Picnic Time

Yesterday my cousin and her husband came for a visit.  It was so sunny and beautiful, we decided to drive up the mountain and see what we could see.  I was suggesting places to stop for lunch when Carolyn says, "I have a picnic".  Well, of course she has a picnic.  She is never unprepared.

Silver Lake is a beautiful County Park, and we walked across the lake on the little foot bridges.  The surface of the lake was frozen, making for some very interesting textures.  The bald eagles we perched in the trees above.  We found a picnic table nestled in a warm, sunny spot, and enjoyed our lunch and the surroundings until the sun went behind a cloud.  Wow, this difference in two degrees.

This is the Amaryllis that my kids gave me for Christmas.  It has 8 blooms on it, and another stem starting to sprout.  I've never had one this nice.  It is on top of my refrigertor in the kitchen.

My friend and I were headed into a Chinese Restaurant for lunch the other day and these bad boys were in the back of a truck.  Aren't they sweet?  But if I got any closer, they started barking and protecting their truck.  The entire time we were in the restaurant, we tried to figure out who the owner was, but never did.

And here is my living room, ready for paint, showing the new 8 foot window that used to be about 2.5'.

And here is the finished product:

I am so happy with my new room.  My friend, Jody, helped me with the painting.  She came over Monday morning and we were done by Wednesday.

I started this post on Thursday, I think, so it's a bit out of whack, but the details are all there.

I'm now off to do some retail therapy.



Busy of a Different Sort

As you can see, the new barn kitties are adjusting well to their new responsibilities.  HA.  Actually, they do spend most nights in the barn, nestled in their warm alpaca bed on the top shelf of my fiber storage racks.  They love it out there.  But, they also love me.  I like to let them in the house for a couple of hours each night for comic relief.  Leroy hates them, and Fred is either intriqued or frightened by them.  Bottom line is, shuffling four cats around is chaotic.

Much progress is being made here, with the sale of several more alpacas, and so many friends coming to help me.  Sunday a friend organized a work party, and we got the barn all cleaned out and organized for the memorial service.  Then on Wednesday, I went to Cash and Carry to buy all of the dishes, bowls, cups, soup spoon, napkins, etc. for the memorial service.  Yesterday a friend took me out to lunch and to my favorite thrift shop.  I'm sure you are getting the picture my days are not empty and lonely.

This has been my biggest headache.  When I discovered the black mold growing on my walls, I did not hesitate to have the 88 year old single pane windows replaced.  The house also has no overhangs on the roof, nor gutters, so the rain just runs down the sides of the house.  The siding is pretty much rotten and will have to all be replaced when I do my add-on, in addition to putting in some insulation.  For now, the windows are finished, with nice wide sills that I can put plants on and kitties can roost on to look out at the squirrels and birds.  Today my friend and I are going to try to pick out colors to paint the room.  She loves to paint.  I do not.

Above is the post card we sent out to friends, family, and associates for Alan's Memorial.  I have a committee of friends and family members who are planning this for me.  The love and caring brought to me by the community has been overwhelming, and I have no desire to live anywhere else.  I wish you could all join us in this celebration of his life.

To all of you who have sent cards and heartfelt wishes my way, I thank you.  This is going to be a long haul, and I treasure my friendships, both locally and in bloggerville.  I can feel your arms wrapped around me, and God answers prayers.  I know.

A Full Week

Things have not been dull around here, in fact, I've been so busy I had to take yesterday off for myself.  Sometimes I need to be alone and just veg.

First of all, I have to show you the glider chair I bought for myself right after Alan passed.

I have always wanted one like this, and I fall asleep in it just fine!!  The test of a comfortable chair.

This is a hall cabinet I got for half price at a furniture store that won't admit they are going out of business, but really. 

The flower arrangement was from the Friends of the Library and was just beautiful.

Yesterday I bought this accent chair for next to nothing.  This is all in anticipation of the remodel I will be doing in the spring.  When I had the windows replaced in the living room due to the black mold, we also discovered most of the siding is rotting.  My little addition is going to involve much more than I had anticipated.  DH's former employer, an Architect, is going to pick up his computer when he comes for the memorial service and work from the drawins DH had done to come up with my smaller plan.  I'm hoping to get started in April or May.

I found this guitar at my favorite thrift shop yesterday for .99 cents.  I know it's not a good guitar, but with some new strings, I just might get back to playing.  When I was in high school and college, I lead the singing at all the youth camps and campfires and sing alongs, where ever they might have been.  It's been awhile.

Last weekend was wonderful.  My older son Michael and his wife came on Saturday and stayed until Sunday afternoon.  My younger son and his friend and my two nieces arrived at about noon on Sunday, and I made lumpia for everyone.  That was my first attempt at preparing a meal since DH died, and they loved it.

The above picture just cracks me up.  On the right is my niece Rachael with her dog Quincey who thinks he is human.  He just sits there on the couch, leaning on a pillow, and watches us as we talk.  As you can see, my "barn kitties" were in the house and Quincey was afraid of them.

Those darn cats are being quite a challenge.  They love the barn, and I make a point of always feeding them out there, but they also love me.  They want to follow me everywhere.  Also, they are so entertaining, I let them in the house at night for laughs.  The older cats actually like them now, but fight with each other more.

Time to go out to the barn, and I'm sure George and Gracie will be on the porch waiting for me.  I just refuse to have 4 cats in the house.

Oh, and I have sold 12 alpacas!!  I've decided to keep 5 males with the best fiber, but sell the rest.  Things seem to be moving along well, so I hope to have homes for the rest soon.

What a mess

This is what happens when you discover mold in your house.  The two windows I'm having replaced are the original ones; 88 years old.  You might also notice two little imps on the not yet window sill.

