In Honor of Casey Casanova

I was watching NewsHour on PBS and at the end of each program they honor those that have given their lives in service and post the names. For some reason, Marine Lance Cpl. Casey L. Casanova's name caught my attention more than usual and I KNEW I had to find a way to get a comfortghan to her Mother. It became a personal mission to get the information needed to do so. I am very blessed to have great friends at HMB who were able to assist me in the process and never question why THIS one was so important. I am very honored to be mailing the comfort afghan pictured here to Casey's mother c/o her grandparents. Thank you to square donors and HMB for making this possible.

I have been tagged

I have been "tagged" by Debbie Hodge. First, I have to tell you a bit about Debbie. She is the author of the book I won called Get It Scrapped. I highly, highly recommend this book! It is NOT an organizational book. It is much different and helps you get all your pictures on pages and in albums. However, they are done with meaning! GREAT book! Debbie also has on-line classes you can take. More information and sample classes can be accessed via her web site.

Ten years ago.... I was pregnant with DS #2 and still not feeling so great. It was also only a couple of months after my Dad died AND I had started a new job. In fact, I think it was about this time that I told my new employer about being pregnant. I was also dealing with all the financial stuff in regards to my Dad's death. Wow, really glad all THAT stress is in the past!


Five things on my "to-do" list (only five?!?!?)
1-go to work
2-go to the bank
3-A-Stym appt for my knee
4-gym for physical therapy on my knee
5-per request from DS #2 - teach him to scrap

I enjoy....spending time with friends and family. I also really like that time in the morning when I am up before everyone else in the house wakes.

I have lived...for the last 13 years with the most wonderful man and husband a woman could want.

Now, I will tag
Sarah
Caralee
Gwennie
Sara
Courtney

Now I should probably let them know :)

200 cards

Have you ever wondered what 200 cards looks like? I KNEW you had :)
I decided to join in making some cards to send to soldiers to use. When I asked about inexpensive envelopes, my friend Kim volunteered to donate them. She brought over a couple of boxes and so I took it as a personal challenge to need them all. So, here are the 200 cards I made.

In Honor of Steven J. Christofferson

This comfort afghan is being sent with much love and respect to the mother of Army Sgt. Steven J. Christofferson.

Maybe I need to buy a lottery ticket or two

I have to share all the FANTASTIC stuff that has happened recently. Since May 31 this is the list:
paid off the mortgage -YES!!!
my DH gave me roses
won a Bind-It-All
won a copy of Get It Scrapped
won another contest that has a scrap kit as the prize
the books I wanted from the library came in and were held for me
it worked out to go to the Opened Caption showing of Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull
my youngest won an outstanding citizen of the year award at school
school is out for summer
and I know there is more that I haven't listed. I am in such a great place with all of this wonderful stuff happening that I just HAD to share!

In the mail

This comfort afghan is being sent to a very dear lady and friend who is going through a couple of different surgeries right now. She is very loved and we wish her a speedy and easy recovery.

Because I need more to do

HA! HA!!!
Seriously, I have fallen in love with these bags! They are just beautiful and I want one!! I have a friend who is much better at sewing than I and she has agreed to help me undertake the task of attempting to make one. I have scrap denim in smaller pieces left from the quilts I make and I bought muslin for the backing the other day. At least, I think that is what I will need to sew the design on. If not, then I have some extra muslin!
I keep thinking about them and can not wait to make one of my own. I just hope I am not too disappointed with the outcome.

In Honor of Michael T. Lilly

This is for the mother of Sgt. Michael T. Lilly. Thank you again to all who send squares to be assembled and make it possible for HMB OPH to send these comfort afghans.

It is that time of year

School is almost out for the summer. I have been working on end of year thank you gifts for my youngest's teacher, SLP and interpreter. I decided to make these card sets for them and there was also a pattern for a matching tote. Each one is different, but here is one of the sets. I am pretty happy with the end result and hope they like them. Now, to determine what to do for the bus drivers. They are who I entrust his safety to every morning and afternoon. They desire a big thank you as well for doing such a great job.

Recently mailed

My DH had a co-worker pass away recently. This comfort afghan was sent to his wife. I hope it brings peace during this difficult time for her.

Spring Fever

I've got it! I want to be outside enjoying the nice weather. It makes me crazy not to be and the days seem so long! At least the boys will be out of school for the summer in a few weeks so we can start to do some fun things!!!
I have been busy with multiple projects lately, but one of the things I have done is make some cards. I have been playing with different techniques and supplies. LOTS of fun! The dresses on these women are all paper pieced. It really created a lot more visual interest, but they were very detailed to cut out.

It is Monday

And do I know it! Actually, it wasn't super bad, I am just frustrated. I continue to end up in situations at work where my plans get messed up because someone else isn't doing what is needed for me to be able to finish my work. My day off tomorrow? Not happening. Why? There is a presentation out of town on Friday that needs to be ready to go. It is not ready to send to print because some decisions -that I don't make- still have to be make. I can not finish my work on it until they are. Consequently, I have to go in tomorrow and HOPE the decisions get made so I can finish and send it to print.
The worst part, we have two meetings next week (Thurs and Fri) that are going to end up in the exact same situation because I know there will be complete refusal to work on them (or even look at them) until Monday. I do not operate on last minute at work well. I hate it in fact.

Now, I will admit that my job has a pretty nice schedule and they are very accommodating. However, I signed up with the understanding that I work 4 days a week. If you want me to attend the meetings at the end, then the work preparing for them has to be done so I can have a day off in the beginning of the week. Just they way the calendar works. I know that the presentation work isn't not getting done with any intention of me not getting a day off, it is just how it is happening. However, there also isn't any thought given to me getting the day of either. So not intentionally malicious, but not courteous either.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. Feel a bit better for venting, but not as much as if it all wasn't happening OR if I thought it would stop happening.

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!!