Snow, Snow, Snow

Superbowls and snow seem to go together in Detroit! It is beautiful. It has been a beautiful winter--lots of the snow that turns everything into the "winter wonderland" of my youth--heavy, wet, sticking to the branches, making everything match the sky! Not bitter cold--so the stuff piles up. Lots of snow!!!

I love to watch it accumulate. I love to look at it. I enjoy how it sound (muffles everything) and smells (fresh, wintery smell). I like almost everything about it except driving in it--which I have to do today for work.

Who plans a conference for superbowl Sunday? Who plans a conference for February in Michigan? We are going to get major flack on this one I think....thank goodness I had nothing to do with it. I just have to drive to get there---drat!

Would rather sit and knit and watch the snow. It is not my idea of fun to watch the superbowl in a hotel lobby with a bunch of my coworkers and people that I either don't know or don't like. There are a few that might be fun.....but, I am taking my knitting just in case, so I can return to my room and my socks. My boss optimistically thinks this "reception" will be over by 8 p.m. Not likely I am thinking. At least it is a "jeans" event--less to pack and drag through the snow!

Would rather stay here and look at my winter wonderland!

What do you do with all those socks?

I have a friend, K., who just moved into one of those senior "independent living" apartments--which is where she needs to be. Because she has been on my mind since her husband died, I check on her once in awhile. In our phone chat the other day, the subject of my sock knitting came up....And she relayed the info about a mutual acquaintance who knits socks for charity out of yarn from K-mart.

I assured her that I was neither a K-mart shopper, nor a contributor of lovingly hand knit socks to the Salvation Army! I explained that I search for exquisite yarns from Italy, Germany, etc. in fun colors. She asks" What do you do with all those socks?"

K. is not a knitter---if she were she would know that I have lots more yarn than I have socks. I knit 2 pair of socks so far this year. I have three more pair in various states of completion. I cannot possibly knit more than about 30 pairs of socks in a year---and once gardening season starts, my sock production slows down.

The obvious answer, of course, is that I wear them! I wore the pink, burgandy, and tiny orange strips (Xmas yarn from E.) to the office the other day. They were so admired by my assistant, that we had to run out at noon and buy a ball of sock yarn so that she will have an amusement this weekend!

It is only those who do not knit socks who would not realize that sock knitting is cheaper than therapy, and the bonus is that you get some really nice socks too!

You are always on my mind....

It has been two years, almost to the week, that Sammie was overtaken by the cancer. I have never stopped missing her, but as the time went by, I stopped hearing the "tink" of her collar tag, expecting her to meet me at the door, or thinking about calling her to point out some minor spill on the floor for her to clean up.

In the last few days, she seems to be everywhere....First a story (and picture)shows up in E's blog---I had completely forgotten that she would refuse to go outside, no matter how much she was desperate to Pee, if S. did not first put on his jeans. The whitey tightys must have signaled some remote chance that he was not going to let her back in, or worse yet, would embarrass her should they get locked out there in the undies. (In her later years, she had her own key, so I doubt that was at the root of her adversion to undies in public!) She also seemed not to care in the least what I was wearing if I was the one to answer the call...

Then, in dusting (a somewhat rare event in my life) I felt compelled to linger over her little box in our bedroom, where her cremated remains sit. It is hard to hug a box--but when I picked it up to dust it, I could almost feel her Sammie fur, Sammie breath, and unique Sammie smell--fleeting, comforting, and disturbing. I still miss her.

Then, last night, we watched the Tom Sellek made for TV movie about the Police Chief in Paradise--episode 2, the pre-quil. In the movie Jessie puts his dog down due to the dogs renal failure. It was touching--not because of Jessie in the movie sitting with the dead dog, but because it reinforced how hard it is to loose a good friend. Those who have never experienced the unconditional love and wisdom of a great dog will not understand.

When we had Sammie put down, she was more than ready. She laid in the back seat, her head in my lap, all the way to the vets. She was calm and resigned--she knew it was time. Her body had been taken over by the enemy, and the enemy had won. She had fought the good fight, but it was over. I was the one who was not ready.
Just like in the Tom Sellek movie, the injection was almost instantaneous--she was calm, and did not move, just slipped away--I felt like someone was ripping out a piece of my heart.

