Sunday Blessings

Saturday Shopping

Sometimes when I post a barn photo another photo will open the barn up and you can see inside.  I do this by taking away some of the shadows and it lets us see into and sometimes though the barn...something my photo shop express app can do with photos on my iPad.

Couldn't tell in the first one that there was hay inside.  Just one of the things that I enjoy doing with some of my photos to see a little more detail and I feel like it makes the barns look more 3-D when I open up the insides to be viewed.  You can see the rafters and I believe that you can see one or two silos on the backside of the barn...not absolutely sure about that.  We didn't take any silos with this barn...or at least I didn't capture any.  My fellow barn buddies may have captured an entire different view.  This morning Carolyn and I talked on the phone about our barn photos.  We both captured different details.  She called this morning to tell me that our  Ascend Federal Credit Union gave out a calendar and the one she just turned it to had the barn with a tree growing out of the silo that we captured with our cameras on this last barn photo trip. Here's a photo of that barn.  Carolyn thinks that maybe we need to make a calendar using the barns that we have taken!  

This barn caused a lot of comments on Facebook when I posted it.  Most thought the tree was growing behind the silo...but, no, it is growing out of it.  That tree has been growing a long time to have gotten that big!

Today was my grocery shopping day...always a big day for me.  For most of the sheltering at home we have been shopping only every two weeks.  It makes me think a whole new way when shopping!  So far it has worked pretty well.  I'm starting to get used to doing the grocery shopping, a job that Woody has done most of the time for years now.  He started doing it when his mother moved to town and then continued even when he didn't take her to the store.  Since we have been trying very hard to keep him away from possibly getting the Coronavirus, we made the decision that I will do the shopping.  I am finally getting used to where things are in the store!  But buying the groceries, getting 

them home and into the house, and put away...that was about the end of me accomplishing much the 

rest of the afternoon!  I did water plants tonight. We had leftovers for supper.  So now settling in for an evening of reading.  Woody is watching a movie on TV and doing some reading.  He sat outside for a while today.  It has been an absolutely ideal weather day...pleasant temperatures and pleasant humidity. 

Be safe!

Be well!

Be cautious!

Busy Friday

It's been a really busy day for both of us.  Woody left before 7am to take his friend to Franklin, TN for a doctor appointment.  He didn't return till early afternoon.  While he was gone his nephrologist's office called to say that they didn't get what they needed for labs from oncology.  We ended up rescheduling the appointment so he can get the lab work done on Monday.

I got up and got busy cleaning.  I dry mopped the downstairs floors that aren't carpeted.  And, also ran the long handled wooly duster around the floor edges and ceiling in the sun porch and laundry room...some spiders were trying to take up residence.  I got the old dust mop out and did the same to the front porch...trying to make it more inviting to sit out there.  My other main task of the day was as I put a load of my laundry away, I moved fall/winter to a different closet and spring/summer into my closet.  My closet had become a mix of both since our weather has gone back and forth between cool and warm lately.  I think that warm is mainly on the horizon.  I rested for a while this afternoon and read, before I tackled our supper.  I made a chicken pot pie which turned out very well again...it is definitely a keeper recipe...one to be put in our recipe rotation.  I've got this one adapted so it works even for all Woody's dietary restrictions.  I'm always looking for recipes that fit that bill!

Woody sat on the front porch for a while after he got home.  He read and watched the birds through binoculars he has borrowed from Nathan.  We are both ready to settle into our recliners and do as little as possible for the rest of the evening.

Be safe!
Be well!
Be cautious!

Thursday Dallyings

This has been a bit of a do-nothing day, at least for me.  Woody and I did go out and worked on a flower pot.  We felt like the pot wasn't draining so I tipped the pot and Woody drilled a few holes. I walked around the gardens today checking on things.  The orange day lilies are starting to bloom...must be close to June!  Our balloon flowers are starting to open.  And, the seeds that I planted a week or so ago are starting to sprout.  We got quite a bit more rain last night and again this morning.  

Woody ran a few errands this afternoon and headed over to his friend's home to make arrangements to pick him up in the morning for an out-of-town appointment in the morning.  He'll be up and out early in the morning.  

I've finished up some more books over the last couple of days.  This has been a "when it rains, it pours" time with my e-book holds.  I had been waiting on quite a few e-books and then all of a sudden they were all available to borrow.  Four came in at once and I decided to read them alternating between the books, a chapter at a time.  I finished the fourth one in that group today.  What is funny, while I was reading those, four more have become available.  So now I have to decide which to start or if I will read them rotating through the books chapter by chapter.  Decisions! Decisions!  The kind of decisions I like to make!  Now off to meet new people and travel to new places via books!

Be safe!

Be well!

Be cautious!

Bread Baking Day

Tonight's barn was a fun find...sandwiched between these silos...a barn with three quilt blocks!  These quilt blocks make this modern barn special to us as we look for barns over the rolling Tennessee hills.  The tumble-down barns are often the ones with the most "personality," but quilt blocks on a barn put the barn into a "winner category!"  I like the fallish colors on these blocks as often the block colors are brighter and from the primary color palette...at least the ones we have seen.

