My Week

 The morning after the snow was I started up my electric snow blower.  I don't even think I used it last year.   I just don't like aiming to the west because the wind blows some of the light snow in my face.

After a break, I made a doggie labyrinth.

Wednesday I went to Ash Wednesday Mass.  This year we were not touched on the forehead with ashes but picked up an ancient tradition of the monks by having ashes sprinkled on the crown of the head (tonsoure).  In the evening I assisted Lynn's obedience class at the club.  There were only four students due to the weather.  

School snow days are over with Zoom learning.  Kids don't have to go physically to classes.  Some school bus drivers are out of work.

Thursday I took Amber to our mid-day practice.  She did great.  I think that giving her a prep-talk and using terms like "hot dog" are really motivating.  

 Friday I mentioned my hearing loss to our new exercise instructor, Misty.   I adjusted for noise on my cell phone app.  She asked if I had recently lost hearing or from birth because she works with the deaf.  She wanted to know if I knew sign language.  Of course I didn't but I watch the interpreters every chance I get.  I have nobody to practice with for reinforcement of sign language. It's  harder to learn as we age.  After exercise class, a group of us went to the Chatham Cafe for breakfast.  It's lent so I had egg on an English muffin.  One lady was showing off the fancy hankies she got.  The topic led to a minor discussion over hankies or kleenex.  This hit a nerve because I had just taken panties out of the dryer the day before with washed and static tissue sticking to them.  I tried to peal the pieces off  and then they would be clinging to my hand as I shook and shook my hand over the toilet.  If I was lucky, the tissue would release only to jump back onto the panties in my other hand.  Yes, I prefer hankies to kleenex.

Saturday I went to yoga class.  I needed that but Deborah keep doing a little scream more like you'd hear in the weight room.  I got home in time to take care of the dogs in time for a Celebration of Life for Nancy Kapp via Zoom.  It went very well.  My brother showed us a stuffed Elmo that Nancy got at a garage sale for 50 cents.  I quickly pulled off the shelf my own Tickle Me Elmo.  It needed new batteries so afterward I took it to Mr Battery.  There was some corrosion but the clerk got him working  We had a laugh in the store.

 

 

Sunday morning there was a slight warm-up so after Mass, I got my snow tube out and took the girls out to Lake Sancrist.  I had seen pictures of eagles out there.   Although I didn't see many in the trees like the photos on Facebook, I did see one flying overhead.  I did bring my new video camera but by the time I got it out, it was too late.  The pupper girls had a nice walk but I didn't want to let Amber off leash.  I was afraid she might fall in the water.  I didn't want to pull her out with all the slippery mud and snow.  Then I saw some families sledding down the back side of the dam.  I left the girls in the car and had 2 fun rides down that slope.  I would have gone more but that up hill climb was enough. 

This week, Mark came back to work on the back room some more.  I think while he is at it, the new paint makes the ceiling look really bad and that will need to be done as well.  I picked up the paint at Lowes.  In the past, piecing jobs together create mismatches so I better get that done.  Besides, it would be better before the trim goes back on.   Sean told me he could change the tarnished gold faucet in the half bath so I'll pick one out for him to install next week.  I finally was able to put Christmas in the attic since it wasn't so cold.  I decided to trash my big plastic Nativity that nobody sees on a cul-de-sac. Besides, my inflatable dog takes up less space.

My Week

Happy Valentines Day.  

Happy President's Day.

Happy Mardi Gras. 

 Tuesday my handyman, Mark, started muddying down the rough textured walls in the back room.  He told me it would take 2 layers, primer and paint.

My dogs want to go for a usual walk in the cold but I see them limping with a cold foot.  So Friday I picked up some rubber/reusable/disposable boots.  Sophie didn't like them at all and wouldn't get off the front porch.  Amber won't even let me try to put them on but will just continue limping her hind legs in the cold.

 Facebook scolded me for a post I made 10 months earlier.  Must be truth to it.  Here's a screen shot.

 So I get this friend request. We had one friend in common. I sent Hall a private message to ask why he wanted to friend me and it turned social.  Oh he liked my profile.  Duh, I have a photo of Old Rose from the Titanic.  So I downloaded his photo. Then I did a photo search on Bing and learned he's a fake. 

