Lots of snow days!

 Snowfall on December 2nd let us know winter season is here. 

Pretty to look out and see every branch and little twig on the trees frosted with a layer of snow.

The sky was gray and gloomy. All color erased - almost.  

And the snow stayed around, with a long cold spell.

Then, on December 8th...more snow! Big fluffy flakes fell quickly!

So cozy to sit in the recliner, covered with my Christmas quilt, watching the snow come down.

On December 12th...more snow!

Quite a bit! You can see how much accumulated here on the chair and flower pot on the back porch.

I'm so glad I don't need to go out in it for any reason...or worry about having the driveway cleared.

The highway department has done a great job keeping the road  here cleared.

One more light snow fell on December 14th. Not so bad because the forecast was for warmer weather so it would all be melting.

Poor Puss found it very irritating...you can tell by how she has her ears turned back. She doesn't like to walk through snow with her dainty little paws.

The Sasquatch and I made a big batch of fried fish. He has been trying out some Weisenberger products so we used their batter mix and hushpuppy mix.

Both were good! The batter clung to the fish and stayed on while frying.

The hushpuppy mix was tasty.

The fish was a big package from Costco so we each had leftovers to eat the next day. 

I forgot to take a picture after it was all cooked.

We had originally planned to do the frying outside on an electric burner but it was too cold to get good results like that...so yes, it left a fried fish small in the house for a few days.

After we finished a jigsaw puzzle, the Sasquatch bought another that will be a real challenge. It's Van Gogh, Starry Night, and it's double the pieces...2000!

We turned the dining table sideways to make it easier to work on.

Puss keeps us company near by in her bed by the heat vent.

She looks pretty cozy!

Late November

 There has been a bit of activity in the field next door.  They made an attempt to mow down the brushy growth next to the property line.

It was too thick and dense to handle with that equipment.

Looking out the window...you can see how close that property is to my driveway. 

Another day I looked out and saw a truck pulled in there with a garden shed on a trailer. 

I thought at first that it was good news, and that they only wanted a hunting shack over there.

But nope...it was only a shed delivery company parking there...to deliver a shed to the house across the street.

That shed looks like it's missing a wall, but now the homeowner has hung plastic sheeting on that side. I guess for a greenhouse?

Not very attractive.

I need to mind my own business, I guess and focus on happy things.

We did have a lovely rainbow on November 18th. Sort of unusual to see them at this time of the year. I can't remember ever seeing one in that position in the sky. In the summer I see them more over to the right.

Looking out this same window one morning, two small deer munching around on some of the remaining brush line.

The ladies in my quilting group have been busy and productive sewing squares that we will use to make a couple of quilts for donation in 2026.

The mix of everyone's bright fabrics will make a cheerful happy quilt.

The blocks are just laid out here...not joined together yet.

For the first time ever, I got a Buckeye off of my tree. Only one and it's a small one.

The tree has bloomed several times but as far as I know, never developed the buckeyes.

The Sasquatch and I have started working on a jigsaw puzzle. It's something different for us and a good thing to do on these evenings when it gets dark so early.

This one is 1000 pieces.

It's fun and maybe better than sitting like a slug in front of the TV. 

The Sasquatch has already picked up the next one to put together. It's 2000 pieces!

Early fall

 Plumbing!  Seems like I never go too long without some sort of plumbing problem.

I just recently finished paying the water bills for the leak in the line into my house right before I left on vacation. Two months worth. Usually my bill is only their minimum charge per month of $38.

I had heard that the water company would give you a break on your bill when you had a major leak...but no, they don't.

Then another plumbing leak. This time - a shower faucet.

I wanted to switch to using an independent plumber, rather than one of the bigger companies, with their inflexible price lists.

I used Hornback Plumbing, but I learned they have also been bought out by a large service company.

Good service though...on time, polite uniformed plumber. The repair was finished quickly after he had to leave to pick up parts.

I would use this company again.

I haven't made soup in a while so I made a batch of beef, cabbage, and bean soup.

The weather is still nice for sitting and stitching on the back porch.  I finished the Swedish Weaving dish towel.

Some inside sewing too...quilting this throw size quilt.  It's not a patchwork quilt...just some fabric I like with a border sewn around it.

I layered it with batting and this IKEA fabric for the back.  The IKEA fabric is more of a heavier weight decorating type fabric. Easy enough to quilt through though.

I've been seeing some pretty fall color...

The sun was really lighting up this dogwood tree with firey red color.  I can't quite capture the effect with the camera.

One sunny afternoon after a cool spell, the lady beetles were swarming and looking for a place to overwinter. They were all over the back of the house and screen porch. Hundreds or thousands of them. 

