I have considered just deleting my blog...only for the fact that I just don't get on here much anymore. It makes me feel as if I am neglecting something. Just before I manage to actually push the delete key however, I can't bring myself to it because on here are many precious memories. So, although my posts may be lacking in excitement and are few and far between I will post from time to time...just to keep it going. Who knows maybe I will find my blogging mojo someday soon.
Things have been good. I am very tired of looking out my window and just seeing white...and gray with some black. Every now and then I see the large hawk that lives in the trees in the park next door fly by. That always brings such excitement to my day. A couple of weeks ago I was sitting looking out the front door and he landed on our porch rail right in the center of my door. I was so stunned that I couldn't speak but only make a noise that attracted Brittany's attention. I pointed and whispered for her to come quickly. I still couldn't believe my eyes. Before we could grab a camera he was off but he was a beauty!
I have been crocheting and trying to keep busy. I have been researching vegetable gardening in a shady yard and container vegetable gardening. Getting ready to experiment with peas, beans and lettuce this year. I am so hoping that it works. I mastered my cucumbers last summer...so I'll be planting those again. Since my large tomato did nothing...I think I'll try Roma and grape tomatoes on my front porch this year.
I am currently working on a table runner for my table. I am using #10 crochet cotton and a #7 hook. I have one square completed and am working on the second which will attach to the first. My goal is to finish a block a week and attach it as I go. If I do this then I should finish this project in about 3 months. Just in time for summer...which is good because the center of each square is a daisy. Brittany is crocheting circles around me. She has made many hats and scarves...is currently working on a purse and an ear band. She is always so much faster at things than I am...but then again...I seem to choose patterns with a lot of detail. I think perhaps I am a very detail oriented person.
We joined the Y...actually...it's brand new and within about a 7 minute drive from home. The building is gorgeous and I can finally swim again. My old Y closed a few years back and since I have been Pool-less. We went for the third time this morning. When we got in the car it was a whopping 8 degrees. We figure that if we can be dedicated when it is this bone chillingly cold...we have it made in a month or so. I am currently walkin on the treadmill. Brittany is running on the elliptical. Maybe someday I'll be in as good as shape as she is and join her. For now, I am just happy to be moving. I'll begin a half an hour of swimming here soon too...which will give me an hour a day workout. I did it the first day and couldn't move for the rest of the day when I got home...so I decided to take it slow...master the treadmill...add in the swimming a couple of days a week and go from there. I am doing it for the anti-aging factor...toning and if I manage to lose a few pounds then that will be great too.
We had sunshine today for the first time in quite a while...I guess it is the calm before the storm that is going to hit most everyone in the next few hours.
Blessings from frigid Northeast Ohio!
Joyce Marie
"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all." - Laura Ingalls Wilder
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
Friday
I really can't believe that it is Friday nor can I believe that we are the middle of January. Not such a bad thing when you are so looking forward to spring. My guy has been in Montreal this week will be home tomorrow evening and is right back out early Sunday afternoon. Next week he'll be in Phoenix. It's going to be crazy trying to pack in a weeks worth of not seeing him in less than 24 hours but it is what we do and if anyone can do it...my little family can.
Brittany and I have been busy this week working on projects. I have a picture but feel to lazy right now to post it...so I'll do that probably next week. I will say that I am happy with this project and am finally getting the hang of crocheting. I am loving it too. I put KLOVE on the radio in the morning...and then Limbaugh on in the afternoon...depending on what time of day that I am working on my project and I can totally entertain myself. It's so fun!
Brittany had her last eye exam on our insurance yesterday...she is getting new contacts...and when our plan renews in July...she'll update her glasses which will give her another two years at least because from then on she'll be on her own. Hopefully, we can find her at least a discount plan later on down the road to help her out.
Our lab is nearly 12 and as spry as a puppy...but she is having such problems this week with going potty so I have been researching like crazy what to do. They say pumpkin is good...tried it and it hasn't worked...oat bran too...think I'll add some to her food tomorrow. I just came back from the store and bought her a Senior food to try...it has more fiber than the other food we were using. I have been praying all day that she'll get some relief. It's hard to walk here with all the sidewalks covered in 7 plus inches of snow but I have read how good walking her would be so we had to walk in the street which isn't much better than the sidewalks here but we did it anyway and I think that really helped. I am going to walk her once more tonight...but she has felt better this afternoon and she went a tiny bit...which is better...so my fingers are crossed.
That's about it...I am feeling a bit like I live in the frozen Tundra about now. We had a pretty good snow this week...more on the way tonight and tomorrow who knows for next week. This is the part of winter that just drags on and on and on. Oh well...I guess that is what you get in the Northeast.
That's about it for now. Gotta get back to my project.
Blessings!
Joyce Marie
Oh and by the way...if you want to see what's inside the mind of my girlie girl...she made a new blog and I am sure she would love a visit...http://brittylou92.blogspot.com/
Brittany and I have been busy this week working on projects. I have a picture but feel to lazy right now to post it...so I'll do that probably next week. I will say that I am happy with this project and am finally getting the hang of crocheting. I am loving it too. I put KLOVE on the radio in the morning...and then Limbaugh on in the afternoon...depending on what time of day that I am working on my project and I can totally entertain myself. It's so fun!
Brittany had her last eye exam on our insurance yesterday...she is getting new contacts...and when our plan renews in July...she'll update her glasses which will give her another two years at least because from then on she'll be on her own. Hopefully, we can find her at least a discount plan later on down the road to help her out.
