Friday, December 28, 2007

Comfortghan for a dear friend


This comfortghan is being sent to a wonderful woman who is dealing with one thing after another at the moment. She has always been extremely kind and generous whenever I have dealt with her and it breaks my heart to think of her in pain. I hope this helps her through this difficult time.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Withdrawals, ideas and pay it forward

It never fails. At this time of year, my scrapbook things get put up. There just is not enough room in our house for my obsession AND a Christmas tree. Yes, the tree wins. I am in scrapping withdrawals! I have all these ideas running through my head and want to scrap pictures. NOW! I could pull out a kit or two and work with just what is in my tool bag, and I will this next week, but I am longing for a full out crop!
I recently found Tim Holtz BLOG. For those of you who have not seen it before, the inspiration and ideas are WONDERFUL! I just look and need to play with ink, or paint, or paper, or something!! I hope you enjoy it as well.

Pay it forward. Not only is it a movie that makes me bawl, but it is just a wonderful thing. I was reading Lila's BLOG and she offered to send a little something to the first 3 people to leave a comment and post on their own BLOG the same offer to pay it forward. Well, here we are :). The first 3 to leave a comment and commit to PAY IT FORWARD - your participation is to post on your blog a PAY IT FORWARD notice and send something (I know we all have extra cards, bookmarks, or projects just begging to be sent to a new home) to three people. Leave in your comment PAY IT FORWARD and I will email you for your address (be sure your email is available to me).

Have a great week!!! The baking is done at our house :)

Monday, December 10, 2007

Joys of Christmas

One of my very favorite things about Christmas is all the baking I get to do. A few years ago I began baking several different kinds of cookies and packaging them up in tins to give to friends and neighbors. It has now become somewhat of a tradition in our house. One that I LOVE.
There are times when I want to just enjoy the process of baking, by myself. This rarely happens. My youngest loves to bake as much as I do so always wants to help. I have given up on trying to sneak it in and am learning to enjoy sharing the process. He is old enough now that he can help read the recipe and hold the mixer in addition to dumping items in.
Last night both boys helped me make gingerbread cookies. It isn't necessarily the fastest to have them cut the cookies out, but it certainly created memories. That really is what it is all about. :)

Monday, December 03, 2007

Comfort Afghan ready to send


This comfortghan will be going out in tomorrow's mail. I hope it does the work we intend and brings the recipient great comfort and peace!

Monday, November 26, 2007

In Honor of Dane R. Balcon


This comfortghan is being sent to the mother of Army Pfc. Dane R. Balcon (19).
I hope this is helpful during a time of year that probably only serves to make things more difficult.

Monday, November 12, 2007

What a Saturday! Two great ones in a row!!

My first activity Saturday was a scrapbooking crop/class with Melody Ross, the founder of Chatterbox. I had an absolutely fantastic time and am soooooooooooooo glad I decided
to go. It turned out to be a small group and it was even more personal than I expected. When I arrived Melody welcomed me and had me sit next to her at the table and we began by doing some gathering things with create paper. She then previewed her new Christmas Quick Pages and we each got a packet. We also got the matching stickers, alpha stickers in 3 matching
colors, tacks, a ribbon roll with several different ribbons and a beautiful 12 x 12 red album for it all.

There were several Chatterbox employees there. The graphic designer had done a Christmas card and conducted a class where we all made one. Lots of fun and at the beginning when Melody was introducing him she teased that he had "lost his man card" a long time ago :).

The next class was taught by Melody's sister (btw- she is one of 9 children!) who was probably one of the most immediately genuine people I have ever met. We used the new Christmas line - LOVE IT - and made a tree with paper loops as a decoration.

Our next class was taught by another Chatterbox employee who's name a can't remember (and feel terrible because she was very nice!) and we made super cute ornaments.

We all spent a lot of time just chatting and laughing. It was a great group of people.

I can tell you that Melody was very friendly and humble. I got the feeling it is difficult for her to be thought of as a scrapping celebrity. She just sees herself as a working mom.

