Quilts away

I have finished making and am mailing off a couple of quilts for TLC for Angels. I really enjoy making these. My sewing skills are basic and my machine is not fancy, but more than sufficient to make the baby quilts I do.
It is hard to see, but the all flannel one has the cutest little dragons on the front print.

In Honor of Stuart A. Wolfer

This is being mailed out on Monday to the widow and children of Major Stuart A. Wolfer. It has been my honor and privilege to be able to assemble all these squares from different donors to express our love and concern for his family.

Here is an article from our local paper.

I'm a homebody

It has taken me a while to admit it, but I am truly a homebody. I would love to just hang out here most of the day and putter around. Do projects on or for the house. I love to get my flower beds looking as I want -it is a lot of work though! Right now with Spring around the corner they are just calling to me to to be worked on. I think that is a lot of why I don't want to go to work. There are things I WANT to do here as opposed to things I am SUPPOSED to do there. KWIM?

Mailing another comfortghan

This is going to a wonderful lady who's Mother recently passed away. I hope this helps to comfort her during what must be a very painful time. Thank you so much for all the wonderful and talented people that make and send squares for me to assemble into these expressions of love and concern. It could not be done with out all of your help.

In Honor of Nicholas A. Gummersall

For the mother of Army Sgt. Nicholas A, Gummersall. I hope she finds peace and comfort.

Not my favorite day

So, I have never been a big April Fools Day fan. I always thought it was a bit mean spirited. However, I like it even less now. Now it has very little to do with the "holiday" and more to do with it being the day my Dad passed away. I am having a hard time believing that it was 10 years ago. 10 years~! It really seems like just yesterday in so many ways.
This entire week is just a tough one as his birthday is April 3. I just do my best anymore to ignore what the days represent and not to talk about it with my family. I just don't have the energy to commiserate and/or get them through it. I really thought it would get easier with time, but it hasn't. Just different.

You have got to be kidding!

So, the neighborhood boy that comes over every evening to see if my youngest son can play is here. One of the first things he does -after asking if they can play videos games - is proceed to announce that he has pink eye. LOVELY!!! Highly contagious and they are playing with and touching all sorts of toys. I would NEVER EVER send my kids out with pink eye. ACK!!!

Hope all the things they use can go through the dishwasher, because if not, they are going in the garbage!!

End of Spring Break

Spring Break is coming to an end. Today is it. The boys go back to school tomorrow and I return to work. I had most of Spring Break off work with them. It was WONDERFUL! I am dreading the return to the routine. I like the company of my kiddos and finding activities to do with them. I would like to have done more, but with the oldest being 14 it wasn't always cool to do the things I thought of or he was in the company of friends which hindered it some. Just part of the equation now though.
I hope that summer starts to work out better. The last 2 have been ok, but I really didn't feel like we got the fun time I was wanting with them. Looking forward to finding out if we can schedule better this year!!

Some days

are just that way.
So, mine was ok. Not great, not terrible. Then I came home......
Had an electrician here to install a GFI in the kitchen - we didn't have one, not real safe. Had him do some looking around while he was here because of some concerns I had. So, $63 dollars later I need to replace two light fixtures that have surged or run so hot that the wires in the fixture are burned. Need to check all the attic wiring and at minimum replace what runs from those fixtures to the junction box. Ok, we'll be safer, right?
Next, as I am trying to get dinner on the table my boss calls. He has a $90 bill from Qwest for 2 months of website hosting service that they (not Qwest but another company) are saying I authorized. Now, I clearly remember in Jan. talking with someone who wanted to send information to review and multiple times they assured me that nothing would be activated or charged unless we called to authorize it. I said, sure send it, we would be interested. Well, they have ME on tape with that part, but nothing about having to authorize it before it starts and are claiming I did! Guess what, after I fight with them more tomorrow I figure I get to write my boss a $90 check and possibly another $45 if they have some 30 day cancellation thing. I can't expect him to pay if I am the one that got scammed, but I am NOT happy.
THEN----in the process of cleaning up from dinner -BIG thanks to my DH for doing the cleanup- we find that if we turn on the garbage disposal it trips the GFI. Oh, not good. Well, guess we put it on the list with the light fixtures. Even worse, same thing with the dishwasher. Guess it happens sooner rather than later. Like maybe tomorrow? This is not going to be cheap and looks like the can of worms is open. Now, time to squish them all!!

