Joy

 With everything that has been happening these past nine months, its been hard to find Joy in anything. That was until one Sunday our Pastor said choose Faith not Fear. I never put my tree up until the day after Thanksgiving. This year I decided to put it up before. I also decided to decorate every room in my house with some Christmas, which is something I haven't done since my  kids were little. It gave me so much joy to carefully take each ornament and really look at it and remember where I got it or who made it for me before I placed it on the tree. I didn't rush. It took 3 days to do my decorating which in the past I've usually done in a day. This year by taking my time I actually found I enjoyed doing it and didn't feel rushed. It gives me Joy every morning when I turn the lights on the tree. I look around and see Joy in each decoration and it makes me happy. This Pandemic is not going to win,I am choosing Faith over Fear and going to have a joyful holiday.

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Frost warning

Well this was an unwelcome surprise. Last night the weather man said there was a frost warning for our area. Its May 31st and It was going down to a low of 34 degrees.We were advised to cover all our tender plants. So at 6:30 pm John and I were outdoors covering our tomato and lettuce plants, my hydrangeas and moving all 6 of my hanging baskets to the garage. Most everything else in the garden would survive since it hadn't started blooming yet. After a fretful night of worry I woke up and by 8am it was 41 degrees. We uncovered everything hung the baskets back up and took a walk around the garden and were very pleased that nothing was lost. I did some weeding and watered and luckily no frost forecast for tonight and I'm hoping that the warm weather is now here to stay.

An Unlikely Pair

Our dog Buttons has a best friend, the dog next door, his name is Fred Parker. Buttons is a Havenese and Fred is a hound. A most unlikely pair but they love each other. Buttons wants to do everything Fred does. He lets me know when Fred comes over for treats and every time he goes outside he looks at Fred's house hoping to see him. Fred watches out for Buttons and if he gets loose because of someone not watching when they go out the door Fred rounds him up and brings him back home. 

We have a covered porch on our house and Fred can often be found sleeping on it to get out of the hot sun. I keep a bowl of cold water out there for Fred and he lets me know if I forget to fill it. Last week when the temps reached the high 80s the coolest spot was on the covered porch. We sat out there looking at the water enjoying the breeze and of course Buttons buddy Fred Parker joined us. When it was time to go in Fred's Mom blew the whistle, his signal it was time to come in, but he just sat there. I finally said "Fred go home" he didn't look happy but left. See you tomorrow Fred.

The door

We bought the house on the lake 3 years ago and over time we have made it our own, Like any house you buy new or old you always have projects, things you want to change. One of the  bedrooms we turned into a craft room /office. The door was wood with six panels of glass. Whoever stained the door got stain on the glass and over time the glass  became ruined. As hard as I tried I couldn't get it clean. So we removed the door and said we'd replace it, that was 3 years ago. Finally this year with being cooped up with the stay at home order we have completed several projects, Luckily the office door was one of them. It looks great and we were able to match the stain by mixing two colors together. Now when the grand kids come up and someone wants to sleep in there they have a door to shut for privacy.

Mother's Day 2020

I had imagined this Mother's day would be awful. Still being told to stay home because of the Covid19 virus,I knew another holiday would pass without being with family. We have been quarantined since March so my birthday, Easter and now Mothers day was spent at home by ourselves.
I woke up early and decided since there would be no family gathering, no pictures, no buffet what would I post on face Book. I decided to post a favorite memory's I chose a picture of myself, my mom,Jennifer,Julia and Emerson. I chose this particular picture because it was a beautiful day which wasn't always the case. We've had snow on Mothers Day, Rain and cold temperatures, but that year it was sunny and warm. We went to a park got carry out and had a picnic.
Fast forward to 2020 snow cold and just and all around gloomy day, that is until my phone rang and it was Jennifer asking to do face time. So I got to see all my family talk to each one of the grandchildren and it was such a wonderful surprise. My son also called me later in the day and so what I thought was going to be an awful day turned out to be quite wonderful. I am truly blessed.

Sunrise

The other morning I woke up to the most exquisite sunrise. Its been cold and gloomy here lately on the lake, and so this was such a nice surprise. I am not a sun worshiper, but I do like warm weather. I don't like the cold either. I like snow on Christmas Eve and Christmas day then I want it to be warm. It's been crazy here at the lake. Its almost May and we've had warm days cold days and then snow showers. Being asked to stay home in order to be safe from this virus is getting depressing so to wake up to a beautiful sunrise gave me hope. Looking forward for warmer days to come, where even if I have to stay home I can sit outside enjoy the sun, and work in my garden.

