WINDY COLD SUNDAY

Woke to the sound of howling wind and it got worse as the morning went on. I held my breath once again as I got the feeding chores done under the swaying pine trees. There was also a skim of slick frozen sleet on all raised surfaces this morning as light snow flurries were still blowing around.

I emptied 1.3 inches of rain from the gauge this morning from yesterday and last night.
Hubbie and I decided not to go to church this morning and stay home in case a tree fell on something and caught fire.
We spent the morning fixing the spaghetti lunch that we had planned last Sunday. #1 son's family, #2 son, Daughter and IR and Aa's family joined us for lunch.  We all had a nice visit. Daughter took Re and Aa over to show them the progress on her house while the kids stayed here and played.
They came back and then everyone left. Hubbie and I spent the cold windy afternoon dozing in front of the TV.  A very nice restful Sunday.
The cold arrived by evening chore time and it was pretty miserable outside getting anything done.
I feel sorry for all the animals when it gets this cold and they all get extra feed. They didn't linger tonight about getting in their warm houses for the cold night.
The wind is still really whipping tonight so we are still worried that we will loose our power or the leaning pine tree will fall. Lucky for us though the rain and wind is all we got from this potent storm as it passed across the area. Some places got more than 3 feet of snow in the northeast.

As I finished chores I saw this huge moon rising over the tree tops. Tonight starting at 10:30 there will be a complete lunar eclipse and it will turn this bright moon into a blood moon as the shadow of the earth makes it glow red.

Don't know if it would be worth braving the below zero chill factor wind to watch this tonight or not?

Guess I'll see how hard the wind is still blowing at 10:30 if I'm still awake .

Thankful for the blessings of this day and for the love of Jesus Christ a Wonderful Merciful Savior.

God Bless and Good Night.

HAPPY #4 TO BB

The familiar sound of rain woke me up this morning as my alarm sounded. Usually hubbie wakes immediately when my alarm goes off but he snored right thru it today. He only woke up when I got out of the bed.
We got chores done and got ready for market.
We made it to market on time but there was no one there to notice. Sales started off really slow as the cold rain picked up outside.
#1 son called hubbie to come help him with the septic line at daughter's house. Son-in-love and daughter came over also to help them work in the rain.
Son got a call just after lunch from d-in-love saying she had a flat tire at Walmart.
Hubbie left and went to pick her and the kids up. G-son had to be at church to get to a weekend youth retreat so he took him there.
He went back over to daughters to help finish the septic line.
Then he went with #1 son back out to Walmart to take the tire off d-in-love's suv and take it to Sam's Club to be repaired. They found a large nail in the tire.
I let market a few minutes early after no customers were anywhere in sight after a pretty good sales day thankfully.
I came straight home in the pouring rain and got things unloaded and put away.
Hubbie came in just in time to join me to get chores done a few minutes early.
BB turned 4 years old last Tuesday and his party was this evening.
Re fixed supper for everyone and BB enjoyed his cake and all his presents.

Hubbie and I came home about 7:00 and the rain was still pouring down so we decided to wait to go back outside to shut up the chickens until the rain stopped. We watched a basketball game between Duke / Virginia which Duke won by 2 points.
We are both very tired tonight and look forward to an early bedtime. The wind is already starting to blow even before the rains have stopped so what we will wake up to might be interesting once again on another Sunday morning.
Thankful for the blessings of this day.
God Bless and Good Night

WARM SUNNY FRIDAY

Up and out on a really foggy Friday morning. Got the chores done and headed out to take RL to pre-school. Fortunately the dense fog wasn't widespread and we shortly ran out of it.
I came back home and had my breakfast.  During each flu and cold season I take a tablespoon of my elderberry tincture before I go out to do the chores in the morning. Now I have decided to try the old health remedy of apple cider vinegar each morning because when I did the 3-day juice plan last week the morning drink had apple cider vinegar in it and I noticed an upswing in my energy levels on those 3 days. So as soon as I get back from my pre-school trip each morning I am going to start taking a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar mixed with a teaspoon of honey in about 1/2 cup of warm water. This isn't a very strong mixture and although it burns a little it is pretty easy to swallow.
I had my breakfast and then I decided I would get my baking done early. I baked 2 pound cakes and 1 pan of brownies. The weather is predicted to be rainy tomorrow so I don't think market will be very good. At least I have 1 order for a black walnut cake.
After the ovens were shut off I went outside to help hubbie and IR clean the limbs out of the yard from the ice storm last week.

This is a beautiful day and sure makes me want to rush spring time getting here.

Of course after the work was all done IR had to slide some .

She wore herself out and we went inside to have lunch and then she went immediately down for a nap. While she napped hubbie and I cleaned house . I was washing the living room bay window when she started whining so I sat down with her to get her nap out while hubbie finished collecting all the trash.

