Last Sunday in January

 

After living though drought, I find the fog and the gloom and the cold a blessing. The dripping trees and the dripping plants are all such a wonderful treat for me.

This morning, every thing was dripping like it rained. We are going to get rain next week so I am so happy about all of it every single day. Every morning when I wake up I feel like I am waking to the best day that there ever was. Rain and fog are like that to me.

Though, I get to where I am crazy for color. So yesterday, I just had to make something to bring in some color. Cleaning out the closets and the cupboards I have ran across things. I found one of Emilie's old umbrellas one day. I knew just what I was going to do with it. Living in the desert like we do, umbrellas don't get used very much so this one looks brand new.

 

 It is very simple and fast. I went to Micheal's and all of the spring flowers are 50 percent off and if you used that 40 percent coupon they would be pretty cheap. I knew what kind of tulips I wanted so I bought five bunches of them  and put the stems inside the top of the umbrella. Then that little part that goes around the umbrellas to keep it from unfolding just put that around and you have your spring bouquet. I didn't have the right kind of stuff to make a bow so I used this. It makes me happy.

I love the colors.

I think fresh ones would be nice too.

Since it is almost February, I just want to think of hearts. I made this out of some more things I had in my closet that I didn't use last year. Yep, another quick and easy craft.

 

I painted a old fence board, then scrubbed it up after it dried with sandpaper. I had this heart I had made out of ticking and glued it on with wood glue. I love wood glue. Then drilled a couple of nail holes and I have this hanging plaque. I like fast.

 

I loved how dripping wet this bottle brush plant was. I was taking pictures and It was dripping so much I got all wet.

Last night, it was so foggy you couldn't see down the driveway. There was a cat fight or maybe a fox committed a murder. I tried to do CSI on the crime scene and didn't come up with any clues. I went out to check because there was so much fur I thought it was one of my Silkies. I will spare you the details but it was really gory. As I was looking at it, Ron's take on it was " He just thought it was another case of the Catfields and the McCoys " I thought it was so cute I just had to share it with you.

I hope you are having a lovely day. It is has been so nice to have lots of hooking to do. I sold two rugs.
I feel so honored and thankful for that. I feel so blessed to be able to do what I love. Dreams really do come true.
Have a wonderful day,
Kim

" Because your lovingkindness is better than life,
my lips shall praise You."
Psalm 63:3

A Quick Post

I thought I would stop in and write a quick post. Though I have lots of good features with my new, updated O.S. ( operating system) It isn't for me like riding a bike. Everything I do takes a lot longer. Not to mention this morning my computer told me it had 46 updates to post. So all day, it would shut down and do a restart.
I can type fast but not that fast. It will be nice once I learn how to get pictures again. I think I am almost there. Ron who is affectionately thought of now as my training wheels. He can come in do a little of this and a little of that and things work. Me on the other hand feel sad and lost.

 I told him last week right before he started the computer chores.  I said, "I want you to remember no matter what happens, I love you." I have tried not to glare, and complain and I have tried to be nice. There are times though, I am just not a good communicator. Words leave me. Things come out like that thing over there and those programs that used to do this. Nothing coherent. Which of course, leads me to think fondly of picking up a stick and beating this computer to death. Not Ron of course, but well, this morning, it did cross my mind. The father of my children and all of that.  Not really, one of my sons was sitting in the room and he would have been appalled at his mother.

Good news though, after seven months, I finally had a repairman fix my oven. I now have both of my ovens working and I am so excited. I never burnt the house down. The broiler never came on by itself while we were asleep nor did it happen when I was cooking a big dinner. I am lost without both ovens. Since I never post recipes, just because I am lazy and I hate typing out recipes you would think I don't cook. I cook constantly. I like cooking. In fact, next to sewing, cooking is my other favorite hobby. Like tonight I made chicken curry and fried rice. I was so happy to see my boys and Ron go back over and over for seconds and thirds. Now I can start baking again. I have missed that.

Okay, then after that the next thing I like is chickens and gardening. Followed closely by cleaning house. I thought I would share that too. I realized I really like cleaning house. Okay, stopping here I said quick post.
I have one of those update things blinking on and off and it said, " Your computer will restart in 8 minutes." I feel like I am on a space ship.
Have a lovely weekend,
~Kim~

All pictures on this post are old ones because I am still trying to figure out how to get new ones off my camera.

