Speaking Out about Loss

Wow!!  Here it is September 1st.  I love fall!!!  Not that it feels too much like fall yet but I love the changing colors of the leaves and the cool, crisp fall temperatures where you can turn off the a/c and enjoy the fresh air blowing through the open windows; having to add an extra blanket to the bed because you won't close the windows at night; having to switch out wardrobes because now you need sweaters and long-sleeves.  I just love fall!!!

So much has been going on around here this past "silent" six weeks.  A dear friend reminded me recently that I still have a blog that needs updating (Hey, Lynn.  Love ya and miss you guys bunches!) so I thought I would try jumping back in.  I have encountered a great deal of loss this past nine months.  I guess I'm not dealing with it all very well.  

December 17th, 2009 my sweet grandmother left this world to join my grandfather in heaven.  They both hold such a special  place in my heart.  Some of you longtime readers may remember the quilt I made commemorating her 90th birthday.  I'm so glad I finally got it finished and to her.  She was so proud of that quilt and the fact that I had made it.  She was one of my greatest cheerleaders!!  
Each block on the quilt held a signature of friends who attended her 90th birthday party.  What a sweet time that was.  I'm so glad I got to spend so much time with her the last couple of months of her life.  I miss her terribly.

In June, I was so excited to be able to join dear friends from our time living in Illinois at Myrtle Beach for a week.  What a great time that was just relaxing on the beach, at the pool or at the many of the wonderful restaurants in Myrtle Beach.  During my trip, though, our sweet dog Scout, who had been sick for a while, took a turn for the worse and died.  Now I know many would say that he was just a dog but that's not the way we see things at our house.  The pets we have (the MANY pets we have) are really members of our family.  We take them quite seriously here.  It was a real heartbreak not to be able to say goodbye to him.  We "rescued" Scout in December, 2003 and he was such a good dog.  He is missed.

July 22 brought not quite so permanent a loss but a loss, nonetheless.  Our baby girl left to go off to college.  The problem is that she is clear over on the other side of the country in Spokane, WA.  It's not like I can just jump in my little car and go see her on the spur of the moment or that she can even come home for a weekend visit!!  Her leaving brings us an empty nest.  We are so proud of her and are cheering her on whole-heartedly but, man, what an adjustment this is.  So many have told me that when we do finally adjust, we will love it but at this point I'm still not so sure about that.  I have kids spread out all over this country and, just so you know, this mama isn't so happy about that!  I REALLY miss my kids!!

So sorry this post has been such a downer.  I'm just keeping it real and letting you see what's been going on inside and why, I think, I have been so quiet on the blogging.  I do hope to get back to it on a regular basis(Lynn!!) so that you can keep up with my boring little life.  HaHa!!  Excitement I don't need.  Calm would be nice!!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

One More Try

This little plot of land has been sitting idle the three years we have lived here. I'm sure it's where the previous owner's had grown a very prolific garden. We have talked about using the space since we got here but, you see, we have never had very good luck with gardens.

In fact, you could very honestly say, we have had very bad luck with gardening. The first time we tried we were still living in Houston and had a draught you would not believe. Of course, everything died no matter how much we watered. The next year, still in Houston, we had floods and AGAIN everything died. So we gave up.

We even tried again after we had moved to another house in Houston but had no luck again. We decided it was much easier to buy vegetables at the grocery store!!

If you blow this picture up you will see that my sweet hubby is sticking his tongue out at me. I guess he didn't like me standing around taking pictures while he was working so hard. Go figure!!

Well, we are going to give it one more try!! We are hoping that this nice Ohio weather will be better for garden novices. We (that would be HE) tilled up the rich dark soil that looks very fertile (at least to us). He has gotten the rows all ready for the planting. And now, I'm off for the easy part.....the garden center to buy the plants.

So, if you would, say a prayer for our gardening efforts and come back soon to check in on our new adventure!!