Woody headed out the door fairly early to the oconology office here in town.  He had labs, a B-12 and his anemia shots, and saw the doctor.  When he left, it was just raining a tiny bit.  Not long after he left the bottom fell out.  He got into the office without getting too wet.  I watched for him to come home and took out a hooded jacket after the rain let up a bit.  He had a book so didn't mind sitting out in the car for a while.  His labs showed that his count that they want to rise continues to go up...but they still want it to go up a bit more.

After Woody left, I got underway with making my cinnamon swirl bread that Woody likes to make French toast with.  I had a nice visit via messaging on my iPad with Donna...our Wednesday check-in since we aren't working in the church library these days.  Then Ruth stopped by with fresh eggs from her farm and we visited on our front porch for a while.  

It has rained off and on most of the day.  I'm sure that the herbs, vegetables and flowers are very happy.  It is thundering at the moment...a bit of everything today.  The temperature has stayed lower so the humidity that is there isn't oppressive.  Sitting on the porch was very pleasant.  

Be safe!

Be well!

Be cautious!

A Poodle Cut?

I got my hair cut this afternoon.  Hooray!!!  And, as Jody started to sweep up my hair that had fallen to the floor while she cut, I said that I wanted to take a picture.  She told me to wait...and she swept this way and that and voilà a poodle appeared on the floor!!  Thus I guess I got a "poodle cut!" I feel so much better finally getting my hair cut.  I try to have two standing appointments five weeks apart on her appointment book. I had my last hair cut the week prior to Tennessee sheltering at home and closing down hair salons.  They still weren't open when my next five-week appointment rolled around.  But luckily she was back up and running/cutting by my next five-week appointment.  I hadn't gone ten weeks between haircuts in years!  It is short once again and I have two appointments down in her appointment book and on my calendar.  Hopefully I won't have to miss either of those upcoming appointments due to Coronavirus shut downs. Hoping such shut downs are in our past. But at the moment things don't look good in Alabama after they opened things back up.  The number of cases are growing exponentially...hoping that doesn't happen here.  But I am afraid, if we aren't more careful as we go out and about, that is exactly what will happen!

Be safe!
Be well!
Be cautious!

A Day to Rmember!

Our first remembrance of the day is a wedding that took place 29 years ago today.  My how time does fly.  In some ways it seems like yesterday and in others like a lifetime ago!!  Happy 29th anniversary, Wade and Melany!  It was definitely a more relaxed day than it was 29 years ago!!

Woody decided to tackle the front porch railing...washing all the mold, etc. off of it.  It is a bit labor intensive when it comes to wiping off all those spindles!  But it also a job that he can mostly do from a rocking chair on the porch.  The part he has gotten done looks great!

This must have been a day of work for our neighbors...yesterday they played at Tims Ford Lake and today they labored!  Lawns have been mowed at both our houses.  Weed eater has been used.  And, while I napped this afternoon, the back of our house got pressured washed.  When I was waking up I was trying to figure out what I was hearing!  I went out back to get some herbs for our supper and the back looks great.  Graham has been assigned that job...a side a day! The back has the longer expanse, but doesn't have the height that the sides and front do!  Nathan did some earlier on the front...the part that he could reach standing on the ground...guess he left the high places for Graham!

I will end tonight with a house and a barn from our latest barn trip that pay homage to this Memorial Day observance, when we remember those who gave their lives to give us our freedom.

Sunday Blessings

Saturday

Today has been a day to rest up from yeateday's galavanting!  I have worked on getting photos from cameras onto iPad and then worked on them with the photo app.  I still have many to take off the main point and shoot camera that I mainly used yesterday.  LOTS still left to take off of that cameras. I'm just taking off a group of 35 at a time...working on them and then going through and deciding which ones to keep to use on the blog.  It's time to get another 35, but taking a break...reading, working a bit in the kitchen and making pancakes for our supper.

Woody finished one of the books that I picked up for him on Thursday.  Now he gets to choose which one he will read next.  He sat outside for a while this afternoon...it was a warm and muggy afternoon. I sat out there for a while, but the humidity makes me feel like I can't take a deep enough breath.  I guess I will never get used to humidity...I guess my body acclimated to "dry heat" being born in AZ and no matter how long I live in TN, humidity always gets to me!

Coronavirus quote of the day is from the CDC: "Staying home is the best way to protect yourself & others from COVID-19 this Memorial Day."

Stay Safe!
Stay Well!
Be Cautious as we reenter normalcy!

Barns and More!

I have had a delightful day...that almost didn't happen.  We woke up to approaching rain storms and decided that today probably wasn't the best day to head out on a barn trip.  It looked like we would be socked in, but good, for most of the day with rain.  But in the end it started clearing up so we headed off around noon and didn't return till about an hour ago!  We saw barns and more barns and then beautiful spring scenery...both flora and fauna...and, at the end of the trip came upon several waterways/ponds/swamps that had several types of cranes.  I haven't had time to identify the cranes yet...but we were very glad to come upon them...a good end to our photography day!

