My Boys are Under the Weather

Sunny skies on this Sunday morning. Thank you Old Man Winter. You'll see photos of this particular view fairly often on the blog. This is what I see when I stand in the kitchen doorway and look up. That's a maple on the left, the catalpa in the middle and our sugar maple on the right, along with a cast of thousands. We have a lot of trees.

My boy Riley had a very bad night. I woke up to discover he'd had some elimination problems (no big deal, we're used to that now) and he'd somehow managed to get wedged half-way under the kitchen island. I can only imagine he panicked and, since he has problems getting around anyway, somehow slipped on the wood floor and couldn't get up. When I managed to get him up, he kept collapsing. I finally got him outside where he regained a little strength in his legs.

He's exhausted. Life is hard for my dear boy and I try to reassure him when he's distressed or worried. Because he does worry. At this point in his life, nothing is worth one second of his feeling bad or guilty.

We try to make getting around as easy as possible. We lift him up and down the stairs. We help him up when his body is stiff and sore. When we look outside and see a mass of mud on the path to the corral, Don runs to the Agway to get some hay.

We cover the mud and tamp it down, so he can get a solid footing. (We put a bit too much down this time!) I vacuum up bits of hay every day. But if it helps Mr. Riley, I'll vacuum ten times a day.

Don has a cold. Both my boys are having a tough time of it.

Scout and I are fine. Right, Scout?

What are your plans for this Sunday? Is it sunny in your neck of the woods?

Ode to Flannel Pajamas

Blogging is fun, but it's even better in flannel pajamas.

If cleaning must be done, why not do it in flannel pajamas?

Reading is essential, but oh so much more satisfying in flannel pajamas.

Crafting? Creativity flows in flannel pajamas.

Crocheting? The hook just works better in flannel pajamas.

Cooking, Baking? Absolutely must be done in flannel pajamas.

Gardening is heaven, and I've been known to do it in my flannel pajamas.

Decorating and DIY: pajamas.

Painting? In an old pair of flannel pajamas.

Late afternoon hot chocolate: much more satisfying in flannel pajamas.

I've driven my husband to work in my pajamas.

I haven't coached in my pajamas yet, but I would if I could. Wait a minute, I coached a former student on the phone yesterday - in my flannel pajamas!



Rest assured, I do get dressed. But only under protest. In a perfect world, I would wear my flannel pajamas all day long. I'd have a different pair for each day of the week. Even in the heat of summer, I'd wear my flannel pajamas and I wouldn't sweat. Airline travel would be done while wearing my pajamas.  Ditto train and bus travel.

Flannel PJ's = My favorite piece of clothing.

I love you, pink squirrel flannel pajamas.

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Some of you mentioned joining a club. Want a button? Feel free to take it and put it on your blog.

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I know many of you love our "Cooking in the Cottage" video. Some of you have told me you go back and watch it every once in while for a good giggle. For easy access, it's on the sidebar under Popular Posts. Just click on it and have fun!

Rainy Days

Yesterday was rainy. Cold. Dreary. Lazy. Today looks to be the same.

I managed to amass a day's worth of mugs and glasses on my little side table. I didn't even get up to get my camera - I used the iPhone.

We ate dinner and lunch on trays in the den. That's Don's slipper to the right.

My new copy of Where Women Create arrived in the mail. I won a year's subscription in a giveaway. I'm very grateful, because at $15 per issue, I would not be buying it in these frugal times.

Thank goodness for the flowers - they help to brighten up the day. We need to schedule another trip to Trader Joe's. Next week.

(photos from the hipstamatic app on the iPhone.)

Thank you for all the wonderful hanging lamp suggestions. I knew you'd have some great ideas. Now, of course, I'm more confused than ever. So there it sits, on the kitchen table, calling to me.

My response? I don't know what to do with you yet! But I will.

I hope your Friday is cheery, despite gray skies. Or maybe you're blessed with beautiful weather today. Either way, enjoy!

Thrifty Living 2012 - More of Our Stories

Last week, the five of us shared a little bit about ourselves with you. This week, we're sharing a bit more of our individual stories.

So much of what we share on our blogs is funny, happy and/or pretty. But there's a reality behind all that. Here goes.

Most of you are familiar with our story to some extent. Our work is in the arts and both of us freelance. Freelancing is challenging at any time, but for the past two years it has been especially challenging. My husband has been a professional actor for over 40 years. He has worked in the theater, television and film. He's a very, very good actor. Theater doesn't pay very much and theaters have had a tough time in this economy. Television - where Don has worked a lot during his career - has been taken over by so-called reality television, which has nothing to do with reality and everything to do with cheap entertainment. It has put actors, directors, costume designers, set designers and a host of other people out of work. The next time you sit down and watch some obviously staged reality television show, think about that.

Don has had to take a job with a car rental company in the meantime. After 40 years as an actor, he has had to learn new skills. The pay? Not good. But the job gives us health insurance and after being hospitalized twice last year, I am only too aware of the perils of not being insured. Thank goodness we were insured at the time. Don needs to work as an actor. It's the talent he has been blessed with and it also has the potential for the most income. But we need health insurance. And so the cycle continues.

My work comes and goes and sometimes requires me to be out of town for several weeks at a time. When that happens, we are paying for food for two households - doubling our expenses. I've looked for work here at home. I've worked at other jobs in the past and am perfectly willing to do so now, but I can't find anything. As far as teaching, which is what I did for 20 years, no university will even consider someone with my experience and resumé. They'd have to pay me too much, so they pass on an interview and hire someone 'up-and-coming.' And local companies don't necessarily want to put money into training someone my age. I also need to be near my ill and aging dog, Riley, who needs help getting around the house.

We don't have children, but we have two dogs that require prescription dog food and medications. We eat simply. We hardly ever buy new clothes and when we do, they are on sale. We are down to one car because the very old second car we were using requires expensive repairs that we can't afford. Since we're down to one car, I am limited as to where I can work. We live in the country - I can't just walk or take a bus to work. The one car we do have is 11 years old.

I have a job coming up in April and May. After that? Nothing on the horizon.

Thrifty? I've always had to be thrifty out of necessity. I've never had the luxury of impulse spending. In my world, impulse spending is buying a bouquet at Trader Joe's for $3.99. I'd kill for a new pair of jeans right now. At the moment, that would be an extravagance.

We don't take vacations. We very rarely eat out. We almost never go to the movies - too noisy, way too expensive. We'll catch the film later on DVD or cable.

I'm exploring other avenues for income: advertising on this blog, an etsy shop. In an ideal world, I'd be able to make a fairly good income from work online. That is my hope for the future.

Our mortgage payments are high. Our house is worth much less than it was when we bought it. If we were to consider selling, we would lose lots of money. So far, we've never missed a payment in 6 years of living in the cottage. Miracles do happen.

Like so many of you out there, we are approaching the years where we had hoped we would feel a measure of security after a lifetime of work. But the reality facing us is entirely different.

Even with all the worries and stress, we find joy in our daily life. We laugh, we get silly and we are thankful for the blessings we have. Times are tough, yes, but we're already used to tightening our belt. We're simply pulling the belt a bit tighter.

We are thrifty. As we move forward in this series, I will share my tips with you. I look forward to reading the tips from Brenda, Diane, Elaine and Jen. We have much to offer each other!