Weekend Review: 50 is good

Warm Pumpkin muffins for breakfast - I do enjoy Fall!

   Hubby and I are in our late 50's. That puts all of our closest friends in their 50's as well. Some are younger and others are not.  This weekend another friend joined the ranks of "50!"so his loving wife put on a great BBQ/party for him.  The sun came out, the temps went up and we partied welcoming him into the unique club of 50 year olds.
   Now that I am in this club it's funny to me that 50 does not feel so old. Oh, there are days when my hands hurt and my back is sore and some parts of me creak every once in a while, but for the most part, I don't think about my age until I see it on something like a doctor's report.  How about it out there - do you feel your age?
   I remember thinking that my grandmothers were old, looked old, dressed old, walked old, talked old - but I don't think that at all about me. Hmmmm! Maybe it's just that I hang around with old folks and we are all doing the same thing.  Must be the company I keep.
   Sunday, after a really good worship service,  we got to play with our beautiful and smart grand- daughters who keep us moving, keep us on our toes and keep us young.  I love our time with them and I am always impressed by the wonderful job our daughter and son-in-law are doing raising such great girls.

   As for my personal challenge, I was able to get in 53 miles this week, which I was very happy about since I had an asthma attack that put me down for a bit.  I did go to work but I was very tired and had to take my time getting anything done.  So I'm up to a total of 2360, that leaves just 40 miles.  If my lungs hold out and the weather stays cool, I'm hoping this is the week I reach my goal!
   I hope that you all had a great weekend as well and are ready to be your best this week.

Weekend Review: YUP! Sure Does Feels Like Fall Up Here.

Well it's time to turn on the lights early in the evening again and make hot cocoa. Man it feels like fall just showed up at our door!  This past weekend was pretty typical and pretty quiet. I slept wrong or something and ended up with one terrible and painful stiff neck that made it impossible (just about) to turn my head to my right. So glad we didn't have any thing special to do and could just take it easy.  I took it easy with my personal challenge. Only did 51 miles this week. Still I'm 94 miles from my goal. I'll take that!

By Sunday, I was feeling a lot better and good thing to as we got to play with the Grand Girls for a bit and they will sure wear us out! I wouldn't have it any other way!

Speaking of making hot cocoa, I really like pumpkin hot cocoa as well. It's pretty simple too. I take my hot cocoa recipe from here; add pumpkin syrup from the recipe here. Mix and enjoy, don't forget to top it with whipped cream for a special treat. 

How was your weekend? 

Weekend Review: The First Fall Monday!

Fall showed up with 70 and 80's degrees Summer temps. Well, this is fall in New England. One day it's 80's and the next 50's! This is when some people get really sick because how does one dress when the temps are all over the place.  Since it is fall, I did fall things, like put out a fall garden flag.

I planted some Fall Mums - just look at the leaves all over the ground! Oh My! I see raking in my future.

Put up the drive way markers for the snow plow---last year the ground froze before we got them in!  Not this year!

And pulled out my fall clothes - that is what was made me the saddest.

I really don't like the heavy material. It hurts my body because I have Fibromyalgia. The weight become so heavy trying to keep me warm with so many layers that I do suffer more in the cold weather.  I did keep some short sleeves and shorts out for because the weather for this week says we have a few days in the 80's coming up. Want to be able to wear the summer outfits for a bit longer.

If you read my blog last week, you know that Hubby was away then and I lost the TV remote. I was looking for sympathy but none of my fb friends gave me any. They laughed at me.  You can read the story here.
Hubby went to the men's retreat and this time he took care of me so that I couldn't loose the remote.

He attached a long line to it so that I could not loose it this time. It made me laugh every time I used it. How funny was this! What a man!  So instead, I lost the Internet and somehow got hacked and my email account sent all sorts of email off to people on my email list... Oh my, he had to fix that when he got home.  I'm so sorry to those of you that got an email from me over the weekend. I didn't send them!! Hubby is wondering what will happen next time he leaves, one never knows!

I also took photos of the changing colors, we are mostly green here but there are pops of colors here and there.

I also took photos of the best yellow lab ever sleeping on our floor.

I was really tired on Friday and so I took the day to take it easy, I only counted my walking and some painting that I really wanted to do but my energy ran out and I stopped. By Saturday, I was all better and jumped back into the grove and later that day when I added up all my miles for the week, I discovered that I did 68 miles!! Well no wonder, I felt really, really tired! I have only 146 miles to go! Yippee!!!

How was your weekend?

Weekend Review: Heat!

WOW! What a difference a day makes!  I really wanted to put on my flip flops and enjoy the last weekend of Summer, instead I put on the heat and curled up under a blanket (electric throw) on the couch.  The temps went down so low, we had a light frost here!  

