Winter's Coming

Although the weather has been colder of late, this is our first heavy frost.  Apparently the near constant breeze up here keeps the frost from forming.  The valley has had several frosts already.  The leaves are starting to change so we need to get out on the lake to get some pics of the changing colors out there but it's been a little too cold to go out on the boat.  Maybe this weekend tho.  Been trying to finish up the master bathroom.  We're putting in the underfloor heating system this week and intend to finish the tiling, wainscoting and trim before the weekend (Hope Hope).

1st Frost

Next Quilt Pattern

This is the next quilt pattern that I'll be working on.  It's a lot more stitching and more colors than the double wedding ring pattern.  Another winter project to keep us busy.

These are pics of Cathy's Double Wedding Ring quilt.  She and I worked on it over the winter.  We don't have a lot to do during the winter months so helping her with the quilt was another way to occupy time.  She's already started another one and I'm sure I'll be helping with it also. 



  The 1st pic really doesn't show the design very well and you can barely see the double rings on the pillow cases.  Cathy has some larger double rings that she plans to put together to make matching pillow cases.

Canning and such

Its been a pretty busy summer for me.  First recovering from left knee replacement surgery. Then finding out that I have osteoporis and rhematoid arthritis. Well I am recovering nicely and the knee pain before the surgery is gone.  I have a Dr appt on August 9th and I think he will release me then. 

Our garden didn't do to well this year.  We had 105 degree temps in June and part of July.  Then alot of rain.  The garden has become very overgrown.  Alot of the seeds Chuck planted didn't come up this year. But thanks to the neighbors we were given lotz of tomatoes, yellow squash, cucumbers and mississippi peas to put up.  I got myself a canner pressure cookie which makes my life easier.  I would like to get another one, only bigger.  The one I have is only a 10qt and holds 4 qts or 7 pints.  I have done with hubbys help, peaches, tomatoes, spagetti sauce, marinara sauce, pickles, green tomatoe relish, potatoes and salsa.  I am planning on canning chilli, soupos and beef stew next.  I am getting quite good at this and more knowledgable. 

We had company here the end of June thru July 4th our old navy friends we have known for many years and were stationed with a couple of times.  They live in Dallas, TX but would love to move to TN specifically our neighborhood.  Bob's wife wants to retire in a couple of years.  Bob is already retired.  They visited us 2 years ago and fell in love with this area.  We hope to visit them in TX mid October.  They figure the weather will be much cooler by then.  Hopefully they will come back for another visit soon.

Kristy and the girls usually come up for 3 weeks in the summer but because of Jynna getting a summer job at McDonald's they couldn't come.  I am still hoping that Kristy will come up with the 2 younger girls before they head back to school August 22nd.

We went out on the boat Sunday for about 4 hours.  We thought that the lake would be very crowded with boaters but since we didn't get out till 3 pm most boaters had headed home.  We haven't been able to get out during the week.  Hopefully will get out more before summer is over.  I drove the boat while Chuck navagated and we almost made it to the dam.  It was getting late and we wanted to get back to our mariner before dark.  Next time we will do some fishing.

Cathy's surgery & Bath renovation

Well we had been planning on renovating the bathroom anyway but Cathy's knee replacement surgery was completed on 11 May so I had to hustle along on the reno.  I had to cut the fiberglass tub/shower combo out in prep for a low step shower install. 

 Next came Advantech floor sheeting to help level and strengthen the floor.  Then I used cement board for the inner walls to help hold the wall tile in place.

 I've laid tile floors before but never a wall.  It's a little more difficult.  I had some trouble keeping the tile level across the surface and maintaining the gaps between tile. 

But the hardest part was drilling the holes to mount the handicap bars.  It took 4 minutes to drill each hole in the porcelain tile and I had to drill 12 holes.  The tile was hard and drilling them in place there was alway the risk that the tile would break.  But success and Cathy's happy.



Caty's doing super great on her therapy.  In just a week, she's graduated from the walker to a cane and everyday sees more improvement.  She has the right attitude and, although her pain threshbold is low, she pushes through it.  I'm proud of her progress and I know she's happier having had the surgery.  

Well - Today was our first day out on Dale Hollow Lake.  It ws a little chilly, only 75 and a little breezy, but we enjoyed it anyway.  We spent a little time cruisin', a little time snoozin' and a little time fishin' and had a great time.  Gonna have to dedicate some time to cleaning up the boat after the winter over.  Lots of pollen and tree debris and some mold from being covered.

Chuck made a case for some of his flint arrowheads and blades.  Last summer he helped our neighbor rebuild his barn doors.  So - in return, Joe gave him the weathered barn wood from the old doors.  The wood is really aged, perhaps 30-40 years worth, and on the outside it's black and the side that was inside of the barn is grey.  Chuck as also made some picture frames from the same wood.

I just found out that I'm going to have to have knee replacement surgery in May.  Seems that the arthritis has really deteriorated my left knee joint and it has to be repaired.  Not looking forward to it but am hoping it will get rid of the pain I've been having for awhile.  I'm sure, in time, I'll wind up having the same thing done to the right knee also.  Anyway, in preparation for this, we're getting rid of the bath/shower combination in our master bathroom and replacing it will a full, tiled shower.  We intend to redo the entire bathroom but this will be the start.  We purchased all the material and Ken, Chucks friend, is going to help get it started by laying in the shower pan.  Hopefully it will only take a few days and my bathroom will be back in operation.