I Am Giving Up Blogging!

April Fools!!!!!! Gotcha! I love blogging and all of my blogger friends too much to quit.
Don't forget my giveaway. Go to my last three posts to read about it. Leave a comment if you are interested!!! You can leave a comment whether you are interested in the giveaway or not.
I still don't have my husband's camera back, so for today..........

Crazy Mom Tats tagged me with this question/answer post. I know I just did a similar one yesterday, but this has new questions. So here goes!

1. Do you like bleu cheese? I love it!!!!!!
   
2. Have you ever smoked? I hate to admit it, but in college in the early 70s I did smoke. I thought it looked so cool to be dressed in my oldest, holiest, grungiest jeans, tshirts, etc... walking down the street holding a cigarette in my hand. How wrong was I!!!!
   
3. Do you own a gun? Nope, but I have gone to a shooting range and I'm not a bad shot!
   
4. Favorite type of food? BREAD!!!!
   
5. Favorite type of music? I don't have a favorite kind of music. I listen to whatever fits my mood. Sometimes 50s/60s stuff, sometimes country, sometimes light rock, sometimes harder rock, sometimes easy listening, whatever....
   
6. What do you think of hot dogs? I love to eat a good hotdog on a steamed bun with chili, slaw, and mustard. I try not to think about what I'm eating.
7. Favorite Christmas movie? White Christmas
   
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Black, Strong Coffee
9. Can you do push-ups? A couple, but why?
   
10. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry? My wedding and engagement rings
    
11. Favorite hobby? Sewing
    
12. Do you have A. D. D.? I am beginning to think I have developed it just recently. I cannot for the life of me, stay on task.
13. Do you wear glasses/contacts? Glasses - trifocals to be exact.
    
14. Middle name? I hate it and don't usually admit it, but here goes.........Pardue.........It's my grandmother's maiden name.
    
15. Name three thoughts at this exact moment: I have too much to do to be sitting here playing on the computer. I would like another cup of coffee, but I'd have to walk up stairs to get it. It's really chilly in here.
    
16. Name three drinks you regularly drink: Diet Ginger Ale, Black Coffee, Diet Coke
    
17. Current worry? Our moms
    
18. Current hate right now? Controversy at church or anywhere for that matter
    
19. Favorite place to be? With my family wherever they are
    
20. How did you bring in the new year? I can't remember that far back
21. Someplace you’d like to go? Australia
    
22. Name three people who will complete this. Hum......?
23. Do you own slippers? Yep, but I need new ones
    
24. What color shirt are you wearing? Bright Yellow
    
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? Never have! I like crisp cotton ones
    
26. Can you whistle? Yes, but my grandmother used to say, "Whistling girls and cackling hens always come to no good end!" I didn't care, I love to whistle!
27. Where are you now? In my basement family room.
28. Would you be a pirate? No. I'm not mean enough
    
29. What songs do you sing in the shower? Normally whatever our choir is working on It's hard to get that music out of my head.
    
30. Favorite Girl’s Name? How can I answer that when I have 3 daughters, 4 grand daughters and one more grand daughter on the way.
    
31. Favorite boy’s name? I have always loved the name David, but if I had had boys their names would have been Gregory, Michael, or Richard. I'm not sure why those were the names we were going to use.
    
32. What is in your pocket right now? Nothing
    
33. Last thing that made you laugh? My husband's cousin called yesterday to check on his mom. Everything she says is funny. I laughed at everything she said.
    
34. What vehicle do you drive? A recalled Toyota Avalon
    
35. Worst injury you’ve ever had? I knocked out 3 of my front teeth and broke the roots to three more in a car accident when I was about 22 years old. My mouth hit the steering wheel. My 3 teeth were embedded in the steering wheel!
    
36. Do you love where you live? YES!!! I 'd love a house on the lake nearby here, though
    
37. How many TVs do you have in your house? Two that work. I'm not sure how many that don't
    
38. How many computers do you have in your house? Three, but 2 are my husband's laptops. Yeah, he has 2?????
    
39. If you changed your job, what would it be? Read my post from a few days ago about "What Do I Want To Be?"
    
40. If you were granted three wishes, what would they be?? Enough money to never have to worry about it and to help the grands go to college. Our moms to get up and walk and be clear headed. That our girls lived close enough for us to visit a lot more often!!!!!!
    

Your turn!

My Husband Still Has His Camera!!!!

Since my husband still has his camera, I can't take pictures of my giveaway stuff, but I'll tell you what all is included!
1. 2 baby bibs to cross stitch (These are not antique, but I'll never make them)
2. Hand crocheted doily
3. 2 antique open worked doilies
4. 1 small circular linen doily with beautiful lace edging
5. 5 hand embroidered antique handkerchiefs.
6. 2 appr. 12 inch lengths of antique lace
7. 1 yellow linen open worked tea towel
8. 1 crocheted daisy
9. Set of 12 antique lace medallions. I've used these as insets in girls' dresses.
10. 8 antique crocheted buttons

Be sure to leave a comment on this post or one of my last two posts. If you were one of my first 100 followers be sure to remind me. You will be entered twice. If you become a new follower, you will be entered, as well.

