Forecast for today: snow, icy roads, and Gram's garage sale

Didn't get enough bargains yesterday?  Come one, come all, to 848 E. Huntington Place for the bang up moving sale of the year!  Mom's stuff is burgeoning out of control, so Hayley's on her way down after the ice diminishes.  She'd better dress like a polar bear because Hayley gets cold when it's 70 degrees.  McKenzie and I drove in the truck with her last week and she quite wilted us.  McKenzie's faint voice from the rear:  "Is anybody else dying of heatstroke?"  "ME!"  I swear that girl turns it up to 85.  Anyway, it's going to be mighty cold in that garage today.  Gram will probably be the last survivor.  They'll have to sell Hayley with the leather couch.  

Poor poor Harry!  Geoff says he slipped between the stairs and the rock wall this morning.  He's been afraid of that since he was little!  He'd stand on the rock side and sheepishly wag his tail, but refuse to make the leap.  Geoff had to pry him out of the crevice this morning.  Poor little guy!!!!

One hour later:  

Ok, take long enough to write and things change.  Garage sale to be held tomorrow.  Hurrah!

Guess I'll start painting Andy's old room.  McKenzie helped me choose sheets, duvet cover, shams, and a circle quilt wall hanging yesterday in the new color scheme of yellow, blue and green.  Can't wait to get the paint!!!!

The Mysterious Thanksgiving Visitor

Mom's doorbell rang at 8 am this morning (Thanksgiving Day).  It was Penny--being returned again!

Sandra told Mom that she would have to come up with another $500 pet deposit for her landlord in order to keep her.  Sounds like a Craig's List scam to me....

Mom was still in her pajamas, wondering who in the world would be ringing the doorbell at that hour on a holiday.  She was so surprised she just welcomed Penny back, settled her on the couch, and smiled hugely.  She's absolutely pleased as punch to have Penny back for Thanksgiving.  Penny's glad to be home for all the attention and all the turkey.

Well, Mom says she's not unpacking Penny's suitcase.  How many dogs do you know who've been returned three times?  She wins the prize!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.  We're having roast beef this year from Costco.  And twice baked potatoes, pumpkin pie, and broccoli from Costco.  Hayley talked Mom into making banana creme pie and cranberry nut bread, which Mom dropped off at the Mini dealer yesterday for us.  

The Mini Cooper is stupendously adorable!!!!  It has interior mood lighting you can change from orange thru the spectrum to blue.  So McKenzie set it at purple/pink and we drove off to hit the mountain roads as dusk settled in.  This car makes mountain curves fun!  What a change from the truck.

2TA LOO

Sung to the tune of O Christmas Tree:

O Mini dear, 

O Mini dear,

How hard it is to believe!

O Mini dear, 

O Mini dear,

Now in my arms you'll leave!

You were ordered in September's glow,

Received in November's snow.

O Mini dear, O Mini dear,

Studded tires we'll need!

We're picking her up today.  A tout a l'heure  (2TA LOO)!

 

Tuesday

Mom had a couple of glasses of wine last night and called to tell me the latest.  She does have a busy life for a Queen Mother.  

Penny is now off to live with Benji, Sandra, and her husband (who's last name is Johnson).  We may as well keep it all in the family (my maiden name is Johnson).  As for All in the Family, Archie would have had a hey day over this one.  Penny's new dad is Black, her new mom is Hispanic, and her brother is a Cockapoo like her, only 20 lbs lighter.  Mom suspects that his mom was a teacup.  Hopefully, Penny will fit into this family.  Third time's the charm!

At the same time the Johnsons came up her walk, Jim from Kentwood real estate strode up with her house inspection results.  Mom can't understand what's wrong with the bottom basement stair, was surprised to find she's been living in Radon, and will fork over $1,700 for repairs to the buyers.  But at least she has buyers!

Andy came by last night to pick up the desk, the blue chair from Lindsey Grey's garage sale, assorted bags, and a blanket.  He's doing well down in the new apartment.  Hasn't met any neighbors yet....

I'm going to clean Andy's room, buy paint, and set off on a Costco spree when I go to Denver to purchase the Titan, which has a lease about to expire.  That Mini of mine is supposed to be in tomorrow or Friday.  Wonder if they'll give me a Christmas special on the biggest shopping day of the year?

