Tying Up Loose Ends

I've spent most of the day trying to finish up a few things that needed to be done.  For one thing I had some church library work that needed to be done.  There had been some memorials placed in the library and I needed to write notes to let families know about the gifts in memory of their loved ones. I got all those written, addressed and stamped.  I also got all the paper work done on the computer that goes along with library memorials...a good job done on the last day of the year.

I started making lists of things that need to be done before we head to Vanderbilt on Friday and also a list of things that I don't want to forget to take with us.  I continued to put away things that piled up over the Christmas holiday.  Fabric is put away, thread spools are put away, and now I can actually see the top of my sewing machine cabinet area and the top of my sewing cutting table is "almost" cleared off.  I still have one stack of papers to go through and a few clothes to hang up that didn't get hung up the last time I washed!  I need to get those three things put away so I can build the stack to put away when I do some wash tomorrow! Sorting clothes for tomorrow's washing job probably should come next.  Though, I think that I want to bring my book list up to date in the computer.  It's time to start a new list for 2019!  I read 68 books this year.  I slowed down over the holidays!  Once I got busy with non-stop sewing, I didn't get as much reading done.  But I did meet my goal of reading at least a book a week...went a little beyond those 52.  I have an e-book checked out to read while at the hospital and I will take a "real" book to the hospital, too.

Last night I got in the mood to do some cross stitching, but didn't want to tackle any of the large projects that I have underway so looked through a few graphs and found a small project.  I did get it
started, but will leave it to work on at the hospital, too.  I needed to get it started to see if I would be able to see it without my magnifying light.  I can see it here, but it will depend on the light in the hospital room.

Woody has been good and kept his leg up a lot today.  He did go to the Furnace Room Prayer Meeting this evening.  He is now back.  He has seemed to have a bit more energy since the last transfusion.  Yesterday he even made his Apple Zuchinni Bread.  He even cleaned up the kitchen after his bread baking, which he hasn't felt like doing in a while...he might find enough energy to cook something, but his energy level usually ran out before the cleaning up part! I know that he is ready to get the surgery over with and hopefully have it be much easier to get around not too long
after he has the surgery.

We have had a pretty rainy day today...so raining the Old Year out and I guess we will see what brings in the New Year!  "See" you next year!

Major Accomplishments!

Today I have met several goals.  First I finished an e-book that was going to fly off into cyberspace if I didn't get it finished today.  I finished that first thing this morning.  Then late this afternoon I got all the photos sorted and backed them up on a second Passport external hard drive.  And, for the moment, none of my four cameras have any pictures on them!  Of course, it is a rare day that I don't take at least one, so that phenomena won't last very long!  Though, so far today, I haven't snapped any pictures...and, don't have plans to take any.

Tonight's photo shows a sample of what I was diligently making for gifts this Christmas: mug rugs (a bit larger than a coaster so you can place your spoon on them...or even a little snack).  I think at final count that I made 28 of them.

This evening I have been making final decisions on tomorrow's Sunday School lesson.

Woody went to the library this morning.  He and Nathan ran an errand late this afternoon.  Woody has even done a few dishes today and walked out back and dumped our compost bucket on the compost pile...maybe he is feeling like he has a little more energy?

I will say the blog has been extremely helpful in helping me figure out what the occasion of some of the photos was...it works like a diary for me.  Photos are posted by date taken so I can just look back on that date and see exactly what it was that we were doing!  Last night I went back 2-1/2 years to find out about his leg surgery.  I couldn't remember how long he was in the hospital.  It may not be the same this time, but it will at least give me a hint of how long we may be there.  Last time he had the surgery on Friday and he spent the weekend in the hospital and was released to come home on Monday morning.  So we will see how close the length of this stay is to that one.  I always know that I need to plan for longer as it always seems like we end up staying there longer than I thought we would!  Time will tell!

Braver Than His Grammy!

Isaac had four teeth pulled this morning.  He did great!  He has been enjoying Jello most of the day.  Tomorrow he can have other soft food...but today he was to stick to liquids.  He was put to sleep.  Take a look at the size of these teeth...and, they are baby teeth.  He needed them taken out before his permanent teeth came in in the wrong places.  He is going to be another challenge for the

orthodontist!  The only time I saw him get a little "weak kneed" was when he found out that he had 

stitches!  That didn't sound good to him.  I think that I would be better with dentists if I had been out 

to sleep when I had all those teeth pulled getting ready for braces...but then maybe not! 