Sweet Sunshine

The past two days have been really beautiful here. We won't mention the vicious lightning storm we had last night!! Such sweet sunshine and temps in the low 70's. I have been sitting out on the back deck reading and getting some much needed sun.

I just love these little johnny jump-ups. I'm so glad they come back every spring. The colors are just beautiful. Wouldn't that combination of purple and yellow make a gorgeous quilt? Hmm, I might just have to think about that. As if I need another project!!! I have so many WIPs (Works in Progress - for all you non-quilters). They have been weighing heavy on my mind lately. Just not heavy enough to get me back into my sewing room and get them finished up.

Now, where did I lay my book?????

Around our House

Since I can't seem to get my thoughts to quiet enough to write about the past few months I will show you what is happening right now at my house.

Remember these?

Well, actually you don't remember them framed because I just picked them up from Hobby Lobby yesterday. They are the pictures my talented artist husband drew of our three wonderful children. He's good, huh? I certainly think so.

Well, when you walk in our front door now you are greeted by this arrangement.

I know the table scape needs some help but I am so pleased with the way it's turning out. I have been looking for something to go in that spot since we moved in almost 3 years ago. I finally found the little table at Hobby Lobby (I LOVE that place!!). And, I just am so excited to be greeted by my three kiddos every time I enter the house.

And that basket, you ask????
Another of my souvenirs from Uganda. It's a handmade raffia basket. Isn't it beautiful!!

I have been spending a lot of time in the sewing room. I have opened an "etsy" shop hoping to make a little cash to help out our 3 "starving college students". OUCH!!! It is pretty skimpy on items right now but I have several things in the works that are about ready to be added. I'm also hoping to include some items that are a combination of hubby's artwork and my sewing. We'll see how that works out. As I've said before on this blog, I'm also hoping to improve my camera skills so that my pictures will be more appealing.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Breakfast of Champions???

I had Twizzlers for breakfast. I. Know!! You haven't heard from me in months. 136 days, to be exact, and that's all I have to say??

Well.....no. The problem is there has been too much to say. I have been completely overwhelmed by all I could say.

These past months have been so full of life. And, as we all know, that also includes heartache and death. I hope to share with you (on a much more regular basis) all I have been through these past "quiet" days of blogging.

Thanks for sticking with me.

Living in the Midwest

Can I just tell you that most days I absolutely love living in the midwest. Today, August 30th, the temperatures here are in the 60's. We are supposed to have a high of 69 degrees. It is too cool here for shorts. I spent the firsts 45 years of my live in Texas and NEVER did we have a day in August that didn't require shorts, tank top and flip flops. NEVER!! This is wonderful!!!

You may have noticed that I changed my profile picture. The one I've been using is four or five year old. As a fund raiser for our Uganda trip, we took and sold photos at our church. My only complaint with these pictures is that my sons weren't here to be included.


Thanks for stopping by!

What's Up with the Weather?

I had to step back and ask myself if I was still in Ohio. Yes, here I am looking at the thermometer on my back deck and seeing 60 degrees. Sheesh!! It was just last week we couldn't even get out of our driveway because of the 10 inches of snow. Is it no wonder winter is flu season?

Too bad the day was also gray and drizzle-y or we could have spent some time outdoors. Or at least more time than just taking the "grandpuppy" out to potty. What an exciting life I lead!!

Thanks for stopping by. Happy Quilting!!

Merry Christmas to All!!

Since arriving home from my trip to Houston December 8th I have been in fast forward mode. Note to self -- next year DO NOT plan any out of town trips after Thanksgiving!!! I did, however, get an amazing amount of sewing done while in Houston. So what else happens at a quilt store? Duh!! (Another Duh!! Yes I did bring home fabric and patterns. Those pictures coming after Christmas.)

