Great News! Surprising Generosity!! And A Live Christmas Tree!

I just got news that my cousin, who was having a mass removed from his lung this morning, does NOT have cancer!!!! Hallelujah, Praise the Lord!!! They did remove a lobe of his lung because it had a fungus in it, and if they just removed that mass, it could present problems with that lobe in the future. He will be in intensive care a few days, then in a regular room a few days, then home to recuperate!!! Thank you for your prayers.


Now, for the surprising generosity!! See that bicycle in the background of this photo? (Yes, that is me) Walmart let us borrow it for our program Sunday night. That in itself was a big surprise for me. I just took a chance and called to ask. The manager was very friendly and his response was, "When can you come to get it?"
Well, my husband actually picked it up. They gave him a receipt that showed that we didn't owe anything on the bike. They told him to be sure and hold on to it so that when he brought the bike back they would know that it had been a loaner. Well, my husband gave me the receipt and of course, I lost it!! So, I called Walmart and asked to speak to the same manager. He said that we didn't need the receipt, and by the way, "That bicycle belongs to you and your church to do whatever you want with it." I was blown away to say the least. We are taking it to the local police department which heads up the Toys for Tots here.

And here's our live Christmas tree!!! I didn't post a picture of the tree costume that I made when I posted the puppet costume pictures. This young man is a "ham" and a half!!! He asked if he could be the tree. I was thinking we would just use an artificial one, but I thought, "Why not?" He is so funny, smart, and cute!! He is a real trooper, too. Guess what's under the tree making it stand out? My daughter's crinoline that she wore under her wedding dress!!! The other children came out and decorated him at the beginning of the program!! I also sewed tubing into the bottom to make it stand out some. It just wasn't enough.

I almost have the bride dress-up gown done. I need to get with it!!!

My Color-Coded Christmas Tree!

The time has come, Oh Woe is me,
To put up my color-coded Christmas tree.

It’s a task I always dread.
I should use a live one instead.

But, years ago my loving spouse
Said there’d be no live tree in the house.

“Ok,” I said, “then I want a really tall one.”
That’s what we got, and it’s not been fun.

This tree has paint on each stem
Of a different color, but it is mighty dim.

Every year I do the same thing
**And cause myself all kinds of pain. **

All the limbs are put into piles
Which takes me quite a while.

I put on the first two rows of white
And realize something just isn’t right.

There shouldn’t be two empty slots,
So I get the instructions out of the box.

I find that orange should have been first.
I hold my tongue and don’t even curse.

The two bottom rows I take off the tree
And put in the orange as they should be.

Now, it’s time to put back in the white,
But something’s still wrong, I’m not getting it right,

After putting them all in, there’s still an empty slot.
The box is empty. Find another white? I cannot.

I go ahead and put on the yellow row,
But blue should have been next, oh no!

I am making it harder than it should be.
I take off the yellow and put the blue on the tree.

Ah.. there’s the other white, mixed in with the blue How it got there I haven’t a clue.

The next three rows are red, black, and pink.
I will get this done, at least that’s what I think.

I can’t reach where I’m to put the brown and green in.
Their slots are too high, I just can’t win!

I get a chair to stand on for this task.
I’m on the purple row, which is the last.

Now, comes the top of this tree that is very tall.
What was I thinking? Apparently I wasn’t at all!

But, once it’s all decorated with red and green
It’ll be the prettiest site ever seen.

With an angel on the top of this majestic tree
My grands' little eyes will light up with glee!

by Julia R

**In the South "thing" and "pain" rhyme. (thang/pain)

Here's a couple of pictures from the puppet/children's Christmas program at church tonight.


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SNOW in the South! And I Want to be Four Years Old Again!!

The weather man promised us that we were going to get snow over night, but he hasn't told the truth about snow in a really long time around here, so we didn't believe him. But, this is what we woke up to here in SE Tennessee!!! I'm sorry I doubted you, weather man!!!
Remember the tire swing and bird pictures from the other day? This is what it looked like in our back yard this morning.

We had a good 2 - 3 inches!!!

