Lull after Christmas

 It’s a nice lull after Christmas here. All the shopping done and gifts given out. The presents we needed the most was both given and received for Christmas. It was love, and a sense of community. 

My dogs got a chicken leg and a chicken toy. Both two separate objects. I give the chicken leg to the little dog. So if his big brother comes and tries to “chicken leg” his little brother. Also know as dragging him across the floor by one of his legs. He can grab the toy and take off through out the house. Saving his little brothers leg from being chomped on. Mind you the big dog is a Jack Russell/Corgi mix. And the little dog is a Chihuahua/Pomeranian. Both will get treats out of their Christmas stocking. My big dog wants to eat the treats like my husband eats cheese puffs. He is only getting three of them. 

So tonight it’s sandwiches for supper and ice cream cones for dessert. I really like having time to spend with my husband and dogs. So cozy at home, dogs are napping, husband is watching football. Bright sunny day earlier today. Now it’s a clear night. It’s been a good day today.

Doggie Christmas

 Of all the presents I would buy this Christmas, shopping for the dogs are great. 

Socks

 Of all the donations, socks are a huge thing. I am going to Costco to buy some more socks.

November fast

 If there has been any month that seems to go by fast, for me it’s November. I like it when it gets closer to Thanksgiving. I am happy for things that represent November like Thanksgiving. The last few days of Fall. The frost on the leaves. Hayrides that stir up the pheasants. Which take flight to the skies. Seeing the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. Mom’s homemade noodles. Wonderful memories 

First snow in October

 Snow. Some places only got one inch. Other places got nine inches of snow. Multiple car and truck crash on the main highway already. People please be careful. Someone is counting on you to be at the breakfast, lunch or dinner table. Someone is expecting you to be there at holidays. So drive safe.

Frost already?

 About a week ago it got a whole lot cooler. There's frost on the pumpkins, while nice, it signals what is about to happen in our weather. Sort of the like gopher signaling how much more winter weeks we will have left. I don't mind the change of seasons. It's one of the reasons I like living in the Midwest. So much to see and do in our state and the neighboring states also. So when I hear how early or late we are getting frost on the pumpkins, it's time to get busier NOW! 

So many different things to sew up. New patterns to check out. Fashion is one of my favorite things. I like sewing. So many new garments to create. In almost 50 years. I have racked up a lot of miles on my sewing machine. I still like going out to buy some clothes. Everything is so great. Like a candy box, of colors and styles. I like buying socks especially. I donate lots of new socks. The charity shops in my town are grateful for the donations people bring in. A lot of the people bring in dishes and silverware and pots and pans. Books and toys and some furniture. Yet they really need socks. Of all the things most needed this time of year. Socks, sweaters and jackets to wear are most appreciated. Come this Monday, I am going to donate more socks. 

Also the animal shelters need more dog and cat food and cleaning supplies. All those dogs and cats needing someone to open their heart and homes. Lonely? Needing a friend to hang out with? Adopt a shelter animal. You will have so much more love in your life.  And you will be saving a life from being less lonely. Someone who cannot wait to see you walk in the door. If you just cannot adopt for any reason. At least take a donation there. And ask to look at the dogs or cats. Spend some time talking with the animals. You might not understand what they are saying. Yet what they are saying, is that they are grateful you stopped by to visit. Just to spend some time with them. Also if you adopt a furry friend. Please keep them safe. So they don't get hurt. 

October 2020

 Is it any wonder, with all what is going on in the world, I love Fall. The cooler air, the changing of the color of the leaves on certain trees. The small bonfires for making s’mores. Breathing in the air when you go on a hike. Not the same smell as flowers in the Spring, yet still nice. Getting to the list of things to do in the Fall. Checking off at least three a week. More pumpkins are on sale. Different colors of them makes you wonder if there is paint on them. It’s not. Doing research on the best hiking trails. The best pumpkin patches. Love the days for they are wonderful in their own way. 

Surprise!

 Had a surprise extra day off. I made sure not to waste it. I donated some food to the local food bank. Took my dogs for a extra ride in the car. Got more research done on recipes and book stores. Went and got the music list worked on. Spend more time with other dogs. Still working on a piece of art. Got some homemade vegetable soup cooking on the stove. Made sure to cut the celery smaller.

Beginning of Fall

 Some people like the Fall months. Apple cider. Walks in the park with the leaves crunching under your feet. So much to do. Cozy under a throw. Watching old black and white movies. A new recipe to try. Listening to the wind in the trees. Fall picnics. Tailgating. Football. 

Never forget

 There is a fine line I walk. New and more things are happening in the world. Now we have this virus going around. You always wonder what’s next. I remember when a certain tragic thing happened on this day. I remember where I was and when. Now with this virus happening all over the world. Parts of life someone lives in are a calm center in life. I will find the calm among the chaos.

Catch up

I remember and old joke about ketchup. It always made me smile. Of all the things, ketchup and mustard jokes made me smile. Now for the words catch up. This is what I have been doing. Blogging more. Seeing faces I haven’t seen in awhile. It’s good to play catch up.Also a game of catch sounds good too.

July dreams

So many dreams for July. Here it is near the end the month. Did I accomplish the 3 goals I had hoped to do? Yes I did. What were they? Spend more time with my dogs. Spend more time with my husband. Make sure to look out for new bands to listen to. So far so good. The small 3 goals I have to finish are....... more board game nights. Read the old books before I buy new ones. Perfecting the best cherry pie. Especially since cherries are on sale.

