"We Gather Together"

"We Gather Together"

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;

He chastens and hastens His will to make known.

The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.

Sing praises to His Name; He forgets not His own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,

Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;

So from the beginning the fight we were winning;

Thou, Lord, were at our side, all glory be Thine!

We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant,

And pray that Thou still our Defender will be.

Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;

Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

 

 

I remember singing this when I was a small girl, in church. It was a rare day that my Mom went to Church. Being a single mom, she felt like she was out of place and being judged.. and in the 1960's that is most likely very true. The church we went to though, Didn't hold that against us kids. We were picked up most Sunday mornings by the Gobble Family and returned to home by a different family. Mom used the time we were out of the house to renew her own spirit in her own way. She also made a large dinner for us. Using the left-overs for meals for the rest of the week. She did bulk cooking on Sunday's so she could get dinner on the table easier and faster during the work week.

 

Billie C.

Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." - Carl Brad

Hello ... From a Gray but warming up Virginia

Hello ... From a Gray but warming up Virginia.  We may not even need jackets this weekend while we are driving around.   There are hardly any leaves left on the trees. The wind this past week brought a lot of them down. All brown, Tan and crispy.. and Barney loves it.. He loves to run around in the noisy leaves even when he knows he's outside for a different reason.  The cats have been in, then out, then in again, now they are out again.

Tonight I'm fixing Spegettie with a meat sauce. I'll brown the hamburger in a bit and add it to the sauce in the crock pot to simmer the rest of the day.

We have Dish back, Yay!!  I've already set it up to record lots of stuff. I found lots of Christmas Movies and I had to reset to get Y&R and other shows that I expect to miss in the evenings.  Jerry likes going to bed extra early and I am finding I really do need to go to bed earlier as well. 4:30 comes too early for me.. it takes me about 20 minutes to cook breakfast while Jerry is getting dressed and he wants to be out of the door before 5 because it's almost an hours drive on winding back roads. The GPS shows that both the fastest route and the shortest route are the same. 

I am wearing... Dark Gray Sweat Pants and my Spirit Horse top. 
I am reading... Emails and recipes.  I really need to make a Pumpkin Spice cake soon
I am thankful for... Jerry loving me. I know I am not an easy person to live with but he puts up with me, anyway.
I am creating... I'm planning on tieing the blanket this afternoon, after I get the rest of the camper cleaned up. Which I'm working on slowly.

 

Billie C.

Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." - Carl Brad

Good Morning this Brr morning

Hello ... Good Morning this Brr morning. I've been a busy little person this morning so far. Not even 10 am yet and I've got the back of the camper all straightened out, laundry sorted and into bags ready to go to the van tonight, to get it out of the way.. and the beds are made. I had to take everything off Jerry's bed because his sheet corner came loose and I had to pick up the mattress and reset that corner. The dogs and cats were not pleased that I made them get off his bed. But now they are back on it and asleep already. I see blue sky outside the window, and some sunshine. I may be able to turn off heaters this afternoon if this keeps up. As soon as I finish this I'll be taking the dogs out for their second morning potty break and play time. Now I just have to find that orange ball for Barney to play with.. um... wonder where he's hid it this time... .. . ... ..

I'll look for it in a bit.

Oh. I had to put a new rope in one of the laundry bags. The last one came loose and the cats found the end and unraveled it a while ago. I didn't need it to close up until now. I have some laundry cord that works just fine and now I can tie the bag shut and not worry that things will fall out of the top of it.

From the kitchen... Last night's chicken was a bit spicier that I expected it to be. I have enough left over to make me a sandwich this afternoon with it. I forgot, when I started the bread maker yesterday that if it and the roasting oven both draw power at the same time, the breaker may trip.. so I had to find an extension cord for the roasting oven. Otherwise my bread would not have turned out very well at all. It was after dark and I couldn't find a flash light.. I found three flash lights today, so far. go figure. I had Jerry on the phone while I was trying to walk around to the back of the camper and not trip over anything to get the electric cord off the back light where he had hung it. I will keep it in the house now.. We draw way more power up front than we do in the back. When this camper was made, back in 1979, there wasn't near as much things that needed plugged in as there is now. and most of it is up front... I run a cord from the bathroom up to the front cause that breaker only has four or five things on it.

