Another spectacular sunset, this time with jet trails as a bonus. Winter sunsets seem to be routinely stunning.
I’m still under the weather; nevertheless, I keep going like the Energizer Bunny. We had a meeting with a Navigator yesterday afternoon, who helped us load our always inconsistent from year-to-year income into the application necessary for Affordable Health Care. She was such a help. We made her laugh. (We like to make people laugh.) And she was funny. Don has been covered by his union for the last 6 months but that will end on December 31st. My minimal (just hospitalization) coverage will also end at the same time. So we have to find something that works for us and is something we can afford. Cross your fingers for us.
We also did some grocery shopping, stopped at the library, Don got a haircut (much shorter) and we made a run for dog food. Then, in the evening, we decorated the tree.
A little sneak peek. We have a gorgeous Noble Fir this year and its amazing scent fills our den. That has to be one of my favorite smells, along with a campfire. I used to routinely use a wonderful pine bubble bath that I bought at Wanamaker’s in Philadelphia. This would have been in the eighties when I was going to graduate school. I can see the exact area of the store where it was on display. Eventually, I moved away and I never found the exact same thing again. I’ve used others, but that stuff was the best ever. I think it was from Switzerland. Wish I could remember the name!
We’re hunkered down here at the cottage. We’re in for a big snowfall today and tomorrow. I’ve heard predictions of anywhere from 8 inches to a foot of snow. It was already snowing when I got up this morning at 7 am. The heaviest snow will be tonight and into tomorrow. The radio is playing classical music, we’re drinking Peet’s French Roast, Scout is snoozing on the sofa, the trees are lit, we don’t have be anywhere (thankfully) and I need a day of rest.
Especially since tomorrow will be all about shoveling.
Happy Saturday.
You know the old saying about colds don’t you? “Three days coming, three days here, and three days going.” That’s just about right. My husband just finished his. Hope you feel better soon. Rest is the best. Keeping my fingers crossed for you and the health care. We all deserve good health care. And enjoy your snow.
Thank you, Tana!
Your day sounds like a recipe for coziness! Enjoy!
Thanks, Jen!
Any chance the bubble bath was Badedas??
I’m so sorry you’re not feeling better Claudia. I got a bad head cold, which was followed by bad allergies, and there went November. argh. Wishing you a cozy snuggle with a good book today and wake tomorrow feeling spiffy.
Your trees are lovely – I adore your chenille and bottle tree ornaments!
Wishing you much good luck with obtaining your new health care!
Happy weekend!
Thank you, Sally. Happy Weekend to you!
Beautiful tree. Enjoy the calmness that the snow brings.
It’s so quiet outside, Michelle! Love that.
As much as I am NOT a fan of the “S” word,,,, I do find that a hefty snow, when the house is decorated and the lights are lit, to be a peaceful time. So quiet, and the ambiance of the lights, and a few candles lit makes it wonderful. However, once the halls are de-decorated, well, then I can’t find one good thing about it falling from the sky. We are getting nuisance snow today. About an inch or two, and I find that to be when people absolutely forget how to drive in bad weather. I think they all believe that if they have 4 wheel drive then they don’t have to use an ounce of brains.
Claudia, that bottle brush tree ornament is absolutely beautiful!! I have so many BB trees, and I can not walk by them in the stores without at least one jumping into my cart. I was at World Market on Thurs. and found a red one. Love it. Hope you get a good hefty snow and then around January 10th it disappears and it is 70* again so gardening season can begin. If I am going to dream, I shall dream big!! Have a wonderful weekend in your Winter Wonderland.
Absolutely! Snow now and through the new year and then no more, please!
I met with my ACA advocate a few weeks ago and I went from over 400.00 a month with a $10,000 deductible to less than 1/4 of that 400.00 and I now have dental which I have never had…I could never afford to go to the doctor but carried the insurance to avert catastrophic loss and lose my home and I believed it is my responsibility to insure myself and not expect others to pay for me.
