A Typical Monday?

A Typical Monday: What ever that means. I hope you had a lovely weekend. I hope you can tell that March is almost over and April is just there waiting in the wings. I like April.

We had to drain our pool this weekend. Not-something-we-want-to ever-do!!! During one of the dust storms the drains on the bottom of the pool got stopped up, Ron tired to unstop them from the filter, but the clog is really bad so we have to do it from the deep in the bottom drain. Since standing on the bottom of the deep end,  holding your breath, trying to use a screw driver in 50 degree water is not a option, the only course is to drain it. In a drought year. Believe me, I have tried to figure out how not to fill it back up. I asked Ron if we could just turn it into a root cellar. You know put boards on top and put dirt on top, he said no.

So onto my morning. I have watched to many Sci-Fi movies. It is Monday morning, the first day of Easter vacation. Feeling like I want to do something different, I decide a smoothie is a good way to start. I get all of my ingredients into the blender. I am standing in the kitchen, looking out the window, when I see and hear the power blip. Then it does it again. My thought is darn, the power is out, no smoothie. I notice though, that the oven light isn't blinking. I look over at the microwave, which is blinking. I notice the display. It says, " "Only you can choose to have a nice day." I thought, what the heck, then it says, " choose clock now." I obey, I choose clock and set the clock, and feel like I have just entered the twilight zone. How would I ever show anyone what I have just seen? Who will believe me? I am not sure if I believe me.

 

I hurry get the smoothie made and get out of the kitchen. No more talking microwaves. We had the submersible pump running last night until the pool was drained. The pool needed to be spayed down and washed this morning, so feeling like I would be safe inside of the pool, I went down into it and started washing it down. There is something very nice about being in the bottom of the pool washing it down. Time passes really fast.

 I am just minding my own business and I can hear a really low airplane behind me. I turn to look and it is a World War ll  cargo plane with four engines. As it flies overhead, I look up and on the underside of the wing is written, " Rides."  I thought, rides? Wow, I would like to go for a ride. I think about it, Peter comes outside to talk to me for a bit and I get finished and come inside. I have been out there a hour and a half. Which feels like I have been out there only minutes. I have this weird feeling in my head, as the load of clothes I put in the dryer what felt like just a few seconds ago is finished and dry.

I feel as if I have been in a time warp. Maybe I should just go back to bed and start over.

So now really begins my Monday. I hope you have a lovely day.

~Kim~

"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." ---John Lennon

Rugs, Books and Such

 

It is Wednesday, a beautiful spring day. I am aware of all of the things I take for granted. So that is good, I think. I never give to much thought to my health, but not having it really makes me see how I need to be more thankful every day. My goal this year was to hook a rug a month. I was starting to get a bit panicky because I hadn't finished a March rug. I made myself hook, and got one finished. I hope to get it bound and listed.

My take on Bremen Town Musicians

It was a fun rug to hook.

 I am glad it is finished. I have a stack of these animals sitting on my sink that I look at all of the time. Translating it to a rug is so different. I also used a new dye book to dye the background for this rug. I liked the color. The book I used was from Primitive Spirit and it was called The Dusty Little Dye Book by Karen Kahle.

The new rug I am working on is a guinea rug, but this one has three guineas. I do like hooking guineas.

I like sunflowers too.

Iris flowers today

Yesterday the mail brought Kris Miller's new rug hooking book. What a treasure trove of goodies. I wish that I had this book when I first started hooking. I have learned so much already. I also see these really bad habits I have let myself get into. It is I think the best book I have ever seen on the subject of rug hooking and
Kris Miller is such a nice lady. 

I hope you have a lovely Wednesday. I wanted to share a photo of the kids and their friends from a wedding they attended this weekend. I loved this photo because these kids are in and out of my house. They are the best and I am so thankful for the whole bunch.  My boys are the ones in front William with the blue shirt and the girl, and Elliot has his arm around that really cute girl. He has maroon shirt and Peter is on the end with one of his buddies arms on his shoulder in the pink shirt. 

I hope you have a lovely Wednesday. I think today will be a good day to watch chickens. Hook and read my new book.
~ Kim~

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.…"

For my friend.

Trying to do Normal

Here is is Monday again. I keep telling myself I must be getting well as my floors are driving me nuts. I have now spent one week sounding like an escapee from a T.B. Ward. It has been about seven years since I had anything like this, my thought is over and over I am missing spring. I made myself go outside with my camera.
We have had such lovely days, that I stare out the window at, but yesterday, I couldn't stand it and put a lawn chair outside and let my chickens in the yard. Best medicine I think. Watching chickens.

Megan got baby chicks at her house. So now I have grand chickens too. :) As soon as I recover, I will be visiting her chicks. Yes, play on words there.

