I met April at the Smail Dealership and we headed to Smicksburg at about 9:30am. Most of the stores opened at 11am but we did find one that opened at 10 and started with that one – Time Works. It may have been her favorite – at least it’s the only one she bought something at.

We went to my favorite next – The Shop at Smicksburg. I purchased a few little wooden carved acorns and a tiny apple, and a bar of goats milk soap. It had a wonderful fragrance! I found a small coaster, and we all know I can’t resist those!

I had grabbed a small cookie on the way out the door this morning, and April had not eaten at all, so from there we went to the County Junction and had lunch. Well, April had Buckwheat pancakes and bacon. I had a cup of cheddar brocchli soup and a small fish sandwich. Everything was very yummy!

We stopped next at Smicksburg Furniture and really enjoyed looking at the beautiful furniture and linens. From there we went into ‘town’ and went to the three stores that were open there. We both sampled the fudge – sort of a bit of sweet. Of course we stopped at Donna’s store, and I got cheese and chocolate covered peanuts, which we DID have for dessert before heading out.

OH! And I forgot to mention that as we were leaving the Country Junction someone called my name, and it was Aunt Joan and Uncle Clifford! They were having lunch with a huge table of friends. I chatted for a few minutes. Once we were done at Donna’s, we headed down Sinktown Road and I gave April a little tour – Grama’s house, family homes, the cabin, the creek and the slate bank. She laughed at my stories about playing under the bridge and climbing the bank.

Allen was taking a break from weed-whacking when we drove by so he walked over to the car and said hi. We headed out Crooks road and were on our way home. It was a fun day and we enjoyed the stores, food, and conversation. I’m blessed to call her my friend!

I had just pulled the car in the garage and walked up to get the mail when Autmn, Josie, Summer and Noah pulled in. They were headed to the playground to do chalk drawings but there was a basketball game taking up the court. So they came here. This is their creativity!

Once they left, I cut the grass. It really was too high. I’m sure by the time I get back from vacation it will also be too high, but I can’t think about that today – I’ll go crazy if I do. (Scarlett O’Hara-Gone with the Wind.)

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Musical from 1976: PHANTOM OF THE OPERA – in London

TOMORROW April 21st is:

National Rendering Day; National Chocolate Covered Cashews Day (will peanuts do???); National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day; National Yellow Bat Day; National Kindergarten Day.

I’m doing the kindergarten day! I’m been teaching kindergarten for 49 years so it’s worth celebrating – along with my Chocolate Covered Peanuts from Smicksburg! God bless…

I started this morning with a txt from Diane with the song of the day, but also with a few photos. She’s at a cabin on a lake a little north of here. One photo from yesterday’s sunset and one right after sunrise today. She should have a good week for enjoying nature!

As is typical for a Wednesday, I did cleaning and washed towels. I punctuated my chores with several reading breaks. I started a new book by a new author. It’s a cute story but nothing intense! I had half a piece of leftover pizza for lunch and just had a chocolate covered pretzel to get me through until supper.

The neighbor horse was on the hill again this morning…

While the towels were washing, I threw my Snoopy blanket in the dryer, after treating it with Fabreeze and adding a wet towel and a dryer sheet. It needed freshened up because it smelled like Chase! 🙂

Tomorrow I have a day trip to Smicksburg planned with my friend April. It looks like a nice day for that. Hopefully pictures tomorrow…

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Musical from 1975: ALICE IN WONDERLAND (Off Broadway)

TOMORROW April 20th is:

National Cheddar Fries Day; Volunteer Recognition Day; National Lima Bean Respect Day; Get to Know Your Customers Day; National Look Alike Day; National High Five Day; 420 Day (It’s the date: 4/20!!!); National Pineapple Upside Down Cake Day.

I love cheese fries, and I volunteer several different places. Thank someone who offers their time! I really don’t have respect for Lima Beans – and what can I say about customers? Have a piece of Pineapple Upside Down Cake and celebrate! God bless…

It’s 6:15pm, and I haven’t been warm all day! I’m sitting at my desk typing, with the little heater on under the keyboard tray. It’s 51* and sunny, but the wind is blowing and the air is chilly. Brrr – I’m glad to be inside this evening!

