tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13695058085723068502024-03-18T22:19:23.095-05:00Home Ec MajorA blog about decorating, stitching, baking, gardening, family, and walking a faith filled journey.Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185422453541735778noreply@blogger.comBlogger795125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369505808572306850.post-7178350357667985662024-03-18T10:44:00.000-05:002024-03-18T10:44:02.304-05:00Spring Break <p style="text-align: center;"> My weekly post is late this week. I was trying for Thursdays, but schedules don't seem to work as well anymore for this schedule loving girl. There were some sick kids and spring break daycare closures that threw my schedule up into the air. I am grateful to help out the kids though.</p><p style="text-align: center;">March is being temperamental as always, but the cloudy rainy weather is still hanging on unfortunately. I am hoping April Showers is really March Showers and May Flowers will really be April Flowers. </p><p style="text-align: center;">In the meantime, we will enjoy the show of azaleas that are in full bloom all along the roads of the Deep South. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I will type and share some of the ones I have captured in my own yard and down the street.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwL4OEMU0fichyeM0tY_MBNpj857C-In9icNwd3C2c2lvXBlQgYYe4hbQJ1PY4TAnOctBUVSySk3Q5AfDjHTkoaBw4c2RKanrwjIppnDFTei3OFPVND6zgjuM-GeyTwMj5SzGeuSh4XrADLnn-_fj5I8yyQ8H2O2acCVxSLmHOCWj-tFLWSFfF0wRMNN6/s4032/IMG_0443.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwL4OEMU0fichyeM0tY_MBNpj857C-In9icNwd3C2c2lvXBlQgYYe4hbQJ1PY4TAnOctBUVSySk3Q5AfDjHTkoaBw4c2RKanrwjIppnDFTei3OFPVND6zgjuM-GeyTwMj5SzGeuSh4XrADLnn-_fj5I8yyQ8H2O2acCVxSLmHOCWj-tFLWSFfF0wRMNN6/w480-h640/IMG_0443.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jeff and I have been old people hobbling along this past week. I pulled a muscle most likely from lifting boys and Jeff has a pinched nerve that has been relentless. He will think it is about to let up and then he just stands up wrong and it starts all over. Mine is much better but he is still struggling. We have both been hunched over and slow walking all last week. It is a sight to behold. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAaYyAUBrnfgTMTma606tWPzwkk6xOA5hhQVdUUh454FecBKZu5bk2N0DMRKR2E_PK05eyRH19bStj7DE9BU22qMbSbLKqeLTcIlIz8AZgdBqqzK4hoaeKUgl9LOS_fy32-hO2XLVi9phEnvcpyDVISCT8-kKLV_OmwLlvCemZHMZDiCBrdLTO5Mhh77r/s4032/IMG_0462.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAaYyAUBrnfgTMTma606tWPzwkk6xOA5hhQVdUUh454FecBKZu5bk2N0DMRKR2E_PK05eyRH19bStj7DE9BU22qMbSbLKqeLTcIlIz8AZgdBqqzK4hoaeKUgl9LOS_fy32-hO2XLVi9phEnvcpyDVISCT8-kKLV_OmwLlvCemZHMZDiCBrdLTO5Mhh77r/w640-h480/IMG_0462.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Palmer got a little sick and couldn't go to daycare for 2 days last week. He and Miles had a blast together. They really do seem to be fun for each other. Palmer felt bad but not really bad enough to play. He would be tired by the end of day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On one of the days while Miles was napping, Jeff took him to get Chik Fila and to a park to eat it. He asked a lot of questions and they drove around trying to let me rest while Miles was napping. That afternoon when Lindsay loaded Tucker and Palmer and headed for home, he told Tucker in a bragging manner that PaPa had taken him to Chik Fila for lunch. Lindsay said they hadn't really even gotten off my street. Little ones. OF course, Tucker was jealous.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoz0jPE3ZFFVxxbj3MFFkYQOOFU45eR6p3OvQg7zPRtFJ8sKXPrgTto1sdzpnKhUf98s-F57p9H9E0QoyzOks-undZ-rphWb952CyELGgH-FmiADDd_b60AEKiDhhZdlhbXiv6eT0aTEFkBGJJGUx6J9kDWSraMLhj16QVEgfBSPfT6y1znHsmzzzb4Nl/s4032/IMG_0463.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoz0jPE3ZFFVxxbj3MFFkYQOOFU45eR6p3OvQg7zPRtFJ8sKXPrgTto1sdzpnKhUf98s-F57p9H9E0QoyzOks-undZ-rphWb952CyELGgH-FmiADDd_b60AEKiDhhZdlhbXiv6eT0aTEFkBGJJGUx6J9kDWSraMLhj16QVEgfBSPfT6y1znHsmzzzb4Nl/w640-h480/IMG_0463.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tucker got his chance though. Palmer made it back to daycare and Tucker's preschool was closed on Friday so we had him that day. I almost told Lindsay to let me have both of them. Miles was not with us that day as spring break started early for Katie on that Friday. We decided Tucker should have his own special day with Mimi and PaPa. He soaked it all up and got Chik Fila as well.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhKKFN0lPKAFPBUCHfj9TaL1B7Bz2lM8oaDAYkEC60G-jklcIQj7dK4MJZVhzAO98ZVklhgE25p3Rly0hUrM_eqtZOjhuIofByH0wmLLUSXEonjBDkDiNIFm_rV-7VwAB_EvtBA4yfuLd1NVni_BA2Myoo11ZPURrrwfxW55SRZj3kaqK632cB7Wxw14w/s3538/IMG_0464.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3538" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhKKFN0lPKAFPBUCHfj9TaL1B7Bz2lM8oaDAYkEC60G-jklcIQj7dK4MJZVhzAO98ZVklhgE25p3Rly0hUrM_eqtZOjhuIofByH0wmLLUSXEonjBDkDiNIFm_rV-7VwAB_EvtBA4yfuLd1NVni_BA2Myoo11ZPURrrwfxW55SRZj3kaqK632cB7Wxw14w/w548-h640/IMG_0464.jpeg" width="548" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jeff and I went to Auburn for the weekend. We did very little as both of us were hobbling, but peace and quiet were in order. I finished a very good book. I read a lot but don't mention the books unless they are worth the read by someone else. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">May years ago, I read <u>The Three Miss Margarets</u> by Louise Schaffer. I loved it and didn't know there was another book written about the trio. I found it at the library this month. It wasn't as good as the first but a fun read. It was called <u>The Ladies of Garrison Gardens</u>. Both are old books from almost 20 years ago.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The book that I loved was <u>The Women</u> by Kristin Hannah. The author has written many lately that have been coming up in feeds but I just hadn't read one. This one caught my eye because many were discussing it but mostly because it was about the nurses of The Vietnam War. I really liked the book. I thought she captured the times well and after I read it I looked her up and she is 11 days younger than me. I thought to myself -well that is why she captured it well for ME anyway. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am still stitching away on my Ole Florida Sampler. I think I have about 1-2 weeks of stitching left. It is close. I have really enjoyed stitching it and I have enjoyed not switching up things too. I restarted this one in midNovember of '23 but didn't start exclusively stitching on it until the 1st of January.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The railing was built last week too. It looks amazing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3InIdzEbdmEsuNbPTq-sgxN3bE8SAmbV1_ptywRWf-Zfj-cTb8mmEFB-93OpINdsLVLlxSsvk34HoU8t4ZM0r8hLiNkEsdy6bKQhbYTrJGjtXzBat6LAJdsCCreLfi36qIGrEDYnatWxyrmkO8uE_HqWxeoVgXYDipX2v4RfQrmXE5qWFUsiO7KAJlC7X/s4032/IMG_0445.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3InIdzEbdmEsuNbPTq-sgxN3bE8SAmbV1_ptywRWf-Zfj-cTb8mmEFB-93OpINdsLVLlxSsvk34HoU8t4ZM0r8hLiNkEsdy6bKQhbYTrJGjtXzBat6LAJdsCCreLfi36qIGrEDYnatWxyrmkO8uE_HqWxeoVgXYDipX2v4RfQrmXE5qWFUsiO7KAJlC7X/w640-h480/IMG_0445.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It will age in color pretty quickly. I told Jeff 9 years is a long time to make a decision. He didn't believe it had been 9 years, so I had to show him. He got quiet on that one. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I will say no one has come along in our talks that could do it to this precision on the stone and tile, so the wait was worth it.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxUMCVRd5TMXTG5MUpOcOqdOX4p3iJHPkPLl5LwIJlqhm7Wm2wpWy1woAiEs2e_QJGChQ5QPFUbPUlKZWmRyVMY48r7Ako4ChBpHZemmoRc-0rnBAi4caharcpTLPJ5QQmFFcaPGNpCbnLWEd8_tCn9HQwAf1guIz8wdNQXc0SglMhy7x_E9LqezR-cKB/s4032/IMG_0444.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxUMCVRd5TMXTG5MUpOcOqdOX4p3iJHPkPLl5LwIJlqhm7Wm2wpWy1woAiEs2e_QJGChQ5QPFUbPUlKZWmRyVMY48r7Ako4ChBpHZemmoRc-0rnBAi4caharcpTLPJ5QQmFFcaPGNpCbnLWEd8_tCn9HQwAf1guIz8wdNQXc0SglMhy7x_E9LqezR-cKB/w640-h480/IMG_0444.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jeff and I are headed out on one more excursion this week. I will share it next week. Praying he can enjoy it since it is too late to cancel it. We may just be sitting and staring at the bay that we are headed to <i>or</i> if we are lucky we can do a few visits to good eating places and a few antique stores. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Plugging along in life, but I make a point each day to focus on the positive and the good things. It has truly helped my outlook!!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185422453541735778noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369505808572306850.post-28789186693046214182024-03-07T19:00:00.001-06:002024-03-07T19:00:13.937-06:00Home Sweet Home in the Spring<p style="text-align: center;"> I finally got some sunshine and warmth. I have completely soaked it in. Yesterday, as soon as Miles went down for his nap I quickly mopped the kitchen and went to sit outside on the back deck. The sun was shining and the sun felt so good. I was like an alligator on a log. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I will share my view and my thoughts while soaking it all in.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JYnatbGbkwnKUwYKUPzCsPh82sFFzEGIQNBwocM673RHFl_bWH3c8n-ffvbniNxzPc-P9eWK3EFT47IMqTn_fhZWo19rPxVxBlJpOa0_Iw02uCdHmlipSpj3lYMhs_dIoEl3g-rb0Zbc6romWnzd4IBB7_zdwUu-SRQVZxR91hgbt8-v3f9ocAFpLBnM/s4032/IMG_0396.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JYnatbGbkwnKUwYKUPzCsPh82sFFzEGIQNBwocM673RHFl_bWH3c8n-ffvbniNxzPc-P9eWK3EFT47IMqTn_fhZWo19rPxVxBlJpOa0_Iw02uCdHmlipSpj3lYMhs_dIoEl3g-rb0Zbc6romWnzd4IBB7_zdwUu-SRQVZxR91hgbt8-v3f9ocAFpLBnM/w640-h480/IMG_0396.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That pine tree to the right and I have a love/hate relationship. It drops so much on my decks. Right now it is those little worms. They are everywhere. It basically sits in the water, and I have worried more than once that it will fall right into that kitchen during a hurricane. On the other hand, I have wondered if it doesn't act like a shield for the flying things in a storm. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's the deal I have no control over any of it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It does provide shade and it has survived a lot of storms in its life, so I do my best not to give it too much grief over all the mess it makes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I moved the geraniums over to enjoy a bit of those sunny skies too. One of them was falling over due to the wind that had come in earlier in the week. Is March 4th and 5th too late for March coming in like a lion?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's the deal with March.... It is magical in one sense, because everything is coming back to life <i>but</i> I think it and December are <u>the most unpredictable and wild months for weather</u> here in my little corner of the world.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Do you see that beautiful blue sky? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That live oak on the left is about to undergo a major change. Between now and the first of May it will lose all its leaves and yet never be bare. Oh the deck will be covered in so much stuff, but I wouldn't change a thing.<b> I love watching it all happen</b>.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReQ6uF2uugLFe3NpFNFQz0aE4gz1WZz99PMELwuU2-0d9kYwZ5Z1zsQWYvwD2Z0rYVLUPb84cc66-IkcvoOzZ72P_r8sZ7yGHAdvzZuvcxesGzaxtJs6SPDvAP8DnutWnCjH7y8hV3W5xw2swAj5AIVuoXmGG4J_PSjk8LrOGdFn2zH_0kQjPjs0F7qAw/s4032/IMG_0397.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReQ6uF2uugLFe3NpFNFQz0aE4gz1WZz99PMELwuU2-0d9kYwZ5Z1zsQWYvwD2Z0rYVLUPb84cc66-IkcvoOzZ72P_r8sZ7yGHAdvzZuvcxesGzaxtJs6SPDvAP8DnutWnCjH7y8hV3W5xw2swAj5AIVuoXmGG4J_PSjk8LrOGdFn2zH_0kQjPjs0F7qAw/w640-h480/IMG_0397.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Today after taking Mom for an appointment I came home to a little one who wasn't interested in a nap so he and I sat outside in the front yard. He and Gus had a blast together collecting sticks.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Spring is showing up around the home and in the neighborhood. I took a few photos this week of all the things. <u>I love to look back at my blog to see if something is early or late or right on schedule</u>. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Down the street, I took this picture because the petals around it are as pretty as the blooms on the bush. The camellias have been pretty this year in my neighborhood and I think right on cue they are finishing up just in time for azaleas to be the star of the show.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qQbsPT4p1WbN7NDDIjKYGFTt-S-hoBBtfKXcqD33VJVEDA4Re8mFvQMoX4vEIu0wZ9z4QsAU-DsYlfBQKYQrXSgFzmAZAjQ_k6xjQc_XVHYXS5Q-JkYk8ffEDZjUOzzI38OMZ4lIuNDlSqu3dBLvkh3_FUUyoSr9qUGYUNFfwhJYA8xMVfJkiZk94i5z/s4032/IMG_0385.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qQbsPT4p1WbN7NDDIjKYGFTt-S-hoBBtfKXcqD33VJVEDA4Re8mFvQMoX4vEIu0wZ9z4QsAU-DsYlfBQKYQrXSgFzmAZAjQ_k6xjQc_XVHYXS5Q-JkYk8ffEDZjUOzzI38OMZ4lIuNDlSqu3dBLvkh3_FUUyoSr9qUGYUNFfwhJYA8xMVfJkiZk94i5z/w480-h640/IMG_0385.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For those that think I always have perfect flowers, let me show you the truth. The pansies have had a lackluster year. The only pot of the 3 that looks good is the ones front and center. Two things are going on here...one is the light in this area has changed over the years with the growth of the trees. It gets less sunlight especially in the seasons other than summer. The one closest to the house just fizzled out and got a disease which I think was lack of sun and so much rain. I didn't have to water all winter. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They will remain there until April when I will replace with vincas.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_Yp0DbhHuUph7HwurM851J9c_kx5Zc1ds-SpcrXKwKpyp-FiEfiTGd7Da3vMqY9wX1WQ0q01gcIFHyizzSFc7MHcF29qz0C63gZ0ph36XsteuIcc2SWwmvlxbCPjCPh52C9przshJ0y0mh8JRnpyFykhnTFpnrWnVtzQz092IX0jgCQITKaodGM1DxzF/s4032/IMG_0393.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_Yp0DbhHuUph7HwurM851J9c_kx5Zc1ds-SpcrXKwKpyp-FiEfiTGd7Da3vMqY9wX1WQ0q01gcIFHyizzSFc7MHcF29qz0C63gZ0ph36XsteuIcc2SWwmvlxbCPjCPh52C9przshJ0y0mh8JRnpyFykhnTFpnrWnVtzQz092IX0jgCQITKaodGM1DxzF/w480-h640/IMG_0393.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The orange tree this morning is just covered with little buds for the blooms. They are beautiful when they open. All of those will not produce oranges because it is too small at this point. The lemon tree is ragged this year but has survived. It too is just too small, so I don't think we will have a large harvest in fall.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6ZMOD2hG5b6Y450W3IdDJ2LCuogpQynqThJAMhBivS-JkNLR61DYdLAA-fIMPI3p11v0YPXNy9z1e8ZNtqiLtPYymoDfVvi9AbtAmh5VZq11GjdvihWlp7X3tsddJvSPaTwAzdqGTyfzrQTNB8jmsoFQao-zT8MtqujtX5Zdbfq66_rNxfkXiMoz6cpd/s4032/IMG_0409.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6ZMOD2hG5b6Y450W3IdDJ2LCuogpQynqThJAMhBivS-JkNLR61DYdLAA-fIMPI3p11v0YPXNy9z1e8ZNtqiLtPYymoDfVvi9AbtAmh5VZq11GjdvihWlp7X3tsddJvSPaTwAzdqGTyfzrQTNB8jmsoFQao-zT8MtqujtX5Zdbfq66_rNxfkXiMoz6cpd/w480-h640/IMG_0409.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The other morning I went out to photograph my 5 roses downstairs. They are all sprouting and looking great. I can't wait for the first bloom. Out of all the signs of nature, I am thinking this one is the latest. They seems to be a little slow this year. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFg0uR__zi8sCUxx8RxIaJNWsaFimPtwsWck2bnfOh_R8MwdwVOfdOprqdF-rFcqCKhw64505FrJ-FOpGD9uc8MZVdJQ0kgRoIqmqd4lehysW_Lk5fJ4P79r5Dbe4R3uKo7zOUqSkmBzCeojvKphE90D_mWlN-ZLYRUptI_Ra0k7b03WkcMmdtWyjj_qqc/s4032/IMG_0415.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFg0uR__zi8sCUxx8RxIaJNWsaFimPtwsWck2bnfOh_R8MwdwVOfdOprqdF-rFcqCKhw64505FrJ-FOpGD9uc8MZVdJQ0kgRoIqmqd4lehysW_Lk5fJ4P79r5Dbe4R3uKo7zOUqSkmBzCeojvKphE90D_mWlN-ZLYRUptI_Ra0k7b03WkcMmdtWyjj_qqc/w640-h480/IMG_0415.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">WE have a lot of work planned this spring in this area. We have to finish getting all the dirt packed in between the new and old seawall. It is mostly done. We need to add some in right under the walkway out to the water and then I think we can call that a win.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMbDCsl8WT8e4iAu-b1eV0gSKXCBvOCbH0yosduau-ezBZgnxRdgumL3rVOJS3wJk3azJfw9nVC2u2lOof9hchWJSuKg3svIPrCBpHWITZAe5JqgCzUfbyx2we2G1YWCEE_-4VbVbkrmNUbBcZxyhonPliTQ1huNOqBNP0F1p5MASSRubXBgU3nD0yzBx/s4032/IMG_0413.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMbDCsl8WT8e4iAu-b1eV0gSKXCBvOCbH0yosduau-ezBZgnxRdgumL3rVOJS3wJk3azJfw9nVC2u2lOof9hchWJSuKg3svIPrCBpHWITZAe5JqgCzUfbyx2we2G1YWCEE_-4VbVbkrmNUbBcZxyhonPliTQ1huNOqBNP0F1p5MASSRubXBgU3nD0yzBx/w480-h640/IMG_0413.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We will finally be adding a rail to the second level. The wood is there and don't even ask why it hasn't already been completed. Jeff sat on that one a long time. Just waiting on the workers. Notice all the things that need to be done. Constant blowing off of the droppings from the trees and pressure washing the mildew off the stone. Pollen and window washing too. I am ready to get out there and get it all started. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62vibPx9uZ3NCu_1dQrHGSmKvlqmObZZRrDlTc2Fc33p2QUvZtuwjdykDgWavb4bn92JMv9KKqz3Ynb9oH9UFINgavMaelEBRYTyR5Va7ZvJ9wqJOijXYvK2Ur-fVSa27e4a-yWRZCDr1_0QagWp64gQU8wI9tvJt2bV3h7Ti01UwVyGN80HhVOXrov4v/s4032/IMG_0414.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62vibPx9uZ3NCu_1dQrHGSmKvlqmObZZRrDlTc2Fc33p2QUvZtuwjdykDgWavb4bn92JMv9KKqz3Ynb9oH9UFINgavMaelEBRYTyR5Va7ZvJ9wqJOijXYvK2Ur-fVSa27e4a-yWRZCDr1_0QagWp64gQU8wI9tvJt2bV3h7Ti01UwVyGN80HhVOXrov4v/w480-h640/IMG_0414.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">T-Ball started for Tucker. Jeff and I got to visit last weekend for the opening ceremonies which is a big deal in Destin.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbVq2T_LL8XtwsCHqB7rnQY_2OALK-DKh9gClFBV8vMn3IODzI6J1YZqQ-mzjl0DMuCB4oDK_JlHEfwkBtxaiBtuEnMjBbipi6csrzkFwrSomMQQzLfvr2H32CzH-5OiEPFD6FGV2olb_YoALPW9V0XHpDYwEvEbekUwCBd1D24KsUGbXIDh5n5xzyXsP/s4032/IMG_9936.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbVq2T_LL8XtwsCHqB7rnQY_2OALK-DKh9gClFBV8vMn3IODzI6J1YZqQ-mzjl0DMuCB4oDK_JlHEfwkBtxaiBtuEnMjBbipi6csrzkFwrSomMQQzLfvr2H32CzH-5OiEPFD6FGV2olb_YoALPW9V0XHpDYwEvEbekUwCBd1D24KsUGbXIDh5n5xzyXsP/w480-h640/IMG_9936.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was still pretty cool and cloudy last weekend.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Miles is growing up so fast. He was is in deep thought the other morning while eating his muffin. He loves to eat. He is going to eat them out of house and home when he gets older.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkDIOwiL9mIralihQQMNVS8Nim7JpY_qcd_b0xd6kielXi8H-HndTOPavWnX3DsXT3yIta_fiNmAIsTyn5s-XQ26QaFwZI3UprEMYlsALvnRV17Sg1mYvddovRevl5M3yMf0RyutuiATPoIvf-j3W0mNxRniMD9V5tKHL26STFVWMa2dMT5DM_eTYXR18/s4032/IMG_0392.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkDIOwiL9mIralihQQMNVS8Nim7JpY_qcd_b0xd6kielXi8H-HndTOPavWnX3DsXT3yIta_fiNmAIsTyn5s-XQ26QaFwZI3UprEMYlsALvnRV17Sg1mYvddovRevl5M3yMf0RyutuiATPoIvf-j3W0mNxRniMD9V5tKHL26STFVWMa2dMT5DM_eTYXR18/w480-h640/IMG_0392.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This morning I made a smoothie which I think he was pretty sure was the greatest thing he had ever tasted. He wanted more more more and sucked up the last drop.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1XS5RcjjwbNtQEaT8JLmK9YjNX5SVYgA5zpXffgP6j0luGYcZWXEVHjwGxAKCwxV3DBpsZlz87o1WLXMjkLWaAnLo9O5FcBSetONbbTstqXdkM9euE_H5QtG4903ntN0E3DBlWKZdQ3aQZ9j2U0UhBM-DH8RwuEIFdkvSE62CsWHzZ_XtLMpS1NATuRV/s4032/IMG_0417.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1XS5RcjjwbNtQEaT8JLmK9YjNX5SVYgA5zpXffgP6j0luGYcZWXEVHjwGxAKCwxV3DBpsZlz87o1WLXMjkLWaAnLo9O5FcBSetONbbTstqXdkM9euE_H5QtG4903ntN0E3DBlWKZdQ3aQZ9j2U0UhBM-DH8RwuEIFdkvSE62CsWHzZ_XtLMpS1NATuRV/w480-h640/IMG_0417.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Those were the highlights of this week. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJj6aCT849A03eymkiZWG9uV0hl7Xff-sMazTShZ6enRroN5BsNSXxW-o9iTbP0owSRdKCZDkNcsJQr6Xs9XsnzdKgsT2F2cGxX1xYYfNrmJbK8UbhRZhX1BCPZaz-w446cuw-lKthrkBGH-UCYUkM_YVT-sqNZ6i1fYJa95xuHNsghWgPWoSRfKCx4-x/s4032/IMG_0398.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJj6aCT849A03eymkiZWG9uV0hl7Xff-sMazTShZ6enRroN5BsNSXxW-o9iTbP0owSRdKCZDkNcsJQr6Xs9XsnzdKgsT2F2cGxX1xYYfNrmJbK8UbhRZhX1BCPZaz-w446cuw-lKthrkBGH-UCYUkM_YVT-sqNZ6i1fYJa95xuHNsghWgPWoSRfKCx4-x/w480-h640/IMG_0398.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Spring has arrived in the house no matter the outside weather. I am all in at this point.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185422453541735778noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369505808572306850.post-17018566771550186182024-02-29T16:28:00.001-06:002024-02-29T16:28:41.463-06:00Leap Year 2024<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> I feel like the following picture sums up this winter here in the Panhandle. Winter has had a record name of cloudy days. The rain would form in the Gulf and really not go the normal northeast direction but would often linger over us and then fizzle away. It has been the <u>cloudiest on record for our area</u> and FAR too COLD for my blood. I am over it and thought I would not make it:) but the sun came out at the end of last week and saved me from despair. <b>Kind of sounds like a country song in the making</b>. It is once again cloudy to end out February and I am ready for spring.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPiShTkzFuZUO0W40lYDfjat7n0TfXglkEIOuHyWVx9vjQsR9w-y3kvW__wU_2ZChb8CXboJ18g0C7R0aA3g0IcLAQ49wzXuED2vYQ99VfPkmPFvNLMQVu-RPVPNetZoXytvtVSm3IrkqfFASPBfxuxonCNaHsblNWz0bisC13WPjZCfqoVLU_lX5uLO1/s2160/IMG_0353.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="2160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPiShTkzFuZUO0W40lYDfjat7n0TfXglkEIOuHyWVx9vjQsR9w-y3kvW__wU_2ZChb8CXboJ18g0C7R0aA3g0IcLAQ49wzXuED2vYQ99VfPkmPFvNLMQVu-RPVPNetZoXytvtVSm3IrkqfFASPBfxuxonCNaHsblNWz0bisC13WPjZCfqoVLU_lX5uLO1/s320/IMG_0353.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">February has been once again so busy. At one point I was reading along with posts from my favorite bloggers and then this past week and I just gave up. I will catch up soon. I decided to instead try to put up one last post for the month with the good things in life!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This little stitch which I think is my second stitch that I ever stitched <i>oh so long ago</i>. I keep it right by the door in my sewing room/office as a good reminder of doing that...counting my blessings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhxMFe9fjuAdziQ2b4H0dZ2yPtm5YxNxvRM2v8qcdXF9Bzwo6f3Oi4ShsSP89d5FZZ6dYXMRIe6QSskD3cPhW9EAHtE9InK_hsMuaURmXiKY7jSAgDwkvU9vpyfCUimanJNFGGJcgnjTGfUueGKkD8el1fvYKZ4z5V0dk21THYGCy35luU34Uy-uqnijfh/s4032/IMG_0364.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhxMFe9fjuAdziQ2b4H0dZ2yPtm5YxNxvRM2v8qcdXF9Bzwo6f3Oi4ShsSP89d5FZZ6dYXMRIe6QSskD3cPhW9EAHtE9InK_hsMuaURmXiKY7jSAgDwkvU9vpyfCUimanJNFGGJcgnjTGfUueGKkD8el1fvYKZ4z5V0dk21THYGCy35luU34Uy-uqnijfh/w480-h640/IMG_0364.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even though my mood has been as cloudy as the weather some days, I know I am so blessed and always circle back to being grateful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*****</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have been stitching only on my Ole Florida Sampler. I snapped a picture before moving the Qsnap.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHY0QXzwqT0i4KM5Nhde3DT96DcY-EdW5GqdN66ELbl8b0XF6j44KhPuupouVttt1D66v2z6U4DxbWTKXHYA9uRAYDp78WQ_BU4wbezWBOBZ03Titoytx8LJZxWV5Xktq-cSCtFWQz9NLghlnJbwBmhyphenhyphen0wwkQX6NV8XoifnBXQeder_dZXeu9Lgi5_uqd/s4032/IMG_0340.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHY0QXzwqT0i4KM5Nhde3DT96DcY-EdW5GqdN66ELbl8b0XF6j44KhPuupouVttt1D66v2z6U4DxbWTKXHYA9uRAYDp78WQ_BU4wbezWBOBZ03Titoytx8LJZxWV5Xktq-cSCtFWQz9NLghlnJbwBmhyphenhyphen0wwkQX6NV8XoifnBXQeder_dZXeu9Lgi5_uqd/w640-h480/IMG_0340.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then here is the current state of stitching. I am progressing nicely and enjoying the stitch. I am almost at to the border on this side. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZOHg2UwPMcvL_BSbKisYf9xG9QKBo0qEANh7BIH7Qd5NUQG__itsMFTCVHnUm5JiylmzZ1ejvTLm66LP6-qnm1xzl7f0MfIcGvndhRs7QOfN8tiQNSdBZ3d9MdhLbqmZI3Agh9Q8bylXbyfw1XM5wL-Ep0Ypj1qkqqjZE3_sp_EHcxiq0yz6blQgUAAx/s4032/IMG_0367.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZOHg2UwPMcvL_BSbKisYf9xG9QKBo0qEANh7BIH7Qd5NUQG__itsMFTCVHnUm5JiylmzZ1ejvTLm66LP6-qnm1xzl7f0MfIcGvndhRs7QOfN8tiQNSdBZ3d9MdhLbqmZI3Agh9Q8bylXbyfw1XM5wL-Ep0Ypj1qkqqjZE3_sp_EHcxiq0yz6blQgUAAx/w480-h640/IMG_0367.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Like I said, February has been fast and furious...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But the camellias have done their best to brighten moods. I have kept a bowl full all winter on the kitchen counter. These decorated the counter for Valentine's Day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXnFeYCdfSJxlTRrzWoV_-qnH52Wmrroiu8b83a6XpESVqytknJZgyPEWFbf08X0ueyVJpj89yi2Qded4WrITBiAb4QzjpZpiNwtWtx__c4peJ-XCt-trx-aDbJkTtuAym6hy2w2hGVhkg-TVF0Z006KpuZnNbq2ABrD1Pv1qO1FYHVG0w35Vl-oOhzTU/s4032/IMG_0303.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXnFeYCdfSJxlTRrzWoV_-qnH52Wmrroiu8b83a6XpESVqytknJZgyPEWFbf08X0ueyVJpj89yi2Qded4WrITBiAb4QzjpZpiNwtWtx__c4peJ-XCt-trx-aDbJkTtuAym6hy2w2hGVhkg-TVF0Z006KpuZnNbq2ABrD1Pv1qO1FYHVG0w35Vl-oOhzTU/w480-h640/IMG_0303.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Where on that day, we had our small group Bible Study as usual. We all decided to forego trying to go out since it is hard to get a place anyway and do our usual night. I decided to make dessert for everyone.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWR11FrOUMm6W-AiJabFN520axtJEbQJIQk2rrK8sXPK99EGLHvOPUFy3dxs-_GzrgRwezSlHObqOaomRk3MEZEynm466NlrnXsZtlRp77dZdwK5TO5_yR1B7uzhnLSdyK9XGUKcSqJoExODJsHahTyf2EMyMCb-8ZibPzHrxdFtRSsCKKci-vRM9CS8z/s4032/IMG_0310.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWR11FrOUMm6W-AiJabFN520axtJEbQJIQk2rrK8sXPK99EGLHvOPUFy3dxs-_GzrgRwezSlHObqOaomRk3MEZEynm466NlrnXsZtlRp77dZdwK5TO5_yR1B7uzhnLSdyK9XGUKcSqJoExODJsHahTyf2EMyMCb-8ZibPzHrxdFtRSsCKKci-vRM9CS8z/w480-h640/IMG_0310.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The heart shaped brownies were topped with ice cream and chocolate syrup also.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibj9lVx77omm0smrSsayd8M1EnFIolrpvnovaFEOcDOb9yGrEiGoHHQIAv7_nN-M1GPPRGsaxHK8CmVE1Xy42OyApN5Vsi2PyTtnJdQdFxWTDV4X0tMxjqiF1ohdw_TiWvhMKYRdi_cKy5xgMs5l4DOGWivQyVrFTt03wUSUlL_11Nq-klyWiDHqMv2TU1/s4032/IMG_0311.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibj9lVx77omm0smrSsayd8M1EnFIolrpvnovaFEOcDOb9yGrEiGoHHQIAv7_nN-M1GPPRGsaxHK8CmVE1Xy42OyApN5Vsi2PyTtnJdQdFxWTDV4X0tMxjqiF1ohdw_TiWvhMKYRdi_cKy5xgMs5l4DOGWivQyVrFTt03wUSUlL_11Nq-klyWiDHqMv2TU1/w480-h640/IMG_0311.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Since it was the start of Lent, we also later had communion. It was the most wonderful way to spend the evening with friends in Bible Study, communion and fellowship.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmipGWVz5pGc9Hhdo7uwjs1nCpPnbp0qa_0OtBav8ZRvnFPq790lFJlJROnTW6Q1CARo_oYWJs-M0NylfaUH9emnbLyGaP4zmpbFraB-igT3T9mDQ75X8XgcNQq5_1ePPpso2VaoUSOgH8_igBz_45mV0Y66T9kvGC9vyvQDe_CtaLvMzpHCGAQQOKZol/s4032/IMG_0312.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmipGWVz5pGc9Hhdo7uwjs1nCpPnbp0qa_0OtBav8ZRvnFPq790lFJlJROnTW6Q1CARo_oYWJs-M0NylfaUH9emnbLyGaP4zmpbFraB-igT3T9mDQ75X8XgcNQq5_1ePPpso2VaoUSOgH8_igBz_45mV0Y66T9kvGC9vyvQDe_CtaLvMzpHCGAQQOKZol/w480-h640/IMG_0312.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jeff decided to hire out the usual chore of putting fresh pine straw out and I didn't complain one bit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgalOO0xViH1E63UFpqb-3fOKzR4p21EfrOdgmfgv6PG4MMDGd5kAg07UYBi4g7E5wKXUg2IsI6nr4ukfu3sdhsfOOMu-Z7pEoOgETZJ_-q8fYVth55XnLhT9-zep4G72dDI_6HMJBUTB2KrmDouu0PjIjEqH4hOt2D15JJD1fOju68WlyLvQq0OrEuKQq6/s4032/IMG_0351.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgalOO0xViH1E63UFpqb-3fOKzR4p21EfrOdgmfgv6PG4MMDGd5kAg07UYBi4g7E5wKXUg2IsI6nr4ukfu3sdhsfOOMu-Z7pEoOgETZJ_-q8fYVth55XnLhT9-zep4G72dDI_6HMJBUTB2KrmDouu0PjIjEqH4hOt2D15JJD1fOju68WlyLvQq0OrEuKQq6/w480-h640/IMG_0351.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I honestly enjoy working in my flowers and yard, but this year it seemed like such a gift to me to have it done. The guy showed up down the street doing a house. He was not mow, blow and go guy but a landscaper and outside house work guy. Jeff quickly booked him.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_PIem2iwMnDGd3VomtmKYuWAjWIEsSEngrNvi5lVZHdxgPpgMwtuN8nqyqAL8u1pm_6cA5ea2hOFY5LhbGUb0ITrQvhKpRf2aKOR-XwmTbOt_hMpNR_urYWzCu9_rhmSEDrkHqNz2EXYKv7M6uk7a4br8MoJcSntBt7qjJcbhiUJkMb4IFz9nr1On921/s4032/IMG_0352.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_PIem2iwMnDGd3VomtmKYuWAjWIEsSEngrNvi5lVZHdxgPpgMwtuN8nqyqAL8u1pm_6cA5ea2hOFY5LhbGUb0ITrQvhKpRf2aKOR-XwmTbOt_hMpNR_urYWzCu9_rhmSEDrkHqNz2EXYKv7M6uk7a4br8MoJcSntBt7qjJcbhiUJkMb4IFz9nr1On921/w480-h640/IMG_0352.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He did an amazing job and I am honestly thrilled with it.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgx9tVH-lVwzSFEgDhN7j4p6K9nWTGKwwCDowPOcqA7wV4mKlgnqocA5Tkxqn2st8qhIsTafY7bjSu-G7dFGXIrhystpmzEsiPBJ-4bl-TefXwuPFc5jqdwZIW_jUgAcl3gHxf4O85YTJPRZm-jXgZMvhOfaGPsYfBsTQAWQLOgZX-d-FtcKuv_YaQpq8/s4032/IMG_0353.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgx9tVH-lVwzSFEgDhN7j4p6K9nWTGKwwCDowPOcqA7wV4mKlgnqocA5Tkxqn2st8qhIsTafY7bjSu-G7dFGXIrhystpmzEsiPBJ-4bl-TefXwuPFc5jqdwZIW_jUgAcl3gHxf4O85YTJPRZm-jXgZMvhOfaGPsYfBsTQAWQLOgZX-d-FtcKuv_YaQpq8/w480-h640/IMG_0353.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I know many thought I was crazy when I downsized my houseplants and my outdoor pots because I love growing things, but too many is when they become a burden rather than enjoyment. Jeff read his wife well this year and I am just ready for spring. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Azaleas should be next on the blooms and the day lilies are breaking ground. I have the roses pruned but they seem to be dragging their tails. They will start popping when we have some significant sunshine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jeff and I traveled over to Cape San Blas last Saturday to make sure all our summer plans were good ones. <a href="https://homeecmajor.blogspot.com/2020/09/an-out-of-this-world-trip.html" target="_blank">It has already been 3 years since I turned 60 and the family wen</a>t. We said it would happen again soon and yet we haven't made it back. Lindsay is the one to get the plans together and Mom and Dad made sure it was all paid for and set. We will go over again this summer and rent a boat this time. Last time was no fun for Jeff with taking ours. We tried to get the same house as last time, but it was already booked. Lindsay found us another one very similar so plans are made and this time there will be 3 little boys instead of just Tucker and hopefully before full on hurricane season. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He has also planted himself a garden over at Paul Allen's house so he has something to do. Potatoes and onions are planted with tomatoes coming in March. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That is the good stuff over here and the other stuff we all have our fair share of. Mom is about the same. She did fracture another piece of her back. No clue as to what she did to make that happen. It may be that her spine is just that weak. Plugging along===she is.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To end this post on Leap Year...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My first Springer Spaniel was a <b>Lear Year Baby</b>. Her name was Sally. We got her a few months after marrying and she became my first dog/CHILD. Never was a dog more spoiled than Sally. She lived 15 years and welcomed Lindsay and Paul Allen. She loved our family well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFW1pZpU4-X8ZzIpr6RAjWIj230oLML1Z00FK8zOKvEgKUDq-ZlDW9R4HULW829X50FD-xhKQ67QJ38X224Ly3LZzc8VGX8tblLUnnxnYXbma_7aySU0xXEOoKmsdSDMc5kBcnGtF5RDkadb4UGuQxtQj7wb44kNLuCQbTtJH4A0Tnm397sAz0rKgli1f/s1452/Scan%203.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1011" data-original-width="1452" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFW1pZpU4-X8ZzIpr6RAjWIj230oLML1Z00FK8zOKvEgKUDq-ZlDW9R4HULW829X50FD-xhKQ67QJ38X224Ly3LZzc8VGX8tblLUnnxnYXbma_7aySU0xXEOoKmsdSDMc5kBcnGtF5RDkadb4UGuQxtQj7wb44kNLuCQbTtJH4A0Tnm397sAz0rKgli1f/w640-h446/Scan%203.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicd2cKT9dXrZOMDQ7hz40IltOSj_PtM-K-iAvgSOgg5cOp5V7Z4GdYsawU7lHp7Bq6dLNtarv4VoAD4fSL9h-6mJfIoorF3lBimkMdcYUPcx9J9Pf10WTQPUTYn_yNad_FTSUaigUc1cK0ako9Oh6JoEu7sUIUQDcBL8FSf0KjWYv03qJSaGB6d3hRRApt/s1740/Scan%204.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1174" data-original-width="1740" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicd2cKT9dXrZOMDQ7hz40IltOSj_PtM-K-iAvgSOgg5cOp5V7Z4GdYsawU7lHp7Bq6dLNtarv4VoAD4fSL9h-6mJfIoorF3lBimkMdcYUPcx9J9Pf10WTQPUTYn_yNad_FTSUaigUc1cK0ako9Oh6JoEu7sUIUQDcBL8FSf0KjWYv03qJSaGB6d3hRRApt/w640-h432/Scan%204.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That is a wrap on February. Come on Spring. _Sandy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185422453541735778noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369505808572306850.post-50105524267593706062024-02-09T07:00:00.001-06:002024-02-09T07:00:00.159-06:00Sights from the Water<p style="text-align: center;"> The wildlife have continued to show off this winter here in our little bayou. The pelicans showed up early in the week and decided to call our boat dock roof home base. For days they have come in and gone up and down the bayou looking like bombers gliding across the water. Some take breaks on the roof while others line up in the water.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTlJvLBFV9s-nt1vClRtlS6J0BgiZKbRdzyf49jJw0fVZeji7wQRdApYfZlm5F5x-fs1RAMHgHTLrU0fWilabjiwDhGiE0x-ktb1-2lhadGu1cEhJcEbUXM9ZINH8hkMcf4trtywKOeDoK-I84cCbP9OYNP8IvF6aV8fDEfYRIhdAthmUtmvMdNnYYylE/s4032/IMG_0282.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTlJvLBFV9s-nt1vClRtlS6J0BgiZKbRdzyf49jJw0fVZeji7wQRdApYfZlm5F5x-fs1RAMHgHTLrU0fWilabjiwDhGiE0x-ktb1-2lhadGu1cEhJcEbUXM9ZINH8hkMcf4trtywKOeDoK-I84cCbP9OYNP8IvF6aV8fDEfYRIhdAthmUtmvMdNnYYylE/w480-h640/IMG_0282.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There have been dozens each day along with ducks and herons. One day they had a full playground right out in front of our kitchen window. Tucker and Miles were with me that day. They both got to see the show as well. The pelicans would cruise in and dive bomb right in front of the kitchen window to the right of the boat you see. We have had so much fun watching each day. I wish I had videos to show, but if you open the door they move away, but return as soon as you are gone.