A Visit from my Gardner Daughter!

Melany arrived this morning with the back of her vehicle packed with needed equipment. She attacked the garden that runs along the driveway with a vengeance! She worked so hard and made a good dent in the weeds in that garden...but unfortuneatley there are plenty more for her next gardening visit, which may be next week. I kept busy...but not with weeding. I watered my herb gardens on the patio...first time to water the gardens this year. I also watered the gerber daisies at the end of the driveway. I sprayed off the filter that goes in our downstairs air return and sat it on the ramp to dry...I kept going back to it turning it up and down and backwards and forewards letting the wind blow through and the sun shine on it. It dried fairly quickly. I had been wanting to clean that filter for a while, but our weather hadn't cooperated with all the rain that we've had. But today was a good day for doing that. I cleaned my hummingbird feeders and made new nectar for them...again, a job that I had been needing to do. The squash plants that Wade planted seemed to have a problem...white powdery substance on some of the leaves. Melany and I looked it up on the internet and found that a baking soda solution could solve the problem...so I made that solution and sprayed the plants. Tben I warmed the lunch that Melany brought for us. We enjoyed our lunch. Melany planted a plant behind the mailbox (Thanks, Linda!) after lunch and then packed up all she brought back into her vehicle and she was off so she would be in time for a hair appointment back in Murfreesboro. It has been a good and packed day. I am sure that Melany is tired, as she did soooo much more than I did, and, I ended up taking a good nap after she left! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Wednesday

This barn has seen better days...looks pretty good from the from the front...but the sides really had a problem. I wonder if a storm blew through it! Today, I have once again stayed at home and enjoyed the day doing a little of this a little of that. I guess the main job that I wanted to do today was my wash and I am still doing that. I may not get done with this task till tomorrow. But at least I have started it. Melany plans to come in the morning to work in my gardens. I know she will make great headway with them. At the moment the weeds are just overwhelming to me. It has been another quite warm day with the high in the mid 80s. I have pretty much stayed inside. So I really haven't noticed if it has been hot or not. I enjoyed the potato salad today and I stir fried some yellow squash and zucchini to go with it along with some of the Pork tenderloin that I had roasted a couple of weeks ago and had put in the freezer...I had some of the gelatin salad for dessert...pretty good meal. Melany is bringing something from her freezer for our lunch tomorrow so we won't have to cook. Being well fed around here! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Technically Tuesday

It is hard for me to be totally sure that it is Tuesday, as Donna and I didn't go to the church to work in the library this afternoon. At the moment we are pretty much caught up with "have-to-do" library work. So if either of us has something else on our calendars,it is easy to skip a work day. Today was one of those days. Though, I did "technically" do some library work today, as I returned a call to someone who had a question about donating books. So the library wasn't totally forgotten today. I mentioned last night that I was in the mood for some salads...yesterday I made a gelatin salad...and that I was considering making a potato salad today. And, I did muster up enough energy to do just that. It is in the refrigerator getting cold. I am looking forward to eating it once it is well chilled. Making a potato salad made quite a mess in the kitchen. I have started on the clean up. I have the dishes that will fit in the dishwasher and those that can't, I will wash by hand when I get my next spurt of energy this evening. In my down time today I have done some stitching...and...some napping. I have done some texting with friends and also had a conversation or two on the phone. It has been a very warm day...summer is approaching...and, it is beginning to feel like it. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

It’s June!