Woody stayed home and held down the fort.  I asked him what great and wonderful things that he did while I was away and he said that he got the mail!  I'm sure that, besides getting the mail, he also solved many a crossword puzzle and did more reading and a bit of TV watching.  I doubt that he even missed me!

Tonight's borrowed Coronavirus thought:

"I told my suitcases that there would be no vacation this year.  Now I'm dealing with emotional baggage!"  (Unknown)

As "things" open back up...

Stay safe!

Stay well!

A Lot of "Building" Going On!

There was a lot of activity in what we call the "back forty" = Nathan and Kathy's lot that is behind our house!  These structures kept four of our neighbor grandchildren busy for most of the day...their first day of being "free from school!"  It is the start of their summer vacation.  Being homeschooled, their school didn't come to an abrupt end...they just kept on per usual!  So as of today we have two graduates this year...Graham from high school and Joseph from kindergarten.  They had a family graduation ceremony for both of them today.  Graham was presented his real diploma in the ceremony.

Today I got a call from the public library that they had books ready for me to pick up that I had put on hold.  The library hasn't opened its doors to the public yet, but are taking requests in the form of holds on their library computer page.  They pull them from their shelves and call you when they have them ready for pick up and have you pick a time so they don't have a lot of folk at the library at the same time.  I put in requests late last night as I knew that Woody was about to finish the last of the books that I had checked out from the church library.  I made the requests on my card so he wouldn't have to go get them.  They called before 10am and they start handing out books at 11am so I chose 11.  You show your library card through the library door and they pick them up off the table that is inside the door and hand them out the door.  Worked well!  And, Woody is happy to have more reading material in his hands once again.  The library just started doing this last week so the timing for Woody was very good.  The main thing that he does these days is read.

Later in the day he ran an errand for me and also picked up a couple of prescriptions for his friend.

This morning I made salad dressing for Woody and also made his sweet red pepper sauce (his catsup).  I got the kitchen cleaned up early today.  We had last night's leftover sweet and sour pork so only a reheat for that...not the mess of last night!

Woody picked up one of his books pretty quickly after lunch and got started on it.  I got him several books that I have read as e-books during our "safer at home" time.  When I read them I thought that he would enjoy them.  I also got him another of an author that he just got introduced to and wants to read more of his.  I checked out five for him...the limit that you can ask for at this time.  Those along with his crossword puzzle and a TV show fit in every so often should keep him busy for a little while.  We're just glad to have the library available to us again...even though we can't go in and browse!

As soon as I publish this, I am going to get my cameras ready for a barn trip tomorrow.  I like to start with empty memory cards so I need to go put them on the passport external drives where I store my photos. And then get them packed up in my camera bag.  Hopefully some new barns to start posting after tomorrow!

Tonight's borrowed Coronavirus thought:

"Is it too soon to put up the Christmas tree yet?  I've run out of things to do!" (Unknown)

Stay Safe!
Stay Well!
Be cautious as we enter into the new normal!

Wednesday...again

The days see to just roll together...the time doesn't seem to be passing slowly...seems like only yesterday that it was Wednesday last week.  I decided to go back to barn photos.  I may have some new ones on Friday.  My "barn trip" friends are in the mood for another trip.  I think that I will join them.  Barns won't be as easy to see now that the leaves are back on the trees.

Woody got a call from his nephrologist's office telling him that they were not doing labs yet so he needed to go someplace else tomorrow to have it done.  He called them back and got the okay that he could have the labs done next week when he goes to his oncology appointment.

I have had a cooking and gardening day.  I got my chicken broth going and let it simmer for several hours.  While that was on the stove I went outside and did a little weeding and planted some seeds in a couple of our gardens.

After lunch I worked with the broth...straining it and cooling it and getting into containers for the refrigerator.  For supper I made sweet and sour pork...a rather labor intensive recipe both in time and amount of dishes used to create.  Woody did vote that it was worth my efforts.  By the time I got it finished, I wasn't sure that it was worth it!  But it did taste good for a change.  I combined recipes...a new one and my old tried and true recipe...that's what made it take longer.  The first load of dishes are in the dishwasher being washed.  I have as many of maybe even more than are in the dishwasher.  I'm not sure that I am up to washing them by hand...but maybe...or I may unload and reload the dishwasher and thus have fewer to wash by hand.

Tonight's borrowed Coronavirus thought:

Now I understand why Laura Ingalls got so excited to go to town with Pa! (Unknown)

Stay safe!
Stay well!
Use caution as we begin the "new normal!"

It's Someone's Birthday!

Happy birthday, Nathan!  I'm borrowing photos that Kathyposted on Facebook because we are still quarantining ourselves from our neighbor family!  This is the first birthday in sometime that we haven't been a part of it!  Nathan got lots of plants for their outside landscaping and it looks like a chainsaw...that latter is dangerous in his hands...he might try to juggle it!  We did pass along our present to him...just didn't party with them.