Woody had quite a looooong time at the hospital yesterday afternoon and last night and on into the wee hours of the morning.  He go to the hospital around 2pm and didn't get home till 2am!  He said that it took three hours before he ever got the first unit of blood started.  Then it takes three hours (at 

least) for each unit and he got two units.  He did say that he didn't think that they were very efficient!

About thirty minutes before Woody got home our lights went out.  They came back on about the time that he finished eating what had supposed to have been his supper.  They did get him a tray of food, but he couldn't eat most of what was on it.  He said that he hadn't realized how hungry he was till he started eating the pasta dish that I had made him...luckily this pasta dish tastes okay warmed or cold...since couldn't warm anything due to electricity being out.

This morning I did let Dr. Holt know that he had had the shot for anemia and 2 units of blood, as I know that there probably wouldn't be any communication between our local hospital and Vanderbilt. I am going to post the name of the anemia shot for nurse friends who read the blog and for my records so I can check back.  Yesterday was the first time that I had seen the name of the shot written down.

  Woody asked for the name of it when he was getting the shot and they gave him the label.  It is 

Aranesp.

I got quite a bit done on my fabric putting away last night while I waited for Woody to get home.  All my little pieces of fabric are now back in their correct plastic boxes according to color.  Today I have spent way too much time trying to make my computer do what I want it to do...still recovering from the hard drive going out. But I finally can get photos off of all four cameras and onto my laptop.  Just wish that I could get back in to be able to blog from the laptop...so far I am blocked from being able to post on the laptop...it doesn't recognize me as a writer of the blog.  It is very difficult to write it on the iPad.  Most of the time I am typing blind...so please forgive weird spacing and multiple spelling and punctuation errors!

Woody ran his usual Friday errands for us and his friend.  Guess he won't be running Friday errands

next week.  Next week at this time hopefully his surgery will be behind him and he will be starting on the road to healing!

Well, I guess I'll get back to sorting pictures.  I am to mid August...so heading in the right direction!

Sorting Away!

I am in the midst of my usual activity at the end of the year...sorting pictures that I have taken this year.  I always wonder why I don't sort off and on during the year, but usually have most of them to go through the last week of December.  Tonight's photo is just one of my favorites that I have sorted through so far.  I'm coming right along...I don't "think" that I took as many pictures this year than I have in past years.  Still lots to go through!

I made a quick trip to the library to turn in the last book order bill for the last order this year.  When I got home, Woody decided to go to the Credit Union and Aldis before the rain settled in.  Then this afternoon he had an appointment to get another shot for anemia.  Yesterday at Vandy, he was asked if he had ever had a transfusion.  The answer, of course, was yes...and, I added in that he might be getting one too orris (today).  Woody said that he didn't think so, that it was "just" the shot for anemia.  I just let the subject drop...but...guess who was right!  Woody called a few hours ago from the hospital saying that he was getting a blood transfusion (I think two units this time) and that it would take six hours and that they hadn't started yet.  So he will have a late night at the hospital.  He told me that I didn't need to come and that he had reading material that was a slow read so it should last him.  He'll probably doze during part of it...he did last time.  Hopefully getting this blood prior to his surgery will be a good thing!

We have had a windy day and now it has turned into a rainy evening.  I guess this evening I will continue sorting and I'm also cleaning up the sewing mess that sort of exploded at the end of my sewing spree just prior to Christmas.  There was no time to clean it up then so it awaits me now!  This afternoon I did sort through some of the scraps that I used and put them back in their proper box...but more to go! I have them sorted by color...blue and green are back in their box.  I would like to see the top of my sewing cutting table once again. Just what I have done so far has made a difference...but more to go there too, as well as in my sewing room...still thread to put away, though I have put away a lot of it. Just part of "'Tis the Season" for me when I sew gifts.

"We Can Stay the Course"

Everything we smooth sailing for our trip to Nashville to go to Vanderbilt for Woody's pre op appointment.  Heading there...no school zones...got through almost all the lights without having to stopping on the way to the interstate...next to no wait at Vanderbilt...got there about 30 minutes early and signed in and were called in to give them information...had his weight and blood pressure taken...talked to a nurse for a few minutes, and then sent to the lab for bloodwork...was at the lab so quickly that the orders hadn't been phoned in, but that was taken care of quickly...called back to the lab almost before he could sit back down...and he was finished...we were away from Vandy a little after 11am...and his appointment was for 10am.

