Cloudy day

I was sitting on the porch yesterday looking at my flowers ...... they are so cute and what a miracle to see them coming up when only a couple of days ago it was freezing cold and no sign of them..... I wish I could sit out there again today but it looks like rain and I must finish my laundry. I went to get a haircut this morning and a few groceries. I also got some DVD's to watch.... now I have 4 to watch so you know where I will be this week end if the weather is nasty. I have "Harry Potter" newest one, King Kong (was a sale prise at Wal Mart) Chicken Little" (maybe I can watch with Carley) and "Dreamer"another one to watch with Carley...Jt Shows a little girl with her horse and Carley loves horses and she has been taking horse back riding lessons with her mother.   I won't be able to watch them all this week end because I won't be seeing Carley until next week end. I have to watch my race Sunday and qualifying is this afternoon etc etc etc... then there is baseball  and I will watch if a good game is on.
I'm watching QVC now and they have Cottage Farms on and all kinds of beautiful plants to order.... so far I have placed 4 orders.....   :>)
Hope you are enjoying Spring too even if it is rainy (at least its not more snow)
Sandra

Another Beautiful day

I spent the morning sewing and then went outside and saw so many pretty flowers in bloom I had to go and get my camera.... It never in all my years ceases to amaze me what happens in Spring after such a cold, snowy Winter... It is so warm outside I was comfortable in only a tee. I'm happy my sewing if finished now and I will spend much time outside from now on... I made the yellow bibs and burp cloths this morning along with heming a new pair of pants... I will probably have to learn my machine all over again later because I don't plan on using it for awhile.... It works pretty good but a sewing machine is a sewing machine is a sewing machine. lol  You still have to know and enjoy sewing. I know gardening and enjoy it better than sewing... In gardening you don't make mistakes ~ well not usually anyway. You just buy plants and if they don't grow the way you thought you can just blame the climate and try something different next time. Sewing didn't go bad today though. I didn't have to rip anything out at least. I hope she likes what I made her. If not I bought a lot of things she is sure to like. They make such cute baby clothes and its fun to buy them too. I hope to see her in them or at least pictures. I will have to remind my son to take lots of pictures.... but I'm sure he will until I say enough already... ( I wouldn't do that)
So now I have to eat lunch and maybe sit on the porch for a bit with some iced tea. Hope your day is as nice as ours, Sandra

Beautiful day

After I figured out the tension on my machine and cut out the bibs and burp cloths I got busy and made these.... tomorrow it will be the yellow ones.... Seems like burp cloths are more important now that the cloth diapers aren't used any more... I found a pattern that my mother had and copied it.... it was just on a sheet of paper so I hope I did it right. I tried out 2 different kinds of bibs but I like the one with the velcro the best so I will make a few more of those too.
Now I'm going to clean up my mess and go outside for a little while. I didn't get the laundry done today and maybe not tomorrow if I'm going to be sewing but now that I got started on the sewing I will keep going until I get enough of them finished.... only 3 weeks to go before baby Jasmine is born. If she is on time. I have a lot of other things too that I bought along the way. It is fun buying for a baby isn't it? I have to stop myself because she will be getting a lot of presents :)
Leo is blowing the leaves out of the front flowers now..... so I have to go and make sure he is doing it right, haha  as he blows they vacuum up so that is nice isn't it? My flowers won't get damaged that way .... at least I hope not. The warm weather is finally coming.... I planted a couple of bulbs yesterday but I think it was too early.... I only planted a few to see if it would work and I put a towel over the pot last night so they wouldn't freeze... I can hardly believe things will be turning green and the flowers will bloom again.... What a miracle it is.
Hope you are having a wonderful day, Sandra

