Saturday, October 30, 2004

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Happy Halloween ! 
Hope you get a lot of little goblins at your door... I just love seeing how cute they all are don't you? We are going to a Packer Party at my daughters house but the goblins won't be coming until 5 so we should be able to cover it all... It should be a fun day... Hope everyone has a fun day and evening too. It looks like Halloween around here with most the leaves off the trees already... Some of the Maples in the neighborhood still have their pretty yellow leaves though so its still pretty.... November is coming too soon I say... Im still waiting for summer, :>)

Sandra
 
Oh, I almost forgot, a friend of mine sent me a quince in the mail the other day and I was wondering if anyone had any recipes for quince... I didn't like eating it raw so I added a little water and sugar and put the pieces in the microwave for 3 min and it was good that way but was wondering if anyone knew more... Its brand new to me.

Friday, October 29, 2004

Warm and Foggy morning

My Grandaughter Mindy and her friend Alex went to a Halloween party last night... Mindy the french maid and Alex the Butler who did it... It says I killed him in fake blood on the towel, haha I hope they had fun but I bet it was fun just dressing up... Oh to be young like that again...
Its warm here again in Green Bay today but right now is very foggy. I hope it lifts and we get a little sun. I cleaned off the patio yesterday and put most of the things away but the table and 2 chairs are still there for me to have lunch today...
There isn't much else to say today.... Teri (Mike's wife) and I talked already this morning and she is happy to be home and on vacation... I probably won't see her until Sunday at the party though... It will be a good day Iam sure... Sandra

Wednesday, October 27, 2004

Rain again

Its another rainy day.... Now I don't have to decide what to do. I know I can finish cleaning my closet( I just did) and I know I can go shopping but I will not be working in the yard. Its not really important anymore to do any yard work though. We just have to put away the table and chairs and a few little odds and ends we had to decorate... most of it is put away already. I remember many years we had snow by Halloween not much but it sometimes starts then... I will be ready... I heard yesterday if there isn't any frost when we get a full moon in Oct. it won't freeze until the one in November... we have had frost already this year so I wonder what thats all about? Anyone know?
I just thought of another thing I have been ignoring... under my bed I have a large box of craft items... I will clean that out and give lots away and only keep what I have used in the last 2 years.... unless its something expensive, you know like an engraver etc... Thats something that you don't always use be its nice to have... Maybe I will hang some of these things by the workbench downstairs.... I have to talk sweetly to Leo and see if its all right ( its his workbench I guess) LOL
Mike's wife, Teri is going to be in Green Bay tomorrow. She will stay with her Dad then her sister and then her Mother for the first part of her vacation and then next week she will stay with my daughter Julie... She is going to cheat and come by us on Sunday though and Julie is going to have a big Packer party.... There won't be a game the next Sunday I guess and Teri is happy about the party so thats good... Shari and I and Teri are going to go to a couple of craft shows while she is here next week.... don't know if Julie will go or not. She doesn't really like craft sales so we shall see. Anyway it will be nice to see her again.
Have a nice day, Sandra
"Keep a solid picture of the task you want to accomplish in your mind, and refuse to let that intention disappear.

Monday, October 25, 2004

beautiful sunny fall day!

I guess Carley figures she had to stand on the sofa because she wanted to get the picture in. At least she took her shoes off first... lol. She was over to keep me busy Sat and Sun afternoon with son Rick. Now I won't see her for 2 weeks, so I have time to rest up. :)

I have been  cleaning my room and basement as I go down there... basement just as I see something I don't want down there anymore and today I got my dresser drawers cleaned, finally. Just clothes etc I use so I won't have to dig for what I want... Its a good thing!  :)Now I only have that one half of a shelf in the closet.... it has some boxes filled with I don't remember what so I will check that out tomorrow and be finished in there...oops I think i have a box of craft stuff under the bed that must be sorted though.... havent used some in awhile so its time to share I think.... Its such a good feeling to have time finally  to clean up the house... I still do have a few things to do in the yard and its a beautiful day yet so maybe I will get out there .... Iam also doing laundry so this is a busy Monday...
Hope you are having a nice Monday too, sandra
P. S. My son Rick took this picture, not me but with my camera
Well, I made it outside afterall. I put the last load in the dryer and went out to play.... it was so warm and nice I was humming to myself while I was taking the vines off the fence for another year. It only took a little over an hour so that was just a nice time outside in the fresh air...I'm already looking forward to them to start growing in the spring, haha...
quote for my day:  There's no actual stress or anxiety in the world;
it's your thoughts that create these false beliefs.

