Weeks End

Thank-you all for your concerns on how I have been feeling lately. I'm doing fine now, and relieved to be feeling better. It's been a long difficult week, we are preparing our family homestead for sale, and got it put on the market yesterday. Now comes the task of getting it in shape for showings. Sorting through 52 years of belongings, purging the needed, throw aways, and garage sale items, dealing with emotions, it's been a haul. It's amazing how much is accumulated over the years. My sisters, Mother, and myself are faring with it all, it's hard on Mom though, we know to be patient and help her through. It looks so strange to pull up to the house and see the Century 21 post sign in the front yard. But we all know it's for the best, and will be easier to do this now than later. Working on the upstairs is our priority for tomorrow, then we'll be all set for right now. The basement and garage are after that. So say a prayer, o.k.? We need all the help we can get, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually! Thanks!

Urgent on the Craft Nook!

Well as you can see, I'm still a ways from completing my room. This week, I had planned on spending at least a couple hours each day working in it, but hadn't been feeling that good. I'm trying to finish peeling wall paper backing off the walls so I can re-primer and paint.
This past week, my nieces sister-in-law delivered her baby girl prematurely, and I want to get her quilt done. These are two of the fabrics going into it. I'm so anxious to start, it may end up being a kitchen table project!
Welcome to the world Hailey!! And congratulations to Brian and Debrah. She's beautiful!

From the Mouths of Babes!

Being a Grandparent...

1. She was in the bathroom, putting on her makeup, under the watchful eyes of her young granddaughter, as she'd done many times before. After she applied her lipstick and started to leave, the little one said, 'But Gramma, you forgot to kiss the toilet paper good-bye!' I will probably never put lipstick on again without thinking about kissing the toilet paper good-bye...

2. My young grandson called the other day to wish me Happy Birthday. He asked me how old I was, and I told him, '62.' He was quiet for a moment, and then he asked, 'Did you start at 1?'

3. After putting her grandchildren to bed, a grandmother changed into old slacks and a droopy blouse and proceeded to wash her hair. As she heard the children getting more and more rambunctious, her patience grew thin.Finally, she threw a towel around her head and stormed into their room, putting them back to bed with stern warnings. As she left the room, she heard the three-year-old say with a trembling voice, 'Who was THAT?'

4. A grandmother was telling her little granddaughter what her own childhood was like: 'We used to skate outside on a pond I had a swing made from a tire; it hung from a tree in our front yard. We rode our pony. We picked wild raspberries in the woods.' The little girl was wide-eyed, taking this all in. At last she said, 'I sure wish I'd gotten to know you sooner!

'5. My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, 'Grandma, do you know how you and God are alike?' I mentally polished my halo and I said, 'No, how are we alike?'' You're both old,' he replied.

6. A little girl was diligently pounding away on her grandfather's word processor. She told him she was writing a story. 'What's it about?' he asked. 'I don't know,' she replied. 'I can't read.

7. I didn't know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I decided to test her. I would point out something and ask what color it was.She would tell me and was always correct. It was fun for me, so I continued. At last she headed for the door, saying, 'Grandma, I think you should try to figure out some of these yourself!

'8. When my grandson Billy and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky insects. Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before I did, Billy whispered, 'It's no use Grandpa. Now the mosquitoes are coming after us with flashlights.'

9. When my grandson asked me how old I was, I teasingly replied, 'I'm not sure.' 'Look in your underwear, Grandpa,' he advised. 'Mine says I'm four to six.'

10. A second grader came home from school and said to her grandmother,'Grandma, guess what? We learned how to make babies today.' The grandmother, more than a little surprised, tried to keep her cool.'That's interesting,' she said, 'how do you make babies? ''It's simple,' replied the girl. 'You just change 'y' to 'i' and add 'es'.'

11. Children's Logic: 'Give me a sentence about a public servant,' said a teacher. The small boy wrote: 'The fireman came down the ladder pregnant.' The teacher took the lad aside to correct him. 'Don't you know what pregnant means?'she asked. 'Sure,' said the young boy confidently. 'It means carrying a child.'

