Cold but sunny

☀     ☀     ☀     ☀

It was a bit on the chilly side at 9 degrees this morning, but there was no snow coming down and not much of a breeze so I decided to go walk outside.  Left at 7:30.  All the roads except for the main one down the middle of town were packed snow.

First went to the library and dropped off a book in the slot and then dropped a Netflix off at the post office.  Continued walking around town and up by the cemeteries but couldn't walk around them because of the snow.

Didn't see anyone else out and only a few cars went by.  I saw a lot of rabbit, bird and deer prints in the snow.

These piles that look like dirt in Farmer Marvin's field are in fact manure and smelled pretty ripe!!

The breeze started picking up and though it doesn't happen often, I was a bit chilly.  My legs all of a sudden started feeling a bit numb and my feet were getting cold so I went home after only 3 1/2 miles.  I should have put on my other coat and an extra pair of tights.

I walked the other 2 1/2 miles in the basement later in the day so I did walk 6 miles.

☀     ☀     ☀     ☀

Thanks for all the anniversary wishes. : )

Went out to the store in the afternoon.  Took this picture of the ski slopes at Wisp from the parking lot of the Shop and Save.

It was cold but a beautiful sunny day.  I did some more knitting, reading, and puzzling.  Had homemade pizza for supper.  As usual I made the dough in the machine and Ken made the actual pizza.  On part of the pizza he just puts garlic, olive oil and some salt on it for me which I LOVE. 

I'm sure  many of you know this already but Ken's family owned an Italian restaurant which started out as a pizza place and grew.  When we were dating he would bring me in the kitchen and make us pizza.  Before I knew Ken I would go to his place for pizza.  It was the best place to get a pizza. : )

I'm back to having chocolate chip mint ice cream tonight and the old movie we will be watching this evening is Heidi staring Shirley Temple.  I loved this movie as a little girl. I loved all of Shirley Temple movies and I remember watching them with my mother on Sunday afternoons when I was little. : )

Hope your Saturday was been sunny and bright and you enjoyed your day.

happyone : )

All God's angels come to us disguised.

~ James Russel Lowell

Comment replies:
Diana - Happy Anniversary to you too. : )
Betty - My mom and step-dad's anniversary is the same as yours.

A little more snow and out for dinner

Another picture from the other day when we were up at Happy Trails.

☃     ☃     ☃     ☃

The rain snow mix turned to snow overnight and it was still snowing this morning.   Fearful that ice was under the snow I started the day walking 3 miles in the basement.

It snowed on and off all day.  Mid morning I bundled up and went outside to shovel the driveway once again.  I thought it would be good exercise and then I wouldn't have to do any more walking in the basement.  I ended up walking 3 more miles just going back and forth getting the snow off the driveway.  I have one of those push shovels for the snow and it works great for me.   Ken called me in for lunch and after lunch I went back outside and finished up.

We drove down to La Vale and had dinner out at Henny's Grill to celebrate our anniversary which is today. : )  43 years of happiness -  well, 40 years of it has been happy. : ) We had steaks and they were just okay but we enjoyed our evening out.  We should have gone to Morgantown to the Outback. 

I was all set to watch Harvey last night - the old movie with Jimmy Stewart, made I think in 1950.  I had picked the wrong one and got the remake of the movie with Harry Anderson in it made in 1999.  We watched it anyway and though Harry Anderson did a pretty good job he just wasn't Jimmy Stewart.  I went on Netflix after it was over and ordered the correct one this time.

I've started knitting a pair of pink and purple slippers for a friend.  Also started knitting a baby blanket.  This is a simple one with just straight knitting squares in 5 different colors and then sewing them together.  Now I have 4 projects started at the same time and can switch off.

1. Bright Orange scarf for myself for walking
2. Slippers
3. Weave-it baby blanket
4. Knitted squares baby blanket

Tonight I will be knitting on the slippers.  My ice cream flavor tonight will be Whoopie Pie. 

Hope your day was sunny and bright and you were happy and content.
happyone : )

Our wedding was many years ago.

The celebration continues to this day.

~ Gene Perret

A wedding anniversary is the celebration of love,

trust, partnership, tolerance and tenacity.

The order varies for any given year.

~ Paul Sweeney

A colorful start

This is one of the reasons I like walking early in the morning.

☃     ☃     ☃     ☃

Last night when we went to bed the temperature was only 3 degrees so I was pleasantly surprised to see it was up to 24 degrees this morning so I put on my walking clothes and headed OUTSIDE for my walk. : )
I went first to the Laundromat to put up a poster for a church event.  Then walked around town a bit.  Some of the side roads still have packed snow with some icy patches,

but the main road is clear and dry so I walked down that way toward Happy Trails.  Also walked up Barn Sale to see the cows.  This one coming up over the hill looked so cute with a snout full of snow. : )

Looking down at the road I thought the salt in the cracks of the road looked kind of interesting so snapped a picture.