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With those thought sand observations written, one of the things I have been asked from so many of our friends and acquaintances is when and where you are going to travel. I think I am correct in saying that Jeff and I are on the same page about travel. We both traveled as kids so we don't feel a need to head out on an airplane. That doesn't mean there won't be any trips, but seriously folks, right here in our little neck of the woods keeps us entertained. I have more than a few places that I love to travel to that are a day drive or maybe a weekend away. We have time to see, but with beach walks and such beauty right outside my door I am more than content.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I shared the photo of the ducks through the lens of binoculars. Many commented on that. I probably should have been clearer about the way it was done. It was really taken through a monocular on a tripod show below. (Nighttime photo shows all the toys on the floor around it!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUU1mb_mwOQLNv13il5tUT570JyMnDsO06B1HM8VxgYx340Y5csU-zWHLnfM8FcSm0KqIexOyMIRSMAK3qfkhatIRSjrTpTnEQBc44debG0JrzaVNbAaeUoeLDuRzLWb-yiW5MYALmNnaJB3VY4k5RLgZ_o2ATsJ_62o0i_yhH5ndB0JMwh7ME4CI3vYk/s4032/IMG_0294.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUU1mb_mwOQLNv13il5tUT570JyMnDsO06B1HM8VxgYx340Y5csU-zWHLnfM8FcSm0KqIexOyMIRSMAK3qfkhatIRSjrTpTnEQBc44debG0JrzaVNbAaeUoeLDuRzLWb-yiW5MYALmNnaJB3VY4k5RLgZ_o2ATsJ_62o0i_yhH5ndB0JMwh7ME4CI3vYk/w480-h640/IMG_0294.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love having it to look at wildlife through. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I also mentioned in the last post that Gus really likes my new chair. We are now having to fight over who gets it. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMsE8hYMxFWwvIZjkHh2Vas6WUNJaGW1W8V-ng587RHhySklxGVJij7iuFSZ-up3OcwWh4taE28Ddsu-MKyrPmCU0tc4IP822iGVKacsB5NEMIPFxCiZR2njoKBgus_AO7A0ccCoF-wGrF3WUyckEFsdX4__W5jc_YtwHl0qWPQ_Zy1d8Cyk7l9n7m3R2/s4032/IMG_0283.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMsE8hYMxFWwvIZjkHh2Vas6WUNJaGW1W8V-ng587RHhySklxGVJij7iuFSZ-up3OcwWh4taE28Ddsu-MKyrPmCU0tc4IP822iGVKacsB5NEMIPFxCiZR2njoKBgus_AO7A0ccCoF-wGrF3WUyckEFsdX4__W5jc_YtwHl0qWPQ_Zy1d8Cyk7l9n7m3R2/w480-h640/IMG_0283.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the camellias in my yard is just the prettiest color mix. It has been showing off the last week, while the other 2 seem to be stuck with buds and no blooms. Our street has so many camellias and they are large so plenty to keep me happy.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillHSHM_miS_KyASeQiYWMkivWmIuWwjwsFSiDsz8tcdawtARCktyRadqWWPxY2DjN4wBEwmxgpzlihI4MFhwHz8LvSZN_4xBtDg_EJhEdZiks07GGeLDl_fXM-od5HZ40B4OFqc_63ekljI13taYX7UEx0FxwekCJoHM7Q79fP14L9SCnySoUGLfWrKX2/s4032/IMG_0285.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillHSHM_miS_KyASeQiYWMkivWmIuWwjwsFSiDsz8tcdawtARCktyRadqWWPxY2DjN4wBEwmxgpzlihI4MFhwHz8LvSZN_4xBtDg_EJhEdZiks07GGeLDl_fXM-od5HZ40B4OFqc_63ekljI13taYX7UEx0FxwekCJoHM7Q79fP14L9SCnySoUGLfWrKX2/w480-h640/IMG_0285.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have been busier than I like the last 2 weeks. More of the usual...appointment after appointment ---nothing that can be done. It is just life right now. I won't elaborate. I try to just focus on the good in life of which there is much. The other I have no control over so we just keep walking forward. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am still stitching on the Florida sampler. I will share an update. This is the area where I changed so much whether it was colors or the charted pattern . When I finish the live oak tree I think things will flow much quicker on the sampler. I will not need to change too much like I felt that I needed to for the upper left corner. (Again a nighttime photo... I will share again soon.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwI25XVtt2Ku1IarOKVZCrRnUYjl-5HisIocXtRdorkqVA4U2h1rhcLWhy8_jILReLWA7MlendrlsHe09gn0BGE61pTgefj5WRASn0cEQKRfszVcf6jFrXkTZWMltKlcCannrQitGVJ307c1aov5dYDc7pwGky5i0tz7jRVcYpWuisZV9_ViVg7gdNcdxj/s4032/IMG_0295.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwI25XVtt2Ku1IarOKVZCrRnUYjl-5HisIocXtRdorkqVA4U2h1rhcLWhy8_jILReLWA7MlendrlsHe09gn0BGE61pTgefj5WRASn0cEQKRfszVcf6jFrXkTZWMltKlcCannrQitGVJ307c1aov5dYDc7pwGky5i0tz7jRVcYpWuisZV9_ViVg7gdNcdxj/w480-h640/IMG_0295.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I liked the Spanish moss that I decided to do with straight stitches. I used Weeks Spanish Moss for the floss which was spot on for color. I sill have to do that technique to the right side of the tree.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am in full on wishing for spring mode. I did get out to start my pruning of shrubs this week. I am about halfway done. Bring on spring soon! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That is about it for blog worth topics.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Until next time,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sandy</div><p><br /></p>Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185422453541735778noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369505808572306850.post-51204162678882072962024-02-02T18:42:00.001-06:002024-02-02T18:42:33.610-06:00Finishing out January<p style="text-align: center;"> February has arrived but most of my thoughts today are from January. I tried to get back one more time before the month ended, but it was a busy busy week.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I complain about January like many of y'all, but honestly it is a great month for wildlife watching on the bayou and larger bay. I was sitting at the kitchen table early one morning and Gus was doing his morning watch on the upper deck when he took off from one side to travel to the other. I got up to see what he spotted and ....</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_n8IbbxHJg98Y61P__vwYYCMHrtMcZzQTeC-iUX2xHloivRBRiV-T-orvsoER-_1nj4QiECxlv4lkgAHCrVjLZ6R0rp3HrPvMvBc6XYA-dJAlUusY6OTqNNfgMAIInk1M13vTIGPARRSzTETV4HIWy5zcm57DqmdgQehxksKLiIZuzyB3sfe-cmrKU4y/s2688/IMG_0234.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2688" data-original-width="1242" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_n8IbbxHJg98Y61P__vwYYCMHrtMcZzQTeC-iUX2xHloivRBRiV-T-orvsoER-_1nj4QiECxlv4lkgAHCrVjLZ6R0rp3HrPvMvBc6XYA-dJAlUusY6OTqNNfgMAIInk1M13vTIGPARRSzTETV4HIWy5zcm57DqmdgQehxksKLiIZuzyB3sfe-cmrKU4y/w296-h640/IMG_0234.png" width="296" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">it was an otter at the neighbors pier. I really didn't get a great picture of him. I mostly tried to video it rolling around on the grass and then swimming away. The above photo was a frame of the video. That was a great sight. I am so glad Gus goes out each morning to survey the bayou and spies cool things. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ducks and pelicans love to have conventions in our bayou each January. One afternoon, the bayou was full of blue bill ducks. Again, I didn't get good photos, but Paul Allen had just arrived home to pick up Miles for the afternoon and we got out the binoculars to look up close. He took this next picture through the lens...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2nrvHOYwXPcQP-rHxZn5TtvULODqmIbE0eMbdMuVx_lXjrxil5voC_kcUykPjHQIhvFfsulsWAqpu8lK4imW-9DQ7YLAYMaEb4v9OdgZ5Yj0eQbEDeJaR0rdsPGBXPoHn4ygX9kV3_Gq2VtaAxby5MXhs5eKBEwVGDBsuS9yOY4cIxOMva_NEQyUOQQBb/s4032/IMG_6399.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2nrvHOYwXPcQP-rHxZn5TtvULODqmIbE0eMbdMuVx_lXjrxil5voC_kcUykPjHQIhvFfsulsWAqpu8lK4imW-9DQ7YLAYMaEb4v9OdgZ5Yj0eQbEDeJaR0rdsPGBXPoHn4ygX9kV3_Gq2VtaAxby5MXhs5eKBEwVGDBsuS9yOY4cIxOMva_NEQyUOQQBb/w480-h640/IMG_6399.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Seeing all those cool animals is one of the good things about January, but like most I was so excited to turn the calendar page to February. It can be a temperamental month with weather. Wicked cold can still sneak in there, but it can bring spring like days too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was outside yesterday morning moving the rose pots on the bottom deck and clipping...not a full pruning, but that will happen this coming week. The downstairs was still strewn from filling the new seawall with dirt, so I needed to put the pots back in place. I will do a full pruning soon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am dreaming of spring already. Patience ---</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but then the groundhog says I will get my wish with an early spring.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEiFujLnp-w8acVPNyFZtryevCCnfy4AQ55dADuvohZWIFGz53RlD9_2J6fi3qAG7aTWmK7qjavb8M0GFLZGOdabPl-BabGVhkUHgBnECmtr9W7iPRmbtV0m_NDJEQ7LngH5FszHXHRXFO6VCtXYBneoGHgtSxAZh89I-wvEx0LJuGUTsObo9__BkOgaN/s4032/IMG_0251.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEiFujLnp-w8acVPNyFZtryevCCnfy4AQ55dADuvohZWIFGz53RlD9_2J6fi3qAG7aTWmK7qjavb8M0GFLZGOdabPl-BabGVhkUHgBnECmtr9W7iPRmbtV0m_NDJEQ7LngH5FszHXHRXFO6VCtXYBneoGHgtSxAZh89I-wvEx0LJuGUTsObo9__BkOgaN/w480-h640/IMG_0251.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If y'all could see my pansies right now, you would not think I have a green thumb at all. They have just not been happy. I got out there today and deadheaded and gave them a dose of fertilizer hoping that will give the boost to go the next 2 months.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdG3wdbYWtcB4n5T3mxJOV-k2dRwwCTWHj5VMPfsEFl4yuI70JOqOsfZFcwDrVQf7g2D5LyiewB7xbZJQYdV22JrOPWx0vBU1sk8hNUddBPBlpxEZ-qN3I04co-s72YSRyDaYAzR1rsJJKko6cnQFjuD3nD7StTKB0puC15-GZs43dBAKHxSZCHPB_yabT/s4032/IMG_0252.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdG3wdbYWtcB4n5T3mxJOV-k2dRwwCTWHj5VMPfsEFl4yuI70JOqOsfZFcwDrVQf7g2D5LyiewB7xbZJQYdV22JrOPWx0vBU1sk8hNUddBPBlpxEZ-qN3I04co-s72YSRyDaYAzR1rsJJKko6cnQFjuD3nD7StTKB0puC15-GZs43dBAKHxSZCHPB_yabT/w480-h640/IMG_0252.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I stuck photos of Gus in since I don't have pretty flowers to show you. I do have camellias but I didn't take photos. He loves a good stick.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I also lost all of my geraniums so I picked up 2 new ones today and have them already potted on the back deck. I will be walking around with my pruners in hand this next week getting all the things that can be pruned this time of year. <u>It fills me with excitement just thinking of it</u>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In other January news, Jeff and I traveled one Saturday over to Pensacola because I had heard that there was a new stitching store. Since, there has not been a local stitching store in our area since the 1980's, I had to check it out. The address was on the far side of Pensacola from me, but an address I recognized so we went over and ate lunch too. I do hope she makes it, but I felt like she needed a young person to help her with the marketing. Either way, the most exciting thing for me was to just see linen in person. I purchased 2 larger pieces and came away happy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We traveled back on the road by the beach. Beach views, barbecue and the promise of a stitching store made for a fun Saturday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have mostly been stitching away on my Florida sampler, but I will wait until I get a few more things finished on it to share again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGp7Xe-h5_xV_9EEt0I3S_hl6SJAdn9SjAuywBKzKaKkHaWzGmdYyxudnr4sd2kMnDQiKzIseBbW5lJyPhzRbPuKzZqEVe6EJ7UzrU-qlnzmnmuEQHT6fPu4MQPmEcxfIkBXQcIRKHDd53gz70iCysqYBLtFsD18NIn6rjp2I99t05CptlgS6ZJ9tdy8QE/s4032/IMG_7987.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGp7Xe-h5_xV_9EEt0I3S_hl6SJAdn9SjAuywBKzKaKkHaWzGmdYyxudnr4sd2kMnDQiKzIseBbW5lJyPhzRbPuKzZqEVe6EJ7UzrU-qlnzmnmuEQHT6fPu4MQPmEcxfIkBXQcIRKHDd53gz70iCysqYBLtFsD18NIn6rjp2I99t05CptlgS6ZJ9tdy8QE/w480-h640/IMG_7987.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Big things happened here in the last 2 weeks. I finally convinced Jeff to cut the cable!!!!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had long ago set up the TVs in the house with a chrome cast, but that cable remote was just too easy and convenient. Last week, I went a step further and set it up with the updated version of chrome cast that comes with a remote. We got Youtube TV and the remote works so well. You can even run the sound bar through it. He wanted a week to practice with it before he cut the cable, but the day arrived. He took all the stuff back yesterday and I did a happy dance! That bill bugged the stew out of me for some reason.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lindsay and her family visited Disney in January too. They sent lots of pictures. You won't see any of Palmer with the characters. They were great fun as long as they weren't close.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BuSkVX5p68yud7V9Js3avUGxLKrmgf9Xfa72KmEtq4ZO74CT66EmU9_cge7ReLzZqXmaCfqBKEt09Hg3Kg2plMqNyOhlnO5nx6PmgOk-0d9L0X0l0dbYQucSYQh4tdnFpsCGkHZfS7rxuYEAiK88bkezMiyvLxMVfRMzpz48Kkg6vbJFwVHlKLOds5Ah/s4032/IMG_9487.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BuSkVX5p68yud7V9Js3avUGxLKrmgf9Xfa72KmEtq4ZO74CT66EmU9_cge7ReLzZqXmaCfqBKEt09Hg3Kg2plMqNyOhlnO5nx6PmgOk-0d9L0X0l0dbYQucSYQh4tdnFpsCGkHZfS7rxuYEAiK88bkezMiyvLxMVfRMzpz48Kkg6vbJFwVHlKLOds5Ah/w480-h640/IMG_9487.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When they got close, he hunkered down.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBWrsUXjO8k1_ghfLySmtV_V7ii8a91CD70xlUNpd3FHK-8DLu7jJ2rYJp4mP6OzN0mHBrXe_Y1_BD5VYzKcYhEysLFzclhsgvYtd9XulW4fodxpxvHceEAloOtxaPZYzZBMhG7trFNtAlRoSKxgU9fwWCsSHuAa38BxoOTlwsRxDXK1aPv6Gg6PgOpNg/s4032/IMG_9483.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBWrsUXjO8k1_ghfLySmtV_V7ii8a91CD70xlUNpd3FHK-8DLu7jJ2rYJp4mP6OzN0mHBrXe_Y1_BD5VYzKcYhEysLFzclhsgvYtd9XulW4fodxpxvHceEAloOtxaPZYzZBMhG7trFNtAlRoSKxgU9fwWCsSHuAa38BxoOTlwsRxDXK1aPv6Gg6PgOpNg/w480-h640/IMG_9483.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fDVGTybSnRpZiSm36_pHeXKrkeC10SnK2iJvb__7Thi3a5kZSXOVvAoqgfzsLpU60YNj8TigKX8aV6dGbVi1QCYFiPEJc5GIeyB9zHCSh0OWspValk2J6oKRgS9ut12c7qe_PoWEpqSOMDq9B4gyupDI48OV43zZU8SXN0bMrLDWKuocG83tHA8caMoA/s4032/IMG_9498.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fDVGTybSnRpZiSm36_pHeXKrkeC10SnK2iJvb__7Thi3a5kZSXOVvAoqgfzsLpU60YNj8TigKX8aV6dGbVi1QCYFiPEJc5GIeyB9zHCSh0OWspValk2J6oKRgS9ut12c7qe_PoWEpqSOMDq9B4gyupDI48OV43zZU8SXN0bMrLDWKuocG83tHA8caMoA/w480-h640/IMG_9498.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And just like that we have made it through January. I have stayed busy with my sorting and organizing in the house. You know the key to all of it is to bring less stuff in. I have done very little shopping in the last 3 years and quite frankly it has felt good. The one thing I did purchase last year was clothes. I love the newer pants styles, but even with my purchases I was careful to make wise purchases. Winter is a good time to do all of that sorting and organizing and even going to bed early. I can see that the days is getting longer and I am all in for it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185422453541735778noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369505808572306850.post-85769517044585788452024-01-25T13:27:00.000-06:002024-01-25T13:27:09.864-06:00Being Productive <p style="text-align: center;">If I don't post weekly, I find it harder to get up enough motivation to record any events around here. However, posting weekly is pretty much out of the realm of possibility with the stage of life I am in. I am back though and will start with the weather like a good senior citizen. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtaZdk-bylyU-TezzrdzX1TypIqdebYnyIAz5HQZRYBJgGLCHcVsWsdPiG_a9jUVlYJr4XBDhMjowCizoSx6Qret-9NSo5VqKTRoWkNIH0rOsc-XxjNafvHhQfsN5eldwij7Qe-OPqn7997-mpvrehna0Ps20Vj36QfCe11KeTD4iJqvDFu4jR94j_4T4S/s4032/IMG_9968.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtaZdk-bylyU-TezzrdzX1TypIqdebYnyIAz5HQZRYBJgGLCHcVsWsdPiG_a9jUVlYJr4XBDhMjowCizoSx6Qret-9NSo5VqKTRoWkNIH0rOsc-XxjNafvHhQfsN5eldwij7Qe-OPqn7997-mpvrehna0Ps20Vj36QfCe11KeTD4iJqvDFu4jR94j_4T4S/w640-h480/IMG_9968.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Cold...I think I have made it abundantly clear here on this little blog that winter is not my favorite season. In the spirit of not wishing my days away and being productive, I have tried really hard to find good things to do inside. I was doing well with no complaining until the weather decided to drop down in to the 20's. Nope...that is a no go for keeping my whining down. I have survived those days and hope that stuff is done and gone. This week is ultra gloomy and overcast but it is warmer, so I will take the gray skies for now while I thaw out.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>*Those pansies in the above picture did survive all those low temperatures. They are at my mother's assisted living place and are just gorgeous. </i></p><p style="text-align: center;">With that out of the way, what have I been up to? </p><p style="text-align: center;">A good many things...stitching, reading, cleaning and sorting, tending to family, and all sorts of odds and ends that really aren't all that interesting but I will share an overview anyway of that list.</p><p style="text-align: center;">First, we will start with the selling of things in my closets. I shared in my last post that I had the home movie camera and projector in the last post from the 1960's that I had decided to part with. I have no idea why I couldn't just get in the truck and drive it down the road to Goodwill, but I couldn't. My goal wasn't to make a ton of money either. I just wanted to pass it on to someone who might be excited about it. I know that sounds a bit sappy, but I am who I am.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I first listed it on eBay not really thinking it would do much and it didn't, so I listed it on Facebook Marketplace where I must admit I hate dealing with the crazies. I have sold things before, but you have to be patient and let all the spammers, perverts or whatever those things are before you get to a person who just really might be interested. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I listed the camera and projector and just decided I would let it ride for a long time....honestly, thinking it might take all year. This week, a young girl messaged me that she wanted the camera. I met her at Publix. Turns out she is a young person <i>similarly aged to my kids I would guess</i> who is a photographer. I asked her if she would be interested in the projector too. Yes! She was so sweet and told me I could follow her business site on FB and see what she did with it. I think just as record players are making a comeback old photography is too. She was able to get film and will use it for business. Needless to say that was EXACTLY what I had in mind. The price for both pieces was $75 and I honestly think I could have made more, but I was astounded one would pay that. It was a win and after looking at her work I think she will make good use of the camera.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I am still involving Jeff in helping me make decisions on all this closet stuff. I am really feeling good about it. This is how I make winter work for me. Now, last week when I was wearing lots of layers I will freely admit to a good bit of grumbling.</p><p style="text-align: center;">*****</p><p style="text-align: center;">Now, for other topics. We got the new seawall in May, and then so much happened over the summer and into the fall that we just had to let go on any thoughts of filling in between the old and new with dirt. I wasn't worried about safety. The old one was there and has worked for coming on 4 decades to keep erosion from happening, but we had a gap between them that just had to sit. This past month we have managed to get it mostly filled with dirt. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8enGcLfKmE26Vg-j4AzOmdlYfvjyHHSFodiAngmKEaj_EAUq4PAg2LnBfrppEj2ASdKzyPNp2ubn5epyyj11OKNOSSnk_iXXXkkqVlPJ5icsQzZiy-c2poqMdHKGzSemChayhjf84vxSX7QSWHzRNR_JFXm53dBEToafLivnIzcsExDQJn0LbpfRjPFLk/s4032/IMG_0205.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8enGcLfKmE26Vg-j4AzOmdlYfvjyHHSFodiAngmKEaj_EAUq4PAg2LnBfrppEj2ASdKzyPNp2ubn5epyyj11OKNOSSnk_iXXXkkqVlPJ5icsQzZiy-c2poqMdHKGzSemChayhjf84vxSX7QSWHzRNR_JFXm53dBEToafLivnIzcsExDQJn0LbpfRjPFLk/w640-h480/IMG_0205.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">We decided to go up to only the height of the old one in filling it. Factors that would have been an issue were the live oak that we didn't want to cut down and the old deck which we didn't really want to start pulling things out to put dirt under it. The sea wall will prevent erosion, but trust me in a major category storm (3-5) water goes right over it!!! We feel we have made the best decision. WE may to make a step on the ground side over by the steps for the littles but I am not sure yet. Of course, grass will have to be dealt with this spring since it is a mess down there.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The next 2 pictures will show you what it looks like on the deck side of the dock.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVEvDU46o1WPTy6gpXG0E1JN25K2tKKZn70G26iyvRxe1txEXwX3sNW-PvQbsnxuljbDRpYmoYBXWecSHZ9fkxHyzGirzcFJWXLGNvrW10KNvIRfUKUihrUjmhKIfihtibT56wBsRzgM0XisYagtktlRBL876nLVtR_4NmzFap5ys9Opk9ydAeH0Pq_R2/s4032/IMG_0209.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVEvDU46o1WPTy6gpXG0E1JN25K2tKKZn70G26iyvRxe1txEXwX3sNW-PvQbsnxuljbDRpYmoYBXWecSHZ9fkxHyzGirzcFJWXLGNvrW10KNvIRfUKUihrUjmhKIfihtibT56wBsRzgM0XisYagtktlRBL876nLVtR_4NmzFap5ys9Opk9ydAeH0Pq_R2/w480-h640/IMG_0209.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The metal piece under the walkway looking thing on the left in the picture is the new seawall material being used all over Florida. It is like corrugated metal (not sure of the makeup of the material) and is very strong. Because of the corrugated design you have to do the walkway on top of it. From the water, no one can see that we have the hole. It is not too deep and if something is dropped it is reachable. We mostly wanted the side in the yard to be filled with dirt so no kids fell in the gap. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You may notice the dirt had to be poured in from the deck which really means the gap is really small. It looks larger in the up close pictures.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNmmXQQYuUyRIEdj0eJ5q1MSOAuCsRBs02M6aOUBJFj4tSEdjp4qUubJbiJ0iI7Cc6w9RqlN3ASncQsHrBg_vWhaeoJbCvWiTmLQQeNoIST-jtBeNx7wc7Lu6C1NDQ1ArS3iPi0gxJOL033HMDkfMqT2oHk-jjiDRPpwowRfWGb1DwidYVhkgxz98JR9y/s4032/IMG_0207.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNmmXQQYuUyRIEdj0eJ5q1MSOAuCsRBs02M6aOUBJFj4tSEdjp4qUubJbiJ0iI7Cc6w9RqlN3ASncQsHrBg_vWhaeoJbCvWiTmLQQeNoIST-jtBeNx7wc7Lu6C1NDQ1ArS3iPi0gxJOL033HMDkfMqT2oHk-jjiDRPpwowRfWGb1DwidYVhkgxz98JR9y/w480-h640/IMG_0207.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My son-in-law Tyler and a good friend are the masterminds behind getting this job done for us. Tyler brought a trailer load of dirt from a job site. He works in construction and managed to get us some helpers. This was one of those things Jeff desired to do so badly, but it is not even a remote possibility for him anymore. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On that note, he fell off his bicycle right after we received his diagnosis in September. It was not related in any way to the Parkinson's. He tried to answer his phone while riding his bike. <i>Lesson learned the hard way</i>. Anyway, it messed up his shoulder and he is now seeing a physical therapist which honestly is such a good thing <u>in so many ways</u>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gus has taken a liking to my new chair. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4N5lHizSIdvxoLTiJb2aKukQi9Ud_JyY9HdXf7bois02hnSNUSKeKTclIYcv9SL8nqYg5M_dne8u-AzMcLLOQHQRuWkgya2U87cLnJbj7ABa8Et01bCvB0BjUve9xfqAf8J8toJ9Yp0lWIgxaV_yBSiQ04ihz1S9HqdPCsMOy2yPpfsl026ssX4dwq0L/s4032/IMG_0172.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4N5lHizSIdvxoLTiJb2aKukQi9Ud_JyY9HdXf7bois02hnSNUSKeKTclIYcv9SL8nqYg5M_dne8u-AzMcLLOQHQRuWkgya2U87cLnJbj7ABa8Et01bCvB0BjUve9xfqAf8J8toJ9Yp0lWIgxaV_yBSiQ04ihz1S9HqdPCsMOy2yPpfsl026ssX4dwq0L/w480-h640/IMG_0172.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And Miles is growing up so fast.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjI-BC7FBVBuLDcY8i7IHVm-9JC5aOks3GjuGPckxPsNST2u2-EWChVkpaV2L-ev7zO7JgEAvv1PygT0tC8rPO6re4nQ8aQRpI3hW5pLq82LzPOEYe4-1e2_9EQ8ryN4GODIBKC4xDYCGoZ9ww7gwpbwzKE7a13zfTZJmfMpscmoeGLNLVYG6fSSKU4wS/s4032/IMG_7924.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjI-BC7FBVBuLDcY8i7IHVm-9JC5aOks3GjuGPckxPsNST2u2-EWChVkpaV2L-ev7zO7JgEAvv1PygT0tC8rPO6re4nQ8aQRpI3hW5pLq82LzPOEYe4-1e2_9EQ8ryN4GODIBKC4xDYCGoZ9ww7gwpbwzKE7a13zfTZJmfMpscmoeGLNLVYG6fSSKU4wS/w480-h640/IMG_7924.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have been stitching and reading when time allows. I will share the two things I have stitched on since my last post. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The shells...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">there are six in the piece and I have completed 2 of them...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcEZ0BmOMmYWug6ygXVNnglnWn-sLbsM0jZ2a2UAekJf9mt3I7oqywSIagDVnyNlo6bWWdZrlxgx-UZ_E39JyttE_kt6c98oFctieHw1XCc_M0pZO9pJzIcDS4pIKK5xRIMRPdK0xbmoKMc2Gk_KqpewQjhjcfC9i347bfp9RS3zy5Mx9Kysl3dxEXtL0/s4032/IMG_0214.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcEZ0BmOMmYWug6ygXVNnglnWn-sLbsM0jZ2a2UAekJf9mt3I7oqywSIagDVnyNlo6bWWdZrlxgx-UZ_E39JyttE_kt6c98oFctieHw1XCc_M0pZO9pJzIcDS4pIKK5xRIMRPdK0xbmoKMc2Gk_KqpewQjhjcfC9i347bfp9RS3zy5Mx9Kysl3dxEXtL0/w480-h640/IMG_0214.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Ole Florida Sampler is coming along too. I am still undecided about any backstitching. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sEHpXRxnTh1Q-x7uUlUCE4DnHntqxLQiX1zImbqdssayRjZDHkP_BAKhcLwv6Sn60AUIVGmBFAK-txfbOmxxunahJQrc7TX-kKqWwBuJ4RJC-dWz2RCybe114jtO5EvwKr9gsxcFNMXFTVf0qXbSkMVR-KkipsgeT2qD2ljgvlYaKaBPV2NLDBXmHf7H/s4032/IMG_0215.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sEHpXRxnTh1Q-x7uUlUCE4DnHntqxLQiX1zImbqdssayRjZDHkP_BAKhcLwv6Sn60AUIVGmBFAK-txfbOmxxunahJQrc7TX-kKqWwBuJ4RJC-dWz2RCybe114jtO5EvwKr9gsxcFNMXFTVf0qXbSkMVR-KkipsgeT2qD2ljgvlYaKaBPV2NLDBXmHf7H/w640-h480/IMG_0215.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love this sampler and the house reminds me of the house my dad lived in. He was the middle son.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Cx03MQnLynfbRQXalLrq1Eu9GDC0pqbAJm9EbkjZEF5HG3XgJ_SCog8ogoVH0lEy_cK_wylSEC2JGwAer_cKLHjqezILf99wa26JoLo7QdaO0SzWEsqkUkv6KAu4AlYBZYtBEBdzhlujijX-S_390T0JCo-cDlaPK8GdXvtjJPoentS79Au6tRXofdmG/s1191/Image%202.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1191" data-original-width="856" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Cx03MQnLynfbRQXalLrq1Eu9GDC0pqbAJm9EbkjZEF5HG3XgJ_SCog8ogoVH0lEy_cK_wylSEC2JGwAer_cKLHjqezILf99wa26JoLo7QdaO0SzWEsqkUkv6KAu4AlYBZYtBEBdzhlujijX-S_390T0JCo-cDlaPK8GdXvtjJPoentS79Au6tRXofdmG/w460-h640/Image%202.jpeg" width="460" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My other big project that I have been working on for so long <i>and it too was laid aside because of the events of the summer</i> is my ancestry book. I have finally finished my side and am now am working on Jeff's side. I am super proud of the work I put into it. The kids like it and we are planning a trip this summer to the cemeteries where their great great great great grandparents are buried. I don't know if I will be able to go as far back as I did on my side because both of Jeff's parents are gone and there just may not be the resources available to me as I had. Jeff's mom did leave me a hand written account of her maternal line that should prove to be helpful. I may share this material in a post down the road sometime.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That my friends has been January in a nutshell. Too cold to do all the things I really enjoy but getting some stuff done that I wanted to get done too. Not to bad if I do say so myself. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hope to catch up on my blog reading this weekend. I still say it is my favorite medium although there is a lot less of it going on these days. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sandy</div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185422453541735778noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369505808572306850.post-90232544097712349472024-01-10T12:15:00.111-06:002024-01-11T12:52:41.588-06:00Winter Days<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1gYPDnItmcxhCTAwzwXf_1qD7VNrxKxuNEW2ns729x3JR3dvoABjE1DP07p9wVuckjnbAPo0C9k8DzzoKwRZ60nps3dXXol1u2zLTcwpqnDo7YKabKuwCM010bQJ5ODXn0lyvKOgKjZoADcfoXb1EOK1f1hwNiCVeDhcKRJY3kTJMzRGT_YTGFt-ujj1/s4032/IMG_0128.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1gYPDnItmcxhCTAwzwXf_1qD7VNrxKxuNEW2ns729x3JR3dvoABjE1DP07p9wVuckjnbAPo0C9k8DzzoKwRZ60nps3dXXol1u2zLTcwpqnDo7YKabKuwCM010bQJ5ODXn0lyvKOgKjZoADcfoXb1EOK1f1hwNiCVeDhcKRJY3kTJMzRGT_YTGFt-ujj1/w480-h640/IMG_0128.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The best thing about January and winter are these amazing plants. Camellias rank up there as one of my favorite flowers, and the fact that they adorn the not so favorite months is a plus in my book.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Winter is here in northwest Florida and I do my best to enjoy it. I have learned over the last decade to make it the season of sorting out closets and starting up tasks that I might not do any other season of the year. It has worked for the most part. I have cleaned out one large closet and painted it which was a big win for me. I have been busy each day with other similar things to make the cold days more productive. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Other than the usual chores and decluttering, I have stitched, read, and worked on some projects that would be good to get done while I can't get outside. The weather has been crazy here so having these projects has been good to distract from the lack of outdoor time. <b>I thought abou<i>t this thought</i> the other day</b>...I always wonder how people get so much cross stitching done. I think I have figured out the solution to that. <u>Their house is in order and they aren't sentimental fools like me who have loaded their closets with stuff that should have been let go ages ago and they spend their winter days stitching all day</u>. That is how they do it!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">With that said, I must say my house is pretty orderly and my closets are so organized <b>but the stuff in them</b> is me not being able to unload things that should have left long ago. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Exhibit A</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3x4MqAuWGPYm3YlBDvR2RHR2oB4VHwzOvPqyMQeIgihMdsPY-NwenN8WgmeVJpbv3fk-al9BjL98O53zMK2LIX5bbiPRj9fb0f0jIfiZIzHfDvD1snPzvYm-VbHU2wQ_Bv0PxOqZ9bCZTydcu_mSwvHQ1_xasa69kquUrI-EngkpL-O4ovBduElHNZYL/s4032/IMG_0110.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3x4MqAuWGPYm3YlBDvR2RHR2oB4VHwzOvPqyMQeIgihMdsPY-NwenN8WgmeVJpbv3fk-al9BjL98O53zMK2LIX5bbiPRj9fb0f0jIfiZIzHfDvD1snPzvYm-VbHU2wQ_Bv0PxOqZ9bCZTydcu_mSwvHQ1_xasa69kquUrI-EngkpL-O4ovBduElHNZYL/s320/IMG_0110.jpeg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNMVyTGy327rsunFhI_fZObzzWF9Fzv3QKFBTPUc5R6hzgfg7WDf24Jn7_TVlyIFoZaCX7GHgDEjDX0HEeys90FR3aFq8PyfQxxznLRML884S7yGKFa6mZFj00gDUVqjvO22tlu5Yp14fRib2aaiiCuNn6U0rHK22stdDY8su1ULX3en8O-3w-YvUDoHY/s4032/IMG_0111.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNMVyTGy327rsunFhI_fZObzzWF9Fzv3QKFBTPUc5R6hzgfg7WDf24Jn7_TVlyIFoZaCX7GHgDEjDX0HEeys90FR3aFq8PyfQxxznLRML884S7yGKFa6mZFj00gDUVqjvO22tlu5Yp14fRib2aaiiCuNn6U0rHK22stdDY8su1ULX3en8O-3w-YvUDoHY/s320/IMG_0111.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Movie camera and movie projector complete with original paperwork. Both of these items were purchased by Mother in probably 1966 ---maybe '65. I have had them neatly tucked away for decades ....yep decades. They look brand new. Both even work. I never plan to make movies with the camera and I have sent off all of our home movies and had them placed on flash drives so I won't be pulling out the home projector any time soon for movie night. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have set a goal of trying to let go of that kind of item in 2024. Surely there is a collector out there who would love them. If not at the end of the year I suppose I will donate them. I don't really want to make tons of money but would rather sell them that donate them for some reason. I have advertised on Ebay already with no luck, so I am trying Facebook Marketplace. We will see what happens. Along those same lines, I really thought I had all pictures and movies and anything related in order until I pulled down the slide carousels from Jeff's parents downstairs. I thought they were empty and I was going to try and get those gone too. When I opened the boxes they were all full. I have already gotten them ready to send off to Legacy Box, so hopefully that is truly the last of that kind of thing. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">On our one closet that we pulled out and gave away a bunch of stuff and painted, I kept about 3 items and put on the top shelf. If they have not been used by June, I will rid myself of them as well. None of them are hurting anything, but I am just still reeling from clearing out 2 houses in 17 months and don't want things we will not use left for kids to clean out. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Exhibit B</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaE79fcRRLPOCfSRbCox2o85Sl8wDzNWiJLe7yL6jhd8FFH8Nh6DnPGcmeSQ-3A0dbSIpHyl-5IB3nIZQ9sTM68_Pil-YV056a1AfGDzdJBoeQSNIk8KzYXBYoYX8xBjVD99ks-iutBHpjZsnRynhhodAWcq-e5HQkeDKjqizy7rgPa54eUhrdNz56RmaA/s4032/IMG_0117.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaE79fcRRLPOCfSRbCox2o85Sl8wDzNWiJLe7yL6jhd8FFH8Nh6DnPGcmeSQ-3A0dbSIpHyl-5IB3nIZQ9sTM68_Pil-YV056a1AfGDzdJBoeQSNIk8KzYXBYoYX8xBjVD99ks-iutBHpjZsnRynhhodAWcq-e5HQkeDKjqizy7rgPa54eUhrdNz56RmaA/w480-h640/IMG_0117.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a handy dandy stacking container for food. I remember Mom using it in the 1960's for Homecoming at church, trips to the lakes or beach. She was going to get rid of 10 years ago when she moved down here and I picked it up and brought it home. Haven't used it once. It is really cool. I showed it to the kids who thought it was cool, but I bet none of us pull it out to use.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*****</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">That is what I have been up to since the 1st. Jeff is finding his way too. I have kept him busy with some of that decluttering and sending him to Goodwill and the grocery store. I think he will have enough around here to keep him busy until he figures out how much outside of the home activity he wants. Then I think he will have more options that he probably even wants. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We kept both Miles and Palmer for our first day back babysitting. They were angels together and honestly it was a really easy day.