The men at our church cooked breakfast for the women today. They not only cooked, but they cleaned!! I wasn't going to miss that, even if I still have a cold and even if it was snowing and freezing cold outside. Here's what our church looked like when we got there. Those windows are so pretty from the inside.


This is why I want to be four years old again!! I would have wanted this dress when I was four. I actually had one very similar when I was a flower girl at age 5. I made this from the fabric that my Mother-of-the-Bride dress was made from when my oldest daughter got married, 11 1/2 years ago. I added the shiny, pleated, polka-dot trim. My dress was trimmed with pearls.

I did have to purchase more fabric to make the sash. I wanted it to be really big! The fabric below on the far left is what my over skirt and top were made from, a very pale yellow chiffon. The next fabric is what I purchased, a little darker yellow chiffon. Yeah, I know I said in my last post that it was the same shade of yellow, but it wasn't. However, when the pale yellow and the lining, which is the fabric on the far right, are together (the one next to the lining) the new fabric looks exactly the same shade. It's hard to tell here because they are on black fabric. Just trust me, it worked! The sash is made by lining the new chiffon with tulle to give it body. There is no lining fabric in the sash. You can see that they really do match on the dress.

I edged the hem of the chiffon with a shell stitch, which is actually a hem stitch done on the edge with the stitch that extends out going all the way off the edge and tightening the tension, as well.

I edged the lining with some cording to give it "stand outiveness." Yes, I know that's not a word, but every little girl likes dresses that "stand out", right? I also added a cotton lining with two layers of tulle gathered to give even more "stand outiveness." That's what I would have liked about this dress when I was four! That and the big, wide sash.

My husband is here tonight. He went with my cousin and a friend. I was glad he got to go. Now, if the University of Tennessee had been playing, I would have been with him. I'm having a hard time deciding which team I want to win. I guess, Florida, since they are in the SEC East Conference with us, and Alabama is in the SEC West Conference. However, from the looks of things in the third quarter, Alabama is going to run away with it!!

Now, on to my next project: a trunk full of dress-up clothes for Santa to give a little girl whose mom is my friend. This is a for $$ project. These are the fabrics that I will use to make her a bridal gown, a ballerina tutu, a rocker dress, a princess dress, and maybe another tacky dress or two.

I'm All Stobbed Ub, but Life Keeps Happening Anyway!!

I have a tewubble cod and can't tauk vewy plainwy right now. I didn't go see my mom today because I don't want to give it to her. I didn't go yesterday because I had the following stuff going on:

My creativity this week has been geared toward making costumes for puppets for our children's Christmas program at church this coming Sunday.
First, we have Grandpa and Grandma dressed in the Snuggies that their kids gave them for Christmas last year, according to the story line, anyway.
In the program the two Grands are remembering their past Christmases. They remember special gifts they received, playing parts in the nativity pageant at their churches, etc.... The children act out these scenes between each event about which they reminisce.


One year they got married just before Christmas (this is somewhat autobiographical since my husband and I will be celebrating our anniversary soon). So the puppets will act out a short part of a wedding ceremony. The bride will look a little more put together on Sunday. I just kind of stuck her veil on for this photo. The groom's tux is all one piece. Part of it is sewn together and some of it is stuck together with double sided ironon adhesive. The buttons are glued on. It opens in the back. I don't worry too much about the perfection in my sewing when I'm making puppet clothing.

Of course, if you have a wedding there needs to be a preacher.


Thank goodness the next part isn't autobiographical. My husband and I celebrated our 18th birthdays in 1970, which was the first year that the lottery for the draft went into effect. My husband's birthday was drawn as number two hundred and something. So, we were lucky that he wasn't drafted. He would have gladly served our country in such a way if we had felt that the Viet Nam War was necessary, but we didn't. We had a lot of friends and family members who were in the military during that time period, though.
In our play, Grandpa remembers what it was like to be overseas at Christmas. He will sing the Bing Crosby version of "I'll Be Home For Christmas". Such a sad song! The soldier's hat is made from a plastic bowl covered with fleece.

