tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54561958489009028022024-02-19T09:19:49.056-06:00MOVING ON TO THE PASTKathy Felsted Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10471923897561942341noreply@blogger.comBlogger880125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456195848900902802.post-71292062031876632492021-06-19T10:09:00.000-05:002021-06-19T10:09:01.311-05:00Birthday Dibblet and Widger<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDM6h7VbyjSAK_6_ASLA1ulEdqEZAt1B-KhvRyuUqKXBdTe4MLAxLKU_S1KbQzRU3Ze-uZm4PxlcrJLoo62QLjKGfHmoUUb7mkS64HZfHqG7vQUZ0AkN-BJ6AfpB47F5DYmCMRH3ULQ-8/s2048/20210617_193028.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDM6h7VbyjSAK_6_ASLA1ulEdqEZAt1B-KhvRyuUqKXBdTe4MLAxLKU_S1KbQzRU3Ze-uZm4PxlcrJLoo62QLjKGfHmoUUb7mkS64HZfHqG7vQUZ0AkN-BJ6AfpB47F5DYmCMRH3ULQ-8/s320/20210617_193028.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I treated myself to a dibblet and widger for my birthday this year, having wanted them for a bit now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Many of my friends might ask, What? Ha, ha. Yes, not high tech and strange sounding at that. One makes holes to plant seed. It has markers to help you get the depth right in the garden.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The other helps to remove seedlings from starter trays more easily or even make the holes to pop the seed in. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There you have it, what more could a gal want?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Kathy Felsted Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419622698066503105noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456195848900902802.post-22877168781846398542021-05-30T19:55:00.001-05:002021-05-30T19:55:14.166-05:00Huckleberries<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCt-MWYZ9_gt4UFqR_MFVureD5ytHEilXpp86UP5U5XOaL_uhM0lKwz6_os4MrZdqZzKSOaKv-07CW7KMRfYvpkACTBI3xy_I8du6c43nrfBarnwlIrFbMBZd210fig8vp6bXwa-Ow2g/s2048/20210522_120607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCt-MWYZ9_gt4UFqR_MFVureD5ytHEilXpp86UP5U5XOaL_uhM0lKwz6_os4MrZdqZzKSOaKv-07CW7KMRfYvpkACTBI3xy_I8du6c43nrfBarnwlIrFbMBZd210fig8vp6bXwa-Ow2g/s320/20210522_120607.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I loved Huckleberry Hound when I was a kid, I even have a stuffed Mrs Huckleberry Hound doll up in the attic. So, when I saw Baker Creek had them, I had to try.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These are the garden huckleberries, they will grow like a pepper but get a few feet high, 1 to 3, with berries. When the berries are dark and ready to pick I plan to try either a pie or jam. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hear it is good. I will keep my fingers crossed! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTZm5wa_nhQxDqVYUK5WXW__7NDiG_s3hUIfmG81lLMsnTblv-URIPjOe1fmqPxGPCNLMzQl-q9I41Xw4HvT1EegQ6ioDzJa_xh3XGAJ2mG44Bl9_2ZVH42p8FDfcg288OQcw4jiVZD4/s2048/20210511_202827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTZm5wa_nhQxDqVYUK5WXW__7NDiG_s3hUIfmG81lLMsnTblv-URIPjOe1fmqPxGPCNLMzQl-q9I41Xw4HvT1EegQ6ioDzJa_xh3XGAJ2mG44Bl9_2ZVH42p8FDfcg288OQcw4jiVZD4/s320/20210511_202827.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">L</div><br /><p></p>Kathy Felsted Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419622698066503105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456195848900902802.post-42035578323272009412021-05-26T11:42:00.000-05:002021-05-26T11:42:08.679-05:00GreenStalk<p> GREENSTALK</p><p style="text-align: center;">I love our GreenStalks! These are amazing, versatile, convenient and a great conversation starter. They are made by a family business and have become the hit of the garden circles.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieoZlvr9Id8gwXe6DRb_x5TWhL4Nd-0dC9dumsoqp5LJrz8iCzRZOQ_zE7I2JSbGY5vp9owXcbc6lJuLgwzZnAiDgcPm0aETACj6WOQRE_-oqRRm6n88VpRyAdkMrLwtwTnh1IvlTbCxE/s2048/20210526_062508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieoZlvr9Id8gwXe6DRb_x5TWhL4Nd-0dC9dumsoqp5LJrz8iCzRZOQ_zE7I2JSbGY5vp9owXcbc6lJuLgwzZnAiDgcPm0aETACj6WOQRE_-oqRRm6n88VpRyAdkMrLwtwTnh1IvlTbCxE/s320/20210526_062508.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Self watering from the top, there is a drip system that keeps your plants moist after filling the top tray. Each layer has an internal tray that fills into the pocket below. We ordered the caster system so we can move them, even into the garage during an unexpected cold snap.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcLVQlexjI6ReExesxLvIVeZFUCq6aHHw5SMH3hhxz25rU8IvTVQaLS3I4Bupt98ipEmIvlrhWKsVaGH8ktk-aVppG_kjmYKvgDmTqbIvS9mmclI3_YboKtr7q2lwBCrmad3B0eVstSo/s2048/20210526_062819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcLVQlexjI6ReExesxLvIVeZFUCq6aHHw5SMH3hhxz25rU8IvTVQaLS3I4Bupt98ipEmIvlrhWKsVaGH8ktk-aVppG_kjmYKvgDmTqbIvS9mmclI3_YboKtr7q2lwBCrmad3B0eVstSo/s320/20210526_062819.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Look at the results! We are still filling in with flowers, herbs and vegetables. And I still have my other gardens. This allows even the apartment or condo owner access to fresh grown food at their fingertips</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Rt0vWtTARvO_q8CVVSFAheduCfiP18cTGla8yPJg6nExxDazY8UdNK185HrBJYpNzzD23qKfhsyaV4p2sCLHRJAD3GKgaq-gFU43p1PiufYENkaxwMRvhmvCsiUQQq4jh7ypBL57EVA/s2048/20210526_062647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Rt0vWtTARvO_q8CVVSFAheduCfiP18cTGla8yPJg6nExxDazY8UdNK185HrBJYpNzzD23qKfhsyaV4p2sCLHRJAD3GKgaq-gFU43p1PiufYENkaxwMRvhmvCsiUQQq4jh7ypBL57EVA/s320/20210526_062647.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDt6ZghWiCfP6zp-N1FpWV8xrjV_mhLEzIvlZc50Pn-Z3ZSypvdeGteMfQCiMrC4IjMbAoz5560xZez7nCo8ymYI0LueS9TN7XuF6lq32neRz2qVL9g23VABuhXRvoyJya9lSdctkN7aY/s2048/20210526_062742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDt6ZghWiCfP6zp-N1FpWV8xrjV_mhLEzIvlZc50Pn-Z3ZSypvdeGteMfQCiMrC4IjMbAoz5560xZez7nCo8ymYI0LueS9TN7XuF6lq32neRz2qVL9g23VABuhXRvoyJya9lSdctkN7aY/s320/20210526_062742.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><br /><p></p>Kathy Felsted Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419622698066503105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456195848900902802.post-58489114757180760912021-05-22T08:15:00.002-05:002021-05-22T08:18:46.773-05:00A Saturday of my Own<p> I have a Saturday to do anything I want, which in this case is sipping coffee on the top porch as I listen to the early birds trying to get those worms. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN7GOu0Y8H3UOYcMTyc_El4eQxStolY52jj1NzWX5Y3OnvHhNZLJfGxTMlUKutYcSmpZA1bvoWuuKaNrwCaLyP4mxPi_pfBGZ8OCkjbxjZxMzMr329J3zsyR3XH61y2uSiLWPZl0uB_MA/s2048/20210522_075255.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN7GOu0Y8H3UOYcMTyc_El4eQxStolY52jj1NzWX5Y3OnvHhNZLJfGxTMlUKutYcSmpZA1bvoWuuKaNrwCaLyP4mxPi_pfBGZ8OCkjbxjZxMzMr329J3zsyR3XH61y2uSiLWPZl0uB_MA/s320/20210522_075255.jpg" /></a></div>After that I will slip on my garden shoes, grab my gear and plant the huckleberries I started from seed earlier this year. I have never grown them but they are suppose to be similar to peppers and make delicious pie.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifogsF7pD6s3LpOhGDTmnzSuKAhTiREfSZYJSOzwpXpG7AC5FdYqnbTTt6o7Jft7157Res0gkoAftX1RqHEL0ec0qkHEr161hJLmFQCyI5fd3BtWPK0TUGSEUFFnUTUWiUB-fi0zZfUkE/s2048/20210522_075301.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifogsF7pD6s3LpOhGDTmnzSuKAhTiREfSZYJSOzwpXpG7AC5FdYqnbTTt6o7Jft7157Res0gkoAftX1RqHEL0ec0qkHEr161hJLmFQCyI5fd3BtWPK0TUGSEUFFnUTUWiUB-fi0zZfUkE/s320/20210522_075301.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have some reading material to catch up on or crossword puzzels to fill in. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1FzPE9XVz7CapsBtWaAN8aUnKinRrI9zTcoezrRtpKgpZZFiLY66Nqq_dNEbUKLX1o7bLoJSQloLAJrb25IJZMtBMK41p9dE6CpjEPl02QQRjydp3Y-_x9RJnsh6894jvic4EJ3yieI/s2048/20210522_075322.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1FzPE9XVz7CapsBtWaAN8aUnKinRrI9zTcoezrRtpKgpZZFiLY66Nqq_dNEbUKLX1o7bLoJSQloLAJrb25IJZMtBMK41p9dE6CpjEPl02QQRjydp3Y-_x9RJnsh6894jvic4EJ3yieI/s320/20210522_075322.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My husband is going to pick up the new lawn tractor as ours had a mishap with some sort of internal part shooting its way through the deck above the blades, creating a giant hole. If you need a tractor you better start looking, most here are out of stock and not expecting them until September.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have been watching my new two favorite garden YouTube vloggers, Roots and Refuge Farms and Whispering Willow Farms. If you have time take a look. They are teaching us their garden methods but learning along with us at the same time. I truly enjoy them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Kathy Felsted Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419622698066503105noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456195848900902802.post-39054678947332082672019-06-29T21:15:00.001-05:002019-06-30T15:33:07.990-05:00Hello Everyone!<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Can you believe it has been about two years since I posted on Blogger! A lot has happened but I am happy to say that things are going well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What has stayed the same?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UDryxPvivjfynvoG6A8zGUO9KAfAdLPcA9PwEkHjmsfS5ORaWc1sErcnY0kORydRlZqxn1qNnD76zFQFlja3XScgMjkRZk6LAkFnlSI6HuY8GDVI6f31hlfa2sNVYxeIxrs7Xz96eUc/s1600/raccoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UDryxPvivjfynvoG6A8zGUO9KAfAdLPcA9PwEkHjmsfS5ORaWc1sErcnY0kORydRlZqxn1qNnD76zFQFlja3XScgMjkRZk6LAkFnlSI6HuY8GDVI6f31hlfa2sNVYxeIxrs7Xz96eUc/s320/raccoon.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am still crazy about raccoons! </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have a a couple of mamas that visit every night, eating up spare cat food and begging for marshmallows. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am still gardening, quilting and taking care of cats!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What has changed?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIt3krMNfZzrS87swp1BaYimRswNQQrazYgW3fgIBycUsTvsm305xlsAuZ-u0pUn8YbdFRI2Q8_xFjcv8zFxYC-rgceAKGoaj1Le08hNtPvpMbTZmHO0JSeKKDD75dj-WXhgUznOwvOow/s1600/bday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="960" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIt3krMNfZzrS87swp1BaYimRswNQQrazYgW3fgIBycUsTvsm305xlsAuZ-u0pUn8YbdFRI2Q8_xFjcv8zFxYC-rgceAKGoaj1Le08hNtPvpMbTZmHO0JSeKKDD75dj-WXhgUznOwvOow/s320/bday.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I got older!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfcTynxXPKaLir_v4nUg9QzoJpA8aOKFslasY12t5IjHL-ku5VnbFNAjkx-Ozx0P61Do1nMw-PWBAhzUJWI3SdnMKTxKyyMNwl8Off5_YlItn9mz-MrGxm1McDVILizFP-mpEszgU73w4/s1600/flooding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfcTynxXPKaLir_v4nUg9QzoJpA8aOKFslasY12t5IjHL-ku5VnbFNAjkx-Ozx0P61Do1nMw-PWBAhzUJWI3SdnMKTxKyyMNwl8Off5_YlItn9mz-MrGxm1McDVILizFP-mpEszgU73w4/s320/flooding.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I took a voluntary severance package from my company for almost 20 years. I got a new job before I even left my old one and I am very, very happy with it. It's still about an hour away but worth the drive!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOBtC_n_1iiCDh3EB10yjjNAOoOZztKllV-s88koonRQaJ0bz7n8wFZmk6Epovq3nZUVt604vNUCrFGZBTRAK-3fanXhmj-VyXJoXaxmzz5EIhGQcvCK6BnB8YcrRi9zauz4M_Bd2Zcs/s1600/taylor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="714" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOBtC_n_1iiCDh3EB10yjjNAOoOZztKllV-s88koonRQaJ0bz7n8wFZmk6Epovq3nZUVt604vNUCrFGZBTRAK-3fanXhmj-VyXJoXaxmzz5EIhGQcvCK6BnB8YcrRi9zauz4M_Bd2Zcs/s320/taylor.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My granddaughter, Taylor, has become quite a pretty young woman. We took her to a nice Italian restaurant a few weeks ago. She is all of 14 now and will be going to high school next year.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYoEqWIPIpxPUggLsV4CSHc25twCjhpga1AO4lJpIVnOBm4GmQNZ04st_JAVie8HxjxMM_eZKDM07qqSLKNR2jv-gSSSTz9r8jPlFYrZC6fWm4n_L9yVqfSBhkELbEkj8os1D6z-B8oU/s1600/radio+spot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYoEqWIPIpxPUggLsV4CSHc25twCjhpga1AO4lJpIVnOBm4GmQNZ04st_JAVie8HxjxMM_eZKDM07qqSLKNR2jv-gSSSTz9r8jPlFYrZC6fWm4n_L9yVqfSBhkELbEkj8os1D6z-B8oU/s320/radio+spot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I volunteered to help out at Lowe's for my company and participated in a radio station's Facebook post. We handed out treats, had raffles and provided garden and bug information to consumers. Somebody won a nice grill, a wheel barrow filled with product and concert tickets.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRAvfQKMDypYIO5S2Rk_sigwQD3zKSi_nXJFnmZoCMMjObOT7GpjGLSoRGYntpxcQR61tboKpfw_ouxqMzjhlEQ9aSykWjSZAMIy7eJNr2pQXglrxunJ9UzVc96sQvvGviLZFJdISvNQ/s1600/flooding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRAvfQKMDypYIO5S2Rk_sigwQD3zKSi_nXJFnmZoCMMjObOT7GpjGLSoRGYntpxcQR61tboKpfw_ouxqMzjhlEQ9aSykWjSZAMIy7eJNr2pQXglrxunJ9UzVc96sQvvGviLZFJdISvNQ/s400/flooding.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is my drive to work due to the flooding.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is actually a farm field but looks like a lake.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4bcS9Vckqj-3EEFEonllw795BWctBd_oNJKKkGZw0ZBb6wM2UjMBphdnhnAubHRO4UXdUGHwVDn-ZeS-1ualHpo5pJfp4hW5EWQUYiPDDNVumR2ynCrf6rFu3DnuKJkE0KphWAtAw0s/s1600/car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="714" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4bcS9Vckqj-3EEFEonllw795BWctBd_oNJKKkGZw0ZBb6wM2UjMBphdnhnAubHRO4UXdUGHwVDn-ZeS-1ualHpo5pJfp4hW5EWQUYiPDDNVumR2ynCrf6rFu3DnuKJkE0KphWAtAw0s/s320/car.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Jeep finally gave out so I now have a Ford Explorer</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">which promptly got recalled!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It won't be my every day car since I drive an hour</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">but will be nice if bad weather threatens. I actually drive a </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ford Focus for my normal commute.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well, more later.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just stopped by to say Hi!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Kathy Felsted Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419622698066503105noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456195848900902802.post-20287907357941980392017-07-15T11:25:00.000-05:002017-07-15T11:25:12.360-05:00Is Anything Cuter Than a Bee Butt?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1wJP9H1Pr8r6kl39PQc_DSQTjgjTldTX9JRCaGM9bUhlPZCZbavVzuy7GEpuhgRoj-f4tSha9bu2XikY5yTkNBxE6PXF7ZmR65Z-tBQ0Rw2fcFqEYPMWuVgFtft9vzkmY2prxrBjkek/s1600/bee+butt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="370" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1wJP9H1Pr8r6kl39PQc_DSQTjgjTldTX9JRCaGM9bUhlPZCZbavVzuy7GEpuhgRoj-f4tSha9bu2XikY5yTkNBxE6PXF7ZmR65Z-tBQ0Rw2fcFqEYPMWuVgFtft9vzkmY2prxrBjkek/s400/bee+butt.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yep! It's a cutie alright.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I saw this little round bee butt sticking our of my hosta.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Pretty soon here it comes, covered in pollen and all happy.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Read below to see why I was a bit worried today.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdvJWMP8YhTpL0J5NtDT6U54qJFDIC1YA5HtmLmiQ2Qa1-3bjdPhqs9EI5eqNk04SxXhYmNJHRhnp_6J3B3ai7_Uz3Dwo6d6rf3FrtCZ7lWLeWiRETY7hej12JO3B2Z9tZPQSvl0ofIY/s1600/bee+butt+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdvJWMP8YhTpL0J5NtDT6U54qJFDIC1YA5HtmLmiQ2Qa1-3bjdPhqs9EI5eqNk04SxXhYmNJHRhnp_6J3B3ai7_Uz3Dwo6d6rf3FrtCZ7lWLeWiRETY7hej12JO3B2Z9tZPQSvl0ofIY/s400/bee+butt+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I had a scary moment today.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I had to drive THE TRUCK and not only the TRUCK</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">but also pulling the BOAT TRAILER!!!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And, I had to pull it out of the water,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">no boat on it though. I had to pull it out while</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">my husband, Tom, and graddaughter, Taylor,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">were holding the boat on shore as they prepared to leave.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I still can't get wet yet so out of caution I stayed home.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What did I do with the truck and trailer once I left?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ahhhh, here was the tricky thing.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I can maybe drive it on the road IF I don't have to back up.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You can't see out the back so you have only the side mirrors</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and while I can back my car up OK, not the truck with </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">a trailer on it. So, I left it parked out front until I can</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">get my brother in law to back it down the curved driveway for me.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I would have pulled in but then I'd have to back out.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No, No, No.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Someday I'll learn to do back it up. Just not today.</span></div>
