HAPPY EASTER

I wanted to take a moment to wish all of my friends Happy Easter. It is a day to spend with family and friends. It may be a rainy day, but the kids don't care where they get to hunt the Easter Eggs as long as they get to do it. I am sitting here listing to the thunder and rain as I write this.

We have the traditional ham and turkey for most holidays, but this year it was decided that we are going to have grilled pork chops. It doesn't have to be summer to enjoy cooking on the grill. It doesn't matter if it is hot dogs or hamburgers, there is just something about the flavor from the grill. We have prepared the whole meal using the grill to do the ears of corn, baked potatoes, or the hobo pocket as I call it with carrots, onions, potatoes, and whatever else you want to put in it.

Of course, you can never forget the desert. One of the favorite's for the boys is the cake shaped like an Easter Bunny using two round layer cake pans. They like the jelly beans that are used for his eyes, nose and mouth.

I was sent this e-mail that I would like to share with you. It is called Makin Pancakes

Six year old Brandon decided one Saturday morning to fix his parents pancakes. he found a big bowl and spoon, pulled a chair to the counter, opened the cupboard and pulled out the heavy flour cannister, spilling it on the floor. He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed in most of a cup of milk and added some sugar, leaving a floury trail on the floor which by now had a few tracks of his kitten. Brandon was covered with flour and getting frustrated. He wanted this to be something very good for mom and dad, but it was getting very bad. He didn't know what to do next, whether to put it all in the oven or on the stove and he didn't know how the stove worked! Suddenly he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor. Frantically he tried to clean up this monumental mess but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas white and sticky. And just then he saw Dad standing at the door. Big crocodile tears well up in Brandon'e eyes. All he wanted to do was something good, but he'd made a terrible mess. He was sure a scolding was coming,maybe even a spanking. But his father just watched him.

Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him and loved him,. getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process. That's how God deals with us. We try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess. Our marriage gets all sticky or we insult a friend, or we can't stand our job, or our health goes sour. Sometimes we just stand there in tears because we can't think of anything else to do. That's when God picks us up, loves us and forgives us, even though some of our mess gets all over Him. But just because we might mess up, we can't stop trying to "make pancakes" for God or for others. Sooner or later we'll get it right, and then they'll be glad we tried. I was thinking...... and I wondered if I had any wounds needing to be healed, friendships that need rekindling or three words need to be said, sometimes, " I love you" can heal and bless. The little boy made me think of my own middle grandson Matt who is always there helping to cook standing on his chair at the counter and it can get messy, but we love them anyway. You have a wonderful weekend.

Crazy Weather

We have had the craziest weather in our neck of the woods. Rain, thunder, lighting, sleet, and snow with the sun coming out later in the day. We aren't as bad as some as some with the drifts or tornadoes.

I found the picture when I was surfing and I thought it was so cute and appropriate for Easter which is less then a week away.

We decided to do gift cards to Border's so the boys could go shopping. They are at the age where they like to pick out their own books and video's. They each have their own that they like which is different so when they go to each others houses they have something new to read. I keep books for them to look at in the car to help entertain them. The younger two both like the Walt Disney Cars books. They are looking forward to helping color the Easter Eggs. Of course they do them different then we did when we were growing up. I can remember making a hole in them and blowing the yolk and white out to use them. We had to be extra careful so that we didn't break them. The teacher thought that would be more challenging. After Easter, we would use just the shell breaking it and using it in our art project to see what we could make with the colors. It was always interesting.

We have our school levy and bond election tomorrow, which is a very touchy subject. They want to take the sunshine clause out on the levy. Right now they must put it before the people every 5 years. They want to build two new schools. People just don't think the time is appropriate with so many people unemployed. Even our hospital is talking of outsourcing some of the work and cutting jobs. You just never know who or what will be next. I haven't made up my mind for sure. I sorta lean toward keeping the sunshine law, because we don't know what will happen in 5 years. It is hard to even know what tomorrow will bring.

Bedtime has come so I must stop because tomorrow is another work day. I was only gone last Friday, but you would have sworn I had been gone a week with the things that they wanted done. Good Night

Sunshine

Today we had sunshine and actually warmed up after the rain, sleet, and snow yesterday. You couldn't really tell it by the time that we got to go home. I was told today when we went to see the dietitian that we lived in a weird city because of our weather. We are suppose to hit 70 tomorrow and then go back in the 20's on Monday.

I got my lab work done today to make sure the new medicine is working and not causing other problems. I got asked a strange question. They wanted to know if I took an aspirin a day. I told them that I don't, but it made me wonder why they asked. I know the vials really filled fast. Who knows.

I took the day off being we had to go to the city. I hadn't told any of the kids that we had appointments so I got a phone a call wanting to know where we were at, and if everything was o.k. I normally tell one of them, but I guess I didn't this time. We got home early enough that we went to one of our favorite restaurants the Frederick Inn for a home style lunch. I had chicken and dumplings yummy good. I saw who cuts our hair there and he could work us in the afternoon so we did that. We took the scenic route as I call it home after my experience this morning. I was in rush hour traffic so you have to get in the lane that you want when you can and stay there because they do not let you in. Well I had this idiot who evidently didn't think I was driving fast enough pull in front of me and put on their brakes where I came to almost a complete stop. I guess they thought I should have been in the other lane. We were doing 60 in a 55. They didn't want in the lane I was in anyway. They sure could have caused a multi-car pile up. I thought maybe they were late to work and should have left earlier. I have been going there for over ten years and sometimes having to drive in rush hour traffic and I had never had anything like that happen to me before. A couple of times we came to a complete stop because of the traffic being so heavy. I always try to make my appointments so that we could be on the back side of the rush hour traffic. It didn't work today that is for sure.

