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, April 30, 2018

Barn Collective

Linking up with Tom for the Barn Collective.
I have taken pictures of this barn often and it is where my
horse friend Star lives.
This morning on my walk I walked around the side
and to the back of the barn.
Walked out the door this morning at 7:00 into bright sunshine.
There was no breeze and it was only 28 degrees
but when I got back home it was 40 degrees and eventually it went up
to 50 during the afternoon.
Had my usual 6 mile walk around town, the cemeteries and the
ball park loop.
A quiet morning and didn't see anyone else out.
 🐄     🐓     🐑
Planned on staying home and getting things done around the house
but that didn't happen.
Ken asked if I'd go up to the new house with him because he
was going to cut down an old rotted tree and wanted some help.
Part of the tree had already come down on its own and luckily
  didn't fall on the house.  Wanted to get the other branch of it down before
it fell on its own and maybe land on the house.
Things went well and it fell just where Ken planned.
We'll take down the big old trunk that is still standing there another day.
That done we went around front and started to clear out some brush
and old stumps.
Before we got started.
We worked on it for hours even though you can't see that much difference
in the after picture.
All the brush we picked up made a nice big burn pile.
Ronnie started painting the kitchen/dining room this afternoon. 
I love the color we picked out and can just imagine the white
cabinets against it.

It's been a long day and I think I'm going to sleep good tonight.

Life is Good
Count your blessings
happyone  💕

"Ever wonder where you'd end up it your took your dog for a walk
and never once pulled back on the leash?"
~ Robert Brault

Sunday, April 29, 2018

Sunday

From Shepherds Abiding by Jan Karon,
book number 8 in the Mitford series.

 💜     💜
"I go to church now an' again, but I ain't whole hog on religion."

"Why is that?"

Lew shrugged.  "Seem like he wouldn't want t' mess with me."

"Why wouldn't he?"

"I don't know.  I've done a good bit of wrong in my life."

"So have I."

"Not you."

"Yes, me."

"I'll be dogged."

"I'm a sinner saved by grace.  Lew, not by works.  It doesn't matter a whit that I'm a priest.  What matters is that we surrender our hearts to God and receive His forgiveness, and come into personal relationship with His son."

"Earlene, she's got that kind of thing with, you know..." He pointed up.

"Would you like to have it?"

Lew gazed out the driver's window, then turned and looked at Father Tim.  Tears streamed down his roughly shaven face.  I don't know, I guess I ain't ready t' do nothing' like that."

"When you are, there's a simple prayer that will usher you into His presence and change your life for all time - if you pray it with a true heart."

Lew wiped his eyes on his jacket sleeve.

"How simple is it?"

"This simple:  Dear God, thank you for loving me and for sending Your Son to die for my sins.  I sincerely repent of my sins and receive  Christ as my personal Savior.  Now, as Your child, I turn my entire life over to you."

"That's it"?

"That's it."
💜     💜


A Blessed Sunday to you.
Jesus Loves You

happyone 💕

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Down the middle

34 degrees this morning at 6:30 when I left on my walk.
The sun came out though and there was no wind.
It was a beautiful morning for walking.
Walked the Farm Loop today.

Not one car passed me for the 2 1/2 mile walk down this road. 
Kind of fun walking down the very center of the road.
I hardly ever some across anyone else walking or running along the Farm Loop 
but today Lisa was running it going in the opposite direction that I was.

George who I see in town sometimes, lives along this route though not
on a farm.  He was out in his yard and walked a short way up the hill
with me while we chatted.

Heading back to town here.
The loop is only 4 miles so I walked the other 2 miles around town.
Saw a few rabbits around town and this one stood still long enough for me
to take his picture.
Sure enjoy these sunny morning walks.
🌷     🌷     🌷
Ken headed up to the new house right after breakfast.  I stayed home
because he was going to work on the drainage again on the tractor 
and there wasn't much for me to do.
Played around on the computer this morning relearning how
to do things that were changed with the new operating system.
Think I've gotten everything figured out now.

Started reading La Rose by Louise Erdrich, the latest book club
selection and just can't into it.
Every time I start to read it I fall asleep so I'm taking that as a sign
not to read it. 

