Skis On

Hello,

This afternoon was the perfect time to put on the cross country skis. Rather it was the perfect time to drive to the nearby park and put on the skis. Leroy thought we could just walk there. It is easy enough with regular shoes on, but I thought I remembered that we should not walk so much in these ski boots. Driving worked as well. Someone else had been there ahead of us so we followed their tracks as that makes it so much easier. I did not go up the hill because I did not want to come back down, fall, and break a bone. As you can see I am just a scardy cat. It was not the best snow conditions as it tended to stick causing a difficult slide. Leroy said he did not even move so fast going downhill. He thought I could have handled it.

I wore my pedometer, but it would appear that I had hardly moved. I am still going to count it as a mile since I think it was really farther than that. I have already walked more than a mile so I am counting it all. One thing about the skiing it certainly is more of a work out than walking. I got quite hot and needed to shed some layers.

I sometimes feel worry that we bought those skis because we so seldom use them, but when I get out on such a gorgeous sunny day I am happy. Surely it is now under ten dollars per use.

When we came home from church on Wednesday night I lost my favorite black scarf. Leroy looked a bit on his way to work Thursday morning, but did not see it. I just hope that one of the homeless people or very poor people in our area found it and decided to use it. They would have it with my blessing. I have three other scarves that I use as outdoor scarves so it is not like I am lacking anything. I just liked the black because it was soft and complimented all of my coats.

Paula

Playing in the snow

Hello,

Last night when we went to bed it was quite light in the room from the reflection of the lights on the fluffy snow. This morning when the sun was hiding somewhere behind the clouds it seemed almost dimmer. Leroy used the shovel on his way out to the garage so he did not track in the pristine snow. In spite of no bright sun it was beautiful.

I thought about using the cross country skis, making snow angels, snow bunnies, and snow people. None of that fun stuff happened, but I did manage to shovel snow for half an hour, walk over a mile, buy some produce, walk home with the pounds on my back, wash two loads of clothes, and clean up a honey spill that was the result of carelessly pushing a cart into the plastic bottle causing honey to ooze out the top. It seems to me, at age 65, I should have already learned about such things.

It lifts my spirits to look out on all the beauty. I am certainly not ready to move to a snowless area. I would miss all of this. In spite of about five inches of snow Leroy’s drive to work was not difficult as it is in the city and flat.

Last night Leroy and I took a walk as the snow was coming down. Had the kids been at home we would have been out there playing in the snow. I guess I need some kids to prod me along for fun.

As I was shoveling a guy came up and wanted to know if I would hire him to shovel. I declined and proceeded to ask him how he was doing. He replied, “No one wants to hire a 16 year old.” I suspect it is not his age that is stopping people. I actually like to shovel. It is part of our rent agreement except for the area by our garage. So I am going above and beyond what is necessary. Our land lord was gone much of the day. He thanked me for making a path and making him legal with cleared walks. There is always something good that we can do in this world. I must remember to look for the opportunities. There are different ways of playing in the snow.

Paula

Warm

Hello,

The apartment heat was higher when I came home last night. Our landlords were home. What a difference it made from the morning. It has been so toasty all day today. It almost seems like a different place. The outside temperature was one degree when we got up, but who could tell from inside? The sun has been shinning, raising the temperature, and brightening the day. I like it so much. I am noticing that the sun pattern is getting close to what it was when we moved in. Even though I have seen the sun position change for over 60 years it still amazes and impresses me. I like it. Our Christmas cactus must also like it because it has quite a few buds on it. I look forward to seeing them bloom.

There is a computer expert who takes care of the library computers. He may be an expert, but for some reason every time he is in and does something to “my” computer it creates problems. Monday I could not open the library email on that machine. So I just moved to the front desk for that. It was also very slow bringing up the internet site that I use to determine just what number a series book is. Yesterday our boss tried to use my computer for email and of course it did not work. She just turned it off. The turn off is password protected so she did that shut down by pushing and holding the on button. Following that I was unable to get the label printer to open. That made my work day significantly different. I did not want to enter any books in the catalog because I could not print the call numbers. That would create a lot of duplicate work later. Instead I just stamped the library name on books as well as affixed barcodes. My arm even got tired from stamping. Usually I vary my work a bit so nothing is too stilting. I hope the expert has been back and able to fix all the problems on my computer. I work tomorrow. Hopefully I will be home before the predicted snow gets to be very much.

Paula

Changes

Hello,

Sometimes it seems that there aren’t so many changes, but then the weather states otherwise. I walked my two Lenten miles yesterday in the pleasant warmth. It was almost too warm in the layers I had on, but I did not want to carry anything so kept them on. As I drove into Ely for work, I noticed the bank clock/thermometer flashed 48 degrees. Wow, that is higher than I had realized. After about half of my work day people started to come in and tell me how windy and cold it was becoming. By the time I went home the bank could only muster up 24 degrees. I wasn’t surprised as there was a smattering of ice on the car from the light afternoon rain. The roads were dry so that was not a problem, but I noticed the wind pushing at me as I drove around the curve up on the interstate. It was windy by the house, but we are not in a wind tunnel here. This morning when we woke Leroy commented on the roar outside in the distance and declared, “That is the wind.” It is odd because the wind does not rattle the windows, but apparently is rattling someone else’s.

