Vorlon Whispers

Saturday, February 6, 2010

I am beat from shoveling snow. I shoveled a path from the back door to the street so I could get Danny out. I had to shovel it three times. Alex shoveled my front walk twice and two teenage boys came knocking at my door to shovel snow. I had them do the driveway to the garage. I asked how much and they said whatever I wanted to pay. They were new here and just wanted to help out.

When I took Danny out tonight, the snow along the path I shoveled was over his head. Out front, the snow was above my knees. I took some photos, I'll post them tomorrow.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Friday Flowerblogging

Ted took this photo on Feb.11, 2006. I doubt if we'll see any crocuses for awhile. The rabbits are eating the leaves and what's left of them is being burried under a couple feet of snow.

The propane man finally came. One of the drivers has been out sick and the others had to double up on their delivery schedule. I figured if he didn't come by 2:00 I'd have to say in MD. I even went to the grocery store to get some food in case I was snowed in. It was mobbed by they had most of the checkouts open. The guy came at 2:15. I was able to get out of there at 2:30. I had the car packed by I had to turn down the heat, turn off the hotwater heater and turn off the water. I didn't want to take any chances if the power goes out.

We made good time getting to Vineland. We got here by 4:00. The snow didn't begin until 5pm. Traffic was moderate. I was afraid it would be heave as business were letting out early. Once I got over the bridge, the traffic was light. I unloaded the car and took Danny out for a walk. He barked at the little black dog across the street and the little black dog barked back at Danny. They do no like each other. The black dog doesn't even try to sniff Danny through the fence. He just viciously snaps at him.

Here is my bird list for today:

robins
cardinals
blue jays
juncos
white throated sparrows
house sparrows
merganzers
Canada geese
vultures
tufted titmouse
chicadee

News from the Vorlon Wife

Thursday, February 4, 2010

I went to exercise class today and had a good workout. I returned my DVD’s to the library. When I got home, I called the gas company. I am on automatic delivery and I thought they should have delivered last week. I called last week and the lady said I was scheduled for this week. I called yesterday and she said Thursday or Friday. I told her I was below 20 and the big storm was coming on Friday. She said the guy would be here. I was hoping he would come today so I could go back to Vineland before the Storm. I don’t want to leave before he comes. I don’t want to run out of gas and have no heat and the pipes freeze. It’s supposed to get very cold after the storm. I hope the guy gets here in the morning so I can get to Vld. before the storm.

I took Danny to walk in town. I stopped on the south side of the marina to look at the ducks I had seen earlier in the morning. I took my bird book so I could identify them. I believe they were mergansers. The females had red crested heads.

Here is the rest of my bird list for today:

Juncos, robins, red breasted woodpecker, blue jays, grackles, house sparrows, mourning doves, Canada geese, a greater black back gull a pair of turkey vultures sitting on a post at the dock, a few herring gulls, and another duck possibly a pair of ruddy ducks. I also saw a pair of hawks fly out of the woods of the hunting grounds. They were too fast for me to get my binos up to identify them. They were shaped like red tails.

The robins were high in the trees. We generally see them on the lawns in spring plucking worms out of the ground. In the winter, they flock up looking for seeds and berries.

I don’t think I did anything today. I got some clothes and blankets out that I want to take back to Vld. I watched a movie on fancast it was a mystery with Roy Shieder and Meryl Streep. It was OK. It was a little slow moving at first but it had a good ending.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

I gave Danny a bath today. He’s all clean and silky. Of course when I took him out this afternoon, he ran straight for the muddy slush. I trimmed some of the fur off his legs. The snow formed big snowballs that stuck in the fur.

It snowed another two or three inches overnight. I had to shovel again today. The sun came out and it was nice. I did some cleaning and fixed the computer desk. The shelf needed a brace. It had broken when it was moved from the storage bin in Vineland to the garage in Vineland. I left it unassembled until I brought it down here. I decided to move it into the bedroom to put the TV and laptop on it. That way, I can see them better from the airbed.

