Wednesday Wanderings

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I don't think that I have posted the above photo before.  I took it at the Butterfly Garden in Victoria, Canada…rows of butterfly chrysalises. 

Today I didn't wander too far until it was time to go to Bible study this evening.  I’m later than usual getting back as a couple of friends and I visited while their husbands were at choir practice.

Nathan stopped by today to return the items they had borrowed from me to take on their trip.  Sounds like they had a really nice trip.  I talked to Kathy for a few minutes after Bible study tonight and sounds like she enjoyed it, too.  

My day has sort of been devoted to Bible study…this morning I studied for the Sunday School lesson for this week and then this evening had Bible study at church.  I got a pretty good start on the Sunday school lesson and then this evening enjoyed being just a student in the Bible study! 

I took time this afternoon to do some reading on my book for the Cottey Bookclub and also stitched more on a Christmas ornament,  I’m hoping to get the ornament finished this evening…then on to another!  

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

Tuesday Return

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Nathan and Kathy travelled through the night and this morning to get back on TN soil a little after noon.  I imagine it will be a bit hard for them to return to reality and imagine that they are a bit jet lagged.  Long day yesterday, two long flights and a three hour time difference, plus an active week cruising/touring around Alaska had adrenaline flowing…and I can vouch for the fact that when you get home that adrenaline stops flowing and you pretty much stop, too.

I did take Elijah to the dentist this morning.  But they only xrayed him and told him to come back tomorrow to have the work done…so not much need of having an adult with him for that appointment.  But always glad for a reason to get to visit with a grandchild!  He wqs heading back home to his school work.  He is a senior this year.  He is dual enrolled at Motlow so will be taking a college math class ad an English class.  He hopes to be able to get all his requirements to graduate done this semester.  He said that then he will be able to concentrate on baseball and his work.  Always busy!

At the Bookclub meeting this past Saturday, we added a couple of books to our books to read over the next few months.  I already had one of them checked out so I have been reading that so I will get it done before it will be taken back into library cyberspace.  I didn't think that I was going to like the book, but it it turns out that I am enjoying it.  So I have spent more time reading than stitching.  I am also teaching my Sunday School class for the next two Sundays so I have been working on that, too.  

It was slightly cooler today…the heat didn't take my breath away as much as it had over the last week. I think that maybe the humidity was a little lower today…that can make a difference.  Tonight's overnight low is supposed to be mid 60s…so that helps at least with the start of the day.  I knowthat summer has left us yet…but perhaps little hints that Fall is on its way?

I need to get back to ornament stitching.  I’m almost finished with another one.  I took a break from stitching for both reading and preparation for some upcoming ornaments.  I have pulled the floss for three more and chose fabric…that way I will be ready for some new starts once the current ornament is finished.  I also got my stitching straightened up…it was strewn all over the place.  I got the card table cleared off and now it only has a stack of finished ornaments on one corner of it.  I also put away floss from other projects that I have finished stitching and the floss that Joy brought back that she had borrowed for a cross project that she did.  Stitching happening all over the place…in one form or another! 

The kitchen got a little attention today, too. I had casserole dishes that were clean that are stored on upper shelves.  I wait until there are several to put away so I don't have to make too many trips up and down on the stool!  Safety reason over laziness…at least I tell myself that!  

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

Heat Wave Supposedly Ended 36 Minutes Ago!

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I got home from prayer meeting a little before 7pm…and the temps had started coming down…of course, they would come down at that hour anyway…so not sure yet if it is cooler or not.  But when I went to prayer meeting around 5:30pm it was still in the mid 90s.  I saw it get as high as 97° on my car thermometer when I was out getting my hair cut and then running an errand….a silly errand, I will tell you about in a moment.  When I left church, it was 90° and by the time I got home it was in the upper 80s and now it is 84°…maybe temps are coming down.  Tomorrow the high is "only" supposed to be 88°.  My Alexa upstairs isn't the new and improved so she can’t tell me heat index…so I don't know the feels-like temperature.  Anyway, we supposedly have had a "cold" front come through or one is supposed to come through.  We will see if tomorrow feels a little better outside than it did today.  It was a HOT day.  

My one errand of the day sort of had me rolling my eyes.  I decided last night to order some mouthwash that I use that sometimes Walmart has and sometimes doesn't…so decided to try Amazon…exact same price as Walmart…so why not.  It was to be delivered today before I had planned to be out and about…so that would save me a stop at Walmart.  Well, around 10am I got notified by Alexa that my package had been delivered…so I headed to the front door to go get it.  The mailman had brought it to the front porch and left it in one of the rocking chairs.  So far perfect until, I glanced a second time after I opened the door…the box was ripped open and I could see the bottle sitting inside the open box…so I thought, "at least the bottle didn't fall out!  Then I picked up the box and found that it was soaking wet…reason that it was opened the way it was.  And, the box was very light…a full bottle of mouthwash should NOT be light!  I then pulled the bottle out of the box and it was light as a feather and not a drop left in it. 

I went inside and got my iPad so I could report my delivery failure to Amazon.  I decided that I didn't want to risk the same thing happening again so decided that I would just ask for a refund.  The only way I could get a refund was to return the defective product.  So after my haircut, I went to the UPS store and returned an empty bottle.  In the past I have been told to keep products that were fine just not what I had ordered…but this time the box and empty bottle had to be returned.  I did as I was told and my refund has already been given to me…so all's well that ends well…I guess!  Just seems like an unnecessary trip! But Amazon got what they asked for! And, I had an outing that I hadn't planned on and still don't have my mouthwash as I just couldn't face Walmart at that hour of the day!

