Thursday, May 29, 2008

Mom's Old Refrigerator

Mom and Dad had a small Leonard refrigerator back in the '50's when I was growing up in a small town in northern Minnesota. The bottom had a tilt out bin where she stored her potatoes and onions. It had a small freezer at the top between the taller shelves that held the milk bottles. It probably could hold an ice tray and a few frozen steaks.
As the family grew, the little refrigerator became too small for the family of five, and a family friend surprised Mom with a new, larger refrigerator full of plastic shelves instead of the steel racks in the old Leonard. After a few years, the shelves were cracked or broken, and the side shelves had fallen off one time too many. And the big new refrigerator died. So when Mom and Dad moved into the bigger house across town, they purchased another new plastic refrigerator. And soon this one needed replacing, also. And the old Leonard? They sold it to a resort.....where it is still in use today.
Why did I think about all this today? I have been in my new house a month now. My brand new GE washer would not work on the hot cycle, and I am awaiting a new part for it. My brand new hot water heater burned out a lower element, and I just had a new one put in. My brand new GE side by side refrigerator quit making ice, and a new ice maker has been ordered for it. I bought a new house, as my former one was 25 years old, and I was expecting to be needing to replace some expensive items such as air conditioning, furnace, roof and deck. So now I am in spanking brand new home.....and three spanking brand new appliances have already needed repair in the first 30 days. Don't make 'em like they used to, huh? I guess it is our throw away society....we want to get new colors, new model,s new specifications, new styles, new husbands,..... Since all the importation of cheap goods from China and former Third World countries, places like WalMart can sell items so cheaply that is it cheaper to replace rather than repair. And then there are the computer chips......
But there was a time when there was quality and pride in workmanship. Now it is "Planned Obsolescence" . I bet even the Maytag repairman is no longer sitting around with his dog waiting for a call. Might as well just throw that old Maytag, anyway....the new ones are RED!!!!!

Monday, May 26, 2008

PROGRESS!











I moved into my new home a month ago today. It was a daunting task to pack everything up, haul it to the new home, and unpack and find places for everything and deciding to discard, donate or put other things away for a future garage sale. Now utilities have been switched, address changes made, some shopping and yard sales done, final boxes unpacked, pictures hung, storage shed organized, and I have enjoyed some peaceful days enjoying all the hard work.
I have added some gates to the back and side walls for security, a place for Wylee's early morning or late evening outings, and to keep unwanted critters out. This week I had my new screen/security door installed, and now can have the front door open all night for the evening breezes without worrying about any surprise visitors....and Wylee loves laying in front of it and watching the goings on across the street. The many cactus that were planted with the included landscaping have been blooming, and it is fun to see what kind of blossoms will appear.

Monday, May 12, 2008

THE NEW PUPPY!





Last year I wrote of the sad day when my grandson's old dog was put down to to the problems that come with aging in the autumn of life. Now as spring finally arrives in the north country, new life arrives, and a sign is the arrival of my grandson's new puppy, Cowboy. This beautiful Springer Spainel waddled from his litter mates and dropped right into CJs lap when they visited the breeder. And it appears that this dog plans to stick near his new boy, and they are now inseperable. I can't wait to meet this new family member when I return to Minnesota....but hate to leave here when the weather is so nice, and is remaining so cool up there. But there is nothing like a cute, fat bellied pup to cuddle!!!!!

Thursday, May 1, 2008

GREAT NEWS!

My daughter who was married in July, has been disheartened by two miscarriages during her brief marriage. But now she has called to tell me that they are expecting my second grandchild in December! Of course, they are thrilled (I think of the scene from "My Cousin Vinnie"..."My CLOCK IS TICKING!!!!!!"). They have been so focused on starting their family, and I am so happy for them that they will finish the year with their new baby. I worried about her putting so much stress on herself in one year....meeting Niels, moving to another state and new home, loss of job, dealing with lasting effects from head injury, engagement and trip to Europe, and a wedding and honeymoon to the Caribbean. Now any ONE of those things are a big stressor, but to have ALL of them within ONE YEAR......WHEW! I thought they should take the time to enjoy their new home and life together....but at 36, the ticking was getting much too loud for her!
So her life has taken some wonderful turns this year, and now she awaits her new family member. The next 20 years will no longer be hers......someone else will decide when she eats, sleeps, and how she will spend her money. I chuckle thinking about how I recently compared my moving to being in labor, and thinking "I will NEVER go throught THAT again". And now I hear the exciting news about the new grandchild.
I wish them much happiness and a healthy pregnancy and baby. Pregnancy has changed from the Baby Boomers to Generation X. Where we waited 3 months before going to the doctor for the first time, they have their test kits out the next day! Where we worked until the week of delivery and hid under billowing clothes, they plan Babymoon cruises and wear tight-fitting clothes with their belly hanging out. It will be an interesting journey.
God Speed, Baby DJ!!!!!!!