Thanksgiving

Off to our son's house today for dinner! My pies are made, and I will make the maple glazed carrots, but that's all the cooking for me this year. Derek got green beans, pickles,  cider and cranberry sauce from my cellar,  and he and his daughters are doing the rest.  

Eat well, American friends! And to my friends elsewhere,  wishing you a very good day too.

Apple Butter Day

30°f, about -1°C this morning, mostly overcast all day but warming up to 61°f. A few very light sprinkles.

What a weekend! Lots of family, all kinds of busy, and all kinds of apple butter made.

We started Saturday getting everything ready. Son Derek, his daughter Ashley and son Jared came to help get everything set up, which basically meant getting the big copper and brass kettle and stand cleaned and ready, the firepit set up, more firewood cut, etc. Afterwards we were joined for dinner by our oldest son George and his son Clayton, along with Derek's daughter Hannah, her boyfriend Max and her son. When asked if I preferred to cook for everyone or go out, you can guess my answer! I knew I had plenty of cooking ahead Sunday, so off we went to the Yacht Club--no yacht there but they do have a boat with a skeleton crew.

We were quite a crew too. Those Saturday night ribs are not to be missed at the Yacht Club, and we sure did them justice.

Clockwise from lower left: George, Derek, Larry, Jared, me, Ashley, Clayton, Max, Hannah and Ryland.

I was up early Sunday to cook pancakes and bacon for whoever showed up. The guys got the fire going at 9:30am, and the kettle was on and cooking by 10.

Blogger put my photos out of the order I selected,  but what's new.  First is George stirring early in the day. We used some metal to make a "blow George", as Larry calls it, as the breeze was a little strong at first. This kept the fire contained and kept the heat in.

The day turned as nice as we could have asked. Granddaughter Beth, who arrived with son Aaron, his wife Jaime and his two other kids James and Aaron, is taking a turn with the stirrer here. The pot must be stirred constantly or it will scorch.

I was working hard too, can you tell? I actually spent most of the day in the kitchen, getting the jars ready with granddaughter Michaela and making a BIG pot of spaghetti, etc for dinner. But I slipped out from time to time.

This was later in the day, about 3:30 or so, as we began jarring up.

Jaime and Beth hard at it.

Clayton's job was to tighten the lids after the jars were filled. Derek is down in front, using a contraption he made to fill the jars. It does a great job, keeping the tops of the jars very clean.

Son Aaron kept up the stirring as the pot emptied, because even though we covered the fire it was still pretty hot and the pot could still scorch.

Derek taking a short break. He really is the boss of this whole operation.

Clayton takes a stir.

Clayton recently finished his 6yr tour with the Navy, and now works in data center security in Northern Virginia.

Afterwards the evening was perfect for firepit time, and later still inside by the fireplace time. Granddaughter Hannah and her two little ones, granddaughter Haley and her partner Desiree all arrived for dinner and firepit--and really, it wasn't planned that way to miss the work. Really! Actually Hannah had to pick up her daughter, and Haley was suffering with her very bad ankle, which will havebto have surgery in January. It's an old injury but is causing very real issues now.

From left, Desiree, Michaela, and Beth. Desiree is full-time National Guard, and Beth is on the Navy.

Michaela and her brother James. She is a senior in forensic biology at WVU, he is an apprentice electrician.

I guess I missed getting photos of some of our crew, as some came and others left throughout the weekend. They came from as far away as Annapolis, MD, Denver, Colorado, and Los Angeles for this annual event. What a joy to have so many of them here! 

We ended up with 64 pints of apple butter. Everyone got plenty to take home, and there is still quite a lot put up in the cellar.  Now everything is cleaned up and put away, until we do it all again next year.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Snowy Days

41°f this morning, wet, drippy morning after all-night showers.