<br />Kathy Felsted Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419622698066503105noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456195848900902802.post-43464565982447982572017-07-13T05:47:00.002-05:002017-07-13T05:47:41.693-05:00Tiny Frog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI9eb466_9oMAZU62PyX9aa_YufKuqxIm-rtqikaXTjeTelw1-AmKRtGmL-D3-KftkT6VzjQ9oQ8j0tCGRfrRMc8-B_t-v24Q3HEoxLtw5EJLHfX72rAo4W1YDVY9QrbRriJ5iMcwIxg4/s1600/frog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="946" data-original-width="526" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI9eb466_9oMAZU62PyX9aa_YufKuqxIm-rtqikaXTjeTelw1-AmKRtGmL-D3-KftkT6VzjQ9oQ8j0tCGRfrRMc8-B_t-v24Q3HEoxLtw5EJLHfX72rAo4W1YDVY9QrbRriJ5iMcwIxg4/s640/frog.jpg" width="353" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This tiny frog was resting on the rocks I stacked up in our</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">fountain for a landing pad for our bees to get a drink.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This cutie is smaller than the nail of my little finger.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He is so pretty and perfect that he must be brand new.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You can see all the tadpoles in the water with him,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">there must be thousands of them! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />Kathy Felsted Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419622698066503105noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456195848900902802.post-18883482778737872342017-07-12T05:15:00.000-05:002017-07-12T05:15:05.849-05:00Reunions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjFqkhdJUYtfJa6kKzZMarQ0HnfDx4oQYRV8eCBsDm4ZPbYSNEOMTn4gFu4OeFGRfPHgMT8rK2Liag12KjwKAgiB6ZG7qJ7BjLUDEkTT_GOQunqNxM7SvmeMJ8nQVE2Mqqddoqg6xD6NU/s1600/hurdy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjFqkhdJUYtfJa6kKzZMarQ0HnfDx4oQYRV8eCBsDm4ZPbYSNEOMTn4gFu4OeFGRfPHgMT8rK2Liag12KjwKAgiB6ZG7qJ7BjLUDEkTT_GOQunqNxM7SvmeMJ8nQVE2Mqqddoqg6xD6NU/s320/hurdy.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was our 40th High School Reunion!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wow, we are OLD.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now we didn't go to the "real" reunion but attended</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">the pre-parties arranged by fellow classmates.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thursday was a nice dinner with friends from elementary school-</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">yes, elementary school. We still keep in touch!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Friday was a group meeting at a little pub near our old school.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was nice to see old friends and guess who was who.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They carried it on to another bar but we left by then to </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">pick up our granddaughter since she was staying with us </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">for the weekend. We stopped by the Elks lodge and had </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">a drink or two (me iced tea) with my daughter and her</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">boyfriend. I think we are going to join. It's a nice place</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">to sit where you don't have the public coming.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I don't care for bars, you just don't know who will </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">come in or what might happen. This is </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">a small town and people are known.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My college roommate was in town Saturday and I </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">wanted to spend some time with her, which is why</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">we didn't attend the "real" reunion. We drove</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">up to St Charles, MO and spent the day walking up and </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">down the cobblestone streets shopping and having </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">some lunch. I found some little miniatures, which I love.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I purchased a Hurdy Gurdy and selected The Battle Hymn of</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">the Republic from the various tunes they had. Additionally,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I got a little raccoon and opossum.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6Uv7Gsp-6eTW4a9d1h-5QgMkhyphenhyphenJ8l6Lr0cQzeHlLFJ6MmHklSuuBj_wFQoxM-gaddL-yDSx9ApZBn9XA0DFiMQgFz7uZXsMFbgooX1QKGwyFDYtfQWiwIxbwmIwHpOMEpFHW3z28XSM/s1600/row+pl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="526" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6Uv7Gsp-6eTW4a9d1h-5QgMkhyphenhyphenJ8l6Lr0cQzeHlLFJ6MmHklSuuBj_wFQoxM-gaddL-yDSx9ApZBn9XA0DFiMQgFz7uZXsMFbgooX1QKGwyFDYtfQWiwIxbwmIwHpOMEpFHW3z28XSM/s320/row+pl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Coincidentally (wink, wink) there was a Quilt Shop!!!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Quilt shops across the US, Canada and Europe are having their</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.rowbyrowexperience.com/">Row by Row</a> Experience event where they offer either a </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">free pattern or a kit to make a single row. You can collect</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and sew these rows into a quilt with rows from your state,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">from various locations using a theme, etc. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The rules are that you have to go into the store, it's a promo.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then there are contests for who completes one the first for</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">each store, a junior row by row with a contest and of course</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">shopping while you are in the store. No on-line sales until</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">after the event which ends in the Fall.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I see the surgeon tomorrow in order to schedule my next</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">surgery which will include a week in the hospital again.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This should be the last one!!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'll be glad to get this over with.</span></div>
<br />Kathy Felsted Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419622698066503105noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456195848900902802.post-13264626003847621722017-06-30T04:57:00.002-05:002017-06-30T04:57:56.956-05:00Row by Row Here I Go<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARc8h7xWzo0jYm5pAGCoyt7CHSSjZ1oBpERqRFfTsRUtEmOUXYtUbGo5ZhmX1zVlQbdwJso6_1fw6lHc2v0_q6VW3SYjtFUeGnTcQmfcqC9tnjXhsGYPl4JTUyI7iN1WvuNpL7hIv6P8/s1600/1+row+by+row.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARc8h7xWzo0jYm5pAGCoyt7CHSSjZ1oBpERqRFfTsRUtEmOUXYtUbGo5ZhmX1zVlQbdwJso6_1fw6lHc2v0_q6VW3SYjtFUeGnTcQmfcqC9tnjXhsGYPl4JTUyI7iN1WvuNpL7hIv6P8/s320/1+row+by+row.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is time for <a href="https://www.rowbyrowexperience.com/">Row by Row</a>!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Quilters will visit shops between now and fall to collect</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">either free patterns or kits designed by the shop. This </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">introduces them to new shops, lets them visit old favorites</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and offers skill building as we try different techniques.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some quilters will combine their rows into full </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">quilts, others will continue on to the contest.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Me, I'm just having fun.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I just completed these two.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One is of the Mississippi River with boats and the </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">other is from last season where I visited </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Quilts and Quilts in Branson MO.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb12u9ljqAi1HJHqs5SJsdCDrPLBoGH-oFB20sg_9SJhuyNXvtJO4nItRI3e0shWL3ZdstzFLqg28ZSRSJqqvqDBkrNkU4QulMzo7Zt0yoZ2CFwsdiPU5EkMpD_3FUnEOUsUYvObrZ-cw/s1600/1+row+by+row+close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb12u9ljqAi1HJHqs5SJsdCDrPLBoGH-oFB20sg_9SJhuyNXvtJO4nItRI3e0shWL3ZdstzFLqg28ZSRSJqqvqDBkrNkU4QulMzo7Zt0yoZ2CFwsdiPU5EkMpD_3FUnEOUsUYvObrZ-cw/s320/1+row+by+row+close.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I thought this would be hard, but it was so much fun!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You cut out all the little strips that you can see inside the </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">US map, sew them together and bond a cut out</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">of the country on top of them. The entire area underneath</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">still has the various fabric strips.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then you add the letters using a bonding material but</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">you have to sew around everything to keep it in place</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">for a long time.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMGMbLkI_DUWtyvBuIafjVG8zEBIPX7ULbVzr4wgD4E08W8O-zEmwrAe7Dmukm8RICm18cOQBWOuHz9-j6e8T-6pDE-34lRBvi9QpybgWiNAbwaSbficGBEeiR6VMXEAdNotErAmonDA/s1600/1+row+by+row+all.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMGMbLkI_DUWtyvBuIafjVG8zEBIPX7ULbVzr4wgD4E08W8O-zEmwrAe7Dmukm8RICm18cOQBWOuHz9-j6e8T-6pDE-34lRBvi9QpybgWiNAbwaSbficGBEeiR6VMXEAdNotErAmonDA/s320/1+row+by+row+all.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The top two are from last year too</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(they have been tucked away in a drawer so need ironing)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The middle two are this year and I have already</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">discussed HOME.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I hope to visit a couple more shops in St Louis this weekend</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and pick up a couple more patterns or kits.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My real quest is to build a Kathy's Life quilt but</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">the logistics are in the way. I just can't get to some </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">of the places I need to get the kits. I'd start </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">out from when I was born and add rows to get</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">where I am now. You actually have to be there,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">no ordering on line.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kansas City, MO Born there but 4 hours away</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Aurora, MO 4-5 hours away</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Various ones from St Louis I can do.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hot Springs, AR where I visit my mom. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Who knows, maybe they will have a kit left over after</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">the collecting period is over and I can get one mailed to me.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I tried with Aurora last year but she was out of kits.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The <a href="https://www.rowbyrowexperience.com/mo.htm">Missouri Row by Row</a> provides a map, printable list of shops</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> (Travel List) and </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">images of the rows (Pictures) submitted by shops for 2017,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">they also have a Facebook site.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It should be fun!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Kathy Felsted Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419622698066503105noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456195848900902802.post-10448769929210685972017-06-22T19:47:00.000-05:002017-06-22T19:47:42.881-05:00It's Been Awhile<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8l2feg4mF0vsvO4pTyGITiCxGZR0WsLYnhEUc9p1KnA3920oFFEdCOv5gTWBOkj1cAaKVqSRNs6VdC8da1NIB0HSbs-ziXquQn5RDmN18z2FTHYcmJIjJx0b_EERxuN9ZWS3dE0ru8c/s1600/buzzards+resized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="1296" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8l2feg4mF0vsvO4pTyGITiCxGZR0WsLYnhEUc9p1KnA3920oFFEdCOv5gTWBOkj1cAaKVqSRNs6VdC8da1NIB0HSbs-ziXquQn5RDmN18z2FTHYcmJIjJx0b_EERxuN9ZWS3dE0ru8c/s320/buzzards+resized.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Gosh, I sure hope this doesn't set the tone for the post!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No, no worries, it's all OK.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While I have had my issues we were able to take off</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">a day (that was not in a hospital) and drive down to </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Branson, taking my granddaughter to Silver Dollar City.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">She's 12 and good company on roller coasters.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not that I ride them but my husband does so they took the</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">death defying rides together while I roamed around the shops.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is at the fish hatchery at Table Rock lake. I got a kick</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">out of the buzzards that perched above the tanks hoping to grab a bite or two.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We had a day at Silver Dollar City, played mini-golf, stopped at</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bass Pro in Springfield on the way home and made </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">another stop at an outlet place on our way back home.