We were on the road and heading back home before we knew it.  I had hoped that it would be an easy appointment so Woody would feel like stopping at Melany and Wade's new home (tonight's photo) on our way home.  We got there before the movers had finished at their old home, but Melany and Erin were at the new house to give us a quick tour...very nice!  I look forward to going back when the furniture is all arranged and they are a bit more settled.  We didn't stay long and were on the road again and back home in record time for a Vandy trip even with an extra stop!

I had been given one job by the nurse who saw Woody this morning and that was to take a picture of Woody's leg (where the cellulitis had been and still is slightly) and send it to Dr. Holt.  Dr. Holt had emailed me while we were on the road asking how his leg was today.  So I took a picture and sent it off to her.  Her comment back to me was tonight's blog title: "We can stay the course." So it looks like the surgery is a "go" for next Friday, January 4th...and, as Woody adds: "The good Lord willing!"

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Merry Christmas from the Dorrells and the Proctors!

Baking the Day Away!

I've been the process of making the herb bread (dough pictured) and the rolls (rolls in oven as I type this).  One loaf of the herb bread has been sliced and has been drying in the oven for the stuffing for the pork chop roast (you put the pork chops on their edge and line them up in a loaf pan with Apple stuffing/dressing in between each one.  We have been making this roast since 1996.  We don't have it every Christmas but have probably had it more than other main dish. It happened to be on sale last week when Woody went to the grocery store...and thus the main dish was chosen for this year!  Most of the rest of the sides are what we usually have at Thanksgiving (since I didn't cook Thanksgivinig this year...I have added a green bean recipe and a scalloped Au gratin potato recipe.  I hope that before I go to bed tonight that I can have everything chopped, grated, or whatevered for the rest of the recipes. That will help when I'm preparing the rest of the recipe either tomorrow or early Monday morning.

I have also been cleaning up around the house.  I was trying to figure out why I was having to do more cleaning than I usually do for our family Christmas.  Then I realized that usually I do deep cleaning when I decorate and the decorating didn't happen this year...so neither did some the cleaning jobs.  Not all will get done...but hopefully the house (at least the down stairs) will look presentable Monday!  I almost have the living room ready.  I have vacuumed and am rearranging the furniture to fit fifteen into the room.  And, opening up the center of the room for the children to be able to open
up their gifts and play with them in the middle of the room.  That means moving the coffee table out of the beaten path (task done).  Now to move the glider love seat to the other side of the room and bring in some of the dining room chairs.

My back is starting to protest.  I came upstairs to sit with the heating pad on my back for a few minutes.  The rolls are now out. Once I've rested I will finish moving the items in the living room so it will at least look like it is ready for a party—a birthday party for Jesus.  Melany is again in charge of the birthday cakes.

Melany, Wade, Erin, Alex, and Wade's mom are in the midst of a major happening in their lives.  Yesterday they closed on a new house...so they are trying to move along with celebrating Christmas.
Wade's mother moved in with them earlier this year and they needed another bedroom for her.  They still will live in Murfreesboro, but just in another part.  Busy times for them!

Woody went to the library today for the first time in a long time.  He said that it was good to put that trip back into his Saturday morning routine.

Well, I guess it is time for me to go back and do "something."  'Tis the season!  When next I blog, our family Christmas will have happened!

Getting Closer!

I can finally say that my Christmas sewing is finished.  I finished around noon today.  So the rest of the day, I have been doing a little of this and a little of that around the house trying to get ready...a lot of wheel spinning!  But have accomplished some.  I have one of our items to eat cooked in the refrigerator...just needing to be heated up on Monday for our family Christmas lunch.  Still a lot to cook, but at least I have started.  If my back okays it, I am going to try to make the gelatin salad tonight after I've rested a bit.  Tomorrow will be a baking day as I need to make the bread for our stuffing/dressing and bake some rolls (both Woody can eat if I make them from scratch).  I made Pennsylvania Dutch Style Green Beans tonight...instead of canned we used fresh and I even cut them French-style using a special attachment on my food processor.  So, again, since I made them with fresh green beans, he will be able to eat them.  I'm trying hard to have a few things in this meal that he can eat...now scalloped potatoes and a couple of other things that have milk products in them, he won't be able to eat.  I think that there will be enough recipes that he can eat that he won't look too pitiful at the dinner table!  

I have had little elves in and out today.  They brought presents over to put gifts under our tree.  I'm still wrapping though don't have a lot more to have to wrap.  Well...I did add quite a few more when I got my sewing finished...but they should be a pretty quick wrap for each of them...just have to find the time to sit and do it!  I still have to do something to Joseph's gift before wrapping it.  As far as I know all our purchases coming in the mail have arrived.  My last purchase arrived today.  It got here early, as they said that it would be delivered the 24th.  