Nathan and Kathy are on the last leg of their journey…sort of…they have gotten to Anchorage…and, fly out midnight Anchorage time (3am TN time).  They are seeing a few sights in Anchorage before heading to the airport  3 hours before their flight. The Anchorage flight takes them to LasVegas.  Then a flight from Vegas will get them back to Nashville and they will hopefully show up in Tullahoma sometime after lunch tomorrow.  Makes me tired to think about all that traveling.  Their ship docked in Whittier, Alaska early this morning.  Then they had to shuttle to Anchorage about 60 miles away.  Their shuttle had to travel through a one-way tunnel that is about 2.5 miles long.  This one way tunnel is also a train tunnel…they had to wait on a train and maybe other cars before they could have their turn.  I had heard about this tunnel and know that they line you up according types of vehicles, I think and the lines take turns going through…and of course you have to wait for cars, trains, etc. coming the other direction.  It took a while before they got their turn.  But in the wait they got to see a glacier and at some point on this shuttle trip, they saw beluga whales.  So sounds like an interesting trip!

I get to be a parent substitute for Elijah tomorrow.  He has a dentist appointment and has to have an adult accompany him…guess I qualify?!?

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

Sunday Alaska Favorite Photo

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Another Hot One!

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This looked like the cool photo for today!  I felt like we needed another snowy photo to counteract the heat of today!  This was taken by either Melany or Wade with me in the shadows attempting to capture the snowy landscape from the train.  

I had my Zoom Cottey College Alum Bookclub today.  We had a pretty good group plus the author of the book and his wife.  We had a lively discussion and enjoyed spending the time together sharing and picking each other’s brains!  I always look forward to this Saturday in the month.

I haven't stitched much today…instead tried to do a little organizing of my stitching projects.  They had gotten a bit spread out here in the family room.  I still have more to do, but the chaos has been settled just a little.  

I’m not sure how much stitching I will get done this evening as I am pretty sleepy…may end up dozing with needle in hand.  While choosing tonight's photo, I kept seemingly doze and my finger would land on the photos I was choosing from and multiples would be chosen…then I would have to shut down the photos and start trying to chose…again.  That happened several times before I finally got to the one I had decided I wanted to use tonight.  Obviously I didn't take tonight’s photo since I’m in it…guess it is Melany's! I haven't heard from the Alaska travelers today.  They had a busy day planned.  They were docked at Icy Strait Point/ Hoonah.  They were planning to learn how to cook salmon this morning and then this afternoon were going whale watching. I hope the excursions were good ones for them!

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

Recognized in Skagway

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Imagine being more than 2000 miles away from home and hear your name called out from a truck that is passing by!  Nathan and Kathy were walking down the Main Street in Skagway, Alaska this morning and Nathan was recognized and someone called out, "Hey, Nathan!" I mentioned that Melany, Wade and I had tried to see one of the shipowners in Skagway…a young man from Tullahoma…someone who Melany and Nathan had both babysat for years ago.  He hadn't gotten into his shop when we were there.  But this morning, Nathan and Kathy's timing was perfect…he was driving by on his way to work.  He told them he would park around back and open the shop for them.  I’m sure they had a good visit!  Barrett is the proprietor of Bearhead Studio in Skagway.  He is a renowned nature photographer…been published in National Geographic…I believe that he has also done one of their covers.  

Here's a photo Melany took inside his studio so you can sort of see some of his wonderful photos. I would have loved to pick his brain about photo techniques!  If I were younger, I would love to go on some of his group photography trips off into the Alaskan and Canadian wild…but for that I will admit to being too old and decrepit! But I can still wish and enjoy his photos!  

Today has been another hot day here in TN.  It was 91 when I went to and from the grocery store with a heat index close to 100.  The heat zapped my energy for some time after I got home.  I’m glad that I didn’t  have to stay outside for very long and that it only took two trips to get my groceries into the house.  A good day to stay in and stitch and read.  I have done a little of both of those and a little picking up around the house and emptying the dishwasher!  I’ve done more sitting than anything else!  I did manage to fit a nap into all that sitting!  It has definitely been a lazy day of summer!

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

Heat Advisory Still in Effect

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Very important to share another Alaska photo to remind us that it can be cold.  This day when we were in Glacier Bay National Park was very cold.  The temperature dropped noticeably when we entered the icy waters.  I know that the temperatures in Alaska are high right now.  Nathan was wishing yesterday that he had taken more short sleeved shirts.  They are in Juneau, AK today.  We did not go to Juneau so I can't post one of my photos.  Nathan was looking forward to visiting the only United States capital city that you can't drive into.  You have to fly or take a boat to get to Juneau.

This hasn't been a day of being too active…even in the house.  I have stayed in rooms that have fans blowing to make it seem cooler!  I napped in my upstairs recliner with the ceiling fan going.  Right now I am in my downstairs with a little oscillating fan blowing.  

I did venture out one time today.  I headed to the church to work in the library for a little while.  I needed to pick up the book that we will be discussing on Saturday with the Cottey Bookclub.  This time it is sort of my job to lead it since I suggested the book.  But I am taking an easy out…not having to worry about what we will say as the author and his wife will be joining us so I’m giving them the lead!  We've just been sent out the link to the Zoom meeting…I have received it, as have the authors…so we should be good to go Saturday morning.  Also the Alum Association posted another "advertisement" for it that showed up in Facebook this afternoon. Now to just sit back and let Saturday Zoom time get here.

The other reason that I went to the library was to do a little maintenance.  Both Donna and I have been out of pocket the last couple of Tuesdays so there were a few books to check in and out and shelve.  So I did that while picking up the trilogy of books.  We discussed the first in the trilogy last year and this time will be discussing the 2nd…perhaps next year the concluding book?  The three books are Paperboy, Copyboy, and Manboy by Vince Vawter.  Paperboy was an honor book in the Newberry Awards some years back.  They are very good books about how stuttering affects a child, really throughout his life…but there are MANY other themes and topics addressed…it is semi biographical…growing up in Memphis, TN in the 50s and 60s. Good reads for any age.

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

Happy 26th Anniversary, Nathan and Kathy

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Several who read the blog were there for Nathan and Kathy's wedding in Statesboro, GA, 26 years ago.  Many moons and suns have risen since that momentous day!  

Here they are today:

Can you tell they are on a special trip? Can you tell where they are? Next photo is a hint…I took the next photo on June 3, when I was standing almost the same spot…at least near…the same shoreline at least.

