Life in the Bristolwood

Several years ago, while Mark and I were driving from Rochester to our house,  we saw all types of furniture and items on the lawn of a big house where a sale was being held.  A Singer sewing machine in a cabinet caught my eye and Mark stopped for me.  Twenty dollars later, we left with a sewing machine in a walnut veneer cabinet!

When Michelle was younger I spent so much time behind that sewing machine, making her little dresses.  I loved sewing and this machine was so much less complex than the new models. The stitches were so nice and the machine was very reliable.

I got the machine out of its cabinet a few days ago so Mark could have a look at it.  I have never heard Mark sing so many praises for any product….ever!

The first thing that impressed Mark about the machine was its simplicity.  Even though it is a very simple machine, it came with all sorts of attachments which make it very diverse and versatile. The cast iron body of this small sewing machine makes it sturdy and and solid.

Mark was greatly impressed with the nice motor housing….

Mark said one could never find such a well made machine these days.  He said anything made so well would cost so much today!  His remark got me to wondering just how old the machine might be.  I looked online and found a site that gives information about Singer sewing machines and giving their dates of manufacture. To the best of my knowledge, my little machine was manufactured in 1953 in Kilbowie,  Scotland!

I am adding a photo of the model of my little Singer machine.  The “K” indicates the location where the machine was manufactred, according to the information I found on the internet.

Thank you, Bill, for the information regarding the name change!  From what I understand, Kilbowie is located close to Clydebank, thus the change? The tiny country of Scotland has certainly produced a wonderful little workhorse in this machine.  Too bad our modern machines cannot even hold a candle to these!

There appears to be a new sign down in Woodville…..(it is posted right near the boat launch, appropriately so)

Ummm….how is a life vest gonna prevent hypothermia?  Aw, forget it.  I must be missing something. Funny thing is, this is a view of the lake from a road above showing the south end of the lake…..

Since the boat launch is on the right side of that photo, I think you can see the only craft that might launch this time of the year would have to have sled runners on it as the lake is frozen over!

Well, enough of that!  I had spoken to a fellow that works at the marina in Woodville and he told me seeing the eagles walking on the ice in the winter is quite spectacular!  So, I spent about an hour just hanging out down there, but saw no eagles.  In fact, the area looked rather lifeless. The only sound to accompany me as I lingered was that of dead grass rattling when the brisk wind blew!

Of course I had to show that grass as I loved the color of it set against the stark white snow!

Michelle was “up and at it” this morning early.

How early?

Shortly after 4.  Which means I was also up shortly after four, as she awakened me!

We left the house at about 7:15, and I had no idea what a grand morning I was heading into! (a sharp contrast from Tuesday morning, I might add!)  We headed up the road and over onto the highway. But coming down the road before the highway, this is what we saw….

and this…..

An awesone sunrise, to be sure.  All the way to Canandaigua, Michelle reminded me to keep my eyes on the road…while *I* reminded her *I* am the mom *and* I have many years of driving experience with no accidents caused by me!

I dropped Michelle off and then drove along the lake…..

I decided I really needed to take the lakeside road home.  Murphy, with his head resting against my leg, had no complaints and seemed content enough to take the “slow road”.

I was glad I did!

I had a bucket of cracked corn that I use just for such ocassions, but there was a sharp dropoff I was standin on and I couldn’t throw the corn far enough to reach the birds.  One swan, however, was rather curious about me and swam closer for a look….

Needless to say, I could have spent the entire day just wandering and taking photos.  What a beautiful, beautiful morning!

The sun is still shining and the temperature is rising. Mark hasn’t repaired the window on the Explorer yet, but he plans to work on it this afternoon.  As far as the tires go, we have spoken to numerous people and we plan to buy an entirely different (highly rated) tire fom another source.

So, things are looking better!!!

That, my friend, is what I said to yesterday!

Michelle awakened me at about 4:30 am, taking a shower and getting ready for school. I didn’t mind that. But….before we left the house, I needed to pack an order, straighten up a bit (I am near the point of “neurotic” about coming home to a messy house) and get everything (and everyone,including the Scotties) ready to go.

You see, I had an appointment to keep.

Let me take you back to Monday, early afternoon….

