My Week

The cold continues.....

Tuesday morning I went to core exercise and then went to Camp Butler National Cemetery for wreath clean up only to learn it was postponed a second time.  Staff was low and wreaths were frozen to the ground.

Wednesday I went to exercise and seemed so exhausted afterward that I forgot my water bottle there.  Britney had to text me. No biggie.  I felt weak and needed to eat so I was forgetful.  I had lunch with Michael at County Market.  Then a meeting with the Veterans Assistance Commission in the evening. I was re-elected in as secretary.  No takers I guess.

Friday's exercise class was scant because of the cold.  Got a little silly with the decor from Tropical Yoga. Britney attached one of the tropical flowers to my hair band. I think it made me look taller or something.

I think next they should have goat yoga. https://goatyoga.net/

I'm trying to fix this regency era dress.  When I took the shoulders in, the bust line went over the top.  I added an under-bust flap and a high waistline.  I made a panel tuck in for front panel look so that it doesn't look so much like a maternity dress. 

   Before and after:
  



I'd still like to even out the tucks between the bodice and belt line. I have a purple spencer jacket to wear over it.

Saturday I was in the color guard with the American Legion for the Springfield Jr Blues Hockey.  It was military night.  We had to step out on the ice about 5 feet real slow during the National Anthem.  Afterward we were leaving do wheel turn. That's when I had a wobble but didn't go down.  I was on the outside of the wheel turn as a rifle bearer so the added weight is a factor.  Afterward I went to a trivia game at church to fund raise for students on the Catholic Heart Work Camp.

Amber doesn't seem to understand that the behavior revolves around the command not the reward. Sitting on her bowl without being asked...do I have to reward her?  I was later advised to reward her but pick up the bowel.  She was training me!

Monday I stopped by Widex hearing aids and got new wires installed. I complained about them coming out of my ears with facial expressions. She asked if it was recent and I said no.  When I complained before, I was told to stop smiling! The reception seemed to understand my displeasure with that explanation.  I'll try it for a week. Next step would be molded to my ear. They were falling out especially during exercise class.

My Week

This is the week of our blood moon and freezing temperatures.  I have been using my fireplace which I save for days like these.
Our Wednesday morning exercise group has dwindled without some of the snow birds.

Sophie had surgery on her eye on Wednesday.  She must have felt awful before because she was so lethargic but when I brought her home she was her regular self.

So Thursday morning was expected freezing rain but the temperature was higher than that and it was just wet out.  So I went to yoga and afterward I took Amber to training group at 10AM.  Sometimes she amazes me despite her high energy level.  Then the group had lunch at the Chatham Cafe.

You can also see the longer red coat I got at the Salvation Army for like $8.  It will cover my behind even better when we get freezing temperatures this weekend.  In the afternoon I had permission to tour with Amber instead of Sophie who was recovering.  It was not an official therapy dog visit since Amber isn't certified.   I have made small talk with the residents and have told them about my other dog.  I promised I'd let them meet her.  I thought it was time to show them my subject.  Amber seemed a little timid in the environment.  She did perform a few tricks for them that Sophie would doesn't do, like around and heal, spin, and roll over.  Some of her other tricks require props.
Amber seamed a bit timid around some residents that were less than normal in mannerism and that had walkers.  We need to work on that.

In addition to great finds, I got a big, red suitcase from my neighbor. I needed to replace the suitcase I took to Greece which lost a handle and has now become a seasonal storage tub. I also found a stool for my new kitchen (when ever the remodel happens which I hope will be after the new dishwasher is delivered so it can be installed at the same time) I sad for awhile in the at the Salvation Army and decided to bring it home.  It was $30.  I took my old wobbly stools to Goodwill.


Thursday evening I went to the Civil War round table.  The topic was the 55th Illinois.

Later, I got a call from my AF friend, Luz, in California.  Well she knew I was awake because of a late night email but I was hoping it would be the last before I went to bed. We have a 2 hour time difference so I forced myself to stay awake and we must have talked at least a half hour.  I learned she lived around the corner from where my dear departed sister had lived.

I watched a documentary about Sister Clare Crockett who died in the Ecuador earthquake.  https://www.sisterclare.com/en/

Saturday there was a red weather alert and the 5" of snow forecast didn't hit my area but rather north and south.  Meanwhile many events were cancelled because of the predicted blowing snow and ice storm.  We freaked over nothing.

Sunday I went to Mass with the Catholic War Veterans and then breakfast with them at our church's pancake breakfast.  The weather brought only a small group of us.  Here we are at the tomb of Bishop McNicolas, namesake for our post.

When I got home, Sean was there with Moe.  I taught Moe a new trick ~ "go box" and he got in a box to sit.  Except that Amber already knew that "go box" meant a treat and she got in before Moe.  I had to put Amber in the kennel so I could teach Moe without her distraction.

I made a pinner apron for reenacting.  I modeled it after examining my patriotic apron as a pattern that was professionally made.  I wish I made the waist band tie a bit wider.

 

Now I have other projects in the works like sewing squeaks into fabric for dog toys, altering my regency dress, and my bustle dress.

Monday afternoon I went to observed dog training.  I would have stayed longer than an hour but there was an hour gap due to cancellation. 

My Week

Crap, the unpublished draft "My week" was lost.  I am starting over from memory.

Tuesday I went to a luncheon with our Women's Overseas Service League. When I got back I met with the salesman from Sears again because the measurements were wrong and it affected the final fee.  They took some cost off for the mistake.

