Memories on a Friday

When I was young, we had a few bridges in our rural neighborhood much like the old iron bridge in the above photo I took a few years ago.

Our bus driver would often let some of us older kids off the school bus to walk down a gravel road while he drove on to let one child off at their home a mile or so away.  Then he would be back to pick us up where we waited at the old iron bridge. 

As we were among the last to get off the bus, it was fun to be able to stretch our legs and run to see who got to the bridge first.

The creek that the bridge spanned was never very full of water.  It might come up to our knees if we were to wade in it, though we knew better than to get near it. 

Times have changed, haven't they?  I can't imagine any bus driver doing such a thing today.  He probably shouldn't have been doing it back then, but he knew he could trust us to behave.  

In those days, everyone pretty much followed the rules and did exactly what the teacher or bus driver told you to do.  

Perhaps not everyone.

There was always someone at one time or another that would see what they could get away with, but most of us knew if we got into trouble we would face punishment of some kind. 

Especially when we got home and had to face our parents.

The ancient iron bridges are a thing of the past in our area.  Most, if not all, have been replaced by safer, modern bridges.  

I imagine those carefree days when it was safe to let children walk down a country road to wait on a school bus are gone, too.

Have a nice weekend!
xo Cheryl

October, My Favorite Month

"I'm so glad I live in a world 

where there are Octobers."

~L. M. Montgomery

October has arrived and so far our trees aren't showing many signs of being very colorful this year.  It's still plenty warm enough to have the a/c running night and day and we really need some rain here.

I didn't intend to stay away from blogging and visiting blogs for a week, but there has been so much happening around the world that I just didn't think I could put the right words together for posting or commenting.  My thoughts and prayers are with those who are hurting and those who need healing or comfort.

As always, for me, nature has a way of soothing a heavy heart.  I gaze out my kitchen windows to look for a change in color in the leaves.  See the mighty oak that stands in the Back 6 in the above photo?  It is a massive, beautiful tree and the leaves will hopefully turn that pretty shade of deep red before long.  

I haven't yet seen many birds or geese winging their way south.  Just the other day, I saw a Blue Heron down by the pond.  I'm thinking he will stick around for the winter.  I remember in years past watching him walk on the iced over pond. 

We picked up my car today from the shop.  A huge raccoon had run out in front of me recently and I couldn't avoid hitting it.  It left a nice-sized dent in my front fender.  The whole piece was replaced and now my car looks new again.  Well, aside from a few little scratches in the back where a woman ran into me at a stop sign a year or so ago.  The body shop is in the country and it was a nice little drive.

I love October and I love drives in the country.  In spite of the heat, I can feel that fall is in the air.  I'd like to make a trip to the Amish country sometime this month. 

I won't be buying many baked goodies when I visit the Amish.  At my doctor visit last week, I found out that my A1C numbers were much too high.  I've been put on a diabetic pill until I can get the numbers under control.  So that means no sugar and eating better.  Guess I pigged out a little too much in Branson.  

Maybe I'll even lose a few pounds.  I'm not obese by any means, but I could stand to lose some weight and I know that scarfing down sweet iced tea by the gallons and runs to the DQ for blizzards or ice cream cones are going to have to stop.  I knew that I was borderline diabetic but kept eating anything I wanted to.  Bad girl. 

 
My daughter loves decorating for fall and the above photo is of part of her front yard this fall.  We had fun shopping for mums and pumpkins at the Big Town one day last week.  I had a hard time choosing mums, I love them all.  I had to get one of the tri-colored mums which is in my first photo.  We also ate some good food while there.  That was before I got the doctor's report.  

My son came home for the weekend and we grilled one evening which was yummy.  He is the grill master in our family.  Shh, don't tell BG I said that.  He does okay, but Brett is better.  

Anyhoo, we also fixed several foods in my new toy, an oil-less fryer.  BG loves his french fries and I don't like to turn on the oven in hot weather.  I fixed some BBQ chicken legs, french fries and onion rings.  Not all at once, of course.  Everything I fixed turned out really good so I give this new gadget 5 stars.  The only drawback I find is that it is quite large and takes up space if you want to leave it on the counter top like I do.  The pull out drawer and basket can be put in the dishwasher which is a plus.  Both BG and I love fried foods, so I know this will get a lot of use.  Btw, I'm not being compensated for saying any of this

I'll run along now and fix myself a glass of iced tea with Splenda.   It's not my choice but it isn't too bad.  

