27°f, about -3°C. Light drizzle, overcast and Foggy.
We made a trip to town to get eye drops for the dogs as somehow they seem to have pinkeye. Daisy started it, and now the other two show signs of having it too. I ordered medication from Amazon a week.or so ago but none of our packages have arrived so we drove to tractor supply to see what they had. All dogs are now treated, and they sure didn't like it. It should be fun to repeat the treatment tomorrow, because if they see us coming with that bottle, they are very likely going to play hard to get.
Larry tried to start the tractor to grade the driveway again, as it is a slushy mess. But instead of starting, the wires from battery to alternator caught fire! I missed all that action but I bet it was frantic times. So now we have no tractor until he can get it repaired, and more snow is predicted tomorrow. Only 1-3", so hopefully we will get the lower amount. Then temperatures will drop to -4°f bt Monday night so we will be all froze up again. I like snow better than slush, but I am not a big fan of those temperatures!
Let's see, other than weather, what have we been up to? Yesterday was a surprisingly nice day, a blessing as we had to drive over to Lowell, Ohio to pick up the (whole lot of) things we won in an online auction. It was a nice drive, and felt good to get out a bit.
Downtown Lowell, a much smaller town than our Ripley.
The restaurant has a wonderful view of the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio.
The bar is a stunner too; the city prides itself on its long history, and one big part of that history is the sternwheeler era, which is honored in the bar with a large model and several large prints of the boats of that bygone era.
The hotel is named after the Revolutionary War hero, the Marquis de Lafayette, who once visited Marietta and other communities along the Ohio. All the rooms are furnished with antiques. Just a lovely place to stay, as we found a few years ago when we spent a night there.
It was a pretty sunset as we made our way home along our road. My quick snapshot came out blurry, but I kinda like it.
The new van is getting broke in well; we came home with a large cedar chest, teadle sewing machine, big crosscut saw, 3 sleds, a wood ladder, a wash tub, a couple kraut cutters, glass washboard, old ice skates, about 6 quilts (only 2 nice ones, the rest are cutters), a LOT of yellow Depression glass, and a bunch of other stuff. We are slowly unloading it all, and I have been working on pricing, a time-consuming process that requires sorting, cleaning and researching before the tags can be written out and put on. Given the upcoming weather, I will have plenty of time to get it all done.
Speaking of that auction, take a look at the price these Beanie Babies brought!
Do you have any beanies stashed away? You might want to see if you have any that might command prices like this!
I had a nice long conversation with granddaughter Haley this morning. She had her 29th birthday yesterday, but couldn't really celebrate because she is laid up from able surgery that she had on Monday. She broke her ankle in basic training about 10 years ago, but she didn't want to have to drop out so she just taped it up and kept on going. Over the years it has caused her a lot of pain as it did not heal properly, so the surgery was to correct all that. It isn't easy for her as she is an active type, but she is off on leave from her fulltime Army National Guard job for a few weeks. We commiserate with each other as there are similarities between my knee surgery after-effects and what she is experiencing now.
It was nice enough Thursday for me to get out to the cellar and straighten things up to make room for all the jars I canned in the last couple weeks. We still have some to move out, including the spiced pear jam I made the other day. It looks good out there though. We will keep the small heater going during this cold snap to make sure nothing freezes.
I actually got some ebay listing done too, something I have just not felt motivated to do. And I had a few sales immediately---a couple of West Virginia history books and a copper wall plate. I listed more books today, including two fairly rare old West Virginia books. I need to keep working on downsizing my West Virginia collection, which I amassed for research when I was a storyteller.
A 1937 historical markers book, not in great shape but full of fascinating history tidbits.
I think that's all the news from here. I hope all of you are keeping well and warm. I enjoy reading those of you who blog and keeping up with all your doings. It's armchair travel at its best!
I had a busy day in the kitchen. Made an applesauce coffeecake this morning. Then heated up some store-bought enchiladas and refried beans for dinner. Tonight I was on a heating pad for awhile to get rid of a cramping muscle in my back. I told Judy I don't know how women who cooked and baked for their families for many years did it. But then I said I haven't really started until I was 84 so that might explain it a little. She reminded me of the many feasts and parties she had cooked for days ahead of time to get ready. Great meals they were. Great times too.
ReplyDeleteI cook mostly from scratch, and it does take time. I feel spoiled if we have something "store-boughten".
DeleteYour applesauce cake sounds good. I have a recipe I have made many times, but not recently. . Maybe I should dig that out!
It's minus 3 C over here too..unfortunately we don't have snow, but at least it's dry though foggy. Love fish and chips!
ReplyDeleteI like fog, but we don't get it often on this ridge. Down along the Ohio River, fog is a frequent occurrence, and it helps the farmers in spring because it keeps the frost off, so they can plant earlier.
DeleteWeee, you have been (cold and) busy, I am all breathless!
ReplyDeleteAnd such nice travel. Thank you for sharing it, it really makes it armchair travel, such a nice description! Have a great Sunday.
Thanks, Iris! I am so behind on replies, seems like by the time I read everyone and respond, I just forget!
