YEARLY SHREDDING

I'm glad January is almost over as this is the dreariest month of the year usually and this month has lived up to that on many days. Even days like today when the sun shines but it is windy and cold outside, blaaa !!!
After chores and breakfast I started my yearly shredding project. I keep 10 years of tax / business records and each year one year has to be shredded to make room for the year that just passed. Not such a bad job but it is a slow job as I only have a small shredder and it overheats regularly ,so I can only do so much shredding then wait for the motor to cool down.

Had some good luck today when I ran across an envelope with my name on it and the word "thanks". It felt to thick to be empty and I was right as it had $12 in it.  These records are from 2004 so ,no way I would have any idea why I forgot to get the money out of it or who it was from. Just glad I didn't shred it.  And you can be sure I am more carefully looking at what I am shredding now !!
Between shedding runs I worked on getting more photos in albums. I have one more month until I am caught up with my prints. I need to get more prints and catch this project up before I tackle my next blog book project. Seems there is always something that is waiting to be done around here.
This evening after chores hubbie and I made a trip to Walmart and then met #2 son at Sam's Club to get supplies for his super bowl party Sunday . He is smoking a couple butts in our smoker to serve about 10-12 of his friends.
We came home and watched a Duke / Notre Dame ball game which N.D. won.  I don't really like Duke but do pull for them against teams outside NC.
It was a very good basketball game, very clean and well played by both teams.
After the game I did weekly paperwork and payed bills.
It is another cold night , 29 degrees at 11:00 but the wind has stopped blowing tonight thankfully.
Grateful to God tonight for the blessings of this day and for the love He gives all His children without expecting anything in return but our love for Him.

Good Night and God Bless.

COLD AND WINDY DAY

BRRRR !!!!  A really chilly morning at 26 degrees and still a bit windy as I get out to break the ice off all the waterers and hope everything gets a drink of cold water before it refreezes.
The ground is covered with a spattering of ice pellets this morning.

And the surrounding mountains are covered with Rime Ice.

I came inside and started my house cleaning after breakfast. I changed out all the furniture covers today and put away all the January/winter decor and got out the red roses and hearts for February's Valentines day.
I thought about getting some things done outside but changed my mind when I went out on the porch to shake out some rugs, at 38 degrees and still windy it was cold.
Re called and I went to Belks and Aldi with her to help take care of the kids while she shopped. In Belks she found a bunch of kids clothes at a great deal and then after a trip to Wendy's to get little EL some chicken nuggets for her supper I sat with EL and baby BB while Re shopped for our groceries in Aldi.
We got home around 7:45, hubbie walked over and helped get everything carried inside before we walked across the hill home.
Hubbie and I relaxed and watched TV tonight listening to the wind get really hard outside. It is 29 degrees at 11:00 and with the wind speeds sustained around 25mph the chill factor is reaching single digits in many areas.
Praying that the power doesn't get knocked out tonight in this cold wind.
Thankful today for the blessings of this day and asking for God's grace in the coming days.
Good Night and God Bless.

YEARLY MAMMOGRAM TIME

A cloudy cool morning today as I did chores and headed inside to have breakfast with hubbie before going over to Asheville to have my yearly mammogram.
My appointment was at 10:30 this morning. Hubbie decided he would ride along as we had several errands to run and it was too cold and nasty to do anything else today.
The rain started getting heavier as we crossed Hooper's Creek mountain into Buncombe county and by the time we got to the Breast Center in Asheville it was turning to sleet with the temperature around 34 degrees.
Today was the longest wait time I have ever had at this center. I still was back in the van before 30 minutes past my appointment time so that was good. Hubbie took the news paper and sat in the van and read it.
We stopped at a natural pharmacy and I picked up some liquid vitamins to start taking this time of year when I usually get so tired from the inactivity of winter time !!
I also made a stop at the Biltmore gatehouse to restock my supply of wassail mix from there and then on back to Henderson county to pick up chicken feed.
It was almost noon but we decided to check out the sales at Belks before we headed home for lunch.
We both found  some great deals at 75% off .
We had lunch when we got home then I started gathering laundry when the phone rang. Hubbie  answered it and it was for me. I figured it was a cake order, but I was wrong.  Not even worrying about a call from the breast center until tomorrow I was very surprised when the voice on the other line said they were calling to schedule a re-check mammogram. The doctor had seen something in my right breast so he wanted another mammogram and maybe an ultrasound.   The first appointment she had was next Tuesday morning.
I have walked this road before a couple years ago with my left breast. That time it was a harmless Lypoma , so I would ask you all for prayers that if it would be God's will that this will be the same result . Thanks in advance.  Fortunately I don't feel the same anxiety that I felt last time and that is good since I have to wait a week for the re-check.  Last time they called the next morning and told me to come immediately, I was physically ill by the time I got there.  This time I have totally put it in God's hands and as I have said many times on here, He is in total control and I can accept that.
This afternoon we had plans to do some work outside in the chicken pens but with the cold wind that was whipping in the upper 30's temperature I decided to stay inside and get the weekly laundry done. Hubbie did go out for a little while and get the old chicken manure all cleaned out of the compost bin and spread on the garden.
I did 4 loads of laundry and some housecleaning  until it was chore time this evening.
As we watched the news tonight I am thankful that we aren't having the blizzard that the northeastern states are getting ready for.
With up to three foot of snow and 75 mph plus winds the New York subway system is shutting down at 11:00 tonight , all the airports are already closed and also at 11:00 all roads in and out of the major cities in the path of this storm will be closed to any traffic except emergency vehicles.
As the storm was just getting to that area before dark tonight the snow was already starting to pile up quickly on the streets of NYC. Saying prayers for all these folks tonight.