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYB7jfvpFoVsIVPVXxWMTKlZi03ci_t4-4Z5A1miIV5YIj_jdJVoSVaX0iSrvpDt65dtK9qbqep5mZvNzsrXxNLNP6FINnQg0pHZhaeZ2Dgmylm3nGQS5boOkww55VsrKEFtySBCGBeY/s1600/blackberry+resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="1296" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYB7jfvpFoVsIVPVXxWMTKlZi03ci_t4-4Z5A1miIV5YIj_jdJVoSVaX0iSrvpDt65dtK9qbqep5mZvNzsrXxNLNP6FINnQg0pHZhaeZ2Dgmylm3nGQS5boOkww55VsrKEFtySBCGBeY/s320/blackberry+resized.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Since my last post I thought I was out of the woods but ended up with another</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> bout </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">of C-Diff that was diagnosed after two ER visits missed it.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was down to 109 lbs and the doctor had to scope me to figure</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">it out. It seems that you don't normally get it in your small </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">intestine so it was missed. In a couple weeks I was feeling</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">much better after the antibiotics took care of it.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was ordered to gain weight or I wasn't getting my final operation.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Since I have met all my out of pocket expenses I'm not going to miss</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">that one. I wish I would have had the order in writing because I would</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">have framed it! It was the first time a doctor ever told me to GAIN weight!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, next operation is on the house in addition to all prescriptions!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I received a text from CVS pharmacy asking me if I wanted to refill</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">my prescription that started with (they give the first 3 letters). </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I wasn't sure what it was but had a good guess.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Why yes! I do indeed want you to fill any and all prescriptions!"</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Remember- it's all at no out of pocket expense now.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'll take anything they want to give me!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Turns out it was my EpiPen that I keep just in case due to the bees.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIn3AvpNDZ8f7_5hnLGk6D5_Zogo5GCfm5GAno3orzkZvdTzeH3GQZ0wQLX1fUj7A8ft8-crnHoJ7rAIxK4oc7V8-jBprubT7QndBqJ_tXl7gCV254MeKP03gFblXnXTiM-sPkRxUA9w/s1600/coneflower+resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="1296" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIn3AvpNDZ8f7_5hnLGk6D5_Zogo5GCfm5GAno3orzkZvdTzeH3GQZ0wQLX1fUj7A8ft8-crnHoJ7rAIxK4oc7V8-jBprubT7QndBqJ_tXl7gCV254MeKP03gFblXnXTiM-sPkRxUA9w/s320/coneflower+resized.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's another year with a crappy garden since I have been so sick; </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">however, I'm posting some photos of some of my gardens.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Blackberries, cone flowers and elderberry flowers.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have cantaloupe, watermelon, tomatillos,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">zucchini, tomato, peppers and herbs planted.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ZLDchCf_bpAXOwnkbJYDd768YOh3gVn_xCNcJOOV1vco6tSIqL0zt5Vgz36-4_pxucs7OBaPyr9GJWYNF2U3cel4hr5zheaKgnh7gyeXnk0E561KXqsfLi2ADD2G2YW7aAqRT0z0Jug/s1600/bees+resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="972" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ZLDchCf_bpAXOwnkbJYDd768YOh3gVn_xCNcJOOV1vco6tSIqL0zt5Vgz36-4_pxucs7OBaPyr9GJWYNF2U3cel4hr5zheaKgnh7gyeXnk0E561KXqsfLi2ADD2G2YW7aAqRT0z0Jug/s320/bees+resized.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The bees are still alive but I don't know what the honey yield will be. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It would nice to get some this year. Last year we had to leave it all</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">for them to eat over the winter.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRIvDu6I9vkNVEux6hU3x1oKWfy2QZ1Ac9sGhHccpRBjWrQ26RWt2akGa4dtc_vM5faWfBJex_OERbvwh2foTXSKJfosu0ARoBskb9RD1xHXL8emIDmDbTVMCGObM930O96B_k6QYjIY/s1600/elderberry+flower+resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="1296" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRIvDu6I9vkNVEux6hU3x1oKWfy2QZ1Ac9sGhHccpRBjWrQ26RWt2akGa4dtc_vM5faWfBJex_OERbvwh2foTXSKJfosu0ARoBskb9RD1xHXL8emIDmDbTVMCGObM930O96B_k6QYjIY/s320/elderberry+flower+resized.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Elderberry flower</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I had my 58th birthday on June 19th, another reason</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">we spent the weekend in Branson. The 19th was Monday</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">so I took off work and did some shopping plus</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">my annual breakfast at Denny's. This year I had to drive into</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">town because the Denny's in the closest town, Eureka, burned</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and it's not rebuilt yet. I really like their breakfast!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm still limited in my diet but adding new things all the time, </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">hoping I don't run into a blockage- my biggest fear with this</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">ostomy. That and any leaks that could happen, based on </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">what my Facebook group tells me can and eventually will happen.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8s4Eevsczv35x49BQ-Gu_ijuuw2RybsehCCov9TXxgXoHV-3sypUZfpVLsddh-O0tsiHW92T9pU1iOo1GfaDxTsOYvTnIisMvbAtw8ax7uaz0J7b7uDa-9VG39RAOHMD_GZ8Cc4NpNY/s1600/mimosa+resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="1296" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8s4Eevsczv35x49BQ-Gu_ijuuw2RybsehCCov9TXxgXoHV-3sypUZfpVLsddh-O0tsiHW92T9pU1iOo1GfaDxTsOYvTnIisMvbAtw8ax7uaz0J7b7uDa-9VG39RAOHMD_GZ8Cc4NpNY/s320/mimosa+resized.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I love a nice mimosa!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, I have another operation in August/Sept and that should be it!!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have been terrible at the internet too. I seem to get a couple of</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">comments posted on FB but that's about it. I'm hoping to start</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">getting some vegetables and canning/dehydrating or freezing them.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I need to get back to those bucket list activities that I had planned</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and learn some new skills but it might have to wait since the next</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">recovery period will be 3-8 weeks depending on how extensive the </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">surgery needs to be. I sure have missed a lot of work but they</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">have been very supportive! I'm pretty lucky.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I hope you all are doing well and will try to catch up on things.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />Kathy Felsted Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419622698066503105noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456195848900902802.post-87018945542714795782017-03-16T08:46:00.000-05:002017-03-16T08:46:06.721-05:00New Developments <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1x1PKF4PbKjfAF24Klb4zcwk15Y2KoND0PNjsQiYfNJ-dI7J2jtXOY2ANVMf38BTA6byr3B8b-AwDnpbe87ERcZCn4l5rYsz4xqVfEgphjUFMTKAIqGbc1h8hQr2Hl9A9OICqHf3Xf4/s1600/flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1x1PKF4PbKjfAF24Klb4zcwk15Y2KoND0PNjsQiYfNJ-dI7J2jtXOY2ANVMf38BTA6byr3B8b-AwDnpbe87ERcZCn4l5rYsz4xqVfEgphjUFMTKAIqGbc1h8hQr2Hl9A9OICqHf3Xf4/s320/flowers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I spent a week in the hospital and left without a colon.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yes, it got bad enough that I was literally on my last legs.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I couldn't drive to work or do much more than sit in my chair</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and watch TV. The pain from my colitis was so bad that I </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">couldn't wait for my surgery.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was amazed at the cards, balloons, gifts and flowers I received.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I had no idea that so many people would be thinking about</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">me. Some friends went above and beyond! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I owe them big time.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I could barely eat and when I did it was so painful that</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">you didn't want to eat anything. I got very weak since</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Christmas. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My poor husband had to do everything the past few months.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I've lost 100 lbs and was very dehydrated, so much so that they </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">thought I was not creating enough urine. It turns out that I </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">was so dehydrated I was absorbing almost all the fluids they</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">were pumping into me.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The day after they removed my colon I felt great,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">comparatively so. No gut pain, no cramping. I had</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">a pain block shot before surgery that would last a day</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">so I would not be in too much pain when I woke up.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was exhausted from the surgery that was around</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">5 hours long. I had a pain medicine pump which I</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">used the first day or two but minimally. I did use it just</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">before physical therapy, they recommended it so my</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">session would be productive; however, I stopped using it</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">early and they were surprised- even though they sent me</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">home with a prescription for a VERY strong pain medication</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">which I never took. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was on clear liquids for a couple days and then </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">progressed to full liquids (add cream of wheat, </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">milk and ice creams, puddings, etc.)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then they had me on soft, low residue foods to see</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> how I tolerated it before they could release me.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When they remove your colon they give you an</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">ileostomy. This is a stoma</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">which you cover with a pouch to collect your stool.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's your small intestine that is brought to the surface of </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">your skin and sewn on, sort of inside out. You empty the </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">pouch a few times a day and every few days change the adhesive</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">wafer that holds it on your stomach.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now I need to determine if I keep this system </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">or go for reconstruction, I am leaning to keeping </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">this. It is inconvenient, the drawback is that you have a</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">bag attached to you that needs emptying and runs the</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">risk of leaking at some time, almost all do at one</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">time or another. The biggest drawback is if I lose</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">my job or insurance, how will I pay for these very</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">expensive pouches? With insurance I pay $13 a month,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">without it would be $270 and that is without any of</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">the paste or other accessories you need to maintain them.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Reconstruction has its risks. The Doctor says it works well for younger</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">people. Older people, I'm 57, especially with auto immune issues</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">do not do as well, run the risk of infection, urgency and control</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">issues plus pain and burning. The output would be liquid since</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">the drying takes place in the large intestine which I no longer have.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The liquid is caustic and can cause sores if your wafer leaks or</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">when you are getting used to your reconstructed J pouch</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(again your small intestine that is used to create a pouch and</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">attached to your rectum/anus). It can take a couple of years</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">to work through the issues and I just don't think I can go </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">through that after the last couple years of problems.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRALEBafbfaO7CPOD0AOir0h-T2PEWrmvpUW6RqzGVuJdWg7P5q0DBH5vrB_kWltVlUpSqVRBkKtv7KkANi0h4_Vxp_n2mfK2UAI-YTSptu4dxc4Qw4KwYAxf5FPEDG3Tnf0Tk5CIHTn0/s1600/bee+embroidery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRALEBafbfaO7CPOD0AOir0h-T2PEWrmvpUW6RqzGVuJdWg7P5q0DBH5vrB_kWltVlUpSqVRBkKtv7KkANi0h4_Vxp_n2mfK2UAI-YTSptu4dxc4Qw4KwYAxf5FPEDG3Tnf0Tk5CIHTn0/s320/bee+embroidery.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm on medical leave right now. Home Health was</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">coming in twice a week to watch me clean the stoma</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and change my pouch. I passed with flying colors by the way.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I couldn't do much. Rest, eat soft foods, watch how</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">new foods affect me, no exercise other than walking,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">no driving, no lifting. So I embroidered the squares for </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">my Bee Creative quilt along. I'm doing the sashing now.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I will return to work Monday but on a work from home basis</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">for the next two weeks. I physically return in April when I can</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">make the hour drive and be able to lift my laptop bag in and </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">out of the car.