I finally have begun making the blankets that I promised to make when I posted my 100th post and got my 50th follower. I promised to make 5 blankets in honor of all of my followers and my grand children. Then, when I hit my first year anniversary, I promised to make another blanket. This one will also be in honor of our grand child that will be born this summer.
I have 5 done and am starting the 6th one when I get off the computer.
I will take pictures of them before taking them to the Department of Human Services here in my county. I was going to send them to the Linus Project, but someone told me that they are always in need of things for children. Sometimes they have to take a child from a meth lab home and they can't take any of their belongings, so I think blankets would be something they could use.
I am giving one blanket to a family that has a 3 week old baby. A lady at church told us about this little family and their desperate situation. We have taken up $$$ and baby stuff for them.


I saw this on a blog a few days ago. I'm ashamed to say that I don't remember whose blog it was, but I thought I'd put it on mine on a day when I didn't have much else to post.
A- Age: 57 for another month or so!
B- Bedsize: King and love it!
C- Chore you hate: Changing the cat litter! Phew!!!!!
D- Dog's name: No dog. We have a cat named Vanilla Ripple who is 19 years old!
E- Essential Food: Bread of any kind!!!
F- Favorite Color: Green especially if it is with purple and yellow
G- Gold or Silver: Silver and Gold
H- Height: 5' 5.5"
I- I am: A wife, momma, granmomma, sister, cousin, friend
J- Job: Retired teacher
K- Kids: 3 daughters, 3 son-in-laws, and 5 grand children with one more on the way!
L- Living Arrangement: Married for 37 years to my high school sweetheart who I've known since 1st grade!
M- Money: Could always use more!!!
N- Nickname: My cousin used to call me Pud, short for Puddin' (I think)
O- Overnight Stay in Hospital: When I had my third c-section 27 years ago
P- Pet peeves: People who don't honor commitments I wish I would quit committing to stuff!
Q- Quote from a Movie: Courage is doing things you are afraid to do......paraphrased from Wizard of Oz
R- Right or Left Handed: Right
S- Siblings: 2, a brother and a sister, but I have 5 cousins who are more sibling than cousin!
T- Time to Wake: It varies, I'm retired!!!!
U- Unique thing about your vehicle: It's a recalled Toyota
V- Vegetable you hate:Peppers
W- Why you run late: I get busy and forget to look at the clock
X- X-rays you've had: The last one was on my foot
Y- Yummy foods you make: Shortbread
Z- Zoo Animal favorite: Gosh I don't know. I can't think of one I don't like

More Results of my Organizing Mood..... &......Spring, Oh, Spring!!!!

As I've told you before, my husband does most of the cooking. He does none of the cleaning! When he gets spices out of the cabinet, he doesn't put them back. He would always take out ten different spices to find one. So, I took all of the spices out of the two cabinets we had them in before. I threw away a bunch that were out of date. There were a couple of spices that had 2002 dates on them. We obviously didn't use them often. Here's what's left. They all fit in a drawer!!! This will mean that he can see, immediately, the spices he needs without having to take out others. It will be super easy to put them back, as well.


These are the cabinets that did house the spices. All of this stuff was in them, too, along with all those spices. No wonder he had to take out 10 spices to find just one!!! I also threw away all of the plastic containers that didn't have lids and all the lids that didn't have containers to match. That left me with very few, but I'm sure I'll collect more.

I also cleaned out the large closet in my bathroom and all of the drawers in my vanity. I threw out lots of STUFF. I took some STUFF to the nursing home, like the conditioner that comes with my hair color,(I never use it), like lotion and small bottles of hotel shampoo, etc..... I always bring those home because we actually pay for them. I used to give them to a lady who took stuff to a Ronald McDonald house, but I don't ever see that lady anymore. There's a lot of folks at the nursing home who have no family members who supply them with toiletries, and the nursing home buys the really cheap stuff, so they will enjoy what I took.
I've been taking clothes that my mom no longer wears for some of the folks who don't have much. Some of them have to wear really stained worn out clothing. I'm getting ready to go through my Mother-in-law's clothing, too. She has a lot of things she can no longer wear. A friend of mine just brought us a LOT of her Mother-in-law's clothes. She died about 2 1/2 years ago, and her husband is just now able to part with her things. They are really nice. I'm picking out a few things for my mom and MIL, but most are going to the nursing home. If they can't use all of them, I'll take them to another charity here in town (the one I made the auction dress for).

The following are just some SPRING photos that I took around our house yesterday! I love forsythia!!!!!




Don't forget my giveaway. If you want to be included, just leave a comment. If you were one of my first 100 followers you will be entered twice. I know most of my first 100, but be sure to remind me that you are one of them. New followers are welcome and will be entered once.
I am getting together the things that I will include in my giveaway. I will post photos in a day or two. My husband "borrowed" his camera from me today!

What Do I Want To Be?

My mother used to ask me,
"When you grow up,
What do you want to be?"

I answered in a different way,
Depending on my mood,
On any given day.

The one thing I knew for sure;
Teaching was one career
That I could not endure.

So, of course, what did I do?
I became a teacher
And loved it. Who knew?

But now those days are gone, you see,
And I'm still wondering,
"When I grow up, what will I be?"
JR

One would think that by the time a person reaches the age of 57, (okay, okay, I'm just shy of 58 by a month or so) that she would know what she wants to do with her life. Being a wife, mom and a granmomma are definitely the most rewarding things I've ever been!

