Tuesday

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A Whale of a Tail and a Spout! (I think this fella was getting together with two of his friends to do some bubble-net fishing.  I have posted my photo of bubble-net fishing before but I will add it in here for those who might have missed it.  I guess the bubble-net fishing is my favorite photo from my Alaska cruise…something I really wanted to capture, but never dreamed that the whales would cooperate!

Today has been a stay-at-home day.  I have done some things around the house…cleaning the kitchen, bathrooms, a little vacuuming, a little picking up, washed, dried and put away a load of towels…things like that.  

I did finish the book that I was almost finished with last night.  But I didn’t finish it last night.  I fell asleep with it in my hand.  So I finished it this morning after I woke up rather early.  In between cleaning jobs I rested and got going on reading another book that I was already underway with.  I have made headway on it…but it is not as intriguing as the one I finished this morning.  The book I’m reading now is just one of those that I am far enough along in it, that I don't want to give up on it!  It will at least add another book to my list of books read this year.  I have not read this year like I usually do…my goal is to average a book a week, in other words, have read 52 by the end of the year.  I’m about ten behind…not sure if I can make up that much of a deficit!  And, it is fine if I don't!  There are some years that I have read more than 100 and others way less.  It just depends on where my interests are in any given year…needlework, sewing, cooking, photography, and, this year traveling, cut into my reading time.

Donna and I didn't work in the library today as Donna was out of pocket.  We said last week that we would work then and take this week off.  And, even though we didn't work in the library, I remembered it was Tuesday and took the garbage out to the road.  And, while I was out, I made a trip out to the compost pile with my compost bucket.  Mundane chores!

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Happy Birthday, Esther!

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Yesterday Esther celebrated her 19th birthday with family, but today is her actual birthday. I don't have any photos from yesterday, as I wasn't feeling well and didn't end up going to her party.  The photo above shows her celebrating her 2nd birthday.  She developed her love of animals at an early age that has stayed with her over the years.  

Above is one Esther's photos on her wedding day this past December. The photographer went to Nathan's and Kathy's farm to take photos of Esther and Patrick there.  She had planned to ride on the horse in her wedding dress…but the long white dress rather spooked her horse! Still loves her animals!  She told me today that she is getting a new horse.  She is just finishing up her summer classes getting her closer to a Vet Tech degree…loving school like she never loved it before…that's what happens when you find something you love to study towards a career!  Happy 19th Esther! 

I just got home from prayer meeting.  Today has been a pretty normal day for a Monday.  I did a little around the house and did some cooking that I never got around to doing over the weekend. I stitched a little, but have mainly read today…nearing the end of a book that has me still guessing as to the outcome.  Back to my book!

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Definitely a Sunday Favorite: Joseph was Baptized Today

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Good Day to Read & Stitch

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Today has been overcast and rained off and on…good day to stay in and read and stitch.  I have done a lot of reclining and taking it easy.  The one time that I ventured outside to get the mail, I was met by a steam bath…I do think that the "dog days" of summer have arrived.  My front door and porch rail painter just texted me and said that the weather isn't very promising for a dry day for a while.  So we are going on God's timing and eventually the job will get done when we have several dry days in a row predicted.  I’m fine with waiting…the door is doing its job without paint for the time being.  I have made pretty good headway in two books.  I was trying to finish one before it got swept back into cyberspace in a couple of days…so was reading away on it.  But I got the opportunity to renew it, which I did so now that book has the longest time remaining on it so I moved to another one and made good headway on it, too.  I got to a point that the reading was putting me to sleep.  So I set my books aside and picked up my stitching…after I got up and walked around the house for a bit!  I fairly quickly finished the Christmas ornament that I have been working on for a while.  Then I decided which ornament I would stitch next and pulled the colors of floss needed and got started stitching on a new ornament…onward and upward…still a lot to stitch before it is time to make them into ornaments and gift them.  I haven't actually counted the number I need this year…but I don't think I’m even half-way yet.  But I do think that the hardest ones are behind me.  Most of those still to stitch aren't too complicated…unless I change my mind!! And, would I do that?!? 