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I can eat again! Nothing spicy or fibrous yet but I will be working</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">my way there after a few months. You still have to be careful.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You can get a blockage in the stoma which is bad so avoid</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">nuts, popcorn, celery, seeds, etc. </span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1SXL859dgTpcb_XMgX6Ok1fww4S7XcuASXrh8ssqQkfGoctr_xuwLY306Cjc30kJ_dM2AXafwcM_f5TEd57z0w58HJJodR54MvHA-PyvfWD3iBfv9Oqea13XXxImjZusFOzOPFbwp4s/s1600/tucker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1SXL859dgTpcb_XMgX6Ok1fww4S7XcuASXrh8ssqQkfGoctr_xuwLY306Cjc30kJ_dM2AXafwcM_f5TEd57z0w58HJJodR54MvHA-PyvfWD3iBfv9Oqea13XXxImjZusFOzOPFbwp4s/s320/tucker.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is my gastroenterologist. He was just named a Fellow of the AGA.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He took care of my until he referred me to my surgeon then sent </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">me a nice note the other day to say he heard from my surgeon that I was doing</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> much </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">better. I sent back a congratulations note on his fellowship.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That explains where I have been. I don't have much to post but </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">my husband has been taking good care of our granddaughter, Taylor who is 12, when</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">she visits on the weekends. They are learning to read maps, use compasses,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">hiking and geocaching. We have picked up some things at REI that will be helpful.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">She is learning to shoot various firearms. She is showing interest in youth </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">competition </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">which </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> is available through our Conservation Department.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAaFZOBqIbtrPrxomVM5ZmRf8TKhI4MJbYQ0nNB5vDyH0b15dXzlmORG60lDKlJ-1HRUNe4pv6pM8ew5VoGhe66azeaBNnIjNEbOHD2BZ5nxz_TLRw3aVwAlCcuTodCNscePsm7lUwmk/s1600/geo+cachn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAaFZOBqIbtrPrxomVM5ZmRf8TKhI4MJbYQ0nNB5vDyH0b15dXzlmORG60lDKlJ-1HRUNe4pv6pM8ew5VoGhe66azeaBNnIjNEbOHD2BZ5nxz_TLRw3aVwAlCcuTodCNscePsm7lUwmk/s320/geo+cachn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Finding the geocach</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Without realizing it she is getting survival training.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I hope she won't have to be our next <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Connor">John Conner</a> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GVezQ1Qc977u_AejPsAHnoHk_OZX_H76pSExZg1T45mvsdZj4xK4NT7lok0SeY5BwkXWXXFUmrGOlH_QGR7ccagt2n4uSv-jShJCTtJcd2ae4UJNLlLUx-LWmXoXgvSR7AalDkXmYJE/s1600/taylor+geo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GVezQ1Qc977u_AejPsAHnoHk_OZX_H76pSExZg1T45mvsdZj4xK4NT7lok0SeY5BwkXWXXFUmrGOlH_QGR7ccagt2n4uSv-jShJCTtJcd2ae4UJNLlLUx-LWmXoXgvSR7AalDkXmYJE/s320/taylor+geo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I don't know how often I will post but as I get</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">stronger and start doing more things I'm sure I'll</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">get back into the swing of things!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />Kathy Felsted Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419622698066503105noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456195848900902802.post-5803541815299089782016-12-03T13:00:00.001-06:002016-12-03T13:00:52.146-06:00Santa Rides a Harley- A Christmas Lesson<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8TveV3UwmLOPSBJPp-hJIPL8SqfMglgkCNgOiRTpvTaaScxfNG7agFYuraTBAJDFBEDBxiyP3wlo2eSjxJUkVjKW65YHBaT0Zc2b7twL5SR69VVQ67a_bnkZqVSwfzZ3ZrwZ1WYXGxQ/s1600/Taylor+and+Santa+2010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8TveV3UwmLOPSBJPp-hJIPL8SqfMglgkCNgOiRTpvTaaScxfNG7agFYuraTBAJDFBEDBxiyP3wlo2eSjxJUkVjKW65YHBaT0Zc2b7twL5SR69VVQ67a_bnkZqVSwfzZ3ZrwZ1WYXGxQ/s320/Taylor+and+Santa+2010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
Santa Rides a Harley</h3>
<div class="post-header" style="background-color: white; color: #667f99; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-876680892974907857" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 558px;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sleet and snow blanketed our area unexpectedly December 2007 on a most important day, at least for three year old Taylor, our granddaughter. It was the day she was supposed to see Santa and tell him what a fine girl she had been all year. We were going to the mall which was at least thirty miles from our home and twenty of those are over curvy, hilly, two lane, no shoulder roads where roll-overs are the norm. The fortunate ones don’t land upside down in the many small creeks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">How was I going to break the news that we just couldn’t make it? She truly is fine girl. One of the most well behaved children, kind and sharing. I don’t say this simply because she is my grandchild, it was a concentrated effort of all parties involved to set limits, examples and actually provide discipline rather than have a kiddie free-for-all that is so common these days. Then it hit us- <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our local paper advertised Santa’s arrival at the nearby Harley dealership. It is located at the cross section of Hwy 44 and 50 just outside of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Union</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">MO.</st1:state></st1:place> It stands by itself, very rural and of course has motorcycles in the parking lot. I have passed by it several times and there have been some pretty strange looking people there. I was a bit nervous; I had watched movies where Hell’s Angels terrorized towns. They rode Harleys. There were tatted up, leather capped, long hair bearded men - also women in tall boots donned in pure black leather with more than a hint of silver studding. We could get there, but would we get back?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was only eight miles away, we could make it. We all jumped into the 4WD truck and headed to the dealership. I asked my husband to wait in the truck with <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Taylor</st1:place></st1:city> while I checked out the store, just in case we had to hightail it out of there. No, I’m not the brave one, I just can’t reach the truck pedals to make the fast getaway. He thinks I am ridiculous, a <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">West</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place> princess, but gives in to my request. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I gingerly approached the door, entered the building and what to my wandering eyes did appear . . . . . ? Sitting atop a beautiful, shiny motorcycle was a wonderfully jolly, white haired, bearded Santa donned in Santa red and white from tip to almost toe-the required black boots as the finishing touch. The pretty lady elves in elfin garb, their pointy caps all green and red, ushered the little children to Santa, snapping photos of each- compliments of the dealership. Little play areas were set up among the aisles where awaiting tots could build with blocks, play with tiny cars or hug stuffed bears. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The store had been transformed into a winter wonderland with homemade decorations of candy canes and packages high up on the walls. Display areas were filled with stuffed animals, an unusual selection with anteaters, opossums, skunks, chipmunks and squirrels, all at very reasonable prices. There were Christmas trees- the traditional green bushy variety. There was also a very special orange and black tree covered in Harley ornaments, all very pretty and quality made. Across the store was the bake sale with freshly made cookies, fudge and candies which rivaled any PTO selection I have seen. All proceeds would go to charity, just one of their many charitable events throughout the year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I ran back to the truck to get <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Taylor</st1:place></st1:city>. She couldn’t miss this, and I couldn’t pass up this photo op! Now this is our annual Christmas event. She loves that Santa and you can tell how much he loves the kids. He takes his time with them, no rushing. He has an actual conversation with them, and also with the parents. Then he pulls everyone in for a group photo. I’m no longer uneasy around the long haired, bearded, leather capped and tatted up patrons, in fact, I would really love to have one of their leather tooled black purses complete with the silver studding but they are way above my price point! I make certain to purchase several items from their bake sale and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Taylor</st1:city></st1:place> always gets her pick of unusual stuffed animals, my favorite being the opossum. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So the magic of Christmas didn’t stop at a child’s wonder but also transformed the preconceived ideas of a grandma. Peace on earth and goodwill to all. Merry Christmas. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2c2Arg9wx_JOvbhZ62Qt5Of4u5zbV0fZyrSfcs7dAsXZLox_PlIRx1udIeGk7EzajvPnui2wqoa1jVUR-kwpx2k1OPOI8J77OSgyd6BVvuNE0D9QBUqYn9LYlmAz_ETlnoxGDQcbtLqU/s1600/tahlor+harley+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2c2Arg9wx_JOvbhZ62Qt5Of4u5zbV0fZyrSfcs7dAsXZLox_PlIRx1udIeGk7EzajvPnui2wqoa1jVUR-kwpx2k1OPOI8J77OSgyd6BVvuNE0D9QBUqYn9LYlmAz_ETlnoxGDQcbtLqU/s320/tahlor+harley+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Taylor in 2016</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Kathy Felsted Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419622698066503105noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456195848900902802.post-34399487483352376672016-11-13T11:18:00.002-06:002016-11-13T11:18:41.637-06:00I am Still HereHi,<br />
<br />
Just an update. It took a trip to the emergency room to determine that I have carried around a bacterial infection, C Diff, for months. It's a Really, Really bad infection but we thought it was just a colitis flare. It wasn't. In the meantime I also twisted my knee badly so the ER also put me in a substantial brace which I was not allowed to remove, except for showing, for a month.<br />
<br />
Today I am on Humira, which I will post about later, and finishing up the second round of antibiotics for the C Diff. I'll be back to posting soon. I am so far behind reading all your blogs.<br />
<br />
Thanks for the nice thoughts while I have been out.<br />
<br />
KathyKathy Felsted Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10471923897561942341noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456195848900902802.post-8239622090621106522016-09-20T05:09:00.001-05:002016-09-20T05:09:14.437-05:00A Little Under the Weather<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrNjhNIHw0Z3WoyUvW78VzwFD-MUS346AXhaHN1L90RSBvvN8BbbeFJ9K7-Q3nG5VVCSLSOVz1uogUdMpjxyXQcXzgQfbaLyGNkQycFiTIOU5tgb3TkNyihngPQ6RFa5dN8dBG1rXmAM/s1600/little+bee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrNjhNIHw0Z3WoyUvW78VzwFD-MUS346AXhaHN1L90RSBvvN8BbbeFJ9K7-Q3nG5VVCSLSOVz1uogUdMpjxyXQcXzgQfbaLyGNkQycFiTIOU5tgb3TkNyihngPQ6RFa5dN8dBG1rXmAM/s320/little+bee.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was thinking that I haven't made any progress on</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">the projects I wanted to accomplish as pertain</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">to learning the old ways. This summer has been </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">wet or I have been under the weather again, </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">fighting this colitis. It's hard to get too </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">enthused when you don't feel well.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Instead, I </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">thought I'd post some photos of the project I AM working on.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I really have enjoyed this quilting/embroidery project sponsored by</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Moda, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/465441650311874/">Bee-utiful Quilt A Long</a> with designs by Pamela Jane Morgan.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It has helped me to learn new embroidery stitches and to take</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">some creative license with the basic pattern.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You'll see some blue markings in the photos-</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">they was off but serve to outline the basic pattern,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">each containing a bee or two.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj53PNu83D6qmP4fG7aRF_3rhL8oIBSyF0KBcTAJpmebx11aUtGX73hL5FjqK9yPMdAbsJA0-IwPOlDP2ygWCc5pgOwdTskkFmedlAGkfrPTbm7L8xz0e6XyTIoX1moU-ruOgF4qgj5Qs/s1600/little+bee+big.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj53PNu83D6qmP4fG7aRF_3rhL8oIBSyF0KBcTAJpmebx11aUtGX73hL5FjqK9yPMdAbsJA0-IwPOlDP2ygWCc5pgOwdTskkFmedlAGkfrPTbm7L8xz0e6XyTIoX1moU-ruOgF4qgj5Qs/s320/little+bee+big.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's easy to sit in my recliner and stitch</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and still spend time with my husband.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the meantime I am working with </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">doctors, fighting their recommendation </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">to get on medicine with potential side effects</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">of brain infections or TB. Another lists 3-4</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">types of cancer, one 100% fatal.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Maybe the odds are small but one brain infection</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">is enough to change everything. I am going to consult</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">another doctor to see what the alternatives are.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We've only had these new biologics (you hear them on </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">tv all the time now) for awhile,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">people managed before without them.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wish me luck!</span></div>