Beautiful Sunny Sunday

Here are the pictures I promised yesterday... :)
 It is a nice sunny day here today.... first of many many more I hope. After church we went to some stores and came home and ate and now am watching the race..... I will have time to work in my yard this week I think if the sun stays .... I will do only a little at a time. I have most of the flowers cut back from last year so the only thing I really have to do is rake some leaves out of the flowers and I have to be careful there so they don't freeze again.... I will only do it close to the house for now...... We need a good rain to clean the ground up...... it all looks so dusty etc from winter.
So maybe sewing bibs will be what I really do tomorrow. :)

Sandra

mostly cloudy again

I had little more fun today!  How do you like my Pigmy Date Palm I got at the store today? they had some for really good prices too. I decided to go and see what they have so I can put them on my patio this summer.... It will remind me of my Sons place in Florida a little. We have nice shady spots all along the house and they should brighten them up a little. I think I will get another one next week... I hope it gets big. I can put 2 on my dresser in my computer room for the winter and maybe one on my sewing machine in my bedroom....
Gary went shopping today and got a muffler repair and windshild wipers too and Leo went and came home without anything..... too bad but he will go again tomorrow and find what he is looking for I'm sure.
I have a vine in my room some may remember because it was taking up space when Charlie was sitting on his new window seat..... well it's a vine I got from my Mother and it is blooming today.... I was talking on the phone with my son and he was talking and bragging about all their house plants and I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw my vine in bloom.... My Mother told me not to cut it back and it would bloom and sure enough. I have had it now for over 10years, so that is what started me feeling good today. Even if its cloudy my heart is sunny today. I will put a picture in tomorrow if I think about it....
Hope you are having a happy day today too, Sandra

Friday.........

Today is another mostly cloudy cold day.... at least that is what it is too me and the mood on top says chillin and that is in more ways than one, :)
I have to go to the store and get a few groceries .... something in a new food magazine apealed to me but now I think after I have eaten cream of wheat for breakfast its more of a summer time thing.... it had yogurt and honey with strawberries and some cut up mini wheats on top.... I will still try it but think it would be a wonderful breakfast on the patio when the temp gets just a bit warmer and the sun is shinning.... what do you think?
I think I will boil some eggs and make some egg salad sandwiches for lunch. My diet is starting to work and with good eating habits I believe I will feel better and maybe not so depressed because of the weather. and then maybe get a good movie to watch or a good book to read. I could start sewing too.... maybe...... and then maybe not today.
I just finished reading an amazing book today called Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza.... what an amazing story she had to tell about being in the Rwandan Holocaust..... I couldn't stop reading it until I finished it...
My son just called from Florida telling me the weather is chilly today.... wish it were so chilly here. lol Anyway now I do have to get going as it's already 11:30.  Leo came home from an early morning fishing trip- well not a trip but fishing anyway. They were not biting and he was there since 5:30 this morning til around 10:30. A lot of the fishing buddies were there and noone was catching any but they caught up on their story telling :) and now he is resting. lol
So bye for now and I hope you are having a really nice day, Sandra

Tuesday already???

I am anxious for some warm weather so I looked over my last years pictures and thought I would put a few in to bring my spirits up a bit.
Yesterday we went shopping and I got a new Viking sewing machine. My sister, Angel steered me in the direction of a nice Sewing machine store where they sell them and repair etc etc... such nice people so Leo bought me a nice machine... I hope it lasts forever... but you and I know they don't make them like they used to so time will tell. I will enjoy it as long as I can. I think I will go and find some material to make some bibs etc for my Step grandaughter who is going to have a baby any time in the next 4 weeks. I am not going to push myself into making something fancy right away because Spring should be here soon and I want to get out in the yard as soon as I can.
It's still been cold and windy and it can only get better, I hope.
So the next pictures I put in will be flowers that are coming up in the yard now.... :)  Hope your flowers are coming up ~ Sandra

SPRING IS ON THE WAY

I looked up Spring and saw this as a picture of Spring in our house.    

