My Clothesline

I love my clothesline and use it 3 seasons a year and even on unusually warm, sunny, winter days.

I grew up with my mother always hanging out the laundry year 'round in CT. Clothes would freeze on the line and then they'd come inside to thaw out and finish drying. Having grown up with that, how could I not have line drying ingrained into my brain (and heart)? IMO nothing beats sheets line dried. Getting into bed between those crisp, wonderfully smelling sheets and pillow cases is just as good as it gets. I also love line dried towels as I hate wimpy towels from the dryer.

Well, my poor clothesline broke in August when my daughter and the girls were still here. I have been waiting for someone to come fix it and it still is broken. My neighbor told me that her husband volunteered to fix it. One end is attached to my house and I stand on the deck to hang the clothes. It is high off the ground and can't be reached from the lawn. It then goes quite high up to the hook in a big tree. The problem is that it's a wild area and there is poison ivy under that end of it. He's a real trooper and I am so grateful. While he's at it, I'll have a new line and new pulleys at each end.

I am so excited to think that my sheets will hang out on it this weekend drying in the sun. Little things mean a lot.

P.S. My neighbor put up a new clothesline for me today. What a nice surprise to come home to tonight. I can't wait to wash sheets and towels Sat. morning and hang them out.

WFH

At work, we call working from home WFH. They are wonderful letters but TGIF are the best.
My computer at work is a laptop so technically I can WFH but until this summer, only did it maybe 3 times in 2 years during snowstorms. This summer I've done it the same number.

Advantages:

1. Don't have to get up as early, shower, dress decently or even get dressed.
2. Short commute from the bedroom to the den.
3. Can start early (one day I logged on at 6:30 AM).
4. Don't have to fix lunch before work and pack it.
5. Have my 4 legged friend as company.
6. Can throw in a few loads of wash.
7. My phone is not ringing and no one is coming up to my cube so no interruptions.
8. More productive as no interruptions.
9. Since I'm home (a rarity), it really doesn't feel like work even though I'm getting a lot done.
10. Love it but wouldn't want to do it every day. One day a week would be ideal for me.

My store (or should I say stash)

I've always shopped ahead. When I see something for someone, I buy it and put it away until their birthday or Christmas. It's very handy when the occasison comes around and all I have to do is gift wrap it.

Over the years, that has expanded to stocking up when I see something on sale. It sure is convenient when I need a gift for a birthday, Christmas, house warming, baby, anniversary or whatever. All I have to do is go into my storage under the eaves and shop. My daughter has come to like it when she's here and asks if I have anything for a baby girl or boy for her to bring back to Moscow or to mail. She knows I have good stuff stockpiled. Need children's books for gifts, I have them - regular ones and Christmas ones. I also have assorted baby items.

My storage is very organized and I can put my hand on the correct box or bag in an instant. I also have a large supply of gift bags (all organized by size), gift boxes (neatly fit into a large cardboard box), Christmas cards, Bath & Body products, ribbons (curling to metallic - all organized in boxes).

No, I'm not a hoarder. I give out a lot of gifts so this makes things easier for me as I don't have to always go shopping at the local stores when I need a present.

This sure simplifies my life.

4 Things

TAGGED FROM ANNIE:


Annie called this "Four Things":



Four things that are always in my purse (besides the obvious)
hand sanitizer
picture of my daughter & SIL at their wedding
list of my prescriptions
lots of emergency contact information



Four things in the drawer in my desk (that one wouldn't expect to find there)
different OTC meds

more hand sanitizer

eyeglass spray cleaner

magazines to read at lunchtime



Four favourite things in my bedroom
pictures of my father, my daughter, granddaughters, my dachshunds, me on the beach where we had our family cottage

standing fan, ceiling fan and A/C

current novel I'm reading

TV to watch/listen to news in AM when getting dressed and for PM when getting ready for bed



Four things I always wanted to do
have a daughter and granddaughters (it happened)

retire early (didn't happen)

live by the ocean (happened for many summers but ended)

ride in a Russian troika (happened last December in Moscow)



Four things I like at the moment
reading outside in my hammock on weekend afternoons (soon to end as it will get too cold in CT)

scrapbooking

working with a great group of people (Since I have to work, it's good that the co-workers are so nice.)

wonderful group of friend (IRL and online)





Four things no one knows about me
I used to be a Mrs. Clean and you could eat off my floors. Now I suggest you keep your slippers on inside.

I wanted to work in Europe at an Embassy or Military base after I graduated from college. Never looked into it senior year as my father had poor health. I was raised on Jewish guilt (even though we're not Jewish) and since I was the only child, I felt I couldn't move overseas.

Wish I spoke fluent French like my daughter.

Distantly (very, very distantly) related to FDR



If you read my blog and would like to do a similar posting on your blog, please do and let me know so I can read it.

If only....

If only the CT weather that we have had this weekend could be like this for over half a year. Just perfect in the mid to high 70's with breezes, full sun and chilly nights for sleeping. For someone that hates heat and humidity, this was heavenly.

Yesterday a friend and I spent a day on the beach at the CT shore and it was windy but perfect. It was a small beach and not many people were there so we had a lovely quiet day just chatting and enjoying the ocean. Doesn't get much better than that.

I spent the entire afternoon out on my hammock reading "The Girls From Ames". Enjoyable but it took a few chapters to hook me. I know that I would not want some of those details in print if I were a few of those girls though. Wouldn't want my dirty laundry out there for the world to read.

I just love having a quiet afternoon to vegg out with a book and doing it outside on a perfect 10 day on a hammock is the best.

The only bad thing about the weekend is that it is coming to an end and back to work tomorrow.

Ten Years Ago Today!

Sept. 3, 2000

A very special day as I became a grandmother. Katya is turning 10 - a biggie as it's her first double digit birthday.

When she turned 1, 2 and 3, we had birthday parties here in CT for her with friends and my cousins. Such wonderful birthday memories.

Today she'll have a birthday celebration with her classmates at school in Moscow. Birthdays are very big celebrations in Russia. Last year her mom made her a very special, round soccer cake. This summer, while here in CT, she planned what she wanted and chose fancy cupcakes. I'm sure my daughter was up late last night baking so Katya could bring them into school for her class. I'm sure my daughter will blog (with pictures) about Katya's birthday.

Katya was named for her mom's closest college friend who was born in Russia. When they all lived near each other in Ann Arbor, it was confusing with the two Katyas so I called them Big Katya and Little Katya (still do).

I wish all of us grandparents were there to share her day but we'll all call to wish her a special birthday and send our love.

Lobster

It's only $4.99 a pound for 1 - 1 1/4 pound lobsters so it might be another lobster supper this weekend at my house this Saturday.