I wish I had some exciting news to tell. I don't. All I can see is the work that the list is getting longer and longer. This is my spring training time of year and  I am weak as a kitten. I will get these floors at least vacuumed today. That is something I think.

Can you see this Hydrangea? This thing is taller than me. We might have had one frost this year so the hydrangeas never had a freeze, so they are so huge and pretty now. Prepare yourself for the rest of this year to hear the droning on and on about California and no water. I read about five stories the other day online.
Do you know that when I was a kid, we would have droughts that lasted 10 years. If this is the fourth year, we have quite a while to go. Cycles happen. I am so disgusted with the whiners we have become. I put myself in that list, because I started this post whining about being sick. I think behind our lack of water in this state is always greed. Do I have a solution? Not really, but I think if everyone was willing to do a little and a little then it would all add up. The golf courses don't want to stop watering, the parks nor do I so it all comes back to that idea. Thinking of others more than yourself. Anyway, end of soapbox.

Have a wonderful week, I hope all of your days are sunny and bright. I hope to be back to my ole happy self soon.
~Kim~

"Fear stifles our thinking and actions. It creates indecisiveness that results in stagnation. I have known talented people who procrastinate indefinitely rather than risk failure. Lost opportunities cause erosion of confidence, and the downward spiral begins."
Charles Stanley

A Great Present

 

I thought I would share with you a present my daughter, Kessie brought me. For Christmas, she got something that she didn't want. She kept telling me about it, but I really didn't know what she was talking about she kept calling it a cricket. It seems that it had moved through her husbands family and no one wanted it so they gave it to Kessie. She didn't want it either. Finally one day she mentioned it again, and the light came on in my head. I said, " WAIT!!! Did you say Cricut???" She said, " Yes, Mom do you want it?" I was practically jumping up and down, I have wanted one for years. Do you know the kind of signs I could make?

I took the book out but my fever-brain just doesn't get it yet. It came with all of these great attachments. I can cut wool and even wood with it. I plan on making stencils to my hearts content. I just don't have time to be sick right now. Today I stared out the window and watched the lacy green leaves dance in the sunlight. Then the clouds were racing by to jumble themselves up against the mountains so it can have thunder and lighting in the mountains. So many things to look at so this is really aggravating. I have rug designs wanting to be drawn out and the flowerbeds are just right for playing in right now.

Anyway that is what is on my list to do next. One of the many. Ron is sick too so we are quite the pair.
 I have wanted to write and show you my lovely gift.

Well should go outside and water chickens. They have been on their own a bit this week.
I hope you have a lovely Thursday,
~Kim~

 

The Land of Counterpane

 

"When I was sick and lay a-bed,
I had two pillows at my head,
And all my toys beside me lay,
To keep me happy all the day.

And sometimes for an hour or so
I watched my leaden soldiers go,
With different uniforms and drills,
Among the bed-clothes, through the hills;

And sometimes sent my ships in fleets
All up and down among the sheets;
Or brought my trees and houses out,
And planted cities all about.

I was the giant great and still
That sits upon the pillow-hill,
And sees before him, dale and plain,
The pleasant land of counterpane. "

Robert Lewis Stevenson

Getting Caught Up

 

It is full blown spring here. The Irises are beginning to open. I am sorry that I have been so hit and miss on visiting your blogs. I have come down with that flu thing and I hate admit it but I am sick. I am thankful that it held off until the kids all left to go back home. All the birthday parties were nice. Now I can show you the Hobbs I made.

The tiger from Calvin and Hobbs

It has been awhile since I made a stuffed animal. I need to do it more as I have always enjoyed making them.
They don't sell Hobbs in stores because Bill Waterson never did licensing so I found a pattern on Etsy and it was instant download so I was in business. I love that instant download button. All the strips had to be handsewn on.

 I hope you have a lovely week. I hope to be back to my normal self soon. It is too pretty outside to be cooped up in the house.
Have a lovely Tuesday,
~Kim~

"They say that God is everywhere, and yet we always think of Him as somewhat of a recluse."
---Emily Dickinson

Whirlwind Week

I hope your week has been a nice week. Ours has been filled with lots of busy and lots of laughter.
Yesterday was our grandson's birthday. He turned eight. We had everyone here. Everyone was so sweet to come over and put up with my ideas. I had new family pictures taken. I can't wait to see them.

I never take enough pictures. I did manage to get a couple.

Here are some of the kids roasting hotdogs, with Grandpa, as Munchie calls him, Grandpa Kim. It cracks me up every time.

 

There was lots of scooter riding, running and laughing and lots of eating. There was tree climbing and at one point, Ron and I were sitting by ourselves, and we were watching our grown up kids, with their kids and it was the strangest feeling to see our front yard full of people. One of those perfect moments, when you feel like you just woke up and wonder how in the world did you get here...So fast. I want to put my arms around it and hold it tight. I feel so small and so inadequate and very unworthy of all that God has done.