Hooray! I have the new keyboard working for the blog. I struggle with it each night to get it to work and most of the time it doesn't work. Often my blogs are much shorter when I can't get it to work! Maybe not working is a blessing to my readers!!! We really had a nice celebration with Esther yesterday. There were family and friends at their house to help her celebrate this milestone in her life. Wade, Melany, and Erin picked me up and we headed over to the Dorrell farm. We ate and visited for a while, then headed back home. In the end Alex and Brooke didn't come, as Brooke wasn't feeling well. So I "almost" had all my grandchildren gathered together in one place! Melany, Wade, and Erin left the party with some extra critters--chickens! As we drove to my house, Erin named them = Henrietta, Ducky and Lucky. I guess they have settled into Melany's new chicken coop. They are hoping for eggs! Since I had a pretty busy weekend, I didn't choose to do a lot today! I did do some cooking. I have decided that the temperatures are rising so I wanted to make some salads. Today I made a gelatin salad. I guess these days gelatin salads are not as popular as they once were, but I still like one every so often. I "may" get up the energy toto make the potato salad that I have planned to make this week. I went to prayer meeting this evening and am now back home and ready to start the dish washer and settle in for the evening. I'm planning to watch some needlework shows on YouTube and stitch. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Today We Celebrated Esther's High School Graduation!

Esther receiving her diploma from her principal, her dad!

Spiffing Up the House

When I thought up tonight's blog title, I wondered if many use the term "spiff" very often any more...I feel that it is an old fashioned term. But I feel that it describes what I did today...just a light cleaning that made the downstairs look better. Tomorrow Wade, Melany, and Erin will be stopping by to pick me up and I figure they will probably come inside. So I wanted to neaten and clean things up a bit. We are all going to Esther's high school graduation celebration. I have also finished another book...another for the Cottey alum book club. I am also about halfway finished with the Christmas ornament that I started yesterday. As I say good bye to May, I am doing well with the goals that I have set for this year...a book a week/4 a month and I'm a book ahead so far for the year. My other goal is an ornament a month and I am one and a half ahead for the year. I still can't believe that it is so close to the 5th month of the year to draw to a close...just a matter of hours. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Ducks in a Row

I guess you could say that I got my ducks in a row and planned some future cooking. In other words, I went through some recipes, made a grocery list, and went grocery shopping. in other words not the most exciting of days!!! But I did get out of the house! I did finish the Christmas ornament last night, which makes me one anead of stitching one a month...as I now have six stitched for this coming Christmas. It is that time of the year that I need to step it up as one a month won't give me enough to gift when Christmas comes around. I did start another ornament. I've done some reading, too. I did finally get all the bunnies and other Spring decorations put away in their bins amd back in the closet. I had them all on the guest room bed and had sort of forgotten that they were still there until I passed that room yesterday. I guess it really is "out of sight, out of mind!" I can't believe how close we are to saying good bye to May and welcoming June. This year is rapidly passing us by. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Thoroughly Thursday

I have had another day of just staying at home and doing a little of this and a little of that and not much of anything! I had no definite plans for today...which usually means that I don't do a lot! I've started, once again, to clear off my cutting table...a never ending task, as that seems to be the place that I lay things when I am in a hurry and don't have a specific place to store them. I am determined to clear it so I can do some sewing projects that I have in mind. I have read a little, stitched some more on the latest Christmas ornament...getting close tona finish on this one. I've done a little work in the kitchen...mainly putting dishes away and reloading the dishwasher. I didn't do any cooking today other than warming up what I made earlier in the week. I even did a little vacuuming due to me tracking in some grass after I went out to get the mail. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

A Stay-At-Home Day

After two days of running around, I enjoyed a quiet day here at home. Last night we had a storm come through after I blogged and if I can believe my new rain gauge, we got almost 3 inches of rain! So far this growing season, I haven't had to water any plants! We have definitely gotten our share of rain! Today, I didn't do a whole lot. I had some allergy problems earlier...at the moment they have settled down. I worked on getting cameras and lenses put away and a camera battery recharged. I have looked through my photos from Monday's trip. The particular path that we took this time didn't produce as many barns as we often find, but we did find some, along with very old houses and several cemeteries. Over the next days, I will post some of the ones that I did get. I have moved right along with the Christmas ornament that I started a few days back. I also read some more on the library book that I got from the public library. I talked to Melany after she left school this afternoon. She,s counting the hours till she will be out of school for the summer. The main trouble is that those hours involve two days of going to school. But she is really looking forward to summer freedom...I remember that feeling from my teaching days! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

