Why Nott Me

2009-01-17T08:21:00.003-05:00

Today... about lists and getting things done!

laundry (when isn't there laundry?)
sweep floors
pick up meds
deposit to bank
drop off water bill check
deliver some software to my Mom
deliver another knitted hat, this one to Lyllah
take pictures of nieces/nephew in hats...
straighten up kitchen
clean bathrooms
get my clothes ready to pack for trip on Monday

There that list doesn't look to bad. And considering that I've been up since 7am, it just might be doable!

It's up to 16 here this morning, considering yesterday this time it was -10, whew we're having a heat stroke!

I must run, I must get these things done!

2009-01-12T19:51:00.006-05:00

2009 KNITTING GOALS

KNITTING WISHES FOR 2009, BUT NOT PARTICULLARY IN ORDER
* SOCKS –Rhonda
* SOCKS –Erikah
* SOCKS –finish my corn socks (so close-just do it!)
* VEST –finish cream vest in Rowan Big Wool
* Thermal Sweater (knitty2007) –have the yarn, what am I waiting on?
* SWEATER -?? Maybe ½ dollar for February Lady sweater

Look to see what I want to knit for next Christmas.. start earlier..
I am hoping that by posting it, I will keep on track. I have
gotten off course doing extra knitting for needy nieces. I made my one and only nephew a hat. (I made all of the nieces fun fur scarves last year but they seem to have forgotten that Philip didn't get one of those!) Then they "needed" hats too. So being the loving aunt I am.. I have done two and have two started.. then I will only have one more to go.. Of course, I should mention that I have also made Hubby two hats with ear flaps per his request. And I made my friends baby a hat too. He's a year old and only weighs 13 pounds.

2009-01-09T19:02:00.004-05:00

What will stop your forward momentum.
-- a dislocated shoulder. Okay I knew I was in pain (more than one doctor has told me that my pain thresh hold is high). I waited until after Christmas to finally go to my chiropractor. Why? because I was too busy....

I just want it noted. I didn't stop knitting. I knit a 2 pair of fingerless mitts, 3 hats.. with a dislocated shoulder. I've never had one before, so I had no idea. I just new that my shoulder/back hurt. (I have left out the part, where the chiropractor told me I had a rib out, whatever that means) Bad. Like sleeping was painful.

I hope I'm on the road to recovery. I'm fairly certain I am. I'm weary of ice, but it does help the pain.. even the recovery pain.

I will post pictures. (I keep saying that, but ever since I got my new laptop.. it's not as friendly to me as my old one.. now that I've typed that it'll probably get even.)

I hope everyone has a good weekend. I'd like to knit. The chiropractor didn't say I couldn't. .. thank goodness.

2008-12-24T09:08:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas
One of my favorite things.. my Mom reading the Christmas story. We still do it on Christmas Eve when we all get together.
Matthew 1:22-23 KJV
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas. Now, I must go wrap presents, and do a bit of cooking/baking..

2008-12-07T18:21:00.007-05:00

Why I've not been posting...

I searched for a picture to post. I've been busy, just not taking pictures..

My grandfather (89) has been in a nursing home since last January. My Grandmother (79)...fell taking him to the hospital for a test, breaking her leg in 2 places requiring surgery. She won't be able to put weight on that leg for 3 months.

My neighbor had open heart surgery last month. This morning I heard and ambulance go by (very unusal, we live out in the country).. She's back in the
hospital, doctors still are unsure of what the problem is. Please keep her in your prayers.

I was hoping to avoid the flu this season, but people at work just don't know when to stay at home. (I find this very annoying). I was off Friday, you don't
want to know the details, trust me, I didn't either.

I've been knitting. I need to take pictures. Slacker, that's me. My niece, Robin, came down this weekend.. brave girl considering I've been sick! I taught her to pearl, and she managed to finish one fingerless glove and start the second by the time I took her home on Sunday! I was SO VERY impressed!

Monica (another niece.. I have five), we were planning on baking Monday, but she has two small boys and the weatherman is calling for freezing rain, so we've
re-scheduled. I am trying to decide if I should just get up and go to work.. the verdict is still out on that, since I scheduled the day off.

And I still have Christmas knitting to finish... I will take pictures before I gift them!

2008-09-27T08:09:00.005-04:00

First.. I am a Great Aunt.. again, meet Elijah Thomas, isn't he cute? My sister (baby hog) is holding him here. His big brother Tristan isn't sure what to think, but I think they will be great friends!

Between work and headaches I'm been having, I'm not getting very much accomplished!

Example, today, I have a list in my head but I've woke up with the "headache". I actually went to the doctor a couple of weeks ago for them. Nope, it isn't my high blood pressure (that was really good, yeah), my asthma (which is usually at it's worse in the fall.. isn't bothering me, my allergies are bothering me some, but I really cannot complain. So the doctor thinks they might be migraines. I am skeptical. But I do as she suggest and have been using my migraine meds. Sad part? it seems to be working. The doctor said if the meds work, then we'll look at something that can be taken daily. So I will be calling the doctor.. it does seem to be working. I haven't had headaches every day and that's a relief after six weeks!

So now that I've taken the med (and giving it a chance to work.. I'm going to get up and take pictures (so that I can post them!) and work on getting my house under control!, yeah!

2008-07-19T07:56:00.002-04:00

Update:
I am still knitting my cotton vest. Hope to get the front piece finished somtime this weekend.
First on my list today is the license branch. Not my favorite stop, but a necessary one! I am fighting off a sinus infection. It's really wearing me down. I keep hoping that I'll win.
I am looking at patterns to do some sewing, but first need to "clean" up my sewing room. Work keeps getting in the way of all my fun both at home and work! Worse part of this sinus infection, is it's making me SO tired!

List

License branch
pick up a few groceries
sweep & mop kitchen
clean main bathroom
laundry (never ending.. need to do rugs, bedsheets)
KNIT!
work on sewing room

No pictures...I'll try to get some up later today. Maybe I should take a picture of the sewing room.. before/after? humm... I'm off to get VERY busy!

2008-07-04T09:51:00.009-04:00

It's raining here... again.

Today I'll post a couple of pictures from the flood in June..
This is... was a hay field.

This is the creek that it was trying to get to... sometimes in the summer.. the creek bed is dry. hummm, do you see the fence post stub at the bottom? The water was over the bridge rail at one point. We're not very far from the White River here. We walked on the bridge, probably not a good idea.. but another picture.... This is the other side of the road... see how the water has flattened the hay?
I'll try to post a video later.. it has the sound of the water too. Very powerful. This is the first time that we can remember the water being over the bridge. I've lived here for 18 years. I'm going to today to take more pictures of the landslided behind my MIL's house. The ones that I took on my phone didn't turn out very well.

On the night of June 6th, it started with a cold front moving thru, we got about 2" by 2am. Into the morning of June 7th, the storm stall out over several Indiana counties. We got 8.77" inches, over about 3 hours. I didn't mention that on June 4th, the Wednesday before we had already gotten 5" of rain. Our ground was very saturated.

We were going to down to see if we could get to hubby's Aunt & Uncle's house. We thought that maybe the water would stop us.. because in 1991, it was high enough you couldn't drive thru it for 3 days. What we didn't expect and have never seen... was a mudslide. By this time (10am), all phones were out, cell phones were hard to get a good signal, and our electricity was out.
If you click on these pictures.. they do get bigger.

I'll update you on my knitting later today.. after I get a good picture. To dark in here so far today!

2008-06-27T21:06:00.002-04:00

I haven't been blogging. There is/has been much going on in my life. I can't even remember where I left off.
My MIL started her chemo. It's going okay. Nobody said it would be easy. As long as her attitude stays up (cheerful) we'll be fine.

The evening of June 6th, it started raining. By Saturday morning we had gotten 8.75" of rain. Our power went out on Saturday morning. I have taken pictures, I will post a few. We (our property) has mudslides. Lots. I have never seen mudslides in the 18 years I have lived here. The town 11 miles to our East had flash floods that destroyed many homes, roads and vehicles.
This town is close to a very large river, and if I ever thought that then town would be flooded.. I would have thought it would be by the river. We have two ways to go into town from our house. One was already flooded out by the river. And the second was by the flash flood from creeks. They closed down the highway because the river was across the road. We could still get to the town where we work.

Saturday afternoon, I received a call telling me that my cousin was missing. He had taken out his airboat to "test" before he left for vacation the next week. They were searching for him, but due to all this flooding, we couldn't get thru to help with the search.

My cousin, Mark, 44, drowned. There are so many questions, that we'll never have answers for.
The one that hurts the most? Is WHY didn't he wear his life jacket. He always wore it and made anyone riding with me wear one. He had taken the boat out in this water hundreds of times. We figure that because of the large amount of rain, the water had extra force. Probably more than he was expecting. He is with God now. And he wouldn't want us to stay sad.

I'll write more later.

2008-05-17T07:08:00.003-04:00

Pathology
We got the best news possible. All the margins of the lumpectomy was clean (no cancer). Next up will be the chemo. My MIL is doing very well. We were all greatly relieved.

Today
Hubby and I are making raised garden beds today. We have several house projects going also. We got lots of rain this week. So the yard needs mowed. But first we're going to look at mowers. And pick up the pavers to make the raised garden.

Gas
Our gas prices have climbed again this week. It would seem that our's is higher than the national average. Go figure. Ours is at $3.89, but hey that's down from $3.95 that it was earlier this week! Sad when $3.00 looks good. Hubby and I ride together for work, he drops me off at mine and goes to his. So we save gas. We rarely go into town on the weekend, this weekend is going to be an exception.

2008-05-11T08:22:00.003-04:00

Happy Mother's Day!

It's pouring rain here. Not a very pretty day. But it will make the flowers grow. I'm doing raised bed gardening this year. Can seem to get started because of the rain. Oh well. Called my Mom to wish her Happy Mother's day. Had a very nice chat. Will call my sister after my phone charges!

To early to call MIL. MIL will get pathology report tomorrow. Her surgery was last Monday. She is doing well. Praying all is well with the results.

This is very random. Sorry. Feel dreary like the rain. Must go get on the treadmill. I've lost 14lbs since January.... keep working, eating smart.

2008-05-04T08:01:00.003-04:00

Cancer

My MIL has breast cancer. Saddest part? When she went in for a mammogram last year (for a lump she found).. they miss diagonised it. I just am sorry that we didn't push her to get a second opionin, maybe that we because after our previous experince we didn't want it to be cancer.

