Went on a day trip

We went on a day trip recently with the kids and my mom.  We headed to North Hadley Sugar Shack and then on to Mt. Sugarloaf in Sunderland, Ma.

This was one of the sweet goats I got to pet.

I love this...those are big scarecrows and they were on the road for all to see.

My son on the lookout tower on Mt. Sugarloaf

The Connecticut river and the farmlands below...this was a zoom photo.

Me and hubby on the Mountain

Ariel, Karen, Michaella and Nathanael Lopez

My Mama...being a silly model!  She is a pretty woman for 82 years old!

  After that we headed to the Quabbin Reservoir, it was a beautiful day to be outside and enjoying nature at it's finest.

We had a really nice day, fun and relaxing!  Arrived home to a beautiful sunset tired but refreshed.

At the beach and loving it!

I love being at the beach, on the beach.  I love going to sleep to the sound of the ocean...with the cool air on my head as I sleep with the coziest of covers and the fluffiest pillows.  I enjoy reading....the only time I seem to be able to.  I love the feel of the sand on my feet....the wind in my face.  It is a blessing and a treat to be at the beach.  It is a wonderful place to play with my photography...reflect and relax.  I look forward to this week every year.  I love the little shops....mostly the thrift shops....so much fun for such little money.

This is my favorite time of the year.  I am so thankful to be able to spend a week at the most wonderful place on earth.

Serenity Now...

I am visiting the sea.....feet in the sand, wind in my hair and the ocean in my view.  I can not describe the child like feelings I have when I am at the ocean.  A dream come true...a cottage on the sea...nestled in the dunes!
I am in heaven...  Hubby is home still recovering...getting stronger everyday.  He is home taking care of our three pups and our cat...Michaella's dwarf hamster and her fish....!!!!!  Poor hubby.   After my time here I will return with 4 days to get the shop bedazzled and OPEN by the 23rd.  I am looking forward to it...and the hard work...after a wonderful treat at the sea.  Serenity Now.

Long Time...

This depicts how I am feeling...what a big load!

It has been a very long time waiting for this to happen.  Finally hubby has a new knee.  It has been quite busy here with Physical Therapists and Nurses stopping in.  Yesterday we had to all go to Worcester to the Emergency Room just to obtain more pain meds.  That was tough on hubby.  The kids are great helpers...with their dad and around the house.  I am very tired...with my FM it has been tough.  My older daughters have been helpful as well.  Praise God.  I went to a homeschool kick off picnic...it was wonderful.  Wonderful women and children...a very nice time.  I had my first A Primitive Journey meeting that same day...so after the picnic it was home to clean like crazy and set up the house.  It is going to be another "Long Time" before hubby is up and around and comfortable.  We will be heading to the Cape again on vacation and leaving hubby behind, on his own to care for our three pups...poor guy!  I am hoping my older girls stop in and help out.   As I sit here and type with my head tilted to the side I could fall deep asleep...lol.  Time to go out and about and do errands...ugh.
Then home to hubby and housework....
Have a blessed day....
Karen

APJ Meeting - August 21st

Tomorrow is the first of many meetings that I will be hosting or attending.  If anyone is interested in joining you must first check out A Primitive Journey and join that group.  Then if you would like to join our chapter let me know... There are many chapters all over the United States... we are the Worcester, Ma. chapter.
Tomorrow will be fun...a little wine and crackers on the deck!

Hubby is coming along...

My husband is coming along great....he had a few set backs but nothing major.  He is strong and pushes himself. We have had nurses here, PT's and more nurses...they are wonderful.  Today he had his first shower in two weeks...ewwww.  He loved it.  It was a bit tricky to get him into the shower...had to use the commode and he had to sit to get in and then he could stand and take his shower...himself.  I helped with the drying and dressing part and was worn out...sweating like crazy!! I need to make supper for the beast now so I must go.  Just wanted to update my followers.

Hubby STILL in the hospital!!!

Hi Everyone,
   Hubby is still in the hospital... a storm is brewing outside... I have a meeting at 6:00 with the "Browse the Brookfields and Beyond" business group.   Afterwards I  hopefully will be heading to the hospital to pick him up.
They were all set to let him go Saturday night and then thought he may have a blood clot in his leg...so they confined him to bed and he stayed there all day Sunday.  No blood clot, thank the Good Lord...so they kept him today to work with him.  He may stay again, I am not sure and it is 4pm... I have to get ready for my meeting and my daughter is coming over to do some laundry for me...I am so behind in everything!!!
Can't wait to have my baby home.  :>)

3 days in to it.....