The card on the left shown on the site is the one we made
http://www.chatterboxinc.com/home/DefaultHomePage

Holly who hosted the event is a very sweet person and I really admire what she is doing. The work she is putting into the fund raising and preparing to run a half marathon is amazing.

Anyway, it was a great way to spend half my day and I would do it again in a heartbeat!!!


In the evening my DH and attended a work party. This is a Harvest Festival instead of the usual Christmas party because everyone is just so busy that time of year. Now, I know that for most people this would be an obligation type of thing. However, not for us. I truly enjoy several of the people he works with and their spouses so it was a good time. It also was nice for DH and I to have a night out together.

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

What an AMAZING weekend

I spent this past weekend at a Charity Crop. This is an annual event that is put on by the local scrapbooking group I am part of. As a group we nominate and then vote on which charity will be the recipient of the money we raise. This year it was the Idaho Special Olympics.
We all make items to donate to the silent auction portion. Then we all get to bid :). As usual there were some truly amazing things and I know more than one person got some Christmas shopping done!
There is also a raffle portion. Several LSS and many members donate items to the raffle. They are then bundled into assorted baskets and winners drawn from the purchased tickets. One of our LSS - World Class Scrappers- donated a seperate top secret Grand Prize. The owner of WCS is a member of our group and one of the most generous people I know. She has done this the last few years and the prize is always AWESOME! The Grand Prize has a seperate raffle to purchase tickets for.
I WON THE GRAND PRIZE AND IT WAS A QUICKUTZ SILHOUETTE!!!!!
Wooooooooooooooooooooooooo Hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
As a group this year we were able to raise almost $3000 for the Idaho Special Olympics. What a wonderful and giving group of women I have the honor of associating with!

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

In Honor of Bradly Conner


This OPH comfort afghan is being sent to the parents of Sgt. Maj. Bradly D. Conner. It is being sent with honor and respect as have all the others.

Monday, October 15, 2007

delivery of comfort afghan


I was able to deliver the completed comfort afghan to my SIL yesterday. She was involved in an auto accident and is going to be recovering for quite some time.

Sunday, October 07, 2007

In Honor of Erik R. Heldt


This OPH comfort afghan is being sent to the young daughter of Marine Lance Cpl. Erik R. Heldt. I am honored to assemble this for her and many thanks to all who donated such beautiful squares!

Monday, October 01, 2007

In Honor of Jeremy E. King


This OPH comfort afghan is being sent to the mother of Army Sgt. Jeremy E. King. I hope it will provide some small measure of comfort with regard to the loss of her son.

In Honor of Michael S. Zyla


This is the OPH comfort afghan that is being sent to the mother and stepfather of Army Staff Sgt Michael S. Zyla. I do hope it provides them with some comfort and the knowledge that others care for them.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Update

I have to tell everyone that I am married to the most amazing man. He is truly a phenomenal person. For a little over a week he has quite literally waited on me hand and foot and taken care of everything in our home and with our family. He has driven me to and from my therapy appts. , made certain we have had meals, my ice machine is ready and that the meds are close at hand. He has done all of this without a single complaint, mumble or grumble. I could not have survived this without him.

The surgery ended up being a bit more than originally anticipated. It also didn't help that the graft was too long and so the way they had to anchor it is different so requires I wear an immobilizer for some time.

I am still not very mobile. At therapy today I experienced some of the worst pain I have EVER felt in my life. The good news is that it faded after being iced and I actually was able to do some things I haven't been able to since the surgery, even if it did hurt. I am starting to see some progress. My fondest hope is that I will be able to work a clutch soon so that some of the presure on my DH to drive me around is relieved. That will also allow me to return to work even if for a few hours at a time. Daytime television is really lame, even on pain meds :).