I ran errands today...Walmart and Lowe's.  After I got home Woody and I planted what I got at Lowe's in hanging baskets for the front porch and transplanted the hibiscus plant I got for Mother'sDay into a larger pot that I also got at Lowe's.  Gardening wears me out...just isn't my cup of tea! I'd much rather cook or sew!

Here's a borrowed Coronavirus thought for today:

What if we stopped thinking about masks as a sign of being controlled by the government, and simply wore them to protect cashiers and others in high risk jobs as an act of kindness. (Unknown)

Stay safe!
Stay well!
Be cautious as you begin to slowly work into the "new normal!"

Was I Seeing Things?

When I was walking next door last week to take pictures of the crew in their face masks...I took a double take when these bike riders rode past!  It took me a minute to realize what I was seeing so I didn't get a face-forward view!  These are definitely crazy times!!

Today has been a cooking day for me.  I had taken several days off from cooking and when I do that it means that leftovers disappear rather quickly leaving us with next to nothing in the refrigerator!  Today I had both ovens going at the same time...one roasting a chicken and the other roasting sweet red peppers.  The peppers are ready to be made into red pepper sauce (Woody's "catsup").  The chicken has been sliced and diced and part put in the freezer and the rest in the refrigerator.  I made gravy...so hot chicken sandwiches were the fare for tonight's meal.  I'll make the sauce tomorrow so Woody can have sandwiches with some of the rest.  The chicken carcus is in the refrigerator ready to be out in the pot tomorrow to make some more "liquid gold" aka chicken stock.  The dishwasher is going...the things that don't go in the dishwasher are washed...and...the kitchen is closed for the evening!

Yesterday I made a cake to have with strawberries that I bought when I shopped on Saturday. So Woody is happy to have dessert.  I do like my KitchenAid mixer when I mix up a cake...making this one from scratch was almost as easy as making one from a mix.  And, I like the way my new oven bakes a cake.  Win-win!

Woody ran some errands this afternoon before he picked up his friend to take him to a doctor appointment here in town.  So we both have been busy today and are both ready to put up our feet and relax this evening.

Tonight's borrowed Coronavirus thought:

"So in retrospect, in 2015, not a single person got the answer right to: "Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?" (Unknown)

Stay Safe!
Stay Well!
Be cautious as you enter into the "new normal!"

Graduate Recognition Day

First Baptist Church, Tullahoma, TN has held drive-in church throughout this pandemic.  And, today they had a graduate recognition service.  They called each graduate up individually and introduced them and told a little about each one, gave a gift, and then they waved at their family member/s who were taking photos and the congregation honked their horns!  A different and memorable send-off for our 2020 graduates. Again, congratulations, Graham!  

Woody and I watched at home on Facebook livestream and I snapped a screenshot with my iPad as Graham was being introduced and then I borrowed a picture that Kathy took of them waving.

Our church staff has gone above and beyond in trying to make our sheltering at home easier.  Each Sunday they have made it a little more like actually being there...from hymn words on the screen, to sermon notes on the church app.  The way they worked it out that people can hear the service in their cars is by having an FM station that broadcasts only about a block in distance...which can be heard on car radios from the parking lot and those parked close to the church.  And, for those at home they have it broadcast live on Facebook.  The efforts of all have really paid off and attendance has been good both in the parking lot and online at home.  We appreciate the church keeping at least some normalcy in our daily lives for the last couple of months.

How Does our Garden Grow?

Woody and I have just come in from checking out our patio garden...checking out how things are growing and doing a little watering.  The above photo shows oregano in front pot, eggplant in barrel, hibiscus and barrel behind hibiscus has parsley growing from seed.  So far things seem to be doing well.

Here's our red pepper plant...look at all the cute little baby peppers!

Today was grocery day for me because of the Montessori drive-by and Melany and Erin's visit yesterday.  That always wears me out.  After I got things put away and ate some lunch, I took a nap!

Woody worked two hard crossword puzzles. He said that the Saturday puzzles are alwys harder than the weekday ones.  He has done a little reading and a lot of porch sitting.  It was a very pleasant day to sit out on the porch and watch the neighborhood goings on and the birds coming and going.  Georgia and Peaches joined him for part of the time.  The cats like our porch too...not sure if it the bird watching or a safe, sheltered place that they enjoy most!

One of my goals that I wanted to complete before everything opens back up was to have finished my yearly 52 books read goal for this year.  I met that goal two days ago...so now all I read gets me beyond that goal...and, even if I don't read any more (doubt that will happen!) I will have read at least one book a week when the end of the year comes!  Something checked off my to-do list during this pandemic!

Today's borrowed Coronavirus thought:

If 2020 is telling us anything...it's telling us to enjoy the moments we have and don't take any day, anything, or anyone for granted.

Stay Safe!
Stay Well!
Continue to be cautious even though most everything is opening backup.

A Pandemic Event!