She was a unique "pound puppy"...Shepard? Definitely some border collie, retriever? "mixed breed, large dog"--who turned out not to be all that tall, although she did have a propensity to be a little "plump" in the later years, and the large was mostly her feet. We "rescued" her from the animal shelter, with an estimated age of 3 months. She had "unique" fur, allergies, fears, and a big heart. She was smart, knew how to work the crowd, loved pizza, hated green vegetables, and was the "center" of our household. She was the constant as four teenagers came and when, she was always there, no matter who needed a friend or companion. She got older with them, then after they moved on, got older with us....Except that dogs get their first.

Some day we may get another dog, but it will never by like the Samster. It will be "our" dog--the dog of "the grandparents". Not the rough and tumble dog who raised four teenagers. Not a dog that belongs to 6 people and all their friends. Not a dog who waits up for kids returning from their kid jobs with "pig" on their boots from the meat packing plant, or hamburgers in a bag from their fast food jobs. There will never be another dog like Samster. This is not to say that another dog may not be just as good a friend, but that the circumstances will be different, so the dog will be different. Just like our houses are not longer their home, it will be "the parents dog", not the "family" dog.

So, if there is a dog heaven, I hope that she is happy. I have adjusted to her loss, have stopped automatically stepping over her favorite spots to rest, and know that I must sweep up the crumbs. I still think of her a lot, and am thankful for all that she taught me... About love, and life, and dying. She was a very good friend, even though she was not completely mine.

Man Socks

Child 2, being male, needed something more "masculine" than paint box or sparty, although I am sure he would have appreciated sparty too. I found this ringel last September, and bought it with my Birthday Discount Coupon from the little yarn shop in a near by town. Loved the yarn--so soft, and with such a nice hand. It was a joy to knit. Because the repeats all so far apart, I had to unroll quite a bit to get them to match at the start (a little obsessive, but I like it that way). That meant that I had to reconnect the yarn at the end as it was too short. Unfortunately, I got the wrong end when I wove them in--so the toes are different. A right and a left, as it were.
Must remember next time to mark the direction of the yarn.....Found some more of this lovely yarn in a green.....Can't wait to start!!

Art teacher socks

The choice for child 1 is profession driven. What better for an "art teacher" than bright crayon colors on a bright red background. Multicolor and fun! A little hard on the eyes because it is so bright, but perfect for the person. These are knit with Patons Kroy Sock yarn in "paint box" (approprite color name for her). The wool is not quite as soft as others--is mixed with nylon--probably why. Those polyamids(whatever they are) feel better, I think. These socks have reinforced toe and heel--this person is "hard" on clothes. They should wear well, however I suspect that she will save them for "special occassions". Hand knit socks (at least mine) are knit to be worn. If they wear out, I can fix them, or knit you a new pair.

Hopefully, they will become favorite socks. I should have given 1 some safety pins for the wash--she is famous for visits from the "sock fairy". We will have to talk about how to have both of these come out of the wash--or go into the same wash for that matter. 1 is right brained--next time I will knit her a "pair" of 4 socks, just because it will better fit her lifestyle!

Spartan Socks

For Christmas I decided to give each of the "children" (except for Florida Boy, as he would seem to have no need for wooly socks) a pair of my "lovingly" hand knit socks. For child 4, I chose MSU Spartan green and white, as she and friends have alumni football tickets--and wooly socks seemed like a great idea for tailgating--and displaying your loyal team colors. (As an aside, I am not sure it is at all about the football, as much as it is about the excuse to party and hang with one's college friends). These were the first "ringel" socks that I did, and I am quite pleased with the outcome. Child 4 was appropriately appreciative of the socks (unlike the appreciation for the aprons I lovingly created with my sewing machine, but that is fodder for another day's blog). The Regia sock yarn is thin, but nice. Was fun to knit. Hope it helps keep her footsies warm, and can't hurt the Spartans to show more spirit!

Working Socks

As you can see, I have spent lots of time snuggled under an afghan, knitting away. I like the yarn. Very soft, with a good "hand". I not sure I am crazy about the orange in combination with the pinks, but then, I am not a fan of orange. The pattern is easy to follow. Originally written in 1902--sort of fun to read about the history as I knit along.
Will be doing a Dutch heel-- will let you know how that goes! Anticipate that it will be turned by new years! One pair of socks into the first week of the new year! Who needs therapy when they have socks to knit! And now, I have more patterns to choose from! Haven't missed work one bit!

