Good-Bye October!

Tonight's photo is from a barn trip from another year...last year, I think. Today I made a trip to our Utility building and set up having them take out the money from my bank account each month for my utilities. The way it had been set up just wasn't working efficiently...so will try this. After taking care of that, I headed to Kroger. I hadn't been over two weeks so it took me a bit longer than usual. But really the reason that it took longer wasn't getting more food as it was seeing friends and visiting throughout the store. I went first to the produce department and while there I met up with four friends right off the bat. It was a busy day to get groceries. It took a bit of time to put away the groceries. Marie called and she and Carolyn had come up with a plan to head off tomorrow...but not a barn trip...unless we find a barn or two on our way to and from our destination. I'm making mental plans for Joy's bridesmaid dress...planning how I will do it. There is aa step or two that I want to do before Joy tries it on to have the hem measured. I think I have a plan in mind. No ornament making has happened today. I am a bah humbug for Halloween. I don't turn on my porch light...I just don't like opening my front door at night when I don't know who is on the other side! We have never had many trick or treaters, as to go down our street that only has two three houses on it isn't worth the effort, when they can head down the street that cuts into my street at the corner of my lot before getting to my house. So light is off and I am holed up at the back of my house with access to books, stitching, and TV. To be continued! Be safe! Be well1 Be cautious! Happy Halloween, Good-bye to October...ready to welcome November!

'Twas the Night Before Halloween!

It has been a cold and dreary day for the most part. It rained some and there was a brisk breeze blowing at times. The couple of times that I ventured outside, I came in as quickly as possible. I finished a book and did some more stitching. I have started another border design. I spent some time upstairs and got going on making Christmas ornaments. And, I can say that one is sewn and ready to be stuffed...so ornament making is underway! Still a lot to go, but at least I have started the sewing part of the ornament making. I was disappointed that the TV in my sewing room wouldn't come on today. It was working fine yesterday. I seem to be having electronic problems lately! I did call the church today and spoke to the person who troubleshoots their computers. He is going to have a look at the computer in the library. I turned some leftovers into soup. Today was really the first time that I can say that it's "soup weather!" At the moment the dryer is calling me. I will get those clothes out and hung up and/or folded, then put the last dishes into the dishwasher and turn it on. Then I am through for the day and look forward to Elsbeth and Matlock and some stitching for the rest of the evening. Today, a bridesmaid dress arrived to live at my house for a little while. It needs to be hemmed and a slight alteration to the skirt. Joy will have to come over and put it on with the shoes/boots she will be wearing so I can find out how much I need to shorten it. Wedding "stuff" is beginning! Sunday, Patrick's and her church are having a shower for them. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Thoroughly Thursday

I headed upstairs determined to work on the Christmas ornaments and I did the next step on all the stitched ornaments. The stitched pieces are now ready to cut to size for making the ornaments. I also cleaned my sewing machine getting it ready for sewing the ornaments. A couple steps close to some finishes. If all goes well, I will get some of the ornaments cut to size and perhaps even one or two sewn into ornaments. I will have to cut backs for the ornaments, too...but at least I have coordinating fabric chosen to use with each of the ornaments. At least the process is underway! I did paperwork to get the way I pay my utilities changed. Depending on the weather, I may head to the utilities building and turn in the paperwork and pay my bill in person...probably the last time that I will have to go in person...IF I have everything filled out correctly. I returned a little while ago from Bible study. I talked to someone about the library computer and he thought that there was still hope for it. I will call and talk to the person he recommended me to talk to...we will see! I think that I am through with ornaments and sewing for tonight. I think that once I do a little in the kitchen, I will do a little stitching and a little reading. I have two books going and need to get one finished in the nest couple of days or it will be swooped back into cyberspace and that will mean that I will have to get back on a list to get it back to be able to finish it. "Maybe" I can get it read...but for some reason it is a slower read than I usually find with this author. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Ever Have “That Sinking Feeling?”

