Still eating cake

Thank you all of you for the birthday wishes

and your kind words from yesterday.  : )

Pretty hot out there this morning.  It was sunny and humid with a temperature of 72 when I left for my walk this morning and 82 when I got back home.  I walked around the lake and so did a lot of other people.  It felt like a weekend.  Since it's going to be a hot day everyone probably wanted to get their exercise in early.  There is quite a lot of shade around the lake so it really isn't that bad.  Anyway I'd rather have the heat to walk in then have ice and not be able to walk at all!  Rabbits, geese, and birds where out but no deer today.  The four baby geese I've been watching grow are just about as big as their parents now and before long I won't be able to tell which ones are the babies anymore.
I found a nickel on this last day of the month.  I'll add the coins up later and post the amount for this month tomorrow.
I walked 6.4 miles.

Sunrise 5:43

Sunset 8:27

***************************************** 

Yesterday we went and got a ceiling fan with light fixture for the kitchen and Ken installed it right away.  Makes such a difference with the fan.  We already have one in the living room and our bedroom.

Here's a picture of the old light.  Something else for a yard sale!!

 And here's what we have now.

 Yesterday we grilled chicken out on the deck.  Even though we just have this little grill it still makes delicious Cajun chicken.

 We also had macaroni salad, a few chips, and of course I had to have toasted marshmallows.  We ended up eating inside because it was really hot out on the deck, even with the umbrella up.  Guess what we had for our snack? If you said birthday cake you would be right.  We are going through that pretty fast and I can tell because my pants are getting a wee bit tighter.  

********************************************

It really felt like Monday today when I got up but it's Tuesday so off to my knitting group I went.  Yes, it was warm sitting outside there but we were in the shade and once in awhile we did feel a bit of a breeze.  About a dozen of us showed up.  Once again I made some weave-it squares - 5 of them.

Kept busy around the house this afternoon but didn't seem to get much done. 
It's just about time now for television and a snack.  Once again I'll have a piece of cake. 

Hope you enjoyed your day.
Happyone : )

The great man is he who does not lose his child's heart.

~ Mencius

Memorial Day and My Birthday

It was pretty warm out this morning when I walked.  70 degrees, sunny and humid and no breeze.  I walked one of my connect the path routes.  At first I didn't see anyone at all.  It was very quiet but on the second half of my walk I saw lots of people. 
This must be the year for rabbits because I sure am seeing a lot of them.  One deer ran across the path in front of me and lots of birds chirping and singing too. 
Someone stopped again at the crosswalk for me to cross the street and it was a woman!
Nice to start the day off with my walk and I walked 6.3 miles.

Sunset 5:44

Sunrise 8:26

*****************************************

Not only is today Memorial Day it is also my birthday.  I hate to admit it but today I'm a year older.  The number doesn't usually bother me but this is a big one and the start of another decade and I just don't like the sound of it.  I really don't feel my age at all and feel that I should only be half my age so I shall try to forget about the number and enjoy my day.  : )

Kenny made my birthday cake as he does most years and I look forward to it all year.  It is one of the best cakes I've ever eaten.  It's a fudge chocolate layer cake.  He cuts the two layers in half for a four layer cake.  Between the layers are chocolate pudding and raspberry jam and the icing is real whipped cream.  Oh it is sooooo good.  We couldn't wait and had a piece last night. 

Today we are going to grill some chicken out on the deck and I'll make some macaroni salad and we will have a nice day around the house.  We do have to go out to do a few errands but that should take long.

Enjoy your day.  Hope its a happy one.

Happyone : )

A birthday is just the first day 

of another 365 day journey around the sun.

Enjoy the trip.

~ Author Unknown

Love

It was 69 degrees and sunny when I walked this morning.  A nice sunny beautiful morning.  I cut my walk short today and only walked 5 miles.  I wanted a little extra time to do a couple of things before going to church.  I walked along a couple of paths through the woods.  At one point I looked down in a clearing near the stream and saw a deer.  Just then a heron came flying past very low to the water.  Deer and heron, what a cool thing to see.  Again I saw lots of rabbits.  Only a couple of people out enjoying the early morning.

A heart leaf from a red bud tree.

John 13:34

A new commandment I give to you,

that you love one another,

even as I have loved you,

that you also love one another.

John 15:12 & 13

This is My commandment,

that you love one another, 

just as I have loved you.

Greater love has no one than this,

that one lay down his life for his friend.