Today the teacher's and current students of Ray's Montessori School in Tullahoma honored the school's founder and owner for her retirement after 50 years of dedicated teaching.  Abigail came over and asked me yesterday if I would drive her since her parents were involved in the yardsale.  Abigail has worked at the school for the last two years. Considering that I taught at this year for 27 years I was very happy to participate!  Melany and Erin joined us and rode around in the drive-by.  Melany was in the third class at this school and Erin even attended for a while when Melany had surgery and we were taking care of Alex and her.  We had Nathan talked into coming too, until he realized that he had orthodontist duty today...getting Joy and Esther to their appointments...and, we were concerned with getting back in time.  Abigail was happy with her Grandparents' car since it has a moon roof so she could sit up there with her sign!  Once in a while we just might be cool grandparents! 

I had seen pandemic drive-by events online and we had the teachers in our neighborhood's elementary drive through twice to wave at their students.  So now I can say that I have actually 

participated in one.  I would say that we had at least 25 cars with a police escort.  The police escort was the grandfather of one of the students.  He came by each car and asked that we put on our flashers and told us that we would make the loop around twice.  I think that Pat was very pleased.  We hope that it was a good send-off after all her years of teaching Montessori!

I will tell one special story about Pat's training to become Montessori certified...she went to Memphis and studied under nuns who had been trained by Dr. Maria Montessori...so her training came about as close as it could have been without actually sitting under Dr. Montessori herself!  Not many Montessori teachers today can claim that.  I always felt privileged that the training that Pat gave me was  "third hand!"

That drive-by only took a small portion of Melany and Erin's visit.  We had a good time talking behind our masks!  They ate lunch with us, walked around the yard, petted a porch sitting cat, and visited on the front porch.  It was a very nice visit. They headed home with masks for Wade, Alex, Wade's mom, and Alex's fiancé...and of course the ones that Melany and Erin chose for themselves and wore while they were here.

Nathan and Kathy's yardsale went well again today...a steady flow of customers throughout the day.  I think that folk have been glad to get out and be able to yardsale once again.  

Tonight's borrowed Coronavirus thought:

"Remember the slogan for seat lets: "click-it or ticket?"  Many did not like the law 

of having to wear seat belts...but they saved lives.  Perhaps the slogan of this pandemic should be: "Mask it or Casket" for the same reason/reminder...that masks can save  lives!"  (Unknown)

Stay safe!

Stay well!

Be cautious wear masks when out and about!

Thursday Doings

This morning I got up and got underway with making something to have for lunch in case Melany and Erin were here for lunch.  BUT I got a call from Melany saying that they weren't coming today.  She had forgotten that she had an online school meeting in the early afternoon so they are coming tomorrow.  I had the potato soup that I made for lunch...anyway!

Woody spent quite a bit of time outside this morning.  He enjoyed the much warmer temperatures.  He is attempting to rid one of our flower gardens of a miniature Japanese Maple tree that didn't make this year. I got it as a gift when I was teaching Montessori.  One of our students parents owned a nursery.  She told me at the time that it was a $100 dollar tree (we looked when we were at the nursery in Alabama and the ones we saw were over $150) and, it had lived for many many years. It hadn't shown any signs of distress, but this year it just never came back to life.   We're sorry to see it go, it was a nice addition to that garden.  Anyway...Woody got most of it sawed up except for the thickest part of the trunk trunk.

I didn't do a lot after I made the soup and found out that Melany wasn't going to come today.  I used the rest of the day recovering from my marathon day of sewing masks yesterday...I did get them all made a total of 16 yesterday...from choosing fabric to cutting them out and then sewing them up.  And, now you should see the fabric explosion all over the cutting table.  I couldn't face folding it all up and putting it away today!

Tonight's borrowed Coronavirus thought: "Of all the things that I learned in grade school, trying to avoid cooties was the last one I expected to use!"

Stay safe!
Stay well!
Be cautious as we head into the "new normal."

Who Are These Masked People?

You are looking at what I have done today...and am still doing...9 for the neighbors (Nathan, Kathy and family) and still have to finish 6 for Melany's family.  It looks like several of the masks need adjustment.  Joseph had taken his off and just pulled it on quickly for the photo.  It is hard to take a picture without telling folk to smile...and, I got a couple of funny expressions...oh, well, it is all about the masks!

I have done these assembly line fashion...doing each step for all of the masks.  I did stop and finish the ones for the neighbors before I finished Melany's because they need the masks in the morning for their yardsale.  They will start selling earlier than Melany and Erin will arrive so decided that I needed to finish those 9 first,  I am down to just a few steps to go on the remaining ones so maybe I will be finished before too long.  I haven't had this long a sewing session in a very long time.

Woody has fended for himself today as I sewed.  He did run one errand for his friend...picked up a couple of prescriptions for him.  The rest of the day he has been on his own...scrounging on leftovers, reading, doing crossword puzzles, and watching TV.

I'm off to do more sewing!

Tonight's Coronavirus thought is a question:

Do you have a mask?  

Stay safe!

Stay well!