Yesterday was a tough one for my contractor.  First, the chord on his sawsall fried and he had to go buy a new one.  Then, being that the house is not up to today's codes, he had to comply with those to make sure the house keeps standing.  So, only one window was installed.

This one will be done today.  He says this is the easier of the two.  He always does the hard ones first.  Hope he gets them done since all my kids are coming this weekend.

I found this pen and ink that my husband drew for me years ago.  It's been in storage with half of my life.  I always had this hanging in my office at work.  It's a house in La Conner, Wa.

Here are some of my purchases from Tuesday Morning and Ross yesterday.  I had to go in to Social Security and to pick up my new glasses, so I had a fun time shopping for things I don't need.  Well, I AM doing alot of dying, so those gloves will be used, and who doesn't want another felting book?

My darling little girl kitty wakes me up in the morning by plopping down on my face.  How does one ignore that?  I hate to break it to them, but it's warming up, and they will have to sleep in the barn tonight.  I had a hard time finding them yesterday, so I know they are enjoying it out there.

Kittens

I was cleaning out the milk house the other day, and found we had a colony of mice living in there.  Hmmmm.  Alan and I had discussed getting another barn cat after Phoebe died, but he didn't want another.  He'd been setting traps for rats all winter.  When I discovered the mice, I called:  MouseBusters!!!  A friend had been trying to give us two kittens for a couple of months, so I said, bring them on.  She arrived yesterday with a boy and a girl, both neutered.

This is Gracie

And this is George.  You can tell they will be good hunters because they have built in camoflauge uniforms.



I set the kids out in the barn with food and water, and they commenced to have a grand time.  They spent the night out there okay, but today they decided to wander.  They followed me everywhere.

I've been having alot of trouble sleeping and took two pills last night.  I slept 5 hours and work up feeling drunk and sleepy, and have felt that way all day.  I spent most of the day inside napping and knitting.  It's been quite cold, and the wind is strong from the north, so I got worried about George and Gracie.  I bundled up in my warm clothes and went looking for them.

Sure enough, they were hunkered down in the old shop and very scared.  So, I gave in and brought them in the house for the night.  I have forgotten what it is like to have kittens in the house.  They are like rolling thunder, flying around and getting into everything.  What a delight.  Fred and Leroy are not at all happy.  Guess they will spend the night pouting on the back porch.

I bought this braid of peppers at the Pike Place Market when we were there over the holidays.  I think it looks just grand hanging there in the window.

Here are some yarns I've finished in the past few weeks.  I finished this one today:

I miss my Mom terribly right now.  She lost my Dad when he was only 59.  I feel as if I am re-living her life.  I know I am doing many of the same things she did.  But it seems to be working.  I am blessed with loving and caring friends who check on me regularly, and I have learned to ask for help.
Ooops, I am hearing the strangest sounds.  I'd better go check on the two hellions.



Sigh

So many days I have sat here at the computer, staring at the blankness of the screen, and trying to think of something to say.  I'm going to try today.

My holidays are a blur since I was still in shock and numbness.  I spent most of my time with my kids, and went to several parties with family, but found I would just doze off if I could.  Below is a light hearted picture of my son and his wife with the hats I made them in their school colors.  I still haven't finished Chad's hat.

Once I returned home, the casseroles started arriving.  I am unable to make a decision to eat anything, much less prepare it, so this is such a joy to receive.  My alpaca association had instigated a Casserole Brigade, and I will apparently receive two a week from different members.  I've had to buy freezer containers to divide it all up in and freeze.  Now it looks like I won't have to cook for at least two months.

The shock and numbness is gone, but now it hurts more.  Sometimes I am just plain scared.

Last Sunday I discovered black mold growing up my living room walls, so called in a contractor.  By next week I will have two new windows which will be a terrific addition.  I've also bought myself a few new peices of furniture.

Blessings come my way everyday.

I've sold 9 of my alpacas, and may have a buyer for the remaining.

I don't know what I will do about the market, since I have to commit by Jan. 30th.

I thank you all for your loving care and your big cyber hugs, and leave you with this verse:

I have this feeling

there's one more star

up in the sky tonight.

And even though it's far away,

its brightness and warmth still

reach us here to make the night

a little less dark.

More Info and Many many thanks

Let nothing disturb you


Let nothing frighten you

All things are passing

God alone does not change

Patience achieves everything

Whoever has God lacks nothing

God alone suffices - St. Teresa
 
The words above certainly speak to me, and I will be reading them frequently in the months ahead.
I want to thank ALL of you who have sent your love and wishes to me these past few days.  Believe me, I do feel your collective arms around me.  To think that I would receive such support from all across the country would have been inconcievable just a few years ago.  Your friendships mean so much to me now.  The phone never stops ringing, and the house is grand central station.  My kitchen counters are loaded down with food.  My kids are here, and they are taking great care of me.  My mind is so adled, I just tell them to make all the plans, just make sure I'm in the car with them if they go somewhere.  I have bronchitis, so went to the doctor yesterday morning.  The cough syrup makes me very drousy and rummy, so I sleep, which is good.  On the way home from the doc's, I made my son stop at the local furniture store and I bought myself a new glider chair.  I have wanted one forever.  It will be delivered next week.
 
Now, a few thoughts, I know there are no answers for, I'm just putting them down because writing helps.
Why did he leave me?  Why now?  This man who brightened the days and lives of so many people, but mostly mine.  Was his job here on earth done?  I know he will be an exceptional angel.  He loves doing for others.  I can just suppose God needed him for other work, and knows I am strong enough to carry on here on earth.  I don't feel that strong right now, but I know I am.
 
That's all.