Crazy Weather

We have had the craziest weather this past week. We had snow for Christmas and it was cold. The following day we go to 68 degrees which melts all of the snow. We then have thunder, lighting, tornado warnings, freezing rain, and snow all within approximately twenty four hours. This is end of December not spring. We have had such strange weather the whole year. As the saying goes just stick around if you don't like it, it is guaranteed to change. We haven't had as bad as others have, but it is unusal for us to have the tornado warnings. I know the lighting sounded to close to the house for my liking. I have had lighting strike our home once, and I really don't care to have it hit again.

Looking out the window it is melting and the temperature says that we are up to 45 degrees. I think that is why the streets have not been treated because they thought that it would melt and they would save on the salt.

The New Year is coming and we will hope that it brings good things for all of us. The winter has been bad in respect to the terrible cold and the construction work is at a stand still for most of people. A lot of the people have put their projects on hold because they don't know what the economy is going to bring. I know at work we only have four people working at this time.

We had a good Christmas spent with family and friends. It made me tired to watch the boys play they have so much energy. The oldest two tried to take their Corgi puppy sledding, but he didn't care about that. He would sooner run beside the sled.

I am working on a few new projects and I need to get back to them. Happy New Year.

Shopping is done

The shopping is done and the North wind is blowing. The wind chill is what really makes it bad. We had another cold front come through this morning. We started our running today and I felt so good. We didn't use the wheel chair today which made me very happy. We were on parking lots that the snow had been pushed and the ice had been treated. I picked up the two pieces of costume jewelry that I had repaired at my favorite jewelry store. I haven't found anything that they couldn't do for me. It is family owned and been in business for a very long time. They make you feel like you are part of their extended family.
Today was a good day because my husband walked every place we went and didn't use the wheel chair . I really pray that it is a good sign. Work will be short this next week because we are closing at noon on Christmas Eve.
The weather is really being unpredictable right now, because people are getting bad weather in places that is usually warm. Of course they say that it is global warming.
I haven't got my latest project done and won't be in time for Christmas. I had to many other things in the fire. I will post a picture of it after it is finish.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to each and every one of you.

Shopping with Wheel Chairs

I finally decided that it was time to start my Christmas shopping. I decided I would go to our mall because they have a Penny's, Sears, Dillard's and others plus it would be inside out of the wind that was so horrible. I knew that Penny's had a handicap door so it would be easy to get into their store. How many places have handicap doors to help you get into their store, but don't have the handicap button's to push to let you out. That is exactly the situation with their store. They are spending a lot of money redoing our mall with promises of new shops. I haven't seen any new shops yet. You have some very friendly people who help you and those that stand in your way and you would like to hit them with the wheel chair.
I can still hear the wind which is really blowing. They say they registered over 40 miles a hour. I know when I took my car to the shop this morning it was hard at times to keep it where I wanted it.
I hope tomorrow will be better weather wise so maybe I can finish up. It will be another day of shopping with the wheel chair.
Happy Holidays

December 9,2008

I haven't blogged for a few days so I thought I would tonight before I go to bed. It has been terribly cold and windy, but we didn't get the rain or snow that they were predicting so we got lucky. Tomorrow will be the 1 year anniversary of our terrible ice storm of last year. I am hoping that we don't have another one. I had to scrape some ice off my windows, but we were so warm last night it didn't stick to the streets.

I have been in the baby-sitting business with my grandsons. I just don't watch all three at once. I could probably do it, but I don't think I want to try.

I haven't started my Christmas shopping as of yet. My husband can't walk that far so we use a wheel chair and some people are nice and hold the door open while others shut it in your face and they see you coming. I try to pick a time that maybe we won't have a lot of people to contend with.

I have my list made so that I can check it off as I go. We looked at some of the Christmas lights over the weekend. There is a house that has a lot of decorations that all move with the music. The Christmas trees change colors and is really unique.

We usually have our party after the holidays at work because it is hard to fit every body's schedule. It is rather nice to do it then.

Morning will come early so I need to close this post.

November 29,2008

Thanksgiving is over and now our thoughts turn to Christmas. Santa and his reindeer tea towel has arrived. I decided it wouldn't be Christmas without some so I am in the process and these are a couple of the first ones that I have got done and will be going into my shop at http://shirleystitches.etsy.com plus some other new items.

We had our first snow today and it is snowing at the present time. The ground is on the warm side so it is not accumulating as much as it could. I always want a the grass to be white, but the streets to be clear.

How many of you remember the coasting party and all the fun that you can have in the snow.