So by this year it's grown, and since there is record of the fact that she was in there last year for it.. the doctors are pushing her thru all the first steps. Surgery is tomorrow. We don't know the extent of the surgery until after she gets out. Chemo will start in two weeks, then radiation.

Prayers are welcome. We've been doing a lot of that ourselves.

2008-04-18T10:10:00.003-04:00

Earthquake
Remember, I live in Indiana. But this morning at approximatly 5:38am I was woke up to our house shaking. I couldn't believe it. At first when the roof started making noise I thought that the wind had picked up, but then I could feel the whole house shake. A 5.4 quake, lasted about 45 seconds. It's epicenter was about 25-30 miles south-west of Vincinnes, which might be about 75-85 miles from our house (as a crow flies).
Hubby was still asleep.. well he was until I woke him up! Our house sits on a basement and I could feel it moving. Creepy, more so I thought than a tornado. Hey, at least you know when they're coming!

2008-04-12T08:50:00.003-04:00

I just want it noted that yesterday it was 71. This morning it is 43 (high is suppose to be 44), cloudy, windy, drizzly. I've had a sore throat for days now. I want to blame allergies but it is persistant and now there is a cough. I don't have time to be sick.
The auditors will be at work next week. We have offically closed(sold)one of our smaller divisions. Makes me sad. I've been at my job for 12 years and we've never had that happen before. It might not make me so sad, but some people lost their jobs. Some that had been with our company for YEARS. I worked directly with several.
My mom, niece and I were going to a Fiber Event today. It's mostly outside. But since I feel so lously, we cancelled. I'm going to lay back down. Maybe when I wake up I'll feel better. Maybe I'll knit the time I would have spent going to the event that might make me feel better. I've decided to order some stuff online to console myself, but I'm not doing that until after my morning nap.
And so how was your week? I'm thinking yours had to be better than mine! I'll take some pictures later to post.

2008-03-19T07:43:00.004-04:00

Rain.. it started Monday night.. it's still raining.
Water, water everywhere.. pictures, I need to take pictures..

I took today off. I have "things" to do.

laundry, check working on that.
put away clean dishes
clean out fish tank
sneak sewing in here
sweep living room
clean both bathrooms
sneak in knitting

Today is all about me. I don't feel "organized" at home. And I hate that feeling. Also I wanted to get a jump start for the weekend. We're having company.

Work is stressful right now and it's going to get worse.. a person that I "backup" is going on vacation. That's on top of my job.. and my job at the moment is BUSY. So I decided to take a day off before it all hits. I'll be fine, it's just the anticipation of it all.

2008-03-15T08:48:00.005-04:00

Spring.. it is here? I took this pictures yesterday evening.

It looks to me like the daffodils will be out for Easter. It's very early this year. Our weather is beginnging to be wamer.

Knitting news

My parents got me this for Christmas.. we (Mom & me) actually didn't order it until February.. because a few things that I wanted were backordered.. then cancelled.. So I decided on this yarn for a sweater.. sorry I still haven't figured out how to link.. :(And in February.. a new yarn shop In A Yarn Basket open in the town that I work (it has a website, same name). So I bought this yarn for me a new pair of socks.. I was going along yesterday when I realized (by counting) that I had dropped a stitch.. guess where I found it?

I marked it with the needle.. see? I'm going to try to "carry" it up with a crochet hook, it that doesn't work.. I'll have to go backwards :(, but I'm determined not to do that.. so we'll see. I thought this yarn was interesting it's made from corn.. my Dad is a farmer. Way cool.

2008-03-07T18:12:00.002-05:00

We’re getting snow with lots of wind. It’s cold. I was hoping to walk outside this weekend. I don’t think so. It was in the 50’s last weekend. Tonight’s low is 17F. And it didn’t get above freezing today. So I’ll get on the treadmill, boring. But I’ll still do it. Bought a new DVD, walk away the pounds. I’ve got one but was getting bored with it.

Hubby went caving/camping in this crazy weather. Guys do dumb things (my take on it) And I get a weekend with no one to cook for but myself, that way I can get lots of things done that I want to do. I’m going to take pictures too! I’ve got new yarn that I need to show. New is good.

My LIST
put away clean dishes
load dish washer
laundry – fold towels
laundry – wash bed sheets
laundry – wash bathroom rugs
clean our bedroom
pick up living (mostly my knitting)
sweep the living room
mop the kitchen floor
clean the fish tank
make sure I have everything ready for taxes (yuck)

What I really rather be doing –I don’t think there are enough hours in my weekend for all of this.. but hey—I can try!

· finish knitting great nephew’s sweater
· start new socks with Maizy Yarn from Crystal Palace Yarns (bought at the new yarn shop!)
· finish sewing Log Cabin for our bed.. made out of fleece
· cut out pajama pants for me & hubby, already have fabric prewashed
· finish hubby’s fleece jacket (would have been done ages ago if he didn’t want stupid zipper (three times I’ve put it in, now I’m trying to decide if I can live with it)

2008-02-24T15:01:00.003-05:00

Again
Papaw fell, breaking his hip & femur bone. With his heart surgery is scary, but w/o the surgery his survival was 30%. He had surgery yesterday. His heart didn't stop. He was up this morning sitting in a chair eating his breakfast. Amazing.

More,
..the best laid plans.. yesterday was going to be my "get things done" day. But because of Papaw's fall, it didn't go as planned. So I rolled with it. At least got my groceries so that I could stay home today. I've done laundry and have been fighting a headache. I have lots of other things I'd like to do, but can't seem to get very motivated. I've about decided to take a nap. Yesterday was stressful. Maybe my headache would go away..

2008-02-10T09:31:00.000-05:00

Sick, very sick.
At work people have been coming into work sick. Drive me nuts! They'll be running a fever and still come in to comtaminate others. In our office of 7, three people in the last two weeks came in sick... as of last Friday...we had all been contaminated. Friday, even thought I knew I should have stayed home, but I went to work (mosltly be hey, if they come in sick, so can I).... I only stayed 2 1/2 hours. My skin hurt. Flu. I can't remember the last time I felt this sick!
I had been fighting against getting sick with vitamin C and Mucinex, and a netty pot. I came home, took nightquil and slept. I slept, only getting up to take more nightquil until 8 am Saturday. Got up Saturday to a low-grade fever. Took tylenol and rested all day, still felt exhausted. Today I got up, feeling much better, not 100%, maybe 80. Not bad, will keep up with vitamin C, Mucinex and neety pot. Have a terrible hacking cough, that feels like lung might just come out too. As an asthmatic, not good, this cough.. is BAD. I'm hoping it will disappear in a few days, if it doesn't I might end up seeing doctor. bahhh.

2008-01-26T08:41:00.000-05:00

Updates
Papaw is holding his own. I've been trying to see him each weekend.

Baby Ryan, I haven't posted about this little guy, so here goes. My friend had a very troubled pregnancy. Lacking aneomic fluid, doctors at a Cincinnati Childrens hospital performed a procedured trying to enable the baby's kidneys to drain. It bought baby another month in Mommy, which put her at 34 weeks. Baby Ryan was born 6 weeks early with a collasped lung. Doctor's assured Mommy, that Baby Ryan would be fine. They put a tube in his lung and it began to work! At one week old he had surgery for a blocked kidney. Also they put a tube in him for dialysis. He is doing okay. So hard to watch a baby (born 6 weeks early) so thru so much. He is so cute. His older brother has bright coppery hair, but I believe that Ryan is going to have true auburn! His dialysis is helping. Hopefully soon he will get to be off the feeding tube and Mommy will be able to hold him to feed him. I've also been going to the hospital to see them. Mommy thinks they will likely be there most of February. They have to be trained to do the dialysis. And Ryan needs to start gaining weight. He is looking at a kidney transplant by age 3. But we know that God has taken us this far, and he is with us, we are not alone. Thank you God for the miracles that you perform everyday. Ryan's Mommy is working on setting up a website at Caring Bridge. I will attach it when it is ready. Any and all prayers are welcome.

Knitting, I complete one scarf.. I will post pictures today. Today is to get STUFF done! I've also been knitting on the baby sweater for my great-nephew! Maybe I'll get it DONE this weekend!
I'm not making lists today (probably should).. so I'm off to start some laundry, dishes need put away.. you get the idea.. :)

2008-01-05T10:04:00.000-05:00

Updates
Papaw is doing okay. Not great as his heart is getting tired. But much better this Saturday than last Saturday.

Knitting - I"m working on two scarfs, but am also doing 7x9 squares as we're doing a Warm Up America project at work. (Our office is knitting/crocheting squares, we're sending them in for a contest that is being done by Caron Yarn, in hopes of winning $300. If we win the $300 it will go to feed our familes in 2008 that we do at work.) I signed up for 17 squares, but am hoping to get more than that done.
I also signed up for another sock class.. from the toe up! I am very excited about this class. It begins January 19th.

I work today at one of our retail stores (I normally work at the corporate office), as our "bookrush" begins. So this next week I'll get some overtime. :) Not as much as if I'd went out of town. But that's fine with me.

Now I must go get ready for work!

2007-12-30T11:45:00.000-05:00

I was in the process of taking knitting pictures... and my batteries went dead.. so while they are charging. An update. Not much going on here. No snow (we're suppose to get flurries today), haven't seen one.

Went to visit my Grandfather yesterday. Spent a few hours with him. He's doing as well as can be expected. I can say he eat his lunch! I feed it to him. My Mom called this morning, he's back in the hospital. The are going to test him for kidney failure. It's hard to watch. But it's part of life.

I made breakfast this morning. We've been getting tired of the "same" stuff. So I had seen a recipe and decided to try it.. You spray a muffin tin, 1/2 fill with hash browns, then bake (at 400) for 10 minutes. (if you're so inclined add salt/pepper here) then add diced onion, red or green peppers, shredded cheese, I used pre-cooked bacon for hubbys and put zuchinni in mine... then add egg/milk mixture (go easy on milk).. then put them back in the over for 20minutes. Yummy. Hubby really like them too.

I'm going to knit, still waiting on those batteries!