Happy Wednesday to you!
xo Cheryl

September Days

"Fall has always been my favorite season.  The time

when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature

had been saving up all year for the grand finale."

~Lauren DeStefano

It still feels like summer here, temperature-wise.  The weatherman says we may see some showers later today and tonight and then we'll cool down into the 70's tomorrow and the rest of the week.  Can't wait.

I had to go to the clinic yesterday to get my blood drawn in advance of my visit to the doctor tomorrow.  Here's hoping my A1C number isn't off the charts.  I'm afraid I haven't been very good this month with watching what I eat.  Not to mention I've put away a fair amount of iced tea...with sugar, of course.  

I'll blame some of the events of September for my pigging out. 

BG celebrated his 69th birthday this month.  We celebrate with food.  ☺  My guy is planning to keep working until he's 70 (sigh), so that means one more year to go.  He did the mandatory pole top rescue recently.  For new readers, he's been a lineman for a rural electric co-op for 40 years.  I'm happy he loves his job, but I'm ready to have him home to run around with me before we get too old.

I we had talked all year about going out west again for vacation this month but when it came down to making a final decision, BG really wanted to just go to Branson and not have to drive so much.  So that is what we did.  I love Branson, as most of you know, and I wasn't a bit unhappy with his choice.   We were there 10 wonderful days.  The weather was great, too, and much cooler than it is now.

Above are a few of the things we saw in Branson.  The view of the lake is from the deck of our condo.  The man-made waterfall is at SDC.  We saw some beautiful sunrises from the deck each morning and the moon rising each night.  

Our son joined us for a couple of days before he had to fly to California for a meeting.  One evening we played miniature golf.  I actually played really well this time and was only one or two holes behind the men.  Brett won in spite of BG's trash talking.  It was fun and I laughed so hard when the Big Guy's ball went in the water after all that talk about how he was the champ and was going to win.  I tried to help out with "don't choke!" when he was getting ready to hit the ball.  lol!   

We ate a lot of good food in Branson and tried out a new to us restaurant.  Have you ever eaten flash fried spinach?  It's light and crispy, almost melts in your mouth.  I liked it, but BG said he wasn't sure he'd want it again. 

We went again to Salt Grass for a mid-afternoon meal one day.  It's at one end of the Landing.  Afterward, we walked to the other end to the Bass Pro shop.  Along the way, I stopped in at Kirklands to look around.  I was tempted to buy a couple of fall items, but I didn't want to have to carry them around.  Actually, I was tempted by a lot of things there, I love that store.  

A lot of napping was done while on vacation and I really enjoyed just sitting on the deck and watching the boats on the lake.  Our condo is on a point of Table Rock lake in a wooded setting.  It was so quiet and peaceful.  I'm already missing being there.

It's time to push the Publish button and go run a couple of errands and do some laundry.  Hope your week is off to a good start and you're enjoying some nice fall days!

Happy Tuesday to you!

xo Cheryl

Happy Fall!

 "Autumn...the year's last, loveliest smile."

~William Cullen Bryant

Hello Friends!  How are you?  I'm back from my blog break and have a lot of catching up to do. 

It's now officially Fall.  Do you love autumn as much as I do?  It's my favorite time of year.

I love the changing colors in the trees, but it's too early to tell if the color will be very vibrant this year.  

My flowers are still doing pretty well.  I've lost a few but overall they are still looking good.  We're having temps back in the low 90's again so it's too hot, I think, to set out pumpkins on the front porch.  

I haven't yet brought my tote of fall decor up from the basement.  Maybe I'll get BG to do that for me this weekend.  I'm ready to see a bit of fall in the house but I will be keeping it simple this year.

I'm still thinking about painting so I don't need extra stuff to move.  Now if my olden body could just have as much energy as my thinker.  :)  I'd like for it to cool down so I can open the windows if before I paint.  
  

  

"If you look at the world, you'll be distressed.  If you

look within, you'll be depressed.  If you look at God

you'll be at rest." 

~Corrie ten Boom 

 

So much has been happening in our country and around the world.  Much of it is heartbreaking and much is frightening.  But I've also read some heartwarming stories of rescues and neighbors and strangers reaching out to each other with help. 

And this is where I have to mention one reason why I love reading blogs.  Despite all the sorrows and tragedies in the world, there is a community where you can read that life does go on.  Homes are still being tended to, friends and families are loved, meals are being prepared, people are still kind, friendly and will pray for each other when there is a need.

