THE SNOW ARRIVED

     The snow is coming down right now. The ground is white. I need to run another errand, but I am debating as to what I want to do. I am not venturing that far from home. Just the post office and the bank. My picture is from one of our previous snow storms. At least the wind has died down so that is a plus.

     The  nursing home had unexpected visitors this week. I talked with one by phone and my hubby had already talked to one about getting help to try to walk again. He wants to walk even if it is just up and down the hall. I know he gets tired of the wheelchair. We will have to wait and see if anything changes. 

     I am so ready for Spring. I am hoping that I can make it to the city this next week for two doctor appointments. I really don't want to cancel them because I have been waiting on them. They are for me. See I do take care of myself even though my family wonders at time. One is a follow up from my eye surgery to see how I am doing. 

     Tomorrow is the first day of February. Where did January go? Is the whole year going to fly that fast? It is almost like blinking your eyes and it is gone. Ethan's pinewood derby was suppose to be tomorrow, but we will have to wait and see. They may have to cancel it because of the weather. 

     There won't be a basketball game this week because of the Super Bowl. Have any of you seen the Budweiser commercial "Puppy Love". It is really cute. They always have good commercials. Some of the others that I have seen I am not to impressed. They tell me it is because  I am partial to horses. 

It is, also, hubby's birthday. He was born on Ground Hog .  He thought he was going to deduct age instead of becoming older. 

     I don't think the custom order that I was approached about will happen. They wanted 7 by the third of February. I can't make them that fast. Do you think that my tea towels look like they are stitched on the machine? I do them all by hand. Now if they wanted  to wait on them, it would be no problem.  Oh well, win some and lose some. 

     Have a wonderful day. Stay safe and warm wherever you are at. If you have to be out, just be safe. 

     

What A Day

   I spent the afternoon waiting to see the doctor at the nursing home. My hubby's room was so cold. I can understand why he is always cold after sitting there. When you walk down the other halls, you can feel heat entirely different then walking down their hall. I don't know if it did any good or not, but at least I got to voice my concerns about his problem. It was amazing to watch what was taking place today. They had visitors from the state checking them out. The picture you saw today was not the normal. They sure do try to put on a good appearance even the meal I ate with him tonight was different.  I will check again tomorrow to see just what was decided about my concerns. I am going back to documenting again.

     My basketball player waiting his turn to be in the game. They went to see the Harlem Globe Trotters last night and had a lot of fun. I saw his brother on the news when they were interviewing one of the grandmothers that was at the game. My grandson pictured  will be going to Children's Mercy next month to see the specialist because he is losing his hearing in one ear. They want to know how much hearing is lost, if there is anything that can be done to help it, and if he will have the same kind of problems with his the other ear. He had to have tubes put in his ears when he was younger. Just keep praying they get the answers when they go. They are getting in quicker with the doctor office here making the appointment. He loves building with his Legos. If he wants one bad enough, he will use his money that he saves. The next picture is of The Mine that he built in one night. When he starts, he never wants to stop until he gets built whatever he is working on. He has a very imaginative little mind.

  I still chuckle every time I think about my oldest grandson trying to stay out of the picture when they were doing the interviews last night at the basketball game. His mom had him call me after he got home from school. When he answered, I asked him how was my celebrity was doing? He said Oh! Man, Grandma just had to tease him a little bit. He had told her when they got home he didn't think he was in the picture.

    It has been cold all day, but at least the wind has died down thank goodness. I am so tired of dressing in layers, but I keep thinking Spring is coming. 

   The cold is even going to reach clear down to where my oldest is. Can you imagine Atlanta with snow? That is what they were saying on the news. Oh well, it can only get better eventually.  Are you going to watch the Olympics? I will probably watch ice skating because our daughter skated when she was younger. We use to go to the Ice Capes when they were close by to watch Scott Hamilton, Christi Yamaguchi. I even have Scott Hamilton's autograph on the back of my name tag when we were in Sun Valley a long time ago.  Our daughter  even taught ice skating while she was going to school. She went to National Collegiate Championships before she hung up her skates and work more on her degree in college. She does a little judging. Both of the younger two grandsons like skating when they went to birthday parties held at the rink. We are fortunate to have an ice rink right here in town. 

    Try to stay warm wherever you are at. Have a good rest of the week. 

      

Where's Spring

  The wind is howling outside my window and you wonder just where Spring is. They said it was at 48 miles a hour according to my weatherbug, but it sounds like jet engines. It has rain in front, with mixture, and snow behind it. I am hoping that it is moving so fast that we don't get much. We got up to 53 degrees earlier today which wasn't that bad, but boy did the temperature drop fast.

