Quite Moments.....

Sunday evening.....

2012-02-05T20:01:00.000-08:00

When did this weekend fly by so fast, but it surely did. Sunday evenings seem to be more contemplative for me. I think they were even as a young woman. I would sometimes get melancholy, that it went so fast, that the dusk was there before I was ready, in winter months more so. I think even then I dealt with some SADs. When later spring and summer came, I wasn't as challenged. Now I think over the week and enjoy what I had fun doing. This week was doing a scrappy star with some good friends that I sew with.

I know this, that women need the opportunities to spend time together and share our lives, the ordinary of our days. For that ordinary takes care of our families and those around us who have become our families. We need the connections to nurture and be nurtured, to laugh, to sorrow, to learn together. Women are amazing in all that they do, but we also so need to learn how to take care of ourselves. That journey is what I certainly have been learning over the last four years. So I keep learning the lessons and sharing what I learn along the way to those who are my family and friends.

Off to go and do some of the very ordinary that makes up my days, the dishes.....lol

Tuesday with Sunshine

2012-01-31T15:17:00.000-08:00

Any day with sunshine can make my heart lighter. I know that I have the winter blues, so being outside every day is important. When there is sunshine it just makes it that much better. I have the sunlight light bulbs in the house and that helps too. So lights on and shining brightly.

The sewing room disaster room is finally seeing a wee bit of the light of day. This just happens to be the room where I just drop stuff and hope to have a chance to get back to it later. It is the worse case of a junk drawer, it is the whole room. I really like sewing on my quilts and that has been on the back burner for so long. It is time to take back the time that I need to have my creative outlet. I love to write, and doodle, and do quilts and embroidery and I learned to hand quilt a month ago, that I want to give a lot more practice too. Yep, always something going on, it makes the world go round. Having those outlets lets some of the daily stress out. learning to do that is important for me and all of us for that matter. In our crazy, way to busy world, we need to have projects that allow us to sit and slow down. So take some time and slow down.....

So we finally get......

2012-01-23T20:52:00.000-08:00

snow, wonderful, light snow. I have really enjoyed watching it fall as the night falls. The challenge, they say it may be our winter storm for this year. It only gave us 12 inches, yikes are we gonna be in trouble for the precipitation this summer. I didn't even go make a snowman, or go sledding with the grands. It was doing the freezing rain the next day, so didn't really have a chance to do it. So, I am hoping for more snow, another storm, shhhhh, don't tell. A girl can hope and dream.

I know for me, that I enjoy where I live and the seasons. I enjoy seeing the changes and anticipating them.
It also makes me think of all the changes and seasons in my own heart and life. You can be guaranteed that life will change, you never know what those changes will be. Exploring them is part of what my journey in life is. It is never boring, it can make me cry with joy and happiness, or with sadness and grief. All those emotions are part of the ride as well, learning to allow myself to have each emotion is important. I can't say I always do well with that, but I am learning.

So here is to my journey and yours as we continue to go forward.....

January 15, 2012 Sunday evening

2012-01-15T22:23:00.000-08:00

So this weekend was cleaning, visiting, hanging in there. Why the hanging in there? Because the more I clean the more I realise what I need to change around here to make it work more efficiently. Anything that makes life simpler, that makes it more enjoyable. Even if I have to do clean up, I want to make it simpler to do. So I can do the things I enjoy more like hanging out with the grand kiddos, quilting, reading a good book and so much more. Life is challenging, enjoyable, funny, crazy, scary some times, but it is life!!!!

So off to take care of more of it.

Wednesday glooming hour January 11, 2012

2012-01-11T17:02:00.000-08:00

The glooming hour is what a friend use to call it when the sun went down and before it was completely dark out. I have no idea why she did it, but it stuck in my head. When I think of her, I remember that phrase she would use. She had a few of them. She ever turned her clocks back either, she left them as they were. She was her own unique woman.

I think as I grow older, I am growing into being my own unique woman, appreciating more of who I am, not caring what others think like when I was younger. I am hoping that this means I become wiser as well. I am learning more of what truly is important in life, relationships, rather than things, and not meeting others expectations. Finding out what really makes me passionate. One of those things is being there to listen to others, having a good laugh over nothing or everything, watching a sunrise or sunset depending on my silly sleeping patterns, feeding the chickens and hearing them cluck and their contentment, have a fire roaring in the fireplace on a cold day like today. I am passionate about the ordinary, having that ordinary be the extraordinary. I have to remind myself of that when life comes crashing in, pushing and pulling at me. Sitting down and taking a breath, remembering that this too shall pass, and remembering who I am.

Just my thoughts for the day, off to do a load of laundry for we all know it multiplies when you are not looking.....lol.

Sunday afternoon January 8, 2012

2012-01-08T15:56:00.000-08:00

Taking a break from trying to find at least one room in my house today. Why is it that when you have errands, doctor appointments that ones house goes to hell in a hand basket? I cannot do it all at once. I wish I could wiggle my nose and it would all be in order like I want it......nope, no cleaning fairies have showed up either. Now wouldn't that be the bomb if they were true....they would show up in the middle of the night and put the house to order and you woke up to a clean house!!!!! I know, dreaming, but a girl can always wish.

Thankfully it is not the grey foggy cloudy day, there was sunshine. That helps, no matter the messes, sunshine can always make me smile. It means winter does not last forever, that spring will come. It means that this may be a mess now, but eventually I will get it done. It brings hope.

Hope is the little voice you hear whisper "maybe" when it seems the entire world is shouting "no". I do not know who the quote came from, but it is written in my room here to remind me that there is always hope.

So I shall go back to working on a small section in my living room, every little bit counts!!!!!

January 7, 2012

2012-01-07T23:25:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful refreshing day. Getting to talk to a friend I haven't talked to for 2 years, picking back up where we left off, talking for over two hours. What a delight to say the least. There are those people in your life that you may not get to talk to as often as you want to, but you pick right up where you left off. Amazing fun.

I learned how to do some hand applique today at this wonderful quilt shop. It was worth getting up early and learning how to do it with ease. Having the right needle to do turn applique is imperative. It made doing the applique so so so much easier. Their suggestion was straw needles, size 10. It is thin and long and it doesn't bend. I have the notorious habit of bending my needles when I am working on something. I don't with these. That was so great!!! Along with laughter, good company and learning. What a great way to start ones day.

Now I have to admit, I am so not a morning person. I did great because the time literally flew, came home and shared all the fun stuff with dh. Then it was, Wow, I am so tired. Off to slumber land for a while so I could function for the rest of the day. Needless to say, I never really got back up to speed after taking the nap. LOL. Doesn't matter it was still a wonderful day.

So now that I am learning this skill, it means more projects.....lol. Now I am in trouble.......

December 28, 2011

2011-12-28T18:05:00.000-08:00

So it is evening here and I have decided to sit down and write. What in the world do I write about? About my ordinary days which make an extraordinary life. I think about that often, as I do laundry, make meals, do dishes. All of these things are so repetitive at times, but must happen. So how do I make them play instead of work. Hmmmm. I seem to have to be "in the mood" to get er done. I am not sure why that is, but as of late, it seems to be that way. I wake up going, I need to do this. It is what I end up working on for the day. Yesterday was working on some of my buried sewing room. Yes, you read that right, buried.

For the last while, it is where everything seems to get put. I will get to it later. Later has arrived and it is time to have my creative space cleaned out and organized again. As I go along, I realise what will work better and what is not working in this space. It is just a continuing evolution of change. Like finding two Mary Englelbrett Christmas tins that will make me smile all year round and store, some pre-wound bobbins. It is finding unique, fun storage ideas that make me smile. I have a little dresser, miniature that holds my needles. It has great memories because it is from a very special gal to me. It is a mix in here that makes it my space.

So when you create a space for yourself, what will it include? What is important to you? What makes you smile? What makes you giggle and has a memory that makes you laugh? Surrounding myself with those kind of items creates a room full of fun and creativity. A room that makes you smile, now good can that be!!!

December 27, 2011

2011-12-27T18:24:00.000-08:00

Just hanging out in my sewing room, lookin around at the mess going, this is it, you are getting done in here. No more working on other parts of the house, I want to get this done. I need my creative spot back in order to get to do some fun stuff, like sew a couple of table runners, work on some of my projects in motion. In my house, there will always be projects in motion. Getting them finished shall be the goal for this year. To finish up some of those great projects in motion.

Is that a New Year's resolution. No. It is a thought that I want to put into motion. To do for me. I have spent a good portion of my life doing for others, it is time for some me time. Time to sit quietly and contemplate what I want to do now. What do I want to grow up to be.......lol. But I think about that some times. Your children grow up and move out, you start to contemplate the possibilities that you can do.

Mine have been out of the house for a few years, grand babies came shortly after that, now it is time to take a breath and look around. What would I like to do. What am I capable of doing. What do I truly enjoy.
Where would I like to go if money was no object. It is being aware that there are still plenty of dreams inside of me. That they are possible. For now, it is working on my creative space......

What is it that would make your heart sing? Sit down and take the time, in some quiet to discover what that is.....I know that I am.

Merry Christmas to all

2011-12-25T00:14:00.000-08:00

and to all a good night. May each of you have a day of good laughs, family(how ever you make up yours), some quiet moments to reflect, and a joyous New year.

December 15, 2011

2011-12-16T00:11:00.000-08:00

I had a wonderful day yesterday, all because I actually had some decent sleep. It is amazing how much better life looks when I am not sleep deprived. I actually got a few things done around the house that I wanted to, which makes the day seem lighter.
Today was much more challenging, sleeping was not on the agenda until early this morning, then it was fitful. It happens like that, for whatever reasons. So I am trying to be kinder to myself, when my days are like that. I don't make a list for myself, I puttered for a little, then curled up on the couch, wrapped in warm blankets. I did have to do a quick clean up in the chicken coop with my dd's help. I was very thankful for the help. The chickens were very thankful for dry bedding. Their waterier leaks a little, but they so do not help. I swear they like making a big fat mess, then look at me like, who us. It is still chilly here, so they have had to spend a little more time in the coop, but when it doesn't come above freezing, and the heater is on in their coop, they get a little more restless. They still give up an egg or two, but I think right now they are protesting at the cold.

I do know this, that I truly do enjoy having them. My grand daughter enjoys watering them, she isn't afraid of them like she was at first. I have 4 regular breed and a few Bantys. She likes them a lot more. She has gotten to where she knows exactly how to get the eggs from the hens. Smart cookie, she is. I appreciate the help. My oldest grand is a little intimidated by them still, so will go out with here and give her some encouragement. Now, grandson loves standing there talking to them. I have no idea what he tells them, but trust me, he tells them a lot.

So tonight, I am hoping for a better nights sleep, and if I don't, I have a great book to read!!!!! I am enjoying reading "The Help". I so enjoy reading, going to different places and getting different perspectives of life. It makes you think, be more aware of others when you go out and about.

So I am going to go enjoy a wonderful hot chocolate and call it a night.

December 14, 2011

2011-12-14T01:50:00.000-08:00

It has been forever since I have written here, after getting a person who couldn't keep their thoughts to themselves, I let them chase me off. Now how dumb was that.

I read another friends blog, she hasn't been on for a while, but she reminded me how much I like to just plain write. Screw what anyone thinks, this isn't about them, it is about me.

The crazy up and downs of my days, the challenge of dealing with a disease that isn't recognized as a disease, trying out new things to help, being challenged when they don't work, having break down days to grieve where I am at, then pick myself up and go again. Had a couple of friends back in my life, they were missing for a while because their lives had some challenges, glad to have them back again. A support system is a most for all of us, mine is rather small but it is all I can handle.

Having energy to do what I want to, I think is one of the biggest challenges.
Like this Christmas, truly not having the energy to decorate like I like to, having to take a look at the fact that I needed a change this year, that is okay not to do what I have done in the past. Less stress on myself that way, but trying to figure out what I did want to do, good grief, it has taken me the last 2 weeks....it will be Christmas before I am done. And guess what, that is finally okay.

As my parents are getting older, I am dealing with the loss that is to come. Nothing will truly prepare for that day I can't pick up the phone and be able to talk to them. I was able to go have Thanksgiving with my family this year and I treasured every minute of it. You begin to recognize the fact that it won't be all that long before you are the oldest ones in your family...now I am not saying they are on their death beds, but time truly does march on when you least expect it.

I think that this Christmas has been a time of reflecting for me. Remembering Christmas's past, the enjoyable memories that have gone with them. Like my parents having a Santa trap, that they would leave a boot in, it was red and green, looked kinda like an animal one, just simple. I think my brother has it now, it made us laugh, we still had it out when I was a teenager. The smell of a real Christmas tree. Oh how I miss that this year. We have artifical one, but trust me, if I had the bucks, I real one it would sooooo be. I am thankful for the artifical one, just need to decorate it. I guess it doesn't count if you just have it out.....lol. Hey, I told you, it might take me till Christmas. I do have lights up, which is making these darker days out much more cheery. It gets dark quick further north. Soon the days will be adding minutes at a time and the dark doesn't last long....when it snows, it is so very bright.

I so had to laugh at myself a couple weeks back when I was bemoaning the fact that it didn't seem like Christmas yet without the snow. Now mind you, I was not raised in snow country and have only been here ten years, rain was what we got.....lol. So too be bemoaning no snow like I have, had me laughing. I also realised how much I truly do like the four seasons. Now if we would only get them.....lol.

So for now, going to go one day at a time. Today was just letting myself curl up with a good book, warm blanket and relax. I think I need to do that more often, instead of beating myself up for what I can't do. Hey I am still alive and kicking and that, my friends, counts!!!!!

2010-04-27T18:51:00.000-07:00

Spring time and spring cleaning seem to go hand in hand. It is when you look around from the winter hibernation and go, who in the world made this crazy mess.....that would be me. Since when do I need all this stuff....I don't....thus begins the cleaning, or should I say shoveling out the house. So far 2 goodwill runs in my little Geo and a couple runs up to the dumpster and believe you me there is more.

This is when you truly think of lighting a match and fanning fast....but then you would get rid of what you really want along with that that you need to pass onto another loving home....so a sorting I will continue to go. Yes, I am still on the clear bin organizing...it seems to have morphed into so much more....the word overwhelming could come to mind if I choose to let it...I will NOT!!!!! There is too much to do and I can see a teeny tiny ray of light through here....now where did it go..........lol

2010-04-17T11:41:00.000-07:00

So it is a Saturday almost afternoon again.....how does the time go by so quickly....but it sure does.
I got the priviledge of learning what costochondritis was. Don't you love the fancy names they give. It means the cartilage where my ribs attach are inflamed. Now how did I do this? I have absolutley no clue and neither did the MD. The funniest part was it ususally happens to teenagers. See I told you I was young at heart, where appartently in parts of my body too!!!!! I would laugh but that smarts to do.

The birds are singing and the rain has been here and is gone for a wee bit. The daffodils are blooming, showing their lovely yellow faces most profusely. It smells like spring in the air. I love that smell. It also means I should be thinking of checking for weeds, for now I am just going to enjoy the daffodils, weed pulling will commence much later.....

Sewing.....zelch for now. Taking care of myself....a must. So for now, I will rad some blogs and go rest up again....ahhh what a life of luxury I lead.....grin.

2010-03-18T17:38:00.000-07:00

Guess what I found in my front yard yesterday?
It would be this beautiful crocus in bloom, the first bloom of spring here. That was an awesome suprize to get. Oh the joys of gardening and seeing those first flowers beging, knowing that digging in the dirt will soon follow. I like digging in the dirt and moving plants around and enjoying all the wonderful blooms through spring, summer and fall. It makes me smile for sure. So here is to the coming of spring and playing in the dirt.....

2010-03-12T19:57:00.000-08:00

So it has taken most of the week to recoup from that lovely refer adventure. Having that crazy thing stuck in the doorway for 3 hours was not so good for this girl. We finally got help from daughter and friend, who manuevered that beast to the bottom of the steps so we could put the new one in. Needless to say I literally shoved everything into the new one and called it a day. Still working on my small kitchen to get it back to order, but a little bit every day will do the trick.

Fibro has been a definite pooh bucket. One of those weeks when crawling out of one's skin for a couple of minutes just to get some releif would have been good. Now wouldn't that be cool if I could do that. Instead taken it a lot easier, have to give the body time to do a little recouping before I try anything like that again.
Thankfully no heavy lifting is required for anything in the future.

We have had snow, rain, sunshine and fog in less than 5 days....yes, spring is arriving!!!! March can do it all and sometimes in the same day. My daffodils are up a bit higher along with my tulips. Can't wait to see them all in bloom. They say a dusting of snow tonight and then we get 50's for a couple of days and sunshine. Tomorrow is our St Patricks Day Parade here. I for one am going to stay home, curled up in a nice warm blanket with a cup of cocoa. Now there is a good idea, a cup of cocoa....I am out of here because warmth is sounding good. Later.................