I'm making plans in my mind to get out the Precious Moments Nativity that goes on the buffet in the dining room.  When I found the children's Fisher Price nativity in the Christmas closet, I also pulled out the boxes containing the PM nativity.  The kitty is spending most of her time outside these days and just comes in at night to sleep in the sunroom porch/laundry room.  So she isn't roaming and exploring as much as she had been.  She discovered the Christmas tree this morning, but before she could explore it too much I ushered her outside.

Woody did our grocery shopping today and then ran errands with his friend who has no transportation.  Later this afternoon we both went out.  He got gas for the car and then he took me to two stores to get a couple of things.  We were looking for something that he didn't find at the store this morning.  I didn't find it either, but did find something that should substitute just fine for the original item in a recipe.

Woody's leg is still bothering him.  I have attempted to get in touch with the doctor, but so far we haven't heard back from her.  She has us spoiled since she usually gets back with via email very quickly.  Not a good time of the year to need to ask an extra question or two to a doctor!  I'm sure she will see the message eventually and get back with us.  Friday she does surgery so that may be keeping her from her email!  

Well, I'd better get back to doing something if it is nothing more than sitting in my recliner and resting my back.  My back is protesting...not a good thing when I have so much to do! 'Tis the season!

A First!

We have a tree that has lights...I guess there is always a first for everything!  This is our 50th Christmas and the first time ever that a tree with lights has ever adorned our house!  This is a borrowed tree.  The neighbor grandchildren planned a way for us to have a tree for our family Christmas on Monday.  They had a small tree upstairs on their landing and they decided that it could come over here for a few days!  They call it their "Charlie Brown Christmas tree."  I think because it isn't very big and it doesn't have many ornaments on it.  Some of the ornaments on it used to be on our tree...several that Nathan made when he was little!

I had a short time of school today.  Isaac read and Joseph had a short time over here. Esther also read.  Elijah had an eye appointment so couldn't come to read.  And, Joy decided that she wanted to work on the girls' room.  Esther got a new bed in their room so things needed to be straightened up after the  rearrangement of furniture.  Plus they are getting ready for their Georgia grandparents Christmas visit.

I got busy sewing.  Woody went to the Credit Union and planned to go on to Aldis but he had a problem with the car...it stopped in the drive thru lane that he was in at the Credit Union and it wouldn't start.  He called here to get me to send Nathan. Nathan was at the eye appointment with Elijah and Isaac.  I texted him and they were just leaving so he headed off to rescue his daddy!  After Woody got home, he switched to the other car and went to Aldis.  Later he got a hair cut.  I went out once to get something from the church library that I needed.  I got to church and it was closed.  I rang the bell anyway since there was one car out front and one of our ministerial staff was there and let me in.  The rest of the day I have sewn.  I have 14 gifts to the same point in their creation.  I just wish that I was a little closer to finished than I am.  I will continue to work on them evening as I need to do other things than sew to get ready for our family Christmas.  I've got to get things on the grocery list for our Christmas meal.  And, there is definitely a bit of cleaning/straightening that needs to be done before Monday!

Woody showed me today that there were a couple of places on his leg that were getting red again.  So I emailed the doctor, but haven't heard back from her.  Last time was over Thanksgiving weekend that I had to get in touch with her about his leg...and here it is Christmas weekend...not the best time to get in touch with doctors!

Well, I'd better get back to my sewing! 'Tis the season!

My Helper?

Today I have done some wrapping and some sewing along with school and working in the library.  After the library I went back to sewing and. Few minutes ago I went back to wrapping. Georgia decided that she needed to help.  Not exactly the help that I needed!  Woody wrapped one of the gifts too.  I have added ribbon...that is, when Georgia let me have the ribbon...and added name tags.  The children keep coming over to see what new has been added to the wrapped gifts.  Joseph and Isaac are waiting for me to wrap Joseph's. And I was going to wrap it tonight, but realized that I still have to do something to his gift...so guess they will have to wait as I have to get what I need before wrapping it. I just wished that I had remembered this afternoon when I was out and about.  Georgia spent the day outside again.  She seems to be adapting and remembering places she used to like to be...like a basket up in the kitchen window on the porch at Nathan and Kathy's.  I am almost finished with the machine embroidery for the items that I still have to make. I "think" that I will be able to get them done plus clean and cook prior to Monday morning when the family will gather here. 'Tis the season!

72!

Look who turned 72 today!  We just had cake and ice cream at Nathan and Kathy's...well, we had cake and ice cream, but not the birthday boy!

