Friday, November 23, 2018

This n' that ...

Few ramblings of my life and mind ...

We lost a friend last week.  Betty Lawhead of Trimble, Illinois died at the age of 92.  Betty was a wonderful hooker, fellow charter member of the Hoosier Hills Rug Hooking Guild, and just a fun person to be around.  After reading her obit I could see that she had a wonderful, full life.  And the most interesting thing to me was that she lived in the same house all her life!  From birth to death.  Not many people can say that.  Wendell and I ran into her recently at the Wabash Coffee House in Hutsonville (IL) where she ate lunch every day!  I'm glad we got to share a few words and laughs that day!

And speaking of such things, I updated my address book this week.  I keep an old-fashioned one, like my mom used to, in pencil.  Thank goodness it's in pencil.  Unfortunately I had to erase several entries.  Our good old friend Jim Doversberger, my Aunt Rosie, and my cousin Margaret Schooley Johnson are all gone now.  And I hadn't erased Mom's entry yet; that was a hard one.  And other people have just moved out of our lives ...  Life does go forward.  But doing something like updating your address book brings the fact that you're growing older more clearly to mind.

We had a quiet Thanksgiving.  Was outside some because it was so beautiful.  Took a walk and it was great to breath deeply of the fresh air and enjoy the sunshine!  Had wanted to go out for a holiday dinner but waited too long to make reservations at any place we'd want to eat.  So we had ham, roasted butternut squash, and cranberry salad.  Pumpkin pie for dessert.  It was all good.  And spent with my favorite person.

So ... what have I been up to lately?  Here goes!

Last post I showed a view out my kitchen window with all the beautiful fall color.  Well, here's what it looks like now with the trees almost bare.  Big difference.  And we're supposed to have rain and wind tonight, so I expect even more will be gone tomorrow.

Betty McClelland gave me this piece from an old overshot weaving.  I sewed around the edges and fringed it to make a simple table runner.  I know it's not perfectly balanced, red & blue, but I like it anyway!  My thoughts are along these lines:  "who knows who made this and where it's been in its lifetime!?"  I love it.  (That bowl is made from an old lariat discovered at the farmer's market in Las Cruces last February.)

This is all the autumn decorating I did this year.  I was lazy ...  The American flag always makes things look better, plus the leaves helped me out!

This is the little mat I'm hooking right now.  It'll be a pillow top.  Now that I'm well along with it I like it better than I did when I started.  Isn't that always the way it is???

Here's the beautiful landscape by Bill Ferguson that Jane gave me.  We love it there on our living room wall!  How very generous of her to share this painting with us!  You know, Jane is just a very special person.  Some time I'll tell you some of the good things she does for the community.  Lots of things people don't even know about.  And probably way more than even I know about ...  Jane is a good person.  But anyway, thank you Jane.  We are so enjoying your gift.

Now, I'll close with this picture.  This is a VERY bad hand dealt to me in Quiddler.  We played a couple games last night.  If you were going to make some words out of this, what would you do?????  Luckily I got to draw.   Pssst ... my family doesn't know but I'm going to make them play this game at Christmas!  LOL!

Well, hope you've had a great Thanksgiving and are starting your Christmas shopping at home or at the mall.  And that you go out and do something fun this weekend, too.  We're off to the Festival of Trees at Shawnee Theater and the Owen Valley Winery for some wine to tide us over the rest of the year!  
Remember that God is good!  All the time!

Thursday, November 1, 2018

Will it never end?????

Only five days to go!  I am so over political advertisements!  Right now I don't care who wins.  And I probably won't care much when it's over either.  It seems to me it's just a bunch of people seeing how much they can spend to hold power.  Bah.  Humbug.

Now.  On to important things ... I made a pie today!  Probably sounds like braggin' but it's pretty yummy, too.  So I'm sharing the recipe here and saying it's just as good as Wick's Sugar Cream Pie!  Big talk, I know -- but try it, and let me know if you did and if you liked it, and how it worked for you!

