Walking is the perfect way of moving if you want to see into the life of things. It is the one way of freedom. If you go to a place on anything but your own feet you are taken there too fast, and miss a thousand delicate joys that were waiting for you by the wayside. Elizabeth von Arnim

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Friday, January 31, 2014

A happy day : )

Thank you all for the Happy Anniversary wishes. : ) 

We really enjoyed our dinner last night at Dutch's.  The restaurant is super nice and has three fireplaces but we sat by the window overlooking the frozen lake (Deep Creek.) The service was great and most importantly all the food was delicious.  We both had the same thing.  Started out with some cracked wheat bread and Caesar Salad.  Then is was on to Blackened Catfish, twice baked potatoes, and fresh green beans with onions and mushrooms.  We don't usually have dessert but we splurged last night and had a piece of Chocolate Mousse Pie.  Sorry Art for making you hungry again. : )
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Well, it almost felt like spring here this morning.  When I got up it was 28 degrees and you know what that meant.  A walk outside. I can't even tell you how great it felt to be outside walking again. : )  I had my ice grippers on and walked around town for 6 miles. 
I didn't see anyone else walking and didn't see any animals either.  I saw the usual school bus drivers and people going to work. 

When I walked up to one of the cemeteries it was only plowed up to this point so I couldn't walk all the way around it.  I snapped a picture here to show you where Happy Trails is.  You'll have to click on the picture to see it better.
I walked 6.1 miles.
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We didn't need anything but we went out anyway just because we've been inside a lot and it was nice to get out and about for awhile.  
Stopped in antique store and I found a couple more blue plates for the kitchen.  Another store I found a cute ladybug and another lighthouse for my collection.
We pass this place on the way to church with all these yard ornaments out front and I always want to stop to take a picture.  Today we stopped so I could take a picture and we had a look around in the store too.  Could you imagine putting this life sized giraffe in your yard?  What would home associations say about that?!!!  It would make national news. : )
We've had a nice day as we start year 43 together.
Hope your day is sunny and bright.
happyone : )
The only people who you should get even with
are those who have helped you.
~Buz Moxon

Today's Three Thankful Things
  1. I bet your not surprised that number one is walking outside
  2. Blogger friends
  3. A good hair day

Thursday, January 30, 2014

42 years

I was hoping for a bit warmer weather this morning so I could go for my walk but it was not to be.  10 below zero again this morning so and another walk in the basement.  I listened to disc number 3 of my book and walked just under 6 miles.

The sun is shining and it is so pretty outside and by the afternoon it had warmed up and temperatures were in the high 20's.  Now if it will just stay like that I'll be able to go for my morning walk tomorrow.

It was a pancake breakfast for us today and since the day is a special one for us, we had whipped cream along with the syrup on them.
Why is this day special you might ask?  42 years ago today we got married.  Yes, it's our anniversary and we've been married that long.  On one hand the years have flown by but so much as happened in that time that at times it seems like many lifetimes.  Over all it's been happy and fun, but like all marriages it is not perfect and we've had our hard times as some of you might remember if you are long time followers of my blog.  But if you stick out those hard times, I believe as it was for us that your marriage grows stronger and I am happy to say that today we've have never been happier. : )  I truly believe too that if you both put God first in your life it makes all the difference.

We are celebrating by going to out dinner at the Dutch's Restaurant, the nicest place for miles around.  We have never been there for dinner but it is the place where I went with the church ladies for our Christmas party.

This afternoon we went to Hilltop to replenish Ken's candy supply.  I pick out a few pieces too but I don't eat mine as quickly as he does. : )  A basket with a lid sits in our kitchen and Ken will put one of my candies in there.  I try to see how long I can go without eating it.  Sometimes I go days and days.  Then when Ken notices that I've eaten a piece he will put another one in there. 
Today walking around the store I came across pink whitergreen candies and right away they made me think of my grandma (mom's mom this time) and just had to buy a bag.
My Grandma used to always have some of these in her pocketbook and I remember her giving me one when we went to church.
Linda, do you remember Grandma having these?
I put some in a pink candy dish when I got home.  The dish belonged to my other Gramma. 
I've been doing some cross stitch today.   I had finished a whole section with a brown color and then realized I had used the wrong color.  So I had to take a bunch out and then redo it with the right color.  It wasn't so bad though, just time consuming.  Luckily it was a section that just had half stitches. 

