I am so furious about the idiots who have lately been using their snowmobiles to kill deer and ducks.  Down by Waupaca, several (presumably drunken) young men have run down and killed about 6 deer in a field.  This, in deeper snow that the deer can't run well in, and in this cold, cruel month of January, when the deer are exhausted, cold and hungry.  One of the deer was not killed, but just badly wounded, and had to be euthanized by wardens when the carnage was discovered. 

And now there have been two incidents of snowmobilers who seem to find it fun to skip their snowmobiles over open breaks in the ice, and in the process, kill ducks who have taken refuge there in the open ponds of water.  Each time, the snowmobilers have killed about 60 to 80 ducks.  Snowmobile dealers and clubs have offered about $2,000 reward already for information leading to the arrests of these thrill seekers.  I believe it is already against the law to skip over open ponds, but these incidents seem to have had the sick purpose of killing as many ducks as they can, besides. 

If I was a witch, I'd be placing a hex on these perpetrators of snowmobile animal killings.  But I can't help but believe that all of these crimes against the natural world are witnessed by higher powers, and that there must be consequences.  In the meantime, I just hope and pray that these latest duck killers will be turned in and punished.  The deer killers have already been turned in and their ugly faces appeared on the TV when they went to court. 

Another thing that makes me growl these days is the sight and sound of that whiner, Boehner.  Just about every day we see him whining and complaining and threatening his obstructionist politics, trying to preserve and further the failed policies of the Bush administration.  We, the voters of America, have rejected those failed political "solutions" and just want Obama's promises to come true.  Also, I can't believe how flaccid the Democrats have become in Congress; come on!  Where is the backbone, the outrage that we long to hear in our elected representatives?  They are a bit sheepish, aren't they?  Can it be that they have been compromised by the almighty Dollar?  Spread around generously by rich lobbyists?  Well?  What can be the reason we hear grumping and see foot-dragging about going after the spies listening in on our communications, on the relative ease of dealing with the Gitmo detainees, on prosecuting the torturers, on the bailouts for homeowners, etc. etc. etc.  There was much damage done in the past 8 years, so much so, that some people find it more comfortable now to just let it all go by, and do nothing about it.  But these negligencies will come back to haunt, I fully agree with that. 

But of course, there are still good, strong representatives and senators in the Congress.  I don't mean to criticize all of them....     

Seems I have posted that title more than once.  I thought I might try to get out today and spend some time with my daughter, but she is recovering from another bout of multiple sclerosis, and we spent a lot of time talking on the phone.  In a way, I'm glad I don't have to go anywhere, as I've been home for quite some time.  All appointments and social engagements keep getting canceled (by me) for one reason and another, and I'm just enjoying my shackhappy status and staying away from germs for awhile.  Everything is peaceful and holding its own against the cold, and every day, I do something that seems extraordinary, like cleaning out a drawer or going through a box. 

Day before yesterday, I again organized all the jewelry and found many, many brooches that have been collected over the years.  I really wish there was some place that was interested in all the many pieces of jewelry that I will never, ever, in a million years, need to wear.  What triggered this examination was that I sent in for a free ring, offered by a company that rewarded me with bonus points, so I thought what the hey, and sent in for the ring.  It's quite nice, and I wear it all the time now. 

So, back to self-reflection, going through drawers, and organizing and dusting - yes, dusting!  It just builds up and up, all the time. 

Staying inside mostly, but the scenery is nice to look at while taking my walks with Pepper.  The temps have been very reasonable, almost balmy feeling, but another cold snap is headed this way, with -20 degrees over the weekend.  The firewood has almost all been used up, and another load will have to be brought inside and stacked up in the living room. 

I've been trimming Pepper's fur in her back parts.  That's always a good thing to get done before the fur mats up and becomes a problem.  I have an electric trimmer, but have never even turned it on, as I'm sure I would end up pulling the fur, or not doing it right.  I use a cuticle scissors and hold it in my right hand, with the sharp end facing out; I use my left hand to hold the fur between two fingers and cut right behind them.  I always feel to make sure there is only fur behind the scissors, never flesh, and don't pull up and away from her body, so no skin will be pulled up to the scissors.  Whew!  In such dense fur, it is a scary thing to do, but now's the time to do it.  She always worries that I might disapprove of  her in some way, and keeps eye contact, so she can watch every reaction of mine, as if she thinks I might disapprove of her growing fur.  What a love bunny!  I so adore her.  

I'm proud of what Obama has done so far in his two days in office; these are the changes I can believe in, all right.  Rolling back the gas and oil drilling leases in the Red Rock canyon and other places, closing Guantanamo Bay within the year, and the other, many orders he's signed already, such as pay freezes for top staff.  When will it be our turn to get some help?  I signed up to do some work of unknown description to get the changes started, but doubt I can be of much use. 

Well, it's over now, except for the parties, etc.  I started watching first thing in the morning and just went through papers and magazines as I watched the pageantry unfold.  And...I cried...again....now and then...because we are so happy to be Americans, I guess.  Today, everything looks rosy and hopeful, but tomorrow the work of rebuilding the country must begin.  Michelle looked really good, actually, they all looked good.  Barack gave a very good speech about the changes that must come about.  Being concerned about the environment, I heard him say "no more consumption of resources without calculating the effects" or something of that nature.  Because right now, I am reading about the devastation of the Amazon basin in South America for oil production.  This, of course, has gone on long before I knew anything about it, and I am now concerned about sulfide mining in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  So close to home and far away, the agony of the earth goes on and on. 

Afterwards, I got ready, having made out my bills last night, got the truck brushed off and warmed up, went to town and mailed them all out.  There was even sand on the curves and hills to aid vehicles along over the slippery snow and ice.  That was nice.  Having paid the bills, I had enough money left in bank to buy a bunch of groceries again, so I went to Walmart this time.  The latest craze around here (dogs), are Li'l Smokies, tiny sausages, so I got 3 packages of them, and we'll see which flavor everybody (including humans) likes the best.  A bag of chicken breasts, a bag of shrimp, some more liversausage, bratwurst, bread and donut holes, coffee, and that will about do it for shopping for this month. 

Back home safe and sound, preparing to snuggle down, tending the fire and the critters, watching the tube, and being very thankful that America is still, and again, the land of the free and the home of the brave.

