Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Wonderful, cool days ...

I have been enjoying these days with no AC on in the house -- doors and windows open, fresh air inside and out! Lots of rain though and we have been mowing more than we like to. Over the years we have let most of our two lots go back to prairie. But it still takes about 3 hours to mow and trim with the string trimmer. I've tried sowing wild flowers in those wild areas, but mostly it's just whatever wants to grow there. We have lots of Queen Anne's lace and some pretty grass that turns orange/red in the fall, milkweed, and other blooming things (weeds to W.) that I don't know their names. Only flowers I've sown and gotten to bloom out there is coreopsis and purple coneflower.

HALF WAY DONE!
Today I'm posting another picture of progress on the runner rug. Can't believe I am half way done after only a few days considering I started this rug YEARS ago! Will be hooking this p.m. with Margo and want to get some pointers on this runner as well as the scrappy squares rug I
hope to get done in time for the fair ... just 2 1/2 weeks away ... don't know about that. There will be a lot of living in these next few days, too, so I have my doubts but I think I can find another rug to put in the fair that I've done this past year if I don't complete the scrappy squares.

Hey! Thanks for your comments about this runner. I appreciate the encouragement! If I could figure out how to answer people directly I would do so, but until then just know I 'preciate it! Hope you have a day as beautiful as this one is here in SW Indiana.

PS ... the cardinal is gone and the windows are once again newspaper-free and clean!

Friday, June 24, 2011

Pretty normal week ...

Visited Mom this week ... drove to Bluffton early Tuesday a.m. and stayed until after lunch the next day. It is a long drive and since I avoid the interstates, even longer than it should be. But for my mental health I'll just travel there on those secondary highways. Mother is doing remarkably well. Her progress in the past two weeks has been measurable. They are working with her two times a day on physical therapy, so we didn't get to visit too much -- between PT and mealtime, etc., she is a busy lady. But that is a good thing!

Got home early in the evening and Wendell fixed dinner with wine! Great! I needed a glass of wine after that long drive! I think he was softening me up for the next day when we mowed (yesterday)! Also I worked pulling weeds! I think the Preen I put down in the spring has worn off! Probably all of the rain washed it out more quickly than normal. I think I need to re-apply! I will can beets today. It'll my second batch of 4 pints. They'll taste good this winter! Plus I've fixed two batches of pickled beets for us so far. The spinach is now all gone; pulled up the plants which had gone to seed yesterday. The lettuce is still looking good; I think the cool weather has helped. We have so much of it; Wendell took two nice little heads over to our neighbors yesterday. It is a variety called Buttercrunch and is very tasty. Our tomatoes are setting on and the okra plants are getting big. The green beans are just coming through good; I plant later than most people because it seems to work out better for me that way. The weeds are flourishing in the veggie garden, too!

I'm putting myself out here and I'm going to post progress pictures of my runner rug project. Maybe if I do that it will put a guilt trip on me if I don't keep up the work! So at the right side I'm going to post progress pictures with dates. PLEASE brag on me so I'll keep hooking on this monumental task! LOL!!!!! I told Margo about this rug YEARS ago and I think for a long time she really didn't believe it existed! LOL! I started it, I don't remember how many years ago, and I MUST finish it before I move to a house that doesn't have two long hallways! LOL! Anyway ... I'll keep you posted with how I'm doing here. If I get one more row done I'll be half way there! YEAH!!!!!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Well ...

Completed the directions for making the lapel pins at the bottom of this blog for the ladies who asked for it. If you have further questions, please advise (my email address is toward the top at the right).

Sorry to report that my futile attempt at stopping that stupid cardinal have been in vain! The little person at the laundry room window has worked. The cactus, not so much ... it was just a lull I guess; maybe he and the missus were on vacation. So I have doubled up on the plants at the base of the windows so now he just gets up real close by standing on the plants and looks at himself but doesn't throw himself at the window. Go figure ...

Just finished binding my quilt and put a picture on the left. Also, I'm close on the Scrappy Squares rug and want to get this done for county fair but don't know if that will happen ...

For those who have been thinking of her, my mother is progressing as well as can be expected. She is somewhat depressed by what has happened to her but I think she will get through this. I know she wants to get back to "normal". Who wouldn't??? She is very strong and determined. I have faith. Thank you for all of your prayers for her well-being.

Has been a busy week ... more doctor appointments this week (2) and next (1). And I want to go back up to Bluffton to see Mom.

Wendell picked beets today! (Wasn't expecting that.) So I'm going into town to get lids so I can process some beets tomorrow a.m. Other than that it's been a normal week ... I want the cool weather back!!!!!!!!! It's getting hot outside this afternoon!