I like taking two lane highways when possible because you don't have the traffic, plus they are starting to work on our main four lane highway. You can get hung up in traffic when they are doing that.

I am going to enjoy another day of sunshine and hopefully the weatherman will be wrong.

Easter Quilt

I promise I would show you him when I got him done. I need to retake my picture before I put him in my etsy shop for sale. I wanted to have it done by Sneak a Peak Wednesday, but I just couldn't accomplish it with everything else I had going on. When I list him it will be $120.00 with free shipping to US an $5.00 shipping to Canada.

I will be listing him after the first of April. He turned out so neat. The flower border goes all the way around the quilt which is 34x43.

We were lucky yesterday that we didn't get all of the bad weather that was around us. It was as though we were in a pocket. There was still a lot of accidents because people do not drive the way that they should. I need to get back t0 my school work of learning to count carbs so that I can adjust doses of insulin at meal times. I always learn something new. Let me know what you think of the quilt. Have a great day.

Springtime

I thought I would show you what is left of my son-in-law and daughter's garage. This was taken after some of the debri has been taken away. It really makes you stop and think what could of happen. They will be rebuilding it when the weather cooperates, but aren't in a big hurry because it will keep him from rushing his recuperating. He is progressing really well and the doctor is happy with everything. I decided to take a picture of my Magnolia tree before the weekend and I am really glad that I did. We have had rain, thunder, freezing rain. sleet and snow mixed, and snow today. It has been a miserable day, but it let me finish My Easter Quilt. I went to take a picture, but my camera died so I am recharging the battery tonight and I will take that picture tomorrow. I promise you I will post it. We were to baby-sit today, but that was cancelled. We had planned on taking our youngest grandson to breakfast. We were going to see the donkies and stop at our son's on the way back so he could play with his cousins. We will try for that another dayl

Friday First Day of Spring

Flowers make you think of Spring. I love getting flowers, don't we all. Today was absolutely gorgeous, we were in the 70's and hit 80 today now we will go backwards. I haven't blog for a day or two been a little busy trying to get my Easter quilt finished for Sneak a Peek Wednesday that is coming so you all can see it and tell me what you think. I took time over the weekend to go to a bridal shower for my great-niece. She has been accepted to med-school at M.U. in Columbia, Missouri.

We had to pick some one at each table to be the model, Then the rest had to make her a wedding dress out of toilet tissue. That was funny. The next project we played bingo for your squares you had to guess what her gifts was. When you guessed right, then you got to cover that square. I had never played that before and it was very interesting. They were registered at Lowe's for one place and they didn't want Matt to feel left out so someone got him a power drill and an extension cord. I got to see family that I hadn't seen for quite a while so it was very enjoyable. Our social calendar is getting filled up with weddings, graduations, my sister's 50Th wedding anniversary, my 50Th class reunion, and fit a few birthday's in there for the grandsons.

I am looking forward to my class reunion I will get to see some friends that I have seen in over five years. We are going back and tour our old high school which was on the college campus. We had the student teachers, but we were lucky because we got to use the college's facilities and try things in sports that wouldn't have been possible else wise. the school is now a grade school.

I need to get back to working on my quilt. I hope you had a great St. Patrick's Day.

Happy St Patrick's Day

I know it is a little early, but I know that I am going to have a very busy week and I wanted to wish everybody a Happy St Patrick's Day. I have so many things hanging in the air right at the momment with my hubby. We have been visiting the doctor's and so far everything has gone well. We still don't know why the chest pains. We never ignore them because everyone of his heart attacks have been silent.

My youngest grandson started to his pre-preschool on Monday. He will go three days a week. He only goes about three hours, but he was very anxious to go. He was ready to go the next day. My daughter thought it would be a good idea and the teacher said that he fit right in and you couldn't tell it was his first day. It was his parents that had the fire. His daddy is still doing physical theraphy, but doing nicely. It just slowed him down a little. He is so use to doing everything that he has just found out he has to take time out to rest. They, also changed his diabetic medicine which has really made a difference.

It has been raining and cold here. We started the day off at 41 degrees and we have dropped all afternoon. The wind chill was 13 when I got off work.

We only have ten days until the first day of Spring. My magnolia tree was starting to bud because of the warm weather, but it will probably freeze. I have red bud, dogwood, flowering crab apple, and magnolia trees. They can be so very pretty. My dogwood are white and pink. The countdown is continuing.

80 Degrees

Who would ever believe that we went from snow and cold over the weekend to 80 degrees today. It is so unusal. My magnolia tree is starting to bud out, but it will probably freeze.
It was so pretty outside that it made you want to play hooky. I was reading blogs tonight. It was fun to be taken down Memorie Lane. I grew up on the farm along with six brothers and three sisters. We each had our chores to do along with taking care of the livestock, which consisted of cows, hogs, chickens, dogs, cats, but no rabbits. I learned how to milk cows,put up hay loose in the barn, shuck corn by hand and dad would come with the team and wagon to get it. We raised our own garden and butchered our own meet. I can remember my mom canning the beef. I remember the wash board and tub and when we got our first electric refrigerator. I remember going to town to my oldest brothers house after he got married and watching television. Our entertainment at home was listening to the radio. I can remember my mom cooking on a wood stove when we didn't have lights and the one room school house where you had all eight grades.
We are to have another nice day tomorrow and then it is back to the rain over the weekend to the cold on Monday. You all have a nice weekend.

Snow

This is my car after the snow finally stopped on Saturday. I got a phone call early to see where mom was at from my son. I told him I was home and staying home. He wanted to know if Matt was going to clean my driveway and I told me yes.

