country-chicken

Milly

2011-12-06T04:33:00.000-08:00

She turned a year old in October, we picked her up on a very cold and snowy night in December. A year that has went flying by, watching her grow and wondering if we would ever get out of the puppy stage.

She stays in the yard (even when the neighbor kids and dogs look like they would be so much fun), we can walk in the park without wanting to stop and play with everyone we see, potty training is down pat, she always wants to sit in Tom's lap, which she is definitely too big for now but manages to sneak up when he is not looking. She knows everything - everything!! that is going on in the neighborhood - I think she can hear the mail truck a mile away and on cold nights she's a great foot warmer at the botton of the bed.

So after all that crazy puppy time (wondering if we were going to survive some of those days) - are we keeping her - definitely!!

Cowl knitting

2011-11-28T13:43:00.001-08:00

Prettyimpressive pile of cowls if you ask me. Seven cowls knit since August for Christmas gift giving. (Also knit a scarf but forgot to put that in the pile) Pretty obvious to me by the picture which color I gravitate towards - blue or red is usually the color. (The scarf was blue too!) I am branching out though - see below - pink was a requested cowl color and the green was a BD gift. I would probably never pick that green for me but it was a gift, its Plucky Knitter yarn (cashmere and silk) and actually I can't wait to finish it. Its going to look great with my black jacket....

November just seemed to zip right by, as usual you blink and the month is over already. There was some gorgeous warm weather though and I made sure to get out and enjoy it. Thanksgiving has come and gone. It was a day of good company, good food, lots of dish washing (even with a dishwasher) and in general a great day.

Be back soon!!

Saving Sunday - 11/06/2011

2011-11-06T15:07:00.001-08:00

Great weather for the first weekend in November!! Sunny and in the 50s. This is the same path I was down the beginning of October (the trees were full of leaves and they were just starting to turn). Wonder if I will be able to be on that path the first weekend in December?? This Sunday started with Milly and I taking an early morning walk through the park. Then Tom and I were off to Todd and Kris' for a barn raising. They are all ready for the trusses next weekend.

It was the perfect Saving Sunday!!

Saving Sunday

2011-10-29T11:59:00.000-07:00

Thistledowns Wool Design started on her blog Saving Sunday. I have been wanting to join along on Flicker, but unfortunately seems to be to high tech for me at the moment, meaning I am going to have to get someone to help me with that. It's been fun seeing how other people are saving their Sunday. In the meantime though I am going to start keeping track of Sunday here on my blog. Yeah I know - today is Saturday, but I have a picture from last Sunday.

Sunday, 10/23/2011 we had Tom's family over for a clam bake. What is left of his mother's side of the family here in Ohio consists of an aunt, sister, cousin and their families. (Everyone else has relocated to warmer places.)

It was one of those perfect Fall days, T-shirt weater to start, sweatshirt weather later. Three generations showed up and the way everybody carried on you would have thought we saw them all the time. (We are lucky if it happens once every couple of years). We cooked 300 clams, had all the fixins to go with them and lots of desserts. There was corn hole playing, horseback riding and lots of talking, talking and more talking.

It seems like the months of September and October have had some very busy Sunday's for us. Tomorrow I am hoping my Saving Sunday post is all about football, knitting and relaxing. Hopefully I can pull that off!!

Lake Erie

2011-10-29T11:45:00.000-07:00

Towards the end of the bridge tour we took a little detour and headed to Lake Erie - about 15 minutes off the tour. The pictures hardly do it justice. The water was so, so blue.

We walked around at one of the beaches and were actually on what was called a scenic highway so most of the time you could see the lake.

All in all our little road trip was a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Next year we plan on going back and finishing the tour.

Bridge tour - Part 2

2011-10-19T12:34:00.000-07:00

Still cannot say enough about this Fall tour. The Boy Scouts were set up on the other side of this bridge - got to love the American flag peaking out on the other side.

At each bridge we would park and walk across the bridge, look out and see what we were driving over. The leaves were just starting to turn colors.

This bridge was decorated for Halloween!

That's all the bridges for now. Next year we have to go back and finish the tour. Instead of finishing we took a little detour and went to Lake Erie. Be back soon with those pictures.

10/09/2011 - Covered Bridge Road Trip

2011-10-13T16:37:00.000-07:00

Finally, after awhile of saying we were going to do this - we did. Tom and I took off early Sunday morning (8:00 a.m.) and hit the road for Ashtabula County (Ohio). It took us about an hour to get there and we spent the better part of the day following the tour signs and checking out the covered bridges. There were actually 16 bridges on the tour and we managed to get 9 in. There are two different tours, both about 70 miles long. We took the one with the most bridges on the map. We only came across two bridges you could not drive over (below being one of them).

What was really neat was at each bridge you could pull off, get out, walk inside the bridge and in most places you could get down to the rivers that they were over. Also each bridge had its own welcoming group of people selling food and crafts.

For the most part the bridges were out away from the townships or cities that they were in. We traveled lots of dirt and gravel roads.

It was some of the nicest weather - I think the nicest weather we have had including Summer this year. I have more pictures to show but think I was overloading blogger as I couldn't upload anymore. I will be back tomorrow with the rest.

I'm on vacation for the next couple of days so I'm off to do some knitting and relaxing.

October Chicken House

2011-10-09T14:25:00.000-07:00

Here is the chicken house all decked out for Fall. Now we just need all the chickens to lay eggs.

I started out with 2 chickens this Spring. Early Summer some type of critter got in (we have yet to figure out how) and we were down to 1 chicken. I picked up 2 more from the man I originally got them from. One of those chickens died in the 100+ days of summer. The other newer chicken has yet to lay an egg yet!! The other day I was out by the fence looking at them and now I am wondering - maybe its a rooster!! I think I need to go chicken shopping soon!!

October-Socktober

2011-10-06T16:31:00.000-07:00

Two pairs of socks finished in October!! Toe up, just plain socks. Yarn is Pagewood Farms, color Crayon.

Monkey socks. These were on the needles for a couple of months but it was the first time doing any sort of pattern on socks - thus they took awhile. I think I want to try the no Purl Monkey's next. Yarn is Malabrigo, arcangel.

On more pair on the needles - I am hoping for an October finish.

This was 10/02 - early Sunday morning. The leaves are just starting to turn. I'm thinking I should go back at the end of the month and see how things have changed.

Be back soon!

One more thing.....

2011-09-26T16:00:00.000-07:00

Forgot to post this picture of Tyler from the fair. Tom and I hung out a lot with him while Jess was getting ready for her respective shows. As you can tell he really likes the skid loader he talked Grandpa into buying at one of the farm booths.

Okay, now I am caught up. Back to knitting and watching football!!

First weekend of Fall!!

2011-09-26T15:52:00.000-07:00

We spent Sunday at a Cleveland Indian's game. It was a good game, even though they lost. The last home game of the season. Not very Fall-like though. Humid and hot - just like baseball should be!!

So far this September--

2011-09-12T13:50:00.000-07:00

There have been early morning walks with the sun just starting to get up over the trees- Lots of mist over the lake-

Tom and I have been trying to get time in with all the grandkids and their activities. We were at the football game with (grandson) Tom on Friday night, but the only picture I could get was the back of him.

Also been hanging out with Kris, Todd, Jessica and Tyler at their fair. This was during the steer show, waiting to go into her class. She did really well so far with a couple of firsts and then going back in for the championship rounds. That grand champion is right on her finger tips -maybe tomorrow. Tom and I are going again tomorrow, pigs and beef breeding this time.

We have also been hauling wood. For us this is a pretty impressive wood pile for just about mid September. It goes 5-6 rows deep (you can't see that). Still need to get some more, but its a good start.

That's our September so far. I have been knitting up a storm trying to get things done so I can wear them this Fall. Maybe this week I will have some finishes.

Be back soon!!

They never fail!

2011-08-24T11:53:00.001-07:00

These black eye susans along the patio never fail to put on a show - always big and bright - this year taller than they have been over the last couple.

Note to self: Plant more of these next year!!

August 15 - already??

2011-08-15T05:45:00.000-07:00

Okay - so its August already, the middle of August and I am asking myself where has the time gone this summer. Seems like we missed Spring altogether and went right into a very hot summer. Thankfully not as hot as other parts of the country, but hot enough to break some longstanding records in our area - like the most days over 90 in July!! Here we are in August and just like that the weather seems to have changed. Over the past week there were a couple of nights we had to close the windows, put an extra blanket on the bed and for the past two days its been nothing but rain. The rain we can use, but doesn't help the fact we need to make some hay.

Jessica, Tyler and myself have been enjoying our Wednesday afternoons together. There has been haning out, swimming, lots of eating lunch out or stops at the ice cream store. Hard to believe this will be our last Wednesday together as they are back in school next week.

Tom and I have been trying to get caught up around the house and yard. There has been new fencing put up, along with a couple of other projects and Tom did manage to get out with his horse on a trail ride. We found a new Metropark in the next county which had a really good trail, so he rode and Milly and I walked. Hopefully we can get in a few more days like that this Fall.

I had no work this morning (seems like an ongoing thing year) so I have been knitting and cleaned out a couple of cuboards. Time to go see if anything has popped up to type.

Have a great week. Enjoy these last August days!!

Weekend highlights and other news!!

2011-06-06T06:18:00.001-07:00

Remember that puppy back in the December posts?? Well, this is Milly now - just about 8 months old and full of energy. She is a really good walking partner though and 5 miles does not phase her a bit. On the other hand, I need her momentum to get back to the truck at the end. The Farmer's Market opened up Saturday. Still to early for veggies, but the flowers were gorgeous.

Tom and Cooper on the left. Sara and Sonny on the right. We got Sonny as a rescue horse from the S.P.C.A. about 2 weeks ago for me to ride. Really great horse, but my arthritis just isn't cooperating - I am working on it though.

The big news of Spring was that my son - Matt became engaged to his girlfriend Ashley. A June 2012 wedding date as been set - so wedding plans are in full force around here.

We had no work this Monday morning so I'm off for another walk in the park with Milly. Hope your week is off to a good start.

June 1, 2011

2011-06-01T12:03:00.000-07:00

Wow!! Way back in March is when I last posted?? Don't have any particular reason - maybe just needed a break, the weather was awful - not as bad as some though. Now its June and it finally stopped raining!! Yeah!!

Jessica and Tyler are already out of school and so today we headed out for lunch. Jessica got to pick - she picked Panera's. I could not disagree with that choice, one of my favorites. I didn't know until we got there that Tyler does not like anything they have. He had a drink while Jessica and I ate and then we headed over to McDonald's for him. New rule - tell Grandma before we get inside that there is nothing on the menu you like!! Then we headed back to their house for some hanging out until Kris got home from work. We decided we are going to use this blog to journal what we end up doing on the days I am with them.

Time for me to think about getting supper going before I head back to work. Next time up - knitting content. I have a couple of things completed.

Talk to you soon.

March - So Far

2011-03-13T12:13:00.000-07:00

I think March is a month of changing weather and we certainly are seeing that.
The picture from below was from Friday. One of those really heavy snows that was really, really pretty, but I have seen enough white stuff. Flooding is all over the place. This was from March 5th, trying to get to Jessica's basketball game. Roads were closed, some areas looked like this and we made it through and then there was the one that had a marker that was almost 2 feet and fast moving water - we turned around for that one. Our basement was not spared and even though its a mess dealing with all that water it made me get going and start cleaning out what I keep putting off.