    I thought I would post pictures of my boys that you will hear about on my blog. My older two are with big brother's horse Fergie. She is such a gentle horse and will do what ever they ask of her. She will take good care of Matt this summer when he lopes her. He still wants to do the races, but I am not sure if mom and dad will let him do that. He is just so little as the picture will show further down my blog of him. He is starting to grow, but his legs aren't long enough yet. I keep hearing Big Brother is getting a new horse, but I don't know if that has happened yet. My oldest is grandma's helper and come June he will be old enough to get his driving permit. I don't know if I am ready for that or not.

      My base ball player is going to play ball again this summer. His dad got drafted to be the coach last year. They have talked him in  to doing it again. It will soon be that time of the year. He is working on his pinewood derby car for the race Saturday. I didn't get to see it. It is to be a surprise. I got reminded again what time I needed to be there. I try to go watch all three unless it gets to terrible hot. He is doing the Jump Rope for the American Heart Association. He had to do his own calling and asking the neighbors  and family for donations. He is so funny. I got the complete run down on what the money was going for when he asked me if I would sponsor him.

   The last picture is of my basketball player and horse rider. They played today and won 26-7. He made 4 of those points. He was tired when they got through playing. They play

Matt and Fergie

10 minute quarters. There is enough players that they have two sets of 5. Depending on when they are started which quarter they play they are kept moving. They rest the opposite. They lost their first game and have won everyone since. 

   My last picture is him with Fergie who he is going to ride this summer. He isn't much bigger then the picture, but he is starting to get a little taller. He is my dare devil, lego man, and  not afraid of anything which may be good or bad. 

    Enough about my boys as you  can tell they are my pride and joy. They are who I go see when I need a change of scenery from the nursing home. 

    I am going to be spending Tuesday afternoon there to see the doctor. I don't know if it will be do me any good or not, but if it doesn't I know the phone number who just might be able to help get the results I want. Sometimes they do a good job of giving lip service, but not doing what they say.You have to protect your love one's and be there for them. I have been his care giver for going on 15 years. It has been a roller coaster ride. 

    You all have a wonderful week and I will be visiting as much as I possibly can. Take care. Be safe and for those of you in the cold weather stay warm. 

Grow Your Blog 2014

     Are you ready for your grow your blog party ?  Ready to meet a lot of new people from all different areas. I don't know about you, but it is my way of traveling.
     
     Welcome to Shirleystitches blog. I write about things in the past, today, and the future. I am semi-retired since the lumber yard closed this past year. I never thought it would happen, but you just never know. I found out what it is like to live by myself with my husband in the nursing home for over a year. I still go to visit about every day, but with the terrible cold weather I am incline to stay home. We did celebrate 50 years this past October. We never thought we would make it that far. I am one of ten  with six brothers and three sisters which you will read about our growing up on the farm at times.
     
     You will see my embroidery that I do every so often on my blog that is for sale in my etsy shop custom orders are welcome, pictures of my grandsons riding their horses, and playing sports. Many know that I enjoy spending time to watch my grandsons regardless of what they are doing. Their ages are 14, 9. and 8. Just don't ask me to video something not going to happen. I have three children, two sons and one daughter. My oldest son is in the state of Louisiana working and my other son and daughter live close by so that when mom needs a little help they are there for me. 

     My daughter and youngest grandson took care of me when I had my cataract surgery this past year. He was always asking if I needed something. He even shared his bunk beds in his room. He let me have the bottom one and he took the top bunk. 

     You will be reading about what the boys are doing that help to keep grandma entertained. The horse show season will be starting soon. My two oldest grandsons both show horses. Last year I watched my middle grandson get thrown from his horse Cleo. It was scary, but he didn't break any bones just had the wind knocked out of him. He is changing horses this year because he has to learn to lope and Cleo does not like to lope. They don't want him to get hurt.

     We share many things here in blog land with friends that we have made and hope to continue to make new friends over the next year. I know that I am looking forward to the party and hope that you are too. Vicki is our wonderful host and she has some really wonderful volunteers to help considering that she had 500 sign up. All we ask is to leave us a comment so we know that you were here. Have a wonderful weekend and have fun at the party. 

Brr

We don't have this, but we do have the bitter cold with the winds out of the northwest. We have had gust today, but not as bad as we have had in the last few days. They have clocked them at 54. 51. and 49 miles a hour. I know they made it sound like a jet engine. 

 

Some schools cancelled, but most ran about a hour late. It hadn't warmed up much even delaying the starting time. Tomorrow is suppose to warm up some. I know hubby stayed in bed today to keep warm and sleep to make up for last night when he didn't sleep that good. His room is on the northwest corner of the brick building. When the winds are out of the north and northwest it is always cold. He even ate in his room today. He said he was alright just cold. Of course, it always makes me wonder with him. 