2010-03-08T00:02:00.001-08:00

The REFER is finally where it should be....how many hours later, a call for help again, some muscles came to help out the muscles that gave out and the stuff is back in our new refer, this was not an adventure to have on a otherwise leisurely Sunday....but thankfully it is done!!!!!!! LOL

2010-03-07T16:10:00.000-08:00

THE REFER ADVENTURE....................
So our very old referigerator has finally died. We were given a new to us, used one that works great. We cleaned it up and are ready to move it in. So I unload the old one, clean off the top, take all the magents off of it. Now that was a chore all in itself. We get the older refer to the front door, get it part way through and realize we have changed the door and it won't fit. So back the refer goes a few feet, we take off our front door, we get it part way through again and hubby's sugar level drops. We must stop again.....till his numbers are where they should be. By this time, my fibro is making me shake so bad I can't stand up.....ok, we might need some help. Call neighbor who said he would be here shortly, an hour later....here we are, too pooped to go forward as the sun begins its slow descent and my house starts cooling off because there is no front door on....are we having fun yet.....lol

2010-03-05T17:08:00.000-08:00

This is Mr. man on his Second birthday yesterday. That blanket he is wrapped in is what we made for him. On one side is Disney Cars and the other side is Sponge Bob, his two favorite things right now....lol.
When I gave it to him, he did not know which side to look at and the fact that both of what he liked was on one blanket mystified him for a minute or two. Those giggles of delight were worth it all!!!!!

Aren't those some sweet baby blues!!!!!!

Worth it all, meaning rotten shoulder pain and stabbing myself with the needle more than once when sewing the binding on. Yes, the word klutz did come to my mind when I keep stabbing myself....lol

2010-03-02T19:00:00.000-08:00

I smile everytime I see that picture of the new little one. I went and saw him yesterday since it was his one week mark. He is even cuter now than he was then. Mom looks good too. Had a good visit and then headed for home.

We have had amazing weather for the last 2 days. It has been in the 50's and I want to go play in the dirt. The challenge being it is too early to do a lot. I dream of moving the rose bush so it can spread out more, moving my irises so they are in a spot that I can see and enjoy them more, then there is the clean up, whose back yard is that anyway.....mine, dang buckets....and it is a mess. One mess at a time, I am still working in the house, so will work on that for now. Otherwise it can be a bit overwhelming and make you want to bolt and run. Calgon take me away........................lol.

So the task to orgainize continues, slower than expected but when it is done, it is finally done. Now won't that be a relief for this girl!!!!! Here is to hoping you are enjoying whatever project you are planning or doing....my list seems to keep getting longer.....grin.
cs

2010-02-25T13:37:00.000-08:00

This is what I was up to the first of the week. I was priviledged to be there for my great nephews birth.

What an incredible experience to be allowed to be part of. Welcome to the world little one!!!!

2010-02-18T18:09:00.000-08:00

If any of you would like to continue finding out about my uncle curt's progress in Haiti, you can go to http://curtking.wordpress.com/ It is informative as well as heart rendering at times.

2010-02-16T17:57:00.000-08:00

This is what I want be doing, therapy....major therapy. Sewing that is, it isn't what I get to do right now. Right now it is just dealing with dr appts for dh. You can't always do what you want, you do have to do what is at hand. So I can dream of thearpy that hopefully sooner than later I will get to do.

I did spend some time this weekend watching the grand girls playing in the pool. They sure had fun and are water babies whenever they get the chance.
Their other set of grandparents were up visiting them. I like that we can talk about our grands, laugh at their antics, enjoy their silliness. I loved to swim as a kid. My mom was determined that all 4 of her children would know how to swim well because she never learned. She did not want us to have the fear that she did. She tried to learn when we were pre adolescent, and ended up getting strep throat from the lake she was in. That was it for my mom. Life jackets are her friends if she is in the water. My dad was a wood shop teacher and made canoes. We learned how to go down easy rivers and on the lakes. Mom did a couple of trips with us. I congratulate her for her bravery. On one of those floats on a river we did often, we found a picnic table that someone had thrown in. So Mom brought the truck and we pulled it out. It was ssssssssssooooooooooooo heavy from being in the water, it was water logged indeed. It was a fun picnic table in our backyard because we used it all the time and it was part of our adventure. Great memories to share with the grand kiddos.

So the organizing has been on hold for the last couple of weeks, I got to do a wee bit yesterday and will do a wee bit today. I have to remind myself, that a little is still forward progress. I guess each of us have to do the same, that a little progress is still progress. At times, it is easier to want to give up when you can't do it when you want to, like you want to. The reminder for me, in dealing with fibro and my unpredictable body is that a little progress is still some progress. So with that in mind I shall go do a wee bit more............
cs

2010-02-14T02:11:00.000-08:00

Late night meanderings.......when you are so tired but you can't sleep, you have pushed every button for every station and nothing holds your interest, the pain level from the fibro is driving you nuts, you have no concentration, hmmmmm a hammer upside the head, I think not, it would wipe out what few brain cells I have left tonight..........lol........thus the writings from a rummy dummy woman.......and the cat just puked on some quilting fabric.....perfect, just perfect......yes that was sarcasm....gggggggggggggggggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

2010-02-08T20:59:00.000-08:00

So here they are Sheryl-lyn, my little 9 patches.
Still working on the kitty picture, it may have to wait until tomorrow....grin. Tired.....some zzzzzzzzzz are sounding good.

2010-02-08T19:33:00.000-08:00

Hey there, okay Karin and Sheryl-lyn, I took pictures of my kitties and pictures of my blocks and it keeps tellimg me when I try to upload that they are not there. They are there, I go to that file and they are right there. I have no idea what is going on...so be patient girls, I will keep working at it. I have done this so many times, hmmmm just not a day to get er done!!!

I have to say being on the waiting, test, waiting and hold pattern, can be hmmm, not really frustrated but hard to be patient with. I want to know what is going on like yesterday. That is just me, right now. Other times I can wait, but this is my guy.

I can't say I got much done today at all. Do you have those days where you go one foot forward and then several back. Yes, that would be today. Thankfully that doesn't happen to me every day, but for today....lol, it did.

Thankfully another day will start tomorrow and I can begin anew. For that I am very thankful.
cs

It is a Monday all day long......grin!!!

So here is too Monday!!!! and getting through it!!!!!! Hope you all had a better one....lol
cs

2010-02-08T00:11:00.000-08:00

Every have times were you are sure you are on a roller coaster ride, even if you haven't left your home?

Well this week has been one of those weeks. I thought I was going to get to continue on my great organizing adventure that I have had going on here at my house. Clear bins being my best friends as of the first of this year. Nope, that wasn't going to be my plight. Instead being at the VA with my hubby was, then coming home and crashing(for lack of a better word). Thankfully he got to come home on Saturday morning, but there are more tests to come to get all that is going on with his body figured out. One of them being tomorrow morning at 7:30am. To say I am not a morning person is an understatement....so this will be interesting.

So my challenge has been trying to figure out how to not have the stress affect me, or have it affect me as little as possible. Not possible for most of what was going on, but still ............... Fibromyalgia's biggest enemy is stress because what do you do when you stress, you tighten your muscles..... My fibro has my muscles tightened all the time anyway, which causes pain. So exercise is important. I do not always exercise as I should. I want to rant and rave instead, then go back to behaving myself. LOL. When the unknown happens and you have no answers allowing yourself to get proper rest is imperative, not always easy, but imperative. Thus why, go to hospital, come home and crash. My body could do no more.

This weekend was going to be a stay at home, but due to circumstances that didn't happen until today. I was greatful for today. I will take this day!!!!! I watched part of the superbowl with hubby, I really like seeing the Who, yes, I am that old!!!! I read some of Mrs Piggly Wiggily to grand daughters, that book makes me laugh. I made a big batch of spagetti sauce for dinners to come. I am working at doing more of that for the days when life throws some wrenches into it. All in all, not a bad day....but here I sit tonight going, come on body, shut up and go to sleep....not happening. Reading will be commencing shortly but figured, hey, can't sleep will go write for a few. One of the best releases for me is writing, thus my journaling for years, yes, handwritten. Too sore to do that kind tonight so figured would use the computer....

Time marching on, best get to that reading......
here is to each of you havng a good day tomorrow, stopping and enjoying a moment or two in it.....me too!!!
cs

2010-02-04T14:31:00.000-08:00

GREAT NEWS......MONEY FOR THE DRILL RIG CAME IN......now they just have to get it from Miami to Haiti, plans in progress. Two wells drilled, one collasped....water for one small camp. Many more to go.

I have spent the last 3 days at hospital with hubby. They finally have a clue what is going on. I am so thankful. When we first got there they were saying heart failure and silent heart attack. Thankfully neither of those was correct. Have some issues to deal with but nothing that drastic now.

Fibro screaming because of the stress, ahhh life, ain't she grand. Not like I am stressed, geezz being told that he may have heart failure and having to wait 5 freakin hours to know if it was true or not, did this girl in. Nope, no stress at all. NOT!!!!! So after passing that hurdle, I called my mom, with my knees shaking, just to hear a normal voice. Back to the emegency room for more what ifs, maybes, lets check this, from silent heart attack to blood clot in lungs to ........, lots ruled out. Then I went home, sat and the couch and did not move....only to do it all over again on Wednesday. Today I am staying put, called and got the scoop from the doctor and then took a nap. Which I just might have to have another one of.....
life on the wild frontier......lol.
cs

2010-02-01T16:17:00.000-08:00

I thought I would share with you some of the emails my family is getting from my Uncle Curt.
Curt has been drilling wells in Haiti off and on for almost 30 years. He took his family, wife and 3 children and lived there for a few years as well. He is in his 60's and has a generous heart. He has drilled wells for water in Haiti and in Africa. His heart is towards helping those in need. Here are the last 3 emails.

Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:50:55 -0800

Subject: Haiti report Jan 29, 2010

Hi everyone, I got my computer today (long story), so time to update:
After an uneventful flight from Seattle to Santo Domingo, we spent the night at a very nice hotel, met up with a team coming out Haiti, and early the next morning loaded up and drove to Haiti, about a 6 hour un eventful drive.

As we drove closer to Port au Prince, we could see an occasional cement fence tipped over, then as we got closer to Delmas 28 (where the Free Methodist headquarters 4 story building had been), we began to see large store buildings sitting at odd angles, broken glass, and every few buildings, a building collapsed flat, a lot of them with vehicles partially protruding from the rubble, or just a glimpse of a flattened vehicle that had been sitting in the parking lot. At one large hotel there was a row of perhaps 10 cars, all flat except for the last foot or two, where the building had tipped over onto them.

I had heard about our 4 story new building collapsing (the Haitian who was standing beside it said it took about 4 seconds to go from 4 stories to about 15 feet of rebar, rubble and an occasional book or other memento lying in the remains. But it was very sobering to see, and I cannot imagine the men who crawled through small openings in the broken mess, down and around to the sound of the surviving two people, until after 6 hours, with the ground still moving and things still falling, then dug them out. The building slid sideways as it fell, hitting an adjoining house and killing 2 Haitians, that house partially pushed over the next house, which was empty. One Haitian was on the steps going up the new building and was killed instantly, and the other two Americans in the building were killed. Today our US military has agreed to recover the bodies of all the deceased. Arron the the others who dug out the survivors had a service to bury the Haitian who had died on the stairs.
As we drove up Delmas to find a missionary's house where we were to stay, the downed buildings seemed to be at complete random, maybe 5 houses standing, then a few down, then 10 standing, then a hillside collapsed. The road into the house has slid down, so we take a long dirt path shortcut with the pickup.

We spent the last 2 days at the US embassy and other offices, mostly waiting. But at the end of today, we had met with a lot of people, and I think the results will have made the wait worthwhile: late this evening, after dark, with a group of Army men, Kevin Kate and myself met with a water bureau, who gave us maps pinpointing the latest survivor camps. We are free to choose any place where we think we can be successful, and drill as many wells as we feel necessary to help alleviate the water needs for the camps.

It helped immensely that about halfway through our meeting one of the water bureau advisors and I suddenly recognized each other. He was on La Gonave 2 years ago while I was drilling with Guts Church, so my experience was recognized. Couple that with the Military suddenly realizing that if we are successful, their present work and expense of transporting 16 large tanker loads of water will suddenly be greatly reduced.

By the end of our meeting, we were all in agreement; the Military will document what we do with a story and pictures, the water bureau has given us free reign to work, free hand pumps, and a good chance of more. It isn't all we hoped for, but is a good start!

Our needs:

Our rig is 31 years old, and was a little inadequate for the work here then. It has a lot of baling wire and strange arrangements to keep it going. We need a better one. There is larger, newer rig sitting in Miami waiting to be purchased for $200,000. We hear from reliable sources that items brought in will be duty free for 3 months, that would save thousands, and allow us to be much more productive, for now, and for the long term.
We have gone WAY out on a limb with this idea. Now that many eyes are on us to see if it will work, please pray the old rig will hold together, that we will locate a good area where fresh water can be found, that we will maintain our health, and all the other little things that are necessary to bring fresh water to those who are suffering so much.

I need wisdom, so much wisdom, to make the right decisions, to not overclaim what I can do, nor to back away from the seemingly impossible challenge of keeping the equipment running.

In the end, we face enormously challenging days ahead. Just in the few days here, I have felt so inadequate and helpless to know how to really help the suffering all around here. Perhaps some of the most lasting affect I can have is in stopping to talk to any Haitian who pauses beside me to ask them how they are, do they still have family or shelter. Two men sitting in front of the house where the 2 Haitians are still buried smiled as they remembered how my wife and I walked from one building to the other, sometimes greeting each other. Little things to bring a smile in the midst of such loss... perhaps they will find a moment of peace to keep them going on for a little longer.

Curt King
Port au Prince, Haiti
Jan 29, 2010

The latest news from Curt in Haiti.

Well, another day... We went early to the collapsed FM building to
pick up whatever we could find that was useful. We got some drill
pipe, barrels, a few wrenches, two tire rims, and a few other things.

I did go into the old FOHO building that was still standing. I had to
climb over the rubble of the new collapsed building to get inside
through a broken door. It's hard to explain my flood of memories of
the many, many times we spent there. I particularly remembered the
last time I was suffering from dengue fever, and Merle and Dorthy West
offered encouragement to me since they were also staying there.
Realizing Merle had died only a few feet from me, and his body is
still buried in the collapsed building was a uniquely spiritual
moment. What a good man, who spent so much of is time and money for
the people of Haiti. Rest in peace, Merle.

Retired Colonel Vahan Sipantzi, Snaider and I went around the back of
the building where there was a very shallow grave, just a slight rise
of dirt covered with cement blocks from the rubble, and a piece of
steel pipe driven in the ground. This is where Erlin's body is
buried; he died in the stairway that connects the old building to the
ruined new building. Vahan prayed... What a moment of reverence for a
good good man.

It was with real sadness as I drove away, this will probably be the
last time I am ever in that building, as I think it has been condemned
due to damage.

We tried to get tires for the rig out of customs, but there is a
problem; the lady who helps take care of the paperwork was killed in
the building, along with all the paperwork. Maybe Monday we can make
progress. We really need them, since the rig is on a 4 wheeled
trailer that currently only has 2 good tires, and the tires are a
unique size. Not much hope, so Healing Hands is trying to get another
set sent to us.

We looked at a huge "refugee" camp, but they appeared to have at least
a minimal supply of water. On down the road a few miles was a large
camp down off the road in a hot, dusty area beside a dry riverbed.
There is no way to get directly into the camp, and if we drill up on
the road nearby there is a good chance that pickups will converge on
the site, so that the poorest in the camp will not have first chance
of the well. We went on a few miles further to a town square where
the Cubans have a medical center. This town doesn't have any large
camps, but rather many small tent camps scattered around town. We
don't know if they are victims of the earthquake, or are people afraid
to sleep inside.

  Finally we found the drilling machine, where Arron had stored it after
the earthquake hit, while he was drilling. I must admit, I was very
discouraged. It is so old and tired, "why Lord, when there are so
many suffering so much, do I have to spend so much time fixing and
patching?" I sometimes wonder how many more people would be living
if, a long time ago, I had insisted on new equipment.

But by the end of the day, we had both engines running, and most
everything working. Kevin and I plan to keep at it tomorrow, checking
more camps, and spending some time working on the machines.
Meanwhile, Snaider and driver will go to Mapou to pick up supplies,
and be back Monday night, Lord willing.

This evening I talked to an orphanage near the Port au Prince airport
that needs water, was it callous of me to ask if they have any
survivors living there, so that I can justify it as relief? But I am
trying to bring help to the neediest at the moment, and pick up the
others later. Just so much need, Haiti was so needy before the quake,
I wonder how things will look a year from now?

curt king
Port au Prince, Haiti
jan 30, 2010

This is the latest letter from Curt.

      Left at 7am today so we could lead another pickup out to the main road
to a bakery where they had a meeting with a pastor. As we passed the
Caribbean Market, the road was blocked as they are starting to tear it
down. The smell around that place is not at all pleasant; I wonder if
  they have an estimate of the amount of deaths; it was a big
  supermarket, undoubtedly filled with shoppers when it collapsed. It
  was our favorite place to shop for groceries, they even had fresh milk
most of the time!

We went to Quisqueya School, where our kids went to school many years
ago. The US Army special forces special operations are occupying the
schoolyard and it is filled with tents, vehicles, generators, and many
other things for their operations. We were soon deeply involved over
maps of Haiti, showing them locations of hospitals and NGO
organizations. We have offered them our Mapou house and yard as a
staging area, and hopefully helped them understand more about the
country. They are ready to help, so we will have food, water and some
fuel available for our work. We were assured that if we have any
problems, just call and they will be there to help. A great
reassurance for us.