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXu-Of_r9ELAyN14nPpDrQRKpHD7CZNQIXmmMhbxzeP55WvIjZWvM-9oYubfDCSPmeX4VluX1wM1WOco76KJhFMpVc3yf-OMM-e9UHfgacT7VNBx385CCr_mNr1WAQrIjZM_22Rn5T3qmuDEcI7n8pxeAUWOnVjRy3aMbQAK61VjCAY8wi0El50jXzRqQ-/s4032/IMG_0119.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXu-Of_r9ELAyN14nPpDrQRKpHD7CZNQIXmmMhbxzeP55WvIjZWvM-9oYubfDCSPmeX4VluX1wM1WOco76KJhFMpVc3yf-OMM-e9UHfgacT7VNBx385CCr_mNr1WAQrIjZM_22Rn5T3qmuDEcI7n8pxeAUWOnVjRy3aMbQAK61VjCAY8wi0El50jXzRqQ-/w480-h640/IMG_0119.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So for some fun pictures. I have stitched a little on Miles's Advent calendar...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlBYN3leOhhFe6h6N96YyLzCyRyQS8jjXjIjee1IjQRg3JPsolw8dP605R5B7NAy2YMYiOEUAv7zNxztFEp-G8qrG7jzeaS5fgxrgp8Gz67A8SpmAeAmIZkHDlZdWwAcZRHhQFvfrxtnsjRbkDnGhln0JyQI2F2vhsUS0zXY9TQNibLo4nC_a-6oYIm9m/s4032/IMG_0151.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlBYN3leOhhFe6h6N96YyLzCyRyQS8jjXjIjee1IjQRg3JPsolw8dP605R5B7NAy2YMYiOEUAv7zNxztFEp-G8qrG7jzeaS5fgxrgp8Gz67A8SpmAeAmIZkHDlZdWwAcZRHhQFvfrxtnsjRbkDnGhln0JyQI2F2vhsUS0zXY9TQNibLo4nC_a-6oYIm9m/w480-h640/IMG_0151.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and on The Ole Florida Sampler. I am thinking that house needs some backstitching for definition, but am waiting until I stitch all around it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIrXGVbl_yLWhqgAYerNqK5aYyy8DaArMztIH6JFTdNoyPxHMPUBxl4zRveUGyu7LStDay0gMcr_I9dHzTmX9cf4iQypAEaMSGXHKoEvV5AQvHI4KVDNwTkWcXiyA6YrsGVgmTZKo5TEcmdX7I4qzrlj5lKc6ZuBtDc2z5p4vRVz_zWa4Z4A3M_Pgphyphenhypheny/s4032/IMG_0162.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIrXGVbl_yLWhqgAYerNqK5aYyy8DaArMztIH6JFTdNoyPxHMPUBxl4zRveUGyu7LStDay0gMcr_I9dHzTmX9cf4iQypAEaMSGXHKoEvV5AQvHI4KVDNwTkWcXiyA6YrsGVgmTZKo5TEcmdX7I4qzrlj5lKc6ZuBtDc2z5p4vRVz_zWa4Z4A3M_Pgphyphenhypheny/w480-h640/IMG_0162.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have been reading and working on the goal of finishing my ancestry book for my kids this winter. I have about 2 months so I am trying to set aside some time each week for finishing that up. I think I can do it if there are no big life interruptions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That is the pretty boring life of Sandy, but I am contented with it for certain.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh and I left up my cardinals in the snow for January in the kitchen. Counter with my planner and papers that I was sorting didn't get moved for the picture. Real life!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuiwJy6-h7bcl-1flR6Ua0nliwYQMnkQ-W990oZRT3oRnfy4eJr_otePJFOk_bgl2F5vH1MYzQsiJmYlX0GLsWgMT_QKYBp43uVQfDUkldmIW5Wc1ZiDwFMHh5AInChnbyGORAmhIq-WGENGgC8VMdH5i_Uf4ybFssIlkZSHN5HqtMVQJnsbcq8mL84VQ/s4032/IMG_0155.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuiwJy6-h7bcl-1flR6Ua0nliwYQMnkQ-W990oZRT3oRnfy4eJr_otePJFOk_bgl2F5vH1MYzQsiJmYlX0GLsWgMT_QKYBp43uVQfDUkldmIW5Wc1ZiDwFMHh5AInChnbyGORAmhIq-WGENGgC8VMdH5i_Uf4ybFssIlkZSHN5HqtMVQJnsbcq8mL84VQ/w640-h480/IMG_0155.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Until next time, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sandy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185422453541735778noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369505808572306850.post-847218484932435832023-12-30T00:50:00.002-06:002023-12-30T00:50:32.912-06:00Goodbye 2023<p> Jeff and I are in Auburn resting and relaxing for a few days. It feels good to be quiet. It is cold! I am not a cold weather fan and even pulled out the jacket that I really only wear every couple of years up here. We will ring out the year out quietly. I will write more about that in a bit, but let’s share a picture or two from the last week. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpgMt6_Fdxl8RbkBP8SIK9NaimbaqLjqTMaprTj6p1CN03q-gtkLOWeeDzytXRcFbAfGYBcr9P_lQIjGhZDySILvhSp9plLh-76fjeNGMpgXy9dOrXF4eD2NPsCII7shNx2R7CiKaNBhdAjNWwT1huwT_TfxU1b3Vaj5mkgLPiQ38iflHWYQqePsgPJXw/s4032/IMG_0064.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpgMt6_Fdxl8RbkBP8SIK9NaimbaqLjqTMaprTj6p1CN03q-gtkLOWeeDzytXRcFbAfGYBcr9P_lQIjGhZDySILvhSp9plLh-76fjeNGMpgXy9dOrXF4eD2NPsCII7shNx2R7CiKaNBhdAjNWwT1huwT_TfxU1b3Vaj5mkgLPiQ38iflHWYQqePsgPJXw/w480-h640/IMG_0064.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>We celebrated Christmas with our little family on Friday, the 22nd. We had to share Lindsay this year but honestly doing it early since we are all agreeable makes it easy on both kids and their families. We don’t mind. Paul Allen and Lindsay usually work out a date together and Jeff’s sister and brother-in-law are fine with it too. </p><p>The grandsons are at a wonderful age. They remind me of Lindsay and Paul Allen at that age in the same living room oh so many years ago. </p><p>Here they are jumping on bubble wrap from a gift. It was quite loud, but little Miles was not timid at all. He couldn’t find space on it but he just jumped next to Tucker and Palmer. He stayed right in the mix of things with the big boys. What a difference a year made!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnlwApPGmS9I-9uqmDOK6C664Gsk9d3dcn2YsfQ7y7rurXckSrVKQ7D9BcvVvjVlkB6V25gI3JwQDgwhbJ3FYvMMjo9kwESITFaDNeFvsZ3TJroK6DbKxRk-GtkfWE9smhuDzRzB_-KeDNJ0xy6yt7ODWGPmZ_vgSR-zOWVLOhBTyPHZdOzlAxdJaqjzc/s4032/IMG_8895.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnlwApPGmS9I-9uqmDOK6C664Gsk9d3dcn2YsfQ7y7rurXckSrVKQ7D9BcvVvjVlkB6V25gI3JwQDgwhbJ3FYvMMjo9kwESITFaDNeFvsZ3TJroK6DbKxRk-GtkfWE9smhuDzRzB_-KeDNJ0xy6yt7ODWGPmZ_vgSR-zOWVLOhBTyPHZdOzlAxdJaqjzc/w480-h640/IMG_8895.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNwJ35fqZaY6es_ONUhrDxWYNya2QyyL67oeJEd04DsSqk6cn_gdWznhIMgcub538CmPVDXDNAXlRQfLy2gv31j2vnK4ozsKUePoQ4Lf63rHeRI4bWYLubEl7Lx91XtpgMgLFIg_ULrhJ7TTCfAMETVw9fC6vKcytZPzcNGtYS6UgNSbDKIjXpSe_2ByP/s4032/IMG_8937.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNwJ35fqZaY6es_ONUhrDxWYNya2QyyL67oeJEd04DsSqk6cn_gdWznhIMgcub538CmPVDXDNAXlRQfLy2gv31j2vnK4ozsKUePoQ4Lf63rHeRI4bWYLubEl7Lx91XtpgMgLFIg_ULrhJ7TTCfAMETVw9fC6vKcytZPzcNGtYS6UgNSbDKIjXpSe_2ByP/w480-h640/IMG_8937.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Mother spent the night with us on the 22nd since we would be opening presents until past the closing hour at her assisted living place. We got up the next morning and ate a big breakfast and leftovers for lunch before we took her home for the evening on Saturday. </p><p>I drove her back and it was such a beautiful day that I slipped away to stroll on the beach while Jeff went over to a friend’s house to take a gift.</p><p>It was about 4:00 in the evening and let me just say I could have stayed forever. A lot of emotion was left out there on that stroll and God met me there for the walk.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_Jd6s10O9ecEOxYsM8gg7sntGysjVToa7Ljlie_dPpguKCpOJCDH1Zqy_2bWO9HJAE_F1XK-97kSDYCW-9rlvfKyGHLibuYg_HzUGAX7li7BgmtTTWiDgMpxR9BiUjmeobwsgl0IT-NzzJIHzaO96nhdXCwxzgRcOf6PeDnjw9gF1V8uOeYAsl0qS9iq/s4032/IMG_0058.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_Jd6s10O9ecEOxYsM8gg7sntGysjVToa7Ljlie_dPpguKCpOJCDH1Zqy_2bWO9HJAE_F1XK-97kSDYCW-9rlvfKyGHLibuYg_HzUGAX7li7BgmtTTWiDgMpxR9BiUjmeobwsgl0IT-NzzJIHzaO96nhdXCwxzgRcOf6PeDnjw9gF1V8uOeYAsl0qS9iq/w480-h640/IMG_0058.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Christmas Eve morning was church and such a beautiful service. Again, God met me there with comfort. After church we got Mama out and brought her back to our house and we made a pot of spaghetti. We all 3 sat down to watch a Christmas movie. We watched A Christmas… Present with Candace Cameron Bure. I highly recommend it. A nice family movie.</p><p>Donna and Al have modeled what to do with Christmas when you have adult kids. They have their own little traditions for Christmas Day. They take a drive down 30A and back. On Christmas morning Jeff and I took us a walk in the beach. A storm had blown in from the Gulf overnight and the water was still kicking and made for fun watching. I am pretty sure the waves were 7-8 feet at the second sandbar. We again picked up Mom and brought her to our house. She slept for most of the day on the couch. I think all of it had worn her out but one shouldn’t be alone at Christmas.</p><p>Still not too tired of the beach, Jeff and I once again made beach trip on the morning of the 26th. We drove west to Opal Beach and it was a bit chilly that day. The shells were heavy and made for fun scouring while we walked. </p><p>I began taking Christmas down on that afternoon and finished the next day while Jeff and Paul Allen fished. I love the decorations but I am always ready for a clean slate.</p><p>I think it was Christmas Day evening I read or skimmed all of this past year’s blog posts. What a year! It has been a hard year… sinus surgery, 2 cataract surgeries to start with. I can breathe and see better:) Mom’s fall, spending a month in rehab and then with me, then moving and selling her home and having to get rid of a lifetime of things… then Jeff’s Parkinson’s diagnosis and retirement. That is A Lot to take in and really the year before had been hard too with Jeff’s brother passing. </p><p>If you want to know the real honest truth I am not thinking 2024 is going to be a piece of cake either, not just with my family but with our country. You can’t have an invasion at the southern border and things not get wild very soon. Listen my own little town is seeing big problems already. </p><p>I think I am going to need a lot of courage for the next year. I do know however that my Lord will walk with me through every hardship and provide me with the courage I need. </p><p>I am going to rest these few days before going home. We took Mama to her sister’s to visit. I don’t think she will be able to make that trek again. I could be wrong but she really wanted to go so we took her. My Aunt Faye will try to get her to eat and cousins will drop into visit so she should be fine. </p><p>I finished my last book for this year today. <u>Kinfolk</u> by Sean Dietrich. It was my 23rd book this year. A prime number and a nod to something in the book. A good one to round out 2023.</p><p>I am going to give January a couple of weeks to get used to a new routine with Jeff home before I blog again. </p><p>Thanks for following along….</p><p>Sandy</p>Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185422453541735778noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369505808572306850.post-36363537721975911972023-12-22T15:33:00.000-06:002023-12-22T15:33:16.232-06:00Stitching and More<p style="text-align: center;"> Oh the troubles I weave sometimes. I stitched like a madwoman--- even when I did not have time. I quit working on my Florida sampler and ---went down a rabbit trail. I was obsessed in stitching the Christmas Bells. I remembered the pattern from the past and ordered it this year after seeing Faye (Carolina Stitcher) finish them for a client with blue ribbon like on my Christmas tree.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">I got them all stitched last week and dreaded the cutting, because I figured it would be hard to get it just right.</p><p style="text-align: center;">And things went fine for the first one I finished up. I was feeling confident. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcW5XcC6kI3OttNg8LuvkR7iz5bszy20O0ziceh_Lu51tRfOHX4Cv1V1meE39zxU2br78wXeqJReY8x07NJuNa_EOv7pWmX6ccOdd7KRfZOEK3B_JZiE6JmN-BE_-Fgj55lNUC0phqp1ZDHMnVZ_DSNlinfQ11237LUBqVbSxrLfX5CO5YIPKhggGoWlXT/s4032/IMG_9959.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcW5XcC6kI3OttNg8LuvkR7iz5bszy20O0ziceh_Lu51tRfOHX4Cv1V1meE39zxU2br78wXeqJReY8x07NJuNa_EOv7pWmX6ccOdd7KRfZOEK3B_JZiE6JmN-BE_-Fgj55lNUC0phqp1ZDHMnVZ_DSNlinfQ11237LUBqVbSxrLfX5CO5YIPKhggGoWlXT/w480-h640/IMG_9959.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It turned out quite cute. I am just going to tell you straight up; the second one was a big ole bust. I cut it out and things looked promising once again, but when I stitched it things didn't come out so well. It simply was not repairable, so this pattern will be set aside until next July when I will stitch some Christmas in July. Sometimes it just doesn't work out!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So my Stitching Post is not all that noteworthy. I will share some oldies, but goodies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The next 2 ornaments are from the early 80's. I stitched them both for Mom. I retrieved them this summer to bring to my tree.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJ2ljjKefb6aLGxOcTLVdzUWdZIiahL5OMF2HX08twg6qfBkf4c-Exeu4D7IPD615i-d7XxjQuhNca9nD604-HtwfJle2ds-LqygoI1GCkx0ONqw3sC9HidOP-_DqTrMvLwOSHO5zHNc8Lv1gQWavzSwSfUuH01SeJVhTvBRplnKOUCKchote_GsupqjJ/s4032/IMG_9960.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJ2ljjKefb6aLGxOcTLVdzUWdZIiahL5OMF2HX08twg6qfBkf4c-Exeu4D7IPD615i-d7XxjQuhNca9nD604-HtwfJle2ds-LqygoI1GCkx0ONqw3sC9HidOP-_DqTrMvLwOSHO5zHNc8Lv1gQWavzSwSfUuH01SeJVhTvBRplnKOUCKchote_GsupqjJ/w480-h640/IMG_9960.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMp1mVySkCx5Z7IaKeikZyJzpkxy22qnFL4oDWlq9i3dqyGmnTeqKAzvtyxPw2K_5T1LZ1ADkvYeEwENGrFcEWkW4BwJ_n7dTmPSS6K4NzuT3ddtI866C8HjVRp2Ksgv6vvTlJe_66EMkWrjweY_6yJoa8gc77imeGgyzUUFFWPbls2NJCWGkGqbswMVHG/s4032/IMG_9961.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMp1mVySkCx5Z7IaKeikZyJzpkxy22qnFL4oDWlq9i3dqyGmnTeqKAzvtyxPw2K_5T1LZ1ADkvYeEwENGrFcEWkW4BwJ_n7dTmPSS6K4NzuT3ddtI866C8HjVRp2Ksgv6vvTlJe_66EMkWrjweY_6yJoa8gc77imeGgyzUUFFWPbls2NJCWGkGqbswMVHG/w480-h640/IMG_9961.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The next 2 are also from the mid 80's and have graced our tree for all our married years.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxB4hzl9wiLRTEOIui-2U7z9-DFvdum8Rj4O5kLPMuF-Ucf7kZB4cLAIMwmMzPSturmiqT6Ar_NtrEk8FlzEOSoMbBBAv-PJRuLT-snIt7OaKS8mln6awzK_REMtI1fletCARXdv0ScP2BIbBIVjjYauZ84J7ytCLnKgL6aG_W3OCUJ-QNPq50fXi4Tki/s4032/IMG_9962.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxB4hzl9wiLRTEOIui-2U7z9-DFvdum8Rj4O5kLPMuF-Ucf7kZB4cLAIMwmMzPSturmiqT6Ar_NtrEk8FlzEOSoMbBBAv-PJRuLT-snIt7OaKS8mln6awzK_REMtI1fletCARXdv0ScP2BIbBIVjjYauZ84J7ytCLnKgL6aG_W3OCUJ-QNPq50fXi4Tki/w480-h640/IMG_9962.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some of you probably did these too way back in the day.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1x-k71LvpoPCblyk60F7Lwanvxsf-Huhq00IDJ6tzfbBf_-LjYrDLwmLtxYyqGgF5CPmNE8UxqF7dfHh9PS5_HRcfLwv28M4eC6pVSG9_fTRaQGoFJDDgcfHcl11nKd-nBwVb-VReerv_l2rHpvsJIgMRlIs3u4xBxK9J1ymfi2fn2QiRJ1Fs-s3K1tLL/s4032/IMG_9963.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1x-k71LvpoPCblyk60F7Lwanvxsf-Huhq00IDJ6tzfbBf_-LjYrDLwmLtxYyqGgF5CPmNE8UxqF7dfHh9PS5_HRcfLwv28M4eC6pVSG9_fTRaQGoFJDDgcfHcl11nKd-nBwVb-VReerv_l2rHpvsJIgMRlIs3u4xBxK9J1ymfi2fn2QiRJ1Fs-s3K1tLL/w480-h640/IMG_9963.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">That is the stitching post. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Lesson moving in to '24. Stitch for fun and at a slower pace. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Oh and I have mentioned many times that I would love to transition to a more Blue Christmas in my home, but have never been able to actually do it. One thing I have learned this year about actually pulling it off is that GREEN would weigh huge in that idea for me. I love the blues, but the green ribbon I have used this year would be the key to making that kind of transition. All that said....I really like what I have done this year. It is the right combination of traditional red and green and<b> tartan</b> and a nice amount of blue and green that matches my house</p><p style="text-align: center;">Now, for the more....</p><p style="text-align: center;">This week was about so many things to do each day and night. </p><p style="text-align: center;">We had Jeff's retirement party at church on Monday evening. We decided to do it at church rather than at the schoolboard since it would be much prettier and take lots less work to decorate. The church is simply beautiful right now. <i>We have a lady that is an interior designer who attends our church and is a worker bee and giver of her time to make everything just amazing each year...well, actually year round.</i> </p><p style="text-align: center;">I can't say enough about how nice the reception was. My good friends showed up and helped me get everything in place. Paul Allen was our worker to move tables and such. Lindsay kept me calm and all was so pretty.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Here are a few snaps of the goings on while we were getting it all in order and the tables of food and such.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLmFSQDjm-173vZ8guLR2fgfOy6VwPj4ATP8sC-A0f4UXrDcLNoKgrt3m0AovO2ipMQJrsGp3jwgFt8MuQxls36_u9K8vuhpfSviFSg1In7TWTHwRGGkaSif8hEQrAKmainplPwB39lABU9-7-zA73L9Lh6WmOxYy6VFhGOxfBFYofEVQi41Z6fBSDlqf/s4032/IMG_0001.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLmFSQDjm-173vZ8guLR2fgfOy6VwPj4ATP8sC-A0f4UXrDcLNoKgrt3m0AovO2ipMQJrsGp3jwgFt8MuQxls36_u9K8vuhpfSviFSg1In7TWTHwRGGkaSif8hEQrAKmainplPwB39lABU9-7-zA73L9Lh6WmOxYy6VFhGOxfBFYofEVQi41Z6fBSDlqf/w640-h480/IMG_0001.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have kept my mom's and my mother-in-law's punch bowls all these years. I am so happy to see them making a comeback. They have even been borrowed by the young girls. I decided a while back to let go of all my decanters and just go with them. They are no more trouble and actually don't make the mess that those spout things do.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNtU_dS_oVUILXzPA-DshFQzytLohDYgk4CgtWJV9PS9Tprp9Aooh4a1R3AfPsCSHrAqW2WTYnTSTsq48JQLt1FMsTZn_RVJ2PajCe_wJD-bJ4dP_YJP_oXEcTJwzSsk2uA29pdV9H7F6WmYShk5RhRILGMb3x3hRy8BJbeCNZrXcc5Ei9Y-celcr3qQM/s4032/IMG_0002.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNtU_dS_oVUILXzPA-DshFQzytLohDYgk4CgtWJV9PS9Tprp9Aooh4a1R3AfPsCSHrAqW2WTYnTSTsq48JQLt1FMsTZn_RVJ2PajCe_wJD-bJ4dP_YJP_oXEcTJwzSsk2uA29pdV9H7F6WmYShk5RhRILGMb3x3hRy8BJbeCNZrXcc5Ei9Y-celcr3qQM/w480-h640/IMG_0002.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The memory table was a last minute thought. I am so glad Lindsay thought of it. I was more organized than I thought. I pulled out some highlights from each place he worked. I think Jeff loved looking back. I hope to make him a scrapbook in the next year. I did that for myself when I retired.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4TSLWvr95UtykDiKwVk3cHh6ZMM4-13DjoGLwMhlM2XnM5SitKRptSxzI0W9kwhiDzr6VqBQf0QgKeIdTQGEIjLEVIlwrPZ_pAsHb5FVr9x9btoBPI5LDJA9Bt8gck-joX-Yg2yCpNH1szrT9pRwzLL4TzvzFlaEMr79w4CcjkAzfxlANpxINT1ZHafQ/s4032/IMG_8831.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4TSLWvr95UtykDiKwVk3cHh6ZMM4-13DjoGLwMhlM2XnM5SitKRptSxzI0W9kwhiDzr6VqBQf0QgKeIdTQGEIjLEVIlwrPZ_pAsHb5FVr9x9btoBPI5LDJA9Bt8gck-joX-Yg2yCpNH1szrT9pRwzLL4TzvzFlaEMr79w4CcjkAzfxlANpxINT1ZHafQ/w640-h480/IMG_8831.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the ladies who works in his office made this wonderful cake. So much thought and love was in this. And then, she stayed and just worked behind the scenes to make sure the punch and food trays were full. I could never thank her enough.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7co_DZT072bK3LhOfUD_8QDUytkn1BZL5AO1Z7JR9tSSOZFDxdWScF256a7v9Zo1N5ow57pE6g-u5KA1SnHDI-6oU6XN1lx9mfo7Mlokg9krKWIV6F7bRRC9gZWEGswnyC909G9DsRrUKu-GftNefC2mAvKacBSFLfsuKuWoad2JLXkLDF2JXF2yJWsNI/s4032/IMG_8843.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7co_DZT072bK3LhOfUD_8QDUytkn1BZL5AO1Z7JR9tSSOZFDxdWScF256a7v9Zo1N5ow57pE6g-u5KA1SnHDI-6oU6XN1lx9mfo7Mlokg9krKWIV6F7bRRC9gZWEGswnyC909G9DsRrUKu-GftNefC2mAvKacBSFLfsuKuWoad2JLXkLDF2JXF2yJWsNI/w480-h640/IMG_8843.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghiIjpah3KQ0lNbivRMw34MihWJ-QQno1arpVfCFsntUA5PJT5jzXiTTCux2oA_WF-32ePJdQp_khmnAhcgnd0xQjjdqyaRUHTs_QyF5h229XXC2iPRAdzL36qEjrq9dM4p0aSDt63LHtlT-gdY3b2EVKMgDwRcV2Dft7O4JCrLs8b8apl6Lq7dURMr1U3/s4032/IMG_9998.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghiIjpah3KQ0lNbivRMw34MihWJ-QQno1arpVfCFsntUA5PJT5jzXiTTCux2oA_WF-32ePJdQp_khmnAhcgnd0xQjjdqyaRUHTs_QyF5h229XXC2iPRAdzL36qEjrq9dM4p0aSDt63LHtlT-gdY3b2EVKMgDwRcV2Dft7O4JCrLs8b8apl6Lq7dURMr1U3/w480-h640/IMG_9998.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My friend who has a lunch restaurant also put so much thought into the food. She had all Jeff's favorites from her restaurant.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6adaqc4Wh7g-nFV_CRoXRyw28WHwfj0SDVqMEcSgFBMZ0ACIeHo-pmnajtSHq0lLyBMT_IIgEB5iiRganJ-tdLsc2IJkCpTBjrGxtCVssO0QltmexFc9Q1rIPueznEUmZ3_-p13FppsnMB9Yz2ns7CqXdr2mvwye5onW64eWLeEcmUv-jEo70glopWtu/s4032/IMG_9999.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6adaqc4Wh7g-nFV_CRoXRyw28WHwfj0SDVqMEcSgFBMZ0ACIeHo-pmnajtSHq0lLyBMT_IIgEB5iiRganJ-tdLsc2IJkCpTBjrGxtCVssO0QltmexFc9Q1rIPueznEUmZ3_-p13FppsnMB9Yz2ns7CqXdr2mvwye5onW64eWLeEcmUv-jEo70glopWtu/w640-h480/IMG_9999.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At the end, my friend Anne grabbed all the tablecloths and took them home with her to wash. My friend Cindy was there early helping me set up and brought the flowers. I am blessed, people.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Paul Allen caught this picture of me after we had finished setting up and were waiting on the guests. It says it all for me. My happy place....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwdoPrWyZs3h9BloNLGCHNLRL3AO-huV0N5PKXMY0FzqCxN1AZoLvsmfHRAx2RqhABsle2jF73_GhmhhJCWzHlNBM5pLsQ1RNh9LNKHZp9wOtKy8FsdtqtQ-juBWyRYndG4oqYbhJc520CPB_Y6FlLX_fqJiYkS1URQGaIOsigJFis_O9x6yuQ0fF3jRHO/s4032/IMG_6153.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwdoPrWyZs3h9BloNLGCHNLRL3AO-huV0N5PKXMY0FzqCxN1AZoLvsmfHRAx2RqhABsle2jF73_GhmhhJCWzHlNBM5pLsQ1RNh9LNKHZp9wOtKy8FsdtqtQ-juBWyRYndG4oqYbhJc520CPB_Y6FlLX_fqJiYkS1URQGaIOsigJFis_O9x6yuQ0fF3jRHO/w480-h640/IMG_6153.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Lindsay posted this on social medias that evening. It was perfectly said. Jeff will be missed but I am gaining him at home.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6IZRku3TQ6MZ30BODXKEL7-UlGvb0sYqTNeQvb66RnkMYuHe8wJQT75m-Rn1pi8ipTlwgZedu29UWJNuWXYG2y2QPLfjs1D9-kPx_eZ3oT5o-nnIejj5HJv3j7raQ3TvHxbskHRyXiuuy7wWVxvzTJ7EdFn2Yi7YpW_ei29VRSKPTbBYbPl3sES8Rm6wU/s2688/IMG_0029.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2688" data-original-width="1242" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6IZRku3TQ6MZ30BODXKEL7-UlGvb0sYqTNeQvb66RnkMYuHe8wJQT75m-Rn1pi8ipTlwgZedu29UWJNuWXYG2y2QPLfjs1D9-kPx_eZ3oT5o-nnIejj5HJv3j7raQ3TvHxbskHRyXiuuy7wWVxvzTJ7EdFn2Yi7YpW_ei29VRSKPTbBYbPl3sES8Rm6wU/w296-h640/IMG_0029.png" width="296" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Night of honor went well and Thursday was his last day.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Tuesday evening we went to see Tucker's little Christian school Christmas concert. I wish I could show pictures of how cute, but I don't have the time to blank out all the kids' faces. They were so precious. It was just the right amount of time and just perfection all around to this Mimi. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I couldn't help but remember all the ones my own children were in. My favorite memory of those performances is Paul Allen being Baby Jesus. He was 6 months old and they were going to sing a song where the younger girl would hold him while the adult lady sang. <u>He was sheer perfection in all the practices.</u> The night of the actual performance was different. The lights were different. They popped a spotlight on him about halfway the song and he erupted. I was standing up in the choir alcove and my heart sank. A nervous mama ---worrying about him and hating that he was messing up the performance. I couldn't wait for them to hand him to me so that I could comfort him. Everyone was so nice later and said that surely Baby Jesus cried. </p><p style="text-align: center;">It wasn't until I actually saw the recording of him that I realized it sounded much louder and unnerving in the little alcove I was standing in and he didn't ruin anything after all. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Moving on....</p><p style="text-align: center;">Thursday evening was a church staff and elder's dinner. I had thrown a pity party for one earlier that day and was dreading going. Pity parties are never very fun, but sometimes they just come. They seem to come despite our knowing full well they are not all that fruitful. The dinner ended up being just what I needed. </p><p style="text-align: center;">This has gone on long enough.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas.</p>Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185422453541735778noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369505808572306850.post-72778511299127930162023-12-14T10:00:00.008-06:002023-12-14T10:00:00.139-06:00Christmas Tour 2023 Part 2<p style="text-align: center;">We move in past those glass doors in the distance to the rooms that most of our time is spent in other than sleeping. There is a new chair in the mix in this room, so shall we get started?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1g1di2ESkr876uD95Bs8mOiRb881MK68VN-gc8KFLZVESUd3KO21HHqqbL3IGLLmZoPtv6mPIodMtn6pjK8qFD-AvuWrlxFY3s5AtbY7vMQ9b8kAT8uNY1QVtjDCyABaK_51OOq0W7KmQv_7VZ9TOesbl5EGuPQT7vHUZyo-Z5FnTt8lABpG8p-eCJKC/s4032/IMG_9854.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1g1di2ESkr876uD95Bs8mOiRb881MK68VN-gc8KFLZVESUd3KO21HHqqbL3IGLLmZoPtv6mPIodMtn6pjK8qFD-AvuWrlxFY3s5AtbY7vMQ9b8kAT8uNY1QVtjDCyABaK_51OOq0W7KmQv_7VZ9TOesbl5EGuPQT7vHUZyo-Z5FnTt8lABpG8p-eCJKC/w480-h640/IMG_9854.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The burgundy recliner gave up the ghost and that sent us on a search and thoughts of a new chair to replace it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The day I took the pictures it was so cloudy, so I am sorry about the quality of my photos. I am not a photographer. Maybe after Christmas I can talk Jeff into taking my blog photos!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The chair on the right is the new one. It is smaller and spins. The one on the left used to be on the right and was considered my chair. It is very large and I couldn't touch the floor when sitting in it not even with a pillow behind it. I brought the idea to Jeff that he might like it and we could get a smaller one for me. He once had a chair like this and an ottoman. We had a leather set forever here and he liked it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEM6D8JUcNCETXlLuTPPqXvpZ404RZiYvmuxH70ZMxrnu-GFKv_THBfMX-S8JnklznapMPVuXMrhXhoelR0pK5OD0ehpecjEjolyt1qejXEqNLAadeTmCnN_Q3Gsibc0mg0Prxe8PGSpPapRoczraUXH3f3kaX_dKPiie9K6w8ZKQEblBeMkDUjFx8FSGV/s4032/IMG_9879.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEM6D8JUcNCETXlLuTPPqXvpZ404RZiYvmuxH70ZMxrnu-GFKv_THBfMX-S8JnklznapMPVuXMrhXhoelR0pK5OD0ehpecjEjolyt1qejXEqNLAadeTmCnN_Q3Gsibc0mg0Prxe8PGSpPapRoczraUXH3f3kaX_dKPiie9K6w8ZKQEblBeMkDUjFx8FSGV/w640-h480/IMG_9879.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now, I would honestly love a good old fashioned wing back chair but I decided to stay with the look we have achieved in here. The chair doesn't look that much smaller but it is not nearly as deep and I can sit and keep my feet on the floor. Ha Ha. I brought home the fabric we chose and laid it against every item in that room since the goal was to tie things together. I love the pattern and the chair. Not sure about Gus since we don't fit as well together as we did in the big chair.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now, the funny thing is when we got it in the room, we tried them out and decided that the new patterned chair looked better in the opposite position that pictured here. SO...we thought one evening we would try sitting in new positions and see if we liked it and then we could swap our belongings. Well Folks, that lasted maybe 15 minutes and we looked at each other and decided looks weren't everything. We are both quite attached to our spots in the room.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-Q45JYytfZbGu499_GlPn1d1V-PnOXll3MSEGwYMS2lOZ4IXWdNOaxoWmEZbem454BBwXDSlwka8H7loiS5HBrRuAvfKFy7YMYsCYzt-HjDVRqEO_5fukyZEb6sL_V4XzZpuYtjpxggDH-_A8JUKdaij81nF4bDTFfsJMAYg_LN2NlJVUgazR2f6n7yx/s4032/IMG_9880.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-Q45JYytfZbGu499_GlPn1d1V-PnOXll3MSEGwYMS2lOZ4IXWdNOaxoWmEZbem454BBwXDSlwka8H7loiS5HBrRuAvfKFy7YMYsCYzt-HjDVRqEO_5fukyZEb6sL_V4XzZpuYtjpxggDH-_A8JUKdaij81nF4bDTFfsJMAYg_LN2NlJVUgazR2f6n7yx/w640-h480/IMG_9880.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have a pillow cover ordered for a lumbar pillow that I already had to go in my new chair. I just like a lumbar pillow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now, back to Christmas tour. The tree is lovely. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the best things about this room is the placement of the tree. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZ3Bd5XJdHd9_qEVyfZpcf5eH3EGws3C0lirG0Oba2haD4IVotihAeoODS7IsyznpHJH-ooVVeH3vgQbyNaXM7YXl4eCJ8acfUvp4up3Y_FwajmY1HQzLmdNaYC_B3UzzaK8U3eQTHIsiGaMwb8rElEymqLDrbcyJwmV_jVwuYxKRpgwcOvBCUgFSsz3S/s4032/IMG_9881.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZ3Bd5XJdHd9_qEVyfZpcf5eH3EGws3C0lirG0Oba2haD4IVotihAeoODS7IsyznpHJH-ooVVeH3vgQbyNaXM7YXl4eCJ8acfUvp4up3Y_FwajmY1HQzLmdNaYC_B3UzzaK8U3eQTHIsiGaMwb8rElEymqLDrbcyJwmV_jVwuYxKRpgwcOvBCUgFSsz3S/w480-h640/IMG_9881.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Full of old and new ornaments... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The gold one and the icicle are from Mom's ornaments.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuv0aMElRSycg8MQDVqwkI_0euU28hWARSFhVtEhW6OuaO1CSqdfz-AYLOwd0oyFUOFe34Ya4U6WlogUTcUvBN-nhfbqGGiDfJjr9yp1Ld8MDImZo8pS_7vdX_6iViYsWK3W-uQpeOSZoBpDQen6_yQAIDamkAJMXz-78Taxwoksf9ljL4gN9bp6slsZVg/s4032/IMG_9915.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuv0aMElRSycg8MQDVqwkI_0euU28hWARSFhVtEhW6OuaO1CSqdfz-AYLOwd0oyFUOFe34Ya4U6WlogUTcUvBN-nhfbqGGiDfJjr9yp1Ld8MDImZo8pS_7vdX_6iViYsWK3W-uQpeOSZoBpDQen6_yQAIDamkAJMXz-78Taxwoksf9ljL4gN9bp6slsZVg/w480-h640/IMG_9915.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Along with the blue one below...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAoxz5TCQmTZFQNe-b93ZPjSXmnBCVEZaiBBMO43odxirYP2bg_qtAuJx2FfFbDZJ0ZuLmPdfSEdjEtp6aC_doYyYtrbqXgZTweviPfXcBLcV8uy_Oqm-Ufn0IV-Sj4BtHtQQ-UpIAIO8q0RRHpCiZpxMKMVCY-2JLJyPs1ghDhsEwXm391qp9vFZ7f4T/s4032/IMG_9916.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAoxz5TCQmTZFQNe-b93ZPjSXmnBCVEZaiBBMO43odxirYP2bg_qtAuJx2FfFbDZJ0ZuLmPdfSEdjEtp6aC_doYyYtrbqXgZTweviPfXcBLcV8uy_Oqm-Ufn0IV-Sj4BtHtQQ-UpIAIO8q0RRHpCiZpxMKMVCY-2JLJyPs1ghDhsEwXm391qp9vFZ7f4T/w480-h640/IMG_9916.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And I just stitched myself one of those little reindeer with the cardinals on his back...</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaIPCMVyGWIeYAGoVPUUjf9C_-RbrWASKWMqvxfYGL9BhId5JeZUlRN0jG0-zrRURpfxyzcEpmXcatpgg9ZWbP-6mPyEt3KK5hUYJIDua_VFUySn6GVy8-GtWC4ZBmCe_RPLkEire83hnsgqPtu9hDOiUeIS7c6kl7IG03LYDZlZjF2z4p461EIWllKhe/s4032/IMG_9918.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaIPCMVyGWIeYAGoVPUUjf9C_-RbrWASKWMqvxfYGL9BhId5JeZUlRN0jG0-zrRURpfxyzcEpmXcatpgg9ZWbP-6mPyEt3KK5hUYJIDua_VFUySn6GVy8-GtWC4ZBmCe_RPLkEire83hnsgqPtu9hDOiUeIS7c6kl7IG03LYDZlZjF2z4p461EIWllKhe/w480-h640/IMG_9918.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pulling out all the old favorite decorations is always fun. My little drummer boy that I repaired 2 years ago.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_6f-3G_hyJGqdms6gIydrNmNGBs35rqJE7ZZta0YCZ8r_ITFJlZDAl2qdIXzwKokpMDnXUyuenob2EzGgCSAHpoLTKmsbga28udj6G6FBGk35UXOYHnAY6A-l17ocKFlhunqTA2oGmvgvgfl8K1A1Zwu1zX8G_eUPdrBAhXGbvJZwHsrLU91ycna-Yw_/s4032/IMG_9882.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_6f-3G_hyJGqdms6gIydrNmNGBs35rqJE7ZZta0YCZ8r_ITFJlZDAl2qdIXzwKokpMDnXUyuenob2EzGgCSAHpoLTKmsbga28udj6G6FBGk35UXOYHnAY6A-l17ocKFlhunqTA2oGmvgvgfl8K1A1Zwu1zX8G_eUPdrBAhXGbvJZwHsrLU91ycna-Yw_/w480-h640/IMG_9882.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Whether it is all the reindeer that my mother-in-law picked up at all the craft shows of the 80's and 90's, or the little tins, or the candle holders, or the wooden tree that Paul Allen decorated with glitter in preschool so many years ago --all hold such special memories.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPYyaKFeEvnIgvWI9d206J3pvRytZhCOLnkr1fH-Ywksv-u-vbqJpZsdA2siRt-iWLNr5otWZw8nZcabGtVma-5fbCCn2oH7k53EDbyyOBfbxXM2k8wNqO-QRPIkbqFJC-ydGtc_daSsAOyfQNVIBDB4-27oJ4Fu1SPx2pQWgL1owZcjUWeLbBKLsKEk3/s4032/IMG_9885.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPYyaKFeEvnIgvWI9d206J3pvRytZhCOLnkr1fH-Ywksv-u-vbqJpZsdA2siRt-iWLNr5otWZw8nZcabGtVma-5fbCCn2oH7k53EDbyyOBfbxXM2k8wNqO-QRPIkbqFJC-ydGtc_daSsAOyfQNVIBDB4-27oJ4Fu1SPx2pQWgL1owZcjUWeLbBKLsKEk3/w640-h480/IMG_9885.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I shortened the garland above the palm tree print this year. It looks so much better. Don't know why I didn't see that the last 2 years.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0ovVtFiDYxU56Qc8U-Ehu6WFZKQqgrNfB1Gsl9ZTC959FQZ2MvE_VL9GlXtOfz5cmvzdC6gs_bhIFe4l8Sftt0mb9tjaXrYaJiIx8HUtSF875m2z-vLo5lp4Y618GsNtwiZwFzTLB8r7SWIhrJLii9jQtTA-vaeYfe0AYZlFytX-Vo862vfkiFeEo6uU/s4032/IMG_9886.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0ovVtFiDYxU56Qc8U-Ehu6WFZKQqgrNfB1Gsl9ZTC959FQZ2MvE_VL9GlXtOfz5cmvzdC6gs_bhIFe4l8Sftt0mb9tjaXrYaJiIx8HUtSF875m2z-vLo5lp4Y618GsNtwiZwFzTLB8r7SWIhrJLii9jQtTA-vaeYfe0AYZlFytX-Vo862vfkiFeEo6uU/w480-h640/IMG_9886.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh and tucked away in the reindeer cart is my little Christmas carol stitches. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUalomjWZ7YekjEJzYa_aYNu9n4NMwlGQjgMLx2FX7Bi_bIQ6_Mklk-_mJ2dDxS7iDNZKfrNgcXcI6XnemIcJrPzNiB5NJZLYCBcVjopD9Qc_WjNUZ0Dmc-1ltTJRHMi9od4HgRbEnhqOxo4cWNNSGrzTcC7v3s2-dhKwiSaKlzxOKqnbclhjKO-63RVmd/s4032/IMG_9894.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUalomjWZ7YekjEJzYa_aYNu9n4NMwlGQjgMLx2FX7Bi_bIQ6_Mklk-_mJ2dDxS7iDNZKfrNgcXcI6XnemIcJrPzNiB5NJZLYCBcVjopD9Qc_WjNUZ0Dmc-1ltTJRHMi9od4HgRbEnhqOxo4cWNNSGrzTcC7v3s2-dhKwiSaKlzxOKqnbclhjKO-63RVmd/w480-h640/IMG_9894.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The stack of Christmas books on the table is another fun thing to pull out. Miles is taken with the baby Jesus. He points to it all the time. I don't think it is because it is Jesus but just a baby. He will learn though.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LNMg38roXvd2rlItFoZ3uOjQ3A6Z7FZgXL4xyPmfEkO_oV_fWdc2uOSjR8Yx6EmeNpYAzvSF_Z4grtI_hnQFiEp-XGYax__u4ibGhbV54cpHbFI9vN_pffeMrdaY3fx74ag5XfIag_v8OJsJVXtCLKj2pSgof-2V_PP8xyu6xyV5cSNDUHwzWVNeOMqE/s4032/IMG_9888.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LNMg38roXvd2rlItFoZ3uOjQ3A6Z7FZgXL4xyPmfEkO_oV_fWdc2uOSjR8Yx6EmeNpYAzvSF_Z4grtI_hnQFiEp-XGYax__u4ibGhbV54cpHbFI9vN_pffeMrdaY3fx74ag5XfIag_v8OJsJVXtCLKj2pSgof-2V_PP8xyu6xyV5cSNDUHwzWVNeOMqE/w640-h480/IMG_9888.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Turning towards the kitchen which is in heavy use all the time especially keeping grands. Almost couldn't find time to capture a photo. AND lo and behold it has had a change.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A good change. Mother asked if she could take the tree to her place. I had thought about taking it to her but didn't think she would say yes. When the decorations started going up over there and by the way it is so pretty over there she thought of it. I took it up and set it on a table right as you walk in to her room. It can be seen immediately if someone opens her door. She has kept it on so that is awesome. