Saturday's Critters

Linking up with Eileen for Saturday's Critters this today.

Took this a few days ago on a morning walk.

This kitty lives at the Day Care in town.

🐱     🐱     🐱

22 degrees this morning when I headed out on my walk at 7:00.

Today I made sure I had my ice grippers on my shoes.  

No falls or even a slip today and the side roads were very icy.

Couldn't walk along the main road on the sidewalks because

NO ONE shovels their sidewalk and I don't want to walk in the road.

So I stuck to the side roads and just walked back a forth on them.

Could walk to the cemeteries but not around them yet.

Nice to see the sun come up this morning.

 Didn't see anyone else out walking.

I did enjoy my walk today - So nice to be out walking in the snow

with the sun shining.  Everything is so pretty and well worth bundling up

and being outside.  

Walked 6.2 miles

⛄     ⛄     ⛄

Well I put off doing the housework long enough this week

and got a good bit of it done this morning.

I've finished reading my last book of the year,
To The Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey.  
Colonel Allen Forrseter leads a small band of men on an expedition
to the untamed Alaska Territory in 1885 for 6 months.
His wife Sophie stays at the Vancouver Barracks and waits for him.
She takes up photography while he's gone.
It is the book club selection for next month.
I liked the book a lot.

My goal was to read 50 books this year and this last one was
number 41.  I'll try again to make 50 this next year.
I'll keep my list of books for 2016 under the header
until I read the first book of 2017.

A happy day to you.
happyone 🎈

"The rose of the old year withers away
as the new bud begins to bloom."
~ Terri Guillemets

Comment Replies:

Vee - all the puzzles I've done this year so far are from the auction that Ken went to.

There are quite a few more too.  Thought I'd take a break and to the brand new one. 

Some snow

A snowy walk

 Snowing like crazy when I got up and decided to walk later after breakfast.

Waited till the snow let up a bit and then left at 10:00.

It was 23 degrees and windy.

I wore my hiking boots because I needed a bit more height on my ankles

than my snow sneakers.  I should have put on my ice grippers but

I thought the snow wouldn't be slippery.

There weren't many places to walk.

The main street had too many snow plows going by.

The cemeteries and ball park weren't cleared and were too deep to walk in.

So I walked were I could but it was VERY slippery.

I fell twice (didn't get hurt) and almost fell a few more times.

So I went back home.

Not a great day for walking but at least I got 3 miles in. 
Better than nothing.

Finished the round puzzle. (400 pieces)

This one will definitely go in the trash, 8 pieces missing.

Ken usually buys me a couple puzzles for Christmas but this year he said he

wasn't going to because he got so many at the auction,

but he got me a new one anyway and I started it today.

It's a 1000 piece one of the inside of an old bookstore.  Really Nice!

I took down all the Christmas decorations this afternoon.
Every year I try to wait until New Years Day but hardly ever make it.

 It's been snowing on and off all day and we've stayed home all day.

 Made pizza for supper.  Seemed like a good day for it.

A happy day to you.
happyone 🎈

"Yesterday's weaving is as irrevocable as yesterday.
I may not draw out the threads,
but I may change my shuttle."
~ Muriel Strode Lieberman

Fingerprint day

Took this picture yesterday.  

It is next to the two pieces of farm equipment from yesterdays post.

🚜     🚜      🚜

This morning it was a bit foggy with a light misty drizzle at times and 33 degrees.

A little windy too and there were icy spots around on the side roads.

Walked around town and both cemeteries.

No one else out and about.

Walked 4.5 miles

🌻     🌻     🌻

Had a shorter than usual walk because we left this morning to go to church 

to do  Fingerprints for this month.

Our goal for this year was to have 60,000 Romans books done and today

we finished up with 7,444 and reached our goal.

We spent the whole day from 9:00 till 7:15 there.

So there wasn't time for anything else today.

It was a good feeling reach our goal.

Nice to be home now and I'm looking forward to sitting in my

chair, having my ice cream snack and watching Netflix.

Maybe I'll have time for a little reading too.

