Layout picture

This morning when I got up it was snowing, windy, and 12 degrees F. 

so once again I walked in the basement.

Another scene from Ken's train layout.

Here's the inside of building he is working on today.

The inside is very detailed.

It will be on the edge of the layout and easy to look into when finished.

Will post a picture of the building when he finishes it.

Did my usual chores around the house in the morning.

Went out around lunch time to do a few errands and

had lunch while we were out.

Another trip to the library to return a book and I 

got 2 more out. 

Looking forward to starting one of them later.

Worked on the latest puzzle a little this afternoon.

Last night I did NOT have ice cream for my snack so looking

forward to having some this evening.

If you're wondering what my snack was - popcorn.  🍿

It's been quite a long time since I had popcorn 

and it was good!

Thanks for stopping by.

A happy day to you.

happyone  ❤️

Snow

No blogging yesterday because it was a long work day at church

on Fingerprints and just wanted to sit in my chair when we got home.

A smaller than normal group of us because of the weather.

Cold, Snowy, and Very Windy.

We still managed to get just over 6,200 books assembled, cut,

and packaged up.

📚     📚

Today was a snowy morning with wind and ice around so did my walking 

making laps around the basement.

Did go outside though for a couple of hours and shoveled

the snow off the driveway.

I enjoy shoveling snow.

It's good exercise, I get out in the fresh air,

and it is a sense of accomplishment getting the driveway cleared.

By the time that was done it was time for lunch. 

The afternoon was spent puttering around the house.

A happy day to you.

Thanks for visiting.

happyone  ⛄️

Taken on the grounds of the Grove Park Inn in NC.

Comment replies:

SusanQ - The colors for the next baby blanket I'm working on are three shades of green. Thought they would be good colors for spring.

Long River Bridge

Time was 6:38 when I left this walking this morning.

A mix of clouds and sun, calm and 44 degrees.

Sunrise 6:55

A nice uneventful walk to town.

Went down the main road and to the post office to mail a letter. 

Then past the day care center and up the hill to the cemetery

and around there a few times.

 Back to the main road and home.

Saw Rebecca out walking and we stopped for a chat.

An old gentleman I see once in a while was out walking too.

He stopped in at the bakery for some donuts.

⛅️     ⛅️

Driving back from NC we stopped at the New River Bridge in West Virginia
after driving over it.

It is a rest area and also there is a little museum about

the building of the bridge.

We walked down the path to here

then continued on down all these stairs.

At the end of the stairs I took these pictures.

What beautiful views standing there looking around.

After spending some time just looking we walked back

up all those stairs.

Some facts about the Bridge.

🌉     🌉

Stayed home today and got some housework done.

After lunch just puttered about doing this and that.

We got another DVD from the library yesterday and last night watched

the first 2 episodes of Scott and Bailey, a British mystery series.

We both liked it. 

That's it for today.

Thanks for stopping by.

A happy day to you.

happyone. ❤️

A busy day

Left the house walking at 6:40.

It was 38 degrees with a light misty drizzle.

Sunrise 6:55

No dog encounter as I walked to town today.

Got to the edge of town and then walked around both 

of the cemeteries a couple of times.

On the way back home I stopped to talk to the boy

at the bus stop.  

I got a text message from Ken when I was about a mile from home.

He looked out the window and wanted to warn me that he

saw 2 unfamiliar dogs roaming around.

One was a shepherd mix, the other a rottweiler.

They didn't sound like such good dogs to run into so

I called and asked him to pick me up just to be on the safe side.

So he came and got me, we didn't see the dogs again.

So I just walked 5 miles outside but I did walk the other

mile inside.

🐕     🐕

A couple more pictures from Beaver Lake when I walked

around it with David.

 While we were visiting David and Liz they showed us this 

 luxurious hotel, the Omni Grove Park Inn near where they live.

I took this back view picture from one of the terraces.

Wow what a place!!

We walked all over, inside and out.

The stone work is amazing!!

Something for Ken to aspire too!  🙂

😀     😀

Went to the library and from there we went food shopping.

Not at Walmart this time.

We went to the Shop and Save in McHenry and it was so much nicer.
I don't think we spent any more because we got lots of
things on sale and 

Tuesday's are senior discount day.

Home to put everything away and a little later we

left for bowling.
The usual 6 of us went.

Today's Scores:
I started out good and went down hill from there.

Mine:
137
118
104

Ken's:
157
116
176

We all went to Denny's after for supper.
I had grilled haddock with roasted potatoes and broccoli
which was very good.

