Cleaning House

      When I started this blog years ago I had many followers because we were doing a major reconstruction of this old house, and folks from all over enjoyed following the process from start to finish.  We even had a person of importance contact us to photograph the house, unfortunately it beared no fruit in the end.  Boy, when I look at that post now, the house was decorated so differently, I guess I like to change it around now and again.   Stella of course was a much smaller scale project.

     During that time, I contemplated adding in “ads”, with the thought that if I were going to spend time devoted to this blog, I might as well make a little money doing it.  But then when I saw the actual ads on my page, I hated the look, the distraction, the noise. The creative side of me was revolted, and so I stripped it all down to bare blog again. Ah, much better.  If you come here now and then, you’ll notice the look of my blog changes frequently.  My creative restlessness is obvious – and it was one of the main reasons I considered moving over to wordpress.  After doing some research, I’ve come to the conclusion  it would just be too big of a pain in the a** to change it over, and I like the idea of FREE with blogger. I just hope Google doesn’t decide to ditch it all some day, now that would suck. 

    
     What attracts you to any given blog?  For me, getting the sense that the author of the blog is real in their expression of their experiences and what they are sharing is key.  I love learning about regions other than the one I live in, the sharing of ideas, recipes, political exasperations (because lately that’s all there is), gardening and health advice, family values, issues, trials and triumphs.  I like the friendships that inevitably form if you stick around long enough, and it’s a stress reliever in some ways – a creative outlet, a place to share.  My blog face has changed once again, all the “clutter” is at the bottom – blog roll, labels, search box, etc.    When you visit, I don’t want you to be assaulted by a bunch of stuff all at once.  I hope I finally achieved a soothing pallet for your viewing pleasure – if not in my words, at the very least in the visual.

      Because I am procrastinating once again as I glance over my shoulder at the dog who needs walking (actually it’s ME who needs walking) and   I hear the whisper of the laundry pile sitting on top of my bed with a soggy little dog sitting on top of that…  (yep it WAS a clean pile) …. let me share just a few more things with you today.

 Great recipe below  I’m going to make and bring down to the cottage this weekend for the family – because can we all say a collective Hallelujah to the approaching sunny 80 degree temps?  We’re actually going to drag the kayaks down to the waters edge and maybe even get in them for the first time this season….

Skinny Zucchini Casserole

 That’s the healthy part of this  weekend’s meal plan… and this is the other part…

Trisha Yearwoods banana Pudding   because Dang…..

 Now, off to walk that dog…..  Till soon, friends…. thanks for stopping by.

Summer neighborhood

     After barn chores and coop chores and a haircut for Frasier on the back deck, a wellness check at the vet in a nearby town for Frasier and Bailey,  and a major cleanup effort when I arrived home to find a shelf in the fridge had broken while the husband was -lookin-for-somethin-  and therefore  the glass jars of pickles, vinegar, relish, jam, syrup.. had shattered all over the floor leaving every bit of every thing in the vicinity  sticky and glass shardy and he-who-had-a-meeting  couldn’t do a proper job cleaning it up so just do it, K? … 
   After that…
…  I said Frasier?.. waddya say you and I go down to Stella and see what’s going on in our Summer ‘hood.  I need fresh air, don’t you? 
    He agreed whole heartedly so we hopped back in Emma (my Jeep)  and off we went. Do you name your cars?  When I moved to CT from NY my plate was Ema and a number.  I have kept that plate ever since  (30 years now) and therefore, the car I drive is Ema.  (pronounced Emma). 
Emma and Stella  amongst the Forsythia…  a sight for sore eyes. 
 As soon as we got there we met with a neighbor, a lovely older woman who has been summering at her cottage for over 60 years, since the age of 6.  I gave her a little tour of our progress and she was over the moon – as was I at the prospect of such a lovely person just up the hill, on the other side of  Father Jim’s place.   
    Once inside,  I took note of the cluttered sitting area in the cottage and moved all the stuff, because I hadn’t already done enough to my aching back so I knew I should push it just a little more for good measure.  I think it looks better now, more balanced, less cluttered.  If you’re wondering why I placed an off-white rug in a summer cottage space where there will indeed be sandy feet traffic regularly, I don’t have a reasonable answer. 
 Then I finished setting up my husbands sand jar collection… for many years when a friend would travel he would ask if they would bring back a bit of sand or rock, etc. from their destination.  We’ve done the same when we vacation.  The collection is quite exotic now, none of the exotic locations having come from our excursions.. with sands from Ireland, Bermuda, Australia, India, Greece, Cuba, Hawaii, the Hoover Dam, Bali, etc… and the collection sat in a big box in the basement for all this time.   I’m thinking I should have nicknamed Stella “The Sand Box”  now that she’s given the collection a home.  