Wear your mask when you are out and about.  

Must Be Tuesday

And, why must it be Tuesday.  The garbage cans in our neighborhood have been rolled to the street because Wednesday is garbage pick-up day...thus it must be Tuesday...if tomorrow is Wednesday!  These days it takes reasoning like this to help keep up with the days!

Tonight's photo is of one of the little blue birds out of the nest and this one made his mama proud by flying up to this branch which is probably at least 20 feet off the ground!  Lots of little baby birds around...and mamas and daddies are trying to protect them by flying at folk who come too near!  I think that Graham must have been close when he was mowing our backyard today, as he had one of the parents worried...Graham wasn't dive bombed by them, but one would swoop down every so often.

My major accomplishment today was sorting through the games that we have in the coat closet downstairs.  We decided that it was time to depart with some...either give them to the neighbors to play or let them have them for the yardsale that they are preparing for?

I talked to Melany this afternoon and she wants to bring Nathan and Kathy some things that she wants to get rid of so she may sneak down to Tullahoma later in the week...Woody said that she could come in if she wore a mask...but the day may be so nice that we can sit on the front porch and social distance in the fresh air...wearing masks!

When I finish this I am heading to the sewing room...there ar quite a few masks in my future...trying to get some made for Nathan and Kathy and family and also make one for Melany and Erin.

Tonight's borrowed Coronavirus thought:

"There's no quarantine on kindness. Spread love not the virus." (Unknown)

Stay safe!
Stay well!
Be cautious as we begin to reenter society after being in quarantine so long!

Another Monday Rolls Around!

What's funny about Monday rolling around these days is that Monday isn't much different than Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday!  This morning when I was going out to turn on the dryer I saw a little chipmunk on the back patio.  I grabbed a camera, but when I got back he was gone, but this beautiful Cardinal loaded on the edge of our hosta garden.  I snapped his picture instead.

I have managed to wash and dry three loads of clothes and get two put away and I will put away the third after I finish tonight's blog.  I finished another book and just done a little of this and a little of that.  The only time I ventured out was to get the mail.

Woody stayed in today, also.  There was a breeze so temps in the 60s were a bit too cool for him to be out in the yard.  He is anticipating the days this week when it is supposed to be in the 80s!  He has read, done crossword puzzles, and watched some TV.  Not the most active of households today!  I guess we were just getting momentum started to go on into the rest of the week!

Tonight's borrowed Coronavirus thought:

"The end of stay-at-home orders doesn't mean the pandemic is over.  It means they currently have room for you in ICU!" (Unknown)

Stay safe!
Stay well!
Be cautious as "things" around us attempt to return to "normal!"

Saturday: A Day of Accomplishments

This morning I decided that today was the day to get my quilted wall hanging up on the wall in the kitchen.  I will say that it was very easy using Command Strips...just the lightweight ones that are used for posters.  I thought that they should work since the wall hanging is quite light.  It is finally finished and up and I am pleased with it.  After that I cleaned the downstairs bathroom, got a load of wash going, went outside and uncovered plants, and vacuumed the dining room and living room.  By that time I was ready to come upstairs and do some reading.  But instead I sat down at the laptop and decided to sort some photos.  The other day I decided that this "down time" that the shelter at home is giving us would be a good time to sort photos that I have taken so far this year.  So I sorted the photos from one of my four cameras!  A good job started.  So in the end I didn't get around to reading till after lunch.

Woody's main accomplishment is attempting to stay quiet and let his rib heal!  He has done a pretty good job of just staying in his recliner today doing crossword puzzles, watching some TV, and doing some reading and some "resting of his eyes."

I decided this afternoon that I would make some onion soup.  Earlier in the week Woody had mentioned that maybe onion soup would be good.  I looked around for recipes that could be adapted for his diet and found one for Italian Onion Soup and decided to give that a try.  He had that for supper along with an ear of corn.  I would have liked to have eaten some of the soup, but all I dared do was taste test it.  Ever since my gall bladder surgery...onions in concentrated amounts just don't like me...they can give me gall bladder pains so I pretty much avoid things like onion rings, onion soup, and raw onions.  But the couple of test tastes said that it tasted pretty good...different than French Onion...but good...and, Woody cleaned his plate...well, bowl!  I made my recipe for Mediterranean Tuna Salad for my supper...something that Woody can't have.  It tasted good too!  So supper is finished, the kitchen is cleaned up, shades are down, and lights are off...once again the kitchen is closed for the evening!

Tonight's Coronavirus borrowed thought...hope it gives you a smile!

"At the store there was an "X" on the floor by the register to stand on.

I've seen too many Road Runner cartoons to fall for that!"

Stay Safe!

Stay well!

Be cautious as "things" go back to normal in our society!  

Rainy Friday

Look who left the next today!  This is the first time that I have spotted a baby bluebird after it left the nest.  What a rainy day to choose to leave!  Not the best pictures, but it was fun to catch one so newly out of the nest.  The parents were close by keeping tabs on him.  He was quite noisy...reason that I spotted him.

