wearing in his PJs and dressing gown which, knowing my BiL, is totally but totally out of character!!! A red flag if ever there was one. BiL told his son he hadn't taken his meds all week because he had an awful pain in his back and shoulder and couldn't lift his arm. Red flag number two So what did nephew do? Nothing. Went home to his family, his nice warm house and nice dinner. Texted his sister later saying his Dad was still in PJs but seemed okay. Shortly thereafter, BiL's neighbor called niece to say he was really worried about BiL who he said looked just terrible and was in awful pain. Niece was already planning to visit her Dad today but zoomed up the freeway (2-1/2 hour drive one way) at the crack of dawn and went straight to the hospital. Needless to say, the siblings' already strained relationship has deteriorated even further and can't say I'm at all pleased that my niece, who was so wonderful during my sister's last illness, is yet again coping with a sick and aging parent with zero support from her brother.
Hope you all stay healthy.....