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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Saturday, September 29, 2018

Outside work day

We had a fun time last evening when our friends came over
and we played Mexican Train.
It was the first time we had people over at the new house.
I had no idea that our friends would bring us gifts.
Thank you my friends, you are so very kind. 😊
Mums - Debbie and Ron
Happy Place - Bettye
Puzzle - Trish and Randy
The puzzle will be the first one we do this winter.
When the first snow falls we get out the puzzles and have one
going all winter.  We go through all our puzzles.
This morning I walked under cloudy skies again and it was 50 degrees.
I walked to town, around both cemeteries, the ball park loop and
up and down all the streets.
Got all my walking in and then met Ken at the old house
and he drove me home.

We had a busy day working outside.
There was a mix of sun and clouds with temperatures in the 60's
so it was a perfect work day.

There are two retaining walls of cinder block out the back 
by the basement doors.
Those blocks have to be filled with concrete so during the winter they don't
fill with water and freeze.
This morning we started pouring the concrete into the cinder block holes.
We started with 12 bags of concrete and two at a time put them in 
the cement mixer, added water, mixed it up and poured 
the concrete down the holes.
It was kind of fun.
When we got done with those 12 bags we bought 15 more
and continued filling in holes.
We finished 2/3 of the wall on the right side. 
Then it was lunch time though a bit later than we usually eat lunch.
That was all we wanted to do for one day and will take a few
more days to finish up.

In the afternoon we cleared some dead fall and brush away from
one side of the driveway and brought it up to the burn pile.
Ken is making a low wall of rocks along the edge of the driveway
and worked on that for the rest of the afternoon.
I helped a bit too by collecting small rocks in buckets to fill in some
of the gaps.
It is just amazing how many rocks of all sizes we have here.
We will NEVER run out of rocks.

So that's been my day.
I always feel good after a good days work.

A happy day to you.
Life is Good
happyone  😊

Friday, September 28, 2018

22 tons, Mexican Train and sunshine

 52 degrees this morning under cloudy skies at 7:05 when
I left for my walk into town.
When I got to town walked around the first cemetery.
Down at the other end of the road is the ball park and walked
around that loop, then down the main road in town and back home.

By the time I got home there was a light mist falling.
This is the 6th day in a row that it has been raining
BUT
by afternoon all the rain was gone and we had a beautiful sunny day.

10:00 this morning a very big truck paid us a visit holding
22 tons of red crush and run for our driveway.
Sure is nice to have a tractor,
and Ken spread it all out and I did the raking to the edges and tried
to fill in some of the holes.
Worked all morning and by lunch time the pile was gone and you can see
the sun is out now.
After lunch I stayed inside and did a quick vacuuming and dusting
of the house and got both crock pots of chili going.
This is the evening our friends are coming over for a night
of Mexican Train.
Other people are bringing
rolls
drinks
chips
dessert.
 Hoping it will be warm enough this evening so that we will be able
play outside on the front porch.
 
As I type this Ken is outside tamping down the gravel in the driveway.
Posting early today because won't have time later this evening
and I'm headed outside in the sunshine now.
 
Didn't post yesterday because was busy at church
working with 16 others on the Fingerprint Ministry.
This month we got just over 4,000 Romans books put together,
cut and packaged up.
A very good day for just 16 people.
 
Hope your day is a happy one.
Life is Good
happyone  💕
 
 

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

An Itchy Cow

Sunset last night from the front porch.
64 degrees this morning and just cloudy when I left at 7:00 today.
Was going to walk to town but when I got to the main road
I realized I didn't have my little purse with me which contains
phone, pepper spray, glasses, tissues and key.
Thought about continuing my walk but it just felt too weird without 
my phone so I turned around and went back home.
I thought this would be the day when I needed my phone.
So I only walked a little over two miles.

Later in the day I did walk around the yard and did get all my steps in
for the day anyway.

