Simple Pleasures

As ordinary as it was, yesterday left me with a real sense of accomplishment.

          It started at the YMCA in my old-lady aerobics class, which I’m glad I went to even if Wednesday’s instructor thinks it’s great for sexagenarians and older to be doing jumping jacks. Before class began, my friend Donna pulled me aside like she was about to give me a hot tip on the horse running in the third. She had something better – inside information that the senior center one town over was giving away Covid rapid tests. I almost did a jumping jack out of sheer glee.

          After a quick trip home to change, I decided that my planned trip to the grocery store could just as easily happen in the neighboring town. A quick visit to the senior center- yes, I’d like two, please! – and I’m now equipped for a safe visit to our unvaccinated three-year-old grandgirls. As even more of a score, I later realized that there are two tests per box.

          The market in town is a member of the chain I usually go to, but I think I like this one better than mine. And it was virtually empty, a magical thing in these Omicron times and two days before the mad rush to buy New Year’s Day food.

          I followed that with a visit to the Goodwill store a half mile away, where I donated two huge bags of Christmas decorations I haven’t used in years. This was quite the victory, since all the donation boxes in my area only want clothes.

          An early dinner out, a couple of episodes of The Mandalorian (thanks to daughter forgetting to log off of her Disney account last time she stayed with us), and the day was complete.

 

Conquering the Stockpile

My Monday horoscope:  ". . Don’t fall prey to needless spending.”                                 This, after the pre-Christmas orgy of shopping. Talk about closing the barn door.

Aftermath

 

We were missing one little black and white dog, but otherwise Christmas went swimmingly.

Turkeys and Tests

 

We woke up this morning to snow dusting the ground and decorating the long pine branches in the woods. I pulled the shades up and climbed back in bed in time to watch seventeen turkeys peck and cluck their way across the backyard, their feathers so much darker against the new white snow.

Mamie

          I wish now that we’d given Mamie a bigger chunk of that sugar cookie last night or a little more peanut butter around her pill this morning. Today’s trip to the groomer was more than her tired little heart could handle.

Waffling

           We mailed out our Christmas cards last week.

Great Migration

 

Lured out by the sunshine that lasted just long enough for me to put on my scarf, earmuffs, gloves, and coat, I’ve just returned from my afternoon walk.

Inside/Outside

 

          Today should be a quiet Saturday at home. The forecast is for some yucky weather – snow/sleet/rain – so I think I’ll stay in and make Christmas cookies.

Christmas Reveal

I opened up my local CVS flier, full of deals on chocolate Santas and Christmas lights, to find this cheery message, decorated with a happy Christmas tree ornament for good measure.

The rough road of romance

          I was in the house and heard a noise somewhere between clicking and barking. A new dog in the neighborhood? Were our pipes in the basement doing strange things? I looked outside and saw:

Life Examined

          This has been a week of forced contemplation.

Part Two

 

After handing off our 16-year-old sedan to grandson #2, we’re learning the mixed joys of new cars.

Not the day to buy a lottery ticket

This morning, stretchy pants on, tee shirt on, weights and water bottle in hand, I jumped in my two-year-old car to head off for a much-needed session at the YMCA.

Tax Discount

 

Yes, amazing but true. Here in our town, you can receive a discount on your property taxes.

          Maybe this is common practice in other places and I’ve just been oblivious, but I’m still impressed by our program in which a few positions are offered to seniors for tax abatement. 17 Senior citizens will be selected to work for the town for fiscal year 2023 (From July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023). Minus federal income tax and Medicare deductions, after 125 hours, the maximum abatement is $1,500.

          The available positions are:

          Library helpers

          Public Access Television Producers

          Assistants in the Selectmen’s office, Senior Center, Clerk’s Office, and Treasurer’s Office

 

          I would think this would be not only a little financial relief, but also helps some people get out of the house and participate in their town.

Turkey Days

     I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. Hopefully, like us, you felt freer than last year to gather with family and friends.

Philosophy and Pastrami

 

Who knew a pastrami Reuben could be the catalyst for thoughts on optimism versus denial?

Giving Thanks

As Thanksgiving approaches, I’ve found something to be truly grateful for.

Break out the handkerchiefs

 

Never mind those vees of geese overhead, or the furnace’s hum from the basement.

Motoring in the hills

It’s still fairly reasonable here, the temps in the 50s and 60s during the day, but the trees outside our windows have been telling another story.

Sticker Shock

 

Breaking my own rule of avoiding grocery stores on Saturday, I ran in yesterday to pick up milk and a few other things.

I can see clearly now

       One reason I fell in love with our last house was its many windows. Six in the living room alone, a big many-paned bay in the dining room, another in the kitchen. One reason I was happy to leave our last house was its many windows.

Prepping for the end times

Never mind toilet paper or paper towels (although if pressed, I will admit to, let’s say, a few rolls in the basement, no more than a week’s supply).

Timber!

This past weekend Mamie helped me tidy up the back yard a bit – cutting back the dead hosta, throwing out the browned chrysanthemums, clipping down the astilbe.

Inspiration

When I arrived at my Boomer low-impact aerobic class this morning, the gym was awash in balloons and cupcakes, not the sort of thing you expect to find where the whole idea is to reduce the jigglies, not add to them.

Myth of Feline Aloofness

My week with the grandboys went swimmingly.

Bay State to Garden State

 

 

          I’ve arrived in New Jersey, white knuckles and all.

Double Time

Rising Above

 

The flawless autumn weather continued, but it could have been an irritating day today – the elements were all there:

Brief Bliss

Most sunny afternoons, my neighbor Carol can be found on a chair in her front yard with her two Shiatzus, Petunia and Peanut, on leashes, snuffling around in the grass.   

True Democracy

Last night we sat in our town’s high school auditorium as the sausage was made.

Monday morning

I took Mamie out for a quick stroll before I went off to exercise class.

Turkeys and Soup

          A grey sort of Sunday here, not really cold, but the right sort of day to start some bread, make some soup (thank you $5.99 Costco rotisserie chicken), and stock up at the library. Which is exactly what I did.