Happy Home

This makes great blogpost title, and it is also the title of a decorating book byCharoltte Hedman Gueniau, founder of RICE, a homewares company in Denmark. Every  photo is brimming with color pillows and artifacts within all white rooms.  My BFF, Paulette, once told me that she owned a Happy Rug. What a treasure, indeed! The colors of her oriental rug are brighter than most of  this style and I think it is pretty special to own a rug that makes you feel happy.

I'm finally "leaning into" retirement, sage advice given to me from Vince, during my final dinner with the Board a year ago. My gym routine has added needed structure to my week for a start. And, there have been some arts and crafts projects on the back burner that I am enjoyng.

When niece, Kelsey (age 14) came to visit for a week earlier this month, she and I tried our hands at candle making - a popular craft in the early '70s...... We had the bright idea of using some canning jars that I never used (my aborted attempt to make grape jam from the Concord grapevine in our yard). As you can see below, something untoward happened after the candle cooled. It cannot burn properly, sort of the fundamental use of a candle. With $100 invested in supplies, and one ruined double boiler, it is a pretty expensive candle!

After that experiment, we joined a watercolor class in progress at the local metro parks. Our assignment was to copy a photo of a winter forest scene. I didn't like the middle part of my painting, so I cut it out.

Then, I decided I didn't like some other sections, so, I cut those out as well. This helped average out the cost of the workshop as now I had two painting instead of one!

We even did a bit of cooking, making a Thanksgiving dinner menu with Ron as head chef!

You know how you can always learn some new things from a teenager? Well, I didn't know that records, oh, em, VINYL is popular again. At $30 a piece, I am looking at my vintage collection in a whole new light.

Kelsey and Paulette shared new aps on their iPhones while waiting for me at the Mall one afternoon. This was the same day we hung out at Starbucks for awhile. I didn't realize I dropped my billfold under a chair until a very kind gentleman rang our doorbell that evening-billfold in hand! Wow. Thanks, Glenn. Now we are Facebook friends with several friends in common. Small world!  

Meanwhile, instead of knitting a pair of socks, I made a "sockhead" hat. (see photo above)  Since I currently own enough yarn to make 62 pairs of socks, this was an good move. Perhaps I could make 31 hats with 31 pairs of matching socks! Place your orders now. Just call 999-000-9999 before midnight. 

On a roll, Paulette suggested that we try a new craft each week. This week we are going to sew pillowcases for use in Valentine decor.  Details next month. Did I forget to mention ongoing decorating projects? I was asked to advise on paint, furniture, and layout for David and Karrie's home in Temecula, Ca. The photo below is the "before" picture.

The "after" photo features a fresh coat of Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter on the walls with a few new pieces of furniture, too. This was really fun to do via  FaceTime with them. Actually, we did the entire house, not just this room. 

I had forgotten how much I enjoyed interior design. For awhile, I tried a double major at Kent (English and Interior Design) but couldn't manage the dichotomy and distance between classes. Paulie lets me decorate her home for each holiday, so I get a temporary fix every season.

Of course, I've not neglected my love of reading. Above are some of the books that are currently on  my nightstand table.  Most are from the Huron Public Library-an absolute gem packed with interesting new books, and a few are from the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library that Paulie and I visited a few weeks ago. I am especially enjoying the Ross essays from her years at the New Yorker. I can't read the Bogle book at night because it keeps me wide awake-really. I've become a Boglehead and I have placed holds on his newest books. He is now 86 and I watched a recent interview of him predicting the next 10 years to have an  3% increases in an average portfolio. Oh oh. 

 This is Emma's first winter in a warm house. When she isn't sleeping curled up on the couch, she spends her time looking out of the window and I hope she isn't regretting the change in her environment. Several times a day she allows me to scratch her head and ears, but, I've not yet been able to pick her up. Ten months seems like enough time to get used to us, but, that's how it goes sometimes with cats,  I guess.

Emma's daughter, Lucy, has made herself right at home, as you can see from the photo below! Those are the Jolly Wee Elves that I knitted. They look a bit more wizened than the pattern, alas, but Lucy looks fine!

Lest you think Kate, namesake of this blog, is a reformed puppy, think again! Now at age 5, she still rules the roost and does as she pleases.

I tucked Kate into the bathroom while the Sears Repair guy was here to fix our dryer. It just seemed easier than trying to keep her from barking nonstop. On the other hand, I had a bit of cleanup to do later!

I was sorely tempted to head to D.C. for the big snow storm a few days ago. In Sandusky, the sun is shining and the grass is still green and these are not good things for January, in my opinion.  I'm making the best of it and heading out for a brisk walk with Jack-my new best buddy since Marilyn passed away. Actually, he has always been number one and graciously made way for Louie and then Marilyn Monroe. At age 9, we still have lots of walks ahead of us! From the happy home, jb.