Hubby is resting comfortably as I write this...  He has had a couple of bad spells but is progressing nicely.  Everyday he has to spend 6 hours on a machine that bends his leg to a 90 degree...he started at only 25...so he is doing great.  Today was very busy in his room with family, nurses and his new room mate.  It is now quiet...mama is reading her country magazine and I type away as my husband sleeps, finally.  He just had a wonderful lunch, roast turkey with gravy, fresh green beans, strawberry shortcake and more! He has an exerciser for his lungs and is still taking some oxygen. It seems that a hospital is an awful place to get some sleep...the hallway is noisy...people coming in and out of the room...sirens outside the window....argh.  I remember when I was in here.  Any who, through it all he is asleep.  My lil guy is sick so he stayed home with his lil sister and his big sister.  I am so tired...I might take a stroll downstairs to dunkins.

Such a long wait....

Look at these poor girls...one is 82 and one is 10, 

They got so tired walking and waiting all day...

The nurse gave them pillows and blankets...

Mama actually fell asleep.

Still waiting for hubby to get a room

it is 6:45 and I should be seeing him

by 7:30...my poor puppies are home, hungry and 

most likely doing their business in my house....argh!

The Hospital

This is such a lovely place to pass the time while waiting for a loved one!   Everything is at your fingertips; dunkin donuts, cafeteria, gift shop and much more!  The staff here are excellent.  This was the view from the waiting room.

Surgery Went Well...

My Hubby Waiting for Surgery
All went well...Just spoke with his surgeon and the surgery was very good.  Now it is wait and see...  I won't be able to see him for about two hours.  I bought him a pretty sunflower, a glass picture to stand next to it all about love...the kids bought him little gifts too.  It was not a bad day waiting around...but costly.  The hospital has a beautiful atrium, terrific cafeteria and excellent staff.  Mama is with us and even though I am thankful to have her company and support, it is like having three kids with me today.  I don't have a minute to think straight today.

More later...

The day before the last day...

     So tomorrow is my last day the shop will be open for a little while.  I really did not want to close it down at all but life comes at you and there is nothing you can really do but go with the flow.  My husband will be having a total knee replacement and I will be taking care of him.  My mother will be having another eye surgery...but I think that is in Sept. and I will be taking care of her as well.  I sit here and know that I will be in here more than perhaps I have been lately.  
     There is a lot to do to get ready for fall.  I will be receiving new handcrafts and will have to get them all entered into the computer, tagged and displayed.  I have to clean out behind the counter and re-organize the work area... get the bags tagged and ready, print up more haymakers bucks and so on!  So even though this is the day before the last day...it is the beginning of many things for the next month!!!  I will not be idle, and if anyone needs anything, just give the shop a ding a ling.  
     I have posted signs on the front windows and the side door...I am sending out over 600 postcards to let everyone know my agenda and that is the best I can do.  I think that the Good Lord will take care of me and Bless me and the shop this fall.  I am thrilled at how this year has gone so far, the people I have met, the new adventures I have taken on....and I look forward to next year!!!   


Thank you to everyone that has been a part of my life...

Please take a moment and visit our website...

Hubby to have knee surgery...shop will be closed temporarily!

Hubby will finally have his knee surgery on August 10th, Tuesday.  We will need your prayers please.
He is a "big" guy and I am not as strong as I used to be...and I will be his caretaker.  The shop will be temporarily closed.  We will keep you posted.  Thank you

Wow it sure has been a long time...

It has been a very long time since I blogged.... frankly I did not know what it was for really.  Any who, I have decided to do a little blogging.  I will have to find some interesting things in my life to blog about....where should I look?

At Haymakers You Will Find...

August 24th 2008

Hello everyone, Today is Sunday the 24th ~ As I sit in the shop I am thinking about yesterday...Yesterday I had two wonderful women come and visit the shop. It was really a lovely time. They shopped and we chatted and then we PRAYED together right across my counter holding hands. It was a wonderful prayer and such a boost for me. I love it when Christian folks visit the shop.

Also, after the shop closed yesterday I decided to push mow since the tractor is on the fritz. Well, I ended up saving baby mice...it was actually quite fun and exciting. You never know what the day holds for you. Be patient in life and "be still and know that I am God"...I love that scripture. It was a great day and I look forward to what is in store for today.

Sometimes you drink...sometimes you talk to trees!

Wine in carnival glass dessert cups...yummy!
My old man tree...illuminated in the evening!

The Bed of my Son's Truck

Here is the bed of my son's truck...

He is very creative...he wanted to be able to lay among the clouds!

This picture does not depict the real beauty.

My Dragonfly Tree

For some reason the dragonflys loved to land on the tippity top of the branches . I sat and watch them leave and fly back to land once again.