Good Day for Ducks!

It has been another very rainy day. When I looked out the window at the rain gauge a little before dark, it was measuring close to 3 inches over yestereday and today. Since I checked, we have had another wave of rain come through. We had a couple of pretty good thunder storms come through this afternoon. I have stayed in all day. But that hasn't been a problem. I needed to stay in and do things around the house. I spent most of the morning in the kitchen cooking and cleaning. I got the marinara sauce made and have gotten out dishes and made plans for things that need to be done. A little while ago I mopped the kitchen floor and the downstairs bathroom floor. I still want to do a "lick and a promise" vacuuming for the downstairs. Melany, Wade, and Erin will be arriving around noon tomorrow according to plans at the moment. I will get home from church between 11:30am and noon...so we will be close to arriving at the same time. So I am trying to have most everything ready. I'm going to set the table next. I've already decided on the dishes I will use so it shouldn't take very long. I have also done some reading...I "read" while I worked in the kitchen this morning...listened to an audio book. It is another one of the books for the Cottey book club. I am, at the moment, well ahead in my reading for the club, as I read when they come available for me. Over the last week several have become available. I also read on my public library mystery when I sat down to rest my back. I have my last load of wash in the dryer. The other loads that I have done are all put away. This last is towels...once they are folded and put away my laundry is caught up...at least for a little while! Well, back to getting ready. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Wet Friday

Another busy day. I set aside today for another grocery shopping day. Melany, Wade, and Erin are coming for lunch on Sunday and I waited until today to get fresh salad items...and, of course, bought more than just salad ingredients. Today's shopping gave me 4X gas points (a Friday offering) and today let me take advantage of the latest sales. I managed to get home just as the rain started so I was able to get the groceries in without getting too wet. The rest of the day we have had rain off and on. I looked at the rain gauge when I went out to empty the kitchen trash can and it looks like we have gotten around an inch today. I just got an alert that starting at midnight more rain is going to roll in and that it will rain off and on up until 10pm and that we could get 1.9 inches...we will see about that prediction. This afternoon I prepared some chicken breasts for the freezer... I boiled two of them with veggies and then cut the meat off the bone into pieces all ready for a soup or casserole or salad recipe and popped that meat into the freezer for another time. I continued to boil the veggies and the bones to make chicken stock. The other two chicken breasts I deboned and froze those pieces uncooked for "whatever" on down the road...those bones also went into the stock pot. The stock cooked the rest of the afternoon. I strained the liquid off and have it in the refrigerator chilling so any fat will come to the surface and I will get rid of that before I freeze the broth. All the mess (bones, veggies, etc.) has been bagged up and taken out to the garbage. I was in the process of getting dishes loaded into the dishwasher when I realized that it was past time to blog...so you are my break. I will continue to get the dish washer filled up after I publish this. I also cooked and crumbled bacon for our salads on Sunday. We are going to have meatballs and marinara sauce on angel hair pasta on Sunday. I will make the marinara sauce tomorrow and continue to cut up things for our salads. There shouldn't be much cooking wise for Sunday's meal. Cutting items for salad will probably take the longest. I will also need to do a little straightening up around the house...but not too much to do for that, either. Today I finished another book--one for the Cottey book club. I am almost finished with another of my cozy mysteries that I checked out from the public library. Once the kitchen is cleaned up, I am through for today. Tomorrow is another day...probably a rainy one! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

National Day of Prayer 2025

I always think back quite a few years ago to a National Day of Prayer when Woody was having surgery at The National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD. He had gotten through his surgery and was back in his room and doing well, so I left him for a little while to attend part of the National Day of Prayer time that they were holding ourside in one of the courtyards. When at NIH you are on U.S. property. I felt privileged to have been there on that day and join in with a group of people from all over the country...really all over the world. Today I have managed to accomplish several of the things on my "list" of to-dos. I finished getting all that large stack of old bills ready for recycle. I also finished wiping out the door bins in the refrigerator. I got Nathan to stop by and do a quick fix for me. I also cleaned the downstairs bathroom. Then finally, late this afternoon, I made two loaves of banana bread. I have read more on two of my books when I took short breaks. So all in all I am happy with what I accomplished today. And, am now ready to sit and put my feer up. I was mistaken last week when I said that it was the season finalé for Elsbeth, as there is another new episode tonight. So I am ready to sit back and enjoy. I do have a little cleaning up from my banana bread baking foray. So not quite finished for the evening. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Back in Business!

My new keyboard arrived today. I immediately opened it and got it to charging. My original keyboard was connected to the actual iPad and I guess got its charge via the iPad. this one I will have to charge periodically...now to remember that! I also have to get used to the feel of this keyboard. I did have trouble getting it connected via blue tooth...not sure why. But I took it all with me to church tonight and after the Bible study, I asked the tech person if he could help me and he did get it connected. He did what I had done earlier, but he must have held his mouth just right! I thanked him profusely! I have had a busy day. I decided that I needed to get the meat I bought yesterday ready to go in the freezer. Well, when I pulled that out, I decided that I would clean off all the shelves in the refrigerator...and then I decided that I really should mash the over-ripe bananas and either freeze those or make banana bread. I was going to make the bread...but decided that was too much at that point...so I plan to make the bread tomorrow...or...freeze the mashed bananas! There were other jobs thrown in before I finally got all the shelves wiped off...but all the shelves are looking very clean and shiny. I didn't even think (well, I did think about them) the bins on the doors...but another day. Probably by the time I get to those, I will need to do the shelves again! I'm gearing up to get rid of a lot of papers that accumulated in the sewing room next to my laptop up there. At one time Woody and I both used that laptop and he used the table partly as a desk and stored paid bills. I have decided that there is really no reason to keep those paid utility, internet, etc. bills for all those years back. So my plans are to tear them up and recycle them next garbage and recyle day. I'm going to do that for a while this evening while I watch some TV. I also did some reading today...one of the public library books and then an e-book for an upcoming Cottey book club. I can get some reading done when I "need" to sit and rest for a wile between tasks. I'm ready now to go have a some supper, as I didn't eat before I went to Bible study tonight. I was anxious to write the blog as soon as I got home to see if my keyboard was really connected. Now tha I see that it is working, I will publish this for tonight! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

It's Blooming!