I went to work this morning at the Greensburg store, and had a few titles to do. Joe gave me a quick lesson in some procedures to do while he is away if necessary. I did title work for Mike G, then went down to help Mike P with a problem deal. I was home a little after 11am. The boys were just waking up, so Kelly made them quilla-dilla’s (quesadillas). Her and I had left over burgers and fried potatoes.

Kelly was working on lesson plans, so I did some banking and emails. A bird flew into my front window, so I cleaned up the smeared glass. The horse was grazing on the hill, which was a lovely picture! Kelly got a call from Matt that he was going to a pickle ball event at the church and Logan wanted to go, so they packed things up and were ready to leave about 4pm. I straightened up the beds and gathered up dirty towels and sheets and threw them in the laundry. Not sure I’ll do anything else major this evening.

I forgot to post the shirts that Kelly made for Aunt Kathy and I. We love them and can’t wait to wear them next week! Thanks to my sweet, talented daughter….

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Musical from 1974: SGT. PEPPER’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND ON THE ROAD (off-Broadway)

TOMORROW April 19th is:

National Banana Day; National Oklahoma City Bombing Commemoration Day; National North Dakota Day; National Hanging Out Day; National Amarillo Day.

I can hang out. That’ll do it for me. Tomorrow – as usual – is cleaning day! Enjoy! God bless…

It’s been a cold, cold, terribly cold day – very windy, no sun, and rain. Although we did go out twice we didn’t stay out very long.

Kelly and I went out this morning to get food, as well as items for her lab class on Wednesday. After lunch of left-over pizza we did some chores at home, including a walk through the raindrops to look at some plants in the yard. Her 4-H club is looking for plants to include in their garden. We made plans to connect up early in May to dig them up. We came up with about eight different plants that will come up every year and survive neglect. (Just kidding, Kelly!)

Logan needed work shoes for mowing grass with Matt, so we took him out. I stopped at the post office and got my post card stamps on the way. We came home, ate supper, and I submitted my story to the Loyalhanna Review publication. We’ll see what happens. I hemmed her new black pants, then we brainstormed ideas to help Merilee with the Flax Festival in September. I’ll get in touch with Merilee when I get back from vacation. So that was our day!

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Musical from 1973: GIGI (Broadway)

TOMORROW April 18th is:

National Columnists’ Day; National Lineman Appreciation Day; National Animal Crackers Day.

I like Animal Cracker, and columnists (some of them) but I don’t know any linemen. I’m sure they’re nice! Have a great day tomorrow and God bless…

TODAY is my Sir Regis’s birthday! Sixty! Great milestone. He doesn’t look a day over 59… Sorry. I’m wishing him a wonderful day and many more happy, profitable years – So glad to have the honor of working for him! God bless.

Today our Sunday School lesson was HE IS RISEN! Mary had them make empty tombs. I’ll take a picture of the finished products next week. We told Max we were sorry to hear about his great-grandmother passing away (she was 94). He was quiet a second and said very matter-of-factly: “She was a good Grandma.” I hope that someday someone says that about me. It was such a beautiful tribute!

Todd’s message was about being a servant. Paul wrote in Philippians ‘For me to live is Christ & to die is gain.’ Paul lived his entire life about Jesus. We need to be like-minded, and one in spirit and purpose with each other. What feeds your thoughts determines who you are – we all need to be committed, and think like Jesus – that’s the only way to live like Jesus. Keep a positive attitude: More of God and Less of ourselves. Remember that God created the world out of nothing. We are nothing – think how he could use US! See yourself as a servant – but always keep your relationship with Jesus first.

The sky last night was beautiful and this photo doesn’t do it justice. Bright pink and deep purples and blues. All across the northeast horizon.

Also took a picture of my little solar vase. I like the little dragonfly.

