good riddance, 2020!

So...how many of us are elated 2020 will be done and gone by midnight? I can't imagine many people are disappointed. That said, while 2020 sucked (pandemic; we lost several kitties--Oscar, Tessa and Tigger), there were some good things that happened.

Health

Back Surgery

I finally had my lumbar fusion back in March. I no longer have sciatica, which is great. Recovery went well physically for the most part.  My first surgery was March 3, right when the pandemic was picking up speed, and the second was March 17, which is when schools started shutting down and events were being cancelled. Recovering from back surgery during a pandemic was tough, because I probably would have felt better if I'd been able to get back to a regular routine earlier. With everything being shut down, my life became just trips to the pharmacy and the grocery store, and that was only after I could drive myself. I took a few trips prior, as I was absolutely desperate to get out of the house. 

Mentally, it was...rough. That's probably an understatement. While it really sucked having to be home all the time due to the pandemic, and then moving to remote-only work once I was cleared to start working again, it was much harder coming off the opioid pain medication, which I'd been on for almost a year. At the time I had absolutely no idea that weaning off after so long could cause depression and anxiety--two things I'd never dealt with before. I really, really wish the doctor or the physician's assistants had told me what to expect. But they didn't. (I assume it's because the pain management doctor was managing my pain meds before surgery, and then that was transferred to the back surgeon's team. And don't get me started on the PAs--they sometimes made me feel like a drug addict.) I knew about the possible physical side effects--thankfully I didn't have any--I knew nothing about the mental effects. So, since I had no idea all this emotional turmoil was common, I spent weeks getting worse and worse, thinking I was just a basket case and having no idea what was going on. My poor husband had no idea what to do with me.  (And, honestly, I didn't even know what to do with myself.) I contacted the doctor's office to ask if it was the gabapentin, since that can cause issues. They took me off of it, but I was still a mess. After talking to several people in my life, it became apparent that all of this was the effect of weaning off the pain meds. I contacted the office again and the PA's answer was, "We don't prescribe anti-anxiety meds. Go see your primary doctor or a therapist." By the time I finally got an appointment with the primary doctor, I was just about done with the meds, but she prescribed an anti-depressant, which I don't think helped at all. But once I was off the pain meds, the depression and anxiety just magically went away. Never once did the PAs ever suggest that maybe it was the pain meds and the fact I was weaning off after a year. 

I'm back to working out now. Although I'd gone through physical therapy and started doing some light workouts at home--partly to get back into shape and build my strength, but also to feel a little bit "normal"--I didn't go back to my personal trainer until October, mostly because he needed emergency knee surgery, but also because I wasn't cleared to do all that much yet, which meant I wouldn't really get my money's worth from going to the trainer. 

I'm having some issues with my hips now, so I plan to see the hip doctor. My back surgeon gave me several cortisone shots for bursitis, but they didn't help the second time around. The hip issue makes it hard to sit at my desk for very long.  Since I have a desk job, that makes work difficult sometimes. It's a bit depressing to have fixed one problem and now be dealing with another. But at least my back is fixed, I guess!

Some days.                                                                Other days.

Cancer Scare

A couple months ago I had an abnormal mammogram for the first time in my life--I'm 46 so I admittedly haven't had all that many yet. It was very unexpected and I was beating myself up for being six months late, which was due to COVID and the back surgery recovery. The whole time I told my logical self that it's very likely nothing since breast cancer doesn't run in my family and if it IS something, it's very early and would be completely treatable.  But my emotional self was scared as hell that it would be something. I had another mammogram on that one breast along with an ultrasound and was then told it's very likely nothing, but I had a choice to come back in six months for another mammogram or have an MBI done, which stands for molecular breast imaging. It's like a cross between a mammogram and an MRI, along with an injection of a radio tracer. I went for the MBI for peace of mind, as I know people who either knew or suspected something was wrong an ignored it; were misdiagnosed and it was too late once they got a correct diagnosis; or were just completely blindsided because there were no symptoms. Although it was nerve-wracking, it turned out to be nothing! Now it's just a matter of checking up on it every six months.

Weight

We won't go there.  All I need to say about this is that I had two back surgeries during a pandemic and also had to deal with coming off opioid pain meds. I've got some work to do in the kitchen and out in the gym...

Finances

We were able to sell our old house right before the pandemic hit.  We'd we'd rented it out to various people when we moved six years ago.  That was a huge mistake, but thankfully we no longer have to worry about that house or anything else that goes along with it. The closing was about a week before my back surgery.  Now that we don't have another mortgage to worry about, we've been able to pay off some credit cards, though we still have a long ways to go.

