Company on my walk

So very nice to get outside this morning for my walk.  It's been three days in a row that I didn't.  Everyone was still sleeping so I quietly left at 6:30.  It was 20 degrees and pretty windy. Walked the farm loop.  As I passed one of the farms the two border collies, Oscar and Buster ran across the road to me.  The farmer (don't know his name) called both of them back.  Oscar listened and went back home.  Buster decided he would rather go for a walk

and he went about a mile with me.  I told him he'd better get back home because he was going to get in big trouble.  It wasn't long before up the road comes the farmer in his truck to get Buster.  There he is getting back in the truck.

Farmer and I had a little chat and he apologized for Buster.  They went home and I continued walking.  Got back to town and walked around the two cemeteries and then back home to a still quiet house.  Everyone was still asleep!!!

I walked 6.5 miles - 12,277 steps.

Sunrise: 7:07

Sunset: 4:45

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Home this morning just doing things around here.  The kids were up late last night and slept late this morning.  My kids never did that.  If they  were up late for something, they were still up bright and early the next day.

After lunch David took the kids and they went to do a little exploring around the area on their own.  While they were gone I made two dozen Welsh Cookies.  I have to make five dozen of them for the cookie sale at the Drane House next Saturday.   Cookies have to be turned in on Thursday.  Proceeds of the sale will go toward upkeep for the Drane House.  I offered to make my Chocolate Chippers but was told that someone in town already has the chocolate chip cookies.  So I have competition in town!! : )

The house was so quiet and Ken and I got a little reading done this afternoon!
But then they came home and the house was in a whirlwind again. : )  You forget how exhausting little kids are!!

They were home for supper and we played a couple of board games.  They are still playing now as I write this.  I'm taking a break.

Hope your Saturday has been sunny and bright.
happyone : )

Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed.

Happiness is the spiritual experience of living

every minute with love,

grace, and gratitude.

~ Denis Waitley

Our fun continues....

We all went up to Happy Trails in the morning and walked around on the trails.  The kids and us too had fun in the snow.  Ken took the tractor out and while David and I walked up the hill,  Ken helped Scout drive the tractor up the hill to the Wood Shop.  Japhy helped too by working the front loader up and down as needed.

When it was lunch time we went back to the house.  Then it was time to go to the library and the kids picked out a video to watch and Japhy got a book to read.  A trip to the candy store was next where each kid got a bag to fill with their choice of candy. 

Our next fun time was playing a couple games of Clue.  Before we knew it, it was supper time.  We promised them a trip to Brenda's for pizza so went back out for that.  We had told them how about the HUGE pizza you could get there and we ordered one.  Half pineapple for them and half cheese which we like.  Almost every time someone orders this pizza they take a picture of it.  I was no exception.

This evening we are working on a 200 piece jigsaw puzzle. 

It's been another great day.  How blessed we are to be able to be spending all this time with our grandchildren.  They are such great kids and have made this holiday a very special one.  And we still have another whole day with them. : )

A happy day to you my friends.
happyone : )

Our grandchildren accept us for ourselves,

without rebuke or effort to change us,

as no one in our entire lives has ever done,

not our parents, siblings, spouses, friends -

and hardly ever our grown children.

~ Judith Levy

What a bargain grandchildren are!

I give them my loose change,

and they give me a million dollars' 

worth of pleasure.

~Gene Perret

Do not take anything for granted,

not one smile or one person

or one rainbow, or one breath,

or one night in your cozy bed.

~Terri Guillemets

A happy day

We've had a wonderful day and one that I am so thankful for.  David and the kids got here at 9:30 and the day just got better and better.
Dinner went perfect.  Everything done on time and I didn't even forget to take the dinner rolls out of the oven. : )

After I said grace before we ate both my grandkids,  Japhy and Scout asked to say a pray too.  That warmed my heart! : )

It snowed on and off for most of the day.  Funny thing David said he had great weather for the drive up here, saw the sun shining but when got about a half hour from the house was when the weather changed to snow!!

After dinner and before we ate the pies we took a walk around town.  

Ken, Scout, Japhy, David

That's it for today.  Hope your day was as happy as mine was.

happyone : )

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,

and into His courts with praise;

be thankful unto Him

and bless His name.

