Home again, home again.
When I have to be away for a few days my Sweetie welcomes me back by putting my little animals on the bed to greet me. That's where they were when I arrived this afternoon!

Good morning all!
Yesterday was a good day! Things are looking up a bit. Dad was seen by the home health care nurse and his oxygen levels are very good, both while on oxygen and after being off for 10 minutes. His spirits are good, or at least much better than they have been. I'm encouraged! His cardio man said that he may not have to stay on the oxygen forever, as we had been thinking. Even if he continues to need it some of the time we know he can safely pull it off for short periods of time. Thanks to all who have been praying and sending good thoughts and encouragement our way -- it has really helped.

Monday night my son came to pick me up and we went to eat Mexican food. It was nice to have a good visit with him. Then yesterday I ran errands and then cooked Chicken Tortilla Soup for dinner. Dad hasn't had much appetite since he came home but he loved the soup and he ate two bowls full. We were encouraged to see that. Tonight I'm making King Ranch Chicken and my son is coming for dinner as well as my brother and SIL. Then I'll go home just after lunch on Thursday. On Saturday my niece is arriving for a 1-week visit with my parents and they are really looking forward to that.

Meanwhile, back at home there is still some flooding going on. Our neighborhood did not flood but the 8 or so inches of rain we received Monday night/Tues morning did make life interesting for a while. All of our area schools were closed on Tuesday and some remain closed today. Sweetie said that he and a neighbor stood out on the driveway at 5:30 AM and watched the garbage bags float down the street. I don't know where they all ended up -- must have made garbage pickup interesting for the people with that job.

Hope all is well with you, my dear readers. Drop in and share your happenings with me. I'd love to hear from you!

An adventure today! A trip to the doctor with the rolling oxygen. Let's see -- what all happened. Lost one tip off of the rolling cart (found it in car) lost the "wrench" to control the oxygen (had to go back to lunch site but did find it.) Valve on oxygen bottle defective. Had to get that replaced. Visit with Dr. went well -- did some med switches and we'll see how those work out. All this was accomplished in rain -- sometimes light and sometimes heavy, heavy.
What fun!
You know, getting old isn't fun!!!

Things are looking up -- Dad came home from hospital yesterday -- he is adjusting well to the oxygen he now has to wear 24/7. Sweetie is going home today -- a friend will meet us in LaGrange and take him on home -- I'll stay here and help with the adjustment to new meds, oxygen, etc. I'll try to go home Thursday.
Thanks for all the prayers and nice comments.

Here in Austin -- Dad still in hospital, brother went home. Some confusion in hospital with two patients with virtually same name. I joke we are here so much they are going to name a wing after our family. If you go to hospital, ask for our wing -- you can quilt there!

Take care everyone -- have a great day!

Things are a little in turmoil here this afternoon. My brother has been in the hospital since Sunday, with pneumonia. Today my Dad was taken to the same hospital with irregular heart beat, difficulty breathing, and inability to walk more than one or two steps. We are sure he will be admitted. I guess I'll be going to Austin tomorrow.

My dear SIL said I didn't have to come, unless I just wanted to, but as I told her, she's stretched a little thin right now and I think she needs some relief. It is a good time for me to go, as times go, so I'm paying bills and getting ready to go downstairs to pack. I will probably be able to use her computer while I'm there but I may be more silent than usual. If you are a praying person, please pray for my family during this very difficult time.

Class day. We studied verbs again. The students did well once they got started. We would take one sentence and identify the verb. Then we would replace the original verb with a new one, making a new sentence. They came up with some verbs that I hadn't thought of, making me very proud of them. I sent them away with homework -- more of the same work on verbs.

We also did some more vocabulary -- using pictures that they had to identify. It was interesting to see the vocabulary cards, since they were an updated version. A telephone was a portable -- not the desk set it would have been years ago. A pen was a ballpoint -- not an ink pen of the type we used when I was in elementary school. We did talk about the old school desks that had a hole to hold the ink bottle. (You oldies but goodies know what I mean, don't you!) One of the pictures was of a computer disk. Yes, the times they are a-changing!

What's for dinner?

