Twenty Years Ago and One Year Ago

So this date marks days that are held in my memory. Twenty years ago today, my father died and Woody's funeral was one year ago this date. Once again, I remembered a year ago more yesterday than today, since Woody's funeral was on a Sunday. Ever since the 16th I have had a different mentality about the days that are passing me by since Woody died. And, I realized that it is the fact that on any given date between June 16, 2024 and June 16, 2025, I could look back to see what was happening in Woody's and my life "a year ago." And, now if I look back a year ago, Woody wasn't a part of my life anymore. Maybe I have that feeling more than others might, as I have the blog to look back on. Often during this past year, I would look up in the blog to see what "we" were doing a year ago. I still have the blog to look back on...but the time is no longer measured as I have been measuring it! Maybe this makes sense?!? Anyway, just an observation that I have made over the last week. But now if I look back on what was happening a year ago...it is just "widow stuff!" Tomorrow, a year ago, is the day we buried Woody...so after tomorrow this kind of anniversary is over for the time being at least! Today I finished up the downstairs spiffing up that I started on Saturday...so the stairs got vacuumed and the dusting is done. I started a new Christmas ornament, as I did finish one yesterday. I started a new book and continued listening to another one that I am in the midst of. It has been a hot day...summer has arrived. When I was coming home from prayer meeting just a few minutes ago, the car registered the outside temperature as 91°and that was around 7pm...pretty warm for that time of the evening. Nathan and Isaac stopped by this morning and mowed, weedeated, and did some bush trimming. I appreciate them doing this on such a hot day. They left to move on to their next mowing job...the Motlow College BCM yard. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Sunday Favorite

A Zoom Saturday

Today was my monthly Zoom book club meeting with some of my Cottey College alums. I had not been able to get today's book so I mainly just listened and found out about the book. I decided that I didn't mind missing this read! Before my Zoom meeting I got the Sunday School lesson printed out. I did a quick vacuuming downstairs this afternoon. I ran out of steam before I did the stairs...maybe I will find the energy before I sleep...maybe I won't! After my vacuuming, I did find time for a nap. I am in the midst of getting a load of wash out of the dryer...have a bit of folding to do now. I am close to finishing a church library book...that means a "real book." I am trying to read an actual book every so often these days. I had been having trouble holding a real book...the hand I held it with was cramping...but lately that hasn't been happening. So I figure if I don't over do it that I can read a real book now and again. I have continued to work on my current cross stitch ornament...closing on a finish. It is now recognizable as to what it is...at least to me...since I know what the end result is supposed to look like! I hope to do a little reading and stitching before my eyes close for the next/last time today. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Tea Luncheon

Today I went to lunch at a fairly new Tullahoma eatery, Tullahoma Teapot, with Vicki, Carolyn, and Marie. We had a very nice lunch and lots of good visiting and catching up with each other. Fun to try out a new restaurant. Before going for lunch, I worked some more on the Sunday School lesson. Mid morning I ran a quick errand. I was close to finishing the lesson before I left for lunch, and have it ready to print and proof read and decide if it is really completed or if I need to tweak, delete, add, or change the order of anything that I have typed into my outline...in other words see if what I have written down in my notes makes sense! I will do that proofing tomorrow. Tonight I'm ready to just sit and stitch and watch TV.

Tiring Thursday

Tonight's photo shows one of the plants that Melany brought me when she came to work in the garden this week. Such a pretty color...almost neon! I have had a busy day at home today. Like yesterday, I ate breakfast and then got busy on the Sunday School lesson. I quit a little before lunch time. I still have one more study help to incorporate...so a little more work before it is ready to be printed out. This afternoon I spent making enchiladas. I made the two sauces that I use for them...I combine a red enchilada sauce and then pan gravy. This time I hadn't cooked a roast prior to making them so I didn't have the gravy...so I had to improvise...I sauted chopped onion, carrots, celery and garlic until soft and golden...oh, and added some of my shredded pork. After I made the gravy, I used the immersion blender to make it all smooth. Turned out quite tasty and worked well when combined with the enchilada sauce that I had made before the gravy. After I got the sauce made, I was ready to rest...I was both tired and my back was protesting. So I turned on the heating pad and then took a nap. After the nap, I was ready to assemble the enchiladas. I no longer roll the enchiladas. I layer the tortillas, sauce, black olives, shredded pork, and cheese, repeat and end with the sauce on top. I made two small pans today...one with corn tortillas and one with flour tortillas. I froze one of the pans without cooking it. The other I cooked and had a narrow (looks like an enchilada) slice for supper. When the enchiladas have baked and are hot through, I top them with more cheese and slide them back in the oven to melt the cheese. I enjoyed my repast tonight...but I will admit that this is a tiring recipe to make...and making is only the start...then there is the clean up. The dishwasher is loaded. I have already washed some of the dishes by hand, but still have more to wash. Then I will wipe down the counter tops and stove and close the kitchen down for today! But I admitt to being quite tired tonight. I have been working on my wash, too. The dryer is spinning now and I plan to get another load going in the washer shortly. I doubt that these clothes will get put away tonight...but maybe. I'll at least get them hung up or folded and leave them on the couch till I have more energy to get them upstairs. This afternoon, I went out to empty my rain gauge...in the 48 hours since I had emptied it there was 1.1 inch more. It rained this morning, but cleared up later in the afternoon. It was quite pleasant out when I went out. I hope to be able to keep awake long enough to put in a few more stitches in the Christmas ornament I am working on presently. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Mid Week and a Little Past Mid Month