I had the whole blog written and then only part of what I wrote published...so...I'll try again...the amaryllis that my niece gave us several years ago is blooming...more blooms to come. Today has been busy. I got gas, went to the grocery store and worked in the library. Since I got home I have gotten the garbage and recycled items to the road. Now I am ready to put my feet up. I'm tired! I needed to get gas before I lost gas points once May begins. And, the grocery store trip was made today so I could get some of the specials that will change tomorrow. Donna and I got books several steps closer to being ready for the shelves. Next work day will see them ready to check out. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Beautiful Day!

Such a pretty Spring day. it got into the 80s this afternoon. I've just gotten home from prayer meeting where I had a nice surprise...Nathan was there and came to prayer meeting. I knew that Joy was going to be there tonight. Joy leads a high school girl's Bible study at our church each Sunday afternoon. She is going to have some conflicts over the coming weeks so asked if they could meet tonight when prayer meeting meets. I am in charge of unlocking and locking the doors for our prayer time...so that is the reason she was asking me if it was okay! Nathan must have brought Joy and my other surprise--Esther! While the girls had their study,Nathan came in and prayed with us. Then he and I talked until the girls were finished. I'm home and going to have some supper after I blog. It has been doing a lot of things, but not accomplishing a lot! I have managed to do a load of wash and will take up the clothes when i go upstairs in a little while. I'm continuing to work in the sewing room. I identified my next job which I will work on maybe this evening and again tomorrow. Well, I'm typing blindly on the iPad flat keyboard which I may not hit correct keys since my fingers may over reach the flat key squares. I hope to have the keyboard situation solved Wednesday...I ordered a new one today. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Sunday Favorite

Sleepy Saturday

I continue to have keyboard issues...I tried to find out what was going on and went to the site to see if I could get some help. Well, I think I talked to a robot...and, we didn't speak the same language! I will try again and hold out for a real person to expalain what might be happening. Today was one of those days when I never felt like I woke up. I have just sort of dragged through the day. I ended up taking a morning nap and have been determined the rest of the day to stay awake until bedtime. I will be up and out fairly early in the morning to go to Sunday School and then to the church service. I have all my Sunday School notes gathered together ready to pack up in my bag to take to church. I started straightening up and cleaning in the sewing room. I am really wanting to get back to my sewing and I think it will be nice to start out in a newly organized sewing room...of course, that could kill my enthusiasm for sewing if I put too much effort into it. ut at the moment it sounds like something I want to do. I'm going to stitch tonight. To be continued. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Friday…All Day Long

For some reason, my additional keyboard is not working with my iPad. And that means soon I will be typing blindly! So this will be short. It has been a good day. The Sunday School lesson is progressing. I cleaned some cabinets and drawers in the kitchen...vacuuming out some of the crumbs that somehow get in them! One of those jobs around the house that I notice need to be done while I'm doing something else and then forget to find time to do them. I finished reading a book--this time as some extra reading for the Sunday School lesson. I even mmanaged to take a couple of unplanned naps...sat down to rest for a few minutes and naps just happened! To be continued! We did have a short thunderstorm this afternoon. Yesterday and today's rains combined have given us another 1/2 inch of rain...according to my rain gauge. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Looks Like Snow!

Tonight's photo shows what happens to our yard at a certain point during Spring...usually after a rain. The dogwood blooms fall and cover the ground looking like a light snow fall. It looks pretty...but does make a mess underfoot and it is very hard not to track in some of those pretty white petals into the house. Today stared out rainy, but by afternoon, the sun came out for a little while. Some more rain for those May flowers! I have had a pretty low-key day...I did try out my iron and it did what is supposed to do...so I guess it passed the test! I have read some, worked some more on the Sunday School lesson, did a little cleaning (very little) and a little stitching (again, very little). It was a good afternoon for a nap so accomplished that, too. Now I am gearing up to stitch and watch the season finale of Elsbeth. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Wednesday

The Gerber daisy in tonight's photo is absolutely beautifu at the moment. It has been in our garden for many years and i think it comes back more beautiful each year. Look at all the blooms at the moment and if you look closely, you will see that there are more buds to open. Each day I find new things blooming. There is a niggling in the back of my mind that I "should" spend some time weeding...but all it is a niggling as I just don't see me doing much weeding at the moment. This week I have the "excuse" that I need any extra time, I "should" be preparing the Sunday School lesson...or the "excuse" that I really don't need to tempt my allergies as it is a high pollen time of the year. Anyway, the excuses have won out and no weeding so far for me. My other excuse is that weeds are so low down...if you get where I am going (or not going) with that excuse! I worked a little more of Sunday's lesson...the outline is "on paper" (in the app on my iPad) and I have started filling in some details that I want to share...still a ways to go...but it is started. I did make on of my Mother's recipes that I love and that Cheryl dislikes. It is one of my favoite things to make with left-over ham...Scalloped Ham. It is ham, hard-cooked eggs, white sauce, and bread crumbs. Cheryl is not fond of dishes using white sauce or that things are really thick (like Mother's pea soup...again, I loved Mother's pea soup...and her's fit the saying of "as thick as pea soup." I wonder about me liking things with white sauce...white sauce is one of the first things that I remember mother teaching me how to make...maybe that is why I like it...I remember learning to mkae it? I very much enjoyed my little casserole of Scalloped Ham. I was happy...and, Cheryl was happy that she wasn't here! I made an order the other day and it got here today...an iron an ironing board cover...fun purchase?!? I will say that I always like when I have a new ironing board cover...it will stay clean at least for a little while. This time I bought a dark colored cover...maybe it will look better longer? I haven't tried out my new toy, yet. I can't believe how many irons I have gone through over the years. The one that lasted the longest is the one we got for a wedding present. My more recent purchases of irons have been up to that quality! And, it makes no difference if I purchase a very expensive iron or the cheapest...they all last for too short of a time. I do use my irons more often than most, probably, because I sew. One of the rules of sewing that I have found very important is to press as you sew...makes for a much better final garment...words of sewing wisdom from my mother and others in the sewing world. I haven't tried the iron, yet. So far I have the ironing board cover on and I have the iron cord run through a guide that keeps it up and out of the way when pressing...but haven't gotten water in the iron or the iron plugged in. I had to leave for church a bit early tonight, as I worked on finishing the processing of two books so one of our patrons could check them out. I accomplished that task and then went in for tonight's Bible study. I came home, had supper, and am now settling in for a quiet evening with the TV and my stitching. I have stitched several more letters since yesterday...coming along with one of the other alphabets and moving on to complete the second page of the 16 pages for this sampler...long way to go, but it is coming along. I will probably stitch on this sampler for another couple of days and then go back to stitching on the Christmas ornament that I am in the middle of. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Rain Gauge Check

