Charlie

I got Charlie this new window seat today when I went to Wal Mart. He seems to like it ok but we have to adjust it a little yet and find something better to put under it so he doesn't have to jump so high. Actually that little white table is probably just in the way.... it is a little unsturdy I think. Its a start though and he can see out the window again after we moved the sewing machine table.
It was nice and sunny today..... cold but the sun was melting the snow. The roads were nice and clear when I went to the store this morning. I got groceries and a couple of DVD's and a few odds and ends that were on my list...Now I have the last load in the dryer and its almost time to start making supper.... the days go by fast even for January. February 1st tomorrow and it didn't come soon enough..... Winter is just not my favorite season but it didn't seem nearly as bad this year once December and the better cold we had is over. Hope Feb and March aren't too bad. The sun is gone now and its already getting to look like evening and it's only 3. I guess we were lucky to get any sun today so I should count my blessing..... and I do.
So now off I go to see what I can get into before I start supper. Hope you are having a nice day, Sandra

Snow on the ground

I know this looks just like the picture from yesterday but if you look closer there are now more seeds. I found the ones I didn't plant last year but have not found the ones I intended for this year yet... and when I do I will post more pictures, haha.
I got some free seeds from Burpee today. I ordered a few tomato plants but didn't get those of coarse but they did send me some seeds. One packet is a packet of Salad Greens  a unique blend so they say. Maybe I will plant them in a pot on the patio. the other is a packet of mixed flowers for sun and shade... It too will be interesting but I think they will also go into a pot so I can control them,,,I haven't a clue where I will plant all these flowers but don't they already look pretty hanging there. :>)
We have winter back again but not really very cold.... just a nuisance driving again. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny again so that is always nice. Today we spent moving the Dvd and tape players to the right areas and I got to remove a small cabinet that held them so now I have more room in my computer room. I guess Charlie is going to have to settle for one of those window benches for cats.... We have one in the bedroom and he lays on it there at night looking for who knows what... its not really a bench but don't know what its called. When I get it I will show you.... maybe its a shelf..... haha
I got a new cook book in the mail tonight so I am going to go and look at it and then crochet a bit and hopefully watch a little tv. I hope there is something good on tonight. I usually like to watch House Hunters at 6:30 first. Hope your also having a nice evening, Sandra

Rainy, Snowy Evening

So what I did was copy my sister Janice's idea. :) I have more seeds in a box somewhere but I can't remember just where I put them.... In a "safe" place if you know what I mean. I know I have more sweet peas and morning glory seeds to name a few. Maybe I will find them tomorrow. I found some perennial sweet pea seeds though at Fleet Farm so I got a couple of packets of those. My mothers sweet peas always came back and I planted some of her seeds but Iam always afraid I will lose them so am always looking for more. I think I found some this time. I also have zinnias and sunflowers and a pumpkin seed packet. also some sunny cosmos... My neighbor always had some sunny red cosmos and these are the closest I came to finding more.... I will keep looking for just the right ones to remember her.... I miss her so much .... miss my Mother too. It's nice to remember them with flowers though isn't it?
   We didn't do very much today... Went to church, which was nice. then we went to Shopko where I got my purse for February..... I can't really remember who it was that said she went with her daughter and they got their January purse..... (think it was Ma) anyway I found this great purse at Shopko (deep red) and it had a place for my camera and lots of places and zippers. It was on sale of coarse and was very cheap to begin with.... I only paid 12 something for it.... so funny when I think of what I paid for my last purse and I bet I will like this one better (at least for the month of February)  I also got some corelle cereal bowls... white with little cherries around the top. the last time I got new ones was over 10 years ago and they are used every day. :) I love the little red cherries next to the white of the bowl. I also got some lemon drops and a cadbury egg, LOL. I worked on my new afghan for awhile too today and Rick came over and we had McDonalds tonight.... Yesterday Mindy and Alex came over... Mindy is such a nice girl and Alex is getting better and better. I haven't seen him since he left to go the Purdue to collage and he seems to have gotten so much more mature. Mindy is lucky to have found him. Hope they can stay together but you never know do you.
So thats about it for my day today... it was nice. Hope you had a nice one too, Sandra

