Winter's Waning Wednesday

[Harriet]

It's exactly one month until spring in this hemisphere of mine, says the calendar.

But last night, with snow still hanging on and spreading out in shaded places, we had a booming thunderstorm with lightning that made us sit up and take notice. I wonder if even Lynlee has had such a summer storm lately. Things are changing.

Do you sense any seeds of change? If you are on a seed company's mailing list you might - the catalogs are appearing in mailboxes and causing people to stop and stare at the dreamland pages on their walks back to the house.

"Over the land freckled with snow half-thawed
The speculating rooks at their nests cawed
And saw from elm tops, delicate as flower of grass,
What we below could not see, Winter pass."
- Edward Thomas

One of the healthiest ways to gamble is with a spade and a package of garden seeds. - Dan Bennett

To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow. - Audrey Hepburn

It's spring. We are so excited, we wet our plants. - sign at a nursery

[DeeClutter]

Love those signs that make me chuckle, Harriet.

Been awake since 5:45. Now am nearly ready to go to Disney to pick DS-A & family to take them to the airport. Never mind that I'll see them in 2 1/2 months - I'll still be in tears. Rather nervous as I've never driven the Disney run on my own. Hoping I get the turns right. Though we did discover a much easier way in/out. Can't believe I'll miss Helia by a thread.

DH has his CAT scan in the morning. So hoping it finally has some definitive results.

bbl

[Harriet]

Dear brother in law is coming mid-morning and he and HRH will travel to hospital to visit/stay with their ddad together. I have cleaned out the vehicles of any clutter in case they take either of ours. I want to spif the front bathroom, which I noticed is starting to get that "hurried teenager" look again.

Hope Lynlee and LisaB will forgive "winter" in title today, lol. They are looking toward autumn, and the gardens are lush there I'm sure.

Thinking of Mr. DeeClutter and Mr. Harmony and hoping the pros around them have thinking caps on and help a lot.

That thunderstorm last night has become a huge conversation-starter for our neck of the woods.
lucylee, did I hear you right about "severe weather" mentioned yesterday for Thursday for your area? Well, just to let you know, I believe it! If the trees here had owned any leaves last night, they would be all over the ground today.

Ivy, how do you feel today? I was sorry to hear you had to cancel your visit to your friend, but if you are sick that is the wise thing to do.

Elizabeth, my parents' house plan, at 1,500 sq ft, was showcased by Progressive Farmer magazine in 1956 as "the ideal size for a farm family", with "extra" square footage for a "mud room" for muddy boots and coats. My mother used to shake her head at my larger house and say, "more to dust".

[Twins' Mom]

Harriet, the house I grew up in was quite small - in the 70s we moved to a new house with perhaps 1,800 square feet and it was huge. Houses were smaller then and we used all the rooms!

I need to be at the TMJ dentist in 10 min so am heading out. We also had a Tstorm last night - not severe but enough to wind dMacs up for awhile. I laid down with him next to his bed for awhile and snoozed.

Today I have this dental appt, then need to get ready for board meeting this evening. Next to last board meeting to run, I hope.

[DeeClutter]

Just texted ddil to see if they needed me to bring a duffel bag or anything. But, not -they'd charge the proverbial 'arm & leg' for any more baggage. They came with only 3 large suitcases for the 5 of them (which of course included all that baby stuff). She 'did good'. DSGD14's best friend's sister picked her and dgs14 up yesterday and took them to see some of the 'backstage' stuff at Disney (she works there). Sure they enjoyed that!

DD took dgs19mos on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride 3 times the other night. He'd say "more, more". When she asked if he wanted to ride on Pirates again his answer was always, "Okay". He's been saying 'okay' ever since he started hearing dh use it up north. He is very vocal and definitely knows what he wants.

Have a good dental visit, Twins. (Is there such a thing?)

Our house, growing up, was a half double with 3 bedrooms/bath (Upstairs). Downstairs had a living room, dining room, kitchen and another 'little room'. Used that room as my bedroom at one point when I needed a hospital bed. Remember my Mom papering it with rosebud wallpaper. Loved that paper. Tried to save a piece some years ago -have no idea where that might be now -probably in the landfill. The house we raised our 5 kids in was about 2300 sq ft. Lots of room. Now a single man lives there and his son occasionally.

