Still running FIVE years later

 On a whim I took a look at my old Late Life Running blog.  Can't believe it has been five years since my last post.  Wow.  I have done a few 5k races but no half marathons in five years......until now. I signed up for one on November 11th.  Not sure I'm ready but I did 11 miles last Saturday.  I don't have time to get in any more long runs.  My left knee hurt a bit on that run but seems ok now.  Wish me luck!

November 1, 2023

 Well tomorrow is Jim's big birthday - 70 years old!  It is so hard to believe we are as old as we are!  And I'll soon be 65.  I made him a cake, homemade bread, homemade soup, today. I'll be working tomorrow but he can open his present later when I get home.

Our kind neighbor changed out our five outside lights in the last two days.  We have the best neighbors!  All five of our LED dusk to daylight lights had gone out and they were the kind that didn't have bulbs.  I was able to get these really nice looking outside lanterns from Costco, that use LED bulbs.  So happy about that.  When they go out I'll just pop in another bulb.  And I love this style. It seems to go better with our home.

We only had three trick or treaters last night.  I was so disappointed.  Our little neighbors boys came over and a teenager.  But we did get a pic of the grandkids when they were on their way to a big fall event on campus where they live. I'm sure they had a ball! Hermoine and Mario.

I got the idea to get out Jim's big fake teeth and try them on Puzzle!  it was a hoot but she only wanted to eat them.  She had me laughing so hard last night.  She came parading into the living group with one of my headbands in her mouth.  I took it away from her and it wasn't five minutes when she comes in wagging her tail with another one!  Evidently I had left two of them on my bathroom vanity.  She can reach anything on there now.  She was so proud of herself.

This dog is such a joy and a blessing.  We've had some really nice fall weather lately.  Turned cold last night but today was still beautiful.  The sky the other night was so very pretty.

I have started a new sewing project but haven't gotten enough done to show yet.  I've put the Bonnie Hunter Morning Glories quilt on hold while I try to finish this little Christmas throw quilt.

 October 15, 2023

A lot has gone on since I last posted.  I finished a memory quilt for Katie's uncle.  We took a real vacation to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. Then we had the kids for several days during their fall break.  We had so much fun!  The other local grandparents got some time with them as well.  So blessed! Also started a new paper pieced quilt, pattern by Bonnie Hunter.  

So the pictures are not in any kind of order.

Memory quilt....

At the museum in Jackson Hole, Wyoming....

Grand Tetons....

More Grand Tetons....

Yellowstone

Comparison of when we were there about 12 years ago (right picture) We've definitely aged a bit!

Ice Cream at Mammoth Springs, Yellowstone.

My handsome hubby

Saw lots of elk in the little park community of Mammoth Springs

Fall Break with the grands.  We called this week "Grand Camp."  Haddon with his little friend Merritt Hixson (a distant cousin).

Emma and Shiloh Hixson.  They lived next to my grandchildren before they moved to LA.  Their mom is Alicia Graves, the daughter of one of my besties Tina Graves, and she has SIX kids!

Tina and I love that our grandchildren are so close.

Fun at our house with Papaw

Cade's Cove loop in the back of the truck with Mamaw and Puzzle

New paper pieced quilt.  This one is taking a while to do.  Very tedious.

It's been almost two full years since I quit the pixie haircuts and started learning how to deal with my wild curls.  I love having longer hair!

Can't believe how much it has grown in just two years.  And this includes five trims.

September 1, 2023

 Fall is just around the corner.  Thought I'd post what's been going on since my last one.  I finished the orange/pink quilt.  Love a scrappy quilt!  Only had to buy the backing and I got a great price on 108" 3 yards pack of this cute kitty print.

One of our church friends is going through a rough time with cancer treatments.  I wanted to make him and his wife a quilt. I pulled out blues/greens from my stash and made this one.

I did a baptist fan edge to edge for the first time and at first I thought it was too big, but really it was perfect for this quilt.

I don't think I could have picked better colors for their quilt.  They loved it! And it matched their home so well with the greens, blues, and grays.

Started and finished another quilt.  I wanted to make one for my friend Becky. She gave me a basket of her children's clothes.  Some of these go back almost 40 years!  I'm not fond of making quilts from stretchy fabrics, but I really wanted to do this for her.  I used a lot of starch.  Found this design on etsy and just figured out how to make it.  I called it "My Children, My Heart" and put a picture of her three kids on the back label.  She loved it!

And used on of my favorite backings -- newsprint!

After I finished this one, I saw that Bonnie Hunter just released a new paper pieced pattern.  I'd just told a friend I'd like to do another paper pieced quilt.  So I got it and started.  Hoping to not buy anything but backing for this one too. I've got 15 blocks so far, but I've got a long way to go.  These blocks take about two hours to make, and the quilt has 49 blocks! But so far, I'm loving it.

I had to put these away, to start on a memory quilt for my DIL's uncle who recently lost his wife. I've made many memory quilts for widows, and typically men have plenty of non-stretch dress shirts, that is, if they are church goers.  I'm noticing lots of men, and almost all women, wear synthetic stretch material now.  These clothes are not good for quilt making.  I'm working on this one and will show it after I gift it, but whew, it isn't easy. I don't like working with t-shirts, but I felt I had to use a few that were special to her.

My hair is still growing.  Had a trim the end of July and probably won't have another for three more months. I'm still enjoying getting to wear it up and in lots of different styles.  Can't believe it has grown this much in less than two years, with five trims!

This was a fun style using only bobby pins.

My son and family recently went to a wedding in Katie's hometown.  Those little ones love an event!  They all looked soooo good!!  I am so thankful they send pics.

Love seeing them all dress up. 

I did a little project recently and I'm very happy with.  They say necessity is the mother of invention and that is certainly true for this project.  I had to check the vent on my dryer, and it was a beast to remove the countertop we had over the top.  Way too heavy for me, and Jim just can't help with things like that.  I finally got it off and sold it on marketplace.  Bought two 16" wide shelving boards, stained them, put a sealant on them, and pushed them together to cover both washer and dryer. Then for fun, I put up some peel and stick wallpaper on the wall behind.

That's all for today!