100 Years

On February 18th, 1920 my Dad was born.  Today he would have been 100 years old.  He passed away in 1976 at age 56.  I think of him daily.  I wonder what he would have thought about the world today.  He was wondering what the heck was going on in the world when he was still here on earth.  He used to say, after hearing about something on the news, "Is it "them" (who's nuts) or is it me?" He had a good sense of humor and could always make you smile or laugh.  He could fix anything. I picture him under the hood of a car or under the house fixing one thing or another.  If you had a problem or needed help he'd be there and help you through it.  I always thought he was the smartest man I knew. I always felt safe growing up knowing he'd always be there to take care of us along with Mom.   Every July his company closed the factory down where he worked as a tool and dye maker and that's when we took our vacations.  We camped all over the country.  We planned those trips in the Winter.  He'd get out the big campground book that had all the places to stop and we'd pick out the ones that met our requirements.   A place for us kids to swim and play, showers and flushing toilets, and if we would be there any length of time he'd want a lake so he could fish.  He loved fishing.  He and Mom bought a little house in Wisconsin, about an hour from Chicago and that's where my Grandparents lived.  However, right down the road was a lake.  So he not only found a place his parents could live, it also had a  place for us to play, swim and he could fish! I told you he was smart!  He loved to read and he loved to write poetry.  He played guitar and loved to sing, especially at Christmas.  I could go on and on and I truly wish he was here to celebrate his birthday.  He loved family gatherings too! I know he would truly have enjoyed his Grandkids and Great-Grandkids. So Happy 100th Birthday Dad!  We all miss you and hope you're up in heaven looking down at your family knowing that you were so loved and you were the best Dad ever!

Young man at 17.

Movie star good looks!

Served his country in WWII...drove a tank in the Army and fought many battles.

Had the best smile!

Loved his dog Rebel.

Dad singing to Mom and me at my wedding.

Love Is In The Air!

Happy Valentine's Day! A day set aside for love, cards, candy, flowers, engagements, and burgers! Yep, we celebrated this year with our traditional burgers and shakes. Good thing I start my new diet tomorrow! Jack got me a beautiful bouquet:

He knows I love fresh flowers and I also love this pink vase! Thanks babe and Happy Valentine's Day to you! Love ya!  He's learned many things about married life after 45 years of wedded bliss😍 but this simple phrase is one of the most important things he's learned:

Happy wife, happy life! But love wasn't just in the air around the Pines, but around the operating room as well.  We will celebrate any holiday or special time of year with a "carry in" of homemade goodies and stuff for lunch...

A pretty cheesecake....

Tables full of treats...

Crock pots full of lovely goodness!

My often requested Greek chicken...chicken stuffed with spinach, feta, garlic, mayo, all wrapped up with some bacon for good measure!  Give your sweeties a big hug and an "I love you!".  Hopefully that's an everyday thing for everyone.  We really don't need a special day to do this.  Hallmark loves these kinds of celebrations because they know we all want to "care enough to send the very best!" and pay a price to prove it!  So no matter how you celebrate this "holiday",  I hope you find love is the air in your neck of the woods...yep, that's that funny smell today!

Weekend Weather

Last Sunday it was sunny and in the 60's.  Today...well, it's snowing to beat the band..very pretty but also pretty chilly!  It started out on Friday or maybe it was Thursday evening.  First the ice:

The benches on the deck probably wouldn't be the best place to rest your bum!

The mailbox is a bit frozen.  Notice the green grass however..although it was crispy with ice too.

Holly bush with it's leaves covered in ice that gave it the look of fine glass.

A little more vivid on the crabapple tree.  So then we had the snow appear. I don't mind the snow but when it covers the ice on the roads and sidewalks it makes it a different hazard.

I was glad that we didn't get any visitors or packages delivered on the front porch or I should say the front ice skating rink!  To see the difference you just have to look at the next 2 pics:

Before snow..

Friday snow!  It got warmer on Saturday and much of this melted but it's really snowing outside now and I'm glad I'm inside, comfy and ready for a cup of hot cocoa and a good book.

Arnie is too! He actually doesn't mind the snow as long as he doesn't have to be out in it for long. It only took a quick pee break to get covered! The weekend has gone fast, as usual.  We had a nice Saturday with watching Cameron play basketball in the morning:

He's in the gray..#1. 

My son Jack is his team's coach.  They were up in points at this time but, unfortunately, they ended up losing by 2pts.  Disappointing for sure but we're pretty certain our Cameron wasn't feeling very good. He just wasn't his usual self and I noticed that he wasn't even on the bench when the game was over. Nope, he was in the bathroom...and although he said he was OK, he sure looked not so hot.  Oh well, we still enjoyed the game and hope he's better today.  Later in the afternoon we met friends at Red Lobster and had a nice evening with everyone who came.  The snow has covered the ground once again and I'll end this post with a wish for everyone to be safe, warm, and  have a great Monday!

