Good morning,
I think I last wrote in 2013.  Today is Good Friday, March 31, 2018.  Yes, lots of days, weeks, and months have gone since I last wrote.

We will be going to church tonight for the Good Friday service.  Do you observe Easter?  I grew up calling it Easter Sunday but I have many friends who call it Resurrection Sunday.  Regardless of what one calls it it is a wonderful time of year.  We are so blessed by the selfless act that is celebrated.

Spring is here and bluebonnets are in bloom, along with lots of other flowers.  I love spring!

It has been an eventful time the past year -- Hurricane Harvey blew in on us and flooded much of this area.  Our house did not flood but our daughter went to help evacuate the nursing home where she worked and ended up losing her car in the flooding.  About one million cars were lost in this area because of the flooding. 

A couple of days ago we had a big rainstorm pass over, full of sound and fury.  Some areas east of us, along the San Jacinto river have flooded and the river is still rising.  Glad we aren't over there.

Well, I am going to call this to a halt.  If someone stumbles across this and visits, please say hello.

November

November is here and today is Veteran's Day, or Armistice Day as it used to be called.  I am so thankful for all my friends and family who chose to serve our country in some form of the military.
I thank you for your service -- May God bless you all!

Busy day today -- need to, among other things, get my eyes examined.  Sweetie and I both have appointments. 
I also need to do some veggie shopping -- I am going to make pizza for dinner -- crust, Alfredo sauce, lots of veggies (onions, red and green bell peppers, tomato, perhaps some mushrooms) and some baked chicken scattered on top, then some shredded cheese.  It will be good -- trust me!

I also need to do some laundry.

Last night Sweetie and I went shopping for furniture -- I think we want to refurnish our living room -- I want it all to be reasonably matching again -- right now it is a hodge-podge of newish, left-over, and hand-me-down.  We looked at some leather pieces -- I didn't see any fabric that I was interested in and the leather looked really nice.  Didn't purchase anything, however, still considering.

How long does it take for you to decide on new furnishings?

Weather is cooling down and a/c if off and windows open -- my favorite time of the year!

Sweetie and I spent almost 2 weeks on Iron Mountain (Arkansas) in October.  It rained 4 of the days we were there -- I was very, very tired of rain (and I am a big rain lover!)  Still, it was a good break from our regular routine.  After we returned it was time for the International Quilt Show (for me) and the Lone Star Rally (for Sweetie)  More rain here at home -- Sweetie brought our tent camper back just dripping -- it took several days to make sure it was completely dry -- did not want to put it away wet!  Mold and mildew would grow in minutes!

 

Better go and pay bills -- take care, everyone, and drop a line if you get a chance.

And time marches on...

Here it is September.  Can you believe?  September.  This year has flown by!
I have been buried in work and somehow I never seem to have time for my blog anymore.  I used to love to visit all the blogs I had marked as interesting.  Loved sharing with people.
Then...
My computer crashed.
I lost my list
Somewhere I lost any spare time that I had.
So, here it is September and I was last on my blog in June.  Worse of all, still working on the same quilt!
Oh, my, I sure thought retirement would be a little different than it has turned out to be!

Does anyone have lots of spare time?  If so, please share with me how you got that to happen.  Please.
Looking forward to hearing from you!

More Blocks

I sewed on Monday -- at home.  Made 4 complete blocks.  By the time I finished my hand felt it was on fire.       Tuesday I tried to work out -- found that I won't be able to do much for a while -- still have very sore muscles!  I AM IMPATIENT!

This is what the finished block will look like.  There are a total of 12 pieces  in each block.  I have now made 5 of these blocks.  I need 4 more for the body of the quilt and then 4 of the 3-piece smaller block to fit in the corners.   They are already cut -- just need to be sewn.   Still need to cut the sashing but have the "cornerstones" cut and ready to sew to the sashing.

Feeling better....

Quilting today -- I put together the first complete block of the little quilt I'm working on.  Success!  It actually went together beautifully. (The complete block is a four patch -- first each of the four small pieces have to be made, squared, and then sewn together to complete the larger block.)   I think I might be able to complete this quilt after all.  I'll try to take a picture of the block so you can see that it is possible.  
Moral to this story....don't give up!

Can you believe it is June!

Hello Blog Friends,
It is June 2 -- I have a hard time believing how quickly this year is going by!