Snow's coming tomorrow too.  It's been like summertime here, t-shirt weather.  The nay sayers blame it on Global Warming, which is a dour way to look at it, I'd say!  It's been incredibly lovely for long walks.

Work on Andy's Old Room Begins

eeeuuw!!!!

I got on a stepladder to dust the light fixtures in Andy's old room and looked down on the bathroom ceiling.  An ancient piece of rough exterior siding topped the pipe.  I took that off and there were mouse droppings everywhere.  Eeeuuuwww...mice have been peering down on that room since the house went up.  Yuk!  

Back on Craigs List

Ok, the crossed fingers didn't work again.  Penny's back at Mom's because the 12 year old did not want to brush K9 teeth and groom K9 fur and walk K9 feet, or at least that's the reason she gave Mom.  So.  Penny's back on Craig's List and Pinecam.  The forum on Pinecam seems to attract people who have nothing to do but complain about how you phrased the adoption notice.  "Why don't you take the dog?  She probably just lies around all day."  "Why do you have to brush a dog's teeth every day?"  "Have hope, there is a way!" "A dog is not a Christmas present." 

So.  Mom is staying at her house to have her last Thanksgiving with Penny.  Ok, so Mike will come over.  We'll have roast beef, etc.  Whatever.  We'll see Mom a lot once she's up here anyway.  Penny will find a home somewhere.  

Salmon's done!  Cheers!

P.S.  Andy likes his new place.  I'm astonished at how much junk there is to throw out in his old room.  Evergreen Disposal Service is probably going to call and complain again.  Last time it was too much manure.   This time it's chairs and heaps of mysteriously bulging black bags.  

How the Queen Spent Her Day

How does the Birthday Queen spend her Special Day?

1.  She reminds her husband that it is not only Joe Biden's birthday.

2.  When the Queen Mother calls in a panic, she reassures her that the drugs obtained without prescription over the internet from India are not going to kill anyone.  But yes, she will make an appointment for the Queen Mother to see her doctor that day.

3.  After the Queen's truck slides down the driveway, the Princess guides it to a spot in the woods, and a call is made to the school saying the Princess wouldn't make it.

4.  The other Princess calls from a ditch in the driveway, saying she's stuck.

5.  The realtor phones to say, yes he got the message about canceling the showing of the castle, but won't the drive have dried out by then.  The Queen ignores that, tells him that the Princess is now outside skating on it, (and jeese louise the maid is off for the day).

6.  After a lovely Special Day lunch of leftover Chinese noodles, raw carrots and a Chocolate Clif bar, the Queen acknowledged the presence of her only son and heir.  Yes, perhaps the Prince could move into his new residence that day.  Unbeknownst to the realtor, the drive had dried, and it was perhaps possible to transfer the Prince's choicest belongings (and the old couch) to the new castle he's leased in the valley below.

7.  The Queen and her ever so large Corgis, stride off on a grand promenade through the woods, invigorated by the raw frozen air, and exercise their lungs and legs.  

8.  The Prince and Queen lug the couch to the carriage, ever so politely, and with quiet moans and absolutely no shouting or yelling at all.  mmmm, yes.

9.  Since the couch does not quite fit inside the luggage area, the Prince tries lifting the tailgate.  This is not a successful operation, and there are more murmurs on the driveway.  After a slight struggle, the old couch leg is retrieved from the crack.  All is well in the kingdom, and the procession begins.

10.  The Queen cosigns the new castle lease, having to hear about mold, fire, evictions, illegal drug usage, failure to pay on time, and other fascinating aspects of the financial obligations of the kingdom.

11.  At last, the Queen and Prince are able to see the new castle in person, armed with a checklist to note any faulty items, like a malfunctioning drawbridge for instance.  In fact, it is only the red stain on the living room rug that draws their attention.  Faint as it is, it tells the tale of either a wounded knight or a misstep during grape crushing season.

12.  The couch seems ever so much lighter as it merrily makes its way to it's new home.

13.  At a shopping expedition at the discount arm of Harrod's (Walmart), the young Prince chooses his silverware and dish patterns, and stocks up on various sundries.

