Social Saturday!

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Yesterday I had a social hour at the grocery store.  Today I have been very social on the phone..talked to family and friends…one friend I hadn't talked to in a year or more.  Always good to catch up!  

Tonight's photo isn't what I had planned to post, but I found something that I hadn't seen before when looking through my photos.  But along with this old piece of farm machinery, I captured a little squirrel running underneath it.

I have managed to do a little around the house today…mainly doing some picking up and straightening up around the house…probably nothing noticeable to anyone but me!  

I have done some stitching and found myself napping with needle in hand one time when I woke up!  So far I'm not stitching while I nap.  Mother would often continue with her needlepoint after she dozed off and then would have to pick those stitches out! I haven't come to that…yet!

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! 

My Social Hour!

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Tonight's blog title reflects the fact that I went grocery shopping this morning.  And, each week it is interesting to see how many people I run into that I know.  Those of us who seem to be on the same schedule, I run into most weeks…then I end up running into folk I haven't had seen in months or years.  Today I came up behind a young man and he turned and we smiled at each other and went on with checking out the shelf for what we needed.  But I realized that he reminded me of someone…so I took a closer look at his profile.  I considered saying his name and his brother's name to see if I for a reaction from him.  But kept quiet.  He exited the aisle before I did, but when I turned the corner, he was there in front of me again.  At that point I was pretty sure he was who I thought he was…and, at the point we both spoke to each other at the same time.  He had recognized me at that point.  This young man grew up in our church.  His mom and I were very good friends and he was in Melany’s class in school.  It was just nice to get to visit with him for a few minutes.  It does amaze me that Melany's age group is talking about retiring in not too many more years!  How has that happened!?!  So, for me, the grocery store is a good place to socialize!! 

I could probably get out of the grocery store quicker if I didn't visit…but the visiting makes the task of shopping for food so much more enjoyable! I can hardly think of a time in recent years that I ever go to the store and not see at least one person I know.  Now…when we lived in Sunnyvale, California all those years ago (Melany was 2 and Nathan was a newborn), I can't think of even one time that I ran into anyone that I knew when we were grocery shopping.  I do have a memory of one time at the drugstore running into one of our neighbors…but only one time!  Different times, different places! Out there we went through two cities of one hundred thousand + people to get to our church. Now I get on the street thwtThat was over 50 years ago…I can't imagine what it would be like to live there now!  Tullahoma has grown, but not all that much.  We are still pretty much a small town, for which I'm thankful! I like small town living! 

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! 

Thursday

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Another warm Spring day.  I chose to stay in because…of the extreme amount of pollen that is floating around in the air.  I did have a chance to go to Elijah's baseball game, but, again, I didn't think I should sit out in the pollen filled air with the breezes blowing.  His team was playing at Webb School in Bell Buckle, TN…just a hop, skip, and a jump down the road from me. I also would have gotten to see my grandson, Alex, who lives on the Webb campus with his wife.  Brooke had to teach, but Alex wasn't subbing today so he planned to join Nathan, Kathy and family to watch the game. I have had a pretty snuffling afternoon so I was glad that I made my decision to stay home and stay inside.

I mentioned last night that Nathan had taken the church library computer home to see if it could be fixed.  In the end he and Graham both got into checking it out.  And, they were able to retrieve all the library files from the computer…and…Graham wqs able to load it on his computer and able to get into the files and they were able to retrieve information…and use the software program as it worked on the old computer.  I was glad to see that the software could run on an up-to-date computer.  They feel that the old computer needs a new mother board…so…as of the moment it looks like we will be purchasing a new computer and load the library software onto the new one.  Hopefully that will put us back in business.  Both Donna and I are very relieved!

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Wonderful Wednesday!

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Another beautiful day!  Spring is definitely showing up and bringing pretty days with it.  I’ve just returned from Wednesday Night Bible study.  Today has pretty much been a day of doing a little of this and a little of that.  I organized my cross stitch projects and did some stitching on each of them.  I’m planning to do more stitching this evening.  I continue to try to find homes for things that seem to not have a place around here so land on table tops…specifically the sewing table upstairs.  Today I worked a little more on either throwing away or putting away.  Nathan, Isaac, and Joseph stopped by today to remove another squirrel from my chimney…but surprise this time no squirrel…just a lot of sticks fell out when Nathan opened the flue…strange!  Maybe a branch fell in and I heard it when it fell in…or heard it when it broke apart and settled…not a clue!  I knew this time that it didn't move much after I heard it fall in.  

This evening Nathan stopped by the library at church to check out the computer that seems to have died on us…after a power surge at the church a while back.  This is a major problem for the library, as that computer has all the library information stored on it…in other words we have no way to check books in or out on the computer and can't locate books as this computer is our card catalog…so much for technology!  Nathan is going to look at it…maybe get Graham to look at it and then if they can't figure out something, he and I will take it to one of computer gurus in town.  Here's hoping and praying that something can be figured out and that it can once again give us the information needed to run a library!  But it "walked" out of the library with Nathan tonight! 

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! 

Truly Tuesday

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Tuesday arrived and has just about gone…how the days do go by quickly.  This morning started out slowly…woke up and just sat for a while…maybe did a little stitching…just because I could!  The morning went by quickly and lunchtime arrived soon and then it was time to head to the church library.  Donna and I made pretty quick work of carding and shelving the books that had been returned.  We enjoyed visiting, too…always do! 