Psalm 100:4

Happy Thanksgiving

I didn't walk this morning.  It was snowing and after all the rain from yesterday and then it turning cold I was afraid of ice.  Took the picture out the front window.

 I've been busy getting things ready for tomorrow.  David and the kids were going to come tonight but because of the weather and traffic are going to leave early tomorrow morning instead. 

I've gotten the guest room all tidied up and ready for them.

My pumpkin pie turned out looking pretty good. Yes, I do make the crust from scratch and I use one of those crust rings to keep the crust from burning.  It is very hard not to eat a piece.  Every year I say I am going to make a pumpkin pie some other time during the year, but somehow I never do.

It's been snowing on and off all day but so far we just have a couple of inches.  I can see the main road from the house here and it is clear. 

Hope you are all enjoying your day and that you and your family have a very

Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow!!

happyone : )

I suppose  I will die never knowing what pumpkin pie

tastes like when you have room for it.

~ Robert Brault

If you are really thankful,

what do you do?

You share.

~ W. Clement Stone

In every thing give thanks:

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

~ I Thessalonians 5:18

Comment replies:
Vee - Wow 6 years!!  The two youngest grands (7 and 10) call us Gramma and Grampa.  The two oldest (20 and 22)  call us MomMom and PopPop.

Found them - THANKS

We had some more snow flurries during the night and when I started walking there were a few flurries still around but they soon stopped.  The temperature warmed up to 32 degrees and near the end of my walk it was just a misty rain making a mess of things.  After walking in 10 degrees, 32 felt balmy!! : )

I couldn't see Lone Chicken and friends today because someone has enclosed part of their coop and they were all inside staying warm and dry.  I talked to them but LC didn't answer.  Though I can't see them now, at least they will be warm and dry.

Stopped to pet one of my horse friends and he must have been hungry because he tried nibbling on my hand.

I cut my walk a little bit short because the rain started coming down harder and I didn't want to get soaking wet.  I walked around town and was never very far from home.

I walked 5.4 miles - 10,728 steps.

Sunrise: 7:14

Sunset: 4:55

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We left after breakfast to do a couple of errands. 
Thanks everyone for all the suggestions of places where we could get some mints.  Going down the road the first place we came to was a CVS - no luck there.  There was a Walgreen's across the street and that is where we found them!!!  Now we can have Thanksgiving!!  : )

This afternoon I baked some more chocolate chip cookies.  My grandkids expect them every time they visit and I wouldn't want to let them down. : )

Just staying home the rest of the day and getting some things done around the house.  It's been raining all day and it's supposed to turn colder which means things will be turning icy.  Ice is the only thing that will keep me from walking.  I will have to wait and see what the morning brings.

Have a great day, my friends.
happyone : )

You pray in your distress and in your need;

would that you might pray also in the fullness 

of your joy and in your days of abundance.

~ Kahlil Gibran

10

Another one of those cold mornings and this was another 2 degrees colder at 10!!  That is the coldest so far.  There was hardly any wind today though so it really wasn't bad.  I always say if you have on the proper clothes you really do stay warm.  The only thing to get cold are my cheeks and on these very cold mornings I put a bit of Vaseline on them and my lips.  Seems to do the trick. 

I had a random walk all over the place today.  Went up a road called Barn Sale which is quite a hill to walk up.  I've walked this way before but always turn around part way.  Today I walked to the end where there was sign that said end state maintenance.  Nice walking down the hill.  White cow lives on a farm along this road.  I had quite a view walking along.

Lone chicken and friends actually had corn in their food bowl today! : )

Don't see con trails very often around here but this morning I saw two of them while walking in one of the cemeteries.

I didn't see any deer or rabbits but I did see tracks for both.

I saw Mike walking around town today and we stopped for a little chat. He was the only person I saw not in a car!

I walked 6 miles - 11,751 steps.

Sunrise: 7:13

Sunset: 4:55

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We were home today just doing things around the house.  We went out late in the afternoon to the library and then went to a few stores looking for after dinner mints and can't find them any where.  The little sugary square kind that come in different colors and melt in your mouth.  It is something we have every year and with David coming I really wanted to have them.  We still have a couple of places to look yet.  Maybe I could find a recipe to make them.