Christmas

How does Christmas manage to come so fast every year? Especially this year. I thought for sure this year would drag by slowly, but it seems to have gone by faster than any other year. To me, at least.

As usual, we went to Old Sturbridge Village for their Christmas by Candlelight program. Given the pandemic, it was different this year. There were attendance restrictions and people were not able to go inside the buildings or get food samples, which is normally my favorite part, especially the mulled cider. Some exhibits were moved outside, while others were done inside, but the windows and/or doors were open so people could look in. Parts of the village that are normally closed for this program were open this year, like the Freeman Farm and the blacksmith shop, where we got to watch them making sleds. They also piped music throughout the village, which was a nice touch. We didn't spend as much time as we normally do since much of the time we spend there is usually inside the buildings, which were mostly off limits, but we still had a good time. We came home with goodies from the gift shop, like village-made tin lanterns and books about old houses, and a local antique store where I got more antique glass Christmas ornaments. Afterwards we went to a late dinner at the Oxhead Tavern.

Some of my "new" ornaments:

At Old Sturbridge Village:

We got two Christmas trees, just like we always do. There's a small tree farm about 20 minutes away and you can cut your own tree. Any tree, no matter how big, is just $30.00. I can get two trees for less than the cost of one from a local pre-cut tree lot (pre-cut trees usually start around $55-$60 and go up from there). One tree is decorated with C9 lights and antique glass ornaments, like the kind I had growing up. I think I now have enough antique ornaments to cover the tree without filling in spots with new ones, though I still put the plastic unbreakable ones on the bottom so the cats don't ruin anything. The other tree has the standard miniature lights and modern ornaments. This year we put that one in the living room and the one with the old fashioned decorations in the den near the fireplace. Given how small the den is we had to find a smaller tree. It fits well and we don't have to maneuver around it.

On Christmas Eve I burned the traditional bayberry candle, which is supposed to bring luck and good fortune to the house in the new year--let's hope 2021 is better than 2020! (The second one will be burned tonight.) Christmas day was a small affair--just me and my husband. It was his first Christmas off in several years, so we decided to stay home. Plus, you know, COVID. We opened gifts, relaxed, watched Christmas shows and movies, and played with the new Atari Flashback I bought for us.  I made a small prime rib, which I'll use the leftovers to make hash, along with mashed potatoes and carrots. It was a good, relaxing day.

I have no plans for tonight other than to make dinner--probably a cheddar BBQ meatloaf--, hang out with my husband and the cats, and maybe play some Atari Flashback. :)

Happy New Year, everyone! PLEASE let 2021 be better!! 

Apparently Bailey has had it with 2020.

my latest tag sale finds

Twice a year the Stratford Cat Project, a cat rescue with which I volunteer and where most of my kitties have come from, holds a huge tag sale.  Proceeds go towards helping pay for medicals costs, supplies, etc.

I typically stop by later in the day to help pack up and transport boxes back to the storage unit. Before doing so, I walk around to see what kinds of things I can buy. Typically I'm looking for cat-related items (surprised??), such as pictures and statues.  The statues I use as garden ornaments and grave markers for kitties that have crossed the Rainbow Bridge. I also like to put the statues on the landings outside my front, side and back doors--people need to know a crazy cat lady lives here. I also look for other decorative items that might be somewhat of an antique, but those are few and far between. I also grab books to put in my spare bedrooms for when people stay over. I don't know if they read them or not, but I'm prepared!

Our last tag sale was in September and these are the items I came home with. I haven't found spots for everything yet, but I'm working on it. The house is in a bit of disarray at the moment between laying down the new flooring, putting up the remaining curtains that I bought months ago, and cleaning up in general.

This one reminds me of my mom's cat, Missy. She was a tuxedo cat and kind of a crabby diva, but we loved her. I'm thinking I might re-frame this one, since I'm not thrilled with the frame itself.

This would probably look nice across from the front door, but I haven't decided yet.

This one is my favorite and it's pretty big, although you can't tell in this picture. But below you can see it in it's chosen spot.  I got the desk at the local antique store for a really good price. It's late 18th century/early 19th century. The primitive bowl on top is from the same store, and I got that for less than $10.00. Got the wooden spoons there, too. (I LOVE wooden spoons!)

our "new" chandelier

I posted last month about our trip to Sturbridge, MA, and some of the items we picked up at a couple antique shops.  I mentioned that one of the items my husband bought was an old candle chandelier that someone had once electrified, and then removed the wiring and used regular candles. His plan was to rewire it and hang it in the dining room. Although we like the light that was in there, it had some loose sockets, which made changing the bulbs a little scary, and it just seemed a little too "new" for the house.

Well, here's the finished product, hanging in the dining room. Even with having to buy the candle sockets, the wiring and the chain link, it still cost much less than buying something like this in the store. I love how it came out! (And I love that my husband is so handy!)

