Under a Watch and a Nearby Warning

It's one of those "conditions are right" days for possible tornadoes. So far I have heard the warning siren twice. The last time it was on only a couple of seconds. I think that is the current "nearby warning." The warning is for the northern part of our county. So far we have hardly had any rain out of this weather system. We are in a tornado watch, which means conditions are right for a tornado, until 10pm. I have had a rather quiet day. I woke up with allergy symptoms...they have gotten better during the day, but I have never felt very energetic today. I've taken it easy. Thunder is approaching us, again. So far the storms have gone south and north of us. I emptied the rain gauge this afternoon so I could tell how much rain we get diring this passing system...so far not enough to measure. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Catching Up After a Busy Sunday!

Yesterday was a big day in our family...lots going on...so much that it was late when it all came to an end so I didn't post a Sunday favorite. First yesterday we celebrated Esther's graduation from high school at their church. I went to Sunday School and church with them in Shelbyville. We made a decision after church to celebrate Nathan's birthday at my house yesterday evening. So Nathan, Kathy, Graham, Joy, Esther, Elijah, Isaac, Joseph, Abigail and Payton and I all gathered over here for presents and cake and visiting. We had a good time. The pictures of Nathan show him blowing out "his candle" and with what may have been his favorite gift of the night...moustache wax! He has a goal in growing this moustache...Vacation Bible School, which is a western theme this year. I guess he plans to be a desparado...or desparate...if his moustache doesn't take on a more rapid growth...hard to get the sides/ends to curl up...yet! Will keep you updated on the progress of his moustache! Today is his actual birthday. I am feeling much better today than I did 53 years ago! I was very sick with a bad kidney infection when he was born in the middle of the night. I was always thankful that my OB sent me to the hospital post haste after seeing me in the afternoon of the 18th...as neither my doctor or Woody got to the hospital before Nathan was born in the wee hours of the morning. Neither of them were more than 20 minutes away...so Nathan was a very speedy delivery! I had a temperature of 105° that day and the next day...pretty sick. He was born three weeks early...he was rather tiny...5 lb. 12 oz. and was only 18" long...skinny little thing...and, not very long...goes to show you that birth length doesn't have a lot to do with height later in life! I can't believe that 53 years have passed since he was born! Happy birthday, Nathan! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Oink! Oink!

I mentioned several days ago that there were a lot of piglets on the Dorrell's farm. Well, the last litter has been born and there are now 25 little squealing piggies running around along with the three mommies...the daddy is elsewhere on the farm. I did manGe to finish the family room closet today. I can once again walk into it to get to the shelves at the back of the closet. I had my monthly Zoom book club with fellow Cottey alums. As always, we had a good discusson and chased several rabbits. At the end of the meeting, two of us stayed to get some info that had been put into the chat part ofnthe Zoom. The other person, who stayed, happened to be one of my freshman when I was at Cottey. She lived in the suite right down the hall from me. So we did a little catching up which isn't easy to do when in the larger group. After the Zoom meeting, I finished the closet, had lunch, and then rested a few minutes brfore tackling my next task. I made Nathan's birthday cake. If goes as we planned earlier this week, we will celebrate his birthday tomorrow evening. Tomorrow morning we celebrate Esther's graduation from high school at their church. So I will be heading over to their church in Shelbyville early. I will go to Sunday School in my friend Linda H's class (She's the teacher.) And, then I will sit with Nathan's family in church. So busy day tomorrow! To be continued! Be safe! Be well!

Friday, Once Again.

I've had a fairly busy day...I guess busier than I thought. I sat down a little while and juat woke up from an unplanned nap. I did get groceries. Today it was mostly buying things to go with things that I already had...making meals with what I have in the freezer. I got all the groceries put away. I decided that it was time to attack the downstairs closet in the family room. The floor space in that closet seems to fill up and then it isnhard to get to what I have stored on the shelves at the back. I am at the point where I am still going through things, deciding what can be thrown away. I have made several trips to the outside trash can. I am through for the night...will get back to this project another time...not sure if it will be tomorrow or not. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Bunnies Still Hopping Around Here!

