Catching up

Man but I've gotten behind in my blog posting. I suppose partly because I post on Facebook more often and share my day by day (boring) activities with my latest email penpal.  We pretty much have morning coffee together every single day. She puts up with my whiny complaints of body aches and pains and then she shares hers with me.  A perfect match. Thank you Ann!

To  those of you who visit Facebook, most of these pictures will be repeats but I know there's quite a few out there who know better to waste their time on Facebook.  I don't happen to be one of them, however.  Seems like I've spent the most of time this winter just hanging out in the house doing whatever I feel like -- sewing mostly.  Some jigsaw puzzles, reading, tv, and napping. 

Regarding tv:  I recently sent for this cord that hooks from my tv to my computer.

Was very inexpensive and it's opened up a whole new world for me.  I've moved my laptop to the kitchen table (easiest place to type and away from the construction noise across the street).  Once the cord arrived, I set up a tv tray table by my recliner that is closest to the tv set.  I still sit in the kitchen to do most of my surfing and writing and printing but when I want to watch tv (and put my feet up) I've got a new system.
I figured out how to maneuver between my roku system hooked to my flatscreen tv and my laptop.  This has enabled me to watch a lot of shows WITHOUT CABLE.

I also plugged in a separate keyboard to my laptop so I can just have that on my lap instead of the laptop itself, which is kind of heavy.  I use my wireless mouse to get around on the screen.  I had read online that NBC was going to air the superbowl for free on their NBCsports website so now I can plug into that tomorrow to watch the game.

I also took out a (week free) subscription to YOUTUBETV which will enable me to watch a multitude of shows including the superbowl, the oscars, and just about anything else.  It's $20 (or $25? I can't remember) if I decide to keep it. And I may if it works out the way I'm envisioning it to work out.  I just sign in on my computer and it transmits to my tv screen.  I can also bring up anything that's online like Facebook, my email, my blog...anything.  I'm going to look around today to see if I can find golf. I'm betting it's there.

I also subscribed to AcornTV a couple days back. It's only $4.99 a month and is strictly British shows.  Watched it last night and LOVED IT! Just my cup of tea.  ha ha
I watched this one movie called Golden Years that was very entertaining. And The Detectorists about these guys with metal detectors who look for treasure. Great show!
Another one I watched was Prisoners wives, girlfriends, and ladies of letters.  All met with my approval.

Today I'm going to work on a jellyroll quilt.  Ann gave me a set (material) for Xmas and I'm anxious to get busy on it. Also have a neat NYC jigsaw puzzle in the works here in the kitchen.  Yesterday the mailman brought me a electric blanket throw.  HEAVENLY!
My plan is to try and lower my electric bill by using it to keep warm.  Need to start dressing warmer too. Especially now as I age and notice I'm always cold!  Brrrrr....
My bill was $267 this month and I can't take that lightly.  Need to keep my heat off as much as I can stand until spring arrives.  I did go down to city hall and sign up for reduced rates for low income. I qualified easily.

Well, I need to wash the dishes and move on to the sewing room so I'll start posting pictures here and talk about them as I go.

 Here's one taken a while back as the twins prepared  to attend a school dance. So cute!

                             And here's Hunter's new girl friend, Haley.

Here's one Susan posted on her FB page recently.  Hard to believe my oldest is 53.

 Lew Morello, longtime friend and classmate, is in an Alzheimers facility here in PA now and I dropped in to say hello.

 My last trip to PT when I stopped in at Ruth's to pick up some "special" cream for my aches and pains.  It was brewing on the stove so we thought that was a good photo op. Sharon Sofie was visiting too before she left for San Diego and then AZ.

 Took this picture from Laurel Grove Cemetery in PT when I stopped by to visit Paula McDonald and Rose Johnson who were busy working on the tombstones.

An old photo of my neighborhood from the "really old days"

 My latest attempt at making a flat-bottomed tote bag. Quite easy. I was sewing the bargello pattern that I saw on my favorite Youtube video site. (Darlene Michard)

 Decided I needed a little cell phone holder to wear around my neck when I'm out walking. (like hardly ever)  ha ha

 Darlene demonstrated crumb quilt squares so I made up this small one. So colorful.

This is kind of dorky but I as experimenting with green grass strips on the bottom and blue sky strips on the top with really dumb looking trees in the middle.    It's how I amuse myself.

I picked up this flower bulb for Mary at Christmas time and she recently sent me a photo to show me how much it's grown.  Her latest Jake story:

"We got pizza tonight. Jake was so excited cuz that means we get to eat at the coffee table. I had him carry the pizza over and he said "woo hoo! Let's get this party started!"

Another one:

Jake comes downstairs with .09 he found on the bathroom counter, and Daddy said he could have. He was so happy to put it in his piggy bank and talked about the toys he could buy. He then proceeded to say:

 Whoever has the money is the boss. 

(I'm sure there was a parenting opportunity there but I had nothing)

They started taking him to swim lessons when he was a few months old. And now he's SWIMMING!

This is Catie (on the right) with her sister Carol.  They all went to Grenada for Christmas this year as Catie's other sister, Audrey, is going to medical school down there.  Catie works in downtown Seattle and has a home in Kent.  She's busy with her Etsy website too making jewelry.

And I guess that kind of catches me up for now.  The houses across the street continue to go up little by little. About 3 or 4 have blue garage doors now.