I went out a little while ago to check the rain gauge and was surprised at how much we received in about a day and a half. A couple of tenths short of two inches. Today was a library work day. Before I headed off there, I had a little work to do on the books prior to working on them at the library. Donna and I got all the new books through their first stage of processing and they are now ready for another work day and then they should all be ready to be checked up. I plan to attempt to get two of the books ready to be checked out tomorrow. These two books have been requested and I hope I can put them in the library patron's hands tomorrow evening. I plan to go to Bible study a little early tomorrow so I can get these two ready. i have spent some time reading some more for the Sunday School lesson. I started getting ingredients prepared for a dish I plan I make tomorrow. I read a couple of chapters in my public library book and also stitched a couple more letters on my sampler. I did manage to meet my stitching goal met lasat night. I have now moved on to the next row of letters in the sampler. I plan to do a little more reading and a little more stitching this evening.

I Couldn’t Resist!

I couldn't resist borrowing one of Kathy's photos of Joseph holding one of the four little piglets born on their farm today. So cute...both Joseph and the little piglet! I have had a fairly quiet day...stayed home until it was time for prayer meeting this evening. I've just gotten home. Today has been a pretty rainy day. And, we got measurable rain and this time I will be able to see ow much as I did put my rain gauge out the other day. It is pretty wet outside so I haven't gone out to check to see exactly how much, but from inside it looks like right around one inch. I have been pretty lazy today...mainly doing reading...both material for this coming Sunday's Sunday School lesson and then also a bit of reading for pleasure...a cozy mystery. I have done a little stitching...working on another letter on my Bristol red work sampler. I stopped when my thread ran out...so in the middle of a "W," which I plan to finish before I close my eyes tonight. I just got notification that it is supposed to rain some more tomorrow. I was happy that today's rain let up by the time I was ready to head to church and it wasn't raining on my way home either...so didn't get wet! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

A Christian Legend for Resurrection Sunday 2025

According to Christian tradition, dogwood blossoms bear the scars of Jesus' crucifixion. The petals are tipped with blood-fringed nail indentations, the flower is cross-shaped, and the center represents the crown of thorns. This symbolism is to compensate for the dogwood being the wood of the cross on which Jesus died. Because the tree never wanted to be put to such use again, God also twisted and gnarled its trunk and branches so that no straight boards could be made from it. While there is no evidence that the legend is true, the tale persists. The legend of the dogwood blossom is an example of a pourquoi (French for "why") story, a tale that attempts to explain why something has its particular features or characteristics. (copied)

Saturday Before Easter

I have debated about posting this photo, but decided to go on...as this blog is a diary for me...so this photo in tonight's blog puts a date on when the momumet was first seen. Melany and Wade went to the Proctor farm this morning and sent me these photos. All is well...names and dates are correct. They pointed out that it looks like it is slanted...but it is on a slope/hill. After I ate breakfast, I worked some more on the Sunday School lesson. I stopped working on it when it was almost time for my Cottey College Alum Bookclub. We had a good group this morning and once again enjoyed our hour duscussing the book and chasing other rabbits. My friend since childhood was there this morning. She and I went from first grade through our two years at Cottey together...so have known each other for lots of years. Always fun to "see" her "in person" on these Zoom meetings. I had lunch after the Zoom meeting and then went back to the Sunday School lesson. I had my notes ready to print out in fairly short order and then had the rest of the afternoon and now the evening to do with as I wish. I have been reading and went outside and took a few pictures of some flowers that started blooming in the last couple of days. Now I am going to watch a little TV and do a few stitches. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Good Friday 2025

I spent time this morning working on the Sunday School lesson. It's closer to finished...a little more work on it tomorrow should have it ready for Sunday. I made potato soup this afternoon and had a late lunch when it was finished...tasted very good! Because I had a ham, I added some ham to it this time. This evening I went to our church Good Friday service. I still have a bit to clean up in the kitchen from my cooking efforts of the day. Then it will be time to put up my feet and be done for the day! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Best Laid Plans…

Well, I had good intentions. I had ham-stuffed potatoes on the menu for Melany and Erin's visit. These are a long-time-family favorite. They are sort of a glorified twice-baked potato. I decided that I would get everything prepared that gets added to the potato after it is baked. I diced, sliced, shredded, and roasted items for the recipe so they would be all ready to add to the scooped out potato and then returned to the skin to bake further tomorrow just before lunch. After I got all that done and had them in the refrigerator awaiting to be used tomorrow, I then checked to see what I needed to make a tossed green salad. I got those items on the list and headed off to the store after lunch. I first went to the Credit Union to deposit a check. Then it was on to Kroger. I got my cart and was adding fresh produce to my cart, when I pulled out my phone to check the list. In opening up the phone, I saw that Melany had sent me a message. Well, the news was not good...Erin is sick and Melany wasn't feeling all that well...so, in other words, they won't be coming tomorrow. I went on and did a little shopping for things that I might need over the next week. I'm glad that I stayed and shopped a little as I saw my good friend and one of "the barn crew." So we got to visit a little...nice addition to my grocery shopping! I came home and put away the few things that I bought. I talked to my sister for a few minutes...she is in the process of getting ready for her family Easter gathering at her house on Sunday. Then I decided that I had better package up the ingredients that I prepared this morning so they can go into the freezer--for when Melany, Erin, and maybe Wade might come again...or I will just make ham-stuffed potatoes for me when I am so inclined! I think that I may make some potato soup for me tomorrow. I haven't had time to work on the Sunday School lesson today. I doubt that I do this evening, as it is almost time for the season finale for Matlock...so I plan to watch that and maybe stitch. Sometimes Matlock takes more concentration than I can give it if I stitch while watching. I imagine they have something surprising in store for us this evening since it is the season finale...guessing they will leave us with a cliffhanger! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Over-the-Hump Day