This is such a touchy situation for me.  After praying and pondering over everything, I decided the best thing to do was to call my brother and lay all the cards on the table.  Tell him everything and let him make a decision about his own life.  After all was said, he said he would be fine, just fine, if we let him be.  He expects the heat tape on his water lines to thaw the freeze out of his pipes, any day now, and he is not concerned at all about carrying water home by hand for bare essentials.  The only thing he needs, he says, is a shower, which his friend may allow when he goes for a visit today. 

As far as his financial situation goes, it is a lifestyle choice that he made years ago, and nobody, but nobody, can do anything about that.  His expenses for booze and cigarettes far exceed his ability to pay, so he is the only one who can do anything about it.  He smokes 3 packs a day, so there's $15.00 right there every day.  If he wants to change his lifestyle, that's up to him. 

But outside here, it's a winter wonderland, just beautiful, with snow clinging to the branches, piling up in fluffy white drifts, and it's not too cold out now.  It was almost 70 degrees in the house when I woke up this morning.  I made cinnamon rolls again, using frozen white bread bought at the store.  I got the recipe out of the newspaper...

                                  Cinnamon Rolls

Take out one loaf of frozen bread dough and thaw it under plastic wrap.  Roll dough to a rectangle, about 18x6 inches.  Brush with 2 tblspns. of melted butter.  Combine 2/3 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, 1 tsp. ground cinnamon in a  small bowl, spoon over dough, pressing in a bit.  Starting at long edge, roll dough up, jelly roll fashion, pinch edges to seal.  Cut roll into 1" slices, lay down into 2 buttered round pans and let rise for 1-1/2 hours, until doubled.  Pour 1/3 cup heavy cream (I used milk) over the rolls and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.  Combine 1 cup of confectioner's sugar, 1/2 tsp. vanilla, and 1-1/2 tblspns. milk in a cup, stirring until smooth and the right consistency (add more confectioners sugar, or milk, if necessary).  Drizzle over rolls while still warm.  Makes 15-20 rolls. 

I just can't wait, I just can't wait, I just can't wait 'til Tuesday.  I've waited all year, it's almost here, I just can't wait - 'til Tuesday.  Although I won't be going to any of the festivities, no balls for me, no wavings, trainrides, block parties; my prayer is "Obama, stay safe!"  His daughter says "You better do good!" and that means staying safe, too. 

What should I do to celebrate the inauguration?  I think I will start a diet, and the only way I've ever been able to lose weight is to think "Stop eating!"  That means food.  A cracker to keep the hunger pangs at bay.  But after a few days, an overwhelming hunger takes over, even if you don't feel hunger that much.  An overwhelming desire to pig out.  Knowing that, perhaps I could prepare, in advance, to meet this challenge.  With one square meal, and nothing more.  Even if I wake up at night, wanting something to eat.  Just nibble until the stomach shrinks and appetite adjusts.  Of course, I'll still keep eating apples, oranges, grapefruit.  I did lose weight gradually, once, by giving up meat.  Actually, you need your vegetables, too.  Oh dear, there I go again.

Yesterday though, I spent the afternoon and part of the evening working on the bathroom plumbing, trying to get the drain either unclogged or unfrozen, whatever the problem is.  I did not succeed, but did manage to clean up the huge mess I made trying.  I'm glad that it's over, but the drain will have to wait for Spring to thaw out.  Also, the toilet leaks from underneath...it needs a new wax ring, I suppose.  I am not going to call a plumber - the last time I did so, it cost me over $300.  But that was when my mom was still here, and she had to use that bathroom.  Thank heavens I still have the other bathroom, which works fine.  I just need to move all my stuff over there and make myself comfortable there.  Right now, I call it the boys' room.  But I am in the process of abandoning my bathroom and will not use it until Spring comes.   

My brother's daughter does not want to, or cannot, do much more for her father, and after discussing with the family, I guess it is up to me to do something for him.  I am going to pray for a resolution, but my brain says that I am too old to do much for him either.  Time to call on the professionals, tomorrow.  I know I'm going to cry, though I think he will be far better off, living in the veterans' home.  He always does so much better than he thinks he will.  I only hope he isn't going to be angry and resist.  That would break my heart.     

I have to face the fact that I really haven't done much of anything lately, except care for my animals, cook and eat, watch tv, read,  keep the fire going, take out the garbage, and indulge in the bathing and shampooing.  The cold spell lately apparently was weathered fairly well by my body, but now that the temp is coming back up, I feel swollen and groggy.

Bad news about my brother has me still in a state of mild shock.  Apparently, he won't be able to go on much longer, as his water pipes are frozen and he lacks the money to have them thawed.  He is getting by somewhat by melting snow in a bucket to flush the toilet, and carrying 1/2 gallon jugs home by hand for coffee water, hand washing, etc.  But the real problem is that he can't manage his money any longer; has no idea of where it goes, or when it goes.  It is just gone and he can't explain it.  He is borrowing money to get by, and has no way to repay it.  I called my other brother to talk this over, and he is going to call my brother's daughter and see what she has to say about this.  He is a veteran and there is a vets' home nearby where he lives.  I am thinking it might be time for him to go live there, but everyone in the family thinks he will resist a move like that.  He will want his independence for as long as possible. 

Well, I guess this is what happens if you live long enough...but it's just another hurdle to get past.  I wish I could help him out, but I've already tried to get a mortgage extension to put another bedroom and bath on the lower level here, and was denied.  I certainly would not want to move away any further from my children, who give me the impression that they need me (I really believe that!), and I'm not in good enough shape anyway, to go to him and just help out.  Doing what, exactly? 

My own bathroom pipes froze up last night - I guess that's to be expected after a -25 degree night, but it actually got warmer last night, so???  Of course, I had turned off my little electric heater then; prematurely, I suppose.  So I better just take care of my own survival problems and let his daughter make the decision about his situation.  It snowed again last night, another 4-6 inches of the white stuff, so just getting out of the driveway is enough of a problem for me right now.      

The greenhouse that I keep my chicken in is working out so well, that even at -14 degrees below zero, she came busting right out this morning, ready for her breakfast of warm spaghetti and cooked peas, with laying mash, sunflower seeds, bell pepper scraps, cut up apple, and of course, a few oats.  Her water jug freezes right up, so I give her fresh water at every feeding, removing the frozen water and replacing the jug with a fresh one.  I bring in the frozen one, and when it thaws, the jug can be replaced.  This morning, I detected frost buildup (just a bit) around her beak.  I guess this would be built up from normal breathing in this weather, but the frostiness disappeared as she ate her warm breakfast.   

