Possibly one of those retirement things...

In the past some friends with retired parents have commented to me that they don't understand their parents - that they are retired and have fewer day-to-day worries - why do they find things to fuss about?  I have remarked to them,  "That is the situation exactly."  It is because they have less worries that it is necessary in their minds to find these things.  Usually, these things are quite small in the scheme of everything. 

Since our move on October 1 (Has it been 2 months already?),  I have been fussing over a laundry cup.  In Mt. Prospect I had switched to the mega Tide jug that lays on its side so you can put the provided cup under the spigot to retrieve the detergent.  This is nice for my arthritic hands.  When we moved, I brought the mega Tide, of course.  Now that I am retired, I am bothered by this detergent-lined cup that just sits around being messy.  Before I was retired, the cup would just sit around with no problem.  Now that I am here.  Now that I am retired, this messy cup cannot just sit around.  I got so peeved this morning that I called the good people at Proctor & Gamble.  "Exactly what do you expect me to do with this messy cup?"   The woman was quite sympathetic, actually.  She explained, "Some people throw in the cup with the load, and it comes out clean."  I tried it, and it works.  I am relieved that this major problem has been solved.

I am retired. 

Thanksgiving and...

We said we weren't going to do this...put up a tree.  For Christmas we will be visiting friends and family and won't be at home.  For that reason and others we said we weren't going to put up a Christmas tree this year.  However, a Christmas tree fell from the skies, so we have one.  A 10 foot red pine fell over.  I swear we didn't "help" it fall.  We counted the rings, and it is 14 years old.  We could tell that four years ago the trunk had gotten a huge gouge.  (We have only owned our property for 3 years.)  It continued to grow but in weakened way.  The big winds that we all had a few weeks ago definitely sounded the death knell.  It finally fell during a snowstorm and there you have it...or really, we have it.  We decided to put it up on the screened porch where we could see it from a couple of windows.  Two strings of LED lights were found which only decorated the part that shows through the windows.  It definitely has a few "Charlie Brown" spots, but we are thrilled with it.  Still haven't decided if we are going to decorate it with ornaments.  Maybe I have some unbreakable ones that didn't get sold at the estate sale.

Thanksgiving in the Northwoods

I took a walk after the feast. Two inches of fresh snow.  The sunshine is bright in a cloudless sky.  Brightly enough that I could feel the warmth of the sun on one side when I came into a clearing from the trees.  What a quiet, pleasant feeling!  Part of my walk followed the tracks of Foxy who did a complete job of surveying the entire property - down to the lake - a few steps on the frozen lake next to the shore (I didn't do that!) - up the hill - around the back of the garage - paws on the stump to check for food - then off into the woods.

A Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving to all!

A Lovely Retirement Day

It's morning.  Freezing drizzle outside.  This is no longer a problem...we will stay home.  A fire is started in the wood stove and I begin baking for Thanksgiving.  It is a lovely retirement day.

His Retirement Stinks - I broke a tooth

Social Security

Case applied for Social Security on line.  It was as easy as they advertised.  Thought we were done.  Wrong!  Social Security needs to physically see original documents, verify that they are originals, copy them, then return them.  Website said that we could mail them in and they would mail them back...uh, no, we won't be doing that.  After locating the nearest SS office, off we went to Superior, WI - about 90 minutes away.  We were in and out of the office in less than 10 minutes.  Why waste a visit to a city?  Stores everywhere...we were like sailors on shore leave.  We didn't buy anything exciting - brackets for shelves, throw rugs, Menards and Target kind of stuff.  In our home town we have a Walmart with groceries but not a Super Walmart!  We bought 6 of the brand of mandarin oranges that we like, 6 of the croutons that we like, and 6 of the salad dressing that, yes, is not at our Walmart.  This was a day well spent if you are retired.

Official Snow Reports

This is the official report for O'Hare Airport, Chicago.  No snow for the season thus far.  Click on this link if you want to play along at home. 
O'Hare Snow Report     Then click on monthly avgs/totals, Chicago O'Hare, snowfall, current year.

