Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Lots going on these days!

There has been soooo much going on lately!
As I said in my last post, my son and his
family were coming to visit! Yippee!
It actually ended up taking a bit of doing
getting them here, but arrive they did!

With news nobody cared for. They lost
their apt. and as of that night they
were homeless. Geez.

They decided to move up here for a fresh
start, but in the meantime had to head
back home to get a few things worked out
and sorted through. As they were not sure
where they were going to stay, we offered
to let the little guy stay here with us
for the 2 weeks. And he is here!

Its nice having a little one in the house.
Has been a long time since we have had
one here without a parent! Just like riding
a bike ya don't forget how ha!

So this is his second day without the
'mama' and he is doing great! Of course
we are getting used to each other
and new rules and such,but all in all
its all good!

I am surprised at how different I feel
in caring for a 4yr old as a grandmother
and not a mother. I still have little
'rules' I guess you would call them,
but there is a different softness in
myself. I just don't find myself reaching
the point of pulling my hair out or
getting exasperated easily.

I love being a grammie. I wish
my other grandkids were here,
or at least close by. Texas
is soooo far away from No.Calif.
But its wonderous at how far
your heart can stretch. And its
all wrapped up tight around
the other 4 sweeties in Texas.

Later I will talk about my son
moving in here.....yikes!!!!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

cuddly fire engine quilt


I'm sooo excited! THis weekend my son and his new
family, wife Brandy and her son Calvin are coming
for a visit! I have met Brandy briefly once before
and she is the sweetest girl. So easy to talk to,
funny sweet. A great daughter in law!
But I have not met her son Calvin yet. But
I get to this weekend! So to make him feel welcome
I decided to make him a quilt.
A cuddly fire engine quilt!
What little boy doesn't like fire engines?

And of course it had to be a raggy quilt. For some reason
these just seem extra cuddly.



And of course I had to be sure there were dalmations included!
The flannel and the other 'white' looking portions are all
actually a lovely warm ecru. It gives the quilt/blankie
a warm old look. Which I love. Reminds me of the
quilts a great aunt used to make.

And it had to be fire engines. Bob is a retired fire chief
in the Air Force. So of course there are fireman
related items through the house. So Calvin
should now feel like part of the family to have
his own fireman stuff just like Poppa Bob.

I'm thankful for new family members
I love having another grandson without the wait!
I love how this quilt turned out
I'm thankful I had exactly the right remnants for it
I love the hunt for remnants
I'm thankful David and his family live in Ca.
I love chocolate cheerios
I love lounge clothes
I thankful the bird is quiet today
I'm thankful for you!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

I'm thankful for Tuesday

I'm thankful for Tuesday
I'm love my soft jammies
I'm thankful to have so many soft jammies
I'm thankful for Bob's silliness
I'm thankful Priscilla posts so many pictures
I love Priscilla calling me mama san
I love mini drumsticks
I'm thankful all my new sewing books
I love sewing by hand
I love retro/old fashioned looking fabric
I love flannel fabric
I'm thankful for having so much fabric
I'm thankful for all of you and your great blogs!

Monday, May 31, 2010

Memorial Day



My husband Bob wrote this yesterday and posted it on
Facebook. I moved me so much. I remember that
trip so well. The overwhelming sadness looking
across all those tombstones. I looked at it
through a mothers eyes. Those boys. The sacrifice.
The pride and sadness leaving me almost
breathless. I just stood among them saying
a prayer for them. To let them know,
no, they were not forgotten.

So here is what he wrote, and I think it says it all:


There are 2 holidays a year that mean the most
to me, no, not Christmas or my Birthday.
They are Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
Today is Memorial Day. A day set
aside to remember those who died
serving our country past and present.
A couple of years ago I went to the
American cemetery in Luxemburg.

It’s where General Patton is buried, along
with many of his troops
I was excited to go. It turned out to be
one of my most saddest days.
Overlooking THOUSANDS of headstones marking
the bullet ridden and blown up bodies,
of those who sacrificed their lives to keep us free.

















It is only one, of many American cemeteries in
Europe. Tears flowed as I saw the names.
Up to then, they were “those who died in service” .
They never came home.

Please don’t treat this holiday as just another
3 day weekend. Take time to reflect.
Reflect on those who died in all our wars declared
or not. Do we deserve their sacrifice ?
Don’t take our freedom for granted.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

ruffles and alien green


I have been having so much fun sewing
up an outfit for my grandaughter Olivia.
I had found the cutest fabric at Joanns,
so summery with watermelon and cherries,
a pretty blue, fell in love when I saw it.
Knew it was perfect for Olivia.

So here it is, ruffles ruffles and more
ruffles. I love the double ruffles on the pants.
I'm just hoping they fit. I had her measurements
but...well...sometimes I end up a little off with
them! ha!

Don't ya love the color?

