Upon A Country Knoll

Sunday's Happenings On The Knoll...

  Hi once again!   It's been a hot/humid day but a cool front is predicted to move in by tonight which will lower temps and give us a break from the heat for a few days!   I'm so relieved to know that things will cool down as I don't do well with the heat.   Most folks enjoy summer and hate to see it leave but I'm different in that I don't especially like summer as a season.   It's hot, buggy and humid which are three things that make me more irritable than usual. I'm a cooler weather gal, fall is great, winter is fine as long as we're not having major snowstorms which living in the Northeast we've had more than a few over the years.   I also like spring, but very early spring when the "peepers" are serenading each other in the ponds and before the bugs take over us the second we walk out the door!  So, bring on the coolness, Mother Nature!   We're ready for it, oh yeah!!!!!

   Speaking of coolness and other seasons, I did work a bit more on the rug hooking early this morning....sorry, it's not quite finished but it is more finished than the last time I shared a pic with ya'll so I'll show ya another update.   I'm hoping it will be done within the next few days but we'll see how those plans go! LOL Here's a peek....

Now that the trees have snow around them, I'm thinking the last two on the right near the barn need to be re-shaped!  Or are these now "Prim" trees?!!! LOL   Anyway, it's coming along and I've been giving some thought to adding a border once the picture section is completed.   Hm-mm, decisions, decisions! 

Nothing much else going on today, we did do some yard work for my Mom and whew!  I was sure happy when that was done! Atleast if it does rain tomorrow we won't have to worry about getting her yard work caught up for awhile. 

Tuffy...the kitty who is on my avatar has just jumped up on the computer desk, so if I start having lots of typo's you'll know it's because he insists on helping me!   Silly boy!!!   He's so much bigger than when that pic was taken, maybe I can get a new pic of him while he's laying here...hang on!

There he is!   We won't tell him that "Momma" jiggled a bit while snapping the photo so it's a little out of focus but there's our big boy!   He's the sweetest cat, loves to purr and his fur is as soft as a fluffy cloud!   He's just one of our four fur babies, but being the youngest he is really spoiled and gets away with a lot more trouble than his older brother or cute doggie sisters do! LOL  Oops!  He's decided to turn around and get comfy...looks like he'll be staying awhile and napping but I have things to do so will have to say so long for now.  Have a good night and thanks for visiting!  

Blessings,  Sher & Tuffy 

Help! Cabbage Soup (Polish Recipe) to Share??? Please!

   The days have been warm here and the nights cool which is a sure sign that autumn isn't too far away!  Which brings me to thinking about homemade soup! 

   We used to live next door to an elderly (87 yrs old) Polish woman who made the most delicious Cabbage Soup!  While I had asked about her recipe several times it was never shared with me.  I remember her saying it was an old family recipe that she had learned from her mother many years ago. 

  Some of the ingredients that I can remember included:  chopped cabbage, chopped tomatoes, sweet onion, barley and she would start the soup with a beef soup bone from the butcher.  Sometimes she would add whatever she had on hand from her garden, green beans, a bit of green pepper, etc. to use it up.  Aside from a bit of parsley I'm not sure what spices were added but this soup was hearty and comforting, especially with homemade bread and butter! Yummy!

  I truly hope that someone has an old world style Cabbage soup recipe to share that is a family favorite!  If so, please share....the elderly lady passed away shortly after we moved into our house 13 years ago and there's no one left in her family to inquire about the cabbage soup recipe.

  Please share your favorite Cabbage Soup Recipe, it's been so long since I've had the comfort of this wonderful homemade soup. Thanks so much for sharing!  

Blessings, Sher 

Back to Creativity....Part II

    The creative juices are really flowing as evidenced by the amount of work I've been able to accomplish within the past 24 hours.  Here's a pic of how the winter hooking project looks as of tonight as I promised to share a pic even though it's not completed.

 I'll be working on the faces tonight, especially the little girl as she needs eyes and a smile!  Not sure about the silo top, any suggestions as to if it should be changed to a different color or perhaps take out the black outlining?  I added that as it didn't seem to stand out before but of course the sky isn't done yet so maybe it will be okay with or without the outlining?

I was asked to do a tutorial but to be honest, I don't feel qualified as I consider myself a novice. Though, I am willing to explain my way of hooking which may or may not be the "correct way" for this art form.  Here's the steps that I have taken that might help others in their quest for simple hooking.  

1.) using tacks- lay a piece of burlap on a stretcher frame (or any wooden frame on hand) and tack securely around edges or use a hoop that will keep your burlap tight.  There are special frames with metal grippers on the edges sold for rug hooking which is said to keep the backing fabric (burlap or weavers cloth) tight until it is removed from the frame.

2.)  rug hooking is mostly done with 100% wool fabric strips and using a hook that is similar to a crochet hook the wool strips are pulled through the burlap to form loops.  I use yarn instead of wool strips due to the simple fact that I have plenty of yarn in my supply stash.  A kind woman was giving away a huge trash bag full of yarn bits in all different colors at her garage sale and I was lucky enough to get the entire bag even though I wasn't sure how I would use it at the time! LOL   (Below is a pic of my rug hooking tool.  It has a foam cover on the handle for added comfort in using.  The tool end has the small hook similiar to a crochet hook as mentioned earlier.  For the record, I bought it from:  www.spinblessing.com  .  Rug hooks can be found at other places but this just happened to be where I got mine from and the service was great!)

3.)  since the yarns are rolled into balls of all sizes I have no labels to know if it is wool or acrylic yarn.  I'm sure that those who are more knowledgeable about rug hooking would use 100% wool but it doesn't matter to me since I'm just a simple country girl and I use whatever is on hand in most of my projects.

4.) I hold the strand of yarn on the backside and with my hand on top of the burlap I use the hook to pull the strand up through the weave of the burlap.  Some yarns are thin and I've had to double them up when hooking or the open weave of the burlap is too large to hold the loops in place. 

5.) Carefully remove from stretcher frame or hoop.  Now, and this is just my own way of doing things but when the hooking is completed, I then use glue on the backside of the project to help in holding the yarns in place.  Since the loops can be pulled out rather easily it's best to just drizzle the glue all over the back and using an old craft paint brush, carefully spread the glue to cover all areas.  Turning edges to backside and let the glue hold them in place.  Sometimes it's helpful to thin the glue a bit with water to make it easier to spread.  I'm not sure if a spray adhesive would work or not but it sure would be a lot easier if it does!  Going to try that on the back of this hooking when completed. 