INDIANA SUGAR PIE (from Marcia Adams' "Heartland" Amish cookbook)

1 8" unbaked pie shell
4 T. all-purpose flour
2 T. cold butter
1 c. sugar
pinch of salt
1 c. heavy (whipping) cream
1 c. milk (whole, 1%, 2% ...)
1 t. vanilla extract
grated nutmeg for garnish

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.  Blend the flour, butter, sugar and salt in a food processor until well combined and smooth, about 5 seconds. Pour into the unbaked pie shell.

Add the cream and mix gently, thoroughly with your fingers, being careful not to break through the bottom crust.

In a measuring cup, combine the milk and vanilla; pour over the top of the cream mixture but don't stir in.  Sprinkle lavishly with nutmeg.  Place pie on baking sheet for stability.  Bake for 1 1/2 hours.  (This seems too long, but it does require long baking.  And remember, it's only at 300 degrees F.)

The center of the pie will be bubbly and still a little wiggly.  Cool completely at room temperature before cutting.  Store leftovers in frig.

Here it  is, right out of the oven.  I know; it looks like it didn't bake long enough, but it did and it firmed up perfectly.  We just had a piece tonight with a cup of coffee and it was delish.  And so simple!  ANYONE can make this pie.  Honestly.

I was successful in the "stirring" with my fingers because I just cut my nails back!  LOL!!! (And now that I look at them, I need a manicure ..........)

You know we enjoy visiting antiques shops.  Well, we went to Vincennes recently and visited Shakers Landing.  Found a couple of small green planters to add to my collection.  They had some neat stuff; we hadn't been there for some time and enjoyed the trip.  Had lunch at Procopio's; first time we'd been there and really enjoyed it.  I'd recommend that restaurant to anyone.  Also took a walk along the Wabash on their newly remodeled riverfront walk.  And drove along the new (to me) section of riverfront drive.  It was a beautiful fall day and it was good to be alive and out and about in Indiana!

They have an outside area with all sorts of architectural salvage ...

And indoors there's plenty to keep you occupied.  Love this 'weed' sign -- I probably should have bought it to put down along the river to help the pot farmers find their plot by boat.

I thought this lamp made from fittings was unusual and almost bought it.  Couldn't think of any place to put it though!  I did buy some yardsticks that I then used to make a 5-sided star.  Hung it on the wall downstairs.

We went to Michigan recently to visit Adrian and family.  Got to see Veronica play soccer.  She's second from the left in the picture below.  So proud of her and her team!  They had an excellent season.  Enjoyed a yummy Mexican dinner with them before we parted.  Life is good.  While we were there we visited a very nice church south of Hastings for Sunday services; friendly people.  The weather was cool but no rain, sleet or snow for the game or the trip.  The driving was good with some pretty color here and there along the way.  It was all good.  I'm really enjoying my new (used) Subaru!



Well, we finally had some pretty fall color over the weekend here and took a drive to see some of it.  On Monday we mowed and it was the best day!  Just wonderful weather and so good to be outdoors.  I kept finding things to do to stay out longer.  All of the yard 'stuff' is now put away and all the flower beds except one ready for the winter.  Sad.  It think it's the last time we'll have to mow for the season.  (Thank you God!)  But really -- I so enjoy being out on the mower when it's nice.  It's sort of mindless work and gives me time to think, sing, and pray.  (Don't tell anyone I sing.)  Only time I really mind it is when it's 90 and humid; then I'm hating it!  We had way too many mowing days like that this summer ... 

Met (brother) Don and Nancy for lunch at 21 North in Martinsville Tuesday.  What fun!  We ate and talked for 2 hours!  Great lunch, too.  It sure was good to see them; probably the last time till next spring.  We hated parting; stood out on the sidewalk and talked some more.  We'll all get busy with holiday events plus they'll leave for AZ soon.

Then Wednesday it turned ugly and I think all of the beautiful leaves were blown/rained off of the trees yesterday and today.  Today was a good day to be in.  Sewed some.  Baked the pie.  Helped Wendell clean out can lights.  Did the minutes from the last church council meeting (yeah! glad that's done!).  Read some on a very interesting book.  Just a good day to be indoors.

Here was the view out my kitchen window couple days ago.  Pretty I think.  Now the trees are much more bare.  I can see the river today through the woods.  God is good.