Doesn't this look like a good idea for those of us who live in the North and have awhile yet before the flowers start to bloom. I have been seeing these at the store lately but they look so much prettier in a cup and saucer don't they?
Not much going on here again today.... the sun is shinning and most of the snow is gone in the yard (except for the piles we shoveled in back) I went out and picked up some things in the yard and looked at the tulips and daffodils, etc coming up.... some are being eaten by the rabbits again. I must go look for something to spray them with. after I did last year they didn't eat them anymore.... That was the first year for me and it looks like they are coming back again. wish they would eat the bird seed that falls and the corn from the squirrels.... oh well it will give me something to do ..... and outside too. yeah!
Yesterday I got my colored ink filled at Walgreens for half the price. then we went to Krolls for fish... it was good. Leo wanted to go and look at sewing machines but I wasn't feeling like it.... I have to be in the right "mood".... silly me but I want to be excited about it I guess.... Probably will be sorry but thats too bad..... I have been feeling under the weather a little lately.... not sick just under the weather, LOL
Hope the sun is shinning for you today too. It sure does make a difference doesn't it... now if it would just get about 10 or 20 degrees warmer I would probably not feel under the weather. haha
Sandra

My little white bench

My little bench is all painted now... we wanted to make sure the cat didn't scratch it so put the little towel on it and then I had to add a basket of coarse.... lol Its such a nice place to put all the pet supplies.... brushes collars and leashes and treats and extra bags of food..... it all fits and is out of the way.... I think it turned out really nice. Leo had to use 3 coats of paint to cover the blue.
Today was a really cold day I thought but we didn't get the big snow storm so that is a good thing..... at least we didn't get it yet... I have had enough snow for awhile now. Actually for a long long while. It's one of those days no matter where I set the heat I can't get warm.... Maybe after supper I will sit and read with a blanket, LOL
I'm making tater tot casserole tonight and its one of our favorite things to eat..... so hope I don't eat too much. I have good intentions anyway. Thats all for today I guess as its a really quiet day around here.... maybe thats why I am not able to keep warm, as I haven't done enough today. I did a little laundry and cleaned up and made supper... then dishes etc and thats it today..... gotta think of more to do tomorrow don't I.......
Hope you are having or had a very nice day today, Sandra

Sun is Shinning Today

The sun is shinning today and things are looking ok for me today.... The sun sure helps doesn't it.
Yesterday my son Gary was so happy I got everythng straightened out for him he gave me a great big hug and asked me what I wanted... he would buy me anything. LOL I told him a new car.... :) Today should be a better one.
My friend Carl died last night.... now may he rest in peace. I can only pray now that his family is all right. He will be missed by a lot of family and friends. He was a good man.
Now I have to get going and start my day. I need to finish my laundry I didn't get finished yesterday and clean up around here a little. Leo is still working on a little bench I had in my bathroom. It opens and I can keep all the pet supplies in it but it was a deep blue and I want it white so it looks better in the bathroom... He is on his 3rd coat of paint now including the undercoat. I hope it turns out this time.
hope your all having a sunshiny day today, Sandra

Windy March day

This hasn't been a fun day but I got some things done that needed doing..... I had to call Gary's doctor and then Leo's and then get some renewals on my meds..... first time since the new medicare plan went through but its all worked out now after many phone calls and waiting for phone calls and it's finally over.... then I just got an e mail from an old friend and she told me a friend of ours is dying of lung cancer he just found out he had.... he got pneumonia so had to go to the hospital for a few days they said and then he would get treatments... It is not to be as the cancer is spreading so fast he is not able to communicate because he is on so much morphine..... His family is by his side and just waiting.... God Bless them and him. He's  a good man. 
   So this isn't the best kind of day here but tomorrow will be better. When you hit the bottom you can only go up, can't you....
  It has been so darn cold and windy today that when I went to the store it felt like the middle of winter again. Sunday it was so nice I wore a Spring jacket to church but back into my warmest winter coat again today. Tomorrow is the Ides of March so it is supposed to get better isn't it? We already got a thunder storm but it was a short lived one..... that darn thunder is  supposed to shake the frost out of the ground. Maybe it got some but we will have to get one more I think before it really comes out....
So hopfully there will be something on TV or Gary will come home with a funny story and we will be laughing before you know it..... Smile anyway. :) 
Hope you are having a really nice day, Sandra