12. A nursery school teacher was delivering a station wagon full of kids home one day when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front seat of the truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children started discussing the dog's duties.' They use him to keep crowds back,' said one child. 'No,' said another. 'He's just for good luck.' A third child brought the argument to a close. 'They use the dogs,' she said firmly, 'to find the fire hydrants.'--

I found these so cute, and want to add my own.

1. My grand-daughter Tara was telling me they were learning about the civil war. She told a fascinating tale of Abraham Lincoln, and ended by asking me "Mimi, were you ever a slave?"

2.I was sitting with my grand-daughter Kiley curled up in my lap. I told her I was starting a diet and pretty soon I was going to lose weight. Kiley didn't like the idea, to which she replied, "no Mimi, I like you fluffy!"

3.My Aunt Lola was discussing her grand-daughters school work, where at that time they were learning about pioneer days. She was talking about how they came over in Conestoga wagons. Aunt Lola asked her what that would be like, to which her grand-daughter replied, "you should know, you rode in one."

4. I remember the day distinctly, when at about 9 yrs. old, I decided to run away. Mom was dusting, and I was writing my good-bye note. I asked Mom, "how do you spell tomorrow?" For which she replied, not knowing what I was doing. I finished the letter, and headed out the door. This is what my mother read: "Dear Mommy, I am running away and will not be home until tomorrow." I was home before dinner.

Out of the mouths of babes!

Recycled CD boxes

Remember these wooden boxes that AOL would send out with the cd's inside to sample their program? Well, I didn't throw them out, hoping to be able to find a use for such a nice box. I did!
First, I peeled off the plastic film that covers the box.

I found Modge Podge to be my best friend for the project. I covered the box, one side at a time, with it. Then I applied scrapbook paper. The binding side of the book and the sides, are also a strips of paper, or you can use acrylic paint on the sides. I put on any flat stickers at this time, to be modge podged over to assure they stay there. After doing the back and sides, I sealed the whole thing, again one side at a time and allowed complete drying time, with the Modge Podge. I applied 2 coats.

After the outside is dry, I did the inside of the book, using elements that matched the colors and theme, as I would on one of my scrapbook pages. Then, I made a little book to hold 6 to 8 pictures, which fit nicely when the box is closed. I stitched up the center, and glued it to the bottom inside of the box. Then I decorated the outside of the box with more 3 dimensional accents, and there it is! It's filled with pictures of my great niece Kayla, taken in a field of dandelions.

This one I did using stickers in a bird theme,

and the little book is pictures of birds I took around my feeders.
I really wish AOL still sent cd's in these boxes, ideal for craft projects! After I'm done with the two I'm working on, that will be it, unfortunately, unless I can find someone with any in their stashes they'd like to toss my way!

I've been tagged!

Teri, from Lavender Between the Cracks,http://lavenderbetweenthecracks.blogspot.com/ tagged me! I had to post the picture from my fourth post. There were 2 there, so decided to post both. They were my niece and great niece in their Halloween finery! Jenna, below made the cutest lady bug, and Claire, above was Pebbles. Claire is a girly girl, and thought while her mother was getting her hair and what she thought make-up done, that she was going to be beautiful, all the time saying "Oh Pretty!" Well, she was so upset when Wendy held her to the mirror. Poor kid! Claire though, is beautiful no matter!

In turn, I tag Diane from "Pinecones and Roses"! http://pineconesroses.blogspot.com/

Completion Date?

Ok, so I have set February 1st as the day my craft nook is to be completed. Whatever stage I am at, even if I haven't completed it, the picture of what I have done will be displayed on this page. Promise! There, I said it. Now, I am not going to humiliate myself by not having the job done. Plus I have several projects waiting patiently, so, since I already showed you the beginning mess, I must complete what I started! Never mind that I may be a little crazier than normal, minus a few clumps of torn out hair, and ready to destroy anyone who crosses my path, I will finish what I started. I'll have no regrets with starting this major task, but will keep in my mind what the finished product will look like, one I can be proud to show you! Off I go...

