I like Thursdays: September 30, 2018

Well it is the dog days of summer here but we still find things we like!  Join our group of positive bloggers by visiting our hostess LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color!

We are in the last day (hopefully) of still another heatwave.  The park is an eery place since the air is so hot and humid and the lake water is cooler because of the temperatures we had last week.  It makes for cool photos:

I like friends, new and old!
Scout and her friend George the cat:

My neighbor lost one of her terriers and her remaining dog, Toby is now having playdates with Scout.  They really enjoy each other!

Of course, Scout is enjoying our daily visits with neighbors :)  And they are spoiling her with double massages:

Such a spoiled puppy!

I like yard sales!  I love this pitcher I found last week:

Well it's already hot and humid so I'm off to walk Scout before it becomes unsufferable.  Have a wonderful day!

Happiness is...

A daytime nap on a pile of my favorite toys!!!

The Loss of a True Hero

Rest in Peace Senator John McCain.

You will be sorely missed.

I can't put it better than President Obama:

"John McCain and I were members of different generations, came from completely different backgrounds, and competed at the highest level of politics. But we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher – the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed. We saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world. We saw this country as a place where anything is possible – and citizenship as our patriotic obligation to ensure it forever remains that way.

Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did. But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. At John’s best, he showed us what that means. And for that, we are all in his debt. "

I Like Thursdays: August 23, 2018

 Good Morning!  Please join those of us who add something happy to the internet on Thursdays.  I Like Thursdays are sponsored by our sweet hostess, LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color.  Be sure to check out all the participants!

This week I like that we hada few days of sunshine.  Even if we got a couple more inches of rain on Tuesday night, at least we saw some sunshine recently!

I'm sorry.  Many of you have been commenting and I didn't realize it because I wasn't getting the comments sent to my email.  I'm not sure why but I am looking on the website now and thank you for giving me a shout out!

I like these pretty mushrooms that popped up in Kathy and Earl's planters.  This type of mushroom can grow in potting soil.  Anyway, I thought it was pretty (yes it is not edible).  

I like not driving as much.  Carol has been moved to a nursing home closer to us.  She is getting stronger physically but is having a lot of moments of confusion.  Her daughter had to go home to get her own children ready to start school on Monday and at least I can be accessable in a few minutes.  We are still unsure how she is and her daughter is looking for a new neurologist right now.  The shorter commute does make my life easier and is an easier ride for Scout to visit her.

I like work.  I like working.  I haven't been able to get much done this summer due to Carol and my Mom's health situations.  This week I am getting a lot of work done on programs.  Last month I actually managed to finish a 2 quilt tops.

Well I have to walk Scout so I can get to work soon.  Have a wonderful day!

I like Thursdays, August 16,2018

I was under the weather last Thursday and still haven't checked out the blogs.  I'm hoping to catch up this weekend!

I did have a lot to like!  Sandra and Dennis were here from Canada!

This is from the day we went to tour Crystal Cave :)  We had a wonderful visit and I am still missing them.  Scout is missing Dennis in particular.  That dog adored Dennis and would sprawl all over him for attention!

I like fabric shopping with friends.  I only bought what I could use and Sandra is of the same mind. 

We just have to use what we have!

 I like finding a small clump of water lilies in our park's lagoon!

I love the finches which frequent my garden!

Have a wonderful week!

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Flood report:

The weather has been dreadful.  Normal precipitation for our city is 1.76 inches of rain.  We were over 8 inches as of Tuesday (we are probably at 10 inches now). I'm grateful we live on top of the hill.  We may have some dampness but not the flooding that others are coping with these days.  West of us is flooded again and there is standing water everywhere.

This puddle not only has ducks swimming in it but had a few trout too.  Some nice fishermen tried to get the trout back into the creek yesterday.

I like Thursdays: August 2, 2018

Well it's another Thursday and I have a lot that makes me feel blessed!  Join in the fun by visiting LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color!

I took Scout to see Carol last Sunday.  I was hesitant to do so because Scout is young and can be a bit of handful (okay, she's a year old and she can get rammy).

I'm proud to say that Scout was phenomenal!  She was happy and pleasant and calm.  Carol was busy when we got there and Scout happily visited other residents and received attention from the staff.  You would have thought Seamus had trained her himself.  My good girl!!!  Of course, Carol enjoyed seeing her favorite puppy too!   Carol continues to progress.  She is gradually gaining some of her strength back!

We had a nice visit until Carol got tired.  Then I took Scout to our favorite park (which happens to be near Carol's nursing home).  It was a good dog treat and Scout enjoyed it so much!