We had dinner out at the Santa Fe Grill.  Monday's they give a 25% discount if you are over 50.  : )  The food was good though Ken thought everything was a bit dry.
(thanks Cheryl for telling us about it)

That's it for today. 
Hope your Monday was sunny and bright.

happyone : )

Hem your blessings with thankfulness

so they don't unravel.

~ Unknown

Comment replies:

Cheryl - Oh, yes, the car slid!!  Ken has already fixed the brake.

A little chilly : )

Psalm 75:1

Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks,

unto thee do we give thanks:

for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.

Psalm 92:1

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord,

and to sing praises unto thy name,

O most High.
 *****************************************

We did get a little snow last night and it was just a bit cold too.  As you can see by the thermometer it was only 12 degrees.  I did walk my 6 miles and in all my layers I was nice and warm - really!! : )

Started out going to church in the truck but the emergency brake froze so we had to take Ken's Corvette.  Right after I took this picture we had a slippery slide time of it but Ken managed (with God's help) to keep the car on the road and we continued the rest of the way. : )

A blessed Sunday to you all.

happyone : )

Where's the snow?

The rain stopped during the night and the temperature went back down to 30 this morning.  Thought there might be a little ice around so I left at 7:00 when it was lighter but didn't see any.  It was cloudy, with a bit of a breeze and there were a few light snow showers while I walked.  Supposed to be getting some snow tonight.

I walked the farm loop and then a random walk around town.   I saw a deer run across a field where the corn was cut down.  Odd to just see one all alone around here.

Another picture of LC and I got all the other chickens in this one too.  LC is still up on the perch with the other five below. 

Walking past this house I see that a building is being planned to be built.  I'm thinking it will be a garage. I'll be watching the progress. : )

Didn't see any people and only a few cars.
I walked 6.3 miles - 124,88 steps.

Sunrise: 7:11

Sunset 4:56

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I worked on my cross stitch a little this morning and after lunch we went to Walmart and did a little shopping.  Had to get a few last things for our Thanksgiving dinner.

The temperature has stayed the same all day long.  It's been mostly cloudy but did see the sun every once in a while.

Making home made pizza tonight and the bread machine is making the dough right now.

We should wake up to snow in the morning.  I keep wondering where all this snow is that everyone keeps telling me about around here! : ) 

Hope your Saturday is a good one. 
happyone : )

The smile on my face doesn't mean my life is perfect.

It means I appreciate what I have 

and what God has blessed me with.

~ Unknown

Happy LC

One of those rainy mornings for my walk but I didn't mind.  It wasn't cold, the temperature was 45 degrees.
I wore Ken's rain pants again with a hooded sweat shirt and took along my umbrella. It wasn't raining hard but there was a bit of a breeze and I thought I'd be better off with my yellow rain slicker.  So I went back inside and traded my umbrella and sweatshirt for the slicker. 
I also wore hiking shoes instead of walking shoes because they keep my feet drier.  They did still get wet but not wringing sock out wet.

I had a random walk around town.  Just up and down all the streets and around the cemeteries.  I saw Lisa and her husband walking (she usually runs alone) and another woman walking.

Made a pass by LC and all the chickens seem to be getting along fine.  They were all milling about.  LC looks mighty happy perched up there above the rest of them. : )  Today they had spaghetti for the dinning pleasure!!

I walked  6.1 miles - 12,490 steps.
Found another penny!

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

Did some house work this morning.  Rainy days are good for that.
After lunch I baked another batch of pumpkin bread (6 small loaves) and put them in the freezer.

It rained all day and by suppertime we were ready to get out of the house for a bit.  We both were in the mood for a burger so we went to ACE down the road for supper. We sat in the cozy room with the fireplace and enjoyed a good burger!!

The book that I'm reading is due on Monday at the library so I think I'll go and read in just a bit until it's time for some television and snack.  Chocolate chip mint ice cream for me. : )

A happy day to you.
happyone : )

I'm thankful 

for a pair of shoes that feel really good on my feet,

I like my shoes.