I'm hoping for more days like this - sunny and warmer. I'm not asking for 70ish - but maybe a few 50 days!!

Just like most of the country were hoping for Spring very, very soon!!

Have a good week.....

2011-02-14T04:42:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day!! Couldn't have planned those knitting colors any better if I had tried. I'm still knitting baby hats - this time for a shower on Sunday where the couple don't know if its a boy or girl - so I knit a pink and blue hat as part of their gift. You can see I have pink yarn already planned for another hat. My first time using KnitPicks CotLin - I think that's how you spell it. The light pink is out of some stash, but the KnitPicks will be my choice from now on. You can also see part of the table topper that Sara made for me.

Here it is the middle of February. Even with all the snow and cold we have had the days just keep flying by. Much warmer here yesterday and today, but that wind is really kicking up today. The weatherman says near 50 by the end of the week - even if it rains that warmth will be welcome.

No work this morning again - its becoming a regular Monday happening so I'm off to do some knitting - see if I can finish up another project that has been laying around for awhile now.

Hope your day is a good one!!!

Sweaters and Quilts!!

2011-02-02T12:00:00.000-08:00

Below is one of the sweaters that I had been working on for Christmas - this is Matt's girlfriend Ashley and if I must say so that sweater really came out great. It looks good, fits good. I love knitting with Malabrigo. Next up is a quilt - a very wonderful quilt - that Sara brought me the other day. Its from P.S. I Quilt and words can't describe it. I feel bad that her sewing machine broke while quilting it, her washing maching broke while washing it - but then again I don't feel all that bad because after all that she was not happy with it and I was the lucky person she gave it to.

The storm we were supposed to get ended up being a little bit of everything but for us not all that bad. I'm sitting by the fire, wrapped in the quilt above, knitting today. PERFECT!!

Stay warm and safe....

January happenings!!

2011-01-28T06:14:00.000-08:00

I somehow disappeared for December and most of January but the reason is below - one of the crazy moments where you decide to get a puppy in the middle of winter. Just last night Tom asked me what were thinking - or the lack of thinking has to be it. Below you see Milly May!! She is a border collie and is about 14 weeks right now. Tom bought a paper home saying he saw some border collies advertised. I called, the next evening we were driving in lots of snow down some back country roads to take a look at some puppies and you know the rest. All of the puppy craziness aside she is really a good dog and we are totally enjoying her. Just can't wait for the weather to get nicer and we can get her outside more. I have been knitting lots. I have this goal of finishing up lots of projects by the end of January and with only a few more days to go that might not be in the stars. I think I'll have to entend that time frame a little bit. I did stop unfinsihed projects to knit this cut baby hat for our neighbor. Actually was really good timing, she had the baby the day I finished the hat.

I used a pattern by Susan B. Anderson, her bunny hat from Itty Bitty Knits, only left off the ears. Its out of Pattons and is DK weight knit on size 7 needles. I did a few hats when I first started knitting but I just didn't get the end results I wanted. This one is perfect so I see more hat knitting soon. There are 2 more babies on the way that will need hats!!

Next up a pattern by French Press Knits. Its a free pattern and if you look on her blog she has it there. Its on Ravelry but at the moment I can't remember the pattern name. Its out of Cascade 220. The buttons aren't sewn on yet. I'm not sure on the placement so I'm waiting until I see my knitting girls (Kris and Ashley) for some help.

This is pretty much what we have seen everyday since December. More snow is falling right now. At least we haven't had the blizzards like in the East and it has warmed up since last week. Warm being 27 for a high today, as compared to 4 of last week.

That's all for now. I plan on being back shortly with more January pictures so I can start February fresh with a bit more blogging.

Keep warm and enjoy your weekend!!

Knitting and Snow!!

2010-12-09T10:39:00.000-08:00

If you go back one post you can see what a difference a week makes. That little chicken house was basking in the sun and now there is snow everywhere. We decieded to move the girls (chickens) to the barn thinking it would make things easier, water-wise. Plus they keep Tom's horse company - really - I find him standing in the aisle looking at them. With all that snow comes knitting. I have not been going out - even though there is still Christmas shopping to do. Another cowl left my needles on Sunday afternoon and walked out the door on Matt's girlfriends neck. Something about those cowls I just can't seem to get a picture. Below I am working on what I think is more like a scarflette?? They wrap around the neck and both will have buttons. The light blue is just a moss stitch out of a polar fleece that I had in my stash. With all us girls sporting our cowls my mom won't want to be left out.

The darker blue is a free pattern by frenchpressknits. Some attention required but really a nice lace pattern and going to look great around my neck. That one is out of Cascade.

Well that's all for today - my nice quiet day of staying home is turning a little crazy. I am making fried chicken for supper and I am out of paprika - weird for fried chicken but its really good and I just heard from our wood guy and he wants to deliver some wood shortly.

Be back soon!!

December 1, 2010

2010-12-01T11:45:00.001-08:00

Just wanted to show you my chicken house all decked out for the holidays... Can't believe were already to the last month of 2010.

Last Days of November

2010-11-29T12:05:00.000-08:00

Really! Not so bad of a November in these parts. No work for me today so I got in a walk early this morning. This was about the only color I saw - love that red!!

Lots of sunshine already at 10:00 a.m.

It was cold out though - that stuff you see on the water is ice starting to form.

Who knows when I will get back out to this park for a walk - December in almost here - but then again maybe it will be like November - sunny - a little chilly some days, really warm others and in general good walking weather. A girl can hope - right??

See you next month!!

Cowling

2010-11-21T05:33:00.001-08:00

Among other projects I have a Cowl addiction going on. Got on Ravelry, figured out a good amount of stitches to cast on and just started knitting - changing the stitches or just leaving it plain. Really a relaxing way to go - no pressure whatsoever. I have knitted 3 so far and got Jessica to model the two below. She makes a much better model than Grandma.

Just winging it must be working out okay - I have knit 2 gray and 1 blue one so far - I only have the blue left. Both the gray ones I have seen walking out the door on the necks of Kris and Sara. I think I'll have to start another one this afternoon while football is on. Go Browns!!

PERFECT!!

2010-11-15T09:47:00.000-08:00

That's what the weather has been around here. Several days of windows that were not yet closed for the winter open - lots of sunshine - still mowing grass (I could do without that chore) -enjoying every day!!

I wish this could last for several more weeks - but it's supposed to end tomorrow. I'll be back soon - I need to enjoy this last day of Indian Summer!!

Just A Trace!!

2010-11-06T07:13:00.001-07:00

This is on the front porch this morning, Tom had to scrape his car off, but its now almost 10:30 and most of it has disappeared. Just a tease from Mother Nature letting us know its coming.

I have been busy outside most of the week, getting things ready for winter. Looks like I will get some more time this week though as they say we are going up into the 60s after today.

Just to let you know, I have been knitting, knitting and doing more knitting. I am trying to keep a realistic schedule of Christmas knitting. This weekend there will be wood stacking, knitting, cleaning the house, knitting, doing some errands, knitting, a baby shower to attend, working at my job and more knitting. All I need is a few more rows on a sweater and I will have met my goal for the week of what I wanted to get done. I even have a few finished things to show you - I just have to find the time to take some pictures and stop knitting long enough to blog.

Have a great weekend. Hope you have sunny skies and warm temperatures and NO SNOW!!

Sunday Road Trip

2010-11-06T07:08:00.001-07:00

We didn't end up where we wanted to last Sunday, but the day was great anyways. We decided after church it was to long to head 2 hours away - since we were getting a late start - so we opted for an hour away at Mochican State Park. As you can see by the pictures it was a great, great fall day, perfect for driving, walking and checking out an awesome covered bridge.

Be back in a minute!!

Covered Bridge Sunday

2010-10-28T08:06:00.001-07:00

Sunday after doing some work around the house, watching football we decided to get out and enjoy the day. We found this covered bridge in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. We have been their several times but I was reading a magazine (Midwest Living) and found out they have a covered bridge in the park.

This Sunday were off again in search of more covered bridges. In our neck of the woods it another hang on to your hat day- so windy.

Be back later!!

Friday Night Football

2010-10-24T16:47:00.001-07:00

This has been one of those gorgeous October weekends - great weather - lots of sun and warm temps. Today it was in the 70s.

Our weekend started with our grandson's football game Friday night. There was a full moon and Sara and I did sit there with blankets wrapped around us. Sara, myself and Tom sat in the bleachers while his Dad paced the sidelines.

Short of running up to the fence and calling his name I only got to see his back most of the night. He would be #6- my favorite 15 year old grandson. He plays mostly the junior varsity games but due to an illness he's the backup quarterback on the varsity. He didn't get to play and their team lost - but all in all it was a good night.
Only about a week left in October - enjoy it while you can!!

Family Affair

2010-10-14T17:56:00.000-07:00

Saturday was a cow show in Medina that Kris and her kids were going to - so Tom and I, my son Matt and his girlfriend Ashley all turned up to lend a helping hand.

Here's my favorite 7 year old - love that grin. My favorite 10 year old is behind him with her back to the camera. She was busy gabbing with her friend. Matt was busy helping the kids get their cows to the ring and Ashley was his helper.

I didn't get to see much of the show - I was cooking hamburgers for the group. The cows all behaved, it was great weather, good family and friends - what more could you ask for.

Be back soon!!

New View

2010-10-14T17:50:00.000-07:00

Sunday was the day to put a new window in my office/bedroom. Two nice big windows with a great view. No more windows that had to have been here since the 50s. The count would be 2 down, 6 or so more to go. Be right back - I had a terrible time the other day trying to upload pictures and post - so today I hope to catch up.

Vacation Highlights

2010-10-04T12:05:00.001-07:00

Vacation started way back in September with a trip to the local Farmer's Market. I finally got there early enough to get this great bouquet of sunflowers and lillies. Most of the time I don't get there until noon and the flowers are sold out. Good way to start the week off I thought. We did a few day trips around Ohio, doing some shopping in Amish country and tractor hunting.

After driving all over the place looking at tractors and seeing if we could find a good deal on one - we ended up about 2 miles from our house and found this one. I can't remeber all the specifics on it but I do know its a Ferguson, it was the right price and it now is in the barn awaiting some restoring. We don't know exactly when we will be retiring - but the plan is to restore and repair old tractors after we are done working the jobs we have now. I am amazed how tractors have gone up in price over the past few years so hopefully this is a good investment for the future.

I did get in lots of knitting and finished some projects- those pictures soon.

Be back soon!!

Almost Finished Knitting Projects

2010-09-24T16:59:00.000-07:00

I will soon have some knitting projects that I have been jumping back and forth on all summer completed!! Yeah!!
Socks for me out of Stonechat Malabrigo - I love this color. They are toe up and only need the a little more length and the cuff. I was afraid I would run out of yarn so I stopped the first one and started the second one.

A definitely orange cropped cardigan out of Berocco Alpaca. Sara has laid claim to this one. Did I mention I was knitting Kris, Sara and Ashley (my son's girlfriend ) a sweater for Christmas? I am - one will be done soon. Pretty quick - a little boring in the middle part - but definitely a nice sweater for that cood weather we will soon be having.... Just needs sleeves.

Another pair of socks for me. Lorna's lace. Really nice yarn and the actual color is much brighter than here. Orange, gold, brown and turquoise - perfect colors to put together if you ask me.

