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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Monday, February 29, 2016

My potato peeler

A snowy picture from Saturday's walk.
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A nice walk in the sun yesterday morning but this morning the sun was nowhere to be seen.  It was 42 degrees, rainy and at times very windy.  I didn't even take my camera out of my pocket, just too wet.

I was decked out in my rain gear and walked all over town.  Walking around the cemetery at the top of the hill and out in the open was a bit of an adventure.  I felt like I was in a squall.  The rain came down in sheets and the gusty wind blowing so strong practically knocking me over.  After that the rain eased up a bit and it wasn't so bad.

There are just a few patches of snow left here and there and with this rain today even they will be gone.

I saw my first Robin this year - a sure sign that spring is on it's way.  : )

Walked 6 miles.
Found a couple of coins - a penny and a nickel.
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Later in the day the rain went away and it was sunny though the temperature dipped a little bit lower into the 30's.

I've been home today hanging around the house. 
Now I'm reading Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee.  I'm about three quarters  finished and should finish it tonight.  It is supposed to be a sequel to To Kill a Mockingbird.  Not as good but pretty good. 
One of my granddaughters is named after Scout in the book.

The last time I made pot roast for supper we only ate half of it and I froze the rest.  I put it in the slow cooker all day to thaw and it was even better the second time.  I made mashed potatoes and gravy and we had some peas too. 
While peeling potatoes I got to thinking about this little kitchen tool and realized just how old my potato peeler is and what a handy thing it is.  I bought it when we first got married 44 years ago.  My daughter was peeling potatoes at the house one time years ago and was amazed that I still was using the same one from when she was a little girl.  She said it was dull and hard to use.  Next time I saw her she gave me a new one, but it didn't swivel and I didn't like it at all and went back to my old one.  I like this simple kitchen tool. : )  I wonder how many, potatoes, apples and carrots it has peeled over the years!?
And so another Monday winds down.
Hope yours was a good one and you smiled often.

happyone : )
 Happy Leap Day.
A day where this time last year
and this time next year 
does  not apply.
~Unknown

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Saturday

Walking past these hay rolls with a dusting of snow made me think of shredded wheat.
Mega Shredded Wheat
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24 degrees this morning with  snow flurries.  Didn't want to walk in the basement again so gave it a try outside.  Quite a lot of ice around but enough places to walk so it wasn't a problem.

Walked up and down the main road outside of town, then around town a bit and around both cemeteries.  Too much ice to walk around the ball park loop.

Not much activity around town early Saturday morning.  Passing by the town pond on my way up to the cemetery I spotted a couple of ducks in the cold water.
This is looking toward town half way up the road to the cemetery.
Wasn't much of a wind when I started out but it picked up a bit by the time I got back home.
Walked 6.2 miles.
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Home during the day and I spent most of it reading The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls which is about her and her three siblings growing up with a less than ideal mom and dad.  Wow what a childhood they had.  It is a very good book and sure makes you thankful for even the most simple things.  It is the selection for the book club next month.

It has gotten up to near 40 and is sunny so a lot of the snow and ice has melted. 

Heading out this evening over to Tricia and Randy's house for dinner and a game night of Mexican Train.  : )

A happy day to you and hope you smiled often.
happyone : )
Do not be afraid of tomorrow,
for God is already there.
~ Unknown
Comment Replies:
Adam - Uno does have pizza but many many other foods too.  Their menu is like a book!!  I in fact did have pizza. : )  Ken and Kathy both had Chicken Parmesan.

Kerri - No, I haven't read any of those books but they sound like ones I would like.  I've put them on my list.  : )  Thanks!

Friday, February 26, 2016

A gift in the mail

Another snowy icy morning and 24 degrees so I walked 3 1/2 miles in the basement while doing a load of laundry.

I was home today getting some house cleaning done.
It's been flurrying on and off all day but we have seen a couple minutes here and there of sunshine too.

