Tues., 10/31/23, Very cold day...never got out of the 30's, made Kimmy's chili, picked up Peyton and Isaac, moved furniture and got the humidifier going

This is the biggest bloom I've had on my peace plants

At a distance it looks so big

Isaac and Peyton before school this morning.  Love how Peyton wanted to take her Bible and be like the hippies in the movie Jesus Revolution

Isaac took this and air dropped it to me.  He's so cute and smart!  He put our phones together to air drop it.

Loved having Peyton and Isaac for a while today

Kenzie, Eli and Peyton....hippies

Numbers of grandkids going are dwindling 

Going in the snow.  Temperature was 36 degrees when they started

Kenzie and Peyton

Peyton looks so cute with all this snow in her hair

Rody and Isaac 

Kenzie and Peyton...sister fun

Peyton and Livie

Jack, Caleb, Evan, Eli and Connor

Evan and Isaac

Max...he gave Abby a cookie doggie treat which she has in her mouth

Bruce had a wonderful fire going in the fireplace

Kenzie and me

Snowy cold evening

Kenzie giving the guinea pig some attention

Abby relaxing in her comfy bed

Peyton with all of her candy

Livie and Peyton sorting their candy

Had the electric fireplace on while we relaxed and I did my blog
 
 

We slept in this morning.  I had my coffee with milk frothed on top and honey and cinnamon on that.  Also ate my oatmeal with raisins, blueberries and bananas.  Made Kimmy's turkey chili for tonight at Melissa and Bruce's.  Sampled a bowl.  I really like turkey chili best.  

We read our Bibles.  Very thankful for a warm house on days like today.  

Moved some furniture to make room for the water cooler next to it.  Put the humidifier where the water cooler was.  Filled the water jugs and put bacteria preventative in and started the humidifier up.  

Picked up Peyton and Isaac from school.  They were in their costumes.  Peyton was a hippie and Isaac was a whoopee cushion.  Isaac took a selfie and sent it to me.  Peyton got her new phone and showed it to me and showed me the pictures she took of her friends today.  I saw my ring notification, so looked and Roy was at my door.  He and Marie were supposed to stop this afternoon and drop off some protein drinks for Bill that they aren't going to drink.  It figures, they would come the only half hour of the afternoon I wasn't home.  I called Roy and let him know where we were.  Bill was taking his sister, Carol, to her doctor appt. so he wasn't home either.  

When we got to my house, Peyton wanted to know if I had any chili left.  I told her I had the turkey chili in the crock pot and had regular chili in the refrigerator.  She picked the regular chili.  I warmed her up some and she had Fritos, sour cream and cheese in it.  She and Isaac both had apple cider.  Isaac didn't want to eat.  We had fun while they were here, then Kenzie called to let me know they were getting close and to have the kids run out when they got here.  They got ready and we watched for about 5 minutes, then they pulled in.  

We went to Melissa and Bruce's at 6.  Vikki, Rody, Peyton, Isaac Kimmy, Jared, Eli and Adam were already there.  Tasha, Ryan, Jacob and Caleb got there right after us.  Peggy came too, and it was so nice to meet her.  Adam, Jacob Muller and Max stayed home while the other kids went trick or treating.  Melissa, Bruce, Peggy, Bill and I stayed at the house too.  We had fun hanging out.  Jacob M. held Lucy and made sure she didn't escape when kids came to the door for candy.  Max watched the other 3 dogs.  We all gave the dogs attention.  Vikki and Kenzie were the first ones back.  They were covered with snow.  Kenzie's socks were soaked.   We all started eating chili when they got there.  When the others came back they ate chili.  Bruce made delicious chili and had all the fixings.   There was cider and coffee to drink.  Tasha made her yummy sheet cake we all love.  There were lots of other desserts too.  I sent the turkey chili home with Kimmy.  Everyone had so much fun relaxing and visiting together.  Such a nice party.  Thank you Bruce and Melissa.  We came home and I started a load of laundry.  When I came and sat in my recliner, Bill had already turned my electric throw on for me.  So nice!!!  I sure was thankful to have it warm already.

Monday, 10/30/23, Took care of problem with Pikepass, did some cleaning, Bill picked up leaves with grasshopper

 

This morning's cappuccino turned out much better.  I just cut the milk I frothed in half and did 1/4 cup.  It was so good

I baked Bill a yummy cake

Sunset outside the window 

Vikki sent me a picture of the table with hooks for hanging blankets.  So cute!

  

Brrrr....it was 37 degrees when we got up.  I put Kit Kat's food out and gave her some attention.  Bill went with Charlie for coffee.  I took my shower and then made a cappuccino and had a blueberry muffin with it.  Had some good worship time, then read my Bible. When Bill got home, we relaxed and caught up on some news.  We don't watch much anymore, but like to keep up with a few things.  We ate egg salad sandwiches for lunch.

Bill went outside to use the Grasshopper to pick up lots of leaves and put them on the garden.  I baked a cake, then I cleaned the downstairs bathroom and did some vacuuming and washed some curtains.  I threw out the rugs in the bathroom downstairs and will put new mats on my Christmas list.  The backing was all falling apart and was starting to make a mess.  I brought the rugs from upstairs down until I get replacements.  The upstairs bathroom doesn't get used much so one rug in there is plenty for now.  

Talked to Melissa and Face Timed and talked with Vikki a couple of times.  She hung hooks on a wood table she found at a sale for $5.  Then she leaned it against her wall and hung blankets on it.  It looks so beautiful.  She sure is talented at decorating.   We watched a good movie in the evening.