Last but not least, a cropped cardigan for me. This was half done as another sweater but it just wasn't fitting so I ripped out and started this. This is out of Malabrigo - Stonechat. I love this color - didn't I just say that with the socks.

Tom and I start a weeks vacation tomorrow. We can't wait!! There are some home improvement projects to be tackled, some traveling around Ohio, sleeping in and knitting. I hope to get these projects finished by the end of the week so i can start something new.

Just a mention on the weather since Fall has started. For the past 2 days we have broke record high with 89 and 88. Feels more like Summer than Fall to me.

See you back soon - hopefully there will be new windows to show and totally finished projects.

Is this really the middle of September

2010-09-15T07:03:00.000-07:00

Another month is just flying by........

Tyler with his chicken eggs that he entered in the fair. To young for 4-H but still happy to have entered something!! To check out Jessica's success check out Kris' blog.

Be back soon - I have sock success to show!!

5 for Friday

2010-08-27T11:26:00.000-07:00

Impatience that are still growing strong - even in the heat that we have had.

A new barn door finished this week.

More impatience - these need some more attention - usually they are overflowing - I think more water on my part would help - also some cooler temps.

A new spot for the chicken coop - in the shade - fence on the agenda for this weekend and the girls will be moving in.

Of course knitting!!! Hope you have some good things planned for your weekend....

No Recall on these eggs

2010-08-21T13:30:00.000-07:00

I have chickens again. Picked them up last Sunday from one of the vendors at the local Farmer's Market. I was just getting 2, but could not resist the Aracauna chickens that he had. I love those green eggs. In the picture I took you really cannot see the nice shade of green that egg is! He gave me the Aracauna because he said they were getting slightly old and he was not getting a lot of eggs from them - but this girl is giving us an egg every other day - Yeah!! We gave away our last batch of chickens because they brought so many wild birds into the barn - it was a mess. We thought we solved the problem but they seem to be slowly returning already - so a new outside chicken coop in on the to do list for this week.

Can't wait for Sunday breakfast with fresh eggs from these chickens!!

Summer - 2010

2010-08-17T15:10:00.001-07:00

Its been a long time since I have been to this space with lots going on. I am going to try to catch up over the next week with lots of pictures - so I can remember Summer 2010 and have it not je just a blur.

Lets start with hot, hot, hot. Most people know what I'm talking about -seems to be happening everywhere. We are cooler for the time being - funny how you think 80 is cool after all those 90s.

I love these flowers, they never disappoint me and this year they are really tall. New garden spot - just big enough for 2 people. Things have been ripening slow due to all the heat but this week we have finally gotten some tomatoes. Nothing like walking right out the back door and picking them. Anything else we need we go to the local farmer's market - they seem to be everywhere this year.

Went to Columbus to watch Tyler show Jessica's pig. He did a really good job - it was the first time with a pig in the show ring for him. We did not get to see Jessica - she was on a different day but things went well for her. Now its on to their local fair. Tyler can't wait to be 9 so he can be in 4H.

Hay baling went on and we got it done before the real heat came along.

I went to Jessica's fashion show for 4-H. She made the top she is wearing. Wish I could sew like her. If I need something sewn I will be asking her!! Her county fair is in 3 weeks so she has been working hard with her pigs and steer.

That's enough for today. I will be back soon with more highlights of our summer and some knitting.

Have a good week!!

Earth Day

2010-04-22T11:29:00.001-07:00

Today I'm taking care of my little space here on earth.

On my walk today I picked up trash that was along the fence line. Nothing that I recognized to be ours so who knows where it has blown from, but it stops at the fence line between us and the neighbors. I had a bag full when I was done. There has also been mulch spreading and rock therapy. I swear those rocks gained 10 pounds over the winter.

Enjoy your space on this earth today!!

Caught up!!

2010-04-21T17:16:00.000-07:00

Okay, blogger let me upload tonight the other 2 pictures from this afternoon's post. Although I have no idea how to turn that picture the right way. I tried - but no go - so you will just have to tilt your head a little bit. Anyways - my favorite 7 year old had a BD the day after Easter so we celebrated with bunny cake and an egg hunt. Perfect!!!!

It was in the 80s and sunny Easter Sunday. The whole family was present and accounted for - it was a good food and good company day!!

See you later........

Trying to catch up!!

2010-04-21T09:51:00.000-07:00

Today's post is some of the things that have been going on around here. I can't believe I have been gone so long- 5 weeks is it??

Nothing earth shattering - just got busy with life. If you read some of my past posts the local rec center offers a reduced membership after your 60 - so why not take advantage of it. I am happy to say I am walking 3 miles in a half hour, doing lots of work on the machines and have managed to almost get the kink out of my knee that was bothering me. I really do feel better and have noticed I am much more flexible - so I see this becoming a regular thing. Takes a lot out of you though to get in shape - so there has been lots of afternoon naps and early to bed going on.

The pictures below are what was on my camera that have been taken and worth sharing over the past few months.

This is Jessica on the wagon that Tom built for Tyler for his BD. Tyler is driving the tractor in the corner of the picture. Jessica and Tyler spent a weekend with us so while the girls were shopping the guys were building a wagon.
This is Tom's tractor that he painted over the winter. It turned out to be a long, long project because of the winter we had and all the snow. Those really cold snowy days he just didn't feel like heating up the barn and working on it.

I had a few pictures from Easter but was unable to upload them. Maybe next time. I hope to be back real soon to show you my outside projects. So far its been a pretty good spring, although we did have a few snowy moments this past Saturday.

Until next time........

So far - Like a Lamb

2010-03-09T13:34:00.000-08:00

That's what it feels like around here, March came in like a lamb. The weather has been the best for early March. Today 55 and sunny, as a matter of fact everyday has been sunny. Rain is on the way though - but still no cold temps like we had in February. I know, there are lots of days left yet in the month and we have had some whopper of storms later in the month. For right now though, I am going to enjoy all that sun and warmth. It was so nice on Sunday I took Marley to the park. It was very evident there we have had lots and lots of snow. There were no paved walks to be seen, just little foot paths everywhere. Just wide enough for Marley in front leading the way and me following behind - just like all the people had done before us.

Be back shortly with some knitting. I think I am going to leave the sweater knitting to Kris - I'll knit the socks.

Enjoy your day!!

March!! Yeah!!

2010-03-01T13:42:00.000-08:00

What a relief - we made it through February. For me that is a month that can really get to you and with all the snow we had - well I was glad to see it go. We still have lots of snow - it was still snowing yesterday, but today has been warm - if you call 35 warm and sunny.

What color do you think of as a March color?? I think of green and as you can see below I finished a pair of green socks just in time. I am finally getting the construction part of socks. I have the toe down, the heel could use some work (I think I am slipping the stitches wrong on the one side, but they are not awful looking). The leg part is great. Now for the cuff and bind off. They are a little too loose for my taste. That's what I will work on for my next pair.
Hope you had a little bit of sunshine in your life today!!

Inside and Outside

2010-02-26T16:42:00.000-08:00

Inside: Can you see what I have been doing during this latest snow storm - Yep!! Getting out the bunnies and spring things - I think wishful thinking that next week it will be 50 and sunny. There has also been sock knitting and trying to finish up a spring sweater that I started last year. Also today was a pajama day - you know - stay in your pajama pants all day - and that I did. Outside: We had to get out the big guns for this one. We try to use the garden tractor but we are just getting to much snow and are running out of places to push it.

I hope you all have a good weekend. The finals for curling are going to be on soon and after all that curling we have watched over the last 2 weeks I need to go watch this. See you next week - it will be March!! Hopefully 50 and sunny.....

Yesterday - Today - What a difference

2010-02-18T11:36:00.001-08:00

That old saying what a difference a day makes is true. In the picture below its really hard to tell how hard it is snowing, but believe me it was coming down and its done that now for about 2 weeks. Every single day, sometime during the day its snows around here. We have been lucky - we have lots of snow, but we could have more. Now skip down to the next picture. See that sunshine - it started early this morning and has continued throughout the day. Boy did we need this. Sunshine really helps those winter blah's!! I'm not getting to excited though - those weather people say we could be getting another storm by Monday.

To keep me from going stir crazy these last few weeks - and also to stay somewhat in shape I took advantge of being 60 - I joined our local rec center. Once you are 60 you can join for 13 months for $100.00. I thought that was a pretty good deal so I signed up and have been walking on their track several times a week. Just one thing I have noticed since starting this, their mile seems a lot longer than the one I walk with Marley. Marley and I were walking around 2 miles last fall - just saying maybe their measuring is off -(LOL). I get a mile in but those last few laps are a struggle.

Hope you are all enjoying some clear and sunny weather today. Where are you spring??

60

2010-02-04T10:40:00.001-08:00

Today is Tom's BD and he is 60. I have been 60 since back in October, so now we are even again being the same age - that makes me feel better. I don't want to be 60 alone!! Now that were at this age it doesn't really seem that old to me. As I was trying to decide what to say here today I just kept thinking back all those years ago - say like 16 when we started dating, 20 when we got married, 20s and 30s when we had kids, 30s and 40s when we were farming, 50s when he got his own horse, etc. I think he will agree with me that we have had a pretty good life and most of it would not do over. So here is to the next years of our life together and hopefully many more birthday celebrations. Love you!!

P.S. I will be back with pictures of the cheese cake I'm making for tonight. Mine are usually out of a box, but not this one. You have to have something special for 60.

January

2010-01-27T10:54:00.001-08:00

Even though we are in the thick of Winter - the calendar could slow down a bit - don't you think. Seems like we were just beginning a new year and now we have almost 1 month under our belts.

I did manage to finish my orange socks - Yeah!! Not perfect - a little big- maybe they will shrink - but now I have a pair of my own. Besides I had to get that last sock done - I needed the needles to start another pair that will hopefully fit better.

Tom got a new horse last weekend. We still have Cooper but he was really in need of a friend to share his days with. He was literally chewing down our barn - no kidding. This seems to have done the trick. I would like you all to meet Zoe. So far they seem to be getting along just fine and most of the chewing has stopped. Although Tom did put up some metal strips across the spots that he seemed to like the best. She is 6 years old and a breeding stock Paint mare - which basically means she is a Paint horse without color. Besides working and knitting I have been doing some baking and trying out some new recipes. The cinnamon rolls are from The Pioneer Woman Cooks cookbook. You can also gets this off of her blog, Confessions of a Pioneer Woman. They are so good!! A little bit of work to start with but 1 recipe makes between 30 and 40 rolls depending on how you cut them. I tried to freeze some - which were still just as good as the original baking - but they still only lasted a few days.

We are in for more cold weather starting from today through the weekend - so stay warm and enjoy these last days of January. See you in February!!

Finished, started, Ah Ha moment and of course - snow!

2010-01-13T11:44:00.000-08:00

Looking at the calendar - were almost to the middle of the month - seems like we just started this year a day or 2 ago.

Finished - Below is a wool heart that is stuffed, attached to a candlestick holder with a bow tied around it - finished just in time for Valentine's day. Took me awhile to get motivated on this one - but at long last it is done. Started - A pair of socks for Tom - hopefully they will be done before the cold weather is over.

Ah Ha moment!! I finally figured out a heel for a sock that I could do and was so simple it had me questioning why have I been messing around with all those other heels?? I have heard its not a heel that is going to last a long, long time - but really who cares. At the rate I was going there would not even be a pair of socks for a long, long time. I see more socks in my future.