<br />Kathy Felsted Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10471923897561942341noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456195848900902802.post-82024266817650083552016-09-14T18:17:00.003-05:002016-09-14T18:17:19.657-05:00Hot Springs Arkansas Visit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkCbAOHmtc9RxAcTxqW9hPaWpQfJ2VJgoyZk6nUQr2PU12GAAo9O5STfAC1paaCa3wGg_ACqF5iHJFN5iMU-BMafQmYBgMnnA2POz0NuScgpsI2HtG6UKrNJSUfPRmNvQjEGQHXAy9v0/s1600/Taylor+Arkansas+welcome+re.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkCbAOHmtc9RxAcTxqW9hPaWpQfJ2VJgoyZk6nUQr2PU12GAAo9O5STfAC1paaCa3wGg_ACqF5iHJFN5iMU-BMafQmYBgMnnA2POz0NuScgpsI2HtG6UKrNJSUfPRmNvQjEGQHXAy9v0/s400/Taylor+Arkansas+welcome+re.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We were Arkansas bound, headed for Hot Springs</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">to visit my mom for a four day weekend. We brought</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">our granddaughter along and took the required photo</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">at the Arkansas welcome center on Hwy 67 just after</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">the Missouri border. This time the sweet ladies that </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">man the center gave her a cutout of Arkansas to hold up!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's a long drive for us but we have made it so many </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">times that we have familiar landmarks which help</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">to make the trip shorter. Additionally, it was good</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">to see they extended the four-lane section so we are </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">down to only about 30-40 miles of two-way!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZzmgKumx5K7QfG_oI-ENPWrpiy_Dd9Jw0km2Vx8UXw0ytGs5JScc224YrazmEX4Ix54G_fhH8hmWwiPhclrUG713I2HEeRF3KMF69L45ipHwhrylLQyYTRZ9hIj0bqCiA_jcfwVA5B8/s1600/toms+favorite+menu+re.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZzmgKumx5K7QfG_oI-ENPWrpiy_Dd9Jw0km2Vx8UXw0ytGs5JScc224YrazmEX4Ix54G_fhH8hmWwiPhclrUG713I2HEeRF3KMF69L45ipHwhrylLQyYTRZ9hIj0bqCiA_jcfwVA5B8/s400/toms+favorite+menu+re.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After resting a bit upon arrival, we made our way out to</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Tom's favorite restaurant, Mr. Whiskers. It's moved </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">locations, expanded the seating but was still so crowded</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">the line to order stretched down one whole side of the </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">seating area. You had to estimate departures so you</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">can tell them To Go or Eat In! He had fried oysters</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">with hush puppies and slaw. Taylor had the kid meal,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">mainly because it comes in a snazzy cardboard boat!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Mom had fish and shrimp and I chose ala carte since</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I can't eat much these days. Three shrimp and some</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">hush puppies were plenty, with some of those hush</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">puppies to take home!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4AU3npTPHaIOR6ORDsIXsSWC4M27rZkPYX_sW8RKjr2d0UloWPGGRhIXzpBZYZtK-lWMOvvc7AwGZP3lInqX1Gvb2nBL0VzH0CChgj1uiqbsP4vJk9xBR6FRZ053rA23dVQly873UpM/s1600/bathhouse+row+re.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4AU3npTPHaIOR6ORDsIXsSWC4M27rZkPYX_sW8RKjr2d0UloWPGGRhIXzpBZYZtK-lWMOvvc7AwGZP3lInqX1Gvb2nBL0VzH0CChgj1uiqbsP4vJk9xBR6FRZ053rA23dVQly873UpM/s400/bathhouse+row+re.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We made sure to go downtown the next day.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We dropped my husband and Taylor off while Mom</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">and I went to the quilt shop to pick up my</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Row by Row that mom had purchased for me</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">but we still had to pick up. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Afterwards we met the hubby and Taylor downtown.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It was really nice except it's a small area and when you</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">add 10,000 motorcycles for a rally on top of tourists,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">it was a bit deafening! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRbaW3J3H9mcO0qD2oTkfQs-Nta1LtCwHekOavec0b_auuEsdBlMSpcfRN5hIGNnUGX62d4hFyC6UOslczMpos-ynWny4Dg12EYOZbOEKfd0G6UDWxrl5G8ievyjOxVYqIGI55S7yXcU/s1600/fat+bottom+girls+cupcakere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRbaW3J3H9mcO0qD2oTkfQs-Nta1LtCwHekOavec0b_auuEsdBlMSpcfRN5hIGNnUGX62d4hFyC6UOslczMpos-ynWny4Dg12EYOZbOEKfd0G6UDWxrl5G8ievyjOxVYqIGI55S7yXcU/s400/fat+bottom+girls+cupcakere.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is Fat Bottom'd Girls, a cupcake shop that won</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">on Cupcake Wars that Taylor watches. She was simply </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">amazed last year when she saw her idols were right there!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She had to get a big chocolate cupcake this time.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">By the looks of it, it was grand!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvKyyR6ejvgAOKwfILl45QoKn4dBQOW9DCLB1-841JzVzBzeaaD3_29asFH1-44hp_BAawHjfR4qdu3zkidkdcKfY05AsR2e0mkqLK1rJqqfXMUKQWoQIhfLQc-Unucmk6_k0yhxtl08/s1600/The+Ohio+Club+re.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvKyyR6ejvgAOKwfILl45QoKn4dBQOW9DCLB1-841JzVzBzeaaD3_29asFH1-44hp_BAawHjfR4qdu3zkidkdcKfY05AsR2e0mkqLK1rJqqfXMUKQWoQIhfLQc-Unucmk6_k0yhxtl08/s400/The+Ohio+Club+re.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Taylor and I had our photo taken outside of the </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ohio club with Al Capone!!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLP2lHqsEs-45isWEyvaEK_OT9rJwHe33HeNlUaYYNhryW4-yGly_uBq0u8QVGNiUMsaXk4goRtN6aug-hJ3qwB4aAyGDNSi6D0UYAiZepkSwPD0vg5TUZdcfHWOzLsBjdCA4k-MfyGNY/s1600/boat+and+dam+re.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLP2lHqsEs-45isWEyvaEK_OT9rJwHe33HeNlUaYYNhryW4-yGly_uBq0u8QVGNiUMsaXk4goRtN6aug-hJ3qwB4aAyGDNSi6D0UYAiZepkSwPD0vg5TUZdcfHWOzLsBjdCA4k-MfyGNY/s400/boat+and+dam+re.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Mom owns the point so we have a great view plus</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">a lot of water frontage to swim.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwLEcsuWQWZTxOwa7fkD3E2NP0gGjJlAPzrq0ecedvM-5LVK4WXORvchlw0VuWZqVpUmhz-NA7YwKhyphenhyphenkDTn6QslmruLUTmlUFrGQYmHtgVn595fo2KH89Tj1CGmABOV9YlC0sIzLOlUI/s1600/captain+taylor+re.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwLEcsuWQWZTxOwa7fkD3E2NP0gGjJlAPzrq0ecedvM-5LVK4WXORvchlw0VuWZqVpUmhz-NA7YwKhyphenhyphenkDTn6QslmruLUTmlUFrGQYmHtgVn595fo2KH89Tj1CGmABOV9YlC0sIzLOlUI/s400/captain+taylor+re.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Captain Taylor and Pops</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72j2waeNCdaM5zrm4mfgtfDDtSUNJhihV0cYM5bB3RsOXNLuqMCqZWmkoaVgpG3dJR_c1xsJXCt75t_w2x7rs9AnX_t-Ga2_MgbJxci8c7CSPItJ2d8F0eiYTQYGUpQ6AECeCfp5MI_s/s1600/nana+and+taylor+re.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72j2waeNCdaM5zrm4mfgtfDDtSUNJhihV0cYM5bB3RsOXNLuqMCqZWmkoaVgpG3dJR_c1xsJXCt75t_w2x7rs9AnX_t-Ga2_MgbJxci8c7CSPItJ2d8F0eiYTQYGUpQ6AECeCfp5MI_s/s400/nana+and+taylor+re.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Taylor takes a break and sits with my mom</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">up front to enjoy the view.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyvhWKI3rGSBGa2re9bsIwgOpEBqdqmq_zrwDOcv56xZHovXyMX0XdHFb1YiOws3VSncAUqaZmE8-dAkLSDHnCAbGuR4bPpBE89YTXwsu6xjG4wiHnAd6H-L3qifmZ9aEM2S18A113HY/s1600/cannonball+re.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyvhWKI3rGSBGa2re9bsIwgOpEBqdqmq_zrwDOcv56xZHovXyMX0XdHFb1YiOws3VSncAUqaZmE8-dAkLSDHnCAbGuR4bPpBE89YTXwsu6xjG4wiHnAd6H-L3qifmZ9aEM2S18A113HY/s400/cannonball+re.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">CANNON BALL!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Mid air too!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6zgwnUcPUUpIxd0lfga6rEjDUhWTPKjdDzn716O4SJo7x98BAkM1ZjYklisz3mdjUDsypVYkY-A9iSiw-lQgKTvBOtfHFZ9U7fVYFSSqJxsDm56kkCliK_rhCRDEhjUAwOaHaPJIrM0/s1600/kathy+6+re.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6zgwnUcPUUpIxd0lfga6rEjDUhWTPKjdDzn716O4SJo7x98BAkM1ZjYklisz3mdjUDsypVYkY-A9iSiw-lQgKTvBOtfHFZ9U7fVYFSSqJxsDm56kkCliK_rhCRDEhjUAwOaHaPJIrM0/s400/kathy+6+re.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Relaxing on the deck.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTPYcjOdMFmaYWTO0QxEYfe10m_ouleISIWi9IRSMVBdRb_lC34yKSVCF3-wLpsIOvj2g0V-gzdjgk8QG67aMdownEvah0PpT78G8Zp7_QrglU1OIz4U5h8tVwwJPi2bP3Av3IP-xrXE/s1600/kathy+5re.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTPYcjOdMFmaYWTO0QxEYfe10m_ouleISIWi9IRSMVBdRb_lC34yKSVCF3-wLpsIOvj2g0V-gzdjgk8QG67aMdownEvah0PpT78G8Zp7_QrglU1OIz4U5h8tVwwJPi2bP3Av3IP-xrXE/s320/kathy+5re.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNL6Csl9yAwejaLEFlpNRo03sU88Qp3vqFTh_jYWvnB-zGbQyHfoyTMCsPfMkuTJ5JAzXeAHjKgFa5zvrXieAdiB1GK8vpLplLVuz1ldRQJTIMtbJMK9kw7Il1UZwidCw6NWWQZNbUSHo/s1600/evening+re.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNL6Csl9yAwejaLEFlpNRo03sU88Qp3vqFTh_jYWvnB-zGbQyHfoyTMCsPfMkuTJ5JAzXeAHjKgFa5zvrXieAdiB1GK8vpLplLVuz1ldRQJTIMtbJMK9kw7Il1UZwidCw6NWWQZNbUSHo/s400/evening+re.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our view as the sun sets.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgCqILDANyHTQRDpsvCK3WHfOP9S5JlMR08Qhe-kGgKt9HeymGWEmdmzOGcKGsgVv541z6SwmX5Ue8sRm-G8-Vm1YxjL9rKCSkRokS_uTidVcvdaCKuaK-nrJST9fF8G1_3oTrI3zA2c/s1600/moms+houe+night+re.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgCqILDANyHTQRDpsvCK3WHfOP9S5JlMR08Qhe-kGgKt9HeymGWEmdmzOGcKGsgVv541z6SwmX5Ue8sRm-G8-Vm1YxjL9rKCSkRokS_uTidVcvdaCKuaK-nrJST9fF8G1_3oTrI3zA2c/s400/moms+houe+night+re.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Mom's house from the water at dusk.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZf0qBUccSQ-rWVNRPL4HYYQEJp-LVx46m0i5aQ5uHwUMa7e5GUtZq97AyS-m46cYOLKfCRGeAlWT4uFZQZASPEcInt8VX3t7kGBgOsE8su0SW75UFjtf4-BK2hxOEoOCSPEjkpJKjyJs/s1600/lake+home+3+re.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZf0qBUccSQ-rWVNRPL4HYYQEJp-LVx46m0i5aQ5uHwUMa7e5GUtZq97AyS-m46cYOLKfCRGeAlWT4uFZQZASPEcInt8VX3t7kGBgOsE8su0SW75UFjtf4-BK2hxOEoOCSPEjkpJKjyJs/s400/lake+home+3+re.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There are some tremendous houses on this lake.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is mom's neighbor and yes, it's as big as it looks!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEvO095peUgwysuS4_HeKCDj2hS1w1L6jCES1Pkg2iqziMljRP-q7bZyz45RAxpoDk3D_6p4Fn4mI3RN3i0u1Y_mJdvJcGgT4vb3-nZAdhAbdenv9kLwqk-Zh3bWbVdFBr9iZydIAAJI/s1600/lake+home+1+re.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEvO095peUgwysuS4_HeKCDj2hS1w1L6jCES1Pkg2iqziMljRP-q7bZyz45RAxpoDk3D_6p4Fn4mI3RN3i0u1Y_mJdvJcGgT4vb3-nZAdhAbdenv9kLwqk-Zh3bWbVdFBr9iZydIAAJI/s400/lake+home+1+re.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Another house down the lake.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptD5RDBZQEqVqLuAIxD5-3pjXA6RccIWP3qG2TbQfSrcEQc9HkxRzwD27KGUBZKflqlvd7t0M2fTC-oFra9kwcTJSbQ_URCLrZRfI8BHzZPjPCD1m0v-mNTef7YihKCfyeGMP4Ywzs6c/s1600/lake+home+2+re.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptD5RDBZQEqVqLuAIxD5-3pjXA6RccIWP3qG2TbQfSrcEQc9HkxRzwD27KGUBZKflqlvd7t0M2fTC-oFra9kwcTJSbQ_URCLrZRfI8BHzZPjPCD1m0v-mNTef7YihKCfyeGMP4Ywzs6c/s400/lake+home+2+re.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This one has an infinity swimming pool just before the lake.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Soon the weekend came to an end and we were packed up</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">and heading back to the St Louis area. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now I need some time off to rest!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<br />Kathy Felsted Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10471923897561942341noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456195848900902802.post-87707311656205757622016-09-05T12:01:00.000-05:002016-09-05T12:01:19.412-05:00I Survived !<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoUU04JvWNAs8vAMsIYLnMNiUQO_DTwUFfsCIPO198redvjDu-K0LrkQVabqUN5Zku2z15vQyrQSLmwCWewmvKAcyFiETNnOVoQVuTWaWn2QGy5oPbakTKsQlmupKrpYQIe1_xjkHfDd0/s1600/bug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoUU04JvWNAs8vAMsIYLnMNiUQO_DTwUFfsCIPO198redvjDu-K0LrkQVabqUN5Zku2z15vQyrQSLmwCWewmvKAcyFiETNnOVoQVuTWaWn2QGy5oPbakTKsQlmupKrpYQIe1_xjkHfDd0/s400/bug.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Shared from FaceBook</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I needed help and help did not come!!! It was horrible, twisting and writhing across the basement floor and here I was trapped between the washer and IT. I yelled for help and my husband answered me, but not with the reply I expected. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No, abandoned in the basement with The Bug! And, it has pinchers. I was quiet for awhile, you would have thought he'd check on me, but no! What to do? Think, Kathy, what do you have here? I positioned a measuring cup and dust pan on either side and then scooped it up. Then I walked upstairs and showed it to him!!!! He didn't seem impressed. Neither did he seem impressed that I captured it ALIVE, with pinchers moving to boot!</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> I took it outside-where it belongs- and tossed it onto a large lump of grass. It's on its own now and finally, the basement is safe once more!</span></span></div>
<br />Kathy Felsted Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10471923897561942341noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456195848900902802.post-13672313189120719582016-08-29T05:27:00.000-05:002016-08-29T05:27:35.481-05:00Are the Hives Strong?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbdMSakVzXbQ4LRqvyZQLCyReD4NfalIlPvkLKL6WlYH3dWs_g-m5BjTlVvZr2L7nRMB-wdaLufJCc7xxphVbzkwKNg0UBX1fhdUqx3hAMazvhXJB2RLG0BWVIFPkC9aSuyNgqyk5aXo/s1600/Bees+8+28+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbdMSakVzXbQ4LRqvyZQLCyReD4NfalIlPvkLKL6WlYH3dWs_g-m5BjTlVvZr2L7nRMB-wdaLufJCc7xxphVbzkwKNg0UBX1fhdUqx3hAMazvhXJB2RLG0BWVIFPkC9aSuyNgqyk5aXo/s400/Bees+8+28+2016.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Are the hives strong? </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">No, not really. One hive is better than the other two,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">one is so weak that we can't figure out what is happening.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's almost like they don't know what to do. That one is</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">the combination of the two week hives from our original</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">shipment.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">They were hungry though. There has been plenty for them to eat.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">First the wild grapes bloomed, garden flowers, the elderberry fields</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">down the road and wildflowers. My daughter had left a </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Mountain Dew on the porch table so I poured it out over</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">the rail which meant that some hit the bushes.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The bees flocked to it and suddenly we had hundreds</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">of bees licking the sugar off the leaves.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I gave them some sugar syrup in the same manner</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">and the flocked there. Lots and lots of bees.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So we filled their sugar feeders and the strong hive</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ate it all immediately. The second hive about half of it</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">and the third hive had no clue.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I also saw some small beetles which may or may </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">not be a problem.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We'll go visit our beekeeper store this weekend and discuss it.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I don't think we'll get honey.