Yesterday I got a package in the mail.  My blogger friend Nellie, was giving away a bread machine cookbook and asked if anyone wanted it.  I told her I would love to have it and she was kind enough to send it to me. It's a great book with lots a recipes that I will be trying.  It also has lots of great little tips in it and I plan to read it from cover to cover.  Thank you so much Nellie. : )
 To say thank you to her I've knitted a couple of dish/wash clothes for her.
Hope you like them Nellie!
Late this morning I bundled up and walked over to the post office and mailed off the package to Nellie.  That's the post office up there on the left.
Then I made my way over to the library to drop off a book and to pick up one that I had put on hold.  Also got an audio book to listen to while I knit.  Here's our friendly town library. : )
It was a bit icy in places and I almost fell twice but managed to stay on my feet.  Good thing I didn't try to take my normal morning walk.

When I got home I made us tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch.  mmmm good.  : )

Then it was time to get back to my housework.

Our pastor is in New Zealand for almost two weeks for a revival and tonight we took Kathy, his wife out to dinner.  Thought she could use a nice dinner out. : )  We went to Uno's and had a lovely dinner and time out.

Back home now for our usual evening at home.
Hope you smiled often today.
happyone : )
Each day comes bearing its own gifts.
Untie the ribbons.
~ Ruth Ann Schabacker

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Fingerprints

There was a light snow coming down when I looked out of the window this morning and it was 32 degrees.  I bundled up and went outside to discover that the driveway was a sheet of ice so I came back inside and skipped my walk.

Today was the Fingerprint ministry at church and we spent the day there doing that.  There were 12 others there too.  I've posted about it before but today I took some pictures to show you what we do.
Covers need to be folded in half and these wooden boxes help get the fold just right.  On the left are the covers, it gets folded and then moved to the right.
Two sections of pages have to be ripped apart (pile on the right) and here Ken is  stuffing the two sections into the each other. 
Donna is then putting the two sections into the covers.
Next comes stapling the books together.  Pile on the right to be stapled, on the stapler, then dropped into the box.

Here I am on the stapler.
Then they get counted and put in totes.
They still need to be cut to make all the edges are neat and tidy but we don't have a cutting machine so that is done back at the Beacon of Truth in South Carolina.

In January of 2017 we got a cutting machine so can do that part too.

 It snowed all day but not much accumulation.  Wonder what the morning will bring?

After supper I did my exercise tape and then walked 3 1/2 miles down in the basement.  Had to get some exercise in today because I did a lot of sitting in front of the stapler.

Now it is time to relax.  Looking forward to some chocolate chip ice cream which I'll be eating in just a little while. : )

A happy day to you.
happyone : )
If you get melted chocolate all over your hands,
you're eating it too slowly.
~ Unknown

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Wednesday

Took this picture a couple of years ago.
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34 degrees this morning with a cold rain and windy.  Not very nice outside but I put on my rain gear and headed out the door.  Planned on just walking a couple of miles, but after 2 miles it didn't seem so bad anymore so I walked another 2 miles.  By that time the rain had stopped so I walk the last 2 miles also for my usual 6 miles.

Walked all over town and didn't see anyone else out.  No animals about either.  

My feet were soaked by the time I got back home and cold too.  It felt nice when I got home to sit with my feet next to the pellet stove.  They were warmed up in no time.
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Home today doing this and that around the house.  A little cleaning, reading and knitting.
 A little chipmunk in my back yard.
A quiet day but still a good one.
A happy day to you.
happyone  : )
It is not easy to walk alone in the country
without musing upon something.
~ Charles Dickens

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

A new personal best

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This morning there was a very light mist around but not enough to get me wet.  I didn't even realize it was misty until I stopped outside.  It was 35 degrees and I'm glad it was above freezing because there would have been a coating of ice over everything.  Every so often a gust of wind would come along.

I walked all over town including both cemeteries and the ball park loop.  It seemed like a weekend this morning.  No people were around and not many cars either.  John the mail truck driver tooted as he passed and that's about it.