Well, today, not long after Donna and I got to church to work in the library, Donna walked behind the check-out desk and realized that she wasn't hearing the computer tower making its usual humming. At that realization, I think we both had a sinking feeling. We are working with older computers in the library, two of which had quietly stopped working over the last few years. The only one of our three computers that continued to run was the "main frame" = the one that has all the information in it. We, of course, were glad that one continued to work. We knew that we were probably living on borrowed time with that computer, but continued on using it to process books in and to check books out. It seems that yesterday the church electricity was turned off throughout the whole building...the best guess is that when the power surged back on that our computer couldn't take it. It will be looked at a little closer to be sure that there is no hope for it. I guess it will take some creative doings to continue on. We continued to make cards to write who checked out the book, since we aren't always in the library when someone wants a book. Then we checked them out with the computer when we next worked in the library. So there is a way to check out the books. But searching for books except by looking through the shelves won't be easy. It's not something easy like replacing the computer...it has to do with the library software, also...our software won't work on the new computers...and, at this stage ichin our lives, I would certainly have to start over entering books into aa new computer/new software...all over again. We've entered these books many times...first precomputer way...card catalog...typing lots of cards...and, then, computer way...typing all the info into the computer. Lots of hours both ways! This library has been going for more than 50 years...I know because I am approaching working in the library for 50 years...and it was going for several years prior to me working in it. These days use of the library is dwindling due to e-books. We have our group of readers...mainly Christian fiction readers. I don't know whether the library will survive this this glitch or not. At this point, I am trying to creatively think how to make the Dewey number books more easily found! Guess we shouldn't have given up that old card catalog! Computers! Wonderful when they work, but when they don't..! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! (Truthfully, the library debacle doesn't seem real...yet!)

Monday All Over Again!

Today, I have stuck around the house until it was time to go to prayer meeting. i am home from prayer meeting and ready to settle in for the night. I'm hoping to do some stitching this evening. Yesterday and today, I finished up some after party tasks. I have washed and folded all the tablecloths that we used at the party. They are ready to return to church, but because there was a threat of rain most of the day, I decided to wait till it is dry...hoping that will be tomorrow, but there is a chance of rain tomorrow, too. I also folded up a LOT of gift bags that we used for decorations on the table. I will have gift bags for some time to come! I still have to get those put away. At the moment they are decorating the top of my card table. I have done a lot of sitting both yesterday and today. I started a new book and have continued to read on another that I have been reading for a while. I'm gearing up for switching modes from birthday party to Esther's wedding, family Thanksgiving, and Christmas...more details to come! I will soon be thinking "Tis the season!" That doesn't seem possible! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Sunday Favorite

Party! Party! Party!

Well, the party is over. Now we just have it to look back on. It went very well and all seemed to enjoy it...both visiting with each other and eating party goodies. Marie enjoyed the party most of all, as it should be! She took home balloons to remind her throughout the week that it is her birthday week. Now we'll see how long the helium balloons stay up! We'll see if they stay up till her real birthday five days away. I am settling back in my house after getting party stuff back into the house. I am justnow about to prop up my feet and perhaps doze off! It has been a fun, but long day! Time will tell if I get any stitching done tonight...wonder if the needle will be too heavy! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Party Time…Almost Here!

Carolyn, Jo, and I fot the tables ready for the party...well, as much as we could without Nathan's help. His help will add the finishing touches to the tables in the morning! I'm home now working on pulling out the serving pieces we need for some of the food tomorrow. Right now I am sitting...haven't done a lot of sitting this afternoon. I'm turning the heating pad on and going to sit for a few! We were so surprised to find the tablecloths already on the tables...a HUGE thankyou to our church's custodial staff! What a help that was! I don't know how many parties that I have helped give at our church and this is the first time that anyone but those giving the party have placed the cloths on the tables for us! We were able to get right to work on the decorations/center pieces. The blog will be short tonight so I can at least think through what is left to do and/or gather. I have found that a laundry basket is a great help in transporting items to and from the church. I took the table decoration parts in mind this afternoon...now will empty what is left in it...which isn't much and reload it with serving items, etc. that are needed in the morning to finish setting up. I have accomplished quite a bit. I ran errands this morning, which included a quick stop at the grocery store, a stop to get gas, and a stop at the Credit Union. I have also done two loads of wash...the second one is going around in the dryer as they didn't get dry before I left to decorate...so they are about finished. I doubt that they get any farther than get taken out of the dryer and put out smooth to be taken upstairs sometime after the party...at least they are clean!!!!! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! Perhaps a picture or two of the party tomorrow night...if I manage to get my camera out tomorrow. I had it with me and was going to snap a picture or two of what we accomplished today, but ended up only with a couple of pictures taken with my phone. Tonight's photo is just a part of one of those pictures...just to give you a hint!

