Hello January Think...Write...Thursday

                                  Think...Write...Thursday

I am a California native, transplanted to the south-western corner of Missouri. January in MO is best described by DD2 this morning on Facebook....That thing when you go into your house and it's clear then. you go outside a few hours later and it's snowing? Yeah, I'll never get used to that thing!
It is cold out there! 

Hello January....

January is a time for new starts and though I don't really make serious resolutions, I am going to start writing more than just my group memes that I participate in just to keep my blog alive.  I have found a few writing spots that I am going to join this year.  This is one, Carole Knits I found in my bloggy friend Kwizgiver's posts.  I have admired her posts about books and the memes we share, for many years now. And Carole does beautiful photography, so I thought I would try to add this as a regular thing.

I am a care giver for Mr BC so I am home quite a bit. In the last year my time has revolved around him. Last year he was so very ill and has improved so much that this year, that I want to carve out some time for myself as well. 
I also thought.....not a resolution....that I might join the senior group at the YMCA near by.....maybe, even get Mr BC out. New Starts.  

January also brings not only the frigid weather, but is the harbinger of all things income tax.  It forces the inevitable procrastination of getting them done.  I dislike all the proud posts in February....."I had my taxes done and the refund is on the way."  I do my own, because it is no one's business but my own! More about that April 15th.

January is also the month where depression can raise its ugly head, if we have to stay in the house too much.  The one good thing about retirement is you don't have to get up and go to work every day. The one bad thing about retirement is you don't have to get up and get out every day. It is so easy to give into that especially, if the weather is bad.  Remember, I am a California girl, not use to weather.  I am going to get out more this winter. And let the light in when I can.

A Bag of Trouble for the Squirrels

I can't say I am unhappy, that we won't have many walnuts this year. I have six black walnut trees, which provide wonderful shade in the summer and more walnuts than you can count.  This time last year, the ground was covered, with more dropping each week. 

I tried to keep up with the walnut rolling, last year, so I could walk through the yard and play ball with the dogs, without tripping on nuts. I waited and waited for someone to ask again, if they could pick up our walnuts presumably, to sell them  They came the year before, and I gratefully let them pick them up.   When they didn't come back, last year, I saw it as a sign the economy was getting better.

I don't sell them or shell any, as I don't care for black walnuts and I am not sure where to take them. OK, I could google it, but I didn't want to!  So when winter arrived, the squirrels stayed and feasted.  By Spring there was not a walnut to be found, only the black hulls and shells, in piles around the yard. The varmints in the neighborhood. were very fat indeed. I figured if no one wants them, the squirrels will.

This summer, we had a huge bagworm infestation, in our town and surrounding area. 
Indeed every nut tree...in fact most trees of any kind, had the pests. They apparently, won't kill the tree,,,,but they will destroy the leaves and hinder the growth of the nuts. The leaves of the walnut trees won't turn the lovely yellow this year, looking so mellow in the afternoon light of Fall, this year. 

When we returned from our trip, the trees had very few leaves left and I could skip through the yard, if I wanted, without turning an ankle. Maybe, there are an eighth of the walnuts we would expect.  So my squirrels may have to go further afield, to eat this winter.  While I am not unhappy to lose the walnuts and the work involved in clearing them the squirrels will miss them. They will be looking for a different food source.....and I will have to keep them out of my bird feeders, or simply look the other way.

Friday Fragments and Fun

My Atkins Book came this week and I am sorry I did not order it for my Kindle.  The print is so tiny I strain to read it.  I may have to pull out my magnifier glasses.  What I have determined so far is that we have to be careful and count net carbs, which seems to be some vegetables and in various condiments etc.  Also, we have to limit Splenda to 3 packs a day. I won't have to limit real cream for my coffee, but I might have to learn to drink coffee less sweet.

We went on a club ride with Mr BC MGTF Saturday.  Actually we ended up just eating lunch with them at the Antler in Gainesville, Mo.  We missed the meet up as we are still learning our way around Springfield, MO, so we were late.  We had our own leaf-peeping tour finding our way to the restaurant.  I really enjoyed the folks we had lunch with and are looking forward to other events.  The next one is a Christmas party, that should be fun.

Mr BC got the thermostat installed just fine and it worked, but we still had to call for service as the pilot would not stay lit.  Our furnace man was out about 30 minutes after we called and had things warm before we could get too cold.  Gwennie who has a double coat has spent a lot of time outside as this is her type of weather. The rest of us like the warm and toasty house just fine.

Not So Spooky Friday Fragments

http://giphy.com/gifs/halloween-ghost-pDMcEDsHuufE4#/fullscreen

This is the most Halloweenie that I will get this year. Since we  moved back to MO we have not had one trick or treater and I have even had decorations up. So this year we are just going to turn the porch light off and hide out.  This works well as I haven't bought any candy so I won't eat any candy!  Win win.

Mr BC went to the cardiologist and he suggested that he try the New Atkins diet to lose weight and increase his energy and decrease his fatigue, so we will give it a try.  I will go on it too, to give him support.  I will miss you carbs.  We are going to start it the first of the year.  A book is on the way. Until then he will continue on his (lower case) weight watchers points. 

This is get ready for winter day, as we are to have our first freeze tonight. Right now Mr BC is installing a new thermostat for the furnace....no bad words so far, so I am assuming it is going ok so far.  Oh he just asked for aaa batteries,  He thinks programming it will be the most difficult.  After that, we will winterize the RV until we need it to go to CA at Christmas.

I have waited and waited..... too long for my Amazon order, my computer battery....Went to the order, on line, so I could complain....and discovered the problem. One of my addresses with Amazon, is DD1's, in Santa Barbara, this is so I can order things for the boys, mailed directly to them. The last thing I had ordered were Mutant Turtles costumes for the boys. Did you guess what happened?  What a mess. I really need that battery before we visit SB for Christmas. Here is hoping she can remember to mail it to me.

  Some Funny pictures I have been collecting for you pleasure:

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