Daydream Believer

I was going to call this post "Why Do We Do It?".  What am I referring to?  Entering Contests.  Do you do that? Do you enter Publisher's Clearing House every year? Do you buy raffle tickets? How about lottery tickets? I don't do the lottery thing unless it's ginormous and everyone at work is throwing in their $2.  Hey, I don't want to be the only one left working if we win! Also we don't chip in as a group unless it's a big payout.  Who wants to win only a few measly million?  Do we enter because we're sure we will win? Do we enter because we're just hoping we're going to win but don't think we really have a chance in h@^^ of taking home the prize? For over 20 years I've played the HGTV Dream House contest.  They build a big, beautiful home and throw in a few extra goodies like a car, $250,000 in cash and also a doggy dream house for your furbaby.  Of course I've never won.  Somebody always does win and they show it on TV as they sneak up and surprise them at work or home or whatever and hand them a bunch of balloons and a giant fake check....or maybe that's Publisher's Clearing House...whatever.  Anyway, I play.  I don't really want/need a house. I love my own home.  The car is kind of tempting because we're looking at getting  a new one and are trying to decide what we want. If I would win one the decision is made for me! Ha! At work one of our Docs is always telling me how he's going to win the Dream Home.  He's an anesthesiologist so he stands on the other side of the sterile drapes and always says: "Hey Starko, (yes, they all call me Starko at work) I'm going to win that house!" He then holds up his phone and pushes the entry button.  So we banter back and forth about which one of us is going to win. (me..just sayin')  It's fun to think about winning a great prize and how you'd spend the money. How you could move into a big new house or, if  you're me, how you would be thanking the HGTV folks while Jack was outside pounding in the "For Sale" sign in the front yard.  So why do we do it?  Well, it's fun to dream.  I have a sign in my house with lots of encouraging snippets about life.  One of the lines on my sign says: "Dreaming does matter. It allows you to become what you aspire to be."  Now, maybe I'll never win that house and money and Arnold won't have the doggy dream home to eat his kibble in. And Jack and I will have to make up our minds and buy that new (used) car ourselves.  But there's always that thought in the back of your mind...the one that says that somebody is going to win so why not me?  Reality is saying the only thing I usually win..or get for free..are those free postal labels that come in "begathon" envelopes. Yes, I keep them even if I don't donate. (Don't judge!)

Today I got a $10 off anything in the store from the Fin, Feather , and Fur. Oh, and that tube of antibiotic ointment was a freebie from work.

That's sort of like winning if I want a gun or knife or some other outdoorsy thing, right? Well, keep on being a Daydream Believer.  Enter the contests, buy the tickets, dream big..

Dream about visiting me when I win the Dream Home! Don't worry, there's always next year!

Fabulous February..Welcome!

So long January. You weren't a bad month weather wise but moving into a new month just brings us a bit closer to Spring.  Hello February! Not as short as usual since it's Leap Year.  One free day to spend as you wish.  Jack and I are thinking about taking that free day and going to Florida for a quick 4 day weekend since my birthday is the 28th.  It's still in the talking stage of planning. I think it's the drab weather we've had.  Not much in the way of snow or even very cold, just darn grey all the time.  The weather gurus said we've had over 20 cloudy days in January.  That's bound to get to you even if you're like me and don't get depressed when it's dark and dreary!

Friday the sun was trying to peek out  in the cloud cover...can you spy it up there? That tiny orb of white?  Anyway, on Friday night a group of my co-workers wanted to get together and listen to a band that was playing at a local eatery called: Union Town Brewery. (Ashland was originally called "Union Town" but had to change it's name because there was another Union Town and the post office made them change it. So it was changed to "Ashland' back in the 1800's) Jack and I don't drink but we heard the food was pretty good and we met up with these gals:

See my BFF Donna?  Her broken leg has healed but she's retired now and I miss seeing her at the hospital.  I was glad she came out to join us! 

This is the outside of the brewery...yes, it says Gilbert Furniture. That store was in Ashland for 175 years before having to close it's doors.  It had a few other businesses in there for a short while but it was great to see a successful restaurant go in there and keep the history of the building intact. And pretty cute that they used the original name of our town for their business. They give tours of the basement brewing process but not a busy Friday night.  The band was good but loud! The food was really good  and the company even better. We had a fun time with them and some other coworkers who showed up later.