Saturday, October 23, 2004

Thunderstorm today

My son Rick came over today with his daughter, Carley. She is happily selling candy bars for her dance class. Of coarse we bought some and also one for her... It was raining so hard when they got here that they couldn't get out of the car for 10 minutes and then it started to rain again for awhile... Pretty hard too and we got over an inch of much needed rain... I went out when the sun was shinning and it was still raining but couldn't find a rainbow.... strange. We played some games and she rode her bike down the hill and had a good time today... so did I... when my son left he said she keeps you young doesn't she, lol   She wears me out is what she does but she is a good girl (most of the time) :>)..Before she came I had cleaned more in my closet and got a bag full of shoes for St V's.... I only have a half of a shelf to do and Im finished.... Of coarse some of the clothes came from plastic boxes I had in storage in the basement so I have been cleaning the basement and everything else as I go along.... Its getting nice though if I may say so myself.... I just hope I can keep it nice now.... Stop buying clothes I think for awhile... someone said they give something away for everything they buy.... That might be hard now that I have given so much away but Im going to try that.I get bored easy and like something new to wear too often. If it was New Years that could be my resolution, lol
hope you had a nice day today too and tomorrow is even nicer, Sandra

Friday, October 22, 2004

cloudy windy day

We got a new bird feeder the other day at Fleet Farm... It was on sale for $12.  Its a very nice one too and is made of a heavy metal and painted nice.... with a cable to raise and lower to lift the top to add seed.... I guess they were closing out and making way for snow shovels etc... I think its pretty by the window and the birds really like it but as soon as I got my camera they all left but this cute little sparrow... there were finches and chickidees before.... Today after I brought more clothes to the St Vincent DePaul bins I went to Steins and got some burlap and bulb fertilizer. I will use the burlap to wrap my roses up for winter and then I will put some soil around them... this worked for me the last couple of years so I guess I will do it again.... not fun but I love the roses I have... some don't need it but some do....
 Tomorrow or next week Leo and I are going to put everything away that needs it and be finished once and for all of the yard work for this year... Really there isn't very much left and maybe even later I will have to get out there and cut the mums back but not yet as they are still blooming.
I have been listening lately to Dr Wayne Dyer and I find him  very interesting.... He has a wonderful way of looking at everything....
Hope you are Happy too, Sandra

Thursday, October 21, 2004

Beautiful Day

This is my sweet little Great Grandaughter Brenna Marie. It was her first Professional picture and she is so shy her mother had to take her there 3 times but was it ever worth it... Look at those big beautiful blue eyes.... and those chubby little fingers and that button nose..... I love babies. She will be 1, November 15th.
We started the day in a very dense fog but it lifted around 9 and we got a beautiful sunny day ~ I paid my bills and went grocery shopping and just enjoyed the day and forgot about my fall house cleaning for a day ~ maybe 2 as someone told me we will have another nice sunny day in the 60's tomorrow.
Oh and Leo said he found a place for the snow blower.... only feet from the garage door ready to use... It is in the space between my car and the wall and there is still room to walk past it..... not the best place but it works. He only got red paint on my white car once so far, lol Now I need some blue and I will be set for election day haha   He was taking it off the car as I was walking out the door... I guess I came out a minute too soon, lol.
Hope you are having sunny days too, Sandra