A happy day to you.

happyone 🎈

"It is when there is nothing you can say or do to help 

that a friend needs you the most."

~ Robert Brault

Comment Replies:

Melanie - When we finish a puzzle we take it apart and put it back in the box.  Sometimes I'll one  away but usually just keep it to do again.

Pom Pom - Debbi lives in Edgewater, Co, just outside of Denver.

2016 Christmas Ball

🚜     🚜     🚜

This morning I left the house at 7:00 for my morning walk.

It was 29 degrees with a bit of a wind and after sunrise it was cloudy.

Walked the Farm Loop.

 Walking down the road 6 deer came out of the woods a little ways in front of me,

ran across the road and into the woods on the other side.

It all happened so fast I couldn't get a picture.

It is amazing how quickly the deer disappear into the woods.

Just before I got back to town I cut through Farmer Marvin's 

barn yard.  I asked him a while back if I could and he said yes.

Just on the other side and up the hill is one of the cemeteries.

I walked around there, then over to the other cemetery and then home.

 It's been awhile since I walked the Farm Loop and it was nice

to walk there again.  With no school I don't have to worry about

the school buses passing me on the narrow road.  Also if I leave earlier 

it is dark and there are no street lights.

Walked 6.3 miles

🐓     🐄     🐐

The 2016 Christmas Ball that Ken painted.

It reads

 Counting our

many blessings

2016

See what God has done

 This is the very first ball that Ken painted in 1972.

David's First Christmas 1972

The one to the right was in 1974 when our daughter Debbi was born.

I've started yet another puzzle.  This one is a round one of flying
geese with 400 pieces.

Did a bit of reading and knitting too.
I should have been doing some housework but was having to
good a time doing other stuff.

 A happy day to you.

happyone 🎈

Comment Replies:

Jedidja - Oh yes, I love the delft blue and have a few pieces, some from my grandmother.

"Since there is nothing so well worth having as friends,

never lose a chance to make them."

~ Francesco Guicciardini

A suprise in the mail

The geese are back at the pond down by the Drane house.

⛅     ⛅     ⛅

Rained during the night and when I left on my walk at 7:10 there was 

still a very light drizzle so wore my rain pants and slicker.

It was a warm 52 degrees and very windy.  The rain soon stopped and 

I saw the sun and blue sky.

The clouds were racing across the sky.

 Walked behind my house to start with and then all around town.

Both cemeteries and the ball park loop.

Walking around the cemetery up at the top of the hill

I stopped to pick up some of the flowers that blew around and put

them back by the graves and straightened a flag by a grave too.

I didn't see anyone else out walking or running.

No school this week so none of the school buses around either.

I could feel the temperature drop a bit as I walked and it was 45

degrees when I got home, still warm for December though.

Walked 6.2 miles

⛅     ⛅     ⛅

I was puttering around the house this morning when the door bell rang.

The mail had come and with it a package for me.

It was from Debbie, a blogger friend. 

What a wonderful surprise to open up the package and find a

beautiful blue tea pot inside.  Debbie knew I collected blue plates to hang

up in my kitchen and thought of me when she spotted this teapot.

I LOVE it.  Thank you so very much Debbie.

Along with the teapot came a letter that she wrote me that I read with

tears in my eyes.  Such kind words she had to say.  She is a dear friend.

We haven't met in person YET, but we will, of this I am sure.

Here my new teapot sits on a shelf in my kitchen.

 ⛅     ⛅     ⛅

Finished  another puzzle.  This one was an easy one with only 300 pieces.

Puzzle number 8

I got some new measuring spoons and here they hang in my kitchen
in plain sight which makes them convenient to use.

 After lunch we went out to do a couple of errands.

Such a beautiful sunny day.

A happy day to you.

happyone 🍭

"One true friend adds more to our happiness 

than a thousand enemies add to our unhappiness."

~Marie Dubsky, Freifrau von Ebner-Eschenback

Translated by Mrs Annis Lee Wister in 1882

Quilt Barn Square (18)

Linking up with Tom for the Barn Collective today.