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I kept the scene here the same and just replaced the tree with a little oval Christmas plate that I had and all is well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgko6Pl-P1qrfuapMtjPBBZ7yG3jk-wb94ROWtsD6cMAhUILgsua_hA5KW92p8Hv7gDcJcVbqyZVnu7I-cwrs0T4XCK0Ktra07W-6xKC-eTZpmjMWPU1rSzuQm5-ps4W6fRMZY54PKQQssKcfIxsZmBZz8pJieTpZTXUGrMxevP99KRoSJdqvknuCmPhwdO/s4032/IMG_9893.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgko6Pl-P1qrfuapMtjPBBZ7yG3jk-wb94ROWtsD6cMAhUILgsua_hA5KW92p8Hv7gDcJcVbqyZVnu7I-cwrs0T4XCK0Ktra07W-6xKC-eTZpmjMWPU1rSzuQm5-ps4W6fRMZY54PKQQssKcfIxsZmBZz8pJieTpZTXUGrMxevP99KRoSJdqvknuCmPhwdO/w640-h480/IMG_9893.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am just loving all my stitches lined up. The cardinals are bringing me joy, so they will probably stay up through January.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That is the end of the tour, but the reading glasses made me think to update you on my eyes. I finished my drops on Tuesday. A month long regimen of drops is over and done. Reading glasses are not on the top of my head nor hanging from my shirt. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hallelujah!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't have to have them to read my phone, my computer, or even a book. I do occasionally need them so I am laying a pair in strategic places and keeping a pair in my purse for the occasional need. I still have to have to stitch or sew but I didn't think that I would ever not have them on my body somewhere. I have my eyes officially tested next week. I am thinking I am all good. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My completed drops chart. 31 days of drops!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpZ3nwy8jYXLlG1Cd19HjKSw-D4-iw6ejHH8UPVKHSSEs5T9piiwqqmMI_gHNTZlCw7H94Rph8XOrvUzCO5nKLtw2BeJdi63C-8fxonKkD9SqqblfS8tgnIVLQ9hRsnaa_N2Qxg0KHqH9fxYy_c5pBxct_QpgB_L-CdfbeHcmozJMEqvTBopKmyiCAxUV/s4032/IMG_9942.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpZ3nwy8jYXLlG1Cd19HjKSw-D4-iw6ejHH8UPVKHSSEs5T9piiwqqmMI_gHNTZlCw7H94Rph8XOrvUzCO5nKLtw2BeJdi63C-8fxonKkD9SqqblfS8tgnIVLQ9hRsnaa_N2Qxg0KHqH9fxYy_c5pBxct_QpgB_L-CdfbeHcmozJMEqvTBopKmyiCAxUV/w640-h480/IMG_9942.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think it took doing both eyes to see the best results. Now they are still 63 year old eyes and I miss the eyes of my youth, but I miss a lot of things (smooth and toned skin for one). Aging gracefully is important too. There are many beautiful older women. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last note on Christmas decorations. I see so many pictures out there of garland that I love, but I know that if I added one more thing to my house I would be overwhelmed. The art of loving your decorations is to know when to stop and to put out what you love. I love nothing more than looking at a Christmas magazine, but I also love to be realistic and enjoy what I do. Even when I lived in a smaller home, I lived by that rule. I can feel overwhelmed by too much quickly and be ready to take it all down rather than just do a smaller amount and love it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">January will be here before we know it and possibly the only thing about I like about winter is a clean slate with decluttering and deep cleaning.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hope to have a Christmas stitch ready to share next week.</div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185422453541735778noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369505808572306850.post-22101478149493115712023-12-07T11:00:00.001-06:002023-12-07T11:00:00.142-06:00Christmas Tour 2023 Part 1<p style="text-align: center;"> I didn't do a tour last year and I missed it for myself. I love looking back as I am a reflective evaluator by nature, so this year I am doing a picture heavy post. I will do a life update at the end, so scroll on through if you feel as though you have seen it already. I did make some changes in the dining room.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The Christmas cactus has started blooming. This was a week ago when it first started poking those little blooms out. It fell over 2 years ago and this year it is filling in all those holes. The plant is about 9 years old and was a tiny thing from Walmart I believe.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRkjkl29EFMWRW_d52X02nURQp5QdkFGXmHBQW-qhlg912zbN1RA2ka22sOYbe27XDdOLq152QTSriWrXpvEjNT5dUxqn6_-GyZwQUo9-czRd-6KfW9KsreUrYUUE4lrCxUrfly1awg7JkL8q0GmMD5Jp9TCxmv6X9L42X-c41RIJkmiNG0HJ8ZG4ETFEo/s4032/IMG_9853.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRkjkl29EFMWRW_d52X02nURQp5QdkFGXmHBQW-qhlg912zbN1RA2ka22sOYbe27XDdOLq152QTSriWrXpvEjNT5dUxqn6_-GyZwQUo9-czRd-6KfW9KsreUrYUUE4lrCxUrfly1awg7JkL8q0GmMD5Jp9TCxmv6X9L42X-c41RIJkmiNG0HJ8ZG4ETFEo/w480-h640/IMG_9853.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then looking into the house. I took these one morning so it is kind of dark in the rooms that I am sharing today.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfbRaCr1gbsULbz7ug_TYfkclAzPOYFCMxgZS3mHq4LaxBR1XKYOGRYol-49xhaj7DW0WZj1nb8B8PiXz-SDiaRY2TrpWh6_JesxsY9GO3qd92Elw0oHRMUOrsMpba1p66G1PlHsY-mhwS7WaDh-jj1yKiAD7BsQiu8FNzV1c5IdxYoTtwfUfMFFZ6uhm/s4032/IMG_9854.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfbRaCr1gbsULbz7ug_TYfkclAzPOYFCMxgZS3mHq4LaxBR1XKYOGRYol-49xhaj7DW0WZj1nb8B8PiXz-SDiaRY2TrpWh6_JesxsY9GO3qd92Elw0oHRMUOrsMpba1p66G1PlHsY-mhwS7WaDh-jj1yKiAD7BsQiu8FNzV1c5IdxYoTtwfUfMFFZ6uhm/w480-h640/IMG_9854.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nothing has changed here and it is still one of my favorite spots in the house. Oh and the camellias (the flower on the table is a camellia) are late blooming around here this year. They are all loaded with blooms and I simply can't wait for the explosion of color on my street. I did see one little red one Tuesday on my walks.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1_Wz7MC4a8boEbqzHcCT42053BWNffq-6a1L_tvBmYDh-K_Judpoj5_3VKEqkI5Drc4Tdg5Ji9Ngef7u9QcGCgPkq5aK9v3T31_3mkHQl7ompXMu3ccPlag7nXVlA2mCYQfxTamCDcDKSLp7zKi3Bc9XEnghOw66a5Aq5YObytkj-WR-y_ZmkNpg92IR/s4032/IMG_9856.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1_Wz7MC4a8boEbqzHcCT42053BWNffq-6a1L_tvBmYDh-K_Judpoj5_3VKEqkI5Drc4Tdg5Ji9Ngef7u9QcGCgPkq5aK9v3T31_3mkHQl7ompXMu3ccPlag7nXVlA2mCYQfxTamCDcDKSLp7zKi3Bc9XEnghOw66a5Aq5YObytkj-WR-y_ZmkNpg92IR/w480-h640/IMG_9856.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Moving into the hallway not much changed. I am still loving the little banister sashes I made and am choosing them over the traditional garland drapes. I think that was one downsize that is here to stay. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbzUbyYhmZkgMmq1vOlgWth7rxC8gcYX8ABZgPFt_Rxwy6Hz6XliK_aLwi3AEzXQIepALAQMpHumSg4Eq6adfI_HLouFAls_f7Ert0Dx2l4wZfm2D9gNYfzSsCGQRUFNtWk5Kii13NNvKKMFyvgubG00iZqOcpFLFB-LFZTcQNHQfVxgiiexobh899WFS/s4032/IMG_9859.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbzUbyYhmZkgMmq1vOlgWth7rxC8gcYX8ABZgPFt_Rxwy6Hz6XliK_aLwi3AEzXQIepALAQMpHumSg4Eq6adfI_HLouFAls_f7Ert0Dx2l4wZfm2D9gNYfzSsCGQRUFNtWk5Kii13NNvKKMFyvgubG00iZqOcpFLFB-LFZTcQNHQfVxgiiexobh899WFS/w640-h480/IMG_9859.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You may have noticed the herons got a new color ribbon this year. It is the most delightful Christmas green and I am loving it. You will see more in a minute.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Next up is the Auburn tree and the start of presents being wrapped and stored on the pool table. Gus is past the point of shredding them, but I love sorting them all out on the table and seeing what I still need to buy.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSBz2_uJhz9sKEF5WS0Te0aQEQOzn3562V2ZsuoaTYohjmDKCvWxwgBmAc72d9hGm4BXlGle72Zh32rpjqLyvWrzA860__amj_5wVz34q0JrO-loqriP5EPub44rZRYshFLrBHSDKjhaZkK-6qTb51ZOOfxedRiiLlFmyvk5N9XsyuiX5QnbsyF84OzMS/s4032/IMG_9860.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSBz2_uJhz9sKEF5WS0Te0aQEQOzn3562V2ZsuoaTYohjmDKCvWxwgBmAc72d9hGm4BXlGle72Zh32rpjqLyvWrzA860__amj_5wVz34q0JrO-loqriP5EPub44rZRYshFLrBHSDKjhaZkK-6qTb51ZOOfxedRiiLlFmyvk5N9XsyuiX5QnbsyF84OzMS/w640-h480/IMG_9860.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The other set of banister sashes and a wee bit of ....</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYX7XOFcCxX7YsVwchaww-pTvSSb8xdS-qgg3LHU4sPI1OCRKByLIrNEBOa9rNGttd2A6uktbX_dBiy-TDSNcjBjF0D3Yu99unv2IPJlGvJ5Yg7aMG6EC0Y1iLTA__-IwGg3sUblVVRq9hriZGXDcnFONLhYwybYYvTflr0jMoqYLyByC2Cs88phj0dIW/s4032/IMG_9862.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYX7XOFcCxX7YsVwchaww-pTvSSb8xdS-qgg3LHU4sPI1OCRKByLIrNEBOa9rNGttd2A6uktbX_dBiy-TDSNcjBjF0D3Yu99unv2IPJlGvJ5Yg7aMG6EC0Y1iLTA__-IwGg3sUblVVRq9hriZGXDcnFONLhYwybYYvTflr0jMoqYLyByC2Cs88phj0dIW/w640-h480/IMG_9862.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">of decor to draw your eye to the stairwell. It is hard to see, but just a little red truck.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9YhP2sB-fhM3_5GLquO8_txc5YaalEWK-H4hkpNN2h5tr_ZFhyphenhyphenU3t0dSpcr32vTe1M3X-HD9DnoAhlTOOISMUBe3unwb6fKUirNCTH-yo6zNjFzPVBG_wqKL1SuUdrekLneJ121Zo6nXu0db-2rNaTKdlUkIDXbgCGk6qc87KYV4KEyyJ9qTBGpx15Wa/s4032/IMG_9863.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9YhP2sB-fhM3_5GLquO8_txc5YaalEWK-H4hkpNN2h5tr_ZFhyphenhyphenU3t0dSpcr32vTe1M3X-HD9DnoAhlTOOISMUBe3unwb6fKUirNCTH-yo6zNjFzPVBG_wqKL1SuUdrekLneJ121Zo6nXu0db-2rNaTKdlUkIDXbgCGk6qc87KYV4KEyyJ9qTBGpx15Wa/w480-h640/IMG_9863.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now, turning to the dining room, there is a new table runner. Mother fretted over all her decorations and I have to say the girls got most of it but the table runner was left and I decided to use it this year. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This led to the ribbon color change which I actually am loving so much.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_HCoY8Pz7qD68TJ9d2RJOoOMoLfC6LS4TbvM4VIacGfz7CSob3XIE_3v7YQ0z-fDofqw5JM2GyyV_tzHxSTqxeMH5pDqya77t4EMYjcvDv7ACod-nvaRyR2R2nWiGEkJAHv5dS4tEaiKKrBbyU9P0IQEfJaGkDUEL0UnSlFY6kAFMFKbSzhWyTmdz8kW/s4032/IMG_9867.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_HCoY8Pz7qD68TJ9d2RJOoOMoLfC6LS4TbvM4VIacGfz7CSob3XIE_3v7YQ0z-fDofqw5JM2GyyV_tzHxSTqxeMH5pDqya77t4EMYjcvDv7ACod-nvaRyR2R2nWiGEkJAHv5dS4tEaiKKrBbyU9P0IQEfJaGkDUEL0UnSlFY6kAFMFKbSzhWyTmdz8kW/w640-h480/IMG_9867.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The sconces got the green ribbon this year as well as a few other things like the corner of the rocker which I have not pictured.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JUJvkp_M1p5yg3U-YnKyWjlLi90YjA4TQVy9A7ToZrSPekYx5bA-zaxCseON8HOEo_9rGjldQVqPQXbFZPSOFh1nowRArcLfCmdFbOnckxp-8rkhj_QS6_VK35wPHJ3YnzFpHAOhXEP4bC5c7tfltGypOVLvSfh8GmuOk-YLBPzqaslZVY0IbRZ5Stwt/s4032/IMG_9868.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JUJvkp_M1p5yg3U-YnKyWjlLi90YjA4TQVy9A7ToZrSPekYx5bA-zaxCseON8HOEo_9rGjldQVqPQXbFZPSOFh1nowRArcLfCmdFbOnckxp-8rkhj_QS6_VK35wPHJ3YnzFpHAOhXEP4bC5c7tfltGypOVLvSfh8GmuOk-YLBPzqaslZVY0IbRZ5Stwt/w480-h640/IMG_9868.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lights off.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjac8wp0LJAoCDXJ94bxz0_XXGd7W-djAKxwJzqSw3u66Z5fXD7OZ5COXWhnfJiePoRQBEvBvvoE90jMWeqwYDIHLsi8Optxcao2EWglAA_g_hZ4H2TrNJDd-Zn5V6ixLNCzIg91TSftlHfiLdvObogtjInWdMyLlRqdta9wufgqyjQ-uQ-WukTS2ayeTPe/s4032/IMG_9872.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjac8wp0LJAoCDXJ94bxz0_XXGd7W-djAKxwJzqSw3u66Z5fXD7OZ5COXWhnfJiePoRQBEvBvvoE90jMWeqwYDIHLsi8Optxcao2EWglAA_g_hZ4H2TrNJDd-Zn5V6ixLNCzIg91TSftlHfiLdvObogtjInWdMyLlRqdta9wufgqyjQ-uQ-WukTS2ayeTPe/w480-h640/IMG_9872.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Lights on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaacteZ9c_AoO6OXV613TY8QG5X4GZP8f13vuug31zOHMZkgXvfRxZIADQgv2IuaGH-MpmLOCeHSbqJCaIPo6eiwtEhaM26lBYyVWox1tr19QQxvMpCdMzKjtKc_0JJb892PF70BHRHXFYjOQXculPYiC3BLhtbOFH-qUL_7qO2AUa8rRwvK3jF3IixhZ/s4032/IMG_9873.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaacteZ9c_AoO6OXV613TY8QG5X4GZP8f13vuug31zOHMZkgXvfRxZIADQgv2IuaGH-MpmLOCeHSbqJCaIPo6eiwtEhaM26lBYyVWox1tr19QQxvMpCdMzKjtKc_0JJb892PF70BHRHXFYjOQXculPYiC3BLhtbOFH-qUL_7qO2AUa8rRwvK3jF3IixhZ/w480-h640/IMG_9873.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1fqq3LiKnV_zJr6xyy0x2jUZ84uxAonZcH5PgjVs0q_6Kbd3EInPqah9B7uK5Wh7XOfo57jRfjrcx8x1JdLnBDHHW0CsqUIp8e_4oz4bybVuAVxcXpzJBnOpx_Zecmg_zahsc3XJ4trRvIMMNeJp-YZeDfXgKnZB2gsyA7y-Em8LfbRdG-mRWAhEB2-I/s4032/IMG_9870.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1fqq3LiKnV_zJr6xyy0x2jUZ84uxAonZcH5PgjVs0q_6Kbd3EInPqah9B7uK5Wh7XOfo57jRfjrcx8x1JdLnBDHHW0CsqUIp8e_4oz4bybVuAVxcXpzJBnOpx_Zecmg_zahsc3XJ4trRvIMMNeJp-YZeDfXgKnZB2gsyA7y-Em8LfbRdG-mRWAhEB2-I/w640-h480/IMG_9870.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I added a bit more green and some real pinecones in the bowl of ornaments on the table to pull in all the green.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEzGz62VTw9EdGVCwpx9ME8L0Lvk1RMaZkORL4Hm50I1oNrl2JDz5Qt_62JwNIDMPuNAc-Nxwa8aNmmdmn2sZpHbG6yvLIU9PJs0BpoKA2N8m_GuuYoW0HvzVnHTmjlpaqyAO_CNAhC3VgsTjpGYD9wqBip3q_zHvhaFAR3L_ZcX6OOUMeQn3EfxRzN7kA/s4032/IMG_9871.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEzGz62VTw9EdGVCwpx9ME8L0Lvk1RMaZkORL4Hm50I1oNrl2JDz5Qt_62JwNIDMPuNAc-Nxwa8aNmmdmn2sZpHbG6yvLIU9PJs0BpoKA2N8m_GuuYoW0HvzVnHTmjlpaqyAO_CNAhC3VgsTjpGYD9wqBip3q_zHvhaFAR3L_ZcX6OOUMeQn3EfxRzN7kA/w640-h480/IMG_9871.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The last stop on the tour for today is the guest bathroom where I added that green to the top of the tree and a little tartan which I so love on the lantern with a favorite little pot of ornaments.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmQQ_E4sCg2DuSLWacsQ7d4GzzdyXFqGLKOOdphbk3GnfRjiTq3vCuMbf4PyqapWWsUzhSy78ZhDkMJ23tdWWXJnd8VfXPb8mGrseSFZ-TbLNQDdONcnOVdIQ00g-v8wumyG6JfwOBDLPwf4aDwTT6hWNE42GxXmnP8y9Ia2zlIzYyZ4454YlHyOOj_E0/s4032/IMG_9877.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmQQ_E4sCg2DuSLWacsQ7d4GzzdyXFqGLKOOdphbk3GnfRjiTq3vCuMbf4PyqapWWsUzhSy78ZhDkMJ23tdWWXJnd8VfXPb8mGrseSFZ-TbLNQDdONcnOVdIQ00g-v8wumyG6JfwOBDLPwf4aDwTT6hWNE42GxXmnP8y9Ia2zlIzYyZ4454YlHyOOj_E0/w640-h480/IMG_9877.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This end of the week post is sort of working for me, so maybe next week I can share the remainder of the tour. There is a change in the living room. It doesn't take me long at all to put up Christmas since all of it is things I have had for years. My issue is finding time to communicate with others. I have never been worse than this year on reading all my favorite blogs and commenting. It is a season of life and not the easiest one if I am being truthful. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mother received her procedure to deaden the nerves in her lumbar region on Monday. It has a long name, but we will just skip that. The doctor said in could take up to 7 days to start working and the amount of help it provides is a wide spectrum for each individual. It seems to have helped and I am grateful for that. It will last from 4-6 months. I am just hopeful it can give her some good days. She has 3 appointments next week, so more running. 2 are orthopedic and one ENT. Run, run, run!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jeff has had a variety of issues which are quite troubling. This Parkinson's diagnosis has been a gut punch to our family and honestly more so for him. I went to my doctor in Pensacola yesterday and spent most of my time talking about Jeff. He reminded me this is a marathon. <u>Marathons are hard</u>. I was a runner at one time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am stitching and reading when I have time. I did go back and make me one of those ornaments with the reindeer and cardinals. It is hanging on our tree making me happy. I hope to share some stitching with folks before Christmas. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I take each day as it comes thankful that I live near my kids and that I get to see grandsons often. Lindsay is good about always getting us to take our picture. Last Sunday, we were all there for the same service time. Typically one kid goes early and one late which matches them to a Tee, but they were both at the same one with us. Hence, family picture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNUu-dXkN13YEz5x0wzu7JEHWLcflCs2q1zntCX3MubwCvU4mcqBL9G5Pb2-u4LcqcppSWENslbmdwIjwpdK8PvgOjWC0d3JcdEBPc8SyiGto064-0UtCljEzzEDf80Mkdpg5i3LF_IsfP9TLtrRGUEHh3yN5s6xadiuNr7L9b9x3iUkxmrnXDNJCFmDs/s4032/IMG_8626.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNUu-dXkN13YEz5x0wzu7JEHWLcflCs2q1zntCX3MubwCvU4mcqBL9G5Pb2-u4LcqcppSWENslbmdwIjwpdK8PvgOjWC0d3JcdEBPc8SyiGto064-0UtCljEzzEDf80Mkdpg5i3LF_IsfP9TLtrRGUEHh3yN5s6xadiuNr7L9b9x3iUkxmrnXDNJCFmDs/w640-h480/IMG_8626.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fall is everywhere in the Panhandle of Florida. This is truly such a pretty time here. The next picture was taken Tuesday late afternoon. Yesterday it was bright and sunny and lots of color across the bayou. It is cool this week, but it looks like fall anyway.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGj6_an0Y5KH3MPim1YyItfksjSpSZqe3N7mFqDJZ5QlfMuO87R5-HvYnz1gjZ6E9T90m0nSjLS5CltCVppQgCidpdmtk3UvRq6mQOZzS5rHhfr80glyuF8GVkJYjtztQHmTDxTrLZBryz2i8sCpFJmEF0LfyGBHIIGGISjLEzh08cOBwA5AZz5bnJLsN/s4032/IMG_9919.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGj6_an0Y5KH3MPim1YyItfksjSpSZqe3N7mFqDJZ5QlfMuO87R5-HvYnz1gjZ6E9T90m0nSjLS5CltCVppQgCidpdmtk3UvRq6mQOZzS5rHhfr80glyuF8GVkJYjtztQHmTDxTrLZBryz2i8sCpFJmEF0LfyGBHIIGGISjLEzh08cOBwA5AZz5bnJLsN/w640-h480/IMG_9919.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That is it for this post. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Remember to hug your people.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185422453541735778noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369505808572306850.post-76572956198551071892023-11-30T13:42:00.003-06:002023-12-01T11:19:03.796-06:00A Bunch of Randomness Before Christmas<p> Well, let's let the brain roll...</p><p>The USDA planting zones changed. They have made my little coastal zone 9a instead of 8b. I am not sure I agree, and I am sure my lemon tree would not agree. I do know the actual coast doesn't get as low as the inland areas, but I am just not sure about 9a. I have to research it more and the nerd in me will do so over Christmas break. It has been chilly this week. Miles, Gus and I have had to wait until about 10:30 instead of 9:00 to do our morning stroll. I am not a cold weather fan and I know I must look like I live at the North Pole going out for the walk. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7US0Psu_ljOc1HbZRlNOSH8mSR7TXlQVBfjsM0p29wYIk3c3soIKPCtp7r3FP2uouWXDTs0vfB9Nc_KhKCaij1l9O_p_qQViLl89UU5ce9LQNyDIZ5bc1aLjM1WoIpSR62GpubRoPTO5bcJ_i0atpWUM8vD52AVKyWaINBfRmiwxrJc8ERhUNmy5FBRh/s1222/IMG_9852.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1222" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7US0Psu_ljOc1HbZRlNOSH8mSR7TXlQVBfjsM0p29wYIk3c3soIKPCtp7r3FP2uouWXDTs0vfB9Nc_KhKCaij1l9O_p_qQViLl89UU5ce9LQNyDIZ5bc1aLjM1WoIpSR62GpubRoPTO5bcJ_i0atpWUM8vD52AVKyWaINBfRmiwxrJc8ERhUNmy5FBRh/w640-h350/IMG_9852.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But as you can see, living on the coast has its advantages. I am in that no freeze zone. Suits me just fine!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In other local news, the next picture explained why Tyler and Lindsay's garbage was strewn all over the road one morning this week.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYT47Cmd6WCRlBa3XEyyufnCFXxTdg-EOPq5U2n3hYdfvhdCyNwe0Kw4PKg7eWdyN55wsc6HXwSCXKFQKEPFugOxp1SwfZhI1j3a1qk5xVxeZdYZvxb8vYeyKvkeOCBX-Xb6frff73jLFEZFWmKYulV6LoXuWxX5kI-ygqqSQ532AmXT6RoA-rW16fq_zR/s1220/IMG_9848.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="673" data-original-width="1220" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYT47Cmd6WCRlBa3XEyyufnCFXxTdg-EOPq5U2n3hYdfvhdCyNwe0Kw4PKg7eWdyN55wsc6HXwSCXKFQKEPFugOxp1SwfZhI1j3a1qk5xVxeZdYZvxb8vYeyKvkeOCBX-Xb6frff73jLFEZFWmKYulV6LoXuWxX5kI-ygqqSQ532AmXT6RoA-rW16fq_zR/w640-h354/IMG_9848.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yep, that is a bear strolling on the sidewalk of the neighbor's right across the street. That is actually common around here. Living near the reservation and it being North Florida those guys are very common. Tyler will have to wait until daylight to take the garbage out for a while.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well, let's get the Iron Bowl stuff over with. What a horrible ending for us Auburn people! Actually, I am very proud of Auburn for staying in the thick of it until the end. I account some of that to home field advantage. Jordan Hare is special. I am excited about our new coach and if those little people who have big money can keep their paws off of Auburn, we could have some good years going forward. That is if NIL and the transfer portal hasn't ruined college football already. Nothing stays the same. We count on that. I am super hopeful that Beau Nix of Oregon wins the Heisman. We did not go to Auburn as Jeff has had a couple of rough weeks. More on that later. Lindsay and Tyler and the boys did go and had a wonderfully relaxing weekend until the end of the game. I didn't tell you how I did after that game, did I? Well, I must say it took about an hour of walking around the house and trying to distract myself to soothe the downfall. If I am at home for the game instead of Auburn I usually decorate the tree, but I had actually done that Friday night. Boy, do I wish I had waited. Decorating the tree has helped more than a few of those losses. If you think I am crazy...you are right! I did grow up across that state line and it is a different kind of game. Not one I am sure I like, but....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was cute though....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigp-_S-gOAmVh_Qsemh86uEeFELTD_Nc9q91j2lScefiRlbm_7-KqsqyuoTe_HE8_CaaevtqpkIZfphj1duS3QR1MTwAze44YHrjOrmTvOlXMikRilOg5jrk34bYBPP-64dYhzvJ4_9uKEICpO7UbvJ_Yst7YRDKYd2n2bPi5w_2bcdhIFQtZ3AX-sbrnc/s4032/IMG_8564.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigp-_S-gOAmVh_Qsemh86uEeFELTD_Nc9q91j2lScefiRlbm_7-KqsqyuoTe_HE8_CaaevtqpkIZfphj1duS3QR1MTwAze44YHrjOrmTvOlXMikRilOg5jrk34bYBPP-64dYhzvJ4_9uKEICpO7UbvJ_Yst7YRDKYd2n2bPi5w_2bcdhIFQtZ3AX-sbrnc/w480-h640/IMG_8564.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I am sure he caught the glimpse of one of his parents. They had been hyped all day and had planned to go to Toomer's Corner if we won.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Palmer is just the cutest right now. They went to one of the favorite spots to eat. It has been there since Jeff and I went to school. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfz_uQTbiSU0mYBHUk_zpTAO-k-vRv6_pu2n6oLtH43yl1QXwQUjGSMyTqo3Us8STS-toskRLlZX_dcX075Na4Ip8ZvlYmFlXgAy_Hm2wz8UmPvCgh7mHSqpZs5U_zGagQUZSo0HFdWHvNlZEBh7xk3DQ4DTtloeNSPBpqxJ7yFCVyQPCqy7ZDqkrt_p0/s4032/IMG_8519.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfz_uQTbiSU0mYBHUk_zpTAO-k-vRv6_pu2n6oLtH43yl1QXwQUjGSMyTqo3Us8STS-toskRLlZX_dcX075Na4Ip8ZvlYmFlXgAy_Hm2wz8UmPvCgh7mHSqpZs5U_zGagQUZSo0HFdWHvNlZEBh7xk3DQ4DTtloeNSPBpqxJ7yFCVyQPCqy7ZDqkrt_p0/w480-h640/IMG_8519.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj534nGMjp5j62zdtl7GK-Bd6Vx5s3WUyH_gNfet7312yBmCX4JOz1IUNnhAeuolqQg6-hsSBSb_GKafE3Kk0mE-546LNLdjZxdS6zeJJ6iW-wd1UAkQKSJEUuGEZa6Ks3CvfANUz0DcIu36yjbnkmbBKeHemxtSS1q2dpOWehKKsIqk18Q-cv-XJNQiLvA/s4032/IMG_8526.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj534nGMjp5j62zdtl7GK-Bd6Vx5s3WUyH_gNfet7312yBmCX4JOz1IUNnhAeuolqQg6-hsSBSb_GKafE3Kk0mE-546LNLdjZxdS6zeJJ6iW-wd1UAkQKSJEUuGEZa6Ks3CvfANUz0DcIu36yjbnkmbBKeHemxtSS1q2dpOWehKKsIqk18Q-cv-XJNQiLvA/w640-h480/IMG_8526.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Miles said it all. Actually, he just wanted to go outside and play.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwbSVCL6jk4GsayAUR9EEGpTs6lOPt56oBhaB6pkIzlsNfvVk_fTgfMWijS-Us7tHjLr5ZLq8yYYRT-vdKImr5VD_ZSG6GTECd_z6NYkgLEXc9djOna9u9cCYMKkKHxhH05aev7T7FGgu487CnUaDU0MgwYHlsA_3kRazEPGxxfFmsholBVFD32uIjT2Q/s4032/IMG_9835.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwbSVCL6jk4GsayAUR9EEGpTs6lOPt56oBhaB6pkIzlsNfvVk_fTgfMWijS-Us7tHjLr5ZLq8yYYRT-vdKImr5VD_ZSG6GTECd_z6NYkgLEXc9djOna9u9cCYMKkKHxhH05aev7T7FGgu487CnUaDU0MgwYHlsA_3kRazEPGxxfFmsholBVFD32uIjT2Q/w480-h640/IMG_9835.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I got a new coffee mug to drink my coffee and hot chocolate for this season. The mug and a spool of ribbon are the only new things I bought for decorating. The mug was just too cute to pass by.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7yBGiwkacW0xBui8CtYKo4CuHZ8zbeFLno78WfjkGpliPEhrB2wRI9W-TKLOO17mEdj6Zg1UM_ybo9IlSbTXhVR_OBkmXqi23xPmf9ct88x8C5N61CyJArnrxqRX5I9zWoUXor5jp18wsv5PoIMXIofTa4al-Hl1AzWDav6Z9Pw9BnavR9d_QxsCORtC/s4032/IMG_9847.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7yBGiwkacW0xBui8CtYKo4CuHZ8zbeFLno78WfjkGpliPEhrB2wRI9W-TKLOO17mEdj6Zg1UM_ybo9IlSbTXhVR_OBkmXqi23xPmf9ct88x8C5N61CyJArnrxqRX5I9zWoUXor5jp18wsv5PoIMXIofTa4al-Hl1AzWDav6Z9Pw9BnavR9d_QxsCORtC/w480-h640/IMG_9847.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tomorrow is December and I am in shock as to where this year has gone. I suppose that comes with age, but I also think daily life is a little more speedy with the advent of technology. I have a full calendar of events. Be it going to a play for Tucker, parades, church events, friends gathering and lots of doctor appointments. Mother has 4 on the books right now. Two for the 2 different orthopedic doctors she is seeing and 2 for the pain doctor. She has the nerve ablation procedure on Monday. I am praying it will give her some relief so she can enjoy Christmas. It is supposed to help with pain for 4-6 months. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's busy and that means we have to work a little bit harder to make sure we have the important stuff in priority. Faith and Family first. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The house is decorated and I have pictures of it except for the kitchen. I can't keep it clean long enough to take a picture. Imagine that! I might just have to take one with real life, won't I?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I really just want to go bake some cookies and I am going to soon no matter what else has to wait on me to do it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That is about it here...just trying to squeeze in some reading and stitching and cookie baking amongst all the things. Other than worrying about Mom and Jeff I am all good and looking forward to the Christmas season. I love the lights of the tree. They really help with the darkness of this time of year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jeff has had a rough 2 weeks. Looking forward to getting him home in a few weeks. He has had a pinched nerve in his neck /upper back. That has not helped all the other going on. Today he seemed a wee bit better, so I am hoping that is getting better. He got some steroids and muscle relaxers for that. The kidney stone has passed or lodged somewhere since he is not having that issue anymore. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That is it for this week.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tis the season to be jolly... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> and grateful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185422453541735778noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369505808572306850.post-55955133301001190272023-11-23T21:01:00.001-06:002023-11-23T21:01:38.321-06:00Thanksgiving 2023<p style="text-align: center;"> My heart is very full tonight with great love and thankfulness for family and fellowship.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I would be fibbing if I didn't say my heart is also full of concern, <i>but </i>I feel the need to record the blessings and the things I am thankful for -before I move on from this day. I already sat down and poured some of my heart into my paper journal while sitting with the "Pilgrims and Indians." I decided a few weeks ago that paper journaling was going to be necessary going forth, so I have taken to pouring my heart out in it once again. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXrAFWG_r-SDxZKvZ-RxSj_2Tt5zL8cq27f2Z31-4q_yUZqykl8pixMOcUhY411uvniia6OBX7kn_1I6-FwAQayuzNQzDem_OwZDN48AmmillKgmoOBbJZQ72fwXkcGgUeOf4mczSxTij3KufhbmmLFwo67Kc4XNL8bzTC3QJ_lER8yipJWyTFEQn9r8h/s4032/IMG_8450.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXrAFWG_r-SDxZKvZ-RxSj_2Tt5zL8cq27f2Z31-4q_yUZqykl8pixMOcUhY411uvniia6OBX7kn_1I6-FwAQayuzNQzDem_OwZDN48AmmillKgmoOBbJZQ72fwXkcGgUeOf4mczSxTij3KufhbmmLFwo67Kc4XNL8bzTC3QJ_lER8yipJWyTFEQn9r8h/w640-h480/IMG_8450.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am so grateful for the gift of family. I worked very hard the past 2 days working to make the home special and the food special and that all around good feelings for my family. I sense change is coming again. I felt it in December between Christmas and New Year's Eve of 2021 and it did... yes, it did. I was determined to make this one special. The Lord blessed me with more energy than I knew I had and I KNOW it was from HIM. I have cooked special dishes, kept Thanksgiving decor in place in spite of everywhere I looked Christmas coming out. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kristan made me feel so good about that decision. She and I agree that people should do what they want <i>as</i> many have good reasons for putting it out early, but for us it seems like Christmas will be cheated if we put it too soon. I know that topic is a hot button these days and I quite frankly don't care what people do. Truth be known, if I didn't have family coming I might give in and put the lights up too. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today was a chance to celebrate the things to be thankful for. Our family has taken a lot of hits this last 2 years and we are feeling it for certain, but giving thanks is important. Just when you think you have a sad story you hear a worse one from a friend. We must choose to live and give thanks for the good found in each day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I brought Mother over on Wednesday to spend most of the day overseeing the passing of the torch ---the torch being <u>cooking<b> her </b>dressing</u>. I am not convinced she thought I could do it, but I told her she could only oversee and tell me what I was doing wrong. It went well and I think she is convinced I can now pass on her legacy at my ripe old age of 63. I do plan to write it all out so that it can be followed by more than just her telling one what to do. I really knew I could do it. After all, I have watched her do it for years, but I think she needed to feel useful this year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The remainder of the post is going to photo heavy, but they tell the story.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am going back to give thanks all week. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Let's start with Sunday. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Look at my sweet boys in large group at church. Palmer is now old enough to come out to the big room for the singing and Bible story. He spotted Tucker right away and went to stand by his big brother.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXIWlZ7fHjm3gPaEFaThfJGWgyDq9abFotSdSURJTRzII-L269OS291wyYdNNbkCNLK0XtLzkpV3TyvxalSNu9Fsny4jgwUMtBFLILIwXX2yEEfxoLSSXQ1U7yMuVA-RDA2lcfGaTi3wZBPBlQVwbbBiouVBU57tJT930GdmnoaaCatJ6GJbWis5TLnlf/s5712/IMG_8151.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5712" data-original-width="4284" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXIWlZ7fHjm3gPaEFaThfJGWgyDq9abFotSdSURJTRzII-L269OS291wyYdNNbkCNLK0XtLzkpV3TyvxalSNu9Fsny4jgwUMtBFLILIwXX2yEEfxoLSSXQ1U7yMuVA-RDA2lcfGaTi3wZBPBlQVwbbBiouVBU57tJT930GdmnoaaCatJ6GJbWis5TLnlf/w480-h640/IMG_8151.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love that my kids know how important bringing the kids to church is. I am so grateful for my parents raising me in church so that I might have a great Lord and Savior to guide me through life. I could write for hours about that topic alone, but I will move on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On Monday, I got to go with my kids and grandsons to the Armament Museum. There have been many trips and photos of this place here along the way, but Katie was out of town visiting her bestie and Tyler was at work. Lindsay and Paul Allen were both off and Mama got to spend time with her kiddos. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwewPLoEe_6EYG1vWtZxHfbgon9y3BgGcAHqTVgXuhSx8jm1QJwBtw1lQ7IMV2pOms6K_ydEGwcyHd4CoyRp3hQysnpMR_Ce1a0aLSPxDc_v4eNuA1q7gFH2S01nF5Ra_JtwLZi2dVqMMqUCdWKvUc_2UQyB6oSocGAkn2-Y49353fhoZu0PBOKd1sgOw/s4032/IMG_9783.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwewPLoEe_6EYG1vWtZxHfbgon9y3BgGcAHqTVgXuhSx8jm1QJwBtw1lQ7IMV2pOms6K_ydEGwcyHd4CoyRp3hQysnpMR_Ce1a0aLSPxDc_v4eNuA1q7gFH2S01nF5Ra_JtwLZi2dVqMMqUCdWKvUc_2UQyB6oSocGAkn2-Y49353fhoZu0PBOKd1sgOw/w480-h640/IMG_9783.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You mamas know what I mean when you see your adult kids enjoying spending time together and conversing. It is a warm fuzzy!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Miles decided early on he wanted to walk, then Palmer decided he wanted to walk. As little as they are, they walked pretty much all the way around the museum looking at the planes. My boys all love planes. Since, we live near so many air and army bases it is no wonder planes are a huge part of the skies here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNPBmjEKCndrjGJkxUED05nhvVVYrWTE7rUq0dz3FJ3fDMLtV7TTh17hp7ZBvzRUGYz9d0FeTGcus7Fu33lKS1gF9Ca37j6iPLHrpcbXjAETzcn5WTeqNlXKzqBC5YPDQQKE5CtgeKP7AmMKJp7pJDcroFn_dFQ6pXCBLljaLsujSqjHsCUl2Jv69yyol/s4032/IMG_9790.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNPBmjEKCndrjGJkxUED05nhvVVYrWTE7rUq0dz3FJ3fDMLtV7TTh17hp7ZBvzRUGYz9d0FeTGcus7Fu33lKS1gF9Ca37j6iPLHrpcbXjAETzcn5WTeqNlXKzqBC5YPDQQKE5CtgeKP7AmMKJp7pJDcroFn_dFQ6pXCBLljaLsujSqjHsCUl2Jv69yyol/w480-h640/IMG_9790.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I got to hold hands...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtH7MdfQyRWOCrHrrAg8-MATlTEqZRG7FRYLG0CBIYX4dBdQ1AKvhbVLCDfPnRCwu4Z9rLPuJS71uyGyObZOEgh_Xc4ubdD3Pp5fiz1zP7rgSPSS8DtNr4ckzWxSvBJQDNJEw9e9dN2AmJhdeYqiFoazw3ftaMrNWu4u7eENgIQD4ehSi7y3MsqXcKwv_p/s4032/IMG_8277.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtH7MdfQyRWOCrHrrAg8-MATlTEqZRG7FRYLG0CBIYX4dBdQ1AKvhbVLCDfPnRCwu4Z9rLPuJS71uyGyObZOEgh_Xc4ubdD3Pp5fiz1zP7rgSPSS8DtNr4ckzWxSvBJQDNJEw9e9dN2AmJhdeYqiFoazw3ftaMrNWu4u7eENgIQD4ehSi7y3MsqXcKwv_p/w480-h640/IMG_8277.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and watch them take care of each other.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6t_cihrrpJDhtI_ikJkQDul57f9AOGsPaIhypklGTHyBalcbuloz3fTWPngEHHyc9J5jmWA_kkhIUuBzn4uSe_M2cVks6Pg01Dk4bYoywQXdygPfv01PAyKZTEiap5DyFcRaXpKHBldCMc3ipEQXcq0ckwp4hVNNbDthb-3zAnIW4r_KHm5nxPH09v8n/s4032/IMG_8281.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6t_cihrrpJDhtI_ikJkQDul57f9AOGsPaIhypklGTHyBalcbuloz3fTWPngEHHyc9J5jmWA_kkhIUuBzn4uSe_M2cVks6Pg01Dk4bYoywQXdygPfv01PAyKZTEiap5DyFcRaXpKHBldCMc3ipEQXcq0ckwp4hVNNbDthb-3zAnIW4r_KHm5nxPH09v8n/w480-h640/IMG_8281.