Christmas Weekend Delights

Well, what can I say.... it started snowing around 1pm on Friday and never stopped until late, late last night. We got more than two feet of snow in one wallop!! We plowed and shoveled on Saturday morning and then again this morning (Monday). Ouch, my aching muscles!!! There was no warming up and getting the snow shovelling muscles into shape with a couple of little storms this year. We stayed in all weekend (except a dump run on Saturday) and got lots accomplished. The dogs all got a Christmas bath and grooming, all the wood floors got washed and shined (thanks honey), and cookies were baked.
Now I just have to shop for food, finish wrapping a few things, and start packing for our vacation in Maine. Can't wait to spend some family time relaxing. Of course there will undoubtedly be a few projects to do, too (you know us)!!
Since we are without computer technology in Maine... this might be my last post before the holidays. I'm sure I'll have lots to post when we get back.
Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year to all....

Let it Snow....

Today we woke up to our first plow-able, shovel-able snowfall. We only got a couple of inches, but it soon turned to freezing rain and coated everything with a sheet of ice. Many of the schools around here are still cancelled from the ice storm that we had last Friday and this just makes things more difficult for the electrical crews to work to restore power ( some people are still without). We're expecting 6-10 inches again on Friday and more on Sunday. That will make cleaning up the branches in our yard more difficult this weekend. Guess winter is finally here!!

FA LA LA

After we got back from Raymond, we put a meal in the crock pot and set out to find all of our Christmas decorations. Luckily we had remembered that we had taken some home to Berlin for fear that they would get ruined in the storage trailer for a year.
We found everything that we needed which were here and there in boxes and set out to figure out where to put the tree. With a place in mind, we unpacked all the decorations and got to decorating. Of course Kyra thought it would be much more fun to play frisbee!!
It was very cold overnight and we woke to a frozen lake. We finished up our decorations and cleaned up and left to do some errands.
We went to the carpet store and ordered a new carpet for the family room (Thanks Pop Pop) and then to Bob's Furniture Store to get some new furniture. We ordered a new dark brown leather couch and two chairs. They will all be delivered on Christmas Eve and we can't wait to see how it will all come together. Merry Christmas to US!!! We were going to donate the old stuff to the Salvation Army, but Vic was able to find a family that could use it and, in the spirit of the holidays, we are happy about that.

VISIT TO RAYMOND

Last Saturday we took a drive to Raymond to walk our woodlot with a couple of guys from the logging company who are going to be cutting our land. The scenery was spectacular with the sun glistening off the ice on the trees as we drove up Valley Road. After we took our walk we decided to drive up to Gore Road to see our old house. It still looks about the same, but there is a bay window in what used to be the garage. They must have turned that into some kind of room. The shed and the barn are still the same. As we drove up the road on the left, the Plummer's house is gone and there is a little blue/gray ranch in it's place. There is also a new road right after that house which is a new development. I think that the Plummers must have sold a bunch of their land.
After that we drove down 85 to the corner of 302. There was a sign on that old, red building (which has housed many businesses... a couple of restaurants and a book store) that said "Wine Tasting Today". Of course we had to go in... and it is now a lovely deli and gift shop.
When Lee was done "tasting" his fill, we drove down 302 thru Windham. There have been many changes there, too. They have a Lowe's, Home Depot and a few more strip mall stores.
Anyway, it was fun to take a trip down memory lane.... enjoy the pics.

Rememberances of '98

We had quite the ice storm last night and this morning. Parts of MA were hit badly and others were unaffected. Seemed to be north and west of 495. We lost our power, had to start our generator and had lots of branches fall (firewood for next winter). We were without power for most of the night and all morning into the afternoon. I heated up some lunch for myself on the woodstove and it worked quite well. Suddenly the sun peeked out and the power came back on. Luckily we didn't lose power for days like we did in Maine in '98. I think that we would have had to wear a hard hat if we had ventured out then because the ice was crashing down from the trees as it melted. Looked like a war zone. Some of our bushes in the front yard didn't fare so well and I hope that we can prop them up and save them. We're heading to Maine tonight and hopefully won't find too much damage up there. Keep your fingers crossed...
Here are some pictures that I took this morning....

Our Thanksgiving

The Best:
Spending another Thanksgiving with Pop Pop
Having Joann bring over a tray of food
Not over-eating
Helping Pop Pop with lots of chores... wood, leaves, dog grooming etc.
Getting more sleep than usual
Gas in NJ at $1.68
Not too much traffic on Sunday driving home

The Worst:
Finding out I have Mono
Lee being sick and sleeping on the drive down to PA
Having to drive most of the way myself
Lee eating a banana and ginger ale for Thanksgiving
Heating leftovers for Pop Pop and myself for dinner
Rain the entire way home on Sunday... How do you spell W-E-T D-O-G-S

This will certainly be a Thanksgiving to remember :)