I think that I finally have all the bunnies and other Spring decorations gathered on the dining room table...maybe they will hop back into their hiding place till next Spring. I have stayed very busy today...by mid afternoon, I was thinking that I had been too busy. I decided that I would continue to concentrate on cleaning upstairs. Today, I moved things that I don't usually move so I could vacuum under them, behind them, etc. This included moving the ironing board and other things that are stored on the floor in the sewing room. I also did a good vacuuming in the upstairs hall...that meant moving three dolls and their chairs. These three dolls reside in the corner of the hall. I vacuumed all arond them, moved their chairs, straightened their clothing and even combed two of their hair...little piddly things...but they take time. I haven't quite made my way all the way down the one wall in the sewing room...but it is started. I sewing chair that Woody's dad made for Woody's mom needs to be cleared off...a place that "things" land. There arae some projects to be done on that chair. I will look through what's on it and decide if these things will be done...or...put away to be brought out another time. There is one "to-do" project that Kathy asked me to do...that won't be put away. I just need to decide how I will do what she has asked and then get it done...at this point...the deadline is off toward the end of the summer...but, as time seems to be flying, I shouldn't put it off too much longer! The sewing room in general isn't in too bad shape...but I want to get it in even better shape, as I am determined to get back to my sewing. I have several things that I really want to make. Just have to get back into a sewing mindset! On breaks today, I did make a little more headway on my public library book. Mid afternoon, it was time to put the vacuuming, dusting, etc. aside...all I could do was head to my chair...with full intention to do some more reading...but my eyes had other plans...as they shut pretty quickly after I sat down! This evening I have been making a grocery list...looks like it is grocery shopping time once again...like the days fly by...it seems like gtocery shopping days come around all too quickly...looks like tomorrow will be another of those days. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Bunnies Are Hopping Around Here

The downstairs bunnies have started gathering in the dining room before they make their hop upstairs to hide away till next Spring! I continue my cleaning upstairs. A little reading has gotten worked in during my breaks, as did a nap. I left for Bible study early so I could stop at the Credit Union. I got to church in time to do a little maintenance in the library. Tonight was our last Bible study for the Spring semester. We will start back up in August when school gets underway. On the way home, I stopped at the public library to return a book. Now I am settled in for the evening. I plan to do a little stitching this evening. I did start back stitching on a Christmas ornament last night. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Slow Tuesday

I'm having problems with the blog tonight. i will try...again. I haven't done a lot today...been a lazy day. Donna and I chose to have a day off from the church library, today. I have done several jobs in the kitchen. I chose to do quite a bit of reading today. Well, for some reason my new keyboard isn't communicating with the blog...so once again I am typing somewhat blindly. I think I will do a little stitching tonight. I haven't done much stitching lately because I have been reading. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Another Work Crew Called In

Today, Nathan, Isaac, and Joseph came over and finished up the job begun by Melany and Wade on Saturday. They came and picked me up to go to Lowes to get more rocks, another stepping stone, and some more weed barrier cloth. We got back and they put all their muscle power behind getting the bags of rock distributed. I am very happy sith the end result. I think that this will keep the former jungle between the ramp and the back of the house at bay! Big thank yous all around! It rained this afternoon for a little while. I'm glad it held off till they got their work done. I have been to Monday Night Furnace Room Prayer Meeting. I'm home and ready to settle in for the night. I did more cleaning upstairs today. I finished doing a good vacuuming in the guest room. I also did a quick pass through downstairs with the vacuum, as we tracked in some mud, etc. over the weekend with our outside project. I'm liking having a downstairs' vacuum...so much easier to keep up with messes when I don't have to go upstairs and bring the vacuum down! I think that yesterday's photos showed that we had a nice Mother's Day afternoon at Nathan and Kathy's. The little piglets in two of the photos show only 2/9 of the piglets they now have, and have one more sow waiting to give birth...so at the moment 18 piglets! The bigger piglet that Esther was holding was not happy. He squealed and squealed! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious. Here's the view we saw as we came out of prayer tonight.

