I Thought It Was A Leaf!

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I was walking back to the house from the compost pile and heading up the ramp to go in the back door and started to flick this leaf off the end of the ramp rail…and realized it wasn't a leaf!  Photo op!  I headed in and got my camera and take a picture or two before he decided to hop off somewhere else.  He was basking in the sun.  Tiny little thing.  I’m sure he is awaiting my sister's arrival to be able to greet her.  Roads are not her favorite critters! 

I spent quite a bit of time in the kitchen today…really one of my favorite places to spend time…so that was a good thing.  I did a little cooking…I needed something for my supper.  And, I did some cleaning. Today was the perfect day to clean my oven and it was a cool day…so the heat from the cleaning cycle didn’t build up too much and I was able to open a couple of windows to keep the smell down…and I have a nice clean oven to show for it.  My refrigerator is pretty empty…it’s anticipating being filled tomorrow.  It was the perfect day to wipe off the shelves since I didn't have to move much food around.  So inside of the fridge is all ready for tomorrow's grocery shopping day.  

I now need to go put dishes in the dishwasher that I used for supper.  Then my cleaning duties will be done for today.  I also did some bathroom cleaning today.  Two days to go till Cheryl is here and I just looked and it is 18 days till the cruise. 😳 I’m pretty much ready for Cheryl to be here…now…nowhere near ready to go cruising! 

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

The Yard and Carwash Crew Came Today!

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Today has seemed like a day-and-a-half!  Lots went on! I switched to the pest control that Nathan was using and had my first inspection and treatment today…so that took a while with two different people…one for "regular ol' pests” and the other to inspect for termites.  Before the termite person left, Nathan, Isaac, Joseph, and Kathy showed up to mow, weed eat, sweep, etc. and to wash my car.  I went to get my camera to capture Joseph, my youngest grandchild (12), tear around on the mower!  Doesn't he look like a cool dude!?! Then I put my camera back in the house, when I went in to get the car key and the others didn't get captured by the camera…but they all worked very hard.  I even got Nathan to take the white rockers off the porch and spray them off so they would be cleaner when we "porch sit" after Cheryl gets here…just three days from now and she will be here.  I also checked out the cruise app this morning and was greeted with 19 days till departure for Alaska!! 😳 Anyway, lots went on outside in my yard today.  And, lots going on in my head attempting to change gears and think company and a trip! 

I just got home from Bible study…the last for a few weeks…we will have one for four weeks in June and then take a break until August when school starts back up.  

I spent time making a grocery list while the "bug men" were here so that got me thinking food for next week and the next when we will be joined by my niece and her daughter.  So that is a good thing towards getting ready.  I made applesauce by my mother's verbal instructions that I wrote down on a paper years ago.  When I was done with it, it didn't seem to taste just right…of course, Woody always said that my applesauce never tasted as good as my mother’s!  Mother thought it was funny to be known for her applesauce…Mother was a very good cook…so she made us lots of delicious food over the years…but applesauce always stood out to Woody. I have put my applesauce in the refrigerator to get cold and let the flavors meld…I will pass judgment, again, tomorrow when I taste it after it is cold!

I think it is time to stitch!

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

Here's a Funny Picture for You

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I was trying to figure out how to fill the hummingbird feeder and got my picture taken on the bird cam! 🙄 And, I never figured out how to do it.  If I recall when Melany set it up, it wasn't hard to do, but with it hanging and with it all wired up, I haven't figured out how to get to the cylinder to put the hummingbird nectar in.  I saw my first hummingbird today so I want to get my hummingbird feeders filled.  

I’ve just done things here and there today…I guess I am a little closer to being ready both for company and my cruise.  This afternoon, Donna and I worked in the library.  It was our first time to work since we got the new computer.  So it was our day to learn how to turn the computer on, log in and get to our library program.  I think by the end of our work time we both have it down.  We each started it up several times to make sure we had it down pat!  Plus we have written down the instructions and have in strategic places to act as cheat sheets…just in case our repetitions today don't stick!!  

Today I have mainly worked in the kitchen and the upstairs hall bathroom.  Oh, and, knocked down a lot of boxes that had accumulated.  I got those out on the curb for recycle pickup tomorrow.  Emptied all the inside wastebaskets and got them out to our trash can and dragged it out to the curb, too.  It was heavier than usual…I guess I have been throwing things away!  

The washing machine and dryer are calling!

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!  And, be aware that candid camera may be right on your own front porch when you least expect it! (That last sentence dates some of us!)

"Things" Are Getting Serious!

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Last night Melany called to tell me that the check in for our cruise was open (wasn't supposed to open until today).  Wade had already checked both of them in and they wanted me to go on and check in so we could get the same boarding time. So I followed "orders" and did just that.  It was fairly painless!  I got all checked in and we did get the same boarding time. I guess you can say that was another hurdle cleared before we embark! This morning I found the link to print or download the boarding pass and also for printing luggage tags.  Done and done!  So another hurdle cleared!  

