Goodbye March and Hello April!!

I was thinking about the month of March. It’s hard to believe it has ended for another year. March came in like the proverbial Lion. The weather was terrible the wind was so strong it blew our outside furniture all over the deck. We had tree limbs down and lost power one night for about six hours. We had a hail storm that left our deck littered with hail so thick it looked like snow. And then it, March, went out like a little meek lamb. Goodbye March. Until next year.

March was a full month of work and reading, knitting and crochet projects, dinners with family and then with some friends, I was the guest speaker at a hospitality training seminar, my husband retired and is loving it, I was able to visit with my niece who was in for a time from California, I visited a farm that grows tulips, my tulips are blooming and several of my orchids are blooming. So wow!!! Quite a month. I would expect no less I guess.

The Reduds are also blooming. At work we have several visitors who come in and ask “what are the beautiful purple trees that we see all along the roads.” I tell them they are actually Redbuds. Redbuds? but they’re purple, and then I show them the picture of a Redbud when it first blooms out and it is definitely a red bud.

***See how red the first bloom actually is***?

I passed a house that had this beautiful tree blooming and just had to get a picture.

And of course just like clock work we experienced Redbud Winter. The temperatures took a plunge last week which is always what happens when the Redbuds bloom. I truly believe in all the winters that we experience in East Tennessee. If you haven’t read my post explaining them you can read it here: The Five Winters of East Tennessee. Many people I work with, even my husband, poo poo this and don’t believe that the trees budding, and other signs have anything to do with the weather, but I firmly believe they do. My parents always believed this and so did early settlers, for them it was the only way they had of knowing when the last frost had occurred and it was safe to plant crops.

A few weeks ago I became obsessed with the crocheted Easter eggs that are all over the internet. I spent several hours watching a YouTube video while working stitch by stitch with a yarn, turns out was much too thick, to make one of these eggs. You crochet one side and then the other side separately and then slip a small plastic Easter egg inside and slip stitch the two sides together. My first one turned out so large, because of the thick yarn I was using, you could have put three Easter eggs inside of it. Back to my computer and YouTube I went. The second egg wound up on the floor because I got so frustrated, I may have actually yelled and stomped a little, with the yarn. I had picked a thinner cotton yarn. Wrong. The cotton just didn’t work. It kept splitting and it was still too thick. For round three I chose crochet thread, it is super fine. I am using a size 2.75 crochet needle. I finished it and I think I sort of like it. I would like to make a few more and hang them across my kitchen window.

***The third attempt. I think I am better off sticking with the crochet thread. I hung this one in my window and would like a few more. Maybe I will get better with each one***.

If you want to try one of these eggs, just put crocheted Easter egg inside your search bar and lots of them will come up.

So here we are in April. The weather has been so nice and soft. The trees are turning about a million shades of green. Flowers are blooming, and the pollen is going crazy!!! I guess you just have to take some of the bad with the good.

I leave you with one of my favorite April poems.

Have a wonderful week and month!!!

Always remember

Love your day your way!!!!

Sunday Afternoon Coffee Share

The new year hit us with some cold weather. I am talking frigid, freezing cold temps. But come on it is January here and that is to be expected. I think it is refreshing. Ask me about this in the middle of February and I will probably be singing a different story.

I didn’t make it to midnight on New Year’s Eve. I fell asleep around 10:00 PM and woke up just a little after the new year arrived. I have to say I am ready for a new year. I don’t really do resolutions but I usually pick a word for the year. I am still thinking on that one. To be honest with you I usually forget about the word halfway through the year.

It is a cozy Sunday around here. Did you notice my coffee mug. My niece gave this to me for Christmas. I opened it and said “wow that cat looks just like Gus”. It was Gus!!! and all my other kitties. She had the mug made with pictures of all five of my kitties. I love it!!!! My family really knows how to make me happy when they buy me kitty gifts. I have to show you all of the kitty gifts I received but I will do that in a separate post. We finally got all of the Christmas decorations down and stored away. I have had the best day just knitting and drinking coffee.

I am knitting a sock for my nephew’s girlfriend. I had hoped to get them finished before Christmas but it didn’t happen. I just finished the first sock and have started the second one. The second of a pair of socks is never fun, but you have to keep going. I am also working on a scarf. Just a simple, all knit stitches, scarf. I can’t remember where I got the yarn but it is just wonderful. It pulls perfectly and is just a joy to knit. I am taking my time with it because I hate to finish it.