I think they have outgrown the table.

I do hope the weather man is very wrong. He is saying that this weekend it will be 90 degrees! I can't even begin to tell you how that just scares me to death. Yesterday it was 87 and I thought I was having one continual hot flash.
I can hear that people are up now, so should get back to Grandma duties. You know, I always thought I was a slacker looking back as I never made things or was creative when I had young children. I know now, that it wasn't that. The day is never long enough, and when I sit down, I am too tired to pick up a hook or a needle. Not to mention, there are babies who just like to sit in my lap. There will be time enough again as this time passes all too quickly.
Have a lovely week,
~Kim~

 

He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.
Isaiah 40:11

Thinking of You!

 

I keep seeing all of these pictures of the snow, and my goodness, I thought February was bad but March just seems to break as many snow records, but I do see that next week the whole U.S. seems to have a nice weather pattern coming. Then I won't feel so guilty of posting pictures of spring. You know I do feel really guilty right? Just so you know, because the next few pictures are what I would call just not nice at all.

As I mentioned, I have a household of sick people. My cures when people are sick are, " Go sit out in the sun, drink lots of water, and eat chicken soup, and this drink I make up for them."

The drink is this:
Take the juice of one blood orange, one regular orange, and a lemon. Put it in a cup, add boiling water and a teaspoon of honey. Drink it all up and can be repeated when ever you feel like it.
The other thing is I think because strawberries are high in vitamin C it is good to have them. I was out running errands and I went by this man selling flats of strawberries by the side of the road.  I knew they would be so expensive, but with sick kids I knew it would be worth it.

 

So I stopped. They were lovely. Oh so worth it. I came in the door and the boys started eating strawberries
and eating and by the evening, there was only one basket left which was gone by the next morning.

 

Early strawberries don't have good flavor this early but these were lovely. My grand children will all here this weekend and next week I will be returning I know they will love these strawberries.  I am so out of jam now, I know where I will be going once the price comes down, I do hope it does.

 

I know this isn't a very good shot, but I walked outside yesterday and there were two giant clumps of buzzards flying around over the pasture, just soaring. My memory card was acting up and by the time I got it fixed this was the only group close enough to take a picture of. They do that in the spring, for a couple of days the sky will just be full of flocks of them. Last spring, I stood and watched hundreds of them fly over the house for 45 minutes. I have never seen anything like that either. I never knew there were so many. They just kept flying in to come to this place to soar. I thought it must be the warm air that the pasture has right now causing the up and down drafts.The swallows do the same thing in April. Maybe they are courting.

I have been making a birthday present. It will so nice once I am finished, or at least I hope so. Me and sewing with a machine, lets say we are acquainted but aren't real good friends. I will show you a picture once the birthday recipient receives it. I thought yesterday I would be finished. Nope. Now I know it will be a couple more days.
But I have miles and miles to go before I sleep, so I need to get this day going, times a wastin'.

Have a lovely Friday,
~Kim~

"It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both."
---Charlotte's Web, E.B. White, 1952

Mrs Rabbit At Home

 

I hope your week is off to a good start. My Monday lets say was jam packed. So much so that when I woke up this morning I thought it was Saturday. Or it was just wishful thinking.
Flu has hit the house with a vengeance. Wisdom teeth having to be extracted, I guess this is the year of the pulled tooth. I am fast approaching a permanent fixture at the dentist office. Yesterday at the dentist, it was like ole home week.
Seeing people I haven't seen in years and years. The dentist's wife, came and asked, " Did I know all of their customers?" I said, No I didn't think so but, I reminded her I have known her 27 years. We both laughed. I guess I need to get out more.

This weekend, I decided I was finally going to finish Mrs Rabbit and hang her where I first imagined her hanging when I first saw the pattern.  As my eyes were getting worse and worse, she was the only thing I could see. The colors are darker than I like, but I thought I would just leave her like she is. She helped me keep my sanity as I hooked and hooked and thinking all the time, it might be my last hand work anything I would ever finish.  Today when I hung her on the wall. It really felt like she finally made it home.

Rug design by Sharon Smith.

 I often wonder when I look at Mrs. Rabbit, how it was that I did see but working with my hands gives me peace when I am in the mist of panic. I think sewing or handwork, is such a gift and one that I am so thankful for, hooking rugs is to me, something I have not even got tired of since that first day I pulled my first loop.

I hope your Tuesday is a wonderful day. Thank you so much for stopping by to read this drivel I post. I spend so much time on the computer, one thing I found out yesterday, talking with my fingers isn't like talking in person. Just talk about that pretty tree across the parking lot and the new green leaves that are glinting in the sun, or the rain drops looking like diamonds and see how people shake their heads very politely and move off. :) Thank you for listening to me very much.

~Kim~

" You will show me the path of life;
in Your presence is fullness of joy;
at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
---Psalm 16:11---