Penny and More

I know you just can’t wait for the next episode of Miss Penny.  She has learned a couple of new tricks.  I normally buy Puffs tissues, but this time when I went to SAM’S I bought their brand.  Puffs tissues has that half circle hole and the tissues do not stick out of the box.  SAM’S brand of tissues have the popup type.  Penny thinks it is fun to try and pull the tissues out of the box.  Needless to say, I find little pieces of tissues all over the place.  I’m surprised she doesn’t eat them, but luckily she doesn’t.
 

Then, the night before last she decided she didn’t want to sleep and I should also be awake.  So, she spent most of the night bringing me her toys to bed, butting me with her head to wake me, and then wanted me to play.  It was a long night.  I don ‘t like the idea of shutting my bedroom door in case of emergency.  Hopefully, she will become an “adult” before I get too old.

 

Still haven’t used my new riding mower.  The weather has been unpredictable.  Every time I think I will get to use it we have rain.  Then I have to wait a day or so for the grass to dry.  I am aiming for next week.

 

I had my third crocheting lesson this week.  I think Mary and I will pass with a high C or low B.  One lady in the class (there are only three of us) will definitely get an A (we actually are not graded, I just made that up J)  I have learned several stitches, and my “swatch” is getting better.  I start a new one every week so I can review what I have learned.  This week she started us making a “cowl” and told us to finish it while at home.  I have almost completed it.  I can see some mistakes, but she said to just continue.  We have one more beginner’s class.  However, she did say she was going to check with Hobby Lobby and see if she could have the classroom for a four hour class on a Saturday.  She is going to call it the Next Step Class.  I will definitely attend.

 

That’s about it for the past week.  I have not been feeling well – allergies and sinuses – so I didn’t do much.  Hopefully, next week will be more productive.

Passover and New Mower

Every year during Lent Pastor Andy of the church I attend always does something different in his teaching.  One year he did the Stations of the Cross (which the Nazarene Church normally does not do).  It was awesome and moving.  It was very different from the Catholic Church.  The concept was the same, just presented differently.  I don’t know what he did last year because I was in Ohio.
 

This year he made arrangements for a Rabbi to come and explain the Passover.  It was extremely interesting because I knew nothing about what the foods, etc. represented.  We did not eat a meal, but the items they had before and after a meal were presented and explained along with the prayers and some of the rituals.  The Rabbi also explained when they believe the Passover meal took place and where.  I am glad I attended, and I learned a lot.

 

I mentioned previously that when I was mowing the grass last time the belt came off and the mower quit working.  Kevin got on line to buy the parts to fix the mower and by the time he finished it would cost as much to repair it as to buy a new one.  So, you guessed it, I bought a new mower yesterday (Friday).  I will probably be mowing grass later in the week so I will get to use the new one.  Kevin is going to take the deck off the old one, and we will use it for transportation around the property and to tow the cart. 

 

I haven’t been watching very many basketball games this year.  Basketball is not real popular here in this area so I have no one to talked with about the games.  I printed a bracket just to keep track of who is playing and when.  I did watch UC win.  Didn’t think they looked too good.  Not sure they can beat Kentucky.  (It is now Sunday and UC did not beat Kentucky)

 

Both of my Bradford Pear trees are in full bloom and look beautiful.  They are slow growing, but every year they look better.

 

I now have a new “problem” with Miss Penny.  She is going thru the chewing stage.  This is so much fun.  I have had to wrap a few things in plastic so she doesn’t ruin them. This has really confused her.  She won’t chew on her toys.  Loves my books and bookmarks.  I keep telling myself that this too shall pass. J

 

I finally took the time to do my taxes.  They are now finished and will go in the mail tomorrow.

Crocheting 101 and Other Stuff

I’ve had my second lesson and there is some improvement.  I practiced doing my “swatch” as instructed after the first lesson.  I could do the first row and second row, but then I was stuck.  So, I bought the book CROCHETING FOR DUMMIES.  Would you believe that I did not understand that book.  I read the whole section on how to do a single crochet stitch (which was to be my third row) and I didn’t know any more than I did before I read it.  It told me to go under these two loops with the hook and pull the thread thru.  Well, I could see the two loops but there wasn’t any way to get the hook under there.  So, I didn’t finish my swatch.  When I arrived at class yesterday (we are down to two students which is good – more one on one training) and I explained my dilemma to Wanda she said no problem (easy for her to say).  She then showed me what I was doing wrong.  I needed to go further down than the two loops.  The dummy book was wrong J

 

After getting that taken care of she taught me two more stitches.  Of course, only I could screw up a square.  When she checked my progress (after helping Mary) she asked me how I made my square a curve – not a circle but a curve.  I said I didn’t know I was just working on my stitches.  Wanda told me not to worry about it and keep going.