I am hearing... The heater fan, water dripping, and my own thoughts in my head..... I miss the sounds of the TV and I got tired of the radio.

I am wearing... dark blue sweat pants and a lighter blue top. I have my leather belt on and it's helping my back feel much better.
I am thankful for... Jerry letting me sleep in this morning. He must have gotten up before the alarm went off because when I woke up he was already getting dressed. He decided to buy sausage biscuits for breakfast on his way in to work. He sure does like his sausage each morning.
I am hoping... that Jerry gets over his cold quick. He seems to get a cold almost every time he starts a new job, and this time, he had to work in a damp ditch on his first working day, and was chilled most of the day because it kept drizzling all day long, as well.
I am creating... I worked on Bailey's tied Blanket. I didn't finish it, but I got all the edges trimmed off and can now tie it together when I cut the strings on it. Beth sent me a picture of a jean quilt her boyfriends mother made and it's much like the one I want to make, but I did notice that when the squares were cut for it, the seams were included as well. I always cut the seams out of the material when I save jean material. but I like how it looks and want to make up mine as soon as I get a few other things out of my way.
Oh. yeah.... (again) I found a subway art, that I printed and put up between the cubby above the couch. I was pleasantly surprised when Jerry noticed it last night. Usually it takes him days to see something like that.

One of my favorite things... A warm camper in the morning. I felt warm enough to take my shower right off and not put it off any longer.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Well. Jerry has to work all weekend long because next week (Thanksgiving weekend) he will have four days off. He'll get his first check on Wed. and I'll have to do some shopping ! I hope to do some shopping before then, but I can make meals with what I still have on hand right now. I hope to send off a box to Beth for Baby Heather and I will see if I have enough stuff to send on to Heather, as well.

 

Billie C.

Hello ... Good afternoon

Hello ...  Good afternoon. Soon to be evening. It's been one of those dreary, dull, cloudy days. (4:45) It's starting to get dark, and I don't think we had any sun at all today. Just clouds, No rain, either.  I just can't seem to get warmed up much at all.
 I've had the dogs out a few times today.  Barney keeps tangling in the trees. He just doesn't get it that he has to go back around a tree after he goes around the first time. He "found" his orange ball outside and brought it back inside. He loves to bounce his ball. He picks it up and drops it, then picks it up again.. He'll do it so often that it drives Macon up a wall. Macon will come in, pick up the ball after Barneu drops it and take it to the other room out of Barney's reach.
I fed the cats a bit early this afternoon. They all three acted like they haven't seen a can of cat food for a week.  I used a stick to dig out the last of the cans and dropped the leavings on the table so they could get to that, as well as putting a full dish of dry food out for them.  They are not sure if they want to sleep inside, in a kennel or outside in the cold. ...
I'm going to bake some potatoes in the roasting oven and I'm thinking of baking some chicken strips in it as well. I was going to do buffalo seasoned tenders but Jerry said No.  Aw well, maybe next time.I decided to use the bread maker today. I've got a loaf of bread going in it now. It should be done about the time I'm ready to start the potatoes in the oven they go in about 30 minutes before I start the chicken.
 I am hearing... I have a "Little House" from where I recorded a few shows for a couple of weeks, on. I also hear the bread maker kneading the dough and the fan from the heater is also working.
I am wearing... my usual. dark sweat pants and a dark blue top.
I am reading... emails all day long
I am creating... I am working on a tied blanket for my older grand-daughter. I trimed the selvages off but haven't gotten any further than that on it today. I really should finish it up but now I just feel like rolling it up and putting it away for a while.