***I can’t wait to wear this scarf it feels so cozy.***

I worked most of the week. My sister and I had mammograms yesterday in Knoxville. We have also decided to start the process of genetic testing. We started the testing for that yesterday as well. We have so much cancer in our family. Five of my six siblings have had some form of cancer. Two sisters had breast cancer. I am a fanatic about having my scans and tests, but we are curious about all of the cancers we may be predisposed to. It is something that we need to know not only for us but for nieces, nephews and grandchildren in our family. We started the process yesterday but it will take several weeks to get results. It’s scary. I was against this for several years for many reasons. But more about that later.

While we were at the hospital I went to the Oncology floor, where they do chemo, and donated my hats I had knitted and crocheted. They had a pretty good stash but with the cold weather coming I am hoping someone can use them.

***These are the hats I took with me to donate.***

We had planned some shopping afterwards but the appointment lasted a little longer than we had planned. And it was sooooooo cold!!! We went and had a nice lunch and made a couple of stops and came back home. I had a grocery pick up so I did that and came back to the house to snuggle in for the weekend.

I have been listening to an audio book. The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout. I have loved all of her other books. This one is not one of my favorites but it is still pretty good. I like to listen while I am knitting and then when I am driving. I am also reading Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand. I waited for both of these books for several weeks. I got them through the Libby App. I am about halfway through both of them. I need to finish because I know there will be another long wait if I don’t.

We have a short trip to Nashville this week for a four month check up for hubs. That is if the weather cooperates. We will have to see.

I hope you have a wonderful week and stay warm if you are in this neck of the woods, or other cold places.

I leave you with a picture of sweet Kitty Kitty enjoying the bit of sunshine we had yesterday. Yes she may be a little annoyed with me for bothering her nap.

I will be joining Natalie The Explorer over at The Weekend Coffee Share.

Always remember

Love your day your way!!!!!

Tuesday Happenings

Hello and happy Tuesday, and dare I remind you, only one week until Christmas. I’m still trying to wrap my head around that one. Thanksgiving was only about twenty minutes ago.

I have been off from work for seven, yes you heard that right, wonderful and glorious days. Did I have big plans? Nope. Did I have a lot of Christmas projects and decorating? Nope. Just seven awesome days to do pretty much what I wanted when I wanted. I had some vacation days to get rid of before the end of the year. Sadly we can no longer carry them over and your really shouldn’t anyway. Use those days and enjoy yourself.

Last Tuesday night we had our work Christmas party. It was very nice. We had it a restaurant about forty minutes from me. I had to plan everything for the party such as the menu, time, number of people etc. it is always a bit stressful. But I had the vision of those seven days off, bouncing around in my head. We had a lot of fun at the party. It’s always worth it to see all of our members get together and have a good time.

My sister and I spent one day finishing up with Christmas shopping in Knoxville. And would you just look!! the stores are already putting out Valentine’s Day decorations. I love hearts so you know it doesn’t really bother me but it was a little strange to see all the hearts amongst all the Christmas decorations.

It was actually a pretty quiet week. We had to attend the funeral of a cousin. And of course groceries were bought and last minute Christmas items ordered and picked up. I have been doing more cooking and baking, which I love to do when I have lots of time.

My nephew had been in London for a week and my sister and I had agreed to pick him up at the airport on Sunday night. His flight was supposed to get in at 11:51 PM but it was delayed and didn’t get in until after 1:00 AM. I didn’t make it back to my house until 3:00 AM. The airport was deserted until that last flight came in and then it sort of exploded with people. A good thing I had the following day off.

***Deserted airport. Also freezing cold.*** ***The reflection of those blue light*s *look like blue footprints.***

I have also done a lot of knitting and crocheting while I have been off. I’ve been working on some hats to donate to the University of Tennessee hospital, where my sister had her chemo. There is an area for donations. People leave hand knitted and crocheted hats and head bands for people going through chemo. They always go through a lot of them in the winter. Below are a few I have finished. What is your opinion about a Pom Pom on top? Yes or no?

I am also working on a pair of socks for my nephew’s girlfriend. She asked for a pair at Thanksgiving, and in typical me fashion, I have waited until the last week before Christmas to get started on them.