Do your calves get along?

This was what I heard my personal trainer, Barb, ask me a few days ago while I struggled with the TRX set.  Well, actually, both calves were burning, so, I answered, "I'm not sure. Yes, I think so."
Turns out she was asking me if my CATS get along (the earlier conversation we had as I was gasping for breath during a one minute plank exercise). After a good laugh, she was undeterred from introducing me to Jacob's Ladder.

"Don't look so scared!" she exclaimed as she hooked a tether around my waist. This particuar machine just works as slowly as you climb, one rung at a time, forever, or, in my case, 4 minutes.  It also burned 125 calories in the 4 minutes that I lasted on the machine.  You can keep track of the rungs climbed and get a free t-shirt when you reach steps equal to Mt. Everest. Yeah, right, like I need a t-shirt that badly.

On to the recumbent bikes for 20 minutes of "cardio" as Barb calls this ride to nowhere. I haven't figured out how to use the headphone jack, but, I have learned how to read the close captions on the tv or better yet, I ignore the captions and try to guess what the tv newscasters are actually saying.

This little ride is followed by climbing up and down a flight of stairs, 6 times, carrying 10 pound weights in each hand. I clump up the stairs pretty quickly, but, remembering my broken ankle when I missed two steps in my basement stairs in 1999, I SLOWLY decend, staring intently at my feet as they land on each tread. This, of course, is also a pretty good tactic for stalling before Barb assigns me "our" next set of something or other. She also suggests I notice what the extra 20 pounds feels like.......ahem.

Since October, I've lost 2.5 inches from my waist and hips, which at least allows me to breathe easier in a pair of jeans. I actually look forward to my twice weekly sessions with Barb. I have yet to get myself to the gym three other days of the week, however.  In an effort to look for motivation, I signed up for a Metabolic Rate Analysis System test. As the brochure states, .....There is one basic truth to weight loss: you need to burn more than you eat. Your test results show you precisely how many calories your body actually burns and calculates how many calories you should eat to lose weight.

 So, here's what you do: breathe into a tube that goes into the computer for 15 minutes. It measures and then averages your oxygen and co2 levels, compares them to the same in the room, and, voila! You learn, among other things,  if your metabolism is slow, normal, or fast. First, you input your weight, height, and age, goal weight, BMI, and gender.  My rate was dead on normal, so that excuse went right out the window, or rather, down the tube.

Taking into account my "resting energy expenditure" of calories, according to the test, my "life style and activity" calories, and my exercise calories/typical session, I need to dump at least 300 calories/day  from what I am currently eating.  I am sure my "glass" of white wine would qualify for about 150 of those calories, and maybe the nut mix that goes with them. Guess I'll give that a go, so to speak, first. I put the Fitbit back on, too. The one with the lime green band.

I got my first Sneakers award, announced to me on my smartphone, by walking more than 10,000 steps today. Some of that was achieved by walking to the bay and back

and then a rousing round of shopping from one end of Crocker Park to the other. This last, however, was concluded by a nice dinner at Brio, of course with a glass of Cab. Sigh. Today is a new start. We're heading back to our alma mater, Kent State, to hike the campus and see the new buildings and the  rehab of downtown Kent, and, I have to admit, a stop at Ray's for a glass of beer.

Caution! Christmas Letter from the Brooks Household-Proceed at Your Own Risk!

The image above is of a Christmas Card Holder that Paulette made in needlepoint for me. Isn't it beautiful? Ron and I are looking for actual, not virtual, Christmas cards, to put in it this December, of course, but, here we are, sending a virtual Christmas Card Letter........isn't that just the way it goes!

I'm surprised how many people ask me how I'm  enjoying my first year of retirement.  I truthfully answer that being retired is a challenge for me, but that I'm starting to get the hang of it. Ron, on the other hand, retired six months ago and will tell you that it is the greatest and easiest thing in the world to do. Paulette, also now retired, keeps all of us busy, and Bob, with the most experience, shows us all how to relax.

We adopted two additional cats last February. It was a bitterly cold winter in Sandusky. Lucy, a kitten of about six months, entered our garage and gratefully joined us inside. It took us all month to get AllieCat to calm down and share her surroundings and even longer to have all three dogs accept the newest member of our family. When Lucy discovered that this house was filled with yarn to play with, she was extra glad she picked us for her new home.

It was only a month later that we added Emma, Lucy's mom, to our brood.

Yep, we are now a 3 cat family. Emma, however, isn't too thrilled with the other furry animals and rarely leaves our library-she is truly a Library Cat!

 The additional livestock made camping a bit more challenging and so we stayed closer to home this summer, dropping in feed the cats once a day and then heading back to our seasonal campsite just 20 minutes down the road.