Monday, September 17, 2007

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the big day. I am having my ACL repaired/replaced. I am looking forward to the end of this process. I have spent the last six months trying to rehab so that everything would be strong enough to compensate and it just hasn't worked as well as I would like. I still can't take any impact or tork on the joint. I can't do the elliptical or treadmill at the gym. I can't jog alongside my son while he is learning to ride his bike. I have had to modify how I do so many things and it is always just a bit stiff and sore and sometimes more than a bit. I am not old enough to have a joint acting this old. Since it is a daily issue, I have decided - with my surgeon - to do the replacement. This show about the type of injury and here is the type of replacement I am having done - the patellar tendon one. These are not for the faint of heart, but are drawings not actual pictures.

Wish me luck! I don't know exactly what my recovery and rehab process will be as it depends somewhat on how much meniscus damage they find and have to deal with.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

How many?!??!

Someone asked me the other day how many comfort afghans I have assembled. Out of curiosity I went to the databases and counted. Since I first started with Heartmade Blessings, I have assembled 110 comfort afghans!!! This doesn't include the squares I have sent to other assemblers. I can not even begin to imagine how many squares I have made in this amount of time. Each assembly takes approximately most of a full Red Heart super saver skein (7oz) and the same size skein make 3 - 3 1/2 squares depending on the pattern. That is a LOT of yarn!!! I won't even go to the postage calculation. And there are members who do much, much more than I!! I guess the old saying about eating an elephant is true. In my world it just happens to be one square at a time. :)

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Recent completion


I took a quick break from OPH comfortghans to assemble this comfort afghan for a gentleman who lost his wife very suddenly. She was only 27 years. The picture does not do it justice. The square makers sent me the most beautiful squares in shades of tan and brown and it is assembled and edged in forest green.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

In Honor of Charles B. Hester


This comfort afghan is being sent to the mother of Army Pfc. Charles B. Hester in his honor. Some of these are very, very emotional for me to assemble and this was one of them. They are all difficult because each one is representative of someone who has left behind a grieving family, but this one got to me even more than normal. I hope it provides some small measure of comfort.

Thursday, August 02, 2007

In Honor of Emerson N. Brand


This is the comfort afghan for the Heartmade Blessings OPH that I completed last night and I am getting ready to mail. It is being sent to the parents of Sgt. Emerson N. Brand. I saw some pictures from his funeral on a tribute site and his mother's face broke my heart. I can not begin to imagine the pain. I hope that this brings them comfort in some very small way. Thank you to all those that contributed squares.

Monday, July 09, 2007

In Honor of John G. Borbonus


This is the comfortghan I finished assembling this weekend for Heartmade Blessings Operation Purple Heart. It is being sent to the mother of Army Pfc. John G. Borbonus

Thursday, July 05, 2007

In Honor of James Holtom


Another comfortghan I was priveledged to assemble for HeartMade Blessings' Operation Purple Heart for the parents of Army Sgt. James J. Holtom.

In Honor of Ross Clevenger


This comfortghan has been created as part of HeartMade Blessings' Operation Purple Heart. Hopefully it will bring some comfort to the mother of Army Spc. Ross A. Clevenger.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

The difference between boys and girls

Having a teenage son I am learning some things. He just spent 9 days in Japan as part of a tour that we paid for him to go on. Lots of preplanned activities and things to see, 5 different cities, a ride on the bullet train,etc. For Christmas I felt it was important to get him the digital camera he had been asking for. Keep in mind I don't have a digital camera. He has been very excited - at least as much as he can be and still be cool! I didn't send him with a phone card, but he promised to email us. The daughter of a friend went as well.

The friend had a phone call and an email from their daughter after the kids first day in Japan. She emailed several more times and even attached some pictures for them to see.

My son emailed his Dad -not me!- the last full day they had in Japan and did not take a single picture! NOT ONE!!