6.) Please note that when using wool strips the edges are turned towards backside of project and whipped stitched or tacked down with needle and thread to form a neat finished edge.  Perhaps if using a smaller weave of backing fabric this edge finishing would work when using yarn but since I've only hooked on burlap I find the weave too large/loose and worry about the yarn pulling out while I'm stitching the edges by hand. Again, please remember this is my own way of hooking and may not be the actual correct way since I've never had the luxury of taking a class or having instructional books, gripper frame, wool cutter or such supplies.  My way is most likely hit and miss compared to others but it works for me! 

I don't use my rug hooking projects on the floor, they are mostly hung on walls with or without a frame.  If I used wool strips to make the hooking then I wouldn't worry about using it as a chair pad or something but with yarn and how easily it can pull out I treat my hookings with extra care. 

Please leave a comment and share your rug hooking projects, I'd love to hear from others interested in this creative outlet, especially those who use yarn for their hooking!  Thanks!

Blessings,  Sher

Back To Creativity!

   Yep, it's true!  I didn't cast aside my crafting endeavors for long this time when in a slump, thankfully!  The other day I decided to be creative and draw out a picture on burlap to make into a rug hooking. 

  This project is being done in yarns instead of wool strips and coming along fairly well considering I'm not an artist by any means and my drawings reflect that truth!  LOL 

  I'll share a better pic with ya'll when I have the hooking done a bit further along but until then here's a sneak peek of what the drawing looked like when I started....

   Oops!  I don't know why it looks distorted and missing sections but as long as it doesn't look like that on the burlap while I'm hooking the design then it's no big deal!   

I'm so happy to have found my creative nitch once again and hope that this slump I've been in is finally coming to a close with nothing but much brighter days ahead! Thanks for visiting!  

  Blessings,   Sher

"tis better to forgive and forget than to remember and resent"....

  .....Or so I thought!!!!  I'm sorry,  I don't know who authored that quote but it is one that I firmly believe in.  Hard feelings only lead to further strife between people as well as adding stress to an already stressful life.   Why is it that some folks would rather hold on to a grudge for even the simpliest and often the most ridiculous reason and when faced with the chance to talk it out and "let it go" they refuse and hold onto their grudge??? 

    I'm dense, really I truly am when it comes to relationships with folks outside my family.  I try to be a good friend, a good neighbor, a good person and do for others what I would want others to do for me and yet this seems to get me in the biggest trouble!  I end up being used over and over and there is no forgiving if I can't do something for someone the moment they have asked!  Okay, so I'm sorry for having had other things on my mind, I'm sorry for carrying the responsibility of helping family members first and then my own work as well.  Oops!  I didn't realize that helping others in the form of neighbors/friends...whatever...... was to come above all else!  For shame on me!!!!!

     Why is it that some folks don't feel obligated to return a helping hand and yet if I can't then it's held against me for months, years or sometimes forever?  That really upsets me because I don't understand where that type of thinking is coming from but it seems to be the normal response that comes from letting others into your heart.  I'm hurt beyond words to know that I am no longer "welcome" into your home when I've done nothing but try to always take the upper road and do whatever is asked of me and even when not asked, I volunteered to help many times and neither expected or accepted anything more than a simple word of "thanks" for doing so.  I gave freely of myself and my time as well as talents and then because I couldn't do one thing when asked to do so I'm being chastised and put out of your lives???  It's not fair.....there is nothing that can be said to make it fair when one receives this type of treatment.  

      Is it any wonder that these days some folks are heard to say that they'd much rather be around their animals than around other people?  I think that statement makes perfect sense...truly, this has become a sad society.....troubling times and troubled hearts.....how will we ever know peace if we can't even get along as neighbors or friends?  

    Thanks for letting me vent, I had to get some of this nonsense off my chest and I'm hoping by writing it out this has helped. 

"Blessed are the peacemakers"........the Bible states and we Believe, though it is very difficult to keep peace amongst each other in an often unfriendly and hurtful world. 

Blessings, Sher 

Rainy Day Thoughts......

   We woke to blue sky and sunshine but by noon the clouds had moved in and it was raining softly outside our windows.  I was happy that Hubby was able to get the front brakes done before the clouds opened up and now there is one less worry upon our minds.  I spent the morning do some household tasks that I've put off for a few days and that too feels good to know that they are done and out of the way. 

    Yesterday, I decided that the flower bed was really getting crowded, to the point that it started to look like a mess of a jungle.  With shovel and pitchfork, we got to work and moved the perenials to the back of our property just inside the wire fencing which helps to keep our fur babies (Missy & Shelby) on their own property and not wandering all over the neighbors lands.  After dividing and moving the plantings I stepped back a moment to reflect on what we had done.  It was then I realized the wonderful acre that we have for a backyard because the tall flowers were no longer blocking the view from our outside swing which is where we often sit to enjoy nice weather and share conversations about our goals and dreams of someday.  After sitting a spell and enjoying the openness of not having the flower bed blocking the views I decided to go ahead and move all the flowers to the back section.  They can still be enjoyed from the swing but alas, we don't have to watch the bugs that often swarm by this time each summer.  Hubby helped me settle the dirt again and planted grass seed, it will be so much easier to mow that area and less work for me in not having to use the gas weeder to carefully trim around the flower bed.  It's funny how we often forget how something really looked until it's brought back out into the open and that's how it was when we sat on the swing to relax after getting the perenials settled into the ground and the flower bed area reseeded with grass.  It all looks so open and yet calming, there's no wall of flowers or stems once the flowers have faded to block our views and we left a smaller area with plantings so the hummingbirds can still enjoy their feeder while we enjoy their visits.

      I have drawn out a new pattern to try and rug hook with yarns.  Unsure of how it will turn out I'm a bit weary of starting but I guess I won't know until I begin and see if the pattern isn't too busy for hooking.  It's a country scene of course!  Everyone knows I love anything to do with "country" life.  This scene is a winter scene and once I get it started and if it's coming along okay then I'll maybe share a picture.   