More Running Around

Donna and I worked in the library...did the minimum amount of maintenance and then decided to go back to weeding the collection. While we were working, Nathan called suggesting that we make a trip to a Mennonite greenhouse. They had all their plants marked half price. Nathan found more pf what he wanted than I did. I did get some basil. I got my four little plants planted after I got home...I think that Nathan and the kids are still digging holes for his purchases. Right next door to the green houses there is a Mennonite run grocery store. We stopped there and checed out what they had. I bought some farmer's cheese and some strawberry rhubarb jam. Nathan got some plain gelatin for a cookimg project/experiment that he and the children are planning. He also got a few other things. It was a nice side trip to add onto the day! I know I will enjoy the goodies from the store and will soon be using the basil in my cooking. I saw several barns onthis trip, but didn't take a camera..I thought about it, but forgot to pick it up before I left. We didn't go far so I think I could retrace our steps. Most of the barns I saw had quilt squares painted on them. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Spur of the Moment Memorial Day Trip

Marie called a little before noon and said that she was heading out in a little while and would I like to join her...not much hesitation on my part! We headed off with cameras in hand. We had a great few hours out enjoying how pretty the countryside is at the moment after all the spring rains that we have been having. Everything is so green and lush. We took several side roads and found a fair quantity of barns and other things of which to snap photos. We got back in town just in time for me to run home and then head out again to Monday Night Furnace Room Prayer meeting. I am home from that and am looking forward to checking out the photos that I took today. Tonight's photo, I took towards the end of our little trip and, though, not a barn, I thought it was the most appropriate to post on this day of remembrance. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Memorial Day Weekend Memory—34 Years Ago! Happy Anniversary, Wade & Melany!

Simply Saturday

It has been a quiet day for me. I mainly did just what I wanted to do. I did a little cleaning...took advantage of having an upstairs vacuum...got it out to vacuum up threads that I had gotten on the floor yesterday while I was taking the waistband stitches out of my pants. I aimed for the wastebasket when I was removing them, but I didn't have the best aim! Since I did that quick vacuuming in the sewing room, I decided to vacuum all the places that I could reach without unplugging the vacuum...so that meant a lick and a promise to the upstairs hall and into all the bedrooms as far as the cord would reach. While I was upstairs, I did the next step on my little patriotic piece. After I did that, the piece had to sit until it was totally dry. So that is where it stands at the moment...still on the ironing board, ready for the next step. After I put the vacuum away, I headed back downstairs and have spent a good part of the rest of the day with my cross stitch. I put away all the skeins of thread from my last two Christmas ornaments. Then I made up my mind as to which ornament to stitch next which I then pulled the threads for. I made a working copy of the cross stitch chart and got underway with a new start for the next Christmas ornament. I have read a little more on my book and studied my Sunday School lesson for tomorrow. To be continued. It has been a drizzly afternoon...never a hard rain...but drippy! Also it has been quite cool for a Memorial Day weekend. I have actually been a bit chilly. I went back to layering...a 3/4 length sleeve knit top with a denim shirt over it...so didn't have to get into my cold weather closet...but did think about it! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Fully Friday