A very happy Sunday day you.  

Have a blessed day.

Happyone : )

I have never been able to think of the day as one of morning.

I have never quite been able to feel that half-masted flags were appropriate on  Decoration Day.  I have rather felt that the flag should be at the peak, because those whose dying we commemorate rejoiced in seeing it where their valor placed it.  We honor them in a joyous, thankful, triumphant commemoration of what they did.

~ Benjamin Harrison

Afternoon Tea

This early Saturday morning when I went for my walk the temperature was a nice 64 degrees and the sun was shining brightly - a beautiful morning for walking!  I didn't take any particular route today but just walked wherever my feet happened to take me.  In the picture the two people walking up ahead are my friends Petey and her husband John.  They are the older couple who walk every morning.  In two weeks John will be 89! I caught up with them and we walked for about a half mile together until we came to the end of the path.  They turned around and I went another way.  Very nice people and I'm happy to know them.  There were a lot of people out enjoying the morning.
I must have seen at least eight rabbits - three chasing each other around on one of the paths.
I made another pass past the liquor store and it paid off this morning - I found two quarters.
I walked 6.5 miles.

Sunrise 5:45

Sunset 8:25

**********************************************

We had quite a thunderstorm pass by in the evening yesterday.  It came through fast but it was something to watch.  Very very windy and the clouds were in layers and you could see them swirling around.  It looked like a funnel cloud would drop down.  Lots of lightening and thunder and then it all moved on.  We turned on the television and there was a warning for thunderstorms but no tornado.

*********************************************

I picked Mary Jo up this afternoon and we went to a mother/daughter tea at our church.

 All girls and women were invited and you didn't have to go with a daughter or mother.  We all were asked to bring tea cups and tell a little story about it.  This is the
tea cup I brought.

 It is called Memory Lane by Royal Albert.  I bought it in the mid 70's when we lived in Scotland.  I had all the dishes for a whole service for eight.  A few years ago I gave the whole service to my daughter Debbi who now lives in Denver.  She mailed me the cup and saucer from Denver so I could take it to the tea today.  Thanks Debbi! : )

This is the cup and saucer that Mary Jo brought.

We all had a lovely time drinking tea out of the tea cups we all brought with us.  There was a selection of goodies for us to eat and this delicious cake that one of the ladies made.

One woman with a beautiful voice sang a song, another gave a short devotional about worry and another read a story for the young girls about having tea with the queen.

I asked my friend Rochelle if I could take a picture of her and her daughter Monica.  I thought it was  so cute that they dressed alike.  Beautiful mom and adorable daughter.  They are both as nice as they look. : )

I really had a good time and so glad that I went.  It is such a blessing to be part of this group of women.

I hope you had an enjoyable Saturday as well.

Happyone : )

There is no trouble so great or grave
that it cannot be much diminished
by a nice cup of tea.
~ Bernard-Paul Heroux

A way to say I love you

It was 69 degrees and cloudy this morning when I headed out the door, but the sun was out and shinning not long after. 
I took the connect the paths route and didn't meet very many people along the way.  They are probably all at the lake.  This time of year the lake gets a bit crowded with the weather being so nice in the morning.  I prefer walking there with less people.
I saw a few rabbits along the path.  They usually sit very still as I walk by unless I stop and then they run to the higher grass.  One rabbit this morning actually hopped right up in the air and jumped into the higher grass.  It was funny to watch.  Wish I could have taken a video.  Heard but didn't see a woodpecker.
Everything is so lush and green and the different shades of green are so pretty.
I had a lovely walk once again.
I walked 6.5 miles.

Sunrise 5:45

Sunset 8:24

***********************************************

I took this picture of the Hens and Chicks in my front yard.  They are looking nice and healthy.  Notice the purple flowers in the picture too.  They are doing nicely also and spreading their purple color around my little front garden.

My husband Ken isn't one who says I love you often but he does nice little things for me all the time.  Just little things but special to me.  He knows I love York peppermint patties and today when I emptied his lunch box out there were two of the little patties sitting in there for me to find.  One of them had a little heart sticker on it (like the little heart candies) that said ONLY YOU on it.  I love the little things like this that he does for me.  It's his way of saying I love you. : )  I am blessed to have him for my husband.

Hope your Friday was a good one and you found many times to smile today.

Happyone : )

Inside every older person
is a younger person
wondering what happened.

