Never thought retirement would be like this
- Thread starter NancyNGA
- Start date
Thanks for the free advice......
Come to think of it, I've probably had more experience fighting wild animals invading my spaces, at least in the last 15 years, than anything else. It may be "what I was meant to be." :lol:
First Lady Grace Coolidge and her pet raccoon, Rebecca
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The last Christmas tree we had in Ohio was our first artificial one. It was a perfect replica of a short needle pine, right down to the individual needles. Prettier when decorated than any tree I've seen since, missing only the smell. I still remember the day we bought it. I was a teenager.
Tree buying was one of the occasions when my father had to come along. I'm pretty sure my enthusiasm about the tree, on display, was why it was bought. He was the one who was willing to occasionally waste money just for the fun of it. Shopping trips with my mother were no fun because I would always hear something like, "Do you know how many hours your father would have to work to pay for this!" I didn't know, but was expected to have visions of him working well past retirement because of me. This is probably why I remember the prices of everything.
That tree cost $40---a lot of money back in the early 60's. Inflation calculator says $325 today. But it paid off. We put it up for many years after that and didn't have to go shopping for one again. My father retired on time. Lifetime guilt trip avoided.
I inherited that tree when I bought my house. It is still in the basement. Put it up only one year, when I had my first cat. She was not impressed. Christmas vacation was always a time when I was trying to catch up with work, and then took off to Florida to visit. Why decorate indoors, then leave and not come back until after New Years, only to have the job of taking everything down waiting for me as soon as I got home, then back to work.
After my parents moved here from Florida, for the first time in my life I could spend Christmas at my own place, but by then I was close to 50 years old, and forever out of the mood for tree decoration, especially a tree from scratch. I'm not knocking Christmas trees at all. They are beautiful, and almost a must if you have children or grandchildren.
One year, way back in the 80's, I put a string of Christmas lights all around the edges and columns of the front porch. It was just simple rectangles, but it came out looking really nice. Neighbors commented about how good it was to have someone in the neighborhood decorate. No one on our street has ever decorated outdoors, except maybe to dangle one string of white lights in a carport. I bought more lights right after that Christmas (half price
), thinking I would do an even better job next year, but I never got around to it.I've still got all those lights, and they all still work, so I'm contemplating decorating the porch again. I thought about it last year too, and it didn't happen. Someone should spread a little Christmas cheer in the neighborhood.
The new screen on the porch may pose a problem. Don't want to involve ladders. If it doesn't happen by the 18th, it won't happen. And if I keep thinking about how to do it long enough, the 18th will pass by and the problem will be solved. If I put it down here in writing, the odds are more likely, but still pretty slim. Oh well. Merry Christmas.
Pappy
Living the Dream
Nancy, I can remember, over the years, going and cutting our real trees, to buying them, then the aluminum trees with the color wheel, then the artificial 6 foot tree, the three foot tree and now, after79 years, it has come to this. It's all how you look at the season. Bigger is not always better.
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Pappy, you are right, and that is a beautiful little Christmas tree you have there!
How come I knew you were going to say something like that?
Went to the basement and got the top 18" chunk of the tree to check if it had deteriorated. It has been hanging from the ceiling down there. It is hanging from a hook in this picture too. I just flipped the picture. Still in good shape.
This tree has to be assembled branch-by-branch below this piece. But that is the most fun part for me, because I like puzzles. I could just stick this piece in a bucket of sand and have a tree, right?!?
This tree has to be assembled branch-by-branch below this piece. But that is the most fun part for me, because I like puzzles. I could just stick this piece in a bucket of sand and have a tree, right?!?
Meanderer
Supreme Member
The needles on the branches are very real looking.Went to the basement and got the top 18" chunk of the tree to check if it had deteriorated. It has been hanging from the ceiling down there. It is hanging from a hook in this picture too. I just flipped the picture. Still in good shape.
This tree has to be assembled branch-by-branch below this piece. But that is the most fun part for me, because I like puzzles. I could just stick this piece in a bucket of sand and have a tree, right?!?