It was really nice because when Matt and his friend Mike came not only did they cleaned my steps, push the driveway, but helped clean off my car. I called my son later to see how the boys did at the barber shop because the barber was going to cut all three of my grandson's hair. The ages are almost 10, 4 and 3. The younger two are quite a pair when you get them together. They said the barbershop was still standing. Ha.

To all of my friends and others who went through the bad weather this weekend, I hope you all survived with out any major problems. I know part of you got a lot more snow then we did in area's that don't have the snow removal equipment. Our street was plow with Road Graders so I don't know if they were county employees or City. The City had taken their plows off thinking they wouldn't need them anymore. Our major highway was closed for a while and only had one lane traffic while they were trying to plow some of the snow. A lot of wrecks, because people forget how to drive in bad weather.

I have a question for you all. Can any of you tell me why young couples to be married are registering at Lowe's. We have received two wedding invitations and both couples have listed them as one of the places they are registered. It will be a busy time for us ewith the weddings and this year is my 50Th class reunion that is aging me for sure. I told them I was planning on going plus having family graduate from eighth grade and high school.

Eighteen days until Spring but who's counting. Ha.

Spring is Getting Closer

I finished the tea towel while I was at the hospital this past week. I had made one earlier and had already sold it so I decided to do another one. The roses and pansies made me think of spring. I found it when I was surfing for clip art. It was on Vintage Holiday Crafts.

Today really seem like Spring with the temperature being 66 degrees this afternoon. It was so pretty that I wanted to play hooky. This month has been a little busy with our daughter and son-in-law's garage burning. He was rushed to the hospital and had a stint put in his heart, but the main thing is he didn't have a heart attack and there was no damage to his heart. He is doing physical therapy three times a week. They have a three year old son. It was hard on him because he saw the fire and them taking his daddy away in the ambulance.

I had my hubby in the hospital last week because of chest pains. It wasn't his heart, but they couldn't tell us what was going on. We just have a bunch of doctor visits. The good news is that he had his iron infusion a year ago and he doesn't have to have one at the present time. That is terrific we will check again in four months.

We are suppose to have rain later tonight which I know we need, but I really don't want it. I don't like their forecast for the weekend because it is for snow. I have seen snow as late as April, but who knows. We live in the Show Me State, just stick around because it is guaranteed to change.

Spring is getting closer

The beautiful sunset with each day getting longer. We have had such crazy weather lately. It must be because we live in the Show Me State. If you don't like our weather stick around it is guranteed to change.

Valentine supper is over and the house is peaceful and quiet. We will have pie later. We were lucky and didn't get the ice or snow. I had some ice on my windshield when I got off work. It was raining when I was coming home. I saw three wrecks which I didn't know if it was because of the weather or because of someone's stupidity. They don't like yielded when they are trying to come on to the highway. It makes it rather hard when you have no place to go. The sun was shining today so we went for a drive to get hubby out of the house. I needed to get my car serviced so we took the long way around. We saw an awfully lot of Canadian Geese looking for someplace to land and find feed. For some reason there were a lot more then we normally saw. I don't know if there was a reason for it or not. He got to see his train cars. The coal trains were empty and full depending on which way they were going.

The month is officially half gone and it won't take long for it to be starting another. I just want Spring I am tired of dressing in layers. I hope everyone had a wonderful day for Valentines.

Valentine Day Coming

I found this when I was surfing and it reminded me of some of the Valentines we had when I was growing up. We always made our Valentine Boxes in school out of shoe boxes and decorated them with red and white hearts. Maybe we would use a white heart shape Dolley and put a solid red heart in the middle. We always brought a Valentine for everybody and it was so much fun deciding who got what Valentine.

Today the weather was absolutely beautiful and it is still 69 degrees outside. It was so nice to see the sunshine. We went for a long drive just to get outside. We did walking in the fresh air.

We saw a couple of grass fires along the highway. I don't know if they were intentional or accidental.The wind wasn't as strong as yesterday, but was blowing some. Spring is around the corner and with the time flying fast it will be here before you know it. Enjoy the beautiful weather if you got it and to all of you with snow and ice I hope it goes away soon. To those of you that was without electricity I know exactly how you feel.We went through the ice storm last year.

Day to Day

You can tell that grandpa is enjoying himself with the twinkle in his eye. That wheel chair has given all of his boys a ride at one time or another. It just seems to attract little boys. He will come over and tap papa on the arm and ask how you doing?
He would ask his daddy that same question. He didn't understand why daddy was hooked up to everything.

He was very lucky to get to the hospital before he had a heart attack. The doctor was please that he didn't have any damage to his heart and his lungs cleared up. He made it home from the hospital in time to see the super bowl. He will have to be chauffeured for a while which will be hard for him If he had been able to put it off as he wanted to, he would have had a heart attack. Our daughter is very strong willed and she told him she wasn't raising their little boy by herself. He was going and that was all there was to it. Ethan had been through so much with seeing the fire and hearing the explosion. Seeing them take his daddy in the ambulance was a lot to absorb for only being 3. He had to take his daddy flower's when he got to go see him. He had the phone off the hook in daddy's room and when they asked him what he was doing he said that he was talking to the doctor. We have so much fun with him as all of our boys. They are very special.

The pot holder is one of my latest creations. It was to put me in the mood for Spring which is coming. I will be adding it along with my valentine tea towels at http:// shirleystitches. etsy. com.

Heat Wave

We had a heat wave today of 65 degrees. I wish it would stay because the furnace is still not working at work. I have already made up my mind that if the temperature goes as low as they say I am not staying and work in the cold.

You can always tell when the motorcycle riders think that it is getting warm because the bikes come out.

The days are getting longer and it is nice to come home in the daylight instead of the dark. We will all take every good day that we can get.

