This weather is getting old

Chessie looking out the window on  a rainy day 

This terrible weather is getting old.  Windy, rainy, grey, depressing.  Just when you think the sun will come out, it is gone again and more rain, wind, cold.  I am starting to get a little depressed about winter hanging on and on.   All I want to do is eat and play Bubble Town on the computer.  Not good.  At least I have begun my workouts again (after Windy and Steffi's visit -- about which I will write later).  But I have not been changing out of my workout clothes and droop around the house all day looking out the window and petting Chessie.   No makeup, no hair arrangement.  In spite of the exercise, feeling stiff and sore and cranky as hell.

I have made it through February and into March on just my retirement checks, but this month I am running short and think I will need to tap my deferred comp soon.  I sent for the paperwork and it arrived, but somewhere during the chaos of the last couple of weeks with Germans here, it has gotten lost.  I'll have to ask for it to be sent again.   I did spend the first few months of retirement buying clothes(workout clothes, skinny jeans, outfits for the wedding) gadgets (my little portable CD player, and DVD player for my yoga and pilates DVDs), and silly stuff like new art supplies and stuff to make kitty toys to sell at the Christmas crafts fair.  I have actually completed a krunchie tin from the popcorn factory tin I got Rod for Valentine's day.  I just need to spray the lacquer finish on it .  I hope I can get up the gumption to start on the kitty beds, gloves, tiger tails, collars, catnip toys, and rolling toys from spools soon.   Almost every day I made a trip to WalMart, 99 Cent only, Michael's, Ross, or DD Discount for some new thing.  But now I am getting down to $300 and the end of the month is still a week away!!!   Can't even shop for food -- luckily have a well stocked freezer and pantry and I can get creative.  But one still needs milk, eggs, and fresh veggies.  Today bought $5 worth of lottery tickets for the megamillions -- hahaha -- as if!!!

Here's what I would do if I won all that money:   pay off our mortgage, redo the back yard and put up a big fence so I could have a deer-proof vegetable garden and a chicken house with chickens.  Recarpet the bedroom and buy new bedroom furniture.  Buy a house for Aaron and Marta, and a condo for Amy. Go to the Greek Islands for a month.  Send money to Best Friends, NEWS, Planned Parenthood. and Habitat for Humanity.  Hire a personal trainer. Pay off Ann and Ray's mortgage.  Set up college funds for all of the grandkids.  Buy  a new jacuzzi. Fund a cat sanctuary no kill wing at Napa Humane.   And I still would have plenty left over so Rod could have some fun, too.

I called Judy and Christina today and had to leave messages -- I wonder if they are still going to walk with me in September on the 3 Day?   Mary Burdick and Amy Van Doren have both backed out, and Carol might have to have surgery on her foot.  Only Mary Steinert is left.   I really want to do this,and I hope I won't have to do it alone.  I am only $455 from my fund raising goal!!!

Have discovered that if I drink a glass of tonic water before I go to bed, I get NO LEG AND FOOT CRAMPS at night!!!    You would think this means I am sleeping better, but no -- still wake at least two and sometimes up to four times a night to pee or just because I have to carefully turn over so as not to crush Bailey.  I would love a good night's sleep!!!!

Maybe tonight ...........

Too Busy to Blog - February Car Show, valentine's day, and Goddesses

I can't believe how long it has been since I visited my own blog to add something.  On February 11 we departed for Palm Springs towing a car trailer and the '58 Impala. We spent the weekend at the Dr. George car show and I cannot believe I don't have one photo!!   It was hot and I got a sunburn on my forehead and neck/chest.  A very long drive, but we had plenty of cds so that helped a lot.  I was great to see Dennis and Carol and all of the cool cars at the show.

When we got back to Napa, it was Valentine's day the very next day, and we went to Domain Chandon for a (very pricey) dinner at L'Etoile.   It was drizzly and rainy and it is  long walk from the car to the restaurant doorway, across a little bridge.  I wore my fox jacket and it was wet when we got to the door.  the dinner wasn't that great, and we remarked again how our tried and true favorites never disappoint yet when we try something new it is rarely as good.

In all the commotion, I forgot about my mammogram appointment the very next day.  The rest of the week was spent getting ready for the gathering of the goddesses on the 19th.  I cleaned things that have not been cleaned in a year (patio furniture for example) and then I cooked -- green peppercorn pate, shrimp spread, crab spread, goddess parfaits (fresh fruit, vanilla yogurt, topped with granola and garnished with a pirouette cookie), fresh squeezed orange juice for mimosas, and coffee.

 http://www.wix.com/warmquilts/goddesses2011

IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!!!    Thanks to Esther, we have a great album of pictures to browse (see above).  Although it started out a wet and cold drizzly day, with brunch on the patio being kept warm in the BBQ, and
Mary Burdick in the garage because of cat allergies.   Thanks to our consorts -- Rod (my consort), Scott (Esther's consort), Peter (Mary Steinert's consort) and Virgil (Linda Patterson's consort), we had chauffeurs for the whole trip in the '54 Cadillac, Willys, T-Bird and '63 Cadillac.

                                                Brunch with Goddess Parfaits

                                                      Cadillac arriving at Villa Spankadellik

Villa Spankadellik was so great.  Kristi and Ed were such gracious hosts and had such wonderful art to share with us.  We even had wine and tea if we desired.   How terrific to live in your studio and be surrounded by your own and other people's inspiring art every day.

                                                     Wine cellar gallery at Villa Spankadellik

After this venue, it was off to Hendry Winery for an afternoon of wine tasting and wine education.  Our tables were set with place mats of the vineyards and the different varietals grown in each region, wine glasses, napkins, and "spit cups" (which NOBODY used!!!).  I brought out the veggie and ranch dip trays, crab and shrimp spread, green peppercorn pate,  baguettes, cheeses, and crackers I had brought up  the day before.

 
                                                       Wine Tasting at Hendry Ranch

We tasted every wine they made, beginning with the whites, then on to a really good rose, then the reds. Almost everyone then bought some wine!!!

Many of the goddesses left after the wine tasting,  but Judy, Dee, Ann, Mary Steinart, Linda and I headed for the Calistoga Spa and hot mineral pools for a relaxing soak in the giant jacuzzi.  Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!
And lastly, we all (including the three consorts who stayed)  had dinner and Brannan's .  Linda and Virgil, and Mary and Peter stayed the night too.  It was a wonderful day