Just had to show you some snow - but also there is sunshine - that blinding sort of winter sunshine and the temperature is on the rise. The weatherman is calling it the January thaw - really I am hoping it continues right through February and March.

Enjoy your day....

First Days of 2010

2010-01-05T13:37:00.000-08:00

It is just the first few days into January and already I think cabin fever is setting in around here.
Everyday its snows, most of the day. It is just that light fluffy kind of snow so it accumulates just enough that Tom has to plow the drive out every evening after he gets home. Marley is ready to run for the back field every time we get out - but so far this week we have only made it to the mailbox. It was 25 today - amazing how much warmer that was compared to 7 degrees on Sunday.

Even Tom's horse Cooper is bored. Lets just say yesterday he managed to get the door open to Tom's shop and had a good time exploring farm equipment and checking out the work Tom is doing on the tractor. Tom was left cleaning up the shop - at least he didn't have to clean the stall to - all the manure was in the shop. This is the furtherest he has been out all week.

I have been keeping busy doing little things that need to be done in the house. Today I am tackling my office, knitting room, craft room and whatever else gets dumped in that room. I have my work cut out for me.

Just remember - Spring is right around the corner!!

Before a new year starts

2009-12-30T12:06:00.000-08:00

I took this picture the other day as we were seeing the most significant snowfall for this season so far. It didn't amount to much - an inch or 2, but it was pretty - if you don't have to go out in it. Even though winter just started I keep thinking spring isn't far off!!
Before the last day of the year I wanted to get in these 2 pictures from Christmas Eve. That is Jessica below showing off some of her new clothes.

Here's Tyler with probably the most appreciated present of the year - a BB gun. He is definitely his Dad's boy, loves the outdoors, always wanting to go hunting. Todd and Kris came before it got dark on Christmas Eve so there was some early present opening and a trip outside to try out the BB gun (not before BB's were spilled all over the kitchen floor though). From what I hear they have already run out of the BB's we gave him and were going to town to get the biggest box they could. Its so good when someone is so excited about something you give - don't you agree??

Christmas Eve day we spent visiting the neighbors as we all exchange homemade gifts - cookies and candy, one neighbor makes bread for all of us. All the fingerless mitts were most appreciated but one of the guys wanted to know where his were? I said next year I'll knit for the guys. I think I've got my work cut out for me.

Hope you have all enjoyed this week between the holidays and I'm wishing you a happy and healthy New Year.

I'll be back next year!!

Enjoying the days...

2009-12-23T11:04:00.000-08:00

These last fews weeks I have been -- taking lots of walks through the snow and the woods...

making chocolate covered pretzels... (Notice the neat quilt talbe topper - that was my Christmas gift from Sara and her family. I am so enjoying it.)

walking through the snow covered fields...

knitting fingerless mitts for my neighbors (just one more pair to finish)...

decorating the tree.. (Just a little one this year - so much easier)

baking Tom's favorite cookies... (which will probably be gone tonight)

and hoping to get some of this in...

From my family to yours - Merry Christmas!!!

Thanksgiving 2009

2009-12-04T08:27:00.000-08:00

I know - its December. I just couldn't let all the pictures that I took on Thanksgiving go to waste and not post them. Monday and Tuesday were those nightmare type days at work. In a nut shell - our boss went on vacation, quit, forgot to tell us that there were new changes to the system and if you did not upload a different program you would get "No work available," forgot to send out the instructions, lots of other things she forgot to mention before she left for her new job - or maybe just decided not to tell us. Starting last week Friday there was No Work Available every time you logged in. This went on until Tuesday when someone figured out that 100 people from our group were not typing and there was work. Then it was a mad scramble to get things downloaded - which were not working an finally by 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday I was back to work. Things seem to be getting back to normal but I did see that even yesterday some people were still not working.

Our Thanksgiving was a really great day though - a memorable one.
There was crafting of these cut gingerbread dolls. Todd's Mom brought this with her and while the guys watched football the making of these went on.

There was a lot of sampling the frosting and candy - have to make sure it tastes good before you put it permanently on that cookie.

Lots of eating.

People riding 4 wheelers (Matt and Ashley)

Lots of snacking before dinner was ready, and--

A nice long walk for me and Marley at the park. As you can see it was a gorgeous day, sunny and actually not very cold.

Today is a different story though - nice and sunny but not even 30 yet. Marley and I are off for a walk - if we can get across the creek with all the rain we have had. We are taking an alternate route today to get to the back fields. Hopefully she won't need a bath when we get back.

I will be back this weekend. I have lots of finished things to show you. I tried to take a picture of the vest that Kris made me but wasn't having much luck getting the perfect picture. This vest is way to nice for a crappy picture.

See you later........

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2009-11-26T05:51:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone enjoys today - no matter what you are doing or who you are with - we all have things to be thankful for.

The best way to start off my today - coffee with Tom, walking Marley in the park and just maybe StarBucks will be open!!

Getting ready....

2009-11-25T11:56:00.000-08:00

Just a shot of what has been going on here today. Apples peeled for applesauce, strawberry jello salad waiting for the next layer and double layer pumpkin pie - which is actually for Tom and I for dessert tonight. You have to start the holiday off right - right??

We will be heading to Kris and Todd's tomorrow. Two 20 pound turkeys are waiting to be deep fried - Todd will be doing that. Kris is making dressing and mashed potatoes. I'm doing the side dishes and Grandma Z is bringing the pies. Anybody else who shows up just brings something to contribute to the meal. There will be anywhere from 10 to 18 of us. There will be football watching, game playing and some searching through the adds for Black Friday. I'm supposed to work on Friday, but I'm hoping for some time off to hit a few sales.

I'm off to make a few more things - that way tomorrow will be a lazy day - for awhile at least.

Jackie

Burned out on fingerless mitts...

2009-11-20T11:24:00.000-08:00

I was reading blogs today and seems like everyone is gearing up on their Christmas projects.

Last year I made at least a dozen pairs of fingerless mitts. I made Toast, Those Mitts and Toasty all from a-friend-to-knit-with patterns. They were great, but then I started on this last pair. They were for me. The one on the left was knit last year just a few days before Christmas and then I ran out of steam. After all those mitts I didn't even have a pair for myself. I came across them the other day and decided I need to get the right one done. After about an hour of knitting I only have a few more rows and then the thumb and I will be done. I should have nice Toasty fingers by Thanksgiving.

I decided this year there will be no marathon of knitting, actually I'm hardly knitting anything for anyone - but then - yesterday I went to the LYS and saw this really cute project. Something that all the girls in the family could use - from the youngest to the oldest so of course I hopped on the knitting marathon again. I can't give away the details because its a surprise - but hopefully I will end up with one when all the knitting is done. I should probably make mine first - what do you think??

Have a good weekend!!

Random Wednesday Thoughts

2009-11-18T08:25:00.000-08:00

Thanks for all the comments on the dog hair situation. I actually took the pet vacuum part of my vacuum and used it on Marley the other day. It all seems to be lessening. I also bought a new rug for the living room - which seems to have helped quite a bit. The other rug was navy blue, some wool, very comfy to roll on and scratch your bag. I just went to Home Depot and bought one of their area rugs (see below). Its a low berber and covers a lot more of the room. You don't see as much of the wood floor, but I don't see as much of the hair laying on the floor.
As Tom pointed out - the hair is still there, you just don't see it. The key word being you - meaning me. What am I working on this week with Marley - not jumping on the bed the minute we leave the house. I broke her of laying on the couch when we left - by putting newspapers on it, but now she likes our bed!! Has anyone started their Christmas shopping yet?? I am moving right along and have set the goal - done by Thanksgiving!! That would be a first for me. It also helps that 2 of the grandkids are teenagers and money is always good.

Knitting is progressing although I have nothing to show. My sock did not get finished so maybe later today or tomorrow I can try to figure it out on my own. At our sock club were starting a KAL - 2 socks at one time. Good thing we are all beginner sock knitters. Ought to be interesting.

We have had some great weather for the past 2 weeks - actually better than October. In the upper 50s (which still is not 70 but better than the alternative) and sunny. So that is it for today - I'm off to mow the front yard - but I do need to find my gloves. Hopefully this is the last time we have to mow for this year. I like to mow grass but I am definitely ready for a break from that job.

Medina has their Candlelight Walk this weekend. The paper said they light 5,000 luminaries around the town. It will be great if the weather stays warm - makes all that shopping I am planning on doing a little more enjoyable because once you find a parking space that is where you walk from. I have been cutting coupons out of the paper all week for some of my favorite places - I just might get some good bargins.

Enjoy the rest of the week!!

Just some random things....

2009-11-06T08:25:00.000-08:00

Do you know we had some snow here on Wednesday?? That is one of my early days, I get off at 10:00 a.m. My plan was to mow the grass - hopefully for the last time. The sun was shinning, it looked like I was in for a wonderful day. About 9:45 it started to darken outside and by 10 it was snowing. It didn't stick to the ground but for about an hour we had lots of flurries. I am off at 10 today, the sun is shinning, but it is supposed to be 60 today so hopefully I won't see any flakes as I'm mowing.

There has been knitting going on (especially on snow days). Below is my first sweater for me. So far so good, the pattern is 28thirty by Zephyr. I knitting it out of Malabrigo, color Stonechat. It is just beautiful. The only problem is it seems a little small. Boy am I hoping it stretches or blocks out. I bet Kris and Sara are hoping its to small!

I finished a pair of socks and this pair is close to being completed. I have to get up to the heel this weekend as sock club meets next Thursday and I want to be doing the heel there in case I have problems.

Also on the needles is Juliet - again by Zephyr. I took out the lace pattern and just went with plain stockinette stitch. I ripped this out about 3 times. Its hard to do lace and watch TV. This one is either a Christmas present or BD present, depending on how soon its done. Lots of Zephyr patterns being knitted, but they are top down with very little seeming- so thats a plus.

Next I have a question for anybody who reads this blog and has a dog. Marley sheds so much - I can't even describe it. Anyone have any good ideas on how to deal with lots and lots of dog hair? I blame this on Tom. When I went to the animal shelter he said look for soft eyes, he didn't remind me about the shedding.

I have got to get moving, sunny skies and a lawn mower are awaiting me. Also Marley is looking at me very impatiently wanting to get outside. She has been in the house a lot this week due to her not feeling well. She is banished from the barn for the time being - there are to many nasty things she liked to roll in and eat down there. You think she would have learned her lesson last week, but no its been more of the same this week. Sorry girl - I'm keeping my eye on you today.

Enjoy your weekend - may it be sunny and warm - as sunny and warm as it can be for November.

Can it be November already??

2009-11-01T12:13:00.000-08:00

Well, Halloween is over - most of the leaves are off the trees - the time has changed - it must be November!!

Last night was Trick or Treat in Medina and it was just about perfect. So much easier that they are now older and can get around by themselves. We usually go into town because its just easier- there are sidewalks, stree lights and the houses are closer together. After about an hour their bags were full and they were ready to go. It was a little cool but I can take that over the rain that we had up until about 2:oo p.m. yesterday. As you can see most of the leaves are gone off the trees in the woods. Our picnic area is cleaned up, benches stacked and were ready for what comes next.

Today is a lazy day for us. Tom and I have done a couple of things around the house, but mostly its been watching movies, football and nap taking. I'm off to do some knitting and more football watching.

Happy November!!

My Handsome Son!!