DOWN RIGHT WARM TODAY

Can you believe its at least 50 degrees out today and its still January. I can't believe this wonderful weather in January. We are all wondering if it will get very very cold again and we all think for sure we will get lots of snow yet but its so hard to imagine it... this picture above is more like what is coming..... hopfully. We went shopping at Fleet Farm today and I got some flower seeds etc and will put them in my room here like my sister Janice did.... Thanks for the neat idea Janice... now if I can find the perfect spot where Charlie won't botter them, :)
Leo and I moved my sewing machine into another room because the tv was on top and I couldn't sew..... that darn tv is really really heavey. Now Charlie is going to be mad at me though because he used to be able to lay on it and have the sun on him.... I have to figure out another place for him now.... the sewing machine is now under a shady window but he likes watching the birds there too. I think he needs some sun though so I will figure out something for him but first have to figure out where to put a dvd and video machine.... I think I already have it figured out but it will cost me. Oh well...... Charlie needs some sun and I like his company while on the computer so I will find something for him.
Hope you are having a nice day today and thinking and dreaming of spring too, Sandra

Pictures of my Mom and Dad and neice and nephew

My sister Joan posted some really nice pictures in our family site yesterday and I thought I would put some in here. I sure do miss my Mother and Dad... but the memories are wonderful. I was a lucky girl to have such loving parents!
I didn't do very much today so there isn't much to write about. I had better start something quick or I will lose my mind, lol  I did finish 4 more pair of slippers and I put the puzzles away for another winter or so I thought.... now Gary wants to get a big hard one to last a long time.... I will wait for him to find the one .... then if he doesn't find it I can forget them for another year. I really don't have it in me right now. I need to do something to use up my energy I think.... when you work on puzzles you sit around too much. Tomorrow is going to be sunny and 40 ..... or so the man says. I think I had better go somewhere and walk around a bit. I was doing the dishes and the dishwasher is leaking and its pretty old so I may go and look for a new one.... we are going to get a new kitchen floor soon so I think now is the time to get that done too.
Hope they aren't too expensive..... haha
  I was watching a little tennis last night but the ones I wanted to win all lost... One guy threw his racket at the one I wanted to win and he didn't even get punished for it.....  they said they didn't see it.... ya right. so naturally that hot headed German beat the Frenchman... :)  I also watched American Idol.... part of it with Gary and we laughed so hard at one point. I wonder why they show all the bad ones on tv.... they did have some good stuff too but I guess we have to wait for that part. I don't much like watching when they make fun of people.... we can see what is going on but then they have to tell them how bad they are..... wonder if they already know that and are just on there for the attention .... Probably, huh?
Well, enough of my babling today .... must go and finish supper.... we are having pork chops etc tonight. Nice tender yummy ones too. I guess Iam allowed one on my diet plus some veggies etc, right?
hope all are having a nice evening, Sandra

SUNNY DAY

I don't have any pictures of my own to post today but I had these in my computer from my daughter.... thought you might like to see some of the Mickeys from Disney World taken last year on their trip to visit our son and daughter in law. Shari my daughter is on one picture and her daughter, Mindy is also in one. I wish I would have gone last year just to see the different Mickeys... did anyone else go last year to see them? I think there were 50 all together.

My gout is a lot better today... got worse before it got better and when I went to bed last night I didn't think I would ever walk again and today it is much much better.... anyone have gout? just tell them to drink lots of water and stay away from fatty food and it will go away. I did have a pill for pain the doctor had given me too ~ it didn't seem to help but eventually it did..... lucky  me. Now I have to remember and just keep drinking the water and watch what I eat... Might help me lose a pound or two also.... that would be a really good thing!