Now, for some real sewing. I am in the process of making a princess dress for my Riley to wear to her 4th birthday party which will have a princess theme. I can't wait to see her cake, invitations, and decorations that my daughter will make. I am making it from the dress that I wore to her mom's wedding 11 1/2 years ago. I actually made my dress. I would show you my dress if I had a scanner or could get a good photo of a photo, but I tried and I can't. It was a two piece yellow chiffon dress. At least the over skirt and top were chiffon. The underskirt and top were made from a soft yellow knit fabric that was probably some kind of polyester or something. It worked well with the chiffon. I trimmed it with pearl trim and buttons.
Here's the bodice so far for Riley's dress. I had the shiny yellow organza trim. It is pleated rather than gathered. It has tiny white polka dots on it. I decided that I needed more of the chiffon than what I had because I want to make a big sash that ties in the back. Can you believe that I found the same exact color of chiffon at Hobby Lobby today!?!

I didn't feel like going shopping with this cold, but I had to take the car to have an oil hose replaced. I drive a Toyota, and I got a notice that this hose had been recalled. So, I took the car. And since I had to drive 30 miles to another town I decided to try to find a dress that I could wear to my niece's wedding and to an event we are going to tomorrow night for a local charity. I found a great dress at Ross the Boss. I'd never been there before, and I was impressed. It's kind of like TJMax, but a little more organized. So, I found a dress, but it is sleeveless, and I don't do sleeveless, so I had to go to the mall to find a cardigan to go with it. After looking in several stores and not finding anything I liked, I decided to leave. On my way out of the first store I had gone in there was this perfect cardigan with a black pearl trim. Why I didn't see it the first time I walked right past it, I don't know!! I have the perfect earrings and bracelet to go with it!! I'll take pictures and post them soon.
Since I was out and about anyway, and since there is only a Walmart and Catos in my little town, I decided to go to Hobby Lobby to check on fabric, and lo and behold they had the yellow chiffon I needed.
I also had some stuff to do at Staples, which we also don't have, so I went ahead and got that done. Whew! I am so tired and stobbed ub and can't breefff.
Thank goodness, my husband suggested that since he was going to Walmart to get the bicycle that they are loaning our church for our children's program that he would pick up chicken and veggies to take over to share with his mom and dad. No cooking or cleaning to do!!! Yea!!! But, when we got to their house, we found that his mom had fallen just a few minutes before, so he and his dad have taken her to the over night clinic in the same town I had been in all day. Her arms and hands hurt her. I hope nothing is broken, but we need to be sure. Also, she bruised the side of her face and eye. Maybe my FIL will encourage her to use the wheelchair that they just got for her, now that she has fallen again. She doesn't want to use it, and he doesn't want to make her.
Now, for some hot chocolate or tea or whatever I can find (My new background is called warm cider), a warm blanket, since I don't have a Snuggie, (no that's not a hint that I want one, either) and a good book.

Another little critter that I love!

I told you in my last post that I love spiders, which I do! I think they are the most amazing little creatures. I wish I could weave like they do!!

I was reading this post a few minutes ago and it reminded me of a year at school when one of my students caught a lizard. He thought I would freak out or something, but instead I suggested that we keep him/her? (I'll refer to it as him from here on out, seeing as I have no idea how to tell if a lizard is a male or female.) in our empty aquarium. The students made a very welcoming environment for the little creature with sticks, grass, moss, etc.... They gave him water and caught flies and other bugs for him to eat daily! We kept this little lizard all year. I can't remember the name that we gave him, but once you name an animal it changes things. You start to look at it as a friend. My students and I loved having this pet in our room. I especially loved that he wasn't a noisy, smelly pet that required a lot of attention on my part!
On the last day of school we decided to let him go. We took him into the woods outside our classroom and had a little ceremony during which each child who wanted to say something about him, could, and many did. The student who originally caught him set him down on the ground, and we watched him scamper away, well about 2 feet away, before one of my students stomped on him and killed him. Let me tell you, I had to deal with crying kids the rest of the day!!! I took the kid to the office hoping for a sever consequence, but it didn't happen. Since it was the last day of school, he couldn't get detention, etc.... He has grown up to do jail time for some serious crimes.
Every time I see a lizard, I think of our little classroom pet.

