Busy, busy, busy!!!

I've made 7 journals this month...actually 8 and #9 is nearly completed.  I just have to finish sewing the pages into it.  PHEW!

I'm REALLY enjoying the Christmas journals!  There are so many pretty papers to put inside!

Here are some photos of what I've done so far:

 7 journals DONE!!!

 One of the Christmas journals.  I LOVE sewing different fabric on them.

 The backs of 2 of the Christmas ones...

 One of my fall altered books.  It has its pages intact and I glued on various papers for writing or art work.

 Just the cover (so far)...I love this fabric!  This is the second one that I've sewn the fabric onto the box.  I just learned how to do that yesterday.

My FIRST sewn-on fabric cover!  Whoo, whoo!  Unfortunately, my bobbin ran out of thread and it took me 30 minutes (and a few unladylike words) to get the darn bobbin OFF my machine.  Hubby couldn't even get it off.  The problem is that the metal bobbins are "universal" and I don't think they properly fit my 25 to 30 year old sewing machine!!!  I finally jammed a pair of scissors under the bobbin and was able to lift it off, but it went flying across the room and I'm too lazy to go find it!

I want to finish the other Christmas one today and then I'll have 9 journals DONE!  I'm thinking about reopening my ETSY shop and listing these for sale...

~Cheryl Ann~

Just some photos from the Living Desert Reserve

I forgot I had these!  Sorry about that.  I'm at the CRS stage in life (can't remember SH$%)...you know...

 I LOVE these leaves, don't you?

 Very delicate...

 Yes, they cover the dates which they are ripening so the birds don't get them...

 LOTS of butterflies that day!

Oops!  I was playing around with my Microsoft photo editing program and I guess I now have this beautiful YELLOW flower in black and white...see what I mean about CRS?

Mogollon Rim you tube video

I think I forgot to post this!  I made this video in March of last year, before I retired!  I can't believe it has now been 18 months since I retired!  WHERE does the time go?

Please do take 2 minutes and view it.  Don't be put off by the burned areas in the beginning.  When we traveled through that particular spot this summer, MOST of it has now grown back and it looks healthy again.  Of course, the charred trees will remain, but new growth is seen.

Thank you, in advance!  Please do leave a comment!  I'm feeling very lonely...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0NmvzOea84

Birds and hawks~Nature Notes~October 19, 2017

I sit at my laptop for quiet a while each day and I look out into our front yard.  Hubby and the gardeners set up the large fountain right outside my office/craft room window so I can enjoy all the birds who now come there to drink.  I view doves, sparrows, finches, and even a Cooper's hawk now and then, although they usually prefer the horse watering bowl that I have filled up with water by the sumac. Little verdin have returned to the valley and they feast all day on the niger seed. I also have some hanging feeders for the finches and there are flowering plants for the hummingbirds.  I love to watch the doves drink.  They are so messy!  They drip water everywhere and seem to be quite carefree with their drinking habits!

In the back yard, I have hanging feeders and water dripping into a bird bath.  Birds seem to LOVE the sound of dripping water and it attracts them.  This morning I watched a hummingbird taking his bath:  splish, splash, wiggle, jiggle...such ENJOYMENT!

Life is slower now that I have retired and I try to enjoy each morning for what it is.  Yesterday it was the sunrise.  Today it was the hummingbird taking an early morning bath.  Who knows what tomorrow will bring!

~Cheryl Ann~

To visit Nature Notes, please go to this link:    https://ramblingwoods.com/

A sad end to the missing hikers story, but closure for their families

I have a couple of sad stories today...

First, the young couple that went missing from Joshua Tree National Park have been found, their bodies in an embrace, not far from the trail that they were on.  The young man's father has been out every weekend for 3 months assisting searchers and looking for his son.  At least now the family has some closure.  They were both only 20 years old.  I remember that a couple of days after they went missing, the park got a lot of rainfall and the search dogs couldn't find their scent.  Search parties went out for a long time after that, but the rains washed away any scent or tracks.

Here's a link to one of the stories:    http://www.kesq.com/news/female-missing-hikers-family-releases-first-public-statement/640045977

The second story involves a young man who was a student of mine...let's see..29 years ago.  I remember Garrett in 4th grade...small, skinny, lithe, with a smile that lit up his whole face.  We called him, "Taco" back then.  His sister, who is 2 years older than him, often came into my room and I had to shoo her out!  He was a friendly, outgoing boy then and when he grew up, he started his own trucking business and moved out of the valley to Missouri.  When the California fires started, Garrett was involved as a firefighter.  He was always looking for ways to help people.

