We still keep pretty busy just moving stuff from here to there. Things Norman told me would be easy to do now he complains it is too much work to do so I need to find some other place for the STUFF. Example: I have about ten boxes of STUFF to sell at White City Mercantile but I can only put there what will fit on the four small shelves I rent so I have to find a place to put the ten boxes until there is room on my shelves. When Norman wanted to put in the pull down stairs to make a new attic over the garage he said, “Wait until the stairs are in and you can put all you want up into he attic.” I didn’t like the idea as I knew I could not carry the boxes up and down the stairs so that meant that I would have to ask Norman to put them up and then go get them when it was time to put he things in White City. But he said “That is no trouble. I”ll help you when ever you want, but–” The big but is always there. ” you have to have all the boxes labeled as to what is in them so I know what box to look in, when you want something.” Ouch I knew generally what was in each box but not so I could say go to box such and such and get me this or that. This meant I would have to open each box, unwrap the things in the box and repack each box so that like things were together, such as sets of dishes. I got some of that done by the time the stairs were in and Norman started moving things from the old attic into the new and much bigger attic. He left the empty canning jars in the old attic and moved everything else to the new one. Then he cleaned up this tools and put the big less used tools up in the attic and started fussing about the boxes that were still around the house or in the garage, i.e. White City boxes. I gave him the boxes with sets of dishes in them because there was not room now nor would there be in the near future be room to put them on my shelves. He labeled and put up four boxes then the groans began. There wasn’t enough room in the attic because things for White City had to be near the front so he could get them and I still have too many boxes in the garage. It was too hard to carry the boxes up the stairs and he didn’t want to go get any that were up there. The whole idea was no longer easy but was much too hard. Of course I hit the celling and yelled at him and he wanted to know, “Who ever said that would be easy?” And long ago I learned you can quote Peter to Paul or to Sue or anyone else you want, but never quote Peter to Peter. It will end up in a battle every time so I shut my mouth and just went about my business. We both cooled down and now I still have about 6 boxes hidden around the house and garage for White City and when those are finally empty I’ll get some down from the attic with no trouble to anyone. So goes the days of “Old Farts”. Be aware all you young readers, there is always some fool thing to fight about when two people try to live together and the longer you live together the sillier the things you find to argue about. After 65 years of wedded bliss we have ironed out all the big things and now have to find small things to keep things hopping, and there is always something. Just learn to walk away and rethink it.
Norman goes for his cataract evaluation Oct 8th and we hope an operation on those will allow him to read the eye chart enough to get his Florida license so I need to relearn to drive so we can get around while he is out of commission. I have been practicing around the neighborhood and it is all coming back fast. I used to drive all the time but I gave up driving about 20 years ago. I kept my license just in case and to use as a photo ID but they say once you learn to drive you never forget and I guess they are right. Today I drove out on US 1 for the first time. Being Labor Day there isn’t much traffic so I had no trouble and feel pretty good about driving. I don’t think I will have any trouble as long as we don’t have to go very far or into a new city.
Now back to my knitting. I have several pairs of slipper boots I need to get done for Christmas as well as a few children’s sweaters. Have a great day.
Oumapetts's Blog 
Don’t tell Norman he is getting forgetful!! That can lead to an interesting chat or battle, whatever name fits!!
Oh, do we think alike!! It is funny how life changes and yet remains the same as time goes on. I swear I haven’t changes over this 65 years we have been married but of course I know Norman changes all the time and if that isn’t a self centered idea I don’t know what could be so I guess the verbal battles are an important part of getting older and learning to live with it. Each day I don’t feel a bit older that I did the day before but after enough days have gone by, and they sure go faster now – I am sure I have gotten older also. I just don’t see it in myself – only in him. I guess I need many more mirrors in my house so I am forced to see myself age also. But I still don’t want to admit it!! Why can’t everyone else in this world be as perfect as I am? Right?? I guess that is what keeps us old ladies going so strong, just knowing time can’t take anything away from us, and when we finally admit we are getting old I’m afraid I won’t be of any use to anyone. So for now I will go on in my own selfish way and expect everyone else to take me as I am. Just because I no longer have a farm I am still very interested in your farm so Please do keep telling me what crops are coming in now and what is happening around your farm – I miss that. Love to you both Carol
Carol, I loved your ” Old Farts ” story!!!! I read it to Peter and told him he belongs to that club too. He laughed but I am sure he ” thinks ” otherwise. But I must add, it is pretty clear to me after my 83 yrs. of living with or around the creatures that they are surely from another planet, but we love them in spite of it.
The pictures you have posted show you are getting comfortable. Looking good!!!! Once you are comfortable driving on Rt.1 you can finally stop in and say hello to Tim. He is quite shy and quiet but would be pleased to see you. Still a New Hampshire boy!!!!!!
We just spent a few days in Wells Beach, Me. The ocean always looks and smells great plus the seafood is a treat. Can’t believe it is Fall again and facing another long winter.