This evening my plans are for more stitching…just in the mood for stitching! I have quite a few new projects to enjoy stitching.

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Another Monday!

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It has been another pretty day…a bit chillier than yesterday.  Yesterday we actually reached the mid 80's!  It felt quite warm if you spent much time outside.  The car was really hot when I got in to drive home after church.  I rolled down windows and opened the moon roof to let the heat out to help out the AC cool it down inside.  Now…today…wasn't much interested in AC when driving around!  

I did get out around noon today to go get my hair cut.  Then the rest of the day I spent inside until prayer meeting this evening,  I needed to do some cooking…the refrigerator was pretty bare. I had in my menu plans in my head planned to make soup today.  After yesterday's quite warm temperatures, I wasn't so sure that was such a good time.  But overnight the temperatures turned around and started coming down.  So my soup making went on as planned and the warmth of it at lunch was much appreciated! I made New England Clam Chowder…quite good!  It is a favorite of mine…perhaps due to my Massachusetts' roots?

Today I received my needlework order part of which was a birthday gift from a friend.  Needlework mail equals happy mail!  I have had fun looking at what I got and making plans for getting underway with some of it right away even though I am in the midst of other needlework projects…always fun to start something new!  I have put a few Xs in for one of the pieces…another rabbit piece to add to my Spring decorations.  Over the weekend I got underway with another Christmas ornament that I will ge gifting this coming Christmas.  I have lots of skeins of floss out and about in the room as I have been checking to see if I have all the colors needed for these upcoming pieces that I have the urge to stitch!  

I plan to stitch some more this evening.  I have plenty to choose from.  I got some pretty linen to stitch on in this order as well as some cross stitch patterns and a small amount of embroidery floss.  I plan to read a little, too, as I began a new book over the weekend.  At the moment my reading has taken a back seat to my stitching.  I tend to do that…focus on one hobby or another for a time neglecting others and then switch back again.  Plenty to keep me busy and hopefully out of trouble.  No way to be bored when you have as many interests as I have! 

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! 

Sunday Favorite: 57 Years Ago

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Almost Summerlike!

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It's amazing how we can go from snow on Monday to 80s today!  It felt rather warm when I retrieved my mail today.  That was my only venture outside today, as I had plenty to keep me busy inside!  

Tonight I have shared a photo of some of the stitching that I have accomplished so far this year for me to keep.  I don't post a lot of my stitching because I do quite a bit to give away…the ornaments that I stitch for example.  The first thing that I finished for me this year is the little Redwork sampler. I started and finished it in January.  It is what the stitching world calls a blessing sampler.  You start it on January 1st, and if you complete it by the end of January then your stitching for the year is supposed to be blessed.  I’m not so much about what I see sort of as a superstition, as I am about just having the fun of joining the stitching community and attempting to finish a sampler in a month!  You will note that this sampler is very small…I chose what I was pretty sure I could complete in a short time! The bunny piece will join my other Spring stitches that are scattered around the house at this time of the year,  I just completed Miss Liberty this afternoon.  I am trying to stitch several patriotic smalls this year in honor of our countries 250th birthday.  She will join my other patriotic decorations after I enjoy my Spring decorations for another month!  I will be making all three of these into small pillows to place here and there around the house. Now I need to get back to stitching Christmas ornaments that I will give as gifts this year.  I have sort of taken a break from ornaments for a bit.  I plan to start another ornament this evening and work on it today and tomorrow.  Then come Monday, I may be in the mood for another small (or two!) for me, as I am awaiting an order with a couple more small patriotic designs.  That order is supposed to come Monday.  

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! 

Welcome Spring!

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And, Spring arrived bringing along with it a beautiful day! I noticed first thing as I headed off for the store that the leaves are now springing out on the trees…soon we will see that spring-green color from the Crayola Crayon box when we look up into the canopy that trees make over our heads.

I made a trip to Kroger and restocked my larder.  I got them all put away and then had my lunch.  The rest of the afternoon was spent doing a little of this and a little of that and a lot of nothing!  I have stitched…continuing on with my patriotic piece.  I’m starting to see the finish line.  I’m on the last part of it. Going to start stitching again as soon as I finish in the kitchen.

Cheryl and I had a fun phone visit this afternoon.  While we talked, Cheryl sent me photos of her Spring decorations and I sent photos of mine and then we talked about them with each other…a fun long distance visit between TN and AZ!  A good portion of the decorations I have Cheryl gave me.  

Speaking of long distance visits, tomorrow is my monthly Cottey College Bookclub Zoom meeting. I  always look forward to that visit with Cottey alums who have become my friends even though we live far apart and are from different classes.  Some I have met in person…others just via the Zoom meetings.  We have done this for several years now so we are getting to know each other quite well.  Of course, there is one who comes to the meetings who I have known since we were in Sunday School together as very young children. We continued on to going to first grade through high school together and then proceeded to head off to college together.  Not too many can say that about a friend! 

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Last Day of Winter

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Today was a beautiful day to end winter!  I stayed pretty busy today.  I did things around the house picking things up and putting things away.  I did some of that both upstairs and down.  I got a call mid morning that my taxes were completed and that I could come in and sign papers, etc. So I made a short trip downtown and did the required.  So that task is done for this year.  This afternoon I decided to do some cleaning in the kitchen.  I cleaned the microwave and then wiped down the lower cabinets and drawers and the stove front on that side of the kitchen. I had been "meaning to" clean the microwave and just never seemed to get around to it…just thought of it each time I used it but didn't think of it when I wasn't using it!  So that task is done for a short while.  I guess tomorrow I need to make at least a quick trip to the grocery store for a couple of items…still don't need a lot.  But I have been trying to add to the list what I do need to get.  And, I guess I should think of one recipe to get ingredients for.  I have done a little reading and a little stitching.  I plan to do more stitching this evening while I watch Matlock and Elsbeth.

