Pumpkin Sunrise

  Good morning to you! I'm sitting at my kitchen table writing this post and listening to the birds gently start their day. I'm enjoying watching a mama cardinal feed her baby safflower seeds, so sweet. The word is out on the street that I'm feeding them and I cannot believe how many birds are visiting the feeder. Who knew that they like this seed this much.  Over all it's been a nice week. I had a bit of an autoimmune disease flare but I think it's settled down. I'm still waiting to hear back for the doctors. I have so many specialists it's difficult to decide which one to message.  The above painting is from the watercolor preprinted set that my daughter and son in law gave me. I am having so much fun, I only started this on Friday. We are watching the local grands today so I don't know if I will have the time or the energy to resume painting. Since I felt off this weekend, I went to the bookstore to cheer myself up. I love bookstores and libraries bot...

  Good morning! How are you? Boy did this week fly right by and now it's June? How has this happened? All of a sudden it's late spring and there are hints of summer. I dropped into Whole Foods quickly and spontaneously bought a mini watermelon and was quite surprised it was yellow inside when I cut into it (I did not read the sticker....). I do not like the texture and the taste was 'okay' until I ate a yucky piece (do I sound like a kid or what!).... Oh how I regret this purchase. Lesson learned, I must read the stickers. I pulled out my color pencils and did a big swatching session. I'm hoping I will be inspired to create some art or at least try to create some art. After feeling unwell for so long I'm now starting to feel like myself and want to dive back into creative pursuits that I shelved. No matter how my health is I am capable of knitting and reading but any kind of art producing like watercoloring, drawing or sketching is not something I can muster. I...

  Good morning! How are you? Happy Memorial Day!  Our weekend which is still going strong today has been filled with the local grandkids being here. Today they are coming over for the day and we will have burgers and fries for dinner. Yesterday I made brownies so we already have a dessert. I've been trying to build up my exercise routine after weeks of slacking off due to my health issues. I guess slacking off isn't the right wording. I did take a slow walk yesterday and heard the spring peepers (frogs) for the first time. Truly spring!! I love hearing all the birds as well. My bird feeders have been visited by: cardinals, sparrows, nuthatches, chickadees, goldfinches and many titmouse. I have a thistle feeder and a safflower feeder and best of all the raccoon who lives in my woods does not bother with them (yet). We went to the local garden center for deck flowers and those are growing nicely since it's been raining nearly every day.  What have you been up to? Do you do ...

  How are you! I'm doing pretty good. I've been enjoying the weather up until yesterday when we were hit with heat and humidity. I wilt completely. Sigh. I was enjoying my walks outside but now I will exercise in my art room instead. We attended our nephew's son's tee ball game, such delight! Little wigglers out in the field are adorable. Now for a mini health update  -- I had extensive heart and lung testing over the past few months, I'm hoping that's the end of it. My heart is completely fine! My lungs show so mild involvement of my autoimmune disease (Sjogren's Disease) which my inhalers are controlling . The pulmonologist believes my shortness of breath is due to neuromuscular weakness from the autoimmune disease and has started me on an immunosuppressant. I am now navigating the side effects and the timing of the medicine during my day. I am thankful the medical testing odyssey is over (hopefully). I am thankful for a doctor who has taken the time to fi...

  Good morning! How are you doing today? Did you have a nice weekend? I've been enjoying abundant blue sunny skies, they tend to happen near the end of the day but it's nice anyways. Yesterday for Mother's Day, my husband and I went out for some ice cream (I had fake ice cream since I'm lactose intolerant). I was quite surprised that many many people had the same idea! I had a quiet weekend with both kids calling me yesterday. It was a great celebration. I've resumed my walking the neighborhood last week and while I am not very fast, I am out there and enjoying the birds and the spring signs. Almost all the trees are leafed out! I find the weather perfect, it is cold in the mornings and I wear a light jacket and a baseball cap. So comfortable. Once the hot weather comes I will resume exercising indoors. Over the weekend, I tried my best to finish the baby blanket and didn't quite make that goal. Also I fear I do not have enough yarn, if I don't have enough ...