They are off on a special trip for their anniversary…Alaska!  Today was their first port of call in Ketchikan, Alaska.  They had a great time exploring.  They even FaceTimed me when they were watching a stream with lots of salmon in it and there was a bear attempting to catch one.  Later in the day they sent me a video of a bear actually catching one.  This trip is doubly special to them, as they had an Alaska cruise planned last year for their 25th anniversary, but due to Joy getting a bad concussion they had to cancel it.  So the fact that they can go this year is doubly good since they were able to plan the trip since Joy is well enough for them to leave her in charge of kitchen duties while they are gone.  Sounds like they are having a great time…no rain today and it is quite warm…Nathan was bemoaning the fact that he didn't bring very many short sleeved t-shirts…never know in Alaska what the weather will be.  They will continue in a northerly direction…perhaps it will get cooler for them.  Another reason that Nathan was really looking forward to this trip is that it is a return trip for him to Alaska. 

His sophomore year in college he spent the summer in Alaska as a BSU (Baptist Student Union) missionary.  BSU is now known as BCM (Baptist Collegiate Ministries).  He is the director of this ministry at Motlow State Community College. So it has been many years since he went and at that time he spent time more in the interior of Alaska.  So their present trip is taking them to a different area of Alaska…mainly the panhandle of Alaska.  Their trip is also different than Melany, Wade's and mine as they are what is known as a one-way (ours was a loop…started and ended in Seattle).  Nathan and Kathy started from Vancouver, Canada and will end in Whittier, Alaska. And, they will fly home from Anchorage, Alaska. They have some of the same ports of calls that we had, but also have some different ones. They are traveling on the same cruise line as we did, but a different ship.  So sort of the same as my cruise…but different!!!

My day has gone well to this point.  I mainly stitched today and ended up finishing another ornament.  So the count is rising of finished ornaments! I have been to Bible study this evening.  We are back on a schedule of things at the church since school has started back up.  

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

Whew!!

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I'm going for ice and snow in Alaska for tonight's photo to make me think cool, at least…and remember how chilly and at times cold it was back in the first week of June…in Alaska.  We are under a hear advisory until Friday evening.  I waited till this evening to go out to take my garbage can to the road…but it was still in the low 90s feeling like upper 90s.  All I can say is, "Too hot!" 

This heat makes for lazy days.  I read more in the book I am reading.  I did get the Christmas ornament finished that I made my goal to have finished by the time I blogged tonight.  I stitched for quite a while off and on today and didn’t actually put the last stitch in until around 6pm.  

I did manage to get my last load of wash done today and it is "mostly" put away.  It will take at least one more trip upstairs to get it all put away.  But at the moment my trip outside has zapped my energy from another trip upstairs for at least a little while. I did work a little on getting organized to do some sewing.  But the only sewing I did was to serge the edges of some cross stitch fabric so I can use it for an ornament. My count for ornaments is 13 finished stitching…I think that puts me over the half-way point.  One of the things that I need to do soon is make a list of people I am giving ornaments to and put next to the name which ornament…and see where that gets me.  I feel like I should have more than 13 made for all the time that I have been stitching them this year.  It just shows me how long it takes even for what I thought were more simple than I have stitched in the past. Onward and upward! 😁

I don't have any more ornaments started so that means a decision has to be made as to what to stitch next.  Maybe I will set stitching aside for a while this evening and either stitch on something else that is started or read or…

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

Monday…A Hot One!

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Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska

Today has almost come and gone.  I just got home from prayer meeting a little while ago.  I have mainly worked on stitching a cross stitch ornament…I feel almost like a broken record…it seems like I say that all the time…but with the days and months flashing by in front of our eyes, I had better spend more time on them.  I have gotten quite a few stitched…but I am still a ways away from my goal of 24 or 25.  I am almost finished with the one that I have been working on today.  I am hoping to finish stitching it this evening.  BUT…I am pretty tired tonight.  I woke up too early and haven't taken a nap so my eyes may shut before I can get all the way finished with it.  I guess I will say that my goal is to have it finished before I blog tomorrow night!  

I have a serendipitous story to share!  I have had a pair of dress maker shears for some years that are helpful for old/arthritic hands.  The handle holes are attached together with a stiff vinyl band that assists my hand when cutting…I put pressure to make them close, but as soon as I let up on the pressure they open…thus my hand doesn't have to do the work of opening the scissors…and when cutting out patterns to make garments removing that one motion from the job of cutting makes a BIG difference to hurting hands.  Well, the vinyl band broke some time back and I had been using them as regular scissors since…my hand doing all the work of opening and closing the scissors while I cut out pattern pieces.  I had been trying to see if I could buy the piece that broke, but had found no where to do that.  Plus I had been told that the company had gone out of business.  So I didn't try super hard once I learned that.  Well, the other day when I was looking at something about sewing on my iPad, I got an advertisement showing several different pairs of this brand of scissors.  So I clicked and started searching through their pages of scissors.  And, I found my pair or what looked similar to my pair.  And, I decided that I would purchase them, as they weren’t very expensive and shipping was free.  Well, they came in the mail today…but much to my surprise they were not ones like my scissors or the ones that I thought I had ordered.  They are a different style…BUT…they do have the vinyl piece that attaches to the handles to make them ergonomic.  So now I have a new pair of another style scissors that open on their own when I let up on cutting pressure…AND…I can use the old scissors with the same vinyl piece…so now I have two different style scissors that will help me when I am sewing.  I did make myself a promise that if I bought those scissors that I WOULD get back to my sewing.  So more things to do to fill up my time!

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

Sunday Favorite Alaskan Photo

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A Too Busy Day?

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I think I’ve done too much today.  I did a lot of cooking and I think that today's I did too much. At the moment I’m not feeling the best.  I have about decided that today's cook may be too acid for the liking of my digestive system…this happened to me last week, too.  And, I think I may be starting to put two and two together and see that perhaps Italian made with lots of tomatoes may be something that I should avoid. I had a small amount of today's cook for a late lunch…now wishing that I hadn't put the effort into making it and wish that I had  skipped it for lunch!  Sipping ginger ale gingerly at the moment.  I wore myself out with today's cooking tasks so being extra tired doesn't help either.  I will say that I did enjoy the time I was cooking and I will be sad if I have to take Italian tomato sauces out of my cooking repertoire!  

