A run through my favorite blogs shows a result of no new posts since I was last on a few days ago.  Now that the weather is starting to warm a little I guess the visits slow down or maybe the preparations for Easter are in the process of being completed.  But what ever the reason I miss you.

Snow almost gone-grass not green!

We were 90 miles from home yesterday checking out a newer truck.  Still up in the air on the purchase but if we get it I’ll post a picture soon.  Obviously being on the road for 180 miles yesterday left no time for embroidering so this is as far as I am right now.

Try again today!

Molly at the French door

At the edge of the open door this morning Molly hesitated about stepping out into the 30 degree temperature.  She finally opted to stay inside instead.  While Brandy and I had to go out for her to do her duty.  But such is life when routines are established with creatures you love.

Well all the supplies are in for our Easter dinner and I’ll start the pre preparations on Saturday.   Five possibly six will be joining us .  I hope your plans are proceeding well.

Well It is off to the hoop for a couple of hours!

All kinds of things going on right now.  We are putting together a menu for Easter dinner.  Both sons and daughter (with families) are invited to partake.  I debated ordering a ready made meal from our grocery store but vetoed that because I could do better buying what I need separately and using what I already have.

We are going to look  a truck this evening, not new but newer than what we have.  Our pickup is now 13 years old, gets between 10 and 12 miles per gallon, is larger than we need, and is starting to need repairs   (time to upgrade a little).  I have lowered my TV account and we have checked into mortgage rates.  All this in preparation for a lower income that will be here in the future.

Now for something different.  I finished Patricia Cornwell. Bone Bed (very good)  and started Stephen King’s  11-22-63.  This promises to be another good read.

The opossum was back again last night so I put the recycling bin on top of the food container to keep it out.   It just looked at me briefly on it’s way around the corner into the darkness.

I tried to get a picture Of my Red Belly Woodpecker yesterday but it flew away when I went for the camera.  However I did get this.

Chickadees on the suet cake in the crab apple tree.

I will just have to put the camera in my pocket every time I go outside until I can catch the woodpecker.

I mentioned earlier that I needed to rake out the flowerbeds around the dome but haven’t felt like 30 degrees was a good raking temperature.  Well I took pictures of the two old bushes beside the front door.

On the left hand side.

On the right hand side.

Both need to be cut out.  So I guess I’ll get the alligator and the yellow extension cord out there and try to start removing them. I can’t just dig them out because our under ground utility cables come into the house in that area.  I may ask my oldest son for help on that project. Living in the country can be an exciting adventure.

Well the big thermometer on the porch says it is 29 degrees and there is wind so it makes the you know whats stand up under the tee shirt.

Going to close for now and pick up the needle for a while.  Stay comfy –Spring is coming I think!

Two days into Spring and this is what I saw.

The temperature in the 30s

Two days later it was this despite occasional snow falls.

Still in the 30s

Now yesterday it was this out the French doors.

Still in the 30s

I swear my thermometer is stuck in the cold spot.  I really need to see some 40s or above.

Last night when I took Brandy out to do her duty for the night I noticed the top on the container that contains the bird supplies was open.  A closer look sent me rushing Brandy back in the house, grabbing a broom and camera to take back out.

In container sat the opossum Cindy had seen a couple of weeks before.

I tried pounding on the container with the broom-no luck.  I then tried using the broom to make it move-nothing again.  I finally moved the container to the edge of the porch and dumped it on it’s side.  My visitor tumbled out and ran off into the darkness.  I set the container back on the porch, put the contents back in, and put the top on.  I was keeping some cat food that Molly wouldn’t eat in it and apparently something that would eat it found it.  Needless to say I will be dumping it out on the grass today.

As I mentioned in an earlier post my grandson is now in the Navy.  I put a sailor hat from his going away party on the baby bank I had painted many years ago.  The bank sits on the hutch of Jay’s computer desk.

A reminder.

Indeed I think of Dakota every time I walk into the room and hope he is doing well in his new endeavor.  I’ll include a copy of the picture in his card this week.

Well yesterday I didn’t work on the lap robe so today I’m going to make an extra effort on it.  Take care and stay comfy—I’m going to.

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The temperature is hovering around 30 degrees this afternoon.  There was no snowfall last night or this morning but a sprinkle this early afternoon.  Boy I wish it would warm up a little!

A call from my doctor’s office was to let me know my blood work was excellent!  I kidding (ly) (another word I need to make legal )  told the nurse that was because it is me!!!!

The lap robe has two more rows and the border now.

I’m getting there!

One of the rows to do is garland and ornaments.  The other is the word cheer.  Then I have all four side with small presents as trim to finish it up.  I find I don’t drink so much coffee, I don’t snack, as I work.  That is turning out to be a good thing!!!!  Hey I might waste away to a half a ton yet!!!!!

Take care of you my friend!!!

Up at around 6:30 this morning because I applied the 30 minute rule.  Fed and watered Molly, took Brandy outside, poured/warmed over a cup of coffee and started in on making the Maraschino Cherry loaf.  I just got tired of shifting the jars (two of them) around every time I looked for something or cleaned the fridge.  So I set Jay to looking for something to do with them.

The results are sitting on the counter now.

I sneaked a small corner off the loaf (where you couldn’t see it) and it promises to be a treat!