2007-12-24T09:52:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas!
We begin our exchanges tonight with my side of the family. My favorite part is watching the kids.! Tomorrow morning (very early) we go to hubby's sisters to watch the twins open their Christmas and exchange gifts. This has been our routine for several years.
I just want to say that I'm thankful this morning for family. And I pray for my grandfather whose health is failing. He had a triple bypass in 1985. He's had a couple of heart attachs since and made the decision 2 years ago not to do anymore procedures. He is 88. We are grateful for the time we have had with him. Hubby and I went to see him on Saturday. He was doing fairly well. Smiled for us, knew who we were! Hey, I say that good for an 88 year old that has 4 children, 11 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-granchildren!
Merry Christmas to all.....

2007-12-23T10:14:00.000-05:00

Crazy weather.
When I went to bed last night.. it was 57F and raining. The wind picked up over night 30+mph and the temps dropped to 27F. Our power went out about 3:40am. I called it in, because we're on the end of a line and sometimes it takes them a bit to get to us. Went back to bed. Woke up about 7am, no electricity yet. Very cool inside and out. At 8:11, our electricity is back on... temperature inside? 62F.. just about what it was out last night (and it seemed much warmer when it was outside!) Outside, the wind is still blowing and we have snow flurries.
I am not making a list today. I just know that I have things to do and must get moving!..after the house warms up some!

2007-12-22T08:58:00.000-05:00

It's finally Saturday. This seemed to be a very long week. I did manage to get some stuff done, but I am up doing housework and then I'm going to knit until we go to my parents house. My parents are taking us out to eat for hubby's birthday... which was last weekend, but we got ice last weekend so our outing was postponed.
I did manage to finish hubbys socks last weekend. I'm going to wash and block them today. Then I going to knit on my sweater. In amoungst doing laundry and stuff.

I have a short list and I seem to do better if I write it down.

put away clean dishes - done

load dishwasher & run - done

start laundry (that's next)

straighten living room, doesn't look that bad from where I'm sitting, but I'll still do it!

fold towels and put them up

sweep living room (have hubby, he likes to)

"dust" kitchen floor

bathrooms (they always seem to be on my list!)

I'm going to get busy now... And I'm thinking of taking a walk in the woods, it's 49.6F outside and it's December 22nd.

And today is John's birthday. We'll call today to check on the family. And this will be our third Christmas without my FIL. It just doesn't seem possible.

2007-12-15T08:39:00.000-05:00

John Holle 12-22-1935 12-8-2007
We lost a dear friend last week. He was friend, husband, father, grandfather. He will be missed greatly by all. He was my late FIL best friend since they were 14 years old. Closer to my FIL than his own siblings.
My fondest memory. John and Wanda were playing euchre with my in-laws. Guys vs Gals.
They guy kept the girls talking and was passing the deal between them (both men!) and the girls were still winning! After I caught on to what they were doing, my FIL kept giving me the "shush" sign and John would wink at me and grin really big. Did I give the guys up? Heck no! If the ladies weren't paying any more attention than that and winning, imagine if they really paid attention!

2007-12-08T10:48:00.000-05:00

As you read this, my question to you. Do you recognize miracles when they happen?

Psalm 55:22 ---"Friends are God's way of taking care of us." This was written by a Metro Denver Hospice Physician:

I was driving home from a meeting this evening about 5, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd., and the car started to choke and splutter and die - I barely managed to coast, cursing, into a gas station, glad only that I would not be blocking traffic and would have a somewhat warm spot to wait for the tow truck. It wouldn't eve n turn over. Before I could make the call, I saw a woman walking out of the "quickie mart " building, and it looked like she slipped on some ice and fell into a Gas pump, so I got out to see if she was okay

When I got there, it looked more like she had been overcome by sobs than that she had fallen; she was a young woman who looked really haggard with dark circles under her eyes. She dropped something as I helped her up, and I picked it up to give it to her. It was a nickel. At that moment, everything came into focus for me: the crying woman, the ancient Suburban crammed full of stuff with 3 kids in the back (1 in a car seat), and the gas pump reading $4.95. I asked her if she was okay and if she needed help, and she just kept saying " don't want my kids to see me crying," so we stood on the other side of the pump from her car. She said she was driving to California and that things were very hard for her right now. So I asked, "And you were praying?" That made her back a away from me a little, but I assured her I was not a crazy person and said, "He heard you, and He sent me."

I took out my card and swiped it through the card reader on the pump so she could fill up her car completely, and while it was fuelling, walked to the next door McDonald's and bought 2 big bags of food, some gift certificates for more, and a big cup of coffee. She gave the food to the kids in the car, who attacked it like wolves, and we stood by the pump eating fries and talking a little. She told me her name, and that she lived in Kansas City Her boyfriend left 2 months ago and she had not been able to make ends meet.

She knew she wouldn't have money to pay rent Jan 1, and finally in desperation had finally called her parents, with whom she had not spoken in about 5 years. They lived in California and said she could come live with them and try to get on her feet there. So she packed up everything she owned in the car. She told the kids they were going to California for Christmas, but not that they were going to live there.

I gave her my gloves, a little hug and said a quick prayer with her for safety on the road. As I was walking over to my car, she said, "So, are you like an angel or something?" This definitely made me cry. I said, "Sweetie, at this time of year angels are really busy, so sometimes God uses regular people." It was so incredible to be a part of someone else's miracle.

And of course, you guessed it, when I got in my car it started right away and got me home with no problem. I'll put it in the shop tomorrow to check, but I suspect the mechanic won't find anything wrong. Sometimes the angels fly close enough to you that you can hear the flutter of their wings...

Psalms 55:22 "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."

2007-12-08T08:33:00.000-05:00

Another Update...
MIL is on her way. As usual, the weathermen were wrong. It's hovering around 32F (freezing), but we didn't get the expected ice.
After talking to John's daughter and son last night, hubby and I will wait to go until next weekend. Otherwise there gets to many people waiting at the hospital. We will keep in touch by phone this weekend for updates.

Saturday
Today's list will not be like last weeks. Mostly because I way over did it. I hurt until Friday! So since I'm just beginning to feel better again... I'm going to take it easy.
I finished hubby's first sock last night. Just need to kitchner the toes! Look like I'm going to need more yarn so a trip to LYS is going to be necessary today. Meanwhile I've still got the baby sweater (it's not for Christmas so I can work on it as I like) and my sweater to knit on! But I really want to get his socks finished!

so this is today's list

Have hubby sweep living room and bedroom
take pictures of my knitting
clean out refrigerator (yes, it still needs done!)
bake spritzer cookies
make christmas mints
make poorman turtles
make sugared pecans
work on laundry as time permits
knit on breaks or as time permits

that it, I'm taking it easy today.

2007-12-07T18:33:00.001-05:00

Update
John made it thru the night. They have put him on breathing machine and drug coma. Tomorrow they will try to get him off the ventilator and see how much damage the stroke did. He is responsive and stable. I talked to his daughter tonight.
Since we're due ice tonight, MIL is waiting till tomorrow to go over. It's over a three hour drive. She is riding over with John's sister.
Prayers are appreciated.

2007-12-06T21:39:00.001-05:00

Family Friend
We got a call today. Our family friend, John, he has had a massive stroke. Due to weather it took hours to get him to the hospital.
My prayer tonight is that he makes it thru the night. He was my father-in-laws' best friend. He was really there for us while we went thru the cancer. John and David had been friends since they were 14. John is 72.

2007-12-02T08:18:00.001-05:00

I am up having my first cup of coffee, vanilla nut, humm. Went over my list. Saturday was not a bad day. I have a few things to finish up today, but it won't take all day and I can knit. I'll also take updated knitting pictures for later today. I need some light to take the pictures, but we've got rain today. Chance of snow later this week. I hope we see some! I love the snow.

DONE: dust living room
DONE: sweep living room… and moved furniture
DONE: washed living room curtains
DONE: put up Christmas tress, some of the decorations, need to finish
DONE: (not on list, swept kitchen/dining room, cleared off kitchen table)
DONE: mounds of laundry (double yeah!)
Still need to do exchange in closet, winter clothes are down (1/2 done)
DONE: put away clean dishes
DONE: reloaded dishwasher.. and ran it!
Still need to clean our frig, will do today
One bathroom was cleaned, the 2nd isn’t used that much, but will give it a quick once over today.
DONE: not only straightened our bedroom, but moved it around and dusted, whew, did it need it.
I’m going to do the Christmas cookies today, I was too tired yesterday to think about it!
Went to town, did exchange for 40% off an item, bought a few new decorations, 2 snowflake mugs, a Christmas gift and the much need MILK.

2007-12-01T08:27:00.000-05:00

I've been a slacker with my blog. Mostly because (insert good excuse here). But today is December 1st. I have a list of things I'd like to complete today. I'm going to share it with you so you'll be sympathetic with my lack of blogging.

dust living room
sweep living room, while doing this move the furniture so that I can later set up Christmas tree
wash living room curtains (really, they need replaced {10+old};let that go, Rome wasn't build in a day)
put up Christmas tree and decorations
fold and put away mounds of laundry left over from when hubby was "taking care" of the laundry. When I do laundry.. I fold and put away the load as it comes out of the dryer.
need to get down some winter clothes (ick, I hate doing this exchange, but our closet isn't big enough to hold all of them at once)
put away clean dishes
clean out refrigerator
re-load dish washer as needed
clean two bathrooms
straighten our bedroom
sweep our bedroom
make Christmas cookies
visit neighbor that is in the hospital
put up outside snowflakes and tree (ugh I think hubby can do that)
need to go to grocery, no milk in the house! I'm the milk baby.

I am beginning to get some energy back, but it seems that I still get tired. But do you think that list is crazy or doable?

And I have Christmas knitting that I'd rather be working on.. but I'm hoping to get most of this stuff done today, so that I can knit all day tomorrow.

Next weekend I'd like to have the twin nieces over for cut out Christmas cookies! So I must get some STUFF done!

READY... SET... GO!!!

2007-10-27T09:00:00.000-04:00

Made it!
I made it thru this week at work! Smater than last week. Instead of taking one afternoon off, I left an hour early each day. So Friday wasn't such a bad day for me. Last week Friday was a long, painful day. This week I have seen much improvement and hope to work full-time next week! Enough on that!
Knitting: I'm on the heel turn of hubby's sock! I got to that point last night and had to rip back, because somewhere some how I didn't do it right, but it's done now! I'm going to start the second because the ribbing is easy to start/stop so I'll take it to work with me for breaks/lunch.
Today, I'm going to work on my sweater.. I'll take pictures this evening and post them. It's too dark right now and it's 9am!