I also told you that I could eat a whole pan of shortbread by myself. Here's the evidence! I did let a few pieces go to others, but not many. I started to hide it so that no one else would know it was here, but decided that I could just make some more when this was gone. It's easy.
2 cups flour, 1 cup butter, 1/2 cup sugar. Mix these together, press into a pan, and bake for about 10 minutes, or until golden, at about 350 degrees. Yummy, and not a bit fattening! LOL!

I have just completed the puppet costumes for the Christmas program that is this coming Sunday. My husband has the camera so I'll take pictures and post them when he gets it back to me. I had to make a preacher, bride, groom, soldier, grandma and grandpa, and a life sized Christmas tree for one of the kids to wear. It was fun, but I'm glad I'm through.

"The Birds", A Lonely Sight, and A New Award!!!!

Hi! I hope everyone had as great of a Thanksgiving as I did. We had lots of family and lots of food!! We've invited the in-laws over to help us eat some of the left overs for lunch on Friday.
One of our daughters, her husband, and their Little Man came down for a few days. They left yesterday. My sister was also here for a few days. She left today. It's pretty quiet here, now.

Now for the titled post!
Yes, folks, those are birds flying in, around, behind, and through that tree. Those are not leaves. There is not one leaf left on that tree. There were literally thousands of birds flying around my back yard yesterday. When they all took off it sounded like thunder!!!

Who remembers the movie, "The Birds" by Alfred Hitchcock???? I watched it and was terrified. A few days later a couple of birds got in our chimney and down into the fireplace that had been covered for a few months. My grandmother took the cover off the front of the fireplace, and those birds got loose in our house!!! I have had a terrible fear ever since then!! Needless to say, my hands were shaking while taking these pictures, but I think you can get the idea!!

What's the loneliest sight you ever saw? This is mine right now. My daughter, son-in-law, and husband put this tire swing on one of our trees a couple of days ago. The Little Man was not a happy camper when he saw his mom out on the high limb tying the rope to hold it there. Yes, my daughter climbed the tree rather than one of the men, because she said she knew she could climb it better than they could. It was fun seeing Little Man and my great nieces playing on it, but it will just hang there until more of the grands come to visit. I really can't see me or my husband "Just a Swangin' "!!!





Sandra at Crazy Mom Tats awarded me this week!
Scrap means left over, fragments, discarded material. Many times truth and honesty are discarded material, considered fragments and left over. People like us need to tell it like it is, and let the scraps fall where they will.
Here are the rules:
1. Thank the person who gave the award and list their blog and link it.

2. Share "10 Honest Things" about yourself.

3. Present this award to 7 others whose blogs you find brilliant in content and/or design, or those who have encouraged you.

4. Tell those 7 people they've been awarded Honest Scrap and inform them of these guidelines in receiving the award.

I'm not sure I can think of ten honest things about myself to tell you because I already tell it like it is, but let me give it a try. Hum.....
1) I love spiders. I know that most people think I'm really weird, but I love that they weave such beautiful webs and that they eat insects that I don't like.
2) I don't like rodents like rats and mice!!!!! Ugh!!!
3) I could eat a whole pan of shortbread by myself.
4) I could eat a whole loaf of regular bread by myself.
5) I want a Boston Terrier, but I won't get one because I want to travel to see my daughters and their families often and don't want to board a dog. I guess we could travel with it, but that wouldn't be practical. Besides we have a cat who is 18 1/2 years old who would not take kindly to a new pet.
6) I just went on Facebook. I was on for a couple of weeks a few months ago, but felt that I didn't have time, but I'm trying it again.
7) I didn't used to be a patient person at all, but having lived with my husband for 37 years I have learned to be patient about lots of things. I still have to work on this sometimes.
8) I would love to perform in musicals, but don't have the time nor the talent that would require.
9) I played the part of Moonbeam McSwine in "Little Abner" when I was in college.
10) I was the kind of little girl who wanted to wear frilly dresses and play in the sand and explore in the woods!