Woody actually emptied all the waste baskets in the house and took the trash can and recycle bags.  He hadn't done that job in some time.  We had school today.  Joseph had his regular time and Isaac read.  He is going back to finish all the Bob Books next.  Elijah came over and read and that ended school times today.  The girls decided not to read today.  I gave the older kids the option to read or not read this week.  And, we cancelled long times this week.  I'm continuing to work on Christmas sewing.  Going back to the sewing room when I post this.  This afternoon I got my hair cut and then stopped to buy Abigail's Christmas present...now to get everything wrapped! I also made some decisions about our family Christmas lunch on the 24th. Getting closer...maybe I'll be ready?!? 'Tis the season!

More Nostalgia

Woody asked the other day if he could have Spinach Rice Bake...a recipe that my mother shared with us many years ago.  Pictured above is the recipe that she sent me...judging by the recipe card it is from our early years of marriage...so probably close to 50-years old.  On the back she wrote that she had served this to company a couple of times and everyone loved it.  We also really like this recipe and have made it many times over the years.  But...a major problem now...Woody can't have spinach. I got to thinking about what I could substitute and decided that a frozen package of onions, red peppers, and green peppers might work well in it.  I also didn't put the amount of Parmesan cheese on it that it calls for...just sprinkled a little over the top. Woody said that it was good and that it definitely reminded him of the original recipe. I think that it is probably the herbs and spices that "made it."  At least it is something else to rotate into the recipes that he can have.

I have sewn most of the day.  We didn't have school today since it was the day to deliver food boxes from out church to those in need in the Tullahoma area.  Nathan, Kathy and family helped pack boxes and deliver them.  I am working on gifts for our in state family now.  Woody made a trip to the Post Office this morning to mail the package to AZ and two other out of state mailings.  He got some more cards from Nathan so he has been working on getting the rest of our cards out.  He also wrapped one present today.  He said that he thought that he could wrap one a day. Ha! At that rate Christmas needs to hold off a bit! I think that he is attempting to add in more activity to his days.  He even got out the small leaf blower and blew leaves off half the front porch.  Kathy finished that job for him.  He rested while doing the leaf blowing on the front porch with Peaches on his lap!  Can you tell it was a very nice day out today.  Since it was so nice, it was decided that Georgia needed to be reintroduced to the great out of doors! The kids kept track of her and followed her everywhere...that is till it was time for them to go in for lunch.  When they came back out...no Georgia!  They hunted and hunted.  Finally gave up with the hope that she would come back when she was hungry.  After it grew quiet outside, I walked around the house shaking the cat food container.  It wasn't long till I heard a pitiful little "meow" and there was Georgia looking out at me from one the vents that goes under our house.  She got in, but couldn't get back out through the opening.  Nathan opened the back crawl space opening and she came out immediately.  So a lost Georgia cat was once again found!  She was pretty happy to come back inside and at the moment is taking a bath on my lap.  For the time being we plan to let her stay inside at night and be outside during the day time.  She needs to get acclimated to colder temperatures.  Got to get her fur thicker!  You should see her sister!  She is one giant fluff ball!  Of course Georgia won't get a coat that thick since she is a short-hair, but that short hair needs to get thicker!  She did a lot of shedding when she returned from her four months of travel so now needs to get that thicker coat back!

Woody just left for the Furnace Room Prayer meeting.  I guess I need to go clean up the kitchen and then get back to my sewing.  I got the first part of five gifts done today.  Hope to get a couple more done before bed.  I got two gifts completely done yesterday.  Plus got all the gifts that I was sending off in the mail wrapped.  So I guess that "things" are coming together. 'Tis the season!

Sewing Sataurday

This photo is just wishful thinking!  Wishing that I could sit down to a Christmas cup of tea in front of our tree...another year!  At least I have photos to remind me of what I wish it looked like.

I have spent most of the day sewing and have accomplished quite a bit.  Last night I finished writing our Christmas letter.  Woody proofed it.  I made a few changes that he suggested and this morning he read it again.  We signed it and he ran copies of it.  He has spent a lot of time folding the letters, putting them in our cards, and walking to the mail box once he addressed and stamped them.  Some got picked up by the letter carrier this afternoon. So I guess Christmas tasks are getting done.

Well, back to my sewing machine.  Hopefully Monday the package to AZ will get to the Post Office.  This is the latest that I have ever been in getting it sent.