2009-10-25T16:24:00.000-07:00

Thought you'd like to see what a handsome son I have!! This is him and his girlfriend going out to a party on Friday night. The men in Tom's family are all bald by the time their 30 usually so he must take after my side of the family, although I can't quite remember anyone being this hairy.

Its Sunday night and my knitting is calling me. Talk to you later in the week.

Jackie

What's been going on here??

2009-10-23T08:28:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all of you for the BD wishes. Yes, I am now officially 60 - sounds old when you say it but one of my friends told me to embrace it - so I think I will try that for awhile. Tom and I both were on vacation last week. We started out our vacation by going to a steer show that Jessica and Tyler were in. It was in Medina and was quick. We were back in less than an hour. Jessica was her usual smiling self and did really good showing the calf. This was Tyler's first show but he handled it like he had been doing it all his life. He got first with his calf in the first class he ever went in!! Yeah Tyler!! They still need help from Dad and Grandpa.

On Tuesday we went to Columbus to the All American Quarter Horse Congress. We had never been there before and we were amazed to say the least. We watched some classes, saw some demonstrations, shopped and ate. We decided next year we will go for 2 days and see some of the bigger classes - like reining.

On Friday we headed to Kentucky. It was a great drive, beautiful Fall leaves and scenery. We ate out, went to the Kentucky Horse Park Farm and just did some seeing of the sites. Our favorite was a Blue Grass Driving Tour through all the thoroughbred farms. Just miles and miles of fence, big farms and horses. If you have ever seen the movie Dreamer it looked just like that.

After seeing all those beautiful farms I now want this (below) - board fence and stone walls. I think I'll be saving for awhile, but it certainly was spectacular.

Well its already Friday and raining. We have had several days of really nice weather which I spent entirely outside mowing, walking and generally enjoying the days (one weather forecaster said it was our Indian Summer). I do hope we get some nice weather - the joke in our house is that I have fence to paint - the board fence that we do have in that nice black color like above.

Enjoy your weekend!!

Jackie

October Wednesday

2009-10-07T11:34:00.001-07:00

What's going on here today??

Vegetable beef soup cooking on the stove. Peach, blueberry cobbler to be made later. Some new knitting. The cropped cardigan did not work out - boy was that thing small - so rip, rip, rip and starting a new sweater - 28thirty. I think this yarn will be better suited for this sweater. Also some magazine reading and I bought some DMC thread for a little sewing project I'm going to attempt.

High wind warnings this morning, but then the sun came out so Marley and I were off for a walk. This is Tom's horse, Cooper standing at the fence. He followed us down the lane as far as he could go.

Marley enjoying running through the hay field.

One of those pictures that I uploaded and then went - Where did that come from?? Didn't know how to get rid of it either - The sun was shining, I was just aiming at the dog running through water but I don't see any of that here. Just ignore. Senior moment - I can definitely say that now, Monday I got a Golden Buckeye card - here in Ohio it gets you discounts at certain places and if you need to show proof that you are a senior you whip this card out. That was kind of depressing. They could have at least waited until after my BD.

Cooper wondering why he didn't get to go walking.

That's all I have for today. I'm off to do some knitting before I have to get back to work. Hope your having a good Wednesday!!

Socktober and selfish knitting

2009-10-02T11:16:00.001-07:00

Hey it's October!! One of my favorite months. Before I get started my last post was about getting some better weather from Mother Nature and she did let that happen yesterday. It was a beautiful day and I managed to get half of the grass mowed. Today though is a different story - its been raining since the wee hours of this morning and hasn't stopped. If we had a creek it would be rising!!

Below is my selfish knitting. That is what I have dubbed October. Selfish knitting month - meaning knitting for me. Do you know I have knit this cropped cardigan twice and still do not have one of my own. The yarn I am using is Malabrigo Stonechat - supposedly one of their most popular colors. Its scarlet red and different shades of brown - reminds me of chocolate so its truly fun to knit. I am almost to the the body - just a few more rows to go. I hope to have it done before Tom and I go on vacation. Yes, that's right. We are going on vacation. Something we never do. As a kid my family traveled all over the United States. His family didn't. So in about 10 days were off to see some sites - our first stop is the Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio. He wants to see the horses - I'm going for the retail experience, which I hear can be very damaging to the wallet. From there I think we will be heading to the Smoky Mountains.

Below is a another sock. These are for Sara. Should go rather quickly since she has really small feet. Its yarn from Pagewood Farms. I'm not that experienced at saying what's the best yarn but I ripped this sock out no less than 8 times and when I started over each time it was still as good as when I first started.

(Note to Kris and Sara - selfish knitting month - don't expect your socks in October.)

Hope you all have a great weekend and the sun is shining in your neck of the woods!!

Dear Mother Nature,

2009-09-30T12:52:00.001-07:00

I just have a quick favor to ask of you. Could you possible give us a week - maybe 2 of some nice weather. You know the kind - a little sunshine, no rain, some warmer temps. We still have painting to do on the house and a couple of other projects that we would like to finish before you know what comes, you know that 4 letter word (SNOW).

That's what I'd ask for right about now. Its been raining, drizzling, cold, damp and just not very nice out now for about a week. We still continue to work on the back of the house, Tom worked on the new garage peak over the weekend when it wasn't raining. We have already had a fire in the wood stove, Marley and I have walked 2 days in the rain and tonight its supposed to frost.

I was really hoping for a little more Fall weather.

The picture above is from our walk today. We have been going further all the time. We now walk by our hay field - as a matter of fact it looks like that needs to be cut again. The people who own the property mow a path around the 7 acres of hay so its really nice for walking. The other way we usually go is getting so high its hard to see where your stepping.

Be back tomorrow with some knitting...

Knitting and Fall

2009-09-24T11:55:00.000-07:00

Finally, some knitting pictures. Don't those socks remind you of Fall - these are actually my birthday socks so they need to be done sometime in October. Its going to be one of those milestone birthdays you don't want to think about. Next up is a complete pair - just need to bind off but am waiting until I get to the LYS for some help. All I hear is you can make them so tight they are hard to get on - don't want that after all that work.

Don't you just love the white pumpkin?? At the end of November I throw all my pumpkins on a manure pile that we have at the back of our property that backs up against some woods. I always seem to get pumpkins from that process for the next year - some years better than others. This year I have gotten 18 pumpkins. Some better than others. I had a lot of gourds last year and I have some really funky crosses going on but they are still good, although unusual. Don't worry - over the next couple of weeks I will show you what I did with all those pumpkins.

Below are just a few photos I snapped from my walk with Marley today. My goal is to keep up with her after she stops all the initial running. I am progressing. Today I even managed to stay ahead of her at one point. Of course, the last part of the walk, as we get closer to the house we are both dragging.

Talk to you soon!!

Before Pictures/Marley

2009-09-23T10:04:00.001-07:00

You can see by this picture what Tom did on his vacation last week. He sanded for something like 47 hours total. We spent more on sand paper than we did on paint. Just a few more things to go and the back of the house will be somewhat done. We were hoping to get a few new windows in but all this sanding took more time than he anticipated. Hopefully there will be no more peeling - or at least a minimum of peeling. This was another project from last week - 2 loads of wood delivered. Now all we need to do is stack it.

Today is one of my broken up days - I work until 10:00 a.m. and then go back from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. I can actually say I really like the break - sometimes all that typing without a long break wears you down. Marley and I have already walked the back fields. I am in the middle of making applesauce to freeze and just enjoying the day. I do have to get out and do some clean up on the back of the house - that would be my job - cleaning up all the mess that sanding created. Wait until you see the after pictures -- it has been so worth it.

Below is Marley snoozing the morning away while I type. There are lots larger spaces to lay in my office but today she managed to cram herself into this little space, almost under my chair. She tried to change positions but there was not enough room. From the amount of snoring that went on I don't think she mined being cramped one bit.

Enjoy this first full day of Fall!! Feels more like Summer around here - its almost 80 and so, so humid.

Jackie

Tidbits and fair photos, quilt results

2009-09-16T08:17:00.001-07:00

Here is Jessica showing her cow - look at that face. She was trying not to cry - obviously cow showing is not as much fun as pig showing. Cows were at the end of the day, pigs at the beginning. She had an infectious smile all through the pig show with the judge even calling her Smiley at one point. These are the quilts Kris entered in the open show. Second on the one below- it didn't even have the wool appliques on it - think of the possibilities if it had. It Trail to Kansas.

Below is the Best of Show - pretty impressive. Kris, Sara and I several years ago got up very early once a month on Saturday mornings, took Jessica, a 1 year - 2 year old and went to the quilt shop to get our free blocks when we had completed one. Sara and I also have the same quilt.

Tyler with his eggs. No ribbons but we needed a picture nonetheless.

Tyler with is corn - the class was tallest corn in Wayne County. It was pretty dang tall.

Heres the pig show. Kris also has a few more pics on her blog - just a few!

All in all they had a great fair, but they have worked all summer at this so all that hard work did not go un noticed.

Tom is off this week. We are painting the back of the house. We are getting to many comments about the front being gray and the back yellow. Not that we have been slacking - we did put a roof on in between painting years.

Colleen you giveaway package is on the way. I hope you enjoy it!!

I said I would be back with another giveaway and I will soon. The plan that I had for the next one fell thru. Have to see what else I can come up with. There will be 2 more over the next 2 months though. Last year when I tried to do a Pay It Forward no one signed up - so instead I am doing 3 giveaways. I feel guilty that I never completed it.

Well I am off to make lunch and work in the yard. Tom will be sanding - so I'm mowing grass.

See you next week.

Jackie

Tidbits and fair photos

2009-09-16T08:17:00.000-07:00

A Day At The Fair

2009-09-12T17:49:00.000-07:00

Here is everyone getting Jessica's cow ready. Amazing how many people it takes to get one little girl into the show ring. The 2 older girls in the picture are good friends who came down to cheer Jessica on - they also grew up showing cows and Todd always helped them with their steers.

Tyler - in the yellow cap there (really its orange but here it looks yellow) was on poop patrol and was always running with the picth fork and wheelbarrow. He was really busy as they have 4 cows at the fair. He so wants to do this but is still to young. He did enter some corn in a class at the fair and got second place. The class was tallest corn stalk.

See that big smile in the picture below?? This is her second class. The first class was lots of nervous tears and then her cow stepped on her foot, got loose, etc. The friends that were helping made all kinds of bets with her about not crying for the second class - like buying her a snow cone and taking her to the tractor pool. So - she put on that big smile, which never left her face the whole class. She did really well for a first year kid - I was impressed!!

Tom and I did not stay for the last class but if you go over to QuiltedSimple you can see the results of the last class - Reserve Champion first year showmanship!! I am impressed. If you interested in seeing more of the day Kris was using her phone to send pictures to her blog - What Did We Do Without Cell Phones?? All I can say is - their hooked, they will be back at it next year. Now its on to her pig - Oinkey Doinkey- and more cows on Monday and Tuesday.

Enjoy your weekend!

Jackie

Our Sunday Road Trip

2009-09-11T08:44:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday we left pretty early in the morning, went to breakfast and then headed to Bucyrus, Ohio. We had heard about some murals that they have painted on their downtown buildings and figure what the heck. It was well worth the trip. The buildings were awesome. The one that looks like the town way back when looks as if you could drive down the road as they are in 3D. I did not get a full view of the town as a young man who had helped on both murals was there doing some restoration work.

