My Daybook . . .

 

Today . . . Tuesday, January 31, 2023.  When I got up this morning it was -13, yesterday it was, -20...it's getting warmer!  By the end of the week, it's suppose to be in the 30's.  The forecast is never very accurate where I live, but it was pretty close this time.  Yesterday the high in my area was only -3, today I think it got up to 5.  I can't remember it being this cold where I live for a very long time.  On Monday the roof was popping due to the cold temperatures.  A friend of mine told me that she heard a loud sound outside that sounded like a sonic boom.  She got up and did a little research and found out that it was a, frost quake.  I've never heard of that, but apparently when the water in the ground gets too cold it can make a very loud booming sound.  

On my playlist . . . There's nothing that John Barry has every written that doesn't make me smile.  Somewhere in time really has to be the most beautiful soundtrack ever written It just makes me feel so peaceful and content, it's actually one of my favorite movies!

Looking out my window . . . Everything is white, covered with snow and yes, I think it's quite beautiful.  I don't have to go outside.  I can stay inside and stay warm and only go outside if I choose to...and that's what I'm doing.  Here's the view from my back window . . . 

We didn't get our patio furniture put up in the fall, in fact, I didn't even take the old plants out of my planters!  But it's all good, it can all be cleaned out this spring.  The snow is so deep it's covering my back steps, and it looks like we won't be grilling for a while ;0)

What I'm thinking . . . Today, I realized how good I am feeling!  I love that I can finally sleep without heartburn!  It has been years since I have been able to go to bed and actually get a good nights sleep - such a blessing.  But, the downside is I'm still only eating pureed food, not my favorite part of this process.  Next week, I can eat soft food, so eggs (if I dare pay the price), soft meat, beans, soft cooked veggies, etc.  I'm really looking forward to eating somewhat normal food again.  By the 14th of February, I'll be able to eat normally . . . kind of. 

Something (or someone) I love . . . 

My youngest grandson, Tanner.  He got a new holster for his gun, so he has been, cowboy Tanner.  He's wearing an old hat of my husbands and a grey vest, just like grandpa's . . . isn't he adorable?!  Yes, this is someone I love!

I'm wearing . . . Right now I'm wearing jeans, warm socks and slippers.  I double layered a comfy shirt and a t-shirt just to stay warmer.  I may go put on a sweater . . .  just because.  Right now, it's 5 degrees outside.  

Creating . . . I'm not really creating much.  I did make a few new hot pads out of the leftover yarn from the crochet blanket I made.  I had a dear friend and neighbor who used to keep me in crocheted hot pads.  She was older and had a hard time getting around, and so she would crochet hot pads most of the day.  Everyone loved them, and if you went to visit her, you were gifted with a set of her wonderful hot pads.  She taught me how to make them years ago so here they are!

In the kitchen . . . Not much happening in my poor kitchen.  I did make Bob some coconut shrimp and a baked potato for supper tonight.  I made some baked potatoes in the pressure cooker (Instant Pot).  I used 5 medium size potatoes, and pressured them for 20 minutes on high.  They are perfect for him to cut up for breakfast with a few eggs or sausage.  

Just sayin' . . . 

Have a wonderful week friends!!  XOXO

Hugs and Love,

Barb

My Daybook .

Hello friends, I hope everyone is surviving the time change?  For me, I like this time...the original time.  My body does so much better without daylight savings.  It's an adjustment to have the sun set at 5:00, but that just means more cozy time for me ;0)  Do you prefer daylight savings time or the original time that we are in now, at least in my neck of the woods?

On with my Daybook . . .

I'm listening to . . . Do any of you listen to, Sounds like Reign?  They are a Christian musical family. They sing the most beautiful hymns, and also write some of their own music.  Lindsey has an absolutely beautiful voice, I could listen to her sing all day.  This is one of my favorite hymns and they sing it beautifully . . . enjoy!