I had gotten tires put on the Explorer a few years ago. They were rated to go 65,000 miles. They have about 23,000 miles on them.  The Explorer doesn’t travel very far from home, actually.  It averages maybe 5,000 miles per year.  My tires look HORRIBLE.  So, we were off to see the tire store who sold them to us Monday afternoon.

The gentleman came out with his little depth guage and measured the tires.  He assured us they were absolutely fine. Mark begged to differ, but, well, this man is supposed to know his stuff.  And besides, he was older and hopefully, wiser.

So, yesterday morning, we were going to drop the Explorer at the shop to have it inspected.  I really like the shop where we take it. The man who owns it is a soon-to-retire sherriff’s deputy and I think he exhibits more integrity than I have seen in many shops.

We got out the door a bit late yesterday, and drove about 5 miles. Mark was ahead of me in the pickup and he suddenly pulled over, off the road.  I rolled down the window and he asked if I had Murphy?  No.  Ugh….it was going to be a long day and it would be too long to leav the Scotties home.  I drove back home and Mark and the kids waited for me.  The time was getting short and Michelle needed to get to school, so Mark started off to Canandaigua.

As I was following behind, Michelle called and said Mark thought I should just go to the garage and wait.  I turned the Explorer around and I decided I was a bit chilly, so I pushed the button to raise the front passenger window, which had been open about  1 1/2 inches.  As I pushed the button,  I heard a terrible noise.  Cannot describe it as I did have he radio on, but it did not sound good.  Well, joy of joys….the window “crashed”!

I had to drive a few miles with the bitter cold air blowing into the Explorer.  I turned the heat on high and then made my way to the garage.

Well, long story short,  the Explorer failed the inspection because of bad tires!  The fellow who did the inspection left crayon marks on the sides where the tires were exposing wear bars!  Needless to say, we will be talking to the fellow who assured us only the day before that the tires would pass and even go another 4 or 5,000 miles.

The window?  Mark decided he will fix that, as it is a relatively easy fix and he had the door panels off before to install speakers for the Explorer.  

 And so, last night, as the snow fell and the temperatures dropped, I once again faced the forces of nature, and drove my windowless passenger Explorer home.  Thankfully, it was only about 15 miles!

Believe me when I say the Jotul woodstove never looked so good and warm as it did when we arrived home!

And for your viewing pleasure, here are two photos taken yeaterday, one in the early morning and one late in the afternoon.

Morning barn.

Sun fighting clouds late afternoon.

And for grins, how about early morning artwork….

It is late and I apologize for not posting an entry earlier….it was a busy day and we were out a bit.  Anyway, here is one more Murphy photo..sorry.  As I looked through my Murphy photos taken yesterday, I wasn’t sure how I missed this one.  Anyway, this depicts just the carefree little fellow he really is!

One day while shopping at Sam’s Club,  I saw a beautiful sheepskin that caught my eye.  The tag stated that the skin originated with sheep from Australia or New Zealand.  When I saw the price was about 1/3 the price it had previously been, I bought one!  They are supposed to be sheepskin rugs, but I would never put anything light colored on my floors!  No, no, no!

Thus,the  lovely sheepskin hangs on the back of a navy blue sofa in the bedroom.  As I was working in the room, I noticed Murphy was lying on the sofa.   I decided to pull the sheepskin off the back of the sofa and have Murphy sit on it.  Angus is the most terrific little “ham” when it comes to photographing him, but Murphy just doesn’t “get it”!

I tried to get the little laddie to sit nicely so I could get a lovely photo of him. Nope.  I worked with the pup for a long time and it became obvious he was not going to cooperate with me.  So…I decided to just let the little fellow do his own thing and I would follow.

After working for quite a while, Murphy just had enough!  I am not sure whether he was trying to hide from the camera or if he suddenly realized the skin was an animal skin, but….

he burrowed his face deeply under the sheepskin!

Oh-my-GOODNESS!  What an amazing moon!! Perhaps it wasn’t so much that the moon was*so* amazing.  It might have been the bone-chilling air that made it stand out even more.  You know, the kind of cold that if you breathe deeply, you can actually make your nostrils close and stick together?