Life is Good
Count your blessings
happyone  💕

"Above all, do not lose your desire to walk.
Every day I walk myself into a state of well-being.
I have walked myself into my best thoughts."
~ Soren Kierkegaard 

Friday, April 27, 2018

Pizza Place

Some of Farmer Marvin's cows.
The red/brown ones I think are new additions, first time I've seen them.
Quite a few little ones around too.
44 degrees this morning and a little rain around. Wore my rain pants
and slicker.  Needed them for the first half of my walk but then it
cleared up.  By lunch time the sun was shining.
Walked my usual around town route, down toward Happy Trails,
around the cemeteries and the ball park loop.

Saw Lisa out running. We were going in opposite directions down the main road.

Found a penny.
Walked 6 miles
 Walked pretty much the same route yesterday
in a mix of sun and clouds.
🐝     🐝     🐝
All of yesterday was spent at church working on our Fingerprint Ministry.
About 20 of us worked and we got 3,043 of Romans books put together.
The exact same amount of books as we did in January.
We thought that was amazing to have the exact same amount.
 🐝     🐝
Ken left after lunch to do some outside work up at the new house.
Got a text from him saying that when he passed
the pizza place there was an OPEN sign in front.
I was surprised and said I would check it out.
 So as I walked to the library I passed by and sure enough it
was open and I went inside.
I had been looking in the window on the wrong side of the  building
and that's why it looked like they had a lot of work to do yet.
The pizza smelled good and said I'd be back for supper.

At the library I returned my book and checked out the
one on hold and got another one too.

When Ken got home we went to the new pizza place.
The pizza was pretty good but since it was just the first day
it was a bit chaotic.  Not much in the way of atmosphere either.
Didn't even have cups for the soda and had to drink it out of the can.
We will wait a few weeks and then go back and see how it is then.
So far it is only good I think for take out.

I downloaded a new operating system for my Apple and as it usually
goes the 'new and improved' is just a different way
and you have to learn to do everything over.
I've been playing around with it and things seem to be fine.

That's it for today.
 Life is Good
Count your blessings
happyone  💕

"Thoughts come clearly while one walks."
~ Thomas Mann

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

The rumor is true

Cloudy when I started out walking this morning at 6:30
and 47 degrees and still.  Looked like rain so I wore my rain pants and slicker.
A very light drizzle started about 2 miles into my walk.
 Nothing much though and it was no big deal.

Started my walk on the streets behind my house.
Then walked through town and back, around the ball park loop a couple
of times and both cemeteries, through town again and home.

A couple of fishermen at the pond, people coming and going
out of the Rolling Pin Bakery with their boxes of donuts,
and all the school buses driving about.
Just a typical early morning in town.
Walked 6 miles
🚶     🚶     🚶
Quite a while ago I mentioned that a rumor around town was
that we were going to get a pizza place in town.
Months went by and I figured it was just a rumor.
Then the other day I saw this sign go up.

I peeked in the windows and work is still being done inside so it's not
quite ready to open up yet but I sure do look forward to when it does.  😊

We went out this morning to do a few errands and went to Walmart
to do some shopping.

Had lunch at home and then Ken went back up to the new house
to do some more work.
The wood floor is now done.
The two bedrooms will have carpeting in them.
I think tomorrow more painting is getting done.

In the last two days all the dandelions have popped up in the lawn.
I'm one of those people who like dandelions in the lawn.
 Nice to see a green lawn filled with yellow poke-a-dots.

Life is Good
Count your blessings
happyone 💕

"He who trims himself to suit everyone
will soon whittle himself away."
~ Raymond Hull

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Flooring

I had a rainy walk this morning.
It was 44 degrees and very windy which made for a not so pleasant walk.
Sometimes the wind was behind me and then it wasn't bad.
It just pushed me to walk faster.  For some reason that always makes me laugh. 😊
The other way though the wind blew the cold rain into my face
and it made its way down into the front of my rain slicker.
There were three fishermen standing around the pond.
I've heard it's better fishing in the rain, but wonder if that is really true.
Only walked 3.5 miles this morning.
Nice to get home to a dry house.
At least it isn't snowing.
🌸     🌸
Had my usual routine morning and then went through some stuff
deciding what to do with it, move it or toss it.
It rained the whole day and I enjoyed a good part of the
afternoon reading.

Made baked Ziti for supper.
David stopped by after work and stayed and ate with us.

Ken was up at the new house giving Ronnie and Walter a helping
hand installing the wood flooring.
The kitchen/dining room is finished and about 3/4 of the living room.
Should be done tomorrow.
Ken took these pictures.

That's it for today.