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Things Still Hopping Around Here

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The bunnies continued to hop around till they found their spot for the Spring.  I was finished before lunchtime.  I have continued to stitch on my patriotic piece and am making good progress towards finishing it…but still quite a few stitches to go.  The Spring decorating meant doing some dusting…so I am a little cleaner around here.  

I discovered a TV series that is streaming of a book series that I have read.  It's "okay," but I think that I enjoyed reading it more.  It is interesting to see who the producers, etc. cast as characters.  Not exactly how I had pictured them in my mind!  It isn't quite as "mild" as I usually watch…both language and violence.  I don't approve of the language…and, don't remember it being as bad as this in the book…but, then, in the book I can skip "those words!" 

Late this afternoon, I put together a TexMex casserole.  Well, two casseroles…one for the freezer and one for me to eat now. It is pretty good.  I believe it will be better tomorrow when the flavors meld together. I've cleaned up the kitchen and am now ready to settle into my chair for the night.  I hope to make more progress on my stitching, but…I didn't take a nap today so there is a good chance I will doze off…needle in hand!  

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Bunnies, Lambs & Chicks…Oh, My!

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Things have been hopping around here today…the bunnies and their friends all congregated on the dining room table so I could direct them to their special place somewhere in the house!  I decided that St. Patrick's Day was the day to decorate for Spring.  Donna and I decided that we wouldn't work in the library today so I decided that today was the day to, at least start some Spring decorating.  The dining room table still has bunnies, eggs, etc. that need to be placed…somewhere. I haven't put any Spring in the living room yet…tomorrow is another day!

I started a new book today.  I did some online shopping…I was gifted a gift certificate at a stitching online store.  So I had fun picking and choosing…now to wait for it to arrive in my mailbox! I used different lenses, settings, etc. trying to get familiar with what I want to use on my Alaskan cruise.  I’ve done some stitching. I’m working on a patriotic piece that I will make into a small pillow to use this summer to decorate the house with reminders of the US's 250th birthday.

It was quite a chilly day.  The wind went right through me when I took the garbage out and got my mail…did both those in one trip to not have to be out any more than I had to!  Brrrrrrrrr!  This must be one of our winters…maybe Red bud winter…not sure.

To be continued! Be safe! be well! Be cautious! 

Surprise!

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Look what happened in Tullahoma this morning!  When it started snowing, I was playing with camera settings and managed to get a couple that showed the snow really coming down.  Not long after this was taken, the ground was covered with white.  It was a wet snow so the bushes and tree limbs were white for a time, too.  I got busy doing other things and didn't end up getting a photo when we were white. By mid afternoon, most of the snow had melted away.  There is still some in shady spots and on some roofs.  The roads were never affected, as far as I know and it was plenty safe to drive to and from prayer meeting tonight.  I just got home and am glad to get into warmth. It's hovering at freezing right now, but supposed to get down into the lower 20s tonight.  We have been spoiled by the unseasonably warmth we have been blessed with over the last few weeks.  Winter isn't over yet!

As I mentioned above, I was working on camera settings when the snow began.  I was trying to figure out something on my camera that I had never figured out since getting it.  I believe that I was successful…now to remember how it is done!  I am going over settings, etc. for my camera trying to get ready for my Alaska cruise! I’m working with lenses trying to figure out which ones to take with me.  My card table is back up and I have cameras and lenses on it along with paper and pencils to take notes if needed.  I will work a little at a time on getting Alaska photography into my mind.  I was reading tips about Alaskan photography and the second set of tips I ran across was written by a Tullahoma boy, who Melany and Nathan used to babysit.  He and his wife now live in Alaska and have a photography gallery in Skagway, one of the ports we will visit, Melany on a former Alaskan cruise did get to visit with him in his gallery.  Perhaps we will get to see him this year.  

I got pulled away from my cameras, when my CPA emailed me with her results for this years taxes…she had some suggestions for future years that I am still trying to wrap my mind around!  It takes several readings of things like that for them to sink into my brain.  I sort of think I understand…maybe?!? The other thing I had to deal with is that we now have to file electronically so I had to get that information to her.  I would rather stitch or mess with my cameras than figure out taxes!! But I think I sent her everything that she needs to finish my taxes and file them…I hope! 

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Sunday Favorite

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Simply Saturday

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It has been a pretty and sunny day…not too cold and not too hot…according to Goldilocks that would make the day "just right!"  I enjoyed it from inside just puttering around the house.  I did get into the kitchen and did a little cooking.  I had part of a loaf of sour dough bread that was in "its last days" and to keep it from getting moldy, I decided to make croutons.  I also made some bread sticks from some French bread sandwich rolls.  Those will go into the freezer for salad and soup days.  I’m starting to plan what I can make ahead for Cheryl's and Rachel's visit in a couple of months,  I have promised them that I won't "kill myself" getting ready for them.  I hope to freeze part of what I make over the next weeks so I can pull meals out of the freezer when they are here.  Making plans, at least in my mind, both for their visit and for the Alaska cruise…lots going on in my head!! 