~ Jennifer Yane

Just another day around the house

A warm and humid morning with a temperature of 69 but there was a bit of a breeze to keep things cool enough for a great walk.  I walked over to the lake and just walked part way around it.  I took some detours up other paths so I didn't make it all around the lake.  Once I left the park I walked around on sidewalks in a neighborhood.  Lots of people out around the lake.
I saw a couple of deer, six rabbits, a heron, white egret and the usual geese and ducks and birds.  The honeysuckle is now blooming and I smelled it before I saw it.  I like the smell but it sure grows crazy and takes over everything with their clinging creeping vines.
I came across all these geese in the road up near the front of the park.  It looked like they all were coming to greet me.   They all just kept coming and I just walked passed them and said good morning. : )  I didn't even get hissed at!

 

I walked over by the liquor store just before coming home but didn't find and coins today.  It's not going to be a very good month for coins.

I walked 6.4 miles.

Sunrise 5:46

Sunset 8:23

**********************************************

I had planned to go out this morning.  Nothing I had to do, I was just going to get out for a bit.  But after I hung up the wash out on the line I stayed out there.

It was so nice out that I sat down on the deck with a book and started reading.  Then I made a few more squares and ended up spending the morning out there.  I had breakfast there too.  I didn't come in till the sun started making its way over the deck.  Full sun doesn't come till later in the afternoon but I couldn't  move over much because of the clothes.  I like to keep the whites out longer because they get a bleaching from the sun.

In the afternoon I had a few things to do around the house and that pretty much covers my day.  Another usual evening at home.  Not that exciting but still a happy day.

Hope your day was happy too.

Happyone : )

A hero is someone who has given his or her life 

to something bigger than oneself.

~ Joseph Cambell

A sunny day

Nice weather this morning for walking.  The temperature was 64 and the sun was shining the whole time I walked.  Though I was quite warm at the end of my walk, it wasn't as humid as it has been the last few days.
The lake route is my favorite place to walk but the route I took today is my next favorite.  There is a lot of variety along this walk.  I go on roads, sidewalks, paths, through the woods, past the school and walk over nine footbridges.  My walk seems to go by fast and I'm always surprised when I realize I have walked over one and a half hours.  It seems like I just get started and I'm already home again.
Today I saw a few walkers and runners but the bike riders out numbered the rest of us.  Most of them were adults but I did see four kids riding their bikes to school.  Nice to see that SOME parents still allow their kids to bike to school!
Yesterday I mentioned that I don't see Blue Jays that often - today I saw three of them.  Didn't notice any other wildlife except for birds.
As always I enjoyed my morning walk and went 6.5 miles.

Sunrise 5:47

Sunset 8:23

*******************************************

After doing my morning routine I went outside on the deck and sitting with two loads of laundry on the line I sewed together some of the weave-it squares I've been working on.  I can see the end in sight for this afghan now.  I am looking forward to being done with it and giving it to__________ .  Can't say because she reads my blog. : )

Remember that basil I planted a while back in the blue and white planter.  It is coming along nicely.  Here it is still sitting on the window sill in the kitchen next to the squirrel.  At least this one can't eat it. : )  Look familiar Kim?

In the two big flower pots on the deck I scattered a packet of wildflower seeds.  This is what has come up so far.  No flowers and it all looks like grass and weeds to me so far.  I'm still hoping that something will flower!!

We went out for pizza for supper and the rest of the evening will be our usual - a little television, a snack and maybe read for a bit.
That's it till next time...........

Hope your day was a good one.

Happyone : )

Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake.
~ Wallace Sevens

My Tuesday

A cloudy humid morning like yesterday, but a little bit warmer at 69 degrees and when I was about a half mile from home a light rain shower started.  Not enough to get wet but it felt good to feel some cooling rain drops.
I walked around the lake.  A few rabbits were at the edges of the path and the usual birds were around.  I saw a Blue Jay too which I don' see very often.
The usual amount of people were out too.  I saw my friend Barb who I haven't seen for a couple of weeks.  She said she's been walking earlier at 5:00!  That's a bit too early for me - I'm still in dreamland.
I saw a few new people walking this morning as well.  You can usually tell the new people because of all the stuff they have with them. : )  Water, food, walking sticks and all the extra goodies.  Mind you this lake has three restrooms and four different places to get water.  But hey, they are out there walking.  The longer they walk the less stuff they will take with them. : )  If you're wondering if I take water or anything with me, no I don't (just my camera and my phone).  I just drink when I get home.
I walked the opposite way around the lake.  I usually turn right at the lake to walk around it but just for something different I turned left.  It's about half and half for people on which way they walk around it.
Another great morning walk and I went 6.2 miles.