Sunday, October 7, 2018

A new year for me ...

Today's my birthday.  It's just been a really good day so far ... beautiful weather, went to church, talked to one of my kids (so far) and my sweet granddaughter, read some on my current book ... what more could you ask?  We're enjoying an extension of summer in my part of Indiana.  It's been very warm and a little too humid for me but I'm not complaining because soon I'd just be complaining about the cold weather so ......  Yesterday we took a long drive over into Illinois and enjoyed brunch, a festival in Robinson, visiting about half a dozen antique shops, and topped it off with a frappe.  It was my pre-birthday celebration so I could just do a lot of nothing today!  And then got to see Notre Dame win a football game on TV last night.  God is good!

Lately we've been mowing a lot.  And keeping busy with the usual stuff it takes to keep an 8-acre parcel looking good.  And there's always house cleaning, laundry, shopping, errands and other "stuff".  I've enjoyed hooking with my friends and sewing with the Project Kindness women especially.  Speaking of that, here's some pictures (thanks Jane!) of some of the things we've done at PK:
Clothing protectors for adults at the Glenburn Home.

Miscellaneous lap quilts and fleece throws, also for Glenburn.

Surgery dolls, I 'think' for Peyton Manning Hospital or Riley.

One piece fleece hood w/ scarf for the homeless in Terre Haute.
In addition to this, we've made a LOT of pillow cases that we'll take to a couple of places here in Greene County.  Plus we're starting on some walker pockets.   For fun everyone made themselves an apron to work in out of homespun.  We need to take a group picture some time in those aprons ... hmmm.

Wendell took his tractor to the WRVAA Show in Elnora a few weeks ago.  It started off nice but turned into a rain out for Saturday and Sunday.  We went down on Thursday and enjoyed seeing all of the flea market things and walking through the tractor display.  And of course had a homemade ice cream, too.  Talked to several old friends there.  Some of them are trying to talk W. into going back to work at the sorghum shed but he just can't do that anymore.  But it's nice to feel missed he says ...  Here's a couple pictures from that event:
He has it all loaded and ready to take off.  It was a beautiful day!
Here's his tractor on display in the Case tractor area.  As you can see, the weather was starting to look iffy that day.

The gas station display area.  Some neat old things here!

Ford was the feature tractor this year and here was an unusual one.

Just a small portion of the tractors at the WRVAA show this year.

We spent a lot of time talking to this guy who owned this Corvair pickup truck.  It had a side loading ramp and a rear engine (which Wendell is talking with him about).  It is all original!  Cool!

We've enjoyed some really breathtaking sunsets this summer.  And the flowers have been beautiful, too.  Here's a couple pictures.  I especially like the sunset with the red roses in the foreground.  My morning glory vine have been blooming just the past couple weeks.  And I really like the clear true blue color.  (I never get tired of seeing the sunset out my window.)




Take care and have a very blessed week.  Remember, God is good.  All the time.  


Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Enough already!!!

This has been the summer that won't go away!  I am so over summer!  LOL!  I used to have a friend that was often saying she was "so over" something or other.  That phrase is sort of a pet peeve of mine.  And I was thinking what some other pet peeves of mine are.  Hmmmm ...  Let's see, in no particular order:

  • chewing with your mouth open
  • people who stop just inside the door or driveway of public places (decisions, decisions)
  • or, groups of people who stop to chat in the middle of the aisle
  • parents who are blind to their problem child or grandchild
  • texting while driving
  • not washing your hands after using the bathroom (yuck!)
  • littering (especially on my road!)
  • loud cell phone talking in public (hey, absolutely not necessary)
  • tailgaters (I'm married to one)
  • people who don't know the difference between the words idea and ideal
  • leaving just a tiny bit of something and putting it back in the frig (ARGH!)
  • overuse of the word "like" ... 
  • or, "you know" or "ya know what I'm sayin'?" (especially athletes).
Whew!  Glad to get that off my chest.  😊

Anyway, here's what I've been doing lately.  Not a lot but keeping cool inside and it's making me sort of feeling like you do in the winter, so it's reverse cabin fever I'm experiencing.  Today I just gave up and went out (early) and pulled weeds in the flower beds, cut back some dead stuff, pulled out lily stems, etc.  It was good to be out and about.  Was in, showered and kicking back by 10:00 a.m.  Hooked last night with Jane, Jan & Julie.  I've been working on a spiral pillow top and that's shaping up.  Good to catch up with these special women; it's nice to have someone to listen to me b***h about relatively small problems!  I've been sewing and weaving a lot this past month.  And mowing!  Yikes!  We have to mow at least once every 10 days if not more often.  So let's see what I've taken pictures of ...

