January 9, 2014

Eldon and I had  good holidays.   The first of December we visited Janice and Ron, Duane and Dawna in Florida.   We had a good time there with both and even spent part of a day at Epcot. Dawna showed us the day care where she works.

 On December 21st we joined a local travel group for a progressive dinner held at three historic bed and breakfast inn.  They were all decorated for Christmas and were beautiful.  We were allowed to tour before our meal.  The appetizer was held at Tippicanoe Place, then we walked next door for our salad and main course.  We had three pork roast medallions, with rosemary potatoes and green beans, and yeast rolls.  There were some excellent cooks there!  We then went down the street for our tea, coffee and fabulous desserts.  Everything was wonderfully decorated and very well done.

 We had Shannon, Rick and Anthony for an early Christmas dinner.   We even had a tree this year.
Then on December 26th we drove to TX for time with Craig, Wendy and grand-daughters.  It was cool there, but the time spent was good.  We were delayed on the way back due to the weather.  We decided to spend an extra night in Marion, Il, which was not as far as we had planned to drive, but the weather was telling us we should stop.  A good thing we did!  When we left we have not ever seen so many overturned semi trucks and cars off the road.  At some places we were completely at a standstill
While  wreckers were pulling up the semis to tow.  What a mess!!  I just hope no one was seriously
Hurt.  It took us much longer to get home, but safely.   We did not expect to come back to so much snow, but what can we expect for northern Indiana.

Now the laundry is done, groceries are put away and  we are back to our daily routine.

Happy November

Barb says:: I can't believe  it's been so long since I have written anything.  We have been busy.  Retirement is great!!   Still a year of changes for me.  My hair is almost to its natural color which  is no color, just gray.  Also trying to get chloresterol under control without medicine, so no more sweet tea, red meat only once in a great while, no more fried foods.  Not much besides salad, fruit and veggies.  I even voluntarily submitted to a blood draw which was a disaster.  Just trying to get healthy without taking meds.  Also had a crown and a root canal.

We went to an Elderhostel in September held in. Ripley, West Virginia.  Eldon took a class on his dulcimer. And I took a quilting class.  We both really enjoyed being there.    We are still doing volunteer work at Busy Hands which takes a lot of time. We still make short excursions to find yarn and quilt shops.  Eldon is always ready to drive where I want to go.  I go to Wolcottville to a knit group  and to New Carlisle to a crochet group.  Never too old to learn something new.

We had just one young man tonight for Halloween who refused the candy Eldon offered.  He was lucky to get here between the raindrops.  Warm weather but hard rain.

Happy November to all.

Barb says,  
Now that we no longer go to BH 4 days a week, I have time to do other things that have been put off for a long time.  This wall hanging for one.  The hanging it replaced had been on the wall for over a year.  It was a snowman and you can imagine how out of place it looked in June and July.  I got the pattern for this one when we were on our travels out of state with a tour group.  There are 3 patterns in one and it can be purchased at  your LYS (here in Mishawaka)  or quilt store.   In fact I think there is even a  fabric kit you can purchase if you don't have a fabric stash.  There are 4 different patterns to cover the year.   I am working on a different hanging for Easter. 
Another plus has been that I am able to have lunch with my daughter.  We have gone  twice now to two different resturaunts and it has been nice to spend time with her.
I can get more done at home for volunteer while still doing laundry, cleaning etc.  I have hot tea when I want, my own potty in a warm house.  I can make a snack, have hot water, and go on errands when I need to.  The best of both worlds.   I can even take a class if I want. 

Barb and I watched the Notre Dame-Alabama game Monday night until the Crimson Tide overtook Notre Dame throughout the first half.  It was like watching a high school team play against a Pro team.
Enough of that.  On a different subject, actually, it is on all subjects or news stories the TV commentator's and interviewer's have in common SENSATIONALISM.  I GET DISGUSTED with the questioning which tries to provote emotional responses or HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN THAT HAPPENED.  HUH....  (lets see if get them to cry or show other facial emotion while I have them on camera.,,that has to increase our NETWORK RATINGS....)  I is bad enough that bad things happen. It does not need to be exploited.

Barb's Post:   Eldon and I went for hair cuts today, a week past our regular time.  ANOTHER BIG CHANGE:   I have decided to let my hair grow to the natural color,  which is gray, ulgy gray.  My hair has been colored for years.  When I was growing up Mother worked for a beauty supply company, so all types of make up, and coloring was available to us.  There were three of us girls and we all played with what was brought home.  I think my youngest sister is the only one who hasn't kept up with hair color, while my other sister has gone blond and shades thereof.  My shade has always been dark, close to the natural color when I was young.  However, since getting OLDER and by eyebrows are beginning to gray, it is time to let my hair
SLOWLY  go natural.  I can't stand the line of demarkcation between color and gray, so it is going lighter over time.  How much time is up to my hairdresser.   She has done a good job for almost 20 years and I trust her decision.   Plus it gives my time to get used to the idea of looking into the mirror and seeing a different face.  I hate gray!!!   My paternal grandmother had beautiful white hair.  My mother and maternal grandmother didn't turn gray until late in life, and mother still had some dark hair when she left us.  But mine is ugly.  Maybe I should do the purple or peach hair.   But on second thought, not a good idea.  That is as fake as a 70 year old with black hair.  You know it is not real.  I guess I put on by big girl panties and deal with it.