Outside my window . . .  On Tuesday and Wednesday it snowed at least 6 inches.  It was just beautiful as it fell from the sky and blew across the lawn and I was very grateful that we were getting the snow that we so greatly needed.  I didn't get a chance to get all of my flower beds cleaned out before the snow fell, so that's something I will have to get done as soon as it warms up.  When I looked out the window this morning, I saw my little pink snap dragons sticking their heads out of the snow - they are survivors for sure!

I'm thinking . . . Over the summer it seemed like fall and winter would never get here.  It was so miserably hot and dry, I didn't think it would ever cool off.  Now, Thanksgiving is upon us, Christmas is just around the corner and my granddaughter will be married soon after.  Time certainly does fly, doesn't it.  I have so much I would like to get done before the holidays and I really need to sit down with pen and paper and make a list of  all the things I need to do...hopefully I'll have the time and energy to get some things done!   But if I don't get them all done, it won't be the end of the world.  Thanksgiving will still come, Christmas will still be wonderful and the wedding will be beautiful.  And, the things I didn't get to will still be waiting for me when it's all over.

I'm thankful for. . . I had a birthday this week, so I'm thankful for another trip around the sun!!  I have never had a problem with growing older, in fact I am always thankful for another day and another year.  My children and grandchildren came to celebrate with me and even brought a delicious lasagna dinner with all the fixings, it was so good!  Everyone was here except one grandson who lives out of state, but I did get a happy birthday text from him later that night.  I didn't even take pictures of the shindig, but it was really fun and so thoughtful of my kids.  I am so thankful for all of the love they show me each day.  Of course they were very generous and gave me gifts that I just love.  I'm at the point where I don't really need gifts, but they always find such wonderful gifts that make me smile.

I'm going . . .  I'm not going anywhere in this cold weather.  I have had two telehealth appointments this week, so I guess I will have to count as going somewhere!  The rest of the week the temperatures will only be in the upper 20's so I guess it will be a perfect time to stay home.  I would like to go and do some shopping for Christmas, but that will wait until it warms up a bit.  And of course, there's always Amazon and other places to order from. 

I'm creating . . . I think I've mentioned before that I was looking for a crochet project to work on this winter.   I found this really cute, really easy crochet throw that I think I will start soon.  Here's the pattern if you would like to take a look at it and maybe make this throw.  It looks easy enough, I just need to decide what color to make it...I'm thinking a beautiful cream color or even the color that's in the photo would be nice.

Photo from Pinterest

I'm learning . . . I'm learning to eat differently, especially since having covid a year ago.  There are so many foods that I just can't eat or tolerate anymore, but, lucky for me, fish is not one of them!  I love and can tolerate almost all sea food, I especially like fish tacos because they're easy and quick to put together.  I plan on making this recipe next week, so I'll let you know how it turns out.  

Photo from Pinterest

At the end of the day . . .

When your world moves too fast and you lose yourself in the chaos, introduce yourself to each color of the sunset.

Christy Ann Martine

Be safe, hugs and love,

Barb

My Month in a Nutshell . . .

 

Hello, and welcome Spring!  This morning we woke up to about an inch of snow...of course.  But, I know that warm weather is right around the corner, and that makes me very happy.  

We've had a lot going on the last month or so, and it seems my posts get further and further apart as time goes by.  It's not that I don't have things to share, but time just seems to slip away so quickly! 

Let's see...where to begin.  I guess I'll start from the beginning and work my way up!

Our month started off with the furnace acting up, and that's never good when it's 20 degrees outside.  Of course we called the repair man and he came right out.  After looking at it for a little while, making several trips to his truck, talking on the phone, and looking very concerned, he told us that it would cost 1,680.00 to fix it.   I'm sure the look on my husband's face was very special ;0)  He told my husband what was wrong, and how difficult it was to fix, then he went back out to his truck.  In the meantime, my husband got right online and looked up the parts.  He figured it would cost us around 250.00 to fix the furnace, and he could do all the work himself.  The repairman wasn't very happy when he told him what he had found, so he went back out to his truck and talked on the phone for about 20 minutes.  When he came back in he told us that he knew it was expensive, but they needed to make money too (how rude...)!  We paid him for his service call and he left.  We ordered the parts and soon realized that only one needed to be replaced...the one that  cost us 11.00.  The furnace works just fine.😝

