wet paint~

May you have butterfly mornings and wildflower afternoons.

I did it! I tackled the job that I've been putting off for the last six months ... I finally painted the bathroom.  Now I have the office left to paint.  I don't know what color the office is going to get yet; because I used the paint that Dear Hubby picked out for it in the bathroom today.

My bathroom was a chocolate brown color and it was just too dark in there.  So I decided to lighten it up with the blue.  It looks so bright in there now.

Since we don't have the bait shop anymore and I really don't need an office; maybe I'll just start calling the bathroom the office and call the office my computer room.  Wait... I can't do that ... then I won't have a library; which I already refer to the bathroom as.  Such a dilemma! lol

One thing I did discover about myself today while painting is how much I hate painting trim around windows, doors and the ceiling.  I told Slim the next room I paint ~  the walls, the ceiling and all the trim is getting the same color!!   Or else he can do it; or I'm hiring someone to paint for me.   I can't recollect Dear Hubby ever painting a room in the 33 years we've been married.  That's it ... the next room is his!  Maybe then he won't be so quick to criticize my painting techniques and pointing out where he feels it could use another coat, or where it looks a wee bit smudged along the trim board.  Geeze... sometimes that man should just keep his opinion to himself. 

~~~

Tonight I ache something terrible.

Day before yesterday I fell in the woods, flat on my face... and I wasn't even on rough terrain.  I was carrying a bundle of boughs out to the trail and I must have tripped over a stick or something.  Luckily, I didn't break my new glasses; because I was wearing an old pair this time around.  One broken pair of glasses a bough season is enough.

Then yesterday, I was out in the woods again; cutting boughs and I fell once more.  My legs just buckled out from under me and down I went.  That's why I stayed inside today ~ I'm getting so clumsy in the woods and Slim had to work at the paper mill and I felt I better not be going out alone.  So that's the reason I took on the painting project.  I think poor puppy, Brandy, was relieved today too that we didn't go out.  She looked about as tired as I did yesterday after watching me cut a couple hundred pounds.  When I fell though, she came and laid right down beside me ... looking at me like we were going to be wolf bait if we didn't get up.

So ....

Today, I was standing on a chair in the bathroom, cutting in the paint along the ceiling and my legs just buckled out from under me again and down I went again!  I fell off the chair right into the closed door and down to the floor.  I was just glad I didn't fall into the freshly painted wall or worse yet spill the tray of paint that I had in my hands.

Then....

Tonight while setting the supper table ... I'm walking towards the table and I started to fall again.  I caught my balance though this time by grabbing on to the table to steady myself.  What the hey????

Sometimes, having no knee caps can be a real hinderance.

Until next time...

So it goes in my neck of the woods.

~mel

last day~

It's the last day of Dear Hubbies va-k.  We spent all of yesterday in the woods cutting boughs.  We finished off our order of boughs for the neighbor who makes and sells wreaths.  She originally wanted us to cut a ton of boughs for her; but she filled up early and we only had to do 1,600 pounds.  Now we need to cut some yet for my sister-in-law and some for ourselves then we can call it quits.  That's a lot of boughs considering that a single branch weighs around 5 ounces. 

Every time when we go out cutting we always take our old dog Brandy along with us.  She is so funny to watch in the woods.  At home she lays around like an old dog, which she is.  She's pushing 13 years already.  At home she's the queen of the deck, laying there, doing nothing; but soaking in the sunshine.  When we take her out in the woods though, she has a whole different demeanor.  Then she's scouting all over the place, running like a young pup.  She just seems so happy.  I snapped off this photo of her yesterday ... she looked like she was smiling!

I was smiling too at seeing her so happy.  I was also smiling and thanking God that the snow has melted away and we're having such wonderful weather to cut boughs in.
~~~
I have a few more pictures to share of the roadkill deer and a cross fox that was eating on it. A cross fox is just what it's name implies.  It's a cross between a gray fox and a red fox.

Here's a nice little buck who was wandering across the yard:

~~~~
When the weather cools down ... there's something about a nice cup of hot chocolate. It's so soothing and relaxing.

HOT CHOCOLATE DRINK MIX

4 cups dry powdered milk

1 cup of dry coffee creamer

1 cup of cocoa powder

1 cup of Splenda sugar substitute

Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl.  Put into storage jars with a tight seal.  To use add 2 heaping Tablespoons to a cup of hot boiling water or to a cup of hot coffee for an instant Mocha.

~~~

Well...

It's been a wonderful vacation with Slim spending time in the woods and I hope you enjoyed the few pictures and moments that I shared.  Our next get away won't be until sometime in February when we plan on taking a trip to Texas to see my sister and her hubby and we also want to squeeze in a few days in either Branson or Nashville.  So I have to get my butt in gear and find us a Bed and Breakfast to stay at for a few days and make some reservations. 

Until next time ...

So it goes in my neck of the woods.

~mel

~~~~

correction:  Even I get goofed up on occasion ... can you believe it!! The fox is a grey fox; not a cross fox.  The cross fox has the white tip on it's tail like the red fox and has more of a streak of black on it's back.  I get them goofed up all the time.  My bad ... so sorry for misleading. 

hotdiggity~

I'm back home once again ... and this time it's to stay.  Dear Hubby is still on vacation; but we're going to be spending the last few days here at home.  Time to catch up on the rest of the yard work and getting the boat put into storage, cleaning the garage and work shop and cutting a few more boughs to fill an order.

I'm happy to say that Sara is recovering nicely from her gallbladder surgery.  She's up and about and eating again without any pain.  :)  I don't care how old your kids may be ... as a mother you still worry.

While I was up at the cabin I finished the scarf that I began crocheting for Bailey.  I had enough yarn left over, so I made a little hat to go along with it.  I think I'll hold off on giving to her and use it for a little stocking stuffer at Christmas.

Now I have the itch to do some more crocheting.  I was telling Sara that I should try to make some mittens; but every time that I've made mittens they always turned out two different sizes. lol  Maybe if I would learn how to follow a pattern ... I could possibly do it right.  So right now it's just hats, scarves and a little blanket and maybe a potholder  ... those things I've figured out how to do with my hit and miss crocheting technique.  You'd laugh if you saw how I do this ... and you should see me with two needles when I try to knit!  Someday, if my sister Darla has a LOT of patience, maybe I'll hit her up for some lessons.  She's a fantastic hooker!

~~~
I'm also happy to announce that my computer is still living ... but for how long ... the pc gods only know.  My hard drive is taking a dive and I know it's only a matter of time before the day comes when I go to turn on the old bugger it's not going to respond.  So ... until then ... I'll be posting; but if I come up missing in action you'll know why.  I'm not giving up the internet and blogging and I'll be back when I can afford to get things in order again.
~~~
The time has come also for me to do some shopping for new boots and a jacket.  The other day, while walking out in the woods my sock got wet.  What the heck?  Here the seam of my boot is all torn open.  I must have ripped it crawling through the brush somewhere.

I also want to get myself a new winter jacket.  Something furry.

I have a few minutes to spare right now before Dear Hubby gets home from running to town for gas for the 4wheeler; then we're back in the woods today cutting boughs ... so it's off to online shopping right now!  Wish me  luck.

Until next time...
So it goes in my neck of the woods.
~mel