Back to Class

The day started out very rainy. It rained hard for a while and then rained a good part of the morning. I poured out 4 inches of rain from the rain gauge yesterday. I haven't gone out to empty it today...but...drum roll...looking out my sun porch window, it looks like there is another 3 inches in it! I still wonder if this is registering correctly. But then I heard about flash flooding on Interstate 24 near Chattanooga...so "just" down the road from me, it was a nightmare for cars and trucks and rescuers and the interstate in that area was closed for a while. So I know that there has been unusual amounts of rain in short periods of time happening around me...so guessing that my gauge is perhaps fairly correct. The yard looked like a lake for a little while this morning. Today I went back and forth between doing some things around the house and stitching. I am well underway with Melany and Wade's ornament...hoping to get even further this evening. I still have a load of wash to put away...just haven't gotten upstairs with it yet. I just returned from church. The class I referred to in the blog title is the Bible study started back up tonight after the summer break. It was good to start up that routine, again. I decided to run to the Credit Union before church...but to my surprise they now close at 5pm...wonder when that started. I rarely go in the evening, but it used to close at 6pm. Oh, well, I tried! I am home and settling in for the evening per usual. I got to see Kathy and Joy this eveninng. They joined us for the Bible study and sat right behind me. Joy very quiet...but there. I talked to her a little and got a couple of smiles and shrugs from her. Esther has orientation at Columbia State Community College tomorrow. "Things" are gearing up! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

How Can 25 Years Have Passed Us By?!?

Twenty-five years ago today, Nathan and Kathy said, "I do!" How does time go by so quickly! In some ways it seems just like yesterday and in others like more than 25...especially when I think of all the things that have happened in those 25 years! They had a special get away planned to celebrate, but had to postpone it till Joy is doing better. They had planned to go to Alaska...something for them to look forward to...they can look forward both to the trip and to the fact that Joy is well enough for them to go! Joy continues to progress but very slowly...way too slowly in our eyes! I was awakened this morning by a really hard downpour that lasted for a while. It rained so hard that you couldn't see out the screens or the glass in our windows. I attempted to see what had been deposited in the rain gauge, but couldn't really see...but...thought that it showed around 1/2". After lunch, I headed to the church to work in the library with Donna. We got the books, that we started working on last week, the rest of the way ready and are now on the new-book shelf ready to be checked out. It started sprinkling on my way home, but I got in the house without meeting a drop of rain. Not long after I got inside, the bottom dropped out of the clouds, again. I was looking out to see if I could see the rain gauge and to my surprise, I saw that where I saw the splat of a rain drop in the gauge at about the 4" mark! So I'm guessing that the rain on the screen and window panes this morning kept me from seeing the actual rain line. So between the two rains I guess we got almost 4". Guess I won't have to water for a few days! I did get the next Christmas ornament started last night. Plus this morning, I checked in the pile of finished ornaments that were upstairs, as I realized that I had one up there that I hadn't "asssigned" to anyone. I looked at it and realized that it was a good one for Alex and Brooke...so one more finished...which puts me down to the one I am stitching and I think four more ornaments and I will be finished with my ornaments to gift this Christmas. Countdown is on! Then I can go back to stitching whatever I want when I sit down to relax in the evenings...or whenever. And, I can start thinking about finishing them into ornaments. To be continued! Be well! Be cautious!

Monday…a Good Day

The end of the day is fast approaching and when I look back on the day, I am wondering just what I did today. Over the weekend I did finish Erin's ornament. Today I spent some time trying to figure out what ornament I want to do for Alex and Brooke. I have in mind most of the ornaments that I will be stitching for gifts this Christmas, but I'm still not sure about what I want to stitch for them. I think that I will go on and stitch Melany and Wade's while I ponder that question. I did look through several Christmas Cross Stitch magazines that are dedicated to ornaments, but I still haven't made up my mind for Alex and Brooke. I put away the floss that I used for Erin's ornament and getting ready to get out what I need for the next ornament. I got my hair cut today. I am so thankful that Jody is back to cutting hair, since Joy still isn't up to trying her hand at hair cutting yet! And, because I got my hair cut...it had to be a good day! I am home from prayer meeting...so I am watching the waning of this latest Monday! I do think that I will begin the next ornament before I go to sleep tonight. If I have calculated correctly, I "just" have six more ornaments to stitch. I think that I will have stitched around 25 by the time I have finished these last six. I will gather them all together and find out the final count once I am finished. Right now I have upstairs a stack of ornaments and another stack down here with me that I have finished stitching. Eventually they will all be stacked together all ready for the finishing process...stitching is only the beginning...still making them into ornaments to go...but that task takes less time than the stitching and I can do a little assembly-line sewing when making them...at least I hope I can! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautiouis!

