Around OakMeadows

Sunrise

Yesterday we met with our Fidelity representative to go over our retirement and investments accounts. I wanted to see what our Minimum Required Distribution will be for the coming year. I was really surprised that JMM was agreeable to becoming much more conservative with his funds. I have always been slightly more conservative than him. I think he is looking at this long bull market and thinking that “all good things must come to an end” and moving toward less market exposure. The really great thing was a graph the representative showed us that if we live to 94 and 96, with our current rate of withdrawals and even assuming an underperforming market, we will not outlive our money.  (I know, Man plans, God laughs.) Anyway, it was rather reassuring. 

Cooler weather has finally arrived! Lows in mid 50s, highs in mid 60s. It is overcast and cool. Perfect. 

I am so pleased with the way my quilt top is coming along. I have all 36 blocks finished and pressed. Now I need to trim them and then I can begin stitching them together.  I joined a Facebook group of ScrapQuilters.  I have gotten so many good ideas. Actually, I have pulled out the fabric for the quilt after this one.  I think I need to have JMM take my sewing machine in for cleaning and servicing before I start on another top. 

Now for the awful news. One of my long time blog world friends was treated for pancreatic cancer with surgery and chemotherapy.  For the last 6 months we have thought that she had beaten it. But the last tests show an elevation of tumor markers and metastasis to the lungs. I am so very sorry because I have known her and her blog for at least 12 years. She is a really special person. I am still missing Marianne Schiefer from Hattie’s Web. 

Damn, just damn

http://www.timegoesby.net/weblog/2018/10/into-the-great-unknown.html

Around OakMeadows

Angie, mighty sock killer. 

I’ve been thinking about my animal companions.  I started this year with 4 cats and 1 dog. We had to put 2 of the cats down. They were old and sick and would never be well again so I have no qualms about having them euthanized. The two remaining cats are 4 years old so I will probably have them for another 10 years. The dog is 6 years old and will probably live another six years. Since I am 70 now, I will be 76 when the dog dies and 80 when the cats go. We are in the fortunate position that feeding and veterinary care for them poses no financial hardship for us. I love animals and they are a source of great enjoyment to me. So I hope I will always have the their companionship. The question, of course, is whether to replace them as they die. I am leaning currently against more animals as I am finding 2 cats much easier to care for than 4 and with my neuromuscular condition, if I didn’t have JMM to help with the dog, I couldn’t take care of her at all. I do understand the pull of getting a new kitten or puppy but this is like other things in life, there is a time in life for somethings and not for others.  These are just my thoughts right now and I know how quickly I melt when faced with an abandoned kitten. 

Around OakMeadows

Beautiful clouds at sunrise. 

No mosquitoes this morning! I really take mosquitoes seriously since Bonnie had West Nile virus and spent two weeks in intensive care.  She has recovered but it was nearly fatal. 

JMM and I got the Slow Cooker going with Chicken with White Beans and Sausage this morning. It is one of my favorite Slow Cooker recipes. All I have left to do on it is add the cannellini Beans and Spinach about an hour before dinner. So good. And leftovers for several meals. The house smells wonderful. 

JMM is going to the Woodlands BBQ Festival. He is leaving here about 10:15. Chris runs two of these a year. 

A month from now we will know the results of the Midterm Elections. On one hand, I will be so glad to know which way the US is going, but on the other hand, I am worried that the ultraright is too firmly entrenched. I hope Beto and Sri can pull off a miracle and win. We shall see. 

I have my fabric ready to cut for the center strips for my new quilt which I am calling One Way. I bought some new fabric to bind the worn out edges of the Sampler quilt that TSMR has. I hope I can pay Karen Shively to do the binding. 

We did our quarterly financials and our retirement accounts are doing just great. I went against my own rule and put the new Heating and Air Conditioning on an interest free loan. I have the money in savings to pay it off but I have several big bills that come due before the end of the year—Property Taxes, Homeowners Insurance, and the HOA fees. So I will wait until after the first of the year and pay it off then.