 

Sunday, 10/29/23, went to prayer, than church service, Went to Meijer, took a nap, Vikki, Rody, Peyton and Isaac came over for chili

Cute picture of Melissa, Abby and Hailey

Rody, Vikki, Peyton, me and Bill eating chili

Everyone relaxing and on their phones before I got their attention for a picture

Bill, Isaac, Peyton and Rody when I had them look for the picture

Mylee's Lion cut Vikki and Kenzie gave her

 

Quillow from Vikki.  It is a really pretty shade of pink, but this doesn't show the color well

Vikki made this cool costume for Peyton. She cut a tee shirt to make the fringe vest. Great job Vic!

 It was a cold 40 degrees out when I sat Kit Kat's food out for her.  I bring it in so the raccoons don't get it.  Got ready then read my Bible before church.  Made our coffee and when Bill was ready, we headed to church.  He went to pray with Pastor and the Elders and I went into the prayer room.  We went into the church service after, and sat with Vikki, Rody and the kids.  We had awesome worship today.  Paster gave a great message too.  After church we went and picked up some cheese, chili cheese Frito's and sour cream for chili.  We came home and ate egg salad sandwiches, then Bill read his Bible.  I took a nap.  It sure felt good after a couple of days of getting up very early after staying up til midnight.  

Vikki called me once, and Kenzie called me one.  I wasn't sound asleep so talked some with each of them.  I relaxed for another half hour.  Vikki called and had missed her turn on the expressway, so wanted to know if she and Peyton could come early.  Of course that made me happy.  I heated the chili up and then put it in the crock pot to keep it warm.  Vikki and Peyton got here and Vikki brought me a Quillow.  It's a quilt and a pillow...actually a soft fleece blanket that tucked into the pocket and makes a pillow.  So nice and such aa great idea.  We tried them right away.  It's so sweet how Vikki always thinks of me and does such sweet stuff.  My whole family does.  I love my family.  We all sat in the family room and hung out together for a long time and then they had to leave.  So nice. to have them come.  Rody showed me some amazing pictures he took of Meredith for graduation and also some of a friend of his and her baby.  They turned out so nice.  He does a great job.

Saturday, 10/28/23, Went to Iron Saints meeting in Ypsilanti, then went to Chili Cook off at Bev and Ron’s,

We went through a car wash this morning at 8 to get all the mud off the tires from pulling the lawnmower out of the ditch yesterday 

Iron Saints meeting

Fun at the Chili cook off at Bev and Ron’s 

 

Matt and me

All of us by the fire

All of the chili

Bill

Me and Bill

 

 All those whose name started with B had to go out in the center.  They had to say what trade went with the tool she showed them.

 Bill turned and smiled at me so I took his picture

Bev’s turn

 

Bill’s turn and he couldn’t say electrician because it was already named.  He said dentist lol!!!!

 

Beautiful country roads on our way home!

 

I saw this cute ice cream place and saw an open sign lit up.  I had told Bill we should get ice cream and he said we could look when we went through towns.  He turned around and went back to this one.  

Bill waiting for our order

My banana split I got on the way home

Bill with his hot fudge sundae....it was too cold to eat outside

Max came over to practice target shooting with Papa

Max hanging out with Bill

Hailey posing for my picture while she was cooking

Hailey cooking the burger while Bruce makes the homemade chips

Rody looking good in the orange vest we got him last year

Christine got all of these dogs to pose for this picture.  They are pretty amazing dogs!  Vader and Badger are in the picture in the center.

We got up early so we could be ready to leave at 7:45.  Had the chili all hot in the crockpot and packed it and the rest of the stuff we took in the truck then headed to the carwash.  Good to have the truck clean again.  It sure had muddy wheels.  It took 1 1/2 hours to get to Ypsilanti for the Iron Saints chapter meeting.  I ordered hot chocolate to drink.  It was a cold 40 degree morning.  The meeting went really good with 23 of us there.  Lots of outreach plans to minister at coming up.  This is the most active chapter in Michigan.  They get lots done and raise lots of money for Run for the Son.  After the meeting, we went to Ron and Bev's for a chili cook off.  Lots from the meeting were there too.  Ron and Bev invited everyone from all four of the chapters they oversee.  Great seeing everyone and the chili was delicious.  Don't know about the hot and spicy ones since I passed those up.  My award winning chili that has won 4 awards, wasn't award winning today.  Bev and Ron took Bill and I in for a tour of their Cozy Cabin.  There house is a log cabin they built.  It was very nice.

We had a beautiful day for a ride.  The colors are still gorgeous.  An ice cream stop on our way home was a highlight too.  I texted Kenzie that we were going through Owosso and she wasn't home again.  She had gone to my house and had some chili, then went to her mom's where they decided to meet with Kimmy.  Hailey got her hair cut there by Vikki too.  Kenzie thought they were going to meet at my house so that's why she went there.  I'm glad I had chili in the refrigerator for her.  

When we got home, Bruce and Max came over so Max could target practice with Bill.  I took Max home because Bill had to put everything away and needed to read his Bible yet.  I read mine while we were riding this morning.  I went in and saw Melissa, Bruce and Hailey for a minute.  Jack and Evan were at the corn maze Bethlehem goes to every year in Frankenmuth.  Connor went with them too.  Bruce was making homemade corn chips.  Melissa gave me some and they are delicious.  Hailey was cooking the burger for on them.

When I got home, Bill and I watched a good movie about a therapy dog.  It was based on a true story and was very touching.