We passed a survivor camp along the road, hundreds of people down off
the edge of the road. I climbed down the bank into the camp and was
immediately surrounded. We talked for a long time. If they can
organize enough to clear a road down into the camp, I told them I hope
to be ther by midweek. A scene of chaos, with an occasional old man
or woman just staring blankly as I walked by. What a dry, dusty needy
cluster of humanity.

We had to run back to the house to drop off the food and water, as it
is not good at this time to be hauling this in the back of a pickup.
We took a shortcut down a mountain trail to avoid heavy traffic, and
on the way past a huge UN complex, Kevin Kate spotted a drill rig over
the fence. Between Vahan's special forces id badge and my Creole, we
talked ourselves into another heavily fortified and armed compound,
and found the rig, parked amongst dozens of vehicles. It is the
Brazilian contingent of the UN, so it took awhile to find an English
speaking man. I told them I was there to beg, borrow or steal that
rig (not too smart of a thing to say around well armed men!). Then
cannot loan it, and have been able to do a little work with it.

We went to the rig and worked on it for a couple hours. Once again I
was discouraged about the old rig, perhaps even a little angry at
having to work with old worn out stuff again. But you know what, I
could be sitting on our boat house in Seattle complaining because I
didn't have any way to help in Haiti. I just need to learn to quit
complaining and be thankful for what we have, and the opportunity to
help!

There is an orphanage not far from the international airport that we
visited to see if we can drill a new well for them, since the existing
well has a pump solidly stuck in it, and may be dry. We will try to
get the pump out or drill a new well. It's hard for them to get water
hauled in right now, but no buildings were severely damaged.

We got back to the house just before dark today, and
had a good time of discussing how to try and be more effective.

Oh, some other good news. On the way down the back trails to the main
road we have been passing 2 500 gallon water trailers, and wondered
how we could get the use of them. Today we stopped to put a note on
them asking to rent them, since we could not find anyone around. A
lady walking down the road saw us, she just happened to know people we
know, so she set about to find who owned them. This evening I got a
call from the Haitian man who owns the trailer; I asked to rent them,
he said that if it's for the needy, just use it. Now if we can just
find a water pump to fill it, we are in business. And if not, we will
fill it with buckets. We are determined, with God's help, to get
water for these people.

We still cannot get tires for the rig but
tomorrow we will try the customs house again, pray we can push our way
in and get what we need. Without papers it may be a challenge, but we
must try.
Today is a special day, Mary and my 40th anniversary. How we miss not
being together, but what joy to be serving our God and trying to help
these desperately needy people.

curt king
Port au Prince, Haiti
Jan 31, 2010

There you are. If you can help in anyway with the drill rig sitting in Miami, or have a suggestion of who to contact, please leave me a comment

Thanks for reading.....cs

2010-01-28T13:37:00.000-08:00

Life.....I seem to be having a lot of it right now....lol. I am madly trying to sew a few small 9 patches. I literally shoved the stuff on top of my sewing table into bags!!!!! I need more clear bins to do more sorting and that won't happen until the first......so needed to sew 6 small 9 patches for quilt group tonight. I haven't sewed anything in forever. I wonder if I will remember how......lol

This just reiterates how much I want to keep organizing. I hated putting it in sacks when I have been going through it all and sorting....but for today it was a must.....then it will be back to the sorting again.....
because throwing things in bags so majorly sucks!!!!!!!

2010-01-26T11:28:00.000-08:00

So still working on that organizing, it is amazing how many areas you find when you start that you want to do and complete. For me, in my small space, you have to move A to C, D to F, maybe even and XYZ to just get A done. Are you confused yet? I think I might be....lol. Not really. There is just a lot to sort through and all I really want to do is sew. But I made this agreement with myself, that I would get so much done before I could. Not there yet.....................

We had snow, real live snow, for a whole hour yesterday with the most fluffy, huge and amazing flakes. It was a joy to just watch it for the hour. This morning it is cloudy and grey but those days will soon turn to spring. Yep, there is that spring longing again. I have no idea why I can't wait for spring this year, but yep, I can't wait.

So I guess I best go back to sorting with my clear bins and putting away....grin.
cs

2010-01-22T15:38:00.000-08:00

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
When one has not bad migraines in a while and they decide to show up again, it is the major pits. Yep, in the major pits right now!!!!! It has been a couple days and nothing is working. All my normal remedies that give me relief, are not working. So what is the deal with this one!!!

Life sometimes throws you a few boomerangs....this just happens to be one of them.......

2010-01-18T18:24:00.000-08:00

I had fun taking this picture awhile back. I like checking out odds and ends. Now if I would have been smarter I would have picked up some of those insulators, but 20/20 hindsight seems to be what I am better at!!!!!

Today was an absolutely glorious day outside. It was 51 degrees out with sunshine too boot. I was out in my t-shirt catching some rays. Such a tease for spring is all I can say, and spring is definitely on my mind. I want to go play in the dirt, move plants around, dig the garden. A little early to be thinking those thoughts but with a day like today it just couldn't be helped. Grandkiddos were out riding their bikes and mr. man was pulling his small wagon hooting and hollering. Then as the sun started going down I realized I had turned my heat down, back in for reality, turn that heat back up!

This year I have a goal I want to obtain. Everything has a place, and everything is in its place. Clear bins have become my obsession to get this job done. My first job was to sort through all the Christmas decorations and put it away. Now this sounded so simple when I started, the further I went the more I realized how much I did need organized. I will really appreciate this when Christmas rolls around again. I can pick and choose much easier what I want to do. The next major undertaking is organizing the kitchen, it is somewhat organized but needs some more help. Truly needs the remodel but we shall see what this spring and summer bring. After that is done it will be on too the sewing room which has been buried for way too long.

Having fibro has made me look at life differently. I want to be organized so that I can use my energy on projects that I love to do, one of them being quilting and stitching. I only have so much energy and I don't want to be spending it spinning my wheels so to speak. Remembering for me that each little step counts towards the goal I have. I have projects that dance through my head that I want to attempt, so an organizing I will go...........tata...........clear bins here I come!

2010-01-03T23:27:00.000-08:00

Sitting here tonight dealing with a gamete of emotions. Mad, sad, and irked. Nothing I can do to change the situation that caused it, but I still need to deal with the emotions that have come out of the situation. I am not an island unto myself, what I do and say, decisions I make effect my family and friends around me. It can be to the positive or the negative. So weighing the words I speak into the situation as well.

I have part of my Christmas packed up this evening. I have some more to go but this year, I am sorting and going through it all to be more organized for next year. Wrapping, sorting the decorations by color. I do garlands that I hang above the fireplace, in my sewing room. I use all kinds of blue ornaments, bulbs, in all different shades. I use blue lights as well. It turns out beautiful, that one I leave up a bit longer in January because it has a lot of snowflakes and stars in it. I will have to see if I can get a good picture at all to show you. One of the reason for sorting by colors because you never know what I will feel like next year. I do the after Christmas shopping, way after Christmas when you get even bigger deals. I found a white artificial Christmas tree for 10.00. I have wanted one for a couple of years and whooziers did I get a good deal. Can't wait for next year to get to put it up. Any color can go with white!!!! Also I am gathering up Christmas dishes that I use this time of year. Last year I just put them where ever and broke a couple of items. So this year, I am taking a different approach!!

We finally got some snow to play in on New Years Eve, the grand girls and grand nieces had a riot playing in it, I had a riot watching them. They threw snowballs at the window I was at along with grandson. He giggled like crazy at their antics. It was funny to watch. Then they came in for some warm food and hot chocolate. We headed home early so as to not be out there with all the crazies....and yes, didn't make it till midnight either. Does this mean I am getting older? Yes, and this girl needs her beauty sleep.

Nope, no New Years resolutions, just living each day one day at a time.
So off to get some of that so called beauty sleep.....grin.
cs

2009-12-30T00:00:00.000-08:00

Frost on the very cold window....outside that is. And the picture is from last year. LOL.

So last year was the record high snowfall of what was it, 96 inches, this year....we have had 4 inches in the month of December and it rained and washed it away. Now who would believe I would be wishing for snow this year. But here I am, wishing we had some. They say we should get some tonight. I sure hope so because I want to play in the snow with the grand girls before their winter break is over!!!!!

Christmas was quiet here, it needed to be for me. My family is going through a change that has proven to be sad and good at the same time. It makes it hardier to celebrate when you are sad. Many people are this time of year, due to expectations of what this season should be like, the loss of someone close, and so much more. The truth is, we are each human, each have a different perspective of what we wish the season was like, what it is really like, and trying to meet somewhere in between. For me, this year was tougher. I always have nostalgic moments during this season, of childhood memories that make me smile, of change. The hardiest to accept can be change for me. I suppose that is true of others as well. Learning to embrace change is a lifelong lesson for me.

So with the New Year almost here, I am learning to embrace change. Letting go seems to be imperative to change. So here is to letting go and moving on.......

2009-11-16T19:11:00.000-08:00

Oh the weather out side is frightful.....lol.
We had our first snow on Friday a whopping almost 2 inches. It was pretty but gosh the cold is chillin these bones. Could it be that that nasty flu shot got me good? I am thinking the answer is yes. Other friends have not reacted at all to the shot, I have never reacted, but this year, well, it seems it may be my year!!!!! LOL. It won't last forever which I am very grateful for. And truly who can tell with some of the symptoms being the very same as fibro. When I got the shot I had to laugh when she said you may get some very achy muscles. That would be nothing new for this girl. So how would I truly know, I won't.....ahhh the live of never truly knowing. See I am mysterious after all. Yes, today I am making fun of myself, I am the best person to do that! Grin.

Now have I accomplished much, maybe not by others standards but by mine, lots. Laughter helps those stomach muscles and brings laugh lines to my face. It makes me remember not to take myself so seriously. Now I wish I could say I laugh at my jokes, the problem being, I can never remember them. Even the great ones I get told. I can remember part of them, but if you paid me a million bucks the punch line is usually what I forget....and why do they call it a punch line....another of those silly questions my brain hones in on.

What makes me think that if I don't get some task on my list done that I haven't accomplished anything. What happened to me sitting and enjoying the day, watching the wind blow through the yard, just plain vegging. We all need those restful, vegging days to rejuvenate. So rejuvenating is the day for me.

Here is to you and yours getting some rejuvenating in too!!!!
cs

2009-11-10T21:01:00.000-08:00

So Karin, I finally downloaded a few pictures just so you could see them. The first picture is of the whole crew together. The second picture is of Gimpy, who we keep. He had a lame leg, thus the name Gimpy and he seemed to fit in perfectly with the gimpy household that we have. We don't let handicaps try and get us down. We work at keeping going on good days and bad. Not overdoing mind you because extra pain is not needed.

It has been forever since I have been on here to write. The writing is for me, who cares if anyone reads it or not. Not this girl. Numbers were never my concern. Expressing myself has been.

I haven't been doing that near enough. Just seems like life has come a running along and I have had a tough time keeping up with it. Since the first part of September we have been battling sickness, the darn cold virus that put dear grand girl in the hospital, two weeks later put hubby in hospital and then a few challenges here and there in between. Goodness it makes time fly but certainly not the way I wanted it too.

The weather is chilly here now, making the muscles protest greatly. Working on keeping in good spirits regardless of the fight with the Fibro. Oh, don't misunderstand, it doesn't mean I haven't dealt with lots of bad days in a row, cried because of it, but it isn't what I choose to stay focused on. Ok, truth, when the pain is so bad it is hard to not want to scream dixie all day long, but dang my lungs would be sore if I did.....LOL. Besides, I like to talk to much, losing my voice would be hoard!!!!!!!

So much for being on here much longer, my knees are cold and curling up under a couple of blankets is sounding divine.

Here is to snuggling and keeping warm,
cs

2009-08-16T17:37:00.000-07:00

So, what can I say, lots and lots and lots and lots.....l0l. Now, I can say it faster, or it can be delivered faster. We succumbed to getting a faster hookup. The telephone company doesn't know when they will have dsl available here. It is crazy cause we are only 10 minutes from top in a populated area. They have been saying it will be here for the last 2 years, I think I have been patient enough. Enough is enough for this girl anyway. So now that I have the faster hookup can I find my camera cord. Of coarse not, that would make life way to easy.....lol.

So at present I have 5 kitties that help occupy my sewing room that desperately needs a major overhaul. Yes, to be honest, my whole house needs the over haul, but I digress......I have little paws pattering all over and they have learned how to climb up on a few items in here. Thus the kitties have been having a grand ole time. They have not found the yarn collection because it is put up. Could you just see that one, yarn a flying, kittens with it caught all over them, me chasing them, tangled in the yarn and kitties and laughing my fool head off at all the antics that were happening....yep this would be my life.....lol. They are almost 6 weeks so they are getting closer to finding homes, we are keeping the completely black one because the grand girls have fallen in love with here. She will be living here with us.

The chickens are laying nicely and like the more room that they have. I share my eggs with friends, who share other things with me. Like peas, zuchinni and other available products.
Good trade for me. I will be making some zuchinni bread later and we really enjoy it. Yummo, for sure.

So the fibro journey continues, as does life. The doctor has upped some of the medications and that is helping me have a bit better quality of life. Mind you, yes, there is still pain involved but that is part of dealing with this. We have had cooler and rain for 4 days and that makes a difference for me as well. I have in my mind this list of what I think I can do for a day, then I have to check on the reality of what I can do, so the list definitly gets shorter. Now sometimes I do what is on the list whether I can or not, and then kick myself because I know better. But you get irratated and just go for it. Isn't that part of the journey as well....yes, it is. Recognizing that I am very human, that when I am stressed, it tighens up muscles, that then pay me back. It is also part of the journey. I won't stop, I will keep going regardless. I will have my up days and my down days. Also, part of the journey. Watching a funny movie, laughing at myself, always makes life easier. So the journey continues.

Some day I will get back to sewing quilts again, but for now, just enjoying the cooler days cause the hot ones are on the horizon again. Playing in water is definitely in my future....grin.
later,
cs

2009-07-22T20:33:00.000-07:00

So here I sit, thinking and going, how in the world did the time fly this fast.

Pretty easily I have to say.....lol Especially during the summer. All my good intentions sometimes just go out the window. It seems like summer just started and here we are heading for August. I had to laugh today when I was thinking about the dog days of summer. Where did that phrase come from. Was it because the dogs had their tongues out panting like crazy because it was so hot? I tend to think this because it has been hot here for a while. Watering and moving the sprinkler have become my exercise for the summer. Getting wet tends to be the benefit from it.

I did do a little tiny garden this year and have gotten one zuchinni from it so far. I had some sugar snap peas and the beans are coming on. I did small amounts of a few veggies. I have 3 tomato plants that have tomato's on them. Now it is the waiting game for them to go read. I did a Topsy Turvy heirloom tomato. I have had lots of blooms but no tomatos yet. It is all an experiment when you garden as to the weather, the rain, and a few other factors. I think I would feel deprieved if I didn't have even a small one. Especially when it comes to tomatoes.
A fresh tomato sandwich, eating one fresh from the vine, nothing better.

Now on the fibromyalgia front. I did do my doc appointment, I learned that I didn't have to stay in the amount of pain that I was in, that we could up the medications. Neurontin for me is working for which I am grateful. It works for some and doesn't for others. For me, it has. We have upped the amounts and now my body is getting assimulated to the change. So far, I feel like a loopey lou, but by the end of the summer it should be settled. So whether I have liked it or not this is to be a restful summer. I have to laugh at times, restful is the way it has to be because this silly girl can't do much else. I have certainly enjoyed going to the library and reading mysteries.

So that has been my summer so far, hope yours have been more adventuresome, or maybe more restful!!!!!!!!
cs

2009-05-13T16:04:00.000-07:00

So Nance, bet you thought I forgot you....not the best picture but you should be able to get an idea....

Yes, that would be the fabric!!!!

So I have been enjoying the wonderful 2 days of sunshine we had on the weekend, transplanted some plants that had to be moved before the hot weather comes. I also planted down my petunias that my honey got me. I love petunias, add lobelia, some heliotrope, a few verbena and wahhhlllaaaa you have 2 or 3 pretty pots for all of summer and fall. So I finish that and think, okay if I am going to transplant is has to be now because the warm weather it is a coming.....yep, overdid myself majorly. So came in took a shower, a painkiller and went and laid down. Now I have to tell you Fibro does not in any way appreciate you if you overdo at all. BABY OH BABY I over did it. But I got er done. Oh, Lord have mercy.....So I woke up Sunday morning Mother's Day going, ok, I am not dead, this is good sign!!!! LOL. Then I tired moving a little, ok, not great but not as horrible as I thought it would be, well Monday morning hadn't happened yet......I sat outside at the table with the umbrella, had the grand kids down and playing. It was fun. The grand girls made their mama and me a Mother's Day picnic, we had baloney sandwiches, yogurt, carrots and apples. Their was a blanket underneath the maple tree with magazines and fresh flowers. It was very very sweet. I tinkered a little in the yard but not much. Good thing, because Monday morning came and I though, oh crap, I am in trouble. I had to call for my honey to help me get out of bed....yep that first day wasn't bad, the second was agony!!!!! What was I thinking.....I wasn't!!!!!!

So Monday was a very slow day around here, it wasn't to bad outside but I went with my niece to run an errand to keep me out of my yard. Yes, I have to trick myself!!!!!! Now isn't that sad and sick....lmbo.

