My Go-To

I've found that trying something out on my sewing machine in embroidery mode seems to nudge me toward making a wreath sash. I guess you could say it is my 'Go-To' product. 

My 1st Wreath Sash

Maybe it is because the designs are usually pretty quick projects.

Patriotic Wreath Sash

Floral Monogrammed Wreath Sash

Maybe it is because the designs are relatively small.

Patriotic Wreath Sash #2

Monogrammed Hydrangea Wreath Sash

Maybe it is because this is a pretty easy project.

Floral Monogrammed Wreath Sash #2

Pineapple Monogrammed Wreath Sash

Maybe it is because there are lots of ways to diversify designs.

Patriotic Monogrammed Wreath #1

Patriotic Monogrammed Wreath #2

Maybe it is because I want to try all the different things on my new machine.

Bandana Wreath Sash

Maybe it is because I have a lot of long, thin scrap pieces. 

Today I noticed...Some things are worth having multiples.

A flamingo umbrella is evidently something that I really believe is worth keeping in multiples. I proved it this past year when I noticed them advertised and ordered myself one. Then, when it was delivered, I turned around and ordered almost a dozen more. 

When I learned that one of the youngest grands had an accident and her flamingo umbrella was a fatality, I ordered one to be sent to her so that she would have a replacement. I considered getting myself another one so that I could have one in the house and one in the truck but I decided that I was just being greedy and didn't. Now, I really wish I had stockpiled several more, though.

Last week one of our granddaughters represented her high school at Girls State. It was a leap outside her comfort zone. She is not one who has done a lot of sleepovers with friends. She is not one who has attended a week away at camp. She is not one who walks into a room with a mission to know everybody there before she leaves. You might even say she is a bit introverted in some ways. So, when I learned that she was off to Girls State, I was a bit surprised. 

In chatting with her mother, I learned that she had forgotten to pack a refillable water bottle. While my grandmother heart tugged, I told myself that she would survive. After all, I survived as a young girl without toting around a mug or jug to keep myself hydrated and she could as well. The next day I learned that she had fallen and injured her ankle and my aching ankle and aching heart wanted to go to the college campus and check on her. Later, I learned that she had also forgotten to pack a raincoat or umbrella.  Well, that was the last straw. At that point I was determined to take care of business. 

I dressed that morning and trekked down to the local grocery store. I had one folding umbrella in my truck but I thought I should check to see if there was a disposable poncho available. Nope. So, I went across the street to the drug store and looked. Again, no poncho. They did have a nice pink umbrella. So, I decided that I would deliver my flamingo umbrella that was in the truck to Lydia and keep the pink one in the truck to take its place. Plus, I picked up a small and a large refillable water bottle. I mean, if I am making the trip, I may as well take that as well.

As I waited in line, I searched online for a replacement flamingo umbrella. I was sad to learn that my original source had sold out. However, I did find another and placed an order. After all, one can never have enough cute umbrellas. They are good for dashing in and out of places when running errands. They are good for the softball and baseball parks. They are good for football season to watch the band perform. They are good to provide shade on a hot day and to avoid the raindrops there when a pop up shower erupts. Eventually, I got checked out and was on my merry way to drop off the necessary items for the grand.

I had been instructed by Lydia's mother that I would only be able to drop off the items at her assigned dorm of residence for the week. So, I found a paper bag under the seat and labeled it. When I went into the dorm lobby, I noticed that it could have been a ghost town. Nobody to be found. So, I went back to the truck and got a piece of cardstock and labeled it as well. I tied that to the handle of the umbrella and left the bag and umbrella sitting on the front desk where it would easily be noticed. I'm sure Lydia's high school self smiled all over and proclaimed that she had a wonderful grandmother to all who entered the lobby of the dorm. I guess I think labels for identification are things worth having in multiples as well!

(By the way, I'm on the lookout for more of those inexpensive and cute umbrellas so that I can build up my flock!)

Today I noticed...Little Phrases of Encouragement.

