More flowers!

Paul's Texas Star has been blooming all week.  This is the one that is supposed to be a mix of the red and white flowers.  So far it has had only red flowers.  Next spring, we will plant more of the mixed seeds.

So enjoy the purple flowers out the kitchen window.  I think they are called "Yesterday,today,and tomorrow", but I am not sure.

Closeup they resemble petunias.

A second Pot of them sits  by the carport.

Monday I rode my bike (trike) about 3 miles.  Due to rain, heat, and painful knees I haven't ridden it in a long while.  I think I was out of shape.

I think long term the bike riding is good for the joints but short term it  was  painful   afterwards.

And Another Day!

I worked extra hours crocheting the last few days and completed the granny square afghan yesterday. There is a compulsion to finish a project, but an empty feeling with not having it to work on once it is done. This afghan is about 40 inches square--so it makes a nice lap robe.  Maybe someone in the nursing home can make good use of it this winter and fall.

Paul drooled over the watermelons earlier in the summer. 4th of July we got a really good one.  It was sweeter than any we had last year.  This one is locally grown and is in the "ice box" aka fridge now.

Paul's white Texas Star!

He got seeds for this from a customer.
He tried mix it with a red, but so far only got another  red one.

The moss roses (portulaca) just keeps,blooming its heart out.  It always makes me think of the urn Mama had in her front yard with a variety of moss rose in it. They really liked the sunshine there in San Antonio.  I tried a number of times to start a cutting of that out of Mama's urn, but I was never able to get it to grow.

I think hers was a fuller, bigger flower.  It was different in some way.

Moss Rose in our planter.

I have been unable to write since early in the year.  I have seen a neurologist who says I had a small stroke sometime.  He refuses to make any association between the writing dysfunction and the stroke, but I personally think there is a connection.  I also think my dizziness and unbalance is connected, but the doctors insist I see an ENT doctor next. At any rate, I have been doing self directed therapy on the writing.  I can "draw" the letters and words on lines pretty well, but writing normally without lines is a disaster.

My writing practice one day.  I have worked on my signature and got it looking fairly normal.

We keep on keepin' on, day by day.

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Update on Celebrate

It has been some time since we have posted.  Some days we have been busy celebrating the day.  Other days we just plodded through.

Here are a few things we have celebrated in recent months

So thankful for an Rx to relieve knee and ankle problems!

Making a granny square afghan (lap robe) from Mimi's left over yarn!
It is turning out pretty.

My first ever pedicure at the local beauty school!

Baking sugar cookies for VBS.

A friend helped me get replacements for my upper dentures.
So good to have a nice smile once again.

Other things we have enjoyed include a visit from Mimi's sister, and Paul's aunt, from San Antonio before she began chemo for lung cancer.She was able to stay several weeks.

We took Mimi up to Spurger one Saturday morning to Hatton's vegetable stand; then we went to the cemetery at Warren and by her old home place.  A nice outing.

One of my daughters and 2 grandchildren came to visit for a couple of days. I enjoyed seeing them, and we took in the movie "Brave" at the local theater while they were here.

I visited with the daughter and grands in San Antonio via Skype. That was a neat and new experience.

We continue to work out at Curves, and Paul is losing pounds and inches. He seems to have more energy, and the doctor reduced the dosage on his blood pressure medicine.  

We eat at the Sr. Citizen Center almost every day. We have made some new friends there,  and enjoy the camaraderie.

Little things mean a lot!

We're still enjoying the flowers. Mimi's Pink Dogwoods are in full flower this morning. She was told they wouldn't grow in these parts.  These trees prove differently.

Pink Dogwoods

The white dogwoods are full blown right now.

White Dogwoods looking out from the carport.

Yesterday, Paul was so excited to find a single bluebonnet blooming in the music store yard.  We had bluebonnets in this area several years ago, but they seem to have died out. Surprise! Surprise!

Paul's Bluebonnet

What a Wonderful Week!

Everyday here is a joy this time of year with all the beautiful flowers blooming.

Hedged Up Azaleas are so pretty this year.

The wisteria is every where now, both purple and white.

Mimi wore her walker out and had to get a new one last week. She chose a hot pink one.

We are so thankful that she has a walker to get around with.

Singing Saturday Night.

We joined a group from Southside Church of Christ at Kevin and Kelley's home between Woodville and Hillister Saturday night for supper and singing. It was fabulous.  Lot's of good food followed by some wonderful singing, The acoustics in their living room was outstanding.  Paul even got to lead--or teach Eunie's song, "I'm Going Back", to the group,  As far as we know it has never been sung in all its parts before. He also introduced a song called "Sunset".  He enjoys so much being with a group that can sing all the parts.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the church of Christ, we sing A Capella and our gospel songs are generally written with shape notes and sung in 4 part harmony.

My Projects

I mostly made a new fishing hat for my sister-in-law's sister.  The one I made her last year had a way too big brim and we haven't had a chance to change it until now.  They are coming this week to visit Mimi.
pictures later on that one.

I finished up a new born cap this week.  I am using up yarn that is here, so had to add a white stripe on this one to fill in.

My latest project

Started another newborn cap yesterday.  It is actually aqua blue and a creamy white, but the light on the iridescent thread makes it look pink.

Picking Strawberries--and Strawberry Shortcake

I went out this morning to a local pick your own strawberry patch.  I took my timer along and determined that I would spend one hour picking berries.  Well, there was a dad and his two kids out picking berries also. With their help, I filled my bucket in probably less than 15 minutes. A bucket full was about 5 lbs. which was enough for me.  This granny sure appreciated the help.
These are good sweet berries.  I put 3 lbs. in the freezer, washed one lb. and put in the "ice box" for Mimi to have to eat, and fixed the last lb. for strawberry shortcake. Paul and I enjoyed some after supper tonight.