I love crape myrtle trees.  We saw some beautiful ones in different colors on our vacation this month.  I'll tell you where we went next time.  This post is long enough and I want to start visiting, but first I have to finish the vacuuming.   See you soon.

Happy Friday to you!
xo Cheryl

See You In September

Is it fall yet?  ☺

I've loved every last bloom in my flower gardens this year.

But....

I'm weary of all the watering. 

We're back to 90 degree temps and watering every single day is a must to keep the flowers going.  I'm almost ready to move on to the next season.  Almost.

I'm going to be taking a blog break for the rest of the month and maybe into part of the next.

There are so many things I've started this summer but not finished.  I think I may have mentioned a time or six that I'm probably the biggest procrastinator in blogdom...if not the country.  

Seriously.  

I know that getting older slows one down but I'm just downright lazy lately.  Watering flowers and picking up the house and taking care of the fur-kids and feeding hungry husbands is about all I get done in a days time. 

We did go to Kansas City over the weekend.  We had a nice meal with our son while there and I did a little shopping.  I didn't take any photos to share, I only snapped a few photos of lamps in Home Goods near KC to show my daughter what they had.

My lamps are needing replacing.  The cats have knocked one of them over a few too many times.  Do they have obedience schools for kitties?  One of mine needs to go if they do.  :)

Enjoy the rest of this month.  🎜 I'll see you in September...bye, bye, so long. 🎝

Happy Wednesday to you!
xo Cheryl

Wednesday's Bits and Pieces

"A garden soothes troubled hearts, delights the senses, 

feeds the body, and offers us a second Eden 

in which to play and rest."

~Harriet Crosby

My goodness, this month is just moving right along!  I wish I could say that I've gotten a lot accomplished since I last posted, but I can't unless puttering counts.

Rain moved through on Saturday and our temperatures have cooled down considerably.  I'll take lower 80's in August over the high 90's of July any time.

My flowers are still doing pretty good in spite of the heat we had last month and the little veggie patch is still giving us tomatoes to eat.  I love fresh homegrown tomatoes.  

Our son was back in over the weekend and we grilled again before the rains came.  One evening, our daughter had us over for a yummy meal of BLT's, corn on the cob, and oven potatoes.

I picked up some paint samples at Sherwin Williams when I was in the Big Town one day.  Thank you to all who gave me suggestions!  I've got 3 paint colors in mind for now.

My walls always take on a gray tone in photos, but in reality they are a very light beige.   The 3 samples from the top are Dover White, Alabaster and the bottom color is Simple White.  

I'll be pondering on these colors for quite a while, I'm sure.  When I think about the job ahead, I just might decide that Durham Beige (which is what I have) is still looking good enough!

I stopped in at Hobby Lobby when I was in town.  It was fun to browse the fall decor aisles.

 
And not so fun to see this right next to the fall stuff.  Really?  Do we have to see Christmas this early?  I am so not ready for it.

For a mere $999.98, you can take a new 12 foot tree home.  I had to laugh when I compared this big boy to my skinny little 6 foot tree I put in the dining area of my kitchen.  

I've enjoyed being outside since the weather isn't so stifling hot.  I love listening to the birds and gazing at the clouds.  I see a face in this cloud...with a very big nose.  Do you see it?   

Gazing at my flowers and nature in general is soothing to me.  The news has been more than a little troubling.  I'm talking about the one who is shooting off missiles and saying he wants to destroy us.
 
I bow my head like the sunflower above and whisper a pray for protection for our country and for wisdom for our leaders.

Thank you to all my blog friends for your comments, I so appreciate each and every one.  

Happy Wednesday to you!
xo Cheryl

Last Day of July...Blogging and Etc.

If I don't hurry with this post, July will be gone.  Our daughter came over for supper and afterward we settled down in our comfy seats in the living room after dinner.  She turned on the tv to watch the Investigation Discovery channel and I turned on my laptop.  

I'd never watched any of the shows, but I got interested in this episode and that has put me behind.  Not that I have anything all that interesting to share today.  ☺

So many seem to be leaving blogland lately and some have just left without a word.  I've been blogging almost 8 years and it's almost like keeping an online diary for me.  If I can't remember when something happened the past 8 years, I can usually find it in a blog post.  Truthfully, that is what keeps me blogging.

I don't blog to get X number of followers, although I will say that I love comments just like everyone else.  I don't blog because I like to show my house or photos of my family.  My house frankly isn't all that show-worthy and my family doesn't like for me to publish their photos. 