Wednesday, October 20, 2004

another nice cloudy day

Wouldn't it be fun to go on a haunted hay ride. I still have awhile for someone to ask me... somehow I don't think Leo would want to go but I'm for it if he is.
Today was cloudy all day but it got up to 60 and I didn't know what to do first so I did something of everything... Its amazing how much is still to be done though. I started putting my summer clothes away yesterday and cleaning out my closets and did more of that today... I am almost finished with putting my summer things away and bringing clothes to the mission church. 2 more big bags full and 2 to St Vincent DePauls.... Its a good feeling but Iam so tired again because I also worked in the yard a bit. I had to put pots away and move my bakers rack. I decided to keep it in the back way by the fence and put some bird houses on it and anchor it down with some big rocks for the winter... It should stay ok there and I will be able to shovel the patio easier without it sitting there. 
Leo went to the store and came back with a snowblower.... now all we have to do is figure out where to put the darn thing... I asked him about that before he went but he said he would find somewhere for it.... Ya right. we have a small 2 stall garage with 2 cars in it and a small refrigerator and our garbage containers ( big ones)  We also have a nice size church pew in there.... Now he is saying the only place for it is where my car is..... so he has it all put together and isn't about to take it back  and Iam too tired to figure it out tonight.... I gave him a few ideas but it didn't seem like he liked any of them. I will let you know... he really does like his toys. We do have a small shed in the back but he has a regular lawn mower and a big riding mower plus odds and ends in there already.... And you know even if its a small 5 horse power one it is heavy and hard to move around... and it doesn't fold up anywhere... I wonder if any of them do but its too late now isn't it.... :>) And I will bet because we have one finally there will not be much snow all winter either... boy do I ever sound like a complainer tonight... ;>)  I guess it will get taken care of and we will be happy we got it. I will probably keep you posted as the days go by.
I hope you had a fun day too, Sandra

Tuesday, October 19, 2004

cloudy day

Looking back at these pumpkins makes me think I should have gotten myself one... maybe I can copy one of these faces on a pumpkin I have.... it doesn't look very hard does it?
  My husband is busy picking up the leaves, ours are almost gone now but you know the neighbors still have leaves and they seem to stop by our yard to say hello, lol
I didn't do much today, just the laundry and while I was doing that I decided I had way to many clothes for just one person so I baged up 3 bags of shirts and slacks and sweaters and 1 bag of shoes... I brought them to our church porch where they will box them and send them to our mission church in the south somewhere... can't remember the name. then came home and ate and baged up 2 more and sent one to St Vincents DePauls and the other is ready to be brought to church... it feels good to give them away and also helps me clean out my closet and storage.
  So now I have to go and see what my dogs are barking about and then make supper I guess...
Hope everyone had a nice day today, Sandra

Monday, October 18, 2004

Dreary Day

You can tell by this picture where our minds are in Wisconsin can't you? Its not winter yet and I heard  we may still be getting some warmer days this week.
I took Peaches and Twinkie to the groomers today... should have taken a picture but they were so happy to be home and so tired I just left them alone. They are so pretty and smell so sweet now. I like to take them there especially because I can't cut their nails without getting too frustrated.... that alone makes it worth taking them ~ had to have them there by 7 this morning though and its just getting  light out at 7... when are they ever going to remove that darn daylight saving time ..... :>)  So I went shopping and bought one of the blow up snowmen for winter.... It seems to be the thing to get lately... Our neighbors have a big ghost in their yard now....Anything for a bit of fun I say and the kids will like it too I'm sure...
Hope your all having a nice evening.... Sandra

Sunday, October 17, 2004

Beautiful Sunny Sunday

Here is a pair of scarecrows in their Sunday go to meeting clothes.. Aren't they a cute couple...
The wind died down and the sun came out today and its a happy day.... After Church we went shopping as usual and then came home around noon to watch the Packer game.... It's half time now and the Packers are winning... I wish it was the end of the game and the Packers won. That would mean their losing streak was over but the game is very close 17-10 so anything could happen now.
I have to rest up one more day and then I really must put my summer clothes away and look for some to give to our mission church... I have too many and they need them so it will be good for us both. I will get my house cleaned and they will get something new to wear. Can't do better than that can you.
Not much else to talk about today, Just hope you all have a nice day, Sandra

Oh, before I forget to tell you about the huge pumpkins..... They grow them for fun you could say.  They have a  lot of room to grow them and they see who can grow the biggest pumpkin as there is a contest every year. I don't think you can  even eat these. They got their first seed from relatives in another country( think Holland, but not sure) and now they use their own seeds. She told me you can buy this kind of seed in the store now.... I believe the name on the package is Dills giant pumpkin seed. I suppose they open them and take out the seeds and let the rest in the garden for the deer etc.  Usually they just rot otherwise and make mulch in the ground.....