Sunrise 5:47

Sunset 8:22

********************************************

I had planned on going to my knitting group this morning at the place where we sit outside in the courtyard of Kings Contrivance.  I checked to see if we were still meeting outside or if it was changed to inside at the mill because it was raining.  Some people were still going to be outside but others decided to meet inside at the mill.  I went along with the inside people.  The rain did stop but since I had to go over the house to bring in the recycle bins anyway I just parked at the house and walked over to the mill.  There were about eight of us there.  I made four more weave-its while I was there. We broke up a bit early at a few minutes before noon.  Most were going out for lunch but I decided not to go along. 

I spent the afternoon on the computer - most of the time doing jigsaw puzzles.  I like that I can make puzzles out of my own pictures.  It is addicting.

No Netflix tonight.  I guess we will watch an episode of The Duchess of Duke Street which we own.  I'd rather watch that than more of the Sopranos. 

Ken and I both enjoyed last nights movie from Netflix, Keeping Mum.  Funny, different and worth watching.

Hope you enjoyed your Tuesday.

A smile from me to you.

Happyone : )

Forgiveness does not change the past,

but it does enlarge the future.

~ Paul Boese

Cleaning the deck

This morning when I was out walking it was cloudy, damp, and humid.  The temperature was 66 degrees and to say that by the time I got home I was warm would be an understatement!  I walked one of my routes where I walk on roads, paths through the woods and pass the school.  Here is one of the footbridges I walked over.

Not very many people out which is not unusual for a Monday.
I saw a few rabbits enjoying the goodies from a few gardens. 
Not much going on this morning and it was a very quiet walk but I enjoyed it all the same.
I walked 6.7 miles.

Sunrise 5:48

Sunset 8:21

*********************************************

The sun eventually did come out from behind the clouds this morning.  I spent the morning out on the deck cleaning it.  I wiped down all the plastic railings and privacy fence, cleaned the chairs and washed the windows. I even got down on my hands and knees and washed the deck flooring.  I also rearranged everything.  The deck is in the shade in the morning so it was nice working out there.  I started out cleaning with 409.  Spray Spray, wipe wipe.  Then I decided to try good old fashion soap and water and it worked just as good if not better.  I filled up a bucket with Ivory Liquid and hot water.  I can't believe how dirty everything was.  I had to change the water many times and each time the water was black.  It had been quite a while since I had given everything a good cleaning.  How nice to have everything clean and new looking again. : ) The deck is made out of some kind fake wood and it is supposed to be multi colored like that.  I thought you might think it looked dirty.

 ********************************************

I can't help but smile as I cleaned our shower.  Ken has his soap and shampoo on one side,

 and my side, well look at it.  : )

I didn't finish my book in time so I had to renew it.  They make it so easy to renew on line.  We get to keep books out for three weeks and you can renew two times unless the book is being held for another person, then no renews allowed. 

After supper we drove over to the old house to put out the recycling and yard waste for tomorrow.  The townhouse complex where I live doesn't have recycling so we bring it to the old place. 

We got a movie from Netflix to watch tonight called Keeping Mum - hope it is a good one.  I'll be making a few more weave-it squares after eating my ice cream while watching it.

Hope you had a marvelous Monday.
A smile from me to you.
Happyone : )

As I child, my number one best friend was the librarian in my grade school.

I actually believed all those books belonged to her.

~ Erma Bombeck

A Deer and a surprise for me

This morning I walked up the road to the wetland park, around the little pond there and back home again.  On the way there walking down the road I saw a deer in a yard surrounded by a fence.  I walked up to the fence and stayed very still.

I took this picture first.

 Then this one.

 He came right up to the fence where I was standing.

I don't think he realized I was right at the fence.

 He jumped over the fence.  I took a picture but missed the jump and just got part of the fence and part of him.

This last picture is after he crossed the street.

 He was lame in his right front leg and as he walked his leg turned at the knee at an odd angle.  He must have gotten hurt awhile ago because it didn't seem to slow him down.  It was really cool to be so close to him.

 I walked along this path which leads to the little pond. 

 This stream runs part way along the path.

 It was a nice sunny morning walk with a temperature of 59 degrees.  Only saw a few others out walking.
I walked 6.5 miles.