Teaching was most definitely the right career for me for 33 years. But, now, I just don't know.
You know that I love to sew, but that is not all I do.

I love to write and illustrate. I've always wanted to write and illustrate children's books. I actually have done one. I have a bunch of stories rambling around in my brain. I just can't seem to get them on paper like I want them.

I've recently taken up paper cutting, too. This could turn into a passion.

I enjoy visiting the folks at the nursing home. Maybe, I'm meant to be a patient advocate or some such thing.

I love the youth at my church. I am having a ball with the puppet group I'm working with. (I am not loving the controversy that is going on in my church right now, though.) I've thought about being a volunteer advocate for children in the foster care program. There's a CASA group here, that does this sort of work.

I've thought about subbing at the local schools, but not too seriously. I like to have my days planned out too much to be able to drop everything and go in to sub at the last minute.

I would LOVE to think up something that could make some $$$$ to supplement the pittance that the state awards me as a retired teacher!!!! It's sad.

I know that I want to learn to tat, crochet, knit, quilt, and a whole bunch of other things. Below is something I'm definitely interested in!

Tatting Chic is having a giveaway for her second blogoversary!!! I have been wanting to learn to tat for years. She's giving away a learn to tat book. My grandmother wanted to teach me how to tat when I was a teen, but being a typical teen, I wasn't interested at the time. I do have her shuttles and yards of her tatting, but not the knowledge.

I have been thinking about my giveaway for having 100 followers. Please be patient with me while I get it all together. I will tell you that it will include some of my antique handkerchiefs, buttons, and a few other items along that line.
So, if you want to be included in this giveaway just start commenting. I will include your name twice if you mention in your comment that you are already one of my 100 followers.
If you aren't already a follower, but want to be included in the giveaway, just sign up now, and leave me a comment telling me that you did.
I will post about what all will definitely be included and when a winner will be chosen in a day or so. Life is hectic around here with both moms in the nursing home, Easter coming, possible guests for the weekend, etc.... Thanks for being patient!

Really Teetotally Done This Time

My goodness, my last two posts have been way too long. This one will be shorter, I promise.
I really am teetotally done in my sewing room, now. That doesn't include the fabric closet, but everything else is done. Here's a picture. The "art work" over the bed is the first garment I ever made when I was about 9 years old. It is a halter top. I decided to frame it. Of course, you recognize the beautiful wall hanging quilt that my friend made. I got the bed cleaned off, so now someone could actually sleep in it. The sewing machine was my husband's grandmother's.


I also went through our grand children's toys. Underneath the red striped fabric is a rack full of their dress-up clothes. The shelf has some of their toys. I have lots more toys upstairs. My husband's exercise machines are in front of the shelf. The orange rocker was my mom's when she was a little child. It's at least 84 years old! I painted it orange when I was a teenager.

This is the closest I have ever come to quilting. I made 12 of these appliqued squares about 28 years ago. I was going to make 2 twin bed quilts for our oldest two daughters. Then, I found out I was pregnant with number 3 and realized that I would never be able to finish 3 quilts, at that time of my life, anyway. I have made pillows from some of them. I'm not sure what I want to do with the rest. Any ideas??????????

Priceless art work!!! Our grand daughters painted these pictures for us when we visited a few weeks ago. The heart, sunshine with sunglasses, dollar bill, and bowl of fruit were painted by our oldest. The flowers and house were painted by the 4 year old. The butterfly resting on a flower in the bottom picture was painted by the 7 year old. She recently had a drawing of hers in a state wide exhibit!!! Only 4 or 5 were selected from her whole school. It was a self portrait. Now, I need some art work from our two youngest grands to frame.

Today, I am cleaning, throwing away, and organizing in our kitchen.

The Mothers are doing fairly well today. Mine is still confused. I have talked with the activities director about bringing refreshments when the "REAL" garden club comes the next time. She said that would be fine.
My husband's mom has spent her first night at the nursing home and seems to be adjusting ok so far.

Fat Fighting Friday Week 5, Sort of................

Today is Friday, my husband tells me! I had to ask! What a week!!!! I do not post this so that you guys and gals will think, "Oh this poor lady, what a lot she has on her plate." We all have a lot on our plates these days!!! I don't know how some of you ladies and gents do all that you do. Instead, I post this to make excuses for not really thinking about my FFFriday program that I am supposed to be following!!! Be sure to check out these blogs, though. These ladies are blogging on Thursdays about their progress with their getting healthy programs: flowerkim and sunshine.

I just realized that I have 100 followers, now!!!! I cannot imagine that many people reading my ramblings!!! Please bear with me while I try to think of a good giveaway to celebrate this milestone. I have an idea..... hum.........?

Sunday - My sister came to stay till Thursday. She comes about every 4 to 6 weeks mostly to visit with our mom. Her health is really bad. She has COPD and is on oxygen all the time now.

Monday - I had a meeting of the committee for the wearable arts show that is to be in November. You'll hear more about this soon.
-I had lunch with my committee friends.
-My sister called to tell me that Mother wouldn't wake up. She wanted to know what to do. I went to check on her. They had given her meds the night before to calm her down. She gets very agitated sometimes. The meds make her sleep for several days sometimes.
-My Mother has it in her head that she is in a GARDEN CLUB and that she is responsible for the food. We've been playing along, but the day is coming this Thursday, and she is really expecting this meeting to happen! What to do!?!
- We went to a program at church about Scottish music (I hear it was really good - that's when we got the call about my Mother-in-law's fall)
- My mother-in-law fell and broke her hip
-I got home from the hospital at 1:00 am. My husband stayed at the hospital. I brought my father-in-law home.