Did any of you ever eat snow ice cream when you were growing up. I can remember using my mom's wash tub as a sled. We even used the scoop shovel turned backwards. We got in trouble for it , but it was sure a lot of fun. We went to a one room school house when I started to school. We would take our sleds and go coasting at the lunch. Of course, we didn't get much accomplished in the afternoon , because
we didn't want to come in. It sure was a lot of fun and the sch0ol house is still standing.

We don't really want a winter like last with all the snow and ice storm. The snow I can handle, but I don't like the snow.

People were out shopping on black Friday, but I chose to babysit my two oldest grandsons. It was much easier and I didn't have to worry about trying to push a wheel chair through a croud. It definitely was more enjoyable.

November 23,2008

Christmas is going to be here before we are really ready for it. When I was looking to see what I had completed for Christmas, I discovered the Christmas napkins that I had worked on while my husband was in the nursing home recuperating from a broken leg a couple of years ago. I had put them aside and like other things forget where I have put them.The pillow is one that was made by my mother-in-law who loved to sew. She did a lot of had sewing, embroidering, crocheting, you name it she loved to do it. The church was always asking her to embroidery tea towels for the bazar. I just wish that I had learn to do tatting that she also did.

The antique brooch and earrings are a set that I had found when I was going through boxes. I have a lot of things yet to go through and it all takes time. There is a name on the back of it, but I haven't been able to make it out. I thought perhaps someone reading this might recognize it and tell me more about it.

I listed them in my shop at http://shirleystitches.etsy.com

I have been working on my Christmas Santa Tea Towels. I had put the patterns aside which I am famous in my family for laying something aside and then I can't find them for a while. I always do eventually.

It was such a beautiful day that we took a ride today to look at some new countryside that we hadn't been before. The Christmas decoration decorating the streets in small towns puts larger cities to shame, because they are to busy decorating their malls to be sure to get the people to come to their locations.
You even find little country restaurants that are unique for their home style cooking to make the ride more enjoyable. Of course, you always eat to much, but it sure is good.
I need to get back to my stitching or I won't get done what I need.

November 18, 2008

The first two November 18th is what happens when you haven't saved your blog and the lights go out for a few minutes. I tried my first attempt to take a sunset after a rainy afternoon when the sun finally came out.I don't usually do that, but it looked so pretty. I like sunsets and the trees fall color. I have spent some time visiting StarryDeborah's blog about her trip to Paris.The pictures made you think that you were actually going right along with her. The art work and stain glass windows were really something special.
I have a couple of My Elegant Lady tea towels that will be going into my shop. As you can see I like the ones that have a little more detail to them at times. It is my relaxation, but tonight has been spent on the computer instead.
It is getting closer to Christmas and we are all busy trying to get things done for our shops. I visited CarriesCozyCottage and she sure does have some pretty jewelry. I will be paying somemore visits as my time allows. I usually try to spend one night doing nothing but reading other people's blog. You see so many neat pictures of scenry and what they are working on.

We have a week until Thanksgiving where I am sure we will all eat to much as we usually do.It is a time for family and friends to get together and share the day.We will spend the day in the country at our son's. I will have fun with our three grandson's. They will make you tired from just watching them play.

I just looked at the clock and it is time for me to go to bed because tomorrow is another working day.

November 15, 2008

We had been out to our son's for his birthday. He was the lucky one who got the horse picture that I won in the raffle. His birthday cake was cherry cup cakes with cherry icing because he doesn't really care for cake and I don't know why. Matt had taken his bath and had put his new Mickey mouse pajamas on that we got him for his birthday and the foot is his older brothers. We will be babysitting them the Friday after Thanksgiving while their mommy and daddy do a craft show. They will take some tea towels of mine and a few other items. I would sooner spend the time with them then go elsewise because I do not tolerate the cold very good at the moment.

I have been working on my etsy shop rearranging some of the items and listing a few new items. I had to recharge my camera for some reason when the battery runs down you don't get good pictures. I really can't understand why. I will work on some more pictures tomorrow. I will be adding some more antique costume jewelry that belong to my mother-in-law and other things.

We have had one cold front go through and we are expecting another one. We had some rain but no snow as of yet.

I must tell you about a wonderful Christian group of college kids that came and rake my leaves today around the house. They got out of the vehicles and told me the Calvary had arrived. It didn't take them to long and the only payment they wanted was posing in a group picture and praying with them before they left. I had been having problems with my back when I bent down or over wondering if I would get back up or straightening up so this was very much god sent for me. They were a wonderful group and it was their way of giving back to the community before they head home for Thanksgiving. I told them I didn't expect them to rake my two acres, which I have been told we should sell it and get something smaller, but when you built it and lived here a long time you hate to give it up. When the health requires, it maybe.