Hubby was away for a few days helping out at the Ladies Retreat (in the kitchen feeding them all) so I was left to entertain myself. I really like those days because I can eat (or not), clean early (or not) and watch what I like on TV (which is lots of HGTV-BTW)

Well you know what they say about the best laid plans right.......

Friday night I wanted to watch something on channel 5 so I put the TV on channel 5 to watch the show and then for some reason, because this type "A" person had too many irons in the fire, doing too many things at once, I lost the remote and was stuck with channel 5 (which was football, both collage and pro from 7:30pm on....). So I had sports to watch in the living room once the other projects were done. OK we have more than one TV but without the remote I couldn't find a way to turn OFF the TV. Our TV doesn't have a power button, it's all remote controlled. What's a girl to do??? I FaceBooked my dilemma and only received laughs from my "Friends". When they found out that hubby was away at camp, they then FaceBooked back and forth camp songs!! Hey, what about some sympathy here!! None...I was told to simply unplug the TV.  Some Friends!! I love them all and it was funny. I even told hubby who laughed as well - for quite some time.

As for projects, I turned this Microwave cabinet 

Into this with left over paint

Took the  Ice Box  from the above picture and added some details and got this.

Fall table cloths added to the tea cart, gives a new look as well

Washing the floor, moving funiture and putting the room back together, makes our dinning area look ready for fall.

Bird seed on the floor by the freezer will go into the feeders soon.

So even though I wanted summer heat, I got home oiled heat and lots done while Hubby was away.  He goes away later for hunting season, wonder what I'll do then?????

On my personal challenge, I'm up to 2186!  I was able to get in the equivalent of 73 miles this week!  Remember, it's not just walking...bike riding, painting, weights, step aerobics and Zumba all counts.  I'm getting there! How was your weekend?

Weekend Review: and the 2400 Mile Challenge

I don't know about where you live but up here it really is feeling like fall!  I've been wearing sweaters and socks :(  We had a few days where it was down into the 50's and 60's at night and a few days when it went up to the 80's by noon but this coming week, it's suppose to stay in the 60's and low 70's!  Time for another blanket on the bed!! I can't believe that is the last full week of Summer!  Where did the time and the summer go?

We got to celebrate the 25th wedding anniversary of some friends of ours and it was a great party! They renewed their vows and before that, he proposed to his wife (apparently he didn't do it the first time) and   we were all happy to hear her say yes.  It is always great to see marriages that work and last and so it was a great celebration.

Sunday of course was another anniversary but this one was not a joy filled event but rather a sad one. We spent the morning as so many others did; asking where were you when you heard about the towers and praying for families, friends, 1st responders and our country. The afternoon we spent playing with the grandchildren. That is always fun! We took turns playing with the oldest one and holding the youngest one. It is so much easier when there are two of them and two of us.

On my personal challenge, I managed to log on 68 miles, bringing me up to 2113 miles. I am under 300 miles to go! I'm looking for ideas as to how to celebrate the completion of this challenge.  Any ideas?

Happy Labor Day: A Day to Rest from Labor

I hope you are enjoying your Labor Day. For many who work outside of the home, it is a day off that we relish. There are so few days that many of us get to stay home, rest, enjoy our families and friends and not feel guilty. For those of you in the path of Topical Storm Lee, I pray that you are all safe and dry. I see on the weather channel that it is pretty bad in some states. Be safe, get to where you can be safe and take your pets with you.

This weekend was a weekend of  starting's - By that I mean, starting projects that I hope to finish by next weekend.

Such as this garden as it looks now - 

Really needs these weeds and such to be cleaned up.

And this well cover-

Is screaming for a fresh coat of paint.

I did start both, but they are not done yet so I will show you as soon as I can.

I did work on my personal challenge and I am up to 2044! I have only 356 miles to go!

Enjoy your day everyone - hug someone and say a prayer for our country - she really needs it.

Weekend Review:Irene

Here is a picture of Hubby after coming in from the rain!  He had gone outside to push on the windows from the outside because I could not get them closed. They are the kind that crank open.   The wind was strong up here but God was good to us and we are all fine!  Irene was a Tropical Storm by time she hit us. 

The wind and rain did however put the state in Emergency Status so the elders of our church canceled all services and told us all to stay home and stay safe.  We did just that!  Some of our friends lost power and while some got it back fast others didn't.  The entire State of NH had about 100,000 people in the dark, but again we were fine. I thank you all for all your prayers and well wishes. It was nice to know that so many were praying for us. 