Tuesday was another slow day, today it hits me, I leave in two weeks to go help family for two weeks and I have major stuff to get done. Originally I was going to go in the later part of June, it had to be pushed up. Oh no, now I am in bigger trouble because I did all that stuff this weekend....ohhhh noooooo!!!!!!! So now I am tweaking out a little, yep, that hind sight is a very good accompaniment to panic....oh well such is life.

Hope you all are having some interesting adventures all of your own.

And oh yes, Some day their will be pictures of a treadle and quilt tops on here....some day over the rainbow.....lol.....grin

2009-05-03T20:08:00.000-07:00

Last week was one of those weeks you really don't want to repeat. At least, I sure don't want to.

Little Bit was extremely sick and was going to have to be put down. I sobbed and sobbed. The vet Jenny called back and said if you will release him I will do everything I can to keep him going, if he doesn't respond at all, then I will let you know. It was extremely hard to let him go. This was my buddy who rode around on my shoulders who I had been hand feeding for 6 weeks. To say I miss the little guy doesn't even cover it. Yes, we love our animals here and they are part of our family.

At the same time, I have a nephew that has been through treatment and is trying with all that is in him to stay clean. He called in the middle of the night, crying. He wanted to use so badly and he called. I am so very proud of him for that. We talked a good part of the night. He is a kid that has had life be awfully hard. So if you pray, just lift one up on his behalf.

I did get to go get a few petunias that I plan to plant today. It is sunny again. YIPPEEEE.......at least for today. Good day to do some planting. I have an old yellow wheelbarrow that I am planting some of the petunias in, then there are a couple of planters that I will use up front by my front door. Petunias are one of my favorite annuals. They bring the butterflies, the bees, and best of all the hummingbirds. They bloom from now till October. So you get plenty of bang for your buck!!!!!

The other project is marking off where the veggie garden will be in the front yard. We are adding ten feet onto the mobile to give us a wee bit more room in the living room and kitchen. I am so looking forward to that!!!!!! Room to move, now how great can that be. It means the piano can move to the living room instead of being in my tiny sewing room. Yippee, more room for counter space and storage. A must for every sewing room.

Yes, now that I finally found the camer cord, I will take picutres of my quilt tops and my treadle. So stay tuned, eventually you will see them.....lol

Enjoy your day girls, taking one moment at a time. Take them in, breathe deep, make memories with the very simple things. Like an iris in bloom, daffodils blowing in the breeze, a smile from a stranger, a hug from your chicldren or grand children, smelling a loaf of bread cooking in the oven, or cookies, even better.

2009-04-21T18:30:00.000-07:00

The first picture is of Rascal, dd's family's kitty and the second two are of Little bit which we have been babying along. When they were almost 4 weeks old they got a major cold and Rascal kicked it but little bit was under weight and has been fighting every since. Yep, he is our baby here. He isn't frisky a lot like his brother but eventually he will get there.

It has been in the 70's for 2 whole days, which for us this time of year is not the norm. We usually are in the 50's, so these last 2 days have sure spoiled me. I have spent time soaking up the sun, weeding for maybe a whole of 5 minutes, then sitting in the sunshine again.....lol.

Hey there are never wasted moments, sometimes you just plain need to slow down and enjoy the warm day.

I had the priviledge of getting to go to my quilt group's quilt retreat. I have to say it is fantabulous to get to get together with woman, chat, laugh, tell stories, have inside jokes, sew a bit and eat of coarse. It is refreshing to get a chance to get away to different scenery. Makes your perspective go into focus a bit better. I have to say I am tired and it takes me a bit to catch up, but what a way to go!!!!!!!

I have spent off and on in the sewing room to honestly take a stock of what I want to be doing, what needs to wait and go out to our storage area for my quilting stuff. Decisions, decisions, decisions, no wonder I am tired. Yes, it could be the desire to spring clean!!!!! Parish the thought!!!!!

So off to soak up the rest of the sunshine here for today for tomorrow we go back to regular weather....grin.

2009-02-28T19:21:00.000-08:00

So this month has gone flying by, with helping the niece some more, resting and resting and resting. Having to be honest with myself, and step off a couple of swaps because there is not the energy for me to do them right now. Having to go through the challenges that I tend to with going through a major flare up of the fibromyalgia. Giving myself permission to have a meltdown or two. Because I have a few, I always feel sad and bluesy. Part of the no energy, pain levels up to a high degree, break through pain meds not doing a lot for it. So back to resting, streching, resting, do a little here and there. Giving myself permission to have naps and down time. When doing a bit better with those basics, getting out a little bit of embrodiery. Doing any activity in small amounts so that I am not overdoing it. So thus is my life at present, it isn't always exactly like this, but a lot of times it is.

So I have found a method that I want to try out that is suppose to help out with Fibromyalgia and many other ailments, as well as stress, muscle tension. It is the Miracle Ball Method, I have spent the last day reading the little book off and on. It is rather simple, breathing techniques and learning to relax your muscles using two balls. So will be experimenting with this one. If it dissipates some of the pain in any way, it will be worth its weight in gold. They had them at Costco for all of 11 buckaroos, which is worth trying. My dd say it and picked up a set, started reading and said, Mom, you have to at least try this. I was just hoping they still had some when I got the money this weekend. They did, I was thankful. I have to finish reading it all, but when I am done I will be doing this. Hey if it helps improve my health in anyway I have won. Lengthening ones muscles, help them relax. Something your muscles do not do with fibro, and a lot of other challenges we have in life.

So girls who are waiting for my quilt pictures, I am still on the hunt for my cord that hooks into my computer so I can download, and then take the quilt pictures. Some day over the rainbow, skies are blue.......grin.

So it is a Saturday night and my hubby and I are going to pass the time watching a movie, eating pretzels and having a good laugh. Good laughs always make life better!!!!!
So go and enjoy a laugh for yourself, it makes you smile which is exercising all in itself...teehheehheeehhee
cs

2009-02-03T02:09:00.000-08:00

That is the bloom from my amaryllis. It now has another stalk coming up for another bloom. This one is all done and I sure did enjoy it.

Today I spent most of my day cleaning up in my sewing room, but not exactly how I had planned. I was cleaning up shards of glass from my fluorescent bulb that broke. Oh my what a mess that makes and the teeny tiniest shards.

Thanks to encouragement from farm girl friends and some very helpful suggestions I think I have it all cleaned up. I am sure as I get to do the actually cleaning and rearranging that I wanted to, that I might find a wee bit more. Thankfully no little paws from my furry friends here were cut either.

Saturday night, mama kitty had kittens. One was the runt and just didn't make it. That made me sad, but she has 4 healthy ones. They are all white at the moment and mama is right there for them. She is being one great mama for being so young. My two small doggies so badly want to go mother those little kitties. Soon enough they will get to cuddle them as well. Not for a while though.

I have been thinking of ways to simplfy my life more. To simply for me, I need to do some more organizing in my sewing room. It not only is my sewing room, it is where my laptop and my paperwork is as well. I now have a fainting couch in here that I found at an estate sale, hmmmm 20 or so years ago. My mom had it for quite a bit, now it is back at my place and in my room. I plan on putting the books and journals and ideas that I have in little boxes and niches to have it all at my fingertips to do. If it is out, then I will do it. If tucked away it is harder for me to access it. So that is part of the rearranging of the sewing room. I need a quiet spot to process life sometimes. To be able to get my feeling good or bad out on paper. It helps me digest it, sort it, find out what is going on so that I can go forward. It is a tool that helps me.

So what helps you sort through your feelings, the ups and downs of life? How do you take care of yourself? As a woman, so many times, I tend to take care of all those around me and wonder why I am feeling out of sorts....ooopppsss I forgot to take care of me. I need to fill up the depleted places in my heart, have them heal, give them some tender loving care. Learn to just breath and rejoice in the fact that I can. Remembering that I woke up this morning in my right mind. Sure tends to give me perspective.

So here is to you taking the time to take care of yourself, in whatever area that you need. cs

2009-01-29T22:46:00.000-08:00

It seems I have every good intention to get more done and then I find my days flying by, go back here and realize how long it truly has been.

Now Sheryl-lyn, I will get to getting those quilt tops on here someday soon I hope. Yes, quilt tops, not finished quilts darn it....grin. Yes, I have quite a lot hmmmmm and so many more in progress.

I thought in the later part of fall that I would have my sewing room more straightened up, to be able to get into sewing some more of those tops in progress. It all started out so well. I was rearranging the room, then Christmas starting heading my way, then the water episode. To say that wasn't in my plans was an understatement, but you know life happens to all of us. Me included. So now I am back to working on cleaning it up again.

There there is my having fun signing up for swaps on Mary Janes. Now I have some great gals I have been trading mini aprons with for what is it now, almost 2 years. Then I signed up for a quilt block swap, then there is the regular size apron swap. Plus I have an apron to make for the very sweetest farmgirl who has been very patient with me. I finally found some fabric I love for it. Now, you may laugh, but I had this great idea for making it reversible and doing 2 themes, finally put the fabrics together and I hated it. Literally hated it. Me thinks I may have to make her a couple aprons. I think she would get a kick out of what I tried to put together.

The most challenging issue for me has been my fibro, it has decided to give me a real pain. It has been bothering me daily but was keeping a handle on it somewhat. Now it is running rampant and I don't have any handle on it. It has been the "want to crawl out of your skin" time. What does that mean, it means I just want a break from the pain. So if I could be outside myself for a couple of hours and have a pain free break, then I could deal with it better. Now how is that for silly, but you do what you need to do. For me that means resting on the couch, grabbing the lap top and reading some, posting some and vegging. Still learning to be content in whatever situation I am in, instead of pushing where I should not. You learn to pick your battles with this stuff.

So tomorrow is another day, and I will do what I can with the best that I can and then give myself a break. I did find a wee bit of the house here and that always helps!!!!!! I do have a living room floor!!!!! LOL.

So whatever your challenge, remember sometimes baby steps are all we can take and that is good enough.
cs

2009-01-17T01:21:00.000-08:00

So now that our house is finally finished with our water adventure, we can get caught back up again on life in general. Yes, the water adventure is finally finally over. Do the major happy dance. Having pipes freeze and then trying to get to all the leaks has been like chasing a freight train down the tracks with my two cute feet........LOL but true.

Today has been catching up with the laundry, Monday we finally got all our dishes done. Tuesday and Wednesday were putting the bathroom back together again, putting the tub back in, temporary fix for the surround around it, then it was trying to clean all the floors, today was laundry. Getting there slowly but surely.

I did get to go visit my niece with my dd and grands, it was a nice break from the clean up. My niece is engaged as of Christmas time and she wanted to tell us in person so had dinner with her and watched a movie, giggling and laughing were involved as well. A girls night is always a very good thing.

One of these days soon will put up some pictures of quilt tops I have done, that way their is some documentation for them. Especially for some of my farmgirl sisters of coarse!!!!!!

Ok, signing off for now, another load of laundry done, how many more to go......I will never tell.............grin.................

2008-12-28T20:16:00.000-08:00

So these are a few pictures around my yard from a few days ago. The chairs in my back yard are now literally covered, you can't see them anymore. Does that tell you how much we have had here. The official count of inches so far for December is............drum roll please 53 inches.

The sparkle you see like glitter is the sun on the snow. I love it when it is like that, it is so very beautiful. Have to remind myself of that after all the shoveling we have done and continue to do because yes, there is another snow storm early in the morning.

So far all this snow has brought with it plenty of challenges for our household, before the snow we were in the minus for temps and we got a leak in our pipes. So when we went to fix the leak because it was so crazy cold it wiped out our whole system. We finally got it all thawed so we can fix it as of 2 days ago. So we are almost done with it and then .....yes, then the roof sprung a leak. So my dd and I were up on the roof last night shoveling for all we were worth in thigh high snow. So roof leak fixed today, back to water tomorrow. Thankfully we were between storms, oh thank you Lord!!!!!! So needless to say, all I want is for the last of the pipe repairs to be done, which included taking out our tub!!!!! So I can clean like crazy and find my house again.

A girl needs to be able to sew and this has put a real kink in it!!!!!!

You know the saying, all good things must come to an end, well this water adventure needs to come to an end....grin. It will and then life will be more normal. I am not sure there really is a normal. Every family and their dynamics are different and they work for each one. If we were all the same how boring life truly would be.

We had a nice quiet Christmas, played with the grand kids, had dinner and then napped. Life couldn't be any simpler and it truly does bring joy when I allow it. And yes, I need to remember in the midst of all the crazy water escapades that there is joy. Yes, there is joy!!!!!!

So hoping your Christmases were enjoyable as well.

Merry Christmas and may you have an amazing New Year filled with joy and wonder.

2008-12-19T00:23:00.000-08:00

Yes, that is my little Geo metro buried under that pile of snow. At our place, we measured 26 inches of snow from yesterday to today. We had an inch an hour going, and wow are we buried.
We have shoveled and shoveled and shoveled. We get a break for two days and another storm headed our way. We made records for the snowfall here for the last 2 days. Pretty crazy if you ask me!!!!!! Sledding shall be had by all tomorrow.....lol.
I will try taking more pictures tomorrow, just stayed indoors today. Cozy and warm.
later,
cs

2008-12-17T21:48:00.000-08:00

So Steph girl
I didn't make those curtain panels into an apron, I put them up in my sewing room and on my front door and I adore them.

And girls this is my insulator tree, it is old insulators that I put lights into on my last years Christmas trees. I cut the branches down off of it last Christmas, then I stored it till this Christmas. We call them bah humbug trees because they are bare and then I decorate them. I have another bah humbug tree that I have lights, trim, bulbs on. I like both of them. I have a couple more trees waiting for some inspiration. Hey if you can't afford a tree you use the one you have.....grin!!!!!
That is only part of the insulator tree showing, it is about 6 and It to1/2 feet. It took me quite a while to do it, hubby helped and I wired it on there. Will need to do a better job of it later, just wanted to see how it would look. I have to say,
I like how it turned out. So those have been my adventures, along with shoveling snow and hauling water as we fix another pipe that froze. Are we having fun yet? LOL
Y'all stay warm and dry.

2008-12-17T00:25:00.000-08:00

Yes, this is my recycled

Christmas tree. It was in the garbage and the bottom part of it was pretty bad, so Teresa helped me undo the bottom half and only used the top of it. Used a couple of cans of snow, old bulbs that were thrown out, an inexpensive teal beads, silver tinsel and there she is. All prim and proper. Then I did the garland with blues and teas, have my Santa's from Miss Wilma's on the fireplace and other junk as you can see sitting around. And yes, that is a real fire in my real fireplace.

I finished decorating today. It took me a long time this year to get a little bit done each day, but I finally have it up and it feels festive here. The snow outside helped too.....grin.

Hope each of you are enjoying your family and friends, relationships after all are the most important gifts we can give each other.........

2008-12-04T14:28:00.000-08:00

That is a picture from my folks front window. They can see Mt Rainer every morning when it is clear out. It sure is a pretty view is all I can say.

Makes me think about my views, what are my views during a day. I look out my sewing room window onto the road with the tall cedar tree across the street that looks really cool when it snows. I sit on my couch and have a great view of the maple tree out front in all its seasons. But their are other views with have every day. How we view ourselves, how we view those around us....I tend to view those around me with much more grace than I tend to give myself. So thinking more about the view of myself. Not physical but emotionally, mentally, spiritually..... how does pain effect all of these.

Last night was a very long night with pain and grief. Having to go another round of dealing with the fact that I have Fibro and that it does have limitations. That sometimes the pain just plain gets overwhelming and I can't take one more minute of it. Not pretending every thing is okay and fine. Having the cry that is needed. Telling a couple of close friends where I am really at, not hiding and pretending that life is just fine. Being real in life makes me vulnerable, but it is necessary for living a genuine life and for my mental health as well.

So let your life be genuine and real, no matter where you are at. Find those who you trust and let it all hang out. We need those friends in our life, whether they are family, adopted family, or friends that have become family to us. For in sharing we allow them to be who they are as well.

2008-11-30T19:30:00.000-08:00

What? Me playin in the dog water..............

not me Nana.....lol

That is handsome little Mr. Caleb discovering how much fun it is to splash all the water out of the dog water bowl. Grinning, talking to the water bowl and wondering why the floor was wet all around him. Yes, this was part of our Thanksgiving day weekend. We had dinner at my nieces and then came home and just took it easy.

Easy being going out on Black Friday to buy slippers and Pj's that were majorly on sale. Hey 40% off is nothing to shake a stick at when they are desperately needed. The grand girls had grown out of theirs and the price was definitely right. Along with the same price off of all slippers, which were needed as well. Yep, those kiddos are growing like weeds.

Yesterday we were going back and forth between dd's house and mine because we were putting up a few Christmas decorations and we had to see what each other was doing. As well as the grand girls wanted to show Nana their progress in decorating their room. Oh they were having fun and so very excited about decorating the top of their dressers and Mom making them garlands for above their beds. DD takes a green garland, wraps a string of beds or Pompom balls around the garland, then adds all of their Christmas oranaments because they have gotten a new ornament every year. It is fun because they talk about when they got the ornament and what they think about each one. What a wonderful way to share memories. I enjoyed listening to them.

Today went out in the craziness to pick up a couple of craft needs to work on finishing a project. Yes, are you laughing, actually wanting to finish a project. It makes me laugh as well because it sure seems to take me time to get anything done. Especially in the last 2 years learning to deal with Fibro. I think the hardiest part has honestly giving myself time and space, praticing patience on myself. That, surprizingly has been harder than I thought it would be. Now why is it that I am so much kinder to others than myself. Hmmmmmm.........

