Welcome October!

Greetings!

Dang!  The pictures I wanted to post first I can't find!  I download them from my camera, name them, and then apparently don't name them good enough because I can't find them!  I know they are with other things, but can't remember what other things!  Oh well, they'll  pop up one of these days!  :)

In the meantime, we welcomed October with a new-to-us car; a 2011 Jeep Patriot.  I really like it, but it is much smaller than my old mini van and is white!  (I don't particularly like white vehicles)  I am still getting used to driving it, and I'm sure when the first payment is due in November I'll have second thoughts!!  It's been 4+ years with no payments and now we have to start all over again!  But, the poor old mini van - cira 2002 - was going down hill electronically, physically, etc. so we do what we have to do..............

I'm sure I'll learn to love this one as much as I did my van........just takes time..........

October is one of my favorite months -- the other being November.  I love the changing of the weather and the leaves, and the fall garden/fruit goodies, seeing the Persimmon trees loaded, the Walking Sticks on my windows, etc.  And last but not least, it is the month I will have a birthday in!  Yep, on the 22nd of October I will turn 69.  Maybe that number is what makes me gather these quotes:

"Do not regret growing older.  It is a privilege denied to many." ~ Unknown
"Old age isn't so bad when you consider the alternative." ~ Maurice Chevalier

And my favorite so far:  "Sometimes I think it would be easier to avoid old age, to die young, but then you'd never complete your life, would you?  You'd never wholly know you."   Any ideas what blond said that????    Ready?   ~~  Marilyn Monroe!

I think I hear a piece of fresh apple/pecan cake calling my name.  Have a good rest of the weekend.  Until next time, take care.

Marvelous Monday

Greetings!

I remember the days when the thought of a Monday ruined my Sunday!  That was pre-retirement times...........This past Monday was so enjoyable I wish there could be more like it!  We started out with a trip to "town" (pop. 900) to take the "kids" to the Vet.

This is Patch, the Border Collie big brother of the two.  He had to go in to get his Rabies booster for the year.  He took it like a champ, as usual.  The weigh in didn't really go in his favor though - 69 pounds - and told us he needs to lose a few!  Right..............

 

 

This is Salli, the Blue Heeler Mix little sister.  She had to have some staples taken out below her eye and next to her lower lip.  We've been going to the Vet for months trying to figure out what is causing the infection and excessive scratching, etc. with no results.  So she had some biopsies done, hence the staple stitches.  And come to find out, it's all caused by allergies of some kind.  And I cannot afford to have any more testing done so we will just take it as it comes.  I'm sure when the steroids are done she will be back to scratching up a storm!   sigh  I'm sure it is something she eats outside since the "signs" show up around her mouth and face.  It's tough being a canine Mom!

 

Anyway, after leaving the Vet we stopped at the Webbers Falls Park on the Arkansas River and let them romp a bit.  Patch even went in the river to retrieve a stick and did some swimming!   Salli wasn't about to go in the water so she just watched.  It was a beautiful, warm day though, and the river was beautiful.  Wish I'd taken my camera! 

 

After leaving there we stopped by Burger King and got us each an ice cream cone, with a dish of it for the "kids".  Boy were they lapping that up!   Now, what did I say about the weigh in??  lol

It sure proves that it's the little things in life that make it all worth while!  Until next time, take care.

Fall Things

Greetings!

Another week has passed!  It seems everytime I plan to write more than once a week, I don't make it!  Oh well, what's a few days here or there?!  When you are retired one day is like the next anyway!  It's a grand thing.

I couldn't resist taking this picture of the leaves that have fallen from the little oak tree.  This is kind of my view from the computer room window, and I love watching the leaves "rain" down on a gentle breeze!  I'm sure the other trees will follow suit soon.  My friend Kathy said the leaves are coming down because of the drought;  I said it is because it is Fall, and they are!  Besides, they say our drought is over...............  It was nice to see green grass and fields all summer for a change.  And farmers/ranchers have mown hay fields at least twice, if not 3 times, already this year and I bet they could get one more haying out of it!

 

Can you tell what these are?  It's our first experience growing them! 

 



The question is:  How do you know when to pick them?

 

I'm thinking when the big leaves turn brown and fall off then you can pick them.  Anyone know if that's right?

All those black dots at the end of the leave stems will turn in to brussell sprouts like the others......I think!  Or would if there was enough time.  If anyone knows when to harvest please let me know!!

I've only seen these growing once in my lifetime, and the lady was picking them in December.  BUT, that was in Washington State, and the climate is very different than here in Oklahoma, so maybe the harvest time is different too.  At any rate, it was a fun thing to watch grow this summer, and I hope we get to eat some of them!

I'm done for this time.  Oh, to my blogging friend Doris, Grammy of 16 now?  I don't know that one is ever "done" with their house!  :)  But in general, it is what it is! and what it's ever going to be!   I'm getting the itch to do some painting and kitchen re-decorating though!  Glad you are home safe and sound.

Until next time, take care...............

It's Getting Closer!

Greetings!

Here it is the 5th of September already.........the last Summer holiday is over, school has started everywhere (I assume), and people are settling down to a routine;  me, I'm just waiting for the temps to drop and the leaves to start turning so I'll know Fall has arrived!  Probably my favorite time of the year.

I took this picture 2 years ago and I still love it.  This is an area just to the left of our front yard and across the driveway.  It is my all time favorite snapshot depicting Fall.