~Johnny Cash  

Happyone meets Harry

30 degrees this morning and I saw the sun come up but then it went to hide behind the clouds but every once in a while some blue sky would appear for a short time.
Walked around the farm loop but in the opposite direction I usually walk because I stopped off at the Post Office and dropped some mail in the slot.  When I got back to the main road, I and got to the welcome to town sign I noted my mileage and continued walking along here,

walked right through town

and out the other end and walked to the other welcome to town sign.  Checked mileage again and it was 1.1 miles.

Then I turned around and came back in town.  Walked a road parallel to the main road and then took a little side street which is where Lone Chicken lives.  Walked passed there to see how they were all getting on.  LC and one of the red ones were in one part of the coop busily eating and seeming good together.  The others were in the other part just standing there doing nothing.  One of the red ones had found a spot in the very corner and had made her own little nest away from everyone.  

Saw one other walker but she was too far ahead to say hi to.

I walked 6 miles - 11.972 steps.

Found a nickel and a penny.  I'm starting to find coins again and this month is going to end up being pretty good.

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

After doing a few things around the house I put some cookies in a bag and headed out to the nursing home to meet Harry.   

He was in the therapy room when I got there but the lady at the desk said to just go there.  So down the hall I went and when I got there he was just finishing up.  He doesn't have the use of his legs and told me he was born that way but we walked back to his room!  He uses crutches and moves along very slowly by moving the crutches along and then he kind of drags his legs, moves the crutches again, drags his legs and just continues on in that way.  It looks exhausting but he insists on doing it on his own.

We visited as we walked down two long hallways.  As we went down the hall,  Harry had some kind word to say to everyone who passed us along the way.  Joked with some of the nurses and other people there visiting.  I met Jay, a man who drops by every week to 'just look in' on some of the residents.

Of course I brought Harry some chocolate chip cookies. I made sure with the nurses that it would be alright before giving them to him.

When it was time for me to leave, Harry asked if he could say a prayer before I left.  He thanked God for bringing me to visit him and for his many blessings.

I learned quite a bit about Harry already and know that I will be visiting him long after Christmas has come and gone. : )

The nursing home is old and seems like a hospital and does have some of the residents sitting in  wheel chairs in front of the rooms not doing anything and I know I wouldn't want to have to live there.  BUT it is clean and doesn't smell and the nurses and helpers that I saw all had friendly smiles and a nice thing to say as they passed the residents.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My car is REALLY DIRTY and I was going to wash it when I got home but it was just barely 40 degrees and I just didn't feel like it.  So I went inside and had lunch instead.

Just home this afternoon doing a little of this and that around the house.

Hope your day is sunny and bright.

happyone : )

I try to be grateful for the abundance 

of the blessings that I have,

for the journey that I'm on 

and to relish each and every day as a gift.

~ James McGreevey

Thankful to be back walking. : )

Thank you all so much for your prayers and concerns when I wasn't feeling well.  Today I'm back to feeling just fine.  Must have just been a virus of some kind.

It was SO nice to be outside this morning and walking again.  I really do miss it when I don't walk!!
It was 25 degrees but the sun came up and stayed out and it was a beautiful morning.  I walked around town so I would be close to home if I got tired.  Picture is of the little pond in town.   I walk by it on my way to the cemetery and the Drane house where the my horse friend lives.

Lone Chicken is no longer alone.  She has five new roommates.  Two white chickens and three red ones.  When I talked to them Lone Chicken talked back and the others just stood there.  I was going to give her a new name but decided to leave it Lone Chicken. : )

I met a woman named Sylvia who was walking her BIG puppy, a Malamute named Saber around the loop by the ball park.  I can see her house from my house and she is a cashier at Lowe's.  She didn't look familiar but her voice sounded familiar.  It was kind of hard to tell what we looked looked with hoods and scarves on!!  Next time we go to Lowe's I'll look for her! Her and her husband almost bought our house before the people we bought it from bought it!!

These two trees are actually one tree that the trunk split in two.  I thought it looked pretty against the blue sky.

So that was my walk today which was a little shorter than usual but not by much.
I walked 5.5 miles - 11,362 steps.
I found a penny.

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

We've been home today.  I did some knitting and counted cross stitching in between trying to catch up on blog reading.

After supper we headed out to church to hear Don Williams and see his chalk drawing.  I was going to take a picture of the drawing but forgot.  He draws a picture and then when a black light is shined on it,  you see another picture in the picture.  It was pretty cool.