2007-10-17T17:01:00.000-04:00

BACK TO WORK.....
I went back to work on Monday. I am so tired! I took this afternoon off and took a long nap. I think I'm doing okay. It's just slow going. I've been so tired I haven't felt like knitting! That's no good. But I'm still on lifting restriction for two more weeks! So I'll knit this weekend.

2007-10-11T08:11:00.000-04:00

Fall Projects!

The pumpkin doesn't photo graph well, bummer. Tried to get a fallish look to my projects!

The red are the socks that I'm doing for hubby. I may have to have a pair with this yarn myself. They are soft and squishy. The cream? Well, it's for me a sweater, I've done the gauge. Then cast on for the back piece! I am so excited about getting started.

2007-10-11T08:01:00.000-04:00

WEEKEND:
Tracy came to visit with me. She's married to my cousin. She is an absolutely beautiful person. She came to spend Saturday night with me so that my husband could go caving. We had a wonderful time together! Did a bit of shopping, well not much really since I still wasn't up to it! Then after we returned home, she wanted me to re-teach her to knit. Her grandmother had taught her when she was 8, but she hadn't knitted since. Well, it was just simply a matter of getting her started and her determination took over! The scarf around her neck? She started about 5ish on Saturday evening and finished it up around 2:30 on Sunday, before she had to go home! I told her that I was/am amazed. She had so much fun and it's exciting to me for someone else to be knitting with me!

2007-10-06T09:15:00.000-04:00

What I did Friday... This market bag I knitted last year, but never master the kitchner stitch so I couldn't finish it.... so this morning, I sat down determined to figure this out. I did a sample knit, then used a different color so I could "see" how it worked. That did the trick! So then I kitchnered both handles on the market bag. Then I finished off my second sock. The first I did , but the teacher sat there with me, which is a lot different than doing it on your own.

Thank you Erica for the purple/brown yarn. It has made me a lovely scarf! and here are my finished socks!

Now I'm off to finish off a crocheted sweater that I also made last year! While I was putting it together, I got to the point where I thought I was ready to crochet the collar. Then realized that I had put one piece on backwards. (this yarn is not friendly to ripping out) So I put it aside. On Thursday, I took of the piece that was wrong... and put it back on correctly. Now it just needs a collar crocheted on to also be finished! I'll get a picture of it once it's finished.

We're having crazy October weather. It's suppose to be up to 88 today. I want FALL weather!

ps, if you click on the picture, it will enlarge!

2007-10-04T17:18:00.000-04:00

First Trip Out.
I got the okay to drive. Whew, that is very good. I went to the grocery. Had them put small amounts (of very few groceries) into several plastic sacks. So now I have some different food. It wore me out. I came home to take a nap.
I'll still be off next week, but I'm going to be working on getting back to "normal" hours. More sleeping at night! Lots of walking. The doctor says it is good for me! It's like permission to venture out a bit. Yeah!

2007-10-03T10:03:00.000-04:00

The problem...
with feeling better is that I am still not suppose to do.. housework, laundry, not lifting anything over 10lbs. Okay... I am sitting at home. Can't seem to get interested in reading (which I don't understand, because usually I will read w/o doing housework :) I have been doing a small amount of knitting.
I also need to do some grocery shopping. Okay help me here. I can drive, but I can't lift. And how are the groceries suppose to get into the house?
Oh well, today is the start of week three. I have four more weeks of lifting, laundry, housework restrictions. I worry about what my house is going to look like. My hubby is trying, but he's working and waiting on me plus house work. He is use to the sweeping and helping with the laundry, so that's no big deal. But my kitchen, well let's not think about it. Just know that I had him purchase paper plates and cups!

2007-09-30T18:17:00.000-04:00

Out of the house!
Okay - I'm not counting the trip and three days in the hospital or the two trips to the doctors' office.

I was getting very tired of being at home. So my hubby took me up to my parents today. (I say it that way, because I'm still not allowed to drive!) It's about a 40 minute drive. We got to visit and eat lunch with my family. Sunday dinner at Mom's is like... let's see everyone was there. My brother, his kids, his grandson, my sister, her three girls, her hubby, and one of the niece's boyfriend, oh, and her friend. The only one missing was the married nieces hubby, she said he was sleeping when she left! It's quite a crew. It's the usual tradition for all or some of us to show up.

Then after dinner, an Aunt, Uncle, a cousin with her three girls and my Grandparents came over to pies, cake and ice cream..for a couple of birthdays. My grandfather will be 88 on Tuesday! And my Mother's birthday is Monday. October is our month of birthdays.

Back home now and I have to say it was a good fun time. But I am tired. So, now I will rest.

2007-09-15T08:40:00.000-04:00

Quick update this morning... hopefully you'll get more either later or tomorrow.. but I've the non-morning person moving, and I'd hate for him to have to wait on me ! :)! I am SO close to having the second one finished!

2007-08-18T11:16:00.000-04:00

Update

Sorry it's taken me so long. We went on vacation in July. I took no pictures. Probably a first for me. We camped. It was HOT. It rained. We went to the 2007 NSS Convention. It was in Marengo Indiana.

And in July I found out that I have to have surgery. I went to doctor because I am TIRED. All the time. I am a morning person and on weekends I would get up, then lay back down and SLEEP! Unheard of for me. I don't nap. More on that later. It bums me out, especially when I asked the doctor if this could wait until next year, and she said ... NO.

On to good news, I have finished one sock! And just this week had to perform surgery on the second, as I had dropped a stitch and it was too far to be able to work it up. So I took all the needles out and went back. I even managed to pick every stitch up and continue on!

Well now I must get ready for book rush (term used at work, referring to college students coming back to college emass). I am working out of town.(ick).

2007-06-24T12:36:00.000-04:00

Sock Update: I have learned how to do the heel flap... and turn the heel. Next weeks class will finish off the toe. I have already started it's mate. I'm hoping to have it past the heel this week. Just depends on how busy we are!

2007-06-19T19:00:00.000-04:00

SOCK UPDATE.. This is the yarn that I dyed. I love it. Way too much fun! And here is the beginning of my very first sock. The teacher tells you things that a pattern doesn't. At least with sewing there are not hidden tricks to the pattern!

I think this sock thing is way fun. So I'm sure there will be more! I'm going to try to get my 2nd one (the mate) started this week. But since I work (duh) I probably won't get them finished at the same time, but hopefully close!

2007-06-10T22:15:00.000-04:00

Sock Class
Saturday was dying day for my first sock class. It was quite fun! I've never dyed yarn before. I can't wait until next week when we actually start knitting!

My youngest niece is having her tonsils out tomorrow. I'm hoping it'll go well and that she recovers quickly. My Mom is also going back to work this week. She'll only be doing two days. So hopefully it won't be too hard on her.

Next weekend (besides my sock class), my niece and nephew will be going to 4-H camp. They're bummed that they can't stay in the same room. Aha, 10 yr olds! I just hope they do okay. The niece that is going has never been away from home that long! Hope her Mom does okay too!

Also next weekend? Father's Day, and my parents 45th Wedding Anniversary. Whew, is that enough or what!

Hope everyone has a good week.

2007-06-05T21:41:00.000-04:00

Saturday, June 2nd
I arrived at my parents at 7:30am for breakfast. I ordered bacon (my Dad's was the cook) he also fixed pancakes. Yummy. I love getting to "order" breakfast. My Mom had surgery on May 25th, quite unexpected, but her gall bladder need out, quickly. And the surgeon also found a hernia! A two for one surgery. She's doing great. She's ready to be able to do more (getting bored I think). I planted some flowers for her while I was waiting on my sister.

I went along with my sister's family to watch two of my nieces play ball. Erikah's (8 yrs) game started at 9 am. This is tourney time and her team won. I took pictures, but don't have them on my computer yet.
In between games, we went back to my sister's to eat lunch. We only had about twenty minutes until we had to leave for Llylah's (6 yrs) game, it started at noon. I have to say that Llylah stopped a ball (she was playing short stop), it rolled up and hit her eye. She played the ball to second. Then she cried. What a player! She wasn't hurt, we think the ball scared her. They also won their game.
I was amazed at how well these kids played. It was hot, humid and around 86 outside!
And because Erikah's team won their first game? We had another game that started at 2pm! The 7 & 8 yr old that played their first game at 9am! Played and won their second game that day! I had a really good time. Really enjoyed listening to the kids.
Just so you know, since both games were won, there were two games on Sunday (one each).
Erikah's team won their game and have another to play. Llylah's team lost , but only by one point to a team that was undefeated. Llylah's team had only lost two games.

Today,
I'm just getting anxious for my sock class that startes on Saturday! My knitting seems tame compared to the ballgames! But I am very excited!

2007-05-12T10:31:00.000-04:00

Camping last weekend. Ours is the Keltly tent. We also put up a tarp to have a dry place to cook. The weather was good. Friday we got set up before it started to rain. And Saturday was partly cloudly with a shower or two. Sunday was the best day. Lots of sun and a warm wind. We went hiking (wish I had taken a couple of pictures). We hiked up 1000 ft gain, both ways, in about 2 miles. Mostly hills, so we went up and down. Down and up. At one point I looked at hubby, because I said this "hill" is higher than the last. His response? "It as optical illusion". Nope, it was NOT.
I got lots of exercise so over all I was happy, just a lot more hills that I was counting on.

This week has been busy at work, getting ready for the auditors next week! Ick. But two weeks and things will settle. Started walking of an evening (trying to lose some weight). So far, it's working well and I'm happy about that! So now I've got time. I'll get my house work caught up!

Nice sunny weekend a head and I have lots of stuff to do! Hope everyone enjoys their weekend!

2007-04-25T20:02:00.000-04:00

On April 13th.. I took a 1/2 day off work, picked up my Mom and went to the Fiber Event. I had never been before and thankfully my Mom was willing to go on this new adventure. I bought yarn, boy was that fun! There was SO MUCH to see! I had a great time. I bought a new set of needles (not shown). I'm planning a scarf out of the teal on the left for my Mom. The variegated (two) I'm planning socks.. maybe, time will tell. I bought the green because I like the feel of it. The two burn orange in the back? I'm thinking of trying a felted purse. I think I could make two, maybe. The green glass button is for a knitted project I'm finishing up, it's a felted bag. After I get it finished I'll take a picture. The cross I just loved the colors in it. I"m going to have to make a string to wear it with.

Things have been busy around here. I survived the meeting at our house (on a Wednesday night). I worked my last two weekend at my part-time job.(Thank you Lord for seeing me thru.) And this week at work? the auditors are there. They come one week in April for the preliminary and then for two weeks in May for the full audit! Geesh.