The Pandemic of 2020

Back in March a virus hit the world. The coronavirus stopped everything in its tracks. We were asked to stay home, no more than 10 people in a gathering, stand at least 6 ft apart. Schools were closed and not expected to re-open,Church services cancelled, businesses closed unless they were essential. Panic yes. People stocking up on face masks, gloves toilet paper. Grocery store shelves bare. Restraunts closing and only doing carry out and eventually curb side only pick up. Banks closing and only using drive thru. It was like something you'd see in a movie. Every day President Trump and his task force hold updates. Scary yes the amount of cases keep climbing the deaths so sad. So far in my county there have been only 2 cases, but I suspect that will change.
I know eventually this will pass the cases will slow down and we will get back to normal, or maybe not. I wonder what it will be like when this is all over, Will people continue ordering groceries to be delivered, will we not gather in groups like we used to, will we fear hugging our loved ones? Will this be like the flu and come back every year, will we need to get a shot every year like we do for the flu and pneumonia and will that even protect us.
Am I tired of being stuck at home yes but I stay put to be safe.

Comfort Tea

Been feeling a little under the weather. One of my go to drinks when I'm feeling poorly is Thieves tea. I got this recipe from my Young Living wellness group. I get a lot of good ideas from them.
The tea is very good.

Ingredients
 1 mug of hot water
 tea of your choice
 1 drop of thieves oil
 3 drops of lemon oil
 honey to taste

DYI Hand sanitizer

I happen to be a Young Living member. One of the best moves I made was joining. The oils and products are excellent and the information I receive is wonderful.
With this scare of the Corona Virus hand sanitizer has been rolling off the shelf in stores. Any place you can find it the price has been raised to an outrageous amount.
The other day the oil society posted this recipe for making your own sanitizer spray. It is a hand cleansing spray.

Supplies and Ingredients
Glass spray bottle
1/2 cup thieves household cleaner
5 drops lemon essential oil
5 drops thieves essential oil1 teaspoon witch hazel
Distilled water

Instructions
Mix all ingredients together in a small spray bottle and top off with the distilled water.
Keep this with you so you can keep you hands clean anytime anywhere. You can also spray it on hard surfaces, like that shopping cart at the store.

My Joy Journal

Two years ago myself and a few friends decided to do Joy Jars. Every Sunday we would write something on a slip of paper and put it in our jar. We would also post on FB what we were thankful for. Our intention was to all get together at the end of the year and share our Jars. Well busy lives interfered and it never happened. fast forward to 2020 my friend Jenny asked if we'd be interested in doing Joy Journals. She made each of us one and each week we write something joyful that has happened or something we are joyful for. I sometimes struggle each Sunday when its time to write.  I go to Church on Sunday, practice bowl on Tuesday,Quilt on Wednesday Bible Study Wednesday night, and Bowl on Friday. Finding new things to write about has been challenging. Each week I try and take in all the things around me, and truly so far have been able to find joy in some of the simplest things. Like the Turkeys that visit my bird feeder every morning, or the dog next door who shows up for a treat. I am hoping that when the year is up we will all get together and share our Joys.
I am truly Blessed.

Feeding the Birds.

A DIY Project

Here is a really nice easy project to make for your feather friends.
Supply's
A china tea cup found at any yard sale, flea market or one you already have
A wooden pole your choice, plain or fancy
Chain or a hanging hook
A bag of bird seed
Suet cakes
Good glue, I used gorilla glue

        Instructions
If you want you can paint or stain your pole
Glue the saucer on the pole
Then glue the cup onto the saucer
Fill the cup with seed and place it in your garden

Hanging feeder
Fill the cup with the suet
Hang it by the cup handle onto the hanger or chain and place it in the tree.

Strike,Spare,Gutter Ball

Last year one of the couples from Church asked if I bowl, they were looking for a sub to fill in on their team. Its been about 40 plus years but I said sure I'd sub. I went on a practice Tuesday and realized my 118 average was not happening I'd be lucky to bowl 100. Luckily they are not competitive its just a fun way to get together. So it began every Friday we bowled 3 games and each week with pointers from other bowlers my game improved. At the end of 10 weeks our team came in second, boy were we shocked. Fast forward to this year our team needed another bowler so we asked John. He reluctantly said yes and after shoes and a ball he was ready. Are we good some weeks yes and some not but oh do we have fun and thats what its all about.  

  

Enough!!!!

Not again, more snow predicted. I know its Winter and with that comes cold weather and snow, but every week we get swamped. Most of the cities up here in Northern Michigan are already over their snow amounts from last year.
I do have hope and everyone laughs when I say this but the Groundhog didn't see his shadow so early Spring. I also read that we are expecting a warm up starting in March. So as you can see I'm very hopeful.
Goodbye Winter!!