I reported the profile and was told it didn't go against community standards. Duh! https://www.facebook.com/SHUisteamwork/posts/1101805190190417

 I shared this with Spam Hunters group on Facebook and was promised it would be taken care of but it's a holiday weekend.

Friday evening I fell at the dog club. My winter boots on rubber floor during heeling did a grip and trip. Not many there to see my moment of “grace “.

Saturday evening I was with a team on a Zoom trivia fundraiser for the Animal Protective League.  We came in forth place.  Not too bad. 

Sunday morning the temperature was -3.   I was a Eucharistic Minister.   When I got home, Sophie insisted on a walk instead of the back yard.  By then it was 1.  A very short walk for this little miss that usually doesn't do her business before going some good distance to wiggle it out.  Meanwhile, Amber is hopping and limping because her feet are cold.  I had gotten some rubber footies on Friday but that won't work.  They were out of the boot style.   So I wanted to order some from Chewy since I had some chicken tendons in my cart that didn't amount enough to get the free shipping.  Duh! by then, the tendons were out of stock...again.

Sean helped me install shelves.

I was able to put the rods up and hang the clothes that were on the bed for over 2 weeks.  It gave me an opportunity to thin that wardrobe also.  

There is a cold draft coming from the hood over the range so I blocked that with cardboard and plastic.  When I removed it to cook, wow, I could feel the draft again.

Some people on "Nextdoor" don't recognize rabbit tracks in the snow.  Funny city slickers think those are scary coyotes or something that will come to eat them up and their little dogs.
I used up the little bit of wood that I saved for the fireplace.  Now I'm using store bought fireplace logs.

One of my 2 geraniums that were brought indoors is getting a bud on it.  The other I'm hopeful that summer will wake it up.

I have a snow tube for sledding but it would have to be used on snow and a bit warmer then zero.  Got snow but it is too cold.

My Week

 Brr! The cold keeps me indoors this week and won't let up next week.  Sunday morning I woke up to zero degrees. 

Tuesday evening I went to the membership meeting for the Capitol Canine Training Club.   I really thought it was cute when the secretary's pit kept nudging the president for affection.  Unfortunately I missed the really cute candid shot before pulling out my camera.

 

I did bring Sophie with me to this meeting.  Sophie likes the socialization but many of the members are more into to performance dogs.  They avoid petting because it distracts focus during trials.  You sure don't want a dog running up to a judge for affection.  Sophie is the opposite and affection is all she's after.  Just like the pit bulls.  They are not doing any performance events but Lynn rescues them and gives them the basic obedience skills they require.

Most members of my exercise group ordered these "Rosie" tee shirts.  The last thing I need in my wardrobe is another tee shirt.   We still had a group photo taken.  Heck, I event found a PowerWorks tee shirt at the Goodwill.

 I removed the vertical blinds in preparation for the new door.  The new door has internal blinds.

I had a little trouble with the doggie door panel.  Needed some insulating tape especially in this cold.  The new door was smaller than the pre-measure that was sent in by the installer.  So that meant he had to fill the gap.  It also means that the trim boards that I stained were too narrow.  So he picked up some more supplies and the new trim is unfinished but tacked on for easy removal.  I may not stain it right away.  The next week I have another worker coming to mud over the wall texture to flatten and paint it. I may just save the staining of the trim for later.   New household trim is on my wish list.

Meanwhile, the closet in the guest room had to be removed.   I painted the closet and bought some new shelves.  I took Sophie with me.   She tends to steer me toward the car to go places. Sean helped me install the shelves.  I had to run to Ace Hardware for a stud finder.  Then he needed some drill bits so I gave him money to run to Ace Hardware because I had no clue what he was talking about.  Well, then he had another problem and will bring his own tools next Sunday to finish the job.  All the clothing is on the bed.

After a week without a credit card, a new one arrived.  Now I can get gas and fix a few recurring charges.   I got a text about fraud and the card was then closed out.

Wednesday I had my new patio door installed.  In the evening I started assisting for the dog obedience class.  This class had a gap due to COVID and returned.  The assistant whom I replaced couldn't fit the new schedule into her calendar due to other dog training.  She asked me to fill in for the remainder of the class.  Basically I check the students in and move equipment.  Sometimes I hold a leash for recall or separation exercises.  Most of these dogs are 1 year old and under.  They enter rather wild but eventually settle down.  Reminds me of how far Amber had come.   Amber was brought home on Saturday just before the snow.  Now to reconnect and start over.  