       So after shuffling all that stuff around, I almost sat for a moment to enjoy the view out the window, when I caught a glimpse of my rear in a mirror… and remembered right quick why the walk was the most important goal of the day.   (*sigh) 
As we walked the lane there were daffodils everywhere…. 

At the rock jetty Frasier did a little wade-in….. which he quickly surmised was foolish given the frigid water and new haircut status.

Along with the daffodils were a lot of these in the woods… 
I believe these are Lesser Celandine… 
More daffs….
 and as we rounded the last bend heading back to the cottage,
we met another neighbor who lives there year round..
 another warm and welcoming person who’s gardens
are beautiful… 
Speaking of gardens…
this weekend we  top soiled, hayed and seeded the little lawn
and planted the road side border –
All shade loving plants as this side of the house
is full shade with just a little diffuse sun
Astilbe, Hosta, two hydrangea bushes, 
coral bells.
 I’m back home now,  contemplating dinner… 
reminding myself of that rear reflection in the mirror earlier today. 
The Struggle Is Real. 

Grab the Coffee and donuts

    First up – WordPress vs. Blogger –  any advice? What’s your experience?  As a creative person, I know Blogger is limited, but I’m used to it.  And Blogger is Free… that’s kinda nice. But did you know… Blogger is owned by Google.. and that means your content is owned by Google… and at any time whatsoever, they can just turn it off, be rid of  it, bye bye.  That means your blog and it’s contents. Gone.  *sigh… did not know that, kinda defeats the purpose of being a log for you, your friends and family over the long haul.

     Wordpress is more “technical”.. not as easy at first, needs some patience, of which I am in short supply, always..just my nature. And.. it’s not free. If I understand correctly, the most basic costs about $100. a year.  If that’s all I’d have to spend on it, it’s worth it to OWN your content and know it is not going to be erased by parent company. However, their security isn’t as high (google has much bigger security program) , bigger chance of hack with WordPress. Then there’s the tricky issue of transferring your blog to WordPress… not easy from what I have read.   Can any of you tell me your experience?  I think a few of my blog friends use WordPress. 

   *warning – If you didn’t know already, I  curse sometimes.  Blame it on my NY upbringing, except the rest of my family isn’t afflicted.  I know it’s not ladylike, but for me it fills the need, underscores the offense in the way I need to express it, a little satisfaction when talking about a less than satisfying situation, like a quick punch in the gut. Since I hate physical violence, the curse word does the job. 
   Next…how about B*ll O’Re*lly being fired from F@x!.. Ha!… Nothing turns me off more than an arrogant holier than thou a$$h*le, couldn’t have happened to a better guy –  don’t let the door hit ya! But let’s be honest, he’s being let go because of multiple sexual harassment issues –  and F@x didn’t fire him until sponsors started dropping like flies.  He also got a hefty 25 mil golden parachute… so they lose points there. It wasn’t their ethics that took him down.  No.. once again.. money.   I do feel at least the vernal pools at the edges of the swamp are beginning to drain.  There’s that. 
   Speaking of the swamp, how many flagrant outright lies, hypocricies, conflicts of interest,outright abuses of his priviledges and incompetencies is Agent Orange going to get away with before we collectively say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.  If you’re still proud of your new POTUS, I have to hand it to you, you’re able to overlook an awful lot for the sake of  the “agenda”… although.. does anyone really understand the Agenda?  If you do, please explain it to 45, because clearly, it’s lost on him.  Never in the history of EVER has there been a POTUS who flubbed, lied, mispoke, lied, abused his power, lied… and still had a base unwilling to acknowledge ANY of it.  So.. freak’n… strange, this acceptance or ignoring of the obvious ills.  SO strange.  It’s no longer about left vs. right.  Morals vs  none is more like it.  And his tweets?  Honestly…..  on some level 45 is mentally ill. No other explanation for it. 
    
