Good Bye 2013...

We have BIG plans later today so I wanted to jump on and wish you all a

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Be Safe and Enjoy your time with family and friends!

XO



The Winter Blues...

They showed up early this year, they usually rear their ugly head after the Holidays. Me and Winter, we just don't mix anymore. I really need to move to a place that has a warmer climate year round. But at this time work does not allow so I'll just have to deal with it for the next 3 months. I plan to get a few things done inside the house while waiting on daylight and sunshine but I can't promise any of those will happen for a few months either.
While sitting around feeling Blue I've been thinking about a few things I'd like to do in the New Year. I was also thinking I should write them down for future reference. Its been awhile since I've posted anything so what better place than here on my blog.  I'd also like to say that these things are not New Years resolutions.  Here's my list...as of now.

1. Break my Diet Coke habit...again!
2. Find balance! I have worked 5 days a week for the past 37 years. In July of 2013 my work schedule was changed to 3 days a week. And while I love having more time away from work I feel as if I'm bouncing around all...the...time!
3. Get passports for the husband and I. 2014 is supposed to be the year for my big adventure!
4. Use my Rebel T1i instead of my iphone for photos! I want to take better pictures.
5. Learn to use my 50mm (Nifty Fifty) lens. I struggle with it every time I put in on my camera.
6. Learn to use PSE. I've had it for some time and know very little about it.
7. Learn more about my silhouette SD. Once again I've had it for some time and know very little about it.
8. Scrapbook...something. PL was started but did not happen again this year. Pictures were taken, some lost during upload from phone and #2 above. I bought the first kit Becky Higgins came out with for PL and still do not a one year documented. :(  I have no idea why, I LOVE this way of scrapbooking.
9. Learn to and make a small quilt.
10. Spend more time outdoors. Bike, Hike, Tennis, etc.!

Of course this list will grow as the year goes on but I am already working on #1, I am once again breaking my Diet Coke habit, why I ever started drinking it again is beyond me. So for the last week and a half I've had a terrible headache every...single...day! I have one right now! I've read that it takes 21 days to make or break a habit and I'm only on day 11! I sure hope it stops sooner than later.

Christmas is 4 days away!

Are you ready?

I am!



Just A Minute In December...

I can't seem to stay focused lately, not exactly sure why! Hopefully I'll figure it out soon.
So for just a minute here is what I'm doing:

Watching...Christmas movies and Survivor

Listening...to Christmas music, mostly Rod Stewart and Kenny Chesney

Cooking...soups, chili, warm winter foods

Eating...the above

Buying...Christmas gifts

Looking forward to...A New Year

I saw a (just a minute post) on Bloglovin but can't seem to find it now. Go figure!

 

Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving!

How's the Christmas shopping going?

Photo Friday And Moments Of The Week...

My Heart Belongs To a Bichon Frise

 

One day a Bichon came my way

And I knew from the start-

That precious little ball of fur

Would steal away my heart.

 

He fills my world with sunshine-

He has such loving ways,

I can't imagine life without

A Bichon in my days.

 

Intelligent and playful,

Such an easy friend to love-

My Bichon Frise is to me

A blessing from above.

                            



 

The above poem was found here.

 

Thanks For Making Me Look Stupid Moment...

My husband and I attended a Basic Pistol Shooting Class recently. The class consisted of 2 instructors, 4 women and 10 men. At the beginning of class they asked us to state our name and why we were taking the class. I went first, stated my name and said " I'm here to learn to shoot a gun." Really that was true but I did have other reasons for wanting to learn to shoot, I just didn't go into detail. Everyone else went into detail, for instance "I have a 6 year old and I want to learn to shoot a gun so that I can protect my child." "My husband drives a truck, I'm home alone with my children." And one lady in class was either drunk, high or over medicated, I'm not sure which but I was sure to be on opposite ends of the shooting range from her. And then there was my husband, "I'm just here with her." Nice!!! I did feel a bit stupid for not going into detail but it is what it is and we were all there for basically the same thing.

 

Channeling Our Inner Martha...