I've been popping cough lozenges like a kid who just discovered M&Ms. If I don't have a cough drop in my mouth, I'm coughing - and sometimes even if I have a drop in my mouth, I'm coughing as well. Mike still has some respiratory congestion and coughs in the evenings. I'm just coughing constantly. I don't feel very congested - just a cough and general yuckiness. Plus, I'm T.I.R.E.D. from coughing in a chair instead of sleeping in a bed. Enough whining...

As I was peeling the wrapper off one of my lozenges, I noticed that there were some words other than the brand label on them. Little phrases of encouragement are printed there for those who are miserable like me, I guess. Here are some I've seen:

• Don't waste a precious minute.
• Flex your "can do" muscle.
• It's yours for the taking.
• Keep your chin up.
• Bet on yourself
• Buckle down and push forth!
• Get back in there champ!
• Power through!

I guess I should have noticed that right from the start and I would have been more inspired to get better. Instead, I spent at least a week or more trying to be a good nurse. I sort of felt impending doom the entire time I was stirring up the chicken noodle soup or adding honey and lemon to his teacup or wiping down the last thing he touched or washing all the clothes, coverlets, and linens Mike was coughing and moaning and feeling yucky in. I would sit across the table or the room from him and would swear I could see that green cloud of germiness depicted in television commercials each and every time he coughed. I knew what I was facing and tried to prepare but it came upon me anyway. 

We are finally wearing it out - I hope! Here's hoping that you don't have to waste a precious minute with the creeping crud and can flex your "can do" muscle to make the holiday the best ever. After all it is yours for the taking. Keep your chin up and bet on yourself! Get back in there champ. Just  buckle down and push forth! We are still powering through!

Wildlife Friends (Part 2)

 Last week I wrote about seeing observing some of our wildlife friends and enjoying their beauty. 

On Tuesday, I was watering my flowers and admiring their prosperous growth. My flowers really have provided me with joy this spring/summer. They have bloomed prolifically and all the rain we have had made it easier for me to take care of them as well.

This long, shallow concrete planter is one that Mike had here when we joined forces. I have never had much that would prosper in it except Moss Roses or Portulaca, a blooming succulent plant. The picture above shows what they looked like when I first planted the four little plants out of a blister pack from the local greenhouse nursery.

Those things had really grown and were heaped up and full of blooms - about twice the size of what is shown above. I was so pleased with them and smiled over how well they were doing for a few days. I thought about taking a photo but decided I would wait till I finished my watering. Then, I was so hot that I forgot all about photo taking. 

The next day, I went out to water and noticed that the flag holder was rocking back and forth. I noticed it because there was quite a breeze but didn't think it was such that it would blow the little metal garden flag holder that doesn't even have a flag in it. But, I quickly set to filling my watering jug. My watering routine is to water the pots that are the furthest distance from the spigot first. So, I went to the pots at the ends of the retaining wall first.

Then, I went to the long, low, concrete planter. Boy was I shocked! Our wildlife friends must really like the taste of Moss Roses! Plus, she must have been munching right before I opened the door and bumped into the garden flag holder. 

I knew that deer don't like Lantana and all of the other pots down at the basement entrance have a little Lantana in them. So, I guess that is why they are still growing and looking pretty and not nibbled gobbled up. Every single pot that has Lantana in it is still completely untouched.

While I enjoy seeing these beautiful creatures munching in our hay field and yard, I don't really want them wiping out my flowers. So, next year, all the planters will have deer resistant flowers in them for sure!

Goat Business

My husband is an animal lover. He is a putterer. He is a nurturer. He needs something to keep him busy. So, while I want as few responsibilities as possible, he has been talking about taking on more responsibilities and does not seem to take my discouragement of such endeavors.

Back in the fall, he mentioned to our son, Stephen, that he would like to have some goats. A goat herd has been something Stephen has kept for several years. While I love to watch the little kids jump and run and climb, I am satisfied to do so from afar. Mike, on the other hand, wanted some to pet on and putter with. Stephen finally relented and gave him a pair of females. They were part of a set of triplets and were small and didn't really fit with Stephen's other goats who were twins and singles of that age-group. After consulting with several of the grandchildren, the girls were named Lulu and Billie.