This Quilt Barn Square is on the 95 year old barn of Paul and Carla Miller.

It is located in Accident and just a mile down the road from Happy Trails.

The Quilt Square is a Christmas Double T pattern.

Finished another jigsaw puzzle (7) and it's a barn.

It has one piece missing so I'll toss it out.

🚜     🚜     🚜

Were you wondering if I walked yesterday?  

No, took Christmas off.

But I did walk today, though I got a late start at 7:45.

It had rained during the night but had stopped by morning

so though the roads were wet no rain was falling.

It was 34 degrees with a slight wind.

Walked first the to the library to drop off a book down the slot.

Then just walked around town up and down the streets and the two cemeteries.

Finished up walking on the streets behind my house.

No else out walking or running.  Very quiet.  Seemed like a Sunday morning.

Walked 6.2 miles

Found a dime

⛅     ⛅     ⛅

We went to the Shop and Save and picked up a few things

and then was home the rest of the day. 

I got a big job done today - cleaning out the refrigerator.

Didn't just throw old food out, but took everything out of the refrigerator

and washed the inside and all the shelves and drawers.

I keep opening the door just to see how nice and clean and tidy everything looks.

It's been a mix of sun and clouds today but is pretty mild out.

Sure doesn't seem like winter around here.

I'm enjoying it though because I'm sure we'll get our

share snow in the months to come.  I hope so anyway.

Ken made a video of his HO Train Layout and put it on YouTube.

 It's pretty long at 20 minutes but worth looking at when you get the time.

Ken's Layout

A happy day to you.

happyone 🎈 

"Always be a little kinder than necessary."

James M Barrie

Merry Christmas

Matthew 1:21-23

And she shall bring fourth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people from their sins.

Now all this was done,

that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet saying.

Behold, a virgin shall be with child,

and shall bring forth a son,

and they shall call his name Emmanuel,

which being interpreted is,

God with us.

 A VERY HAPPY AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE

May your day be filled with happiness.

Jesus love you.

happyone 🎁

Saturday's Critters

Took this picture on Monday walking around the Farm Loop.

Horse on the left is Grace (don't know the other horses name)

 from Farmer Bill's farm.

Linking up the Eileen for her Saturday's Critters.

🎄     🎄     🎄

Got up late and didn't start walking until 8:00. 

A dreary morning with a light drizzle and pretty windy.

So warm for this time of year at 40 degrees!!!

Walked through town and around both cemeteries a couple of times.

Then back around town.

Didn't see anyone else out today and not very many cars either.

I was going to walk past my house and walk over by the industrial park

but I was starting to get a bit wet and I was hungry so I cut my walk

short and was back home after 

5 miles.

Found a dime.

🎄     🎄     🎄

I made some Pfeffernuesse Cookies this afternoon.
I don't really like the kind you get from the store but these
homemade ones are very good.

Just hanging around the house today.
Got some laundry done, read, and worked on the puzzle.

Making Kung Pao Chicken for supper tonight.
Haven't made it in a long time and looking forward to making
and eating it.

Well tomorrow is Christmas and a very happy and
Merry Christmas to you all.
 happyone : )

"Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend,  your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect."
~ Oren Arnold

Wow what a sky this morning

Sure was worth getting up and being outside to see this.

 🎄     🎄

This morning left the house at 6:50 and it was 26 degrees and very still.

Watched the sunrise but it stayed cloudy afterward.

Walked behind my house first and then a loop around town.

Down toward HT, back to town

around both cemeteries and another loop around town.

Kathy was out walking and Lisa was running.

Lisa stopped for a chat.  

She hasn't been around for quite awhile because she hurt her back

and then broke her big toe and then broke it again!!

As always nice to be out walking first thing in the morning

and thankful that I'm able to.

Walked 6.2 miles

 🎄     🎄
 Just been puttering around the house today.
Did some more reading and we are just about finished with the current puzzle.

Chris, my step-brother called this afternoon.
He went went up to  visit my mom the other day and reports she is
doing good.  Memory gets worse each time but she is for the most part
happy at the nursing home.