Better be off. Wish me luck on this journey.............

[Emptynester]

Good morning all.

Happy Hump Day.

Today, I need to meet with a neighbor who is also on my Deacon's board. She had a brain bleed (which she insists in calling a brain f**t - even in church) a few years ago and has lost her short term memory. She doesn't want to resign from Deacon's but can't do anything without supervision anymore. She wants me to go over the duties and see if she can help.

Then at 3 we have a happy hour at another neighbor's house.

In between, DH wants to go to the store and I need to fold clothes. So it will be a bit of a busy day.

[OKay]

Good Morning!

I was raised in a small home and now we live in an old (70 years) farm home. The original home that was built on this place is still standing. It is called the "little house" and our home is the "big house". We bought this place from the people who homesteaded and built both houses. The "big" house is VERY small (1200 sq ft) when compared to most homes today. However when compared to the old "little house" it does look huge. I guess it is all a matter of perspective. I do know that our home frequently feels like we are busting at the seams and every room is used daily.

Today is a school day for me. Only one more all day Master Gardener classes after today and I will be finished with this course. I do have the volunteer time to give as part of the certification process, but that has already been started. I have started an online Master Gardener group to fulfill part of my volunteer commitment.

While casually chatting the other day, I mentioned that I would like to be a CPA. DH immediately started encouraging me to return to college and get degree. He has asked me twice in the last couple of days if I am going to do it. Hum.......such a huge commitment. I'm trying to think through what it would involve - especially time wise.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

I was raised in a smallish house (about 1500 square feet.) Two bathrooms.

My maternal grandparents had a larger, stately home (and the staff to go with it!), and I have a lot of their furniture so needed a larger home. Funny enough, that stately home is not near the size of the large houses built around here but it is much better laid out so always seemed huge.

My current home is 2500 square feet (badly laid out with lots of wastage) and the basement is 'high ranch' style so adds another 700 square feet.

We've looked at 1700 square feet that felt too small because of the layout and 1500 that might just do. So much depends on layout and waste plus the height of ceilings, size of windows (and view outside the windows) and the number of walls.

My grandfather's dining room table is the line in the sand for me (until ds gets a house big enough for it) and it was really too big at my mom's (she had it for a few years while my dad refinished her old table but then moved the smaller table back in and stored the big table until I bought this house, at which time she gave it to me.) Several years ago my grandparent's home was for sale and we attended an open house. I was shocked that the dining room was much smaller than mine is (mine was originally the living room of this house.) So, my childhood memory made the house larger than it was and I know that I can make do with a smaller dining room if necessary.

This house didn't have a dining room so we used the living room as a dining room and gave up having a living room on the main floor. We use the family room that is 3 steps down from the kitchen. To this day, my sister says my house doesn't have a real living room.

The nice thing about the 2000 sf apartment is that I don't have to make many compromises on our first down size.

Poor dh was up for 3 hours last night, mentally arranging furniture. Really, there's no point wasting time on that, furniture arrangement won't be an issue when the time comes, there is enough room! The issue is going to be the height and whether or not I'll be comfortable on the 22nd floor. The view is compelling, I can't stress that enough.

The kitchen is a disaster (despite its size) almost to the point of being non-functional. This is due to the placement of radiators and the fact there are huge gaps between counters for the radiators. That is nothing money can't fix. The kitchen is 'modern' so there is a decent amount of cupboards and drawers, but just a single sink (due to lack of space) and no functional counter space. And the fridge is off, standing by itself. Luckily, it is a rental so no granite counters. That makes changing out the sink affordable and since it is a rental, we won't be thrown out if the unit sells, like we could be in a condo. Any money we put into the unit be value for us as long as we choose to stay.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Dh woke me at 9 but I'm just getting going now. I have to 'fly' because my cousin is arriving later today. First up: breakfast.

[Sadie]

Hello Dear Ladies,

Cloudy day, hoping it rains.

Have my sling off and typing with two hands. Do you realize how much you use your left side of the keyboard?

Work day for me.

Everyone have a great day!