In fact, it wasn't until November that the wheels on Nina turned at all when we ventured across the bridge to East Harbor State Park for a week. Now that Ron and I have agreed that I love to drive the RV and he doesn't like it AT ALL, we might make a westward ho! next summer with me in the driver's seat. Fair warning.

Not to say that we didn't travel in 2015. I headed to Las Vegas to meet up with Amy and Anne, two friends from high school. We had a wonderful time catching up and comparing aging dilemmas just as we had counseled each other with teenage issues so many years before.

In the fall, Ron and I traveled to Columbus, Ohio for the very special wedding of Ivona and Ben Dunnavent. We met Ivona, a Serbian college student,  last summer when she was working at Cedar Point, and falling in love with Ben,  an Ohioan working at the Point. When Ivona left last fall, I didn't know she meant it when she assured us we would see her the following summer. Sigh. Young Love.

The travel bug hit again in the fall. Janet Ford and I took our second annual fly/road trip. This time, we headed to Boston and drove through Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and the southern coast of Maine. 

It was an extra treat for me to gaze at this  beach scene again,  having vacationed at Kennebunkport Beach, Maine for most of my summers growing up.

We stayed at P.E.O. b&b's for the most part -  having the extra bonus of donating our lodging costs to scholarships for women. We drove for 6 days, and never put more than 700 miles on the rental car. I really didn't know how compact New England is.

One of our favorite P.E.O. homes was located on 60 acres near Weston, Vermont, and just down the road from the movie settings of Baby Boom. In fact, when our hostess was lamenting the many apples in her orchard that needed tending, I mentioned that reminded me of the movie, Baby Boom. With that, she abruptly asked me if I had been to Peru. Thinking she was a bit daft in making that transition in conversation, I admitted that, no, I'd never been to Peru?  She offered to take me-yikes. Turns out, Peru, Vermont, is where the movie was shot on location. What a hoot.

As some of you know, both Kate and Marilyn had major illnesses in August. Kate, after having a large kidney stone removed, is doing better than ever. At age 5, she seems to have the energy and joy of a little puppy now. Marilyn, however, at age 14 1/2, just couldn't recover from liver and brain tumors, and we lost her to pneumonia in early November.  

Jack is our oldest (age 10) and has been especially comforting since Marilyn passed away.

My mom, who's birthday is today, December 13, came to visit us in July. We enjoyed shopping in Oberlin, dining at Sunnybrook, hanging out with Paulie, and spending time on both front and back porches.

Speaking of porches, Ron's favorite porch was at the b&b, Welcome Home Inn, a screened in beauty in peaceful surroundings....that didn't require Ron to so much as lift a finger to maintain. Notice that broad retirement smile on his face.

Ron and I wish all of you the very happiest of times in the days ahead and extra wishes for a happy and healthy 2016.

Thanksgiving ponderings

I've had a  difficult time writing a blogpost after Marilyn passed away several days ago. Yesterday, while at the vet's with our other Sandard poodle, Jack, another client started telling us all about this fantastic white Standard poodle that sat in the church pew ahead of him every week for years. He told us how much he loved that dog, even though it wasn't his....I interrupted and told him that Marilyn Monroe had come to live with us 3 years ago and that she had passed away recently. He was clearly saddened and yet glad to know that she had been in good care after her owner passed away. This encounter, while not unusual because Marilyn was actually well known in this small Huron, Ohio community, just accentuated my raw sadness.

Marilyn Monroe (March 9, 2001-October 26, 2015)

Marilyn passed away swiftly from pneumonia. We were completely blindsided by this as she had done so well with all of her surgeries. You might imagine how lonely it is to suddenly not have your shadow beside you after 3 years....and that is the struggle. But, this is a blogpost of many things and I am going to try to move on.

My return to the gym after an absence of, um, many years, has made me happier and stronger. Many of the trainers around me are working out toward their next triathlon or marathon. Trying to perfect putting one foot in front of the other must be very difficult because they practice this alot. I, on the other hand, am working toward a unique goal of getting myself up from a bean bag chair!!! 

Google Images of pretty lady in a beanbag chair

While I don't actually own a bean bag chair these days (whew)  I thought that would be a worthy goal anyway. Really, how many people over the age of 45 can get up from a bean bag chair by themselves?  I hereby am initiating the BEANBAG CHALLENGE. I'll have to trust you on this one, but, if you can get out of a beanbag (you''ll have to find one first, of course) and have a photo to prove it, send it on to me by March 30, 2016 and you may receive a special trophy from me.

