i wasn't ready

 to give up my weekend jaunts to the happy place .... I'm really not ready -- it's not that cold and there are still leaves on the trees ...

 I got out there this morning and well, the water was off -- it might be a temporary thing -- but dang, I'm not ready to give it up yet.  

i tubbed up the canned goods .. 

I moved the deck furniture in ... except these chairs ... they've got water dripping out of them ... not sure how it gets in there but it does and it's rusty ... so they need to drip for a spell

it was gorgeous out there this morning

later alligator -- dang, I really wasn't ready yet.

by choice I lead a crazy busy weird life -- and this is the place where no one finds me, know one needs a problem solved, no one complains about an issue -- I'm in my own little zone out here -- work, the elected gig, life is always on hold out here -- it's me, my book, the water, the birds and that damn squirrel that always seems to be chattering at me 

lately, I've been thinking a lot about balance -- how to balance the demands, the time, the crazies -- not sure how to change but I know I need to change.  perhaps that is the first step in the process -- (1) realization, (2) set goals, (3) action -- see I'm crazy.

and today

   this Diva drove and drove a lot .... in crazy places, in crazy traffic and on simple country roads and never got dizzy!!!!!  progress!!!!

the adventure began at Minneopa State Park -- the bison put on quite the show again -- one was so busy eating it almost head butted my truck!   i started the truck and it snorted and leaped away -- dang!  

we then headed to lunch -- which included a tour of downtown mankato -- a trek up the big hill thru the nightmare of traffic to Panera -- which was overcrowded --- so it was Frozen Yogurt -- actually it was pretty tasty -- 

then it was back thru nightmare traffic to JoAnn Fabrics .. ya I bought fabric ...  

finally on the road to the corn field to deliver an apple pie -- which was a trek down a big hill, thru construction, up a big hill and finally a country road (or two) and after all that Mom tripped and fell in the corn field -- face planted ... what the hell -- at least she had already delivered the pie!

I long armed a twin throw last night -- whipped out a back for the next one and managed to load and quilt it after our road trip -- I have one crib left to quilt and my Maker Fair stitching is complete

dates and anniversaries

big fluffy cotton candy clouds are sliding past my window today -- I really don't have time for cloud gazing but dang -- they are mesmerizing -- 

today is the anniversary of my grandparents wedding -- 9/26/1931 -- 87 years ago -- as I age these dates and memories just kind of pop in to my overloaded mind and wreak havoc -- I smacked up my first car on 9/26/78 -- it might have been 9/23/78 -- see the brains are jumbled ... wreaking havoc on the rest of my thoughts ....

I'm finally accepting fall and the season of change.  it's dark when I drive to work in the morning and lately it's dark when I finally get home -- evil, darkness is evil.  I need the light -- this morning it was 49' which really isn't that cold -- but it's not warm either --

I just need more summer or a really warm fall ... 

one can always dream -- especially while cloud watching 

the end is quickly approaching

Thursday's hail -- totally unnecessary -- then again it could have been worse -- the tornado damage to the east is awful, thankful it didn't hit us 

Saturday was cool and windy at the happy place -- I switched from iced coffee to hot coffee

really cool .. the wind was brutal --coming off the lake

yes, that was normal -- today was warmer and it was nice

for the last month I've been slowly packing up and hauling stuff home 

today was the day for a through vac job -- hauled my sewing machine and crafty supplies home (in Ruby) .. started packing up the paper products -- anything that is chewable is packed in tubs -- started sorting thru the grocery supply and purging out the fridge ...

the wave runner is off the lift on homeward bound -- Lee said it was a bit nippy out on the lake (he had wet feet and shorts) ... but it's home to be winterized -- the boat never returned after its Canadian adventure (Memorial Day) -- or returned to us -- it stayed home.

Jake likes to ride -- Jake smells like a dog.

Jake got a lake bath -- cucumber melon really isn't strong enough to mask his aroma

Next week the forecast is for cold  (50' highs) weather so the patio chairs will get cleaned up and stored and a final vac and wash down of the cupboards and counters and ya, the fridge needs to be defrosted -- and cleaned up.  It really needs to be replaced.

after the storm

renter snapped this after the storm Thursday night

counting our blessings
the worst of the stuff hit elsewhere.

M

Maker Fair

woot woot! 

 First our building assignment came last week -- the happy dance followed opening the mail -- we're in Johnson Hall -- so, the lighting is good, the roof doesn't leak and it's not near the waste water treatment plant! 

 Today I received the "map" of the building and we've got a pretty good spot! 

 So now I need a push to get excited and get stuff done! 

 The long arm will be in action tonight -- 5 to go -- then it's bind bind bind.  I decided the re-usable market totes are cute and functional but .... will make great family christmas gifts!   So act surprised if one appears in your stocking -- or replaces your stocking. 


M

Sunday shots (lots of shots)

I spent most of the day at the cabin -- fall is creeping in quite quickly ... 

I took lunch with me this morning -- sandwich and cupcake from Diamond Dust Bakery 

might as well eat happy at the happy place

so quiet on the lake today -- I never saw a pontoon or boat venture into the bay 

and I heard a roar when I got home so I went investigating -- I found Kevin and the big green machine -- marching thru the beans ... they've finished the entire farm in less than 24 hours

I wasn't fast enough to zoom in and a fun shot here ...