 

I have two more redwork Valentine tea towels ready for laundering and putting in my etsy shop.  I have been working to replace some that have arrived at their new homes. I do have one block of my tractor quilt done. I always have more then one project going at once. Do you do that too?  The hands and mind have to stay occupied thinking about what I am doing rather then worry about things that I can not change no matter how hard I want to. They did another physical therapy evaluation to see if he could go back down stairs, but with the right leg not wanting to support him like it should doesn't sound as though he will get to. Just keep praying for some changes. It just part of the roller coaster ride of life.  

 

I hope you all are staying as warm and safe as possible. I know that I am. Take care and have a good weekend coming up. 

 

 

     The weekend is almost gone. The days just fly by so very fast anymore. My family keep trying to tell me it is because I am getting  older or at least that is what my grandsons tell me at times. Some of their ideas are priceless. They had a big lego competition in Kansas City yesterday and some of the things they showed the kids made were unreal.

      At least the wind has died down for the time being, we had a couple of days where it was clocked at 54 miles a hour. It did have a little freezing sleet mixed in, but didn't last long or cause any problems. I know that some of the big rigs were having problems with the wind along with high profile vehicles. I followed an oats bus to the nursing home and you could tell it was bothering him quite a bit. 

     Valentine's Day is just about a month away. First on the agenda will be celebrating a Ground Hog Day birthday. Hubby's birthday is getting close. He says he is going to start deducting years instead of getting older. I think his birthday cake will be just a small one with 74 shown on the top in frosting instead of big candles. His lab work came back better, but not terrific. He falls asleep so easy. I just take something to work on while I let him sleep. He wakes up every so often to make sure I am still there.

     Wish me luck, I am going to try videoing my first ballgame later today. It should be  interesting. My oldest said that he would do it, but he has 4H this afternoon. He will be very busy with working on their judging for competition. State competition is coming up in March and their club is going to host their first horse show this year so that is in the planning stage. They are all looking forward to warmer weather so they can start riding. One of their friends got thrown from their horse. They were lucky and lit in a snow bank. They didn't break anything just hurt pride. I am looking forward to watching them. 

     Both of the younger grandsons liked ice skating when they tried it. They went to birthday parties held at the ice rink. We are fortunate to have one here in town and they just got a new Zamboni. It is electric so it will be more friendly then the old propane run one they use to have. I still like to watch them skate. 

    It is time that I need to get around. I am going to the nursing home for a while. I won't be able to do it tomorrow. Have a great day. Stay warm and safe.

     

Time Flying

     Tomorrow is the 15th of January and I don't know where this month has gone. Valentine's Day is a month away. Are you really ready for it to be a new year? Where did the last one go? It is almost to the point where if you blink an eye the day is gone. 

     My youngest grandson wants a cat to add to his five dogs. His dad is very allergic to the cats to where his eyes will swell shut if he is not careful, but my grandson thinks because dad is older that he shouldn't be allergic anymore. He, also, wants them to buy him a brother to play with because he doesn't have any brothers or sisters. All of his classmates have brothers and sisters.He thinks this is  totally unfair, but yet he doesn't want to give up anything like half of his room. You have to love them because you don't know what they are going to say or do next. 

     He has already figured out what he wants for his next Christmas. He wants a horse and a rabbit. I really don't know where he comes up with all of his ideas. He won't be getting either that is for sure being they live in town. He says he will take care of them.  He knows that he would have to build a hutch for the rabbit.I can just picture that considering who takes care of the dogs now. I think the horse is because his cousins have horses.

     My middle grandson's team won their ballgame on Sunday and he scored 2 points. I think he was a little surprised that it went in. The boys were excited because their teacher came and watched them play. I know it was  fun to watch. He looked tired when the game was over. At least it was a beautiful day with the sunshine. 

     My oldest grandson got a little worried about grandma because I didn't answer my cell phone. It is a situation where it was so noisy that I didn't hear it. I called him back and assured him that grandma was o.k. and that I would try to do better. I don't know if I can set it to ring and vibrate both because I carry it in my pocket. Otherwise, I would be hunting for it. 

    I went to see hubby today and they didn't do the lab work they were suppose to do. It is to be done tomorrow because  they only have a short period of time to get it to the lab to be ran. I have a sneaky feeling that his ammonia level is continuing to go up which means the liver is continuing to go down hill. Going on 15 years is not bad considering the roller coaster ride that we have had since he first got sick. 

    I need to make me some new tea towels considering my Valentine tea towels are on their way to a new home in Texas. You all have a wonderful week. Stay safe and warm. . 