So today went out and learned a whole new lesson on being kind and how much it matters to others. I was thanked for having a good, happy attitude from cashiers. Now who would have thought........not me.

Then came home and promptly dropped the back hatch of my little Geo on my head. Forgot to prop it up because it is cold out and the arms drop without warning.....So promptly came in and got a couple of Tylenol and went "dang buckets, that puppy hurt" You would think I would remember that it does that, but the challenge is sometimes it will and sometimes it won't. Guess I was hoping for the won't!!!!!!! LOL

Hope you each and all had some good memories all your own this weekend.

Take the time to remember what this time of year is all about. It tends to remind us to slow down and enjoy the moments.........

2008-11-17T22:22:00.000-08:00

Today has been a day of tears knowing that I was losing my friend to cancer. She has fought long and hard, her body could no longer go on. This evening she passed away, in no pain.

She has left a mark of love on my life. We meet on MaryJanes Farm Forum, and stated chatting and emailing each other. She began a good friend who listened and LOL, let me have it when I needed too. She understood dealing with horrible physical pain and the frustration of not having things figured out. She laughed and told stories as I told her some of mine. My story, one of them being, how I had my fingernails done for a weekend with my honey, didn't know they were flammable and lit those puppies on fire....sure made her laugh hard. Her sharing her children with me, the ups and downs of them, what project she was working on, her struggle with the cancer itself. She was a fighter but she was human and had her down moments, her outrage, her sadness. But in all of this, she cared and gave into others lives on a constant basis until close to the end, when there was no more energy to do so. She will never leave my heart.
In sharing herself with me, I have more love to give to others and I can pass her love on.
I will forever be grateful she was a part of my life............

2008-11-11T01:24:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of Teresa and John, her dh, then their is Kaitren in the blue shirt, Caleb and Bethany. They were sitting down after they all had been running and jumping in the leaves. They should have been tired!!!!!!

We had a day of playing in the leaves and what a day it was.

Caleb and I decided to decorate him with a leave,

Papa, my dh, warmed him up after he had been playing for a while.

Fall can be quite fun, I always like kicking my feet through the leaves. We had raked up a huge pile so the grand girls could play in them. It was a good thing we did it that day, because the next day it rained like crazy. Now that would have been a mushy mess.....lol

2008-10-25T23:59:00.000-07:00

The first picture is of bittersweet, that is a weed back in Kentucky that I think was so absolutely beautiful. It is such a brilliant orange and the leaves are waxy, almost like they aren't real. What others tend to call weeds we call flowers, now isn't that the truth.

It was part of the beautiful decorations for the gathering at Miss Wilma's. I got to help doing some of them. Maggie and her husband, George came and helped Miss Wilma out decorating. I got to help do some of it too. Maggie was in her eliminate doing this and she brought this grand pasta salad. The second picture is George, Janice, and Maggie working on the decorations on the fence. They were fun to be able to meet and help with.

Just a part of the glorious time that I had there. This was on Friday afternoon, in between chopping and cutting and laughing and eating and chatting some more. Friday afternoon, Jonni and Justin, Janice and Dave were there working on food preparations, I was the go to girl. What ever they needed done, tell me, so I can do it. I love doing that.

The weather the whole time I was there was sunshiny and warm, that made it even better.

So let me back track a few here, Thursday morning I was up and awake at 8am there time. I don't even want to think about what it was my time, cause I knew my body would start screaming at me that is was tired. This was my first full day in Kentucky and I was up for fun.

I meet Janice and Dave downstairs at the desk and then we had breakfast at the hotel. And what a bunch of choices there were. I tried country gravy, then a banana and muffin and a little of this and that. Then it was off for the drive down to Miss Wilma's. I loved getting to talk to Dave and Janice and learn about the state. About the Kentucky Derby, the land itself, that it is on limestone because of how it was created by the volcano's and floods and freezes. I always liked learning those kind of things because my Dad always was teaching us that kind of stuff.

I also learned about the tobacco industry. I think I gave them a good laugh when they were showing me tobacco barns. I had never seen any so I had no clue. They are painted black, for the best amount of heat from the sun, they have louvers and doors to let airflow through for the leaves to dry. When we got close to Miss Wilma's, they turned on a road and I got a picture of a tobacco barn. Yep, tourist here. LOL

Then it was on to Miss Wilma's and Sterl's. You drive down this long lane with the tree canopy touching each other and covering the road, some leaves are green, bits of yellow as well. Then there is the clearing and you can look up the hill and see Miss Wilma's. There were cattle grazing and we pulled up into their place. Dave checked around for Miss Wilma and found her done in the shop. That is her house that has her antiques and primitives in it. So out of the truck we went, to hear a vacuum cleaner going. Dave called out to Miss Wilma because we sure didn't want to scare her. Janice stood in the doorway and Miss Wilma turned and saw her. She came out the door and there I was. Her first wonderful comment to me was, "Why, you're just a youngin!" Now that was a compliment indeed. Yes, I got my hugs and then we set to unloading and helping Miss Wilma get the house ready for the rest of the girls coming in on Friday. Dave helped set up beds, we helped put things away in the primitive part. Ok, I just plain ogled, and touched and asked questions. I put my luggage in the wonderful room I got to sleep in and then off to the main house we went for some lunch. We had sandwiches and I got to eat some of Miss Wilma's and Sterl's frozen white peaches. Oh, they were so so so sweet.

Then off we went to go a junkin. I had the best time, handling stuff in this older warehouse, just getting to see all the history. The furniture, old fans, doorknobs, books, boxes, and getting to ask all the questions of, now what is this and what is it for. I sure wished I had brought a tape recorder and my camera but that didn't even cross my mind when we took off. How silly of me. But I had a great time with telling the owner that ok, this is the money I have, what can I get for it. Then I pulled out the change I had and said " You haven't got it all yet, what else can I get?" It was so much fun. Then we stopped at another place of Miss Wilma's that she liked. It was wonderful, but that early morning getting up was starting to get to this girl.

So there were headed off to I want to say Glasgow, I think that is right, for shopping for food preparation for the next day. I voted to go take a nap cause this girls tushie was majorly dragging. So down to the little house I went, laid my head down, and my eyes were wide open. It was all those primitives calling my name. So I got up and wandered around for a bit, because they was so much to look at, dough bowls, chairs, quilts, toys, books, pillows, lanterns, clothing, you name it, it was there. My senses were on overload trying to take it all it. Finally, I went back and laid down and slept for a bit. It was twilight when I woke up and went up to the main house. I got a tour of Miss Wilma's and Sterl's and supper to boot. Now that was a great way to have an evening go. After supper, Miss Wilma made this great peanut butter fudge and taught me how to make grape jelly. I had always done jam and never done jelly. That was easier than I had thought it would be, plus I got to drink some of Miss Wilma's homemade grape juice that she had done this summer. I also got to work on helping Miss Wilma turn some of the projects we were going to be doing on Saturday. Then it was off to bed for this girl.
What a full and fulfilling day.....and the adventures continued.....later,
cs

2008-10-23T20:41:00.000-07:00

So here is a photo of Miss Wilma's little house where I stayed. It was filled with all kinds of treasures. Old quilts, dough bowls, primitve dolls, chairs, dresses, hats, wooden blocks, her famous and wonderful beyond belief pillows, sticherys, towel holders, one from later part of the 1800's, tins, rolling pins, history in every little space around me. Learning some of the history of "what is this" was lots of fun.

Now you can laugh at me, but I thought I did such a great job getting pictures and I did for me, but as I have started going through them I realize that it hasn't left some people in the best poses. No one wants their back side only in a shot. At least I sure as heck wouldn't, so it will take me a bit to see what I can do about some of them. But I sure can share my memories with you and let the photos follow in a bit. I know, wahhhhhhhh.

So I have not flown but 3 times in my life and this was to be my 4th. Yes, I was a nervous nelly to say the least. I had my bags ready to go the night before, then double checked them like crazy the next morning. Then before I knew it it was time to head out the door, hubby drove me to the airport and hung around until everything was cleared, kisses and then through security for me. It still all felt like a dream, like ok, this is happening to me. I got on my first flight and it was fun lookin out the window to see the city that I live in from the air. I was in the middle seat and will make sure I ask for aisle or window next time. Middle not too bad but if you are tired leaning on the window is rather nice. So had one plane change in Minneapolis. That is a big airport, but had fun walking around for a bit, streching the legs. Then it was on to the next part of the journey that would land me in Kentucky. I did decide that taking a pain pill right before the descent into Minneapolis was not a good idea. NOt having enough in your stomach added to the descent was not my wisest move. Kinda like I don't take the meds that help me soon enough, I keep thinking oh, it will get better. No, but I sure want to think that....ahhhh such is life. So we were almost to Louisville and they said it was 10:30pm. I am going what, I thought it was only a 2 hour difference from me. I didn't realize that part of Kentucky was in eastern time zone and the other part was in central. That threw me for a few minutes. I did see the most beautiful sunset from the skies that night thought. It was so beautiful with all the colors reigning clear out to the distance and the north star shining bright. So I landed in Kentucky still pinching myself that this was really happening. I am all bright eyes looking around, cause I am really here, the sign says welcome to Kentucky. So off to baggage I went to claim my bag with goodies for the get together. So I found my bag and sat down waiting for Janice and Dave. Then the thought hits me, I am in an airport, have never meet them in person, will I know who they are. Just as this is running through my brain, Janice and Dave show up with my first Kentucky souviner, my Kentucky purse. What a releif. They took me to a hotel, first feeding me dinner and then helping me with my bags to the room. Talk about hospitality from those two, yes, when they left it made me cry. I felt like a queen. Of coarse, I was so darn excited I couldn't sleep till after 2am. My mind was buzzing and then my body finally said, enough girl!!!!! And the first day of my adventure was done.....
and the saga shall continue....lol
cs

2008-10-22T01:09:00.000-07:00

I have not fallen off the face of the earth, I have been off having some major fun.

I got to go to Kentucky and visit some of the most amazing women.

First of all, I have never been to Kentucky so there was lots to learn. I was headed for a gathering at Miss Wilma's. She is one amazing energized lady with a heart as big as they come.
She had a farmgal gathering at her farm in southwestern Kentucky.

The country side in Kentucky is the most gorgeous rolling hills and hollers. The start of the colors turning was beautiful as well. And I saw the most brillant orange color in bittersweet. It is an invasive weed, but I thought it was beautiful. Some weeds are, you know. It was bright orange and had a waxy feel, they looked like a really good dried flower arrangement. When I have seen bittersweet on embroderiery I had no idea what is was until now.

I would post pictures but for some reason the toolbar for that didn't come up. NOt sure why, but will have to ask some gals that are more in the know than I am. For tonight, just starting you up on where I have been, with lots more stories and hopefully pictures to come.

I got all the pictures downloaded to the computer so now it is trying to figure out what I did with this toolbar. I can hope it is on their end for tonight but something tells me it is something that I did. LOL.

You all have a great morning....
cs

2008-09-28T23:29:00.000-07:00

So you think you are keeping up with things until you look at the date of your last post, eeehhhh gadssss how did that happen. The last time I posted was after the quilt retreat.....lol
I could say I was recouperating from it, which I was, but in truth have just been dealing with ordinary life. Clean up the floors, wash the dishes, do the laundry, feed the animals, play with grand kids, take care of niece hospital visit and doc visit after, no matter, you take care of family, catch back up on sleep. I have to tell you, when I miss a nights sleep now, it takes days to catch up. I remember when younger how, you just slept in and kept going. My how life has changed, or come to think of it, I did get mono from burning the candle at both ends....hmmmm
Does this mean I can say I have gained some wisdom because now I catch up on that sleep by taking it easier and taking those naps and going to bed earlier....lol
At least I sure would hope so!!!!!
So this week, I am taking a trip to Kentucky. I am excited and nervous at the same time. I am meeting up with some wonderful farm girls at a gathering there at Miss Wilmas. I get to learn crafts that I haven't done before. So since this is only my 4th plane trip in my life, you can imagine my slight nervousness.....getting there on time, making it to the gates on time, making sure I don't have anything that isn't suppose to go on a plane, wondering how well the silly Fibro will be.....looking forward to meeting gals I have talked to for a long time in person, laughing, eating very well, a pie made by Jonni, Miss Wilma and her antics. I know for sure that I won't be able to keep up with her, she is one woman who gets an astounding amount of life done in a day. Getting together with women from different parts of the country and learning what their lives are like, how they cope with challenges, knowing that laughter truly is the best medicine for me. So I am sure I will come home with plenty of stories and good laughs, enough for a lifetime.
Now that sounds delightful,
so whatever adventure you have planned for the day, whether just dealing with ordinary life, or something more, delight in it.
cs

2008-09-16T22:56:00.000-07:00

These are a couple of photos and not always so good of the lovely place I got to go to for a small gathering of friends for a quilt retreat.
It was nice to take the break and funny how you don't realize how much you need one until you have gone and come back.
The place we went to is Simply Country Retreats. The gals that started it quilted with their friends and wanted a place where others could go and do the same. It is set up so well for doing just that or crafting. If you want to take a better look at the place go to www.simplycountryretreats.com to take better looks at the place.
It was a wonderful group of ladies, 4 that I already knew and 4 I didn't. We came from all different ages and backgrounds so it makes it fun to get to know others lives. For the first day, I spent a lot of time just chatting and getting set up, having a leisurely dinner. Then down to sew and laugh some more.
On Friday I actually got some sewing done, I have had the pattern for Jinny Beyers Moonglow for a very long time, but when I bought it I was not up for the difficult of a pattern,not sure I still am. I did get one block done and I thought that was exceptional because I really was exhausted. Prior to getting to go, 2 of the wonderful grand kids were sick, one has asthma. She was in duress and we tag team as a family unit when it is like that. Needless to say, sleep isn't something that happens then. So on the day I was to leave, dd came down and followed the list and helped groggy me pack up. I will have to say the drive out their was spectacular because you drive out through wheat field territory and the golden color is awesome. So I considered Friday a success with getting that one block done, then I worked on another smaller project that I got a head start on Friday and Saturday. It was a good break for me, regardless of what I got done. Sometimes just having the time to connect with woman is the important part of the trip. AT least it turned out being that way for me this time. Woman need woman at times, to bounce ideas off of, to share a tear and a laugh, to commiserate and to move on. We are unique that is for sure and I sure appreciate the wonderful time of uniqueness I had.
Have a wonderful time connecting with the women in your life......
cs

2008-09-07T19:50:00.000-07:00

Now aren't I just a cutie, Nana sure thinks so......
A couple of pictures I took this week when baby boy was hanging out and playing at Nana and Papa's house. His smile can sure make me smile especially on a day where life just didn't go as planned. You know those days, where you think, okay, I am just going to do this little bit in my sewing room, only to realize that there was a mouse capade that had happened in the kitchen and you just discovered. So life takes the detour that ends up taking a few days instead of the one that you were hoping for. When you finally get back to your sewing room, it has exploded, kaput, everything everywhere and you are leaving for retreat, mind you quilt retreat in days. Panic begins to set you because you realize you cannot find anything in your sewing room at all, your sewing machine is buried, what floor, are you sure I have one, how many days do I have....where is the shovel when you need it.....yep that would be my last week and today. So me thinks, I have to unbury myself a little more and find stuff for quilt retreat. Then abandon ship!!!!!!!!
Here is to hoping your adventures are not so crazy, but knowing life......yep, here it comes......lol
cs

2008-09-03T23:30:00.000-07:00

Was out in the yard checking out how the tomatoes were doing and caught this picture of the bee busy working. Kinda like I have been doing in the house. Found the lovely present of a couple of mouse "presents" so cleaned all the cupboards. That wasn't on my agenda at all, but the kitchen has had its fall cleaning to say the least. My body sure as heck does know it. Overdoing for me is a painful, painful process. Overdoing means my muscles go on fire and spasm, but at times you just can't help it. Like having to be on mouse patrol. So I will be the couch potato for a few days and try and settle it all down.
Getting to see the bee in the flower and actually getting a good picture was a gift for me today. When you are feeling down and your body is revolting, getting a moment like that picture was precious. Just like watching the hummingbird lit in the butterfly bush, or my grandson giggling. It doesn't take big thrills, just the every day extraordinary life. Seeing the wonder in small things, makes the load lighter. Don't we all need those small moments to lighten our loads. So here is hoping you have a small moment of wonder to lighten your load today.
cs

2008-08-20T15:43:00.000-07:00

Yes, I do love petunias.
I plant them in planters every year and enjoy their color and the sweetest of their blooms. I have 4 planters full of them this year and have enjoyed every moment of their pinks and purples, stripped and plain. Taking the moments to enjoy them has been something I have been doing this summer. Yep, dead heading them as well.
My neighbor, who we call Grandma Emma, enjoys them everys summer with me. Next year I am going to have to plant her a planter full on her front porch so she can smile everytime she walks out the door. Didn't think about it quick enough this summer.

We have been enjoying real live tomatoes off of our tomatoe plants and some globe zuchinnis, lemon cucs are close but not quite there yet. It was a very small garden but we are enjoying the bounty of it. That and we have gotten our first eggs, yummo are they good poached.