I am fairly calm most of the time about this upcoming cruise, but every so often I sort of go into not really panic mode…but something close to that!  I look around me and see all that needs to be done before the cruise…all the little piles of things that I want to take…but will all this "stuff" really fit into my suitcase and be able to fit in plenty of warm clothes, too!?! Gulp!  Today I felt very discombobulated…but this evening I feel calm once again!  

What I did was load up the dining room table…why not since I had it all cleared off!  I used it to put out my photography items that I want to take on the cruise,  I made sure that I have batteries, chargers, cords, etc. that I will need for each camera.  I even labeled the cords so I will know what goes with which camera or charger.  Then I started a list with three columns titled "checked bag," "carry on," and "personal item." And, listed where each of the items for my photography will be packed.  Whether this will work in the long run…who knows! But I feel better for having done it! I have to make sure that cameras and anything with a lithium battery are either in my carry on or my personal item…they can't be checked!

All I can say is it is a start.  I didn't get a lot done towards Cheryl's arrival, but I need to be making these decisions right along with my getting ready for company!  I’m hoping that my head will stop spinning and I can get more accomplished tomorrow.

Esther stopped by this morning and left me two of her scrub shirts for Vet Tech school.  She needed patches sewn on them.  I did get that little sewing job completed this afternoon.  And, then I promptly took a little nap in my sewing chair!

I have just returned from prayer meeting.  I’m not sure what the evening will hold for me!  As soon as I publish the blog, I plan to eat a bite of supper and then empty the dishwasher.  That may be the extent of what I do this evening that takes much effort.  I did finish the Cardinal Sampler yesterday and am now in the mood to work on another sampler and I have put in a few stitches today.  I really need to get back to Christmas stitching.  Plus I do have to choose what I’m taking on the cruise as I do plan to stitch on the Christmas ornaments while at sea…at least a little bit!  Lots to do in these coming days!

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

Mother's Day 2026 at Nathan's

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Busy, Busy Saturday

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The pictured room, the guest room aka Cheryl's room is ready to be occupied by Cheryl. And, if all goes as scheduled, Cheryl will be here next week at this time.  Today, I washed, dried and remade the bed with fresh linens.  I fluffed pillows, dusted, and vacuumed.  Today I did what I guess you could call "fussy dusting." I actually moved items and dusted under and around them…most dusting sessions, I just Swiffer around objects on table.  The hardest table to dust isn't in this photo…but it takes a bit of doing to get things back the way they were!   I started cleaning the hall bathroom…washed and dried and rehung the towels.  The towels hadn't been used since they were washed last…but they hadn’t been hanging there for some time…so they needed freshening.  

A little more about this room.  The quilt at the foot of the bed was made by my grandmother.  And, you see a couple of my tiny efforts at quilting…the wall hanging and the large pillow in front of the headboard.  This is the type of quilting that I like to do. I’m not much on making large bed-size quilts.  I enjoy making quilted pictures like these.  The baby doll that you see in the corner was one of my Aunt Lois' dolls from her doll collection.  Aunt Lois made the christening dress that she is wearing and she is sitting in my grandfather's high chair.  

I’m through with my getting-ready efforts for tonight.  I'm two initials and four numbers away from finishing the sampler I’m working on.  I hope to finish that tonight and maybe watch a little TV and put my feet up.

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

Is It Really Friday?

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I haven't done my usual Friday routine (grocery store) so I am off as to what day it is.  I have stopped several times today and had to think what day it is.  I did get all my patriotic decorating done today.  Other than that it has been a little of this and a little of that.  I have piled up more things on the stacks of "things to go on the cruise." I hope I have room for all these planned things to take!  I guess I will discover that when the day actually comes to put everything in the suitcase, carry on, and personal item!  

I was able to tell the oral surgeon yesterday that finally this week I am feeling more like myself and that my energy level seems to have risen…thank goodness!  I continued to feel good today…so glad to be trending on the upward scale of feeling better!  I have made many trips up and down the stairs getting things and putting other things away.  I am glad to see the living room back to normal…it got a bit messy in the process of putting Spring items away and getting patriotic/Summer items out. That job is done and there are just a few things still on the table in there.  I am leaving those to be used on the front porch…I think.  I plan to run the vacuum in the living room tomorrow and declare that room done…at least for the time being! I've got a little to do in Cheryl's room and since she is the first to arrive…then "her" bathroom.  Mainly little things to do…or so it seems at the moment!  And, I’m finally enjoying doing them, since I am feeling better.

Oh, I will have to share that I have attempted to drink from a straw since that ban was lifted.  Well…so strange…but…one can not drink from a straw if that opening in the sinus wall isn't covered well…so…if…I want to drink from a straw, I have to cover the area where the hole is with the side of my tongue…then I can drink from a straw…at this point I'm not sure it worth the effort!  All I can say is: "We are fearfully and wonderfully made, and, we don't realize how fearfully until things start going wrong!" 

Tonight's photo shows one of the little vignettes that I created today. These items are all sitting in an antique metal and wood scoop.  I will enjoy these till the end of the summer.  I am concentrating on patriotic this year because of the USA's 250th birthday celebration.  I have been having fun stitching lots of patriotic items! 

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