I hung up clothes, folded clothes, and put clothes away...which meant quite a few trips up and down the stairs today. I'm still working on the Sunday School lesson. I have done reading from several teacher helps today...one more to read through...then maybe I can get something put on paper. This evening was Bible study. I am home and ready to settle for the evening. I hope to get that last teacher help read and then plan to read and/or stitch this evening. Last night I stitched a little, but my eyes closed before I got too much done. Since I went to sleep earlier than usual, I awakened in the wee hours of the night/morning, but after a while I did manage to get back to sleep. Tomorrow I may go to the grocery store, if I decide to make something for lunch on Friday that I don't have all the ingredients I need. Melany and Erin are coming for a visit and lunch on Friday. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Monday Rolled Around, Again!

I don't know what I have been doing. I sat down to blog and got distracted! I have moved from one thing to another today. I did do my laundry. I just have to put the last load into the dryer when I finish the blog. (I won't let myself get distracted from blogging again, tonight!). I continued to work on cleaning upstairs. And, I did get a little more done today. I have a pretty clean master bathroom and more things have been put away or relocated. I also worked a little more on this coming Sunday's Sunday School lesson. After lunch, I headed to the church to work in the library with Donna. We got the books that we started processing last week completed and on the "new book" shelf...all ready to check out. Thus a successful library work day and some of our readers will be happy to find new books for the series that they are reading. I guess it is now time to go to the dryer, as it is calling. I will finish that task and then call it quits for tonight...after all...tomorrow is another day...and...we'll see what I manage to do tomorrow. To be continued! Be safe! Be well!Be cautious!

Very Much a Spring Day

The temperature warmed up nicely today...got into the low 80s. I wonder how long this warm spell will last! It was rather breezy. After I got home from prayer meeting this evening, I walked around my yard and snapped a few pictures of the flowers that are blooming now. Today was the first time for me to spot that some of my iris, aka flags, had unfurled. Today was more of doing a little of this and a little of that. I did some cleaning upstairs...actually ran the vacuum for a little while. I have clothes ready for the wash...but I only got as far as sorting them...now to get them down to the washer! Maybe tonight...maybe tomorrow! I talked to Melany just before I went to prayer meeting. She got the call today from the momument company that the stone is ready to be placed at Woody's grave site. If it doesn't rain tonight, they plan to place it tomorrow. Hope the names and dates are correct! My father was always disappointed when he visited his parents grave site, as their/his last name was spelled incorrectly. He was away in the service when the marker was made and didn't know it till after it had been placed. He always wished that he had had it corrected, but to this day Gilmore is spelled incorrectly as Gillmore. I guess now we will see if Woody's is correct. It has taken ten months to get the stone, but from what I understand that is not an overly long time from when it was ordered. Melany and Wade already had a trip planned to the farm where the Proctor cemetary is located this Saturday, so they will be able to check it out and get a picture of it. They have asked if I want to go with them, but at the moment, I'm thinking that I don't want/need to go this time. I'm just happy to hear that it is going to be placed. I've never been a big cemetary visitor...not sure about this time...but maybe it is that I don't want to see my name on the stone!!!! I just don't need the long trip on Saturday when I have to be up and out fairly early on Sunday and be ready to teach the Sunday School lesson. I guess I have hashed this out here! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Sunday Favorite

Stay-at-Home Saturday

Staying home found me doing a little of this and a little of that..sort of the norm for me lately. One accomplishment can be seen in tonight's photo. I completed the little pillow with the kites on it. I had finished stitching it a week or more ago. Last week during the Zoom stitching meeting, I stuffed it. Then today I sewed the little opening on the bottom closed. So another Spring "small" to display in with my Spring decorations. Speaking about the Zoom stitching meeting, I spent some time fulfilling a request from the moderator of the Zoom meeting. She asked me to send her some photographs of my Loara Standish sampler. I took a few new photos and also sent her some that I had taken in the past. I read some more on one of the books that I got from the public library on Thursday. I also spent some more time finalizing the Sunday School lesson for tomorrow. I did spend some time in the kitchen. I decided to bake the ham that I bought yesterday. That, of course, took care of itself, once I got it into the oven. That is the first time that I have cooked a ham using my thermometer probe that connects to the oven, which made it even easier to know when it was time to take it out of the oven. I did sample a little of it...I had to after smelling it cook for several hours! I just enjoyed the enchiladas that I made yesterday that I was too tired to try last night. They are very good...once again. I use a recipe that I got from my sister years ago. But I have replaced the canned enchilada sauce and canned gravy called for with homemade which has changed the taste some. And, my latest addition is a layer of sour cream and I slice my colby-jack cheese instead of grating it. Also, some years back both my sister and I pretty much stopped rolling our enchiladas as the tortillas tended to break apart when rolling them. I now do a layered dish...the way you make lasagna. I like them just as well and they are so much easier and a little less messy when making them this way. Anyway, they passed my taste test this time and found my supper very tasty. I'm pretty much done in for the day. I did sit down and stitch on the Christmas ornament that I am currently stitching. I think I will either continue stitching or might read some more...or even better...do both! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Friday Fiddling