I saw the same lady with the ear phones walking this morning that I see every so often.  Today she waved. : )

I had to cut my walk short by a mile and only walked 5 because I had a hair appointment to go to this morning.  In the afternoon I walked a mile down in the basement.

My hair (when dry) has now grown out to the bottom of my chin and another inch and it will be just where I want it.  I am never going to cut my hair short again!!  I know I've said that before but I mean it!!! : )

I started making weave-it squares for a baby blanket and have a dozen of them made.  I need to make 150 for the blanket.

This afternoon a mix of rain and snow started coming down.  At least we had one day of sunny clear weather yesterday.  Who knows what the morning will bring!!

A nice cozy evening at home, reading, making squares, ice cream and an old movie called Harvey.

Hope your day has been a happy one.
happyone : )

One thing you learn in a long marriage

is how many sneezes to wait before saying,

Bless you. 

~ Robert Brault

Sunny

☀     ☀     ☀     ☀

First thing this morning it was only 13 degrees and windy and it was snowing so I went down in the basement and walked 3 miles.

After breakfast the snow stopped, the wind lessened, the clouds went away and the sun came out.  What a beautiful sight to behold. : )  It was too nice to stay inside so I bundled up and though I didn't go for a walk I shoveled off the driveway.  Ken could have done it with the now blower but I wanted to shovel it.

Ken called me in when it was lunch time.  After lunch we drove up to Happy Trails to get the trailer hitch for the truck.  The driveway had too much snow on it for the truck to make it up, so we left it at the bottom.  I had forgotten to put on my snow boots and was wearing my hiking boots.  The snow was too deep for me to walk up the driveway so Ken walked up to get the hitch.  So while he was doing that I went for a little walk down along the road and took some pictures. That spot of orange that you can barely see in the middle of the picture is Ken walking up the driveway.   It was so nice to be out in the sunshine and everything was so pretty. 

☀     ☀     ☀     ☀

I finished reading The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin.  The book is about a man who owns a failing book store.  His wife has died and his rare book of poems by Poe has been stolen.  He is rude, has a bad attitude and is not well liked.  Then something is left in his store that makes him see life differently and it changes his whole life.   Can't say any more or I'll give the story away.  It is funny, sad, happy and a page turner for me.  I thought it was excellent.

☀     ☀     ☀     ☀

Finished knitting and sewing the blue baby hat for the Baby Shower on February 7th with plenty of time to spare. 

I've already taken apart the jigsaw puzzle and have started laying out the pieces of the next one.

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

 In a time when nothing is more certain than change,

the commitment of two people to one another 

has become difficult and rare.

Yet, by its scarcity, the beauty and value of this exchange

have only been enhanced.

~ Robert Sexton

and the snow continues....

This is what our water feature looks like in the winter.  

Good thing we didn't get fish to put in it.

☃     ☃     ☃     ☃

Woke up this morning to more snow coming down and icy conditions so once again no outside morning walk for me.  Did my 6 miles down in the basement.

I finished the puzzle today,

while Ken was in the kitchen making his own chili recipe.  It isn't for us though.  In a couple of weeks after the morning church service is the annual chili contest and he made it for that. (will freeze the chili) He made a chili without beans for our youth pastor because he can't have beans.  Ken did his dishes when he was done but left the stove for me to clean.  I miss having my glass top stove from the last house because it was so easy to clean.  Took the stove apart and gave it a good cleaning.

We watched John Doe last night.  One of those good old movies.  Tonight we will watch an episode of Upstairs Downstairs and have our usual snack of ice cream.  I'm still working on my chocolate chip mint.

Hope all is well in your part of the world and that your day was a happy one.

happyone : )

To keep your marriage brimming with love in the loving cup,

whenever you're wrong, admit it,

whenever you're right, shut up.

~ Ogden Nash

Comment replies:

Beth - Yes, we got more snow.  It's been snowing on and off here for days.   The road you saw cleared in the picture is the main road and yes, they do a good job of keeping it clear.  Snow plows are constantly going back and forth plowing and salting and also putting down gravel.  The other roads are not as clear but we can all get around good.  That is one thing I like about living here.  People know how to live with snow and don't get in a panic when it snows. : )

Eileen - Yes, the lake is frozen and stays frozen all winter.  We know it's spring when it melts. : )  Driving by we usually see quite a lot of people out there ice fishing and as I mentioned we saw 4 snow mobiles out there yesterday.