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An all around fun day. I don't know if the boys enjoyed the picture taking, but they had fun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeSMXf2rTuKffuPrsTRXthl8fU_bvo6tWpmjTdVT1V58HnIujTa9UvTh6qZu5we4rypSrh9DM7so2dblu9R8mPPHcTibAa56Wkc37faWt1lDvgr5c_8icdFG26j-MChEaNGL7AcxUCOj2wN5V3NY1sAB1vZKEvnPZEqF3I4Af1s0vA0WupU8Zzqw_rJtx/s4032/IMG_8293.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeSMXf2rTuKffuPrsTRXthl8fU_bvo6tWpmjTdVT1V58HnIujTa9UvTh6qZu5we4rypSrh9DM7so2dblu9R8mPPHcTibAa56Wkc37faWt1lDvgr5c_8icdFG26j-MChEaNGL7AcxUCOj2wN5V3NY1sAB1vZKEvnPZEqF3I4Af1s0vA0WupU8Zzqw_rJtx/w480-h640/IMG_8293.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mimi loved every minute of that morning. She felt compelled to buy them a rocket which was a huge hit with the older 2 when they got home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBj07_Te21QzcjkOmstzZXv-B_U2Sh2-u0E-8n8S_c6fygBB0sBKf8kjHZSSEVhezT-ErgB2AK4dd9-x6_ZLWLeB2ezLwtFVTVSgjDDtSaI6AFCCxwiQVv05f2vRFqk5LkqOkbHre8EqG2e9lVVLdsav4ufjBJf6SVRox1v_IPrNSusTft0aM4rII45hm6/s4032/IMG_9791.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBj07_Te21QzcjkOmstzZXv-B_U2Sh2-u0E-8n8S_c6fygBB0sBKf8kjHZSSEVhezT-ErgB2AK4dd9-x6_ZLWLeB2ezLwtFVTVSgjDDtSaI6AFCCxwiQVv05f2vRFqk5LkqOkbHre8EqG2e9lVVLdsav4ufjBJf6SVRox1v_IPrNSusTft0aM4rII45hm6/w480-h640/IMG_9791.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Miles was still walking!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE4ecmKdDgrW0QzPcCZ_Vx4S9rpQBHFRYw9QMcJRBmVFNDJxQAHBmmNKXGqTEfLLIzXCgAenibhl-buEFZebwawlyyrp3u9FRyH4ZwAmil6qPH35AXPbz937ixJEiQHQRmb-zS_1bKWCnmicxewXFcjN7TqKglnBXsi8camw2ZQmzY2BhMoLq1PZY4Msn9/s4032/IMG_8301.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE4ecmKdDgrW0QzPcCZ_Vx4S9rpQBHFRYw9QMcJRBmVFNDJxQAHBmmNKXGqTEfLLIzXCgAenibhl-buEFZebwawlyyrp3u9FRyH4ZwAmil6qPH35AXPbz937ixJEiQHQRmb-zS_1bKWCnmicxewXFcjN7TqKglnBXsi8camw2ZQmzY2BhMoLq1PZY4Msn9/w480-h640/IMG_8301.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lindsay has taught the boys to say cheese when taking pictures. We thought we were done with the pictures and then Palmer wasn't following and kept saying something. It was finally determined he was saying, "More cheese." Obviously, he didn't feel we had captured him correctly so Lindsay had to go take one more of him with his rocket.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzFb22eeq7w07KDnrGJjY4-BmkzYCPOY2t3t0rwDjgdN0fAZu9VKFhwg5kcGjF56IdAgHFludIAzGInYBxKsf5EA9OrjJjK57RxLNfCyTBTamVs4Qg3s9xw_PDSM-PcvQXtkzEXAJA56RZWUYYRnXPTrXhRNUX8EeBpDWopieCgtw2BuCGGSL7Z7qYCyfz/s4032/IMG_8303.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzFb22eeq7w07KDnrGJjY4-BmkzYCPOY2t3t0rwDjgdN0fAZu9VKFhwg5kcGjF56IdAgHFludIAzGInYBxKsf5EA9OrjJjK57RxLNfCyTBTamVs4Qg3s9xw_PDSM-PcvQXtkzEXAJA56RZWUYYRnXPTrXhRNUX8EeBpDWopieCgtw2BuCGGSL7Z7qYCyfz/w480-h640/IMG_8303.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Be still my heart!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tuesday was cleaning day and preparing the house for the family. Here are the family photos that I try and pull off each time we get together. Kristan and I agree again on something, pictures are important BUT she and I feel like the least photogenic of the bunch. Mother however, is the most photogenic. I had her at 2 doctor appointments this week and quite frankly was worried about her spending the day here today with so many, but pain pills did their job today and she looks amazing in these photos. Truth is....I really worry...well let's try and keep this post positive.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My heart is in that photo below. Oh how richly blessed I am to have these people in my life. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SKywDCe0dKYd34Y4e-YGOUNpzUwTgLY9RVy06O-DxPiCv9qT2-9MvWluSFnY1iCgypt-vqs6bTwz5XOQWFRqBZExsipmoSi55L4i3np-x4xvJ412JNAPL7hIcSsPEO2hY2i3BEzuuxeTXIktaxGclhyphenhyphen1P5y2t32yBxdAE1F0Rnl9N6wO77jjBy4vwzD2/s4032/IMG_8411.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SKywDCe0dKYd34Y4e-YGOUNpzUwTgLY9RVy06O-DxPiCv9qT2-9MvWluSFnY1iCgypt-vqs6bTwz5XOQWFRqBZExsipmoSi55L4i3np-x4xvJ412JNAPL7hIcSsPEO2hY2i3BEzuuxeTXIktaxGclhyphenhyphen1P5y2t32yBxdAE1F0Rnl9N6wO77jjBy4vwzD2/w640-h480/IMG_8411.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We have been hit hard with the news of Jeff's diagnosis. Not just me, but the kids too. They have been so concerned and so helpful. Paul Allen was over early doing all the turkey stuff before they had to go to Katie's family's house. We moved our feast until 2:00, so they could come back and enjoy us later. Lindsay is working behind the scenes at work to make all the retirement stuff go smoothly and has put together a small reception for Jeff (he doesn't know). She feels it is important he knows how much he means to the district staff (Jeff is like the secret peacemaker there) and the principals at all the schools. He is basically their evaluator and a mentor to so many of them. We are praying that things will be better when he is retired. To make matters hard to see that this week he has a kidney stone and something like a pinched nerve in his upper back. All that has made for someone who hasn't felt well at all on his week off from work. It has been hard to know if the fatigue he has felt was all of that or the Parkinson's. Time will tell and yes, <b>we are scared</b>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">His last day of work is December 21st.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next up is Jeff's sister's family. Donna pictured front row left is not feeling all that well either. She is 12 years older than Jeff and they only have the one daughter. Kristan. Al, her husband has no siblings that had children and so as I have said before, that leaves Kristan, Lindsay, and Paul Allen as a small set of cousins. Kristan is 10 years older than Lindsay but these 3 are very close. We lived across the street from Donna until after Kristan left for college so they got to watch her grow up. Kristan's husband Torrey is on the right with his mom. His parents have done Thanksgiving with our family since they married. Torrey's dad passed away a couple of weeks before last Thanksgiving. Miss Judy was looking a little more herself this year. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50ZJVzBrrJNKFHnsbZ9b3pQLwviqzuhyphenhyphenJsY-sPav9D3NI6t2u9XziomkDzzfWP0DoyPO6UhK1LXaVb9WDRWM9a_yBvqdkPGZKvZ3SPRzbeRyMxy4ngv4TxuNclIiab-Tm1LawtIByNLr1S6EDgu_Tbpq8Z466l5lqYQrv_u8tp3r2MND5OqEQIfNdE_3u/s4032/IMG_8416.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50ZJVzBrrJNKFHnsbZ9b3pQLwviqzuhyphenhyphenJsY-sPav9D3NI6t2u9XziomkDzzfWP0DoyPO6UhK1LXaVb9WDRWM9a_yBvqdkPGZKvZ3SPRzbeRyMxy4ngv4TxuNclIiab-Tm1LawtIByNLr1S6EDgu_Tbpq8Z466l5lqYQrv_u8tp3r2MND5OqEQIfNdE_3u/w480-h640/IMG_8416.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then we have our younger generation. The twins are getting so big. 14 now....teens. Not sure how that happened so fast.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFG-cc-Nk-Fm6u_HxkeQcRSBN1dIk9itxSFNEjKmm2GaQUxSTjZTHfY6yznAvFZR-nql8oJKLXolwf21Pp2kgdiBupv0IqCb8VHlQt774j_JkdceFZGowgkCjvNlo5CoqoYHPTsEQ_f4OcegjrvqiAxrwtWOO-J70vg7tMyJ-ynmU23YSJBQ3q6KmEXsWD/s4032/IMG_8429.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFG-cc-Nk-Fm6u_HxkeQcRSBN1dIk9itxSFNEjKmm2GaQUxSTjZTHfY6yznAvFZR-nql8oJKLXolwf21Pp2kgdiBupv0IqCb8VHlQt774j_JkdceFZGowgkCjvNlo5CoqoYHPTsEQ_f4OcegjrvqiAxrwtWOO-J70vg7tMyJ-ynmU23YSJBQ3q6KmEXsWD/w480-h640/IMG_8429.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That is a wrap on Thanksgiving. Lindsay and Tyler went full on Christmas at their house today before heading to the feast:) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lindsay sent me this picture after they got home tonight. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hMeoF7RS8i3J0vwhyphenhyphenUspkX_4xJhTKVIceVXO5EkbHFH4h8WNWP3DgqnnMRiBjBIY_tu_hoXQdPo2QMQm5KImMN2oHJrs7SbHeI6XTsUMRl7LwnSJOMVOZHNF0p6y0r0sCuGSE0IGEft8QHkKARtwjC-7Z2ztmOOc7uo-SDAJXgEqW2tCjEFtcyx5QaCG/s4032/IMG_8456.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hMeoF7RS8i3J0vwhyphenhyphenUspkX_4xJhTKVIceVXO5EkbHFH4h8WNWP3DgqnnMRiBjBIY_tu_hoXQdPo2QMQm5KImMN2oHJrs7SbHeI6XTsUMRl7LwnSJOMVOZHNF0p6y0r0sCuGSE0IGEft8QHkKARtwjC-7Z2ztmOOc7uo-SDAJXgEqW2tCjEFtcyx5QaCG/w480-h640/IMG_8456.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am going full on Christmas too now. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The tree is up. I had to buy it because all the good ones would be gone from the place I like to buy from.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnK6n9RdZEL9bKm9fXZ1koEJsDgKnhQnUJQuPMWDoujJZscCTMfQDjRKGiX774ut286LIvMtWAMopUcEl3z2N35neLPtSPwEMAz_KC4SvuegT87NXRgizEvdhIQF9kQh-IXFUtEpCLyxZMv-Omx-UFEbaLGYL4G8jmPgQzzX-5M28avlAxCj4iEboS0eHs/s4032/IMG_9808.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnK6n9RdZEL9bKm9fXZ1koEJsDgKnhQnUJQuPMWDoujJZscCTMfQDjRKGiX774ut286LIvMtWAMopUcEl3z2N35neLPtSPwEMAz_KC4SvuegT87NXRgizEvdhIQF9kQh-IXFUtEpCLyxZMv-Omx-UFEbaLGYL4G8jmPgQzzX-5M28avlAxCj4iEboS0eHs/w480-h640/IMG_9808.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love a tree that has a few imperfections (not too many). I like for it to look real!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am going to do a couple of things different this year. I only had to buy one thing of ribbon for my idea to happen. Stay tuned. I will share all of it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">From C.S. Lewis....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Courage isn't the absence of fear but acting despite it. In fact, you would not need courage if you did not have fear. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185422453541735778noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369505808572306850.post-41739912968914147232023-11-17T12:12:00.002-06:002023-11-17T12:12:33.865-06:00All the Fall Feels<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyvlcYPwNKEbni9uBur25FWTUDawU7uO5doaKBBvPk5Z7rRC7PPBjW_NSa_I2y6Kmg1khV-nKnUGdOMbZHK-cbTWWIG_dUS25Dji-GHMP0YPxd51zcAmZzkbDBI1ojAm6PvLlZtbAOc64HFeA-fDUPre33j70Pd2-_OIJDLXQLyWIGoeZnkyxp7FDZnEhI/s4032/IMG_8215.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyvlcYPwNKEbni9uBur25FWTUDawU7uO5doaKBBvPk5Z7rRC7PPBjW_NSa_I2y6Kmg1khV-nKnUGdOMbZHK-cbTWWIG_dUS25Dji-GHMP0YPxd51zcAmZzkbDBI1ojAm6PvLlZtbAOc64HFeA-fDUPre33j70Pd2-_OIJDLXQLyWIGoeZnkyxp7FDZnEhI/w480-h640/IMG_8215.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> I thought I might better get a post up of my fall pictures before Thanksgiving week arrives and I sure enough don't have time to post. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The owl above was out a little earlier int the pine tree than he usually arrives. In fact, all three grand boys were over yesterday and Mother when he made his entrance. Mother spotted him from the couch. He didn't seem at all disturbed by us looking at him. He usually arrives with nightfall and hoots away out there, but for some reason he came early and sat there a long time. Lindsay even got this picture through the deck slats. There is just so much fun to watch in nature. I was walking Gus earlier today and just loved seeing the birds. One female cardinal didn't seem at all disturbed by Gus when she was perched in the shrubs and he came close. I view all of these sightings as blessings.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Last weekend, well actually on Thursday before Veteran's Day, Jeff and I slipped away to Auburn for a long weekend. I left Paul Allen in charge of Mother, and this time she actually let me go without talking about going to her sister's house. It was overcast in Auburn all weekend, but the trees were so pretty. They usually peak around Thanksgiving up there, but I loved seeing all the fall color. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtku1Ry0sv3wg9ZNZbRAPSz2BuMwBLoXG143BLBdrTuVVVJaodsQNbVQtIjqhD9dPe5xOWLJsXxk2XzdExomntXdAYPxotANBL723nBuhjQsGkrEFh4g0RDnAOgMseyvcZVgePxRKdMy9iK_h-z81muQnKrCKLWhCRtm6oktcZKc0g2Lxucdxs-RVT89B/s4032/IMG_9739.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtku1Ry0sv3wg9ZNZbRAPSz2BuMwBLoXG143BLBdrTuVVVJaodsQNbVQtIjqhD9dPe5xOWLJsXxk2XzdExomntXdAYPxotANBL723nBuhjQsGkrEFh4g0RDnAOgMseyvcZVgePxRKdMy9iK_h-z81muQnKrCKLWhCRtm6oktcZKc0g2Lxucdxs-RVT89B/w480-h640/IMG_9739.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had the best time noticing all the different oaks, maples, and elms all around the neighborhood and town.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I crunched through leaves in the yard to my heart's delight.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRgo9AyrQSZybYlHYdFWjKqgzs2FMVuFrYZ5CxLORFcsbaaPcS2wIicqcsaONCMD5gcJTJlWKjCw6oAVHTs5lwt6f068UXU38c12cT-53wh6NWibBTMwyM3oV7j_VATlYvMRP9RDRYAUS6RaeA020ZPEGl5MfhM8lwE5WCgljzSnL7XO4gd7IkQjMrVoE/s4032/IMG_9741.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRgo9AyrQSZybYlHYdFWjKqgzs2FMVuFrYZ5CxLORFcsbaaPcS2wIicqcsaONCMD5gcJTJlWKjCw6oAVHTs5lwt6f068UXU38c12cT-53wh6NWibBTMwyM3oV7j_VATlYvMRP9RDRYAUS6RaeA020ZPEGl5MfhM8lwE5WCgljzSnL7XO4gd7IkQjMrVoE/w480-h640/IMG_9741.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We ate out Friday night with our good friends and watched the ballgame with them on Saturday. It was quiet in Auburn as they were playing in Arkansas. Overall, just a nice weekend for Jeff and me. I take what I can get.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufMVhhPNJ2J2gpnXhSy_ez7BDO_nhwwNE0fKSpuVI6NizBSr_IxPLhjEDAnfURF-xxDcYdo9dYazhOCKZrEW8gxveR-zUtuRNAv-upNu7y4flrsDFkPCLIRNNyAFzupCNgOiimxFfMfldNQklEHq0rNLAYKrJ87kGVaf_nVMfQ1irpivhvKpU_NxH2X1g/s4032/IMG_9742.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufMVhhPNJ2J2gpnXhSy_ez7BDO_nhwwNE0fKSpuVI6NizBSr_IxPLhjEDAnfURF-xxDcYdo9dYazhOCKZrEW8gxveR-zUtuRNAv-upNu7y4flrsDFkPCLIRNNyAFzupCNgOiimxFfMfldNQklEHq0rNLAYKrJ87kGVaf_nVMfQ1irpivhvKpU_NxH2X1g/w480-h640/IMG_9742.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Life is truly so busy that a regular day of keeping Miles and not having to go anywhere is as good as it gets these days. I don't have any days to myself anymore. It is the season I am in and I make do. Mother got a test injection this week and will have another the first Monday of December which will last for 4-6 months for pain. Keeping my chin up with her is the hardest. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not knowing what the days going forward hold is not the easiest, but it is remembering life can be hard, and my faith will sustain me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I do my best to notice all the good and count it as a blessing just like seeing birds on my walk. Pity parties never make you feel better. They must be short in length. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This little munchkin along with the other 2 keeps Mimi's chin up. Miles liked the mall kid's area. This picture is just too cute not to share. He visited there with his parents while we were in Auburn last weekend.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEF3mrrBGCFFcT8hKsA6Lo5yP6Dt4qbYLB0O8StS0ANXqELL5jPOk6c-QKoeSa-8_YYhoa6FYzxeaMs1MhUQgpc-_2hZ-OPDwS7KFM4KdUukFiVu4VLx7GPPoFcG5g2hGC3VZV3DhqaZCYNm7GeMYvvNnskiRxB3qpstztihkiDItFqlpMahDFAkLIq8WD/s4032/IMG_5935.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEF3mrrBGCFFcT8hKsA6Lo5yP6Dt4qbYLB0O8StS0ANXqELL5jPOk6c-QKoeSa-8_YYhoa6FYzxeaMs1MhUQgpc-_2hZ-OPDwS7KFM4KdUukFiVu4VLx7GPPoFcG5g2hGC3VZV3DhqaZCYNm7GeMYvvNnskiRxB3qpstztihkiDItFqlpMahDFAkLIq8WD/w480-h640/IMG_5935.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">While in Auburn, I did a little relaxing in the bedroom reading this little gem of a book that I leave up there. I relaxed and stared at my lovely birds and flowers stitches. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRo2pKr-vbGGupp8QRI9-8U49UBPhUhnarnE2ekV7Ogf4AG-Wm9U_Zcsf_CAhoJlTOhvtZky_jOPCthlEy7AV1204qFvUNQeHNC72cfqpJAtppRP6KayAvNyoFuSvHFYbDgNBeZwOT5ght9IP0KizHkdD_4LzokiBlMWU7j8AbPdLaCT6Z9xaMXarYyuu/s4032/IMG_9750.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRo2pKr-vbGGupp8QRI9-8U49UBPhUhnarnE2ekV7Ogf4AG-Wm9U_Zcsf_CAhoJlTOhvtZky_jOPCthlEy7AV1204qFvUNQeHNC72cfqpJAtppRP6KayAvNyoFuSvHFYbDgNBeZwOT5ght9IP0KizHkdD_4LzokiBlMWU7j8AbPdLaCT6Z9xaMXarYyuu/w480-h640/IMG_9750.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gus might have decided I had been sitting too long. Anyway, the book made me want to reread the series of books about Mitford. I must admit I didn't like them at first. I think my life was too busy to really slow down enough to read them. When I did finally settle into read them since retiring from teaching, I really liked them. Father Tim was such a wonderful character.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Other than the daily chores, lots of doctor appointments and all the stuff most everyone does in life, I have been <u>trying to get a handle on photographs</u>. I knew I already had a problem with mine, but when I brought more albums than you want to even know...maybe close to 50 from Mother's house, I knew I was in trouble.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4-LoiAUrFLEZpISLBFr7aeSr9QSVtouip9fxrj7ADwRpcCTlDf2bMRfyU4BbJ0q0TkA1uczSgDDUBU7RSR6Kcu-79QBUlJKV8F8HFc4tc4Z1P4K1z4n9CNdhIFt8CCsSU45bZ-eO4Gkcz7ez6EYc3XTUvb9H2Y28LFCgxab8JW-YFTzLEp2WBkIyT5A3/s4032/IMG_9754.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4-LoiAUrFLEZpISLBFr7aeSr9QSVtouip9fxrj7ADwRpcCTlDf2bMRfyU4BbJ0q0TkA1uczSgDDUBU7RSR6Kcu-79QBUlJKV8F8HFc4tc4Z1P4K1z4n9CNdhIFt8CCsSU45bZ-eO4Gkcz7ez6EYc3XTUvb9H2Y28LFCgxab8JW-YFTzLEp2WBkIyT5A3/w480-h640/IMG_9754.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It has been completely overwhelming and quite frankly still is. These 2 boxes are ones I pulled out of albums because there isn't enough room for them. I pulled them out and labeled them with dividers by season and year. They are basically the same ones I have in my albums, so there is now one set for Lindsay and one set for Paul Allen. These 2 boxes contain about 20 years of just our family. Then Mother was the keeper of history for her entire family. I have been going through and have many set aside to give to her siblings, but she wants to see them first, so....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lindsay's bedroom is still overflowing. I give up until after the new year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLUggiTwPGtLh__G_GQT0lVb_3MSA3Nc2JjbBnOI7VACLpUnS8EV2vi0JeEQBdC8I62ePsnU1t76DdeUoSmG-fG2E4BWz8kxult6TLn1BbMgwZ6IBfxDsiekZrkmRglUc_8BBmzrDTJmE4dVmP2DgcSUYCYkWnPu14Y-qvQDvSfzkEW4oOYbNlgiCmeBw/s4032/IMG_9757.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLUggiTwPGtLh__G_GQT0lVb_3MSA3Nc2JjbBnOI7VACLpUnS8EV2vi0JeEQBdC8I62ePsnU1t76DdeUoSmG-fG2E4BWz8kxult6TLn1BbMgwZ6IBfxDsiekZrkmRglUc_8BBmzrDTJmE4dVmP2DgcSUYCYkWnPu14Y-qvQDvSfzkEW4oOYbNlgiCmeBw/w480-h640/IMG_9757.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I will admit it is all driving me a little bonkers.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Hk6oEog4pFT722nB_EAyUQoosQp_Fo-vCVUuJ4deQHue63OuPOP-vF4Wg0gzEVkAcRknRSFxzz-cAeYJ2OmsxinWuofDtbRIUDIdCTiWPaI3_2d3WBuxSnXWPxH2WdsS4bWN27uZS1dID0klmcDN3XxH3sVAjHlnjuuOomOOloqYDUifuHuXXUhEpiqI/s4032/IMG_9758.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Hk6oEog4pFT722nB_EAyUQoosQp_Fo-vCVUuJ4deQHue63OuPOP-vF4Wg0gzEVkAcRknRSFxzz-cAeYJ2OmsxinWuofDtbRIUDIdCTiWPaI3_2d3WBuxSnXWPxH2WdsS4bWN27uZS1dID0klmcDN3XxH3sVAjHlnjuuOomOOloqYDUifuHuXXUhEpiqI/w640-h480/IMG_9758.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am still in Thanksgiving/ fall mode here. We will celebrate Thanksgiving here with everyone home. Not one drop of Christmas is anywhere yet. I am thankful that it is a bit earlier this year so I don't have to feel rushed. I wish people didn't rush things so much these days, but I know I am in the minority on that these days. I will be ready to put it up after the turkey is cleared away. I might even cave in to all of it if I didn't have the festivities at my house and I like for Thanksgiving to look like Thanksgiving.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We may go to Auburn for the Iron Bowl weekend. It is in Auburn this year, but we don't have tickets. We are all just taking about going up. Not sure yet. If I do, then Christmas boxes won't come out until the Monday after all that hullabaloo. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I did restart my Florida sampler on smaller count linen and in the center of the sampler rather than the side. I had miscalculated the amount of edging and I didn't want to stress and I started thinking about how large it would be on 28 count. I am liking my change to 36 count summer khaki. I am making many color changes in this sampler as well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6U3-S8j0w5g3IvOMWHIF4UHN0YYA_G9PCaUjWXbap73SRrIbxbKfoWpQiZw7mfeqC3N5y6kahR2iiIs6ibCv6xu3qrxo6_UKu-xA-7ZbGL3RlqncJPMk6C2-xM5woTzXT6SfX_0Nnt2XZMi3nYWB3l0gUB147fXXydupoXpe2FveChutVhtOngIzhISPW/s4032/IMG_9766.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6U3-S8j0w5g3IvOMWHIF4UHN0YYA_G9PCaUjWXbap73SRrIbxbKfoWpQiZw7mfeqC3N5y6kahR2iiIs6ibCv6xu3qrxo6_UKu-xA-7ZbGL3RlqncJPMk6C2-xM5woTzXT6SfX_0Nnt2XZMi3nYWB3l0gUB147fXXydupoXpe2FveChutVhtOngIzhISPW/w480-h640/IMG_9766.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have my December ornament almost finished. Just need to find a color ribbon to make a bow. I will share soon. I started the reindeer ornament again for myself this time. More to share soon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My eye surgery is behind me and now I am just doing the drops as anyone who has had this done knows all about:)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love Thanksgiving and try to embrace it with all the gusto I can. I love that I spend time being grateful and then move in to the Christmas season. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Thanksgiving,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sandy</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185422453541735778noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369505808572306850.post-3668243495886064672023-11-09T11:36:00.000-06:002023-11-09T11:36:00.071-06:00Making the Most of Time<p style="text-align: center;">I did not intend to be away from the blog so long, but my stage of life dictates my comings and goings. I shall not linger on all that, but try to pump out some good stuff here.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Stitching Time</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">My stitching time has just been so limited lately for a few reasons. </p><p>~Sometimes you can just run into problems that take away motivation.</p><p>~I am trying out lots of new light situations and even sitting arrangements for evening stitching which was brought on by my lamp breaking and quite honestly my sight... I will talk more about that later.</p><p>~And the fact that the amount of light this time of year puts me in a funk physically and a wee bit mentally. I am a light person. When it starts getting dark earlier, <b>I feel like a bear who just needs to hibernate</b>. I will find myself drifting over to the couch to just lay down for a minute to rest and then I am just completely out. I am trying to fight it hard so as to not sleep away to many precious hours that could be spent reading or stitching.</p><p style="text-align: center;">OK, so where am I in my stitching world. I have stitched all of my 12 ornaments for the stitch along...I have not fully finished them, but they are stitched. I hope to fully finish the last one next week. Lindsay is using most of them as gifting in her work place. I think I will need to do that reindeer with the cardinal again for myself.</p><p style="text-align: center;">For November, I did a quickie.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BBnA-nj-3KOQvxkbmddW_ya6nFkPw56AW4s8knaeqB1KfTieZu8XGtwc8x7Z6iTXp4F2Ve6jyrUtjbidFV70-PG0RWh7QyxBLtfZ7AEoYDocySi8yw1b9ou11r-cjnRzivaBVcqPUus9lrj9tyb_bgWGdPx9MEWt6Hhk7mI1I1NkWwRHXv0-PUyvJYFn/s4032/IMG_9716.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BBnA-nj-3KOQvxkbmddW_ya6nFkPw56AW4s8knaeqB1KfTieZu8XGtwc8x7Z6iTXp4F2Ve6jyrUtjbidFV70-PG0RWh7QyxBLtfZ7AEoYDocySi8yw1b9ou11r-cjnRzivaBVcqPUus9lrj9tyb_bgWGdPx9MEWt6Hhk7mI1I1NkWwRHXv0-PUyvJYFn/w480-h640/IMG_9716.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">For December's, I stitched a coastal themed one that I have stitched before. I will share next time. I have enjoyed stitching these. I don't think I will commit to 12 again next year as it is time to stitch Miles's <a href="https://homeecmajor.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-advent-calendar-lemons-and-astronaut.html" target="_blank">Advent calendar</a> that I stitched Tucker and Palmer a couple of years back. </p><p style="text-align: center;">For other stitching, I have run into some troubles which I partially blame on eyesight and just my mind these days. I have to restart my Florida sampler. I am waiting on my new linen to arrive. Since I am restarting (thankfully, I wasn't far along) I am using a lighter 36 count linen. I think my color selections of floss will work better and the size will be much better for framing. I have to say I like the pattern, but I am changing almost every color of floss. When I pull the chosen floss out to stitch it just doesn't mesh with my view of the real item. Maybe that is the flaw in choosing a sampler based on your actual geographical location in life. Also, the pattern symbols are just stinking hard to see. Could be my failing eyes. Who knows? </p><p style="text-align: center;">Speaking of eyes, I had said I was waiting until January to do the second eye. I have changed my mind due to more than one reason which I won't bore you with. I have no idea how it is all going to work out, but I feel a strong need to get it behind me. I have my second eye surgery on Tuesday of next week, so that will further interrupt my stitching time. Something to look forward to in 2024. As for the eye surgery, I don't think this cataract surgery thingie is life changing. Yes, I can see better but not as much as I would like. Manmade lenses don't work like God given original lenses. However, my eyes are failing me, so I am just going forward with the decision and hoping it will all work out. 40 count stitching may be over for me. I am feeling that way now anyway, so the surgery is not going to be the reason. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Reading Time</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">I have read some lately. I don't always share my books, but I think I will this time. I read, <i>no listened</i> to <u>Under the Bayou Moon</u>, by Valerie Fraser Luesse. It was an enjoyable listen. The one thing that stood out to me was the author's description of the Louisiana bayous. It was obvious she had great love for the area. I relate to that as I love my bay and bayou...</p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Speaking of my bayou and bay, we went out for a boat ride Sunday afternoon. </i> It was a glorious day. We saw 3 bald eagles circling some hopping fish. I don't think I have ever seen the likes of that. One was clearly a bald eagle and the other 2 were younger without the white head. IT was quite a sight. Earlier in the week I saw 2 ospreys putting on a show for me right out back. One kept landing in the pine tree outside the kitchen window and making some wild noises. I think they were mating. Lovely views which I am unable to photograph because I am challenged in photography.</p><p style="text-align: center;">My second book was the new book by Erin Napier called <u>Heirloom Rooms</u>. I had forgotten I preordered it. I am a complete sucker for a decorating book. I liked it but I would not run out and buy it if you are a decorating book nerd like me. The material to read is the best part of the book here. She takes you on a real life journey about REAL homes, not staged looks. I did enjoy the pictures of the real homes. Fun to see them as they really are with drink glasses and used blankets strewn instead of all signs of life put away from sight. I enjoyed it but I probably could have read a library copy and been good with that. It was good and made me think.</p><p style="text-align: center;">My third book as of late was John Grisham's book, <u>The Exchange</u>. It was billed as the sequel to <u>The Firm</u> which is on my list of favorite reads. I read it before children during post planning of the school year. Someone left in the teacher's lounge in the take if you like reads. I took it home and started and spent late nights of post planning finishing it because I couldn't lay it down. The new book picks up with Abby and Mitch in 2006. I was sad I purchased it, not sad I read it, but quite frankly I don't think you can write a sequel to <u>The Firm</u>. <u>The Exchange</u> is an ok read by Grisham. I haven't read many of his lately and it was just ok for me. I had no trouble reading it or wanting to finish it, but it is not great. Check it out at the library and save the money.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Grands Time</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">I know everyone is past Halloween, but here are my little boys all enjoying their time in their neighborhoods.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Tucker and Palmer ready to go.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioNBkU6qwOs-H1jfywfyfcB0Hm9VZ78D6kOaJxVETY4wD9smyymrYi2bnwUL8947KTNhHvgD9b6XUY1G8Qw73n-BpWXVe_3WGo5n1puILi9Bm1oo9CzRLDWhnuGq-f_LDxISYYkAzztx35zMQJOWCqZ082rYuGCvmUmyiiQea0TwLVYFybQWELiXXCy7jt/s4032/IMG_7892.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioNBkU6qwOs-H1jfywfyfcB0Hm9VZ78D6kOaJxVETY4wD9smyymrYi2bnwUL8947KTNhHvgD9b6XUY1G8Qw73n-BpWXVe_3WGo5n1puILi9Bm1oo9CzRLDWhnuGq-f_LDxISYYkAzztx35zMQJOWCqZ082rYuGCvmUmyiiQea0TwLVYFybQWELiXXCy7jt/w480-h640/IMG_7892.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Palmer actually wore the Marshall outfit to another even, but decided on the astronaut outfit for the evening. I think it might have had to do with his teachers at daycare commenting on how cute he was in earlier in the day.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj960xv3_4mX3ZzE0mH1rF2Gd8v68eDWidVgJ3Wa8Wxca9RUvrHXreImdWm373vHXaTvNjHIyEPKvxr4ZbwRGw3v7ugjPuBiLxO8T5JLnAgnnt2CGP-Rq49cO3EWzHuAkbDEI1_ohkahGYPa87MSiH5w8Ds7o3P_o1SDjbcfQpJg9yHyhF99oMx8dy0u5ct/s4032/IMG_7908.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj960xv3_4mX3ZzE0mH1rF2Gd8v68eDWidVgJ3Wa8Wxca9RUvrHXreImdWm373vHXaTvNjHIyEPKvxr4ZbwRGw3v7ugjPuBiLxO8T5JLnAgnnt2CGP-Rq49cO3EWzHuAkbDEI1_ohkahGYPa87MSiH5w8Ds7o3P_o1SDjbcfQpJg9yHyhF99oMx8dy0u5ct/w480-h640/IMG_7908.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Are they not just adorable driving down the sidewalk/</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Miles was a banana...and he was eating on a banana. There is a church 2 blocks down from them so they just went to the trunk or treating there to make it a wee bit easier. His favorite thing was glow sticks.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqY4aRmGzUai0UAaUHOsMA5PyWpILeU3onHoRPwHZgFd8R8bE-Zu25Mj1j-O7XsJjukYPleYQiQIC-DhkQOjCUWjGoiklgVBMzcLpp6xjiLa2q4PPW5-F_q26IKmAmqgQvbyZxfeazLw4wvd2cFa6m1FcxgdkRwrXecRz5N9Xw1M7eQrADbV7Px2XVcuqt/s4032/IMG_8039.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqY4aRmGzUai0UAaUHOsMA5PyWpILeU3onHoRPwHZgFd8R8bE-Zu25Mj1j-O7XsJjukYPleYQiQIC-DhkQOjCUWjGoiklgVBMzcLpp6xjiLa2q4PPW5-F_q26IKmAmqgQvbyZxfeazLw4wvd2cFa6m1FcxgdkRwrXecRz5N9Xw1M7eQrADbV7Px2XVcuqt/w480-h640/IMG_8039.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">It seems I always share sunrises. Jeff and I went over to a little park on the other side of the bay to see the sunset one evening. It wasn't all that spectacular, but beautiful nonetheless.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-_XnhHZvAKWBox8tgFmfV7GqTfuWWuxGykbwbizi3BfJwUeEZs-iI1xw5CtwqPcA6vCCxvis-_glIdmAM2_uyLHnaiNjIIft2sPU-rzE5EBgg32nlnW5yZ06TT0F9ZwAdW8LAD_o_bERmXOEtB6F2Xc6xVK5OyEeDFCmCi-F2adUVhaUHUl3PjCR6yvg/s4032/IMG_9667.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-_XnhHZvAKWBox8tgFmfV7GqTfuWWuxGykbwbizi3BfJwUeEZs-iI1xw5CtwqPcA6vCCxvis-_glIdmAM2_uyLHnaiNjIIft2sPU-rzE5EBgg32nlnW5yZ06TT0F9ZwAdW8LAD_o_bERmXOEtB6F2Xc6xVK5OyEeDFCmCi-F2adUVhaUHUl3PjCR6yvg/w480-h640/IMG_9667.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">I have to say I have listened to the most wonderful message series at my church that was so timely for us. Three parts that caused me to listen multiple times to each one. He is meeting us in our difficulties. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Hebrews 4:16 </p><p style="text-align: center;">Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The last line of the closing prayer on the last part of the series really caught Jeff's attention.</p><p style="text-align: center;">"Help us remember we are not the owners of our lives, but the stewards of our time."</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">I am looking forward to the coming holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas. I truly love Thanksgiving and going into December having focused on my blessings with Thanksgiving first. The weather has been just about perfect for about a month here and I have soaked it up. I have sat on my deck and strolled around the neighborhood. I have not been all that productive with chores outside, but I am just loving the time outside. Nature really does soothe my soul. Now, this time change and lack of light make me have to be out there even more during the day.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I have taken a break from Instagram with my daughter. We decided to fast from it for a month. I have a few more days to go. I know when I go back I am going to be unfollowing a few. During this time I knew exactly which things I have missed and things I haven't. Stitchy friends, decorators of homey homes, and joy filled focus on Jesus...</p><p style="text-align: center;">The world is a mess, but I try to focus on what I can do each day. I pray for our nation and for our children and grandchildren. That is all I can do. I remind myself often of the <a href="https://homeecmajor.blogspot.com/2021/09/doing-sensible-things.html" target="_blank">C.S Lewis quote</a> from another time in history when the world was a mess.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Let us do sensible things and cherish the time we have with family and friends.</p>Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185422453541735778noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369505808572306850.post-38348490668503856872023-10-22T19:51:00.005-05:002023-10-22T19:51:29.309-05:00Stitching and More....<p> First up is October's Christmas ornament. This one may be my favorite this year. I have made all of the ornaments this year into flats, but this one I did into a pillow. I noticed that the pillow is not any heavier than the flats, so there may be more before the year is over.</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZe0i-nFiJcjpHVtXtxdO1rYIRDmVNW7mR3oREE-hpJ-eqBohKE7foBnihk2O-C1k0eE1_PJdbn7L7LYWQNDiOAp0tnGK67ogoTPubPaHhbSM5qQN8vJ1oqSpfsRfAMMyURo2hMnN6gBQY0z4zpiV626j59FFvfL7FMQglE4Q6bLmObjNdw2aV0Ls6Po2B/s4032/IMG_9572.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZe0i-nFiJcjpHVtXtxdO1rYIRDmVNW7mR3oREE-hpJ-eqBohKE7foBnihk2O-C1k0eE1_PJdbn7L7LYWQNDiOAp0tnGK67ogoTPubPaHhbSM5qQN8vJ1oqSpfsRfAMMyURo2hMnN6gBQY0z4zpiV626j59FFvfL7FMQglE4Q6bLmObjNdw2aV0Ls6Po2B/w480-h640/IMG_9572.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The pattern came from the latest Christmas Just Cross Stitch magazine. I just love the little cardinal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here it is hanging.