We went shopping at Penneys after church today... I have not been in the store since the new one opened and it took a long time for me to get through it all. They had good sales so I had to buy a new sweater :) a pretty purple or lavendar one with a little embroidery down the front... not much but a little... I have it on and its nice and warm. maybe too warm,,, haha  at least I don't have to put another shirt over the top. Its a nice week end sweater. and I also got a new swag to put over my sink and some pillow cases.... everything on sale and things I wanted. Leo found a nice pair of shoes but didn't want to pay $66 for them.... they were already on sale but he is sure they will be marked down more... my sweater probably would have been too as it was only 40% off and some things were 70% off but I have a hard time finding nice sweaters in my size and I love sweaters. so Leo told me to get it..... he twisted my arm lol... We also went out for brunch today too. it was good.
Now I think I will go and watch a football play off game and see who is going to be in the super bowl.... I will probably knit or read at the same time though.
Hope you are all having a good day,Sandra

Gardening catalogs

Today was a good day to look over the gardening catalogs as I have gout in my big toe and its painful to walk around so I just did what needed to be done and looked over the seed catalog... Burpee has some interesting tomato plants this year so I ordered some and then I had to get some flower plants too.... I never can find any lisianthus plants around or I forget them so I ordered some plants of them too. ( just watch, I will find all kinds of them in the garden shops this year and they will be a "lot" cheaper too) I saw some a few years ago and couldn't believe how pretty and how nice they bloomed for my friend all summer.... It is a beautiful January day with lots of sun so it put me in the mood I guess. I have another puzzle on the card table started but am not in that sort of mood today.
Gout can be very painful and I have to walk with a cane..... I have not been drinking enough water nor watching what I eat lately but this now is a good time to change my habits.... The only bad thing about drinking so much water is your up all night if you know what I mean..... had to sleep an extra hour today to make up for all the breaks I took , LOL
  Gary took his pretty orange Mustang out today..... its nice to have him feeling better again. Leo went shopping at his favorite places.... fishing and fleet farm and then to the old fishing hole to see if any are fishing... he said 7 guys were there today.... wonder why he didn't fish too. No ice fishing for him yet this year..... its a year to make a lot of new tip ups for fishing but it doesn't look like there will be much ice anymore this year.... but this is only January and it can get really really cold yet so maybe.... Gary went ice skating only twice this year too...and then it melted never to be frozen again..... but maybe ..... some winters we don't have much ice but this one is breaking records for January.... we did get a terrible December though so maybe this year will be kind.... Probably will get lots of snow yet in February though as usual...
The temp today is in the 30's and not -30 so we are happy happy happy.
Hope its sunny and warm by you too, sandra
  

Questions from Jennettes journal

Charlie~~ keeping warm or hiding?????

Questions:

1.   If a film was being made of your life, what actor or actress would you like to see in the lead? Meg Ryan

2.   If you could choose to live anywhere in the world, where would it be? US

3.   If you could meet someone famous (alive or dead) who would you choose and why? Jeff Gordon or David Letterman

4.   What is your all time favourite film or book? You've Got Mail

5.  If you could change one thing about your appearance what would it be? my weight or my height. lol

6.   If you could appear on a T.V. programme, which one would you choose?Dave Letterman

7.   If you were going out to dinner, what type of restaurant would you pick? Red Lobster

8.   If you could invent a totally new gadget that would make your life easier, what would you like it to be?  Just one?

9.   If you could own a racehorse, what would you call it? Feedlebaum..... he was a slow one but it was funny when the announcer said and there he is headed for home and its feedlebaum.... years and years ago

10. What is the most memorable event in your life so far? having my kids

11. If you could live your life over again is there anything that you would change? sure but It is what it is

12.  What one thing annoys you the most? people being unkind

13.  If you could change your first name, what would you like to be called?Susan

14.  If you were a keeper in a zoo, which animals would you most like to be in charge of? giraffes

15.  Is there any actor/actress that you really dislike? Kevin Spacey

Well, that should keep you occupied for a while.  Have fun.

Since I don't really have anything to write about lately I thought I would answer Jennettes questions..... anyone want to do the same? Go to Jennettes jottings in my "other Journals" on the left .....
The sun is coming out so I will try to do something today... hope its shinning by you today too. Sandra

another puzzle finished

The picture of the latest puzzle with Gary holding it.... It doesn't have to be glued as it holds together good even if the pieces are strange.... we won't be doing another one like this any time in the future. I had about half put together when Gary came in and he finished it in an hour and a half.... while American Idol was on.... we both had a splitting headache after that..... don't know if it was American Idol or the puzzle or what we had for supper, LOL   One piece is missing but guess what.... we found the piece to the one I just glued together under the sofa.... maybe if we start another one we will find the missing piece to this one.... what do you think?  :)
Janice (my sister) gave me some puzzles to do so I will be taking those out.... and then that should be it for our January puzzle making days.... can you believe it is the 18th already tomorrow.... January is going pretty fast this year.... It has been a nice warm one we can say that for it anyway.
hope everyone has a nice tomorrow, Sandra