Comfort and Joy

The holiday has been fantastic, except for the dreaded virus that is hanging on and on and on. S. (who was also supposed to be off all this time) ended up having to work (long story) and fly to Tennessee, where he seems to have picked up a variation of the virus that I have been battling--so we are great fun here sniffling, coughing, and snoozing! S. is not working this week, but he is too sick to do anything worthwhile.

The gifts were wonderful, dinner good, and enjoyed the visits. Child 1 got me a new sock knitting book, and some yarn--appreciated by both Mr. Cat and myself. Dove right in Xmas day to start the "working socks" on two circular no. 1 needles. Will keep you up to date on our progress. Also got a new hair dryer (based on Child 3's last use of mine) and I must admit that it does dry things PDQ! S. came through with some bling--nice. S. got an I-pod from the kids. Haven't seen him since--he has been trying to figure it out! So far, he seems pleased with his progress.

Stay tuned. Plan fun knitting socks!

Disappointment at the mall

Today, in the holiday spirit, after visiting my specialist for my lingering viral illness--(two more weeks he says)--I met child 1 at the mega-mall. We wandered, lunched, chatted, mingled with the shoppers, and hit all the usual spots--and I saw nothing--ABSOLUTELY NOTHING--that I wanted, needed, or was remotely interested in buying for myself or anyone else.

I don't think it is related to the illness. The stores had lots of stock (except of course the one thing that child 1 was looking for) and there were lots of sales. It was just that I already have it, don't want it, have no need for it, or am not interested in it. Maybe it is the crass commercialism of the holiday--maybe it is that I have lived long enough to acquire anything that I need or really want---maybe I am not the "market" that is a target anymore. Regardless, it was a revelation.

We did an electronics store, then another mall--same result. Poked, looked, read, and browsed. Bought nothing. Desired nothing.

Don't depend on me to bolster your sagging sales oh merchants. You don't have anything that I want--at least not anything that I am willing to give up cash for. Maybe next season???????

Holiday "Cheer"

Auntie L lives in "assisted living"--a very good and necessary thing for her at 95. They had a Christmas Party to which each resident could invite 4 family members. Unfortunately for L. I am pretty much it, so I make the effort for her to be a family of "4". It is a Thursday night at 5:30, and it is pretty obvious to me that the people who run this place (with which I am extremely happy) figured out that fewer "family" will show to gobble up the goodies on a Thursday night, when most people in our geographic region are fighting rush hour traffic!(and are therefore not really available!)

There is a harpist (very nice touch) , so many decorated trees that I lost count, smiling staff in glitzy red, gold and/or silver holiday finery, a high school girls choir, appetizers, punch, a buffet, twinkling lights, yummy cookies, and to finish it all off, a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. The residents seemed to be enjoying all the commotion--as much as elderly residents enjoy anything.

We were seated near the harp--nice, with a "family of four"--another 95 year old lady who is amazing like my departed mother in law (both in look and attitude), her son, son's wife, and grandson who, at about 17, made it obvious that this is the last thing on earth that he wished to do. In assisted living, most people are hard of hearing, so in addition to the harp and the distant singing, there was a lot of conversational shouting. Except for the shouting, the entire event reminded me of the Christmas parties my dad always took me to at his Lodge when I was a kid...at least the punch wasn't bad.

Auntie L enjoyed the ham, and loved the fancy cookies. But the best part of the evening as our visit to Santa... We had to wait in line (just like we did when I was a little girl at the Hudson's downtown, holding her hand) and when it was her turn, she giggled,and really a got a kick out of Santa asking if she had been a good girl! She and Santa posed for a picture (again back to my youth at Hudson's) and we left with her candy cane, reindeer cup, and a tiny teddy bear---with me holding my Polaroid. It was a poignant reminder of the cycle of life. I will go again next year if I have the opportunity--because she enjoyed it, and there is so little joy left when you are 95!

I left the picture of L. and Santa next the picture of L. and Uncle M.on a cruise. Maybe my offering to him that I am taking good care of her... maybe because the picture did not capture the depth of the moment. I prefer to keep my mental picture of the giggles and joy---it doesn't really show in the picture, or much in the person anymore, but it is the Auntie L. that I remember from my youth.

Auntie L of the slippery pants!

I inherited my Aunt L. As the story goes, my grandmother had a difficult pregnancy with the youngest of the sisters...and my mother, who was 5 at the time, and the responsible type, was assigned the task of "taking care of L." by her father. This pattern continued for the rest of their lives. Even when my Aunt L. Married Uncle M. who "took care of her" to the tenth degree, my mother was always there--still taking care of whatever what left over. When Uncle M. died, there was a rapid return to the 5 year old T. and the 2 1/2 year old L. pattern that lasted until T could no longer take care of herself, let alone L.