A little more snow

 Picture from the other morning with the horses.

☃     ☃     ☃     ☃

This morning it was 30 degrees and the slush from yesterday had turned to ice.  There was also some light snow coming down which was covering up the ice so it was a day of walking in the basement.  Got my 6 miles in walking 2 1/2 miles the first time, 1 1/2 miles the second time and 2 miles the third time.

The current jigsaw puzzle is coming along good and should be finished soon.  Ken has been helping with this one.

Ken has had a lot of time to work on his train layout and today he was making some trees.  He glues this green stuff on little stick like branches.  Here are some trees hanging up to dry.

Once again it's been snowing on and off all day.  We left home late this afternoon and went to Walmart to do our food shopping.  I've mentioned that most every time we go there we run into someone we know.  Today it was Pastor Leatherman. : )
On the way home stopped at Brenda's for half price pizza for supper.  I took this picture out of the window at the lake sitting at our table.  Right after I took the picture 4 snow mobiles went flying past.

I'm reading The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin which is the next book club selection and so far I like it a lot.  Will write about it when I finish it.

That's it for today.  Hope your day was happy and bright.
happyone : )

The pain of parting is nothing

to the joy of meeting again.

~ Charles Dickens

Ephesians

For by grace are ye saved through faith;

and not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God.

Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

Ephesians 2:8 & 9

Have a blessed Sunday.

happyone : )

Comment replies:

Eileen -  I'm plenty warm enough.  Underneath the sweatshirt I'm wearing another hooded sweatshirt, a sweatshirt and a long sleeved turtleneck shirt.  On my head is a thick wide headband that keeps my ears warm and the two hoods.  On colder days I take off the one sweatshirt and wear a jacket.

Karen - No, I never feed the horses.  They are just a happy with a friendly voice and a pet. : )

John - I'm liking the water pic a lot and use it every day.  Yes, mine is pretty noisy too.   This is only our second winter here but we are getting a lot less snow than we did last year. 

A snowy day again

☃     ☃     ☃     ☃

It was 33 degrees and snowy when I left the house at 7:30 this morning.  It was just above freezing so there wasn't much ice around and the snow was pretty slushy.  I almost didn't walk outside but I'm sure glad I did.

I walked up and down the roads around town and around the cemeteries.  Walked around the cemeteries a few extra times because I was out of the way of the snow plows.  Went down to see my horse friends by the Drane House.  This one here saw me coming and stuck his head through the bar.

I managed to take a picture while he gives my hand a sniff. 

A couple more pictures along my walk.

 On the last part of my walk here.  I live up ahead on the left.

I dropped a book off at the library and found a penny and a dime in the parking lot.  I couldn't believe I spotted them there in a tire track.
I walked 6.2 miles.
While I was walking Ken zoomed in and took pictures of me out of the front window as I walked by on the main street. There I go in my orange sweatshirt.

☃     ☃     ☃     ☃

Its been snowing on and off all day and we often stop by the front window to watch it.
Worked a little bit on the latest puzzle but still have a long way to go.  Also did some knitting - started the blue baby hat, and started another book too.
It's been a lazy kind of day but a good one. : )

hope your day has been a happy one.
happyone : )

Indeed, it is as important to 

learn how to receive a blessing

as it to be willing to give one.

~ Joel Osteen

Comment replies:

Diana - The ice cream carton is 1 1/2 quarts.  They used to be a gallon but a few years ago they started making the containers smaller but kept the price the same.  The ice cream usually costs $4.99 and that is why we get so many when they go on sale.

Eileen - Hagan is our favorite but we like Turkey Hill too and get either when they go on sale.  

Lindy - Sorry, but I forgot to answer your bird question last time.  I haven't seen any Cardinals in the pine trees lately.  In fact I haven't seen any birds around the yard at all and I do keep feeders out.

Killing Jesus

☀     ☀     ☀     ☀

This morning brought sunshine but the temperature was 17 and it was icy so once again no morning walk outside.  I walked 3 miles in the basement.

In the afternoon it was cloudy but warmed up to 38 degrees.  I walked to the library to return a couple of books and also to pick up a few. : )  My friend Mary Jo called me and we talked while I had a little walk.  Always nice catching up with a friend.  Dropped off the water bill in the slot at the public works and then continued on to the post office and mailed off a letter.  I walked 1.5 miles when I reached home.

Another 1.5 mile walk in the basement and I had my 6 miles for day in.

☀     ☀     ☀     ☀

My usual breakfast is Raisin Bran.  I like eating it out of this bowl which is one of my favorites.  I don't have a matching set of nice china, but have collected old dishes of many different patterns.