Sunday Favorite

Technology! 🙄

Ugh! I rarely use a Windows computer these days...have pretty much moved to Apple. This morning Melany asked me if I could send her a picture of Alex when he was in my niece Rachel's wedding. Well, those photos are only accessible through a Passport external drive which has to be used with one of the Microsoft laptops. The laptop that I consider mine is very old and I mainly only use it with my sewing machine. So I brought the Passport down and plugged it into Woody's laptop. I was able to get to the photos and found the ones that I wanted to send to Melany, BUT...I could not get to gmail with this computer...though, I know that Woody used to check email on it just about daily. It took a while, but I finally managed to get the email open...as can be seen in tonight's photo...BUT what a pain! I have never been too thrilled since I had to change keyboards for my iPad...the workings of it still leave a lot to be desired and has already given me problems in typing this tonight! (More eye rolling!) But at least I was able to get a photo sent to Melany...I was determined to do it...and, today...I won! This has been a slow day for me. I haven't felt the greatest...really tired...so I just gave in to that and have sat a lot today and stitched and watched sewing shows. Erin's ornament is coming right along. While I stitch hers, I am thinking about what ornament I will stitch next! I am also thinking that I am closing in on being finished with Christmas ornaments for this year. I "hope" that I will be finished with ornaments by the end of the month...but that may be pushing myself a little. Kathy told me yesterday that she thought that Joy was a little more alert, but that she still wasn't doing anything on her phone or computer. She has glasses to help her with the blue light...she's trying those out, but still not interested in using them with screens! I got tickled and asked Nathan and Kathy if they ever thought that they would be wishing that one of their children would use screens more! Usually it is the opposite...wishing that they would use screens less! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Friday Comes 'Round Again

It seems like every time I blink it's Friday, again! Time is really flying by. As Woody and I often said to each other: "Times flies when you are having fun...and, even when you aren't! I continued with my reorganizing of my freezer and can say that I have gone through everything...consoladated some things, threw some away, put thiings in fresh freezer bags, etc. I'm not sure that I have gained any space...but at least I do know what is in my freezer now. I mentioned last night that I had taken some things out of the plastic containers that I had frozen them in and that the containers pretty much filled up the dishwasher. Well, today the freezer clean out lead to another job...sorting out and reorganizing the storage containers...had to find space for all those that had been in the freezer! I got a couple of shelves straightened out, but there is still one that I need to reorganize...that will wait for another day. I am through in the kitchen for this day! I decided that I had no need to go to Kroger today so skipped that trip. The only errand I ran today was to the Credit Union. I headed out mid afternoon and looked in the sky and realized that clouds were gathering, but figured that they would lead to nothing as they so often do these days. But as I was coming out of the Credit Union, my phone told me that it was going to start raining in the next six minutes and that it would last for 26 minutes...or some such. And, the phone was right...before I got very far down the road heading home, it started raining...rained pretty hard for a few minutes...but lessened as I approached my house. I put my car in the garage and decided to run between raindrops nd head in...after all I won't melt! I did get a little wet. I think that the rain gauge shows about 1/4"...we had a pop-up shower yesterday afternoon, too. That one really didn't give us any measurable rain...or so my rain gauge said. I decided that it rained enough to forego watering this evening. I have a load of wash drying now...so will put them away when they arer dry. I washed them this morning, but it was close to when "peak" hours for electricity go up so waited till we were "off Peak" to dry them. Trying to help out the grid...and my pocketbook!!! I plan to cross stitch and read this evening. I am a little farther along with Erin's Christmas ornament. It's turning out cute...though still looks very big to me after my tee-tiny stitches for the other ornaments that I have made so far. I started another book yesterday after I finished the one I had been reading. So I'm settling in for a quiet evening of stitching and reading...and, perhaps a little TV if I am stitching. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Thursday Thoughts