I did not finish all the projects I had planned for gifts but did get the major ones done and they are wrapped and under the tree(or in route to their prospective recipients). Sorry the gifts are arriving late mom. ;-(

As you can see, I also got some baking done. These nut cookies are a tradition in my husband's family. They are a must every year even if nothing else gets baked. There is more but no pictures of anything else. Really the main reason I am on the computer at all today is to wish all of you who celebrate this wonderful season a blessed Christmas! I hope you enjoy this time of family and friends while remembering the real reason for this season doesn't lie in the decorations, gifts, food or even time with loved ones. Jesus was born one blessed night so that He could live and die to live again so we might have life eternal.

Fair and Balanced

I can now say that my coverage of the US election this year has been fair and balanced. I have attended functions for both candidates. I didn't get pictures from the Food and Wine Tasting we attended last month for the Barak Obama campaign. So sorry to you Democrats. I do have to say that the food was delicious but I felt really sorry for the local candidates. (Obama was not there.) Wine tasting and stump speeches just do not mix. They should have spoken much earlier in the evening if they truly wanted the "tasters" to listen.

Yesterday, however, the candidate was there. I am so impressed with Sarah Palin. She was quite a dynamic speaker and since the doors opened to the event at 7 am most everyone was polite and listened to her speech(no wine tasting here). There was one protester who was quickly escorted out the door but all else was calm by mob rule standards.






It is such a privilege as an American citizen to be able to place my vote for the next governmental leaders. No matter which way you vote, Independent, Democrat or Republican, let your voice be heard.

Thanks for stopping by. Happy Quilting!!

Busy, Busy, Busy

September left and October has just barged right in. Although the mums are blooming everywhere, I haven't seen very much change in the color of leaves yet. I hope we don't just skip that part of fall. I love all those colors.

The temperatures during the day have been so nice. It's a great time to get out and wander around a corn maze and pumpkin patch. Our church is involved in a ministry called Family Promise. It's a cooperation of churches to help homeless families with children. I have just been blessed by being named one of the Family Promise coordinators for our church.

Last Saturday we took the two families to a nearby farm and had an afternoon of fun. Some of us were lost for several hours in the corn maze.
Some of us were very serious about the duck races.














Some of us got our very first pumpkin ever.

But all of us were blessed by the beauty of God's world.

Thanks for stopping by.

A Lazy Fall Day

I know that by the calendar we have not yet ventured into the season called Fall, but here in Ohio the weather seems to contradict the calendar.
This is the view I have while sitting at the computer. It's one where I can literally watch the corn turn to its withered and dried readiness for harvest. Our windows are open today, as they have been for several days, letting in the cool breezes autumn brings. What a beautiful day! Yet, as I sit here at my computer, wasting oh so much time, I have to wonder what these next days will bring. Do you ever fell that life is speeding past you while you are standing still? An unsettled feeling yet you just can't seem to put your finger on what is so unsettling? That's where I am today. But, I guess I shouldn't worry. I'm under the ever watchful eye of our "king of the castle".
Well, maybe not so watchful.

Thanks for stopping by! Happy Quilting!!

Happy Birthday to Bill

Today is my sweet husband's 50th birthday.

Happy Birthday, sweetie!!

Joys of Motherhood?

One of the joys of motherhood is watching your babies grow up. One of the heartaches of motherhood is watching your babies grow up and leave the nest. These past couple of weeks have been filled with both joy and heartache for me. Our boys are both in college. One lives in Florida and we are hoping for a visit down south in September. It's hard having him so far away. The other is now a sophomore at this Big 10 school.

Since he lived in a dorm last year the move to school didn't seem as final as this year. Here is a picture of our sweet kid #2. See that piece of paper in his hand, it's a lease for an apartment.

He was so excited (until he saw mom with the camera in her hands). We had loaded up our van and his car and set out for the new digs. We spent the next two days getting his room all set up. It's really hard driving off wondering if he'll ever be back home again for anything other than a visit. Sweet Kid #1 in Florida doesn't get up this way too often and we haven't gotten down there yet. (Hopefully in September!!). Driving away I decided I needed to drown my sorrows so I stopped and got one of these.
YUM-O!! It helped but only slightly! I got home in time to make the County Fair Battle of the bands. Our sweet kid #3 is on the front line kneeling. This is her senior year. Bittersweet!