Cut up all the vegetables for the Vegetable Chili this morning.
Put them all in the crock pot with a few other ingredients
and left them to cook.
This chili is for Friday when we have our friends over.
 Ken was outside working on the driveway again.
All this rain we've been getting is actually good because Ken can
see where he needs to direct the water.
He dug a ditch and put a drain pipe in and then we went and got a 
load of stone to cover it.  One more drain to go and then we can
finish the driveway off with crush and run. 

Went across the street to say hi to a couple of the cows that were there.
A post makes a good place to scratch those itches.
Here comes another cow to say hi.
It rained on and off all day long.
This is day number 4 of rain.

Went to Grantsville this afternoon to do a couple of errands.
Stopped in the hardware store and bought two new thermometers.
One went on a post on the porch and the other adheres to a window
that we put in the bedroom.
Also bought a rain gauge.  Will be interesting to see how much rain we get.
 I'm sure now we will be having sunny days which would be
most welcome.

Hope your day was a happy one.
Life is Good
happyone  💕

"There's nothing like sitting back and talking to your cows."
~ Russell Crowe

  🐄 And I'll add, even if they are your neighbors. 😊

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

A good day for soup

Woke up to another rainy dreary day.
We had to go out this morning so I had no time to walk
because I can't go so early any more now that it is dark later in the morning.
 On the way home we stopped at Walmart and picked up 
a couple of things.

This afternoon when we were back home the rain had stopped
but things were still wet. 
I just put on my rain pants, but not my yellow slicker and went
for another walk today in the woods.
 I was walking along enjoying my walk when the sky got dark and the
rains came down.  I walked a while in the rain but it wasn't long before
I was soaked through so made my way back to the house.

I've been working on the latest baby blanket and have a good start already.
The name of this color is Creamsicle.  Perfect name don't you think,
same color as the Popsicle.
Hard to tell from the picture but the white is weaved
with the creamsicle color.
It seemed like a good day to have soup for supper so I made
The recipe is from blogger friend Debby.

We did see the sun for a little while, but it wasn't till after supper.
Nice to see it for a little while.
Cloudy now and supposed to rain again.

Hope you had a happy day.
Life is Good
happyone  💕

"It's easy to impress me.
I don't need a fancy party to be happy.
Just good friends, good food and good laughs.
I'm happy.  I'm satisfied, I'm content."
~ Maria Sharapova

Monday, September 24, 2018

Walking in the rain in the woods

55 degrees, dark and rainy when I woke up this morning.
Stayed home this morning and got the slow cooker going with some
chili in it.  It is for Friday evening when we are having some friends
over for a game of Mexican Train.  I'll freeze it and reheat it Friday.
Chili always tastes better heated up.
Tomorrow I'm making another chili for the same night but
a vegetarian version.

Got some house cleaning done this morning too and even
read a little while.

 This picture is from Saturday of our front yard and the part that I've been
working on clearing out and making the natural fence.
🐄     🦌     🐿
After lunch I put on my rain gear and took a hike around Happy Trails.
Leaving my driveway here and walking up the lane there on the right.
Walked up here which leads to the cabin we built.
The tractor barn and the wood shop are also up this way.
We are thinking about moving the wood shop down near the house,
but that will be next year.
Another picture of my walk this afternoon.
It was nice walking in the woods in the rain.
I don't know how far I walked but I was out there walking
a little over an hour.

Posting early today because we will be going out and won't have
time to blog later.
 
 A happy day to you.
Life is Good
happyone 💕

"When the oak is felled the whole forest echoes with it,
but a hundred acorns are sown in silence by and unnoticed breeze."
Thomas Carlyle

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Fun Work and Cupcakes

This morning the temperature was 59 degrees when I left
and it wasn't long before the sun came over the mountain.
 Walked into town today.
Went straight through town and to the ball park loop
and walked once around there.
Then it was off to the old house for a pit stop.
Back through town to the first cemetery and made a loop
around there too and then walked back home.

Lisa was out running and I noticed her husband out a couple times too.
He's a walker though.

One of our neighbors has this sign in his front yard.
Adam, thought you and Daisy would get a kick out of the last town. 😊

Walked 6.2 miles
🦆     🦉     🦅
Right after breakfast we took our trash to the collection station
on Bumblebee Road.   
Made a stop at the library to pick up a book that was on hold for me
and also the next book club selection.