    
    On a health note – Because I had some worrisome symptoms I went through a bunch of tests recently and thankfully all turned out well. Just minor annoyances of menopause , which I have apparently hit full steam ahead.  My advice here – get the health screenings regularly. Don’t skip them, they are important… especially as we age.   I turned 52 and my body said.. OK girl, time to throw some sh*t at you, just a reminder you’re no spring chicken.  
      Sleep is still  currently an issue for me – if I get five hours all in a row, it’s a good night.  My fibromyalgia reminds me on a daily basis that’s not enough sleep, so I am trying to find methods for getting more of it.  Currently my fibro doc has me on melatonin, and my OBGYN has put me on low dose of estradiol and progesterone.  In the long term these things aren’t great – they up your cancer risk. But to get me back on the right track they want me to try them short term.  They had me try a low dose of antidepressants as a sleep aid, didn’t work.  I already employ good sleep habits, I read before bed, I don’t eat shortly before turning in, no caffeine,  we go to bed at a decent time, always have been up before dawn but that’s not the issue.  I fall asleep without a problem, but staying asleep is another story…. have you had any of these struggles?  and what have you tried that actually works?   Things like Advil PM don’t have much effect, and you don’t really want to get into a pill taking habit either.   I can knock myself out with Benadryl, but I am a zombie the next day. 
       As for our current weight loss goals – the Mr. and I started Nutrisystem in January and he has lost 45 pounds – I kid you not.  The program works if you stick with it, strictly.  He looks and feels so much better.  So why didn’t I stay on it?  It’s full of prepackaged food, not all of it healthy – snacks are oreo type cookies, chocolate cupcakes, meals include pasta, rice, sodium, sodium.   Sounds unlikely, right?  It’s the portions that make the diet work.  I just really want to eat real, fresh, whole foods – so … I quit it.  I have not yet lost the 15 lbs I want to lose.  Now that I know I’m not dying and I can push myself with the exercise, I have started the weight loss goals again, let’s see where I get by summer.  One thing I did learn through nutrisystem is… it’s all about calorie intake – and .. PORTIONS.  
     Last but definitely not least… my boy, my baby, my youngest child, has turned 21. Oh, how time flies…. 
     The family spent Easter giving a large donation to the Tribe at Mohegan Sun – a delicious buffet lunch and then some obsessive lever pulling, button punching slot machine worship ensued.  I think half  the state of Connecticut was in attendance as well. 
     I love this boy beyond measure, he is kind, considerate, appreciative, inquisitive, and just as stubborn and thick headed as his mother….but thankfully he has not picked up my tendency toward profanity.   I’m also very grateful for this extended family of ours – we are so very lucky to live near each other, to be able to spend time together, to recognize the value of doing so.        –  It’s all good. 
     

Stella Revealed…

     Today was the day!  The plumber came and finished what needed doing in the bathroom and outdoor shower and I got to turn on the water and CLEAN THE FILTH!  And that means… I can now show you what we have accomplished this winter at our little star by the sea. 
Kitchen before…. 

Kitchen After…..