Today's main accomplishment was grocery shopping. That pretty much took up my morning and a little of the afternoon. I got my Kroger groceries put away. I rested a bit after lunch and then made one more quick run to Food Lion. They had a special on some of their hams and I am in the mood to cook a ham...and, as Easter approaches it is a good time to buy one. I plan to cook it...maybe tomorrow and then will enjoy using it in several of my favorite ham leftover recipes. And, I will freeze some of the ham to use it on down the road. I don't usually plan to do much cooking on the day I shop...shopping is usually all I have the energy for in a day. But I had been planning to make enchiladas for several days and it was just time to make them...tired or not. I did rest for a while before I made them. I took the pan of enchiladas out of the oven just a little while ago. And, usally I am ready to sample them shortly after I get them out. But tonight my stomach just says that it is too late to try them...so I will let them cool a bit more and cover them and slide them into the refrigerator to wait for tomorrow to try them. I have taken a break from the messy kitchen (enchiladas are a messy recipe to make...or maybe it is just me who is messy when I make them!) and once I blog, I will go finish cleaning up the kitchen. Most of the dishes have been tucked in the dishwasher. There are others that need to be washed by hand...but not too many. I will get those washed, turn on the dishwasher and wipe down the counters and the top of the stove...and...I will be done in the kitchen for the day. And, at this point I am done in for the day...pretty tired. I may be able to read a little or maybe put in a stitch or two...not sure how long my eyes will stay open. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Thursday Doings

This morning I made a book order for the church library. Then I turned to and worked on the Sunday School lesson. The first draft, could be the final has been printed. I may feel the need to change it after I read through it...time will tell. But I am through with it for the day. After lunch, I headed off to work in the church library with Donna. We did maintenance and then worked on processing some of the books from the last book order. So we have books that will perhaps will be ready for circulation our next work day. On the way home I did a good deed from one library to another library. Someone returned a public library book to our church library, so I returned it to the public library. While there, I decided to look around in the library. I found a new book in a series that I have been reading. I found out there were several that I hadn't read in the series and that those weren't available on the Libby e-book app. So...I came home with four books. I have already started reading the next book in the series. I'm now looking forward to my weekly shows, Marlock and Elsbeth...perhaps I will read during the commercials...or I may just stitch and then read some later before I go to bed. I still need to empty the dishwasher so I can load up today's dirty dishes. I also need to make my list on the Kroger app, as I plan to make a trip to the grocery store in the morning. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Today HAD to Be a Good Day!

And, the reason it had to be a good day? It is hair cut day! Joy came over midmorning before her afternoon Motlow classes and cut my hair. Yay! Pretty much my favorite day of the month! She did a great job as usual. I enjoyed getting caught up with how her Motlow classes are going, how the baby animals (duckling, kid, 6 baby bunnies, and soon piglets)on their farm are doing, how her siblings are doig, how her job at the J.C. Penney salon is going, etc., etc. We always have a nice talk. Before Joy came, I started a grocery list getting ready for a Friday trip to Kroger. After Joy left I worked some more on this week's Sunday School lesson. I got back a little while ago from Wednesday night Bible study. And...that is about the end of my good day! I am feeling really tired tonight and just remembered that I awakened extra early this morning...and no nap...guess that is the reason for my extreme sleepiness! I am hoping to do a little stitching while I watch TV this evening...but not sure my eyes will remain open. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! Today's photo is out one of my upstairs windows taken yesterday...we are really greening up! Spring green from the Crayola Crayon box is the color of the momeht...along with white and carnation pink! Such a pretty time of year!

Another Birthday to Celebrate!

Quite a few years ago my father took this photo of Melany when she was 4-months old. Happy Birthday, Melany, the person who made me a mother for the first time. Our neighbors, when Melany was born, were the Hastys. Today Linda H. and I spent time doing a little shopping and then had lunch together. All those years ago, Woody left a note on their back door, when we left for hospital. It was early when we headed to the hospital. I got to see them that evening at the hospial. How special to have been friends for all (we won't say how many...to not give away Melany's age!) these years! I will say that I was a pretty young mother...and I am "only" 22 years older than she. So I have given you a clue as to a way to figure out Melany's age...but I'm guessing that it isn't all that important to anyone...so her "secret" is probably safe! Linda picked me up and we went to JoAnn's to check out their closeout sale. She found what she was looking for and something she was interested in acquiring and was glad to find marked at 90% off. I think that she got the biggest bargain in the store today...I didn't see anything else at 90% off and most things had a lot less percentage off. I checked out what they had and what I might want "if" they get marked down some more. What I was interested they do have a fairly large quantity of...so we will see...if I can get a bargain. After we finised at JoAnn's, we went for lunch. After lunch, we came back to my house and visited for a short time till it was time for Linda's afternoon appointment. No library work today, because both Donna and I had conflicts. We will see if we make up the time on Thursday...to be decided. I worked a little on this coming Sunday School lesson. A busy day...time to sit and stitch this evening. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Brrrrrrrrrr! And, What Winter Might This Be?!?

Those who don't live in Middle Tennessee (TN is really three states = Western, Middle, and Eastern) may not know that we seem to go through five or so "winters" every year before we finally settle in for warm weather. Last week we were in the upper 80s and this week we barely made it to 50 for a high today. Most of the "winters" are named for something that is flowering at the time that a cold front comes through. I am not sure, as I haven't heard anyone say, but I think that this may be "Dogwood Winter," since the dogwood trees are in their glory at the moment. Tonight's photo, I took out one of the upstair's bedroom windows today. The house next door has a beautiful pink dogwood blooming up close to their house...so pretty! Things are really greening up around here. It is amazing how much greener the trees have gotten over the last week. Today I ran two errands in the morning. I first went to the Credit Union and then when I came out of their drive, I pulled in the drive directly across the street and went into the parking lot where I got my forgotten-on-Friday lab done. I came home after that, as I felt that was enough errand running on such a cold morning. The sun finally came out this afternoon and it felt much better outside...though still rather chilly. I have done things around the house in the afternoon up until it was time to go to prayer meeting. I don't usually share much about prayer meeting...except...that I have been and have gotten home safely and am ready to settle in for the night! But tonight those of us who were there got to experience something very special. We have been praying for the brother-in-law of one of the men who come to our prayer meeting. This man was in a terrible motorcycle/car accident early in December in Texas. He was the one on the motorcycle and really wasn't expected to live. But miraculously today he walked out of his rehab center and he and his wife returned to their home! At the end of prayer meeting we got to Facetime with him and his wife. He is truly a miracle. We have been praying for him and following his recovery from the start. It was so wonderful to actually get to see and talk with him. He is doing so well. He still will have to continue with PT now that he is home...but the hurdles that he has already cleared are unbelievable...what we see is a full recovery in the days ahead for him. We praise God for allowing us to see miracles like this! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Sunday Favorite