     Well, I best get moving to the kitchen and prepare supper for hubby and I.  The furkids have all been fed and are content with full tummys, so I won't be tripping over them while working in the kitchen.  Hm-mm....a rainy day sounds like it's perfect for a spaghetti and meatball supper!  It's been a quiet peaceful day and I'm feeling thankful for all our many blessings including the rain showers.  Mother Nature did us a favor by watering the newly moved plantings and the grass seed which saved us the bother of having to carry the watering cans back and forth from the rain barrel to the back section.  Yay, for Mother Nature!  It's been a good day!  

Taking A Break.....

  Life continues to be stressful for me and while I was hoping things were getting back to some type of "normal" status, I can see now that they aren't.  Mom is still not feeling well and we don't know what the cause is after seeing several doctors and going through various tests and procedures.  It's a worry that lays heavy on my mind.  Our economic status is much the same...struggling to make ends meet and with winter fast approaching the burdens are increasing to find ways to prepare for the cold weather such as filling the oil tank, car repairs and never ending tax bill burdens. 

   After holding a garage sale this weekend I've decided that crafting has become too expensive an hobby to continue.  The types of crafts I make do not sell well in this area of the northeast even when priced for only a few cents!  Our one decent priced craft store has announced it is going out of business which leaves only the higher priced craft store and even with sales it's too much for our budget.  With Wal-Mart closing their craft departments it's harder to find inexpensive fabrics and notions as well as other crafts and I guess perhaps crafting is not as popular as it once was years ago?  I used to say it was my "therapy" and it was for many, many years but as I get older and it gets harder to read the charts, thread the needles and so on I am finding it less relaxing and fulfilling. 

   So, I've decided to step away from the craft world.  I'm planning on keeping my rug hooking and knitting supplies but all else will be cleared out for good.  Even the sewing machine will be put away and used only for mending jobs.  I never thought the day would come when I would want to part with my craft hobbies but it has and I don't feel bad for letting go.  I've gifted family and friends with items made from my heart and hands, I decorated our home and neighbors homes as well.  Everyone has more than enough of my handmade things as do we, after all the years of crafting my heart out.  It's time to move on, start a new chapter in life though I'm not sure what that will be.  Perhaps, I'll turn my attentions back to playing the keyboard, learning music and playing the hymns that bring me joy.  With hubby, four fur babies and a house to care for, not to mention helping family, my days will still have activity. 

     I'll be cleaning out my craft closet and sorting through years of accumalation, so if I'm gone for a few days it's no big deal.  

   I wish a happy week ahead for all and will return when life and my closet are both a bit less cluttered and overwhelming!  Take care. 

Blessings,  Sher    

Finally! Getting back to usual.....

  I've been "out of sorts" for awhile now and was happy to wake up this morning and finally feel as if I'm coming around to being my ol' self again!  Yay!!!  I went over to Sis's house last night and we started setting things up for our garage sale.  It was late when we were done and I didn't want to run home to get my camera but will take a pic to share later.  One side of the garage has tables laden with "normal" everyday things found in stores (Sis's side) and the other side (my side) looks like a country prim sale!  Prim crafts everywhere along with knicknacks, collectibles and a few antiques added for fun!  I hope the sale goes well for both of us and I also hope the weather holds and it's not pouring rain on Saturday! 

  This morning I got up early and started the laundry, yep, it was time to empty the hamper and get things washed again.  Why does it seem like there's never enough clothes to last for more than a few days, proberly because hubby and I have to change clothes often because of the projects we get into around the knoll.  Yesterday, we worked on making a special heart shaped memorial stone for my Sister and her hubby to mark the "boys" gravesite.  I still miss those sweet fur babies a whole lot but creating the heart stone has helped me to take another step towards healing. 

  Today, I'm dragging out the rug hooking supplies and starting on a new project, not sure exactly what the pattern will be but I'm leaning towards a scenery pic., depends on how well I can draw it on the backing fabric from the image in my head!  Wish me luck, I'll need it!    Has anyone done a rug hooking project using homespun fabrics either along with or in place of wool strips or yarn?  I just got that idea while browsing around the web, wish I had a pic to see how the final outcome is when working with fabrics but any sites that had mere mention of using homespun didn't have any pics, darn!  Oh well, I proberly won't be trying that this time around anyway, but it's another idea for when the box of yarns I was lucky enough to get for free at a yard sale last summer are all used up!  What fun it is to start a new creative project! 

  Well, I best get the laundry out to dry, we've got sunshine this morning but there's a threat of a thunderstorm and showers this afternoon.  Was supposed to come the night before yesterday and yesterday morning but the weather people called that forecast all wrong!  Sure hope the rains don't move in for the weekend, it seems we've had rain every weekend for the past 5 so I think that's more than enough! Ha! 

  Have a happy and productive day!  Blessings, Sher

With Understanding Comes Healing....

  I've been in turmoil the past few days due to the heavy burden of facing sorrows which I knew were soon to be.  Those who know me also know that I am a huge animal lover, dogs have been my love for most of my life as well as cats and I've since added horses, rabbits and birds to the list.  Aside from snakes, skunks, bats, rats and creepy crawling things I find real joy in caring for animals.  When I knew my sisters dogs were getting old and begining to show signs of sickness my heart began to ache for what would one day lie ahead.  Sadly, the day came and she had made the decision to end their earthly lives for the peace, joy and well being awaiting them in Heaven.  I took this decision very hard, to the point where I tried to save their lives for a bit longer even though I knew it was all in vain.  Time had cruely snuck up on the two dogs, brothers from birth and inseperable for their entire 13-1/2 years together.  Always together, they were bonded from their births and now in their deaths.  

   Sister and I didn't see eye to eye on the decision nor was I ready to let them go.  Being that hubby and I were their caretakers when needed we had bonded with both boys and found them to be the sweetest dogs.  There wasn't a mean bone in their bodies and they greeted us with wagging tails and sloppy kisses each and every time we were there.  Last winter, we brought them home with us during a major snowstorm since their human parents were out of town on business and they were very good about being in strange surroundings.  Our kitchen was taken over for their area and to give them some space where our own furbabies wouldn't be bothering them.  I'm now thankful to have had that adventure with Bo and Tyson (the boys), it will forever be a special memory in my heart. 