He did seem to have a wonderful time. When I ask about what he saw I hear about the 8 stories electronics building and seeing the Bandi building, etc. However, if I just let him tell me things as he thinks about them I hear about the Golden Palace and some of the gardens, etc. I am glad to know that he enjoyed some of those things as well :)

Monday, June 18, 2007

The old lady in the mirror

KEEPS SHOWING UP!! I swear I do not know who she is and why she is here, but I would really like her to go away. Now she is bringing all these strange places for adding some extra weight. What is with that? I have been very consistent about going to the gym and have never had to fight a weight issue, gain issue anyway, in my life. I am that person you all hated that had problems gaining weight. NOT NOW!! This really sucks and I don't like it and I don't even honestly know what to do!!! This is all new territory. Why it is starting at the same time I am actually trying to exercise, also a new thing for me, I do not understand.
Ok, I just had to vent someplace because most people I know look at me like I have three eyes or something and tell me I look fine and to quit worrying about it. Obviously that is NOT going to happen :).

Monday, June 11, 2007

Summer is here!

All the things with my Mom have been resolved. She is still very much in the healing process, but well on her way to recovery. That was a very difficult time for everyone and I am glad we are through some of it :)

The kids are out of school for summer. This is so exciting!!! I really look forward to getting to do things and spend time with them. I would love to take the summer off work as well, but I do get to cut back my hours so we can participate in more activities. Of course, my oldest thinks he is too cool to do stuff with his mom, but if I let him invite a buddy he is more open to the whole thing. Time to enjoy the outdoors and the fun!!!!

Thursday, May 17, 2007

McFly!

Have you ever had a time when life just comes up behind you and smacks you on the back of the head? Not fun! I have had some things happening with my Mom medically that gave me the first real experience that brings her mortality to the front of my consciousness. This is not a pleasant experience and I really prefer to have my head in the sand. The good thing is that she and I have been able to have a couple of those very important "what if" discussions. I now know her feelings on life support and a few other of the big topics no one likes to discuss. This actually provides me with a lot of peace to know that I can honors her wishes if needed in the future.
Now, we just deal with what is in front of us one day at a time.

Thursday, May 03, 2007

Thoughts on deafness

I feel the need to share my thoughts on a topic that in all fairness, I am in many ways not entitled to have an opinion on, and that is deafness. First a bit of background. My youngest son is deaf. He was identified during the newborn screening process and at the time still had a significant amount of residual hearing. He was wearing hearing aids by the age of 6 weeks old. This was NOT fun as a parent and even less fun when he began to take them out and use them as a handy teething option. The first set cost approx. $3000, none of which insurance covered, and water destroys them. See the problem?
Anyway, he is now in second grade and his loss has continued. We learned a couple of years ago the cause of hearing loss is a genetic condition and he is rare in that he had any hearing at all when he was born. I fully expect him to loose all of his hearing at some point in the near future. As it is he has days that he hears better than others. My son currently has very understandable speech due to the hard work he has put in since the age of two and the ability to utilize the residual hearing he had when he did. He is also intelligent and understands the rules of phonetics and applies them to new words he encounters. Unfortunately the English language is full of exceptions to the rules. I also credit much of his success to his early exposure to sign and later American Sign Language (ASL). He was exposed to language from the beginning even if much of it wasn't through auditory means.
I have learned more in the last 8 years about ears, hearing, hearing aids, FM Systems, language development and speech than I ever even knew existed, let alone wanted to learn. This is good as it helps me be a better parent for my son.
So, you are probably wondering where the opinion comes in. I am horrified by the number of parents who have deaf children that never take the time to search our a deaf adult (or 2 or 3) to learn more about what being deaf is like. What they learned growing up and suggestions they would make. The decision is ultimately the parents, but a person who has lived the life is much better experienced to give opinions and advice than ANY doctor, audioligist or speech language pathologist EVER will be. They can provide medical information and opinions, but they are not deaf and so do not truly understand.
In the area where I live there is currently a large emphasis and push for cochlear implants and oralism. I believe cochlear implants have a place. Do not misunderstand and think I am anti-cochlear. I do not, however, believe that at this point I would implant my child without it being his decision. There are too many factors. There are also just as many or more stories when it was not successful (as defined by the hearing community) as there are success stories. When it doesn't work out, the parents are made to feel as if the failure is their fault. If they had only provided more speech therapy or not allowed the child to sign, etc. The truth is that sometimes it just doesn't work. The opinion that if you allow a child to use sign they won't learn speech is the stupidest thing I have heard. As my husband says, "That is like saying if a child eats with their hands, they won't learn to use a fork." As a point of education, speech is not a language, but a means of communicating a language the same as writing.
I don't believe that the burden of communication should be placed on the shoulders of a small child rather than the parents. When parents refuse to take any approach but to implant and then work on speech, and only speech, all communication responsibility is the child's. I can honestly say that I have never met a Deaf adult who said how they wished their parents hadn't learned to sign. However, I can tell you many, many stories of adults who feel their parents didn't care enough about them and were just plain selfish when they refused to learn to sign in order to communicate with them. That the parents did not love them enough or accept them as they are.
I NEVER want my son to think this. My husband and I have spent many hours learning ASL and work to expose him to others in the Deaf Community. I want him to have role models and mentors available that are Deaf with a capital "D". Proud and successful Deaf adults.
Those in the medical community and the parents that follow who are insisting the implants are the way forget that there are many for whom implants are not an option. Depending on the reason for the hearing loss it just may not circumvent the issue or be of any potential benefit. What do they propose for this group? At the moment, nothing! They pretend as if this group does not exist in an effort to further their cause.
I have rambled on for some time, but I will say that as the parent of a child who is deaf, I am proud of who he is. I can honestly say that if I had been asked before he was born that I would never have wished for this. I am still sad at times. That does not make him any less of a person or a success. It does not mean he needs to be "fixed". I love him as he is and hope he does the same.