I had moved the greenhouse from the south (front) of the house, because I didn't think it looked good to have my picture window cut in half by its presence.  Also, the steep pitch of the roof brings snow and ice crashing down.  The west side of the house has a shed roof which melts the ice and snow off, and eaves troughs to catch the melt.  Although the sun is not as bright there, it will still do nicely for a greenhouse.  And I was able to put the header up higher than I had on the front of the house.  I put it up at least 6 feet, probably 7 feet.  That made the front wall at 4' high enough headroom to walk around bent over, even there.  All the struts are 2"x2"x8'.  I've braced the roof and side walls and covered the sidewalls with clear 4 mil plastic for now.  The roof is the plexiglass panels I got at Menards for $13.50 each, and there are 5 of them, 2' wide by 8' long.  So the greenhouse is approximately 10' wide by perhaps 7' long extending out from the west side of the house.  The chicken's house and yard (8'x2') are against the house wall in there, covered with 2 large tarps, surrounded and partially covered with straw.  The winter sun shines into her cage all morning long.  And she has her 40-watt lightbulb besides.  It's pleasant to go in there and take care of her.   

So do I really need to make it a pit greenhouse?  I could probably get by very well without digging it into the ground besides.  However, adding a "pit" feature would give me more room, and might possibly add warmth.  It would be nice if next year, I could grow veggies even in the winter.  So I might do that this coming year.   

I had taken an old home-made door last fall, and put "legs" on it, turned it over and set the legs on bricks.  Setting the whole thing at a slight angle against the house, extending it over the well pipe, so any rainwater would flow away from the house, I covered it with a very large doubled up tarp, and put a lot of straw under the table.  I can't get over how warm the straw is when you put your hand into a pile of it.  Arnie, the Wonder Dog, just loves it as his dog house.  Because the tarp is placed kitty corner over the table, held down on the wind side, he can lie out there, keep an eye on everything that is going on, and stay warm and sheltered besides.  But most nights, he sleeps inside in my bedroom, with Pepper. 

Our enormous pile of firewood takes up 1/4 of the living room space.  It is mostly pine, with some birch and oak, and smells very medicinal.  All dead, dry wood, burns hot, keeps the front rooms warm.  I had bought an oil filled electric heater for the bathroom, which feels frigid much of the time, but used it only once, just to test it out.  It's good to have a backup in case you need it.   

I believe all the seed catalogs in the country have now been sent to me, a huge stack of them, and I will soon start going through my seed box to see what this year's garden will consist of.  A lot of my fence posts have fallen down, whether pushed down by deer, or just rotted away at the base.  I have been purchasing metal posts as I can afford them and will replace the fallen ones as soon as the ground thaws. 

First, I want to thank you, Susan, for your wonderful words of encouragement in your comment to me.  I got so excited and inspired that I immediately burned the breakfast toast.  And not just a little!  Huge stinking grey clouds were swirling around before I even noticed, and when I opened up the toaster oven, fire spurted out.  I had to open a window and turn on a fan.  But if this is what it takes to get me started on my writing, then it's a good thing.  I've gotten out my Writers' Market manual, a huge tome, and have begun to check off publishers that might be interested in my novels.  I guess the first step is to go to their websites and see what they require for submission. 

Then on to the doctor appointment that was set up for me...there to find out that all infection is gone from me, and I had my ears flushed out, too.  That produced a terrible headache later in the day, after the water finally cleared out, that I tried to soothe with a heating pad.  That only made the pain worse, so next I tried a bag of frozen peas, wrapped in a towel, placed against the worst of the pain, and that worked very well.  In five minutes, the pain was going, going, gone! 

It is supposed to be very cold for the rest of this week, with temps not bothering to get above the zero degree mark, and I plan to spend the rest of this week at home, just enjoying the beauty of the cold, and keeping things from freezing up.  I went to the library yesterday after the doctor visit and got another bunch of books to read.  My interests seem to be taking me into study of the forests of the world.  As if I don't have enough books to keep me occupied for years! 

Then on I went to St. Joe's Thrift Shop, where I donated a beer box full of personal care items, like baby powder, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, unused new hair curlers, etc. that are extras here and not needed.  The old ladies in charge there, after first nearly tripping me as I carried the box to their table and guffawing loudly about it, went through the box immediately, making ribald comments on everything they took out to examine.  I keep forgetting, I am an old lady, too. 

But that reminds me, the doctor I saw, one of the nicest people I've met lately, looked at me and said that he could tell that I and my daughter were very close, and very supportive of each other.  I said, in fact, she is my best friend.  He said he could tell by looking at me that this was so.  That warmed my heart to hear it.  He talked about how his wife and daughter were like that, too. 

There's always a reason to procrastinate.  Yesterday, I finally dragged up my "best" novel  onto the computer and took a look at it after all this time.  It is a good, exciting story, but I know it needs help from a professional writer or editor.  I only have to finish it, Part II, that is, and send it somewhere. 

The pine we've been burning, that I love for the blazing heat it provides, is running low, and we've got to burn old oak now, that is wet.  It provides a long-lasting, very slow fire compared to the pine, so we are mixing the pine with it as needed to get more heat. 

I'm finally through taking Cipro, the antibiotic that was lately prescribed for me.  I am going to keep the appointment that was made for me at the clinic and I'm not backing down.  I will, however, downplay my symptoms - "Oh, it's nothing, doctor, just a pain in my ear - could even be a tooth problem!"  How's that?  Actually, I do need to find out about this for once and for all. 

I am going to make chop suey today, cutting up a piece of  "on special" top sirloin steak for only $1.19, and will add a pork cutlet, cut up, for only $.77, also "on special."  These will be cooked to tenderness in a water/soy sauce mix, with chopped celery, onions and the usual canned bean sprouts, water chestnuts, pimientos, etc. etc. etc. and served over rice.  Gravy made in the pan at the end. 

I need to vacuum today and dust furniture.  Oh, the dusting, the dusting.  Then there's laundry to be done.  The side of my head hurts, and I have been taking naps in the afternoons lately, but today, I want to clean house for awhile. 