  Tonight, Sister called me and told me the boys were gone, they had peacefully left their arthritic limbs, ailments of old age and whatever diseases were in the lumps and bumps protruding from their bodies for the peace of Heaven.  I went with Sister to the grave, lovingly surrounded with a rock border at the edge of the woods behind their house.  She had planted several hosta plants and flowers and invited me to sow wildflower seeds upon their grave.  Instead, I brought my own forget-me-not- seeds from home and together we sowed the seeds in tears.  Once done, we each silently said our good-byes and walked away together.  After having a upsetting conversation the other day this was the first time the two of us had spoken or seen each other since.  In our sorrow we were able to reach out to one another and find comfort, understanding and a glimpse of healing. 

  For those who may not understand the heart of an animal lover, losing a furbaby is akin to losing a child.  Especially for those of us like me and my Sister who were not able to have families of our own and so our fur babies were our children.  She always says that I baby my furry's a whole lot more than she which is true in some instances but the sentiments are the same for love is love.  Regardless of the degree of expression. 

  Tonight, my heart is heavy with the loss of my beloved fur nephews "Bo" and "Tyson".  I'm thankful for having had happy times shared with them, thankful that I was able to love them and care for them while they were here and enjoy their sweet personalities.  Good- bye sweet babies, you both will be forever missed but will live on in our memories and hearts.  Rest in peace good and loyal friends. XO

A Bit Under The Weather.....

    I knew better but I couldn't help myself....okay...well I could if I really wanted too but I guess I didn't want to bad enough.  I'm talking about diabetes and eating things I know I shouldn't have and the repercussions of such actions. 
    Yesterday's fun movie time was when I decided to really treat myself and loaded up on sugar.  Knowing better because of how it made me feel in the past I still couldn't resist the package of red licorice and icy cold soda sign.  Here I had told myself, stick strictly with the popcorn, get a bottle of water and settle down to enjoy the movie with Sis.  I had a plan, it was all worked out in my head and yet when the time came and I saw that yummy red delight staring back at me I caved and sensibility flew out the door.  I gorged myself on the entire package (served 4!) after Sis informed me she didn't eat red licorice so it was all mine......I think my eyes glazed over in sheer delight having always been a red licorice lover from way back!  I had managed to stop eating the stuff along with drinking regular soda several years ago, even before the diabetes diagnosis because of how the sugar high made me feel jittery and anxious.  But why is it when out in a different atmosphere that often is the time when best laid plans go astray? 
     I came home loaded with sugar pulsing through my veins and while I felt a bit "off", it wasn't anything I couldn't handle or so I thought.  I set about doing a bit of housework, the things I had wanted to get finished before going to the movie outing but didn't have time.  All was going fine until suddenly there it was, the break out of dripping sweat, the rapid heartbeat, dizziness, shaky trembling hands, weak knees, my face lost it's color and I knew something wasn't quite right.  Quickly, I took my blood sugar reading...it was a low 55...what?  That can't be a correct reading, I had all that sugary stuff along with a pasta salad, there's no way it could be that low....if anythnig it would be high, wouldn't it?  This makes no sense......okay, relax, I told myself and try again....next reading 57...hm-mmm......what is going on?  I take medication each morning for the diabetes and knew that never before have I had this type of reading.....which then added a bit of fear into the mix which meant the release of cortisone into my bloodstream and now rapid anxiety feelings. 
   Okay, now what to do?  I tell hubby who is engrossed in a TV show, he looks at me and asks what was the reading...I tell him the numbers and he replies..."well that's a good reading!".  Um-mm, okay but it's not!  I've never had a reading that low, I don't feel well and something is terribly amiss.  Being the man that he is and self absorbed he just casts aside my complaints and symptoms as nothing more than "worry"...meaning it's all in my head, mentality.  Okay, let me call Sis, she's diabetic and might know what is going on...so I call her and she says she's coming right over with her meter and her blood pressure kit, I went outside and sat on the porch thankful for the slight breeze in the air.  Within minutes Sis was there, reassuring me that most likely it was an overload of sugar that caused my troubles and maybe we should make a trip to the ER but I refuse and say I just need to relax a bit and wait it out.  After about a half hour, we did another reading...it had come up to 83 and I was beginning to feel a bit better as the trembling eased and my heart rate slowed.  We don't know what it was for sure....it looked and sounded like a panic attack but knowing what all I had shoved in my mouth a short time before we couldn't dismiss it entirely as being such or something related to the diabetes?   
   It's now in the wee hours of the morning....I've been to bed and back up again.  While I feel much better than I did when that episode happened I still feel somewhat shaken inside.  Have I learned my lesson about eating and drinking junk food?  I believe so!  Why do we have to put ourselves through misery before we learn these valuable lessons?  Maybe to reinforce it into our memory in the hopes of not ever repeating the nasty deed that brought it on to begin with.  I don't know, but it's time to climb back into bed, relax with a few of my favorite Scripture verses running through my mind, say some prayers for family, friends and those in need and hopefully drift off to a peaceful slumber.  Good-night...er-rr....maybe it should be good morning, either way enjoy the day ahead!

Blessings, Sher

Halloween Punch Needle Project......

   Good Morning!  We started our day with a thunderstorm early this morning and while the sun did break through the clouds on and off throughout the day we did get another quick passing storm late this afternoon.  I guess the weather will stay a bit unsettled for the next few days if the weather forecasts are right!   

  I have finished the punch needle project I was making for my dear friend Sher of Old Crow Farm.  Here's the finished project all ready to be sent to Old Crow Farm!  Now, it was going to be a surprise but heck, I'm no good at keeping secrets!  It's been dyed with walnut crystals and finished well in advance of the season, which is a real record for me!  Haha!  

So, an early "Happy Hollow's Eve Wish" to Sher's two little ones, sure hope they like bats!

  My Sis treated me to the movies today and we saw the movie "Mama Mia", and I really enjoyed it!  Sis has seen it before but she said she also enjoyed watching it one more time and picked up on things that she hadn't noticed the first time around.  We had a nice afternoon and shared a bag of popcorn to munch while watching the flick.  Times like these are too few and far between but when they do happen it makes for a fun afternoon for us both! 

  All in all, it's been a good day, I managed to get caught up on some housework and now I'm ready to settle in and relax awhile before heading off to bed.  Hope your day was a happy one too!

Blessings, Sher

It's Official! But No New News!

