How FAT can a Squirrel get?

When the feeders are full we have about a half dozen squirrels that come and absolutely gorge themselves on seed. This one always sits on top of this feeder, reaches down and pulls seed out and then sits back up to eat. He or she has grown quite fat this winter. The other squirrels eat from below on the ground so this is the Alfa.

Wednesday - TGIW!

I'm so glad that this week is at the half way point. Work has been slow and it's down right boring; the nights seem to drag on anymore. I look for things to do to fill my time there so I don't go crazy.

I'm working on a doily for a friends birthday and hope to get it done today; her birthday is next week. It's really turning out lovely and I will post a picture when I get it completed.

Greg's classes were canceled because of bad weather out there in TX. He said two people fell because of the ice and broke bones so they were having to stay indoors yesterday. He is hoping things will improve weather-wise today so that they can get started.

It's a cloudy dreary morning here and I am enjoying reading blogs and sipping hot coffee. Household choirs are calling but I'm not listening at the moment.

YEAH! "A" School Classes have started!

Greg has finally started classes in his skill area - 13 weeks til completion! I'm so glad they've finally started up as he was getting so homesick again. He got a Peace sign Tattoo this week - I'm hoping it's not the start of more but he says he's not going to go crazy with it. And he has gained a new knick-kname... MR. BUNNIE. Apparently there are rabbits EVERYWHERE around the barracks and he fed ONE bread so now anytime he steps outside they are following him around. The Petty Officer's think it's hilarious!

Greg said yesterday that he is moving to a new room today and is hoping it's a single so he can have peace and quiet to study. He is still sounding so positive and upbeat and it makes us feel so good. GIRLS are starting to take notice and he has a "PACK" of Air-Force girls that follow him into the cafeteria when ever he goes there to eat.

Back to cold!

I'm looking forward to Spring now and warmer weather and YES some humidity. We've had the vaporizer and a pot of water on the stove since yesterday morning just to make it a little easier to breath. The moisture in the air helps so much.

Yesterday I sorted some more of Greg's magazines and then moved the bookshelf that he had been using in his room to the corner of the kitchen where the window used to be to test out whether we would find cabinets and shelves useful in that area when we remodel the kitchen. I moved my cookbooks back into the kitchen on this shelving unit as well as the appliances that we don't use often and I like it so far.

Scott's knee is still causing him a good bit of pain but he's pressing on and went to work. He is quite frustrated in the fact that it's taking awhile to heal this time.

I need to feed Amelia; she's all ready barking or should I say BOOFING at the kitchen window for her breakfast.

I went out to feed Amelia and she has dug into the side of one of the raised beds pretty badly so I turned the electric fence back on to keep her away from it so she won't do anymore damage to the bed.

I got a call to come in 2 hours earlier today so will need to take a lunch so I don't get ill at work. I just can't skip meals as it makes me feel horrible. And the bad part is I forgot my medication last night too. UGH!

Quiet Saturday

Scott and I have spent a quiet day at home with neither of us doing much of anything. Caring on conversation when the urge struck, working on small projects, preparing a meal and watching TV - the majority of that being a complete and total mind suck. There truly is nothing with any redeemable value on that box we sit in front of in the den and the more I think about today and how we spent it we really just blew the day - nothing really memorable, no new knowledge gained and no exercise for our bodies. What a waste. Tomorrow I WILL accomplish something for mind, body and soul.

Microwave Fudge

OK... before anyone fusses I KNOW I'm DIABETIC but I HAD to have something chocolate tonight and it's so rich you can't eat more than one piece without getting sick.

Microwave Fudge

3 2/3 cup 10X (confectioner) sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
1 Tbls. Vanilla
1/2 cup chopped pecans, opt.

Combine and cook 10X sugar, cocoa, milk and butter on high power until butter is melted, about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in vanilla and pecans. Spead into a buttered 8-inch square pan. Cut into 1-inch squares.

LATE Night and feeling ill

I didn't get home from work until after 11 last night as the floor crew was in and they took a LONG time to mop and buff. The floors look real nice at the store but I'm exhausted this morning. Luckily I'm off for the next 3 days as I awoke feeling like I'm coming down with a head cold as well as being tired. My head feels like it weighs a TON!