I have done a little reading and have been trying to decide what ornament to stitch next.  Think, though, st the moment, I am going to just take it easy and sit back and feel better!  I think the ginger ale is helping.

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

Friday Doings

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Icy Strait Point (Hoonah), Alaska

You might think I did some cleaning today, when you look at tonight's photo…but my broom is hanging in my laundry room just like these are hanging on the wall! No cleaning today…no cooking…did enough the last few days!  Today was a resting day…enjoying my book and plan to stitch this evening. I did finish the Christmas ornament that I mentioned last night.  So one more joined my stack of finished ornaments for Christmas gifts. 

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

International Cuisine and Grand Central Station!

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The Butchart Gardens, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

I didn't realize how international I have been lately with my cooking.  A few days ago I made Tamale Pie (Mexican). I have plans to make Marinara sauce (Italian) for what is called Inside-Out Ravioli (Italian). Today I roasted a pork loin roast (American) and made gravy that I have frozen for in-the-future enchiladas (Mexican).  When I roast a pork roast, I often cut off about a pound of the boneless roast to cut into cubes to use for Sweet and Sour Pork (Chinese).  I decided to go on and make the Sweet and Sour Pork since I had all the ingredients.  I had that for supper and plan to freeze some of the leftovers for future meals.  I had done enough cooking for one day…reason that the marinara sauce is in the plans for another day.  I "just about" have the kitchen cleaned up.  

I got pulled away from the kitchen when Joy stopped by to have me serge the seams on a skirt that she is making.  She is trying to get the projects, that she started at the beginning of summer break, finished before her next college term begins in three weeks.  Then not long after she left I had two more visitors…two folk needing to borrow some things I had offered to loan them for an upcoming Alaskan cruise. Earlier in the day Jo stopped by with some peaches and tomatoes…yum!  She caught me in my PJs as I had been so busy in the kitchen today that I hadn't gone upstairs to change.  I did start to go up one time and decided that since I had made it so long into the day that I would just stay comfy.  I did get changed before the others came!  

For breaks from my cooking today, I did some reading and boy did I get a surprise in one turn of events in the book that I mentioned last night…and this twist in the plot really tied a couple of the characters in with one of the other groups in the book.  I also did some stitching early in the morning.  I started a new Christmas ornament last night after I blogged.  I think that I will be able to finish it this evening before I go to sleep…well, I won't promise that my eyes don't close for a bit before I actually finish it…but before I actually go to sleep for the night, I should have it finished.

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

Wednesday

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Mt. Rainer as we were leaving Seattle heading for Alaska.  One of those ideal days when it wasn’t shrouded in clouds!

Today was a planned stay-at-home day.  I needed to be here as it was my quarterly visit from the pest control company.  I didn't know when he would be here.  He did text me about a half hour before he got here.  He came around 12:30pm.  So that job done for another four months. I managed to get a few household chores done as well as some more reading done.  I finished another book and got back to another one I had started already.  Having these books already started get me underway easily…but today's I did go back and start again…I had only red one chapter and when I started reading he second chapter I couldn't get back into it.  Well, the reason was that the second chapter was dealing with a totally different group of characters.  I did remember reading the first chapter when I went back.  The first three chapters dealt with three different families…establishing the story line…which I know will all blend together by the time I get very much farther in it.  I am already starting to see the interweaving of the different sets of characters.

I think that I am read out today and will stitch this evening.  I need to get back to Christmas ornaments.  Christmas will be here before we know it!

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

Tuesday

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A Whale of a Tail and a Spout! (I think this fella was getting together with two of his friends to do some bubble-net fishing.  I have posted my photo of bubble-net fishing before but I will add it in here for those who might have missed it.  I guess the bubble-net fishing is my favorite photo from my Alaska cruise…something I really wanted to capture, but never dreamed that the whales would cooperate!

Today has been a stay-at-home day.  I have done some things around the house…cleaning the kitchen, bathrooms, a little vacuuming, a little picking up, washed, dried and put away a load of towels…things like that.  

I did finish the book that I was almost finished with last night.  But I didn’t finish it last night.  I fell asleep with it in my hand.  So I finished it this morning after I woke up rather early.  In between cleaning jobs I rested and got going on reading another book that I was already underway with.  I have made headway on it…but it is not as intriguing as the one I finished this morning.  The book I’m reading now is just one of those that I am far enough along in it, that I don't want to give up on it!  It will at least add another book to my list of books read this year.  I have not read this year like I usually do…my goal is to average a book a week, in other words, have read 52 by the end of the year.  I’m about ten behind…not sure if I can make up that much of a deficit!  And, it is fine if I don't!  There are some years that I have read more than 100 and others way less.  It just depends on where my interests are in any given year…needlework, sewing, cooking, photography, and, this year traveling, cut into my reading time.

Donna and I didn't work in the library today as Donna was out of pocket.  We said last week that we would work then and take this week off.  And, even though we didn't work in the library, I remembered it was Tuesday and took the garbage out to the road.  And, while I was out, I made a trip out to the compost pile with my compost bucket.  Mundane chores!

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

Happy Birthday, Esther!

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Yesterday Esther celebrated her 19th birthday with family, but today is her actual birthday. I don't have any photos from yesterday, as I wasn't feeling well and didn't end up going to her party.  The photo above shows her celebrating her 2nd birthday.  She developed her love of animals at an early age that has stayed with her over the years.  

Above is one Esther's photos on her wedding day this past December. The photographer went to Nathan's and Kathy's farm to take photos of Esther and Patrick there.  She had planned to ride on the horse in her wedding dress…but the long white dress rather spooked her horse! Still loves her animals!  She told me today that she is getting a new horse.  She is just finishing up her summer classes getting her closer to a Vet Tech degree…loving school like she never loved it before…that's what happens when you find something you love to study towards a career!  Happy 19th Esther! 