I hope your day is filled with sunshine.
happyone : )
Chains do not hold a marriage together.
It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads
which sew people together through the years.
~ Simone Signoret

A wedding anniversary is the celebration of love,
trust,
partnership,
tolerance,
and tenacity.
The order varies for any given year.
~ Paul Sweeney
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Today's Thankful Three
  1.  Sharing my life with Ken
  2. Whipped cream on my pancake
  3. Going out to dinner
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Comment replies:
Betsy - The snow is normal for up here but not the temperatures.  It hasn't been this cold here for at least 20 years.  The snow I like, the frigid temperatures not so much.

RK - That is so nice about the puzzles that the woman in the nursing home has done.  : )

Linda - Thanks for the Cedar Cove information.  I'll check out the Hallmark channel because I'd really like to see it.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Another puzzle

This morning it was a little warmer than yesterday.  But only by 2 degrees at 10 below zero so once again I started the day down in the basement walking loops.  I am enjoying listening to The Inn at Rose Harbor though.  I listened to the second disc and walked just under 6 miles again.

We are starting yet another puzzle.  This one may take the rest of the winter to do.  It looks hard and has 3000 pieces.  Ken had to extend the dining room table with cardboard and tape to make more room and we still can't fit all the pieces out flat.  We are in the process of putting all the pieces out and doing the border.  We always start that way.
It is a beautiful sunny day with bright blue skies and looks deceivingly warm out. I went outside after lunch again to feed the birds, get the mail and walk around the yard a little again.  It's not much but I do enjoy being outside.
As I was vacuuming today I noticed that it wasn't picking up things so good and figured it was time to change the bag.  When I zipped it open to replace the bag I saw that the bag had come unhooked and all the vacuum dirt was all inside the zipped part.  I ended up getting my other vacuum from down downstairs and vacuumed the vacuum. : ) I was annoyed but thinking about what I was doing I had to laugh about it.

Hope your day is a happy one.
happyone : )
There is a great man who makes every man feel small.
But the real great man is the man who makes every man feel great.
~ G K Chesterton

That quote made me think of my Gramma (Dad's mom) because all of us grandkids (8 of us) thought that we were the favorite one! : ) She made each one of us feel special.  I sure do miss her.

Three Thankful Things for Today
  1. A beautiful sunny clear day
  2.  Memories of Gramma
  3. The time after breakfast that Ken and I sit and just talk
Comment replies:
Linda - I am enjoying the Inn at Rose Harbor and have already put the next audio book  on hold.  Now the weather will warm up. : )  I'm going to start reading the Cedar Cove series.  I've heard about the TV series.  I tried to find it on Netflex but they don't seem to have it.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

We finished

The sun was shining this morning and it looked like a perfect day for an outside walk.  Only thing the temperature was 12 below zero, so it was another basement walk for me.  I walked almost 6 miles. 

I don't usually listen to audio books because I prefer to hold a book to read it. When I read I get really involved in my book and live with the characters I'm reading about.  When I'm driving or doing anything else I can't seem to follow the story.

That being said walking loops in the basement was the perfect time for an audio book.  I got caught up in the story and wasn't in the basement anymore.  I was in the story and the time went by fast and before I knew it I had listened to the first disc and my walk was over.
I'm listening to The Inn at Rose Harbor by Debbie Macomber. 

We finished the puzzle by 12:00 last night so didn't get to bed too late.  Usual bedtime is 11:30.
After lunch I put a bunch of layers on and went outside.  Just had to get out in the air for a little while.  I made a path out to the bird feeders and put their seed out.  Then I just walked around the yard for a while.  When I see all this white snow out there I just have to put footprints in it. : )  It's pretty slow going walking in the snow.
The locals say that this is a normal amount of snow that we are having, just the temperatures are way below what they usually are.  The normal high for the day should be in the 20's, not 0. 

Hope your staying warm and your day is a happy one.
happyone : )
When you focus on being a blessing,
God makes sure that you are always
blessed in abundance.
~ Joel Osteen
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 My Three Thankful Things Today are
  1. The video book for my basement walk
  2. Walking in my yard in the snow
  3. Ken's cooking supper tonight - A stir fry

Monday, January 27, 2014

More Winter

More weather that made it necessary to walk in the basement again this morning.  I didn't listen to any music today.  Stopped here and walked in place a few times to look out the door window wishing I could be outside taking a walk.  
This picture hangs on the wall in the guest room.  It always makes me smile.
 I walked just over 5 miles.
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By lunch time it had stopped snowing and the temperature dropped lower as the day wore on.  Ken went out to clear the driveway with the snow blower AGAIN.