Scott has gone to work all ready and the house is so quiet; almost too quiet. I'll have to put some music on in a little while.

Yesterday I started going through Greg's magazine collection and getting it organized; perhaps I will work some more on that today. It still blows my mind the amount of magazines that he has but it really shouldn't because Scott and I also enjoy our collections of magazines - wood working, country living, crocheting, quilting, gardening, solar energy, to name a few that are in our collection with some areas having more than 1 magazine to account for. I love these storage boxes that I got in and may order some more for our magazines. They are VERY sturdy and the perfect size.

I need to fill the bird feeders as I can hear them outside looking for food. The squirrels empty the feeders faster than the birds and are quite the fat and happy little beasts. We so enjoy seeing the birds that migrate through our state each year.

Chilly 25* morning

It's 25*F here this morning - CHILLY! Scott has returned to work with muscle relaxers at hand in case things get to feeling bad later in the day. I knew he was going back today as last night when I came in and asked if he wanted to run get a sandwich out somewhere and he said, "Yes, I'm about going stir crazy" that he was ready to return to work. His leg is still sore but not incapacitating like it was the past 3 days. SO... I've got the house to myself until I have to leave for work this evening. I'm only working 4 hours tonight; I think I can handle that. LOL!

I'm going to start the day cleaning house and then this afternoon I'm hoping to start another dishcloth. OR maybe sew some on the green quilt top since I believe I now have the PERFECT fabric for two borders for it.

Knitting - 1. dishcloth

This is my first dishcloth. I can see a few mistakes but all in all I think I did pretty good for a first attempt. Since they work up pretty fast I will keep trying until they come out perfect. This pattern came from a booklet titled... LOVE TO KNIT DISHCLOTHS by Evelyn A. Clark. All the patterns have a heart or hearts within the body of the dishcloth.

A Doctor a DAY....

It seems that is how this week is going. Scott to the Doctor day before yesterday AND today and then me to the Dentist yesterday. Scott is staying home another 2 days to recover from the remodeling jobs; he has some pretty deep muscle pain that seems to be migrating down his right leg now. He is finding it hard to get comfortable at all today unless he is totally drugged up. Right now he is resting in one of the recliners. My Dentist appointment went good yesterday; I was handed MORE literature to read about the importance of oral care ESPECIALLY for Diabetics and people that take other medications. No cavities at all and so it will be another 6 months before I go again.

I'm working my way through the pile of laundry this morning as I have to work tonight. And I'm hoping that Scott won't tumble over getting ice from the freezer like he did last night. Our freezer is on the bottom so he was bent down to get some ice and said that he kinda just rolled on down to the floor. Gotta love muscle relaxers. Thankfully he didn't hit the floor hard.

Snow....

I had to look for it but we've had snow! ALL the schools in the District are closed today for this... Being from Upstate NY this always kills me that they close the schools here for even the slightest incling of snow.

Doctor Visit for Scott

OK... the floor stripping over a week ago hurt Scott's back so he's been taking it easy since then UNTIL yesterday when he decided to work on the laundry room project (YES... we are multitasking this remodeling and work a little here and there and it will all eventually get completed). He put insulation in the walls and hung some sheet rock out there. So when he got up this morning his thighs went into spasm and he could barely move. He tried to get dressed for work and got everything on except his shoes with lots of painful sounds being put forth. So I told him lets get you to the Doctor. He had one muscle relaxer left and took it just so we could get him to the Doctor's office, it kicked in hard about the time I pulled up to the door to let him out so he nearly fell getting out of the truck. He was prescribed a muscle relaxer, a pain reliever and an anti-inflammatory. He couldn't wait to get back home so I brought him home got him in the bed and went back to the Pharmacy to pick up the prescriptions. He is sleeping now and will most likely stay in bed for the next 2 days. He is in absolute agony. I feel so bad for him.

How do you handle the cold?

I become part of a cat pile. HA HA!

What is today anyway....

I had to stop and really think this morning about what day this is - SATURDAY! AH! OK... in an hour earlier than scheduled and no lunch. UGH! I will have to take something to snack on so I don't get ill before I get off at 10 PM.