Monday, April 23, 2007

In Honor of Brandon Titus


I had the honor and privilege of assembling this OPH comfortghan for the father of Brandon Titus. I was only recently able to obtain mailing information with the assistance of a friend or it would have been sent to him earlier. This one has haunted me and was one I have wanted to assemble since the first reports of Brandon's death. I am glad to have been able to complete this assembly and send to Mr. Titus.

Friday, April 06, 2007

What a day!

This has been an interesting day. Yesterday afternoon my boss announced that the office would be closed today so I had the day off. FANTASTIC! I planned to get a ton of things done and have some me time as well. I started off the day with working out after the kids left for school. Just as planned. I then went to use my %off coupons at some of the craft stores to get some things I really need for upcoming projects. I got some things for the ABC baby book I am making (gift) and new blades for my cutter. Unfortunately, stop #2 was not what I had hoped. I needed the page protectors and they did not have what I needed. Since I had a 50% off coupon I really thought I should use it. So I wandered for waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy too long. The good news is I did NOT spend money just to spend money. Bad news, can't get the time back. Went to another store to get the page protectors and then went to visit a LSS that I hadn't been to in some time. I actually didn't need anything, but I noticed the owners vehicle and just wanted to say "Hi!". It was a great time and I am so glad I did. She shared some of the upcoming changes for the store and showed me a bunch of things. It is going to be really neat and it was good to see her so excited again. I did get some ribbon she had that matches perfectly a page kit I have and it is just the thing for it!
After all of this though, the day was pretty much gone. I really should have tried to catch up with some friends or something, but I just didn't plan well. The good news is the weather is sunny and nice so I have spent as much time as my bum knee with allow cleaning out flower beds. There is still a TON of work to do. This has brought on quite the pity party however. Earlier this year I talked to my hubby about spending the raise I got the have the front relandscaped. I wanted the big ugly junipers gone and flower beds that looked planned instead of mish mashed and overgrown. I wanted them easier to maintain. He agreed so I began to get quotes. As it went along it was decided to find out how much it would cost to replace the grass with something more suited to our climate. Then we added on how much to do the grass in back as well? See where this is going? I have spent several weeks in landscape hell and guess what? We have all new grass, but I still have a front bed that needs to be rototilled, prepped, planned, planted and mulched. Not quite what I had planned. Now, I admit the junipers are gone and the bed is edged in beautiful rock as are my beds in back, but it is not ready to go and done. Hence the pity party. Guess I best get over it soon because it isn't going to get done by itself!!!