I just hung out around the house today...once again, doing a little of this and a little of that. The place that I worked the most was in the kitchen. I decided that I needed to organize my freezer. I ended up taking out things that were in containers, for example, if I froze chicken broth in a Tupperware container, I took the frozen broth out and put it in a ziplock bag. I also looked for things that had been in the freezer for too long and threw some things away. I am trying to store the things in ziplock bags a little bit differently than I have in the past...still trying to decide if my change is good! This is a work in progress. The freezer is sill pretty full. I need to continue to dig through and reposition items and continue to find out just what exactly is in there! I also made some Dilly Cheese Bread. I thought it would taste good with the ham salad that I made while the bread baked. Cheryl made this bread recently and said that it was good so I decide to try it. It is supposed to be made with Bisquick and I didn't have any so I got onine and found out how to make a substitute for it from scratch...it worked. The bread tasted good with my ham salad. The bread is like a biscuit in loaf form. I have stitched more on Erin's ornament and I also finished another book. I'm still thinking through and working up to starting a sewing project...maybe I will dive into it one of these days. Currently just being inspired when I see the fabric laying on my cutting board! I just started the dishwasher...lots of Tupperware containers and also have a load of wash in the dryer. Sounds like the clothes are ready to be taken out. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Mid Week

I'm going to blog a bit early tonight because I want to go out to water before it gets dark. i should have done the watering this morning, but didn't think about it when I should have done it. It is still in the mid 80s...but it has been a while since it rained and I think that my plants are thirsty. I have stayed home all day. I have done a little cleaning...very little, a little reading, and a little stitching on the latest Christmas ornament, and, a little playing with my camera. This ornament seems so strange to me...I am stitching it on a larger count base than I am used to stitching on...so the Xs are about four times bigger than I have been making. Most of the ornaments that I am stitching this year are less than a two-inch square. Erin's ornament is already 3 1/2 inch across and I'm not all the way across it, yet. I don't have to use any magnification other than my usual reading glasses...just seems strange after I have made so many small ones! Hope my eyes won't have a problem adjusting when I go back to smaller after I finish this one! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Truly Tuesday!

Tonight's photos show off my great-granddog, Mabel. She got her photo taken in several places on Webb School campus and then put on social media for welcoming back the Webb students for the new school year. Mabel belongs to my grandson, Alex and his wife, Brooke. Brooke teaches Spanish at Webb and Alex substitutes there. They are both dorm parents. The school year is gearing up to get started. I talked to Melany part of her way home today. She was telling me about the progress of her school getting back underway...so far no children have graced their campus...tomorrow the children come for a two hour day and then they will get underway "for real" on Friday. Melany teaches art at Barfield Elementary in Rutherford County...part of Murfreesboro, TN. Murfreesboro has many schools...part of them are Murfreesboro City Schools and part of them are Rutherford County schools. I have had a pretty good day. Last night I finished stitching another Christmas ornament. Today I got underway with another one. The ornament I finished last night was the last for Nathan and Kathy's family...now on to Melany's family. I'm working on Erin's right now. Donna and I worked in the church library this afternoon. We worked on a new book order. We about got trapped in the library. New carpet is being put down in the hallways outside the library and we were told that it would be quite a while before we could get out due to glue being put down outside our door...but then were told that we would be able to exit to the right of our door. We wondered if it was going to be like an escape room to get home! But by the time we were ready to go some of the carpet was covering the glue...so we were able to leave the usual way...I guess you could say we were one of the first to walk on the new carpet! I stitched and did a little napping after I got home. I am hoping to get a bit farther on Erin's ornament before my eyes close to go to sleep for the night. And, I will admit that I am glad that I am not getting ready to go back to teaching...glad that I am retired!!!To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