I have had a problem all day realizing that it is Saturday.  I finally realized that it is because I took grocery shopping off my Friday to-do list.  And, I still think that the time change is messing with my mind.  Realizing the time…especially when the sun is streaming into my kitchen much later in the day than I am used to…when I walk out to the kitchen and see all that sun, I feel that it is much earlier in the day and am often surprised to see the late hour.  Soon I will get it straightened out…maybe! 

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! be cautious! 

Friday the 13th

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This Friday the 13th has been a good day…at least to this point!  I didn't go to the grocery store today…I have eaten out so much and the fact that Melany and Wade brought food last weekend due to my birthday, that I haven't needed to cook much.  Thus, I still have things that I bought last grocery shopping day.  I'm in the midst of making one of those recipes right now…got a later start on supper than I usually would…may have something to do with time change and a late afternoon meeting.  

I have done a couple of loads of wash and gotten the clothes all put away.  I had a nice visit with our newlyweds, Esther and Patrick, this afternoon.  I finished listening to a book, one for my Cottey Bookclub.  I also had a meeting this afternoon so a pretty busy day.  Once I get my supper done and the kitchen cleaned up, I plan to stitch this evening.  I finished my little Spring piece last night.  Today I found fabric to match it and some for another piece.  So  I guess I am ready to make little pillows (smalls) out of those two cross stitch pieces…another day!  

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Fun Day!

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Birthday celebrating continued today!  Linda H. came over to Tullahoma and took me out to eat.  We had Calzones at Rafael's…very good!  We learned that we should have ordered one and split it…they were very large.  We both left with leftovers for another meal!  After lunch we did a little shopping.  We each found a bargain.  We visited for a little while after we got back to the house. Linda brought her albums of Doyle's and her trip to Alaska some years back…as in the late 90s.  I have had fun looking through them.  They weren't in the same places that we will be visiting, but fun to see the photos of that vast state.  I have been thinking about settings, etc. that I will need to use while there…reading about photographing Alaska tips.  

The temperatures did drop…probably we are closer to normal temperatures for this time of year…but after our warm days, it felt quite chilly!  

Tonight is a Matlock and Elsbeth evening…a good way to finish out my day!

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! be cautious!

Mid Week

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We’ve had mixed weather today…rain and shine, wind, a little lightning and thunder.  A cold front is coming our way and when the first wave of storms came through our temperature did drop a bit. Over night we are looking at a low of 39°…our lows lately have been in the 60's.  We have been spoiled.  I think I heard that we may be looking at a hard freeze not too far down the road.  We may be in for overnight storms tonight.  

I just got home from Wednesday Bible study and one thing I noticed…I got home before it got dark…that hadn't happened in a long time!  

Today was a day to do a little of this and a little of that.  I did some picking up since yesterday I didn't do much of anything…still had things to our away from the weekend of celebration…I had dishes to put away that wew used Saturday when we celebrated Wade's and my birthdays.  Then I did a few little cleaning jobs.  I also managed to do some stitching, as I didn't end up doing any yesterday.  I ended up falling asleep with needlework in my lap last evening without putting a stitch in.  Today I did a little better and made some progress on a little spring piece that I am working on.  I plan to work on it some more this evening.  Stitching a bunny.  

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Birthday Blog

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It certainly seems like there have been a lot of birthdays celebrated in my family lately.  Today Wade, my son-in-law, and I share the day.  I have had a very nice day.  I had an unexpected celebration today, as Marie treated me to lunch and a barn trip…hadn't expected that!  We had a very nice time, and the rains that had been a possibility didn't appear.  I think at one point we had some very fine mist on the windshield, but that was all.  I came home and got the photos that I took moved to my iPad.  Just as I had that done, Cheryl called and we talked for quite a while.  We are starting to plan for an upcoming trip for her and her daughter to come to Tennessee for a visit. Fun future plans! After I talked to her, I worked some more on today's barn photos.  Nathan called and he and Joy wished me a happy birthday. While I was talking to Cheryl, Melany called, so missed her call.  She did leave a birthday message.  I was going to call her back, but I think they may have been going out for dinner for Wade's birthday so didn't call her back.  So lots of phone calling and visiting today.  It has been a very relaxing, restful day.  I plan to finish out the day with some stitching.  

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! 

Good Evening From Rainy Tennessee

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I just got home from prayer meeting.  It was barely sprinkling when we got there…but the rain was coming down pretty good when we left to go home.  I have heard a few low rumbles of thunder. I'm glad that I am home and inside where it is dry.  Today has been a day to recover from the time change…or at least that's what I am telling myself!  Anything for an excuse to do little to nothing.  I have done a little…did a couple of loads of laundry and several other things around the house.  But I also declared it a day to stitch when I felt like it.  I talked to Cheryl…she moved an hour more away from me yesterday…or I guess I did since her time didn't change…just mine.  So we now are two hours apart.  This is always my least favorite of the time changes…IF I have a favorite!  I just wish that we didn't change…but I fear if that happens that we will always be two hours apart!  So I won't wish! 

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! 

