Yep, it's still cold........

Snow Day

Here in Colorado we are experiencing a true arctic blast.  The local news stations have been warning us  of the impending storm, but nothing really prepares you for something like this.  It started snowing last evening and hasn't stopped yet in our area.  That's all fine and dandy, we've been through this before.  What we haven't had before, at least not Sweetie and I, are the cold temperatures.

Doesn't it just look picturesque and peaceful?  It is, except it's only 8 degrees outside!  The cold temperatures are going to hang around till the weekend and depending on which news agency you listen to, today's high will be between 8 and 10 degrees and the low tonight will be between -8 and -6 degrees!  That's cold people!  We are advised to leave any faucet on an outside wall turned on to a slow drip and to keep cupboard doors and/or shower doors open so the heat can get to them.  Otherwise you run the risk of your pipes breaking.  I had the kitchen sink dripping all night and only caught a mixing bowl full of water so I don't feel bad about "wasting" water.  Late last night I stuck my head out the front door and it was scary cold.  There was even frost on the inside of the storm door. We're staying in and keeping a close tab on Mollie and Maggie when they have to go outside.

Speaking of Mollie.  As  new quilter years ago, I thought that I had to match the thread with the fabric when I was piecing the quilts.  I have since learned to use neutrals, white, cream, beige, gray with an occasional black thrown in as those stitches don't generally show.  So I naturally have lots of colored thread that I don't use.  I was throwing putting some things in the spare bedroom to clean up one day and put my big glass jar of thread on the floor tucked away on the other side of the dresser along with some other sewing things.  Well, somehow, Mollie decided to go exploring.  Did she dig out my myriad assortment of neon colored threads that I don't use?  Of course not!

She went straight for the neutrals!!!!  Mollie, Mollie, Mollie!  What can I say.  She must have gotten the  neutral thread memo!

To all of you who are experiencing severe weather, stay safe and warm.  To all of you who have lovely, sunny, warm weather - consider yourself very lucky!

Have a great rest of the week!!!

From Miss Jean, Sweetie, Maggie and Mollie

Snow Story

We had snow last Thursday.  One day of beautiful snow.  The problem this time is that the temperatures dropped so drastically and everything turned to ice.  It looked so peaceful and innocent but underneath the snow on the roads was another story all together.  I wasn't truly aware of the ice problem and I thought on Friday that I would run to the library to return The Bletchley Circle dvd and pick up the latest copy of Midsomer Murders.  Hubs and I are great British television fans and our local library is awesome and has quite a wonderful selection.  I can reserve a book or dvd online and when it's in I go pick it up.  They have self checkout so I'm in and out in less than 5 minutes.

So off I go and it wasn't long before I realized that it wasn't one of my most brilliant ideas.   A six mile round trip on solid ice.  Me with no snow tires or front wheel drive.  It was too late to turn around by the time I realized my mistake so I trudged along.  The great thing about it is that everyone just took it slow.  Like 20 miles per hour slow.  I did have to coast through one stop sign as the car just didn't want to stop.

I made it home just fine!  Whew.  I swore off going anywhere until May!!!!!  Now, did I ever mention our driveway?  It's slanted.  A lot!! I had shoveled the walkway up to the house and the sidewalk but not the driveway.  I started to but a.) I was tired, and b.) I started to slip and slide.  That should have been my first clue not to go out.  When I got back I couldn't get the car up the drive.  Back and forth I went and each time I went a little further but not enough to get into the garage.  Right about then the neighbors parents came by.  The Dad got out and said he'd push while I tried it again.  Oh, Lord, I though sure I would run over him.  I got a little way but the car stopped and I slammed on the brakes.  Then he got the snow shovel and cleared the driveway and I gunned it.  "Please, oh, please, don't let me crash into the house!"  Success!!!!!!  I woke up the next day and the driveway was all clear.  Unbeknownst to be, my other neighbors had come out after work on Friday and shoveled the drive and sprinkled ice melt "stuff" on it.  (The same neighbors who cleaned my gutters!  Aren't I fortunate!?)

It's Sunday and I haven't ventured out since.  The roads are clear, albeit it's freezing out, so I think I may go out today.  If for no other reason than to get some more of "stuff" you sprinkle around to make the snow melt.  I did learn some things:

1.  If you think you need to go out in bad weather, rethink it.
2.  If you have to do something, be brave and do it.  You just might surprise yourself.
3.  There are so many nice people out there who are willing to help when you need it.  I preface that with don't ask for help until you have tried to help yourself and you just can't do it alone.
4.  Pass it on.  I can't shovel snow or clean gutters but I can rake the neighbors leaves and bake cookies.

Hubs and I are going to have a quiet Thanksgiving just the two of us this year.  We had an invitation from some friends who live about three hours from here.  We spent Christmas with them last year and took Maggie with us.   We had a wonderful time and stayed a few days.  However, with getting little Mollie and her being still a little skittish, we thought it best to stay home.  I haven't decided whether to go ahead and cook a big meal or go out.  Maybe we'll take in a movie - or watch some more Midsomer Murders.

What do you do when it's just you for a holiday?  Give me some more ideas.