Home now and I'm just about to go and have some ice cream.
Pleasant dreams, my friends.
happyone : )

Dear God,

I want to take a minute,

not to ask of anything from you,

but simply to say 

Thank You,

for all I have.

Not the day I planned

Today has not been the day I planned.

I'm not feeling so good.

Bad headache, lower stomach ache and no energy.

I've had a few long naps and just trying to do nothing.

I sure hope I'm better tomorrow.

Hope you are well and healthy

and enjoying your day.

happyone : )
Comment replies:
Dot - No, Don Williams

A Psalm of thanksgiving

Make a joyful noise unto the the Lord,

all ye lands.

Serve the Lord with Gladness;

come before His presence with singing.

Know ye that the Lord He is God;

it is He that hath made us,

and not we ourselves;

we are His people,

and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, 

and into His courts with praise:

be thankful unto Him, 

and bless his name.

For the Lord is good,

His mercy is everlasting;

and his truth endureth to all generations.

Psalm 100

Ken and I are very thankful that we have found a wonderful church with so many sincere and warm hearted Christians.  It is cause to celebrate because today we have joined this church and are now a part of this church family. : )

A blessed Sunday to you, my friends.

happyone : )

A Good Day : )

First thing I want to THANK all of you who said prayers for our friend Ron.  The surgery went well and he is now having physical therapy to get his shoulder back in shape.  He should regain full use of his arm and shoulder.  : ) 

38 degrees and sunny made for a very pleasant morning walk.  I walked on a road behind the Dollar General that runs parallel to the main road.  I thought this would be better than walking on the main road and thought perhaps it would make its way back to the main road farther down but it happened to be a dead end, so I turned around and went back.

Instead of going back to the main road I turned right and walked around a small industrial park.  There are a few businesses there and the Phenix Technology School.  From the parking lot I took this picture.  My house is there where the arrow points.

 Then I zoomed in and took this.

There is only one way in and out of the industrial park but when I came across this road I was tempted to follow it but thought it might be someones driveway so I turned around again and walked back to the main road.

From there I walked around town for a awhile before heading back home.

I stopped to chat with another walker, Mike for a bit.

Passed by Lone Chicken to see how she was doing.  Today she was eating elbow macaroni with pieces of carrot and something that looked like cookies with smiley faces on them!! 

I walked 6.1 miles - 11,610.

Another coin day - a quarter, a dime and a penny. : )

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

This afternoon we went looking in another antique store looking for blue plates to put in the kitchen above the cabinets.  I found 4.  Now we have to figure out what to put on the back of them so we can hang them up.  I want something that doesn't show. 

Went to the Tractor Farm Store.  The have been open a week but were having their grand opening today and everything was 10% off.  We were going to get a cart with 4 wheels so it would be easier for me to haul the wood chips for the trails, but they were all sold out.

Home for a little while and then we were off again.  This time to Perkins for a surprise birthday dinner for a special friend of Pastor Leatherman's who will be speaking at church this week and does chalk drawings as he speaks.  We thought it would be another opportunity to meet more people from church.  We are getting to know more and more people and they all are so nice and really make us feel welcome.  There were about 50 of us there and we had a great time. : )

So that's it for today.
Hope yours was a good one too.
happyone : )

I try to be grateful 

for the abundance of the blessings that I have,

for the journey that I'm on

and to relish each day as a gift.

~ James McGreevey

Vee - since you and John liked the old building right at the edge of the road yesterday, here's another picture of it for you.  I took this one coming from the opposite direction from yesterdays photo.

A man named Harry

A warm 35 degrees this morning with no breeze and I got to watch the sun come up again.  Didn't see much of it after that though because the clouds covered it up and my walk was a cloudy one.

I took a different route today walked up the main road here in the picture.  Up ahead on the right before the bend is a road to the right which leads up to Happy Trails.  I passed up that and continued down the hill.

I made a left turn and walked down here

which took me over a bridge and along this road along the river.

I walked till my Striiv said 3.2 miles and then I turned around and headed back.  

A couple of photos on the way back.

I saw a huge deer with antlers in the woods along the river.
No people were out.
It was nice walking along the river and listening to the water.  So nice and peaceful.  Only one car passed me.  Then it was back to the main road and uphill all the way home!!