My sister asked me if I'd lend a hand and help her make some Meringue Swirls that she saw on Martha Bakes. We ran out one afternoon to pick up a few of the items we needed to make them. People! Vanilla Beans are expensive and now I know why. Later in the week we got together to channel our inner Martha, we all have that...right? Little did my sister know that I was just going to assist and let her do most of the work, she's always a little leery about trying new things in the kitchen. But my theory is that if it doesn't work the first time, you have two choices, simply try it again or ditch it! Our youngest sister also stopped by to join in on the fun. We got busy making the Meringue Swirls while trying to get pictures (how ever do you people do this) so that we could run out for a quick lunch. Who knew that they had to bake.....for what seemed like forever. However after a lot of measuring, egg separating, laughing, mixing and baking we did make it to lunch, just a little late.

 

 

They turned out perfect, crisp on the outside, soft on the inside just as the recipe stated. They tasted like toasted marshmallows and colored your teeth and tongue blue. But when I stored them in a covered dish they became extra sticky. I've done a little research but have yet to find the best way to store them, anyone? By the way, don't you just LOVE my egg separator?



 



Crocheting For A Cause...

Several months ago I started crocheting hats for babies to donate to a local hospital. At this time I have not done any research to see if it is even possible. I do know that you can donate the hats to several different organizations but I have also not contacted any of them...yet!
Well, it just so happens that my daughter has a friend who noticed on Facebook that she was also crocheting baby hats and asked if she'd be interested in donating some of them to this organization. My daughter called me to see if I'd be interested and of course she knew I would be! My daughters friend gave us an idea of the sizes that would be needed for the baby hats and we started crocheting away. OMG some of the hats are so small. I can't even imagine the grief these families go though and I am so sorry that my daughters friend and family had to go through such an ordeal. I do have to admit that is really hard to think about who they are for (I hope you understand what I mean by this) but I am happy to help out even if in such a small way. At this time we have two dozen little hats to donate and more are in the works. We should be delivering them sometime this week. Here is a picture of the ones I've completed and Yes, I know that I need to find a color other than blue for the baby boy hats. And now that I'm looking at the picture the girl hats too! Hopefully, my daughters are different colors.

Photo Friday...

I came home from work on Wednesday feeling fine, tidied the house a bit, made the husband and I our usual WW Wednesday dinner and some garlic toast. A few hours later I was not feeling so great, I think I may have gotten a touch of food poisoning. I had a headache and a queasy stomach Wednesday evening and most of the day on Thursday. I will most likely stop our WWW dinners for awhile, I'll worry that it might happen again, do you ever do that? I ate light on Thursday and today I'm feeling a little better. : )
Our new little tree that we the husband planted a couple of months ago seems to be doing great and the leaves are the prettiest red/orange color. Now I know why they call it an "Autumn Blaze Maple Tree".

 

I'm off to the salon for a cut and color today.

After that, lunch with a sister.

The husband wants to put the

Christmas lights on the house this weekend.

I'm so not ready!

Enjoy your weekend.

Home Alarms And Personal Safety...

Our home alarm system has alarmed us twice in the last few months. Both times it has been the alarm in our detached garage and both times it was early morning hours. The first time they tried to steal a leaf blower but the alarm sounded so they ran and left it out beside the garage. The husband picked it up the next morning. The second time our overhead door was up, the husband thinks that some signal just made the door go up. Me, I don't know or care what made it happen but I do not like it...one bit! I will have to say that I am happy the husband suggested getting an alarm system and that it works very well. Good idea on his part!
We live in a decent neighborhood and have for 28 years, we've never had problems and up until the first incident I was fine but now I'm not sleeping well. And while I never though I'd ever want a gun in the house I told the husband that I wanted to purchase a gun, go to a shooting range and learn to shoot. I've only shot one other time but it was years ago. Soon after our talk we purchased a gun, went to a shooting range and signed up for a class which we will be taking soon. He doesn't need it, I do so he's going along with me. In the meantime I've been learning all I can about this gun before shooting it. Now it may sound as if I'm going a little overboard but with all the crazy going on here and in the world today I want and need to be able to protect myself.
Yesterday we had the opportunity to go into the woods to shoot a few rounds. After some instruction from my husband and my brother-in-law I got to shoot four different guns. One was a little to big but I hit the target with it a couple of times, the other three fit me fine and I think I've found a favorite! Yes, I was a little nervous at first but it didn't take me long to get comfortable shooting at the target. Both my husband and my brother-in-law were surprised at how many time I hit said target and honestly, I was to but I was also proud of myself for doing so well on my first time shooting at a target. I think that this is not only going to make me feel more comfortable in my own home or while out and about but that it is also something I will enjoy learning. I loved the time we spent shooting in the woods and I plan to practice in the woods or at the range often. Practice makes perfect...RIGHT!!!