Walked 6.2 miles.
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Tuesday and you know what that means, bowling day.  Bettye had to bowl left handed because she had surgery on her right hand and couldn't use it.  We all decided that we would use our left hands too for one game. (Ken had to use his right hand because he's left handed.)  After two frames, hysterical laughing and lots of gutter balls we decided on the third frame to go back to right handed bowling, though of course Bettye couldn't.  My two first frames were gutter balls and I bowled a 116.  Wasn't all that bad considering it was only 8 frames.
My second game I topped my highest score EVER of 185 and bowled a 189!!!  The third and last game was 180.  I wish I could keep that up.  : )  It will be interesting to see what I bowl next week!!

The last few weeks we've been going to Walmart afterwards and we did that again today.  We figure we are already in the area so just made Tuesday our shopping day too.

Home just in time for supper and now our usual quiet evening at home.
It's been a fun day.
A happy day to you
happyone : )
People know you for what you've done,
not for what you plan to do.
~ Unknown
Comment replies:
Thanks to those of you who told me yesterday's bird was a Junco.  I had forgotten.

Monday, February 22, 2016

Monday

Clouds in the valley
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32 degrees this morning, no wind and the sun came out too. : )  Since it was right at freezing and it had rained yesterday there were some icy spots around.

I walked all around town.  You can see all the gravel that is on the sidewalks which gets kicked up from when they spread it on the snowy roads.  Once spring arrives they clean it all up.
The horses were out down by the Drane house. 
Walked up Sale Barn Rd again and went to the end.  The cattle were out up that way and these two stopped eating and came over to see me.  : )
Didn't see any people out walking or running.
I walked 6.4 miles.
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Home today doing stuff around the house.  Our neighbor Ron, next to HT stopped by for a little visit.

I've started knitting a baby blanket.  Still making a weave-it one but thought I'd knit one too for a change.  Maybe I'll finish both by the time the ladies meet again to make blankets next month.
A little bird stopped to eat some seeds off the picnic table out my back door.
It's been a nice sunny day, almost spring like, but I'm sure we haven't seen the last of the snow quite yet.

Hope your Monday as been a happy one.
happyone : )
Don't pray when it rains,
if you don't pray when the sun shines.
~Satchel Paige

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Sunday

A pretty blue sky from yesterday.
Today it's cloudy with periods of rain.
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This is the Bible verse for the month of February that we are learning at church.  It is one that I already knew.

Revelation 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door and knock;
if any man hear my voice and open the door,
I will come in to him,
and sup with him,
and he with me.

A blessed Sunday to you.
Jesus loves you.
happyone : )

Saturday, February 20, 2016

A walk around the farm loop and happy trails

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44 degrees this morning and just a light breeze with sun and clouds.  Really perfect weather for walking.  I ended up taking my hood down because it was so nice and warm.

It was nice to get back to the Farm Loop route.  The roads were clear except for this patch here.  The wind blew the snow off the field into the road after it was plowed.
I took a detour and went up Spear Rd
to check out the old tree and its still standing.
Its been like this with one arm for years.
Then back to the Farm Loop and home.  Didn't see anyone else about and just a couple of cars.  A beautiful morning to be out walking.

Walked 6.2 miles.
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After lunch we went up to Happy Trails for a look around.
Everything fine up there.
Walked around the trails.  
Beautiful weather!!  
Feels like spring is in the air,
though I know next week it could snow again. 
 When we got back to the house we sat out on the swing in the yard for a little while before going in the house. 

I had forgotten that I had some rhubarb filling that I made for rhubarb cobbler sitting in the freezer.  I thawed it out and made the topper and now I'm looking forward to having it for my snack tonight.  I like rhubarb cobbler even better than ice cream, though I do like it with a scoop vanilla ice cream.