Saturday Sundries

A little of this and a little of that once again describes my day. I will say that one thing got a little more than a little bit of my attention and that was the Sunday School lesson. I have managed to get my notes organized and they are now printed off...so tomorrow's lesson is "on paper" and hopefully ready for me to share what is in my notes in Sunday School. I did some planning for something I will be involved in tomorrow afternoon...something to do with my stitching. I know that I have mentioned something that I enjoy watching on my iPad...something on YouTube. The stitchig YouTube videos are known to us stitchers as flosstubes. I follow quite a few stitchers who periodically post "flosstubes" on YouTube. One of the stitchers I follow gave an opportunity for 12 of us who watch her flossbube to meet online for a zoom meeting tomorrow. I was one of the ones she chose to join in this zoom meeting. I have been deciding what I can stitch while the group of us chat. What I usually stitch on, I need to use a magnifying light...so I am trying to decide what I have to stitch on that I can see with just my reading glasses. I think that I have found what I am going to do. At these meetings the ones attending stitch and chat about stitching. I am looking forward to it. I anticipate a pleasant two hours making new stitchy friends, and, maybe, do a little stitching! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

A Very Full Friday

It has definitely been a busy day. I got up and got ready to head to McMinnville, TN for my six-month appointment with my personal care physician. The appointment went very efficiently...even to the point that as I was walking to check out and as I got there my appointment sheet was handed to me over the counter. It still took a total of three hours to get there, see the doctor, and get home...so much for the morning! Oh, and when I was about 3/4 of the way home, I got a call from the Dr. office...they had forgotten to do part of the labs...so I have to go to a lab here in town on Monday to get the rest done...so maybe not as efficient an appointment as it seemed! I made the cookies last night so only had to get them ready to take mid afternoon. After lunch, I worked some more on the Sunday School lesson. A little before three I headed off to deliver the cookies. I got them delivered and headed back home. After I got home, I talked to Cheryl for a little while. After catching up with her about the AZ family, I finished reading a book. After supper, I went back to working on the Sunday School lesson. And, that brings me to this point of the day...ready to settle in. I think that it is time to do a little in the kitchen and then hopefully I will feel like doing a little stitching. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! Looks like the new bird feeder has been discovered...I prefer bird visitors!

Thursday Doings

Melany gave up one of her Spring Break days to come spend it with me and do some work in the yard. She planted three kinds of onions, garlic, and ginger root. She also cleaned out several bird houses. I filled up a couple of bird feeders with seed and also put out a suet cake and put out hummingbird food for the first time. The word is out that folk are starting to see hummingbirds in Tullahoma. She also cleaned out leaves from a couple of the beds and planted my shamrock plant they gave me for my birthday. She got all that finished before lunch. It was a very warm day...got into the lower 80s today...and, I will say that humidity is up...feeling more like Tennessee! After Melany left, I got cookie ingredients together and mixed them. The dough is now in the refrigerator. I think I will attempt to bake them tonight so I won't have to think about doing it tomorrow and can just take them to the funeral reception tomorrow afternoon. I will be heading out the door fairly early in the morning to go to my 6-month check in with my doctor...that will take about three hours out of the morning. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Wednesday

I have donek a little of this and a little of that today...a little cleaning, a little reading, a little work on the Sunday School lesson, etc., etc. I did a little picture taking and tonight's photo is one of them. This one is using a feature on the camera to choose if the camera focuses near or far from you. By pusing a button that controls the far focus, I was able to take this cardinal through the window and get beyond the screen. I think that it did a pretty good job of getting a picture of this pretty cardinal. This evening I went to Bible study and am home, hoping to get a "little more" done this evening. Melany is coming for a visit tomorrow. I am making cookies for an after-funeral gathering on Friday...so sometime between now and Friday afternoon I'll need to get them made. Today I looked through recipes to decide what kind to make. And, I think that I have made that decision...so a step closer. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Welcome, April!

It's April 1...and, I have not heard "April Fool" even once...must not have had any grandchildren around!!!! I'm pretty sure that there were probably one or two or...pranks, at least, attempted at Nathan and Kathy's house! The turning of the calendar page is how I can distinguish the new month. The thing that I just can't believe is that 1/4 of the year is behind us. Zoom! Zoom! This morning I made a tuna casserole that is a "tried and true" recipe in our family...literally it is in my notebook of favorite recipes that I titled, "Tried and True." This particular recipe came originally from a Better Homes & Gardens Casserole Cookbook. When I remodeled the kitchen, I got rid of a lot of old recipe books (fodder for one of Nathan and Kathy's yardsales). Before getting rid of them I went through the cookbooks and copied recipes that I had made in the cookbook and that we really liked. That is pretty much what my Tried and True Cookbook notebook is made up of...Dorrell family favorite recipes from many, many sources over the years. This notebook lets me have one major source to get recipes. Of course, I didn't get rid of all my collection of cookbooks. I still have many cookbook notebooks to choose from along with many favorite recipe books...two shelves full...still. But I did pare my collection down by many during the kitchen renovation. Today's recipe is called Company Tuna Bake...no telling how many times I have made this recipe over the 56 years since Woody and I married. One of the things I have been doing over the last couple of weeks is look a year back in the blog and see what Woody and I were doing on that particualr day. I sometimes wonder who I am reading about...sometimes hard to realize that we went through certain things...sometimes it is almost like I am reading about someone else's lives and other times I can't believe how Woody went through what he did...and at other times...the same about me! I am glad to have the blog to look back at...like a diary and/or journal. After lunch, today I headed to church to meet up with Donna to do some work in the library. We discovered that quite a bit of activity had been happening in there while we have been out of pocket over the last few weeks! Just because we haven't had work days, didn't stop our readers from enjoying the library...checking out and returning books. Donna came up with a system to get the stacks of books organized so we could get them checked in and reshelved...without as much as one library mystery today! We got everything back to rights and will start work on the new book order our next work day. I didn't sleep the best last night and when I got home from the library, I couldn't keep my eyes open,when I sat down to rest my back...feeling more refreshed, I have gotten the garbage out to the road and have had my supper...enjoyed that tuna casserole for supper. Now I am ready to work a little more on the Sunday School lesson (I got a few teaching helps from the library) and hopefully do a little reading and stitching before my eyes close again for the night. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Good-bye, March