We put our Christmas tree up a few weeks ago. The same one we have had for 34 years. We bought it the first year we were married. It has made it through a couple of moves. We did order a new tree this year. It was lost in transit and finally made its way to us a couple of days ago. Only about a month late. We haven’t decided if we will return it or keep it for next year. We finally got the last of the ornaments put on the tree this morning. So far the kitties have controlled themselves around it.

Just to let you know that is not an actual kitty at the top of the tree. It looks exactly like my Sadie, Ha!!!

I have done quite a bit of cooking and baking while I have been off. I made sourdough bread for my nephew and had it for him when he got off the plane Sunday night. I made chess bars for my husband. And I made a beef stew today in the crock pot. It was yummy. We had it with biscuits.

So it is back to work for me tomorrow. Sadly all good days off must come to an end. But the bright side is Christmas is next week. I have about 20 people coming to my house for dinner on Sunday. Everyone is bringing a dish so it won’t be a ton of cooking just for me. On Christmas Eve my sister has a small get together at her house. Christmas Day will be just me and my husband and the kitties and a very quiet day. How is your Christmas season going? Do you celebrate big or do you keep it relatively quiet?

I leave you with a pic of my big Christmas present that keeps giving all year long. My big boy Gus.

Always remember

Love your day your way!!!!

Hello December

I had been wishing for colder temperatures and man have they arrived. I still love it though. The air feels so cold and crisp. Just the way it is supposed to feel this time of year. It’s so hard to believe that December is here and a new year is coming soon.

How was your Thanksgiving? Ours was very nice and quiet. My nephew and his girlfriend came for dinner as well as my sister in law. we had such a fun time. My entire family no longer gets together on Thanksgiving Day. It seems as though each family is having their own special day. That makes me sad. I think next year we may try to plan a day, close to Thanksgiving Day, and get together with all of us. Time together is so special and should be treasured.

My sister and I took off early Friday morning for Black Friday shopping. It’s just not the same as it used to be. The crowds are not the same. So many people are doing online shopping and it makes going into the stores unnecessary. Most of the stores started their sales on Monday before Thanksgiving. I guess as I get older I’m just not that interested in being in huge crowds. The fact that I work with the public and experience this almost every single day also has a lot to do with that. But I’m not quite ready to give it up yet.

I still love going out on Black Friday. My sister and I start out early. We check out a few sales but we mostly love it because it is always our kick-off to Christmas. This past Friday was no exception. We started out around 7:00 AM and returned home around 4:30 PM. We had a wonderful time just being together.

As I said I wasn’t really looking for anything particular. I did buy a few Christmas presents and got some of that out of the way. But on our very last stop, which was as at Marshall’s, I found the best gift of all. It was for me but still.

While I was digging through some throw rugs I found a cat rug. It’s purrfect. Sorry I had to do that. It was my best find of the day.

I put the rug at my front door and Gus is already in love with it.

***I guess he thinks I bought it just for him.***

My nephew lives in Smithville and it is about two and a half hours from us. He had to work on Thanksgiving and didn’t get to enjoy any of his favorites with the family. On Saturday my sister and I met him about halfway to his house and had dinner with him. I made him a pumpkin pie, and his all time favorite, Butterfinger Cake. I didn’t get a picture of the cake or the pie. We got home late on Saturday. But it was totally worth it getting to spend some time together.

On Sunday I stayed home and relaxed. We did put up our Christmas tree. We still haven’t added all the decorations yet. I also finished my socks I was knitting.

***I think they turned out pretty well. Most of the stripes match. I had just a little different coloring on one toe.***

Even though our outside kitties come into the garage at night it can still get really chilly. We have a little heated house for them. They all love to pile up in that small house. It is the cutest thing ever. I am leaving you with a picture of Izzy poking her head out of the house. She secretly thinks the house is all hers and she is only sharing it with the others.

It was back to work for me this week. A full week ahead and a lot of things going on. I love Christmas and all the fun things that go along with it. But it can be so tiring. Remember to take care of you during this time. I think as women we tend to try and do it all and be all for everyone. Sometimes that is just not possible.

Have a wonderful week. Stay warm if you are in this area.

Always remember

Love your day your way!!!!