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Dad! I love and miss you!

Monday, April 02, 2007

Mixed emotions time

This time of year is so hard for me. I love Spring. It is my favorite season. There is nothing like seeing the trees in bloom and the first colors of tulips and daffodils (one of my favorite flowers!). The grape hyacinths remind me of my grandmother and playing in her yard.
This is also super tough. April 1 is the anniversary of my Dad's death and April 3 is his birthday. I try to avoid all the April Fools stuff as it just serves to remind me what day it is. This year it has been 9 years since he died. It isn't easier, the pain just isn't as sharp.
I dread the phone ringing on either day. I always worry it is a family member wanting to talk. I don't want to talk. I just want to pretend it is any other day. Not very adult, but also the only way I get through.
So, enjoy the sunshine and the daffodils, I will be. The rest will come as it will.

Friday, March 16, 2007

ATCs


I have really been admiring ATCs and over the last year participated in a few trades and received some amazing artwork! This is certainly the way to go for me and creativity without pressure. As long as it is 2 1/2 in by 3 1/2 in I can't do it wrong!!! This the latest one I made for a "celestial" themed swap. My one before that can be seen at Scottish Borders Stamping.

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Sewing on paper?


Oh, yes! I swore this was a thing I would never do. It looks really neat, but just seemed like too much effort to me. Keep in mind I have a very old and very heavy machine with no craft room, so everything has to be gotten out each time. Well, I caved. I joined a card swap and the other evening I created the card in my mind and the sewing was part of it. I have to say that I am pleased with how it turned out. It is almost as nice as I imagined which is much better than usual :).

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Christmas gift finished


I have been experiencing some problems and pain with my wrist so have not been able to spend the time crocheting and knitting that I usually do. I decided to pull out the sewing machine and see what I could get done.
I have actually managed to FINISH a Christmas present. I know it is March. Can you believe it? I can't! Now the trick will be not to forget where I store it between now and then..............

Anyway, this is a flannel rag quilt I made for a little girl who loves Blue's Clues. For size reference, that grey thing on the side is my 12 inch paper cutter I use for scrapbooking.

Thursday, March 01, 2007

Who elected these morons?

I work very hard to not post things that might offend someone. Politics are a subject that is often prone to that and so I don't usually "go there". However, this is just so outrageous that I can not believe it! These morons in the Idaho State Legislature killed a bill in committee that would set MINIMUM safety standards for daycare facilities and require background checks of workers. The reason it was killed? Get this! Mothers shouldn't be taking their children to daycare they should be staying home with them. WHAT!?!?!?!?!? Not every parent even has that option even if they wanted to. So those kids aren't important to keep safe? Ones that aren't raised by two parent families and stay at home moms just don't matter? This is the most amazing thing to me. Talk about hicks! And I thought we looked stupid for having elected someone like Bill Sali to represent us in Washington. However, this really takes the cake. I often wonder WHY I live here and if this is really such a great place to raise kids if these are our elected leaders.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

New Quilts



I finished the binding on one and started and completed the other for a total of two additional quilts to be sent to TLC for Angels. These are really fun quilts to make! The colors in both of these just seem so cheerful to me and it was a nice feeling to have something COMPLETED!! Need to do more of that ;)

Friday, February 09, 2007

Never Ask

Never ask "what else could happen?". Why? You will find out. My youngest (and I) were up all Wednesday night because he was sick. He is much, much better today and headed to school. I just hope it either hurries through the rest of the family or stays away. I can't bring my brother here to recuperate if we are all sick!

My niece is scheduled for her cardiac surgery on Monday. The Dr.s say they don't find anything else and expect this to be a very straight forward surgery. She will probably still be there for another 4 weeks, but at least now her Mom has been able to join her. That is a very important part of the process, for both of them!