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Scripture and Peanuts Post together:

Quote: (Two today)

Musical from 1972: SOMETHING’S AFOOT

TOMORROW April 17th is:

National Crawfish Day; National Ellis Island Family History Day; National Haiku Poetry Day; International Bat Appreciation Day; National Cheeseball Day.

Maybe I’ll just appreciate the fact that ‘This is the day the Lord has made’ and enjoy it! God bless…

Tax deadline day! Well, mine is filed and already got the refund. But more than that, today is the anniversary of my wedding. Forty-nine years ago. The best thing about that marriage was my children: Kelly Sabrina and Nathan Wade. Love those kids!

After breakfast I went outside and didn’t come back in until 2:30pm. I worked in the yard and got the totes of little yard decorations out. I always deliberate over where to put them. Some things go in the same place every year but others I just let the lawn spirit lead me!

I noticed this morning that the tulips were in tight buds. Not so now! And these delicate little blue flowers are a favorite…

I had a salad when I came in, then got out my packing list and started gathering up the miscellaneous items. I hope there’s room for Kathy and I in the car! I won’t actually pack my clothes or food until next weekend but this will be a busy week. In addition to work, Kelly and the boys are coming up for three days, and then April and I plan to spend Thursday in Smicksburg. It will be a fun week but I’ll hit the ground running!

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Musical from 1971: GREASE – the musical

TOMORROW April 16th is:

National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day; National Eggs Benedict Day; National Bean Counter Day; National Healthcare Decisions Day; National Orchid Day.

I don’t count beans (haha). I have wild orchids growing on the hill but they don’t bloom until about August. I don’t work tomorrow so I can’t wear my PJ’s to work. Maybe I’ll just celebrate Kelly and the boys coming up! God bless…

I’m tired this evening but it’s a good tired. I accomplished a lot and was busy all day! After breakfast I did laundry, and the dryer worked just fine. Thank you Jamie!

After breakfast I put on old work clothes, and was excited to put on shorts to be outside. I weed whacked first, then cut the grass. I love fresh cut lawns in the spring time – so thick and green and soft. I swept up the driveway and the walks and pulled a few weeds.

Nate said Jamie was coming over after work to seal the flood light (since they do indeed work!) so I changed (again) and set off on some errands. Mostly food items, but had to pick up a few greeting cards and I bought a solar flood light for down on the shed. Nate will put it up for me when I get back from vacation.

I believe there’s a chance of rain tonight and tomorrow, but I watered the grass seed, anyway. Can’t hurt. The deck box had been sitting crooked for a long time on the hill, so I raked out the stones, dug the spot level, put the deck box back, and raked the stones back. I also repositioned several of the stones that make the steps up the hill under the deck. So again, a busy day!

Kathy’s little granddaughter Millie (age 5) had surgery yesterday, and Sarah posted that everything went very well! Below is the photo that Sarah posted yesterday. I haven’t heard any updates today, except that Wyatt wasn’t feeling well! Hoping everyone had a good day and will improve and heal quickly! Love to Millie, and to Wyatt as well.

Fun things to do in Montana:

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Musical from 1970: Applause

TOMORROW April 15th is:

National Laundry Day; National Tax Day; National Auctioneer Day; National Titanic Remembrance Day; Purple Up! Day (I’m definitely down for that!); National Rubber Eraser Day; National Glazed Spiral Ham Day; National Take a Wild Guess Day.

I’ll do the purple, and of course laundry. I love ham! I went to the Titanic Museum Exhibition a few years ago and it was impressive. And tomorrow would have been my wedding anniversary. I’ll post a photo tomorrow. God bless!

First thing I’ll do is recap yesterday. After breakfast Di (not hair-cut Di) brought over a bag of clothes for the girls and I to look through. She stayed for a while and we had a cup of tea.

During the day I put the deck flag up, took some pictures of the bleeding heart and the bridal veil bush, and the house from the front yard. It was a beautiful day.