Plus I had a dr apt this week. I was going to cancel (I feel just fine thank you...) but decided since it was a specialist, (and very hard to get into) I'd keep it then I'd have my foot in the door when I really needed to get in. Remember. I FEEL FINE. But I came out of there with two apt for "special" procedures, because apparently I'm not as fine as I thought. I was so... mad isn't quite the right word. Amazed or dumbfounded is closer.

So I'm quite looking forward for April to end and hope that May improves! I mean after all my odds are quite good since I don't have any more dr appointments for surprises. Did I mention that in April I went to the eye dr (okay I haven't been in two years). So of course I needed new glasses. (no surprise there, I can't see stuff is the reason I made the appointment!)

2007-04-01T20:46:00.000-04:00

How's this for the end of a weekend? and if you look close up in the right hand corner, you can see the 2nd one!

2007-04-01T09:39:00.000-04:00

Yesterday

My sister, me and our parents arrived at my brother's house at 8am. Well I got there at 7:30, but that's just me. I live the farthest away (45 minutes). My brother's girlfriend recently moved out. I could say more, like she NEVER cleaned, not ANYTHING. But that's as far as I'm going with the description okay? Believe me when I say.. I could go on and on and on..etc.

In my brother's defense, he ususally works 45-60 hours a week. He doesn't ever "relax". So we arrived yesterday day morning to declare "cleaning" day. He does stuff for all of us all the time. He's not real good at accepting help, but my sister and I had decided it was time he learned.

So we cleaned. The three full bathrooms (with rubber gloves). And I have to say that his 10 yrs son said "it's gross", but he helped us. So did his middle daughter that still lives at home. His oldest is married. Then we painted two of the bathrooms.

And we worked on packing up what the girlfriend didn't take with her (again a long story). She also had two kids and she didn't even take all their clothes. So we packed up one whole room and then swept, took off the border and got it ready to be painted. He is going to set this one up as a office/computer room. My Dad and my sister were going over today to help paint the office room and his bathroom (the third one).

My mom is going to take my neice and nephew to pick out shower curtains and towels for their bathrooms. Philip is using Sponge Bob (we painted his bathroom sunshine yellow. And Robin is using bubbles with orange and pink towels. My mom is using red and blue in the master bath (my brother didn't care what color).

Then after we get these rooms complete (moving furniture will come after the painting of the office room). Then we're going to tackle Philip's bedroom, he want's it painted blue, and my brother's room. It just needs cleaned and painted...

Then I think by June, we're going to paint his living room and kitchen. These rooms will take probably two or three days (he has cathedral ceilings and they are big rooms!)

After that? I'd like to see him be able to park in is two car garage. We built our houses the same year (12 years ago). I always park in my garage and love it, especially in the winter!

I have to say that my brother was getting excited about the clean up. And the fact that he had ideas helped. And we didn't feel like we were overwhelming him. He even thanked us. And so we know that he did apprecited all our hard work.

I was excused from the painting toay, because I have to work next weekend, therefore I have stuff at home that must get done!

2007-03-28T21:09:00.000-04:00

March 23, 2006

We celebrated our 16th Anniversary. Unbelievable! I can't quite wrap my mind around 16 years. It sure doesn't seem that long. I mean I look back on my 16th birthday. Mind boggling, heck I thought I was old then! Now I know I'm not!

We went out to dinner. We went somewhere that I've been at lunch, but we hadn't been for dinner together. My dinner was the greatest. I got this chicken wrap. I know the name sounds bad (Mo' Fo' Chicken Wrap). It just means that it's HOT! Whew! I love spicey. Hubby ate.. a hamburger. He was quite pleased with it (I mean he got what he expected). He did take a bite of mine (he doesn't like spicey but said it had a good flavor). That was the extent of our celebration. We both enjoyed ourselves at dinner. I guess that's what happens after 16 years!

Today

We went for a short walk looking for mushrooms, didn't find any, but saw these in our trees.
It had been raining. Hubby says "they're drying their wings". Huh. Never saw that before.
They are buzzards or vultures (a real ugly bird). This was way up in the tree by the way. At least 60 ft or so.

Sock News:

I'm ripping it out. can't get the heel to look right. Then I'm going to try one from the top down. I will NOT give up! I just need to find "my" style. Yeah, right and a pattern that doesn't "wrap" stitches. At least, not until I get that figured out!

2007-03-18T13:01:00.000-04:00

Last Week
Okay, I'll be the first to say, this daylight savings is for the birds! I have lived most of my life (until last year) with out it. And like NOT changing so much better. I am a morning person and really miss the early morning light. Enough said.

Friday night we went to see the twin nieces (who are only 5yrs old) in the high school production of "The King and I". They did a wonderful job and the play was well done. My sister in law did the choreography for the play. She also teaches at the University.

Our icemaker sprung a leak on Saturday. I knew it was having isssues, but it's not that old and I don't want to have to replace it! I worked this Saturday, not my usual schedule, but they are very short handed. So Sunday is my only day off for three weeks. Crazy.

I've been working on my sock. Hand got the heel completed, but I was NOT at all please with it, so I ripped back to the start of the heel, and I will try it again this week. I'll take a picture when there is more progress.

So today is Sunday, I slept in, hey I was tired.. and the time change didn't help any. So I'm taking it easy today and I'm fixing steaks for dinner tonight.. make me happy. Now I must get back to the laundry and housework that I've been neglecting and beside the hubby is going to be helping (whether he knows it or not).. He's good help, so I really can't complain. The sun is out, so perhaps a walk this afternoon is in order (some fresh air!).

2007-03-10T09:16:00.000-05:00

I'm at the heel. I'm doing a short row heel. But if you look closely I purled when I should have knit, so I'm going backwards to get it fixed. I needed a break so I decided to post a sock update!

In other news... We started our city water hook up last night, the outside one,(didn't finish until 10:30), but it was warm outside, 40's. It had been up to 60+ yesterday. So all that's left to do is the hookup (plumbing) inside the house, I have been waiting for this since November! Our well water has an iron it in. We've been doing the shocking thing with chlorine for over 5 years, but it won't go away. It just kept getting worse, and has been to the point that we've not been drinking our water for two years. We've been carrying water from his Mom's house (she lives next door just down the road). I have also been taking our "whites" laundry there to do, because if you wash anything white.. it's slightly orange when it comes out! Did I mention that we do have a softener (which they promised... "it will be the iron out") NO it DOESN'T! Other proof of that would be in the shower. It's orange too and my daily struggle as I spray it with chemicals to try to keep it white! OOOHHHHH I am really looking forward to this city water. Our neighbors don't even have a softner! So mine is going!

It's been a big week. I've also turned in my notice for my part-job! I know I'm working this month, but April is a wait and see. They've been so short handed that I did offer to work thru April. And the may keep me as PRN, which means I might work a day or two a month. So I'd be able to help with vacations over the summer. Time will tell, I'm ready to NOT work every-other weekend. It's gotten old and it servered a purpose when I started out, but is no longer necessary! And besides, I really missing going to church and seeing friends!

2007-02-26T20:24:00.000-05:00

SOCK...something is not quite right... with the sides of my toes! I think its just inexperience. That and I don't think I picked up the wraps quite right. could be that I'm knitting way to tight!

So I'm going to rip it all out and start over.. again. And for those of you wondering, my model is my chicken pin cushion that my grandmother made for me when I started sewing in high school. I call it chicky babe. It has served me well over the years and since my hubby wouldn't let me pin the toe to his.. chicky babe volunteered.

I would take any suggestions on the knitting. And ideas what I've done wrong.. I mean there are holes and I know there shouldn't be. duh...

And for anyone wondering what sock pattern I'm using. I'm using Wendyknits toe-up pattern. It sounded like something I could do... I've not giving up. I mean after all, it looks like a toe of a sock! it just has... holes!

2007-02-26T17:15:00.000-05:00

Feeling Better..
One week later.. on bp med. I don't have a headache! After months of dealing with it I am so releived! On the other hand.. I have had a touch of the flu. But I'm thinking its a 24hr variety. So after a two hour nap, I'm feeling much better now. I might even be hungry!
So now I'm going to try to straighten up the house a bit, only because the neighbor lady and I are going to be cutting each others' hair tomorrow night and I don't like people to see my house a mess! Then I'm going back to knitting the sock. I'm up to the toes, so now I'm ready for down the other side! I'm very excited that I've figure out this much! (doesn't take much, does it?)
later....

2007-02-22T20:59:00.000-05:00

SOCKS - this is the yarn I pickup up today and the needles to start my first pair of socks. I considered taking a class. But so far I've been able to follow patterns, so I'm going to try. If I decide to take a class, it might be the one to learn knitting with the magic loop and doing two socks at the same time! The class cost is $60 plus material (yarn & needles!) But I've got a couple of weeks before I have to decide!. So now comes the "test" of skill.

Also I found a "FIBER FESTIVAl". It was on the Events on the Daily Knitter. It's in Greencastle, Indiana! I can't wait to go. I am very excited since I've never been to anything like that! But it's not until April. So I've got a bit of a wait.

2007-02-20T18:00:00.000-05:00

Blood Pressure.. high
Okay I've been fighting off a sinus infection since last November. I just figured the headache... was from the sinus infection. Right? Wrong. My sinus infection is gone (after three 'rounds of antibotics). And the headache remained. Not good. I just happened to mention this to my Mom... and she was the one said to keep checking my bp. Of course mine was always low so imagine my surprise when it was high. Really high. So yesterday I gave in and we to the doctor. Only because I am weary of the whole headache thing. The doctor is starting me out on a very mild med and hopefully once I start feeling better I won't have to stay on it! I'd like to be able to exercise (walk) again!

2007-02-14T16:17:00.000-05:00

Our backyard today. More snow last night 3-5" on top of all that lovely ice! Our county is under a snow emergency today so we're still at home. And we still have electricty, probably because the wind didn't pick up like they predicted. We should make it out tomorrow! And there's to be more snow on Friday!

2007-02-14T16:09:00.000-05:00

Another Scarf! My Mom bought this yarn for me... the scraps at the top was all I had left! It's wonderfully soft and will look great with my gray sweater!

2007-02-14T10:33:00.000-05:00

CABLE SCARF

This is the itchy thing. Such a disappointment after all that work! I'll just have to wear it

with a turtleneck I guess!