Yes, it's cold outside; another below zero night, and the constant need to keep the fire going has us up and down all night, managing it, and keeping an eye on the thermometer.  I've been going through my "filing box," cleaning out the old paid bills, combining papers, and establishing new envelopes for the new year.  My "financial picture," as I refer to my notebook that schedules all my payments, is okay; I'm still on track, having reduced my total debt by $1,500 over the past year.  That's pathetic - when Bush took office, I was reducing my debt by $3,000 per year.  My lifestyle hasn't changed, I haven't had unusual expenses.  I guess this is just a sign of the slowing economy?  The rise in the cost of living?  Of course, I don't work now...maybe that's it.  I wish I could get at least one of my credit cards paid off this year and keep it that way.

My notebook (one page per month) lists all my bills and debts in the order in which a payment is due and date it is due, going down the page.  I don't distinguish between "expenses" and "debts" since I will be paying on them regardless.  The top of the page shows the month, year, and total monthly income.  The debts show their current balance due as they are received for the month at the far right hand side of the page.  When I pay them, I put a check mark by the name of the bill and a tiny date that I paid, and next to the amount owed, I write the amount I paid.  If I paid a monthly expense, I just make a zero, showing I owe nothing (electricity, e.g.)  At the bottom of the page, I have four totals, Balance Owed Last Month, Amount Owed End ofThis Month, Paid Off This Month, and Balance Owed at End of Month.  The goal is to get the last amount to go DOWN consistently.  It always goes up just a bit in December, because that is when my Homeowners Insurance is due, and of course, the extra expenses of Christmas. 

That took all day, getting the box in apple pie order, ready for the coming year.  I am thankful I am still able to live in my own home.  I wonder how long.  I've gotta stay around for my dogs and chicken.....

The doctor I went to made an appointment for me on Monday to find out why I have such a pain in my ear.  I was surprised to get the notice of appointment in the mail.  I do believe it is time to actually find out what is going on in there.  Naturally, I'm scared - is it a brain tumor, doc? cancer? is it cancer?  It's probably nothing but wax buildup.  Meantime, the winter goes on, testing our resolve, our cars and trucks, our aching joints, water pipes, even nails that pop out of your siding. 

I'm taking the Christmas tree down today.  It's over.  I know some people take their tree down the day after Christmas.  I never get it up that early, so I leave it for a week or two.  I still love the lights.

I can't seem to keep track of days anymore.  All I know for sure is that it is Winter.  I am still taking antibiotics.  I took the sulfa-based antibiotic for 5 days, and would have died or ended up in the hospital with an allergic reaction if I had taken just one more of them.  I had sharp stabbing nausea, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, nightmares about dying, and jerking movements all through my aching body.  I called the urgent care place at the hospital, and they quickly gave me a different recipe for disaster, named Cipro.  I took Cipro before and it was working - maybe it will again.

So this whole thing began last summer?  With a prescription for a strange new antibiotic whose name escapes me.  It was only for 3 days.  That's when I think I started getting more? infections.  I don't even remember now why I needed that one.  Hey, wait a minute.  I could look it up on this blog.  I will have to do that later...but for now, then they gave me Cipro and that was for 5 days.  Five was not enough.  The infection came back, and then they prescribed SMX-TMP, the sulfa-based drug that I reacted badly to.  They wanted me to take it for 10 days, but the reaction occurred after 5 days.  Now I'm back on Cipro for 7 days.  Will they have correctly guessed this time?  I need to add sulfa to the list of things I am allergic to.

Just as scary is my recent bout of forgetfulness.  Just now, I found a pan on the stove, burning away, empty.  Forgot I was going to cook spaghetti and peas for the chicken.  I am kind of dizzy.  I hope this is temporary, due to taking antibiotics.  But there are many times during the day that I find things like that - things I forgot I was doing.  

My New Year's Resolution - stop singing stupid, goofy songs out loud or in my head.  Lately, I've noticed that I will hum just a refrain of some idiotic song that I wish I had never heard, just a few notes, like "doo-ti-doo-ti-doo-ti-doo-ti-ti" and then I catch myself.  I want silence!  Inside and out.  So that is what I have been working on.

Last evening, I made that recipe for guacamole again, and I love it!  I had cooked up some beans too.  John refried them and cut up strips of soft tortillas, fried them.  We had a wonderful Mexican feast of refried beans, fried tortilla strips, guacamole, sour cream, cheddar cheese, tomatoes and salsa.  I slept very well last night, and it was below zero again.       

I have been reading the two novels by Scott Smith.  One is "A Simple Plan" and the other is "The Ruins."  Both differed somewhat from the movie versions, or was it the other way around?  Can you imagine writing two novels, and having both of them become movies - how successful is that?  Another of my favorite writers, right now, is Joe Kane, who wrote "Savages" and "Running the Amazon."  I used to go online and order books from Amazon.com, but I can't afford to do this anymore.  That's why my library card is so active right now.  I can only afford to borrow books.  Another favorite writer, Clifford Pickover, has written a lot of books that are captivating to my mind.  I find it difficult to read more than a few pages of his writings at a time, as they are so mind-blowing.

It seems strange, a bit, that all summer long I was reading books about the Arctic, and all winter long, so far, I've been reading books about the Amazon jungle, where it's so hot and humid.  Maybe there's a method here?  I am beginning to build up a head of steam regarding my novels - I need to alter one drastically, edit one, and finish one. 

Tomorrow, I have two social engagements; one for brunch with 2 of my girlfriends, and one for lunch with my children.  So this amounts to my New Year's celebration - daytime fun, lots of coffee and food, and talking, talking, talking.  Last night, I just couldn't watch another glittering, entertaining, fireworks-ridden display; turned off the tv at 11:45 and fell asleep.  I did not have an alcoholic beverage, either.  I'm on medication and I've been very tired lately.  It wasn't cold enough to perform the usual New Year's ritual of going outside with a cup of hot water, throwing it into the air, and seeing it turn into snow.  It's better when it's below zero for that.  Well, this is why I'm Shackhappy.  I accept that. 