 All we are getting from this storm in our area will be cold temps and high winds. The chill factor will be closed to single digits tonight and tomorrow only in the teens.
#2 son came by after work tonight and had a left over supper with us . He was getting off work late after going in late after a dentist appointment this morning. He had to have another tooth crowned.
Hubbie and I watched a UNC/ Syracuse basketball game tonight which UNC won.
Hubbie went to bed early tonight to get ready for another work week.
I also am tired and need to get ready for a busy day tomorrow.
Grateful for the ability to put all my concerns into the loving arms of my Heavenly Father and trust Him to be with me every step of this journey.
Good Night and God Bless.

QUIET SUNDAY

Up and out this morning to get the chores done and get ready for church.
A roast has been in the crock pot overnight and the potatoes, green beans, corn and biscuits will be cooked when we get home from church so there wasn't anything for me to do extra this morning except clean off the kitchen table which always seems to catch a lot of misc. items.
I was a greeter at church this morning and then we had a sermon continuing in Esther.  An elderly couple joined our church this morning and want to be Baptized , glory to God !!
An elderly man who is a member of our church needs the roof on his house replaced. All the materials have been donated and plans are in the works for volunteers to do the work next Saturday. #1 son and hubbie will be two of the volunteers, praying the weather co-operates !!
Lunch bunch was #1 son, d-in-love, g-son and daughter as #2 son was golfing on this sunny but cool, mid 40's day and both little EL and baby BB have low grade fevers so Aa and Re decided to keep them home.
They walked over later and let little EL play with g-son some as he was up at his dad's shop working on his Cub Scout pinewood derby car.
The wind picked up making it really cool suddenly so they headed home after just a short visit.
Baby BB still is not sleeping at night.
Hubbie and I did chores and then came inside out of the wind. There is a wind advisory and winter weather advisory for some of the counties west of our area but so far we are not expecting anything tonight except maybe a little rain.
The 10th winter storm of the season, named Juno, is set to bury the northeast in maybe record breaking snowfall amounts along with high winds.

I like snow but these amounts around Boston are a bit much ! Praying for all the folks in the path of this storm.

Our weather looks pretty average for this week.

Tonight has been a relaxing evening , all we did was give Bernie and Dolly their weekly baths.
Thanking the Lord for all my blessings of this day and for the love He gives me each day. Praying tonight that it be in God's will that my yearly mammogram tomorrow will be clear.
Good Night and God Bless.

 

SLOWEST MARKET DAY OF THE YEAR SO FAR

Off to market on this chilly 30 degree windy morning.  The roads were almost empty on the way into town which is always a bad sign for business.
Market was the slowest it's been since Christmas today. I guess the chilly wind and possible snow predictions had everyone hunkered down in their warm houses today.
Daughter and her boyfriend, Josh Queen, stopped by market for a nice visit and brought me a coffee.
I did finally have a couple sales other than the one order I had and the two cakes that fellow vendors bought so I am thankful for what I did make.
These are a couple boredom breaking pics I took this morning !!! Maybe the absence of sellers has something to do with the lack of customers.  This is a really hard time of year for market.

I came home from market, unloaded and watched the second half of the UNC/ Florida State game which UNC won.
After chores and supper hubbie and I relaxed and watched our Saturday night country music shows.
Looking forward to worshiping our Heavenly Father tomorrow with my church family. Thankful for the blessings of this day.
Good Night and God Bless

EDNEYVILLE FRIDAY NIGHT

Up extra early this morning at 7:15 when d-in-love brought g-son by for me to take to school. She had a class and had to be in Mills River at 8am.
G-son wanted to go in the front door so I parked and walked him in.  For some reason he said he never wanted to be dropped off in the car rider line ???
As I drove home in a drizzly rain I noticed the van thermometer was hanging right at the freezing point.

I didn't notice any white tops on the mountains just a rainy fog on this cold day.