Tuesday - I took my father-in-law back to the hospital early.
- I had a doctor's appointment. My doctor is in the same town as the hospital, just down the road!!!
- I HAD LOST 5 POUNDS SINCE MY LAST VISIT TO HIM!!!! YEA!!! He was proud of me. My cholesterol was slightly high the last time, so he had them take more blood. I haven't heard from that test yet. I am praying that it is lower this time. This is all I'm going to say about FFFriday this week!!! There was too much other stuff going on for me to really even think about it!!!
-My mother-in-law had surgery on her hip. The break was just below the joint. They put a plate along the side of her femur and put a long screw through it into the ball. They secured the bottom part of the plate with 3 more screws. The doctor was pleased with how the surgery went.
-My sister-in-law came to stay the night with her mom. We brought my father-in-law home.
-I didn't go to the arts' council board meeting.
- We sat up late visiting with my sister, talking about the state of the world, etc.... It's a shame that the politicians don't just listen to us. All of the world's problems would be solved!!!!!

Wednesday - My husband got up very early to take his dad back to the hospital. He came home after a while and went back later to bring him home.
- Another sister-in-law came to stay for a couple of nights.
- I started the reorganization of my sewing room. (see last post)
-My sister said Mother was having a great day!!!!
- I kept my regular lunch date with my friend, who by the way, brought us a meal last night!!!!
- We had our regular Wednesday night goings-on at church. I didn't get to practice with the puppet team because it was committee night and my older puppeteers are on a committee. We are going to have a huge event for Earth Day, and they are on the committee that is planning it. (Oh yeah, I'm organizing a used book sale for Earth Day. I boxed up a bunch of my books, made signs, and found boxes to use for this project.)
- We had choir practice. We are doing a cantata on Easter Sunday. We went through the whole thing twice!!!
-My husband's committee had some heated discussion about the budget and hiring of a new pastor, etc.... I'm glad I'm not on that committee. It really gets to my husband!
- There was more world saving going on late into the night at our house!!

Thursday - My husband took his dad back to the hospital again. He had a doctor's appointment with the same doctor I had mine with on Tuesday. He had lost, I think he said, 15 pounds! The doctor says that if he keeps on losing he won't need blood pressure or cholesterol meds much longer!!!!
-Plans are under way to bring my mother-in-law to the same nursing home where my mother is!
- I worked in my sewing room again. I am not TEETOTALLY finished, but almost.
- My sister left after going to feed Mother her lunch. Mother was sleeping too deeply to feed her, though.
- My husband had to work this afternoon. He went back to get his dad after work.
- I went to feed Mother her dinner, which she didn't eat. She was very confused. Oh yeah, we told her that the GARDEN CLUB meeting was postponed due to the rain that we had today. She accepted that! Whew! She still thinks that she is responsible for the food whenever it is rescheduled though. I've been talking to the activities director about this. We are going to stage a meeting, I think.
- There was a reception to meet and greet the staff, etc... at the nursing home. The "new" medical director, whose been there since August, was introduced, along with new nursing directors. I didn't know there was a new one. Apparently, they hired her while we were out of town.
- Mother became very agitated that I was gone to the reception so long. She was VERY upset when I went back down to her room. She calmed down after a while, though.
- There was no world saving this night since my sister was gone, so I just watched Project Runway!

Friday - The phone rang early. It was my sister-in-law telling us that their mom is running a temp of 101 this morning. I don't know if they'll bring her to the nursing home if she's running a fever. If they do, though, she should be here this afternoon. She will be in the room next door to my mom!!!!
-So far, the only thing I've done today is drink a cup of coffee, check on my facebook, email, and blog. And..... of course, post this post
- My husband is cooking our dinner. He's making a roast to go in the crock pot! Yummy!
- There's a concert that is sponsored by our arts' council tonight. I probably won't go.

Tomorrow - I'll worry about tomorrow when tomorrow gets here. I've been emailing and phoning some of our hs class members this week. We are trying to plan our 40th reunion. I may go have lunch with some of my old girl friends tomorrow to discuss decorations. I hope I can, since I haven't seen them in years. But, we'll just have to see!

Not Teetotally Done, But Close!

I used the word "Teetotally" here because my girls make fun of me for using it! I don't mind that they make fun of me.It really is a word in the dictionary!! I have even caught them using this term. I love it because then they freak over "turning into their mom!" I remember thinking that would be the worst thing that could ever happen to me. Now, I'm rather proud when people tell me that I'm "just like my mom." Of course, there are some characteristics that I do not want to mimic, but for the most part, it's ok to be like her.
During the stress of my mom's continuing confusion and my Mother-in-law's broken hip, I decided that I needed to DO something constructive. I cleaned and organized my sewing room. It isn't Teetotally Done, as my title indicates, but the hardest, most detailed things are done. It will be so nice to be able to find things, and actually know what I have in my cabinet.
A couple of years ago when I turned this bedroom (which we still use as a guest room) into my sewing room, I bought this large cabinet. I love it, but I have let it get messy.
My cousin and I went through my antique heirloom linens recently. She started folding and organizing them as we were going through them. I had never taken the time. Now, I have!!! Yea! Not only are they organized, but I have actually reminded myself of what beautiful treasures I have to use in my little garments as I sew.
I thank Malinda for getting me started doing this clean up and organizing project.
I'm embarrassed to show you these pictures, but I'm going to anyway.
I didn't think to take pictures until I was about half way done, so these don't really show you how bad it really when I started.