I took the binos out this morning and this afternoon. I thought I’d keep a daily list of what I see.

A flock of robins- I saw a flock this morning and one this afternoon. This morning they were flying over and this afternoon, they were landing in a tree. I don’t know whether they were the same birds.

Juncos aka snowbirds – they are always here
White throated sparrows – they seem to be with the juncos
Turkey Vultures – they too are always here.
Cardinal
Downey Woodpecker
Grackles - another one that’s always here
Mockingbird
I didn’t see but heard Canada geese and blue jays

When doing a bird count for the Audubon Society, if you hear a bird, you can count it.

A big storm is heading this way on Friday. I don’t know if I should head back tomorrow. I intended to go on Friday. I’ll see what the details of the forecast are tomorrow.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

I went to my exercise class this morning. Everyone felt it was a hard workout even thought it is the same workout we’ve been doing for weeks. Maybe it was all the shoveling of snow.’

I did a couple little jobs here. I mounted a rack on the back of the closet door. I hung some of my necklaces on it. I also mounted two braces on the closet shelf. It looked like it was sagging so I wanted to reinforce it.

It seems when I go out with my binos, there are not birds and when I don’t have the binos, there are lots of birds.

After the exercise class, I went to the post office and the library. I got two movies. The third part of the Lord of the Rings I watched tonight. I had seen it on TV but with commercials and it went on too late. I went to bed.

The other one I will watch tomorrow.

When I was walking Danny, I heard some men talking about their skirting and how it had too many vent holes making the trailer cold. The men bought plywood to mount in back of the skirting and then put insulation on it. The other man said a lady put plastic on the ground and it helped keep her place warm. I was planning to put that silver foam insulation on the north side of my trailer. I may put the plastic sheeting down too.

When I took Danny out this evening, it was snowing. The radio said one to three inches and then a big storm coming on the weekend. We’ll see.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Chesapeake Ciry

We made good time getting down here. We left at 2:00 and got here at 3:30. I stopped in Woodstown for gas.

I took Danny into the house and grabbed the snow shovel. There was about two inches on the ground. There had been five or six but is either melted or evaporated. I had to shovel the walk. I just scooped it along and scooped out the driveway and a path to the back door. I unloaded the car and took Danny for a walk. I met one of my neighbors while I was walking Danny. She is the one who helped me shovel out after the big storm in December.

I got us some dinner and went online to watch a movie. I picked out a Sherlock Holmes Movie. It was an oldie. Basil Rathbone was not in it but it was made during that time period. The sound track was not good as I could hardly understand what they were saying. I put on Magnum, PI afterward.

I’ll be doing some reading and turn in. Danny is already sleeping. I may have to carry him to bed.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Sunday, January 31, 2010

I was walking Danny this morning. He had a difficult time because he would walk in the slush and then the dry snow and it would freeze up on his paws. I brushed him off a couple times. He did his business quickly and I picked him up to carry him home. My friends and neighbors the Champions pulled out of their driveway and I waved them down. I asked if their church were open. I assumed that is where they were going. It was so I said, "My church is closed so I'll come to yours."

The service was at 9am so I had to hurry and get ready. It was at the Episcopal Church. It was a nice service and they had coffee and snacks afterward. Someone really provided a nice spread. I chose the cinnamon bun with the icing on top. It was cut in half so it was just the right size.

When I came home, I had more shoveling to do. Another two inches fell overnight. I called my brother Don whose lives outside of Philadelphia and they just got a trace over there. He didn't have to do any shoveling. When I talked to my niece in MD, she said they got 4 or 5 inches. It was cold so there was no melting going on. It was cold here but the sun melted the roads which had been plowed and salted and the driveways and sidewalks that had been shoveled.

I didn't do anything else today. I was tired out from shoveling and walking Danny.

I talked to Ted's parents and they told me it was cold out there in MI. It was 3 degrees this morning. I don't recall if it was plus or minus.

