Best Life

 Blast from the past:  early 1980s, in the bedroom I shared with Karen on Aurora Drive in Cumberland.                                                       Joey and Joanna, the first (and last) hamsters I tried to mate.  Needless to say it did not go well.  I had to seperate them after the fact into two cages and then when Joanna gave birth, the little ones did not survive.                                                         Trixie, my first, was well trained.  She  followed me up and down the stairs and came when I called.  She had a good life!  She spent more time running around the house then in her cage. Fast forwar...

  My big accomplishment of the day - curtains!  I measured, cut and sewed three for the new garage that can be hung once the hardware arrives on Friday (Yup, I forgot I needed rods.).  Then because the sewing machine and I were getting along so well (not always the case), I decided to use the leftover fabric to make new curtains for the two house doors.  Much prettier than the old plain ones. The first time I used a sewing machine - 2004.  Megan was in the fourth grade and the class was putting on a play.  My "friend" Robin told everyone I could sew and sent home a piece of gold fabric with Megan.  With fancy trim and tassels I was supposed to transform this material into a lion costume.  What?!?  And I only had a week.  Somehow I managed (no one looked too closely). Since then I have sewn intermittently usually requiring a tutorial prior to each use.  Today - no refresher needed and the machine worked without snagging the fabric or...

  A beautiful gray day today in Rangeley.  A bit cold with lots of fog.  The town was fairly empty with few people or cars.  We started with a quick trip to town to first - empty our mailbox (our garage door "opener" was delivered) and then a stop at IGA for sweet potatoes (the only grocery forgotten for our week). Paul spent his day working in the new garage.                                                                 The first three lights were hung.                                                                      New switches for new lights.       ...

 Breakfast by TJ this morning - yummy - thank you!  And a chance to hold Charlotte - I will never turn down! A late start heading to Rangeley meant arriving in the dark.  Thank you Kevin and Isis for leaving the house warm and the lights on! Abet and Aid Punsters Day.  A day to celebrate laughter, bad jokes and clever word play.  Kids provide lots of opportunity to laugh!                                                  Megan and Big Bird in my laundry tub.                                                     (Only now do I notice her many leg bruises!)                            ...

 A short morning helping Megan until swim lessons for Brianna.  Then a day of cleaning, packing for Maine (departure tomorrow afternoon) and dog sitting Maddie (so many zoomies - so glad for the fence!). Brianna and Charlotte Sisters.  Such a short word for such a big relationship.  Bri insisted on "learning" how to change a poopy diaper (I think she was procrastinating her "homework").   "Sisters are friends we have for a lifetime." (Catherine Pulsifer, author of Change Your Life.)                                                       Karen and myself      Christmas in the early 1970s                                                   ...

 Good morning Charlotte!  My mornings are complete watching her - eat, sleep, poop, smile, try to grab things and hiccup.   So peaceful and serene. And just in case I had forgotten just how temporary everything is - Linda sent me this pic of Lennie.  This was her reaction after being asked to eat her carrots!  Seriously how super cute is she?!?  (Course I cannot hear her.)  Stay the course Linda - it is temporary!   Blast from the past:  high chair pics:                                                                                     Megan 1995                                    ...