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Andersen Replacement Windows

Baby it's cold outside

I just got whistled at. By my DINING ROOM door. It's one of those winter mornings that makes you thankful for the new fleecy robe, the wool-lined slippers and a cup of hot coffee. The wind roared around the house last night, but oddly now from my bedroom, it sounds more like I am sitting on the inside of an airplane, and the wind is definitely OUT THERE. The replacement windows are sealed up nicely. However, noises downstairs during a windy winter storm can be likened to those heard on an old wooden sailing ship. All creaks and groans. Banging and whistling.

There is frost on the inside of the outside windows. At least on the ones that are really leaking warm air. Frost is fascinating and beautiful. And a sign of heat loss.

This week, I bid my old sailing ship windows adieu. Winter will be a quieter, warmer affair around here shortly.

Walking in a winter wonderland

I had this notion, on the first day of 2010 to get outside and away from the home, the teen boys, (who are apparently trying to win some record of consecutive hours of video gaming)and walk my worries away. Macy and I were headed to the National Forest up in Hector! It gives me joy to give HER joy, and there's nothing she likes better than a romp outdoors. But alas, my fuel tank warning light was on when we got to the car, so we were off to the pump! A minor and necessary detour. And while we were already at the store for gas, might as well pick up the 2 things I needed. The 2 things turned into a basket full and could have turned into a cart, but NO! I need to put my mental and physical health first, so I was determined to just get in and out of the store, and on my way to the snowy woods. Luckily I didn't meet anyone.

On my way to the Forest, deep in thought, I forgot the turn, and ended up driving past my house and figured I'd just drive for a while. It felt very nice to be alone in the car with Macy, listening to my favorite music and not having to be really anywhere...

I went the long way back towards the Forest, and ended up heading past my in-law's. Something made me stop. I figured it would be nice to pop in and wish them a Happy New Year. Now I was driving on secondary or even lesser roads and they were not great. It's been snowing all day- the fine, powdery snow that acts like grease under the wheels. I discovered no one was home. Parked the car. Sat and thought about the road conditions...

Macy and I wandered into my father-in-law's woods on his 90+ acres. My dog was delighted as she sniffed out mice nests under the snow, and zoomed back and forth all around me. I took out my camera and started taking pics. We took our time, went off trails, wandered in and out of the trees, listened to the silent sound that snow makes as it comes straight down in complete stillness. I wish I had the time for a walk of that sort every day. But real life will resume shortly, and that kind of walk will become very rare indeed. I hope this is a harbinger of a year filled with precious and rare experiences.

Season's Greetings.

It's that week between Christmas and New Year's Day when many people travel or ski or visit relatives. Not so for me this year. Christmas is over. The fridge needs cleaning out. The last bit of Turkey soup must go out to the compost pile and the recycling to the recycling center. I am regretting all the cookies, beer and cheese that tasted so good during high times of stress. Robin is back in Tokyo and I have a lot of work I should be doing. I had big plans for a productive day today, but instead have been wasting my time, puttering around the house, watching Daily Show clips and thinking a lot about this next year. Looking forward to it and anxious about it at the same time. That's why time I put in this week will go a long way to reduce my anxiety.

Our new windows are installed upstairs and what a difference they make. The insulation in the attic along with the windows make for cozy bedrooms now. All the heat from downstairs whooshes up and is captured up there. Downstairs away from the coal stove? Chilly! Starting in January, our downstairs windows will be replaced and I sincerely hope we will see a decrease in our oil consumption and an increase in comfort.

We had an unfortunate set back with our new roof the week before Christmas. Buckets of water were pouring through Chris' bedroom ceiling. Apparently there wasn't enough adequate flashing around the chimney where it meets the roof and boy, did it get in during the 3 days of rain we had! I happened to hear the drip, drip, dripping one evening while heading to bed and by that time, his rug was soaked. A few more inches in one direction and his mattress would have been toast! (soggy toast) Since then the chimney has been uber-flashed, as have portions of the back roof over Nathan's room. I am happy it's too cold to rain, for the next time we get a really good soaking, it will be a moment of truth around here. Only a little bit stressful. Chris' room has a tiny bit of lingering funk that I notice when I leave the door closed. Guess I'll leave it open for now.

In spite of the minor blips (water damage, a minor car accident, and some sinus infections) we experienced leading up to the holidays, we had a lovely Christmas. It is great when we can all get together and enjoy each others' company. How many more years will we all be together? It is good to be thankful for the present.

Favorites of the season:
Favorite Gift: Matt's gift to Nathan: a 72-serving sized can of baked beans. Meant to remind him of the time in Tokyo he ate "Too many beans" and couldn't stand up straight.

Favorite Moments: listening to my boys laughing, joking and goofing around, and their delight in one another after being apart.

Playing "Scrabble" with a box if lettered petit fours on Christmas night.

Watching my husband play tuba and hearing him sing on Christmas Eve. What an astonishingly talented man he is.

Slurping really delicious Japanese miso soup with udon noodles on Christmas night with my boys.

I wish you the joy of simple pleasures in 2010.

Giving Thanks

Last year


This year

I just realized that this year will be the first Thanksgiving at home in the US in 2 years. One year ago, Robin and I were hiking with friends on a very foggy Mount Takao outside of Tokyo, and then going to dinner at the beautiful Ukai-Toriyama, which is tucked into the valley beneath the mountain. Dinner 2 years ago was in Tokyo in our new home there, with just the 4 of us. Thanksgiving dinner had never tasted better. That was the year I spent 50 dollars on the turkey! Yikes.

This year as I prepare for dinner, I hear drilling, grinding and banging on my roof. Huge pieces are being thrown down from above, falling past my windows and landing with loud bangs that startle me over and over. Every time a big piece falls, I think it's some BODY falling off my roof and landing in my yard with a plop. The yard is a mess, the porch in the back is covered with debris. I have 12 people coming for dinner tomorrow, and things are really not pretty here. I will just pretend it's a kind of still-life art exhibit made of trash, twisted metal and rotten wood, and try to ignore it all.

On the plus side, ALL my boys will be home and we will all be together for the first time since July. We are all busy doing what we should be doing. Working, going to school, following our passions. We are healthy, have the best friends on the entire planet, (all over the planet!) and loving families. There is much to be thankful for.

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