 

 

I know that a lot of people have issues with guns, so

I wonder, would you or would you

not use a gun for your own personal safety? 

Photo Friday And Moments Of The Week...

A little road trip to Nashville, IN led us to a chainsaw carving shop. The carver is new at carving but we thought this guy was pretty awesome.

 

 

 



This Is Not Exactly What I Had In Mind Moment...
The trip that led us to the above was supposed to be a trip to Brown County to take pictures of the trees at the park during what was supposed to be the peak weekend this Autumn. I guess the husband had other ideas. Instead we walked around Nashville, IN  and had lunch at our favorite sandwich place. Not exactly what I had in mind, but its all good!

There was still plenty of green left on the trees so maybe I'll get

 another chance at some pictures this weekend.

I hope you all have a good one.

A Trip To The Dairy Farm/Pumpkin Patch...

Sorry, picture heavy post.

 

Our usual Pumpkin Patch hasn't been so good the last couple of years. So this year we visited a Dairy Farm/Pumpkin Patch. This place had plenty of things for the kids to do, they also had hayrides and pumpkins but they didn't have an actual Pumpkin Patch. The kids (young and old) all enjoyed climbing on and jumping off the hay bale stacks. And our Grand-daughter did a pretty good job at leading us through the corn maze. When we were leaving we asked the kids how they liked the new place and they both said that they missed taking the hayride out to the patch to pick out their own pumpkins. So while the adults in the group enjoyed it, we have decided they we should let the kids pick where we go next year, after all it is for them.

 

 

 

We got to take a tour through the milking barn but it was a quick one because the cows get nervous when there are lots of people around.This Dairy sells it milk to Dean's, so if you drink Dean's milk there is a chance that it could have came from Kelsay Farms.
They also had a couple of two week old Holstein calves in a little pen for petting. They were so cute and one of them kept chewing on the other ones ear. I love that they had them but I felt bad for them.

 

 

And here's our Grand-daughter with the pumpkins.

She really did have fun! I think!!!

 

 

 



Photo Friday...

I took a break from work this week and spent some time at home. I did some organizing, some cleaning and a bit of crocheting. I also had the pleasure of hanging out with my Grand-daughter and Grandson for a couple of days. We did crafts, played with toys and went out for lunch. Oh how I'd love to have all that young energy. I took a few pictures of the two of them together but neither one of them would be still, not even for a second. It's back to work for me on Monday so I'm going to try to make the most of the weekend. I hope you all have a good one.

Recycled Plant Markers...