Back home we got to work around the yard.
I spent the day on my front yard project of picking up dead fall,
cutting down small trees and making my natural fence.
Ken came along with the chain saw and cut a few trees down 
that I couldn't get with my cutters.  
I still have a few more days worth of work just on that one
section.  But it is fun work.

Took a break for lunch and I quick made 2 dozen cupcakes for
church tomorrow.  Then back outside to work.
Later after supper I made the icing for the cupcakes and here
they are sitting in the cupcake tote that I bought yesterday.
It's been a long busy day and I'm ready to sit back and do a little
reading, watch a Netflix, make some squares and have ice cream.

Hope your day was a happy one.
Life is Good
happyone 💕

"I may not have gone where I intended to go,
but I think I have ended up where I intended to be."
~ Douglas Adams

Friday, September 21, 2018

Our first mail

64 degrees this morning and nice and dry, 
not even early morning low hanging clouds.

Walked the Hilly Loop.
A nice calm peaceful walk, uneventful but wonderful to be out walking.
Walked 5.2 miles
🐿     🦌     🐄     🐑
My pantry was getting might low so we headed out to LaVale to the
Walmart out that way and got enough food to refill it again.

I also picked up this cupcake holder for transporting cupcakes.
One holds a dozen but other ones snap together so you can stack
them up and have as many as you need.
Bought two of them today.
When we got back home our first mail was in the mail box.
Blogger friend PomPom wished that I'd get lot of 'happy' mail
and I did. 😊
It was a package from my friend Sara-Jane.
Thank you so much Sara-Jane, I love everything
and so thankful that you are my dear friend.
How cool that the very first mail at the new house was from you.
Sara-Jane and I have been friends since we were 19 years old and were co-workers
in an office.  We only worked together for a short time but have
been friends all these many years.

Late this afternoon we took a long 8 foot picnic table to our church.
They were looking to buy a new one because the old one is rotting away..
We had an extra table at the old house and were just going to leave
it there for the new people.
It worked out good. 😊

 We made steak and onion sandwiches for supper and ate out
on the porch.
It was a beautiful sunny day.

A happy day to you.
Life is Good
happyone  💕

"Always be a little kinder than necessary."
~ Jame M Barrie

Thursday, September 20, 2018

Mailbox

Another dry morning for my walk and the temperatures was 59.
As I got to end of my driveway I saw a raccoon run into the culvert pipe
followed by a second one.  They came out the other end and ran up a tree.
Stared at me while I took a picture (didn't come out - too dark)
and then we all continued on our way.

Didn't walk the Hilly Loop or go into town - not enough time to do either
because had to go out this morning.
Walked up the first hill in the loop and then turned around
and came part way back home.
About a dozen deer ran across the road and ran up this grassy road.
Walked to the main road, turned around back toward home.
Last leg of my walk I walked up the lane a ways and finally back home.
Walked 4 miles
🍄     🍄
Ken has been doing some outside work at our church and since today was 
Baby Blanket day I rode along with him.
There were 10 of us there working.  Mandy brought breakfast this
time and she brought her famous home made donuts.
Helen gave the devotional which was about Grace.

Afterward I helped Ken do a few things and then on the way home
he dropped my off at the old house so I could finally mow the lawn.
Glad to have that chore done.

The other day the mailbox post got painted and today the final
touch was put on which was the red post cap.
So another day winds down.  They sure do go by fast.

A happy day to you.
Life is Good
happyone  💕

"Forgiveness does not change the past,
but it does enlarge the future."
~ Paul Boese

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

A dry day and my front yard project

A dry walk this morning which was nice for a change.
62 degrees with a mix of sun and clouds.
 Also no dogs today. 😊

Nice walking along this brook listening to the water running
over the rocks.  
Walked into town again this morning because I had to mail a letter
so went to the post office first.
Then over to the ball park and walked that loop once.
Next went to the cemetery up the hill and walked around there
a time too.
By then I had walked just over 4 miles so headed back home for a total
of 6.2 miles.

