Yesterday I saw a cloth purse and suddenly I could see my new fabric (the bright & colorful pieces) made into a purse. What do you think? I could use the stripe for the bottom row, then the floral, I think. Don't know where I would put the green/white polka dot, however. Could line it with the solid pink. Or, I could use some beige that I have with the stripe on the bottom, the beige (almost like a canvas) for the main body and line it with the floral. Yep, that would work, too. I could embroider on the beige, perhaps someone's name. Stripe for the strap, don't you think?

I've never made a purse -- I would need some help and encouragement!

Anyone have an idea?

Hello Alaska,
I saw that I've had two visitors from Alaska recently -- I know who one is but the other? I don't know but thanks for dropping by for a visit. You have a beautiful state!

The garage sale is over! -- our CMA group -- Highway Disciples -- has had a fund raising garage sale the past two mornings. The proceeds go to our mission work around the world. The sale was set up on Thursday night -- at a friend's house -- the tables covered up overnight and then the sale opened at 7am on Friday morning and again on Saturday morning (today) It was 104 deg F on Friday -- today was a little cooler because of some cloud cover and a little breeze. High humidity, however, and that left everything and everyone limp. We raised a good bit of money and then donated the left-overs to the local KCM charity thrift store that is supported by all the churches in the area. Despite staying in the shade as much as possible and drinking gallons of water, Sweetie and I were still rather drained by the time we closed up shop today. A shower and shampoo helped, however, and we are both feeling better.

I have to admit that I shopped at bit at the sale. I found a wonderful quilting book, The Simple Joys of Quilting, that was left over and cost me $1.00 at the end of the sale. I also bought 4 Noritake plates -- pattern called Seaview -- I have a weakness for dishes and these were just beautiful. The pattern is discontinued (since 1986) but I'm happy with just my four plates.
I also bought a very attractive comforter that I might give to my Mom or that I might keep here. Verdict is out on that. I found some new items that I'm going to give as little gifts, and also a lovely pair of earrings. There was a wonderful set of lead crystal glassware that I bought and I donated and sold all of my old everyday glasses. They were so old and I was so tired of them. Now I have some beautiful new glasses! Sweetie and I cleaned out our coffee mug collection and sold 7 of them -- but, we still have a cabinet full!

I'm wondering if other countries have "Garage Sales" (perhaps you call them "Tag Sales." If so, do you enjoy shopping there? I'd love to hear from you.

Buttons

I saw these buttons at Walmart and they caught my eye. I didn't buy any but I thought I'd share. They are just so cute!

New Fabric

Below is the fabric I bought in Austin and in San Angelo. Two of the pictures are a little soft focus, don't know what caused that.


I have a gift-making project in mind for the fabrics shown above and below.

These fabrics on the bottom are really not my usual style but the colors just sang to me.

I'll either quilt with them or I'll make a sundress for V.

Just for fun!

Do you know the difference between Bird Flu and Swine Flu?
One requires a Tweetment and the other requires an Oinkment!

I'm back home! It is hot but who cares, I'm home. Sweetie will be home before long -- we are dining out with our friend, Mickey D, and the Sweetie will ride out to choir practice and I'll spend a typical evening at home.

I left Mom feeling a little sad -- at first she was sad she wasn't going home with me and then she perked up and reminded herself that she had lots of things planned that were going to be fun.
Her friend H was to pick her up tomorrow morning so they could go to the assisted living place and help the "old people" play bingo, then they were going out to lunch and perhaps shopping.
They had declared that Thursdays will be "their" girl's day out.
When I called to let her know I was home her time had gone so fast that she was amazed that it had been 3 hours. She had already re-made my bed so that it was ready for me (or someone else) to come and visit again.

Before I left I watered the yard front and back, carried three tied bundles of twigs out to the curb, rolled out the big trash dumpster, taught Mother how to use the Wetjet mop (my Dad always did the mopping,) and stripped my bed so she could do her laundry. I didn't get away until 9:30 am but made it home in 3 hours and didn't rush.