My sister, the one I hang out with a lot is a Gardener. I swear she could plant a rock and it would grow. She is mostly into flowers but she also has a small vegetable garden. Her flower garden covers the entire backside and one side of her house, its beautiful when in bloom. She also has small gardens out and about all over her yard. I'll have to get pictures next Spring/Summer when its in bloom. I don't even know how she remembers all the kinds of flowers she has as there are so many.
She's been looking for an expensive way to mark all her flowers for awhile now. Plant markers are expensive, especially when you need as many as she needs. We searched around but didn't really find anything affordable so we did what lots of people do these days and went to Pinterest. We found a few different ideas there and being the recycler that she is, she chose markers that were made from tin can lids. She had the lids and hangers, I had the number and letter punch sets and some sharpies for another project...that I'll get around to someday.
We were all set, had everything we needed so we got started on the plant markers. We practiced first, we've never used the punch sets before and just for the record its not as easy as it seems. I told her to write us a list of flower names so that we'd know what we were putting on the markers and she got so frustrated (because of all the flowers she has) that she couldn't remember all the names. Why do flowers have such strange names anyway? She got a short list together and we started punching, some of the abbreviations she chose made me LOL but I just went with it and punched the names she chose. We worked on them for most of the day and once she matches them up with all the labels from her flowers I'm sure we will have many more to make. She likes them, we think they are sort of rustic looking. We also like the sound they make when the wind blows them against the hanger. I'm happy that we got some practice with the punch sets, now I know what to expect when I get around to my project.

Here we are punching away. Deuce (my Bichon) did not like it, its very loud. It would probably be better to do this outdoors.

 

 

Here they are outside. A few of my favorites.

Kind of Halloweenish!

See what I mean by the abbreviations.

 

 

 

Fall Break Pie Baking...

My sister and I went to an orchard about a week ago to pick up apples for pie making, I also purchased some gourds, and acorn squash and a caramel apple. Man was that caramel apple good, the husband and I shared it.
So for the last week I've been trying to find time to make some French Apple pies, I make a few every year and share them with some family members. Last week I had the pleasure of spending a day with my Grandson while he is on Fall break. I ask him if he wanted to help me make pies, not only was he willing to help but he also wanted to make a Pecan pie all by himself. He has always loved helping me in the kitchen, I cherish this recipe card that he wrote for me a few years ago.
We spent the entire afternoon in the kitchen baking pies, five in all. My kitchen looked like a bomb had exploded by the time we were finished, flour on the floor, sticky apple juice...everywhere mixed with sugar and spices. Good messy baking fun, I love it, especially when I get to bake with my Grandbabies.
He made his Pecan pie first, I just got all the ingredients together for him. He kept reminding me that he wanted to make it...all by himself!

 

We cut it while it was piping hot, he couldn't wait to try a slice topped with ice cream...of course!

 

 

Next we got busy making 4 French Apple pies. He helped me the entire time. I use a recipe from a Betty Crocker cookbook that I've had for years. As you can see from all the splatters on the page, its a well used recipe. No passed down recipes, my Mom was not a baker! :(

 

 

 

We cored, sliced, and peeled the apples, added spices and mixed up the filling, one pie at a time. He spooned the apple filling into the shells. I love the tongue, he's really concentrating here. 

 

 

It look good just like this

 

But we still need to add the French topping. I mixed it up, he took the picture.

 

 

Fresh from the oven, French Apple pies.

 

 

We always top our slice with a bit of ice cream but I've

heard that cheese in good on Apple pie. Probably not

French Apple but regular Apple pie.

Have you ever tried it?

 

Photo Friday And Moments Of The Week...

These little hands have been helping me in the kitchen since they were about 3 years old. They belong to my Grandson. He will be turning 11 years old soon and I'm so happy that he still enjoys spending time in the kitchen with me, his Nana!

 

 

 

Ummm...Confused Moment!

 

I stopped at a McDonalds for a drink and an ice cream cone. The young man behind the counter said to me "Our ice cream machine is broken but we have coffee." How is that even close to ice cream...beats me! I'm still wonder what he must have been thinking.

 

 

Hoping for a quite weekend. Enjoy yours!



 

Covered Bridge Festival...