And, just like that...the winds of March have blown the month away...and it has been a very windy month...so perhaps that is the reason that the month of March seemed to pass by so quickly! I guess it can be said that March went out like a lion, as we did have some storms in the wee hours of today...but not really bad storms...just quite a bit of rain (I'm so sad that I forgot to put my rain gauge out, oncr again.) and some lightning and thunder. This storm did pass through leaving us with much colder air. I have felt chilly all day. I have kept busy around the house doing a little of this and a little of that...mainly putting some things away and straightening up the downstairs a bit. I received the latest book order for the church library in today's mail, so I did the initial work on those books and will take them to the library when Donna and I plan to meet at the church to work tomorrow aftenoon. I think we may have our work cut out for us after taking several Tuesdays off! I have just returned from the Monday night prayer meeting and plan to settle in...do a little studying on this coming Sunday's Sunday School lesson and then stitch and/or read for a while. I did stitch some in the night when the storms awakened me. I also read a little this afternoon. Time will tell if my book or my stitching will get my attention. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Sunday Favorite

Simply Saturday

Such a pretty day today...a bit cloudy and we have had a few sprinkles...but today is what I think of as a Spring day. It is seeming more like Spring is really here...more temperatures in the 70s for highs and less lows going down to freezing or below. I'm sure that we aren't through our winters...yet...but at least days like this are pretty good promises of the mostly warmer days to dome. We do have predicted storms tomorrow night...again typical as we move from cold to warmer temperatures. Last night I did finally decide on my next Christmas ornament to stitch. That decision made me need to go to Hobby Lobby, as I didn't have all the embroidery floss colors that I needed for it. So this afternoon, I made a short trip to meet this need and while there I looked through their Spring decorations as I had been thinking of a couple of things that I wanted for my decorations. Their Spring decorations are getting pretty thin...as they gear up for summer and the 4th of July, but I was able to find exactlly what I had in mind. I came home and found "just the right spot" for my purchases. And, now I plan to spend the evening using the embroidery floss that I purchased to continue with my latest Christmas ornament. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Final Friday for March 2025

This month seems to have flown by...but then, of late, every minute, hour, day, month seem to fly by. Today was a quick trip to the grocery store to get a few things that were depleted in my pantry and refrigerator. A lot of others had the same idea as I...but the Kroger visit didn't take overly long. Before I parked to shop, I checked out the Kroger gas pumps...none available...so I continued on to the store. I did my shopping and on the way home, I checked to see if there was a free pump and this time there were plenty. So I stopped and filled up my tank. I use very little gas these days, but since I have to travel a bit farther next week than usual, I decided to go on and get it and take advantage of last month's gas points, which I would lose once March was over. So got food for me and fuel for my car on my excursion out today. I got the groceries put away and then was very ready for a rest...I sat down to read a little or watch a little TV...but I think that my eyes closed before I got to do much of either of those. I'm still trying to figure out what my next Christmas ornament to stitch will be. Maybe I'm not in the mood for an ornament and that is why I am having trouble deciding. I've had supper, cleaned up the kitchen. The dishwasher is going so the kitchen is closed for the day! I do think that I will put in a load of towels to wash after I publish tonight's blog. Then the rest of the evening is for reading or stitching and/or TV watching. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Another Pretty, but Lazy, Thursday

I think I have come as close to doing nothing as one can in a day! I have done a little reading, a little resting, a lot of sitting, a little cooking...more warming than cooking, a little TV watching, messaging with a childhood friend, talking on phone with a friend. and my sister, and my daughter. It was funny when on the phone...when I was about to hang up, someone else would call...so three calls all strung together. I guess you could say that my accomplishment of the day was catching up with friends and family! I am trying to decide on my next Christmas ornament to stitch...so far haven't decided, just have done a lot of looking through charts, which doesn't get another ornament stitched! So far today...no stitching. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Pretty Spring Day

It has been a very pretty day today. I still didn't do a lot, but I am feeling much better and just gradually getting back to "doing!" I did a few very easy tasks around the house, read, caught up on a few things, and went to Bible study this evening. I'm home and settling in for the evening. There is a book discussion on Facebook about a book that I read for the Cottey book club, that I am going to attempt to join...reason this is rather short! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Quiet Tuesday

I started out the morning sitting in the living room with a cup of tea. Then I decided to get my camera and "play" a ittle with my new lens. So took various shots of my Spring decorations using various settings. Then I decided to listen to some YouTubes about different features on my camera. So it was a slow and quiet start to the day. I texted with Donna and we decided that it would be okay to take another day off from working in the library. I felt like taking it easy another day without "having" to go any place. I made a book order that we had put off because some of the books hadn't been released yet and I had been waiting till they were available. So my library work for the day was making that order. Perhaps the order will be here by our workday next week. I needed to do a little cooking today so ended up messing up the kitchen and cleaning it up again. By the time I had the cooking done, I was more than ready for my recliner. I have felt pretty well today, mainly still tired and my back was not happy after my cooking session. I needed to use the veggies that I had bought for my "gout diet." I cooked zucchini with onions, peppers, Italian seasonings, and tomato sauce. Tasted pretty good. I also prepared some things for some salads...hard cooked a couple of eggs, toasted some almonds and pecans. I had the veggies for lunch and then had a salad for supper. I'm trying to be good and not eat things that might trigger my gout again...or make it come back...or whatever! I plan to sit for most of the rest of the evening with my heating pads. I did remember to take my garbage can to the road...thanks to me seeing my neighbor take his to the road. The fact I didn't work in the library made me almost forget that it was Tuesday night. I'm back to working on my march wind cross stitch piece...kites flying. I think that I will be able to finish stitching it tonight. I just have one more kite to stitch. Sounds like a plan for the evening. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Monday! Monday!

