Thank-you and Thank-you!

First I want to thank all of you for your kind thoughts and prayers for Mom and our family. Mom is home from the hospital, and doing very well. We almost have her completely moved in to her apartment, and she seems to be adjusting very well now to the move, in fact anxious to spend her first night. Everything gets hooked up tomorrow, in the mean time she is staying with my sister Wendy.

I love the package from Cathy of Tolen Treasures that I won from her give away! It's all so wonderful, and I have received many complements! Every piece has a special place, and couldn't have come at a better time! Thank-you over and over Cathy!

Meet Bill!

Bill is a snapping turtle that took up residence in the drain that runs alongside the front of the house. We named him Bill, well, basically because he looked like one to Robyn and me. Today, Ken found him swimming in the driveway, flooded from yesterdays rain. Personally, my cat Andy won the prize for the better looking animal contrary to popular opinion!

Packages and Prayers

It's been a very hectic time, and this morning my mother was admitted to the hospital with heart palpations and extremely high blood pressure. She is currently in selective care. The movers come tomorrow to finish taking the heavy things from the house and moving them to her apartment, so I will be there to direct traffic in Mom's absence.
I did have a very bright spot to my day though, I won the give away at Tolen's Treasures, and the wonderful package arrived today! I couldn't believe the many fantastic things Cathy sent me. I went to take a picture and the batteries are dead, so they are re-charging and I will post a picture tomorrow of all the wonderful goodies. Thank-you so much Cathy, you really brightened my day, and I can't wait to show off your great work!
In the mean time, please say a prayer for Mom, this has been so stressful for her and I'mvery concerned for her.
Blessings,
Laurie

Cake and Family

This week-end has been very busy. First, I did the cake for my friends grandmother who turned 90, a triple layer lemon with lemon custard filling. It smelled so good!

Then today the family gathered at Mom's to begin hauling things to be taken to our homes, sorting through things , cleaning out the greenhouse, basement and garage for the new owners, burning lots of wood and cardboard, and recalling so many memories. We sat around the dining room table for the last time ever, and all of us had the same thought. Where will we do this now? So we're going to make the second bedroom in Mom's apartment into a dining room, and continue to have our family gatherings there. It won't be the same as the homestead, but it's the family and laughter that make it special, not the building. (At least that's what we're trying to convince ourselves of...)

Then we gathered on the front steps for one last family photo. My brother Jay, Mom, Jay's wife and our sister Cheryl, (we don't use the word in-law in our family. Once your here, you're one of us) my sister Marlene, me and my sisters Kathy, and Wendy, and my husband Ken.

So Tuesday she gets her key, and we'll move her in. And the door will close, along with that chapter of our lives.

Chip's stuff

Chip is quite the unique little dog, with a very quirky personality. He has built himself his own little stash pile, of things he has found in ours and Robyn's yard Since this picture was taken it has grown to accommodate a rag bone, old glove, half of a plastic egg, all the sticks collected by himself, a toy teddy bear, pods from Robyn's tree, plastic juice bottles from the triplets, a purple rag, a carrot squeaky toy,and the list goes on! When he goes outside, he rolls around in the middle of his treasures, and is in 7th Heaven! You can see him at any time, picking up items and bringing them home to place in the increasing pile. I think he has watched Ken too much, and picked up his junk picking habits!

Hello!

Wow! I just noticed it's been longer than I thought since my last post. We have been so busy packing up Mom's house, it sold very quickly and we have to turn over the key at close, end of this month. It's amazing the amount of things accumulated in the last 52 years. It has been an emotional time for us sisters and Mom, sorting, tossing, packing; the stress level raises pretty high at times, but it's to be expected. She is moving into a very nice complex, with a lot less worry. It's subsidised housing which makes it easier for her to afford. The building is beautiful with all ameities right there. It's going to be hard handing over the key, and we're all prepared to cry. The people who bought the house are so nice, and have a passion for it. That makes it easier somewhat knowing it isn't going to anyone who want to turn it into a rental.
I will post more tomorrow!

Wonderful Surprises!

Receiving packages from home is an extra treat, especially ones like these! I was thrilled to receive this book from Diane, at http://pineconesroses.blogspot.com/ . If you enjoy Simple Abundance, you'll also love this book by its author, Sarah Ban Breathnach. It's beautiful, and I'm so touched by your generosity Diane!