 The wall was blown out so it’s open to the living area and the fridge moved over to the other wall,  handles seen on the left below…

PS.. those are two awesome dishtowels hanging on the stove handle made by Hilary of Crazy as a Loom – have I told you lately how much I love my blogbuddies…

 Above the sink…

 … a little cow creamer, needed a cow somewhere to represent the herd that lives on the farm on the overall property here in a nearby field…

Gifts from dear friends…

We kept much of the old, including the wall sconces…

 A photo I took a few years ago in this very same cove –
I won a blue ribbon at the local fair, my first photography prize…
Little did I know we would soon own the little cottage about 60 yards from 
where I took that picture.. 
Underneath the photo is this fella in a boat with his dog and a bucket o’fish…
left by the previous owner. I couldn’t throw him away…

 and underneath the fisherman and his dog and bucket o’fish
is the kitchen island, with my beloved Western Union Operator Chairs…
Guess what… we took them to our welder friend
who discovered they are indeed adjustable, 
all we needed to do was twirl the seat until desired height.
Makes sense, considering Operators were all shapes and sizes. 
Why didn’t we think of that….. 😕

 The little bathroom is to the left of the kitchen sink.

Before…

After…
We kept the old window paned door to the bathroom, love the handles! Need to put privacy film on the panes though… 

 Towels in basket, no room for racks.. 

 Tiny sink, shower to the right… Medicine cabinet can be seen behind me in mirror.

The back (or front, depending on how you see it) deck before…

 After…

The dining table in the cottage – left by previous owner and refinished by us, well really a friend who does that kind of thing…

New light fixture too, and you’ll notice how everything is SHINEY!   I walked into the cottage one day and wished I had brought my dang glasses. The Mr. laughed and said.. well, I wanted it to look like one of those antique boats in here, the high gloss wooden variety!   He got his wish….

    The living room –  We had to  throw out all that had been left, the meece made their nests within the cushions… and some of the cushion “stuff” had been dragged up to the rafters at eye level for good measure, too.  Our “new” furniture in the cottage is hodge podge, some we had here at This Old House, some we bought while junk hunting, just a few things like mattresses, refrigerator, stove are new because… meese.  That is absolutely a word, sounds more tolerable, just sayin.

The view out those windows is just spectacular, my camera flashed it out unfortunately…

 Remember Edith’s Chair?  And Indeed.. the TV is too big for the cottage, but BOYZ will be BOYZ.  Games watched must be GAME SIZE, don’t ya know.

Bedrooms.. before…  frames left by previous owner, mattresses thrown out because meese. Many many meese.  The frame was also rickety.. had to fortify it with many many nails and the Mr wanted to throw the whole thing out but I saw the lovely bones of it and just couldn’t part with it.  Many Many arguments insued but nevertheless….. she persisted…and…

 Good save, wouldn’t you agree?

 The big piece we scored at a consignment shop a few weeks ago will serve as the pantry above and linen storage in big deep drawers below.  Remember my Once Upon a Tide Whale?.. seen below above gas woodstove…. and a sign above pantry piece  sent as a cottage-warming gift by dear friend, Sally.

 Second bedroom…  Before…

 After…

 Not bad, huh? I think we made good use of 700 sq ft of cottage space.

 Outside, the forsythia is blooming – such a cheery surprise as I pulled up this morning…

 I went back to Job Lot – the place that wouldn’t sell me just one of their old worn out boxes for my baby chicks… and got a few beautifully glazed pots for $18 and $8.  These are a good size, hard to tell in the picture, great deal!  Makes up for the box snub.

 My newly planted perennials are very happy…

 As is the Rosa Rugosa that the BOYZ stuck in the ground for me… see my dilemna?  Not only were there THORNS… many many of them, but a Cliff walk too…

    See.. I wasn’t kidding.. those four thorny bushes are just under the forsythia at the end of the cedar fence.  They are very happy there too, even among the salt spray and wind… they don’t call them hearty invasive plants for nothing.