The lies and bad information spread about the ACA are preventing thousands/millions from discovering all the benefits and relief this law provides. It’s not just about premium costs, it’s about true health CARE. Stop watching Fox news folks and educate yourselves! Several friends who were so against ACA discovered when they actually looked into it they will be saving thousands now each year…and yet still don’t give Obama credit.. sigh..
I think we’re going to have to pay more than I thought. We are in that slippery place where Don is a few years from Medicare, but not quite there – and we’re in our sixties, which I suppose makes us more of a risk. Be that as it may, you know I am a strong advocate of ACA. In fact, I’d like to go even further and have Single Payer. That’s what we should really have. Sigh.
I’m so happy about your change in insurance cost, Suzan. That is wonderful news! I know how stressful the lack of adequate health care has been for you. xo
So true, Suzan! Thanks for speaking out – and speaking the truth – about the ACA. There were the same outcries and protests about both Social Security in the 30s and Medicare/Medicaid in the 60s. People were lied to and led to believe these initiatives heralded the beginning of the end for the US. And how who among us would willingly give up either one?
PS – I agree with you, Claudia. I absolutely think we should have Single Payer too. That’s the next hurdle though. Hope that doesn’t take 100 years too!
I love it…Let It Snow…(just this once)!! There are no better days than snowfall days IMHO…hunkering down for the duration, with plenty of supplies, books, food, movies…the necessities! Enjoy your “day off”!! Tree looks great! ;)
Thanks, Donna!
Enjoy your tree while you hunker down. It’s like Christmas here today with all the snow falling!
Harvee
Book Dilettante
Thank you, Harvee!
Claudia,
Here in Maryland we get a lot of “wintery mix”. Ice, snow and rain mixed- it’s ugly and treacherous. Come on spring!I also loved Wanamaker’s when I went to school in Philly! Remember “Meet me at the Eagle”?
Yes I do!
By the way, the last two snows we had were wintry mixes, too. Don’t like.
Hi Claudia!!! So sorry to hear you are feeling under the weather… your trees look great and I can almost smell that wonderful Christmas tree smell from here!! Have a cozy day today, Claudia!! Its seems we will be snowed in for the weekend…!! I am glad to hear you are signing up for ACA. I will be also very soon.. I have so much to learn about the program, but it will be a God-send to me as my husband just retired and cannot cover me any longer… Have a wonderful, cozy day, Claudia!!
Good luck Francine! I wish ours was a bit less expensive….
I think we ( southern PA ) are getting a break from this one…just a dusting this morning and then possibly icy rain or something later but not THE big snow…( we’ll see…the forecast is rarely correct! :)
At least Don is home to help with shoveling this year. I remember you had that major snow last year and had to do it all yourself though I think a neighbor helped with your driveway one of those times…
You have a good memory, Deb. Yes, I had an extremely heavy foot of snow I had to remove in order to go out of town on a coaching job. And then it snowed while I was away and I had to ask my neighbors to snow blow part of my driveway so I could get up the driveway when I got home at 10:00 pm.
Sounds like you are all settled in for a cozy weekend with your family Claudia. There certainly is nothing like the smell of a Christmas tree and I dearly love sitting around a campfire. Being without healthcare ins. for three years since my husband lost his job has been scary but our Dr. charges a minimal amount for checkups and the blood work is about a third of the usual price when it’s pulled at his office. That has been a tremendous blessing for us. Finished my shopping today. Had some photos developed of my brother in laws family (they have moved to N. Carolina this year) for my mother in law and put them in an album for her. Can’t wait for her to open it. Stay warm!
You’re lucky in that you have an understanding doctor, Janie. Are you signing up for ACA?
Not really sure at this point but considering it.
Claudia, are you thinking of Badedas bubble bath?
If so, it’s all over the internet, including Amazon.
No, Nancy, it was another brand, unfortunately!
Enjoy your wonderful day. No snow here. Just rain. Hope you get a great price on health insurance. xo Laura
Me too, but I fear anything we get will be a hardship for us – just the way it is right now.