I took lots of pictures trying to get one that wasn't blurry. For some strange reason the new camera wants to blurr things up close. I'm researching now to see if it me or the camera!

2007-02-13T18:41:00.000-05:00

KNITTING

I used "Wendyknit" Fir Cone Scarf pattern and made this scarf for my friend. It's very long at her request, so I am just posting the detail.

I have another scarf that I finished for myself, my first cable knit. But I'm still mad about the yarn, it was very soft and fluffy when I purchased it, and then after I went to block it the color faded (I did this by hand, in cold water) and it's itchy. This was NOT cheap yarn, but I won't be buying any more of this brand. It was a store brand, which I had purchased before and not had any problem...

2007-02-13T18:16:00.000-05:00

ICE STORM
Here is a picture that I took outside this afternoon, before the temperatures started dropping and the wind picked up. Now if only the electricity will stay on.

We walked down to the MIL's house to be sure the 30yrs furnace was still running, thankfully it was so that was very good. I took this picture inside her enclosed porch...

Both pictures were taken with my new Christmas camera, thanks Mom & Dad! It's a 6.1 mega pixels such a great upgrad from my 2.0!

Hubby and I spent part of our day cutting some wood in preparedness of electricty going out. We're at the end of the line. The electricty stops at our house, therefore there aren't that many people on our line and they always leave us till last (or so it seems). We'll probably still be home tomorrow as our 4X4 isn't running. Okay it's 16 yrs old, has 365,000+miles. We don't expect much do we? Of course my 1987 Bronco II starts and runs, but has an electrical problem and would probably leave us stranded (which is why we stopped driving it after 19 yrs, 265,ooo+). Our new car (2007), I'm not real excited about getting out on ice. It's way to light, we live in HILLS, there are HOLLARS. Nope I'd like to see it still in the garage, but how much work (vacation time) are we willing to spend? Time will tell, that and the electricy. Can leave the house to freeze up! Winter 2007, has finally arrived. Please note, we got 5" of snow last week, that was just a sampling!

2007-01-18T20:29:00.000-05:00

"And this too shall pass.."
It's been ruff over the last week.

Last Thursday, I got the last hot shower, which was great, but I had a busy weekend coming up, so not the greatest timing...so Saturday it was replaced.. new one, 4" taller so it required some re-plumbing. It's a good thing my husband is handy with stuff like that!
Saturday, have I mentioned how much rain we've been getting? Our roof now offically has it's first ever least. Our house isn't even 12 yrs old yet!
Saturday, Our last pet of almost 13 years, Molly died, peacefully in her sleep. Can talk about this yet, still makes me cry. Probably because I'm tires, naw that 's not why.
Worked Saturday at the hospital 2-10:30...
Then Sunday, I went out of town for work for "book rush". Between Sunday thru Tuesday evening I put in 23 hours of overtime (Sunday was a 10.5 hr work day). Got back home on Tuesday evening just after 11, then got up Wednesday morning at 7:30am,, did I mention the time difference? and that I worked until 11pm on Monday? I have been very tired, hoping that I get rest this weekend. My next check will be very nice. It is what keeps me going.

So tomorrow is Friday and I'm thinking it's going to get better when I get some extra rest on Saturday... I've just kept praying...

2007-01-01T22:45:00.000-05:00

On my walk today... the river to wet to get closer.
It was sleeting while I was out, very chilly walk.

2007-01-01T10:37:00.000-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2007
Okay I admit it, I've not been a very good blogger lately. Between working a full time and a part time job, I've kept quite busy and my house work had fallen behind (which really bothers me).
And then a couple of weeks ago our dog, Molly had some kind of siezure or stroke. We took her to the vet, with meds it still took almost 3 days before we saw an improvement and she still isn't eating much. She needed to lose weight.. at this rate I'm worried she's loosing too much.
So I am going to make an effort to blog at least twice a month. So I hope you'll bear with me.
I'm looking forward to 2007, hoping that our year goes even better than 2006.

I thank God each day for our jobs, family and friends and know that he is with me thru all of our trials. There are many heartaches that we went thru with my step-daughter this last year and still I pray for her. That one day she will remember that we do love her and miss her. I also pray that her mother loses the bitterness that she harbors in her heart. And that being said, we can only pray and hope.

Okay it's New Years' Day and I'm going to get dress and go walking in the dreary gray that we have today!

Blessing to you all.

2006-08-04T21:13:00.000-04:00

One of God's nature wonders. This is a photo of Morning Glory,
a hot springs in Yellowstone National Park. We went a few years
ago. It's very commercialize, but pretty. We saw lots of wildlife;
grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, moose, buffalo. We stayed in
a small place called Cooke City. (that's where the photo is from,
complients to them. Here is their website if you'd like to see their
webcams. www.cookecitysinclair.com. The photo can be found
on their Daily Picture Page.

2006-08-02T20:13:00.000-04:00

It is 6:47 pm. The heat index is 100. It’s too hot to move. I really feel for the people that work outside in this weather. My husband is one. He is dragging with good reason. I work in an air conditioned office and sometime have to wear a jacket. There should be a happy medium to the two extremes. I just don’t know where to find them. We’ve even bumped our air conditioning temperature up at home so the geothermal can catch up!

Grilled out chicken, marinated in Lite Done right, on kabob’s yesterday dinner with potatoes, onions and red pepper. Yummy.

Tonight I did tenderloin with season salt on the grill. Put some baby carrots into foil with a dash of honey, threw that on the grill with the tenderloin. And then fried up some potatoes and onions!.. I’m stuffed.

Hope everyone is finding ways to stay cool.

2006-07-29T08:45:00.000-04:00

Sorry, I’ve been neglecting by blog. Summers are very busy for us it seems. With two yards to mow, we spend lots of time outside.
I have to share. We have ground bees from time to time. Three or four years ago my husband got stung 22 times when he mowed over a hole in the ground. He was on a hill, so it wasn’t like he could jump & run. Last week, I was out mowing our side yard. And yes, I’ll admit I saw the hole in the ground, I thought to myself, a snake hole. So I whipped right by it went to the other end of the yard and finished up. Then I headed to the last patch that is caused when your yard isn’t quite square. I admit, I mow if 4th gear. My husband cringes, but lets me because I can get it done faster than him! So in 4th gear I headed back to where I had seen the whole, and to my horror, I saw the bees, and I already knew I was going to fast to stop. Our lawnmower stops if you get off the seat, so I jumped and at a dead run headed for the house.
Yes, I got stung, one right under my eyelashes, three on my ribs and one on a leg. Five times, I had no idea if I was allergic, because I hadn’t been stung in years! As an Asthmatic I knew not to wait too long if I thought I’d need medical attention. Lucky for me, I must not be allergic, because other than extreme pain and a swollen eye/face I survived.
So I’ve not been with adventure this summer. I’ll do another post tomorrow and tell you about my nieces pig showing at the fair!

2006-05-20T11:23:00.000-04:00

Well it’s finally quit raining after 13 days, ick. I don’t mind rain, be it was getting redundant! I will still be blogging, but probably farther between blogs. With the arrival of Spring/Summer, I enjoy the outside and don’t spend a lot of time indoors. So therefore not as much time on the computer at home. I sit in front of one 8 hrs a day and there are days that is too much.
We (my sister and Mom and me) gave my niece her wedding shower last night. I hope she was happy with her gifts. I’m aggravated with the ex-sister-in-law, she didn’t even show up to her own daughter wedding show. So people.. … dumb.
And I’ve been knitting a summer sweater shell. I’m hoping to have it done in a few weeks. I was hoping to wear it to my nieces wedding, but it’s looming closer each day so I’m not sure I’m going to make it. Especially since this is my first project of this size. And I’ve had to rip out a couple of times. J But I’m its only two pieces and I’m hoping to finish the first piece after work tonight. The only scary is “learning” to pick up stitches around the neck to do the finishing work. I don’t think two weeks is going to be enough time.
Hopefully I’ll be blogging at least twice a month! Maybe more if the rains start up again.

2006-04-06T20:55:00.000-04:00

This is the top of the "FIREWORKS OF GLASS". It's a 43 foot tall
ower, constructed of 3200 pieces of blown glass. It' is the work of
Dale Chihuly. My sister's three girls are on Spring Break this week.
So my Mom and I took a day off work. Then Mom, my sister, me
and my three nieces went to the Indianapolis Children's Museum.
We saw more than just the blown glass. It was just my favorite
and the whole reason that I initiated the trip!

2006-04-06T20:38:00.000-04:00

Some friends and I are going Friday evening to see Joel Osteen.
You can lean more about him at www.lakewood.cc. I am really
looking forward to this. I have been watching him on TV several
years. And enjoy his message. By watching him I was encouraged
to find a church where I felt like I belonged.
When I married my husband and moved, I couldn't find a church
I was comfortable in. And on top of that, I stuck with one for
six months, thinking I would get more comfortable.. when I left,
I never heard anything from them! And that really discouraged
me. It also turned my husband off that it seemed they didn't
even notice!

2006-04-01T21:44:00.000-05:00

Well we've made it to April 1st. Today was a dreary day, all gray.
We will be changing time tomorrow. It's the first time in 30 years.
Can't say that I'm excited about it. I'd have rather went with the
Central Time Zone, we're stuck in the Eastern. Oh well, I'll get
over it I suppose.

We're back to being a two car family. Finally got the rebuilt
transmission put back in the truck with 300,000+ miles on it.
Since gas took another jump back up ($2.75gal) we're still going
to be riding to work together, just makes sense. We'll probably
be riding the motorcycle by summer! I'll have helmet hair every
day. Yeah.

2006-03-25T09:27:00.000-05:00

It's still cold here, 28F this morning. But it is sunny... at least this morning, we due for snow showers or rain this afternoon. Yippeee..
I've been knitting. Almost finished with my first prayer shawl. I'm not sure who I'm giving it to yet, but I'm sure that will come to me. I've already purchased the necessary yarn for the next one. Bart drops me off at work, I take my lunch, then I knit. There are several ladies at work that crochet or knit after lunch.
Well I'm going to get busy on the house work. It's a never ending process. It's my work weekend and I actually took Saturday off.. paid!, a first with my part-time job of six months. Some I'm hoping to get to walk this afternoon. I'll try to take another picture. Most of the snow is gone and we're due to get in the 50's next week.
I'm trying to find more time to blog... .. or at least go visiting.!