Back home I did chores and had breakfast, checked on Re and the kids. She said she had a good night and they were doing fine.
I baked my cakes, 6 caramel, 1 coconut, 1 chocolate , 1 pound and 1 blackberry wine cake.
I had lunch then did some cleaning while waiting for the cakes to cool enough to ice.
I went ahead and iced the 6 caramel cakes this afternoon before doing the chores early.
Out at the high school tonight they are honoring all the basketball players and cheerleaders from my old high school.
I went on out early to watch daughter's game which they won handily by about 15 points,they were playing county rival East Henderson.

I sat through the JV boys and the varsity girls game, remembering what it was like to have your butt go numb from sitting on the hard bleacher.
Daughter and me watching the JV boy's game.

Hubbie came out after he ate supper, during the girls game.  A friend, Renda Beddingfield Bracket, that I graduated and played basketball with came and sat with me and we had a nice catch-up visit. We were the only two 1972 graduates. We are in the center of this pic in the bleachers, Renda has on a blue sweater leaning over to talk to me.

The varsity girls won their game handily also. In this pic is the head coach giving directions as the players and daughter look on.

Between the girls and boys games we were all called out on the court and recognized when they called our name and year we graduated. I was impressed by the number of players there were there. The line reached from one end of the court to the other. More girl players than anybody else.
All us women know each other, even with the distance in years between us from the early 60's to the closing of Edneyville in 1993 and have formed a close knit group of basketball "sisters".

 Everyone loved to do the victory circle we always did after each game we won.

These are the men which were fewer in numbers but we all had a fun visit during  half time in the boys game and were served refreshments  while we visited.

It was a great time had by all and we appreciate the recognition given by the staff at the new high school. I also enjoyed visiting with a long time friend, Pam Green Kurfees, who was a cheerleader in her days at Edneyville and just lived up the road from us ,they had moved away after her husband took another job in Kentucky. They now live in Johnson City , Tenn.
When we got home I iced the chocolate and coconut cake, wrapped everything and got ready for market.
I am tired after an eventful day.
Feeling very grateful to God this evening for the memories I shared tonight and for God's grace and blessings as I grew up in this wonderful community and the many friends I have made along the way.
Good Night and God Bless.

DEAL DAY

Bernie jumped off the bed just as the radio alarm sounded at 8 am this morning. I got up, let Bernie and Dolly out the front door and then headed downstairs to put another log on the fire in the woodstove.  The temperature isn't supposed to be too cold today but I always like to keep the morning warm in the house as I go outside a couple times and it feels really good when I come back inside.
Ever heard the saying "RED SKY IN THE MORNING,  SAILERS TAKE WARNING"  ?  Well this was our sunrise today !!!???

Re's mom is leaving this morning, returning to her home in northern Ohio. I pray that she has a safe trip and also pray that Re gets settled and things start going more smoothly.
After chores I went over and brought little EL over here to spent the morning so mom could rest after another sleepless night with baby BB.
Little El didn't act like  her typical happy self this morning although she still had that lovely smile on her face.

Building blocks were the toy of choice this morning. She loved to build it up and knock it over.

After we had lunch we went back home so she could take a good afternoon nap.
I went into town to run the weekly errands and make a couple extra stops.  A stop at the courthouse to list my business taxes proved harder than expected when there was no parking in either courthouse lot. I had to park at the Sheriff's office and walk . The scanner made the same mistake as last year as I sat my purse on the belt and walked through the scanner, setting off all the bells , after a couple extra trips through the scanner I was hand scanned and voila !!!!   I had  a wrist watch on that was setting the thing off.  I had to laugh to myself all the way upstairs thinking about that knife in my purse that they didn't find and all the hoopla over my metal banded watch !!!
I took care of my business and was on my way for another year .
I made stops at Aldi, CVS, Walmart and Ingles on the way home to restock our grocery supply and my baking supplies. I stopped at our eye doctor's office to pay hubbie's exam bill that the insurance didn't pay and was nicely surprised to only owe half of what they turned into the insurance company.
Sometimes it pays to have insurance just to tell you what "you do not owe" !!
There is a consignment shop next door to the doc's office and they had a sale rack outside so you know me !!
I like this shop as they only carry high end clothing and shoes.  I got a pair of brand new rain/snow Sakroot boots at a really good deal and also found a couple 1/2 off shirts.

These boots are fur lined and so warm and comfortable.I looked them up online and I payed less than 1/3 what these boots cost and this pair has never been worn.  My good deal of the day !!!
By the time I got home it was almost 5:30, hubbie helped me get things carried in and then we did the chores.
Tonight we watched a NC State/ Miami ballgame which Miami won but it was a very close game all the way.  I am going to bed early as I am getting up earlier than usual to take g-son to school while mom has a meeting across town .
Wondering what Iola will bring for to us the next couple days ????

Thankful for all the blessings of this day and for the never ending love of my Heavenly Father.
Good Night and God Bless.