I made cinnamon buns with powdered sugar glaze yesterday as a New Year's Eve treat.  For awhile there, I thought I had overdosed on sugar...I ate four of them, and they were so good.  I dreamed about my mother last night, and have been reliving her last days, getting a new perspective on our time together, good and bad.  I can laugh now, and stop blaming myself for letting her die.  She was going to die anyway, I see that now.   

So into town again today, to the walk-in clinic, there to get prescriptions for antibiotics.  I seem to have a bladder infection and a sinus infection.  That took an hour, most of it sitting and waiting.  Then on to Farmers Feed to get dog biscuits and deer corn; on to supermarket to get lettuce, celery, chicken quarters, a hunk of turkey back for only 67 cents, and some liversausage.  And finally, over to Good Will to give them a bag of linens I had garnered from my shelves in the bathroom. 

The wind is strong today.  It blew the cover off my mailbox, and I had to run around after it sailed off into the woods.  The house was cold when I got home, so I've built a fire and soon it will be heating up in here.  Think I'll stew up that turkey back and make something out of it. 

We all had a great Christmas - lots of snacks, sandwiches, wine and desserts, followed by the opening of the presents all around.  I got a pink fleece nightgown and fuzzy pink slipper thongs, very cozy.  A book called "Keeping Chickens," which is very educational, with lots of pictures of chickens, but not one of my Suzy Q.  I got an optical mouse, a set of drill bits, some DVDs that I will never listen to featuring old songs from the "Midnight Special" program, a jar of raspberry salsa. 

It did indeed rain! starting yesterday as a fine mist, then continuing to patter all night.  There were thunderous slides of snow coming down off the roof, and the snow pack has gone down quite a bit.  If this now freezes again, the deer will have trouble walking or running in it, so we are going to get some deer corn and put it out for them.  What few are left, that is.  There were half as many deer harvested as usual this year, hunters saying over and over that there were no deer to speak of.  My son saw only a doe and her fawn, again and again, during the hunting season, and didn't have the heart to shoot either one of them. 

But my daughter has a whole herd of deer that come into her yard all winter long.  She brings corn out to them, and they come running, which is somewhat scary.  They have a pecking order, using their front hooves to flay at each other for the corn.  She lays the corn down in long rows to give each of them room to eat.  Still, the biggest one always picks on smaller ones, and so on down the size range.  We spent much of our time watching them out the windows on Christmas.  The bucks are losing their antlers; they drop off one by one after the rut. 

I've gotten all things put away from Christmas, all Christmas dishes washed and put away, fuzzy slippers on my feet, and I am just about ready to begin the New Year.  New Years Resolutions pop into and out of my mind.  Think I'll just take a few days off and wait for inspiration.    

I worked until 10:30 p.m. yesterday from 12:30 p.m. when I finally got going.  I fed all the critters, got the fire going, made the toffee bars, made a rum baba cake in my bundt pan, and made a pasta chicken salad for my food, which was pretty good, featuring dried, sweetened cranberries.

Then I got all the presents wrapped.  This will be a frugal Christmas, and I think that is appropriate to the times we live in.  I got my son a fleece padded workshirt in an olive grey color, my daughter-in-law 2-piece underwear in denim blue with slippers, my son-in-law a pair of sweatpants in navy blue and a pair of gloves in black, and my daughter a quilt in burnt orange and a puzzle mat in black.  My grandson received a check for $30.00 in his card, and each of the other presents came to $30.00 as well.  So 5 presents x $30 each = $150 spent on Christmas this year for presents. 

Food?  That's another $50 very likely - I'm bringing Barefoot Merlot, Asiago cheese, Wenzel's summer sausage, cut up carrot and celery sticks, rutabaga chips, home-made ranch dressing dip, chips, crackers, rum baba, toffee bars and sodas.  My daughter and son-in-law are furnishing a raft of other goodies, and we are just all going to relax and feed ourselves from a smorgasbord of food whenever we feel like it.  No fancy sit-down dinner with lots of dirty dishes on this day. 

And I've already cleared all the snow off my truck; however, that leaves a question of whether I will be able to drive away from that mess.  John did some snowblowing yesterday, so once I get a run for it, I should be able to make it out of here.  It's a clear, sunny day with the forecast for ?rain? tomorrow, which I don't believe. 

So here I sit, fooling around on this computer, and the house is cold, 62 degrees, and my response is to put on more clothes so I don't have to do anything.  The fire is out, ingredients for toffee bars are sitting on the table, and I still haven't done anything towards getting underway.  I went to town day before yesterday, that would be Monday, got my prescription refilled, bought D batteries, wrapping paper, and extra eggs and butter for baking.  But still I sit...I'm probably just too cold to do anything.  But I slept well last night, and I am rested, and I'm procrastinating just for the heck of it.  It will be the last push to get ready for Christmas.  That is, if I can get out of the driveway.  My truck looks like a lump of snow.   

I need to get the fire going, throw some paper on the presents, and throw the toffee bars in the oven.  John is seriously considering snowblowing the driveway.  It's rather warm out, 20 degrees, and I know that soon the Christmas spirit will take over.   

I just added something to my blog, but now I need to get it to compress so that all three columns are visible at once.  But it is 1:45 a.m. and my eyes are burning, must get to bed.  Tomorrow, wrapping presents and baking....

Apparently, I got my cell phone working, but the volume is so low, nobody could hear me talking.  All this hi-tech stuff....I just don't know....

How old can a chicken get?  I was watching a show about commercial egg production last night, and hens do not start laying until they are 20 weeks old.  They lay for one year, or 52 weeks, then their eggs are considered unfit for commercial production, and they are sent to the great stewpot in the sky.  Well, that means that my Suzy chicken is at least 2 years old, possibly 3.  Which explains why she does not lay many eggs anymore.  Now we will see how long a pet chicken can live. 

She gets so much food every day, that she can't eat it all.  I give her warm water every day, garden dirt about twice a week.  She has a straw bed she can sit on in the sun if she wants to, and her house is so warm (with a 30 watt bulb) that a rush of warm air comes out with her in the morning when I open her door.  It's amazing how much extra food (besides her egg mash and sunflower seeds) that is always available to her here. 

Right now she's going through a strange dish I made the other day of mac and cheese, laced with tuna and corn, plus some rock-hard prunes I found in the cupboard that I've stewed and softened for her.  She gets an odd but nutritious assortment of things to eat, and she's always interested in what I put out for her.  That macaroni and cheese dish is sorta okay for human consumption too, but not the tastiest thing I ever invented.  I've had a couple of servings of it before deciding it's a Suzy dish.