I've had a pretty busy Friday, and, actually accomplished what I set out to accomplish. I finally got back into my sewing room. When I left it lastI had gotten to the sewing chair that Woody's dad built for Woody's mother. It is a wooden chair with a seat that raises up so there is storage under the seat "cushion" and it has drawers on the side of the base/seat portion. I store thread in those drawers. I have embroidery design CDs and memory cards in the seat portion. I rarely get into the seat, as all those designs are downloaded to my machine or to a thumbdrive. Today's main accomplishment was to clear what had been stacked up on the seat of the chair. That is where projects to do often land...like mending, planned things to do, some supplies, patterns, a sewing magazine or two. I started from the top and either did some of the work that was needed to be done or put the item away. The first item on the top of the pile was a pair of pants that I had bought back in the Fall...or maybe it was Winter. They were too short so I had already done that job, but decided that I wanted to change the elastic in the waist...that is the job I started today. It seemed to take forever to remove the elastic...but finally I did manage to get that done. The elastic was serged in...so not an easy fix. I have the elastic removed and thought that I had elastic to replace it with, but decided that I need a narrower elastic...so that will take a purchase. I hung the pants up with written instructions on what I wanted to do to them to finish the project (that way I won't forget when I get around to getting to complete the project). They, along with the instructions pinned to them, are now hanging in the sewing room closet, I had a pair of pajama pants that needed attention to the elastic, also...I decided that I will put in a drawstring...they originally had elastic and a drawstring. I had removed the drawstring, but now that they elastic is giving way, I decided that the easiest fix was put a drawstring back in. I either have to make a drawstring or buy some twill tape for the drawstring...I found a source for twill tape so when I get around to ordering it, I will fix them...these PJ pants also got hung up in the sewing closet. And, that is the way items on the chair got dealt with. A good portion of the things just needed to be put away. Two sewing magazines were returned to a box that has possible patterns and ideas for things I want to make. Some papers got either thrown away or filed away. Anyway, after quite a few hours of work, I had the chair cleared and a little more work done on the projects that had been awaiting me to find the time to work on them! I also got a tiny cross stitch of a flag pressed and ready to be made into a small pillow to add to my patriotic decorations. That may be a projet for tomorrow. I left the design and the backing fabric on the ironing board so I can proceed and get it completed. I have two sewing projects that I need to do for Kathy and they are front and forward to remind me to do them! Tonight's photos show the little that I did in my gardens today. I changed my yard flag and put back my crane that had been blown over in one of our wind storms. Then I added three colorful mushrooms in another place in the garden in front of the porch. I also moved another gerber daisy down into the middle of the trunks of that tree. So I sort of did a little gardening today. I did finish the Christmas ornament last night that I had been working on so that completes the fifth one for this year...at this point I have met my goal of finishing at least one ornament a month. I plan to decide this evening which ornament I will stitch next. I am happy with what I got finished today and enjoyed spending time in my sewing room. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Look at This Smile!

Look who got his braces off yesterday! Isaac and his parents stopped by a little while ago to let me capture his new smile! Isn't his smile dazzling!!! He is the eighth Dorrell to have graced this orthodontic practice. Melany, Nathan, Graham, Abigail, Joy, Esther, Elijah, and now Isaac...only one to go, Joseph! Lookin' great, Isaac. I have stayed home today and mostly did what I wanted to do...which amounted to not a lot! I have stitched, read, roasted a pork tenderloin, repotted a gerber daisy, reorganized a little more, which meant a little more cleaning (but very little), and I napped. I ended up taking two naps as I awakened way too early this morning so ended up taking a little nap this morning, as well as one this afternoon! I am getting closer to finishing the cross stitch ornament that I am working on...maybe I will finish it tonight. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Busy Wednesday

I ran errands for a couple of hours today...included in my outing was a stop at the pharmacy to pick up a prescription and a couple of graduation cards and then on to Hobby Lobby. I needed to look for a couple of things to add to my "summer/patriotic" decorations. I had fun looking and choosing. Then I came home and worked on getting my summer/patriotic decorations put out. I am still working on just how I want them to look, but am fairly pleased at this point. I also put away bunnies, though I still have a few to put away and then get the tubs put back away in the closet. I actually put in some stitches on the Christmas ornament that I am currently working on. I need to get this done soon as I am trying to have one done a month and the month is rapidly drawing to a close. But, if I continue to work on it the way I did today, I shouldn't have any problem getting it finished and the next one started. As I put away clothes yesterday, I decided that it was finally time to put sweatshirts and pants into my off season closet...I really don't think that I will be needing them again till Fall approaches. It seems that even if a cold front comes through, the temperatures won't fall all that far. Yesterday's storms were due to a cold front, but definitely today wasn't all that cold...highs in the 70's instead of the 80's. Today was pleasant, but quite breezy. This afternoon, I had an interesting thing happen...showing how thoughtful folk in the South are...but it also made me realize how old I must look to others. I went out to get my mail and roll the garbage can back to the house and a very thoughful young man stopped his truck, hopped out and offered to help me roll it back. I told him I was fine doing it and thanked him. But it does make me realize how old I look...and I say it that way as I don't feel as old as I am...or as old as I must look!!! Oh, well...I figure that rolling that can back and forth between the house and the toad and back again is one of my forms of exercise!!!! And, I need to do it as long as I can! I did finish the book that was due at the public library over the weekend and I got it returned before it was due. I am reading another that I borrowed from them and also I have two e-books underway. I figure that is a challange for my brain...to keep the storylines straight!!!! I think that I am going to go back to reading just e-books and books from the church library so I don't have to be under the gun about due dates! I'm ready to sit back and relax this evening stitching, watching a bit of TV and perhaps putting in a few more stitches. It has been hard to keep straight what day it is, since our Wednesday Bible study is taking a break till August. It's summer vacation...so routine has changed! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Under a Watch and a Nearby Warning