That's is for today.
A happy day to you.

happyone 🎈

Here is the other Poem found in Janie's Bible

(Other one posted yesterday.)

My First Christmas in Heaven

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below

With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular please wipe away the tear

For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear

But the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you the joy their voices bring

For it is beyond description to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me I see the pain inside your heart

But I am not so far away we really aren't apart.

So be happy for me, dear ones, you know I hold you dear

And be glad I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I sent you each a special gift from my heavenly home above

I sent you each a memory of my undying love.

After all love is a gift more precious than pure gold.

It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other as my Father said to do

For I can't count the blessings or love He has for each of you.

So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear

Remember, I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

Thursday

I zoomed in and took the above picture of the tractor from the town pond.

Then walked around on the road and took this picture from the other side.

🚜     🚜     🚜

A warm 33 degrees this morning at 7:00 when I left on my walk.

No wind and I watched the sun pop over the mountain again.

Walked the hills behind my house and then went over to the post office

to mail a letter.

Continued on over to the ball park loop and Kathy was there and we talked 

as we walked around the loop a couple of times.

Then we went our separate ways.  We both like walking along but nice to walk 

a little way with someone once in a while.

I continued walking around town and the cemeteries.

Saw Lisa out running this morning.  Haven't seen her out running 

in a long time,  must be a year or so. 

Smelled a strong odor of skunk and then I noticed it just up ahead

in the middle of the road. He didn't make it across in time.

Nice walking in the sun for part of my walk again 

and I look forward to those mornings when I no longer have to walk in the dark.

Walked 6.2 miles

🎄     🎄

The sun was out for half the day and then cloudy.

We went for a little ride today finding some more of the
Quilt Barns.  One was less than a mile from HT.
We found four more and you will be seeing them posted on future Mondays.

While we were out we stopped at Whispering Pines to look around.
There is a little lunch cafe in the store and we had our lunch there.

Stopped at the library and picked up the book for the
book club meeting for January.
Sounds like a good one and can't wait to finish the book I'm reading
now so I can start this one.

That's about it for today.
 A happy day to you.

happyone 🎈

 Patty and her sister Janie and I have been friends since we were 

little girls and lived next door to each other growing up.

You may remember me telling you that Janie died back in October.

Today I got a Christmas card from Patty with two poems inside.

Patty found them in Janie's Bible.

Here's one of them.  Have a tissue in hand if you read it.

I'm Free

Don't grieve for me,

for now I'm free,

I'm following the path

God laid for me;

I took his hand when 

I heard him call

I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day

To laugh, to love,

to work, or play;

Tasks left undone

must stay that way.

I found that place

at the close of the day.

If my parting has left a void,

Then fill it with 

remembering joy,

A friendship shared,

a laugh, a kiss;

Ah, yes, these things

I too will miss.

Be not burdened 

with time of sorrow;

I wish you the sunshine

of tomorrow;

My life's been full,

I've savored much,

Good friends, good times,

a loved one's touch.

Perhaps my time seemed

all too brief,

Don't lengthen it now

with undue grief

Lift up your heart

and share with me.

God wanted me now,

He set me free.

~ Shannon Lee Moseley

Tomorrow I'll post the other one.

Shredded Wheat

BIG rolled frosted shredded wheat.

🎄     🎄     🎄

This morning it was 23 degrees and dark but the sun did come up

during my walk.  Couldn't decide which sunrise picture to post so

here's both of them.

Walked around the streets behind my house first, then around the ball park loop,

the two cemeteries and around town.

White Streak was over by the barn when I walked down

by him and though he didn't come to see me today,

he did neigh a good morning to me. 😊

I of course said good morning back to him.

Kathy was back to walking this morning and we stopped for

our usual chat.

Didn't see anyone else about town walking.

Walked 6.2 miles

🎄     🎄     🎄

Home today getting some stuff done around the house.

Did a lot of dusting, one chore I'm not crazy about doing.
Did some laundry too
and then read and worked on the puzzle.