This is another view of the room. I have two ironing boards that I leave up most of the time. I do that because when I put the side by side they make a great cutting table when I put a large sheet of cardboard on top. I can adjust the height, etc...., and I don't have room for a cutting table in this room. Anyway, this one ended up being piled high during my last few projects. You can see that the bed is also piled up with stuff. It still is a little bit. I'm not "teetotally" finished, remember?

Here's the cabinet all neat and tidy. Most of my heirloom things are in the containers on top of the cabinet. As you see, they are labeled. I bought and organized the shoebox sized containers on the top shelf two years ago, and I've actually done very well keeping the things in these that really belong in them according to their labels. I thought that if I could go for two years and keep them organized that maybe I should get everything in the cabinet organized the same way. I bought lots more containers at the Family Dollar Store for $1.00 each. As you can see, they are all labeled and neatly placed.

On the front of the cabinet I have draped a piece of black fabric so that when I want to photograph a dress, etc... with a dark background, I can just hang it over this door. It works well. If I need a light background, I use the white door.

This corner still needs some work, (I told you I wasn't "teetotally" finished) but it's better than it was.
The black and white bag has my felted fabrics in it.
Those hooks on the wall, used to hold the dowels that you see standing in the corner. I tried hanging my ribbon spools on the dowels held up by these hooks. It worked, sort of, but some of the hooks refused to stay on the wall, and when I needed a spool that was in the middle I would have to take them all off to get to that one. Anyway, it seemed like a great idea, but it didn't work for me.
The blue duffel bag is full of one of my daughter's sorority t-shirts that she wants me to make into a quilt. I hope to get it done sometime. Now, my other two daughters will probably want one, too. That's ok, if they do.
The container under the duffel bag has fabric that was left over from every Christmas dress or outfit that I have made for all of my grands since the oldest's first Christmas. I plan to make Christmas ornaments for them with this fabric. There is one dress that I don't have any scraps from. I'm looking for some like it or at least very similar.

Then there's the large cardboard box that is full of large antique bedspreads and/or tablecloths. The picnic basket has some of the larger pieces, as well. My girls gave me that basket full of heirloom pieces one year for Mother's Day!!
I think I need another cabinet to hold all of this stuff.

Here's my sewing table, which used to be our kitchen table years ago. I love that it fits right in front of this window. The cabinet to the left is the one I've shown you before that holds my patterns. My husband's grandfather built it for his grandmother when they first got married.

Under the table to the left of my chair is a table that my husband's grandfather also built. As you can see, I keep my thread on this table, so that I can slide it under the table when I don't need it, and I can slide it out to see what colors I have easily. I even organized the spools by color. I don't expect that to stay "teetotally" organized this way, though.

You might think this first picture of my fabric closet is the AFTER picture, but, as much as I hate to admit it, it's not! This is how it looked shortly after I moved into this room two years ago.

Today, it looks like this. Remember I am not "Teetotally" finished. I have, of course, added to my stash, and scraps, etc... in the past two years, but I haven't kept it as organized as I should.


Oh well, I can't be perfect! Ha! Far from it!!!

My Mother-in-law is moving to the nursing home where Mother is tomorrow. She'll be there at least three weeks.
My mom is very confused today, I've been told. My sister went to help her with lunch and she couldn't even get her to eat. I'm on my way there as soon as I type this next sentence. They are having a reception to meet the new (he's been there for months) medical director.

Thanks for all the well wishes, good thoughts, and prayers for my mother-in-law!!! What a great group of cyber friends!!!

My Mother-in-law's surgery went well. She really didn't wake up while we were there. We left to come home about 7:00. She'll be in the hospital until at least Friday, and then, the plan is to get her into a skilled bed nursing home. The one where Mother is has a skilled bed open. So, we are hoping that it will work out to bring her here to that one. I don't know why that wouldn't work. One of my sister-in-laws stayed with her last night. My husband took his dad back up early this morning, but I haven't heard from him yet. Another sister-in-law will be here this evening and will stay tonight and maybe even tomorrow night.

Thank goodness, my sister is here during all of this to go up to be with Mother.

A friend (the one I eat lunch with on a lot of Weds.) brought us rice and chicken, salad, etc... last night. Aren't friends wonderful?
I have tons of stuff to get done at our house today and tomorrow. So, I'd better get moving.

Sometime over the past couple of weeks my list of followers has grown to 98!!! I am so excited!!! I am trying to think of what I can do when it reaches 100! I'm going to be cleaning my sewing room between hospital and nursing home visits over the next few days, so maybe I will come across some cool giveaway things.
I CONFESS that I have not finished the blankets that I am to make for my last two milestones!!! I PROMISE that is next on my list! At least after I finish a couple of other deadline things on my list.

