Where Did September Go????

Yikes! Time is flying by!!! As someone said to me, "I shut my eyes Monday night and wake up, it is Friday morning already" Yep, it's true. Why did time go so slowly when I was younger and speed up so fast as I grow older???? Never will understand this concept of old age!!!!!

Well, can't believe 5 weeks have passed since my last blog, either I am lazy or just running out of mojo to blog, either or, just not much happening in my life (for now), which is fine with me at this time in my life. My Chicago Blackhawks have started their pre-season games and October 10th is the first of the regular season. So, this is good! I like hockey, then NASCAR, then Football. Hopefully the Packers do well without Arron Rogers. Oh, and the Blackhawks do well without Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. Time will tell, I guess.

Hospice meeting was yesterday, always fun to meet together and see what the others have brought to the table as donations to the "card ministry" to Hospice.

So, these were some of my offerings. The cards above were fun to make, an idea I saw on Facebook. I really should make a template next time, so the pieces will be uniform and fit. I sort of pieced together the segments, so no, they were not uniform, each one was a bit different, but maybe that was part of the fun. I shall have to make some more like this, maybe some Christmas cards and Valentine cards too.

The bottom card, another pieced together card in a different design. Liked the new "blessed" word for this card, just bought it recently, filled up the space that did not have a blocked design.

These two cards were made at the Thompsom Center. There is a room set aside for Scrapbook and card makers. All the supplies have been donated, so the classes given are free. They usually have two teachers that give of their time showing us how to make cards. Then on the days they are not there, it is free time, and we can do what we want using the supplies that are there. So, this is what I came up with, the medallion was there to use, and the leaves die I brought from home to use there.

In this picture is another leaf card I made at the Thompson Center. The card on the left was made at home with my laminator and foil and ran a strip of green cardstock down the center and then placed the "blessed" word on it.

The cards below were an idea I found on the internet, not sure where. But I found the marbled cards from Hobby Lobby and thought they would make a nice card, I added the flowers and "just a little note" and left the inside blank.

So, this month of October will be "yard clean-up month"? The big tree in the back yard will dump millions of leaves, last year I never finished the whole yard, maybe this year will be different. The front yard, I have to cut down the peonies bush, daisies, my large porch vine and whatever else I can get too. Yeah, a lot of work for this old lady at this time. We'll see how it goes.

I have been going through some more of JP's old files from the 80's and 90's, gosh he had a lot of stuff. There were a few tracts intermingled, so I will be able to send them to Bob, who has been passing out all of JP's tracts that he had in his office. I moved all of JP's prayer journals to where the files were kept and put JP's ashes with his prayer journals, kinda keep it all together. Then there will be room in the file/safe to put a few other of JP's keepsakes. Along with a folder I am putting together that is titled "In Case of Emergency and/or Death for Louise E. Gatti" Everything that I can think of that has to do with JP, Louise, this house, Insurance, Wills, etc. so whoever the Executor is will know all there is to know and where to find it. Is that all possible???? I don't know, but I have been told to do this by a couple of people, it is a gift to those left behind that will have to take care of everything after I am gone. A morbid thought!!!!!

Can't think of much more, the time is 4:30 and I have yet to accomplish anything around this house. I am going to make a chicken dish tonight that I saw on Facebook that looked really good. My tomatoes are starting to ripen so one tomato will be used in the dish. I will take a picture of it, if I remember and don't eat it first.

Talk to you later, keep looking up better days are coming!!! 

Cheers ~ Louise

Time is Flying By Quickly

Hi there everyone, hope you are having a wonderful 4th of July with family and friends!! Mine is quiet, very quiet. It will be a year tomorrow (July 5th) that I took JP to the Assisted Living. 20 days later he died.... lots of memories this month, hope I can make it through without crashing

So, the last couple of weeks, I have been busy with a Rummage/garage sale. Sales were slow on Thursdays, so I cut that day out. Friday seems to be a busy day and Saturday not so much. Course maybe July 4th had something to do with it. But in the 5 days $172.85 was sold.... not bad. I am going to do 4 more days this month, a Friday, Saturday weekend and then the following week. I have an extra bill this month so hopefully enough stuff will be sold to pay that bill.