It's 14* here this morning at 8:30 AM. BRR! TOO COLD for me. As much as I hate the summer hunidity here I'm REALLY wishing for it this morning. Last night I gave Amelia one of our worn out comforters to help her stay warm last night. She just doesn't know how to behave well enough to stay indoors all night. I let her into the bonus room this morning to eat her breakfast and to warm up a bit. She seemed to enjoy that immensely.

Apparently getting Nick neutered has NOT slowed him down much as I just caught him on top of a very horny stripped female that I have never seen before. Tesla was having a fit watching through the window - pervert! SO in case anyone has wondered a cat left un-neutered for awhile that knows how his body works WILL NOT stop having sex after he is neutered. Just an FYI! I realize this may be TMI (too much info) for some but others may find it useful in some way.

Greg passed his Phase up test day before yesterday so now when he is not on duty he can wear civilian clothes and he can go "into town" on Liberty as long as he is back on base before Midnight. Last night was his first trip off base and he and a couple friends went to the Mall. They bought guitars and amps and some movies. Greg was so excited for the down time and having a guitar on hand will help him with the days that don't go well for him. Lately all I've heard is how GREAT each day has been. I LOVE hearing him so positive and upbeat. Today he said that he will be cooking on the grill again. He has become the un-assigned ship cook so to speak - they call him the GRILL KING! LOL

I'm looking forward to next weekend - I'll be off Friday, Saturday AND Sunday! A LONG weekend! YEAH! I'm working EVERY day until then so the first day will be just catching up on rest. WHEW! Luckily several days are just short little 4 hour shifts - 4 to 6 hour shifts suite me just fine.

I got some more ideas for Christmas gifts yesterday while visiting with my family so I want to get started on some more items. I'm creating a list of projects from the responses that I've received from family to an email I sent out asking for their favorite colors and what sorts of items they'd find useful. So far it's a short list as not many have responded to my email but thats ok... I'll just get creative with those and hope that they will enjoy what I make for them.

My brother Charles and wife, Alina are expecting a baby during the Summer. A new addition to our all ready HUGE family. But welcome just the same.

Well I better get to work on the huge pile of laundry - I've ignored it long enough.

Got my first speeding ticket today....

I'm 44 now, nearly 45 and got my license when I was 18 so I guess it was time for me to get a ticket. I got stopped today for going 70 in a 55... $132. I'll be going to court to see if I can get the fine reduced since I have NEVER gotten any tickets before. I had just passed a slow moving truck that was kicking up rocks into my windshield and POP... there comes the Highway Patrolman. UGH! Scott is calling me lead foot now.

Morning Movie

I am thoroughly enjoying my Netflix membership. This morning I watched The Thing About My Folks and it touched my soul deeply. It's about a son learning what his parents life and marriage was all about and how no matter what their love endured all that life had to give them. It makes one think about the importance of those that we join our lives to and how we should never take each other for granted. Never giving up on one's dreams but excepting reality when it pushes your dreams aside - it's all about the LIVING not the dreams. Taking time to appreciate ALL that life has to offer up to you and never hold on to regrets. I recently told my son that holding back because of fear will only lead to a life of regrets and that is something I don't want for him. To expect heartbreak from time to time but to LIVE and enjoy the life you are meant to have not some pipe dream.
Hug the ones you love, call your mother, father, sister's, brothers give your wife or husband encouragement when they need it and always love. Your children should always hear you say you love them every night and take every opportunity that you have to show them that love with your time and not a bunch of things that will be easily cast aside as interests change. Memories created together will last them their lifetime and you will always remain in their hearts forever.

C-O-L-D and it's going to get colder....

It's currently 34*F and by Friday we are expecting temps to drop down to 10*F... BRRRRrrr. Too cold for me. Luckily I will be home when the coldest temps arrive and I won't have to drive home on possible icy roads tomorrow night.

Today's freebie at Annie's Attic is a pair of crocheted tube socks using sport weight yarn. I want to make a pair of these. I love thick socks better than slippers to hang around the house in on cold or rainy days.