Saturday, October 16, 2004

My daughter

Today its downright cold out. I think its probably about 45* and its raining leaves.... It rained last night and a lot of the leaves came down and now today they are falling with the wind.... It is still pretty but a lot of the leaves are gone... I think by Halloween we will be lucky to see any leaves but November starts winter around this area so its to be expected... We will get a few more days of nice weather though I think and we will be able to finish cleaning the windows outside and I can take the vines off the fence.... that is always the last thing I do and it makes the dogs happy because they can see more and boy do they and they usually bark at all the new things they see.... Thats how I get my fresh air in the winter because I don't like them to bother the neighbors and I usually have to go out and bring them in.... Happy days are coming again, lol
Anyway the picture is of my daughter and one of the bigger pumpkins at the Pumpkin Place.... I will always remember this beautiful fun day.
Hope your leaves are pretty and life is good, Sandra

Friday, October 15, 2004

My Friend and I

Here is another picture from the Farmhouse. How do you like my new friend? ;>)
Today is a cloudy day and its sprinkling a little but I did manage to go grocery shopping and come home and work in my back garden.... The one with the Hostas ~~I have it all cleaned up and raked so don't have to think all winter of having work to do there.... It does look nice and I also tied up the grape vines to the fence.... I usually cut them back but Janice said she leaves hers on the fence and she always has such beautiful grapes so I decided to follow her example... I did get a few bunches on mine but when I went back to pick them they were gone.. I suppose the bird's, squirrels or the boy next door got a treat.... I hope they were good. I know when I have eaten them in the past they were delicious... they are the green seedless variety. Maybe next year I will get more and we all can share.
I hope everyone's day is happy, Sandra

Thursday, October 14, 2004

Winter is coming

Oh what fun we had.... we saw pumpkins and pumpkins and more pumpkins and lots of squash and goards and hay and corn stalks and many darling and also ugly scarecrows.... Wish all my journal friends and my sisters could have been there too and then maybe we would even have gone on a hay ride.... wouldn't that be a blast.
Today its only about 50 for a high and there are talks of rain and snow mixed coming our way.... I only have a few more things to do out in the yard so am not very worried. Today was Leo's birthday so we just relaxed and went out for lunch and just a little shopping at the garden center.... they have Halloween decorations and are getting more and more Christmas decorations out.... almost ready to put the lighted and decorated trees out back..... Even if it was a cool cloudy day it was a nice day.  Hope you all had a happy day too, Sandra

Wednesday, October 13, 2004

Weather man was wrong

The weather man was wrong, Goody Goody for me!  Hehe  I even got to cut back a huge rose bush that was tied to the fence... Its a hardy bush and still had one or two blossoms on it....
My daughter, Shari had an afternoon off today so she came to get me to take a ride in the country to see the fall colors and go to the 2 pumpkin patches along the way. It was a perfect afternoon for that too. The weatherman said it would be rainy and cold but we got lucky! 
I will be putting in more pictures of our little trip as it gets closer to Halloween. We even had an icecream cone at the Farmhouse ( an old farmhouse converted into an ice cream parlor and place to eat.... very cute but I didn't take a picture of the house... Its a two story white farm house that is about 100 years old and just painted white all over and decorated really cute with little crafts for sale in the front room..
  Don't forget to watch the debate tonight... I hope its a good one for Kerry!

Tuesday, October 12, 2004

Last warm fall day?

Today we finished most of the work in the yard... not all mind you but the stuff that had to be cleaned up before we get snow... Tomorrow and the day after its supposed to rain and then it will only get into the 40's and 50's for the next week and then maybe colder so..... Leo painted the porch railing and I cleaned up the plants around the patio. So we do need the rain and I need some rest, so it will be welcome.
   Before we did our work we went to Home Depot to get the smaller pie pumpkins to set around the front yard... only 59c each and I also got a pot of Johnny jump ups because they were on sale and so pretty  ( Leo pulled out the ones I had babied all summer. He thought he was doing a good clean up I guess) They were only 99c. We went shopping early because it was still cold and wet on the grass etc..
   Hope you all have a nice day tomorrow, Sandra
Opps, I forgot to tell you this is a picture of my favorite rose bush... Isn't it nice that its still blooming next to the porch? Its protected here from the frost.