  Finally, Albany is admitting that NYS is indeed in a recession.  Actually, those of us who struggle with making ends meet knew that the recession started back a couple of years ago in the area we live in but now that the Governor has come out and stated what we already know it's supposedly official news!  Woo-hoo...maybe now the news reporters will have something to talk about as they pretend to offer sage advice and tips from local experts who are familiar with economics.  Of course, most of us are smart enough to know that the so called "experts" have no clue of making ends meet on a fixed income? Unlike us, they do not live on a "bread and butter income" like the rest of the folks who have fallen on discouraging times.  We've heard it all before...when gas first started to jump in price we heard about parking gas guzzling vehicles and opting for a smaller car....hm-mmm, that's a great idea but not if one is having a hard time raising the extra funds to meet the  financial requirement to trade in the gas guzzler and buy a smaller vehicle even if they could be found now that they are supposedly flying off dealers lots!  

   When the price of bread jumped along with every other food staple commonly used in our cupboards we knew troubled times were upon us and now, suddenly, NYS is just now getting the hint that it's time to pull in the reins and tighten the fiscal belt?  Of course, that's easy for Albany because the cuts that cross the board will hurt the people who are already struggling, no doubt. Taxes, already astonishingly high will likely increase another increment in the reasoning that the county goverment needs more funds as does the schools.  But why do we pay school administrators close too and sometimes in excess of $100,000.00 yearly incomes, not to mention their staff members and yet our children are using books that are falling apart and parents are having to purchase things that the schools used to supply on opening day? It's things like this that rattle my senses, the stupidity of those who are in charge and claim to have taxpayers best interest at heart when all they really seem to care about are their own salaries and perks.
    I've lived here in this state nearly 50 years and it's always been the same...I can remember hearing my Dad complain about the high costs of utilities and taxes and the constant increases each year. So, why do we still live here you might ask?  Well, one reason and one reason only, family...our family is small now and having one another is very important to each of us.  I love to dream about moving away to some place where we could live well on a small income but in reality I don't ever see that happening.  Family ties are strong, loved ones gone on ahead are buried here and leaving would require a whole lot of courage and the strength to overcome the heartache of severing family bonds with distance.  We stay because we are needed here, caring for one another and enrich each others lives.  If only the "powers that be" would realize that middle class folks can't survive for much longer in these hard times and those who fall lower on the economic scale are stumbling between hardship and hopelessness.  We didn't just fall into a recession regardless of the news reports, it's been on going but the problem is that the so called "experts" who have the power to change things for everyone's betterment don't live on meager incomes, they have no clue about life on a small country knoll and trying to make ends meet long enough to finish out the month with food on our table.  Of course, knowing how to live on very little is a skill that we learned long ago and for that we are truly blessed. 

   Thanks for letting me vent just a bit here, we truly are thankful for our many blessings but sometimes life's burdens become a little too heavy to carry around so we drop some of them with a good vent and end with the hope of a better tomorrow! God Bless.

Bits & Pieces To Share......

Good Morning!  It's still the wee hours of the morning here on the knoll but since our beagle - Miss Shelby Ann felt the need to get me up well before dawn so, here I am, not exactly bright eyed and bushy tailed so to speak, but atleast awake enough to gather some thoughts and share with you all!  Let me just say, Shelby has gone back to her little bed, is covered under her blankie and will soon be snoring away....lucky girl!  She doesn't have a problem with going back to sleep like her Momma does once woken up!

Anyway, here I am.....yesterday was quite a day for us, hubby worked on getting our old lawn tractor running while we wait for the newer one to be repaired and I'm happy to say that he did manage to mow the rest of the knoll and so we're good for another week, hopefully, it depends on the amount of rain for how fast the grass grows here.  Since we've had a storm most every day and/or night for the past week, I'm sure we'll be out "hacking" (the old mower doesn't mow leval, regardless of the many adjustments made to it) the yard again before the repair is finished on the newer tractor....darn!  Oh well, good thing we don't live in the city, lawns there are kept almost perfect but here in the country...well most anything goes as long as the codes man doesn't happen by that is and the grass isn't two feet tall when he does! Yikes!

So, I'd like to share a couple of items that were given to me from a friend of the family.  It's so nice when others know that you collect old things and are happy to add to your collection! The kindness of others sure brings a smile to my heart.......here's a pic of the goodies I "inherited", aren't they great!

I love the Ball canning jar and wire holder, was thinking maybe of asking Hubby to drill a hole in the jar so I can put a small electric candle inside and use it as a sort of lantern type light.  I think it would look cute hanging from an iron hook in our kitchen if it were turned into a lamp or maybe even without the added candle and just filled with some fixins.  The old skillet measures approx. 6" across, I'm guessing (haven't brought out my ruler just yet), and I was thinking of maybe doing a punch needle design for the center or painting something having to do with country kitchens on it's bottom surface.  Hm-m....any ideas you'd like to share as to what design could be used for the skillet??? 

Also, I managed to do a bit of punch needle while riding with Hubby to the parts store....it's nothing that wonderful but I'm hoping it will be worthy of sharing with a dear friend when it's completed.  She mentioned wanting Halloween crafts to decorate the family's "bus stop" so thought this would give her little ones a smile!  I hope I can get it done well before October 31st!  It still has some wording to be punched in and of course the night sky for the background, then it will be dyed to give it an old primitive look.  Please keep your fingers crossed that it will turn out just fine!  Oops!  Just noticed, I forgot to give the kitty some whiskers!  I'll have to remember to add those as well as the wart that is supposed to be on the witch's nose! Ha Ha!!!

 I drew the design free hand, so hopefully it's not too awful looking!   Ah well, it's fun to create even when you're not sure what it will turn out like!

Okay, I'm off to rest a while more before the birds begin their morning praise!  Not sure if I'll get any sleep but it's perfect timing for some of my own early morning prayers while the house is still quiet in slumber.   Thanks for visiting and have a happy and creative day! 

Blessings, Sher 

Questions for those who enjoy wearing dresses, etc......

  At the risk of sounding stupid, I would like to ask those who are finding it more comfortable to wear dresses, skirts or jumpers after years of wearing pants just a few questions....

 1.)   Do you think it matters what size you are?   Or, do you feel that size is of no difference when it comes to dresses, etc.?