I finished knitting the blue baby sweater and sewed it up today.  Problem is that I sewed the sleeves in backwards and now have to take it apart and sew it again.  I'm not crazy about this sweater and don't think I'm going to give it for a gift at the baby shower next month.  Instead I might quick knit a hat like the yellow one and give her that to go with the overalls, shirt and shoes.

I finished reading Killing Jesus a History by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard.  It was interesting reading about the times when Jesus lived and learning more of the history of His time.  What awful brutal times it was!!!  The book was good but very graphic describing how much Jesus suffered being crucified and I read it with tears in my eyes.  Just to think He suffered all that for me and for you that we may have our sins forgiven and meet Him in heaven some day.  WOW!! 

I was going to make supper and then at the last minute we decided to go out for pizza.  We went to Mountain State Brewing Co. for a brick oven pizza.  On the way home we stopped at Shop and Save and stocked up on ice cream as it was on sale.  : )  It is 3 for $10 and we bought 6.  Tonight will watch an old movie and I'll have chocolate chip ice cream for my snack.

Hope your Friday is happy and bright.
happyone : )

God is with you always.

Simply turn your face to Him.

~ Kirpal Singh

Romans

☃     ☃     ☃     ☃

We got a few more inches of snow overnight.  I walked 3 miles in the basement this morning and another 3 miles this evening when we got home so I got my full 6 miles of walking done.

Remember last Friday when we went to Staunton, VA to pick up the materials to put together the book of Romans in Spanish?  Well, today was the day we put some of them together.  We got to church at 10:00 and stayed till 5:00 with a break for lunch.  There is another working session this evening from 6:00 to 9:30 but we didn't stay.  Here are some of us working.  More people where there than is shown in the picture.  And people came and went during the day.  Ken is down at the last table working on one of the staple machines.

Here are the books put together and stapled.  They still need to be cut so all the pages are even but we don't have a cutter yet so that will be done by someone else. 

It is really fun and easy work putting the books together so it allows us to talk and visit with each other too.  We put together just over 3,000 of them.

So that's been my day.  I'm ready to go sit down, have some ice cream and watch a some television.

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

Every day is a gift from God.

There's no guarantee of tomorrow,

so that tells me to see the good in this day

to make the most of it.

~ Joel Osteen

Inside walk

A pile of pallets.

Took this picture Sunday walking in the industrial park.

☃     ☃     ☃     ☃

More snow again this morning and this time it was falling on hidden ice in places so I decided I'd better have a basement walk today.
I put a load of laundry in the washing machine and walked while the clothes were being washed.  Passed by the washer many times.

I sort the dirty clothes into these milk crates and one full crate is a good load size.

After walking just about 3 miles the clothes were done and I stopped to hang them in the drying room.

I walked the other three miles later in the day so I got my full 6 mile walk in.

☃     ☃     ☃     ☃

Another day at home to get some cleaning done.  Read a little bit too and I'm just about done with the book I'm reading.  Got a call from the library and the next book club book is ready for me to pick up.  Didn't make it over to pick it up though.

My Mom has been to the doctors and has a problem with a valve in her heart. They put her on a heart monitor and she has to go back to the doctors tomorrow.  I ask that you please put her in your prayers.  Thank you.

Time to get supper started so off I go.
Hope your day has been sunny and bright.
happyone : )

I believe if you keep your faith,

you keep your trust,

you keep the right attitude,

if you're grateful,

you'll see God open up new doors.

~ Joel Osteen

Comment replies:
John - I've walked on many different walking paths and routes over the years.  This is the fourth place we have lived that I've been walking.  My coins have been collected all over Maryland. : )

Home

☃      ☃     ☃     ☃

It was 25 degrees when I left for my walk at 6:50 this morning and sunrise was 7:34.   Not even a slight breeze so it felt quite warm.  Walked around town and up to the cemeteries and saw the sun come up over the mountain.  It wasn't long though before the sun and blue sky was replaced by clouds.

The woman who I see sometimes walking around the ball park loop was walking around the cemetery today.  The ball park loop path still has ice on it in places so I haven't been walking there and I guess that's why she wasn't there today either.

This picture of the barn in the distance is the same barn in the top photo. I it took walking down the road to the Drane House.  Top picture I zoomed in and took it from the cemetery.

Went up the main road a bit and then up Barn Sale to see the cows but they weren't around today.  Didn't go all the way up the hill.

With all the snow on the ground and all the days I couldn't walk outside I haven't found many coins but I found a penny today in the library parking lot. : )
I walked 6.2 miles.

