Techie Joy

Back in the olden days, before I retired, I was a kinda techie software-nerd, the one who solved software problems and taught software how-to’s to most of the department. I kept up on computer specs and couldn’t wait to get new hardware every couple of years.

How things do change in retired life! My current computer is 15-ish years old, I haven’t looked at tech specs in at least 10 years and the thought of a (much needed!) upgrade to new hardware was stressing me out. 

Fortunately, Gary’s step-son has a degree in computers (top of his class!), works at Best Buy for the holidays, and was willing to help me make both a decision and a purchase. 

Everything was due to arrive Tuesday but in an early Christmas miracle, it actually got here today. I was worried about the learning curve from Windows 8 to Windows 11 but… it was easy. As was moving over all my files and (most of) my photos. I’m so excited (now that the hard part is over.)

Happy early Christmas to me!

Thankful

Thankful for many things but especially that most of our kids live nearby and we get to see them - and their kids - often. 

Grateful that the CO branch has a professional quality photographer on the payroll (aka Mom) 

and we get photos often, although it’s mostly of the (very photogenic) teenager. 

It’s a rule - if you have a yarn bowl you are officially a crocheter.

I’m promised a full family shot this weekend… no pressure, Rach…

Picking apples

Sad we had to share Matt’s family with Memaw-on-the-mountain

Santa’s Village

(what Donovan calls Mary’s mom) 

and Leia is in Cabo with her mom (swimming with dolphins!!),

but very happy they are living their best lives.

Grateful for all who take the time to read these posts too.

Wishing all y’all a very happy start to the holiday season. 

Tater Chips

Leo asked if she could make potato chips today, then found a recipe that worked with what we had on hand. 

Nervous Pop supervised the slicing skills (Leo did well!),

then it was season, bake, flip, bake and eat. Yummmm. 

I have a mandoline on its way to make the slicing easier and more uniform. They need a bit more crisping next time but this is definitely something we’ll do again. 

Cookie Compromise

I love when I get this from Leia…

because then I also get this…

but also this…

Maybe I can just leave it for Pop… 😂😂  Always a good day when the teenager visits and we get cookies. 

New-ish Project

Back in 200…3? ish? I made a “you and me” photo album for hubby as a valentine’s present.

Still working on the ugly captions…

I thought I’d update it and make it into a digital book this year for our 50th anniversary… anyone surprised it’s turning into a bigger, more complicated headache project than I ever imagined??

Might not be so bad if we didn’t have photos spread across almost every room in the house. And if I didn’t have almost 50,000 pix just on my phone alone. And I could decide if I want it to be “you and me” or eeeeeeeeverybody in the family. 

Photos are (mostly) done, just need to do the text and get it to the printer… maybe it will be back in time for Christmas? Crossing my fingers. 

Gifted Flag Quilt

I forgot I hadn’t posted this, but since it’s especially appropriate today, let’s just say I held it until now on purpose. 😜

This was one of two flag quilts I started in early September (here) and took to my longarmer pal before we left on vacation. (I gave the second one to my Guild for their veteran recognition program.)

Binding and labeling* happened when we got back …

Forgot to get a good pic of the label…

before I passed this on to my friend on October 22…

and she presented it to her 94-year old Korean War vet dad the next day. I think he liked it. 🤩

Happy Veteran’s Day to all who served. 

* I designed the label on my computer, including a flag in the background, and added name, rank, dates and ‘thank you for your service’. Pretty pleased with how it turned out. 

Back To It

What a week. The election, then the Mountain Fire. Marie worked an election site from last Saturday through late Tuesday night, so we planned to have the girls overnighting from Sunday to Wednesday. Then Wednesday the Mountain Fire started - fortunately on another side of town and blowing away from us - and  smoke was impacting their apartment … and Marie got called in to work/volunteer doing traffic control for the sheriff’s department… plus schools were closed … so we got to keep them the rest of the week. 

Highly recommend the free app Watch Duty. They had the most current info during the fire.

Matt’s house had the power turned off Wednesday due to the fire (it came back on Friday night), so they’ve been hanging out here in the evenings to shower and recharge batteries (people and i-gadgets). 

 Home-made cheese puffs. So good!

Apparently, I’m too old for 24/7 fun and excitement anymore … so tired. Hoping to get back to a regular schedule when the kids go back to school…. Wednesday? Very grateful the fire wasn’t closer to us and incredibly sad for everyone who lost their home. I haven’t heard of any lives lost, which is a miracle - the fire was huge and moving soooo fast. 

P.s. can you tell that Jac cut the cheese puff dough? Gave her the pizza cutter and let her go. 😂