I used my new Webcam on Saturday to connect to grandbaby Kaitlyn. Actually I connected to her mom, who then called Kaitlyn over to say hello to Mimi (that's me in Kaitlyn-speak). I was looking right at the camera saying hello and smiling (probably being just a bit silly and the poor little darling was mystified. She had this puzzled half-smile. Emily told her to blow a kiss to Mimi, which she didn't do, so I blew a kiss to her. And when Emily asked her if she could give Mimi a kiss, Kaitlyn bent over and kissed the keyboard!
Things don't get much sweeter.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Powerhouse and Wind Mills
Today Bruce and I took a beautiful drive about 20 miles north to lovely Altona. We were looking to find an old powerhouse that just got a bunch of money from the wind energy company nearby. There had been a picture in the paper and Bruce said that although he knew exactly the dam, which was going to be removed, he couldn't place or picture the powerhouse. So we went to look for/at it. It turns out to be the building below and the dam in front of it is the one that Bruce knew--a few years ago he grabbed hold of a piece of rebar sticking out from it and with a light pull he pulled out a big chunk from the (off-stage left) pillar that's pretty much like the one that says "Built 1923." So both he and I don't share some locals' concern about removing the dam. I think it's ugly and Bruce says it's useless as a dam, too.
So I took a few pictures. The one above is the only one I could get from that side; the others were all from the back and I've put just one here.
I think that refurbed it could be gorgeous. I would put a theatre in it. But what do I know.
The marching pillars in the shot below are what carried the "penstock," which is apparently the name of the big pipe that carries water from a river to the turbines of a powerhouse. The pipe is about 5 feet in diameter (at least the one behind our house that goes to "our" powerhouse is). This particular old powerhouse was built by a local entrepreneur, William Miner, and that makes it special to folks around here.
So what about the wind mills from my title? That powerhouse is not too far from one of the wind farms in the area. The last time we were up in this neck of the woods there was no evidence of wind turbines, now there are a bunch of them and here is a shot of me (in red sweatshirt)sort of near one. You really can't see me--click on the picture to enlarge it and look for a red blob--but if you can you might get some sense of how bloody big these windmills are!
Here's my best photo of the day. I really like the sculptural aspects of the turbines; I've said before that I think they're beautiful. The ones near us were revolving very slowly and silently (they're not online yet)and the sun was in the perfect spot. Put your sunglasses on.
So I took a few pictures. The one above is the only one I could get from that side; the others were all from the back and I've put just one here.
I think that refurbed it could be gorgeous. I would put a theatre in it. But what do I know.
The marching pillars in the shot below are what carried the "penstock," which is apparently the name of the big pipe that carries water from a river to the turbines of a powerhouse. The pipe is about 5 feet in diameter (at least the one behind our house that goes to "our" powerhouse is). This particular old powerhouse was built by a local entrepreneur, William Miner, and that makes it special to folks around here.
So what about the wind mills from my title? That powerhouse is not too far from one of the wind farms in the area. The last time we were up in this neck of the woods there was no evidence of wind turbines, now there are a bunch of them and here is a shot of me (in red sweatshirt)sort of near one. You really can't see me--click on the picture to enlarge it and look for a red blob--but if you can you might get some sense of how bloody big these windmills are!
Here's my best photo of the day. I really like the sculptural aspects of the turbines; I've said before that I think they're beautiful. The ones near us were revolving very slowly and silently (they're not online yet)and the sun was in the perfect spot. Put your sunglasses on.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Years
These are the roses Bruce gave me for our 7th anniversary on Wednesday. We went out for a very nice dinner and then shared a split of champagne when we got home--my contribution to the celebration. When I asked Bruce if he had any symptoms of the "7-year itch" he didn't even know what it was so I guess the answer was no. :-) (Me either, BTW!)
I planned to wax philosophical about those seven years but my niece has reminded me of something that I try to remember--and too often forget: I'm very happy with what I have. What I don't have will take care of itself and I don't have to spend any of my energy on it.
I have:
- a loving husband (funny, gentlemanly, protective and caring)
- two unbelievably beautiful and talented daughters who love me (and I don't have to put "I think" after that)
- two sons-in-law who adore their wives and whom I love truly as sons (and I didn't have to go through the scary growing-up part!)
- one perfect grandchild with another equally perfect one under construction
- a snug, comfortable lovely home in one of the most beautiful parts of the country
- an income that lets me live as comfortably as I want to
- a good life
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Rainy Saturday
It's a rainy day today and that's actually a good thing. A month earlier I'd have been whining about moremoremore rain, but for unknown reasons, today it feels good. When I walked this morning I was in drizzle about half the time but it wasn't cold drizzle so I was fine with it.