Organizing Thursday

Today was my day to organize/gather together things that will be needed when we start to decorate for Marie's party. And, I can say that I have things "all but" ready to take to the church tomorrow when Carolyn, Jo and I plan to start decorating. We plan to get the tablecloths on the tables and work on the centerpieces on the tables. The caterer is also supposed to deliver the food sometime tomorrow afternoon. So the party is about to commence!! I ran an errand to WalMart this afternoon. I have the decorations all bagged up to take to church tomorrow afternoon. I still need to go over my list to make sure that I haven't forgotten anything. I made baked penne pasta late this afternoon for my supper. I used sauce that was in the freezer...I'm trying to use things that I have put in the freezer over the last few months. It's nice to have it when times are busy. I had everything I needed except for one item that I picked up when running errands. I put it together while talking with Cheryl...multitasking. While running errands I ran into Patsy Y., a former co-worker at the Montessori School. It was great to see her and catch up. Settling in for an evening of relaxing, stitching and watching Matlock and Elsbeth. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Midweek

Another busy day, but mostly a stay-at-home day up until this evening's Bible study. I mainly did little things around the house and continued to mark things off the list for Marie's party. I'm glad to see the list grow shorter and the time till the party to be nearer. I think we are in pretty good shape. Marie's daughter just texted me about her end of the party. One step at a time and this party will happen! I guess last week Kathy and I discussed Thanksgiving and yesterday Melany and I discussed Thanksgiving and tonight I discussed with Kathy what Melany and I had said. Looks like Thanksgiving is next in our plans. The year just keeps marching on! With Thanksgiving so late that means that I need to decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving. Yikes! Plus I still have all 25 cross stitch pieces to be made into ornaments. Lots of fun to come! I just can't believe how close to the end of October we are. Wasn't it just yesterday that I was saying that about September? To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Tuesday Doings

Today was a busy, busy day...party doings and handyman doings. I have been getting "things" organized to take to the church later in the week. My handyman came today to finish the ramp. He put treds on the sloped part of the ramp. It can be slick even with just rain on it. I don't use it very often these days, but better safe than sorry when I do use it! Nathan and I bought the tread material some time back...before Woody died...so it has been a while. We hadn't figured enough so I ran to Lowes to buy some more...brand changed, but looked the same. That job is done. I made a fritata today...a fancy omelet. That took up a bit of my time this afternoon and ended up being my lupper. It was very tasty. I changed up the recipe today and had a three meat fritata...recipe calls for sausage and I had a package of breakfast sausage links in the freezer so used those and added in bacon and ham (both leftover from another recipe that I had made recently. Very tasty and hit the spot, since I had missed lunch. My back wasn't real happy with me because I had been up and on my feet for most of the morning and afternoon...so I was sort of forced to stop and sit with a heating pad and rest...or course that ended up with a period of time when my eyes closed. After I rested a while, I emptied the dishwasher so I could reload it. I am going to wash a few dishes by hand and then close the kitchen for the night and head out here and do some stitching to relax for a while before I go to sleep for the night. Donna and I didn't go to the church library to work today as we both were busy with other things so that put me a bit out of routine...not absolutely sure what day it is when we don't work in the library on Tuesday! Hopefully tomorrow I will be back on track since I will have Bible study tomorrow evening! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