November 10, 2008

Our fall color has really taken a toll from the cold and winds that we had late last week and over the weekend. They are now more to the browns and grays. We have been fortunate that we have only had rain so far, but we know that it is getting closer to the time we get the snow.

I had to take time out to watch Dancing with the Stars. I am not sure who I want to win, but it is so much fun to watch. Even the younger generation that gets the opportunity to do their dance. They are in the age range from 8-13 years old. I always have like the dance competitions and ice skating. Our daughter completed in ice skating in her younger years individually and on a precision team and we got to do some traveling to different locations that we would not have gone to except for a competition.

I am not really ready to get the winter clothes out yet, but I guess I am going to have to do

Trees can be very pretty, but you have a lot of leaves to rake and pickup. I know I did several bags and it didn't even seem like I made a dent. They accumulate so bad right in front of my basement door.

We won't be taken as many drives when the weather starts changing. I already know we won't be doing the Loess Hills Scenic drive this year. We should have done it last week, but I had to many irons in the fire. We went down toward Atchison, Kansas this past Sunday.The river bluffs wasn't as pretty as the week before. You could sure tell that the weather had changed and the wind was strong. Oh well there is always next year and who knows what it will bring.

We just take everyday we are given and try to enjoy it the best we can because every moment is precious.

November 5,2008

My oldest son and grandson with his new lamp that I made him for his birthday. My grandson loves anything John Deere. I decided to do him a lamp for his room that he could use when he is laying on his bed which has a bookcase in the head board. We started him a collection of John Deere tractors and implements from the time he was olded enough to have them.

I need to get busy and make the other two a lamp but I haven't found a lamp that works and I didn't really want to pay full price for one. This one was found at a garage sale and I just reworked it to fit what I wanted. I just don't have enough hours in a day to devote to all of the things I like to do.

Our oldest has always built things out of lego's with the younger generation. He even still likes to build with lego's and see what kind of designs he can come up with. He got each of our grandsons their first set of lego's and help them build something with them. It keeps them very entertained that is for sure.

I can't wait to see the boys in their halloween costumes. Our youngest grandson went as a monster truck. Our middle one got to wear his pajamas to day care for halloween. That way they didn't have a lot of costumes to have to help the little ones with when they had to go to the bathroom.

The election is over and I am glad. We don't have to listen to the political ads anymore nor do we come home to find our answering machine full of them. It is was a little frustrating when you waiting for a message from the doctor's office.

I don't know if we will get to take our drive up the Loess Hills scenic highway or not this coming weekend because they are saying their is a chance of snow. I'll keep you posted on that one.

November 2. 2008

Our drive today took us to Northwest Missouri and Iowa seeing countryside over rural two lane highways looking at the fall color which is really pretty. It is my favorite time of the year. We found out where the Loess Hills scenic drive starts at Rock Port, Misssouri going to Council Bluffs, Iowa. The hills that we did see had a lot of color and some looked like they went straight up and down. We may do that drive later before the cold weather really sets in.

There were a lot of farmers working in the fields trying to get their crops out. I know when you meet them on the highway you have to be careful because there just is enough room for you to get by. They wave at you when you meet them on the rural highways.

We saw where they were building another wind farm in Northwest Missouri around Rock Port and Tarkio, Missouri. Rock Port is supplying their community from their wind farm, but you still need electricity to help make it work.

We had an enjoyable outing seeing a lot of countryside and that is the main thing.

November 1, 2008

I thought you might like to see the fall color in my back yard. We have raised them from babies. We even have a pecan and english walnut, but have yet got any harvest because the squirrels beat us to them, which I really don't mind.

We took our drive today to see the fall color because you don't know how much longer it will last. We have been taking a lot of two lane highways and seeing the countryside. A lot of the farmers are busy trying to get their crops out. I usually try to pick routes that will have the bluffs and hills. We never know which direction we are going, but it is fun and gives my husband an outing. He isn't feeling the best in the world right at the moment. They say it is allergies and put him on allergy medicine. I haven't decided if they are right or not because when he coughs it sounds awfully loose. He doesn't cough anything up.

Halloween is over and the next thing will be Thanksgiving. I will have a long weekend which always makes me happy. The last day of the month is always statement day which is an all day process. I always manage to get it done if everybody cooperates and leaves me alone.