My Mother-In-Law Needs Your Prayers

My Mother-in-law fell this afternoon about 5:00 and broke her hip. I just got home from the hospital. I brought my father-in-law home. I'll take him back in the morning. The hospital is about 30 or so miles from here. My husband is staying with her tonight. She will have surgery tomorrow afternoon. She has Alzheimer's, so she doesn't understand why she is hurting and why she can't turn over, and why she can't get up, etc..... so it is going to be difficult for her.
One of my husband's sister will probably stay with her tomorrow night. She's having surgery for carpal tunnel on Thursday, though. Another sister was planning to come in on Thursday and take my in-laws to visit some family in Atlanta for the weekend, so she's going to come on in to help out. So, it won't be too bad, as far as having plenty of help.
Thank God my sister is here this week so that Mother has someone to go up to feed her, etc... We are hoping that it will work out that my mil can go to the same nursing home where my mom is for her rehab. It is only 5 minutes from our house. My in-laws are next door.
I took the dresses to my friend today. She seemed very happy! That's always a relief!
I am so keyed up that I don't think I'll be able to sleep, but I'd better go try anyway.

Please keep my husband's mom, and his whole family in your prayers.

Oh yeah, Lil' E's had her first haircut. It was long enough to donate it to Pantene Beautiful Lengths, which is kind of like Locks of Love. I think she looks adorable.

Three Little Slip Dresses Done ..... Almost Anyway!

All I need to do is whip stitch the bodice linings to the skirts.
This is Larsen's dress. She's the 6 year old grand daughter of my friend, Diana. She likes purple, so purple it is. I used this trim that I had in my stash that I got from an antique store. I love it. The eyelet on the hem is also from my stash, but I don't remember where or when I got it. I love to embroider, so last night while I was relaxing in front of the tv, I got these flowers done, so they would be ready to attach to the dresses today. As you can see, these are very simple.

The next on is for Edie, the 5 year old grand daughter of Diana. She LOVES pink. This is as pink as it gets. I love rick rack.

Last but not least is Rylan's dress. She's Diana's 3 year old grand daughter. She doesn't have a favorite color yet. I couldn't decide what color to use, until I saw this sweet fabric. I loved the way the three fabrics look together. The hues are the same. On this dress, I used a piping that I also got at an antique store. You may need to click to enlarge the photo so you can see it better. It looks like it is scalloped or braided. I also added the ribbon with picot edging around the embroidered medallion with the bow and long streamers down the front.

I wonder if my grand daughters would like dresses made like these?


Notice the hangers! I got two like this and two solid satin ones at a consignment shoppe the other day. All four were only $1.00!

My Newest Project In Progress!

I would love to say that I made this beautitful quilted wall hanging, but those of you who read my blog often already know that I didn't. My friend, Diana, made it. She offered it to me as a swap for 3 little slip dresses for her grand daughters. Who is getting the better end of this trade? ME, FOR SURE!!!! She even threw in a bunch of Sew Beautiful and smocking magazines!! That's what kept me occupied on our trip to the NE recently. It sure made the trip not seem so long.



Last Easter, I made one of our grand daughters a little slip to go under her dress. When Diana saw it she asked if I could make slip dresses for her little ones like it, except ones that they can actually wear as dresses rather than slips. This one is a little too thin for that.


The oldest one is getting this lavender polka dotted fabric. This is the flower I embroidered for the bodice of hers.

The pink is for her second grand daughter, who LOVES pink. I think this is my favorite embroidered medallion of the three.

And the three year old, who doesn't care what color she gets is going to have this pretty blue floral fabric for hers. I guess these are hydrangeas. I embroider as if I'm drawing. I don't use patterns, I just go for it.

I'm off to a meeting about our 40th class reunion. I'm running late!

I have a question! I have several new followers, YEA!!, but I cannot find a way to go to their blogs. I used to just click on followers' pictures and it would direct me to them. That is not happening now. How do I get to them?

Fat Fighting Friday Week 4 "Fessin' Up" "Sinning At Church"

Okay, so it's week 4 of this trying to get healthy stuff!!! I did fine while visiting with our daughters. On the way up (15 hour drive) we stopped for breakfast, and I ordered this decadent blueberry biscuit thing. Oh my it was good! However, for the rest of the day we didn't even stop except to pee and get gas. We had packed food to eat in the car. We took fruit, nuts, a couple of sandwiches, etc.... Everything was healthy. We actually had left early enough that we got to eat a late dinner at our daughter's house. Last week I wrote that my daughters cook healthy foods, well, their husbands do, too. That first night we had a very healthy and tasty pasta dish that our son-in-law fixed. We ate healthy foods all that week. Our other son-in-law is a great breakfast cooking guru! I will have to say that his biscuits were yummy and probably not so healthy, but at least we didn't smother them in gravy like we do down here in the South!!!
On the way home is when all the healthy stuff went out the window!!! We ate fast food all the way home!!!
My biggest downfall this week, though, was at church. My church hosted a Lenten Luncheon that several churches come together for each Wednesday during Lent. I fixed bean with bacon soup, which I must say was delicious, but not healthy at all with all that bacon (a pound and a half for the two recipes that I made). I also made these tarts that had graham cracker crusts filled with this Eagle Brand Milk, Cool Whip, and lime juice filling!! I topped them with blueberry pie filling!! Oh my, they were good. The thing is, though, that we had about 10 kinds of soups, at least that many types of sandwiches, and probably 20 different deserts. I "got" to help serve the deserts!!! Well, after looking at them while everyone else went through the line I decided that I had to taste the lemon squares, the apple cake, the sugar cookies, and well, let's just say, a couple of others, too. Then, that afternoon, the nursing home had a St. Patrick's Day party, which really was just eating cake and drinking soft drinks. My mom ate one bite of her cake and didn't want anymore, so I couldn't just throw it away!!! No siree-bob, I had to eat it for her, so that it wouldn't go to waste! It just went to my waist instead! Ha! Then, that evening we had our regular weekly family supper at church. The lady who provided the food had made this yummy spaghetti like pasta dish and Rice Crispie treats. I don't even like RC treats, but I had to eat one since she had gone to all the trouble to make them and even decorate them each with a piped shamrock.
Yesterday, I did much better. We did take leftover bean with bacon soup and leftover tarts to my in-laws, but we ate with them!
I have gotten some, but not much, exercise this week!
However, when I got on the scales a little while ago, they read 1_5.5, which is only one pound more that 2 weeks ago, so "WHEW" I feel pretty good.
Now, I'm getting ready to go eat lunch with two friends. I hope I will order a salad, or something equally healthy, but I haven't seen the menu, yet!
Then, we are going to a quilt show so I will be walking some this afternoon, at least!