  Good morning! How are you and how was your weekend? I'm doing pretty good. Once again the weather went from hot to cold and once again I am happy about that. However, every I have difficulties dressing for the weather. Yesterday, I changed twice - I wasn't warm enough.  This weekend was quiet and uneventful. My husband and I did some clothes shopping and then gathered all the clothes in our closets that we did not want anymore. I got rid of all the clothes that are too big for me,  On Saturday my sister and I went out shopping and I bought some watercolor pencils, above is the doodle I did with them. We had a nice time out and about. We stopped at a new juice/smoothie place which was 'okay'. We miss the one that went out of business over a year ago, they were so tasty! I did a LOT of knitting. I'm trying to see how much knitting I can get done before my medical tests next week, it's a game that I think I am winning at. I would love to finish this shawl and the...

  Good morning! How are you doing? I have been soaking up the beautiful weather over the weekend. I even took a walk in the neighborhood because it wasn't too hot or too cold, it was just right as Goldilocks would declare. I delighted in the abundant blue skies and leafing out trees. This is when I like the spring season. I've been cycling through my fiction and non-fiction books as I sit on the back patio enjoying the sunshine. Of course I've been knitting. I worked mainly on the hat  since it's just mindless endless stockinette knitting. How was your week? 

  Good morning! Happy Easter! How are you doing today? I'm doing pretty good. Since I last posted, I've been busy with the local grands because their daycare was closed Thursday and Friday (also today) for the Easter holiday. They were here both Thursday and Friday with their dad who worked from home and it was very busy.  Saturday we went to the Science Center where I did not take one single photo so you'll have to pretend you have some photos. The whiplash weather was nuts! We had 81 degrees Saturday then on Sunday it was 46 degrees....My body cannot handle it. The warm weather always makes me feel unwell.  Easter Sunday we went to Mass then afterwards to my sister's house for a luncheon. I brought a veggie tray (my standby contribution) also I baked the free turkey I earned at the local supermarket during November. There is no way my husband and I can eat a turkey.  I gave as much as I could away and have put the rest in the freezer. I labeled it so I know what it...

  Hello! How are you? I'm doing good.  My weekend was mainly uneventful overall. Can you believe next weekend is Easter already? Lent has flown by this year for me. I attended Saturday night Mass with my sister at a different church and I cannot pass by a beautiful Mary statue without photoing it. Of course I edited out all the cars in the background so the photo is kind of crazy but She is beautiful to behold. Since the weekend was uneventful, I worked on my knitting projects equally. Also I started walking outside once more. Only up and down my street a few times, staying close to home. I love being out in nature and hearing the birds sing. Some of my daffodils got zapped by that unexpected snowfall we had a while ago and some have miraculously survived and are showing off. April, which is just around the corner, is one of my favorite spring months. Not too hot but abundant in blossoms. How was your weekend? 

  Good morning to you! Spring has definitely sprung here. We had unusually warm weather yesterday and thankfully today will be back to regular cool weather. I don't like the hot weather but I do like the sunshine and the flowers blooming. My second session of adult learning classes started up last week, so I am busy driving to and from campus attending lectures and making new friends. Of course I continue to take Tai Chi, it's my favorite class. I don't like to cook, which is no surprise to you readers who have been here awhile. But I do like to make salads. I made the best one ever a few days ago that had lettuce, spinach, kale, parsley, red pepper, cucumber, mozzarella cheese and pepitas. Of course the shrimp too. It was delicious. I like to use a tiny bit of oil and vinegar as my dressing. I could eat salad for dinner every single day. I also did some knitting and reading over the weekend. And most importantly I started to do tiny sketches in hopes to rekindling my love ...

  Good morning! How are you? I'm doing okay. I have an early morning appointment with the ENT today. The week I do not have a doctor's appointment will be a miracle! However, I am grateful I like all of my doctors who help me out. This weekend was crazy weather! This tree that fell over into our neighbor's yard and knocked out their power is NOT our tree but is close to the property line and it did NOT knock our power out, thank God. On Friday evening our lights flickered so many times during a horrific wind storm. My husband and I ran around the house, filling water bottles (I like cold water) and charging our phones and flashlights. We were lucky and our electricity stayed on! My sister's did not and she lives very close to me. Yesterday after Mass, my daughter in law and the two grands came to stay at our house for a few days while my son is traveling for work. Party! The grands love having a sleep over here and we love helping out whenever we can. I knit very minima...