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDW8sTMwAwDRUQVOwMOvlL4yn374O5EtG4Sx1k0RBBy4jAwTEHi5qjXf04vE9UcrvWE6iTdm46T8KoBQQE3Sl9ennxDxReUjUByyPUfutwHy9j8FEBuotXlZgrap2u1sGS7S83qYjD2m9aVdi12r6g0YvMDGEWyQYkig4Rc4G8QNga03fjCxIM5GLZNCX/w480-h640/IMG_9570.jpeg" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 238); color: #0000ee; text-decoration: underline;" width="480" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The next picture shows the backing fabric. The trim is some rick rack from the With Thy Needle and Thread's Country Store. I have a lot of it and every single thing I have ever used it on, I have loved it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNgdPvhk1isIr9EBWVSrxVrjQfbc5N2h8SOE_3y91USE1W6_n4t-wmtOBx5wdMXNJxdDqweE-PejbfGG2vAcne9Lh5aDyEE70RoMwnvbWWx7US_gJdrambXkjH5KdrUb5zloHGJkRU93COwMCs31lpwTJNmAWnOhqw8qU_ZpamIbEiNb7pKqlaiVKgFxT/s4032/71942258860__C3BF3F30-F80E-4449-8ADD-A8B2A83C5A14.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNgdPvhk1isIr9EBWVSrxVrjQfbc5N2h8SOE_3y91USE1W6_n4t-wmtOBx5wdMXNJxdDqweE-PejbfGG2vAcne9Lh5aDyEE70RoMwnvbWWx7US_gJdrambXkjH5KdrUb5zloHGJkRU93COwMCs31lpwTJNmAWnOhqw8qU_ZpamIbEiNb7pKqlaiVKgFxT/w480-h640/71942258860__C3BF3F30-F80E-4449-8ADD-A8B2A83C5A14.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I have also started my Florida sampler. I ran into a color issue right away and knew I had to adjust. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqJKQlXq7bCsBGJ2DSXga7MLf7dqIb6tMHvZwTNTxvJ9Nx-Blk2sDULwqJuLGFtnxBhGk2bQN87iOLaczg4kJhgkVtjFQ5_sPjXoD2-L1fXlDZ9jdm_VOXIH3naP6AX7wo0iHVvNkNSvJFH1E8mrKKRtl-GSjgN_GYklewaycGGAeV_9JGrivDRxOn9W5/s4032/71950633843__C30A4C23-2A51-413F-8ACE-1017F06170AB.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqJKQlXq7bCsBGJ2DSXga7MLf7dqIb6tMHvZwTNTxvJ9Nx-Blk2sDULwqJuLGFtnxBhGk2bQN87iOLaczg4kJhgkVtjFQ5_sPjXoD2-L1fXlDZ9jdm_VOXIH3naP6AX7wo0iHVvNkNSvJFH1E8mrKKRtl-GSjgN_GYklewaycGGAeV_9JGrivDRxOn9W5/w480-h640/71950633843__C30A4C23-2A51-413F-8ACE-1017F06170AB.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>This little oranges look like pumpkin spice colors rather than citrus oranges. I stitched them and immediately knew this wouldn't do. I bought an orange to bring home to look for new colors. I brought out lots of colors laying them across my orange. Some interesting notes... the above orange is organic and shows what a Florida orange looks more like here fresh from a tree. Of course, they might not be that perfect in color fresh from the tree. The tops are lighter near them stem getting the sunlight and the bottoms are a little darker. The pattern maker had that concept right, but just not the coloring. Now, I have seen oranges that more like an orange crayon color. In fact, I saw some in Target yesterday. I know they have to have been messed with in some way because they are all one color not as I describe with the tops and bottoms. Since the above picture, I have been working on the ones coming down the left side with different colors. I couldn't use the colors that matched the above orange perfectly because on the linen they looked like lemons, but I have played around a bit more and think I have found a color match that I can live with.</p><p>BTW, that orange was delicious and I have been on an orange kick for the past few days.</p><p>I also have stitched on the tree so there will be more to show next time. I am changing it up a wee bit too. The Spanish moss has to be just right since I walk out my door to that daily.</p><p><b>Gardening Time</b>...</p><p>I did find orange pansies and planted 2 pots of them to go with my blue/purple ones. Pansies are just such a happy flower. I am drawn to them every time I walk out and they lift my spirits when I drive up or walk back in the circle. My pictures are from a week ago. They are really popping now and will fill out the pots in another week.</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIpmWihLmOiW_boifSKXJvfx0A8SosmzcRc-tivBBleu4iNwdQ4tcm7dL-SdcuACumeZBEvXOpQaJkXZRGxlF0TDKkMAIsoGjBSNs2tAGRmr7M-a5WpKgFwVAYGOkPBn0bLqb34iFuJDANJm69Uegme9Hfb3DF-ilEq1Ye1wBijx0dixY7cz6hdSghPv3/s4032/IMG_9576.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIpmWihLmOiW_boifSKXJvfx0A8SosmzcRc-tivBBleu4iNwdQ4tcm7dL-SdcuACumeZBEvXOpQaJkXZRGxlF0TDKkMAIsoGjBSNs2tAGRmr7M-a5WpKgFwVAYGOkPBn0bLqb34iFuJDANJm69Uegme9Hfb3DF-ilEq1Ye1wBijx0dixY7cz6hdSghPv3/w480-h640/IMG_9576.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXfCwDFTS6jlylRyJ7N-i5WROC9lh3vqTaXzYYG3JkuqSx0aRyRkERzoI_bk2OoHOIgeJYZwAiymSTRCnJUA9qNg2n-jjQwPUK_Sj-3qdkY1n_X9Al6fqyxEfsbTBliFPomyGzcuNwnJn0RPhwcVC_tLQ2rgj3T9BwRKusFnV0LBZKmG9zdyFR1zPZaNqc/s4032/IMG_9577.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXfCwDFTS6jlylRyJ7N-i5WROC9lh3vqTaXzYYG3JkuqSx0aRyRkERzoI_bk2OoHOIgeJYZwAiymSTRCnJUA9qNg2n-jjQwPUK_Sj-3qdkY1n_X9Al6fqyxEfsbTBliFPomyGzcuNwnJn0RPhwcVC_tLQ2rgj3T9BwRKusFnV0LBZKmG9zdyFR1zPZaNqc/w480-h640/IMG_9577.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In the blustery wind the other night, one of my begonias was laying over pretty good, so I snipped that stem and added it to some of my roses for a pretty vase of goodness.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKtHWRGb6aYdt15oCziSR3Y7NXFSGc64E-vb3IkCg1R7o7f89yK6pvK6EmX6teQh9b_Rp_pAEpWGBCBaedzYJ_6iQr85hfGZph-KWeYJ_eUy3MNyuRTCvEIljNjB4HPrPe4FX5Xsq59YSLh6exoxfnqig2BUW9qCRYBIKfNJIPVQ8fQ82psizuFOPO4sI/s4032/71942255233__0D199327-FC6A-4A0C-97B9-5FCB1D1BB9B0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKtHWRGb6aYdt15oCziSR3Y7NXFSGc64E-vb3IkCg1R7o7f89yK6pvK6EmX6teQh9b_Rp_pAEpWGBCBaedzYJ_6iQr85hfGZph-KWeYJ_eUy3MNyuRTCvEIljNjB4HPrPe4FX5Xsq59YSLh6exoxfnqig2BUW9qCRYBIKfNJIPVQ8fQ82psizuFOPO4sI/w480-h640/71942255233__0D199327-FC6A-4A0C-97B9-5FCB1D1BB9B0.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The weather this past week was just perfect. Cool mornings and then the most pleasant days. The next picture is just some wildflowers in the neighborhood. Just so much goodness all around.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJragNiqDW62mjniBbcRwVGATGNk9vSEV1azxOaaJDtnx8fQIKcoIvbNjvkSaDWbqxP5eNB9L-kFmwLWd43aluYOxUrhFaGvl5FwZcFV6f2FMB4TuWszeJ6aRo4atroIdbdM7rMoO6VNEhyo-jNdILTWbCBIRq-hkBdxdstdJcGpBBANHXG_j5GTYowWV/s4032/IMG_9574.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJragNiqDW62mjniBbcRwVGATGNk9vSEV1azxOaaJDtnx8fQIKcoIvbNjvkSaDWbqxP5eNB9L-kFmwLWd43aluYOxUrhFaGvl5FwZcFV6f2FMB4TuWszeJ6aRo4atroIdbdM7rMoO6VNEhyo-jNdILTWbCBIRq-hkBdxdstdJcGpBBANHXG_j5GTYowWV/w480-h640/IMG_9574.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One morning I went out to water the roses and decided to capture the sunrise. I absolutely never take for granted this view. I am so blessed to live here. I love the coast. I was made for it.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwRuAR7SaEKXlYOXGHtENvqQFYJSwXMrbPY2JEc2MCrQiZVMZp0IJvj4IX1fqtmlnsmmyMGn26DgmJaM4wBcj-DdmHnh0icRWGETK5eVUDnDJoxOF_w3Kq-6mnq0UmI2UkfrfmTm-ZrXeEJmu4HLZRqBAL2bLhT-0Ee_pUYHfZNd3osSOo_lqV8Y6u499/s4032/IMG_9561.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwRuAR7SaEKXlYOXGHtENvqQFYJSwXMrbPY2JEc2MCrQiZVMZp0IJvj4IX1fqtmlnsmmyMGn26DgmJaM4wBcj-DdmHnh0icRWGETK5eVUDnDJoxOF_w3Kq-6mnq0UmI2UkfrfmTm-ZrXeEJmu4HLZRqBAL2bLhT-0Ee_pUYHfZNd3osSOo_lqV8Y6u499/w480-h640/IMG_9561.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Such tranquility in nature in the early mornings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To finalize this post I have some family pictures. Tucker is 5. How can he be 5? Does anyone who has read this blog since he was born believe he is 5 already?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We celebrated on his actual birthday with supper and cupcakes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I made this picture but Lindsay edited it and I think it is just about perfect.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObYJdvaIlOQpkkfifPNqnUmvIod7tELbsRjslSSgjhh6K9QpNbz6oLF-v8_N9pO7UAtfX1w-4OuctykFqzE9EGWeC3XTGkh1neYX03DS9w6Gt6lHodLPykCv1z1bcawBnV7DL81c0Y9hfSCaLw3pTwZvyIW4Dcpui0Gn1WrBWAhrbcoTyqt6YSahN7usv/s1782/IMG_9558.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1782" data-original-width="1232" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObYJdvaIlOQpkkfifPNqnUmvIod7tELbsRjslSSgjhh6K9QpNbz6oLF-v8_N9pO7UAtfX1w-4OuctykFqzE9EGWeC3XTGkh1neYX03DS9w6Gt6lHodLPykCv1z1bcawBnV7DL81c0Y9hfSCaLw3pTwZvyIW4Dcpui0Gn1WrBWAhrbcoTyqt6YSahN7usv/w442-h640/IMG_9558.jpeg" width="442" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are many so I am just going to share a few. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lindsay and Tyler were with Tyler's family out to eat this weekend and captured this family photo. It is a good one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMT8CdK6EwSGa8BZqEZJq7mfykb82az0K2uYvIt9fA_QlHebYp_0Usk8sIuy-ibK4MbMf79i5W9D9n9nCPHMLNkKL69ev_Edq21QLxBqsurckOlSzd2Xxyxu6efZSdys-mgTrutgMHVwNhBEckOU41xKhMdDZZZGe5DIAERFR9jNd7FO78l_yDXP_mKNP/s4032/IMG_0046.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMT8CdK6EwSGa8BZqEZJq7mfykb82az0K2uYvIt9fA_QlHebYp_0Usk8sIuy-ibK4MbMf79i5W9D9n9nCPHMLNkKL69ev_Edq21QLxBqsurckOlSzd2Xxyxu6efZSdys-mgTrutgMHVwNhBEckOU41xKhMdDZZZGe5DIAERFR9jNd7FO78l_yDXP_mKNP/w640-h480/IMG_0046.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today at Tucker's friend party at the park Lindsay got this one of Paul Allen and Katie with all the boys.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another really good one...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUETziKkBsA8Hyan_lARKyUg7CvyojVQM1ECbUTLIf9VBOGxdT7uZlzDDMIzL9j7-qN8giZnrKJyywxHsuyL3GexWUVs7Kb1UnO6WogKJ619-xZ6oXvOOMEMvOUTVnFqOSPQ2kVBgvr9tV56ISU0m7LJOhF9IfUWgp1Op8CobqdFaETlbf8TWUWsHeOVlJ/s4032/IMG_7628.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUETziKkBsA8Hyan_lARKyUg7CvyojVQM1ECbUTLIf9VBOGxdT7uZlzDDMIzL9j7-qN8giZnrKJyywxHsuyL3GexWUVs7Kb1UnO6WogKJ619-xZ6oXvOOMEMvOUTVnFqOSPQ2kVBgvr9tV56ISU0m7LJOhF9IfUWgp1Op8CobqdFaETlbf8TWUWsHeOVlJ/w480-h640/IMG_7628.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tucker had a monster truck themed party. I made cake and cupcakes and Lindsay made a cute sign plus she had the tables all cute with the theme.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjKmO1bNhC25nEJMeBy1oNfBbzK3sPzQ3eJfJ7WAdUORCBLUS055PFxwZX4XOVtDPrcRJasWXpZKqGCaXKwetVwmaMFDgT8QihoAIxzVVioMNbO_VmyLahhTL2YzOl0mEBSOjD7-HlLuK9lgGLy6Bsk7xFojJkbjdtTfEDl_7a0lSVGH9-8wwaJYshWzd/s4032/71962510122__FDAFE1D3-64E1-4D69-8417-87606A2328F8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjKmO1bNhC25nEJMeBy1oNfBbzK3sPzQ3eJfJ7WAdUORCBLUS055PFxwZX4XOVtDPrcRJasWXpZKqGCaXKwetVwmaMFDgT8QihoAIxzVVioMNbO_VmyLahhTL2YzOl0mEBSOjD7-HlLuK9lgGLy6Bsk7xFojJkbjdtTfEDl_7a0lSVGH9-8wwaJYshWzd/w480-h640/71962510122__FDAFE1D3-64E1-4D69-8417-87606A2328F8.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1d4vEmDpySyPDHEBHWFfM22uBjRoomdfmVNS-jOaNShDy5m_FDw4OCqjujAfIfTurhfPwsl7gtoBoL2fStNaYzJ5qcxx49glGCyHjcSQmkppViaF3ATQ7zARav7oKGc_QPs1mUuiSS8KjZ0O241BrGJ6nrJj5MJhw5u-ag0osvxdXrFOcHpBgo1LEWFu/s4032/IMG_7534.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1d4vEmDpySyPDHEBHWFfM22uBjRoomdfmVNS-jOaNShDy5m_FDw4OCqjujAfIfTurhfPwsl7gtoBoL2fStNaYzJ5qcxx49glGCyHjcSQmkppViaF3ATQ7zARav7oKGc_QPs1mUuiSS8KjZ0O241BrGJ6nrJj5MJhw5u-ag0osvxdXrFOcHpBgo1LEWFu/w480-h640/IMG_7534.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A friend of a friend knew two guys who have jacked up trucks that look like real monster trucks. They came by with them to the park and the kids got to go out and see them. It was a big hit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMuSC6_u6TgMG6u1AsIlhfhDGVXo390wC3Hjmg7PNmdHvprS0pVfw_D16aOv28UQV_4FhyUnQ9GS6GxFRpJBNekIFduftq_5jX6bITXlF1NwYm9rJnQtJw3_MgG9iabwkRt4Uh2-DRZs-pW2NS5B5N8_YoaQ02Sm_6GEDw0KVgMjPk8-0hKlUDhAx5OON8/s4032/IMG_7605.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMuSC6_u6TgMG6u1AsIlhfhDGVXo390wC3Hjmg7PNmdHvprS0pVfw_D16aOv28UQV_4FhyUnQ9GS6GxFRpJBNekIFduftq_5jX6bITXlF1NwYm9rJnQtJw3_MgG9iabwkRt4Uh2-DRZs-pW2NS5B5N8_YoaQ02Sm_6GEDw0KVgMjPk8-0hKlUDhAx5OON8/w480-h640/IMG_7605.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And because my heart is ... oh just because....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnHe1iDo9_IHZomkfvagXsVsFpluE1XpLcarPBeomzkvT8RnqdJ17EJNRsD5KRb_gSIBBDo6TbWZGiy44ZORvuy17gnQ-205ymVpuOYbke3lhLFTaM1MyzikgbQat8NV9X613SecfWkYGOQKVXif9up3ibOWVDN-OBx-2ZPaAFCDNwh-10SGsE2kyd1hI/s4032/IMG_7620.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnHe1iDo9_IHZomkfvagXsVsFpluE1XpLcarPBeomzkvT8RnqdJ17EJNRsD5KRb_gSIBBDo6TbWZGiy44ZORvuy17gnQ-205ymVpuOYbke3lhLFTaM1MyzikgbQat8NV9X613SecfWkYGOQKVXif9up3ibOWVDN-OBx-2ZPaAFCDNwh-10SGsE2kyd1hI/w480-h640/IMG_7620.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And that is it for this post. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Fall,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sandy</div><p></p>Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185422453541735778noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369505808572306850.post-70275143484529486742023-10-19T16:40:00.003-05:002023-10-19T16:40:29.850-05:00Thursday's Treasures: Art<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQv14g7ohkdn9dPMvAaEf6LuYAeA-BKRCH_z8lLkiOzADDo0YdyL5F1ZsjjfQ4Z7kXQCYJxi7KwPznBnfir-p5WwNw2pjIqaCH8RoLiRXnLeTyEk9qpE4PHnoMQw9WthrPdAXtLT7544Y5Jp5SFoAlti_pg2zjnc2HnByfG-oLh46nEwP0drye9sE8yGG/s4032/IMG_9445.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQv14g7ohkdn9dPMvAaEf6LuYAeA-BKRCH_z8lLkiOzADDo0YdyL5F1ZsjjfQ4Z7kXQCYJxi7KwPznBnfir-p5WwNw2pjIqaCH8RoLiRXnLeTyEk9qpE4PHnoMQw9WthrPdAXtLT7544Y5Jp5SFoAlti_pg2zjnc2HnByfG-oLh46nEwP0drye9sE8yGG/w640-h480/IMG_9445.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>For this treasure post that I am mostly writing for my kiddos, I am sharing <u>my dabbling in art</u>. I heard someone say this in a teacher workshop once when trying to choose a favorite subject.... "I am the jack of all trades, but the master of none." I immediately popped up to look over because that is me. I have so many likes and am eclectic in many ways. The one thing I like that probably never wavers is traditional home decor with a wee bit of country for whimsey, but country can be cluttered in my own home and that drives me nutty, so mostly traditional. This jack of all trades thing explains my choice of favorite subject as I can make a case for all of them and my choice of reading material which is all over the place.</p><p>How did my venture into art go? Great, but again not a master. It all started around 7th-8th grade when I broke it to mom that I would NOT be taking any more piano lessons. Now, I was absolutely positive I wasn't going back, but you never told Mother no, so I presented her with a well thought out plan of how I had no real talent in it and the teacher recognized it and it was agreed upon by us both. I promised to continue practicing, but that I could only read notes. I heard nothing and was never going to go past a certain level. I kept my word and dabbled in piano playing on many days without the stress of going to an awful lesson. </p><p>Then my mother went to some meeting at a ladies house at church and discovered that she taught art lessons in her private studio out past her garage. Her wheels began to spin and so art lessons began. If I remember correctly, I took art for 2 years and I really liked it <i>although</i> there was no doubt in my mind that I was again mediocre and that there was REAL talent in the room. I was always ok with that. I worked hard at everything I did and excelled enough to be recognized for hard work, but I was never really talented at anything. I think it is still the same today. Jack of trades...master of none. That is not all bad. I think it makes for well rounded if you really want to know!</p><p>The woman, Mrs. Gillis that taught the art lessons in her home took a shine to me and we became good buddies. <u>She is a huge part of my faith story</u>, but that would be another story. </p><p>The way it went down in her studio was that there were kids all around doing different things and she would get you started on something you were interested in and you would work on that project until completion. She liked for you to complete your masterpiece and then she showcased it by having her husband frame it.</p><p><br /></p><p><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQrZkjJezji8wi7hLX-nwKIdS0bMBey2vXzKbibDmBBNDpWiQlTsJT6b9NacRqqcN_fC_scELYQ0IBJz3bQ4BOhdYL-BqTWqFnW9O3jzO9KDQfhODd1C0mjrPowkFcGC3v3xfPG6eGFX39zVAjn7yo0ZhQG829o8M959yvh9cSBG9YoDCZdjUB4wthEVM/w640-h480/IMG_9446.jpeg" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 238); color: #0000ee; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline;" width="640" /> </p><p>My second project was the oil still life you see above. What you can't see behind this framed still life is a blue ribbon. Yep, you read that right - a blue ribbon. </p><p>Mrs. Gillis had an art show each year at the public library there in Brewton...might I digress another moment and tell you how much this girl loved the library. We moved to Brewton from the woods right outside there when I started 6th grade and it was my first experience with a real library. I had gone to a rural school with a book mobile which I can tell you now was amazing too, but a real walk in library where you could browse and touch the books to your heart's content was so special. I would have Mom drop me off every week and tell her to go run errands while I browsed. I was an avid reader and it was just so special. OK, back to the art show. </p><p>She would have the local junior college art teacher come and judge the material giving ribbons to each medium of work. I remember as my mother and I entered the library to see the art show <u>thinking that I hoped my work didn't look too dorky up next to the older kids' works</u>. I had a charcoal drawing which had been my first work and the one above there since I had only been going to lessons awhile. I think Mrs. Gillis might have helped on the apple in the charcoal. I knew there were really talented kids in the class, but remember my teacher had taken a shine to me and just seemed to like me a lot. She gave lots of encouragement.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7CmSIdVUeYpAmyWkgZWtJ7DR6DorKz51w-HGD3dcVCX8Rh8m1B2jFPlSHSHjqXwVO2zpWtc9aBVEk8yZlEuJhs1Tq6RZa7ebbeEpZvZp2N7fXhJs4BDlvOqsX772h9sRpx-xXosSNGdrE7gBnYFXBGCjZNAE63AO1PM65YWWTds3HnN8xSz0yN9vjMJq/s4032/IMG_9566.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7CmSIdVUeYpAmyWkgZWtJ7DR6DorKz51w-HGD3dcVCX8Rh8m1B2jFPlSHSHjqXwVO2zpWtc9aBVEk8yZlEuJhs1Tq6RZa7ebbeEpZvZp2N7fXhJs4BDlvOqsX772h9sRpx-xXosSNGdrE7gBnYFXBGCjZNAE63AO1PM65YWWTds3HnN8xSz0yN9vjMJq/w640-h480/IMG_9566.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I walked down an aisle or two and <b>then I spotted the blue ribbon</b>. I was speechless. For a moment in time I could only be happy and proud and Mrs. Gillis was right behind me to share in it all. Then Mother. </p><p>I was soaking up this moment when I spied Jack who was older and so very talented. <u>The kind of talent that you take out a canvas and whip up goodness without even thinking</u>. He didn't say one mean word, but his face said it all. How could some little middle schooler get first place in this category with that. He was devastated. My happy moment kind of dimmed. </p><p><i>There is a photograph with me standing my first place painting. I am not knee deep in photo albums, but more like chin deep right now. I actually think that album is mom's assisted living apartment so maybe one day I will remember to take a picture of me back then and post at a later time.</i></p><p>The thing is I didn't feel any animosity towards Jack for his facial expression. I understood! He was way more talented than me. In this one and only painting I had gotten the color mixing right ---maybe needed a little help with the shapes, but I had learned to mix colors and shade which I still use to this day in things. An art teacher just noticed that and like a teacher recognized it. </p><p>I did go another year before Mrs. Gillis decided to hang up teaching herself. I painted the landscape that hangs in our Auburn house. I don't have a great picture of it, but it is one I also love and am proud of. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUdiVVKxOEnydEXKlVlVDrqKfXhi5ScMMAkqj-hKWADH9PViDLbp01yoHzdgQBkqwmtZQk6-xcDjS-srGs7IPqxumoDvItgjP86ebPPqgkSvmeGhrGmu9fs2oVRlOyP-vDV-jg3n1bzZvALb2XJGLuiQxguE0xTETe7BkDnK8hUlt_IMNk8N4rp_ULRXm/s640/IMG_5910.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUdiVVKxOEnydEXKlVlVDrqKfXhi5ScMMAkqj-hKWADH9PViDLbp01yoHzdgQBkqwmtZQk6-xcDjS-srGs7IPqxumoDvItgjP86ebPPqgkSvmeGhrGmu9fs2oVRlOyP-vDV-jg3n1bzZvALb2XJGLuiQxguE0xTETe7BkDnK8hUlt_IMNk8N4rp_ULRXm/w480-h640/IMG_5910.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4za8ue12IFCeluj8Y-XeY4HbyuEIApQRAM4l70mPwq1E3nNPQ_eljqBr2P8mv-NSEhyphenhyphen-4zjNbBEz7UQEc3E74UXXZ4P3yB81b84TZnxQI_qAenVdyrbGf1SfGVE2Uie4RSQw-vaNyoxR2C-CxHnwQyKohrwriYJFTjpHUCjOB1L1Vi4CSoy01UMZPMPR/s221/IMG_6354.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="165" data-original-width="221" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4za8ue12IFCeluj8Y-XeY4HbyuEIApQRAM4l70mPwq1E3nNPQ_eljqBr2P8mv-NSEhyphenhyphen-4zjNbBEz7UQEc3E74UXXZ4P3yB81b84TZnxQI_qAenVdyrbGf1SfGVE2Uie4RSQw-vaNyoxR2C-CxHnwQyKohrwriYJFTjpHUCjOB1L1Vi4CSoy01UMZPMPR/w640-h478/IMG_6354.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I painted a pair of spaniel pups in a basket that my aunt has at her house. They are definitely amateur hour because I could NOT paint the eyes. My last thing was the magnolia that I wrestled away from Mom when we moved in to our current house. It is done in oil pastels which may have been my favorite medium. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOGrbH5GMFLhobli99peVMTAbr1iRG39LQe6UwCgqFP3ySoRPm47qpC11Ns2Al4Knax4y3aWqR99WpNaqx0OdpjVt1tuuw2-GbKRPso5_tHmSvtNkAo4zwsRpNYsWVf9D3Y1Rwvh9V2IKzYd_PmjrO0Tsu5dEeZrK9cfx7OyiRh6Fxj6gR49Qhy7oGUQp/s4032/IMG_9482.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOGrbH5GMFLhobli99peVMTAbr1iRG39LQe6UwCgqFP3ySoRPm47qpC11Ns2Al4Knax4y3aWqR99WpNaqx0OdpjVt1tuuw2-GbKRPso5_tHmSvtNkAo4zwsRpNYsWVf9D3Y1Rwvh9V2IKzYd_PmjrO0Tsu5dEeZrK9cfx7OyiRh6Fxj6gR49Qhy7oGUQp/w480-h640/IMG_9482.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I never did any formal art again, not even in high school when they began to offer art as an elective. I think I had told myself there wouldn't be a Mrs. Gillis lifting me up, but rather just a busy teacher looking at the really gifted kids. I think I understood that too. </p><p>I have always loved art, but I don't think I am missing anything (jack of ALL trades). I kept the oil pastels and used them to make some wonderful bulletin boards. I took pictures of things and blew them up using the overhead projector and colored them in with those oil pastels and shaded them just right. Then I would run them through the laminator and that would blend them even more with the heat. See, I did use the talent. </p><p>The charcoal and the oil painting have been at Mom's house for decades, but they have now come home with me. I have to find a place for the charcoal piece...for now, the closet will have to be its home. I did learn to sign my name small by the end:) </p><p>And this explains why there is a 1st place Blue ribbon taped to the back of the oil painting. I am proud of it and sorry that Jack didn't get the recognition he deserved, but I am sure there was a lesson in there somewhere and with his talent I have no doubt he got plenty of recognition down the road. </p><p><br /></p>Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185422453541735778noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369505808572306850.post-54719114030033907552023-10-09T07:41:00.002-05:002023-10-09T07:41:51.799-05:00Stitching, Reading and Puttering in the Flowers<p>Stitching has taken a back seat lately, not by choice but more by necessity. A couple of weeks ago I really decided I had to add it back. I stitch in a hoop and that stabbing that needle down through the linen and back up is a soothing movement, so I will share some of what I have done. I love reading and puttering in the flowers and cross stitching. All 3 of those hobbies have been neglected as of late, but when I do any of them they bring joy. </p><p>For awhile, my mind was so scattered so the stitching was all over the place as well. I started a little summery piece and put it away, then started another summery piece and actually got a good start on it. That is the following picture.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMHVtWMYd5APEunG_dJQPVUU7k0vu38JwA6XEbLSoriMnU6Lm8ceMF2QeUVHauJ8j87L8mu5Sux1dgJA2JJeq0BwUmruEHVcMcL1X0ZhSQS3h50HTnMLryncRbAXYYBEi1Z9HBhOTpbyVjO5G7DeEduTocrLOA2qGNnabUPs_qupWJg0SYgh17CWG9_Vi/s4032/IMG_9502.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMHVtWMYd5APEunG_dJQPVUU7k0vu38JwA6XEbLSoriMnU6Lm8ceMF2QeUVHauJ8j87L8mu5Sux1dgJA2JJeq0BwUmruEHVcMcL1X0ZhSQS3h50HTnMLryncRbAXYYBEi1Z9HBhOTpbyVjO5G7DeEduTocrLOA2qGNnabUPs_qupWJg0SYgh17CWG9_Vi/w480-h640/IMG_9502.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Then I really wanted to do that idea that has been in my head forever to stitch my little town like the Christmas towns I have seen done. I started the first little palm tree and then had to put it away. That one will really have to stay down until I get some more settled days. I will keep it in my head until then.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCDV9iqQpe5VVPBc2tgaD-N9FryyNKksrHBHdgfU0Po1Ynzw-MCCIMAOyWJh1pI0dSRUMONI80e7mF918iG3ALFnv5oPiaV-DZoBMAsqUSPNTyFo1KyoXwJJW3lKbmGTFhyphenhyphen_ociLISfPjsEqPddM1OH_LLlOMdmNpl3U-yUcrHS86qJYzUMHRrgE-sMjE/s4032/IMG_9504.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCDV9iqQpe5VVPBc2tgaD-N9FryyNKksrHBHdgfU0Po1Ynzw-MCCIMAOyWJh1pI0dSRUMONI80e7mF918iG3ALFnv5oPiaV-DZoBMAsqUSPNTyFo1KyoXwJJW3lKbmGTFhyphenhyphen_ociLISfPjsEqPddM1OH_LLlOMdmNpl3U-yUcrHS86qJYzUMHRrgE-sMjE/w480-h640/IMG_9504.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I did manage to push out another Christmas ornament for the Stitch Along. The following picture of Santa and his toy sack is from the famous Christmas book that I have used so much. This one is for September. I need 3 more to have my 12 for 2023.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnhatOYTw7kiV-qlNvGBHHMxUNqVFukzSCu1Vxg_I587pmZ_ADSx736ECoqTkJontcCSlG75ZMxPlPGFV0FDKpe5TFtCBA6D-ouEcvxV5ceQlsrZnGiP8afwQWIx3Dawug05UUaYMIz0CT_NOLAMis6aTVJpK0yecHkhzuVIrq88r9MXECGeVAiEydSwpS/s4032/IMG_9508.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnhatOYTw7kiV-qlNvGBHHMxUNqVFukzSCu1Vxg_I587pmZ_ADSx736ECoqTkJontcCSlG75ZMxPlPGFV0FDKpe5TFtCBA6D-ouEcvxV5ceQlsrZnGiP8afwQWIx3Dawug05UUaYMIz0CT_NOLAMis6aTVJpK0yecHkhzuVIrq88r9MXECGeVAiEydSwpS/w480-h640/IMG_9508.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The next picture shows the backing fabric. With all of these ornaments I am using stash.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDc8asT0Vksw5PuZ-SAjMjb1IYjrQJcPR7iXx6G5CsaC3klKJu_AvtwB3FHvtdzociRJVwtstqkLxPMekBF1vkOdve4UuMvPJX_XWhV7dt-xPmjC3euyfnGZZlr9D6GBA8yrkJ6_KM-3ieYn-Q6cXFU1ZdLQEAaI5kn90-eLuXVT3HQu8D1MNNkFIEMxI/s4032/IMG_9509.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDc8asT0Vksw5PuZ-SAjMjb1IYjrQJcPR7iXx6G5CsaC3klKJu_AvtwB3FHvtdzociRJVwtstqkLxPMekBF1vkOdve4UuMvPJX_XWhV7dt-xPmjC3euyfnGZZlr9D6GBA8yrkJ6_KM-3ieYn-Q6cXFU1ZdLQEAaI5kn90-eLuXVT3HQu8D1MNNkFIEMxI/w480-h640/IMG_9509.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>My plans for the ornaments all along were to be used for gifting, so I want to keep it up!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxOS3lcg0TUK4y8kARPAHvVsoc-yZQ6feza6QEDn93kh1QhMVdqCFvNLtNK_TjqIM7V9JYyIlfYruHngXA4-RDI6Ixm5neaBsLNbrUo1lIf1_dt_6CYtTuR3fU0XrW-fhiS0NiXoVXMHWRiDNR3eMjmQ_vt3_qMMQ6n1El7ByvzxMXGbrykVjWVBsN46d/s4032/IMG_9510.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxOS3lcg0TUK4y8kARPAHvVsoc-yZQ6feza6QEDn93kh1QhMVdqCFvNLtNK_TjqIM7V9JYyIlfYruHngXA4-RDI6Ixm5neaBsLNbrUo1lIf1_dt_6CYtTuR3fU0XrW-fhiS0NiXoVXMHWRiDNR3eMjmQ_vt3_qMMQ6n1El7ByvzxMXGbrykVjWVBsN46d/w480-h640/IMG_9510.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Then in all my scattered state of mind, a new sampler came out called "A Florida Sampler." It sparked a memory from a page in a book I read earlier this year about the local area called This Is Your Life by Walter H. Reddick, Sr. I loved that book so much. The author describes in great detail the bayous of Choctawhatchee Bay and even our own bayou. Here is a diagram from the book which was in Destin on Choctawhatcheed Bay. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCfd_mPibQ03q1HfD6PhLkqGSZy3NnTPzERNgWmlGA1NGY57hzRi37_jmnXb1mAYCqAf_n6c2rzWw2VjWJnCiMs7Tw6B_r2PJLzbCJqV2WBTDVUL_1imKuVqlnf80C2qNXkbYfjNurQ2x2nX9Zh6vImXOGbkQzZAXmJzE0HNSvDidF9KWpiuoxEK-78GS/s4032/IMG_9523.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCfd_mPibQ03q1HfD6PhLkqGSZy3NnTPzERNgWmlGA1NGY57hzRi37_jmnXb1mAYCqAf_n6c2rzWw2VjWJnCiMs7Tw6B_r2PJLzbCJqV2WBTDVUL_1imKuVqlnf80C2qNXkbYfjNurQ2x2nX9Zh6vImXOGbkQzZAXmJzE0HNSvDidF9KWpiuoxEK-78GS/w480-h640/IMG_9523.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>The book reminded me so much of my own ancestors who lived along the Alabama / Florida line and probably experienced much of the things as this author's life.</p><p>As soon as I caught a glimpse of the new sampler, I wanted it and had ideas of personalizing it some for here. Oh so many things to stitch and so little time and for right now a very scattered mind. I have stitched an orange blossom to start. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizf2mt_46ILlrOmHZL8cCilhiYUcJhYC8JZPNJIIRBItxzr27w6CMhRwNwLu-jShUGS2OvOlH-kMCdAU-tN8TqvWRzRg1KvLDfCLEkMcuvK_OC-f-ojJWgduS-pFcO1FHhDJRp4RsiP4kUTdWObYuRddPeP5rcGc2yWWsEgG3GUsQhRqOISZRqxpikEPwF/s4032/IMG_9505.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizf2mt_46ILlrOmHZL8cCilhiYUcJhYC8JZPNJIIRBItxzr27w6CMhRwNwLu-jShUGS2OvOlH-kMCdAU-tN8TqvWRzRg1KvLDfCLEkMcuvK_OC-f-ojJWgduS-pFcO1FHhDJRp4RsiP4kUTdWObYuRddPeP5rcGc2yWWsEgG3GUsQhRqOISZRqxpikEPwF/w480-h640/IMG_9505.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>The sampler will be my large project and the ornaments my small quicker things as time allows and energy to stay up at night.</p><p>I have been just as scattered in my reading with multiple books started. Yep, I am having trouble concentrating, but I also feel a little more peace settling over me too. That would be the Holy Spirit comforting me. The world is as crazy as ever, so we need some diversions don't we?</p><p>Speaking of the world...hope your family tight!!!</p><p>Let me go off on a tangent before I share a book. Tucker will start kindergarten next year and back in the early spring Lindsay was all aflutter about his preschool. When he started daycare at almost age 2 a church right near her office opened up a daycare. It has been convenient but also a wonderful little place for the boys, but they never were able to put together their final piece which was a real preschool experience for that last year before starting school. Lindsay and the other mamas in Tucker's class began looking around and one of the mamas that lives in the actual community came up with another idea. A church that actually has an elementary school was the solution and so the mama went to work to get Tucker and her son enrolled. It means Lindsay has 2 drop offs but they are on the way to work and not hard to get in and out of. Palmer goes in with her every morning and helps get Tucker's things all unpacked. She says it is quite a scene. Lindsay has been able to pop in a few times and read to the children. It is all going wonderfully, but here is the story....when we went to the zoo last month Tucker showed off his new ability. He can say the Lord's Prayer all the way through all by himself. He has learned so much in addition to the Lord's Prayer. Such a blessing.</p><p>Back to books. I read a lot of nonfiction so there is no issue having multiple books going, but I have been challenging myself to escape in fiction more; something I once loved doing. When a friend suggested a book I looked on the Libby app to see if the library had it. They had both the written version and audible version. I opted for the audible version and am really loving it. The only thing is they pronounced Biloxi, Mississippi wrong:) All the ways we pronounce our little towns and locations are a need for a post of its oqn. In fact, I would venture to guess that 75% of those of you reading wouldn't pronounce the bay that I live on correctly. There are so many places that the locals have put their own special spin on. Anywho, the book is quite good thus far, so if I think it is worth noting I will share the title later.</p><p>I also planted some pansies in one pot. I chose some that I would call blue. You may remember last year there were no pansies to be found which I think was due to the hurricane that hit Fort Meyers. I finally found some orange ones and ended up falling in love with them. Now, I want more orange and I don't know if they will be here this year, but these blues ones are sure pretty. I put some marigolds in the swans since the geraniums gave up the ghost in the hottest summer ever. </p><p>I will share pictures of my flowers later as this is about all the time I have for.</p><p>Adding back the hobbies even though life is <b>completely chaotic and full</b> is important too. Even if I don't have much time it feels good to add it back to my days. </p><p>Mother fell twice this week. Only one required a doctor visit, but she is getting so feeble. Taking it as it comes and leaning on Jesus. </p><p>We had our first cool autumnal day with temperatures yesterday. It was so nice. I have much to do so hug your family and count your blessings....Sandy</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185422453541735778noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369505808572306850.post-5340151517050725912023-10-02T16:04:00.001-05:002023-10-02T16:04:12.332-05:00A Weekend Away<p> The family had a lovely weekend which is all I have to share this week. I really had planned a post about that oil painting I shared the other day and a wee bit of stitching, but I can't pull them off. Time is truly limited these days. However, the family slipped away for the weekend and it was a nice time. Not restful...not with 3 boys and 4 dogs. I wouldn't call it a lazy weekend at all, but lively and fun.</p><p>The kids and us all slipped off from work early on Friday and arrived in Auburn in time to go get pizza together. Yours truly took no pictures. My mind just couldn't keep up, so thankfully the girls and Jeff did take some. We missed an opportunity to get a big family picture together, but with 3 active boys and the dogs (one of which kept trying to escape - not Gus) I think we just rolled with the time.</p><p>The pizza place was on the quieter side of town. We love one downtown, but you couldn't get anywhere near it with Georgia being in town.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhEbWxFw_lrzNZ6_KlJRS_bEGuZ600DsiL5ipvvWhDf_QnWdLP2mTbsx6s9kW1prNkzrkaeAMGBeowY_YXuRLpOgcrqcNX2WWJckfmth_Ja4mxm0AyqZVSdHJY1V_U5t_gqaTTgCgWaT1yHpU6ObeHjaeoTOsfQ8AQhVBbsJtJIOIh4Tks97k-xs22iM1/s1600/IMG_7212.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhEbWxFw_lrzNZ6_KlJRS_bEGuZ600DsiL5ipvvWhDf_QnWdLP2mTbsx6s9kW1prNkzrkaeAMGBeowY_YXuRLpOgcrqcNX2WWJckfmth_Ja4mxm0AyqZVSdHJY1V_U5t_gqaTTgCgWaT1yHpU6ObeHjaeoTOsfQ8AQhVBbsJtJIOIh4Tks97k-xs22iM1/w480-h640/IMG_7212.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There was lots of playing outside. The boys loved the wagon. Palmer would pull it and Miles would get behind and he thought he was pushing. They worked together well. It was too warm for fires, but yet it was beautiful weather this weekend. It put me in a fall mood finally.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is one of them actually getting a ride.