I just got home from prayer meeting.  Today has been a pretty normal day for a Monday.  I did a little around the house and did some cooking that I never got around to doing over the weekend. I stitched a little, but have mainly read today…nearing the end of a book that has me still guessing as to the outcome.  Back to my book!

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

Definitely a Sunday Favorite: Joseph was Baptized Today

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Good Day to Read & Stitch

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Today has been overcast and rained off and on…good day to stay in and read and stitch.  I have done a lot of reclining and taking it easy.  The one time that I ventured outside to get the mail, I was met by a steam bath…I do think that the "dog days" of summer have arrived.  My front door and porch rail painter just texted me and said that the weather isn't very promising for a dry day for a while.  So we are going on God's timing and eventually the job will get done when we have several dry days in a row predicted.  I’m fine with waiting…the door is doing its job without paint for the time being.  I have made pretty good headway in two books.  I was trying to finish one before it got swept back into cyberspace in a couple of days…so was reading away on it.  But I got the opportunity to renew it, which I did so now that book has the longest time remaining on it so I moved to another one and made good headway on it, too.  I got to a point that the reading was putting me to sleep.  So I set my books aside and picked up my stitching…after I got up and walked around the house for a bit!  I fairly quickly finished the Christmas ornament that I have been working on for a while.  Then I decided which ornament I would stitch next and pulled the colors of floss needed and got started stitching on a new ornament…onward and upward…still a lot to stitch before it is time to make them into ornaments and gift them.  I haven't actually counted the number I need this year…but I don't think I’m even half-way yet.  But I do think that the hardest ones are behind me.  Most of those still to stitch aren't too complicated…unless I change my mind!! And, would I do that?!? 

Tomorrow is a big day for our family.  Joseph is being baptized and Esther is celebrating her birthday.  We will be gathering at Nathan and Kathy's after church to celebrate as a family.

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

Bidding Farewell to July

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Where has the month gone?  Time continues to fly by.  It seems that all I talk to feel the same way.  Does it seem possible that seven months of 2026 will be behind us tomorrow.  And, summer, according to the school schedules around here, is over, too.  As schools in Tullahoma started back today.  Of course, we know that summer isn't over yet…perhaps the hottest month is ahead of us.  And, according to the calendar and the solstices we have more summer ahead of us. Just the school systems don’t realize it!

I got my grocery list together and headed off to Kroger late morning.  Lots in Tullahoma and the surrounding areas also had the same idea…pretty busy.  But once again, when it was time for me to check out, I had a cashier ready for me before I had all my groceries on the conveyer belt.  By the time I had my shopper code typed in she was ready for me to pay. She is VERY efficient…of course, as she said today, she has done this job for MANY years.  

My shopping, putting away groceries, and fixing myself two meals have used up most of my energy today.  I have felt rather lazy for most of the day.  I had planned to do a lot more stitching than I ended up getting done to his point of the day.  But I am making slow-but-sure headway on the Christmas ornament that I am currently working on.  I think that I may be able to have this ornament done by blogging time tomorrow night.  This afternoon drowsiness overtook me.  I’m hoping to be able to keep my eyes open a little longer this evening and get some more stitches put in.  I need to get on with these ornaments, as I said a the start…the year is flying by and even though I started early working on ornaments, but there are still many to go…I’m not even sure if I have half of them stitched at this point.  So must keep on stitching and doing less dozing!!

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

I Voted

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Today I managed to run errands.  First I voted, then I made a stop at the Credit Union, and then on to buy gas.  That was my run around for the day.  I have stitched…did get all the Xs finished on the cross stitched Christmas ornament…finally…but so far haven't started the back stitching.  But at least I’m definitely closer to another ornament being finished.  I’ve talked to Cheryl, Connie, and Melany.  Melany is getting so close to school starting…again.  She plans to go to her school in the morning and start getting her room ready…her thoughts as she goes about this yearly routine, will be that after this year, she will only have only two more years of starting school.  She is to the point of counting years till she retires.  How is it possible that a child of mine is getting close to retirement?!?

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

Last Wednesday in July

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Butchart Gardens, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

I stayed at home and puttered around the house today and read and stitched.  I did spend some time in the sewing room…trying to get motivated to do some garment sewing.  I did hunt through buttons that might work on the top that I want to make.  I really do want to sew…at least in my mind…but just can't quite get my sewing mojo back.  I figured if I sat in the sewing room and stared at the beautiful piece of fabric that I will get inspired to get back to sewing.  While in there, I put away some fabric that I had out for a project and decided to wait on that project for another time.  So put it back in my sewing closet to wait till I pick it up again.  At least it is out of the way, but still easy to get to…and in sight.  You probably know what happens when something is out of sight…out of mind, too!  I even ironed a pair of my crop pants…they are cotton and never come out of the dryer without needing at a little pressing.  So a little was accomplished while I was seeking inspiration in my sewing room today.  

My main push for the moment is to finish stitching another Christmas ornament.  The one that I am working on is a little more time consuming than some and has taken more time than I thought it would.  I am finally seeing a finish in the near future…at least I hope that I am at that place with it. The cross stitching is almost done…then there is a LOT of back stitching to do…but back stitching goes much faster than the cross stitching…I hope so, anyway!

I have settled into my chair for the evening.  I did do some reading before I picked up my stitching again.  About an hour ago I got back to cross stitching. Onward with the stitching.  I "might" be able to finish the Xs tonight and be ready to backstitch tomorrow.  But I usually underestimate the length of time left in a piece…the stitching always takes longer than I think it will.  This is not an instant gratification hobby!  

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

A Really Nice Stitching Day

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I thought that this Alaska cruise photo was appropriate to share again today.  This was taken one of the days that Melany and I headed off to the observation deck and found a place to look out the window at the ocean while we sat and stitched.  And, today, Melany joined me here at the house to stitch and visit…with no ocean view! We had a very nice visit and got some stitching done to boot.  I stitched both on a Christmas ornament and a sampler.  Melany worked on one of her new needlework projects that we made plans for when she was here last week.  This was one of Melany's last hurrahs before she heads back to school next week.  She got here midmorning and we stitched until lunch time.  We took a break from stitching while we ate lunch and then we went back to stitching.  Time flew by…guess we were having fun…right..due to time flying when one has fun!?!  She is back home safely and it is now even closer to her return to school. I’m planning to do more stitching this evening. Pretty much a day devoted totally to stitching!  My kind of day! Oh, and the frog didn't visit for too long…I think we both had to take a few stitches out…but not too many!