It's that time again! What are we going to have for dinner? Are we in a rut? Have we had too much beef lately? Chicken again?
Do you ever get tired of being the one to decide what everyone is going to eat? I love cooking but sometimes I get really tired of being the one to decide. Left to my own devices I'd probably have soup frequently. I love soup. Sweetie is a very agreeable man and there was a time when I would say ... "what do you want for dinner?" and he would say. . ."Anything you want to fix."
Now, older and wiser, he says. . ."Anything but soup!" LOL

Well, tonight we are having baked turkey thighs, green peas with mushrooms, and baked sweet potatoes. Does that sound good to anyone? Want to join us?

What are you having at your house? Anything I'd like? (I like most everything!)
Let's exchange menus!

Another rainy weekend. This seems to be the current trend, and we need the water so much that we don't really mind. Speaking for myself, only, of course. (The 'royal we'.)
It rained some on Friday and then on Saturday afternoon the skies opened up and it poured.
A front stalled somewhere west of us and when the warm, moisture laden gulf air hit it, the rain was the result. I don't have a gage out anymore (after we stepped on or ran over the last two, I gave up!) but, judging by the amount of standing water in back, I believe we got between 3 and four inches. Water was running down our street, curb to curb, and when it hit the flow running down the cross street at the end of our block we had "white caps" from the conflicting currents. The drains did a good job of handling the water, however, and before long the street was clear again. All the creeks and bayous are running full.
I did get the front mowed Friday morning but I didn't tackle the back and now I have to wait for the mud to dry out a little. Oh, well, I think I'll just sew, instead!

One of the most interesting places we visited in
California was the Forestiere Underground Gardens.
Baldassare Forestiere, a man from Italy, bought 80 acres of land and attempted to plant a citrus orchard. Unfortunately, his 80 acres had 5 or more feet of hardpan (a type of soil as hard as rock) on top of it. There would be no orchard there! However, Baldassare would not give up on his dream. He took a pick, a shovel, and a wheelbarrow and began to dig. First he dug a hole and discovered that it was much cooler in the hole than on the surface. He continue to dig and eventually dug out a place to live.
To have air and light he had to dig large holes, open to the sky. In those areas he planted his garden -- trees and other plants. They flourished. He continued to dig -- more rooms connected by tunnels, and more air/light shafts.

One tree he planted was grafted until it bore 7 different kinds of citrus fruit. That original tree no longer lives but in its place is a tree that bears three different kinds of fruit. (Baldassare was Catholic and used the number 3 (for the Trinity) and the number 7 (the days of creation) in many places in his garden.)
For 40 years, Baldassare worked above ground during the day and underground at night. He never married -- the gardens became his life. He shared his fruit with neighbors. He planned a large retreat center -- underground. There was a 800 foot long drive that allowed people to drive underground to his rooms. They were cool, and being a novelty, people loved to visit. But when the novelty wore off, the retreat closed and Baldassare was alone again, still digging.

The tree below bears 3 different types of fruit.

During cold weather he would place sheets of glass over some of the openings of the air/light shafts. They would keep out the cold and/or rain. Some shafts he left open, trapping the water for his garden and for his personal use.

He carved out a home -- his kitchen is shown in the picture above -- a stove, ice box, and a table.

He had two bedrooms -- one is shown on the right. Sometimes he would plaster the walls and paint designs on them.

He had an underground bath tub, also.

Baldassare was so obsessed with his underground garden that he continued to dig for 40 years. After his death some of the land was sold by his heirs. Where a hotel is now built, underground rooms had to be filled before the foundation was laid. When a freeway was put through, more rooms were found.

Today there are about 10 acres left, and many rooms. Some are open to the public and some are closed for repair.

One place we visited in Fresno was the Japanese Garden. I fell in love with the Japanese Maples! They were just beautiful. There wasn't too much in bloom but the garden was still lovely.

God's beautiful world - Yosemite

One of the fun trips we took while in California was to Yosemite National Park. In the picture below is Sweetie with the kids/grandkids/granddog. It was a beautiful day!

Class day -- my ladies are working hard. Each one had written in her journal during our break, and we worked together to clean up their English. J is doing her own work (without grandchild help) and I can see progress. C said that writing is really hard for her. I assured her that writing in another language is hard for everyone, and it takes practice, practice, practice.
M wrote about decorating one's house -- making it look fresh and new again. It sounded great, but I know that what was on the paper was not the same as what came out of her mouth. We will continue to work on that.