This photo was taken many years ago. It popped up on my iPad today and I decided I wanted to use it again...one of my golden-oldie favorites. Today has been a slow-paced day. After I ate breakfast, I worked on the Sunday School lesson most of the rest of the morning. I did make some headway on it...still a ways to go, but a good start. I did finish the Patterson book. And, I have done a little stitching, but very little. I managed to carve out some napping time. And, other than that, I guess, I have just done a little of this and a little of that. My outdoor activities consisted of taking the garbage can back to the back of the house...and picking up a few sticks in the front yard. From that activity, I can report it was rather warm--mid 80s and the humidity was noticible. That's my weather report for the day! I plan to stitch and watch some TV this evening. so...a rather ho-hum day!

Terrific Tuesday

This morning I spent with Jo and Carolyn. We met for breakfast and enjoyed the food, but mainly enjoyed being together catching up with each other and also chasing rabbits...our conversation went in all directions...when we are together, we are never at a loss for words! Last night Donna and I decided that we would put the library on hold for this week as we didn't have anything pressing to do there. I took advantage of the afternoon to get underway with the Sunday School lesson for this coming Sunday and I have made a little headway. I think that I will let what I read and listened to settle into my brain and do something else this evening...a little stitching and a little reading. I have made good progress on my James Patterson book, it is the latest in his Women's Murder Club series, 25 Alive. It is a very fast read so I should be through it quickly and get back to another book that will be whisked away in a few days. The Patterson book is what Libby calls a "skip-the-line" book so they only let you have it for 7 days. So that one takes priority and then I will go back to the one that is due the soonest. I'm not sure that I will get through with it in the time allowed...so it will be whisked away and I will get myself back on the list and eventually get it on down the line. We had another good rain shower this afternoon. I poured about a half inch out of the rain gauge when I got home from breakfast and when I looked out, it looks like there is about that much more in it now. I just got notification that we should expect rain tomorrow. We are definitely in a rainy cycle. We'll take it and pray that we won't get into a drought time this year...but summer hasn't arrived yet...I'm sure that we will have plenty of hot and dry days ahead of us. But for the moment the gardens are enjoying all the rain. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

It Has Been a Year

Today marks the anniversary of Woody's death. In some ways it seems much longer than a year and in others much shorter. I feel that I really have two days that get me looking back to that day, as I have the date he died (16th) and I have the day (Father's Day) that he died--one and the same last year! But yesterday really had memories flooding in. Today Melany came and did more gardening for me...so we spent part of the morning and afternoon together...so that kept me busy and kept me from "looking back" too much. She got a lot more done on that side garden...but it is going to take her one more visit to complete that garden. I didn't garden, but did garden related activities. Melany and family had given me a new bird bath and a rooster solar light and some other solar lights. And, I got those ready to put in the gardens. Marie also asked me to teach Sunday School this coming Sunday, so after getting the garden items ready, I sat on the front porch and started making a rough outline for the lesson...at least it is a start! This evening I went to Monday Night Furnace Room Prayer meeting. So my day has been pretty full of activity. Melany brought a couple of new plants to put in the garden near the road. I needed to water them this evening and was going to water after coming home from prayer meeting, but I decided to water before going. Well, I should have waited, as a pretty heavy rain shower/thunderstorm rolled through while I was at prayer meeting. We have really been getting the rain lately! It was a pretty good day for Melany's gardening...it was overcast for most of the time she was working and there was a pleasant breeze and the humidity wasn't too bad. So she didn't get too hot during her gardening chores. We had a good lunch. She brought some pork chops that they grilled out yesterday and some homemade peach barbecue sauce (pretty good!) and I provided the marinated salad. Then she also brought some cheesecake from their Father's Day meal along with blueberry sauce. All was yummy! And. not much work on anyone's part today. Melany is home safely. I am home safely. She and Wade were out in their yard looking at their gardens...and their chickens (which, by the way, have started gifting them with eggs...the last couple of days each of three hens have provided them with an egg). I am now torn as to whether I am going to read or stitch. I am well underway with my next Christmas ornament, but I also had an e-book delivered that I had been waiting for...a James Patterson book...so that is hard for me to resist. We'll see as the evening progresses...maybe I have time for a little of both! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Happy First Anniversary, Payton and Abigail!