I think I like these bulbs best. It was a choice between these, the clear candelabra bulbs, or the Edison bulbs. I really like these because of the softer glow they give off. The other two give off a ton of light and are a bit harsh. I also thought about the flickering candelabra bulbs, but they don't seem as though they'd be bright enough. Although, back when this house was built they would have had regular candles. I guess if candlelight was bright enough for them to see what they're eating, they should be bright enough for me!

antique store finds: kitchen goods

When I was younger, I went through a phase where I wanted to buy stuff at antique stores. I don't know why, really, since I hated having to clean the stuff; I own cats, which basically destroy everything; and I just didn't really have any meaningful decor theme in my house back then. Then I went through a phase where I wouldn't touch anything in an antique store, which was good because I didn't even up stuff I had to dust or put away because the cats would break it. Now that I own a house that was built in 1735, I'm rediscovering antique stores. 

What's different now? I'm buying things that I actually like and I can use. Awhile back I bought a sifter, a couple serving dishes, some cast irons pans, and some Pyrex and Corning Ware; it's all useful stuff and I actually do use it. (Here are a few of the items.)

Bob and I went to Sturbridge, MA, for our 22nd wedding anniversary this past weekend. We stayed at the Oliver Wight House, which is an historic inn built in 1789 that has 10 rooms. We went to the Mid-Winter Mischief program at Old Sturbridge Village, which was fun. It was an indoor/outdoor immersive experience--kind of like a moving play with some education and food mixed in. We then visited a few antique stores we like, such as Ye Country Mercantile and Sturbridge Antique Shops. We bought a few things for the house that we will actually use! Then it was dinner at Fins and Tales in Southbridge. I had a small Cesar salad (they make their own dressing) and the baked brie. The brie was divine! Very sinful. It was baked in a puff pastry and served with pineapple chutney, sliced apples, a strawberry and crostini. Bob had the grilled tenderloin tips with a couple stuffed shrimp and mashed potatoes (he didn't eat his asparagus!), with vanilla creme brulee for dessert. 

Bob bought a candle chandelier at Ye Country Mercantile (below), which he will electrify and install in the dining room. The light we have now is nice, but the sockets are loose, which makes some of the bulbs go on and off. Plus the antique one will fit right in with the house. (Although, it will be hanging over a dining room table we bought new in the early 2000s, so it will be out of place until we can afford to get something more in keeping with the age of the house. We'll just say our decor will be "eclectic" for awhile...)  

This picture below is from their Facebook page and is the cover of their magazine, American Country Magazine. If you look at the chandelier hanging, that's what Bob bought, although it didn't have the light sockets. When he's done with it, it will look like this. I'm very excited! He also bought two small lanterns that have been electrified, and we'll use those on our bedroom night stands. (I forgot to take a picture.)

I bought some kitchen items:  a big turned wooden bowl and four old wooden spoons (picture below). I have a love for a good wooden spoon, which goes back to using my mom's when I was growing up. I've had some since then, but they were the cheapo ones that were kind of flimsy and may or may not have actually been wood. I do have two that I like, but I really wanted some antique spoons. And yes, I do plan to use them!  The wooden bowl is pretty big and it's turned. Turning is the method used to make the bowl. Basically, it's similar to how a pottery wheel works, but you're using wood and sharp tools.  I don't know how old the bowl is, but it looks to be probably 1800s. I also bought four wooden spoons. Do I need four of them? No. But I liked them and they are of various sizes. Two of them have deeper bowls with either a longer or shorter handle, one had a shallow, wide bowl and the handle has a lip on, which means you can hang it on the rim of your cooking pot, and the fourth one has a shallow bowl with a longer handle. Three of the spoons I bought at Ye Country Mercantile. The bowl and the other spoon came from Sturbridge Antique Shops.  I'm not sure what I'll do with the bowl yet. I think I'll use it as a centerpiece on my dining room table for awhile until I decide I want to use it. 

These candles (below) are from Ye Country Mercantile. The owner, who is a really nice guy, makes these candles himself. They're 16 oz. and about the size of a medium jar candle from Yankee Candle, but they're much stronger. According to the owner, he uses wax that has the strongest scent-throw you can get. Let me tell you, these are SO STRONG! They're so strong that when I burn one, I put it in the other room. I can actually smell it throughout the whole house, upstairs and down. Seriously. They cost $18.00 in the store. If you want to buy them online, he charges $19.00. I truly feel this is a better candle than Yankee for the price. When I first saw them I thought, "Hell no! I'm not spending $18.00 on a candle (that isn't Yankee)!" But OMG it was so worth it! I don't know how to describe the scents I bought. Olde Fashioned Spoon Bread smells like cinnamon buns baking in the oven--this one is VERY strong! Olde Cabin Kitchen is similar, but lighter in scent. O'Tannenbaum basically smells like a fresh-cut Christmas tree. Oh, and he also sells the candle scents in the form of room spray. I have to say, too, that I love the way they have the store laid out. Everything is very neat and you can actually get to the items. I hate when I go into an antique store and stuff is piled everywhere. I like that there are several rooms that are set up like actual rooms (dining, living, bed, etc.) so you can get an idea of how the piece might fit in with your house. That's something I need a lot of help with, as I don't have an eye for that stuff.

