Monday, March 30, 2015

Book Review

I've been in a blogging funk lately. I hate when that happens, so I'll see if I can get it going again.

I just finished The Pioneer Woman: From Black Heels to Tractor Tires by Ree Drummond this past weekend. I LOVED it!!!!

I've always enjoyed The Pioneer Woman on TV and her website. And her writing in this book is fantastic! It's a quick, entertaining read about her and her husband's love story.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

WILW

Yes, yes, yes my blogging friends - it's Wednesday again!!!  It's time to link up with Jodi and Rachel for WHAT I'M LOVING WEDNESDAY!!

Mine will be pretty short this week but here's what I'm loving:
1. The birds singing me awake in the morning. A sure sign that spring is coming!

2. Podcasts! What I'm listening to: Wait Wait Don't Tell Me; The Satellite Sisters and I just found Ask Me Another. All are fun!

3. Yarn. I'm working on a pair of socks and have started a scrap afghan to throw in my car as an "extra blanket". It will be ugly but all the yarn scraps will hopefully be out of my box of yarn when it's done.

4. Photo shoots. I had a GREAT one last Saturday! Super fun.

5. Library storytime. It is probably my favorite thing about my job there.

6. Getting back in touch with a college friend. She and I have been Christmas card exchangers the past few years - as we've been busy with our families. But I decided it was time to get back in touch so we have exchanged phone numbers. She may be 2400 miles away but I want to get back in touch and stay in touch.

7. Baseball is 11 days away.

What are YOU loving this week?

Friday, March 20, 2015

Friday Fun - Super Hero edition

 Click this one to blow it up:


Thursday, March 19, 2015

It's OK Thursday!

Happy Thursday!

Today...
It's OK that I haven't caught up on all my blog reading. (pssst...if you haven't checked out the blogs in the list to the right - you should)

It's OK that my house is a disaster and I can ignore the dust bunnies.

It's OK that I'm not knitting as fast as my yarny friends and my sock isn't going so well.

It's OK to get sucked into a mindless TV show.

It's OK I'm not walking 10,000 steps each day. (darn desk job!)

It's OK to get frustrated with people at work sometimes.

It's OK that I'm sad it's not Friday today.

What's OK with you?
Have a great Thursday!

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

WILW


 

Happy Wednesday!  I know I've been blog absent for almost a week - sorry! I was enjoying the nice weather last weekend and the activities we had planned and this week has just gotten away from me.

BUT - here we are at Wednesday. The weekend is in view and I'm linking up with Jodi and Rachel for What I'm Loving Wednesday.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

1. Today is National Ag Day! (March 18) So make sure you thank a farmer.


2. I got my first smart phone last week. There's been a lot of learning and I'm still a little afraid of it but it's pretty nice to be connected to the world wherever I am (if I want!)
 
3. Jim Gaffigan. We watched some of his stand up Saturday night (on TV) and I think he is hilarious. So of course, knowing that he has written a couple of books - I had to check one out. I am listening to:
read by him. HILARIOUS!!!!
 
4. March Madness.  My bracket is set - we'll see how long it takes for it to blow up.
 
5. Photography. I have booked 3 jobs in the last week AND had one of my submitted photos nominated for a contest I didn't enter. Woo hoo!
 
6. Spring officially starts on Friday. Come on weather, cooperate already! 
 
7. Text messages!  I have texted with some friends I hadn't heard from in a little while and it was good to catch up.
 
8. 20 days!!!!  20 days to the Cubs home opener. Unfortunately, I will NOT be there this year but will be watching.
 
What are you loving this week?

Thursday, March 12, 2015

It's an art

This aging thing! It's an art that I'm still trying to figure out.
 
I hit 40 last year. It didn't bother me (truthfully, 30 was WAY harder to deal with for me!) - it still doesn't bother me. I'm excited to be in another decade of life.
 
What started to bother me a few weeks ago, was a few more wrinkles I've started to notice; more grey hairs; and that my eyesight is starting to act...well - old. (How far away from my face can I hold that to read it?) BUT - I have come to terms with all of these things and know that more wrinkles and grey hair are in my future and that my eye prescription is going to have be stronger and that body parts aren't going to work as well as they did 20 years ago...but that's ok!