Two Questions!

Life boils down to two questions:
Do I get a dog?

Or have children?

I really need to get back to my sewing! I did this crazy quilt wall hanging a couple years back. I've done more, but they ended up as gifts. This one, of my grand-daughters, is still one of my favorites. I think when my sewing room is finished, I'll get back my inspiration, right now I feel kind of displaced, really need my quiet spot. I spend a bit of time next door at my nieces, and couldn't figure out why, when I come home, I get kind of depressed, like an ill feeling. I figured it out. When my husband is awake, he watches t.v., and never anything quiet or relaxing, always loud, terrible background music, violent shows where someone is always getting attacked or killed. You know, testosterone shows. I feel my jaw clench, the music makes me feel weird, and I want to run away screaming back to Robyn's, or when I have money, Hobby Lobby. With little left to do to complete my room, I can't wait to get in there, close the door, turn on my soothing music, and sew while looking out the window that overlooks my flower garden, although covered in snow right now,... What do you ladies do to relax and unwind? Where is your special little area that is all yours to do as you please? Do any of you have a retired husband that you'd like to kick to the curb sometimes, or at lease in the butt? :) Please, tell me I'm not the only one!!

Celebrate!

Wow! I just finished watching the pre-inaugural celebration at the Lincoln Memorial. What a beautiful, fantastic event! The music was awesome, the speeches were so inspiring, the history lessons so informative and moving, and the speech by Obama was pure class, intelligence, and inspirational. If you didn't get a chance to see it, and get HBO, it's on several more times. I only hope they bring it out in DVD, as it will be a major keepsake from this moment in history. I really anticipate Tuesday, what a great time for our nation.

Turning Tiny Pieces

O.K. ladies, a question that needs answered! How do you turn narrow pieces inside right? There has to be a way to turn the arms and legs without fraying the seams! A bodkin isn't working. . Anyone that can help!?

Pay it Forward

Looking for three people who would like to receive a special gift from me!

Have you seen the movie Pay it Forward? The concept was to do something nice for someone, who in turn would do something for someone else. That is how we play. I joined Lola at http://ansewon.blogspot.com/ in her PIF. She will send her 3 people a special gift, and in return, we are to find 3 more to pay forward. If you join in, as one of my 3, you are notified in an e-mail, and you post on your blog to find 3 that you will send a special gift to. You have 6 months to create something to send to your 3 people. You can get ideas from their profiles or off their blogs. Participants must have a blog to join. Interested? Just leave a comment that you would like to participate, and within 6 months you will receive a very special customized gift from me.

Be sure that you have a place on your blog or profile that I can get your e-mail address to contact you for your home address. Let's have fun, and Pay it Forward!

Blessings,

Laurie

Why NOT to go to Bed With Your Hair Wet!!

Anyone else brave enough to share a bad hairday!?

Tooth Fairy Boxes

My great nephews are starting to lose their teeth, and unbeknown to Robyn, Jacob put a tooth under his pillow, and was devastated this morning when he found the "tooth fairy" didn't visit him during the night. So I took some little paper mache' boxes I found at the dollar store, made a tooth fairy box to put under his pillow tonight, and am doing 2 more for the other boys. I have to make some for my great nieces also. Just use scraps of fabric, cotton ball pulled apart to puff up the top and put in the bottom, and trim. Fabric glue is all you need to hold them together. The boys love it!

My New Diet!

From an actual 1930's advertisement! Hey! Sign Me Up!

