End of March

It's a very stormy day here at the resort.  March is definitely going out like a lion instead of a lamb. It's cold, very windy, and the sky is dark.  I can hear the wind whistling down the fireplace chimney. Glad I'm in where it's warm and cozy.  

Every year Dan gets me the Mary Engelbreit page a day calendar as part of my Christmas presents.  I love reading each day's new page and looking at the illustration.  Today's picture was an artist before a blank canvas and the words, "Your imagination is your preview to life's coming attractions," and were attributed to Albert Einstein.  I like it!  I need to ponder this little pearl of wisdom.  

Meanwhile, Buddy the Cat has made a big decision.  For years he loved Dan's fabric covered recliner and spent many hours in it.  Last fall we finally were forced to replace it and ended up with a leather recliner.  Buddy did not like it!  You could feel his outrage:  where was the cozy warmth of his beloved fabric?  He wouldn't even get on Dan's lap when he was sitting there.  But this morning around ten, he astounded us by gingerly jumping up, circling around, laying down and curling up in it, where he still is at 12:40.  I guess he decided he'd been stubborn long enough.

In further news, a fun new toy for my kitchen arrived this morning.  I'm anxious to give it a try as soon as I read the instructions and come up with a plan. Intrigued?  My thinking is that as long as cooking is a part of my day the tools used might as well be fun and/or beneficial.  Stay tuned!  ♥

Projects

The stairway is coming along.  Nothing ever seems to go as planned, but Dan has been able to figure out a plan C, or D, or even an E.  He had hoped to be able to remove the stair treads to make the sheet rocking easier, but in addition to the many nails used to attach them, he was frustrated to find they had also glued them down.  And those treads were not coming up.  It's taken more time and considerable measuring, but he is succeeding!

Meanwhile, on the sock knitting front, I have finished the first sock of my second pair and am started on the second.  As much as I loved the first pair, I think I love these even more!  Or maybe it's one of those things that each new project become the favorite.  

This is the first sock and I'm knitting toward what will be the toe of the sock.  When number two is finished, I'll post a picture--these look good with my favorite shoes, too!  I'm also perfecting my stitch.  I didn't realize that I am apparently a fairly loose knitter, and my first pair is roomier than I'd really like.  When I tried this one on when I finished it, it was perfect.  Oh, and I also did a little pattern modification.  I gots skinny feet.  :-)

And finally, for your viewing pleasure, Dan snapped this photo of Buddy this morning.  He decided to clean out his "whatever" drawer in the dresser (you know, the one with pocket stuff, cards, treasures, etc.).  He took the drawer out and put it on the bed while he cleaned and turned back to the dresser to find this:

How he jumped up in there and turned around...

End of September

How amazing that September ends today. I remember hearing that the older you get, the faster time goes, and it certainly seems to be true.

Fall is here. I was doing some reading this morning and in my peripheral vision I could see dappled shadows around the room as sunlight filtered through the aspen trees just outside the window. I loved it! This afternoon there is much smoke all around; farmers must be burning their fields. The smoke, combined with the shadows and the slowly turning leaves brings a feeling of comfort and security. Time to finish up chores and start planning for the coming winter.

Dan has been busy getting wood, splitting, and stacking it. Some of it has been rather damp, so he's spread it out over the lower yard where the sun can dry it. So much work for something that will be gone--in a puff of smoke! This wood will certainly have warmed him several times over before it vanishes in our stove.

Meanwhile, Buddy the cat has spent the day curled up in the recliner. This time of year the nights are perfect for prowling and then he spends the day recovering from his hunting expeditions. The mice are few in our neighborhood any more.

Buddy came to us one weekend more than eight years ago. We have no idea where he came from, but for days when I came home from school, there he would be in the corner of the porch. Finally, knowing full well what we were doing, we fed him. He's been a part of the family ever since. Living as we do just out of town, we occasionally had mice, but no more! Even the neighbors have remarked on it. He's done his job well, so I guess he deserves his days in the chair.

Take a cue from Buddy and spend an hour now and then this fall in a lovely little nap. You'll feel better for it!