I found out that my plan to use the Hayward Airport was a bust.  They don't keep track...because it is too small and/or all the flights are private.  So on to Plan B.  The government NOAA station in Duluth, Minnesota covers where I live.  If you click on the link, you can see the entire area.  My house is near the "y" in the word Hayward.  The map estimates between 6.2 and 7 inches.     Snow Map of northwest Wisconsin      The website cleared the snow storm map of November 13-14 so you can't see it.

  Plan C:  Wait until April and compare the total winter snowfall. 

Snow - Part 2

We woke up to more snow overnight.  Snow outlines all the limbs and branches.  It is a beautiful sight.  However on the ground, it is wet and slushy and 33 degrees - definitely a waterproof  boots type of day.  At church the priest apologized because last Sunday, after the mass was over he jokingly asked us to pray for snow.  He said that snow was better for deer hunting.  This morning he said to be careful for what you pray for - continuing that he didn't specify how much snow and when.  He has a great sense of humor. 

S N O W !!!!!

Our first snowstorm of the season rolled in last night, continuing until Sunday evening.  Maybe not "rolled in" because one of the lighter weight chairs on the screened porch was knocked over.  It looks beautiful!  I have kept the ingredients on hand for chili for this occasion of the first snow.  Good supper tonight!

Snow was always a subject that loomed large in the minds of people I talked to.  With that thought I have decided to keep a running total of snow accumulation for the Hayward Airport and O'Hare Airport.  We are about 17 miles east of Hayward and were about 6 miles from O'Hare.  I want to keep a documented tally and not just my best guess so I am using the airports.  I will let you know the websites that I will be using.

It finally happened.

The adrenaline and excitement of moving has worn off.  Yesterday was quite a blue day.  We are not settled yet and that is exactly what I want.  I knew that a day like yesterday would come - just didn't know when. Change even wanted change can be difficult at times.

Today is a new day with the sun shining and picture postcard views from every window.  Making chocolate chip banana bread hasn't hurt either. 

There ARE places to eat lunch.

The last months before I left work, I kept telling everyone that I will never go out to lunch again once I am in the Northwoods.  In the northwest suburbs lunch is limitless:  Italian beef at Johnnie's, classic ham and cheese at Honey Baked Ham, etc.   I thought that lunch out would be a thing of my past.  So glad that I was wrong.  I have joined a group of women who hike, snowshoe or kayak (depending upon the season) every Tuesday morning.  The group travels Sawyer County and beyond the county for a particular trail followed by lunch at a local establishment.  Today was the Hayward Recreational Forest Trail with lunch at Crossroad's Coffee and Tea.  (I had the spinach tortilla veggie wrap. Yummy!) 

Yes, Virginia, there are places to eat in the Northwoods.

Visitors before Breakfast

    Upon rising I raised the shades as I always do.  There was one young deer laying down and eating grass in our yard.  Not laying on its side but with its feet curled up underneath.
    We had seen twin fawns with spots in June with their mother in the yard.  They ate awhile, then the mom gave them a signal (which I didn't see or didn't understand it if I did see it).  Off the three of them went with mom in front walking and the twins jumping and skipping with each other behind. 
    So I went to another window, raised the shade, and there was the twin about five feet from the window.  They would hear a sound, stop chewing, and turn their ears in that direction.  After identifying that there was no danger, they would continue chewing.  The sounds were two gray squirrels playing their continuous game of chase me.  Also, two blue jays came around making a raucous.  They stayed for an hour or so.  Of course, they may have been there all night.  After breakfast, I went outside to where they were laying down.  I could see the grass matted down where they had been. Then came to me who ate my lilies that I brought from Mt. Prospect.

Explaining Daylight Savings Time

Trying to explain Daylight Savings Time to our pet birds has proved to be difficult.  Clocks and DST don't mean very much to them. They get up when the sun is up and go to sleep when it is dark.  I am not fond of this spring and fall clock moving business either.  It usually takes me a week or more to get adjusted to it.  In retirement it should be much easier.  We no longer use alarm clocks.  It's wonderful.