Today headed off to the western side of the state for my family reunion. Haven't seen a couple of the aunts and uncles for 4 years. I am really looking forward to spending the time together. Catching up on everybodys lives and sharing ours, that and laughing a lot. So here is to the hooray of that last part of summer before school starts here for grand girls. Hope you are enjoying yours as well.
cs

2008-08-18T00:30:00.000-07:00

Now how is that for hanging out and having fun. That would be my grandson and our dog Dudette. She is quite protective of her boy as she considers him her very own.

So today is still hot and I am not doing as well as I want too. Pain for some reason is upped and making me struggle more than I thought I would. Seems just when I get a bit of reprieve here it comes again. My reprieves being less pain, not no pain. How wonderful that would be. But I live in this crazy FM world, where life is just plain different. So will believe for a better day and some time to rejuvenate, meaning resting and naps and go forward from there. So for tonight, it is time to go get some sleep and trust that tomorrow I will be more rested and have a better outlook. So here is to you getting the rejuvenation in whatever form it takes, be it quiet, a nap, a good book, a piece of chocolate, a good laugh, whatever it is for you, take the time and do it.....
cs

2008-08-14T14:44:00.000-07:00

It"s here, it's here
Yes, our very first egg from our chickie girls, our heney hens. Now dh says it is because I bought 5 dozen over a week ago, to do salads and other adventures.....lol
and they knew they had to start putting out....no matter the reasons,
our very first egg has arrived........
cs

2008-08-14T00:49:00.000-07:00

Yes, I
like old
fans. And
ones that
work.
Ok, hubby
fixes them
for me.

One of the other things I enjoy is the old bottles that I have from my brother. He had a house long ago that he lived at that had boxes of old bottles, he has used them a lot and given them away, and they have gotten broken over the years, but off and on he has given me some. These were 2 out of the last box he had of his bottles and he gave them to me. Now how perfect is that. It is fun playing around with my camera and taking pictures. I certainly have been enjoying it. It is a way for me to express myself and share with my friends. That just makes it all the better.

Yes, those are sprigs of lavender from my lavender plants. Ohhh now that is a whole nother story. My dd moved some plants in my flowerbeds for me. 4 of them being my lavenders which I had not realized how big they had gotten in the spots they were in. So I now have a lavender bed because believe you me, they needed more room. It is back by our bedroom window and oh what a great fragrance we will have. A wise move with the chicken coop being back there as well. LOL I knew the plants had out grown their space, I just didn't realize by how much. What a shock when you move them and they have room to spread. One was 3 feet by 3 feet literally. Now wonder it was looking a little bent!!!!!! Just like plants need to grow so do we. We need the room to expand and try new hobbies, or exercise or a different kind of book then we normally read. To just take a step away from our norm and try something new. You never know what that can bring. So spread your wings and see where it takes you.
cs

2008-08-11T18:55:00.000-07:00

Ok, after several attempts with no luck uploading pictures, I will try for it tomorrow. So you will all have to wait in anticipation of what those pictures are.....lol

Today has been laid back day, over did it yesterday and I wasn't even the one doing the work, my daughter was. We moved some plants from my flowerbed to her flowerbed. Her flowerbed looks grand, mine looks a little empty. But I need to be patient and let my plants fill in. Next year, it will make it look better and I always can use the excuse that it looks so bare I must buy a couple of plants that are you those magazine articles I have been keeping. I shall have to get them out and start looking at them all and deciding what I want to do.....seee always a good way to get a few new ones. Then when they get overgrown, you give to your dd again or friends and can reinvent the flower garden again......our gardening is never done, now is it.....lol It is a continual work in progress just like our lives are. So we grow, get pruned, dug up so our roots have more room, and reinvent ourselves. Yep, life is certain a circle now isn't it.
You each have a great day....
cs

2008-08-09T17:48:00.000-07:00

This is so
I can show
my friend
my block
that I am
w orking on.

I still haven't mastered getting pictures into email. Somewhere I have it written down the directions from my mom, but put them some where safe. Now I think it is terribly funny that I have to get directions from my mom, who is 72 so I can figure it out. That just plain makes me laugh.

I had enough energy on Thursday to finally work on some of my quilt blocks, it has been a long time. I love two color quilts and quite a while back I decided to do one for myself. I helped my dear daughter do a red and white one for a friend, and decided then to do one for myself. I love blue and white. I think it should go on my guest bed, hmmmm maybe or on my bed....maybe......not sure for sure where I will put it but I love it and that is all that counts!!!!!

So because I did sew, yesterday with the Fibro was a bit of a pain, last night couldn't sleep, so read blogs and topics on mj. So it was fun to get to catch up on a few of my friends.

I have to go figure out how to add another dear friend to my favorites. She has been taking time for herself, to sort through life. Now don't we all end up doing that. Sometimes for a day, sometimes for much longer. Life can bring such changes, sometimes we really need to take some breaths to catch up with what life has thrown us. Whether it is, you are diagnosed with Fibro like I was, some one in your family passes away, cancer hits you or a family memeber, it literally takes the breath out of you. You have to learn what your "new" normal is going to be. Your life will never be the same as it was, it can't be, you had life altering events happen, so now you have to figure out what your life is really like and what is normal for now. Sometimes you go through several new normals for a while until life settles in again. Trust me, it does settle in again. You might have a time of grieving of what use to be, I still do, but life will return.

Just keep taking one breath at a time, and live will return.
cs

2008-08-06T18:54:00.000-07:00

This is my
lovely
daughter
who won
the best
prize of
all an
apron
from our
dear
farmgirl
friend,
Kathie.

Kathie to say you have outdone yourself doesn't even cover it. DD was speechless and cannot even decided which side she likes better. She put it on and didn't take it off till eating. She didn't want to get it messy!!!!!! Girl you so outdid yourself. Kudos to you and her. Thanks Kathie!!!!!!

2008-08-05T23:23:00.000-07:00

How is that
for bright
and pretty
coloring.
It is
the most
beautiful
orange.

I enjoy color and putting together colors especially in quilts. I haven't truly worked on a quilt top in a long time. So tomorrow, that is my goal, the thing I am going to do for myself. Ok, maybe I should wash the dog first, she is looking grey instead of white, and then, and then. I think I will put the things that need to be done away and enjoy myself in the pure pleasure of something I love doing.

This last week has had tougher news for a couple of my friends, they sure have been in my thoughts and prayers. It makes you start realizing how precious life is, that living it, being in the moments are really important because we don't know what tomorrow brings. Not trying to bring ya all down, just thinking through life.
Having Fibro, I have to live one day at a time. I do not know from one day to the next what my level of pain will be. Not that I won't have any pain, but what level it will be at. I do not know where the pain will be, if it will be all over, in my knees, my shoulders, my back, my elbows, if it will be all my muscles, tendons and ligaments. If walking down my 4 steps will be something that puts me in agony or just pain. If I will want to scream at the top of my lungs to make it stop or if I can just slowly seep through all of me. Here is the good news, I have great friends, ones who encourage me, who make me laugh, who tell me to snap out of it....
that check on me. To me those friends are family along with my family they get me through each and every day, encourage me to adventure out even with dealing with this. For that I am grateful every single moment of my life, it is what gets me through every moment of the day. Thank you to each one of you and you know who you are. Blessings every one.
cs

2008-07-29T02:53:00.000-07:00

Don't ya just like flowers, they just make you smile. That is one of the ones in my yard. It is one of the reasons I have a garden. To enjoy looking at the flowers and this year taking pictures of them. Learning how to use my digital that I was given by a dear sweet friend, has made life lots of fun. Taking pictures of my grands, my crazy animals, flowers, chickens. Yep, reminds me of how good life is. Don't we all need those kinds of reminders. That life is good, that we need to take a moment and enjoy what we are working to get. That the end isn't always the goal, the journey and learning along the way. Whether it is making a garden, changing it around, talking to your kids or grand kids and learning about them, sitting with a cup of tea in your swing and listening to the chickens, or the birds, or the noise around you. Life living!!!! So here it is celebrate life in whatever place your are!!! Makes you smile every time......
cs

2008-07-27T23:11:00.000-07:00

Now isn't that the sweetest little sleeper you have ever seen. Ok, I might just be a little prejuidice but he is my grandson after all. I have to say I sure do have fun with my grandkids. All of them, they are the very very best!!!! I think every grandparent feels that way. At least the ones that I know.

So what have I been up to, ohhhhh how I wish I could say no good. Drat, not even so. Doing some sewing, watering, napping, owwieeeeeee, then back at it again. Sitting and listening to the chickens, hanging out with a couple of friends and their daughter and my grands having a picnic and playing in the water. Ohhh that was so nice cause it was hot. Ohhh yeah, addicting more people to going to the Buggy Barn. It is a carriage house in the middle of wheat fields that is a quilt shop. Dd and I sure love to get to go there, it is only 20 minutes from our house and is a beautiful drive with the wheat ripening up, turning that golden color.
If you want to visit it on line go to www.buggybarn.com. I like the friendly woman that work there and they are always helpful. If you haven't ever tried doing a buggy barn crazy quilt, go for it. They are simplier and esaiser adn addicting. Be warned!!!!!! LOL

So I wander in my thinking as you can tell, I am just that way. Start thinking about one thing and then go a whole different direction. Right now my dd is down with sweet Caleb, yep that picture was from him tonight and she is pulling my lavender off the stems. It sure does smell heavenly. I am glad that she is doing it for me. Don't have the energy and it needed done. She does lots of helping me with things that maybe wouldn't matter to others but does to me. So does my dh, as well. I have a family I am very very thankful for. Friends that are kind and giving and listen when I am having whoopers of days. Now what more could you ask for? Not much, that is for sure. Thanks family and friends, I love each of you.
cs

2008-07-21T20:31:00.000-07:00

This is for you Ronna.....for comparisons to see how little those boots were and to show off my new muck boots that dd found for me for a great discount. She can find them. She saw the boots the day prior and was really bummed when they were not her size and wondered if they would fit me. Does she tell me about them.....no.....not until we get there and she says hey mom try these on. I loved them and they fit to boot. Oops, sorry for the pun on words. I really really like them and they will come in perfectly handy when I need to clean the chicken coop. Yep, you gotta be pretty when you are mucking.....lol

Hot here today and feeling kinda cranky tonight. I think that is because Pain has been my constant companion since I salvaged the decking with my daughter. So taking it easy and one step and day at a time. Isn't that the way we truly need to live.....yep, I just don't always do it. There lies the truth!!!!!
Here is hoping you do a bit better in that arena than me!!!!!
cs

2008-07-21T01:05:00.000-07:00

Thought I
would give
us all a
cooling
moment
with the
heat we
having.

LOL. This is a picture of sometime in January of this year. Made me cooler looking at it tonight with being so warm still and having a tough time with trying to sleep.
Decided would go write a bit on the blog. Now imagine yourself sinking into that lovely snow and cooling right on down. Ahhhhhhhh.............

One of the events my dh and I do in August when we are getting down with the heat is watch Christmas movies. Ususally the last part of July and a couple of weeks in August. Funny how watching them can cool you off, give you good memories and a few good laughs while you are at it. We have done it off and on for a few years. We have to laugh when we have the ac on and I am under a light blanket because I get chilly. This year when watching them I will have to get out the shawl Bonnie made me and wear it. Now that will be fun.

Cooling off right now is the name of the game and watering the plants so they do well. We have only had a trace of rain the first part of the month and none anytime soon is expected. I like when we get a rain and it clears out the dusty air, but no compliants here either because my tomato plants are adoring the hot weather.
I just tend to get a little cranky when I am too hot. Drinking ice tea is the past time, and doing chores in the morning and later evening are part of the routine as well. Fans on our chickens to keep them cool is what they are enjoying the most I think. We have 2 of them working right now. The hens will take turns and come up to the fan that is outside of their pen and strech out their feathers and fluff their backsides. Then that hen wanders off and the next one takes it's turn.
Funny creatures they are but they do know what is good for them. Too bad this silly woman hasn't always done what is good for her. Yep, over do and you go opppss and owwwiieeeeee but it was for the chickens sake that I was doing it. Hmmmmmm, that sounds like trying to justify my overdoing. Yep, it sure was. DD and I went and finished taking apart the rest of the old decking and driving it home here to our place. So now finally everything is ready for the building of the chicken house. First was collecting it all in the backyard so we could build it. So the building part finally begins tomorrow. Prep work always takes the longest but if that is done right then the rest is sure to follow. Sometimes it can be the tedious part but the most important. There are no shortcuts when it comes to good working habits and prep work. So now that my part is done, I am back to resting and giving this body a chance to recoup. Hope each of you do the same, take some time to rest and enjoy your quiet moments.
cs

2008-07-16T15:33:00.000-07:00

This is my sweet
old grumpy
hubby.

We tell
him he reminds
us of Eeyore and
Grumpy of the
Seven dwarfs!!!

He was playing with Caleb last night and tried to get a couple of decent pictures. I got one whole picture because they were playing and moving so much. I took 15 and got one. Hey, at least I got one good picture. I count myself lucky.

He may be grumpy at times, drive me crazy at others, but there is a sweetness in side when he lets it out that is worth it. He also loves a good joke and a good laugh and I have given him plenty of opportunties..... I think the words he fears the most are......Honey, I have been thinking and I have an idea.....that means to him, oh my gosh she has come up with another project, someone help me please!!!!!!

Yes, I can make fun of myself because that is so true. Sitting and thinking and mulling things over for me brings with it ideas and ways to make my home and yard more ours. In the end, he enjoys the benefits of more creative spaces but the work, now there is a dirty word at times. Not just for him but for me too, because it takes the two of us and lots of elbow grease to get somewhere sometimes.
Thankfully he has been in the trades for a long time before he had the accident on the job that changed our lives forever. His advice for others, don't try flying off ladders because eventually you have to land. And land he did. For him to even be alive after all that happened 18 years ago is miraculous. Now I didn't say the journey was easy, nope, it has been downright hard for both of us. When your mate has a head injury of any kind, your life changes, how you handle circumstances changes, what they can or can't do changes, how you respond to it all changes as well. It can be a roller coaster ride at times. It means I appreciate the calm moments all the more. Being grateful helps as well, because grate fullness tends to change our perspective on how we will look at life.

Here was my musing from yesterday morning. My shoulders and collar bone have been in a great deal of pain. Happens with FM. But I realized that I was holding my shoulders up, they were not in a relaxed position at all. No wonder they hurt, but here is more to the point, why was I doing that? What burdens was I carrying that I didn't need to be, why was I worrying, what cares had I taken on that I didn't need to? I was worrying about all the projects that needed to be done, how was I going to do them when my body was giving me fits, now that may sound silly but it is what goes on with me. So standing in the shower going I am letting it go,I AM letting it go. You see sometimes I just have to talk to myself to get it through my thick head at times......lol My shoulders were more relaxed and I enjoyed my day more.
How often do you or I need to let things go that we are hanging on too. I know I surely do that to often. So here is to us letting go and giving our shoulders a break.....
cs

2008-07-15T01:05:00.000-07:00

This is my
prewar bike.
I was
thinking
proably WWII.

I got it
at a sale
a ways back.
The man
wasn't going
to do bikes anymore. She needs tlc but I love her. Have to get her new tires, oil her up and she definitly needs a paint job. I was thinking pink, then I say Bev's bike which she recently purchased. In fact she is on my blog list. Bee Haven Acres. I will have to look up and see on which of her blogs it was on. Got my wheels a spinning, no pun intended. One of these days soon hope to be a peddling on that beauty. Yes, that would be another project, laughing yet, you should be. Good thing my dear hubby is going to do it for me. He wants to do it just because I love the bike. Sweet isn't he....I certainly think so.

2008-07-15T00:53:00.000-07:00

And this would be
another picture of
my lovely chickie
girls who I love
sitting and
listening to.

It sure makes you appreciate what they give us, a nice peaceful place to sit and listen in the later afternoon. Listeing to the rooster crow in the morning, and watching them contentedly scratching for bugs. They remind me that life is really much simplier if I just slow down. I do go at a much slower pace with having the Fm, but even that pace can be too fast.

It was last week anyway. I thought I had been pacing myself well. I was not doing at all what I would in the past and wasn't feeling too bad until the beginning of last week. Oooopppppssss was on Tuesday, when my left leg went numb. Drat buckets, indeed. My left leg has numb spots from back injury 26 years ago. So the left leg has had numb spots ever since then, but not my whole leg!!!!!!! My niece, who is my dd's age, came into town for a doctor's appointment. She said how about you come out to my place and spend the night. Well, ended up spending all the way through Friday at her place and didn't do a dang thing. It was a nice mini vacation of literally doing nothing. Came home to see some more wonderful flowers in bloom. My trumpet vine has the most delightful red flowers that yep, look like trumpets.
I have 2 small crockneck squashes coming on, and some tiny green tomatoes. It was good to be back home again. Still have to majorly behave myself and don't have much energy. When thinking about that, it is frustrating but maybe a wiser event. No energy to overdo it!!!!! LOL Learning to live with a new normal every day can be downright maddening at times, but this is my life and it is still good.

Here is to hoping that you are enjoying your summer days no matter what they bring,
cs

2008-07-05T01:05:00.000-07:00

Here are my very first attmepts at pinkeeps. I needed to feel creative today, to do a project that was simple and had some good memory with it.
The green glass was from my niece. I love the color of it but didn't really have a use for it until now. As my friend said, "Are you sure you didn't need it that big so you wouldn't lose it in your sewing room?" Or how very true that statement is. LOL A person could get lost in this sewing room even thought it is only 9 x 11. You take a risk when you come in here.