Sunday Favorites (taken with bird feeder camera 3/8/26)

The Weather Held Off

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It was overcast and a bit breezy, but that wasn't a deterrent to getting a lot of raking and leaf blowing done today. Nathan, Kathy, Joy, Isaac, and Joseph arrived first.  Then Melany, Wade, and Erin got here a few minutes after. And, then a bit later Elijah came.  And, boy did they work hard!  The Proctors brought all kinds of goodies including a birthday cake.  The goodies were a good break time for the kids.  They worked till lunch.  Then I sent Nathan for pizza.  Pizza for lunch then Melany's delicious carrot cake for dessert and to celebrate Wade's and my birthdays coming up in a few days.  We had a very nice day.  Erin wasn't feeling well…she got to feeling carsick on her way here and never felt great the whole time they were here.  But it was good to get to see her…just sorry she didn’t feel well. 

Nathan stayed a while after everyone left and worked on one of my birthday gifts…a hummingbird feeder that has a camera in it to snap hummer photos.  It is partially ready…he has to mount a small solar panel…so that will happen another day…which is fine as I don't think the hummingbirds are back in TN yet.  

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

What Happened to Spring? Summer Showed Up!

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It was a very warm day today.  When I got into my car around noon, it said that it was 82°!  It was very much a March day when you figure in the wind…but probably the warmest day that we have seen so far this year.  Today was busy starting out nicely with having breakfast with Jo and Carolyn.  We always have such a good time when we get together…always fun catching up with each other.  The morning sped by all too quickly.  Since I was on the side of town where I needed to run errands, that's what I did after we parted ways.  I needed to pick up just a few things at Kroger so did that quickly and made a stop at the Credit Union.  Then it was back home and time for a rest!  I took a bit longer nap than I meant, but guess I needed it.  

If the weather cooperates tomorrow, there may be a gathering of some Dorrells and some Proctors here to do some yard work and birthday celebrating.  I guess the birthday celebrating can happen weather cooperating or not.  Birthdays seem to come rain or shine!!  

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! 

Another Pretty Spring-Like Day…Rather Breezy

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I’ve had a pretty busy day.  I managed to vacuum upstairs in the hallway and guest room…those areas upstairs had been pretty much full of boxes with no room for the vacuum to be able to do its work.  I did a little more cleaning downstairs, too.  So both the upstairs vacuum and the downstairs vacuum got a bit of a workout again today.  I am so thankful that I no longer have to lug a vacuum up and down the stairs!  

I have also done a little stitching.  I did finish the next Christmas ornament…so now I have stitched seven ornaments for gifts for the coming Christmas. I’m closing in on completing another audio book for another Cottey Bookclub selection on down the road a bit…getting ahead on my reading for that. 

It was such a pleasant day, that I actually put on a short sleeve shirt after getting rather warm with long sleeves while vacuuming.  I think we are in for another dry day tomorrow, but Saturday may turn a bit soggy.

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Midweek

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It has been another beautiful day.  I turned in tax documents to my accountant today…that was my accomplishment of the morning.  Nathan came over this afternoon and put away all my Christmas boxes. Yay!  I called Cheryl and let her know that she could now come for a visit as her bed was cleared off once again!  Now I can run the vacuum down a clear hallway.  It has been a while.  I'll see if I can accomplish that tomorrow.  I have been listening to the next Cottey Bookclub book, as it became available the other day.  I’ll read it while I have it available.  Although, remembering it in detail for two months is doubtful!  But at least I will have read it!  I went to Bible study this evening, and am now home ready to settle in for the evening.  I think that "if" my eyes stay open this evening that I will have the ornament finished tonight.  What I have left to stitch isn't much…I "should" be able to stay awake long enough to take these last few stitches.  Time will tell! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! 

Another Tuesday

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Well, today has been a bit of a wash for me.  I didn't feel very well for a good part of the day.  I thought for a while that I might be coming down with something, but as the day wore on I felt better not worse…so think that it was just a day I didn't need to do much!  Donna and I had decided on Sunday that we would take today off from the church library…so it was a day that I could do next to nothing!  I did bake some biscuits from scratch early this morning…before I realized that I wasn't feeling great.  I had the meat thawed to make a soup/stew today, but put that off until just a little while ago.  It is now made for tomorrow…but now I have a mess to clean up…after I blog and sit and rest a few minutes.  While cooking I finished listening to a book, the next book for my Cottey Bookclub.  I did do a little stitching early this morning, but set it aside. Maybe I will do a little more when I get the kitchen cleaned up.  I am close to being finished with this Christmas ornament.  It was another beautiful spring-like day today.  I enjoyed it when I made my trek out to take the garbage can to the road and get my mail.  I did have a piece of mail that I had been looking for…my birth certificate…back after being sent to the government with my application for my passport.  The only item that hasn't gotten back to me yet is my renewed driver's license…that I renewed online.  I renewed it online the same day that I sent off my passport application, which had to go through the mail both ways.  US government seems to be on top of things more than the TN government!  

To be continued! Be safe! Be well. Be cautious! 

March Came in Like a Lamb

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Another spring-like day…though not a blue-sky day.  I was thankful that it was overcast as I had an eye appointment and that meant when coming out into the daylight that my dilated eyes wouldn't have to fight the brightness. My eye appointment went well.  I could tell that I could see better with one of my eyes than the other and asked her what the eye that wasn't as good tested…20/20…so guess I am seeing very well.  I didn't ask what the better eye tested…but I know I could read several lines more with it.  She said that my eyes were doing well and that everything tested out well and that I didn't have to come back for a year…sounds good to me.  I liked my new eye doctor very well, but it was rather sad to go into the office with all the memories of my former eye doctor and realize that he had died.  The office is still just getting used to his absence.  