It's a good day for napping. This is the way Bruce (and I've decided to use real names 'cuz no one really reads this!) looks when he "rests his eyes."
Actually, this isn't even the best. When he dozes off after starting to work on the crossword puzzle he never even puts down his pen! He really looks likes he's still awake if you just glance at him. What a talent.
I just took an apple pie out of the oven. Bruce asked me today how many pies I've made in my life and I realized that it isn't really all that many. I gave myself a (rather generous) rough average of 6/year and I've been making pies for about 30 years. That's only about 180 pies. I'd thought initially I'd been doing it for 20 yrs. but I remember baking pies in Iowa, I'm pretty sure. I started well before I got my Cuisinart and I realized today while making piecrust in it that I've had it since 1982, so it's more than 20 years. But still, it's under 200 pies. That's not that many.
Maybe Bruce should have asked how many cupcakes I've made.....
It's a good day for napping. This is the way Bruce (and I've decided to use real names 'cuz no one really reads this!) looks when he "rests his eyes."
Actually, this isn't even the best. When he dozes off after starting to work on the crossword puzzle he never even puts down his pen! He really looks likes he's still awake if you just glance at him. What a talent.
I just took an apple pie out of the oven. Bruce asked me today how many pies I've made in my life and I realized that it isn't really all that many. I gave myself a (rather generous) rough average of 6/year and I've been making pies for about 30 years. That's only about 180 pies. I'd thought initially I'd been doing it for 20 yrs. but I remember baking pies in Iowa, I'm pretty sure. I started well before I got my Cuisinart and I realized today while making piecrust in it that I've had it since 1982, so it's more than 20 years. But still, it's under 200 pies. That's not that many.
Maybe Bruce should have asked how many cupcakes I've made.....
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
"Conversation Starters"
The last time I got some foods from Omaha Steaks (yum) they enclosed a packet of "Conversation Starters." Here's the first:
If you could star in one movie, what would it be?
And what part would you play?
And what part would you play?
Being a genetic actress--meaning I truly was born with it, whether I'm good or not--I have a hard time with the question. There are soooo many good movies, and very good parts. For unknown reasons, The English Patient popped into mind. So right at this very minute, I'd take the role played by Kristin Scott Thomas.
How about YOU?
How about YOU?
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Holy Birthday, Batman!
Did I have a 60th birthday or what? All you loyal readers are lucky I'm still here; I almost succumbed to heart failure last Saturday. But I didn't. I DID find out how sneaky my relatives are ... all of them, apparently!
It all started innocently. (I promise not to drop into purple prose here. Really.) Daughter Elise invited me to Florida to grandbabysit Kyrin while Elise & Pedro went to two weddings in two weeks. I leapt at the chance: a chunk of time with Kyrin? What's not to want? So I booked my flights and then Stan said he wanted to come down and fish for grass carp in warm weather since he hadn't known what fish to be prepared for when we went in January. He flew down on the same day but returned a week later, while I stayed a few more days. And you realize that I threw all my previous good-teacher-ethics to the winds and missed the first class of the semester, leaving my two sections in Grad. Assistant's hands. (Ask me how guilty I am. Go ahead, ask.)
The first weekend wedding was actually on my birthday, so no celebrating, no drinking, no whoopdidoo at all. Bummer. But I WAS looking after my favorite, okay, okay, my only grandchild so all was not bad. And all my sibs called, which was very sweet. Elise remembered the occasion after I mentioned the phone calls and her sister Jane didn't call till Monday. I was wounded, deeply wounded. But Pedro & Elise gave Stan & me a gift certificate to a terrific restaurant and I decided to use that as my birthday gift from them (they said it was a thank-you for babysitting). Meanwhile, Stan really wanted to go to a less fancy restaurant and he grumbled about that so I answered that "No one made any big deal about my birthday and this was a big one, so I'm HAPPY to go to a fancy restaurant!" And it was fancy and it was good and I, for one, thought it was fun. The next day Stan went home.
So Friday Elise said that before they went to the wedding on Saturday she wanted to go out for lunch with me & Kyrin, spend some mommy- and daughter-time. Fine with me. On Saturday Pedro decided to join us. But I'm watching the clock, wondering if they aren't cutting it damned close for making it to the afternoon wedding. I AM a good mother and M.I.L., however, so I didn't say anything. So we all trouped off to Ruby Tuesday (BTW, this is probably where Stan wanted to go).