Meanderer
Supreme Member
Meanderer
Supreme Member
When I was growing up in the forties and fifties, Nancy, Christmas was a living, breathing time of joy and innocence for me and my brother and sisters! It was a time when there was plenty of room for Jesus the new-born King, along with Santa and his red-nosed point-man. It hadn't been dissected and separated....it was all good! My Mom and Dad worked hard to make Christmas that way for all us kids. I really enjoy going back to that time each year.
Just the thought of the Old Lionel train, with the Pullman cars, and the old hand carved manger, with the missing shepherd, always remind me of my Dad, and how he brought them home.
Just the thought of the Old Lionel train, with the Pullman cars, and the old hand carved manger, with the missing shepherd, always remind me of my Dad, and how he brought them home.
Thank you for posting those thoughts, Jim. I like to understand the things that happen in a person's life that form who they are. You were a lucky child in many ways. It sounds like your parents were very successful at creating a great environment for you and your brother and sisters when you grew up. One you cherish.When I was growing up in the forties and fifties, Nancy, Christmas was a living, breathing time of joy and innocence for me and my brother and sisters! It was a time when there was plenty of room for Jesus the new-born King, along with Santa and his red-nosed point-man. It hadn't been dissected and separated....it was all good! My Mom and Dad worked hard to make Christmas that way for all us kids. I really enjoy going back to that time each year.
Just the thought of the Old Lionel train, with the Pullman cars, and the old hand carved manger, with the missing shepherd, always remind me of my Dad, and how he brought them home.
My childhood was a little different. I was more or less expected to act grown up and responsible from the time I can remember. It wasn't an unhappy time, just a little too serious and strict, and one I wouldn't want to return to. Maybe why I find right now to be just about the best time in my life. We were both lucky in different ways, I think.
Very Nice! That is what I would call artwork.
Still have my old Lionel O-gauge train in the porch attic. It always ran around our tree too. Hmm...? [No, no. Need a tree first. Maybe next year.
See update in next post.]
Porch decoration update. The Christmas lights are all out of the attic and now all over the house. I am at the "pre-assessment" stage.
There are 3 very long sets that were still in the boxes and they are like accordions. Trying to stretch them out by dangling them down the steps from upstairs. It may take some time. The steps are pretty when the house lights are all turned off. I could just leave them there and call it decoration. The cat is hiding under the couch. Such a sissy.
Downstairs. [The walls and steps are not orange. They are off-white. Picture taken without flash in the dark.]
View from upstairs.
Took a small set out on the porch and it looks like they will shine through the screen just fine. Can do it all from inside. Only need a stepladder.
Last thing: Figure out a pattern of connecting these things together so that the outcome looks symmetric and "perfect." That is a challenge. May need more lights.
So it looks like I'm really gonna do this.:eewwk:
Pappy
Living the Dream
Shalimar
SF VIP
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HaHaHaHa.
Anyone notice anything funny about this goat? (picture from the web, not Photoshopped)
Dixie has this "symptom." Her teeth are sticking out slightly beyond her lips in front! Plus she is licking her lips more than normal. Noticed it last time.
That picture is from a goat farm website that claims all their goats get like that when they get old. I've never heard of anything like that before, and wouldn't explain the licking.
A bad tooth? Or does she need her teeth floated (to grind down a sharp point)? She is alert, active, and certainly not underweight. Teeth are one thing I cannot check, even with a helper. Goats can bite through a tree branch as thick as your little finger with their back teeth.
Another new one on me. Will check her again tomorrow.
Dixie has this "symptom." Her teeth are sticking out slightly beyond her lips in front!
Plus she is licking her lips more than normal. Noticed it last time.That picture is from a goat farm website that claims all their goats get like that when they get old. I've never heard of anything like that before, and wouldn't explain the licking.
A bad tooth? Or does she need her teeth floated (to grind down a sharp point)? She is alert, active, and certainly not underweight. Teeth are one thing I cannot check, even with a helper. Goats can bite through a tree branch as thick as your little finger with their back teeth.
Another new one on me.
Will check her again tomorrow.
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