Goats in a trough

The two little goats were set up in a stall in the barn. Shortly thereafter, Mike went to an auction and bought a couple of feeders and a crate for hauling a goat in the back of a pickup truck. So, he was officially in the goat business. He began watching online auctions and visiting goat herds and looking at goats. He had a canvas cover made for the goat crate so that transportation during cold weather or a rain storm would be safer for a goat. He spent time visiting with the goats and feeding them to get them tame enough to pet on. 

Lulu

Billie

Well, this past weekend Mike did a little goat business with what I would call some professional goat guys. They have their own delivery business and equipment. These two young gentlemen delivered a buck to Mike's barn so that the young fellow could become friends with Lulu and Billie for a while. 

Professional Goat Guys

Making a Delivery

This is to be a temporary friendship and the only cost for us will be the feed that the young buck eats while visiting Mike's girl goats. Mike got lots of instructions from these professionals. He was instructed to watch the goats closely so that the two girls would not pick on the new guy. He was told to watch and make sure they didn't crowd him out or butt him away from the feed and water troughs. There were many instructions imparted. Plus, there was a promise that the guys would check back in after a day or so to see how things were going.

Wisdom Being Shared

The customer relations representative also made a visit. She had her chauffeur bring her down the hill to check things out during the delivery transaction. (The chauffeur was not photographed, however.) She supervised and oversaw the introduction of the new visitor. She seems to be quite the company spokesperson and shared friendly smiles and information about goat names, habits, and friendships as well.

The Goat Guys and Gal

Now that Mike is dealing with this highly regarded group of folks, it will be interesting to see how things go and whether his goat business will grow and prosper. Stay tuned for updates in the future!

Summer Project #4

Mike tells me that I need to go back to work.  He says I'm finding too many projects!

The other day I ordered a filter for the fridge.  The sensor on the door indicated that a new one was needed.  I thought I had one here and dug around in the pantry looking for it to no avail.  So, I ordered the one I thought we needed.  I took a picture of the tag inside the door and saw that it said Whirlpool.  So, I ordered the one I thought would fit.  My memory told me that the filter required only had one thing poking up and I looked at what was listed under a search for Whirlpool water filters and ordered.  

When the filters were delivered, I thought they didn't look like what we had used before but I also know that my recall ability is not as good as it once was.  So, I went to the fridge and took the filter out.  Sadness abounds.  It was a different filter.  

I went back to the pantry and started pulling things on the junky bottom shelf out only to discover a bigger mess and no filter on hand.  So, I created another project for myself.  However, that is another story for another day.  Today I needed a filter because experience told me that if the old filter was returned to the fridge, the water would be black and we would have to run loads of water through it and throw out several batches of ice.  

I went back to the fridge to get the info again and noticed that the tag on the door says Maytag.  I looked back at the tag inside to find the serial and model numbers and sure enough, it does say Whirlpool. So, I wasn't quite as crazy as I feared.  

I looked online at places like The Home Depot and Lowe's to see if there was a local store which had a filter.  Then, I remembered that we now have a local Ace Hardware store only about five miles down the road.  So, I picked up the phone and called and voila! They had one of the filters I needed and would hold it at the counter for me. Oh happy day!!!

I masked up and entered the store and there were a couple of people at the counter checking out so I did a little browsing at the paint counter to social distance.  Remembering that I'd never painted the laundry room entry door that was installed two summers ago, I picked out a paint color that I thought would look good for our back doors and asked a woman to mix me a quart of paint.

I came home and installed the filter and knew what my plan was for the following day - painting!

I love a small painting project.  It is so fulfilling because there is instant gratification of immediate change - and usually for the better.

