Adaptation

 Hubby had a Wild Hair on Sunday.  He proposed, since Baby Girl and her Baby Girl had departed from their Delightful Spontaneous Visit and we were once again Empty Nesters, with no commitments, no expectations and no responsibilities, that we should go Spoofin.  'Spoofin' is defined (by us) as random meanderings with no real goal or destination, just goin' where the wind blows us.

 Hubby has a few out of the way places left to explore since our arrival in Southern Indiana twelve years ago. He keeps this little pretend list in his brain for occasions such as this.  This time, our meanderings led us to Hindostan Falls.  This little burg was established in 1818 and build to a booming 1200 residents before The Great Sickness overtook the whole town in 1828 and wiped the population off the map.  All that is left is the falls and eager fishermen on Sunday afternoons.

 This Spoofin Adventure was different because Hubby asks me as we walk out the door, 'Don't you want to take Dixie with?'  What, I say?  What?  Was that a post BGBG hallucination??  It is not a secret that my dear Hubby only shares space with a dog because he kinda likes me; NOT dogs.  Miss Dixie, in her infinite wisdom, has taken to The Boss with such unashamed affection, that even a hard nose Dog Disliker like Hubby had to  melt his winter chill towards the little Jack Russelly imp.  To the drastic point of asking her to accompany us on a Spoofin Adventure.  Very rare.  Very.

 When I came across the tree in the above photo near the Falls, the word 'Adaptation' came to my mind and stuck like glue.  I stared and stared and took countless photos of this crazy tree clinging so confidently to the very edge of the river bank.  I wondered at the decision that this tree made to hang on instead of falling over into the rolling river below it.  I wondered at the source of nutrition that kept it alive for a very large amount of years.  It seemed impossible for it to be able to hang on given the positioning, but there it was.  Content and green and very tall.  It had adapted.

And then I looked at Hubby hanging on to Miss Dixie's leash.  Well. What a very long way he had come to reach the point where he was content to bring along the formerly irritating noisy terrier and embrace her as a suitable companion with his sweetie on a Sunday Afternoon.  He adapted.

Miss Dixie has done some adapting herself.  Instead of  protecting me like a Rottweiler, she is now content to give warning barks to those who step into a three feet radius around me and then, when you are approved, she will let you pet her.  Her barking, which has been known to wake the dead, is not quite as urgent and intense.  She is adapting.

Soon, ol' Hubby and I will be making many adjustments as we approach Retirement Day.
As we watch more vigilantly our budgets, our time, our health.  We will save up for fuel to visit our Faraway Grandchildren and treat them well while we eat cereal for supper.  And we could not be happier to do that.  Seriously.  We are adapting happily to the older state we are in and it is fine and dandy.

So stand strong you trees out there and make the best of where you are placed.
The standing, in spite of the odds, will make you unusual and admired and your heart will be content despite your location.

 Enjoy the scenery....

Countdown: Four More Days....

It's coming up fast....
It's been in the planning stage for so long, it seems hard to believe that the time has come to implement all the To Do Lists, the scheduling, the (YIKES) cleaning!

Today's list is nearly accomplished.  I use 'nearly' with great generosity but there is tomorrow.  But not too many of those before the Ladies who have signed on to attend the

mama's collection of Friends

First Annual Crafting/Spiritual Retreat!!!

will begin arriving!!!  Eldest/Admin and Miss Vivie arrive on Wednesday and I am thrilled!  The doggies look a bit sad knowing full well that they are are not on the Invite List.  Miss Dixie is more than aware of something afoot in  her abode.  She eyes me suspiciously as I accomplish household tasks that are not on my daily repertoire. She is pictured in my Sewing Room as I wrap up some 'surprises'....Not particularly thrilled..

Even Hubby with his own overwhelming issues, has seen to it that his 'To Do' list is attended to, as is witnessed by my new kitchen shelves in the above photo.  I must add that this was done without One Word of Prompting (nagging, reminding, hinting).  I awoke from my Sunday Nap to find this Helpful Hubby working on the shelves. (Did you notice the nice rounded edge he did for me? How well treated am I??)

Tomorrow, Stella the Cat gets her first 'grooming'.....Don't you wish you could see that?
More work on sessions, 'surprises, cleaning and setting up the great outdoors for My Lovely Ladies....

More coverage tomorrow.....

Midwinter's Night Dreams

Doesn't this about say it all?
The mid winter blahs. Post holidays, pre spring, gray, dark and drear..
Sigh.