I am still fighting with the insurance company. They told me when I called that we were through the donut hole and I would not have any problems when I went to pick up his medicine up. I gave them a day before I went so that they could do what ever they had to do. I went to get his medicine and I was told that it would be over $200.00 I just about had a heart attack. I told them I wasn't paying it because I was through the donut hole. We called the insurance company again and was told that the one who told me that I wouldn't have any problems didn't have the authority to tell me that. It would take 2 to 5 days while they audited the account but admitted that I was through the donut hole. I told them that they should have someone that could make the decision involving problems on each shift because appologies just didn't cut it. They just didn't want to pay the claim because now they have to pay 95% of his high dollar medicine. A word of advice to all of you who have medicare and prescription d insurance be sure that you keep track of what you spend on medicine when it comes to the donut hole because they will definitely trying collecting more then they should.

I have a surprise 40th anniversary party to go to so I better get my self in gear as I like to say.

October 27, 2008

This blog may not be of interest to many of you, but I just got off the phone with the insurance company and they were trying to tell me I wasn't through the donut Hole. I needed somewhere to vent my frustrations. There is a lot of adjustments when you reach the age where you have to be on medicare and your group insurance doesn't want to be your secondary. They sell you the prescript d for medication that isn't suppose to have a gap, but it does. They use everything you pay and they pay to get you a certain level and then it is only what you pay that goes toward their lovely donut hole. If I sound a little irriated, I am. I was told that possible I could qualify for help which isn't an option unless I am ready to give up my day job. You want to be independent and take care of your family,but sometimes it is a big struggle.

We definitely don't need anymore government control of our lives that is for sure. You need to be able to make the choice of what is best for your life. I can see so many ways that the insurance could save money that is being wasted. They will pay for blood transfusions, but they won't pay for the medication that keeps you from having to have one. It just does not make good sense how they reach their decisions. Sometimes I feel that they think if you get frustrated enough that you will just give up.

So much for my getting it off my chest as the saying goes, It is Monday, the day we wish we could wipe off the calendar because usually it is a complaint day. I only answer the telephone and some days I don't even want to do that.

I am watching the temperature drop as I write this. It is suppose to get down to 22 degrees tonight. It definitely will help the people with allergies. We are suppose to get back up to 65 by Wednesday. It sure is cooky weather and if you don't like it, stick around it will change.

We lost our electricity yesterday because of high winds. I was in the middle of trying to down load some more pictures and needless to say I have to start over because of that.

Do you like carving pumpins? These were carved by my oldest two grandsons, and their mommy. Matt's is the spider and Jacob's the ghost.

PRETTY FALL DAY

The color is getting to be really pretty if you go south, but it hasn't got that far north. This color is from my back yard which is getting there, but not all of the way as of yet. This group of trees we planted when we first built our home over 42 years ago. When we built our home it was like living in country only we were in the city limits. We had the deer that would come close enough to the house that I could look out my window and see them. Now we have a houing development built up all around us. We don't get to see near the wild life that we use to do.

The top picture is in our back acre the trees were very small when we planted them. When our yard is all mowed it looks like a park, which some of the neighbor kids think that it is and belongs to the city. They have tried riding their 4 wheelers and dirt bikes back there. They escape the ice storm last year but my two blue spruces did not.

Matts Bike

Matt's bike with training wheels. He is so proud of it and loves riding. It didn't take him very long to learn how to ride it. His mommy had to lay down some ground rules as to where his older brother and him could ride or he would try going where ever brother went. He thinks he is as big as brother who is 9.

October 20, 2008

The weekend was absolutely gorgeous. I went to my first Road Show taking my antique tapestries that I knew nothing about. They told me what they were and gave me an idea of their value. They weren't buying that kind of things, but they are looking for costume jewelry. I had watched the shows on television, but I had never gone to something like this.

The weekend was Homecoming for Northwest Missouri State. The high school that I graduated from was on the college campus so we always have a reunion on Saturday evening a catered dinner and visiting with friends. This next year will be our 50th class reunion. It doesn't seem like it has been that long. It usually turns off cool for the parade, but warms up for the football game.

My trees in my backyard are starting to get pretty. I am going to try to get home early enough to take a picture so that I can put it on my blog for you all to see. We probably won't get to do our usual weekend trip around the countryside because we have our grandson's 4th birthday party in the afternoon and our son-in-law suprise 40th birthday party that evening. I figure I will need Sunday to recuperate.

I hope the weatherman is wrong but our weather is suppose to turn cold and rainy with possibilites of snow flurries and it is on the end of October.

Rainy Day

It has been rainy and cool the last couple of days. I have been busy working on my embroidery work . I have completed this one to the left, but I haven't posted it to my etsy shop yet.

We have been doing our weekend sight seeing of the fall color. This next weekend there should be more and by the end of the month it should really be pretty.