Woke up late, 9:30 a.m., having slept soundly all night for a change, and not having gotten up once to tend the fire.  It was out, and the house was 58 degrees.  Outside, it had snowed about 4 or 6 inches and the trees were all frosty, every little branch and twig looking sugar-coated.  Sky slate-grey, negative 6 degrees.  I love it.  Pepper loves it too.  When I uncover my chicken now, I feed and water her, but put her cover right back on to preserve warmth. 

Got the fire going again, and I sure do like dry pine for getting a roaring blaze that warms the house up fast.  What can I do today?  I got half the vacuuming done yesterday, laundry, etc. and want to cook some things today.  Will probably make breaded pork steaks and lay them in a shallow pan in the oven to brown and cook.  How about mashed potatoes again with rutabagas?  And frozen corn John put up last summer.  It is so sweet, it tastes like candy.   

And finally, I got underway to town, after clearing much snow and ice from my truck.  I went to the Library, got 2 books by Scott Smith, The Ruins and A Simple Plan; and two more books about the Amazon.  I had previously read one book by Joe Kane, Savages; but was unable to locate Running the Amazon.  As you can see, I've gone from the northernmost of the planet to the Equator in my reading interests.  I suppose I could ask for interlibrary assistance with that book I couldn't find. 

Then on to pay my insurance bill and do some more shopping for a few items I might need at Christmastime.  Home, just as the liquid golden sun was sitting on the horizon - back to my beautiful woods, snow and cozy house, dogs sleeping on my bed until I return.    

I WILL get the tree up today - yesterday I actually located all the parts and decorations in 3 or 4 separate boxes in the attic.  I tried to recall just what was in my mind last time I undid the tree.  It seems to me that I was not as well last year as I seem to be this year, which is surprising.  I AM getting better and better, at least in some ways. 

I am thinking about the novels I wrote last year, trying to recall what they were about.  Oh yeah, a murder mystery and a murder mystery, and a story about elves, that was rejected quickly.  When I see all the vampire crap on tv, I think I should change the elves to vampires and then it would become popular.  I want to start writing again, after the holidays.   

It was 16 deg. below zero last night, and we took turns stoking the fire all night.  It stayed warm enough.  We turned on a box fan on low to blow some warm air through to the side room, and it stayed 40 degrees out there.  I'm impressed with the success.  Nothing froze up.  And my $40.00 radiant oil-filled heater worked well to keep cold spots to a minimum elsewhere.  I only had it on for about 1/2 hour, put on a small extra blanket on the bed, wore flannel pajamas, a sweatshirt jacket, big socks and a t-shirt "hat," by putting a t-shirt over your head and pulling it up to your forehead, then flipping it over your head.  It looks like a shiek hat, but it's easy to wear in bed and keeps the head warm.

My chicken is doing very well and is much easier to care for in her greenhouse.  We doted on her yesterday, giving her warm water to drink and feeding her 3 times.  She gets an amused, happy look in her eye, that I just can't fathom... a happy chicken? 

At least, I am improving daily with my health, but I am not getting a lot done by way of housework.  I just feel like hibernating.  I'm going to make pork chops for supper, with a mashed  potato/rutabaga dish on the side.  Basically, you cook a little cut up rutabaga in with your peeled potatoes, and make mashed potatoes.  It's yummy, and I have the rutabaga on hand. 

The fire is brightly burning, and the steam on top of the stove is hissing, and some of my Christmas cards have already been delivered, I'm happy to say.  Now if that final present would just get here, so I can wrap it.   

My nose did not start running right away when I woke up, and I managed to sweep the kitchen floor, moving the refrigerator back to where it belongs.  I had moved it to the other side of the kitchen because the electrical socket doesn't seem to be working, but it still isn't.  I have rigged up another system until the wiring is fixed.  At least the frij doesn't stick out into the middle of the room anymore.  I had made lasagna using the recipe on the box of lasagna noodles, and it's a good thing I did, since I haven't been able to cook with this cold.  The recipe made a huge pan-ful and it gets better every day. 

Another thing I wouldn't do is try to make out Christmas cards while snotting and sneezing all over.  Now that the worst of this cold seems to be over, I'm going to make them out today and get them in the mail tomorrow.  Although it's freezing rain outside right now, it's supposed to return to below zero temps tonight, with wind.  There's a huge pile of wood in here now, so we'll be ready for cold spells.  I've moved furniture upstairs into the spare bedroom to accommodate all the firewood.  It's dead pine, dead birch and dead oak.  We never take living wood for fires. 

I'm just being thankful that the worst of this cold is over, or seems to be.  I'm so well today, that I will put up my 2' Christmas tree on an end table.  That will be cheery. 

We watched a scary movie last night called "The Ruins" that was truly frightful.  Loved it.  It was almost believable.  And of course, Johnny Depp and the Oompaloompas on another channel.  One of my favorite movies.  Well, on to Christmas cheer.  

I've just watched Rachel Maddow and company expose the southern Republican Senators for the Hooverites they really are - blocking the auto industry bailout, endangering the country and the world, in order to gain their political agenda of busting the UAW.  Just another backward-thinking, evil-parent Republican ploy...  blocking progress to achieve their political ends.   We need cooperation, but of course, they are going to block progress, just because their bungholes are angry over the election.  This is what we can expect from them at every turn. 

Well, I have the worst cold ever.  I have been miserable all day, medicating with OTC cold meds, drinking plenty of liquids, and staying warm.  I don't understand why this cold can keep coming back on me, every time I think I have it going away.  I just don't know...and it gets more virulent each time it comes back.  What is this? 

I spent many hours on the phone today, with a young woman from India (I think), who sounded like she was doing business on the sidewalk during a riot perhaps.  I pictured her sitting on the curb, with her fix-it manual on her knees, patiently going through each and every step it takes to try to get my TracFone to work, while angry or frightened mobs ran back and forth behind her.  At the end of this lengthy session, it was finally decided that I need to receive a new number for my phone, or a new phone.  Actually, it's probably not the phone, just the Pin Number or something that is not allowing my phone to work.  It performed every function that was asked of it many times over.  But it was exhausting, probably because of my head cold. 