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our best hope is that </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">the bees survive the winter! </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkHet-I7pb1RLy19HHmOlsVitvpGOXH4dYqVFBvHTwFmJJPFGOdrkY5ZtJAOUzbbjKu7dnXP4iexwrpgD8DDqJ2hVgZSplvuwwfEodEpeSetqihgEBmdB5e9klqiuYYxTZMBFRym05LE/s1600/Bees+8+28+2016+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkHet-I7pb1RLy19HHmOlsVitvpGOXH4dYqVFBvHTwFmJJPFGOdrkY5ZtJAOUzbbjKu7dnXP4iexwrpgD8DDqJ2hVgZSplvuwwfEodEpeSetqihgEBmdB5e9klqiuYYxTZMBFRym05LE/s400/Bees+8+28+2016+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Kathy Felsted Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10471923897561942341noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456195848900902802.post-71817782269701232632016-08-26T05:22:00.003-05:002016-08-26T05:22:30.317-05:00It's Alive, My Rooted Rose<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4T-8MUm_yQsGGwFsyxvhfL4CYVyLRNr7m8zm0xbxeEeoeeYtsVaeLp6ubXfSBpRDgeMcWlAJi6YlQMWmgMtnUN4yBR4sC7MaJp-GVtEdmrZqYQFD1xr581Woq4l9uEkqCmsF5sO_lYw/s1600/rooted+rose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4T-8MUm_yQsGGwFsyxvhfL4CYVyLRNr7m8zm0xbxeEeoeeYtsVaeLp6ubXfSBpRDgeMcWlAJi6YlQMWmgMtnUN4yBR4sC7MaJp-GVtEdmrZqYQFD1xr581Woq4l9uEkqCmsF5sO_lYw/s320/rooted+rose.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I had about given up, ready to throw out the rose</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">cuttings I made after my husband cut through the main </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">stem to to remove it from the house.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But here it was today,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">just as if it knew its fate.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You can see the new growth popping out, in </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">fact, there are several all up and down the stem.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEyVTr15qiv4xtkJZIMvhGuWx5aO6Cn8S_w1Lljq-p5gYl_SsVVeE41ZA17c6WCWuHvS7g6aMpqYL3z0Z03DGhdpc8aPnc5zY25ulsTok_4nqxuBKCLYnI0E411FwKIFI4k7Skfwc5-vE/s1600/RESIZE+THIS+GARDEN+%25282%2529+%2528532x800%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEyVTr15qiv4xtkJZIMvhGuWx5aO6Cn8S_w1Lljq-p5gYl_SsVVeE41ZA17c6WCWuHvS7g6aMpqYL3z0Z03DGhdpc8aPnc5zY25ulsTok_4nqxuBKCLYnI0E411FwKIFI4k7Skfwc5-vE/s320/RESIZE+THIS+GARDEN+%25282%2529+%2528532x800%2529.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was magnificent this year.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We had a great Spring resulting in tremendous growth.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's a wild climber, going up two stories but unfortunately</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">climbing the down spout and trying to get </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">beneath the siding.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnT_D5NKFpsYDx9tP9agErnhs9v8ebvYQlTQ6GoJQsLtduKtUoAErxHgQQ2qwzS0A_FLI-kFN0jJAvCuxmIaQ5t__5Ak_kelsWFxMWR7hwdYkdp2VE2ctii60U6hG_-xWqDJK6XTFjf4A/s1600/RESIZE+THIS+GARDEN+%25283%2529+%2528800x532%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnT_D5NKFpsYDx9tP9agErnhs9v8ebvYQlTQ6GoJQsLtduKtUoAErxHgQQ2qwzS0A_FLI-kFN0jJAvCuxmIaQ5t__5Ak_kelsWFxMWR7hwdYkdp2VE2ctii60U6hG_-xWqDJK6XTFjf4A/s320/RESIZE+THIS+GARDEN+%25283%2529+%2528800x532%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The bees love it and it's oh so pretty!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I thought I would try saving it, replanting and</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">allowing it to grow up one of the trees at the </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">edge of the woods. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I tried sticking a cutting in a potato but it doesn't </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">appear to be working, even with rooting hormone.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I put one in straight water. Nice leaves but I can</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">see they are starting to fail.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This one was cut, dipped in rooting hormone and </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">planted in an indoor potting soil- Success!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now let's see if it will continue to grow!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now, can someone tell me how to keep a misplaced</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">wisteria root from climbing my front siding? </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Kathy Felsted Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10471923897561942341noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456195848900902802.post-17627262574564233732016-08-25T05:36:00.000-05:002016-08-25T05:36:29.732-05:00Tomatillo, a Citrus Balloon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2b54niEzO-ijqLCDkuhTihCgTNIacctkTwiE3wG6pl1ZQt9y_FscBm1xH2B9MUK8OnUQD9DnlRUGkWbnslI7yCbrZnjlVj0G5vGJMU9FgAoHYcS8Ial3_072F15YY_DkIS-75C4PocPA/s1600/q+tomatillos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2b54niEzO-ijqLCDkuhTihCgTNIacctkTwiE3wG6pl1ZQt9y_FscBm1xH2B9MUK8OnUQD9DnlRUGkWbnslI7yCbrZnjlVj0G5vGJMU9FgAoHYcS8Ial3_072F15YY_DkIS-75C4PocPA/s400/q+tomatillos.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When I tell people we grow tomatillos most don't know</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">what we are referring to so I thought I would</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">introduce you to these fun little fruits.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">From what I understand, these are an ancient fruit going</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">back to Aztec times, related to the tomato but with a </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">paper husk and the fruit having a citrus flavor.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They are the little green chunks in salsa that </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">is not a green pepper.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7eicfF7FrUhjBbR_AUvWX9frQipQycPPDcZLsB_NJitAETXheNMEVFey96O2Nmm7PAPWuygrSpqUeP48iLgIz_20R6OiG0bP42JUNcCXYPkFu-rco9hmDvAcQtlEfuTaFbbNcLOB1A0/s1600/tomatillos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7eicfF7FrUhjBbR_AUvWX9frQipQycPPDcZLsB_NJitAETXheNMEVFey96O2Nmm7PAPWuygrSpqUeP48iLgIz_20R6OiG0bP42JUNcCXYPkFu-rco9hmDvAcQtlEfuTaFbbNcLOB1A0/s400/tomatillos.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Like a tomato, they vine and the stems are full</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">of tiny roots so they could be grown on the </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">ground but it's much easier to pick when we </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">grow them up cattle panels. The paper husks</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">will fill with the fruit and start to split when ripe.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We pick them often and make small batches of </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">salsa verde, or you could put them into a regular</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">red sauce in tiny chunks. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvYHQ4y9Kziab7bS4sERpQ2rLYp6Z1w8O8jtZaNxncFHp7YpTHPiAQW9dBBlMaNK3MZcD3bjZNBJPIOStaXCBv2fBZPbfo13pc7dKzxy-i14NisH5bXeFtHBBA-bv6fBhHngIWhPRYco/s1600/IMG_20160814_124941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvYHQ4y9Kziab7bS4sERpQ2rLYp6Z1w8O8jtZaNxncFHp7YpTHPiAQW9dBBlMaNK3MZcD3bjZNBJPIOStaXCBv2fBZPbfo13pc7dKzxy-i14NisH5bXeFtHBBA-bv6fBhHngIWhPRYco/s400/IMG_20160814_124941.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My husband loves his salsa verde, topping everything</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">from breakfast eggs and sausage to his chicken tortilla.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIuGSALOcoPo-TAW0pZaOyWcsUj3BZYIwP7YK-xQqttXtNKkCfxqCXRaDAwXcLZy7153hS61JZqq8TJKLCgLGB5g3DDWnjZzMH6Uuco1q1xyqZYWdhzpJ9X1rLFuCfVsAjLsnSWNfulg/s1600/Keto+Taco+Shells+%25281%2529+resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIuGSALOcoPo-TAW0pZaOyWcsUj3BZYIwP7YK-xQqttXtNKkCfxqCXRaDAwXcLZy7153hS61JZqq8TJKLCgLGB5g3DDWnjZzMH6Uuco1q1xyqZYWdhzpJ9X1rLFuCfVsAjLsnSWNfulg/s320/Keto+Taco+Shells+%25281%2529+resized.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They are very easy to grow as long as the soil is not too wet.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They don't attract many pests either; however, I found </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">my squash bugs think they are little love balloons!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Fortunately for me, they are easy to spot riding atop</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">a big tomatillo! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Kathy Felsted Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10471923897561942341noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456195848900902802.post-73433023757148103402016-08-22T19:44:00.000-05:002016-08-22T19:44:41.129-05:00Crooked Neck Squash Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFTKozE89IXKTnNgiR6RGmd-ZVKeY7mRhYHf_QkEYKWr_FsfBFaxY5p0CatRq8K47gMYwtw2GoXwuBlxS94ZhGvaMfIo1IPjvSji10UPw3efIJunZigi9yiB3CHmafEA0HnuCOniRn24/s1600/1+squash+crooked+neck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFTKozE89IXKTnNgiR6RGmd-ZVKeY7mRhYHf_QkEYKWr_FsfBFaxY5p0CatRq8K47gMYwtw2GoXwuBlxS94ZhGvaMfIo1IPjvSji10UPw3efIJunZigi9yiB3CHmafEA0HnuCOniRn24/s400/1+squash+crooked+neck.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have a Bunch of them!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Crooked Neck Squash.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">All yellow and warty, full of seeds and growing like</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">weeds. I still have babies popping out all over,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">although the plants are looking on the downhill side this week.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We have stuffed them, pickled them and grilled them,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">now I baked them</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and they were good!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I found this yellow squash <a href="http://www.themeaningofpie.com/2010/09/squash-cake/">cake recipe</a> on line.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is way too sugary for me (but I had a slice anyway).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For that reason I didn't frost it as suggested in the recipe</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and I made a couple of changes so you can </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">follow the recipe below or click the link</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">at the beginning of this paragraph to get the original </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">with the frosting recipe too.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was a big hit at home, in fact I sent a good third</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">of it home with my granddaughter.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Everyone at worked that tried it came back for more.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I hope you will like it too!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3IGUYoIT4nn56lt_5tscmf0kPV4o_hrq4Wv02cgjzvv5elzDtqn6-CJpGAm0myub9kh7hvBr6PNl0mHt7P_e8dWfxRCrloQPHjraiC6bwtDbS2OdOycXiDnnhyA_Vy24h1BGKd9A9oY/s1600/1+squash+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3IGUYoIT4nn56lt_5tscmf0kPV4o_hrq4Wv02cgjzvv5elzDtqn6-CJpGAm0myub9kh7hvBr6PNl0mHt7P_e8dWfxRCrloQPHjraiC6bwtDbS2OdOycXiDnnhyA_Vy24h1BGKd9A9oY/s320/1+squash+cake.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Crooked Neck Squash Cake Recipe</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<ul class="ingredients" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24.375px; margin: 10px 0px 10px 22px; padding: 0px;">
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Pontano Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: circle; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2rem; padding: 0px;">3 Cups sugar</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Pontano Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: circle; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2rem; padding: 0px;">3 Cups flour</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Pontano Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: circle; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2rem; padding: 0px;">1½ teaspoons cinnamon</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Pontano Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: circle; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2rem; padding: 0px;">1½ teaspoons baking powder</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Pontano Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: circle; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2rem; padding: 0px;">1½ teaspoon baking soda</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Pontano Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: circle; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2rem; padding: 0px;">½ teaspoon salt</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Pontano Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: circle; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2rem; padding: 0px;">3 cups yellow squash (I peeled the warts and put them through the food processer so they were grated)</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Pontano Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: circle; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2rem; padding: 0px;">4 eggs</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Pontano Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: circle; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2rem; padding: 0px;">1½ cups vegetable oil</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: circle; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2rem; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Pontano Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon vanilla </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(I omitted this- it was an accident but didn't make any difference, they all loved it without the extra vanilla</i></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24.375px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<ul class="ingredients" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24.375px; margin: 10px 0px 10px 22px; padding: 0px;">
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: circle; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2rem; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Use a very large bowl and add the</span></span><span style="font-family: "Pontano Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"> sugar, flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir this up well.</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: circle; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2rem; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Pontano Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Combine the eggs, oil and squash in a medium bowl and mix.</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: circle; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2rem; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Pontano Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Add the squash mix to the dry ingredients and stir until well combined.</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: circle; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2rem; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Pontano Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Grease a 9 X 13 pan and add the mixture</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Pontano Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24.375px;"> Bake this at 350 degrees F for about 45-50 minutes</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Pontano Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24.375px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Pontano Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24.375px;"> Let cake cool and cover. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Kathy Felsted Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10471923897561942341noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456195848900902802.post-64266660327228071582016-08-22T05:08:00.002-05:002016-08-22T05:08:22.030-05:00Look Who Came to Visit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLNZglBv1MnrBk3K3wzAoW6Ms9NTOhOO_J4rbCwdqYJnkQmdAmS4DjoYKvals1QOSNQbQoidjq1W60IfGYHVIDv5BNF9dOK1buD4qcELL7pIQGk-fD9ewjBJgkF6baLqOvUTjXm84_Sk/s1600/deer+garden+cm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLNZglBv1MnrBk3K3wzAoW6Ms9NTOhOO_J4rbCwdqYJnkQmdAmS4DjoYKvals1QOSNQbQoidjq1W60IfGYHVIDv5BNF9dOK1buD4qcELL7pIQGk-fD9ewjBJgkF6baLqOvUTjXm84_Sk/s400/deer+garden+cm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We had garden visitors, uninvited ones at that!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We were paging through the trail cam photos,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">typically a cat or perhaps one of us tending the </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">vegetables--until this!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now why are they looking at my tomatoes?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I don't mind that they are standing right in the middle</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">of the green peppers, they didn't do anything anyway, but </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have never had them bother tomatoes before.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Maybe there are some tasty weeds growing beneath them.</span></div>