We went to the library and I got an audio book.  I don't usually like to listen to books but I thought it would be nice to listen to a book while I'm walking in the basement.  I'll probably be walking inside again tomorrow so I'll give it a try then.

After the library we went down to Brenda's for supper.  Nice to get back home to a nice warm house.

We've spent a lot of time today working on the puzzle.  This one is I think the hardest one we've ever done.  We are not going to bed tonight until it is finished.  We might be up all night. : )

I've put up some pictures of Ken's train layout on my picture blog.  For those of you who don't look at that blog the link to it is HERE.

Hope your day is a happy one.
happyone : )
Ironically, rural America has become viewed 
by a growing number of Americans as having a higher
quality of life not because of what it has,
but rather because of what it does not have.
~ Don A Dillman

Three Things I'm Thankful for Today
  1.  The snow blower
  2. Warm winter boots
  3. My computer

Comment relies:
Thinker - The Bible is made up of 66 books and is divided into 2 sections, the Old Testament and the New Testament. OT has 39 books and the NT has 27.  These are broken down into Chapters and Verses.  
The OT is before Jesus and the NT is after.  

Sunday, January 26, 2014

God's Grace

More snow last night and 6 degrees this morning.  Had a short walk of 4 miles in the basement.

When we headed out to church the sun was out but when we left it was snowing like crazy again. Well, I did say I wanted to have snow. : )  Snapped this on the way home in the car.
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A few Bible Verses for Sunday about God's Grace.  Grace is something that God gives us that we don't deserve.  He loves us just because we are, not because of anything we have done.  It is a gift.
 
Ephesians 2:8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; 
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.
 
Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, 
but according to His mercy He saved us, 
through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.
 
 Romans 11:6
And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. 
But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: 
otherwise work is no more work.
 
A Blessed Sunday to you all.
happyone : )
I'm thankful for:
  1. God's gift of eternal life 
  2. My Bible so I can know and learn about God
  3. Pastor Leatherman and his great sermons - I learn something new every week.

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Outside Walk : )

Since snow was in the forecast for overnight I was surprised when I woke up that it hadn't snowed yet.  It was up to 18 degrees though a bit windy but I was happy that I could walk outside this morning.  I even saw some peaks of blue sky but for the most part it was cloudy.  There were a few light flurries around too but it didn't start snowing until later in the morning.

The main street through town is cleared but snow is piled up on the sidewalks and I was wearing my ice grippers and don't think the blacktop is good for them so I stayed on the snow covered streets around town. Since it was early on a Saturday it was pretty quiet and I didn't see anyone else out except for one woman standing in her yard with her dog looking cold.
A couple of pictures along the way.

A couple of rabbits scurried across the street in front of me but they were too fast to get a picture of.
So nice to be outside walking and taking in the fresh air and I walked 6 miles.
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Made pancakes for breakfast which is my favorite breakfast.  A nice break from the  raisin bran that I usually eat.

It's been a home day with nothing planned.  One of those days when I don't get any work done but a nice day to do whatever comes along.

The snow is coming down and the wind is blowing it sideways.
Hope you're warm and cozy and having a happy day.
happyone : )
To shorten winter,
borrow some money due in spring.
~ W.J. Vogel
Comment replies:
Betsy - Oh, the wildlife is around here and we see quite a bit up at Happy Trails.  Not so much around town though or out in the open by the farms.  I've said before that I think that's so because there is so much forest around that the animals stay there and don't come where there are people.  Near the house we see the two squirrels, rabbits, and chipmunks and of course the birds.
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Three of my thankful things today are for:
  1. the break in the weather so I could take my morning walk
  2. my bright cheery kitchen
  3. a cozy afternoon inside working on my cross stitch

Friday, January 24, 2014

Outside

Once again a walk in the basement for me.  2 below zero and some light snow.  No music today.  Just me and my thoughts.  I did two loads of laundry while I walked and when it was time to hang up the clothes I walked in place so was still able to get some steps in.  : )

The sun did come out and it makes everything so pretty.  While the sun was out, there was some light snow still in the air and with the sun shining, the air was filled with what looked like sliver glitter floating around.  It was so pretty.  A picture couldn't capture it.

We've been working on the puzzle just a little so it is very slow going.  But it's fun to stop by every so often and just find a piece or two.  I've also done a bit more of the cross stitch.