Mother's Day 2025

My Gardening Crew Grew!

Melany and Wade were my main gardening crew today. They arrived midmorning and got to work...weeding and relocating plants. The area that is pictured above is between the ramp and the back of the house. I have to traverse that area to get to the faucet to turn on the backyard hose. As the season progresses this area becomes very over grown...originally this garden along the back of the house had orange day lilies and hostas...but other unwanted weeds invaded...including wild blackberry bushes that produced nothing but thorns...so it was a bit of a dangerous (like going into the jungle) to get back to the faucet. Plus I always wondered what might be lurking amongst the over growth. This morning, Melany dug up all the day lilies and they were relocated. She got rid of all the unwanted weeds and then divided some of the hostas that were there to start with and spread them out along the length of the area. While she labored with that job. Wade and I went to Lowes and got barrier fabric to put down, stepping stones and bags of river rocks. Wade hefted all those stones and bags of rocks twice at Lowes. When we got back home, I called in more folk to help heft all that we bought so Wade didn't have to do it again! Then Melany, Nathan, Esther, Elijah, Isaac and Joseph added their muscle power and Wade, Kathy, and I stood by as advisors. I was called in to test the stepping stone positioning and to see if they were too tippy. What you see is how far our purchases of the day went. Nathan and I will go back to Lowes and get the rest of what is needed to finish the job. I am very pleased and think that I will feel much safer in several ways about getting back to the faucet when watering out back. Wade and Melany also weeded the new garden that was established at the head of the driveway last year. Wade and I did buy a few plants to put it in it...which also got planted before they drove their weary bodies back to Murfreesboro. Wade also planted some tomato plants that they brought with them from Murfreesboro. So a nice way to celebrate Mother's Day...lots of help with my gardening. I am blessed with a great gardening crew! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Had to be a Good Day!

Joy came over this morning and cut my hair...so it HAD to be a good day! I'm always ready for a haircut and feel so much better after it is cut! Joy and I had a good chat, which is the main reason that it was a good day. She had her last final yesterday so...she has finished her first year of college! Way to go Joy! Another good thing today...Joy brought me a graduation announcement for Esther. Dear sweet Esther...my sixth grandchild to graduate from high school...just three grandchildren to go! Yesterday, Esther got her acceptance into Columbia State Community College's Vet Tech program. She is a very happy camper and I am thrilled for her! Way to go Esther. I continued to play with my new "toy" today and took it upstairs...though, it is to be the downstair's vacuum. It is easy to move as it breaks down into fairly lightweight components. I decided that I wanted to use it upstairs for this vacuuming to get used to using it. I had a good challenge for it...all that hair Joy cut off was on my sewing room floor. It did a great job. I had to stop before I got through upstairs...next vacuuming session will be to finish in the guest room. This afternoon I had an appointment to get an estimate for new front and back doors...that took a while! Now to take into consideration and arrange for a couple of other estimates and then make a decision. That meeting took up a major portion of the afternoon. Now I'm ready to settle in for the evening...maybe stitching and TV or jusst reading or...To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Busy! Busy! Day!

