The Love of my Life

I am so happy I could burst.

Merry CHRISTmas

Merry Christmas to the Christian believers. Happy Holidays to everyone else.

It was been a wonderful Christmas season for me this year. One of the best. I made kitchen hand towels for everyone at work, knitted a beautiful pair of socks for my sister. Baked Christmas cookies. Passed out Chocolate candy canes at work. It has been just wonderful. I get so much joy from giving gifts to people I love. I bought mom a set of flannel sheets, a boxed book set by Beverly Lewis and a set of Long johns. She was pleased with all her gifts. I received a Garmin from my wonderful sister, a lovely thick waled cordoroy shirt, mixer and kitchen towels and washclothes from mom. Many of my co-workers gave me lovely little gifts. It has been a wonderful Christmas season of giving.

I gave Chloe a pink stuffed squeeky pig. She absolutely loves it. It goes everywhere with her. Roxy, a friend's dog, gave Chloe some milk bones which she goes crazy over too. Poor cats, they got left out of the Christmas celebration. I feel bad about this. I will go to Petsmart tomorrow and buy each a catnip toy. I showed partiality this Christmas which I feel very remorseful for.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Christ is the reason for the season!

Love ya

One bloom

Merry Christ-mas

I have one bloom on my Christmas Cactus. I have a couple other buds. Hopefully they will go into full bloom also.

I've been busy knitting and crocheting Christmas gifts. I gave most my kitchen towels away. I get eager and cannot wait to give them to people. I have three more to make and then I will be done for Christmas. I have two towels left over (which makes 4 kitchen towels) which I will bless friends and family with later this year.

Merry, Merry Christmas!

Christ-mas is here

I don't like that this is the "Holiday" season and not Christ-mas time. This is the Christmas season no matter what people may say. Without the present of Jesus Christ there would be no Holiday season. I think that the Exchange of Christmas presence has gotten way out of hand. It is ridiculous that people go way in debt in order to buy gifts for their children. Often greedy, unappreciative spoiled children. Don't get me wrong I don't dislike children and it is not their fault they are spoiled. But it turns my stomach to see children who get everything they want and then they want more. It is not healthy.

I'll try to get some current pics up soon. Chloe is going to start training classes. I want her to be a well trained, well-behaved little girl. First thing, she needs to be trained to not bark and charge other dogs. After that she will be able to go into any obedience class.

Chloe is absolutely the love of my life. With her my life is complete.

Waiting for Spring

This is what will keep me going through winter--spring is coming.  Much to my chagrin I did not go camping after I adopted Chloe because I was worried about how she would do.  She was not as good a camper as Molly was.  

Nature absolutely soothes my soul.  I stopped going hiking also because Chloe and I often ran into dogs off-leash and Chloe is not good with other dogs.  I will need to start making a point to go hiking without her, because getting out in nature-any time of the year-soothes my soul. Just looking at old pictures from camping brings back the good feelings.

Christmas is coming.  My radio station has already started playing Christmas songs.  Yes, I will call them Christmas songs even though the station calls them Holiday songs, which is ridiculous because we all know they are Christmas songs.  What is this world coming to if we cannot politically correct wish someone a Merry Christmas?  Evil is prevailing.

Anyway,  I am going to decorate for Christmas this week.  The Christmas season is too short, so why not start early?  I feel very sad and regretful that I did not not start planning for my gift giving this summer.  I want to make my gifts like the olden days, but I am running out of time.  One of my favorite things to make is socks.  One pair of socks takes me 2-4 weeks to complete.  Do you know how many pairs of socks I would like to knit?  Many.  Maybe I will submit coupons in the Christmas cards for an I.O.U.  

This is the last year our department will be together for the Holiday season.  People usually exchange gifts.  One year I made cookies for my "gift."  Last year I did not do anything.  Money was too tight.  This year I think I will make something for everyone.  I don't want to say what because I may make several of these items and give them to many different people.  People who read my blog.  The cost for materials is about $1 for each item.  Affordable.  I am told it takes about 5 hours to make one item.  A friend is teaching me how to make them today.

This is Sophie's favorite place to sleep: in Chloe's crate in the back right-hand corner.

Life is really good when you let it be.  I had an off afternoon and slept most of it.  But tonight I am feeling great.  Relaxed and rested.  I've been reading Scarlet Feather by Maeve Binchy for my book group.  Maeve Binchy is one of favorite authors.  She is from Ireland.