We have signed her up for Life Alert -- the "alarm" system where she will wear a necklace that will allow her to call for help from anywhere within 150 feet of her house. This will make her feel more secure. Falling in the yard, in 103 deg. temperature, and having to lie there for hours before anyone happen to see/hear her would not be a good thing. This way she can call for help immediately. Another good feature, that specifically addresses a fear I have, is a smoke detector that will be mounted in her house. As soon as smoke is detected they will begin alerting her and will call the fire department directly (not 911) If she has simply burned the toast she will have an opportunity to respond, but if there is a problem they will wake her up and direct her out of the house. That makes me feel better about her situation.

I was wondering if anyone out there has any personal experience with Life Alert. If so, would you please give me your opinion?

Meanwhile, take care, everyone, stay cool and pray for rain!!

It is hot in Austin!! 101 today -- 100 yesterday. Mom and I stayed in all day -- I watered early this morning - the heat and lack of rain is just cooking the grass. (Sweetie said that I need to come home to water our grass at home. It is dry there, also.)
Still, even staying at home we got things done -- more paperwork signed, witnessed, and mailed. One more set of paperwork to do tomorrow. We are going out early to shop and then have lunch. Will be back home before it gets too hot. Then we are going to a game night at a friend's apartment complex. Should be fun. I'll start home early Wednesday morning.

Mom's friend came over this morning to bring me some fabric from her stash. Actually, I think it was her entire stash. Some really lovely pieces that I can use for a variety of things. I was happy to take them off of her hands and she was delighted to get them out of her house!

I shopped the local Walmart again -- you know, I've said that the store here still has fabric and our stores don't. I'll show things when I get home. I have some plans for gifts -- if I can just find time to make them!

Meanwhile, I'm making some hexagons in the evenings -- I didn't get to sew any while we were on our trip but back here I have done several since we got back. Most of the time my hand has been ok but it did get a little tingle from time to time today. I've determined that the numbness problem is from the middle of my back, in the spine area, and between my shoulder blades. I am sore there all the time. Perhaps I'll check with my PA and see what she suggests. Maybe an MRI.

Back in Austin -- Sweetie rode up on his Harley Horse Friday afternoon and we had a nice visit.
Dinner last night with YS and his lady -- then we all played chicken foot with my Mom. It was fun.

Church this morning -- my Mom's church had their first service in their new sanctuary -- it was a wonderful service -- lots and lots of people there. After church we grabbed a quick lunch with the family and then Sweetie had to start home. I'll miss him but I'm going home on Wednesday.

It is hot in Austin -- supposed to be 100 or 101 deg all week. We sure need rain!! Pat, I'm jealous of the rain you experienced!

San Angelo

Mom and I arrived in San Angelo this afternoon -- had a lovely drive. Mom hasn't been here in 3 years and was very interested in seeing how things had changed from when we lived here years and years ago. This is where I started school and went through my Sophomore year in high school. Interesting to see how things change.

We will do some visiting tomorrow and then Thursday evening we are going to a "Golden Oldies" get-together at Uncle's church -- it will be a fish fry and games. Yum, yum, and fun, fun, fun!
We will leave Friday morning to go back to Austin.

On the road again!

I'm back in Austin -- drove up this morning. We had left-over chicken and dumplings for lunch and then Mom made vegetable soup for dinner. It was good so we sent the left-overs home with my brother for his lunch tomorrow.

Tomorrow morning we are driving to San Angelo to visit my Uncle. It is hot there -- yesterday it was 108 degrees f. I can do without that kind of heat! I'm thankful that the car is air conditioned.

Uncle doesn't have a computer so I won't be back on line until Friday evening.
Take care, everyone!

Shared thoughts.