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDmCA5feAkC8MuMynYL4waONOwdytskWqL-snhyFH-CQZi3ZVTFhEMh8ODT1Nvsm-qPAxgGKYKmAEAYWjFI5lUh9MIjbcQrbS8VZcLvB0MqKKtQUumF9UGiiNxbjCYPR4Gue9vr0x59tOHVwbZ5MIune5g9nMpWO6mQ93oVF4rKDfZlAvWWg-zprw4QWV/s4032/IMG_7586.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDmCA5feAkC8MuMynYL4waONOwdytskWqL-snhyFH-CQZi3ZVTFhEMh8ODT1Nvsm-qPAxgGKYKmAEAYWjFI5lUh9MIjbcQrbS8VZcLvB0MqKKtQUumF9UGiiNxbjCYPR4Gue9vr0x59tOHVwbZ5MIune5g9nMpWO6mQ93oVF4rKDfZlAvWWg-zprw4QWV/w480-h640/IMG_7586.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Saturday morning the girls got this sweet picture of the boys all in their Halloween pajamas. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT1mT_UnNpc6Vd0kV_1AqBNRStqR6EXmtUTdydNR7g2Hl0MQUl159yfP4az8aPj36sfYRtA8x7tNBDsTAZroLAvfLkSqx_DcHlaXpnN4KdXmBYaIGfchk2L-c2ylYIoiiAVWArN6COGV8qxUMdJjR8dtjaNUhc4kdqeG0ajCNrlfLBGj-WamEWiHq03uFf/s4032/IMG_7219.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT1mT_UnNpc6Vd0kV_1AqBNRStqR6EXmtUTdydNR7g2Hl0MQUl159yfP4az8aPj36sfYRtA8x7tNBDsTAZroLAvfLkSqx_DcHlaXpnN4KdXmBYaIGfchk2L-c2ylYIoiiAVWArN6COGV8qxUMdJjR8dtjaNUhc4kdqeG0ajCNrlfLBGj-WamEWiHq03uFf/w640-h480/IMG_7219.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the second one, Miles is lifting his foot because he was about to be on the move.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxct-NK8RWHUMydvdcBjHl7dmtDIWbC2fZL5WEVqAn3FhhEnPUavP_yVEaR4Sfqka8eNbahh877-YQ8L-v62TIn-48kbsdsHGgiQR6q2n-w6jazPqkuOD-_iMZM9lhgLus2z7TMA4diKrFsDOR7XV-5inmPY0iNY9KDOzdwgHfnNmK9MZpGIq8QxDPIZG_/s4032/IMG_7220.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxct-NK8RWHUMydvdcBjHl7dmtDIWbC2fZL5WEVqAn3FhhEnPUavP_yVEaR4Sfqka8eNbahh877-YQ8L-v62TIn-48kbsdsHGgiQR6q2n-w6jazPqkuOD-_iMZM9lhgLus2z7TMA4diKrFsDOR7XV-5inmPY0iNY9KDOzdwgHfnNmK9MZpGIq8QxDPIZG_/w640-h480/IMG_7220.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Such joy they bring to my heart.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBF45foN7vg1hJDQHikfqus1umYYyM1y7Y1V4m1Uso9_dMLvmnUXHf2jM3xe678MlqmHHV1pDI0fxfmLgq4sLKtICH1fPtoG5WboUo6iW-ezNrWFyGIm3-QmzvcpWLlSAWNue78orMg1tYhGnfFlVCNaxci1FhKBLQPYPy2H_n8wnPZbNWofYMOAFtIe0/s4032/IMG_7228.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBF45foN7vg1hJDQHikfqus1umYYyM1y7Y1V4m1Uso9_dMLvmnUXHf2jM3xe678MlqmHHV1pDI0fxfmLgq4sLKtICH1fPtoG5WboUo6iW-ezNrWFyGIm3-QmzvcpWLlSAWNue78orMg1tYhGnfFlVCNaxci1FhKBLQPYPy2H_n8wnPZbNWofYMOAFtIe0/w480-h640/IMG_7228.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We sent the kids to the game together. It warms parents' hearts when your kiddos and their spouses have fun together. They pulled hard and I was so proud of Auburn. Much better vibes around town over last year. Rebulding will take time.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0gJkAB2DRPOfmCY4kDEWaGzNLef8c1Ve4zooPittkVH3pSbkvKdam3Hj98hZofja-O2rQRA_k5CzfQXDACMNXhwj0LYgVdzDvuoUawyF5MaGejxwcLVB9o6FnmVf5DAkCQXmKlcQgzjzZPoujOdETZ3LqBssgkJn7ktIMY4IXTLYIjVV9JUsW6iUuATI5/s2942/IMG_4518.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2942" data-original-width="2085" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0gJkAB2DRPOfmCY4kDEWaGzNLef8c1Ve4zooPittkVH3pSbkvKdam3Hj98hZofja-O2rQRA_k5CzfQXDACMNXhwj0LYgVdzDvuoUawyF5MaGejxwcLVB9o6FnmVf5DAkCQXmKlcQgzjzZPoujOdETZ3LqBssgkJn7ktIMY4IXTLYIjVV9JUsW6iUuATI5/w454-h640/IMG_4518.jpeg" width="454" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I timed the two little ones' naps to be at the same time and they both slept a long time, but I still had to play with Tucker. Lots of "so-called" ping pong. A lot of picking up the ball if you ask me. By the 4th quarter they were all up and Mimi had to watch because I never thought we even had a chance, so I had 4 boys tumbling all over me. Gus makes 4. If you look closely, he is holding his own with them.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQiLvTHTa5ezpmY-PO8vp4-prBJqXNzm2hHBwdHjOSHSB9X1yHpNEDk0RVFY4SzTYzReEnK2URn31l5A19X1EOc2OG76qjicxAp6TfWRtWbubFAJwjuLcg7mpUR54-VjqPaZ9UNoaHR18vUQoPQlXPOnqVW5zRvJFndvZjcd9D-Jp6W4MHW29kjkMQmK6/s4032/IMG_7498.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQiLvTHTa5ezpmY-PO8vp4-prBJqXNzm2hHBwdHjOSHSB9X1yHpNEDk0RVFY4SzTYzReEnK2URn31l5A19X1EOc2OG76qjicxAp6TfWRtWbubFAJwjuLcg7mpUR54-VjqPaZ9UNoaHR18vUQoPQlXPOnqVW5zRvJFndvZjcd9D-Jp6W4MHW29kjkMQmK6/w480-h640/IMG_7498.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Gus was a such a good dog all weekend. Maybe 6 years old was his magic age for being good:)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The next morning after Paul Allen and Katie left, Lindsay and I realized we had done an awful job with pictures, so one was captured of Mimi and PaPa and the older 2. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFX0xu5Z-9sqAkaIiGzXivpDEumcxjPutl2t9vrRlW4sEHmzBzYRFPPTh0WWDySgPJSxWVjy1zO4ouubBHmq5xmYeVjZd3pBKg9F1ULGmYFBen2ch_5-ihHT5fAv6MbLz2aaw7jqSF0_VHyJUEB_Go69kwUCHbaANUSN_oGuX4Gj6-icqytH1Gksn2HPp/s480/IMG_7266.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFX0xu5Z-9sqAkaIiGzXivpDEumcxjPutl2t9vrRlW4sEHmzBzYRFPPTh0WWDySgPJSxWVjy1zO4ouubBHmq5xmYeVjZd3pBKg9F1ULGmYFBen2ch_5-ihHT5fAv6MbLz2aaw7jqSF0_VHyJUEB_Go69kwUCHbaANUSN_oGuX4Gj6-icqytH1Gksn2HPp/w480-h640/IMG_7266.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I think the news from the previous post just hit us hard and we were happy to be together trying to soak up good and process things. We will be fine. Going to live the days well.</p><p><br /></p><p>I do hope this week will give me some time soon to share some stitching and some other things. It is just busy with going and coming right now.</p><p>Not a restful weekend but a good one to set the mind on good things and embrace fall. Such a different look just 3.5 hours north of us. Sometimes I just need to go to Auburn this time of year to get in the fall mood. I am there.</p><p>See you soon hopefully,</p><p>sandy</p>Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185422453541735778noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369505808572306850.post-16045719311323144762023-09-25T12:26:00.003-05:002023-09-25T12:26:12.635-05:00Muddling Through<p> This is a post I don't really want to write, but I must. I am going to <b>start out with some good</b> and then I will share the hard. </p><p>September is birthday month. Mine and Lindsay's are in the same month as are Jeff's and Paul Allen's. As we age and our family grows, we have started celebrating together. I told Lindsay I was just missing some fun time with the boys so we took off one Saturday morning early (to beat the heat) to go to the zoo. It had been ages since we had done that. In fact, Lindsay was pregnant with Palmer that last time we went. A new baby giraffe had born, but seriously it already looked grown by the time we were able to put this together. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqfGH4Iyg3TC9spzQBkJHnGqSpVG1_UoEqFxe1FO40k1lukLgaAoTa2pKnz_rDj7dGJaOgFLX6rHUO1ENedN7z2tN2NYL1x8eRVgGHts3joOcyEm4IjYGtPBpq-sExoEVIyeb5zPbqOeEMFXOfOf-xTKkvp8h5cF9X4hIKBH_DTC_0VYL68uiO2TWPED3/s4032/IMG_9381.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqfGH4Iyg3TC9spzQBkJHnGqSpVG1_UoEqFxe1FO40k1lukLgaAoTa2pKnz_rDj7dGJaOgFLX6rHUO1ENedN7z2tN2NYL1x8eRVgGHts3joOcyEm4IjYGtPBpq-sExoEVIyeb5zPbqOeEMFXOfOf-xTKkvp8h5cF9X4hIKBH_DTC_0VYL68uiO2TWPED3/w480-h640/IMG_9381.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is not the baby. He was on the left sort of standing back from the feeding.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course, we had to take the train ride. It was getting hot by this time, so you can see the red cheeks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJHUJCV3B3pEueVmWDfb5uKtYc1tRY6siQLXMNilyO2SanZQ5LYMp33cYBhkP18OBWz-AzZalPbFQg1ETThDHUveIPHIwulOFLnKUC94Rixr1ayXjw1ShBIuF0y4aPOFAIG7C7xzvfcvwy8chpkrouJ29R5k6wGmrQmaCgjge9p77f79vhsqrhkajCbNx/s4032/IMG_7046.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJHUJCV3B3pEueVmWDfb5uKtYc1tRY6siQLXMNilyO2SanZQ5LYMp33cYBhkP18OBWz-AzZalPbFQg1ETThDHUveIPHIwulOFLnKUC94Rixr1ayXjw1ShBIuF0y4aPOFAIG7C7xzvfcvwy8chpkrouJ29R5k6wGmrQmaCgjge9p77f79vhsqrhkajCbNx/w640-h480/IMG_7046.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The big hit for Palmer were the cheetahs. He really didn't want to leave them. I don't know if he had recently seen something about them, but he loved them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There were 2 of them just laying down and flopping the tails.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zaUguoKozS4wan1sbD54yc-TJdZyUSWqOy80WPvngLclsfrmxxoTgacIrBXMKMpxG45wSYh7ZY9caAR6rNhgDYtC5OIoRHYH5Oaxj68C3aDN1LFbh_rZpWs1LGAtvhJh7_vSV9x4LetEjgdm95x8bFmiMXv7npXyVSWJM3sQ6HLzKs31IhSdxy21ppre/s4032/IMG_7048.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zaUguoKozS4wan1sbD54yc-TJdZyUSWqOy80WPvngLclsfrmxxoTgacIrBXMKMpxG45wSYh7ZY9caAR6rNhgDYtC5OIoRHYH5Oaxj68C3aDN1LFbh_rZpWs1LGAtvhJh7_vSV9x4LetEjgdm95x8bFmiMXv7npXyVSWJM3sQ6HLzKs31IhSdxy21ppre/w480-h640/IMG_7048.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have not stitched very much this summer, but not because I don't want to.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have stitched on a summery piece with shells and have enjoyed it when I can. I managed to get August's Christmas ornament for the Stitch-a-Long that I am trying to keep up with.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHrs9wBnv72mITFFSKm-3FgOv9SGwLR-WvMq-EpUedhGxgtJ45t9WBgbZHnA3mcJnQid0HE038dghKau3-VAiXkEKQ6dcp0ZwCVLr0SuaRtwBiqUMy5wvNYnxY-mSV8gEsBaXUx9pAbSTfQjfVAOD2Kp1AIeA36DCzzapdM8bKkCDz0NWsj07SndlgICP/s4032/IMG_9441.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHrs9wBnv72mITFFSKm-3FgOv9SGwLR-WvMq-EpUedhGxgtJ45t9WBgbZHnA3mcJnQid0HE038dghKau3-VAiXkEKQ6dcp0ZwCVLr0SuaRtwBiqUMy5wvNYnxY-mSV8gEsBaXUx9pAbSTfQjfVAOD2Kp1AIeA36DCzzapdM8bKkCDz0NWsj07SndlgICP/w480-h640/IMG_9441.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have many things I would like to do, but my mind is not quite in the right place. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mom's house is on the market and that was a huge load off my mind. I have stuff in the front bedroom to deal with. I try to just close the door and not worry about it, but if I walk by it I feel it haunting me:) One of the biggest things are the large number of photo albums that need to be dealt with. I have already unloaded some to other relatives, but there are many to deal with. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mother has good and bad days. We did get the MRI and her taken to a pain doctor and an orthopedic doctor. She is not eligible for any cementing procedures. I know there is a name for that, but I just don't want to look it up. Her spine is too far gone with osteoporosis. She did get a new brace which is smaller and only fits the lower back since the fresh fractures were determined to only be in the lumbar region and from the fall. I hate that they were missed back in June. She could be on the road to recovery MAYBE. I really think she just has a good many issues at this point. She wants to be able to get up and enjoy the place we have her at and on a good day like the next picture shows it seems like that is possible, but the past 2 days have been plain awful. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lindsay took the boys by to see her after our zoo trip. They livened that room up quick.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlDKlYn51Bnm9lqpFYmVEYIB08jUwygHnrcZkHHua-Ii_SV3XR7sDbP9by_yzs4FxQaQ--3e-w12SR3tPm0kOIIn1SwU9Ivm7T29iDArwtmp0UpePxGksKwkOCGUl30dxH4gQM4wpZpYthrgfXBndah0AslD-7sw2vjX-gHIFn_3M0LLmJiRlJrQFYOds/s4032/IMG_7061.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlDKlYn51Bnm9lqpFYmVEYIB08jUwygHnrcZkHHua-Ii_SV3XR7sDbP9by_yzs4FxQaQ--3e-w12SR3tPm0kOIIn1SwU9Ivm7T29iDArwtmp0UpePxGksKwkOCGUl30dxH4gQM4wpZpYthrgfXBndah0AslD-7sw2vjX-gHIFn_3M0LLmJiRlJrQFYOds/w480-h640/IMG_7061.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Again, if you saw her today she would be in bed. We will be thankful for the good days and right now they are about 50/50.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am still keeping Miles for now. He is growing like a weed and in to everything. Our biggest excursions are to see about Mama and to the grocery store.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On this day, we purchased some pumpkins.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOZ9CL1j2XOwuZyHj131lLW5c41HICFUnfjN36EAebs_ANVJNqpOjC5HADV2uz6ijX0XqpX2T2f45TIBE6TIn1-rurDtwijMYovgpV5gpqoJBDn1D_8qWPiggN-DP2EDM-WlZ2Ai9eBxKDmM72-ksW44w8YDBquxu4D6aoD11A_JemPVCyp6Q7jSTX15Q/s4032/IMG_9429.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOZ9CL1j2XOwuZyHj131lLW5c41HICFUnfjN36EAebs_ANVJNqpOjC5HADV2uz6ijX0XqpX2T2f45TIBE6TIn1-rurDtwijMYovgpV5gpqoJBDn1D_8qWPiggN-DP2EDM-WlZ2Ai9eBxKDmM72-ksW44w8YDBquxu4D6aoD11A_JemPVCyp6Q7jSTX15Q/w480-h640/IMG_9429.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On this day, we tried out the wheels.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HIKJDsONMfo_JMP8TdgIChkt8VbRPEOI4qPLHY66VczgDSrnz36mvCx44wZG-_TD8zFpw2XZM0IWtp6C-iBFz0Vs-N1z4YbeMiDVIEsexY5t6peP8mkAYeri_yBxPk6CBX9jnHZgpCNAuzLvLElrbMfwj2pGNdL8iq7Vuz5qVp929kC1-_wryYHrfc3z/s4032/IMG_9442.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HIKJDsONMfo_JMP8TdgIChkt8VbRPEOI4qPLHY66VczgDSrnz36mvCx44wZG-_TD8zFpw2XZM0IWtp6C-iBFz0Vs-N1z4YbeMiDVIEsexY5t6peP8mkAYeri_yBxPk6CBX9jnHZgpCNAuzLvLElrbMfwj2pGNdL8iq7Vuz5qVp929kC1-_wryYHrfc3z/w480-h640/IMG_9442.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now, for the not so much fun to write part. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u>I don't want to be a spokeswoman for hard times</u> or be the one that writes a blog about aging or health for that matter, especially the part I am about to write. I guess time and my good Lord will show me what to do. I promise this week I plan to write a post that has nothing to do with Mama or any of my other problems....just a fun post of an old treasure. I need to capture some of those things for my children. It is coming.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have known something was wrong with Jeff for a long time. Convincing him to listen to me was hard. I even self diagnosed the issue as far back as March if not before. I really wanted to be wrong. He finally shared it with our wellness doctor in Pensacola last spring and he wanted him to head to Mayo in Jacksonville, but of course Jeff put that off thinking it was just neuropathy. He finally called but then it takes a long time to get in and all I could do was pray that when he finally go there they would see what I see and run all the right tests. He was only going for neuropathy but I KNEW there was more. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The doctor did see what I saw and scheduled him for 6 tests in the 2 days he was there. I haven't slept much since he left over a week ago. I prayed for those tests. I didn't want to be right but at the same time you can't know what you are fighting if you don't have a diagnosis. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jeff is in early stage Parkinson's. I really don't have the energy to write what I saw to know that. I hope in time I can write more, but for now I am in survival mode. Between Mama calling half of the days crying in pain and this I am just taking care of the moment. I have a great faith and I will get through it with the help of Jesus. I pray we stay in the early stages for a very long time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are many decisions to be made. Lots more than you even realize. First up is retiring. I am pushing for June which means he would start leave in March. He will, but he is struggling too. Depending on the progression and the plans ahead there is much to think about. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For now, pray for Mom's house to sell, her to be able to rest, and for a miracle first for Jeff and then if not that, a very slow progression.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yes, life has thrown out a lot for almost 2 years now, but it has also provided so much good. We had a good friend's daughter to be baptized last night. Many prayers being answered there. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When I have pulled myself together I will write more. I hope to put out a much lighter post later this week.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185422453541735778noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369505808572306850.post-37526828777006376972023-09-07T15:56:00.002-05:002023-09-07T15:56:12.484-05:00A Long Hot and Challenging Summer<p> I have to admit to being as tired as can be and not in the mood to blog. I have read a few trying to drop in every now and then, but not commenting. I truly have had almost no free time. Every minute has been allotted a task and I fall into bed each night. Thankfully, most nights I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow and if I awaken in the middle of the night I am too tired to toss and turn. I feel as those I am losing my mind on many days and can't compose a sentence. Today I am extremely tired, but supper is in the oven, Jeff is going to be late, and I have texted Mama that I will come over to see about her after supper...so let's see if I can type.</p><p> My last post stated that we were moving Mother in to an assisted living facility. She is still there thankfully. She is not doing all that well physically. I don't think I shared that we had even taken her to the ER one night in July, but that was the case. She has continued to complain about her back and I finally got someone to do an x-ray that showed she has compression fractures. They <b>do</b> believe them to be related to the fall based on some previous x-rays at her primary physician's clinic. That said, she has been on strong pain killers and told to wear a brace. She has not worn the brace!!! I have been in and out of doctor's offices in this here HOT HOT HOT summer. I have called and begged for tests to be moved up. In other words, between trying to clear out her townhouse, get her settled in to the new place AND lots of tests and doctor's appointments, I am just about slap crazy.</p><p> She has an orthopedic appointment with just the orthopedic PA again on Monday now that I wrangled an MRI done earlier than was previously scheduled. I am hoping this will give us a course of action that she will be able to understand and live with whether it is just brace or some type of surgery.</p><p> Now, that is all I am going to say about that, because no one wants to read about all that. Jeff, me, Lindsay and Paul Allen have worked so hard to clear out the townhouse. We all know Mama downsized a lot before she moved down here from Brewton in 2015, but we all know she had much more than Uncle Danny. Clearing out 2 homes in less than 18 months is not fun. No fun at all, and our small little family is tired. I could not even be where I am without them though. They have worked tirelessly moving and packing. </p><p> At one point, I sincerely thought I might have a sale, but once family had gone through it seemed right on the edge of "kinda enough, but not sure if it was enough" to do a sale. We all decided together that the amount of work it would require from us for the little earnings ---that we would just start donating. Friends came and took some, Lindsay did sell two pieces of the nicer furniture on FB, but Jeff and Paul Allen still ended up having to deliver it. Last night, just before bed time I remembered a thrift store here in town that I had seen china sets in and I looked them up and they even came and carried things away. I emailed before I went to bed and she had answered me this morning. To my great merriment, she came with a van and truck and got the last of decorative items and the furniture this afternoon. I am left only with the piano and she is considering that tonight. The thrift store is for the local animal shelter so that made me feel really good.</p><p> The realtor is coming tomorrow to take photos and then it will be listed ---hallelujah. That will be one thing off my plate.</p><p> Mother is still a long way from being settled and I have lots left to do to get her in a better situation, so having the house done will go a long way with my brain capacity. Her place is nice and if we can get her feeling better I think she has a chance of enjoying her new home. I am still going most everyday to see about her and I would like that to be maybe every other day, but we will see how that goes. </p><p> There are no tour pictures of her place yet... Maybe one day. The next two pictures are right outside her door. The hallways are large to allow for safe passage of the residents since most of them are on walkers as well.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUilOCc_rFol-EI5T1Q3xS3RcnRLai_zuwf--FOeFSSiWrITIw0cYB71RsmIrzTQetzLjImQEASBIc_pgETGqudMU1VGqVHO7B5AjVx-TPp1rfOsncXYAbtq-EudJc-o4Etn51KeIqXPnIEXo8EIrqONZXfrzFrOi3pstwIavV3DKUyrkBHEWX19mgyg1F/s4032/IMG_9209.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUilOCc_rFol-EI5T1Q3xS3RcnRLai_zuwf--FOeFSSiWrITIw0cYB71RsmIrzTQetzLjImQEASBIc_pgETGqudMU1VGqVHO7B5AjVx-TPp1rfOsncXYAbtq-EudJc-o4Etn51KeIqXPnIEXo8EIrqONZXfrzFrOi3pstwIavV3DKUyrkBHEWX19mgyg1F/w480-h640/IMG_9209.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div> There are lots of chairs a long the pods and hallways for sitting. It is a very coastal and pretty location. Each hallway has a coastal theme with the paintings...hers is palm trees, but there are boats, shells, and such.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1wLYWZ9gQMwJya3bOtd71JHpwhKdee0ibnpSQ8XPHxaTTDjCs8aMtsyTRAkG_slRzrX4KtRUiuVKJk7WMsz1laEj_0D_jeAeFVFx24MqIZN53ltbThIkg5VxBWu5qV6Z9o7r3A48emKeY2jR9J1rJ0WlOT_oIHCocQBNq9jjAugeY-Cm-275UN7t5Zcc/s4032/IMG_9210.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1wLYWZ9gQMwJya3bOtd71JHpwhKdee0ibnpSQ8XPHxaTTDjCs8aMtsyTRAkG_slRzrX4KtRUiuVKJk7WMsz1laEj_0D_jeAeFVFx24MqIZN53ltbThIkg5VxBWu5qV6Z9o7r3A48emKeY2jR9J1rJ0WlOT_oIHCocQBNq9jjAugeY-Cm-275UN7t5Zcc/w480-h640/IMG_9210.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div> When I say it is hot, I am not kidding. All of this moving and doing has been done in the hottest summer ever. <b>Really</b>... the local weatherman has stated that is the hottest summer here since 1895. There was no let up in the record temperatures from the the 4th of July until Labor Day. Paul Allen and Tyler both overheated at work in the same week. Tyler actually fainted and Paul Allen's heart rate was at something like 170. The heat indexes for nearly 6 weeks were 115 and higher. Very little cloud cover or rain. Labor Day weekend was a breath of fresh air. It came after Idalia. She didn't have any effect on us. We were on the east side and far enough east to have no problems with her. I am always heartbroken for those affected but I am so grateful to have missed it. We still have a good month and half at least before we can truly relax over storms.</div><div><br /></div><div> The gardener over here with pretty flowers has hardly anything to show this summer. My yard looks awful. We are too tired and hot to do the much needed work. My geraniums have just given up. Anything with blooms has just said, "Nope, I can't be pretty in this weather!" </div><div><br /></div><div> Jeff and I celebrated 39 years of marriage Labor Day weekend. I didn't know if we were going to be able to slip away to Auburn really until the day before. Lindsay said we needed to go and she would do her best to calm Grandma if needed. I am not sure Mama was too happy, which lets you know she isn't quite right just yet. </div><div><br /></div><div> The cooler temperatures in Auburn were very out of character for this time of year but such a blessing. I can't ever remember it being that cool on Labor Day in Auburn or here in FWB. I let Paul Allen and Katie drop me off downtown and I shopped a bit and walked back to the house just strolling along. Mother made it until Monday morning without calling and crying so I count that as a win.</div><div><br /></div><div> Paul Allen and Katie did drive up and go to the game. They headed back Sunday around lunchtime so they could have the remainder of their holiday at home. This happened to them on the way home.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit4XdLOHcNO9NFTIA1eaR2psIgQvC4bWg1l457oLH-xjKzyfm-avDjxEnL948VGO3r3F2AyXpCL3Sv1IGG3LRKwiPlbI0mSqGV0AIs0U9wD4EK9MpJUy4j6sgvKjeIvEdhectdh5Rd9N6Tb0ZVfnJuTT37VnDPNcMVuatgZcwiHOavpVvNZt5DNH0wnODC/s4032/IMG_5510.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit4XdLOHcNO9NFTIA1eaR2psIgQvC4bWg1l457oLH-xjKzyfm-avDjxEnL948VGO3r3F2AyXpCL3Sv1IGG3LRKwiPlbI0mSqGV0AIs0U9wD4EK9MpJUy4j6sgvKjeIvEdhectdh5Rd9N6Tb0ZVfnJuTT37VnDPNcMVuatgZcwiHOavpVvNZt5DNH0wnODC/w480-h640/IMG_5510.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Warning---next picture contains a dead animal if you need to scroll quickly.<div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXkUOb672ceylLN5hhE9oSAOf7q5T19YuPu7Jqocs1Sh92IzrU4kEVobQkKRT_lXyjUc91oZ9cv5g9kIi7MFcrBdYc9t4gvY7TDN31WGGA12r47CXGW3kMGndVMmjSHuKeEycldeivdDbHs4wETqPvkUiep0OJ9VGQKA-qkW9z1XbHBjUIfpYgqLaYGOMV/s4032/IMG_7362.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXkUOb672ceylLN5hhE9oSAOf7q5T19YuPu7Jqocs1Sh92IzrU4kEVobQkKRT_lXyjUc91oZ9cv5g9kIi7MFcrBdYc9t4gvY7TDN31WGGA12r47CXGW3kMGndVMmjSHuKeEycldeivdDbHs4wETqPvkUiep0OJ9VGQKA-qkW9z1XbHBjUIfpYgqLaYGOMV/w480-h640/IMG_7362.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The Palmer family is definitely having a run of bad luck lately. Perseverance should have been my word of the year. I think my post about trying to bow out of this blog back in January might have been a little prophetic about what was coming. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I have no stitching to share, but maybe soon I can get back to regular posts, because I certainly don't want this post to be what I blog about. I really will need to quit if that is the material I have to work with.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I will leave you with one last picture taken in August. I have changed it up a bit this week and hope to add some fall decor to the house even though it isn't even close to feeling like fall. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGH-cUhUw9UqYD7r5pSPnTHbxUcCoAw5xq3ZxWyn5nP5gS0Q3Z0kCXq1sPSHLkGZbJtdbR4dnDP31NUPRTUSFIIYPUpXixfBsz25GHIgxFm6XDOerTdvWvmWyWGZhBll-bWPiWL0C3oWCOth9tuT8G61ZYnyMtURwLFBtjCMrahIsg1Nm05YeQrGwdP-Q/s4032/IMG_9287.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGH-cUhUw9UqYD7r5pSPnTHbxUcCoAw5xq3ZxWyn5nP5gS0Q3Z0kCXq1sPSHLkGZbJtdbR4dnDP31NUPRTUSFIIYPUpXixfBsz25GHIgxFm6XDOerTdvWvmWyWGZhBll-bWPiWL0C3oWCOth9tuT8G61ZYnyMtURwLFBtjCMrahIsg1Nm05YeQrGwdP-Q/w640-h480/IMG_9287.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I will share more about that oil painting one day in the future. I am hoping for more fun posts in the future, but for now I am going to say goodbye for another month. I am sorry to say I haven't replied to many comments, but I am going to get back to my blog at some point. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Many of you have sent direct messages on social media, cards, and emails and even comments that have helped my feelings so much, because<b> it has been a hard summer</b>. I have kept a playlist of hymns at the ready for when I am about to melt down and have also made it a point when I am getting very weary to remember I have lots of good in my life. My Aunt Faye has always said, "This too shall pass." I am kinda ready for it to pass, but I know we all to walk through things and it could be much worse.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I know many are already enjoying some cooler temperatures, but for us we still have the remainder of September and part of October for any significant cooling. I will have to create fall in the house and I did choose some fallish colors to wear this week that are still cool clothing. That is how I do it. The white pants and so forth have been moved to the far side of my closet:)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> IF anyone is still here, I will be back ....just need a wee bit more time. ----Sandy</div><br /><div><br /><p><br /></p></div></div>Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185422453541735778noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369505808572306850.post-38187767397193107552023-08-06T19:28:00.000-05:002023-08-06T19:28:48.634-05:00More Birthdays and Life Lately<p> August brought more intense heat and a birthday for sweet little grandson #3, Miles. He turned 1 year old and his party was scheduled for outside even though it is hot. If you dare to live in Florida, then you know it is hot .... you grin and bear it. It came a torrential downpour and lightning storm though, so plans were changed to inside. All worked out just fine.</p><p> July and thus far in August have been some really really hot days with heat indexes in the upper 110's most days. My emotions have run the gamut from intense sadness to a smile mixed in to keep the sanity. It was not the summer I had planned, but it was the summer I got, so I am doing my best to find some goodness in it.</p><p> One good thing was little Miles's party. Katie decorated their tiny home so cute, and both families piled inside and made it work. Paul Allen braved the elements from the porch to grill hotdogs and hamburgers. Little Miles seemed to enjoy it all. I will blow up this post with all the cuteness of the decorations and Miles.</p><p> Entering the house, Katie had put up a banner with pictures of Miles taken over this past year.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1taYpnNvS4nwC7Bkc6MZ3IQP8UdM1GmQtTExh04fUS4yZ151KJc4n3vYsx-ZA39qsrkiEl9qrgguSL1dgJMvINODZOZ-sNKkQQv4oBH0K4g99XQ-qSU6zmJSd7AyOQPesFLB8ZcGBWvIPi4Ku4pDthlLe_8e1d1wqTRtjxVMTAAofEmPRYIDuDIVpIIZo/s4032/IMG_9159.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1taYpnNvS4nwC7Bkc6MZ3IQP8UdM1GmQtTExh04fUS4yZ151KJc4n3vYsx-ZA39qsrkiEl9qrgguSL1dgJMvINODZOZ-sNKkQQv4oBH0K4g99XQ-qSU6zmJSd7AyOQPesFLB8ZcGBWvIPi4Ku4pDthlLe_8e1d1wqTRtjxVMTAAofEmPRYIDuDIVpIIZo/w640-h480/IMG_9159.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p> Near the table she had all kinds of baseball things including a hat from Paul Allen's childhood.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_235QLMQ10uVV_hP9d98qxUqnnSSV3lovnj0nZqtMmPR0Vv1kMP64pSTWxuU0eIiBIqy2jTUvtUaOiqGgBM3QUfLojHErvJSwEymokbcfVDU4nd5hSe2CReDlqcnT962Cv_yHotRJiLf3emDbWWojTP4t3MSXQWlW7UT24egfQYKSEWDmJv0CViXUnqOV/s4032/IMG_9165.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_235QLMQ10uVV_hP9d98qxUqnnSSV3lovnj0nZqtMmPR0Vv1kMP64pSTWxuU0eIiBIqy2jTUvtUaOiqGgBM3QUfLojHErvJSwEymokbcfVDU4nd5hSe2CReDlqcnT962Cv_yHotRJiLf3emDbWWojTP4t3MSXQWlW7UT24egfQYKSEWDmJv0CViXUnqOV/w640-h480/IMG_9165.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrVerqKIGQ8X8JmLPlhz2uNJpQwMJExbZFL3oBrdCNUuc-v9ewXgHQq20hI9KeoGoMtQJWbn__pml8JXhQru4pLBukv8lIMdkIDsKCiroofDY7zmnKikbO8JoRAwW0_oh-DT7lQbmTSYegpdIcu5N2Mzp7Bq-3WEtQy_vyWecdk6SoSrRpTGNZMW6lmFs/s4032/IMG_9166.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrVerqKIGQ8X8JmLPlhz2uNJpQwMJExbZFL3oBrdCNUuc-v9ewXgHQq20hI9KeoGoMtQJWbn__pml8JXhQru4pLBukv8lIMdkIDsKCiroofDY7zmnKikbO8JoRAwW0_oh-DT7lQbmTSYegpdIcu5N2Mzp7Bq-3WEtQy_vyWecdk6SoSrRpTGNZMW6lmFs/w480-h640/IMG_9166.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjTQ1zGkWcDZyO5rV-NF9SysGdRczy60mQhh0w9Lal3YYuv2RwqBgGfZJPaA1seQ9Cbft1fzBFfANLjjw6jd9lxrhkdC3QjaAG6qi50piMv3B5clpEbuL3XqrSzq2AbF0L2kK0V5PHhnE9gJSVGjd7N23Y-mM8_67Kw0Y1IQ4p56oqdhiS5pAh9MFEakcZ/s4032/IMG_9167.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjTQ1zGkWcDZyO5rV-NF9SysGdRczy60mQhh0w9Lal3YYuv2RwqBgGfZJPaA1seQ9Cbft1fzBFfANLjjw6jd9lxrhkdC3QjaAG6qi50piMv3B5clpEbuL3XqrSzq2AbF0L2kK0V5PHhnE9gJSVGjd7N23Y-mM8_67Kw0Y1IQ4p56oqdhiS5pAh9MFEakcZ/w480-h640/IMG_9167.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> The little hat was given to Paul Allen by Nana way back in 1992. Miles has gotten to wear it quite a bit.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJzrZZbVLC-AMmy24PvUZvpH-aiM-hPzwrQ-CWRd-LcUMJL0oi1cVz0F4rHIWhIAuiWFEju1A-e7Q-SZf2AVd7m2YCTUFWyC5cFa2JMezixJ-lSkel0Bq9PiuUR6kCCecen5NO6RA7ckV0j04mxdIh2fZ15JQVe0yOzXJizbCbkENjJq0WSZao0t9a4ar/s4032/IMG_9169.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJzrZZbVLC-AMmy24PvUZvpH-aiM-hPzwrQ-CWRd-LcUMJL0oi1cVz0F4rHIWhIAuiWFEju1A-e7Q-SZf2AVd7m2YCTUFWyC5cFa2JMezixJ-lSkel0Bq9PiuUR6kCCecen5NO6RA7ckV0j04mxdIh2fZ15JQVe0yOzXJizbCbkENjJq0WSZao0t9a4ar/w480-h640/IMG_9169.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> Someone liked his cake. He sat there for quite a while just digging and stuffing his mouth.<br /><div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHnkzp3YEoBM3iuKs1OyF_uSoSFbewuMoHx56aNs8Nj98t8IyTC6xhV1S6WjZv6ic5U0k5RIs-fY2NzyUk9gaBuJtIzhr2T8hOHT1fwZIDNE0cgJ63jF9ahAvkG2_thDwVuMHL-1NT5rWtuxLvgkjd0t3FjE8ZJR8IhkF_HvJh9QXoBgE8kzYfddLW8mJ/s4032/IMG_9172.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHnkzp3YEoBM3iuKs1OyF_uSoSFbewuMoHx56aNs8Nj98t8IyTC6xhV1S6WjZv6ic5U0k5RIs-fY2NzyUk9gaBuJtIzhr2T8hOHT1fwZIDNE0cgJ63jF9ahAvkG2_thDwVuMHL-1NT5rWtuxLvgkjd0t3FjE8ZJR8IhkF_HvJh9QXoBgE8kzYfddLW8mJ/w480-h640/IMG_9172.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> Katie let me bake the cake for him and his cupcakes for the guests.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia6i6XfxZt5qkLaArma1eEkY_zXb6aiA6QYPyjiqYdA5cR9azXSDsdaRaKaU2HsFztmTHf_RvASupegYfGC59CHAzCBMujG9dJIQbdRbatCB6eCW1cFo9wqWF_e94Z9pKq3wry6D4zswJWbXt9wQwhXt91O4IsoMLk9zydZsV6bljfqm6GtfqVAsqOBh9M/s4032/71293656795__F9FBAE11-14FF-495E-8EA5-4AA26EBAACE5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia6i6XfxZt5qkLaArma1eEkY_zXb6aiA6QYPyjiqYdA5cR9azXSDsdaRaKaU2HsFztmTHf_RvASupegYfGC59CHAzCBMujG9dJIQbdRbatCB6eCW1cFo9wqWF_e94Z9pKq3wry6D4zswJWbXt9wQwhXt91O4IsoMLk9zydZsV6bljfqm6GtfqVAsqOBh9M/w480-h640/71293656795__F9FBAE11-14FF-495E-8EA5-4AA26EBAACE5.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6vC9oHA24VfGRTjqC-M5nLEEpePBNpXsvG9Oh0vn6i0aw_XwwakBiP-ou0f2378vPPon1qJ1bHMGoSOUOizzdtop6YNiEk1mzwNYiGr2wGTIlKMZXSQqN81J1TIg1F3gp2B2ZBubFG4W3iyktsH49349iaTB48bYT18u-KCnamOuanZ3nAbeT6oYIyFX/s4032/IMG_9155.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6vC9oHA24VfGRTjqC-M5nLEEpePBNpXsvG9Oh0vn6i0aw_XwwakBiP-ou0f2378vPPon1qJ1bHMGoSOUOizzdtop6YNiEk1mzwNYiGr2wGTIlKMZXSQqN81J1TIg1F3gp2B2ZBubFG4W3iyktsH49349iaTB48bYT18u-KCnamOuanZ3nAbeT6oYIyFX/w480-h640/IMG_9155.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> Mimi and PaPa gave him a water table. He got to play today in it.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsEgZcyrBjyJ8fxDfSwAC26cji5pVI9W71TkFN0bufCIyXxFQISD-5uEzFRS6jkMMCax7DgAcPJAV8uIBxVST4ZUmpei56HIL00hTjeUN3JF2UOTEL4JTSy6HO-0VMjxyzqFxY8C56uMJI6PbrOj5Q5khNXMcHDvSCxLEO2oX0JIxUj9QK9TmTFITW9T8t/s4032/IMG_6854.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsEgZcyrBjyJ8fxDfSwAC26cji5pVI9W71TkFN0bufCIyXxFQISD-5uEzFRS6jkMMCax7DgAcPJAV8uIBxVST4ZUmpei56HIL00hTjeUN3JF2UOTEL4JTSy6HO-0VMjxyzqFxY8C56uMJI6PbrOj5Q5khNXMcHDvSCxLEO2oX0JIxUj9QK9TmTFITW9T8t/w480-h640/IMG_6854.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div> And in the background you could see that the other grandparents bought him a playhouse.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMAtDJ6RD4gR8MRuhQtDcS4yevunydEER3ksKrADmevNQg4AeuW33Xd13ZbUwojMWp4mZBdNI6-ZhWrNU3GUcyFqlsqaTXy43SjNsoHzndRCVoB6cYb5GmG37rv_96dQOlolV2m3X8McDPY-xyk1zNI2tiCvRVQ5o8JN9dXVT0v1mAbGJ3aXeKCHo6Q5J/s4032/IMG_5303.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMAtDJ6RD4gR8MRuhQtDcS4yevunydEER3ksKrADmevNQg4AeuW33Xd13ZbUwojMWp4mZBdNI6-ZhWrNU3GUcyFqlsqaTXy43SjNsoHzndRCVoB6cYb5GmG37rv_96dQOlolV2m3X8McDPY-xyk1zNI2tiCvRVQ5o8JN9dXVT0v1mAbGJ3aXeKCHo6Q5J/w480-h640/IMG_5303.