Friday I took Sophie to the groomers while I went to the dentist to have a filling replaced.  It went so smoothly that I couldn't believe how smooth it went.  I had dinner at the VFW and a wonderful crusted tilapia meal.  In the evening I took Sophie to "ring ready obedience" open practice.  Not too many came because of the season and cold.  I usually take Amber but Amber was still in Rochester, IL for training.  Sophie did fairly well but her eyesight makes for poor heeling.  She did a good recall but off center.  She had trouble with the "sit for inspection" because she thinks that anyone approaching her wants to pet her and play with her.  It's the therapy dog within her.  We did the center of the room sit while I walked a square around.  I had never tried that with Sophie but I was pleasantly surprised.

 

via GIPHY

We had a socially distanced Blessing of St Blaise after Mass.  Normally we would get this blessing of the throat one by one individually.  Father also mentioned that the church will be returning to an older method of the distribution of ashes.  We will have ashes sprinkled on top of the head instead of a cross on the forehead.   In ancient times, sacrifice was done with ashes and sackcloth.

What is the origin of throwing dust over head

Nancy is mentioned in Sunday's church bulletin.

Here is a link to the bulletin as a PDF.
 https://container.parishesonline.com/bulletins/01/0164/20210207B.pdf

 

My Week

This is the week that winter really happened.  It had been pretty mild but we got 2 inches of snow on Wednesday and rain mix on Saturday, and although the temperature was a bit more reasonable on Sunday (37) the humidity chilled to the bone.  I had the fireplace going.  The rain diluted Wednesday's snow but the snow on Sunday didn't stick and it was more like a snow globe affect.

I had been doing doing my PowerWorks exercise classes online back in November but the state recently opened up the gyms.  We were supposed to be offered a choice of both online and in studio classes.  My recent depression tells me I should go to the gym.  The sign on the door turned me away.  I don't want to exercise with a mask on.  Others in our "masters" class say they can take the mask off once they are in the studio but that's not what the sign says.

 

Monday we had about an inch of snow.  The village plowed my street. Ha!   The pet parade virtual Mardi Gras costume contest was launched on Monday.  The outfits that I made for my dogs did not make the cut.  Photos of Amber and Sophie's entries are on a previous blog here.  

Amber has not been taken on walks since she misbehaved.  I only gave her the bare necessities. No fun time.  Oh she begs for it.  I took her to boot camp on Thursday morning.  Not sure how long she'll be there but she needs to learn she can't just run during a trial or practice.  

I picked up some computer glasses with a bifocal.  Not cheap nor pretty but functional.  In fact if I get up to get something, what a blur for everything else.

Tuesday was the highlight of my week.....my semi annual dental cleaning. 

Wednesday morning I learned there was credit card charges that I didn't make and it was caught by Visa.

I attended an online seminar about Lincoln statues called A Life Worth Remembering - The Monumental Life and Legacy of Abraham Lincoln.

You can always watch this later at YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC70jb7joogcAguv8sNQJVPQ?view_as=subscriber

I attended a Zoom meeting on Book Discussion: Mary Todd Lincoln: A Biography by Jean Baker.  I didn't read this book but was glad I didn't because the experts pulled out all the misconceptions.  It was a long discussion but I did get questioned a little off guard about the year that Springfield became capital of Illinois.  They needed to know for relative purpose of years.  Luckily it didn't happened while I had to step away during this long discussion. 

I'll be a replacement assistant for an obedience class for Wednesday evenings.  This is a class that was cut off during the pandemic and returning to finish the rest of the course.  The original assistant couldn't fit the rest of the course into the new schedule and asked me to assist the instructor.

Praying from my brother whose wife, Nancy,  passed away Sunday evening.  She was 59 years old and a special education teacher.  She was in an accident and spent 38 days in ICU then transferred to a long term specialty facility in Waterford, WI.  My brother was in tears about  loosing her and I understand how he feels right now.  I can relate because my husband died while on a ventilator about the same time after an accident and within a week of transfer to a long term facility like this case.    I'm helpless to comfort him over the miles but I do want to listen.