I have been teaching one that I work with how to load pictures. He doesn't think that he will ever learn. I told him that I had lots of help from a lot of nice people, who didn't get upset with the questions. I had never had an e-mail with an attachment until yesterday and my son happen to stop by the house. He was kind enough to show mom how to open it. I am getting a little braver. I just wish I knew about making better pictures. I guess that will come in time.

I saw in the paper today that we are going to have a baseball team back at our stadium this summer. It is suppose to be made up of a lot of local college students, who are home for the summer. It is fun to go watch a game or two without having to spend big bucks and travel that far. I have always got turned around and lost when I went to the Royal's stadium in Kansas City. I can usually find my way, but it takes a while.

We are going to be the home of the Chief's training camp at our local college in 2010. They are building this big training center that is suppose to be able to be used for a lot of things and have a l0t of activies going on at once. I just know it will cost a lot of money and I wonder where it is going to come from.

I really appreciate all of my blogger friends who leaves me comments.

Shirley

Countdown

We are counting the days until Spring and each day of sunshine makes us that much closer. Today we hit 50 degrees and tomorrow it is suppose to be 60 degrees, but the weekend the temperature is to drop and we are to have snow.

My puppies are finished and ready to put in my shop at http://shirleystitches.etsy.com . I have been falling asleep in the chair the last few nights, when I was working on a project. I have started me a set of Valentine Pillowcases which is about half finished. I have been fighting a sinus infection for the last couple of weeks. I, also, have allergies from the cedar and lumber dust, which doesn't help to much. Finding medication that really works can be a problem.

Do you ever have a day that you just wish that you could do what you wanted for yourself and forget everybody else or that someone would take care of you for a change? It time to go work on my pillowcases and do something else for a while.

I am anxious for when you can get outside and enjoy more of the fresh air.

Spring is Coming

We went to visit our oldest two grandsons and their mommy and daddy today. We hadn't seen them since Christmas because of the sickness that had been going around. They had all been sick and even though we had our flu shots I didn't want to run the risk of catching it.

My son and his wife does art work using a scrolling saw. This was his latest creation that he had finished. It was so neat and made you think about spring coming soon. Can't wait !

He had cut out a deer scene earlier before Christmas for a craft show that they had done. The deer was standing at the clearing of some cedar trees. The woodworking guild that they belong to made puzzles, cars, jewelry boxes at Christmas time for the Sertoma Toy Drive. They had over 800 children to sign up for it.

I just thought that I would share it with you. He is very talented and creative. It is a relaxation for them. Everybody has to do something because it makes for a healthier mind.

Heat Wave

We had a heat wave today. We made it to the upper 30's and it is supposed to be warmer tomorrow. Anything would be an improvement over last Thursday and Friday. What really made it bad was that the furnace at work decided it didn't want to work right. My office was 63 Friday. I had an afghan wrapped around my legs and gloves on my hands. Needless to say my computer was running awfully slow. The temperature kept dropping and the repairman hadn't made it when I left.

I have been working really hard on some new tea towels for my etsy shop. I put some in the evening, but for some reason I keep having problems with my windows internet explorer not responding. Then I have to shut the computer down and go again, but when you are halfway done with what you are doing it makes it frustrating.

You can see my tea towels at http://shirleystitches.etsy.com.

New Design for Valentine's

I really like my new look on my blog page. I have to have a change every so often or I feel that I am in a rut. We haven't seen our grandsons since Christmas because of all the illness that has been going around. We don't need it at our house that is for sure.
I have had my first sale for 2009. It is going to Canada so I guess you could say I am going global. I feel like maybe this is going to be a good year.
When we went shopping yesterday, my hubby walked every place we went,the grocery store,the sewing shop where I was asking questions how to do with my sewing machine. I tried what I thought I wanted to do but I didn't like it. It was more walking then he is use to doing and it was so cold. Today he was back to using the wheel chair.
I must get back to my valentine project.

Cold,Cold, Cold

We don't have the snow, ice, or as cold as some of you, but I am ready for Spring. Our furnace isn't working right at work and I am tried of dressing in layers. Maybe tomorrow the furnace will work. I do have an afghan to lay over my legs while I am on the computer. It works so very slow when it is cold.
My snowmen are one of the latest projects that I got completed. I have them listed in my etsy shop at http:/shirleystitches.etsy.com
They just have a finished perle edge at the present time because I couldn't make up my mind what color I wanted to put around the edge. Decisions, Decisions, Decisions are so hard to make so I can always add to them at a later date.
I,also, put Mr and Mrs Rooster in my shop. They reminded me of the ones that I used to sell to my grandpa when I was growing up. I am having to stick to some smaller projects that I can take with me. I have to many things going on right now. I can't blame hubby for the doctor visits lately they have been mine. I am just thankful that the tests can be all done in one location. I just wish the results would come in quicker.
The snow drifts that I have seen on the news lately reminded me of when I walked on top of snow drifts to make it home for Christmas one year. My brothers wasn't so lucky, they would sink in. Have you ever had snow ice cream? My mother would make that after we would get a fresh snow. It was so good. We even used my mother's wash tub and dad's scoop shovel turned backwards to sled in. It was so much fun even if we did get in trouble for it.
Stay warm.

Last Day of Vacation

Today is the last day of a 4 day vacation before going back to the day job. The weather has been very cold and windy today. We went out for awhile this morning, but most of the day has been spent at home doing laundry, and etc.