 

I only blog once or twice a week and that is all I seem to be able to get done lately as there are so many other things I like to do, too.  I've also said this before, but I am slow.  When you get older, it takes twice as long (or even more) to get anything done.  

And then I often have problems when typing a post, such as I had a paragraph written just below the half-opened sunflower.  It just went "poof".  I have no idea why and this is a fairly new laptop.

Hate to admit it, but I don't even remember what I had said so I can't rewrite it.  The brain cells are getting older too, so the memory isn't what it used to be.  

 

Our son came in for the weekend.  BG and I had run to the Big Town Saturday morning so he could get a haircut and then we went by Lowes to buy a new leaf blower.  I ran into Kohl's with my 30% off coupon and found a new pair of white capris and new tennis shoes for him.  

When we got home, Brett was there and had brought some hamburger and brats for grilling.  I made a pasta salad using the recipe I shared on a previous post just after the 4th and we also grilled some veggies.

Our weather has been much nicer the past few days and the nights are cool.  It will probably heat back up as August is usually the hottest month here, but we're enjoying this cooler weather while we can.  

 🌈  🌈  🌈  🌈  🌈  🌈  🌈  

I'm trying to work up the courage to repaint my walls, unless I can talk BG into letting me find someone else to do it.  We'll see.  I'm not counting on it.  

The bigger problem is choosing the right shade of paint.  I'm not quite sure what I want, but I'm thinking a creamy white.  Not a stark white.

We have put off getting some new carpet for too long.  That will hopefully happen after the painting is done.  Our carpet is 20 years old and I will say that it's held up well for all these years but it's beginning to look it's age and more.

If you have a favorite white paint or a carpet style you just love, please share.  I am always looking for suggestions as there is just so much to choose from in both paint and carpet that it's mind-boggling.

Off now to hit the publish button while I have a couple of hours of July left.   :)

Happy Monday to you!

xo Cheryl

This and That

Flowers make me happy.  Yellow flowers especially make me smile.  What is your favorite color?

Actually, I love all colors and I have about every color on my patio.  Above is a small corner of the flowers.  There is also a rooster in that corner.  See him? 

The sweet potato vines are on either side of the door to the basement.  They've almost taken over the other flowers I planted in the pots with them.  There is a pink double petunia still visible.

I planted a few of the pretty double petunias this year and they have done well, so far.  

Above the retaining wall on that end of the patio is the flower garden we just mulched a few weekends ago.   It's hard to get a good photo as it slopes downhill so it looks much better in person than in this pic.

I planted several new perennials and a few annuals.  The Stella's aren't new but are still blooming.  One of the Salvia I transplanted is doing well.  The Knockout Rose at the end has been attacked by the Japanese Beetles, so I'm not sure it'll survive.


 
Stormy wonders why I don't want her on my lap when I come in from watering and shower and put on clean, dry clothes.  Even with central air, I sometimes turn a fan on to cool off.  

I had been down in the back since the weekend but the watering still had to be done.  We had a storm Saturday night and I think I might have pulled something Sunday afternoon while picking up small limbs in the yard.  

The storm knocked our electric out here in town for about 6 hours.  Thankfully the house didn't get too unbearably hot without the air on.  My "lineman for the county" hubby had to work 12 hours beginning around midnight as there were numerous electric outages around the county.    
 
I finally began feeling better Wednesday and went outside and finished picking up the remaining limbs while BG mowed after he got home from work at 2:30.  They go in to work at 6:00 am during the hot weather months.

I could barely get in and out of the car with my aching back, but I went with my daughter to the Big Town Tuesday.  She had a meeting to attend.

While waiting for her, I got a pedicure since there was no way I could reach my toes.  It's hard enough to reach them when my back feels good.  ☺  Btw, pretend you don't see the wrinkles on my olden toes.  

The girl who did my pedicure laughed at the white marks on my feet where the strap of my sandals cover.  I don't tan easily and I have to take off my shoes to prove I even have a bit of a tan.  

I have to confess I've been getting a bit of a cranky on the past several days.  This excessive heat and the bad back where I could barely lift my leg to put my capris on was getting to me.  Oh, how I know things could be much worse.  Been there, done that.  But it's still annoying to not be able to get as much done as you'd like to.  
I think the heat and humidity this summer is beginning to wear on lots of folks.  I wonder if I can blame the weather for all the vitriol I read coming from the media and others?