Trees very close to the back deck

The biggest issue was Becke, the wonder dog, who didn't think it was very nice to have to go out to "do her business."  She saw the rain coming down and she backed up, unfortunately for her, I was behind her and shoved her out saying "You're a Lab, you like water!" She did not believe me and ran under the deck to do - you know what, then back up the stairs and into the house. She was even willing to give up drinking all together if it meant she could avoid a trip outside in this rain.

We spent most of Saturday getting ready. And by "WE" I mean Hubby. This was the first hurricane in our entire 39 years + marriage that we went through together. All of the past rain storms, hurricanes, blizzards, ice storms, wind storms, tornado's and all other weather related issues, he worked! At one time our house was just over the town line and so he would come home to check on us but then had to go back. He was not a police officer in the town we lived in and that made it hard. He was always there at work, keeping the peace and reacting to alarms while I was home with the children and then home alone once the children were gone to live their own lives. So this was the first one we went through together.

He was fabulous!! He spent a few days taking in all the outside furniture, the statues, flags, trash bins, anything that would or could become airborne. He cut down limbs that may become tangled in the power lines, made sure the chain saw and generator were gassed up and working. He got the car gassed up, cell phones charged, extra water ready, extra food ready. He even designed, and built a cover for the generator so if and when it was needed to be put into use, we could have it safely outside in the rain, covered. Because you know that generators are not suppose to get wet, right?  I find that fact very interesting don't you? The generator is ready to take over but if it's raining, you cannot use it because it cannot get wet! When not in use, the generator cover comes apart and fits inside our garage flat up against a wall.

The frame itself over the generator.

And with the cover. The entire thing fits over a pallet and is connected to it.

 He turned down the temps on the fridge and freezer to keep food cold longer if we lost power during the night. It was so nice for me to only have Becke and her emergency evacuation box to get ready. In years past, I did it all.  Then I waited it out. This time, I went to bed and slept so soundly because Hubby was home!  This was so nice.

So as the winds roared, and the rain pounded the deck (and occasionally Becke) Hubby and I took out our fall decorations and put away the summer decorations. After all, the yard was done all ready so the house might as well get ready too.  Now I have more time in the fall that I don't have to use to decorate!

On my personal challenge, I'm up to 1982 miles! Getting closer every week only 418 miles to go! I find it hard to believe that I am almost done a challenge of 2400 miles -a challenge that began with an initial goal of just 400 miles!

How are you doing and if you were in Irene's path, how did you make out?

Weekend Review: The end of August!

Welcome to the last full week of August! Can you believe that we are in the dog days of Summer? Wow the time goes by fast the older I get!  I hope you all are having a great week and that your weekend was fabulous! 

Friday was the funeral for our friend Duane. It was bittersweet as we know he is in Heaven and has received his reward and yet we miss him. We miss his smile and his laugh. It was nice to hear some of the funny stories from his co-workers. That is a part of him we didn't get to see, him at work. His wife gave a beautiful tribute to her Husband. What an example she was standing there talking about her love. When she got up, there was not a dry eye in the building.  How she managed to stand there without falling apart still amazes me. She did cry a little, but composed herself and went on. What a strong, remarkable Christian woman she is!

Saturday the plans were to do a painting project. A big project but Becke, the wonder dog had other plans and got sick all over the living room! And by all over the living room, I mean a total of 8 spots of really huge...well you know! So the entire carpet had to be cleaned. That took a while so instead I painted our small island. Thanks to Tammy from Country Girl at Home I found the same paint and glaze that she used on her large loft project and painted the island instead. I took everything out to the back deck including a fan and went to work.  Here are the photos:

Before

During with the fan going and Becke looking on safe inside.

Back in the kitchen.

 What do you think? I like the Darker red and it goes with the rugs and floor as well. Thank you Tammy for sharing your ideas with all of us.

Sunday was quiet, watch the dog for any further problems, which happily there were none. So she started on boiled hamburger and rice,  watch the grand girls and go to church. 

My personal challenge is plugging along and I am up to a total of 1930 miles with only 470 to go.  So how was your weekend? Do you have plans for this last full week of August.

Weekend Review: Party Time!!

This was our first weekend with Hubby retired! We have not gone to many BBQ's, showers, weddings, birthday parties or much else as a couple in years because of his work/sleeping schedule so being able to go to a BBQ together on a Saturday, like normal people was a real treat. This was also a "Surprise-This-is-NOT-a Retirement-Party" Party.

Dessert was a giant Regular flavor Whoppie pie cake, a German Chocolate Whoppie pie cake and a cake of donuts!! Yes, we ate them and they were wonderful and funny.

Some wonderful funny gifts made everyone laugh and great stories were told. It was thrown by great friends and included both friends and family.