My First Wreath

On my Northwoods list of things I want to do was to make my own green things for Christmas.  You remember the huge tree that fell across our lane to the road during the wind.  It was a balsam (Christmas tree type).  As I was dragging the branches to the fire pit, I decided to keep some choice ones and make a wreath.  Never made one before, but it turned out rather nice for a first try.  And it smells wonderful.  You may be thinking that it is too early for a wreath.  Not in the Northwoods!  The radio has been advertising where to bring your evergreen boughs for money.  I have seen pick up trucks and larger carrying green boughs to the wreath making places since October 25.  So enjoy your fresh evergreen wreath at Christmas.

Northwoods Wildlife

I don't mean animals.  Oh, I do mean animals...that we see, watch, or try not to hit with the car.  But now I am referring to the social scene.  There are so many clubs, service organizations, girls' nights out, book groups, hiking clubs, church committees.  Man, there are so many that I have had to start saying no.  I could have 2-3 organized activities a day if I wanted to.  I thought I came here to retire.  Clearly, there will be no shortage of things to do and people to be with.  The first one that we joined together is the Chequamegon Lions Club.  We are the only club in WI that doesn't have a town.  We all live in the Chequamegon (she-WAM-mee-gon) National Forest.  There were over 40 people at the last meeting.  It is very active with a variety of service projects and fundraisers for local needs. 

Need to go...book club at 1:00.

Cleaning up after the Wind

Last Tuesday and Wednesday we had strong winds like Illinois did as about everywhere else in the Midwest.  All evening the lights flickered. By 9 pm it was like having a strobe light.  We just knew it was coming so we found flashlights and waited.  Sure enough - we lost power.  We could hear limbs hitting the roof and whole trees falling.  In the light of day (because the power was still off - 18 hours total) we surveyed the damage.  Five trees total: on the steps in front of the house, in back of the house, two nearer the lake, one behind the garage.  No damage I am happy to say.  On the lane from our house to the road there was a 12-15 inch diameter tree that had fallen.  Case had to chainsaw us out.  He loved it.  So today we cleaning up branches and chainsawing the trees for firewood.  It will take several days to finish it all.  That's OK.  We're retired. 

Northwoods Pet

We told ourselves we were NOT going to do this, but she is so cute! 

One of our very few neighbors are animal lovers.  They have been putting out their dinner meat scraps in the same spot every night.  A female fox comes by after dinner, eats, and moves on.  She does have a den in the area and had a litter this spring.  Others have seen the den, but I haven't though I have seen her walking around.  One night WE had a pile of scraps so I walked around the house, down the stairs, across the yard, down another set of stairs toward the lake to reach the fox dining spot.  I forgot to bring a flashlight, so much stumbling was involved.  I didn't really put a coat on, so I was cold.  By the time I got back to my well-light, warm house, I decided that the fox can fend for herself. 

The next night that generated scraps Case says, " This is better than having a dog."  I relate the above story, so he volunteers to go with me with flashlight in hand and coats on our backs.  When we return, he agrees with me that the fox can fend for herself. 

The next night that generated scraps, Case volunteers to handle it himself but with a twist.  There is a small stump about 10 feet on the other side of the garage.  He has decided that this will be the fox dinner place #2.  Sure enough, the scraps were gone by morning.  Of course, we wondered if another animal had eaten it but no matter.  Whoever ate it, we were OK with it. 

After a full afternoon of working outside, we stood on the porch watching the sunset in the west which also happens to be the direction of the garage.  The fox walked up the driveway, looked at us, trotted to the stump that was empty, and trotted back to the driveway.  She proceeded to sit down, look at us, stare at us, waiting for us to "go to the stump."  She is so beautiful:  black legs and feet, full tail, golden red color and of course, like all foxes, looks like she is smiling.  We had nothing to give her at the time but Foxy needn't worry.  There will be scraps later.

Quite a Week to make me Weak!

Another quick trip to Illinois to yes - finally - clear out the house and garage.  It is done.  Now, to sell the house.  That happened in a few more days I am very happy to say.  Buyer is pre-approved for a loan so we are thinking it looks good.  The price ended up being about $50,000 less than the original price 4 months ago.  However, we did follow our plan of either making a change in listing or lowering the price every 2-3 weeks until it sold. We followed through with the plan and it sold.

I think that our retirement frame of mind will be much better with the major financial arrangements completed.