This item below I got a few weeks ago at a local shop that just opened up a few months ago, Turnpike Antiques & Vintage.  It's a meat cleaver. It's been in the shop every time I've stopped in, and every time I stop to look at it, pick it up, think about it, then put it back. Finally I decided to buy it. It was only $28.00, so I figured, "Ah, what the hell." I have to take it to be sharpened because, yes, I plan to use it. You can't tell from this picture, but it's quite heavy and it's large. I believe it could easily split a roaster chicken in half in one whack. Bob looked a little scared when he saw me admiring it. Must have been the look in my eye...

At some point I'd like to get a dining room table from either the 1700s or 1800s, but it's going to be awhile before that happens. I eventually would like to get more antique pieces and decorate in the primitive or early colonial style, but it will take awhile (and money!) to find exactly what I'm looking for. I don't want to just run out and buy things without any real thought as to where they will go, how I will use them or how they'll fit into the house in general.

antique shop goodies

Sorry for the big gap is posts, but I was away this week.  I'll post about that this weekend. For now, I'll tell you about some recent finds.

Back when I moved into my first house, I liked to visit antique shops to search for odds and ends to decorate the house. Since we were always broke, that usually meant a lot of inexpensive knick knacks. Over the years most of them broke thanks to the four-legged children of the house. Others I decided to get rid of either because I just didn't want them anymore, or I got tired of cleaning them. Basically, I didn't like them anymore BECAUSE I got tired of cleaning them. I then went through a long period where I didn't want to go to antique stores, didn't want any knick knacks, etc. However, now that I own a very old house, I'm starting to go to antique stores again. I should state, though, that I'm not talking about high-end stores that sell mint-condition upholstered chairs for $2,500.00. I'm talking about stores that sell a large mix of items at reasonable prices. Sure, I'd love to have some original 18th century items, but that's not practical with all the cats I have and I have to think about the finances. So, I buy a couple things here and there that I actually like and will use.

A couple months ago we visited an antique store that was closing the current location and moving one town over. The store was in an old two-story house and every room was jam-packed with stuff. (I don't even want to think about how long it took them to pack all the stuff they didn't sell and move it to the warehouse.)  In the kitchen area there were tons and tons of items. They were stacked on top of each other--sometimes three stacks deep--on the counters, in the upper and lower cabinets, on the table and even on the floor.  Oh,and there was a ton of stuff hanging from the ceiling, too.  It was difficult to really look through it the way I wanted to, but I found a few items that popped out at me and weren't difficult to pull out.

Here are the items I picked up.

Sifter:  This is a Jacob Bromwell 5-cup sifter. Your mom or grandmother may have owned one of these. In fact, the reason I bought it is because my mom had one similar to this and I used to love using it. Easiest way to sift flour ever! Just hold it over the bowl and turn the lever.  No mess, unlike using a sieve, and it doesn't tire your hand out, unlike the ones that have a squeeze handle. To buy this new today (they still make this model!) would be $124.99. If you want to upgrade to stainless steel, add $50.00. I'd say I got a huge bargain at $10.00. The bonus is it comes with a lifetime of use already built in. :) I haven't used it yet, but the holidays are coming!

Serving dishes:  I grabbed these two dishes. The one on the left is a 1.5 quart Pyrex dish and was $15.00. I love that it's divided.  I can picture using this at family dinners and serving two different vegetables from it. One bowl, two veggies.  And who doesn't love the durability of Pyrex? 

The one on the right is a LuRay Pastels platter from 1941, which was $10.00.  Apparently the pastel line was made only from 1938 to 1961.  I love the size of the this dish. Seems like it would be perfect for a dinner for two:  a couple Cornish game hens, a couple steaks, or maybe a small chicken. You could even use it as a large dinner plate. 

Corning Ware baking dish:  I admit I picked this up because I have a set of three shallow Corning Ware baking dishes my mom passed down to me and I want to expand the set. It's very nostalgic to me. Plus, I really like the size.  It's a deeper dish at 2.5 quarts and it came with the lid.