 

Billie C.
Celebrate the happiness that friends are
always giving, make every day a holiday
and celebrate just living!
~ Amanda Bradley ~

Nov 12

Hello, and Good Early Morning. We were up by 4:30 so Jerry could be on his way out the door by 5 for orientation at 7. He needed to make a stop on his way and it's an hours drive, via two lane roads with 45 speed limits. We spent yesterday morning finding places. Breakfast at Golden Corral. When Jerry looked it up, the GPS said 20 miles. I looked it up and got 9. Um... ok... Wal-mart.. he found out was 20 miles. (again) and again I found one closer. I spelled it out, he used a different app on the GPS. But after that, the GPS was spot on for where he had to go this morning and where the job is at, as well.
We did our shopping in the afternoon, after finding the job site. Took the dogs with us all day long, They got to get out several times, but I'm sure they are ready not ride much for the next few days.
We had to make a trip back in to town for some cut wood so we could get camper level. We just lacked a couple of pieces. Because we move often though, I asked for three different size boards to be cut. What we don't need, we can always burn in the fire ring we have at this site.
It's going to take me a while to get through all my emails from the weekend but I will catch up as quickly as I can while I'm putting everything back away and cleaning up.
The cats are not all that happy because they have not been allowed outside, yet.
Today the high is suppose to be 70. After today though the highs will only be in the 50's. maybe some low 60's
It's been very pretty outside. There are still a lot of leaves on the trees despite the wind from Sandy last week. At least, in this area. Beth called my last night, and said they had sleet. The weather said there might be snow if it started early enough but it didn't. So what Kansas City got yesterday I figure we may be getting either late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
I fixed Hot Dogs and mashed potatoes for our dinner last night. For tonight I'm thinking of making up a crockpot meal. Jerry enjoyed it when I cut up a smoked sausage and cooked it with green beans and potatoes so I'll do that for tonight. Its something I won't have to watch too closely. Of course I'll add a salad and I need to make a dessert. I just might make some Buck eyes because he liked them.

I am wearing... The flannel housedress that Donna gave. BTW Donna makes a very great Chili... so great that Jerry ate two large bowls of it and I think he would have eaten more but didn't want to miss out on the Buck eyes. I loved the chilie as well and ate two medium sized bowls of it.
Time to go change clothes. (8:30) going to put on sweatpans and a work top.

I am reading... emails and more emails, trying to get caught up with emails today between cleaning and putting away stuff

I am thinking... I hate unpacking but it gives me a chance to go through stuff and consider if I still want to keep it, ot should I toss it...

I am thankful for... a safe alibet long trip from Niota TN to Danville VA. Not much trouble in getting the camper level this time and a great time with Jerry.

I am hoping... That this job lasts a long, long time. I don't want to have to unpack and repack for a long time.

I am creating... A cosy home for us.. and a clean one, as well.

One of my favorite things... Early morning when the birds start to sing and the world starts to wake up.

 

Billie C.
Celebrate the happiness that friends are
always giving, make every day a holiday
and celebrate just living!
~ Amanda Bradley ~

Hello, for today Nov 4

Hello ... And good Morning (9am)  We were up early, even for time change. I went to bed late and got up early. About 6 hours after going to bed. I got up, dressed in the dark and took the dogs out even though they were not "asking" to go out. Then Jerry turned on a light. (agh)  We went to "The Dinner Bell" for our Sunday Morning breakfast.  We won't really have to eat until we want an early dinner.
We have to go to Wal-mart later as I need more strips for my Sugar checker.
(11pm) I'm watching the Mentelist while I type this up. We got to Wal-mart. I picked up the strips, and a few other things. By the time we left we had spent just over $70.  Jerry got new shoes, I picked up pet food for both the dogs and the cats. (don't want to run out) I picked out two more nail polishes (don't need them, but wanted them so much)  Some Felt.. Jerry's cigars. and I forgot what else.   I tried to cut the felt with my cricut and it failed. The felt is too thin, and even with ironing the freezer paper to one side, it still didn't turn out like I wanted it to. I spent about an hour cutting freezer paper to iron onto felt and I'll cut around that with scissors. (Hey, I didn't have to use spell check to spell Scissors) Jerry had on a football game when Beth called. We talked about 45 minutes.
Another Air Stream moved in across from us. It's only a year older than our but we can see several things differt just from the outside. Jerry and he talked a bit and they moved the bath to the middle and changed the bed from twins to a single in the back.
Outside my door ... It's very dark. (it is 11 pm) Today was nice though. I sat outside for a bit with just a thin t-shirt on. (Of course I was wearing pants as well)  I just took the dogs out for last call a bit ago. I could see a lot of stars so it's not cloudy any more. I read an email that we are under a frost warning.  There are only a few leaves left on the trees. I can see a lot more bare branckes