  2.)  Have other people commented on your now wearing dresses, etc., and if so were the comments kind or did they make you question your decision?

  3.)  Do you prefer to wear stockings, socks or no leg coverings in the summer while wearing dresses?

  4.)  What type of shoes do you wear with most of your dresses, etc.?

   5.)  Do you think you'll ever go back to wearing pants on a regular basis?

   6.)  Are there other reasons besides Christian beliefs that led you to the decision to wear dresses?

    I realize that perhaps some of these questions may be too personal but really I'm just looking for general answers.  Now, you may wonder why I have asked about these things....the answer is because I have worn nothing but jeans and t-shirts nearly every day for the past 35 years or so.  Before that, I wore jumpers, skirts and an occasional dress to school.  Once married and in the work field (where I didn't have to dress up), I wore jeans, slacks and nice tops but hardly ever a dress or skirt. 

    Lately, I've been feeling dumpy, frumpy and uncomfortable with how I look when around others and when alone.  I noticed at the grocery store that a large sized woman had on a jumper and blouse and she looked very neat, cool (temperature wise), and collected.  I had on my usual baggy work jeans, plain colored t-shirt, was hot, a bit dirty from yard work and felt very insecure in that I was hoping all the way through the store that I wouldn't run into anyone I knew! 

    I have always liked jumpers and was thinking of sewing a couple to give a try and see if they change the way I feel about myself.  I have no idea what type of shoes would go with a cotton jumper or blouse for that matter but I'm willing to learn a little bit about style. I'll never be a "clothes-horse" so to speak, but I would like to look and feel a bit better about myself and my appearance. 

   Thanks in advance for your comments!

Blessings,  Sher

Okay...now why did I get out of bed this morning?

***Update***  I see by the comments that this post has worried some dear folks and I just wanted to clarify that it was written while extremely frustrated and venting for my own good.  In no way did I mean for it to be a whining post and I'm sorry if that's how it read. 

Please know that I appreciate your prayers but there are so many folks who are worse off who really could use them, so much more than us.  Also, we do know that we have alot to be thankful for!  Everyone has bad days, this just happened to be mine but as I said, I wrote to get it off my chest, so to speak, and did feel better after venting but it was not in any way meant to be a pity party or to cause others to worry.  We will be fine, always have been and always will be due to faith, determination, cutting corners and the love of a close knit family.  Truly the Lord has indeed blessed us many times over!  ~ Sher ~

  When I should have done myself a favor and just covered my head back up and stayed in bed!!!! Gr-rrr!!!! It's been one of those days, you know the type, the kind that have nothing but bad luck, stresses and total frustration! 

  It all started off with sunshine and blue skies early this morning, seemed well enough and I was thankful for that since we've had nothing but gloomy, overcast skies here on the knoll for over a week now.  Seeing the weather looks cheerful gave me hope that today would be a very good day indeed but of course, it was anything but that which figures because whenever you put your trust in something as fickle as the weather it's bound to turn upside down on ya! 

  As the day has wore on it's worn me down to a frazzle and I'm sure my blood pressure is through the roof because I feel defeated, depressed and down right dis-heartened.  Why is it that when you're trying to save every penny possible to pay a school tax bill due in September that things decide to break down, fall apart and go to pieces?  Is it bad karma or what???  I don't know but goodness we've had enough of it!  I don't know how the school tax bill will be paid, nor the oil tank filled for winter heating (it's close to empty), the carpets cleaned (dog puked  on them today and we just rented the machine to steam clean them ourselves a few weeks ago!), groceries bought, lawn tractor fixed so we can finish mowing our country acre and hold our heads above water?!!!  The car died in the driveway today, it started once and that was the end of it...$120.00 later it's running again thanks to a spanking new battery but even that can't fix the broken AC nor the warped brake rotors, balding back tires or finish off the loan on this piece of junk! Ugh!!!!  It's a Ford Taurus and that right there should have told me to stay away since we had a used Taurus years back and that was nothing but troubles it seemed....guess we forgot about that when we decided to buy this Taurus two years ago...

  I tell myself...."Sher, just give it to the Lord, He will take care of everything one way or another...it always works out doesn't it...of course it does!  Be thankful for food on your table tonight, a roof over your head, a soft bed to rest on and the fact that you're still breathing without the need for medical intervention"......okay, when I look at it like that it doesn't seem all that bad......but then, I see huge RV's driving past our little house, neighbors buying pools, ATV's, building additions on to their homes, paving driveways and going on shopping sprees and I can't help but think, c'mon Lord...why not me???  Why not me after 28 years of marriage and still going....why not me when I'm there to help anyone and everyone.....why not me after all these years of strife, medical issues and struggle????   I believe.....I pray.....I try to do what is right and good for others......I'd give you my last slice of bread if you were hungry.....my coat in winter......whatever to be a friend......I've given tons of things away for free at the roadside, even while neighbors were holding garage sales and making a good profit I gave perfectly good stuff away marked free for the taking because I knew there would be some people who maybe were in need and deserved a bright spot in their day.  Giving to others did bring joy to my heart, the universe didn't reward me but I have a good feeling knowing that those items are treasured in someone else's home and maybe made a difference to them.   

    Anyway.....I guess I'm just feeling overwhelmed, it's been a trying  day and lately I'm easily upset over economic woes and life in general.  By the Grace of God it will soon pass and all will work out for the good.  But Lord.....I sure could use a little winfall.......I know...I know....you're not supposed to pray for money or financal gain but really now...aren't we supposed to ask the Lord to meet our needs.... and right now I'm feeling really needy indeed!  God Bless!  

  Blessings,  Sher

Another Remember When.....

  Good Morning!  It's a beautiful sunny and blue sky day here on the knoll! Before I get sidetracked here's the answer to yesterday's trivia question about The Waltons.  First, thank you for your comments, I enjoyed reading them and knowing that others have a fond place in their hearts for this TV show as I do!  Now, on to the answer...yes, "Citygal" was correct when she said the answer was from Grandma's inheritance!  Good memory Citygal!!!  

   Grandma's quote "now, that's something that money can't buy" was from the show where Grandma had been left an inheritance from a childhood friend named Fern.  The title of the show was "The Bequest" and John-Boy had just finished telling her Grandmother how much he loved her and the quote was her reply! 