But it gets worse...the next week, we all of a sudden had no water!  We soon realize that the pump in our well has gone out.  And I guess after 40 years it needed a rest.  At least it wasn't on Thanksgiving Day...(that actually happened to me, with a whole houseful of guests...not good.)  So again, we call someone to come and look at it, and indeed, we needed a new pump.  We have a hand pump on our well, so we at least had water, something good in all of the chaos.  After the pump was all installed, we had water...for about 30 minutes.  All of the sediment from the well, came into the house and plugged up the filter system, so again, no water.  It was all taken care of the next day...and by the way, we loved the people who fixed our pump and filter system!  A few days later, our septic system alarm went off!!  My poor husband!  He put on his coat and out the door he went...it's not fun to look in the septic tank...stinky.  I looked out the window and he was on his stomach looking in the hole.  Last year the pump on it had to be replaced, so he knows what he is doing...right?!  Well, he moved the pump a little and a fountain of water came shooting out of the septic tank...I didn't know Bob could move so fast!!  He didn't even get a drop on him...whew!  But, it was fixed,  no idea what was going on with it, but our fingers are crossed!

Anyway...it's been a long month.

Remember that crocheted blanket I was making?  I got all the blocks done and put it together...I like it, and I was able to use up some of my yarn stash!  It will be a nice cozy little blanket for the downstairs family room, plus it was really fun to make.  I got the pattern from, The Inspired Wren.  I didn't use every pattern she had for the blocks, but I did use most of them...it was a fun blanket to make.

March is my big birthday month...6 of my 10 grandchildren have birthdays in March, 3 of them right in row.  These are my three oldest, handsome grandsons.

This is Christian, he turned 22 years old, so hard to believe!  He took each candle off the cake and blew them out separately...Covid has really changed the way we do things!   He has grown up to be the most handsome man.  He looks very much like my dad...makes my heart happy.  I feel so grateful that he still allows us to dote over him on his birthday, love him tons...💓

This is Brody, he turned 17...17!  I don't even know where the time went!!  Again, we felt grateful and blessed to celebrate with him, we love him to the moon and back.  He loves cheesecake, so that's what he got for his birthday cake...he's so adorable, get a load of those dimples... ;0)

And almost the last one...our sweet, Caleb.  We weren't able to be with them the evening of his birthday so we went to lunch with him to his favorite bar-b-que place, then took him for ice-cream.   Caleb turned 13!  He's growing up so fast, but what a cutie, and he is as nice, kind and polite as he is cute! He is very loved...and he has dimples as well!

We always have a migration of swans that stop by our neck of the woods in March.  This year we didn't have as much snow as normal so they had a harder time finding ponds to land in.  These are truly just a few of the thousands that were here earlier in the month.  I love the way that they hang-out with the geese...true friends!

 And lastly, I got new glasses!  I have needed them for a while but didn't want to venture out...so here I am with my new glasses and a haircut!!

I have more to share...so until next time...

Be safe XOXO

Hugs and Love,

Barb

My Daybook . . .

 

For Today ... March 1, 2021.

Looking out my window... It's a beautiful day, the sun is shining, the sky is blue.  It's cold outside, but it's suppose to be almost 50 degrees by Friday, so it's all good!

I am thinking... March is the big birthday month in our family, we have birthdays on the 1st, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, and 30th.  All of them grand kids!  But this boy has a birthday today...HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NATHAN!!

I am thankful... For the little things in life.  If this pandemic has taught me anything, it's to be thankful for all the little pleasures life has to offer.  Life is too short to stress out over things that don't matter in the long run.  Be thankful for what you have and especially for the people in your life.  Be kind and patient, and remember, we are all doing the best we can.

 One of my favorite things... Sun, shining on the snow!  I just love how it looks,  like there are little diamonds tossed across the snow.

I am wearing... Jeans and a floral shirt...I'm trying to, "think spring".