This and That

It's back to the clouds this morning.... uck
Yesterday was a good day though so I won't complain yet.... After Mass yesterday they had a free pancake and porkie breakfast so we went to that and talked to some people we haven't talked to in awhile... It was nice! Then we went to Menards and got some spindles to put bird housed on. I saw that on an email I got from one of the garden catalogs and was going to order until I saw the price.... no way am I paying about $300 for that when I have a husband that can make it for me... the spindles are only $21 for 3 and he will add something to the bottom to put into the ground. He is going to undercoat them as they are just unfinished wood....I wish I could find that picture again on the internet... I can't remember what catalog sent it to me. All I know is they were pretty. I got 1 unfinished bird house yesterday too but it didn't have a way to open to clean it out but Leo took care of that already too. Now I want to find 2 more different ones and they and the spindles will all be painted.... I think one of the colors will be the color of our shutters and will also use a lot of white I think.... it should be fun. :)
This morning I started my laundry and I think I will make another pair of slippers for my son in law.. (he wants a pair)  I started another puzzle this weekend but it is really hard.... I mean it this time, lol It has a cork backing and scalloped edges.... the edges aren't fun but when they are finished (if ever) it should not be too bad. We are thinking about doing the center now and then find the edges later. we got the top and bottom partly finished so we do have something to start with I guess.... Maybe I will try a few pieces today.
So take care today and have fun, Sandra

Nice Day

The puzzle is finished but do you see the empty space on the bottom left hand side one in from the edge? I think Charlie must have hid it somewhere.... sassy cat. I wanted to glue it together because its so pretty and sparkles etc but don't know if I will unless we find the missing piece.
The Christmas tree is all down and everything packed away for another year... The rooms are nice and vacuumed and everything looks so nice .... its nice to have everything back in order. Tonight I will just read and watch a little tv I think.... The weather man said its supposed to be a nice sunny day tomorrow. I hope he is right. Two weeks into January already ~ hard to believe. Spring will be here before we know it....
Hope you have lots of sunshine tomorrow too, Sandra

Puzzle in Progress

Here is the puzzle we are making.... you can't see the sparkles in this picture but there are on some sections and it is also supposed to glow in the dark but I haven't seen that yet.... anyway this is a good passtime and especially for Gary when he wants to put his mind on something else... its good therapy I think... Good for teaching me patience too.. and its kinda pretty.
It was a good day yesterday and I got everything finished I planned on doing.... surprising what a warm sunny day in January can do for me.. :)
So far today its pretty dark out but its only 10 after 8 so it can still shine.
I started to take the tree down this morning.... I'm ready now to get on with it.... sure took me long this year but I didn't see any reason to take it down.
The Race show is on qvc tonight again..... The Daytona races are in Feb and thats only a few weeks away now.... In case anyone didn't know I am a Nascar fan and I love watching the races etc...
Off I go now to finish the tree, hope your day is going well too, Sandra

More Sun and warm too

I had to enter this picture of my Great Grandchildren I got in my email yesterday from my son in law.... aren't they darling?  Wishing everyone a Happy New Year... Makes you want to smile doesn't it?
  The day before yesterday Gary went to see his doctor and after Gary told him how he felt taking the old pills the doctor took them and threw them away.... they were starting to work but he was getting sick taking them.... For 2 days he has been taking the new ones and he feels so much better already... The doctor said if he feels any side effects with the new ones to call him right away.... so today is the second day I have seen a smile in the morning after 2 months of much sadness. Last night after supper he even went for a nice walk....and helped me with my puzzle. It is so much more fun working on a puzzle with someone.
Today I have to go and get some dog and cat food and some material for some satin pillow cases for Tyler.... When Tyler and Mindy were much younger I made them some satin pillow cases for Christmas one year and ever since Tyler wants satin pillow cases... I have to look and look and look for the right satin though... one that can be washed in the washer and dried in the drier... so off I go today to find some material... hope I find it at the first store.
    The sun is just starting to come out and I feel like doing something today.... Hope you have a nice day too, Sandra