In the top picture I wanted to mention my little garden...just noticed today that the bean plants are starting to make little beans...gosh I can hardly wait. I will have beans, tomatoes, onions, radish, basil, dill and cucumbers. I meant to plant some flower seeds, but time got away from me. I did plant some marigold seeds and have transplanted them to other places. Going to put some in planters on the front porch.

So here are some pictures of some of the stuff in the sale. I hope this manger scene sells, because I sure don't want to pack it up again. I brought a lot of stuff out from the house, plus I still had stuff in the garage to sell boxed up from several rummage sales before. I need to really sift through all this stuff and down-size a whole lot. As I may have to move in the next year or so. Will be hard to leave because we've been here 31 years this month.

I still have lots of stuff in the basement to go through. I think some of this stuff, I will just go through and take to the thrift store or just throw out. Will see how radical I get.

In the picture below is a card I made for the nephew, he is a golfer and fisherman and only 10 years old. Did you see the saying...."Always golf with extra socks in case you get a Hole-in-one!!! I thought that was pretty funny!!

So here is my first rose of Summer.....so pretty. 

And, my peonies were in full bloom this spring, wish they lasted longer than they do. I did cut a lot of flowers and put them in vases and brought them in the house or left them on the front porch.

More peoni pictures. I actually inherited these flowers from a neighbor. They no longer wanted them in their backyard, and I said, I will take them and so they landed in my yard!!!

I did another radical thing this past month. June 9th, I called Spectrum and asked to cut the cable because I could no longer afford their prices for TV. So now I just have internet and landline. I bought a Roku and installed that on my TV. I am really liking it, lots and lots of movies. I don't get ABC, CBS, NBC, or FOX or my NASCAR....to get that all I would have to spend $70 a month. now that would completely defeat the purpose of saving some money. For now, I will settle with Roku and when I have extra $$$ to spend maybe I will get my channels back (which are supposed to be free, but aren't)

Well, time to close, I need to get some bills paid and dishes done today. It's only 1:30pm so I guess I have time yet. But time does fly by quickly, don't keep your eyes closed to long, you might miss something spectacular!!! Cheers ~ Louise
 

No Masks????

WHAT?!?!? No Masks, I cannot believe it.....how and when did that happen???? Like overnight???

Friday I was at the Kwik Trip....sign is off the door, no one entering wore masks, people in the store were not wearing masks and people behind the counters were wearing no masks!!! I was like in disbelief!!! Of course, I did not wear my mask...I say FREEDOM!!

Well now....we started to watch NASCAR......NO ONE is wearing masks!!! It is like normalcy has returned, like "Overnight". Then I noticed no one in the stands were wearing masks and the stands are packed out, shoulder to shoulder!!! The announcers are not wearing masks, the drivers are not wearing masks.....OK!!! 

Then, I realized the race is in Austin, Tx. That explained it!!! I just read this morning, before the race....."Texas has had "0" Covid 19 cases since they stopped wearing masks" Wow, wow, wow!!! Please explain the unexplained to me!!!!

I must say...it looks good to see no masks on people. I know it was protection from the Covid....but sure was carried too far. I noticed also, hospitals are not as strict. JP and I were at Theda Care in Neenah, no thermometer checks. St. E's still checks though. AMC (ThedaClark) had no checks, although when you went into the office, they pulled out the thermometer. All the symptoms they ask you if you had.....can be symptoms for the flu....does not mean you have Covid, does it???? So glad the masks are disappearing, slow but sure!!!

Yesterday, I worked outside, planting seeds, pulled a few of my ceramic animals out. Straightened up the garage....little stuff. So much more to do for just one person. JP used to help....that extra help is not there anymore.

So I had to keep checking up on JP in the house, to make sure he did not fall. We were safe! So much to do, so little time. I have a feeling JP will have a lot of Doctor appointments this week. So far, I have one tomorrow, to find out what my A1C results are. If high, I am sure to get a talking to, stay away from this and that. Hopefully it will still be low.

