Brrr! It's Been Cold

Here in CT it has been very cold for the past five to six days. It's hard to believe the temperature was almost 70 degrees last Saturday and it was only in the 20s this past Saturday with the wind blowing it was even colder. It's a good time to get a warm drink and curl up with a good book.

Today the sun is shining, but the temperature will only be in the 30s. This is just too cold too soon. We are accustomed to and expect cold temperatures in CT, but not this early in the season. I'm still waiting to see the first snowfall. I enjoy seeing the snow blanket everything. I love living in CT because we have four different seasons. My favorite seasons are Spring and Fall. In the spring as the leaves start coming out on the trees they look all lacy. Flowers are beginning to bloom. There is a fragrant freshness in the air. In the fall the trees become a pallet of vibrant colors. There is a nice crispness to the air. After the leaves fall, it's fun to walk through the crisp leaves on the ground and hear the swish swish sound they make. That puts a smile on my face and brings back joyful childhood memories of making piles of leaves and jumping into the piles.

On Thursday we will be observing Thanksgiving. It will be a time to reflect on why we each have something to be thankful about. We all know the economy is at it's worst in a long time, probably worst than any of us have ever experienced in our lifetime. Its a time for all of us to do our part to help get this country moving in the right direction.

Yes, there is something each and everyone of us can do. It does not have to be something grand every little thing helps. An example is using layaway for Christmas presents instead of using credit cards. I can remember shopping this way in the 70s and 80s. I would go to the store, pick out the items I wanted to purchase, pay the store a certain amount by a given day before Christmas and then I was able to bring the paid for items home. Another idea is to use your talents and make your gifts. Personally made gifts are greatly appreciated, because you realize someone was thinking about you to make the effort and take the time. Another idea is not to give gifts to everyone, but have family members choose a name and spend a specified amount agreed upon by all.

I pray we can all have happy holidays in whatever circumstances we might find ourselves.

Another Rainy Fall Saturday

The temperature is in the 60s. That is great especially here in New England. The only problem is the rain and the fog. Since the weather is mild I might think about hanging up the outside Christmas lights, that way I won't have frozen fingers. I won't light them until after Thanksgiving Day.

Yesterday I spent sometime helping to stimulate the economy. My favorite store Linens n' Things is going out of business. I felt a little sad as I walked around in the store. I always loved to go there get a wagon just walk around and see what new kitchen gadget and other items I didn't have but could use. I was able to find a few bargains. Then I also did some shopping at Michaels. I added to my scrapbooking cache a Xyron Design Runner. I had a 50% coupon, so I got it at a bargain price. On Monday I was there and got a new Cricut cartridge because they were on sale for half price. Now I need to get going on using all the supplies I have. I think I'm going to make some Christmas cards. I also bought yarn to knit scarves.

I started knitting again last year after having not done so in over 20 years. I went to a craft fair about a month ago and saw someone was asking $30 for a scarf that was similar to the one I had knitted last year. I just couldn't believe it. Knitting is something I can do while watching TV. I always believe you can do more than one thing at a time. Quite often I read books and magazines while watching TV.

Another thing I bought this week were picture frames. I friend of mind told me I should frame some of my photos and enter them in contests. I don't know about that, but I am going to frame some of them and display them in my home.

Fall day

It's another cold New England fall day with grey overcast skies. I'm waiting for a man to come by and give me an estimate on the price to remove all the leaves from my yard. You might wonder how many leaves can there possibly be. Well, I live on the side of a hill in a wooded area with a vast number of large trees. I own two leaf blowers, but when I see how many leaves are on the ground and knowing how cold it is outside, I have decided to let someone else take on the task. Those two leaf blowers can wait to be used during spring cleanup. In the mean time I will do some fun things like scrapbooking and getting my holiday gifts together. Have a great day.

Doors of the World

These are interesting doors I saw during my travels in Spain and France.

Rainy Saturday

Well it a dreary rainy fall Saturday. More and more leaves are falling off the trees. Hopefully we will have some dry days that will dry out all the leaves lying on the ground. I sure have a tremendous job ahead of me, since I live in the woods, to remove all the leaves that are in the yard.

It's time to think ahead to the holidays. I have been looking into taking the train down to DC for the inauguration, but they are fully booked out of New Haven and New York on Jan. 20th, and all hotels are booked as well for the days surrounding the 20th. I am still going to work on some way to be able to attend this historic occasion.

President-elect Obama

Well, it's been three days since Barack Obama has been declared the 44th president-elect of the United States of America. I can say when it was first announced I jumped up and down, cried, thanked God and popped the cork on a bottle of champagne I had for almost two years.

I never thought I would see a person of color elected to the presidency of this country. But I have been following his candidancy since he made the announcement in Springfield, Ill. I recall watching him give a powerful speech at the 2004 Democratic convention and wondering who he was and where did he come from. I knew he would run for the office of president sometime in the future. At that time I thought if John Kerry did not win, than Hillary Clinton would be the Democratic candidate and president for the following eight years(2008 and 2012). I was almost certain Barack Obama would be the candidate in 2016.

Having said all that I am disappointed Hillary, who is the only qualified woman to hold the office of presidency, was surpassed in the quest for President of the United States. But, I'm so pleased that she was surpassed by Barack Obama who ran a superb campaign. He is a man with a humble, quiet, studious, and thoughtful persona, who used the power of all the most efficient forms of communication to relay his positions and recruit a faithful following. As he has been telling us from the very beginning, it is up to us the people of the United States to work together with him to get this country back to it's place of greatness here at home and abroad.

God bless president-elect Barack Hussein Obama and his family.