MaryAlice Musings and More

I didn't make a list this morning, but I didn't need to take pen to paper.  My list has been rolling around in my head for awhile and it grew more fully yesterday as I spent the day traveling back to home. I has a slow beginning to the doing part of my day.  One of my "needs" was to just be able to wake up slowly and enjoy my tea, breakfast and the morning light.   I am aware that I will be breaking a new kind of ground in a few weeks - I have left towards the end of March and come back either in Mid-Late May or Early June.  This year I will be gone for two weeks, the last part of March and return on April 5th.  Spring is not my favorite season, at least spring in the north.  Spring in New Orleans, Texas, Arizona is beautiful and very different than Minneapolis, Millinocket or Patten Maine.   After breakfast I went to the basement and brought up a card table.  I am going to use the table for puzzle putting together.  I bought two p...

I don't have much to say today, except that I am really happy to be back home! My house is warm and cozy. Friends are so very wonderful. It is Tuesday, and I am very glad to be safely back home!

What a twenty-four hours.  Last night driving back from the Memorial Service, the Boat House, and then supper at Swan's in Lambertville, NJ I got stuck on the hill of the street where I was staying at my Airbnb place,  someone did come along and he rescued me and the car really he did.  I got back to my place for the night.    I was so ready for sleep and off I went -- only to wake up around 4 p.m.  feeling really cold - no power.  The room was pitch black and very quiet no electrical hums.  I found my flashlight, yes I always carry a flashlight in my purse.  Found an extra blanket.  Power came back on around 5:30 a.m.   During the night I had gotten a message from American Airlines saying that I could change my flight due to the weather.   After several phone calls I decided to just go for it.  I knew that there would be no more snow so I left the house around 9 a.m.   Went to a diner in Ne...

We were all together along the Delaware River where Irv used to row.  There were flowers and more flowers, wonderful food, and Irv's favorite chocolate chip cookies that Kathy lovingly made last night.  It was a celebration of life and of love.  I was glad that I traveled so far to be there.   It started to rain later in the afternoon and by evening tonight it was snow and 31 degrees.   I had to wait for another vehicle (A Jeep!) to come along on the road where I an staying at the Airbnb --- I could not go up the hill in the car, and backing down was not good either.   So this fine young man helped me out.  He got the car up to the flat part of the road,  I pushed it along as the front wheels just spun round and round.  I was so glad to park the car and walk into the house.   I am not snuggled in for the night.  I am thinking of Kathy and Irv and the day.  I am hoping that I get to see my dear BFF Lonnie tomorr...

I started out my morning in Millinocket.   Jane Mary cooked me a delightful breakfast, with marvelous breakfast tea.  I shuffled myself into the car and went to Bangor.  At 9:00 a.m.  I pulled into the AAA parking lot, I picked up my travel packet for my trip to London in now less tha 3 weeks, and I bought 210.00 lbs. of UK currency.  Then off to the airport.  smooth ride and landing to Philadelphia.  Then  rental car to New Hope, PA.  A few wrong turns and I found my way to the airbnb .  Called Kathy---so much to say and hear...and a clear choice for cocktail and dinner!  I got an Uber and off I went to Martine's .   It waa quite a wonderful time at the bar at Martine's.  Pro ably not the experience that Ir  would have had, but exactly the kind of place that both Kathy and Irv love --- I had an amazing experience at the bar --- it was authentic, it was very gay, it was an incredible moment of c...

Turn the calendar,  enjoy the angle of the sun,  feel the warmth on your cheeks.  Watch out for puddles.  Remember there is lots of ice.  Pack lightly for my trip.  Don't worry about Monday's snowstorm.   I left Patten late morning.  Stopped at the post office.  Made arrangements to have friends check in at the house.   Headed off to Millinocket! Worked in the library this afternoon.  Went to the credit union.  Dropped off my things at Jane and Bill's and had a good visit.  Stopped and bought Allagash River Trip at Woods and Water.   Went to Dave and Anna's for supper and to meet Anna's parents and Dave's Mom who lives in Minnesota.   Tomorrow I go to Bangor, get on a plane to Philadelphia.  Drive to New Hope, PA.   All in preparation of Irv's Memorial Service on Sunday.   I want to be with Kathy and Irv's friends.  I want to hear those who will tell stories about Irv's ...

Today was a full wonderful day - sunshine,  milder weather and lots less wind.  I started the morning meeting with the person who is making the screens and designing the doorways for my screened in porch.  It feels hopeful to be planning for my screen porch.  We talked about design and types of screen and the ways that he has envisioned installing each panel across my very long porch.  Today was not as cold as earlier in the week, but it was cold enough that measuring had to happen with warm up breaks as his fingers got too cold to keep measuring and writing down all the necessary information.  This part of the work can happen in the shop and not outside.  Later the doors and screen panels will be put in place, that will happen when the sun is higher in the sky and the temperature outside will be lots different than today. In the midst of measuring and figuring my friend Jane Mary arrived for her first visit.  We had been planning our time in Pa...