I went outside for a couple of hours in the afternoon when it had warmed up to 10 degrees.  It was a bit windy but the sun was out and the sky was picture perfect blue.  I took more seed out to the birds and shoveled the driveway.  I didn't have to because Ken would have done it with the snow blower but there was only a couple of inches from this last snow and I just felt like shoveling snow. 
Then I just walked around the yard in the snow making tracks all over the place. : )
Got the mail and stuck my head in the door to give Ken the mail and tell him I was walking over to the library.
There was a book ready for me to pick up.  It was the book for the book club meeting in March and I didn't want the book this early, so had her put my name at the bottom of the list again.  That's the library on the left.  You can see the wind blowing the snow off the roof.
After leaving the library I went for a little walk around town before going back home.  I only walked a mile but it was nice to be outside.
I must be getting used to these cold temperatures because 10 didn't seem that cold. 

When I got back in the house I had a nice cup of hot chocolate with a dab of whipped cream in it.

Well off I go to get a little reading done before supper.
Hope your day is a happy one.
happyone : )
Never ask, "What reason do I have to be happy?"
Instead ask, "To what purpose can I attach my happiness."
~ Robert Brault
Three Thankful Things Today
  1. Sunshine and a sparkly day
  2. Being able to get outside for a while
  3. That I live in a place that has all four seasons

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Hair Day

We ended up eating supper yesterday at Ledo's because when we went by Santa Fe there was a sign on the door saying it was closed for maintenance.  Which was okay.  I can always eat pizza.

Snowing again this morning and it was 4 degrees so I walked in the basement listening to Matthew Ryan this time.  I walked just over 5 miles.

Time for the hairdresser again and walked over there to get my hair done.  Boy six weeks sure goes by fast.  I brought my knitting to do while waiting and there was another woman there knitting too.  : )
I'm just at the end of my driveway in the picture and I just have to walk over there to that building on the left so you can see I really do live just a block away.
 In the corner of one of the closets downstairs in the basement I've thrown all the wrapping paper, boxes, cards, and other Christmas wrapping items as well as regular wrapping paper.  It was all in a heap and quite a mess.  This afternoon I sorted things out.  Threw some stuff away and put things in a couple of tote bins and put them up on the shelf in the laundry room.  Much better now.

I've done a little more cross stitch and would still like to read later.  I'm reading Songs of Willow Frost which is the book for my book club next month.  The book is okay.  Nothing special but not bad enough not to see how it ends. 

Hope your day is a happy one.
happyone : )
What a pity human beings can't exchange problems.
Everyone knows exactly how to solve the other fellow's.
~ Olin Miller

Three Things I'm Thankful for Today
  1. Being able to just walk down the street for my hair appointment and for having found Sherry to do my hair.
  2. A nice cup of hot tea mid afternoon.
  3. My Ott light and a good pair of magnifying glasses for doing counted cross without which I wouldn't be able to do it anymore.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Fun in the snow : )

It was 8 degrees below zero this morning so I decided to take another walk in the basement.  No music today, learned a bit more of a Bible verse.

After breakfast the sun came out and it went all the up to 0 so we decided to bundle up and go outside.  Ken had fun with the snow blower clearing off our driveway.  He saw our neighbor across the street clearing her driveway with a shovel so he went over and did their driveway too. : ) 

I shoveled a path to the bird feeders and put more seed out for them and I notice we now have two squirrels.

Looking at all this never before walked in snow made me want to walk in it. : )
I made a smiley face in the snow, though it looks more like a grimace.
Then I wrote HAPPY 1 in the snow.  Didn't have room for the ONE so made the number.
Couldn't see it in a picture very well so Ken went and got the big step ladder and took the picture.
I had a little swing on the swing.
And then of course I had to make a Snow Angel. : )




When we finally came in the house it was already lunch time.  Snow sure is pretty but it is lots of fun too. : )

We are all set to record the next round of snow.
If you have snow, hope you got to go out and enjoy it today too.  If you do you might even get to like Winter. : )

This afternoon I've been doing a little counted cross stitch and later we are going to go out to eat at The Santa Fe, a Mexican restaurant over in the next town.

A happy day to you my friends.
happyone : )
Snowflakes are one of nature's most fragile things,
but look at what they can do when they stick together.
~ Unknown

Three Thankful Things Today
  1. That I can still play in the snow
  2. A kind and caring husband
  3. Going out for dinner
Comment replies:
OE and Betsy - I'm happy that you got your snow. : )  Know how much you both like it.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

More of the white stuff : )

Woke up to more snow and it's been snowing all day.  Had a basement walk this morning of 5 miles.  I probably could have walked outside, but with the plows going by and the snowy roads I thought I'd be in the way of traffic and it wouldn't be safe.