I got up early and did my morning puttering.  Then, got a tub of soapy water and washed down the French doors and the laundry room door.  I let them dry and gave them an inspection.  There was still some grungy looking mold or mildew or something clinging to the window trim on the French doors.  I hadn't planned to paint that part because I wanted it to stay white.  

You see, the new door has what looks like window pane muntins between the panes of glass and they are white.  So, I decided that the vinyl around the window and the muntins on the French doors needed to stay white.  I decided that I would try a bit of bleach in water to see if that would clean up the 'woodwork' around the windows.  When I came inside to mix that up, I saw that I had some Clorox cleaner and decided to just spray that on to see how it would turn out.

That is one of the greatest products ever!  I sprayed some at the top of the first window casing and it started to drip down and left a clean path in its wake!  No scrubbing was required.  So, I sprayed all the vinyl really well and came back inside to get another spray bottle of plain water for rinsing.  By the time I got back outside, both doors were shining like new!  I rinsed and left them to dry.

By the time everything had dried well, it was almost lunch time.  I was finishing up the first coat of paint on the French doors when Mike came in for lunch.  He didn't seem too enthused with the color I had chosen but I was enthralled by how beautiful it was looking already and kept mentioning how much I loved the color.  He finally started laughing at me every time I said how much I liked the color.

By the time I had finished the first coat on the second door, the first door was dry.  So, I just went right on painting and added a second coat, exclaiming how much I liked the color every few minutes.

I took a break to eat a bite of lunch and then painted the laundry entry door.  By this time the temperature on the back porch was in the ninety-degree range.  I sat down and had a cool glass of water and by that time the first coat was dry and I painted the second.

I love how sometimes the light will make the color look sort of blue and sometimes it looks sort of green.  The three doors in a row really look fabulous and stand out across all the white on the back of our house.

My project turned out to take longer than I'd anticipated and was far hotter than I wanted.  However, in just a few hours the entire back of our house was transformed.  I just love the color!  (Mike admitted the next day that he really likes the look of it, too!)

By the way, the color is Wythe Blue by Benjamin Moore and did I mention that I just love it?!

Genetics

My hairdresser called to let me know that she would be glad to reschedule my appointment for a later time.  Yet, we had no idea when would be a good time to reschedule.  How long will we be staying home?  So, we exchanged pleasantries about our families and promised to stay in touch and just schedule later. 

I may be Rapunzel before this is all over and I'm able to get a hair appointment for all I know.  I just know that I cannot schedule something when there is so much unknown.

My hair has been a wild mess, for the most part, ever since we have been staying at home.  You see, I have a lot of hair.  It is thick.  It is coarse.  It has just enough curl or body to it to be unruly.  I'm not one who is into spray or products that hold it just so.  So, it gets a little out of hand.

When I get out of bed each morning, I think something beyond bedhead is what I would classify it.  I generally laugh and refer to my morning look as Medusa Head.  Yep.  Imagine that wild look of monstrous snakes going in every direction.  That is the look every single morning.

The children have been sharing photos of our granddaughters during this time of staying at home.  Mike made the comment the other day that he thought my granddaughters must have inherited my hair.

Here is an example of how Lillie has tamed hers as best she could without having to go into a deep dive of products and tools to tame it.

When my  hair is long enough to contain with a ponytail holder, that is exactly what I've done.  Just sort of wad it up into a knot and keep it away from my face. 

Luci also has demonstrated a bit about how being active and busy can sometimes cause her hair to escape the confines she attempted.  Her hair can get a little bit unruly like mine.

When I've worked outside and get a little wind-tossed or am doing a chore like picking up fallen limbs, mine can get a bit out of hand as well.

Then, Linley recently demonstrated a look that I have gotten at times.  There is just enough curl that it flips here and flips there and some is in her eyes and some is curled out there.  Nothing tame and styled.  Just a bit of everywhere.

Even though I don't have a photo of Lydia with a wild hairdo, I know that she has a good look like us every now and again.  I think Mike might have a point about them inheriting that hair thing from me.  I apologize to their mothers and to them about it sometimes. 