So, that is how I inherited L. She is a sweetie, but don't cross her. She is also related to my mother and her sisters, who all had a "stubborn streak". L. is a wheel chair user--but she still makes up her mind about something, and just won't let it go.....which brings us to the slippery pants.

Polyester double knit is the fabric of choice--it is durable, stretchable, somewhat warm, easy to care for, and can be obtained in elastic waist pull up versions (easier) with pockets (essential), in petite sizes. L. has a bunch of them.

L. also has a wheelchair upholstered with a durable, cleanable, and somewhat slippery fabric. She had a "grippy" mat in the seat, but like so many things, I have no idea where she has placed that. Without the mat, she slides right out if she leans forward--like to fiddle with the Christmas tree lights. The tree is on a timer, and I had specifically asked her what time it should go off, but apparently she did not really mean what she said. The times and place of the slipping out tells me that she was trying to unplug or plug in the tree.

I kept getting the calls about L. falling out of her chair. I want to suggest seat belts to the staff...she won't give up the slippery pants! (or the futzing with the tree lights) I do ask them to tell her she cannot continue to fall out of the chair--or she will have to go to the dreaded nursing home again if she hurts herself---mean, but gets her attention.

When I dropped by yesterday, obviously the staff was tired of picking her up and having to call me, and she was plopped atop the fluffy bath mat (which they insisted that she have for safety, but she refuses to use as a bathmat), with its grippy side gripping the chair---probably more comfy anyway!

They haven't called today.

"Central Office"

Had to get salt for the water softener today...and regardless of ones personal or political stand, Wal Mart is the cheapest place to buy it. I am all about cheap, so if you have some big philosophical opinion about the ruination of the country by the Wal-mart folks, keep it to yourself....I am trying to fund my retirement, so need to keep all the pennies I can.

The salt comes in heavy 40 lb. bags. They used to be stacked up by the exit door, and the nice little man would heft them into my cart, leaving only a short distance to move the incredibly heavy cart to my car.

Some genius (according to the check out girl who did not look terribly taken advantage of by the evil empire) came into the store from corporate, and deemed that the water softener salt should be as far away as possible from the exit. This proves to me that 1) this person is a guy, probably young and 2) this person has city water.

In the good old days, when the salt was by the door, I would gleefully wander the Wal-mart filling my cart with abandon. I had lots of room for essentials and impulse purchases! After I checked out, the little man would stack them on the top of the cart, making it somewhat easier to shift them into my car.

Today, I had to put the things in to the cart--trying not to do serious harm to my back or create a hernia. Once the four bags were in the cart, there was no room for anything else, severely limiting the amount that I could spend on this trip to the wonderful world of Wal-mart. I had to push the very heavy cart all the way through the store--not a pleasant experience for a "mature" female. Then I still had several football fields to go to get to the car...where I had to actually lift the blinkin bags, instead of slide then into my SUV hatch.

So, corporate genius boy...I will hence forth be buying the softener salt at the next door home improvement store. It may cost a few cents more, but it is near the door! So, you young, male, city water drinking idiot, you have reduced the revenue, not increased it by your goofy marketing degree logic. Ask your mother... She will tell you that in your Wal-mart you do not want to clutter my cart up with large and heavy essentials if you wish to entice me to shop till I drop. If I was looking for a work out, I would go to the Y!

The $200.00 Turkey

We have recovered from the tryptophan comma following the Thanksgiving feast..which featured the $200.00 Turkey.

S. was off for the entire week preceding the holiday. I left a list, as I was not only working, but was on another road trip. He was supposed to get the turkey (his idea) while I was gone.

S. waited until Tuesday afternoon to get around to it. He called me as I was on my way home, relieved to be done until next week, and thinking about all of the little details involved in entertaining house guests and the holiday extravaganza as well as other meals for the crowd..... He had no turkey!! The store was out of fresh turkeys! (if you are female, have ever bought holiday turkeys, you are saying "duh!)

I did not mention that on the preceding Sunday, I had suggested that we throw the turkey in to cart...Exasperated, I stop at the warehouse club on my way, and low and behold they have many boxes of fresh turkeys in the town where he wasn't!...so once I obtain the birds (kid 2 also needed one for their T-giving 2)...I shopped....and with postage for the holiday cards, the two turkeys (along with the other stuff in my cart) came to $200.00.