THE SUN IS SHINNING

Here comes the sun!!!!!!!!!! So far its been sunny all day. The first time this year. The weather man said last night we should call it a holiday and celebrate.  :)
Leo took the rest of the lights off the house yesterday and today he got the last tree in back.... I have the Christmas box upstairs but I have not taken the ornaments off the tree... tomorrow will be the day I suppose. We have to go with Gary to the doctor tonight... he is starting to get better finally... good thing we didn't wait longer. The doctor gave him pills for depression and some for anxiety too and they have just started to help.... for awhile it was one day he was good and the next really bad but now it has been 2 days in a row we have seen him actually smile again and mean it..... The lawyer hasn't gotten his things back but now he doesn't expect him too anymore and isn't as anxious about it.... when they decide thats when he will get it all back... We didn't know how the police worked before but we do now and even if you are innocent they can take your things and only give them back when they feel like it...someday it will be forgotten I hope.
I started a new puzzle today.... really small pieces too and 750 of them.... I hope someone helps me with this one too because it is hard.... the edges are finished and some of the inside but oh boy..... it is hard.... but it will be so pretty when it is finished. It sparkles and is supposed to glow in the dark too... am I nuts to waste my time like this or what?
But the sun is shinning and soon it will go down and maybe we will see it again tomorrow but at least we saw it today.... hope the sun is shinning for everyone today, Sandra

out with the old and in with the new

Peaches and Twinkie light up our lives..... but I sure wish ole sol would do his job too. I heard we may get sun today but it sure looks like that is wrong.. I will keep my fingers crossed though as it is only 11 am.
   I have the Christmas blankets and pillows put away and I have 2 nice new pillows on the sofa in the family room..... but I need to put the knic nacks back because it looks a little bare. I had race cars on the shelves and mantle before but not in the mood to put those back just now so I will be hunting for something else I think.... Something that fits in... it is not a formal room. Iam sure I will find something around the house, it's just a matter of looking. :) In the meantime maybe I will find something for supper and then come in here and play canasta for awhile. The pogo sight said its free only til February and then I will have to pay..... don't like paying for something like a game so maybe will find a new one. I used to play Bingo but I see that is not on anymore either. I guess I should start another pair of slippers or something. maybe a new puzzle as I have a really nice one waiting for me... It sparkles by day and glows by night.... should be fun.
Have a nice day today and hope the sun shines soon, Sandra
I just went out into the garage to recyle a bottle and then went out the door for a breath of fresh air and I actually saw the moon shinning so bright!!!!!! first time for me to see that this year. sure hope the sun shines on us tomorrow even if I do have to wear my sunglasses. I should have gone for a walk but not alone and not with supper in the oven either, LOL Can you guess how nice it was after about 2 weeks or so of clouds. A person needs a day or 2 a week I would think of the sun... :)

Another one of those days :)

Charlie is still my buddy, sitting on the sewing machine while I use my computer. He is a wonderful cat!
  In case anyone was wondering my Sons step daughter is doing fine. She just had heartburn the doctor said. Just finally talked to my son this morning and everything is fine.
  Today I will just be doing a little laundry and probably finish up the puzzle I started yesterday. Didn't think I would be able to but since I worked on it yesterday with Tyler it seems to be fitting together. not going to complain about the sun not here again ~ the weather man changed his mind again. :) Hope its shinning by you, Sandra

Still NO Sun

Rick and Carley came over last night and she brought her favorite dolls along. The roads were icy so Rick decided to stop by our house to be safe. Good idea! I decided to take some pictures and Carley let me take a lot but she wanted me to have them printed and sent to her too.... I got her the album so I guess that is what I will do, after all that is what her step grandmother did. :)
  Today Tyler and Mindy and friends got home from Florida. They drove straight though and Tyler did most of the driving. Then he came to see me right away before sleeping. He had presents to give us from Mike and Teri so I had another Christmas... I got some really really nice things too. I had just started working on a hard puzzle and Tyler thought it was quite challenging so he stayed with me for 3 hours and I guess we got about half of it finished. Its only a 500 piece one but it is so hard and every time we got a piece in we congratulated ourselves.... it was a lot of fun....
So I had a good day today even if the sun wasn't shinning.
hope you did too, Sandra