Friday Fiddlings

Today was one of those days of going from one thing to another and here it is the end of the day and I'm not sure that I have accomplished much at all.  I guess you can say that I worked on reclaiming my house after cruising for almost a week next door with the grandchildren!  I worked the most in the kitchen.  I pulled everything off the shelves that we use as a pantry and went through things as to what we no longer will be eating.  Then I either gave it to Nathan and Kathy or put it with the food that we are taking for our White Christmas at church on Sunday.  We have for years made it an annual event at our church to gather in food one Sunday in December to share with those less fortunate in our community.  Woody did our grocery shopping—he mainly got items for our White Christmas gifts.  I have bagged all the items up and they are in our dining room awaiting transfer to our car to take on Sunday...one accomplishment for the day.

Woody also ran errands with his friend who needs transportation.  His two main accomplishments of the day—errand running and grocery shopping.  His errands happened during the rainiest part of the day.

I am going to go back down and clean up the mess I made in the kitchen when I made a pasta veggie dish for Woody this evening.  Then I am hoping that I have enough energy to at least get started on the last couple of sewing projects that I need to get done for Christmas gifts. The time never seems to be right to be able to get to my sewing!  Christmas may come and go and I will be attempting to get in the sewing room to get it done!  I did order the last gift for AZ and had it sent directly to my sister.  That way she can be my personal gift wrapper!

Oh, I did start packing up my fall decorations...and, I literally mean packing them up.  I store them in the kitchen and decided not to put them back in the cabinet since I will just have to take them out for renovation.  So first box packed up with kitchen stuff to be stored till after the kitchen renovation!

The Bahama Mama, Dad, and Sister Have Returned!

This family group has been reunited.  The parents and Joy have been on a cruise to the Bahamas and the rest of us have been on a Grammy cruise!  Joy was the first of the children to read the entire Bible and for that first child to read it through there was a special reward...several choices...Joy chose a cruise.  She got to take her best friend.  It sounds like they had a fantastic time.  The three cruisers are happy to be home on solid land...though they still feel like they are at sea!  The Grammy cruisers are happy that the Bahamas cruisers are home, but we had a lot of fun, too.  I am glad to be home writing the blog while sitting in my recliner...though, the recliner at their house is more comfortable than mine (it sleeps better...or maybe I was just more tired!). Now to get back into the swing of things here at home and accomplish a few things that need doing!  'Tis the Season!

Christmas Less Than Two Weeks Away!

We've had a pretty busy day.  I have gone here and there...took Abigail to her job at Montessori and picked her up.  I went in for a minute for old time's sake when I picked her up.  This morning I also took Isaac to the dentist.  This afternoon was routine...time spent working in the church library with Donna.  When I got home, I returned some dishes to a friend and cleaned up our kitchen and talked to Melany.  She's trying to figure out gifts for her "little" nieces and nephews.  I wasn't much help as it was hard for me to come up with their gifts this year!

I do think that all my Christmad orders have arrived.  And, I think that I only have one more grandchild to buy a gift for...and will do that here in town...so pretty much set.  Now to get things wrapped. One of these days.

Three little chicks back in the roost...still waiting for three more...well, really four as Woody is at the church youth Christmas party, too.

Foggy and Frosty Morn

Part of our travels early this morning were quite sparkly when the sun came through the fog and really made the trees and bushes sparkle.

I had my six-month check in with the doctor and lab work. And, she seemed to think that I was healthy enough to at least walk out of her office.  We had a bit of an adventure getting there...found every red light and school zone while we looked for a new address for her office. Found it and it is closer to us than the former office.  It was a quick two turns and we were on the road toward the interstate to get us to Vanderbilt in Nashville. Since we had a bit of lag time between appointments we stopped in Murfreesboro at the Lifeway Bookstore and Woody bought his Sunday School boys Christmas gifts.  Then we we're on our way to Vanderbilt.

He got called in quickly, but then the quickly stopped!  It was a long wait till Dr. Holt came in.  She

felt like his cellulitis was much better.  Now she wants to see how it responds to no antibiotics in the next couple of weeks prior to him having surgery.  Yes, she scheduled Woody for surgery three weeks from this Friday on January 4.  He will have his preop appointment the day after Christmas...oh, boy! I'm not exactly sure what she and Woody decided to do...because she named off several options!  Woody isn't totally sure either.  But I "think" that they chose to do the easiest of the fixes...reinforce
what is already there...if not that then replace plate, screws, and bone cement.  The major fix was to replace the tibia...six-eight weeks in a cast.  Woody opted for an easier fix.  She mentioned a plate on the the other side and wrap something around...I have not a clue!  Glad that she is the one with the expertise!  Woody just wants his leg to be stable again and not hurt!  Hopefully she will find a fix!
On to the next "adventure" with Woody's health!  Stay tuned!

