Over For Another Year

We had a great time yesterday at the home of Bob's #2 daughter.  Her husband, Bill,  does the majority of the cooking and he loves it.  And he does such a beautiful job.  I've always told him, he missed his calling...he should have been a chef.  His 84 yr old dad was there, and also his cousin and her husband.  We had never met them, so that was fun getting to meet a new couple.  Bob's oldest grand daughter, Heather, had to work but she popped in on her lunch break and got 2 plates of food for herself & a co-worker.  They work at the local Regal Cinema but decided they wanted something other than hot dogs and popcorn for dinner.  Laura, the other grand daughter was there with us and we enjoyed catching up.  She's 16 and a junior in high school but she's doing the "Running Start" program at a local junior college.  She takes two classes at her high school and then finishes her day at college.  By the end of her senior year, she'll not only have her high school diploma but her AA degree from college.  The older grand daughter is in her first year of college, she graduated from high school last June.

It was very frosty by the time we left there for the ride home.  We had taken my car and I think it's the first time it's windows had frosted over.  It always sits under cover here, and that keeps the windows frost free.  Thankfully the roads were not slick.  Bob went out to his house because he was worried about the pump house for his well.  He has a heater in the pump house and didn't even think about turning it on, when he left there yesterday. He normally leaves it at about 45* during the winter months, so the pump doesn't freeze up.  I left the doors of the under sink cupboards open but was up during the night turning the faucets on a dribble when I saw it had dropped to 24 degrees.  Mobile homes are not insulated as well as a regular stick built house and even though I have skirting around the bottom I'm always concerned about freezing pipes when the temperature dips. 

I see by the weather report, that clouds are rolling in and we're supposed to get some rain by Saturday evening or Sunday.  Although they are predicting night time temperatures to be in the low 30's....so that combined with rain....could bring some of the white stuff we all dread.  Actually, I'm hoping for a little precipitation, because that will mean no burn bans.  When the weather is cold & dry like this, they often impose no burning of fireplaces and uncertified wood stoves.  Mine is EPA certified but I still feel guilty polluting the stagnant air with smoke.   But on the other hand I also can't afford sky high electric bills from running the furnace much above 60 degrees during the cold winter months.

 Today, being what we in the U.S. call "Black Friday".....this old lady is staying off the road and out of the stores. On the local TV news last night it showed the crazies camped out (yes some had tents set up) outside the door of the store they planned to hit first. Below freezing temps and they're sitting out there waiting for the store to open at 4 or 5am.   Oh well. each to his own.  And I'm sure the retailers were rubbing their hands together in anticipation of overflowing cash registers.

Well, I'm off to finish the wrapping business or maybe start the Christmas cards...not sure yet which task I'll choose.  

Have a good Friday , until time........Linda

P.S. can anyone remember where I put the 100 Christmas stamps I bought last week?