It's one of those "conditions are right" days for possible tornadoes. So far I have heard the warning siren twice. The last time it was on only a couple of seconds. I think that is the current "nearby warning." The warning is for the northern part of our county. So far we have hardly had any rain out of this weather system. We are in a tornado watch, which means conditions are right for a tornado, until 10pm. I have had a rather quiet day. I woke up with allergy symptoms...they have gotten better during the day, but I have never felt very energetic today. I've taken it easy. Thunder is approaching us, again. So far the storms have gone south and north of us. I emptied the rain gauge this afternoon so I could tell how much rain we get diring this passing system...so far not enough to measure. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Catching Up After a Busy Sunday!

Yesterday was a big day in our family...lots going on...so much that it was late when it all came to an end so I didn't post a Sunday favorite. First yesterday we celebrated Esther's graduation from high school at their church. I went to Sunday School and church with them in Shelbyville. We made a decision after church to celebrate Nathan's birthday at my house yesterday evening. So Nathan, Kathy, Graham, Joy, Esther, Elijah, Isaac, Joseph, Abigail and Payton and I all gathered over here for presents and cake and visiting. We had a good time. The pictures of Nathan show him blowing out "his candle" and with what may have been his favorite gift of the night...moustache wax! He has a goal in growing this moustache...Vacation Bible School, which is a western theme this year. I guess he plans to be a desparado...or desparate...if his moustache doesn't take on a more rapid growth...hard to get the sides/ends to curl up...yet! Will keep you updated on the progress of his moustache! Today is his actual birthday. I am feeling much better today than I did 53 years ago! I was very sick with a bad kidney infection when he was born in the middle of the night. I was always thankful that my OB sent me to the hospital post haste after seeing me in the afternoon of the 18th...as neither my doctor or Woody got to the hospital before Nathan was born in the wee hours of the morning. Neither of them were more than 20 minutes away...so Nathan was a very speedy delivery! I had a temperature of 105° that day and the next day...pretty sick. He was born three weeks early...he was rather tiny...5 lb. 12 oz. and was only 18" long...skinny little thing...and, not very long...goes to show you that birth length doesn't have a lot to do with height later in life! I can't believe that 53 years have passed since he was born! Happy birthday, Nathan! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Oink! Oink!

I mentioned several days ago that there were a lot of piglets on the Dorrell's farm. Well, the last litter has been born and there are now 25 little squealing piggies running around along with the three mommies...the daddy is elsewhere on the farm. I did manGe to finish the family room closet today. I can once again walk into it to get to the shelves at the back of the closet. I had my monthly Zoom book club with fellow Cottey alums. As always, we had a good discusson and chased several rabbits. At the end of the meeting, two of us stayed to get some info that had been put into the chat part ofnthe Zoom. The other person, who stayed, happened to be one of my freshman when I was at Cottey. She lived in the suite right down the hall from me. So we did a little catching up which isn't easy to do when in the larger group. After the Zoom meeting, I finished the closet, had lunch, and then rested a few minutes brfore tackling my next task. I made Nathan's birthday cake. If goes as we planned earlier this week, we will celebrate his birthday tomorrow evening. Tomorrow morning we celebrate Esther's graduation from high school at their church. So I will be heading over to their church in Shelbyville early. I will go to Sunday School in my friend Linda H's class (She's the teacher.) And, then I will sit with Nathan's family in church. So busy day tomorrow! To be continued! Be safe! Be well!