Sun for 2 minutes today

I finished the puzzle Shari had made for me and bought a frame and glued it to the cardboard backing and I now have a nice picture of the puzzle, and a nice remembrence of the picture I took last summer,  part of my Christmas present from my daughter. So today I have something to smile about because it turned out pretty nice didn't it?  Shari and Dan came home today after being with one of our sons and Daughter in laws for 2 long weeks in Florida... to them they were short weeks though. They came home to dreary and cold... it was blue skies and warm most of the time they were there. Their children Mindy and Tyler were there too with their boyfriend and girlfriend and they stayed just one more day to go to the beach again. Mindys boyfriend Alex is a serfer and I think he convinced them but they too wanted to stay. College vacation is over soon enough. Now they will be ready to study again for the 3 and Tyler will be back to work with his Dad.... I can hardly wait to see all the pictures.
I started putting away some Christmas knic nacks today...Remember I didn't put too many out so it is going fast. I will put a few more away tomorrow and then probably Sat I will take the tree down or I will wait til Monday. Then we are in for a long winters nap.... If the sun starts to shine it will be so much better too.... Iam getting to be obsessed with that darn ole sun aren't I.... LOL
Now I will go and start another pair of slippers. I finished Tylers and am on to Cindys... Gives me something easy to do but its nice to have something to show for just sitting around.
Hope you are having a nice sunny day, Sandra

WE NEED SUN

It is a very very dreary day today.................. I need some sun and so does my husband, lol we went shopping for a few things and groceries this morning and I said something wrong but didn't realize how it came out and he got really mad... whoops. My son called me in the middle of the night because his step daughter was having pains and he didn't know what to do... she is a little over 5 months pregnant  so I told him to call the doctor or go to the hospital... they would know much better than me what to do. She is only 16 and I suspect she may be losing the baby.... I know sometimes when a girl is so young the baby will come early. She knows its a girl and she has the name picked out and some little clothes are gotten already.... I hope it all turns out but Iam waiting for him to call me back and let me know what is happening..... I couldn't go back to sleep and now I'm so tired you wouldn't believe... If I laid down maybe the phone would ring again..... Leo said before the phone rang the cat was running around the house and was pestering the dogs in our bed so he got up and laid on the sofa and the cat followed and laid on his chest and when he pushed him off he started going nuts running around the room and making a lot of noise..... no wonder we are both tired today.  The thing is Leo did get some more sleep but I couldn't so I sat and read for a couple of hours until it was time to go to the store and now I think I will go and read again for a bit and maybe I can fall asleep in the chair.
A little sun wouldn't hurt either.... not to be because it is snowing and then raining and then snowing...... must be something to smile about though somewhere right?????  Let me know :) Sandra

It's Raining all over

The rose bowl parade is so beautiful and then it had to go and rain on the parade. It must be such a disapointment to many but it is still beautiful beyond belief isn't it. I hope you didn't have to work today so you can watch it.
    I started reading a good book yesterday and while watching the Wisconsin Badger football game today I will be reading it from time to time.... Leo went to pay the bills and spend some of his Christmas money.... I have mine waiting for a sunnier day. He wants a new electric razor and thats what he will get with some of it.He got a new telephone the other day but while looking ours over we decided it just needed new batteries... lol we didn't know. So he is taking the phone back and will get a shaver that probably needs new batteries too..... its one of those you plug in though and he has had it for a long time so he probably needs a new one... or new blades for the other one but oh well.....
  Gary seems to be feeling a little better today.... he had a good nights sleep and is not complaining of anything so that makes me feel better too. hope it continues. I hope the pills are working finally.
So Maybe this new year will be a happy one after all. Last year turned out to be the worst ~ the last couple of months of it anyway. Not just for me but so many in my family.
Hope your year is beginning on a happy note too, Sandra