12.12.2025

 One of the aides at Wesley painted my mom's nails to be in the Christmas spirit!

Jim is starting a couple projects in the control room.  He first wants to put another light fixture at the bottom of the stairwell.  This will be an "always on" light for safety.   

But of course, to do that requires breaking into the drywall.  Finishing the drywall in the room is the next project, so he first moved his desk and other items away from the wall.  Then he started unscrewing...

This drywall goes all the way up and tucks underneath the drywall underneath the stairs, so now that the room is complete, there's no room to remove it...

He cut the drywall near the bottom so he could remove the upper piece...

Of course, breaking into the wall requires dealing with the insulation again...

This is about as far as Jim can go right now.  He needs to get the right boxes to move forward, but at least the project is started!

High 31.5/Low 13

12.11.2025

Happily ever after for sure - after 36 years of marriage, it's easy to say that I'm happier and more grateful than ever to spend this life with Jim.  It's been an amazing journey and I'm anxious to see what's next for us.  As long as we are together, we have it all.  I love you, dear!

Jim plowed the driveway this morning so that I could get out to go see Mom...

We ended up with about 10" from this snowfall...

In the evening, Jim and I went to The Local and celebrated our anniversary.  It was a perfect day.

High 31.8/Low 16.1

12.10.2025

Jim had to spend time today reorganizing his shop.  We had to move things out of the stairwell for the range delivery, and it all ended up in the shop.  Jim moved the old range out into the stairwell - it's out of his way and not in the way of anything else.  Hopefully it will sell soon.  

As forecast, it was an all-day snow event.  As I write this after 4:00, we have about 8" and it's still snowing.  I stayed home today so I didn't have to risk anything.  Later in the afternoon, Jim went out and hooked up the snowblower to the Bobcat.  He was just going to try it out and make sure all was okay, but ended up doing the top section.  He'll do the rest tomorrow.

High 28.9/Low 19.1 - 8+" of snow

12.9.2025

Yesterday, Jim went over the driveway again in anticipation of our stove delivery.  Then he had to hand shovel the snow off the patio.  It was all frozen, so it was a chore...

While Jim was working, after visiting Mom, I had lunch with the daughter of one of the residents from the facility where my mom is.  Her mom passed away about a month ago.  It was nice to sit and chat with her.

This morning, Jim moved the old stove out and started getting ready.  We had to move things out of the stairwell and in the hall to make sure the drivers had a clear path.  Of course, this is one of our coldest days (-3 this morning!) and we got a really big afternoon window for delivery, including up until 5:30 which would be pitch dark.  Plus, the driveway is a big challenge in the winter for big trucks.  Jim put the bucket on the Bobcat and got it out and ready, just in case we had to go to Plan B.  So we were pretty anxious all afternoon, swearing to each other that we would not ever order anything to be delivered in the winter if we could help it!

We finally got the call that they were close, so Jim went out to meet them.  The driver went quite fast and made it up the hill with no problem.  Unfortunately, while both of the delivery people were very nice, neither spoke English well, so communicating was an issue.  So from this point on, things were more challenging.

He backed into the turnaround but then came up the upper driveway at a slow pace, so he got stuck at this point...

So he backed down into the turnaround again and went down to the bottom of the hill.  Jim knew he would never make it up all the way, and he didn't.  So they stopped here...

One guy started unpacking the stove in the truck...

Then all three of them pushed it up the hill!

It's very pretty sitting out in the snow...

They moved the old stove down the stairs and into the shop...

Bringing the new one inside...

At this point, we took a big sigh of relief.  The stove was upstairs, the delivery guys were gone, we could handle it from this point!

Jim started attaching the cord - he liked the one he had bought for our old stove, so he took that one off and we'll give the new one to a hopeful buyer.

Taking off the old anti-tip device from the floor...

Putting the new one on (of course it had to go in a different position, so he had to drill new holes in the floor)...

Pushing it into place...

Leveling...

Look how gorgeous it is!  It has an induction cooktop, so there's going to be a learning curve.  I've still got racks to unwrap and things to set up, but I love it!

Jim got the Bobcat and tools all put away and we are calling it a night!

12.8 - High 24.4/Low 7.1
12.9 - High 20.8/Low -3.4

12.7.2025

Jim continued to do some clearing out and getting items ready to be listed on Craigslist or eBay.  Yesterday, we headed to my mom's and then to church.

Today it was more of the same, and then in the afternoon, Jim went out to do a little driveway work.  Our new range is supposed to come on Tuesday now, so he's hoping their truck will be able to make it up...

Doing around the stairwell doors...

 He just got done when the snow flurries started flying.  He headed out at the end of the day to meet someone for a Craigslist sale.

12.6 - High 35.9/Low 14.1
12.7 - High 31.9/Low 27.1

12.5.2025

We had our coldest day of the year so far - it got to -3° overnight.  Too early in the season for that!  Jim has spent the last couple of days working on the computer and doing more organizing in the shops.

This morning was Jim's follow-up with his surgeon after his prostatectomy.  The doctor was very happy with his PSA results and healing.  He has an appointment for another PSA test and exam in six months.  We continue to be so very grateful!

Jim met his insurance agent for lunch today at a restaurant in Saratoga.  They try to do that at least yearly, which is nice.

With the cold temperatures, we had some condensation around the bathroom fan, so once he was home, he dug into that.  We cleaned it out, but Jim still wants to do some more investigation.

12.3 - High 30/Low 20.5
12.4 - High 31.8/Low 6.1
12.5 - High 20.4/Low -3.2

12.2.2025

 

Truer words never spoken - we got the results of Jim's PSA blood test today and it showed his levels were undetectable with an even lower ultra sensitive reading than the test last month.  We are beyond grateful.  

True to the forecast, we had snow all day.  This was after lunch...

Jim went out about 3:00 - he had to get the door put on the Bobcat and get it filled up with diesel before starting to plow...

Working down the driveway...

The street view.  As of now, we probably have about 6", but it's still snowing...

Jim said the snow is incredibly slippery; it was that real fine snow.  He did unintentional donuts going down the driveway - scary!  Coming back in the dark after finishing...

High 27.1/Low 22.1 - 6" of snow

12.1.2025

We keep turning the calendar pages too quickly, it seems!  But the house has touches of Christmas and a winter storm warning is out for tomorrow with a projected 7-10" of snow, so I guess it's December!

Our new range was supposed to be delivered tomorrow, so I canceled that.  Unfortunately, they only deliver to this area once a week, so we're on the calendar for next Tuesday.  Hopefully it won't be bad then too!

Jim has an appointment with his surgeon this week, and had to have another PSA blood test done beforehand.  So he went to Saratoga Hospital and had that done after lunch.  

Before the snow flies, we went out and checked the septic system again.  The filter is still getting clogged, which we can't understand, so we'll have to be diligent about checking it when the weather allows.  

High 34.9/Low 26.4