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!!!!!

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.

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!!!!!

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!!!!!!!

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh, My Aching Back!!!!

My moving "labor pains" are almost over. I am down to the den and storage shed......maybe 4 or 5 more trips. The ol' back is just about shot. When I get the final items moved over here and the house cleaned, the first objective will be to find a good chiropractor. As I say at this point of every move "THIS IS THE LAST TIME I AM MOVING THIS STUFF!!!!

Although I feel like I am one hurting walking dead right now, there have been a few bright moments. I am enjoying taking a break when Mom comes over for morning coffee and we relax on the back patio and enjoy the fresh morning breeze and sunshine. And my neighbors from across the street stopped over to introduce themselves and welcome me to the neighborhood...and when Ken noticed my coat/hat rack propped in the corner, offered to hang it for me. Then returned with drill, leveler and toggle bolts to do the job right. They will be leaving this week for their summer home and the other neighbor across the street left this morning. My only other neighbor on this street left two weeks ago, so Wylee and I will have this corner of our world to ourselves for awhile.

Another real day brightener was when the doorbell rang yesterday afternoon, and there stood my friend, Cindy (who also has a palomino gelding, and has been one of my riding buddies). She stood in the doorway with a big bouquet of flowers, a bottle of wine, and a bag of munchies and called out "CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW HOME!. After the wine and conversation, she helped me transport all the stuff from my closet. That was an immense blessing. I would have taken all day going in and out and up and down the steps to accomplish what we did in an hour. I am so fortunate to have such great friends.

So I am almost in, and it is starting to feel like home. More kitchen space, but less closet space. Nice big laundry room, but smaller storage shed. SO....have boxes sitting around waiting to figure out where to put what, and am already planning a big load to Goodwill. All those clothes and shoes that I lug from place to place just in case.....I have a wedding/funeral/cruise....I might lose 10# (or gain them!).....I haven't worn this yet.....this was expensive....... Need Clinton to come and throw most of it a garbage can for me!

My break is over and ice tea gone, so will go back to work. A nice bath would feel good tonight, but can't figure out how to get my electric water heater turned on, so no hot water until the office opens tomorrow. Guess will be another evening at the pool and jacuzzi.....thank goodness for them!

And to make it all look a little more positive.....my friends and family up in the north country received yet more snow, gray and cold. They are spending this day shoveling and wondering if spring will ever arrive! I don't seem to get much sympathy from them when I ask if they know how I should turn on my air conditioning.....

MOVING

I have decided that moving is like having a baby. It sounds like a good idea at the time, but when in labor, one thinks "NEVER AGAIN!". And I am now in labor.

I had an opportunity to buy a new home in my 55+ park at a great price and with tempting terms. It has the advantages of no stairs, low maintenance landscaping, a walled back yard for Wylee, a 5 year warranty, and all new appliances and electrical things which shouldn't need replacing for the rest of my life! It is more energy-efficient than my current home, and would have better resale. BUT....it is a block further from the pool and my Mom's home (walking is good for me....right? ) But Mom will have further to come for our morning coffee sessions., and I will lose my wonderful neighbors. I will relinquish my handy den off my bedroom and will have a smaller storage shed. BUT...I will have a handy big utility room as I come in from the carport, a much bigger kitchen with pantry and pull-out shelves, and it is bright and cozy with skylights, vaults and tile and laminate floors. BUT....I need to take down all my pictures and THINGS and find places for them. And then there is the packing, lifting, hauling and disorganization until everything finds a place again...or gets a free ride to Goodwill.

Moving provides a good opportunity to go through things, discard the "what have I kept this for?" items, and discover the " so that's where that was" goodies. It is a time of letting go, of re-evaluating priorities and importance, and also a time of finding things that bring back a poignant memory. Friends offer their assistance, but there are just some things that have to be gone through alone. I think of how my treasures which bring me happy memories will be my children's junk to discard someday. One day I think I will write a little note to put behind my artwork and trinkets, and tell the story of why I have kept them all these years. Someday.

In the meantime, I vacillate between the excitement of the new home, and the sadness of leaving this older double-wide that needs some repairs, but has such happy memories of my sister and I painting, my brother-in- laws sharing their carpentry skills in hanging shelves and doing the kitchen floor, my sister putting in plantings around the fountain and pond, and my good friend putting in the tile and new sinks in the bathrooms. It makes it difficult to leave.

So I am in labor....feeling the pains of packing, memories and separation from a place that I have fond memories and great neighbors. I will only be moving a short distance away, yet I won't be able to wave to my neighbors who walk their dog by or come home from their night shift. But you can't go back....always forward to new possibilities. New neighbors, new views, and soon my labor will be over and I will enjoy the birth of a new tomorrow. As I eventually sit out on my new patio with the mountain views and sounds of the nearby fountain, I will enjoy my morning coffee and evening glass of wine with friends and family, and my new house will become home.

NEW CHAPTER!

No, we are not leaning...but my horseback photographer was! I was on my third ride out of Simpson's Ranch, where I moved Bart to last week. I loved in at Don's Nine Iron Ranch, but he sold his ranch and the other horses had left, so I was left with no one to ride with, and I don't feel that riding alone in the desert is the safest choice to make.
So last week I hauled Bart to Simpsons. He had to give up his big turnout for a 14x14 pen, but he didn't seem to mind. He was able to watch all the action with riders, ropers, sheep, cows and horses and seemed content. And because I now have lots of new friends to ride the hills with, he gets lots of excercise and probably enjoys snoozing in his smaller digs.
But now, the snowbirds are starting to head north, and the ranch is really thinning out. It is crowded with trailers, trucks, hay bales, roping equipment, and other horse toys in the winter months, but now I see empty stalls, lots of open spaces where trailers had been parked, and less activity. Some of the larger stalls will now be available, so I will move Bart into one of them this week.
I have met some really nice people, and one is Bets, an 84 year old woman who lives near me and has a pretty dun mare named Sweet Pea, which is a little joke, since the mare's disposition is not quite that sweet! Bets is a great rider and has ridden the mountains around the ranch for years, so knows them well. I enjoy having her point out the various wild flowers that are now blooming prolifically throughout the desert, and also she has spotted gila monsters near the trails. I'm hoping her sharp eye will see the first snake before I do, too!!!