A New Blog Award!

I feel so honored to have been awarded the Sunshine Award by my friend over at DJStoreRoom.



The rules for this award are simple:
1. Place the logo within your blog or post.
2. Pass the award on to 12 bloggers.
3. Link the nominees within the post.
4. Let the nominees know they have received the award by commenting on their blogs.
5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award.


Below are my choices for this award. The way I chose these 12 people is that they are the last ones to comment on my blog. I have been reading most of these blogs for a long time, now, and feel that I really know these ladies. Oh, the blogging friends I have made!!!! These blogs bring SUNSHINE to my life!! There are other blogs that also bring joy and warmth to my heart, but I was limited to 12.
1. chicagocrafts.blogspot.com Sarah knits beautiful things! She sent me some fingerless gloves just because I commented that they would be great for my arthritic hands!
2. sewingwithtrudy.blogspot.com Trudy is a talented seamstress and artist! Her daughter is following in her footsteps and even has her own blog.
3. goosegirlsews.blogspot.com This lady even designs patterns! She has a teen aged daughter with health issues and a little adopted daughter from China. What lucky girls to have a mom who can sew like theirs.
4. katiekadiddlehopper.blogspot.com This lady is a pediatrician, mom, and wonderful sewist! She even sews for her husband!
5. jackiecastson.blogspot.com What a talented quilter and knitter. She's been sick. I hope she's feeling better!
6. allmysesams.blogspot.com Talk about a sewist! She makes gorgeous embellished garments! She never just makes something by the pattern. Her things are remarkable!
7. mockingbirdhillcottage.blogspot.com I would love to visit this cottage and see all the antiques! She works with actors who need help with their diction and accents. I wonder if she could make me sound less "Southern" and "Country"?
8. southernmatriach.blogspot.com This lady is an heirloom sewist extraordinaire! I have learned so much technique from her and gotten lots of good advice!
9. littlesewingalcove.blogspot.com This friend makes beautiful clothing. I love the latest jacket!
10. flowerkim.blogspot.com My getting healthy buddy, who is a miniaturist! I won a little punch felted dog that she made!
11. fayessewingadventure.blogspot.com A teacher who also sews the most beautiful clothing! She's got to be the best dressed teacher in her school!
12. sewnso.blogspot.com This lady is new to my list of blogging friends. She is a fellow Tennessean!! She is a contributor to Sew Beautiful and makes the most beautiful heirloom things!!! She's also having a wonderful giveaway, so be sure to check out her blog.

Actually, if any of these blogs are new to you, be sure to check them out. You will not be disappointed, I promise!!!!!

Ready for the Easter Bunny for Another Year and Our Visit to the NE

Lil' E's Easter dress is finished! I worked on it in the car ride to the NE, which is about a 15 hour drive. I finished this and poured over all those wonderful Sew Beautiful and smocking magazines that my friend gave me.
As you can see I used pink, blue, yellow, white, green and orange embroidery floss to smock this little dress. I used three strands and have two rows of each color very close to each other so that the colors would show up really well. Then, I added the little heart buttons in the same colors on the white row.



On the back, I used a blue and and a yellow flower button and blue narrow ribbon to make a closure.


I took this picture of the sun beginning to set in Massachusetts. I thought this was beautiful!!!

In Connecticut, we went to this sugar house to watch them making maple syrup. I wish you could smell the fragrant air from this sap boiling down to syrup!! They had homemade bread, maple cream, maple sugar, cookies etc....... Yummy!!! So much for my healthy eating program, huh? Actually, we have eaten just a little so far, and we plan to share with our parents.

While we were visiting, our oldest grand daughter's singing group performed, so we got to hear her sing. Our second grand daughter's art work was in an exhibit while we were there.
What talented little ladies they are.
It's always so nice to see our daughters and their families doing so well.
We had so much fun playing, reading, jumping rope, playing in the snow, watching movies, eating popcorn, painting, sewing, etc.... with the four grands who live in the NE.
I even got to be a mystery reader for our oldest grand's class at school. She didn't know who the reader was going to be until I walked in with her mom. I read to them from The Wizard of Oz.
Since we don't get to be with the grands very often, we try to make the time we are with them as jam packed as we can.

