Sunday January 6, 2019

Posted on 6 January 2019 by Barbara Fritchman Thompson

After last weeks cleanathon the only thing I did this morning was clean the bathrooms and run the Bona dry mop around the floors to get the worst of the dog hair.

The weather has been so bad the last few weeks I decided to spend some time outdoors today since the winds are fairly calm. It was 38 and partly sunny when we went out this morning but warmed up into the mid 40’s by late morning. I washed the car, reinstalled the bird feeder and suet cage, picked up sticks and limbs in the back and side yard, and swept out the garage while the car was in the drive.

Colin also enjoyed having some extended outdoor running around time. We have cold weather moving in this week but it is not supposed to rain or snow all week.

This afternoon I balanced the last check book statement for 2018 and set up the new spreadsheet for 2019, paid the bills, and tidied up my desk.

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Saturday January 5, 2019

Posted on 5 January 2019 by Barbara Fritchman Thompson

I am reading Sleeping In The Ground by Peter Robinson,

It was 39 degrees, sunny, and windy when I took Colin out this morning. Gusts from 50 to 60 mph until late this afternoon. One of the wires that holds the mesh bird feeder from blowing around came loose during the night.  Two wires runs through the holes in the base to metal stakes in the ground; one on each side about four to five feet in length. Not only do they keep the feeder from blowing around and getting damaged but also prevent the seed from blowing out. Except, when the winds are this bad the seed blows out anyway but otherwise they work very well. I took both the feeder and suet holder down and wedged them behind the rocking chair until this front goes through.

So, it’s indoor projects today. Laundry, cleaning the bedroom walk-in closet, and other assorted chores.

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Friday January 4, 2019

Posted on 4 January 2019 by Barbara Fritchman Thompson

It was 44 degrees and raining lightly when I took Colin out this morning. It’s been another chilly, rainy, foggy Friday. I think it has rain three out of the four Friday’s of every month for last six months. Thankfully, it’s rain and not snow.

I went to the gym this morning early. I had to be back in town to open the bookstore for Joyce and wait for her to arrive before heading on to work my shift at the gym. I had a very busy day there. Usually it’s busy right when I go on shift then hits a lull mid-day. Not today. I was busy all day which is fine. Makes the day go by faster but sometimes it gets very hectic trying to do six things at one time.

 

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Thursday January 3, 2019

Posted on 3 January 2019 by Barbara Fritchman Thompson

Gym this morning. It was 48 and cloudy when I took Colin out this morning.

Not much on the agenda for today so I decided to do a road trip. I drove over to West Jefferson to make a quick Wal-Mart stop to pick up a few odds and ends. From there I drove on over to Boone. My Subaru front fender has the holes drilled for a front plate but they are too far apart for standard American plates. I noticed some Subaru’s do not have the holes drilled for a plate.

North Carolina does not require a front plate but I had a NC lighthouses plate on my other car that I decided I wanted to put back on my new car. I did some online research and discovered you have to purchase a tag plate holder for a front plate.

Al stopped at the Subaru dealership in Winston, which is not a Modern Subaru but another dealership who I do not care to do business with. However, I was going to have him pick up the plate holder and bring it up. They told Al they would need the car in order to drill the holes and install the plate holder. I thanked Al for his troubles and told him I would call Modern in Boone . I They verified the front plate holder did not come standard, which was one of my questions, but they had them.

I could also use this as a test to see if I liked their service department. I do. They are very polite, did not take too long to install the plate holder and installed my plate, and did not charge and arm and a let to put it on. I will drive the extra 30 minutes when it comes time to do any service I need to have done.

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Wednesday January 2, 2019

Posted on 2 January 2019 by Barbara Fritchman Thompson

It was 38 degrees and cloudy when I took Colin out this morning. I went to the gym, drugstore, and grocery store. After lunch I took the two rolling desk chairs and bag of assorted stuff to Cares and stopped in at the bookstore so I could talk with Joyce since she works Wednesday afternoons.

It was busy when I got there so I stayed for awhile to help. Joyce, Alice and our treasurer had a meeting scheduled for 2:30. I sat in on that then came back home.

Temperatures made it to the lower 40’s this afternoon. It started raining while I was in town and is supposed to rain all night,

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Tuesday January 1, 2019

Posted on 1 January 2019 by Barbara Fritchman Thompson

Well, it’s a New Year. A year ago today I had one hope, Bob would be coming home. It was tough year losing Bob and trying to move on with life. I would not have survived had it not been for the support of Frances and Al along with friends in Winston and here in Sparta. Also a big thank you to Nick and Rick and Bob’s readers who posted support messages on this page and/or sent e-mails.

I wish all of you a happy and healthy 2019.

Today I am putting back table top stuff and hanging back up stuff on the walls. I set the oven to self clean first thing this morning. I took a break to watch the parade.

No fireworks last night. The wind was howling around the house. I sat up until 10:00 then went to bed to read until 11 before turning off the light. Next time I woke up it was 1:30.

Today is cloudy and breezy with temperatures in the low 50’s. I’m grilling beef ribs and some chicken for dinner.

 

 

 

 

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Monday December 31, 2018

Posted on 31 December 2018 by Barbara Fritchman Thompson

Today is cloudy and foggy with periods of drizzle and temperatures in the low 50’s. I started on the dinning room/foyer first thing this morning. From there I progressed to the den. I finished up all the rooms around 12:30 working straight through except for a couple of breaks to take Colin out to play.

This afternoon I will attack the kitchen. I need to boil rice for my stir fry dinner. While it’s cooking I can scrub down the cabinets and do the counter tops, vacuum and mop. After dinner tonight I will do the island and stove top when I’m washing up. I’ll leave the laundry room for this weekend. But, otherwise, the first floor is finished.

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Sunday December 30, 2018

Posted on 30 December 2018 by Barbara Fritchman Thompson

Sunny and warm today with very little wind. I started my first of the year deep cleaning this morning. I did the master bathroom and started on the bedroom. I was about half finished with it when I stopped for a lunch break. Another hour and half later I finally finished and am organizing things that go back on my desk.

Furniture has been moved, everything dusted with furniture polish, floors in both rooms mopped, and all the house filters changed. Five hours of cleaning is enough for one day. I’ll start again tomorrow.

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Saturday December 29, 2018

Posted on 29 December 2018 by Barbara Fritchman Thompson

41 degrees, partly cloudy, and windy when I took Colin out this morning. High today may make it into the low 50’s but with the 19 plus gusty winds and partly cloudy skies it is not all that warm.

I spent the entire morning taking down the tree and house decorations. It’s time for me to start my 1st of the year deep cleaning. Not sure why, but it was sad taking them down this year. Perhaps with the loss of Bob I am feeling more than just the ending of the Christmas season this year. Everything is packed away back in the closet for another year.

 

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Friday December 28, 2018

Posted on 28 December 2018 by Barbara Fritchman Thompson

I am reading Killer Characters by Ellery Adams.

51 degrees and raining when I took Colin out this morning. We’ve had at least another two inches and are back under flood watches and warnings until tomorrow morning. The rain finally tapered off this afternoon.

Gym this morning, home, and back to the gym to work. It was a very busy day with a lot of walk in day passes to visitors. For a small town we have a very nice facility that includes an Olympic sized pool, a therapy pool, weight machines, treadmills, elliptical machines, recumbent bikes, and a small walking track around the fitness equipment. About half our walk in traffic is to swim in the pool.

 

 

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