14.  Then it's home to see the King.  

15.  The King always, always believes in eating at the proper hour.  Thus, when his family strides in at the stroke of 6, he hastily (knowing it is the Queen's Special Day) shoves the dinner she's prepared that morning into the microwave.  Randomly, he sets the timer for 8 minutes on defrost.  Perhaps that will do the trick.  Then he inquires whether that is all the salsa in the castle.

16.  The Queen pours herself quite a large glass of Chardonnay, and watches as her servants bustle around the kitchen.  How lovely it is to simply remind them that this is her special day.  How unfortunate that they do not seem able to make salads or fruit.  Ah well, she will throw some lettuce in the bowls.

17.  The food is eaten.  The presents are opened.  The King prances around with an earring pretending he is from Africa.  

18.  More guests arrive, and the festivities blossom.  A lovely strawberry shortcake baked by the younger Princess herself, is savored by all.

19.  The Prince does the dishes.  The King goes for a walk with the ever so large Corgis.  The guests go their separate ways....

20.  The Queen showers and falls onto her bed.  She considers reading and then turns off the light.  In two shakes of a lambs tail, she's asleep.  

21.  The Queen Mother calls.  Her Corgi is being returned from it's 2nd new home.  Problem here.  But the Queen is too tired and requests they discuss this in the morning.  

22.  And so went the Special Day of the Queen, who, with a sigh, was glad it was over again for a year.

Happy Birthday

What better birthday than an icy one, with the roads so slick McKenzie can't go to school?  We are sitting back to back like Siamese twins, typing on our computers, snug as bugs in a rug.  

I'm 52 today and loving it.  Lordy, I don't feel old or young.  I'm Baby Bear's porridge.  

Right now, the truck is at the bottom of the driveway, at the last curve, backed into the woods.  Hayley's car is now off in a ditch just past the curve, and Mike's coming to get her.  She has a big math test today and has to get to CU.  McKenzie's skating down the asphalt to give her a warmer coat and clogs, as Hayley's shoes are super slick.  

So!  Cancelled the house showing, as any more cars in the ditch may prove hazardous.  And ready to settle in to a day at home in my p.j.'s .  What better way to spend a 52nd birthday?  I love it!

Lucky Mom

Ok, keep your fingers crossed again.  It didn't work last time.  Sure they're crossed?

Mom got Penny back from Pete since Andy couldn't stand having another dog around.  His Andy I mean, the Shihtzu.  I put her on Craig's list this morning and Mom had Renee come over to visit this evening.  Penny loved her!  So, Mom's sold her house (yes, the new bidders came up to just her price today) and also, she found Penny a loving home with a mom and 12 year old in Littleton.  Remarkable.  

Gabby goes home

Greg and Megan drove down from Fort Collins with Loxie, their apricot Labradoodle, to meet Gabby yesterday.  Wild Thing Gabriella was unusually subdued, and just layed down by the couch.  This was not our Gabby!  She was shy about meeting Loxie I guess.  After a few minutes we all took a walk through the woods, and the real Gabby came alive.  She decided she liked Loxie and Megan and Greg, and they decided they liked her.  She's lucky to be starting life with them, as they're just starting out new jobs and a new marriage, sprucing up their house, and take Loxie everywhere with them.  At 24, 25 years old, they're just what suits Wild Thing--uncomplicated, straightforward, and full of energy.  Very sweet too!  Another match that works out beautifully.  How does it all come about?

It's so quiet around here now!  Harry slept on McKenzie's bed last night, ever so peacefully.  Guess I can pack up the pen and get on to the next project:  sorting furniture for ARC, picking up the 15 oriental rugs we had washed, and rearranging, painting the rec room, and getting a couple of new chairs.  Andy's moving out in a few days too, so then there's his room to paint and rearrange.  If Linen and Things isn't entirely cleared out, maybe I'll find more sheets for drapes.

