OH, No

Computer troubles. Luckily I still have the laptop, but most of my essential stuff is on the other computer. It is in the shop.

If I figure out how to use the card reader with this one, takes me a while, I will post some pictures of the state inspection on the water well. What a crazy day.

We have been super busy getting ready for ho ho. My kitchen has been in an uproar, with the baking, candy making and normal everyday cooking. Sure does smell good most days. The guys are in the basement. They have their own little projects going, as usual. This year the big thing they have started is. . . pen and pencil sets. Turned from wood. I will try to get those pictures posted, too.

Today we are off to get Santa to the community center. He will be coming in on a firetruck, since we don't have any snow. Who knows how many more times Dad will get to be Santa. This is the first time in quite a few years that he has had the opportunity. The community just hasn't had anything. We will make sure to get pictures today.

Where has the time gone?????

Wow, 30 years ago, today .. .

Look at us now . . .

What happened? What a great way to spend the last 30 years. With my best friend and eternal companion. These years have just flown. It seems like yesterday we were at the alter, being sealed for time and all eternity, in the Washington D. C. temple. How lucky I am.

Yesterday we spent the day just running around. I was able to get my hardwood kitchen floor at Keim Lumber in Charm, OH. Got new boots, yea!! Just enjoyed spending the day together, even though John is sick. I am pretty sure he has the flu. Lots of aches, pains, fever and head stuff.

Looking forward to the next 30 years. Can't wait to see what fun and adventure they bring.

SURPRISE . . . SURPRISE!!!!

I can't believe it. I was in a bread making contest last night. . . and I won. I took my wheat bread to be judged against pumpkin cloverleaf rolls and cranberry apple bread. I couldn't believe when they called my name. This was the first year they actually had a tasting competition for the Times Leader Holiday cookbook. Two ladies that I have known for years also won first in their categories. We won $100.00 in gift certificates and a nice bag of goodies from the Kitchen Collection store.

I started making bread at 6:00 am yesterday morning. I just wanted to have the perfect loaf. By 11:00 am I had made 14 loaves. I shared them with Janet and some of the guys at the firehouse. Way too many to keep here.

For those interested, the hives are gone. Still some redness, but the itching left.

Viewer discretion advised

Okay, admittedly, not the prettiest pictures to post on the web. BUT . . . this is what I am dealing with since Saturday. I have hives, not just hives, hives on top of hives on top of hives. This is the best picture I could take of myself, since I need to remain clothed.

The doctor has never seen hives this bad. I have them from my ribs to the bottoms of my feet. Walking is a killer. Shoes are only as a necessity. I look like I have the heebie jeebies. The other patients in the doctor's office just kept looking at me. Yuck!!!

I think it is a new medicine. The doctor does not. I am to wait a couple of days and see if it gets any better with the steroid shot, prednisone, and antihistamine. Let's just drug me up. So far, no luck in getting better. The feet are actually worse today. The only place I don't have it is on my neck and face. Thank goodness.

I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. Time for another antihistamine and then out like a light.

Happy 70th Birthday, Dad !!!

No one believes it when you tell them that Dad is 70. He sure doesn't act like it, is usually the comment. We surprised him last night (day early) for his birthday. Pretty much everyone was able to make it, at some point.

April, Annie, and John Jr.

Mitchell

Dylan and KelsyBrian and Kelsy (she loves having her picture taken)Dad and McKayla
Sarah and MamaApril and SarahDad and Diana (Kelsy's grandma) She hates her picture being taken.As you can see, we did catch him off guard. He still had his bibs on from working outside. Kids all had a good time laughing and enjoying the sugary buzz.

Is it Christmas???

Well it was for us last week. Our Bishopric purchased a dry pack canner for the Ward and we are sooooooooo excited. We tried it out on Tuesday, while waiting to serve a funeral dinner.

We canned almost 60 cans of goodies. We found a place up North that will sell us bulk soup mixes, pudding, wheat, etc. Did you know you can get 17 cans of oats out of a 50 lb. bag. Lots of oats. Found a good storage place in my new building. ha ha John.

These are my friends Tom and Dottie Folmar. I have know them since I was a teenager.

One last ride. . . I hope

Well, off we were again. One last train ride for John this year. We have gone to Nelsonville/Logan area several times, but we have always been there in the winter when the train didn't run. So. . . I made plans to go while John was off this week. The ride was over 2 hours long and put him to sleep most of the time, but it was soothing, to say the least.

While in Nelsonville we had to go to the Rocky Boot Outlet, of course. Then to Sonic for lunch.

Then off to Logan to see if our favorite cabin was ready for us to check in. Yea, it was!!!! No pictures this time. Beautiful one room cabin with kitchen, bed, fireplace, bath and the best relaxation technique of all. . .

Now, we did save this for later in the evening after dinner and a little "Gem stone mining" at one of the local campgrounds. But doesn't he look relaxed? It was cool outside, so the hot tub was the perfect ending for a busy day.

This is a picture of the geode we found in our bucket of 'treasures' at the mine. If you have never heard of a geode, look it up on the internet. Some are huge, beautiful, and very expensive. John is going to try and polish up the edges of this one.

We found other treasures, too. We had amythest, emeralds, garnets, moonstones, crystals, "fools gold", and lots of pretty stones. Nothing to make us rich, I'm sure, but we had fun.

Time to unpack, do laundry and check mail. Shame there isn't a hot tub in the back yard. Maybe some day.