When he finished I handed a still sleeping IR off to him and she slept another hour while I worked.
She'll need it because tonight is going to be a late night for her.
Daughter picked IR up about 4:45 and hubbie and I went out to get chores done.   We moved the big chicken tractor from under the power lines again due to the predicted high winds coming.

We got back inside and had a light supper  before daughter and Kristin brought IR and Addie over to stay with us while they all went to the movies.
The girls had a blast while they were gone and it's fun to watch these 2 cousins play together.

I worked on some organizing in my office while they played in the play room and hubbie watched.
Daughter and Kristen picked them up about 10:45 and hubbie and I gather the cakes and got things ready for market before we went to bed.
I got a text today from d-in-love and g-son's wrestling season is over as his team lost the coin toss to get to go to the conference tournament.
Thankful for the blessings of this day.
God Bless and Good Night

SLOW MARKET AND LAST REGULAR SEASON WRESTLING MATCH

Up to a cold early morning to get the grandgirls settled in and g-son off to school with daughter. I got chores done under a beautiful but warning sunrise . This red sky and clouds are bringing rain later today.

Hubbie got market things loaded and we were off. I dropped RL by pre-school on my way to market to meet hubbie and IR.
Connie, IR's other g-ma is sick today so IR will be going with hubbie to run his errands today, which I'm sure they both will enjoy.
They left early to go get started and hopefully get home by lunch time.
Market was really slow today with the cold and about 11:00 sleet and a light rain began falling almost assuring us of no customer traffic. I did sell a few things of which I am very thankful for.
I did some board work to prepare for the annual stock holders meeting and then loaded up at 1:30 and headed out. I made a stop at the PO and  Aldi to pick up some baking supplies. It was really sleeting hard when I started toward home but it had stopped and was only a light rain by the time I got here.
Hubbie and IR were upstairs playing so I unloaded and put everything away by myself today.
It was almost 3:00 by the time I finished so I took a break and stayed inside with IR while hubbie got his chores done early. After he finished I got mine done in the rain.
We were going to g-son's last regular season wrestling match over at Flat Rock middle school.
This could very well be his last wrestling match of the year because they lost this match putting them into a 3-way tie with Flat Rock and Rugby for first place in their side of the conference. Only 2 teams will go to the conference team finals on Tuesday so I have no idea how they will pick who goes.
The boys showed the weight of the loss as they watched. G-son is 3rd from left the first sitting up.

We left the match when it was over and dropped IR off with her dad at their apartment on the way home.
We finished chores by flashlight and then had a light supper before crashing in front of the TV for the evening. There was 1.1 inches of rain in the gauge this evening from the rain today.
I don't feel well tonight and I hope it is just tiredness and not a bug creeping up on me.
I am headed to an early bedtime.
Thankful for the blessings of this day.
God Bless and Good Night

BAKING WEDNESDAY

Brrrr, it's cold this morning at 24 degrees and the heavy frost looks like snow .
I got chores done and took RL to pre-school. The bridges over the interstate we crossed were white with frost and looked like they might be slick but thankfully we made it without any trouble. I stopped at Ingles on the way home for gas and some baking supplies for today.
I came home and had a quick breakfast of oatmeal and coffee and then went over to Markeeta's to get my hair cut.  She is always so accommodating when I call for an appointment and we always enjoy a nice visit.
I came home to find hubbie and IR outside walking the dogs and playing on the slides.
I started my baking. I baked 3 caramel,  2 chocolate  , 2 pound cakes and 1 pan of brownies before shutting the ovens down and  hubbie , IR and I had lunch. I bought a half of turkey breast this morning on sale in Ingles and I had it cooked in the pressure pot to go with the rice and vegetables left over from yesterday. It was a good lunch and even IR thought so.
After we ate IR went down for a nap giving hubbie time to gather the trash and get things loaded for his weekly dump run and I worked on paperwork. I finished the 2018 business figures . I was actually surprised to be as good as they were in a couple areas so I can call it a successful 2018 year of business.
I also did weekly paperwork and paid bills.
IR woke up just as hubbie came back inside and we sat in the living room and relaxed and watched IR play with her "pop" book.

The days IR is here alone it is obvious how much she misses having her cousin RL here to play with.

To IR's delight RL came to visit for a little while so hubbie could put the car seat we had borrowed from Deb back in her car this afternoon.

Hubbie and I took turns getting the chores done this evening until daughter got here to pick up IR after her early practice.

Yesterday I moved the lone little female quail in with the pair of quails in the bigger cage so she would be warmer in the coming cold weather and tonight I was happy to see they have accepted her and they were all nestled together until the flash went off and they scattered.

I came inside and watched the news on the coming winter storm maned Harper who is bringing another shot of winter weather all across the country and bringing more rain to us this weekend.

 And ushering in the coldest temps of the season for the first of the week as we dip into the single digits Monday morning.

I spent the evening in the kitchen icing cakes and getting things ready for market.