Friday, Once Again.

I've had a fairly busy day...I guess busier than I thought. I sat down a little while and juat woke up from an unplanned nap. I did get groceries. Today it was mostly buying things to go with things that I already had...making meals with what I have in the freezer. I got all the groceries put away. I decided that it was time to attack the downstairs closet in the family room. The floor space in that closet seems to fill up and then it isnhard to get to what I have stored on the shelves at the back. I am at the point where I am still going through things, deciding what can be thrown away. I have made several trips to the outside trash can. I am through for the night...will get back to this project another time...not sure if it will be tomorrow or not. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Bunnies Still Hopping Around Here!

I think that I finally have all the bunnies and other Spring decorations gathered on the dining room table...maybe they will hop back into their hiding place till next Spring. I have stayed very busy today...by mid afternoon, I was thinking that I had been too busy. I decided that I would continue to concentrate on cleaning upstairs. Today, I moved things that I don't usually move so I could vacuum under them, behind them, etc. This included moving the ironing board and other things that are stored on the floor in the sewing room. I also did a good vacuuming in the upstairs hall...that meant moving three dolls and their chairs. These three dolls reside in the corner of the hall. I vacuumed all arond them, moved their chairs, straightened their clothing and even combed two of their hair...little piddly things...but they take time. I haven't quite made my way all the way down the one wall in the sewing room...but it is started. I sewing chair that Woody's dad made for Woody's mom needs to be cleared off...a place that "things" land. There arae some projects to be done on that chair. I will look through what's on it and decide if these things will be done...or...put away to be brought out another time. There is one "to-do" project that Kathy asked me to do...that won't be put away. I just need to decide how I will do what she has asked and then get it done...at this point...the deadline is off toward the end of the summer...but, as time seems to be flying, I shouldn't put it off too much longer! The sewing room in general isn't in too bad shape...but I want to get it in even better shape, as I am determined to get back to my sewing. I have several things that I really want to make. Just have to get back into a sewing mindset! On breaks today, I did make a little more headway on my public library book. Mid afternoon, it was time to put the vacuuming, dusting, etc. aside...all I could do was head to my chair...with full intention to do some more reading...but my eyes had other plans...as they shut pretty quickly after I sat down! This evening I have been making a grocery list...looks like it is grocery shopping time once again...like the days fly by...it seems like gtocery shopping days come around all too quickly...looks like tomorrow will be another of those days. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Bunnies Are Hopping Around Here

The downstairs bunnies have started gathering in the dining room before they make their hop upstairs to hide away till next Spring! I continue my cleaning upstairs. A little reading has gotten worked in during my breaks, as did a nap. I left for Bible study early so I could stop at the Credit Union. I got to church in time to do a little maintenance in the library. Tonight was our last Bible study for the Spring semester. We will start back up in August when school gets underway. On the way home, I stopped at the public library to return a book. Now I am settled in for the evening. I plan to do a little stitching this evening. I did start back stitching on a Christmas ornament last night. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Slow Tuesday

I'm having problems with the blog tonight. i will try...again. I haven't done a lot today...been a lazy day. Donna and I chose to have a day off from the church library, today. I have done several jobs in the kitchen. I chose to do quite a bit of reading today. Well, for some reason my new keyboard isn't communicating with the blog...so once again I am typing somewhat blindly. I think I will do a little stitching tonight. I haven't done much stitching lately because I have been reading. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Another Work Crew Called In