I have got a thing for fabric with cherries on it
now. I got another piece thats a soft yellow
with cherries and a piece of Mary Engelbreit
with all her fun little things on it plus cherries.
Dont know what I'm making with the fabric
yet, but then alllll the fabric I have is
in the waiting stage.

And the alien green. Well. I'm finally back on
the road. I have not really driven since Dec. '06.
Why, well between Dec. '06 and Sept. 07 I had
5 spinal surgeries. Now I'm healed, steady, pain
more or less under control and ready to venture
out on my own. As our other two cars are both
stick shifts, I really could not drive them. My
right side is a bit weak and gets very painful
very easily. So I needed a manual. And Bob
got me one! yippeeeee......Don't ya love it!




Its alien green which I think is funny as
all get out. And its not low, has a high
door frame so I don't whack my head..
I'm in love....and I'm back on the road...
yippee yippee yippee and howdy do!

I'm thankful Bob got me my Soul!
I'm thankful I am doing so much better.
I'm thankful my son David and his family are visiting next weekend.
I'm thankful I finally get to meet my new step grandson
I'm thankful David has such a wonderful little family now
I'm thankful the air conditioner just clicked on.
I'm thankful there is hershey chocolate with almonds
in the freezer..
I'm thankful for you!

Monday, May 24, 2010

bachelorette, kimoni pjs and strawberry shortcake

Wow, just finished watching the Bachelorette.
What fun! But I felt so bad for her, she seemed
to be freezing her fanny off the whole night!
Ya think she would have worn a shawl of something.
But having the guys offer their jackets was nice
too ha! Wonder if all the different colognes
gave her a headache after awhile? And
I thought that the very last guy she chose
looked an awful like the Jake from the last
show. Ya think? There was only one that gave
me a 'ew what a creep' feeling. That Craig M. I think it
was. The one who argued about putting the name
in the box. Something about him, an angry look,
just set off the ew factor. Any body else get that?
I can't wait for next week. I mean
besides loving the show, there isn't alot on I want
to watch right now. Project runway is done, Survivor
is over, I didn't get Lost but its done too. I mean so
many of my favs are done for awhile so its nice to
get something else fun to watch.
Yes, I admit, I watch ALOT of t.v. And really alot
at night. Bob is a night worker. He does 10hr nights
which are great really, but sometimes the nights are
really quiet and lonely. I do have the dogs but
when I talk to them, they just look at me like,
shhhhh, I'm sleeping here. And my sewing room is
off limits after 10. And this is
silly, but the birds cage is in there and she goes to
bed at 10. ha! Told you it was silly.
I have finally finished the kimono pj's. I love
the fabric. Was just so light and soft. Thought it
would make wonderful summertime jammies.
But man, next time I will find a better place
to take the pictures. The green walls did not
help with the photos no matter how I touched
them and messed with them I could not
get it to look right. But here they are:

Oh, ya like my new 'sewing room' plaque?

I put a small crochet flower where I sewed the tie on.


This is my next project, a warm flannel blankie for my
grandaughter Olivia. She is turning 4 very soon.
And being 4 is so important don't ya know!
Its the year before kindergarten. And your so
much older than your baby brother now!
You can teach him so many new things cuz
being 4 means your a big girl!

Here is our sweet girl posing the robe
I made for her.

I'm love cutting that last thread on a project!
I love wrapping birthday presents!
I love tucking away special presents for special people
I love shopping early
I love hersheys with almonds
I love pg tips tea
I'm thankful for my new email pal Kjirsten
I'm thankful for the cool days we are still having
I'm thankful our cherry tree FINALLY has fruit
I'm thank for all the apples on our trees
I'm thankful for today
love you!

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Sunday Morning


A sweet blogger, Rachel over at Sew Ambitious
gave me this sweet award! I was sooo surprised!
And to think I was going to quit blogging a few
months ago!
So I guess what goes along with this award is to
tell you a few things about myself...ahem...ok,
well, here goes....

1. I am completely head over heels in love
with my hubby Bob
2. I have 3 kids, 2 step~daughters and 2 adopted daughters.
3. I LOVE reading
4. My newest toy is my Kindle...its really neat
5. I love to sew...sewing books, anything to do with sewing
6. Am addicted to genealogy
7. Love to restore old photos
8. I have 6 of the cutest grandkids you've ever seen.
9 I have had scoliosis/flatback syndrome
10. LOVE LOVE LOVE reading all you talented
peoples blogs!

I guess that will work for a quick sum up of me~
I will pass this award on in the morning, well later
in the morning, its now just 4am...ugh.

I would like to ask for any and all prayers for my
son~in~law Greg who is on his third tour in Iraq.
He is the son~in~law anybody would be so thankful
to have. He is a firefighter in the USAF. And he
makes my daughter so happy.

Ok, am off to see if I can get back to sleep, Rachel,
thanks again for the sweet award! You made my day!