All my EZ (Elizabeth Zimmermann) books arrived.  I have a treasure.  If you are a knitter and have not read any of her books, I would highly recommend it.  I'm off to knit a hat, the first project in Knitting Workshop.  It lets you design your own fair-isle design for the hat.  Can't wait....

The Christmas Cactus I bought two years ago at Giant Eagle has several nice size buds.  Can't wait to see it in bloom.  I will take pictures and post them.

Happy Belated Halloween

I believe you can celebrate Halloween without indulging the evil aspects of the holiday.  I love custom parties and scary decorations.  Mandi and Ted threw a wonderful Halloween party, complete with roasted pumpkin seeds (a first for me) and plenty of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.  I should have taken pictures.  Mandi was a queen bee, her two little children were small bumble bees, and her husband Ted was the bee-keeper.  It was very cute.

I did not dress up.  I did not get my act together soon enough to come in costume.  Next year I will.  The party is hosted annually.  A cute  couple in costume was a devil and angel duo.

Several houses in my neighbor would decorated very cute for Halloween.  It was fun to be out and around yesterday.  In the afternoon was the Halloween parade and in the evening the trick-or-treaters were out.  I think Halloween is a fun Holiday.

Happy Halloween!

Booooooooooooooo! 

Life in a Week

Sparkles knitting her scarf.

We like to "showoff" our knitting.  Master knitter Connie is showing off her toddler sweaters.  The yellow and pink one was knit with one self-stripping yarn.  She took special care to start the first yellow stripe after the smocking and she lined up the pink stripes on the sleeves to match the striping of the body of the garment.  Like I said, Connie-the Master Knitter.

Celeste and Pam at  Friday Morning  Knitting at Barnes & Noble.

Chloe stretched out on the couch as I am folding clothes.

Knitting Friday

 Today is knitting Friday at B&N.  I always look forward to this day.  I will try to get some pics of my friends.

Chloe had an accident the other day.  I don't know for sure what happened but I came home to limping, sad dog.  I rushed her to vet.  No broken bones or fractures.  Thank goodness.  She was given an anti-inflammatory med but it made her throw up in my bed this morning at 3:30AM.  Poor girl.  I think she will do fine without the medicine.  She is bouncing back quickly.  Chasing Sophie around the apartment.  Jumping on and off the bed.  She is not suppose to do stairs or jump for two weeks.  What a joke, considering I live on the second floor.  How do you keep a dog from jumping on the bed.  I moved my mattress to the floor, but she still wants to jump on the board on the frame.  As a friend at work said, Dogs are like children, very resilient, they recover much quicker than their parents.

More Pics

Chloe and Sophie playing on the bed while I am trying to make it.
Chloe laying in her favorite chair.  She can look out the window from this chair, but the chair is not so close to the window that she could go flying through the window when she see a dog outside.

Happy 50th Birthday Jude!!!

Sunday, October 4, 1959 Judy Ann Miller was born to George Albert Miller and Patricia Ann Birkmeier-Miller.

I invited my friends and mom to Hartmann's Waterhole restaurant in Harmony, Pa.  The restaurant was rustic with wooden beams in the ceiling.  The food was delicious with reasonable prices.  Vivian brought the birthday cake.  Chocolate cake with strawberries.  Oh so delicious.

From left to right: Jude, Nora, Connie, Vivian & Flo.

From Left to right: Connie, Vivian, Flo, Celeste Pam, Mary Ann, Vilma.

Vilma and Mom

Pam and Mary Ann

Vivian and Flo, the dynamic duo.

Happily cutting the cake.  I was nervous about cutting the cake, but it went fine.  We had two pieces left over.  Two people due to physical illnesses were unable to eat cake with us.

These are my 9 most favorite people in the world.  I invited my most favorite people and they all were able to make it.  Pam Logan ( my bestest ever friend)  from Arizona was invited but could not make it because of the distance.  

Watching Main Street

Chloe is resting her head on window ledge.  Both are at their favorite pasttime--watching Main Street.