When I got to church this morning and looked over by where the Secret Sisters leave things for each other, I was pleasantly surprised to find this sitting there for me with a little poem. 

 Thank you Secret Sister who ever you are. : )

In the afternoon we went back over to the old house and Ken went through some more stuff and threw some things out. 
I spent the time weeding the driveway.  Yes, the driveway.  It is red stone and lots of weeds sprout up in it.

I'm off now to go and sit out on the deck for a while and make some more weave-it squares.

Hope all is well in your part of the world.
A smile from me to you.
Happyone : )

Let God's promises shine on your problems.

~ Corrie Ten Boom

End of the world - not yet!

I guess Harold Camping forgot to read these Bible verses.

Matthew 24:35,36 & 42

Heaven and earth will pass away, 

but My words will by no means pass away.

But of that day and hour no one knows,  

not even the angels of heaven, 

but My Father only.

Watch therefore, 

for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.

Matthew 25:13

Watch therefore, 

for you know neither the day nor the hour

in which the Son of Man is coming.

2 Peter 3:10

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night,

in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise,

and the elements will melt with fervent heat;

both the earth and the works that are in it will burned up.

Well Jesus didn't come yesterday,
but He is coming one day. : )

I'm ready - hope you are too.

Have a blessed Sunday.

Happyone : )

A very nice day

I never did get to go on my walk this morning.  We left at 7:00 to have the yard sale.  It was NOT a success.  Hardly anyone came by and we only sold a few things, but we had fun anyway.  We had an old bugle and here I am trying to play it.  I got some sounds out of it but nothing you would care to hear. : )

Though we didn't get rid of much we did organize it all and ended up cleaning out the garage so it wasn't time wasted.  I also got the front and back yard mowed which was my exercise for the day. 

We ended up packing it all up a little after 12:00 and coming back home.  Ken washed the JF while I sat out on the deck making weave-it squares.

Then we went for a ride in his Corvette.  We took the roof off and drove on back roads up to Mt Airy and had supper in our favorite little place where we sat outside and ate.   It's right along the sidewalk and we watched people and cars go by.  There was some sort of car show that was getting over and we watched all the old cars go by. 
As luck would have it there was a parking place right out front so we didn't even have to put the roof back on the car when we ate because we could keep an eye on it. 

From there we stopped at a car hang out and walked around looking at all the cars.  Stopped at the grocery store before coming home to get some ice cream which I'll be eating later while we watch television.

Last night we watched the new Upstairs, Downstairs and was somewhat disappointed in it.  We like the old one much better. We have another episode on the DVD and will watch that one because it's here but won't get the rest of it.

All in all it was a very nice day!! : )
I guess the world isn't ending today after all.
Hope your day was a happy one too.
Happyone : )

Just another day

When I left this morning it was 55 degrees and sunny.  By the time I got home the sky was full of clouds.  At least I got to walk part way around the lake in the sun.  The usual amount of people were out and there were also a couple of people pushing strollers.  I saw four deer.  Here's a couple of them.

 A few rabbits too.

This Sunday is another triathlon by the lake and they have these signs up in a few places.

There are orange markers out in the lake for people to swim around for the swimming part of the race and also fences are being put up so the runners know where to run.  Sunday is a good day to stay away from the park and lake.  I know people say the lake is clean but I sure wouldn't want to swim in it!!! There are still fish, turtles, snakes and lot of geese there and it looks pretty yucky to me!
It probably isn't the same crow as yesterday, but today there was a one sitting on the railing at the front of my house when I came back home.  He did fly away when I got there though.  I did call a greeting to him. : )
Another day and another great walk.
I walked 6.4 miles.

Sunrise 5:50

Sunset 8:18

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Even though it was cloudy when I got back home and a slight chance of rain predicted, being the optimist that I am, I went ahead and did a load of laundry and hung it outside.  Though it stayed cloudy most of the day it never rained and my clothes dried. : )  Late in the day is was sunny.

I stayed home and finished the cleaning I wanted to get done in the kitchen.  I read some of my library book too.  It is the one that's over 1000 pages and it is pretty heavy and also falling apart. Big sections of pages are coming out. 

Ken took a vacation day and spent the day at the old house getting ready for his yard sale.  I say his because he has done all the work and I hate having yard sales.  I'll go over with him tomorrow and if we get a lot of people I will help him, but I plan on mowing the lawn.  Not sure when I'll fit my walk in.

