The good, the bad, and the ugly.........

The good is that my birthday is tomorrow and I will be 76!  I can't believe I've lived this long.  The bad part is I have had sciatica for 3 days now and if I move a certain way it feels like someone hit me with a cattle prod and I literally yell out loud.  It wakes me up several times in the night but today I finally called the doc and he prescribed a pain reliever as the Tylenol wasn't doing the trick.  The ugly part is that Sunday we are supposed to get an ice storm and I need to get firewood in the house and more kindling but with my back/hip I'm not sure how that's going to work.  I just got the pain reliever today and they delivered it as I can't drive in this condition....not sure I could even get into my truck.  I did manage to sweep out the fireplace a bit and bring some kindling in but I will wait until tomorrow to bring in the firewood.  I have plenty in the garage without having to go outside but I'll need kindling as once it rains there won't be any that is dry.  I pray we don't lose power.

Meanwhile, I have done some handwork.  I'm almost done with the 2nd row on my granny square blanket using the join as you go method.  There are 14 squares in each row.  This isn't mine but since I can't take pictures anymore this is the designer's blanket and I am following her colors and placement.

I'm almost done with my Star cross stitch...........I only have the last row which is 4 stars and part of a border......this photo is old and I'm not even done with the 3rd row in this picture.  I am going to work on it until it is done!

I do have a birthday start with a pattern I've had for awhile..........January Wordplay by With Thy Needle and Thread (Brenda Gervais).......she has one for every month too.....It's not too big so hopefully I can finish it this month...........

I made my Goodreads Challenge in 2024 of 52 books actually I read 54 and now I've upped my challenge for this year to 62 books.....we'll see.  I'm reading some Leslie Meier "Lucy Stone" mysteries and I'm enjoying them.

What are you enjoying in this quiet time after the holidays?
 

Happy Trails!!!

Happy New Year!!!

Did you celebrate last night?  I watched WIP parades on You Tube and read.  I was in bed by 8:00 p.m. with lights out! LOL!  I am an early morning person and always have been and it's easy since I live alone.

Do you make plans for the New Year?  I do.  Today there will be a fire in the fireplace, some hot eggnog with spiced rum and a blank notebook to write down all my categories and goals for 2025 divided by months.  This by no means indicates that I will accomplish them...I just enjoy the wishful thinking.  I alway love the time between Christmas and New Years to reflect, and plan, and dream!

Happy New Year!!!

 

Happy Trails!!!

 
 

How was your Christmas???

 I have spent the past 22 years by myself for all holidays but I truly enjoy them.  I got lovely presents and purchased a few for myself that I saved for Christmas morning.  I watched the game and crocheted and had good food!

I'm already starting to make  plans for 2025.  I sent cards and visited with my 2 new neighbors and they are very nice.  The one couple remodeled an existing house and the other couple built a brand new house on the lake and it is gorgeous!

I watch a podcast called Rose Red Homestead on You Tube and they are an older couple in their 70's and they focus on Emergency Preparedness, Food Security, and Self Reliance.I watched them the other day and it was called Gadgets for Seniors and Everyone Else.  It was excellent and they test out everything and not just one type of that item.  There were several jar and bottle openers, a stepladder with hand rails,  a button zipper fastener, a grabber/reacher tool, a standing aid support, and a car handle assist.  I've already ordered the car handle assist for my truck.  She has a truck too and like mine there is a handle above to grab onto but this gadget allows you to push up with your other hand.  I'm thinking of the standing aid also or maybe one of those gardening cushions with the handles on both sides.  I could use it in the house not just gardening. 

They have a good video on various options and tools for when the power grid goes down also.  Check them out!

 

 Happy Trails!!!

 

 

 

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

I pray you are all safe and well and enjoying this holiday season!

Happy Trails!!!
 

Some new favorite products!!!