I also received this beautiful painting by Liisa, in Sweden. Liisa won my wall quilt in the OWOH give-away. It proudly hangs in my room, I just love her talent. She also enclosed 2 pictures drawn by her daughters, that are now in my scrapbook! Liisa they are going to have your wonderful talent! So I had another Christmas in my heart! Thank-you so much Diane and Liisa. I will treasure your gifts always!!

Pictures! Finally!

Welcome to Iowa!
Crossing the Mississippi River, you come across major flooding in the area, caused by rains and melting snow. Homes were surrounded, and trees looked like they were growing in the middle of rivers.
Then we arrived at Chad's!
My granddaughters Tara and Kiley
there great chocolate lab Winston, who kept me company during the day and made it easier to be away from my little menagerie at home,
and Lily the Guinea pig welcomed me with open arms!

Recognize this Kathy!? My sister was at the furniture store and saw this set in the clearance section. When she went back to buy it, they had just sold it. Guess who bought it and where it is!? In Iowa!

It was a cloudless day when we went into Des Moines, Iowa's capital. Their capital building is amazingly beautiful, set against the bright blue sky. Click on the pictures to see fanastic details!

I was able to get a picture of my little family with the capital forming a beautiful backdrop.

Beautiful statues grace the capital and surrounding area. This one is a tribute to the West and Native Americans.

Tara and Kiley sitting on one of the fountains, which Kiley thought was Abraham Lincolns urinal!

Beautiful statue of Abraham Lincoln and Tad.

Each side of this monument honored different people and their works. Tara and Kiley are coming around the front of this one and were mortified by the bare woman holding her breasts. Kiley informed us very disgusted, that "this is NOT rated PG!

I loved the horses and their cavalrymen.
The detailing on these century + statues is amazing.

We then went to The Brass Armadillo, an antique store. It's huge! I saw these frames of embellished antique quilts and have some great ideas!

These are a couple of the hundreds of booths and displays. I am saving for the trip back in October, where I will promptly drop some cash!!

It's nice to be home, but this trip holds a lifetime of memories with my kids, that will always be close to my heart. I had the most wonderful, fun time, and can't wait to go back!

Wendy's Whimsy's2

This is Wendy's Blog! http://wendyswhimsys.blogspot.com/

I'm Home!

And I had the most amazing time with Chad, Tara and Kiley. The time for us to bond again, and spend quality time together will never be forgotten. I can't wait to return and do some more site seeing. There is so much to do and see in and around Des Moines, and seeing it with my little family makes it even more fun! I will post pictures as soon as Ken helps me find the right usb port to plug in so I can get them downloaded!

Wendy's Whimsy's

My sister Wendy has started her own blog! Titled Wendy's Whimsy's , please go over and say hi! In her post, she is looking for ideas for hankies. So if you have some, please share, Wendy loves hankies. She also does amazing cards, makes her own paper, is a scrapbooker, works with clay, and loves to work in her flower garden alongside her husband, which pretty much fills her whole back yard. Very talented, I know as she gets going on her blog you will see some great pictures, along with fun posts. so pop on over and welcome her, she would so much love to here from you!

Here's to Mental Health!

The love story of Ralph and Edna...
Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.
Ralph and Edna were both patients in a mental Hospital.
One day while they were walking past the hospital swimming pool. Ralph suddenly jumped into the deep end.
He sank to the bottom of the pool and stayed there.
Edna promptly jumped in to save him. She swam to the bottom and pulled him out. When the Head Nurse, Director became aware of Edna's heroic act she immediately ordered her to be discharged from the hospital, as she now considered her to be mentally stable.
When she went to tell Edna the news she said, ' Edna, I have good news and bad news. The good news is you're being discharged, since you were able to rationally respond to a crisis by jumping in and saving the life of the person you love. I have concluded that your act displays sound mindedness.
The bad news is, Ralph hung himself in the bathroom with his bathrobe belt right after you saved him. I am so sorry, but he's dead.'
Edna replied, 'He didn't hang himself, I put him there to dry. How soon can I go home?'

Brass Armadillo

I went back with the girls last night, and bought a set of vintage hankies with the most beautiful embroidery and tatting, a vintage doily, and a beautiful porcelain candy dish. Today we're cleaning and packing for the trip home tomorrow. I have had the most wonderful time with my little family, and the one on one with Tara, Kiley and Chad has been such a treat for me, as it was the first time in many years. I can't wait to come back in the fall, it's been great!