I was supposed to go out to eat tonight with my kids to celebrate a birthday, but I was too sick to go.  I realized at 4:30 p.m., after getting off the phone with India, that I was still in my nightgown, sweater and boots, still stuck to my box of Kleenex; my nose very sore from constant blowing, my lips parched from breathing through my mouth, and I was supposed to be in the next town in less than two hours.  Of course, I did not make it, and called to cancel.  The only sensible thing to do.  It has been below zero a couple of nights this week, and it makes sense to keep close to the wood stove, and keep the fire going brightly.  I can only hope that tomorrow finds me much improved.    

Why don't they quickly develop plans to utilize efficient gas engines and retrofit all the gas guzzlers on the lots that are not being purchased now?  If they would increase gas mileage twice from 19 miles per gallon to 38 miles per gallon, that would double our gas savings, usage, and environmental protection by twice.  This would be a good interim move, and would utilize our existing resources to the best advantage.  Another move could be to utilize spent carbon dioxide saved from "clean" coal and make carbon fiber parts for autos and trucks.  That would lighten the load and improve gas mileage. 

Well, there you have it; my ideas for helping the auto industry get through some tough times, while they work on their plans for a better future.  The above, however, will never be used because the big boys at the top are only interested in their huge salaries, and cars that go 160 miles per hour.  They love designing cars for the futuristic looks.  Last suggestion:  get rid of these auto executives and hire engineers to work on those fuel efficient engines! 

I did manage to get back into town, spent a lot of time at the tire shop.  I don't know why, but I think they are all idiots.  They claimed, after I had already been waiting for one hour, that they couldn't get my tire off without a special tool for the lug nuts, which they claimed, I should be providing in my glove compartment, perhaps?  I asked them how they got the old tires off and on again, when I had purchased the tires here in the first place.  When? they asked.  I said about 2 years ago, and they cheerily said that was plenty of time for me to "lose" the special tool.  Since I have never even heard of this before, I can only presume they kept my special tool and never put it back in my truck when I purchased tires last time.  Somehow, they muddled through and fixed the slow leak, which, by the way, was caused by a faulty air valve they had installed last time.  I had to pay for it, and am now unsure just what kind of lug nuts they have reinstalled. 

Every time I go into town or go somewhere with people now, I am always getting sick, catching whatever evil germs are floating around.  Sure enough, I have been miserable again since my last trip to town.  The weather has been getting colder, with snow, and it is beautiful outside.  The dogs are able to be outside at night now, and have been bringing back wonderful treats - deer legs, and now a hide.  We took the hide away because Pepper will eat the fur and get bound up, big time. 

I have been in a bad, Grinchy mood since last trip to town, because of catching all those nasty germs, dealing with the tire people, and now with the cell phone I purchased, trying to get it to work.  My last hope is to bring it to my son and he will soon fix it up so that I can use it.  My truck is getting old and I ought to have a cell phone with me in case of break downs, or any kind of emergency on the road.  My sister and I are deploring the plight of old age, when we must turn to our children to help us manage cell phones, VCRs, cameras, computer functions, etc. etc. etc.  This is why I am crabby lately.  Technology has passed me by, and that isn't nice.  Everytime I have to deal with another new gadget, I feel so frustrated and angry.  Why do they have to make things this way?  Nothing seems to work as they claim, or the instructions are inadequate. 

I laid down and prepared myself mentally to do all the things in town that needed to be done.  I am amazed that I went to about 8 of those places.  Mailed out my bills, shopped for groceries in 3 different stores, bought a Tracfone and some minutes for it, returned library books, donated to the Food Pantry, sold my Ruby Glassware at an antique shop and got $30.00 for those things, went to the bank, went to Pit Stop and got an oil change with full service.  But couldn't make it to the feed store, nor did I go to tire shop to repair slow leak in tire.  Will take care of those details next trip into town.  Hope my tire holds out until then. 

It's much colder today, and I'm dragging my feet on getting more stuff done until I feel warmer.  At least I have some room in the etagere where that red glassware used to be.  I will go through my clothing soon, and see what good things I can part with for the Good Will store.  I can take things in to town on my next trip. 

I was listening to Ariana Huffington talking about blogging, and how you should blog your passions, along with your everyday things.  I have just been settling down after the election.  All I can say is that it is such a joy to me to listen to the intelligence of Barack Obama, as he faces up to the enormous challenges that the Bush administration has (almost) left in its wake.  If only there was some way to prevent the damages that Bush is hell-bent on doing in his last days in office!  We need to change so many things that are wrong about the way government operates now.  We need a total overhaul of the entire system, and I hope Obama intends to remake our government in a humane, commonsense way.  He has got a fine retinue of people to work on it.  All the people who ran for president are all extremely good men and women, and I just wish they were already in office with Barack.   

And I've just about had it with calling that woodpecker "The Red-Bellied Woodpecker."  It has red on the back of its head, and no red at all on its belly.  Now I've seen photos too of this same woodpecker, and I think I might start a protest of some kind to have its name changed to "Black-Speckled-Back Woodpecker" or maybe "Partially-Red-Headed Woodpecker."  And the Pileated Woodpecker is at the beef suet hung up on the oak tree.  Plus, all the other woodpeckers that live in these parts.  There are blue jays, nuthatches, chickadees, canaries, finches, and off in the distance, the otherworldly sounds of the raven can be heard. 

Got a nasty jolt when going down to the mailboxes to pick up my mail - some not-too-respectful person has backed up into the row of mailboxes and taken out 3 of them (mine in the middle) and 2 newspaper tubes.  I tried to straighten them back up, but 2 of them and the newspaper tubes are hopeless, but mine (setting in a bucket of rocks) came up nicely.  This is not good; we'll have to see how much longer they can keep us going a half-mile to get our mail anymore.

The after-Thanksgiving turkey is almost gone, a couple more sandwiches will do it.  It sure was good while it lasted.  I've finished the books from the library; one was about the Apaches, who were defeated by lies told to them by the whites, and the other book is about Huoranis in Ecuador, also defeated by lies told to them by oil companies.  Come to think of it, we have all been defeated by lies told to us, or by lies told about us.

But the subject of this posting is that today, I am curiously listing to port.  Began as dizziness this morning while searching my cupboards for donations to give to the Food Pantry, felt really awful, and haven't been able to walk perfectly straight all day.  And I'm very tired.  I wonder if it time to have a catscan and see what this sharp pain is that plagues me on the left side of my head.