The company my nephew used to work for may be bought by a former owner. The man had sold it to the current owner who closed it down. They are negotiation the deal so if it goes through all right, my nephew will most likely get his job back. I pray it goes well.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

I tired up my Irish Junipers and did some shredding of documents this morning. It was cold again and was supposed to start snowing at noon. It wasn't snowing yet. I put on my hat, coat, scarf, and gloves and put on Danny's coat. We went out the door and the snow had begun. There was a quarter of an inch on the ground in that short period. I took him down the block and turned him around. It was still bitter cold and my hands were cold. Danny doesn't mind the cold. He wanted to keep going around the block. I had to tug him to get him to turn around.

I folded the laundry and sorted my socks while I watch the rest of the movies. I went out and shoveled what look like three inches of snow. By the time I got done both driveways, it looked like six inches. I took Danny out for another short walk before dinner. We got another two inches in the driveway that I shoveled and it's still coming down. At least the snowplow has been around. The last storm, seven of the city's trucks broke down. I got a call from one of the ladies of the church. She let me know that church has been canceled for tomorrow. I'll have to look up what time the Catholic Church is. They never close. The priests live right there so they have mass regardless of the weather. It is only three blocks away so I can walk if the roads are bad.

I watched my other movie tonight. It was called The Ranger, The Cook, and the Hole in the Sky. It was good.

Now to get to my reading.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Friday Flowerblogging

I found this bittersweet while walking Danny in downtown Chesapeake City. The berries are numerous and quite orange as opposed to the red berries at the dock. I have a photo of them earlier in the month.

It was bitter cold today. I should have worn my storm coat. It is down filled and is full length. I wore it when I took Danny out tonight but the wind had died down and it didn't seem as cold.

I did some computer business this morning. It seems to eat away the time. I had 175 email messages waiting for me when I got home yesterday. I deleted most of them today as they were junk.

I picked up the branches that had fallen out of the tree. I see piles of branches all over town. I put them out on the curb and the city comes to pick them up. They are scheduled for Feb. 8th.

I went to the Vet to get the flea medication for Danny. He will need it the first of the month. I stopped in the library to get a couple movies. I got one called the Buccaneers. It is a BBC production. Actually, it is in six parts. I watched three tonight. It's supposed to snow tomorrow so I can watch the other three then.

I made a pork and sauer kraut casserole today. It is a good hot meal to eat on a cold day. I baked it and put apples in it. I have enough for a couple more meals.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Vineland

I packed up the car and left CC at 11:15. I stopped at McDonald's in Woodstown for lunch. Danny and I had a berger and fries. I stopped at the bank and we arrived here around 1 pm.

I noticed the cover was off the grill and a large branch had come down in the yard. There must have been a storm with strong winds.

I unloaded the car and put some things away. I was expecting Rich from Toastmasters to come at 2 pm. I was the treasurer for the Toastmasters but haven't been able to attend much since Ted's illness and death. Now that I driving back and forth to CC, it is difficult to drive to Ocean City, especially by myself at night. I had asked them to find a new treasurer and Mary Fran accepted the position. She will do a fine job. Rich came to get the records and went with me to close out the account. My bank doesn't have a branch in Atlantic City where Mary Fran lives.

When I took Danny for his walk, I saw where the storm damaged my Irish Junipers. The wind and rain knocked down the branches. Just what I need is more work. The heavy snow didn't do any damage to them and don't know why the rain storm did. The wind must have whipped the branches open and the rain weighed them down. I should have tied them up for the winter.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

wednesday, January 27, 2010

I found some weather strip in the shed and put it on the front door. It didn't help my problem. It didn't hurt but it didn't help. I have to get some that I saw in the local hardware store and remove all the other weather strip that is on there.

I took my movies back to the library and took Danny in town to walk him. I took my binos and there were no birds today except for some gulls. I guess it was too cold and windy. I looked up the birds I saw last week with the white wing tips. They were Black Vultures. A friend at the Vineland Nature Club suggested that was what they might be. This is probably the northern most range for them. I didn't realize it was a vulture because the Turkey Vulture has a V shape wing span when it soars. The Black Vulture soars with a flat wing span like a hawk. I also saw a female hairy or downy woodpecker, chickadees, white throated sparrows, and juncos, aka snowbirds.