The rest of my day has been rather quiet, as my eyes were dilated (and still aren't totally back to normal and I just didn't feel like doing much…couldn't stitch, couldn't read…the kitchen lights were too bright for me to do anything in there.  I did call Cheryl, my favorite and only sister, to wish her a happy birthday and we talked for a while.  After lunch, I took a nap.  Another friend called and we talked for a while.  Then it was time to head to Monday night Furnace Room Prayer Meeting.  I am now home and am going to have a late supper.  Then I hope that my eyes are able to do a little stitching, if not, then I may watch a little TV before settling in to sleep.  

We did have a good birthday celebration for Graham yesterday…a nice family time.  I’ll add in here at the end the family picture that I took before the gathering broke up.  Kathy hadn't gotten a picture of all of them on the day of Esther's and Patrick's wedding so she was determined to get a photo of all eleven of them together yesterday…so I obliged! 

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Sunday Favorite=Celebrated Graham Today!

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A Very Happy Camper!

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I guess you can say, instead of camper, a very happy cruiser because my passport arrived in the mail today.  I now have "real" ID!  I have tucked it away for safe keeping…told Melany where it is…in case I forget! I guess I am one step closer to being able to go on the cruise.  I still haven't gotten my birth certificate back from them. Wade said that usually the birth certificate gets sent back before the passport…well, not in this case!  But this is what I really need.  Sailing to Alaska, but one of our ports of call is Victoria, British Columbia, Canada so I will be in another country during the cruise.  

Today has been a stay-at-home day and I have done a little of this and a little of that around the house.  I have also stitched on the Christmas ornament  that I have been working on…getting close to a finish on this one.  I have talked on the phone with Melany.  We were making plans to celebrate Wade's and my birthday (we share the same birthday) this coming weekend.  Tomorrow afternoon we celebrate Graham's birthday. Monday is my favorite (only) sister Cheryl's birthday.  Lots of birthday celebrating going on! 

It has been a very pretty spring-like day.  Once again, nice to go out to the mailbox without having to wear a jacket. It seems like days like this are happening more often…Spring must be close!  I'm ready!

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! 

Is It Possible? Graham is 24!

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How time does pass…all too quickly!  It doesn’t seem possible that Graham could be 24, but unbelievably that many years have passed since I heard him cry through the phone lines not long after he was born in Texas.  Woody and I drove to see him for the first time in March during my Spring Break from Montessori.  On that trip to Texas, we stopped in Missouri to see Woody's sister who was dying from colon cancer.  After our visit we continued on our way to meet Graham.  I believe that we had been at Nathan's, Kathy's and Graham's about thirty minutes before we got the news that Tammy had passed away.  We stayed in TX until the funeral and then went back to MO for the visitation and funeral and then turned back around to head back to TX.  Interesting what memories pop in to my mind at times.  I hadn't thought of this back and forth trip of both great joy and great sorrow until I started writing tonight's blog.

I have had a fairly busy day.  I did my Krogering and then put everything away.  I had my lunch and then felt the need of a nap.  I did take a nap, then talked with a friend on the phone for a while.  I did manage to do one of the things on my to-do list…the kitchen and downstairs bathroom.  I dust mopped them and then mopped them…a task that I had good intentions to do for quite a few days…glad that I finally got them mopped.  

This evening I plan to listen to a book and do some more stitching. I will end with a BIG happy birthday to Graham.  We will celebrate his birthday on Sunday,  

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Last Thursday in February

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The day started out a bit rainy, but it wasn't very far into the morning before it was over and the day ended up sunny and fairly mild.  Once again, when I needed to go to the mailbox or to put something in the garbage can no jacket was needed.  Nice to be able to go out and not freeze even with a coat!  

I have enjoyed a stay-at-home day.  Part of the day I just felt lazy and didn't feel like doing anything..maybe because that was because I woke up very early once again.  I will say waking up early is one way to end up with a day seeming quite long!  I have contacted my tax preparer to make an appointment.  I think that I have received everything and/or gathered what I need to take to her. I then went through some papers that had stacked up and got rid of some and filed others.  I have made a grocery list, as I plan to make a trip to Kroger in the morning.  I have been trying to figure out what sounds good to cook.  Today I did cook a pork roast…that tasted pretty good for supper tonight.  

Once again…I am clearing off my sewing cutting table which seems to be a magnet for things that I don't have a place for…it's not too bad this time.  I do want to do some sewing so will need the surface to cut all cleared.  I will be using a new pattern that I haven't made before so I plan to make a muslin first…I had bought some muslin fabric a while back.  Today washed it so it will be a little less stiff than it came from the fabric store.  I’m sure it will come out of the dryer in a wad since it is five yards!  It is drying now.  

Tonight I'm looking forward to stitching and watching Matlock and Elsbeth…their season is starting up again tonight.  I have taken a little time today, when I didn't feel like doing anything else, to do some stitching.  I continue to work on Christmas ornaments.  This one has more stitching on it than some of the others that I have planned for this year. Some I am doing on perforated paper which is higher count and I can actually stitch on it without any magnification other than my readers.  The one I am stitching on currently is on tiny count and readers and extra magnification and extra light is very necessary.  

To be continued! Be safe! be well! be cautious!

Wednesday

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I got home a little while ago from Wednesday night Bible study.  I ate supper before I came in here to blog. While eating, I checked my email and got the best news…my passport has been approved and I will have it in hand soon…maybe even as early as next week.  That clears the last hurdle, that I know of, for Melany's, Wade's, and my Alaska cruise!  Good news!  