Like everyone else, I have good days and bad days.
There are days I dance and skip around and think,
I can't believe I'm 40.
There are days where I'm dragging and think,
I feel like I'm 80.

 
I hope not to jinx it but I've made it 40 years in this life:
I've been a mom almost 22 of them; 
wife 17 1/2 of them;
an aunt for 16 of them.
I have never broken a bone; gotten a speeding ticket; or been the driver in an auto accident. (Again - hoping not to jinx things...)  I intend to live a long life (and hope it's as healthy as possible) and am pretty sure heredity is on my side here. Have I made mistakes in my life? YES! Would I change the outcome of where I am now? NEVER!

 
I know I will still have days where I look in the mirror and hate the wrinkles and grey hair and that's ok. I just have to remember that it's a sign of maturity not age. (And yes - I use the word "maturity" very loosely) Truthfully, I want to be one of those little old ladies that people laugh about (or at) and doesn't care what comes out of my mouth (and I'm starting to get that part down pretty well...).
 
Cheers to getting older and enjoying it!

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

WILW

It's Wednesday - you know what that means!  It's time to link up with Jodi and Rachel for another
What I'm Loving Wednesday
 
1. The third OUTLANDER book finally came in at the library for me. I am just diving in but loving it as much as the other two so far.  PS: Outlander starts again April 4 on Starz.
 
2. My first ag related magazine. My subscription started and I enjoy the Pink Tractor site and they just started a print magazine. And I figured since I work for an agriculture organization, I would start my "farm magazine" collection. There may be others in my future...
 
3. It's been warm enough for the Mr. and I to start walking again. We're still dodging some snow piles and icy spots - BUT we're enjoying being out together again.
 
4. My first sock has been cast on and I'm knitting away.
 
5. My orange MS cause band arrived. I'm wearing it with pride, Jodi! :)
 
Happy Wednesday! What are you loving this week?

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Travel Tuesday

March over at A Compass Rose is "Local Legend" month.
 
This week, I am covering a little spot we stopped at on our vacation in 2012.
Tupelo National Battlefied in Tupelo, Mississippi
 
A little history on the Civil War battle of Tupelo:
On the morning of July 14, 1864 the Battle of Tupelo began here (1) at 7:30 a.m. when the Confederates began a series of uncoordinated charges against the Federal position. These attacks were beaten back with heavy losses. Failing to break the Federal center, the Confederates attacked the Federal right, (2) again without success. After dark, the Confederates made another attack from the south (3) without significant effect. Although his troops had repulsed several Confederate attacks, General Smith (Federal) was alarmed. The heat was taking its toll on his soldiers. Also, due to bad planning, his men had little but coffee and worm-infested hardtack (crackers) to eat, and their ammunition supply was very low.
At 2 p.m. on July 15, after skirmishing with Confederates on the western and southern fronts, the Federals began marching north in the direction of Memphis. (4) They marched four miles and crossed to the north side of Old Town Creek and camped in the late afternoon. (5) At 5 p.m., from a commanding ridge south of Old Town Creek, Confederate forces surprised Smith's troops with artillery and infantry fire. The Federals scrambled and formed a line that pushed the Confederates off the ridge (6) and forced them to retreat to Harrisburg. The fight at Old Town Creek ended the Battle of Tupelo. Among the casualties was Forrest himself, who was kept out of action for three weeks.

This site is tiny (and I mean maybe a city block big) - there's a monument and a couple of cannons. It's pretty but smack in the middle of Tupelo.  It is administered by the Natchez Parkway (which is a pretty drive through Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama)
 
A closer look at the monument:
 

You can visit the NPS site for the Battlefield: HERE and for the Natchez Parkway: HERE

#TravelTuesday
 

Monday, March 09, 2015

It's Monday...

Whose idea is it to keep having these time changes?! UGH!!!!

 
How was your weekend?
 
The weather is finally warming up in the Midwest - it's supposed to be in the 50s this week! We went to our goddaughter's hockey games on Saturday. We enjoyed watching her and her team play and catching up with our friends. I worked at the library yesterday; watched it snow a little then sat in my chair the rest of the evening.
 