I was trying to get a pic of the inside and Jack was trying to get out of the way! I love the tin ceiling tiles! If you're ever in Ashland you need to stop by! The outside of the brewery also has this cute alley way that's nice in the summer but still pretty in the winter:

We'll have to go when the weather allows for outdoor dining!  Today was filled with the usual Saturday grocery shopping and errands.  A lot of my friends and family use the grocery pick-up service.  I know it's a convenience for many but I think it's good to walk around and get some exercise while doing the shopping and even connecting with folks instead of just on the cell phone. But to each their own and it's nice to know there's a service available to use if I would need it. I was really happy to see a bit of blue sky today:

I knew it was still up there! We had a few more things on the agenda today.  A quick stop for a friends 55th surprise birthday party..

And then it was off to watch some high school b-ball.  Sitting in the bleachers always brings back memories of our boys playing and watching a grandson play is fun...although he hasn't gotten tons of playing time this year, we enjoyed the game and he did get in for a bit.

Sorry it's blurry, but I didn't have the camera turned to "action" shots!

Congrats to the team for winning tonight! Well, that's all I have for the start of a new month. Tomorrow is Ground Hog Day.  I don't get why we have that "holiday".  I guess it gives folks something to write about in blogs.  No matter if that rodent sees a shadow or not, I'm guessing we're in for 6 more weeks of Winter.  So enjoy your Sunday and if Ground hogs aren't your thing, enjoy the Super Bowl! 

Book 'Em!

January at the Pines is finally acting like....well...January in Ohio! We have some snow on the ground and a bite in the air. The temps have been seasonal, in the 20's and lower. Our woodstove is humming along and keeping it cozy.  The sun was out today and I find that even if  "Baby It's Cold Outside" is playing in your head, it's still a mood lifter to have that vitamin D.  When I got home from work this afternoon I was happy to see my new blog book arrived.

My last year life in print and photos.  It's the 10th book I have.  This is my 12th year of blogging but my first book contained 2 years of blogging.  I'm more chatty now and can fit one year in a book with no problem!  I enjoy thumbing through it and comparing the months and seeing if I actually did anything great last year.  Nothing earth shattering but good nevertheless.  It's a journal, a diary, a connection with family and friends and my blog friends that I've never met personally but feel like I've known forever.  Many times I've talked about blogging with others and most people say the same thing: "I don't have anything to write about" or "I don't have time for that" or "I wouldn't know how to start something like that".  Since I've been blogging I've noticed that I ask more questions of people about their lives...past or present...and then realize, even if they don't, that they do indeed have something to write about. Everyone has a story, or a life worth remembering.  I know I'm preaching to the choir here since most folks that read my blog are actually bloggers!  So what do we write about?  Here's an example:  Saturday night talent show.  Our church had it's annual talent show and potluck.  I was surprised at the talent that was shared.   It was shared by adults, teens, millennials, and even toddlers.  Of course I have the photos to prove it!

Everyone brings something to share.  You never know what's on the menu but as most church socials go, the homemade food is delicious.   The following acts were pretty good too!

Family acts with tiny comedians

Clarinet players.

Classical pianists...notice there's no music, it's all from memory and was fabulous.

Magic acts that relied on science.

Guitar player who can also sing and make us smile.

Ukulele players and Mom's with littles who sing and dance. There were  many more but some of my  pics just didn't come out very good.  But a big applause to the poetry readers, sign language singer, trombone player that just started playing and his selection was "Hot Cross Buns" played as only a 10yr old can do it!  Oh, and the 3 year old who did somersaults..backwards no less! Something for everyone I guess!  All blog worthy material.  Finally, as I was looking through the pages I noticed a post from last year with Arnie playing in the snow:

I noticed something strange.  His coloring has changed so much in the last year:

Same dog? Yep....maybe a few pounds heavier too! (shhhh...he's sensitive about it) Gone is the brown hair.  Oh well, we love you Arnie no matter your coloring.  So that's what blogging is about to me.  My simple pleasures on paper to enjoy, share, and remember year to year.  Have a blog worthy day tomorrow and don't forget to write about it!

Just Eggcellent!

You may be thinking that this post will be about eggs.  Eggs...the perfect food...eggcept if you're me and can't eat them.  No, I'm not really allergic.  I just have an intolerance to them. I get all over joint pain when I eat them.  Sound weird?  Well, that's me..weird! Anyway, I may not eat them but I use them in baking and I've found that the ones that come fresh from the chicken, not the grocery store, bake much nicer baked goods.  We don't have chickens here at the Pines.  The thought has occurred to us to raise them but I know I don't have the desire to do that at this time.  My neighbors have them and l know the fox that lives in the Creepy Woods enjoys a fresh chicken dinner once in a while!  So what makes me think about writing a post about eggs?  Well, Jack came home from work last week and brought a dozen fresh eggs that one of his patients left for him.  Yes, he's the kind of Doc that gets fresh eggs, sometimes meat, and other items from his patients! I reread that line and it sounds like his patient laid the eggs herself! Ha! NO...her chickens did!  Anyway, when I opened the carton I was eggcited to see what color they would be.  The dozen we had previously were pretty shades of blue, brown, tan, and green.  This batch was all green!  I said, "Holy Cow! Green eggs! All we need is some ham!"  (You know, Green Eggs and Ham...Dr. Suess?) I also said it would be a blog worthy moment.  Jack suggested I go to our freezer and grab a ham and take a pic. While writing this I had no get up and go to get up and go to the freezer in garage for the ham.  So here's the eggs:

Wait!!! Where's the green eggs?  I took multiple pics and could not get a shot that showed the actual color...a pale green...of these cuties.  I guess you'll just have to believe me when I say they are green. So that's my eggstraordinary post for this night.  The only other news from the Pines is the eggceptional weather we have been having.  Temps in the 50's and 60's in mid January. I write this so next year I can look back and see how the weather compares to January, 2021.  Weird? Yep, that's me again! Remember my shoes from the previous post? Well, they were not comfy so back they went.  I guess I'll just have to walk on egg shells until I find the perfect fit.  I hope everyone has a good week, not one that's scrambled, hard boiled, fried, or cracked.  I wish you only, soft boiled, over easy and very sunny side up...and that's no Yoke! 

A Work Less Day

I was asked yesterday if I would like a low census day today.  You don't have to ask me twice about taking a day off! The clinical coordinator had a smile on her face when she asked..she knew how I'd answer I guess! Every once in a while it's nice to have a "work less day" in the week.  Now, I may not be in surgery, but I do have things I try to accomplish with this free day.  After sleeping in..yum, I love that, I got up and washed and waxed my kitchen floor, vacuumed the house, made 2 loaves of bread...banana nut and cinnamon swirl...took a jaunt in the Creepy Woods, had lunch with Jack, (Chinese was very good!), checked blogs, and I'll be heading out soon to take Arnie for a walk in the cemetery.  The weather has been freakishly nice this January and I want to take advantage of every nice day to get out and walk.  Sometimes I think I need to do something  fabulous and great when I get one of these work less days but then I realize that no matter what I do, or accomplish, it's all fabulous!

I took out the old rug that was a solid navy blue and put in a lighter shaded one.  Brightens up the space.

Two loaves of sweet bread, wrapped and ready for work tomorrow. I'm sure my coworkers won't mind my day off endeavors!

This is the same view as my snowy header pic only it's very snow less today! We're going to have temps in the 50's and 60's this weekend.  The Winterfest ice scupture folks who are planning this annual festival on Saturday and Sunday won't be too thrilled.  This has happened a few times but they hold the event anyway.  Not sure we'll get there to see the ice melt, but who knows.

Finally, I'll put a pic of my new work shoes that arrived yesterday.  Looking back at my blog from last year I saw that I had a new pair around the same time.  When you're on your feet all day you need to change out shoes at least once a year...maybe more depending on your feet. Worst thing to have is a bad back followed by bad feet.  Good shoes can help both.  So that's why I blog..to check and see when I last bought new work shoes! Ha! Actually, it's time to put my 2019 blog into print.  That's something I do every year and I've come to love those books. It's fun to look back and remember that everyone has a story.  Some are much more interesting than mine, but mine is still a life that's worth recording and this is the easiest way and fun too, to do it.  I've met some really nice folks in blog land and even if the post is about shoes, or bread,  or weather, or "work less days", it's surely not a "worthless day" to put in print.  I hope everyone has a wonderful, blog worthy day!
   

Snot Nose

You've heard the term "snot nose kid" I'm sure.  Well, I'm not a kid but I've been sporting a snot nose since New Year's Eve.  New Year's Day dawned and I felt like I was hit by a truck.  I took some Dayquil and slogged through a traditional dinner of pork..or in our case, ribs, and sauerkraut  and also throw in some black eyed peas for good luck measure.  We cut my Greek New Year bread..it's called Vasilopita, to see who would get the lucky coin baked inside.  Well, I won that so I hope it does bring good luck!  On New Year's Eve we went to a surprise birthday party for our good friend Greg who's going to be 75 next week. He was truly surprised and we had a nice time but I was ready to head home and to bed. I didn't see the ball drop at midnight, only my eyelids!  Today I finished getting all the Christmas decorations down and put away and the house seems a bit empty.  The weather so far has been warmer than usual but snow is falling tonight.  However, temps in the 30s isn't bad at all.  I'll be happy that next week will be a normal work week with no confusion as to what day it is. I feel like we had more than one Monday for the last 2 weeks!  I'm feeling better and I'm looking forward to starting some indoor projects for this winter.  I hope everyone had a great holiday.  Do you do traditional things that are suppose to bring good luck?

No coins in your bread? 

My real luck might be the extra vitamin C to get the rest of my cold gone! Enjoy the rest of the weekend!