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div> As I said, this summer has been a wide range of emotions. One such crazy thing that happens to me every time I think about having to clear out another home is to go on a search for what I can get rid of. I have had to clean out far too many homes ---I say. Knowing that I would want to bring home a few things from Mama's I would come home and walk around just opening up drawers and such to see what could leave my house. It is an odd thing that happens to me.</div><div><br /></div><div> Katie helped me by taking the Cricut from my craft room. I have used it all of like 3 times in almost 10 years of having it. I had such grandiose plans for it, but life just kept having other plans. That was the same with that new fancy sewing machine I bought almost 10 years ago too. First though, the Cricut was gladly relinquished to Katie for her to have in classroom. I told her if Lindsay or I needed something she could either make it for us or we could borrow it. She promptly put it to good use and sent me her new bulletin boards that she used the Cricut to make all sorts of things.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPaEI-XrwhrEIhPNipMKBxmp5xUoouFvjOyFrHZCe2pXoyud1Ag9sOnYUZqlewPaRz9GM_OL05vakJr5rICjfAwev5avgTD2Fcf9LRz8S_cObKgjUrFVikP23V0wWwMrLTjogAehDAdqg3Gx_PAzM5KAOCKTUWMB75EJAv67B4oj4zZvFxjafb7Zo7yiTj/s4032/IMG_6782.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPaEI-XrwhrEIhPNipMKBxmp5xUoouFvjOyFrHZCe2pXoyud1Ag9sOnYUZqlewPaRz9GM_OL05vakJr5rICjfAwev5avgTD2Fcf9LRz8S_cObKgjUrFVikP23V0wWwMrLTjogAehDAdqg3Gx_PAzM5KAOCKTUWMB75EJAv67B4oj4zZvFxjafb7Zo7yiTj/w640-h480/IMG_6782.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div> She is an excellent math teacher and her class name is Palmer's Pandas.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxf1NSjbtG2_Vp6YmlacNIE9cf9PJvR9oKby44ePhzsJhNBt45YcKBv9KL1zrwIt_3rWL7v7wVVrYfTddu5VK3N3C8B-5wN0pQpkI9yvNZ8OktdpNNdCVmHpwuo1ZddBBbetXzFvgsb_Mir1glmpqaewmefyfL4pVe-8tUOEgEQMoabWJ4NlmImC7pZ04X/s4032/IMG_6780.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxf1NSjbtG2_Vp6YmlacNIE9cf9PJvR9oKby44ePhzsJhNBt45YcKBv9KL1zrwIt_3rWL7v7wVVrYfTddu5VK3N3C8B-5wN0pQpkI9yvNZ8OktdpNNdCVmHpwuo1ZddBBbetXzFvgsb_Mir1glmpqaewmefyfL4pVe-8tUOEgEQMoabWJ4NlmImC7pZ04X/w640-h480/IMG_6780.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div> That sewing machine is leaving too. It has not been my favorite thing I ever purchased and you know I learned that what I thought I wanted to do when I retired from teaching was not actually what I wanted to do. I will take 3 grand boys filling my time any day over the other plans. </div><div><br /></div><div> I do know that I want to keep Mama's sewing machine. If there is any one thing I would want of hers it would be that for so many reasons. Maybe I will share more about that one day when my brain works again. For now, I have made plans to move the newer fancy machine and the sewing table I bought for it to Mom's to put in the sale at her house <i>whenever</i> I reach that point and bring hers that is in a sewing cabinet here. I should probably let it go as well, since I have been sewing and loving my old 1979 Kenmore bought in college. However, like I said it would be the one thing I want to keep of Mom's... Maybe one of the girls will want one of them one day. It is a 1950's Kenmore and sews like a dream too.<br /><div><br /><p> Jeff and Paul Allen moved the big pieces to Mama's new assisted living facility today. She will spend her first night over there tomorrow night. I am going to move her stuff slowly there. The plan is to let her get in with just the basics and add to it as she thinks of something she wants. I will do some light decorating over the next couple of evenings. For the remainder of August I will just let her get settled in and slowly let family come in and get what they want and then after Labor Day I will see about having a sale at her place. </p><p><i>Mother seems to have trouble even thinking about what she wants to take because of leaving behind so much. I totally get it, but I am even having to pick out clothes to take. Hopefully, she will fully get in the groove soon. </i></p><p> None of this has been easy. While she has good days, this was just a life changing fall. I think she will improve, but there was just no way she could keep her home like she liked it or cook. The fall just slowed her roll. The place she is going is very nice. It is just an adjustment for all of us. We took her over this afternoon after we had moved the large pieces in so she could see how that looked. There was a church service going on and she seemed quite interested. Jeff forced her to pop in and look and there were many ladies who look like great candidates for Mom's next best friend. Praying for that!!!!</p><p> The facility already had her name at the refreshment station in the town square.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDDBWrVbrf3hR1f2z4AyNdpbWtEb4JIDU6A05lQLdLV8HSBQ9cvdSLi6XtdDhgOcHdnn1TFo1TIqqcFMF_h0APMLepkOolQDgzjCzvRn9pZ6Gvg0MvwAR9sCfk7fSxn_yht-bTTN6Noog8zf1tsCJxmUT68ow-CU6oordNq7oHXzLiA0fYkzNlo9pSL0z/s4032/IMG_9176.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDDBWrVbrf3hR1f2z4AyNdpbWtEb4JIDU6A05lQLdLV8HSBQ9cvdSLi6XtdDhgOcHdnn1TFo1TIqqcFMF_h0APMLepkOolQDgzjCzvRn9pZ6Gvg0MvwAR9sCfk7fSxn_yht-bTTN6Noog8zf1tsCJxmUT68ow-CU6oordNq7oHXzLiA0fYkzNlo9pSL0z/w480-h640/IMG_9176.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p> When I get her all settled in I will take pictures of her new home for the blog. I am praying for good days like today for her. There have been some really low days this summer for both of us. Jeff too. </p><p> Thanks to so many of you have sent me words of encouragement. ---Sandy</p><p>P.S. Barbara at Sweet Tea and Sandals accidentally permanently deleted her blog. Shudder to think... Here is her new blog address -</p><p><a href="https://myjournalmemories.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">https://myjournalmemories.blogspot.com/</a></p></div></div></div></div>Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185422453541735778noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369505808572306850.post-15080833703483942822023-07-24T11:36:00.001-05:002023-07-24T11:36:07.500-05:00A Little Stitching and a Birthday<p><b>My latest stitching</b>...</p><p>The whale caught my eye, and I just had to stitch it. It was hard with all the color changes. Probably not the best time in my life to choose something so hard, but then again it was a much needed distraction. I could only stitch in a 10 X 10 block. This means the back looks like an explosion of new starts and stops. I found that if I tried to travel further I would end up pulling it out. Not sure if that was my eyes on the darker linen or just the many many colors involved. I did love stitching it though. I think it is truly adorable. I downloaded a seahorse as well, but have stored it away until next summer. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDsEQGkEizHQLZeDYzgslrXGyACztgWc1SbhycgvXyiWvBJWrivyyO4k1Gaiq0uyWNbpZfcZjrIrq1xcixRnswrRhwiaKF0wz2VfiQ4ujBsyyhSNUMn9z2aClJK_0y9v8l2J0NfqInmYsJIW8lvIZmMxVdT4GMV9xN0kk_W-H_TariBLo8LF2xYaUvCWq/s4032/IMG_9058.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDsEQGkEizHQLZeDYzgslrXGyACztgWc1SbhycgvXyiWvBJWrivyyO4k1Gaiq0uyWNbpZfcZjrIrq1xcixRnswrRhwiaKF0wz2VfiQ4ujBsyyhSNUMn9z2aClJK_0y9v8l2J0NfqInmYsJIW8lvIZmMxVdT4GMV9xN0kk_W-H_TariBLo8LF2xYaUvCWq/w640-h480/IMG_9058.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I did get my July Christmas ornament stitched. It will be given to a lady that works with Jeff. She is having a daughter in September. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGM_1RheSjnMSYgUVcxu20VH4V1deyCgSa9ljKS_UBfWgeixtWI2eJ3emPbjgLouDejPdnZU6M3M0CVEtxmBLH9DIM75Mj-zDippGLkFgRCgE4B3MOLxvbTIS5w8L35DZYrrNrw3iIthhQH6g7VNVkeBIWdYvsaXPi--an9aEkK6g0FHGXIf7U8YInXbq1/s4032/71184573866__C314321D-71DB-4F2F-830F-BCE691641099.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGM_1RheSjnMSYgUVcxu20VH4V1deyCgSa9ljKS_UBfWgeixtWI2eJ3emPbjgLouDejPdnZU6M3M0CVEtxmBLH9DIM75Mj-zDippGLkFgRCgE4B3MOLxvbTIS5w8L35DZYrrNrw3iIthhQH6g7VNVkeBIWdYvsaXPi--an9aEkK6g0FHGXIf7U8YInXbq1/w480-h640/71184573866__C314321D-71DB-4F2F-830F-BCE691641099.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><b>Palmer turned 2 years old.</b></p><p>Palmer enjoyed his party with family and friends who live close. He really liked all of his presents. I think Tucker and Miles enjoyed it all as well. Here a few pictures of the grands...</p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_gF0WZy3d1yE0r7mgf8WY6e_t10CqKLhKhaGK6O_xK2GZHeA5jKS46ZBj0vAGxVVz5mGqLDDiMOzXVCfQRxkL-S-_3md1elJZAp1WQWc8lUZTHQJqSy3S6nImUoxDlbBIocm9Db5LgKiKwwmUvXIIQo8YfBCy6IIUrvvk_Z9s5N4pxHMZl-k9gx2rpeU/s4032/IMG_9103.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_gF0WZy3d1yE0r7mgf8WY6e_t10CqKLhKhaGK6O_xK2GZHeA5jKS46ZBj0vAGxVVz5mGqLDDiMOzXVCfQRxkL-S-_3md1elJZAp1WQWc8lUZTHQJqSy3S6nImUoxDlbBIocm9Db5LgKiKwwmUvXIIQo8YfBCy6IIUrvvk_Z9s5N4pxHMZl-k9gx2rpeU/w480-h640/IMG_9103.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palmer</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPkmIJAhVWXeDnn0ZYhKph0rkbz2k_tcUvoZ897aOLeGtohQKPyOoMEpyraWqJAEMDw3JXxI6lKmePQAUcrR6bMDnnRytQhWucZPQTEE3aw99mqwNta3LgQLCFC1T7KBNfZ0l5073tZM5ORla7uPEkT4JlO-J7EJaK_FKIpLhNPjaGthrXycW8Tkf7L_M/s4032/IMG_9104.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPkmIJAhVWXeDnn0ZYhKph0rkbz2k_tcUvoZ897aOLeGtohQKPyOoMEpyraWqJAEMDw3JXxI6lKmePQAUcrR6bMDnnRytQhWucZPQTEE3aw99mqwNta3LgQLCFC1T7KBNfZ0l5073tZM5ORla7uPEkT4JlO-J7EJaK_FKIpLhNPjaGthrXycW8Tkf7L_M/w480-h640/IMG_9104.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tucker with his friends.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGryjNFfoAWOdcxup7cAn4qrTN9VNfRPnZYk-l1_rdA-t2iWs9Mxq1SLcwk89BhEXFlMkbNkW9XkoeJB3mmoX4fh5E8qvCi0B7Uim3xHCpWn6S5w02oZTVWtBrw_W6Lm3Gis9z1svlM6FL6Ef3x4W82xvE0dwIUD1_dLep7MZNj7FpkwJ9IqIijl6lEF_/s4032/IMG_9102.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGryjNFfoAWOdcxup7cAn4qrTN9VNfRPnZYk-l1_rdA-t2iWs9Mxq1SLcwk89BhEXFlMkbNkW9XkoeJB3mmoX4fh5E8qvCi0B7Uim3xHCpWn6S5w02oZTVWtBrw_W6Lm3Gis9z1svlM6FL6Ef3x4W82xvE0dwIUD1_dLep7MZNj7FpkwJ9IqIijl6lEF_/w480-h640/IMG_9102.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and Miles.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Miles has a birthday very soon.</p><p>I love my little boys.</p><p>Life is still really hard around here, but we are plodding along. Mother doesn't seem to be making it through this fall. The leg is healing but it has brought on a multitude of other issues. I am losing hope that she won't end up in a nursing home. She is still with us at our house. We tried things at her house and it was a big disaster. I am about to make some phone calls for some home care to tide us over the next few weeks to see how things go. </p><p>My visiting y'all is sporadic at best. It is not a fun season, but feeling like I just need wisdom about what to do.</p><p>Take care and enjoy summer. I am trying really hard to embrace the goodness along with the hard.</p><p>Sandy</p>Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185422453541735778noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369505808572306850.post-21614819833956313392023-07-20T05:30:00.001-05:002023-07-20T05:30:00.147-05:00Thursday Treasures: Things from Germany<p>Today's treasures' post is things I have saved from childhood. These are things that my parents bought <u>while stationed in Germany in the early 1960's</u>. We left for Germany in 1961, when I was just 9 months old. These things were in our home growing up and came to my house at different times along the way.</p><p>The first is beer glasses. My dad collected a glass from each little town we visited during our time there. The have been stored in a china cabinet their entire life. There are about 20 of them. I think they would actually be fun to drink out of, since they are a wonderful size and weight, but they have been just a display item. They have always been one of my favorite things even though I am not a beer drinker, <u>but because I can just imagine him getting one at each stop and placing them in the cabinet</u>.</p><p>Here is one section of three of the glasses displayed in the cabinet.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdLM9XhmQrNdgIqCNlDQjA5a7Om9L3tY8OKASGXcVmDVitYBx9wpq3ky7iGpOhPwFGws52ax2f81Kfb3H2b8zZ5LxbVBl0xi9syiPddy695B0CpzIDKy5s2gAlrzn2hu2E3zI43zwPo10IZd9OioM_18rjBsT35L4XiUn_BhNHXrImRxyAnB7q3btHeEI/s4032/IMG_9065.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdLM9XhmQrNdgIqCNlDQjA5a7Om9L3tY8OKASGXcVmDVitYBx9wpq3ky7iGpOhPwFGws52ax2f81Kfb3H2b8zZ5LxbVBl0xi9syiPddy695B0CpzIDKy5s2gAlrzn2hu2E3zI43zwPo10IZd9OioM_18rjBsT35L4XiUn_BhNHXrImRxyAnB7q3btHeEI/w640-h480/IMG_9065.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>This glass was always my favorite. I have no idea why other than that it is maybe it is the most decorative.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidmcQoMyjsVwuLjJSf0aZw_M1pm-8jSV5ZSVlPNy-L6ggg1HEiYxV4PlrVOr1_OyDe3TRbKORxnV9_IPMwllg7c5vq5E_Xwyody8hXr1B9gONGZ6SHVBS2fmzDKF-2jmBW0Tgol5psIvUKdha52Rp0dgboHvgJOQLki-9lPsQQUEYaOjdkYNJIpzd0zgm/s4032/IMG_9068.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidmcQoMyjsVwuLjJSf0aZw_M1pm-8jSV5ZSVlPNy-L6ggg1HEiYxV4PlrVOr1_OyDe3TRbKORxnV9_IPMwllg7c5vq5E_Xwyody8hXr1B9gONGZ6SHVBS2fmzDKF-2jmBW0Tgol5psIvUKdha52Rp0dgboHvgJOQLki-9lPsQQUEYaOjdkYNJIpzd0zgm/w480-h640/IMG_9068.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Next up is my little desk. I got it for my second Christmas. It has some German lettering on the drawer. I have had this in every bedroom of mine until graduation from college. I used it as my teacher desk when I was young--- foretelling my future career.<i> It is truly a treasure to me</i>. When I moved into my first apartment after Auburn, I used in my living room to hold my TV. Since then, my own children have used it, and now my grandchildren. It has held up well with much use over the years.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5rgZah4SZDLMDfRxevU91zKJs1_eSlqdUywWb-Vpmz529oEHTUtxdqEBYMzylAMLRh2LrbpLEQiTByQ4U7ctaRz5ruY2h5PjTaTkV7xvD3shw5ZrO3myAay4NHVChPzK1QhJwbmg2j5DcBO6MS_W0ATu8yi4vzaaSyjUEsPhZs5-2yASCpMD4QFEE773/s4032/IMG_8802.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5rgZah4SZDLMDfRxevU91zKJs1_eSlqdUywWb-Vpmz529oEHTUtxdqEBYMzylAMLRh2LrbpLEQiTByQ4U7ctaRz5ruY2h5PjTaTkV7xvD3shw5ZrO3myAay4NHVChPzK1QhJwbmg2j5DcBO6MS_W0ATu8yi4vzaaSyjUEsPhZs5-2yASCpMD4QFEE773/w480-h640/IMG_8802.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Sorry for the poor quality of the photo. I just took a picture of a picture rather than pulling it out and scanning it in. Behind my head is a boxer stuffed animal. I still have it and a bunny both bought in Germany. They were probably bought at the Post Exchange though.</p><p>Just the other day Palmer was sitting at it and coloring. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYG1KAASSBgjZ-b3SSEAdySj6qyI0ru82Lj5urVRF7F6Pv7IGO7GhvaFGPoYjqKhmnDLTP0Fe2JlJdivD8O-7D6PXmq3U9AtxSGvT1jgoOv9zdbPqm82qsejXgQGkc83SCfGJpjDGjwjHHPLQ5CbFlcCSw6dagN3Qm0iQ49ceuWFXpz-5UhYEIWZ77hyo1/s4032/IMG_5984.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYG1KAASSBgjZ-b3SSEAdySj6qyI0ru82Lj5urVRF7F6Pv7IGO7GhvaFGPoYjqKhmnDLTP0Fe2JlJdivD8O-7D6PXmq3U9AtxSGvT1jgoOv9zdbPqm82qsejXgQGkc83SCfGJpjDGjwjHHPLQ5CbFlcCSw6dagN3Qm0iQ49ceuWFXpz-5UhYEIWZ77hyo1/w480-h640/IMG_5984.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>The beer stein is another purchase that I have held onto. It is in the china cabinet as well, but last October I had the genius idea of bringing out as part of my fall decor. It will be used again for that purpose. Oh and it plays music when you lift it up.</p><p style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9TAe2kzERqnv5z_24i03yO7CcAl77sfLa26OVvvUuJxTzb9CNSY_wW4SuFEKt3KcwVT0EMESN9q6cVMOTuUhgA1xEafxNsEhfb-iFn5kZYKxu9Fxfai4eZ1SApcm1-HKV5vswO2J8zTmmCK8DxzCYZbFTkQGYKODuKiiGdLCgBCoDcRSoMWkVd75VA/w480-h640/AF2EC520-22AC-4305-BD65-5061622F5C40.jpeg" width="480" /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Another favorite treasure bought while in Germany is the little music box. It actually came from Switzerland. It remained on my dresser throughout my life. Only when we moved in our current home did I move it to the china cabinet. I always loved it as a child. Unfortunately, it has been wound too tight and doesn't play anymore. Pooh.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd69cpRqxex2JoC6pWHVM0Vyr_6MIjR7ditNV86yYGoxF0WNfIoC2RRKQmB1Ud2eCPzf6pJYP6tEveuQamWXKEIxknQP1KP4GPw030wYTobthcfVQGhjFpSL67CkhoVwZotwuPT8NxDqh33ksVtAHz2ffgrImBKb7mLdP_3bYWaB6qUB0zf1bEQ01btExf/s4032/IMG_9064.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd69cpRqxex2JoC6pWHVM0Vyr_6MIjR7ditNV86yYGoxF0WNfIoC2RRKQmB1Ud2eCPzf6pJYP6tEveuQamWXKEIxknQP1KP4GPw030wYTobthcfVQGhjFpSL67CkhoVwZotwuPT8NxDqh33ksVtAHz2ffgrImBKb7mLdP_3bYWaB6qUB0zf1bEQ01btExf/w480-h640/IMG_9064.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p>A few other purchases are...</p><p>The Bavarian German Shepherd. My dad would have chosen this since he and I shared a great love for dogs that Mama has never possessed. I will say my dogs have grown on her, but she would have never owned a dog if she had any say about it. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_NkTxU-K8-rEUT87OIMZNtc6mXYZjMUOVTNr1xhJRBaEhaasPM17vTHTjb3ZIPLiguqaHrQBsUWBWo0JNCnzh2XLicRj6ZbZjTjdz7VGXLVBUoOghuQ947o3XuHcxas_mjoJ2-NuqBWaHqYOKzh7prV7SyXhqcY-FUQEHgJAw1P5nRbg93LhTDy6uwdI/s4032/IMG_9062.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_NkTxU-K8-rEUT87OIMZNtc6mXYZjMUOVTNr1xhJRBaEhaasPM17vTHTjb3ZIPLiguqaHrQBsUWBWo0JNCnzh2XLicRj6ZbZjTjdz7VGXLVBUoOghuQ947o3XuHcxas_mjoJ2-NuqBWaHqYOKzh7prV7SyXhqcY-FUQEHgJAw1P5nRbg93LhTDy6uwdI/w480-h640/IMG_9062.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRe-FFtyQdeZwdPHW7pZPcoc8i1h1SV2TDwHfpEBkh3EOnjv6vioHVcaWEmow6u2pBaKgeg0H3MAv8ysQ5pp6QfNm9_h8xLEG1Omtjo_rtYFPb1xFnaxEvWcEzQzYCS83WQVL1v-C_p_28mrA2llz99PibDlDxvsRmVu8DntNkM6JfRsDB8EpB1dA29EDD/s4032/IMG_9063.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRe-FFtyQdeZwdPHW7pZPcoc8i1h1SV2TDwHfpEBkh3EOnjv6vioHVcaWEmow6u2pBaKgeg0H3MAv8ysQ5pp6QfNm9_h8xLEG1Omtjo_rtYFPb1xFnaxEvWcEzQzYCS83WQVL1v-C_p_28mrA2llz99PibDlDxvsRmVu8DntNkM6JfRsDB8EpB1dA29EDD/w480-h640/IMG_9063.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>This little vase that is on the dresser in Lindsay's old room. I love the amethyst color of it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vlbSBX6eh6jpeaa2VMKvI5KduqMkkwKuHG_rpsKGkRRBC9dVDH5xWSGjPnlNDwnGgcI1QMquMiksC0IAT5b_jms0jv7tOULkHJEg_zWxFUjSjCBnwm74RhKuaUOHauN6dvZ5Rbn1vjODN7xtK-mXc7MLP4MTclNfcfG1f8_ZqqTnL7HemiXgmmsMmire/s4032/IMG_9074.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vlbSBX6eh6jpeaa2VMKvI5KduqMkkwKuHG_rpsKGkRRBC9dVDH5xWSGjPnlNDwnGgcI1QMquMiksC0IAT5b_jms0jv7tOULkHJEg_zWxFUjSjCBnwm74RhKuaUOHauN6dvZ5Rbn1vjODN7xtK-mXc7MLP4MTclNfcfG1f8_ZqqTnL7HemiXgmmsMmire/w480-h640/IMG_9074.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>And this little vase.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBfP8gKzU4vyAMfkQU97gHkKm9kqULA4qePma5m7kmu5CUh6SfPNUHXBJ3TzYp7nWJnI9F4Z6XT6OAR91YW6ADF1uFBrTLq_p3Sb-bbTUER3JFReeSKF-cqXdHVVL38qTZ7Rnx3dmj-UQtvUjTGCwDR6J0JqtcgwNOyY4zi1MQvlYBBZtncMlXwefWJYy/s4032/IMG_9088.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBfP8gKzU4vyAMfkQU97gHkKm9kqULA4qePma5m7kmu5CUh6SfPNUHXBJ3TzYp7nWJnI9F4Z6XT6OAR91YW6ADF1uFBrTLq_p3Sb-bbTUER3JFReeSKF-cqXdHVVL38qTZ7Rnx3dmj-UQtvUjTGCwDR6J0JqtcgwNOyY4zi1MQvlYBBZtncMlXwefWJYy/w480-h640/IMG_9088.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I have always loved this vase. I think it is the color blocking on it. It is cracked at the top, but it is truly a unique piece. It has West Germany stamped on the bottom and I think there was quite of a bit of unique pottery and ceramic pieces done during the early 60's.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRRemGxBahanOjuGJqJoahbzhx1OgIFPig5SFyAEeKRIxQCd8hz90b9IBWxrN0jKsBe7z3ZCzX8--X2htJpGdv-qvxm2skfcpK-I06v4jy4IGREikAqtTOumvWOJ0-H4nTxmcoSazNrtu_NNxRGU-3s4mx7Fzhem3ay5Q3I_4NRjT8R53fQsy25cdwcHu/s4032/IMG_9061.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRRemGxBahanOjuGJqJoahbzhx1OgIFPig5SFyAEeKRIxQCd8hz90b9IBWxrN0jKsBe7z3ZCzX8--X2htJpGdv-qvxm2skfcpK-I06v4jy4IGREikAqtTOumvWOJ0-H4nTxmcoSazNrtu_NNxRGU-3s4mx7Fzhem3ay5Q3I_4NRjT8R53fQsy25cdwcHu/w480-h640/IMG_9061.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>The ashtray.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcR-8pCLX_XBz7pAOHMvoVJMN9HcabP2Jjd1JYYlnw3l1IkrTnU55afCmdqkyKbgciEt4Wpm6khtLlHmCI09w-8uWfPKMgr5a6Jkd5aVC1MZ8f0uey2aEO910vojK5Xc3ysyvqIb_bF-tU6bn6C7Mz9gfKdpL1Z6y_3o1z5rL0Q-_b4HOpfl-EfhuLB8q/s4032/IMG_9069.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcR-8pCLX_XBz7pAOHMvoVJMN9HcabP2Jjd1JYYlnw3l1IkrTnU55afCmdqkyKbgciEt4Wpm6khtLlHmCI09w-8uWfPKMgr5a6Jkd5aVC1MZ8f0uey2aEO910vojK5Xc3ysyvqIb_bF-tU6bn6C7Mz9gfKdpL1Z6y_3o1z5rL0Q-_b4HOpfl-EfhuLB8q/w480-h640/IMG_9069.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>The candle holder and cigarette holder. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWfj5eIcgm-60cC1h8xgmqS2zUhe2YbZePVmmiWDMsVQcMoUsoVD_yuiBRuDOAN8myt0Z-5egHLnU7KezHVAsLunakz1zXLlV4tIO8xhKLMEp6PwWbRggRL00LBWkJp4fzQett0leccIBggQn282kkuHeOc3XW6MeLTzrT_SQzaw01v2KQ8CLgAacd1U9/s4032/IMG_9075.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWfj5eIcgm-60cC1h8xgmqS2zUhe2YbZePVmmiWDMsVQcMoUsoVD_yuiBRuDOAN8myt0Z-5egHLnU7KezHVAsLunakz1zXLlV4tIO8xhKLMEp6PwWbRggRL00LBWkJp4fzQett0leccIBggQn282kkuHeOc3XW6MeLTzrT_SQzaw01v2KQ8CLgAacd1U9/w640-h480/IMG_9075.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I have loved this candle holder my entire life. I have used it so many times. I remember walking around a dark home after (hurricanes) Erin and Opal hit in the same year in 1995. I actually didn't know the other piece was a cigarette holder until a few years ago, I was looking around trying to find out information on these pieces. I learned that is what it was, and it totally makes sense with the top. I don't think my parents knew that either. It has held marbles since Paul Allen was a little kid. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHHS0mKJfyOXexosYIOPEVB3zPoLymoeoNtyvwh1AxI37RjBgzKNq8i7LLnmozmnQMaMpmbzue6dX9IRLb1NpASMOyH_W0Y4eagZZCagsek5gVKsh_I24_eM4ivSbR4jDOOWIf6q1hNK23aMfTGt0oP4eUlGouRDyU7OXDfX71UvsnC7UDQdwk_2p6RY6_/s4032/IMG_9076.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHHS0mKJfyOXexosYIOPEVB3zPoLymoeoNtyvwh1AxI37RjBgzKNq8i7LLnmozmnQMaMpmbzue6dX9IRLb1NpASMOyH_W0Y4eagZZCagsek5gVKsh_I24_eM4ivSbR4jDOOWIf6q1hNK23aMfTGt0oP4eUlGouRDyU7OXDfX71UvsnC7UDQdwk_2p6RY6_/w480-h640/IMG_9076.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>The painting.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZquzw4E9fhdNFThkfsEcJLiWLeCe7PgFPRj_1MMJ_aitKZURwLcLBBFCwFxSpEINxvK1c-gb6NJSldoQEy5Ioqg-cz3_mLBUQoLSupPPJ403OFQrHDZ3XQrGZfaAwh5_XMxIxCHM6wa52yuA1ks4p6s4ga826xhapipZ3f8Prk3t12bP7OPa2jGvyZkg0/s4032/IMG_9073.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZquzw4E9fhdNFThkfsEcJLiWLeCe7PgFPRj_1MMJ_aitKZURwLcLBBFCwFxSpEINxvK1c-gb6NJSldoQEy5Ioqg-cz3_mLBUQoLSupPPJ403OFQrHDZ3XQrGZfaAwh5_XMxIxCHM6wa52yuA1ks4p6s4ga826xhapipZ3f8Prk3t12bP7OPa2jGvyZkg0/w480-h640/IMG_9073.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I always have loved oil paintings anyway, but this one just speaks to me with the colors. I am a no mountain girl, but I really love the grassy field here and as a kid I always wanted to make up a story to go with the painting. It hung in the formal living room until I started college. My folks moved to a different home in town and being older I took it and hung it in my bedroom. It made it to my home about 10 years ago.</div><p><br /></p><p>Then there is the cuckoo clock. Again, I just took a photo of a photo and didn't edit. </p><p>It hangs on the wall behind Dad.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3kl3aBmvxs_AZ6yPni2FniWhFcDSy_aU7JMj3V8V4lcwdGn5Pl8HvpYZ3qOKOLUp-YVDHiTAwxM4XKxBSE2_ZsxV8wMy9gNo85wAzSzyY_5rAYDCdEnrOsKMWCcxypJlwoBDLYOVswWn1rylMRsehsHXCSIv340gV4S2J99VbsY19X0pZupApm58coZl/s3456/IMG_8803.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3kl3aBmvxs_AZ6yPni2FniWhFcDSy_aU7JMj3V8V4lcwdGn5Pl8HvpYZ3qOKOLUp-YVDHiTAwxM4XKxBSE2_ZsxV8wMy9gNo85wAzSzyY_5rAYDCdEnrOsKMWCcxypJlwoBDLYOVswWn1rylMRsehsHXCSIv340gV4S2J99VbsY19X0pZupApm58coZl/w560-h640/IMG_8803.jpeg" width="560" /></a></div><br /><p>How could you leave Germany without one? It hung in Mother's home for decades. It finally was taken down and never put back up after a move from house to another house. The chains and weights are off. It has been in a box now for 30 years. I I had it on my list to try and find someone to repair it this summer, but I can't find a local person. I have watched a few videos to see if I could at least put the chains and weights back on. I may at some point try it, but it won't be this summer. I have thought of passing it on to someone, but haven't yet been able to part with it. I know it I can't get it working and hang it up that it will drive Tucker me crazy with questions as to why it won't work. He would love it if I could get it working. For now, I have decided to stick it back in the closet for another day. I did look it up the other day and it is a Hubert Herr Black Forest Swiss Ski Chalet Style clock.</p><p>Here it is in the box for another year.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5oP517VGQYr_lpPssNotad4rWTNp_9N2j6kOq5xzxqj-Ja4GLd6bsLJdhNTkuw0t_v0It-dH8bW0WDqeimQnoyqoLuD9LaCF7rJwXKcSDaRbcFQfbQLWPZoMVvZ_HE74_TzuG3CYrmJlDjTzIgnswOK6fq8mlTljjCtOEYlvmEGtgMcKupVMziafk2PBl/s4032/IMG_9077.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5oP517VGQYr_lpPssNotad4rWTNp_9N2j6kOq5xzxqj-Ja4GLd6bsLJdhNTkuw0t_v0It-dH8bW0WDqeimQnoyqoLuD9LaCF7rJwXKcSDaRbcFQfbQLWPZoMVvZ_HE74_TzuG3CYrmJlDjTzIgnswOK6fq8mlTljjCtOEYlvmEGtgMcKupVMziafk2PBl/w480-h640/IMG_9077.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>The coat... I am not sure if the coat is German, but I think Mama must have purchased it over there; maybe at the Post Exchange. She has it on in many pictures over there so she wore it during this time period. That is my reasoning for putting it in this post. It has both German and English writing on the label.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlXsZc1WItEjviUKlbZpX0Wj3WTb_eAjtBAJmocY9h3MZtpAYOoSWTwgJZPlqtO74d1Vu4D88-4EW-ViEYOe6QIZp0iM_zqILNr5S7K-dquFkpoVSgbG_SpZ63JEF_I2oeTGfs5uiFJKU-_HCj4vVVJkAPHf4er56qPDnuKIyhiZ57Kdw5LK_nGvxCWj4/s4032/IMG_9089.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlXsZc1WItEjviUKlbZpX0Wj3WTb_eAjtBAJmocY9h3MZtpAYOoSWTwgJZPlqtO74d1Vu4D88-4EW-ViEYOe6QIZp0iM_zqILNr5S7K-dquFkpoVSgbG_SpZ63JEF_I2oeTGfs5uiFJKU-_HCj4vVVJkAPHf4er56qPDnuKIyhiZ57Kdw5LK_nGvxCWj4/w480-h640/IMG_9089.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xgCvk1XVtjtqa_-lDeOPqA4mR0P07vAxUq5-EZvr_JjSPaNy5CgXiIwKXIiZ_Acipm0frzir1akNchsI3QhvhNCq7chguA7MYiR704o6PxM9J3gykwDFJtzDf6R50FvFUMstVeRbj_fi37MYEkjgs5JgklBK23T7IddUTSi3zUhTO7-gsrZa5XfGMH6v/s4032/IMG_9090.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xgCvk1XVtjtqa_-lDeOPqA4mR0P07vAxUq5-EZvr_JjSPaNy5CgXiIwKXIiZ_Acipm0frzir1akNchsI3QhvhNCq7chguA7MYiR704o6PxM9J3gykwDFJtzDf6R50FvFUMstVeRbj_fi37MYEkjgs5JgklBK23T7IddUTSi3zUhTO7-gsrZa5XfGMH6v/w480-h640/IMG_9090.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>It is a lovely coat and I have thought about wearing it myself, but I haven't. Maybe one day I will style and wear it. It fits so well and could certainly be in style now, but you can tell it is old.</p><p>The final item I am sharing is a stereo that I parted with. This stereo was a big part of growing up and playing records on. I really hated to see it go, but when Mother decided she didn't want it anymore I think she thought I would take it. At the time, we lived in another house and there was simply no room for it. It now lives with a cousin. It makes a great side table even though knowing there is a radio and record player is pretty cool. I love thinking about the records that were played on it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBqf5jVPQhbqPt-fLojgJ8vlQvla_pkU6EY1tkLtx3FTuOG6OgIXWhlU_M2nReRLeT6HUG8h9f4A2NwsrtWq_lxNmDJAKM7ICwyug1wH2_3h9Vqt6GGg2COxBG8ScT1463P6PJF1hTvOlQd9CoX4S_ELJbOravmc6sS3iruL7cBDc7hw1sLx7y5XEfWFS/s4032/IMG_8800.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBqf5jVPQhbqPt-fLojgJ8vlQvla_pkU6EY1tkLtx3FTuOG6OgIXWhlU_M2nReRLeT6HUG8h9f4A2NwsrtWq_lxNmDJAKM7ICwyug1wH2_3h9Vqt6GGg2COxBG8ScT1463P6PJF1hTvOlQd9CoX4S_ELJbOravmc6sS3iruL7cBDc7hw1sLx7y5XEfWFS/w480-h640/IMG_8800.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p>The photos are mostly poor quality. I wouldn't call it lazy on my part, but just no time to do them right. I have had this post on my mind for ages. If I keep waiting to get it all perfect, it will continue to be an idea rather than memories documented for my children.</p><p>There are a few more items like some crystal, but I think these were the most loved of the Germany treasures. I might even think of others later. I have the memories documented, so that will suffice for now.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185422453541735778noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369505808572306850.post-15451247907786082612023-07-10T14:23:00.000-05:002023-07-10T14:23:25.682-05:00Life Lately<p> I don't have tons new to share since mostly I am caregiving. I have had some sad moments, but some good ones too. I sort of felt like I missed the 4th of July...I really did try to make good use of the time, but it definitely felt off this year. We missed the Blue Angels as well this year, however, the show was cut short due to weather so ---like I said this year's patriotic season was just off. I got up this morning and tucked away a portion of my patriotic stitches and pulled out sunflowers and beach themed stitches. Maybe next year I will be more in the mood.</p><p>Lindsay and her crew came by on the boat on the 4th. I took a picture of them on the dock. That little Palmer is just not into posing these days.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVUPN3wg3g9aR_H3EOsx-Pc4Fj7gfkdLKUTide2A3N6DEZL8I2PMuhpFfGjVy1xOIZdyXpjtS9gzPa5cYcof8AE9u2LsvT5EBuJ1ufs2plD8eNRkAZ8uoqU0CQvt7uwPCjG5PO2kxFNEcam8HIfiqBrYX6vvOb7afxic9kOcIuvtfvmms5gyw57GNuwCl/s4032/IMG_9008.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVUPN3wg3g9aR_H3EOsx-Pc4Fj7gfkdLKUTide2A3N6DEZL8I2PMuhpFfGjVy1xOIZdyXpjtS9gzPa5cYcof8AE9u2LsvT5EBuJ1ufs2plD8eNRkAZ8uoqU0CQvt7uwPCjG5PO2kxFNEcam8HIfiqBrYX6vvOb7afxic9kOcIuvtfvmms5gyw57GNuwCl/w480-h640/IMG_9008.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The boys wanted to come in for a snack, so of course Mimi obliged. Lindsay grabbed a picture of us with them.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8zcRes2YGjThgIJlnxYtqr6vbYWhskzB85UD5BMWVmKdayCaoP8emcfCeT3owWfSEdWvMw7hccBKO9kzETCLITjycdaNczeUlAiyTMdtjF34QPzh--VYXwibMDsejWkoNMghv1-aLatKRT-J9UxuvEAdKqi7XCLy1G08UqZPtBSxYMVU4bPvwjJ0rkK3/s4032/IMG_9014.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8zcRes2YGjThgIJlnxYtqr6vbYWhskzB85UD5BMWVmKdayCaoP8emcfCeT3owWfSEdWvMw7hccBKO9kzETCLITjycdaNczeUlAiyTMdtjF34QPzh--VYXwibMDsejWkoNMghv1-aLatKRT-J9UxuvEAdKqi7XCLy1G08UqZPtBSxYMVU4bPvwjJ0rkK3/w640-h480/IMG_9014.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jeff and I had already been out for a boat ride. We got out early that morning and took a boat ride. It was actually far more crowded on the weekend before the 4th than on that day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Paul Allen and Katie also got out on the water early in the day for a little fun time. Miles loves to swim, but the float finally rocked him to sleep.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjuwRRDn-7X3_thNL0KTJzklMBynQOmlfIB5DgHaYO53rxlGuQpyonQYqOKg-ZGuPolYPuFT4gfg8pE1UdTLrKkZMS2_4GX9CYYEW6N4-NVrT_qlyCYNxh0x-WfzF3bY0MrfBRv8mloXcJC_nZVafeAAmmCfQ8CH-JweXYs1Q8XayAiydBuOisWKXfr_tr/s4032/IMG_6287.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjuwRRDn-7X3_thNL0KTJzklMBynQOmlfIB5DgHaYO53rxlGuQpyonQYqOKg-ZGuPolYPuFT4gfg8pE1UdTLrKkZMS2_4GX9CYYEW6N4-NVrT_qlyCYNxh0x-WfzF3bY0MrfBRv8mloXcJC_nZVafeAAmmCfQ8CH-JweXYs1Q8XayAiydBuOisWKXfr_tr/w480-h640/IMG_6287.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>He is just the cutest thing. <div><br /></div><div>I decided I had to make the best of a hard thing and I didn't want to miss my favorite season moping about my troubles, so even before the 4th I took myself outside and used a raft one day in the water. I tied myself up and floated an hour just relaxing. Jeff took off the Monday and Wednesday around the 4th. We had been planning to go to Auburn, but that got waxed. He just took it off anyway and was just such a huge help to me with Mama. He cooked and helped with her in ways that I can't even express how much it was appreciated. He kept my chin up. I cleaned off the bottom deck to my liking. I have just kept plodding along with those outdoor chores in small bites. I got out early one morning before the 4th and got it all nice looking down there. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQ1cpp-V4g6Ytz82SdMV67KgyDRw9Dhy2CgR_Ob6R2VUCLczaNvvIR1GzTyeKBPLZGWObZFpZkhoXrcnjwnVR8X8qeUMTA_Zp23gxgJZkLRMmXc_AmMHjNBwSickM8NIG9PIM94lTA5UbtIE0fSWywRT7sJP6C9_zayzIWfMXkPmgUIuy7dU2546wZb9O/s4032/IMG_8994.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQ1cpp-V4g6Ytz82SdMV67KgyDRw9Dhy2CgR_Ob6R2VUCLczaNvvIR1GzTyeKBPLZGWObZFpZkhoXrcnjwnVR8X8qeUMTA_Zp23gxgJZkLRMmXc_AmMHjNBwSickM8NIG9PIM94lTA5UbtIE0fSWywRT7sJP6C9_zayzIWfMXkPmgUIuy7dU2546wZb9O/w480-h640/IMG_8994.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I even got out the kiddie pool for Miles. I got my recliner chair fixed up for shade or sun relaxing. I have tried to go down a good bit and capture as much time just relaxing. The 4th didn't seem quite right, but I have enjoyed some down time outside here. Gus is using the pool more as a drinking pool. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzRsNAzsmKyi3LqcpMyKE1wU3ayanRIo105AtIJ9cdzZxY65wma2kPpp8qVyg-udgjRmM8843CAdBtVsC3AHJSjScUApausvmJZ_vVs1_M1XAe1kxGYI9KO0PuZ7vPuQBPEvM3zgUbQOtge--HkPt4tlZk2rOSvVxsHrtrTetfxSoSH6uGMcL6HpgeKmI/s4032/IMG_8998.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzRsNAzsmKyi3LqcpMyKE1wU3ayanRIo105AtIJ9cdzZxY65wma2kPpp8qVyg-udgjRmM8843CAdBtVsC3AHJSjScUApausvmJZ_vVs1_M1XAe1kxGYI9KO0PuZ7vPuQBPEvM3zgUbQOtge--HkPt4tlZk2rOSvVxsHrtrTetfxSoSH6uGMcL6HpgeKmI/w480-h640/IMG_8998.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p>I don't have much to share in the way of stitching because I can't quite get my mind together there. It will come. It has just been a lot lately and I have felt like I needed the outdoor time more right now. I am having trouble seeing to stitch at night. Hopefully that will be better after the cataract surgery which is the last week of July.</p><p>Mother is progressing. I did take her home because her aunt came to stay with her until Thursday. I am not sure it was the best idea, but we will see. I am hopping back and forth a lot and that is how it will be for the next few weeks. We are trying to sort out future plans for her and just praying through all of that. I have put a deposit on an assisted living place that is refundable. I will take her to see if when she is able to do so. I know He will guide me to the best thing. Until then, we just keep putting one foot in front of the other.</p><p>As I said, not too much fun stuff to share over here. I will probably not post again for 2 weeks in hopes that there will be more to share then.</p><p>Summer is my absolute favorite season. I am doing my best to find all the good in it.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Sandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185422453541735778noreply@blogger.com16