In a few minutes we are leaving to go to Rita's for a Gelati.  I'm planning on having vanilla with cherry ice.  When we get back home we will watch the new Upstairs Downstairs on Netflix which came in the mail today.
So until next time......

Happy Friday to you.

Happyone : )

The realist sees reality as concrete.

The optimist sees reality as clay.

~ Robert Brault

A friendly crow

Another morning just like the past week where I think it is going to rain any minute, then the sun comes out and then gets dark once again.  This morning I made it a block from home before it started drizzling.  I walked around the lake but stayed on the lower path all the way around.  I didn't go right home though but walked down the road a ways and went along one of the paths in the woods for a while before turning around and heading back home.  Just a few people out today and also didn't see any wild life except for the usual birds, geese and rabbits.  A nice quiet walk.  Looks like someone in my neighborhood got a new treadmill.

I wonder how long they will use it and I wonder why any one would want to walk on it when they have the lake to walk around.  Well, it would be good for those icy winter days.  I know lots of people would rather walk inside than outside, it's just not for me.
A crow flew by me and perched on a wire above my head.  I talked to it a bit and he looked at me and cocked its head like a dog does. They do remember people so maybe he'll remember me. : )
I walked 7.2 miles.

Sunrise 5:51

Sunset 8:17

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today I did some more work in the kitchen.  Not baking this time but dusting all the places that I don't do every week.  Like taking all the dishes off the hutch before dusting and on top of the cabinets and all.  Tomorrow I will finish up by cleaning the appliances inside and out.

With all the things I baked yesterday I ended up not eating any of them.  I had oreo cookies that Ken brought home from work for me.  They come six in a package and are 270 calories which isn't so bad for 6 cookies.  He brought two packages and I'm going to eat them again tonight and watch another Doc Martin Episode - last night it was good but sad.

Hope all went well with your day.

A happy day to you.

Happyone : )

In the long run the pessimist may be proved right,

but the optimist has a better time on the trip.

~ Daniel L. Reardon

Baking day and more pizza

This morning I wasn't sure what the weather was going to do.  One moment the sky was dark and looked like it would rain, then the sun would pop out for a few minutes and then back to the dark sky.  I never did get rained on though I was warm again and the rain would have felt nice.  Not a down pour but a little drizzle for a few minutes. The temperature was 64 again like yesterday.  I walked along some roads and paths in the woods, not on any particular route.  As usual not many people out along the paths.  Everything is so pretty and green and lush looking.  I like the fall colors but this time of year is my favorite.  All new and fresh.  The only wildlife I saw around were birds and squirrels.
This azalea bush that I came across this morning is one of the biggest I've seen.  It's not really that full, I guess because it is in the shade but it sure is big.

I found two pennies and
I walked 6.3 miles.

Sunrise 5:52

Sunset 8:17

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lots of rain again today but the sun made a showing every so often.  I was planning on going out but I ended up baking instead.  I really didn't have to go anywhere,  just thought I'd get out since I've been home all week.

 I made some shortbread cookies that had to be rolled out and Ken came up with a great idea to keep them a uniform quarter inch thick.  He cut me two quarter inch strips of styrene (which he uses for his train modeling) and I put the dough between them and rolled it out.  I can't roll it less than a quarter inch because the rolling pin is on the styrene.  I didn't think to take the picture until I was finished rolling the dough out and had the cookies already cut out, but it's a great idea and all the cookies were exactly the same thickness.

I tried out another new kind of bread in my bread machine.  This time it was Oatmeal Bread and it is very good.  I'll definitely make it again.

I had some bananas that were too brown to eat so I made Banana Bread also.  I'm going to have to start buying bananas two at a time so I don't have to keep making bread out of them.

Here's the finished products of my home baking.

Baking takes up more time than I think and cleaning up takes a while too.  I make such a mess when I'm in the kitchen.  After getting out of the kitchen there wasn't much time left for anything else.

Late in the afternoon it was good to plop down in my chair and read until Ken got home.

I know we just went out for pizza last night, but Ken called me this afternoon and said that our friend Jackie emailed him and asked if we would like to go out to eat with her and her husband Kerry tonight.  They wanted to go out for pizza and Kenny knowing how much I like pizza said sure we'll go along with you.  So that's how I got to eat pizza two days in a row. : )

When I walked down to get the mail I found another lucky penny in the road - that makes three for the day. Doc Martin from Netflix arrived in the mail so we will be watching that in a little while.  Now I just have to decide what I'd like for my snack tonight.  I'm thinking a piece of banana bread and two shortbread cookies.