Remembering the Weekend!

Friday, March 2, 2012-- Texas Independence Day.


Proud to be aTexan!

Friday was Beauty Shop Day

Mimi with a new haircut!

Spring comes early to East Texas this year. 

Redbuds by Mimi's driveway.

Azaleas, Red buds, Brides Wreath, soon Dogwoods...everything is coming out early.  There was more wild jasmine blooming this year than I have ever seen.

Saturday...Enjoyed getting out to a few garage sales. Two were people we know.  It was nice to visit a minute while we looked.

Enjoyed chit-chatting with daughter who called Sat. afternoon. 

Yea! Me!  I listed several items on ecrater this afternoon!.

Sunday

We heard two good sermons. Randy Allen preached on "What if Christ was returning in one week?  What would you do?"  Food for thought, and reason to change your habits.  Unfortunately, like many, I am slow to change.  In the afternoon, Scott Mitchell from Warren preached about the work of the Holy Spirit in salvation.  I learned a lot from this sermon.  We also joined our friends at Southside to hear Randy preach again in the evening. Always enjoy the singing at Southside.

Visited Miss Martha Buchanan after morning worship.  She is a pleasure to visit.  There were tulips blooming by her driveway gate, too.

Paul fixed dinner for Sunday.  He made homemade tomato soup.  It was yummy. We enjoyed it with grilled cheese sandwiches.

Monday, Monday...

Worked out at curves.

Lost 1/2 lb at TOPS.  Good meeting with no gains. Glad to have Fran back after knee surgery.

Lunch at Sr. Center was good. 

Celebrating an ordinary day

Thurs.3/1/2012
This has been mostly an ordinary day. We had lunch at the Sr. Citizens Center. As usual a good lunch. I think they go heavy on the Brussel sprouts and zuchini squash, but I suppose people who don't like broccoli or corn think we have those things too often.  Yesterday, Ms. Nancy made a delicious, beautiful chocolate cake with yummy white cream icing to celebrate all the February birthdays.  Some of it was left for today.  I really enjoyed that.

Had a good tutoring season this afternoon.  This student has progressed so much since I started working with him.  A pleasure to work with him.

Stopped at H. E.B. to pick up groceries on the way home. We have to be thankful when we can buy groceries.  Paul is planning to make some home made tomato soup for Sunday dinner.  Think we'll make grilled cheese sandwiches to go with it.

The azaleas are blooming now, and the red buds are opened.  Around the bend, there are some long hedges of azaleas that are in full bloom. Beautiful! I will get pictures tomorrow.

A salesman came by the store this evening. Bert Wall has been calling on us since we opened the music store in 1996.  We were able to sit on the front porch and enjoy the south breeze while we visited and he showed us his latest specials.

To top off the day, we splurged in cash and calories.  We went to Dairy Queen for a Choco Cherry Blizzard. Delish! And helped cool us off on this rather warm evening.

I hope everyone has enjoyed the day!

A Day Full of Celebrations! Leap Day!

Yesterday, Feb. 29, 2012 was Leap Year Day! It was also a day or many happenings here.
Probably the most notable was that Eric, my oldest grandson, left for Navy Boot Camp.  This doesn't affect my day to day life here, because he lives in Nacogdoches, and I don't see him very often. But, leaving home and striking out on your own is a big milestone. I know it will be a big adjustment for his parents, and even for his sister.  It will be a big adjustment for Eric, too, but he left thinking of it as a fun adventure.  For him it was a day of celebration.

On the home front, we celebrate some more minor achievements.

Most notable, we got our business signs back.  

Wayne Wise, of Glenn Wise Signs in Beaumont took our old sign.  They cut it in half and repainted it. We are very happy with the result. Paul wasted no time putting it in the yard at Mr. Bandman Music. We like the fact that it is painted on both sides, and people can see it coming and going up and down the street. Wayne also fixed us an open and closed sign for the front door.

This flops over when we're closed.

Also, during the past week I have up dated several on-line listings, including our Merchants Circle page.

I made Communion Bread yesterday, too  I like making pie crust and this is very similar. The main thing is rolling it thin enough. and not burning it. This the second time I've made it recently and each time I left one pan in the oven too  long. 

 

I was proud to take my bread to the building last night so that it can be used for the Lord's Supper on Sunday.

Wednesday, Feb. 29,2012 was a day of many small celebrations!

This is the Day which the Lord has made...

Psalms 118:24  This is the day which the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.
My aim for this blog is to celebrate the happenings of each day.

Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012
Good to see some at church services that haven't been there in a while.  Good morning Bible Class on faith. Also two good sermons that we could learn from, especially the one about the lost sheep.

I completed the Q crochet afghan that I had been working on. Or, I should say, I declared it big enough.  Since I used left over thread that Mimi had here, I opted not to add fringe to it.  I started it thinking I would make it all shades of ecru, tan, brown and gray, but as it went along it developed into a "coat of many colors"  I sort of wish I had just used random colors from the beginning, but it turned out pretty anyway.  Since you use two strands of thread to do the Q crochet, it is a good heavy afghan, and measures about 45 " x 60 ".

Coat of Many Colors Afghan

Detail of pattern called "Breezy"

Monday, Feb. 27, 2012

Enjoyed meeting with TOPS club members this morning.  I did gain a bit, so can be glad the valentine candy is gone and we can do better.  Also enjoyed riding "trike" to Curves for a work out this afternoon.

Started this Blog today.

Got a good report from Dr. Jana today on brain scan and blood tests to search for cause of balance problems. Will pursue it with a neurologist, but know now there is no brain problems or sinus problems.  I had lost a bit on doctor's scale which is good news.