A/China has satisfied the residency requirement for citizenship. She has been studying and now has an appointment in May to speak with the proper authorities. She said she was scared and excited. That led to a discussion of "mixed emotions."

We discussed Easter customs and I did not have an explanation for Easter Bunnies who lay eggs.
Beats me -- that is just the way it is -- it is our custom. My best explanation is that it is the secular world's way to celebrate what is actually a Christian observance. (Yes, I know some people don't believe it is 'Christian,' but I do!)

After discussing their journals, I shared about our trip to California. They were excited to hear about all that we had seen and done. When I said we had gone to a play they were puzzled. The concept of a "play" (noun) was difficult for them to understand. Even their translator machines didn't list it. We did finally get the point across. I'm going to watch for a play to take them to.

We finished our day by doing some vocabulary study -- using flash cards with pictures instead of words. That went really well and we will do some more of that next week along with viewing some pictures I took. All along we are studying verb tenses since one can't talk or write without using them.

Quilt used as table cover

I mentioned in an earlier blog that I had used my Grandmother's Sunbonnet Sue quilt as a table cover. Someone asked to see a picture and I just found it.
A friend and I made aprons to use as chair covers. Each woman at the table got to take her apron home as a favor. The picture in the center is of my Grandmother at an early age.
I used old-fashioned kitchen items and the theme was "Precious Memories, Grandmother's Kitchen."

Trial and Error

(Mostly error! lol)
I'm trying to share the Mennonite quilts but it just isn't working. So, I'm going to try doing it a different way!

Please note that the quilts were not exactly on exhibit -- they were being auctioned. Actually, the process was interesting. There was a revolving stage and on each side was a bed with the head raised. Quilts were laid on the bed about 12 or more deep -- then that side would be turned so that the auctioneer and his crew could display the quilts one at a time. The bidders, seated in bleachers, would then bid.
Meanwhile, the other side of the stage would be set up. Once all the quilts on one side were sold the stage was revolved and the process started again.
Before staging, the quilts were folded (with one exception) I took a few pictures but I couldn't see the whole quilt. Some of the quilts were very plainly made, using scraps. Some were more elaborate. I really wanted to unfold them all but it just wasn't possible.

Mennonite Quilt Albumhttp://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=jessupanita&target=ALBUM&ld=5323940306544322833&authkey=GvlsRgClr9rpS5t5XlEw&feat=email

That's long, isn't it! Well, let's see if it works!
I tried it and once you get to that site you have to click on View Anita's Gallery. Then click on the Mennonite Quilt album.
There has to be an easier way!

Day six was the trip to the gold country -- we enjoyed it but the last half of the day was a bit wet. Some panned for gold in the rain but I elected to stand on the porch and take their picture.
We saw beautiful scenery -- lots of green rolling hills with cattle grazing. Reminded us of the scripture "The cattle on a thousand hills are mine, saith the Lord." He has made us a beautiful world!
Today we will visit an underground garden -- should be really interesting. Then we will leave on Saturday. What a nice visit this has been!

Happy Easter to all!

Greetings to all of you,

Day five -- we were planning to go visit the Gold Country today but it rained most all night and then some this morning, plus the temp dropped, so we are staying home. We are housed at our Son's in-laws and have enjoyed visiting with them.

I have volunteered to do the dinner tonight so we may go grocery shopping a little later. Yesterday we shopped at a HUGE Jo-Ann's and I found fabric for the back of my baby quilt and also bought two pieces for my stash. I wish we had that size Jo-Ann's where we live -- I might just move into it!

Took grandson B'day shopping and he bought a new Leggo piece -- took him only about 2 hours to build it while dinner was being prepared. He's super quick with them!

After dinner we played Chicken Foot -- I bought them a set of double 12, colored dot dominoes at Target and taught them the game. We all had fun!

There is a 2 hour time difference here so by the time we fly home on Saturday night we will have a VERY hard time getting up EARLY for Easter Sunday!

Still seeing the sights!