Friday

How did it get to be Friday already..... It is a nice  day here in Green Bay and the snow is melting as I watch. LOL  I was doing a little cleaning and I just got it into my head to put the range hood filter outside to dry.... the sun reminds me of Spring. So I put it out standing up on the cement next to a post and then I noticed the patio table against the house all covered for the winter. I went and got it and put it where it belongs. very early I know but I just couldn't help myself. While I was going to get I figured it might have to stay there longer if I don't get it now because the ground is still pretty hard or just hard enough to roll the table to the patio ..... it is round so it rolls pretty nice. I could never try to carry it as it has a tiled top. It is still looking good. Now if I want to dry a pair of tennis shoes or slippers I will have a place  and it reminds me nice weather is sure to come soon. Today it is almost 50 soooooo Leo had to go fishing. I hope they are not biting too good because then maybe one nice day he will be "lured" away from them and do something with me..... haha  It is so quiet in the house today.... just what I have been wanting and now I don't really like it today... I think I will turn tv on ...... maybe there is something there I may like for background noise at least.
I suppose I could sit and read but I'm too antsy..... gotta be doing something else now..... Maybe I will have a nice cup of tea and just try to relax..... for 3 hours of so before I have to make supper.... no wonder I have weight to lose, I relax too much.... I could go for a walk but I somehow feel like I'm on display and everyone is watching from their living room windows....I watch from this window and see the people go by and the kids coming home from school and things like that.... I gotta get a life.
Soon I will be able to work in my flower gardens and then I will be busy again.... This day is just so beautiful that it's hard to sit still. I can't wait until I can sit on the front porch again and read either..... and the windows can all be opened wide and the fresh air can once again  be in the house....I did have a couple open today for a little while but it was getting cold and the furnace was working pretty steady so I shut them.... soon
Hope its nice and sunny by your house today too, Sandra

Odds and ends

Last night I was watching public television again... it is the time to get sponsors so they have been having very very good programs on This week... Last night it was Andrea Bocelli and it was just wonderful.... He sang "The Prayer" with Heather Headley and it was so wonderful. So when I went to Wal Mart I looked around for something like it... they had part of it on his new cd but not the part where he sang "The Prayer" They did have the one I got with it on though and he sings it with Celine Dion..... It is very good but I enjoyed the one last night more.... They mentioned she has a cd that iscoming out this month.... but didn't see it at Wal Mart. I will have to go to a store where  they handle more music I think.  Then after that was over they had A  Black and White Night with Roy Orbison. And do you know that was really good too. I never really apreciated him when I was young because it wasn't "popular" but I enjoyed it a lot last night... the people were watching them and drinking and smoking and they had a cigerette girl handing out drinks or smokes or whatever. Bruce Springsteen was playing a guitar and singing with him some anyway it was sooooo goooood... I must have missed out when I was young... I think people like Bruce and alvis etc learned from this man.... I will have to read up on him now again... Just remember some of his songs like Pretty Woman ..... wonder if that is the same one that was sung in the movie with Julia Roberts.... Interesting
Today I got a package in the mail.... two actually but the one that is important is the one from the Fly Ladies. I just found out they have a book out about Body Clutter and I ordered and it came today. The way I look at it they may be the only ones to help me solve my overweight problem because they sure did help me to keep my sinks cleaned ...... they are always clean now and other things too and its most pleasant around here. It's kitchen cleaning day so I put a freshly ironed table cloth on and put a few things away but the new floor and curtains are still doing it for me, lol  The body clutter book is already interesting too.... always tried to blame it all on someone like parents and etc etc etc but they say in the very beginning it is because when we were babies and little children we just absorbed all the food we wanted and felt like we could have it all but then we grew up...... and after some years I started to grow out too.... I hope they can put something in my mind to change it like they did with my kitchen sink. What do you think..... do I still have a chance at my age?  I hope so.
Another program they had on Public TV was Dr Wayne Dyer and "Inspiration" Your ultimate Calling... Some know how I like this guy so that was a spell binding show for me too and even Gary (my son) watched for awhile and I think he got something out of it too... I had heard of the new book so I had it already .... got it last week sometime.... Now I have lots of new stuff around here and all I have to do it enjoy it all. Finally Wal mart had the new Harry Potter DVD too and it was on sale.... about $6 cheaper than Shopko... what a deal... now if only some of the other movies come out too that I want.... Maybe I will have to make a trip to the Video store along with the record store.... But I will be busy for awhile now so I can wait.
Right now I have to go and start reading before I have to make supper. I want to see who made it on American Idol too and that is on at 7 tonight I think....
It's a cloudy day here but all the snow we had in the last snow storm is melted now.... we have to now work on the one before that. At least I can see my little tulips and daffodils coming up again.... 
Hope you are having a nice day or evening too, sandra 