I brought up a movie online. I forget the name, The Cathouse and ... with Lee Marvin and Robert Culp. It was funny. I

It's time to take Danny out and do my reading.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Tuesday, Janurary 26, 2010

I went to exercise class this morning. It was a good workout. I saw ducks on the water at the marina. I didn’t have my binos so I couldn’t tell what kind of ducks they were.

I planted my hyacinths and some daffodils then took Danny for his noontime walk. After lunch, I went to the Dollar Express and the Supermarket. I got some groceries and some stuff to melt the ice if we get another storm on Friday. The stuff is called Paws. It claims to be safe for pets and children. I get tired of washing Danny’s feet every time I take him out. The other stuff is toxic to dog’s paws. I also replenished my supply of ice cream. The store carried the Zanie bones that Danny likes. The name has been change to Spot. It is a plush stuffed toy bone. The problem is he only likes the purple one and they had every color but. I’ll have to keep an eye out to see if they get purple in. I wish I had known at Christmas because that’s when the stores stock up on them. They may not reorder until next Christmas.

One of the movies I got at the library, I had seen before. I forgot to cross it off my list and didn’t remember that I had seen it. I watched the third Danielle Steel movie. It was rather intense and full of horrible language and violence. I don’t know anything about her books but I am wondering if I want to read them. I guess I can always close the book if I don’t like it.

I’m ready to get back to my James A. Mitchner book.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Monday, January 25, 2010

It rained hard all night and well into the morning. Danny wanted nothing to do with going out. The ground was saturated before the rain. Now, there is water lying in several spots on the lawn. The drainage ditch is gushing down the chute from the road.

It stopped around noon and I was able to get Danny out to do his business. I went through my bills and after lunch, I went to the library, post office and bank. I was going to go to the super market but a big black cloud rolled in and it started to rain again. I came home and put on a movie. The Wilmington radio station said that power was out in parts of Delaware. I hoped it wouldn’t go out here because the pump to the well will go out and then there is no water. We lucked out and had no problems with the power.

I watched the second Narnia movie, Prince Caspian. It was good but Danny barked at the animals. He must think they have come into our house and therefore invaded his territory.

I talked to my friend, Phyllis. She is doing well and will be starting her journey this Sunday. She and Len have retired and have a mobile home. They will be touring the country. I wish them well and pray for travel mercies for them.

I watched a second Danielle Steel movie tonight. It was good but horrible at the same time.
A tear jerker. The one I saw last night was excellent.

It’s way past time to take Danny out. I will do that now and then get to my reading.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

I woke up at five am and my sinuses were bothering me so I went back to bed. I woke again around 7. There's no way I could get ready in time to get to Maryland in time for church there. I decided to go to church here and leave afterward. I had some things packed in the car yesterday and some things by the door ready to go in. I put them in and looked around to put some more things in and fill up the car. The only thing I had to pack was the cold food. I did that after church.

The service was long. It was 12:45 by the time I got out of there. I went home, took Danny for his walk, packed the cooler, and got the house ready for me to leave. We made good time coming down. I stopped in Woodstown for gas as it is cheaper there. I paid $2.51 today.

I got here at 3:30. I unpacked the car and put the bags and boxes in the appropriate rooms. I put some things in the shed. I called my niece. Ed answered and said they would pick me up around 5:30 to go to the Hibachi Grill. They go there on Sundays and include me when I'm here. I talked to Ted's mother for awhile before Cheryl and Ed came for me. Tonight I had mostly vegetable dishes with some shrimp and chicken teriyaki. I have some fruit, ice cream and egg custard for desert.

I bought some videos when I was at the Acme. They were a three pack of Danielle Steels novels. I haven't read any of her books but the people who used to live in the trailer left a whole box of them. I'll give them a try. I hope I like the videos. They were cheap so I figured "Why not."