I could possibly be called a news junkie.  But I've about reached my limit on what I can read without getting really cranky.  It is time for a time out.  On the news, that is.  Well, knowing me, that will probably last all of a day.  :)  

Now, I think I need to get back to the flower gardens in spite of the heat.  There, at least, is something to make me smile.  Nature always soothes the soul anytime of the year even if it means only standing at the window gazing at the outdoors. 

Happy Thursday to you!
xo Cheryl

A Cat Tale

My daughter loves cats as much as I do, which is a good thing.  She has several that have come to live at her house this year. 

This tale is about Uncle CT.  

We had been calling him Crooked Tail, because his tail had been broken when young or maybe he was born with it that way.

He was also born with a few other deformities.  His claws come out at the top of his toes instead of the end like normal ones.  His front right leg above his foot appears to have been broken and it bends there when he walks and he does walk with a limp.

Uncle CT is a feral cat that will allow you to pet him on occasion. 

When another cat, along with her 5 kittens, showed up at Kim's house, Uncle CT took on the roll of guardian or "uncle" to the brood.  Here he is with one of the little ones on the deck where they sometimes sleep in the chairs.  

What is funny to us is that he has gotten the mama cat's call down pat.  Kim feeds him and all the others and keeps the water bowl full.  When the food is put out and the kittens aren't in sight, he will call out just like the mama until the kittens come to eat, too.  

The little one pictured above is called Lil Stormy, and you probably can guess why.  The kittens are pretty wild even though they will come up on the deck to sleep in the chairs now and then.  

It is so sweet to see Uncle CT keeping an eye on all the kittens and even with his deformities he seems to be happy and content while taking his babysitting duties seriously.   

Happy Thursday to you!
xo Cheryl

A Very Hot Weekend

We had a very hot weekend in which to do some yard work, but we got it done.  The new mulch that we finally got and put down looks so nice and I even planted a couple of new perennials that I bought last week.  The new flower bed looks pretty good for a hot July.

The annuals are still doing well and my new favorite combination of Lantana and purple Angelonia is so pretty.  I'm watering every day and I know that by the time August rolls around the flowers will begin to fade and I will, too, from dragging the watering hose to the flower beds and pots.  But, I'm enjoying the flowers while they last. 

I haven't talked about Stormy in a while.  She is still busy keeping an eye on everything and everyone in the house.  Here she's perched on the Hoosier cabinet in the kitchen watching Sissy who is on the island.  They love to be in the kitchen trying to talk me into giving them a few treats.

I had just gotten home from a grocery shopping trip and had set down a couple boxes of pasta before snapping the above photo.  One of those boxes was the tri-colored rotini that I use to make our new favorite pasta dish.

This dish was a big hit at the 4th of July party with everyone.  I even had a couple of the men ask their wives to get the recipe.  It's a Wallyworld Copycat recipe and I made it again this weekend.  It's quick and easy. 

Broccoli Cheddar Pasta Salad

1 medium head of broccoli, chopped into small florets

1 medium red onion, diced fine

2 cups mayonnaise

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (I used 1 1/2 TB)

2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

 1 box tri-colored rotini pasta

Cook pasta in salted water according to directions on box.  

Drain and rinse with cold water to cool before adding other ingredients.  

I also sprinkle in a little olive oil after rinsing

to keep pasta from sticking. 

 

Wash the broccoli well and chop into small florets.  Dice

the onion fine and then mix the onions and broccoli into

the pasta.  Add the cheddar cheese to the mixture, mixing

well. 

In a medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sugar and

cider vinegar, stirring well.  Pour over the pasta and

mix well.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.

I will be heading to the Big Town later this morning for another shot in my eye for the macular degeneration which is developing in my left eye.  It will be my fourth shot. 

It's not a pleasant procedure, but it's bearable and I'll be going alone this trip.  Since they dilate my eyes to examine them thoroughly each time, it makes driving a bit more difficult especially in bright sunshine.  So I'll be hanging around town waiting for my vision to improve before driving the 30 something miles home. 

If it appears that I'm neglecting my blog friends, it's not because I'm not interested.  It's because there is always something that seems to keep me away from the computer.  Summertime is a busy time and I'm sure it is for you, too.  Do you find it hard to keep up with blogging lately?  And if you have a good tip for being able to do it all without cutting back on blogging, let us all know!

Happy Monday to you!

xo Cheryl