The magazine organizing boxes that I ordered from Amazon arrived yesterday so tomorrow I will be putting them to use on Greg's magazine collection. So they'll all be dealt with before we are trying to put his room back together again. Next I need to get something to organize his CD's, DVDs and games. I realize that he will probably not keep it organized but at least it will stay neat for a little while... until he comes home again. Ha Ha.

Greg's cat, Little Nickie is being a real suck-up today. He wants me to brush him and is sticking close to me this morning. I think he is trying to convince me into letting him stay in for the day as it IS so cold out. STINKER!

Baby Afghan

Todays freebie at Annies Attic is for a beautiful baby afghan if anyone is interested. But remember you have to visit the site before midnight tonight to print it off.

Blood Work

I went in to the doctor's office to have blood drawn this morning for the cholesterol and A1C tests. Once they get those results I will most likely start on a cholesterol lowering medication. UGH! I hate taking medications. I wasn't raised that way - I grew up learning that what ever didn't kill you just made you stronger.

After the doctor office I stopped at the post office to mail Greg's replacement phone and some shower effervescence to help his sinuses. There was a lady behind me at the machines but she kept talking and talking and talking to me about every step that I made - drove me NUTS. So I finally removed my package and let her use the machine so that she could use it and leave. I had to wonder if she wasn't trying to get my debit card code.

I'm going into work earlier today than I was scheduled to help move freight so that the new merchandise is all out. It kills me on how things just sit when the store manager is away. It happened when I was the manager and it still continues now when the Manager is out. When I ask what I can do to help move freight I'm just brushed off until it becomes a crisis... like the District Manager coming to visit in one week. UGH! If they utilized me better all the time we wouldn't have to go into panic crunch mode at the last minute.

Last night I decided to clean out one of the raised beds in the garden as the sun was going down. I accidentally ran my fork through one of the large toads that lives in our garden. I felt HORRIBLE and will now only dig about in the garden in the early morning hours. The toads are so beneficial to our garden that loosing one is truly heart breaking.

I'm working away on a knitted throw that I wish that I had started with larger knitting needles as it's progressing slowly. I try to do 4 or 5 rows a day but it just seems like I'm not getting very far each day. Oh well... I'm learning the knit stitch. The next project will be learning purl stitch and a combination of knit and purl. I am just struggling along trying to learn to knit. Crochet is more my bag but I love the way knit looks. Maybe in time I will get better and faster at knitting.

Scott pulled his back out and I found a neat new crochet site

Well Scott did his back in stripping Greg's bedroom floor. That floor has definitely been a learning experience. He got it about half way done yesterday and then ran out of stripper. Another Saturday and we will have it stripped. He says that he may need to rent the big sander one more time to do a fine sanding to remove the last little bit of the failed attempt. We are both so ready for this project to be completed. I plan to start on the valances and curtains this week and the shelves that go in the closet need to be painted as well. I ordered some magazine storage boxes and will organize Greg's collection so that he can easily find the ones he is looking for by looking at the front's of the boxes. I'm hoping that these boxes will fit under his bed with the risers that I bought. I will make a bed skirt for his bed to match the curtains so that no one can see under there. He is anxious to see it all finished as we update him on what we are doing when he calls. He won't see it until April maybe May when he gets to come home again. After that we aren't sure where he will go or what he will be doing. It's all really a wait and see. It's on a need to know basis and right now they've decided we don't need to know I guess.

I just found a new site I thought that I would share as well. It's www.happyyellowhouse.com a source for FREE afgan patterns. The title of this post is also a direct link if you don't want to copy and paste into the browser. She has some absolutely GORGEOUS patterns. I want to make the penguin afgan thats on this site.

Several hours and nearly a dozen bags later...

I spent several hours in the back yard today cleaning up debris from the chestnut tree in the back yard. It looks so nice now. I would like to plant some pansies underneath this tree but I know that Amelia would not leave them alone. It's been awhile since I've done much work at all on the yard and it looks it. I sometimes feel like I'm awakening from some dream thats kept me hostage from doing all the things I so enjoy - sewing, gardening, reading, scrap booking and the like. It feels so good to be tired tonight. Next I will clean up under the Magnolia tree - they're pretty but what a mess they make. After I've cleaned up underneath that I plan on refurbishing the raised bed garden with several new raised beds this year. I've put together an order for Gurney's as they were offering $25 in free goods when you order $25 worth of merchandise. I've ordered squash (both summer and winter varieties), cucumbers, bell peppers, tomatoes and some other items. I'm hoping to have a real nice garden this year.