Cold! Cold! Cold!

We traded rain for cold...we only saw a few snowflakes before the moisture left us...others did get snow...just not for us.  At the moment I have five little chicks in the roost...still one to come home from a meeting and one is still away with a friend.

I just got back from rescuing Woody.  He went to the Furnace Room Prayer Meeting and couldn't get the car started when he came out.  He is home all safe and snug!

Tomorrow should be interesting.  I have a doctor's appointment in McMinville at 8am and Woody has an appointment in Nashville with Dr. Holt, his orthopedist, at 12:30pm.  Hopefully it will all work out!  Will let you know tomorrow, if all appointments were met!

Rain! Rain! Rain!

...and more rain.  I don't think that it ever stopped raining today...it either sprinkled or rained harder...at the moment harder.

Woody did the rest of our grocery shopping and ran errands with his friend who has no vehicle. This evening i am next door again...five chickens have come home to roost for the night.  Two are still with friends and their mom and dad are off galavanting.  'Tis the season!

Couldn't Be Ours!

I'm getting more in the mood for Christmas!  I'm sitting here looking at this tree...but anyone who knows us very well knows that it couldn't be our tree because we don't put lights on our Christmas tree.  I'm next door at Nathan and Kathy's taking care of Isaac and Joseph while the rest of their family are in various places.  Three of their siblings are at the Tullahoma Christmas Parade.

Woody headed off early and went to the Credit Union before he ran errands.  He put off the errands till after I got back from going out to breakfast with two special friends.  We figured out today that we had known each other for around 42 years.  We have done things together at Christmas for years.  After breakfast we went into the town that was near the restaurant and did a little looking and shopping.  The town looked very Christmasy...and with the cloudy gray sky it looked a bit like it could snow...very picturesque.  We went some really cute shops and saw lots of pretty things.

When I got home, Woody headed off to do some of our grocery shopping.  He said that today he only felt like going to one grocery store.  I ate supper with the neighbor grandchildren.  As soon as I post this, I am going to read some Christmas stories to these two little boys.  They have grown quite quiet...wonder if they are getting sleepy...I know I am!  Woody is at home holding down our fort!

A Thursday Closer

Look who's happy Woody got a new pair of shoes!  She sits in there when she is in the sewing room with me!

We ar another day closer to Christmas...I pretty much seem to be treading water...not making much progress is doing what I had planned to do before Christmas.  Good thing that I'm not in the midst of decorating! I did get a little sewing done this afternoon while Georgia kept me company in "her" box.  Now I'm trying to catch up with our wash.  I may go back to sewing after I blog.  I had a little more problems with the laptop today...realized that we didn't have our word processor installed any more so had to hunt up another CD.  In the end I had to have a little help from Nathan.  But it is working.  I sent out an email to our Sunday School class and later realized that old addresses had been sent to.  So I had to redo that email and send it again.  One step forward and two back!  Wonder what problem will crop up next! Computers are wonderful until they aren't!!!

What a Headache!

This latest computer fix has proven to be more of a headache than I realized last night when I blogged.  Last night after I blogged, I decided to go work on a design in the computer and then transfer it to my sewing machine.  Well, I couldn't get to any of my software.  An icon showed on the computer screen, but nothing would open up when I clicked on the icon.  So...I had to find all the original CDs and redownload them.  I have managed to find all the CDs except for one so far of the ones that I have found not to "be there" any more.  I haven't convinced the blog page when I open it on my laptop that I am the one who blogs from that page...so I can only read it on the laptop and can't post.  I will keep trying to figure out how to sign in...and eventually...?!? Maybe... In order to get this photo (I also had to download all camera and photographic CDs), I had to email this photo to the iPad. I still have to work on getting one of my sewing softwares to run.  I did get my machine specific ones working again.  It has been an exercise in patience!  I finally got the laptop and the printer to recognize each other.  I wonder how many other things I will discover that are no longer there...or not working or...

I had school this morning.  After lunch, Woody headed off to the oncology clinic and had his second iron infusion.  I left shortly after he left and headed to the library.  I worked on maintenance and got several books ready for circulation.  When I got home, Woody was already home.  I sat down to rest for a few minutes and worked some more on the computer so I could get Woody's crossword puzzle to print.  I took that downstairs for him so he could work it.  Then it was time to fix supper.  I started cleaning up the kitchen before coming up to blog...dishwasher is running, but the dishes that I have to wash by hand still need to be done.  I'll do those when I go back downstairs.   THEN...I will hopefully have enough energy to be able to sew a little tonight.  Or at least get that last sewing software back up and running.