Just about time for our ice cream.
🍨

That's it for today.
Thanks for stopping by.
A happy day to you.
happyone  ❤️

Back Home

During my little blog break we went to North Carolina

to visit our son David and his girlfriend Liz.

  Left Friday and got back last night.

7 hour drive one way.

Sunny weather all three days.

Had a wonderful time

but nice to be back home again.

Up and out of the house at 6:40 this morning.

34 degrees, calm, and cloudy though did see the sun later in the day.

Sunrise 6:57

On the way to town Ki, the little yappy dog came running

in the road after me again.

He seemed meaner than ever and only backed up a couple of

steps when I chased it. I really thought it was going to bite me

this time and had my pepper spray ready but the owner came in the

car and got him.

Continued my walk to town without any more trouble.

Saw 9 deer.

Had a nice walk around town and the ball park loop.

Then over to the lower cemetery and walked around there too

and then headed back home.

On the way home I just got to the bus stop of the little

boy who I stop and talk to if he's there and today he was.

Just as I got there the school bus pulled up.

He rides bus 46 which is one of the drivers who waves to me

all the time and has for quite a few years now.

Some days I see him 3 or 4 times in the morning.

Anyway this was the first morning I actually talked to him.

He said how nice it was to see me walking each morning and that

his name is Mike.  🙂     🚌

Walked 6 miles

☁️     ⛅️

When we were visiting David, Saturday morning I went along with 

him for an early morning walk around a lake he walks around.

Here's a few pictures from our walk around Beaver Lake.

🙂     🙂

Today I did laundry and did all the usual things around the house.

Baked another batch of chocolate chippers
and now have enough for the Sunday school kids this Sunday.

We had to go and do a couple of errands after lunch.

Then spent some time reading.

Now I'm off to catch up with you and see what you've been up to.

 A happy day to you.

Thanks for stopping by.

happyone ❤️

Another glove

Outside walking this morning at 6:40.

It was cloudy, calm, and 19 degrees F.

Sunrise 7:02

Walked to town and on the way stopped to put another glove

on a post.  There are 4 of them now, all in a row.

Once I got to town I walked around the lower cemetery.

Then walked around town before heading back home again.

A routine walk, no people, no animals, just me and myself.

Walked 6 miles

☁️     ☁️

Just had time to get home, change and head out the door

to go to church for a morning of fellowship and working on

baby blankets.

There were 10 of us there today.

Since last time we met one of the woman has gone home

to be with the Lord.

Her passing was unexpected and a complete shock.

The devotional today that Marilyn gave was more of

a memorial for Theresa.

She will be missed.

Didn't do much this afternoon.

Just enjoyed being around home.

I will be taking a little break,

just a few days,

be back soon.

Thanks for stopping by.

A happy day to you.

happyone  ❤️ 

Another puzzle

It is light enough now for me to leave the house at 6:45

when I go walking.

A mix of sun and clouds and just a bit of a breeze.

25 degrees and sunrise was 7:03

Walked to town again.

Made a loop around town and over to the ball park and walked

that loop and then to the lower cemetery and around there

and then headed back home.

Forgot to take along another glove to put on a post.

Will try to remember for tomorrow.

Pretty quiet around town for a weekday but maybe that's

because I'm leaving earlier again.

That little yappy dog Ki came running down the road after me again.

I just pretty much ignore him now.

He just doesn't want to be friends.

Walked my usual 6 miles

🌤     🌤

Made another batch of Chocolate Chippers this morning

and got some of that never ending house work done.

Though cleaning is not one of my favorite things to do,

I do like to have a nice clean and tidy house.

After lunch we drove to town and did a few local errands.

Library
Post Office
and I dropped the recipe off at the dentists.

All the pieces of the latest puzzle are sitting out on the table
ready to be put together.

 Didn't finish reading David Copperfield last night but
did finish it this afternoon.
It is one of my all time favorite books.

Next up to read is
The Revolving Door of Life by Alexander McCall Smith
which I'll start later.

That's it for today.

Nice to have a sunny day.

Hope you had one too.

Thanks for visiting.

happyone  ❤️

Comment Replies:

Rose - I have seen the old version of Anna and the King, but not the new.

New Record

A cloudy morning walk and windy at times.

No sun, but no rain, snow, or ice either so not complaining.

Left the house at 6:50.

Sunrise 7:05

Walked to town.

Just down the road from my house I saw 9 deer.

You can see three of them running up at the top of the corn field.

Just walked to the edge of town and then around the lower

cemetery a couple of times and then headed up the hill

to the other cemetery.

Austin is still moving the hay bales on front and back of the tractor

around and he passed me just as I got to the top of the hill.