Then, I think, at least that is not an awful thing to have inherited from me.  It certainly could have been a lot worse!

Dare Devils on Wheels!

We always love getting photos of the grands!  Each of the random photos below brings a smile to my face every single time I see them.

Every.

Single.

Time!

My first thought when I saw this one of Levy with his helmet, elbow and knee pads, and sporting Spiderman ensemble from head to toe made me smile.  Doesn't he look like a dare-devil.  We would have called him Evel Knievel back in the day.  Bicycle training wheels and all, this five-year-old looks like a wheeled sport to be reckoned with!

Then, there was this guy!  At the top Easton was shown riding his dinosaur four-wheeler with superhero knee and elbow pads, dino helmet, and swinging a badminton racket to heard goats out of the yard and back into the pasture.  The close-up just does not do justice to this dare-devil's speed and flexibility with those scampering goat kids!

Big Stuff!

I am ever so grateful that our children share pictures of what is going on in their lives.  I'm so thankful that they frequently send us videos and pictures to share windows into the lives of our grandchildren.  I think I am ever so much more grateful lately than ever before.

This past week we got some photos which shared some big stuff that is going on in Bryan and his family's life.  While they are somewhat accustomed to being at home more than most folks because Bryan and Jessica both work from home, the break from school and preschool and church and just getting out and about has still been a bit of a strain on them, I think.

Rainy days which keep the littles inside are always tough for children who thrive outdoors.  So, when Jessica sent this photo of Linley with her bowl of pop-pop this week, we couldn't help but laugh out loud.  Mike also said he wished he had a big ole bowl just like that and could sit beside her in front of the TV and munch all afternoon long during a rainy afternoon!  Big stuff for this girl!

Then, at the end of the week when the skies were blue and the temperature was warm, we got photos from Bryan sharing a bit about the fishing trip that he and Harris made, we had another opportunity to smile and enjoy.

I love the serious look on Harris's face and how he is holding his mouth just right to get the job done.  In the moving shot, we could hear Harris say, "Oh Gosh!" and when we saw the fish, we could certainly see why!

It seems like another boy was pretty excited about their haul as well!

After seeing the message below, I really wish I had seen the action shot of Jessica!  I recall a time when she and Bryan were visiting on a football Saturday and Mike fried fish.  She showed us how much she liked fried fish that day and I'll bet she got her fill at this old-fashioned fish fry as well!

Big stuff!

Soup In A Cup

Oftentimes children have to be coaxed into liking different foods.  I fondly recall that my children were 'good eaters' but that doesn't mean that they liked everything I ever served.

Bridgette, Bryan, and I often will bring up stories from their childhood which cause us to chuckle.  Generally it is in relation to something that their own children are doing.  One thing that we have chuckled about for years is my fondness for tomato soup and the fact that, as a child, Bryan did not share that fondness.

One day I served up tomato soup and we probably had grilled cheese sandwiches as a side item.  Instead of pouring our soup into bowls to be eaten with a spoon, I served the soup up in a mug or a cup.  

Bryan was having none of that.

Honestly, I don't know if he wound up eating something else or if I was that awful mother who told him to do without till dinnertime.  Miraculously, he survived my horrible parenting - whichever option I provided.

That afternoon when we went to the dairy farm to do our chores, Bryan was tagging along with my Daddy and he asked him, "Papaw, do you wike soup in a cup?"  I'm sure my father had a wise response or perhaps asked him a question to find out what type soup was being referenced.  Bryan clarified, asking, "Do you wike wed soup in a cup?" (red soup in a cup)

I can imagine Daddy not criticizing the red soup but not expressing delight either because I don't think it was one of his favorite options.  Daddy was more of a meat, beans, and potatoes kind of a guy and would have wanted something more like beef stew.

Finally, Bryan informed him, "Well, Papaw, I don't WIKE soup in a cup!"  There it was.  His preference stated.  And it was a fact that we all chuckled about when Daddy shared the conversation with us later.