Thankful for the blessings of this day and for the love of our precious Savior Jesus Christ.

God Bless and Good Night

BACK TO THE REGULAR SCHEDULE

Got the chores done and the ice broke off all the waterers just in time to take RL to pre-school. She was looking forward to seeing her friends again after an extended  weekend.
I came home to have my breakfast and then get some ironing done and house cleaning caught up.
Hubbie wanted to go by a local thrift shop on the way to pick up RL so we left about an hour early.
Hubbie found some slip on shoes like he has been looking for and I found a nice long all weather coat that I have been looking for so we counted today's thrifting trip a success. This is probably our favorite shop, it is run by the Humane Society and they have very high end nice things but their prices are higher than most thrift shops but if you catch a day like today when they are running a sale you can get some real deals at 50% off.
We picked up RL and headed to Burger King for lunch. Both girls were hungrier than usual today and ate all their food.
We left there and came home hoping both girls or at least one of them would take a nap but no deal. They both sat in the kitchen and played while hubbie and I ate our lunch of coconut Jasmine rice and roasted vegetables.
Hubbie rocked IR and RL and I sat in the big recliner and watched TV so at least the girls rested for a while but still no napping.
The girls played with blocks and I thought about the old saying about "pay back" as I watched RL build a tall tower from the blocks as IR looked on.

I remembered back when g-son would spend time building towers with these same blocks and then his little sister, RL would love to knock his work over to his disappointment . Today IR couldn't wait for RL to finish her building work so she could return the favor to RL as she knocked her tower down. Hubbie tried to help hold it up to avoid RL's crying fit as it hit the floor but he wasn't successful.

D-in-love came to pick up RL and IR fell asleep just as they were leaving. I layed her on the couch and when hubbie came back in to watch the news I went outside to get the chores done.
Daughter came in while I was outside and let IR sleep her nap out before they headed home.
Today has been a nice sunny day but the high didn't get out of the upper 30's all day for a pretty cool day.
What's new about this map of this weekends weather ????  Nothing !!!!

Depending on when the cold temps get here from an artic front that is coming thru we might have another interesting time.

We watched part of the UNC / Notre Dame basketball game tonight but didn't make it to the end.

Thankful for the blessings of this day.

God Bless and Good Night

BUSY MONDAY AND WRESTLING MATCH

An early Monday morning this week even though schools are on a 2-hour delay. I got chores done and then headed over to meet daughter at her doctor's office for the important measuring ultrasound on baby #2 at 8:30.
D-in-love brought g-son and RL in just as I was leaving. Hubbie is taking g-son to school at 10:00 but RL is missing pre-school today as it isn't worth the drive across town after a 2-hour delay for her.
Daughter, son-in-love and IR were still in the waiting room when I arrived at the doctor's office.
The ultrasound confirmed a little girl and she is healthy and everything looks great with a June 8 due date.
Son-in-love left after the ultrasound and I stayed with daughter during the appointment.
IR and daughter patiently waiting for the doctor.

Everything was good and we left there and stopped by Aldi to pick up daughter and me a few groceries. Daughter had dropped her van off at Apple Tree Honda for an 8:30 oil change appointment and we went by to pick it up only to discover that it wasn't ready yet. We canceled the remainder of the service on the van because it was almost noon and daughter had a meeting at school at 12:30.
I don't know what is going on at Apple Tree Honda's service department but this is the exact reason hubbie now changes my oil because even with an appointment it took them 2-3 hours to change my oil and we always had at least one baby with us . When I first bought my Pilot from them in their old building they were better about getting things done in a timely manner but when they moved into their big new building the service has gotten gradually worse and worse so buyer be ware if you're looking for service on your honda from them .
Anyway we got her van and she took her groceries and I took IR and we headed home. IR slept all the way home for at least a short nap today.
When we got here the girls were so glad to see each other after the weekend.

I had a late salad for lunch and then got the weekly laundry started. I got 2 loads washed and 1 load dried before it was time to take turns with hubbie getting the chores done early.

G-son has a wrestling match today at Apple Valley against Hendersonville middle school.

D-in-love picked up RL to take her by home on the way and we met them and #1 son there.

G-son, in the middle, is looking at me during warm-ups when I was taking pictures.

It was 8th grader recognition tonight as this is their last regular season home match. There is a lot of 8th graders this year.

Apple Valley won the match that lasted longer than usual due to 2 different injured wrestlers ,one for each school. Pray these 2 young folks will be okay.

These 4 boys all are members of our church youth group and go to these opposing schools. We are all so very proud of these guys who are all fierce competitors but good friends off the mats.

G-son is 3rd one back.

Daughter came in and picked up IR after an early outing with her basketball team. 

Hubbie and I came home and finished chores by flashlight and then I finished the 3 loads of laundry for the week.

Thankful for the addition of another little member to our family and for all the other blessings of this day.

God Bless and Good Night