Just Rambling

   Yesterday was our 30th wedding anniversary, and we had the usual hard time thinking of something to do. We went to Walmart and got a battery for the riding mower, to Home Depot to get a fuel filter for it, to Big R, just because it's there, ( I did get some Sarsaparilla, Orange Creme Soda and some Carmel Vanilla Soda), and then we went to Green Bluff and picked cherries. I was looking for already picked cherries, and did eventually buy some, but after we picked some. We've been told by several people that this was a bad year for cherries. I didn't pick that many because I had to climb a ladder and that's really not a good place for me to be. Oh, and we bought some blueberry wine, but didn't drink it yet.
   Today, I pitted some of the cherries we picked. I have about 6 pound more to pit. My hands are stained a nice purplish black. I read lemon juice is suppose to get rid of the cherry juice stain, but I don't have that much and I was going to use it for canning. Yeah, I know, I can buy some more and just use what I have and make my hands look better, but I might as well wait until all the cherries are pitted before I try the lemon juice.
   I was going to dehydrate more celery today and freeze more carrots. I didn't get to that. I still haven't folded the towels in the basket by the dryer. I need to make cookies tomorrow.
   Our garden is growing really well. I do think it's funny (weird) that we have a white tail deer problem in our garden and on Farmville I have one, too. I guess I just can't win with that.
   I'm not making much progress crocheting afghans for my friend Terrys' friends that are having babies in Oct. I haven't made much progress with the sewing, either. I have finished 2 of my 4 library books instead.
   Chip is getting much better outside off of the leash. We think he runs like a rabbit. He's a very fast runner. Jake stops Chip by putting his front paw on Chip's back, and then he usually knocks him over. There's about a 35 pound or more weight difference between them. We're always telling Jake not to break the poodle.
   Towards the end of this month it will be peach season at Green Bluff. I'll have to get a box so I can make more Peach Butter and try making some peach preserves. When apples are ripe, I want to get some of those to make apple pie filling, apple butter, apple cinnamon jelly, and apple sauce.  That's the plan, but you know how those are.
  Anyway, it's still nice out here in the sticks, I just need to stop being so lazy.

I Finished A Baby Afghan, But My List Of Things To Make Is Still Long

   I finished this baby afghan for Amy's baby that is due in Dec. It's left over yarn I had from grandson Alix's baby afghan and a shawl I made for me. I like the color red. It's called Autumn Red  and it's Simply Soft by Caron.
   At one time, I had made 20 white squares and edged them with the red. I slipped stitched them together so the squares are puffy. It wasn't big enough for a baby afghan, so I went around the whole thing a few rounds and the added some to the ends and sides. Now, it's 38"x27".  It turned better than I thought it would. I put a scalloped edging around it and even managed to get scallops on the corners.
   I should have been finishing up cleaning the house, but Tim brought the latest illness from work, and he stayed home sick, and I think I am getting it.  You know, the little scratchy throat and the ears feel kind of funny. I don't want it any worse than it is now. Amy and Daniel are coming Wed. and I know they don't want it, especially Amy, who is pregnant. I'm pretty sure Daniel doesn't want it, either.
   There is a woman who works with Tim and she never stays home when she's sick, so she shares all her germs. So nice of her.
   The weather turned out to be half way decent today. Just a few sprinkles and some good thunder. Scared the dogs.
   The carrots and corn and peas are coming up in the garden. We had a coyote wander through it last night. Coyotes are a terrible problem out here. They are very well fed, too, with all the deer and other animals around here.
   On the news this weekend, there was a story about a cougar in Deer Park, WA, that was caught after it had killed a woman's goats and another woman's llamas and goats. It was euthanized because it had a taste for farm animals and it wasn't afraid of humans. Cougars are also a problem out here. It was probably 30 minutes from here.
   The people that have lived out in this area don't really think too much about things like that happening. It's just one of those things you have to put up with, like tornadoes in other parts of the country. I know I would rather not have to put up with tornadoes.
   Tomorrow for fun, I am giving Chip a bath so he's nice and clean for company. Ah, he just needs a bath anyway. When I'm done, I'll be cleaning a water splattered bathroom.
   I just need to keep telling myself, I don't get sick, it's bad for my health.