Take care and my love to you both, Nancy
I’m glad this struck a cord for you. One of our favorite saying is “An old man knows when an old man dies.” I comes from a poem about the death of an old man and everyone saying what a long full life he had lead and how now he is at peace and all the other trite things people say but it ends with – an old man knows when an old man dies – You have to be of the same age to truly know and understand the situation, my kids just think I am pushy and demand too much of Norman and I am sure some times that is true but to understand the relationship that comes with a life time of living together takes another couple of the same age. I remember when my mother and father were living with us one summer in Peterborough. Mother whined all the time – it was ” Guy would you get me this. or would you get me that.” and always in the whiney voice. Then Dad starting walking down town about 2 miles to have morning coffee with an old school friend of his – a woman- Mother didn’t know why he wanted to do that and I told her maybe if she didn’t whine all the time he would stay around her more. She was shocked and said she didm’t mean to whine and would I tell her when she did it so she could stop. That evening when they sat down to eat their supper, which they always ate alone because they only wanted a very light supper while we had our main meal at night. They were all set but mother had forgotten to get the milk so she whined in her usual whiny voice – “Guy- could you get the milk for me?” I said “you’re doing it again, Mom” She popped up and said “Oh, I didn’t mean to” and jumped up to get the milk her self. I never saw my father turn on her that way before- he verbally attacked her and made her sit down while he got her the milk. I spoke to Dr Arnold about it later and she told me to just mind my own business. They had lived together for about 50 years and had worked out their own way of living that was best for them both and when mother changed and was going to get along without him waiting on her he felt useless. He felt needed as long as she was whining to him so keep out of it. At the time I didn’t truly understand but I took her advice and Dad stopped walking down town when he found other chores around the farm to get his exercise and mother whined on in contentment. Now I understand what Dr Arnold meant. We have our own way of dealing with life and the younger family members think it is weird but they do leave us alone and I am thankful for that and don’t ask their advise. We don’t go and visit anyone. Norman was never much of a social butterfly anyways and now he is even less so. We do go to Patty’s a couple times a month but that is all. My cousin, Mary Lou used to live right here in Port St Lucie and I went to visit her only once in the five years we both lived here – she never came to visit me at all. We write to each other every week and now she is in an assisted living place in Melboure, FL so will probably never see her again but we do still write once a week and that is best for us. Her brother Carl is in a nursing home in Concord, NH and I write to him every week also. He doesn’t write anymore but enjoys the letters so I will continue writing. His wife died a few years ago and after her death his interest in life sort of faded. He wrote for a while be after he broke his hip he stopped writing as often. Do you remember Carl? To make a long story short, I am sure we will never stop in to see Tim, he is busy with his life and has no interest in an old cousin who he hasn’t seen for 40 years or more. Do say Hi to him for me so he knows I am still alive and that is all that is needed.
Do you read the comments on my blogs? Rosemary Rafuse. Penny’s daughter writes often and keeps me posted on her farm life. I have never met her but enjoy writing to her – she is one of the big reason I still try to keep up my blog, without that I would lose touch with her I am sure and I would had to lose her. Take care and keep in touch. Love you Carol
Yes, I know Rosemary and enjoy her notes also. I met her when visiting N.S. Remember her mother well plus all of the gals that were still alive on my first visit. ” The girls ” was the label my mother and yours too, I think, spoke of them as. Mary and Grace were still alive on my first trip and Penny was also on my 2nd visit. Now only Myrtle and, of course, Hiram are still with us. So it is always a pleasure to read what Rosemary reports of N.S. since she is of the next generation now.
Sure I remember Carl. Exchanged a few notes with him before his wife died. Somehow involved his son and on my old computer. Don’t know the details any longer.
So many friends are currently in ” homes ” of some sort or other. We are fortunate to be “out ” and about. Planning to remained ” out ” if possible.
Take care of yourself and good luck with Norman’s eye difficulties.
Nancy
Hi– Norman has his next appointment on Oct 8th to evaluate his cataracts and then will know if he has to have the operation or if it won’t even help. I am doing most of the driving now so we don’t go very far as I still hate to drive. I hope his eyesight is better soon!
And I enjoy reading every word you write! We are still eating beans and peas from our garden along with some new potatoes. We also are putting a half-ton truck load of wood every fine day in our basement. I help to unload but I tell John I can’t pile it straight! I don’t whine yet but it might soon be coming!!
Hi– I do not miss the cold weather at all but I can’t say I like the hot weather we have here either. It is not only in the high 80’s to low 90’s everyday even in the shade but Florida humidity is like nothing you have ever had in the north. Some days your glasses fog up as you step out of your car. Yesterday our grandson Tom and his wife came over to Patty’s house to help Norman and Patty put together a swing set we bought for the twins. It was a birthday present but it just came this week and it came in a dozen boxes and bag and they had to put it together. What a job!! They worked from 9:30 until dark and still did not finish it. Patty started at 6 a.m. getting the pieces together so they could start putting it together when Tom got there. Good thing Norman and I didn’t plan to do it alone, we would be there until Christmas trying to do that alone!!
Hi– I used my last jar of canned potatoes from last year, yesterday. We went to Patty’s house and Norman, Patty, Tom and Roxanne worked all day putting together the new swing set. It is a nice one but oH MY is it a job to put it together. I counted screws and bolts and made the meals. I cooked a chicken in a roasting pan and put the potatoes, green beans and zucchini all into the roasting pan and had a dinner in the one big pan so I could help them do the swing. We were missing one piece and there were to be 6 of those so Patty called the companied and they are send these last 5 plates that keep the swings secure.