We are finally getting precipation! Thursday was a snowy, blowy day, but no real accumulation.  Then Friday morning we woke up to this:

Our first, if short-lived, measurable snowfall. It was so pretty, but was gone by afternoon. According to folklore, the date of your first measurable snow is how many snowfalls you will have in that winter. So, 22? Seems doubtful these days in our area. That used to be possible, but we rarely get much snow now. However, the forecast for the next two weeks is for very cold weather, so who knows? Maybe there will be more snow! 

Since I retired, I look forward to snow. When I was driving 100+ miles a day to go to work, it wasn't quite as enjoyable.  The odd thing was that because I lived so far away, administration expected me to come in no matter the weather,  because after all, I chose to live where I live. But often I would be at work while those who lived 2 blocks away called in. 

The last few years of my job I was responsible, among many other things, for snow removal at all nine library locations in the county. If snowfall was 2 inches or less, the staff at each location were expected to clear walks and spread icemelt on the their parking areas. Oh my, the complaining! Our maintenance team took care of the main library, and for heavier snow we had a contract service---that often put us later in the day to clear than some of their bigger contracts. 

It was always a juggling act to figure out how to get the snow moved and the libraries access safe. I do not mind not having that responsibility any more. Now I can enjoy the snow, and cancel anything that calls for going out. Lovely.

The above 2 photos were taken from the van window, as we actually were out both Thursday and Friday. Thursday we went to Marietta, Ohio to pick up 2 new-to-us recliners. Ours are worn out, and these new ones are only 3 months old--the lady who had them found they took up too much room in her very tiny living room, and opted for a loveseat that had built-in recliners.

Marietta is such a pretty town, and I always look forward to going there. It is the oldest town west of the Ohio River and the oldest town in Ohio, with many historic buildings and several very good museums.  We used to have booths at the antique mall there until gas got too expensive,  and for 6 years I was a storyteller for the annual Inland Waterways Festival. Now our visits are usually for pleasure or to pick up things for our booths.

Some of the above are from the charming small town of Harmar, located just across the Muskingum River from Marietta. Harmar is undergoing a revival, which makes me happy.

Homeward bound,  the beautiful Ohio River always draws my attention.

Friday was therapy and grocery shopping day. Yuck. I had my evaluation and the therapist thought I was doing well and on track, but I still have that pinch in the side of my knee that prevents it from bending as much as it needs to. So Monday I will call the surgeon, again. This needs to be resolved.

Have a great weekend, friends!

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Wordless Wednesday

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

What. A. Mess.

48°f this morning at 5:30 am. Mostly clear, clouding up a little during the day. High around 60, nice.

Well, we tore into it yesterday and are still dealing with the repercussions today. I have been working on Christmas decorating,  and decided that the curtains in this room needed to be washed. Which made me notice how dirty the windows were. Which made me move out the couch to get to the windows better, which meant cleaning under the couch...and there are totes of Fall decor to be put away, half-unpacked totes of Christmas, a pile to take to the thrift. And on it goes.

While we had this mess going on, Larry decided to tackle something I have been asking for his help with for a while: cleaning out and organizing the big pantry cupboard. 

This cabinet is 7 feet tall, 4 feet wide, and 20 inches deep. It holds a LOT. And it was plumb full. So in the midst of the Christmas muddle, we emptied that monster, which took up every bit of available counter and table space and filled a very large tote too. As we worked, we tossed out of date stuff, and filled a bag eith good things for the local blessings box. I mean, who needs 6 bottles of barbecue sauce? Yet there they all were, lurking in the depths. 

I am happy to say that we finished the job today. I don't know if I am going to remember where we put what but at least all pasta and rice is in the same area, as is all the baking stuff, the herbs and so on. Oddly, even with all that we got rid of, we did not end up with any extra space. How did that happen? I have no idea. 

And the windows are washed, mostly. Larry still has to do the outside of the one in the top photo, as it is about 12 feet or more off the ground. The curtains are re-hung, the couch back in place, and I even got through another tote, which held most of my Christmas Tree Forest. Larry put up most of the outside lights too. So progress. 