Hope all is well in your part of the world.

A smile from me to you.

Happyone : )

Of course I look at the glass half full.

The only time I would look at it half empty

is when I think about how good the first half tasted.

~ Drew Deyoung

A day to get things done

When I started walking this morning it was dreary and gray out and looked like it would rain any minute.  The temperature was 64 so I didn't wear my rain pants or slicker because I would have been too warm.  I planned to just get wet.  I headed out walking toward the lake and walked around it.  The usual amount of people were out despite the weather.  I  heard lots of birds but didn't see many.  There were a few rabbits on the sides of the path eating grass.  I've been seeing a lot of them lately.  Walking under the trees I heard the drops of rain filtering their way down through leaves when the wind blew - a nice gentle sound.  About a mile and half from home the drops of rain were no longer just off the trees but it started to rain.  By this time I was pretty warm and the rain felt good.  I didn't get dripping wet but was pretty damp.
A couple of the park workers came driving by in the truck by the lake and I had to move off the path to the grass to let them pass.  They stopped to say hi and tell me they would be trimming the low hanging branches today.  I thanked them for all the work they do to keep our park safe and neat so we have a great place for walking.  They said they get the usual complaints so they appreciated the thanks.  We all told each other to have a nice day and left smiling.
I walked my usual 6.4 miles.

Sunrise 5:53

Sunset 8:16

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It is Tuesday and I usually go to my knitting group but I stayed home today.  I was in the cleaning mood and thought I'd better stay home and get a lot done while the mood lasted.  What a difference from yesterday!!  I was busy all day cleaning.  I still have part of the kitchen to do but I'll finish that tomorrow.  I feel good that all is neat and clean as it should be again.

Lots of rain with sun scattered throughout the day.  You never knew if you would see the sun or rain from moment to moment.

At 3:30 I thought that is enough work for the day and I sat in the chair and read my book. When Ken came home we went out for pizza.  It's pretty early in the week for our pizza but sometimes you just don't want to wait. : )

No cookies in the house and just a wee bit of ice cream left that Ken and I will share for snack time tonight.  Tomorrow I'll have to do some baking if I stay home.
Another episode of Lark Rise to Candleford we will be watching tonight and that will finish up another disc.  I'll read a bit more until then.  I'm just half way through World Without End and it's due at the Library on Monday.  I think I'll have to renew it.

I hope your day was a good one and you had time to do something fun.

Happyone : )

A pessimist sees only the dark side of the clouds,

and mopes;

a philosopher sees both sides,

and shrugs;

an optimist doesn't see the clouds at all -

he's walking on them.

~ Leonard Louis Levinson

A whole lot of nothing

A bit muggy out there this morning and very still as I walked around the lake.  It was one of those times when I was warm and cool at the same time.  The sun made itself shown once in a while between clouds.  Very quiet and not many people about, but saw a few of the regulars.  The birds seemed extra happy today singing their songs and chirping and there were lots of them about.  As I was walking along the path some gray catbirds walked out of the woods by the edge of the path, then three red winged black birds and then a robin with a worm in its mouth all in a matter of seconds.  All flew away as soon as they saw me.  I also saw cardinals and a few cowbirds.  The white egret and the heron were around as well and I saw six deer cross the path ahead of me going from the meadow into the woods.
The new sidewalk and the dock seem to have become the hangout for the geese.  I had to walk extra careful here to dodge what they left behind!

Someone stopped at the cross walk to let me cross the street and as I've said before that doesn't happen very often.  I notice though when someone does stop nine out of ten times it will be a man.
I found a penny. : )
A great morning to be out walking.
I walked 6.3 miles

Sunrise 5:53

Sunset 8:15

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It was sunny most of the day but late afternoon and early evening the rain came down in buckets, then cleared up again. 
I planned to get a whole lot of housework done but only managed to get a load of wash hung out on the line and cleaned one bathroom.  Then I lugged a chair up two flights of stairs to my loft. That's it for the work.  I just couldn't get in the cleaning mood.  I did a whole lot of nothing, though I did enjoy my day.  At one point in the day I was actually out on the deck blowing bubbles! : )

We used to be members of BJ's but let our membership expire a few years ago.  Tonight we went to BJ's and joined again.  We can get some things cheaper there than the commissary.  Besides it's just fun to walk around there and I always find something I need!

