2 months and counting

Well it has been 2 months since my hip replacement surgery and I'm doing fabulous. I'm walking great now and even up and down steps using alternate legs. I have even been getting down and then out of my bathtub without help. I still have some pain but not enough to hamper me or need pain meds. 

Well enough of that...

We have been working on our garden and have it all ready to plant. We limed and then tilled under and removes some of the old soil from our tomato and pepper pots and put in new. We are headed to Hot Springs Monday and I hope to find some more herb plants to work on my herb garden. The rosemary has taken over and I plan to move my oregano to keep them from being smothered out. 

We have some minor work needed on the electric fence. I really wish we could transfer it to solar and may look into it later. 

The fruit trees are beginning to bloom....especially the red peach

The daffodils have about finished their bloom, but did manage to pick a few. 

My mini hyacinths are blooming

I've been baking some and made monkey bread..

You put a layer of brown sugar and butter and pecans in bottom of bunt pan and then layer in frozen bread dough rolls and then sprinkle butterscotch pudding mix...the cook kind...and add more melted butter. Let rise and then bake. Easy Peasy.

At Christmas we had our photo taken at our middle son's house with the 3 granddaughters...they have all grown up. The 2 older ones are getting married this year. One in June and other in October. The younger one is still in high school. 

Monday is my last orthopedic appointment. We have a busy day planned...after my appointment, we plan to shop at Sam's and then meet the youngest son and daughter-in-love for a pizza lunch for an early birthday celebration. I hope to remember to take photos. Stay tuned. 

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And as always...

  

3days and counting

I am counting down now until hip replacement. 3 more days to go. I've completed all my pre-op except blood test and they will do that the day of surgery. I'm scheduled for the 2nd one for the surgeon. I wanted first slot but apparently someone else go on his list before me. 

Just wanted to share a few photos of things lately...First Sonny bought me a nice vintage looking step stool. It is brand new and he had to put it together but I'm in love with it. 

I have a great recipe for Amish caramel corn. I made some and some run fruit cakes for Christmas. I ate only one slice of the cake and gave the rest away. 

Sonny ate most of the caramel corn. I've really been watching my sweets and have lost 12lbs now. I will continue to keep this up for 2020.

Weather here has been really balmy...not cold but not warm either. Just about right. I did get this shot of red skys in morning.

And we did have rain that day.

Then the robins flew in and there were hundreds in our yard. I got a few close-ups.

I couldn't get a wide shot as they were colored pretty much the same as the ground with the leaves and all. Speaking of leaves, there are very few left on the trees now. Winter is certainly here. 

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Well I will catch you all after my surgery. And as always.....

Christmas upon us and good news!!!

Christmas is a little more than a week away and this year I'm trying to finish up as many things as possible before my surgery. Got all the Christmas gifts made. 

Sonny made Lazy Susan's and cookbook holders.

I had some turntable hardware left over from ceramic days and hubby cut and painted the wood to fit, then I added wall decals I got at Dollar tree and then we coated them in epoxy. They are painted a light grey. The cook book holder was Sonny's own design.

Then I had bought some heavy fleece scarves last year on sale. I bought 3 and made 6 pillows. They are so nice an soft.

They are envelope style. I made a pillow form for inside so they can be washed easier. And yes the scarves had the fringe.

Then I had an old flag with a gnome and a towel with a gnome so I sewed them together and made me a pillow. 

Sonny and I both got our Christmas gifts early. He bought an archery target and I got a vintage looking stepstool for the kitchen. 

Of course Sonny had to put mine together. But I love it and it will make canning so much easier.

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Now for the good news...I announced here that the oldest granddaughter was getting married and posted their photos. But as of this week, the middle granddaughter is now engaged. Here are her engagement photos. 

I know they are dark but were taken at Garvin Woodland Gardens. But we are thrilled for both granddaughers. This one will be in June and oldest will be in October 2020. They are both so different. Oldest is very particular and wants everything fancy and so-so but this one is country to the bone and wants an outside wedding at her parents farm. 

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I had Sonny and my photo taken for Christmas cards this year. So on this note I'm wishing all of you a 

Merry Christmas. Be Blessed!

Holidays upon Us

Well the holidays are upon us and I'm not near ready. We have already gone through 3 birthdays and Thanksgiving. We did meet my sister and brother-in-law before Thanksgiving and ate out together at Olive Garden. 

I took her my snowman rug for her early Christmas.

