Home again, home again, jiggety jig

Jiggety jig, jiggety jog! My cats were very glad to see me. They are sitting on their chairs on either side of me while I type. They take turns asking for pets and hugs.
Last Christmas I received a gift card for Trader Joe's but had never stopped there. I decided to shop today since it was on my way home. I had fun looking through the store and deciding how to spend the card. I came away with many frozen entrees and some gingerbread cookies for Jerry. So thank you, Aunt Doris.
My trip home was uneventful and really nice weather until I got near Cleveland where it began to sleet. By the time I got to Chardon there was already snow on the ground. Of course I stopped to see Jerry and Hoby. We ate dinner and tried to watch the news but we were both sleepy. I gave up and drove home. It is good to come home!

Sunday

Sunday-"This is the day we go to church so early in the morning," as the song goes. Jill & Bob left early to head home so she could go to work. After church we tried out a new restaurant called Bella Terra. We went with some church friends and got the breakfast specials. The blueberry pancakes were delicious!
We were home for 30 minutes and then back to church for a funeral. It was a very nice memorial service for a man of 85 years who had served his country, his family, his church, and many organizations.
We got home in time to see the Colts beat Houston, followed by the Bengals beating the Browns.
Now it's time to get out the cards!

Cornhole in November!

Wow!

The weather was fantastic today! We actually played cornhole outside and enjoyed sitting in the sun.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are very thankful for our family and friends today. This morning my dad and I attended High St. United Methodist Church's Thanksgiving service. During the offering the congregation was invited to bring canned goods, dry food, money, etc. up to the altar for the food pantry.

After enjoying the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade we drove down to Indianapolis for a wonderful dinner with family. My cousin surely knows how to cook and so do her kids. Jordan deep fried the turkey after injecting it with hot sauce. Yum!

Eating Our Way to Thanksgiving

Yesterday my dad and I went to Richards Restaurant for their kielbassi and sauerkraut special. The mashed potatoes and gravy along with a roll were delicious but a little over the top. I was stuffed full all day. :-)

Back Home Again.......

Well, here I am again in Indiana visiting my dad. This time the cats stayed home with Jerry and Hoby. I had a good trip today in less than 6 hours, little rain, mostly grey until Muncie when the sun came out. We went out to dinner at Fazoli's for spaghetti and meatballs. I love their breadsticks and you can request refills which is a good deal.

Friday-Lazy Day

'Nothing much happening here. It has turned cloudy this afternoon and is still in the 40's. I was a little stiff and sore from yesterday's exercises. I should be working on a newsletter, running errands, etc. but a headache has slowed me down a little. I did make a pot of ham and bean soup which tasted pretty good for lunch. It's just one of those lazy days.

Thursday-exercise day

This morning I picked up my girlfriend and we headed over to the YMCA for a swim class. It turned out that this is Amnesty Week where you can join the Y with a 50% discount. I filled out the paperwork and brought it home to look over. My friend is already a member but I was just using a visitor's pass. I like the idea of having so many different ways of exercising. Besides the pool there is a huge fitness room with machines, a regular gym, group exercise on stationary bikes, on huge exercise balls, and the Silver Sneaker class. At least I wouldn't get bored.

Yesterday and today were real winners! The warmer temperatures have been gifts. I got to spend lots of quality time with Jerry, go to the library and find lots of good books to listen to in the car, practice with the bell choir at church, sing in the chancel choir, and attend a visitation meeting also at church. I especially enjoyed walking the dog in the woods. Any day it isn't raining is a good day.

Road Trip

Today I have been invited to accompany Nan on a road trip to Warren. Sadly she is attending calling hours for a friend from work. At least we will have a nice visit on the road and perhaps even stop at the famous "Hotdog Shoppe" along the way.

OUT, Mouse!

When I checked the tube in the RV I saw the shadow of a mouse caught in the trap. I left the tube in for a couple more days in case there were some siblings. Yesterday, finding none, I removed the tube and set it out on the leaves in the woods. Yeah!

EEK! Mouse in the House!

While cleaning out the RV for winter I left the door open. No bugs to worry about, right? Well, a mouse got inside and left its mark on the sink counter. Then it chewed a corner of a beach towel covering my dinette bench.

My trusty "mouse man" set up a tube with a trap inside Mon. but didn't catch anything yet. If my cats and I were still traveling in there this would not have happened!

I went to Wal-Mart to buy peppermint oil to put on cotton balls. (Mice don't like the smell. ) I was shocked to find a small bottle costs $19.32 so I didn't buy it. Now I'm thinking of using peppermint leaves from my herb garden.

Anyway, we drained the water tanks and put in the antifreeze for winter. I should have just kept traveling because November has been a beautiful month.

Amish Dinner

Last night my Scorpion friends met to celebrate our birthdays. We went to an Amish home for a family style Amish wedding dinner. Man, was it fantastic! Great food and good company. I never tasted such sweet corn. And the creamed peas were out of this world, not to mention the mashed potatoes, roast beef and chicken. Everything was homemade-bread, apple butter, strawberry jam, 3 kinds of pies. I wish I could have eaten more but I felt stuffed as it was.

I don't have any pictures for this one because the Amish don't like to have pictures taken of themselves or even of their home. I respectfully asked for permission and put away the camera when the wife declined. She and her husband are a young couple who haven't even started a family yet. They are obviously hard workers and very outgoing friendly people.

Surprise Birthday!

If you remember, I said my Sweetie was taking me to a mystery place for dinner on Sat. to celebrate his and my birthdays. Last night he did not show up to pick me up at the designated time. When I called to check on him he was having "car trouble." I volunteered to drive to his house and pick him up. He was a little reluctant but said he had called the restaurant and told them we would be late. His grandson was on the way over to look at the car.

While I was driving it got dark and I was having second thoughts about a long drive to dinner. His grandson pulled into the drive ahead of me. I went into the house and went downstairs to look for him. All of a sudden a bunch of friends stepped forward and wished me a Happy Birthday!

We had wonderful food and more fun than going out. They even bought me presents! I couldn't believe it! Check out the RV on the cake, complete with Hoby and Panda. They explained that Taz was inside hiding under the blanket.

Birthday Week!

This week I celebrated my Big 60! I believe in partying all week long. Last Sat. we had a fun Halloween party. Wed. I got to share dinner with my ABWA colleagues. Today I got to see "Inherit the Wind" at the Playhouse and go out for a birthday dinner with my girlfriend. Saturday my sweetheart is taking me out to dinner to a mystery location??? Monday all of my November birthday friends are celebrating together at an Amish wedding dinner. Birthdays are good!

Welcome to November!

"Falling back" is one of the saddest days of the year. I really miss the daylight in the late afternoon. By 7 PM I'm ready to put on pj's and hibernate. One thing that is good about November is my birthday! I also have many friends with a November birthday so it is a good party month. Here are Jerry, myself, Nan and Donna-ornery scorpions!