I was going through a box I had brought home from my mother-in-law's apartment that I had been putting off for quite a while. I came across this : The title is "I'm Fine'

There's nothing whatever the matter with me. I'm just as healthy as I can be. I have arthritis in both my knees. And when I talk, I talk with a wheeze. My pulse is weak and my blood is thin, but I'm awfully well for the shape I'm in. I think my liver is out of whack and a terrible pain in my back; My hearing is poor, my sight is dim, Most everything is out of trim. But I'm awfully well for the shape I'm in. I have arch supports for both my feet or I wouldn't be able to go on the street. I can't sleep night after night, and in the morning I'm simply a sight. My memory's failing, my head's in a spin, I"m peacefully living on aspirin. But I'm awfully well for the shape I'm in. The morale is, as this tale we unfold, That for you and me who are growing old It's better to say, "I'm fine," with a grin than to let them know the shape we're in. Author Unknown.

It reminded me how many times I have said "I'm fine" when I really wanted to be somewhere else.

It is heck to grow old. I got my lab results yesterday and I spend the day researching medicine to see what kind of side affects it would have and as I like to say the whole nine yards. My cholesterol is out of whack which I figured it was going to be so it wasn't a big surprise. I have to decide what I am going to do about it. The doctor said it is my choice, but when you are a caregiver you have to weigh all options to how it will affect you and your being able to take care of the other person.

Tomorrow is back to work and we won't have a long weekend for quite awhile. It spoils you just a little when you have two of them back to back. It makes it a little harder to remember which day of the week it is with that many days off. It will be a busy week and month with all of the extra things that have to be done such as W'2's and of course you always have someone wanting theirs right now. I really don't see how they can file their income tax so fast must not itemize that is for sure.

Happy 2009

Happy New Year

This is another picture I took during the crazy weather that we had. It is in the high 40's today and I am having a quiet day of reading blogs and doing what I want to do.

I was so exhausted from the last two days with everything I had to do that I needed a little down time. The house is peaceful and quiet with hubby taking a nap. He doesn't have much energy today. He gets to feeling better and then we do to much. I am off work until Monday the 5th. With all the holidays I haven't worked that much the last two weeks. I have been working on projects that I need to get done so I will have some new things for my etsy shop.

We are trying a new prescription d insurance provider this year. I am having a hard time believing the prices with the differences in the prices. Even the co-pays are anywhere to 15.00 to 20.00 cheaper. It is kinda like shopping for a new car. Ha.

I see so many things that I would like to try, but not enough hours to do it all.

Happy New Year

Crazy Weather

We have had the craziest weather this past week. We had snow for Christmas and it was cold. The following day we go to 68 degrees which melts all of the snow. We then have thunder, lighting, tornado warnings, freezing rain, and snow all within approximately twenty four hours. This is end of December not spring. We have had such strange weather the whole year. As the saying goes just stick around if you don't like it, it is guaranteed to change. We haven't had as bad as others have, but it is unusal for us to have the tornado warnings. I know the lighting sounded to close to the house for my liking. I have had lighting strike our home once, and I really don't care to have it hit again.

Looking out the window it is melting and the temperature says that we are up to 45 degrees. I think that is why the streets have not been treated because they thought that it would melt and they would save on the salt.

The New Year is coming and we will hope that it brings good things for all of us. The winter has been bad in respect to the terrible cold and the construction work is at a stand still for most of people. A lot of the people have put their projects on hold because they don't know what the economy is going to bring. I know at work we only have four people working at this time.

We had a good Christmas spent with family and friends. It made me tired to watch the boys play they have so much energy. The oldest two tried to take their Corgi puppy sledding, but he didn't care about that. He would sooner run beside the sled.

I am working on a few new projects and I need to get back to them. Happy New Year.

Shopping is done

The shopping is done and the North wind is blowing. The wind chill is what really makes it bad. We had another cold front come through this morning. We started our running today and I felt so good. We didn't use the wheel chair today which made me very happy. We were on parking lots that the snow had been pushed and the ice had been treated. I picked up the two pieces of costume jewelry that I had repaired at my favorite jewelry store. I haven't found anything that they couldn't do for me. It is family owned and been in business for a very long time. They make you feel like you are part of their extended family.
Today was a good day because my husband walked every place we went and didn't use the wheel chair . I really pray that it is a good sign. Work will be short this next week because we are closing at noon on Christmas Eve.
The weather is really being unpredictable right now, because people are getting bad weather in places that is usually warm. Of course they say that it is global warming.
I haven't got my latest project done and won't be in time for Christmas. I had to many other things in the fire. I will post a picture of it after it is finish.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to each and every one of you.

Shopping with Wheel Chairs

I finally decided that it was time to start my Christmas shopping. I decided I would go to our mall because they have a Penny's, Sears, Dillard's and others plus it would be inside out of the wind that was so horrible. I knew that Penny's had a handicap door so it would be easy to get into their store. How many places have handicap doors to help you get into their store, but don't have the handicap button's to push to let you out. That is exactly the situation with their store. They are spending a lot of money redoing our mall with promises of new shops. I haven't seen any new shops yet. You have some very friendly people who help you and those that stand in your way and you would like to hit them with the wheel chair.
I can still hear the wind which is really blowing. They say they registered over 40 miles a hour. I know when I took my car to the shop this morning it was hard at times to keep it where I wanted it.
I hope tomorrow will be better weather wise so maybe I can finish up. It will be another day of shopping with the wheel chair.
Happy Holidays

December 9,2008

I haven't blogged for a few days so I thought I would tonight before I go to bed. It has been terribly cold and windy, but we didn't get the rain or snow that they were predicting so we got lucky. Tomorrow will be the 1 year anniversary of our terrible ice storm of last year. I am hoping that we don't have another one. I had to scrape some ice off my windows, but we were so warm last night it didn't stick to the streets.

I have been in the baby-sitting business with my grandsons. I just don't watch all three at once. I could probably do it, but I don't think I want to try.