Then on Wednesday, Sonny smoked a turkey and some venison hams and I made dressing and cranberries. We went to the daughter-in-love's house and spend Thanksgiving day with her and her mom, uncle, and 3 granddaughters and 2 of the boyfriends. Had a good time and they took lots of photos but I haven't gotten any yet. Hope to post some later. 

All the boys were working Thanksgiving so missed them. 

But I do have this photo of 3 of the granddaughters.

And here is the latest photo of the oldest with her soon-to-be.

Since they both finally graduated college they have plans to marry next October. He has a fabulous job working for Corp of Engineers and she got a job as a social worker in a nursing home. They have been together for 8 years and are such a sweet couple.

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And of course I can't leave out our baby Kinzey.

She loves outside except for when it rains and she plays so hard that she crashes once she comes in for the day. She loves to sit between Sonny and I in our double recliner. At 90lbs she is a little too big but she seems happy anyway.

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I did finish the quilt top for my daughter-in-love and she will have it quilted. It was using her keepsake sheet she got when she got married. I added the linework embroidery.

It's really bright. I now have a wedding ring quilt to finish for the oldest granddaughter getting married next October. 

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Short but sweet. Hope you are really blessed this Christmas season. 

Lovely things

I finally felt up to getting some photos together to post. I've had an awful cough with no energy. But I'm back!!!

I have a photos of the greatgrandson.

He had his first field trip to the pumpkin patch.

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I finally talked the youngest son into sending me photos of his ship. 

I have a video that shows him as he accesses the boat. But blogger won't let me load it. But basically they load them on with a boat crane. 

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My sister sent me some photos. Their church has a prayer walk garden. They tried for a long time to find someone to make this for the garden. One is from one side view and other is from other side so no matter which way you are facing it, you see something. A young man and his wife who live near me local made it. I think it is gorgeous. 

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On a crafty note. My oldest granddaughter sent me a photo of a ghost doll that she saw in a store display and wanted me to make it. Her birthday is halloween. Well I didn't have a chenille bedspread to make one and I had making and stuffing arms and legs so I made this instead.

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I went the annual arts and crafts fair in Hot Springs and bought me a shirt. It is supposed to be for Christmas but since it looks like a gnome I will wear it more often than just the holidays.

And it is more pink and aqua anyway. 

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Our church is having a fall festival tomorrow. I made caramel corn.

I wound up making 80small bags.

This is my process...

I use cheap popcorn which was $1 per large bag. I used the entire bag. Popping it took some time since I use a heavy cast iron pan.

I lost count on how many pots I made but 3 pots made 2 roasting pans full. I made 4 batches of 2 pans each so 8roasting pans total.

It was more than shown. 

Once it is popped....I use a heavy pan for the syrup which is 1 stick of butter, 2 cups packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup corn syrup. You bring this to a boil. Once it boils stop stirring and let it boil for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes turn off heat and had 1tsp. baking soda and 1tsp. vanilla flavoring. And stir. Add to 6quarts of popped popcorn and stir well. Put in oven at 250F for 1 hour stirring every 20 minutes. Take from oven and stir again. When cool break up large piece. And that's it. It's not hard, just time consuming. 

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Last photo is of Sonny's deer. This is the photo caught on the game camera. and after.

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And as always...

Catch Ups

I had several photos saved to post and failed to post them at the times they occurred so thought I would catch up...

First (no photos with this one)...the face mess up is about faded. You really can hardly see the spot where I landed on my cheek and my glasses hide what's left there.

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First....my husband and I had our 40th anniversary on May 25th. We only had one of the sons and family to celebrate with us so the nicest man took our photo outside the cafe where we ate.

I might have posted this already but not sure.

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We had our 1st great grandbaby this past spring. He is now a strapping cowboy. We got him the boots and he has already outgrown them.

It is amazing how fast they grow at this age. 

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Our middle granddaughter won Pike County Fair Rodeo queen. She entered last minute and even had to borrow a horse to ride. And she WON!!

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Our oldest granddaughter has had the same boyfriend for 8 years. They finally set a date for their wedding. I still have a year to finish their wedding quilt. 

I might have shared this photo before as well.

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Now a couple of newer photos...

First the kids came out this past weekend...the youngest granddaughter of the middle son got a new car. She is still trying to pass her driving test but she is at least set up.

My spider lilies are blooming and I've never seen so many to bloom as we have had this year.

I just bought some new bras. I have a hard time finding bras I like. I want an underwire and most after a few wearings poke through to the inside and finally have to pull the wires out. But I found these that have the underwire sewn to the outside. I bought 4 as they are the most comfortable bras I've ever owned.

Well that's all folks...and as always....