Backstory

 

All the toys I need for work have backstories.

The Duplo in the background are probably from a yard sale but they have an important role and can't go.

The cylindrical toy is from the HABA outlet store in Skaneateles, about an hour from Ithaca, NY. Even though I am not so fond of driving, the destination made it worth it. I love the HABA toys and have found so many different ways to play with this one - a keeper!

Another HABA treasure. It looks so simple but there are so many different uses. The favorite one these days is to put the little people in upside down and giggle about it. 

Most shape sorters are too busy for my tastes, but the real reason I like this is because it is the same as the one that was in my house (maybe I used it? maybe my little sister used it?). I have put away some of the more complex shapes for now.

My oldest child received this from the parent of children I used to babysit. It is one of the few stuffed toys I have kept to be played with. I have other stuffed toys that sit by my bed.

I bought these stacking cups at the school yard sale about
twenty years ago. I love the way that because of the
different grooves they can stack by size and by color. 

This does not even touch on children's books. Maybe when we have an empty nest I will set up a mini children's library in one room. Or not so mini. I have no new year's resolution about getting rid of stuff.

Good Thing of the Day

 

We went to the ocean!

I didn't go in but I did touch the water.

We visited some little libraries with great views!

More water and more great views on an afternoon bike ride.

It wasn't a white Christmas but it was a good day.

Happy Homemaker Project

Some people garden and can their crops and some sew their own clothing, but I did my part by reusing soap scraps.

I collected them for months.

I grated them, added a little water,

and melted it in the microwave.

I put them into containers and let them dry.

I have not tried them yet. They don't look very smooth
but if they get my hands clean then that is good enough. 

No Mail?

At the beginning of my run I stopped at the drive-thru mailboxes (called snorkel chutes by some) to mail some postcards and found the chute covered and locked. I went over to the traditional box, dropped them in, and went on my way. 

When I went back in the afternoon the chutes were still covered (or maybe covered again?). I tried to drop them in the regular boxes, but those were so full I couldn't open them. 

I went around to the other side of the locked boxes and found one that was not completely full and dropped in the mail. Many drivers pulled up and I added their mail to the boxes, too. Pick up was scheduled in about ten minutes so I was not worried about mail theft. I had not seen the articles from the summer saying that locked mailboxes were evidence of voter suppression, followed by articles saying the evidence showed that the boxes were locked to prevent mail theft.

I have been worried about mail theft in the past and written to the USPS Inspector General's office. "The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is responsible for ensuring Postal Service employees' safety and the security of the mail." Many, many mornings I have stopped by to drop off mail and there has been mail stuck to huge pieces of tape (like the kind in some rodent traps?).  I never thought anyone was stealing ballots but I guessed they were hoping for mail with gift cards or cash.

Will our boxes be unlocked after Christmas? Will they be removed like in a town to the east? Time will tell.

New Project

A. bought a stuffed toy as part of a Secret Santa exchange with friends and decided to make a scarf to go with it.

It was a good chance to gather all my projects in one place.

I found lots of crochet hooks,

but not as much yarn as I thought I had.

I have this, too, which I use now and then.

Starting

and done.

Hurray for vacation projects.

Cruising a New Neighborhood

 It is not a new neighborhood, but it was new to me.

We rode to the end of the road and then headed downhill.

We didn't exactly discover water

but were amazed to see it.

We were smart enough to ask another cyclist for directions because we almost took what seemed to be the obvious route, but it led to a locked fence. 

Sorry I couldn't figure out how to make these
on the same map or even the same scale.

Once were were on the right trail we could have taken it all the way to the Pacific Electric Trail, but we took the faster, more direct route home. I like our regular rides but I also appreciated trying something new and challenging.

Thanksgiving

We were back from the mountains with plenty of time to go to the grocery store and get ready for the holiday.

The day started with a the Turkey Trot, which was to be done
on one's own some time over the weekend. It was nice to see
others out on the course, but not very many and easy to be far apart.
The turkey is wearing a mask on this year's shirts.

The meal was delicious but the table was very empty.

After eating we went for a walk and had a backyard visit with one set of relatives and then two online visits with other relatives.

We ended up with three pies because A. made a beautiful apple pie,
I made a chocolate pie, and a neighbor brought over a pumpkin pie.
It is a good thing we like leftovers.

November Leftovers

Work back in the days when the playgrounds were open.

This is only a few miles from our house. I am happy to report that I
have not seen any Confederate flags flying in our neighborhood.

The recipe called for pink peppercorns
so I walked down the street and picked some.

I liked this house number so much
I wrote a postcard to the homeowners.

The Kansas motto is, "Ad Astra per Aspera," which
can be translated as "to the stars through difficulties."
It was the first time I noticed it on the license plate.