The Statue of Liberty represents all the men in their county who fought in I think World War II. The background and all the columns are faces of those men.

Not much has been happening here this week. Monday I had to work - Tuesday we were out of work - I think those doctors could have planned it a little better so we were off Monday!! This week starts the fair for the grandkids. Brings back memories of all those years of 4H we did, I'm thinking 15+ or even more. One good thing - we are not doing all the work. I am going to enjoy watching Kris and Todd get all these animals ready while I'm sitting in my chair drinking lemonade.

Tom is on vacation this week also. Hopefully by next weekend I will be showing before and after pictures of our house going from yellow to gray.

Have a good weekend.

Jackie

We have a WINNER!!

2009-09-07T11:43:00.000-07:00

I thought I blabbed more about our farming adventures and this would be an easy guess. I'm going to have to blog more about farming.

What did we do on Saturday - baled hay!!

Since no one came up with the correct answer- although I will say some of your comments sounded interesting - Tom chose a random name. The winner is Colleen. I'll be getting your felted bag off to you by the end of the week. I left my E mail address on the last post you made on your blog in the comments.

Don't worry if you didn't win - more contests are coming. I'll explain later what I'm up to - but I should be working right now so I got to get back to it.

Hope you are enjoying your Labor Day - guess you could say I'm laboring.

Jackie

CONTEST STILL GOING ON - Wedding memories

2009-09-05T07:51:00.001-07:00

The contest is still moving on - no one has made a correct guess yet. There will still be winners if you all don't figure this out!! The prize is the felted bag below and some goodies filling it. The colors on this aren't really true, its a much deeper mauves with greens and browns - made out of Noro yarn. Feel free to take a stab at an answer more than once - for those of you just joining in see Friday's post for details and clues about what Tom and I will be doing today, our 39th wedding anniversay!! Its not dinner, flowers, laying on the couch eating bon-bons, etc. Thought I'd also add a picture taken on that day long, long ago. Boy do we look young. The picture is out of our wedding album that was taken as we left the church.

In the late 60's, 70's most of the weddings that we were associated with were church weddings (ours was Catholic). We had a lunch after the church, then a large reception at night, 5 bridesmaids and ushers, 1 flower girl, 1 junior usher - all planned down to the last detail. Whew my head is spinning just thinking about it. I was the country girl, marrying the city boy who wanted to be the farmer/cowboy growing up. We did live in the city for several years, right smack dab in the middle of Berea, Ohio. In 1980 we moved to the country - after many years of my kicking and screaming about not leaving the city. Today we will be doing something very country. Can't say I regret it one bit though - marriage or moving to the country. Its been an adventure and I'm looking forward to another 39 years of adventures.

There is another clue to the contest in this post ladies! Comments will be taken until 5:00 p.m. Sunday, Sept 6 and I will chose the winner either that evening or on Monday. If you don't win don't be too disappointed though. In celebration of my getting back to blogging I already have another contest planned for next week.

Don't feel to sorry for me having to work today though. Tomorrow were off in the early morning to do a bit of anniversary celebrating with a day trip. We have always liked doing day trips.

Enjoy the day!

Jackie

2009-09-04T10:42:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love those colors. This is one of my new projects, the Noni carpet bag. I joined a KAL at the local knitting store and actually used yarn out of my stash. (My favorite kind of project!) I'm at the 40 row mark out of 80 so I'll be putting this aside for awhile and getting busy on socks. Won't be long and it will be time to be wearing those knitted socks and sweaters. Our weather has been gorgeous for the past week and a half with cool nights and days in the upper 70s. Hope we don't pay for all this later - like in January.

Hope every enjoys this upcoming long weekend. I have to work on Monday, but I'm hoping there is nothing to type and all the doctors took off.

Tomorrow is Tom and my anniversay - 39 years!! Hard to believe, but I'm ready for another 39.

I'll be back tomorrow or Sunday to show you how we celebrated. You have to have nice weather to do this- its something done outside - takes 2 people - but both are doing something different - its time consuming- will take most of the day and we do a lot of it. I could be to tired to post tomorrow but definitely will on Sunday. Do you have any ideas what it might be?? Leave a comment with what you think we will be doing and the correct answer will win you something knitted by me. If no one has a correct answer then I will draw a name randomly. More than one correct answer I will draw from those names. So put your thinking caps on and lets see what you come up with.

Happy September!

Jackie

Anybody out there??!!

2009-08-19T07:23:00.000-07:00

I'm still here, reading all your blogs, being inspired by what your doing, enjoying our daily conversations (even through they are one sided). There is always something changing around here - hopefully the weather will be changing soon. It has been hot, hot, hot here. I'm still typing away at work and things do seem to be getting a little easier for the moment. I have been knitting, doing some wool stitching, gardening, mowing the lawn and taking lots of long walks with Marley. I still haven't mastered sock knitting but that is also getting easier - I just have to work on those tricky heels. I hope to be back soon with pictures - I haven't been able to download anything so my son promises he will help me this week.

Be back soon!! Enjoy these days of summer - they are dwindling in number. Before you know it Fall will be here.

Jackie

The life of Marley

2009-07-03T16:15:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody!! Just trying to upload and get started on my blog again but I have a new computer - trying to get some bugs worked out.

Anyways- there is Marley doing what she does best!!

Just a little bit of what's happening here!!

2009-05-07T12:22:00.000-07:00

Spring is showing up in these parts. there have been lots of rainy days, cool days and some really hot days, but I think that is how its supposed to be. Regardless its been wonderful not to have to worry about layers of clothing and keeping the wood stove going.
This is a picture of the lilac trees that border one side of our property. There is another free to the right also. They smell so good! There has been weed and rock therapy. For some reason it has looked like this for most of the week. It will look good when I'm done though - maybe today. Maybe!

You will probably see lots of pictures of Marley from here on out. She seems to be the happening thing around her lately. She is still as good as can be - well-mannered, no accidents in the house, loves to play and walk, be petted and generally just be by somebody. She certainly has changed the lives of the humans in this house.

This is my favorite hanging basket since forever. I try to have several all over the place in the summer. They don't grow very well inside the house but by the end of summer this fern will have tripled in size -it just seems that the back patio has what a fern likes.

The next 2 pictures are from a walk at a large park that Marley and I went to on Sunday. We walked about 4-5 miles total and this is the hill we needed to go back up where the truck was parked. I passed up a few paths going up before we took this one. About half way up I knew I should have picked another path as this was all large roots and lots of climbing was required.

This is a picture of the lake. We walked on an asphalt path on top of the hill and on the way back we were on the path that is right up against the lake. Needless to say it was a great walk.

That's all I have for today and I need to get moving and get the grass mowed before it rains.

Until next time......

Marley and Me!!

2009-04-26T05:26:00.001-07:00

I'm still here - barely!! To start with just wanted you all to know I'm still reading but most of the time that is all I can squeeze in. Work is crazy - busy -hard - stressful and I don't have a handle on it yet. I will say I am with a really nice group so far and some of their practices are a bit unbelievable - in a good way - we'll see what happens.

I have had some time for knitting and have been making progress on my socks. I bought this book from Knit Picks and I think it will help me in the whole process. Well written, great instructions and illustrations. I think I will even be able to make a simple lace pair after these 2 pairs are done. I'm hoping for a Fall finish on these. The weather has been great - 80 degrees yesterday!! I've been trying to get the yard cleaned up and have decided to keep it really simple this year, especially with the work situation. You know keep all that stress down. The chickens are doing their jobs and we have had lots of fresh eggs.

Easter saw the whole family together and the grandkids had a great time. Lots of playing outside and a game of capture the flag was going on. Those 2 at the end of the couch were enjoying chocolate pie - I could go for some of that.

Now for the title of my post. We have gotten a new dog!! I saw her advertised in our local paper yesterday and decided to go take a look at her. I have been having some trouble with my blood pressure and the verdict was more exercise, lose some weight or else we you are going to end up on medication. How do you take away the stress of a day - a nice long walk with you dog, of course!

Annie was my motivation for walking all those years and walking by yourself is a little boring and you tend to make up excuses why not to go.

Sorry I'm getting off track here. The dog shelter is right down the street from us right next to the park I walk at. The people there told me she is around 2 years old. She most obviously has just had a liter of puppies as she still has milk sacs. They found her running lose in the Metroparks in a nearby town. More than likely they got rid of the puppies and turned her loose, which is really surprising because she is such a nice dog. I really think they could have advertised her and someone would have taken her. So far the only problem is she has lots of energy so she's keeping us really busy. We were out walking before 8 this morning to take that energy off of her before we leave for church.

I'm going to try and get back here every week but you never know what's going to happe - so I'll close with hope to be in touch soon. Today is another 80 degree day and enjoying the weather day - after church and I work for a little bit. I'm not a fan of working 7 days a week but in this economy how do you say no if there is work to be done.

Until next time.......

Happy Birthday Tyler!!

2009-04-05T16:52:00.001-07:00

Today he is 6- where did the years go - and they keep getting faster.
We went to Kris and Todd's today to celebrate Tyler's birthday. He is such a cutie, sometimes so grown up and others still needing for Grandma or Grandpa to do something for him. He is such a joy to have around. We love having him over and when he does come for the day he usually has a goal in mind "Grandpa and I are going to work. Grandma and Jessica go to the house and do girl stuff." When it has just been myself and him he tells me to go to the house that he's going to the barn to work. That makes me cringe a little bit because I know that Tom's tools will be everywhere and some we won't find a few things for awhile. I have went down to see what he's doing and he is just standing at the tool box looking. I'm looking forward to many, many years of enjoying his company and seeing where the road in life leads him.

It was a great party with all the relatives from both sides of the family and we definitely ate to much. I think it will be an early night for me tonight. Last night around 6:30 we went to pick up Tom's new glasses and after that we stopped at Starbucks where I got a latte. I was tired but boy did that wake me up. I was on a mission, watching an on line tutorial to cast on for another sock and ripping it out 5-6 times. I think I have it now but with the coffee and my intense knitting I was up until 12:30 - and believe me that is past my bedtime. Tomorrow it's Monday already. Why do weekends go so fast - could somebody please answer that question for me??

Enjoy you week. Hopefully it will be Spring where you are.

What are your plans for the weekend?

2009-04-04T07:37:00.001-07:00

All I can say is hurray for a weekend and April. Last month was a little crazy with all the work issues, weather etc. I had been meaning to post about my son's BD but it totally got away from me. I had him out digging a hole for me one night this week and snapped a picture of the tattoo that he got as a BD present to himself. If you are an alumni of Ohio State and a huge Buckeye football fan this seems appropriate. As a matter of fact Tom and I are also fans - Go Bucks!!

It was nice enough on Thursday that I had him working in the front flower beds - doing the manual labor for me. This year is work on the front - as now mostly everything is done - meaning new roof and painting. We will be working on the back of the house over the course of the Summer - new roof, windows and possibly some new siding. Sure hope it doesn't take as long as the front. The picture below is the big, beautiful bouquet of daffodils my neighbor brought me. We have an empty house in the neighborhood and the people told her to help herself to whatever blooms - so she did. The whole backyard of this house is daffodils everywhere, planted long ago by an elderly couple, they are even in the grass. I am certainly enjoying them!