A Cooler August Day

The last two days have brought us cooler temperatures...didn't get out of the 70s! I know that this is just a teaser...but the cooler temps do bode hints of Fall! I have had a stay-at-home day except for this evening's prayer meeting. I have done lots of "a little of thats" and "a little of thises." I generally picked up around the downstairs things that belong upstairs, but had found their way down. I did do a little more cooking. A week or so ago, I looked through a cookbook just to see if there was something that sounded good to me...something that I hadn't fixed in a while. I came across a recipe for tapioca pudding and that sounded really good. That is a childhood memory of Mother fixing it for us when we were sick...so I guess that probablly puts in a comfort food category. One of the things that needed to be put away in my "picking up" was the box of tapioca that I had recently bought. I had left it on the counter so I would be reminded to make it. Today, I decided that I would either make it or put the box away in the pantry. I decided that I would make it and then put it away. It definitely brought back memories when I ate some of it. I talked to Cheryl today and asked her if she remembered Mother making it for us and whether she liked it or not. She does remember and also does like it. I will file that away in my brain and perhaps make it when she and Rachel pay me a visit in the not too distant future. They are thinking about coming perhaps sometime in September. We had an enjoyable time celebrating Esther's 18th birthday yesterday. I will report that I thought that Joy did seem a little better. I saw several real "Joy smiles." She joined us in the kitchen when we sang Happy Birthday to Esther and then got in line for cake and ice cream. So...little by litltle...To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Happy 18th, Esther!

Part Lazy Part Busy Saturday

So my day started out quite early as I woke up waaaay too early and then couldn't get back to sleeep. This happens to me because once I've slept any where from 2-4 hours, my body knows it has had a good nap...so...I am ready to go for a while. I usually read or stitch till I am sleepy again. Well, this morning I never felt sleepy so finally got up, had breakfast, emptied the dishwasher and went upstairs to work on the tablecloth for Kathy. I gathered things together that I needed, but decided to sit down and read for a few minutes before I got started and read. Well, I fell asleep and, I guess, caught back up on that sleep I missed in the middle of the night! Once I woke up, I was ready to get going on the tablecloth and knocked that job out very quickly. It is alll folded up and back in its storage bag. Then...just for fun...I got out fabric, pattern, etc. for a top that I have been wanting to make. Maybe I will be inspired to work further on it! I am so out of practice sewing for myself...we will see! Once I was back downstairs, I got back to working in the kitchen...freezing items that I have been cooking so I will have them for meals in the future. I just finished the Chunky Tomato Sauce with Sweet Italian Sausage. I am letting it cool, then I will put it in the refrigerater over night and will put part of it in the freezer and have part of it for me to eat this coming week. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Proof of Joseph’s Fish Story

Nathan and Kathy stopped by this morning and shared the above picture of Joseph and the fish he caught yesterday...yay, Joseph!!! I got up and completed my grocerey list and got ready to head out. Nathan texted me just as I was checking out at Kroger...so they waited for me to get home. Good helpers for getting the groceries in! They stopped by to share about meeting that they and Joy had at Motlow State Community College this morning. Joy is determined to go on and go to college this semester and they were finding out what type of accomodatioins she can have due to her concussion. They were also checking about what would happen with her scholarship if she isn't able to go this semester. It was a good meeting and it looks like they will work with Joy and hopefully she will be able to at least attempt to take some classes this upcoming semester. Several suggestions were made to make it easier on Joy. Kathy and Nathan both said that they have seen more improvement over the last days...still slow, but she does seem to be heading in the right direction. Kathy had snapped a picture of Joy laughing and it looked like "our Joy." After lunch, I took a short nap and then headed off to run an errand for Melany. Melany was looking for a couple of items that she had found at their local Dollar Tree that she wanted for her school room. I told her that I would check out Tullahoma's Dollar Tree. I did not find what she wanted, but at least I tired! I ended up cooking...again...seems to be a habit this week. I guess I just want to clean up messes in the kitchen! I made one of the recipes that I got ingredients for at the store today. I didn't want to wait to make it as I had thawed things for the recipe so needed to use them. I made Sweet 'n Sour Pork...very good...plus it used several things up from the refrigerator, freezer and pantry. I never got to my sewing room to work on the table cloth for Kathy...guess it is put off till tomorrow...and, at this point tomorrow never seems to come! I'm going to their house on Sunday to celebrate Esther's birthday so I am determined to take it...finished...to Kathy on Sunday! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! Happy August!