 

This week our homework is working on the new stitches we learned.  I am going to start from the beginning and try to keep my work as a square.

 

I also finished my tissue box holder this week.  A lot more work than I expected, but I think it turned out pretty good.  This is for me.  Now I am going to make a napkin holder.

On Monday I started cutting grass.  Yes, it’s that time of year again.  I got a little more than a third of my yard finished when the belt came off the mower.  That ended the grass cutting.  When Kevin arrived home he finished cutting it with the tractor.  Looks like I am going to either buy a new deck for my mower or a new mower.  Kevin is researching.  Hope it’s just a deck.

 

Not just the deck.  Kevin stopped over yesterday (Thursday) and informed me that a deck would cost almost as much as a new riding mower so I guess I’ll be buying a new riding mower.

 

Yesterday, Tuesday, I had a load of gravel delivered.  The front of my driveway was a big mud puddle from where the Water Works dug it up to run the water line for the folks across the road.  They filled the hole, but they didn’t replace the gravel.  When the guy delivered the gravel I told him where I wanted it dumped and he said no problem.  He just backed up and started dumping before he should.  When Kevin got home he got out  his tractor and fixed most of it, but I still have more gravel in back then in front.  Oh well, that’s country living for you.

Penny and The Terrible Twos

Penny is now seven months old so I guess it is safe to say she is going thru the terrible twos.  I told you a little about her in November right after I received her for my birthday.  Now it is time for an update.

 

Let me say, I think she is adorable and wouldn’t trade her for anything.  However, she is a handful!  The first thing I learned is she cannot be trained with a spray water bottle.  She thinks it is a game and tries to catch and drink the water.  She loves water.  She lays in the kitchen sink and tries to drink from the faucet.  When I would let the water drip because of the freezing temperature outside she would actually get in the sink and smack at the drops with her paw and try drinking the water.  She also likes the bathroom sink and now likes to lay in the bathtub.  I keep the lid down on the toilet because she would probably try to get in there. 

 

She loves watching the birds and squirrels.  She runs from window to window to watch them. I have three windows and two doors along the front of my house, and she runs to each one.  And, I do mean run.  She runs, leaps and jumps from one place to another. This includes jumping from one piece of furniture to another.  I have had to move a lot of my knick knacks and decorations so they don’t get broken.  She does not meow, and I think it is because she doesn’t know how.  I’m not sure she ever heard another cat meow.  However, she does make this chirping sound like a bird. 

 

She has learned how to jump on top of my filing cabinet, and to the top of a large five shelf curio cabinet.  She walks across the railing between the two rooms.  She has figured out how to get on top of the refrigerator.  The other day I heard this strange noise and when I went to check it out, she had jumped on my washer and then onto my pantry.  The pantry is tall and almost reached the ceiling.  She just fits.  I have two decorative wall hanging birdcages.  In the November post I added a couple of pictures of her climbing all over them.  I finally took them down so she wouldn’t get hurt if she fell off.

 

When we stayed at Brian’s we stayed in their basement which is actually a game room.  Well, she had a ball in the game room.  She found a couple of ping pong balls which she learned that if she smacked them into the wall they could come back to her and she could hit them again.  She woke me up a few times in the middle of the night playing ping pong.  She also liked the pool table.  I had to cover the table including the pockets because she would try to get inside them.  That could have been very interesting.  They also have a ski ball game and she figured out if she jumped up on it at a certain point she could slide down.  Actually that was rather funny. 

 

One of her favorite places to sleep is in the bathroom.  I have a three shelf storage rack over the toilet and she likes to sleep on the bottom shelf.  It’s a weird feeling going to the bathroom in the middle of the night and finding her sleeping on that shelf.

 

Those are a few of my Penny and the Terrible Twos stories.  Hope you got a chuckle.  Below are a few pictures of her.

 

Catching up - Sorta

Not sure where to start so I will give a short synopsis of a few things. 
 