Making Broccoli Cheese Soup for supper
so off I go to do that.
That's it for today.

A happy day to you.

happyone 🎈

"It is good to be children sometimes,

and never better than at Christmas

when it's mighty Founder was a child Himself."

~ Charles Dickens

A sunny day

🎄     🎄

13 degrees this morning at 7:25 when I left for my morning walk.

There was no wind at all so it didn't seen all that cold.

Walked all over town on no particular route and down toward Happy Trails a ways. 

At 8:10 I was walking around one of the cemeteries and the sun 

popped over the mountain shinning right in my face.

Boy did that feel good. 😊

Didn't see anyone else out walking and no dogs about either!!

The horses were in the field down by the Drane house

and I saw a whole mess of crows.

Walked 6 miles

🎄     🎄

We were not going to go bowling till after the holidays

but we changed our minds and went today.

There were 6 of us bowling.
Ken had a good game, 204 with 5 strikes in a row.

 Left a little early for bowling and did a couple of errands

and after bowling went food shopping at Walmart.

What a joy it was to see the sun all day long.

A happy day to you.

happyone 🎈

"The universal joy of Christmas is certainly wonderful.

We ring the bells when princes are born,

or toll a mournful dirge when great men pass away.

Nations have their red-letter days,

their carnivals and festivals,

but once in the year and only once,

the whole world stands still to celebrate the advent of a life."

~ Unknown

Quilt Barn Square 17

This Monday I'm once again linking up with Tom for the Barn Collective series.

This barn located in Deer Park, in Garret county Maryland

displays the Bear Paw quilt square.

Everett DeBerry owns this barn which has been in the

Sebold-Deberry family since 1943.

The square was sponsored by the family in memory

of Harriet V. DeBerry and Ella M. Sebold.

 🚜     🚜     🚜

This morning when I got up it was dark and there were 

snow flurries floating around. 

The sun was supposed to be shining later in the morning so
I decided that I would walk a little bit later in the sun.

Made us French toast for breakfast with homemade bread and
did a couple of morning chores.
A little after 9:00 there still was no sign of the sun,
the flurries were still around and it was 22 degrees but no wind.
I figured I'd better go walking anyway so off I went.
Headed on over to the Farm loop.
While walking down the main road a man stopped in a car
and asked me, "Are you out just walking, or do you need a ride?"
I said, "Just out walking, but thanks anyway."
Thought it was nice of him to ask but there was NO WAY
I'd ever accept a ride like that!!

It had been a while since I walked The Farm Loop and was nice to be there again.
A couple of horses were out but none of the dairy cows.
A few rabbits hopping about too.

I was about 2 miles into the loop when I looked down and there was
a dog walking beside me.  He was a friendly little Beagle.  Had
a collar on but no tags.
This little guy followed me all the way back to town.
Whats with these dogs lately.  I've never seen so many dogs
roaming around lose since I've lived here?
Anyway I got a little ahead of the dog and when he wasn't looking
ducked into the post office.
Stayed there a few minutes and when I left the dog was gone.

By this time I had walked over 4 miles and the sun finally came out.
Oh how nice it was to be out in the sun.
There were still very light flurries and in the sun the air
looked like it was filled with glitter - so pretty.
I walked around town and around the cemeteries in the sun.
I walked a little longer just to be in the sun,
but by the time I got home the sun disappeared behind the clouds again.
Walked 7.2 miles
⛅     ⛅     ⛅
Finished reading The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
by Sherman Alexie
 It's about a young teen growing up on the Spokane Indian reservation
who decides to go to the school off the reservation.
The book was written for young teens and I thought it was very good.
Not sure it is appropriate for that age  because there
is some pretty bad language in it!!

It was a book club selection before I was a member of the book club.
I've heard that they are making a movie of the book.
📕     📕
  Did a bit more cleaning this afternoon
and then worked on the puzzle.

Going out in a little while for 1/2 price pizza at Brenda's.
Then a cozy evening at home.

A happy day to you.
happyone : )

Comment Replies:

 Robin - You asked if I ever pet the horses.  Yes.  😊

"Keep your Christmas heart open all the year round."