3/16ths Finished

This morning I finished the next page on my Bristol redwork sampler. "Just" thirteen pages to go. The top photo shows all that I have done so far. I am reeally more than 3/16 finished as I have extablished the top row all the way across and have done small parts of the lower bands to establish the length of the sampler. As I go down the rows on the sampler, the size of the bands get smaller...so on the side of the sampler I am working on now I have done the widest of the patterns. I am really enjoying doing this sampler. I think of the girls who did the sampler first back in 1857...two orphaned sisters who were residents at the Bristol Orphanage in Bristol, England. It was run by George Mueler and his wife and they really made an impact on these children's lives. Their is an interesting story background on this sampler. It has been nicknamed "The Dirty Bird Sampler," as one of the sisters was not known for her cleanliness. The girls did these samplers to learn how to mark linens and other things in households where they hoped to work one day. The one sister, the dirty one, was not able to keep her employment due to her lack of cleanliness and ended up back at the orphanage. I just think about all the work that these two girls put into their sampler...even with two girls working on it, it was a lot of work for young girls. Of course, we don't know how long it took them. I'm certainly not getting very far very fast! But I do enjoy stitching on it...it's comfort stitching and once the pattern is established, I can go across the band without looking at the pattern page...I can refer to what I have already stitched. Today my sweet neighbor went around my yard on his riding mower and swooped up the leaves and he blelw leaves off my ramp, front walk, and driveway. He told me that he has a lot of extra time on his hands as he works for the Department of Defense out at the Center (where Woody worked) and is on furlough due to the government shutdown. This afternoon Carolyn and I ran a party errand. Party time is getting closer! I just got home from prayer meeting and think it is time to just sit for the rest of the evening! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Sunday Favorite

Zooming and Partying!

It has been a busy day. Our Cottey Alum bookclub went great. Having the author and his wife join us really worked out well and all who attended seemed to really enjoy the hour together including our guests. It was decided at the end of the hour that we would like to read the next in the Paperboy trilogy so we will be discussing Copyboy sometime in 2026. We invited the Vawters to join us again. After the Zoom meeting, I made a phone call to the person catering the food for Marie's party. We have to connect so I can let him in the Ministry Center sometime Friday. He will call me back when he knows the time he needs me to meet. I also texted both of Marie's children to let them know where things stand here in Tullahoma for party preparations. Cheryl and I talked on the phone for a while after that. Then it was time tonget ready for the family party for Abigail's birthday. She is having a partying weekend. I think she will celebrate with Payton's family tomorrow. Abigail was very excited to get Christmas dishes from her family. She also got juggling things from her daddy! She took right up with the juggling...maybe it is like riding a bike...once you learn you don't forget how!?! We nad spaghetti and garlic bread for supper...very good! Nathan, Joy, and I left a bit earlier than the rest. Nathan got a text from a neighbor that the cows were out so he was going home to wrangle them back into their proper field. Esther told him what food container to rattle and they would come right home! The rest of the gang stayed and were going to play games. Joy and I didn't mind heading home first. Joy seemed to enjoy the party, but you could tell that she was tired and ready to head home to rest...me, too! Probably Nathan, too...but he first has to tend to the cows! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Happy Birthday to Our Sweet Abigail!

This may seem like a strange photo to post on Abigail's birthday, but she really is in it. If you look close, she and Payton are standing just inside the barn door. I may have a closer photo of her tomorrow when the family gets together to wish Abigail the best! Today has been a rather low-key day compared to all my comings and goings during this past week. Today I planned to stay home as my handyman was supposed to come to put treads on the ramp. But in the end he decided that it was best to postpone it till next week. We are due for some rain over the weekend and he thought that the treads might adhere better if they didn't get wet so soon after he put them down. I did things around the house while I thought through the book that we are going to discuss tomorrow at the monthly Cottey College Alum bookclub Zoom meeting. I jotted some thoughts down, listed some characters and decided how I would introduce the author. I'm going to type up some of my jottings after I finish tonight's blog. I look forward to tomorrow's meeting. It's just that it is my first meeting to be "in charge of" and it is also the first time that we have had an author join us so the format is untested! I'm sure that all will go well, as our group is rarely at a loss for words. I've also been going through things that need to be done before Marie's party next week. I have started gathering things together that we will need for the party. The dining room table is the depository for said items...everything from flowers to plastic cups to balloons, etc., etc. Party day is getting closer...a week from tomorrow. This has been a busy month...but guessing that business is just starting since we have a wedding fast approaching...book clubs to parties...birthdays to weddings...that's what October through December looks like! We'll blink and all will be behind us because the end of the year is fast approaching. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Less Confusion…Maybe