All sounds and looks good at the cottage. Sometimes, I think it would be cozy fun to be nestled in a cozy cottage with the snow falling outside. Having everything you need inside….but then there’s the shoveling!!!!
Stay warm!!!!
Addie
It is cozy fun, as long as you don’t have to be anywhere. We’ve already shoveled a little – there will be a lot more tomorrow.
Nancy in PA beat me to the news – but I just googled PINE-SCENTED BUBBLE BATH and saw a number of options – maybe one of them will jog your memory? Especially if they haven’t just the packaging since you were in grad school. Good luck – I’m betting you find it again! :>)
Bless your heart, but I’ve done this search before, believe me! None of them is the one I used – it was made in another country, I think Switzerland, and I haven’t been able to find it since. Boo hoo!
Any chance the bubble bath was Badedas?
No, Debbie, it was another brand.
Oops! Should have read the other comments first! :)
There is a company I’ve ordered from several times – http://www.berrysweetstuff.com Her products are amazing, and very reasonably priced. She has soaps, lotions, body wash, etc. I notice she has one called Christmas Tree (or something like that). You might check her out. The site includes a place where she explains what each of her scents smell like. She makes all of her own stuff.
Thanks so much, Debbie! xoxo
Glad to see your tree all decorated. We didn’t even do a tree this year in the house. It has been snowing hard all day here and everything is closed for this evening events. I bet it’s moving your way.
We’ve already got it. It’s been snowing all day here – we have about 4 inches. The heaviest snow is yet to come this evening and into the morning. Predicting about 8 – 12 inches.
I love the snow because I am in the warm with my hubby and a lovely fire in the wood stove and feeling ever so protected from the world. But, I am aware of the folks living in the tents in the woods outside the town limits and I know there are lots of folks driving to and from work on the slippery roads and the police and road crews and their families and I am concerned for their safety, but all I can do is pray for them and their loved ones and then drift back into enjoying what is in front of me because it can easily be gone. So, my theory is to live in the moment and enjoy whatever you can of each day.
Same here. So many people have to work in essential jobs. So many are homeless. Grateful for a roof over my head tonight.
Le bain moussant serait-il KNEIPP ou WELEDA .
bonsoir Claudia.
Claude (France)
J’ai utilisé Kneipp avant, Claude. Je l’aime. Merci!
Your trees look so pretty..can’t wait to see the full views..I bought a white one last year on clearance..I will put it up tomorrow..I love seeing colors on the white branches.. I also have a vintage aluminum silver tinsel tree that I decorate..I love the retro look of that one..We have about 5 1/2″ of snow so far here in Central Pa. and it’s still coming down steady..My boyfriend is just getting ready to go snow blow our long driveway for the second time..The temperature outside is 28 degrees with a reel feel of 17 degrees…BRRRR…Stay warm!
Very cold here, too, Nancy. I think we got about 10 inches of snow. I’ll measure later on today. Shoveling is on our agenda today.
I keep putting it off, but I need to find affordable health care…is there such a thing?? Your tree is looking fabulous. Stay warm and cozy!
Well, for some it’s more affordable than for others, I think! But what we will pay is less than we would have paid pre-ACA. It still hurts our pocketbook, however!
The tree looks lovely! Stay safe and warm. The first big snows are always exciting. Something diminishes in my enthusiasm as winter wears on. lol
Me too, my friend, me too!
I love the old fashioned (traditional) look of your decorated Noble Fir!
Thank you, Carolyn!
It’s been snowing for 24 hrs. here and I have to shovel my way to the chicken coop. I think we are guaranteed a white Christmas this year. I think you spent the day in the best of all ways!
I had to shovel a path for Scout several times yesterday. Today on the agenda: Shoveling!
Rest and feel better Claudia…When I retire I will have to find health care. The storm was a whopper…a foot at least to add to the foot from a few days ago when we had lake effect snow.
Hi Claudia – we got lots of snow here – glad I don’t have to shovel – good time for baking cookies! Was it Vitabath that you used to use? I did in the 70s and 80s. J