   While thinking about days gone by, I remembered this e-mail I had received a few years ago and would like to share it here for others who are feeling sentimental and enjoying reminiscing about a simpler time in life, along with me!

This was MY life!!!  Do You Remember When...?

All the girls had ugly gym uniforms?

It took five minutes for the TV warm up?

Nearly everyone's Mom was at home when the kids got home from school?

Nobody owned a purebred dog?

When a quarter was a decent allowance?

You'd reach into a muddy gutter for a penny?

All your male teachers wore neckties and female teachers had their hair done every day and wore high heels?

You got your windshield cleaned, oil checked and gas pumped, without asking, all for free, every time!  And you didn't pay for air? And, you got trading stamps to boot?

Laundry detergent had free glasses, dishes or towels hidden inside the box?

It was considered a great priviledge to be taken out to dinner at a real restaurant with your parents?

They threated to keep kids back a grade if they failed...and they did?

When a '57 Chevy was everyone's dream car...to cruise, peel out, lay rubber or watch submarine races, and people went steady?

No one ever asked where the car keys were because they were always in the car, in the ignition, and the doors were never locked?

Lying on your back in the grass with your friends and saying things like, "That cloud looks like a....? 

and playing baseball with no adults to help kids with the rules of the game?

Stuff from the store came without safety caps and hermetic seals because no one had yet tried to poison a perfect stranger?

And with all our progress, don't you just wish, just once, you could slip back in time and savor the slower pace and share it with the children of today?

When being sent to the principal's office was nothing compared to the fate that awaited the student at home? Basically we were in fear for our lives, but it wasn't because of drive-by shootings, drugs, gangs, etc.  Our parents and grandparents were a much bigger threat! But we survived because their love was greater than the threat.

Send this on to someone who can still remember Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Laurel and Hardy, Howdy Dowdy and the Peanut Gallery, the Lone Ranger, The Shadow Knows, Nellie Bell, Roy and Dale, Trigger and Buttermilk.

As well as summers filled with bike rides, baseball games, Hula Hoops, bowling and visits to the pool, eating Kool-Aid powder with sugar,

Didn't that feel good, just to go back and say, "Yeah, I remember that"?

I am sharing this with you today because it ended with a double dog dare to pass it on! 

Remember, the perfect age is somewhere between old enough to know better and too young to care!

Have A Happy Day!

(Author Unknown)

Blessings,  Sher

For Fellow Walton Fans!

  I was visiting over at "A Country Living In The City" and read Sandy's post about her being a Walton's fan and she also shared her gorgeous grapes that look so yummy!    Anyway, I noticed that others had left comments about being fans of "The Walton's" and I just had to join in! 

  I have loved The Walton's since the pilot first aired and still to this day love and watch the shows in syndication each weekday!  I used to have a scrapbook that I put together when the show first came out.  It was the butt of many jokes with my brother and sisters but I didn't care, it was special to me and brought the Waltons into my life even when it wasn't Thursday night which is the night they aired each week!  Sadly, the scrapbook has long since been lost over the years and the selling of our homestead but I still have a few of the VHS tapes of the show and enjoy them whenever time allows.  I'd be amiss if I failed to say that I'm also a fan of "Little House" and love those stories as well but as I posted on Sandy's blog,"my fondness for indoor plumbing, electricity and maybe even a ride in an "old flibber" truck far outweights the prairie".    Of course, that's just my own personal opinion!  Both shows have what many of today's TV shows are lacking and that's plain old common sense, the will to continue to strive even during difficult times and the oneness of family, friends and community.  They hold the values that this country was based upon and now sadly are often long forgotten in this hurried fast pace life we live.  I love the fact that both shows are full of morals and decency that remain timeless and endure through generations.  There's something so enjoyable about watching a show that when it's over it leaves you with a good feeling inside and renewed faith in the human spirit.  I've been called "old fashioned" and that's fine with me because in living a simple life I find my greatest joy!   And to quote Grandma Walton "now, that's something that money can't buy!"  

Bit of trivia, just for fun...as long as I'm quoting (as best as I can remember) Grandma Walton...does anyone remember which episode she said that quote in and what she was referring to?  I'll reveal the answer in tomorrow's post if there's no correct responses!  Hee hee...

Have a blessed day! 

Sher

A Few More Rounds Makes For A Braided Candle Mat....

  I've added a few more rounds to the little braided mat I was working on before.  It's now perfect size for a candle mat and I'm using it to add some color to under our oil lamp. 

  Not real sure if it will stay this size or if I'll once again add to it!  I love ripping the fabric strips (about 2" wide), putting them through the bias maker (which is a bit quicker than folding the sides in towards the middle but either way will work!) and pressing with a steam iron.  Once the sides are folded in and pressed, I then folded the strip once more to make a narrower but thicker strip to braid with.  Tacked 3 different fabric strips together and began to braid which for me is the fun part!  When I ran out of fabric strips I just tacked on others and continued to braid , then using quilting thread the braid was hand stitched as it was being coiled.  I'm sure if this was going to be an actual floor rug it would be better to use very sturdy thread such as carpet or upholestry thread but since it's not likely to be used for that reason (no matter what the actual size ends up to be) I hope the quilting thread will hold well enough!

   My paternal Step-Grandmother used to live near a wool mill and she would often go to the mill to purchase remnants which were very inexpensive back then.  Once home, she would cut, fold and braid the wool strips to make rugs!  They were mostly gray with a bit of colorful wool braided in for contrast.  I was amazed by her workmanship and wish that those rugs were still in our family today since Grandma Polly passed away many years ago.  She, like my maternal Grandmother was very creative and used to collect yarn remnants to crochet poncho's for us girls and very colorful afghans for the back of our couch !  Perhaps, I'll one day attempt to make a wool braided rug in honor of Grandma Polly, I'm sure it took her many hours of work but the end result was so worth it!  It gives me such joy to create something that brings back fond memories of loved ones and reminds me of those simple carefree childhood days!   Thanks for visiting, have a happy and creative day!  

Blessings,  Sher 

Ever Happen To You?