Know How You Just Connect With Some People?

Diana and I have become good friends. Do you know how sometimes you just connect with someone? The first time I was around her, at a wearable art fashion show, I just really liked her. Then, we both ended up on the committee to plan this show for this year. She and I had a project to work on together. I got to go to her lovely older home that she and her husband have refurbished! While I was there she showed me this beautiful angel quilt wall hanging that she made! I really loved it then, and even more so now, because now it is mine!!!!! The colors are perfect for me. If you've read my blog for long, you know that purple, green, and yellow together is my favorite color combination. You wouldn't believe the beautiful quilted jackets, quilts, and paintings this talented lady has created!!! She is starting a blog soon. I'll let you know when she does so you can follow her! She is truly amazing!

She asked me if I would trade 3 of my little slip dresses for it! Are you kidding? Of course, I told her I would take her up on this trade, but boy do I feel guilty!!! I haven't even started on her dresses and I already have this wall hanging and all of these magazines. As soon as I finish my Easter frocks, I will begin her dresses.

She even threw in all of these magazines and the book on smocking!!!! I'm definitely getting the best end of this trade.

Fat Fighting Friday - Week 3 Where Can I Buy A Mirror Like This?

Wouldn't life be grand if we all had a mirror like this!?!


I've been out of town, so I haven't worried about my diet or exercise so much this week, and I haven't even weighed. Now that I'm back home I'll be more concious this coming week, I promise. We went to visit two of our daughters, our son-in-laws and 4 of our grandchildren!!! My daughters cook healthy foods, and we got lots of exercise playing with the grands. So, when I do weigh myself, maybe it won't be so bad.
I've not been on the computer much, so if I haven't commented on your blog this past week, that's why. I'll catch up over the next few days.

Happy Birthday to an Old Lady!!!

Vanilla Ripple is 19 years old this month! Her favorite place to sit is on my kitchen counter!!! I guess that if she can still jump up there at her age, I'll give up trying to keep her off of it. I just go behind her with my sanitizer! Constantly, everyday, all day!!! I guess she's worth it.
We have Vanilla because my husband couldn't say, "No" to our youngest when she was 8 years old and she cried! There were to be no more cats at our house because they always got run over living as close to the highway as we did then. So, Vanilla ended up being a house cat. She is afraid of the out of doors. She will go on the deck if we are out there, but that's as far as she will venture. You've heard of a "fraidy cat" haven't you? She's it. She's also Queen of our (HER) castle!!!

Fat Fighting Friday! Not Much Progress - Week 2

I only lost 1/2 of a pound this week, (1_74 1/2, now)(I always love it when I pass by a 5 or O number!) BUT I didn't gain any! I think that's pretty awesome, since I really didn't get in much exercise this week. I don't have any great excuses. I'll list the ones I do have, though.
1. My sciatica was acting up over the weekend and the first of the week. It's all better now. I did my stretching exercises on the days it was bothering me.
2. I was busy with meetings of the arts council board.
3. I was busy finding music for a puppet production to do on Earth Day at our church. Do you know how long it takes to get on line and find music when you have no idea what you are looking for? I found some great songs on itunes, though.
4. I was busy taking my car to have the oil changed and recall stuff done.
5. I was busy going to feed my mom.
6. I was busy going to meetings at church about our Earth Day event.
7. I was busy on Wed. going to church for our regular Wed. night fun night, puppet practice, and choir practice. We are getting ready for our Easter Cantata.
8. I was busy going through my closet. I found a few pairs of pants that I can wear that I didn't think I could. Have I told you that over the past year I have very slowly and gradually lost about 10 pounds without really trying? I hadn't tried these pants on this year.
9. I was busy going through my mom's clothes. Since she just sits in her chair or lays in her bed, she has changed shape. Some of her clothes are binding around her waist. I'm taking some of her stuff to a charity, some to my mother-in-law, and some for other residents of the nursing home. The ones pictured below are some of her pants I'm saving to use as fabric. She has lots of clothes!!!!


10. I was busy buying new clothes to fit my mother-in-law. She needed some more comfy elastic waisted knit pants, a bra, some tops, etc....
11. I was busy reading your blogs, so really it's YOUR FAULT!!! LOL!!! I wish I could blame someone else!!
11. I'm sure if I tried I could come up with lots more excuses, but I won't. Most of these are things I do every week anyway, so they are just excuses not good reasons for not fitting in the exercise except for no. 1.
The clip art pictures above show you some of the things I have been eating. I love oatmeal. I've been adding a little honey and cinnamon to sweeten it. Yum.
I have also been eating bananas and peanut butter, whole grain (little) bagels with pb and honey.
We only buy whole grain bread. If we toast it, we've been using a little olive oil and garlic powder to flavor it.
When we just have to have an evening snack we've been having popcorn. We get the kind with no butter or salt added. Of course, I add salt. I learned that if you spray the popcorn with PAM the salt will stick. My husband is better than I am; he never adds salt to anything.
One night this week, he cooked some whole wheat pasta and his own marinara sauce. It was yummy and very filling.
So, this week, I hope to do better. My back is feeling all better, so at least for today, I have no excuses for not exercising.