Our lab is nearly 12 and as spry as a puppy...but she is having such problems this week with going potty so I have been researching like crazy what to do. They say pumpkin is good...tried it and it hasn't worked...oat bran too...think I'll add some to her food tomorrow. I just came back from the store and bought her a Senior food to try...it has more fiber than the other food we were using. I have been praying all day that she'll get some relief. It's hard to walk here with all the sidewalks covered in 7 plus inches of snow but I have read how good walking her would be so we had to walk in the street which isn't much better than the sidewalks here but we did it anyway and I think that really helped. I am going to walk her once more tonight...but she has felt better this afternoon and she went a tiny bit...which is better...so my fingers are crossed.
That's about it...I am feeling a bit like I live in the frozen Tundra about now. We had a pretty good snow this week...more on the way tonight and tomorrow who knows for next week. This is the part of winter that just drags on and on and on. Oh well...I guess that is what you get in the Northeast.
That's about it for now. Gotta get back to my project.
Blessings!
Joyce Marie
Oh and by the way...if you want to see what's inside the mind of my girlie girl...she made a new blog and I am sure she would love a visit...http://brittylou92.blogspot.com/
Friday, January 7, 2011
Good morning
Baked Oatmeal
3 cups oatmeal
1 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup of milk
2 eggs
1/2 cup of melted butter or margarine
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a large bowl, mix together all the ingredients and stir well. Spread in a 8" square pan.
Bake for 40 minutes
3 cups oatmeal
1 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup of milk
2 eggs
1/2 cup of melted butter or margarine
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a large bowl, mix together all the ingredients and stir well. Spread in a 8" square pan.
Bake for 40 minutes
This is a perfect hot breakfast on a cold winter morning that will make your house smell wonderful and get all those warm little toes hitting the floor.
Enjoy,
Joyce Marie
Enjoy,
Joyce Marie
Thursday, January 6, 2011
As promised...I had to post a finished project that actually turned out really well. This is a cute little slouchy hat. A free pattern on Lion Brand called Charming Chapeau.
Quick and easy for me...and it was really fun to make.
I gave up on that other hat...who wants to make an ole hat when you can make something new and far more interesting...I'll keep you posted!
Blessings!
Joyce Marie
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
If at first you don't succeed....
you know the rest. I am a woman who is trying to knit and crochet and it is frustrating me so very much. Through it all though...I am learning patience and to not give up when I get frustrated...even when I want to open up the door and throw my project out in the snow!
I have given up on knitting for a while. I just simply can't figure out how to fix my mistakes...like dropping a stitch...to be more exact. I have watched the videos on net...just doesn't click in my weary brain. So...I laid all that aside and picked up the crochet hook. I have been working on a hat. Oh my goodness, how frustrated I am but I am about to take another stab at it. I found out that the pattern I was using was English Crochet terms...not American...(had no idea there were so many forms of crochet)so after about 3 weeks of messing with it...tearing it completely out twice...I will again begin this project if it kills me. I'll post a picture WHEN I manage to figure it out.
I did manage another winter hat in about 6 hours...it was pretty fun and if I can hold on to Brittany long enough I'll take a picture and post it here as well.
Other than that...still catching up on laundry...should be done by this evening...only to have a whole basket waiting for me in the bathroom upstairs...ahhh...is that job every done?
Sorry for the long ramble...couldn't think of anything else to write today!
Blessings!
Joyce Marie
I have given up on knitting for a while. I just simply can't figure out how to fix my mistakes...like dropping a stitch...to be more exact. I have watched the videos on net...just doesn't click in my weary brain. So...I laid all that aside and picked up the crochet hook. I have been working on a hat. Oh my goodness, how frustrated I am but I am about to take another stab at it. I found out that the pattern I was using was English Crochet terms...not American...(had no idea there were so many forms of crochet)so after about 3 weeks of messing with it...tearing it completely out twice...I will again begin this project if it kills me. I'll post a picture WHEN I manage to figure it out.
I did manage another winter hat in about 6 hours...it was pretty fun and if I can hold on to Brittany long enough I'll take a picture and post it here as well.
Other than that...still catching up on laundry...should be done by this evening...only to have a whole basket waiting for me in the bathroom upstairs...ahhh...is that job every done?
Sorry for the long ramble...couldn't think of anything else to write today!
Blessings!
Joyce Marie

Monday, January 3, 2011
Happy New Year...
My new year has started off with a bang in a very productive way. The sun is shining which always gives me a boost so I just spent the entire morning cleaning out my dresser and closet. I have a great big packed bag full of things that I am so tired of wearing or even looking at. Clothes, a few purses and a book are the first of my drop offs for the year. Another big bag of trash and my room has been thoroughly purged. I am hoping to paint in there soon...so this will make it much easier.
Cleaning out old purses entertained me for quite a while...made me think of one of those bridal shower games...what is the strangest thing that you are carrying in your purse? I actually had a bottle of unopened syrup from Cracker Barrel. I had to laugh at myself...
Much more to do as my laundry is backed up from the holidays...Brittany has her first night back with her classes and my sweetheart is hard at work today in his office upstairs.
A very productive day for us all...what have you been doing this first Monday in January?
Blessings,
Joyce Marie
Cleaning out old purses entertained me for quite a while...made me think of one of those bridal shower games...what is the strangest thing that you are carrying in your purse? I actually had a bottle of unopened syrup from Cracker Barrel. I had to laugh at myself...
Much more to do as my laundry is backed up from the holidays...Brittany has her first night back with her classes and my sweetheart is hard at work today in his office upstairs.
A very productive day for us all...what have you been doing this first Monday in January?
Blessings,
Joyce Marie

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