On a brighter note, I am all signed up for a scrapbooking retreat in April. I can hardly wait! I feel like I am in paper withdrawals. There hasn't been time for me to touch much of my scrap stuff lately. I have made a few cards, but not much else. I picked up 10 rolls from the developer so I really NEED to get busy :). I have gotten some sewing done though. Made great progress on Brandt's denim quilt and finished up a few in progress projects. That feels GREAT!

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

It continues

My niece was born yesterday, but they have determined that she has what is called transposition of the great artery. Basically her heart has some backwards wiring and so the blood recirculating has not been oxygenated. She will require surgery to fix this and she has been transported to another hospital and the surgery is scheduled for Friday. My SIL will be released from the hospital tomorrow so she can join her daughter.

If all of this seems a bit familiar, this is the same thing my nephew was born with last year. Now keep in mind, this is not genetic. Yeah right! They won't get me believing that anytime soon! It just means they haven't found the marker yet!

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Busy, stressful, good

Today was THE day. Transplant day. My sister is receiving a kidney from my brother. Add to that another brother and his wife are at the hospital working to provide me with a new niece. There are some phone calls going back and forth today!!!

The great news is both my brother and sister are out of surgery and seem to be doing very well so far. They are tired, really exhausted is more like it, and have some recovery ahead of them, but so far, so good.

Last I heard, my SIL was being taken in for a C-section. Although I wouldn't wish for this, there is a time when it is just time and this was one of those. My SIL is in fantastic health and shape and will recover quickly. She also has the advantage of a couple of SIL who will be making certain her husband is taking proper care of her during all of this ;).

Well wishes and prayers are welcome, but the news so far is GOOD!!!

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Black and White - love it!


I have finished my first rag quilt. It is a style I have wanted to do for a long time, but just haven't. This one is baby sized (36 x 48) and is headed to TLC for Angels. I just love the black and white contrast and can see myself doing this again very, very soon!

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Out of the mouths of babes

I got the opportunity to watch that incredible football game Sunday evening - Colts vs Patriots. Toward the end there was a fantastic play by the Colts and it had me cheering. My youngest son, who is 8, turns to me and says "Let me guess, Peyton Manning's laser rocket arm?". The answer in this specific instance also happened to be "Yes".

I still have not stopped giggling about this. Anyone who ever doubts the power of advertising obviously does not have small children.

Monday, January 15, 2007

So, I need a goal?

I actually accomplished my goal of turning out the cookbook shelf. It is not empty despite how much I threw away. Infact, it is still pretty full. However, there are no longer books on top of books :). The next day I accomplished my mini goal of getting some things gathered and completely ready to mail. One more item off my "to do" list. However, on Friday, nothing! I sat and wondered what happened and realized that I hadn't actually made anything my goal for the day. How could I do something if I didn't know what to do? Hmmmmmm the long term problem seems to be defining itself right before my eyes! LOL!

After some thought, I made a mini goal for yesterday, and got it done! Now, I need to figure out what it is for today. Maybe even write a list of 4 or 5 and select on each morning with the flexibility to add to it as I think of things, but not pressure myself on getting it all done. Just one thing at a time.

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Goals

I have given this quite a bit of thought and really think that I need to continue in the same vein as last year. If I can work each day on a task that I have put off or finish a started task/item then I will make a lot of progress and much more than I would have otherwise. To select a task daily to complete that is on my list of "projects". Not the entire project, but a step. Eventually, I hope, to be overwhelmed by my progress :).

So, right here I am stating that my goal for today is to turn out the cookbook bookshelf. I did a tiny bit of this before year end by removing the most obvious items. Cook books that I had not used in more than two years. However, this area needs more than just that. Tonight I will empty it, clean it off and selectively restock/organize it.

I am anxious to see how this process of daily goals goes and hope I am able to report a lot of success!!

Saturday, January 06, 2007

Recent Comforghan


I completed the assembly of this comfortghan for a woman who's husband passed away and mailed it out just before year end. Didn't I get some beautiful squares to put together?