Geoff buys a Ford

Geoff bought a Ford GT yesterday.  Good grief.  So.  Ok, yes, he is smiling.  It's Christmas in Vermont.  Well, actually, it was pretty funny at the club when we parked it.  First he had to make sure he could get it into reverse.  I kept saying turn on the lights, and he couldn't find them, you know, to read the letters on the shifter knob.  Then Andy called so my cell phone lit up.  Yea!  He was moving it the right way...just, something.  Oh well.  So we parked, then we got out and the darn thing wouldn't stop honking.  And the lights were flashing and all....  I went in to get a glass of wine to the music of the horn playing.  

Andy and McKenzie came along to join us, and Andy said the emergency lights were still on.  Geoff said he was just glad he turned the horn off.  The waiter said he hoped the battery wouldn't run down.  Geoff drank a few glasses of wine, which Andy was glad of, because it insured his driving the thing home.  

So.  I'll post a picture later!  A picture says a thousand words....

P.S.  When we left the club, the boys couldn't unlock the car.  The beeping, honking and lights started playing again.  So McKenzie did a little jig and I pushed the panic button on the Lexus and we all had a grand old time!  

Porsche puppies

Geoff and I took Ellie and the puppies to the Porsche dealership on Broadway yesterday.  We were there about 2 hours (Geoff test drove 2 and then talked with the salesman).  The puppies were very grown up and behaved themselves beautifully--for the first hour and a half.  Then they started wrestling and exploring, and before you knew it they were friends with everybody on the lot.  We went to Geoff's favorite restaurant on the way home, and they all slept while we enjoyed wine & pizza.  Lovely day, all in all.  It's nice when Geoff can take off a full day on Friday.  It does mix me up though.  I woke at 6:30 this morning and jumped out of bed.  Knocked on McKenzie's door to tell her she had 15 minutes, and she groaned:  "Mom, it's Saturday."

Lucky Penny

I really cannot believe Mom's luck.  She found a home for Penny at Home Depot.  On a whim and an impulse!  Amazing.  

She can't bring Penny, her Cockapoo, to the senior condo, as they only allow cats, fish and birds.  Dumb but true.  The doggies would have fun riding around in the King Soopers carts everybody's pilfered.  Oh well, anyway, Mom was stressing over the whole thing, and I was going to post Penny on Pine Cam.  Then we were in Home Depot a couple of days ago and Mom saw a man with a couple of Cockapoos checking out beside us.  She told him she had Woofy's twin, and that guy called a friend with a Shitzhu, and long story short, we ended up handing Penny over to Pete Anderson to keep him and Andy (the Shitzhu) company in a house bordering the National Forest in Central City.  

Mom was taking forever to pull her car out of the Home Depot lot, and I kept saying, "Hurry up, before they change their mind."  Pete called Mom last night and said Penny seemed a little restless.  Keep your fingers crossed that this works!  It's like Penny has had three lives:  Mom got her when she was a few years old, at the shelter, after being picked up on Federal Blvd.  Then she spent 8 years with Mom being super civilized in the suburbs, and now she gets to go chase squirrels in the National Forest.    

Greg and Megan in Fort Collins are considering taking Wild Thing Gabriella a.k.a. Gabby.  Okay, she didn't really go to the Obama's, she's right here giving me a horse manure kiss.  But I am placing my bet on Obama getting a labradoodle--just for the record.

Gabby Goes to the White House

A brief from Obama's White House secretary:

A darling chocolate labradoodle was found with a bow tied 'round her neck on the White House steps this morning!  Oh, how perfect!  She's just the pup to be First Dog and the girls will absolutely adore her.  

Note:  Gabby likes books.  Shelve any valuable historic tomes out of reach.  Read aloud to her from Millie's Book: As Dictated to Barbara Bush, and also Margaret Suckley's biography of Roosevelt's Scottie, The True Story of Fala. 

Extreme makeover

Before and after's--don't you find yourself drawn to the hairdo redos, the extreme makeovers, the home mag's kitchen before and after?  Me too!  So I'm going to the condo today to take photos prior to the demo.  Then I'll post them here, and you can keep up with the changes.  Not that the condo needed that much of a facelift.  Nancy's parents were so happy there.  They lived there 10 years and just hated to have to move on.  But what will be fun, is seeing Mom's building prowess take place.  She's always enjoyed choosing and installing and changing things, so decorating this from the floorboards up has been real enjoyable (albeit overwhelming at times).  So, off to the condo this a.m. before the demolition starts.  And, yea, we'd better get the homeowner's insurance today too.