Flag Day 2025

This morning I decided that I wanted to finish stitching the Christmas ornament I was currently working on...and, I did. This afternoon I made a marinated veggie salad...lots of slicing and dicing. It is in the refrigerator letting the flavors meld before it can be enjoyed. I just got the dishes loaded and the dishwasher running. I still have a few dishes to do by hand, but for the most part I am through in the kitchrn for today. I did do a Saturday vacuum spiffing in a couple of rooms. I filed the papers that were in a stack on my sewing cutting table...so the table is just about cleared of non-sewing items. I serged the edges of some linen for some more cross stitch ornaments. I am planning on putting a strip of linen on a small cross stitch stand I have...it holds a small roller frame...that way the fabric will be taut as I stitch and I can stitch with "two hands." I can have my dominant a hand on each side of the frame and can stitch a little easier than when I stitch holding the fabric in my hand...perhaps it will speed up the process...which should help me finish the number of ornaments that I have to finish. I would like to stitch other things than Christmas at some point during the rest of the year! I am going to baste the linen to the scroll bars this evening. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! Oh, yesterday my rain gauge measured 2.2 inches of rain! We have "only" had a little rain today!

A Wet Friday

I got off to the grocery store a little later than I had planned. (I slept in a little later than usual.) But my timing was pretty good...as I was checking out, I got a message on my phone that the rain would be starting in about ten minutes. I got checked out quickly and got the groceries loaded in my trunk and headed home. When I was almost home, the rain started. It was raining pretty hard as I drove into my driveway, so I opened the garage door and pulled in and just sat till it let up. I didn't have any groceries that needed to get into the fridge or freezer immeddiately so the wait was fine. It started lessening and I was thinking about running between raindrops, but it was still thundering so I waited. It wasn't very long and it stopped and the sun came out. I got everything in before the next rain rolled in. It started again as I was taking in my last load. So pretty close to perfect timing...if I had gotten started just a little earlier, I would have avoided the rain all together. The rain has come and gone throughout the afternoon and on into the evening. What I can see of the rain gauge through the rainy windows, it looks like we have gotten quite a bit of rain. And, I don't think that it is over yet. The rain put me in the mood to stitch and read...so that is how I spent this rainy afternoon after I got the groceries put away. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

She Came Back!

Melany got here a little before 9am and worked until lunch...and we ate closer to one than noon. So she worked hard! Tonight's photo shows one of the gardens that she worked on. This is the garden at the head of our driveway...she got that one totally weeded and also finished the part of the side garden (that runs a good part of the side of the driveway. I did include one of my gardener that I snapped with my phone and I couldn't see very well and she moved...she was throwing away a weed in the bucket behind her. She did some transplanting of some ground cover that she brought from her house. When she was weeding the garden at the head of the driveway she found some small pieces of some of last year's plants that must have reseeded...so she moved them into better spots. After lunch, she weed eated until the weedeater's battery ran down. Then she loaded up and headed back home with plans in her head to return next week for more, of what I see as torture!!! Today I didn't send much time outside as I decided to make a casserole for our lunch. I did take on the duty of watering the new transplants this evening. I have done that duty and am in for the evening with plans to stitch on the latest ornament that I am working on. The one I started over the weekend is well underway and I am pleased with it...the first of the "farm" ornaments is going well...many to go! This one knows the way to carry the sleigh! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Wednesday Workings

Tonight's photos show my balloon flowers...one when it is still in ballon stage and then the other when the balloons have "popped"/opened. Right now they are in full bloom in one of the gardens...very pretty to see all the bluey-purple color interspersed in that garden. Speaking of gardens, Melany is coming in the morning to do more weeding. I have worked some more on getting things put away upstairs and have made some fairly good progress. There are a lot of little knit picky things to do when putting/finding a place for thee items...for example I had some photo prints that needed to be put in the Christmas scrapbooks...these I needed to find what year they were from and then I just slipped the enveloope next to the page where they belonged. Then there were the shirts from Woody's work that I had used for ornaments last Christmas. Well...I still haven't made the stitched pieces into the ornaments for Melany and Wade and Nathan and Kathy. So I really don't need to keep the whole shirts that I was using but needed to be sure that I saved plenty to complete the ornaments. I also used some of the buttons from the shirts when I finished the other ones so I clipped off more buttons that I would need for these. Like I said...lots of little details that I needed to do before I could clear off the space that the shirts were taking up. The leftover pieces of the two shirts have met file 13 and I have a nice neat stack of stitched pieces that are waiting to made into ornaments along with some of the things I will need to finish them. I will be adding the stitched ornaments that I have completed in the last week or so to that pile. There were some papers that I needed to file...did that. Anyway, I am well underway...now to complete the "project" before I start piling more things on the table!!! I really do want to use my cutting table for its real purpose...cutting out patterns...because I really want to get back to sewing. Speaking about patterns, I learned today that all the major names in pattern making...McCalls, Simplicity, Butterick, Vogue...will no longer be making patterns as they have been sold to a liquidator...hard to believe that they will no longer "be!" They have a loooooong time in history been there for us sewers...but no longer. I am glad that I have a pretty good stash of patterns that I can continue to use. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Totally Tuesday!