It is our favorite time of the year to travel because most of the time it will be cool enough for a light jacket and warm enough that you are without in the afternoon.

Sunday will be our big day of 45 years. It doesn't really seem that long until you look at the ages of our children and grandchildren. We usually go to Branson for our anniversary, but we won't this year we have to many doctor appointments in the next couple of weeks and with my husband on a soft food diet it is hard to find a restaurant that caters to people with special needs,

Our grandson cried when his mommy and daddy told him they had to come home from their trip. He would go again in a heart beat if you asked him. We will celebrate his fourth birthday very shortly. I tried to scan a picture of his new puppy, but I have to work on that for a while. His puppy is a Corgi.

I will close this post for tonight.

October 4, 2008

Our son and his family left Thursday afternoon for Branson, Missouri for a short vacation. If their youngest would have had his way, they would have left at 1 o'clock in the morning when he had to go to the bathroom. Mommy told him that he had to go back to bed. I tried to scan a picture in of them, but I have to figure out how to make them fit the way that I want them to do. They stopped at Lambert's for dinner which is one of our favorite foods. They throw rolls which is always fun. The food is really good and if you are hungry when you leave it is nobody fault. but your own.

They had planned on going to Silver Dollar City which was to have the antique tractors and my daughter-in-law was going to a cooking show. I would love to go there later this month, but unfornuately we have to many doctor appointments and I can't be gone other then for that. I will try to change the pictures that I scanned to see if I can get them to fit better.

Any body for a Ride

A beautiful day for two little boys to go horse back riding with Trica leading Charley. All you had to do was ask if they wanted to go for a ride and they were right there. They had such a good time. Our oldest grandson was riding Money what a name for a horse. He was suppose to ride in a couple of events, but changed his mind after he saw what he was going to be doing. He hasn't been riding this horse that long yet. They were having a raffle on a couple of pictures, one of two mule heads and the other of a horse framed with barnwood. They were really neat. I thought I was just making a donation, but I actually won the horse picture. Ethan in grandpa's cowboy hat is 3 and Matt will be 4 this month. It was a beautiful day but everybody was tired. Ethan took a 4 hour nap after being out in the fresh air. I fell asleep in the chair that evening.

Beautiful Sunday Afternoon

We just got back from a Sunday drive through the country side. It is so nice outside and makes you think that you are getting closer to the fall of the year. We are known to take off for wherever we want to go and never know where we will end up. We took a drive along the bluffs and river to Leavenworth, Kansas coming home a different way where you kind of make a circle. I will do some more work on my latest project so I can get some new things posted. All of the things that I do can seen athttp://shirleystitches.etsy.com/ . We also took time out to go see our grandsons new puppy, a Corgi name shorty seven weeks old and so very cute. Our 4 year old has so much fun playing with him, but they found out he doesn't like the rain. I will be talking with you all later.

Sept. 4th, 2008

I have been working trying to get my blog going, which I get frustrated at times when I can't get things to load like I want. I just keep trying.

We have a rainy two days. It has been in the 60's during the day and in the 50's at night. Our weather has been so very crazy. It makes you think of fall that is quickly approaching. I like the fall because of all of the colors of the leaves.

Anybody belong to Red Hat ladies. It is one of the organizations in our area, but unfortunately I am not retired from working yet.

I stayed up last night listening to our new lady vice president nominee. I wonder how many people will be prejudice against her. I think we need a change. Women do a lot besides raising our families, working, and everything else. I think we should have the opportunity to run for President if we so desire.

Sweet Dreams

http://www.shirleystitches.etsy.com/ Two of my latest creations have added to my etsy shop. I keep adding new things as I get them done. We just returned from a short trip to Branson over Labor Day weekend. I checked my shop to see if I had sold anything and still nothing. I keep wondering if I am doing something wrong that I haven't been able to get a sale. I keep hoping that some one will see something that they like. I will have more time to work with my husband going into the hospital to have dental work done. He has a bleeding disorder that requires hospitalization. I would like to hear from somebody to see what they think. Ihttp://shirleystitches@sbcglobal.net I have been listening to the rain. We have only dropped over 12 degrees and we are suppose to get to 58 degrees tonight. It makes you wonder if you need the air conditioning or the furnace. Our trip was enjoyable and what we needed to get away from everything even though I wished it could have been longer. We rode the dukw and took the tour of historic downtown Branson and we went out on Lake Taneycomo and enjoyed seeing the back side of the Landing. Seeing the new restaurants and all.

The Clay Cooper show was very enjoyable with country music, dancing, and comedy. A show for the whole family. I just wish we had more time but it wasn't possible this trip, maybe next.