 Henry is a large turtle who came with the place – 
Turtles are good Karma, 
 Some believe they represent good spirit over evil…
I’ll take it. 

Fresh Hell

      This new administration is like a bad accident… you try to look away but it’s so horrifying you just can’t, despite knowing the looking is going to horrify you even more.  Some things can’t be unseen.  So many things we could chat about today but how about those ignorant remarks by Spicey about H*tler and the H*locaust!!? WTF….  these are things we all learned in fifth grade, dude!
“You know, you had someone as despicable as H*tler who didn’t even sink to using chemical weapons….. “

  ….and it gets worse… he referred to the concentration camps as…. H*olocaust Centers. 
  ….during Passover….  
     Someone escort that man over to the H*olocaust Museum a few blocks away from his office, and maybe give him a copy of the Diary of Anne Frank and Schindlers list for his nightstand.  He could watch the movie to get the short story if reading is too difficult a task. 
          My God, could he be any more out of touch with reality.  That sentence can’t even end with a question mark because we all know the answer.  I’m surprised he has not been fired yet – so incompetent – doesn’t have the temperament or the intelligence or the class or the EMPATHY apparently.. to hold that position. 
    OH, please, Melissa McCarthy, come back as Spicey for just one more skit.  This is too much to handle without you. I need a good laugh.  We all need the underscore for what that man really is… a joke. 
     Meanwhile.. over in N. Korea, Russia, China, Syria, the Tr*mp golf course at Mar-A-L*go…..

If you really want to get crazy – read the transcript of the Orange Scream’s  interview with Fox HERE…    

*sigh………………………………………….

Seaside Gardening

  Today was glorious… reached the 60’s!  I got the itch to stick my hands in the soil and where better to do it than Stella.  First stop was my favorite local garden center – where I proceeded to spend a ridiculous amount of money on perennials, all of which I can assure you I absolutely needed.  I have not quite assured the husband of this, but he hasn’t had dinner yet, it’s still early. 
   What did I get?  I had to keep in mind these perennials needed to be zone 6 hardy, salt tolerant,  some had to like full sun, some had to like shade, some had to like a mix of both.  I got four Rosa Rugosa in white, for the cliff on the side of our seawall that once  had happy scrubbery  that used to live under an ugly overhanging deck we ripped out.  There’s a big dirt pocket there now and Rosa Rugosa are hardy “beach rose” variety – complete with some NASTY THORN issues – WOW.  I decided right quick I was not going to attempt to plant those prickly bastards, no… on THIS subject I am a delicate wall flower and the planting of the prickers will be left to THE BOYZ. 
  
  I also got Canadian blue hosta  because right now I really like Canada.. a lot!… not only do they appear to be more civil and kind than us, I have a big crush on their Prime Minister.  The hosta is for the side of the house(shade) –  and there’s Alium giganteum, American cranberry and  Blue Fortune Anise Hyssop – (what a mouthful but a simple plant, really)….   Those items are for the full sun  Fire Pit Garden.    Coral bells in two varieties were planted along the side of the yard that has what looks like a  575 year old split rail fence shared with Father Jim.  I was very careful while planting not to sneeze in the fence’s vicinity for fear that it would topple.  We want to start out on the right foot with the Father. 

 We planted these shrubs in the fall to hide  protect! the guestimated 575 year old fence.  The Coral bells, if happy there, should fill out that bed nicely. 

 Once the planting was done, Frasier and I sat down at waters edge and just breathed it all in. 
  Meanwhile… back at the ranch, the Mr. has been planting Onions.  575 of them. I kid you not. 