 Monocacy Creek has so many wonderful WPA structures in it!

 Scout is particularly fond of watching the waterfalls...

 And the geese that congregate at the top of the falls:

 I like this coleus.  It's a new one to me the leaves are the size of nickels!  

 Last year the hubby bought me this hydrangea and it is small, but blooming!

 I love this quilt that my friend Sandra from USA made.   I don't often get REALLY jazzed about quilt patterns anymore but this one has just tickled me.  I was thrilled when USA Sandra sent me the pattern...

Speaking of Sandras===I'm so excited because Sandra and Dennis are coming down from Canada and they arrive tomorrow!  We always have so much fun together!!!  This fabric shopping trip I'm going to try to get fabric for the above quilt.  

Have a wonderful week!

I like Thursday: July 26, 2018

 Greetings from Northeast Pennsylvania where it has been raining and raining and raining...

I Like Thursday is a day sponsored by LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color.  Be sure to celebrate the positive things in life!

I like and understand this meme....do you?

This kind of marking goes for our cars as well :D

New dishes!  Mom bought me some new everyday dishes.  They were made by pioneer woman brand and go so nicely with our vintage style kitchen and my red Hall's collection!

Scout's new haircut!  She is much cooler now!

Scout is my dear little girl.  I was sick all weekend with a virus/flu thing that is going around our neighborhood.  She wouldn't leave my side and insisted on sleeping with me each night.  She is also entertaining like when she guts her new toy in no time flat!

Mostly these days I'm doing this:

Carol has been moved to another rehab facility at a nursing home.  I'd be lying if I didn't admit that her stroke has really knocked the stuffing out of me.  She has become such a big part of our family and we are all missing her.    

Next week, Sandra and Dennis are coming for a visit.  I know I've changed because I'm not rushing around trying to prepare everything.  Sandra and Dennis are family at this point and they will understand that we've been busy and that there is dust in the house and the garden is just a mess with all this rain (which is continuing through to their visit).  

Honestly, I'll just be glad to hang out with our friends.  

So that is my gratitude for this week.  Hope you are having a wonderful summer!

Things I like Thursday, July 19, 2018

How have you all been doing?  Sorry I've been AWOL but it's just been crazy here.  I'm glad to have a day to catch my breath and just say howdy!

First thing first:  Carol is in a rehab and slowly improving.  According to doctors, it was an acute stroke so it will be a while until she is herself.  She is working on walking and sometimes she gets defiant (more of Carol's personality).  I'm hoping to see her tomorrow because I was traveling most of last week and couldn't make it to the hospital.  

I love my daughter-in-law!

Earlier in the year she asked me to go to the Kutztown Folk Festival with her.  I'm delighted she enjoys spending time with me and I adore being with her!  She had never been to festival before which is about celebrating Pennsylvania Dutch culture.  We attended a mini Dutch language class, ate way too much junk food, and bought some crafty things. And of course...then there is the quilt barn:

Care to buy a quilt?  The barn is full of quilts you can purchase and hanging in the back are the handful of award winning quilts.  Those quilts are auctioned off the last weekend of the festival.  My favorite quilt was this one which took a second place ribbon.  It really spoke to me.  I heard it was aucitoned off for about $7000.00

If you want to see other winners, you can look here:  https://www.kutztownfestival.com/2018-quilt-auction-0

Jessica and I were also really fond of the Hmong quilts that were for sale, they are full of reverse applique and embroidery and the workmanship is spectacular.

I hope you have a wonderful week!

I like Thursday, July 5, 2018

I was too busy to post next week and I suspect this trend will continue as we all chip in to care for Carol and her family.

I like that Carol is stable!  The stroke has left her weak on her left side (she is right handed) but with therapy and hard work she should return to normal eventually.  In the meantime, we are awaiting to see when she can be transferred to the rehab.  She is very confused but that is to be expected with the injury to the brain.  Things will get better with time.

I love my baby who is such a comfort to me these days.

This is a game my Mom invented.  It's called "Big Dog, Little Dog" and they alternate tricks for treats :)

Scout has taken to pretend she has to go out to pee and when Greta gets up to join her--she steal Greta's toy.  Cheeky pup!

It's been hot and humid and it makes me nauseous.  I like that I haven't had Sandra's temps though.  She emailed me that they were at 111 F, we are just in the low 100s.  I'm grateful we received rain last night.  We really needed it!

We aren't even going to the park these days.  We walk at daybreak and sometimes at night but it's too dangerous to be out there right now.

And finally, I like funny!

Have a safe and happy week!