Tuesday didn't end up as busy as I thought it was going to be last night when I wrote the blog. I had plans to go out for breakfast with Jo and Carolyn, but Carolyn isn't feeling well so we postponed our plans for today and will put that on the calendar when she is feeling better. I also had plans to work in the church library with Donna and we did do that. We did maintenance and a little nore weeding and had fun catching up with each other's worlds! I ran an errand on the way home and am now home for the evening. I just realized that I got busy inside once I got home and need to empty the wastebaskets in the house and get them out to the trash can. I rolled the garbage can out to the road when I got back home, but forgot to finish the task! It is still light so I will do that as soon as I publish this. Today I went back to sorting things on and in Woody's dresser. I had started doing that months ago, but had put that task aside to move on to something else and am now back to it. I did get underway with the next Christmas ornament...so now doing ornaments for family and friends who live close at hand...there are more of those than I have already made...so really only getting underway with the ones that I have completed...many more to go! But I am enjoying choosing ones that seem to "fit" each person I am stitching them for...the ones I am working on now have a farming theme...hmmmmmm...I wonder who those recipients might be! I found these patterns/charts in a cross stitch magazine from years gone by...as in 1990...a magazine that is almost 35 years old! Old...but still perfect for what I am doing. I always knew that I would use these magazines that I have saved! I told Woody several years back...that I had plenty of charts, etc. and that all I would need to buy would be linen and threads to stitch them on and with! True to my word! I rarely buy new charts these days. I am enjoying stitching on what I purchased over the years...liked what I bought way back when and still like them today. Now...there are some things that I purchased years back that I probably won't end up stitching as my tastes and the times have changed since then...but, samplers and Christmas ornament patterns really haven't changed in style...so on I stitch with purchases from the past! There is an acronym used for stitchers like me...Stash Accumulation Beyond Life Expectancy = SABLE...that's me a SABLE stitcher! And, I will add in here that what I have accumulated over the years is waaaaaaay less than what I see with the stitchers that I watch on Flosstube/YouTube for stitchers! I sit with nouth agape when I see ALL that some have accumulated. I have a very small stitching stash in comparison...but mine is plenty big and I will definitely not be able to stitch all that I have accumlated before I die...just stating facts!!!! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Another Monday

Another day...another Monday...they just keep rolling by! I can't believe that we are into the second week of June. I decided that the first thing that I would do today was complete the Christmas ornament that I was almost finished with last night before I fell asleep. I tiredd to finish it last night, but just couldn't keep my eyes open long enough. When I completed this orrament, I have completeed the last ornament that I need to stitch that I will send out of town. It is very good to have those done. I still have to make them into ornaments which takes some time to do, but no where near as much time as it takes to stitch all those little Xs! Joy came over this afternoon and cut my hair...so it was a very good day...hair cut days are always very good days! This evening I headed off to church for Monday Night Furnace Room Prayer Meeting. I am home and plan to watch a little TV and get things ready for my next ornaments. When I was looking through cross stitch magazines a while back, I put aside several magazines that ornaments that I wanted to stitch. One of the magazines has multiple ornaments that I want to stitch...am going to start on one of those. I started pulling thread out a little before I went to prayer meeting. I will check and see that I have found them all and put them in a basket. I still have to decide on the linen fabric I want to stitch them on. Onward toward Christmas for my stitching...only a little over six months till Christmas so it is time to get going on them in earnest! I will set aside a day to finish them into ornaments on down the road a bit. I still have a little patriotic pillow that I need to finish. I did think about getting it made today...I did move the stitched flag and some fabric to use in the finish...just never actually got out the things that I need to get underway with it...but it is closer to the sewing machine! I put away a few things today that didn't have a home...trying to once again clear off my sewing cutting table (the place that all homeless objects seem to land). We had another rainy period this afternoon. We have certainly been in a rain pattern lately! Tomorrow is going to be a busy day. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious.