Here and There

      Just so ya know – I typed a whole lot of hateful spew here and then deleted it all.  Who needs confirmation of his royal HighnASS’s offenses dujour?  It’s getting so I’m afraid to turn on the TV or click on the CNN icon or open my FB page or read my E-MAIL for crying out loud – every single morning I wake up and wonder – what will the offense be today?   I’m trying like hell to just ignore it, and yet that feels irresponsible too.  
      What do you do to divert your attention from things-that-are-driving-you-batshit? Me? I’m taking care of me just a little bit better than I did all winter. (10 extra pounds to prove it… which means I have that damned 20 to lose that I was trying to lose last year.  Yeah. That.)   Spring has arrived according to the calendar, and in the last few days the temps have begun to rise… as have the crocus!
 The dogs and I have been out walking the fields again… 
The skies have been so blue…. 
 The  horses aren’t quite used to the Spring schedule yet.. This is Max’s  – hey, aren’t you supposed to be giving us grain right about now? – look…   As the days grow longer, they stay out in pasture longer and aren’t given grain till bedtime, meaning when darkness falls and they’re closed in for the night. 
  This morning I took a load of bedding and curtains down to the cottage and oh, if I could send you  the joy of salty sea air as warm sunshine hits your face as I experienced it today.. I would, my friends, I would. 
 While soaking it all in, I spied with my little eye…. 
Can you see it?….. 
… a piece of cobalt blue sea glass – a rare treasure around theses parts.   Now, if it weren’t such a hard-to-find color, I’d toss it back into the sea for a little more seasoning – but it’s edges are soft and it does have enough scruff to make it a keeper because what are the odds I’d find it again?  
    When I saw that flicker of blue… that little glass treasure, I felt the Universe was sending me a message ….   And that reminded me of something else… 
    Why I let this get away from me still surprises me.  There was a moment  years ago now.. when I was sitting outside a hospital on a retaining wall, taking a break from my vigil at my daughters bedside.  I was looking up at a window on the 4th floor where all I could see were balloons…. the ones suspended above my daughters bed.  I was saying to myself….. How are we here, how did this happen.. look at all these people around me, just going about their day… buying food , God, I can’t even eat…. and they’re LAUGHING… laughing…. while my daughter lies up there with her life hanging in the balance.  How do I ever live my life…..    And just as important…. IF I ever do get to life my life again, and my daughter is a part of it… please don’t let me forget how precious life is, how grateful I need to be, each and every day, for even the little things. 
    A funny thing happened on our way to “recovery”.  My daughter, through her own trials, found comfort and wisdom in inspirational quotes.  Still does. ..and it’s these inspirational quotes that I turn to when I need a reminder.  I’ll share them here with you – 
     

  
 Till soon, friends – 


       

Till the Cows Come Home…

  We’ve been back and forth to Stella many times this week – things are really shaping up down by the water.  I should be just about done with the furniture placement and decor by Friday and will give you a tour then.  Today we will go buy a  used vacuum cleaner at the Oreck dealer because currently, her floors are covered in grit. 
    Last weekend we met with one of the owners of the entire seaside community where Stella sits and he gave us a tour of his cattle farm.   His family has farmed this property since the 1600’s if you can believe it – amazing story.  The fact that it is all on the water (300 plus acres) is even more amazing.  People like my family are truly blessed to have a little spot to call our own on their property- the fact that through the generations they have decided to preserve the farm as much as possible instead of cashing in on the huge property value is a miracle in itself. 
   So – I am a bit of hypocrite when it comes to my love of animals.  While I am horrified at the practice of slaughtering them,  I am not a vegan.  Honestly I don’t feel great if I try to eat NO MEAT –  and I have tried.  I do believe in and try to practice buying meats from sources that hopefully raise their meat birds and cattle and pigs humanely.    This farm is one of those….. 
   As we drove around the fields on the farmers gator, what I noticed  first is that the cows love this man.  They don’t fear him, they know he is kind to them and he is their source of  food.  He emits a certain call and they come running – 
  In the photo below, you can see their proximity to the cove…  Stella is just around the bend. 
 These cows are born here, and are raised in a beautiful, clean, healthy environment with shelter if they chose it.. for two years.  I have mixed feelings about all that… looking into their soft warm friendly eyes, I hate the fact that they will be in a freezer by the time they turn three.  They couldn’t ask for a better way of life for those two-three years, though.  I wish this were true for all “food” animals but sadly, it’s not. 
 Here’s a picture of the same cows in summer pasture… 
 It’s a beautiful thing. 
 Meanwhile.. back at the ranch here….   I’ve been begging the Mr. to let me adopt two “veal calfs” for years now.  Those poor babies are taken from their mother at a day old, never to know life as a cow – they are slaughtered immediately for their tender flesh.  UGH.  I don’t eat veal, I do draw the line at supporting that practice.   Two of my friends have gone to the local auction house and adopted two calfs that were slated for slaughter… 
Meet Stanley Livingston…
 He has no idea how lucky he is… 
And so far… the Mr.  is not moooooooooooved by my begging. 
*sigh.   Nevertheless….. 