Today I stayed at home except for this evening for Bible study,  I mainly did little things around the house…dried a load of clothes and got them put away.  Took things out to the trash…picked up a couple of pieces of cardboard that I had put out for recycle that ended up blowing back into the yard.  Later in the day I took the garbage can back to the house…just mundane tasks, as usual!  I did set aside some time to stitch.  Last night I finished another Christmas ornament.  Today I picked up a Christmas ornament that I had started but hadn't finished yet…so back on that one.  I even got in an afternoon nap…not exactly intentionally…but closed my eyes for a short period of time. As I put away clothes today, I was thinking what items will go with me to Alaska!  I guess I am in planning mode…have more time to plan this one than I did for my first cruise back in January…that one was a spur of the moment trip planned by Nathan and family. I guess I will see if more or less time to plan is better!  Now to get passport in hand…I’ll let you know when that significant event occurs! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

A Little Warmer Day

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Today was an example of the promise of Spring…yesterday very cold…the temperatures today started moderating and by the time that I took the garbage to the road, I didn't wear a jacket…yesterday, there wasn't a time to even think about going outside without a jacket.  We are in the see-saw time of year…back and forth…up and down!  I keep reminding myself when it is cold, that it won't be long till I am thinking about how hot it is!  

The first picture tonight is just a scene that includes a street sign…we take the street signs so when looking back at photos we know (sort of) where we went that barn trip.  Marie and I have gone on a couple trips that after the trip we couldn't figure out how to get back to a place that we wanted to take some more photos…so we now try to include some street signs.  The second photo is also in the first photo…if you look closely you can see these donkeys on the other side of the road resting.  

Today has been a fairly busy day.  I started doing wash this morning.  And, am about to get out the last load from the dryer and get them put away after I blog.  Donna and I did work in the library this afternoon…checking books in, shelving them and doing some other maintenance jobs, like straightening shelves and reshelving books that had gotten taken from the shelves and then not put back in the right place.  The library looked all neat and straight when we left.

I called Cheryl this afternoon to thank her for a birthday present that had arrived…a t-shirt for the cruise! A little while ago, I got a text from her thanking me for her birthday present that had arrived at her house this afternoon after we talked.  Our birthdays are 8 days apart…our ages are 7 years apart!  Besides birthday gifts, we talked about possible times for her to come here for a visit. Planning, planning, planning! 

To be continuedM Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Cold February Day

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What a brrrrrrrry day. I'm not sure if it ever got out of the upper 20s today, and, if it did get into the 30s, it didn't get very far into them!  It was also breezy so that made it feel much colder than it was.  I did brave the cold, as I got a haircut today.  Then I ran a couple of errands…made a stop at the Credit Union…I needed check registers for my checkbook.  The next stop was at the public library where I needed to return a book and renew my library card.  They check to make sure that all your information is current once a year.  So I’m good to check out books for another year…both real and virtual books!  Before I took off for a haircut and to run errands this morning, I had to made a couple of appointments which I accomplished.  So I am happy to say that I marked everything off my to-do list today.  I have returned from Monday night prayer meeting and am settling in for the evening…hoping to stitch some more.  I completed another Christmas ornament yesterday and got started on another one…Hope to stitch some more on it this evening…no Olympics…so maybe I will watch a sewing or cooking show…or watch a needlework YouTube (known in the stitching world as "FlossTube").  I'll end with a photo of the promises of Spring that we see all over town and in the country side.

 

Sunday Favorite

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Fun Saturday

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So, I bit the bullet and paid for the blog app…so here I go using it for photo and the blog for the first time. I do like typing on this…the old way was iffy at best.  This is like typing with Word on my laptop or Pages on my iPad. So much easier. I'm sure it will be worth the small pittance that I had to pay.

Today was very pretty after the rain stopped and the clouds cleared out.  It is getting cooler…dropping down into the upper 20s overnight. So once again we will be shivering!  We have been spoiled by the pretty weather.  But what we have had is a promise of what is to come! We are looking forward to Spring.  My miniature jonquils and crocus are also starting to bloom giving their promises of what is to come. It's so pretty to see the yellow and purple blooms peeking up through the ground.

Melany and Wade came today and raked the large garden that parallels the driveway…clearing the way for the irises to come up.  I fixed our lunch while they worked.  We ate lunch and then planned some excursions for our cruise. I think we are pretty much set except…my passport being in my hand…a rather important detail!  The good news on that is that the government has cashed that check so I know the application has been received…learned that two days ago.  Then today I received an email from the government saying what day the application was received and that it will be in my hands from 4-6 weeks from that date.  So sounds like I will have it in hand in plenty of time.  

I have gotten the kitchen cleaned up from the mess I made making lunch so now I am ready to sit down and relax, watch the Olympics, and paint my nails!  

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

New Fodder!

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We found barns!  Perfect timing as I was running out of photos from my Bahamas cruise. 😁 It was a beautiful day for a barn trip.  We wanted to go out before all the leaves come back on the trees.  We really didn't go far…it was pretty much "just down the road from my neighborhood." Found a variety of barns and quite a few animals.  I spent time this afternoon putting the photos that I took today onto my iPad…one of the reasons that I removed a lot of photos last night.  I am very pleased with the ones that I have looked at so far.  I will be sharing them with over the next weeks.  Took quite a few pictures!