 

The Dogs ... I have had to squirt Rocky and Barney several times this morning to make them stop rough housing. It's not that they are playing, they are shaking the camper with how rough they are playing. I'm glade to see Rocky play with Barney though. Rocky usuall just lays around all day long.

 

The Cats ...  were more than willing to come inside when I took the dogs out for their last call. I'll be putting all three into a kennel to sleep, tonight. Right now they are all in the bedroom with Jerry., Rocky and Macon. Barney is in his kennel for the night already.   The time change has us all confused.  The cats were ready for their canned food before 2pm. I don't usually feed them until close to 4 but they know if they all three come to the camper around 3 I might go ahead and feed them. I didn't feed them until 5 which was 6 before time change.  There is another black cat in the area. He (or she) Is a bit larger than ours. It comes over to eat once our cats have finished up. It doesn't run when Jerry talks to it but still runs when I open the door.

 

From the kitchen... Salad, Hot Dogs, Remain Soup, and popcorn for desert.

 

I am hearing... The mentalest on the tv. Jerry is in the bedroom watching something else. 

 

I am wearing... splattered t-shirt and black sweat pants.

 

I am reading... emails, emails and more email.

 

I am hoping...  That Jerry hears from a job this week. I'm starting to get worried. It usually doesn't take this long for him to find another job.  We know we may not hear anything until after the elections on Tuesday but we are not giving up hope just yet. It's just stressful not knowing if we are going to find a job here or if we are going to have to move.

 

I am creating... I love the post it notes program. I realized I just totally forget what I really should be working on. So I filled out a few with the different crafts I should be working on. 
My plan is to do things on the computer until Jerry wakes up, if I'm up before him. Clean house in the mornings, the work on a craft in the afternoon each day I have some "post it's" with things like sewing or make jewerly but they don't have details of what I need to work on. These I set up today are for each porject.
One of my favorite things... 

 

A few plans for the rest of the week...  food shopping. If we spent at least $50 at a time at Engles between the middle of October and the week of Thanksgiving 6 times we will get a free 12 to 14 pound turkey.  We are half way there already.  We don't know yet, where we will be spending Thanksgiving.  We will have to do laundry soon, as well. When we do, I'll take the covers and pillows off the couch this time, they need a good washing.

 

Billie C.
Celebrate the happiness that friends are
always giving, make every day a holiday
and celebrate just living!
~ Amanda Bradley ~

Halloween pictures

On October 27, We went to a dance at Bakers, in Englewood TN (  http://www.americantowns.com/tn/englewood/venues/baker-s-place  )

 

We had a blast with Donna and Larry.  It was a Halloween party, so we did dress up a bit.

This is my birthday dress that Donna gave me.  I love the contrast with the side of the van. I was going for a Mardi Gras look.

 

 

Hubby, getting ready to take my picture. 

 

Donna, the Dark Fairy.. Love her mask. She made it a couple of years ago.

 

 

 

Larry, Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde. 

 

 

 

Donna and I together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This man won first place in the costume contest.. I love it, and if we are here next year, will do a version of this on Jerry.

 

 

Tupelo had to get in on the Halloween action. She's under the toy Rat that is on the dish.

 

 

 

 

Beth said I could post a picture of Heather, as a Dalmation. Even her shoes look spotted.

Billie C.