Interesting things from a friend

A friend sent this to me in an email and I am just trying to see what can be put into my journal. there are some good ideas in here and some I didn't hear about before. now Goodnight as it's just about bed time.... I can sleep late tomorrow because we are supposed to have nasty weather. Sandra

 

Household Tips

Use an electric hair dryer as a bellows when trying to
start a fire in the fireplace.

     When using several card tables together for a party or
extra dining space, bind adjoining legs with heavy rubber
bands to keep tables from separating.

     Put a thimble on your finger when you're pushing tacks into p! lace.

     Hair spray will remove all kinds of glue from your hands.
Just spray and wash with a wet cloth. It will also stop runners
in hosiery without leaving an ugly spot. Additionally, spraying
wasps and other insects with hair spray will kill them.
Supposedly it makes them too stiff to fly.

     Just washed your hair and can't do a thing with it?
Rub a sheet of fabric softener over your head and your
hair will behave beautifully when combed or brushed.
The same treatment also works on clinging blouses
and slips that stick to your body.

     Dripping candles. Moisten the wick then dip it
into a little salt before lighting.

     Refrigerate candles before using and they will
burn slower and more evenly.

     Envelope flaps that won't stick will after a quick
application of colorless nail polish. It dries quickly,
leaves no smudge and can't even be steamed open.

     If your car is stuck on ice and you can't get any traction,
pour household bleach on and around the rear tires. Also, a
bag of kitty litter will provide traction for tires. It's
excellent too for icy driveways, steps and walkways.

     Ask any liquor store dealer for some empty cartons with
cardboard dividers...they're perfect for storing Christmas
ornaments and for packing shoes.

     Use very large clips to hang wet rubber boots in the
garage. A rolled-up magazine inserted inside tall boots
will keep them standing straight.

     Use a little talcum powder or cornstarch mixed with a
few drops of water as a filler for nail holes in plastered walls.
Force the mixture into the holes, then smooth with your fingers.

     Keep extra fuses taped to the fuse box door, where
they'll be handy if the lights go out.

     If the head of your hammer is loose, soak it overnight in
a pail of water. The wood will expand and the handle will
automatically tighten around the base of the head.

     If boots or galoshes are a little snug, slip each foot into
a plastic bag first, then your foot will slide right in. This
may also squeeze more wear from a pair of child's boots
that are a little too tight.

     Clean oil spots left by your auto from your driveway.
Pour some concentrated liquid detergent on the oil spill,
sprinkle cornmeal on top of the detergent and let stand for
15 minutes. Then scrub with wadded up newspaper, a brush
or broom, or with a wad of crumpled aluminum and
wash down with a hose.

     When squirrels are beating the birds to the stuff you left
out in your bird feeder, grease the pole with petroleum jelly or
Vaseline and the squirrels won't be able to scurry up and down it.

     If your tent springs a leak on a camping trip,
plug the leaks with petroleum jelly.