☃     ☃     ☃     ☃

 My step-dad gave me a call this afternoon and we had a nice chat.  He is a special man and I'm happy and thankful that he's my Dad.  : )

It's been snowing a bit today and sometimes the snow came down in huge flakes and it was so pretty to watch.  Took this out of my office window.

The snow didn't stick and the sun came out again this afternoon.  Temperature is below freezing and after supper when I went to get the mail half way down the driveway it was ice.  Ken was wondering what was taking me so long and he came out with the salt and made a path of it so I could easily walk up the driveway. 

We've been home today having a nice day around the house. 
I wish you a happy day.
happyone : )

Let go of yesterday.

Let today be a new beginning and be the best that you can,

and you'll get to where God wants you to be.

~ Joel Osteen

Monday

I took this picture of the pine trees in my back yard yesterday getting home from my walk.  The sky was dark over the trees and the sun was shining behind me.  It made the green trees all look reddish brown.

☃     ☃     ☃     ☃

This morning it was 29 degrees with a slight breeze and snow flurries.  I didn't get started walking until 8:00 and went first to the post office to drop off a card in the mail slot. Then walked around town staying off the main road through town to stay out of the way of the snow plows and besides the sidewalks don't get shoveled.  So I stick to the side roads.

I didn't see anyone else out walking but I did see these footprints in the snow and followed them up to the cemetery.

I didn't see deer or rabbits but knew they were around because of their prints in the snow.  Also saw bird prints.

Stopped to write my name in the snow along this wall.

Walking past the library I saw my friend and Librarian Susan drive up to work.  We had a little chat before she went inside and I walked back home.
Walked 6 miles.

☃     ☃     ☃     ☃

We went out and did a couple errands over at Grantsville after lunch.

I've been making good progress knitting the blue baby sweater.  I've finished both the front and the back and have started on the sleeves. 
The other day when we were shopping I bought these overalls, shirt and shoes for the baby too. 

Most Mondays we go to Brenda's for half price pizza but today we stayed home and I made Chicken Parmesan, with a side of spaghetti and a salad.  

Hope your Monday was a good one and you found yourself smiling every so often.
happyone : )

This is one of my favorite sayings.

Whenever you go,

no matter what the weather,

always bring your own sunshine.

Anthony J. D'Angelo

a little bird told me

There are some little sayings that we say often and might not realize that the original idea came from the the Bible.  I've come across some of them as I read the Bible. 

 "a little bird told me"

Ecclesiastes 10:20

Curse not the king, no not in thy thought, and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber:
for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

✝     ✝     ✝     ✝

"laughter is the best medicine"

Proverbs 17:22

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:
but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

 ✝     ✝     ✝     ✝

 "I am sick at heart"

Proverbs 13:12

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick;
but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

✝     ✝     ✝     ✝

"saved by the skin of my teeth"

Job 19:20

My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.

✝     ✝     ✝     ✝

These are just a few.  I'm sure there are many, many more.  Do you know any?

A blessed Sunday to you my friends.

God Loves You.

happyone : )

Couples night out

☀     ☀     ☀     ☀

Left on my walk at 7:30 this morning.  It was 20 degrees and no wind so it felt much warmer than yesterday at 25 degrees.  About 8:15 the sun was shining and stayed out for the rest of the day.

Walked to the post office first and dropped off two movies from Netflix.  Then continued  around town, around the cemeteries and down the main road just past Barn Sale Rd, then back in town again.

Didn't see any people and there were very few cars around.  When I got down to the barn in the above picture there was my horse friend standing in the barn door.

I am thankful to be able to walk outside and that I have such a beautiful place to walk.
I walked 6.2 miles.

☀     ☀     ☀     ☀

Forgot to mention yesterday when we were on our drive that we passed a whole bunch of mountain goats standing on a pretty steep rock cliff.  There must have been 100 of them.  All just standing there in the sun.  Wish we had stopped to take a picture.  Also saw quite a few deer too and some kind of a hawk.

I've been home today doing this and that around the house.




Every year our church has a couples banquet and this evening it was held at a restaurant in Grantsville.  We had a room to ourselves and had a great time.   We played a few games, ate good food, talked, laughed and enjoyed the evening.  A nice touch was that all of us ladies got a beautiful long stemmed rose to take home.








Hope your Saturday was good one and you smiled often.
happyone : )

Where would you be without friends?

The people to pick you up when you need lifting?

We com from homes far from perfect,

so you end up almost parent and sibling to your friends,

your own chosen family.

There is nothing like a really loyal, dependable, good friend.

Nothing.

~ Jennifer Aniston