And got out Larry's "major award" (which might be clear as mud for those in other countries,  but comes from a very funny and hugely popular movie here in the US, A Christmas Story.)

The only downer today was literally that--- I fell 

on the porch, tripping over the hose and cords of the pressure washer. Talk about terrified, trying desperately as I went down not to fall on that new knee! I somehow managed, and I am sorry to say I kinda blasted poor Larry for leaving the danged thing right in the walking path. I mean, yeah, he did leave it there, but I knew it was there and should have paid better attention. Needless to say, it was very quickly taken off the porch and put away. I wasn't hurt, and I did apologize. I swear I did.

So, it has been a long and very tiring day, but it was good to get so much accomplished. I forgot to mention that my physical therapy was at 7am today. What an ungodly hour to have to be in town. And of course I woke up at 5, just because.

I still can't sleep in the bed although I try every night. And last night around 11, just as I dropped off to deep sleep, the dogs found a possum and all heck broke loose outside. So we were up and out with lights, but the poor possum was beyond help and Larry had to dispatch him to a better place. The dogs, however, felt no remorse and indeed seemed quite proud of themselves. Honestly, we don't want possums around here because yes, they will kill chickens. So there is that.

Now, it is time to sit back with some hot chocolate and watch a movie. I think we earned it today.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Week in Review

32°f, 0°C this morning at 5:30am, mostly clear. Still no killing frost, I think,, as it warmed to 34° before the sun came up. Beautiful moon, just past full. A bit of pink in the sky.

I haven't posted in a few days because there just hasn't been much to say. Do you have times like that, when you just feel uninspired? 

That doesn't mean we haven't been busy, though. Monday we stocked our Ripley booth, Tuesday we went to my doctor appointment in Parkersburg, had lunch at a nice little Mom & Pop place called the Crystal Cafe, shopped at Aldi's and a thrift store. Wednesday we re-did  the display window at our Ravenswood booth and got the Christmas stuff stocked there and did some rearranging--not as well as I would have liked, but 3 hours of work and I was beat. 

Thursday Larry worked on a pressure washer we bought last summer at ReStore; it wouldn't run but just a few minutes. He changed the spark plug and cleaned the magneto, and now it runs like a top. While he did that I rested, then got a dozen grab bags ready for our Ripley booth. They are having a big open house this weekend, and the grab bags always sell well during these events. Larry took them in that evening. We sold 10 of them yesterday!

Then Friday we went to Spencer, because a store there had a great sale on bacon, 7.5 pounds of good bacon for $25.  

The store, called Cash Saver, had very good prices, similar to Aldi's,  so we will be shopping there more often, as it is only about 15 miles further from home than Kroger, which gets more and more expensive. Similar bacon would be almost $5 a pound there, and was off our shopping list. This pack will last us almost a year.

We aren't big bacon eaters, but it's nice every now and then, and is called for in many recipes.

Spencer has some neat old buildings,  like these two:

McIntosh Hardware is one of my favorite stores. It's old time,  with wood floors and bins full of hardware of every kind. And great, knowledgeable staff, a rarity these days.

Tattoo parlors are everywhere these days. I don't understand this current craze at all, but it seems to be hanging on. This one is located in an old bank building--you can tell by the corner door and location,  which allowed a line of sight in two directions.

Spencer is a nice little town. People there are quite friendly, assuming they know you because people don't generally go there from Ripley to shop. We picked up chicken feed and stopped at the Salvation Army where I found a few nice things for our booths. (These thrift stops allow me to claim mileage on my taxes.)

On the way back we passed through the metropolis of Peniel. 

We decided to go into  Ripley too, as I had a prescription to pick up...and the library was having a book sale! Wd came out with a full box for $10. Enough reading and DVDs to keep us busy a wee while.