We're at our table, drinking our just delivered raspberry lemonades and looking at the menu when I looked towards the entrance and saw a woman who looked so much like my sister Alicia. I looked away and was just starting to tell this to Elise when I looked back and in the same space stood daughter Jane. I was dumbfounded. Really. I could NOT process the idea that Jane was there in FL saying "Surprise!" And then the woman who looked like Alicia appeared and good lord, it WAS Alicia! From Milwaukee. And then sister Amber from Seattle. And then niece Julianne from Florida. And then Elise was saying, "Oh, BTW, Mom, there is no wedding today." Which I also couldn't process.
I was laughing and crying and I said to Elise, "I feel like such a whiner." And now that's the code for the whole weekend. I guess EVERYone, including Stan, felt like telling me to stuff a sock in it about no fuss, but I truly did not have ONE clue that anything was going to happen.
Then, on top of everything, I got gifts! A beautiful jade necklace from China and a sweater set that is just gorgeous, a bouquet, balloon and great birthday cards. I don't have pictures from the restaurant but I have a few from Elise's house, to which we all repaired after lunch and where Pedro made a great holiday BBQ dinner on the grill. Cake and everything. I'm still reeling in amazement.
Three of 10 cousins ... plus one
I cannot say enough about Elise's planning skills. How she pulled this together is a mystery and I prefer it to remain so! But I think she should start thinking about being a wedding planner. If she can herd Kleibers, she can herd anyone!
So do they love me? I guess so! And do I love them, even the ones who couldn't come? YOU BET I DO.
It all started innocently. (I promise not to drop into purple prose here. Really.) Daughter Elise invited me to Florida to grandbabysit Kyrin while Elise & Pedro went to two weddings in two weeks. I leapt at the chance: a chunk of time with Kyrin? What's not to want? So I booked my flights and then Stan said he wanted to come down and fish for grass carp in warm weather since he hadn't known what fish to be prepared for when we went in January. He flew down on the same day but returned a week later, while I stayed a few more days. And you realize that I threw all my previous good-teacher-ethics to the winds and missed the first class of the semester, leaving my two sections in Grad. Assistant's hands. (Ask me how guilty I am. Go ahead, ask.)
The first weekend wedding was actually on my birthday, so no celebrating, no drinking, no whoopdidoo at all. Bummer. But I WAS looking after my favorite, okay, okay, my only grandchild so all was not bad. And all my sibs called, which was very sweet. Elise remembered the occasion after I mentioned the phone calls and her sister Jane didn't call till Monday. I was wounded, deeply wounded. But Pedro & Elise gave Stan & me a gift certificate to a terrific restaurant and I decided to use that as my birthday gift from them (they said it was a thank-you for babysitting). Meanwhile, Stan really wanted to go to a less fancy restaurant and he grumbled about that so I answered that "No one made any big deal about my birthday and this was a big one, so I'm HAPPY to go to a fancy restaurant!" And it was fancy and it was good and I, for one, thought it was fun. The next day Stan went home.
So Friday Elise said that before they went to the wedding on Saturday she wanted to go out for lunch with me & Kyrin, spend some mommy- and daughter-time. Fine with me. On Saturday Pedro decided to join us. But I'm watching the clock, wondering if they aren't cutting it damned close for making it to the afternoon wedding. I AM a good mother and M.I.L., however, so I didn't say anything. So we all trouped off to Ruby Tuesday (BTW, this is probably where Stan wanted to go).
We're at our table, drinking our just delivered raspberry lemonades and looking at the menu when I looked towards the entrance and saw a woman who looked so much like my sister Alicia. I looked away and was just starting to tell this to Elise when I looked back and in the same space stood daughter Jane. I was dumbfounded. Really. I could NOT process the idea that Jane was there in FL saying "Surprise!" And then the woman who looked like Alicia appeared and good lord, it WAS Alicia! From Milwaukee. And then sister Amber from Seattle. And then niece Julianne from Florida. And then Elise was saying, "Oh, BTW, Mom, there is no wedding today." Which I also couldn't process.
I was laughing and crying and I said to Elise, "I feel like such a whiner." And now that's the code for the whole weekend. I guess EVERYone, including Stan, felt like telling me to stuff a sock in it about no fuss, but I truly did not have ONE clue that anything was going to happen.
Then, on top of everything, I got gifts! A beautiful jade necklace from China and a sweater set that is just gorgeous, a bouquet, balloon and great birthday cards. I don't have pictures from the restaurant but I have a few from Elise's house, to which we all repaired after lunch and where Pedro made a great holiday BBQ dinner on the grill. Cake and everything. I'm still reeling in amazement.
Three of 10 cousins ... plus one
So do they love me? I guess so! And do I love them, even the ones who couldn't come? YOU BET I DO.
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