I really don't have anything specific to post about today, just thought I'd better do something for the new month!   I've been doing "normal" housewife things this week; cleaning, laundry, vacuuming, taking care of dogs and the cat, etc.  Had to take Salli's collar off the other night as I noticed an abrasion under her chin.  I guess the collar had rubbed it raw -- too tight maybe.  This Saturday is another trip T-shirt hunting!  And hopefully the flea market will be up and running.

So, I won't bore you much longer; but I want to share this little prayer with you about why I am  Thankful To God.

               My muscles are sore, but they work.
               I did not sleep well last night, but I did wake up.
               My wallet is not full, but my belly is!
               I may not have all I want but I have all I need.
               My life is not perfect, BUT It Is Good!

I have this posted next to my computer and it is a wonderful reminder of how fortunate I am to be where and how I am!  It just makes me content, especially the last line......

Until next time, take care!

Making Ready For Getting Old(er)

Greetings!

I cannot believe it's been a week since I've posted!  Where does the time go?  And why does it go so quickly?  Perhaps it is true that the older you get, the faster time goes; kind of like when you get towards the end of the roll of toilet paper!  I'm assuming you've heard that saying before and know how it should be, because I know I didn't say it right!  :)

So, after all the "forced" buying of things last week, I decided it was time to do some "for me" buying.  I saw this perfect sized reciner on sale for cheap - $200 - and couldn't resist.  It looks pink, but in reality it is beigey tan.  It is not one of those oversized chairs, and fits my short stature perfectly.  I love it.  But now the question is what to do with "my" other chair, cause there is not room for it anymore.  It had become Salli's chair pretty much anyway, and is for now on the back porch!

 

AND, this is my new bed!  You can't tell much by the picture, except that Jax likes it too, but it is a gel and memory foam mattress.  I mean it is at least 12 inches thick if not more, and is sooooooo
comfy!  I almost need a stool to climb in.  I've been sleeping like a baby............

So I think I'm prepared to grow old-er in comfort, at least for the time being.  Had great fun shopping and going out to Chinese  supper; I highly recommend it!  Speaking of getting older:  "Don't worry about getting older; our age is merely the number of years the world has been enjoying us! "  A cute quote I saw somewhere!

I hope you all have a wonderful Labor Day weekend, if you are in to that stuff.  That's another thing about getting old-er...........one day is just like another!  We are staying home and enjoying it.  Until next time, take care.

It's Been Two "Of Those Days" !!

Greetings!

You know the old saying, "It's been one of those days"?  Well we've had two of those days!  I don't really know where to start, but will just jump in I guess...........who cares if its in chronological order!!

This is my laundry room, and the appliance in front is my NEW dryer, piled high with tools and stuff.  Yesterday morning I went to clean the lint filter on my old dryer and found that the lint in it was all wet!  Then I opened the dryer door and there was water inside!  I called my husband and he had no idea what could cause that, so his solution was to just go buy a new one!  So we did.
On the way to the appliance store I thought maybe if the dryer vent hose was plugged it would make the inside of the dryer wet because the water from the clothes couldn't escape.  Sounded good, but ....

So when we got home and got the new dryer installed, we noticed that the hot water heater was leaking; and it had leaked all over the floor and ground under the mobile.  All that moisture is probably what condensed in to the dryer?!  Anyway, husband had to make a trip to Lowe's (about 80 miles round trip) to buy a new water heater.  It was too late to do all the removal and installation so it all went on hold until today.

And this is our deep freeze that sits in front of the door that covers the water heater space!  So of course, it had to come out and sit in the hallway in front of the back door!  Overnight!!  Along with the cat litter box, paper trash can, outside shoe basket, etc.  And of course, since the water had to be shut off to stop the leaking, we had no water.

So here's a few of the dirty dishes stacked up!  And below are a couple of jugs of water we had on hand.  Also used for hand washing and toilet flushing and animal drinking!

So husband gets the new water heater in, has to make a run to a hardware store for some parts, gets it to stop leaking and ready for action.  But guess what?!  Our city water line had a break and so we are without water - - again!!  Somewhere around 3:30 p.m. we get water back, with hardly any pressure.  In the meantime, the water has heated and I can get the dishes done.  And somewhat later, we get a little more decent pressure!  So we are back to normal................YAY.

These last 2 days reminded me of how it was 4 years ago when we moved up here on the "hill".  I'm glad those days are over --  at least most of the time!  :)  I'm looking forward to a "normal" day tomorrow!  Until next time, take care.

Jackpot!

Greetings!

As I sit/sat here playing Turbo 21 on Pogo, and eating grapes, I thought I should write on my blog.  Especially since I haven't done so in a few days!  So here it goes.................

The jackpot is my new stash of T-shirts!  A couple of weeks ago I went to a used clothes closet and picked them up;  25 to be exact!   Brought them home and washed them and stacked them neatly in their bin!

 

 

 

And today I went there again and got 5 more!  So, with 30 shirts to cut up into strips I figure that will take at least 60 hours of my time.  It can take any where from 2 to 3 1/2 hours to cut a shirt, depending on the size.  And the BEST part is.............they were FREE!  And maybe, just maybe, I will get 2  rugs out of them.  Not big ones, but nice little throw rugs.

 

The closet is run by a church and is open the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month.  When I told them what I was looking for, they were glad because they had an over-abundance of men's T-shirts!  So it worked out for both of us.   I also got a pair of summer shoes today.  They have about 1 1/2 inch heels and are real comfy!



 

 

Oh, almost forgot. .....  This is my current project, a rug for in front of the kitchen sink.  It's just about done.  Then I suppose I have to start cutting........................................  :(

 



Well, the fixin's for my potato salad are waiting to be made up, so guess I'd better go start chopping.  Have a great weekend.  Until next time, take care.