 I am creating…I have always wanted to make a crocheted blanket using blocks.  I found this cute pattern, on the, Inspired Wren website.  It's been fun to use up some of the stash of yarn I have collected over the years.  I thought I would try putting a fabric back on it from my fabric stash! 😁  I'll post a picture of it when I'm done. 

I am watching... I watched a show on Roku called, The Village.  There were a few risque spots in it and a little language that I didn't like but all in all it was a really good show...I even cried at the end!  I do love the way the British do drama!

This epic drama charts the turbulent times experienced by one English village throughout the 20th century. Births, deaths, political events and rebellions are among the events that occur during the time. One man, Bert Middleton, lives across the entire 100-year period, and his story from boyhood to old age forms the crux of the program's story, as told through flashbacks as Bert reminisces while being interviewed in the present day by a director making a documentary about the elderly man and his village. Among the events Bert recounts is being smitten at the age of 12 by beautiful Martha Lane, whose family had just arrived in the village, an event that would change his world forever.

 I am reading...I have been reading a book called, House on an Irish Hillside...it's so beautifully written, with lots of Irish folklore, I almost feel like I'm in Ireland!

''From the moment I crossed the mountain I fell in love. With the place, which was more beautiful than any place I''d ever seen. With the people I met there. And with a way of looking at life that was deeper, richer and wiser than any I'd known before. When I left I dreamt of clouds on the mountain. I kept going back.''

We all lead very busy lives and sometimes it''s hard to find the time to be the people we want to be.
Twelve years ago Felicity Hayes-McCoy left the hectic pace of the city and returned to Ireland to make a new life in a remarkable house on the stunning Dingle peninsula.
Beautifully written, this is a life-affirming tale of rediscovering lost values and being reminded of the things that really matter.

I am listening to... Alan Jackson, one of my all time favorite country singers.  I love this song...It's called, The Older I Get.

https://youtu.be/kElHR66Y3es

In the kitchen... On Sunday I made ham and beans.  Now, you can't have ham and beans without cornbread, right?  so I made this fabulous corn bread...so delicious!

CORNBREAD

1/2 Cup butter at room temperature

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 cup yellow cornmeal

1  1/2 cup flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cup milk

Cream butter, sugar and eggs.  Mix in cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt and milk.  Bake in a greased 8x8 inch pan at 375 degrees for 35-40 minutes.  

Just Sayin’…

 A moment from my day... Watching my Amaryllis bloom...so pretty!

Be safe...XOXO

Hugs and Love,

Barb

This and That . . .

Hehehehehe...it's so true!!  I love to crochet!  I don't crochet a lot during the summer, but when Fall arrives, you can find me on the couch with a big pile of yarn!  

On Wednesday, my sister and I went to, JoAnn's, you know what that means!  Yes, we came out with a bag full of beautiful yarn.  She wanted to make some headbands for her grands and I wanted to make some new hats for mine for Christmas.  I got two of the hats done yesterday - they  turned out so cute, and they're so easy to make.  I made them in their favorite colors, and they will keep those little ears warm.

Yesterday we spent most of the afternoon raking, power washing, cleaning and  getting ready for winter.  We pulled the old dead flowers out of the flower pots, put the cushions from the patio furniture away, and power washed the patio and steps.  We raked and cleaned up a ton of leaves and little branches from the lawn . . . I think we're ready for winter... :0)  It was a gorgeous day, I didn't even wear a coat or a jacket.

At one point I looked up and this is what I saw -

There were so many vapor trails in the sky and more being made - I guess that the atmospheric pressure was just keeping them in place...it looked very strange!

As you can see, most of the leaves are off of the trees now, the backyard looks so bare.  Yes, winter is upon us.  We are suppose to get rain and maybe even snow later today, but right now, it's almost 50 degrees.  It's a gorgeous day!

I'm really looking forward to Thanksgiving this year, it's always fun to get together with family, which is something I'm very grateful for.  It will only be one family, and maybe one son, but it will be fun, and I'm pretty sure we'll eat too much!  I'm always looking for new ideas for Thanksgiving dinner, so . . . what are some of your favorites for Thanksgiving?   Do you have any fun traditions?


