drip, drip

It is raining again -- second day in a row, or is it the third day...my brain is water logged!

Not flooding rains, at least not here -- just a slow gentle rain except for the occasional downpour.

Sweetie and Gracie were caught a block or so from the house in one of those sudden downpours. Gracie HATES getting wet -- they raced each other home and both arrived a bit soggy.

It is new faucet day -- our old kitchen faucet was about 30 years old and it finally wore out. We are replacing it today -- sticker shock when we saw the price of a good quality faucet. We bought a Moen faucet -- one of the better brands and one of the better models. After all, if the previous one lasted 30 years the cost will be rather low with that many years of use figured in.

Our old faucet had the sprayer that pulled up from the base on the right side -- lovely and useful when hair washing. However, just one tiny problem -- some days it would decide to spray when we didn't ask it to. I was not happy to be suddenly drenched by the sprayer when I was all dressed up and just getting a drink before leaving! I kept a plastic bag over the top of it for some time, just to give myself a fighting chance to get out of the way when it misbehaved!

The new one has the sprayer head that pulls down from the faucet -- not from a separate place. We used one like it when we visited Florida and liked the way it worked. We also got the model with the high curved shape which is lovely when filling large pans.

One thing I find interesting, when I watch House Hunters International, is the plumbing one sees in different countries. It is like visiting there without leaving the USA!

Rain again!

It is raining -- no complaint here -- we need the rain -- I'm enjoying seeing the area green again. Brown is not my favorite color! Gracie is curled up in my bed, not the least bit interested in getting up. She's been out for her walk (before the rain) and decided to go back to sleep. Sounds like a good idea to me but I have too much to do to join her.

I've been doing some genealogy research -- my cousin sent some new information and I'm sharing it with other members in the family. It has to do with the time when members of my family emigrated to Mexico (prior to the revolution) to teach farming techniques to the Mexican people. My Grandmother was just a young girl when they went. Such an interesting bit of history -- I lived along the border for years and some details of the Mexican Revolution were very widely known in that area. Not so well known by us was the way it impacted my family. This bit of research has been fun. Still more to do -- more to do than I have hours to do it in!

Does your family history include an interesting story? Would you share?

P.S. After several hours of steady rain the sun came out. My back yard was suddenly full of birds -- white wing doves drinking out of the bird bath -- a bluejay bathing in a puddle, several starlings pecking around looking for something to eat. It was a delightful sight!

A Rainy Day in Texas!

Rain, rain, and more rain! Praise the Lord! We are finally getting a bit of rain -- well, more than a bit -- actually, the back yard is just soggy. It has been a long time since we have seen rain like this and I am happy knowing that my foundation isn't in danger any longer. We have had several cracks show up in the walls due to the severe drought messing with the foundation. Yes, we try to keep it watered but it takes a lot of water since the ground is dry deep down.

Sweetie has been sick for two weeks and I have been fighting to keep well for several days. Doesn't seem to be anything but allergies stirred up by the constant train of cold/cool fronts that are visiting this area from who knows where. I don't feel sick, but have very little voice left and taking antihistamines leaves me feeling droopy. Granddaughter is also sounding like me.

We went to a movie last night -- Joyful Noise. It was enjoyable -- not Academy Award material but still, very entertaining. Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton star in it. Poor Dolly, she has had so many plastic surgeries that her face no longer looks normal, especially around her mouth. Too much, Dolly! It reminds me of how Dixie Carter looked in her later years on Designing Women. Dixie's mouth didn't look right toward the end. I don't have a problem with plastic surgery, per se, but it can be over done.

OK, that is my grip for the day!

Better sign off -- I'm going to a friend's birthday party. Should be nice. Hope you all are having an enjoyable afternoon/evening.

The cow? Doesn't mean anything -- just something I thought interesting.

P.S. Back from the party -- it was a blast. Tropical theme and some dressed accordingly but I wore jeans and actually needed a heavier coat because I was cold the whole time.

Food was good, got to visit with lots of friends I haven't seen in a while -- Polynesian dancers for entertainment. Fun time! Glad I went.

Recently Read...

I just finished The Captive Heart by Dale Cramer. This is the second book in the series about the Amish settlement in the Paradise Valley of Mexico. This settlement really existed and is very interesting to me because some of my people settled in Mexico for a time. My family weren't Amish but the actual problems faced by the settlers were very similar.

I also read A Plain & Fancy Christmas, by Cynthia Keller. This tale about babies switched at birth is very interesting.

What are you reading?

What I'm Reading...

I want to recommend a couple of authors that I have been enjoying.

The first is David Baldacci -- My husband was reading his thrillers and happened upon some books written in a different style. He read a couple and then recommended them to me. I just finished "Wish You Well." This takes place in the state of Virginia and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

Another author is W. Dale Cramer. I've read several of Cramer's books and have liked all of them. I am impressed by the different subject matter that he deals with. A very good writer!

What are you reading?

Christmas gifts...