Dad's poor squash patch is getting decimated by those damn deer

a few more empty spools this summer -- I've used up all of Grandma's whites/beiges/pinks and yellows -- the orange spools hold 2500 yards each -- the blue cone 5000 yards -- I've sewed my way to the big city and back 

ahhh it's only going to be 90'

   started my annual sorting thru the pictures ... I took less this year .. hardly any flowers :)  dang near melted at the office yesterday ...

    my original weekend plan was lake, lake and more lake -- but 92' and humid might keep me indoors and in town for the day ... time will tell

66 miles

  i drove to a meeting in downtown Pemberton (Minnesota) ... 33 miles from the office and 33 miles back ... the furthest I've driven since 7/17/18 ... and I came back thru Mankato and three flippin' roundabouts at 6:30 ....

  and all are alive.!!! 

  no dizzy's on the road ...


  I graduated from therapy on Tuesday.

  Life is better ...

  No --


  Life is good ...


  and some of the soybeans got combined today ...

17 years ...

17 years -- so many memories ....

RC at the fire department placed the pumper truck over the highway from 2002 thru his death (he passed away 3 (?) years ago)

and 17 years since I purchased this old house -- she always needs a lot of TLC but thankfully she's mine ... I can't imagine going to work anywhere else .. I am blessed.

(((( sigh ))))

another beautiful day in paradise -- and I'm at work.  well, evidently not working very hard if I'm messing around with blog headers and such.

have a 6:00 potluck supper gig so I'm working until I have to leave .. it might have to pick up the supper gig and it's contribution to the pot luck ... but in the meantime I'm working

and actually finishing things.

things are looking up -- i walked to the bank, post office and back to the office without getting dizzy today ... really looking up  -- i have a road trip on Wednesday --- 20 miles!  one way -- country roads!

Life on Evergreen Lane

yep, their fishin' mighty close again ...

after finishing the binding on 3 quilts and attaching binding on the 4th .. the next project (besides work) was ripping out the quilting on this jewel ... it's not going well ... I had tension, needle and / or thread issues and well, this poor quilt got hurt.

It was a beautiful day on the lake -- the newest member of my team committed to working -- I am blessed and well a little scared -- but we'll make it happen.

tgif on beautiful friday

things are looking up ... I haven't called anyone a f-ing idiot today ... well, an F I  sounds better...
but the day is not over yet.

grandparents

  Today is Grandma Dranttel's birthday -- 09/01/1911 ...

   Since the dizzy's hit in July I've been feeling a touch of old age.  Vulnerability that comes with the unexplained.  Aging.  Impatient when I can't physically do something I used to do (the extra 100 lbs might have something to do with that ability -- but they've been around a couple of decades). 

   Shortly before the onset of the dizzy's I started a paper journal with the intent of getting a few of the things in life that were out of control -- in control.  Success won't happen instantly -- but the thought was to be a bit more reflective and thoughtful in words and actions. 

   So that went to hell yesterday when I referred to someone as a "f-ing idiot" -- directly -- it wasn't my best moment -- I should be a bit more regretful.  I'm not. 

    And how does this all relate to celebrating Grandma's birthday -- rambling, I'm just rambling.  I'll stop and give by birthday blessings on my way home tonight.  As a young'n working beside her in the patch was life skills -- we may not have known it at the time -- but looking back -- it was a blessing.  We received our crafting genes from her ...


Happy 108th Birthday! 

M

oh what a day

just saying -- some days are better than others ....

below... shots from this evening on the prairie

old tractor and older elder #1

chopping down the crp acreage 

the grasses were 5 and 6 foot tall

it was a jungle!

weekend progress

  proof in pictures of my weekend progress is on my phone!  truly!

  Thursday and Friday nights were dedicated to binding -- making binding, stitching it on the quilts (mainly crib quilts) and pressing it open.

  Saturday morning (a 4:30 start) .. I started stitching the bindings down .... and got 4 done before Mom was even out of bed -- as well as the first of many loads of laundry!  We were cabin bound for the day --- 2 more were finished out there .. and I pieced a table runner.  Jean whipped up funeral hotdish for supper -- it was tasty.

  Sunday -- (a 5:30 wet raining start) .. I quilted 2 table runners on the Bernina -- and set up a table in the basement with all of the finished goodness.  More than I thought.  I even loaded and long armed another crib quilt.   And we went back to the cabin (in the rain) after the rain left it was gorgeous.  I squared up the pile of quilted and unbound and selected binding fabrics -- the plan is to get them done this week ... 5 more crib sized.

  Monday -- holiday, what holiday -- I went to work in the morning -- as in the office, ya -- work.  And once I got home the sewing binge continued -- long armed one more crib quilt, quilted two more table runners on the Bernina -- and ...  finished reading my book and started a new one!

  It is back to work Tuesday -- it should be restful.


M

holiday excitement

it's pretty dang dull when the most exciting moment of the weekend is ordering bras (bra's) from Kohls ... and they are on sale .... well, buy one get one 1/2 off.   undergarments, the necessary evil of life ...

at least these are extremely comfy (and nice) ... argh, I got to get a life.