We have friends who were missionaries to Africa for a number of years. Today they are back in the states but still active in mission work. One of the things they do is provide a forwarding point for letters from those still active in the mission field. This week they shared a letter from a woman named Ashley who is a missionary in Botswana.
Alone, except for a baby, since her husband had to be away for a while, she faced one problem/danger after another. She told about one night that she spent listening to the security alarm go off repeatedly. She finally came to believe it was because of a dying battery, but still, it has a harrowing experience. She began to quote Psalms 118 ......."What can man do to me? I will not be afraid." .......and Psalms 91......."HE will command His angels to watch over me. Because I depending on Him, He hears me and will answer and protect me."
During that night she thought of this analogy.....
Imagine a woman who saves and saves to go to America. Finally, after many years, she has enough money to purchase her ticket. Because she had very little left over she took cheese and crackers on the boat -- all she could afford. Night after night she saw other passengers go to the beautiful dining room to eat wonderful meals, while she ate her crackers and cheese in her room.
When the shore was finally reached the Captain told each passenger good-bye. He commented to her that he regretted that she would never join them in the dinning room during the 2 week journey. She confessed that she had spent all of her money on the ticket and did not have enough to order meals in the dining room.
"Oh my dear lady," the Captain said, "the meals were included in the price of the ticket. They were already paid for. You could have eaten anything you desired for free."
She, who was so hungry, who had dreamed of dining at the beautiful dinning room tables, now faced the fact that it was too late and she had missed her chance.
Ashley said, "I kept thinking about our salvation. We are promised sooo much -- protection, provision, freedom to trust God and not fear, etc. But, many times we are "cheese and cracker Christians." We do not claim the riches that He has promised us, and that He has truly already paid for with His blood.
We should, every day, choose to claim those riches -- to live without fear, to trust in the sovereignty of our Lord -- to live as His sons and daughters, dining at His table, and tasting His goodness and love.

Are we "cheese and cracker Christians?" Are we trying to manage our lives on our own, forgetting that we belong to Him and that He will guide us, and protect us, and that if we fully surrender to Him, He will direct our paths and move us away from our former lives and into the richness of life with Him.
Where are you dining tonight?

Our Weekend

We've had a lovely weekend -- Friday afternoons my Sweetie is always off. We often spend the time running errands but this Friday we stayed at home and we worked on family business items. Insurance, banking, etc. There was quite a lot accomplished.

Saturday morning we mowed, edged, blew, pruned, watered, etc., etc., etc. You know, the things that have to be done when you own a house on a city lot. It has been so dry that things are just gasping for water -- all the lovely green we enjoy has to have a lot of water to keep it that way!
Sure looks nice now, however, so I feel our efforts were fruitful.

After a shower and a little sit-down time we left to have dinner with some friends. It was a good time to chat while eating Mexican food. Later, we found that we had no problem sleeping. We were weary to the bone!

This morning, of course, was church. Our Pastor brought a very thought provoking sermon on bitterness. (From the book of Ruth.) One comment he made was that holding onto bitterness spoils your future, your present, and also your past. He said that bitterness could cause us to re-write our past -- to change it from what it really was by reshaping it to conform to whatever happening we were bitter about -- whether it was true or not.
I know a woman who did just that. She harbored bitterness from something that may or may not have happened to her when she was about 4 or 5 years old and let it shape her feelings well into her 80's. She carried that bitterness around, bringing it out to re-examine from time to time. Once I commented on a picture taken when she was graduating from high school and it gave her pause. "Yes", she said, "that was something nice. Sometimes I forget about those things." She dwelled so much on that one bad incident that she forgot years of nice things that happened to her.

I pray that our Lord will remove any signs of bitterness in me -- If I harbor any, I'm asking that He erase it all and fill the void with love.

Just in case....

There was a storm in Austin last night and the weather man said some people were hiding in their bathtubs. I called my Mom and asked if she was in her tub. She said, "No, but I do have my pillow, blanket, and a flashlight in the hall, just in case!

a recipe

Sweetie and I went to a luncheon on Sunday and there was a vegetable casserole that was pretty good. Later, because several people requested it, the recipe was shared with all of us. I thought I would share it with you.