I have had a busy day "playing" with my new "toy." I bought a new vacuum cleaner...oh, boy! I have been wanting for ages to have a vacuum for upstairs and for downstairs. The new one is for downstairs...so I have been busy vacuuming through the downstairs. It is going to take some getting used to, as I have always had a canister vacuum and this one is an upright. I have gone over all the downstairs floors except for the sun porch and the laundry room. I am in the midst of making a casserole...chicken spaghetti. I had a lot of spaghetti left over from Sunday's lunch with Wade, Melany, and Erin so decided this was a good use for the leftover spaghetti. I still have a little more till it is in the refrigerator. Melany may be coming on Saturday so we will have it then, if she comes. I am splitting this recipe and going to freeze one of the casseroles for another time. The reason that I am making it today is that at one time Melany was going to come tomorrow after school, but those plans have changed. I had all the ingredients all gathered and decided to just go on and get it made. But as my energy wanes, I wonder how good that idea was!!! I am ready for my chair and heating pads. I have been hearing thunder. According to the weather folk, we may be in for a thunder storm. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Busy Cooking Day

Yesterday's dry rub making turned into today's pulled pork. I got up early and had the roast in the oven by a little after 6:30 and it cooked in a slow oven for four hours. And, the slow cooking turned into the slow process of pulling it after the roast rested and cooled off some. I'm not sure how long it took to finish pulling the pork, as I had to take a few rests before the job was completed! I pulled for a while, rested for a while, pulled for a while, rested for a while and then finished pulling it. After the roast was out of the oven, I roasted four red bell peppers...which after they cooled off, I had to peel...lots of peeling and pulling! It was a rather tiring day and I am looking forward to sitting for most of the rest of the evening! I got the pulling and peeling done in time to get ready to go to Bible study. The kitchen still needed to be cleaned up when I left the house. As soon as I got home, I attacked that job. The dishwasher is going and the rest of the dishes have beem washed by hand. It's not a horrible job as I covered both the roasting pans with foil...so I just had to put the throw-away part of the roast and wrap it up and put it in the trash. The pans just needed to be rinsed off. Now I did have a mess close to the area where I pulled the pork...that is all wiped up and the kitchen is good for the next cooking mess...another day! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

A Spicy Day

I'm planning on doing my slow-cook pork roast for pulled pork. I was out of my dry rub concoction that I have made up using various recipes that I have found on the internet. I will put the rub on the Boston Butt Roast in a little while and put it in the refrigerator over night. Then in the morning, I will put it in the oven in the morning for a nice-long-low-heat time for cooking...then comes the pulling...not my favorite thing to do...but the end results are worth it! Donna and I worked in the library and got the newest books ready to be checked out. I had quite a tangle with contact paper...coming out the winner...I think!

Yard Crew Showed Up!

Nathan told me last week that he and at least one of the boys would come over and mow the yard, but after that we had so much rain that it hadn't been possible. This afternoon, I got surprised when Nathan rang the doorbell and found out that Isaac was already outside mowing. The next picture is how much rain we got Friday and Saturday.

So 3.1 inches is quite a bit...and a good reason to not have mowed till today...probably still a bit wet out there! Tonight was prayer meeting. Joy, once again, had her youth girl's Bible study. This time her mom came, too, and Kathy joined us for prayer meeting...so today I have seen Nathan, Kathy, Joy, Esther, and Isaac. I'm home. I enjoyed a salad for supper after I got home. Now I am ready to settle in for the evening...plan to watch some TV, stitch a little and read a little. Melany, Wade, Erin and I had a nice visit yesterday. They arrived around noon. We had lunch, sat around and talked for a while and, like I mentioned above, Melany did a little in the yard...she did some weedeating until the battery died on the weedeater. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! Oh, and, Happy Cinco De Mayo!

Sunday Favorite!

Good Day for Ducks!

