what I did on my blogger vacation

Miss me? (Please only answer that in the affirmative.) It's good to be back!


The list of things I wanted to accomplish while I took a blog break mocks me now. Oh, I did get a few of the things done, but my best intentions are still just that.

I can’t figure out if I am
a) a hopeless optimist
b) lazy bum
c) incapable of sticking to my tasks.
(Personally, I prefer a.)

That is not to say I didn’t get anything done. We had one glorious weekend of temperatures in the 50’s and 60’s. While Pat pruned our rose bushes, I spread manure around the rhubarb, trimmed perennials and hoed the garden beds. We washed the car and generally cleaned up around the outside of the house.

I am attending two Bible studies and the homework required for both of these takes about two hours. I began some spring cleaning and worked on some music. Oh, and taxes. I assemble all the information and Pat fills out the form for our tax preparer. Check that one off the list.

I did finish the baby quilt. I had some fabric I bought a few years ago which lent itself perfectly to a very feminine, sweet, old-fashioned quilt for our first granddaughter.

Since I used a high loft batting - good for baby's comfort when on the floor- this quilt is tied.



I don’t normally keep a ‘stash’ of fabric on hand, but the majority of these fabrics were bought a few years ago. In addition to these fabrics, I had a small bag of fabric that Kristi gave me after her mother’s death (March 2008). Kathie died a month before Joshua was born. As I looked through her fabrics, I realized I could incorporate some of them in the baby quilt. The best fabrics were very light , while all of mine were saturated with color. After piecing the top, I realized the light colors were too stark a contrast. Inspiration struck and I appliquéd hearts on the light fabric (with fusible webbing and a decorative blanket stitch).






I am so happy with the results. And so thrilled that we can wrap our first little granddaughter in a quilt lovingly compiled by both her grandmas.
~~~~~~~
Lots of interesting things happened in the past few weeks. Can't wait to share? What have y'all been doin'?

while I am not blogging....

....I am getting stuff done. Baby quilt is finished!

I'm keeping up with both of the Bible studies I am in (homework takes about 2 hours a day - but so worth it!).

And we are enjoying watching our hometown girl on the USA women's hockey team. You can read Jinelle's blog here.

We have known Jinelle since she was a little girl and it is a blast to know an Olympic athlete!

Go, USA!

Linda, I did see your picture. Looks impressive! So good to see you!

pressing the mute button

With February well along its way, I realized I have several things I need to get done.

• Queen size quilt to be quilted and bound
• Baby quilt for granddaughter
• presents for Joshua' birthday on April 29
• Christmas stockings for Nate and Michelle (I do have a little time on this one)
• And...don't hate me...it is not too early to start direct sowing lettuce, peas and radishes

According to Cheri's perpetual gardening calendar, these things as well as kale, mustard and onions can be planted in February.

So, I'll be taking a bit of a blogging break to get on top of some of these projects. I'll pop in here now and again if there is anything newsworthy to report. Otherwise, Lord willing,
I'll be back March 1.

Hopefully with a few finished projects to display.

And a big shout of Happy Birthday to my beautiful daughter-in-love, Michelle on Wednesday.
Have a wonderful day, Michelle!

seemed like a good idea at the time...

In anticipation of Pat's upcoming retirement, we decided to go to the doctor and get some routine tests done (while our current insurance would pay for them).

So,we are in the process of doing that. My blood work came back fine, except I have hypothyroidism. Great. Now, I have to take medication. The good news about hypothyroidism is that you get to blame weight gain on that. I'm all about blaming something besides myself for these extra pounds.

But I'm very thankful that my cholesterol is good, kidney and liver function good and all that other stuff.

It was recommended that I have a bone density scan, being a woman of a certain age. The test is no big deal. You just lay still on a table for several minutes. I can do that.

That was the easy part. The not so easy part is digesting the news that I have severe osteoporosis in my right hip and lower spine.

I was always told that weight bearing exercise, like walking,would help prevent osteoporosis. So much for 20 years of walking three miles a day. On the other hand, just think how bad off I would be if I didn't exercise! And I'd be fat, too. Oh, wait I can blame that on hypothyroidism. :)

Information is power, though, and while I am not thrilled to have osteo, at least I know and can do something about it. I'll take my pills like a good girl. Hopefully I can 'stop and reverse bone loss' just like Gidget.

Can't wait for my colonoscopy now.

God sightings

Do you remember this?

Which was followed by this.

And this.

The story has been retold, along with many other stories of faith in modern times in this book.

Kelly, my daughter-in-law's sister submitted Curt's story to a magazine. It was subsequently chosen to be included in this book.

My name is briefly mentioned in the story about Curt, but that is not why I recommend this book to you. I recommend it because GOD's Holy Name and His activity in live's today is evident throughout.

(This book would make a wonderful gift for someone who is discouraged...and a great read even if you aren't!)

~~~~~~
Mom, Dad and I are heading up to the almost big city today to meet my sweet sister-in-law Cheryl and adorable niece Emilee for lunch. Yay for family! Yay for Cracker Barrel!

girly

frosted maple

We stayed home from church the other morning because our road was like a skating rink. Over 100 churches were canceled across the area and the news kept telling people to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.


So,we went to church on the radio and the internet. Nice, but not the same as being there.

if we can put a man on the moon,
can't we come up with a better name for this beautiful phenomenon than 'hoarfrost'?

Girl stuff has been on my mind for the past 48 hours or so. Still can't quite believe we will have a little girl in the family. In my mind's eye though, I see her sitting on her grandpa's lap...weaving her way into his heart and wrapping him around her little finger.

Without even trying I came across some cute girly quilts yesterday here and here.
We make the last payment on Daniel's tuition next week (can I hear a BIG HOORAY?!?!?) and then fabric stores, here I come!

Oh, and I think I need to learn how to smock.

May I have your attention, please?

Pat's dad had two brothers. No sisters.
Pat has one brother. No sisters.
Jon has two brothers. No sisters.

So, it would be reasonable to assume that Josh would have a brother not a sister.




Reasonable. BUT WRONG!!!

It's a

Isn't she cute? The doctor said everything looks good!

Now, I would have been just as thrilled with a grandson, being rather accustomed to boys.

But a girl! That opens a whole new world of possibilities.

Let the shoppin' and stichin' begin!

countdowns abound

Know what this number means?



No? How 'bout this one?



Course, there's also 146 and 97 and 0!

Here's what they all mean:

89....days until PAT RETIRES!!!!
65....work days until PAT RETIRES!!!!
146....days until grandbaby # 2 is due
97.....days until Daniel graduates
0.....that's zero days until we find out if Joshua will be welcoming a baby brother or sister
(course y'all are gonna have to wait one more day)

Some 'helpful' thoughts on retirement:


Retirement is waking up in the morning with nothing to do and by bedtime having done only half of it. - Unknown

Retirement . . . is when you stop living at work and begin working at living. - Unknown

Fishing Yesterday, Fishing Today, Fishing Tomorrow I must be retired - Unknown

Retirement is the time when you never do all the things you intended to do when you were still working.- Unknown

And my personal favorite by the great philosopher Chi Chi Rodriguez: When a man retires, his wife gets twice the husband but only half the income.

So, as you can see we have lots of exciting things coming up. We'll keep you posted!

Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Psalms 90:12

When a man retires, his wife gets twice the husband but only half the income. - Chi Chi Rodriguez