Walking in the Cold

Hello, I just read that being out in the cold is good for a person. Leroy and I should be gaining all kinds of health benefits. We both walked this morning. He walked very early and I did later. We will walk to choir tonight to get all of our steps. I did not manage to get that done yesterday with other obligations in my day. But we were out Sunday and Monday. Three days should count for something. I still wonder about the younger people that we see on campus. They are now generally wearing long sleeves, but they can still be rather lightly dressed. Another person was running this morning when I was out otherwise, I do not meet many people. This weather means we need to start gathering our income tax information and organizing it so we can give it to someone else to finish. Income tax in Slovakia was no big deal since everyone was taxed at the same percentage. Not sure if it was fair, but it certainly simplified life. We will go to church choir practice tonight. I am not sure why, but my voice seems rather fragile. It is not comfortable for me to sing for a long time. Maybe I need to sing more during the week to strengthen my throat. I do not really want to give up singing. I remember that my mother had some trouble singing in her later life. Is this another way I’m becoming my mother? Paula

Life Mysteries

Hello, At zero degrees F. we walked to church cold, but we could handle it. It should be warmer on the return trip. Instead it felt worse with the wind blowing in our face or on the side of our faces. It was warmer by six degrees, but felt much colder. My cheeks hurt by the time we made it home. Counting blocks and then houses helped to encourage me to keep going. Course, how could we stop? We keep a careful eye on the condition of the side walk as we do not want to fall in this time. How can there be so much cruelty in the world alongside so much kindness? Why does this keep repeating or reappearing in many different places? There is certainly no chance to feel superior as it can be found everywhere. Sometimes it goes underground, but then reappears. Thank God for good people who give their all. Where and how do I fit, in all of this? How can I get rid of possessions that have some sentimental value, but no real purpose in my life? How many times can I move them before they become more of a burden than an asset? Ah the mysteries go on. Paula

Skill Set

Hello, Leroy and I cleaned our bedroom closet. This is an old house so the closet it not wide, but long and probably was not a closet originally. Boxes and other stored objects take up the back space. I have all my hanging clothes in here. The current season to the front and the off-season clothes to the back. I managed not to throw out anything but a box that contained nothing. That’s where skill and ignoring are necessary. There are a number of photos in here and some necklaces that I do not look at or wear. Decisions are hard so it all went back. I did manage to weed out three bests because I never wear belts. After searching on line, I found some tips for making unsweetened applesauce in the instant pot. We both like it quite a lot. Simple, simple, simple. Core the apples, cut them up add lemon juice, and water. Cook for the specified time and remove. I did suggest we use the potato masher on it. It worked very well. We will do this again. It will be a great way to use the apples faster.

I also figured out how to have a meeting in a program that used to be skype. It took some “monkeying” around, but we did it. Paula

Out Before the serious Cold

Hello, Yesterday we had the whole day off. We had planned to make a little out of town trip to a museum. Instead, we stayed home, did exercises indoors, went out and shoveled snow. This includes our neighbors’ sidewalks on both sides who have some health issues. We went to the library because that is a very important place to go when we are low on books. Next was a shopping trip that involved several stores. Leroy has decided he needs a steering wheel cover but was not prepared for the prices of such devices. He came home without such a thing, but someday the desire and the price will meet. At the grocery store we only needed three things; however, we came out with quite a few more items. In the afternoon, a friend texted to tell us that someone we had known in the past had died. The visitation was to be in about two hours. So, we went back out. It was a good thing to visit with many of the people we had known for a long time. We do not often see them. We managed to spend an hour there. The day filled up easily. When I look out now at the clean sidewalk, I am so glad that we got to that clearing task as the temperature did not get about zero today. Windchills have been at daunting levels. I am grateful for a warm place to be with power and water available. What luxuries! Paula

Bargain Cheese and Postage Stamps

Hello, Yesterday on Facebook a store was advertising Brie cheese for a dollar a package. One of them was supposedly a $26 saving and the other was a $10 saving. It was as long as supplies lasted and at one store only. After fussing around a while, I went the two miles, hoping that some would be left. The “cheaper” one was gone. We had never had the more expensive one, but two 27ounce packages found their way into the cart. I have enjoyed it. Leroy is rather careful because the soft cheeses are more problematic for him. He could take a lactose pill, but prefers not to do that. I looked on line and learned that the $26 was a low-end price for the type and amount of cheese imported from France. I live with a stamp collector, consequently we have some sheets of stamps where only one is needed. I am happy to have some stamps to use on cards. No letters mailed here any longer. We had some stamps commemorating the day of the dead. It did not seem right to use them to mail a sympathy card or a birthday card. They had been in the house so long that it was just time. Two were left. The paper came off with the sticky stuff on the back. That means I had to glue it on the envelope. The second one did the same thing. They both went on birthday cards. Hopefully no one is insulted. The stamps had to be used and not tossed in the trash. Paula

Talented and Gifted

Hello, Now I am talented and gifted. I frequently go to the library and they let me know after I am home, that my book on hold has come in. Today when I was there, I even checked the hold books for my initials of bra. BRA was there, but not in a book I had ordered. I am also skilled at getting in the slowest line at a store. Even if the line appeared shorter when I stepped in place. Someone might have an issue that needs to be solved changing the entire dynamic. I have even warned people who are obviously looking for the quickest way out, that I have some issues with lines. Maybe if I work hard I can develop some more skills. The temperature was not so low, 20 degrees. However, it was still a bit chilly. With a little bit of wind. That means I did not get in as many steps as I wanted. It is satisfying to see where we cleared the sidewalk. Some people did not attempt to get that job done. The depth of the snow is not deep, but it is noticeable when I step on the snow. I try to be more alert as there can be slippery areas hidden. Paula

Walking in the cold

Hello, I walked to my volunteer job. It was three blocks. It was not too bad, however when I came home the wind was in my face. That was definitely more noticeable. It was five above zero by that time. later when it was still the same temperature we went out and did a bit of shoveling. It was mostly just making it neater. There had been some snowfall and the wind created some different patterns. The sidewalk is now quite clear. Double layers on my legs was a bit help. The boots and thicker socks were also appreciated. Earlier when walking, I had on sneakers and medium weight socks because I do not want to be too warm inside the building. The guys across the street are working outside at least some of the time. It is cold to think about that. Leroy drove to church this morning. He helps count money. I wanted to know, “Did anyone ask if you had walked?” On the cold days that is a very common question for us. Now, he is walking or marching while watching TV. I will probably spend some time doing that also. It is not my favorite activity, but it gets the steps to mound up. If I am interested in the program, it can go very fast. Do birds feel the cold on the bottom of their feet? It looks vulnerable, but they do not act as if it is a problem when standing on cold surfaces. Paula