I am ready to get started on them. I'll probably have to pause in the middle to take Danny out for the night. Then I will get back to my book Centennial.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

We slept in until 7 this morning. I did some bills and looked up some things on the computer. I dug up my hyacinths and some daffodils. I shredded a few things but have a lot more to shred. I packed some things from the storage room in the basement. I loaded them in the car. I have the suit cases packed and the dry food that I’m taking. I plan on leaving early in the morning so I can go to church in CC.

When I walked Danny this evening, I saw some snowdrops blooming in my neighbor’s yard. They are early bloomers and this neighbor's seem to bloom before others.

I have some reading to catch up on.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

January 22, 2010

Look at all the buds on this primrose. Last year, it started blooming in March. Sometimes it starts in Feburary. It seem to start right after a snow storm. I guess that's why it started now. It was warm in December up until the middle of the month so I guess it had a lot of growth before the storm. It warmed up this week and the primrose burst into bloom.

Friday Flowerblogging

LOOK WHAT'S BLOOMING! What a surprise when I was walking Danny to see the primrose blooming in January. It is an early bloomer but I think this is the earliest I've seen it. It is in the west side garden in my Vineland home. I thought I had dug it up to take to MD but I'll have to do it now.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

I spent a couple hours on the phone with Social Security this morning. It paid off in the end. I will be getting Ted’s Social Security starting in March. It will be nearly twice as much as mine.

When I was walking Danny this morning, I saw trash strewn all over the neighborhood. I was horrified to find it was mine. I put it out last week. I thing the brats down the street got into it and threw it around. It was Styrofoam broken up and laying around all up and down the street. I discovered it was mine when I found a book torn up and recognized it as one I threw out. It had Ted’s name inside the cover. I thought someone had taken the books; someone who could use them. Sometimes people take things from the curb and sell them at the flea market. I don’t mind if someone can use them but to have them torn up and tossed around burns me up.

I took Danny for his noontime walk, had some lunch and rested for a while. I got ready and went to Bible Study. They hadn’t met since mid Dec. First, there were the holidays and last week, the Browns who host the Bible Study had a death in the family so it was canceled.

I went to the Acme and got some food for me and Danny. I got food for here and to take to CC. I needed food in both places. Acme had a sale on pork for $.99. It has country spareribs, pork chops and a roast. I’ll separate it into one serving sizes, bag it up and freeze it.

There was a Star Trek movie on the Sci-Fi channel but it will be running too late. I need to catch up on some reading.

News from the Vorlon Wife.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

We had a long day. We got up early and Danny went for his walk. I packed everything up and went through my routine of closing up the house. I went to my Aunt Jean’s because she had forgotten to bring my Christmas present when she came for dinner in December. She wanted me to have it to keep me warm in the cold weather. I figured it was 45 minutes to her house and another fifty minutes from her house to Vineland. So the trip was about the same as if I drove for CC to Vineland.

I went a couple miles down the road and Danny was shivering again. I didn’t have his coat on because it was 40 degrees but the car had been in the shade and I think the seat is cold. He lays on it and it must drop his body temp down. I pulled over, put his coat on, and turned up the heat on high. He warmed up in a few minutes.

I had lunch with Aunt Jean and then went to my brothers. I had to drop off Sylvia’s casserole dish and her food carrier. Cheryl sent a jacket up for my nephew, Bob and my cousin Bob sent a book for my brother, Don.

We got here around 5 o’clock. I unpacked the car, walked Danny and got some dinner. I watch the TV and learned about Scott Brown’s winning the seat held by Ted Kennedy. I think most of the country was cheering for Brown.

I called my brother, Don to make sure he got Bob’s book and a DVR he had lent me. Bob sent me a book, too. It is about the Orrell’s who have served on the water. My Dad and Don both served in the Navy and so did my cousin, Rene. My great grandfather served in the Navy during the Civil War. I only skimmed through the ones that I knew of and will go back and read about the others. I left my book in CC so will read that when I go back.

News from the Vorlon Wife.