Spring is here!!!

I'm so happy to see the back side of winter! Although it was a bipolar day today ... sun, wind, rain, sleet, and just a few snowflakes thrown in to make you scratch your head.  

Got up early and got myself to Farmland for Geri-Fit.  I think that exercise group is what's keeping me moving.  Mostly stretches and such but we do most moves standing.  Lasts about 45 minutes.  I'm having to do a couple sets seated, but that's not too bad.  (After all, I'm not as young as I used to be.)  Plus, I've gained some pounds; something I don't need.  So I need to do this.  

Got home and showered and did some reading and planning a patriotic quilt project.  Right now I'm working on a quilt top using all metallic fabrics, a first for me.  I'm having a time finishing it because I'm not loving it right now.  Maybe I'll like it more later, when it's done.

I made a "real" dinner tonight; chicken alfredo from scratch.  No sauce from a jar for me!  It was pretty good, if I have to say so myself.  I should do that more often!!!  Most of my meals are like popcorn or cheese and crackers or oranges (love me some cuties) or some Healthy Choice meal (ick).

Crocheted Afghan in Neutral Colors

I turned this afghan in on Wednesday.  I really like it and toyed with the idea of keeping this one for myself.  I don't have any that I've made; I just have some cover-ups that I've purchased over the years.  But I think someone will appreciate it and need it more than I do.  As I crochet I try to remember to pray for whoever might use it.  Just finished a hat in a new design last night and I prayed that it keeps someone warm and stylish!

Rising of the Wabash River

On one of my drives I was just over the Indiana/Ohio border a couple miles and came across this sign in a little pullover/park.  So I found where the Wabash River begins (nearby)!  I've seen the Wabash at many places in Indiana, and Wendell and I even canoed it near Bluffton one time.  Interestingly, the White River, which flowed below our home in Greene county, rises just about 5 miles south of where I live now near Snow Hill.  The White wanders all through Randolph county and it is dammed near Muncie to form the Prairie Creek Reservoir.  The White has a lot of wandering to do before it dumps into the Wabash and then into the Ohio!

My New Anthem

Went to the Wheel and Spoke Antique Mall in Portland yesterday and saw this sign.  I think it should be my motto.  I often worry and am anxious about too many things that I can't control.  And I tend to make things big and complicated in my mind.  If I'd just keep it simple all would be much better.  And my blood pressure would be lower.  I never thought I'd get old and have to see the changes that I have seen in my family and friends.  Now I know how my mom felt.

Market Bag

OK ... one more thing then I'm off.  I crocheted this market bag recently.  It's made from hand-carded and spun Shetland sheep wool, in it's natural color.  I LOVE it!  Of course, now I need to find some farmer's market to show it off at, right?  I love the unevenness of the color of the wool!  Simple pleasures are best.

Remember to find something to be grateful each day. 

And thank God for what you have.

Autumn: My favorite time of year ...

I've looked back and can see I've not been good at posting what I've been up to these past few months. I'll try to be more faithful in that. Admittedly, I'm not as active as I was in the past. Most of my driving is just "drives" in the country. One of the things that might be affecting that is I'm slowing down. I had one of those "special" birthdays this month and another excuse is I'm also still mentally recovering from living through the tornado (as well as just now fighting off a mild case of pneumonia). So there's that ...

Here goes with some photos with blurbs of what I've been doing:

I went to the Randolph County Art Association show in the spring, over at The Art Depot in Union City. These first photos are from that show. I especially like this one because it's a painting of the building in Farmland where our knit n' crochet group, A Good Yarn, meets. I love the Red Gold mural, a local company. The artist did an excellent rendering of the old building which began it's life as a grocery.

The show was at the old depot building in Union City, IN. It's a wonderful building and I wish it was used more frequently. I do go to a bi-annual quilt show that's held there, too. But I don't think it's used for much else...

The chair of the county art association has her office there, in the west end of the depot building. She is a very talented artist in her own right. She gave me a tour of her office and studio. She was working on small portraits of women musicians.

That building (the old depot) would make a great venue for a small wedding or reception, or other small gathering of that sort. There's a large, roofed brick floored front platform that would be great for spill-over outdoor use, and the large, old waiting room where this art show was set up makes for overall a really generous area for events. I'm in love with that old depot and think it's underused. Oh, to be young and involved again!

Well, I'll just add these two last photos because my internet connection is sooooooo slow! I'll get back on another time and add more. (Sometimes it is hard to believe that I had super fast internet out in the boonies of Greene county and here, in town, it sucks!)

Took a drive to Downing Fruit Farm this weekend. Oh, memories! We used to take the boys there every fall when they were young and we lived in Ridgeville. We would walk out in the orchard, watch apples being pressed into cider, taste apples, and buy a half-bushel bag to take home. Usually followed by an apple pie that evening or next day. Well, now I have a peck of apples (which is really a very small amount; the smallest they sell) but I'll probably have to end up giving some away. I think some of the neighbor ladies might appreciate them ...

More later, I promise. My patience with the internet speed is wearing out. 

Take care of yourselves, each and every one, and God bless you!