This morning we were blessed by a wonderful rain.  It was surely needed!

Church was great this morning -- then pizza for lunch followed by a nap.  Now I have been visiting some blogs that I enjoy visiting -- nothing major to do.  Tomorrow is my quilting day and I am going to take my machine to try to sew some of those awful squares that I'm trying to make for the quilt pattern that I bought at last year's quilt show.  Millions of small pieces to cut and then to sew together.  Don't like the pattern and don't think I will make it again!  (Millions may be a slight exaggeration but it seems that way!)

What is your least favorite pattern?  Have you ever bought something that you ended up not liking?

The hand/wrist/arm that I injured in the fall in New Mexico is healing but Sweetie is taking me tomorrow morning so he can set up the machine to keep me from having to lift it.  My thumb is still very sore and I don't think I have the grip strength to lift the machine.  Once he gets me set up he has to go out to the church to count today's offering but will return to pick me up after he finishes and makes the deposit.  I hope I have a stack of squares finished.  If not, this quilt may become a long-term UFO!

Yesterday we were busy -- Christian Motorcyclists meeting in the AM and then a recital/concert at church in the afternoon.  We went to this to be supportive -- didn't exactly know what we were going to hear and see.

WOW!  Were we blessed!

Our church Hand Bell Choir performed several numbers and included some new players from Nigeria,  who have joined us.  Their oil company transferred them to the US and they ended up living near our church.  They are a blessing to us.

  Our church pianist teaches piano lessons so there were some young players  participating in their first recital.  They were cute and certainly reminded me of myself when I was their ages.

In addition to the piano players we heard some singers and instrument players..  Songs ranging from gospel to opera.   A friend did a small vocal solo and another friend played the harmonica.  One played a flute and another the guitar.

 Then... I knew that the grown children of the pianist all sang but in didn't know they SANG!  I mean, sang like you wouldn't believe.  Beautiful voices.  One daughter, who is a professional singer and music writer, sang her first number from somewhere off stage and out of sight.  Wonderful!  Her second number started in the back of the church and continued as she walked to the front and went on stage.  Later she and our church Music Minister collaborated on two numbers from Phantom of the Opera.  Oh, my!  The first number brought me to tears.  In the second number the woman and the Music Minister (wearing the Phantom mask) chased (walking) each other around the sanctuary, taking turns singing.  It was really great!

After we had been blessed over and over we were treated to a reception where chicken bites and cake were served while we all visited together.  What a great afternoon!

Hope this wasn't too disjointed -- there were so many things to tell that it came out in bits and pieces.

I hope all of you had a great Saturday!  Feel free to share your activities with us.

Graduation Picture

I think I promised a picture of my Granddaughter at her graduation from the University of New Mexico.  Here it is!
Liz is going to be an awesome elementary school teacher!

Home Again

Sweetie and I are back home -- we enjoyed most of our trip but, as usual, we are happy to be back at home.  Lots of things to do here -- besides unpacking and putting away and then catching up on our mail.

My hand is healing but it still gets very sore when I use it too much.  What constitutes too much?  This morning it was just eating breakfast with my right hand, using the curling iron on my hair, putting on makeup, and dressing.  By then my hand/arm was aching.  Still, the bruises are turning yellow in places -- a sure sign of healing.  Still overall technicolor, however.  I know this, too, shall pass but...I wish it would hurry.

Took a different route home -- avoided the long expanse of empty desert and kept to I-40 through Amarillo and then down via I-27 into Lubbock.  Stayed at a LaQuinta and it was so nice!  The room had a king size bed and there were safety bars in the bathroom so I felt safe in the shower.  Sure didn't need another fall!

We spent last night in Austin -- stopped by to see my Mom -- she is getting out a little more but she really isn't better.  Sad to see her going downhill.  She will be 91 years old on the 27th.

Home today and happy to be here.  We all went to eat Mexican food tonight -- it was good but was too much so I have enough for lunch tomorrow.

I'll try to post a graduation picture soon.

Take care, all, and drop a line if you can.

Mother's day 2013

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers...even if your country does not celebrate Mothers on this particular day we should bless our mothers at some time.

Went to see ogd graduate yesterday  so nice!  unfortunately I fell going into building  .. flay on my face!
nothing broken but right hand/arm in brace...can't do much with hand...still pain & swelling.  Not how I meant to spend this special day.