I could have taken all 10 of us out to dinner, kept the house clean, and not been exhausted for that amount.....but I do have stamps!

trying it out

Holidays are a time of family fun. Part of our family fun was for kid 1 to teach me how to add pictures to my daily rantings!

So , this is a test, this is only a test. In real uploading, there will be more interesting subjects....like lots of socks!

Sheen

Much effort over the last two weekends has gone into the "revitalizing" of the hardwood floor in the kitchen. We bought the house three years ago, and this is the first time I have lavished tender loving care on the kitchen floor. Until now it has been vacuumed, swept, spot wiped, and only seriously washed once. Its luster was gone!

Thanks to a bargain clearance item, I was equipped with the "floor revitalization" system--cleaners, wipes, mop, mopheads, "revitalization"--took awhile, but it is beautiful!! Reflects the sunlight, "glows" in the moonlight, looks rich, and "hardwoody". Truly fitting for stately Wayne Manor!

Now everyone is out to sandpaper my sheen....The cat with his litter tracking, the S. with his garage tracking, the Z. with all kinds of outdoor tracking, little bugs that have grit on their little feet---a vast conspiracy by all who did not slave to achieve the sheen!

I sweep twice a day--where does all this gritty stuff come from? How long can I hold the line on the particles determined to wear away the shine? How long will I care?

Think I know why three years went by without caring much about the floor--it is high maintenance---and even harder to be motivated to care enough to drag out the vacuum cleaner every hour on the hour!

It will be nice while it lasts!

Shopping in a new venue

So, work takes me on the road again, but this time to at least a "civilized" place--they have a mall and bookstores! I find some time to wander the mall--big sale on some sleeveless turtle necks--never mind that this is an oxymoron, and a few years ago I would have said who in the world would want a sleeveless TURTLENECK? Now I know it is middle aged women dealing with temperature control. It is blowing and snowing and very chilly, and I am out looking for sleeveless turtlenecks! Fortunately, I now have a new assortment of colors to take me through the temperature extremes.

The next day was the bookstore. They are soothing--nice music. Pretty good public bathrooms--handy when on the road. Found a book I was looking for, and a sock knitting book I was not--got sucked in! Of course had to immediately run to my hotel to begin to knit toe up socks. Much fun. No pattern, just theory. Ratios, proportions, interesting increasing and decreasing to make a toe in space, then build a sock around it.....Now you may ask how could this be? Wander into a bookstore, and have yarn and needles in your hotel--but I have become good at this travel thing...Bring only the essentials, which includes knitting bag with more essentials!!! So I now have two tiny little red/grey toe up socks. A good time was had by all.

More of the travel next week. Not as much fun as everyone might think--but I will have new knitting to keep me amused!

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood

Wow! 70 degrees on Nov. 11. Fabulous. Planted the 30 bulbs--the last. Cleaned up some flower beds. Haven't been this nice at this time of year since we moved here. Have Day lilies and Roses still blooming! Think that may come to a screeching halt this week. Usually we have snow now.

Finished another pair of socks. Have also been working on a Christmas stocking. Also some purple socks in super socks color yarn. Don't like the yarn. The color is good, but the "hand" is scratchy. Also already pills. Must remember that I don't like this yarn!

The last pair of socks was so nice to knit. Swedish yarn. Knew my ancestors were worth something.

Must go put some more finish on the floor. After three years, finally decided to so something with the kitchen hardwood floor. Is looking better, but was lots of work. Now my body aches==bulbs and floor finishing in one day--too much for the old bod, apparently.

And the finish line keeps moving...

I returned to my office cube today, after much time "in the field"--which has nothing to do with empty lots--but lots to do with being in the "real world". The stuff was piled 2 1/2 feet high in my chair--phone message light was frantically blinking, and the email folder was brimming.....No finish line in sight here.....

Did finally get the last of all those daffodil bulbs planted last weekend. The bag said 100---I swear they multiplied in there when I walked away. Know I planted many more than 100! Can't wait to see what survives the critters--who have been known to dig up and munch them! Of course, on three acres, another 100 + daffodils will hardly be noticeable.

Not that I am at the finish line yet---as succumbed to another "impulse purchase"--of 30 bulbs ---yet to be planted. If I work fast, I might get them in before the ground freezes solid! They are great---actually repel the deer. Oh, how my gardening has changed! Now it is not about color, height, smell, or my likes. It is only about finishing with things the deer detest and will leave alone!