Things seemed to smooth out a little today. I actually accomplished a few thiings and yesterday's mystery of why the utility check hadn't cleared seemed to have been straightened out today, as I just checked and it cleared today. We got a couple of other things settled for Marie's party today and I easily found some things that I needed at Hobby Lobby. Errands were run and tasks were completed. Now trying to finalize things for the Zoom meeting on Saturday. For some reason the email with the link to the zoom meeting didn't get to me so I had to contact the leader to resend me a link. I knew that the link had been sent since the author and his wife told me that they had received theirs. Got that mystery solved pretty quickly. Funny how "things" keep getting a bit tangled...all's well as long as they untangle in a timely manner! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Loop De Loop

What a day. Today I had several errands to run. But I decided first that I needed to call Tullahoma's utilities, as my check had not cleared and I wanted to be sure that my lights wouldn't be turned out! I got a person to ask. She said that my account had been credited and told me the date...more than a week ago. I told her at this time that it hadn't cleared my account. She said that she would look into it. A little later she called me back and told me that not long after I called another customer called and their check hadn't cleared either. Both our checks had been issued from our banks/credit union...not the same institution. And, both out acounts had been credited on the same day. So the mystery continued. She had talked to another person and he hadn't been able to get to the solution. So she askedd me to call my Credit Union to make sure that it hadn't cleared and just wasn't showing up in mine. I doubted it, but I went on and called and found out that they couldn't see it in the last couple of weeks when this transaction took place. The Credit Union lady decided to pass me on to the Bill Pay person. I was put on hold, but after a while, I got disconnected. I knew that it wouldn't help to call back as I would have to explain ALL this again! So I called Tullahoma Utilities again and spoke with the same lady...I could get back to her because by this time we were on first name basis. I told her that for me to check it with the Credit Union that I probably needed to go in person, which I really didn't think was necessary as I really didn't think that it had anything to do with the Credit Union at this point. She told me not to go in and to let them look into it further. I got a call back from her a little later...they had tracked it to their bank and for some reason the the checks received on the day they received mine hadn't been processed through yet and should be in not too many days. What a mess...this started in the morning. I ran errands and it finished mid afternoon! What's so funny is that I am trying to track down why I still had money in my account...a mistake in my favor! I had to work awfully hard to help them figure out where my payment was...a payment that hadn't realized they were missing! I'm wondering how quickly it will clear my account now! More to come...perhaps? I ran my errands...one was to the Credit Union prior to knowing that the utility folk wanted me to check out things there. I found out something at the Credit Union, that I'm not very happy about...soon...no tellers and I will have to mess with those kiosks...rolling eyes big time. I like people better than machines! Our Bible study started up again tonight after last week's Fall break. Now I'm home and ready to relax and forget about my crazy day! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Meet-The-Author Week

This week is giving me opportunities to meet two different authors...today, I attended, as a guest of Linda H., the annual author's luncheon put on by Friends of the Shelbyville/Bedford County Library. This year the guest author was a young lady who grew up in the Bedford County area. She is a poet and a mystery novelist. We had a nice lunch and enjoyed a short talk from Erica Wright. Now I have her book on request from the e-book part of my library. Another perk was getting to visit some with Linda, her son and daughter-in-law, and her sister. Linda and I did decide that we needed to get together soon so we could really visit. Linda was a bit busy today as she had responsibilities with the luncheon since she is one of the "Friends of the Library" responsible for the luncheon. I imagine that my car was glad to get out of just driving around town and get out on an open road for a few miles. Shelbyville is about 30 minutes away from Tullahoma. After getting home, I emptied wastebaskets and took the garbage can to the road. A little while ago, I started stitching and am well underway with the next band/border design. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! My next author meeting is Saturday!

Monday! Monday!