Unfortunately, he was driving a water truck at 7 a.m. one morning, assisting with the firefighting efforts,  and it overturned on the Oakville Grade (a HORRIBLE, winding road), and was killed. Once I saw his name on the Facebook story, I broke into tears.  This was a decent, honorable young man who was assisting the firefighting effort.  I ran into Garrett a couple of times because his godmother was boarding my horse at that time.  He was a fine young man.

Here is his story on the local news:     http://www.kesq.com/news/firefighter-originally-from-mecca-dies-in-wine-country-fires/639920253

We had an absolutely beautiful, gorgeous, bright sunrise this morning and I would like to think this was Garrett shining down from the heavens.  RIP young man.  Why do the good die so young?

So, it is with a heavy heart that I begin this day...
Take care and give your loved ones a hug today.
~Cheryl Ann~

I FINALLY got a day off! Yahooie!

Well, I FINALLY got a day off!  I counted back and I have either been babysitting, running up to the horses, or driving to Temecula for a baseball game now for 6 days straight.  PHEW!

I'm going to clean up my craft room/sewing room/office this morning.  I BARELY have room to sit down at my laptop!  I've been throwing stuff in here for 2 weeks!!!!!  NO PHOTOS...I'm sure you would faint from the MESS!

I went out and cleaned out and then refilled all my hummingbird feeders this morning.  Let's see...I have 8 of them!  Little buggers didn't have any fresh food and that isn't good for them.  I scrubbed them ALL with soap, rinsed them, and added fresh sugar water. The little guys sure are BUSY! 

I need to still go out and add water to the fountain out front and to the bird bowls.  We have a Cooper's hawk that now enjoys coming every morning, soaking his/her feet, and having a nice look around.  I didn't realize how far they can swivel their head!  Amazing!!!

Anyway, while of course I dearly LOVE the grandchildren, I DO need a break every now and then!  I have a 2 day break, then back to babysitting.  Ugh.  One of our local libraries is having its annual BOOK SALE tomorrow morning, and I'm GOING!  Come ____ or high water!!!!

Here are some pics of the little monsters:

 Helping mommie put the tomatoes in the bowl.  No, she did NOT have that knife!

 Wearing his mac & cheese, I see!

This kid CLIMBS everywhere!  Last night he climbed up onto one of the bar stool chairs, opened up his mother's laptop, and started banging on it!  NO, NO!  You literally CANNOT take your eyes off him for a second!  I was washing dishes and to my HORROR, he had climbed up into his high chair at one point!  I guess he was hungry!  Another time he was too quiet...yup...he and the dog were sharing dog food.  Another time he closed the pantry door and was rearranging all the food items in there!  ACK!  The only time I can rest is when HE is taking a nap.  Thank goodness he still takes naps!

Reality sets in...sigh...

I read with interest Al's post today and had to reflect on our situation...

Here's the link to Al's post:   http://thebayfieldbunch.com/2017

We both retired a year ago.  We have done 2 trips since then:  One last October to the eastern Sierra Nevada and one this August to the Mogollon Rim in Arizona.  THAT'S IT.  PERIOD.

Hmmm.....

We seem to be tied down now by babysitting duties.  We have 5 grandkids:  our daughter has a 4 year old and an 18 month old.  Our son has an 8 year old, a 2 year old, and a baby.  So, Saturdays we either go to the 4 year old's soccer games or the 8 year old's baseball games (evening).  PLUS, if our daughter's kids get sick (like that past week), WE have to babysit them.  I am now fighting something in my head and chest, thanks to the little man!!!

I'm only 65.  Hubby is 67.  However, I've had pneumonia...let's see... 5x.  I had it 3x one school year, and then twice after that.  My lungs are SHOT.  I used to get bronchitis each year after the pneumonia.  I haven't had it yet this fall and next week we will get our flu shots.

I'm not complaining.  Frankly, I enjoy staying home and working on my journals.  I hardly ever take photos anymore.  MAYBE next week we can get to Oak Glen or the Whitewater Preserve...???

How are you doing?
~Cheryl Ann~