We have a freeze warning out for tonight so I ran around trying to cover up our plants and some of Nathan and Kathy's.  They are away today and won't be back in time to cover things. I ran out of coverings but at least some of the things are covered.  We're hoping that the wind is up enough to keep the frost away.  I'm ready for all this cold to go away.  Hopefully this is the last rally cold spell we will have.

I made Woody French toast with the cinnamon swirl bread for breakfast this morning.  Then what was in the fridge fed him for the rest of the day.  I decided to make myself some macaroni and cheese for my supper...something that isn't on Woody's kidney diet, plus he doesn't like mac and cheese, anyway!  So he doesn't feel deprived when I make it every so often. The kitchen is cleaned up and the lights are out...so once again the kitchen is closed for the evening!

Woody continues to take it easy trying to get over his cracked rib...so lots of cross word puzzles, some TV watching...currently he's watching the Friday evening news programs, and probably a little reading.  I found out a little earlier that on Monday our public library is going to start doing curbside checkout...request the books to be out on hold online and then when they have them ready for you, they will call and you can drive and get them.  Sounds like a good plan.  Woody still has one more book to go on the big stack that I got him from the church library so this will be good timing for him!

I managed to get all my Spring/Easter decorations put away today.  They are all tucked back in their storage tub and back in the closet where I store them.  Things look a little bare where they had been!

And, now for tonight's borrowed Coronavirus thought...it pretty much describes Woody and me...the only thing that we both are missing is getting a haircut...other than that we are pretty much going along "as usual!"

"You never realize how antisocial you are until there's a pandemic and your life doesn't really change that much!" (Unknown)

Stay safe!
Stay well!
Be cautious as you return to normalcy!  The virus is still out there.  Melany told me today that she now knows someone who has died from Covid 19...a former student's mom who was still volunteering at Melany's school prior to it closing due to the pandemic.  It's real! And, it is deadly!

Bread Baking

I decided last night that today would be a bread baking day...cinnamon swirl bread again so Woody can have French toast made with it.  I prefer it toasted in the toaster.  Whichever way...it is very good! And, it is a good bread to make in these days of what seems to be a shortage of yeast, since it only needs one yeast packet and makes two loaves.

I didn't get started very early this morning so the bread baking process took up part of the morning and went well into the afternoon by the time it was time to pull it out of the oven.  I got all the dishes either into the dishwasher or washed them by hand.  The dishwasher washer was full at that point so I ran it.

I gave Woody a choice for supper...fried slices of eggplant or an eggplant casserole.  He chose the casserole.  By the time I got that into the oven I had more dirty dishes.  I unloaded the dishwasher and then loaded it again.  I have washed the dishes by hand that couldn't go in the dishwasher and closed the door on the dishwasher until I have more dishes for it tomorrow.  The counters have been wiped off and the shades pulled and the lights are off...I other words: kitchen is closed!

I'm looking forward to an evening of reading after spending most of the day cooking.

Woody's rib doesn't seem to be hurting as much today.  His day of rest and being extra cautious yesterday must have helped.  Now if he will just take it easy.  He did drive to the pharmacy to pick up a couple of prescriptions at their drive-thru.  And, he went out to check on the herb garden's progress and got the mail and picked up a small branch that had blown down in the storm the other night.  By the time he came in he knew that he had done a bit more than he probably should have!  He has been watching TV, doing crossword puzzles and reading the rest of the afternoon and now into the evening.  I am pretty sure that it will be a quiet evening for both of us.

Now for the borrowed Coronavirus thought for tonight:

"After years of wanting to thoroughly clean the house but lacking the time, I have discovered, after sheltering at home all these weeks, that "time" was NOT the reason!"  (Unknown)

Stay safe!
Stay well!
Be cautious when it is time to reenter society!

Wednesday

Today has been another stay safer at home...no going out anywhere today, except for walking outside for a short time.  It has gone back to being quite chilly again...this is blackberry winter...or so I heard from a weatherman this evening.  I think that is supposed to be well below normal temps for us through this weekend.

  Woody has taken it easy today.  He has a rib that is bothering him.  He cracked a rib a while back and it was getting better, but yesterday he did "something" that made it start hurting again.

I decided to grace my sewing room with my presence and completed the quilted wall hanging.  I only had to add the binding.  Now to decide just how I will hang it in the kitchen.

Donna and I had a church library meeting by phone this afternoon.  And, this time we did actually talk a little about what we plan to do "when we get to go back to the actual library!"  Plus we caught up with what each of have been doing while sheltering in place.

I've done a little cooking.  I gave Woody a couple of choices for supper and he chose the breakfast for supper option.  I made cinnamon applesauce pancakes.  Breakfast in the evening is always good for a change.  He now has pancakes in the refrigerator for breakfast sometime.  I've finished cleaning the kitchen so I'm ready to do some more reading and put my feet up.

Borrowed thought for the day:

"God has gotten our attention...and, now, He is giving us time to think!" (Unknown)

Stay safe!
Stay well!
Be cautious if your area is attempting to go back to "normal!"