 It's been a busy week already but the Advent gifts are off in the mail and should arrive tomorrow.  My SIL's gift is coming on the 10th and the boys want the Disney channel again.  I still want to give them something to open and Amy is going to send me some suggestions.  Grayson loves pickles so I found "an emotional support"  pickle for him....

A really nifty product I got for my cross stitch works in progress that are not presently being worked, are these.........they could be used for many things and they are reasonably priced.........they are on Amazon.  Now I can hang them in my closet....

  I also noticed that Pillsbury has come out with all sorts of new products like muffin dough, banana bread dough and apple and cherry crescent rolls.....I've had the apple ones and they were very good and now I'm going to try the cherry ones........

You can keep them in your frig until needed....maybe even for a last minute gift or potluck.  They are quick to make.  Actually you could make  your own from regular crescent rolls.

Did I tell you about my new neighbor?  He and his wife live around the corner from me and I think they've lived there about a year maybe.  Anyway, my mailbox has been missing a door for quite awhile.  It was the contract mail person that works once in awhile.  I can't hire anyone for little jobs like that so it's sat like that for several years.  Well, this new neighbor stopped by to introduce himself.  People around the corner have to drive by my house to get to town.  I always wave but I really don't know any of them as I never drive that way.  Anyway, I was getting my mail one day and he stopped and said he wanted to install a new mailbox for me.  I told him it wasn't necessary.  He said it would make him happy to do it for me.  I told I would pay him but he said no.  A few days later I went out to get the mail and there was a brand new mailbox....with a door!!!  I tried to take him a thank you note and some cash but he wasn't home.  Then I saw him again and he said they were going out of  town.  The other day he was back and stopped and brought me a beautiful poinsettia plant!  I was flabbergasted!  I have lived here over 20 years and have never received such kindness and generosity.   Needless to say, I made the apple crescents and took them over with a Christmas ornament and a card with $100.  It was such a great feeling to have such a friend like that and he was a stranger to start with.  When I first offered to pay him he said  "just pass it forward". There are "angels among us"!

Santa's workshop is still busy and probably will be until Christmas Eve!  Are you ready for the big day?

Here's so much cuteness I can hardly stand it!     

Happy Trails!!!

Great Thanksgiving!

 I hope yours was as well if you celebrate Thanksgiving. I had good food and watched some great football and worked on cross stitch and my crochet blanket.  This is Sandra Paul's free pattern on her Cherry Heart website or on Ravelry.  It is 28 squares across and 24 down.  I have 2 more squares to go and I will be finished with row #1 of 24 which are all joined together.  I am  using the Join As You Go (JAYG) method that she has instructions for.  I've used several of her knitting and crochet patterns and they are very well written and super easy to understand.

This is a picture of her finished blanket since I can no longer upload photos from my camera.....I had to order several yarns but she used Style Craft Special DK and I had many of them already.  A few I substituted for other DK yarns to get the right colors.  It's very enjoyable, easy to memorize and just the project I needed for when I watch t.v.  

Yesterday, I got all the lights up and decorations for Christmas.  I've always wanted to get the decorations up the day after Thanksgiving but this is the first time I actually got it done!  Yay me!

I also got in on some Black Friday online deals and watched the Chiefs win again!!!  Yay!

Today, I am putting the Advent gifts in order and wrapping.  I have one more gift that is to arrive Tuesday but I can get the rest ready.  How are you doing on your decorating and gift wrapping?  It's a good time to do it as there are plenty of leftovers and no cooking required for a few days at least!

Happy Trails!!!

Turkey Day...or not...

I made the pumpkin pie yesterday and I got up early this morning to make the other sides.  The game starts at 11:30 so I will put the turkey in then.  I get a Butterball turkey breast which you don't have to thaw first unless you want to.  I'll make sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce, and a lime pear jello salad.  It rained yesterday afternoon but the sun is shining this morning.  It's supposed to get to 53 today.  

I hope you all have a great day whether you have turkey or not!

  Happy Trails!!!