Today has been a pretty good day, which I interpret as my gout is going away. I have had less hurting today and more energy...so that has me heading in the right direction. I actually got the one task done that I have been aiming to get finished for a long time...last Christmas boxes are finally into the Christmas closet and those closet doors are closed till it is time to decorate again! Good job done. I did a few more things around the house...and then it was time for lunch and then a nap! Still a bit tired...but nothing like over the weekend. This evening I went to Monday night prayer meeting. I'm now home and ready to settle in for the night. I may stitch or may read or may do nothing! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Sunday Favorite

Wedding Bells Rang 56 Years Ago Today

Wedding bells rang for Woody and me 56 years ago today at First Methodist Church in Glendale, AZ. Tonight's photos are not the best as I took pictures of pictures that are in one of our wedding books. My father took both of these. The black and white photo is taken about the time of the wedding...note car in parking lot to right of the church. But the most interesting part of this photo is that the house that you can see beyond the parking lot was my parent's house at the time of the wedding...pretty convenient access to the church! After the ceremony and reception, I walked home and changed into my going-aaway clothes before we made our get away! I'm still not feeling the greatest...not hurting as much...but hurting in lots of different places at different times...my shoulder one minute, my wrist another, the edge of my knee at another, etc. I have always said that I have traveling gout. Today I have been lathargic all day...lots of little naps...a little stitching...a little reading (having trouble getting "into" my new book), a little TV watching (watched a little "Say, "Yes," to the Dress"...figured that was appropriate on an anniversary day!). I did do one thing with the blog...I looked back through all the blogs and read about March 22 for each year. 16 years of anniversaries. I am hoping to be able to sleep tonight...an awful lot of napping has taken place today...hopefully napping was good for what ails me! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

First Spring Friday

And, today was much more spring-like...not as windy...pretty blue sky and the temperatures started out quite cold, but warmed up nicely as the day wore on. I did venture out after lunch. I mailed in my tax check and went to Kroger to do a little grocery shopping. I try to make a grocery trip every other week. But this week my thinking that I might be on the edge of a gout attack, I decided that I should go buy some more gout friendly foods. Some of what I bought last week isn't recommended to eat when having gout problems. I hadn't had problems with gout for so long that I had wandered away from even thinking about gout appropriate food. I have just been eating what appeals to me...so I will try to be better at least for the time being! I will say that one point when I was in the midst of a very bad bout with gout, my doctor told me that what I ate wasn't going to make any difference with my gout. But I figure that if I am on the beginning edges of gout, that perhaps what I eat will make a difference. One of the most important is to drink plenty of water and also green tea is good for ails one when one has gout. So I have water and green tea next to me all the time...and try to keep drinking. I am feeling better, but "things" still aren't exactly right. I have worked some more on the Sunday School lesson...hoping to have my notes for the lesson ready to type off before I go to bed tonight...time will tell on that one...but at least I do still have tomorrow to get it finished. I did finish reading another book today. Tonight...work on Sunday School lesson and hopefully do a little stitching and a little TV watching before I go to sleep. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

A Brrrrrrrry Welcome to Spring

Well, Spring arrived and the warmer temperatures disappeared. It was chilly and breezy. And, supposed to be down into the 20s again overnight. ive had a more normal day and think that I feel better and was able to do a little more than sit in my chair with heating pads. But as the evening has progressed, I have slowed down a bit and am welcoming sitting in my chair with heating pads at my back. I went to my accountant's office and signed my tax return papers so they can file them. I still have to run by the Post Office and "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's." It's good to have that job done. The first time in the 55 years that we were married that we had someone else prepare our taxes...and, the last time that I will file jointlly...after this year...I am single. I forgot to mention last night about the piece of mail that I got from Vanderbilt yesterday. It was from the brain study that Woody was a part of. I'm guessing that it is the last time I will hear from them. This was the results of his brain autopsy...what I gather what the reporters checked for was Alzheimers and from what I read that he didn't have dementia. The reason he was in the study was because of his extended time in ICU and the confusion that can come about when staying for a long period of time in ICU. Linda reminded me earlier today that "our shows" (Matlock and Elsbeth) won't be on tonight due to basketball games. That brought back memories of March Madness...something that Woody always looked forward to watching. If we look back in past end-of-March blog posts, I often mentioned March Madness. I doubt that I will be watching much March Madness...I like basketball, but don't think I would enjoy it all that much watching it without Woody. My dryer is calling...that last load that didn't get done yesterday. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Signs of Spring

I looked out my sun porch windows today and saw the colors of Spring...pink, yellow, white, and some light spring green...across the road behind my house. When I walked back to empty the compost bucket, I took another photo to show it a bit closer. Today started out to be a pretty good day. I decided that it wouldbe a good day to catch upon my wash. But before I had gotten it done completely, I wqs having a problem with my back...which really made no sense as I didn't do anything to have it feel like it did. It just cqme on suddenly. As I tried to figure out what might have caused it, the thought of the fact that my elbows had had "a feeling of gout" the last few days. With that thought came the remembrance of how a bout of gout started one time...I was fine and the next moment I was having extreme pain in my knee. So I got to wondering if backs could have gout. I looked it up and backs can get gout. Who knows if that is what this is, but I decided that since there was a possibility that I would go on and take my gout rescue medicine and also start taking my gout med every day that I usually take every other day. So we will see if that helps. I have spent a good part of the day sitting in my recliner with heating pads on my back. I have studied the Sunday School lesson for Sunday, read some, taken a couple of naps. Just turned the TV on for the first time today and I think that I will do a little stitching this evening. Going to drink lots of water and lemon tea! Today we bid farewell to winter! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!