Day four of our visit to CA. We have been busy -- went to Yosemite National Park yesterday. It is a beautiful place. Snow still in places and some areas closed due to snow, but we had a lot to see in Yosemite Valley.

I'm thinking I will take a break today -- do some laundry, wash my hair, etc. Later I need to take the grandson birthday shopping.

Hope all are doing well.

Good Morning,
Sweetie and I are visiting our son in California so I may have a few days of silence -- or, I may be able to continue on borrow computers. I'll know more as time goes on. Today we are going to a big Mennonite Festival. I think it will be exciting to see the quilting exhibits!
Later in the week we plan to visit an underground garden and will possibly go to Yosemite National Park. I'll try to share it all.

Hugs and Kisses

Nadine just wrote something on the Great Hexagon Quilt-Along that made me think of my class today.

You know how we Americans use X's and O's for hugs and kisses -- we sign our names and put xoxoxo underneath. Well, not everyone does, I guess.
I was showing my new baby quilt top at class and the name of the connector fabric is "Baby Kisses" since it has little x's in many colors. The students didn't understand why the x's would be "kisses." I explained and now they know. I'm sure that one or two of them plan on using the XOXO on future correspondence.

Yes, it was class day. I went armed for a new vocabulary lesson -- on sewing. We learned
cloth, fabric, and material. Needles, thread (hard word for them to pronounce) measuring tape, buttons, seam ripper, pins, pin cushion, etc. I took samples of these items from my sewing room and everyone got to look at them. I showed them the old 'tomato' style pin cushion that has the 'strawberry' on top, and showed them the purpose of the 'strawberry.' They liked that. A, from Thailand, said that their thimbles don't have a top on them as ours do -- they are more like a wide ring. I mentioned that there are also leather thimbles.
I had to laugh as the girls used the measuring tape to measure A's waist. Yikkks, she had gotten bigger. "It is my sister's fault." she said. "She is visiting and she cooks too much!" (Hummm, maybe I need a sister to blame for my big waist!)
I think all of these women either actively sew now or have sewn in the past, so they were very interested in knowing the words in English, and in seeing what looked the same and what looked different from the tools they used. And, of course, I took the new baby quilt top and showed it off. It was a big hit! I'm thinking I might invite the ladies to visit the King's Quilters one day, to see what everyone is doing. I believe they might enjoy that and some may want to join.

After "show and tell" they read their journals. M wrote a lovely tribute to Nancy Hill, who has just retired and moved to the hill country. She was the ESL class supervisor and everyone loved her. I made a copy of the tribute to mail to Nancy.
We ended the class by working on numbers -- written and spoken -- and I assigned some extra study for next week when we won't have a class.
Do you, in your country, use the XOXO to mean hugs and kisses? Comment, please!

The view from my window!

I wanted to share this special picture with you -- it was taken out my bedroom window!
Pictured is my dog, Harry! He is hoping I'll let him come inside to get warm.

NOT!!

APRIL FOOL!

This is actually a picture of a moose sent to me by a cousin who lives in Homer, Alaska.

Isn't it neat!

She also wrote and shared some of the volcano experience with me. Everything covered in ash!

What an adventure!!

The new baby quilt top

This is what I picked for the backing on the new baby quilt.


I think the backing repeats all the colors on the pieced side.

Yesterday I finished the top for the new baby quilt that I am making for a friend. Now I have to select a backing and then get it sandwiched and quilted. That will have to wait a week or so as I have other plans in the works right now. (Friend is using bumble bees as a theme but I haven't been able to find any fabric in this pattern. Any suggestions?)

The baby hasn't come yet, and I would really like for it to come before I completely finish because I want to make a special label and sew it on the back before I do all the finishing work. I'd like to add the baby's name, birth date, etc. Baby is officially due in 4 more weeks but the doctor said it might come early.

This was fun to make except for the light colored cloth between the 9-patch squares. It was rather limp. There is about a gallon of spray starch on it right now!

They aren't visible in the picture but in some of the 9-patch squares there are pictures of animals.

I used my EZ Quilting Companion Angle triangle shaped ruler on this quilt. I bought it about 3 years ago and it hadn't even been unwrapped until now. It sure made cutting the triangle insets easier!

This will be my April UFO!