~ J L W Brooks

Twas The Night Before Jesus Came

The kids at church put on a wonderful Christmas play this morning.

What a blessing it was.

 In between sets while the stage was getting changed around

different people sang hymns 

and Robin read this.

Twas the Night Before Jesus Came

Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house

Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.

Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care

In hopes that Jesus would not come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed.

Not once every kneeling or bowing a head.

And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap

Was watching the Late show while I took a nap.

When out of the East there arose such a clatter.

I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!

When what to my wondering eyes should appear

But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here. 

With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray

I knew in a moment this must be THE DAY!

The light of His face made me cover my head

It was Jesus! returning just like He said.

And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,

I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.

In the Book of Life which He held in His hand.

Was written the name of every saved man.

He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;

When He said  "It's not here" my head hung in shame.

The people whose names had been written with love

He gathered to take to His Father above.

With those who were ready He rose without a sound.

While all the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees, but it was too late;

I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.

I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;

Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.

In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;

The coming of Jesus is drawing near.

There's only one life and when comes the last call

We'll find that the Bible was true after all!

~ Author Unknown

💜     💜

II Corinthians 6:2

Behold, now is the accepted time,

behold, now is the day of salvation.

Hebrews 3:7-8

As the Holy Ghost saith, today if ye will hear this voice,

harden not your heart.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave is only begotten son,

that whosoevery believeth in Him shall not perish

but have everlasting life.

A blessed Sunday to you.

Jesus loves you.

happyone  💜

 Born Again

Saturday's Critters and cookies

Took a couple of pictures of White Streak and Star this afternoon.

(That's what I call them, don't know their real names, 

I'll have to ask Farmer Marvin.)

Linking up with Eileen for Saturday's Critters.

🐎     🐎     🐎

 This morning the temperature had risen to 32 degrees but there was 

a sheet of ice over the driveway and roads so I didn't go out to walk. 

Freezing rain was still falling.

Took this picture outside my front door.

Walked a couple of miles in the house.
 Not all at once but 500 steps at a time like I did yesterday.

Got some cleaning done,

started another book and worked on the puzzle.

The temperature continued to rise till it got to 52 degrees

so after lunch I went out for a walk.

At times there was a light drizzle and it was very windy

but it sure was nice to get some walking in.

Walked around town and around the cemeteries

and walked 4.5 miles. 

Crazy difference in temperatures from one day to the next!!

Baked some sugar cookies.
A while back Jasmine, one of the teens from church gave me a train cookie cutter.
Ken made this so I could put an imprint of a train on the cookie.

 It was a great idea and here are the finished cookies.
She also gave me the cat cookie cutter too.
The trees and holly I already had.

Tomorrow I'm going to give Jasmine the cookies.

That's it for today.

A happy day to you.

happyone 🎈

Comment Replies:

Melanie - Yes, 1000 sounds like a good size of puzzle to do.  I've been doing the smaller size of 500 because 10 different ones came in one box and I'm doing those first.  Working on a 1000 piece one now.  Got all these puzzles at an auction for $4.50 I think it was.  There must be twenty some puzzles.

"Fail not to call to mind, in the course of the twenty-fifth of this month,

that the Divinest Heart that every walked the earth

was born on that day;

and then smile and enjoy yourselves for the rest of it;

for mirth is also of Heaven's making."

~ Leigh Hunt

A cold day

Picture taken a few days ago on a morning walk.

🎄     🎄     🎄

Didn't even try walking this morning.  

It was 3 degrees and just a bit too cold for me.

It's been a cloudy dreary day all day.

I've been home all day and didn't get a whole lot of stuff done.

Planned on getting some housework done but never got around to it.

Finished the book I was reading,

Black Chalk by Christopher J Yates

 Six college kids make up a game and the losers have

consequences they must do.  It escalates and gets out of hand.

Sounds better than it is.  I didn't really like it.

Read it through because I wanted to see how it ended.

It was a book club selection but then was taken off the list because

a couple of people besides me read it and didn't like it either.