Before Marie and Carolyn picked me up, I made a quick trip to Kroger…mainly to get a couple of things for the meal I have planned for Melany and Wade tomorrow.  I managed to get what I needed and got them home and put away before I headed off for a couple of hours. When I got home, I made a new recipe for something that I had never made before…chutney, mango chutney…tastes pretty good.  It was suggested that mango chutney be served on the side with the Tahine-style chicken that I'm making for our lunch.  This is a recipe that I made several weeks ago and liked it and think that Melany and Wade will too.  This is a Mediterranean recipe…something totally different than what I usually make.

I have two things that I forgot to mention yesterday.  I was pleased to see the government check clear my account…that means that my paperwork for my passport got to the right place…now to wait for the passport and my original birth certificate to get to me!  

The other exciting thing is that Joy didn't forget how to juggle due to her concussion.  She hadn't been interested in trying up until yesterday and she and Nathan passed clubs together and she even did some extra tricks.  Definitely a good sign.  I think that was something that her daddy was really pleased that she could still do!  Joy is so much better…pretty much back to doing most things she did before.  But she still isn't over it completely.  She still has headaches…but is so much better…she is enjoying life once again!  

Note I can now write the blog in paragraphs…a much easier screen to type in…but still have to post the blog and then open it in my phone and add the photo.  I have come to the reality that that is the way I will have to do it until I break down and pay to upgrade the blog app.  I will…one of these days…but until then, if you see that the blog is published and there is no photo that I just haven't gotten a photo transferred over to my phone…like tonight…I found the one I plan to use…BUT…forgot that I needed to transfer it to my phone…so it will take a little longer to get the photo added.  

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

I just subscribed to the Blogger App…hopefully no more hassles!

Here's a bonus photo!

Thursday Doings

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Well, all my doings today have been at home. Doing lots of this and very little of that!  I used tonight's photo as my profile picture on Facebook.  Cheryl doesn't do Facebook so I texted the photo to her.  She said it needed to be a photo for the blog…so I am minding my sister and here it is!  I'm guessing that I was in 7th or 8th grade when this was taken.  My dad took it…maybe I was taking one of him?!? We were on vacation in the White Mountains in AZ staying with friends at their cabin in Pinetop.  I'm sitting in front of their big fireplace.  We had so much fun when we went on vacation here…good memories!  

Melany and Wade are coming on Saturday so today I got my grocery list ready to go get the few things that I need for our lunch.  I even got the ingredients out…all ready for me to put the recipe together Saturday before lunch.  I plan to get up early in the morning and head out to Kroger.  I need to do it early as I have plans with friends mid morning.

I needed to clean up the photos on my iPad…just too many on it and it was starting to be a problem when I try to download photos from my camera after taking a bunch…like on the cruise.  So I backed them up on a thumb drive and on Amazon photos and then ruthlessly deleted them from my iPad.  I did save some of my favorites.  I formatted the memory cards on my cameras…so cameras for the moment are totally empty of photos.  I think that will change tomorrow!  

After I worked with my photos, I turned back to looking at excursions for the cruise.  We plan to make choices for excursions on Saturday.  So I have been cruising in my mind for a while this afternoon.

Now I am watching Olympics and going to finish up with my cameras and then may stitch a while.  I did finish another Christmas ornament last night.  

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Serendipitous Day!

​Today started out with a task that I wasn't all that thrilled about having to do.  I had to go to the Credit Union to get my card reactivated.  Last night I noticed that I had a charge that I hadn’t made on my card.  It was a very small amount, but I know that that is how people get scammed…just small amounts that aren’t noticed.  I made a call and had a stop put on my card.  So this morning I needed to go and get a new card issued.  It was a fairly quick fix…except their machine that prints the cards was broken.  I was just going to wait till it was fixed…but I had two purchases that were going to be affected by shutting down my card.  So I drove over to the Credit Union branch in Manchester.  

The first serendipity happened just before I was leaving the Credit Union.  I spotted a friend who I hadn't seen in a long time,  So we got to talk for a few minutes and catch up a bit.  Upon getting back into Tullahoma from my Manchester trip, I headed to my pharmacy to pick up a couple of prescriptions.  They have gift items at the pharmacy so before I left I decided to check out what they had that was new since the last time I was there.  I made a turn around a shelf and there standing in front of me was another longtime friend who I hadn’t seen in a long, long time.  we enjoyed catching up with each other, too.  Those unexpected visits just made my day!  It made it sort of sparkling like the water in tonight's photo! 

I’ve just gotten home from Bible study and, once again, it is time to blog and then settle in for the evening…watching Olympics and stitching. I have another ornament about half-way finished…maybe I will finish it this evening. To be continued!  Be safe!  Be well! Be cautious!

Quiet Day At Home

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Donna and I decided to declare Presidents' Day a day late and take the day off from the library.  I stayed fairly busy. I did get the Hummels and antique books back on the little bookcase in the living room.  Elijah carried the bookcase downstairs for me when they took care of getting the Christmas tree upstairs.  I just hadn't found the time and energy to get the books carried back downstairs.  That was what I tackled this morning.  Then the rest of the day I just did a little of this and a little of that.  I did finish stitching another Christmas ornament…so that is three stitched and two others underway.  I read some today, too.  And, started listening to a new book today.  I did have more energy today than yesterday…but definitely didn’t overdo today!!  I’ve done a little more planning for Alaska.  I mainly accomplished easy tasks today!  I’m going to do some more stitching this evening…might finish another ornament.  To be continued! be safe! Be well! Be cautious!