I haven't started my Christmas shopping as of yet. My husband can't walk that far so we use a wheel chair and some people are nice and hold the door open while others shut it in your face and they see you coming. I try to pick a time that maybe we won't have a lot of people to contend with.

I have my list made so that I can check it off as I go. We looked at some of the Christmas lights over the weekend. There is a house that has a lot of decorations that all move with the music. The Christmas trees change colors and is really unique.

We usually have our party after the holidays at work because it is hard to fit every body's schedule. It is rather nice to do it then.

Morning will come early so I need to close this post.

November 29,2008

Thanksgiving is over and now our thoughts turn to Christmas. Santa and his reindeer tea towel has arrived. I decided it wouldn't be Christmas without some so I am in the process and these are a couple of the first ones that I have got done and will be going into my shop at http://shirleystitches.etsy.com plus some other new items.

We had our first snow today and it is snowing at the present time. The ground is on the warm side so it is not accumulating as much as it could. I always want a the grass to be white, but the streets to be clear.

How many of you remember the coasting party and all the fun that you can have in the snow.

Did any of you ever eat snow ice cream when you were growing up. I can remember using my mom's wash tub as a sled. We even used the scoop shovel turned backwards. We got in trouble for it , but it was sure a lot of fun. We went to a one room school house when I started to school. We would take our sleds and go coasting at the lunch. Of course, we didn't get much accomplished in the afternoon , because
we didn't want to come in. It sure was a lot of fun and the sch0ol house is still standing.

We don't really want a winter like last with all the snow and ice storm. The snow I can handle, but I don't like the snow.

People were out shopping on black Friday, but I chose to babysit my two oldest grandsons. It was much easier and I didn't have to worry about trying to push a wheel chair through a croud. It definitely was more enjoyable.

November 23,2008

Christmas is going to be here before we are really ready for it. When I was looking to see what I had completed for Christmas, I discovered the Christmas napkins that I had worked on while my husband was in the nursing home recuperating from a broken leg a couple of years ago. I had put them aside and like other things forget where I have put them.The pillow is one that was made by my mother-in-law who loved to sew. She did a lot of had sewing, embroidering, crocheting, you name it she loved to do it. The church was always asking her to embroidery tea towels for the bazar. I just wish that I had learn to do tatting that she also did.

The antique brooch and earrings are a set that I had found when I was going through boxes. I have a lot of things yet to go through and it all takes time. There is a name on the back of it, but I haven't been able to make it out. I thought perhaps someone reading this might recognize it and tell me more about it.

I listed them in my shop at http://shirleystitches.etsy.com

I have been working on my Christmas Santa Tea Towels. I had put the patterns aside which I am famous in my family for laying something aside and then I can't find them for a while. I always do eventually.

It was such a beautiful day that we took a ride today to look at some new countryside that we hadn't been before. The Christmas decoration decorating the streets in small towns puts larger cities to shame, because they are to busy decorating their malls to be sure to get the people to come to their locations.
You even find little country restaurants that are unique for their home style cooking to make the ride more enjoyable. Of course, you always eat to much, but it sure is good.
I need to get back to my stitching or I won't get done what I need.

November 18, 2008

The first two November 18th is what happens when you haven't saved your blog and the lights go out for a few minutes. I tried my first attempt to take a sunset after a rainy afternoon when the sun finally came out.I don't usually do that, but it looked so pretty. I like sunsets and the trees fall color. I have spent some time visiting StarryDeborah's blog about her trip to Paris.The pictures made you think that you were actually going right along with her. The art work and stain glass windows were really something special.
I have a couple of My Elegant Lady tea towels that will be going into my shop. As you can see I like the ones that have a little more detail to them at times. It is my relaxation, but tonight has been spent on the computer instead.
It is getting closer to Christmas and we are all busy trying to get things done for our shops. I visited CarriesCozyCottage and she sure does have some pretty jewelry. I will be paying somemore visits as my time allows. I usually try to spend one night doing nothing but reading other people's blog. You see so many neat pictures of scenry and what they are working on.

We have a week until Thanksgiving where I am sure we will all eat to much as we usually do.It is a time for family and friends to get together and share the day.We will spend the day in the country at our son's. I will have fun with our three grandson's. They will make you tired from just watching them play.

I just looked at the clock and it is time for me to go to bed because tomorrow is another working day.

November 15, 2008

We had been out to our son's for his birthday. He was the lucky one who got the horse picture that I won in the raffle. His birthday cake was cherry cup cakes with cherry icing because he doesn't really care for cake and I don't know why. Matt had taken his bath and had put his new Mickey mouse pajamas on that we got him for his birthday and the foot is his older brothers. We will be babysitting them the Friday after Thanksgiving while their mommy and daddy do a craft show. They will take some tea towels of mine and a few other items. I would sooner spend the time with them then go elsewise because I do not tolerate the cold very good at the moment.

I have been working on my etsy shop rearranging some of the items and listing a few new items. I had to recharge my camera for some reason when the battery runs down you don't get good pictures. I really can't understand why. I will work on some more pictures tomorrow. I will be adding some more antique costume jewelry that belong to my mother-in-law and other things.

We have had one cold front go through and we are expecting another one. We had some rain but no snow as of yet.

I must tell you about a wonderful Christian group of college kids that came and rake my leaves today around the house. They got out of the vehicles and told me the Calvary had arrived. It didn't take them to long and the only payment they wanted was posing in a group picture and praying with them before they left. I had been having problems with my back when I bent down or over wondering if I would get back up or straightening up so this was very much god sent for me. They were a wonderful group and it was their way of giving back to the community before they head home for Thanksgiving. I told them I didn't expect them to rake my two acres, which I have been told we should sell it and get something smaller, but when you built it and lived here a long time you hate to give it up. When the health requires, it maybe.