Wednesday I found a new-used coat at Goodwill to replace the one I got a week before.  The zipper was intermittently working and eventually locked up.  This new-used coat is Lands End.  The other coat was nice but missing a hood.  I've since lost the hat that I bought with that coat too.  In the evening I went to the Amvets meeting.

Thursday I brought a neighbor to my yoga class.  I had invited Donna months ago when there was a "Be our Guest" theme.  Now she was ready.  In the evening I went to Catholic War Veterans meeting.


Sophie has an cherry eye infection.  Most of the time it's not a problem as seen in my friends dog on the right

Dr Kirk was nice. He gave me ointment and pills for Sophie. He said I also needed to get some eye wash at the local pharmacy. He was impressed with Sophie because he's apparently met some mean pekingese. I have a follow up appointment at 4PM on Tuesday.

My brother called me on Saturday

Friday I had a plumber look at my dishwasher.  No water was getting to it but it was running.  I didn't know what to do since I didn't think it was very old.  But if I did need a new one, it would be best to have it installed with the upcoming kitchen remodeling.  So I got the opinion of an expert plumber.  He said there was a 2012 code on my dishwasher.  Since Chatham is hard on water, he recommended a mid-range replacement.  So after my dental cleaning I stopped by Lowes and found many with great discounts.

Sean and I celebrated his birthday at Applebees without his brother due to impending red alert on the weather.  We used the gift card from Aunt Kate. The snow alert was scheduled for 6PM.  I left about 6:30.  As I came south, I could see the haze wall of snow approaching.

We had a lot of snow on Saturday.  I got my little snow blower out that I bought for $25 at a yard sale few years ago from a lady moving to California.  I had taken it to my mower repair to get the directional cone fixed but was almost turned away because it wasn't a Toro but the repairman saw an easy fix with some pin that was missing and did it for nothing.  Sure paid off this season back in November and again in January.  The snow was still coming down Saturday but I knew I had to stay ahead of the falling snow.  The snow plow came by before 6 AM and you know what that means to the mouth of the driveway.
I was supposed to got to a VFW Voice of Democracy awards banquet but I saw it cancelled on Facebook.   I spread the word to our post contestant not to come.  I did walk the dogs but seems to take forever to bundle up and hook up leashes.  I made a nice run path in the back yard and you can see Amber enjoying the snow. 

While out in the back yard, I could see a flinging shovel at my drive on the other side.  It was neighbor, Johnathan (also our American Legion commander) shoveling the 1" snow that fell in the afternoon.  I didn't feel a priority over other neighborhood seniors because I do have a little electric snow blower.  Fine shoveling could impact an overnight freeze and slip. There was more snow over night and another plow by.

Saturday the road was clear enough to go to a church farewell potluck for Deacon Gregg after the 4:30 Mass.  I was surprised that the parking lot at church was being plowed as I pull up.  I learned that the contractor thought it a low priority to plow for a church parking lot on Saturday.  I helped in the kitchen.   Deacon Gregg will be missed with that pleasant smile.

 Sunday morning's Mass was scantly populated. Maybe they went to the Saturday pot luck or it could be the weather.
I was going to go to the 114th Regiment commander's banquet Sunday evening but word got out that it was cancelled.

My Week

Happy New Year!

The last day of the year I went to yoga class.  It was the most crowded group I'd ever been to.  I counted 24. There is a class on New Years Day but I understand it's an advanced group.

I spent new year's eve with the Liz and Chris Bron.  I did before.  We had a German dinner and camaraderie.  It's a party for us older folks because I left at 9:15.  They had a live phone call to a relative in Germany speaking in German but I just wished her a Happy New Year.  Something about "sliding" into the new year.

 I think I got my eyes closed in this picture. 

  I had explained to the guy next to me that my hearing aids slip out when I smile.  He encourages me to keep smiling and ear pushing because the smile was worth it.

New Year's day I went to Mass for the Solemnity of Mary.
Tuesday I decided to give up on my old purple coat.  I cut it up and made dog toys out of it.  I stuffed some rubber squeaky toys inside a sewed up coat sleeve.  Then on Wednesday, after my dance I stopped by Goodwill.  I was expecting to find a file cabinet but came back with a replacement coat that covered my behind like I wanted.  Sure I have nice waist parkas but I don't like my longer shirts showing nor my cold behind. 

Still have my gym leggings on gut there's a long hip shirt on that doesn't show.  I also got the Suede leather hat (I believe the fake fur is sewed onto the Suede) and thick gloves.  At first I wasn't going to get that coat because there were buttons where a hood once was but after finding that hat (or should I say warm) in the bin for 99 cents, I'm glad I did.  Well, the next morning, I noticed the zipper was open on the bottom and teeth apart. Hmmm!  Most of the time the zipper works if carefully locked down together at the start.
Wednesday evening I went to the Legion Riders meeting
Friday I had fish at the VFW and afterward there was a band.

Saturday morning I gave a presentation on the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight to the ladies of the DAR at the local library.  They seemed pretty interested. I gave them a copy of my powerpoint slides on an old jump drive.  Afterward I took my Christmas lights down.  I figure I will need some more c4 light bulbs for next hear and I found a lot of white ones on sale for 24 cents.  Ha, few years back I had a sale on blue ones.

Sunday morning, I got to pass the decorations up the ladder to Sean to put in the attic.  Sure miss walking the dogs at dusk without the Christmas lights.


Monday is busy.  After Powerworks, I took Sophie on a visit, then I went to Lisa's dog training classes from 1PM to 4:30 and then the American Legion meeting in the evening.
Have a good week!