As most of you know Steven joined the Air Force.  He left for Lackland Air Force Base in September 2014.  When he graduated from basic training a group of us went to his graduation.  I went with Kevin and Renea who took their camper and we stayed at the KOA in San Antonio.  Brian, Tracy, Samantha and a friend of hers stayed in a cabin at the KOA.  Rick and Beth also joined us and stayed in a cabin.  We had a great time.  Of course, it was cold and rainy.  The ceremony was awesome and we were able to spend a lot of time with Steven.  He really looks good!  After basic he stayed at Lackland to attend Special Services School.

 

I had a really bad time with depression for a while, so I decided to head for Ohio for a visit.  Brian flew down (on an airplane of course), and I picked him up from the Atlanta airport and he drove me to Ohio.  Took Miss Penny with me and she did very well on the trip.  I stayed at Brian and Tracy’s this time.  I even spent Christmas with them.  That was a first.  Before we went full time Christmas was always at our house.  Then when we were travelling we were never in town for Christmas.  Anyway, we had a really great visit.  Steven was home on leave for Christmas, Bradley and Brianna came to visit a few times and Samantha and I got to know each other a little better because she was on Christmas break.  Rita and Bob also came to visit so I got to see them.  Craig stopped by which was nice because I hadn’t seen him in a long time.  Jana and David also came to visit, and I spent a couple of days with them at their place. 

 

I came home in mid January.  Brian drove me back.  Kevin and I took him to the Atlanta airport for his flight home.  He was able to spend two days with us here. 

 

I am doing better depression wise.  I do have some other health issues.  I am working on getting them resolved.

 

As most of you know Mom was really good at crafts.  She had a lot of supplies in boxes and bags when she died, and I inherited them.  Jana didn’t want to even give them a try.  So, I said I would and I brought all of her supplies home with me.  I am doing pretty good with the plastic canvas.  I have made quite a few projects and they are getting better as I progress.  Next I decided to learn how to crochet.  I took one lesson from a friend from church, and thought I can do this.  So, I have signed up for lessons at Hobby Lobby.  I had my first lesson this week.  I still think I can do this – maybe.  I am supposed to practice every day.  I would also like to learn how to knit.  I hope to take lessons for this because I don’t know anyone who knits.  I bought a portable sewing machine and Renea is going to teach me how to quilt.  So far I have learned how to thread the machine and the bobbin.  I guess you could say I am making progress.  I bought all the Dummies books for these projects.  Wish me luck J  Mom also had a few embroidery projects she was working on and I plan to finish them.  I am pretty sure I can do that because I used to embroider a LONG time ago.  Hopefully, it’s like riding a bicycle – you don’t forget.

 

The most exciting part of this is Miss Penny trying to help me.  She also helps me watch television (she sits on top of it and watches it upside down), read and work on the computer.  Don’t know what I would do without her.

I'm Back!

I have had a few inquiries about my blog so I guess it’s time I start it up again.  I had planned to quit doing the blog because I figured everyone was bored hearing about my daily routine since I do not travel any more.  However, I will do my best to keep it interesting.  After all it is time to start cutting grass, pulling weeds and all that good stuff.

 

 And since Miss Penny has come into my life I can tell about her.  The first thing I will tell you is I think she is Jim reincarnated.  First of all, Jim was an early riser and did not like to be awake by himself so he made sure everyone else was up and moving.  Miss Penny normally wakes between 4 and 5 in the morning and pesters me until I get up.  She is happy if I feed her and I move to the couch.  I am just supposed to be out of bed!  If I pick up a book to read she immediately jumps in my lap and puts her face in mine.  Apparently, she wants attention.  I have decided she is going thru the TERRIBLE TWOS.  However, she is so cute and funny I can’t stay made at her.  She climbs on everything.  She doesn’t walk, she runs and leaps.  She has absolutely gorgeous eyes.  I am not nearly as strict with her as I should be, but that’s okay.  We do just fine.

 

I will also bring you up to date on my “craft” projects.  I am learning plastic canvas, I start taking crochet lessons tomorrow (I had one from a friend now I will be getting more), I also plan to take knitting and quilting lessons.  I bought a portable sewing machine and, hopefully, will learn how to sew.  (I have bought several how to for dummies books. Hope they help.) This will all be happening will I work on the family genealogy and work in the yard.  I plan to stay busy.