     A stamp will peel right off if you rub lighter fluid
on the inside of the envelope behind the stamp.

     Packages tied with string will stay tied if you wet the string
before tying. As it dries it shrinks snugly around the package.

     Use a party paper table cloth to gift-wrap a very large package.

     Soaking for a minute or two in cold soap suds makes
it easier to remove rings from swollen fingers.

     Fingers stained from gardening! or kitchen chores get
clean when you rub them with a piece of raw potato.

 

A retired husband is like having
a grand piano in the kitchen.

It looks good, but the darn
thing is always in the way.

 

 

My Friend Daisy

 Thanks Deb for showing me how to find and adopt a pet.... I love my little duckie.... Isn't she cute. :)
Sandra

Snowy Monday

The weather man said 1 to 3 inches of new snow.... well you can see we did get the 3 and its still snowing. Leo said he heard it is supposed to stop by 10 and the sun will shine yet today... It's a good day for me to get the dogs blankets and beds washed and straighten the house etc etc etc.... tomorrow is supposed to be a nice day and maybe as high as 40 :) that is good and then we will be getting more nasty weather but its not the middle of march yet so I won't start to complain yet. I am so anxious for Spring now though. I can't wait until I can open all the windows and doors and air the place out, lol
So off I go to get my work done, Sandra

New March purse

I found my March purse today..... It will match things I bought to wear this spring... I bought the scarf to tie on the loop the purse has and it will most likely match everything I wear, LOL  The purse came with the umbrella and  a glass case and coin purse..... It also has a space inside to put my little camera and another space for I suppose the phone I don't have yet... it also has a nice big zipper pocket so Iam all set. I may have to use this one through April for all the April showers. It was fun looking and I almost bought another one just like the one I had last month only a different color but decided that wouldn't be near as much fun.... I figure I can use my red one again for the holidays coming up when I wear navy blue and red..... or around Christmas or Feb again like I did last year.... I guess I will put all the paper that this one was filled with in the red one to keep it in nice shape..... It's a fun thing to do anyway.... Thanks "Ma" :)
   It's a dreary day today but not too cold. Yesterday I was looking around the base of the house to see some signs of life ~ such as anything green coming up and I saw some of my tiny tulips peeking through and also some daffodils. They are always the first and so tough that they can stand very cold weather.... just hope it isn't so darn cold any more... No sun today but maybe tomorrow. I put my card table away last week so I won't be doing any more puzzles this winter.... Spring is only days away now and I am starting to think Spring. No more hibernating for me I hope.
So now I'm going to finishe watching the race..... it's starting to get good. and then the awards show tonight..... I hope it is a good one. :) 
Hope you are having a nice day today, Sandra
    PS  I almost forgot something good that happened today at church. It was the Sunday the kids that will be making their First Holy Communion to make bread with their family and bring it to church to give it to someone in church that they don't know and then the person who gets it prays for the child.... Well we got a beautiful loaf of date bread.... and you can bet everytime we take a piece we will be saying a prayer for little Hattie..... what a sweetheart. :)  so she made our day today. Shari ( our daughter ) was sitting next to us and a little girl gave her a loaf of country white bread  ..... yum yum. We must have been sitting at just the right spot today.

Wild Turkey

What do you think of this turkey? My sister heard a racket by her patio doors today and when she went to see what it was this guy was looking at her through the window..... Isn't it a big guy and kinda pretty too but it wanted some food I guess.... she usually has corn out for the squirells and these fat guys are finding it easy to get a meal there because those squirels do make a mess. Either that or they smell my sisters good cooking. How would you like this at your back door some day.... I think its kinda neat but it would never happen where I live so I can think anything I want can't I?  We had more snow today so maybe it was hard to find some food in the fields.... this one doesn't look too hungry to me though does it.
After the snow it got sunny and warmer and melted a lot of the snow.... the roads are nice and clear now anyway. Maybe I will get out tomorrow.
Sandra