Life is Good
Count your blessings
happyone 💕

"Sometimes we give up a dream
to play a larger role in someone else's dream."
~ Robert Brault

Monday, April 23, 2018

Barn Collective

Linking up with Tom today for the Barn Collective series.
Took these two pictures a couple of weeks ago on the way 
to get a trailer load of stone.

🚜     🐄
A mix of sun and clouds this morning for my walk today.
I'm liking these great walking mornings.  I've had quite a few of them lately.
It was 42 degrees and no wind.

Walked through town and up Barn Sale Rd and went to the end this time.
 Well almost to the end.  I turn around here at the last bend in the road
because there are a couple of mean dogs that live in that house
and sometimes they are lose.
Walked down toward Happy Trails again too and then back to
town and around one of the cemeteries and the ball park loop.

Saw some red winged black birds, swallows, cardinals, and killdeer.
A bunny hopping around too.

Walked 5.5 miles
Found a penny
🚶     🚶
Ken was gone to the new house when I got back from walking.

 I was at home getting house chores done.
Sheets washed and hung out on the line and the usual
every day stuff.
Then headed out side to get the lawn mowed for the first time this year.
Turned the key and nothing happened, not even a click click.
Ken had put the battery charger on it for a while on Saturday
and it was working then so didn't know what was up with it.
Decided to just wait for Ken to come home for lunch to take a look at it.
In the meantime I went back inside and ended up reading till lunch time.

The battery charger went back on the lawn mower after lunch
and I waited an hour or so and then went to check.
Turned the key and I'm happy to say it started right up and
I got to mow the lawn.
When I first started mowing the lawn on the rider it was a lot of fun
now, not so much.  I'll be glad when I don't have to mow any more
lawn at the new house.

Monday came around fast and once again we went
to Brenda's for half price pizza with David.

Stopped at the new house before coming home and Ronnie is
working on the wood flooring now.  He got about a quarter of it done
and it looks great.  I like it much better than the other wood flooring.
Waiting till more of it is done before taking a picture.

Home now for quiet evening.

Life is Good
Count your blessings
happyone 💕

The reason old souls enjoy spending time alone
is because they never really are.
~ unknown

Sunday, April 22, 2018

April's Memory Verse



Our memory verse to learn at church for the month of April
is an easy one to learn and one a lot of people already know.

Acts 2:21
And it shall come to pass that whosoever 
shall call on the name of the Lord
shall be saved. 

A blessed Sunday to everyone.
happyone 💕

Saturday, April 21, 2018

Saturday's Critters

Sharing Secrets
Sorry about the line through the middle.
I zoomed in and that is the top wire on a fence.
Linking up with Eileen for Saturday's Critters.
Thanks Eileen for hosting once again. 
🐄     🐄 
23 degrees this morning at 6:50 when I left on my walk.
No wind at all and the sun was shining.
My new walking shoes were terrific.
Walked my full 6 miles and feet felt fine.
I've like everything  I get from LL Bean.
Their stuff is expensive but very well made.

Walked through town, up Barn Sale, down toward Happy Trails,
back to town, around both cemeteries and ball park loop.
Not sure if that is a cloud down the road or smoke from someones
chimney.  Didn't walk down far enough to check it out.
 🐄     🐄
We spent the day at the new house working in the back on the drain.
Ken dumped more gravel and I raked it out.
Then he dug out the ditch where we will put the pipe and then more
stone to cover it.
Here's a few pictures from today.


Out back at the burn spot was a huge pile of building debris and
I had the job of burning it all.  Walked around finding more junk
around the house and burned that too, plus a bunch of branches
and stumps.

I was planning on just spending half the day there but ended up staying
the whole day.  Never did get around to mowing the lawn and washing
my car like I had planned.
Guess that will have to wait until Monday now.

After supper I had to bake another batch of cookies for the
kids at Sunday school tomorrow. 
Also did a load of laundry - we were a bit muddy from our work
and all my clothes smell like smoke.

It's been a long day and I'm ready to go sit in my chair and
watch Father Brown and eat ice cream.

Life is good
Count your blessings
happyone 💕

Friday, April 20, 2018

Bedroom and bathroom painted

🌼     🌼
24 degrees this morning when I left the house at 6:30 on my walk
and at 7:00 I was happy to see the sun pop over the mountain.
Nice to see it stay out too and it did warm up, 32 when I got home
and in the afternoon it was in the 50's.

Walked up and down all the streets in town, around one of the cemeteries,
and the ball park.  Walked up Barn Sale a ways and down toward Happy Trails too.
Beautiful morning to be out walking.
A few pictures along my walk.