 While out and about today, we stopped at the P&C grocery store to pick up just a couple of items.  We had just gotten done doing some yardwork for a family member and with the humidity in the air it was a bit hot!  Anyway, we made this quick stop and Hubby decided he was thirsty and went to get a bottle of water out of the soda machine out front of the store.  When he pushed the water button the machine mistakenly dispensed an ice tea.  Oops!  Okay, well, I'll just take it inside to customer service and ask about exchanging it for a bottle of water, right?  Wrong!!!!  The woman at the desk informed me that "the store does not own those machines sitting out front" and therefore there was nothing she could do in the way of exchanging it for me.  Hm-mmm....I never heard of that since they sell the ice tea in their own little fridges up near the registers so what was the big deal, but okay....whatever! 

  Then she tells me that the "Coke man" is in the soda aisle and for me to go find him and he'll take care of it...hm-mmm...okay worth a try right?  Wrong again!  I greeted the young man politely, explained how the clerk at customer service told me to seek him out and exchange the bottle of tea for the water....the young man (in his late teens early 20's) looked at me and said, "That's not our product, what do you want me to do about it?" and I was like, "excuse me?" and he went on to say "it's not my problem if the machine dispensed the wrong bottle and that the tea is a Pepsi product not Coke so too bad for me!",  Um-mm okay....so I said to myself as I turned to walk away,"geesh! It seems no one wants to be bothered these days" and the guy immediently jumps on me and says, "WHAT?  NOW YOU'RE GIVING ME ATTITUDE  BECAUSE IT'S NOT MY PROBLEM????"  I was shocked, and replied, "No, I was just making an observation is all" and he continued to shout at me as I walked down the aisle which I though was really overly dramatic.  Excuse me for not knowing that the tea was a Pepsi product or for not looking at the bottle to read who manufactures it.  Good grief!  By not knowing that information I guess I had committed a crime or something??!!!

  I used to work in a grocery store and many times people would use the soda machines out front, lose their money and come into the customer service desk to be refunded and never did any store employee refuse or say that the machines aren't their problem!  If they are sitting in front of your store then obviously there is some contract or something between the store and the machine distributor, is there not?  I don't know but I found the entire episode totally ridiculous.  Hubby doesn't drink tea and with my diabetes I can't have anything that's not suger free, so a perfectly good bottle of tea went into the trash can next to the soda machine. 

   So, I'm wondering if you have stumbled across people in the work force who are angry, rude and down right nasty if approached for help?  Before this stop, we had gone to Wal-Mart to pick up medications and the cashier was not at all pleasant even though I tried to be and asked her how she was doing to make idle chit-chat but nope, not a peep out of her and once again, no "thank you" or anything as she handed me the receipt!  I understand what it's like to work with the John Q. Public, having been employed in several different areas of a grocery store before, it's often not easy but I did notice that if I was pleasant it seemed to rub off on the customers and made the transactions so much nicer and quicker.  Guess nowadays there is no such thing as good customer service because more times than not the employee you try to stop to ask a question or to get help keeps right on walking and will avoid you at all costs if possible.  Then if they do reply it's as they walk away with a hasty "everything we have is already on the shelf" period.  I miss the little Mom & Pop stores, they atleast knew how to treat their customers politely and went out of their way to be helpful.  Big box stores have a lot to learn but since they ran the little stores out of business they could care less about keeping customers until it's too late and their doors are closing! 

  Experiences like this one today has me thinking about stocking the pantry and limiting grocery store visits to no more than once a month or less!  Proberly the best option anyway to save time and gas, not to mention my nerves! Whew!  Thanks for letting me vent a bit, I do feel some better but does everything these days always have to be so trying and made into a big deal?  I've also learned that from now on when we go out we will bring along our own bottled water straight from our tap, well water is best anyway and doesn't cost $1.60 a bottle!!!! Yikes!!!!!  Live and learn, I guess!

Blessings,
Sher

A New Day!

  Good Morning!  The birds began their morning chirping early this morning singing their praises to the Lord and thanking Him for this new day!  Have you ever noticed that the wild birds start their day chirping joyfully and end their day with another round of chirps? What a wonderful way to face the dawning of a new day and ebbing as daylight fades to dusk!  There's a lesson there for anyone, who like me, is often caught up in wordly cares, distractions and anxieties at the beginning and ending of each day. 

   It's been a hot and very humid summer here on this little country knoll.  The AC has been running more days than not and even through the night as the house slumbers as the outside air is thick with moisture making sleeping often nearly impossible without the coolness of the AC.  But in the wee hours of last night I finally decided I could not listen to the constant whirl of the AC for one more second and got up to turn it off.  Allowing for a much needed break for both the unit and myself!  I opened the windows and while the air was still thick I felt the slightest air movement in an attempted breeze at the lace curtains, I enjoyed the sight of a bright full moon and stars seemingly winking back at me, I watched the light from the fireflies flickering here, there and everywhere!  Back into bed I climbed and soon drifted off to sleep listening to the sound of a croaking frog in the farm pond next door.  Finally, a night of peaceful sleep, drifting off with the reassurance of all being well both inside and outside our little house.  Soon, the AC will be up and running again but I am hopeful that it can be turned off again tonight and allow us some much needed quiet!

  Today, if the rain holds off we have a bit of outdoor work to do to help family members and before leaving I'm hoping to get a load of sheets washed and hung out to dry on the clothesline.  There is nothing that compares to the joy of sleeping on sun dried sheets!  As usual, it's the simple things in life that make me smile and brings the most pleasure!  Last week we picked 12lb of blueberries at the farmstand and if all goes well it would be nice to go back and pick even more.  I freeze them on a cookie sheet and then place into freezer bags for use later.  Mm-mm, frozen blueberries is a favorite snack for me and hubby loves blueberries in his pancakes!  Yum!

  So, that's the happenings for today here on the knoll for the most part.  While out and about, we'll also run some errands and then won't have to waste gas by making another trip later in the week.  Also, I'm planning on trying to make some fried chicken for supper tonight with the helpful tips from my dear friend Sher who makes the most delicious sounding meals for her family!  I'd love to live next door to Old Crow Farm, not only for the yummy food but for the fun of friendship and sharing in craft projects, collectibles and decorating our homes!  Sher is the sweetest gal and so understanding when it comes to my many moods, bless her heart!  

   Well, I hear hubby in the kitchen so it's time for me to get a move on and start the day.  I hope it is a good day for all and now I'm off to say a prayer in starting this day, make breakfast and get an early start on household chores.  Thanks for visiting, have a blessed and productive day! 

Warm Wishes,

Sher