I'm sorry this is written so small, I have it set for 18 and it just doesn't get any bigger for some reason....

Monday, October 11, 2004

Another nice day

I was busy cleaning up my gardens in the backyard today but before I started I took a few pictures. One of the mum plants hasn't bloomed yet but there are buds... I think it better hurry because the cold days are coming faster and faster now... I think I only have one more day of sun and in the 60's left... I will try to finish the majority of my work so I don't have to do it with freezing hands.. I took the tomato plants out today too and picked the green ones off. I only got 5 nice big tomatoes this year and about 7 green ones I hope will get red... they are a little yellow. It was the worst season I have ever had for tomatoes but the ones I have are nice and no bite marks of anykind on them... 
  So tonight Iam very tired but I have to gear up for another day... It will be a great feeling to have it all cleaned up for another year.
  I hope everyone is still enjoying nice days and sunny skys, Sandra

Sunday, October 10, 2004

Beautiful Fall Day

Its a beautiful fall morning! I was looking outside at my birch tree this morning and the sun was shinning on it and I had to get a picture... It was so beautiful. Some falls the tree doesn't completly change I think because it gets cold too fast but this year its beautiful. Last night the weather man said it had already snowed last year by the first of October so we are ahead of the game... It sounds like we are only going to get about a week of nice weather before it starts to gradually get cold.... Usually by Halloween we are wearing winter coats... Yesterday it was warm enough not to wear any coat. The roses are still blooming and I need to take another picture of my favorite rose bush before it really freezes.
Yesterday my grandaughter came over and she was so full of energy you wouldn't believe.... She is already doing tricks on her bike... What a girl and in the house she was the school teacher and I was the student. I don't have to find much for her to do as she has a good imagination and gets me exercising even.... that is a good thing! She was also jumping on my new sofa... She won't make a habit of this I'm sure but she just had to see if I would let her.... Her mother is very strict and she knows Gramma is not... I want her to have happy memories.
So now Iam on my way to church.... Got a late start today because of the pictures and all the beauty in the yard.... I suppose I will be able to watch only 1/2 of the race today. Packers aren't playing so that is also a good thing. Its too beautiful of a day for everyone to be inside watching a game when we all should be outside enjoying the beautiful day.
I hope your day is beautiful too, Sandra

Friday, October 8, 2004

My Charlie

Charlie is a special cat. Maybe Leo wouldn't think so though after last night. I leave this window open for him at night and last night he woke up thinking he heard a baby crying and looked all around and finally came in here and Charlie was on the inside looking out at another cat that was on the ledge right outside the window..... Charlie is fixed so I really can't figure out what was going on.... Charlie has never acted like he wasn't fixed but last night he wanted to get out..... Hope this doesn't happen again... when he got out this morning he just acted like normal and I brought him back in a few minutes later.... Leo said it was a beautiful cat on the other side of the window.... He didn't wake me though and I told him next time he should wake me... Instead he figured as long as he was up and it was almost 4 he decided to go fishing, What fun our furry friends give us, huh?
I emptyed up my ftp space of pictures and I could get some pictures in again. Now I will have to be taking more pictures again I guess..... I was a little frustrated trying to find out what was wrong with my computer and now everything that I know of is fixed or defragmented etc etc etc....
Hope your troubles are few :>) Sandra

Thursday, October 7, 2004

Cleaning up Yard

No matter what I do I can't get the pictures in larger. I did everything they said and everyone told me and no luck.... Maybe tomorrow after the computer sleeps I will be able too or else I will give up. I still had to put some pictures in though even if small.
   I finished cleaning up the front yard today and Leo made his 3rd trip to the community compost pile... I will still have to cut the mums back but that will be easy compared to what I have already done... then I have to finish the back and I hope after that there will be some nice days to finish washing the windows and maybe even sit and enjoy ~~~ I think I had better take a little time between working and enjoy don't you? Everything is getting nice and neat and I will be able to rest easy this winter knowing its all ready for me in the spring to start all over again.
I just love working outside... Especially when the weather is so beautiful.
 Hope you are all enjoying the beautiful fall too, Sandra

Wednesday, October 6, 2004

Mike as a young boy

My sisters have been sending old pictures to our family site and this is one they sent that was taken of my son Mike ( the one that was just vacationing from Florida) It was taken at my Mother and Fathers house .... looks like he got a new watch for Christmas and was wanting to show it off a bit, lol  Look at that neat tree with the tinsel hanging just perfect.. Do you know my Mom and Dad did all that after we went to bed on Christmas eve just so we could come down and see what Santa had done... I tried that too for a few years but it just got to be too much. Now we put the tree up so early.... isn't the same is it?