We have an episode of Lark Rise to Candleford to watch tonight.  We are on the third season.  Believe it or not, but I'm not feeling like having ice cream so I'll have some shortbread cookies.  Ken bought some from a woman at work who was selling them for a fund raiser. 

That's it for today.
Hope your Monday was a happy day for you.
Happyone : )

An optimist is the human personification of spring.

~ Susan J. Bissonette

Do all things without murmuring

Philippians 2:14

Do all things without murmurings and disputings.

When my son David was a kid and he would complain about something he had to do I would say to him,  "Do all things without murmurimg."  I'm sure he got tired of hearing it. : )

I don't remember saying it to Debbi, but she usually did things without complaining.

The NIV translation reads:

Do all things without grumblings and faultfinding and complaining and questioning and doubting.

When we know what God wants us to do, many times we don't feel like it or find some excuse not to do it.  At those time we should remember this verse and just do it. Afterwards we will feel so good that we did and it's always nice to make God smile. : )

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 I've just gotten back from my walk around the lake.  It was warm (64 degrees), dreary and looked like rain, but it never did.  Just stayed cloudy.  Even though it was a Sunday there were about the same amount of people as a weekday.  The weather kept the weekend people away.  I saw a couple of mocking birds in the trees and some rabbits along the edge of the path.  A few weeks ago I mentioned that the lily pads were all coming up in the water brown and dead looking.  They are pretty much gone now and new green ones are starting to appear on the water.  I'm hoping to see them flowering one day soon. 

I walked 6.4 miles.

Sunset 5:54

Sunrise 8:14

Now it's time to go and get ready for church.  Maybe my doorbell will ring and it will be David and the kids standing there again or maybe Debbi and the kids.  Well, I can wish can't I?  : )

Have a blessed Sunday.

Enjoy your day and remember God loves you. : )

Happyone : )

A man can no more diminish God's glory

by refusing to worship Him,

than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling

the word, darkness on the walls of his cell.

~ C.S. Lewis

A short walk and a short post

I had a short walk this morning of only 4 miles.  Just walked down one road, along a path, around a townhouse complex and back home.  It was a drizzly morning and I didn't have an umbrella and when I got wet I came back home.  Hence the short walk.  Saw one other person out walking.

Sunrise 5:55

Sunset 8:13

I had a hair appointment with Cheryl this morning and got those gray roots covered up again and also had a little trim.  This is a good hair day for me. : )  Thanks Cheryl!

A pretty dreary drizzly time of it all day. 
I read some of my book this afternoon.
We went out for supper at a place we've never been to before.  We didn't realize it had Mexican food and since we weren't in the mood for Mexican tonight we left.  Besides it was really noisy and couldn't even have a conversation and we ended up going to Red Robin.
That's about it for today.
Till next time.........

Hope you had a happy day.
Happyone : )

I have decided to stick with love.

Hate is too great a burden to bear.

~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

Around my lake again

The nice stretch of sunny days has come to and end but it was still a good morning to get out and go for my walk.  It rained during the night but was just cloudy as I walked around the lake.  I took the photo when I took a path off the main paved path and went down to the water.
I saw a couple of deer on the way to the lake and I watched as two heron flew together over the water.  One is a treat to see but two together is really something.  It was nice to go hiking at the park yesterday but I am really fortunate to have this park and lake to walk around so close to home.
I walked 6.4 miles

Sunrise 5:56

Sunset 8:12

I forgot to say in my previous post that on the hike at the park yesterday I found a penny and a nickel.  Kenny just couldn't believe I even found coins in the woods. : )

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I've been home all day today.  Ken is coming home late tonight and I had the whole day to get a lot of stuff done.  I had a long list and didn't do a thing on it.  I ended up spending a lot of time up in my loft sewing squares together.  Did a little reading and did jigsaw puzzles on line. 

I've just eaten the last of the vanilla chocolate swirl ice cream up.  There wasn't much left so I didn't get my usual portion but it was still good.  No matter how much ice cream I eat, I always wish there was more.    

I am going to see if there is anything worth watching on television and if not I'll read.
Hope all went well with your day.
I'm sure glad blogger got back to normal.

Happyone : )

You can clutch the past so tightly to your chest

that it leaves your arms too full to embrace the present.

~ Jan Glidewell