What to do, what to do, what to do.....
Here's what Hubby and I have been doing this week..
Going to bed early!
Last night found us with a sniffy, post H1N1 vaccination Hubby, kinda sorta achy and scratchy throaty from Monday's injection.
So after the dinner things were cleared, we looked at each other and said, Why Not?
Hubby hit the bed and watched his favorite, favorite Bit O Fluff, 'Cars' while I shuttled back and forth from the sewing room, finishing up hand sewing on a few projects.
Miss Dixie was clearly happy(?) to have us nearby and not running in different directions..
Gray and dreary turned into comfy, cozy, cheery!

And then! The piece de resistance!
A new Anne Tyler book scooped up from the library yesterday!!!
Her newest title in several years, long awaited by me, her best fan! (I believe I have read them all!) Couldn't believe I arrived at the library at just the right time to pick up it's shining new January 2010 stamp...!
Ah! Get Hubby tucked in, turn off his TV, cuddle down into my bankies and read till my eyes cannot stay open another minute....

Winter bliss....

Day Two of Bag Giveaway Week!

Look at my Sewing Room Assistant!
Just lounging around while I am hard at work.
Have to admit, I've put her through her paces this week..
Going from one project to the next, involving all parts of our home...
And being quite the shadow, I'm sure I've worn her out!
Actually, I wanted to get a photo of the new curtains I put up in the Guest Room upon completion of The Update, but she was lying there on the quilt,looking quite pensive, that I just had to get a pic of it.....
You'll see the curtains later....

Did I mention that Hubby's been off this week?
Yay projects!
On one of my doggy walks, I noticed an old crib kicked to the curb.
For some useful reason, I had this thought while taking my bath...
'Why don't you grab that unuseful as is crib in it's incompleteness, and make a hanging quilt rack out of it??
So after my bath on Sunday night, I announce to Hubby that he need not take off his shoes yet; he needs to go fetch an incomplete crib, on the ground, down the street.
And after all these years, he did not question it a bit.
He just re buttoned his shirt, grabbed his keys and headed out on this crazy mission.
We scoured the hardware store on Monday night, looking for appropriate hardware, only to find what worked in our own garage. Even better.
So, Ta-Da!
All my beloved quilts are now on display!
Huzzah!

Crazy Dee still has me working on her updating projects as well.
She wanted me to recover her couch pillows. And she was very specific.
She wanted them professionally done (as if) and swanky. And free.
What the??
Anyway, I do as I'm told and here is the after and before.
I removed the piping off the old and I think it shall resurface soon....
Her birthday was February 2 and I am still gifting her....
And she thinks I'm difficult, birthday wise.....:D

Now!
Day Two Update!!
The Giveaway Bag is shaping up! I took the blog photo before quite a bit of work was done on the bag. Took a dog walk to clear the cobs out of my brain and plan better for it....
VERY excited about how it's coming along....
I know from all the comments, that it will go to really nice lady..
So many nice things being said...
Thank you all!!
Comment Away!!!

Dixie Saves the Day!

I am the third owner of a rowdy, noisy, incredibly loving and opinionated Jack Russell Terrier. It appears that three other owners had experienced enough of her, ahem, attitude and boisterous comments, to run screaming themselves to the nearest shelter, dislodging themselves of this noisy pest. Good for me.

Dixie has been with me for nearly two years now. I had much to learn on how to be a good dog mommy. It has to be intentional for me. In my post mommying years, I find myself in grandma mode; forgiving bad behaviour so much quicker than I did as a stern mama. The word spoiling comes to mind. I ruined my time with a beagle named Molly due to my cosseting behavior. But I had received word from my long suffering, non dog person, hubby, that I was going to be watched. Any inkling of doggy spoilage, and we were both in big trouble. I read the books, watched the video and entered into Dog Ownership with a strong resolve.

It has worked. Hubby's happy. Dixie is obedient and I have passed the test. Whew.

True to some canine/owner observations, Dixie resembles me. She is non stop, mouthy, has a small head and her colors of black and tan mirror the colors that I prefer to wear. She is fiercely loyal and very protective. She grumbles when justice is administered. She takes on big dogs with no fear. Or sense. Wow. Could we be any more similiar?

That's why when she uncharacteristically flipped out late Saturday night, barking into the dark night when she is usually fast asleep, I did not correct her. I let her have at whatever was disturbing her security. I followed up by turning on outdoor lights and checking the perimeter, my guard dog in tow. Back to bed, having done our duty.

Last night, a neighbor told me that his car had been broken into Saturday night. Same time as Dixie's warning. I was oddly curious that my truck door was slightly ajar when I went to use it yesterday. According to my best guess, Dixie, Protective Warrior, heard the intruder in her slumber and barked loud and long enough to push the invader on. I could see a slurky, dark. ner do well, running through my side yard to the neighbor's field and onto his car and it's contents.

Sometimes it's important to make a little noise....