He gave a wonderful little speech about how blessed we are with such great friends and family who would throw a Non Party, Party.

He's right, we are blessed to have such wonderful people in our life to share our milestones with.  

Even I got a gift of this beautiful flower vase with flowers, a card, a tiara and a coffee mug that I'll share later this week because you are tired of retirement stories by now.  

Oh on my personal challenge, I still got in just a bit over 66 miles so my new total for the year was 1802 miles! I celebrated with a small slice of both cakes!  I plan on working it off over the next few days!!!

Weekend Review: Harry Potter and Grand Children.

We started our weekend standing in line waiting for the start of the last Harry Potter Film. It was wonderful! Children holding their books, all dressed up in house colors and robes with wands in hand and me in my house scarf and just as excited!  The theater was packed and we were near the front so we were able to get seats that allowed Hubby to stretch out his legs. Those in the back of the line were not so lucky.  The movie did not disappoint, just in case you were wondering if it was worth the cost of tickets. As always, the book is better but they did a great job of taking the book and bringing it alive.  Now if only the movie theater could make the 3D glasses less ugly, that would be great!

I mean, how big can they make them! And they don't fold either so you can't put them in your purse (as if you would want to).

Saturday, I began cleaning and re-organizing the kitchen cabinets.  I didn't take the before picture of the first one I did because I forgot until I was putting it back together that I didn't take a before shot. So here is the after of the first cabinet I did.

I went "shopping in the other cabinets" and found I had 3 Italian Seasonings, 3 cans of mixed vegetables, and 2 bags of nuts, and many more items that I don't need to buy for a long time! I was able to fill the cabinet above with items from the other ones that I emptied out and re-organized. 

Before, the baking cabinet was filled with extra items that I didn't know I had and it was hard to find anything.

After, it's easy to find what I'm looking for and I combined many of the spices into one container.

This was just packed and a mess to find anything! I really hated to get in there to find stuff and it was because of this cabinet, that all got cleaned out.

Now, I can find what I want and considering how much I took out and placed in the other cabinets - I have lots more room for future shopping (or canned items).

Sunday we had Church and then off to watch the grand daughters who are just pure joy! What fun we had playing with play dough, playing  tag and hide and seek. They are so cute and so much fun.  The baby didn't cry much at all this time! Getting better every time!  Love them to pieces. While I was with the girls, Hubby got to Skype with our Daughter In Law (DIL) and youngest grand son! So a win for both of us. 

Oh and I did the math on my Personal Challenge.  70.64 miles this week for a YTD total of 1604.64!

How was your weekend!  

Weekend Review: And the 2400 Mile Challenge

My personal challenge is really moving along, we may be into summer but up here in NH as Hubby says  "Summer is Optional" It's been in the 50's, damp (as in it rained for 4 days) and down right raw. While I was shopping on Saturday I couldn't help but notice that most people were in light jackets, or sweat shirts. There was only 1 guy in shorts and flip flops and goose bumps - serves him right. Oh he was about 15 years old so a teenager (you know - no brain engaged)!  With all that going on outside, I was inside riding the stationary bike, doing step aerobics and dancing off inches and managed to complete 73 miles! That's right 73 miles between the bike, stepping, painting projects and just plain walking. So my year so far is up to 1400 miles. I love the look of that! Have you seen the movie Knight and Day? Well if you haven't, you should (if you like action movies and I do) One of the things that is really great is the sound tract, down load it, put on your headset and go for a walk, you will walk a whole lot faster than ever. That is really one great sound tract! Or get on the treadmill with it on. 
Hubby complete the garden fence by putting on the new gate that will keep unwanted critters out.

We can get in there to work on the garden but keep the little critters out-and that does include Becke who loves the smell of the tomato plants. Don't know what she is thinking by trying to eat the flowers on the plant but that is not what I want her doing. I love how easily it swings open and closes. He did a great job putting that fencing up. Thank you love!!

Speaking of our garden, it's coming along nicely. Most things are up but none are ready to eat. At least we have not had to weed or water much at all this year. I thought one night we might have to cover it because it was going to be cold but I forgot to and they survived.  

Our peas are starting to climb up and reach for the sun! I'm looking forwarded to enjoying these soon. 

Since Becke can't get to her tomato plant any longer she has decided to splash around in her pool instead. This is by far a better choice! Yup - mama approves, splash away.

The cabinet for the kitchen is just about done. I decided I wanted a better topper for it so hubby has the wood and will work on that. He put the handles on and I quickly put the "Good Dishes" inside.

There is a story behind those "Good Dishes" which I'll tell you about one day.  

How was your weekend? What did you do?