DeleteThe LaFayette hotel and bar looks like it would be worth the trip itself!
ReplyDeleteIt is, Jim. And the town, with its many other attractions, has much to offer. Prehistoric mounds, museums, historic homes, a Riverwalk, parks, events, nice bars...I should check to see if there is a distillery nearby. They did have a brewery, and some wineries around there. Shade winery is really nice, and very good wine.
DeleteWe're supposed to get 4-6" of snow today with temps dropping to highs in the teens. Hopefully, we can get some of the snow cleared before that happens. I haven't thought about the Pringle tree in decades. I have a thing for historic markers. I never met one I didn't stop for, unless the other people in the car won't let me. :)
ReplyDeleteI am the same with Roadside markers! I hope you didn't get these frigid temperatures too.
Delete...Somewhere near Lowell, Ohio is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteIt is pretty over there, Tom. People think of Ohio as flat, but the areas across the river from us look just like much of WV.
DeleteGracious, what a haul you brought home. Glad some things are selling. You should have fun getting them all ready to sell while being cabin bound for a few days. What do the pups do when it's that cold? I wonder. Loved seeing the hotel and fish & chips, yum! I kind of liked the sunset shot just like that too!
ReplyDeleteYes, it was a lot, but we haven't bought much in months so we were due for a good auction.
DeleteThe dogs get so bored! They are in and out, in and out. The doors will be open and closed 10 times before breakfast! They go out with Larry and he keeps an eye on runaway Buddy. He can't walk them because it's just too icy. We give them big chew treats, play with them, etc. Really it's like having toddlers!
Whew, you got quite a haul. I have an old singer treadle sewing machine. It belonged to my great grandmother, we think. That's what Dad thinks he remembers. His older sister had it for years and when she passed her daughter didn't want it, so I got it. My mother had one, but traded hers in, so it brough back memories for me. I learned to sew on that treadle of Mom's. Sorry to hear about the tractor, hopefully you'll be able to get it repaired quickly. I'm not a fan of these cold temps we're having in Ohio. Hubby and I left for the winter; but keep an eye on the temps and snow coverage while we're down here in SC.
ReplyDeleteWhat good memories, Sandy. I never used a treadle. My mother had an old electric Singer that looked like the old treadle machines, and I learned on that.
DeleteI bet you got snow, or are getting it, even in SC. What a strange winter.
My grandmother had and used a treadle sewing machine. When I was about 8, my mother got a portable electric machine and it lasted until my daughter and granddaughter traded it a few years ago. Yea Singer. Tough and easy to repair machines.
ReplyDeleteBeany babies? Hmm.
We have snow and cold. Cripes, glad the tractor blowoff was not worse; we all need the snow removal equipment this time of year.
Hope your knee is letting you sleep.
I learned on a very old portable machine too, Mary. Good memories. I was never really a seamstress though.
DeleteCrazy cold! But we are quite warm.
It sounds like a very pleasant day out before winter temperatures come roaring back. What a fascinating story about the Pringle brothers! I'd never heard about it before.
ReplyDeleteWinter is definitely back, so it was nice to break out for a day! Don't you love those quirky local stories?
DeleteYou had quite the haul at that auction! I'm glad you had a good trip -- it looks like fun, with a good restaurant stop, too. Would love to see your quilts!
ReplyDeleteJeanie, the quilts were a disappointment, only one that was really good, the rest cutters except one that is only good as a moving pad! But they were dead cheap so I can still make a little on them.
DeleteYou get up to quite a lot. Your stop at the hotel looks very nice.
ReplyDeleteStill young enough, and healthy enough, to do it, AC, but I can see we have slowed down a bit, especially when I go back and read my posts from 10-15 years ago!
DeleteI'm amazed at all you get done even recovering from surgery! My charlie had a quadruple bypass on Dec 10th & we're just staying home. It will be 8'F here in Arkansas tonight.
ReplyDeleteI watched a video this past week about the Ohio river freezing over in 1977. They said they were running out of heating oil because they were delivered by barge. It was crazy. Do you remember that? I would have been 11 yrs old that yr.
Oh Jenny, I hope your Charlie is recovering well! Poor guy. But I know you are taking good care of him.
DeleteI do remember that winter. It was our first winter in this house. No siding, just that under-siding stuff, water froze every day, we had to cut wood all winter...it was a real challenge. I saw people walking on the river but I didn't try it, too cautious.
Your trips to pick stuff up end up being so interesting!! And I can hardly believe all the things you got into your van!!!
ReplyDeleteSorry about the tractor. I hope it's an easy fix ( and not too much snow).
When I was traveling for storytelling I was always on the lookout for new story material, so I did a lot of exploring before and after gigs. I kind of got in the habit of it, and now I look for blog material too!
DeleteThe fish and chips look delicious. I always like fat, chunky fries. They stay hot, unlike those shoestring fries that are almost cold before your plate is brought to the table.
ReplyDeleteWe eat very little fried food, David, so this was a splash out for us. But oh so good. You are right about the fries. These were perfect.
Delete