Our landlords have been gone for the weekend. We wonder if they had set the temperature on hold with the overnight temperature rather than run program as it has gotten quite cool, especially in the evenings. I suppose I could have gone down and checked the temp. Even without a key we can always go down there with the second set of stairs being our emergency escape route into their living space. I did not want to do that so we used our space heaters, added clothes, throws, and sighed blissfully when we got under the down comforter to sleep.

The kitchen has always been the coolest spot in the house or if summer, the warmest. I put all the thermometers in there and learned that it is at least 63 or possibly 60 in there. Later this morning I noticed that the heat register had accidently been closed. It will be better now. Our landlords were to have returned late last night, but I have not heard a sound down there so I do wonder if that had happened. We will know by the heat this evening.

Paula

Being a Tourist

Hello,

There are some perks because Leroy works at the museum. He gets a free family membership. It is perhaps ironic that even if he earned more at some other job we might not have bought this membership. With it in hand and paid for we are inclined to go to all of the opportunities that are available. Yesterday it was to listen to talks from two guys who were are about our ages. One of them managed to get art out of Czechoslovakia. Most of it is modern or abstract art. I have to confess that I am not especially tuned into this type of art, but I am glad that some are aware of the value of it. Apparently the communist government was very much against any art that did not show their system working well at that time. It was also more realistic in nature. At first this guy smuggled out quite a lot of the pieces, but later he was given permission, just why, he was not sure. He also managed to help many of the artists.

The second talk and display was of photographs taken during Prague Spring uprising or confrontation. His camera was taken at one point by a Soviet soldier, but in the confusion he was able to snatch it back. Some of his pictures were sold to the news services so you might have seen them. It has only been in the last few years that he has many of these printed up to be displayed in various venues.

Both of their adventures make me so aware that I lived such a quiet young life. I thought going to college was quite a lot of adventure. It was about all I could handle.

On a totally different subject: At church a girl, whom I do not know, complimented me on my skirt telling me how pretty it was. Both of Miriam’s girls also liked this skirt. Now I would have thought it was an old lady skirt. Maybe it appeals to the old and the young?

Paula

Glasses, sugar and Oil

Hello,

The other day I was disgusted to realize that I had not put my “computer” glasses in my book bag. Instead I tilted my head up to an uncomfortable angle each time that I was doing work on the computer. Wouldn’t you know that was a good bit of the day? After I got home I found my “computer” glasses in my purse. I had them with me all the time. Wrong bag is as good as lost.

My sister wondered why I do not eat or want to eat so much sugar. I suppose the biggest reason is that refined sugar has no food value other than sweetness. I love fruit. So each morning Leroy and I share an apple, an orange, and a banana. I really do not know what the sugars are in those fruits, but surely it adds to my supply. Later in the spring and summer we will have other fruits as they come in season. Later in the day we usually each eat another apple. Sometimes we have frozen berries for supper. I also know that many veggies have sugar in them naturally. At least I feel that cabbage, peas, and carrots all taste sweet. Then there is the winter squash family that seems to be loaded with that sweet flavor. Sugar is not listed on the USDA list of food allowances for the day. Leroy and I also always eat about a teaspoon of honey mixed with cider vinegar. I believe that honey is more of an asset than sugar as it has traces of this and that. To sum up, I would say that refined sugar takes the place of more beneficial things.

I do feel that oil is important for the diet of anyone. I can’t remember if it is on the USDA list or if there is a recommendation for it daily. I do sauté many veggies as well as eggs in one form or another. I use either olive or canola oil for that.  We also eat a number of avocados. Nuts of all kinds are my most common snack food. I suspect that gives me a bit of fat in my diet. Beans are a large portion of our diet and I know that some of them have quite a big supply of fat.  Lately I have been putting salad dressing on my frequent salads. That would also contribute to the oil in my diet. In other words I eat this way because of health not weight although it probably helps me maintain a proper weight.

That is my explanation for why I eat the way I do. I no longer tolerate very sweet things. Is that withdrawal?

Paula

Great Day

Hello,

My larger amaryllis is sending up a bud stalk, I slept well last night, floors are vacuumed after having people walk on it with their street shoes on, the sun is shinning, work is waiting for me when I get to the library, Leroy rode his bike to work, the heat is on, tai chi warm ups are done, tea is brewed, and I looked at recent pictures of my grandchildren. What could be better?

I would not benefit more from a new smaller size, but bigger screen with a sharper picture TV. I do not need a vehicle that is newer than nine years because the ones we have run reliably. I do not need to own my own home because my shelter needs are met. I do not need the latest phone that might even drive me to distraction for a time as I learned to use it. I do not need a tablet or eBook device as I have access to much of the same things on the computer or in a print version.

I am satisfied at this moment and happy with my conditions. Such blessings abound all the time.

Paula