Cinco de Mayo 2020

There wasn't much of a theme around here that would have told anyone that it was Cinco de Mayo...except for the square on the calendar.  I turned the day into a cooking day.  First I deboned and skinned chicken thighs and got them into the freezer for when I'm ready to cook with them.  Then I decided that I would make a chicken pot pie for our supper.  The other day Woody looked through our soup cookbooks and found a recipe for chicken pot pie soup and said that sounded good.  When I got to talking to him about making it, he told me that what had really sounded good to him was chicken pot pie and not in the form of soup.  So mishmashed several recipes together and added my own interpretation.  It ended up tasting pretty good...despite no salt and no potatoes in it.  I used some of our fresh herbs that we planted recently.  I also made the executive decision that I wasn't going to have a bottom crust...just plopped all the filling ingredients, after cooking the filling concoction on top of the stove, into a glass baking dish and then did a lattice top crust.  The recipe is a keeper...that is if I can remember all the changes I made...it will probably be one of those recipes that never tastes the same twice!

Woody made one trip out today to pick up a couple of prescriptions at our pharmacy...that is a drive-thru errand.  Other than that he spent the day reading, watching some TV, working crossword puzzles, checking out some things on the computer...and resting.  I sat once in a while in between cooking tasks...I even managed a short nap during one of those times of sittng.  The other times that I sat down to rest, I read some more in the latest book I've gotten into.

The other day I took the books we had been reading together over to Esther, Elijah, and Isaac so they could finish them independently.  When Nathan came over to fill their water jug from our filtered cold water, he brought Elijah's back because Elijah had finished.  As soon as I publish this, I will sit here and finish it so I can add it to my reading list.  I am edging in closer and closer to making it to my yearly goal total of 52 books/one a week. Obviously I have read more than one a week during the pandemic to be getting this close to my goal this early in the year. The one Elijah just finished and the e-book I am reading currently will put me at 50 when I finish them both.  I'm not reading as much as I was at the start of sheltering at home, but I am still getting in quite a bit of reading each day.

Tonight's borrowed Coronavirus thought:

"Rest at home is better than rest in peace...6 feet away is better than 6 feet under!"

Stay safe!
Stay well!
Stay home, if possible, but be cautious when you reenter society!

May the Fourth Be With You

This morning Woody headed off to take his friend to a doctor appointment here in Tullahoma.  The doctor office called here on Friday to confirm that they were seeing patients, but that patients had to wear masks.  Guess it was a good thing that I made him a mask a few weeks back.

Since Woody would be out of the house for a couple of hours, I decided to do a task that I had on my list of things to do this month while we are still sheltering at home.  I had never used the self-clean setting on my range and needed to use it before my warranty runs out in a couple of months.  I wanted to make sure that feature was working and that it didn't make the stove malfunction when I used it.  I opened windows in the kitchen, but it still smelled pretty bad in the downstairs area, so I decided that I would go out on the front porch and do a bit of bird watching and also some reading while the oven cleaned itself! In the end I pulled up a chair on the corner of our house where I could get a good view of the mama and daddy blue birds feeding their babies.  The babies are big enough now that I could see them practically fall out of the birdhouse opening when mama or daddy came back with food.  I took quite a few pictures.  Tonight's photo is one of them.  I think that these babies will be out of the nest soon.  I saw at least three at one time...not sure if there are more in their or not.

Oh, and, the oven came out bright and shiny and looking like new.  That was a first as this is the first oven that we have had that is self-cleaning.  This one also has a steam clean cycle which is what I had used up to this point, but the bottom oven needed a bit more than a steam clean. I have the kind of racks that can be left in and they came clean as well as did the oven door window.

Woody spent some time outside today after he got back.  He even walked over to Nathan and Kathy's to check out their garden.  He really worked hard over the weekend cleaning up our patio slab even to the point of hand trimming all around the outside edge of it.  We can see some of the herb seeds coming up that he planted...so far dill, oregano, and tarragon so far...the parsley we're not seeing yet.  All the plants that we planted last week seem to be doing well so far.

Tonight's borrowed Coronavirus thought:

"I miss people, places and things.  So nouns, essentially I miss nouns!  (Unknown)

Stay safe!
Stay well!
Be cautious as we gradually get back to normal!

Congrats to our TWO Graduates...TWINS?!?

Here are our graduates this year...the oldest and the youngest neighbor grandchildren.  Graham was supposed to have graduated last night but the ceremony was postponed until June...we'll see if it happens then!  This morning some of Graham's friends "planted" these spinners and a graduate balloon in the corner of their yard.  I told them that I wanted to get a picture of Graham standing with his graduation yard display...and then thought...we need to get Joseph in one of the pictures as he graduates from kindergarten this year.

We're proud of both the boys!!  They have both worked hard to achieve the honor of graduating!  And, we need to give Kathy a pat back for teaching them all these years.  She "only" has 12 years to go!!  CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH GRAHAM AND JOSEPH!