To me tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich warms me up like no other meal.  So, when we had a cold, grey, damp, rainy day last week, I warmed up my favorite go-to.  Just like almost always when I have this menu delicacy, I sent Bryan a picture and the message, "Good day for soup in a cup!  Hate you missed it!"

Practically Perfect In Every Way - More Snow Day Activities

Just in case you don't know my grandchildren, let me tell you that they are practically perfect in every way.  After all, I'm their grandmother and I cannot imagine any grandmother thinking differently about her grands.

This week we learned that one of the grandsons has learned how fun it is to climb stairs.  He is almost two-years-old and seems to be training for quickness at an Olympic rate.  We understand he's gotten quite adept at it and can get up the stairs lickety-split before his parents even realize it.  Isn't that practically perfect? 

I thought you would see it my way.

We also had a Hangout with some of the granddaughters and saw that they calmly sit and watch a classic video and share snacks and play cooperatively with the dollhouse.  Isn't that practically perfect?

I thought you would see it my way.

For some reason, our grandsons - and at times even the granddaughters - have all been described using one word at some point or another and I think it is meant as a compliment of their energy, quick thinking abilities, good health, and vigor.  I know that the official dictionaries use synonyms such as boisterous or rowdy or wild or unruly but I'm still choosing to see the descriptor used as a compliment and reference to their positive character, their enthusiasm for life and learning, their curiosity, their exuberance.  The descriptor Mike and I have heard their parents use is:

rambunctious

See?  Don't you think that is a good thing?  Isn't that practically perfect?

I thought you would see it my way.

These snow days have been hard on our grandchildren's parents.  They aren't accustomed to staying in one place for very long.  After all, they cart their school-aged children off to the schoolhouse or trek to the store with their toddlers or work outside on their rural homesteads.  They aren't accustomed to having their exuberant children cooped up inside for so long.  After all, those children usually burn energy, running, and playing in a gym at school or practicing basketball with their team or shooting hoops, and riding bicycles, and running through the grass.  They tag along after their parents who run errands and grocery shop and load feed sacks for customers and landscape and build birdhouses and care for livestock and hunt big game and enjoy the great outdoors.  Yet, when these snow days have limited all that activity and left the grandchildren with four walls to contain them.  Well, let's just say it has been hard on their parents.  After all, it isn't a problem with the grandchildren, it is a problem with their parents.  The grandchildren are practically perfect.  Right?

I thought you would see it my way.

We got some photos the other day from part of the grandchildren's parents letting us know that at least one of the grandsons had forced his mother into creating activities for him to enjoy.  She saw it as a way of occupying his time and keeping him focused and a little less - rambunctious.

Look at that concentration.  Look at the finesse.  Look at all the intellect popping out.  I hate that I'm not savvy enough to share this the way it was sent to me in one of those short moving picture sort of thingies on my iPhone.  The seriousness of his work really shone through on it.  Isn't that practically perfect?

I thought you would see it my way.

(Mom also spent a bit of time creating a matching game for our grandson.  Didn't she do a good job?  Can you guess that she has a master's degree in elementary education?) 

The real genius-ness of the matching game was the result, though.  Look at that attention to detail.  Look at the fine motor skills used to accurately line up each little piece.  Look at the enthusiasm used for learning.  Isn't that practically perfect?

I thought you would see it my way.

Luckily, baby sister got in on the act.  After all, I'm sure she is a bit rambunctious at times, too.  Right?  I hate you can't see the moving picture thingy sent via iPhone, she was kicking and cheering her brother on as he crafted an artwork masterpiece.  Isn't that  practically perfect in every way?

I thought you would see it my way.

Of course, the finished product says it all.  Look at the Picasso-like coloring.  Look at that proud smile.  Isn't that practically perfect?

I thought you would see it my way.

I don't know why these practically perfect grandchildren's parents think rambunctious has a negative connotation.  I don't know why they have problems with the energy and exuberance of our grandchildren.  After all, I think they are practically perfect in every way!