My name is Chloe and I am a compulsive barker, at least I was until I went into recovery this past weekend.  I got my mom in trouble because I was barking so much during the day when she was gone.  But mom consulted with a dog trainer who works for Animal Friends and I am a much happier dog now.  I get to roam the apartment when mom is gone instead of being locked up in my crate.  Sophie and I play.  Angel keeps to herself.  My favorite place to lay is in mom's favorite chair in molly's room.  Mom was very upset when she came home to a nasty, angry note on our front door complaining about my barking.  She cried all night Thursday night.  She did not eat one meal for the three days while she was working on solving my problem.  I did not mean to cause her so much trouble.

A Perfect Fit...

I probably should not be feeding Chloe grapes since she is just getting over diarrhea, but it is fun watching her eat them.

Chloe is perfect just the way she is.  Mom described her as 'not friendly.'  That hurt my feelings.  My dog? Unfriendly?  But you know what?  Chloe does not get into the garbage, loves the cats, has had zero accidents in the house, lets me eat in peace,  is not demanding, ... and the list goes on and on.  I could not ask for a nicer dog.  She fits into our family just beautifully.  She has been living with us just over 5 weeks and Angel is doing very well with her.  Angel mind you is the cat who does not like change.  I think Chloe is a little jealous of Angel.  Angels comes out of hiding and meows very loud to let me know she wants me to pet her.  I'll start petting her and then Chloe will put her head in position for my hand to pet her instead of Angel.  Poor Angel walks away.  I should probably reprimand Chloe and tell her to go away, but Chloe so seldom wants petting that I do not have the heart.  Balance.  

Balance in all things is the key to happiness.  Balance the attention I give my pets.  Balance the time spent at home and away from home.  Balance play with work.  Balance.  I learned this important lesson from Jill in North Carolina.  Wise before her years.

Pics of Chloe and Sophie

Sophie yawning.

Chloe's favorite place to lay.

Chloe 'scratching' Sophie's back.

Chloe and Sophie playing.

Sophie is still the Love of my life

Sophie Loves Chloe.  Sophie snuggles up with Chloe to let her 'scratch' her back.  It is adorable.  At first I was concerned when I saw Chloe nibbling on Sophie.  But then I saw her going back for more.  She likes it.  Chloe is loving on Sophie nothing more.

Teach an ole dog new tricks

I'm trying to teach Chloe to 'stay.'   I got nowhere tonight.  She sits fine.  But when I told her to stay as I walked away,  she follow me every time.  I tried several times.  She just never got it.

I am cooking Chloe's dinner.  Her doctor told me to give her boiled chicken and rice because she has had diarrhea.  I can't wait to feed her tonight.  I think she is going to love this.  

I called Animal Friends to be put on the waiting list for an obedience class for next session.

Tomorrow I am going to a volunteer orientation meeting at Animal Friends.  It is a phenomenal organization.  Please, if you are in the market for a cat or a dog, visit Animal Friends on Camp Horne Road.

Words Chloe Knows

Chloe will sit on command and shake hands.  She does not know the word 'walk' or 'car' or 'ride.'  I'm sure she will learn these quickly.  I would take her in the car with me more, but as soon as she gets in the car she starts drooling and foaming at the mouth--before we even start moving.  If her stomach is full she will throw up once we start moving.  Poor girl.

This is has been the nicest weather to walk a dog.  My side of town takes about 30 minutes to loop.  We just did the loop.  Maybe I will take her again later tonight.  She loves to walk.

Camping with Chloe

Chloe quickly made herself at home in my camp chair.

I brought a rug for her to lay on, but she preferred the dirt.

Chloe laying in the chair bought from Knit One North.

Welcome Chloe to Your New Home

We love you Chloe.  Welcome to your new home.  I am so excited to have you.  I can't wait to go on our next hike at Moraine State Park so we can stop at Bruster's again and to get your free doggie sundae on the way home.

Chloe is so gentle and kind with the cats.  I could not ask for a nicer dog.  I told the adoption counselor at Animal Friends that I wanted a small to medium sized dog who would be good with cats, and that I wanted a hiking and camping buddy.  She told me she had an amazing dog who was not out on the floor yet because there was not room, but was ready for adoption.  Unfortunately, that night she was at the Pirates game for pup night so I had to come back to meet her.  I ended up adopting her Thursday July 2, 2009.  She truly is an amazing dog.  I am so happy to have her.

9 Blocks so far

Dinner on the Princess at the Gateway Clipper

Views from The Princess during a 3 hour dinner cruise on the rivers in Pittsburgh with Automated Health Systems.  I had a nice time relaxing and chatting with my co-workers.