Sunday Favorites

Saturday: Partly Sunny…Partly Stormy

I woke up to the sun shining, but by the afternoon, the promised rain did come through. Again, we had two different rain storms come through...the first produced just a little thunder and a little rain. But the second one came through with strong winds and more thundere and more rain. I happened to be going out to the laundry room when the strongest hit and I was really surprised at how dark it got and how strong the wind was blowing through the trees. It bleew a pot with one of my tomato plants in it over. And it "flattened" three of my tomato plants that are in a cement planter. In other words, the planter was too heavy so the plants just got blown over and were tall enough that the tops were laying on the ground. After it passd by I went out to set my tomato plant in the pot back up and I found some stakes to prop up the other three tomato plants. They are flowering and have a few baby tomatoes on them...so I didn't want them to end up broken off. They seemed to be none the worse for wear! I was surprised at how many small branches were blown down on the ramp. I picked those up and picked up a few on the side of the ramp near the house. Between the two storms we got a little over an inch of rain. I like these inches of rain that we have been getting...means that I don't have to do much watering with the hoses! One of my goals today was to get the cross stitch ornament I was stitching on finished and to start on another one...both of those goals were met. The good thing about this new ornament that I started stitching today is that it is the last one that I need to stitch that I mail out of town. The rest I stitch willl be for local family and friends. We are getting close to the haf-way mark to Christmas so that is when I have to up the speed of getting ornaments done. And, of course, none of these ornaments are really "done!" They are stitched, but still have to be finished into an ornament...but the stitching part is what takes the longest time...so I am in a very good place. I lacked a lot of energy today so it was a good stitching day! Yesterday I finished reading the public library book I had been reading and an audible book of this same series came up in my library app, Libby. So I decided that I would borrow it and listen to it while I stitch. I started listening to it sometime yesterday and have let it run in the background of whatever I have been doing...stitching, doing a little work in the kitchen, etc. Well, by this afternoon, I was getting close to the finish so I sat back with stitching in hand and decided that I would finish listening to it. At some point, I must have dozed off...and...when I awakened, the book had finished! Now to back up enough to find out exactly how it ended...it was a mystery...I do know part of the mystery...but not totally sure of "who done it!" One of the perils of me listening to books...it's easy to fall asleep and then have to figure out where you were when you fell asleep! I do know the chapter number of where I started listening before dozing off...so I should be able to go back enough to get the last details of this mystery! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Friday Once Again!

It really doesn't seem possible that it is already Friday, again...and, that almost one week of June is over. Time flies when you are having fun and even when you're not. I haven't had the greatest day today. I don't know if I was just tired from "all" my activity yesterday or if it was the weather front that was approaching. But I haven't felt like doing very much. That was good for finishing another book and doing a little more stitching. One reason that I chose not to do much, but pretty much stay in my chair most of the day was because one of my knees was bothering me. I put the heating pad on it and rested for a while this morning and that seemed to help. I tried not to go up and down the stairs very much. But when I needed to go get something a little while ago, I noticed that my knee wasn't bothering me like it was when I came downstairs this morning. My knee could also be from the front that has been approaching. I assume that the first of the weather that wasa expected today and tomorrow has passed us by so maybe barometric pressure is more stable than earlier. I did get a quick sewing project done that Kathy had asked me to do. I was glad to finally pick that up and do it. We did have a couple of rain showers come through late in the afternoon. I emptied the rain gauge earlier in the day...so whatever is in it now is from the latest of our rains. I didn't need to go to the grocery store today so I had another stay-at-home day...which I was glad not to have to go any place. i got the clothes put away that I washed yesterday so that was a good job done. I plan to continue taking it easy this evening. Maybe I will have more energy tomorrow?!? To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

A Visit from my Gardner Daughter!

Melany arrived this morning with the back of her vehicle packed with needed equipment. She attacked the garden that runs along the driveway with a vengeance! She worked so hard and made a good dent in the weeds in that garden...but unfortuneatley there are plenty more for her next gardening visit, which may be next week. I kept busy...but not with weeding. I watered my herb gardens on the patio...first time to water the gardens this year. I also watered the gerber daisies at the end of the driveway. I sprayed off the filter that goes in our downstairs air return and sat it on the ramp to dry...I kept going back to it turning it up and down and backwards and forewards letting the wind blow through and the sun shine on it. It dried fairly quickly. I had been wanting to clean that filter for a while, but our weather hadn't cooperated with all the rain that we've had. But today was a good day for doing that. I cleaned my hummingbird feeders and made new nectar for them...again, a job that I had been needing to do. The squash plants that Wade planted seemed to have a problem...white powdery substance on some of the leaves. Melany and I looked it up on the internet and found that a baking soda solution could solve the problem...so I made that solution and sprayed the plants. Tben I warmed the lunch that Melany brought for us. We enjoyed our lunch. Melany planted a plant behind the mailbox (Thanks, Linda!) after lunch and then packed up all she brought back into her vehicle and she was off so she would be in time for a hair appointment back in Murfreesboro. It has been a good and packed day. I am sure that Melany is tired, as she did soooo much more than I did, and, I ended up taking a good nap after she left! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Wednesday

This barn has seen better days...looks pretty good from the from the front...but the sides really had a problem. I wonder if a storm blew through it! Today, I have once again stayed at home and enjoyed the day doing a little of this a little of that. I guess the main job that I wanted to do today was my wash and I am still doing that. I may not get done with this task till tomorrow. But at least I have started it. Melany plans to come in the morning to work in my gardens. I know she will make great headway with them. At the moment the weeds are just overwhelming to me. It has been another quite warm day with the high in the mid 80s. I have pretty much stayed inside. So I really haven't noticed if it has been hot or not. I enjoyed the potato salad today and I stir fried some yellow squash and zucchini to go with it along with some of the Pork tenderloin that I had roasted a couple of weeks ago and had put in the freezer...I had some of the gelatin salad for dessert...pretty good meal. Melany is bringing something from her freezer for our lunch tomorrow so we won't have to cook. Being well fed around here! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Technically Tuesday