Right now I have laundry, cleaning and whatever else I can get done before Tom gets home. Then its lunch and we need to go get more wood. I certainly hope it warms up soon because we are going through the wood like crazy. I'm ignoring the fact that I saw snow in the forecast for later in the week. Tomorrow is Tyler's BD, so I will have a BD post on him. Enjoy your weekend, they are always to short for me!!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-04-01T09:42:00.000-07:00

What have I been doing for the last 10 days you ask?? I have been keeping up with all my favorite blogs and sometimes I even have time to sneak in a comment. Below you see my desk - books everywhere and what you don't see is me pulling my hair out - asking - what did he say? I thought things were moving along well with the account and group that I have been with for some 30+ years but then we started running out of work all the time - so I was doing more sitting than typing. Last week I was transferred to another group - same company but there are just different groups with different bosses and hospitals in groups all over the company. I am now with a group in New York. This is much more challenging than what I have been doing for the past year and boy have I forgotten things - plus they do everything differently. Its a new account that we just got back after they had left the company I type for and went out of the country. They were not happy with the quality so they are back with us now and of course we really, really have to keep them happy. I will say this though the hours just fly by with being so busy and thinking so much. I did run out of work yesterday but today we had lots so I am going to take it as it comes - type when I can and when there is nothing read blogs until something pops up. Other things I am enjoying - the broccoli cheese soup my son made. I hope that little bit he left in the fridge was for me!

The weather has been Spring-like. It is a little bit colder than I would like but its better than the alternative - meaning snow.

This last picture is just what sits on an old trunk in the family room that I use as a coffee table - that I will be enjoying as I sit on the couch and knit this afternoon - after the washing, errand running, baking, etc.

Hope you enojoying Spring as much as I am. Hope to be back in a couple of days with some knitting progress and a belated BD post.

Happy First Day of Spring!!

2009-03-20T16:37:00.001-07:00

It's official - winter is over. It was cold and windy here today, but the sun did shine. Hope you enjoyed warmth wherever you are.

My path today..

2009-03-17T13:01:00.001-07:00

Just dropped in for a quick Hi! We are enjoying some great early Spring weather - or maybe its late Winter. Anyways today was just a gorgeous day and I left shortly after I was done working for the park to get a walk in. It felt so good. Amazing though how crowded it gets when the days are nice. I have been walking almost all month as much as I can and I will say that most days I only see 1 or 2 people if that on the trails. Its like you have your own personal park. Today people were everywhere. Work is moving right along. This week as been a little different so I think we may be getting in a pattern. I know some people have switched over to nights as there was not enough to do for everyone all day long. I just keep typing along and we will see what happens.

My sock class is going good. This Thursday is supposed to be the last night but we are not even close to being done. I am knitting as fast as I can though so that I will have 2 socks done at the same time or pretty close to the same time. I'll have pictures next time.

Hope you all enjoy the rest of your week. Happy St. Patrick's Day to those of you who are celebrating!!

Knitting, stitching and chilling out!!

2009-03-08T12:44:00.000-07:00

Its raining like crazy here today, although I will say we have had some rather warm days - almost 60 is what I consider warm for northern Ohio in March. It was so nice to get outside without all those clothes you need in the winter. To wet to do anything outside - and with the rain we are having it will be awhile. Its living up to its reputation though - mud season. The chickens were even able to come out of the barn for 2 days. Once they found an opening in the gate they were out like a flash. So far they have been staying right around the barn but as soon as its dry and we are able we will have to put the fence back up. We have neighbors -they are not going to like chickens roaming in their yard.

Below is a little rabbit I have been working on. Its on a piece or orange wool that I got at a little store in Seville. I just took a pattern from a book that I have, cut him out and sewed him on the orange wool. I think Iam going to put some wool pennies around him and he will become a pillow. I cut out a couple of others - so I am going to work on them tonight. Easy, quick, cheap - and a good Spring project. Next up is my toe up sock. I really don't want to jinx this but - its going really well. I did make one mistake and had to many stitches on the needle - but I was able to rip it out and get it back on the needles without having to start over. I'm doing the magic loop method. At first I was going to do double points but it was a little confusing. This time around magic loop and the sock pattern are breezing along - maybe I just gained more experience??

Work is moving right along. The beginning of the week was sort of slow but it seems by Thursday the schedules had been moved around and I have had plenty of work. I hope it stays that way. Don't know if I mentioned this but I get paid by how much I type and when there is no work you know your not making any money when you are sitting waiting for another report to come up - very frustrating and stressful. Hopefully this week will go off without a hitch.

Hope you all have a good week!!

Is it Spring yet???

2009-03-01T15:19:00.001-08:00

I was totally expecting 65 and sunny today - Ha! Ha! What did I get?? Windy, sunny and cold. Still the sun kept pouring in the windows and gave us false hopes that it was warm outside. Then about 5:00 p.m. the wind picked up and it was snowing horizontally -- Nope its not Spring yet.

Below is a picture of some of my Easter/Spring decorations. When Lent starts - bye - bye snowmen and out comes the rabbits. I started a vest this week - but I wasn't actually getting the gauge I wanted so I started over on a smaller needle and so far so good. Hopefully next time I'll have more to show. I got out some of my Need'l Love books to see what I could come up with. I actually ended up taking the rabbit pattern on the above penny rug, cutting out a few of him in different wool colors and am going to make them into wool pillows. This week my sock class starts on Thursday - I cannot wait for that. They have never had a lot of great sock yarn at my LYS but just recently they have gotten in some Noro and Malabrigo. I can't decide which one I want to knit first. So I have a lot planned for the month of March in the crafting department.

I haven't been around much this week due to work matters. You never know when this whole recession thing is going to come knocking at your door. Tom's company has been making cuts ever since December - they have laid off some people but not that many compared to what it could be. They just keep asking for concessions - I think we are just about out of things they could take back. At least Spring is around the corner and they should be picking up on work.

My job seemed pretty safe until this week. I have been typing for this company for 30+ years - the same account for a least 20 years. All of a sudden our work seemed to dry up but we can be slow this time of year - those doctors like to go skiing and all that. Well Friday we heard that they had decided to use another typing firm and we would not longer be getting their work. They are totally satisfied with the job we are doing - just somebody else will type those reports for a lot less money and the company I work for couldn't match the price they were so low. I did get to stay with the Cleveland group and most of the other girls were shifted around to different places. It just means there will be lots of learning for the next couple of weeks trying to get familiar with new accounts. So starting tomorrow I'll be back to working hard and learning new things. After 20 years you really now the routine and who says what and what they mean. The one good thing is that on Friday evening we all got an Email from our boss that she was on her way to the hospital to hook back up the phones for the one department. They were totally discouraged with this company and said enough - they wanted us up back. Its not the department I work with but there is hope maybe the same thing will happen.

So to end my long explanation that is why I have been off the blogging track this week and will probably not be around much for the month of March. I am still reading and seeing what you are all doing in your lives - just haven't had time for posting or commenting. Have a good week everyone - hopefully I will be back sooner than I expect to be.

Think SPRING!!

Finished objects and a few other things!!

2009-02-22T11:26:00.001-08:00

To start with this weekend has been back to cold, windy and snow. We were supposed to get the snow yesterday (Saturday) but that didn't seem to materialize until almost dark and today it just will not stop. I am hoping for March to magically turn into this beautiful Spring month - do you think I will get my wish??

First off for the weekend - I now have an Ipod. My son got bought a new one and said I could have his old one. Its not all cute and small like the new ones but it does what its supposed to do and plays music. He has had this one for quite awhile and the new one does so much more but I have never really got into that listening to music all the time type of thing - I don't even play the radio in the truck. I think it has something to do with all those doctors constantly talking at me while I'm working. At my job you dial into what they have dictated and they keep talking for 8 hours - along with coughing, sneezing, belching - you get the picture. Today he helped me download some songs and I am up and running. I didn't download a lot - just to have a few songs to get me going. He is the tech guy in our house and like I said to him - Are you ready for me to be bugging you about how to turn this thing on or get the music to play. What I really wanted it for - is when I'm out walking. When I had Annie she would set the pace - not the leash pulling pace, but she liked to walk at a brisk pace and I guess if your going to walk to get you heart rate up stay you need to be going at a brisk pace. I have noticed that since she's not with me I walk pretty slow. This is the sock that I have been practicing on - getting used to sock yarn. I'm now at the heel so I'll have to read up on that and see where to go next. Starting next month I'm taking a sock class so they suggested you start practicing with the thinner yarn, our last class was a thick boot sock and magic loop. This will be double points and I sure am hoping it works out better. Hard to tell in the picture but the yarn is shades of green, oranges and a mauve looking color. Really pretty but the yarn is not something that I will not buy again. Its Berocco Comfort and I'm a little disappointed. In the 8 inches that I have knit the yarn has had 2 knots in it where it looks like they tied it together. I found the same to be true with the heavier stuff on the last sock. Pretty discouraging if you ask me.

I finally finished this shawl. Its out of Brown Sheep and is a verigated blue and white cotton. Just what I will need for all those chilly Spring days next month - Right???

I also finished the binding on this quilt, which I am ashamed to say has been done since last Fall. Several years ago I did the hearts attached to the squares in a blanket stitch. Then it sat for a long, long time. Last Fall Sara put it all together and quilted it for me. All I had to do was sew the binding - but its not one of my favorite things to do. I sat and wathed Notting Hill last night with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant and only had a little bit left to do this morning.

Tom has been sick most of the weekend with fever, chills and a cough - so its been pretty quiet around here as he's been on the couch sleeping a lot. I have done some more cleaning in the kitchen and in the bedroom. I will be ready for Spring whenever it shows up.

Now I have a big pile of wool that is called me. I want to see what I can get started on with that. I have a couple of ideas - maybe some easter eggs or a table runner - we'll see what happens.

Hope you are having a good weekend....

Yellow - Day 5

2009-02-20T13:42:00.000-08:00

Yellow trimmed rooster egg cups. Makes me think of Spring - which we are not having today. Its back to the deep freeze and more snow coming tomorrow.
No knitting for me this weekend. I have some small hand sewing projects that I need to get done. Have a good weekend....

No yellow today - just a blue day.

2009-02-19T15:59:00.000-08:00

Today we put down our border collie Annie. She has been sick since way back in July and nothing that we have done has seemed to help. Everytime I would think this is it I'm going to call the vet she would perk up - just like she did this time. He confirmed what I was thinking, she is not going to recover. We adopted her 3 years ago and it seems so strange not to have her here tonight. From day one I was her job, making sure that I wasn't making a move without her. The only time she left me was to go to the barn with Tom - she loved being in the barn and even then she would periodically come back up to see what I was doing. We walked countless miles together - it has been strange going without her these last few months. One good thing though, for the last 3 years she has had a very different life from her previous and I like to think we were meant to come along and make her happy in her final years. Back to yellow tomorrow...

Yellow - Day #3

2009-02-18T15:35:00.001-08:00

This is perfect for today. Its been a cloudy, rainy, windy and cold kind of day and these would definitely cheer anyone up. I think its time for the snowmen to go - I am so ready for some warmer weather.

Have a good evening........

Yellow - Day #2

2009-02-17T16:37:00.000-08:00

Here is day 2. The barn on the left is yellow - it was hard to get a good picture. They sit up on the window ledge at the very top in the family room. These barns were put out by Farm Bureau for Ohio's 200th birthday. A barn painter went around to every county and painted what you see on all the barns. The yellow one is Cuyahoga County - the county Tom and I grew up in and where my mother and brother still live. The one on the left is Medina County. Actually this one is only about 3 miles from our house on the main road and we pass it all the time. Ohio's bicentennial was in 2003 and the Medina County one is starting to show its age. I hope they don't pain over it.