Vegetable Casserole

Layer in a 9 x 13" dish/pan
2 cans shoepeg corn, drained (regular corn can be used -- in fact, I think I would prefer it.)
2 cans of French-cut green beans, drained
1 can water chestnuts, drained. ( Pieces or slices)

Mix together
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 can cream of celery soup
1 cup sour cream
pour mixture over layers

Top with 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
top with 1 stick butter cut into slices ( or margarine)
1 stack of crackers crushed (Use Club Crackers or Ritz Crackers.)

Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes.

Recipe can be halved and put in a smaller dish

Let me know if you try it and like it.

This and That

I'm enjoying a few days at home -- this is VBS week at church and I wanted my Granddaughter V to attend so I came home for the week. I'll go back next week and continue the tasks that are mine as executor to my Dad's will.

After VBS my GD and I stopped at a new McDonald's for a quick lunch -- there were video game screens on a couple of the tables and she was excited about them. We ended up staying a little longer than I had planned.

Then the phone rang and it was my middle brother -- he was just sitting at an outdoor cafe in Florence, Italy, and decided to give me a call. Florence, Italy! Oh, my, how exciting. I've never gotten to travel in Europe so I was impressed. I know he goes places like that on business, as does my YS. Me? I get to go to California if I'm really lucky! lol

I wrote a while back about having chicken and yellow squash for dinner. Doug, of Coolrue, wrote to ask what yellow squash was. I guess I just assume that everyone eats the same kinds of vegetables that we eat. How about YOU? Do you eat yellow squash? Do you eat squash at all?
(There are many different kinds.) Doug, I'll send you a picture soon!

If you get a minute, let me know your favorite vegetables.

Greetings all,
Yesterday turned out to be busy -- we never made the library or the Farmer's Market, but we did make a major run to Walmart. That seemed to tire my Mom a bit more than usual so we just went home to let her rest. I made soup for dinner and then a couple that she knows came over and we played chicken foot. My SIL came down around 8 and eventually joined in the game. We all had a good time! We served Bluebell ice cream with fresh strawberries for dessert. Yum, yum. I need to go home before I start gaining weight!

This morning I went out and broke up some twigs and cuttings from a dead tree in her back yard -- it was our garbage day and I wanted to fill up the bin before they came. Brother came over later and did some more and then mowed the yard. It is around 90 degrees and I hated to see him outside in that much heat -- his health has been fragile of late.

After my early morning yard grooming I took mother for a exploratory drive in the country. We just headed out east of the main area that we were familiar with and found some very lovely farm land. I'd love to live out there. I think she thoroughly enjoyed the drive. We stopped by the hardware store where my Dad used to trade to let them know of his passing. We bought some potting soil to set out a hibiscus that she received. Then we had an exciting lunch at Sonic and stopped by the grocery to pick up Rx and then home again. Tonight we we are having chicken and yellow squash but tomorrow night my Son wants to eat with us. Don't know what we will have -- we may go out.

Friday morning I'm heading home for a week -- I want to take my GD V to VBS so I'll be there all week -- will get caught up on things there and then come back here to take Mom to visit the Uncle a 4 hour drive west of here. That will be interesting -- he has a new wife and a new home.

I made another hexagon flower today -- my hand didn't go to sleep! Hooray!!

What is happening with all of you?

You may think I have fallen in a black hole but, no, I'm just vegging here in Austin. We got the banking business taken care of today and I took Mom to the Goodwill store next door to her bank. It is her favorite thrift store. She bought two pair of capri pants and was pleased as punch with her purchases. Tomorrow we have planned Walmart, the library, and the Farmer's market.

I'm going home for a few days -- leaving Fri morning. I need a "Sweetie Fix"

What is going on with all of you? Anything exciting?
I did finish two small hexagon flowers -- guess I'm making some progress.
Someone drop me a line!