So far only a few have made it into the house.

No big problems yet with stink bugs getting inside the house yet this year either.

 I really hate those things. Puss hates them too! She always has to sniff everything she sees...but she knows to give stink bugs a wide berth!

A finished quiilt

 This little quilt is one that I've worked on now and then over the last couple of years.

It's one of those "Three Yard Quilt" patterns. I bought the bundle of fabric at a quilt show years ago.  When I got home I asked myself why I had chosen that black and pink combination. Impulse buying, I guess.

Anyway, it's now a finished quilt, about 46" by 58".

Machine pieced and machine quilted with my usual meandering design. I used a light pink thread for the quilting.

This quilt wasn't made for anyone in particular, and I already have several throw quilts of my own, so I'll probably donate this one.

I pieced some gingham fabric together for the back. That big crease is just a fold line.

I was considering adding some hexagon pieced motifs to the plain pink squares but then decided against it after I stitched a couple together.  

The bright pink flower on the dull pink background - not a good combination.

Puss did a short modeling session with the quilt, even though it's not one of her favorites.

That's okay because I'll give it a machine wash now before donating it.

Late September

 Summer is winding down and I'm certainly glad for the lower temperatures.

I did some pet-sitting for the Sasquatch's cat, "Kitty" while he was out of town.

She is a sweet and friendly cat and eats like a lumberjack! 

I went to an event held by Kentucky Wild to pick up a tee shirt for the Sasquatch.

Kentucky Wild is a membership conservation program sponsored by Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife.

There were lots of booths to visit...including one that sold nice looking native plants. I managed to walk away without buying any.

I picked out a nice blue tee shirt for the Sasquatch. 

I arranged for the pool company, Dale's Pools, to winterize and cover the pool.

Thay are fast and reliable. Things always look a bit sad and dreary when the cover goes on. I miss that sparkling water, but it's nice to get a break from pool care.

See those 3 tall zinnias right in the middle of the photo above?  I certainly didn't plant those there. They came up on their own so I just left them. I've been walking around  them all summer.

Below is a pretty plant I'd like to have more of next year. It's a Mole Bean. The Sasquatch started them from seeds. Attractive leaves and blooms, then the brightly colored seed pods develop.

The plant with the red bloom below, is a Cardinal Climber that my friend, Izzy, gave me.

She was worried that it might not grow large enough to develop blooms this year...but it took off quickly, climbing and mounding and covered with pretty red blooms.

I thought I had a photo of it but I only have this one that I took with a Morning Glory blooming close by.  I just love the bright  colors together!

It's been good weather for sitting on the back porch in the evening and doing some sewing.

This is a "Swedish Weaving" project - a dish towel - that I'm learning in a class at the extension office.

It's kind of an old fashioned craft, but fun to learn something different.

I've also sewn the binding on a little quilt.

 

Of course my little companion, Puss, is napping nearby...such curled up cuteness!

Then I made a problem for myself with some un-sewing!  I wanted to remove the back pocket flaps from these new capri pants I'd bought for the cruise.  They seemed to just stick out bumpy and lumpy.

The flaps were really tacked down good and I see threads are broken in the fabric.

Sheesh! Now I need to figure out how to fix this.

My Father

  My brother and sister and I, bid a sad last goodbye to our father.

Fred Len Deckmann

March 21, 1937 to September 13, 2025

At age 88, he was the last living family member of that generation including all the aunts and uncles on both sides of our family.

He put forth his best effort in everything he did. He was a good provider and a good family man. He was always ready to help with a problem.

We learned a lot of basic and valuable life lessons from my Dad...

Be responsible and reliable, treat people fairly.

Be a dependable worker and earn money when you can.

Don't waste things, not money, not food, not items that could be useful.

Don't mope around feeling sorry for yourself.

Do your best.

He didn't necessarily say these things in words, but more by example.

My Dad had an ability to fix and repair things...especially cars. He had a real interest in cars...not sports cars or race cars...more like an interest in motors and how cars work.

Family vacations would generally include a visit to a car museum.

My Dad was a good family man...making sure we had everything we needed...a nice home, food, clothes, toys, plus a yearly summer beach vacation in Florida.

Besides helping with the later life needs of grandparents on both sides of the family, my Dad took on the role of care giver for my Mother after her stroke.

During those years, he also provided care for his brother after he was diagnosed with a terminal illness.  

Later, even after my Dad was dealing with his own health problems, he checked on my brother in the nursing home and took care of his house and dogs.

My Dad had such drive and self discipline...it was hard to imagine that he wouldn't be able to just keep going.

There is so much more that I could share but I'll sum it up by saying...the world has lost one of the truly good men.

You will always be remembered.