Will let you know if I ever catch sight of the finish line--either in my garden or at work!

Mothering and tulip bulbs

So "child" 1 had some "minor" surgery on an outpatient basis (what they call almost everything these days, short of replacing all of the patients internal organs). She had to have a "responsible" companion accompany her, so I got the job. It was sort of boring sitting around the Hospital ALL DAY, but I did manage to read a whole book, knit some of a pair of socks, watch Martha Stewart make a pizza, and visit the hospital cafeteria. After several hours of waiting (stay in this room so the surgeon can talk to you were the orders), a cute young (to me) surgeon dutifully reported on her condition, then indicated that I should wait some more until she was in the appropriate stage of recovery for me to join her (vague translation--until the medical profession is done collecting money from her insurance company, and they are going to return the "in the old days would be hospitalized for days" relative to you to take home and deal with as best you can.)

Fortunately, I had four kids and two parents, and between them and their escapades, and illnesses, I got good at the blood and yetch handling. It probably also helped that I was once in a former life, and admitting clerk for an urgent care, where people would routinely bring me the body part that was detached by the hedge trimmers, and offer it up, (like the admitting clerk was prepared to do anything about it!)

So we take the woozy, bleeding patient home, and give "home nursing" our best shot. Since 1 is an adult, you can only do so much. I suggested it was time to take her antibiotic, but she insisted that she had already taken it. Choose your battles--push the pain meds....Makes them sleep more and are easier to care for. So I made sure that she did not bleed out, kept breathing, and was relatively comfortable. That leaves a lot of time to knit--cute pair of socks from Swiss yarn is almost done.

Yesterday was 70 degrees--amazing for our climate--so during a nap for 1, I tidied 1's gardens (not hard, they are smaller than my kitchen table) and planted 30 purple tulip bulbs in her newly created beds near the sidewalk. Such fun to 1) be enjoying the warm sunshine in November and 2) have some decent dirt. 1, who is still to young to appreciate the dirt in ones yard, is oblivious to my enjoyment of the process. In May, she will be thrilled with the purple display at the end of the sidewalk. Happy Birthday! (got the bulbs on end of season clearance sale--very nice collection that might just be a little up market for her neighborhood, but will look stunning I hope).

Since we were both bored, we dragged the convalescent to my house--more space, bigger screens to watch, and stashed yarn!! Things are looking up for the surged upon, and more days will make things still better. It is still not fun, even if you can convalesce in your own home--or your mothers! At least her flower beds look nice.

Is your refrigerator running?

When we moved in, the refrigerator that was in the house had 1) not been cleaned when the prior owner moved out 2) been turned off from September to January and 3) was, as a result, unusable.

The husband declared with glee that we should buy all new appliances, which was where I was going anyway. He had the hots for a Ice/water dispenser in the door (which my genetic link to my father told me was a useless gadget that would just be something else to break--except in my case, I substituted "clean" for "break"). He carefully researched, compared, shopped, and selected his fridge--my only stipulation was that it be white (I have done the other than white appliance game, and refuse to pay again).

When the enormous fridge was delivered, it would not fit into the space.(I could point out that I did ask if he had measured the space prior to the purchase, and he assured me that they were "standard", but that would be one of those things that annoys husbands). The fridge was parked near the opening, and more power tools were purchased to take down the edge of the cabinet. Lots of muttering, whirring, and expletives later, and with great effort, the frige was jammed into the space.

When it runs, which is often, everything vibrates--the floor, the cabinets, everything in the cabinets, and I suspect everything in the walls connected to the cabinets. People often ask (in a frightened manner)--WHAT IS THAT?!?--It is just the refrigerator running (or rather the "symphony" of my kitchen). It sounds like an earthquake is beginning and we are at ground zero! You get used to it after awhile--just like people who live at the end of an airport runway or next to the railroad tracks do!

In defense of the husband, the floor is too high, which we did not discover until quite some time after moving in. He has removed the floor to make the stove and the dishwasher "fit". Turn out that appliances are "standard" (sort of), but our kitchen is not.

I am not excited about the floor removal under the fridge....So live with the noise--and know that the next time, I will measure the openings before he selects a model! Once they push the fridge into that opening, they are not going to take it out to further reduce the cabinet--no matter how awful it sounds!