The first half of my walk I memorized another Bible verse.  I kind of knew it already and just had to refresh it in my mind.  Then learned the next line of the next verse.  I'm putting the verses on 3 x 5 cards and carry the current one I'm learning around with me.  I'm not that good at memorizing things so this is a real challenge for me.  I figure this is making God happy so he will be helping me. : )

The second half of walking I listened to a CD that Ken made up of a bunch of different music so I had a nice variety.

I went outside this morning just to walk around the yard.  Put more seed out for the birds and walked down to the mail box.  It sure is pretty when it snows and I'm really enjoying our first winter here.

I got my house cleaning done for the day and then spent some of the afternoon knitting. 

Every so often we get up to look out of the window and the snow just keeps coming and coming.  Looks like I'm going to get my foot of snow that I've been waiting for.

Here's a picture out the back door with a ruler in the snow on the picnic table.   I just took the picture a little while ago and the snow continues to fall.
A couple other pictures out the back door.

Are you having a snowy day too?
A happy day to you my friends.
happyone : )
Snow was falling,
so much like stars,
filling the dark trees
that one could easily imagine
its reason for being was nothing more
than prettiness.
~ Mary Oliver
Three thankful things for toady.
  1. Watching the snow fall - so peaceful and calming
  2. That I know how to knit - have to thank Linda for that.  There's a story in my learning to knit.  I was a little girl and was down the Jersey shore with my mom, her friend who I knew as Auntie Wilma and her 4 kids.  It had rained for days on end so my mom thought she'd teach all us kids how to knit.  Everyone got the hang of it but me.  My mom lost patience with me and I cried.  Linda, who was a couple of years older than me took me aside and spent the extra time with me to teach me.  I finally got it. : )
  3. My camera

Monday, January 20, 2014

Sunny morning, HT, and gramma's dishes

30 degrees this morning and a bit of a wind.  I had a walk all over the place in town with no order do it at all.
I had my ice grippers on my shoes so didn't have to worry about the snow and ice on the roads.  It is dark when I leave but it's nice to be outside watching a new day begin.  I saw a beautiful pink sky over by the cemetery.  By the time I got walking down this road it was light out.
Just a mile or so later the sun came out and it was just beautiful.  A lot of people are wishing for spring to arrive, but I really enjoy a winter morning.  The air is crisp and fresh and it just puts me in a happy mood. : )
I saw Bill clearing the snow off of the town truck and waiting for it to warm up and went over and had a nice little chat with him.
Just a little while later I saw Dave clearing the snow off of his truck and stopped to talk to him too.

I didn't see any animals but did see lots of rabbit prints in the snow and also a few deer prints.

I walked 6.3 miles.
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After breakfast we decided to go up to Happy Trails and walk around up there for a while.  By then the sun went away and it was cloudy but still nice to be up there.  I had Ken take a picture of me to show you how bright my green hooded sweat shirt is.  Cars can't help but see me wearing that. : )
 Here's our little stream looking pretty in the snow.
We were back home by lunch time.  After lunch I made some chocolate pudding to use up the last of the milk before the sell by date.  Haven't made chocolate pudding in a long time. These dishes were my Gramma's and they were used on special days. They are very thin and delicate and things taste extra good in them.  I don't save them for special days though because really every day is special. : )   I'm sure Gramma would approve.
That's my day so far.
Hope you find bits of happiness scattered throughout your day.
happyone : )

Three things I'm thankful for today.  All three were at the very start of the day.
  1. My ice grippers - without them I would have been walking in the basement.
  2. Friendly people in town.
  3. The snow glistening in the sun.
We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive.
He who is devoid of the power to forgive
is devoid of the power to love.
There is some good in the worst of us
and some evil in the best of us.
When we discover this,
we are less prone to hate our enemies.
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

Comment replies:
Thinker - Oh no, store bought dough doesn't count.  It has to be made at home. : )  Just kidding,  I don't think I've ever eaten a pizza that I didn't like. : )

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Happy

Another snowy morning.  I had the ice grippers on my shoes but only walked 3 miles because there were not too many places I could walk.  Had to walk in the tire tracks on the roads.  Not much traffic with it being early Sunday morning.  It was nice to get outside to walk if only for a little while.  The picture is of the end of my street up the hill.

Another snowy Sunday driving to church.  Seems like every Sunday it is either snowing or raining. We left a little early - no problems on the roads.

I said my next two Bible verses for the Challenge.  That's 5 down and 95 to go.  I really had trouble learning Romans 1:20.  It was a hard one for me. 

