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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