I walked 6.5 miles - 12,719 steps.

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

Ken went up to Happy Trails again today and I stayed home again.  I wanted to get some reading done and work on my counted cross stitch.

Oh, some happy news.  Brenda, from the nursing home called me this morning to let me know that I now have a person to adopt for Christmas. I wrote down his gift list and she told me that is name is Harry. : )  I will be going to meet him on Monday.  Brenda said he loves to talk and can't wait to meet me.

I went to Pastor Leatherman's house this evening.  His wife Kathy invited all the ladies over for a turkey meal.  She made hot turkey sandwiches and we all were asked to bring something pumpkin.  Those Pumpkin Whoopies I made yesterday was what I brought and none of them came back home with me.  They were a hit!!  Thanks again Nellie. : )
I had such a nice time with the ladies and it was nice getting to know them better and meeting new people too. 

No ice cream for me this evening.  I had more than enough snacks already and they were all pumpkin!

Hope your day was a happy one and I wish you all pleasant dreams.
happyone : )

It is not happy people who are thankful;

it is thankful people who are happy.

More horses, more making and more laundry

Nice to get back out and walk this morning after missing yesterday.  It was 25 degrees with a slight breeze and I watched the sun come up.  I walked the farm loop and around town.

A couple of horses I haven't seen before came down by the fence.  The other horses must have been talking about me. : )
They smelled my hand and then I petted them both. 

At one of the cemeteries I saw a woman walking her dog but was too far away to say anything to her.
Saw some rabbit prints in the snow but no sign of them.

I walked 6.5 miles - 12,616 steps.

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

Ken went up to Happy Trails today and I decided to stay home.  I had lots of things I wanted to do inside.

One of which was making Pumpkin Whoopies.  I got the recipe from blogger friend Nellie at Berries and More which you can find HERE.  Thanks Nellie, they are delicious.  I'm thinking like you Nellie, that I next time I'll use a smaller scoop!

I like to bake and these were fun to make.  : )  They do take quite a lot of time though.  I didn't eat lunch because I ate too much of the batter!! There was one left without a top so I put icing on that and ate that too.  One thing nice about having your kids grown and gone is that you get to lick the the bowl and beaters!!

I did a load of laundry and hung it on my inside line down in the basement in my drying room.  I keep forgetting to post a picture of it but remembered today.

We went to Mountain State Brewery for supper and had a pizza.

I'm going to read some before television time.  I have three books I'd like to finish before starting on next months book club selection which is Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline.  It sounds good and I think I'm going to like this one!!

Hope your Thursday was a good one.
happyone  : )

If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation,

you will discover that your life will 

suddenly be filled with gratitude,

a feeling that nurtures the soul.

~ Rabbi Harold Kushner 

Comment replies:

Kim - Yes, I froze some of the pumpkin breads.  I'll be making more of them too.  They make great little gifts. : )  I looked at the time you left your comment and I was indeed out there walking and was taking pictures of the horses above. : )

No walk today

There was some ice around and we got another light dusting of snow so I decided not to walk this morning.  I was afraid I wouldn't be able to see the ice under the snow and didn't want to take a chance of falling.

Our heat pump has decided decided not to work.  Thankfully we have the pellet stove to keep us warm while we wait for it to get fixed.  We have been using both the heat pump and the pellet stove together.  We tried just using the pellet stove and blowing the heat to the other parts of the house with the fan from the heat pump like the previous owners did but we didn't like it.  The fan blowing constantly just made the other rooms cold.  The problem is that the thermostat is in the same room as the pellet stove and that room gets so nice and toasty but the rest of the house is cold.  Ken is probably going to move the thermostat down the hall.

I made some Pumpkin Bread this morning.  The recipe makes three loaves.  I like to use smaller loaf pans and make 6 little loaves.

I finished The House of Velvet and Glass by Katherine Howe last night.  As you know I wasn't crazy about the book but the last 60 pages of the book were better and I liked the ending.  If you'd like to read what it's about and some reviews, check out this LINK. 
Only discussed the book with one other person because just two of us showed up tonight.  Susan thought it was slow going but liked it more than I did.  I wrote a quote down that I liked from the book and she wrote down the exact same quote!!