Saturday, June 11, 2011

How we solved the kamikaze cardinal problem (I think) ...


That pesky cardinal was still beating himself against at least three of our windows so we both sort of "saw" the problem-solver at the same time yesterday.

I was out on the deck moving the three cactus pots around on the railing to get more sun and we decided to move them to the bottom of the two windows the the bird is abusing the most! Two of the cactus to the bottom of the dining room door-window and one plant at the bottom of the front door side light. Did this because after he attacks the window he usually falls/drops straight down to the ledge.

(I also put my "little person" up as a scare crow at the laundry room window -- see above.)

Happy to report that since then he has been a no-show! ta da!
Two heads are better than one.

More later ...

Finally ...

At the fiber fair in Washington last month I promised some lovely ladies that I would put the directions back on my blog about how to make the hooked and proddy lapel pins. Starting today I'll work on removing most of my rug pictures and putting the directions back up at the bottom of the page.

It's been a busy week. It's hard to believe that we've only been back from vacation just one week because I've poured a lot into this week for sure! We mowed Monday; I had wanted to leave to see Mom but it sure wasn't fair to Wendell to leave him with all that work! It was difficult to climb back in the car again but I left to see Mom early Tuesday morning; home late Wednesday. All things considered, she is in remarkable spirits and I think the telling thing will be how she will have progressed the next time I go up there to visit. She was in PT both days I was there but just getting started. In fact Tuesday was her first day. Mom is a very social person and she enjoys company so we talked and talked while I was there. But I must say I dread those 4-hour drives to Bluffton!

Sort of collapsed when I got home for a day. I actually moved my current hooking project over to the house and hooked a little that day. That way I don't have to AC both places. Friday evening we had dinner out with the Whites and that was fun! I haven't laughed so much in a long time and it was a good thing (laughing I mean)! Did errands this a.m. and rounded up the dust bunnies so I feel sort of back in control of my environment. Dead-headed the rose bush and the iris so they look better. So many weeds, so little time! LOL!

Well, now I'll begin remodeling this blog! Have a blessed weekend. Later ........

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Home again, home again ...

[Here's a picture I took this a.m. ...
it's supposed to be good luck to rub Abe's nose.]


Just got in late this afternoon from a mini-vacation. Wendell and I started by traveling to Bluffton to see my mother. That evening we went on to Ft. Wayne and spent a wonderful evening with my cousin Phyllis and her hubby, catching up. Our family just doesn't get together often enough! One problem is the distance between our homes! Late this summer we are having a Schooley reunion in Bluffton. That will be enjoyable!

We left Ft. Wayne the next day and went on to Grand Rapids, taking a leisurely day stopping at antique shops and yard sales. The weather started out cloudy and was rainy at times. We took back roads. We arrived in GR late in the afternoon and spent a little time with Adrian, Gloria & Veronica. On Saturday Jeff was there, too, and we all met for breakfast then spent the day talking, geocaching, drinking Starbuck's and EATING! Gloria is a wonderful cook! Veronica always keeps me hopping!

Early Sunday we left GR for the "official" start of our mini-vacation. We drove over the bridge into the UP late in the day and stayed in Newberry for the night. On through our old camping grounds and areas we used to spend with the kids when they were little on summer vacations. We tried some geocaching but the mosquitos were as big as butterflies so we didn't find but one and it was a virtual cache (all you had to do was take a picture of a landmark, which in this case was a summer cottage made from two giant barrels (living room, bedroom) and an attached kitchen shed. We stayed in Marquette Monday night and the weather that day was weird ... at one time in Munising it was 74 degrees and within about a three mile stretch it dropped over 20 degrees ... I know you don't believe that and I didn't either as it was happening. But it's true.

That night my brother called and said Mom had fallen that day and broken her leg! He urged us to not to return and after deliberation we decided he was correct. He and my sister were there and that was enough I am sure. He kept us updated and that was reassuring. She had surgery the next day and now she is back at River Terrace but in the nursing section and not in her independent living apartment. It was a difficult time for me after that news. I really didn't enjoy the rest of the vacation because I just wanted to get back to Indiana.

We d
id see some beautiful country, especially along the Copper Harbor area of the UP and then again when we drove down through Wisconsin along the Great River Road. This a.m. we spent at the Abraham Lincoln historical sites in Springfield. Except for the awfully hot weather there it was great! Then it was a long, fast drive home from there after lunch.

So ... now I'm doing laundry. I'll go up to see Mom Monday I think; I have to have tomorrow to rest. Plus she just got back "home" yesterday and needs some time to settle in to a different part of RT. She is very motivated and I have no doubt she will be back at 'em in no time. Please pray for my mother. Thank you.