The other one is a cup that I bought long ago and loved but haven't really drank out of it. This way I can gaze upon it and it has a use besides. Beauty and function, now that is a great combination.

So here is too allowing our creative sounds come out!!!!!!!
cs

2008-07-02T16:15:00.000-07:00

Here is a not so great picture of the 3 oldest chickens which are 4 months so we think since they are they rescued/adopted by us ones.

Yep that would be Mister, who was Jersey girl until he crowed. Suppose to be hens but you know how that can go sometimes. LOL Yep, ain't life just grand and funny at times. How did we find out it went from Jersey girl to Mister? Simple, dh went out for his morning pipe and heard you guessed it, this kinda quiet crow and then he let er rip.................I laughed so hard when he told me. So he will be a busy boy with 10 hens. Ahhh the wonders of the unexpected.

Like walking out and seeing the starts of your blooms open up. The surprize for me this last weekend was seeing my orange tiger lilies open over night with the heat that we have been having. My pink tipped ones are open today. What beauties they are too. Seeing everything growing so well makes me smile, yep that includes some of those weeds to, but life is like that weeds, dirt, work, and then the beauty comes. I have to remind myself of this as the weeds get plucked out of my life, the dirt gets moved around and the seeds get planted, and then surprize one day parts of your life are in full bloom. No mind you other parts of you are in different parts of the process so there is always something to hope for. Hope, it keeps me going when I don't know if I can take one more step, when I want to give in and up with the pain, I remember that I have friends and family who give me hope when I don't think I have any. They encourage me so I can get back on the road again. To each of you that are my hope, thank you.
cs

2008-07-01T01:28:00.000-07:00

Yes, these are
flowers from my
gardens. I
took the pictures
at dusk.

I like seeing
the blooms at the dusk of the day, as the sun is almost gone out of the sky.
The light makes you see then in a completely different view.
At times I need to see life in a complete different view, it is a reminder for me about perspective. My perspective can become quite narrow, especially when my pain levels are up. So walking about my small compact yard reminds me that the light does shine again, giving me a different view.
Here is to seeing new light and views in each of our lives.
cs

2008-06-29T13:11:00.000-07:00

This is my
teapot that I
found at the
one garage
sale that I
went to.

My dd and I did a garage sale for my niece, her cousin. They are one year apart and are like sisters. We watched her girls while she got to go to a wedding with her boyfriend. She is definitely twitterpatted. We are so happy for her. I digress.
So dd and I loaded up my grands and all the stuff and headed out on Friday night. I watched kids as they set it up. Then my niece headed out. We made a camp in the living room and after it cooled off they were all asleep. I watched baby booboo while dd finished setting it off. Off to bed we went. Saturday dawns bright and beautiful and hot!!!!!!! The whole town, very small town had garage sales.
We didn't do so well in the bucks but we sure had fun. The grand girls sold Kool-aid and they made money. More than each of us at the garage sale. That was way too funny. They were quite happy and learned about paying for supplies and then after those supplies are paid for you make the money that is called profit. Hey, teaching them is part of learning about business. Teaching our children and grandchildren some life lessons along their journies makes a difference in their lives. I am glad I get to have the priviledge of being a part of that in small ways.

I do have to tell you after we loaded it all back up and headed for home I was one very very tired chickadee. I had a smile from the memories. Isn't that what it is about it making those memories? I think so. So fill your day with good memories, whether you are reading a good book, sitting and watching the butterfly in your flower beds or taking a good nap. Make memories for yourself along the way.
cs

2008-06-25T23:50:00.000-07:00

This is my front yard.
and more you say
The oak barrel the grand girls and I painted with our hands. Those are there handprints from last year.
The swing in my backyard by the chickens right now.
this is the very very front that is the window to my sewing room.

I love changing things in the yards, adding here and there and getting to sit and enjoy. It started out with nothing, oh I take that back, the front yard had a dead tree halfway in the middle of it. 4 years ago, lined out the flower beds and started to work on it. Tilled and tilled and worked it some more. Then put a little here and there. It started off a lot smaller than it is now. I just had to keep adding until it is where it is now.

The backyard has little spots that are done but has a ways to go yet. Gardening is always a creation in motion. When I get better at taking pictures it might show up a bit better.....lol
Enjoy.......

2008-06-24T00:07:00.000-07:00

This is a great wool sweater my friend Clare sent me so that I could felt it. She sent me a few more but this one spoke to me, it needs to be a purse just for me.
Isn't it just plain awesome. I fell in love with it, I really like stars and this is perfect, just perfect.

Hoping later today to get pictures of my yard and let you see what I am working on.
I love playing in the dirt.
Here is to a great morning and day for each of you.
Cheers!!!!!!

2008-06-23T00:02:00.000-07:00

When you arise in the morning,
think of what a precious
privilege it is to be alive-
to breathe, to think,
to enjoy, to love.
-Marcus Aurelius

2008-06-22T23:35:00.000-07:00

So here it is late night again my quieter time. Good thing because every person needs some quiet. When the day or night is calm and I have time to think, I realize there really are ideas, thoughts, inspirations there. Surprizes me all the time.

Noise is such a part of our lives, it is there constantly that when it is quiet, it can rather be a shock. I know that I crave that quiet time. Too much noise and I feel like I am on overload. I can't take one more thing, idea, sound in. My reaction now has to do with having Fibro. Some have this reaction, some do not dealing with Fibro. I do. So for me quiet is far more important than it use to be. It brings peaceful moments.

I have found that earplugs are a very useful item for me. I use them just to get quiet some days. Put in the earplugs and read a book. We live close to a freeway and the noise can carry over here. It is always in the background. Much louder in the summer because we have the windows open and there are more people traveling through. I also use them to sleep. Dear hubby has snored for years and I have become use to sleeping with them. Now I can't ususally sleep without them. Now how sad is that.

So before it gets toooo late I am going to go use those earplugs and get some sleep.
AAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhhh quiet in whatever form you use to get it!!!!!!!
later.......................

2008-06-19T11:03:00.000-07:00

This picture is for you Ronna girl!!!!

Sometimes I wonder where my brain has gone!!!!!!! It took forever to get this picture on the site. Why you ask? Because this woman didn't realize her batteries were low and it wouldn't transfer over. Then 3 attempts later to get it on my computer, then fixing the problem....then picture.....shheeeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Yep, I do wonder about myself some days.

I love the little boots and I planted a little hen and chick in each boot. As they grow it will stick out of the top more. Perfect for on my front steps. Everytime I walk up and down them it will remind me of my friendship with Ronna. Now that is a sweet way to remember a friend.

2008-06-16T01:50:00.000-07:00

This beautiful butterfly visited my sweet william this afternoon in my front yard.
I am learning how to use the digital more and what a great picture to be able to catch.

2008-06-15T00:33:00.000-07:00

So here I am playing with Caleb tonight. It was nice to see him smile.
He has been running a low grade fever and not sleeping very well. So tonight we were having a good time with some smiles. Meaning our sweet baby boy should be doing better. Always a good sign.

So I basked in rays of sunshine today off and on. I fertilized my tomatoes, feed my roses. I was pooped out. Not doing that much and getting so tired is just a part of fibro. No energy levels makes any effort more challenging. Life goes on, and you live with where you are at being grateful that you are living.

Now the adventure with fertilizing the plants was that the mosquitoes liked me even more. So it was pour a little, swat like crazy, pour a little, swat like crazy. I must have looked like a major spase with the jerking action every little bit, I did kill a few though. Unfortunately a few of them got me too. Dirty rotten buggers. Found the bug spray for me to use later after they had decided to use me for dinner. I will get them tomorrow. I have to say I cheer every time I hear the bug zapper go off because another one bites the dust. haaahaaaahaaaaaa teach you to bite me!!!

Spent the evening reading some posts on Mary Janes Farm, having a laugh or two. Then it was off to blogland for a bit. I love reading what is happening in my friends lives. So take a gander at some of the places I love to go. Enjoy!!!!!

2008-06-13T23:06:00.000-07:00

So here I am with Mr. Buster Kitty. One of the two new kitties that came to live at our house. He seems to think getting a kiss on the check is something he likes to do. Thankfully he doesn't do it very often. He likes sitting on my shoulders and watching me sew, write my emails and just plain talk anytime I will let him. He is a rowdy character and runs up and down our house quite often. He loves when we bring out the laser light and move it all around for him to chase. He enjoys a good romping with his sister and his two dogie buddies that live here also.

So some of you have been asking my about pictures. Here is my first attempt and no I have absolutely no idea what I am doing. I know you can get them in some kind of order but this was my first going for it.

On the right is a picture of Caleb at 3 weeks old with my mother and father. We were at my brothers after the Barbershop Show that my dad preforms in every year. He is where I learned to sing and go for it. He said, Just belt it out there and you learn from it. He was encouraging me about learning alto and harmonies. I love singing and always will because of him.

This is Miss Chloe, Busters sister. She is sleeping in Caleb's chair. She and her brother Buster tend to try to both sleep in it at one time. One of them ends up on the floor. This time Miss Chloe wins.

This is Caleb a couple of weeks ago with Miss Chloe. I was holding Caleb and Miss Chloe decided it looked like a great spot to be and joined in. Caleb got to giggling after a bit of staring at the kitty. Fun was had by all.

As you can see, my house can be a little nutty at times, but we tend to enjoy every minute with the animals and the grand girls and boy and each other.

Having family whether by blood or adopted into, it is what keeps us going on the good and bad days. Because we will have bad days, hopefully not a lot of them all in a row. Bad meaning, news that wasn't what you were expecting, a friend who is ill and the prospect isn't good, a loss in income, each of those events causes us to reevaluate where we are at. It does for me, it makes me remember what truly is important. Laughter each day, a hug given and received, a quiet moment cherished, a good meal and tasting really tasting every bite of it, a book that uplifts and encourages, emails from my friends. All of those activities are important to me. It changes how the outcome of my day is. I hope I give that to others each day as well.

So here is to the important things in our lives.

2008-06-08T02:00:00.000-07:00

Normally listening to the weather is no big deal, but listening to it tonight made me cringe just a bit. We do get sunshine tomorrow but the next 3 days after cooler again. Ahhhhh rats!!!!!
So maybe I should have just waited to let the days come as they may. Ahhhh well at least later in the coming week we are suppose to get some sunshine. The flowers and the gardens will enjoy the rains and soon enough the sun will warm them up to grow big and strong. To have those wonderful juicy tomatoes, cucumbers, and zuchinni. Makes one's mouth water just thinking about it.

My body seems to think staying up late is the past time at present. I am trying to convince it, no it is not!!!!! Tonight just to do something pleasurable for myself, I sorted out buttons that I got from a friend. Then I had some from another friend as well. So now I have some jars with golden yellow to yellow, some oranges, some reds and greens, pretty pinks and browns and white and black of coarse. There are some purple but needed another little jar and wasn't going out to the shed tonight to find them. It was fun playing with the colors and looking at the older ones. They have come to live at my home. What joy it is to look at color in a jar sitting in my sewing room window sill. Joys come in small ways, make me smile and remember the simpler choices we make in our lives.

So in my sewing room window are buttons in jars and little mini aprons hanging up. There are 3 string lines with each little mini apron hung up with little clothes pins. Yep, nothing could be better. Buttons and aprons, indeed.

2008-06-06T22:16:00.000-07:00

Today was a a slow and shaky day. Now what does that mean? It means that last night was a much tougher night with pain and today my body reacts from it. It makes I take care of myself and get the rest that I need. It is so easy for us as women to choose to keep going. As I get older I realize how foolish that truly is. It deteriorates our health in the long run. If we run on what energy we don't have, then we are always running in a deficient. In my younger years, I did a lot of that. Now I am realizing that I did not do myself any favors in the long run.

I pray that I am teaching my dd and grand girls to take better care of themselves and in doing that they can take care of those they love in their lives better. I would keep busy just to keep busy at times. Was that because I did not want to deal with my own self and where my life was headed? I truly do think so. Not every time, but I did do it. Always important to me was journaling, or in my younger years it was using my diary. I wrote down events of the day, my feelings, just whatever. I find when I can't figure life out that putting words on paper helps me figure it out. Or get my feelings off my chest to be able to deal with the problem at hand.

My grand girls like to write as well and have their own diaries at age 6 and 8. When they were younger they drew pictures, now they are learning to write. DD writes as well. Funny what things the next generations carry on. Reading and writing, not to bad when I think about it.
I love to watch their ideas transpire. Both grand girls want to sew on the sewing machine and this Nana has to get in gear and figure out a couple simple projects for this summer for them. Time tends to go quickly on vacations.

Our start of summer has been rainy and chiller. I do have my tomatoes, some zucchini, some lemon cucumber. Small garden area this year as I put it in bins for raised beds. I am learning to make my life more accessible with the Fibro, so I have more energy for more projects and life that I so love. Playing in the dirt is one of them. Yes, I have dirt under my fingernails and if I would ever remember that great tip that one of the farmgals gave, to scratch on a piece of soap before I go out and play in the dirt, I bet clean up would be a lot easier.....lol I don't remember until I come back in to clean up. Maybe a post a note on the mirror would help.....
I leave my dh love notes there, a reminder to myself wouldn't be a bad idea either.

So with having a down day I have been thinking of how I want to change my bedroom, that would be our bedroom but he lets me call it mine. His idea of decorating is this, honey as long as I can get into bed at night, I am happy. The other part he says is, if you are happy I am. Smart man if you ask me. I have plain white muslin for a dust ruffle on the bed and to make light and airy curtains. Believe it or not, I have never had a dust ruffle in almost 25 years of marriage. I think it might be the reason I really want to work on our room. I want it to be restful and peaceful. A change is in order, some seashells in frames from our 25 years of collecting. Making a shell curtain to go under the white muslin ones. Using drawers with rollers on them for under the bed. We had to raise the bed so that I have an easier time getting in and out. My headboard is a medium wood and so are our two dressers. So the simple and free flowing for our bedroom is sounding wonderful.

I am being given a daybed with a trundle for the back room that we are making into a guest room. Basically that means for when the grand girls spend the night. Summer is coming and we have them over a lot. Gives mom and dad some time to themselves as well. I have a small white dresser that they will each get a drawer. Then it also gives a place for their toys we have here to be in one spot for them to go to anytime. It will be grand fun. So summer brings projects and hopes and dreams into reality. Maybe it is why I look forward to summer.

So what are you hopes and dreams for this summer. Take one small step towards them at a time. Whether that means taking out a paint brush or sewing a dust ruffle or even simpler, sowing a flower seed in a pot. What ever brings your life some joy and a smile. Indulge yourself, bring refreshment to yourself so that you can bring that to the ones around you that you love.
Have a most refreshing day,
cs

2008-06-04T00:21:00.000-07:00

So here we are again, yep later night. Not on purpose, just time went flying by a bit faster.
I think time flying is perspective as a friend wrote the other day. When we are kids we are constantly learning new things. The rate at which we learn them changes as we become older. We already have lost of information that we have learned so that rate slows down. Does that make any sense at all. Yes, there are some statistics to that but don't ask this girl to remember them. Not one of those things that I wanted to learn. LOL

So what have I been up to, or lets see.......Sunday I got ready to snuggle into the sofa, make phone calls connecting with friends, and emailing friends, having a slow and relaxed day. So I go to make a phone call and no dial tone. Look at the display and it says no line. Drat buckets.
So dear hubby checks out our lines from the phone box and nothing registers as wrong. Eventually later in the day we end up calling the phone company. They will be out no later than 5pm on Monday. So the lineman comes on Monday, he checks out their equipment and it isn't there problem it is ours. He has the purgative of charging us the 160.00. OOOOHHHHHH NNNOOOOOOO!!!!!!! In front of the phone box I had planted thyme. I love thyme and have 2 bushes in the back yard and 2 in the front. He had to kneel in the thyme which crushed it and made the smell more intense. He loved the smell and because of the thyme I didn't end up with a bill. Who says herbs don't pay........lol I thank him very much. It was my phone cord that went to my computer. It knocked out my whole system. Needless to say it has taken me a bit to catch up on emails. So instead of doing communicating on Sunday, I read books. Yes, one of my favorite past times as well. That and a nap of coarse.

It has been rainy and cooler here so I transplanted a couple of my plants in my front yard to the very front of my home. Need to do some working on the little flower bed up front to make it pop. I love change and when your flower bed finally clicks the way you want it to. Moved 2 small mums to the front small bed, a honeysuckle start to the front yard and got rained on good. I love the smell of fresh rain, the damp earth. A delightful smell. I also picked up 2 chickies from the feed store that we had ordered. Took my grand girls with me so they could be a part of it. I think we have named these Sissy and Sassy. Have a few more chickies that we got a few weeks back that we are thinking about names for. New adventures are always fun.