  Good morning! How are you doing today? I've been enjoying the spring time weather (it was a little too warm for me on Saturday, but it was nice enough). Thankfully we are not as warm today and therefore I am not as hot in my house. As you know, I love winter and I love to be cold. I do not like to be hot. My one lonely snowdrop is blooming. I guess when my husband redid the garden bed he disrupted the batch of them. Hopefully this one will multiply over the years. Also the crocuses!! Gah! I am so excited to see them as well. A true sign that spring is heading our way. On Saturday the kids and grandkids came over in the morning to visit and stay for lunch. We were outside sitting on the patio while the grandkids did outside chalk. We all had a really nice time together. On Sunday after church and lunch, my sister invited me to go with her to the local yarn store. I had no plans to buy anything. I came home with a new project bag! I haven't bought a new project bag in over 10 y...

  Good morning! How are you doing today? I've been pretty good overall. Our company left last Wednesday and I put my house back together again within two hours. That might be a record. We miss our daughter and her family, but I am also enjoying the silence and the NOT cooking for a crowd.  Since they left, I've returned to knitting and reading. I've made lots of progress on my yoke sweater  while watching TV in the evening or listening to podcasts. Never fear, I have been working on my other two projects as well while thinking about new projects. That's what knitters do. Since we had a tiny warm up, there was ONE bug in the house so now Holly is on the hunt for future possible bugs in the house. This is her surveilling the family room. Too cute!! On Saturday I walked outside which is a rarity. Because of my severe dry eyes and the scleral lenses, I cannot be outside if there is a wisp of wind. However, I braved up to 8 MPH winds and took my chances. I enjoyed being outs...

  Good morning! How are you today? I am doing much better. I am on another round of antibiotics for a stubborn ear infection but I think this time it is really really working. My fingers are crossed. Let's just say, I'm not thinking about my ear and that is a very good sign. All week last week the daycare was closed due to frigid temperatures so we were the back up to the daycare. Saturday was still busy and we celebrated our grandson's fourth birthday (4!!!!) with family. We had fun seeing everyone, then went to Saturday night Mass. Yesterday was bliss. We stayed home the entire day. Besides doing laundry, I did some knitting and reading. My adult classes start up this week, I'm excited to get back into a learning groove. Also, the sun came out yesterday and we were in the double digits! It's funny when you think of 20 degrees as a heat wave. Since I am a winter lover, I am in my seasonal heaven.

  Good morning from a very snowy place! I love it so much, I know I am the odd one out but it's always a fun day when there's a snow day. Of course, it's fun as long as I have utilities. The whole town and near-by city shut down yesterday while the snow fell. Today I think there's one more inch to arrive then they will be clearing all the main and side roads. I did my laundry and chores yesterday then sat and started two knitting projects, a cowl and as hat both for me. The cowl yarn is a birthday gift from my sister back in November. The hat was an impulse yarn buy this weekend (why not!). My son asked me how much yarn do I have in my closet...um... a lot. This week is my last week off for winter break and my adult classes start up again next Monday. I am excited to get back into seeing my friends and of course learning new things.  How was your weekend? Did you get any snow? I hope all you all are safe and warm in your houses. 

  Hello! Merry Christmas and soon to be Happy New Year! How have you been? I have been thoroughly enjoying the in between days and having absolutely nowhere to go unless I choose to go somewhere. I'm also enjoying my adult learning classes break. It's nice to be relaxed. My daughter in law and son gifted me the gilmore girls mug, I love it. I watch it when I want a comforting show and I can knit while it's on.  I've been feverishly knitting my sister's mitts and I started a sweater for me. Of course yesterday, I un-knit as much as I knitted. I don't know what is up with that. I did get frustrated though and set everything aside. I'm hoping today is a better knitting day. Today the temperatures are dropping quickly and the wind is howling outside. The weather has been crazy. I switched back to exercising inside two weeks ago because even though I can tolerate cold weather, my eyes and mouth get dried out and cause me problems (thanks autoimmune disease!). I h...

  Good morning! We have snow and it is beautiful but very very cold outside. I love it!! How are you doing? I am okay, I had another salivary gland infection over the weekend and am now slowly recovering with the help of modern medicine. I sure do hope 2026 is a healthier year for me. This year has been a difficult year all due to Sjogren's Disease, the gift that keeps on giving. I have a few new doctors and more treatments so I am hopeful I will be healthier. In the spring, my son and daughter in law gave me a Gilmore Girls themed jigsaw puzzle. I put it together in about four days with the help of my son and my husband. I do love a jigsaw puzzle but I don't like how obsessed I become to get it done and the hunched over stance I keep while doing it. I started a pair of mittens for my sister for her birthday in January. I've knit the pattern before so it's an oldie but a goodie. I love to knit the same things repeatedly. How was your weekend? Are you ready for the holid...