<br />Kathy Felsted Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10471923897561942341noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456195848900902802.post-58949253876027509442016-08-17T20:54:00.001-05:002016-08-17T20:54:17.242-05:00Pork Rind Tortillas <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmS0wxpq1pgkemKCcayWmQXmQAe1iGoicTq4R-MbzfLHbPXvHiWis4hWgv-MOHUcyB2d4LJQpJTAIzs8hNSPgFJ3OvREi-b1lk8u25aKt_wtNMqwYjLebdPOKZ3bG_Rz3NvQBbeKa3i4/s1600/Keto+Taco+Shells+%25281%2529+resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmS0wxpq1pgkemKCcayWmQXmQAe1iGoicTq4R-MbzfLHbPXvHiWis4hWgv-MOHUcyB2d4LJQpJTAIzs8hNSPgFJ3OvREi-b1lk8u25aKt_wtNMqwYjLebdPOKZ3bG_Rz3NvQBbeKa3i4/s400/Keto+Taco+Shells+%25281%2529+resized.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We have been eating a low carb diet called KETO,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">or at least I am following it as much as I can</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">with my colitis complications. While I sat this dinner out</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">due to a flare up, my husband made these Pork Rind tortillas </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">to use for a taco shell. He got the recipe at the site below:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They are not exactly the same texture as a tortilla,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">in fact they look a little like flat pancakes but</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">he said they worked out fine for dinner. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I pasted the recipe below, you can also use the link</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">by clicking "Recipe Credit"</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://theprimitivepalate.com/2015/02/08/pork-rind-tortillas/">Recipe Credit</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="jetpack-recipe-title" style="background-color: #f6f6f6; border-bottom-color: rgb(13, 164, 211); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #333333; font-family: futura-pt-1, futura-pt-2, sans-serif; font-size: 2.16667em; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0.25em 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Keto Pork Rind Tortillas</h3>
<ul class="jetpack-recipe-meta" style="background-color: #f6f6f6; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.9em; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 439.844px;">
<li class="jetpack-recipe-servings" itemprop="recipeYield" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.8px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 2.1em; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 21.9844px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.8px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Servings: </strong>12 six inch tortillas</li>
<li class="jetpack-recipe-time" itemprop="totalTime" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.8px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 2.1em; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 21.9844px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.8px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Time: </strong>20 minutes</li>
<li class="jetpack-recipe-difficulty" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.8px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 2.1em; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 21.9844px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.8px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Difficulty: </strong>easy</li>
</ul>
<div class="jetpack-recipe-content" style="background-color: #f6f6f6; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.75em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<h3 style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: futura-pt-1, futura-pt-2, sans-serif; font-size: 2.16667em; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Ingredients</h3>
<ul style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; list-style: circle; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em 2.8em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 2.1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">4 oz. Hot & Spicy Pork Rinds (regular work just fine, too)</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 2.1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 (eight oz.) package cream cheese, softened</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 2.1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">8 eggs</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 2.1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1/3 cup water</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 2.1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 tablespoon granulated garlic</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 2.1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 tablespoon ground cumin</li>
</ul>
<h3 style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: futura-pt-1, futura-pt-2, sans-serif; font-size: 2.16667em; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Method:</h3>
<ol style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em 3.1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 2.1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Place pork rinds into a food processor and blitz for about 10 seconds, until they are dust.</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 2.1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Add all other ingredients to food processor and blitz for about 45 more seconds. Until you have a nice smooth batter.</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 2.1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Preheat an electric griddle to high. (Using a non-stick pan on the stove top would work also, I would just set the heat to medium-high)</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 2.1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Spray cooking surface with a little spray oil (I use either coconut oil or olive oil spray) and pour 1/3 cup of batter onto griddle.</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 2.1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gently spread the batter as thin as you can with a rubber spatula and cook for about 2 minutes or until golden brown.</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 2.1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Flip tortilla and continue to cook for about 45 more seconds.</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 2.1em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Repeat with the rest of the batter.</li>
</ol>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.75em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
*<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">These tortillas can be made ahead and wrapped in plastic, or stored in the freezer!</em></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTR9CLh75gnoc9BXM3nHgQYbeaH7F2ovJG8bh2lm91-33SNkjYwl03DoHOeBS29jbs_AdaiHCp9Snc2uGqhYYMu4Z2hk7uwuDqZ6eYGCgntf7lyQ8_CcEXduktSKqN5pmcJon_AXGUnqw/s1600/Keto+Taco+Shells+2+resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTR9CLh75gnoc9BXM3nHgQYbeaH7F2ovJG8bh2lm91-33SNkjYwl03DoHOeBS29jbs_AdaiHCp9Snc2uGqhYYMu4Z2hk7uwuDqZ6eYGCgntf7lyQ8_CcEXduktSKqN5pmcJon_AXGUnqw/s400/Keto+Taco+Shells+2+resized.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Kathy Felsted Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10471923897561942341noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456195848900902802.post-3812997315192529902016-08-16T05:25:00.001-05:002016-08-16T05:25:08.394-05:00Stitching<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2WrqLhMD__2OWBDB7z68GhgOAGwDTwPAOw15nHEupOZYVnxpEzGwSl_vhS9SLp3V0LmqQ0rDiSRShGTnWcGh-xPvxlb6dbJ8AagTv8Mncs3uF6sDAi2MOlNAPAhUpuJthJqE3fp-5Ng/s1600/1+cat+flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2WrqLhMD__2OWBDB7z68GhgOAGwDTwPAOw15nHEupOZYVnxpEzGwSl_vhS9SLp3V0LmqQ0rDiSRShGTnWcGh-xPvxlb6dbJ8AagTv8Mncs3uF6sDAi2MOlNAPAhUpuJthJqE3fp-5Ng/s400/1+cat+flower.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was never very domestic when I was younger.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I avoided Home Ec, I didn't sew or cook and,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">to tell the truth, I still struggle with measurements</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">when having to increase a recipe. I typically give</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">up and just measure twice if I have to double it.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The reason this blog exists is that I realized I missed a lot</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">so I selected some skills that I would learn, enough to get by</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">but by no means being an expert.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I think I succeeded! I am by no means an expert!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But I try.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I found this cute quilt along on Facebook.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I love cats and I love bees so this was perfect.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It also helped me with embroidery and applique</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> which will end up </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">as a quilt with a bee theme.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> You can find it on <a href="http://moda.com/">Moda.com</a></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.modabakeshop.com/2016/06/bee-utiful-quilt-a-long-block-1-bee-curious.html"> Bee-Utiful Quilt a Long</a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">hosted by Pamela Morgan of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #878788; font-family: Lato, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px;"> </span><a href="http://mysweetlittlestitches.com/">Sweet Little Stitches</a>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJJSScAN5Lcx2IrStdo-qzwn1Ntef4G3FiFXeuSpK5q6A2f0ISjd-tPR9kv7wKpTLeHhas9CjAPG2begZSPimOY3uUhfl7PuwlVGPIKz_FLF0ykjkBohQDz0ofJ4yvr9v2q-xRwRLLyM/s1600/1+honey+pot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJJSScAN5Lcx2IrStdo-qzwn1Ntef4G3FiFXeuSpK5q6A2f0ISjd-tPR9kv7wKpTLeHhas9CjAPG2begZSPimOY3uUhfl7PuwlVGPIKz_FLF0ykjkBohQDz0ofJ4yvr9v2q-xRwRLLyM/s400/1+honey+pot.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have been able to experiment with fabric crayons</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(disregard any blue lines, this is a marking pen that</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">will wash out easily)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUTBCc7OWSNvFDn167VriJjvpbR8WyUdfu2BrZXqs6YftDwbOiJWzX22f2CRUowi5keT9lFpN6vC25VNz6QsJ_fvrvXcUrJI7UHaWWRmlrYW6QIf9W2qqMXkMIQ2R9mQkK9hWNs8fHvhE/s1600/1+coneflower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUTBCc7OWSNvFDn167VriJjvpbR8WyUdfu2BrZXqs6YftDwbOiJWzX22f2CRUowi5keT9lFpN6vC25VNz6QsJ_fvrvXcUrJI7UHaWWRmlrYW6QIf9W2qqMXkMIQ2R9mQkK9hWNs8fHvhE/s400/1+coneflower.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Different embroidery stitches.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I also found a nice quilted interfacing that </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">you steam onto the back of your fabric. It </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">keeps it nice and stiff plus fluffy!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzaBu1xHjjKpSK_Q2GuUOtFDzSFgyrG-w3hnLhpzfuUmgG8r0BuB3XISMP6sa_9Zfti1VLdwTtd-uz4kmDsjq-SiWNnM4E4dGJ4cc_nIsGYsYmyUmNN9zo09bBSJRtFXQMif0e-UEdzpg/s1600/1+bee+hive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzaBu1xHjjKpSK_Q2GuUOtFDzSFgyrG-w3hnLhpzfuUmgG8r0BuB3XISMP6sa_9Zfti1VLdwTtd-uz4kmDsjq-SiWNnM4E4dGJ4cc_nIsGYsYmyUmNN9zo09bBSJRtFXQMif0e-UEdzpg/s400/1+bee+hive.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">More cute artwork to stitch.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprzbem009VQCVaVIPyDCwDL7097OO5WaVdCOrqsREKEOCAMV4BT81jgvQ3EJtW_hYzO74VdGTqLLwL78dHOF2yYZMoIbO5Fa8ixAcOogOHcpaTSXECpNbdSzpANkTc7uiv-X_SRW5gR4/s1600/1+tractor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprzbem009VQCVaVIPyDCwDL7097OO5WaVdCOrqsREKEOCAMV4BT81jgvQ3EJtW_hYzO74VdGTqLLwL78dHOF2yYZMoIbO5Fa8ixAcOogOHcpaTSXECpNbdSzpANkTc7uiv-X_SRW5gR4/s400/1+tractor.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I changed up the tractor color</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">to Ford 8N colors.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIrTB3U4o8N7hyphenhyphenyTkNUZKYudYVd_Ejp5tDj2fjYtF_42X4uuMqAcqBs6NoD9UF-Gj36NP1JeEYRinqabd6h8G4GuPPzTna_hj_idv4S0EB17nYi_WI0n72o29yDXCwbBGc4VICJ5FjW4/s1600/1+cat+hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIrTB3U4o8N7hyphenhyphenyTkNUZKYudYVd_Ejp5tDj2fjYtF_42X4uuMqAcqBs6NoD9UF-Gj36NP1JeEYRinqabd6h8G4GuPPzTna_hj_idv4S0EB17nYi_WI0n72o29yDXCwbBGc4VICJ5FjW4/s400/1+cat+hat.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This was In-Progress.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I had to applique the top hat and learned</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">a good lesson. Wash black fabric first.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It didn't fade when I dipped it in water,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">a good sign, but it did run ever so slightly</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">so I'm looking for a color remover.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWro41rHcQaAadhX3bSDj8FZRAnocfNCk2jbVa1aTG0etKqD9RfHjIDcUvYldQatotA5kI1F0xk3aqPlUSNeH0-fIbMu8grTPLWYPq0zGs2zilHcqdXLy-uuPddo5ZGSzPo_KQFHGG2JA/s1600/1+cupcake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWro41rHcQaAadhX3bSDj8FZRAnocfNCk2jbVa1aTG0etKqD9RfHjIDcUvYldQatotA5kI1F0xk3aqPlUSNeH0-fIbMu8grTPLWYPq0zGs2zilHcqdXLy-uuPddo5ZGSzPo_KQFHGG2JA/s400/1+cupcake.jpg" width="390" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am on the cupcake now.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Notice that each square has a bee somewhere.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqWaeiJ-wqU6Tj5-Pebgs-4ujB30IgWD5_7ZzqrW_wkPq95Iwbb09XBuKsO2IR0IK1h1TqH-wuSX3i1shzkEW3DjNgRCiKFdpziW_f6CkCQDWddnrkv1PKEaz_FqwnKMENPd66nEpXzM/s1600/1+b+q.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqWaeiJ-wqU6Tj5-Pebgs-4ujB30IgWD5_7ZzqrW_wkPq95Iwbb09XBuKsO2IR0IK1h1TqH-wuSX3i1shzkEW3DjNgRCiKFdpziW_f6CkCQDWddnrkv1PKEaz_FqwnKMENPd66nEpXzM/s400/1+b+q.png" width="325" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">See the Moda link for instructions</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7C0IcGgnZtljWom9TYZclRS5s5mmVs24br_8HOgRI-nCPQfoaZdfI6PtkuSrOEEF0Gh_NzjHFJCb02Z5u3soVMCWpRPnoRT3B0d3arZg929mdIHeY9yKAhZOQpV8lE3tUpfNtXkV9nqY/s1600/1+row+by+row.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7C0IcGgnZtljWom9TYZclRS5s5mmVs24br_8HOgRI-nCPQfoaZdfI6PtkuSrOEEF0Gh_NzjHFJCb02Z5u3soVMCWpRPnoRT3B0d3arZg929mdIHeY9yKAhZOQpV8lE3tUpfNtXkV9nqY/s400/1+row+by+row.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is also a <a href="https://www.rowbyrowexperience.com/">Row by Row </a>quilt experience across </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">not only Missouri or the US but Canada too.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You visit a quilt shop and get either a free pattern</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">or a kit which you make and combine to make </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">a quilt. There are prizes but I don't enter those</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">contests. Good thing too because I really messed</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">up and made a dumb mistake.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Remember the cooking and measuring.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well, it's no different in quilting.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Why do I read 18 1/2 and cut at 18?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I pieced it together but will probably go back</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and re-do it or applique something over my mistake.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is the Arch in St Louis of course and my</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">first real attempt at machine applique other </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">than an earlier six inch block where I didn't have</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">to be as careful. It was fun and I have several </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">more to make. There is a Facebook group too</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">under Missouri so I can see some of the local quilts.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, between pickling, sewing and gardening plus work</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have been very busy! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you are interested in the bee or row by row group, </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">follow the links.</span></div>