My new adventure for the night, get to bed at a decent hour and at the rate I am going....hmmmmmmmm
nighty night

2008-05-29T23:35:00.000-07:00

Today was a day where I did not have super lots of energy. I choose to sit in bed and read for a bit this morning. I like spending quiet time reading. I read every night before I go to sleep, at least an hour or so. Helps me relax and wind down from the day. My parents liked to read as well and the library was a great place to go and still is. If I had to provide for my reading appetite I would be in debt so badly. So libraries are very much my friends. I like going through the stacks and checking out new and old books. Discovering an author and reading all that they have written. I have been enjoying a good who dunnit the last couple of years. I read mostly fiction. It is like taking an adventure to another time and place, or figuring out the puzzle of who you think could have done the murder. At times, I make some pretty good guesses and other times it takes such twists and turns that the outcome is a surprize.
One of these days I will have to write down author's I have enjoyed. I write down in a little book I have when I go to the library of who I have enjoyed because I can't remember when I get there. LOL but oh so true. An enjoyment is also taking my grand girls who love the library and checking out books and having them read to them when they were younger. Now they are figuring out how to read and what a delight for them to read to us. Having another generation enjoy books like I do is quite a joy indeed.
So in case you haven't made the time for a good read, just a reminder to go visit your local library and browse through the books to see what adventure you can find for yourself.
cs

2008-05-20T23:28:00.000-07:00

So last few days have been a little nutty around my house. My dd had her wisdom teeth pulled and so the family has been pitching in. The surgery went very well, she is recovering slowly but that is be expected. We have been watching the grand girls and boy. Yesterday I have to say I was down to break down cause I was one very pooped Nana. So Nana went and took a nap.
That made life a bit better. Today she has chipmunk cheeks and thankfully they aren't so chubby!!!!!!

I have been attempting to finish mini aprons, a swap that I have been doing on MaryJanes Farm with some great and amazing gals. They make me laugh and have been a good support system for me as well. We are all in different places in our lives but sharing them makes the challenges easier. It doesn't change the curcumstances but it does help in walking out our journeys.

Today it cooled down and rained like cats and dogs here. We have had unusually warm weather for the last 4 days. We don't have upper 80's until July and we had them this weekend. My body was not a happy camper for some of it. Slowly being able to climatize does work better for this girl. But I have to say the sunshine was glorious. So this morning I got up to warmer temps and then is started raining. Do ya know the smell the comes with a fresh rain after a hot spell, how the earth drinks up the moisture and the delightful smell that comes with it. I took a short walk, squished my shoes in the puddles, smiled big, twirled around, spring is so here. I am so so grateful. It also means I didn't have to do the watering for the yard and my neighbors that I am watching. Double good for me.

Kitty adventures here. I have two kitties that are new to my house. They are part siamese and alley cat. A tamed alley cat that got into the house and got mama Zoe who was a rescue siamese. She only comes to the new owner and it took her 6 months to be able to get near her and have her let her pet here. Talk about patient. It was dd high school friend and she wanted to make sure they got good homes. So I now have a boy and a girl. They give quite the adventures at times. I have my minis aprons on mini clotheslines in my sewing room window. They have discovered them, and figured out how to get them off the clothesline and then get to play with them. Stinkers they are. Right now Chloe is sound asleep on my arm as I type, and Buster is curled up with Lucy and Dudette our two small dogs. You should hear them all running up and down the hall here, skidding into each other and taking off like 60 again. Pets sure can make your day.

It is taking those fun times, enjoying them, letting them make you laugh. There is also taking the moments and laughing at yourself. Because let's face it we are rather hilarious at times.
Our own antics can be as goofy as the animals. Like talking away to my hubby and putting the cereal in the frig and the milk in the cupboard. He was looking at me and goes," Honey, are you sure you want to do that.?" I was wondering what he was talking about. I said, "Yeah". Then he opened the fridge and I went "OH" , started laughing and fixed it back to normal. Hey I never said I was normal.

So take some time and enjoy yourself, that includes havin a good laugh!!!!!!

Whooowiiieee it is a bit warm

2008-05-17T23:39:00.000-07:00

I bet you thought I was gonna talk about the weather, maybe, and maybe not. LOL
Although we are having it a bit warm here for this time of year, 88, in May is hot.

Then I could be talking about the game we played when we were kids, you are getting warmer, warmer, warmer, now you are cold. We were hiding an object and had to tell those looking whether they were hot or cold. My grand girls like playing it with Nana. Yep, that would be me.
I think that you have this wonderful kid inside of us always. Yes, I do have my very own toy box. In fact, I went with my dd on an errand for her and found it. Or should I say I found a bigger one just for me. It is this square suitcase, an older style one and it is just perfect. I can't wait to decorate it. What is in my toy box you ask? Lets see, an origami, I spelled that wrong, little kit to make tiny little stars with instructions of coarse. It is by Klutz and they have wonderful craft kits. DD has made a few of them, I actually got it for her and I to do. Grown ups need to have fun too. Then there is my rubber ball I play with. You remember those ones when we were kids that you could really make bounce good and high. I have a couple older marbles that I love. Then I have my Duncan Yoyo. Also there is a ball that bounces great that came from Target that is like a snowball that you get a Christmas and can shake and watch it snow. This one has glitter inside and when you bounce it it goes all over and sparkles. It is quite mesmerizing. DD has 2 of them, hers are red and gold glitters and mine is a sea green. In the sunlight, they dance with movement. What would I like to add to that toy box of mine, hmmmm, lots of old wooden dominoes, some real metal jacks and the ball that went with it.
I have bubble stuff outside because I truly do love blowing bubbles. Then I have a couple of dolls given by friends. One is a cabbage patch which I am going to sew clothes for.
I think that the kid in all of us needs to have things to just go take a break with. Especially when life has tough days, or you need a break from an intense project, it gives you space to deal with those things.
I have gone to that toy box off and on in the last few months just to give myself a bright moment in the agony of pain. An activity to distract myself from the pain, I also read and watch a movie. Sometimes the pain is intense enough that I want to be out of my skin for just 5 minutes. Just 5 blissful minutes, but that hasn't been a possibility until now.
I deal with Fibromyalgia and have for almost 2 years. I have dealt with chronic pain in other areas for the last 2o years and I have learned how to deal. But this, this has been a most painful journey. Dealing with doctors who have their agenda and belief of what you need to do. They do not live with this condition. They don't call it a disease because there is not underlying condition.
Your body is in horrible pain, when you exercise it is in horrible pain, when you wake, when you sleep, there is no getting away from it. There are not a lot of answers either.
Every person is so different in how it operates in their body. What will work for one, will do nothing for another. It changes your entire life, as much as you don't want it too, there are changes you must deal with. Facing the reality can be overwhelming in ways you mind just can't comprehend at times.
For me the change has been devastating at times, I love being active and that hasn't been how my life has been. I love to garden and ride my bike and play and run with my grand girls. I like to sew and read and help with projects around my house. I don't mind vacuuming and cleaning, nope not been happening. So I talk to some dear sweet friends, and you know who you are, that have encouraged me, sent me needed info, just been there for me in ways I cannot even explain. They have gotten me through the days when I have wanted to give up, when the thought of this for the rest of my life is more than I can even comprehend or think about. They have encouraged me with trying new avenues of medications. Because of them, my pain has been lessened this week.
I asked to be put on Nuerontin, it helps some with the pain. I do still take pain meds but nothing like I was. I have woken up for 5 days in a row without excruciating pain. I can breath a bit again. Then there is my fear, fear that this will only work for a bit and then the shoe will drop again. Why am I so willing to believe that and not that this is the answer for me and a blessing in my life. A book I was reading made this comment about why do you believe it is "always winter and never Christmas" I had to truthfully think about that one. Why is it easier to wonder when the shoe will drop instead of believing that this is an answer, a blessing in my life.
So I am beginning to again make the choices to be grateful, thankful for every moment.
To appreciate those blessings in my life in the midst of the pain. I realize that in doing this I am changing my thinking as well. It has been rather stinky for a time here. When pain becomes the driving force, you truthfully try to stay the coarse, to believe for the changes, to hope and dream. You do not know if they will come but you believe for them. And some days there is no hope, no ability to be able to dream, only the pain. In those times I remember where my hope truly is, it is in the One who knows exactly where I am at and has been there before me. Who comforts my broken heart and holds me in His arms. Who gentle uses others to keep me going and giving me hope, to not give up and to continue on. I truly am a firm believer in community, that that can be your friends on the Internet, your neighbors, those who are family to you. Family doesn't have to be blood because there are so many in my life that aren't blood to me who are truly my family. Don't get my wrong, I dearly love my family and their continuous support. The hardiest part of this journey has been asking for help. Humbling myself and biting the bullet at times. I have been the one to give and to be there for others. This is humbling.
Like my nurse practioner told me, you have given for years, let others give into your life's. For those of you who have helped me with this, thank you.
And so I continue on believing for another day and for hope to get walking on.

Waiting

2008-03-02T22:49:00.000-08:00

Waiting waiting waiting.......for what you ask.....
for our wonderful grandson to be born. Soon we will have another little one to hold in our arms.
What a joy they are. You wonder what their lives will be like and what they will grow up to be and their journey along the way.

I have so much fun with my granddaughters. They are getting old enough to want to sew and do things more. They have always been lots of fun.
One of the things I like doing best is blowing bubbles with them. To watch their wonder and excitement and chasing them to catch them. Then there are the silly conversations that you have but they are very serious to them. I think we all have a need to be listened to and heard. To know that we are important to those who are close to us. I want to listen to those who are important in my life, to be engaged and a part of their lives. And vice a versa.

So the wait and expectation continues.......more later......

Stichin and uninvited critters

2008-02-24T17:16:00.000-08:00

So I am sitting in my sewing room trying to decided what I want to do. Check out my emails when I look into my cup that had gatorade to discover about a dozen and a half ants feasting at the bottom of my cup. Oh man, gross out. So I sit a bit longer and watch those little buggers running on my cork board, on top of my desk and one has the stupidy to run across my keyboard. Now this is war, type, smash, type smash, stich, smash. Okay this is getting ridiculous. So I decided it was time for the ant traps. As I slap one off my neck. Ok, that was gross.

Now ants don't bother me when they want to live in their own home. When they decided to come live in mine....NO WAY!!!!! So went to Walmart and found thankfully that they had traps with just the exact amount of cash that I had. Thank goodness. Back home to try and find where they are coming in, found a hole from the cable, sealed it up, think I have one more, gotta find it. Then setting the traps about the house. I sure don't want those in the kitchen. I want the food, and I am not sharing with the ants.

Have only seen about a half dozen so far. That is a very good thing for their sakes.

We had an ants nest in front of my sewing room window that we thought we had gotten rid of, nope, I guess not cause they came to visit!!!! The snow is melting and flooding their little homes and they want mine. I do not share well with critters except for my doggies and soon to be kitties if they make it. Mama Cat had some challenges last time. Doing better this time.

So here is to trying to sew finally and no more ant invasion.......lol

Here is to Hope

2008-02-15T23:14:00.000-08:00

It is quiet here, the grands are spending the night. They are sound asleep in our bed. Dh is sound asleep in the chair in the living room. Yep, definitely quiet. Yours truly up for the moment, thinking and having a good cry. Feeling better. I need to let my emotions go, for what I expected and what my life truly is like. I don't always know that that is what is going on till after the good ole fashioned cry. It is like it cleanses out the old and lets in the new.

So I attempted sewing on satin binding to a blanket for the new baby boy to come. Yep ripping that puppy out and starting over. Oh if you only could see the mess I made. How do woman sew those prom dresses, wedding dresses and oh so much more. I applaud you all cause this girl does not have the hang of it at all. May have to try something completely different.
I did get the bunting cut out, just a blanket with some strategic button holes to cover them nicely. I figure it would work great for in the car seat. I think I am finally getting really excited as the due date is only 2 weeks away for dd. She is packed and ready to roll when the time comes.

New life brings new ideas and hope with it. Remembering to those wonderful memories of when your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews were born. It makes you remember that there are new things every morning to look forward to. That there is hope. We all need reminded about Hope. Me too.
So here is my wish that each of you have new hope in your life, for your future, for your life and loves.

2008-02-11T22:54:00.000-08:00

Do you ever just have a bummer day? When Pain ust gets to you and life is a bit tough.
Today has been one of those days. Where the pain seeps through every muscle and joint and I just want to cry out. Yet I know this won't last, that better days will come. But for today this is where I am. I could laugh it off, pretend it wasn't so, but then I don't live in the present.
So I choose to live through this and know that better times do come.

I also learned a new lesson with Fibro. That when you overdo certain muscles, it doesn't just effect those muscles. It effects my whole body and my whole body responds.
That was an eye opener. I don't think I really realized that. It is like having a budget and going beyond those boundaries, it causes havoc. When I go beyond my boundaries of energy and physical ability I am in a deficiet and it takes longer to heal.

How often do you go beyond your boundaries? A new adventure is going beyond your boundaries and it is an adventure in learning new things. Or do you push yourself beyond what you can truly do. It is a lesson we learn often, and have to readjust our thinking.

I have had to do a lot of readjusting in my thinking, how to do tasks differently, using my energy and time in incriments, not a full out run at full tilt. Can you tell what I was use to doing? It doesn't work well with dealing with Fibro. So this is an "old dog" learning "new tricks" and it can be done. Slowly and surely it can be done.

So tomorrow is another day and I expect it to be better, to be able to use my time and energy differently. To enjoy the moments where I am functioning better and realize that there will be days where I am bummed but they don't last forever. That there is hope for another day, and lots of wonderful people that care for me and pray for me. That keeps this girl going.
So thank you each one.

Yeahhhhh February

2008-02-02T11:20:00.000-08:00

Yes, I am looking forward to a couple of things this month. My grandaughter has her 6th birthday and at the end of the month we are awaiting our first grandson. Quite the month ahead. I am also looking forward to the weather warming up a bit. Soon spring will be here.

On my FM journey, the pain level has finally gotten better. I really feel like I have some breathing space and that is making life a whole lot eaiser to handle. I have enjoyed a bit of sewing again. I am so so so graeful for that. Makes me want to Happy Dance.
or
Isn't it interesting that when we feel better, life is better. How much an important factor that is in our lives. I know I cannot change the diagnosis they give me, but I can try to find answers that work for me and allow me to have a quality of life. I can't do exercise, or movements like I use to, but I can still move. I have to think more about how I approach activites and recognize what is ok and what is too much. So there is that learning curve again.

I think that we have learning curves in all areas of our lives. I want to approach mine with grace, so I can give that same grace into others. Pain can be physical, emotional, mental and all those can bring challenges. I want to give others grace as I have been given it. It means sometimes others will be up and sometimes they will be down, just need to chat and vent it out, and at other times, I am the one who needs to do that. But allowing people that grace of letting it out. I know when I keep my emotions pent up, then I do not do as well. For me, I need to talk, or write in my journal, or have a good scream in my pillow. But I need to let it out so I can let it go. Here is the other part, slowing down enough to recognize it and let it out.

It is crazy how busy life can get, nothing world inspriring just everyday ordinary life. I like it a lot. It says this"There is more to life than increasing its speed." Mahatma Gandhi It is on a little magnetic picture frame that I got from Mary Janes Farm. IT has made me slow down and think. A good idea for this girl.

I hope each and every one of you are having a slowed down and graceful weekend. May it bring smiles and joy and a huge bunch of laughter.

Did someone say snow?

2008-01-30T16:46:00.000-08:00

Okay, enough already!!!! I thought that a few inches not to bad, but 13 1/2 in 30 hours is a bit much, then they tell us more is coming.....more, are ya sure. Yep, they were right another 5 inches and and inch and then they say tonight through tomorrow another 5 inches. Shovel shovel shovel....rest....shovel shove shovel.....rest.....shovel shovel shovel.......think cuss word......
does this stop soon......shovel shovel shove..

Yep that has been my life here for a bit. I do like snow but I have to say a break would be a good idea. My husband and I are taking turns in shoveling hopeing to not wipe our shoulders and arms at. Not sure that is working yet. But teamwork always does help. If nothing else you don't feel like you are alone in the project. How often do we need teamwork? I think we need each other every day, to encourage us, to make us laugh, to have a good cry. Teamwork isn't just with my mate, it is with family and friends as well.

For me, the most important thing that I get from it is the emotional support, knowing that hey are just feelings and there are friends and family to share it with good or bad, that I don't have to carry it on my own. Now that just lifts the load right there.

So who helps you lift the load, do you allow others into your life to let them carry part of your load? Teamwork really matters when it comes to loads and carrying them. It makes the load lighter for each person. Smart idea!!!!!! Then why do I not do it sometimes. I think, oh I can handle this. I'm okay. Sometimes I am, other times it starts to snowball and I realize I should have asked for some help on this one. I hope after all these years I have learned to ask for help more. It is something I have been thinking about more with the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia. I can't do it all on my own, I have to ask for help. My body just can't do all it use to, it needs help.
And in the end it strengthens those relationships that I have, allows others to give into my life and for me to give into theirs on a whole different level.

Also been enjoying sewing again. Hadn't been able to do very much and finally have gotten a handle on the pain. Took and takes lots of paying attention, figureing out what works for me in medications, and learning how much exercise to do without over doing it. Now that one is funny, overdoing my exercisisng. Who would have ever thought!!!! Not this girl.
I do know this, if you shovel heavy snow, you can exasterbate your shoulder and jaw muscles and set off a migraine. Yep, that wasn't a nice lesson to learn, so guess who will be shoveling snow a bit differntly. But I just gotta play in the snow. Just gotta. My grands made a snowman in my yard on Sunday when everyone was here staying warm. I like him very much, opppss, I was informed that is was a girl. Regardless, it is sweet cause they made it for their Nana.

I have to say, I do not think we will have a drought this summer, we will have an amazing snowbase this year. My flowers will love all that nice water to plump them up.
So, keep safe and warm and allow others to give into your lives, it is a grand gift to them and to you.