November 10, 2008

Our fall color has really taken a toll from the cold and winds that we had late last week and over the weekend. They are now more to the browns and grays. We have been fortunate that we have only had rain so far, but we know that it is getting closer to the time we get the snow.

I had to take time out to watch Dancing with the Stars. I am not sure who I want to win, but it is so much fun to watch. Even the younger generation that gets the opportunity to do their dance. They are in the age range from 8-13 years old. I always have like the dance competitions and ice skating. Our daughter completed in ice skating in her younger years individually and on a precision team and we got to do some traveling to different locations that we would not have gone to except for a competition.

I am not really ready to get the winter clothes out yet, but I guess I am going to have to do

Trees can be very pretty, but you have a lot of leaves to rake and pickup. I know I did several bags and it didn't even seem like I made a dent. They accumulate so bad right in front of my basement door.

We won't be taken as many drives when the weather starts changing. I already know we won't be doing the Loess Hills Scenic drive this year. We should have done it last week, but I had to many irons in the fire. We went down toward Atchison, Kansas this past Sunday.The river bluffs wasn't as pretty as the week before. You could sure tell that the weather had changed and the wind was strong. Oh well there is always next year and who knows what it will bring.

We just take everyday we are given and try to enjoy it the best we can because every moment is precious.

November 5,2008

My oldest son and grandson with his new lamp that I made him for his birthday. My grandson loves anything John Deere. I decided to do him a lamp for his room that he could use when he is laying on his bed which has a bookcase in the head board. We started him a collection of John Deere tractors and implements from the time he was olded enough to have them.

I need to get busy and make the other two a lamp but I haven't found a lamp that works and I didn't really want to pay full price for one. This one was found at a garage sale and I just reworked it to fit what I wanted. I just don't have enough hours in a day to devote to all of the things I like to do.

Our oldest has always built things out of lego's with the younger generation. He even still likes to build with lego's and see what kind of designs he can come up with. He got each of our grandsons their first set of lego's and help them build something with them. It keeps them very entertained that is for sure.

I can't wait to see the boys in their halloween costumes. Our youngest grandson went as a monster truck. Our middle one got to wear his pajamas to day care for halloween. That way they didn't have a lot of costumes to have to help the little ones with when they had to go to the bathroom.

The election is over and I am glad. We don't have to listen to the political ads anymore nor do we come home to find our answering machine full of them. It is was a little frustrating when you waiting for a message from the doctor's office.

I don't know if we will get to take our drive up the Loess Hills scenic highway or not this coming weekend because they are saying their is a chance of snow. I'll keep you posted on that one.

November 2. 2008

Our drive today took us to Northwest Missouri and Iowa seeing countryside over rural two lane highways looking at the fall color which is really pretty. It is my favorite time of the year. We found out where the Loess Hills scenic drive starts at Rock Port, Misssouri going to Council Bluffs, Iowa. The hills that we did see had a lot of color and some looked like they went straight up and down. We may do that drive later before the cold weather really sets in.

There were a lot of farmers working in the fields trying to get their crops out. I know when you meet them on the highway you have to be careful because there just is enough room for you to get by. They wave at you when you meet them on the rural highways.

We saw where they were building another wind farm in Northwest Missouri around Rock Port and Tarkio, Missouri. Rock Port is supplying their community from their wind farm, but you still need electricity to help make it work.

We had an enjoyable outing seeing a lot of countryside and that is the main thing.

November 1, 2008

I thought you might like to see the fall color in my back yard. We have raised them from babies. We even have a pecan and english walnut, but have yet got any harvest because the squirrels beat us to them, which I really don't mind.

We took our drive today to see the fall color because you don't know how much longer it will last. We have been taking a lot of two lane highways and seeing the countryside. A lot of the farmers are busy trying to get their crops out. I usually try to pick routes that will have the bluffs and hills. We never know which direction we are going, but it is fun and gives my husband an outing. He isn't feeling the best in the world right at the moment. They say it is allergies and put him on allergy medicine. I haven't decided if they are right or not because when he coughs it sounds awfully loose. He doesn't cough anything up.

Halloween is over and the next thing will be Thanksgiving. I will have a long weekend which always makes me happy. The last day of the month is always statement day which is an all day process. I always manage to get it done if everybody cooperates and leaves me alone.

I am still fighting with the insurance company. They told me when I called that we were through the donut hole and I would not have any problems when I went to pick up his medicine up. I gave them a day before I went so that they could do what ever they had to do. I went to get his medicine and I was told that it would be over $200.00 I just about had a heart attack. I told them I wasn't paying it because I was through the donut hole. We called the insurance company again and was told that the one who told me that I wouldn't have any problems didn't have the authority to tell me that. It would take 2 to 5 days while they audited the account but admitted that I was through the donut hole. I told them that they should have someone that could make the decision involving problems on each shift because appologies just didn't cut it. They just didn't want to pay the claim because now they have to pay 95% of his high dollar medicine. A word of advice to all of you who have medicare and prescription d insurance be sure that you keep track of what you spend on medicine when it comes to the donut hole because they will definitely trying collecting more then they should.

I have a surprise 40th anniversary party to go to so I better get my self in gear as I like to say.

October 27, 2008

This blog may not be of interest to many of you, but I just got off the phone with the insurance company and they were trying to tell me I wasn't through the donut Hole. I needed somewhere to vent my frustrations. There is a lot of adjustments when you reach the age where you have to be on medicare and your group insurance doesn't want to be your secondary. They sell you the prescript d for medication that isn't suppose to have a gap, but it does. They use everything you pay and they pay to get you a certain level and then it is only what you pay that goes toward their lovely donut hole. If I sound a little irriated, I am. I was told that possible I could qualify for help which isn't an option unless I am ready to give up my day job. You want to be independent and take care of your family,but sometimes it is a big struggle.