This was a spur of the moment yellow - I was talking on the phone with Kris this afternoon and just looked up and it hit me - I have something else yellow.

See you tomorrow!!

Ice Festival

2009-02-17T12:21:00.001-08:00

Thought you wouldn't mind seeing some pictures from the local ice festival. It was cold but not as bad as some years have been and the sun was out. This was was huge. Jessica and Tyler are standing on the street just off the curb - so gives you an idea how tall it was.

The picture below is in front of Studio Knit. Its a kangaroo complete with hat and scarf and knitting needles and yarn in its pouch.

Its always a fun time and something to do on a cold February afternoon. Now we can onlyhope that Spring is not far off.

Enjoy you evening....

Yellow - day 1

2009-02-16T12:08:00.000-08:00

I'm participating in houseonhillroad yellow week. This is going to be a challenge for me as I don't have a lot of yellow things. If it were blue - we could go on for a month - even orange or green.
This is one of the yellow areas on the quilt that Kris made me for Christmas from bed sheets. Its my Saturday afternoon nap quilt - I love using it!!

I'm in a hurry right now but hopefully I'll be back later with pics from the ice festival. Kris brought Jessica and Tyler over for a quick tour of the square and all the sculptures. Right now, I have to go find more yellow things.....

A few finished knits

2009-02-15T11:48:00.001-08:00

Finally....I got another cropped cardigan done. This one is Sara's. Its a heather brown made out of Lopi by Reynolds. This one came out better than the first - so there is hope that someday I'll be knitting sweaters like crazy. I am a little bored with this pattern so thus I won't be making mine anytime soon - maybe for next Fall. I have my eye on a couple of other patterns though - and there is still plenty of sweater wearing time here in Ohio. Next up is Jessica in a hat pattern from over at a-friend-to-knit-with. The yarn is Lion Brand - I had in my stash. It came out really good but the next time I think I will try to make it on double points - I really don't like sewing up seams. Tyler got a neck warmer that is on tiennie knits. She put out several patterns for hats and this neck warmer. This one is brown and out of Mission Falls merino superwash. I can see me making more of these for next year - just right for when you don't want a scarf. Thanks to both of those girls for publishing the patterns - they are well written and easy to follow. Just what I was looking for!!

That's all I have to show for today. I have one more thing to finish - Kris still needs her fingerless mitts. I will get to those this week because I did start a pair of socks and so far so good. I'm taking a toe up sock class next month so I needed to start practicing using double points and sock yarn. My other socks have been magic loop and with heavier weight yarn. Problem is with magic loop I knit way to loose. The socks were way to big. They were to big for Matt and Tom even - plus they didn't like the color even if they did fit - a nice soft blue stripe was not what they had in mind.

I am also participating in yellow week over at houseonhillroad. This will be a challenge. I have learned that I am not a yellow person - I have only come up with 3 things to show. I'm going to have to keep looking, I have to have more yellow.

Our town is having an ice festival this weekend so were headed off this afternoon to go look at all the neat ice sculptures. The whole town gazebo area is filled with them and a lot of shops have them in front of the store and they are usually themed to what they are selling. I'm hoping to get to Studio Knit to show you the one they have. On my way to the grocery store yesterday I saw it was wearing a hat and scarf.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.....

Official Heart Day

2009-02-14T09:41:00.000-08:00

Have a good day!!

Wacky Wednesday

2009-02-11T11:12:00.000-08:00

I should have known that today will be a little different. I woke up at 4:50 a.m. to hear the TV beeping that they were doing some sort of test. The next thing I know they were playing Country Western music but still showing the images of the news. That went on until 5:50.

Next I tried to start working at 6:00 a.m. only to find that the system was acting strangely. I got one job to type after much of trying to get into the system and then only to get bumped out until 10:00 a.m. It was company wide so there was really nothing to do about it.

So what should I do from 6:45 until 10:00?? Knitting came to mind but when you don't know if your going to be working in the next 15 minutes its kind of hard to concentrate. I have been working on cleaning up the house - actually doing Spring cleaning in February. This way though I will be able to be outside when that warm weather comes and not stuck cleaning out closets and washing curtains. I decided to tackle the linen closet - it was interesting to say the least. What did I find - 15 navy blue pillow cases - mind you we don't even own 15 pillows and I must have been on a navy blue kick. Two bottles of doe urine - left over from my son's hunting days. Medications that date back to 1983!! Five bottles of hydrogen peroxide - I hardly ever use that stuff but if we do need it we are well stocked. Needless to say I had a pretty big bag of trash.

Its a gorgeous day, in the 60s but a little windy. So for the rest of the day I'm off to do some errands and get some walking in. I have walked 2 days already this week and I feel so much better already.

I will leave you with some more hearts.......

Saturday Hearts..

2009-02-07T15:32:00.001-08:00

Hope your weekend has lots of hearts in it......

It's a heart day!!

2009-02-05T12:21:00.001-08:00

I'm ready to get started on my heart pictures for the month now. Today was so cold (-6 this morning) but the sun was out and it makes it look so much better - at least for me. I started taking pictures of all the heart things that I have and although I don't have enough for every day of the month - I do have enough for for every couple of days. Why don't you join me - I would love to see your heart decorations.

The picture above is of a little quilt that Kris made for me long ago. I think it was the first Christmas that she and Todd were married that she made this. It has spent most of its time on this quilt rack shelf above the couch in our living room. It was probably one of my first handmade quilt pieces.

When Tom gets home from work later we are going out to get some wood. The wood we have been getting is just to unreliable to get going - it seems to be wet and all it does is sit and hiss instead of getting toasty warm. Thus it was a very cold house this morning. So I'm off to make supper, do some washing and sit and knit for a little bit. I have a feeling after we get done loading the truck with wood I will be going to bed a little early tonight.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOM!!

2009-02-04T13:58:00.001-08:00

Today is my dear sweet husband's birthday!! He's been a great husband and father, always working hard to make sure we had the things we needed and wanted. Always making sure we are happy before thinking of himself. We started dating when we were 16 and hopefully have many years left of growing old together. This year we will be married 39 years!! One thing I can say about being together for so long is that at this point we can tell what the other is thinking before its said. Here's to many more!!

Love You!!

It's Heart Month!!

2009-02-01T13:50:00.001-08:00

Here we are - its February already. January seemed to go by pretty fast this year - I think because it was non stop snow and cold that kept us busy. Today was beautiful though - sunny and 40!! Now 40 probably does not sound like warm to most people but around here it was like a heat wave. I checked the weather though - it won't be lasting. Back to more snow and cold.

This is one of the heart pieces in my house. Its a counted cross stitch I did at least 15 years ago. It still sits on the mantel and I love looking at it. I used to do a lot of counted cross stitch and would really like to do it again - for right now though I'm a knitting person. This month I'll show you all the heart things in my house - stay tuned for that..

Today was a busy, busy day - not what Tom or I planned. Good thing we slept in this morning - until 7:45!! For people who get up at 5:00-5:30 every day that is really late. We went and got our trailer from Rich and Sara, then we went to Kris and Todd's to pick up a horse that we are bringing to our house to keep Cooper company and Tom is giong to work with her since they are doing cows this year and probably will not get to do anything with her. Then I went into town and treated myself to a Latte - Ahhhh - that was good. Now I'm going to put on my PJs, watch the Super Bowl and knit. Sounds like a good evening to me.

Hope you had a good weekend......

Conversation with self!?!

2009-01-31T11:23:00.000-08:00

This has been an ongoing conversation all month with myself but today - the last day of January I decided to let you all know my thoughts.

Self: Tomorrow is February 1, I need a new project. Maybe try some nice warm socks to keep my very cold feet warm.

Voice: No, No, No. You still have projects to finish - what about those fingerless gloves for Kris?

Self: Maybe a new sweater. I bought that pattern a month ago. I have knitted 2 sweaters but don't have one for myself yet. That sounds good - a sweater.

Voice: No, No, No. You still have one sleeve left to knit on Sara's cropped cardigan. You need to finish that. You said these things would be done by the end of the month. That's today!!

Self: Maybe a neck warmer from Tiennie Knits. Definitely Tyler needs a neck warmer. He is always outside with his Cartharts on and they just don't come up high enough on his neck. Grandma's hate to see that kind of thing going on. Scarves are to dangerous when your out in the barn. And- he couldn't find his hat the last time I was there so he was wearing a hat I knit for him when he was 2 - definitely did not fit.

Voice: No, No, No. You have other projects to work on.

Self: Tiennie Knits posted the patterns yesterday for the neck warmers, so I won't even have to figure out how many stitches to cast on, what size needle, I even have yarn.

Who's winning this conversation?? Today the fingerless mitts and the cropped cardigan will be done. As for some of the other projects - I ripped out one so I don't have to worry about that anymore. The rest can wait. I'm knitting neckwarmers tomorrow.

Enjoy the last day of January. Just remember, we are getting closer to Spring!!

SNOW DAY!!

2009-01-28T14:24:00.000-08:00

Yep - we got lots of snow today. It started sometime last night and just kept coming down.

It was a good day for baking cookies and staying in the house. Here is the last snowman I will show you for the winter season. I'm going to show you hearts next month - something warmer!!

Not a great picture, I was taking it through the door because the snow was to high to get the door open.

This storm is over several states so if you in its path I hope you have your electricity and are staying warm....

Brought to you by the letter G!

2009-01-26T16:25:00.000-08:00

Hope everybody had a good weekend and has been staying warm - if you are in an area you are having those below freezing days. Just can't seem to get rid of them can we!! I'm hoping for a warm February!!

I am playing a letter meme from over at Kris' blog (quilted simple). She assigned me the letter G. I have to list 10 things that begin with the letter G that I like and tell why. If you want to play leave me a comment that you want to do so on my blog and I will assign you a letter and then you list 10 things, get more people to play and on and on this goes.

1. God.

2. Grandchildren. Tom, Joe, Jessica Tyler. Hopefully they will want to hang out with Grandma and Grandpa for years to come. We have lots of fun with them.

3. Gardening. One of my favorite hobbies - whether it be vegetable gardening, flower gardening - I also include farming in this hobby - just on a larger scale.

4. Green beans. I like mostly all vegetables - but green beans would be at the top of the list on favorites. Fresh from the garden - I can eat them more than once a day.

5. Green - the color green, such as in green grass, green hay fields, green leaves on trees. Right now all we have been seeing in our parts is white - I can't wait to see green again.

6. Grandparents. That would be Tom and me.

7. Gatorade. I drink it on an occasion - not really my thing but those grandkids really like it.

8. Greenhouse. Boyerts Greenhouse. A local greenhouse that is just down the road from us. I love going in the greenhouse and looking at all those beautiful plants.

9. Gray's Anatomy. One of my favorite TV shows. Thursday night is the only night during the week I'm up late.

I am running out of steam here - so --

10. Goat. We have never had goats, thought about it, just never got involved. I think sheep would be a better choice - this could help cut down on yarn buying.

So that is 10 things about me and the letter G.

Until next time......

Typo!!

2009-01-25T05:58:00.000-08:00

Sorry about the typo below - you know what it should be though - Another Snowman!! What can I say - its early and yes I do type for a living with words spelled correctly - I wonder if there is spell check on this??