I’ve been babying my back, but I can’t stay completely away from the puzzle. I did some work yesterday afternoon, alternating between standing and sitting. I’m getting close to finishing.
It was just a few days ago that we had 3 more inches of snow and cold weather. And then, the next day, it started to warm up. I started checking our window to make sure there was no evidence of leakage and yesterday I went outside and climbed up on one of the mounds of snow in the Secret Garden and confirmed that the mounds of ice in the gutters had completely melted. It’s clear to me that they melted a while back as water has been freely flowing out of the downspout and into the rain barrel. Yay, nylons filled with salt! They really work.
We did make appointments to get our first dose of vaccines yesterday. I finally figured out that I shouldn’t take ‘no appointments available’ on the state sites as the last word. I clicked through to see the availability and found there were indeed appointments available at some sites – not every site. At the same time I was discovering this, I read an email from a reader that suggested I do that very thing! (Great minds, etc.) Anyway, I had to yell to Don to “Get over here!” in the middle of making an apple pie because I saw two appointments available back to back and I wanted him to grab one of them. Long story short, we got them. BUT. It’s not until April 9th and it’s quite a distance from our house – like, a two hour drive away. We’re perfectly willing to do that in order to get vaccinated, but we’ll keep checking locally and if we find something earlier and closer, we’ll grab it and cancel the first appointment.
I will say it was an enormous relief to know we had an appointment. No matter what, we’ve got one and it’s only a little over a month away. All the frigging hoops you have to jump through to secure an appointment, let alone two, are insane. But you know that. Or at least some of you do, depending on where you live.
I’m reading The Moving Toyshop by Edmund Crispin, as well as another book that I’ll review on Monday. It’s not the kind of book I normally review, but I thought I might find it interesting. We’ll see.
The sun is shining. The snow is melting. We have rain on the docket for Saturday and Sunday so that will melt even more snow. I know from long experience that none of this means that we will now be rid of snow for the season, but it’s nice to hope!
Stay safe.
Happy Thursday.
It really is a relief to get the vaccine. Nothing in life changes much right now, but we are actually talking about traveling somewhere by next fall. I haven’t seen my brother and his wife in over a year. Now that we are all fully vaccinated we are going to meet in the spring for our annual fried asparagus at our favorite restaurant.
There is alot of asparagus grown in west Mich. My little hometown has an asparagus festival every year.
The sun is shining and snow is melting here too. It was about 40° yesterday and should be today too. We may have some rain this weekend. I am looking forward to seeing the grass again.
Enjoy the beautiful day.
Stay safe
I forgot about the asparagus as I’m from the eastern side of Michigan!
Stay safe, Marilyn!
Oceana County? Asparagus capital of the world?👍
I am a former GR resident, 50+ years. I still miss West MI every day after being gone for almost 3 years.
Yum to fried asparagus. I hope you get to experience it this year with your family😊
Hi Jan, small world!
Yes, I grew up in Shelby. I live in the Whitehall area now, about 5 minutes from Lake Michigan.
That puzzle is totally fabulous. If I’d seen that one, I would have ordered it! (I finally found a board big enough to do the puzzle on, so I can start it and still be able to (ever so carefully) move it at dinner time! I can’t wait to see it completed!
Good news on the vaccine. I thought of you this morning when NPR was talking about its vaccine finder on Morning Edition (I think it’s actually the CDC vaccine finder). I hope you can get one sooner but it’s good to know you have an appointment.
Yesterday was blue sky beautiful. Today is white sky but it’s warming (and over the next two weeks) and the snow is melting. It’ll be awhile, but it’s a promising sign. Pretty but I’m over it! I’m glad you’re taking care of your back. I’ll be interested to hear what you think of Moving Toyshop. It’s not my favorite of the classic mysteries and yet I was quite baffled and didn’t guess the end. So that says something. I am devouring “Auntie Mame” right now and laughing out loud. I can’t remember the last time I laughed out loud reading a book!
It would be the perfect puzzle for you, Jeanie!
Yes, we’ve got sunny skies again today but rain on the upcoming weekend.
Stay safe!
We have another sunny day to celebrate today as well! Only supposed to be 40*, but that will still mean more melting. The past 2 days have been near 50*. As you say, it isn’t the end, we all know that, but usually what comes in March or April melts away rather quickly in comparison to the earlier snows.
We continue to work on going through closets. Rather boring, but every once in a while, we find something and one of us says “I was wondering where that was”… and some times it still ends up in the donate box anyway. Too much stuff.
Hope you have a peaceful and quiet day. Take care.