So we picked a different book for January.

Worked on the next puzzle a bit too.

Number 7

The only thing that did get done was some laundry.

Supposed to get freezing rain over night so it might be another day

of no walking.

I managed to get my goal of 13,000 steps in today by walking around

the house.  Every so often I would just take off and walk 500 steps

at a time.   

Hope your day was a happy one.

happyone  🎈

Comment replies:

Jedidja - I have a couple different patterns of baby blankets that I knit.  Also make some with weave-it squares.  The other women make the blankets out of two pieces of fleece tied with knots.  I didn't care for making the fleece ones so just do my own thing.  : )

"And, so, Christmas comes to bless us.

Comes to teach us how to find

The joy of giving happiness

And the joy of being kind."

~ Gertrude Tooley Buckingham

Lunch and dinner with friends

A picture I took while walking the other day.

🎄     🎄     🎄

Well folks this was one of those days when it was just too cold to walk 

though I did give it a good try.

It was 6 degrees, very windy with snow blowing around.

I put on an extra layer of clothes and had my face mask pulled up 

but wimped out after only 2 miles.

The wind was blowing through my layers and my face was cold. 

It probably would have been okay if there was no wind.

Of course I saw no one else out.

Ken thought I was crazy for even trying. 

 🎄     🎄     🎄

Today was the day for the baby blankets but instead of making blankets at church

Sandy invited us all over to her house for lunch.
We had a lovely time talking, laughing and eating.
What a blessing it is to be part of this church

and have to these women as my friends.

 

Home for just a little while and then we are
leaving to meet with the Super Seniors for our Christmas party.  

We are meeting for dinner at a place called

The Hen House.

Ken and I have been there a couple of times and liked it.

Looking forward to a fun time.

A happy day to you.

happyone 🎈

"I sometimes think we expect too much of Christmas Day.
We try to crowd into it the long arrears of kindliness and humanity
of the whole year.
As for me, I like to take my Christmas a little at a time,
all through the year.
And thus I drift along into the holidays,
let them overtake me unexpectedly,
waking up some fine morning and suddenly saying to myself:
Why, this is Christmas Day."
~ David Grayson

Christmas every day

🎄     🎄     🎄

Had a little bit of snow last night and this morning it was 26 degrees 

when I headed out for my walk at 7:00.  Cloudy but no wind.

Went walking in my snow sneakers (which keep my feet dry and warm)

and put my Yaktrax on which fit on the bottom of any shoe.

The Yaktrax works great and really does keep you from slipping on the ice.

I have a couple extra pair of them for when these wear out.

I bought my mom and step-dad each a pair a couple of years ago

but I found them at their house this summer unused and still in the box.

They never did use them, so I took them back. 

This morning walked up the side road up to the cemeteries and walked around them.

Walked down the hill to see the three horses.

Then up to the ball park loop and around there twice. 

 That was one loop done and 4 miles walked.

Started walking the same route but only walked half of it and came home

after 6 miles.

Kathy was out walking and so was the man who runs around

the ball park loop five times.

Saw lots of deer, birds, rabbits, and other critter tracks. 

🎄     🎄     🎄

 Another day of puttering around the house.
Didn't get much done but had a nice day all the same.
Started another puzzle and did some reading.
Ken wrapped my presents and put them under the tree.
So we are all set for Christmas. 

In a little while I'll be walking on over to the library

for my book club meeting and afterward Ken will pick me up

and we'll head out to church.

A happy day to you.

happyone 🎈

Let Every Day Be Christmas

by Norman Wesley Brooks, 1976

1923-2002

Christmas is forever, not for just one day,

for loving, sharing, giving, are not to be put away

like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.

The good you do for others is good you do yourself.

Peace in Earth, good will to men,

kind thoughts and words of cheer,

are things we should use often

and not just once a year.

Remember too the Christ-child, grew up to be a man;

to hide him in a cradle, is not our dear Lord's plan.

So keep the Christmas spirit, share it with others far and near,

from week to week and month to month, throughout the entire year!