I guess we will be going through another MRI as the Doctor thinks JP might have Parkinson's disease. The eye Doctor wants JP to have a liver test and lung test to make sure cancer has not spread to those areas, because if it has, he will not do the eye surgery. 

Well, I think I will close here, need to get some bills paid. Lately I have just been piling the bills on top of each other, just don't want to deal with finances....on top of everything else. Our SS can only stretch so far and no further. Oh well, one bill at a time!!

You all take care and keep looking up. God wants us to depend on him alone....He is the only one that can help us through these trials and tribulations. Cheers ~ Louise

Happy New Year!!!

Wishing you all a Happy New Year. May this new year bring you much happiness and good health. May all your needs be met by God, spiritually, physically and financially. Minus not too much sadness.

Thanks to all of you that followed along with me this past year. It's been fun posting about cards, food, flowers, gardens and ideas. Sometimes it is hard to come up with something to write, so I found that posting once a week was a bit easier for me. Didn't feel under bondage to produce a post when there was nothing to talk about. I just may do that again, so fear not, if you do not see me on a regular basis. I do visit many of you everyday, sorry I don't always comment on a daily basis.

But, maybe 2018 will be different. I like the new year, it's a new slate and a new beginning. Not going to make any resolutions here....because they are soooo hard to keep. And, there again, I don't want to put myself under bondage again, it's just too hard to live up to the expectations that I place on myself. Trying to do things that are just too hard to attain.

Live each day to the best of my ability, is all I can do. I tried to do better at everything, but that only led to a few bleeding ulcers over the years.....one of them, I almost died from. So, it takes me a long time to learn a lesson...but I eventually get it and hopefully am not too late learning it.

One thing I will do though....is draw closer to God. Read his word everyday.....that is doable, even if it's just a verse or two or a chapter. Being thankful for all HE does in my life and how HE shows Himself real in my daily life. Day in and day out. Yep, that's what I need to do.

As I type this post....the Green Bay Packers are playing the Detroit Lions. Packers are losing 11-35, the game is almost over. Whew, no more games till next season. Hopefully things will be better and Aaron Rogers will be back to play.

Well, I still have the Chicago Blackhawks to root for, hopefully they will be contenders for the Stanley Cup. NASCAR starts up again 2/18/18 so we have that to look forward to also.

Well, time to close this post for the year. You all have a great night and a Happy New Year. Keep looking up ~ better days are coming.
Cheers ~ Louise

All Gave Some, Some Gave All

Hi there everyone. It's the Memorial Day Weekend.....where did May go??? I hope as you celebrate this day of Freedom, that you remember those that went before you. That died, that you might live in a land of Freedom from those that might destroy this great Nation. Some of those people are right in front of us. How scary to think that there are so many people living in this country that would rather live under Socialist and Sharia Laws. I sure do not understand the thinking of these people.

"All gave some, Some gave all" I just heard the announcer on NASCAR say that.  That's not my saying.

I thought I would post some Patriotic cards for this Memorial Day weekend. In this 1st card, it's a copy of someone else's, I am thinking I want to make about 10 of these cards for the Hospice meeting scheduled this Friday. I do have the red lines and some stars to add to the card. My card will most likely look much different then this one. I like the looks of this card, very clean....I will probably add my Happy 4th stamp.

I made these cards last year for Hospice.....I am always looking for new ideas.

Another copy of a 4th of July card. Looks easy peasey to make also. I need to Photo-copy this card and the first one so I can take it to my studio (in the basement) and make 4th of July cards.

Our weekend will mostly involve working in the front and back  yard. JP is pulling weeds for me in front of the porch.....my rose bushes were getting chocked out from the tall grasses growing. There is still a lot to pull. The rain from today made the weeds easier to pull. There is still so much to do. I guess I should not cry about what has yet to get done, but rejoice over the things that are done.