It’s not exciting, but sorting and purging is very satisfying in the end, Chris!
Stay safe.
We were able to get our second vaccine last week and such a feeling of relief came over us. We had to drive two hours for the first but got lucky on the second and able to get it 5 miles from our house. Glad you were able to get that appt. Keep checking for something closer….it can happen. Good luck!
We will. We just checked this morning. Nothing yet, but we’ll keep plugging.
Stay safe, Ann!
I am so glad you and Don got covid vaccine appointments. Keep looking and I hope you find one sooner and closer but relief for having the one’s you have. Love this puzzle. Yesterday it was low 70’s and beautiful here. I am ready for Spring.
I can’t imagine the 70s at the moment. To us, 40 degrees is a heat wave!
Stay safe, Linda.
I am delighted to hear that you secured vaccine appointments. Though not ideal, they’re your back up if you cannot get them sooner.
Those nylon ice melts are wondrous. We used knee highs…shorter, can make more of them if needed, and work great. Love the cost factor too…cheap.
I think we are going to take a drive later….is a gorgeous day out. I need to see some something other than my front and back yards. And, I have cabin fever.
Good work on the puzzle. Stay safe! ;)
The ice melts are incredible. As I said to Don, whoever thought this idea up is brilliant!
Stay safe, Donna.
I too have been enjoying puzzles this winter. I am on my 3rd. I am a big reader, so books are my main love. I also like to crochet, journal, write letters to my pen pals and watch movies. I live in upstate NY so we still have plenty of snow to melt, but it is nice today. I love all the seasons here; as they are so drastic, which makes it so intriguing to live seasonally. Each season brings so much change and interest. I look forward to all of them. As always, love your blog! ( I need to catch up on my Miranda Mills youtube videos. She makes them too fast for me to stay current. LOL.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Mamey!
You’re right, she churns out a lot of videos – good for her! But I’m behind, as well.
Stay safe!
I feel like a frustrated poodle with too many hoops ahead of me! I could design a better system in ten minutes while I was cooking dinner and reading email.
Oh well, I guess I’m doomed to start living on the pharmacy signup sites…whatever works (eventually). I’m determined to stay upbeat and succeed.
Stay healthy and pray for Spring!
I could, too. The whole thing is ridiculously difficult.
Stay positive, Roxie.
And stay safe.
I don’t have my covid vaccine appointment yet. I figure there are so many people that want/need it more than I do so I will continue to wait a bit in hopes that teachers can get theirs, so the kids can return to school. But, when it’s my turn, I will know it.
Nice puzzle. I haven’t said much lately only because I just have been quiet, but I wanted to let you know that a couple days ago, I loved the picture with your jadite colored clock! I actually enjoy your house and your style.
Take care…
Kelly
Thank you so much, Kelly!
Stay safe.
i am very happy for you and don to have appointments to finally get the vaccine shots! hope you can find some that are sooner and closer, but even if not, you have appointments and that’s great. a drive on a spring day sounds nice, too.
hope your back is feeling better. take it easy!
about the salty stockings things … glad they work for you. is it driveway salt you’re using or something else? and do you place them in the gutters or above them? wondering for my family.
or, instead of asking you, how about i just look it up? i’ll do that … haha.
been a usual day here, but it feels like a very long one (especially to my back … grateful tomorrow is friday) after two weeks of quarantine. had my second set of bone-building shots this morning before work. worked mostly on end-of-month stuff due tomorrow, came home and showered. my only plan for tonight is to try to find a simple ironing board hanger online, then go to bed early. but i like stopping by mhc, see how you’re doing and say i hope you all are staying safe and have a nice night.
kathy in iowa
Yes, it’s the salt you use for driveways. In our case, the gutter was full of ice, so we placed the stockings on top of the ice.
You’ve had a very long day, Kathy.
Take care of yourself and stay safe!
Hi :)
For what it’s worth, friends of ours have mentioned to us that for whatever reason —too complicated?— “the system” does not allow somebody to cancel an appointment, only to make one, which means that there ARE vaccine doses popping up when they looked previously unavailable (due to people no longer needing their original signup times)…so yes, keep trying, because you may well end up with times earlier than April 9, and hopefully much closer to your house as well! And remember also that once dose #1 has been administered you will automatically receive your appointment for dose #2 before you walk out the door, so this is a one-time pain in the you-know-what. But so worth it! Sending all good vibes xo
There is a link in my appointment verification that I can click to cancel an appointment. I haven’t used it, of course, but I guess you’re saying that the system doesn’t see a canceled appointment, just an opening.
Thanks so much, Naomi.
Stay safe!