The Granddog

As I walk downstairs in the early morning darkness, a squirrel cries out in alarm. He has been stepped on because he is laying on the stairs. He is made of fuzzy material and a squeaker. He is not alone. He has many fuzzy, squeaky friends.

Our stairway is littered with dog toys.

Here is why:

LOLA - THE MEXICAN TORNADO!

We love this dog!

Oh the weather outside is frightful!

We've had more snow this year than I can ever, ever remember. Pretty sure we have about 30 inches on the ground (where it hasn't drifted) and well over 3 feet in other places. Good grief, you'd think we live in Buffalo! Enough already!

Having said that, I like living where there's "real" weather...so here's a reality check:

Our house in three seasons.

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And scanning across our backyard:

Patio Party anyone?!

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No Garden Parties in January!

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Our fishpond is still there, so far as I know!

(No worries, the fish are living it up in their winter home

--an aquarium inside.)

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“Snowflakes, like people, are all different and beautiful,

but they can be a nuisance when they lose their identity in a mob”

A New Year!

'Twas a quiet New Year in our little corner of reality.... on the Monday before, because time was of the essence, Mr. Pocketts had eye surgery. I don't mean just a little zap of a laser at the eye doctor's, no sirree... full blown, put-you-under, open-you-up eye surgery. Officially it was a Vitrectomy (and if you want to know the gory details, you can look here), but I'm not sure I ever heard that word said aloud by any of the staff; necessary because of a Macular Hole in his left eye, brought on by nothing more sinister than birthdays...several of them. Perhaps more dreadful than the surgery is the recovery--one week, 24-7 or thereabouts, of keeping your face down....I'll let that sink in for a moment....yes, a matter of logistics. Thankfully, we were prepared (and I might add, not by the Doctor or his staff). He has a special chair he can sit in, face down; and a special U-shaped pillow contraption so he can sleep on his stomach with his head cradled off the end of the bed, face down; and special double mirrors so he can look at stuff while being....face down! Today is Day 6--just ONE more day to go!

Meanwhile.... we've been watching all "The Thin Man"movies with William Powell and Myrna Loy. It's been so long since I've seen any of them; they're a joy to watch. For those of us not in a recuperative state, a salute was given to Nick & Nora in, what else?!, martini form:

We also started the new year with PIE for the good patient---apple being a favorite, mit schlag! (in other words, plop a lot of whipping cream on it!) And you can't have pie without having some Pie Crust Cookies!

Yummy!

And...began working again on the 63 square afghan. (See previous post.) Several of the strips are sewn together and it is on the verge of becoming one ginormous afghan! Still haven't decided what sort of edge to put around it, but I'm playing with some ideas. I'm sorry Mom didn't get to see it, but she did know I was working on it and agreed it would be a thing of beauty!

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So...a new year....I'm not usually one for making resolutions (seems there's always a running list of goals lurking somewhere in the back of my mind regardless of what time of year it is!)....however, here's my mantra for 2010 (Thank You, Dorothy Parker):

"Take care of the luxuries and the necessities will take care of themselves."

Cheers!