We definitely don't need anymore government control of our lives that is for sure. You need to be able to make the choice of what is best for your life. I can see so many ways that the insurance could save money that is being wasted. They will pay for blood transfusions, but they won't pay for the medication that keeps you from having to have one. It just does not make good sense how they reach their decisions. Sometimes I feel that they think if you get frustrated enough that you will just give up.

So much for my getting it off my chest as the saying goes, It is Monday, the day we wish we could wipe off the calendar because usually it is a complaint day. I only answer the telephone and some days I don't even want to do that.

I am watching the temperature drop as I write this. It is suppose to get down to 22 degrees tonight. It definitely will help the people with allergies. We are suppose to get back up to 65 by Wednesday. It sure is cooky weather and if you don't like it, stick around it will change.

We lost our electricity yesterday because of high winds. I was in the middle of trying to down load some more pictures and needless to say I have to start over because of that.

Do you like carving pumpins? These were carved by my oldest two grandsons, and their mommy. Matt's is the spider and Jacob's the ghost.

PRETTY FALL DAY

The color is getting to be really pretty if you go south, but it hasn't got that far north. This color is from my back yard which is getting there, but not all of the way as of yet. This group of trees we planted when we first built our home over 42 years ago. When we built our home it was like living in country only we were in the city limits. We had the deer that would come close enough to the house that I could look out my window and see them. Now we have a houing development built up all around us. We don't get to see near the wild life that we use to do.

The top picture is in our back acre the trees were very small when we planted them. When our yard is all mowed it looks like a park, which some of the neighbor kids think that it is and belongs to the city. They have tried riding their 4 wheelers and dirt bikes back there. They escape the ice storm last year but my two blue spruces did not.

Matts Bike

Matt's bike with training wheels. He is so proud of it and loves riding. It didn't take him very long to learn how to ride it. His mommy had to lay down some ground rules as to where his older brother and him could ride or he would try going where ever brother went. He thinks he is as big as brother who is 9.

October 20, 2008

The weekend was absolutely gorgeous. I went to my first Road Show taking my antique tapestries that I knew nothing about. They told me what they were and gave me an idea of their value. They weren't buying that kind of things, but they are looking for costume jewelry. I had watched the shows on television, but I had never gone to something like this.

The weekend was Homecoming for Northwest Missouri State. The high school that I graduated from was on the college campus so we always have a reunion on Saturday evening a catered dinner and visiting with friends. This next year will be our 50th class reunion. It doesn't seem like it has been that long. It usually turns off cool for the parade, but warms up for the football game.

My trees in my backyard are starting to get pretty. I am going to try to get home early enough to take a picture so that I can put it on my blog for you all to see. We probably won't get to do our usual weekend trip around the countryside because we have our grandson's 4th birthday party in the afternoon and our son-in-law suprise 40th birthday party that evening. I figure I will need Sunday to recuperate.

I hope the weatherman is wrong but our weather is suppose to turn cold and rainy with possibilites of snow flurries and it is on the end of October.

Rainy Day

It has been rainy and cool the last couple of days. I have been busy working on my embroidery work . I have completed this one to the left, but I haven't posted it to my etsy shop yet.

We have been doing our weekend sight seeing of the fall color. This next weekend there should be more and by the end of the month it should really be pretty.

It is our favorite time of the year to travel because most of the time it will be cool enough for a light jacket and warm enough that you are without in the afternoon.

Sunday will be our big day of 45 years. It doesn't really seem that long until you look at the ages of our children and grandchildren. We usually go to Branson for our anniversary, but we won't this year we have to many doctor appointments in the next couple of weeks and with my husband on a soft food diet it is hard to find a restaurant that caters to people with special needs,

Our grandson cried when his mommy and daddy told him they had to come home from their trip. He would go again in a heart beat if you asked him. We will celebrate his fourth birthday very shortly. I tried to scan a picture of his new puppy, but I have to work on that for a while. His puppy is a Corgi.

I will close this post for tonight.

October 4, 2008

Our son and his family left Thursday afternoon for Branson, Missouri for a short vacation. If their youngest would have had his way, they would have left at 1 o'clock in the morning when he had to go to the bathroom. Mommy told him that he had to go back to bed. I tried to scan a picture in of them, but I have to figure out how to make them fit the way that I want them to do. They stopped at Lambert's for dinner which is one of our favorite foods. They throw rolls which is always fun. The food is really good and if you are hungry when you leave it is nobody fault. but your own.

They had planned on going to Silver Dollar City which was to have the antique tractors and my daughter-in-law was going to a cooking show. I would love to go there later this month, but unfornuately we have to many doctor appointments and I can't be gone other then for that. I will try to change the pictures that I scanned to see if I can get them to fit better.

Any body for a Ride

A beautiful day for two little boys to go horse back riding with Trica leading Charley. All you had to do was ask if they wanted to go for a ride and they were right there. They had such a good time. Our oldest grandson was riding Money what a name for a horse. He was suppose to ride in a couple of events, but changed his mind after he saw what he was going to be doing. He hasn't been riding this horse that long yet. They were having a raffle on a couple of pictures, one of two mule heads and the other of a horse framed with barnwood. They were really neat. I thought I was just making a donation, but I actually won the horse picture. Ethan in grandpa's cowboy hat is 3 and Matt will be 4 this month. It was a beautiful day but everybody was tired. Ethan took a 4 hour nap after being out in the fresh air. I fell asleep in the chair that evening.