Here's the beginning of that pillow top; I'm further along on it now after last night.

I've purchased a yard each of these wonderful Robert Kaufman woven flannels and plan on making a simple snugly quilt from them this winter.  Aren't they yummy!?

Just finished the mass of this quilt top; still have three borders to add.  First a thin black line, followed by an orange somewhat thicker border, ending with more of the grey around the edge.  What do you think?  It's prettier in person than it looks here.  

Wendell loaded up his tractor last night and took it to the WRVAA show, which will begin tomorrow.  Hopefully there will be good weather for the weekend.  Cooler and no rain would be good ...  Poor guy had a trailer tire blow out on the way down.  Long story but he made it home safe and sound ...

Had to add this one from the game camera.  This turkey was moving in for his/her closeup I guess.  This picture cracked me up!

And I thought this one of mother and fawn was pretty special ...

Okay ... he's still around.  This big buck has avoided the hunters for a few seasons now.  (As you might notice, something's obviously wrong with the clock setting on the camera.  My guy will have to fix that ...)
Well, that's all I'll bother you with just now.  It's been a long, hot summer and I'll be glad when autumn officially rolls around.  I long to sit out on the front porch without sweating, to rake some leaves, to smell the air just after the farmers finish harvesting, to go for drives and enjoy the beautiful fall color, to walk in the woods, to see the river again from my kitchen window, to have to have a blanket on the bed to snuggle down into.  Just to be out and about again!  Life is good; God is good!

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Experiencing a typical Indiana summer ...

I can't say I enjoy hot, humid weather but it's been a good summer considering others I've experienced in the past.  For instance, I remember the summer Ray & Gloria was married here; that was before we built the house.  They were married outdoors and the grass just crunched when you walked through it.  We beat it back into the garage a.s.a.p. to get in out of the heat and humidity.  But it was a blessed day.  That was 19 years ago this month!  So this summer has been pretty "normal" for Indiana I guess.  We've been lucky to have enough rain to keep the grass green and the crops look soooooo good this year, at least in my neck of the woods.  We've had to mow almost every week.  (And I'm getting tired of that -- literally.)

Let me look at my picture file and fill you in on what little we've done.  It truly has been a quiet summer, travel wise, for W. and me.  Each year gets slower and slower.  Here goes ...

We enjoyed a trip through Nancy's Antiques in Terre Haute again recently.  I loved this old weather vane!  This shop is changing their name, so who knows what it will be called next ... but it's one of our antiques favorite places.

On the same trip we checked out the new sign on the side of the soon-to-open Vigo County Historical Society Museum.  BTW, it's downtown, located conveniently next door to the Square Donuts shop!

Visited the Greene County 4-H Fair (and open class fair) and I've got to say it beats the Owen County Fair by a mile.  The exhibit hall is super neat and clean, with new display pieces and good lighting.  And they had a lot of entries! Nevertheless, I'm glad to see that 4-H is alive and well in this part of rural Indiana!

More from the Greene County Fair ...

And more ...  it was a very enjoyable day.

I've started work on this new quilt.  (I just finished one so had to begin another ...)  Had the pieces for some time and just getting around to sewing them together!  I know it looks sort of 'blah' here, but I think it will be pretty sharp when I get done.  Also have a new run of rugs on the loom ...
Here's our little family.  Celebrating Wendell and Jeff's birthdays and just enjoying being with each other.  Met in Kokomo this time ...