Cups in the Cupboard * Taking your ball home


     Since there is not heat at the cottage other than a propane stove I don’t know how to use yet,  I spent yesterday inches from hypothermia as I wiped down cupboard interiors, draws, furniture, etc and unpacked the boxes I brought with me.  Lysol wipes and Pledge wipes work wonders when there is also no running water. The real cleaning of things like the bathroom and the kitchen sink and mopping of the floors will happen around April 15th when the water is turned on for the season.  I also wore slip on loafers with no socks, dumb.   T’is true we have indeed entered SPRING according to the calendar… however Spring has not entered our actual atmosphere yet.  I did just open the mudroom door to let the dogs out and I smell a hint of it in the air… 

    So we got a lot done at the cottage this week and today we go furniture shopping for a few more pieces to make it all work.  We’ve got dishes in the cupboard, pots in the cabinet, cleaning supplies in the cleaning supply closet, hangers in the one clothes closet only we still need a poll to hang then on.  Somehow we forgot that little detail.  The other detail we somehow missed is … those awesome stools I got at the Trove?.. the Western Union Operator stools from many moons ago?… they’re too short for the bar area my Mr. built.  Actually, MOST bar stools will be too short for the breakfast bar area the Mr. built.  There’s that.  

   Regardless, I am giddy.  She is perfect.  Just the right little space with much of her old charm retained for my family and I to enjoy hopefully for generations to come.   I’ll give you a sneak peek… with a full tour once she is complete. 





  Meanwhile, in other news… 

     I believe the Affordable Care Act is flawed and needs revision. My family is one of those whose premiums went up $400 per month at the beginning and went up again last year. The ACA .. or Obamacare- was not intended to punish. It was intended to give all Americans healthcare- we are the only major country left who does not have this. It wasn’t a perfect plan, it needs fixing. 
     Republicans had seven years to come up with an alternative plan. Even DT said some parts of the ACA were necessary and he wanted them kept in. Even DT said our rates were going to go down. Sadly, Republicans couldn’t get their sh*t together to get their new bill passed because it was more flawed than the current ACA – those who would have paid more or lost coverage completely were anyone 50 and older and the middle class, the sick and poor. 
     What’s tragic is that DT pointed fingers once again where the blame did not lie. This was not a Democratic failure, it was a Republican failure. Even Paul Ryan admitted that in his speech. They didn’t need Dem votes to get their bill passed- it was their own party that couldn’t agree. So what does a President do in this situation? Logic would tell you he’d vow to work on the current issues regardless, because many of his people are suffering through those issues….. instead of saying- Good, let it explode, I’m taking my ball home.
      That’s not what a leader does. A Leader digs in and looks for solutions that will work. That’s the Art of the Presidential Deal.




Treasures…

   I’m getting fed up with being fed up, I’m anxious over all the anxiety,  I’m mad as hell about all the madness that has descended in this ill wind that currently blows through the white house and our government at large.  The damned fibromyalgia is flaring and I’m getting tired of seeing my own hot air spewed all over my social media pages. 
   So today.. even thought there are at least five new obnoxious revelations by the Orange Scream and his cohorts that I could highlight here… aren’t there daily??… Today…  I will be the light.