The Point at dusk.

Inner Peace and Joy

Nothing compares to the inner joy and peace I feel when I am camping or hiking through the woods.  Nature soothes my soul.  It is the best medicine I have ever taken.  I have reservations to go camping once a month through October (when the campground closes).  

More Pics:

Another great sky picture.

Toms Run Road is a one way road through the forest.  It follows Toms Run.  I do not know where it comes out.  I walked a mile and a half on it and it went deep into the forest.

Wooden bridges are common because of the all the little streams and springs.  They are great to walk across when they are dry.  But when they are wet they are slick as ice.

A nice fire Tuesday morning, early morning.  Woke at 5am.  The birds were singing beautifully.  Wish I had a way to add those sounds to the blog.

After hiking for two miles I got to the top of the ridge and looked up and saw the beautiful blue sky. I climbed from 1400ft to 1600 ft in about a mile and a half. A nice steady incline. Gave me a good workout.

After hiking for an hour and a half I stopped here to dip my feet in the ice cold water, eat lunch, lay down and read and soak up the sounds of nature--the rippling water, the birds.

I want to buy a cabin in the woods and live there.  Nature soothes my soul.  Cook Forest is absolutely gorgeous.  The trails are well maintained and marked.  There are trees over 300 years old.

I star gazed one night.  I thought about moving my cot out to the open field to sleep.  I should have.  I found the big dipper.  The stars were abundant.  I saw a shooting star.

I've been trying to id birds by their call and by sight.  A little chipping sparrow kept visiting my campsite looking for food.  Learning bird calls is like learning a foreign language.   I hope with time it will get easier.  I have a CD with over 100 birds calls, which accompanies a PA bird book.  A bluejay also visited my sight a few times.  They are beautiful birds, but can be aggressive.  Robins were abundant also.  There is one bird call I want to learn what bird makes it.  It is a beautiful call.  I can hear it in my memory.

Don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today, because if you enjoy it today you can do it again tomorrow.

A New Hobby

I'm making a crazy quilt minus the crazy stitching. Here are my first two blocks. We all know about yarn stash. Well, Mom has fabric stash that I am using for this quilt. It is fun rummaging through her stash putting different fabric combination together to get just the right combination. These are 5 3/4 inch blocks. The pattern came from the internet. I am making a quilt for my twin size bed. The inspiration comes from two quilts given to my parents when dad was first diagnosed with cancer.

Happy Quilting!!!

A Piece of Knit One North

A chair from Knit One North has a new home in my home with a new 'customer' relaxing in the seat.  Angel quickly claimed this as hers.  I was pleased when I turned around and saw her laying in it.  She is rarely seen on the furniture and does not like change(s), so I was very surprised to see her take to this chair so quickly.

The scariest moments of my life

I truly experienced the scariest moments of my life nearly 24 hours ago.  I raised the window in my 100 year old building to move the storm window up and bring the screen down.  I placed my hands down near the ledge to move the storm window up and the the heavy window came slamming down on top of my fingers locking them under the window.  The pain was excruciating.  The fear horrible.  I could not leverage my hands to raise the window.  I finally was able to wiggle my left hand free but my right hand was still locked under the window.  With my left hand I tried to get the window up in order to free my right hand but it would not budge.  I stood silently facing the window thinking: I am going to be stuck here forever.  I cried out to God to help me and i finally managed to get the window up enough to free my right hand.  I immediately laid down to recover.

I went for x-rays and nothing was broken.  Three fingers are bruised.  One nail is black.  One finger throbs.  The other two hurt.  Truly the worst moments of my life.

A Small Dose of Heaven

I hiked  Sunken Garden Trail at Moraine State Park.  It was beautiful.  Relatively flat.

Views of Lake Arthur along the trail.

I think I found good shore fishing spots.  I wish Dad was here to take him to them.  Being at Moraine State Park makes me think of Dad because we often went fishing here.  I'd catch the fish and he would filet them.  Good times. 

I passed a couple walking with two small children and a third in a carrier on the man's back.  I thought how wonderful to start the kids out young getting out in nature.  Dad often took me to an undeveloped area in town that we walked around and let the dog run off-leash.  It was good times.  I've always been a nature person.  Not everyone is.  Mom is not.  Dad was.

Too Cute for Words

Angel resting in her hammock.  

Shielding her eyes from the light.

Sophie likes to go high.