Christmas shopping. Yes, I know,  some of you are not in my league.  I am already FINISHED! And, I have two December birthdays nailed down as well. Ha. In fact, I'm looking for some shopping to do, so, if you need me to run errands, or shop for you, or anyone you know, please contact me. I'm here for you. I have my Black Friday scheduled already plotted out---I'm NOT going anywhere! Except to the gym (see Beanbag challenge above)

Needlepoint Canvas

Christmas decorating.  I haven't started that as of yet. I'm almost finished with my needlepoint Santa, though. I was stymied with the orange thread suggestion and reached out to the Needlepoint Nation. Yes, this exists- on Facebook! I have received over 100 suggestions and I settled on the ones that suggested a slightly darker pink color instead of the orange indicated. These are the kinds of things that can keep me up at night.

Brace yourself. You are about to see a very scary photo. It is a PORTION of the Christmas decorations stored in our attic. Everything is labeled. However,  I often just want the  box stored on the bottom of all of the others!

Unedited photo of Brooks attic-Christmas corner

I considered, briefly, boycotting putting up any decorations this year. Perhaps I could select one and only one box plucked at random from the pile. I could even  sort through all of this stuff and give most of it away! If you look at my December blogposts,  you'll see what usually happens at our house. Ron has carried all the boxes down two flights of stairs....and back up again.....for more than 25 years.....this year, I've hired someone else to help with this daunting task. (Happy Birthday, Ron!!)

Holiday yard flag used for one day each year

But before Christmas decorating issues are resolved, it's time to put the porch furniture away, find all of the traditional holiday recipes, and enjoy a few days of leftovers! I am thankful for all of you and hope you each have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

All's well that ends well.

I was lucky to be back by our garage a few days ago to see two eagles! The one on the left caught and  then  finished a snack of a small bird (gulp) and stuck around for awhile before heading north toward the Lake. The eagle on the right stayed on a bit longer. I missed getting a photo of their wide wingspans as they flew away, but, I promise, it was a stunning sight. There are several nests in and around the marshes in the area, but I have never seen them in our city alley before.

Meanwhile, back inside, it was time to put the kitchen back together after a week of painting. We decided to lighten up a bit, so to speak.

 Instead of cabinets and bead board paneling in dark stain, had it all painted white. An all white kitchen was my original goal, however, I selected a paint mint turquoise for the walls to accent the aqua counter appliances and the various antique bowls and accessories that we had.

 It turned so well that I decided to keep the white sinks and laminate that we installed many years ago.

 It looks brighter and more spacious with the cosmetic changes.

 I know, I know, I lust for the aqua AGA stove, but, in lieu of the recent onslaught of pet expenses, I can let it all go.

 Healthy and loving dogs trumps kitchen appliances any day of the week!

 Yes, in case you haven't been on board lately, we have had a spate of life threatening illnesses for Kate and Marilyn.  (see blog post of 9/5/15 for the details )

Marilyn's brain surgery (to remove a tumor in the frontal lobe) was on hold while first I, then her neurosurgeon, Dr. Lovett, went on vacation. No, not together! That reminds me, I should ask him where he went for the first week of October. ......

Ron and I drove the now oh so familiar route to MedVet in Columbus on Sunday. MM's surgery was successfully completed on Monday afternoon. It was a 4 hour surgery and her recovery went very  well, so, we headed back for her on Tuesday afternoon. Full disclosure: The night staff had to wake Dr. L. several times to ask his advice about MM's incessant barking, ahem. So, I think it was general consensus that she could relax at home with her family better than in the ICU ward at MedVet. We were delighted to drive the 100 miles (exactly, by the way) to retrieve her. Except for a shaved and stapled noggin, Marilyn looked fantastic and was delighted to be heading home.

I rode in the back while Ron drove and Marilyn snoozed peacefully until the last 30 minutes of the trip.  I tried to help her get comfortable, but, her distress increased. When we arrived home, upon getting Marilyn out of the car, I could see the dreaded signs of bloat- a very distended stomach and hard as a rock.  This is a life threatening and fast acting condition common in Standard Poodles, and one in which Paulie and Bob lost their two year old Standard, Beau, and Ron and I lost Louie a few years later.  The only known prevention is to surgically tack the stomach to the stomach wall so that even if the stomach fills with air and gas, the stomach cannot torque, thus avoiding extreme pain and swift death. In fact, if you really want the back story, see my blog post of 1/3/13 (It's a Dog's Life) where Paulie and I took our Standard Poodles, Jack, Sam, and Prince in for the life saving surgery.

With  no delay, we headed back to Columbus, this time with Paulie riding shotgun in the back with Marilyn, keeping all of us as calm as she could- a BFF for sure. The good news is that the ER doc aspirated the air from Marilyn's stomach and danger was averted. Relieved to have her back in good hands, Paula, Ron, and I  headed back to Sandusky, arriving home around 1:30 a.m.

We were so glad to bring Marilyn back home, this time, with no drama. She's such a great dog and we are happy to give her a few more years in the Brooks household.