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

Monday Musings

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The Butchart Gardens, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Today has been pretty much a regular Monday…doing a little of this and a little of that around the house.  I have done some reading…I finished a couple of books over the weekend.  I woke up earlier than usual so I stitched for a while.  I gave myself a break from Christmas ornaments and have been working on a sampler…some "me stitching," in other words…not stitching for a gift.  I got the rest of the clothes that I washed over the weekend put away.  As I said…just did little bits and pieces of things that need to be done around here.  After lunch I went to get my hair cut.  So…that means it has been a good day!  It's always a good day when I get my hair cut!  While I was there a friend who I hadn't seen in some time came to get her hair done, too.  So it was good getting to catch up with her.  

I talked with Cheryl and Connie on the phone.  And, I got many calls today from my "best friend," Spam Risk!  I have an understanding with Spam Risk that I don't answer those calls…but that understanding doesn't seem to stop the calls!  

I have just gotten home from prayer meeting.  Kathy came tonight, so she and I stood outside, beyond when the others left, and we got caught up.  She and Nathan and three of the children have just returned from camps in Texas.  Nathan was camp pastor at these camps and they all did lots to keep the kids learning and entertained. I’m sure that juggling performances were part of week! 

Melany plans to come tomorrow…her last summer visit before school starts back for her this coming week.  We plan to stitch while we talk tomorrow. I’m trying to decide what I will stitch…Christmas ornaments or some "me stitching." Maybe I’ll do a little of both.  And, the frogs pictured above are not invited to our stitching time tomorrow!  Stitchers don't like frogs to come visiting because frogs cause "frog stitching." As what we have to do when mistakes are made in the piece that we are working on, stitchers call "frog stitching" because we have to rip-it, rip-it (remove that stitches done in error)! Get it? A frog says, "rib-it, rib-it" and stitchers rip-it, rip-it. No frogs are invited tomorrow! 

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

Sunday Favorite Photo

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Happy Birthday, Alex!

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My next to the oldest grandchild, Alex, turned 29 today.  How can that be?!?  Here he is at four.  It took me a bit to figure out how to transfer a photo from my/Woody's laptop.  I use a Windows device so rarely these days that I struggle when I turn the laptop on.  But I had Payton fix the laptop so it can communicate with my iPhone.  That way I can get a photo that is on the laptop over to my Apple devices…Windows laptop to iPhone to iPad to blog.  Phew!  But…I managed!  I couldn’t user a baby photo of Alex, as I didn't have a digital camera back then. Well, I could have used one, but that would have been an altogether different process!  One process was enough for tonight!

Today I spent time in another happy place in my home…the kitchen.  I haven't done a lot of cooking lately…really haven't done much cooking since I got back from Alaska…just enough to get by…hadn't really felt like making a recipe that involved much time or effort.  For some reason this week I felt like making Swedish Meatballs.  So today I spent a good part of the morning and afternoon making that recipe.  There is a bit of a funny story behind this recipe.  It happens to be in the notebook that I collected recipes that were okay to make for Woody on his restricted kidney/dialysis diet.  One time when Woody was in the hospital, he got a craving and decided that he wanted Swedish meatballs.  Not a recipe that I had made him before, but something he decided he wanted…perhaps he saw it on a cooking show on TV.  Anyway, I took it upon myself to fine a recipe that I could adapt to his dietary needs.  So when he got out of the hospital, I gathered the ingredients and set to work to make them for him.  I set them before him and this wasn't what he had had in mind that Swedish meatballs were.  I don't think that we ever figured out just what recipe he had had in mind!  He did try them, but they didn't come up to his expectations.  I enjoyed them and kept the recipe…so recreated that recipe today and plan to enjoy them…but wonder what recipe Woody really wanted.  It got harder and harder to find food that appealed to Woody in his last years…one reason being that he wasn't too thrilled with his diet restrictions and another reason he just wasn't interested in food like he had been for most of the years of our marriage.  He always told me that he would try anything that I cooked…he might not want me to make it again…but he was willing to try anything once.  And, for most of the years of our marriage, he was very easy to please…but in the last couple years of his life his taste and willingness to be adventurous in his eating definitely left…what he used to like, he no longer did and he developed weird requests or just didn't want to eat.  My joy of cooking left for a period of time during those last years.  My love of cooking has returned…but…I will admit that sometimes it is just easier to cook the easiest thing and I don't try new recipes like I used to…prefer tried and true recipes these days.  

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

Friday Doings

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The Butchart Gardens, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

I didn't get off to do my Kroger shopping as early as I had planned…so much for plans!  But, I will say, I think that the later I go to Kroger on Friday, the more people I know in the store…lots of shopping and visiting!  

One of the reasons that I didn't get off as early as I planned was that I was reading.  I don't know if you like to read or not…but for me there often gets to a point in a book that I just want to keep reading and not do anything else until I find out exactly what is going on.  That is what happened to me this morning.  I have been reading this book for several days and was enjoying the story, but it was just going along as I expected…so this morning there was a twist and something that I hadn't expected happened…then I just wanted to continue reading till I found out more.  I did finally set it aside and I did go to the store, came home and put the groceries away.  I have done very little stitching because I would rather read.  I did get my wash caught up.  I still have to take my clean clothes upstairs and put them away…then I plan to get back to reading.  I’m not sure that much stitching will happen this evening! I just want to finish the book! 