Mom

Thank-you to all for your prayers for my Mom. She is home from the hospital now, weak, but gaining her strength back. My sister and I went over today to take down and put away the Christmas decorations, and her spirits were up. She is looking forward to getting back in the swing of things, and I know the prayers that have gone up for her have gotten her this far already. Again, Thanks.
Blessings,
Laurie

Today's Chuckle

I received this e-mail from Elaine at http://Averettladynana.blogspot.com. I remember well eating at Woolworth's, along with the several other fountains that could be found in the dime stores. Those days I cherish, the memories of downtowns you would actually see full of shoppers, sitting at counters enjoying a sandwhich or a malted. It was a pleasant lunch break from shopping all the wonderful stores towns had to offer. I don't know about other cities, but our downtown, still existing but barely, has been taken over by the local mall. I miss walking store to store, Christmas shopping in the winter weather with Holiday music piped through outdoor speakers. I miss the department stores on every block, Sears, Penny's and Sperry's, and the dime stores with their numerous treasures and food counters. Gone are the days. I wish they would return so this generation could experience life in the good old days, even if for only one. What childhood memory do you cherish?

Update on Mom

I just talked to my sister, Mom is being kept at least another night, she is ill again. They are running quite a few tests, her gal bladder, kidneys, etc. to see where there may be a problem. Please continue to keep her in your prayers. Mom is 81. We pray they find what is wrong and that she bounce back soon. Blessings to all, Laurie

Thank God for Life Line. We signed my mother up for this when my sister moved, in case of emergency. Yesterday morning she used it. She became ill during the night with the stomach virus that is going around, and by 6 in the morning she was so ill. My sister was called and found her unable to move, in her chair. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital where they found her severely dehydrated and quite sick and very weak. All day yesterday they pumped her full of fluids. Mom will be there for a couple days, while they run some tests and let her regain some strength. Please keep her in your prayers. And if you know a senior who lives alone, please check on them. What a scary thing to go through. One of us girls visit Mom every day, and if we had known what was going to happen, well we didn't and are so grateful she pushed that button.

Eye of the Needle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-KQS_wLbGQ

If you haven't seen this yet, give it a look! This man is amazing, the things he sculps no bigger than the eye of a needle. I've never seen anything like this!

Love Comes in Many Ways

As I sit here at 2 in the morning with my cat on my shoulder, (his look-out post whenever I'm on the computer, I can't help but wonder what attracts some of us to creatures like this, and others to turn their heads in disgust. What makes him so beautiful to me, and so repulsive to others? I adopted Andy from the humane society because I felt so sorry for him. Part Sphinx, he was picked on by people coming in to look at the kittens, laughed at and ridiculed. He just sat in the cage, only 8 weeks old at the time, and you could see the sadness in his eyes. No one wanted to hold him or pet him. Why didn't anyone want him? What was so repulsive that couldn't be looked at as unique and beautiful? I had to take him home. Andy is one of my greatest joys. I wouldn't trade him for anything. He is the most affectionate creature, loving, more like a dog than a cat, he has to be with me all the time. He sleeps under my covers curled up by my chest, even follows me into the bathroom, and loves to play with the dogs. Andy is the ideal cat. He can perch on my shoulder anytime he wants. It wouldn't seem right if he didn't.

All Year Long

When my father was alive, it was a tradition in our church each Christmas, for him to join the choir in a recitation of this song by Larnel Harris, "All Year Long" With his deep, beautiful voice, he would recite the verses while the choir sang the refrain. It always moved the congregation to tears. With Dad gone now, I still reflect on the message of this song.
In our home, I have held to the tradition of taking down the decorations on January 6th, Epiphany; the arrival of the wise men to the manger, traditionally the 12th day of Christmas. Then comes the hard part. How to keep that spirit alive all year long. How do you? What traditions, acts, or feelings keep the birth of our Lord, and the purpose He came to us alive in your heart?



He braced the old ladder with all of His might
And shouted, "dad have no fear"
As I stretched high to store the stockings and trim
In the attic for another year.
We were busily packing our Christmas away
While singing a carol we knew
When I heard my son in innocence inquire
Do we store away Jesus too?

I smiled at my boy as again I explain
God's longing to reconcile
How He gave to the world the gift of new life
When His yearning became Mary’s child.
Though surrounded by all of man's goods we embrace
The hope of that Bethlehem night
We will never store this blessed gift away
With the tinsel and colored lights.