It's been a most enjoyable day.
A happy day to you.
happyone : )
Exercise, play move.
Stretch, feel, reach, sweat.
Skip, dance, hug!
Use the body God gave you,
don't let it rot.
~ Terri Guillemets
Comment Replies:
Vee and Nellie -  We live in the most western part of Maryland (Garrett County) in the mountains.  We live along the ridge and get more snow and colder weather here than the rest of the state.  Most people don't realize it is like that here, even people from MD.  Elevation is about 2800 feet.  We are about 1400 feet higher than Uniontown.

Friday, February 19, 2016

The last puzzle

Good Morning : )
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Sure was nice to be out walking early this morning.  The sky was beautiful for just a few minutes and then it turned cloudy.  24 degrees and every so often a gust of wind would come along.

Just as I expected everywhere it was wet yesterday afternoon was ice today so I stayed along the main roads.  Walked out of town and went part way up Sale Barn Rd to see the cows but they weren't around this morning.  Then continued walking down towards Happy Trails.  Just turned off the main road here.
Made a right turn here and this road leads into HT about a half mile up.
Then just walked back to town and home.
Didn't see anyone else out walking and didn't see any animals either though did some their tracts.

Walked 6.2 miles.
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Finished the balloon puzzle and now I'm done puzzling for this winter. : )
We drove over to Uniontown, Pa to go Home Depot which is the closest one to us and 40 miles away.  Ken needed homasote for his railroad which he is extending into the other room now.  Home Depot is the only place we can find it.  Anyway they didn't have any in stock but will be getting some in the end of the month.

What a difference in weather just 40 miles away.  The sun was out there, all the snow is gone and it was 61 degrees.  Back home it was 33 degrees and cloudy.

Just the usual evening at home and that's nice!

Hope your day has been a happy one. : )
happyone : )
You can give without loving,
but you can never love without giving.
~ Unknown
Comment replies:
John - I looked at the comparison, what a difference! : )

Vee - Yes, still have some cookies left.  : )  I like both places to walk but yes, I do miss the lake and all those wonderful paths sometimes.  Sometimes I miss the paths from when I lived in Savage too.  It is so pretty around here though and I enjoy seeing all the farm animals.  I think I'd be happy walking anywhere outside. : )

Adam - Your right, LC pizza does have a pretty thick crust.  I said thin because the regular crust is thin compared to the deep dish crust.

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Outside

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Early morning it was cold and icy so I didn't walk outside and walked 2 miles in the basement.  The sun did come up though and it sure was nice to see the sun and a bright blue sky.

It was Baby Blanket day at church this morning so I left at 9:30 for that.  Only 7 of us were there but as usual we had fun making the blankets and talking.
All the material is out there on the table and every one picks out the material they want to use.  You can see my place at the table there with the weave-its.
I was back home for lunch and afterwards I went outside for a walk.  Even though it was 19 degrees, the sun was shining and there was no wind.  With the sun out a lot of melting going on.  I walked around town to see where places were clear of ice and snow so I'll know where I can walk tomorrow morning.  During the night all the wet places will have turned to ice again.   

I walked over to the post office to mail off a birthday card to a friend and stopped at the library to pick up the next book club selection.  It was decided to read another book anyway even though this month it was cancelled.  We'll just discuss two books in March.


The cemeteries haven't been cleared of snow nor has the loop behind the ball park.  Most of the roads are clear and dry, though not the sidewalks.   I'm pretty sure I'll be able to walk in the morning.  Even though it was so nice to take a walk outside this afternoon it is still not quite the same as a morning walk.  There is just something better about an early morning walk.  

I saw an older couple walking and they said hi and commented on how beautiful it was out.  

Walked 4 miles outside.

We felt like pizza tonight for supper so we went to the new Little Caesars for one. We got the thick crust this time.  I think I like that better than the thin one they make.

Now for a nice cozy evening at home.  I'm thinking cheese and crackers for my snack later tonight.  Plan on doing some knitting too, and maybe even have a little time to start my book.  