Hot Dog Chili

Hot Dog Chili (Our recipe)

about 3/4 to 1 pound of ground beef
put in a skillet with about 1/2 to 3/4 cup water and smash it as it cooks until meat is no longer pink. Adding more water if it doesn't remain slightly soupy.

Add 1/2 of a medium onion
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbls chili powder (more if you want it HOT)
1/4 cup yellow mustard
1/2 to 3/4 cup ketchup

Stir well and then let simmer for about 30 minutes while you heat hot dogs in a pan of water.
You can serve additional chopped up onion to put on top of chili dogs.
YUMMY!

This is our lunch today!

Stomach Bug

What a way to wake up. My stomach had me about bent in half... OUCH! Hopefully this is not something that is going to last all day as I'm off and don't want to spend the day in the bathroom. I have way too much to get done around here as always.

Yesterday I went to see the Cardiologist and he has given me orders for our regular doctor to do a cholesterol test and send him a copy of the results. He also made the recommendation that I start cholesterol lowering medication to reduce my risk of a heart attack. The part of my heart affected at the moment is just at the very tip and we don't want it to get any worse or move up into the upper part of my heart. I'm also having an A1C test done to see how I'm doing in the Diabetic area of my health. Sitting in the waiting room yesterday with all the Senior Citizens made me realize that I have to take charge of my health NOW more than ever if I don't want to become a permanent monthly attendee at the Cardiologist office.

Thats my health update for this week.

Back to a chilly morning....

I'm glad we remembered to turn the heat back on last night. Brrrrr.... Scott had to go into work early this morning to go over something with the third shift technicians so I just got up early too. My left big toe is killing me and if I didn't all ready have an appointment with the Cardiologist this morning I'd be making an appointment with our regular Doctor about my toe. I have to be to work by 2 this afternoon so I don't have a lot of time for appointments today. Perhaps a soak in some hot Epsom salts water would help it. I'm off all weekend and if it's still bothering me by Monday I will go into the doctor then. I need to make an appointment for an A1C test with them anyway... perhaps they could kill two birds with one stone so to speak.

I've started a new project using yarn from my stash; it's a granny square tote bag. I saw it in a book at work and then found the pattern online for FREE. YEAH! I'm using 4 different colors in my bag and plan to line it with a rainbow print fabric that I have in my fabric stash. I'll post a picture or two when it's completed. Hopefully the next picture won't be so blurry.

WOW it's WINDY!

I'm going into work early today as Amanda broke her foot last night and is in a lot of pain and needs to go home. She shouldn't be driving as she has to control everything with her left foot but everyone else in her family is at work or doesn't drive. I hope that she gets home safe and sound. I'll need to start watching my hours as they keep calling me in on days off and early; if I go into overtime they'll be fussing like crazy.

I just made a bit more coffee as I only got one cup this morning and I feel like I'm dragging today. I took a short nap and that has helped some but some caffeine will just get me going a bit better.

The house keeps rattling from the wind; it makes me realize how many windows we have left to replace. One room at a time we will get them all done eventually.

Busy as a Bee!

Quilt top ready for borders; trying to decide on what to do; I bought a brown print but now that I'm home I'm wondering if it will really work. Perhaps a cream 2 inch border and then more green around the edges, perhaps piano key strips in greens. I'll think on it for awhile.

Thats ME! I've been happily sewing my heart out for the last 3 days. I made Greg a double fleece blanket and shipped it out to him on Monday as he said its VERY cold and he only has one blanket on his bed. He should be getting the new blanket by tomorrow. I made it with some skull fleece that was in clearance and then a solid blue gray on the back. I think it turned out really good and that he will like it a lot. He can always put the blue gray to the outside so he doesn't look like a rebel goth. Next for him I will be making some thermal sleep pants.