After that I cleaned the house and did little projects as I came across them. I washed a load of towels, and part way though the dryer quit. I knew there was an issue when it didn’t buzz and the light wasn’t on when I opened the door. I called Bob Stevenson (my neighbor and my go-to appliance repairman!!) and he walked me through some tests to see what might be wrong with it. Turns out it wasn’t the dryer it was the outlet (which was here when I moved in). More on that later.

I started on the cookies a little after 6pm but spent all evening dealing with baking and phone calls about the dryer situation. When I finally cleaned up and went to bed at least I had a plan!

I did take the Mazda down to Jeannette for the customer to see. Right now I have a Buick Encore until we decide what’s next. I believe I will get an entirely different vehicle. I’ll find that out on Monday or Tuesday.

Jamie met me at the house a little after lunch, and he installed a new flood light. We were having trouble testing it, because it had a dusk to dawn sensor and wouldn’t turn on. I’ll check it tonight and let him know. While he was doing that I pulled weeds, realigned my rocks around several flower beds, and watered the lawn.

While Jamie put the new outlet in for the dryer I chased a bee around the house. Finally managed to swat it and threw it outside. We tested the dryer for a while and it was fine. So that problem is solved! I noticed when we put the ladder back in the shed there was a big swarm of ants by the door. I sprayed it thoroughly and hope they go away. Thankfully it’s in the shed and not the house! And they AREN’T carpenter ants…

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Musical from 1969: MAME

TOMORROW April 14th is:

National Pecan Day; National Day of Silence (I would never be able to do it…); Look Up At The Sky Day; National Ex-Spouse Day; National Reach As High As You Can Day; National Pan American Day; National Dolphin Day; International Laverbread Day (I looked it up – ugh); National Gardening Day.

Gardening Day, for sure! Join me? I am NOT celebrating an ex-spouse. Why, I ask you. WHY? I shall look up at the sky and delight in it, and look at the gardens and delight in them. Have a wonderful day! God bless….

I hate to shirk my posting responsibilities, but it’s almost 10pm and I haven’t had dinner (which I probably won’t do now).

I am still cleaning up from making seven dozen cookies that I have to drop off at church tomorrow for a funeral dinner. My friend’s mother passed away; in fact it’s JJ and Max’s great grandmother. So I wanted to help out. I’ll catch up with everything tomorrow!

Tomorrow, April 13th, is:

National Borinqueneers Day; National Thomas Jefferson Day; National Make Lunch Count Day; National Scrabble Day.

And I have to get the Mazda down to Jeannette at 11am; they have a customer coming to look at it. As much as I like that car, I do hope they sell it! Any sale is a good sale! Have a great day – God Bless…

I woke up to shadows on the wall. We all know I love those! I had a few things to do at each store this morning, including help with the new dealer tags. We finally got them in Jeannette! I was offered a choice, but none struck me as exciting, so I just took the one on the top. The new tags have an image of a car and the word DEALER at the bottom. P R stands for PReowned!

When I left work I stopped at the dentist to get copies of my bills and receipts. I have another charge that I need to submit to my dental insurance company.

I changed clothes when I got home and then spent the next hour or so spreading my Weed and Feed on the lawn. Of course I’m not neat when I do that, so I had to sweep the walks and driveway. By then I had to change (again) and get to Dianne’s for a hair cut. That was a fun adventure and also good conversation. You never know what subject will come up!

After the haircut I changed AGAIN and tore apart the flower bed in my side yard. It kept getting wider and wider, so I tore out the landscape fabric and mulch and moved the rocks in. Then I put grass seed down to fill in the side. Let’s hope it grows! I did water it before I came in.

I took a fifteen minute book break (had to read!), then switched out my winter clothes to spring and summer. I never realize how many I have until I get rid of an entire trash bag full and still have plenty! Now I’m ready to finish this and grab some dinner.

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Musical from 1968: WEST SIDE STORY

TOMORROW April 12th is:

National Licorice Day; National Colorado Day; National Only Child Day; National Big Wind Day; National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day; National For Twelves Day.

I like Licorice and grilled cheese. And I love tomorrows! God bless…