From Child's Garden of Verses
               Winter-Time
Late lies the wintry sun a-bed,
A frosty, fiery sleepy-head;
Blinks but an hour or two; and then,
A blood-red orange, sets again.

Before the stars have left the skies,
At morning in the dark I rise;
And shivering in my nakedness,
By the cold candle, bathe and dress.

Close by the jolly fire I sit
To warm my frozen bones a bit;
Or with a reindeer-sled, explore
The colder countries round the door.

When to go out, my nurse doth wrap
Me in my comforter and cap;
The cold wind burns my face, and blows
Its frosty pepper up my nose.

Black are my steps on silver sod;
Thick blows my frosty breath abroad;
And tree and house, and hill and lake,
Are frosted like a wedding cake.
---Robert Louis Stevenson---

Computer Woes

 

Earlier this week, Windows had some new things that they do occasionally, called I think, " Windows Updates. Which always fills me with apprehension. My computer develops all kinds of problems. I will spare you the details from last week, but by Saturday morning, I couldn't even get on my computer.

Ron mentioned that even at his work, where they have very techy people who take care of computers full time, they were having fits. Ron said that the only thing we could do was to put a new O.S. on my computer. Not being that savvy, I said, " What is an OS?" (In my mind I am thinking of OZ, like Wizard of Oz with lots of flying monkeys.)  He told me, my heart just sank. I knew I had to do this.

 

I also wanted you to know that after last year, one of the things I have learned is going forward and trying new things and not looking back is a better way to live. Living in fear is not good. Which is how I am with new technology. So Ron started and after 121 updates once he got things all changed around. It took hours and he babysat my computer. I have to say, I am leaning new things and new places and it is a real improvement. I had so much voodoo going on to get my computer to do what it was supposed to do that now to walk in and turn it on is nice. Nothing hangs, nothing freezes. No errors or bells and whistles going off.

My pictures load again. That was a nightmare, trying to get my pictures to load. Not to mention visiting blogs. My computer just wouldn't load pages. I will have to spend a few days learning things but it isn't as hard as learning a new phone. Or a new remote for the T.V. I remain remote challenged. It doesn't work at all when you hold it upside down, which happens mainly when I have my grand children here.

 

I am just using old pictures from my computer. it is a gray and foggy cold day here.  The visibility was down to 1/4 of a mile this morning. It smells like a deep freeze outside. Yesterday it warmed up to 43. It was nice.

I hope you have a lovely day today. I have to sit and make a list for this week. I only have a few more cupboards to clean. It feels so nice to get so many things cleaned and straightened.

Have a wonderful day,
~Kim~

 

" The deep part of winter gives most of us a little more time alone. The natural rhythm of time has changed from that of summer. But instead of dreading the dark winter days we ought to savor them for what they can give."

" I hear the shadowy horses, their long manes a-shake,
Their hoofs heavy with tumult, their eyes glimmering white;
The north unfolds above the clinging, creeping night---"

The book of Stillmeadow, p. 77-78  Gladys Taber.

Ten Things That Make Me Happy

 

Today is a cold and dreary day. Yay!! The wind chill makes it a day I am so thankful for a nice warm house.
I had to go out to take care of my girls ( hens) and while out there, I found myself finding things that made me happy and made me smile. I thought I would share them with you, just in case it s a dreary and cold day for you.

.

1.Camellias blooming in the flowerbed

2. Warm fresh eggs in my pocket.

 
 

3. Finished projects.

4. Nettle and chickweed growing all around.

5. New projects to work on.

6. Wishes to come true.

7. Surprise sunflower coming up through  old leaves.

8. Oranges for snacks.

9.Finding my silk tulips in the shed and putting them in blue jars to chase away the clouds.

10. buds and the promise of spring.

This morning, I found out that looking for things to make me happy, were all around me. I took lots more pictures of things but I will save them for another day. I was so surprised to see that the world is filled with such small pieces of joy in such little things.

Have a lovely weekend,
~Kim~

Such green grass after the years of brown. It is such a miracle to me.

" St. Julian of Norwich: All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manners of things shall be well."
" God is our refuge and strength and ever present help in trouble, therefore we will not fear."
(Psalm 46 :1-2)