Andy signed a lease for an apartment down in Bear Mountain (Lakewood) yesterday.  Geoff, McKenzie and I went to look it over with him.  Lordy, I am a mother hen!  I swear I smelled gas from the heater.  Evie, the apartment leaser, said she and her husband lived in it until recently.  They moved right underneath it.  She is still alive and bright eyed, so I suppose I shouldn't worry.  The mother's alarm antennae went shooting up when Evie just commented, "Oh yea, somebody left the heat on."  I will ask the gas company to investigate if the smell lingers.  No giving Andy a new toilet seat as a housewarming present, or helping decorate.  This is his place.  Just the gas thing, I promise.

All of this newness got into my blood a couple of days ago.  McKenzie and I went to the liquidation sale at Linens and Things, then to American Furniture Warehouse's Veteran's Day Sale.  I think the post office, library, and American Furniture Warehouse are the only ones who still observe that holiday.  Anyway, I decided to redo my own bedroom.  McKenzie has a talent for design, as we all well know.  First 20 minutes are great with this little designer dynamo:  "No.  No.  I don't see a thing."  This was at Linen's and Things.  Then I go into the gotta get something mode and she begins asking where we're going to eat lunch.  As I pile possibilities (yes, the stockers hate me, because I go to another part of the store to unload and reevaluate), she starts listing the restaurants around.  So, by the time we're ready to leave, I've gone through half a dozen permutations of room designs, and she's so famished she'll eat anywhere.  This is how we work.  It's a very good partnership.  

So then we eat Buffalo style chicken wings and go to American Furniture Warehouse.  She has never been in an American Furniture Warehouse.  Is that possible?  McKenzie is fascinated by the place.  It has so much!  She has to sit on the big comfy chairs.  There really are couches with cup holders.  I send her one way to look for a bedroom chair, while I go the other to look for a lamp.  Ten minutes later, she catches up:  "Jill!  Jill."  I cannot get used to being called my own name by my own daughter.  However, she feels this is less embarrassing in public.  She has found some great chairs!  We sit in all of them.  Then we decide to decide later, and go off looking for a lamp.  We find some great lamps!  One I really love, that Geoff will think is from Mars.  But it sheds such a terra cotta glow, I must have it.  We buy the space lamp and head for Target to see their chairs.  By this time, McKenzie has developed indigestion from the chicken wings.  Target is cut short, because they don't have anymore glowy lamps (as I decided I need another by the bed) and their chairs are not as good.  But I do find a modern table to put the space lamp on, so we do not leave empty handed.  

Thus it is, that this morning I am washing 4 sets of gold twin sheets.  The winners at Linen and Things @ $14.99/set!  And I am hanging them on the new wood post rods, with those ring clips--no sewing for me.  I have stripped the bedroom of all things country, and I am going space age modern.  Except for the bed, which is a canopy bed I have had since I outgrew my crib (no kidding, Mom will verify) and I will put the fitted sheets on the canopy (which I haven't used in a while) as a balloon valence (as I saw a lot of balloon valences in the curtains section at LT, and I may as well try it).  This morning I got up at 5 am, before Geoff, because I didn't have a bedside table or lamp or clock.  My bed is also placed at an angle, which makes it much easier to get to the door--now a straight shot.  So, what a good morning lies ahead.  Extreme makeover my way!

 

Kinda down

Sometimes it seems like there are pulls from all directions.  Mom's been getting teary eyed about the condo renovation just about every day.  It's just too much stress for her.  If Andy's been making a ton of progress in the job and apartment sector, it's news to me, so I need to check in with him on that.  Hayley's 19th birthday was yesterday, and she's a lovely 19.  Mike came over and brought Brother's BBQ, so it was a nice day after shopping with HayBay.  Geoff's been in a lot of pain with his shoulder this week, and went on Cortisone.  He's had too busy a week at work again, and is tired.  I'm thinking that we shouldn't have 5 dogs, because it's too much.  So, McKenzie's sad about giving up Wild Thing Gabriella, if that's what we decide, because I really couldn't part with Harry.  And Geoff realizes it's probably true that we should let her go, but is upset about it too.  I think it would be the right thing to do though.  And we do have someone interested, actually about 4 families.  