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

This is Thursday

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Today's plan was to run the errands that I didn't run yesterday due to an accident that caused power outage in the area of Walmart.  I was going to go this morning, but it started raining lightly about the time that I planned to head out.  I decided to wait for a while since the rain seemed to be leaving us early afternoon.  I did a few things around the house that needed to be done and then decided that I would head upstairs to my sewing room…one of my happy places!  I did some straightening up in there and then did a couple of things that needed a little sewing to fix them…hand sewing.  I never turned on my machine, but enjoyed some time in the sewing room.  I keep telling myself that I want to get back to sewing…but so far I haven't listened to myself…maybe one of these days.  I did open the closet door and look at some fabric hanging in there…trying to get inspired to get back to doing some garment sewing.  

I did run my errands after lunch.  It ended up being a good time to head out.  There was next to no one in the Credit Union and I was able to take care of a birthday gift for a grandchild…my next to the oldest adds another year to his age this weekend.  Then I headed on to Walmart and it wasn't all that busy there, either.  I found the few things that I needed and got checked out by a real person and didn't have to wait in a line…a good thing!  On my way home from Walmart, I called Cheryl…she often calls me on her way to or from someplace so I did the same today.  Given the difference in where we live…me…small town and she…large city…my time in the car to get home doesn't take too long.  We did talk a bit longer than my trip home took!  

Since getting home, I found some time to do some more stitching and also fit in a nap.  I had planned to do some cooking, but decided that I could put that off till tomorrow.  

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

Lazy Wednesday

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It has been one of those days that I just didn't feel like doing a lot…so I didn't.  I have read some and have done some stitching.  I thought about running an errand or two, but then found out that a power pole/line had been knocked down due to an accident on the street that runs by so many businesses and that there was some power outage.  I decided that the proximity of WalMart to the power line that they might be without power so I would go another time.  And, I found out when I was talking to Ruth a little while ago that WalMart was without power for a time today…so glad that I didn't go.  Maybe I’ll go tomorrow!  I have enjoyed a do-nothing day…nice to have days like this at times.  Nice to not have anything that has to be done at home or any place that I need to go.  I just have to keep reminding myself about what day it is…helps that yesterday I worked in the library…so library day is Tuesday…thus my brain figured out it is Wednesday! 

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

Typical Tuesday

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Last night I decided that I was going to set today aside to work on my stitching of Christmas ornaments.  And, I have made a little more progress on the Christmas ornament that I’m currently stitching.  While stitching I watched a cooking show on TV.  For lunch I made a vegetable medley from garden veggies that Melany brought me yesterday.Tasted pretty good.  After lunch, Donna and I worked in the church library.  It's so nice to have a computer once again.  We continue to attempt to get things current in the computer…quite a few books were checked out and in “on paper" while we were without a computer…so some things are currently checked out but not in the computer records and some things have been checked in while we had no computer so computer doesn't know they are on the shelves.  Today we found quite a few books on the shelves that the computer didn't know had been returned…so we got the computer closer to up to date.  I came home planning to sit down and stitch…but a nap time took the place of stitching time. I woke up and got the trash taken out to the road for pick up tomorrow.  Now I plan to get back to stitching and watching TV.  I got a text and photo from Melany a little while ago showing me that she had gotten started on one of the stitching projects that we chose fabric and floss for yesterday.  So Melany is in her happy place and I am about to go to one of my happy places.

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

Busy Monday

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Tonight's photo is a Monkey Puzzle tree at the Butchart Gsrdens, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Today was busy from beginning to end.  Melany came this morning.  She brought a Christmas stocking that she had cross stitched for me to sew into a stocking.  We got that planned out and set aside for me to do between now and when she decorates for Christmas.  Then we did some preparation for her to do some stitching.  I serged around the fabric that she is going to use so it won’t fray when she is stitching it.  Then she worked on choosing floss colors for her planned projects.  She left all ready to get going on a new project.  She has plenty to keep her busy in the stitching department for a while.  We also cleaned and filled my hummingbird feeders.  I can do all but the one that has the camera in it.  Cheryl and I had problem with it when we attempted to fill it back when she was here…and it was no different today.  But I think I now know that you can barely put any nectar in it so it won't come out the little flower holes…we think it is a design flaw and that there is too much water pressure if it is filled with as much as it seems it was planned to hold.  But my hummingbirds can be happy once again…three feeders.  My bird cam showed me that a ruby-throated hummingbird has been coming to my feeders.  Melany and I had a good time visiting during all our activities.  

Not long after Melany left, it was time to head to church for prayer meeting.  So like I said…busy from start to finish.  And, I am now ready for my chair and hopefully some stitching of my own.  

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

Sunday Alaska (Well, Canada) Favorite

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Saturday Doings

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Today’s goal was to do some tidying up downstairs.  Mainly I did a little picking up and then ran the vacuum…freshened up things.  I also put some finishing touches on the Sunday School lesson.  I printed that off a little while ago.  This morning at 11am was my Cottey College Alum Zoom Bookclub.  We were low in number and the person who was supposed to lead the discussion didn't show up.  But we had a good discussion despite all that.  We enjoy just talking with each other.  My friend from childhood and fellow Cottey classmate wasn’t there today as she was away in New Mexico at Ghost Ranch, former residence of artist, Georgia O'Keeffe.  The location of Ghost Ranch makes one have to stand in just the right place or go out to the highway to get cell reception…so not the best place to try to join a Zoom meeting!  The funny thing was that without her being at the meeting and there being only five of us there, what were the chances of two of the five having attended the same high school.  But we had discovered a meeting or two back that one of our other bookclub members had attended the same high school for one year as Randi and I had…and she was a junior when we were sophomores…small world.  Plus she went to the same church that Randi and I did.  I do not remember her from high school or church, but I do remember her as being at Cottey with us.  The next Bookclub selection is mine and I have invited the author and his wife join us.  I just hope that our club attendance picks up a bit…we will have a lively discussion no matter the numbers.  My book choice is Copyboy by Vince Vawter.  This is the 2nd book in a trilogy.  Vince and his wife joined us for our discussion of his first book, Paperboy last year.  I look forward to them joining us again this year.  

Well, the above Bookclub "discourse" wasn't part of my plan for the blog banter for tonight.  Just never know what gets transferred from my brain to my fingertips!  