Have a wonderful week-end!!

Hugs and Love,

Barb

Dragons and Beanies . . .

“If the sky could dream, it would dream of dragons.” 

~ Ilona Andrews, Fate's Edge~

I finally finished Clara's Christmas gift, this cute little dragon hood.  Taylor kindly agreed to be my model, so here it is....

I think it turned out really cute...I hope she likes it!  I still need to sew two buttons on the front cowl, and then I'm done!

On to the next project!  I'm going to make, Messy Bun Beanies for my two older granddaughters.  There are about a million and one patterns online, so I guess I just need to choose the one I want.  How about one of these?

I found this free pattern here

Or maybe this one?

You can find the free pattern here.

Wish me luck!

Be safe dear friends!

Hugs and Love,

Barb

Quiet Stretches . . .

Winter, there is a privacy about it which no other season gives you ....In spring, summer and fall, people sort of have an open season on each other; only in the winter, in the country, can you have longer, quiet stretches when you can savor belonging to yourself.

~Ruth Stout~

I love this quote . . . with some of these longer, quiet stretches of time, I have decided to be creative.  Now, creative to me and creative to someone else might not be the same thing, so don't get too excited... :0)

It's been a while since I have done any crocheting, so I decided to get out my stash and see if I could come up with something that would make me use my imagination and creativity.  I found this pattern on, Ravelry, so I decided to try it.  

I didn't use the exact colors that the pattern specified, I just used what I had.  I want to make a fun throw with these blocks and put a cute fabric back on it.  We'll see how it turns out!

I've had a lot of e-mails and sweet messages asking me how I am feeling and wishing me well . . . thank you!  I am feeling better, and just taking it day by day.  I should be doing much better very soon!

My sweet sis is one of those wonderful people who can just make a person feel better by smiling, but, she stopped by last week just to tell me that she was, "tickled pink", that I was feeling better, and look what she brought with her!  I have to admit there's a bag of kisses and a little box of, Now and Later's, that are missing from this gift...and some lip balm and lotion...  ;0)  I love my sister.

We are still in a deep freeze, the high today was about 10 degrees. Right now, it's 3:00 and it's 8 degrees.  It's gorgeous outside, nice and sunny, but so dang cold.  The other day when it warmed up, the snow slid off of the roof . . . it scared poor Cole to death, he thought the sky was falling!

This is what slid off onto my sidewalk!  This snow was about 2 feet deep, and not very fun to shovel...just sayin'.  My husband did most of the shoveling, I did a very small spot on the porch.

I hope everyone is staying warm and safe, until next time! 

XOXO,
Barb

A Peek into my Week . . .

Today . . . September 9, 2016

Something from my playlist . . .  Just because I adore, Dean Martin . . . so smooth!

Mother Nature . . .   It's a beautiful day!  It's a bit on the chilly side, but I like it that way.  The sun is shining, there are a few wispy clouds in the sky and the breeze just makes it feel like autumn, it 's beautiful!

On my mind . . . Well, I have so many things on my mind!!  But I will just choose a few things.  We have had the most beautiful sunsets here in Idaho, seriously, they have been just amazing.  I'm not sure why, but I just have a passion for sunsets, they make my heart skip a beat when I see them!

This picture was taken when we were camping...  the next three were taken from my own backyard.

While we were camping, Averi turned 14!  She is so adorable, and loves to go camping.  Averi is truly the most amazing child, she makes me laugh, she makes me cry, but mostly, she makes me happy, we love her more than words can express!!

Crafty me . . . I haven't been very crafty, but there are a few things that I want to do, here are a few of them.

These are so adorable, I would love to hang them on my mantel!!  I found the pattern here.

This beautiful little Indian princess is my next pen and ink art project.  I haven't used my talent for a long time, and you know what they say, "Use it, or lose it", so I'm going to use it.  Can't wait!

Just Sayin' . . . This is me to a tee . . . 

Have a wonderful week-end!

XOXO,

Barb