I looked up some Bible verses for today with the word 'happy' in them.   I'm sure there are many more.  Do you know of any others? 

Job 5:17
Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth:
therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.

 Psalm 144:15
Happy is that people, that is in such a case:
yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.

Psalm 146:5
Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help,
whose hope is in the Lord of his God.

Proverbs 16:20
He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good:
and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.

 There seems to be a theme here about being happy - We need God. : )

Home made pizza for us for supper tonight.  The dough is getting done right now in the bread machine as I type this.  I get the easy part making the dough.  Ken does the work of making the pizza.  Maybe that's part of the reason why it tastes so good. : )

A happy Sunday to you my friends and may God Bless you.
happyone  : )

Three things to be thankful for today.
  1.  A walk in the snow
  2.  To be able to go to church
  3.  Homemade pizza
Comment replies:
Vee - It was a cherry one. Though I enjoyed it,  chocolate is my favorite.

Ruta - Thankfully I wasn't sore at all the next day.  It must have been all that padding from all the layers I wear. : )

Saturday, January 18, 2014

A winter day

This morning brought with it snow, a temperature of 10 degrees and wind so I had a basement walk today.  Took the picture out of the dining room window.  You can see how windy it is by the flag blowing straight out.
I listened to Meatloaf (Bad Attitude) again while walking 5 1/2 miles.

It's been snowing on and off all day and we've been warm and cozy inside.
I did go outside for a little while this afternoon to put out the bird seed for the birds  and the one squirrel.  I shoveled a little snow, walked around the yard and got the mail.

Inside the house I worked on my counted cross stitch and put a few more pieces in the puzzle.  We have one sitting out on the table again, but we aren't working on it a lot, just every so often we walk by and put a few pieces in. The puzzle we are working on now has 1000 pieces and the picture is of a whole bunch of junk cars piled high on top of each other.

That's about it for today. 
Hope you're enjoying your Saturday.
happyone : )
If you wait, 
all that happens is you get older.
~Larry McMurtry
Three Thankful Things for Today
  1. Waking up to a winter wonderland
  2. A pancake breakfast
  3. A tootsie roll lollipop

Friday, January 17, 2014

Gingersnaps

No ice, no snow, no rain, and no wind this morning when I walked.  Haven't had many of these kinds of mornings lately.   It was a surprise because snow was in the forecast today.  It was 28 degrees.
I walked the two loop route around town.  I took a picture of the path behind the ball park.  (where I fell the other day)
Off to right up there is where Sylvia lives who I met a while ago now when she was walking her puppy Saber.  She is an outside dog and I see her when I walk here.  I always say hi to her and she barks once back at me. : )  Sometimes she cries though. She looks mean sitting there but is very friendly.  She sure is getting big fast.  I zoomed in a bit to take the picture.
My friend Lin called me while I was walking and we had a nice chat catching up with each other.

It was a nice walk, then again all my walks are nice. : )
I walked 6 miles.
Found a penny too. : )
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We decided to take a ride down to LaVale to have a look around and do a little shopping.  There's a new Harbor and Freight store that we checked out.  They were giving out free tape measures so now I have my very own.  Doesn't take much to make my happy.  Ken tells me I'm a cheap date. : )
While we were down there we had lunch at Applebee's.

When we got back home I decided to bake some Gingersnap cookies.  
2 1/4 cups flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 cup sugar
In mixing bowl combine about half of the flour, brown sugar, shortening, molasses, egg, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves.
Beat with an electric mixer on medium to high speed till thoroughly combined.
Beat in remaining flour.
Shape dough into 1 inch balls.
Roll in sugar.
Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake in a 375 degree oven for 8 - 10 minutes or till set and tops are crackled.
Cool cookies on a wire rack.
Makes about 48.
76 calories each.

Gingersnap cookies remind me of my Dad.  He liked Gingersnaps.

That's been my day so far.  It was nice to have a sunny one.
Hope your day has been sunny and bright.
happyone : )
If you want to feel rich,
just count all the things you have that money cannot buy.
~Dean Bunn
Three things I'm thankful for today.
  1. A phone call from a friend
  2. A day out with Kenny
  3. The smell of cookies baking, and being able to stop after only eating one.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

My car gets out of the garage : )

I over slept this morning and didn't get up until almost 8:00 but I was out walking by 8:10.  It was 20 degrees, with a breeze and snow flurries.
I walked the farm loop.  A couple photos along the way.  This is Farmer Bills barn.
 Farmer Georg's Farm
Not one car passed me along the farm road.  No bus drivers to wave to because with my late start school was already started.

