That's probably what this blog has been saying about me. Well - I'm gett'n my crap together and intend to make an entry. It'll probably be rather lengthy to start with just to get me caught up from August 2015. Don't worry - I'll try to keep it interesting. Back at ya in a bit-----
It's only fitting to start with the most beautiful and meaningful photo I've taken recently. This was taken off our back porch looking East into Kentucky just after an August shower. So - to kinda catch things up since Kristy's visit early July, we had a visit from our other and oldest child, Lisa and our grandson Channing, from West Virginia.
That saddle isn't usually there, I just got it out for Channing to play on as he's gonna be a cowboy someday. We spent a lot of time out on the boat and, in general, just lounged around.
Our summer quieted down after Lisa and Channing left and we turned to all the things we usually do during our summers - canning, out on the lake, lounging around, out on the lake, entertaining our friends, out on the lake. You get the picture. Anyway - Cathy had had her right shoulder replaced in April 2015 and has recovered quite well. Now her left hip is bothering her. Went to her orthopedic surgeon for a look see and he said he was surprised it took her this long to start feeling the pain. He reminded her that in 2012 he had told her that both her hips were in bad shape because of arthritis and osteoporosis and he replaced the worst one, the right hip. So now we're trying to see how long it will be before this one has to be replaced. Cathy has been dealing with the discomfort of this degenerative disease since the 1990's but it really started becoming painful and disabling in 2004. She had to finally quit working in 2010 because even use of her hands and lower back were causing pain. She had applied for a disability in Sep 2010 and was immediately turned down. We appealed the denial but got shot down again - so we got a lawyer. He has been working with this case for several years and Cathy finally got a hearing with the Administrative Judge that decides the cases for Social Security. When she and her lawyer left the hearing, they were both disappointed that the judge was going to get an outside opinion before he made his final decision. Well, low and behold, I checked the mail this morning (Sunday - cause I didn't check on Saturday) and we have a letter from the Judge finding in Cathy's favor. Talk about a surprise. Cathy and I had both given up on ever hearing anything further on her case. You see - miracles do happen - even when judges are involved.
In October Cathy and I headed to Florida to attend the 1st birthday party for Kai, our other grandson. This is Stephen and Lisa's son.
That's Lisa with Kai in their Kitchen. He's getting a bite to eat and I think she's feeding him some of Grandma's canned green beans.
He's a chip off the old block. Cathy had always teased Stephen about giving her some little slanty-eyed grand children and now she has one. He's a cutie and everyone just loves him, including his Grandma and Grandpa Elston.
That' Stephen in the backward hat helping Kai open his birthday presents. You'd think an Elston kid would not need help opening gifts but Kai is more interested in the colorful paper and boxes
So - onto the blog saga. We went to my sister Diane's for Thanksgiving. She lives in Illinois with her son Robert. It's about a 7 hour drive from here.
We had a relaxing and very enjoyable Thanksgiving.
That's Robert in the middle. He definitely is not a little guy but he is one of the most mature, mild mannered young men that it's been my privilege to know. Diane - ya done good!! She and Cathy have always been close, ever since Cathy and I went home for a visit in 1967 before we got married.
Ain't they cute!!?!!
Unfortunately the holidays did not pass without a dark cloud. Cathy and I had hardly been home from Illinois a week when we got a call from Diane telling us that our sister, PJ had died. PJ had been having some long standing medial issues. Anyway - Cathy and I headed back to Illinois to help with arrangements. Needless to say it dampened our spirits considerably. But life goes on, yes...
We decorated like we always do but with fewer presents. This year we spent our Christmas at home alone. We enjoyed each other and the peace and quiet here on the mountain. The unseasonably warm weather kinda put the Christmas mood at bay. We're used to seeing some pretty cold weather, if not snow around this time of year but not yet. It's had been in the 60's for crying out loud. But warm weather or no, Christmas came and went and now it's freezing out there. Today it was 8 degrees when I got up and it only got up to 31 during the day. Like they say - ya gotta be careful what you wish for - ya may just get it...
About four months ago our friends from North Carolina were in Tennessee. Bob wanted me to make him a leather wallet and he ordered the kit from Tandy Leather while he was here. I've been tooling leather since 1965 but it's something I keep as a hobby rather than try to make money at it, then it would be more like work. I only work with the leather when I'm in the mood otherwise you can very quickly ruin an expensive piece of leather. Since Bob had been both a Senior Chief (E-8) and a Warrant Officer while he was in the Navy, I decided to put the Senior Chief anchor and WO shield on his wallet by way of personalizing it for him.
This is what I came up with. The leather was originally a very light tan color which is tanned especially for tooling. After I finished tooling the design into the leather - I used an antiquing dye to darken the leather and help the design standout. I still have to finish out the inside pockets and lace it up before it's done - but you get the idea. I also finished another leather project that I'd been wanting to do for a long long time. It's a miniature saddle that you buy as a kit in pieces and put it together almost like a real saddle.
I left this saddle in it's natural tan color and detailed it after my own personal saddle. Now I've got to make a saddle tree for it to sit on and I'll put it in the living room to become another dust collector that Cathy loves soooo much. Ain't I thoughtful : )
Well that's about enough for now. I've kept you long enough and it's getting close to my bed time. Til next time - hopefully not 6 months either.
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