The kitty is being her usual kittenish/curious self.  A minute ago I found her dipping her paw very delicately into the side pocket on my purse.  She hooked the strap of my little point-and-shoot camera on one of her sharp claws!  Never know what she will do next.  A house with lots of sewing things around is not the best place for a curious cat!  She also likes Chapstick...she absconds with the small tubes...carries them around in her mouth like they were her prey!  Then she bats them around and I find them in various places...usually she takes them downstairs with her.  One of the tubes is virtually gone, so I don't mind her playing with it...but I'd like her to keep her paws off my good tube!  Yesterday it was my eye drop bottle...never know with her...what will intrigue her next.  Also, yesterday, I lost a solid wood sphere that is part of the Montessori equipment that I have for the children's school.  I found it in "her room"...the sunroom/laundry room where she sleeps!  The school room and "her room" is downstairs. I am keeping more doors shut as she gets to feeling more "at home" around here!

A Tuesday Closer

It seems that all we do is get closer to the "big day" and I accomplish very little toward getting to that day.  I just know that it will come whether I am ready or not!

Woody's main effort for the day was to go to the computer store and retrieve the laptop.  It had to go in for another "spa treatment."  This time it needed a bit more pampering to get it up and running, but our computer geek came through for us once again.  Nathan just came over and got it back online for us.  I had already started typing this on the iPad so will continue.  Tomorrow night perhaps I will be back to posting from the laptop.  I will say that I have learned how to post pictures from the iPad now...so that is good.  I can post any photo that I have stored on the iPad.  And, my newer point-and-shoot camera allows me to download (or is it upload?!?) the photos directly via wifi from camera to iPad.  But I haven't taken many pictures this week so I am reusing some of my favorite photos that I have stored on the iPad.

I am planning to go in and sew as soon as I publish tonight's blog.  Not having the computer has hampered me in getting some of my Christmas sewing done.  It might seem a bit strange to be dependent on a computer for sewing, but with machine embroidery, you have to get them from the Internet onto the computer and then transfer them to the sewing machine.  So I am glad to get the machine back so I can do the ones that I needed to do prior to sending off "Arizona's package." I'm not sending things to the whole state of Arizona, but is the way that I refer to the package that I send to my sister and her family!

December Monday

Another day into December.  Seems like it is already passing us by too quickly,  I just don't seem to be able to get things done that I need, or think I need, to do!  I did get another Christmas finished just before coming in to blog.  I guess that is an accomplishment.

While I was having school, Woody went out to run errands with his friend who doesn't have a car.  I had a usual Monday day for school.  Joy worked on a purse that she has designed during her long time with me.

Woody has now gone to the Furnace Room Prayer meeting.  He will be back shortly.  He just got a friendly reminder from Tennessee Oncology about his appointment on Wednesday for another iron infusion.  He is definitely doing some better, but it is obvious that he has a ways to go to be feeling really good!  He figures that it is going to take the surgery on his leg to get him back to "normal." Whatever "normal" means!

I went over the plans for the kitchen with a fine toothed comb and enlisted friends to look at them too.  This morning I sent an email to the contractor with some questions and some suggestions for changes.  I got an email back from his office a little while ago saying that they had received them and that they were on his desk for him to go over.  So "things" continue to go forward.

Woody is home.  I guess I'll post this and  go down and see if he needs anything and then finish cleaning up the kitchen.  Perhaps after that I will come back in here and do a little more sewing.
'Tis the season!

December Has Arrived!

December slipped in under the door today!  I think that it's arrival is rather unbelievable...can't believe that December is already here.  This is such a strange December for me since I am not decorated for Christmas and am not working on decorating.  We're not decorating this year for several reasons...but mainly so I won't have to get them put away along with emptying the kitchen cabinets when it is time for the kitchen renovation to begin.  Of course, there is a possibility that the renovations might not get under way till summer!  I'm hoping sooner than that!

Woody ventured out once today.  He went to visit a friend who was in the hospital.  He also made Italian Cauliflower with only slight help with me.  I tried to work on Christmas sewing.  I did get one more item finished and got started on another.

Today has been cloudy the whole day, but not all that cold.  We have just had a storm blow in...a thunder storm on December 1!  Welcome, December!  I just turned up the calendar in my kitchen.  When I go upstairs I will turn up the page on the calendar in the sewing room...then I guess we will be up to date!