One of the reasons I love Autumn in Indiana is because there all so many Festivals. My sister and I have picked our favorites from our many years of going and now we only attend a few each year. On Saturday my sister, my daughter and I hit the road bright and early to beat the long line of traffic waiting to get into the Covered Bridge Festival. It turns out that we arrived 1.5 hours early and had to sit in the car to wait for things to open up. My daughter (being the city girl that she is) could not believe all the stars that were out in the country sky. She just kept looking at them and saying "WOW" look at all those stars. Because it takes most of the day to make it through one area, each year we choose a different area to go to, this year we chose Mansfield. I only snapped a couple of phone pictures even though I had my Rebel with me. There were just to many people in the way, everywhere, all the time! I even failed to get one of the three of us together. :(

Mansfield Covered Bridge
People/Unknown

This year while at the Festival I tried something new...I had my palm read. I've wanted to do this the last couple of years and since they weren't busy I thought why not! I really don't know much about palm reading but I did what she told me at the beginning, which was to close my eyes, rub my hands together in a circular motion and think about something I've been wanting for awhile. After that, she read my palm. My hands are always cold so I really wonder if she just wanted me to warm them up before she started my reading. I won't go into all the details of what she told me but one good thing was that I have a very long life line. I haven't yet but I know I will google 'Palm Reading" to do a bit of research. The pictures below were taken by my daughter, at least she captured this for me. Thanks, Charlie!



Have you ever had your palm read, had a tarot reading or a physic reading?

I'd love to hear others opinions on these things. No reason, just curious.  

 



Photo Friday And Moments Of The Week...

My little Deuce (he's a Bichon Frise) turned 12 this month. I wonder if I've ever told the story of how I got him for a Christmas present and how he got his name. I'll have to check past posts to see.
He goes to a groomer once a month but he also gets bathed at home weekly 1) because he is white and 2) I take him to work with me and lets just say a warehouse is not the cleanest place for a white dog. He LOVES to be bathed and when I ask him if he is ready for a bath, he walks into the bathroom and hops onto the side of the tub waiting for me to lift him in. Yesterday he had his weekly bath and I had my phone close so I snapped a picture of him as he was getting out of the tub. He said it would be OK if I show you all as long as he is covered. Silly dog!

 

 

 

 

 

Radio Fail Moment...

I was on my way to work Tuesday morning when they came on the radio and said "Pedestrian hit on (a road I travel to work on) Emergency vehicles blocking all lanes, please use a different route." Well, I was about a minute from the area they were talking about so because I wasn't at a good spot for turning around, I proceeded in that direction. And guess what, there wasn't anything going on......at all! Oh and after I passed that spot, they said it again! What! Not that I wanted to see a hit pedestrian but really people...get your facts straight!

Fun weekend plans here, hope you enjoy yours!



The Lumineers Rescheduled...

Last Saturday evening we had plans to attend the Lumineers concert. It was going to be an outdoor concert but on Friday we learned that it would be rescheduled to Monday evening because of the rainy forecast...that lasted all weekend!!! Good thing they rescheduled! They also furnished beach chairs which was nice because the ground was saturated from all the rain. By the time the concert was over it was a muddy mess. My boots are still caked with mud!
Not knowing that they would allow cameras in, I left the Rebel at home and took my phone with me. Little did I know that the band would come out into the crowd and play on a small stage just a few feet from where we were sitting. Unfortunately, I had two big, mean looking security guys in front of me, my daughter managed to squeeze in front of them before they got all pushy! LOL
I only managed a few decent pictures but I wanted to document that the husband and I went to this concert on a MONDAY evening! People this almost never happens, us out on a Monday...WHAT!!!
Folk music at its finest! We had a Great time!

The Lumineers, October 2013
 

Riley Days And A Rainy Weekend...

My sister and I headed out early Saturday morning for Riley Days, hoping to beat the rain. When we arrived some of the booths were opening and it wasn't busy at all. I think a lot of people stayed away because of the rain forecast. But we timed it perfect and left just minutes before it started to rain.

This is the statue of James Whitcomb Riley that
sits in front of the Courthouse.

 





My sister and I with the very busy, mixed up sign.
 

 

I had the best homemade noodles served over mashed potatoes for lunch.
The were even nice enough to serve me before they added chicken.
And YES! I ate every bite!

 

The leaves are just beginning to change but I
did find this pretty tree.

And this is what it did off and on for the remainder of the weekend.
 Mostly ON!
 

 

 Are you a fan of rainy weather? Me, not so much!