Happy Halloween!!!

 

I put these decorations up awhile ago and good thing because it is storming today!  What a cozy, creepy Halloween!  Supposedly it is supposed to clear off by afternoon and the sun will come out just in time for the Trick or Treaters!  We don't get trick or treaters anymore plus I'm in bed early..lol!  Last night I watched Hocus Pocus 2 on Disney and tonight I plan on watching Practical Magic on Prime Video.

My doctor appointment Monday went well.  I am now taking Plavix, a blood thinner and so far no more "episodes"...PTL!  My doctor also called a cardiovascular surgeon for me to see for a consult.  So, all is well and I feel great.  I'm in good hands!

I'll be back tomorrow to show you some crafty goodness and a new crochet project!

I hope you all have a safe and happy Halloween!

Happy Trails!!!

Takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'!!!

 Okay....my favorite month has been taken up with events other than Fall festivities!  This week I was up and going to take my walk when all of a sudden I  had double vision.  It finally went away after about 10 minutes and I thought of going ahead and taking my walk but then I thought to myself....."Sam....you're 75 years old and at that age you need to pay attention to things that are telling you something isn't right"....so I thought better of taking my walk and called the doctor instead.  The nurse told me it might be a mini-stroke so I should go over to the hospital because my doctor was on duty there anyway.  I went and had blood tests and a CT scan of my aorta and my brain.  Anyway, I was there a long time and in the end my blood tests were fine but my blood pressure was over 200 and my heart was fine but the double vision was caused by a blockage of blood to my brain.  So, I dodged a bullet there but not getting blood to my brain is not a good thing.  So, I am to take a baby aspirin daily and it's funny as I used to for years and then my other doctor told me it doesn't do any good and to stop.  I go back in Monday to see if I need to go on blood thinners.  Friday night I felt off-balance like I was on a rolling ship...not dizzy.  I went to put something on my closet shelf and fell backwards against the wall and scraped my arm on the door frame.  But nothing broke....I am a lucky son-of-a-gun.  Now I know why older people talk about their illnesses and operations.....that's what getting older is all about!  But in my case, it could have been worse.  The gal next to me in the hospital did have a stroke and thank goodness it only affected her speech and that was returning. 

But other than that I had a productive week.  I've gotten all my shots now including RSV.  I had my regular doctor appointment, and went grocery shopping and dropped off a load to the thrift store.  I finished the Halloween ornaments for the grands and forgot to take a picture of them and the cute treats I made them but here are the ones I made for my tree...........the treats were just rice krispie treats with edible eyeballs on them.........

    

I also finished my hat but that project was a hot mess.....lol!  I used circular needles thus the reason I didn't have purl bumps on both sides and then somehow I switched and started knitting on the wrong side....not enough blood to the brain evidently....that may be why I forgot your birthday Connie!

Anyway, it's done and just in time for the cold weather...it's just for me so I don't feel so bad about the mistakes.....it's really not that bright of a red....and it has other shades of red throughout.......

My Fall/Halloween project is Autumn in Hawk Run Hollow......I've just started it and it is HUGE!!!

I've only got the top border outlined so far.......I'll show you the progress on my other projects next week...

The colors this Fall have been gorgeous and the weather too.  We finally got some rain on Friday and it was needed and appreciated!  There's more rain coming the end of next week.  I don't like it to get too dry around here with all the woods and the dry leaves but so far so good.

The birds are having a hay day at the bird feeder...downy woodpecker and the BIG woodpecker,  cardinals, sparrows, chickadees (my favorites....so cute), several others that I don't know what they are and purple finches.  I haven't seen a gold finch yet but they usually come around too.  Of course, there are the big birds...like the Blue Jay and crows but they rarely come to the feeder....I think they're too big.

 

I'm reading the last series of the Ann Hazelwood books about Missouri Wine Country and in addition to  news and needlework podcasts, I'm watching Doc Martin.

I hope you are all doing well and enjoying this beautiful time of year.

Happy Trails!!!
 
 

Busy, busy, busy and I'm slow.........

 What a month so far!  Lots of excitement but not all the good kind.  First of all Sam had Homecoming......this is his junior year already....this is his girlfriend, Lanai.  They make a cute couple and they are both really good students.....

Then Grayson went on his first canoe trip to Minnesota and loved it.  But when he got home he and Sam went fishing and this happened...........a fish hook in his eyelid.....missed his eye PTL!!!  He had to go to the University of Iowa hospital for surgery but all is well and his eye was never touched....whew....that was a close call.  Sam felt terrible but Grayson admitted it was his fault....he knew better than to be behind someone casting.....

Then my washing machine (only 1 1/2 years old) started washing for 1 hour and 36 minutes instead of the usual 53 minute cycle.  So they came out but couldn't fix it and had to call Whirlpool and would come back.  Then the dishwasher finally bit the dust after about 50 years!  It was a Kitchen Aide and wonderful. I got a Maytag (still owned by Whirlpool along with Amana).  They brought it out, and tried to install it and said I needed a plumber and he might as well install it when he came.  They reimbursed me $54 as I had already paid them to install and take away the old one.  When the plumber came, I told  them what I was reimbursed and the plumber said (trying hard not to laugh)..."I can tell you this is going to cost more than $54!" which I knew it would.  I am waiting to get the bill to send it to the appliance vendor but I'm sure I won't get my money back. When the plumber installed it I was making supper so I never tried to use it that night.  I never even touched it.  When I got up in the morning the dishwasher was beeping and flashing an error code.  Now don't ya know it is Saturday.....I call the appliance store and they are no help whatsoever even to just get the beeping stopped.  They couldn't come out until Monday (as it ended up they didn't show up until Wednesday).  I fixed the beeper by finding the electrical outlet under the sink and  unplugging it (not easy for an old lady with a bad back!) They finally fixed the washer and the dishwasher but what an ordeal! This went on for 3 weeks from the time of purchase and calling them about the washer. 

During that time I got my Covid booster which laid me low for several days. I then got my flu shot and today I got my RSV shot.  The hummers left about the 10th and the last 2 days I spent scrubbing and disinfecting the bird feeder and then painting it.       

I replace the hummer feeder with the bird feeder and it hangs outside my kitchen window so I don' t have to go outside to fill it and it's under the eaves which keeps it dry and the birds safe.

We had our first frost last night and the lake was all steamy this morning...........
          

Also, last week we had junk day where the garbage people come by and pick  up anything you put out.  So I spent several days lugging out old broken appliances etc.  They never used to take electronics and it seemed that's all I had.  So I took out vacuum cleaners, a printer, a breadmaker and more.  I was exhausted but despite the back injury, I was able to get it all out there.  I just have to take a lot of breaks.  I was also able to get rid of my riding mower.

Hopefully, things will calm down now and I can relax a bit.  I still have a few appointments and I haven't gotten that plumber bill yet.....but I am still walking daily and enjoying the beautiful Fall we are having here.    

As for crafting, there has been little with the appliance problems and appointments etc. but I have gotten 3 books ahead on my Good Reads Challenge

I worked a bit on this stamped cross  stitch......

and this September project although it just says Fall to me.........

 

I hope you are all well and I can't wait to catch up with you all!

Happy Trails!!!