It is hard for me to be totally sure that it is Tuesday, as Donna and I didn't go to the church to work in the library this afternoon. At the moment we are pretty much caught up with "have-to-do" library work. So if either of us has something else on our calendars,it is easy to skip a work day. Today was one of those days. Though, I did "technically" do some library work today, as I returned a call to someone who had a question about donating books. So the library wasn't totally forgotten today. I mentioned last night that I was in the mood for some salads...yesterday I made a gelatin salad...and that I was considering making a potato salad today. And, I did muster up enough energy to do just that. It is in the refrigerator getting cold. I am looking forward to eating it once it is well chilled. Making a potato salad made quite a mess in the kitchen. I have started on the clean up. I have the dishes that will fit in the dishwasher and those that can't, I will wash by hand when I get my next spurt of energy this evening. In my down time today I have done some stitching...and...some napping. I have done some texting with friends and also had a conversation or two on the phone. It has been a very warm day...summer is approaching...and, it is beginning to feel like it. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

It’s June!

Hooray! I have the new keyboard working for the blog. I struggle with it each night to get it to work and most of the time it doesn't work. Often my blogs are much shorter when I can't get it to work! Maybe not working is a blessing to my readers!!! We really had a nice celebration with Esther yesterday. There were family and friends at their house to help her celebrate this milestone in her life. Wade, Melany, and Erin picked me up and we headed over to the Dorrell farm. We ate and visited for a while, then headed back home. In the end Alex and Brooke didn't come, as Brooke wasn't feeling well. So I "almost" had all my grandchildren gathered together in one place! Melany, Wade, and Erin left the party with some extra critters--chickens! As we drove to my house, Erin named them = Henrietta, Ducky and Lucky. I guess they have settled into Melany's new chicken coop. They are hoping for eggs! Since I had a pretty busy weekend, I didn't choose to do a lot today! I did do some cooking. I have decided that the temperatures are rising so I wanted to make some salads. Today I made a gelatin salad. I guess these days gelatin salads are not as popular as they once were, but I still like one every so often. I "may" get up the energy toto make the potato salad that I have planned to make this week. I went to prayer meeting this evening and am now back home and ready to start the dish washer and settle in for the evening. I'm planning to watch some needlework shows on YouTube and stitch. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Today We Celebrated Esther's High School Graduation!

Esther receiving her diploma from her principal, her dad!

Spiffing Up the House

When I thought up tonight's blog title, I wondered if many use the term "spiff" very often any more...I feel that it is an old fashioned term. But I feel that it describes what I did today...just a light cleaning that made the downstairs look better. Tomorrow Wade, Melany, and Erin will be stopping by to pick me up and I figure they will probably come inside. So I wanted to neaten and clean things up a bit. We are all going to Esther's high school graduation celebration. I have also finished another book...another for the Cottey alum book club. I am also about halfway finished with the Christmas ornament that I started yesterday. As I say good bye to May, I am doing well with the goals that I have set for this year...a book a week/4 a month and I'm a book ahead so far for the year. My other goal is an ornament a month and I am one and a half ahead for the year. I still can't believe that it is so close to the 5th month of the year to draw to a close...just a matter of hours. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Ducks in a Row

I guess you could say that I got my ducks in a row and planned some future cooking. In other words, I went through some recipes, made a grocery list, and went grocery shopping. in other words not the most exciting of days!!! But I did get out of the house! I did finish the Christmas ornament last night, which makes me one anead of stitching one a month...as I now have six stitched for this coming Christmas. It is that time of the year that I need to step it up as one a month won't give me enough to gift when Christmas comes around. I did start another ornament. I've done some reading, too. I did finally get all the bunnies and other Spring decorations put away in their bins amd back in the closet. I had them all on the guest room bed and had sort of forgotten that they were still there until I passed that room yesterday. I guess it really is "out of sight, out of mind!" I can't believe how close we are to saying good bye to May and welcoming June. This year is rapidly passing us by. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Thoroughly Thursday

I have had another day of just staying at home and doing a little of this and a little of that and not much of anything! I had no definite plans for today...which usually means that I don't do a lot! I've started, once again, to clear off my cutting table...a never ending task, as that seems to be the place that I lay things when I am in a hurry and don't have a specific place to store them. I am determined to clear it so I can do some sewing projects that I have in mind. I have read a little, stitched some more on the latest Christmas ornament...getting close tona finish on this one. I've done a little work in the kitchen...mainly putting dishes away and reloading the dishwasher. I didn't do any cooking today other than warming up what I made earlier in the week. I even did a little vacuuming due to me tracking in some grass after I went out to get the mail. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