All Year Long,
We must worship day by day
All year long tis the season to obey.
May the Christmas tree lights
And the sleigh rides at night
Remind us all to stay
In Gods' presence
All Year Long.

As we welcome the Epiphany, may each of you, my dear blog friends, carry the spirit of Christmas in your hearts, and have a very blessed 2009.

Nature's Heart

I came across a blog called Pretty Paper Hearts. Each week is a challenge to make a heart of a different theme. This week is using objects from nature. For mine, I made the heart from bark I found in the yard, and embellished with holly leaves, cone flower seed pod, dogwood branches, pine needles, weeds, and some rose buds I found on the remains of my rose bush. I also used a piece of antique lace, which didn't show up too well. (I really need a new camera!) Check out the site, it's very interesting.

Morning Scene

While taking my morning walk, I noticed the ice on the holly bush. I wish the sunlight reflections would have shown up in the picture, like prisms dancing in the sun. It's still really pretty, though.

Why!

Alright, why is it that shirts only shrink length wise!?? I mean really, if I wanted a crop top I'd buy one! I have wasted so much money on the cutest tops, only to be able to wear them once! Yes, I check the tags, but my washing machine doesn't discriminate between cotton or poly blend. What starts mid thigh, will inevitably end up above the belly button. Not a pretty site on a plus size woman!! Well, that was a little too much information, but hey, what's a blog if you can't share!?

New Years Baby

Today was my sister Marlene's(Marti for short) birthday. She claimed the title of New Years Baby, 1950. Mom, in the picture with her, received many gifts for the distinction, including a ride home in an ambulance. Her picture was plastered all over the newspaper, and also was on her first birthday. Now, it's just another birth and no big deal. I wish they'd go back to the way it was. It was something special, a major event. What's really funny, is her daughter Robyn's father-in-law was born in the same hospital, and almost got the title that year, but Mom and Marti beat him out! Small world!

Sharon, at http://wildflowerhouse.blogspot.com/, just tagged me. So now I have to share 8 details of my life, and pass the tag on to 8 more. Well, I don't have to, but I will joyfully! If you're tagged, you don't have to do it, but enjoy the others responses if you can!
1. If it isn't chocolate, it isn't candy or ice cream.
2. I am a sucker for animals. Strays seem to find me, all but one of my pets are rescues or were found on the
street.
3. This is harder than I thought it would be! Can that count as one?! No? Well,...hmmm..uuhhhh...I hate
housework. I'll do it, but only because it needs to be done. I'd much rather be playing, but can't enjoy if I know everything isn't where it should be.
4. I'm not a phone talker, in fact if I didn't need one, I wouldn't have it!
5. I love the outdoors. Spring, summer and fall are my favorite seasons.
6. I wish I had the courage to go up in a hot air balloon. Maybe someday...
7. I love dreams where I am flying. Just floating through the air. I feel so free and liberated!
8. Games. I love board games, card games, and wish I knew someone who played cribbage. I used to play it by the hours, but lost my playing partner.

O.K., I don't have many to tag, but will. Actually, this is fun, I didn't know I'd have to go so deep to think of 8 things to post.
http://pearljazz-pearl.blogspot.com/
http://ansewon.blogspot.com/
http://pineconesroses.blogspot.com/
http://heartsdelights.blogspot.com/
http://mariannesstuff.blogspot.com/
http://averettladynana.blogspot.com/

Trash to Treasure

Well I'm starting to make a dent in my craft room, (I will no longer refer to it as the junk room, I'll try to be more optimistic!) So much has been thrown away, and oh my the things I forgot I had! Tons of fabric, linens that can be recycled, anybody need an automatic jar opener!? The Adirondack chairs my husband made for my sister and brother in law really have to go to their new home, taking up so much space! (Hint hint!) My eyes are seeing things the way they will be, and so anxious to share my new ideas for this room! I'll start dropping some hints though, along the way.
I hope everyone is enjoying the new year. I'm off to my sisters, she was the New Years baby for 1950!
Enjoy your day!