Random Musings

 Made a quick trip to the grocery store as we prepare for another weekend of indoors, this time because of snow. (Weeks 1 - ice and covid, week 2- snow). Between the crazy weather creating havoc with road conditions and the uproar in the supply chain since covid began, our grocery stores are once again putting out quotas on what you can buy. No more than 2 packs of meat, toilet paper, or milk per person. Thankfully that doesn't impact us, but it does make me wonder what large families are doing. Do they make multiple trips, or ask smaller families like us to purchase extra and share?  Sugar continues to only be available in a 10 lb bag, apple juice is almost non-existent, crackers and salt were almost totally gone.  I'm not longer shocked by the sight of empty shelves. I simply take note of what it is so I can keep an eye out for it somewhere else should it be an item we need. I actually bought straws at Sam's Club yesterday. I don't like buying items like that in bulk,...

 Last week I washed the mattress topper to our bed, and while it was in the dryer it started smelling funny.  I've never washed it before, and I thought maybe because it was bamboo based it wasn't supposed to be washed and dried. Then the next load of clothes I tried to dry would not dry, not even after three cycles.  Before I called the repairman, I thought I'd try and clean out the back filter, and I was horrified at what I found.  Lint was so impacted in the escape vent that it maintained its cylinder shape even after I pulled it out.  I saw the exit pipe was just as clogged and I knew I didn't have the tools to clean it from the dryer to outside the house. Bobby found a company that is made up of firemen who do the cleaning on their off days.  I was baffled, because I clean the lint trap after every single use. He said lint would still escape underneath and through the back and needed to be cleaned out twice a year. Sadly it didn't make our dryer work a...

Neither my parents nor my husband are in to New Year's Resolutions. They all hold to the premise that each day is a gift to be used to the fullest and the first day of the year is not any different than any other day on the calendar.  And there is a lot of truth in that, but I also think setting goals at the start of each year can help us focus on life a little better.  December was a very busy month for us.  We spent almost a week (counting travel time) in AL with my family, where we joined forces in helping my brother and his wife clean and begin preparations for house renovations.  While we got a lot done, we left them with still a lot to do.  Mom texted me today that the painting is now halfway done, and Dad and a coworker of my brother's ripped up the old flooring in all the rooms that had connecting flooring. That is huge!! I think the goal is to have things done enough that they can move in February when the whole family is there to celebrate Dad's 80th b...