It has been another very rainy day. When I looked out the window at the rain gauge a little before dark, it was measuring close to 3 inches over yestereday and today. Since I checked, we have had another wave of rain come through. We had a couple of pretty good thunder storms come through this afternoon. I have stayed in all day. But that hasn't been a problem. I needed to stay in and do things around the house. I spent most of the morning in the kitchen cooking and cleaning. I got the marinara sauce made and have gotten out dishes and made plans for things that need to be done. A little while ago I mopped the kitchen floor and the downstairs bathroom floor. I still want to do a "lick and a promise" vacuuming for the downstairs. Melany, Wade, and Erin will be arriving around noon tomorrow according to plans at the moment. I will get home from church between 11:30am and noon...so we will be close to arriving at the same time. So I am trying to have most everything ready. I'm going to set the table next. I've already decided on the dishes I will use so it shouldn't take very long. I have also done some reading...I "read" while I worked in the kitchen this morning...listened to an audio book. It is another one of the books for the Cottey book club. I am, at the moment, well ahead in my reading for the club, as I read when they come available for me. Over the last week several have become available. I also read on my public library mystery when I sat down to rest my back. I have my last load of wash in the dryer. The other loads that I have done are all put away. This last is towels...once they are folded and put away my laundry is caught up...at least for a little while! Well, back to getting ready. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Wet Friday

Another busy day. I set aside today for another grocery shopping day. Melany, Wade, and Erin are coming for lunch on Sunday and I waited until today to get fresh salad items...and, of course, bought more than just salad ingredients. Today's shopping gave me 4X gas points (a Friday offering) and today let me take advantage of the latest sales. I managed to get home just as the rain started so I was able to get the groceries in without getting too wet. The rest of the day we have had rain off and on. I looked at the rain gauge when I went out to empty the kitchen trash can and it looks like we have gotten around an inch today. I just got an alert that starting at midnight more rain is going to roll in and that it will rain off and on up until 10pm and that we could get 1.9 inches...we will see about that prediction. This afternoon I prepared some chicken breasts for the freezer... I boiled two of them with veggies and then cut the meat off the bone into pieces all ready for a soup or casserole or salad recipe and popped that meat into the freezer for another time. I continued to boil the veggies and the bones to make chicken stock. The other two chicken breasts I deboned and froze those pieces uncooked for "whatever" on down the road...those bones also went into the stock pot. The stock cooked the rest of the afternoon. I strained the liquid off and have it in the refrigerator chilling so any fat will come to the surface and I will get rid of that before I freeze the broth. All the mess (bones, veggies, etc.) has been bagged up and taken out to the garbage. I was in the process of getting dishes loaded into the dishwasher when I realized that it was past time to blog...so you are my break. I will continue to get the dish washer filled up after I publish this. I also cooked and crumbled bacon for our salads on Sunday. We are going to have meatballs and marinara sauce on angel hair pasta on Sunday. I will make the marinara sauce tomorrow and continue to cut up things for our salads. There shouldn't be much cooking wise for Sunday's meal. Cutting items for salad will probably take the longest. I will also need to do a little straightening up around the house...but not too much to do for that, either. Today I finished another book--one for the Cottey book club. I am almost finished with another of my cozy mysteries that I checked out from the public library. Once the kitchen is cleaned up, I am through for today. Tomorrow is another day...probably a rainy one! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

National Day of Prayer 2025

I always think back quite a few years ago to a National Day of Prayer when Woody was having surgery at The National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD. He had gotten through his surgery and was back in his room and doing well, so I left him for a little while to attend part of the National Day of Prayer time that they were holding ourside in one of the courtyards. When at NIH you are on U.S. property. I felt privileged to have been there on that day and join in with a group of people from all over the country...really all over the world. Today I have managed to accomplish several of the things on my "list" of to-dos. I finished getting all that large stack of old bills ready for recycle. I also finished wiping out the door bins in the refrigerator. I got Nathan to stop by and do a quick fix for me. I also cleaned the downstairs bathroom. Then finally, late this afternoon, I made two loaves of banana bread. I have read more on two of my books when I took short breaks. So all in all I am happy with what I accomplished today. And, am now ready to sit and put my feer up. I was mistaken last week when I said that it was the season finalé for Elsbeth, as there is another new episode tonight. So I am ready to sit back and enjoy. I do have a little cleaning up from my banana bread baking foray. So not quite finished for the evening. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!