Hope your day has been a happy one.
happyone : )
A people that values it privileges above its principles
soon loses both
~ Dwight D Eisenhower
Comment Replies:
BettyC - Very creative!  : )

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Nancy Drew

 No featured picture today.
Haven't been out walking to take any.

Another icy winter morning which means another day walking inside.  I look forward to the days when I can walk outside again.  I sure do miss it.  Still walking inside is better than not walking. : )

I have a collection of Nancy Drew books that I've been collecting for quite a few years and have 52 of them.  When I was a kid I'm sure I read them all or at least all of them that were in the library in our town.  Here's a few of mine.  I started reading The Mystery at Lilac Inn today which is book number 4.  (read the first three last year) I thought it would be fun to read them again.  Wonder how many I'll end up reading this year?
I've done a little cleaning today and with that came a little moving around of things.  Nothing big just a few things here and there.  I moved my old church pew over against this wall.  On the back of it is a quilt that Ken's mother made for me.  The doily on the quilt was made by my grandmother.  My granddaughter Scout gave me the heart.  The doll sitting on left in red, a friend made for me years ago.  The crock was my grandmothers.  You can barely see it but my fathers old tool box is sitting on the floor at the right of the pew.  Until I looked at the picture I didn't realize how much all those items meant to me.
In the front room I just moved the two chairs against the wall.  They used to be facing the window at an angle.  I've also had them facing front out of the window.  Always nice for me to have a bit of a change.
A pot roast is in the slow cooker for supper tonight and it's smelling mighty good.  Time to go and get the rest of the meal ready.  Then after supper it is off to church.

A happy day to you.
happyone : )
No one is a firmer believer in the power of prayer than the devil;
not that he practices it, but he suffers from it.
~ Guy H King

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Tuesday

 Springtime along a path I used to walk back in 2012
The temperature warmed up to 32 but it rained some and this morning it was wet on top of ice.  Doesn't make for good outside walking so once again I had to walk my 6 miles in the house.

The rest of the day we had a few snow showers and then it got really foggy.

Bowling day again.  Not great bowling scores but fun anyway.  Five of us today.
Scores today were:
118, 131, and 116
Ken throwing a strike ball.
Me, missing my spare.
After bowling we did some Walmart shopping.
A fun day just not much to write about today.  I still have to do my exercise tape and then it I can relax and do a little reading, watching a bit of television and of course eating some ice cream - chocolate chip mint.  : )

A happy day to you.
happyone : )
It is a happy talent to know how to play.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Comment Replies:
Melanie - We have saved two puzzles that we out together.  One of birds and one of cows.  Check them out here.

Deb - Yes, we usually just do jigsaw puzzles in the winter. 

Monday, February 15, 2016

visitors

A couple of visitors stopped by for a bite to eat.

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Another cold wintry morning so another inside walk.  Got all 6 miles in.  I do like winter but I think I'm about ready for spring about now.  : )
Finished the puzzle.
 Also finished the latest weave-it baby blanket,
and have started another.
Completed the first 7 squares.
I wish I could find room for this old white cabinet in the kitchen but there is just no room.  It has been down in the basement and today Ken helped me bring it upstairs and it now sits in my office/craft room.
Wasn't going to start another puzzle but it looks like winter is going to be with us for a while yet so after we took the latest puzzle apart we picked out another one to do.  The next one is an easy one after Noah's.  Just 500 pieces and a nice bright one of hot air balloons.  Got the boarder done already.

Stayed in the house all day, didn't even go out to restock the bird feeders.  It's been a cold snowy day but there really hasn't been any more accumulation.  Now though I can hear sleet on the windows.  A good day to stay inside.

Last night for my snack I ate some Valentine cookies which were very good but tonight I'm back to my ice cream. 

Just think under all this snow and frozen earth the spring flowers are waiting to brighten our days.  : )

A happy day to you.
happyone : )
No matter how long the winter,
spring is sure to follow.
~ Proverb