"Only by being present can you be happy.  Too much attention to the past and the future, takes the now away.  And once it's gone, you never get it back."

Even though it was just the two of us it was a nice time.  I had brought one of the little pumpkin breads to share with everyone so we ate bread, talked about the book, and then just talked.  Susan also showed me this neat web site and we played around with that too.  You type in an authors name and a bunch of other authors who are similar pop up.  Here's the LINK if you want to see it.

I walked to the book club and when I left I went to the post office and dropped a couple of letters in the mail box.  Then walked around town for a little bit before going home.  I least I got a little walk in today. : )
I thought the church steeple looked nice lit up so snapped a picture of it.

I didn't some across any ice so tomorrow I should be good to go walking. : )
Have a great evening.
happyone : )

It's Wednesday.

I am alive.

I am breathing.

God has given me another today.

I am thankful.

I am blessed.

God is good.

Just for today.....

I will look for joy in all things.

I will enjoy what is beautiful.

I will listen. 

I will believe.

~Lori Homeyer

Snow

So we got some snow last night and I got to walk this morning in a snow white wonderland. : )  I took this picture as soon as I walked out the back door.

It was 25 degrees, a bit windy and it was still snowing though it stopped after about three inches.  I was going to walk the farm loop but to get there I'd have to walk on the main road for about a mile, and the main road was slushy and the cars going by would have gotten me wet so I just stayed on the back roads around town and up to the cemeteries.  Here's a few pictures I took along my walk.  All the footprints in the pictures are mine!

I passed by Lone Chicken and she looked warm and cozy sitting in the straw.

If this snow happened where I used to live all the schools would have been closed and everyone in a panic.  Here all the schools were still open and on time and the snow was no big deal.  I like that!

It was nice being out in the snow early this morning.
I walked 6.2 miles - 11,942 steps.

Sunrise: 6:58

Sunset: 5:04

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 Mid morning we headed out to Grantsville to check out a antique store.  I'm now looking for some old inexpensive plates that have blue in them.  I want to hang them in the kitchen on the wall over the cabinets.  Didn't find any there but it was nice looking at everything.  This place was kind of up scale so we probably won't go back there.  I like antique stores that are a bit messy and you really have to look to find things.

Still reading that book but I will be able to finish before tomorrow evening.  I don't usually finish reading books that I don't like, but made an exception because it was for the book club.

I had some happy news from my son David today.  He asked if he and the kids could come for Thanksgiving.  : )  What a question, of course I said YES, YES, YES!!

Our friend Ron, (neighbor and from church) hurt his shoulder a few weeks ago and he has to have surgery on it Thursday at 10:00.  It is supposed to be a very painful recovery.  I ask that those of you who pray to please say a prayer that all goes well.  Thanks so much!

We had a few more snow flurries during the day but they didn't amount to anything more.  The sun even came out for a little while but it stayed cold - never made it out of the 20's.

Hope your day has been a good one and you smiled often.
happyone  : )

 God gave you the gift of 86,400 seconds today.

Have you used one to say,

Thank You?

William Ward

Comment replies:

Vee -  That would be great if they all wanted to meet me. : )  Oh yes, I will be honest about the book tomorrow.  

Adopting a senior

The first thing I noticed when I stepped out the door this morning was the smell of wood smoke coming from peoples fireplaces. 

It was a chilly 25 degrees and the wind had finally died down to where it was very still, not even a breeze.
I walked the town route and by the time I had walked up all three hills behind my house and down again I was quite warm!!  Then it was on to the two cemeteries, around the loop behind the ball park, up and down the main street in town and home again.
Walking down the hill behind my house from the park I passed a house just as they let there little dog out of the house.  It was yippy little thing and ran right across the road to me and starting snapping at my heels.  The people from the house never said a thing and I just kept walking and the dog followed me all the way to the library barking the whole time.  Then it just turned around and went back home. 

One of my horse friends over by the Drane house came trotting over to me when I went by the fence.  I think he looks forward to my petting him now, or more likely he's hoping I have something for him to eat. : )  He was very curious about my camera and when I took a picture of him. 