My walk took me around town too.  Not much going on, things very quiet.
I'm just glad that I'm getting in these outside walks. : )
I walked 6 miles.
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The snow flurries didn't amount to anything and by afternoon the sun was out and there was no sign at all that it even snowed.

Since it was a nice sunny afternoon with nice clear roads I decided to take my car out for a little spin.  She doesn't get to go out much here in the winter.  I drove out to the interstate and went up a couple exits and came home the back way.  I stopped at the overlook on the way home.
I finished reading a book I got for Christmas, W is for Wasted by Sue Grafton.  I've read all the alphabet books by her.  Did she ever write anything else but them?  Anyway I think the first ones in the series were her better ones, but this W was a good one.  I liked it a lot and it was a real page turner for me.

Hope your day has been a good one and that you smiled often.
happyone : )
Never lend your car to anyone to whom you have given birth.
~Erma Bombeck
I'm adding, especially if it is a Corvette. : )
Comment replies:
Betsy - We like living here a lot and are so happy that we moved here. : )  Though it snows a lot, so far there has not been a lot of accumulation.  I'm still waiting for a snow fall of a foot or two.  That will be fun. : )  I didn't realized I liked snow until we moved here.  I think it's because where we used to live everybody made such a big deal about an inch or two and things came to a standstill.  Here people just go on with their daily lives when it snows - no big deal.

37 and counting - Yes, I do have Yaktrax and use them pretty often.  I love them and without them I would have had a lot more walks in the basement this year. : )  Yesterday it wasn't really icy.  I just happened to step and slip on the one piece of ice in town.
We love the pellet stove.  Even with temperatures below zero it was toasty warm.   We are seriously thinking of getting another one for down in the basement.

Thinker - good question!  Maybe because we feel silly or clumsy and don't want others to see that. 

Three things I'm thankful for today.
1.  A sunny day in winter
2.  Driving my car
3. A good book

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

A little slip

Up and out walking first thing this morning.  It was 30 degrees and by the time I got to the end of the street it started snowing.  There was a bit of a wind too.
I planned on mapping out a three mile walk and then walking it again and that would give me my six miles and could stay in town.  I hit a three mile loop perfectly but then didn't repeat it exactly because there were a few icy spots so the second time around I stayed away from those places.  I slipped on the ice on the path by the ball park and took a little tumble but didn't get hurt.  Thankfully no one was around to watch me fall. : )
 A couple of pictures along the way.
You can't tell from the pictures but it is snowing.

Didn't see anyone else out but did wave to Joe in the town truck and a few bus drivers like I do every morning.

It was great to be outside walking.  Yesterday, rain, today snow, maybe tomorrow I'll walk in the sun. : )

I walked 6.1 miles.
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Did a bit of cleaning and changed a couple of little things around.  Then I tackled cleaning out four desk draws in the kitchen.  Don't you feel good when you get a job like that done?  I sure do.

This afternoon I found some time for doing some cross stitching and reading.

The snow didn't amount to anything.  Just a pretty dusting on everything, like powdered sugar.
Hope this day was one of smiles for you.
happyone : )
It is curious that physical courage 
should be so common in the world
and moral courage so rare.
~Mark Twain

Three things I'm thankful for today.
1.  Walking outside
2.  The pellet stove to keep us toasty warm
3.  My town

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Rainy day

It was a rainy morning but the weather report said it would be clearing up mid morning so I decided to walk a little later when it cleared up.  In the meantime we had breakfast and I started on my morning routine.  Mid morning it was pouring rain outside so I waited a bit longer and kept thinking I should have just went walking in the morning in the rain.
Lunch time came around and it was still raining.  After lunch it was just about stopped so I finally left on my walk.  It was 42 degrees and a mist was falling and then it rained for a little bit and then it finally stopped altogether but not before and I got a little wet. But still it was nice to be outside and I walked the farm loop and around town.  A few more cars around on the main road but on the farm road not a one.

These are on Farmer Bill's horses.  I don't see them often  because they are usually in another field.
I didn't look at my pedometer before I walked so don't know how far I walked but it was probably 5 miles or so.  I cut it a little short.

A picture I took along the way.
I haven't done much of anything today. 
Well it is just afternoon - still time to do something productive. : )

Hope your day is a happy one.
happyone  : )
It is not easy to walk alone in the country
without musing upon something.
~Charles Dickens

Monday, January 13, 2014

One fine day

What a beautiful morning I had for walking outside today.  The temperature was 35 degrees, there was no breeze and I got to watch the sunrise.  I always think of sunrises as God saying Good Morning to me. : )
I walked the farm loop and when I got back to town, walked the two cemetery loops and the path behind the ball park.