Today, Nathan, Isaac, and Joseph came over and finished up the job begun by Melany and Wade on Saturday. They came and picked me up to go to Lowes to get more rocks, another stepping stone, and some more weed barrier cloth. We got back and they put all their muscle power behind getting the bags of rock distributed. I am very happy sith the end result. I think that this will keep the former jungle between the ramp and the back of the house at bay! Big thank yous all around! It rained this afternoon for a little while. I'm glad it held off till they got their work done. I have been to Monday Night Furnace Room Prayer Meeting. I'm home and ready to settle in for the night. I did more cleaning upstairs today. I finished doing a good vacuuming in the guest room. I also did a quick pass through downstairs with the vacuum, as we tracked in some mud, etc. over the weekend with our outside project. I'm liking having a downstairs' vacuum...so much easier to keep up with messes when I don't have to go upstairs and bring the vacuum down! I think that yesterday's photos showed that we had a nice Mother's Day afternoon at Nathan and Kathy's. The little piglets in two of the photos show only 2/9 of the piglets they now have, and have one more sow waiting to give birth...so at the moment 18 piglets! The bigger piglet that Esther was holding was not happy. He squealed and squealed! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious. Here's the view we saw as we came out of prayer tonight.

Mother's Day 2025

My Gardening Crew Grew!

Melany and Wade were my main gardening crew today. They arrived midmorning and got to work...weeding and relocating plants. The area that is pictured above is between the ramp and the back of the house. I have to traverse that area to get to the faucet to turn on the backyard hose. As the season progresses this area becomes very over grown...originally this garden along the back of the house had orange day lilies and hostas...but other unwanted weeds invaded...including wild blackberry bushes that produced nothing but thorns...so it was a bit of a dangerous (like going into the jungle) to get back to the faucet. Plus I always wondered what might be lurking amongst the over growth. This morning, Melany dug up all the day lilies and they were relocated. She got rid of all the unwanted weeds and then divided some of the hostas that were there to start with and spread them out along the length of the area. While she labored with that job. Wade and I went to Lowes and got barrier fabric to put down, stepping stones and bags of river rocks. Wade hefted all those stones and bags of rocks twice at Lowes. When we got back home, I called in more folk to help heft all that we bought so Wade didn't have to do it again! Then Melany, Nathan, Esther, Elijah, Isaac and Joseph added their muscle power and Wade, Kathy, and I stood by as advisors. I was called in to test the stepping stone positioning and to see if they were too tippy. What you see is how far our purchases of the day went. Nathan and I will go back to Lowes and get the rest of what is needed to finish the job. I am very pleased and think that I will feel much safer in several ways about getting back to the faucet when watering out back. Wade and Melany also weeded the new garden that was established at the head of the driveway last year. Wade and I did buy a few plants to put it in it...which also got planted before they drove their weary bodies back to Murfreesboro. Wade also planted some tomato plants that they brought with them from Murfreesboro. So a nice way to celebrate Mother's Day...lots of help with my gardening. I am blessed with a great gardening crew! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Had to be a Good Day!

Joy came over this morning and cut my hair...so it HAD to be a good day! I'm always ready for a haircut and feel so much better after it is cut! Joy and I had a good chat, which is the main reason that it was a good day. She had her last final yesterday so...she has finished her first year of college! Way to go Joy! Another good thing today...Joy brought me a graduation announcement for Esther. Dear sweet Esther...my sixth grandchild to graduate from high school...just three grandchildren to go! Yesterday, Esther got her acceptance into Columbia State Community College's Vet Tech program. She is a very happy camper and I am thrilled for her! Way to go Esther. I continued to play with my new "toy" today and took it upstairs...though, it is to be the downstair's vacuum. It is easy to move as it breaks down into fairly lightweight components. I decided that I wanted to use it upstairs for this vacuuming to get used to using it. I had a good challenge for it...all that hair Joy cut off was on my sewing room floor. It did a great job. I had to stop before I got through upstairs...next vacuuming session will be to finish in the guest room. This afternoon I had an appointment to get an estimate for new front and back doors...that took a while! Now to take into consideration and arrange for a couple of other estimates and then make a decision. That meeting took up a major portion of the afternoon. Now I'm ready to settle in for the evening...maybe stitching and TV or jusst reading or...To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Busy! Busy! Day!