Yesterday I found a penny when walking which was a nice surprise because I hardly ever find coins here.  Then this morning I walked up this dead end road in town and there on the ground were three quarters and three dimes all in a row.  My first thought was that Ken put them there for me to find, but it was too far away from the house and the coins all looked like they had been there a while.

I walked 6 miles - 11,670 steps.

Sunrise: 6:57

Sunset: 5:05

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HAPPY VETERANS DAY 

and A big THANK YOU to all who have served.

Ken was in the Navy for 20 years and when he retired this shadow box was presented to him.  He has added the pictures on the left.

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Ken went up to Happy Trails again today and I left in the opposite direction and went to a nursing home 18 miles down the road.  

There was an article in the local paper asking if anyone would like to adopt a resident for Christmas and buy gifts for them. Sounded like something I would enjoy doing so I went to find out about it. Instead of calling I decided to go in person.  

I talked to the lady who was organizing it and she told me how it worked.  They don't give out names but I would get a number with a list of things that the person would like.  Buy the gifts and return them to her in a gift bag and she would put the persons name on the gifts.  I was disappointed because I wanted to meet my adopted person.  I didn't want to just buy some gifts for a number.  

I asked if I could meet my person.  She answered that no one ever asked to meet them before but she would ask the residents and see if someone would like to meet me.  So I left my name and number and she said she would let me know.  The lady was very nice and thought someone would be interested. : )  

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I spent some time this afternoon trying to finish my book for the book club Wednesday evening.  It put me to sleep a few times!!!   I've read this much of it now that I just want to have it finished but I won't do it again.  If I don't like a book, I'm just not going to read it.  I've liked the other books that we've read.  I'm wondering what the others think of it.

Not sure what I'll be doing next but that's my day so far.
A happy Monday to you.
happyone : )

Gratitude can transform common days

into thanksgiving,

turn routine jobs into joy,

and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.

~William Arthur Ward

Bible Verse for November

This month the Bible verse my church is learning together is another easy one for me because it is one that I learned some time ago.

Psalms 118:1

O give thanks unto the Lord,

for He is good.

because His mercy endureth for ever.

Have a wonderful Sunday.

Be happy, God loves you!!

happyone : )

A little too close

The coldest morning so far at 22 degrees.  The sun came up though and it was very still,  without the slightest breeze.  The air was crisp and clear and I could hear the slightest sound.  Cows mooing off in the distance, the crows cawing in the woods, and the few cars way over on the main road while I walked down the road in the picture.  What a great morning to be out walking!!

I walked my usual route and didn't come across anyone else.  I saw my usual animal friends and stopped to take a picture of these cows.  I heard them but didn't see them at first because they were behind some huge bales of rolled hay.  I walked up to the hay, looked over and there they were.

By the time I got back home the temperature was up to 30 degrees already.
I walked 6.5 miles - 12,738 steps.

Sunrise: 6:55

Sunset: 5:07

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Today after lunch when Ken went up to Happy Trails, I went along with him.  It was a sunny day and the temperature got up in the 40's so it was nice working weather. He had chipped a whole bunch of tree limbs yesterday so I had a huge pile of chips to lay along my trail.  I had enough to put on the trail to where I finished putting the logs along.  Here I am at the end.

He had fun on his tractor today pulling up some tree stumps.

We are getting quite a bit cleared away. With the leaves off the trees you can see the wood shop off in the distance there on the left.  In this cleared area we plan to build our little cabin one of these days.  Right now we are thinking about a dry one room log cabin.

We also had a fire going in the fire barrel and one time I got a little too close putting some branches in and a puff of fire came out of the barrel and the left side of my hair got a bit singed.  It was pretty scary smelling my hair burning.  Not much damage done though, just looks like I have some split ends.  Later Ken did the same thing!!  He got too close too and but it was his eyebrows that got singed. 

Home around 4:30 to get cleaned up and then we went out to Ledo's for supper for salad and pizza.

So that's been my day.
Hope you enjoyed your Saturday as well.
happyone : )

Whatever happens in your life,

no matter how troubling things might seem,

do not enter the neighborhood of despair.

Even when all doors remained closed,

God will open up a new path only for you.

Be thankful.

~ Elif Shafak

Comment replies:

Vee - Yes, I do.  That window cleaner sure works good!!  BTW - My window looked fine with the morning sun shining on it. : )