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

Friday…I Think!

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It has been a rather busy Friday…though it doesn't seem like Friday.  I am a bit lost without certain activities that mark the days of the week for me…like working in the library on Tuesday or Bible study on Wednesday.  Then add in the unexpected falling of a tree and the clean up of that tree along with taking down another tree and thinning branches out of another that took care of my Thursday. I did make today seem more like Friday by going grocery shopping. I washed the sheets on the guest bed and put them back on the bed…that's an exhausting job these days!  I did that, as I might have a guest or two if they decide to escape the heat of their house without AC.  I napped some this afternoon.  Then I set to work to get something written into the outline of the Sunday School lesson for Sunday.  I just about finalized it before I came in to blog.  I still have to decide if I am going to include two things…and, if I do, where they need to be…but, all in all, the lesson is complete except for printing it out.  And, that can be done tomorrow after I make those two final decisions. Stitching and watching TV or reading for pleasure is calling to me for the rest of the evening.  Tonight's photo is one of the beautiful roses at The Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.  

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

Timberrrrrrrr!

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BOOM! In the Night!

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Last night at midnight there was a big boom and then another boom.  I first thought tree, but when I heard the 2nd one I thought thunder.  My first thought was correct.  The tree that I had decided just yesterday morning that I needed to make arrangements to have it taken down due to it leaning so much and due to all of our rain to date.  Well, I have made a call to get it taken care of…but not to have it taken down since it is already down!  

I don't know who in the neighborhood called to report it, but the the police were here not long after I discovered the cause of the boom.  We had three police cars because the tree blocked the         T-intersection that happens right at our property line…so cars couldn't get through in three directions…but the neighborhood wasn't blocked as it has access in and out from several directions.  The tree did not take down any power lines, didn't do any property damage. And, the timing was good since at that hour there were no children out running around.  Not long after the police came the city arrived with a truck that had a claw to pick up branches that were cut with a chain saw.  They worked until 2:30am and cleared the neighbor's yard of all of the tree that was in their yard…leaving only me with the part of my tree that was still on my property.  They were back at 6:50am and cleaned up the rest.  The telephone pole was only broken off at the top which took off the street light.  The utility company was there to reattach a guy wire and put a street light back up.  They just used the broken pole.  

Nathan stopped by and while he was here, the city arborist stopped by and talked to us about tree problems, etc. He gave us a lot of good information and made some suggestions.  After talking with him, Nathan called the tree removal company that we have used in the past.  He was here in the early afternoon to assess the tree and other things we wanted him to do.  He will cut up the fallen tree, grind the stump, thin out some branches in the tree next to the fallen tree to help lighten its load in hopes that we can keep it for a while longer.  I also asked them to take down a branch that our tree broke in the neighbor's tree. And, I am having a tree taken out that is in a bad place next to the driveway.  I forgot about one of the trees that the arborist suggested we take down…since it was forgotten (that one I hadn't thought about previously so it slipped my mind when I was talking with the tree man and that tree was behind me). I can have that one taken down another day…and…the tree team is supposed to be here in the morning!

I think I am witnessing what it means to live in a small town…at midnight the tree landed with a boom and 30 hours more or less the tree crew should be here taking care of the problem and some other problems as well.  It makes me sad, though, that my trees are aging out.

I think a good number of people in the neighborhood lost some sleep last night.  I know that I have been tired all day.  I have taken a couple of short cat naps. Hopefully I will sleep well tonight. I need to get to sleep a little earlier than usual as I imagine the tree crew will show up bright and early so they can work in the cool of the morning.

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

An Eagle's Point of View

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This isn't exactly a prize-winning photo…but it shows an eagle's nest pretty well…all those sticks.  Their nests are huge.  If you look closely, you can see that mama eagle is sitting in the nest…unfortunately there is a branch between eagle and my camera lens!  At the raptor center there was a replica of an eagle's nest that people could get into…lots of people fit in it!  

Today has been another day that didn't have any "have-to-dos" in it.  Donna and I chose not to work in the library today so it was a "free day." I made a couple of goals to accomplish…read the study helps for the Sunday School lesson = ✔️…organize needlework supplies before getting underway with next Christmas ornament = ✔️…get out the next ornament to work on and get floss, etc. organized = ✔️.  So I did get those small tasks done.  The organizing that I did was to put away floss that I had been using on the ornament that I finished last night.  Plus there was other floss that needed to be put away so that took a bit of time.  I put them away in numerical order in a DMC cabinet for floss (used to be part of a large cabinet in a cross stitch store.  I was able to purchase it when the store closed many years ago.  I am always thankful to Woody when I get out floss or put it away.  All those years ago, he helped me divide up the floss so it would all go in the compartments in the drawers.  He then drew me up a diagram, that I use to this day.  It is looking a bit grubby and the pencil is fading…but I hate to stop using it and making another chart!  I enjoy that memory each time I use the chart.  

Besides organizing cross stitch and preparation for the Sunday School lesson, I enjoyed a morning phone call from Ruth and an afternoon one from Cheryl (my favorite/only sister).  It was good to catch up with both!  

We had another pop-up shower this afternoon…becoming a habit of unexpected rain at unexpected times…guess that means it’s summer! 

Planning to do some reading and some more Christmas ornament stitching this evening before I turn lights out. 

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

Monday Rolls Around…Again!

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This Alaskan photo makes me think of peace and tranquility.  It is the Alaskan photo that I have chosen for the moment for my iPad wallpaper.  

Today has been a quiet day with storms rolling in every so often…sort of the pattern of the last three days. When I got home from prayer meeting, I emptied the rain gauge.  I hadn't emptied it over the weekend…so the amount represents Saturday, Sunday, and to this point of today. I emptied 2 3/10 out of the gauge.  Think it will rain?!?!

I have done rainy day things like read and stitch and start working on this coming Sunday's Sunday School lesson for my class. I am very close to finishing another Christmas ornament.  I plan to out in the final stitches this evening.  I returned a little while ago from prayer meeting.  So it is time to start bidding good bye to the day…time to settle in for the night.  

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