News from Here

 Life is complex! Or when it rains, it pours!

I had on my calendar to call the electrician in the new year to see if we could schedule a visit to add a socket for a new electric dryer.  Current dryer is propane and lots of years old.  We are replacing both the washer and the dryer in our bathroom/laundry renovation.

I got the electrician right away on Wednesday morning but they couldn't commit.  They referred me to someone else with whom I left a long message.  Then Dan suggested I ask Tony, our neighbor, who is very handy with all things electric including putting up solar panels.  He said sure.  As I write he has started work.

While Tony was here scoping out the task Wednesday the plumber called.  They were scheduled to give us an estimate on Friday so I was fearful they were going to push that back again.  Original date had been Dec. 15th. But no, they wanted to come within the hour.  Zach came and stayed over an hour.  He will be in touch next week with estimate and timetable.

With both those trades in the works I had to make some final decisions on which dryer and washer, and vanity.  Did that last night and Home Depot to deliver the appliances on Jan 10th! By bedtime wednesday we were both exhausted from decision fatigue.

As I said Tony is at work now to get socket in place.  Dan has started deconstruction that falls on him to do. He removed the mirror/medicine cabinet. We will replace with a simple mirror.  The vanity will have the storage we need.  Plumber will help remove and replace vanity to preserve the pipes.

Me?  I've been finishing it up the kitchen project painting the chair that we found in the barn loft when we first moved here. It's our extra chair at the dining room table when we have more than 4 to seat.  I decided to keep it in the kitchen instead of the guest room and paint it blue.

On top of all that I needed to be in touch with Untours about booking our flight to Switzerland for our two weeks there with family this summer. Had a long conversation on that this morning.

Finally we had a very light dusting of snow today but now the sun is out and it will disappear.  It is a very strange winter not to have mounds of snow around.

Still on my list, painting the cabinets over the washer and dryer to match the new vanity and stain the table in the kitchen to match the new oak cabinets.

Happy New Year!

 We had a wonderful week long visit from our daughter Sarah and family from Buffalo.  Granddaughter #3 is quite sharp and enjoying first grade. Granddaughter #4 is an active almost two year old. Lots of new words learned while she was here.

Emily's family that lives close by had lots of time with us too during the holidays.

No resolutions for this year. I know what I need to do as far as exercising and eating.

Holding my breath a lot about the upcoming election and whether we say no to a wannbe dictator who attempted a coup in 2021.

Almost read 100 books in 2023. I got to 94.  In 2022 the total was 68.

We are undertaking another renovation project this month.  This time it's the bathroom/laundry room. Plumber comes on the 5th to give us an estimate on the plumbing portion.  Flooring already picked out and ordered. New washer and dryer will require an electrician as we are changing over from a propane dryer to an electric one.  New vanity already selected but not purchased yet. I'll need to do some painting of laundry cabinets very soon.

Christmas decorations came down on New Year's Day! I'm ready for 2024!

No Pictures Post

 Monday morning and we are in the midst of a powerful rain storm here in NH.  It's part of a larger storm hitting the Northeast. As I write Dan is out on a fire call - downed tree on wires with a chance of a fire. The call came in early and woke us up.  Not sure what time he'll be home.

My lights just flashed so now I wonder if power outage will hit us.

Yesterday was my 73rd birthday. No big celebration. Emily and family had me over for tea and cake. I had elected not to accompany Dan to a singing of the Messiah.  It was one where everyone got to sing! I don't sing like that.

Cookies were made this passed week and plates of them delivered to the neighbors with help from granddaughters. All but one of the neighbors were home to thank me.  I have to revise that. The neighbor across the street is not friendly at all but I did deliver her cookies.  She chose not to answer the door.  Now I have to admit she does work from home so maybe was on a call and couldn't come.  But even later there was no acknowledgement of cookies received.  The one who wasn't home called me the next day to thank me.

Saturday Dan and I went to a performance in Grafton,VT of a choral group and brass quintet.  It was lovely. Afterward we had dinner with the friends we went with at the Fullerton Inn in Chester, VT. We rarely eat that late but it was a delicious meal and conversation. We arrived home at 11 pm.

At the end of this week daughter Sarah and family will arrive to celebrate the holiday with us.  We are looking forward to that.

Let me sign off for the rest of the year but leave you with Christmas Wishes and New Year Joys.

A Fun Mess

 

Just spent the last hour making this mess.  But I had lots of fun

decorating all the cutout cookies I baked yesterday.  Above melted chocolate chips with some dipped in coconut.

The rest decorated with icing made of confectionary sugar and milk.  It was still a bit runny so I went for the stained glass look.

I've also made peanut butter cookies, molasses cookies, chocolate chews with pecans, and oatmeal almond chocolate cookies.  I have 6 cookies plates to make up for neighbors and the rest of these will be when family visits.

What cookies are you making this year?