Now, to try to award only seven other bloggers. Anyone who has ever tried to narrow down to only 7 bloggers who deserve an award know what I'm going through as I do this. I read many of your blogs almost daily. You know who you are because I leave comments very often. So, if you aren't on this list please know that I love your blog, too. Here goes:
1. Gail - She is in the process of making the most gorgeous formal gown for her daughter. You have to see it!!!
2. Sarah - She made these really nice fingerless mittens. I left her a comment that I really could use some of those because of the arthritis in my hands. So, she sent me a pair. See below!!!
3. Serena - She and I have formed an email friendship. Some people just connect because of similar backgrounds.
4. Katie - This is one busy lady who not only sews, she's also a pediatrician!!
5. Mermaid - This lady volunteers to do all kinds of things for the high school that her son attends: makes costumes for plays, works the door at performances, etc.... You name it, she does it. But, she is encouraging her budding designer son to sew, and he's very talented.
6. Gwen - She will probably receive this award from bunches of you because she is so generous with her encouraging remarks. She is such a talented sewist!!! She puts such detail in her work!
7. Faye - She will also probably receive this from others. She is on a quest to make the most tops in one month of all times!!! She is breaking all kinds of records and she has made ruffles!!
8. Cindy - Another blogger who will be getting this from many others. She teaches sewing and has the luckiest students ever. They are really learning all the basics and beyond!
9. Back Porch Blessings - The name of her blog says it all. She's been through more hard times than anyone should ever be, but she looks at the bright side of things.
10. Trudy - She is a very encouraging blogger who is raising the most amazing children. She's also a great artist. I'm going to send this link to her new blog.


I knew I couldn't stop at 7! It was very difficult to stop at all. I hope these ten friends will pass this on to others since I had to stop at some point.
Here's the photo of the fingerless mitten. Can you see how it will help with my arthritis that is mostly in my thumb joints? I saw these for sale at Hobby Lobby for this use.

Talk Turkey

It's only a couple of days before Thanksgiving, so I looked up "Talk Turkey" in my new favorite book, Why You Say It, by Webb Garrison, which is full of words and phrases that we say all the time without thinking why. Here's why we say "talk turkey".
"Half a dozen anecdotes seek to explain this expression for speaking plainly. Most of them recount a conversation between an American Indian and one or more white settlers. Discussing the division of game bagged in a joint hunt, the native insists that his comrades talk turkey and hand over to him the biggest bird shot during the day.
These entertaining frontier stories bypass a skill that was long familiar - and important - to veteran woodsmen.
Many a fellow reared in the woods became an expert turkey caller. That is, he so skillfully imitated sounds made by the big wild birds that some who heard at a distance came within gun range. It was this bonafide turkey talk, not banter at the end of a day's hunt, that spawned our American expression for speaking in a clear and forthright manner."
Interesting.......?
Since it is so close to Thanksgiving I want to list some of the main things for which I am thankful.
1) My husband. He has been my best friend all of the 37 years (in December) that we've been married.
2) Our three daughters. They are all so different from each other. I used to say they were like the points on a triangle. They were each out there with their own unique talents and personalities, but were connected by those strong lines like on a triangle. I have told them forever that their dad and I won't always be around, and that their friends will come and go, but that their sisters would be their sisters forever. I love them more than words can describe.
3)My son-in-laws - I feel such a relief everyday knowing that my daughters are in such good marriages. All three of the guys are different from each other, just like our daughters are. But, they are so well suited for my girls. And what great dads they are!!!
4)My grandchildren. They are also very unique in their personalities and interests. I won't go into the detailed descriptions, but you can believe me when I tell you that they are all extremely smart, gorgeous, talented musically and artistically, sweet, adorable, funny, cuddly, compassionate, and....... need I go on? I am not the least bit proud of them either. LOL
5) My mom and my in-laws. It is so hard to see them getting older and not able to do the things they once did. They all lived very productive lives.
6) My siblings and cousins. We are all very close in "heart" even if we don't all live close to each other. I am thankful that some of them will be at my house on Thursday and will be bringing food! My husband will cook the turkey.
7) My friends - I have some of the best friends that a person could ever ask for. I have, like the song says - some old friends and new, some are silver and some are gold. I am so blessed with the people that God has put in my life.
8) My blogger friends. This experience has been unbelievable. I love reading your blogs to learn about you and the creative things you are doing. It is really a small world isn't it?
9) Every night I pray for my family's health, safety, and most of all happiness, and we have been blessed with all three!
Have a great Thanksgiving!!