Ok.  Enough with the sob story.  As my dad used to tell me, if you're up now, remember there's going to be a down coming along.  And if you're down, well, things will look up pretty soon.

Squirrels in the toliet

Some things don't even faze us anymore.  Like finding a baby squirrel swimming in the toliet.  How did it get there?  Woody was at the vet getting shots, so you can't blame it on him dropping it while getting a drink.  Geoff and Hayley fished it out and put it on the deck to dry.  So when McKenzie and I got home, we found this upside down chair surrounded by cushions, and a dead squirrel about a foot away.  But, know what?  Things like this don't even cause me to pause.  A bear, maybe.  A horse chasing me around the pasture, mmm hmm.  But the smaller mammals like mice and squirrels, and the invasion of prehistoric bugs, or the caterpillars crawling out of the bathroom electrical socket...these things are flung or squished, no questions asked.  See what living out here does to you?

The good thing that happened this weekend was that I started loving horses again.  Max pretty much ruined equine appreciation for me with his rampaging.  But on Sunday morning Sophie (the 6 mo. old filly) nuzzled me when I kissed her, then reached her neck around my back, rested her head, and sighed.  That sweetheart!  Her cough is getting better, and Hayley and I walked the two young ones around the woods.  There was still some green clover and grass left.  Foolish as I may be, I even sat down by Ellie while Sophie grazed beside us.  Now that is coming a long way for someone who wouldn't even walk into a stall!  Thank goodness Hayley chose some calm young horses this fall.  Teddy is a gentle, affectionate guy too.  And both are going to grow to be quite large!  Over 16 hands, more likely Sophie will be 17.  

Oh!  Better get going!  Mom will be meeting me at the design studio, and then I'll watch as she closes on the condo.  Her first solo real estate purchase.  Unfortunately, the bid on her house was not countered.  The people didn't even come up a few thousand.  So, she'll have to keep showing it.  Not painful though--the place looks like a model home.    

To Andy

Toast and coffee...just some dolled up bread and water.  It's what makes the morning though.  

Andy, I don't want to see your life wasted, or lived minimally.  It's not until you personally accomplish things that you feel real satisfaction.  It's tough for me to kick you out.  But it's worse seeing you not advance as you should.  I appreciate your sensitive nature, your quick humor, and your kindness.   You're intelligent and thoughtful.  Look at this as an opportunity to go off on your own, do what you want to do, explore, and find satisfaction in work and learning.     

   

News of Star and home

Star is happily settled in with Kim now.  The flight went beautifully and both her grandmas came right over to meet her.  One brought chicken and the other came with new food bowls.  After a walk, everyone went to PetSmart where Star picked out a new bed, then it was home for a pigs ear and bed!  Kim sent me some photos, and there is just the sweetest one of Jaycee sleeping with Star.  They're kind of small reproduced here to the left, but they're lovely.  Jaycee, Hi!!!, we really had fun being with you!  Have a good day with Star.

This Halloween was the most relaxing I've ever had.  Geoff and I had wine at the club while McKenzie (the elf) and Maya (the corpse) went off to trick or treat at the houses on the golf course.  We managed to have three glasses before the girls returned, and I felt a little guilty!  But it sure was fun to look at Geoff's Mac laptop and talk for a while.  It has been a full week, especially for him.  

Today Woody has to go in for shots.  I'd like to go out to lunch afterward with McKenzie, and then to Walmart to pick up some Better Homes and Gardens plates to go with the bowls I got a couple of days ago.  I really like the bowls.  They're Tuscan yellow with olive branches and have this nice chunky feel.  But...unless Dr. Fogg puts Woody under, we're in for a struggle.  He does not like the car at all.  Or the truck, or anything on four wheels.  Maybe McKenzie and I will take turns holding him outside.  At least I don't need many groceries....

Mom had an offer on her house yesterday, and is meeting with Jim to fill out a counter offer.  It was kind of low ball, but we did that with the condo too.  Anyway, we'll see.  She closes on the condo this Monday.  Then she'll have the key and can do whatever she wants with it.  Uh oh, that probably means we'll be sanding the front door on Tuesday.