Another birthday

“Time marches on.” Time to read and reflect. Time to ponder the mysteries of the Universe. I watched on television that you can just download an app to your smartphone. Hold your phone to the sky so you can see where the plants are. Jupiter is supposed to be close enough to see and Mars also. I check out the NASA website. I love the mysteries of space.

Lots of overtime

It’s been 2 months. Still working overtime. Some people have been working even more overtime than I. And we are all grateful but tired.

Working overtime

So blessed to have a job. Mine has plenty of overtime, due to the fact it’s a food factory. Using my overtime earnings to help others. Stay safe everyone.

Thursday reflections

Sitting here at one of my favorite restaurants. I miss the people I use to hang out with. When you move away, or they move away it’s harder to keep in contact. At least we have modern technology so a face chat is great. You get to tell them a joke and see them laughing or at least smirking. I remember writing long letters before. Now people are just a text or call away.

Snowy Valentines

More snow and it’s almost Valentines Day. Supposed to get really cold. Hot cocoa with marshmallows  sounds a nice treat.

Grey sky afternoon

There is a day when it’s sunshiny. Days when it so good to be just outside. This is not one of those days. Two thirds through winter and people already want it to be spring. Right now, I am one of those people. I need some sunshine. We had a brief  bit of sun a couple of days ago. Right now we got grey skies. I took to changing the wallpaper on my phone, to a picture of a sunny day. My dog was in the picture. He was laying in the grass, chewing on a treat. He was so happy that day. I am glad that I was given a present of a rescue dog. He has made my life so much happier. I need to spend time with him. So I am going to end this blog here for today. Play a game of fetch with my dog.

Half way January

Half the month is gone. I am so surprised at all the things happening around me. I’m just so happy. I have had a lot of New Years resolutions. Keeping them so far, so good. There are still things I have to do before I can get started on the other resolutions. Like actually buying a musical instrument before I can learn to play it. My husband said no to my learning to play the bongos. After The Big Bang Theory episode with Sheldon playing the bongos. I guess my husband doesn’t want to hear any bongo solos.

Other resolutions are easier to do. Drink more water, get more exercise, cut down on sugar.

January rain

Of all the different kinds of weather you can have in your life. Rainy days are one of the most heart tugging. From watching a child jumping in puddles. Sailing boats made out of twigs downstream in the edges of the street. To leaning against the window with a cup of hot tea or coffee. Just contemplating life and your part in the universe.

Reading a book, playing a board game or watching a very old movie on television are also things to do. There are so many sights and sounds. Places to go virtually online. Sometimes I like to look up pictures of Brazil and listen to Bossa Nova instrumental music. Other times I like to look at pictures of Tennessee and listening to bluegrass. I look at pictures from different places in the world and listen to classical music. Such good music all over the world.

Friday is a TGIF day. Or so they say. I like all the different days of the week for different reasons.. Monday is a working day and one of my favorites because I was told that I am a type A. Tuesday is movie day. Wednesday is a turn around day. Thursday is a planning day. Friday is a cleaning the house day. Saturday is pajama day. Sunday is church and family brunch day. Everyone in our households plans together ahead of time, what will we have for Sunday brunch after church. We all agree on a theme. Then 3 to 4 households or more start cooking. We all converge at each other’s homes. Afterwards we play board games, card games, or dice games like Yahtzee or Farkle. Two big tables lots of love and laughter. Building memories. And the more the merrier.

Lost in a book

Have you ever became so engrossed in a book that once you read that last page, last word, you look up and feel lost? You all of a sudden want to reread chapter four, or eleven, any chapter really, just to not have the book end. The author has crafted such a well written story. That you are mesmerized. Where you quickly look up on the internet to see what other books have been written. I have had read such a book. It is wonderful!

Happy New Year 2020

I am off to a slow but steady start. Mike and I rang in the new year with grape juice and candy. And an hour before midnight he was headed up to go to sleep. He came back down the stairs, he didn't want me to ring in the New Year by myself. I told him I wouldn't have, our dogs are here. They got water and Milk Bones.

So, some New Year resolutions are kept, I have been lacking on a few others. Have to get some things done before I can start on the other resolutions, it's a two part thing. Like getting more education so I can get a job in my chosen field. And keeping my list of resolutions to at least 20 minimum.

Today I went and spent time with family, spent time with the dogs and Mike. Now have to spend some alone time with myself. I like to create art. I am going to work on each art project I picked out. Mike thinks that I have too many projects to work on. I don't think so. Mike says he likes having 2 or 3 projects. I make a lot more. One year I made 27 resolutions and finished 22. Then I got to looking in my journals and learned I had even more written and finished on another year. My art projects are fueled by checking out art supplies in the stores.

Music continues to play a large part of my life. I still check out local bands in different towns. I look up the online newspaper in a different state. See their weekend section and look for the bands. I would like to go on a trip and see a concert of a band I had looked up. Bluegrass music is the first one.

I like music in the background when I am cooking. If I am cooking moussaka, spanakopita, with baklava for dessert. I want the Greek music I bought in my CD player.
I have a couple of different music CDs I bought like Spain and France. If I don't have the CD I will play the music online. I am also reading up facts about the country or band. Just to bring up the interest at the dinner table.

So here is to New Years resolutions. I will write here how I am doing with them. I have it narrowed down to working on and completing some of them in one month. So anyone started at least one resolution?