2006-03-25T09:18:00.000-05:00

Second year for my Daffodil's... poor things

2006-03-25T09:12:00.000-05:00

First Day of Spring......

2006-03-12T09:56:00.000-05:00

NUTS ?!?
I took Wednesday off work to catch up my house work.
This is what I got accomplished.
Washed all the curtains (they were collecting dust)
Washed the windows on the inside (hey, it was cold and
raining outside)
Dusted the whole house for cobwebs (yes, even the
cathedral ceiling, I climb on things to get this done)
Dusted the ceiling fans (more climbing)
Dusted the living room and our bedroom
Swept the carpeted floors, moving furniture as I went.
Cleaned the bathrooms (I do this every week, no biggie)
Swept and mopped all the other floors.
Oh, don’t forget,
Put away clean dishes (twice)
Six loads of laundry (two were curtains)
Repotted a couple of indoor plants.
Folded and put away laundry.
My tail was dragging and it would have been less work
to go to WORK!
But I slept much better that night than I had in weeks.

2006-02-26T09:48:00.000-05:00

I haven't used my camera much this year, but I go
to the Observatory often to see their webcam. I
thought this was beautiful. It reminds me of what
an awesome God I serve. How beauty comes
out of even.. snow and cold!
We've been hiking three or four times a week.
Last Thursday was the coldest as the wind had
a bite to it! But we've got solid two and three
mile trails. I'm so excited. I'm really enjoying
being outside after been cooped up in a
windowless office all day.

2006-02-06T13:18:00.000-05:00

WEEKEND
We actually got a couple of inches of snow Saturday. I went on my
walk, I’ve been walking a mile a day. I’m hoping to push that up to
a mile and a half by the end of this week. I’ve just got to use our
GPS to determine how far to go. I walk in our woods and Saturday
during the snow was the best.
I’m trying to get back into shape. It’s frustrating at times, but
with asthma it’s an on going battle. My biggest goal is to stay off
the steroids. I learned last year that my asthma and running
doesn’t go together well. I really enjoyed the running;
unfortunately my asthma took a turn for the worse. It would
seem (according to the doctor) that while running I am inhaling
deeper therefore some of the outside allergies were getting
into my lungs. Humm… So I’m back to walking. I’m dealing
with the disappointment, because I’d really like to run. But I
have also decided that the weight gain from the steroid is a
good deterrent.

2006-01-28T09:06:00.000-05:00

GROWING UP

I grew up on a farm. My Dad, uncles and cousins did too. For as
long as I can remember, each winter we would butcher our own
meat. My Dad has continued this tradition with us. It probably
sounds unusual, but I have rarely had to buy beef in the grocery.
As a matter of fact I don’t like too. I know what it should look like
just try to find the cuts in a grocery.
So my husband and I spent last Saturday working along side my
family. My youngest niece is only four, she wasn’t too sure about
the meat thing. But her sisters six and nine jumped right in and
were really good help. I’m now usually in charge of packaging. I
don’t know how that happened over the years, but it is my
favorite job. We’ve even expanded to the vacuum sealing a couple
of years ago.
We made up 480 hamburgers. Needless to say, I haven’t eaten any beef
this week.

2006-01-20T06:02:00.000-05:00

I’m finally finished with all the overtime, now it’s catch up time!
I’ve let things go that I wouldn’t normally. This weekend I should
have some progress on it all. That and I’m going to try to have
time to sew. I started a project in December that I haven’t been
able to touch yet in January! It’s a jacket and I’m to the zipper.
Zippers are not my favorite things to do.

I’ve visited a very few blogs lately, but without time to comment.
I’m planning on catching up on that this weekend too!

It’s FRIDAY!

2006-01-03T20:32:00.000-05:00

MANY THANKS!
Thanks to Darlene I now have my right side of my blog back in place!

2006-01-02T09:34:00.000-05:00

WARNING.. chance of a Tornado, 59F
Today I woke up to a Tornado Warning.. in January! We
have crazy weather. I’m going to get dressed and go for
a walk. I’ve worked the last couple of days and since I’m
lucky enough to have today off.. it’s goof off time! Well,
that and catch up. I start working extra hours this Thurs
and it won’t end until next Wed. I feel I should rest, but
probably won't. There are things I must get done.

2006-01-01T11:02:00.000-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
It a bright and sunny morning, expected high today to 50!
I had a scare this morning… I turned on my laptop and it
had a black screen. Not normal. But one click of a button
and all is well, why did this happen. You guess. I’m not
geekish enough to know.

2005-12-27T18:41:00.000-05:00

BELATED MERRY CHRISTMAS!
We had a wonderful Christmas.
Lot’s of baking and good food.
Much appreciated family and friends.
Blessing to all of you.

2005-12-12T19:46:00.000-05:00

Christmas Gift

I borrowed this from a Christmas card we received…

I actually read each card and enjoy them.

The Priceless Gift of Christmas, by Helen Steiner Rice

Christmas is a gift of love
that can’t be bought or sold –
It’s ours just for the asking,
and it’s worth far more than gold…
And this priceless gift of Christmas
is within the reach of all –
The rich, the poor, the young, the old,
the greatest and the small…
So take God’s Christmas gift of love –
reach out and you receive –
And the only payment that God asks
is just that you believe.

2005-12-07T22:41:00.000-05:00

EXCITEMENT!
We’re under a “Heavy Snow Warning”. On Thursday we’re due to get 5-7” of snow! Yipee!! This is what I’ve been waiting for since it turned off cold. Only tomorrow we’ll really get snow! And hopefully it will hang around until Christmas!

2005-12-06T20:06:00.000-05:00

HELLO!
Last night I was so excited. I thought that I would actually have time to blog! First I only had to make/bake four dozen cookies for our Cookie Exchange at work on Tuesday. As I cooked dinner, I worked on mixing up the first batch of cookies. Then right after dinner I rushed thru making Haystacks, rolled the dough for Mexican Wedding Cookies…. Then I had time to blog while the cookies were baking. So I ventured on, and as luck would have it.. blogspot seemed to be down. I was really bummed. I had worked this last weekend and on top of that, finished two ponchos that I had been crocheting. Oh and I also crocheted the second poncho for my twin nieces(that was a total of three finished this weekend!). Two Christmas presents finished! Yipee.. Only two more to go and I’m hoping to have one finished by this weekend. One that I finished up this weekend, was a birthday present for a friend.
But I am very happy *Tuesday evening* to be blogging. And I didn’t have to do any baking tonight.!

2005-11-28T21:08:00.000-05:00

We have this new debate going on at work. There are many of us that take exception to “Holiday Party”, instead of Christmas Party. Why would we be having a “Holiday” with out Christ? Our county is always so worried about being “politically” correct. It drives me nuts. And I don’t agree. Not too long ago I read and article stating that only (under 20%) was not Christian. And we’re changing everything for them? Whatever happened to the majority ruling? It seems that everyone wants to leave Christ out, but what do they thing we’re celebrating? Probably a tangent I should leave alone. But it irks me.

2005-11-27T19:35:00.000-05:00

Sunday, November 27, 2005
First Christmas Shopping Trip of the year… My mother in law and I went out for lunch after church. Then we decided to go shopping. Not to buy, but to get ideas. We don’t have that many presents to buy anymore, but I enjoy just looking thru the stores. It was raining, snow would have been better. The stores were all decked out, which was nice to see. They weren’t over crowded, and that was a surprise. Now I’ll wait a couple of weeks, complete my list. Then go shopping and buy! I use to always be done before Thanksgiving, but now that I don’t have as much to do I like to wait until closer to Christmas. I really like to go if it’s snowing!
I didn’t buy a couple of Christmas CD’s for myself. But I didn’t count that as Christmas shopping!

2005-11-20T09:05:00.000-05:00

Sunday, November 20, 2005
I took this picture last year, but I can't wait for this year's snow. (Some of my friends consider this a sickness!) My in-laws house is back to the right and our house is up on the left behind the clump of trees. It was a very wet snow. Driving home the night before was real interesting and I wish some of the pictures that I took of it had turn out better. The snow kept getting on my lens and the pictures were too blurry.

2005-11-16T20:53:00.000-05:00

Tornadoes one day, Snow the next, Crazy!
Tuesday, November 15, 2005, Our office was interrupted by the tornado sirens going off today about 4:00pm. It had been up to 60-65 degrees (f) and we’d had a bit of rain during the day. We have an inner office so they crowded our warehouse workers into our office and the inner hall. About 45 minutes of lost work, but thankfully, no tornados touched down close to us. (We’ve had closer.)
Wednesday, November 16, 2005, Okay, we got up to 34 degree (f), quite a drop from the day before! Since I love weather, I tuned in to see what they were saying for today. Surprise! Snow flurries. I didn’t get my hopes up (I love snow), since, well our weather forecasters aren’t always right(really). As I was pulling out of my garage, surprise! Flurries! I was really surprised. I really enjoy snow and never think we get enough. Of course, by February,.. well, no, I still love the snow! It’s suppose to be down to 21 degrees (f) tonight! I also think if it’s going to be cold. There might as well be snow.

2005-11-10T20:01:00.000-05:00

This is Molly, my faithful walking companion. She and I went out last Saturday to see the leaves. There were still many on the trees. And we didn't scare up any deer or turkey. Which is unusual. Molly is almost 11 years old. The vet has told us that she needs to lose weight. Since our Dalmation, Jake died, Molly doesn't go walking, unless we go. They use to go adventuring on their own. So we're walking, not just for us, but for her.

I've been catching up ever since my day off, and everything, but the dusting is caught up. I hate to dust and growing up, Mom always did the dusting. I've been trying to get her to take responsibility for that. My sister and I have learned the funniest things. Like the fact that our Mother ALWAYS was the one to wipe off the cabinets after the kitchen was cleaned. I have the darnest time remembering to do that before I leave the kitchen. I usually have to go back. My sister, Deana says the same thing. We've tried to convience Mom that she's ruined us. Hasn't worked so far. She just laughs. The other funny is that my sister and I were always the ones to load the dirty dishes in the dishwasher (there's 8 years between us, she took over after I moved out). Mom ALWAYS put away the clean ones, and it's one of my least favorite things to do still to this day.!

Well I'm looking forward to this weekend, my friend Teresa is coming to visit. We haven't seen each other in years! She's also got me into blogging. We're going to do a hike, then I'm going to teach her to knit! It should be a wonderful afternoon! Hope everyone enjoys their weekend!