Main accomplishment at 106 today was not mine...but my handiman's! The ramp has been resealed. Now waiting for it to sink in and dry and then he will return and put down treads to make it safer to walk on in wet conditions. When we first sealed it, it was so slick when it was wet that it was dangerous to walk down it. Nathan and I bought treads to put on the boards, but had never done it...so now it will be done right after it has been freshly sealed. Once again the ramp looks good...or as good a ramp can look!!! Mainly it will be protected from weathering and hopefully will still be functional if and when I need it. I have done a lot of reading today. I finished two books today. One of them has sort of to do with Saturday's Cottey College Alum book club. I am in charge of Saturday's book club discussion. I have mentioned before that I have invited the author and his wife to join our group for the discussion. The book that we are reading is Paperboy by Vince Vawter. He has written two other books that continue the story of Paperboy and I was determined that I would have read all three of the books in the trilogy before our book club meeting this month. I was almost finished with the last book in the series and had set it aside and hadn't picked it back up so sat down and finished it today. Now to write down a few questions to keep the discussion going "if" it should lag! Knowing the group, I doubt that the questions will be needed...we usually aren't at a loss for words and this time having the author and his wife there will add even more voices to the discussion. I think we are in for a good time on Saturday. This book was a Newberry Honor book winner back several years. It is about a young boy who stutters. It is partly autobiographical about the author. It takes place back in the 50s and deals with a lot of social problems at that time. It being a Newberry winner puts it in the juvenile book caategory, but I found it very thought provoking about some areas that a middle school child probably wouldn't "get." I hope that the others in our group enjoyed the read as much as I did. I guess I will find out on Saturday! I have just returned from prayer meeting and am now ready to settle in for the evening. I think after reading so much today, that my mind is ready to unwind with some stitching. I am looking forward to an adventure tomorrow. I will report more on that tomorrow evening! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Happy 20th Birthday, Joy!!!

Auditioning

Tonight's photo of a barn makes me think of a big birdhouse...if I had cropped out the barn sides...then it would have looked even more like one. Now for an explanation about tonight's blog title, Auditioning. I spent the afternoon doing what I call auditioning fabric. I have gone through fabrics that I have on hand...some just scraps and others a good size piece...looking for the perfect ones to go with the ornaments that I cross stitched over the last months. That is one of the steps in getting ready to make them into ornaments. So one step closer to having fully finished ornaments...finally having them finished is still a ways off in the future! But taking steps in that direction. I pressed fabric and the stitched pieces today, also. I woke up really early and stitched for a while. I have gotten underway with another row for this section of the sampler I am working on. I have done a few things around the house and did another load of laundry. I have gone over tonorrow's Sunday School lesson and think that is as ready as it is going to be! My little five-year-old neighbor came over with a timer in his hands wanting to play with things in the toy closet for a half hour. I have also read more on the book I started a couple of days ago. I am now more than half way finished with it. I cleaned up the kitchen...not much to do, except put a few dishes in the dishwasher as I didn't do any cooking...just warming up things today. I have ingredients to make my next soup...a good job for a quiet Sunday afternoon after church. I plan to stitch this evening. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Cooler Friday

It's been a very nice day. I headed to the grocery store after I ate breakfast. I didn't need a lot, but hadn't gone in two weeks so I needed some fresh things plus took advantage of some of the sales...even bought pecans on sale so I would have them for holiday baking. I came home and got the groceries in the house and then put away. I have talked to Melany and a couple of friends. I worked a little more on the Sunday School lesson...just looked up a few details to add in with what else I have to share with the class on Sunday. I have stitched a little...coming right along on the third page of sixteen of the chart for this sampler...still a long way to go. I really should set it aside and work on something that has more chance of being completed. But I am enjoying the process of this one. I am working on border patterns and there is so much repetition of pattern in each border that at a point I memorize the pattern/path that I take and can work along without looking at the chart. The one, though, that I am working on now, I have not established the best route to go to accomplish the pattern so haven't quite got it down too be able to stitch withoug looking at the chart...also each pattern within this line isn't totally symmetrical...so that causes a problem with my mind learning the pattern! That's my excuse and I am sticking to it! I am continuing to read the book that I started yesterday. I'm about a third of the way through the book. This afternoon, I headed up to my sewing room, a place that I don't visit as often as I used to visit. There was a time that I almost lived in my sewing room. I had ordered some strapping to replace the handles on my favorite tote bag. I got busy and did that...and the results...the bag looks "almost" new. I washed the bag before replacing the handles. I was given this bag by one of my Montessori students...years ago...it is sort of an advertisement bag for the downtown businesses of Tullahoma...this bag is so old that most of the businesses no longer exist! But one business does still exist...Clayton's Shoe Store. And, what makes that business being on it and still being here today is that one of the owner's children gave the bag to me. It is just the perfect bag for me to take things in that I might need...whether it be items needed to teach the Sunday School lesson or a way to carry my iPad, etc.It accompanied to many of Woody's medical appointments over the years. In other words it has been well used and I'm not ready to give up using it! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Thursday Doings