A Stay-At-Home Day

After two days of running around, I enjoyed a quiet day here at home. Last night we had a storm come through after I blogged and if I can believe my new rain gauge, we got almost 3 inches of rain! So far this growing season, I haven't had to water any plants! We have definitely gotten our share of rain! Today, I didn't do a whole lot. I had some allergy problems earlier...at the moment they have settled down. I worked on getting cameras and lenses put away and a camera battery recharged. I have looked through my photos from Monday's trip. The particular path that we took this time didn't produce as many barns as we often find, but we did find some, along with very old houses and several cemeteries. Over the next days, I will post some of the ones that I did get. I have moved right along with the Christmas ornament that I started a few days back. I also read some more on the library book that I got from the public library. I talked to Melany after she left school this afternoon. She,s counting the hours till she will be out of school for the summer. The main trouble is that those hours involve two days of going to school. But she is really looking forward to summer freedom...I remember that feeling from my teaching days! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

More Running Around

Donna and I worked in the library...did the minimum amount of maintenance and then decided to go back to weeding the collection. While we were working, Nathan called suggesting that we make a trip to a Mennonite greenhouse. They had all their plants marked half price. Nathan found more pf what he wanted than I did. I did get some basil. I got my four little plants planted after I got home...I think that Nathan and the kids are still digging holes for his purchases. Right next door to the green houses there is a Mennonite run grocery store. We stopped there and checed out what they had. I bought some farmer's cheese and some strawberry rhubarb jam. Nathan got some plain gelatin for a cookimg project/experiment that he and the children are planning. He also got a few other things. It was a nice side trip to add onto the day! I know I will enjoy the goodies from the store and will soon be using the basil in my cooking. I saw several barns onthis trip, but didn't take a camera..I thought about it, but forgot to pick it up before I left. We didn't go far so I think I could retrace our steps. Most of the barns I saw had quilt squares painted on them. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Spur of the Moment Memorial Day Trip

Marie called a little before noon and said that she was heading out in a little while and would I like to join her...not much hesitation on my part! We headed off with cameras in hand. We had a great few hours out enjoying how pretty the countryside is at the moment after all the spring rains that we have been having. Everything is so green and lush. We took several side roads and found a fair quantity of barns and other things of which to snap photos. We got back in town just in time for me to run home and then head out again to Monday Night Furnace Room Prayer meeting. I am home from that and am looking forward to checking out the photos that I took today. Tonight's photo, I took towards the end of our little trip and, though, not a barn, I thought it was the most appropriate to post on this day of remembrance. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Memorial Day Weekend Memory—34 Years Ago! Happy Anniversary, Wade & Melany!

Simply Saturday

It has been a quiet day for me. I mainly did just what I wanted to do. I did a little cleaning...took advantage of having an upstairs vacuum...got it out to vacuum up threads that I had gotten on the floor yesterday while I was taking the waistband stitches out of my pants. I aimed for the wastebasket when I was removing them, but I didn't have the best aim! Since I did that quick vacuuming in the sewing room, I decided to vacuum all the places that I could reach without unplugging the vacuum...so that meant a lick and a promise to the upstairs hall and into all the bedrooms as far as the cord would reach. While I was upstairs, I did the next step on my little patriotic piece. After I did that, the piece had to sit until it was totally dry. So that is where it stands at the moment...still on the ironing board, ready for the next step. After I put the vacuum away, I headed back downstairs and have spent a good part of the rest of the day with my cross stitch. I put away all the skeins of thread from my last two Christmas ornaments. Then I made up my mind as to which ornament to stitch next which I then pulled the threads for. I made a working copy of the cross stitch chart and got underway with a new start for the next Christmas ornament. I have read a little more on my book and studied my Sunday School lesson for tomorrow. To be continued. It has been a drizzly afternoon...never a hard rain...but drippy! Also it has been quite cool for a Memorial Day weekend. I have actually been a bit chilly. I went back to layering...a 3/4 length sleeve knit top with a denim shirt over it...so didn't have to get into my cold weather closet...but did think about it! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Fully Friday

