Confessions of a Grandma

My grandson spent the weekend.  He had been so upset about my selling the house and downsizing.  I think he was maybe imagining one of those teeny, tiny houses that are built on a trailer bed.  He was amazed and pleased when he walked through my door on Thanksgiving and he said a number of times that he really liked my new home. Now he is upset that I will be going to Florida. It's not that I spoil him or anything like that, but we do have fun together. There was a tree lighting in downtown Burlington on Friday night.  We went to see the decorations on Saturday night. The tree is at the head of Church Street.  There is plenty of room underneath it for kids to run in a circle under the lights and that was an extremely popular activity.  It was a good way to stay warm because there was a definite chill in the air. The rest of the street was beginning to glow and light up as well.   It was dark within a few minutes of my taking these picture...

My daughter and grandson   curled up by the fire. Granddaughter looked up from her iPhone. Grandson restrains himself from diving face first into a special treat-- A chocolate cream pie that my friend Ginnie bought for him. On Friday, Dane and I took a walk down by the Lake Champlain waterfront.  He stopped to do a search for Champ, the lake monster. Champ was not in evidence, but we did spy some mallard ducks a little later.

A very Happy Thanksgiving!

  Here is a bit of history about this week's coming holiday-- Black Friday! Oh, no!  I mean Thanksgiving. Although if you watch the video, you will learn of a move by FDR to connect the day of thanks with an opportunity to do your Christmas shopping. Apologies about the ads, but hey, it is the holidays.  We are all used to them. I like the kids' interpretations of the first Thanksgiving here. Hope everyone has a happy day.

Oprah used to have this thing about "what I know for sure" (and maybe she still does?).  It made my uncomfortable.  I never feel that I know much of anything for sure. But certain things do seem clear to me. And having the news on most of the day for a few days has me convinced that those who think they know for sure are misguided and dangerous. And I am not just talking about the terrorists and the threat they pose to the world. I am not a Christian.  My personal religious symbol is a question mark.  Still, it is clear to me that this is my country too.  I was born and raised here, as were my parents.  Before that, not so much.  I guess there are those, some of whom are running for president of our country, who would say for sure I should pack my bag and leave. I am not strictly an atheist.  I don't believe in an all-powerful God, but I do believe in something, akin to a spirit of Godness in the universe.  I guess those who do know...

I took some snapshots of the outside of my new home. The front and the back: The end unit side: And as I enter the main drive: It was a gorgeous day last week when I took these, although the morning had been heavily frosty.  I took a walk in the new neighborhood and spotted this bit of color from yellow crab apples still clinging to the tree near the river:

It wants to be November today.  The winds is blowing and it is a wet, raw wind. The lights are on because it is dark already--4:20 p.m. as I write.  It is that drawing in time, get into warm pajamas as soon as it is dark time, eat hot soup time, wrap up in a soft throw and sip cocoa time, read a good book time. It's also get ready for the transition to Florida time. I gave myself a treat today.  My friend Ginnie of the broken pelvis wanted to get her nails done so I offered to drive her--and, hey, while I am waiting why not get my toenails done too. Beach ready!

I am pretty much settled in for the time being.  There are a few things I want to do, but they will wait until the spring.  First of all, I will be heading to Florida in mid December so I have to get Christmas done before then.  Second, my son will stay here for the winter and I will have to wait until he moves into his own place in the spring before I can tackle furnishing the spare bedroom and the living room. But for now, my space is the way I want it.  I think it kind of scream ME. My craft room work table My toys This space was a selling point--a bonus room that is only available on end units. And above this room is a storage room--something I very much needed even with all the downsizing. Well, I needed to store what eventually will go into the spare bedroom and a space to tuck away cleaning supplies. So, there is the first peek at my new place.

You have seen them, right?  Those ads about someone about to move and all his/her friends have excuses about why they cannot be around to help.  Then the person moving calls Comcast--"No Problem!"  Easy peasy.  Well, I gave Comcast advance warning that I would be moving and they did indeed say, "No Problem!  Just give us a call closer to the actual move date and you will have to be given a new phone number." So the day after I moved I went to Comcast.  The woman who helped me said it would be easiest to close the old account and take new, updated equipment on a new account.  She gave me a new phone number and a big bag of equipment and told me to return the old stuff at my convenience.  Oh, but in order to open the new account I needed to give a phone number.  Well my new number is not activated.  That's okay.  Give us your cell number.  And off I go.  My son and I hooked up the new modem and cable box. ...

 This picture was snapped in the grocery store on October 13.  Obviously, it is never too early to stock up on your holiday tissue. I had some of my daughters dolls that were not going to make yet another move with me and she was thrilled to be reunited with her first children, Nellie Maude and Raphael Milton.  Skateboarder Dane, being an 8 year old boy, was amused by the little cabbage patch butt. Speaking of which...I have a perfectly healthy colon and I got hours and hours of delicious sleep.  My son dropped me off at the hospital and my friend and now former neighbor picked me up.  The only thing I felt was the IV going in.  I have to say that a colonoscopy is a much faster cleanse that the Ayurvedic. A former middle school student was the receptionist on gastroenterology--so nice to see former students who are happily successful at doing something in the field where they had an early interest.

Wow, the moving thing is A LOT OF WORK.  I have not been good about getting around to reading blogs, let alone commenting.  I barely remember to eat and brush my teeth lately. The end is in sight though and I am feeling happy with the way the new place is shaping up.  I expect to be really settled by the weekend. I am taking an unpleasant break from unpacking now, though.  Colonoscopy tomorrow so I am otherwise occupied.  The fun just never stops. BTW, have you seen those commercials about how easy it is to move when you have Comcast.  Well, don't believe them for a second.  But that's another blog topic entirely.