IN Carmel

 Another dark gloomy morning.  I should change the word morning to day.  I'm feeling pretty positive so gloom isn't phasing me at all.  Gloomy is predicted to be around tomorrow. As I was looking over the kitchen, it was obvious that the bananas were asking for something.  Would it be banana bread?  Yup!  I got out the cookbooks and saw nothing interesting.  In fact, some of the banana bread recipes I made in the past were on the failing side of the spectrum.  So to the internet, I went and found a recipe that used 2 and 1/3 cups of bananas.  That was worth a try.  And I did and it was a winner.  It's stored away in the freezer now ready to add to the stash that will be eaten next weekend.             These four little muffin top banana breads are the result of way too much batter for the loaf                                              pan. They are a nice thing to nibble on without cutting into the loaf.   Another batch of molasses cookies came out of the oven later in t

 A great morning to mess, and I did.  All the little plants got a check up leading to decisions about what needed to be moved to another place, what needed to stay the same and what if anything needed to be pitched. I got all the necessaries together and this is what happened.   Something to watch to see what happens.  Four little succulents are getting a start in a new place.                                   The succulent that was living here wasn't so happy so a completely new                          plant is living here with a friend.   The plants living in this Dennis bowl seem to be getting along.  I left them undisturbed.  While we were visiting the family in Georgia an interesting conversation was heard between Eli and Uncle Dee.  It was strange and one they understood perfectly.   This ampersand found at Goodwill is a perfect Eli gift. Just couldn't do better.  Don't you think so Dee? In the early 80's there were 4 teachers who taught first grade together at F

 Mid Week.  Yahoo!  or something like that.  Movin' right along.   The morning seemed slow, so I was off to Goodwill to shop.  That place always is a happy place full of bargains  The goal was to find an attractive container to plant more succulents.  The container needed to be interesting so that eliminated a lot of options.  Succulents need very little water so no hole is necessary for the bottom of the container.  It's much better to neglect than overwater succulent plant. That makes plant care a breeze.  This is what I found.  I think it could hold 4 succulents with room to grow.  Habigs at Nora has a few plants to choose from.  They could be cheaper!     We were off to the library again to return unread novels and borrow more succulent books.  I must admit I'm envious of pictures taken in California where they grow huge with wonderful year-round temperatures.  I found one succulent book on the shelf.  It seems I have the rest of them sitting beside my chair.  The book

 A more usual morning with all the early morning jobs finished successfully.  Crossword finished in good time and the wordle was completed on the last try.  Some days are like that even in Australia.  Today I'm grateful for the simple things at the start of the day.  I left home around 9 to meet Heidi at church for the first of many clean-ups that come with the season.  We spent a little time talking about what should happen and what I was seeing in the chancel area for the next two Sundays. And we got to work putting away candles, stripping, tablecloths, moving what needed to be moved, and stashing what needed to be stashed until next year's celebration.                                                     Nearing the end of Christmas Tide. It's Communion Sunday.                                                                                             The Baptism of our Lord is celebrated next Sunday. While in the choir loft I took just one good impressive fall my feet be

 Almost the same old same old but not quite. No paper the day after Christmas and the day after New Year's Day is the rule for the company.  That means no crossword. Wordle?.I was a day late and a dollar short on this one. I hate it when I get only 2 letters with my clue words one being an e at the end of the word.  I think that really is no clue.   I watched the rude starlings and finally brought in the suet.  It's so rude when they jump on each other while at the suet pushing each other to the ground.  Eliminating suet helps for a while even after returning the suet to the shepherd's crooks after a couple of hours.  .                  This little guy is always on his best behavior dressed in his Sunday go-to Meetin' clothes. I made a little meatloaf from ground beef I thawed a couple of days ago along with baking some chicken that will find its way into a shepherd's pie later in the week.  There are so many options for a meal in the refrigerator.  I would say one

 It's feeling like a very strange day.  No routine to follow  After last nights cold setting attending Sunday morning church was an option I just didn't want to make part of the day's routine.  I thought about  Second Presbyterian as the morning was progressing  Then I just decided not to move in that direction.  In fact not moving in any direction was the option I chose.  I did a little TV watching and then the day was taken over by sleep.  It seemed that the body was choosing that over any other choices available.   The birds got the attention they needed.  Birds?  I would say Starlings.  They took over the feeding station with gusto.                                          This starling is flapping his wings trying to stay steady on the suet.   We had a long face time visit with the Michigan Russells after a whole lot of texting with the grandsons.  Pictures came with Eli's kitty wearing his best of all hats that were sent north last week.   We heard about gifting. 

 Yes.  come on Christmas Eve.  It's church time with candles.  Waiting for tonight is just something I'm not good at.  So the morning paper came and the crossword was EASY.  Wordle was finished by 5:30 AM.  So what have I done since then?  Watch and feed the hoard of birds just outside the kitchen window.  I think my favorites are the Juncos that visit.  They are ground feeders so there is never any competition for their space.  They just hang around.  Today there were four Juncos visiting.  The starlings knock each other to the ground getting to the food. So rude.  So rude.  Other things accomplished.  Humm...I ate a lot of cookies come to think of it.  And Neighbor Susie got a plate of roles and two neighbors brought more goodies to the door.  It's a food day for birds and people!   I did some dusting, Gave the succulents a little water, and moved a new tiny one to where there was space.  My succulent library books are keeping me entertained.  Of course, the pictures ar