This year I decided to make some stilettos to give as gifts to my sewing/quilting friends. I had received one of these during a Shop Hop and found that I used it quite often.

The materials I used were bamboo skewers, a small glue gun (lower heat), and some craft beads.
Such a simple project -- cut the skewers to the desired length, put a tiny bubble of glue into the hole on the bead and push the blunt end of the skewer into the bead. The glue sets up almost immediately!

The finished stilettos -- I have given all but two away and they were well received!

Mom and her Christmas hat!

I have a little cap that has sequins all over it. My cap is black and my sequins are silver. Mom took one look at my cap and wanted it. I found her a cap of her own -- her sequins are black but they pick up points of light and can show different colors. In the picture above she is picking up lamp light and it looks like gold sequins. She loves her cap and has received many compliments on it. Mom is 89 years old and that is her natural hair color.

Random thoughts on a Wednesday evening...

Christmas came and went. So much preparation -- anticipation -- planning -- and suddenly it is over -- company goes home -- all the decorations have to be taken down and put away so that we are ready to begin a new year with a clean slate.

I got a Kindle this year -- the basic model. I enjoy reading books so much -- I use the public library -- I seldom purchase books because I ran out of shelf space a long time ago. I have put 15+ books on my Kindle, including the Bible and a dictionary. Haven't read any of them, yet, but am experimenting with the download process. Quick and easy! I think I will enjoy using it, especially when I travel. I have explored checking e-books out from the public library -- that may be an interesting way to go. One doesn't have to worry about keeping up with the library copy or about due dates. When the book is due it disappears off of the Kindle.

Only problem may be I won't have a pile of books on my night stand and I may get panicky. The Kindle just doesn't LOOK like a pile of books. It is hard to look at it, to hold it, and translate the small size and light weight into a good supply of reading materials. As with all new things, it will take some getting use to!

How was your Christmas? What was your favorite gift?

A December Update!

Are the days whizzing by at your house? They are here, and I'm running farther and farther behind. But, Christmas is coming whether or not I'm ready so I will just do what I can and then stop and enjoy this special time.

What has happened? Well, our church had our "Celebrate Christmas" -- a Drive Through Life of Christ with live people and animals. We were open Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings (Sweetie and I worked every evening) and 1400 people saw our presentation. That was in spite of our having to close early on Sunday due to the rain/mud. If something makes you close then rain is a good thing to do it. We need rain desperately here.

My oldest daughter came for two days and I thoroughly enjoyed her visit while her honey was seeing clients. She and I played with Windows Live -- is that the right name? Skydrive, perhaps, is what I'm looking for. She has tons of her pictures on line and she set me up so we could share pictures. I could spend a whole day just playing with my pictures on-line.

Speaking of that family, my oldest Granddaughter, a student at UNM, called to ask me for some help with a genealogy project. Well, she pushed the right button!! I love genealogy. She did some independent research and, using the info I gave her, and she found a site that I had never seen. Amazingly, I found that my Great-Great Grandfather's name wasn't what I had always been given. Made that change in my Family Tree! This is the same Great-Great Grandfather whose grave I found at the Old Salt Tank Cemetery near Rising Star Texas. What fun!

Did I tell you that I made "stilettos" for my sewing/quilting buddies. These were tiny gifts from me to them. Today at church, a dear quilting friend, age 94, decided that she will use her stiletto as a cake tester! I think I made a picture or two of that project -- will try to post them when time permits.

My Mom has arrived to spend Christmas with us. Since she doesn't do stairs anymore we move upstairs and let her have our downstairs bedroom. It is an odd feeling to sleep in a different room of your house! I have always liked to sleep in my guest room, from time to time, to insure that it is still a welcoming room for guests. Well, we are in the guest room for the next two weeks. Have already made a change.

Our youngest Granddaughter is staying with us while her Mom works a highly irregular schedule. We played Monopoly with her and found that she really needs to get the hang of money -- think this game will be very good for her and will teach her how to figure out making change.

I need to set out alone and do some shopping tomorrow -- I haven't done much. My children were all given "gifts" of agricultural products for Christmas, through Missionary Ventures. OD started this last year when she gave me the gift of "five ducks." through World Vision. I liked that but, after hearing some Missionary Venture speakers at "Colors" this year, I ordered from them instead.
Oldest Son and Daughter-In-Law got 5 rabbits and 5 seed packs. Each seed pack will plant a full acre of land for a family or a village. The rabbits will multiply and will provide a food crop and a cash crop.
Youngest Son got 8 rabbits, and Oldest Daughter got a pig. OD's Mother-in-law gave her a goat and she has named the goat "Tilley" and the pig is named "Percy." Percy Tilley was a dear friend who has "gone home" but I believe he would be thrilled with his namesakes! OD plans to make an ornament to represent each animal to hang on her tree!

See what my busy days have brought about! Lots of things are happening but in the midst of all the hustle and bustle, we need to remember that this season is actually all about the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas to each and every one of you!