Have a wonderful Sunday and a peaceful Thanksgiving.

Blessings.....

Fall

Winter is still a month away which means it's fall - as in FALLING LEAVES!

We have three willow trees on our property.  One in the front and two in the back.  I'm not sure what type of willow they are, they are not the weeping type, just the messy, dropping leaves and branches type.  Huge branches drop all the time, especially from the one on the side yard.  It's usually not the dead branches (there are many of those) but live green ones.  I know if we have had any sort of wind, I need to go pick them up.  I do not recommend this tree at all!  They are not pretty like the weeping willow.  They have no redeeming qualities, just too many falling leaves, surface roots and a tendency for the branches to break and fall.  I supposed I could have them taken out but they are so large the cost would be prohibitive.  I've already apologized to the new neighbors about the messy tree next to our common fence.  It was hear before I got here and there's nothing I can do.

 My neighbor cleaned out my gutters (God Bless Him!) and I know they are full again.  He said he'd come back in a couple weeks and do it again.  For some reason he doesn't want me standing on the very top of our ladder to do it myself!

November is supposed to be one of the snowiest months here.  We've only had about a half day so far.  I have to get all the leaves up off the yard before it does rain or snow so it doesn't smother the grass.  Yesterday I blew and raked the front yard.  We live on the end of a court with a third acre lot.  The front yard is really small.  I did our front yard and the tiny side yard of our neighbor (the least I could do) and the combined tiny side yard on the other side.  SIX GARBAGE CANS OF LEAVES PEOPLE!!!!!!!

Today I'm starting on the back.  Wish me luck!  

Now for a reality check.  It's a beautiful, warm and sunny day and it will be lovely outside.  My prayers go out to all those in the midwest affected by the tornadoes.  I'm from Michigan and I don't remember tornadoes in November.

I hope you all have a great and safe week ahead!

Haiti Sew

I'm a quilter, not a seamstress and garment sewer.  I did sew some easy little jumpers for my daughter, Dory, when she was little but stopped when they would have needed more intricate sewing skills.  I was fortunate to be able to be introduced to some great ladies here who volunteer their time, efforts, skills and materials to make dresses, bags and shorts to send to Haiti.  I figured I could help, even if it was just ironing or pinning.  I wanted to be involved.  There is such a desperate need for these things there along with food and shoes.  I'm not sure how long this particular group has been doing this but I know they have made a huge impact with the town and church they work with in Haiti.

 We usually meet twice a month to sew.  This past Tuesday an extra effort was made so they could make lots of dresses all at once.  There were over 40 volunteers all working assembly line to get the job done.  A lady from Texas drove all the way here to Colorado with fabric that had been donated.  Some were cutting, inserting elastic, adding binding, hemming, ironing or putting on pockets.
 

There are going to be a lot of happy little girls the next time the dresses are delivered.  Aren't they pretty?  I don't know any little girl anywhere who wouldn't just love having one.  I'm not sure how many they were able to finish but there is a goal of 100+ (or more) by February.

This is what it's all about!  This is one of the little girls who got a dress last year.  Is she adorable or what?  Take a minute - how long would it take for you to make something easy that would help someone so tremendously?  Some of these little ones have nothing, including clothes.  No one deserves that.

You don't have to find a group just like ours.  There are all sorts of charity and volunteer opportunities out there.  It may be helping out at the senior home in your town, rescuing a dog, donating blood, serving meals to the homeless during the holidays, donating food, donating blankets to a homeless shelter,  reading to a child.  Sometimes looking outside ourselves makes us feel so much better inside.

There is no way I can say "thank you" and "job well done" to all the ladies at the Haiti sew.  I will say a big THANK YOU and GOD BLESS  to Barbara.  She has a servants heart and more energy than anyone I have met!!!

Have a wonderful and restful weekend!

Happy Veterans Day, Aaron!

Happy Veterans Day to our son, Aaron!

We are bursting with pride in all you have accomplished in your life.  Though you have done so much serving your country, you are always, always, humble in the fact that you are just doing your job.  We are relieved that you are back on home soil but know that if asked, you would go wherever you are sent.

Next year as you retire after 23 years in the Navy, may you find as much happiness in civilian life as you have in the military!

Love,
Mom and Dad

Happy Friday

More gratuitous pictures of the dogs!  I hate to even call them dogs, really they are little furry people that rule live in our home.

This is one of Maggie's favorite places to sit.  She can look out the windows and make sure everything is right with the world.  When Mollie jumped up, she didn't quite know what to think. (Sorry for the glare.)

This is Maggie and we just love her to pieces!

"I'm ready for my close up, Mr. DeMille."

You'll have to enlarge the pictures to really see Mollie's cute little face!

The girls and I hope you have a fun weekend.  I'm off to a Christmas Bazaar and a favorite restaurant.  Then hopefully, I can get some sewing done.  I need to do some housework and mop floors.  I can already see the difference in having two dogs rather than one.  Worth it?  You bet!

Hugs!

Is the Honeymoon Over?

Well, we have had Mollie for a little over a week.  From the pictures below, you might think that the honeymoon is over.