While waiting for that to bake I changed the outside decorations.

St. Paddy’s day is gone so now it is time for the bunny.

So first the flag.

I agree he is a funny looking Rabbit!

Next the plaque on the wall.

Ah there is the bunny!

On the door is our greeting.

To say hello to all until after Easter!

Last the egg in the kitchen window.

all these you have seen before but—-

—I love using them again.  Well Jay left for Dialysis and I have the kitchen floor mopped.  (Oh I did finally get the fridge clean out the other day.)  So I can now sit down at my hoop for a while with no guilty conscious.  I’ll have to take a break later to make lunch.  Then I have a beef roast to put on for supper.

No more snow last night after a goodly amount on Friday night/Saturday morning and the temperature is now  32 degrees.

I hope you are staying comfy.  Remember to laugh it helps the lungs breathe.

Be it a pot of gold or a plain old pot—sometimes neither are available when you need them!!!!

Happy ST. Paddy’s Day to you all!!!

Good morning world,  32 degrees at around 9 am with a little bit of snow off and on .  The frog pond out back is still frozen.

When it melts my back yard will be under water.

At least on both sides of the back drive way.  It is below the level of the pond.

The walk around the dome yesterday  morning yielded  theses pictures.

The first blooms

Then a few feet away another bunch.

I still haven’t rake the area out yet.  I’m waiting for a little warmer weather.

Instead I finished another row on the lap robe.

This done I have one letter on the next row complete.

I hope to work some more on it this morning because I have the needles threaded with the next set of colors.

You heard me mention Jay leaving for dialysis but this morning I thought I get a picture.

The MTA van that picks him up three days a week.

He usually comes  home in a car because there are less people on the return trip. This is a service that saves us gas and time.  It also allows me to make appointments on the days he is in dialysis.

Well I have the vacuuming done and the laundry in the dryer so I’m off to the hoop.  Have a great day!

Funny when you get up around those swift passing 70s you begin to wonder if the old brain is functioning correctly.  Can you count on remembering things like you used to.  Example:

I filled out the rebate form for Brandy’s medicines yesterday.  In the instructions it said to cut out the code on the box top and included it in the envelope which I did. Rechecked the contents I was mailing, sealed the envelop, and took down to the mail box to go out this morning.  As I was getting ready  to delete the form from my computer I noticed it said if you bought six months worth of medicine send in one code, but if it was12 months send in codes from both boxes.  Now my invoice said 12 months but was that enough. I’ll call tomorrow and check it out.

Just before bed time I got the bright idea to retrieve the envelop, cut a slit in it, slip the second code in, and tape it up.  Yep that is what I will do. So I went to sleep and at around 2 am I woke up to go to the bath room and popping into my mind was remember to take care of the code. (repeating what I needed to do).

At around 4:30 am I woke up with the same duty to perform but in my head was don’t forget the code. Again I repeated the whole procedure to myself and went back to sleep.  At 8:00 same results but this time I got up, got dressed, grab a small knife, the cardboard with the code on it, the scotch tape, and headed down the driveway.  The deed was finally accomplished so maybe tonight I won’t have to remember so much.    I really think this proves that I do still have a few parts of the brain working in my noggin.

It is 22 degrees and snowing here –I hope you have a little better weather where you are.

Do you hear that loud stomping, kinda rhythmic, very happy sounding!!  That me dancing enthusiastically.  Why?   Here is why!

Not real clear but the first one.

One of at least six in the backyard this morning.  Yes the snow came back and so did the Robins.  The second sign of Spring–the first was the shoots.  I will get a coat on later and try for a closer picture but I just had to share my joy with you today.

It has been a cold Winter (age has a lot to do with that) and my shoulders are just starting to loosen up now.  (I wanted to use unhutch  but Webster’s Universal College Dictionary says that ain’t a word.  But I think it should be!)  Why is it that the words the mind creates, to describe something perfectly, always seem to be incorrect when you need them?

Another picture occasion happened when I walked into the bedroom to put clothes away yesterday.  This is what I saw.

Molly in Momma’s slipper.

You know sometimes you can’t get close enough to some one you love!! I’m amazed she survived the smell!!!!

Have a great day!

Good afternoon on this sunshiny, warm 10th of March.  Yes I said warm!

The big thermometer on the porch reads 54 degrees.

Now that my friend is warm to me!  Brady and I found bare spots on the driveway (200 feet) all the way down to the mail and paper boxes.  Then a safe walk back up.  On the way up Brandy stopped under one of the pine trees and kicked the needles up for a few minutes.  Then it was a trip over the deck and around the side of the dome to check for any shoots that might be poking up.

The first ones we found.

The second bunch

These along with the two pictures were all found on the East side of the building.

Another group here.

The last group found so far.

I’m going to have to get  a rake and clean that area before those shoots get too tall.

Right now all I can think about are those pretty Spring blooms that will be showing up soon.  It lifts the spirits after this long Winter.

Well all the clocks on the main floor have sprung forward except for the answering machine.  I’ll tackle that later –maybe even tomorrow.

For today I have a couple of Sunday Chores to do but I want to get at the hoop for at least a couple of hour while the light is good.  I hope your week ahead is filled with good things.