Our pond still needs to be cleaned out, I wanted to hear the trickle of water this weekend so I brought out a big red plastic container and put some water in it and the water fountain.........and Wa-La the sound of a water fountain trickling.

By my red park bench I have a little fountain that runs by solar. Picked that up at the plant sale for one dollar. It's really cute. I will take a picture tomorrow. Yesterday I was working in the garage, trying to straighten up a bit....how does one garage get so messy with just 2 people and 1 dog????

Anyways, some where's between all the working and sitting and trying to enjoy the day. on Saturday...the mosquitoes found me and bit up my arms and ankles....geez all I have been doing for the last 24 hours is itch and scratch. I took an allergy pill a few hours ago. Tried Noxema, Vick's Vapor rub, Absorbine and hot water (that feels good and very soothing.) See, I just put some Absorbine on my ankles and the itch stopped. YAY!!! I should be better tomorrow. I was reading the Vick's keeps the mosquitoes away....I need to try that tomorrow. A dab behind the ears, elbows and knees and where ever else bare skin is showing.

If it is a nice day tomorrow, I may cook on the grill. Well, time to close, it's almost 10:30 and the race is still going. Monday starts the Stanley Cup Finals the Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins are playing......I am hoping Nashville wins, even though they beat the Blackhawks in the first round.....the Predators have never won a Stanley Cup, I am always for the underdog.

You have a great weekend and keep looking up....better days are coming. Cheers ~ Louise

Pizza & Hockey Tonight

Hi there everyone....whomever you may be?!?!?!? How was your Sunday? I missed church today, woke up with a slight sore throat and stuffiness. Decided not to go at the last minute. There is remodeling going on in the church and lots of dust flying around. Didn't care to have itchy eyes on top of not feeling that great.

Jimmy Swaggart Ministries is our Church affiliate, so I can watch the service at home and not miss anything. I sure do wish I could go to a service sometime, but they are down in Baton Rouge, LA and we are up here in Appleton, WI. That's kind of a long way to go to church.

So, today was the beginning of the racing season, Daytona 500 kicks off the season. JP likes racing, as he used to be a stock car racer back in his younger days. He probably could have made  NASCAR but you need lots of $$$ to back you and that was something we had very little of.  Racing ended about 5:30. I walked Kylie, we came home and I put this pizza together. Homemade crust with bacon, peppers, onions, mushrooms, spinach and cheese. Oh yum this was a perfect pizza and the crust was perfectly thin and crusty.

So here is the pizza before it was baked.....it came out of the oven just in time for the Hockey game that started at 6:30pm. In this picture you see we are in the 3rd period and the score is 2-2. (this was when I decided to take a picture or two of the game, had to turn off the flash, otherwise there would have been the glare of the flash)

Pizza time....almost forgot to take a picture of the finished product. Gosh, this was a really good pizza....wonder if I will ever be able to duplicate this one?????

Another picture....the Hawks won the game....4-2 in the last couple of minutes of play, PLUS they scored in an open net cause the Blues took their goalie out of the net....sad for them....good for us!!!! The Hawks, so far have won 39 games and lost 23. We still have all of March, plus 4 games in April. Then the Play-offs for the Stanley Cup begin. This season sure is going by fast....before you know it, Baseball will be starting!!!!

Good thing we have sports......takes the mind off politics!!!!! I am not much of a Baseball fan, but I sure did enjoy watching the Cubs win the World Series ~ finally!!!!

For this next week....JP has a Doctor's appointment tomorrow, guess we will be talking about his Prostrate with the Doctor and whether or not he will have surgery.

I still need to finish our income tax and take them into the accountant next Monday. Be glad when that is finished. It's like a black cloud hangs over me till I get that stuff done.

Hospice meeting is next Friday, I have the cards done and now just need to put the inserts in. All doable things that can get done in a few days if I stick to it and get it done.

I have some bills that need to be paid this week, so hopefully the weather will be agreeable too. Well, you all have a great week and keep looking up~~~~better days are here to enjoy, now!!!

Cheers ~ Louise