Lisa was running down the hill as I was walking up the hill on
opposite sides of the street.   
I crossed over to say hi and she told me last evening
she became a grandmother.  
Mother and baby doing fine - Amelia Jo is the babby's name.
🍃     🍂     
These next three pictures are of my front yard.
My project is to clear it of all the dead fall and
cut down all the thin little spindly trees.


 At the road there are bushes and vines that we will keep that way
and I think I'll put some of the dead fall there too to make a natural fence.
When I'm done I'll take pictures again.

It was still too wet at the old house to cut the grass so I stayed
here and worked on my front yard project this afternoon.

When I got tired of doing that I sat on the porch
and read.  I'm reading The House of the Seven Gables
by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

It's been a good day.
Life is Good
A happy day to you.
happyone  💕

"If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room,
I would not fear a million enemies.
Yet distance makes no difference.
He is praying for me."
~ Robert M McCheyne

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

A layered sky

Woke up to another rainy morning but this time I got up and went out walking
first thing.  Wore my rain pants, slicker, and took my umbrella as well.
Walked to town and to the old house.
Can't believe I ran into that dog again.  
I've never had so much trouble with dogs now than all the other years
I've been walking.
A lady came out of her house when she heard the dog barking to 
help me and the dog ran away.  
Sure was nice of her and I am thankful.

It was 63 degrees and I was very warm in my pants and slicker,
so ended up taking my slicker off and got wet anyway.
Don't know it I got more wet from the rain or sweating.

When I got home I realized that I didn't take any pictures.
Walked 5.7 miles
🌧     🌧
This picture I took yesterday late in the afternoon from the
front porch.  It is like three skies in one.
Black clouds, white clouds and blue sky.
Those dark clouds brought quite a lot of rain with them.
I had an at home day today.
Got a few things done around the house.
Went through a bunch of papers and got them all filed away
and also got rid of a bunch too.

Made a few weave-it squares for the next baby blanket
while sitting on the porch and also read a while.

It was so nice to see the sun came out in the afternoon.
Couldn't mow the lawn however because the lawn is a bit soggy.
Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny so I will probably get the lawn mowed then.

By the way I didn't chew all that gum to make the wrapper chain.
I had everyone I knew saving wrappers for me and also found lots of
wrappers on the ground as litter.

Hope your day was a happy one.
Life is Good
happyone  💕

"When you finally go back to your old hometown,
you find it wasn't the old home you missed
but your childhood."
~ Sam Ewing

Monday, September 17, 2018

Gum Wrapper Chain

Lots of rain and wind this morning when I woke up so decided to skip
my morning walk.
Later in the afternoon the rain stopped for a little while and I
went out and just walked around the neighborhood.
One of our neighbors has a LONG driveway and just had LOTS
of truck loads of gravel spread along it.
I've been wondering just how long the driveway is so took
a walk up it.
This is the house at the top of the drive.
It is her vacation home so she isn't here very often.
The driveway is just about a quarter of a mile.
🐿     🐿
Put up a couple of valances on the living room windows.
Didn't want to put curtains up to block the view but wanted just a little
something to make it look nice.
The valences were my mothers and she gave them to me many years ago.
🦋     🦋
I sat out on the porch and finished the last couple of weave-it squares
and sewed them together and then sewed last two strips on the baby blanket.
This is the gingham pattern one I've been telling you about.
I am pleased with how it turned out.
🦋     🦋
I came across my old Gum Wrapper Chain hidden away 
in one of my old porcelain containers when moving.

I made it back in the 60's when I was in the sixth grade with
a boy named Timmy who I had a crush on. (Do people even say that anymore?)
Our desks were pushed together and we made it during
the school day when we were supposed to be listening.
You were supposed to make it as long as your boyfriend was tall and then
give it to him but Timmy and I made it together and just wanted to see
how long we could make.
It is 18 1/2 feet long.

 I can't remember how we decided who would keep it.
Maybe Timmy was just nice and let me have it.