I've had a pretty busy Friday, and, actually accomplished what I set out to accomplish. I finally got back into my sewing room. When I left it lastI had gotten to the sewing chair that Woody's dad built for Woody's mother. It is a wooden chair with a seat that raises up so there is storage under the seat "cushion" and it has drawers on the side of the base/seat portion. I store thread in those drawers. I have embroidery design CDs and memory cards in the seat portion. I rarely get into the seat, as all those designs are downloaded to my machine or to a thumbdrive. Today's main accomplishment was to clear what had been stacked up on the seat of the chair. That is where projects to do often land...like mending, planned things to do, some supplies, patterns, a sewing magazine or two. I started from the top and either did some of the work that was needed to be done or put the item away. The first item on the top of the pile was a pair of pants that I had bought back in the Fall...or maybe it was Winter. They were too short so I had already done that job, but decided that I wanted to change the elastic in the waist...that is the job I started today. It seemed to take forever to remove the elastic...but finally I did manage to get that done. The elastic was serged in...so not an easy fix. I have the elastic removed and thought that I had elastic to replace it with, but decided that I need a narrower elastic...so that will take a purchase. I hung the pants up with written instructions on what I wanted to do to them to finish the project (that way I won't forget when I get around to getting to complete the project). They, along with the instructions pinned to them, are now hanging in the sewing room closet, I had a pair of pajama pants that needed attention to the elastic, also...I decided that I will put in a drawstring...they originally had elastic and a drawstring. I had removed the drawstring, but now that they elastic is giving way, I decided that the easiest fix was put a drawstring back in. I either have to make a drawstring or buy some twill tape for the drawstring...I found a source for twill tape so when I get around to ordering it, I will fix them...these PJ pants also got hung up in the sewing closet. And, that is the way items on the chair got dealt with. A good portion of the things just needed to be put away. Two sewing magazines were returned to a box that has possible patterns and ideas for things I want to make. Some papers got either thrown away or filed away. Anyway, after quite a few hours of work, I had the chair cleared and a little more work done on the projects that had been awaiting me to find the time to work on them! I also got a tiny cross stitch of a flag pressed and ready to be made into a small pillow to add to my patriotic decorations. That may be a projet for tomorrow. I left the design and the backing fabric on the ironing board so I can proceed and get it completed. I have two sewing projects that I need to do for Kathy and they are front and forward to remind me to do them! Tonight's photos show the little that I did in my gardens today. I changed my yard flag and put back my crane that had been blown over in one of our wind storms. Then I added three colorful mushrooms in another place in the garden in front of the porch. I also moved another gerber daisy down into the middle of the trunks of that tree. So I sort of did a little gardening today. I did finish the Christmas ornament last night that I had been working on so that completes the fifth one for this year...at this point I have met my goal of finishing at least one ornament a month. I plan to decide this evening which ornament I will stitch next. I am happy with what I got finished today and enjoyed spending time in my sewing room. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Look at This Smile!

Look who got his braces off yesterday! Isaac and his parents stopped by a little while ago to let me capture his new smile! Isn't his smile dazzling!!! He is the eighth Dorrell to have graced this orthodontic practice. Melany, Nathan, Graham, Abigail, Joy, Esther, Elijah, and now Isaac...only one to go, Joseph! Lookin' great, Isaac. I have stayed home today and mostly did what I wanted to do...which amounted to not a lot! I have stitched, read, roasted a pork tenderloin, repotted a gerber daisy, reorganized a little more, which meant a little more cleaning (but very little), and I napped. I ended up taking two naps as I awakened way too early this morning so ended up taking a little nap this morning, as well as one this afternoon! I am getting closer to finishing the cross stitch ornament that I am working on...maybe I will finish it tonight. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Busy Wednesday

I ran errands for a couple of hours today...included in my outing was a stop at the pharmacy to pick up a prescription and a couple of graduation cards and then on to Hobby Lobby. I needed to look for a couple of things to add to my "summer/patriotic" decorations. I had fun looking and choosing. Then I came home and worked on getting my summer/patriotic decorations put out. I am still working on just how I want them to look, but am fairly pleased at this point. I also put away bunnies, though I still have a few to put away and then get the tubs put back away in the closet. I actually put in some stitches on the Christmas ornament that I am currently working on. I need to get this done soon as I am trying to have one done a month and the month is rapidly drawing to a close. But, if I continue to work on it the way I did today, I shouldn't have any problem getting it finished and the next one started. As I put away clothes yesterday, I decided that it was finally time to put sweatshirts and pants into my off season closet...I really don't think that I will be needing them again till Fall approaches. It seems that even if a cold front comes through, the temperatures won't fall all that far. Yesterday's storms were due to a cold front, but definitely today wasn't all that cold...highs in the 70's instead of the 80's. Today was pleasant, but quite breezy. This afternoon, I had an interesting thing happen...showing how thoughtful folk in the South are...but it also made me realize how old I must look to others. I went out to get my mail and roll the garbage can back to the house and a very thoughful young man stopped his truck, hopped out and offered to help me roll it back. I told him I was fine doing it and thanked him. But it does make me realize how old I look...and I say it that way as I don't feel as old as I am...or as old as I must look!!! Oh, well...I figure that rolling that can back and forth between the house and the toad and back again is one of my forms of exercise!!!! And, I need to do it as long as I can! I did finish the book that was due at the public library over the weekend and I got it returned before it was due. I am reading another that I borrowed from them and also I have two e-books underway. I figure that is a challange for my brain...to keep the storylines straight!!!! I think that I am going to go back to reading just e-books and books from the church library so I don't have to be under the gun about due dates! I'm ready to sit back and relax this evening stitching, watching a bit of TV and perhaps putting in a few more stitches. It has been hard to keep straight what day it is, since our Wednesday Bible study is taking a break till August. It's summer vacation...so routine has changed! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

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.