    

This and That

   I keep looking for the sunshine, but today is one of those foggy drizzly days with the temperature just a little above freezing. We have some ice on the ground besides the snow making it slick and this gal is staying home. I stuck my head out the door long enough to get my paper.  Some  schools are in session because they don't want to have to make up days at the end of the year. I just hope that they all arrive safely home at the end of the day. 

   My street is quiet and not the normal grand central station. I can usually tell the condition of the street by the number of cars going by. We are suppose to have a heat wave tomorrow and warm up to into the 40's which would really be nice for a change. 

   There is so much sickness going around right now. I have been lucky so far, but it is constantly watching where and what I am doing. I wore extra layers yesterday when I went to the office. The office is a historic building and you can feel the cold air especially if the wind is out of the north. With the weather we have been having, I think every house has a bit of that. 

    I am looking forward to Spring to start with the boys sports, horse shows, and just plain being able to get outside in the fresh air. The next few Sunday's will be watching my Matt play basketball. Springtime Ethan wants to play baseball again, and of course, both Jake and Matt will be showing horses again this summer. Lots of pictures to take to show grandpa what his boys are doing. Of course, my hands will be kept busy with the embroidering and the camera. I want to try to learn to take video's with it this year. I don't know how that will turn out.

    I really don't think the fog is going to lift this afternoon at all. We will just have to wait and see. 

    Ms. Birdie and Ms Pig are a couple of the tea towels that I have done. I am working on quilt blocks at the present along with somethings for Valentine's Day which is roughly a month away. 

   Hope you all have a wonderful day and the weekend warms up for everybody. If you have to be out, just stay safe and warm. Take care.

Deep Freeze

     Are you in a deep freeze too? I am lucky that I can change the day of the week that I work. I am staying home not only because of the cold, but I have been trying to come down with a cold. I have my cough drops and Vick's handy plus my cup of hot tea with honey in it. There is so much stuff going around right now. 

    My driveway and steps got cleared yesterday just in time. My grandson, Matt had his first basketball game and he didn't want grandma to miss it. It was so much fun to watch. He plays as a guard and lets the bigger kids shoot. He can steal the ball from the bigger kids by ducking under their arm. They lost 20-18 but it was exciting because it was first one way and then the other. What I liked most was everybody played. They rotated so that they could rest. My oldest grandson was waiting for me so he could show me where they were sitting. 

     Schools are closed today because of the bitter cold. I can understand why they didn't want them to be outside in it. They just got an extra day of vacation. 

    Be sure to say the prayers for those in need. There is so many people that are needing them right now. I know that my list keeps getting longer and longer. When you are a caregiver, there are times when you need a prayer to give you the strength to deal with the situations that you face because you never know what tomorrow will bring. I have great admiration for those that have that responsibility, at the job they do, and can relate so well being one myself. God is there with us every step of the way. 

    I think about all of my friends who have more snow then I do, and facing the bitter cold. I just want them to be safe, warm, and if traveling please be careful. 

   Take care.

   

2014 ???

   What will the New Year bring remains to be seen, but we did get more snow and the bitter cold. The wind blew and we were below zero. We have warmed up to a whopping 10 degrees this morning, but I would much sooner have it warmer. 

  We are praying for a better year. It will be filled with watching our grandsons play whatever sport, seeing them ride horses, taking pictures to grandpa so he can watch. One of my goal will be learn how to take a video with my camera. I think he would enjoy that. 

  The snow came yesterday afternoon fast and furious with the temperature dropping. I was out for a little while before it started. I had lost a set of keys while I was at Hobby Lobby on New Year's eve, I was lucky they found them. That started my New Year off right. I was worried. I had to go to Joann's because they had their embroidery thread 30cents a skein. That was a bargain and I am working on quilt blocks at the moment.  Why do they always tell you less thread then you really need for the project?  You only hope that you can find some more so that you can finish it.

   The driveway has been bladed, steps scooped, now if the fairy would only clean my car. That fairy is staying in the house it is to cold. The street is snow packed, so I am hibernating. I have been doing some reading of blogs and I will try to catch up with some more of you today. You know I haven't missed going out in bad weather to go to work. It is rather nice to be able to stay home if you want to. My hubby doesn't want to worry about me in bad weather we just talk by phone several times a day.

   The sun is shining which makes it look warmer then it really is, but I have  a cup of hot tea close by so I am good. I alternate between it and coffee. I don't want to bake anything because I would eat way to much of it. Although a gooey cinnamon roll wouldn't be bad. 

  I hope all of you are safe and warm. Mother Nature isn't being kind to us again, but with being careful we will survive. If you are traveling, please be careful. Have a wonderful day. Take care.