With bales on both front and back it reminds me of 

the push me pull me from Dr Dolittle.

Most of the geese are down at the town pond but these two

have found their way to the little pond behind the Drane house.

Walked around the cemetery, back to the main road

and home again.

A woman runner passed by me along the main road

who I've never seen before.

A couple of chipmunks ran across the road.

First I've seen in quite a while.

Walked 6.2 miles

☁️     ☁️

It's been a rainy day but it was nice that it waited till after I was finished walking. 

Well we got the trip to the dentist out of the way for another 6 months.

Very happy to report we both had a great visit.

No problems - good healthy teeth and gums.

The gluten free cookies were a hit and two people have asked

for the recipe.

Told them I'd drop it off.

Dentist visit over lunch time so we went a block away and had lunch

at Annie's Kitchen.

Home for a little while and then we were off again to go bowling.

The 6 of us were there again.

This weeks scores:

Mine:
First game 135
Second game was a new all time high score for me
193
Even took a picture of the score - That's me, Kar second line.

Third game back to normal with a 127.

Ken's:

137
135
138

After bowling we all went to Pizza Hut.

Home now for a Frankie Drake Mystery,
sewing strip number 13 on the weave-it bed spread,
and finishing reading David Copperfield.
Oh yeah, can't forget that bowl of ice cream

That's it for today.

Thanks for visiting.

A happy day to you.

happyone ❤️

Comment Replies:

Deb and Agnes - The only camera I use is my cell phone - a Galaxy J7 Aura. 

Deb - Yes, all three gloves are still there.  I plan to put a few more there.  The first one has been there since November.

A foggy walk

Up and out of the house at 6:50 for a walk in the fog.

It was 27 degrees and calm.

Sunrise 7:06

 Walked to town.

On the way I added another glove to a mile post along the road.

But this one I didn't find,

it is one of my old work gloves.

Ken spray painted it so it would stand out.

Thought it would be fun to put out a few more gloves and see how

long they last there.

Maybe someone else will put some out too.

Walked through town up and down the main road.

Some of the side roads were a bit slick with a light coating of ice

so I stayed on the roads that had grit.

Walked around the lower cemetery a few times.

  

and then back to the main road and home.

Sun trying to break through the fog.

A half mile from home and the sun was shining and  

the fog was just about gone.

Walked just past my driveway to say Good Morning

to the cows.

Still haven't gotten a good picture of the babies.

There are three of them in the picture.  

2 black ones and you can barely see the third one.

It is behind one of the cows and it's white head looks 

like a bit of snow.  It is really tiny.

Walked 6 miles

Found a dime

🌤     💰

I made some gluten free Chickpea Chocolate Chip Cookies
to take to the dentist tomorrow.

I always bring Chocolate Chippers which is always a big hit,

but one of the technicians can't eat them because she is on a 

gluten free diet.

So tomorrow she will be surprised to get some cookies too.

I got the recipe off of blogger friend Lisa's blog.

Didn't think I'd like them but they are surprisingly good

and Ken liked them too.

Got some work done in the morning and in the afternoon
made weave-it squares and read.

Sure was nice to have a day of sunshine.

That's it for today.
Thanks for visiting.
A happy day to you.
happyone  ❤️

Comment Replies:

SusanQ - We have watched the Miss Fisher mysteries and like them as well.

I've forgotten who but someone asked a while ago how many vehicles and people Ken has on his train layout.

A lot of people ask that and Ken has been keeping a running total.  This is the total so far.

Parable of the house built on the rock

Luke 6:45-49

KJV

45.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart 

bringeth forth that which is good; 

and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart 

bringeth forth that which is evil: 

for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

46.  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, 

and do not the things which I say?

47.  Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, 

I will shew you to whom he is like:

48.  He is like a man which built an house, 

and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: 

and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, 

and could not shake it: 

for it was founded upon a rock.

49.  But he that heareth, and doeth not, 

is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; 

against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; 

and the ruin of that house was great.

📖     📖     📖

Little stream behind the baseball park

where I walk around.

A blessed Sunday to all.

happyone  ❤️

Comment Replies:

Sandi - The DVD we got from the library was the next disc of Frankie Drake Mysteries. 

Walking in the sunshine

When I got up this morning it was 7 degrees F so didn't leave 

on my walk.

It was supposed to get warmer though and the sun was to come out

so I waited till later to go walking.

Sunrise 7:09

Had breakfast, did my usual morning chores and by

10:00 it had warmed up to 20 degrees and the sun was shining.

So that's when I left walking to town.

How nice to walk in the sunshine!!