Walked 6.7 miles
🌼     🌼
Stayed home and got some house cleaning done in the morning.

The afternoon was spent at the new house.
We had gravel delivered to the house and Ken moved some of it around
back and I raked it out.  A deck will eventually go out here and
we have started to put gravel under where it will be.  Still a lot more to do.
 We have to dig a ditch, put in a pipe for the water to drain,
and then cover it all with gravel too.
That will run all along the back of the house.
Lots of work to do.

Inside the house Ronnie has finished painting the bedroom
and the bathroom.
I'm really liking these colors.  Exactly how I pictured it.

 My new hiking shoes came in the mail today.
I walked around in the basement quite a few times and they feel good.
Now the test will be on my walk in the morning.
That's been my day.
Life is Good
Count your blessings
happyone  💕

"The further society drifts from the truth
the more it will hate those that speak it."
~ Eric Arthur Blair (1902-1950

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Baby Blanket Pattern

 Left the house at 6:35 and it was 43 degrees and cloudy but looking
like rain so I wore my rain paints and yellow slicker.
It only rained for about 5 minutes during my walk.

Walked through town, up Barn Sale Rd, and down towards
Happy Trials, back through town, around the ball park loop
and one of the cemeteries.

When I got home I realized that I didn't take any pictures.
Guess nothing caught my eye.
When I got home the temperature had dropped to 40.
Walked 6 miles
🌼     🌼
Temperature dropped to the 30's and we had snow showers on and off 
all day long.  Thankfully it didn't amount to anything.

This it the picture I finished coloring at the library yesterday.
Picked up a couple books while at the library too.
Strawberry Shortcake Murder (book 2) by Joanne Fluke
and La Rose by Louise Erdrich which is next months book club selection.

This morning I left for church at 9:00 to meet with the other women for making 
Baby Blankets.  We now start earlier than we used to
and someone brings breakfast and another gives a devotional
before we start making the blankets.
Today there were 10 of us there.
 I worked on a blue knitted one this time.
Here's what I have done so far.  Hopefully by next month when 
we meet again, I'll have it finished.
 It is a very easy pattern.

I used size 8 knitting needles.
Yarn - Lions Brand pound of love
Color bluebell

Cast on  110 stitches
Row 1 - 10 Knit

Pattern
Row 1 - Knit
Row 2 - Knit 8, Purl till last 8 and knit
Row 3 - Knit
Row 4 - Knit 8,  P1.  *Knit 1, purl 2*.  Repeat till last 8 and Knit

Repeat pattern till 28 1/2 inches or till desired length.
Knit 10 rows
Bind off

That's it for today.
Thanks for the prayers, good wishes and kind words about
my slip on the ice.
Nothing sore today and I am perfectly fine.
My bruise is turning colors but it doesn't hurt at all.

Life is Good
Count your blessings
happyone 💕

"If someone were to pay you 10 cents for every kind word
you said about people
and collect 5 cents for every unkind word,
would you be rich or poor?"
~ Author unknown, quoted by Jacob M Braude

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Sunny

Though it was only 26 degrees this morning, I'm happy it isn't snowing,
no rain, no wind and the sun is shining. 😊
It was up to 30 degrees when I got back home and eventually it
made it in the 50's.

Walked through town, around both cemeteries, and the ball park,
and around town.
The geese were at the edge of the pond but got frightened as I passed
and took off in the water.
Here's another of those ice puddles that I like.
Walked 5.7 miles
🌼     🌼
My left side is a bit sore from yesterdays fall but really can't complain.
There is a bruise on my thigh but it is a lovely shade of lavender/blue.

Yesterdays snow didn't seem to bother my blooming daffodils and
they are as pretty as ever today.

Right after breakfast we went and picked up the wood flooring and
delivered it to the new house.  It has to be in the house for a couple
of days for the wood to acclimate so the floors will get started Monday.
Hopefully all goes well with this second try.

Walked over to the library at 4:45 for some coloring fun.
Haven't been for quite a while and glad to get back to it.
 There were just two of us there but Lena and I enjoyed a nice chat
while we colored. 

Ken picked me up at 6:25 and we went to church.
 When we got home, watched a Lost in Space (not the old one) episode on Netflix
while we had our ice cream snack.
I've been having cookies and cream the last few days.

Life is Good
Count your blessings
happyone  💕

"We have to pray with our eyes on God,
not on the difficulties."
~ Oswald Chambers