The rain came back again this evening.
I need a dry sunny day to get the lawn mowed.
Perhaps tomorrow.

Life is Good
 A happy day to you.
happyone  💕

 "Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.
Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.
The winds will blow their own freshness into you,
and the storms their energy,
while cares will drop off like autumn leaves."
~ John Muir

(I would change the word Nature's to GOD'S)

 A few of you commented on if I will feed the deer and if they would eat flowers and vegetable out of my garden.  My answer to that is that, no, I won't be feeding them.  They seem to have enough to eat just in the woods.  Also I don't plan on having any gardens.  No more weeding or grass mowing for me.  I'd rather live in the woods and have the deer than gardens. 😊 

Sunday, September 16, 2018

Back yard deer

Happy Sunday 

John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, 
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by Him;
and without Him was not any thing
made that was made.
📖     📖
Was outside out back this afternoon when a few
deer came walking along. 
They were there quite a while.
Took some pictures but this was the only one that turned out any good.
I got pretty close  and it was nice just watching them.
 A Blessed Sunday to you.
happyone 💕

Saturday, September 15, 2018

Steam Engine

62 degrees this morning and cloudy when I left on my walk.
A couple periods of misty rain but nothing to get me wet.
A quiet walk to town and thank goodness no dogs today.
Walked through town and to our old house, passed the post office,
and down one of the back streets and then headed back home.

Just before home at the apple tree on the side of the road 
I saw a deer down at the  base of the tree blended in with the grasses
and thought it got hit by a car and was dead.
On a closer look it was hunkered down there sleeping.
I saw it open it's eyes and look at me.
Walked slowly passed on the other side of the street so not to scare it 
and it just stayed there.  

Walked 5.8 miles
🌼     🌼
We went to Oakland this morning to the B & O Railroad museum
where there was a dedication ceremony for this steam engine.
 You will probably have to click to enlarge to read.
Enjoyed walking around town a bit afterward and stopped in and
looked around in one of the antique shops.
Happy to say I didn't find anything I wanted to buy.
 Did a few errands on the way home and also had lunch out.

This afternoon we put up our mailbox at the end of the driveway.
We still have to paint it and pretty it up some so didn't take
a picture yet.

Weather was like yesterday - periods of misty rain and cloudy
and a peak of blue sky every so often.

Enjoying a nice evening at home.
We have Klondike Bars for our snack tonight.
Like everything else there are so many varieties now a days.
We got the original.

Life is Good
A happy day to you.
happyone  💕

"Age does not diminish the extreme disappointment
of having a scoop of ice cream fall from the cone."
~ Jim Fiebig

Friday, September 14, 2018

Outside work

62 degrees this morning and cloudy with a light misty drizzle at times,
though not enough to get me wet.  It actually felt good and kept me cool.

Walked the Hilly Loop.
5.2 miles 

Passing a driveway a dog came running down barking but thankfully
stopped at the end of the driveway and by that time the owner
called her back inside.
Glad I've started taking my walking stick with me.  Makes me feel better 
just having it in case.

The big white house that I pass had two big dogs in the front yard
today and barked but they were part Lab and friendly so wasn't concerned.
The lady of the house came out and said good morning and brought the dogs inside.

This morning walking up the last very steep quarter of a mile hill 
to my house was the first day I didn't have to stop for a rest.
A bit slow going at the end but I made it all the way up. 😊
🐄     🦌     🐕
 Ken went outside right after breakfast to work on the culvert at the
end of the driveway. 
I joined him after getting my morning work done.
 Had to lower the culvert pipe so dug a ditch,
then rolled the pipe into it.
Back filled it.
Also got the mailbox post in. 
End of work day picture.
A couple cows walked up to the fence to take a look at what we were doing.
The nice weather of yesterday only lasted one day.
Today was cloudy and every so often a misty rain would fall.
But it didn't keep us from getting that culvert finished.

And that's been my day.
Life is Good
A happy day to you.
happyone  💕

"Anticipate the day as if it was your birthday
and you are turning six again."
~ Mike Dolan