Once to town walked up and down the main road and passed my old

house.  Then over to the ball park and walked around there 

a couple of times.

Continued on over to the cemetery on top of the hill and

walked around there too.

After I had walked 6 miles I walked over to the library

and met Ken there.

Another DVD and magazine had to be dropped off
and I checked out two more books.

Found a penny

🌤     💰     📚

 From the library we drove over to the lake and had

lunch at Subway.

Back home I finished doing a few things around the house and then made

a few squares and read.

I took this picture last night when we were sitting in our

comfortable chairs reading in front of the fire.

Hope you got to see some sunshine today too.

A happy day to you.

Thanks for stopping by.

happyone  ❤️ 

Scarf

Another day of walking loops around Ken's trains.

This morning it was 14 degrees, windy, and snowing and the

snow plow hadn't been by yet.

Another train layout picture

I finished Tricia's scarf last night.

The pattern is just one row repeated

and the name of the pattern made me smile.

Mistake Stitch Pattern

Cast on an odd number of stitches to make the scarf the width you want.

Knit 2, Purl 2, to end of row, Purl last stitch

Repeat this one row till the scarf is as long as you want it.

I used size 11 needles.

Now for the next week I'll be making weave-it squares.
This time for the bedspread I'm making for our bed.
I work on it in between baby blankets.

Ken went to breakfast with Edd and afterward
went to Walmart and got some food shopping done.
Food shopping is not my favorite thing so it's always
nice when Ken does that.
It was nice putting everything away in my nice
organized pantry.

Just did this and that around the house.
Temperature stayed in the teens all day.
Sun looked like it would pop out at times but never did.

That's it for today.
Thanks for stopping by.
Happy Valentine's Day. ❤️
happyone   🥰

Comment Replies:

Gretchen - Shoes: I've worn different brands throughout the years.  Like you, I'd find a brand and by the time I needed new shoes they were unavailable.  I wear one pair of shoes until they wear out.  The shoes I wear now and absolutely love are Keen.  Here is the link to the ones I wear.  Women's Keen Hiking Voyageur. While finding the link I saw that they were on sale and just bought 2 more pair!!  These are the most comfortable walking shoes I've ever had!!  They are noted for being a wider shoe which is great for me.  

On snowy days I have a pair of LL Bean Snow sneakers, a pair of low and also a pair of high tops.  

Rose - No, I've never done a mosaic or a mystery puzzle.

Ruth - I'm hoping that will happen with my missing puzzle piece.

Eileen - Our local library only has a couple of Anne Rule books too, but you can request others and they will get them from other libraries for you.

Puzzles

A cold, windy, rainy morning and I woke up later than usual

and decided to walk inside today.

No outside pictures so here's another train picture.

Baked Chocolate Chippers this morning and put them in the freezer.

First batch for the kids at Sunday school.

(for March 1)

Also set aside 18 of them to bring to the dentist next week when

we go for our 6 month cleaning.

We did finish the 500 piece easy puzzle yesterday.

BUT there is a piece missing.

Looked high and low but couldn't find it.

If it doesn't show up I'll just throw away the puzzle.

Speaking of puzzles, GrannyM asked a couple of questions about our puzzles.

Do we get them at thrift stores?

No, we don't have any good thrift stores around here.

We just buy them in stores when we come across one we like.

Since people know we like to do puzzles people give them to us too.

Do we redo the puzzles?

Yes, we take them apart and do them again and again.

I've glued two of them to keep and they are hanging on the wall.

One of birds, and one of cows in a pasture.

When we don't want the puzzle anymore we will give it away

or when a piece goes missing, just throw the puzzle away.

Got all the puzzles we have out today and put them out on the table.

Didn't realize we had such a huge collection of them.

There are 40 puzzles.

We could open our own puzzle store!  🧩  🙂

We found a show on DVD from the library that is quite good.

Frankie Drake Mysteries

It is a PBS show from Canada set in Toronto in the 1920's.

It is a lot like the Murdoch Mysteries which we liked as well.

Didn't finish the scarf yet but hoping to this evening.

That's all for today.

Thanks for stopping by.

A happy day to you.

happyone  🥰

Comment Replies:

Deb - Don't think you would care much for the Anne Rule books Ken is reading.  They are true crime stories about serial killers.

Vee - Yes, I washed those dirty coins that I found.

RK - No, Ken didn't throw the coins there for me to find. 🙂 He has been known to throw one on the driveway once in a while, but I don't count them.

Also about the money I find walking - I just save the coins.  I have found some paper money once in a while too.  A dollar here and there and one time I found a $20 bill.