I have had a fairly busy day. In the morning I concentrated on the Sunday School lesson and I can say that it is very close to being finished...just have to add a few details. I finished a book last night and started a new one today and am already almost a third of the way through it. I sorted my wash and need to do two loads...decided to do one today and another tomorrow. Today's looad is in the dryer. I have also stitched some more of my sampler. I stayed home again today. The cool front came through and we didn't get out of the 70's today. Overnight we got down into the lower 50s...definitely the feel of Fall is in the air! I talked with Melany, Cheryl, and Connie today...so a visiting day, too. I did one quick and easy party task and texted with Jo about another. Party is getting closer! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

A Bit Like The Twilight Zone!

Today was what I called a "free day." Normally I have Bible study on Wednesdays, but this is Fall Break for the schools so we have a break during that week from week-day activities at the church. So this was a bit like a "vacation day." I could do whatever I wanted and didn't have to watch the clock to be somewhere at a specific time. I wanted to just stay at home and do things here...I worked some more on the Sunday School lesson, made a pot of soup (cooler temperatures are approaching...so soup weather!), worked on preparing the cross stitch to be made into ornaments, read a little (I have a book that is going to be swooped back into cyberspace in a couple of days), and had an afternoon nap. But one of the strangest things happened when I answered a text. I received a text from a friend and I answered back, but the strangest thing happened next...I got a response of "I don't know you." That made no sense since I was responding to my friend's text. It had to do with the party so this unknown person finally told me that she didn't know either of the people who were referred to in the text. I called the person who I was trying to text and told her of the strange response. It was rather eerie! At a point the unknown person asked me if I was trying to get in touch with and said my friend's first and last name. Then she told me if that were the case that she hadn't had that number for over 11 years! That might have sounded even stranger, but at that point it started making sense to me. My friend had had that number as her business number as a landlilne and I still had that number in my contact information for her and for some reason my text had attached itself to her business number which at the time wasn't a cell number. The unknown person who was responding to me is who bought the business from my friend and her husband 11 years ago. They still have the same number for the store and it must now be attache to a cell phone...so my iPhone decided to send it there rather than to my friends cell number. The thing that I don't understand is why that number appeared when it was my friend who texted me and I responded to her text...not me initiating the text. Oh, well...all's well that ends well. I am so gald that mystery got solved! I did call the lady at her business and told her that she did know me, as I am one of her customers, and I explained why I thought all this mix up had happened! I deleted my friend from my contacts and reentered her minus her old work number...maybe the problem is solved. The only thing that I have found that iPhones seem to like to hold on to all information that they have ever had and I'm afraid that that number will reattach to her contact information. At this point it is in there correctly...only home # and cell #...no work #! And, that is my Twilight Zone story for today! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Rainy Fall Day

Tonight's photo was taken many years ago at the Nashville Farmer's Market. One of the times we went to Vanderbilt for an appointment of one kind or another for Woody's melanoma treatments, we went to Farmer's Market to look around and I managed to snap this photo...one of my favorite Fall pictures. It has rained off and on for most of the day...sometimes just a drizzle and sometimes pretty hard downpours. I heard a few rumbles of thunder. I guess the predicted front was passing through. It is supposed to be cooler tomorrow. I worked some on the Sunday School lesson. I've done a little cross stitching. I started getting my cross stitch ornaments ready to be made into ornaments. I hope to get a little farther on that tomorrow. This afternoon Donna and I worked in the church library. We processed what we started last week all the way to putting them on the new book shelf. Good work day plus as always we enjoyed visiting. I did do a little "errand" for Marie's upcoming birthday party. I walked across the street while at church and went to the Ministry Center to take a couple of pictures of the room where the party will be held. Marie's daughter needed to see the room for something she is planning. I have cleaned up the kitchen and am ready to settle in for the evening...stitching time ahead. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Always a Good Day!