I went through my closet also, to see what I may part with to bring to Good Will and found several purses, a jacket, a dress, and another shirt.  If I went through my shoes now, I bet I would find more to give.  And I threw away things today - stuff that just sits there, can't be given to anybody, and it's stuff that annoys me just to look at it.  Good girl, good girl.  Keep on doing that.   

My daughter woke up early Thanksgiving morn to a police officer banging on her door.  Her truck had been stolen after she had fallen asleep at 3:30 a.m.  Right out of the driveway.  Of course, she left her keys in the ignition, but who could believe anyone would steal her 1991 Mitsubishi - well, it's not really a truck, but a 4-wheel drive jeepy/boxy thing, that won't start for her, even if she shuts it off for only a few minutes.  She always has to get out and get under the hood with a wire brush and clean up the battery terminals.  But of course, it started right up for the thief.

It was some 22-year-old youngster, having left a late-night drinking party, very drunk, who thought he would just walk home in the very cold night.  Perhaps realizing his mistake, he first stole a bicycle and went on his way.  But he was completely lost and didn't know where he was.  He must have been near frozen when he turned into my daughter's driveway, threw the bike into the back of her truck, fell down once, but started it up and prepared to drive away.  But failing to realize that the driveway could have been used to drive out, he tried to go through the woods - backed up and smashed my son-in-law's car and finally got away.  Until he somehow drove through an unplowed woodland road until he came to another road, where he completely mowed down a utility pole, breaking it in half and totally destroyed the Mitsubishi. 

A police officer, who lived nearby, was just leaving to go to work, when he spied the broken utility pole lying in the road and saw the poor vehicle all smashed up.  Realizing that someone was inside, he got out of his car and went to see, found the kid still trying to drive away.  Then the kid got out and fled on foot!  Well, the arraignment is this morning, but my daughter and son-in-law are home-bound, as both their vehicles are undriveable, to say the least.  The kid was not hurt at all, of course.  But the Mitsubishi is totalled.  The car can be towed in and repaired, though. 

The only other news is that we all enjoyed a good Thanksgiving Day feast anyway at my daughter's house, except for one thing.  She had charged me with making the pumpkin pie, and wanted me to use the pumpkin I bought at Halloween, which I suspect now was a field pumpkin more suited for making a jack-o-lantern, and not for making a pie.  Something was not quite right about it, and I warned everyone that they probably wouldn't like it.  They were brave enough to agree with me, and I hope that Suzie, the chicken, will like it, as that is where the rest of it is going.  What a disappointment!  But we all agreed that none of us is that crazy about pumpkin pie in the first place, and next time, there will be cherry, apple, cheesecake, or some other dessert, we all agreed. 

I called my brother and he is doing well, having been invited to a friend's house yesterday for turkey/duck dinner.  I watched a program on tv about stuffing a turkey with a duck and then stuffing the duck with a chicken, calling the whole thing a turducken.  All day long, I was going around saying "turducken" every so often.  I ate this dish once at a restaurant, but didn't care for it as much as the traditional feast, and tomorrow, I think, I am going to do the roasting of the turkey that John brought home.  It has been thawing for 2 days in the refrigerator, and I believe it will be ready to roast tomorrow.  We'll finish up an English pot roast made day before yesterday, tonight.  Gosh, all I ever talk about is food? 

I am beginning to feel the stirrings of something like an urge to clean house and decorate, which I have not begun to do yet.  The weather has been fairly mild and still, there is a very light covering of snow everywhere.  This can't and won't last much longer, I think.  I feel the need to do something interesting, or crafty, for a change. 

The turkey is thawing in the refrigerator, a 14-pounder; the pumpkin I bought for Halloween has been stored most of the time in the side room, next to the sunflower seeds.  Now it has been washed, scraped out, cut into big hunks and baked until it is soft.  Cooling down now, then I'll scrape it away from the shell, cook it a bit longer with spices, sugar, milk, etc.  I've got to make the pie crusts now, and bread is rising in the pans.  Once the pie shells are filled with cooked pumpkin, they will be baked, and tomorrow I'll bring one to my daughter's house, where my son and son-in-law have a tradition of deep frying the turkey outdoors, while passing a football back and forth.  But my kids only like the jellied kind of cranberry sauce that comes in a can, so I won't bring my cooked from scratch kind along.  

We here at home will be cooking our own turkey on Friday, with stuffing and all home-made side dishes, like pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, and home-made bread. 

Aside from these preparations, I have been in hibernation mode for at least a week now.  It's true I have been getting over a very persistent cold that just will not give up, and I'm looking forward to being well enough to make progress on whatever it is I'm doing these days. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all!  And we will try not to overeat in the coming days. 

The temperature dropped below zero last night, but I kept the place warm by getting up every few hours to add more wood to the fire.  Today the temperature rose to over 20 degrees, so it was a beautiful sunny day, for the first day of deer hunting season.  Strange to say, I haven't heard much in the way of gunfire around here.  Maybe the deer have left, or the hunters are going elsewhere.  I saw no deer tracks at all on my walk, but I did see round poody toes, which means a cat of some sort walked by.  It was bigger than a housecat, but not as big as a cougar, so that leaves Mr. Bobcat. 

After much ado, which means trying to stabilize the horrid aluminum ladder, we got the beef suet hung up high on an oak tree in a coated basket.  And today, the pileated woodpecker has been on it twice when I went outside to feed the chicken.  And Miss Suzy, the chicken, is very happy in her sheltered, sunny location.  And I am happy to go out and feed her, because everything is so much easier to do now.  Her water freezes up though, so I bring hot water out and pour it in her jug.  It stays liquid long enough for her to get her fill. 

I'm feeling lazy these days.  My list of things to do sounds like this now:  call about my tire; bake bread; get the mail, etc.  Not the heavy schedule I was on during the fall, and I am really enjoying extra relaxation time.  I now have new books to read and new puzzle books to work on.  And today, to add to my enjoyment, yes, even before Thanksgiving, a seed catalog for 2009 came from Pinetree Seeds   The fire is crackling in the stove, the birds are enjoying the treats I put out for them, and my Pepper is lying by my side after our walk.