<br />Kathy Felsted Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10471923897561942341noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456195848900902802.post-31669699197680660242016-08-11T05:27:00.000-05:002016-08-11T05:27:07.418-05:00Another Garden Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXzmnm6zOQD3hpeTdr221RQzftGML6bH_-byQJDC2lLMa7zstztNqnIkc4k9WMC80A2vX2kLFs_3qhZQ0uxt1ehFbGjrJTdb6hvcwQvYSu0zJtMibv3nqf64csOi1fHR3vHqN32GphLk/s1600/august+squash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXzmnm6zOQD3hpeTdr221RQzftGML6bH_-byQJDC2lLMa7zstztNqnIkc4k9WMC80A2vX2kLFs_3qhZQ0uxt1ehFbGjrJTdb6hvcwQvYSu0zJtMibv3nqf64csOi1fHR3vHqN32GphLk/s320/august+squash.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It has been a very strange season in the garden.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A combination of perfect conditions and mixed results</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The cool, wet Spring allowed everything to grow without</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">stress; then the heat set in followed by non-stop rain.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The garden doesn't seem to know exactly where it should be!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUL1zZfnrvhcNka-5bjVE8z_37tlGF_uBjw-aWA7jAqEcwtTRQ6m_TtT3WSperXPxFyxMhHoPutSpEnTi5bYPqrXCSA0cq6sodG97mW3yZPGgFW5SJxg8w8rY5aAQIIoGX75SLDKbGRM/s1600/bees+August.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUL1zZfnrvhcNka-5bjVE8z_37tlGF_uBjw-aWA7jAqEcwtTRQ6m_TtT3WSperXPxFyxMhHoPutSpEnTi5bYPqrXCSA0cq6sodG97mW3yZPGgFW5SJxg8w8rY5aAQIIoGX75SLDKbGRM/s320/bees+August.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Speaking of which, the Bees have been busy</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(of course they have)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">which resulted in a tremendous cucumber crop,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">climbing up the cattle panels and actually onto </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">the chicken wire fencing. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9haGFdHk-wJ48yS-emUne_oduQH0-M5A4G2cXrhfb1CVTJy5rQk_Jv9EDtruxOh5y05gLT1WwAAFZRe7I5gnIzQ_1RocyaInL3jPKsKyBqqDQ38KBUblZf5ui9DLExHcBmz49QjoSE4/s1600/pickle+veges.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9haGFdHk-wJ48yS-emUne_oduQH0-M5A4G2cXrhfb1CVTJy5rQk_Jv9EDtruxOh5y05gLT1WwAAFZRe7I5gnIzQ_1RocyaInL3jPKsKyBqqDQ38KBUblZf5ui9DLExHcBmz49QjoSE4/s320/pickle+veges.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Almost every weekend, and sometimes in between,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">we are canning either pint or quart jars of pickles:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">cucumber slices, spears, mixed vegetables.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wmKpo38S8-dYOkLxBdfcP4KZcS9fBPX-Zp1-Yh-9ICOPXovIxGAzBobKq_yQUNB7IZzRluxGXF1Y-adiOj_ruvSaYoEcM6FHes7lep7pldahCIKUENZDGvOzCWPBs4VD4yLN30nbtxk/s1600/pickle+face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wmKpo38S8-dYOkLxBdfcP4KZcS9fBPX-Zp1-Yh-9ICOPXovIxGAzBobKq_yQUNB7IZzRluxGXF1Y-adiOj_ruvSaYoEcM6FHes7lep7pldahCIKUENZDGvOzCWPBs4VD4yLN30nbtxk/s320/pickle+face.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Taylor's had a smiley face!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">She (my granddaughter) made a few jars to </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">bring back to her place.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvEjJqrn9g8hgzRYaoqFzfmzdPB5d-N3d1rAzl_twrMPq_723ykfJh82QV61VFgnA47qicExptwHBs7Suq1sfdbyOzo9o7XKvrECmixEDDM0UjZNc2e6hgT7zmh15cuCbNX_aABh6zPg/s1600/tomatillos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvEjJqrn9g8hgzRYaoqFzfmzdPB5d-N3d1rAzl_twrMPq_723ykfJh82QV61VFgnA47qicExptwHBs7Suq1sfdbyOzo9o7XKvrECmixEDDM0UjZNc2e6hgT7zmh15cuCbNX_aABh6zPg/s320/tomatillos.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The tomatillos are just everywhere</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and we have made several jars of </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">salsa verde.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKQAew4n4jVaO-WSrOFAQMtf9KpJJLN9iV80D8nimzCC4p9ygH_cqwxTDKlalHLakcPW3OyKchVYLGg1QeMxhMsRgzYu975eJ9BR5Qptifyv_nyywZMaSzPZf-GBT4B9EoXce7KY7J6w/s1600/tomatillos+august.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKQAew4n4jVaO-WSrOFAQMtf9KpJJLN9iV80D8nimzCC4p9ygH_cqwxTDKlalHLakcPW3OyKchVYLGg1QeMxhMsRgzYu975eJ9BR5Qptifyv_nyywZMaSzPZf-GBT4B9EoXce7KY7J6w/s320/tomatillos+august.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now these are the good parts; however, there is also the bad.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now the squash bugs have decided to appear, much</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">later than last year. I was killing those things left and </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">right, every single day, last season. Now I find them</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">mating on top of the tomatillos</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(love in a hot air balloon?)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">so I inspect with duct tape, sticky side out,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">wrapped around my hand and get the adults before</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">they can make the babies, although I am certain I will</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">soon find the eggs beneath my squash leaves.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We saw a little bird flitting from tomatillo to </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">tomatillo so I hope it's a special </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Squash Bug Eating Sparrow or something.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibiQUwq1oGRcbVYKpQDMLBbXn5fTZ_ULBzdiyuyTGfvVnE4h98qepx_5R3pT02cXk86_pqMIgVqqnEUAMFA7yODLbkCSxIXUXBBxZ_wi5QpLEDd8XsUtmk-aU9lnwWhp1Ph81cu9zYGBA/s1600/Bee-utilul+Honey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibiQUwq1oGRcbVYKpQDMLBbXn5fTZ_ULBzdiyuyTGfvVnE4h98qepx_5R3pT02cXk86_pqMIgVqqnEUAMFA7yODLbkCSxIXUXBBxZ_wi5QpLEDd8XsUtmk-aU9lnwWhp1Ph81cu9zYGBA/s320/Bee-utilul+Honey.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On a lighter note I am progressing with my</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bee-Utiful quilt along sponsored by Moda.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's been fun watching how to do the embroidery</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">stitches and experimenting with color and applique.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I can't say I'm "good" at it but coming along and </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">learning from my mistakes.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Kathy Felsted Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10471923897561942341noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5456195848900902802.post-70706758551812043672016-08-04T05:38:00.004-05:002016-08-04T05:38:46.504-05:00A Buggy Time of Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGwxVIzfGSNMHPTcMeTqC_fbobLuqXUrmL-91CS3Bfc3yAmXGigEfEu6it8QQKKUfNzCRAQ6AgpsSU0oeOiYJDLxIMTpDB3ggEHFtt_NIofp9QDCabWP8jyn6rK4mLmThcWSFkMy4ubGQ/s1600/1cicada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGwxVIzfGSNMHPTcMeTqC_fbobLuqXUrmL-91CS3Bfc3yAmXGigEfEu6it8QQKKUfNzCRAQ6AgpsSU0oeOiYJDLxIMTpDB3ggEHFtt_NIofp9QDCabWP8jyn6rK4mLmThcWSFkMy4ubGQ/s400/1cicada.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The cicadas are singing their little cicada tunes</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">this time of year, shedding their exoskeletons</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">to leave a ghost body literally hanging onto</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">whatever they last rested on.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-MDuVvLP-n5CUAgUPM-AxYQkc9rafRqWmMO6IPGsB5__h9KbDpoKtOLjQ7hobbEV8RnQq6lLVWwUY_ck3aQkYZAA0bViJ9imCOUlKm7QvjNz-uz-6Yh1rXexrRyiRf7Lz-m8mtohUqg/s1600/1+tomatillo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-MDuVvLP-n5CUAgUPM-AxYQkc9rafRqWmMO6IPGsB5__h9KbDpoKtOLjQ7hobbEV8RnQq6lLVWwUY_ck3aQkYZAA0bViJ9imCOUlKm7QvjNz-uz-6Yh1rXexrRyiRf7Lz-m8mtohUqg/s400/1+tomatillo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The bugginess has really arrived in the garden.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Other than a few early worms we have been quite lucky</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">until my husband found our first squash bugs mating</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">on his tomatillos. Unfortunately for one couple, </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">the honeymoon was cut short.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKd8iVIDTGrb9ZfVt0o5l7Y6ybBu7jMMV-0u93OEoKFpvj3mCm4SC6clA6WYNgmqct8iGZzJHZ8AmOKgG_LjLUhVQ3HvD7oQ_eiDi8NnKvkyhuf30fZm18jm5OyCKV1DXipfPFb0zgX4/s1600/1+squash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKd8iVIDTGrb9ZfVt0o5l7Y6ybBu7jMMV-0u93OEoKFpvj3mCm4SC6clA6WYNgmqct8iGZzJHZ8AmOKgG_LjLUhVQ3HvD7oQ_eiDi8NnKvkyhuf30fZm18jm5OyCKV1DXipfPFb0zgX4/s400/1+squash.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I will start my annual ritual of wrapping duct tape</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">around my hand, sticky side out, while inspecting </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">the underside of leaves for their eggs, </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">beautiful little gems from which emerge such</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">a horrible plague of squash sucking beasts.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VWYabKcYZ_YpSr5c5aL81TKQcUHP6rrcSSo0iV7vRgpQw-R7JZCpOSELkJ1zCK_eCVBDW_vACCJSdJ0jB5yKABE2EjU_1ySUks_WhUNgaOcY7u7pypoaI0x-A9wiGf5hmkgf8RArF-w/s1600/1+tomatoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VWYabKcYZ_YpSr5c5aL81TKQcUHP6rrcSSo0iV7vRgpQw-R7JZCpOSELkJ1zCK_eCVBDW_vACCJSdJ0jB5yKABE2EjU_1ySUks_WhUNgaOcY7u7pypoaI0x-A9wiGf5hmkgf8RArF-w/s320/1+tomatoes.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Occasionally I miss a few and return to find</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">tiny juveniles clustered together. I quickly</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">push my duct taped hand to them so they are </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">literally glued to it, fold over the tape and squeeze.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My husband says Mama squash bugs warn their</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">children that they must be good or </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">the sticky handed lady that will </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">visit.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This is the thing squash bug nightmares are made of.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMboS_m6h3PsAZPiNF8gFJuT5haW_FvbgmMWNtrjyIEWevsTiXJnH1r46LZgaL-R1Q4jV4Eyux00jcq3frZCn9BJq6TGnHan5t9aq0bitUMz78qgqEMEigE9vRJfnkKGEMgCIVoQQS8hM/s1600/1+tomato.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMboS_m6h3PsAZPiNF8gFJuT5haW_FvbgmMWNtrjyIEWevsTiXJnH1r46LZgaL-R1Q4jV4Eyux00jcq3frZCn9BJq6TGnHan5t9aq0bitUMz78qgqEMEigE9vRJfnkKGEMgCIVoQQS8hM/s320/1+tomato.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The fight is on-</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">just as soon as a tomato begins to redden</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">something rips it off the vine, leaving only teeth marks</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">but not consuming the fruit. That's the frustrating thing.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's one after the other after the other,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We have water in a ground level tub so it's not thirsty.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It obviously does not enjoy the tomato, why go for more?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Raccoon? The pretty Fox that walked by me?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We're not sure but my husband is on the warpath.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7xa549PMQ0KZ9Qv4hFi0lyy2529i-OjjXnwxxn2WqMCNrDzh_iC1vc8_7K_XIyq5jKlUsJrHcxC293G_kDG6un7b2vEyunfPslta-szpjXPCwtGDs-Jgs7jIrd6mZTP5fm4kRzasr3Q/s1600/1+poison+ivy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7xa549PMQ0KZ9Qv4hFi0lyy2529i-OjjXnwxxn2WqMCNrDzh_iC1vc8_7K_XIyq5jKlUsJrHcxC293G_kDG6un7b2vEyunfPslta-szpjXPCwtGDs-Jgs7jIrd6mZTP5fm4kRzasr3Q/s320/1+poison+ivy.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then there is this sneaky little pest.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Poison ivy hiding among the weeds.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Luckily I pull that area with gloves</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">but I'll grab the trimmers this weekend and </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">cut this back as much as I can.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieT75e17metVGn_hlONMrDDUkvCfFTUHrvblmGvGmUAJWa_AuW5oPgHQm2-IQjlB1BTqDv2H51Z_mzM3p-U42-1jXuU7SwBOMMLa6DINM0tnp1-Mwque_vSnZjPTCr2iJjj-tv_ndtNxU/s1600/1+flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieT75e17metVGn_hlONMrDDUkvCfFTUHrvblmGvGmUAJWa_AuW5oPgHQm2-IQjlB1BTqDv2H51Z_mzM3p-U42-1jXuU7SwBOMMLa6DINM0tnp1-Mwque_vSnZjPTCr2iJjj-tv_ndtNxU/s320/1+flower.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On the bright side, my hibiscus bloomed!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Magnificent! The bumbles are happy and </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am glad for another pop of color in August.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Kathy Felsted Usherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10471923897561942341noreply@blogger.com6