Yesterday Larry picked the last of the peppers, which we chopped up and put in the dehydrator.  The dried peppers are great for soups, stews, meatloaf, etc, and so handy. When that was done I began Christmas decorating. 

I figured I might as well, since we had it all dragged out to sort for the booths. I still have more to do and haven't got the tree up yet. Larry will put up the outside lights today, although I don't think we will turn them on yet. 

I am really not in the spirit, truthfully, just getting it done. I just feel so tired, and this knee is no help. It is a little better for the rest from PT, but that pinched nerve/inflamed tendon is still there and preventing a good bend. I go back to PT tomorrow, so we will see what the next steps will be. At least I am sleeping better most nights, such a blessing! I am still on the couch; tried the bed again but it's a no-go.

So that's been our week. Nothing exciting,  certainly. Best news is that grandson Jared, now returned from his extended trip to southeast Asia,  is driving home from LA and will be here for an extended stay. He is taking a scenic route and visiting friends so it will take him a week to get here. Granddaughter Ashley is flying in from Denver this weekend to stay for a week, and my sons and some other grandchildren will be here next weekend to make apple butter. So we will be seeing a lot of family very soon. I am looking forward to that.

Now, back to my tea. 

Until next time, friends.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Answers

34°f this morning, about 1.5°C. 

Gas prices yesterday in Mineral Wells, WV. You can believe we filled up the tank! 60 cents a gallon cheaper than in our county, just 25 miles away. What the heck!

Yesterday I saw the surgeon that replaced my knee. It was quite a wait, about 30 minutes in a room that was so cold I they had put me in cold storage. But he eventually came in and I could tell him about the problem I am having getting this knee to bend.

They did an xray when I came in and he showed it to me. The knee joint looks great, just perfect really? But that pain? After carefully checking my knee he said the problem was that the hamstring tendon is inflamed, probably from trying to do too much too quickly at physical therapy.  So, he advised canceling this week's appointments, and giving the tendon some rest and time to heal, along with ice and meds to reduce the inflammation.

What a relief. Every time I went to therapy I would have a terrible night and a bad day next day...then back to therapy and repeat. So I will do the stretches as the doctor advised, but not return to therapy until next week. He was happy with my overall progress, and reminded me that this is a long recovery. Patience! Which I have very little of, but must learn.

Relax time when I got home, with a glass of orange juice in a Riverside Glass Works goblet, pattern no. 300 called Block Diamond, circa 1888.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Yesterday

34°f, clear. Beautiful moon last night. Coyotes and owls seemed to like it.

One of the reblooming iris i planted 2 years ago is blooming. Now, if the dogs don't ruin it. Fingers crossed!

Off to the doc today, and hoping for answers. My measurements were better yesterday, -2 and 111, but these were not achieved without a lot of pain. Which isn't normal. One new exercise has helped: tying a strap around my ankle, lying on my stomach and pulling the strap over my shoulder to bend that knee. It's almost a contortionist trick! I have done it by myself but yesterday I called Larry to pull on the strap, as he would be able to pull it harder than I could. When he walked in and saw me in that position, his first reaction was, "Wow, you've got yourself in a bind!" And second, "Are you getting kinky?" 

Very funny.

But it does work to really stretch the hamstring muscle. Now if I can just find out what is causing that pinching pain. 

Yesterday we missed the Veterans day parade, because I knew that I wasn't up to standing that long. And I had therapy, and we had a Hoosier cabinet in the van, along with Christmas stuff, to take to a booth--which meant at least a couple hours on my feet, on concrete. But we did stop for lunch at a local restaurant that offered a free meal for vets, and ran into two friends, one another retired librarian, the other a booth owner at one of the malls we're in. They had not met before, but joined us for coffee as they had already eaten. It was such fun to get together with friends again. Suzy is off to NYC today with a friend, to shop and see a show. She was pretty excited about that.

Yesterday's sky when we got home:

Time to get ready to go. Unil next time, friends.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.