Not in the least.  Our little Mollie has been an incredible joy with some surprising perks.  The previous owners (of two whole weeks) wrote that she was not housebroken.  I guess if you are stuck in a laundry room all day, you might have an accident.  Mollie has not had one accident in our house.  Not one!!!  If I say, "let's go outside" she runs right to the door.  She has even gone to the back door and barked and scratched to be let out.  Getting her back in is another thing but we're working on that.  I put out a couple dog beds and they quickly became her go to places to nap.  She sleeps all night in her crate without a wimper.  We'll have her sleeping with us (and Maggie) on the bed before too long but want to wait a while longer for that.

Like I said, she doesn't like to come back inside when I let her out back.  So in the evening I take her out front on a leash for her potty breaks if it's dark out.  I've already warned the neighbors about seeing me in my jammies and robe walking down the street.  Just look the other way, people!

Mollie is gaining confidence with playing with Maggie.  Maggie means no harm but likes to play rough.  Yesterday, Mollie actually was giving it back to Maggie and they were chasing each other around the house.  She loves playing with toys as you can see below.  I keep the toys all in a pile and she quickly gets them all out again.

I took her into the vet's on Friday for her rabies vaccination and she was declared perfectly healthy in every way.  She was very sociable with the other dogs so she is not as timid any more.  She still shirks away if I put my hand out to pet her which makes me think she might have been abused.  Lots of love and hugs should take care of that.  She even loves to take naps with me in the afternoon, curling up beside me.  Sweet!

The only problem we have with her is her barking.  I have had to apologize to the neighbors with the guarantee we will work on it.  They have been so nice and understanding.  The gal on one side said not to worry about it as did the neighbors on the other side.  They are new to the neighborhood and immediately had gone down and gotten a rescue dog themselves, so they understand what all it entails.

Today I am going down to our local city offices to get Mollie's tags so she will be street legal.  She has fit right in and made herself an instant part of our family.  I highly recommend getting a rescue dog and hopefully you will have as good a luck as we have.

I mentioned above that there was a surprising perk  I periodically suffer from insomnia.  I'll stay awake untill four or five in the morning and then only sleep about four hours.  It's exhausting and it has made me miss meetings and appointments as I'm too tired to drive, not to mention it's not safe.  Since getting Mollie I have been so much busier chasing after her, taking her for walks, picking up after her and all the other things that having a new dog entails that I am ready for bed by ten at night!

Besides the city offices I think I better stop and get some new slippers - and then figure out a place to hide them!  I'll try to get some more pictures of Mollie soon - if she ever holds still long enough to have one taken!

Have a wonderful week!

A New Member of Our Family

We have an announcement.  We have added a new member to our family!

That's our Scottie, Maggie on the left and our new Scottie, Mollie, on the right.  We've been wanting to get a new little sibling for Maggie for quite some time.  However, we didn't want to go through the puppy stage again.  Finding an adult Scottie is not that easy.  As it turns out, this past week eight Scotties became available through two different agencies here.

I had put in my name to the Dumb Friend's League, our local rescue animal shelter, for a purebred Scottie a month ago and we got the call Friday night. We went down first thing Saturday to "just look" at her.  I have a tendency to over think things and didn't want to make a hasty decision this time.  The minute we saw her and heard her story we knew we couldn't leave her there.  She started out as a puppy mill dog, was rescued by a family who gave her to another family who only had her for two weeks.  No wonder she's a little skittish and shy!  No animal should have to go through all of that.

I made the mistake of letting her run around our back yard first thing when we got home and boy did I have a time trying to catch her!  I'm learning a few tricks, though.  So far no accidents in the house, which is a good thing.  Her favorite thing to do is to go on walks, so walking we do.  FAST!!!!  She's much better on a leash than Maggie.  Maggie stops and sniffs every single blade of grass.  Mollie is a gal on a mission.  Our first walk today was a long one.  I took her near some traffic so she would start getting used to noises.  The second walk was shorter as it was freezing rain out.  By the time I get her used to us I should be in great shape!

Right now we have part of the house blocked off and she sleeps in a crate.  I'm tired and can't get much done right now as most of the time I sit and hold her.  I don't want her to wander around freely yet.  That, along with trust, will come with a little time and lots of love.

She's very petite, almost half the size of Maggie.  The Dumb Friends League gives everyone that adopts an animal a free checkup at a vet, so I'll be taking her down for that and her rabies shot.  Then we'll head on over to the city offices for her license so she will be street legal.

If you or your family are considering getting a new pet, consider adopting a rescue animal.  Here in Colorado, rescue and shelter animals are our state pet.  People here are passionate about rescuing and placing animals in loving homes.  The Dumb Friends League is a wonderful organization and I thank them for giving us the opportunity to bring Mollie home.

*A note about the Dumb Friends League.  They don't call them "dumb" because they think the animals are stupid.  They call them that because they can't speak for themselves so they need our help.  One of the original founders of the Dumb Friends League was none other than Margaret Brown of Denver.  Better know as The Unsinkable Molly Brown!  Quite fitting, don't you think?