Any way I found a new way to get to my FTP space thanks to Deborah so I will be able to put more pictures in again... Thanks Deborah!!!!!!!
Now I have to get back to work. I was only taking time out after the mail man came. I filled one more garbage container but have much more to do.
Hope you are all having a beautiful day!
Sandra

My new sofa

A couple of weeks ago we went shopping for a new sofa for the family room and I saw this red one and had to have it!!!! I had a brown one for 27 years and was really really tired of it... My son is supposed to come and take it one of these days but he sure is in no hurry as its still sitting in the room  ;( We told him if he doesn't get it soon we are going to give it to charity) Peaches can't jump up on it herself but with some help she can and seems to like it just fine.... only trouble she can't get under it like the old one.... she liked sleeping under the old one.... she will have to find a new spot I guess.

Its a beautiful sunny morning with the temps in the 50's already and for the next 2 days at least we will have nice warm days in the 70's again. We will take all we can get.... Weather man said its the beginning of Indian Summer and I for one hope it lasts many weeks. We usually have snow fluries by the end of the month. It will be interesting to see what happens this year.

I think I had better eat my breakfast so I can go out and play.... Its too nice to do housework today and much more fun taking care of the yard for the winter.... Hope you are having a nice day! 
Sandra

Tuesday, October 5, 2004

beautiful day

Today started out very cold (26) but it warmed up into the 60's with sunshine. Some of my flowers did get frostbiten so I spent a couple of hours today cleaning up... I got 3 garbage containers full so far to take to the comunity  compost pile.... Then if I am not too stiff tomorrow I will no doubt have 2 or 3 more and then the next day too and I will be finished with the front..... I must clean up in the fall so I don't have such a big job when spring comes..... You can actually see my front porch again after I chopped the Moon flowers and Spider plants down... they really got huge this year.
For some reason I can't get into hometown again so I guess no pictures are going to be coming until I find out what is wrong.... sometimes I can and somedays not..... still frustrating.
hope everyone will have a sunny day tomorrow,        Sandra

Sunday, October 3, 2004

Yellow Mums

We still have some pretty flowers in bloom and I hope they last through the  next frost because its going down to 27 tomorrow night and then we will be into the 70s during the day and not quite as cold at night... I have a lot of buds on my roses yet so I am hoping for a few more nice days before the last rose of summer    :>)  It was a beautiful day today ~ around 72 I guess and sunny.... But it was a lazy day and we just went to church and out for breakfast and then home to watch the Packer game..they lost and Brett got hit in the head so it wasn't a great day for them. Actually it was a very restful day. Do any of you have Helitrope? I have some in a pot and the fragrance is so nice. I have been putting it in the garage at night and out on the porch during the day and its a pleasure to go out in front just for that fragrance and I like the deep purple flowers too.
I hope everyone had a nice sunny day today! Sandra

PS " find yourself having frequent attacks of smiling"  Dr Dyer

Saturday, October 2, 2004

Can't get into Hometown

I wish I could get into hometown every time I want.....

I want to add pictures etc and can't put them in the way I want so I decided not to put one in.

Frustrating

I spent some time this morning cutting down plants etc and got 3 garbage cans full. Then I figured that was enough so I put my big lighted pumpkin out and a witch that is a pretty orange and black and cackles. It is October so I figure its time to decorate for fall. I put some indian corn out on the lights on the garage the other day and put some pretty ribbons around them. I don't want summer to end but it is October and I will go along with it and enjoy it!!!! After the yard work is finished I won't have any outside work to do any more... only inside and then when being inside all winter becomes enough Spring will come again and I will be excited all over again to plant pretty flowers.... In the meantime I will enjoy Fall and hope you all do as well.
Sandra

Say "I want to feel good"  when you're tempted to indulge in low-energy thoughts... Dr Wayne Dyer