The chickens at the farm were out walking around the farm yard.  It was so warm out they left the barn today.
No snow anywhere any more and it felt like spring.
I walked 6.6 miles.
I found a penny today. : )
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Not long after I got back from walking the temperature was 40 so when I washed the sheets I decided to hang them outside on the line.  Can't do that very often in the winter.

I was planning on doing some cleaning but since it was so nice we decided to go up to Happy Trails for a couple of hours before lunch.

We walked around for a while and planned out a new trail down to another area of our land.  Also cleared some debris out of the stream.

That's me in the picture bending down for a closer look at our little stream. 
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When I got back home I did that cleaning that I had planned to do in the morning.

I'm making Chicken Enchiladas tonight for supper, using some of that chicken I cooked up the other day.  It is one of my favorite meals.

Hope you're enjoying your day as much as I'm enjoying mine.
happyone : )
People overestimate the pleasure they'll get
from having more stuff.
This does not apply to new rose bushes,
crayons, or yarn stashes.
~Dr Sun Wolf
If your reading this RK,  the 'yarn stashes' made me think of you. : )

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Seek the Kingdom of God

I have a little devotional book that is written by Billy Graham called Hope For Each Day and every day there is a little some thing to read.  A couple of days ago I read this one.  I was going to try to put it in my own words but he says it better than I could.

King George V wrote on the flyleaf of the Bible of a friend: 
"The secret of happiness is not to do what you like to do ,
 but to learn to like what you have to do."

Too many people think happiness is an elusive, will-o-the-wisp thing to be found only by constant pursuit and relentless searching.  But happiness is not an end in itself:
it is the byproduct of something far greater.  Jesus told His disciples:

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,
and all these things shall be added to you.
Matthew 6:33

The "things" He spoke of were the basic needs of life:
food, drink, clothes, shelter.
He told us not to make these things the chief goal of our lives,
but to "seek.....the kingdom."

There, if we will take it, is the secret of happiness:
"Seek first the kingdom of God...." How do we do this?
By submitting ourselves without reserve to Jesus Christ as King of our lives every day.
This is the path of true happiness.
~ Billy Graham

People often ask me why I am so happy -
that is my answer. : )

Today at church I got credit for the first three verses for the 100 Bible Verse Challenge. : )  Though I knew number five, I didn't know number 4 and they have to be said in order.  

I wish you a blessed Sunday my friends. 
happyone : )

Saturday, January 11, 2014

A wam rainy day

It was pretty windy out but with a temperature of 44 degrees it wasn't cold at all.  I can't believe how warm it is now!!!  It looked like it was misting out so I put on my rain pants and yellow rain slicker and headed out to discover that it wasn't raining at all.  The rain stayed away until I was back home. : )

I walked the farm loop and didn't see anyone at all on the long stretch of road along the farms, not even one car passed me.

Back to town I saw Lisa who usually runs, walking with her husband Dwain and she introduced us.  He is the brother of my friend Connie, who goes to our church and is our neighbor.

Went passed Lone Chicken as usual and she was out of the coop taking in the warm weather with some others.  They all looked up to get their picture taken.
After walking around one of the cemeteries, instead of going back down the road and up the other road to the other cemetery I decided to walk the field road on the farm.  I didn't think anyone would mind me just walking there.  Never see anyone there anyway. The other cemetery is down on the right by those shrubs.  It wasn't such a good idea after all because it was wet and muddy.  I'll not do that again, at least not when it's wet! : )
I took this picture walking along the sidewalk on the main road in town and you can see that a lot of the gravel from the trucks spreading it for the snow winds up on the sidewalk.  They will eventually come along and pick it up.
Turned right up ahead at the first street, went passed the library and then home.  So nice being outside once again. : )
I walked 6 miles.
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I made pancakes for breakfast and right afterwards I made some Spinach and Bean Soup and also cooked up a bunch of chicken for meals later in the week.  Nice to get that done with and the kitchen cleaned up in the morning.

It's warm and rainy all day.  Seems a shame to waste a nice warm day with rain. : )  We've been home today just hanging around the house.  I've done some more work on my counted cross stitch and read a bit while Ken has been down in the basement working on his train layout.

Hope this day finds you happy and content.
happyone : )
Until one has loved an animal,
a part of one's soul 
remains unawakened.
~ Anatole France