ARGH! This stuff all STRESSES ME OUT!!!

Comfortghan completed

and ready to mail to a gentleman who had his Mother pass away recently. I hope this helps him through what must be a very difficult time. Thank you so much to all who donated squares.

Sunshine Therapy

Yesterday the sun was shining, the temperature was moderate and the wind wasn't too strong. I put on my sweatshirt and ear covering headband thingy and went to clean up the flower beds. Oh the sun was WONDERFUL!!! I got a lot of work done, but there is much more to do. However, the therapy a bit of sunshine provides is truly amazing. Once I get out there, I could stay for hours. Sometimes it takes hours to get out there, but if the weather is right I love every second of it.
My teenage son joined me yesterday. Not because he wanted to, but I asked him to (in that you don't have a choice Mom voice ;) ). He was a bit of help and great company. I like that he was able to breathe a bit of fresh air at the same time. He was a bit amazed at the amount of work required and at how much was still left to be done. Yes, beautiful flowers grow naturally, just not at my house without a lot of work. However, the weeds and grass in the flowerbeds do FANTASTIC! LOL!

For a Friend

This comfort afghan is being sent to the mother of a dear friend. Her mother was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. I wish them both all of the best during this difficult time.

Calling in to work

Can I call in uninterested? How about just an I don't want to work today day? I know it wouldn't fly, but I really do understand why they say so many people lie and call in sick when they aren't. Sometimes, more than others, a person just really doesn't want to go. I am mentally stomping my feet and throwing a big ol' temper tantrum. Of course, my clothes are all out and the shower is warming up so obviously I am going. I just plain don't want to. I know I can't be the only one with days like this........................

Happy Valentine's Day!

The prelude to mine, wasn't as uneventful as I would have liked. DH called me from a basketball game and asked me to get a bucket of ice water ready and see if I could get some crutches rented from the pharmacy. When he got home, his ankle looked like this only even more swollen. After a few minutes in the ice water his foot started to swell and I told him we were headed to the ER. He didn't put up much of fight so anyone who knows my DH realizes he was in a LOT of pain.
After several hours, the end result is a really bad sprain with follow up in a week'ish to be certain there isn't a stress fracture or ligament damage. Everyone, including the nurse, was surprised that the x-rays didn't show a break.
After we got home, about midnight, I was turning off lights and closing up the house for the night. I came into the bedroom and there was a Valentine's card waiting for me on my pillow. Despite what we had just been through, he surprised me with the card. He typically hides them someplace for me to find in the morning, but decided that he might have a hard time accomplishing that this year :) I think I'll keep him.

Significant moment - ?

I was with my teenage son the other night at a department store. I witnessed his debate about which of two items he was going to purchase since he could only afford one. After much debate and walking around the store with both in his hand he decided on the one I would not have guessed. The Sports Illus. Swimsuit Calendar won out over the video game. Guess this is one of those growing up moments? It was a bit tough on Mom regardless :)

In Honor of Blake C. Stephens

This OPH Comfortghan is being sent to the parents of Army Sgt. Blake C. Stephens (25).

CALGON, TAKE ME AWAY!!!

'nough said.

New Year - Yadda, yadda

You are getting short and sweet from me. I have given it a lot of thought the last couple of days and decided that my plans for the new year really need to include revisiting/reviving a previous one. I am going to attempt to do at least one (and preferably three) things each day that I have been procrastinating. This post is today's :).
The other thing I would like to do is start a "thankful journal". I want to take the time each and every week to list 5-10 things I am thankful for. I hope it will serve as a reminder of how blessed my life truly is. Sometimes it is so easy to get wrapped up in the day to day and forget how awesome the big picture is!

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.

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 :)