I got a little sock knitting done and my book I've had on hold at the library for a while finally came in!
 
I will try to get caught up on blog reading this week. Keep posting!
 
And I would also like to add, the Cubs games on the radio is a wonderful reminder that spring is coming...  SO ready for baseball!
 
What did you do this weekend?
 
Wishing you a good week.

Sunday, March 08, 2015

February reads

I read these in Febrauary:

Whiskey Sour by J.A. Konrath  (4 stars)
If You're Not the One by Jemma Forte (ARC from Net Galley - 3 stars)
House on Tradd Street by Karen White (audio - 4 stars)
Let the Hurricane Roar by Rose Wilder Lane (4 stars)
Dollbaby by Laura Lane McNeal (5 stars)
Through the Grinder by Cleo Coyle (4 stars)
Shirley I Jest by Cindy Williams (ARC from Net galley - 4 stars)
Prosecco Pink by Traci Andrighetti (3 stars)
One Summer by Bill Bryson (audio - 5 stars)
The Little Paris Bookshop (ARC from Net Galley - 4 stars)

What are your reading?

My March reading will be lighter as I have a couple big books to read and my knitting needles are working out.

Saturday, March 07, 2015

An upcoming documentary

I am excited to see this one. I LOVE barn quilts!

is slated to be out early this year. The film tells the story of how one woman's (Donna Sue Groves) love for her mother changed the American landscape - and saved her life. 

Here's the trailer:

Here is a blog on quilt barns that I follow and really enjoy her travels and photos:
Barn Quilts

Looking for a quilt barn trail? Check out the map at this link: Barn Quilt map

Happy trails!

Friday, March 06, 2015

Friday Letters

Good morning and Happy Friday!

Dear Friday,
WELCOME!!!
Dear Weekend,
Go slow!
Dear Blackhawks,
Your #WhatsYourGoal campaign is fantastic! I'm LOVING the videos, especially the newest one out.
 
Dear Cubs,
So glad to see baseball being played again.
Dear Blog Readers,
Thank you for stopping by and leaving comments. I love hearing from you!
Dear Mother Nature,
The spring weather is getting closer to us. A little more push from you would be very helpful.
Dear Fellow Music Lovers,
I have recently found Aaron Watson (country music) - he is fantastic!
 
I hope you all have a great weekend!

Thursday, March 05, 2015

Attention yarny friends


Knitting-And-crochet-Blog-Week-6-Eskimimi-Makes


The 6th annual
Knitting & Crochet Blog Week 
(click the link) is coming!!!!  Mark your calendars for May 11-17, 2015. 

Join in the fun and use hashtag #KCBW6

In another yarn related note - I see the light at the end of the baby blanket. I am hoping by the end of this coming weekend to have it finished.  Then - it's onto my next project. I am calling the rest of 2015 my "year of the sock". I joined a Ravelry group to make 15 pairs in 2015. In reality - I'm hoping to complete 5!
(If you are on Ravelry, I'm scrapperjen1)

Have a great Thursday!

Wednesday, March 04, 2015

WILW

What I'm Loving Wednesday


It's Wednesday again!  Time for another "What I'm Loving Wednesday" post with Jodi and Rachel.


1. It's National MS Awareness Week. Are you wearing your orange? Please make a donation to the MS Foundation.

 
 2. Spring shoes are out. I have been loving the ad emails I've been getting. I think I feel some new sandals coming soon...

3. After much fighting and frustration with the Apple Podcast app - I gave up. I downloaded the Stitcher app for listening to podcasts and love it! So simple and easy to use.
PS: I love listening to: Satellite Sisters; Wait Wait Don't Tell Me and Knitmore Girls
 
 4. I feel like my submitted photos are taking a beating lately. It's ok - I know it's part of growing and learning. I keep thinking of Dory - and I'll keep swimming.
 
5. This song has been running through my head since Justin Moore performed it at his concert a couple of weeks ago. Tears me up everytime but it's lovely.
 
 
What are you loving this week?  Feel free to link up!
Thank you for visiting.

Tuesday, March 03, 2015