I am so thankful for the Jotul woodstove when the temperature plunges from cold to “frigid”! I don’t mind going out into the cold so long as I have the proper attire, but it is always such a treat to walk into the house and feel any chill just fall away as the warm air wraps around you like a blanket.  That’s it, you know….a furnace might heat the house, but as the temperature begins to fall before the next cycle kicks the furnace back on,  you can actually feel chilled!  Not here.  The Jotul really is like a blanket. There are no “dead spots”.  No cold corners.  Everything is just…warm!

Jotul should pay me, you realize. 

So, back to the moon. 

Mark was busy last night, and I had to help him from time to time.  So, in between,  I would sneak out onto the back deck,  Nikon mounted to my Manfrotto monopod. This is what I got.

That last photo was a *very* long exposure!  I had kind of  secured my body and the monopod to a vertical post on the deck, hoping that “we” would not shiver too much and cause the camera to shake!

Now, earlier in the evening, just before the sun totally disapeared behind the hills to our west, the skies put on a nice exhibit of color…..breathtaking sunsets are really at a premium here in the woods, due to all the trees!

This morning, as I am writing this,  I looked out the bedroom window, and that gorgeous moon was playing peekaboo in the western sky!

As I opened the window to take that one last photo, the sky was suddenly filled with yellow plumage, as a flock of Goldfinches spooked and took off in unison. In the distance, the drone of snow-making hydrants filled the frigid air. The blast was pretty shocking, but not to fear.  The Jotul *does* have it covered, after all!

I just never will understand this family of mine.

Mark’s dad was born in the USA to Italian immigrants. Mark often talks about the delicious foods his grandmother prepared every year for Christmas and other special events.  He fondly recalls her cheese pie and all the tasty Italian dishes she made.

Being a “Heinz 57″ blend myself,  I am not sold on any ethnic dishes, really.  My Ukrainian grandmother made all manner of specialties that just smelled horrible to me.  Perhaps I shouldn’t admit that,  but many times the house smelled strongly of sauerkraut and being a picky eater as a kid, cabbage was one of the last foods I would have wanted to try…..especially “fermented”!  Or, maybe I was just spoiled, as my mom, (maybe fearful I would shrivel up and blow away) often relented and silently placed a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on my plate, ending my vigorous protests! I am a much better eater today…..however, there is a line I will not cross when it comes to “exotic” foods!

So, this morning,  I decided I would prepare some Crockpot Lasagna.  I don’t crave Italian foods too often, but since it is bitterly cold and windy outside,  I figured this would be a great day for a filling and tasty dish.  Mark tells me he really doesn’t like lasagna.  Nor do the kids.

I wasn’t the least discouraged by my family.  No sir!  I scrambled up a pound of ground beef and then mixed up my cheese blend.  I had bought some no-boil lasagna noodles the other day when I shopped at Wegman’s, and Mark thought I had lost my mind.  He insisted in his bachelor days when he made up Lasagna (WHO was he making it for, anyway, if he doesn’t even like it?)  he used regular noodles and never cooked them before putting them in the pan. Debatable, say I!

I placed my layers in the waiting Crockpot and turned the button to “low”.  Within about two hours, I tested the noodles and they seemed tender to me.  I turned the pot to “off” and pulled the plug.  Ben walked past the pot and turned his nose in the air, while Michelle insisted she had just had a meal of Ramen Noodles and mixed veggies(GAG!!!) a short time before.  I decided to dish up a serving, sit down, and enjoy.

I sat at the table and with the first bite,   exclaimed to any listening ears, this Lasagna was exquisite!  It really was!  I ate one serving and was stuffed.  As I went back to the kitchen,  I looked into the pot and felt so overwhelmed…..

This is a whole lotta leftover Lasagna!  Mark made his way to the kitchen,  looking for something for lunch, rejecting mine!  I got so bent out of shape,  I decided to go upstairs and read for awhile as the dish cooled so I could put it in the refrigerator.  Mark called up, several minutes later…..Could you fry up some chicken sausages for lunch for me?