The reason for tonight's title is that hair-cut day is always a good day. I had a morning haircut appointment. Before and after that, I worked on this coming Sunday's Sunday School lesson. I guess doing that makes it obvious that I'm teaching again this Sunday. I have worked on the lesson off and on. I did a little, very little, around the house. I worked in a nap this afternoon...not planned! This evening was a little different than most Monday nights, as we didn't have prayer meeting...too many people out of pocket. It's Fall Break for our city schools. I don't know if that is why folk in our group were out of pocket or not. Speaking of Fall Break, Melany is enjoying being off this week. I can remember how free I felt when school was out for these breaks! She called me when she was out running errands in the middle of the morning...something she usually can't do. I plan to do some stitching at this point in the evening. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Sunday Favorite

Busy, Busy Saturday!

Tonight's photo was my last "have-to-do task of the day. Esther's scrub top needed a patch...done and done! It wasn't easy to sew that patch on that little sleeve but I managed. I worked on the Sunday School lesson for a while this morning and then I switched to party mode and had several telephone planning meetings. Party plans are coming along. The party is three weeks from today so we are in good shape for the moment! After lunch, I put the final touch on the Sunday School lesson and got it printed out. At a point I needed a nap and I accomplished that, too. I have a little more to do in the kitchen before I close it down for the eveninig. Then I am going to read and stitch this evening. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

First October Friday

Busy day! I got up and got going right away this morning. After I made breakfast I got going in earnest on my Sunday School lesson...getting the information that I had gleaned in order and into my outline. I am close to finished. I don't know if I will finish the lesson tonight or wait till I am refreshed in the morning. My handiman arrived this morning and got to work on getting the ramp ready to be resealed. He worked really hard and it will be ready for sealant on Monday..."if" rain iss going to hold off. While he worked on the ramp, Ruth stopped by and we had a front porch visit. It was really a pretty day...very fall-like...pleasant temperatures, pretty blue sky...very pleasant on the front porch. This afternoon, I made a ham pasta salad. I'm going to have some in a few minutes as it is finally chilled. Esther stopped by with one of her scrub tops for me to sew on a patch for her vet tech school. Today she had a field trip...went to a farm and learned how to give shots to cows. I chatted with Carolyn on the phone...partly about Marie's party and partly just catching up with each other. I've also talked to Nathan and to Cheryl. Like I said at the beginning...busy day! I'm ready to sit for a while...still not sure about continuing on with the lesson. I am listening to one of the YouTube teachers who teach the lesson that I will be teaching...trying to soak in lots of information! I hope to stitch a little and maybe read. I have done a little of both earlier in the day. But am now ready to just sit and maybe stitch...while information floats around in my head. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Thursday

It has been a pretty good day. I've done a little of this and a little of that. I vacuumed and cleaned a bathroom...not too thrilling. I'm still working on the Sunday School lesson. I have read and done a little more stitching. Nathan stopped by. I have done a little more on Marie's party...had a couple of phone calls about the party. The party is just a little over three weeks away. I am having trouble with the blog so going to end tonight. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Welcome, October!

This morning I spent more time on the Sunday School lesson, still don't have many notes written down. I have mainly just been reading the teacher's books about the lesson. The young man who power washed the house, stopped by to give me an estimate on resealing the ramp. He plans to start the preliminary part of that job on Friday. I had planned to do another step on getting the stitched pieces ready for ornament making, but that didn't happen. Instead I sat down and stitched on my sampler...just because that was what I felt like doing! I went to Bible study this evening. I'm now settled back at home looking forward to a quiet evening. I turned up the page on the calendar...I am still wondering what happened to September! Two granddaughter reports tonight: Erin my oldest granddaughter had unexpected laser surgery on her eye yesterday. She and Melany and Wade thought that she was just going back for a check after her first laser eye surgery a month or so ago. No one expected her to have laser surgery on her other eye yesterday. Well, I guess she didn't have to dread it! She has sort of a matching black to mine. She said that she is tired and that her eye hurts today. I haven't asked, yet, if her vision has improved. She has eye problems brought on by her type-1 diabetes. I talked to Nathan today and he reported that Joy talked with her friends more last night at the BCM Bible study than she had been recently. I saw Joy this evening, as she comes to the same Bible study that I go to, but I really didn't get to talk to her. But I did get a smile from her. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!