                                                                      Lots of Downys at the feeder today.   Thinking weather this time.  It was a brutal Friday like most of the U S  Double the clothing and wearing a hat.  Washing dishes was a great exercise.  The paper was nowhere to be found.  It may come tomorrow. .Most understandable so the morning's work didn't take so long.  The warm bowl of oatmeal tasted wonderful.                                      The red bellied woodpecker even though the red head looks very faded.   Today's bird count was slim.  I thawed the birdbath water which stayed that way for long than I imagined.  From time to time we had birds with feathers in disarray fluffed to the maximum.  Funny birds.  The Caroline Wren really had a very difficult time with the wind.  He's is so tiny and almost seemed to get blown away while eating.  This was the starling with one leg that was entirely useless.  You can see the claw part hanging.  He had such a

 This morning came with a need for more perseverance.    Meaning patience was in short supply.  I gave up again on the crossword thinking I could use my time more wisely.  Stupid words!!!   All the other stuff got done with a minimum amount of time.   I made a trip to church with the poinsettias well ice cubed for the days ahead.  All the other loose ends were tied up with a bow!  That's a great feeling.  The dining room table is bare so Santa will be here soon or something like that if the storm doesn't bury him.   Santa Russell said his shopping was finished.  His sleigh ride was a short one making it easy to figure out the destination.   I'll be all set this spring again!  Yeah.  He knows what makes me tick! DIRT! I picked up the pictures for the kids at Walgreens on the way home from church.  One more thing finished although the deadline for Christmas shopping right now could be the middle of January.  A date for family and gifting has yet to be determined.  We'll s

 That's the best descriptive word for today.  I did nothing.  Well, maybe something.  I watched the birds for a while.  Watched TV for a while.  I just watched period.  Not very involved in anything.                                         Such great colors from the garden.  Nothing going on right now.                                                                             After living through a few more months of drabness it will be back!   Doug had his annual health check and I mosied up to Lowes to see if they had any white poinsettia left.  There are two on the table yet and one could stand a replacement. I found nothing! The weather forecast makes me wonder if we'll have a Christmas Eve service.  Time will tell.  I think most of the stuff will happen Friday, allowing for a clean-up on Saturday.  That is if we don't get a ton of snow.   I think no one knows what is coming except the report is a whole lot of something.   The sewing machine and oven have been extremel

 Nothing different about the morning.  Oatmeal, wordle, crossword puzzle finished this time, Morning Joe and Eric taken to the bus again.  A great visit  with a son.  All is well.   Thinking about the day with nothing planned took me to the sewing machine.  I could use some potholders.  That happened.   I found some of the fabric I used for Kat's placemats and thought..."POT HOLDERS" Then I thought if Kat needs pot holders then Kimmy needs 'POT HOLDERS".  So that's how the day went.  To The Pots!!! The tabs have velcro making them easy to hang on the oven handle always ready to deal with anything hot around the stove  I always know where mine are.  I'm pretty sure the blog doesn't hold a whole lot of interest for the family so I'm trusting the daughters-in-law will continue to be clueless about POT  HOLDERS. I should say it was a fun day with fabric.  Another sewing mess was cleaned up.  I'm sure there will be more messes in the future.  We he

 All the usual although I gave up on the crossword.  It just didn't make sense and was taking more time than I had to give...  Last night was one of those no sleeps again after two wonderful nights of shut-eye.   Later this afternoon was part of last night!  I think I'll be good tonight.   This morning I put together another pot of chicken vegetable soup.  The same good soup combination of onions, garlic, celery, and carrots with more vegetables and a little barley, leftover chicken, and some better than bullion chicken broth.  Simple and easy and tasty.  A good supper is waiting in the refrigerator.    On the way downtown, I stopped at church and got some pictures.  I'll sprinkle them through today's post.  At the 5 o'clock service the first play written by Denise C. is a modern day story, this year's about Charlie Brown's Christmas Tree and the second story is the nativity story.                            We'll add a few more candles. There will be fo

 Oh dear.  So busy that I forgot to take pictures of all the goings on.  So you are getting some old ones.   Today was a work day.  I'll tell you about it later in the post.   Morning stuff as usual although the Sunday Crossword is not for me.  I can't think that hard.  I was happy to welcome a whole lot of birds at the feeder.  The starlings were around staying on the edge of the lawn rather than the bird feeders although a few did make it a time or two.  It was a very sunny morning which can make everyone happy no matter how cold.                                          This beautiful animal visited the evening of the Advent Festival.     We headed to church and I did a ton of unloading and putting away before the 11 o'clock service.  So happy to be able to do that at the time that usually is choir practice time.  It's just good to take a break from that to button up the Advent responsibilities that come with visual arts.         We still see the Downys at the feeder

 Today was make a mess Saturday.  It always happens when the sewing machine is put in gear!  It's all the pining, snipping, and other stuff that gets pulled out that needs to be included in whatever is being created. I'll spare you the mess!                                Tis the season.  A few years ago I made little Xmas trees with scraps of wool.                                                              Pioneers made rugs with their scraps naming them penny rugs.                                                                             It's an old tradition in a new way.  Xmas Trees full of penny-shaped circles.!   Sarah Ellen asked some time ago for a Santa Suit.  Some of the sewing will happen in Kenya but some has happened in my sewing room.  Mrs. Clause's apron and hat are two pieces and today it was Mr. Clause's belt and boots which really are shoe cover Spats.  It was a lot of fun with a new twist.  As I was finishing that project I got a text from my