A local pub is collecting sneakers, bras, socks, duffel bags for the homeless of New Haven. I decided to send a shout out to my friends on FB to start a collection to help her and I am so happy to see the outpouring of caring people who are donating those items.  Already within half a day’s posting, I’ve got socks, shoes, duffle bags, reading glasses and hair brushes here at the farm waiting to be disbursed.  A good friend is sending 18 pairs of socks through Amazon to my house along with two duffle bags – I haven’t seen her since HS!  Amazing.  WE the People are what makes America great. I needed to see it again and here it is, being dropped off at my side door. 

Here’s a funny for you – the computer guy is here right now putting in a new router. Apparently ours was a dinosaur and the new one will give us internet at warp speed.  The key though.. was to remember the old password.   *sigh.   And come up with a new one.  *sigh again.  Why must passwords be such a pain in the ass. 
Ah, but we’re not complaining today, are we… 
   My 52nd birthday was spent in my favorite way – among my family,  the kids and their partners and the moms, enjoying each others company. We went to a noisy italian restaurant that serves huge portions of delish, you always go home with a meal for tomorrow when you visit the Log Cabin.   I was even able to keep up with most of the conversation despite my defective hearing.  The sangria was the bomb!  While I’m not much of a drinker, put a glass of a good red wine Sangria, a Mojito, a Margarita with salt or my mom’s version of a gin and tonic with a splash of lime in front of me and I’m good to go. Just one glass is all the resfreshment I need and the alcoholic version only happens a few times a month.   Cheap date, I am.

  While I don’t need gifts and prefer to be the giver, a few of my blog buddies who have been reading here for years surprised me with a few treasures.  I sure wish they hadn’t, but I am so grateful for their thoughtfulness and the friendships we have forged through this little blog.  You know who you are.. thank you dear friends. 
  This shall be placed prominently on one of Stella’s walls… 

.. and these are part of a line I have not been familiar with until now… 
I am so looking forward to trying these two culinary delights out…and from what I understand, the maker has a fantastic show on pbs – you may have already heard of her – Vivian Howard – 

http://www.vivianhoward.com/

 Ever since I read The Prince of Tides many moons ago I have thought a part of me was meant to live down south somewhere…  but time and experience and a few summer visits have taught me that the heat and humidity aren’t my best friend.  However, Vivian Howard’s South is just lovely. Check her out.

   This book arrived in the mail this afternoon – thank you H!  Tonight’s new read!

 As for Stella – oooh, we’re getting close to move in time!  The floors are finished and just a little tacky to the touch. So we’ll wait until Friday and then.. AND THEN.. friends… we get to move  “stuff”.. in.  You know I’ll share it with you as we go.  I’m nearly giddy.

 I found a couch yesterday that was within our comfortable price range.. it’s actually a love seat.  While I had a whole ‘nother look in mind,  the look and the price didn’t match the budget.   The love seat size is better suited to Stella’s small size and the color is a slate blue/grey – should go OK with the rest of the place.  Not taking the pillows – have never been a geometric design fan.  The couch was found at the same place we got a few other pieces for Stella – Consign & Design in Branford.  In the couch picture you can see a real gem in the background – unfortunately not for sale.

 When the owner of the consignment shop rented this space – the desk you see way in the background there was in a back room covered by a tarp.  The previous owner said – Oh, you can have that, we have no use for it.

  “IT”… is an original sign-in desk from Ellis Island.  THE Ellis Island.  Can you imagine all the hands that rested and signed upon that desk…. amazing… perhaps even some of my or your relatives. Hard to tell in this picture, but the desk is huge. the books on the desk are about chest high, to give you an idea.

                      What I would pay for this desk… however, some things are simply – not for sale.