Some quotes seen recently and worth passing along:
  • If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
  • Always read the kind of stuff  that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.
  • Accept that some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.
  • If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?
  • Nobody cares if you can't dance well.  Just get up and dance!
  • Have an awesome day and know that someone has thought about you today.
Remember, enjoy these warm days while you can.  Before we know it we'll be complaining about the winter weather!  God bless you.




Friday, July 13, 2018

For Dave ...

My sweet cousin Dave Deming died a few days ago.  

Here's to Dave -- a quiet, kind, brave man.  Fun to be around.  A good husband and father. 

I didn't see him often these past few years and I know we both grew and changed, but I'll always think of him as my little cousin with the soft smile.  

I remember him as a kid, coming to our farm and staying a week.  He spent most of the time out with my brothers, but I still enjoyed having him around (to tease me).  

His sister Janie is just the best, and I know she'll miss him and has lots of good memories to treasure ...

To Dave ....

Here's Janie and I, "swimming" ... Dave is lurking in the background. LOL!

All the Schooley family together at our farm except Uncle Harold & his gang ... in the front row is Janie, me and Dave.  Mom was behind the camera.  (Obviously Elizabeth Jane was wanting to be somewhere else!)

The cousins.  Front row: me, Dave and a pouting Janie! Back row: Don, Phyllis Ann and Gale.  This was taken in our front yard and I can see just a smidgen of an old car in the background, parked outside the fence along the road.  (Why did Mom always make us face the sun for pictures ???  No wonder Janie is fussing!!! LOL!!!)

Wonderful studio portrait of Janie & Dave.

And here they are just a couple years ago.



God bless you Dave.

Thursday, July 12, 2018

Whew ...

Boy has it been hot.  I'm soooooo over summer!  Not my favorite time of year.  I think if it was just less humid I'd be okay with it but ...

Enough about weather.  Here's what I've been up to: Hubby had a small accident and so we spent some time at doctor/ER/hospital.  Mowing every week to keep it looking 'just okay' (think I could mow about every 5 days and it would look good).  Trying to get in some 'me' time with kindred spirits (hooking, sewing).  Trying to finish two quilt tops I've been working on for ?? years (half way done).  Keeping up with church stuff.  And doing the usual house work to keep me happy with the way things look around here.  Also, we did get in a few fun things.  Ya gotta live!  So here's where we've been.


We went to Hutsonville IL (just across the river) for brunch last Saturday.  It's not only a neat little restaurant with delicious food (it's a breakfast and lunch only place), but also an antique shop to boot!  Save room for dessert!  Oh, here's the view from our table.  Along the way we stopped at -ISH in Graysville where I found ...
... this cute little paint-by-number picture!  Love it!

We also found time to stop at the Owen County 4-H Fair in Spencer this week.  We spent the most time in the 4-H exhibit hall because there was a lot to see (and it was cool!).  I'm always impressed with what kids can accomplish in a summer... Plus the animals are always fun to see.  Lots of fans going in the barns!  Here's some pix.

There was a lot of poster exhibits which were really very interesting.  Less sewing and cooking than when I was in 4-H.  Just a few crops (hay, corn, soybeans).  Very little electrical or wood working.

Just some of the champions.

Beautiful Hereford steer.

Love the black eye!  The poor bunnies were all panting in the heat.

There were lots of chickens and this one turkey ... Wow, was he beautiful!  But lonely.

I was really taken with this self-portrait; it got a reserve champion ribbon.  Love her style!

I was somewhat disappointed in how few exhibits there were in the open-class fair building.  Also, the women who host this building need to work on their people skills.  Not very welcoming; like it's their own private little club.  (Sorry ... had to vent.)

Here's my favorite exhibit from that building.  It appeared that there was a special exhibit of flower arrangements in unique containers out in the middle of the room.  There was no signage so I was guessing.  Here's my fav arrangement.  Not flowers but veggies!  What a cool idea!  (And the dill made it smell heavenly!)  This woman is a kindred spirit!


Well, that's just a little of what's been going on in my world this past month.  I'm going to try to survive this brutal summer.  But I'm warning you, the heat is starting to get to me folks!  I think I need some time up along Lake Superior ...... dream on.

God is good.  All the time.