I have had a busy day "playing" with my new "toy." I bought a new vacuum cleaner...oh, boy! I have been wanting for ages to have a vacuum for upstairs and for downstairs. The new one is for downstairs...so I have been busy vacuuming through the downstairs. It is going to take some getting used to, as I have always had a canister vacuum and this one is an upright. I have gone over all the downstairs floors except for the sun porch and the laundry room. I am in the midst of making a casserole...chicken spaghetti. I had a lot of spaghetti left over from Sunday's lunch with Wade, Melany, and Erin so decided this was a good use for the leftover spaghetti. I still have a little more till it is in the refrigerator. Melany may be coming on Saturday so we will have it then, if she comes. I am splitting this recipe and going to freeze one of the casseroles for another time. The reason that I am making it today is that at one time Melany was going to come tomorrow after school, but those plans have changed. I had all the ingredients all gathered and decided to just go on and get it made. But as my energy wanes, I wonder how good that idea was!!! I am ready for my chair and heating pads. I have been hearing thunder. According to the weather folk, we may be in for a thunder storm. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Busy Cooking Day

Yesterday's dry rub making turned into today's pulled pork. I got up early and had the roast in the oven by a little after 6:30 and it cooked in a slow oven for four hours. And, the slow cooking turned into the slow process of pulling it after the roast rested and cooled off some. I'm not sure how long it took to finish pulling the pork, as I had to take a few rests before the job was completed! I pulled for a while, rested for a while, pulled for a while, rested for a while and then finished pulling it. After the roast was out of the oven, I roasted four red bell peppers...which after they cooled off, I had to peel...lots of peeling and pulling! It was a rather tiring day and I am looking forward to sitting for most of the rest of the evening! I got the pulling and peeling done in time to get ready to go to Bible study. The kitchen still needed to be cleaned up when I left the house. As soon as I got home, I attacked that job. The dishwasher is going and the rest of the dishes have beem washed by hand. It's not a horrible job as I covered both the roasting pans with foil...so I just had to put the throw-away part of the roast and wrap it up and put it in the trash. The pans just needed to be rinsed off. Now I did have a mess close to the area where I pulled the pork...that is all wiped up and the kitchen is good for the next cooking mess...another day! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

A Spicy Day

I'm planning on doing my slow-cook pork roast for pulled pork. I was out of my dry rub concoction that I have made up using various recipes that I have found on the internet. I will put the rub on the Boston Butt Roast in a little while and put it in the refrigerator over night. Then in the morning, I will put it in the oven in the morning for a nice-long-low-heat time for cooking...then comes the pulling...not my favorite thing to do...but the end results are worth it! Donna and I worked in the library and got the newest books ready to be checked out. I had quite a tangle with contact paper...coming out the winner...I think!

Yard Crew Showed Up!

Nathan told me last week that he and at least one of the boys would come over and mow the yard, but after that we had so much rain that it hadn't been possible. This afternoon, I got surprised when Nathan rang the doorbell and found out that Isaac was already outside mowing. The next picture is how much rain we got Friday and Saturday.

So 3.1 inches is quite a bit...and a good reason to not have mowed till today...probably still a bit wet out there! Tonight was prayer meeting. Joy, once again, had her youth girl's Bible study. This time her mom came, too, and Kathy joined us for prayer meeting...so today I have seen Nathan, Kathy, Joy, Esther, and Isaac. I'm home. I enjoyed a salad for supper after I got home. Now I am ready to settle in for the evening...plan to watch some TV, stitch a little and read a little. Melany, Wade, Erin and I had a nice visit yesterday. They arrived around noon. We had lunch, sat around and talked for a while and, like I mentioned above, Melany did a little in the yard...she did some weedeating until the battery died on the weedeater. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! Oh, and, Happy Cinco De Mayo!

Sunday Favorite!

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!