Confessions of a Grandma

I hope that I am just tired and somewhat stressed over the whole selling/moving thing.  I am wearing myself out with going downstairs to get something, having to go back upstairs to remember what it was I wanted, going down again to get whatever it was, and then going back up to use it. I am running out of patience with my lack of focus.  I was glad to come across this information: Keeping Your Memory Sharp People with some forgetfulness can use a variety of techniques that may help them stay healthy and maintain their memory and mental skills. Here are some tips: Plan tasks, make “to do” lists, and use memory aids like notes and calendars. Some people find they remember things better if they mentally connect them to other meaningful things, such as a familiar name, song, book, or TV show. Develop interests or hobbies and stay involved in activities that can help both the mind and body. Engage in physical activity and exercise. Several studies have associated exer...

This was the weekend of the annual Harvest Festival in town--also the Burlington Book Fair.  The Harvest Festival is usually a big draw for tourists and usually the fall color is doing its best to give us picture postcards of small town New England. This year the weather has been much warmer for longer than usual.  They are saying that has delayed the fall leaf turning. Not much in the way of real fall color here... but there is a clear blue sky! I baked a pie, but it was a blueberry pie, not an apple pie, as is my usual autumn ritual to mark the passing of the seasons. In keeping with the failing of fall theme, this was a very soupy pie although it tastes like blueberries. I was undaunted and tried a creative recipe for Saturday night dinner--a pizza crust made with cauliflower, egg, and parmesan cheese.  It wasn't exactly pizza, but it was not bad.  My son did say that had I put pepperoni and sausage on top, no one would know the crust was ca...

Have I mentioned that I will be moving?  The closing on my house will be October 30 in the morning and then the closing on the condo I am buying will be that afternoon.  I am not exactly sure how the moving piece is gonna work out but I know that I have to say good-bye to loads of stuff. Here I am saying goodbye to my craft room. I should probably write an article about downsizing when I am through with this cause I am pretty sure I am going to be learning it the hard way.

I have been faced with so many decisions lately. This morning it was shall I have French toast or a waffle for Sunday morning breakfast? I ended up making my French toast in the waffle maker and that's how I will make it from now on.

I packed up "hazardous waste" for the collection taking place this weekend.  It's a free service of our waste management district! You might have thought I was a construction worker.  Paint cans, used oil, and all kinds of gunky stuff that Mike used out in the garage filled the back end of my car.  (Keep in mind I drive a Prius though.) Then I filled it again for the  regular recycle and ReUse room, plus two bags of trash. The second trip this week! I asked my next door neighbor to come over on Thursday.  He loaded up all the kindling wood and took it away.  Well, I helped him.  They are both in their 80's and heat with wood, a lot of which he still cuts himself. My house has two garden sheds, and the garage alone is literally the same square footage as the condo I am moving into, with a small, one car garage.  It will be quite the exercise in downsizing! One of the prospective buyers that looked at the house wanted to know about whether o...

T HE  fog comes   on little cat feet.      It sits looking   over harbor and city   on silent haunches          5 and then moves on.   Carl Sandburg                                             No harbor or city here, so in this case the fog hovers over the meadow in early morning.  How else would we know it is September?  

I was invited for my friend's get away weekend in the Thousand Islands in the St. Lawrence Seaway.  We stayed on a privately owned island for four days.  It might as well have been a weekend in heaven.  There were two couples and myself.  Plenty of room! Gorgeous when the sun was shining, but even during the rainy day it was cozy.  We played games and watched a movie.  We visited both Boldt and Singer Castles. We kayaked and used the paddle boat around the island. We had time on the boat and my friend got to water ski--her favorite. The fresh air made sleeping a treat, too.  And there was plenty of opportunity for ice cream.  Even retired people need a vacation sometimes!  Especially retired people who are selling a house and moving. Thank you wonderful friends!