With clenched jaw, I headed down the stairs, mumbling that my family is nothing short of a collection of fruitcakes!  As I entered the kitchen,  Mark was sitting in the wheelchair with his back to me.  It was clear he was holding something in his lap, however, and upon looking,  there sat that huge stoneware with the Lasagna in it….on his lap….and a fork in his hand! 

Upon being found out, Mark looked me in the eye and told me….This is the best Lasagna I have ever tasted!

Ugh.  How does one win, anyway?  He then went on to tell me the dish would have been better if I served a salad and some bread with it.

Fruitcakes, I tell ya! Fruitcakes, one and all!

Egads! I took Michelle to college today and as we were going along, the snow, which had just begun, began coming down harder and harder! After dropping Michelle off, I went to WalMart for a few minutes, then decided to go to the City Pier.

I giggled out loud as I noted two huge trucks parked roadside, with new toys boats for he 2010 boating season. (Not looking so probable at the moment!!!)

Once I got back on the roads to drive home, conditions degraded as I drove!

This is the road I turned on to head up our hill!

I have to admit that I was ready to bend down and kiss the ground upon arriving safely home!  I haven’t driven in such poor conditions in years!  Since the snow came so rapidly,  the plows weren’t really able to clean the roads fast enough!

Yesterday, I was thinking about how unusual it is that we had no snow!  Just a couple of days ago, we had rain, rain, and more rain!  Now, the weather forecast is calling for blasts of Arctic air and snow.

When I got home, the snow stopped after awhile and the sun even poked out.  I got to thinking the worst was now behind us.  Then, as I began writing this entry, this….

Oh, hibernation sounds sooo enticing right now.  But realistically, our Michelle is sixteen miles from home, and someone will have to pick her up in a few hours!

Run, Katya, run!

Argh….I am by no stretch of the imagination “lazy”,  but there are times when I wish that I had a house that, when cleaned,  stayed that way!  Having a husband and kids home 24/7 with me is sometimes overwhelming!  Well, it isn’t quite that bad, perhaps, but every time I walk into the kitchen, it seems the counters are actually growing dirty dishes!

Okay, I’ll stop the kvetching!

Michelle’s college studies resumed today and we were off early this morning. Yesterday’s temperatures rose well above freezing, melting all the snow we had on the ground.  This would have been serious enough to cause flooding in low-lying areas, but add to that a driving rain and flooding did indeed become the big headlines across New York and Pennsylvania today.  When we left this morning, however, it was snowing somewhat briskly and the roads were not in very good condition!

I drove up our road and it had been narrowly plowed with a small plow on a pickup truck…I found myself gripping the steering wheel tightly.  I thought that the county and state roads would be in better condition, but they were snow covered and I was concerned about black ice.  Fortunately, as we came nearer to Canandaigua, the roads were in much better shape.

Since I was in no rush to head back toward home with the roads in less than good shape,  I took a little drive, then filled the gas tank.  After that,  I headed to Wegman’s and bought groceries.  While I was driving,  I came upon a lovely farm and the sun was trying to poke through the seemingly endless cloud cover…

By the time I started back home at about 9:00, the roads were greatly improved.  I got home, took all the groceries in the house, put them away, did four loads of laundry including drying and folding and putting away,  then made some great soup for dinner.  By the time I finished making the soup, it was nearly 4:30 and time to run back to Canandaigua once again!

I left late to get Michelle, but that didn’t stop me from taking a photo along the way….the sunset was impressive! (too bad I wasn’t near the WalMart parking lot as I think this would have been so pretty)

I was late picking Michelle up, but only by a few minutes and she was with her friends, Jacob and Jeffrey.  After picking her up, we headed over to WalMart and grabbed a fresh loaf of Italian bread.  We got back home and ate….the soup and bread were a real hit and when Michelle brought out the football-shaped Snickers ice cream cake we found at WalMart, everyone was thrilled!

I forgot to mention a text message I got from Michelle this morning….she explained her statistics professor was from India and has “quite an accent”.   She went out to say that when the professor said “checks and balances”, all she heard was “chicken bottoms”…..she hoped the professor wasn’t upset with her giggling!  Oh my…perhaps this semester will offer a bit more of a challenge to the girl, eh?

Chicken bottoms, indeed!  And Michelle? She was sprawled out and sound asleep by 8 pm!