Tomorrow is a big day for our family.  Joseph is being baptized and Esther is celebrating her birthday.  We will be gathering at Nathan and Kathy's after church to celebrate as a family.

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Bidding Farewell to July

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Where has the month gone?  Time continues to fly by.  It seems that all I talk to feel the same way.  Does it seem possible that seven months of 2026 will be behind us tomorrow.  And, summer, according to the school schedules around here, is over, too.  As schools in Tullahoma started back today.  Of course, we know that summer isn't over yet…perhaps the hottest month is ahead of us.  And, according to the calendar and the solstices we have more summer ahead of us. Just the school systems don’t realize it!

I got my grocery list together and headed off to Kroger late morning.  Lots in Tullahoma and the surrounding areas also had the same idea…pretty busy.  But once again, when it was time for me to check out, I had a cashier ready for me before I had all my groceries on the conveyer belt.  By the time I had my shopper code typed in she was ready for me to pay. She is VERY efficient…of course, as she said today, she has done this job for MANY years.  

My shopping, putting away groceries, and fixing myself two meals have used up most of my energy today.  I have felt rather lazy for most of the day.  I had planned to do a lot more stitching than I ended up getting done to his point of the day.  But I am making slow-but-sure headway on the Christmas ornament that I am currently working on.  I think that I may be able to have this ornament done by blogging time tomorrow night.  This afternoon drowsiness overtook me.  I’m hoping to be able to keep my eyes open a little longer this evening and get some more stitches put in.  I need to get on with these ornaments, as I said a the start…the year is flying by and even though I started early working on ornaments, but there are still many to go…I’m not even sure if I have half of them stitched at this point.  So must keep on stitching and doing less dozing!!

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

I Voted

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Today I managed to run errands.  First I voted, then I made a stop at the Credit Union, and then on to buy gas.  That was my run around for the day.  I have stitched…did get all the Xs finished on the cross stitched Christmas ornament…finally…but so far haven't started the back stitching.  But at least I’m definitely closer to another ornament being finished.  I’ve talked to Cheryl, Connie, and Melany.  Melany is getting so close to school starting…again.  She plans to go to her school in the morning and start getting her room ready…her thoughts as she goes about this yearly routine, will be that after this year, she will only have only two more years of starting school.  She is to the point of counting years till she retires.  How is it possible that a child of mine is getting close to retirement?!?

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! 

Last Wednesday in July

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Butchart Gardens, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

I stayed at home and puttered around the house today and read and stitched.  I did spend some time in the sewing room…trying to get motivated to do some garment sewing.  I did hunt through buttons that might work on the top that I want to make.  I really do want to sew…at least in my mind…but just can't quite get my sewing mojo back.  I figured if I sat in the sewing room and stared at the beautiful piece of fabric that I will get inspired to get back to sewing.  While in there, I put away some fabric that I had out for a project and decided to wait on that project for another time.  So put it back in my sewing closet to wait till I pick it up again.  At least it is out of the way, but still easy to get to…and in sight.  You probably know what happens when something is out of sight…out of mind, too!  I even ironed a pair of my crop pants…they are cotton and never come out of the dryer without needing at a little pressing.  So a little was accomplished while I was seeking inspiration in my sewing room today.  

My main push for the moment is to finish stitching another Christmas ornament.  The one that I am working on is a little more time consuming than some and has taken more time than I thought it would.  I am finally seeing a finish in the near future…at least I hope that I am at that place with it. The cross stitching is almost done…then there is a LOT of back stitching to do…but back stitching goes much faster than the cross stitching…I hope so, anyway!

I have settled into my chair for the evening.  I did do some reading before I picked up my stitching again.  About an hour ago I got back to cross stitching. Onward with the stitching.  I "might" be able to finish the Xs tonight and be ready to backstitch tomorrow.  But I usually underestimate the length of time left in a piece…the stitching always takes longer than I think it will.  This is not an instant gratification hobby!  

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!