2005-10-28T12:23:00.000-05:00

FRIDAY
A perfect day to be off! I took a vacation day to catch up on things. Too many things. I made a list this morning. Decided there were too many things on the list I’ll never get them all done. So now I’m picking what to do off the list. I enjoy mowing so that made my list. Making cookies I’ve decided should happen after mowing so I’ll be able to warm up as it’s nippy out today. I’ve decided whatever else get done is just luck! But now that the sun is out and hopefully the yard dry, I’ve got to get busy. Beside I’m stuck inside everyday at work (with no window) so I’m going to go outside!

2005-10-25T21:47:00.000-05:00

Tuesday

There is a nip in the air. Low tonight is 37! Of course, being asthmatic, I’m hoping for a frost! I’ll try to learn how to post a picture this weekend. Saturday will be a day of taking pictures and walking in the woods. We’re attending a church get-together at our neighbor’s house. It should be a good day. Cook out and all! I’ve got some cooking to do for the Saturday outing. I’m hoping to do it all on Thursday evening! Cookies and pies. I have Friday off, I’ve offered to help setup for Saturday.

I’m trying to finish up my latest knitting project. A scarf for my Mom, that hopefully I’ll have finished.. tonight! I’ve already purchased yarn for my next project. I’m going to be trying out a new poncho, wool, for me this time.

2005-10-19T20:32:00.000-05:00

Ever since we found out my father-in-law had cancer, this song has held a special place in my heart.

Live Like You are Dying, by Tim McGraw.

He said I was in my early forties

with a lot of life before me

when a moment came that stopped me on a dime

and I spent most of the next days

looking at the x-rays

Talking bout the options

and talking bout sweet time

I asked him when it sank in

that this might really be the real end

how's it hit you when you get that kinda news

man what'd you do
and he saidI went sky diving

I went Rocky Mountain climbing

I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named FuManchu

and I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter

and I gave forgiveness I'd been denying

and he said someday I hope you get the chance

to live like you were dying.
He said I was finally the husband

that most the time I wasn't

and I became a friend a friend would like to have

and all the sudden going fishin

wasn't such an imposition

and I went three times that year I lost my dad

well I finally read the good book

and I took a good long hard look

at what I'd do if I could do it all again
and then

I went sky diving

I went Rocky Mountain climbing

I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named FuManchu

and I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter

and I gave forgiveness I'd been denying

and he said someday I hope you get the chance

to live like you were dying.
Like tomorrow was a gift and you got eternity to think about

what'd you do with it

what did you do with it

what did I do with it

what would I do with it'
Sky diving

I went Rocky Mountain climbing

I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named FuManchu

and then I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter

and I watched an eagle as it was flying

and he said someday I hope you get the chance

to live like you were dying.

To live like you were dying

2005-10-18T22:34:00.000-05:00

BETTER NOW
Several hours later, well it’s not as neat and clean as I would like, but there has been a vast improvement. The kitchen is straightened and cleaned. The kitchen and living room swept. And I’m on the third load of laundry (my last for this evening).
My sister had gotten me flowers for my birthday and I’ve recut the ends and they are nicely arranged sitting on my fireplace hearth. Yes, much better. And I’m thankful that my husband is willing to eat leftovers (several nights in a row).

BORROWING THE TRAILER
My husband doesn’t like to borrow. But he went up to borrow my brother’s trailer to haul this thing (I’m not sure what to call it, except monstrosity) home. It weights 2000 lbs. Use to have a mainframe computer in. He wants it for the shelving. I know it sounds strange, but I’m sure it’s going to work wonderfully.
Okay, first his transmission is still out of his truck. So he’s using the Jeep (notice how I used he, not we). First before he left home, he had to fix the trailer lights. Okay, that wasn’t good. Then he ended up cutting the pigtail off his truck and was going to us that.
So off he goes (remember this is a 45 minute drive from our house, my brother lives close to my parents).
So I started cleaning house. He left around 6:30ish. I figured he’d be home by 9, you know drive up there hook up the trailer and come home. I didn’t think he’s stay and visit, because we get up early. We both have to be at work by 7:30.
Okay, 9:30 rolls around, and I’m debating whether I should call my Dad to see if he knows if Bart is headed home. But then I hear him in the driveway… then I notice... he doesn’t have the trailer. I’m afraid to ask. I just knew something wasn’t right.
So I go out to see him. Didn’t ask, still afraid to.
Then he looks at me. I knew something wasn’t right. He’d gotten up there, got the thingy in with the ball to hook up the trailer. Got the lights working, then hooked up the trailer onto the ball. Then he says “the hitch and trailer fell to the ground, trailer hitch was rusted”. Okay, I wanted to laugh, but couldn’t decide if he thought it was funny or not. Then I smirked. He laughed. (thank goodness). So now the Jeep no longer has a trailer hitch and we still have this 2000 lbs thingy to get home. Do you think this is a sign? I’m not sure but anything that weighs 2000 lbs scares me!

2005-10-18T17:32:00.000-05:00

FRAZZELED
I haven’t mentioned it, but I’ve started a part-time job (every-other weekend). But for training purposes I am working three weekends in a row. So I’m past the second weekend, but not yet half-way thru 21 days of working straight. Well, it’ll only be 20 days with one off. I took off Monday, October 17th. I am so tired I can’t see straight. Speaking of straight, my house isn’t, which drives me insane. I like everything in it’s place. And right now, I can’t even think about it. It’s got to get better, right?

2005-10-16T09:04:00.000-05:00

SURPRISE!
We were on our way home from work on Thursday evening, after our chiropractor appointments. When I remembered that I hadn’t heard from my mother-in-law or sister-in-law. We usually do “Mexican” Thursday’s and meet them in town. I had been so busy at work that I hadn’t thought about it. I’m driving, on the back road, going slowly (because he usually likes me to) I should have been curious when he wanted to know why I was going so slowly, said he had stuff to do at home. But I didn’t think much of it, just couldn’t figure it out.

Then when we get home, he said he wasn’t very hungry. I had tried to get him to go out to eat and he wasn’t interested. Okay, by this time I’m getting aggregated. Why? Because I want to get dinner cooked, eaten and cleaned up!

So I go ahead and go down to the basement to start a load of laundry. Then I came back up to the kitchen to start dinner, whether or not he’s hungry, I figured he’d eat it! Then I notice someone pulling into the driveway. I told Bart it’s probably the neighbors they had mentioned dropping off a book. He didn’t say anything, but he was picking up so things in the living room that were sitting around. He does that sometime, but he just grinned at me.

Into the house came my parents, my sister and her family, my brother and his family, his mother and my sister-in-law and her twin girls. Hummm… I look at him as said. “What did you do?” He just grinned. He was having a surprise birthday party for me. Aaagghh.. Okay I had had a cold earlier that week, my house was a wreck. But its family, I just smile. And they carried in food, paper stuff to eat with, cake and ice cream! It was a very nice gathering. And much unsuspected. Nice touch from my husband who still surprises me.

We had talked earlier in the week, had agreed there weren’t enough hours in the week to worry about doing anything for my birthday, and I was fine with that. But no, he couldn’t stand it. I turned 40 on Friday, October 14th.

2005-10-11T18:35:00.000-05:00

ISSUES
We live in the “country”. Up until about five years ago we had a few neighbors. Then one old man (I’m being nice), sold his property to a realtor. Okay, this probably wouldn’t have been so bad, except they robbed him blind. The man was 92 and didn’t get out much. His wife had died the winter before so he was alone, except for his son lived beside him. He didn’t even mention to his son that he wanted to sell. This realtor came around as chatted to the old man (and we believe) got him to sell.

Okay, needless to say it made hard feelings between the son and father. But then the realtor divided up the property into lots, very small lots. Then the first trailer moved in, granted I’m not a snob. But I was skeptical and was use to not having neighbors. We now have two trailers, one modular, and one stick built home. Okay, until the police started making regular visits. Then one evening, the police were searching for the neighbors’ oldest son was wanted on an arrest warrant, until all of this we lived in a quite neighborhood.

Tonight we’ve got kids (two, 10 & 13) running up and down the road on quad runners. It wouldn’t be so bad, but they get onto others property (without permission). Which is a liability to the property owners; we’re not the only ones involved. And of course, if they ask, because of liability, you can’t let them. They don’t understand. Why would anyone that wanted to run quad runners buy 1 acre? Duh! I say. We have several acres, more than 10 less than 20. We don’t currently own a quad runner, but we do lots of hiking on our property. And don’t want it all rutted up on our trails.

A couple of Saturdays ago, the older boy and a friend of his went walking down the road with a gun. (maybe a 22 rifle). Okay, first they once again didn’t have permission, and what were they going to shot? Their father wasn’t with them. So my husband, drove went after them. First asked if they had permission, what they were planning to shooting, etc. After many vague answers he sent them home and told them if their parents had a problem with that to send them down. We didn’t see anything from them. My guess is they didn’t want us to call the police to complain. Which would have been our next step, kids that young should be using guns unsupervised.

So now we’ve got the dilemma of being a good or a bad neighbor. We’ve considered calling the police in on this, but it seems unreasonable. We usually save that call for the deer hunters that trespass!
I must say that I liked not having so many issues to deal with. And it’s not like we’ve made friends with any of the new neighbors.

2005-10-08T10:28:00.000-05:00

SATURDAY
I’ve been practicing and hope that I have the confidance to sing this Sunday at church. Time will tell. I believe that you can do anything with God’s help. And sometimes that means turning it all over to him, even if you have to wait for his answer. I believe that he taking care of Bart and I right now. I see things in our lives and know that it is in his time, not ours. And I praise him and thank God for everything.

SONG:Selah - You Raise Me Up Lyrics
When I am down, and oh my soul, so weary.
When troubles come, and my heart burdened be.
Then I am still and wait here in the silence.
Until You come and sit awhile with me.
You raise me up so I can stand on mountains.
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas.
I am strong when I am on your shoulders.
You raise me up to more than I can be.
You raise me up so I can stand on mountains.
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas.
I am strong when I am on your shoulders.
You raise me up to more than I can be.
There is no life. No life without its hunger.
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly.
But when you come and I am filled with wonder.
Sometimes I think I glimpse eternity.
You raise me up so I can stand on mountains.
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas.
I am strong when I am on your shoulders.
You raise me up to more than I can be.
You raise me up so I can stand on mountains.
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas.
I am strong when I am on your shoulders.
You raise me up to more than I can be.