Almost forgot to mention that I've added a few more links to the side bar for FREE crochet pattern sites. So if you've been looking for something new to crochet up you may want to check some of them out. I will continue to look for more sites and will post links if I deem them worthy of repeated visits.

Sunday Morning - Working Morning!

I'm to be to work at 6 AM this morning to help with the fabric markdown and shift. It'll look a lot more like SPRING in the store when we are finished as all the Spring fabrics came in Friday. Some are absolutely beautiful; of course there are some that should have just stayed in the warehouse of whom they purchased from but most are wonderful fabrics. I'm a bit tired this morning since I closed last night but I'll make it.

I'll be home tomorrow and Scott will be back at work so I'll be here on my own and plan to tear into the house and do a bit of deep cleaning. I may even run a load of stuff over to HIS HOUSE to get rid of it. I also plan to sew and perhaps do a bit of work in the garden. It won't be long until we are starting seeds. I've been saving the corrugated type egg cartons to start seeds in. We also need to order some seeds to round out the garden with a variety of vegetables. We are determined to have a nice garden this year. I wish we had rain catchment barrels to water the garden from as buying water from the City isn't cost effective to having a garden. We don't water our lawn for the same reason and we believe it has made our lawn a lot less maintenance as we don't have to mow as often and the roots are longer which makes it less susceptible to drought and disease.

My Mom had a fender bender day before yesterday. She said it messed her truck up pretty good and she was sore but not injured badly. I worry about her driving as she always seems so tired. She should not having been driving that day either as she was falling asleep at the table before she left the house. I wish that I lived closer sometimes to take care of her better.

Better get ready to head out the door; the oatmeal I made for breakfast seems to be upsetting my stomach so I'll just grab a glass of milk to hold me over until lunch.

Friday Morning Calm

I went ahead and got up with my alarm at 7 this morning. Yesterday I went back to bed after the alarm and all afternoon my back ached like crazy so I'm up and staying that way today. I'm off work today so I can catch up on house work and laundry. Mr Tesla and Little Nickie are sticking near me this morning and I can hear intermittent purrs out of both of them; they sound quite content after having their breakfast. Amelia is still waiting on her breakfast.

I'm going to make some bean soup today to try to use up the last of the ham from the boiled dinner that I made on the 30th of December. I'm kind of sick of ham sandwiches and sliced ham so we will chop it up and put it in the soup.

Scott is going to have to strip Greg's floor and start over with it as the stain reacted with the clear coat and it's made nasty spots all over the floor.So stripping is the only way to fix it. It has really bummed him out as we were so close to having it done. OH well lesson learned and we will let the stain cure a LOT longer before applying clear coat again. Greg's stuff will have to remain in our front room awhile longer.

I ordered some bed risers for Greg's bed so that I can slide plastic storage containers under his bed for all his magazines. I'll organize and label them all for him. It will help him find magazines he is looking for more easily and hopefully will help him keep the room neater as well.

The little black cat that Greg has been caring for on base has a home. He had posted a message about her on the bulletin board and the owners called him about her. The cat belongs to a Lieutenant and his wife that had moved off base. They will be picking her up tomorrow. Greg is kinda bummed about it as he had become quite attached to her but he knows that she needs to go home to her family and he isn't really supposed to have a cat anyway.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! WELCOME 2009!

I'm looking forward to the good times ahead! Last year was kinda the pits for me on a personal level so this year HAS to be better. I'm going to focus on my health and get in better shape physically. I've been calling around trying to find a fitness club near by at a reasonable price. If I have to drive very far I won't go as it would cost too much. I'm thinking about joining Granby Fitness as it is on my way to work and only 5 minutes from my house. It would be less than $35 a month. I have until the 9th to decide as that is when I will be seeing the Cardiologist again for a check on my incision site and and consult on what we need to do next.

I'm making a list of things that I need to accomplish in the yard and house. I need to make myself a schedule of things that have to be done daily with time alloted for EVERYTHING I enjoy doing as well as all the work tasks that have to be done weekly.

If I'm to get a walk before I have to go into work I better get going.
I hope that everyone that reads our blog has a TREMENDOUS 2009!