Hopefully, I'll dig my way out of this "semi-empty nest" funk and get some sewing done soon. At least the Olympics are keeping us distracted. Go USA!!
Thanks for stopping by.
Happy Quilting!!

I Can Do Better!!

I have certainly failed at the Post a Day in May commitment I made at allsorts. Here it is May 18th and I have only posted 5 times. We'll see how well I can keep up from now on. Besides the trip to the ER, our middle son moved back home from college last week and we are trying to get him settled in. What a mess!!

I have been sewing away on a couple of projects. There will be pictures of them soon. I thought I would share a couple of table runners I have finished this year. The first one is a free pattern on the Fat Quarter Shop website. It was really easy. Don't you just love those Moda Swirls? The other is obviously a Christmas table square which was also a free pattern on Marcie's website. It was a really fun one to do.
















Thanks for stopping by. Happy Quilting!

You know you're getting old when.....

you wind up in the emergency room due to back pain and you didn't do a dog-gone thang to cause the pain. That day would have been last Tuesday. I then spent the rest of the week in the bed on a heating pad and pain medication. And what do the doctor's say???? It's old Arthur. Arthur-itis, that is. A steroid shot to the hip should cure me, they say. We'll see. Just let me get back to my sewing machine, please!!

And since I couldn't post without a picture.
Here's a pretty shot of what's blooming in my back flower beds. Yeah spring!!


Thanks for stopping by. Happy Quilting!

Hand's Down -- I'm a real cut-up!

No, I mean it. A literal cut up.

I volunteer one morning a week at my church doing whatever needs to be done to lighten the load for the staff. I answer the phone, greet visitors, proofread, whatever! The past two weeks I have spent the morning cutting out hands for our children's minister, Jill. She tells me they are actually sunflower petals. All this takes me back to my years as a young mother when I worked at our church's Mother's Day Out program. I always loved this kind of thing. Don't ask me why. Maybe as a kid I didn't get to play with scissors. Maybe I like mindless work. Probably I'm just nuts!! (No comments from the peanut gallery. Ha Ha - pun intended)

Today was especially a blessing to be able to serve Jill all the while praying for her, her husband and their family. You see, Jill's husband had open heart surgery today. In fact, he's in surgery as I type. Life is so strange. Last week, as she and I discussed these "sunflower petals", all was good. This week, as I cut, her life is markedly different. As the song goes, Life is hard but God is good. Please pray for Jill that their lives will quickly get back to laughter and sunflowers!

Back to quilting tomorrow!

Life Gets in the Way!!

I'm not getting very much sewing done. My bff Claudia thinks that is all I do all day long but it's really not. Yesterday, for example, the only sewing I got done was some hand quilting on a wall hanging during a couple of hours of TV. Gotta watch my Dancing With the Stars!! Here's a picture of "my sweet spot". It's where I spend my evenings hand quilting, crocheting, cross-stitching, whatever I'm in the mood for as long as it involves a needle. You can see the quilt on the ottoman and the crochet in the basket on the right. My Ott Light is indispensable. I do need a better table for my notions there on the left.

Instead of spending time at my sewing machine yesterday, I got to buy groceries. We seem to think we need to eat everyday. Go figure! After that daunting task I have to come home and put them all away. Don't you think that's even worse? I certainly do!! Then, I get the call that track shoes have been forgotten and are needed NOW at the high school. Off my little van goes again. Then it's time for supper. (Again, all this eating!!!) After clean up, it's TV time. Oh well, life just gets in the way sometimes and that's ok. Dare I even say it....life IS more important than quilting?!?!?

I really am joking here. I am so blessed to be able to spend as much time sewing as I do. I am able to stay home(that reads - no outside employment because I really don't stay home much) and now that my boys are off at college and track girl drives herself everywhere, I do have the time for sewing that I have always yearned for. Life is good!!
Happy Quilting!