Rain, Rain, Go Away, Come Again Another Day

I love the rain. When I was a child I remember one spring day dancing around in the front yard singing "Rain, Rain, Go Away, Come Again Another Day" as the spring rain drops fell all around me. I played for what seemed like hours that day in the rain. When I finally went in I was soaking wet, chilled to the bone and happy as a lark.

I love the rain. This past week we took our camp trailer up to Island Park to put it on our lot. It had been raining and we knew things would be too wet to put it on the usual spot but we backed it up into what we thought would be a dry enough area to park. Needless to say, the camp trailer is there to stay until we can put it in it's usual spot for it will take some creative work to get it out from where it is parked. Even though, sleeping in the trailer as the rain falls on top of the metal roof is a relaxing sound. The fresh clean air as you open the door in the morning is refreshing and revitalizing.

I love the rain. The beautiful green of the plants and the vibrant colors of the flowers when there has been a lot of rain in heaven sent. My garden grows better when nature produces alot of fresh water from the sky. The grass is greener and seems thicker when there has been a lot of rain.

I love the rain. All in All, I will be glad for a few days of sunshine. Then it can rain again to bring the freshness to the air, give the plants a lovely watering and freshen the thickened grass.

Ages Ago

It has been ages since I last posted--of cource you all know that. Lots has happened including I forgot my password to get to this blog. I have retired from teaching and am getting used to be in charge of my own time. I have read a lot of books, done some geneology, enjoyed being with family and have gotten some much needed little jobs around the house done.

I am finding I really enjoy being in charge of my own time. I am having to learn how to use it wisely for there are days that go by that I could accomplish nothing at all but getting up and dressed for the day. I descided to substitute teach for extra money and it is nice to say, "No, I can't today, sorry."or "Yes, that would be great."

The books I have read have varied in genre. I read The Book of Morman in less that thirty days and got more out of that reading than ever before. Two favorite books have been I Am David and The Hiding Place. There have been dozens of others and each has given me oppertunities to reflect on different parts of my own life.

I am into spring and have gone overboard on purchasing plants and seed. I do this all the time but this year I really went all out. Now I have to find places to plant all that I have accumulated. I am proud to say I have peas, lettuce, and radishes coming up.

My greatest joy this year has been time I have spent with my grandchildren. I have watched closely the growing up of our youngest granddaughter and that has given us great joy. I get to spend a couple of day a week with two other grandchildren (if I'm not subbing.) and that has been fun.

Best of all I am getting to know my spouse a little better each day. He too retired so we are together a lot. He is a pretty neat man. He makes me laugh and he make me think. Love him dearly. Oh, I have my days when I wish I had time alone--but they pass and the next day is much better.

I am loving life.

Apples, Apples, Apples

The picture was ealier this summer. Read on to learn about the fruits of my labors.


Over the last week and a half my daughter-in-law and I have been canning apple sauce, apple butter, drying apples, and freezing apples. We have take a break the last couple of days. Now we are dragging our feet getting back to the rest of the apples.





Two little tips I have learned this year. We made our apple butter in the crock pot--Oh it was easy. Just look on line for a recipe. The apples we froze we blanched , filled pie plates full of apples--froze--then slipped the frozen apples out of the pie plates into air tight bags--they are frozen in the shape of the pie plate. When I am ready to make a pie, just place the shape into the crust--add my sugar, spices and a little flour and bake. Hope it works--I'll let you know later.

Sticky Day

Today I made Plum butter, fruit leather and tried my hand at plum jelly. All went well except the plum jelly--I fear I cooked it a little too long.

Progress on my new life changing journey has brought me good forturn. I am down three pounds. Every little pound gone is great. I view it as double great because that means I didn't gain that much weight--so in all reality--six pounds down--wish!!!

About Time

Time seems to go so quickly whether you are having fun or just doing the day to day things. For me the reason that I haven't been blogging is two fold: I haven't taken the time and I forgot ,my password. Did I mention that time plays trick on your memory also!

I have retired from teaching and am getting used to having time to do whatever I need to or want to. It is a difficult adjustment for me--I end up wasting a lot of time and not accomplishing much at all. I did better when I had to really plan out my time carefully.

We parked our trailors on our lot in Island Park and have spent a lot of time up there this summer. Not as much as I would like but that will come. It is now time to bring the trailors down and put them up for the winter. I am dreading that--I like the option having someplace to run off too.

My daughter-in-law, Rusty, and grandaughter, Jadin have been with us for the summer. It has been fun getting to know Rusty and playing with a newborn again. I love being a grandparent. For one thing it brings back memories of when my own children were babies and all the frustrations of motherhood. For me I just couldn't relax and enjoy the time. I can now though and boy am I ever.

I have another blog that I am keeping track of my progress on a life changing goal of mine. I have always had problems with weight and I hate to exercise so I am attempting for the millionth time to change all that. This time I hope to be more successful and accomplish being slimmer, physically ship shape and psycologically healthier. The blog is Grannykatholyn or Grannyk--time has done wonders for my memory, can't you tell?

Thanksgiving Thoughts

In a few days we will be celebrating a national holiday, Thanksgiving. A day of family,food, laughter, parades, and dishes. I enjoy Thanksgiving. One of my most memorable Thanksgivings was when our family spent a few days at the beach. We stayed at a military resort. We enjoyed each others company, went bike riding, walked along the beach and ate Thanksgiving dinner out.
It was wonderful. There were not a lot of people crowding the beaches or the restraunt and we almost had the whole resort to ourselves. Unfortionately, one of the kids got sick but we endured and we all had a great time.

I am thankful for many all my material and spiritual blessings--I have far more than I deserve.

Trick or Treating Fun

This time of the year when the Ghost and Goblins appear is a fun time. This year was beautiful in Idaho. Last Sunday Byron and I bagged up all the leaves in the front yard, like we do every year, and placed some in Halloween bags to help decorate the front of our house.

We had two very special trick or treaters this year. Madi the Dog and Gabe the Lion. We think these two little tricksters are pretty special. One sad thing happened while they visited--Gabe the Lion took a nose dive into the driveway and ended up skinning his nose and upper lip. A hug and a kiss and he was on his way "door to door" as Gabe the Lion along with Madi the Dog.

Halloween in our neighborhood is a little different. Down the street is an elementary school where they hold "Trunk or Treat" each year and then a few of the children wonder on down our street door to door. What was neat to see this year was that all the children that came to our door were accompanied by one or both parents. I was a family time. Even some of the parents dressed up to escort their little ones. In my daughters neighborhood a couple dressed up as clowns drove down their street in a ATV and delivered candy bars to all the neighborhood kids.

A lot of the local churches had Halloween Parties this week, which families played games and ate together.

Well I have started my holiday shopping and feel good so far that I have gotten everything at sale prices. Let's hope it continues that way. Of cource I don't know what to get everyone but it will come.